Von: Mr innocent Kanazoe Iddrisa < lqare02@gmail.com >

Gesendet: Samstag, 15. Juli 2023 um 09:56:39 MESZ

Betreff: Please reply me this mail today.

Dear ,







Please have patience to read and understand this my long mail.I have



decided to help you and help myself also because at this my age of 59



years old i have not achieved much in my working career and i am about



to resign from the bank.Note that without my assistance your funds



could have been diverted to another country but thank God that i have



blocked it on your behalf.Some top officials in the bank want to use



official ways to close your files and divert your funds to unknown



account.You have to stop every communications with anybody on internet



concerning funds transfer or release to avoid mistake.A report has



been sent to our bank that you willed your Inheritance fund to another



person.I need all your confirmation to this effect because two groups



from our bank are trying to divert your funds to another



destination,bank account.This message must be treated with every level



of confidentiality because I have decided to render a helping hand to



you inorder to solve your problem but no one must know about it



because it is against our oath of office but if you swear to me that



you will not reveal this secret to anybody, i can assure you that your



financial problems are over. My Department has been instructed by the



Central Bank of African states to confiscate your Inheritance funds



and transfer them to an ESCROW account provided by a person whose name



did not appear in the original application form submitted to the Bank



and i do not know why you left matters untreated up to this moment.







The activities of the Diplomatic transfer handlers was put to question



by the Central Bank of African states and the West African Monetary



Agency (WAMA) that was why they called back your inheritance funds and



stopped the transfer and tell you that your fund is in stop order or



cheque or ATM visa card while all was lies,they wanted you to forget



about the funds,so that they will share it within themselves based on



the irregularities seen in your file,your Inheritance funds has been



confirmed in our bank statistics to finally serve as the paying



Bank,your Inheritance funds was never transferred to anywhere because



the bank manager was trying to tell you that your fund has been



transferred to enable them take over your funds,the managers are



having a lot of problems within themselves because of your



funds,because they wanted to share it within themselves and that was



why they are still having problems.They wanted to tendered a draft



cheque to you through our staff,mind you that it is not the real one.I



was the one who cancelled the cheque to remove their mind from their



wrong thinking of taking over your fund.Since I am still in this



bank,I can't allow them to do such an evil thing to you.I hope you are



aware that your inheritance fund are now in the custody of our Bank



which is the Central Bank of African states,have you been notified to



this effect? The people that handled your funds release did not follow



the directives given to them because a staff of the bank connived with



them to transfer the funds to another account instead of your



designated Bank account and that was why there was confusion and they



faked that they were bringing the funds to you through ATM visa card



means (etc).







I saw the whole thing and i decided to block the transfer of the



funds,hence your name appeared in the original application as the



beneficiary,all the people who tried to receive your inheritance funds



overseas did not get anything because I blocked all the transfers.It



is very wrong for another person to inherit the funds where as you are



the original Beneficiary. I know you will be surprised to receive my



mail, but be rest assured that this is to put you aware of what



belongs to you.If you want to receive all your funds which you started



claiming for long then you are required to stop all other contacts you



are making with anybody including the persons you call your partners



or lawyers as that can jeopardize the good gesture which I have in



mind for you.I was the one who confirmed that your fund has been



transfered but after going through your matter I discovered that some



people in the bank were trying to seize the funds from you and divert



it to their personal use.There is no reason why anybody should ask you



to pay for more money,fees or charges because if everything was



properly handled why couldn't they remove the Charges or fees from the



amount involved.They have more motives than you think and that was why



the funds were about to be moved to other destinations but luckily for



you the funds are in my safe custody as BANK BONDS.







The people were trying to divert your funds to an escro account in



order to take over the funds that was why I have decided to call back



the funds,even some of the money which you paid was not in their



records because they wanted to take over your funds from you and that



was their plans but i want to release all the whole funds in your name



with total interests accrued money existing in your file without you



spending any more money to anybody.All you will be required to do is



to follow my instructions and that is all.I will not like you to show



this message to anybody to avoid complicating issues.I have studied



your fund release matters very well from the beginning and noticed



that you have been spending money unnecessarily in your need to claim



your funds.I have instructed them initially to transfer the funds



directly to your account but I never knew that they had bad intentions



and motives to move the funds to another person according to the



deceitful arrangements made by them.I saw this as an injustice and i



am not ready to support this evil act because I will not benefit



anything from the illicit act, should I accept to remit the funds to a



disclaimer? I was at the helm of affairs when there was a dispute over



the transfer of your funds but no one knew that I only signed a blank



transfer that was why they have not been able to receive the funds



which they have tried to get,it was not possible for them because they



wanted to use fake information to deceive you,so as to enable them



take the funds from you.







You were doing the financing while your partners were having a



different motives.The people could not remit the funds to you because



I sent a BONDED Cheque to them that can never be converted to Foreign



Exchange Cash (FOREX Cash).I have been asked presently by the Central



Bank of African states to sign a confiscation order so that they could



take the money from behind but no one ever knew that I only signed a



blank cheque.Your total fund was not what they told you before because



the interest was not calculated and was about to be diverted,it was



still intact under my custody,that was why the people claiming to be



helping you are all deceiving you.They have applied for a Diplomatic



delivery but I am sure also that they are not going to deliver the



funds to you because they have the intentions of allowing you sponsor



the transaction so that they can divert the funds to any destination



of their choice.You do not need to spend more money because I can



remit the funds directly to your Bank account without any problems if



you are able to follow my instructions.I hate dishonest people that



was why I decided to contact you in confidence hoping that you will



not implicate me later.You must let me know what percentage you are



going to give me if I should take the risk of transfering the funds



directly to your bank account without you spending any more money to



anyone.The Bank will start fresh audits soon and you stand to lose the



entire funds if you do not act quickly and listen to me.All the funds



you are claiming was in my custody, and not even part of the fund has



been received elsewhere by anybody.







All the money you have spent or was about to spend was not necessary



because the people guiding you were suspicious of your claim and



believe me that they are not ready to release the funds to you that



was what prompted my action.Even after paying for the required fees or



charges,they are going to stop the transfer because most of the people



are jealous over the fund and they want a situation where they can



take the funds in the name of a seizure.The people who claim to be



helping you only want you to finance the claim so that they can divert



the funds to another account.They have already issued a Change of



Ownership Certificate to take over the funds but after going through



the files closely,I realized that the people trying to take the funds



are not the original beneficiary and i stopped the transfer.They want



to use that opportunity to take the funds from you even the stop order



which they placed on your fund was not in the rightful way,this was to



make you to over look your fund so that they will use your fund on



their own personal use.A special report has been sent to our bank that



you are seriously sick and that you willed the funds to another



person. Confirm to me whether the report was true or false because I



am still suspecting that the report was not correct. That was why they



transfer the fund through bank of origin to our own bank,the central



bank of African states now your fund is on my care now Stop wasting



your money and time before it will be too late.







I think you are supposed to hear me very well and abide by my



instruction if you want to receive all the funds quickly.The Central



Bank of African states has instructed us that all the funds due for



claim must be confiscated at the end of this fiscal coming month that



was why they have brought your file to my office for approval.For you



to receive the funds in your account,you must stop all contacts with



those false people you are working with hence I will not like any of



them to know of my involvement because what I have intended doing was



to transfer the funds to your bank account and expect a little



percentage from you.I am working with the Central Bank of African



states, and i work under the foreign payment units as the Telex



Manager.I came across your files, which are all marked X, and your



fund release disk was painted Red.I took time to study it and i found



out that you have paid all the fees and charges and certificates,but



the funds are not released to you.The most annoying thing was that



they could not tell you the truth,that on no account will they ever



release these funds to you even if you have paid all the charges,but



instead they let you spend money unnecessarily owing to the dispute



that emanated from the onset.From the papers on hand,you are expected



to pay some money in the claim you are making,but I can assure you



that if this money is paid there is no guarantee of you getting your



funds,as a matter of fact many departments relating to this are at



logger heads in this matter,as some claiming to be representing your



interest are fake,but after my investigations,I now discovered that



all parties involved in this matter have different motives,and to this



regard,I am making this urgent proposal.







All your different files are in my hand and I have the power to effect



the confiscation order given to me or to do real business with you and



transfer the funds to your bank account without delay.As the Telex



Manager of the Bank,I never transfered your funds to anyone because



the facts were not clear to me as at that time of transfer and there



was no reason for the funds to have been transfered to elsewhere



instead of your direct bank account in your country.If we reach an



agreement on the percentage that you are to give me,then be rest



assured that the funds will be in your Bank account in a couple of



Five (5) Bank working Days.I do not intend to work here all the days



of my life,I can release all the funds in the files of yours to you if



you can certify me of my security,and of how you can help to re-locate



me and my family to your country if I do make this transfer into your



bank account.The only thing which I will need to release this fund to



your bank account is just TWO non-residential dollar bank accounts



opened in your name in any banks here in African states,and THREE



special fund transfer Hard Disks.You will buy the three Hard Disks



(3HDs) and give to me for the transfer work.I will use it to recopy



your information,destroy the previous ones,and punch the computer to



reflect in your bank account within 72 banking hours through the



non-resident dollar accounts opened in your name.I will clean up the



traces and destroy your old files.After that I will take some time to



resign and meet you for my share or you can send what you intend to



give me to a bank account that will be provided later by me.







If you are interested, do get in touch with me immediately.You should



send to me your current telephone or mobile numbers for easy



communications,and also re-confirm your bank information so that there



will be no mistakes in the transfer.Reply me as soon as you receive



this mail and for security reason please treat as top secret until you



confirm the funds in your bank account.You have enemies around you in



this transaction but they all claim to be your friends but heaven



wants to bless you through me.NOTE:Revealing this secret to anybody



will not help you but rather will force me to sign the confiscation



order but if you are willing to accept my offer then I promise to



transfer the funds to you but do assure me of how much percentage you



will give me when you receive the funds in your account.This email



address which I have used to contact you is my private email address



and can only be accessed by me. Email me as soon as possible,so that



we can proceed immediately for the transfer,i will be waiting to hear



from you very urgently so that we can proceed on how to retrieved your



funds.God bless you.Awaiting for your urgent response.







Your's Faithfully,



Mr Innocent Idrissa.



Telex manager, foreign payment unit central bank of African states.


Oman is set to build a multi-purpose port in the Masirah region on a 1.8-million-sq-m area to cater to the tourism, transport and fisheries sectors along with facilities for security services, reported Times of Oman, citing a senior ministry official.

This comes as part of the strategic objectives of Oman Vision 2040, said Engineer Saif bin Abdullah Al Amiri, the Acting Director General of Fishing Ports at the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources.

The key facility will have floating anchors for breakwaters and its length will be increased to 4,172 m, he stated.

"The upcoming project will boast 132-m-long fixed berths, each for the Coast Guard and marine transport in addition to a slide for ferries, a terminal for passengers and four berths for tourist yachts," said Al Amiri, while speaking to Times of Oman.

On the project location, the official said Masirah Island was a popular tourist spot, known for kite-surfing and bird-watching.

"Thanks to its uninhabited beaches, the magnificent sea views and rugged terrains, Masirah Island draws visitors throughout the year. Also these beaches are home to sea turtles," said Al Amiri.

On the east side of Barr Al Hikman, the island is hilly and Jabal Madrub mountain is in the north end of the island.

"These beaches are ideal for camping. One of the famous tourist landmarks on the island is the Marsis Old Fort, which is a witness to the history of the wilayat since olden times," he stated.

The tender for the construction of the port was floated last month, he added.
President Yoon Suk Yeol holds a meeting with his aides on the government's response to heavy rains in Korea, July 15, in this photo provided by the presidential office. Yonhap





President Yoon Suk Yeol on Sunday called for the government to take swift measures to support victims hit by recent heavy rains, his office said.







The instruction came as Yoon held a videoconference with Prime Minister Han Duck-soo and relevant ministers as he is set to return home from a weeklong trip to Europe, according to senior presidential secretary for press affairs Kim Eun-hye.







"Support for damage caused by the disaster should be swiftly provided," Yoon said at the meeting, according to Kim.







Yoon also expressed his condolences to flood victims and their bereaved families, Kim said.






Jasmine Sanders was photographed by Yu Tsai in Belize. Yu Tsai/Sports Illustrated

According to five-time SI Swimsuit model Jasmine Sanders, learning to love her body has been a process. It wasnt until the last few years that the 32-year-old really began to embrace herself.

I learned to start loving and embracing my body when I tried not to be such a perfectionist anymore, she told SI Swimsuit. Its really up to me what I want my body to look like and what makes me feel good.

Jasmine Sanders was photographed by James Macari in Costa Rica. James Macari/Sports Illustrated

In 2019, the model made her debut with photographer James Macari in Costa Rica, and was then named Rookie of the Year. She has been featured in the magazine each year since. Sanderss 2020 trip to Bali with photographer Yu Tsai landed her on the cover of that years issue.

According to the model, Sports Illustrated has definitely played a huge part in helping her to embrace her body.

The more you become you and [become] comfortable with you, the more its going to radiate and show on that beach, she remarked. I feel so confident because I was able to have a safe space where I could be comfortable.

Jasmine Sanders was photographed by Yu Tsai in Belize. Yu Tsai/Sports Illustrated

The models confidence certainly shines through in each of her photoshoots. From Costa Rica and Bali to Tampa, Belize and Puerto Rico, Sanderss radiance and self-love is evident in every photo.

On location, all of the people cheering you on and hyping you up have allowed Sanders to really let loose. Theyve created such a safe space for me to love myself, she said.

Jasmine Sanders was photographed by Ben Watts in Puerto Rico. Ben Watts/Sports Illustrated

Make sure to follow SI Swimsuit on YouTube!
Kemi Badenoch has signed off UK membership to a major Indo-Pacific trade bloc.

The business and trade secretary signed the accession protocol to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) in New Zealand on Sunday.

The move brings British businesses a step closer to being able to sell to a market of half a billion people.

Britain is the first new member to join the bloc - comprising Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam - since its formation in 2018.

The UK is also the first European nation to gain entry.

It represents Britain's biggest trade deal since Brexit, cutting tariffs for UK exporters to a group of nations which - with UK accession - will have a combined gross domestic product (GDP) of 12trn, accounting for 15% of global GDP, according to officials.

The signing is the formal confirmation of the agreement which was reached in March after two years of negotiations.

Britain and the other 11 CPTPP members now begin work to ratify the deal, which in the UK will involve parliamentary scrutiny and legislation.

Officials believe it will come into force in the second half of 2024, at which point the UK becomes a voting member of the bloc and businesses can benefit from it.

Before putting pen to paper in Auckland alongside ministers from CPTPP nations, Ms Badenoch said: "I'm delighted to be here in New Zealand to sign a deal that will be a big boost for British businesses and deliver billions of pounds in additional trade, as well as open up huge opportunities and unparalleled access to a market of over 500 million people.

"We are using our status as an independent trading nation to join an exciting, growing, forward-looking trade bloc, which will help grow the UK economy and build on the hundreds of thousands of jobs CPTPP-owned businesses already support up and down the country."

Read more:

Badenoch to meet business groups amid CBI absence

Badenoch demands Ofsted inspection at school where pupil 'identified as a cat'

Simon Case accuses minsters of 'self-defeating cowardice'

To coincide with the signing, the government released figures showing that CPTPP-headquartered businesses employed one in every 100 UK workers in 2019, amounting to more than 400,000 jobs across the country.

While Britain already has trade agreements with the CPTPP members apart from Malaysia and Brunei, officials said it will deepen existing arrangements, with 99% of current UK goods exports to the bloc eligible for zero tariffs.

Dairy producers will gain export opportunities to Canada, Chile, Japan and Mexico, while beef, pork and poultry producers will get better access to Mexico's market, according to officials.

But critics say the impact will be limited, with official estimates suggesting it will add just 1.8bn a year to the economy after 10 years, representing less than 1% of UK GDP.

Shadow foreign secretary David Lammy last month said the Tories were being "dishonest" by claiming CPTPP membership would make up for lost trade in Europe.

Officials herald the CPTPP as an alternative to the beleaguered World Trade Organisation in an increasingly fragmented international trading system.

HSBC chief executive Ian Stuart said: "The UK's formal accession to CPTPP marks a significant milestone for UK trade, enabling ambitious British businesses to connect with the world's most exciting growth markets for start-ups, innovation and technology."

Some of the everyday items from CPTPP nations that will become cheaper for UK consumers thanks to the deal include Australian Ugg boots, kiwi fruits from New Zealand, blueberries from Chile and Canadian maple syrup, according to the Institute of Export and International Trade.

After the UK's accession, attention may shift to other potential new members, with applications by China and Taiwan likely to cause tensions.

Kemi Badenoch will be appearing on the Sophy Ridge on Sunday programme on Sky News from 8.30am this morning.
A woman suffering from severe anorexia may soon be allowed to die under Canadian law

Lisa Pauli. CARLOS OSORIO/Reuters

Lisa Pauli has suffered from a debilitating eating disorder for decades.

Pauli, who is based in Canada, told Reuters that every day was "hell" and she was ready to die.

An expansion of Canada's assisted dying law may soon allow her to.

A Canadian woman who has suffered from a debilitating eating disorder for decades may soon be eligible for medically assisted death under Canadian law.

Lisa Pauli, who suffers from anorexia, told Reuters she went days without eating solid food, struggled to get out of bed, and was not strong enough to carry groceries home without stopping to rest.

Pauli has been hospitalized twice and tried a number of different treatments to fight her condition but nothing has worked, Reuters reported.

Pauli said she felt ready to die but is currently ineligible under Canadian law. CARLOS OSORIO/Reuters

Although Pauli feels she is ready to die, she is not currently eligible to under Canadian law.

The country first legalized assisted death for those with terminal illnesses in 2016 and extended this to include people with incurable conditions in 2021. Both euthanasia and medically assisted suicide are legal in Canada.

An expansion of the law, which is due to come into effect in March 2024, will allow those whose underlying condition is mental illness to choose medically assisted death, per Reuters.

Pauli weighs 92 pounds and said she had struggled with her body since she was eight years old, according to Reuters.

Pauli weighs 92 pounds, per Reuters. CARLOS OSORIO/Reuters

She told the news outlet that every day was "hell," adding: "I've tried everything. I feel like I've lived my life."

According to the report, Pauli has been considering assisted death since April 2021 when she first raised the idea with psychiatrist Justine Dembo.

Dembo, an assistant professor at the University of Toronto, told Reuters Pauli could be eligible for assisted death after Canada's law changes as she had "undergone very high-quality treatments and they just have not made an impact."

Assisted dying is legal in several other countries, including New Zealand, Switzerland, and Australia. In the US, physician-assisted suicide is legal in 10 states, including New Jersey, Vermont, New Mexico, and California, according to the end-of-life advocacy group Death with Dignity.

Read the original article on Insider
Wout Poels celebrated his first career grand tour stage win as the slopes of Mont Blanc failed to find any difference between Tour de France leader Jonas Vingegaard and his rival Tadej Pogacar.

Poels, 35, was the last survivor of a big breakaway group that got clear after a crash caused by a spectator reshaped the 179km stage 15 from Les Gets to Saint-Gervais.

Six minutes after the Bahrain-Victorious rider crossed the line, Vingegaard and Pogacar came home shoulder to shoulder, with Vingegaards advantage in yellow remaining at 10 seconds going into Mondays rest day.

There was nothing to separate Jonas Vingegaard and Tadej Pogacar at the finish (Thibault Camus/AP)

Pogacar was guided towards the summit by team-mate Adam Yates but then gradually let the wheel go, seemingly unable to follow as Vingegaard stayed in his shadow.

The easing of pace allowed Saturdays winner Carlos Rodriguez to ride back to the pair, with Vingegaard moving on to the Spaniards wheel.

Pogacar was planning one more attack, but as the Slovenian burst forward just after the flamme rouge, he could not shake Vingegaard, with the Jumbo-Visma rider drawing up alongside on the final bend to ensure he will start Tuesdays time trial in yellow.

With Jai Hindley having faded, Rodriguez strengthened his grip on third place, with Yates moving up to fourth.

Asked if he had planned to drop Pogacar on the climb, Yates said: Not really. We had a few issues with the radio. But Im still high on (general classification) and if Tadej lets me go then Jumbo-Visma have to chase, so its kind of still in our favour.

Today was unexpected, but these things add up over the three weeks.

S'il vous plait, faites attention. Pour que la fete reste une fete pour les coureurs mais egalement pour vous. Pas besoin de portable pour se creer des souvenirs plein la tete.  https://t.co/ohLJ17hWlu  Team Cofidis (@TeamCOFIDIS) July 16, 2023

The peloton had been closely following a series of breakaway attempts in the early part of the stage but, when a young spectator in the road was struck by Vingegaards team-mate Sepp Kuss 50km in, around a dozen riders went down, slowing the main group and allowing almost 40 riders to get away.

There was a narrowing in the town and a spectator in the road, and I guess he just clipped my handlebars, said Kuss, his elbow heavily bandaged. Luckily Im OK and hopefully the other guys in the crash are all right. Its not ideal.

I think its fatigue. Its been such a hard race and everybody is a bit tired, you lose a bit of alertness and theres always things out of your control as well.

Poels, riding his 10th Tour de France having been part of four winning teams while with Team Sky and the Ineos Grenadiers, delivered a second stage win of this race for the Bahrain-Victorious team and dedicated it to Gino Mader, his team-mate who died after a crash at the Tour de Suisse last month.

I always dreamed to win a stage in the Tour and especially with what has happened in the team in the last few weeks with Gino, all of the emotions come, the Dutchman said.

Ive won a Monument, Ive won a stage in the Tour and Im super happy. I only started to believe in the last kilometre and I had to just keep fighting.

I really enjoyed my period with Sky  four times I was in the winning team and it was really incredible to do, but I could never fight for a stage win and to finally do it today is great.
A NANG  Viet Nam's logistics market grew from 14 to 16 per cent with a total import-export turnover of US$730 billion in 2022. The country expects to be a new logistics centre in the Asia Pacific region, creating an effective transport network for domestic and international markets in the future.

The comments were made by Vice Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Sinh Nhat Tan at the Asia-Pacific Regional Annual Meeting of the International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations (FIATA) and again at the mid-year meeting of the ASEAN Freight Forwarders Association (AFFA) in the central city on July 14.

He said the Government and ministries have been improving solutions to reduce logistics costs and create favourable conditions for sustainable development of the industry.

In the context of the difficulties the world logistics service industry has been facing, the meetings of FIATA and AFFA offered a valuable opportunity to Viet Nam in connecting partners and businesses and exchanging experience and ties in the growing industry, said Tan.

FIATA is an important link for the Viet Nam Logistics Association in cooperating with the world associations and communities. The Prime Minister highly appreciated the contributions of FIATA and AFFA in the development of Viet Nams logistics service in a working visit in Ha Noi, he said.

He added the conferences of FIATA and AFFA would open up chances to promote import and export growth as well as improve competitiveness for businesses in Viet Nam and the region.

President of FIATA, Ivan Petrov emphasised the trend of the structure of the global logistics service and freight forwarders associations  digital transformation, e-commerce and last-mile delivery and cross-border trade.

He suggested members should keep an eye on developments in electronic documents, artificial intelligence, internet of things (IoT), and the rapid growth of e-commerce, all of which need improved infrastructure, automated processes and innovative delivery solutions.

He said cross-border trade requires improved trade facilitation and regional integration.

Chairman of AFFA Yukki Nugrahawan Hanafi said the annual meeting of FIATA and AFFA aimed to boost cooperation and partnerships among associations during the crisis of the world economy and logistics industry.

He said big logistics service providers in the world gathered in the meeting to discuss solutions for boosting links and sharing experiences.

Viet Nam played an important role in the centre of the meetings and a Nang was chosen as the most favourable location for the event, he said.

Alex Marcias, an associate expert of the transport division under the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) introduced three pillars of ESCAPs transport work including a platform for intergovernmental cooperation and policy dialogue; a comprehensive capacity-building programme, and analytical work and data collection.

He also said the ongoing projects must enhance the energy efficiency of the freight transport sector in Asia and the Pacific, as well as support policies on green and resilient transport infrastructure along the Asian network.

He added that improving the safety of navigation and sustainability of shipping through introducing innovative autonomous shipping technologies in the Asia-Pacific region, as well as leveraging the Trans-Asia railway network, would build more efficient and resilient transport connectivity and logistics in ASEAN and beyond.

It requires regional cooperation and the advancement of policies on sustainable maritime connectivity in the Asia Pacific in 2023, he said.

Chairman of Viet Nam Logistics Association, Le Duy Hiep said the annual meeting has helped bring together global and regional freight forwarders to discuss the highlights of the logistics and transportation industry in Asia, and the latest trends and best practices in the freight forwarding sector in 2023.

Its also a chance for leading freight forwarders from Asia to focus on the implementation of sustainable development goals in the region, he said.

He added more than 100 businesses joined and partook in a field trip to a Nangs Tien Sa Port and explored the city's air logistics service.

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.

According to the World Bank, Viet Nam ranks 43rd in the logistics performance index and is in the top five in ASEAN.  VNS
A bus that was engulfed by water in a flooded tunnel is towed away as emergency workers continue their operation to recover the bodies of victims. As of 1 p.m., Sunday, eight bodies have been recovered. A total of 15 vehicles were trapped in the tunnel when it was flooded on Saturday, according to authorities. Yonhap





Flooding and landslides caused by heavy rains have killed 35 people nationwide and left more than 10 people missing, while thousands have evacuated their homes due to rain damage, authorities said Sunday.







The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters said 33 people have reportedly been killed in the aftermath of the heavy rains that have pounded the country since last week, while 10 others remained missing as of 11 a.m.







The death toll includes seven bodies authorities recovered from a bus trapped in a flooded underground tunnel in the central town of Osong.







The 685-meter-long underground roadway was flooded in Osong, North Chungcheong Province, the previous day when a nearby river overflowed after an embankment was brought down by rising water levels due to heavy rain.







As of late Sunday morning, casualties from the underpass flooding stood at nine and are expected to rise further as a rescue operation continues for 15 vehicles and several people believed to be trapped inside the tunnel.







Emergency service personnel, Sunday, prepare to search the underground tunnel that became engulfed with water the previous day in the town of Osong, Cheongju City, North Chungcheong Province. Yonhap





Later on Sunday, rescuers additionally pulled one more body out of the flooded tunnel, while one more downpour-related death was reported in North Gyeongsang Province.







Most fatalities were reported in the southeastern province of North Gyeongsang, where 17 people died largely due to landslides and housing collapses, and nine others remained missing.







One more person remained missing in Busan, the office said. Twenty-two people have also been injured nationwide as a result of the recent downpours.







As of 11 a.m., 7,866 people from 13 cities and provinces had evacuated their homes, including 2,362 in North Chungcheong Province, and of them, 6,182 have not returned home yet due to safety concerns, authorities also said.






NEW DELHI  Viet Nams bamboo diplomacy is bringing about a lot of benefits to the country, said former Deputy National Security Advisor of India SD Pradhan.

Talking to the Vietnam News Agency (VNA)s correspondents in New Delhi, Pradhan said Viet Nams flexible foreign policy has helped protect interests of the country and its people.

The term bamboo diplomacy was coined by Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong during a diplomatic conference in 2016 and reiterated at the first national conference on foreign affairs in 2021. During these meetings, the leader likened Viet Nams foreign policy to bamboo, with strong roots, solid stems, and flexible branches.

It reflects Viet Nams approach to foreign affairs that is utilising existing opportunities to promote interest of its people, he said, noting Trongs firm belief in the peaceful settlement of all disputes has laid the foundation for the formation of bamboo diplomacy.

He also lauded Viet Nams increasing role in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the United Nations Security Council, as well as the performance of Vietnamese forces in UN peacekeeping missions.

Viet Nam has played an important role in promoting the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific, which is similar to Indias Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative, Pradhan added, stressing that these steps have significantly enhanced Viet Nam's stature in the international arena.

He praised Party General Secretary Trongs leadership in formulating Viet Nam's foreign policy, thereby determining the approach to international and regional issues.

Regarding the Viet Nam-India relationship, he said it has witnessed a significant growth, and that the two countries share views on all regional and international issues, and the wish for settlement through the diplomatic channel.  VNS
HA NOI  A tropical depression active in the East Sea (internationally known as South China Sea) has strengthened into Storm Talim, the first storm expected to hit Viet Nam this year, according to the National Center for Hydro-meteorological Forecasting.

By 1pm Monday (July 17), the storm would be 200km to the east of Leizhou Peninsula. By 1pm Tuesday (July 18), the storm would be above the northern part of the Gulf of Tonkin, with wind speeds of 75-102km per hour and gusts up to 149km an hour.

The Hong Kong Observatory said the storms wind speed would remain at over 140 kilometres per hour until it makes landfall in Viet Nam.

Due to the impact of Talim, the northern part of the East Sea will experience strong winds and rough waves of 4-6 metres.

The National Steering Committee for Disaster Prevention has requested the authorities from Quang Ninh Province in the northern region to Phu Yen in the south-central coast to monitor the storm and prepare response measures.

The Commanding Committee of Natural Disaster Prevention and Control and Search and Rescue of Thai Binh Province has issued an urgent message, designated as Message No 02, to all committees responsible for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control and Search and Rescue at every level and branch within the province.

This message urgently calls for the strict implementation of Emergency Dispatch No 01, which requires all ships and boats in hazardous areas to immediately seek safe locations to avoid potential risks.

These units are responsible for promptly notifying vessel and boat owners and captains operating at sea about the storm's location, movement, and safe routes to follow. They must also warn against entering danger zones. Concurrently, these committees shall organise comprehensive monitoring and strict management of ship and boat sailings, maintaining regular communication with vessels in the storm-affected area. They will conduct inspections and provide guidance on safe anchorage for ships and boats. Additionally, they should have rescue forces and resources readily available to promptly respond to any adverse situations that may arise.

The irrigation system in the province would have to appoint staff to work around the clock. These personnel are responsible for monitoring the water levels and actively draining excess water from the system through sluices located under the dyke. Additionally, they regularly inspect the operation of pumping stations to ensure they are prepared to facilitate drainage for newly transplanted rice, crops, and low-lying areas.

The People's Committees of districts and cities are urgently directing and urging the pruning of tree branches and reinforcing cages and rafts of aquaculture and fishing farms in riverside and coastal areas. They are also developing plans to relocate clam, aquaculture, seafood workers, and households living in dangerous low-lying areas along rivers and estuaries, as well as fishermen conducting business on the river and at sea, to safer locations.

Tran Van Ta, Director of the Maritime Port Authority of Kien Giang Province, yesterday morning announced the suspension of all passenger transportation services between the mainland and the islands due to severe weather conditions. The suspension would be in effect until the weather conditions improve and return to normal.

Specifically, shipping lines and ferries operating on routes between Phu Quoc-Rach Gia, Phu Quoc-Ha Tien, Rach Gia-Nam Du, and vice versa must suspend their operations during this period to ensure the safety of passengers. VNS
By Le Huong

To many, old age means living for oneself and enjoying free time in a leisurely way. Yet 85-year-old painter Nguyen Trong Nguyen uses his spare time to make his residential neighbourhood look more cheerful.

The white-haired artist's mural paintings are familiar to residents of bustling Ngo Quynh in Hai Ba Trung District of Ha Noi, beautifying the walls of many homes and the local lanes in general.

Under his brushstrokes, flowers and paintings appear on what were once drab and dirty walls, so his neighbours no longer dump rubbish there. The area has been kept clean and beautiful, with murals and bonsai.

Lively paintings of flowers, 12 zodiac animals and folk ong Ho paintings like the Rats' Wedding and Picking Coconuts or historical figures like Thanh Giong, the Two Trung sisters, Ngo Quyen, and inh Tien Hoang have given the area a creative, artistic feel.

When I was working as a public employee, I did not care about my residential place, he told Viet Nam News. Since I retired, I have more time spent with my neighbours. I saw the neighbourhood was filthy. Rubbish was everywhere. The walls were full of advertisements. Locals did not dump rubbish at the regulated time. I wanted to make a contribution to keeping the neighbourhood clean, he says.

To kick off his idea, he drew on the walls of his house. Then he drew on the walls of houses in his lane. Local people gradually found their lanes beautiful with no more variegated ads, and they no longer dumped rubbish in public places.

The project started in early 2020 with the support of local authorities and residents. After around a month, Nguyen completed 26 murals with a length of 164 metres

He has also encouraged his neighbours to repaint their walls and put lanterns along the lane to make it more beautiful at night.

The local women's union encouraged its members to place pots of bonsai in front of their houses.

According to Nguyen Van Chung, a local official, the elderly artist is full of boundless enthusiasm.

Nguyen devotes his time and effort as much as he can, Chung says. He further expanded the painting area to neighbouring lanes. Where there were no walls left to paint on, we put up bonsai pots to decorate the pathways.

The whole area has been more beautiful, clean and green, making locals more aware of keeping the lanes tidy and clear.

Mr Nguyen and the people in this area have wholeheartedly decorated our beautiful lanes with paintings and bonsai, says Le Thuy, a resident. This makes the neighbourhood more cheerful. The space is much greener without any more rubbish being dumped.

Bui Van at, another resident, says there were many interesting paintings depicting history, countryside scenes, and the folk paintings.

This is good for children to look at the ancient cultural features, he says. Its fantastic and helps the lanes look clean and beautiful. Its good to draw similar murals in other areas.

The artist says when he goes out, people ask: Hey man, when will you paint on our walls?

This makes me happy as people know more about me, especially when I can continue using my career skills to do good things for people, he says.

Nguyen used to work as a painter during the anti-American war, and specialised in drawing large posters to hang in public places condemning the US war crimes and calling on young people to join the army to defend the country.

Now in his twilight years, the painter still makes a valuable contribution to society in his own way, and has even trained many youngsters to take entrance exams to fine art schools.

Learning fine arts will make children understand beauty and avoid doing evil things, he says.

Day by day, he checks his paintings and fixes any faded details as a wholehearted volunteer creating beauty in his local community. VNS
Viet Nam and Japan will mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties this year. For Viet Nam Japan is the biggest official development assistance (ODA) provider with 2.9 trillion yen (about US$22 billion) between 1993-2022, and the third biggest investor with an accumulated US$69 billion.

Looking back to history over the past half century, the relationship between Viet Nam and Japan has been dramatically developed to the best in the last two decades. The two countries had built strong, comprehensive, and essential development within the framework of the 'Extensive Strategic Partnership.

Tran Van Tho, PhD, professor emeritus at Waseda University, Tokyo, Japan, recently attended a workshop on the Viet Nam-Japan relationship, in the central city of a Nang.

Tho said the diplomatic ties between the two countries were officially established in 1973, but 1993-2023 saw rapid development in various cooperation fields, such as investment, trade, education, cultural exchange, security, and defence.

Japan was the first country in the G7 to recognise Viet Nams market economy status in 2011, and increasing foreign direct investment flows," he said.

"Financial support and assistance from Japan helped Viet Nam's economic development in 1973-1992, and the market-economy process in the 1990s.

"Cultural exchanges were linked between 90 localities on both sides, while various cooperation deals were inked in education and training, economy, trade, environment, defence and security.

Japan is not only a big investor in Viet Nam, but it called on other countries and financial institutions such as the World Bank and the Asia Development Bank to invest and support the country.

Japan helped improve the investment environment in Viet Nam and its policies. The increase in ODA and foreign direct investment (FDI) had helped Viet Nam grow faster, so it could join the world economy in the 1990s.

Tho said that despite the slow change in policy and institutional reforms in Viet Nam, Japan had reserved patience in helping Viet Nam to develop faster and stronger.

He noted the two countries built trust at a high level, and said former ambassador to Viet Nam Umeda Kunio had his book Japan and Vietnam Are Natural Allies translated into Vietnamese in 2021.

He stressed that "'natural allies' means the relationship and trust surpasses any formal agreements and designations between the two countries".

Tho studied in Japan from 1968 and became a Vietnamese economic advisor to the Japanese government, and a member of the advisory team for three former Vietnamese prime ministers (Vo Van Kiet, Phan Van Khai and Nguyen Xuan Phuc). He suggested Viet Nam should use high quality human resources trained in Japan for the 2045 plan, as more than 200,000 internship Vietnamese students studied and trained in Japan in 2021.

Japans ODA and FDI flows into Viet Nam accounted for an average of more than 30 per cent of total foreign investment between 1990-2022, meaning that Japan had been playing a key role in the countrys growth for three decades.

Viet Nam should foster small and medium-sized enterprises for joining ventures with Japanese key industries, or developing informal economic sector to be larger businesses, and training high-quality human resources for future plans, Tho said.

It needs deeper investment in supportive industries, innovation, high-tech and R&D for the economic transformation. Currently, only 3,000 out of 110,000 businesses in Viet Nam are working in supporting industries.

Speaking at the event the Japanese Consul General in a Nang, Yakabe Yoshinori, said the historical ties of Viet Nam and Japan should be arranged clearly and objectively to strengthen friendship in the future.

He said historical studies on the relationship between Viet Nam and Japan during the time the Japanese Imperial Army occupied Indochina (1940-45), and the independence course of Viet Nam from the French colonial period to 1954 had yet to progress.

It was reported that after the World War II, at least 700 Japanese former imperial soldiers, who voluntarily stayed back and joined the Viet Minh (known as Vietnamese Independence League) in the fight against the French for the independence of Viet Nam (1945-54).

"Many Japanese ex-servicemen served as trainers at the Quang Ngai-based military school, training Viet Minh soldiers. These Japanese men were called New Vietnamese (the common name for those foreigners who voluntarily fought in the anti-French war)," Yoshinori said.

Some Japanese historical researchers have successfully studied the New Vietnamese, but not many Vietnamese people know the role of ex-Japanese soldiers during the fight for independence in Viet Nam.

Yoshinori said the Japan-Viet Nam relationship should be reviewed in light of all historical events from the past to now, as they were consistently moving towards ever-closer friendship.

Dr Tran uc Anh Son, a historian, said the relationship between the two countries was promoted by trade in the 17th century between the Nguyen Lords and the Tokugawa Shogunate, and Japanese red-seal ships frequently had ports of call in Hue, Hoi An and Quy Nhon in central Viet Nam.

Many Japanese merchants settled in Hoi An port as their second home. They gathered in the Japanese quarter in Hoi An Town and donated money to build a pagoda in the town as well as for the restoration of other pagodas in Quang Nam Province in the 17th century, he said.

Name of a Japanese trader Kadoya Shichirobe of the Kadoya family in Nagoya was carved on epitaphs on the rock wall in Ngu Hanh Son (Marble Mountains) in a Nang for his donation to building a Buddhist statue of Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva among the mountains in the 17th century.

Tsuno Motonori, former head of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), said Viet Nam became a low-middle-income country about 15 years after the full resumption of official development assistance in 1993, and achieved sustainable growth thereafter.

He said through ODA projects, technology transfer and human resource development had progressed, and Vietnamese businesses could now carry out such projects themselves. VNS
From a determined learner to an innovative entrepreneur, Le inh Luc is the man behind DOL English and the groundbreaking Linearthinking method. Truong Khanh Linh speaks with him about his journey, insights on the future of language education, and the transformative impact of technology.

Inner Sanctum: Could you say a little bit about your background and how it has influenced your journey as an entrepreneur in the education sector?

I was born and raised in the Central Highlands province of Gia Lai, and later moved to Ho Chi Minh City after being admitted to the High School for the Gifted - a prestigious high school in the city.

As a person with a strong inclination towards maths and science, I faced significant challenges when learning English, especially in listening and speaking. I remembered distinctively my first English test at that school, I only got a three.

Driven by determination, I devoted eight hours a day to mastering English, even sacrificing sleep. Through this tireless pursuit, I gradually uncovered an effective approach to learning English, employing the principles of mathematical thinking.

Inspired by this breakthrough, I initiated a tutoring class and witnessed its remarkable impact on students. In that pivotal moment, it felt as if the stars had aligned, and it ignited the inception of DOL English.

Inner Sanctum: Can you share the inspiration behind the development of your linear thinking method for English learning?

To put it simply, my method involves three essential elements: studying the influence of ones first language on the second language, specifically on Vietnamese learners when learning English. The other two components involve leveraging the power of super memory techniques and employing mathematical logical thinking to enhance English language skills.

Rather than relying solely on memorising grammar formulas and using mnemonic tricks, Linearthinking introduces a more effective method that encourages the creation of mind maps, simplification of concepts, and contextual application.

Inner Sanctum: How do you envision the future of English learning and the role of technology in revolutionising language education?

Personally, I believe that technology in general, ChatGPT and other AI-powered applications, will reshape the educational landscape.

Looking at the positive aspects, I believe ChatGPT brings more benefits than drawbacks to the field of education. Learners now have a virtual personal assistant where they can ask questions and receive effective knowledge support, as teachers cannot be available 24/7.

From the perspective of educators, ChatGPT can assist teachers in creating materials, developing lesson plans, providing feedback, and grading assignments. This allows teachers to have more time to invest in the development of teaching methods.

However, it's important to note that ChatGPT and AI, in general, often replicate and follow what humans have already done through programming and training. They have yet to create entirely new concepts. In other words, the potential for human creativity and thinking is still immense.

The question is whether we, as a whole and especially the younger generation, are willing to put in the effort to engage in critical thinking, self-education, and continuous self-improvement.

For me, super AIs like present opportunities. Only those who are resistant to change or rely solely on hard work without applying the right mindset and methods should worry in the face of this rapidly developing AI era.

Inner Sanctum: What advice would you give to aspiring entrepreneurs who are looking to make a difference in the education sector?

In my opinion, the key advice would be to focus on internal development rather than seeking rapid expansion. At DOL, we prioritise pedagogical skills over mere high scores for our teachers. Our selection process is rigorous, and we provide two months of intensive 1-1 training to ensure their readiness.

I firmly believe that if we deliver a truly valuable product, success will naturally follow. By investing in developing our human resources and establishing a strong foundation, we will attract students who are genuinely interested in what we offer.

Inner Sanctum: What is your future plan for your company?

I'm thrilled to share that I have an exciting plan in the works. Within a short timeframe, I aim to introduce a specialised IELTS programme tailored for secondary school students, set to launch in October 2023.

This programme promises to deliver exceptional value and address the specific needs of parents with children in the secondary education phase. But that's not all. Our grand vision extends even further. We aspire to launch a cutting-edge global online learning platform, taking DOL English and the revolutionary Linearthinking method to students worldwide. VNS
This beautiful New Orleans style home in historic Castle Heights shows quality in every detail! Built by a prominent Waco citizen in 1939 it is even more lovely today than it was when it was built! Current sellers are only the 2nd people to own this home. The spreading oak trees, and large beautifully landscaped double lot provide the perfect setting for playing, entertaining, relaxing and enjoying life to it's fullest! The outside of this home sets it apart from all others, but when you enter the lovely foyer, the full beauty of the home starts to truly unfold. At one end of the foyer is an expansive formal living area with a light filled sunroom at the far end. At the other end of the foyer is a large formal dining room that has plenty of space for celebrations around the table. Off the dining room is an open, well designed kitchen that offers a large island and plenty of workspace for a dedicated cook. The kitchen is open to a great table space for informal dining and then steps down into a grand den that was added for the comfort and flexibility of the home. Fireplaces in the formal living area as well as in the family room add warmth and hospitality to those areas. Both fireplaces have a gas jet and can be wood burning but are currently set up with gas logs. Enjoy sitting at the informal dining table in the bay window of the kitchen as a favorite spot to watch the neighborhood activites while enjoying the comforts of home. Also on the main floor is a private room perfect for an office or library space. There are 5 bedrooms and 3 & 1/2 bathrooms in the home. One bedroom and bathroom is attached to the garage with a separate entrance from the outside and an entrance from the garage making this a very private guest room, retreat or flex space. There are too many other amenities in this beautiful home to list them all, but following are a few. In addition to the two car garage attached to the home, there is a one car porte cachere at the end of the driveway. This space also includes a huge store room that is large enough to hold all the holiday and party decorations you could possibly desire. The driveway has an electric iron gate for full privacy. In the upstairs master suite, open the French doors to step out onto the upstairs balcony for a treetop experience. The exquisite partially covered New Orleans style brick patio in back extends out to a fountain and large open tree shaded brick patio area. Two extra pull-in parking spaces are just off the driveway in front for off the street guest parking. There is a basement to the home that has a sump pump and houses the mechanicals. Truly a one of a kind home in Waco!

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Amongst the many significant aircraft on their books, our sponsors at Platinum Fighter Sales regularly feature combat-veteran warbirds on offer. One of the more fascinating projects within their inventory at present is P-40N 42-105744 which served with the US Army Air Forces 8th Fighter Squadron of the 49th Fighter Group in the Pacific Theatre during WWII. According to the details provided, this aircraft rolled off the Curtiss factory line in Buffalo, New York during 1942 and eventually made its way to the South Pacific to join in the war effort. At some point, it is known to have flown with the name Flo II and the unit number, 63, painted in yellow on its nose, as depicted in the wartime image below.

Between September, 1942 and May, 1944, the 8th Fighter Squadron was based at various locations in New Guinea. One of the Squadrons pilots, Charles A. Peterson, is known to have scored a brace of aerial victories in Flo II during the spring of 1944. Peterson eventually gained command of the 8th on May 22nd, 1944.

While the exact fate which befell 42-105744 during WWII is unknown at present, it clearly was involved in a significant accident of some kind. The wreck ended up being pushed into a hole and buried in Finschhafen, New Guinea, as did numerous other aircraft during the war. And there the P-40 seemed destined to stay until some intrepid salvagers recovered her mortal remains during the 1990s. The current owner began a restoration effort in Melbourne, Australia about twenty years ago, and has made significant progress with the fuselage reconstruction, incorporating as many original parts as possible.
WAVERLY  The Chamber of Commerce Main Street Program will host a half-day seminar for small business owners and entrepreneurs from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Aug. 16 at the Waverly Civic Center, 200 First St. N.E.

The free "Journey to Your Vision" session will help them understand their current stage of growth, what's ahead, and how to chart a course to reach their future goals.

"Each year we offer The Journey to Your Vision in rural communities across the state of Iowa," said Joel Bennett, session co-facilitator. "Its exciting to work with such a variety of small businesses and support the entrepreneurs that drive their growth. Its a great opportunity for them to work on their business, instead of just in it. Bennett shared that the seminars which began in 2013, have been attended by over 650 rural business leaders.

The hands-on event provides entrepreneurs an opportunity to discuss their challenges with others while utilizing the collective power of their experiences to help them directly address barriers. Additionally, a myriad of statewide resources -- many of them free  will be available.

The sessions were launched by Iowa Farm Bureaus Renew Rural Iowa program and are offered in partnership with CIRAS, SBDC, and other regional partners. Although the session is valued at $350 per person, through their generous support, the sessions are offered at no cost to participants.

The Chamber Main Street Program hosted this event back in 2014 and we are excited to bring it back to Waverly for our small business members and downtown business owners," said Chamber Executive Director Travis Toliver. "Take advantage of this free seminar designed to help grow businesses towards success and learn about useful statewide information and resources.

For more information and to register, visit: https://waverlyjtyv.eventbrite.com.

Photos: Those we've lost in 2023 Tina Turner Raquel Welch Jim Brown Harry Belafonte Lisa Marie Presley David Crosby Lance Reddick Richard Belzer Cindy Williams Alan Arkin Gordon Lightfoot Jeff Beck Bobby Caldwell Gary Rossington Wayne Shorter Jerry Springer Jacklyn Zeman John Beasley Michael Lerner Tom Sizemore Charles Kimbrough Julian Sands Cynthia Weil Sheldon Harnick Barrett Strong Willis Reed Tim McCarver Billy Packer The Iron Sheik Treat Williams Daniel Ellsberg Pat Robertson Robert Blake Ted Kaczynski Lloyd Morrisett Chaim Topol Len Goodman Burt Bacharach Stella Stevens Barry Humphries Annie Wersching Dave Hollis Christine King Farris David Jude Jolicoeur Robbie Knievel Gina Lollobrigida Lynette Hardaway ("Diamond") Adam Rich Bobby Hull Charles White Jerry Richardson Sister Andre Tatjana Patitz Russell Banks Cardinal George Pell Ken Block Walter Cunningham Anton Walkes Pat Schroeder Seymour Stein Klaus Teuber Ginnie Newhart Vida Blue Martin Amis Doyle Brunson Hodding Carter III Ray Stevenson Astrud Gilberto Tori Bowie Silvio Berlusconi John Goodenough Coco Lee Jane Birkin Tony Bennett
This years legislative session was hugely consequential, criticized by some Iowans and praised by others. The laws passed, from tax cuts to school regulations to book bans to restrictions on transgender students, will influence the everyday lives of people across the state for years to come.

We wanted to know how these actions and others by the state government affect the lives of people across the state. What they like, what they dont like, where they see our leaders falling short and what they think needs more attention.

This story is part of a larger series involving Lee Enterprises newspapers in Council Bluffs, Davenport, Mason City, Muscatine, Sioux City, Waterloo-Cedar Falls and our Des Moines Bureau. The What Do Iowans Want? series attempts to probe the thinking of people across the state about how the government is working for them.

The 20 Iowans profiled represent the broad perspectives in our state. Theyre teachers, artists, retirees and athletes. Theyre Republicans, Democrats and independents. Theyre your neighbors and your friends.
WATERLOO  Two Waterloo police officers were part of a federal task force credited with the Saturday capture of a survivalist and homicide suspect who escaped from a Pennsylvania prison.

Michael Charles Burham, 34, had been on the run for more than a week when he was detained in a wooded area near Warren, Pennsylvania.

Images from the end to the manhunt show Waterloo officers Gavin Kramer and Keaton Northrup amid other agents, all outfitted with body armor and rifles, escorting Burham to a vehicle.

All of us were always concerned that we would end up with a citizen harmed in some way, or even one of the officers harmed, said Lt. Col. George Bivens with the Pennsylvania State Police. Youre always worried about things like that, so to not have that play out, its a good day

Authorities said Burham was awaiting trial for arson, burglary and kidnapping and was a suspect in a homicide investigation when he used tied bed sheets to escape from Warren County Prison on the night of July 6.

According to the U.S. Marshals Services, Burham is a prime suspect in the May 11 shooting death of 34-year-old Kala Hodgkin inside her William Street home in Jamestown. He is also alleged to have set fire to another womans car in Jamestown.

During the search that followed the escape, authorities located a stash of food and clothing believed to have been left by Burham.

More than 15 federal, state and local agencies plus more than 200 law enforcement officers were involved in the manhunt. A $22,000 reward was offered for information leading to his capture.

On Saturday afternoon, a couple heard their dog barking in the back yard. They approached Burham, who claimed he was camping. They recognized him as a fugitive and called police, authorities said.

Agents used dogs to pick up his trail, and he was detained shortly before 6 p.m. Pennsylvania time.

Kramer and Northrup are assigned to Waterloo Police Departments Violent Crime Apprehension Team. Four members of the squad are deputized as United States Marshals, said Capt. Jason Feaker with WPD. He said part of their duties involve traveling to assist federal agents with manhunts and similar investigations.

The Waterloo officers went to Pennsylvania on Wednesday, he said.
Rescue workers attempt to enter a bus that became submerged in a flooded tunnel, Sunday, in Osong, North Chungcheong Province. Emergency services personnel work to drain the tunnel behind the bus. Yonhap



Floods, landslides force over 8,000 to be evacuated from homes



By Lee Hae-rin



Heavy monsoon rains left at least 37 people dead and nine missing in Korea, safety authorities said, Sunday. The downpours, which started Thursday, left a trail of destruction across the country causing floods and landslides that forced over 8,000 people to evacuate.



The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters said as of 6 p.m., Sunday, nine of the 37 confirmed deaths occurred in a flooded underpass in the Osong area of Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province. The 430-meter-long underpass was flooded on Saturday when a nearby river overflowed after an embankment collapsed due to heavy rain.



The death toll from the Osong flood is expected to rise further as the rescue operation is still underway for 15 vehicles and many are believed to be trapped inside the underpass. The exact number of victims has yet to be determined and an official figure has not been released by the safety authorities.



According to official figures, most of the fatalities came from North Gyeongsang Province that saw 19 deaths, followed by 13 in North Chungcheong Province, four in South Chungcheong Province and one in Sejong City.



Amid the downpours, 8,852 people in 98 regions and counties were evacuated due to rain damage. Among them, 26 percent are in North Chungcheong Province, 27 percent in South Chungcheong Province and 29 percent in North Gyeongsang Province.



The annual monsoon season has wreaked havoc on the country's farmland, causing flooding and landslides that destroyed 19,769 hectares of crops, which is over one fourth the size of Seoul.





Firefighters and soldiers conduct a rescue mission near a flooded underground tunnel in Osong, North Chungcheong Province, Sunday. Yonhap



The heavy downpours inflicted damage on 215 public structures, 68 of which are in North Chungcheong Province, resulting in the destruction of roads, collapses of retaining walls and embankments and landslides.









Power outages occurred in 27,261 households across the country since Thursday morning, while electricity supply was restored to 98 percent of them as of Sunday.



A search and rescue operation is underway in Yecheon, North Gyeongsang Province, where nine people are reported dead and eight missing from a landslide. Over 2,400 rescue operators, including local firefighters, police and soldiers are continuing their search in five areas of Yecheon.



President Yoon Suk Yeol, who was on a trip to central Europe, hosted a video meeting with the safety authorities in Poland, Sunday (local time).



According to senior presidential secretary for public relations Kim Eun-hye, Yoon ordered an urgent review of the damage and rescue efforts due to the severe rainfall and expressed deep condolences to the bereaved families of those who died due to the floods.



The president also highlighted the importance of preemptive measures and urged the police to implement speedy evacuations of residents of lowland areas.





A firefighter and a rescue dog search for missing people at a landslide site in Yecheon, North Gyeongsang Province, Sunday. The town saw five households get buried under the landslide, leaving nine dead and eight missing. Yonhap
Russian Defence Ministry report on the progress of the special military operation (15 July 2023)

The AFU continued to attempt offensive actions in Donetsk, Krasny Liman and South Donetsk directions.

In Donetsk direction, as a result of the coordinated and courageous actions of units of the Yug Group of Forces, 17 enemy attacks have been successfully repelled close to Severnoye, Kurdyumovka, Novomikhailovka, Maryinka, Kleshcheevka, Maloilyinovka (Donetsk Peoples Republic), and Belogorovka (Lugansk Peoples Republic).

The actions of one Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance group have been suppressed near Kurdyumovka (Donetsk Peoples Republic).

The enemy losses were up to 315 Ukrainian servicemen, two armoured fighting vehicles, three pickup trucks, and one D-30 howitzer.

In Krasny Liman direction, as a result of active actions by units of the Tsentr Group of Forces, aviation and artillery, enemy manpower and hardware concentration areas have been hit near Terny (Donetsk Peoples Republic), Nevskoye and Chervonaya Dibrova (Lugansk Peoples Republic).

Two enemy attacks have been repelled close to Torskoye (Donetsk Peoples Republic) and Makeevka (Lugansk Peoples Republic).

The actions of one Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance group have been suppressed near Chervonaya Dibrova (Lugansk Peoples Republic).

The enemy losses were over 70 Ukrainian servicemen, two armoured fighting vehicles, three pickup trucks, and one D-20 howitzer.

One ammunition depot of the AFU 100th Territorial Defence Brigade has been destroyed near Yampol (Donetsk Peoples Republic).

In South Donetsk direction, the active actions by Ground-Assault and Army aviation, and artillery of the Vostok Group of Forces have resulted in the neutralisation of the AFU manpower and hardware near Makarovka and Rovnopol (Donetsk Peoples Republic).

Two attacks by units of the AFU 37th Marine Brigade have been repelled close to Urozhaynoye (Donetsk Peoples Republic).

The actions of two Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance groups have been suppressed close to Staromayorskoye and Rovnopol (Donetsk Peoples Republic).

In Zaporozhye direction, as a result of selfless and coordinated actions of Russian troops, an enemy manpower and hardware the 128th Mountain Assault Brigade have been hit near Pyatikhatki (Zaporozhye region).

One Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance group has been eliminated near Sherebyanki (Zaporozhye region).

The enemy losses were up to 120 Ukrainian servicemen, five armoured fighting vehicles, two motor vehicles, and two D-20 howitzers and one D-20.

One ammunition depot of the AFU 129th Territorial Defence Brigade has been destroyed near Makarovka (Donetsk Peoples Republic).

In Kupyansk direction, the attacks, launched by Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, and artillery of the Zapad Group of Forces, have resulted in the neutralisation of the AFU manpower and hardware close to Krasnoye Pervoye, Novomlynsk and Molchanovo (Kharkov region).

The enemy losses were up to 20 Ukrainian servicemen, two armoured fighting vehicles, three motor vehicles, one D-20 howitzer, and one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system.

In Kherson direction, the enemy losses were up to 30 Ukrainian servicemen, three motor vehicles, one Msta-B howitzer and one Akatsiya self-propelled artillery system.

Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation have neutralised 73 AFU artillery units at their firing positions, manpower and hardware in 93 areas.

Ammunition depots of the 33rd mechanised and 44th artillery brigades of the AFU, as well as the 5th Brigade of the Ukrainian National Guard, have been hit close to Yampol (Donetsk Peoples Republic), Malaya Tokmachka and Novosolyonoye (Zaporozhye region).

Air defence facilities have shot down three projectiles launched by HIMARS MLRS.

In addition, eight Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles have been destroyed near Zhovtnyovoye (Kharkov region), Zaliman, Pshenichnoye, Kremennaya (Lugansk Peoples Republic), Klyuchevoye (Donetsk Peoples Republic) and Pologi (Zaporozhye region).

In total, 455 airplanes, 242 helicopters, 5,015 unmanned aerial vehicles, 426 air defence missile systems, 10,711 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,138 fighting vehicles equipped with MLRS, 5,462 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 11,678 special military motor vehicles have been destroyed during the special military operation.

WtR
In 2004, Martha Stewart was sentenced to five months in prison and five months of home confinement by a federal judge in New York for lying about a stock sale.
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. &&
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The book collection owned by the late Rolling Stone drummer and dubbed as the 'best collection of modern first editions' is set to go under the hammer at an auction in London.

Jul 16, 2023

AceShowbiz - Charlie Watts' modern literature collection is being listed for auction - and one of the tomes is expected to fetch up to 300,000. The Rolling Stones drummer - who passed away in August 2021 aged 80 - was a huge bibliophile, amassing an impressive collection of several first editions, including one of "The Great Gatsby", which features a message from the author F. Scott Fitzgerald to MGM Screenwriter Harold Goldman.

"For Harold Goldman, the original 'Gatsby' of this story, with thanks for letting me reveal these secrets of his past," the inscription reads.

The book, which has an estimated price of 200,000 to 300,000, leads the upcoming Christie's auction, which will take place in London on September 28, and an online sale will run from September 15 to 29. Charlie's books have been described as the "best collection of modern first editions" that have come to auction in the past 20 years.

Another item set to be auctioned includes Welsh poet Dylan Thomas's copy of his first collection, "18 Poems", and there are first editions of Agatha Christie, PG Wodehouse, and James Joyce works.

Mark Wiltshire, a books and manuscripts specialist at Christie's, told The Guardian newspaper the collection reflects "an incredibly sensitive curiosity about the very best of literature."

Late star Charlie's jazz memorabilia, including an annotated printed score for George Gershwin's "Porgy and Bess", is also being auctioned off.

Following Charlie's death in August 2021, his Rolling Stones band members Sir Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, and Ronnie Wood described him as the "heartbeat" of the group.

They said in a joint statement, "Charlie was the heartbeat of the Rolling Stones for nearly 60 years, he was totally unique and devoted to jazz and literature from boyhood. He was the quintessential English gentleman and his absence is a great loss for us all. We miss him hugely."

Charlie's wife Shirley died in December aged 82.

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The Republican politician, who is running for oval office again, has filed a legal request to have his classified documents trial put on hold until after the 2024 election.

Jul 16, 2023

AceShowbiz - Donald Trump asks for his classified documents trial to be delayed until after the 2024 election. The former United States President is once again vying for office ahead of next year's election, and he had voiced concerns over the investigation into leaked audio of him allegedly boasting about possessing still-classified military documents about Iran after he left the White House.

"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," attorneys for both Trump and his co-defendant, and personal aide, Walt Nauta said in a court filing on Monday, July 10 night.

The filing argues that starting the trial in December 2023 - as suggested by special counsel Jack Smith - would be too soon, with US District Court Judge Aileen Cannon urged by Trump's lawyers to wait until after the president election season. That period will begin late this year, and if Trump wins the Republican nomination, his defence may be calling for almost a year delay.

Although prosecutors have suggested the case against Trump is relatively simple - despite any issues with bringing a former president to trial - his attorneys argue it will be much more complicated.

They added, "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."

The tape is a major bit of evidence in Smith's indictment of the 77-year-old former "The Apprentice" host.

Trump has pleaded not guilty to charges of mishandling sensitive documents and has persistently denied any wrongdoing. He is facing 37 federal charges of illegally holding onto classified documents and preventing the government from getting them back.

Trump is the first US President in history to face federal-level criminal charges.

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The 'Braveheart' actor and 'Ted' star are put on blast by Jack White for interacting with the MAGA leader at a recent event amid his presidential bid and legal issue.

Jul 16, 2023

AceShowbiz - Jack White has blasted "disgusting" Mel Gibson and Mark Wahlberg for interacting with Donald Trump at public events. The 48-year-old musician has criticized the stars for "normalising" meeting the former US President, 75, and insists anyone who treats the politician with "any level of respect" is "disgusting."

"Anybody who "normalizes" or treats this disgusting fascist, racist, con man, disgusting piece of s*** Trump with any level of respect is ALSO disgusting in my book. That's 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 (sic)," Jack fumed on Instagram.

Hollywood stars Mel and Mark, commentator Joe, and celebrity chef Guy were all photographed speaking to Trump at the UFC 290 event in Las Vegas last weekend. In November, Jack hit out at billionaire businessman Elon Musk for reactivating Trump's Twitter account, slamming the decision as "disgusting."

Trump was permanently blocked from the platform in January 2021 following the attack at the US Capitol in Washington, but had his account reinstated in November when Musk took over the platform in a $44 billion deal.

But The White Stripes star Jack wrote on Instagram, "So you gave trump his twitter platform back. Absolutely disgusting, Elon. That is officially an asshole move. Why dont you be truthful? Tell it like it is; people like you and Joe Rogan (who gives platforms to liars like alex jones etc.); you come into a ton of money, see the tax bill, despise paying your fair share, and then think moving to Texas and supporting whatever republican you can is going to help you keep more of your money."

"(How else could trump possibly interest you?) You intend to give platforms to known liars and wash your hands like pontius pilate and claim no responsibility? trump was removed from twitter because he incited violence multiple times, people died and were injured as a result of his lies and his ego, (let alone what his coup did to attempt to destroy democracy and our Capitol)."

"And how about the division and the families broken apart from his rhetoric and what it did to this country That's not "free speech" or "what the poll decided" or whatever nonsense you're claiming it to be; this is straight up you trying to help a fascist have a platform so you can eventually get your tax breaks. I mean, how many more billions do you need that you have to risk democracy itself to obtain it? (sic)"

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The former Sex Pistols lead vocalist remembers how his late wife Nora Forster annoyed the MAGA leader after accidentally tearing Jennifer Lopez's dress at an event.

Jul 16, 2023

AceShowbiz - John Lydon recalled how he and his late wife Nora Forster - who passed away in April after a long battle with Alzheimer's disease - annoyed Donald Trump at a glitzy New York event after she accidentally tore Jennifer Lopez's dress.

The 67-year-old rocker recalled, "I'll never forget my dear Nora accidentally treading on Jennifer Lopez's dress at a gala in New York and next to her was Donald Trump, who turned around, looked at me and said, 'Who let this hooligan in?' Nora's high heel had torn J-Lo's frock, but what did she expect when she had a 10ft f****** train? It was hilarious to see their anger at watching the dress shred before their eyes."

John, also known by his stage moniker Johnny Rotten, also explained how he felt it was necessary to quit the Sex Pistols in 1978 (although he later returned for revivals in the 1990s and 2000s) as it was becoming a "charade" being in the band. He said, "By the end it was turning into a charade and I had no wish to sing the same songs for ever and ever and turn into The Rolling Stones."

He additionally dished on his worst decision. The former Sex Pistols frontman was supposed to play a gig in Ukraine with his band Public Image Ltd before the Russian invasion in February 2022 and he blames Vladimir Putin for leaving him out of pocket after the show was cancelled.



"Playing in Ukraine with PiL just before the Russians invaded. We got ripped off. The promoter didn't turn up with the money. They left us stranded there and we had to get out of the place as quickly as possible. And perhaps foolishly I said in an interview, 'Now Putin can pay us what the Ukrainians owe.' That was a lead balloon of serious proportions," John said to The Daily Telegraph newspaper.

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A fish market in the late 19th or early 20th century / Robert Neff Collection



Fish markets are some of the most colorful and photogenic places in Seoul. They are a cornucopia of stimulation  the smell of fish; their vibrant colors, sizes and shapes; the yelling and chattering of potential sellers and buyers; the succulent taste of seafood in all varieties and styles of cooking (or raw); and, depending on what you touch, the ice, the slime, grit, oil and dirt found in similar markets.



History and culture are also found in these markets both in the present and the past. The fish markets now are filled with seafood from all around the world  including crabs and lobsters, tuna and other delicacies that would not have been found in the Seoul markets in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. During the Joseon period, the most popular fish in the markets were probably the gizzard shad (jeon-o) which was said to be so tasty that a mother-in-law could bring back her wayward daughter-in-law just by roasting them. Pollack (myeongtae) were fished in large numbers in the East Sea but in Seoul's markets croakers (jo-gi) reigned. They were abundant in the West Sea and were a reliable source of income for Korean fishermen.



The boats used to fish for croakers were simply known as "croaker catching boats" and were some of the largest fishing boats in Korea. According to an article appearing in the Korea Review in 1901:



"These boats differ in size, but the largest are seventy-two feet long, twenty-four feet wide and twelve feet deep. The width is further increased by wide gangways on either side which extend four feet over the water. The two masts are seventy-two and sixty-six feet high respectively. The sails are fifty-four feet long by thirty feet wide. The anchor rope is six inches thick and 420 feet long and is handled by a huge reel, twelve feet wide. The anchor is made of hard wood and is sixteen feet long. The rudder is twenty-one feet long and five and a half feet broad. The rudder post is a foot thick and forty feet long. They anchor in 280 feet of water or less while the net is being cast. The net itself is in the shape of a huge bag, 300 feet long, the opening being regulated by two poles, each of which are seventy feet long. One of them is sunk to the bottom and the other is held immediately under the boat in a horizontal position. The opening of the net is sixty feet long by eighteen feet wide."



The initial cost of one of these ships  including crew, nets and provisions  was about $2,800. While it may seem to be have been a huge investment, it was potentially very lucrative.





Croakers (jo-gi) being sold in Noryangjin Market/ Robert Neff Collection



In the spring, the fishing fleets would gather around Heuksan and Wi islands off the southwestern coast of the peninsula and Yeonpyeong Island off Hwanghae Province. Yeongpyeong Island was especially popular, even as late as the 1930s, when about 20,000 fishermen and merchants gathered around the island during the fishing season. The number of fish in this area was legendary and, in fact, there are legends associated with it. According to one, during the Later Jin invasion of 1627, General Im Gyeong-eop and his men, lacking food, stopped on Yeonpyeong Island where they caught a large quantity of croakers, salted them and re-provisioned their ship before continuing on to China. A shrine was built honoring him for instructing the islanders how to catch the fish and for ensuring an early catch. The islanders knew the fish would arrive, almost like clockwork, in the early spring which spawned a Korean phrase used to describe someone who fails to keep their promises and appointments  "jogimando mot-hannom," a guy not as dependable as a croaker.



On a fairly successful cruise, the crews of these fishing boats (up to 45 men) were able to "bring in 300 tong of fish, each representing 1,000 fish." These fish could then be sold at the Jemulpo wharf for $10-12 a tong making the entire catch worth between $3,000 and $3,600. According to the article in the Korea Review, one man, who had just purchased a ship and a crew, made 500 percent on his investment on his first trip.



This success was not confined only to Korea fishermen. Korean coastal areas and sea zones in the West Sea were frequently invaded by Chinese fishermen, often resulting in violence. In 1885, Morsel, a German working for the Korean Customs Service, toured the ports of Jeolla Province and observed "hundreds of Chinese junks one-masted boats of 5-10 tons, two, three and four-masted junks up to large five-masted junks." Some of them were armed with iron cannons and their crews caused great distress among the fishermen and in the villages where the Chinese landed for supplies.



Not only were the Korean fishermen having to contend with organized Chinese poaching but also with the supernatural. The fishermen were well-aware of the spirits that presided along the coasts and in the fishing grounds and took great pains to placate these divine but often malevolent entities. There were seven occasions in which sacrifices were offered: when the ship was first launched, at the start of a voyage, at especially dangerous places along the coasts, at the fishing grounds just prior to fishing, during storms and to ward off or "avert the consequences of special omens of bad luck." Concerning the last occasion, in the 1930s, there was a resident mudang on Yeonpyeong Island "whose influence with the Spirit [was] very great and there [were] few skippers who dared to dispense with her services."





The brilliant colors found in the new Noryangjin Market / Robert Neff Collection



As for the sacrifices, they could be held at any time of day but the most preferred time was at night, in the darkness, which was said to be more favored by the spirits. Candles were placed at the offering tables of food and drink so as to guide the spirits. Sometimes the ship was decorated with flags and pennants dedicated to the dragon, tiger and General Im who "was deified as a sort of patron saint of sailors."



At Yeonpyeong Island, as mentioned earlier, the captain would visit the shrine to General Im or visit the local shaman, but at other fishing grounds, "it [was] frequently the custom to patronize some well-known and potent spirit on a nearby island. If such a shrine [was] not within reach, before the nets were cast or any fishing of any kind [was] begun," the ship came to anchor and sacrifices were made.



Not all sacrifices involved just food and drink  some, at least in the past, were claimed to have demanded lives. These sacrifices were to the spirits and guardians of the sea.



"In ancient times and, indeed according to some, down to the early part of the present dynasty [Joseon] once a year it was the custom at certain points on the coast to offer, a human victim, a young girl, was thrown into the sea to propitiate the sea-dragon."



These human sacrifices have been immortalized in Korean tales, such as that of Sim Cheong, the filial daughter, who, in an effort to help cure her father's blindness, sold herself as a sacrifice.



It was also important for sailors not to antagonize the spirits by allowing menstruating women aboard the ship or engaging in spousal intimacy before sailing.



Harvesting from the sea required sacrifices  some that were freely given and other bitterly taken  but, for those willing to take the risks, it could be very lucrative.





Shellfish at the new Noryangjin Market / Robert Neff Collection
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The Goop founder has an important message for younger generation, telling them that it's alright to set boundaries and warning them against being a people pleaser.

Jul 16, 2023

AceShowbiz - Gwyneth Paltrow has encouraged young women to not be afraid of saying "no." The 50-year-old star answered questions from fans on her Instagram Story on Saturday, July 15 and implored women in their 20s to not worry if they "hurt people's feelings."

"Please do not be afraid to say 'no.' Please do not be afraid to set boundaries. Please do not be afraid to hurt people's feelings," Gwyneth - who has daughter Apple, 19, and son Moses, 17, with her ex-husband Chris Martin - said in a reply to a request for advice.

The Goop guru was asked several health-related questions and explained that she had a "really rough" time during the first trimester of her pregnancies. Gwyneth explained, "I wish more people had told me how hard it can be. I had a lot of people in my life who were like, 'I feel amazing pregnant', and I felt so terrible. So the best thing is - it is so worth it, I can't even tell you - but I hope it passes in the second trimester."

Meanwhile, the actress recently explained how she was "not prepared" for her daughter to learn about sex. Speaking to Alex Cooper on the "Call Her Daddy" podcast, Gwyneth said, "I remember my kids both went to this fantastic elementary school here in Los Angeles after we moved back from London. And they taught them sex-ed in the 6th grade. I was really not prepared for the information they came home with."

Paltrow will "never forget" the stunned expressions on Apple and her friend's faces as they struggled to process what they had learned at school. She laughed, "I will never forget Apple and her best friend Emily sitting at our kitchen banquet in shock, like, the colour drained from their face. They taught them everything. Everything. Anything you're thinking, they taught like the 11, 12 year olds. They're like, 'Do people do this?' "

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Brianna Burrell, Miss Alabama 2023, is an avid cook whos quick to praise the food in her hometown of Mobile.

Its amazing to have such fresh cuisine, when they literally catch it in the back of the restaurant and put it straight to your plate, Burrell, 25, said in an interview with AL.com.

READ: Miss Alabama 2023, the states third Black woman crowned: Im proud to represent the South

We asked the new Miss Alabama to name some of her favorite restaurants in the Mobile area, and its no surprise that most of them specialize in seafood. Heres what she said:

Where: 263 St. Francis St. Mobile.

Menu includes: Seafood omelets, alligator sausage and pancakes, breakfast tacos, French toast, biscuits and sausage gravy, shrimp and smoked gouda cheese grits.

Miss Alabama says: Bobs Downtown, the most amazing breakfast you can ever imagine.

Erica Barrett stands in front of her restaurant, SOCU Southern Kitchen and Oyster Bar, on Dauphin Street in downtown Mobile, Alabama. (Photo by Michelle Matthews/mmatthews@al.com)

Where: 455 Dauphin St., Mobile.

Menu includes: Chargrilled oysters, shrimp and grits, crab and shrimp dip, Oceans (made with salmon, shrimp, scallops, crawfish gravy).

Miss Alabama says: (Erica Barrett is) a hometown chef who was emphasized on the Food Network. Her establishment is delicious. She also has an establishment in Birmingham and in Atlanta. Its always amazing to see her spread that Mobile cuisine to other places.

Where: 104 N. Section St., Fairhope.

Menu includes: Fried calamari, crab meat pie, escargot, snow crab legs, BBQ shrimp, blue crab claws, gumbo made with oysters, shrimp, crab and crawfish.

Miss Alabama says: I love Tamaras in downtown Fairhope.

Where: 203 Dauphin St., Mobile.

Menu includes: Redfish, shrimp and grits, Chesapeake Bay scallops, pickled shrimp, fried catfish, fried oyster Benedict.

Restaurateur Pete Blohme shows off an item that epitomizes Squid Ink's playful approach to multicultural culinary traditions: Paella fritters. (Lawrence Specker | LSpecker@AL.com)Lawrence Specker | LSpecker@AL.com

Where: 102 Dauphin St., Mobile.

Menu includes: Seafood pasta, shrimp scampi, fried calamari, tuna poke bowl, fresh fish sandwich, shrimp po boy.

Miss Alabama says: I love The Noble South, Squid Ink  all of these are seafood places. So if you dont like seafood, Im sorry, but they do have other options. But I am a seafood girl. I could eat it every day.

READ MORE: Squid Ink happens: Downtown Mobile gets new flavors

More on Mobile food:

Mobiles best barbecue: Our top 5

Mobiles best pizza places: Our top 5

Mobiles best burgers: Our top 5
Someone opened fire on two men in the backyard of an Ensley home late Saturday, killing both of them.

The gunfire rang out about 11 p.m. in the 1700 block of 48th Street in Ensley.

Officer Truman Fitzgerald said the citys gunfire detection system  Shot Spotter  alerted West Precinct officer to multiple shots fired. While en route, they were alerted to two people shot.

They arrived to find both men  believed to be in their 60s  wounded outside a home. Both were rushed to UAB Hospital where they were pronounced dead.

Both males were just outside enjoying the night when an unknown suspect opened fire on them, Fitzgerald said.

At least 10 shots were fired. Investigators believe the victims were targeted.

Two men were shot to death Saturday, July 15, 2023, while hanging out in the backyard of an Ensley home. (Carol Robinson)

Multiple family members were at the scene.

Everybodys emotional, just trying to figure out whats going on, Fitzgerald said. Everybodys trying to figure out why somebody would want to hurt these two men.

No arrests have been made.

The slain men are Birminghams 75th and 76th homicide victims this year. Of those, one was an officer-involved shooting by an outside law enforcement agency and six others have been ruled justifiable and therefore arent deemed criminal.

In all of Jefferson County, there have been 108 homicides including the 76 in Birmingham.

Anyone with information is asked to call Birmingham homicide detectives at 205-254-1764 or Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777.
By Kim Chandler, Associated Press

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP)  Alabama lawmakers convene Monday to draw a new congressional map. The directive comes after the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that affirmed the lower courts ruling that Alabamas existing congressional map  with a single Black district  likely violated the Voting Rights Act. The group of voters who sued the state and won before the Supreme Court have proposed the creation of a second district where Blacks residents are 50.5% of the population. But Alabama Republicans, who hold a lopsided majority in the Alabama Legislature and will control the redistricting process, have not ceded they must create a second majority-Black district.

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP)  Federal judges that ordered Alabama to draw new congressional lines said the state should have a second district where Black voters are the majority or something quite close to it and have an opportunity to elect a representative of their choice.

What exactly that map should look like is in dispute as lawmakers rush to draw new lines.

Alabama lawmakers convene in special session Monday tasked by the court with adopting a new map by the end of the week. The directive comes after a surprise U.S. Supreme Court ruling that affirmed the lower courts ruling that Alabamas existing congressional map  with a single Black district  likely violated the Voting Rights Act.

The group of voters who sued the state and won before the Supreme Court have proposed the creation of a second district where Black residents are 50.5% of the population. But Alabama Republicans, who hold a lopsided majority in the Alabama Legislature and will control the redistricting process, have not ceded they must create a second majority-Black district and have pointed to proposals with lower percentages of Black voters. The GOP majority will release their proposed map on Monday.

Even among the plaintiffs suing the state, the meaning of an equal opportunity to elect candidates of choice is in dispute, House Speaker Pro Tempore Chris Pringle, who serves as co-chairman of the state redistricting committee, said during a public hearing Thursday.

The U.S. Supreme Court last month affirmed a lower-court ruling finding Alabama likely violated the Voting Rights Act with a congressional map that had only one majority Black district out of seven in a state where more than one in four residents is Black. The three-judge panel gave Alabama until Friday to adopt a new map and submit it for review.

The appropriate remedy is a congressional redistricting plan that includes either an additional majority-Black congressional district, or an additional district in which Black voters otherwise have an opportunity to elect a representative of their choice, the three-judge panel wrote in its 2022 ruling, adding that it will need to include two districts in which Black voters either comprise a voting-age majority or something quite close to it.

The Supreme Court decision was cheered by voting rights groups who said it would give Black voters a greater voice in the Deep South state.

The eyes of the nation are looking at you. I know its hard. I know you have people that you answer to, Evan Milligan, the lead plaintiff in the case that went to the U.S. Supreme Court, told lawmakers. But if you can cut out the noise, look within, you can look to history. You can make a mark in history that will that will set a standard for this country.

Milligan, a longtime resident of Montgomery, said he is six generations removed from slavery. My son and daughter are the seventh generation. When I look at them, I want to commit to them inheriting an Alabama that allows them an opportunity to lead, to dream and to make contributions to the community, the same that you want for your children and your grandchildren, Milligan said.

The Supreme Court decision sets up Alabamas first significant revamp of its congressional districts since 1992, when Alabama was ordered by the courts to create its first majority-Black district. That led to the state electing its first Black member of Congress since Reconstruction. The district has been represented by a Black Democrat ever since.

Partisan politics underlies the looming redistricting fight. Republicans who dominate elective office in Alabama have been resistant to creating a second district with a Democratic-leaning Black majority, or close to one, that could send another Democrat to Congress. Democrats cheered the possibility of gaining a seat or at least a swing district in the GOP-dominated state.

Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall, who represents the state in the redistricting lawsuit, wrote in a letter to the committee that plaintiffs had initially argued for a fair chance to compete but now want more.

Now they demand a plan that provides not just a fair chance to compete, but instead a guarantee of Democratic victories in at least two districts, Marshall wrote. Marshall said the plaintiffs proposed map divides voters based on stereotypes about how voters of certain races will vote.

Joe Reed, chairman of the Alabama Democratic Conference  the states oldest Black political organization  urged lawmakers to compromise with plaintiffs on a plan. He said state lawmakers can either draw a plan that the court will approve or the court will draw it for them.

We know there will be two majority Black districts, Reed said.
A Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service battalion chief was taken to the hospital Sunday after he was bitten by a dog at a house fire.

Firefighters were battling a blaze at 19 Fifth Ave. South, according to Battalion Chief Jackie Hicks.

Just before 8:30 a.m., Hicks said, another battalion chief was doing an observation of the structure when a dog that had been chained up under the house emerged and bit him on the leg.

He was taken to the hospital where he is being treated for the dog bite and undergoing standard testing for rabies.

The initial report was that there were multiple pit bull dogs at the scene. Animal control was called.
Fairhope police confirm they are investigating a death that occurred Saturday after a missing person call earlier in the day.

Authorities have ruled out foul play.

The department responded to the call at 3:32 p.m. of a missing person who was last seen walking on a pier at the end of Molokai Lane in Fairhope. The citys volunteer fire department, along with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency and Daphne Search and Rescue responded to assist.

Identification has not been released pending family notification.
The Rev. Jesse Jackson announced Saturday that he will step down as president of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, the Chicago-based civil rights group he founded more than 50 years ago.

Jackson, 81, announced his resignation during a quiet farewell speech at the organizations annual convention, where the group paid tribute to him with songs, kind words from other Black activists and politicians, and a video montage of Jacksons 1984 and 1988 presidential campaigns.

Jackson, who has dealt with several health problems in recent years and uses a wheelchair, capped the proceedings with muted remarks. Flanked by his daughter, Santita Jackson, and his son, U.S. Rep. Jonathan Jackson, the once-fiery orator spoke so softly it was difficult to hear him.

I am somebody, he said. Green or yellow, brown, Black or white, were all perfect in Gods eyes. Everybody is somebody. Stop the violence. Save the children. Keep hope alive.

The Rev. Frederick Douglass Haynes, a long-time student of Rev. Jackson and supporter of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, will take over as the groups leader, the coalition said in a statement. Haynes is the pastor at Friendship-West Baptist Church in Dallas, according to the churchs website.

Jesse Jackson was diagnosed with Parkinsons disease eight years ago. He suffered a host of health setbacks in 2021, beginning with gallbladder surgery, a COVID-19 infection that landed him in a physical therapy-focused facility and a fall at Howard University that caused a head injury.

Jackson has been a powerful advocate for civil rights and a strong voice in American politics for decades.

A protege of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., he broke with the Southern Christian Leadership Conference in 1971 to form Operation PUSH, initially named People United to Save Humanity, on Chicagos South Side. The organization was later renamed the Rainbow PUSH Coalition. The groups mission ranges from promoting minority hiring in the corporate world to voter registration drives in communities of color.

Jackson has been a driving force in the modern civil rights movement, pushing for voting rights and education. Among other things, he joined George Floyds family at a memorial for the slain Black man and has participated in COVID-19 vaccination drives to counter Black hesitancy about the drugs.

Before Barack Obama was elected president in 2008, Jackson had been the most successful Black presidential candidate. He won 13 primaries and caucuses in his push for the 1988 Democratic nomination, which went to Massachusetts Gov. Michael Dukakis.

Jackson said in his remarks that he plans to continue working on social justice issues, including advocating for three survivors of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre who this week saw a judge dismiss their lawsuit seeking reparations.

Were resigning, were not retiring, Jackson said.

Ron Daniels, who works with the National African-American Reparations Commission, a panel working for financial payments to Black people as compensation for slavery, told convention-goers that Jackson is a synthesis of King and another 1960s civil rights leader, Malcolm X.

He is an authentic genius, Daniel said. (Jackson) had the unparalleled capacity to frame and articulate ... political strategy in a way common, ordinary people could understand it.

Marcia Fudge, secretary of the U.S. Department Housing and Urban Development, thanked Jackson for paving the way for Black politicians like herself.

Most people talk a good game but they have no courage, she said. But you never left us, no matter how hard (things became).

Santita Jackson implored convention-goers to follow her fathers lead and continue to fight for equality.

Rev. Jackson has run his leg, she said. What are you going to do?
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said Saturday he would consider Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds as a potential running mate, should he win the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, and dismissed former President Donald Trumps recent complaints about her as totally out of hand.

Of course, DeSantis said when asked whether he would consider the second-term Republican. I mean, shes one of the top public servants in America.

Trump last week criticized Reynolds, immensely popular among the states GOP base, for her seemingly cozy relationship with DeSantis while stating her public neutrality as the lead Republican figure in the state that hosts the lead-off presidential caucuses in less than six months.

Reynolds has appeared with other GOP White House prospects, but has moderated conversations with DeSantis and his wife Casey DeSantis, while also attending Trumps first campaign event in Iowa last March.

DeSantis noted that he and Reynolds banter over their similar records, and the playful rivalry between the two states, where conservative policy has moved swiftly this year.

Notably, Reynolds was greeted with a sustained standing ovation when she appeared at a presidential candidate forum Friday, attended by DeSantis and five others, and signed a strict abortion ban before the audience of roughly 2,000 Christian conservatives.

Anybody who is a Republican who is trying to denigrate her is way off base on that, DeSantis told reporters, after headlining a fundraiser in suburban Des Moines for U.S. Rep. Zach Nunn.

On Trumps social media platform Truth Social, the former president took credit for opening the governorship to Reynolds, who stepped into the role after Republican Gov. Terry Branstad became U.S. ambassador to China during the Trump administration.

Now, she wants to remain NEUTRAL. Trump wrote, adding he would not invite her to his campaign events.

Trump is scheduled to be in Iowa Tuesday to participate in a town hall-style event with Fox News Channel host Sean Hannity.

Reynolds, elected in her own right in 2018 and easily reelected last year, has been mentioned as a potential 2024 running mate, though Iowa GOP insiders have suggested the former state senator and rural county treasurer has been ambivalent about the role.

DeSantis, who campaigned in Iowa Friday and Saturday, said voters approached him to express dismay at Trumps criticism of Reynolds.

It struck a chord with Ryan Frederick, a western Iowa county GOP chairman who attended a gathering of about 50 Republican activists at a pizza restaurant in Winterset Saturday morning.

Frederick, who is leaning toward supporting DeSantis said, At least, I dont have to worry about him trashing Kim Reynolds.

If youre a party loyalist, thats a big deal, Frederick added.
Carlee Russell was released from UAB Hospital Sunday morning after returning to her parents Hoover home Saturday night.

Police say they will try to piece together what happened in the two days that she was missing.

It wont be a quick process, Hoover police said, and the important thing is that Russell is home and safe.

We deal in facts, Hoover police Chief Nick Derzis said Sunday. As far as Im concerned, its our obligation as police to put it all together.

The goal now is to find out what happened in the 48 or 49 hours after she disappeared a mile from her house and then ended up back at the house, to fill in the gaps, he said.

We dont have to move quickly, the chief said. Our priority was to get her home and shes home. Well investigate and do what we have to do.

Russells mother, Talitha Russell, released a statement on Facebook early Sunday afternoon, but it did not shed light on what happened during Russells disappearance.

God is faithful and He has answered our prayers We are so grateful to each of you for all the acts of kindness, generosity, and compassion you have shown Our baby is safe!!!!!!!!!! Thank you Father God, the statement read.

Russell asked that people respect their privacy to allow us to just love on our daughter and each other with our close family and friends. Also, please consider the fact we have not slept for 3 nights and we are mentally and physically exhausted.

Russell said they will give a statement to reporters and thanked those who aided in the search.

Just as we made a commitment to not entertain negative thoughts during the time our daughter was missing, we surely will not entertain negative thoughts/statements, unvalidated opinions, or sheer ignorance at such a joyous time, the statement continued.

The 25-year-old nursing student returned alone to the home where she lives with her parents about 10:44 p.m. Saturday.

Derzis said he doesnt yet know how Russell got back to the Hoover subdivision, but that she walked up to the house and knocked on her parents door.

Police and fire medics quickly responded. Russell, who was said to be having difficulty breathing, was taken to UAB Hospital where she was held overnight for an evaluation, and then discharged early Sunday.

Detectives responded to the residence and to UAB to take an initial statement from Carlee. The details of that statement are a part of the ongoing investigation which is expected to continue over the next few days, a statement from police on Sunday read.

Investigators have not yet done any kind of in-depth interview with her.

Friends and family members remained outside UABs emergency room early until Sunday morning.

Were respecting the privacy of Carlee and her family. Our main goal has been achieved and that is getting her home safe, Derzis said.

Our investigation now goes to the time on Thursday night when she called 911 and shes gone to the point of her getting home last night, the chief added.

Were going to find out exactly what took place, Derzis said.

Earlier Saturday evening, police were dispatched to the Red Roof Inn on Montgomery Highway in Vestavia Hills.

According to police radio communications, family members of Russell showed up at the motel claiming they had received a call from her that she was there.

It did not immediately appear that Russell was found at that time.

The ordeal began Thursday when family members said Russell left The Woodhouse Spa at the Summit where she worked part time.

She then stopped by Tazikis at the Colonnade at 9 p.m. to pick up food for herself and her mother.

Police have not been able to locate anyone with Carlee from the time she left The Colonnade until she made a call to 911.

Russell told the 911 dispatcher at 9:34 p.m. that she was near mile marker 11 when she said she saw a male toddler in a diaper walking alone on the side of I-459 between the flyover to the Galleria and Highway 150, said Lt. Daniel Lowe.

After calling 911, Russell stopped to check on the child and called a family member, Lowe said. The family member lost contact with her, but the line remained open.

Officers located Russells Mercedes, still running but vacant. Some of her belongings were nearby. Police were unable to find her or a child in the area.

Hoover police had not received any other calls of someone missing a small child.

At 9:36 p.m., her mother, Talitha Russell, said her daughter was on the phone with her brothers girlfriend. Carlee pulled over after saying she saw a child that appeared to be 3 or 4 years old.

She probably let her guard down thinking 911 would be there in a second Talitha Russell said.

My sons girlfriend heard her asking the child, Are you OK? She never heard the child say anything but then she heard our daughter scream, Talitha Russell said. All you hear on her phone is background noise from the interstate.

Her car door was open, Talitha said. They found her phone on the ground, along with her wig and her hat...Her purse was still in the car. Her Apple watch was in her purse and her Air Pods as well.

Talitha Russell said a tip was called in from a trucker.

He saw a gray car with a tall brown skinned man with khaki shorts on leaning over in the car, Talitha Russell said.

The police did find some tire tracks in the grass, she said. They said because it was not a muddy area, they were not able to determine what type of vehicle it could have been.

For the next two days, police and teams of volunteer searchers followed leads and scoured the area of where Russells car was found.

Nearly $60,000 was offered to Crime Stoppers of Metro Alabama as a reward for Russells safe return.
Sign up for Roy S. Johnsons newsletter: Enter your email to subscribe to Roys weekly newsletter, The Barbershop:

This is an opinion column.

The kid needed to go to the bathroom.

He didnt care that he and his grandfather were on the steps outside of the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, D.C. on a drizzly day last October.

He didnt care that his mother  an attorney, former high-school English teacher, and daughter of Indian immigrants with a passion for the rights we are afforded as citizens  was inside trying to wrangle two more tickets so the seven-year-old and his grandfather could join her mother, husband, and their nine-year-old daughter inside to witness mom arguing her first case before the nations highest court. She and the legal team at the firm they founded just two years ago to focus specifically on voting rights cases were there, at the end of a five-year journey, to prove Alabamas too-long-drawn congressional districts were racist, that they defied Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, that they diminished and diluted Black voting power, and thus should be deemed unconstitutional.

The kid didnt care. He needed to pee.

Abha Khanna recalls with a laugh the moments that almost overshadowed the momentousness of the day. We were finally able to secure seats, and as soon as my son saw me, he said he had to go to the bathroom, she said. Thats the only time Ive used my privilege. We ran through security!

To relief.

Khanna was the lead plaintiff attorney in Allen v. Caster, the case that was combined with Allen v. Milligan. and argued before the Supreme Court. She was home in Seattle on that day in June when the court announced its stunning 5-4 ruling that the states districts were discriminatory and must be redrawn.

I was in the middle of making breakfast and lunch and getting kids out the door when my phone just blew up, she shared recently. I just kind of threw the box of cereal at the kids and said, We just won our case.

They know very little about it. They know I go to work. But [by being at the Supreme Court] they got a real lesson in what this case is about  why Im arguing it, why Im so busy. Why its important. So, they actually understood, I think, and appreciated that this was a victory for all of us.

She wont be in Montgomery on Monday when the Alabama legislature convenes for a special session with the sole goal of agreeing on a congressional map that satisfies the plaintiffs and the court. One that gives Black voters, who comprise almost one in three voters in the state, a bona fide say in who represents them in Washington.

She wont be there physically. Yet Khanna will be present in the proposed maps the plaintiffs have presented to lawmakers, which create two majority-minority districts among the seven. Not just one. Ill certainly monitor from afar, she said. The legislative defendants have been solicitous of our proposed plan. I appreciate that the legislature has invited our opinions as plaintiffs about what the remedy map should be. Im hopeful they will listen.

Born in the U.S., Khanna grew up in northern New Jersey and remembers she and her older brother watching their parents raise their right hands to become American citizens. They imbued in us a real appreciation for the rights we are afforded as citizens and that we cant take those for granted, she said. We have to continue to fight for them. Particularly for those of us who are given so muchthis education, these opportunitiesfor us not to make use of them would be a shame.

Khannas parents encouraged disagreement on political matters around the dinner table, perhaps nurturing a career she had not yet imagined. There was always very lively debate, she says. That was welcomed. When my husband first joined the fold, he was like, Why are you guys always fighting? I said, Were not fighting; thats dinner.

She had a plan: Go to college (she majored in psychology and minored in English), teach high school English while applying to grad schools, earn a Ph.D. in English literature, and become a college professor.

Just keep putting one foot in front of the other, she said. Until the plan stopped working.

Teaching English actually brought me back to the law. I loved writing. Turns out what I enjoyed the most was the engagementseeing a student get excited about a book, about learning how to craft the perfect sentence or paragraph and wanting to be better.

I thought, Hmm, am I ready to spend the next decade of my life in this Ivory Tower writing things I might find interesting but might not make the biggest impact? Then I surveyed my options, and I knew law school was always in the back of my mind.

Along with another plan: To remain in D.C. and find her way to the Department of Justice.

That plan got scrapped, too, when her husband, also an attorney, got a job shaping education policy with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in Seattle. Khanna already had a clerkship in the nations capital, but after much debate applied for a clerkship in their new city.

It ended up being one of my best years, she said.

Redistricting is a peculiar niche, requiring a scientists thirst for research and minutia with a healthy helping of monks patience., Khanna never considered it until she was approached by a colleague, Marc Elias, at a large firm in Seattle where they both worked.

Elias asked: Do you want to become an expert in redistricting?

Sure, Khanna remembers responding excitedly. Ive always been a nerd, so I spent all my free time reading every case there was to learn. All that happened because I ended up in Seattle. Who knows how direct it would have been to do the kind of work I now do had I followed what I thought was the normal plan.

Khanna began working on redistricting cases 13 years ago, not long after she started practicing law  So I was on the ground floor, she said. Naively, she thought cases that began in 2010 would be over by 2012. Of course, we were litigating throughout the rest of the decade. Every election has the ability to violate someones voting rights.

In 2019 Khanna and her firm came to represent a group of plaintiffs in the lawsuit that proved to be the seed that bore historic fruit. The lead plaintiff was Lekeisha Chestnut of Mobile. During her testimony, Khanna said, There were tears across the courtroom, at the counsel table. We ended up not winning that case based on this procedural issue, timing, and mootness. Not because of the facts, not because of the law. While that was disheartening, it meant we lived to fight another day. So, there was no question that if Alabama was going to draw the same map and do the same thing its been doing since 1992, we were going to bring that lawsuit again and we were going to see this to the end.

RELATED: Black people are used to this; well overcome SCOTUS affirmative action ruling

Khanna said the attorneys prepared Chestnut for an unfavorable outcome, yet she was not prepared for the young womans response.

She said, I got up in a courtroom and I told my story, Khanna said. A court reporter took it down, and all these people heard about my experience. Thats what the case gave her. [Allen v. Milligan, in which Chestnut was also a plaintiff] is all about giving people who havent had a real voice in electoral politics a voice. For her just the idea that somebody was listening and caring and working and fighting was huge. That was a victory.

Khannas day at the Supreme Court, once her son was relieved and settled, was the second day of hearing arguments for Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, the first Black woman to sit on the high bench. As is now widely known, at one juncture, Jackson tore intojudiciously, of courseAlabama Solicitor General Edmund LaCour after he deployed a mouthful of hazy race-speak to argue that it was perfectly right for the states congressional map to be drawn with just a single majority-minority district among seven.

RELATED: Plaintiff in historic SCOTUS redistricting case shed tears for late father after ruling

As Jacksons scolding unfolded, Khanna sat back. She just had this moment where she just kind of schooled all of us: Wait, wait wait. Lets talk about equal protectionwhat that was actually about. Were we talking about colorblindness at that time or were we trying to right an egregious wrong that was very specifically about race, about one racial group? Nobody was talking about like post-racial, colorblind, blah, blah, blah.

RELATED: After SCOTUS, affirmative action ruling Charles Barkley changed will to ensure Auburn more diverse

For that voice to be heard on the bench by the other justices. Even more importantly, now theyve got live streaming, so shes not just speaking to eight other justices or to litigants. Shes speaking to a lot of people who have waited and are trying to understand the Supreme Court has the power to do a lot of things that affect our day-to-day lives.

To have that voice on the bench speaking to so many people was incredible. I was so proud to be in the room, just feet away from her.

RELATED: Historic SCOTUS redistricting ruling proves a Black womans voice should never be misjudged

Khanna almost felt for Edmund. As a lawyer, nobody wants to be in that position, she said. I have empathy for that. At the same time, we need to be held to account for positions we take in the courtroom. Some of the arguments Alabama was advancing were really offensive. Not only were they wrong on the law, but they were really offensive when it comes to what is the import of the Voting Rights Act and what kind of wrongs Is it meant to remedy. So, the dressing down was appropriate, respectful; it needed to be said.

RELATED: Archibald: The remarkable life of Shalela Dowdy - West Pointer, beauty queen, Supreme Court plaintiff

The court imposed a July 21 deadline for the state to redraw the map, or the court will do it.

Im hoping we can finish this process with a fair and meaningful remedy by the deadline such that we can end this and move forward to the benefit of everyone, said Khanna. This is a win certainly for our clients and plaintiffs. Its also a win for Alabama.

I hope they just take the W, draw a new map, make it work realize that 2023 is a different time than 1965 and 1992that the state is going to be a much richer political community.

Now, that would be a true relief.

More columns by Roy S. Johnson

51 years ago today, the Supreme Court ruled the death penalty unconstitutional, really

I didnt know my father long, but he still makes me smile.

Through faith, former Birmingham news anchor finds unlikely new season as an actor


By Kim Sang-woo



The Chinese government's criticism of South Korea reached its peak on June 8 when Chinese Ambassador Xing Haiming said that "those who bet on China's loss will surely regret their decision in the future." This statement that was made during a meeting with Lee Jae-myung, the leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, sparked a diplomatic firestorm and public outrage.



President Yoon Suk Yeol directly criticized Ambassador Xing for pursuing political incitement rather than trying to build bridges between the two countries. The ruling People Power Party called on the government to declare the Chinese ambassador persona non grata.



On June 18, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken made a visit to Beijing in an effort to establish "guardrails" on the intensifying U.S.-China rivalry. His meetings, however, did not result in a breakthrough in relations, and the two sides do not yet appear to have established a common understanding of how to manage the competition.



Daniel Kritenbrink, Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia and Pacific Affairs, visited Seoul on June 21 to explain Blinken's two-day meetings in Beijing. He told Deputy Foreign Minister Choi Young-sam that the U.S. sought to maintain high-level communication channels with China to prevent any miscalculation from leading to an unwanted conflict.



President Xi Jinping, China's most powerful leader in decades, has pushed to expand Beijing's role on the world stage with an increasingly assertive foreign policy that has fueled tensions with many of its neighbors and the West.



In recent years, the Biden administration has stepped up efforts to unite allies and like-minded partners to counter China's rising influence in the Indo-Pacific. The trilateral ties between South Korea, the U.S. and Japan are further strengthened by security concerns about North Korean missile threats. They have also issued joint statements against tensions in the Taiwan Strait.



Beijing could try to drive a wedge in South Korea-U.S. relations by punishing Seoul for moving closer to Washington. China's economic retaliation against the 2017 decision to allow the U.S. to deploy a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery in South Korea is still clearly remembered. South Koreans are also disappointed at the U.S. making no effort to defend South Korea against China's coercion.



Moreover, to compete effectively with China, Washington must work with its allies and partners to take the concerns of Global South countries seriously, respond sincerely to their development needs and reinvigorate the multilateral system as a source of legitimacy for global leadership.



The U.S. and its allies and partners emphasize preserving the rules-based international order as if the system is working well. But the inconvenient truth is that the current international order is stagnant, with world bodies like the United Nations and the World Trade Organization incapable of reforming itself to meet the needs and challenges of the 21st century.



Now, China proclaims itself as the champion of the Global South. Speaking at last month's Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, Chinese Defense Minister Li Shangfu made a call for "fairness and justice" in world governance.



Neighboring countries that have been bullied or coerced by China, scoff at its hypocrisy. Yet from Beijing's perspective, not only are its grievances legitimate, given its concerns over U.S. efforts to thwart China's rise, but such grievances may resonate in the Global South.



While the West, in terms of public opinion and policy toward China, has become negative and even hostile, Beijing is confident about finding many like-minded partners in the Global South to form coalitions to reshape the international system in accordance with its own values and interests. China has invested enormously in South-South cooperation not only in trade, investment and infrastructure financing but also in development aid, knowledge exchange and multilateral institution building.



Just as economic and technological decoupling and estrangement between China and the West are gaining ground, China is leveraging its economic power to initiate its own coupling with the Global South in economic, geopolitical, institutional and normative terms.



To many in the developing world, globalization has only served to perpetuate inequalities between the Global North and the Global South. China's South-South cooperation exploits these historical and contemporary grievances toward a "rest versus West" binary, constructing a simplistic narrative between the aggrieved majority and the privileged few led by the U.S. and Western countries. This creates the image that the Chinese approach to global governance is inclusive and legitimate while the Western approach is exclusive and non-representative.



Although China now attempts to set itself apart from the West and presents its success as the result of its own efforts, the truth is that China is probably the largest beneficiary of globalization, not its victim. By various measures of power and influence, including technology, finance and position in global governance, China is more a part of the Global North rather than the Global South.



Beijing's economic engagement with the developing world follows the tradition of advanced capitalist economies before it, as seen in its acquiring of natural resources, as well as, mercantile and exploitative practices that create a subservient economic relationship between China and Global South countries.



In regard to a number of potential reforms of global governance to make the world more "just and fair," such as the expansion of the permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council, China has been more of an obstacle than an enabler.



Perhaps, South Korea can contribute to rallying the Global South countries in joining the "rules-based" international order. South Korea, once a member of the Global South, can share its own experiences, and as the "rags to riches" and "autocracy to democracy" success story, can provide the necessary support to Global South countries and complement South Korea's "global pivotal state" strategy.





Kim Sang-woo (swkim54@hotmail.com), a former lawmaker, is chairman of the East Asia Cultural Project and a member of the board of directors at the Kim Dae-jung Peace Foundation.




Sometimes it feels as if we are drowning in a torrent of bad news. I would suggest, however, that the worse people feel, the more they are waking up to the serious contests of our time. If you are unhappy with the political, economic, and social powers manipulating the world today, the critical first step in fighting those forces is changing the way people think about them. By that measure, people today are changing their minds about the culture and institutions around them faster than ever. Consider some of these fundamental shifts in thinking:

(1) Good vs. evil

Not long ago, it was common for conservatives to see the Marxist left as foolishly mistaken  a collection of young and inexperienced troublemakers who would eventually "snap out" of their common delusions once forced to confront reality.

Now people understand that the left's real mission is to reject reality. Castrating boys so that they can pretend to be girls is not "healthy." Perpetuating racism as social policy is not "justice." Imposing a "woke" State religion over personal conscience is not "moral." Aiding and abetting child sextrafficking and drug-smuggling at our borders is not "compassionate." Stealing property is not "equitable." Just as with Leninism and Maoism before, today's leftism is evil.

(2) Parties vs. uniparty

There has been a seismic shift in the way Republican voters see political parties. After Obama forced government-controlled health care on America, the Tea Party movement began a desperate fight against socialism's advances. From the energy of that movement, Republicans eventually took back the House and Senate. Despite those triumphs, Paul Ryan rubber-stamped Obama's budgets, while refusing to build Trump's border wall. McConnell's Senate Republicans, who had run on repealing Obamacare, cemented socialized medicine with McCain's decisive betrayal.

Grassroots voters finally rejected Establishment Republicans and catapulted outsider Donald Trump into office. In response, Republicans quietly assisted Democrats in their attempt to remove Trump through the Russia hoax. In the space of a decade, most Republican officeholders were outed as RINOs, before voters properly concluded that they were actually part of a single D.C. Uniparty all along.

(3) Science vs. political manipulation

The only good thing to come out of the government's COVID lockdowns, forced medical experimentation, and masking theater was its inadvertent creation of a Eureka! moment for tens of millions of Americans who realized that "science" has become irredeemably politicized. When health authorities opted for experimental injections over known medical treatments, they sacrificed lives to push an agenda. When hospitals separated families and forced vulnerable patients onto ventilators, they acted inhumanely. When politicians and corporations censored public dissent, destroyed livelihoods, hobbled childhood development, and terrified the public with known lies, they not only proved that objective science is dead, but also committed crimes against humanity.

(4) Self-determination vs. global government

Just as "RINO" and "Uniparty" have entered our lexicon as profanities, so too has "globalism." Without respect for the Constitution's express prohibitions or the American public's wishes, Deep State bureaucrats and politicians continue to surrender national sovereignty to the United Nations, the World Health Organization, the World Economic Forum, the International Monetary Fund, and their globalist brethren. Americans have lost their self-determination and are now ruled by an alliance of spy agencies, central banks, multinational corporations, and transnational interest groups posing as charities. In order to thwart a hegemonic global aristocracy, citizens must defend their national interests.

(5) Elections vs. selections

Every presidential election this century has been tainted by allegations of fraud. Instead of remedying this public perception, election officials and courts have made things worse. Voting has turned into a months-long affair that begins before candidates have even debated and often extends many weeks past Election "Day." Electronic voting machines remain vulnerable to hacks. Mail-in balloting devoid of fundamental security, identity checks, or signature verification has transformed contests into ballot-stuffing fraud-fests orchestrated by paid political operatives. Secretaries of state refrain from enforcing election law; attorneys general refrain from prosecuting crimes; courts rewrite statutory law to tilt elections. Battleground states routinely suffer from inexplicable counting problems that delay the timely reporting of results. Vote-counting lacks transparency and reproducibility. When lawyers attempt to challenge results, their professional licenses are often threatened. Americans overwhelmingly believe that election cheating is pervasive.

(6) Free speech vs. propaganda

Western governments are so terrified of losing control over their citizens that they attack freedom of speech as a threat to their continued monopolies over information. Words and ideas are now labeled as "hateful" whenever they contradict official State dogma. Debate and argument are censored as "misinformation" so as to stifle dissent. Corporations and bureaucrats have anointed themselves as high priests for assessing "truth" or "disinformation." Their anti-Enlightenment efforts to smother freethinking have exposed the political Establishment as mere propagandists and bullies.

(7) Money vs. control

More and more people realize that free markets cannot exist alongside central banks that engage in rank manipulation of the economy. Fiat currencies unbacked by precious metals are dying. While private investment bankers and multinational corporations have benefited generously, central bank policies have destroyed ordinary Americans' economic security. Before the privately run Federal Reserve came into existence, Americans' intergenerational social mobility was the highest in the world. A century after its creation, income inequality has never been higher. Now, in order to avert a looming economic Armageddon caused by a century of profligate spending, private banks and coercive governments seek to force everyone into a surveillance system based on central bank digital currencies. Until we free our money from government control, totalitarian governments will use money to enslave the people.

(8) Impartial justice vs. targeted persecution

There is no faster way to destroy trust in a nation's institutions than to use the criminal justice system as a machine for targeting political enemies. Yet that is exactly what the FBI, the Department of (in)Justice, and their unethical allies donning black robes, have done. In any country suffering from corruption, a telltale sign is when agency heads choose to rebuke ordinary citizens for no longer having faith in the system. A healthy system, in contrast, never fears public challenge. The people, upon whose consent government legitimacy rests, have a duty to call out corruption. Consider it an admission of guilt, then, when FBI director Wray or Attorney General Garland condemns Americans for correctly noticing their two-tiered application of "justice."

(9) Republic vs. empire

As Mark Twain succinctly noted, "America cannot have an empire abroad and a Republic at home." It did not work for the Romans, and it has not worked for American citizens since the end of WWII. The U.S. Constitution severely limits the powers of the federal government while maximizing the powers of the states and the people. Congress alone has the power to declare war. The vast administrative bureaucracy has been divined from thin air. The states have no obligation to obey the federal government when it acts unconstitutionally. D.C. has transformed its limited powers into a global juggernaut beyond accountability. In the process, Americans' inherent rights and liberties have been abandoned.

(10) Civil war vs. revolution for independence

As Americans have come to terms with these revelations, they have also realized something else: the federal government spends an awful lot of time and resources dividing Americans against one another. Should ordinary citizens ever seek to reclaim their liberties, that future conflict will resemble not America's regional Civil War, but rather the Revolutionary War's struggle against government tyranny.

We are living through a combustible era in which common Establishment illusions shatter daily. Paradigm shifts in the way people see their world advance in short years, rather than over decades or centuries. Is this revolution of the mind uncomfortable? Absolutely. It is also the quintessential feature of every great awakening.

Image: WolfBlur via Pixabay, Pixabay License.
Before Trump, D.C. was a comfortable place for politicians of both parties. They pretended to be different by keeping the public busy on divisive social issues. Once elected, they stuck to the norms in D.C. for endless foreign wars, open borders, wastage of public funds, green energy, etc.

Before Tucker Carlson had an epiphany, the media establishment was a comfortable place. There were the right media and left media who played the public to give the impression that they hated each other. Most of the mainstream media are a propaganda wing for the Democrats. Then came Fox News, which claimed to represent the right.

The Democrats went to every left-leaning channel and attacked the right. The Republicans appeared on Fox News and attacked the left.

But nobody on Fox News ever challenged Republicans from the right  i.e., nobody ever asked them about open borders or amnesty to illegals or the lack of action on abortion. Obviously, none in the mainstream media asked Democrats about their lack of progress on left-leaning issues.

Tucker Carlson has changed that norm for the right. He was one of the rare right-leaning voices on TV who challenged Republicans for not following the principles of conservatism and for being focused on issues that didn't matter to Americans. Perhaps this led to Carlson's sacking from Fox News.

Tucker was in dazzling form a few days back at an Iowa event called The Summit, where he interviewed some GOP presidential candidates.

It was apparent that every candidate was uncomfortable with him being there because they knew he would challenge them. Most began by lavishing blandishments on Carlson, perhaps hoping he would not subject them to a grilling.

The good news is that Carlson was unfazed by the flattery.

We focus on Carlson's interaction with former vice president Mike Pence.

Carlson asked Pence about his stance on U.S. foreign policy pertaining to the conflict in Ukraine.

Pence claimed that the U.S. had "made progress" in assisting Ukraine.

Carlson challenged Pence on why U.S. leaders are more interested in Ukraine than in the rampant crime and downfall of major American cities. Carlson also reminded Pence that Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky's government is suppressing and arresting Christian priests by branding them pro-Kremlin.

"That's not consistent with religious liberty. It's an attack on it, and we're funding it. And I'm just wondering how, and I don't mean to be disrespectful at all, but I sincerely wonder how a Christian leader could support the arrest of Christian leaders for having different views," Carlson asked Pence.

Pence claimed he asked that very question to Ukrainian Christian leaders when he traveled to Ukraine two months after the invasion and that he was assured that "people were not being persecuted for their religious beliefs."

Carlson challenged Pence, reminding him of reports of persecution of Christians.

Pence ended with a perfunctory "People being persecuted for their religious beliefs. I won't stand for it."

Carlson also asked Pence if he thought the attack on the Capitol was an "insurrection."

"I've never used the word insurrection, Tucker, over the past two years, but it was a riot that took place at the Capitol that day," replied Pence. He added that Trump's behavior on January 6 was "reckless."

Tucker Carlson: "Do you think [Jan. 6] was an insurrection?"



Pence: "Can I just take a moment to just say 'thank you' to the family leader? ... I've never used the word 'insurrection' ... It was a riot" pic.twitter.com/ar6xllpXn3  The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) July 14, 2023

It has to be remembered that Pence, as Trump's running mate and as vice president, was despised by D.C. and the media for being a devoutly religious man. They also hated him because they thought he was an "enabler" of Trump.

However, in recent times, Pence suddenly found love from his haters when he began parroting the insurrection narrative. The blandishments were as outrageous as the insults he received during the Trump administration.

The following is a sample of a compliment that Pence received, which I personally found offensive as a massive fan of Harrison Ford.

I never thought of Mike Pence as a Harrison Ford type, but he sure sounded like one in the description of the hearing today. #January6thHearings  Jeffrey Toobin (@JeffreyToobin) June 16, 2022

Let's examine his tenure as vice president.

When Trump was elected, there were three categories of people.

The first, who despised him, openly said so. The second category supported him and was open about it. The third was a cunning variety: they despised him and didn't support him but claimed to be supporters. Perhaps these were saboteurs deployed by the establishment to scupper Trump's agenda from within.

Bill Barr and Pence, considering how quickly they changed their tunes after the 2020 presidential election, seemed to belong to the third category.

It has to be remembered that it was Pence who highlighted the fact that General Flynn lied to him, which caused Flynn to be fired. It has to be remembered that Flynn had pledged to work actively toward draining the swamp. With Flynn's departure, that possibility dwindled.

Within weeks of the disclosure of classified documents at Joe Biden's offices, Pence's lawyer alerted the authorities that they had discovered a dozen documents marked as classified at Pence's Indiana residence. Perhaps this was Pence trying to make Biden's mishandling of classified documents look like the norm. What is perplexing is that Pence's lawyers didn't perform a search for classified documents when Trump's home was raided. The DOJ closed the investigation on Pence's mishandling of documents while Trump is on trial for it.

Back to the Iowa summit.

There are many who claimed that Pence's awkward performance ended his presidential chances.

Well, they are wrong because to end his chances, he would have to have some chances in the first place.

Unless he is delusional, which is most likely not the case, Pence knows that he had no chance of winning the nomination. He knows that his conduct on January 6 and his remarks after that attacking Trump had disgusted the GOP voters who participate in the primaries.

So what was he doing there?

Clearly, Pence was auditioning for a lucrative position in one of the "conservative" groups, such as the Lincoln Project, or maybe the kind that he supported by National Review, which longs for the return of the Bush era. He could also find a position on Fox News or perhaps even a liberal media outlet where he can be a useful idiot.

When President Trump wins in 2024, one of the biggest challenges is to keep away cunning pretenders such as Pence and Barr.

This isn't going to be easy because there are many wolves in sheepskin, while others merely capitulate under D.C. pressure.

Image: Michael Vadon via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
One of the 20th century's great writers died on July 11.

In these addled and busy times, he seemed to have become a voice of the past. During his active years, he very much was a voice of the "present," a literary prism through which the crises of the age were illuminated, if not solved. He remains, however, a voice of and for the future.

As the times are addled, so is Kundera's legacy, or rather the general perception of his work. As a onetime member of the Czechoslovak Communist Party, then a dissenter and dissident, twice stripped of party membership, then exiled, his works banned in his homeland, and a voice against totalitarian tyranny, he would seem to be secure in the pantheon of literary rebels like Franz Kafka, Arthur Koestler, Eugene Lyons, Whitaker Chambers, Elizabeth Bentley, and Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn.

But while Kundera clearly retained no affection for communism, the pervasive anti-totalitarian subtexts of his work were less specific, less political, and more philosophical. Perhaps most like his countryman Kafka among that pantheon of the 20th century's lonely freedom fighters, Kundera identified and criticized the type of totalitarian mindset that is more insidious than the statist mentality of Marxism: the banal but incessant downward pressure of societies; the insistence on low expectations and lower ambitions; the denial of rights masquerading as the assertion of rights; the morphology of low standards to no standards.

Kundera, after some celebration from the 1960s to the '80s as a brave survivor and voice of protest, slid into seclusion and self-imposed exile in France. Like Solzhenitsyn, he escaped oppression, arrests, and censorship, only to find himself in a different sort of prison: the materialistic West's diffidence.

The fate of artists who assert the freedom of conscience and expression under communism became "non-persons." In the West, most of them became free to be ignored, denied, sometimes ridiculed  non-persons of a different sort, in prisons without bars.

As totalitarian mindsets overtake the world and our own morally flaccid culture, Milan Kundera, however, remains a prophet  different in focus and in literary style from those predecessors, except for being largely unheeded. That literary style, by itself, was unique, but his critiques were fashioned in irony and ambiguity  not from timidity, at all, but to force readers to move more than halfway, not to meet him, but to confront truth. His fusillades were not frontal assaults, but attacks on the flanks of the march of totalitarianism.

Before my own first trip to Prague, to an international book fair, a friend gave me a copy of the recently published The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Kundera. It was, to me, revolutionary and, of course, perfectly timed. This was just after the "Velvet Revolution," the overthrow of communism. I first spent a week in Sarajevo and Belgrade. Those former Yugoslav cities were dirty, grimy, depressed, broken. In the Czech Republic's Prague, streets were clean, people were cheery, and even the closed shops somehow emitted optimism. I went to a rousing performance of the Bohemians' national tone poem, Smetana's Ma Vlast, attended by the new president (and former oppressed literary figure, like Kundera) Vaclav Havel, in the grand Concert Hall. It was grand, indeed.

Afterward, I read and appreciated Kundera's landmark work The Book of Laughter and Forgetting. These and other works teach much about the individuals' inescapable necessity to respond to totalitarian encroachments...whether brought by governments, societies, or our own life choices...the preternatural requirement to oppose national policies of betrayal and regimentation.

The Bohemians and Moravians  the thriving Czech Republic  restored citizenship, which the old communists had stripped, to Kundera. Slovakia, the other part of Czechoslovakia, which has clung to socialism, has not. His person, just as his beliefs, are foreign to that portion of his old homeland. Even after adopting French citizenship, Kundera had for years struggled with the meaning  and, in many lands, the absence of meaning  of home. "Forgetting" and "home" are words  concepts  with numerous implications that pervade his work.

Kundera as a prophet? I think his more personal attentions resulted in messages that speak more personally. His first novel, The Joke, is a virtual blueprint, act by act, of what today is called Cancel Culture. It was written in 1967. And how Tomas in The Incredible Lightness of Being is canceled, too  "blacklisting," a previous generation termed it  however, not over politics, but over one group's view of an individual's behavior. Today's New Puritanism, totalitarian in purpose and practice, has broadened from its parochial and partisan roots today and become national policy.

Much of 19th- and 20th-century literature grows from man-against-the-state critiques, even while Karl Marx was a mere glint in his parents' eyes. Thackeray and especially Dickens frequently portrayed a type of social totalitarianism  certainly authoritarianism. Earlier, Jane Austen's settings are woman-against-the-system  almost as brutal, but of a "tea, lace, and perfume" sort.

To the extent, and it was a great extent, that Kundera shrugged instead of fought, sighed instead of screamed, his work strongly suggested that much of contemporary life  above and beyond bureaucratic socialist states  is futile, or at least that mankind's opposition might be futile. As such, he constructed stories and characters that were ironic, inconsistent, capricious, and very ambiguous.

I share here a photo framed on my wall, one I took in the Old Town Square during that trip to Prague. It memorializes the burning at the stake of Jan Hus, more than 700 years ago  an early fighter, prefiguring Milan Kundera, for freedom of conscience.



Image: Rick Marschall, used with permission.

The battles for freedom of thought, there, here, and worldwide, yet rage.

In the realm of totalitarian kitsch, all answers are given in advance and preclude any questions.

Milan Kundera

Image: Praveenp via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped).
If, like me, you find the presidential debate format a rather meaningless exercise, you will be astonished at what one-on-one interviews by a skilled interrogator can accomplish.

At the Iowa Family Leader Conference, Tucker Carlson interviewed several leading contenders for president: Tim Scott, Asa Hutchinson, Mike Pence, Nikki Haley, Vivek Ramaswamy, and Ron DeSantis.

If the participants thought this was going to be another tongue bath, they were certainly surprised. He asked hard questions, and some of their answers exposed their muddled thinking. At least two of them  Asa Hutchinson and Mike Pence -- were clear losers and can now be safely considered out of the running. If you havent had an opportunity to listen to all the interviews on the site, Ill summarize some of the highlights.

Tucker chided Pence for being more concerned about defending Ukraine than with dealing with domestic problems.

Tucker: "Where's the concern for the United States?" Pence: "That's not my concern. Tucker I've heard this routine from you before. That's not my concern."

Pence tried to duck this gaffe by claiming it was out of context, but the video is undoctored, and the response is clear. I believe his campaign is now dead.

He offered up an extended clip in which he said, "Anybody that says that we cant be the leader of the free world and solve our problems at home has a pretty small view of the greatest nation on Earth. We can do both.

And as president of the United States, we will secure our border, we will support our military, we will revive our economy and stand by our values. And we will also lead the world for freedom under my administration. I promise you.

I don't think his optimism about our present ability to achieve all these ends is shared by many.

Asa Hutchinson was asked if hed changed his opinion after he vetoed an Arkansas Bill banning transgendering surgical treatment for children. The bill made what it called an 'exception' for some intersex people with unspecified chromosomal makeup and hormone production, and those with difficulties resulting from previous gender-affirming treatments. It also would have banned so-called 'cross-hormone' therapy, a gender-affirming treatment that allows for trans people to change their physical appearance to be more consistent with their gender identity.

Tucker noted that hormonal treatment of children created a permanent alteration, as did surgical intervention, and that Hutchinson forbade restricting surgery and cross-hormonal therapy. How did he feel two years later about hormonal treatments? Hutchinson did not offer a satisfactory answer. Probably because he could not. He began by saying God says there are two sexes, but then continued that parents have a right to change that. The response was so muddled, it was unconvincing. I mark that as another candidate out of the race.

Tucker was a bit softer on Haley, letting her off harder questions on her hawkish views on Ukraine. She showed a lot of political savvy and poise. Nevertheless, she did not do well on the questions of climate change, and fudged on the question of whether she thought that 2020 was a fair election, deflecting to a plea about achieving election integrity. She said there were a lot of irregularities but didnt think it affected the results even though she agreed that the Intelligence Community had too much power and interfered with the 2020 election. She displayed great managerial instincts and was great on cleaning out those agencies and the Department of Justice. And she has a record to back this up, which she described. On homelessness, she argued that we need more mental health treatment and major changes to the present health care system. (Certainly, these are valid issues, though I dont see how that can result in short-term changes.) On climate change, she notes that re the Paris Climate Agreement she was critical of the plan that hampers us while letting the China and India, the major emitters, alone. She argued for energy independence -- its a national security threat, contending that we need that and a strong military. Haley said she didnt know who sabotaged the Nord Stream pipeline, which hurt our western allies. As for the White House cocaine find, she said only few people go into that area and surveillance cameras are placed at that spot and called the Secret Service report a cover-up for Hunter or someone very close to the president. (The latest of a series of changing reports is that the cocaine was not in the situation room, but outside it. Still, I wouldnt hold her responsible for an account which has been so rapidly changing.)

She contended that the federal spending is seriously out of control and blamed both parties, noting Republicans doubled down on earmarks all while Americans are in debt and Social Security and Medicare will be going broke and said there was no reason to justify the refusal to release the JFK assassination reports.

Vivek Ramaswamy, a smart, very successful businessman and the only millennial in the race, was very impressive. He began by saying Americans were Starved for purpose and meaning -- things like patriotism, hard work and family -- and widespread depression, suicide, transgenderism are symptoms of this." We have, he believes, an opportunity to fill that vacuum with more than race, sex, transgenderism. We have a moral hunger, he claims, and that calls for a turn away from globalism and return to nationalism. He was firm on Ukraine, contending there is no basis to send our military to secure some other countrys border while neglecting our own. He was critical of the support the war has received from both parties, which appear to feel that we have a politically correct war while ignoring the fact that it has actually, among other things, strengthened the Russia-China alliance, which is the worst threat. He offered up his ideas for a negotiated settlement that includes a promise not to add Ukraine to NATO and allows Russia some territory.

Unlike those who blame Trump for the January 6 events, he blames the Biden Administration-Big Tech censorship. "You want to know what caused J6? Pervasive censorship in this country in the lead-up to J6. We were told you could not question where the virus came from. We were told that you could not send a private message to someone on the eve of an election that Hunter Biden's laptop story was true. You were told you had to be locked down, you had to take a vaccine that was mandated while Antifa and BLM roam and burn the streets. That's what caused J6. A cycle of censorship. Several other striking statements of his seem to me to be of great appeal: True privilege is not based on the color of your skin. Its being raised in a stable family with two parents with a focus on education and a faith in God. Thats the ultimate privilege Math isn't racist. But you know what might be? Not teaching black kids how to do math."

Ron DeSantis also came out well in his interview. As governor of Florida, he signed a bill that banned abortion after six weeks and would use the presidential bully pulpit to encourage more governors to pass more restrictive abortion laws. He acknowledged that this must be done by the consensus in each state. As for global warming, he said he concentrated on improving the environment which actually impacts peoples lives and that forcing people into electric vehicles is not going to work. Questioned about whether he was concerned that all the immigrants to his state from California and New York would turn his red state blue, he responded thats not happening, that most of these new residents moved because they opted for freedom, away from insanity and toward traditional values.

He chided our governments foreign-policy leaders, saying we need to concretely define the mission there and, moreover, we must decide what is in our national interests -- our border or Ukraines. He was quite adamant about the invasion across our borders, and in particular the need to smash the cartels. Specifically he said we need to focus more on the threat from China, stop providing at our cost blanket security to Europe, end the war in Ukraine, and stop giving Iran a free pass. Asked about his thoughts on the Federal Reserves plan to rid us of cash and crypto currency, he said hed nix any such plan, which he sees as a means to impose a social credit system on this country .As for the Intelligence Community and other agencies which sabotage the Chief Executive, he said hed immediately name a new FBI director and fill all executive branch positions which do not require confirmation on the first day, and that anticipating media outrage if he did this, he said Article 2 of the Constitution gives the president that power. Furthermore, he would have used that power to fire Fauci and those government employees who colluded in censorship, and that on a case-by-case basis hed pardon those who were targeted by a partisan Department of Justice.

He added that government censorship on COVID killed people and hurt schoolchildren and without a major accounting this weaponization of government will happen again. He said the practice of agencies classifying documents to protect themselves, is a big problem, that he would declassify as much as possible, requiring the agencies to meet a high bar to block declassification.

In the time allotted for these interviews, the candidates answered the questions put to them, and there may be more a voter might want to know which remained unasked.

It takes nothing, however, from Carlsons brilliant interviewing skills to note that this is a far better method of letting voters know about the candidates, than what is ridiculously called debates -- kick lines of large numbers of contenders, predictable questions from biased moderators, followed by short, often obviously scripted responses and one-line sound bites. No serious candidate should continue to participate in them and no intelligent voter should bother watching them.
Out here in the lunatic state, the lunatics are lunaticking new lunacies.

Here's the latest scheme from California's State Assembly to ensure "justice" in sentencing criminals of all colors to the can.

According to the Washington Examiner:

A little-known bill that passed the California State Assembly in May would make liberal victimhood ideology the law of the land in the state. The state Senate is now considering Assembly Bill 852, which would require judges to consider the disparate impact on historically disenfranchised and system-impacted populations when deciding prison sentences. Consistent with the view that statistical disparities are automatic evidence of a racist system, judges would be giving black convicts lighter punishments than white convicts for the same crimes. The two-paragraph bill does not specify how a judge may arrive at the conclusion that a black convict is oppressed. It only tells judges to rectify the racial bias that has historically permeated our criminal justice system. Its unclear what, if anything, would limit this wide discretion.

It will probably pass in the state Senate, too.

What fresh hell is this? In an actual justice system, punishments would be doled out according to the crime. The color of the perpetrator would be irrelevant. All defendants would be judged by the content of their character, not the color of their skin. Commit a murder, go to prison.

Anything else is not justice, just affirmative action in a creepy new form, as if there were some kind of competition as to who wins a spot in prison, just as there's competition to win college placements and the white candidates would come out with more "beds" than they did earlier owing to disparate impact. Talk about skewing white.

What's bad about this is that it's not about justice, and it's not going to solve any problems connected with black criminals.

Yes, there are higher numbers of black criminals for some crimes, not because of the justice system but because of factors that preceded the committing of crimes.

There are problems within the black family -- such as fatherless homes and families that never formed, leaving young men with no role models and no one to look up to to try to measure up to. There's an overuse of foster care, which an astonishingly high number of prisoners (more than half) have some kind of experience in. There also are crappy public schools which black children are forced into and not allowed out of through educational vouchers that Democrats have nixed, which also impacts the crime rate, given that learning to read helps children build empathy for others, something that is entirely opaque to people who turn to crime. There's also the appalling popular culture, where criminality is glorified and women are viewed as sex objects and prostitutes. Tell us again that that doesn't affect the crime rate. There's also blue-city failure to prosecute criminality in black communities as it happens -- meaning, children are exposed to criminals and crime that they should be protected from. Any and all of these things affect the crime rate in the black community much more than the justice system which is the end of the road for this terrible disintegration of social norms. The bottom line is that it's not the justice system that's at the root of the problem here -- it's social maladies that should be addressed at much more elemental levels that explains the disparity in crime rates among black, brown, white, and other communities.

If affirmative action is introduced in sentencing, it's downright scary who the victims are going to be -- not whitey in his suburbs, though there will be problems there -- but the black community itself, which will see no justice at all for the amount of crime committed in their communities. Most crime is black-on-black crime, so the picture that would emerge here would be of an innocent black family which had a family member assaulted or murdered would see the black perpetrator walk from his crimes because too many other black criminals would already be in the can and racial "balancing" in prison populations would be the priority.

What a horrible picture that would be. Black criminals would get a "get out of jail free card" from the state as if not enough had already been given in this age of Soros prosecutors, and their black victims would be treated to more crime from the criminals who have already preyed on their communities. That sounds like a recipe for vigilantism. No affirmative action for the victims of these crimes.

If for nothing else, black community leaders should object strongly to this awful law, which goes against any sense of individual responsibility for one's actions. It creates a freak system of law conditioned on group identities and their "representation," with no role whatsoever for the personal accountability and social capital that makes communities strong.

Image: Pixabay / Pixabay License
It seems as though the war over elections has been calibrated to destabilize our civil society. Never-ending skirmishes over source code, chain of custody, adjudication rates, tabulator errors, and improper funds have not elicited even a white thread of surrender from those who keep firing the same tired bullet: "election-denier." All with sufficient commitment to fairness to learn these terms, regardless of party, appear destined to battle to our mutual deaths. What a victory for those who seek to destroy America.

The fight over "Election Integrity" is like the "War on Drugs." It is a hopeless conundrum planted before us, a rabbit hole big enough to swallow the nation, and coincidentally all our tax dollars. Simply stated, an election is incapable of firmly adhering to a code of moral values. Only people can do that.

There are two kinds of elections in America, by law (Title III, Sec. 301 [a][5]):

1. Accurate.

2. Invalid.

It gets better. To be accurate, elections must meet extremely stringent standards established under federal law by the "election deniers" of 2000: Democrats. The allowable error rate in a federal election, in order for that election to be valid and therefore certifiable, is 1/10,000,000 ballot positions or 1/125,000 ballots (see 3.2.1). According to the federal election assistance commission that set this legal standard, "this rate is set at a sufficiently stringent level such that the likelihood of voting system errors affecting the outcome of an election is exceptionally remote even in the closest of elections." When it comes to federal elections, there are no honest mistakes.

New York's 2020 general election provides countless fine examples of how this standard is being ignored. With a claim of 8.6 million votes cast, the board of elections is allowed grace regarding exactly 69 ballots. Yet the NYSVoter database, the official registration record according to the law (Title III, Sec. 303 [a][1][A]), shows 740,000+ votes cast by registration records that are illegal or invalid.

Although the furor of our current election war may be more vicious than ever, it's not exactly new. On May 14, 1888, the United States Supreme Court issued an opinion, regarding an election matter in Indiana, that included this clarifying language:

Congress seeks by this statute to guard the election of members of Congress against any possible unfairness by compelling, under its pains and penalties, everyone concerned in holding the election to a strict and scrupulous observance of every duty devolved upon him while so engaged. ... The evil intent consists in disobedience to the law. (In re Coy, 127 U.S. 731)

Could this be the reason for the steadfast resistance of election officials across America to grant access to public records that, by definition, belong to the people? Are they hiding culpability for a poor or unsavory effort behind a slew of ad hominem attacks?

The forensic voter roll analysis done by NY Citizens Audit exemplifies this pattern as well as any. Having discovered that New York's 2020 general election was certified with 338,000 more votes than voters, dedicated patriots proceeded to blanket the state with this and many other stunning truths inconvenient to the boards of elections. Simply by using the three-minute allowance for public comments at town board meetings, NY Citizens Audit has provided over 35 hours of election education to a targeted audience invested in American civics: local government officials and town board attendees. Two hundred towns in New York have been treated to a public reading of NY Citizens Audit's "Resolution for an Audit of New York's 2022 General Election." Dozens have signed on in support.

Instead of honorably producing their legally required auditable records proving NY Citizens Audit's grave error, election officials have attacked. The honest, peer-reviewed effort of over 2,000 volunteers is "malicious (p.12)." The Ontario County board of elections went so far as to claim that "all data provided by this group has been debunked by our peers." That may prove to be an unfortunate turn of phrase, since the data NY Citizens Audit reviewed was provided by the boards of elections in response to FOIA requests. Meanwhile, the nearby Oneida County board of elections suffered a clerical error this spring in which they forgot to hold an election.

As Thomas Paine famously quoted, "In America, the LAW is King." It turns out elections have to obey the law, too, which depends on the integrity of our election officials. And spare me the arguments about speed limits being broken every day, or three-letter agents abandoning their oaths. The single foundational principle of our nation is government by consent. If we abandon this as hopeless, we abandon freedom. Election officials who played umpire in 2020 and 2022, treating our elections like playoff games, can't be allowed a third try.

Marly Hornik is launching United Sovereign Americans to collaborate with election research teams in bringing valid claims, and for public education. To volunteer, please email mh@auditny.com.

Image: cagdesign, via Pixabay, Pixabay License.
One of the reasons the Deep State is so powerful is that, thanks in large part to government unions, its almost impossible to fire government employees, no matter their infractions. There are no disincentives for bad behavior. At most, people or departments will get scolded, while taxpayers bear any financial costs. Just look at Christopher Wrays cavalier response to the FBIs lawbreaking. However, in Michigan and Ohio, there are signs that this may finally change.

One of the most disturbing things about Christopher Wrays recent House testimony was that he was unaffected by both the Inspector Generals and a courts finding that the FBI engaged in hundreds of thousands or even more than a million illegal searches:

Gaetz: Lets go from the deeply incurious, to the downright nosey. How many illegal FISA queries have occurred under your leadership at the FBI?



Wray: Well there are reports that have come out with different numbers



Gaetz: The Inspector General says more than a million. He pic.twitter.com/kyJ6Zyoxab   PENNSYLVANIA IS TRUMP (@RED_IN_PA) July 12, 2023

Wray should have been groveling in response to these questions and promising to straighten up and fly right. Instead, he arrogantly insisted that he really doesnt see that theres a problemand clearly, he doesnt intend to institute any changes in the FBI. Wray knows hes not really a public servant. Instead, hes a free and untouchable agent, with the federal police power at his beck and call.

Wrays behavior exemplifies the bureaucratic mindset. For too long, government employees havent had disincentives to stop them from doing bad work or engaging in illegal conduct. This past week, though, came tiny but still hopeful signs of change.

In Michigan, two officials got the boot after they ignored the all-Muslim city councils vote to ban Gay Pride flags on city property:

Two officials on the Hamtramck Human Relations Commission have been removed after the city council said they violated a city ordinance banning the display of LGBT Pride flags on city property. The removal came after the all-Muslim city council voted last month to ban the display of LGBT Pride flags on all city properties. In a unanimous vote this week, Russ Gordon and Cathy Stackpoole were kicked off of the human relations commission after the council said the pair were responsible for flying a Pride flag on government property. This Council believes in fairness, neutrality towards our residents, and the rule of law, amongst other things for this community. We passed a resolution recently to do just that, and two of our sworn commissioners outright defied it, and did what they wanted, Council member Khalil Refai told Fox News in a statement. Refai added that the council considered the flying of the LGBT flag a violation of the citys trust.

To the extent that Islam isnt fond of the things I am and that I like (e.g., individual liberty, women, Jews, Israel, etc.), Ive viewed Islam in America with some wariness. However, the council was bang on the money with this one. In the first place, its wrong for a city to go around celebrating sexual behaviors and preferences. Theres nothing offensive to the First Amendment or discriminatory about ceasing those celebrations. In the second place, once the council made the decision, it was the employees obligation to abide by it. And in the third place, when the employees refused to abide by the rules, it was time for them to goand they went.

Meanwhile, in Ohio, the states attorney general, Dave Yost, let employees at state colleges and universities know that, if they violated the Supreme Courts recent decision holding that affirmative action in higher education is unconstitutional, those employees will be personally liable:

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost says his office can't protect public colleges and universities if they run afoul of the new rules banning schools from considering race during admissions. Employees of institutions of higher education will face personal risk should they consider race during the admissions process, Yost wrote in a strongly worded letter dated June 30. [snip] I am writing to stress the need to comply strictly with the decisions holding, Yost wrote. And to warn the higher education community about the dangers that institutions of higher education and institutional employees face by failing to do so.

Boom!

Thats how you do it. Currently, government employees who disagree with and then violate laws and policies know that they can do so with impunity. The Deep State will come to heel only if that arrogant, lawless attitude becomes toxic.

Image by Andrea Widburg using AI
Talk about stupid.

Jennifer Rubin wrote a column in the Washington Post, absurdly claiming that Florida was so badly run and so "cruel" its residents were fleeing, basing her entire article on this errant premise, and forcing the Washington Post to issue an embarrassing correction.

According to Fox News:

Rubin published the column Friday in which she claimed, "DeSantis likes to brag that more people are moving to Florida than ever. Not so fast. An estimated 674,740 people reported that their permanent address changed from Florida to another state in 2021." Those numbers are wrong and the Post, in a correction on Saturday, admitting the column "mischaracterized" the stats. She originally added, "Thats more than any other state, including New York or California, the two states that have received the most attention for outbound migration during the pandemic, according to the American Community Survey released in June tracking state-by-state migration."

The statistic she cited came from some dingbat at Business Insider who mixed up the inbound numbers of Florida residents with the outbound numbers of Florida residents -- a pretty elementary error.

Business Insider had to correct itself the following day.

But Jen liked that first story better, so she cited that in her own column, going lemmings-like off the Business Insider cliff, and forcing the WaPo to run a correction -- which kind of scuppered the entire point of the piece. They actually should have pulled the column.

In which Jennifer Rubin writes a piece in the Washington Post on Friday that is based around the massive mistake that Business Insider madeand then correctedon Tuesday. Does she have editors? was just emphatically answered. pic.twitter.com/HeigB7gL2c  Charles C. W. Cooke (@charlescwcooke) July 15, 2023

More humiliatingly, Rubin's error was first corrected by readers on Twitter, at least one of whom actually went into the statistics Rubin should have gone into and found the problem. The WaPo had to issue its correction afterwards -- and who knows if they would have, had the Twitter correction not been so loud and out there first.

What an embarrassment. It's not just that Rubin should have known better than to get her statistics from Business Insider (or any outlet full of cub reporters on their first jobs out of journalism school), instead of original sources. It's that intuitively, she should have been skeptical, as the preponderance of news stories do cite the tremendous success Florida has had in drawing residents, based on its low-tax, low-regulation, pro-family, pro-freedom policies, brought in by Florida's excellent governor, Ron DeSantis. She also throws in an attack against President Trump, or rather, his MAGA movement, for good measure. See, she's got this all worked out.

Jen Rubin read one piece from Business Insider and she instantly believed its silly claims because it said something negative about DeSantis and by extension, President Trump? What a gullible doofus!

What we have here is ideology destroying what should be a natural skepticism about weird statistics. When normal reporters run into one of those, they double-check, they look for an original source, as well as a second source; they go over how the statistic was put together.

Not so Jen Rubin -- and her leftist editors. They hear something bad about Ron DeSantis and jump right in to use whatever weird thing they just heard to attack him, pathetically covering themselves with the sludge of error -- and sometimes irredeemably so.

Nothing clouds a reporter's judgment quite like extreme prejudice and hate.

Now we see it in Jen Rubin, who is incapable of skepticism when the prospect of discrediting a Republican is put in front of her. That's doubly so for her editors, who should have fact-checked her and questioned her strange premise. And maybe one of them did -- and got overruled, knowing what I know about how newsrooms operate. That could have happened, too.

Bottom line here, the Post's research and credibility has been exposed as just a little skeezy with Rubin's kind of whopper.

What a bunch of fools.

Image: Twitter screen shot


By Andrew Hammond



The conventional wisdom about the chill in China-Europe ties, which dates back till at least the pandemic, is that it may now be irreversible. However, not all of the bilateral relationship is in "deep freeze."



For at least around a decade, Beijing and Brussels have had very fruitful bilateral conversations on global warming issues. So much so in fact that the EU Emissions Trading System (EU-ETS) was very influential in Beijing's design of its own carbon markets.



European Commission Vice President Frans Timmermans, who heads up green policy for the EU, highlighted this warmth in 2021 when he referred to the "good partnership" in this area. Last week, during his latest visit to Beijing for the EU-China High-level Environment and Climate Dialogue, it was therefore unsurprising that Timmermans said he is "convinced that China is willing to go in the right direction" in tackling climate change, despite growing concerns to the contrary.



Some critics, including NGOs such as Greenpeace, for instance, highlighted this week that Beijing has approved a major surge in coal power so far this year, with the fear that it is prioritizing energy supply over reducing greenhouse emissions. China relied on coal for nearly 60 percent of its electricity in 2022, at least the third consecutive year of growth, and the further increase in approvals for coal-fired power plants has added to worries that Beijing will backtrack on ambitions to peak emissions between 2026 and 2030 before carbon-neutrality by 2060.



EU decision makers such as Timmermans are acutely aware of China's challenge here. They appear to have concluded that the best way to incentivize counterparts in Beijing on this agenda is encouragement, rather than condemnation.



The European assumption is that Beijing needs to be "in the tent' on climate issues rather than left outside. China today is by a long way the largest national emitter of greenhouse gases (accounting for 26.1 percent of global emissions), and international action to tackle climate change is much weakened without Beijing on board.



Many EU officials have long believed that, fundamentally, Chinese policymakers share a vision with Europe of a prosperous, energy-secure future in a stable climate and recognize the need for bilateral collaboration. After all, global warming poses a massive environmental threat to China from record-setting heatwaves to flooding.



In recent days, China's main climate center announced that the first half of 2023 has seen a record number of high-temperature days. Beijing recorded its hottest June day ever and much of Northern China endured 40-degree heat. At the same time, heavy sustained rainfall in central and southern China has also led to severe flooding in recent days, with more than 14,000 people forced to evacuate in Hunan Province alone.







The centerpiece of EU-Chinese cooperation on this agenda is the 2015 EU-China climate change declaration, one of the key drivers of the global warming deal agreed in Paris last December. Under this, both parties agreed to cooperate on developing a cost-effective low-carbon economy, including intensifying cooperation in domestic mitigation policies, carbon markets, low-carbon cities, greenhouse gas emissions from the aviation and maritime industries, and hydrofluorocarbons.



This agreement is incredibly important as, collectively, the EU and China account for over one-third of global greenhouse emissions (which grows to around one-half when the United States is added into the picture). It is no surprise therefore that the 2015 EU-US bilateral climate change declaration was one of the key drivers, along with US diplomacy, of the new, comprehensive global warming deal agreed in Paris.



Amidst all the challenges around climate change, both Chinese and EU policymakers still see  with appropriation vision and commitment  a massive 'win-win' opportunities on the horizon from accelerating the transition to a low-carbon future. And this collaboration looks set to only deepen, including on emissions trading.



China's planned investment in the green economy is staggering, a fact that the EU is increasingly recognizing. For instance, China is the world's biggest and fastest-growing producer of renewable energy, and it aims to turn one-third of its total power supply renewable by 2025.



Europe has clear strengths in this area that China needs here. As the latter continues on a trajectory to potentially become the world's largest economy, there are thus substantial commercial opportunities with European technology and science firms that are leaders on much of this clean technology agenda.



Importantly, this collaboration will not just be one-way traffic. Indeed, China is already the world's largest manufacturer and user of solar panels and the largest investor in renewable energy, and it is increasingly possible that technology transfer will be a two-way process.



To be clear, there is still a long way to go before China has a fully-fledged carbon market. However, the direction of travel is clear: cooperation could build low-carbon industries in a range of sectors and also align Europe more closely to the world's future largest economy.



Taken together, it is therefore clear that both the EU and China have much to gain from a deep partnership on this agenda, but the window of opportunity to collaborate may not remain open indefinitely. Now is thus the time to intensify cooperation, and help define the landscape of the 21st-century clean energy economy.





Andrew Hammond is an Associate at LSE IDEAS at the London School of Economics.


Jonah Hill is getting a raw deal when it comes to the claims his ex, Sarah Brady, is making about a handful of texts he sent to her. They are not the signs of a controlling misogynist. They are, however, the signs of Americas cultural collapse.

Hill is a successful Hollywood actor who grew up in an affluent LA community, attended leftist schools, and is one of those people who makes a big deal of his Jewish identity but, so far as I know, doesnt celebrate Jewish values. Politically, hes a Democrat.

Sarah Brady is a professional leftist and social media influencer, along with being a surfer, photographer, anthropologist, and law student. She started dating Hill in August 2021, breaking up with him at some point in 2022.

Last week, Brady published a series of text messages she received from Hill at the beginning of their relationship. Because an actors text messages are big news in 2023, Newsweek helpfully transcribed them in their entirety. They have led to accusations across the media that Hill is a controlling, abusive misogynist. (E.g., here and here.) I dont agree.

Image: Jonah Hill and Sarah Brady (cropped). YouTube screen grab.

The texted conversations are long and boring for anyone not directly involved in the relationship. Whats pretty clear, though, is that Brady behaved in ways that Hill found disrespectful and dismissive, and Hill asked her not to.

What really got peoples goat was that Hill, a good Democrat, objected to the fact that Brady displayed her derriere in a thong, flaunted her sexuality, kept telling him how her therapist thought he was a bad guy, hung around with former boyfriends, and had unstable female friends. Accepting both of their texts at face value, what you see is exactly why male/female relationships are so troubled today.

Hill summed up what he expected in a relationship:

Plain and simple: If you need: surfing with men, boundaryless inappropriate friendships with men, to model, to post pictures of yourself in a bathing suit, to post sexual pictures, friendships with women who are in unstable places and from your wild recent past beyond getting a lunch or coffee or something respectful. I am not the right partner for you. 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. My boundaries with you based on the ways these actions have hurt our trust.

In other words, if were in a monogamous relationship, dont spill your sexual self all over the place (photos, other men), and stop hanging out with unstable women, with the subtext being that those same women are killing Bradys relationship with Hill.

I think that text is one of the saddest things Ive ever seen. The norm used to be that, in a monogamous relationship (preferably a married one), people reserved their sexual selves for their partner (preferably a spouse). In other words, society expected that a relationship would be based on trust and respect. You didnt have to spell it out.

These expectations made for strong relationships and strong families. For men, it mattered a great deal because theyd be expected to support the children of the relationship and, unless theyd explicitly accepted a stepchild or adopted child, they didnt want to labor for another mans children.

In 2023, though, Hill is blasted as a narcissistic, controlling, gaslighting woman-hater for stating what were, until not long ago, normative cultural expectations for a stable and loving relationship. Of course, Hill is part of the community that destroyed the norms (i.e., Hollywood leftists), but it doesnt make his expectations and the derision heaped upon them any less sad.

And then there is the womens role in this. Its not just that Brady was apparently being emotionally promiscuous (and, maybe, physically, but I dont know); its also that her friendships were with women who are in unstable places Whats unspoken there is that Bradys friends, like her therapist, were constantly undermining Hill.

Before feminism and social deconstruction occurred, men and women were recognized as being different (Vive La Difference!), which was one of the thrills of a relationship. That didnt mean that they got a free pass for sharing only the worst side of their sex (e.g., male aggression or female emotionalism). Instead, it meant there was a lovely yin-yang that saw people complementing each other.

Now, though, the sexes hate each other because theyve been trained to do so. This is especially true for women, who are constantly reminded that men are toxic: Theyre predatory and controlling, engaging in mansplaining and manspreading. The less stable women are, the more theyre caught up in male toxicity as the reason for their failure to have a loving relationship. Friends like that spread their misanthropy to those of their female friends whove been tactless enough to have a good relationship with a man.

So, while I dont see myself ever liking Jonah Hill, I feel sorry for him. And thats true even though hes a victim of the leftist culture he supports.
Down in Mexico, organized crime is on the rise and sending a message, according to Kellin Dillon, a fine reporter with Pulse News Mexico. This is the latest report:

According to national security experts, Mexicos organized crime drug trafficking groups have escalated the use of explosive devices in order to instill fear in local communities, a violent methodology that left three security officers dead and another 10 people injured in Tlajomulco de Zuniga, Jalisco, on the night of Tuesday, July 11. Mexicos Secretary of National Defense (Sedena) documented 288 incidents where improvised explosives were used under the administration of Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (AMLO) between December 2018 and February 2022, a 223 percent increase from the six-year term of his predecessor former President Enrique Pena Nieto. That same Sedena report went on to reveal that 1,342 explosive devices were used across the 288 incidents, usually in the form of car bombs, land mines or explosives dropped from drones.

And where is President Lopez-Obrador? He is not engaged, according to Daniel Battle:

Unlike previous administrations, Lopez Obrador has taken a hands-off approach to the cartels, even denying that fentanyl is produced in Mexico. Predictably, the cartels have expanded their power and reach. They have also diversified into extortion, kidnapping, agriculture, mining and other activities.

Again, where is President Lopez-Obrador? He is arguing with Peru over an impeachment down there, hugging the Cuban dictator and looking more and more like a man who wants to do in Mexico what Chavez did in Venezuela.

Where is the Biden administration? They are hunting down "white supremacists," parents who don't want their eight-year-old kids indoctrinated with sexuality lessons and treating Lopez-Obrador's disdain for Mexican democracy like an afternoon shower that will pass.

Mexico will elect a new president in twelve months. President Biden, and definitely the GOP candidates, need to talk more about Mexico. I mean more than the border crisis but rather the erosion of law happening under the man they refer to as AMLO. We should support Mexican democratic institutions, such as the Supreme Court under siege by the authoritarian Lopez-Obrador administration.

Here is the truth: An unstable Mexico would present horrible consequences for the U.S., and it's time to start talking about what's going on down there, from organized crime terrorizing local communities to cartels bringing fentanyl across the border to a president who dreams of being a third-world leader.

PS: Check out my blog for posts, podcasts, and videos.

Image via Peakpx.
Yesterdays blog post on the need to start pressuring Bidens cabinet to invoke the 25th Amendment drew a lot of readers and commenters, with much concern expressed about what happens next. Because the 25th has never been invoked, there is some confusion about whether or not a new vice president would need to be appointed.

As commenter Patricia Kunz pointed out, under the terms of the Amendments Section 3, no official vacancy is created in the office of Vice President:

Whenever the President transmits to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives his written declaration that he is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, and until he transmits to them a written declaration to the contrary, such powers and duties shall be discharged by the Vice President as Acting President.

This means that the Vice President remains in office as VP and only becomes Acting President. While all the duties and powers (Section 4) of the presidency devolve upon the Acting President, there is no vacancy in the office of Vice President. So, there is no need or ability to appoint a new Vice President.

Under current circumstances, this means that if Kamala Harris were to die in office, there would be a vacancy in the vice presidency, and no one able to nominate a replacement veep, as Section 2 of the 25th Amendment specifies:

Whenever there is a vacancy in the office of the Vice President, the President shall nominate a Vice President who shall take office upon confirmation by a majority vote of both Houses of Congress.

Article II, Section 1, Clause 6 of the Constitution specifies:

In Case of the Removal of the President from Office, or of his Death, Resignation, or Inability to discharge the Powers and Duties of the said Office, the Same shall devolve on the Vice President, and the Congress may by Law provide for the Case of Removal, Death, Resignation or Inability, both of the President and Vice President, declaring what Officer shall then act as President, and such Officer shall act accordingly, until the Disability be removed, or a President shall be elected.

The Presidential Succession Act of 1947 put the Speaker of the House and President Pro Tempore of the Senate in line for succeeding the president if no vice president is in office. After them, cabinet officers, in order of the age of their departments, are in line. But it does not speak to the office of Acting President as later created by the 25th. But it would provide ammunition for the GOP-led House to argue that Kevin McCarthy ought to assume the powers and duties of Acting President. However, there is no constitutional or statutory authority that I know of for such a move.

The House could also impeach the president, the incapacitated Joe Biden, with only a majority vote. It would then be up to the Senate to either convict or acquit him, which would require a two-thirds vote for a guilty verdict. With a leadership crisis at top and an obviously incapacitated Biden, how many senators would cast their ballots to keep nobody in charge of the executive branch by acquitting an impeached Biden? It would cause a constitutional crisis like no other in history. With the office of vice president vacant by death and Biden impeached and removed from office, McCarthy would be in line for the presidency.

But assuming Vice President Harris does not tragically die, how long does an acting president remain in office remain as a kind of super-veep, with all the powers and duties of the president without actually being sworn in a president? The answer is found in Section 4:

when the President transmits to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives his written declaration that no inability exists, he shall resume the powers and duties of his office unless the Vice President and a majority of either the principal officers of the executive department or of such other body as Congress may by law provide, transmit within four days to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives their written declaration that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office. Thereupon Congress shall decide the issue, assembling within forty-eight hours for that purpose if not in session. If the Congress, within twenty-one days after receipt of the latter written declaration, or, if Congress is not in session, within twenty-one days after Congress is required to assemble, determines by two-thirds vote of both Houses that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, the Vice President shall continue to discharge the same as Acting President; otherwise, the President shall resume the powers and duties of his office.

Should Biden, or Dr. Jill, or the puppet masters submit a written declaration that for the first time in history, dementia has been reversed, Kamala reverts to the powers and duties of the vice president. UNLESS, that is, a majority of the cabinet and a two thirds majority of both Houses of Congress disagree. In that case, the veep remains acting president and no vacancy exists in the office of vice president.

Note that it is actually easier to impeach a president than it is to restore him or her to power after the 25th Amendment is invoked. A simple House majority suffices to impeach, while two thirds are needed to restore a president sidelined by the 25th Amendment to power.

This would seem to put the GOP House in a superior bargaining position in determining who shall exercise the powers of the presidency.
It was widely perceived that in 2016, Bernie Sanders was a stronger Dem candidate than Hillary Clinton and thus would have prevailed over Donald Trump. Robert F. Kennedy presents a parallel for 2024: will Democrats strong-arm him aside in favor of Biden in the primary, and thereby secure a second term for Trump when Biden loses the general election, where Kennedy would have won?

In the 2016 primary, the Democrat party favored Hillary Clinton over the populist Bernie. Americans watched Sanders be sidelined. Many erstwhile Bernie fans became Trump-supporters in protest/disgust. It's a thing: the Sanders-Trump voter. Even liberal Salon criticized the DNC's defense that it had no obligation to be neutral and fair between Clinton and Sanders as "blatant proof that despite the fact that the DNC fashions itself as the party of the people it is openly and clearly an oligarchy."

The current DNC oligarchy is ruled not by Clintons, but by the Biden family. Joe has not done the greatest job of grooming Hunter for succession: the recent White House whodunit with the mysterious devil's dandruff has tarnished an already muddied reputation. Of course, the ignoble son is not successor to the throne: Kamala Harris waits (stashed by Dems) in the shadows, and she may be even scarier to voters than Hunter.

Yes, this was the presumed course of the Democratic party for 2024  until, of course, the rider from clan Camelot joined the primary fray. Robert F. has a record fighting water pollution and waxes mystical about renewable energy. And in such Democrat jousting, surely the age difference  between Kennedy and Biden, but also Kennedy and Trump  would favor Kennedy as the much stronger contender for the Democrat party in the general election, even if he does (perish the thought!) question vaccine safety and challenge the DNC status quo.

On a fair playing field, Kennedy would crush Biden in the primary. (As a bonus, Kamala Harris would be concurrently ditched.) And in the general election, there is high likelihood that Kennedy could rival Donald Trump. Kennedy attracts Trump-averse conservatives who cringe at Biden; moderate/traditional Democrats resentful of Biden's far-left ventures into toxic ideological lands; libertarians who oppose mandated jabs; centrist voters who can do math; anyone who wants a president who can walk and talk competently.

What should be nose-on-your-face clear is that even if he cannot defeat Donald Trump, Robert Kennedy is the far superior Democrat candidate to try. Yet Democrats will almost surely bend every rule, and trot out every possible devious Alinsky tactic, to topple Kennedy from the primary rather than allow him the attempt (a la Bernie). This corruption on display for American voters will push yet more erstwhile Dem (Kennedy)supporters to the Trump camp in 2024. The "Kennedy-Trump" voter will join the "Bernie-Trump" and "Obama-Trump" voting demographic to cement Donald Trump's victory.

The DNC is already displaying its corrupt favoritism of Biden/Harris over a Kennedy ticket. (Note the DNC panic that New Hampshire will host the first primary, where Biden may lose, rather than Biden's favored South Carolina.) The 2024 election will thus demonstrate to Americans that the DNC would prefer to lose to Trump with Joe Biden rather than improve Democrat odds  or even win  with relative centrist Robert Kennedy.

Biden ran on a (broken) promise to unite Americans in 2020: will he repeat that lie on the 2024 campaign trail while he denigrates Christian nationalists and all who love America as MAGA domestic terrorists? Kennedy routinely stands up to the globalist agenda that Biden touts: will the DNC compel their party farther down that anti-American path rather than allow an enemy of Big Pharma like Kennedy to take the POTUS helm?

As the DNC eat their own rather than allow a Kennedy at the table, its energies are diverted away from the MAGA-hating mantra. Biden may have to repeat promises to moderate Democrats that he visibly broke after 2020, further straining his lackluster credibility. (This assumes he can keep reading the same lies off the teleprompter, ungarbled.)

It is understandable why Democrats are so furiously pushing a criminal narrative against Trump for minor transgressions, even as the glaring criminality of the Biden clan parades across Americans' flat-screen TVs daily. The Emperor Biden has no new clothes. They are trying to win an election corruptly in court rather than lose it in crushing electoral defeat before awakening voters.

Robert Kennedy is thus an absolute nightmare for the DNC, as he hurts them whether he wins or loses. If he wins, the Biden pseudo-monarchy is over, and a New Camelot begins; if he loses, the whole world will have witnessed underhanded Democrat tactics yet again, and a visibly unhealthy Biden will be propped up to battle a comparatively (at present) healthy Donald Trump (with Kamala drooling on the sidelines).

Efforts by mainstream media to shift focus onto Republican divisions in the presidential race continue to pale: the battle between Biden and Kennedy is where the action is. By vociferously (and underhandedly) opposing Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., the DNC are practically guaranteeing that Donald Trump will reclaim the White House in 2024.

For Trump-supporters, "the enemy of my enemy is Kennedy"...unless he wins the Dem primary or runs as an independent, in which case all bets are off.

Attorney-farmer John Klar hosts the Small Farm Republic Substack and podcast from his Vermont farm. His new book is Small Farm Republic: Why Conservatives Must Embrace Local Agriculture, Reject Climate Alarmism, and Lead an Environmental Revival.

Image: Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. Credit: Gage Skidmore via Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0.
In her letter to the editor of The Los Angeles Times, titled Hey, Huntington Beach book banners, kids find a way to look at what they want, Ms. Lisa Shook managed to perfectly illustrate the simultaneous dramatic declines in cognitive ability and morality plaguing the nation-- and the West in general.

Shook positively referenced a column titled Huntington Beach wants to keep obscene books away from children. Good Luck, noting that it took her back to her early 1960s high school days.

Why? Shook: In our Shakespeare textbook, Romeo and Juliet was sprinkled with asterisks indicating where some of the Bard's words and phrases had been deleted to protect our adolescent sensibilities. She added, An enterprising student handed each of us a sheet of paper as we entered the classroom one day. He had gone to the town library, researched all the naughty bits, typed them up and then made mimeograph copies to distribute. Everybody was delighted, none more so than our teacher, who proceeded to conduct a very entertaining tutorial and discussion on Elizabethan language and literature.

Shook also stated:

I want to thank the Huntington Beach City Council, particularly the four conservative members, for providing an excellent teaching moment for my children, both of whom are of voting age. They have learned that all politics are local, and that engagement is a must. What they saw at the meeting where the council decided to limit access to certain library books was vast governmental overreach, prejudice and ignorance. These unnecessary and ridiculous culture wars along with the Supreme Court's Dobbs decision on abortion will hopefully make the GOP irrelevant in 2024.

Wow. Its hard to know where to start here, as there is much to unpack, as they say.

First, as for kids find a way to look at what they want, that is not necessarily true -- and certainly doesnt mean that adult instructors should pre-emptively provide them with any and all prurient and perverted materials and images that they might somehow someday come in contact with.

What a stupid argument! And how do progressives like Shook know the kiddies want to see illustrations of vaginal blood on a tampon and/or a boy sucking a mans c*ck?

Note to Shook: Wherefore art thou Romeo is not equivalent to, say, suck my d*ck, b*tch!

Finally, claiming that restricting obviously age-inappropriate books from elementary or middle school libraries is banning them is a flat-out lie. And labeling those actions as vast governmental overreach is sadly hilarious coming from the sort of folks who want to dispense with the First and Second Amendments, tax high income earners into oblivion, fine or imprison those who misgender someone, and who were staunch supporters of lockdowns, mask mandates, and the forced injection of experimental mRNA vaccines into otherwise ostensibly autonomous bodies.

Graphic credit: Public Domain Vectors
(ANSA) - ROME, JUL 16 - A three-story building collapsed in the province of Naples town of Torre del Greco, on Sunday.

Three people have been pulled out of the rubble alive and taken to hospital, sources said.

Naples Prefect Claudio Palomba told reporters that no one was unaccounted for after initial fears people may have been killed by the collapse.

None of the injured people are in a life-threatening condition, the sources said.

A 19-year-old woman who suffered broken bones in many parts of her body was the person most badly injured.

Five crews of firefighters are at work on the scene.

A local woman said the building in question had visible signs on the facade that it had stability problems.

Premier Giorgia Meloni on Sunday spoke to the commander of the fire brigade after the building collapsed and "is following the rescue operations", government sources said.

The sources said Meloni was being "constantly updated" about the situation. (ANSA).


(ANSA) - ROME, JUL 16 - Premier Giorgia Meloni and Culture Minister Gennaro Sangiuliano on Sunday travelled on the inaugural train service directly connecting Rome and Pompeii.

The premier was welcomed by applause by members of the public after arriving at Pompeii before her delegation got on to a shuttle bus to the ancient Roman archaeological site.

Up until now it has been necessary for people wanting to get to the world's most famous archaeological site from the capital via train to change in Naples - an option that remains available.

But thanks to an agreement between the culture ministry and rail company Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane (FS) there will now be one direct Frecciarossa high-speed service every day.

The outward service leaves Rome at 8:53 and reaches Pompeii at 10:40 after stopping at the Napoli Centrale station at 10:03.

The return departs from Pompeii at 18:40, stops in Naples at 19:23 and gets into Rome's Termini station at 20:55.

"The initiative is starting in this way, but it is possible that it will be developed further," said Culture Minister Gennaro Sangiuliano at the presentation of the new service last week.

"Article 9 of the Constitution says that we must preserve and protect cultural heritage, but we must also develop it". (ANSA).


Defence Secretary Ben Wallace has confirmed he will leave Cabinet at the next reshuffle and not seek re-election as an MP.

The announcement follows an unsuccessful bid to replace Jens Stoltenberg as Nato secretary general.

Speculation had grown that he would replace the former Norwegian prime minister as head of the alliance before he revealed in an interview with The Economist that its not going to happen and there are lot of unresolved issues in Nato.

He had been tipped for the post due to his pivotal role in overseeing the approach the UK and many of its allies took in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine last year.

There was speculation that Ben Wallace would be the next Nato secretary general (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

Here the PA news agency looks back at his life in politics.

Born in 1970, the 53-year old trained as a cadet at Sandhurst military academy before rising through the Armys ranks to become a captain in the Scots Guards.

Upon leaving the Army he entered politics, joining the Scottish Parliament in 1999 as a Conservative at the partys lowest ebb north of the border.

He did not seek re-election to Hollyrood in 2003 and won the Lancaster and Wyre Westminster seat south of the border off Labour in 2005.

Jens Stoltenberg is expected to stay on as Nato secretary general for another year (James Manning/PA)

Five years later, the constituency was abolished and he moved to the safer Wyre and Preston North seat.

He served in various junior ministerial roles under David Cameron and became an early supporter of any future bid by Boris Johnson for the Conservative leadership.

Unlike the ex-PM, he backed Remain in the 2016 referendum but nonetheless ran Mr Johnsons subsequent leadership campaign.

He did not reach Cabinet until Mr Johnson succeeded Theresa May, under whom he had been security minister, and promoted him to Defence Secretary.

He has remained in post since despite two Conservative leadership contests, three Prime Ministers and party infighting.

In his post he has co-ordinated the UKs response to the US withdrawal from Afghanistan and later the Ukraine war.

During an LBC radio interview he broke down in tears as he said he felt emotional because Im a soldier and added some wont get back from the country.

He met Russian defence minister Sergei Shoigu in early February last year for last minute talks as tensions with Ukraine rose, concluding the following day that an invasion was highly likely.

Since Russian tanks rolled into Ukraine, he has played a key role in shaping the Governments response, including helping determine what weapons the UK will send to Kyiv.

Despite drawing praise and being tipped as the activists favourite, he nonetheless ruled himself out of contests to succeed Boris Johnson and Liz Truss.

Speculation mounted in recent months that he would become the next Nato secretary general until he said the US would prefer Mr Stoltenberg to remain in post for another year.

Mr Wallace also said he is unlikely to run for the position again if it comes up in future.

Despite escaping relatively unscathed from many of the controversies that have plagued PMs he has served under, he has occasionally found himself in hot water over the odd off-script remark.

In March last year, video emerged of him on a Teams call with Russian pranksters believed to have links to the countrys intelligence agencies, who posed as the Ukrainian prime minister, Denys Shmyhal.

The call was said to have lasted about 10 minutes and he is not believed to have disclosed anything sensitive.

At a Nato summit last week, he appeared to suggest Ukraine should show gratitude for the military support it has received.

The comments were immediately shut down by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

Sources close to the Defence Secretary later said: Mr Wallace was reflecting on the need for Ukraine to address the parts of public opinion and parliaments in the international community who need to be encouraged.
Defence Secretary Ben Wallace has pledged his support for Ukraine after suggesting the invaded country should show gratitude for the military support it has been given.

Mr Wallace, who revealed in The Sunday Times he plans to resign at the next Cabinet reshuffle and stand down as an MP at the next election, tweeted a lengthy thread in Ukrainian to clarify his comments.

He had made the remark after Ukraines president Volodymyr Zelensky branded it absurd for Nato to insist there were still conditions for his nation to meet before it can gain membership once the war with Russia is over.

Mr Wallace tweeted: My comments about how best to support Ukraine caused a lot of interest and were somewhat misrepresented.

Ben Wallace said he plans to resign at the next Cabinet reshuffle and stand down as an MP at the next election (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

For the record, as someone who has been at the forefront of mobilising support for Ukraine, I have discussed the challenges that may arise as we work towards the common goal of helping Ukraine get what it needs to defeat this illegal invasion.

I said that Ukraine sometimes needs to realise that in many countries and in some parliaments there is not such strong support as in Great Britain.

He said his remark was not a comment about governments, but more about citizens and members of parliaments.

We are fortunate that the citizens of the United Kingdom and all parties in our parliament support our efforts to provide Ukraine with the necessary means, he said.

Our approval ratings for supporting Ukraine are among the highest in Europe  over 70%.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (left) and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak attend a meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council (Paul Ellis/PA)

My comments were meant to reflect that it is important to remember not to talk to yourself, but to make an effort to reach out to other citizens who still need to be convinced.

Mr Wallace also addressed comments when he said the UK was not online delivery service Amazon after being handed a wish list for military supplies.

The comments about Amazon were made last year to emphasise that Britains relationship with Ukraine is not transactional but more partnership, he said.

I will personally continue to support Ukraine on its path for as long as it takes, but national parliaments often have competing needs and Ukraine and the UK must continue to encourage this strong support, with facts and friendship.

Last week Prime Minister Rishi Sunak distanced himself from the comments, saying the Ukrainian president has expressed his gratitude for what weve done on a number of occasions.

Mr Zelensky later said: I believe that we were always grateful to United Kingdom.

I dont know what he meant and how else we should be grateful.
An airplane of Asiana Airlines moves on the runway, Nov. 11, 2020. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul



Asiana Airlines canceled one international roundtrip flight Sunday, days after its unionized pilots announced plans to launch a strike next week, officials said.



Korea's second-largest air carrier notified passengers of the cancellation of the Incheon-Ho Chi Minh City flight that had been scheduled to depart from Incheon International Airport at 7:35 a.m. and arrive in the Vietnamese city at 11:05 a.m., according to the officials.



A total of 125 passengers were about to board the plane before the cancellation.



As a result, the return flight, set to take off at 7:25 p.m. from Ho Chi Minh City, was also called off.



"We canceled the flights because we couldn't recruit a flight crew due to the pilots' collective action," an Asiana Airlines official said.



On Friday, unionized pilots at Asiana Airlines announced that they will go on strike beginning July 24 after failing to reach an agreement with management on a pay increase.



At the same time, they have carried out a work-to-rule protest since last month, prompting eight domestic flight cancellations and 54 international and domestic delays so far. (Yonhap)




Four people have been rescued after their dinghy capsized and they were left clinging to its upturned hull.

A passing yacht spotted the group in difficulty north of the isle of Lismore in Argyll and Bute at 7.15pm on Saturday evening and raised the alarm, the coastguard said.

The four people were not wearing lifejackets and had been unable to call for help as they had no radio and their phones were submerged underwater.

Oban RNLI all-weather lifeboat went to the scene and rescued the three men and one woman. She was hypothermic by that stage after about 30 minutes in the water.

Oban RNLI Lifeboat went to the scene (Graham Wilson/Alamy/PA)

The R199 coastguard helicopter from Prestwick also went to the scene and a paramedic was winched down to check the four people over before deeming they were fit to travel to Oban by lifeboat.

A coastguard spokesman said: They had rowed out fishing but their vessel tipped over and they ended up in the water.

They were not that far offshore but they could not make it back and were desperately clinging to the upturned dinghy.

It was lucky the yacht came by when it did otherwise it could have been a different outcome.

The capsized vessel was a 14ft fibreglass dinghy.

One of the men suffered a knock to the head during the incident and the woman was hypothermic.

They were back on the mainland by 9.20pm and were then passed into the care of the Scottish Ambulance Service.
This is a locator map for Iran with its capital, Tehran. (AP Photo) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Iranian authorities on Sunday announced a new campaign to force women to wear the Islamic headscarf and morality police returned to the streets 10 months after the death of a woman in their custody sparked nationwide protests.

The morality police had largely pulled back following the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini last September, as authorities struggled to contain mass protests calling for the overthrow of the theocracy that has ruled Iran for over four decades.

The protests largely died down earlier this year following a heavy crackdown in which over 500 protesters were killed and nearly 20,000 detained. But many women continued to flaunt the official dress code, especially in the capital, Tehran, and other cities.

The morality police were only rarely seen patrolling the streets, and in December, there were even some reports  later denied  that they had been disbanded.

Authorities insisted throughout the crisis that the rules had not changed. Iran's clerical rulers view the hijab as a key pillar of the Islamic revolution that brought them to power, and consider more casual dress a sign of Western decadence.

On Sunday, Gen. Saeed Montazerolmahdi, a police spokesman, said the morality police would resume notifying and then detaining women not wearing hijab in public. In Tehran, the men and women of the morality police could be seen patrolling the streets in marked vans.

The battle over the hijab became a powerful rallying cry last fall, with women playing a leading role in the protests. The demonstrations quickly escalated into calls for the overthrow of Iran's clerical rulers, whom the mostly young protesters accuse of being corrupt, repressive and out of touch. Iran's government blamed the protests on a foreign conspiracy, without providing evidence.

Several Iranian celebrities joined the protests, including prominent directors and actors from the country's celebrated film industry. Several Iranian actresses were detained after appearing in public without the hijab or expressing support for the protests.

In the most recent case, actress Azadeh Samadi was barred from social media and ordered by a court to seek psychological treatment for "antisocial personality disorder" after appearing at a funeral two months ago wearing a cap on her head.
Labour doubled down on its pursuit of economic growth as the UKs second largest union warned it could cut the funding it donates to the party unless more of its policy priorities are backed.

Sir Keir Starmer has renewed his defence of putting financial prudence at the heart of his plans ahead of a set of crunch by-elections in which the party hopes to inflict defeats on the Conservatives.

In an article for The Observer newspaper, the Labour leader said: Frankly, the left has to start caring a lot more about growth, about creating wealth, attracting inward investment and kickstarting a spirit of enterprise.

It is the only show in town for those who dream of a brighter future.

He added: Taking seriously the foundations of economic responsibility may not set peoples pulses racing, but the new country we can build on top of them will do.

It is the latest attempt to pitch Labour as a party prioritising financial responsibility over spending due to a dire economic backdrop, a move which risks angering unions and the left.

Earlier on Saturday, Unite leader Sharon Graham warned Sir Keir there will be no blank cheques as she urged the party to be bolder in an interview with the BBC.

She told the broadcaster: I want to see some movement if we are going to give what we usually give.

Sir Keir Starmer speaking at the Unite Policy Conference on Thursday (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

We would be better off with a Labour government but I am very, very disappointed with the lack of ambition.

Ms Grahams intervention came after she saw off a bid by some members of the union, which is Labours biggest financial backer, to end affiliation with the party earlier this week.

She said she is very, very disappointed by the lack of ambition at the top of the party and warned it was failing to offer a distinct alternative to the Tories as it tries to reassure voters it can manage the economy.

The union boss said we need be as bold as the 1945 Labour government which created the NHS, adding: There wasnt much money about then, I can tell you.

Ms Graham told the BBC that strict fiscal rules have led to inertia which has prompted the public to question what the difference is between Labour and the Conservatives.

She also said Labour must talk about what they can do to change Britain. People want something to vote for.

If Labour are saying whats happening now is awful  and it is absolutely awful  they have to come out with solutions to that, she added.

The BBC said she is pushing for renationalisation of steel and energy companies to be near the top of the partys priority list.

During several meetings with the Labour leader, she said it would be cheaper to buy a steel industry that has lost much of its market value than to bail out its private owners, the broadcaster reported.

She told the BBC: We will take our ideas to the people.

The real decision-makers are the voters. If they push those ideas, politicians tend to move when they speak to voters

People will say they remember when energy companies were privatised and when they paid massive bills, and it was a Labour government that stopped all that.
The chances of the UK securing a free trade agreement (FTA) with the United States are very low, according to the Business Secretary.

Kemi Badenoch said the change of administration from Donald Trump to Joe Biden following the 2020 US election is the reason why the UK has not made progress on such a deal.

Conservative MPs have described an FTA with the US as the greatest prize of all and the ability to strike new trade deals, particularly with the US, was a key promise of the Brexit campaign.

Ms Badenoch, asked on Skys Sophy Ridge On Sunday programme to rate the UKs chances of an FTA with the US, replied: The US is not carrying out any free trade agreements with any countries, so I would say very low.

It all depends on the administration thats there  different presidents have different priorities. Lots of countries have been looking to have a free trade agreement with the US, including us, but for now theyve said thats not something they want to do and we need to respect that.

Instead were having other types of trading interactions and trading deals with them.

Ms Badenoch also told BBC Ones Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg: We cant force other countries to do things that are different from what they want to do; they are a sovereign country just as we are.

Her comments came as she welcomed the momentous move to sign-off UK membership to a major Indo-Pacific trade bloc, taking British businesses a step closer to being able to sell to a market of 500 million people with fewer barriers.

Ms Badenoch signed the accession protocol to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) in New Zealand on Sunday.

Britain is the first new member and first European nation to join the bloc  comprising Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam  since its formation in 2018.

I have just formally signed the UKs entry into CPTPP in Auckland, New Zealand  This will be a big boost for British businesses and open up huge opportunities and unparalleled access to a market of over 500 million people in the Indo-Pacific and beyond  pic.twitter.com/BrKUopb94J  Kemi Badenoch (@KemiBadenoch) July 16, 2023

It represents Britains biggest trade deal since leaving the EU, cutting tariffs for UK exporters to a group of nations which  with UK accession  will have a combined gross domestic product (GDP) of 12 trillion, accounting for 15% of global GDP, according to officials.

The signing is the formal confirmation of the agreement for the UKs membership, which was reached in March after two years of negotiations.

Britain and the other 11 CPTPP members will now begin work to ratify the deal, which in the UK will involve parliamentary scrutiny and legislation to bring it into force.

Officials estimate it will come into force in the second half of 2024, at which point the UK becomes a voting member of the bloc and businesses can benefit from it.

Asked whether China should be allowed to join CPTPP, Ms Badenoch told the BBC: What the bloc is doing is making sure that its the countries that meet the high standards of the CPTPP that will be allowed to join, so thats something that needs to be assessed.

She added: One of the things thats really important is that weve just joined today. When you join a club, the very first thing you dont do is tell other club members who should be or shouldnt be allowed to join.

Its how were going to make use of it thats going to be significant and, yes, being the first at the table means we will have an influence, but Im not going to go into any specific countrys merits  thats for all of us to do as a consensus team.

The @Conservatives are delivering on our Brexit freedoms to grow the economy  If we hadnt defeated Keir Starmers campaign to reverse Brexit, this simply would not have been possible. https://t.co/0XxQh88Qxa  Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) July 16, 2023

When told earlier it is estimated the new deal will only increase UK GDP by 0.08%, Ms Badenoch replied: The assessment we made was a scoping assessment, its just a very broad brush sort of static modelling, it doesnt look at so many things. Its not specifically about trade deals  we use it for all sorts of things. It doesnt look at the future growth thats coming in, and it also doesnt look at how we utilise the agreement.

Thats why its so important that I explain to people how significant it is. If we dont use it then itll become a self-fulfilling prophecy  this is a forecast that is only as good as the way that we utilise it.

One of the things that we need to remember is that there are 11 countries in there who are making up about 500 million people.

Thats so, so much potential, thats where the middle-class is coming from.

You look at the countries that are queuing up  the US was going to join until they had a change of administration. Theyre not doing free trade agreements any more, but we are, this is global Britain, the world is our oyster, were not isolated, were not insular.

While Britain already has trade agreements with the CPTPP members apart from Malaysia and Brunei, officials said it will deepen existing arrangements, with 99% of current UK goods exports to the bloc eligible for zero tariffs.

TUC general secretary Paul Nowak said: This Pacific trade pact is bad for workers at home and abroad.

Once again, Conservative ministers have turned a blind eye to egregious human and workers rights abuses in their pursuit of trade deals.
More than 40 pilot whales have died following a mass stranding on a Scottish beach.

Marine rescuers were called to the scene at Traigh Mhor in North Tolsta, on the Isle of Lewis, to reports that dozens of the mammals were in difficulty there on Sunday morning.

Marine medics have estimated that at least 55 whales are there, however the latest update from the British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) indicated that only 10 are alive.

Police have instructed members of the public to avoid the area to allow the mammals the greatest chance of survival.

Reckoned to be about 55 pilot whales stranded on Traigh Mhor at North Tolsta in the Isle of Lewis this morning. pic.twitter.com/yokwcnTQLO  Angus B MacNeil MP (@AngusMacNeilSNP) July 16, 2023

The reason for the stranding is currently unknown; however, experts suggest it is common for pilot whales to travel in large groups.

Pilot whales are small whales characterised as part of the dolphin family.

A statement from the BDMLR on Sunday said: This morning around 7am BDMLR were alerted to a mass stranding of pilot whales on the Isle of Lewis via the police.

Our local marine mammal medics are currently administering first aid to the whales, and medics from surrounding areas are preparing their kit and organising transport to the island.

Reports so far suggest there are around 55 animals; however, the latest update from the scene indicates that only 10 are alive.

The Coastguard and Scottish Marine Animal Stranding Scheme have also been tasked to attend.

The reason for the whales stranding is currently unknown, but pilot whales are notorious for their strong social bonds, so often, when one whale gets into difficulty and strands, the rest follow, leading to more of them stranding.

We will not be reporting the location of the mass stranding until the situation is resolved.

We advise that members of the public avoid the area to ensure that our medics and other professionals can attend easily and work efficiently so the team can assess the survivors and determine what can be done.

Officers are currently assisting partners with a number of stranded pilot whales on the beach at Tolsta, Stornoway. To allow the whales the best chance of survival, please avoid the area. pic.twitter.com/LKMINp8YW3  Police Scotland Highland & Islands (@PSOSHighland) July 16, 2023

A Police Scotland spokesman said: Officers are currently assisting partners with a number of stranded pilot whales on the beach at Tolsta, Stornoway.

To allow the dolphins the best chance of survival, please avoid the area.

A spokeswoman for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said it was responding to reports of mammals beached at Traigh Mhor on Isle of Lewis on Sunday July 16.
A reburial ceremony has been held on an Irish island as 13 human skulls that were stolen by academics more than 100 years ago were returned.

The skulls, thought to be around 400 years old, were taken from a monastery on the island of Inishbofin off Irelands west coast by two Trinity University-affiliated academics in 1890.

After sketching the skulls in the nook of St Colmans monastery, considered sacred by the islanders, Alfred C Haddon and Andrew F Dixon took the skulls in the middle of the night.

Haddons diary entry stated that when asked by sailors bringing them back to the mainland to hand over the satchel, Dixon would not give it up and told the men it contained poitin, a distilled Irish alcohol.

So without any further trouble, we got the skulls aboard and then we packed them in Dixons portmanteau and locked it, and no except our two selves had an idea that there are a dozen human skulls on board and they shant know either, the entry read.

As part of a process to formally review legacy issues since its foundation, Trinity set up a group to examine whether the skulls should be returned, as well as whether the universitys library, named after Irish philosopher and slave-owner George Berkeley, should be renamed.

Headed up by Senior Dean at Trinity Eoin OSullivan, the Trinity Legacies Review Working Group researched the issue before offering a number of options to the board of Trinity University on what action it could take.

Mr OSullivan said the two anthropologists took the skulls because they actually thought that this was good science at the time.

The skulls were placed in a traditional coffin designed by architect Christopher Day (Inishbofin Heritage Museum/PA)

In February, the universitys board agreed to return the skulls; Trinity Provost Dr Linda Doyle apologised to the islanders for retaining the remains and thanked them for their engagement.

The decision to return the remains follows years of campaigning by Inishbofin historian, Marie Coyne.

An online petition page that had called for the skulls to be returned had been updated with a message this week.

Many have been waiting for this day for a long time.

Its a step toward healing and honouring these people who were laid to rest on Inishbofin, it said.

On Saturday, the skulls arrived on the island, wrapped in plastic and placed in a traditional coffin designed by architect Christopher Day.

A funeral mass was held on Sunday before the 13 skulls were buried in the coffin.
Marine rescuers are attending a mass stranding of pilot whales on a Stornoway beach.

Police have instructed the public to avoid the area to allow the mammals the greatest chance of survival.

Marine medics have estimated that at least 55 animals are on the Traigh Mhor beach in North Tolsta, on the Isle of Lewis.

However, the latest update from the British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) has indicated that only 10 are alive.

Reckoned to be about 55 pilot whales stranded on Traigh Mhor at North Tolsta in the Isle of Lewis this morning. pic.twitter.com/yokwcnTQLO  Angus B MacNeil MP (@AngusMacNeilSNP) July 16, 2023

The reason for the stranding is currently unknown; however, experts suggest it is common for pilot whales to travel in large groups.

The exact area of the beach is not being reported by rescuers to assist with the operation.

Pilot whales are small whales characterised as part of the dolphin family.

A statement from the BDMLR on Sunday said: This morning around 7am BDMLR were alerted to a mass stranding of pilot whales on the Isle of Lewis via the police.

Our local marine mammal medics are currently administering first aid to the whales, and medics from surrounding areas are preparing their kit and organising transport to the island.

Reports so far suggest there are around 55 animals; however, the latest update from the scene indicates that only 10 are alive.

The Coastguard and Scottish Marine Animal Stranding Scheme have also been tasked to attend.

The reason for the whales stranding is currently unknown, but pilot whales are notorious for their strong social bonds, so often, when one whale gets into difficulty and strands, the rest follow, leading to more of them stranding.

We will not be reporting the location of the mass stranding until the situation is resolved.

We advise that members of the public avoid the area to ensure that our medics and other professionals can attend easily and work efficiently so the team can assess the survivors and determine what can be done.

Officers are currently assisting partners with a number of stranded pilot whales on the beach at Tolsta, Stornoway. To allow the whales the best chance of survival, please avoid the area. pic.twitter.com/LKMINp8YW3  Police Scotland Highland & Islands (@PSOSHighland) July 16, 2023

A Police Scotland spokesman said: Officers are currently assisting partners with a number of stranded pilot whales on the beach at Tolsta, Stornoway.

To allow the dolphins the best chance of survival please avoid the area.

A spokeswoman for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said it was responding to reports of mammals beached at Traigh Mhor on Isle of Lewis on Sunday July 16.
A strike by workers at a Ministry of Defence missile depot could threaten munitions supplies, a union has warned.

GMB Scotland members at the Defence Equipment & Support (DES) munitions depot in Beith, North Ayrshire, will walk out on Monday in a row over retention bonuses.

The union said workers are angry there is a two-tier workforce at the base, with managers and craft workers receiving bonuses while non-craft workers do not.

It claimed this means non-craft workers get less than many supermarket workers.

DES is an arms length body of the Ministry of Defence (MoD) which delivers equipment and support services to the UK armed forces.

GMB Scotland organiser Chris Kennedy said: These workers are utterly vital to the UK armed forces  they deserve to be recognised as such.

Instead, management have allowed a two-tier workforce to develop, fostering bitterness and anger among workers.

Mondays strike is the first in the history of the DES  it cannot be allowed to carry on.

If the Defence Secretary does not step in to right this wrong, supplies of the crucial missiles manufactured at Beith will soon run low.

The union said that 93% of GMB members at the depot voted for strike action, and more than 50 workers will walk out on Monday.

An MoD spokesman said: Pre-planned contingency measures are being implemented at Defence Munitions (DM) Beith to ensure the continued operation of the site.

We remain open to dialogue with GMB to discuss the issues raised and work towards resolving them.
A teenager has been arrested on suspicion of murdering a 17-year-old boy who was stabbed to death after a birthday party in a street fight in north-west London.

The boy died in Granville Road, Brent, at about 11.30pm on Friday during a fight which is believed to have taken place on several roads nearby.

Another male, also believed to be 17, was taken to hospital, as was a woman in her early 20s, who suffered a hand injury.

On Saturday, an 18-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of murder and taken into custody, as the Metropolitan Police called for party-goers who may have witnessed the incident to come forward.

A large area, including at least three roads, was cordoned off on Saturday afternoon, with forensic officers seen working outside an apartment block and a community centre, around a five-minute walk from each other.

Dozens of police officers were in the area, telling residents that cordons will be in place for the remainder of the weekend.

Rayan Assoui, 43, who lives nearby, said there have been many similar incidents in the area over the past few months.

He went on: This area is getting worse, its not good, for this to happen to a young person is very sad.

Detective Chief Inspector Mark Rogers, of the Metropolitan Police, said: We believe that there was a fight following a birthday party, which would have been attended by a number of people.

I would urge anyone who was there, and who has not yet spoken with officers, to please come forward. It is vital that we establish what happened.

I would also ask that anyone who may have captured any of last nights events on their phone to also contact officers.

The teenage victims family has been informed.

Chief Superintendent Dan Knowles said: I know that the community will be shocked by this incident in which a young man has lost his life.

We shall be working with our colleagues from specialist crime to ensure that this investigation proceeds as quickly and thoroughly as possible.

Local residents can expect to see an increased police presence in the area and I would encourage anyone with information, or concerns, to speak with them.
President Biden's 2024 re-election campaign is relying on large donations from deep-pocketed Democratic donors as support from middle-class voters has yet to materialize.

The Biden Victory Fund has raked in tens of millions in donations from wealthy party members in San Francisco, Chicago, New York City and Washington, D.C., but his small-dollar donations are trailing well behind other recent Democratic campaigns.

Small-dollar donations, defined as anything under $200, accounted for $10.2 million in Biden's fundraising for the three-month period that ended June 30, according to the New York Times. That is less than half the $21 million President Barack Obama received over the same period during his 2012 re-election campaign.

While Democrats are quick to blame a host of reasons for the slowdown, the trend indicates that Democratic voters are less invested in Biden's success than they were in 2020.

DONALD TRUMP'S EYE-POPPING FUNDRAISING HAUL THE PAST THREE MONTHS

President Biden's 2024 re-election campaign is relying on large donations from deep-pocketed Democratic donors as support from middle-class voters has yet to materialize.

Top-level Biden officials have in part blamed the lack of a clear Republican opponent for the trickling donations, arguing that a surge will come once the Republican field has consolidated down to a single nominee.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

"Right now there is no day-to-day competition combat going on," Biden campaign co-chairman Jeffrey Katzenberg told the Times. "So these are the most loyal, most dedicated believers and supporters. Itll build over time."

TRUMP REACTS AFTER LEAKED RECORDING SHOWS HIM DISCUSSING CLASSIFIED DOCS

For now, however, Biden remains far more dependent on wealthy donors than the major Republican presidential candidates, with 10 donors sending over more than $500,000 each, while 82 others contributed at least $100,000 each, according to the outlet.

President Biden is far more dependent on large-dollar donors than any of the Republican presidential candidates, according to new reports. Biden is receiving far fewer small donations than he did in 2020.

Meanwhile, the various Republican candidates are raking in tens of millions as they report donations for the opening weeks and months of their campaigns. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis hauled in $20 million in the first six weeks of his campaign, and former President Donald Trump's team reported that the Trump campaign and Save America, his political action committee, together brought in over $35 million between April and June.

WHO'S IN AND WHO'S ON THE SIDELINES  YOUR GUIDE TO THE 2024 GOP PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATION RACE

All eyes remain on the Republican field as the first primary votes near, though Trump is maintaining a dominant lead in primary polling.

All eyes remain on the Republican field as the first primary votes near, though Trump maintains a dominant lead in primary polling.

Fox News' Paul Steinhauser contributed to this report.
A consumer checks the ingredients labels on 'makgeolli' products at a large discount store in Seoul, July 4. Newsis



By Kim Jae-heun



Amid the recent aspartame controversy, food firms are growing concerned over whether to continue using the possibly carcinogenic artificial sweetener as consumers may be uncomfortable ingesting even a small amount, industry officials said Sunday.



Since the World Health Organization (WHO) classified aspartame in category Group 2B meaning limited evidence suggests it may cause cancer, local companies have taken a cautious stance over the issue.



The two confectionery giants Orion and Crown have decided to find alternative sweeteners.



Orion uses on average 0.01 percent of aspartame in its products, an amount which has little impact on consumers' health.



According to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS), a person who weighs 70 kilograms must drink nine to 14 cans of beverages containing 200 milligrams to 300 milligrams of aspartame to exceed the standard of acceptable daily intake of aspartame set by WHO.



"Although we use a very small amount of aspartame in 10 of our snack products, we decided to replace it with other artificial sweeteners considering the public's concern over it. There are many alternatives we can use, but we just need to figure out what will best maintain the quality of our product," an Orion official said.



Crown said it is also looking for a new artificial sweetener, not because it can affect consumers' health, but because the company wants to relieve consumer anxiety over what they are eating.



Meanwhile, Lotte Chilsung Beverage, which distributes the now controversial Pepsi Zero product, said it will continue to use aspartame in the beverage.



"We have received an official stance from Pepsi Cola's headquarters in the United States that it is using safe amounts of aspartame in the soft drink. We will continue to offer the best quality products to consumers," a Lotte Chilsung Beverage official said.



Makers of Korean rice wine, makgeolli, need more time to decide whether to continue using aspartame or find new alternatives.



About 85 percent of makgeolli products sold in the domestic market use aspartame. The cost of replacing them all with new artificial sweeteners could come as a considerable burden to producers.



"For now, the MFDS has confirmed the amount of aspartame used in makgeolli is safe to drink, so the companies are relieved. But they are still closely watching the market's reaction," a Korean Makgeolli Association official said.


The manhunt for the escaped Pennsylvania inmate who is suspected in several crimes, including the murder of a New York woman, ended Saturday evening, state police said.

Michael Charles Burham, 34, was taken into custody by 5:50 p.m. Saturday in Warren County, Lt. Col. George Bivens of the Pennsylvania State Police said.

Officials were tipped off to his location after residents heard their dog barking and went to see why. They encountered a man and asked him why he was there, to which the man mentioned camping, Bivens said.

They property owner recognized Burham and left to contact officials, and Burham fled into the woods, he said.

Thats been our strategy all along, Bivens said, to push him hard, to have him make him make a mistake. He finally did.

Burham escaped from the Warren County Jail on July 7 by climbing through the metal grates of the jail yards roof. He then climbed down using tied-together bedsheets, authorities said.

Staff members realized he was missing within minutes, and authorities began an eight-day manhunt that involved 15 federal and state agencies.

Bivens said Burham was ensnared Saturday in a perimeter of law enforcement officers that was closing in on him in woods about 5 miles north of the city of Warren.

He encountered perimeter troopers there, attempted to prone out and hide, and was approached from behind by law enforcement officers, Bivens said.

Bloodhounds and other police tracking dogs were used in the final search. He was being tracked and pushed by a line of tactical members, Bivens said.

Burham was arrested at gunpoint and will be arraigned on an escape charge, he said.

Authorities said earlier Saturday they believe he had remained in the Warren area. Bivens said police conducted at least one search in the region that was promising but ultimately inconclusive.

As the manhunt was underway, Bivens cautioned area residents that it is entirely likely that Burham was armed and that no one should approach him if they see him. He said Saturday that Burham was not armed when he was captured.

Cecile Stelter, a spokesperson for Warren County, said Burham is known to have "survivalist skills" and is comfortable living in wooded areas.

Officials continue to investigate whether Burham had any help on the run.

He was being held in the county on kidnapping and other related charges. He is accused of having kidnapped a Warren County couple while on the run from authorities in New York, where is a suspect in the May 11 murder of Kala Hodgkin.

Chautauqua County District Attorney Jason Schmidt said last month that there were no state charges against Burman in the murder case.

He was charged with flight to avoid prosecution in U.S. District Court for Western New York in May. The case was dismissed without prejudice on June 16, according to court records.

A federal criminal complaint alleges that Hodgkin was found fatally shot at her home. At the time of the killing, there was an active arrest warrant charging Burham with raping her, according to the complaint.

While police were on their way to Hodgkins home, a separate call came in that Burham had allegedly tried to break into an ex-girlfriends home and then set her car on fire, the complaint says.

Burham went on the run, leading authorities on a multistate manhunt before he was captured May 24 in South Carolina, the Jamestown Police Department in New York said.

The complaint said Burham kidnapped a couple at gunpoint at their home in Sheffield, Pennsylvania, while on the run. They were found alive in a cemetery in North Charleston, South Carolina.

A note in their vehicle allegedly written by Burham told his father he was safe for now and apologized for all the problems I caused the family, the complaint says.
As John Kerry arrived in Beijing Sunday for a long-awaited trip to restart climate negotiations, the US climate envoy stepped off the plane into one of the hottest summers ever recorded in the Chinese capital.

Since 1951, Beijing has seen temperatures breaching 104 degrees Fahrenheit (40 degrees Celsius) on 11 days  with almost half of them occurring in the past few weeks, including a new record for the citys hottest day in June.

In the United States, an extreme heat wave is also swelling, with temperatures in the Southwest soaring as high as 120F (49C).

Its a global problem: the planets hottest day ever was recorded for four straight days earlier this month.

If anything, this is the situation that should most bring China and the US back on the same page, said Li Shuo, senior global policy adviser at Greenpeace China.

Regardless of their political differences, the impacts of climate change have now become a common experience for both countries  its no longer a hypothetical crisis or analytical challenge, but a living reality that can be felt through the skin.

As the worlds two biggest polluters  with Chinas emissions of planet-heating pollution more than double those of the US  the two countries account for nearly 40% of global emissions.

This means attempts to stave off the worst impacts of the climate crisis will need to involve these two powerhouse nations drastically cutting fossil fuel production  yet climate cooperation between them has been largely frozen for nearly a year amid heightened geopolitical tensions.

Last August, Beijing cut off climate talks with Washington in protest at then-US House Speaker Nancy Pelosis visit to Taiwan  in the middle of the worst heat wave China had seen in six decades.

More than two months of scorching heat dried up reservoirs, killed crops and livestock, crippled power supplies and led to rolling blackouts in some of the largest and most prosperous Chinese metropolises.

This year, sweltering temperatures have arrived even earlier, impacting hundreds of millions of residents and again putting huge strains on the countrys electricity grid. China Energy Investment Corporation, the worlds largest generator of coal-fired power, said its production of electricity reached a historic high on Monday.

The unrelenting heat waves highlight the urgency for the US and China to resume cooperation, as the unfolding climate crisis will not wait for the two countries to fix their relations first, experts say.

The suspension of climate talks set a very bad precedent, Li said. Tensions in bilateral relations shouldnt stand in the way of climate discussions. There needs to be more resilience.

Visitors wear sun hats and carry umbrellas as at the Forbidden City on a hot day in Beijing, on June 29. - Andy Wong/AP

A symbolic trip

Kerry is the third US cabinet member to visit China in recent weeks, as the Biden administration steps up efforts to mend fractured communications and stabilize tense relations with Beijing.

Last month, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Beijing, and US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen met with Chinas Premier Li Qiang last week. On Thursday, Blinken met with Chinas top diplomat Wang Yi on the sidelines of a summit in Jakarta.

In the wake of Covid and ever-worsening US-China relations, climate change promises to be an area where productive collaboration can benefit our two countries and the rest of the world, said Alex Wang, a professor of Law at the University of California, Los Angeles and an expert on Chinese climate policy.

Each country now has major programs in place to invest in and promote decarbonization, but neither side is moving quickly enough, he added.

Kerry, 79, has traveled to China twice since being appointed as US President Joe Bidens special climate envoy. He visited Shanghai in April 2021 and Tianjin five months later, amid Chinas rigid zero-Covid restrictions.

This time, Kerry will spend four days in Beijing to meet senior Chinese officials.

Secretary Kerry aims to engage with the PRC on addressing the climate crisis, including with respect to increasing implementation and ambition and promoting a successful COP28, the US State Department said in a statement Wednesday, referring to China by its formal title, the Peoples Republic of China.

Chinas Ministry of Ecology and Environment said the two sides will have an in-depth exchange of views on cooperation to address climate change.

US climate envoy John Kerry and China's chief climate negotiator Xie Zhenhua take part a panel discussion at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland in May 2022. - Arnd Wiegmann/Reuters

No breakthroughs expected

Like the visits by Blinken and Yellen, experts dont expect any major announcements from Kerrys trip, but they say the optics are significant.

Li, the Greenpeace analyst, said he would be closely watching who will meet with Kerry in Beijing. The default lineup, he said, includes Kerrys Chinese counterpart Xie zhenhua, Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang and a vice minister of ecology and environment.

If Kerry was granted an audience with Chinese leader Xi, it would send an important signal on Beijings commitment for future engagement, Li said.

Kerry has previously met with Xi in Beijing and Washington as then-Secretary of state during the Obama administration.

He has also worked closely with Xie, Chinas special climate envoy, on a groundbreaking US-China climate deal that paved the way for the 2015 Paris climate agreement. The pair also inked the US-China Glasgow joint declaration at the COP26 climate summit in 2021.

Kerry told CNN in a recent interview that US officials were planning to press China on commitments to cut back on burning coal and to slash its emissions of methane, a potent greenhouse gas.

What were trying to achieve now is really to establish some stability, if we can in the relationship, without conceding anything, Kerry said. Im not going over with any concessions.

Beijing, meanwhile, is likely to ask Washington to remove tariffs on Chinese solar panels, according to Li. But chances of breakthroughs are slim because these issues are highly political, he said.

A more realistic goal, according to Li, would be for the two sides to resume their joint working group on climate cooperation and pledge to continue communication before COP28 in Dubai, which begins November 30.

Both sides face pressure from their own domestic politics to walk a tightrope.

On Thursday, Republicans grilled Kerry in front of a House panel, attacking him for not doing enough to push China to cut emissions. Some criticized him for even engaging in climate negotiations with China, citing its human rights records and strategic rivalry with the US.

Kerry defended his trip, arguing it would be malpractice of the worst order, diplomatic and political and common sense for the US not to talk to China.

What were trying to do is find ways we can cooperate to actually address the crisis, because China as the worlds second largest economy and as the worlds largest emitter is critical to our being able to solve this problem, he said.

Coal is loaded onto trucks for delivery to power generation plants, after being unloaded from ships at the port in Lianyungang, in China's eastern Jiangsu province on July 12, 2023. - Stringer/AFP/Getty Images

Phasing out coal

Wang, the expert at UCLA, said the speed of Chinas transition from coal would be a major topic of conversation for Kerry.

Its almost the number one question that any outsider will have of Chinese officials, he said.

Its important because its such an enormous source of emissions and if China doesnt resolve it, all of their success on electric vehicles will not be as meaningful because youre just using electricity generated from coal.

Xi has pledged that China will reach peak carbon emissions by 2030 and become carbon neutral by 2060. That would require the country to phase out coal power, which accounts for about 60% of its total electricity generation.

To achieve that goal, China has massively ramped up installation of clean energy. Its solar capacity is now greater than the rest of the world combined, and its wind capacity is roughly equal to the combined total of the other top seven countries, according to a study from the non-profit Global Energy Monitor.

But at the same time, China has also been building a large number of new coal-fired power plants due to renewed concerns over energy security following months of power shortages in 2021 and 2022.

To many local governments, coal is still seen as the easiest and cheapest solution to power disruptions. The idea of security and the idea of having sufficient backup for renewable energy are all part of the story of why coal is still being relied on to the degree that it is, Wang said.

In the first quarter of this year, provincial governments approved more new coal-fired electricity generation than they did in all of 2021, according a study of official documents by Greenpeace.

The expansion of coal is a grave challenge for Chinas climate policy, Li said. If coal consumption does not decrease in proportion and in absolute amount, it will be very difficult for China to achieve long-term and meaningful emission reductions.

CNNs Helen Regan and Ella Nilsen contributed reporting.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
Courtesy Thompson Savannah

Think about Savannah, Georgia, and you might conjure images of old-fashioned charm: dripping Spanish moss, elegant houses, or crumbling graveyards. All of those things are undeniably part of the appeal of the city, but theres also something modern happening there: a bustling contemporary food scene led by restaurants like The Grey, a vibrant art community, thanks in part to the city-wide sprawl of SCAD, and a riot of development happening, notably in the Eastern Wharf, just steps away from the picturesque historic district.

Smack in the middle of that neighborhood is the Thompson Savannah, which opened in July 2021 and has become a destination for travelers and locals alike thanks to a prime riverfront location and draws like its lobby restaurant, Fleeting, and the rooftop Bar Julianwhich more than a few residents recommended before I took a recent trip. The hotel isnt lacking in Southern charm or hospitality but doesnt put on old-timey airs. Instead, its a decidedly modern oasiswith an art-filled lobby and an adjacent coffee shop that wouldnt feel out of place back at home in Brooklynthat offers a contemporary vision of the city without losing touch with its heritage. Its that feeling of old and new combined, explains general manager Keith Butz, that really speak to the modern Savannah. Were an incredibly desirable city to visit, and youre walking into a property that feels unique but also meant for its place. You dont feel like youre in Chicago, Denver, or Seattle; youre getting an authentic Savannah experience.

Courtesy Thompson Savannah

Here, Butz shares the details of his own favorite room, and explains how to properly enjoy everything Savannah has to offer, no matter its age.

What do you consider to be the best room at the property and why?

Our Thompson Suite is incredible. Its one of our most requested rooms, and lets guests look out over the Savannah River. Any time that I stay at the hotel, if I get a room overlooking the river, where I can look out the window and watch the ships go by, it brings a smile to my face.

How much does it cost per night?

The Thompson Suite starts at $1900 during off-peak season.



Courtesy Thompson Savannah

How would you describe the guests and the vibe at the hotel?

Were geared toward a vibrant, and world-traveling group who want to experience whats new. The strength of the Thompson is that were really tied into the local market. Guests from the area are coming to the hotelpreviously locals might not have gone to hotels because they werent as authentic, but were finding because of our connection to the art world, the quality of our offerings, and the views from Bar Julian were getting a lot of people from Savannah and the surrounding areas.

What feeling about Savannah do you hope to impart to guests?

Were excited to be a vibrant, elegant luxury brand in the Eastern Wharf because it allowed us a new build, and that was the key, because we could have a new build and still be close to the history of Savannah. Being right along the river with the views we have means were unmistakably in this placeyou can also walk right along the river to be the in the heart of the city in just a few minutesbut youre also in a brand new luxury hotel.

Courtesy Thompson Savannah

Whats a local attraction that you always recommend?

Any time you can do a walking tour of the citywhether its a haunted tour or just a walking tourand explore the squares, the homes, or the history of the city, that really gives you a great taste of everything Savannah has to offer.

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Sudan has been rocked by violence since mid-April when tensions between the military and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces erupted into open fighting.

The bodies of dozens of people allegedly killed by Sudanese paramilitary forces and an allied militia have been uncovered in a mass grave in West Darfur, the United Nations said Thursday.

According to credible information obtained by the U.N. Human Rights Office, at least 87 people  some of them from the ethnic African Masalit tribe  were killed by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces and an affiliated Arab militia. Their bodies were dumped in a one-meter (around three-foot) grave just outside the West Darfur city of Geneina, the agency said.

Sudan has been rocked by violence since mid-April when tensions between the military and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces erupted into open fighting.

In this handout image provided by the Ministry of Defence, Soldier from the Duke of Lancasters Regiment, with some Sudenese locals. (Photo by MoD Crown Copyright via Getty Images)

Darfur has been one of the epicenters of the 12-week conflict, morphing into an arena of ethnic violence with the paramilitary troops and allied Arab militias attacking the Masalit and other African ethnic groups.

The first 37 bodies were buried in the shallow grave on June 20, the U.N. agency said in a statement from Geneva. The next day, another 50 bodies were dumped at the same site. Seven women and seven children were among those buried.

RSF and Arab militia forced local residents to bury the bodies, the U.N. agency said. The killings took place between June 13 and June 21 in the Al-Madaress and Al-Jamarek districts of the city, following the violence that erupted in the aftermath of the assassination of West Darfurs governor, it added.

The governor, Khamis Abdalla Abkar, had accused the RSF and allied militias of attacking local communities across Geneina in an interview with Saudi-owned television station, Al-Hadath. Hours later he was abducted and killed under circumstances that remain unclear.

Over the past two months, the paramilitary and their allies rampaged through West Darfur, forcing hundreds of thousands to flee their homes, rights groups say. Just over 238,000 people have crossed the border into neighboring Chad, according to recent figures from the International Organization for Migration. Amid the pillaging, entire towns and villages in the province of West Darfur have been burned to the ground and looted.

News of the mass grave comes just days after Human Rights Watch called for the International Criminal Court to investigate atrocities in Darfur. In highlighting its call, it pointed to the summary executions of at least 28 Masalit tribesmen at the hands of RSF and allied Arab militias in the town of Misterei, also in West Darfur province.

The New York-based rights group said that several thousand members of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces and their allies rampaged through Misterei on May 28 armed with assault rifles, rocket-propelled grenades and machine guns, before slaughtering its Masalit male inhabitants. A total of 97 people were killed in the attack, it said.

Protestors on Cleveland Row before a march to raise awareness and rally against the crisis in Darfur on September 16, 2007 in London, England. (Photo by Cate Gillon/Getty Images)

Darfur had been the scene of genocidal war in the early 2000s, when ethnic Africans rebelled, accusing the Arab-dominated government in Khartoum of discrimination. Former dictator Omar al-Bashirs government was accused of retaliating by arming local nomadic Arab tribes, known as Janjaweed, who targeted civilians.

JanJaweed fighters were folded into the RSF.

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The post Mass grave with at least 87 bodies found in Sudans volatile Darfur region, United Nations says appeared first on TheGrio.
Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas) said Sunday he is very confident that the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) will be a bipartisan bill following the Houses approval of the must-pass legislation, which included conservative amendments, in an unusually partisan vote.

At the end of the day, this always ends up as a bipartisan bill. But there were some certain policies, like for instance, the Hyde Amendment since 1980 not to fund taxpayer abortions, our members felt was very important to put in there, I think thats one that will survive, McCaul told CBSs Margaret Brennan on Face the Nation.

Brennan pointed out a provision put forward by conservatives restricting travel expense reimbursements for service members who get abortions, not the procedures themselves. When asked about the amendment, McCaul defended the vote, claiming, Well  since 1980, we havent funded anything that goes towards taxpayer abortions.

Look, this is a process, you know, we had a lot of amendments, our members needed that vote, and I do think at the end of the day, we come together as a conference and it will be a bipartisan bill. I think theres nothing more important than our national defense and our military, said McCaul, who serves as the chairman for the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Conservative Republican lawmakers in the House added several amendments centered around abortion, transgender rights and inclusion initiatives, leading to a party-line 219-210 vote, with four Republicans opposing the NDAA and four Democrats supporting it.

I think some of the policies on culture that the Defense Department has instituted has caused problems within our own military. Recruitment is at an all-time low now, McCaul told Brennan on Sunday. After Afghanistan and then to watch these videos that these trained, you know, say SEALs have to watch, you know, injecting their own social, moral policies.

McCaul also stressed service members readiness and our ability to fight war, saying the vitally important legislation should not be politicized at the end of the day.

I feel very confident that well have a bipartisan bill coming down, McCaul said.

The bill will now head to the Senate, where Democrats who control the chamber are likely to strip the conservative amendments.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
The Alabama woman who went missing after calling 911 to report a toddler walking an interstate has been found.

Carlethia "Carlee" Nichole Russell, 25, was found Saturday at about 10:45 p.m. local time, the Hoover Police Department said, according to WBRC. The Hoover 911 center received a call that Russell had returned home.

The police and fire departments responded to Russell's home to evaluate her and transported her to a hospital for further evaluation.

Russell was reported missing after calling 911 Thursday night to report a toddler she observed walking on the side of Interstate 459 South near Birmingham, police previously said in a press release. After the call, Russell went to check on the child and called a relative. During the call with the relative, Russell stopped talking, but the line "remained open," police said.

ALABAMA WOMAN DISAPPEARS AFTER CALLING 911 TO REPORT TODDLER WALKING ALONG INTERSTATE

The Alabama woman who went missing after calling 911 to report a toddler walking an interstate has been found.

When officers arrived at the scene, Russell's car and some of her belongings, including her cell phone, were found nearby. But Russell and the child were not there.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

Officials said Russell left work from The Summit in Birmingham at around 8:20 p.m., then likely stopped at a restaurant to pick up food before calling 911 at 9:34 p.m. at mile marker 11 on I-459 traveling toward Hoover.

BIZARRE NEW DETAILS EMERGE IN MISSING TEEN RUDY FARIAS CASE AS MOM AVOIDS CRIMINAL CHARGES

While on the phone with the relative, Russell stopped talking but the line "remained open," according to police.

A witness reported possibly seeing a light-complected male standing outside Russell's car, according to police. Investigators said no children were reported missing in the area.

Russell's mother said her daughter was heard on the phone screaming before the line went silent.

"She got out of the car. My daughter-in-law could hear her ask if the child was OK, and she didn't hear anything," Talitha Russell told Fox 5 Atlanta. "Then she heard our daughter Carlee scream."

Fox News' Adam Sabes contributed to this report.
An American abducted in Mexico and held by captors for eight months was released Friday night and is safe, FBI officials said Saturday.

Monica De Leon Barba, of San Mateo County, California, just south of San Francisco, was abducted while she as walking home from work with her dog in Tepatitlan, Mexico, on Nov. 29, the FBI said Saturday.

Though it wasn't clear what precipitated her release, work for her freedom was constant during De Leon Barba's ordeal, the bureau said.

"For the past eight months, FBI personnel in California and Mexico have worked tirelessly with the family and with partners here and in Mexico," Robert Tripp, the special agent in charge of the FBI's San Francisco office, said in a statement. "Our relief and joy at the safe return of Monica is profound."

Monica De Leon Barba. (FBI San Francisco)

No information about her abductors was available, and the FBI has not mentioned drug cartels in communicating about the case. Cartels have been connected to the rise of kidnapping as a criminal enterprise in Mexico.

De Leon Barba's brother told NBC Bay Area that the FBI said demands were made in her abduction. The FBI has not previously commented on any demands.

In April, the FBI posted two security camera videos of De Leon Barbas abduction by people using multiple vehicles. It said it hoped the videos would prompt witnesses to come forward with details of what they saw when she was snatched from a street, leaving her dog behind. Relatives recovered the dog.

"No arrests have been made, and an investigation into the identity of her captors remains ongoing," the FBI San Francisco office said in its statement Saturday.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Monday urged the Senate to quickly advance the dozens of State Department nominees that remain pending due to holds put into place by Republican senators, decrying the impact of the holds on US national security, its standing in the world, and the State Department itself.

Blinkens push for the nominees to move forward comes as Republicans in the Senate have been obstructing key national security posts across multiple agencies, and amid a partisan fight over the annual military spending budget.

According to a State Department official, the agency currently has 61 nominees outstanding with the Senate, including 38 ambassadorial nominees awaiting confirmation for posts around the world.

The State Department official said that all but three of the 38 ambassadorial nominees awaiting a floor vote are career foreign service officers, and some have been waiting over 18 months for confirmation.

This summer, for the first time ever, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, and Lebanon will have no confirmed U.S. ambassadors, and we remain without ambassadors for the African Union, UAE, Rwanda, Somalia, and Haiti, the official said.

The top US diplomat sent a letter to all senators calling for those holding the nominees to reconsider or work with the Department to find a reasonable and expedited path forward.

If you are not engaging in this practice, I would ask that you talk to your colleagues who are, Blinken wrote in the letter.

In remarks to the press at the State Department, Blinken noted that the significant delays on the dozens of nominees are of benefit only to US adversaries who are constantly looking to exploit any weakness.

People abroad see it as a sign of dysfunction, ineffectiveness, inability to put national interests over political ones, Blinken said.

These unnecessary delays also weaken the State Department as an institution, he continued, noting that it discourages highly qualified senior officers from pursuing ambassadorships.

We need our best possible team on the field, Blinken said in remarks at the State Department. By failing to confirm his nominees, a handful of senators are keeping our best players on the sidelines.

Its strange credulity that some of the members of Congress calling most loudly for out competing our rivals are at the same time tying our hands behind our back, Blinken said.

We cannot and we must not let this become the new normal, he said.

Blinken said that the State Department had been working extensively with the office of Kentucky Republican Sen. Rand Paul, who has put a hold on all State Department nominees, demanding that the agency turn over further information related the origins of Covid-19. Paul put his hold into place in early June, demanding the US governments Covid-19 research records and citing concerns that those projects could be linked to the origin of the pandemic.

Regardless of if the majority likes it, the committee will only return to expedited procedure when the chairman signs document requests with Dr. Paul, who is simply trying to access Covid-19 documents being held by various government agencies that are under the jurisdiction of the foreign relations committee, a spokesperson for Paul said.

State Department spokesperson Matt Miller told CNN that the agency has cooperated extensively with Senator Paul by providing him documents and other information, but he still continues to block all State Department nominees, the vast majority of whom are foreign services officers, from filling critical national security posts.

When we dont have an ambassador in place, our adversaries fill the void, and in too many places around the world, we dont have an ambassador today because Senator Paul is blocking confirmation for reasons that have nothing to do with the nominees qualifications, Miller said.

Republican Sen. J.D. Vance of Ohio is also an impediment to the diplomatic corps getting out into the field, in addition to blocking all Justice Department nominees except US marshals.

Vance has put a hold on multiple State Department nominees, including the nominee to serve as the Representative to the African Union, citing concerns that she has pushed a woke ideology instead of pushing ahead Americas national interests.

We have built a foreign policy of hectoring, moralizing and lecturing countries that dont want anything to do with it. The Chinese have a foreign policy of building roads and bridges and feeding poor people, Vance said on the Senate floor in April when he announced his hold on her nomination.

But his office did not detail how many total holds he currently has in place or the specific reason for each of the holds.

At the Defense Department, hundreds of senior military officers, including high-profile roles like the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the commandant of the Marine Corps, have been impacted by Republican Sen. Tommy Tubervilles hold due to his opposition to the Defense Departments reproductive policies.

With the holds in place, the time that it takes to confirm a nominee becomes drastically longer, which requires Senate Democratic leadership to use up floor time.

So far this year, weve only had one Department of State nominee confirmed through unanimous consent, and in this Congress, only five State Department nominees have been confirmed, the State Department official said, noting that in previous administrations, most career, nonpartisan nominees would receive agreement to advance via unanimous consent within short order.

This allowed career public servants to receive confirmation and get to their embassies and conduct U.S. foreign policy on behalf of the American people without delay, the official said.

Bipartisan frustration over Pauls hold was apparent at a business meeting of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in early June, when the Kentucky senator, who is a member of the committee, accused Democratic Chairman Sen. Bob Menendez of obstructing the desired information.

When we talk about meeting the China challenge, China has more embassies, consulates, and ambassadors throughout the world than we do. That is not acceptable. We can do a lot better. So, I hope we can vigorously move other nominations expeditiously, Menendez said, according to a transcript of the meeting.

These holds on ambassadors and the time that we all take to confirm ambassadors is very harmful to our country, Republican Sen. Mitt Romney said, while calling on Menendez to just give him the data, for Petes sake.

My goodness, the president has been president now for some years, alright, and we cannot get  we need ambassadors, Romney said. And even if they are not perfect, we need ambassadors. So let us get them through, and the holds that we put on, just in my opinion, the hold has got to be resolved on a timely basis and then move on to a vote. We have got to get ambassadors throughout the world, and we cannot vote on them one by one on the Senate floor.

The American Foreign Service Association, which serves as the union for foreign service officers, said in a statement that it believes it is essential to have confirmed ambassadors at all of our embassies and confirmed senior officials in all of our agencies.

We hope that all career nominees will move forward in the process quickly. Our country needs their service and experience, the statement said.

This story has been updated with additional information.

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Monica De Leon Barba, 30, of San Mateo, is safe after being kidnapped Nov. 29 as she walked her dog in Tepatitlan, Mexico. (FBI)

A California woman who was kidnapped while walking her dog last year in Mexico has been released, federal authorities said Saturday.

Monica De Leon Barba, 30, of San Mateo, was kidnapped from a sidewalk in Tepatitlan, a city in the western Mexican state of Jalisco, on Nov. 29.

The FBI offered $40,000 for her return and released videos showing the vehicles that her kidnappers used. De Leon Barba's dog was seen running loose in one of the videos, but was later located by a family member, the agency said.

In a statement Saturday, the FBI said De Leon Barba was released Friday night and was "safe and en route" to the U.S. No arrests have been made and the investigation into her captors' identity continues, the agency said.

NBC Bay Area reporter Gia Vang tweeted photos Saturday that showed De Leon Barba reunited with her brother Gustavo and her dog.

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.
Chilaquiles verdes: This version is topped by runny eggs cooked with fragrant hoja santa. (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times; Styling by Nia Lee / For The Times)

Soft-chewy-crunchy chilaquiles are the Mexican breakfast you eat from a street food vendor out of a van in Mexico City on your way to work, on your birthday at a fancy restaurant or "divorciados" (half verdes, half rojos) the day after you get married, like I did, flying in the face of any superstitions.

At their most basic, chilaquiles are fried tortilla chips briefly cooked in salsa. They're universal, served as street food or at fine dining restaurants. Tortilla chipscooked like a guisado until soft and stuffed inside a bolillo for a torta de chilaquil  that's one of the signature breakfast tortas of Mexico City. I've had them with smoked tuna at Flor de la Calabaza restaurant in Ensenada. There are so many examples of chilaquiles, such as with cochinita pibil, or tasajo (salted beef), or fried eggs.These can be breakfast, lunch, dinner or a snack.

Read more:The best tacos, cantinas, pulque and classic restaurants in Mexico City

Inspired by my hometown of Puerto Vallarta, chilaquiles rojos with Vallarta-style shrimp salad makes for ceviche-meets-brunch, if you want to pretend you're at the beach. Combining alfalfa sprouts with shrimp is what you find in our classic shrimp burgers, sold at puestos (streetside food stands) and restaurants. My favorite burger is the hamburguesa de camaron at Mr. Burguer, located in the Palmar de Aramara neighborhood. It's a shrimp patty of whole, plump shrimp with melted cheese, grilled bell peppers, onions and handfuls of alfalfa sprouts. (Even in school, we ate bowls of alfalfa sprouts as a snack.)

Start with tender sauteed shrimp for a version of chilaquiles rojos inspired by a Puerto Vallarta shrimp burger. (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times; Styling by Nia Lee / For The Times)

In true Vallarta style, a tangle of alfalfa sprouts and shrimp make a fresh topping for chilaquiles. (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times; Styling by Nia Lee / For The Times)

Chilaquiles cooked in a salsa roja of tomatoes and guajillo chiles, and then topped with a shrimp and sprouts salad. (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times; Styling by Nia Lee / For The Times)

For chilaquiles rojos, I toss sprouts with cilantro and shrimp spiked with lime juice. The simple yet flavorful homemade salsa roja comes together quickly with fruity guajillo chiles that thicken the salsa with a subtle heat closer to smoked paprika than fiery chiles.

To make the best version of chilaquiles, it's all about the foundation: homemade totopos. Totopos are the official name of tortilla chips in Mexico, and it's easy to make your own from thick-cut stale tortillas. For totopos that soak up salsa and runny egg yolks without getting soggy, laying out stale tortillas at room temperature overnight is the key to drawing out moisture for maximum crunch factor. If youre in a rush, you can zap them in the microwave for 30 to 60 seconds to remove moisture before cooking them (they can be fried or baked).

The key to crunchy totopos is making sure all the moisture is removed from the tortillas: Set them out to dry overnight. They can be baked or fried. (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times; Styling by Nia Lee / For The Times)

Crunchy fried totopos are the foundation for chilaquiles. (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times; Styling by Nia Lee / For The Times)

For rushed mornings when you're craving chilaquiles, reach for store-bought totopos. Look for sturdy thick totopos versus puffy, thin ones. Somos makes unusually thick and crunchy totopos that stand up to salsa beautifully. Have a Chip from Laguna Beach makes flaky totopos seasoned with just a tad of soy sauce. Siete Foods makes white and blue nixtamalized corn totopos with avocado oil that are delicious. When using store-bought totopos for chilaquiles, warm them up on the skillet before adding the salsa. This will release some of the oil from the totopos and bring them back to crunchy status.

For an herbal take: chilaquiles verdes with hoja santa eggs and garlicky beans with parsley, if you just need something green to start your day. Hoja santa (holy leaf), or Piper auritum, is the aromatic vine that grows wild all over Historic South-Central or anywhere in OaxaCalifornia. Oaxaquenos grow the herb essential to their cuisine, and just some of the aromatics loud and present in hoja santa are: tarragon, licorice, fennel and anise.

Read more:A Mexico City restaurateur taps into L.A. culture at Frogtowns mariscos newcomer

You can source it at Mexican grocery stores such as Northgate Gonzalez Markets in small bundles in the produce section, so no foraging is necessary. In this rendition, the hoja santa eggs are layered against the salsa verde  made with cooked tomatillos, garlic, onions and serrano chile  for a tart and herbaceous bite. If you cant find hoja santa, fresh shiso leaves, available in most Asian markets, make a surprisingly good substitution.

Fried eggs layered with hoja santa leaves are inspired by a dish of huevos al comal in Oaxaca. (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times; Styling by Nia Lee / For The Times)

The eggs are gently cooked over whole hoja santa leaves, inspired by Thalia Barrios Garcia, the chef and owner of La Cocina de Humo in Oaxaca City. She isn't the only one who makes huevos al comal over hoja santa leaves, but hers are the most memorable. As soon as you walk into La Cocina de Huma, that's the first thing you see  the comal with all the eggs layered with hoja santa. She makes tortillas by hand and puts them on the comal next to the eggs, so they're chewy, soft and crispy on some sides. Barrios Garcia puts them in a bowl with salsa and then tops them with the eggs: Its chilaquiles  delicious enough to make you want to fly to Oaxaca just to eat them. But also simple enough that you can make them yourself.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivers a statement at the Palmachim Air Force Base near the city of Rishon Lezion, Israel, July 5. Reuters-Yonhap



Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday declared that he feels "very good" after he was rushed to the hospital for what doctors said likely was dehydration.



But doctors ordered him to remain in the hospital overnight for further observation, and his weekly Cabinet meeting was delayed by a day and rescheduled for Monday, his office said.



Netanyahu's office said he was hospitalized after feeling mild dizziness. It said that he had spent the previous day in the heat at the Sea of Galilee, a popular vacation spot in northern Israel, and that after a series of tests, the initial assessment was that the veteran Israeli leader was dehydrated.



Later on Saturday, a smiling Netanyahu issued a video statement from the hospital, saying that he had been out in the sun on Friday without wearing a hat and without water. "Not a good idea," he said.



"Thank God, I feel very good," he added, thanking the medical team at Israel's Sheba Hospital and thanking the public for messages of support.



He said he had "one request"  that people drink water and stay out of the sun.



Israel is in the midst of a summer heat wave, with temperatures in the mid-30s Celsius (mid-90s Fahrenheit).



Netanyahu is Israel's longest serving leader. He has served multiple terms stretching over 15 years in office. His current far-right government, a collection of religious and ultranationalist parties, took office last December.



Netanyahu is said to be in generally good health, though he was briefly hospitalized last October after feeling unwell during prayers on Yom Kippur, a day when observant Jews fast.





Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends the weekly cabinet meeting in the prime minister's office in Jerusalem, June 25. AP-Yonhap
A crucial deal allowing the export of grain from Ukraine is set to expire Monday unless Russia agrees to an extension.

The last ship to travel under the Black Sea deal left the port of Odesa early on Sunday, Reuters reported.

Russian President Vladimir Putin told South African President Cyril Ramaphosa in a phone conversation on Saturday that the deal had not met its objectives

[Putin] stressed that the obligations set out in the relevant Russia-UN memorandum to remove obstacles to the export of Russian food and fertilizers still remain unfulfilled, the Kremlin readout of the call said.

Moreover, the main goal of the deal, namely the supply of grain to countries in need, including those on the African continent, has not been realized, it said.

Putin has previously complained about restrictions over its own exports but has agreed to previous extensions.

Saint-Kitts-and-Nevis-flagged bulker TK Majestic, carrying grain under the UN's Black Sea Grain Initiative, waits in the southern anchorage of the Bosphorus in Istanbul, Turkey. - Mehmet Emin Caliskan/Reuters

The deal, which was first brokered by Turkey and the United Nations following the outbreak of Russias war on Ukraine in July 2022, creates procedures to ensure the safe export of grain from Ukrainian ports.

Under the deal, grain ships are able to navigate through a safe corridor in the Black Sea under the direction of Ukrainian pilots, and then pass through the Bosphorus Strait  an important shipping corridor in north-west Turkey  in order to reach global markets.

It has proven vital for stabilizing global food prices and bringing relief to the developing countries who rely on Ukrainian exports.

The deals survival continues to rest in Russias hands, and Moscow has repeatedly threatened to quit the pact.

Prior to its third renewal in May, the Kremlin had remained elusive as to whether it would remain in the deal, before agreeing to a last-minute extension.

Russia also suspended its participation for a few days in late October and early November 2022, citing drone attacks on the city of Sevastopol in occupied Crimea.

Moscow later announced that it would reverse course and rejoin the agreement for a further 120 days, following mediation.

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Before she left North Korea, the woman known as C had caught glimpses of life across the border through smuggled television shows.

People caught with foreign materials like books and movies, which are banned in the hermit nation, can face severe punishment. But C secretly watched the South Korean shows anyway, fascinated by what she called a different reality than the one she lived in.

I learned that South Korea is a rich country where human rights are guaranteed, said the woman, who is in her 20s.

With North Koreas borders tightening and life getting harder, she fled in 2019, spending the next few years in neighboring China before heading to South Korea  where she is now receiving training at a government-run facility called Hanawon.

All defectors arriving into South Korea are required to spend three months at Hanawon, essentially a school that teaches them to assimilate, before they are allowed to enter society. Officials say the facility trains defectors in everything from history and culture to vocational skills and everyday tasks such as buying groceries  things that might look very different inside their highly isolated and impoverished home country.

C spoke to journalists Monday during a rare media tour of Hanawon, organized by the Unification Ministry. None of the defectors present provided their real names. And while C has some concerns about life in South Korea  its so different from the North; what if people find her strange?  she sounded optimistic and determined.

Ive been learning hard  I try to manage my life believing that things will work out if I try hard enough, she said. Im getting to know how to live in South Korea at Hanawon.

A Hanawon instructor in an IT education center for North Korean defectors on July 10, 2023. - Jeon Heon-Kyun/Pool/AFP/Getty Images

But not everybody leaves the facility feeling empowered or sufficiently prepared, and some activists believe the system needs an overhaul.

Upon arrival in South Korea, defectors must spend up to three months undergoing security checks by the National Intelligence Service (NIS), a process meant to sniff out North Korean spies. After clearance, they head to Hanawon for another mandatory three months  meaning they spend roughly half a year in government facilities before being released.

This approach is outdated, ineffective and overly restrictive, said Sokeel Park, South Korea country director for international nonprofit Liberty in North Korea (LINK), which helps North Koreans resettle in the South.

Its ironic that North Korean refugees risk their lives to escape extreme government control but have to spend their first few months in South Korea living under overbearing government control that doesnt serve their interests or respect their agency, he told CNN.

A security guard stands outside Hanawon in Anseong, South Korea, on May 28, 2009. - Seokyong Lee/Bloomberg/Getty Images

Inside Hanawon

The main Hanawon facility lies about 80 kilometers (50 miles) south of the capital Seoul.

At the facilitys vocational education and training center, defectors can choose between 22 types of job training thats mostly blue-collar work.

Hanawon also attempts to familiarize defectors with parts of South Korean life. For example, they are encouraged listen to popular 90s music and current hits to better connect with peers and understand cultural references.

In another instance, an IT instructor teaches students to use the copy-paste function and practice typing the lyrics to South Koreas national anthem.

When CNN visited, most classrooms were empty, with only a few students in the computer and nail care rooms. Though defectors had once numbered nearly 3,000 a year, they fell to just a few dozen in 2021 and 2022, due to pandemic restrictions and tighter border security in North Korea and China.

The Hanawon training covers other basic life skills like how to open a bank account. After finishing the program, defectors receive government benefits, such as an initial subsidy and housing support, as they begin their new lives.

A Hanawon instructor (left) teaches defectors in a bakery class on July 10, 2023. - SeongJoon Cho/Bloomberg/Getty Images

They only taught me nonsensical things

But some defectors walk away from Hanawon feeling frustrated and ill-equipped for the real world.

Hanawon was supposed to teach me things I could actually use, but they only taught me nonsensical things, said Kim, a defector who escaped in 2017 and finished his Hanawon training in 2018.

Some lessons, like how to use modern technology, were helpful. But other theoretical classes were baffling  like when they read a book explaining how to plate a ring with gold, he said. CNN is only identifying Kim by his surname to protect his privacy.

During the Monday visit, Hanawon officials said they now teach mainly vocational lessons.

Theres a saying, Teach someone how to fish rather than give them fish. Rather than giving financial aid, it is necessary to provide job training which is actually needed to survive in South Korea, and the training that helps them adjust to the South Korean system, said Unification Minister Kwon Young-se during the tour.

Two other women defectors currently at Hanawon, identified only as A and B, also shared their experiences, saying the training was beneficial. Hanawon has been a great help  The resettlement funds are enough, too, B said Monday, adding she had spent a lot of time on the computer.

But other defectors share Kims skepticism, according to Park, the LINK country director. Various experts and advocates have made similar criticisms in past years, pointing out that defectors need more mental health care and long-term assistance.

North Korean defectors attend a computer class at the Hanawon facility on July 10, 2023. - Jeon Heon-Kyun/Pool/AFP/Getty Images

One problem is that not all life in North Korea is the same. A resident in the capital Pyongyang, home to favored citizens like government officials and their families, may be more familiar with modern luxuries like a school education, coffee, even cell phones (limited to North Koreas censored intranet) than residents in poorer parts of the country.

And some defectors like C live for years in China before arriving in South Korea  giving them more time to adjust and get work experience.

The Hanawon approach needs to offer tailored assistance based on individual needs instead of imposing the same requirements and training on all defectors, Park said.

Many defectors also end up doing jobs in different fields than what theyd learned at Hanawon, rendering those classes ineffective, Park added. For example, younger North Koreans may have broader ambitions such as pursuing internships, attending college and entering white-collar careers.

Then theres the psychological toll of spending six months at the vetting facility run by NIS and Hanawon.

They arrive in South Korea with so much hope and expectations, said Park  but this excitement is often drained by the time they finally emerge from Hanawon.

CNN has reached out to Hanawon officials for comment.

Community-based approach

Many defectors and activists say the Hanawon process should be streamlined. I think its better to settle down quickly, earn money sooner, and live while adapting by making breakthroughs, said Kim, the defector who fled in 2017.

When asked about Hanawons remote location on Monday, Kwon, the minister, said it was because defectors can be nervous around new people. Authorities figured it would be better to start in an isolated facility and gradually expand their exposure, he said.

Kim acknowledged the challenges of adjusting to South Korea. He often felt embarrassed when people asked, incredulous, how he could not know the words for common items bought in stores.

Work was tough, too, and made worse by South Korean coworkers who seemed to look down on him, he said. And there were cultural differences he found puzzling, like greeting coworkers each morning  which hed never done in the North.

The difficulty of post-defection life is well documented, with some cases ending in tragedy. In 2019, a North Korean mother and son were found dead in their South Korean apartment from suspected starvation, prompting mass vigils and protests, and promises from the government to boost welfare measures.

In 2022, the remains of a North Korean woman wrapped in winter coats found in her Seoul home. Authorities estimated shed been dead for a year.

Many defectors struggle financially, even years after arriving in South Korea. Some 6.1% of defectors were unemployed in 2022, more than double the national rate, according to government figures.

But many of these challenges can be better addressed through community-based support like local centers that offer continuous assistance and camaraderie, Park said.

These centers do exist to some extent, but could be further expanded, with some of the Hanawon offerings turned into optional local classes, he said. That could also alleviate another major problem for defectors: isolation after being completely cut off from loved ones back in North Korea.

After their arduous journey, he said, North Korean defectors should have the chance to begin this new chapter on their own terms  with the freedom they risked their lives to seek.

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By Timour Azhari

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani began an official visit to Syria on Sunday, the first by an Iraqi premier since the outbreak of the Syrian war in 2011, in a trip aimed at securing their shared border and bolstering economic ties.

Iraq and Syria, which have close economic, military and political ties to regional heavyweight Iran, maintained relations throughout Syria's civil war even as other Arab states withdrew their ambassadors and closed their embassies in Syria.

Baghdad and Damascus, along with Shi'ite armed groups backed by Iran, cooperated in the fight against militant group Islamic State, which spread from Iraq into Syria and at one point controlled more than a third of both countries.

Farhad Alaaldin, foreign affairs adviser to the prime minister, said Sudani was set to discuss combatting the flow of drugs, especially the amphetamine Captagon, and preventing the infiltration of Islamic State militants over their shared 600km border.

The prime minister would also discuss trade and economic cooperation and possibilities for reopening an oil export pipeline in the Mediterranean, which could help Iraq diversify its export routes, he said.

Sudani's visit comes as other countries, including Saudi Arabia, rebuild relations with Damascus after years of tensions.

Syria was suspended from the Arab League in 2011 over Assad's brutal crackdown on protests and several Gulf states supported the armed opposition to his rule.

But Assad has regained control of most of Syria with military and economic support from Russia and Iran, Syria was readmitted to the Arab League in May, and regional countries are seeking dialogue with him to end drug smuggling and return millions of refugees.

Syria has agreed to help end drug trafficking across its borders with Jordan and Iraq.

Top Syrian officials and relatives of Assad have been put on sanctions lists in recent months in the United States, United Kingdom and European Union over their alleged ties to the trade.

The Syrian government denies involvement in the drug trade.

(Reporting by Timour Azhari; Editing by Alexandra Hudson)
DAMASCUS, Syria (AP)  Iraqs prime minister held talks Sunday with Syrian President Bashar Assad in Damascus during the first trip of its kind to the war-torn country since the 12-year conflict began.

The two leaders told reporters that they discussed fighting drugs, the return of Syrian refugees and the imperative of lifting Western sanctions imposed in Syria. They also talked about Israel's strikes on the war-torn country and water shortages in the Euphrates River that cuts through both countries because of projects in Turkey.

Iraq and Syria have had close relations for years even after many Arab countries withdrew their ambassadors from Damascus and Syrias membership in the 22-member Arab League was suspended because of the crackdown on protesters in 2011.

Assad received Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, who was heading a high-ranking delegation, at the presidential palace in Damascus. They discussed mutual relations and cooperation between the two neighboring countries among other issues, according to the office of Syrias president.

Al-Sudanis office said in a statement that talks revolved around ways of expanding cooperation in the fields of trade, economy, transportation, tourism, how to combat climate change and collaboration to fight terrorism.

Security cooperation against extremist groups was likely to top the agenda for the two-day visit. The two countries, where Iran enjoys wide influence, have a joint 600 kilometer-long (373-mile) border. In June 2014, the Islamic State group declared the establishment of a self-styled caliphate, a traditional model of Islamic rule, in wide areas under its control in Iraq and Syria.

After a yearslong campaign that left tens of thousands dead in both countries, IS was defeated in Iraq in 2017 and in March 2019 in Syria. In recent years, Syrian government forces regained control of much of Syria with the help of Russia and Iran.

Earlier this year, Syrias membership in the Arab League was reinstated and Assad attended the Arab summit that was held in Saudi Arabia in May.

Assad referred to Turkey without naming it as being behind the theft of Iraq and Syria's shares in the Eurphrates River in what is affecting agriculture in both countries. Assad also said that they discussed cooperating on fighting drugs, a scourge he said is "no different from terrorism as it can destroy the society the way terrorism does.

Syria's conflict that started in March 2011 has killed half a million people and displaced half the country's pre-war population of 23 million, including more than 5 million who are refugees.

We are interested in working through official and government channels to solve the issue of refugees and guarantee a safe return for them as soon as the situation becomes stable in places where they reside, al-Sudani said. Iraq is hosting about 250,000 Syrian refugees.

Al-Sudani was invited to visit Damascus during a trip by Syrias Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad to Baghdad last month.

The Iraqi prime minister said countries around the world that have citizens in Syria's al-Hol camp, home to tens of thousands of mostly women and children linked to IS, should start working on repatriating them as Baghdad is doing.

Al-Hol camp in northeast Syria near the Iraqi border holds about 51,000 people, including the wives, widows and other family members of IS militants. Most are Syrians and Iraqis. But there are also around 8,000 women and children from 60 other nationalities who live in a part of the camp known as the Annex. They are generally considered the most die-hard IS supporters among the camp residents.

Many countries are refusing to repatriate their citizens out of concern that they might be a security threat. Iraq has repatriated hundreds of families over the past months where they undergo rehabilitation programs.

The U.S. has a presence in both Syria and Iraq and Syrian officials have been calling for the withdrawal of American troops from the country who first arrived in 2015.

On any given day there are at least 900 U.S. forces in Syria, along with an undisclosed number of contractors attempting to prevent the resurgence of the Islamic State group. U.S. special operations forces also move in and out of the country but are usually in small teams and are not included in the official count.

U.S.-led coalition forces have officially ended their combat mission in Iraq, but continue to play an advisory role to Iraqi forces in the fight against the Islamic State extremist group.

____

Zeyad reported from Baghdad. Associated Press writer Bassem Mroue contributed from Beirut.
A number of high-profile Jewish groups are denouncing Democratic presidential contender Robert F. Kennedy Jr.s false remarks that Ashkenazi Jews and Chinese people are most immune to Covid-19.

Speaking at a dinner in New York City earlier this week, Kennedy said theres an argument that it is ethnically targeted, according to video shared by the New York Post on Saturday.

Covid-19 is targeted to attack Caucasians and Black people. The people who are most immune are Ashkenazi Jews and Chinese, Kennedy said, adding that we dont know whether its deliberately targeted that or not.

Ashkenazi Jews trace their roots to Central and Eastern Europe and represent a majority of the US Jewish population.

The American Jewish Committee told CNN in a statement Saturday that Kennedys assertion that Covid was genetically engineered to spare Jewish and Chinese people is deeply offensive and incredibly dangerous.

Every aspect of his comments reflects some of the most abhorrent antisemitic conspiracy theories throughout history and contributes to todays dangerous rise of antisemitism, the organization said.

The Anti-Defamation League also criticized Kennedys remarks, telling CNN that his claim feeds into sinophobic and antisemitic conspiracy theories about Covid-19 that we have seen evolve over the last three years.

In a tweet Saturday, Kennedy said that the dinner conversation was supposed to be off the record and that he never, ever suggested that the Covid-19 virus was targeted to spare Jews. Rather, he said, he was referring to a study that serves as a kind of proof of concept for ethnically targeted bioweapons.

According to the New York Post, the events organizer, Doug Dechert, said the event had been on the record.

While there are disproportionate rates of Covid-19 illness and death across different demographics, this has been attributed to racial disparities, not genetics.

Since the start of the pandemic, the risk of dying from Covid-19 has been nearly twice as high for Black and Hispanic people in the United States than for White people, data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows. Black and Hispanic people also faced a higher risk of coronavirus infection and were more than twice as likely to be hospitalized.

Given generations of systemic disinvestment in the health of Black communities in the United States, the starkly disproportionate rates of Covid-19 illness and death are not surprising, Dr. Marcella Nunez-Smith, a chair of the Presidential Covid-19 Health Equity Task Force, wrote in a report last year.

Kennedy, who is polling between 15% and 20% nationally in the Democratic primary, is a longtime vaccine skeptic who has promoted several health-related conspiracy theories. He was a strident critic of the governments handling of the coronavirus pandemic and its top infectious disease expert, Anthony Fauci. He also railed against the coronavirus vaccine and vaccine mandates.

CNNs KFile reported earlier this week that Kennedy has repeatedly shared unfounded conspiracies that man-made chemicals in the environment could be making children gay or transgender and causing the feminization of boys and masculinization of girls.

CNNs Jacqueline Howard contributed to this report.

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By Lucy Craymer

AUCKLAND (Reuters) - The Pacific region is becoming more contested and less secure as China becomes more assertive, New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins said on Monday, outlining the countrys need to work with like-minded partners while still engaging with Beijing.

China's rise and how it seeks to exert that influence is a major driver of the increasing strategic competition, particularly in the Indo-Pacific, Hipkins said in a speech to the China Business Summit in Auckland.

Our region is becoming more contested, less predictable, and less secure, he said. And that poses challenges for small countries like New Zealand that are reliant on the stability and predictability of international rules for our prosperity and security."

The relationship needed careful management but China remained a key trading partner, he added.

Hipkins' speech at the annual event comes less than a month after he led a successful trade mission to China, New Zealands largest trading partner, where he face some domestic criticism for not being as vocal on human rights and other issues as some had expected.

In this increasingly complex global environment, our relationship with China will continue to require careful management, he said.

Wellington has historically taken a more conciliatory approach towards China than Australia or its other Five Eyes security partners, Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom.

"Common interests and concerns do not mean we will always take the same approach. Sometimes there is tactical strength in a diversity of approaches to achieve the same outcomes," he said.

Wang Xiaolong, Chinas ambassador to New Zealand said in a speech that China and New Zealand relations were healthy, stable and thriving.

It is no surprise that there are differences between our two countries, given the difference in our respective circumstances. There is no inevitability though, that our countries with differing social systems and levels of development cannot coexist peacefully, he said in a speech that followed Hipkins' at the summit.

(Reporting by Lucy Craymer; Editing by Sandra Maler and Lincoln Feast.)
TEL AVIV, Israel (AP)  A Palestinian gunman opened fire on a car in the occupied West Bank on Sunday, wounding three Israelis, including two girls, Israeli authorities said. The suspect fled the scene of the shooting, but he was later captured.

The bloodshed was the latest in a relentless cycle of violence that has gripped the region, driving up the death toll and sparking the worst fighting between Israel and the Palestinians in the West Bank in nearly two decades.

The Israeli military said the gunman opened fire on a car from a passing vehicle. Israel's rescue service MDA said three Israelis were wounded, including a 35-year-old with gunshot wounds who is in serious but stable condition. Two girls, ages 9 and 14, were slightly wounded by flying debris.

The military said that forces apprehended the suspected gunman in the city of Bethlehem and seized his car and an assault rifle found inside. Troops arrested two other suspects, the army said.

The Palestinian militant group Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip, praised the attack, but stopped short of claiming responsibility for it.

Fighting between Israel and the Palestinians in the West Bank intensified early last year when Israel launched near-nightly raids into Palestinian areas in the West Bank in response to a spate of Palestinian attacks against Israelis.

The violence has spiked this year, with more than 150 Palestinians killed by Israeli fire since the start of 2023 in the West Bank and east Jerusalem, according to a tally by The Associated Press.

Israeli says most of those killed have been militants, but stone-throwing youths protesting the raids and others not involved in the confrontations have also been killed.

At least 26 people have been killed in Palestinian attacks against Israelis during that time.

Israel says the raids are essential to dismantle militant networks and thwart future attacks. The Palestinians see the violence as a natural response to 56 years of occupation, including stepped-up settlement construction by Israels government and increased violence by Jewish settlers.

Israel captured the West Bank in the 1967 Mideast war, along with the Gaza Strip and east Jerusalem. Palestinians seek those territories for their hoped-for independent state.
An air tanker drops fire retardant as the Rabbit fire burns in Lamb Canyon near Beaumont on Saturday. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

The Rabbit fire, which began Friday afternoon in the community of Lakeview, had burned 7,600 acres with 5% containment as of Saturday afternoon, according to the California Department of Forestry/Riverside County Fire Department. Triple-digit temperatures across the region and difficult topography are proving challenging for crews battling the wildfire, said Tawny Castro, public information officer with the county fire department.

Cal Fire crews set a backfire while fighting the Rabbit fire near a Beaumont home in triple-digit heat in Riverside County on Saturday. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

A Cal Fire firefighter keeps an eye as Rabbit Fire rages in Lamb Canyon on Saturday, July 15, 2023 in Riverside County, CA. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

Cal Fire crews defend a Beaumont home from the Rabbit fire amid triple-digit heat in Riverside County on Saturday. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

An air tanker drops fire retardant on the Rabbit fire in Lamb Canyon near Beaumont in Riverside County on Saturday. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

A vehicle charred by Rabbit fire along Gilman Springs Road near Moreno Valley on Saturday. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

After a water-dropping helicopter flew overhead to make a drop nearby, a smoke funnel spins across the scorched landscape after the Rabbit fire burned through in Riverside County on Saturday. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

A helicopter drops water on the Rabbit fire near a house in the Beaumont area in Riverside County on Saturday. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Linda Castro, left, assistant policy director of CalWild, with her dog Cash, and Gregor Losson, an advocate for rock and mineral collectors, study a specimen at Cady Mountains in Mojave Trails National Monument. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

If dyed-in-the-wool rockhound Gregor Losson takes you to his favorite mineral hunting grounds, be prepared to set out before sunrise in his four-wheel-drive truck and follow a tangle of backcountry dirt roads to a remote corner of the Mojave Desert.

Its a desolate alluvial fan on the southern flanks of the Cady Mountains, where sparkling calcite crystals and pieces of quartz, jasper and agate are continually carried down the slopes by thunderstorms and flash floods.

Rockhound Gregor Losson, a representative to the Bureau of Land Management's Desert Advisory Committee, looks for rocks in the Cady Mountains recently. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

This place is as good as it gets, Losson said recently as he hoisted a small geode filled with quartz crystals.

But that may not be the case for much longer.

A fierce seven-year debate over whether or not to prohibit the removal of rocks and minerals from Mojave Trails National Monument threatens to end rock collecting within its 1.6 million acres.

Read more:Anger builds after controlled burn badly damages California sequoias

Specifically, the U.S. Bureau of Land Management is nearing completion of a management plan that could declare rock collecting a form of mining.

If that happens, rockhounding would fall under the control of the General Mining Law of 1872, which regulates extractive industries that take such raw materials as gold, silver, lithium and oil from the earth on public lands. It would also hasten the demise of California's relatively small and aging community of gem and mineral collectors, Losson and others say.

We see this issue as an existential threat to a hobby that dates back to the turn of the last century, said Lisbet Thoresen, a mineralogist and advocate of hobbyists whofind joy in lugging a few bucketfuls of rocks home to be cut and polished with lapidary equipment: diamond saws, grinders and tumbling machines.

No national monument administered by any federal agency currently operates under a management plan that allows mining. But advocates of rockhounding are hoping that the BLM will make an exception at Mojave Trails that could be used as a template for accommodating the hobby at monuments elsewhere.

Losson studies a rock sample with a magnifying loupe. He and other rockhounds hope to keep Mojave Trails National Monument open to rock and mineral collectors. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

Rock collecting is not mining, Thoresen said. How are students going to learn to be geologists if not in natures own classroom?

Katie Boyd, curator of rocks and minerals at the Mojave River Valley Museum in Barstow, described the situation as bordering on ridiculous.

I take strong exception to rockhounding being under review for possible classification as a crime, she said. Its a wonderful hobby, and Im all for it.

Read more:New law to protect Joshua trees from climate change imposes fees on desert developers

Often, stones and minerals collected by rockhounds are turned into pendants, bolo ties, rings, bookends and colorful spheres. Others wind up in glass display cases or in school classrooms.

The debate over whether or not rockhounding should be permitted in this desert just a few hours east of Los Angeles arises from President Obamas 2016 proclamation designating Mojave Trails as a national monument.

The official proclamation did not include rock hunting as a desirable activity and ended with the admonition: Warning is hereby given to all unauthorized persons not to appropriate, injure, destroy, or remove any feature of the monument and not to locate or settle upon any of the lands thereof.

To add to the confusion, Sen. Dianne Feinstein, who had asked Obama to create the monument in the first place, insisted that the proclamations warning referred to cultural and historic items, not rocks.

Losson arranges a multicolored assortment of rocks and minerals he has collected while hunting for specimens in the deserts of Southern California. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

The BLM would not go that far. But it has allowed rockhounding to continue at least until the management plan is finalized later this year.

For rockhounds, the battle over the future of rock collecting in Mojave Trails is also a battle over the future of the pastime itself.

Rock hunting was a fast-growing new hobby in the 1930s, when collectors began venturing into the vast Mojave Desert by car via the legendary U.S. Route 66, then took dirt roads to mineral hot spots including the Cady Mountains, Lavic Siding and Afton Canyon  a four-mile furrow carved by the Mojave River.

Its heyday was in the 1950s, when there were an estimated 2 million home lapidary shops in operation across the nation, and rockhounding was encouraged by the U.S. Bureau of Mines as part of a strategy to increase stockpiles of minerals crucial for national defense.

In a 1956 newspaper article titled You can be a week-end gem hunter, Thomas H. Miller, director of Bureau of Mines, argued that sooner or later, one of these rockhounds is going to make a find of one of the many important strategic minerals, such as manganese, or nickel, or beryllium, which we desperately need.

Read more:A renegade sea otter is terrorizing California surfers: 'It's a little scary'

Rockhounds have been steadily losing access to premier hunting grounds since the 1970s due to urban sprawl, the expansion of military bases, and the implementation of conservation policies aimed at ensuring the long-term survival of vital land rich in anthropological resources, historic sites, plants and wildlife, including bighorn sheep.

A rockhound holds a map of Mojave Trails National Monument. Then-President Obama designed the area as such in 2016. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

The sweeping California Desert Conservation Area Plan of 1980 omitted rock collecting among its enumerated recreational opportunities. Although the plan has been revised 147 times since then, rock collecting was never included as a specifically permitted activity.

That omission produced a rift with rockhounders that only deepened in 2016 when Obamas proclamation overlooked the activity as a desired use in Mojave Trails.

Rockhounds hate national monuments," Thoresen said, "because wherever [rock collecting] is not explicitly stated as a desirable use in their management plans, it is not allowed.

The rock hunting communitys fight for permanent access to Mojave Trails is supported by the nonprofit conservation group CalWild and the Mineralogical Society of Southern California, some of whose members are responsible for the identification and classification of several hundred new minerals.

We are passionate about keeping the Mojave Trails National Monument for science, for education, for mineral collecting, and for rockhounding for many generations to come, Angela Guzman, president of the society, said in a recent letter to BLM officials.

Other supporters include the Mojave Desert Land Trust and the Wildlands Conservancy, both of which are dedicated to acquiring ecologically significant tracts of land throughout California.

To prohibit casual collection by grouping it with commercial mining would be a true failure of our federal policymakers and violate commitments made as Mojave Trails National Monument was being promoted and advocated over 10 years ago," said Frazier Haney, executive director of the Wildlands Conservancy.

Because of the desert's extreme heat, Losson begins a day of rockhounding before dawn and conducts his searches in the early morning. Here he is silhouetted by the rising sun at the Cady Mountains. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

In the meantime, Southern California rockhounds are bracing for change.

Rockhounds dont have lobbyists and lawyers on staff to fight any of this, said rock collector Ruth Hidalgo of Palmdale, who has earned the moniker Mama Bear because of her strong arguments at public hearings on the issue. "There are definitely going to be compromises  rockhounds wont be able to go everywhere they do now.

But Hidalgo has high hopes of ensuring access to an inexpensive weekend getaway she refers to as my quiet, remote happy place, where sparkling minerals in every direction are staring out at you.

My husband, who passed away last year, always had a rock in his pocket, she said. Now I have it. Its a piece of agate from the Cady Mountains.





This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
(Reuters) -A Moscow court on Saturday issued criminal charges against seven people "motivated by national hatred" to kill two prominent Russian journalists in a Ukrainian-backed plot, Russia's state-owned TASS news agency said.

The court approved the detention until Sept. 14, under criminal charges of "hooliganism," of five minors born in 2005 and 2006 and two men it said were part of an organised group, TASS said.

TASS said Russia's FSB security service detained an unspecified number of people on Friday who conducted reconnaissance near the homes and workplaces of journalists Margarita Simonyan, head of state media outlet RT, and Ksenia Sobchak, who ran against President Vladimir Putin in 2018.

Mykhailo Podolyak, adviser to President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, said in televised remarks that Russia was living in an absurd "constructed mythology."

Asked about the case in an interview, Podolyak played down its significance, saying the journalists "do not play any important role" in the war, nor in the loss of Russia's positions on the world stage.

Interfax news agency quoted the FSB as saying that the detainees had admitted preparing attacks on the two women on behalf of Ukraine and had been promised a reward of 1.5 million roubles ($16,620) for each one.

Simonyan, a vocal supporter of Russia's war in Ukraine, posted a message on Telegram about the alleged plot, urging the security services to "Keep on working, brothers!"

Sobchak, whose late father Anatoly Sobchak was Putin's political mentor, said that if the assassination plans were true, then "thank you all the involved services for their work."

In a post on her Telegram channel, which often carries reports critical of Russian government policy, she added that if the reports were untrue, "and the idea was just to put me and Simonyan in the same sentence, then this is the usual nastiness.

"In any event, I want to report, any terror is evil, no ifs ands or buts," she added.

In the past year, bomb attacks inside Russia have killed prominent pro-war Russian figures, journalist Darya Dugina and military blogger Vladlen Tatarsky. Russia blamed their killings on Ukraine, while Kyiv denied that and portrayed them as evidence of Russian infighting.

In May a prominent Russian nationalist writer, Zakhar Prilepin, was wounded in a car bombing that killed his driver. Investigators said a suspect had been detained and had admitted acting on behalf of Ukraine.

(Reporting by Reuters; Editing by David Holmes, Christina Fincher and Diane Craft)
Kemi Badenoch, British Trade Minister, second right, shakes hands with Japan's Minister of Economic & Fiscal Policy Shigeyuki Goto, left, as New Zealand Minister for Trade and Export Growth Damien O'Connor, and New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins, right, watch during the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TTP) Ministerial meeting in Auckland, New Zealand, Sunday. AP-Yonhap



Britain on Sunday officially joined an Asia-Pacific trade group that includes Japan and 10 other nations during a meeting in New Zealand.



The trade bloc covers more than 500 million people and 15 percent of the world's economy. For Britain, it represents the largest trade deal it has struck since leaving the European Union more than three years ago.



Britain first announced in March it had reached an agreement to join the bloc, which was created in 2018, after more than two years of negotiations. It is the first new member to join the bloc, called the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).



It also includes New Zealand, Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Malaysia, Mexico, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam.



"We are honored to become the CPTPP's first new member and to join this extraordinary community of now 12 economies spanning Asia, the Pacific and now Europe," said British Trade Minister Kemi Badenoch. "This is a modern and ambitious agreement and our membership of this exciting, growing and forward-looking bloc is proof that the UK's doors are open for business."



Badenoch said that more than half a million Britons already work for companies from the bloc's member nations.



Shigeyuki Goto, Japan's economic minister, said adding Britain would strengthen the bloc.



"The fact that this was done in a way that maintains the high standards of agreement sets an exemplary precedent for future accessions," Goto said.



The deal comes as Britain pursues greater engagement with the Indo-Pacific. Critics say the deal is insignificant compared to Britain's trade with its neighbors in the 27-nation EU.



New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins said the addition of Britain to the bloc was great news for the region.



"Trade is not only a priority for this government, but is essential to our economic recovery, and improving the lives and livelihoods of all New Zealanders," Hipkins said.



Since leaving the EU, Britain has also signed separate trade deals with Australia and New Zealand.



The U.S. is not part of the bloc after former President Donald Trump withdrew from its predecessor, the Trans-Pacific Partnership. China has applied to join the bloc. (AP)


Gregorio Greg Leon apparently took his own life in a South Carolina prison in a small window of time between when lunch was delivered and a security check was completed at midday on Friday, according to information provided by the South Carolina Department of Corrections.

Alone in his cell, Leon, who officials say hung himself, may have gone undiscovered for just a few minutes or up to 20 minutes.

This information comes from a one-page breakdown of the final hours of restaurateur Leons life inside of the Kirkland Correctional Institution released by the department of corrections Saturday. Leon had been incarcerated at Kirklands Reception and Evaluation Center.

The founder of the popular chain of San Jose Mexican Restaurants reportedly took his own life inside of the prison Friday. Leon had been found guilty the previous week of murdering his wifes lover on Valentines Day 2016.

Timeline

Leon was moved into a housing unit with two other men on Wednesday, July 12. On Friday, he was alone in his unit  one cellmate was moved out Thursday, the other cellmate was at work performing tasks in the living unit at the time, according to the document.

The Department of Corrections has said that it performs standard checks on inmates twice an hour, or at most every 40 minutes, but the checks are not done on a strict schedule to limit predictability. As a result, Leon could have taken his life any time after the security check began, at approximately 12:15 p.m..

The following timeline is based on information provided by the Department of Corrections.

11:06 a.m.: Lunch trays arrived in the unit. Inmate trays begin to be distributed.

11:10 a.m. (approximately): Security check begins.

11:30 a.m.: Security check is complete in the unit. All inmates reported as OK. Security check would have started roughly 20 minutes earlier.





11:40 a.m. (approximately): Security check begins.

11:50 a.m.: Institution count clears. This is an institution-wide count that happens several times a day. All inmates are seen and accounted for. This is different from the security check that happens two times an hour.

12:00 p.m.: Security check complete again in the unit. All inmates recorded as OK. Security check would have started roughly 20 minutes earlier.

12:15 p.m. (approximately): Security check begins.

12:20 p.m.: Delivery of lunch trays is complete.

12:35 p.m.: Security check complete. Security check would have started roughly 20 minutes earlier. All inmates reported as OK.





12:36 p.m.: Inmate Leon is found unresponsive in his cell. Officer calls for A team and medical workers to respond.

All new inmates in South Carolina spend 45 days at the Kirkland Reception and Evaluation Center, located on Broad River Road. They are evaluated for their mental and physical health needs and they undergo a battery of other metrics including education level.

Leon had already received a mental health evaluation, according to the Department of Corrections.

There were no indications that he needed to be placed on suicide watch or needed a higher level of scrutiny, according to the document. These processes meet national standards, according to the department, and are approved by a court-appointed Mental Health Implementation Panel that was established following a lawsuit settlement a decade ago.
(Reuters) -Fighters from the Wagner group have arrived in Belarus from Russia, Ukrainian and Polish officials said on Saturday, a day after Minsk said the mercenaries were training the country's soldiers southeast of the capital.

"Wagner is in Belarus," Andriy Demchenko, a spokesman for the Ukrainian border agency, said in a statement on the Telegram messaging app. He said the movement of "separate groups" from Russia had been observed in Belarus.

Some Wagner fighters have been in Belarus since at least Tuesday, two sources close to the fighters told Reuters.

The Belarusian defence ministry released a video on Friday, showing what it said were Wagner fighters instructing Belarusian soldiers at a military range near the town of Osipovichi.

Wagner's move to Belarus was part of a deal that ended the group's mutiny attempt in June - when they took control of a Russian military headquarters, marched on Moscow and threatened to tip Russia into civil war - President Vladimir Putin said.

Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin has not been seen in public since he left the southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don late on June 24.

Poland's deputy minister coordinator of special services, Stanislaw Zaryn, said Warsaw also has confirmation of Wagner fighters' presence in Belarus.

"There may be several hundred of them at the moment," Zaryn said on Twitter.

Poland said this month it was bolstering its border with Belarus to address any potential threats.

While not sending his own troops to Ukraine, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko allowed Moscow to use Belarusian territory to launch its full-scale invasion on Ukraine in February 2022 and has since let his country be used as a base for Russian nuclear weapons.

The Belarusian Hajun project, which monitors military activity in the country and which is viewed as an extremist formation by Belarusian authorities, said a large column of at least 60 vehicles entered Belarus overnight Friday from Russia.

It said the vehicles, including trucks, pickups, vans and buses, had licence plates of the self-styled Donetsk and Luhansk people's republics in what is internationally recognised as eastern Ukraine. In a move widely condemned as illegal, Moscow moved last year to annex the republics, which have been Russian proxies since 2014.

Hajun said it appeared that a Wagner column was headed to Tsel in central Belarus, where foreign reporters were last week shown a camp with hundreds of empty tents.

Video shared by Russian war correspondent Alexander Kotz on Saturday evening appeared to show a convoy of trucks and military vehicles on a highway in southern Russia, some of which were flying the Wagner flag.

Reuters could not independently verify the Belarusian Hajun report. There was no immediate comment from Russia or Belarus on the reports.

(Writing by Lidia Kelly in Melbourne and Mark Trevelyan in London; Additional reporting by Caleb Davis in Gdansk;)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said on Sunday the Biden administration remains concerned that North Korea will move forward with another intercontinental ballistic missile test.

"I have been concerned for some time that North Korea would conduct what would be its seventh nuclear test," Sullivan said during an interview with CBS's Face the Nation.

"I don't see any immediate indications that's going to happen, but it would not come as a surprise if North Korea moves forward with another test with respect to its intercontinental ballistic missile capability," he said.

In June, North Korea fired two short-range missiles off its east coast as Sullivan met his Japanese and South Korean counterparts in Tokyo.

A spokesperson for North Korea's Ministry of National Defence had said back then that drills conducted by South Korea and the United States were escalating the military tension in the region and its forces would respond to "any kind of protests or provocations by enemies".

North Korea's ballistic missile and nuclear weapons programmes are banned by United Nations Security Council resolutions that have sanctioned the country.

Diplomatic efforts to reduce tensions or persuade Pyongyang to abandon its nuclear arsenal have been stalled.

(Reporting by Nandita Bose in Washington; Editing by Hugh Lawson)
DENVER (AP)  Josh Donaldson could be heading back to the New York Yankees' injured list after injuring his right calf while running out a ground ball in the seventh inning of a 6-3 victory over the Colorado Rockies on Saturday night.

Donaldson pulled up nearing first base on his grounder. The 37-year-old was sidelined between April 5 and June 2 by a strained right hamstring.

A different spot, but it's been kind of off and on all year, Yankees manager Boone said.

New York could bring up Oswald Peraza from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to fill the roster spot.

Donaldson, the 2015 AL MVP with Toronto, will have an MRI. The three-time All-Star is hitting .142 with 15 RBIs and 10 of his 15 hits have been home runs.

New York acquired the third baseman from Minnesota in March 2022 along with shortstop Isiah Kiner-Falefa and backup catcher Ben Rortvedt for catcher Gary Sanchez and third baseman Gio Urshela, Donaldson hit .222 last year with 15 homers and 62 RBIs.

He has a $21 million salary in the final season of a $92 million, four-year contract he signed with Minnesota. The deal includes a $24 million mutual option for 2024 with an $6 million buyout if declined by the team.

___

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
Russian President Vladimir Putin has a stern warning for Ukraine: If the nation uses cluster munitions  controversial weapons recently supplied by the U.S.  Russia "reserves the right to take reciprocal action."

Putin, in an interview with Rossiya TV published on Telegram on Sunday, said his country has a "sufficient stockpile" of its own cluster weapons.

The Biden administration's announcement in early July that it would deliver the munitions to Ukraine has been denounced by NATO allies. The ammunition has been banned by more than 100 nations and condemned by human rights groups for indiscriminately killing civilians. Russia, Ukraine and the U.S. did not sign the treaty banning cluster munitions.

But Biden and U.S. security officials say the munitions are needed to boost Ukraine's counteroffensive in the 17-month-old war. The Pentagon said Thursday that the weapons had arrived in Ukraine.

On Sunday, national security adviser Jake Sullivan defended the U.S. decision. Our moral authority has not derived from being a signatory to the Convention Against Cluster Munitions. We are not, we have not been, at any point since that convention came into effect, neither has Ukraine, Sullivan said on NBC News' "Meet the Press."

Cluster munitions are artillery shells or bombs that disperse smaller weapons known as bomblets. The "dud" bomblets that don't detonate on impact become land mines that can explode later and remain deadly for decades, rights groups say.

Putin's comments were the first since Biden's announcement. Putin also insisted Russia has not resorted to cluster bombs so far. Until now, we have not done this, we have not used it, and we have not had such a need, he said.

Developments:

Russia launched two Iranian-made Shahed exploding drones, two cruise missiles and two anti-aircraft guided missiles in the last 24 hours, Ukrainian military officials said Sunday. Russia also launched 40 airstrikes and 46 attacks from multiple rocket launchers, officials said.

Two boys, 8 and 10, were wounded when an explosive device left by Russian forces detonated in the southern region of Kherson on Sunday, according to the Ukrainian Prosecutor Generals Office.

A man pays his respects at a memorial for Ukrainians killed by Russian troops in Kyiv, Ukraine, on July 15, 2023.

Ukraine condemns Bulgarian president's comments that Kyiv to blame for war

Ukraine on Saturday blasted Bulgarian President Rumen Radev's remarks that Kyiv is to blame for the war with Russia and that supplying arms to Ukraine would only drag out the conflict.

Radev, in a news conference about the recent NATO summit, said he wanted to make it clear that Ukraine insists on fighting this war. But it should also be clear that the bill is paid by the whole of Europe.

The Embassy of Ukraine in Sofia in a statement said Kyiv was making all possible efforts to restore peace and rejected Radevs comments. Blaming the war on Ukraine, which was treacherously attacked by its northern neighbor, is one of the most common supporting theses of Russian propaganda and hybrid warfare in Europe, the embassy said.

British defense chief criticized for Ukraine comments will step down

British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace, who has played a critical role in the U.K.'s response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, said Sunday that he will resign at the next Cabinet reshuffle.

Wallace has served as defense secretary under three prime ministers in four years on the job.

Wallace came under fire last week when he suggested that Ukraine should show gratitude for the Wests military support. He made the remark at the NATO summit in Lithuania after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed frustration about joining the military alliance. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak distanced himself from Wallaces comments, saying Zelenskyy had expressed his gratitude for what weve done on a number of occasions.

Wallace told The Sunday Times he was stepping down because of the strain his job had put on his family.

Contributing: Eric Lagatta, Tom Vanden Brook, USA TODAY, and The Associated Press

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ukraine Russia war live updates: Putin warns on cluster munitions
Democratic presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. attempted to walk back his controversial remarks suggesting that COVID-19 was ethnically targeted to spare Ashkenazi Jews and Chinese people on Saturday.

Kennedy, who is a prominent anti-vaccine activist, said at a press event on Tuesday night that COVID-19 was ethnically targeted to attack certain races disproportionately.

There is an argument that it is ethnically targeted. COVID-19 attacks certain races disproportionately, Kennedy said in a video obtained by the New York Post. COVID-19 is targeted to attack Caucasians and Black people. The people who are most immune are Ashkenazi Jews and Chinese.

Several lawmakers slammed the long shot Democratic candidate over the remarks on Saturday.

Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.) said on Twitter that Kennedys comments represented Vile antisemitic tropes and Sinophobia and Insulted countless families who lost loved ones to the virus.

Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Calif.) similarly noted that millions and millions of people died from COVID-19, including Americans of Jewish and Chinese descent.

If you still support the wacky, narcissistic, racist Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., then that says more about you than it does about him, Lieu added in a tweet.

After facing backlash over the remarks, Kennedy claimed on Twitter that the New York Post story was mistaken and that he never, ever suggested that the COVID-19 virus was targeted to spare Jews.

I do not believe and never implied that the ethnic effect was deliberately engineered, Kennedy added.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Ron DeSantis presidential campaign has fired roughly a dozen staffers  and more dismissals are expected in the coming weeks as he shakes up his big-money political operations after less than two months on the campaign trail.

A source familiar with the firings described those who were let go as mid-level staffers across several departments whose departures were related to cutting costs. The exits come after the departures of David Abrams and Tucker Obenshain, veterans of DeSantis political orbit, which were first reported by Politico.

Sources involved with the DeSantis campaign say there is an internal assessment among some that it hired too many staffers too early and that despite having brought in $20 million during its first six weeks, it was becoming clear that costs needed to be brought down.

Some in DeSantis political orbit lay the early blame at the feet of campaign manager Generra Peck, who also led DeSantis 2022 midterm re-election bid and is in the hot seat right now.

She should be, a DeSantis donor said.

A Republican source familiar with the campaigns thought process said: They never should have brought so many people on. The burn rate was way too high. People warned the campaign manager, but she wanted to hear none of it.

The donor said: DeSantis stock isnt rising. Twenty percent is not what people signed up for.

The person noted that DeSantis has a penchant for switching out staffers, which means he has no core team that has worked together before. DeSantis had three different campaign teams for each of his three runs for Congress, and he notably had a huge campaign shakeup during his first run for governor in 2018.

"Americans are rallying behind Ron DeSantis and his plan to reverse Joe Bidens failures and restore sanity to our nation, and his momentum will only continue as voters see more of him in-person, especially in Iowa. Defeating Joe Biden and the $72 million behind him will require a nimble and candidate driven campaign, and we are building a movement to go the distance," DeSantis campaign spokesman Andrew Romeo said in a statement.

DeSantis campaign listed 92 people as being on the payroll for at least some period during its first fundraising period, according to campaign finance reports filed Saturday with the Federal Election Commission. It is by far the most of any Republican presidential candidate, and it has left his campaign with huge payroll expenses and, the new filings show, fewer resources than originally thought.

DeSantis has $12 million in the bank, but $3 million of that can be used only during the general election. And about $14 million of his second-quarter haul came from donors who gave the maximum legal amount. In other words, about two-thirds of his early donors will not be able to give directly to his campaign for the rest of the race.

Never Back Down, the pro-DeSantis super PAC, which has a significantly larger staff than the official campaign, has said it will spend up to $200 million to boost his White House bid.

A national finance committee meeting Sunday in Tallahassee will bring the campaigns brain trust together as they try to figure out how to chip into former President Donald Trumps massive GOP primary lead.

The event will include a briefing at the campaigns Tallahassee headquarters, followed by a barbecue at the Governors Mansion, according to an invitation reviewed by NBC News.

DeSantis has been unable to make up ground against Trump after nearly two months as an official candidate. The stagnation is starting to frustrate some supporters, who want a shakeup of the campaign, which is led day to day by Peck and Ryan Tyson, a longtime Republican Florida pollster.

Yeah, there are people grumbling about it, no doubt, a DeSantis donor said. There is an overall sense, including with me, that he just has not ignited the way we thought he would.

The person said DeSantis inner circle underestimated just how hard  and expensive  it would be to break the grip on the Republican base held by Trump, who has a commanding lead and is seen as the overwhelming front-runner. Even in Florida, which re-elected DeSantis by nearly 20 percentage points just seven months ago, Trump now has a 20-point lead over him, according to a Florida Atlantic University poll released last week.

The shake-up could include the re-emergence of Phil Cox, the veteran Republican operative who helped run DeSantis' 2022 re-election campaign and was an adviser to Never Back Down before he stepped away from the role in late May.

Cox is in Tallahassee for the national finance meeting, but he does not have a formal role with the campaign, a source said.

DeSantis has signaled that he is aware his campaign did not start the way he wanted, and he has largely blamed media coverage and other outside factors.

To try to re-center, his campaign is doubling down on the early states, especially Iowa, whose first-in-the-nation nominating contest is now seen as a crucial marker. If DeSantis wins, the field will get smaller and he will get closer to the one-on-one matchup with Trump that he wants. But losing the key state would most likely cement Trump's status as the unbeatable front-runner even further.

That assessment was outlined in a confidential internal memo NBC News obtained Friday describing the campaigns strategy to regain its footing. The memo indicated that there would be a heavy focus on early states where, DeSantis advisers think, Trumps supporters can be won over.

Early state voters are only softly committed to the candidates they select on a ballot question this far out -- including many Trump supporters, read the memo. Our focus group participants in the early states even say they do not plan on making up their mind until they meet the candidates or watch them debate.

Never Back Down is bolstering those efforts, focusing on both early states and a handful of Super Tuesday states  most notably California  where it is expected to hire about 80 organizers in the near future.

For some supporters, though, there are now three keys to DeSantis remaining viable: Iowa, Iowa, Iowa.

They need to treat it like its all that matters right now, the DeSantis donor said. If Trump wins it, it is over. It means he needs to be there a lot. He needs to do all the retail politics he can.

The person said that DeSantis wife, Casey, is a great asset in the sort of retail politicking needed to win Iowa but that DeSantis himself needs to improve.

He needs to find that gear, the person said. He needs to find it fast.
Parts of the US are expected to see record temperatures on Sunday, with warnings of "dangerous" heat levels into next week across the south-west.

Nearly a third of Americans - about 113 million people - are currently under heat advisories, from Florida to California and up to Washington state.

The country's National Weather Service (NWS) has urged people not to underestimate the risk to life.

On Saturday, a sweltering 118F (48C) was recorded in Phoenix, Arizona.

It means temperatures have hit 110F (43C) for 16 days running, which is almost a record.

Mobile clinics there have reported treating homeless people suffering from third-degree burns.

Meanwhile, Death Valley in California - one of the hottest places in the world - is forecast to reach 129F (54C), nearing the hottest temperatures ever reliably recorded on Earth.

The NWS has said that local records could also be set on Sunday in the San Joaquin Valley, Mojave Desert, and Great Basin regions.

Its Saturday-evening update said the temperatures would "pose a health risk and are potentially deadly to anyone without effective cooling and/or adequate hydration".

About 700 people are estimated to die each year from heat-related causes in the US, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Energy consumption in Texas has surpassed records, as many in the state scramble to stay cool.

In neighbouring Canada, officials say wildfires stoked by above-average temperatures - which have covered parts of the US in smoke - have now burned nearly 10 million hectares (25 million acres) of land.

The temperatures in America's south-west are the result of an upper level ridge of high pressure, which typically brings with it warmer temperatures, the NWS said earlier, adding that the heatwave was "one of the strongest" systems of its kind to hit the region.

Las Vegas, Nevada, may also match its all-time high of 117F (47C) in the next few days.

Weather officials there warned locals who thought they could handle the temperatures that this was "not your typical desert heat".

"'It's the desert, of course it's hot'- This is a DANGEROUS mind set!", the NWS in Las Vegas tweeted.

"This heatwave is NOT typical desert heat due to its long duration, extreme daytime temperatures, & warm nights. Everyone needs to take this heat seriously, including those who live in the desert."

A woman suffering from heat exhaustion is taken into a medical centre in Texas

The NWS also warned that "strong to severe thunderstorms, heavy rain and flooding will be possible in several locations," including America's north-eastern New England region.

Parts of the south-western US have already grappled with intensely hot temperatures over the past week. In El Paso, Texas, temperatures have been in the triple-digits Fahrenheit for 27 consecutive days.

Air conditioner use in the state has topped its previous record for power consumption as people try to stay cool, while parks, museums and zoos have either closed or shortened their hours.

Hospitals were also seeing heat-related admissions.

"We're getting a lot of heat-related illness now, a lot of dehydration, heat exhaustion," said Dr Ashkan Morim, who works in the emergency room at Dignity Health Siena Hospital, outside of Las Vegas.

Overnight temperatures were expected to remain "abnormally warm" in some areas, offering little night-time relief from the heat.

The US heatwave mirrors similar searing conditions in Europe, which forced Greece to close one of its major tourist attractions, the Acropolis, on Friday and Saturday.

The first week of July saw a global average temperature of 63F (17.23C), according to the UN - the highest ever recorded.

Scientists say the temperatures are being driven by climate change and the naturally occurring weather pattern known as El Nino, which happens every three to seven years and causes temperatures to rise.

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.

Speaking to the BBC, Paolo Ceppi, a lecturer in climate science at Imperial College London, said higher global temperatures were undoubtedly contributing to the increased incidence of extreme weather.

"Of course it's not unusual to have a heatwave in the summer, per se, but what's becoming really unusual is the collection of heatwaves," he said.

"We have this event in southern Europe, but at the same time, we're having another major heatwave in the southern US. Recently we had heatwaves in south Asia, India, China and so on. And unfortunately, this is not surprising.

"We have the baseline temperatures shifting upwards, and so you are shifting the odds towards more severe extreme events, and fewer cold extreme events."

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At least five people died Saturday when they were swept away by torrential floodwaters in Bucks County in suburban Philadelphia, where emergency crews continued searching for two others who remained missing on Sunday, according to authorities.

The bodies of two women and one man were found Saturday night in the area of Washington Crossing, part of Upper Makefield Township in Bucks County, about 30 minutes north of Center City Philadelphia.

On Sunday afternoon, the Upper Makefield Township Police Department confirmed that a fourth body was found by search teams, but the identity of the person was being withheld until the victim's identity was confirmed and relatives were notified. Later on Sunday, the department confirmed the body of the other adult female was recovered as well. Police said that they continue to search for a 9-month-old boy and his two-year-old sister.

Saturday night's deadly flash flooding brought torrential rains to parts of Bucks County outside Philadelphia. (Upper Makefield Police Department)

"We are treating this as a rescue, but we are fairly certain we are in a recovery mode at this time," Upper Makefield Fire Chief Tim Brewer said during a Sunday morning press conference prior to the recovery of the fourth body.

"We truly appreciate the outpouring of support and concern for the families of this tragedy, our emergency personnel, and our community as a whole. We cannot fathom the grief these families are experiencing and we will do everything we can to assist them during this extremely difficult time," the Upper Makefield Township Police Department said in a Facebook post.

Bucks County Coroner Meredith Buck said two of the victims were found together in one location while the third person was found in a separate area -- all outside of their vehicles. Their identities have not been released.

More video of the massive & fatal flooding scenes in upper Makefield #BucksCounty pic.twitter.com/siPFWJbXFh  Jo Ciavaglia (@JoCiavaglia) July 16, 2023

"It's very possible it could be more" fatalities, the coroner told the Bucks County Courier Times.

Officials said about 6 to 7 inches of rain fell in a two-hour period across Bucks County Saturday evening.

"Our area was hit with a torrential rainstorm" that caused flash flooding in several areas throughout the township, Upper Makefield Township police said Sunday morning, "the worse of which occurred along Route 532 in the area of Stonebridge Crossing Road between Aqueduct Road and Wrightstown Road. The flash flooding caught numerous motorists by surprise and many were trapped."

Fire officials said flooded roads trapped nearly a dozen vehicles along Washington Crossing Road, with eight people rescued from cars and two from Houghs Creek. Those trapped included the three victims who were swept away in the rushing floodwaters, the Inquirer reported.

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The police department offered their condolences for the deceased, saying "Our thoughts and prayers are with their families and friends as they go through unimaginable grief."

The Lower Makefield Township Police Department said some major roadways in the area were impassable due to the storms. "Police are assessing damage and conditions of other roadways. Do not drive through standing water and do not go around police barricades."

A flash flood warning, as well as a severe thunderstorm warning, had been issued for parts of the lower Bucks County area by the National Weather Service on Saturday evening.

Washington Crossing is home to Washington Crossing Historic Park, a site that preserves the location of where George Washington crossed the Delaware River in December 1776.

The flooding in southeastern Pennsylvania on Saturday comes days after torrential downpours and slow-moving thunderstorms produced historic and deadly flooding in other parts of the Northeast, including New York state and Vermont. However, the flooding was caused by a more localized event on Saturday.

"This flooding occurred due to a process known as 'training', with multiple storms moving through a narrow region repeatedly. While most of southeastern Pennsylvania received under an inch of rain on Saturday, a small portion of Bucks County received 3 to 5 inches," AccuWeather Meteorologist Andrew Johnson-Levine explained, noting that most of the rain fell over the span of an hour or two.

AccuWeather meteorologists say an atmospheric river could produce more life-threatening rainfall in parts of the Northeast into early this week.

Want next-level safety, ad-free? Unlock advanced, hyperlocal severe weather alerts when you subscribe to Premium+ on the AccuWeather app. AccuWeather Alerts are prompted by our expert meteorologists who monitor and analyze dangerous weather risks 24/7 to keep you and your family safer.
Arctech, a leading solar tracking, racking and BIPV provider, is poised to provide 11.457MW SkyLine II solar tracking solution to Nextcom for a project in Israel. This marks the company's first solar tracking project in the country and another milestone in the Middle East market.

Arctech has a series of trackable project portfolios in the Middle East including the IBRI II 607MW project in Oman and the 2.1GW Al Dhafra PV2 project in Abu Dhabi among others. The company has established branches in Saudi Arabia and UAE to deepen localisation and offer services to regional clients.

Arctech has partnered with global original OEMs to enhance its global supply chain diversification. In this project, Arctech utilised the closest supply chain resources to supply products to meet the customer's delivery time.

Israeli market

The smooth progress of the project has familiarised Arctech with the Israeli market and equipped it with the ability to design products that comply with local policies. At the exhibition Intersolar Europe 2023 in June, Arctech has met a large number of Israeli clients, including Enlight and C-nergia.

Israel is rapidly promoting renewable energy, with the government setting a renewable energy target of 30% by 2030 - roughly equivalent to the construction of approximately 12GW of solar plants, which is the main renewable energy source developed by the country.

The photovoltaic resources in the Middle East are excellent, and the solar radiation energy is very high in almost all regions. The total annual solar radiation in the UAE is 7920MJ/sq m, and the technical exploitation amount is about 2708TWh. The total annual solar radiation in Israel is 8640MJ/ sq m, and the technical exploitation amount is about 318TWh. The total annual solar radiation in Jordan is about 9720MJ/sq m, and the technical exploitation amount is about 6434TWh.-- TradeArabia News Service
Russian rockets are launched against Ukraine from Russia's Belgorod region, seen from Kharkiv, Ukraine, Sunday. AP-Yonhap



Fighting in eastern Ukraine has "somewhat intensified" as Ukrainian and Russian forces clash in at least three areas on the eastern front, a senior Ukrainian defense official said on Sunday.



Kyiv launched a long-awaited counteroffensive to retake Russian-occupied territory last month and has made incremental gains in parts of the east and south.



Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Maliar said on Telegram that Russian forces have been attacking in the direction of Kupyansk in the Kharkiv region for two successive days.



"We are on the defensive," Maliar wrote. "There are fierce battles, the positions of both sides change dynamically several times a day."



Maliar also said the two armies were pummelling one another around the ruined city of Bakhmut but that Ukrainian forces were "gradually moving forward" along its southern flank.



She added that Kyiv's troops were also fending off Russian attacks near Avdiivka and Maryinka.



Russian President Vladimir Putin said in an interview with state television, part of which was released on Sunday, that Ukraine's counteroffensive was "not succeeding" and that attempts to break through Russian defenses had failed. (Reuters)


The unique and close relationship between India and France dates from soon after Indias independence in 1947.

The visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to France last week, on July 13-14, where he was invited to be the chief guest at the Bastille Day celebrations, marked 25 years since Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and French President Jacques Chirac elevated the relationship in 1998 to the strategic level. That was after France literally alone stood with India after the 1998 nuclear tests.

Unlike the annual Republic Day parade in New Delhi, where a different foreign dignitary is invited annually, the French do so only occasionally.

The unique and close relationship between India and France dates from soon after Indias independence in 1947. The French atomic energy commission (CEA) had begun working with Indias Atomic Energy Commission soon thereafter, even when the United States and Britain were keeping tight control over nuclear technology sharing. Unlike Portugal, which had made a big fuss over vacating Goa, the French had quietly handed over their Indian colonial possessions, including Puducherry, on November 1, 1954.

The debate between France and the United States on sovereignty and alliances originates from the 1950s over the unwillingness of France to place its military assets under a joint command led by the US. The Fifth Republic, created by President Charles de Gaulle in 1958, rested on ensuring the strategic independence of France. Coincidentally, post-Independence India was likewise moving towards a similar strategic independence of newly decolonised nations. From that yearning was born the non-aligned movement.

Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had a special fondness for France, both as a source to diversify Indian defence procurements but also due to her penchant for the French language, which she learnt at school in Switzerland.

The visions of Presidents John F. Kennedy and Charles de Gaulle had differed precisely on the latter seeking more strategic space, especially as regards control over strategic nuclear assets. France shared American values but differed on the amount of dependence Europe must have on the US for its defence against the then Soviet Union. It is the same hymn that President Emmanuel Macron has been singing off and on.

Thus, France has always been the third nation that India has turned to for advanced technologies when US led the attempt to restrict transfer of dual-use technologies, especially after Indias 1974 peaceful nuclear tests.

Therefore, it was not surprising that after 1971, when the bulk of Indian defence requirements were met by the Soviet Union, India always kept the French door open. When the US decided to transfer F-16 planes to Pakistan after it joined the US-Saudi plan in opposing the 1979 Soviet military incursion into Afghanistan, India turned to France. Mirage-2000 planes were inducted in 1985 to augment Indias air power, then almost wholly dependent on Soviet MIGs.

France also extended the honour of being the chief guest at the Bastille Day parade to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in 2009. The French are adept at marrying commercial interests to strategic imperatives. The current prime ministerial foray has to be seen in this larger context as foreign policy is a process and not a series of managed events. President Macron has been facing domestic opposition with violent street protests over the killing of a non-white youth by the French police. There has also been broad resistance to Mr Macrons pension reform proposal. Thus, Mr Macron is today a diminished political leader.

Anti-Macron chants were heard during the Bastille Day celebrations. Similarly, the European Parliament debated the worrisome state of Indian democracy and the situation in Manipur. It passed a negative resolution on the eve of Mr Modis arrival in Paris. A French magistrate also complicated matters by seeking information from India about alleged bribery in the purchase of 36 Rafale fighters.

The joint statement issued at the end of the visit covers a wide spectrum of issues. In its annexure are steps that both nations envision over the next 25 years, when India completes a century of independence, titled Horizon 2047 Roadmap. The emphasis is on co-production and co-development of advanced defence technologies. There is a commitment on Safran helicopter engine technology being shared for the Indian Multi-Role Helicopter project. There was speculation earlier about jet engine technology being shared. Considering that there has just been a US commitment to do the same, perhaps discretion required that the French and US agreements are kept separate.

There are the usual commitments about France supporting the UN Security Council permanent membership of the G-4, a group of Brazil, Germany, India and Japan. The hat is tipped to multilateralism, Indo-Pacific security, counterterrorism, etc. There is an expectation that France will have 20,000 Indian students by 2027. Although France was the first major power to sign a nuclear cooperation agreement with India after the Nuclear Suppliers Group waiver, no concrete projects are yet visible. One of the problems has been the uncertified nature of Frances next generation nuclear reactor technology. The other one about liability, in case of an accident, is less of a hurdle for the French, in comparison to the Americans, as the French government would be the foreign partner, not the private sector. The Scorpene submarine project has worked well so far and is likely to be extended.

So, what really is the convergence of Indo-French interests? On China, President Macron prefers engagement over de-linking as France sees a huge market at risk. India is in the US camp called the Quad, which includes Australia and Japan. On the question of Russia and Ukraine, Mr Macron has tried to mediate without success, though his position will be closer to Indias than that of Nato. France has been irked over the US killing its submarine deal with Australia by offering nuclear submarines and perhaps technology.

For the US, Australia is a frontline state in its China-containment strategy. Mr Macron stirred up a debate by pitching for European strategic autonomy in view of the perceived US unreliability. This, as explained above, is an old De Gaulle-style argument. Mr Macrons domestic critics describe his foreign policy posturing as an escape from his political problems at home. His campaign pledge in 2017 was titled Revolution. His reform stands stymied at home as he explores possibilities of leadership in a European Union rid of the UK. He is exploiting German diffidence, but in the process often finds himself outflanked by European consensus.

The Narendra Modi visit, when seen in this broader context, is not really a diplomatic coup. It is a logical next step by two nations practising strategic autonomy in a world facing great power transition and the resulting contestation.
N. Ram, Dada and I were part of a small team of journalists invited to accompany the delegation.

Known as Dada, Chakravarty was an exceptional reporter whose memory & knowledge was well-known among reporters at the Press Club of India. (Photo: Instagram)

It was just as well that a memorial meeting for Subhash Chakravarty was organised by the Press Club of India, where so many of us spent evenings with him in the 1970s and 1980s before senior newshounds, for some reason, relocated to other, more segregated watering holes.

Subhash, with his stolid ways, never had a fan following, but editors like N.J. Nanporia and Girilal Jain couldnt practice their punditry without extensive, daily debriefing by Subhash after he returned from the parlours of the powerful with whom he was on first-name terms.

The man who could walk unannounced into the offices of the most powerful in the land was also extremely lonely in his private life. His extraordinary access to politicians like Pranab Mukherjee could be explained in parochial terms too he couldnt conceal his Bengali chauvinism.

In this, he wasnt dissimilar to late Abu Abraham. A superb cartoonist, Abu was also a Malayali chauvinist, a tendency which erupted every time he touched on North Indian culture.

Dada and Abu have crept into memory simultaneously because they link up in different ways with a China story gestating in my mind.

Among the many remarkable cartoons Abu Abraham sketched, the one he prided most was of Mao Zedong walking upto an Indian diplomat, Brajesh Mishra, smiling mysteriously, eye contact and all. The enigmatic smile, at a time when relations between two nations were in chill, was the subject of continuous discussion and punditry. Abus caption of the cartoon were words of inspiration: Mao-Lisa.

The Mao-Lisa smile may have been one of the ingredients behind K.R. Narayanan being named ambassador to Beijing in 1976. The date of Narayanans appointment overlapped with the Emergency.

When Indira Gandhi was routed in the 1977 and Morarji Desai became PM, the external affairs ministry fell to the lot of Atal Behari Vajpayee. The office he occupied near South Blocks main staircase was exactly the one Pandit Nehru occupied as Prime Minister. I am about to occupy the chair on which Pandit Nehru sat. Vajpayee was full of emotion.

Among the earliest visits Vajpayee embarked on as foreign minister, with cerebral foreign secretary Jagat Mehta, was to China in February 1979.

N. Ram, Dada and I were part of a small team of journalists invited to accompany the delegation. Dada was never short on tips on chopsticks at the Great Hall of the People, the essential protocol of climbing the Great Wall with an empty bladder. In Februarys biting cold there would otherwise be that embarrassing search for a toilet.

One big advantage of having Dada by our side was quite priceless. Since he called his editor Girilal Jain twice a day, we were regularly updated on how our stories were faring. The editors approval of the drift of ones stories was clear from the display given to what one was writing. It was all very satisfactory until one reached Hangzhou, a great cultural centre.

After a memorable banquet by the local party boss, we retired to our rooms in an exquisite hotel. This was usually the time for Dada to walk to the press room to talk to his editor. Such was Dadas demeanour that it appeared to those listening that Dada was actually scolding his editor. That was his style.

This particular conversation with Girilal Jain ended dramatically. Dada let the handset dangling by the spiral cord, rather like the climax of Dial M for Murder. He ran toward Jagat Mehtas room and began banging on the door. Jagat, open the door he thundered ominously, China has invaded Vietnam.

It was feared from Day 1 of Vajpayees visit that Deng Xiaoping might actually do what he verbally threatened: teach Vietnam a lesson. Some action was expected after Vietnam occupied Kampuchea and removed the Khmer Rouge, supported by China.

Considering that Indias foreign minister was in Beijing on something of an epoch-making visit, military action against Vietnam without as much as taking the visitor into confidence was construed an insult. What made it worse was that the foreign minister of Yugoslavia, who was in Beijing at the same time, was kept in the loop.

What took place in Vajpayees suite that night was a sombre variant of a pyjama party. Vajpayees mind was made up. He cut short the visit and returned home via Hong Kong.

This was Chinese behaviour at a time when Dengs four modernisations had barely been announced as state policy. China, like India then, was a poor, developing country.

Did China deliberately insult Vajpayee? I would say no. The element of secrecy with India was dictated by Indias close relations with the Soviet Union. Vietnam at this stage was largely in the Soviet camp.

What Vajpayees successor, Narendra Modi, is coping with is China risen to the height of Gulliver, challenging not India, but the United States, which is almost Indias patron. Circumstances of a changing global order have placed India on a sweet spot, wooed by both sides. In this situation, Indias commitment to strategic autonomy is credible.

This credibility has to be sustained by managing the autonomy of action without ever looking like the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

Village Nutts walk on ropes tightly held by two poles. A fall, if ever, is after all only before a small village audience. A high-wire act before a global audience, like the one India is embarked on, demands exceptional agility. Just because we are satisfied with the optics of the US visit, we cannot let our guard down. Our slipping into a virtual mode for SCO will have the world scrutinise the shift. Strategic autonomy as a policy will have to be sustainable. As a trick, it will be found out.
After the Angelus, the pontiff renewed the call to pray for peace in Ukraine, citing Pope Pius XII who visited Romes bombed out San Lorenzo district on 19 July 1943 to console afflicted families. Speaking about the parable of the Sower, he urged everyone not to tire of generously sowing the Word of God.

Vatican City (AsiaNews)  After the Angelus, Pope Francis turned to the faithful gathered in St Peter's Square and talked again about war. Citing the 80th anniversary of the bombing of Rome, especially hard on the San Lorenzo district, on 19 July 1943, when Pope Pius XII, now venerable, mingled with distraught residents, he called on the Lord to deliver the human family from the scourge of war.

Unfortunately, the pontiff said, today too these tragedies are repeated. How is this possible? Have we forgotten everything? May the Lord have mercy on us [. . .] In particular, let us pray for the dear Ukrainian people, who are suffering so much.

In his reflection before the Marian prayer, commenting on the parable of the Sower (Mt 13:1-23) from todays liturgy, Francis stressed the importance for Christiana of never tiring of sowing the Word of God with generosity.

He cited the example of parents who "sow goodness and faith in their children, for they are called to do so without being discouraged even if at times they seem not to understand or appreciate their teachings, or if the worlds mentality works against it.

Speaking about young people who dedicate time to those in need, he explained that although this may seem wasted; instead, it is holy time, while the apparent satisfactions of consumerism and hedonism leave one empty-handed.

Turning his attention to priests, men and women religious and lay people involved in the proclamation of the Gospel, he urged them not to forget that even where it seems that nothing is happening, in reality the Holy Spirit is at work, and the kingdom of God is already growing, through and beyond our efforts.

In a challenge to everyone, Francis asked: Do I sow goodness? Do I only care about reaping for myself, or do I also sow for others? Do I sow some seeds of the Gospel in everyday life: study, work, free time? Do I get discouraged or, like Jesus, do I continue to sow, even if I do not see immediate results?

In concluding, the pontiff greeted the groups of pilgrims in St Peters Square, with special thought for the parishes currently organising summer activities for children and young people; there is a very popular one in the Vatican too, he said.

For this concrete way to bear witness to the Gospel, he thanked priests, nuns, counsellors and families.
by Gianni Criveller *

For Father Criveller, PIME missionary and China expert, by appointing Shen Bin as bishop of Shanghai, the pope shows that he cares for the people of God and we are with him. But Card Parolins interview clearly indicates that the Holy See is disappointed by the situation. It is hard to imagine that Chinese authorities, who are bent on nationalising religions, would stop acting unilaterally.

Pope Francis appointed Joseph Shen Bin as bishop of Shanghai (China), the Vatican Press Office announced yesterday, transferring him from the Diocese of Haimen (Jiangsu). At the same time, Secretary of State Pietro Parolin gave an unusual interview to unnamed Vatican media and interviewer, with numbered questions. For all intents and purpose, the interview is a proper statement, without being formal and official.

First, I would like to say that given the act of governance by the Holy Father, we Catholics hope that his intentions, for which we pray every day, will be realised. And the intentions are for the good of the people of God in China and Shanghai.

The Secretary of State, for his part, clarified, as far as possible, the circumstances which led to the decision. In fact, some observers expected that it would come to this sooner or later, that the pope would endorse, however reluctantly, the decision made by the Chinese authorities last April.

By transferring Bishop Shen without consultation, Chinese authorities have saddened and wounded the Holy See. For a quite a few Catholics, in Hong Kong and elsewhere, the papal decision is yet another example of the Holy See yielding to the abuses of Chinas religious policy, implemented with little regard for the letter and spirit of the 2018 agreement, which was renewed twice.

The Holy Sees disappointment comes clearly through in Card Parolins interview. He could not make more explicit how serious the situation is since, by accepting Shen Bin's transfer to Shanghai, the pope is signalling that he does not want to be ensnared by its difficulties and unfairness, and yet, despite everything. he is still prepared to give the dialogue with China a chance.

On Sunday 9 July, the elevation of Bishop Stephen Chow of Hong Kong to the cardinalship which follows his appointment as a member of the synod, the only Chinese prelate to be included  shows that Cardinal-Designate Chow is an important figure of mediation. He has never spoken out on the Shanghai affair, and has said that he does not consider the agreement between China and the Holy See to be a failure.

Card Parolin goes so far as to assert that it would be appropriate now to take a further step, and set up a permanent liaison office to improve communication between the two parties. Despite everything, the Holy See continues to believe in dialogue, but is its interlocutor on the same wavelength? Could such an office cope with what seems to be, on Chinas part, a real strategic choice: i.e. pursue unilaterally an increasingly nationalistic religious policy aimed at sinicisation?

We believe that it is not so much the lack of links, but of sincere willingness on the part of Chinese authorities to engage in dialogue that makes everything so difficult. It is hard to imagine that Shanghai will the final example of unilateral action, however much we would like it to be.

In any case, saving the agreement, as the only formal link, however imperfect, between the Holy See and China, is not the only concern. The Vatican is worried about the terrible ecclesial situation in which the diocese of Shanghai finds itself.

Card Parolins interview makes only one simple reference to Joseph Shen, the young bishop of Shanghai who also chairs the College of Chinese Catholic Bishops (this according to the statement by the Vatican Press Office).

The secretary of state describes the bishop as an 'esteemed pastor', even though he apparently did not ask for authorisation or inform the Holy See at the time of his transfer. Possibly he was able, somehow, to communicate with the Holy See and explain himself.

Shanghai has been without a pastor for 10 years. The last bishop, Aloysius Jin Luxian, died on 27 April 2013. Ten years is far too long, with the authorities preventing the two auxiliary bishops from exercising their ministry.

Bishop Thaddeus Ma Daqin has been under de facto house arrest, confined to Sheshan seminary, with his episcopal duties virtually abolished (even if canonically impossible, of course).

It strikes me as a positive development that Card Parolin mentions both him and Joseph Xing Wenzhi, who have been de facto removed from office, the latter ostensibly retired to private life. As repeatedly noted, Xings ecclesial and personal situation deserve to be clarified, for he has the right to an honourable and unshackled existence.

Hopefully, Bishop Shen Bin will be able to renew Church life in Shanghai now that he has papal approval and, as it is all too clear, the support of political authorities. Perhaps he might start with those fellow bishops who have been ostracised by those in power. It will also be important to see the reaction among Catholics in Shanghai, including the faithful who are not aligned with the government.

Founded in 1607 by Paul Xu Guangqi, who was the best friend, partner and disciple of Matteo Ricci, one of the pillars of Chinese Catholicism, Shanghais Catholic community now begins a new, difficult and uncertain chapter in its journey. We shall follow it with friendship and the spirit of those who believe in the Communion of Saints.

* PIME missionary and China expert

ECCLESIA IN ASIA IS THE ASIANEWS NEWSLETTER DEDICATED TO CHRISTIAN COMMUNITIES IN ASIA. WOULD YOU LIKE TO RECEIVE IT EVERY SUNDAY VIA E-MAIL? SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER HERE.
Elena has been writing for a living since 2006 and, as a journalist, she has put her double major in English and Spanish to good use. She covers automotive and mobility topics like cars and bicycles, and she always knows the shows worth watching on Netflix and friends.

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Every airplane, no matter how useful or useless, always has a purpose. Some fly hoards of sweaty, irritated passengers from tourist trap to tourist trap while supplying a steady supply of little bottles of alcohol for their troubles. Others drop massive stockpiles of military ordinance across vast swaths of enemy territory, praying to high holy heaven they don't hit civilians. But some planes are built for a more eclectic and special calling, one that's neither commercial nor military. This is the Abrams P-1 Explorer, perhaps the first aircraft ever built exclusively for aerial photography.

Photo: National Air and Space Museum

Photo: National Air and Space Museum

The story behind the Abrams Explorer is one of stunning innovation, at a time when every aerospace engineer worth their salt was working for the military. But in the buildup to the biggest war the world has ever seen, a man called Talbert Abrams had his sights set on something else entirely. Born on August 17th, 1895, in Tekonsha, Michigan. Abrams was a man born in the era of aviation's first real pioneers. A time when people like the Wright Brothers and Glenn Curtiss did everything in their power to one-up each other.So the story explains Abram's zest for powered flight dates back to his father enthusiastically telling the tale of the Wright Brother's first successful flight after reading about it through the local newspaper at just eight years old. In his young adulthood, Abrams secured a job with the Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company factory in Buffalo, New York as a humble machinist's assistant. It was at one of Glenn Curtiss' aviation schools in San Diego, California, where Abrams first earned his Federation Aeronautique Internationale (FAI) pilot's license. Ironically, this license was signed off on by one of Curtiss' arch-rivals, the FAI's committee chairman Orville Wright.It was when Talbot Abrams, who was most often called by his nickname "Ted," joined the U.S. Marine Aviation Section that he learned he not only loved building airplanes but flying in them as well. Though he entered service too late to join World War I, Abrams would soon cut his teeth in military aviation, flying missions above the Caribbean. While there, Abrams was tasked with taking aerial photographs over Haiti, then besieged by a rebellion against the U.S. forces then occupying the island, from the back seat of a biplane. It was these missions that gave Ted Abrams his lifelong passion. But during these missions, Abrams found it exceedingly difficult to conduct his photography with the precision and clarity which he strived for in his work. Shakey, leaky World War I biplanes were a handful to fly aboard, even for the pilots. With this in mind, it makes sense why Abrams had all the hell he could handle trying to make his aerial photographs presentable.While other aspiring engineers strived to make aircraft faster, sleeker, and better at shooting down other airplanes, Ted Abrams yearned to build airplanes that were better at taking photographs. This process wouldn't happen overnight, far from it, in fact. After getting out of the U.S. Military, Abrams spent time offering chartered passenger flights aboard a surplus Curtiss JN-4 Jenny biplane to fund his endeavors in aerial photography. In 1923, Abrams heavily modified a Standard J-1 military training biplane with some of the highest-quality camera equipment available in the early 1920s. Still not all that impressive by modern standards. But by the standards of the era, Abrams' J-1 was like the U-2 spy plane of the day.The plane would become the first product of the eponymously founded Abrams Aerial Survey Corporation. Abrams even founded a second venture, the Abrams Instrument Corporation, and dedicated it to developing aerial-photography equipment to his exact specifications. But it wouldn't be until 1937 that Abrams hired two prominent Michigan engineers, Andrew Edward Kunzl and Kenneth Ronan, to design his own bespoke airframe designed solely for aerial photography; it was named the P-1 Explorer. What Abrams desired most of all from his first airplane was an interior free of the obstacles and restrictions that made his job with the Marine Aviators such a chore.Only when the aircraft's observation deck was clear of conditions that adversely affect a camera's exposure, aperture, or general clarity did Abrams deem the design appropriate for production. The P-1 Explorer's rear-mounted, pusher-style engine and prominent plexiglass nose portion took on this arrangement to compensate for these concerns. Ironically, Abrams employed the German Rohm and Haas group to manufacture the Explorer's plexiglass nose section, as a trade embargo between Nazi Germany and the U.S. had yet to be placed by 1937. The rest of the P-1's mono-wing airframe was manufactured out of lightweight aluminum alloy with a clever tricycle-style landing gear arrangement.With dimensions of 26 feet, six inches (8.08 m) long and a 36-foot, eight-inch (11.18 m) wingspan, the P-1 was roughly on par in size with contemporary single-engine fighters like the Curtiss P-36 Hawk or the Seversky P-35. But with just a 330-horsepower Wright Whirlwind nine-cylinder radial engine to work with, it's clear that the slow, meticulous approach was much more up the P-1's alley. Indeed, a 200 mph top speed might sound pathetic. But when you're aiming for the cleanest exposure possible on an air-to-ground photograph, you simply don't need to fly any faster.Typically, the P-1 Explorer spent most of its time in the air not even touching its top speed. Opting instead to loiter over a mapping zone where its thick delta wing let the two-person crew hover over the zone, which needed mapping. From there, any number of different types of camera or mapping equipment could be mounted inside the P-1 Explorer's hermetically-sealed payload bay. But more often than not, an Abrams Instrument Corporation C-3 camera could capture around 650 nine-by-nine-inch photographs from a single reel of film.Sometime after the P-1 Explorer's first flight in November 1937, the aircraft was sent back to its designers, where its engine underwent further tuning to up its power from 330 hp to 450 in hopes of attracting a buyer. But sadly, the Second World War necessitated that the slow, unarmed P-1 Explorer be put into storage to wait out the conflict. All the while, modified variants of legit military planes like Spitfires, P-51 Mustangs, and P-38 Lightnings became the first generation of legitimately practical military aerial-reconnaissance planes. By the time the war ended in 1945, the P-1 Explorer was all but obsolete.Now more useful as a museum piece than a functioning photography plane, the P-1 Explorer was donated to the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in 1948. There, the plane sat in storage for 25-plus years. Until a team of engineers and amateur aviation enthusiasts from places like General Motors, the Michigan Aerospace Educational Association, and even ex-employees of Abrams Aerial Survey itself petitioned the Smithsonian to ship the P-1 Explorer to Michigan for restoration. First assembled in 1968, it'd take until January 1975 for the Smithsonian to approve the proposal.From there, the P-1 was transported to Lansing, Michigan, via a Michigan Air National Guard C-130 transport plane to the city's Capital Region International Airport. At this point, a slow and meticulous disassembly was undertaken before the wings were disassembled and transported to the nearby Montcalm Community College for a complete cosmetic restoration. Meanwhile, the engine and fuselage were transported to a facility in the aviation program at the nearby Lansing Community College. Unfortunately, the restoration was never completed.By 1981, all of the P-1's components were taken back to the Paul E. Garber Preservation, Restoration, and Storage Facility in Suitland, Maryland, where it's remained unrestored for the last 42 years. If you ask any of us, that's a real tragedy. Not just because of how important the P-1 was to the history of aviation but even photography in general. If there were ever a candidate worthy of being of some TLC from the Smithsonian's Restoration Hangar at the Stephen Udvar-Hazy Center, it's got to be the brainchild of Ted Abrams.
Tough times ahead for Volkswagen. "The roof is on fire," the company's CEO warned in an address during an online meeting that took place this week.

Photo: Volkswagen

EV

In the one-hour online meeting, Thomas Schafer pointed out that the carmaker is "letting the costs run too high in many areas." More than 2,000 senior mangers participated in the discussion."All is as stake!" the 53-year old told those attending the meeting, also saying that the next weeks and months will be "very tough" for Volkswagen. The company is going through trials and tribulations, so he called on the managers to try to make "small wins," sources reveal. By these "small wins," he is actually referring to billions in savings.In order to do just that, the upcoming financial strategy will include "performance programs" that target savings of as much as 10 billion euros ($11,2 billion) over the next three years. The call for freezing spending was with immediate effect. Thomas Schafer blames it on "structures and processes" being "too complex, slow, and inflexible."The companys Chief Financial Officer Patrik Andreas Mayer admitted that the "vehicle business is unwell" and warned about this being the "last call." The upper management says they need "team spirit now more than ever" in order to keep the business afloat, as per British publication Autocar.This is happening also because Volkswagen, just like almost any carmaker out there, heavily invested in electrifying the lineup. It turns out, though, that the market is not ready to make a sudden switch from combustion engines to fully electric cars , so the move is not exactly returning much.Thomas Schafer was appointed Volkswagens CEO back in July 2022. A year at the helm of the company and he is panicking. And thats for all the right reasons.The ID lineup has been going through its own tough times. First it was the software issue, then it was the firing of Herbert Diess, who had his ownmarketing strategy. That it was (and still is!) the massive debts that Volkswagen has to deal with.According to a report from Global Finance Magazine, the second top-selling manufacturer in the world is also the second most indebted. In the attempt of becoming the worlds EV market leader by 2025, had a $166 billion debt back in February. But the company is willing to make loans again in an attempt to come out of the predicament.Volkswagen is Europes largest automaker, but has been doing well in the US and China for decades. The latter, which is the biggest market for Volkswagen, has become somewhat unwelcoming for the Germans. To keep up with Tesla and the local manufacturers, Volkswagen has been forced to slash prices.
Bigger is better in the U.S. Military. Be it artillery pieces, missiles, machine guns, and, yes, airplanes. But what happens when an aircraft is so huge, so ungodly massive, and certifiably chunky that even U.S. Army Air Forces struggled to figure out what to do with it? Believe it or not, such a situation really did unfold. It didn't have anything to do with the Boeing B-29 Superfortress either, but rather an entirely different airframe that's all but forgotten nowadays. This is the story of the Douglas XB-19, an experimental mega-bomber you've probably never heard of.

Photo: National Museum of the United States Air Force

Photo: National Museum of the United States Air Force

Even in the late 1930s, in the days immediately before the United States formally entered the Second World War, the Army Air Corps, the precursor to the modern-day USAF , could see the writing on the wall. Sooner rather than later, the United States was going to be at war, and they'd be damned if foreign aggressors perceived the American armed forces as being incapable of innovation on the scale of Germany or Japan. What the Army Air Corps required was an aerial weapon, the likes of which were nearly unheard of in Axis-aligned air forces.One such weapon was large strategic bombers. Enormous warpanes capable of taking off from Allied airspace in Europe or Asia, dropping massive amounts of high-explosive ordinance, potentially fighting their way out of danger if need be, and carrying enough fuel to fly back home again. This is in stark contrast to Axis bombers of the war, often consisting of swarms of smaller, twin-engine bombers instead of quad-engine leviathans. In the span of a single decade, American heavy bombers had evolved from rickety biplanes with open cockpits to sleek, imposing beasts of machines sprawling with defensive machine guns and internal weapons bays big enough to carry several tons of bombs, making radical designs once unthinkable suddenly within the realm of possibility. Indeed, it was the Army Air Corps' wish to learn more about the flight characteristics of "giant bombers" beginning in the mid-1930s that spurred the C.One American aerospace contractor who answered the call to fulfill the Army Air Corps' request for a giant bomber was the Douglas Aircraft Company of Southern California in 1935. By this time, Douglas was gearing up to introduce the iconic DC-3 twin-engine airliner and its military cousin, the C-47 Skytrain , into service. Becoming one of the most successful single aircraft lineages in the history of flight in the process. This newly-tapped revenue stream would come in handy for designing more ambitious and specialized aircraft, such as what the USAAC desired with a giant strategic bomber.Other key innovations like a tricycle-style landing gear, onboard AC electrical power, and power-actuated control surfaces also ran across Douglas' desk during this period. These were traits and qualities that directly led to the blueprints for what was first christened the XBLR-2 and later the Douglas XB-19. With dimensions of just over 132 feet (40.3 m) long and a staggering 212-foot (64.6-m) wingspan, the prototype XB-19 was almost double the width of operational American strategic bombers like the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress or the Consolidated B-24 Liberator. A maximum takeoff weight of over 160,000 lbs (72,574.7 kg) on the part of the XB-19 was nothing to sneeze at either. That's over three times the maximum takeoff weight of a B-17.At the heart of the Douglas XB-19 was an engine just as new on the scene as the bomber itself was, four Wright R-3350 Duplex Cyclone 18-cylinder radials. Though most famous for its use on the Boeing B-29 Superfortress , the R-3350 originally cut its teeth on the XB-19, at least at first. With 2,000 horsepower per engine to work with, this was only enough for the XB-19 to cruise at around 125 mph (217 km/h, 117 kn) and top out at just over 220 mph (354 kph). Perhaps impressive for a massive bomber, but still mince meat for even a gingerly flown single-engine fighter of the day. But what the XB-19 lacked in speed or any semblance of agility, it more than made up for in range and firepower.On just its main fuel tank alone, the XB-19 could fly for up to 5,200 mi (8,400 km, 4,500 nmi) at a time. With its auxiliary wing tanks filled, this range extended to a scarcely believable 7,710 mi (12,410 km, 6,700 nmi). Easily enough to take off from air bases in England or the Pacific Islands, fly to target cities in German or Japanese-occupied territory, unleash a torrent of up to 18,700 lb (8,500 kg) of ordnance from its internal bomb bay, and then fly its way home again with fuel to spare. If things ever got out of hand, a defensive array of five M2 Browning 50 caliber machine guns, M1919 30 caliber machine guns, and two 37mm autocannons could have made mince meat out of lightly armored interceptors.It all looked tempting, at least on paper, and the sheer spectacle of such a massive airplane in the early 1940s attracted considerable fanfare wherever the XB-19 flew. But the truth of the matter was far, far different. Because no sooner did the XB-19 make its first flight in June 1941 was the platform already pretty much totally obsolete. Douglas had intended to have the XB-19 in the air far sooner. But consistent delays in manufacturing and development of the airframe combined with reliability problems with the new R-3350 engines to the point where even Douglas themselves wanted to cancel the program.But, like a spoiled, petulant child who doesn't want to eat vegetables, the Army Air Corps compelled Douglas to finish the program. This resulted in the XB-19's radial engines being swapped for the experimental Allison V-3420-11 W24 engines, most famous for their use in the catastrophic Fisher P-75 Eagle program in 1943. Of course, this was most likely because Boeing needed a few extra R-3350 engines for their own far more successful B-29 Superfortress production. Of course, bigger and better bomber prototypes like the Northrop YB-35 flying wing and the truly colossal YB-36 Peacemaker were already under development by this stage. Meaning that the XB-19s days were well and truly numbered even well before the end of the war.With its flight testing complete by the end of World War II, a half-baked attempt was made at making the XB-19 a cargo aircraft. But, with more efficient and powerful turboprop transport planes on the horizon, these modifications were never completed. The sole XB-19 manufactured made its final flight on August 17th, 1946, before being transported to the Davis-Monthan Army Air Base in Tucson, Arizona, for long-term storage later that year. By the time the plane was retired, it'd served as a proof of concept for even larger strategic bombers going forward, like the B-36, while also testing vital flight components for Douglas' real post-war money maker, the DC-4 quad-engine airliner.With this in mind, it'd be wrong to call the XB-19 program a complete failure. Even if it itself didn't spawn a lineage of its own strategic bombers, the lessons learned from the program paid dividends in the end. The XB-19 sat collecting dust in storage for three long years before it was finally scrapped in 1949. By this point, the first XB-36 Peacemaker had already made its maiden flight the year before. An attempt was made to preserve the XB-19 before its ultimate fate. But because the National Museum of the United States Air Force was still in its infancy at that time, these attempts failed.Today, only a handful of artifacts from the great plane still exist, including two of its colossal main tires. One of which currently resides at the Hill Aerospace Museum next to Hill Air Force Base in Ogden, Utah, while the other is in the collection of the above-mentioned National Museum of the U.S. Air Force near Dayton, Ohio. Thanks to this preservation, it's at least possible to appreciate the scale of Douglas' achievement. To have manufactured an aircraft of that size in the late 30s and early 40s is nothing short of remarkable.
If you're like us, you've probably seen a CGI graphic or two of iconic military jets like the A-10 would look like if they underwent a comprehensive redesign into stealth jets. There are even people out there who declare the best way to extend the life of the A-10's airframe is to upgrade them into stealthy ground attack jets. But if you're totally under the spell of admittedly awesome-looking CGI images, we need to bring you back down to Earth a bit.

Photo: Cesar Rizo (https://www.artstation.com/rizo)

CAS

Photo: Rodrigo Avella (https://rodrigoavella.com/)

To understand the reason why you can't just modify a legacy warbird to be stealthy, we need to familiarize ourselves with how radar stealth even works. We all generally know how the basics of how radar works. At least in an aircraft setting, a beam of electromagnetic energy is directed toward the sky, where it intersects with aerial vehicles inside the range of this energy beam. This beam is then deflected off the aircraft, where a radar receiver, often inside the same antenna as the beam emitter, picks up the incoming signal for a computer processor to identify its position in the sky relative to the radar operator.For the first 20 years or so of ground-to-air radar, it was widely believed an aircraft's size was the key determining factor in its radar signature. It was a Russian-born Soviet physicist and mathematician called Pyotr Ufimtsev who first discovered there were actually several factors that contributed to an aircraft's ability to be detected by radar. As Ufimtsev's mathematical formulas proved, the largest contribution to an aircraft's radar cross-section was its shape rather than its size. Meaning that if an airplane was shaped in a way that deliberately reflected radar beams away from its receiver, it was possible to make a 50-foot-long fighter jet take on the radar cross-section of a small bird or even an insect.There are a couple of different designs that engineers have integrated into modern stealth aircraft intended to refract as much of a radar's energy beam as possible. Perhaps the most vital of these, at least in regard to modern American stealth jets, is a practice called planform alignment. By which the leading edges of an airframe, from the flaps to the ailerons, the rudder, and even the shape of the pilot's cockpit, are all exactly parallel to each other at the same angle.Without going into too much detail, radar waves that impact these angled sections tend to bounce away from radar stations rather than right back at the operator. All the missiles and bombs stealth jet is liable to carry is housed in internal weapons bays rather than on underwing pylons for this same reason, as is their autocannon. Whether Russian, American, or Chinese in origin, internal bomb bays are a trademark feature of fifth-gen stealth fighters.Another key factor in maintaining radar stealth is the outer skin of an airplane itself. In the case of the F-117 Nighthawk , the world's first stealth fighter, a thick film of radar-absorbant tiles almost a full ton in weight was glued onto the jet's outer surfaces using aerospace-grade adhesive. Consequently, each modern stealth jet utilizes radar-absorbant coatings unique to its airframe. Limitations in a 70's era computers to calculate radar signatures ultimately resulted in the F-117's iconic "flying dorito" shape. Later advancements in this field proved smoother, rounded surfaces like those found on the Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit and B-21 Raider could also refract radar signals, so long as their shape maintains optimal refraction characteristics.Of course, all of this is a gross oversimplification of why radar stealth works. But none of it translates particularly well towards modifying legacy military jets like the A-10 to be stealthy. Just look at the thing! If there were a list of qualities you wouldn't want in a stealth jet, the Warthog ticks just about every single one. With its breadth of air-to-ground missiles, guided or unguided bombs, and rocket pods slung right underneath the A-10s wings and fuselage, any functioning radar suite would pick up a squadron of full-loaded A-10s with relative ease. It's partially for this reason that A-10s are only ever deployed when not just air superiority, but full-blown air dominance, is all but assured.Modifying the A-10's airframe to house its weapons payload inside an internal bomb bay while developing a radar-absorbent coating specifically for it would be next to impossible, even on the Air Force's inflated budget. More to the point, it's pretty much impossible to make the iconic "BRRRRRRTTT" from the A-10's 30 mm GAU-8 Avenger autocannon fired from practically tree-top level remotely stealthy, let alone subtle. In fact, the prospect of a close-air support () attack jet meant to loiter over a single area for hours on end, being stealthy, almost defeats the point of the aircraft in the first place.No amount of radar stealth is going to stop a man-portable air-defense system (MANPAD) missile fired by a ground soldier screaming towards a close-air support jet when it's within visual distance of the target. Neither would changing the angle of the engine nacelles stop the A-10's turbofan engines from drawing the attention of every infrared surface-to-air missile battery for miles. Any way you slice it, a stealthy A-10 makes about as much sense as a jet-powered biplane.Not to say that an attack aircraft with some degree of radar stealth wouldn't be useful. It's a concept that the U.S. Navy and Northrop Grumman are working on in UAV form with the X-47C attack drone. This doesn't change the fact that upgrading the A-10 platform to include radar stealth is almost assuredly a bad idea. But don't get it twisted. That doesn't mean the fan-made graphics of what the A-10 would look like if the Pentagon were dense enough to give it a try aren't still pretty darn amazing.If you can suspend your disbelief for a few moments, we highly recommend checking the gallery above to check out some renderings that members of the aviation enthusiast community have come up with recently. The level of creativity and detail that goes into these works of art is nothing short of spectacular and needs to be appreciated. As always, credits for each piece of artwork are located in the bottom left-hand corner, so you can go check out their workspaces for yourself.But what do you folks out there think? Would there be any positive virtue for upgrading the A-10's platform to employ a degree of radar stealth? Or is it a total pie-in-the-sky fantasy of an idea conjured up by talented artists with no grasp on how military contracts actually work? Let us know in the comments down below.
16 July 2023 08:30 (UTC+04:00)

Elnur Enveroglu Read more

This is how the next meeting in Brussels ended. Pashinyan, a worn out premier with some old, discolored papers in a folder he carries. Maybe one day Pashinyan will get tired of these long meetings, or he will hate himself for being the prime minister of a clumsy country like Armenia.

After all, how many roles can one play...? I can say with certainty that these are exactly what Nikol Pashinyan was thinking on his way back to Yerevan. It is the sixth time that the Armenian Prime Minister has been seated at the table in the Brussels format and is fed the same words and the same ideas every time he visits. But every time there is a subversive plan in return.

This type of behavior of Armenia has already become a common occurrence for both Azerbaijan and the world. For example, on the eve of meetings in Washington, Brussels, Chisinau, and even Moscow, Armenia's smear and provocation campaigns are launched every time. This time, Armenia tried to come up with a new scenario ahead of the Brussels meeting, but its performance was completely unsuccessful. Because Armenia fully reflected itself in the script it prepared. Armenia, which wants to call Azerbaijan a child killer, for some reason reminded the world of the atrocities it committed three decades ago, the children it mercilessly killed in Khojaly. Who is the killer - us or you?

The death of two children due to unknown reasons in the territory of Azerbaijan was brought up for discussion among Armenian circles the other day. This incident was also discussed simultaneously with the friskiest party in a restaurant in Khankendi. As they say, a party on one side, tragedy on the other. However, from Armenia's point of view, it actually looked more like a desired event than a tragedy. As if Armenia had gained the most valuable profit in the world with the death of two children. Perhaps they had added the death certificates of the dead children among the old useless papers of Nikol when he was sent off to Brussels. However, the prime minister could not dare to speak about the unknown incident as it was the next time for him to acknowledge the figure of 86.6 thousand square kilometres.

Yes, we are talking about the territory of Azerbaijan and the death accident that occurred within that territory. Both Armenian Minister of Foreign Affairs Mirzoyan and his illiterate ambassador at large Marukyan, who made themselves ridiculous with their illogical arguments, tried to go beyond the red line set by their prime minister. Have they not been told that the figure of 86.6 admitted by Pashinyan also means the borders of the Karabakh territory?

Both Mirzoyan and Marukyan should learn that there is a concept of international law in the world and everything is solved within the framework of this law. If a citizen has a nosebleed on the territory of Azerbaijan, it is resolved entirely within the framework of Azerbaijan's rights. By interfering in these cases, Armenia does nothing but violate the law. Therefore, we note once again: mr. Mirzoyan and Marukyan, all the problems of the Armenians living in the Karabakh territory of Azerbaijan belong to Azerbaijan, and these problems are considered within the framework of Azerbaijani laws. If a death occurred on the territory of Azerbaijan, we should be informed about the incident directly. Learn and know this forever. After all, why do you tire your prime minister so much?

At the last meeting in Brussels, Nikol Pashinyan once again made a bitter pose in front of Azerbaijan's demands. This was the message of hopelessness and desperation of Armenia. Pashinyan was really sad and worried. Because he can speak the truth only once in his life - and this is possible outside of Armenia. When he returns from meetings, including Brussels, another series of lies is started in front of the tribune. No matter how bitter it is, Pashinyan has already reconciled to deal with this way of life, and he is already waiting with that pessimistic face to see where this road will end for him...

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Elnur Enveroglu is AzerNews deputy editor-in-chief, follow him on @ElnurMammadli1

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16 July 2023 16:37 (UTC+04:00)

On July 12, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) rejected the claim of Armenia dated June 21, 2023, the purpose of which was to introduce a temporary interim measure against Azerbaijan in connection with the installation of a border checkpoint at the beginning of the Lachin-Khankendi road. Thus, by its decision, the ECHR once again confirmed the groundlessness of Armenia's demand to "remove all obstacles to traffic along the Lachin corridor and notify the Committee of Ministers about this".

Recall that on July 6, the International Court of Justice sent Armenia to the same place. It was denied permission to consider the border checkpoint in Azerbaijan's internationally recognized territory as illegal.

At the request of Armenia itself, the International Court of Justice and the ECHR ruled what was expected and required of them, namely, they strengthened by their decision a very simple circumstance: there is a Westphalian international system and modern international relations are based on it. And they are based on the sovereignty of states over their entire territory.

According to Azernews, Rovshan Ibrahimov, a political analyst and professor at the Hanguk University of Regional Studies (Seoul), told Day.Az.

According to him, Armenia's completely absurd request to recognize the installation of the border checkpoint by Azerbaijan on its own borders as illegal could not receive support. An exception could be the situation if the court was politicized and biased.

Of course, the International Court of Justice and the ECHR considered the condition of the border checkpoint in the framework of the Tripartite Statement of November 10, where it is written in black and white that the passage must be safe. And what can guarantee security better than a border checkpoint? on the way, which is not in the document, about the sacred meaning of the Lachin corridor, putting something of its own into the concept of corridor, holding our breath from excitement, the expert noted.

R.Ibrahimov noted that for all the years of the Karabakh conflict, no resolutions, even to a small extent legitimizing the claims of the separatists, have been adopted. Despite the fact that the Armenians say that the "NKR", they say, has taken place, not a single country in the world, including Armenia, has officially recognized this. And without this, it is impossible to appear on the world map.

"The International Court of Justice and the ECHR have simply ruled once again that the sovereignty of any state is the basis of international law, and aspects such as border control at the borders of sovereign countries cannot be discussed and questioned. Even if the Trilateral Statement would imply some limiting the sovereignty of Azerbaijan, this document itself would be recognized as directed against the basic postulates of international law and revised.

In a word, all those who demand to remove the border checkpoint, to return the previous permit regime, which was not an obligation, but only the goodwill of Azerbaijan, demonstrate, I will not be afraid of this word, a sick perception of the world. If anyone with such a sick perception in world starts squealing, squeaking and whining again that the border checkpoint is illegal and needs to be removed, whoever it is, you need to stick the decisions of the IC and the ECHR in his eyes. And to explain to the Armenian side the basics of two by two is four: all their statements have no legal basis, this is just a political manipulation, an attempt to wishful thinking. And only stupid ones can repeat this three times," the political analyst said.

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16 July 2023 10:00 (UTC+04:00)

The tripartite statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation and the statement of 15 July 2023 commenting on the peace process are both misunderstood and disappointing, Azernews reports, citing Trend.

The statement of the Russian Foreign Ministry does not comply with the Declaration on Mutual Cooperation between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Russian Federation and the speeches of the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin in support of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Azerbaijan, including the Karabakh region.

"It is unacceptable for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation to interpret and condition the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the context of the fact that Armenia, which has occupied our territories for almost 30 years, recognizes Karabakh as part of Azerbaijan.

It was Azerbaijan that put forward five basic principles for establishing relations with Armenia after the 44-day Patriotic War, a proposal to conclude a peace treaty, as well as an initiative to delimit the border, and is the author of all the initial documents in these areas. At present, the Azerbaijani side is taking practical steps towards promoting a peace agreement.

Our country has always demonstrated loyalty to the tripartite statements signed by the leaders of Azerbaijan, Armenia and the Russian Federation.

However, from the first day of signing the said tripartite statement, the Armenian side did not fulfill many provisions of the statement, and the Russian side did not ensure the full implementation of the statement within the framework of its obligations.

Despite Azerbaijan's repeated warnings about illegal activities using the Lachin road, the transport of military cargo and mines from Armenia to Azerbaijan, the rotation of illegal military units, the smuggling of third-country nationals into the territory, nothing has been done to prevent these actions.

The Azerbaijani side has established the Lachin BCP in accordance with the legislation of Azerbaijan and international norms in order to prevent illegal activities in the country and ensure transparency. Over the past few months, hundreds of Armenians have been allowed through this checkpoint in a regulated and transparent manner. Despite this, the Armenian side still did not stop its military provocations against Azerbaijan.

In this context, it is clear to everyone that there are no grounds for attempts to politicize the creation of the Lachin BCP, which is the sovereign right of Azerbaijan, and statements about the tense humanitarian situation in the region.

Despite the foregoing, contrary to the 2020 tripartite statement, to which the Russian Federation is a party, the complete withdrawal of the remnants of the Armenian armed forces located on the territory of Azerbaijan has not yet been ensured. On the contrary, support for the Armenian armed forces is carried out in the region under the supervision of the Russian peacekeeping contingent.

Along with this, it is known that unhindered communication between the western regions of Azerbaijan and the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic under various pretexts is hindered.

Azerbaijan is interested in ensuring peace and tranquility in the region and will continue its efforts in this direction," the statement said.

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16 July 2023 12:18 (UTC+04:00)

Armenian armed forces are supported under the supervision of the Russian peacekeeping contingent, this was stated by the Foreign Ministry of Azerbaijan, regarding Armenia's false claims on Azerbaijan's border checkpoint in Lachin as well as Armenia's purposeful obstruction on the communication lines connecting western regions and Nakhchivan AR of Azerbaijan with its territory, Azernews reports.

In this context, it is clear that the attempts to politicize the establishment of the Lachin border checkpoint, which is the sovereign right of Azerbaijan, as well as the statements on the alleged humanitarian crisis in the region are baseless, Azerbaijans Foreign Ministry said in its statement.

Notwithstanding the above-mentioned facts, the complete withdrawal of the remnants of the Armenian armed forces existing in the territory of Azerbaijan has not yet been ensured contrary to the 2020 Trilateral Statement, to which the Russian Federation is a party. On the contrary, Armenian armed forces are supported under the supervision of the Russian peacekeeping contingent.

It is also well-known that the unhindered communication between the western regions of Azerbaijan and the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic is obstructed under various pretexts.

Azerbaijan is interested in ensuring peace in the region and will continue its efforts in this area, the Foreign Ministry said.

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FORMER British Prime Minister Tony Blair has made a major climbdown and pledged to support Zimbabwes economic recovery by joining the anti-sanctions lobby to remove the punitive measures which he imposed together with the United States then leader President George W Bush when he was still leader of that country, President Mnangagwa has said.

The Head of State and Government said in his meeting with Mr Blair during a recent visit to London for the coronation of King Charles lll, Mr Blair agreed to lobby for the removal of illegal sanctions imposed against Harare by Britain at his instigation.

President Mnangagwa, who is also Zanu PF First Secretary, said this while addressing a star rally at Chinorumba High School, Zaka district aimed at drumming up support for the revolutionary party ahead of the August 23, 2023 harmonised elections.

He said Mr Blair and President Bush had struck a pact in which Britain would support the United States to invade Iraq while Washington would help Mr Blair impose sanctions on Zimbabwe.

This was after the US invaded Iraq accusing it of possessing weapons of mass destruction, an allegation that turned out to be false.

Britain, then led by Mr Blair, had become livid by Zimbabwes decision to embark on the land reform programme aimed at correcting historical land imbalances through distributing land to the black majority.

When I met with Blair, I told him you had an altercation with Mr Mugabe . . . do you want to do the same with me, and he said no. So I asked him to resolve the issue before he dies so he is engaging his colleagues in his country to have the issue resolved, said President Mnangagwa.

He said owing to the Governments engagement and re-engagement policy of becoming a friend to all and an enemy to none, the global world was warming up to Zimbabwe.

The President said the only country that has not relented was the US that was even against Zimbabwes participation at the US/Africa Business Forum held in Botswana last week.

Last week there was the US Africa Business Forum held in Botswana. The President of Botswana Mokgweetsi Masisi, who is my younger brother, invited me but advised me that the US had expressed reservations about my attendance. But Masisi invited me notwithstanding their reservations and I went there. There was a place where we were staying so the Americans left in protest about my presence there.

We must be proud of who we are and we must be respected. We will not accept to be treated as second class citizens. We are equal to every single member of the United Nations.

President Mnangagwa said Zimbabwes economy continues to register huge growth despite the fact that it is under the yoke of sanctions.

He chronicled several policy measures that the Zanu PF administration had embarked on for economic recovery and the economy was now on a growth trajectory.

The policy measures are in the area of agriculture to ensure food security and import substitution, energy to ensure constant and uninterrupted power supply.

Others include infrastructure development such as dam construction and road rehabilitation.

We have a model of agriculture that guarantees food security and mitigates against effects of climate change. No one should starve in the country. We have several agricultural systems including those that are headed by traditional leaders. We also have structures run by the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works at all levels including councillors, said President Mnangagwa. Herald
16 July 2023 10:29 (UTC+04:00)

On July 16 At about 02:30, units of the Armenian Armed Forces from their positions located in the direction of Vedi region opened fire on the positions of the Azerbaijani Army located in the direction of Karaagach settlement of Sadarak region of Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, Azernews repots, citing Ministry of Defence.

The press service of the Ministry of Defense informed, that adequate response measures were taken by the units of our army in the mentioned direction.

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16 July 2023 11:21 (UTC+04:00)

Russian MFA comments on and setting conditions for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan in the context of the fact of recognition of Karabagh as part of Azerbaijan by the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia, a country that occupied the territories of Azerbaijan for nearly 30 years, is unacceptable, the Foreign Ministry of Azerbaijan said in response to the Russian Foreign Ministrys statement, Azernews reports.

We remind that Azerbaijan put forward the five basic principles for the establishment of relations with Armenia after the 44-day Patriotic War, the proposal for the peace treaty, as well as the initiative for border delimitation while being the author of all the initial documents in these areas. Currently, Azerbaijan is taking practical steps to advance the peace treaty.

Azerbaijan has also always stayed true to the trilateral statements signed between the leaders of Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Russia.

Nevertheless, since the first day of the signing of the aforementioned trilateral statement, Armenia has not fulfilled many provisions of the statement, and Russia has not ensured the full implementation of the statement within its obligations, Azerbaijans Foreign Ministry said in its commentary.

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16 July 2023 15:31 (UTC+04:00)

After Azerbaijan's complete victory in the victorious war and the capitulation of the enemy, the complete superiority of our state at the diplomatic table is clearly visible, this uas told by Azerbaijani MP Rashad Mahmudov, Azernews reports, citing AzerTac.

Today, the legal position of Azerbaijan, established by international law and historical facts, is fully strengthened by our military and economic power. The excellent foreign policy pursued by President Ilham Aliyev is marked by the recognition of our legitimate position in all international centers and states. Our country's reputation in the international arena has been strengthened to such an extent that even the most staunchly pro-Armenian external forces have lost their ability to defend their subordinates. It is for this reason that after the 44-day war, the meetings held with Armenia either bilaterally or through mediators take into account only Azerbaijan's position and Azerbaijan's proposals are on the table.

The deputy said the visit of President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev to the Kingdom of Belgium at the invitation of President of the Council of the European Union Charles Michel drew special attention in this regard. As is known, the visit was organized for the next Azerbaijani-Armenian meeting mediated by the European Union. In general, relations between the European Union and Azerbaijan have reached the highest peak in recent years, especially the President of the Council of the European Union Charles Michel has made great efforts for the normalization of Armenian-Azerbaijani relations. The Azerbaijani side has always openly stated that the Brussels format is effective. The upcoming meeting was also of great importance from the point of view of approaching peace. The course of the meeting and the statements made show that although Azerbaijan is strong in all aspects, it is still committed to the position of peace and is trying to achieve stability in the region with all its capabilities.

Undoubtedly, the peace-loving position of Azerbaijan, which does not create tension, showing tolerance to the next Armenian provocations in the region, is in the focus of attention of international political centers, blocs and superpowers. This point was one of the main factors that strengthened the position of our state in the negotiations.

After all, Charles Michel's press release following his meeting with President Ilham Aliyev and Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan seemed to fully express the interests of our country. Armenia's recognition of Azerbaijan's territorial integrity was once again clearly stated, and Charles Michel said that the leaders once again firmly reaffirmed that they respect the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Armenia, which is 29.8 thousand square kilometers, and of Azerbaijan, which is 86.6 thousand square kilometers. One of the important points in the statement following the meeting was the issue of the Zangezur corridor. The fact that the European Union has clearly stated its economic and political interest in this issue gives reason to think that all of Armenia's maneuvers will end in failure.

In conclusion, the MP noted that the Belgian meeting was remembered as another diplomatic victory of our country represented by the President of Azerbaijan. Once again everyone recognized that the only way to achieve peace in the region depends on Armenia's rejection of all provocative positions and acceptance of Azerbaijan's legitimate demands. President Ilham Aliyev impressed the world with his invincible military valor as the victorious Commander-in-Chief in the Patriotic War. Today, the head of our state as President ensures the national interests of our country, displaying his power of invincible diplomat in all international events and negotiations with Armenia. Before this power all are doomed to accept the truths of Azerbaijan! This is the apparent reality.

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16 July 2023 16:00 (UTC+04:00)

As in all democratic, sovereign states, Azerbaijan has established a border checkpoint at the entrance to the Lachin road to protect its territorial integrity and state borders. This is a sovereign right to protect the borders of the State of Azerbaijan.

According to Azernews, Khayala Abdullazade, a member of the Bar Association, has told Azertag.

Concerned about this, Armenia applied to the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) regarding the application of temporary security measures. Under Article 39 of the Rules of Procedure of the ECtHR, the Court may order provisional measures binding on any Contracting Party. Security measures are, according to case law, extraordinary measures that are only applied when there is an imminent risk of irreparable harm.

According to her, on July 12 of this year, the European Court of Human Rights ruled on the application of temporary security measures in the court case of Armenia against Azerbaijan that the request of this country dated June 21, 2023 is completely unreasonable. In other words, with its decision, the European Court of Human Rights once again confirmed the groundlessness of Armenia's demand "to remove all obstacles to the movement of traffic along the Lachin corridor and to inform the Committee of Ministers about it". Thus, the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan was once again recognized.

The European Court of Human Rights did not find that the border crossing impeded the movement of traffic along the Lachin road and that it did not violate its decision of December 21, 2022 to take measures within the jurisdiction of Azerbaijan to ensure the safe passage of persons in need of medical assistance.

"At the same time, the International Court of Justice, the principal judicial organ of the United Nations, recently issued its next judgment on Armenia's complaint. According to the July 6, 2023 decision of this court, in order to modify the February 22, 2023 decision regarding the application of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, its May 12 petition was rejected unanimously.

In our view, the International Court of Justice once again recognized the right of independent Azerbaijan to control its borders. Thus the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan was once again confirmed. These decisions taken by both the ECtHR and the International Court of Justice are progressive and worthy of approval. These decisions once again showed the world community that Azerbaijan legally defends its sovereignty within the framework of international law," Abdullazadeh said.

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16 July 2023 17:00 (UTC+04:00)

The Ministry of Emergency Situations appealed to the population in connection with the expected unstable weather calling on the population to comply with the relevant safety rules, Azernews reports, citing Day.az.

It was noted that it is recommended to stay away from areas prone to mudflows and floods, and when confronted with this threat, immediately rise to a nearby height.

In addition, during strong winds, it is recommended to stay away from grid lines and temporary structures, buildings and billboards, do not stand under electric poles and wires, tall trees. Also, given the difficulties associated with extinguishing fires that occur during strong winds, fire safety rules should be especially strictly observed in windy weather.

Given that in summer people go to the beaches for recreation, we remind you that in strong windy weather it is dangerous to go into the sea.

In addition, to protect against the dangers associated with lightning, it is recommended to disconnect electrical devices from the mains, do not use the telephone (fixed line network, cellular communication, payphone, etc.) while outdoors, do not approach power lines, lightning rods, antennas, do not hide under tall trees, but while in the car, stop, raise the windows and wait for the end of the thunderstorm.

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16 July 2023 18:00 (UTC+04:00)

The professor of the Istanbul University reminded that the Russian Federation's demands to reconnect RSHB to the SWIFT system were never satisfied, Azernews reports, citing Turkish media outlets.

Russia's claims regarding the functioning of the "grain deal" are justified, as the poorest countries are getting a crumbs, and it will be problematic to find alternative routes for supplies if the deal is abandoned, said Fahri Erenel, director of the Center for Research and Implementation of Security and Defense Strategies (GUVSAM), a professor at Istanbul's Istinye University.

"Russia is extremely right in its claims regarding the functioning of the "grain" corridor, [Turkish President Recep Tayyip] Erdogan has also said this many times. The West is playing games: it is trying to make the situation look like Russia, which contributes to food security, should (fulfill the deal - ed.) and needs it, this is public opinion," the professor says.

He noted that as of July 6, the number of grain ships arriving in the Bosporus from Ukrainian ports exceeded 1,000, but only 53 of them went to poor countries.

Erenel, also recalled that Russia's demands to reconnect RSHB to the SWIFT system had not been satisfied.

Professor did not rule out that in case of non-renewal of the deal, food security problems may arise, and then Turkey and China, as the main buyers of grain, will suffer damage from this situation.

Speaking about the search for alternative routes for grain supplies, the Turkish professor pointed out that it would be difficult to do it in the shortest possible time, as the existing routes are too long and expensive.

"Grain can be found in other countries, but it will take some time. Farmers in Ukraine and the Russian Federation will also find themselves in a difficult situation. There is also likely to be an increase in global food prices," Erenel believes.

According to official UN data, only 3% of the cargoes sent within the framework of the Black Sea Initiative went to low-income countries. 44% of cargoes went to high-income countries, and a total of 81% of cargoes were received by high-income and upper-middle-income countries, according to the organization's data.

Earlier, the Financial Times, citing sources, reported that the EU was considering allowing Rosselkhozbank to set up a subsidiary, which would be connected to the SWIFT payment system, to settle transactions related to grain exports in order to preserve the grain deal.

The Black Sea Initiative, which was signed by representatives of Russia, Turkey, Ukraine and the UN on July 22, 2022, involves the export of Ukrainian grain and food, as well as fertilizers, via the Black Sea from three ports, including Odessa. The Joint Coordination Center in Istanbul is in charge of coordinating the movement of ships. Russian President Vladimir Putin pointed out that the West exports most of the Ukrainian grain to its own states, not to needy countries in Africa.

The Grain Initiative is an integral part of the package deal. The second part - a three-year Russia-UN memorandum - provides for unblocking Russian exports of food and fertilizers; among the main tasks were the reconnection of Rosselkhozbank to SWIFT, the resumption of deliveries of agricultural machinery, spare parts and service, the restoration of the Togliatti-Odessa ammonia pipeline and a

number of other measures. As Moscow notes, this part of the package deal has not been implemented so far.

Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on June 21 that there are no prerequisites for the extension of the grain deal, as the obligations towards Russia are not fulfilled. The grain deal expires on July 17.

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16 July 2023 21:20 (UTC+04:00)

NATO's goal in destroying Libya was to prevent Gaddafi from unifying Africa and introducing the African gold dinar.

Hillary Clinton's leaked emails revealed that NATO's goal in destroying Libya was to prevent Gaddafi from unifying Africa and introducing the African gold dinar. As Gaddafi said, "This is our continent, our banks, our currency. We are striving for independence." Azernews reports, citing The Sunday Times

"The convoluted inside story of the secret operations to overthrow Gaddafi was told by Jean-Francois Lhuillier, former head of the General Directorate of External Security (DGSE) office in Tripoli. His book sparked outrage at the secret service, where he worked for 27 years."

The 2011 campaign to overthrow Colonel Gaddafi in Libya, spearheaded by France and Britain, was a disastrous error, according to the French spy chief in Libya at the time. Jean-Francois Lhuillier, a former Tripoli station chief of the Directorate General for External Security (DGSE), has revealed the inside story of the secret operations in his book, The Tripoli Man: Memoirs of a Secret Agent.

Lhuillier's revelations have angered the secret service where he worked for 27 years and embarrassed the DGSE, which has enjoyed fame with The Bureau, the television series about its operatives. In his book and media appearances, Lhuillier describes executing the incomprehensible decision by President Sarkozy to back rebels against Gaddafi, after he had built a relationship with the mercurial tyrant.

Lhuillier has criticized the campaign for its lack of political foresight and its disastrous consequences. He said, The military operation was brilliantly run but it was not thought through politically and had disastrous consequences. There was trickery, because Gaddafi was extending his hand to the West. Not only didn't we grasp the hand that was being extended to us, but we also cut the head off. I find that completely immoral to have done that.

The French-UK campaign to oust Gaddafi from Libya has been widely criticized for its lack of foresight and its disastrous consequences. Jean-Francois Lhuillier, the French spy chief in Libya at the time, has described the campaign as "completely immoral" and a "disastrous error".

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16 July 2023 20:11 (UTC+04:00)

Russian authorities have invited a representative of the Taliban movement (a terrorist organization banned in Russia) to the upcoming Moscow Format meeting on Afghanistan, deputy spokesman and assistant director of public relations at the Taliban Foreign Ministry Hafiz Zia Ahmad said, Azernews reports, citing foreign media outlets.

"Russian Ambassador Dmitry Zhirnov met with Foreign Minister Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaki the previous day and presented information about the upcoming Moscow Format meeting on Afghanistan and invited the foreign minister to attend the meeting," Ahmad said on social media.

For his part, Muttaki thanked Russia for the invitation and added that the Moscow format plays an important role in creating harmony in the region. The minister clarified that the Afghan government (Taliban) had participated in previous meetings in Moscow.

"Foreign Minister Muttaki expressed hope that both Kabul and Moscow will take advantage of the meeting within the framework of diplomatic relations. Muttaki reminded the Russian ambassador (of the request) to facilitate the issuance of visas so that both businessmen and other Afghans can travel to Russia without hindrance," a spokesman for the radical movement said in a statement.

The Taliban seized power in Afghanistan in August 2021 after the United States and its coalition allies, as well as the government they backed, hastily fled Afghanistan after a 20-year military presence.

So far, the Taliban movement has not been officially recognized by any state in the world, and its leaders are on the UN sanctions lists. Despite this, a number of countries, including Russia, have official contacts with representatives of the movement. Thus, the Taliban participated in the Moscow Format meeting in October 2021. The Taliban were not invited to last year's meeting in this format. The Moscow format includes Russia, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, China, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.

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16 July 2023 22:00 (UTC+04:00)

Marking the Democracy and National Unity Day, the Turkish president said the nation will not allow the July 15, 2016, defeated coup to be forgotten and erased from memory no matter how much time passes, Azernews reports, citing turkish media outlets.

Attending the July 15 Democracy and National Unity Day commemoration ceremony in Istanbul on Saturday, Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the coup attempt aimed to create a division between the Turkish nation and the Turkish army.

Turkiye on Saturday marked the seventh anniversary of the defeated 2016 coup bid by the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO).

Speaking at the Heroes of the Century of Turkiye event, Erdogan said: Just as we know the traitors from FETO, we have also recorded entities that support traitors in a way that will not be erased from our memory.

Since its official designation in October 2016, every year the nation marks July 15 as Democracy and National Unity Day, with events held nationwide to commemorate those who lost their lives defeating the putschists and to remember the bravery of the nation.

FETO and its US-based leader Fetullah Gulen orchestrated the defeated coup, which left 253 people dead and 2,734 injured.

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16 July 2023 23:45 (UTC+04:00)

A state-run Turkish aid agency on Saturday planted hundreds of tree samplings at a community park in Pakistans port city of Karachi to honor the people who sacrificed their lives to foil the so-called coup in Turkiye on July 15, 2016, Azernews reports, citing Yeni Shafak.

Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) planted over 250 samplings at the park located in Karachi's southern district at a ceremony attended by the local and Turkish community members, girl and boy scouts, and media professionals, to honor as many martyrs of July 15.

TIKA, which has already been carrying out a string of development, health, and educational projects across Pakistan, will further develop the park as well.

The ceremony began with a recitation from the Holy Quran by a visually impaired boy scout followed by Turkish and Pakistani national anthems.

A "moment of silence" was also observed.

Addressing the ceremony, Vice Consul General Oguz Kozanli said the martyrs of July 15 charted a new page in Turkiye's history with their blood, which will always be remembered.

He said the people and the security forces of Turkiye stood united and saved the democracy on July 15, 2016, with their unwavering resolve and unyielding commitment.

Halil Ibrahim Basaran, TIKA's Karachi coordinator, said Ankara and Islamabad have always stood together in trying times, whether it was devastating earthquakes in Turkiye in February this year or unprecedented floods in Pakistan last year.

The people of Pakistan stood by their Turkish brethren in their successful struggle against the conspirators who wanted to derail democracy in Turkiye on July 15.

- The defeated coup

This year, which marks the seventh anniversary of the botched coup, events are being held under the theme of "Turkiye's Heroes of the Century," to honor the people who defended the country at the cost of their lives on the night of July 15.

The attempt by FETO terrorist group to overthrow the government began around 10 p.m. local time (1900GMT) on July 15, 2016, and was thwarted by 8 a.m. the following day.

FETO and its US-based leader Fetullah Gulen orchestrated the defeated coup, which left 253 people dead and 2,734 injured.

Since its designation in October 2016, every year, the country marks July 15 as Democracy and National Unity Day, with events held to commemorate those who lost their lives beating back the putschists and to remember the bravery of the nation.

Ankara also accuses FETO of being behind a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police, and judiciary.

---

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https://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_123/icast-growth-71523.html

Fishing Industry News

Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, FL  July 14, 2023  The future of recreational fishing continues to shine bright at the sportfishing industrys largest trade show. After a full week of activities like fishing tournaments, workshops and product demonstrations, the 13,346 attendees from ICAST 2023 are heading home.



While some ICAST visitors will make a short drive to homes within the Sunshine State; others will set off for far-flung domestic destinations in the northeast, the pacific northwest and the desert southwest. Still more will board flights for places like Australia, Denmark, Peru and Japan.



ICAST is produced by the American Sportfishing Association (ASA), a national, non-profit trade association made up of more than 800 member companies and organizations who share a stake in promoting sportfishing for community and commerce. This year, the shows 13,346 attendees came from all 50 U.S. states and Puerto Rico as well as 80 countries. This year, 633 exhibitors set up booths inside of the Orange County Convention Center featuring an astounding array of products from full-size bass and bay boats to camper trucks, live trolling motor demonstrations, lounges andof coursethe shows legendary social hours.



This is one of the most impressive shows we have had since Ive been here, said ASA Trade Show and Membership VP Blake Swango. The booth spaces are bigger, better and more impressive each year and I think this is probably the most beautiful show that I have worked on.



American Tackle Company Wins Best of Show



Florida-based American Tackle Company took home ICASTs most prestigious honor, the coveted Best of Show award with an all-carbon fishing rod handle, the G2 Tsuka 2 Complete Carbon Handle. The innovative custom rod component beat out a field of more than 1,000 other entries in the ICAST New Product Showcase Awards, coming out on top of 37 other category winners to give rod builders industry bragging rights.



To win Best of Show against all of these other products is pretty unreal, said American Tackle Company Marketing Manager Kevin Landers. Its great to be representing the rest of the custom rod builders and rod component companies in the industry, added Vice President Darrin Heim, who noted that the product itself was more than a decade in the making.



Popular Fly Fishing Section Takes Off



This year, the ASA built a touted ICAST Fly Shop to increase its spotlight on the fly fishing segment of the trade. Long known as the definitive source for conventional fishing tackle, ICAST has increased its focus on fly fishing by adding six new product categories and a dedicated home to showcase fly fishing exhibitors wares that replicates a world-class fly fishing outfitter.



There, attendees could watch fly casting demonstrations at the adjacent FLYCASTing pond, take fly casting lessons or scout a selection of products from an array of manufacturers before deciding which booths to visit.



Fly fishing manufacturers responded in a big way, added Swango. We had new fly fishing media outlets attend the show as well. The ICAST Fly Shop seemed busy all week long, and were looking forward to welcoming more exhibitors in the fly fishing world next year. We might even have to build a bigger Fly Shop.



Youth Anglers Welcomed with Open Arms



On Friday, youth anglers from high school fishing clubs affiliated with Major League Fishing and B.A.S.S. were ushered onto the show floor for the ICAST Youth Angler Development Day. Surrounded by a sea of thousands of new fishing products, these enthusiastic young anglers were able to hear first-hand testimonials from industry professionals ranging from top-tier anglers to other fields that often provide jobs behind the scenes.



Youth are so important to our industry, said ASA Vice President of Communications Mary Beth Long. They have a lot of enthusiasm and a passion for fishing, and this is a cool opportunity of them to come and meet some of our vendors to see other ways that they can potentially have a career in fishing. Its not just as a pro, but also as a marketing person or a writer.
More All-Terrain Wheelchairs for N. Oregon Coast, Now at Netarts, Pacific City

Published 07/13/23 at 6:51 p.m.

By Oregon Coast Beach Connection staff

(Pacific City, Oregon)  Two more spots on the Oregon coast now have some greater accessibility for those with mobility challenges, as Pacific City and Netarts acquire new all-terrain track chairs that allow people to roam on a much wider variety of natural surfaces than normal wheelchairs could. Those two hotspots in Tillamook County have the unique chairs through charitable foundation David's Chair, letting people check them out and go for some serious beach excursions.

Tillamook Coast Visitors Association (TCVA) made the announcement this week, with Netarts and Pacific City joining Seaside and Manzanita in having chairs with these track systems.

Davids Chair is a charitable foundation that provides these chairs for communities in Tillamook County, where residents and guests want to be able to enjoy our beautiful beach access, even when it gets more challenging, said TCVA.

In Netarts, the chair is available at Happy Camp Hideaway, 825 Happy Camp Road, and in Pacific City at PC Pour Wine Bar, 33310 Cape Kiwanda Drive. There is also a Davids Chair in Manzanita at the visitor center at 31 Laneda Avenue. To reserve a chair, go to https://davidschair.org/request-a-chair/ or call 503-812-5510.

Central Oregon coast towns Florence and Newport are working on getting chairs as well.

These are special vehicles that can wander on not just sand but into pools of water and over rocky shores as well. This opens up much more mobility than even the other sand wheelchairs, such as at the cobblestones you might find at the very northern edge of Manzanita, or the bumpy edges of Netarts and Pacific City.

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Being able to have a David's Chair here in Pacific City is a joint venture of PC Pour, local resident Jeff Kallevig, Meg's Beachwood Bar and Grill, and Nestucca Rural Fire Protection District, said Bob Papke, owner of PC Pout. At the time, Jeff was working at PC Pour and felt that the location would be ideal for people who wanted to access the beach. He brought the idea to my wife, Tina, and me about how he envisioned safe storage for the chair on PC Pour property. Jeff donated his labor to create the storage area for the chair, and the wheels literally started to turn.

In addition, PC Pour and Meg's Beachwood have added Gilgamesh Brewing's David's Chair beer to their selection. The brewer donates a portion of all proceeds to David's Chair. The chair is installed and ready to go and the beer is ready to enjoy. The charity is also planning a local event to create awareness during Dory Days on July 15th from 10am to 4pm.

In Netarts, Bruce and Teresa Lovelin, owners of Happy Camp Hideaway, heard about the chair and volunteered to host it. Bruce built a storage shed, and Tillamook Coast Visitors Association (TCVA) donated funds to David's Chair to get it placed there. The Friends of Netarts Bay (WEBS), will also help the Lovelins with reservations and daily maintenance.

In Manzanita, a donor, Vincent Saulino, funded the chair in honor of his late wife, who became disabled and could no longer enjoy the beach she loved so much to visit.

TCVA has been working closely with the county, cities and nonprofits to make accessibility a primary initiative for those living and visiting Tillamook County. TCVA just completed an Accessibility Assessment of county parks, working with Ashley Schahfer, founder of Empowering Access, a disability and inclusion consulting firm. The study was funded in part by a grant from Travel Oregon.

For more information on mobility resources, go to https://tillamookcoast.com/mobility MORE PHOTOS BELOW







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Below: Pacific City / Oregon Coast Beach Connection

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Razor Clamming Annual Closure Starts on N. Oregon Coast on July 15 - Through Oct

Published 07/12/23 at 6:56 a.m.

By Oregon Coast Beach Connection staff





(Seaside, Oregon)  A minute after midnight on July 15, the bell tolls for thee, north Oregon coast clammers. (Photo Seaside Aquarium)

Razor clamming on Clatsop beaches (Seaside through Warrenton) goes into the annual conservation closure on that morning, where clamming is a no-go through midnight on September 30 (essentially opening back up on October 1).

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) made the announcement and reminder this week.

The rule does not apply to the rest of the Oregon coast, although other parts of the coastline get closed due to marine biotoxins. Currently, all of the coastline south of Clatsop Beach is closed to razor clamming because of the toxin domoic acid  except the 30-some miles between Florence and Seal Rock.

This closure of Clatsop beaches has been practiced since 1967 to preserve the robust population of this area, from Seaside to the mouth of the Columbia River. Here, over 90 percent of the state's razor clams reside. The conservation measures allow the new clams to set and ensure their numbers thrive for future harvesting by visitors and locals alike. While the closure is in effect, ODFW assesses their stocks.

Matt Hunter, a shellfish biologist with ODFW, said he hopes the public will respect that closure.

Giving those young razor clams the time they need to set and not be disturbed benefits clam diggers in the long run, Hunter said. Unlike 2022 when we didnt see many young clams, this spring and summer we are, so the conservation closure is even that much more important.

Bay clamming is open along the entire coastline, ODFW noted.

Always check for toxin-related closures before harvesting clams or crabs by calling the shellfish safety hotline 1-800-448-2474. Closures are also noted on ODAS Recreation Shellfish page and on ODFWs Recreation Report  Clamming and Crabbing Report.

For more information about clamming on the Oregon coast, visit ODFWs Crabbing and Clamming page online.

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Photos above Seaside Aquarium











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Weather, Traffic Alerts for Washington Coast, Oregon Coast; Elevated Fire Dangers

Updated 07/15/23 at 7:21 p.m.

By Oregon Coast Beach Connection staff

(Manzanita, Oregon)  A variety of warnings and advisories are in place in Oregon, Washington and the coastlines, for both weather and travel issues. Fire dangers are greatly elevated in all Oregon forests right now, there are a variety of heat advisories in both states and some major traffic issues are to be expected on the Columbia River and where the north Oregon coast and south Washington coast meet. (Above: photo Oregon Coast Beach Connection)

The central Oregon Coast Range is under a gnarly heat advisory for the rest of Saturday, with high temps up to 102 possible. The heat advisory ends later Saturday night, and Sunday cools down considerably in areas just outside of Lincoln City down through Yachats.

The beaches, meanwhile, stay in and around the 60s.

Most inland areas in western Oregon also have such advisories along with elevated fire dangers, including Portland, Eugene and Ashland.

A similar heat advisory is in effect for the lower parts of the southern Oregon coast, where eastern Coos County will see some excessive heat. However, areas like Gold Beach or Brookings linger in the balmy and comfortable 70s.

Washington Coast Weather - Oregon Coast Weather

There are various red flag warnings around much of Oregon. The Siuslaw National Forest says all its areas are in the in high fire danger category at the moment, which includes most forestlands along the Oregon coast and the Coast Range.

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Be prepared for more traffic along the Astoria-Megler Bridge at Astoria, as the Lewis and Clark Bridge near Longview, Washington gets shut down for eight days, leaving this north Oregon coast bridge one of two closest routes across the Columbia River west of Portland. It's expected to affect traffic on the southern Washington coast quite a bit.

According to ODOT, the Lewis and Clark Bridge closes on Sunday, July 16 for repairs.



Lewis and Clark Bridge, courtesy ODOT

The 93-year-old Lewis and Clark Bridge is the only span across the Columbia River between the Astoria-Megler Bridge near the mouth of the river and the Interstate Bridge between Portland and Vancouver, ODOT said. The closure may create hardships for communities along the Columbia River in Clatsop and Columbia counties in Oregon and require residents to plan ahead for important appointments.

ODOT said an alternative on the Washington coast might be the Wahkiakum County Ferry between Westport and Cathlamet, Washington, which will run twice an hour, 24 hours a day while the bridge is closed. The ferry has extremely limited capacity and should be reserved for urgent matters that do not require an ambulance. Travelers choosing the ferry should expect lengthy wait times. See the project website for more







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Brookings, courtesy Manuela Durson - see Manuela Durson Fine Arts for more

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The Piedmont-Triad Prosperity Zone has a unique opportunity this fall to leverage an available $11 million to be awarded by the Golden LEAF Foundation for projects that will boost job creation and economic investment, workforce preparedness, and agriculture. The Community-Based Grants Initiative (CBGI) targets one Prosperity Zone per year and is designed to advance local projects ready for implementation.Organizations located in or serving Alamance, Caswell, Davidson, Davie, Forsyth, Guilford, Randolph, Rockingham, Stokes, Surry, and Yadkin counties are invited to register for the official kick off meeting planned for April 27, 2023.Identifying the right projects that will significantly benefit the region and have a long-lasting economic impact is a foundational first step in maximizing these awards. CBGI focuses on projects that bring local economic development, workforce and education, agriculture and industry leaders around the common cause of creating jobs. Most successful projects are collaborative, strategic, scale up to benefit more than one community, and provide a clear path to employment opportunities.The Piedmont-Triad Prosperity Zone last participated in the CBGI process in 2017. The Golden LEAF Board of Directors awarded $10.9 million in funding to support 16 projects in the priority areas of job creation and economic investment and workforce preparedness.In 2017, the Golden LEAF Board awarded $254,347 through the CBGI to Surry County Schools to establish a college and career academy serving 30 local high school students over the grant term. This was designed to provide students access to career pathways targeting advanced manufacturing, health sciences, agriculture and other trade/industry employment sectors.Under the Next Generation program 93 students obtained a minimum of 12 credit hours of college credit or an associate degree; 563 industry-recognized/ third-party credentials were earned, 130 students completed a minimum of 100 hours of work experience through internships or other work-based learning, and 93% of the students either obtained employment in field of study within six months or continue training in their field of study. The Next Generation Program began in January 2018 and continued through October 2021 before evolving into the expanded Surry-Yadkin Works.The Golden LEAF Board awarded the Town of Madison $500,000 to upgrade its water treatment plant, increasing water supply available for growth along the US 220 corridor. The increase in water supply was needed to serve businesses locating and expanding in Madison and also supplies water for the state-funded infrastructure expansion in southern Rockingham County and northwestern Guilford County.The Town of Madison completed the water treatment plant improvements. The project has also enabled the town to approve development of a 200 plus lot subdivision and the potential to approve development of another 85 residential lots in the same area. Ontex, a leading international personal hygiene group, decided to locate in Madison in part because of the access to water which is purchased from the Town of Madison. So far, Ontex has created an additional 150 jobs. Total job creation as a result of this project is 226 from an array of surrounding business and industry.These success stories are the result of collaboration, planning, and rallying together around the challenging work needed to help regions make significant strides toward economic growth.CBGI's focused process culminates with grants targeted toward investments to grow economic development. Awards are typically limited to 1-3 projects per county and total no more than $1.5 million per county. Not all counties in the region are guaranteed to receive funds. Click here for more information and to sign up for email updates for the CBIG process in the Piedmont-Triad Prosperity Zone.
This post appears here courtesy of the Carolina Journal . The author of this post is Theresa Opeka Earlier this week, Democrat Gov. Roy Cooper issued what he called aregarding K-12 public school education funding, but under new state law a realwould require a vote from the North Carolina Council of State. So, how would they vote? Here is what they told us.First, in announcing his educationCooper clarified that he was not issuing an executive order - like with a hurricane or with the COVID-19 pandemic - but the action he said wasCooper took aim at three proposals specifically - an expansion of the Opportunity Scholarship Program, income tax breaks, and what he termed "book banning" by Republicans.The red banner proclaimingstill remains at the top of the governor.nc.gov website this weekend, despite Republican criticism that it is more of a political stunt than a true emergency.If it were a true emergency, Council of State members would have to vote on on the action taken by Cooper, or any other governor, under a new law that took effect on Jan. 1.Any statewide emergency a governor declares will automatically expire in 30 days unless extended by a majority vote of COS. If a member fails to vote within 48 hours, that's counted as a concurrence. After 60 days, the emergency will expire unless extended by an act of the General Assembly.The law was in response to how Cooper handled restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic, which left North Carolina in a state of emergency for two and a half years. The law made changes to the Emergency Management Act as part of S.B. 105, otherwise known as the 2021 state budget, which Cooper signed into law in Nov. 2021, with the new law taking effect at the beginning of this year.North Carolina's Council of State is set up in the state Constitution as a body of ten members elected statewide and, with the governor's cabinet, make up North Carolina's executive branch. So, would the N.C. Council of State members vote for an educationReaction was mixed.said Attorney General Josh Stein in an emailed statement to Carolina Journal. He is also a Democrat candidate for the 2024 governor's race.Jason Tyson, Communications Director for Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey, told CJ in an emailed statement,Secretary of Labor Josh Dobson told CJ in an emailed statement that as a product of public education, he believes we need to do as much as we can to strengthen public education and support teachers, but added he doesn't anticipate it coming for a vote and would be hesitant to commit one way or another without more details.He did, however, want to point out that not only are there challenges and vacancies in public education but also in state government.Dobson said.He said there is no substitute for money for teachers or state employees.Dobson added.A spokesperson for Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler said in an emailed statement that he has no opinion to share at this time.Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, who is also a Republican candidate for the 2024 governor's race, did have an opinion. He called Cooper'sand that he could have asked people to call their legislators through a press release or one of his fundraising emails.Robinson said in an emailed statement to CJ.State Treasurer Dale Folwell, also a Republican candidate for governor in 2024, said he generally supports legislation that pushes the power to the parent as long it is done in ansaid Folwell in a phone interview with CJ.he added.Folwell said education isn't one-size fits all for all children.he said.Democrat Secretary of State Elaine Marshall, Democrat State Auditor Beth Wood, and Republican Superintendent of Public Instruction Catherine Truitt, did not return comment before publication.
On April 4 of this year, the academic-services firm Turnitin activated a software designed to catch a certain kind of student plagiarist. As has been widely discussed on the Martin Center's website and elsewhere, the next frontier in academic dishonesty iswork that is actually machine-generated-by ChatGPT, Gippr AI, or one of the other artificially intelligentthat will doubtless follow. Turnitin claims that it can now detect this artificial prose with 98-percent accuracy. Yet the most likely development may well be a machine-learning arms race, wherein chatbot developers vie with ostensible chatbotfor technological supremacy. Such a competition will almost surely not be won by the good guys.From the beginning, the cracks in Turnitin's software were already evident. In an April writeup for the Washington Post, tech columnist Geoffrey A. Fowler made the point thata hasty timeline that has resulted in a rash of false positives. Moreover, according to the same story, Turnitin's new program occasionally errs in the opposite direction, letting slide material that has, in fact, been written by a machine.For GPTZero, a competing AI-detection model, things are, if possible, even worse. As Redditors recently discussed to widespread amusement, the self-proclaimeddeclared the Declaration of Independence to be robot-composed when asked. (No word on whether anyone has run Hillary Clinton's 2016 stump speech through the same software.) If chatbot sleuths can't pick Thomas Jefferson out of a lineup, how do they expect to catch the next generation of sophisticated AI models?Increasingly, students themselves-and even robots!-have begun to boast that chatbot-abetted plagiarism is unpreventable. Last month, a Columbia University undergraduate named Owen Kichizo Terry took to the pages of the Chronicle of Higher Education to declare that current academic-integrity policies areTerry averred,During my recentwith Gippr AI, a new right-leaning conversation bot, similar crowing was on display.the bot declared,Given the uncertain state of AI-prose detection, it is the rare professor indeed who will risk his career with a false accusation. As higher-ed commentators have discussed ad nauseam, the power dynamic between faculty and students has largely flipped in recent years, with the former cohort now living in fear of the latter. Were I to advise a student accused of AI plagiarism, I would tell him to deny, deny, deny while making full use of his university'sprocesses. Believe me, the professor and college would likely back down long before any real discipline was meted out.Of course, Turnitin's software and competing products will improve over time. But here's the rub: So will chatbots. Thus, the alternatives before colleges are to enter a costly, never-ending, and largely futile arms race or to radically rethink how student learning is assessed. The former may be more likely given the higher-ed sector's resistance to change. The latter is wiser.Turnitin and other chatbot detectors may win the occasional battle in the fight over academic honesty. But they will lose the war.This post appears here courtesy of The James G. Martin Center . The author of this post is Graham Hillard On April 4 of this year, the academic-services firm Turnitin activated a software designed to catch a certain kind of student plagiarist. As has been widely discussed on the Martin Center's website and elsewhere, the next frontier in academic dishonesty iswork that is actually machine-generated-by ChatGPT, Gippr AI, or one of the other artificially intelligentthat will doubtless follow. Turnitin claims that it can now detect this artificial prose with 98-percent accuracy. Yet the most likely development may well be a machine-learning arms race, wherein chatbot developers vie with ostensible chatbotfor technological supremacy. Such a competition will almost surely not be won by the good guys.From the beginning, the cracks in Turnitin's software were already evident. In an April writeup for the Washington Post, tech columnist Geoffrey A. Fowler made the point thata hasty timeline that has resulted in a rash of false positives. Moreover, according to the same story, Turnitin's new program occasionally errs in the opposite direction, letting slide material that has, in fact, been written by a machine.For GPTZero, a competing AI-detection model, things are, if possible, even worse. As Redditors recently discussed to widespread amusement, the self-proclaimeddeclared the Declaration of Independence to be robot-composed when asked. (No word on whether anyone has run Hillary Clinton's 2016 stump speech through the same software.) If chatbot sleuths can't pick Thomas Jefferson out of a lineup, how do they expect to catch the next generation of sophisticated AI models?Increasingly, students themselves-and even robots!-have begun to boast that chatbot-abetted plagiarism is unpreventable. Last month, a Columbia University undergraduate named Owen Kichizo Terry took to the pages of the Chronicle of Higher Education to declare that current academic-integrity policies areTerry averred,During my recentwith Gippr AI, a new right-leaning conversation bot, similar crowing was on display.the bot declared,Given the uncertain state of AI-prose detection, it is the rare professor indeed who will risk his career with a false accusation. As higher-ed commentators have discussed ad nauseam, the power dynamic between faculty and students has largely flipped in recent years, with the former cohort now living in fear of the latter. Were I to advise a student accused of AI plagiarism, I would tell him to deny, deny, deny while making full use of his university'sprocesses. Believe me, the professor and college would likely back down long before any real discipline was meted out.Of course, Turnitin's software and competing products will improve over time. But here's the rub: So will chatbots. Thus, the alternatives before colleges are to enter a costly, never-ending, and largely futile arms race or to radically rethink how student learning is assessed. The former may be more likely given the higher-ed sector's resistance to change. The latter is wiser.Turnitin and other chatbot detectors may win the occasional battle in the fight over academic honesty. But they will lose the war.
Do you support removing senior citizens from their current location at Grace Martin Harwell Senior Center despite their overwhelming opposition or do you support turning the center into a local history museum? Yes, I support removing the seniors and relocating them to another facility. No, I stand opposed to removing seniors and support allowing them to stay in their current facility. 24 total vote(s) What's your Opinion?



To say the last week in Washington has been contentious between senior citizens and the bureaucracy in the City would be putting it mildly. Besides causing massive division in the community, the city's lack of transparency in its attempt to force a local museum room into the Senior Center downtown's second floor has backfired in epic proportions.All the way back in May, the city approached members of the history community with the idea of creating a museum on the second floor of the Grace Martin Harwell Senior Center. Only there was one problem with this; they didn't care enough to tell the seniors about it or ask how they felt about it. Ignorant to the fact the the second floor not only hosts minority owned businesses, a juvenille justice assistance center and meetings ranging from grief counseling, tax assistance and health care insurance assistance for those aged 55 and up, the city in its infinite wisdom decided to put out bids to demolish the 2nd floor and put in a local history musuem.Caught in the crossfire were those working on the Port of Washington Project who had no idea that the city never felt the need to consult the seniors on how they felt. Well the seniors felt like this: HELL NO! The senior center is a home away from home for hundreds of seniors from Washington and across the county and has an excellence rating from the State of North Carolina. It is some of the only socialization that the seniors have and they provide much needed revenue for the downtown businesses when they journey to the center. It's a place of meetings, dances, clubs, socialization and fellowship.But the city of course ignored all this as it frequently does on many public issues because the Good Ole Boy network thinks including public input simply doesn't matter. They didn't count that they crossed the wrong people this time. Seniors organized and quickly by informing the media, protesting, showing up in force at a city council meeting prepared to fight. The city's response was to equivocate, use smooth langauge and make contradictory statement. Even as the city interviewed with WITN and tried to claim they were limiting their eyes to the second floor (which is egregious enough), City Manager Jonathan Russell admitted to the reporter that the City was still considering building a new Senior Center and relocating the seniors which is something they are adamantly opposed to.The seniors ranged from Republicans to Democrats to Independents, black, white and latino, younger members and more seasoned memebers and they made it clear they weren't backing down. Today, July 15th, they confronted Mayor Donald Sadler directly and got him to back down. He's agreed to tell the City Manager to reject all bids to demolish the 2nd floor and to leave the seniors ALONE!Has the city learned its lesson? Doubtful. The lack of transparency of the City government is stunning and their desire to not seek public input on very important issues is at the heart of my own campaign for City Council. I've personally filed a Freedom of Information Act request with the City Clerk to provide ALL communications regarding the Senior Center between Mayor Donald Sadler and City Manager Jonathan Russell both written and electronic which by force of law they must comply with. The voters will determine ultimately if we need a change of the guard so that we can restore public participation and stop this looking down the nose at the peasants approach to public policy.This also should not signal the end for a new local history museum. There should be another location found for the museum and one that I personally would help raise funds for and would like the city to give seed money to in order to form an endowment to continue operations without relying on the government dole indefinitely. Many people of good character put a lot of effort into this project. Unfortunately the city misled them and our officials should be held accountable for treating the seniors as insignificant. In the end the Seniors Struck Back and the Empire Folded.
The animated series ran throughout the 1990s.

Northern Ireland director Sir Kenneth Branagh is to direct a new feature-length film based on the animated 1990s favourite Gargoyles.

The Oscar-winning director will steer the feature, which has been widely anticipated since the original series concluded.

The concept was scrapped after the series concluded, and in 2011 the writing team of David Elliot and Paul Lovett (G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra) was tapped to write a new script.

Gargoyles premiered in 1994 and ran for three seasons, a total of 78 episodes, and was renamed Gargoyles: The Goliath Chronicles in its third and final season.

It featured a clan of gargoyles as heroes transplanted from the 10th century to the modern day.

Back in the middle ages, most of the clan is killed while Goliath and a small group of other gargoyles are cursed to be frozen in stone until their castle somehow reaches above the clouds.

Read more Sir Kenneth Branaghs theatre company announces cast and crew of upcoming King Lear adaptation

Goliath and his comrades awaken in the twentieth century, after the wealthy David Xanatos buys the castle and has it transported to, and reconstructed atop, his New York City skyscraper.

The gargoyles protect the city and its people, often dealing with various supernatural challenges as well as clashing with Xanatos.

The voice cast included Keith David (They Live) as the lead Goliath, the late Ed Asner (Up) as Hudson, and Jonathan Frakes (Star Trek: The Next Generation) as the billionaire David Xanatos.

Branagh is one of a growing list of renowned directors taking on Disneys ive-action adaptations.

Sir Kenneth Branagh. Pic: Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images

Robert Zemeckis (Forrest Gump) helmed last years Pinocchio while Guy Ritchie directed 2019s Aladdin, and is already set to direct Aladdin 2 and the live-action Hercules.

Belfast director Branagh this week also joined writers on the picket line in a strike that is set to spark an industry-wide shut-down.

It comes after the union which represents around 160,000 members of the industry and Hollywood studios failed to reach an agreement on a fairer split of profits and increased safeguarding around AI rights.

Members of the Screen Actors Guild  American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (Sag-Aftra)  previously voted overwhelmingly to authorise a strike if a new contract with major studios, streamers and production companies could not be reached.

Nearly 98% (97.91%) of the 65,000 members who cast votes were in favour, Sag-Aftra said.

It comes amid the ongoing strike by more than 11,000 members of the Writers Guild of America (WGA), who began industrial action on May 2.

It is the first time in more than 60 years that both unions have been on strike simultaneously.

Upcoming award shows, premieres, events and film festivals around the world, including the Toronto and Venice film festivals, and the 75th Emmys are likely to go ahead without participation from major talent, if at all.

Among the productions in the UK that could be affected by the strike action is Deadpool 3, starring Hollywood actors Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman, who were both recently pictured suited up for filming.

Speaking from the red carpet at the Oppenheimer premiere, Mr Branagh told PA: If it happens I stand in solidarity with our Sag members.
The PSNI has appealed for information following a report of an assault in Belfast on July 12 (Niall Carson/PA)

A woman has been arrested following a report of an assault in Belfast on the Twelfth.

Social media footage appeared to show a man and a woman involved in an altercation at the junction of Sandy Row and Donegall Road.

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A PSNI spokesperson: Police have arrested a 31-year-old woman following the report of an assault in the Sandy Row area of south Belfast on July 12.

The woman has been taken to custody and is currently assisting police with their inquiries.

Anyone who may have been in the area at the time and who witnessed the assault or anyone with any footage that could assist with the investigation is asked to contact police on 101 quoting reference 1494 of 12/07/23.
The County Armagh Twelfth Demonstration making its way through Lurgan town centre to Brownlow House last week. Pic: Presseye

A former Irish government minister says there is still a lot of work to do before the Twelfth could become a public holiday in the Republic.

Liz ODonnell said a suggestion from a TD for an island-wide holiday was a shocker of a proposal, branding the current celebrations inherently sectarian.

Last week Green politician Patrick Costello stated that he believed July 12 should be a holiday north and south of the border, similar to St Patricks Day.

Read more TDs call for Twelfth to be made public holiday in Republic of Ireland is welcomed

But writing in The Sunday Times, Ms ODonnell  who served as Irish Foreign Affairs Minister of State between 1997 and 2002  hit out at the proposal.

She said a better understanding was still needed between the Orange and the Green, pointing to a series of controversial incidents at bonfires over the Twelfth period.

The call by Patrick Costello, the Green TD, to designate July 12 a public holiday in the south raised a few eyebrows including those of yours truly who is no slouch when it comes to loving Ulster. And this happened while a tricolour and a picture of the Taoiseach was perched on top of a loyalist bonfire in Co Tyrone, she wrote.

Apart from this shocker of a proposal, I also took issue with Costellos casual swipe at successive Irish governments of which he said: For too long they sought to portray a single narrative of Irish history, one that was isolationist, militant nationalist and Catholic.

Liz O'Donnell

Ms ODonnell, a former Progressive Democrats TD, said this was not true, saying that for years, and particularly since the Good Friday Agreement, Irish governments have reached out practically and symbolically to unionists in Northern Ireland, including the Orange Order.

She said it was not appropriate to bring the public holiday to the Republic as the celebration is provocative to many. There is more to be done by all of us and this will require a fundamental shift of hearts and minds to heal divisions in a new agreed Ireland. This is a personal and a public challenge, she added.

She continued: With the best will in the world, however, there is no doubt that July 12 celebrations in Northern Ireland are provocative to nationalists and Catholics. They are inherently sectarian.

Ms ODonnell reflected on the commendable respect apparent each year at the annual Twelfth event that takes place at Rossnowlagh in Co Donegal. But she said the request for a July 12 holiday across Ireland was a wrong-headed tilt toward reconciliation.

She said North, South and between the two communities, we still do not really know or understand each others culture, adding: We have a lot of work to do on ourselves to better understand the Orange and the Green and what unites us.

Writing in yesterdays Sunday Independent, Mr Costello said he had received support for his proposal.

It is a date of great consequence  no matter how you look at it. Marking it across the entire island, but in different ways and perhaps for different reasons, nonetheless helps underline that we have an intertwined history, he stated.

If we are to have a shared future on a shared island then we need to find ways to share dates and events that are important to either tradition.
Defence Secretary Ben Wallace has pledged his support for Ukraine after suggesting the country should show gratitude for the military support it has received (PA)

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace has pledged his support for Ukraine after suggesting the invaded country should show gratitude for the military support it has been given.

Mr Wallace, who revealed in The Sunday Times he plans to resign at the next Cabinet reshuffle and stand down as an MP at the next election, tweeted a lengthy thread in Ukrainian to clarify his comments.

He had made the remark after Ukraines president Volodymyr Zelensky branded it absurd for Nato to insist there were still conditions for his nation to meet before it can gain membership once the war with Russia is over.

Mr Wallace tweeted: My comments about how best to support Ukraine caused a lot of interest and were somewhat misrepresented.

Ben Wallace said he plans to resign at the next Cabinet reshuffle and stand down as an MP at the next election (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

For the record, as someone who has been at the forefront of mobilising support for Ukraine, I have discussed the challenges that may arise as we work towards the common goal of helping Ukraine get what it needs to defeat this illegal invasion.

I said that Ukraine sometimes needs to realise that in many countries and in some parliaments there is not such strong support as in Great Britain.

He said his remark was not a comment about governments, but more about citizens and members of parliaments.

We are fortunate that the citizens of the United Kingdom and all parties in our parliament support our efforts to provide Ukraine with the necessary means, he said.

Our approval ratings for supporting Ukraine are among the highest in Europe  over 70%.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (left) and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak attend a meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council (Paul Ellis/PA)

My comments were meant to reflect that it is important to remember not to talk to yourself, but to make an effort to reach out to other citizens who still need to be convinced.

Mr Wallace also addressed comments when he said the UK was not online delivery service Amazon after being handed a wish list for military supplies.

The comments about Amazon were made last year to emphasise that Britains relationship with Ukraine is not transactional but more partnership, he said.

I will personally continue to support Ukraine on its path for as long as it takes, but national parliaments often have competing needs and Ukraine and the UK must continue to encourage this strong support, with facts and friendship.

Last week Prime Minister Rishi Sunak distanced himself from the comments, saying the Ukrainian president has expressed his gratitude for what weve done on a number of occasions.

Mr Zelensky later said: I believe that we were always grateful to United Kingdom.

I dont know what he meant and how else we should be grateful.
A British backpacker has been stabbed by a teenage boy in the resort of Noosa on the Queensland coast in Australia, according to local media reports (Robert Wyatt/Alamy/PA)

A 25-year-old British backpacker has been stabbed by a teenager in an Australian beach resort, according to local media reports.

Police were called to Hastings Street in Noosa on the Queensland coast in the early hours of July 16 after the man was allegedly attacked by a 15-year-old boy following an argument.

The teenager had left the scene but returned with a bottle and a knife before stabbing the victim in the back and wrist, according to police.

The victim was taken to the Sunshine Coast University Hospital for treatment to serious injuries, according to the ABC news website.

The suspect was detained by members of the public before being arrested by police.

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A Queensland Police statement said: Police are investigating following an alleged wounding in Hastings Street, Noosa, this morning, July 16.

Police will allege a verbal argument between a 15-year-old male and a 25-year-old man escalated just before 4am, before the youth left and returned with a bottle and a knife and a physical altercation resulted in the 25-year-old being stabbed in the back and wrist.

Bystanders restrained the 15-year-old boy until police arrived, arresting him.

The 15-year-old has been charged with assault occasioning bodily harm.

Investigators urge anyone with information or relevant vision to contact police.

Investigations are continuing.

A Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office spokesman said: We have not been approached for consular assistance, but our staff stand ready to support British nationals overseas 24/7.
Rescuers search for survivors along a road submerged by floodwaters leading to an underground tunnel in Cheongju, South Korea (South Korea National Fire Agency via AP)

South Korean rescue workers have pulled seven bodies from a flooded tunnel where around 15 vehicles were trapped in muddy water.

It comes as days of heavy rain triggered flash floods and landslides and destroyed homes, leaving at least 33 people dead and forcing thousands to evacuate, officials said on Sunday.

Nearly 400 rescue workers, including divers, were searching the tunnel in the central city of Cheongju where the vehicles, including a bus, were swamped by a flash flood on Saturday evening, Seo Jeong-il, chief of the citys fire department, said in a briefing.

Photos and video from the scene showed rescue workers pumping brown water out of the tunnel as divers used rubber boats to move in and out of the area.

Rescuers search for survivors along a road submerged by floodwaters leading to an underground tunnel in Cheongju, South Korea (Kim Ju-hyung/Yonhap via AP)

Yang Chan-mo, an official from the North Chungcheong provincial fire department, said it could take several hours to pump all the water from the tunnel, which was filled with 13 to 16.4 feet of water dense with mud and other debris.

Workers were proceeding slowly with the work to prevent any victims or survivors from being swept out, the official said.

Nine survivors were rescued from the tunnel and 11 others were believed to be missing based on reports by families or others, but the exact number of passengers trapped in vehicles was not immediately clear, the chief of the citys fire department said.

South Korea has been pounded by heavy rains since July 9.

The rainfall had forced more than 6,100 people to evacuate and left 27,260 households without electricity while flooding or destroying dozens of homes, the ministry of the interior and safety said.

A man reacts next to his collapsed house after a landslide caused by heavy rain in Yecheon, South Korea (Yun Kwan-shick/Yonhap via AP)

At least 22 people were being treated for injuries.

President Yoon Suk Yeol, who is on a trip to Europe, discussed the rain-related casualties and damages during an emergency meeting while traveling to Poland on a train after visiting Ukraine on Saturday, according to his office.

Mr Yoon called for officials to mobilise all available resources to respond to the disaster.
Singers pals sent him more texts about Boss gig than own shows

Bruce Springsteen and Steven Van Zandt of the E Street Band on stage in Hyde Park last week

Danny OReilly has told how he got more text messages about playing ahead of Bruce Springsteen than he does for his own gigs.

The Coronas frontman and his band supported The Boss at the British SummerTime Festival in Londons Hyde Park last week.

Danny (38) said: Who wouldnt love to play before Brucie? There is 100 percent a real love for Bruce.

I think he has a connection with Ireland going back. Hes an Irish-American from New Jersey and the gigs hes had over the years in Ireland are always big shows.

But the amount of texts Ive got off people who wouldnt text me if we had a huge gig in Dublin. Ive got ones going, Oh my gosh, youre supporting Bruce.

Its amazing the affinity the Irish have for him. Its because he has an affinity for us. He goes down the local and has pints.

Bruce Springsteen sings 'Hometown' in Kildare pub

The Coronas benefited from Londons sunny weather, and Danny said they usually managed to avoid the rain that typically pours down on Belfast festivals.

He added: Weve been really lucky over the years when we play in Belfast and Dublin.

We did a big show last year in Dublin, and we were saying that was the only time we have done a show in the rain.

For whatever reason, weve been lucky enough not to get badly rained on.

It is special to be back in London. We lived here for four years and we used to come down to Hyde Park and come to gigs as punters. Its great to be back.

Bruce Springsteen and Steven Van Zandt of the E Street Band on stage in Hyde Park last week

Read more Roger Federer joins fans for Bruce Springsteen BST performance

The Dubliners are returning to Belfast on August 25 to play a headline gig at Custom House Square.

Danny said: Absolutely, were buzzing to be back. Weve always been welcomed in the North, even in the early days, from the first time we played in the Limelight. Then we moved to other venues like the Empire, Mandela Hall and the Ulster Hall.

We built up through the venues slowly. Weve had a different journey there than Dublin. Weve grown slowly and theyve grown with us. Different songs do better up there.

Weve always had a lot of radio support as well. In fact, its funny, we actually have certain songs which get a bigger reaction in Belfast than anywhere else because they got a lot of airplay on Cool FM and the like, to the point where we would always be looking at that when it comes to deciding the setlist.

We always love playing Belfast. Whether its at the Ulster Hall or Custom House Square, its always a special gig.
Woman behind campaign of harassment tried to trash rivals car over Christmas holidays

A woman who waged a campaign of harassment against her former boyfriend and his new partner has been charged with attempted criminal damage.

Newry Magistrates Court was told that Yvonne Derby tried to damage a Mercedes belonging to her exs new love on Main Street in Forkhill on December 30 last year.

After a defence solicitor said the 40-year-old was denying the offence, District Judge Eamon King adjourned the hearing to fix a date for a contest.

The accused, from Ardshean in the village, is currently subject to a suspended jail sentence and a community service order imposed in April over a campaign of harassment.

When she was being given her 120-hour community service order and four-month suspended prison sentence, the judge told her the behaviour would have to stop or she would be jailed.

Derby was charged with a litany offences committed between June 27 and August 23 last year, including two counts of harassment, four counts each of driving while banned and without insurance and single counts of assault and dangerous driving.

A prosecuting lawyer told the court the new partner of Derbys ex was walking her dog on June 27 when Derby grabbed and dragged her to the ground, shouting that it was because she stole her man.

The lawyer said the accused was warned any further contact would be harassment.

Despite that, she sent social media messages to the woman next day.

Yvonne Derby

The lawyer said Derby also pulled up beside the injured party and her partner in the car as they drove along the New Road in Silverbridge.

They told her to leave them alone, but she began to shout abuse at them, she told the court.

The couple drove off, but Derby followed close behind with her headlights on before she overtook at speed, pulled in front of the car suddenly and then slammed on the brakes, causing the injured party to take evasive action.

Having reported the incident to police, it transpired that Derby was not entitled to drive, having failed to reapply for her licence following an earlier ban.

Yvonne Derby

On August 15, Derbys ex was driving his lorry along the New Road, with his children in the cab beside him, when she steered into his line of travel, causing him to take evasive action to swerve out of the way.

The following day, his partner got 24 phones calls from Derby, some made from a landline and others from a withheld number.

She recognised the voice and Derby screamed abuse at her.

Before she was arrested, Derby contacted the injured partys mother.

She put forward a number of innocent explanations to police, but the judge said those claims have to be treated with a degree of scepticism.

The case was adjourned to July 24.
Red-faced executives from GB News had to re-route their live broadcast of Twelfth of July celebrations from Fermanagh because Orange Order leaders there wouldnt bring their parade forward to fit in with the TV schedules.

Former First Minister Arlene Foster, who is now a presenter with the English-based channel, was due to host the coverage along with former Coronation Street actor Charlie Lawson from their home county.

The Ballinamallard parade was set to be the centrepiece of GB News plans, as a follow up to their coverage of last years Twelfth parade from Armagh after the BBC decided to end their own live broadcasts of the Belfast celebrations.

Mrs Foster was quoted as saying she was excited about basing herself in Ballinamallard for the Fermanagh parade which is always a really lovely parade with a great mixture of different bands.

However the plans fell apart after GB News set the starting point of their broadcast at 9.30am and said the coverage would last until just before 12noon  the time when the Ballinamallard parade was due to be commencing.

Its understood frantic calls were made to Orange leaders in Fermanagh asking them to make an earlier start to their parade at around 11am but the pleas were rejected.

One Orange Order source revealed: County officials told GB News they could only bring the parade forward to 11.45am but of course that would have left only a few minutes for the live broadcast of any coverage from Ballinamallard.

The problem was that everything had been arranged for the Twelfth in Fermanagh a long time in advance. All the feeder parades had submitted their 11/1 forms to the Parades Commission and all the travel arrangements had also been set in stone.

GB News then switched their parade plans to Belfast. Its understood it was proposed to establish the live location near King William Park at the junction of University Road and Lisburn Road.

Arlene Foster apologises after man swears during July 12th live coverage in Sandy Row

But broadcast organisers were advised that there could be difficulties posed by anti-social elements from nearby Sandy Row which Orange Order leaders have already acknowledged can be a trouble-spot for them throughout the Twelfth.

Eventually it was agreed that Arlene Foster should present the live GB News coverage from near the Grand Central Hotel in Bedford Street.

The ex-DUP leader had to apologise on a number of occasions after microphones picked up swear words and one Orange supporter used the f word as he chatted with GB News Northern Ireland correspondent Dougie Beattie and Charlie Lawson live on air at Shaftesbury Square.

There were problems and the Orangemen in Fermanagh didnt want to bring the parade forward. Timings didnt suit, Dougie said. The July 12 programme averaged just over 50,000 viewers - down from 78,000 in 2022.
Englands Jonny Bairstow removes a Just Stop Oil protester from the pitch during day one of the second Ashes test match at Lords

Just Stop Oil protesters with placards slow marching along Victoria Street in London. (Just Stop Oil/PA)

Just Stop Oil activists are planning slow marches in Northern Ireland so members can practise for large-scale demonstrations in London this month.

A Sunday Life reporter attended a meeting of the environmental groups leaders held just hours after its Wimbledon protests and ended up being told to join an encrypted chat group.

A day later, one of its members from Belfast called to talk our reporter into joining the protest groups week-long programme of demonstrations and headline-grabbing stunts planned for London.

The young recruiter said there are members across Northern Ireland and the Republic, and the aim is to mobilise them into slow marches which have already sparked traffic chaos in London, costing the Met 3.5m to police.

Moment climate protester disrupts politician's wedding by dumping orange confetti over newlyweds

This has included protests at Wimbledon, Harrods, art galleries, roads and the Ashes. On Friday night two protesters from the environmental campaign group interrupted the First Night of the Proms at Londons Royal Albert Hall.

A Just Stop Oil protestor at Wimbledon

He said the goal is to use the nuisance demonstrations as regional training for its full week of protests in London, with the group planning on causing as much disruption as possible in order to receive press coverage.

The student, who we have chosen not to name, is at university in England but is back in Northern Ireland before he heads over to London.

He attempted to get our reporter involved in four hours a week of calling prospective members to encourage them to take action.

The activist described this process as ringing and said it was one of the backbones of protest movements.

He told our undercover reporter: The action is in England, but there are chat rooms for all the Irish and Northern Irish members, and you can add those on an encrypted app.

I will message someone now to add you to the spreadsheet so you can be added to the Irish chats and the regional chats.

Read more Just Stop Oil have become the Harry and Meghan of eco protest

A Just Stop Oil demonstrator at Twickenham Stadium

Outlining his experience so far with Just Stop Oil, he added: I did some slow marches and I got trained as a safety facilitator, which is like a person who leads the march.

I dont know how many members there are in Northern Ireland, but if we were able to get enough of them, we would be able to do slow marches. But the real impact is marching in London, thats where you get the proper headlines.

So the idea is that you would be slow marching in Northern Ireland to then get people into London and across the water.

The recruiter outlined how the group is going to have a full week of action in London, finishing up with a banquet to celebrate all the good stuff weve done.

He added: The latest action is going to be the all-regions week starting on the 17th. Youll want to get to London on the 16th because you want to get prepared. The actual action is the 17th through to Saturday the 22nd.

And on the Sunday there will be a banquet, which is a coming together of everyone and celebrating all the good stuff weve done.

Just Stop Oil protesters with placards slow marching along Victoria Street in London. (Just Stop Oil/PA)

A day before the recruiter called, our reporter was on a strategy discussion of Just Stop Oils chiefs.

Members were told they wanted the regions to arrange underground actions to raise awareness of the group across the UK.

They also said holding demonstrations in regional areas was an opportunity to sharpen protesters skills in dealing with cops and angry locals before they joined the London-based action.

The leaders added they are holding protests in London to pile pressure on politicians to meet their demand of halting new licences for the exploration of oil and other fossil fuels in the UK.

In April, Northern Ireland snooker player Mark Allen branded protesters who disrupted play at the World Championship in Sheffield as two idiots, noting there are better ways to make their point.

Watch: World Snooker Championship interrupted by just stop oil protesters

A man wearing a Just Stop Oil T-shirt interrupted the match between Robert Milkins and Joe Perry by jumping on to one of the tables and tipping orange powder over the cloth.

Englands Jonny Bairstow removes a Just Stop Oil protester from the pitch during day one of the second Ashes test match at Lords

Last month, two protesters ran onto the field at Lords and briefly disrupted play about five minutes after the start of the second Ashes cricket test between England and Australia. They tried to spread orange powder on the field but the England and Australia players intervened.
Child-hating Belfast woman placed on sex offenders register over pictures and utterly vile chats

This is the utterly vile paedophile grandmother who hates kids and was caught encouraging another pervert to send her indecent images of children.

Christine Malone (55) avoided jail earlier this month when she was handed a three-year probation order for a string of child sex offences.

Malone, who was also caught in possession of images in which children were being sexually abused, was placed on the sex offenders register for five years.

When Sunday Life asked the former sex worker if she had any remorse for her offending or would like to apologise to victims of child abuse, she closed the door in our reporters face.

Downpatrick Crown Court, sitting in Belfast, heard Malones offending occurred from May to August 2014, and included sharing indecent images with a man.

The court also heard online discussions between Malone, of Benview Park, north Belfast, and the Lurgan man related to the abuse of children and what they would do to them.

Describing the conversations as graphic in the extreme, Judge Geoffrey Miller KC said they gave rise to the deepest possible concerns of appalling, distorted and reprehensible paedophilic thinking.

He also said that Malone engaged in highly sexualised and utterly vile discussions with the male about the sexual abuse of children, some as young as three years of age.

The court was told the man is the subject of a police investigation, has fled Northern Ireland and is now living in the Netherlands, with extradition proceedings currently being considered.

Social services became involved when Malones offending first came to light in 2017, and following an investigation, it emerged that none of her children or grandchildren indicated that they had been sexually abused by her.

Judge Miller said it was also confirmed that the indecent images of children being abused which Malone possessed were generic images available on paedophile websites and were not of children she knew or had contact with.

She was arrested in March 2017 and told police she had an interest in online porn.

Malone, who explained that she helped look after her two grandchildren, was asked if she had any other contact with children or was involved in any youth groups.

She said: I actually hate kids and dont know why I had them myself.

During a police interview, she also initially denied knowing the Lurgan man, denied discussing the sexual abuse of children in chatrooms, and could not recall receiving any indecent images of children.

However, she subsequently pleaded guilty to encouraging or assisting an offence to be committed by requesting the male to send her indecent images on dates between May and August 2014.

She also admitted six separate charges of possessing indecent images in July of the same year.

During sentencing, Judge Miller said he had considered defence submissions made on behalf of Malone which set out her unsettled childhood and the remorse she has expressed for her offending behaviour.

Also noted was the lonely and isolated life she now leads.

The judge said: It is apparent that, at the relevant time, she was living in a highly sexualised world, making a living as a sex worker and selling photos of herself.

Branding the online chats as utterly reprehensible, Judge Miller said they represented fantasy on her part.

Addressing Malone as she stood in the dock, he imposed the three-year probation order and told her to complete any programmes recommended by her probation officer.

She was also warned that a failure to comply with the order would result in a return to court and the real prospect of a prison sentence.
UK

Four arrested after chaining themselves to old washing machine at oil refinery
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 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.

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A reburial ceremony has been held on Inishbofin as 13 human skulls that were stolen by academics more than 100 years ago were returned.

The skulls, thought to be around 400 years old, were taken from a monastery on the island off the Co Galway coast by two Trinity College-affiliated academics in 1890.

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After sketching the skulls in the nook of St Colmans monastery, considered sacred by the islanders, Alfred C Haddon and Andrew F Dixon took the skulls in the middle of the night.

Haddons diary entry stated that when asked by sailors bringing them back to the mainland to hand over the satchel, Dixon would not give it up and told the men it contained poitin, a distilled alcohol.

So without any further trouble, we got the skulls aboard and then we packed them in Dixons portmanteau and locked it, and no except our two selves had an idea that there are a dozen human skulls on board and they shant know either, the entry read.

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As part of a process to formally review legacy issues since its foundation, Trinity set up a group to examine whether the skulls should be returned, as well as whether the universitys library, named after Irish philosopher and slave-owner George Berkeley, should be renamed.

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Headed up by senior dean at Trinity Eoin OSullivan, the Trinity Legacies Review Working Group researched the issue before offering a number of options to the board of Trinity College Dublin on what action it could take.

Mr OSullivan said the two anthropologists took the skulls because they actually thought that this was good science at the time.

The skulls were placed in a traditional coffin designed by architect Christopher Day. Photo: Inishbofin Heritage Museum/PA

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In February, the universitys board agreed to return the skulls  Trinity Provost Dr Linda Doyle apologised to the islanders for retaining the remains and thanked them for their engagement.

The decision to return the remains follows years of campaigning by Inishbofin historian, Marie Coyne.

An online petition page that had called for the skulls to be returned had been updated with a message this week.

Many have been waiting for this day for a long time. Its a step toward healing and honouring these people who were laid to rest on Inishbofin, it said.

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On Saturday, the skulls arrived on the island, wrapped in plastic and placed in a traditional coffin designed by architect Christopher Day.

A funeral mass was held on Sunday before the 13 skulls were buried in the coffin.
The new director-general of RTE has said the broadcaster needs to show it has changed significantly in the wake of the controversy over undeclared payments to star presenter Ryan Tubridy.

Kevin Bakhurst also said RTE needs to keep downward pressure on presenters pay as he attempts to restore confidence in the crisis-hit organisation.

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RTE has been engulfed in turmoil since it admitted it had under-declared former Late Late Show host Tubridys earnings by 345,000 from 2017 to 2022.

RTE has been embroiled in controversy over payments to its highest-paid presenter, Ryan Tubridy (Niall Carson/PA)

The figure included three 75,000 annual payments received by Mr Tubridy for proposed public appearances for Renault, as part of a tripartite agreement involving the sponsor, RTE and the presenter.

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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.

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Media Minister Catherine Martin has since announced a number of probes into the governance of the national broadcaster.

In his first major act as RTE boss last week, Mr Bakhurst stood down the broadcasters executive board and replaced it with a temporary interim leadership team.

In an interview with the Sunday Business Post, he played down the prospect of RTE requiring a funding bailout from Government.

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He told the paper: We need to show that the organisation has changed significantly and is more accountable and more transparent and is worthy of being properly funded.

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He went on: Lots of things are going to be different  primarily the way we oversee and govern commercial and the relationship between commercial and public service.

We need to make sure that where theres expenditure on client hospitality, that its properly documented, properly approved, and properly accounted for.

With regard to shrinking the size of the organisation, Mr Bakhurst said he will keep all options under review.

As things stand at the moment, you know, we need to stabilise the ship. I want to be ambitious and drive on with some initiatives, but a lot of them are about pricing and we need to see whats happening with finances.

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I cant take any options off the table. Youve got to work with the money. We need to take some strategic decisions about the sort of areas that we want to remain doing.

Patrick Kielty (pictured with his wife Cat Deeley) was announced as the new host of the Late Late Show earlier this year (Damien Eagers/PA)

He added: We need to keep the pressure downward on presenter pay. We had extremely good discussions with Paddy Kielty.

For someone with his reputation and experience, I think hes come at a very reasonable price.

Co Down comedian Kielty was unveiled earlier this year as Mr Tubridys successor as host of the Late Late Show.

Last month he revealed he will be paid 250,000 per 30-show season and has signed a contract for three seasons.

He will also get a one-off payment of 20,000 for pre-production between now and September, but has waived a further 50,000 worth of travel expenses available to him under his contract.
The BBC should stand up for itself more amid the furore following allegations made against Huw Edwards, Sir Tony Blair has suggested as the corporations leadership faces questions in the British parliament about the story.

The former UK prime minister expressed his support for the important British institution in an interview with Skys Sophy Ridge on Sunday programme.

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The corporation faced a crisis last week after The Sun newspaper reported allegations a then-unnamed top newsreader paid a teenager for sexually explicit images.

Huw Edwards is in hospital receiving treatment for his mental health, his wife said in a statement (PA)

Edwards wife, Vicky Flind, later identified him as the man at the centre of the accusations and said he was receiving treatment in hospital for mental health issues.

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Issues including in light of recent events, what concerns have been raised about the adequacy of the BBCs governance arrangements will now be raised when BBC director-general Tim Davie and other senior figures appear at a pre-arranged Lords Communications Committee session on Tuesday.

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Asked about the corporations response to the situation, Mr Blair said: I think its a great British institution. And I I mean, of course these things will hit them from time to time but I dont think it means that the whole of the BBC is now a bad institution.

And I think, you know, frankly, BBC should stand up for itself a bit more, to be blunt about it. And also, by the way, abroad the BBC is still regarded as an important British institution, and given our need to make sure we keep as much of a position of power in the world as we can, so whatever my disagreements from time to time, I still basically support it.

Edwards faces no further action by police after Scotland Yard said there was no evidence of criminal offences, allowing an internal BBC investigation to resume.

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In a statement issued to the PA news agency on Wednesday, Ms Flind said her husband was first told about the allegations against him last Thursday and is now receiving in-patient hospital care where hell stay for the foreseeable future.

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The Sun said it has no plans to publish further claims and will co-operate with the corporations internal probe.

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On Wednesday, BBC Newsnight reported new claims from one current and one former BBC worker, who said they got inappropriate messages from Edwards, some late at night and signed off with kisses.

Following the family statement, Mr Davie said in a note to staff it is important work on the internal investigation continues, adding: I want to be clear that in doing so we will follow due process.

He said the corporations immediate concern is our duty of care to all involved.

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In the days leading up to Edwards being identified publicly, BBC presenters including Gary Lineker, Rylan Clark, Nicky Campbell and Jeremy Vine were forced to deny being the unnamed presenter.

Edwards is the BBCs highest-paid newsreader, with a pay bracket of 435,000439,999, putting him fourth on the top 10 list, the corporations annual report revealed on Tuesday.
UK defence secretary Ben Wallace has pledged his support for Ukraine after suggesting the invaded country should show gratitude for the military support it has been given.

Mr Wallace, who revealed in The Sunday Times he plans to resign at the next British Cabinet reshuffle and stand down as an MP at the next election, tweeted a lengthy thread in Ukrainian to clarify his comments.

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He had made the remark after Ukraines president Volodymyr Zelenskiy branded it absurd for Nato to insist there were still conditions for his nation to meet before it can gain membership once the war with Russia is over.

Mr Wallace tweeted: My comments about how best to support Ukraine caused a lot of interest and were somewhat misrepresented.

Ben Wallace said he plans to resign at the next Cabinet reshuffle and stand down as an MP at the next election (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

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For the record, as someone who has been at the forefront of mobilising support for Ukraine, I have discussed the challenges that may arise as we work towards the common goal of helping Ukraine get what it needs to defeat this illegal invasion.

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I said that Ukraine sometimes needs to realise that in many countries and in some parliaments there is not such strong support as in Great Britain.

He said his remark was not a comment about governments, but more about citizens and members of parliaments.

We are fortunate that the citizens of the United Kingdom and all parties in our parliament support our efforts to provide Ukraine with the necessary means, he said.

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Our approval ratings for supporting Ukraine are among the highest in Europe  over 70 per cent.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy (left) and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak attend a meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council (Paul Ellis/PA)

My comments were meant to reflect that it is important to remember not to talk to yourself, but to make an effort to reach out to other citizens who still need to be convinced.

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Mr Wallace also addressed comments when he said the UK was not online delivery service Amazon after being handed a wish list for military supplies.

The comments about Amazon were made last year to emphasise that Britains relationship with Ukraine is not transactional but more partnership, he said.

I will personally continue to support Ukraine on its path for as long as it takes, but national parliaments often have competing needs and Ukraine and the UK must continue to encourage this strong support, with facts and friendship.

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Last week UK prime minister Rishi Sunak distanced himself from the comments, saying the Ukrainian president has expressed his gratitude for what weve done on a number of occasions.

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Mr Zelenskiy later said: I believe that we were always grateful to United Kingdom.

I dont know what he meant and how else we should be grateful.
Former Somerton and Frome MP David Warburton has said allegations of sexual misconduct against him have been withdrawn.

Mr Warburton was suspended by the Conservative Party in April 2022 and resigned last month after a probe into the complaints.

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A Westminster watchdog launched a reinvestigation into the claims after revealing the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards had found him guilty of three counts of misconduct instead of the two upheld by the initial inquiry.

The Independent Expert Panel called for both decisions to be reassessed, criticising the materially flawed original probe.

But it did not make findings about the allegations themselves and said those questions remain open.

Mr Warburton claimed on Sunday that the complaints against him had been withdrawn.

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I know its extremely rare for the Independent Expert Panel to fully uphold an appeal by an MP.

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Im, of course, delighted but the past year has been extraordinarily painful for my family and for me, and the personal cost has been incalculable.

As a result, and in order to speak out about the appalling injustice I have experienced, I have had to step down as an MP, he said in a statement.

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David Warburton is standing down (Ben Stansall/PA)

The original probe came after a staffer in Mr Warburtons Westminster office lodged a complaint with UK Parliaments Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme (ICGS) in March 2022, making allegations of sexual misconduct and two bullying and harassment claims against him.

However, Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards Daniel Greenberg then reviewed the evidence and found Mr Warburton guilty of a third, unspecified sexual misconduct charge.

Mr Warburton appealed against Mr Greenbergs decision on the grounds it was procedurally flawed and unreasonable and claiming he had been denied a fair hearing.

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He has admitted cocaine use, saying he took the drug after drinking tons of incredibly potent Japanese whiskey, but has said the sexual misconduct claims against him are false.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was still undergoing tests in hospital on Sunday after suffering a dizzy spell but was expected to be discharged later in the day, his office said.

The 73-year-old was taken to hospital on Saturday after feeling mild dizziness.

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His office said test results on Sunday were normal and that Mr Netanyahu was feeling very good.

The Sheba Medical Centre said Mr Netanyahu is in excellent condition after a series of tests, including cardiovascular ones, adding that the prime ministers medical team will continue to monitor him after his release.

His office said he had spent the previous day at the Sea of Galilee, a popular holiday spot in northern Israel where temperatures climbed to about 40C (104F) amid a stifling country-wide heatwave.

After a series of tests, the initial assessment was that the veteran Israeli leader was dehydrated.

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After being admitted to hospital, Mr Netanyahu released a video on social media on Saturday night.

Smiling, he said he had been out in the sun on Friday without wearing a hat and without water. Not a good idea, he said.

Doctors ordered him to remain in hospital overnight for further observation, and his weekly Cabinet meeting was delayed by a day and rescheduled for Monday, his office said.



Israelis protest in Tel Aviv against plans by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus government to overhaul the judicial system (Ariel Schalit/AP)

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Mr Netanyahu is Israels longest-serving leader and has served multiple terms stretching over 15 years in office.

His current far-right government, a collection of religious and ultranationalist parties, took office last December.

He is said to be in generally good health, though he was briefly admitted to hospital last October after feeling unwell during prayers on Yom Kippur, a day when observant Jews fast.

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The Israeli leader faces pressure on multiple fronts.

He is on trial for multiple corruption charges in a case that has bitterly divided the nation.

His governments hardline policies toward Palestinians have drawn international criticism and antagonised relations with the United States, Israels closest and most important ally.

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At home, tens of thousands of Israelis have held weekly demonstrations against his government in protest at his plan to overhaul the countrys judiciary.

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Mr Netanyahus allies say the plan is needed to rein in the power of unelected judges. But his opponents say the plan will destroy the countrys fragile system of checks and balances and concentrate power in the hands of the prime minister and his allies.
Power grid operator AusNet is confident a vast expansion of the transmission network can be delivered in time to connect enough wind and solar farms to compensate for coal-fired power plants closures, even as intense community opposition looms as a major obstacle.

Australia is experiencing one of the worlds fastest energy transitions as coal-fired power plants, which supply about two-thirds of the eastern seaboards electricity grid, are being retired while clean energys share of the power mix continues to grow.

New high-voltage transmission lines are needed to expand the grid to reach more renewables and achieve the Albanese governments target for 82 per cent of Australias power being green by 2030. Credit: Luis Ascui

However, energy companies and authorities are growing nervous about the lagging rollout of new high-voltage transmission lines needed to expand the grid to reach more renewables and achieve the Albanese governments target for 82 per cent of Australias power being green by 2030.

The delays are being partly driven by significant local opposition against key projects to modernise the grid, including AusNets Western Renewables Link, as communities voice concerns about the impact of giant towers and overhead power lines on their properties and on the landscape and the environment.
Everald Compton with prime minister John Howard in 1998. Credit: Mike Bowers Fitz: Well, for one thing, when I knew you well, courting your fine daughter in the early 80s, you were a great supporter of Queensland premier Joh Bjelke-Petersen and I know you to be a close friend of John Howard  a friendship which included you fundraising for him, for free. All up, I would have had you marked down as a strong conservative. But this UBI sounds a lot like socialism. Just wait until Bronwyn Bishop hears about it! EC: What I believe Ive done is to move to the centre of politics because I reject pure capitalism on one side and socialism on the other. I look at things and I say, What is the best way to fix this problem? And I dont care whether the world thinks the UBI is a left-wing solution  it will work, and it is vital. Fitz: But, Everald, can we start with the cost? I dont just mean the government giving out free money to everyone. Think of the number of microphones of the shock jocks that will simply blow up at the very idea of it, the word processors destroyed as the columnists unleash their thunder! And, more seriously, the gutting of the hard-working taxpayer to pay for such largesse, including to those who simply dont want to work! EC: For all my life, theres been a stigma attached to those getting money without work attached  the whole lifters and leaners, dole-bludgers and welfare cheats thing  and most of it is unfair. We must get away from this. The whole Universal Basic Income idea was designed in the Scandinavian countries and in those parts of the nations where it has been applied on a trial basis  in parts of the US and Canada, Finland, India, Iran, Uganda and so forth  it works. So here, instead of having an entire welfare apparatus expending huge resources to work out who qualifies for payments, who doesnt, and trying to catch cheats, your starting point is that everybody gets it. You no longer need people who need money to fill out 25 pages for someone else to go through to decide. So the first virtue is simplifying the system and supporting everyone, including the people who dont qualify for payments now and fall through the cracks for all sorts of reasons. And with the UBI, youd never have the horrors of things like robo-debt.

Loading Fitz: But even if you did give it to the poor, is it not absurd to give $500 a week to wealthy people who simply dont need it? And is it tax-free? EC: No, its not absurd. And if you are wealthy, you could tick a box where you decline it or donate it. But if you take it, all of it goes onto your taxable income. And heres the thing. Whats been proved in places where this has been applied is that once people know they are to get a monthly remittance from the government, they are more inclined to try and set up their own business rather than go to work because they have the confidence to take risks. It helps with mental illness and the overall social benefits of a happier society are massive. With this simple system, you shrink your own vast bureaucracy, as you just get rid of all the narrowly applied means-tested social welfare programs and all the costly apparatus to work out who should get it and who shouldnt. Fitz: Maybe it will encourage some people to be entrepreneurial and help the economy that way. But surely it would also encourage others to lie on the beach all day long, do nothing and live off the teat of the government, courtesy of the taxpayers? EC: Well, theres a hell of a lot of them doing that right now. And the evidence is that instead of people sitting on their backsides and do nothing, it actually encourages people to do something, and it also enables people who are in a job that they dont like to break out and learn a new profession while theyre living on their UBI.

Loading Fitz: But Everald, I come back to the tax! All that money has to come from somewhere, and it is surely inevitable that taxes would indeed have to go up to the Scandinavian levels. EC: No. Think of all the money spent trying to alleviate poverty and all the problems that come with it  the ill-health, the crime, the dysfunction. We say it is cheaper to pay the money first, to alleviate the problem from the beginning, instead of trying to fix it downstream. Fitz: It will still be hideously expensive. EC: That is why you must put the whole thing together with a different tax code where instead of people dodging high tax on income, people would have to pay a low tax on all the money that goes through their account  with no loopholes, no write-offs, no deductions. There will be no more tax evasion, and the rich will at last have to pay their fair share. If you did it that way, you could not only finance this, you could also finance all the roads, bridges, hospitals and schools, etc. Because the amount of money that rich people dont pay in tax, with all these trusts and schemes and deductions, is so enormous. Wed end all that.

Loading Fitz: OK, so I didnt realise that its a twin proposal, that with the UBI youd put up a flat tax rate as well. If it got up, youd be putting a lot of accountants out of work. EC: Im doing my best to put PwC out of work already. What you have to realise is that at the top scale, the wealthy people, pay the least tax of anybody in Australia. And once the tax evaders start paying the tax they should, the money will flow from the top to everyone else. Fitz: All right. So, if its so great, why has no country in the world tried it in full? EC: They might soon. But why cant Australia become a world leader in becoming the first nation to do this? Its going to take a lot of homework to get it right. But the social benefits of it all are enormous.

Fitz: I am still not convinced, though I might say that nor was I convinced the first time I heard arguments for normalising the drug laws and completely getting rid of prohibition. Abolishing the drug laws sounds like madness, until you explore, and it makes sense. Still, Id be amazed if you can get the Australian political class engaged. I know that in the course of your career, you have visited Canberra 120 times, and were acknowledged for that this year in Question Time. What traction have you got on this one? EC: The last trip I did to Canberra, we went to all the people in all the parties and some were intrigued. Many have the same concerns as you, but agreed that it might be worth exploring. Fitz: Have you run the idea by John Howard, and if so, is he convinced? EC: No, I havent, Peter, as I know him well enough to be aware he will not buy UBI right now. My initial findings are that most LNP MPs will oppose it on ideological grounds. I have had positive support from MPs who are Labor, Greens, teals and other independents, but am not yet organised for a serious UBI campaign. Will commence that after political scientist Dr Karen Stenner and I formally lodge our petition to parliament asking for a committee to be set up to investigate it. At that point, we will really crank it up. Eventually, I reckon I can win the support of the LNP on the basis of how it will boost small business. At that time, I will call John Howard to get his backing. Fitz: I wish you well. Last thing, though. Andrew Denton said to me today that when he was pushing assisted dying in Queensland, you were a real force and had the energy of three men. How is it so, when you are 92?

EC: That is nice of Andrew. At my age, I am glad to wake up every morning. And I want to achieve things. When I stop achieving things, I will die. Tweet of the week Thank goodness Scott [Morrison] didnt buy anyone a Cartier watch because then hed be in real trouble. - @SpudBenBean on the fallout from the robo-debt royal commission report. Morrison, you will recall, once called for the sacking of then Australia Post CEO, Christine Holgate, for handing out several Cartier watches to executives whod saved a lot of money. Joke of the week I said to the gym instructor, can you teach me to do the splits? He said, how flexible are you? I said, I cant make Tuesdays.
Intrinsic to Eklands appeal was the 70s notion that Swedish women were sexually free. This baffled Ekland because her upbringing was so austere. Her family were wealthy bourgeoisie; her father ran an upmarket department store founded by her grandfather. Her childhood involved Sunday school and curtsying to older relatives. Thanks to her resemblance to Brigitte Bardot, she won bit parts on Swedish TV, which led to bigger film roles in Italy. At 21, as a hot young starlet, finally free from her fathers rules, the last thing she wanted was a husband. I saw my parents and their friends. I thought marriage was a horrible situation. The women were at home ironing and cooking, taking care of all the children. And the man, you know, he was out swanning around  he had bridge nights, curling nights and boating nights. Plus a bit on the side. I said I will never marry  but thats the first thing I did. I thought marriage was a horrible situation. The women were at home ironing and cooking, taking care of all the children. BRITT EKLAND If only, she says, shed had a few years of carefree, flat-sharing fun. Instead she rapidly had a daughter, Victoria. Sellers was a friend of the royal family, all Goon Show fans, so shed find herself on shooting weekends with the Queen or dinner parties with Princess Margaret. As a minor Swedish socialite who knew the king, Ekland was at ease. But Sellers moods oscillated between extravagant gift-giving and insomniac ravings, which she believes now was undiagnosed bipolar disorder. He also took amyl nitrate poppers while having sex with her, the catalyst to a massive heart attack that almost killed him. After four stormy years, she left. After the divorce, Ekland had affairs with an Italian count; Lord Lichfield, the Queens cousin (whom she dumped for being a bit dull); Lou Adler, a record and movie producer (with whom she had a son, Nic); and actor Ryan ONeal. LA in the 70s was for her a riotous La Ronde: she slept with George Hamilton, whose wife, Alana, married Rod Stewart after hed dumped Ekland.

Maybe the fame circle was smaller in those days. Today, its so wide. But when you think how old I am and you count the number of affairs I have had, I think, compared with other, younger women, I really had very few. The thing that gave me that reputation is because they were all famous. With Rod Stewart on a boat in New York City to promote his 1975 album, Atlantic Crossing. Credit: Getty images Like everyone else of the era, she slept with Warren Beatty, noting in her autobiography he could handle women as smoothly as operating an elevator. He knew exactly where to locate the top button: one flick and we were on the way. They met at a party hosted by Roman Polanski when Beatty was dating Julie Christie. I have to say I feel quite ashamed that I did that. Still, I couldnt resist the forbidden fruit. Because they couldnt appear in public for fear of Christie finding out, Beatty took Ekland to porn cinemas. She was aghast. Why would I want to see people having sex? To me, thats just bizarre. What kind of pleasure do you get out of it? So basically, Warren and I had sex, and that was it. When Ekland met Rod Stewart, she was already a Bond girl and almost as famous as him. It began at yet another LA party where Paul McCartney, Bob Dylan and Joni Mitchell were jamming and asked Stewart to join them. But, as she proudly notes, he preferred to sit with her. In photographs they always looked about to rip off each others clothes, and indeed theyd make love four times a day, often nipping out of dinner parties for a quickie.

They lived in high pomp-rock style in a mansion. Even when they were dining alone shed put on an evening dress and Stewart a tux. Ekland, two years older, brought sophistication, art, vintage clothes and fine living to Stewart, the working-class builders son. But Ekland says Stewart rarely bought her anything; indeed he demanded she pay rent and the phone bill. During their relationship she barely made a film, turning down roles to be at his side. The affair ended acrimoniously with Ekland  whod uprooted herself from London to join him  taking out a $12.5 million lawsuit but eventually settling out of court for much less. I dont ever think about him now, she says coldly. After Stewart, Ekland says, she went a little wild. In the late 70s, for lets say two years, I was quite self-indulgent and had a lot of fun. But Ive never written about it. Because its quite saucy. What does she mean? I was in LA, London, Paris, making TV and movies, doing personal appearances. And I behaved as a man. Id point at someone in a nightclub and say, Get me him!  Did it work? Oh, yes. I could have anybody I wanted. But I was not a promiscuous person. It was more knowing that I had the power to do so. Because the prequel is more fun than the actual  Sex? Yes. Having fun and being cheeky, rather than just getting down in the bed and doing the dirty. She pulls a face. Britt Ekland attends The Hollywood Autograph Show at The Westin Los Angeles Airport, 2019. Credit: Getty images Then, aged 41, she married 23-year-old Stray Cats drummer Slim Jim Phantom, having a son, Thomas Jefferson, or TJ, when she was 46. (The marriage lasted eight years.) It is motherhood, she says, that kept her life on track. Ive had a child every decade. In my 20s, my 30s, my 40s.

Was it complicated negotiating with three different fathers? Well, Sellers was not a father for a start. He never took care of Victoria. Victoria became the cliche Hollywood wild child: posing in Playboy, ending up in rehab, running with a fast crowd. She is now 58 and a jewellery designer. Nic (my most level-headed child) has three children and is an entrepreneur who runs music festivals and restaurants in LA, while TJ, 35, is now a chef living in Sweden. Loading It was because of TJ that, after her divorce from Phantom (a wonderful ex), Ekland gave up lovers. I did not want to introduce another man, at least until he was 18. I felt Id made a lot of mistakes with my children by introducing them to men. So shes been single for the past 25 years: I cant be bothered. Its just too complicated. Now Ekland lives between LA and the east coast of Sweden, travelling with her chihuahua-cross, Bowie, who has his own Instagram account. She is tough, forward-looking and has few regrets about wasted career chances. Her body, she says, is a little slower these days, but shes convinced she wont die, as her mother did, with Alzheimers. A doctor told me I wont get it. She says of death, Im going to try not to leave too much shite behind for my children and plans to sort out her belongings in a year or so. Yet shes never stopped fighting the ageing process. In the 90s she had disastrous lip-filler injections. I had terrible stuff done to me and had to live with the commentary: Why did she do that to herself?  She raises her chin so I can admire her smooth jawline from the facelift she had 20 years ago. At almost 81, Ekland still has Botox. I am vain. Very vain. I always say, The mirror is your best friend. But Ive been looking like Britt Ekland since Britt Ekland was invented. And I refuse to give up now.
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A taqueria inspired by those in Mexico City is now open, with a large bar to prop at with margaritas and tacos al pastor.

Daniel Pineda, co-owner of Seddons Superchido, fell hard for Mexico Citys taquerias when he visited last year.

In Melbourne, pure taco shops are just not around, he says. Instead, there is a sea of quick-service restaurants selling burritos or Mexican restaurants doing broad brushstroke takes on the cuisine. Taquerias, though? Few and far between.

The team at CDMX. Simon Schluter

CDMX was the answer, a taco stand he opened last year with wife Beatrice and sister Sarah. It was initially a pop-up at Melbourne Central that later became permanent.

Now the team have graduated to a full-blown restaurant in Brunswick East that is closer to the lively Mexican venues that inspired the concept.
Astronomical cocaine prices have made Australia irresistible for the worlds most powerful drug cartels, groups with industrial-scale supply lines, nation-sized GDPs and arsenals of weapons. Blood is already being spilled here to secure the market.

Australians pay among the highest prices in the world for cocaine, at $250 to $400 a gram  only two Gulf states with death penalties for drug crimes fetch slightly higher prices.

AFP Assistant Commissioner Kirsty Schofield has warned the most dangerous global crime groups are partnering, and fighting, to supply Australia with cocaine. Credit: Kate Geraghty

The market is so valuable that the most bitter enemies in Australias underworld have joined forces and sent buyers to the jungles of Colombia and hitmen to Bondi while foreign cartels send their own emissaries here.

The OMCG [bikies] only ever did domestic stuff; its not the case now, no one is staying in their lane, Australian Federal Police Assistant Commissioner Kirsty Schofield told this masthead.
Police have charged a man after he surrendered to officers following a siege in Brisbanes inner north that lasted several hours.

The 32-year-old was found at a unit in Nundah about 4pm on Sunday.

Several officers were at the scene cordoning off the surrounding streets, leaving residents unable to return to their homes.

Tactical police negotiated with the man and a woman inside the York Street building, and they later exited the unit peacefully, according to police.
Communications Minister Michelle Rowland has warned the Coalition not to go soft on big tech as it prepares to fight the governments proposed misinformation laws, insisting that a beefed-up media regulator would have no role in determining the truth of online content.

Concern is mounting within the federal opposition about the potential effect on free speech that could flow from Labors proposal to give the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) new powers to crack down on digital platforms that fail to combat misinformation and disinformation.

Communications Minister Michelle Rowland has warned the Coalition not to go soft on big tech as she defended the governments proposed misinformation laws. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

In an interview addressing criticisms levelled at the proposal, Rowland rejected the claims by some Coalition MPs that the laws would make ACMA an Orwellian Ministry of Truth, saying there is nothing in the proposed legislation that goes to any of those issues.

She said the laws were designed to give ACMA powers to hold platforms to account but the regulator would have no interest and no power [over] what individual users may be posting.
UAE-based Azizi Developments has announced that steady progress is being made on Creek Views II, a AED350 million ($95.2 million) luxury development coming up in Dubai Healthcare City, with 50% of the work already completed.

A 587-unit residential development, Creek Views II boasts a mix of 116 studios, 436 one- and 35 two-bedroom apartments and is scheduled for handover in Q1 next year.

The Dubai developer said the project's structure is now 95% complete, with blockwork being at 73%. The internal plaster and MEP have reached 61% and 26% respectively, while HVAC and tiling works are now at 25% and 14%.

External works stand at 20%, with overall finishes now being 16% complete. The total manpower has also been increased to 1,020, it added.

According to Azizi, Creek Views IIs unique design represents Dubais journey from its traditional past to a modern, reinvented future.

Strategically located in the most central part of the city and offering excellent connectivity, Creek Views II features two swimming pools, a sauna, a steam room, a fully equipped gym, and a childrens play area, among other premium amenities, it stated.

Giving a project update, CEO Farhad Azizi said: "The rapid construction progress were making at Creek Views II in Dubai Healthcare City excites us all. The contractors performance is exceptional, meeting our rigorous quality control and assurance standards while adhering to  and even exceeding - the projects timeline for delivery."

"With its strategic location, outstanding design, impeccable construction, and wide array of premium amenities within and surrounding the building, Creek Views II is sure to enhance the lives of those will reside in it," stated Azizi.

"This vision is shared by our stakeholders, and evident in the high demand exhibited by both local and international investors," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) and Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) recently signed an agreement worth Rs 2,725 crore for the restoration and life certification of INS Shankush, a powerful submarine from the Indian Navy's sub-surface killer (SSK) class.

The INS Shankush (S45) is an Indian Navy diesel-electric submarine that is a member of the Shishumar class. It was launched on May 11th, 1984, and put into service on November 20th, 1986. With its long history and advanced capabilities, the submarine is a key component of India's naval defence plan. In this article, we will look at the INS Shankush's primary features, upgrades, and future plans.

History and Specifications

The INS Shankush, often referred to as the "Ray of Light," is one of the submarines in the Shishumar class. These submarines are a variation of the Type-209 submarines that were developed in Germany. The INS Shankush is 64.4 metres long and 6.5 metres in beam, with a displacement of 1450 tonnes when surfaced and 1850 tonnes when submerged. It has a 6 metre draught.

In addition to a Siemens 4,600 horsepower engine and four 1.8 MW Siemens alternators, the submarine is propelled by four 2,400 horsepower diesel-electric motors. The INS Shankush can travel at a speed of 11 knots above the surface and 22 knots below the surface thanks to its propulsion system. With a speed of 8 knots and a test depth of 260 metres, it can travel 8,000 nautical miles.

The INS Shankush is armed with 24 external strap-on mines and 14 AEG-SUT Mod 1 wire-guided active/passive torpedoes. The submarine is a strong weapon for the Indian Navy because of these armaments, which give it both offensive and defensive capabilities.

Mid Life Upgrade

The Indian Navy granted a contract for the INS Shankush's mid-life modification and certification on June 30, 2023, to improve its combat capabilities. The repair will be completed by Mumbai's Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) in technical cooperation with ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems. The estimated completion date for this improvement is 2026, with a total estimated cost of Rs. 2,725 crore (US$340 million).

The INS Shankush will continue to be combat-ready and in line with the changing requirements of the Indian Navy thanks to the mid-life upgrade and certification. The submarine's operational efficacy and efficiency will be ensured through a number of upgrades and changes to its systems.

Impact and Benefits

The Indian Navy and the defence sector will be significantly impacted by the INS Shankush's upgrading. As a result of the project, MDL will be positioned as an MRO hub that supports India's industrial ecosystem. Additionally, it will provide 1,200 mandays per day of employment possibilities during the course of the project. The initiative will involve more than 30 Micro, Small, and Medium-Sized Enterprises (MSMEs), which will help the domestic defence manufacturing industry expand. Along with enhancing the INS Shankush's capabilities, the relationship between MDL and ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems would fortify India and Germany's defence technology alliance.

The INS Shankush is a vital asset for the Indian Navy, contributing to the nation's maritime security. With its mid-life upgrade and certification, the submarine will be equipped with enhanced combat capabilities, ensuring its continued effectiveness in safeguarding India's interests. The project also signifies the growth of the domestic defence industry, with MDL establishing itself as a prominent MRO Hub. As the INS Shankush embarks on its journey to the future, it will continue to serve as an essential component of India's naval defence strategy.
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...
GKIDS has acquired the North American distribution rights to Hayao Miyazakis latest animated feature The Boy and the Heron.

Produced by Studio Ghibli, The Boy and the Heron was released in Japanese theaters on Friday. No specific U.S. date has been announced yet, but GKIDS says it will put the film in theaters sometime later this year.

Announcement details:
As we dig deeper into the details of the actors strike, one of the key points of contention between actors and studios would appear to be the use of synthetic actors and performances.

Both sides have muddied the waters by using the buzzword du jour artificial intelligence, but what theyre discussing publicly suggests theyre not only focused on AI, but the use of animation in vfx.

The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), which represents the studios and streamers, claims that they offered the actors union SAG-AFTRA with a groundbreaking AI proposal that protects performers digital likenesses, including a requirement for performers consent for the creation and use of digital replicas or for digital alterations of a performance.

SAG-AFTRA had an altogether different interpretation of the proposal. The unions national executive director Duncan Crabtree-Ireland said on Thursday that AMPTP proposed that our background performers should be able to be scanned, get paid for one days pay, and [film] companies should own that scan, their image, their likeness, and to be able to use it for the rest of eternity in any project they want with no consent and no compensation.

As @sagaftra announced their historic strike today, Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, the unions chief negotiator, revealed that Hollywood studios proposed that they should get to own actors AI replicas  forever, without paying them another cent. pic.twitter.com/Awt7RgyJf7  More Perfect Union (@MorePerfectUS) July 13, 2023

Its impossible for outsiders to comment further on what the proposal says or doesnt say since the actual contents of it is known only to the negotiators, however, there is something important worth considering here.

Scanning actors bodies and faces in a capture volume has been a standard part of film, tv, and video game production for the better part of the last decade. Cartoon Brew has covered synthetic performances created by vfx animators numerous times, for example, in Gemini Man, Rogue One, and Logan.

While its certainly possible that this same data could be used for AI in the future, these scanning practices are already commonly in use throughout the vfx industry. Film studios have even expanded their scanning activities to include background actors, according to this tweet.

AI could lead to an expansion of this practice, as it makes it easier to re-target performances from one actor onto another. The issue came to the forefront recently when Bruce Willis was digitally inserted into a commercial for a Russian mobile phone operator without physically participating in the shoot. A useful overview of the legal issues surrounding this type of work was published in Wired.

The bottomline here is that SAG-AFTRA is focused on negotiating something that is already common industry practice, which puts them in a weak bargaining position. Obviously, better late than never, but the actors may soon realize that theyre late to the battle. Disney, for example, operates a high-tech science division called Disney Research and a major focus in the last decade has been on artificial intelligence and machine learning. The fact that both sides are now conflating vfx with AI will make it harder to reach any kind of compromise that favors the workers.

The existential fear among Hollywood actors of being replaced by animated replicas is not new  see the 30 Rock clip below from 2007  but it is newly at the forefront of everyones thoughts because of the strike. But when the acting community finally realizes the progress already made on digital doubles and synthetic performances in Hollywood, theyll be in for a big shock.
Randall Randy Wyn Fullmer, an animation artist who later produced Disneys The Emperors New Groove and Chicken Little, died on July 10 at age 73, following a long battle with cancer.

Fullmer was born in Richland, Washington, on April 27, 1950. As a teen, he built and played guitars, and spent time performing in the local band The Isle of Phyve (1966-1969). Music would be a lifelong passion, and later in life, a career.

He studied architecture for two years at Washington State University, before discovering film, which led him to apply to Calarts. He graduated from Calarts with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in 1974.

According to a biography written by Disney employee Doug Engalla, Fullmer entered the animation industry following graduation:

Randy spent roughly seven years running his own animation business producing works such as medical, scientific and other educational films; segments for Sesame Street; television commercials; and Saturday morning television programs. From 1983 to 1987, Randy animated effects for Don Bluths video game projects Dragons Lair and Space Ace, worked for John Dykstras special effects company Apogee, and for Filmation Studios various television projects.

At Filmation, Fullmer contributed effects animation to series such as Bravestarr, She-Ra: Princess of Power, Ghostbusters, and He-Man and She-Ra: A Christmas Special.

In the late 1980s, Fullmer started working as an effects animator at Disney. His first production was Who Framed Roger Rabbit, followed by Oliver & Company and The Little Mermaid. He became the visual effects animation supervisor on Beauty and the Beast. Director Gary Trousdale remembered Fullmer not just as an effects supervisor but as a problem solver and genius on the film.

Fullmer was responsible for creating the role of artistic coordinator at Disney, and filled that position on The Lion King and The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Somewhere inbetween, he found time to help out with the visual effects for Pixars first feature, Toy Story.

Giving insight into what the role of artistic coordinator entailed, Fullmer explained in a piece about The Lion King that, Its really true that out of the 1,500 scenes, the lighting is going to be different in every scene. Youre putting opacities, varying transparencies on dust and water; youre working with lighting; youre doing a million things to try to make it all come together. The artistic coordinator job soon became a vital part of the Disney pipeline, and on the studios subsequent films, the person holding the job was sometimes referred to in jest as the productions Randy.

Fullmer moved into the role of producer on The Emperors New Groove (2000), directed by Mark Dindal, who had been an effects animation colleague back at Filmation. Fullmer would also produce Dindals following feature, Chicken Little (2005).

His passing was acknowledged by the Walt Disney Animation Studios in a tweet that recognized the key role he played in guiding the studio through significant technological shifts in the 90s and how he bridged the artistic and technical departments in multiple films, including The Lion King, The Rescuers Down Under, Beauty and the Beast, and Aladdin.

After an 18-year career at Disney, Fullmer had an epiphany moment and left animation to pursue full-time his childhood hobby of making guitars. I loved my time at Disney, but I realized I had been there long enough, he said in the 2014 documentary Restrung, about his work as a luthier of small-batch bass guitars, which he created through his one-man company Wyn Guitars.

He further explained that making guitars allowed him to pursue a singular artistic vision, as opposed to the art-by-committee approach of Disney animation. I love the old-time saying that a camel is a horse designed by committee, he explained. The Disney Company was a great teacher to me to know that if you get too many collaborators in the soup, even though everybody means well, everybody wants a success, you get to a point where you go, You know what, theres a reason why a singular artistic vision has a value to it.

Restrung, the film about Fullmers work as a luthier and his close relationship with musicians who used his instruments, is embedded below. I was actually more proud and impressed by this facet of his than his animation credits, said director Gary Trousdale in his memorial post. ANY idiot can make a cartoon, but these guitars were absolutely gorgeous; truly art.

Fullmer is survived by his wife Diana. Further details about family and memorial services will be added here when available.
Lassociation Champagne Movietown termine son cycle Cine-Club et tire un bilan positif de cette nouvelle animation proposee depuis le mois de janvier le 3e samedi du mois. En tout, ce sont six rendez-vous qui ont trouve leur public britannique amateur de cinema francais.  Le public francais netait pas au rendez-vous mais ca viendra. Le but est que les deux communautes se rencontrent autour de cette activite, echangent et trouve du plaisir a revoir ou a decouvrir les films , espere Patrice Mignon, le president qui presente le programme dans les deux langues. Trente a trente-cinq personnes ont ete enregistrees, par seance. Pour cette annee 2023, le public a pu voir ou revoir Heidi, Jour de fete, Quai des Orfevre, Le cercle rouge, Les demoiselles dAvignon et Ascenseur pour lechafaud, la plupart des films en version francaise.  Je remercie toutes les personnes qui se sont interessees a ce programme et tous les benevoles qui se sont mobilises. Maintenant, lassociation se concentre sur son evenement phare de lannee, le festival international du film franco-britannique qui va avoir lieu les 4, 5 et 6 aout, avec comme invite dhonneur, Charles Sturridge, scenariste, realisateur et producteur , annonce Fabrice Mignon.
Dot and Curtis Adams photo by Earl Freudenberg Curtis Adams and his good friend John Wilson Curtis Adams, Frank McDonald and Laura Walker Curtis Adams and Bill Hullander at Mr. Adams last Red Back Hymnal singing May before his death in July Mr. Adams at the Hullander Farm Red Back Hymnal singing Previous Next

Its been just over four years since Hamilton County lost one of our most enthusiastic cheerleaders. Curtis Adams died July 2, 2019 at the age of 86. Mr. Adams was the senior county commissioner, having served the longest tenure of anyone on the governing body.

He was very proud of his family history having moved to Chattanooga when he was a boy. His father, Rev. Dewey Adams, was pastor of the Hughes Avenue Baptist Church in Alton Park. Curtis said, I think I was raised in church, we were there almost all day Sunday, Wednesday evening and for special events, I especially liked the all-day singings and dinner on the ground.

I wont attempt to write Mr. Adams' life story but I did spend considerable time with the commissioner sharing both laughter and sorrow and have many good memories.

Curtis was proud of his affiliation with the Chattanooga News Free Press as advertising and circulation manager for over 40 years and he traveled a lot with publisher Roy McDonald. He said Mr. Roy would call him and say, Son is the car full of gas, meet me at the front door." He said. "Mr. Roy even took me to Little Rock, Ark. to meet the newspapers current owner.

I was there the day in 1988 when Mr. Adams was named to fill the un-expired term of another county commissioner who had resigned. He said, I have Mr. Roys full support.

Mr. Adams had a lengthy career at the News Free Press and was as close to publisher McDonald as anyone could be outside of family. He was always telling stories about Mr. Roy.

It wasnt long after his appointment I called the new commissioner and invited him to be on Sunday Morning Sound Off and he accepted my invitation. I didnt think hed return because some of his views were different from the listeners. At the end of the show he said hed enjoyed being on the air and would come back anytime.

Although Mr. Adams represented mostly his East Ridge community he worked just as hard for citizens who lived in other parts of Hamilton County. Just one example, Curtis helped a widow lady I knew get a bus stop moved from in front of her house because the children were damaging her front porch flowers.

The Adams family operated a tire store on Main Street for several years and Mr. Adams became a fixture on the Hey Earl daily radio show after his two sons died. Hed do the tire store commercial and then wed started talking about whatever.

One of the funniest stories was when Mr. Adams said he traveled to Central America to try and find Hamilton County a school superintendent. (Local educators normally didnt promote from within). Curtis said he got up early, Dot took him to the airport and he went to the UPS hanger. He told the manager hed load packages if they give him a ride south. A few days later he called and described his place in the back of the large cargo plane. Mr. Adams said it was 120 degrees all the way to Panama. He said he tried real hard to find a school superintendent but no one spoke English and he didnt speak Spanish. He said a federal express plane was coming back to Chattanooga so he helped them load packages and rode in the back going home, unsuccessful in finding a new school boss.

Another time, Curtis called and said he was up in a tree off Suck Creek in Marion County and his cell phone battery was dying. He wanted me to call his wife Dot to come get him. He said he thought he was going to speak to a group of Methodist men but it turned out to be the Marion County Cock Fighters Association and the TBI had raided the place. Mr. Adams said he ran out the back door and climbed up a large oak tree. It sounded so real and a few minutes later Sheriff Lloyd Hood called me and asked, What is going on? Someone called me about a raid and Im not aware of a cock fighters club in this county. When I told him it was just a lighter moment from Commissioner Adams, Sheriff Hood said, Oh I understand now, that commissioner is so funny. The sheriff said, Some of my friends really believed that nonsense.

Commissioner Adams loved Southern Gospel Music. He was very proud of his choir at a Baptist Church in East Ridge Church where he led the singing. He brought the famous Blackwood Brothers in to sing one Sunday morning and the small church was overflowing. The ladies of the church had prepared fried chicken, baked beans, potato salad lunch with homemade banana pudding. Jimmy Blackwood and the group said theyd never had such a good time singing and eating.

Mr. Adams encouraged his close friend fellow Commissioner Bill Hullander to start a Red Back Hymnal singing the third Sunday of each month. Mr. Hullander would call on Mr. Adams to lead the congregation in his favorite hymn, Blessed Assurance. There was even a special place on an old couch where Mr. Adams would sit during the singings. Mr. Hullander said the singings havent been the same since his good friend passed.

For several years Mr. Adams was host of a weekly program on WDYN AM and FM, Getting to Know You. He interviewed over 100 politicians, prominent citizens, business and church leaders. He was proud of each conversation that included Astec Industries founder Don Brock, Hamilton County Clerk Bill Knowles, Attorney Jerry Summers, New Free Press City Editor J.B. Collins and reporter John Wilson who now publishes the daily Chattanoogan.com. Mr. Adams said, Wilson was a very close friend and beat the odds, he has more readers than many newspapers.

Mr. Adams was a family man, two sons, two daughters and over a dozen grandchildren, and he was full of humor. He said hed buy his wife Dot a new garbage can, clippers and weedeater on her birthday. For Christmas he said hed go to Sears and buy her a new push lawn mower, we really cant afford a putt putt. Hed kid about Dot operating a lawn service and she would get calls from friends wanting to know when she could come and mow their grass or cut their hedge. Hed tell them, Ill have Dot call you. Mr. Adams said hed save up enough money to buy Dot a good used vacuum cleaner on Valentine's Day. Mr. Adams never was the same after his wife passed in 2014.

Curtis loved to joke about Highland Park Baptist Church Minister of Music Jerry Matthesis wearing white socks while leading the massive choir or running with members of the City Council or County Commission who may have been the center of controversy.

He was overjoyed when WDYN General Manager Tom Sneed named him honorary chairman of several Share a thons. Mr. Adams would stay with us many hours urging listeners to support the all Christian radio station.

One thing many didnt know was Adams loved to write poetry. He wrote several about this writer.

The last time I had an extended visit with Curtis Adams was the day he took retired Hamilton County Executive Dalton Roberts and I to the Epicurean Restaurant for lunch. Mr. Adams asked Mr. Roberts the one thing he didnt get to do during his 12 years in the top county job. Dalton responded, I wish Id fought harder for replacing Kirkman Technical High School, I know you (Curtis) could have got me the five votes needed to pass a bond issue. Both men would be proud of County Mayor Weston Wamps plan to re-open Kirkman downtown, less than a mile from where the popular technical high school was located for 65 years.

Curtis Adams was like a special uncle to me. I could call him anytime and tell him anything, he never got mad. There are so many memories of Commissioner Adams; he was a friend Ill never forget.






The Tennessee Supreme Court today held that the criminal gang-enhancement statute, Tennessee Code Annotated section 40-35-121, is worded broadly and does not require the State to specify in the indictment a criminal defendants gang subset. The statute also does not require the indictment to set forth that the defendant is in the same gang subset as the individuals whose criminal activity establishes the gangs pattern of criminal gang activity.

In 2016, Dashun Shackleford (Defendant) along with his friend and fellow gang member, Jalon Copeland, was arrested for aggravated robbery as to four individuals in the Mechanicsville neighborhood of Knoxville. The neighborhood was known to be controlled by the Crips street gang. Defendants indictment contained twenty counts: four alternative counts of aggravated robbery against four victims and four corresponding counts of criminal gang offense enhancement. The gang-enhancement statute requires the State to give notice in separate counts of the indictment of the enhancement applicable under the statute. The indictment also alleged that Defendant was a Crips gang member and listed the convictions of several alleged fellow Crips members to prove Defendants gang had a pattern of criminal gang activity, as also required by the gang-enhancement statute. A Knox County jury convicted Defendant as charged. Notably, the gang-enhancement conviction increased Defendants aggravated robbery convictions from Class B felonies to Class A felonies.

Defendant appealed arguing, among other things, that the evidence at trial was insufficient to support his gang-enhancement conviction. The Court of Criminal Appeals agreed, taking particular issue with the allegation in the indictment that Defendant and the other gang members listed therein were plain Crips. In the gang enhancement phase of trial, the proof established that the majority of the gang members listed in the indictment, including Defendant, were members of several different subsets of the Crips gang. The intermediate court concluded that the State failed to prove that Defendants subset gang had engaged in a pattern of criminal gang activity and failed to comply with the notice requirements of the gang-enhancement statute. In doing so, the court also, sua sponte, determined that a fatal variance existed between the indictment and proof at trial. The Court of Criminal Appeals, therefore, reverted Defendants aggravated robbery convictions to Class B felonies.

The Supreme Court granted the States application for permission to appeal. The Court first reviewed the language of the gang-enhancement statute and determined that the statute is worded broadly and does not reflect an intent on the part of the legislature to narrowly define a gang by its subsets. The Supreme Court concluded that the State met its statutory burden by alleging in the indictment that Defendant was a member of the Crips gang and alleging prior convictions from fifteen different gang members identified therein as Crips. According to the Court, whether Defendant meets the criteria of a gang member and is in a criminal gang are questions for a properly instructed jury. The Court further determined that the Court of Criminal Appeals erred in concluding that there was a fatal variance between the indictment and the proof presented during the gang enhancement phase of trial. Therefore, the Supreme Court reversed the decision of the Court of Criminal Appeals and reinstated the trial courts judgments.

The Supreme Court heard oral arguments in this case at Columbia Central High School in December as part of its SCALES (Supreme Court Advancing Legal Education For Students) project. To read the unanimous opinion in State v. Dashun Shackleford, authored by Chief Justice Roger A. Page, visit the opinions section of TNCourts.gov.
A photograph of the girls sewing classroom at the Chilocco Indian School in Newkirk, Oklahoma. In the front are students Ginn Johnson, left, and Anna Harjoe Ruby Smith, right. OHS Collection
Ive heard stories of people who chose to go to a specific college or school so they could be closer to a friend or partner. Unfortunately, a lot of those people ended up regretting that decision.

One young woman is reeling after she sacrificed going to her dream college so she could attend the same one as her best friend, only to find out that her friend is pregnant and might not be able to finish school.

She and her best friend Jane are both 18-years-old. Theyve known each other for as long as they can remember, as their moms were friends while they were pregnant.

She and Jane attended school together throughout their childhood. When they were younger, Jane briefly lived at her house while her parents were getting a divorce.

After everything theyve been through, they feel more like sisters than friends. She always felt like shed do anything for Jane.

During their senior year of high school, she got two great offers from different colleges. One was a large in-state school, and the other was a prestigious out-of-state school that offered her a big scholarship. It was always her dream to go to school away from home and find a new place where she belongs.

She was leaning toward choosing the out-of-state school until she found out that Jane was going to the in-state school. Jane was really upset by her leaving and told her she wanted them to room together.

Because Jane is her best friend, she felt pressured to stay and committed to the in-state school. She spent an absurd amount of money on their dorm room and has settled in. Unfortunately, its not her dream school by any means.

I have tried to stay positive, though each day I regret the decision I made to stay, she said.

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Travel: Postcard from Cleveland

A trip last month to Cleveland reminded me of why this quintessential Rust Belt city along Ohios Lake Erie coast is one of my favorite places to spend a summer weekend.

I was last here in 2019, which, admittedly, is a lifetime ago given how many big cities are struggling to revive downtown cores that emptied out at the height of the pandemic. While office towers could have been busier, Cleveland felt the way I remembered it.

Clevelands best asset has to be its cultural attractions.

Many visitors come for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame housed in the iconic I.M. Pei-designed building fronting the harbor. Others are drawn by the Cleveland Museum of Art, which is one of the countrys best big-city art museums. Few seem to know about the Sanctuary Museum.

The museum in Lakewood, a so-called streetcar suburb of Cleveland, is housed in a turn-of-the-last-century former Roman Catholic church dedicated to St. Hedwig.

Founded by Lou McClung, a cosmetics company owner with a side hustle in restoring religious art, the museum is notable because much of the collection was sourced locally from the Diocese of Cleveland. As in other Roman Catholic dioceses, dozens of urban churches have closed in recent decades. In some cases, all that remains of a long-shuttered parish is an object on exhibit.

As one might expect, there are plenty of depictions of Jesus and Mary. But there are also plenty of saints and martyrs, including those venerated by the ethnic European communities of a century ago. Think Hedwig for the Polish and Joan of Arc for the French.

The sheer number of things  statues, stained-glass, paintings, chalices and even saintly relics  squeezed into the constraints of a former neighborhood church may overwhelm some visitors. Quite helpfully, items have a code that when scanned by a cell phones QR reader pops up extended information.

A visit to the Sanctuary Museum is also a reminder that the church was throughout most of history the biggest and most important patron of the arts.

If you go

The Sanctuary Museum is open every Wednesday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. respectively.

Before visiting on Saturdays, enjoy the people watching at West Side Market followed by a bite to eat at the nearby Pearl Street Wine Market & Cafe. Another recommended lunch option is Provenance, the elegant restaurant at the Cleveland Museum of Art.

Be sure to also visit the architecturally eccentric Garfield Memorial, which contains the tomb of President James Garfield. Garfield, who earlier in life had been a local Disciples of Christ minister, was assassinated in 1881 just 200 days into his term of office.

I stayed downtown at Hotel Indigo. The newish hotel, part of the IHG chain, is within walking distance of pretty much everything to do and see downtown. An alternative is the high-rise Hilton with its sweeping views of Lake Erie from the rooftop restaurant and bar.

Hopkins International Airport is served by all the major airlines. By car, Cleveland is five hours from Chicago, six hours from Washington and about eight hours from Nashville.

Full trip planning resources are available through Destination Cleveland.

Dennis Lennox writes a travel column for The Christian Post.
At least 400 acts of violence committed against Christians in India in first half of 2023: report

The first half of 2023 has seen a surge in violence against Christians across 23 states in India, according to a New Delhi-based human rights group, which identified 400 incidents, up from 274 reported over the same period last year.

The majority of these violent acts occurred in Uttar Pradesh, Indias most populous state, with 155 incidents, according to the report released by the United Christian Forum and shared with The Christian Post.

Chhattisgarh ranked second with 84 cases, followed by Jharkhand with 35, and Haryana with 32. The districts of Jaunpur in Uttar Pradesh and Bastar in Chhattisgarh reported the most cases of violence, with 13 and 31 incidents, respectively.

According to UCFs findings, the number of violent incidents against Christians has been rising steadily in India since 2014, with a significant spike observed in 2021 and 2022.

The group also noted in its statement that the month of June saw the highest number of attacks against the Christian community, averaging three incidents per day.

The UCF expressed grave concerns over the situation in the northeastern state of Manipur, where the ongoing violence has resulted in the loss of at least 130 lives and caused the destruction of over 400 churches.

Amid these atrocities, the UCF said the Christian community faced a disproportionate number of arrests compared to the accused individuals. The organization pointed out the discrepancy in the filing of formal police complaints, with 63 lodged against Christians, leading to the incarceration of 35 pastors. This disparity is despite the community being the victims of such violence, it pointed out.

The UCF also identified bureaucratic delays as a significant barrier to justice, noting that such impediments resulted in prolonged imprisonment for those who managed to secure bail. They further highlighted the misuse of the Freedom of Religion Act, commonly known as anti-conversion laws, stating that false allegations of conversions under this act had resulted in numerous police complaint against members of the Christian community.

The UCFs National Coordinator, A.C. Michael, spoke to UCA News, saying the group had petitioned the Supreme Court regarding the increase in attacks and false police cases against the Christian community.

The petition requests the appointment of a Special Investigation Team comprising retired senior police officers to examine the lists of incidents provided by both the government and the UCF. The goal is to establish a transparent understanding of the situation.

Michael expressed concern over the governments reliance on third-party reports  which are routinely filed by Hindu nationalist group, and not by alleged victims  and its failure to validate the alleged incidents of forced conversions.

Despite the UCFs numerous pleas to high-level officials including President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, they have yet to receive a response.

For Indias Christians, 2021 was the most violent year in the countrys history, with at least 486 violent incidents of Christian persecution reported in the year.

In almost all incidents reported across India, vigilante mobs composed of religious extremists have been seen to either barge into a prayer gathering or round up individuals that they believe are involved in forcible religious conversions, said that years report by the UCF.

The UCF attributed the high incidence of Christian persecution to impunity, due to which such mobs criminally threaten, physically assault people in prayer, before handing them over to the police on allegations of forcible conversions.
David Jeremiah shares how Christians should prepare for the End Times: Ignore it at your own peril (part 2)

ORLANDO  Respected pastor and author David Jeremiah addressed how Christians should be preparing spiritually for the End Times  and warned that those who ignore the reality of Christs imminent return do so at their own peril.

In a sit-down interview with The Christian Post, the 82-year-old founder of Turning Point Radio and Television Ministries and senior pastor of Shadow Mountain Community Church, Jeremiah urged Christians to be ready for the return of Christ.

Theres no excuse for us, if we read the Bible, to be surprised. Because the Bible tells us that this is going to happen, The World of the End author said. He talks about the upheaval in the world that's going to take place before the Lord returns. Theres no sign of the return of Christ and the rapture, but there certainly is a prediction of the kind of season it's going to be, and I think we're living in that season right now. I believe that Christians really need to stay glued to the Scripture and not get too far away from the truth because it's pretty precarious right now.

Jeremiah, who frequently discusses biblical prophecies regarding the End Times in his sermons and writing, stressed that the rapture is a signless event."

However, there are some signs outlined in the Bible that point to the tumultuous season ahead of Christ's return including the prevalence of deceitfulness, wars, and rumors of wars as well as the recent global pandemic, he said.

The Bible says, Be careful that no man deceives you. Well, we live in a time when the truth is almost gone, and nobody knows what to do with that, he said. And then the Bible talks about wars and rumors of wars and all kinds of sickness and pestilence, and we just went through the COVID experience. It's the first worldwide pandemic that I've ever been a part of, and maybe the first one that was totally worldwide.

Those things get your attention, and we read about those in the Bible, he said. And when you start seeing some of those things happening in the world where you live, you should sit up and take notice.

A November 2022 Pew research study found that nearly two in five Americans, including both Christians and the religiously unaffiliated, responded affirmatively when asked if they believe "we are living in the End Times. Those who believe so include those who believe Jesus will return to Earth someday and global events will worsen until then (14%), and the others who believe these are the End Times (25%).

The pastor addressed the challenge of discerning true biblical prophecy from false teachings about the End Times. He warned against those who predict specific dates for Christ's return, as the Bible clearly states that no one knows the day or hour. He encouraged Christians to exercise caution and distance themselves from such claims.

The Bible never predicts the date, he stressed. The first thing you should do is if you hear somebody say He's coming back, and they start saying dates, you should walk away because that's not the truth.

Still, he warned against ignoring the reality of the rapture and the End Times, urging Christians to embrace the truth and live with a sense of readiness. He stressed that ignoring the End Times robs Christians of the right to share its truth with others.

You can ignore it all you want to, its going to happen anyway, he said. If you do what I do, you meet a lot of people who think that because they don't believe it, that makes it untrue. Well, it doesn't matter whether you believe it or not, it's true anyway, and you better wake up to it. Because if you don't, one day, you're going to experience it.  You can ignore it if you want to, but it's you do it at your own peril.

The pastor weighed in on some common misconceptions about End Times, clarifying the distinction between The rapture and the Second Advent and cautioning against the confusion of these two events.

The Second Advent refers to Jesus' glorious return to Earth, where He establishes His Kingdom after winning the war of Armageddon, he said, adding: Thats not the rapture. He emphasized that the rapture occurs before the tribulation, offering believers the blessed hope of being spared from the trials to come.

The biggest problem people have with prophecy is they confuse those two events. And if you do that, it then won't make any sense, he said.

The New York Times bestselling author challenged believers to share the urgency of the Gospel and live lives marked by preparedness, eagerly awaiting the return of Christ.

He shared how preaching on the rapture has led people to convert and seek salvation: People have been converted; people have gotten saved in every service, he said. They come forward and what they say is, I don't want to miss this, pastor, I want to become a Christian. The rapture and the coming again of Christ is strong motivation to get your life right.

That's the way we should live our lives as believers. We shouldn't say, Oh, I think Christ is coming next week. I better hurry up and get ready. We're supposed to live our lives always ready, always waiting, always watching, always working because Jesus Christ is coming back.
'The Chosen' actor details encounter with Holy Spirit: 'From the outside in, He overtook me'

MIDLOTHIAN, Texas  Actor Nick Shakoour, who plays Zebedee in the hit series The Chosen, recently described an encounter with the Holy Spirit at the end of season three that took him from believing in God to knowing that Jesus is real.

The young adult actor, who plays an older fisherman who is the father of two of Jesus disciples, James and John, shared his experiences with The Christian Post during a set visit.

"I did not think I had a shot in a million years to play a 50-year-old fisherman in Capernaum. From there, it just was a journey of 'I don't know what this is going to be about.' But I knew it felt good coming here, Shakoour said.

"At the time, I called it the vibe. In hindsight, it was the Holy Spirit definitely guiding us throughout this whole process because there's no way that all of this would have happened if it wasn't for God."

Created by Dallas Jenkins, The Chosen" has grown into a global phenomenon, having been streamed by over 500 million people worldwide. Season four of the history-making series is now underway, and a recent partnership with Lionsgate is expanding the show's reach.

Shakoour revealed that, prior to The Chosen, he had never felt led to act in a faith-based production.

"How many faith-based projects are out there? There's a lot, and I've never been interested in being a part of any of them or let alone acting in them or watching them. This has just been mind-blowing. Zebedee has become my favorite on-camera character to play. It's so fun getting to be him, he shared.

Taking on the role of Zebedee has changed how Shakoour views his faith in Jesus, with him declaring, "I don't even [just] believe in Him anymore. I know Him!

"I was invited to a church conference when I was here last September during season three, a few days before I flew back to California. I had people lay their hands over me, and it was at a point in time where I realized I wasn't exactly happy even though I was on a successful show and something was missing, the performer explained.

"I called out to God that day in a desperate way wanting to meet Him."

Shakoour described a supernatural encounter with the Holy Spirit that changed him.

"I ended up at this conference, and the next thing I knew, my organs felt like they were being burned away. [It felt like] I was being vibrated and microwaved at the same time. And from the outside in, He just overtook me, and I fully came to understand who He is," Shakoour testified.

"Since then, it's been one encounter after the next, one relationship after the next. The reason I say I don't believe in Him anymore is because I know Him now.

The Hollywood actor believes The Chosen was what God used to bring him to that closeness in relationship with Him.

"I don't have to try and believe in Him anymore like I used to. I used to always believe in God and Jesus, but it's been amazing, Shakoour continued. "This show has been a conduit, I believe, to get me here for this specific encounter that I had, which I never thought.

He described it as a spiritual surgery and says he now understands why he was so comfortable in his role as Zebedee.

"When I'm stepping into this role, and then with the layers of the costume department so brilliantly designing that specific getup for Zebedee, and the makeup and hair department, how they can age him to look the way he does. When I step into him, I'm literally overtaken by this overwhelming warmth and protection. And, in hindsight, it was always God.

Shakoour said God has made me feel what it feels like to be a dad. I feel like a dad on the show. I genuinely feel like I'm a dad. I've never been a dad yet. But I feel what it's like to be a dad.

The sensation, the love that he feels while on set with his on-camera sons, is natural," and it is "something I never thought I'd be able to even fulfill. Like, I can't relate to this guy. He's a fisherman in his 50s, and he's a dad."

Season four of The Chosen, set to premiere in 2024, delves into the realities of lifes dark moments, painful moments, and even death. Shakoour said the show is perfect for the times we're living in.

"What I've come to realize is our world is paralleling so much what's happening in 'The Chosen,' and in 'The Chosen,' people are starting to take cover under the wings of Jesus, he added.

Some things that I've been telling a lot of close friends and relatives recently is that, in my heart, I keep hearing, 'Take cover under His wings now.' Based on everything we've been through, we don't know what the future holds, but we do know that if we know Him, then no matter what's thrown in our faces by evil, that He is going to triumph eventually, just like He did back then and He will once again."
This week in Christian history: Methodist preacher dies, Eritrean Orthodox patriarch under house arrest attends first service

Throughout the extensive history of the Church, there have been numerous events of lasting significance.

Each week brings anniversaries of impressive milestones, unforgettable tragedies, amazing triumphs, memorable births and notable deaths.

Some of the events drawn from over 2,000 years of history might be familiar, while others might be previously unknown to many people.

The following pages highlight anniversaries of memorable events that occurred this week in Christian history. They include the death of an 18th century Welsh Methodist preacher, the public appearance of an Eritrean Orthodox Patriarch put under house arrest and the baptism of Puritan dissenter Anne Hutchinson.

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The war on fathers needs to stop

A British cleric created a stir recently by accusing Jesus of teaching something wrong. Jesus told us that when we pray, we should say, Our Father 

But the Archbishop of York told his fellow clergymen: I know the word father is problematic for those whose experience of earthly fathers has been destructive and abusive, and for all of us who have labored rather too much from an oppressively patriarchal grip on life.

Cottrell made this statement during a speech at the General Synod of the Church of England in York earlier this month. The statement can be read in full here.

The U.K. Guardian notes further: In February, the [Church of England] said it would consider whether to stop referring to God as he, after priests asked to be allowed to use gender-neutral terms instead.

The prelate said in effect that there are so many bad fathers out there that Jesus has brought harm to the world through this teaching. Ironically, the cleric said the main purpose of his talk was to promote unity among Christians.

Is it true that fathers have been overall destructive and abusive and that humanity must be freed from an oppressively patriarchal grip?

For a Christian leader to so disregard Gods self-revelation in the Scriptures, in which God presents Himself as Father and uses masculine pronouns, is quite hubristic in my humble opinion. Dont they have any biblical standards any more at the Church of England in terms of leadership?

But what about the issue he raises as to dads? Are fathers part of the problem of society or a major part of the solution?

I remember once visiting a liberal Evangelical church about 40 years ago in Chicago. A lay minister offered a prayer, saying, Our Father, our Mother ... I asked him about this after the service, and he explained that it was because they were so close to Cabrini Green, the notorious housing project (so bad that it eventually was torn down) where many of the residents did not know a good father.

Week in and week out, what happens in Chicago and Baltimore and Detroit? There are multiple shootings, including many fatalities. The Left blames the guns. But in reality, it is largely fatherlessness at work.

Many young men join gangs because in effect the gang leaders provide the male leadership they desperately crave. The gang leaders become surrogate fathers.

The vast majority of prisoners come from broken homes.

In fact, nolongerfatherless.org reports some troubling statistics related to fatherlessness. (These are based on the research of the National Center for Fatherlessness and The Fatherless Generation):

85% of youths in prison come from fatherless homes.

71% of high school dropouts come from fatherless homes.

90% of all homeless and runaway children come from fatherless homes.

60% of youth suicides come from fatherless homes.

In short, we dont need less fathers  we need more fathers  to stay in the home.

In his End of Day Report, Gary Bauer pens, If you were to make a list of the top problems were facing in America today, one of them would have to be the epidemic of children being raised without a father in the home. Fatherlessness is associated with higher rates of poverty and virtually every other social ill.

In our society, weve gone from Father Knows Best to Archie Bunker, who was a bigoted dad, to fathers a complete idiot, as in Homer Simpson.

Our view of our Heavenly Father is often linked to our view of our earthly father.

I once had the privilege to interview Dr. Paul Vitz, psychology professor emeritus at New York University. He has gone on to teach at Divine Mercy University in Sterling, Virginia.

I interviewed him because of his classic book, Faith of the Fatherless: The Psychology of Atheism, in which he documents the link between fatherlessness or bad fathers and bad results for the children  including atheism.

Vitz told me, I would say the biggest problem in the country is the breakdown of the family, and the biggest problem in the breakdown in the family is the absence of the father. Our answer is to recover the faith, particularly for men, and well recover fatherhood. And if we recover fatherhood, well recover the family. We recover the family, well recover our society.

In this country, we often talk about the founding fathers. George Washington was the father of the country. James Madison is often described as the father of the Constitution. Even the word patriotism is derived from the word patra  as in father.

Todays society is in chaos. It is in rebellion against Gods order for society. Even one of the 10 Commandments admonishes us, Honor your father and your mother that you may live long lives.

Contrary to what some Church of England officials say, we need to strengthen our view of the father, including our Heavenly Father, not to continue to emasculate it.
Why smaller churches must be better at hospitality than larger churches

Its not fair. I know. Smaller churches must be better at hospitality than larger churches. First, I will explain why. Then I will demonstrate how this perceived inequity is to the benefit of smaller churches.

Guests have different expectations of different-sized churches. When new people or families walk into an extraordinarily large church, most will expect anonymity. A 500,000 square-foot campus with thousands of people has a different feel than a smaller church with one hundred people.

For example, when I enter Tropicana Field for a Tampa Bay Rays game, I do not expect people to go out of their way to show hospitality. The ballpark is enormous, and there are  on average  between 15,000 and 20,000 others walking around. Im thankful they focus on efficiency more than hospitality. I get frustrated when the parking attendant wants to have an extended conversation. When I walk into a small, family-owned restaurant, however, my expectations change. Hospitality is now the priority and not efficiency.

Churches are not ballparks and restaurants; I get it. But the sociology of being in a small group or a large crowd remains. Its weird when you enter a room with a few people, and no one acknowledges you. Its not as strange when the same happens in a room with thousands of people.

The difference between friendliness and hospitality

Many churches believe they are friendly, but too few demonstrate hospitality. The problem is friendliness is often directed internally. Members are kind and pleasant with each other and overlook guests. You can be nice to someone without showing hospitality. Hospitality involves generosity and sacrifice with outsiders. In the New Testament, the Greek word for hospitality means to love those on the outside. Peter wrote about the importance of hospitality in his first letter.

The end of the world is coming soon. Therefore, be earnest and disciplined in your prayers. Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins. Cheerfully share your home with those who need a meal or a place to stay. God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another.  1 Peter 4:7-10 (NLT)

The apostle had a penchant for the dramatic. The world is ending! Please show hospitality. A couple of lessons emerge from this text. Hospitality is how the church will shine when the world is falling apart. Additionally, every believer, regardless of spiritual gifting, is expected to be hospitable. In other words, every spiritual gift is amplified by hospitality. I believe hospitality is one of the most underrated ministries in the church, and it is expected of all members! How can smaller churches use the greater expectation of hospitality to their advantage?

Five easy ways to make a splash with your hospitality ministry

What makes a church visit memorable for a guest? Generally, the experience is the memorable part of being in a large crowd. But the personal connection is what people value in a smaller setting. Do larger churches get more guests because of their size? Yes, but they also assimilate a smaller proportion of them. A typical-sized congregation will not have as many guests, but they have a better opportunity to assimilate guests through a personal connection.

The problem is many churches (large and small) do not elevate the ministry of hospitality to take advantage of the opportunity. They believe the culture of being nice to each other (internally) will equate to guests feeling hospitality. The opposite is true. Many guests feel ignored or excluded when no one intentionally extends genuine hospitality to them.

How can a smaller church make a splash with hospitality?

1. Allocate more budget resources. Your church budget reflects your ministry priorities. Dont cut the coffee budget! I realize most small churches do not have big budgets. But there are ways to invest in hospitality without breaking the bank. Give the pastor a lunch budget to treat guests and their families after church. Hand writing a thank you card to guests is inexpensive and one way to make a memorable impression.

2. Do not neglect your online presence. Monitor your social media accounts and respond quickly to questions. Make sure your Google business profile is up to date with correct addresses, service times, phone numbers, and hours of operation. Include pictures on your website of actual congregants. Dont use stock photos. And please, for the love of all that is holy, dont use an empty sanctuary picture as your primary image.

3. Train your first impressions volunteers. Personal attention is what sets hospitality apart from friendliness. Shaking someones hand and smiling is a friendly gesture. Hospitality is talking with someone, walking them into the sanctuary, sitting next to them while getting to know them, and inviting them to lunch. If you dont know someone more after an interaction, then you may have been kind, but you were not hospitable.

4. Make a big deal about guests in the worship service and then follow up. Thank your guests from the platform each week (without singling them out). Ask for their contact information. You can use connection cards with QR codes (for those who prefer digital methods). Keep a fresh stock of pens available in your seats or pews. Contact every guest at least three times. Each one should receive a phone call from church leadership (or an email if no number is available). Follow up with a handwritten note if they provided a physical address. Then have a church member invite them to a small group or Sunday school class.

5. Lead by example. Hospitable churches have hospitable pastors. Titus 1 is explicit. If pastors do not practice hospitality, they are not fit to lead their churches. Having guests in your home is just as important as sound doctrine. Hospitality starts with the pastor!

Hospitality is the opportunity many smaller churches are missing. Frankly, good hospitality is in short supply in our culture. The church can make a memorable impression  and have a greater impact  by investing in hospitality.

Originally published at Church Answers.
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BEACHWOOD, Ohio -- The city has reached a settlement with the Fraternal Order of Police concerning a dispute involving Beachwood police officer Blake Rogers.

The city terminated Rogers after he was involved in a shooting at Beachwood Place mall, 26300 Cedar Road. On June 27, 2019, Rogers fired two rounds at then 19-year-old Jaquan Jones, a mall theft suspect who ran to a car despite police orders to stop. The suspect then used the car to ram his way out of a parking space and leave the mall lot.
PEPPER PIKE, Ohio -- With the knowledge that people are working more often remotely, Ursuline College has redesigned its master of business administration (MBA) program. Beginning this fall, the Ursuline MBA program will be conducted fully online.

In 12 months, students can earn an MBA and grow their careers and/or business through the online program, which will be taught in an asynchronous manner--meaning students can learn on their own schedule.

In April, 2023, Forbes noted that an MBA is more relevant than ever, said the colleges new MBA Program Director Mary Kovach.

Kovach, who holds a PhD., said that, whether ones undergraduate degree is in business, healthcare, or even fashion, an MBA can afford more earning power.

With the asynchronous format, students can attend classes at their convenience -- before work, during lunch, or in the evening, she said. Regardless of the time of day, students will have access to professors to answer questions and to mentor them. They will also network with their classmates and other organizations.

Kovach recently joined the Ursuline faculty from Miami University, where she was an associate professor teaching in-person, online, and hybrid business courses.

She is the author of the best-sellers #MINDSET: A Research-Based Approach to Understanding Motivation, and ROCKSTAR Manager: From Theory to Practice.

Kovach designed the new Ursuline MBA Program, explaining, I reviewed the components of the prior (Ursuline) MBA program, the design and courses that successful MBA programs provide, spoke with current undergraduate and prospective students, and compared them to the skills necessary to be successful in todays workforce.

This program is uniquely designed to take students from theory to practice. It will build applicable skills demonstrating effectiveness and efficiency and provide a pathway to success. We have community partners -- both for-profit and nonprofit -- to network with, assist in various projects, and develop applicable skills throughout the program to further enhance student resumes.

The new program will feature 10 classes at three credit hours each, as 30 credit hours are needed for completion.

We streamlined the curriculum, removed the excessive tracks, and created a program that emphasizes leadership skills for career mobility and development for any discipline or industry, Kovach said. We queried our alums to create the best program that would be convenient, cost effective, and provide them the skills and opportunities they need.

We also looked at our existing graduate nursing leadership curriculum and plan to unveil joint MBA and DNP programs in the near future.

The new streamlined classes include MBA 669: New Venture Creation and Entrepreneurial Leadership; MBA 507: Finance and Accounting for Managers; and MBA 607: Interdisciplinary Organizational Leadership.

A year ago, Ursuline closed its old hybrid MBA program and did not allow any additional students into the program while it was revised. Kovach said time was taken to get the new program right.

We expect an increase in enrollment, but still modest in our first year, she said, a mix of alums, recent grads, and applicants that have been waiting for us to unveil our new program. We expect enrollment to increase throughout the year because our rolling admissions has six starting points. It will be online, affordable, with an accelerated option to finish in one year.

As to why she chose to move to Ursuline College, Kovach said, I was born and raised in Cleveland, but lived in Cincinnati for the last 20 years. I have a big Italian family, and it was time to move home.

For the last 16 years, I taught business classes at Miami University, and prior to that I led multimillion-dollar global business units for Fortune 500 companies. Since spring 2020, I redesigned my online courses and have taught only online courses since, due to student demand. The courses are designed for self-paced learning and skill-based application.

Kovach recently released her third business book, Be Your Best You: The Ultimate Research-Based Guide to Outstanding Leadership. The book became the number one best seller in Canada in three categories: Industrial Management, Operations Research, and Behavioural Psychology ebooks.

Classes start Aug. 21. All application details can be found at Ursuline.edu/MBA.

See more Chagrin Solon Sun news here.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A second man has been taken into custody almost a week after nine people were shot in Clevelands Warehouse District.

Cleveland Police issued an arrest warrant for 24-year-old Kevin Rual Del Valle-Salaman on Saturday, according to a statement. He was taken into custody by Lorain Police on the same day and booked in the Cuyahoga County Jail. Authorities did not mention how Valle-Salaman is involved in the case.

On Sunday July 9, police responded to West 6th Street and Johnson Court around 2:30 a.m. after a suspect opened fire, injuring nine people before fleeing the scene. None of the victims sustained fatal injuries.

Jaylon Jennings, 25, was arrested in Lorain two days later by the United States Marshals Service, following tips provided to investigators.

This is a developing story.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Rep. Jim Jordans attempt to grill FBI Director Wray backfired. The Judiciary Committee chair weaponized and politicized its subcommittee on weaponization to target FBI Director Christopher Wray and missed.

Judiciary Committee Chair Jordan took aim after not complying with a Jan. 6 Committee subpoena himself. The J6 Committee sought to question Rep. Jordan on his phone call with then President Donald Trump on the morning of the Jan. 6 insurrectionist attack on the U.S. Capitol. Rep. Eric Swalwell called out the Rep. from Urbana, Ohio on his non-compliance.
UPDATE: Republican Ohio senator wants to ban ranked choice voting

UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS, Ohio  When Steve Wertheim kicked off a review of the University Heights city charter, he was looking for ways to increase voter participation in a city where far fewer than half its registered voters cast ballots in its last off-year election.

The 11-member charter review commission he chaired suggested moving elections away from picking a single candidate for elected city offices  as is done in traditional elections  towards a ranked choice system.

Ranked-choice voting already is being used for local elections in big cities like New York, Minneapolis and San Francisco. Alaska and Maine use it statewide.

The system requires voters to rank multiple candidates on a ballot in order of preference. If no candidate gets an initial majority of the electorates first choice votes, the candidate with the fewest first choice ballots drops out and ballots for the eliminated candidate are reallocated to each voters second-choice candidate. The process of eliminating the candidate with the fewest ballots and reallocating votes to other contenders continues until a winner gets a majority.

Ranked-choice voting can be used in both general elections and primaries, sometimes to different effects. For instance, it could narrow a large field of candidates from multiple parties down to just a few who advance to the general election, or in a traditional party primary system to pick winners.

Advocates of ranked choice voting say it helps fight political polarization and improves civil discourse by helping to elect centrist candidates who have broad support, instead of extremist candidates who win party primaries by animating a small base of adamant partisans. Critics say the system is is too complicated, doesnt ensure election of of moderate candidates, and its implementation causes confusion.

Proponents of the system are trying to spread it across the country. Theyve pursued ballot issues to coax change in other states, and theyre trying to gather support for a similar drive in Ohio.

In University Heights, Wertheim says his commission members saw ranked choice voting as a way to fight voters perceptions that their ballots dont count. Commission members also thought the voting method would promote more civility among candidates whod have to appeal to a broader range of the community to secure second-choice votes instead of courting a small segment of hardcore supporters, Wertheim says.

University Heights could have been the first community in recent Ohio history to adopt ranked choice voting if its city council agreed to put it on the November ballot and citizens approved it. That wont happen, though. At a meeting last month where the council approved putting 6 of the commissions 10 suggested charter changes on the ballot, ranked choice voting did not make the cut. Council members who opposed it expressed concern the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections isnt equipped to conduct such an election.

This may be something we should explore in the future, at such a time when the Board of Elections states it is ready to move forward with RCV, council member Sheri Sax said at the meeting, before voting against it.

Board of Elections Director Anthony Perlatti told cleveland.com/The Plain Dealer the countys current equipment and software package arent designed to conduct ranked-choice elections. If University Heights or a different community were to require ranked choice voting, Perlatti said it would likely take at least a year for its voting equipment vendor to develop the needed software and get it certified by Ohio and the federal government.

Council member Brian King, who backed sending all 10 recommendations to the citys voters, said the county elections board and state would have to support University Heights if its voters approved the voting switch. Mayor Michael Dylan Brennan, who did not get to vote on the proposal, said ranked choice voting could save the city money by avoiding runoff elections, while ensuring that election winners obtained a majority vote.

After the councils decision, Wertheim said theres some interest in putting a citizen-generated ranked choice voting referendum on the University Heights ballot, but it likely wouldnt happen until 2024 or 2025.

We thought it was a good government idea, Wertheim said.

A growing movement

Good government advocates including Katherine M. Gehl and Michael E. Porter, authors of The Politics Industry: How Political Innovation Can Break Partisan Gridlock and Save Our Democracy, describe the current, widely used plurality voting system as the greatest structural barrier to new competition in the politics industry. They argue that it creates incentives for negative campaigning and dividing voters, and sometimes creates the undemocratic situation where a majority of voters dont support the winner.

Todays partisan elections machinery ensures that moderates need not apply, those who seek compromise are punished, and independents and third parties are locked out, they write.

Replacing it with ranked choice voting would lead to passage of better legislation as lawmakers decisions on whether to support bills would no longer be threatened with career-ending retribution by the special interests, or hyper-partisan primary voters, or party leadership if they vote with their consciences, they argue.

The idea has been catching on across the United States, according to Deb Otis, research director at FairVote, a nonprofit, non-partisan organization that advocates for ranked choice voting and other reforms. She said more than 50 locations around the country use ranked choice voting, and its been used statewide in both Alaska and Maine. When new locales begin using it and it works smoothly, she said it adds to the momentum.

She said ranked choice voting delivers better elections with more choice for voters.

They get to rank candidates in order of preferences, and express their honest opinion without worrying about spoilers, or having to pick the lesser of two evils, or voting strategically, says Otis. It leads to more positive campaigns and improves representation for women and people of color. Where they started using it around the country, voters like it and want to keep it.

FairVote ally Rank the Vote Ohio is trying to popularize ranked choice voting in Ohio. Its executive director, Kyle Herman of Stow, predicts instituting it around the state would increase the variety of candidates on the ballot and incentivize finding common ground in order to win a majority, instead of only trying to appeal to extremists in order to win a plurality.

Adopting ranked choice voting could also help remedy the harms of Ohios gerrymandered congressional and state legislative districts, which are designed to be winnable only by members of a single party, Herman says. Ranked choice voting proponents argue that office holders who represent districts drawn to favor either Democrats or Republicans are less likely to seek bipartisan solutions for fear of alienating party activists who vote in primaries.

If we had ranked choice voting, more independents would have the freedom to run without limiting voter choices, Herman predicts. It could make all candidates more competitive, and remedy the harms of gerrymandered districts where predetermined candidates win.

He said his group has five active chapters throughout Ohio that are conducting public education events about ranked choice voting, with the eventual goal of a statewide referendum that would make it the states voting system. He says University Heights effort is the only municipality he knows of that has pursued it.

Herman reports that Ohio interest in ranked-choice voting surged after last years elections, when people saw how well it worked in Alaska, where Democrat Mary Peltola was selected over Republicans Sarah Palin and Nick Begich III to succeed deceased Republican U.S. congress member Don Young.

People saw it worked in Alaska, Herman reports. They didnt like how our options in Ohio were so limited and how it felt like our elections were not competitive. People are discouraged by the partisanship and extremism in Ohio. They feel their votes dont matter.

Herman notes that Cleveland adopted a form of ranked choice voting when it approved a new charter in the 1920s, according to a book called Proportional Representation and Election Reform in Ohio by former John Carroll University political scientist Kathleen Barber. Ohio cities including Cincinnati, Ashtabula, Hamilton and Toledo also adopted that system before repealing them a few years later, the book says.

Barbers book says the the system resulted in the election of women, as well as religious and racial minorities to city council seats. Cleveland repealed the election system in 1931, on the fifth try by opponents. Barber wrote that opponents of the alternative voting form said they wanted to repeal it because of the complexity of counting ranked choice votes and its time consuming character, while proponents blamed its defeat on machine politicians who had lost power in reformed cities and sought to recover it.

Administrative hurdles

Perlatti, the Cuyahoga County elections director, says his office doesnt have accessible records on how ranked choice elections were conducted a century ago in Cleveland. But voting has evolved a great deal since then, he said, with innovations like vote-by-mail, and 28 days of in-person voting that werent required 100 years ago.

He said Cuyahoga County wouldnt be able to tell if the ranked choice voting system would increase or reduce voter participation problems or create administrative hurdles until we conducted multiple elections and began to collect some of that data.

None of the voting equipment systems currently certified for use in Ohio has capacity to conduct ranked choice voting elections, he added, estimating it would take at least a year for Cuyahoga Countys vendor to develop the needed software and go through the testing and certification process.

It is kind of uncharted territory in Ohio with those types of things, says Perlatti. If our systems could do it, we would definitely administer that type of election. We are limited at the board of elections by the capacities of the current certified software.

Any switch to ranked choice voting elsewhere in the state would require similar voting system technology updates, says Ohio Association of Election Officials Executive Director Aaron Ockerman.

Ranked choice voting has added hours, if not days to the vote tabulation process in places where its been used, delaying announcement of winners, says Ockerman. In a high profile gaffe, results of New Yorks 2021 mayoral election were temporarily thrown off after 135,000 test votes were mistakenly included in partial results. The error was later corrected.

Ockerman says his bipartisan organization, which represents all Ohios election board directors, is watching what happens in other states and trying to learn from their experiences.

Rob Nichols, a spokesman for Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose, predicts ranked choice voting would be an expensive, administrative nightmare for our county boards of elections, and it opens the door for flaky, fringe candidates to become viable, only adding to the discord that plagues politics.

Regardless, there is zero appetite in the General Assembly to act on a measure that would completely upend Ohios trusted election administration in which voters  regardless of party affiliation  have great confidence, Nichols continued.

The Ohio Democratic Party has not taken a stance on the issue, and is focusing on more pressing issues facing democracy, including an August 8 special election where voters will decide whether to raise the threshold for changing Ohios constitution from a simple majority vote to 60%, and an effort to place an abortion rights measure on the November ballot, said spokesman Matt Keyes. That election could have broad ramifications for any future efforts by advocates of ranked choice voting to pass a statewide policy change.

Ohio GOP spokesman Dan Lusheck describes ranked choice voting as a solution in search of a problem.

Unlike Democrats false attacks against Issue 1, this would legitimately eliminate the principle of One Person, One Vote, Lusheck continued.

Organized opposition

Disagreement over ranked choice voting seems linked to the deep partisanship and false claims of widespread voter fraud that plagued the past several election cycles.

Conservative organizations like the Florida-based Foundation for Government Accountability think tank argue that ranked choice voting undermines voter confidence, leads to slower election results and increases irregularities. It says ranked choice voting can lead to ballots being cast but not counted toward in final election results when a voter overvotes, undervotes or only ranks candidates that are no longer in contention on their ballots.

Detractors dub RCV rigged-choice voting because it can flip the election calculus on its headpenalizing candidates with strong if not majority support in early rounds in favor ultimately of candidates whom voters figure they can live with, the conservative Wall Street Journal editorial page opined. This explains why Democratic Rep. Mary Peltola won in Alaska last yeardespite nearly 60% of voters in that right-leaning state choosing a Republican in the first round.

A Republican congress member from New York, Mike Lawler, has introduced legislation that would prohibit states from using ranked choice voting for federal elections and a separate bill to ban it for use in local District of Columbia elections.

In 2021s mayoral primary in New York City, voters had to wait weeks in order to discover who won, sowing chaos, confusion, and undermining confidence in the result, said a statement from Lawler. Outcomes like that are problematic for everyone involved, and are exactly why we should ban the practice of ranked choice voting at the federal level in the first place. Ensuring confidence in our elections is a critical function of government, and Im proud to introduce this bill to accomplish that goal.

Several Republican-controlled states have passed measures that ban ranked-choice voting. They include Florida, Tennessee, Idaho, Montana, and South Dakota.

Ranked Choice Voting is never the right choice  prohibiting this system of voting is, said a statement released by former Ohio Secretary of State Ken Blackwell when Idaho Gov. Brad Little signed his states ranked choice voting ban.

The Cincinnati Republican chairs the Center for Election Integrity at the America First Policy Institute, a Republican think tank founded by former aides to ex-President Donald Trump. His organization calls Ranked Choice Voting a confusing and chaotic system that often results in the candidate with the most votes losing the election. 

Ranked choice voting supporters arent surprised by the opposition, because they say their voting system would undermine the influence of political parties. FairVotes Otis disputes claims that the system results in delayed election results or confuses voters. She says the vote tabulation procedure can be done quickly by computer, as most election results are done.

Voters who get to use ranked choice voting are excited to do it, says Otis. They like it and want to keep using it. We rank things in our everyday lives all the time, and we all know what first choice, second choice and third choice means. Asking voters to apply that to the ballot gives us more power.

Sabrina Eaton writes about the federal government and politics in Washington, D.C., for cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer.
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohioans are now voting on State Issue 1, which, if ratified, would make it nearly impossible for the states voters to amend the Ohio Constitution.

Voting no on Issue 1 is a vote to uphold the public interest. Voting yes is a vote for special interests -- and the chokehold they have on the Ohio Statehouse.

Issue 1 is so smelly that four former governors -- two Republicans and two Democrats -- oppose it: Former Govs. Bob Taft, Ted Strickland, John R. Kasich and Richard F. Celeste. Also opposing Issue 1 are five former Ohio attorneys general -- two Republicans and three Democrats

Issue 1 is a scheme by Statehouse operators and their enablers, who fear that fed-up Ohioans will use their power as citizens to bypass an unresponsive, gerrymandered General Assembly.

Thats the same simon-pure legislature that helped enable the $61 million House Bill 6-FirstEnergy scandal, and the virtuous legislature that has yet to repeal HB 6 altogether, even though the Houses former Republican leader has been sentenced to serve 20 years in the jug (hes appealing his conviction) for engineering the HB 6 affair.

Thomas Suddes, a member of the editorial board, writes from Athens.

Issue 1 would cheat Ohio voters in three ways:

Since 1912, Ohioans have been able to ratify a proposed state constitutional amendment with a simple majority -- 50% plus 1 -- of those voting on it. Issue 1 would require an amendment to draw a yes vote of at least 60%.

Issue 1 would make it harder -- arguably, nearly impossible -- for Ohioans to petition to place a proposed amendment on the ballot. Now, backers of a proposed amendment must gather a specified percentage of voter signatures in 44 of Ohios 88 counties. Issue 1 would require gathering that specified percentage in all 88 counties.

Then this: Now, if petitioners come up short of the necessary number of signatures -- currently, 413,487 (10% of the votes cast in the last governors election) -- petitioners are granted 10 days to gather the needed signatures (the so-called cure period). Issue 1 would abolish the cure period altogether.

Of course, theres an agenda here, but the backers of Issue 1 arent advertising it. Issue 1 was crafted to block an abortion-rights amendment thats being proposed for Ohios November statewide ballot.

How so?

Well, in four of the states whose voters ratified abortion rights amendments in response to the Supreme Courts 2022 Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization ruling, the yes vote on those amendments came in at under 60%: Kansas, 59%; Michigan, 56.7%; Kentucky, 52.4%; and Montana, 52.6%. (The Dobbs decision essentially left decisions about abortion to the states.)

So, no coincidence, Issue 1 would set a 60% floor on yes votes when Ohioans consider future constitutional amendments. And as Republican Secretary of State Frank LaRose, Ohios chief elections officer, has conceded, Issue 1 is 100% about abortion.

If voters approve Issue 1, then a November abortion-rights amendment would require a yes vote of at least 60% to become part of the Ohio Constitution.

The 50% requirement has been good enough for more than a century. Not now: Republican legislators owe the anti-abortion lobby big time.

But access to abortion isnt the only target of Issue 1. So is an anti-gerrymandering amendment likely to surface in 2024. Gerrymandering means rigging the boundaries of General Assembly and congressional districts to make it easier for one party or the other to capture them.

Republicans have gerrymandered Ohio for that very reason, meaning many General Assembly and congressional races are decided in GOP primaries, where the zanier the candidate, the better her or his prospects for landing a seat in the Statehouse or U.S. Capitol. (Sure, Democrats could do the same, but the last time they controlled both the state Senate and Ohios House of Representatives was in 1983-84 -- 40 years ago.)

And the Statehouses GOP leaders couldnt care less what courts say about rigged districts. An effective 2024 anti-gerrymandering amendment would help end Statehouse business-as-usual. Thats precisely what insiders fear and why they are so determined to weaken voters power via Issue 1,

Voting no on Issue 1 sends a message to an out-of-control Ohio General Assembly: Enough, ladies and gentlemen, is enough.

Thomas Suddes, a member of the editorial board, writes from Athens.

To reach Thomas Suddes: tsuddes@cleveland.com, 216-408-9474

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* Send a letter to the editor, which will be considered for print publication.

* Email general questions about our editorial board or comments or corrections on this opinion column to Elizabeth Sullivan, director of opinion, at esullivan@cleveland.com.
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- While the drumbeat of dismal economic forecasts has been steady since the early days of the pandemic, Ohios economy has kept its head above water.

More accurately, it has thrived.

Manufacturers have led the Buckeye States surge as manufacturing payrolls once again boast more than 690,000 jobs. Manufacturing economic output continues to smash records, contributing more than $134 billion annually to our states economy.

Unfortunately, some in Washington, D.C., are working overtime to repel this momentum.

The latest survey conducted by the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) finds that U.S. manufacturers concerns over federal regulations have reached a six-year high as nearly 100 new major regulations  from 30 federal agencies and offices  threaten jobs and investment.

Ryan Augsburger is president of The Ohio Manufacturers Association, which represents approximately 1,500 manufacturers statewide.

A new report by the conservative American Action Forum shows the Biden administrations near and long-term plan to issue approximately 3,200 rulemakings within the next year or so includes 280 major rules and 1,326 significant rules, representing high-water marks for both categories over the past decade.

The Ohio Manufacturers Association (OMA) has partnered with NAM to push back against the regulatory onslaught. What takes place in D.C. and key federal agencies ultimately impacts Ohio manufacturers and their communities.

Here are just a handful of examples of recent regulations that will affect our industry:

The EPAs proposed regulations for particulate matter (PM 2.5) are projected to cost as much as $197.4 billion in U.S. economic activity and endanger as many as 973,900 current U.S. jobs.

The Securities and Exchange Commissions proposed climate disclosure rule would dramatically increase companies reporting burdens without a corresponding demonstrable increase in public benefits.

The EPAs ethylene oxide restrictions threaten high-paying manufacturing jobs and propose a de facto ban on a preferred method of sterilization for hospitals; its plan to ban methylene chloride threatens the domestic production of paints, adhesives, pharmaceuticals, and other goods.

The Federal Trade Commissions proposed ban of non-compete agreements would impact the operations of most manufacturers, 70% of whom use these provisions. According to recent research, regulatory compliance costs the average U.S. manufacturer more than $19,500 per employee per year. For small and mid-sized manufacturers, the average cost is more than $34,600 per employee.

More than 63% of manufacturers are spending more than 2,000 hours per year complying with federal regulations, diverting resources that would otherwise go towards employee compensation, new hires, and additional investment in U.S. facilities.

President Biden has said repeatedly his goal is to grow Americas manufacturing sector  to ensure the U.S. is in a position to outcompete the world once again.

He deserves credit for his manufacturing focus and efforts to pass bipartisan legislation like the federal CHIPS and Science Act, which benefits Ohio manufacturers.

But federal officials must recognize that a deluge of regulations  especially those that are unrealistic or fail to address actual risks  puts the United States at a major disadvantage when competing with countries like China.

The OMA and NAM have requested that a senior-level adviser be designated to coordinate efforts at the White House to ensure regulators are implementing policies that align with the presidents pledge to promote manufacturing growth. Its our hope this adviser will meet with Ohios congressional delegation, as well as manufacturers.

Manufacturers across Ohio and throughout America are committed to making certain that products are manufactured and distributed safely. But when government-imposed rules change too dramatically and too frequently, or lack scientific consensus, it is workers and their families who suffer the consequences.

Time and again, weve seen regulatory uncertainty and over-regulation stymie new hiring and kill manufacturing jobs. When the U.S. does not manufacture, investment shifts to other countries that do not share our commitment to environmental stewardship and worker safety.

That story has played out all too often over the past half century. Ohio cant afford another chapter.

Ryan Augsburger is president of The Ohio Manufacturers Association, which represents approximately 1,500 manufacturers statewide. Learn more about the OMA at ohiomfg.com

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* Send a letter to the editor, which will be considered for print publication.

* Email general questions about our editorial board or comments or corrections on this editorial to Elizabeth Sullivan, director of opinion, at esullivan@cleveland.com
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Northeast Ohio residents may notice a slight haze on Sunday, as the Canada wildfires continue to burn, sending smoke to the region.

An air advisory for sensitive groups was issued on Saturday by the Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency and will be in effect through Sunday. Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain, Medina, Portage and Summit counties are among those affected.

Children, the elderly and people with breathing difficulties are advised to stay aware of their outdoor activity.

It looks mostly to just be that haze up in the sky, although we cant rule out some of it filtering into the nearest surface, Doug Kahn, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service said. That would lower some of the visibilities under six miles. But it doesnt look to be as bad as a few weeks ago, when you could really smell it.

And though the advisory is slated to be lifted at midnight, Kahn said that the fog may still be visible through Tuesday. He added that sensitive people should limit their time outdoors.


 
Secretary of State for International Trade and President of the Board of Trade, Minister for Women and Equalities Kemi Badenoch leaves 10 Downing Street.

LONDON  Britain's Kemi Badenoch, the business and trade secretary, formally signed a treaty confirming accession to the vast Indo-Pacific CPTPP bloc, the country's largest post-Brexit trade deal to date.

Signed Sunday in New Zealand, the deal will now receive parliamentary scrutiny in the U.K., while other CPTPP nations will also complete their own legislative processes. More than 99% of the current U.K. goods that are exported to CPTPP countries will soon be eligible for zero tariffs, the U.K. government said.

The 11-member Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership includes Canada, Mexico, Japan, Australia, Vietnam, Singapore and Malaysia, among others. The U.K. would be the first European nation to join the bloc, which the government says would unlock trade to a region with a total GDP of 12 trillion ($15.7 trillion).

It remains to be seen how much the deal actually benefits Britain's growth prospects. Based on the government's own estimates, the deal will raise long-term domestic GDP by just 0.08%, which will have little impact to offset European trade losses as a result of Brexit. The U.K. officially left the EU on Jan. 31, 2020.

Badenoch said Sunday that Britain was using its status as an independent trading nation to join an "exciting, growing, forward-looking trade bloc."

"[It] will help grow the U.K. economy and build on the hundreds of thousands of jobs CPTPP-owned businesses already support up and down the country," she said in a statement. One in every 100 workers in Britain was employed by a business headquartered in a CPTPP nation, according to the government citing 2019 data.
The earnings season kicks into high gear this week as investors seek more clues on how well corporate America is doing. Fifty-four S & P 500 companies are slated to report, including Tesla and Netflix. American and United Airlines are also on deck. Big banks JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo and Citigroup got the ball rolling last week, posting better-than-expected earnings. JPMorgan rose on the back of its results, but Wells and Citigroup ended Friday's session lower. Roughly 30 S & P 500 names have reported thus far, with 80% of them exceeding analyst expectations, according to FactSet. Take a look at some of the key companies scheduled to post their latest numbers, and what to expect from them. Tuesday Bank of America is set to report earnings before the bell, followed by a call at 8:30 a.m. ET. Last quarter: BAC posted better-than-expected results thanks to higher rates . This quarter: Analysts polled by Refinitiv expect the banking giant's profit rose double digits in the second quarter. What CNBC is watching: Bank of America earlier this month raised its dividend by 2 cents to 24 cents per share. Citi analyst Keith Horowitz noted that the company has one of the best core deposit franchises in the business, "but there is less flexibility on the asset side due to large HTM portfolio, so we believe NII trends will lag larger peers (JPM and WFC)." The analyst has a neutral rating on Bank of America shares. What history shows: Bank of America beats earnings expectations 78% of the time, according to Bespoke. In fact, the bank's earnings have come in below estimates just twice since the second half of 2015. However, the stock averages a 0.8% decline on earnings days. Morgan Stanley is set to report earnings in the premarket, with a conference call slated for 9:30 a.m. ET. Last quarter: MS topped analyst expectations on strong bond revenue . This quarter: Analysts expect profits fell more than 15% year over year, per Refinitiv. What CNBC is watching: Morgan Stanley's results could be downbeat as the bank deals with weakness in investment banking, muted trading revenue and cost cuts. BofA's Ebrahim Poonawala also noted that Morgan Stanley's "ROTCE resiliency to be tested in face of revenue headwinds, regulatory changes." What history shows: The company's earnings per share beat estimates 77% of the time, per Bespoke, and the stock averages a 0.9% gain on earnings day. Morgan Stanley shares rose in the last two earnings days. Wednesday Goldman Sachs is set to report earnings before the market opens, followed by a call at 9:30 a.m. ET. Last quarter: GS revenue came up short of estimates after the bank took a $470 million hit on Marcus loans . This quarter: Analysts expect a sharp year-over-year drop in Goldman earnings, according to Refinitiv. What CNBC is watching: Like rival Morgan Stanley, Goldman could be plagued by weakness in investment banking and soft trading revenue. What history shows: Goldman beats earnings estimates a whopping 86% of the time, according to Bespoke. However, the stock struggles on earnings day, losing an average of 0.1%. Over the last two earnings days, the stock has fallen more than 1%. United Airlines is set to report earnings after the bell, with a conference call slated for the following day. Last quarter: UAL posted a net loss but guided for a profit in the second quarter . This quarter: Analysts polled by Refinitiv expect the airline's earnings to more than double. What CNBC airlines reporter Leslie Josephs is watching: "Despite strong demand and lower fuel prices, United had a rough end to the second quarter and start to the third after the Northeast was slammed day after day by thunderstorms, forcing hundreds of cancellations and thousands of delays with the airline's Newark hub particularly hard-hit. Executives will detail the financial impact and expand on CEO Scott Kirby's recent announcements that the company will have to trim its schedule at the congested Newark airport. Still, travel demand has remained strong, and international trips, one of United's strengths, have been particularly robust. United will also give an update on outstanding labor contracts, including recent progress for a potential deal with pilots." What history shows: United earnings beat expectations 69% of the time, Bespoke Investment Group data shows. However, the company's bottom line has missed estimates six of the last 12 earnings days, according to FactSet. Tesla is set to report earnings after the close, with a call slated for 5:30 p.m. ET. Last quarter: TSLA net income dropped more than 20% year over year. This quarter: Analysts on average forecast high single-digit earnings growth for the electric car maker, per Refinitiv. What CNBC is watching: Tesla shares have been on fire this year, more than doubling in value. That said, some analysts are worried that the company's price cuts will hurt margins. Last month, Goldman downgraded the EV maker , citing a difficult pricing environment for electric vehicles. What history shows: FactSet data shows Tesla has beaten analyst expectations 11 of the last 12 earnings days. The stock also averages a 1.27% gain on earnings day, per Bespoke. IBM is set to report earnings after the bell. Management is slated to hold a call at 5 p.m. ET. Last quarter: IBM earnings exceeded estimates as margins grew . This quarter: Analysts see flat year-over-year revenue and a double-digit drop in earnings, according to Refinitiv. What CNBC is watching: Bernstein's Toni Sacconaghi said key issues for IBM ahead of its second-quarter report include the health of its consulting business, the state of IT spending, "incremental detail about IBM's offerings and progress in AI; and further details around the Apptio acquisition." What history shows: Bespoke data shows IBM shares fall 0.64% on average on earnings day despite the company beating estimates 83% of the time. Netflix is set to report earnings following the close, with a call expected at 6 p.m. ET. Last quarter: NFLX posted mixed results and delayed its password-sharing crackdown . This quarter: Netflix is expected to report a decline in year-over-year earnings, Refinitiv data shows. What CNBC is watching: Netflix started cracking down on password sharing during the second quarter, leading to an uptick in subscribers. Investors will look for clues on whether the streaming giant can continue growing its subscriber base. What history shows: Netflix earnings have exceeded earnings expectations in seven of the last 10 quarters, FactSet data shows. Thursday American Airlines is set to report earnings before the bell, followed by a call at 8:30 a.m. ET. Last quarter: AAL eked out a profit as the airline ramped up flying . This quarter: American's earnings are expected to have doubled year over year, according to Refinitiv. What CNBC' airlines reporter Leslie Josephs is watching: "American continues to enjoy strong travel demand and lower fuel prices but executives will also face questions about the future in the Northeast U.S. JetBlue last week said it would walk away from the carriers' Northeast Alliance, which allows the carriers to coordinate schedules and share revenue, after a federal judge ruled the partnership is anticompetitive and that the carriers must dismantle it. American says it will appeal the ruling, but JetBlue won't, focusing instead on its plan to buy budget carrier Spirit. The airline will also likely update investors on labor negotiations with pilots and flight attendants, and its forecast for demand beyond the peak summer travel season." What history shows: American Airlines beats earnings expectations 89% of the time, according to Bespoke. However, the stock averages a 0.2% decline on earnings day.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivers a statement at the Palmachim Air Force Base near the city of Rishon Lezion, Israel July 5, 2023.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was discharged from hospital on Sunday after being admitted the previous day for dehydration, with doctors saying he was in good health.

Netanyahu, 73, was taken on Saturday to Sheba Hospital in Tel Hashomer, near his private residence in coastal Caesarea, and kept overnight under observation.

His motor convoy was seen departing Sheba as Israeli media quoted his office as saying he had been discharged.

In a video statement on Saturday, a smiling and blazer-wearing Netanyahu said he had holidayed at the Sea of Galilee without properly protecting himself from a heatwave.

Sheba on Sunday confirmed its original diagnosis of dehydration and said additional tests involving a subcutaneous holter had found Netanyahu to be "in complete cardiac health."

Israel's weekly cabinet meeting, usually held on Sunday, has been postponed to Monday, his office said.
British defense minister Ben Wallace will not stand as a member of parliament (MP) in the next UK national election, and will leave government when Prime Minister Rishi Sunak carries out his next cabinet reshuffle, he told The Sunday Times newspaper.

Wallace, a member of the ruling Conservative party, has been MP for Wyre and Preston North and its predecessor constituency in northwest England since 2005.

He has been defense secretary for four years, helping lead Britain's response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

"I'm not standing next time," he said in an interview with the newspaper, but ruled out going "prematurely" and forcing another by-election.

Sunak is facing three by-elections next week, and opinion polls suggest his Conservative party could lose all of them.

A general election must be held in Britain within the next 18 months. The Sunday Times said a cabinet reshuffle was expected in September.

The newspaper said Wallace told Sunak his plans on June 16 but had hoped to make the announcement over the summer before leaks forced his hand.

There had been speculation over Wallace's future in recent weeks. Boundary changes will see his parliamentary constituency scrapped at the next election and he had not publicly sought another seat.

He had been considered as a potential successor to NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg but Stoltenberg's contract was extended this month by another year.

In the interview, Wallace said his greatest concern was the danger of military conflict with Russia, accidental or otherwise.

"If Putin loses in Ukraine, he will be deeply wounded," Wallace said. "He's still got an air force and he's still got a navy  and we see his navy do quite aggressive manoeuvres. Putin is not done with us yet. There is an ability for him, in the next three or four years, to lash out."

Wallace also warned Britain could be drawn into more conflicts.

"Towards the end of the decade, the world is going to be much more unsafe, more insecure. I think we will find ourselves in a conflict. Whether it is a cold or a warm conflict, I think we'll be in a difficult position," he said.
Investors would be forgiven if talk of a potential suicide risk associated with a new class of diabetes and weight loss drugs led to skittishness last week. Prior attempts to treat overweight or obese patients with medications were often plagued with side effects and drug recalls. Those earlier medications often didn't seem like the results were worth the risks. But the perception of the new GLP-1 medications, such as Novo Nordisk's Ozempic, Saxenda and Wegovy and Eli Lilly's Trulicity and Mounjaro, are that the therapies are generally well-tolerated by patients and helpful in shedding pounds. Both stocks have soared on the blockbuster potential of these treatments, with Wall Street analysts estimating the category could be worth $100 billion, topping the size of any other drug category to date. NVO 5D mountain Novo shares have gained more than 18% year to date. On Monday, however, investors learned that the European Medicines Agency is looking into reports that some patients had experienced suicidal thoughts and/or self harm after taking Saxenda and Ozempic. Then, on Tuesday, the regulator expanded the review to include other GLP-1 receptor agonists, including Lilly's Trulicity. Both stocks fell around 5% in the wake of the news, but rallied Friday. Novo's stock stayed positive for the week and is up more than 18% year to date. Lilly's shares fell less than 1% over the week, but are up about 23% year to date. Both companies have downplayed the concern, and the European regulator said the review "does not necessarily mean that a medicine caused the adverse event in question." It expects to reach a decision by November. EMA playing catch-up? Wolfe Research analyst Tim Anderson said there are three facts that "can't be totally dismissed." The first is that most obesity drugs, including GLP-1s, are "centrally acting," which means they work on a patient's brain. According to Anderson, that implies there is a chance of a neuropyschiatric effect. The second is that prior obesity drugs have been withdrawn because of high rates of psychiatric disorders, he said, citing Sanofi's Acomplia as one of the more recent examples. Importantly, that drug wasn't a GLP-1, but a different class known as cannabinoid receptor antagonists. LLY 5D mountain Eli Lilly shares are up about 23% since the start of the year. And finally, he noted that Wegovy's drug label in the United States already mentions "suicidal behavior and ideation" as a "warning and precaution." "In our view, there is a long history suggesting FDA is generally a more cautious agency than EMA," Wolfe's Anderson said. He expects the EMA is playing catch up to the U.S. on this issue. The analyst noted that in the FDA's review documents of Wegovy, the agency said that all centrally acting obesity drugs have some risk of sucide and depression. Further, he anticipates such a warning will be added to Lilly's tirzepatide (Mounjaro) when it is approved for obesity, which is anticipated by year end. Still, Anderson said there are good reasons to believe this is "very likely not a major concern," including the clinical profile of GLP-1 medications, which have been around since 2005 as diabetes treatments. Also, any comparison with Acomplia should note that the concerns about that drug's connection to depression and anxiety were observed very early on during its clinical trials. This was not the case for the GLP-1 medications. In a research note, UBS analyst Colin Bristow said he spoke with Lilly and the company confirmed there have been "no safety signals" in routine monitoring of patients on Mounjaro and Trulicity. "One problem is that this sort of thing can become a self-fulfilling prophecy to a certain degree, meaning if you know to look for a side effect, chances are you will find more of it," Anderson said in a research note. Further, he anticipates that more safety concerns will arise since the drugs are being closely watched. More risk ahead? "Investors unfortunately need to brace themselves for more," Anderson said. "While drugs like Novo's Wegovy and LLY's tirzepatide/Mounjaro deliver a remarkable degree of weight loss compared to older therapies, which will likely translate into beneficial effects on many other body systems (improved cardiovascular health, fewer joint replacements, less diabetes, among others), there are various ongoing layers of controversy nonetheless that means close scrutiny will continue." Lilly remains one of Wolfe's "top picks," but Anderson warned that a "doomsday scenario" where Lilly is unable to market tirzepatide for obesity and the drug is "also tainted" for type 2 diabetes as well, would result in the stock dropping as much as 40%. "To be clear, this is a low-probability scenario, but it's still instructive to consider the impact of black-swan events like these, given the stakes and also the past issues with obesity drugs (not just Sanofi's Acomplia, but also Wyeth's 'fen-phen' before it which suffered from a different set of side effects)," he said. Other analysts echoed similar thoughts. At Citi, analyst Peter Verdult reiterated his buy rating on Novo Nordisk on Friday. He noted that he expects Wegovy to see "increased scrutiny" given that it remains in the public consciousness thanks to widespread media attention. "We have a longstanding view that the GLP-1 is a 'market creation' vs a 'market share' story with NVO/LLY enjoying a structural duopoly well into the 2030s," Verdult said. "Given 2022 global GLP-1 obesity sales reached $2.4bn despite Wegovy being supply constrained and not actively promoted, we argue that a market opportunity of > $40bn is feasible..." UBS' Bristow has a buy rating on Lilly, with a $498 price target. On Wednesday, he called the pullback in the stock a "buying opportunity." "... We view LLY as highly attractive on an absolute (numbers need to come up in '24/'25) and relative basis (LLY has strongest fundamentals/event path in U.S. large cap biopharma)," he said. Deutsche Bank analyst Emmanuel Papadakis said he considered the discussion to be "a non-event." "Given the body of trial data and extent/duration of use for semaglutide (many years in millions of patients), we are relaxed about risks here," Papadakis said, referring to the medications better known as Ozempic, Wegovy and Rybelsus. CNBC's Michael Bloom contributed to this report. If you or someone you know is in crisis, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255 in the U.S. or call or text 988.
Indonesian Finance Minister Mulyani Indrawati on Sunday highlighted the close collaboration between India and Indonesia in increasing investment opportunities. The launch of the India-Indonesia Economic and Financial Dialogue aims to strengthen policy dialogues on trade, digital technologies, payment systems and growth.

Indonesian Finance Minister Mulyani Indrawati on Sunday said that India and Indonesia are working closely on increasing investment opportunities between the two countries. Highlighting the close collaboration between the two nations, Indrawati said they are working together to strengthen policy dialogues on trade, digital technologies, payment systems and growth.

Her comment comes as Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman launched the India-Indonesia Economic and Financial Dialogue in Gandhinagar to enhance bilateral cooperation.

"I believe that this dialogue will facilitate better cooperation between India and Southeast Asia while contributing to global economic and financial stability," Sitharaman said today.

ALSO READ | Eager to work with China on debt and global challenges, says US Treasury Secy Janet Yellen

Trade between India and Indonesia touched $38 billion in 2022, Sitharaman pointed out.

The two nations have been discussing bilateral investments and the development of digital public infrastructure, she added. The Finance Minister also wanted to put on record that India has a lot to learn from Indonesia and expressed gratitude for FM Indrawati's significant role.

Both India and Indonesia are fast-growing economies and are similar in many ways, Sitharaman said. She went on to cite that both are active members of multilateral organisations such as G20, WTO and the East Asia Summit.

Keeping this in mind, she said that India is addressing issues faced by both nations during its presidency of the G20.

These comments also come on the sidelines of External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar paying an official visit to Jakarta for the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' meeting, after which he left for Bangkok, Thailand.

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FM Sitharaman also met Canadian Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland on the sidelines of the third G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors meeting in Gandhinagar today.

The ministers discussed building consensus on the G20 Finance Track work streams and the progress of trade-related negotiations between India and Canada.

Freeland expressed the Canadian Pension Funds' interest in investing in Indian Infrastructure Funds due to India's stable investment climate. The ministers also emphasised the strong and time-tested relationship between the two countries.

US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen also spoke at the event and thanked FM Sithraman for hosting the G20 ministerial.

"Ahead of the Leaders Summit in September, this weeks convening offers us an opportunity to take stock of what weve done  and to redouble our efforts to strengthen the global economy, support emerging and developing economies, and tackle global challenges," Yellen said.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 16)  Former President Rodrigo Dutertes controversial war on drugs focused on "enforcement" and has left thousands dead. With a new government, how is President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. dealing with the countrys problem with illegal drugs?

A different approach

During his presidential campaign, Marcos vowed to continue the Duterte administrations anti-drug campaign but in a different way.

Marcos earlier said his administration has a working group formulating policies that will focus on prevention -- which includes educating the youth -- and rehabilitation.

Those who are already involved or na-adik na (already addicted), we should treat them," Marcos said. "Right now, we're trying to formulate what is the latest, what's the best way for the rehabilitation. These are all being formulated."

READ: Marcos: New drug war to focus on prevention, rehab; policy-crafting underway

Launched in November 2022, the Buhay Ingatan, Droga'y Ayawan (BIDA) program aims for a more refined approach to the problem of illegal drugs.

Under the program, local government units and agencies such as the Social Welfare, Health, and Trade Departments were tasked to create rehabilitation and livelihood projects.

The president said this is part of his administrations holistic approach to the drug problem, which differentiates it from his predecessors.

READ: Marcos administration launches new anti-drug campaign, vows new focus

Dutertes focus on enforcement

In 2016, during his first year in office, Duterte launched his governments campaign against illegal drugs dubbed Oplan Tokhang.

According to the Philippine National Police (PNP), 7,000 persons were killed from June to December that year.

READ: Duterte's War on Drugs: A controversial centerpiece of a President's legacy

The campaign remained controversial throughout the six years of his administration. But until the last days of his presidency, Duterte refused to apologize for his bloody war on drugs.

"Kill me, imprison me. I will never apologize," Duterte later said.

Accountability in human rights abuses

The clamor for accountability for alleged human rights abuses under Dutertes anti-drug campaign continues.

On July 18, the Appeals Chamber of the International Criminal Court (ICC) is expected to release its decision on the Philippine governments plea against the courts resumption of its probe.

READ: ICC chamber to decide on PH appeal vs. drug war probe on July 18

The ICC halted its probe into the anti-drug campaign in 2021 at the request of the Duterte administration, but decided to resume its investigation this year.

Earlier this year, the ICC rejected the Philippine governments claim that the killings and other crimes related to the anti-drug campaign are of marginal gravity.

To the contrary, they are extremely serious, and appear to have been at the very least encouraged and condoned by high-level government officials, up to and including the former President, ICC prosecutor Karim Khan said.

READ: Thousands of killings in drug war encouraged by Duterte  ICC prober

Marcos said the Duterte administrations effort to eradicate illegal drugs in the country led to human rights abuses.

Perhaps, in my view, what happened in the previous administration was we focused very much on enforcement, and because of that, it could be said that there were abuses by certain elements in the government that have caused concerns from many quarters in about the human right situation of the Philippines, Marcos said.

READ: Marcos admits abuses linked to Dutertes drug war

Despite this, Marcos still refuses to support the ICC probe.

He earlier told CNN Philippines that investigators from the ICC can only come to the country as tourists.

"We are not signatories to the Rome (Statute) agreement anymore. We withdrew," he said. "They can come. They can be tourists and look at the Philippines. But I don't know what they expect that the government will do beyond that."

Human rights group Karapatan said the Marcos administrations refusal to cooperate with the investigation of the ICC contradicts his promise of a more holistic approach in his anti-drug campaign.

All these indicate not just the empty rhetoric of the Marcos Jr. administration in pursuing justice for the drug war victims, but its complicity in whitewashing the crimes of Duterte and cohorts and its perpetuation of the same draconian policies, Karapatan said in a statement.

Last May, the families of the drug war victims urged the ICC to proceed with its investigation as they see no actual investigation done in the Philippines.

READ: Drug war victims see no justice under Marcos admin  ICC

Whats happening so far?

From January 1 to June 9, 2023, the Marcos administrations campaign against illegal drugs recorded 19,464 police operations, 25,641 arrests, and the confiscation of 6.2 billion worth of illegal drugs.

RELATED: PNP: Over 2,000 arrested for illegal drugs in first 2 weeks of 2023

Marcos also vowed to file cases against PNP officials involved in drug trafficking.

Last June, the government filed a criminal complaint against 50 police officers over their involvement in irregularities in the 990-kilogram shabu drug haul in October last year.

RELATED: Napolcom, PNP file criminal complaint vs. 50 personnel linked to 990-kilo shabu drug haul

In a June report, the University of the Philippines Third World Studies Center logged at least 300 drug-related killings since Marcos became the president.

An international human rights group urged Marcos to make concrete efforts to improve the human rights situation in the Philippines.

President Marcos needs to do more than issue statements about democracy and the rule of law to demonstrate a genuine commitment to human rights, said Bryony Lau, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch.

Without concrete action to break old patterns of abuses and secure accountability for past crimes, his words have little credibility, she added.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 2)  Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Acting Chairman Don Artes said the agencys plan to fine motorcycle riders for sheltering under flyovers and footbridges is not discriminatory as the move is for the safety of all motorists.

Maling sabihin na ang hakbang na ito ng MMDA ay diskriminasyon sa hanay ng mga motorcycle rider. Hangad po ng aming ahensiya ang kaligtasan ng mga nagmomotorsiklo, Artes said Saturday in a Facebook post.

[Translation: It is wrong to say that the MMDAs move discriminates against motorcycle riders. The agency wants motorcycle riders to be safe.]

Artes made the statement after 1-Rider Party-List Rep. Rodge Gutierrez criticized MMDAs plan as inhumane and anti-poor.

Maganda ang intension ng MMDA na maibsan ang pagsisikip ng trapiko. Ngunit tila hindi makatao ang panuntunang nais nilang ipatupad laban sa mga nagmamaneho ng motorsiklo, at isa itong anti-poor o pagmenos sa ating mga kagulong, Gutierrez said.

[Translation: The intention of MMDA to ease traffic congestion is good. However, it seems that the planned directive against motorcycle riders is inhumane and anti-poor.]

Artes said a traffic violation ticket will be issued to motorcycle riders found sheltering under flyovers and footbridges, but said the agency planned to designate shelters for riders in gasoline stations.

Artes said riders may instead shelter at lay-by areas since staying under the said structures may not only cause traffic but also lead to road accidents.

He added that those who will be caught violating the new policy may be fined 500 for obstruction.

Soon, pag naayos na natin ang ating systema, particularly 'yung mga nasa gasoline station, we will strictly enforce na po 'yung pag-issue ng ticket sa mga magba-violate, Artes said.

[Translation: Soon, when we fixed our system, particularly with regard to the gasoline stations, we will strictly enforce the issuance of tickets to violators.]

Gutierrez said he is not against the policies of the MMDA. But he said the agency should also understand that riders who are exposed to extreme heat will already be soaked during rains before they reach a gasoline station for shelter.
In support of enhancing UAE competencies and talents and the future employment sector, Ducab Group announced the launch of a new training programme, the first of its kind on the national level, which falls under the programme.

Launched in 2019, the group aims to give UAE youth training opportunities for a maximum of 3 to 11 months to enable them to gain practical experience in their fields of specialisation.

Ducab invites UAE national who have completed their bachelor's degree requirements and are waiting to start their national service in the next course to take advantage of the waiting period and join the new class of the "Bidayiti" programme and to invest their time in learning practical skills and experiences and training in the specialised fields in the industry that the group provides them to gain valuable practical experience that enhances their employment opportunities in the future following the completion of the national service.

Empowering the young

Mona Mohammed Fekri, Chief Human Capital Officer Ducab, said: "The introduction of training opportunities is based on the group's pioneering role in contributing to the Emiratisation process and enhancing the national competencies, and empowering young people to lead the country's industrial sector and realise a rich and diverse economic landscape, which places the citizen at the top of its priorities; Full attention is paid to it as the central component of all inclusive and sustainable development processes up to the UAE's centennial. as well as its belief in the importance of providing training opportunities to enable them to prepare for entry into the labour market, refine their abilities and talents and integrate them into a professional working environment ".

The programme aims to provide a fruitful experience and enable trainees to learn about the corporate work environment, as well as to highlight the importance of the countrys industrial sector and its role in achieving prosperity and economic growth. Ducab will support all trainees to ensure that they benefit most from the experience.

This opportunity is open to all national Graduates with Degrees in Engineering, Finance, Business, Marketing, Strategy, IT, Legal and Human Resources.

Ducab recently launched the Bedayti programme, inspired by a true belief in the important role of young people in the development process. Ducab endeavours to prepare young nationals to look ahead to the future of the countrys industrial sector, which is a major contributor to economic diversification.-- TradeArabia News Service
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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 16)  Twenty-nine areas remain flooded on Sunday after Tropical Storm Dodong left the country's weather monitoring area Saturday afternoon.

Based on the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Councils (NDRRMC) latest data, the flooded areas are in the Ilocos Region and Central Luzon.

Sa aking obserbasyon, ito ay ano lang dahil ang dala niya talaga ay tubig ulan, medyo malakas yung ulan niya, NDRRMC spokesperson Edgar Posadas told CNN Philippines.

[Translation: From my observation, this was due to rain which was quite strong.]

As of Sunday morning, vehicles were unable to pass through 17 roads and three bridges in the Ilocos Region and Central Luzon because of floods.

Posadas noted that flood mitigation measures were in place.

The NDRRMCs figures also showed at least 491 families, or 1,638 individuals, were affected by Dodong and the southwest monsoon.

Posadas advised residents to be aware of the risks in their community to ensure safety.

Yung kahandaan natin as an individual, as a family, as a household, and then as a community, i-put into place natin yan. Alamin natin ano yung particular hazards sa ating mga lugar, he said.

[Translation: Being prepared as an individual, as a family and household, and then as a community, should be put in place. We should be aware of the particular hazards in our areas.]
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 16)  The Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Sunday denied that they arrested University of the Philippines (UP) Baguio alumni and indigenous peoples (IP) rights activists Gene Roz Jamil "Bazoo" de Jesus and Dexter Capuyan.

When the two were first reported missing, the PNP immediately exerted diligent effort to locate the whereabouts of these missing individuals in faithful compliance with our duty to serve and protect the people, it said.

Until today, they remain listed as missing persons and subject to follow-up searches thru backtracking from the time they were last seen, it added.

De Jesus, a 27-year-old information and communication officer of the Philippine Task Force for IP Rights, and Capuyan, a 56-year-old activist based in La Trinidad, Benguet have been missing since April after reportedly meeting at a mall in Taytay, Rizal.

READ: UP urges govt to locate, uphold rights of missing alumni

The Cordillera Human Rights Alliance claimed that the two were detained by state security units over an alleged 1.8 million bounty for Capuyan due to supposed communist links, according to a statement by the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) last May.

The CHR also noted that the Rizal police denied having custody of De Jesus and Capuyan. The CHR said it was conducting an investigation into the matter.

The PNP said several of its units have certified that De Jesus and Capuyan were neither among the list of Persons Under Police Custody nor can they be found within any PNP facilities.

At any rate, a habeas corpus case was filed and is currently being heard by the 13th division of the Court of Appeals. The PNP is set to file its return of the writ on Tuesday, July 18, 2023.

READ: Families of missing UP alumni seek help from Court of Appeals

The PNP added that it is confident that the subsequent hearings set on August 3 and 10 will shed more light on the matter and will finally be ruled in favor of the PNP.

AFP spokesperson Col. Medel Aguilar also denied that the two activists were under military custody.

Wala sa custody ng military [They are not in military custody] although we have yet to respond to the writ of habeas corpus ng korte [of the court] but we dont have in our possession 'yung hinahanap na dalawa [the two persons they are looking for], he told media.

The AFP said it would aid in locating De Jesus and Capuyan.

Since they are also Filipinos and they are reported to be missing, then it is our constitutional duty to look for themWe will do our best also to help locate 'yung dalawang missing na 'yun [the two missing individuals], Aguilar said.

Aguilar added that the AFP is verifying information about the status of the two, and claimed that the military had information linking Capuyan to the New Peoples Army, the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 16)  A roll-on/roll-off vessel ran aground near the shore of Barangay Nasunugan in Banton, Romblon early Sunday, according to the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).

The PCG said that at 12:12 a.m. it received a report from a shipping firm that the vessel, which carried 15 vehicles, had beached.

The PCG said all 129 passengers and crew onboard MV Maria Helena of Montenegro Shipping Lines have been rescued.

MV Maria Helena left Lucena Port in Quezon Province for San Agustin Port in Tablas, Romblon when the incident happened around Sunday midnight.

Authorities said rescue teams composed of coast guard personnel and disaster responders from Romblon immediately conducted rescue operations.

According to the PCG, MV Maria Helena ran aground and tilted due to an imbalance caused by its cargo and seawater that entered the vessel through its drainage system. This happened when the lashing that secured the vehicles on board broke, following an explosion of a tire of one of the vehicles.

The vessel has approximately 21,000 liters of marine diesel oil remaining onboard. PCG said its Marine Environmental Protection Group in Romblon is on standby for possible oil spill response.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 16)  The Supreme Courts (SC) First Division ordered a Puerto Princesa court to re-arrest former Palawan Gov. Mario Joel Reyes for the 2011 murder of broadcaster and environmentalist Dr. Geraldo Gerry Ortega.

It also ordered the Palawan Regional Trial Court (RTC) to continue with the murder case against Reyes, who was implicated as the mastermind behind the 2011 killing but has denied involvement.

Ortega, a radio commentator of RMN Palawan, reported on alleged corruption and misuse of funds within the provincial government which later became part of the Malampaya fund scam. On January 24, 2011, the broadcaster was shot in the back of the head while visiting an ukay-ukay store in Puerto Princesa.

The Regional Trial Court, Branch 52, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, is hereby ordered to (1) cause the immediate re-arrest and detention of petitioner Mario Joel T. Reyes; and (2) continue with the proceedings in Criminal Case No. 26839 with utmost dispatch, the high court said in a resolution promulgated July 12, but made public on July 16.

In January 2018, the Court of Appeals (CA) dismissed the murder case against Reyes and ordered his release on the grounds that the RTC gravely abused its discretion when it ruled that there was probable cause for the issuance of a warrant of arrest against petitioner [Reyes].

Related: SolGen to CA: Order re-arrest of ex-Palawan governor Joel Reyes

In November 2019, the CA amended its decision and overturned the ruling. It reinstated the murder charges against Reyes and directed the Palawan RTC to arrest him.

However, in 2021, Reyes petitioned that a temporary restraining order (TRO) be issued against the arrest warrant pending the final adjudication of the murder case, which the SC granted in 2022.

In its latest decision, the high court denied Reyes petition to reverse the CAs ruling, affirmed the decision calling for his detention, and lifted the 2022 TRO on the arrest warrant against Reyes.

Meanwhile, the family of Ortega welcomed the order to re-arrest Reyes.

Our family is thankful that the Supreme Court sided with truth and justice. We have long hoped and prayed for the trial to continue. This fair decision restores our faith that, one day, we will find justice, they said in a statement.

CNN Philippines senior correspondent Anjo Alimario contributed to this report.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 16)  Two policemen in Leyte have been relieved of their duties for allegedly harassing three local journalists last Friday morning, the Leyte Police Provincial Office said Saturday night.

In a statement, the Leyte police said its officer-in-charge PLtCol Ricky Reli reassigned Police Staff Sergeant Rhea May Baleos and her husband Police Staff Sergeant Ver Baleos to the provincial headquarters. The former was designated in Sta. Fe town and the latter in Pastrana town.

The couple also turned over their firearms to be examined for gunpowder residue, the Leyte police added.

They allegedly harassed and threatened with gunshots Lito Bagunas, Noel Sianosa, and Ted Tomas of San Juanico TV who were covering a land dispute in Barangay Jones in Pastrana, the National Union of Journalists in the Philippines (NUJP) said.

READ: 3 journalists harassed by police in Leyte - NUJP

"Initial investigation disclosed that the incident stemmed from a land dispute between Mr. Moises Empillo and Anecita Nogal with her husband, Mr Virgilio Nogal. Mr. Empillo claimed to be the owner of the rice field located at the said place, while Mr. and Mrs. Nogal also claimed to be the rightful owner of it," the Leyte police said.

"The said rice field was mortgaged to PSSg Baleos in the year 2017. During the dispute, PSSg Baleos called the Pastrana MPS for assistance," it added.

The Leyte police also said Sianosa allegedly took a video when Sergeant Rhea May Baleos and Mrs. Nogal argued on the "legality of possessing the rice field," prompting the cop to "call the attention of Mr. Sianosa, and the two had a commotion."

"Baleos reportedly grabbed Sianosa's cellphone while the latter was taking videos, and pushed him away," the NUJP said in a statement on Saturday. "A few minutes later, the three journalists heard gunshots."

"Tomas said he saw policemen in uniform firing the shots," it added.

The Presidential Task Force on Media Security on Saturday urged the Philippine National Police in Eastern Visayas to probe the incident and impose disciplinary action, if necessary, on members of the Pastrana police.

"We are still investigating the said incident and rest assured that we will not be biased with our investigation and if proven that our personnel have truly committed all the accusations, our Office will not tolerate such misconduct," Reli said.

"While we highly recognize the role of the media men in the delivery of impartial and factual information to the general public, we also do our best to protect their rights and safety," he added.

The Leyte police also said it welcomes more information from possible witnesses "to beef up our investigation and for the immediate resolution of the case."
A global rural peoples' movement, People's Coalition on Food Sovereignty (PCSF), taking strong exception to bombings in rural areas of Asia, has said that India has witnessed "airstrikes and militarization on plundered land". Recalling recent incidents, it accused the Indian government for launching " aerial bombing campaign in Bastar, targeting the border regions of Telangana, Chhattisgarh, and Odisha."Quoting Tathagata Roy Chowdhury from the Indian youth group Revolutionary Students' Front (RSF) in order to highlight that this was not the first such operations, PCSF said, "Whenever the government conducts aerial strikes, it aims to clear mountains and forests of villagers, enabling corporate organizations to exploit the resources."Especially referring to iron ore mining in Chhattisgarh, which has allegedly led to deforestation and raised concerns about the rights of indigenous communities, the NGO network said, "Chhattisgarh holds about one-fifth of India's iron ore reserves, and the extraction of these resources has destroyed forest land."Also pointing towards how Manipur has recently experienced an escalation of ethnic violence , leading to a major humanitarian crisis with thousands displaced and dozens killed, PCSF quoted Jiten Yumnam from the Centre for Research and Advocacy Manipur (CRAM) to point towards "the role of state forces in the violence"."Despite being one of the most militarized regions in Asia, Manipur has seen extensive deployment of the Indian army under the Armed Forces Special Powers Act of 1958," said Yumnam, insisting, the Indian security forces "are directly responsible for targeting the media, and indigenous women, and supporting violence."PCSF said, the incidents follow people of Manipur "resisting extractive investments, hydropower projects , and other large-scale infrastructure projects", pointing out, "These projects have resulted in massive displacements, environmental catastrophes, militarization, and the suppression of communities' fundamental rights."Organizations from India, Pakistan, Myanmar, the Philippines, West Papua and Palestine, which came together to form PCSF to collect facts on atrocities in rural areas, unveiled the report, "Silenced Suffering: Stop Rural Bombings" for monitoring bombings in areas where indigenous and rural communities live. Farmers, indigenous peoples, and rights advocates led an online gathering to launch the platform.During the online launch, a unity statement was delivered, emphasizing the need for the international community to take urgent action to stop these atrocities and ensure that those responsible are held accountable. The organizations declared that they would no longer be silenced and urged other organizations and individuals to join them in speaking out against these atrocities and demanding justice for the victims and survivors.The Silenced Suffering website was also launched to develop a community-run platform for real-time monitoring, enhancing movements' capabilities to expose atrocities, build solidarity, and collectively seek justice. With the goal of having an early warning system in cases of aerial bombings and explosions, the online platform allows users to directly report a bombing incident in their country.A preliminary investigation revealed significant discrepancies between bombing reports from communities and readily available data said PCFS. "This year alone, there have been sustained bombings in the northern Philippines and eastern India, yet the coverage of these incidents has been limited and no investigations have been pursued."

According to APRN, the majority of these rights violations go unreported and unaddressed. Last year, the UN signed a landmark political declaration against explosive weapons in populated areas after reports showed a marked increase in civilian casualties.

Suffering in Myanmar



Clinics, schools, hospitals, religious structures, and homes were among the buildings that bombings destroyed, according to KHRG. They reported over 200 incidents of ground shelling from 2021 to 2022, resulting in 162 injuries and 47 deaths. From January to May 2023, there were 69 incidents of shelling, causing 39 injuries and 17 deaths. The ongoing indiscriminate shelling and airstrikes have severely restricted communities freedom of movement.

The affected villages primarily belong to the Karen people, an ethnic group that has inhabited Burma for over two thousand years. They have long advocated for their land and autonomy within Myanmar, but their calls for independence were not recognized upon Burma's independence in 1948.

Similarly, the West Papuan people have faced widespread violence, including bombings of communities, as they struggle for independence. In April 2023, the military carried out a

Aerial bombings in the Philippines have dramatically increased over the past two years. "Since 2021, incidents of aerial bombing, shelling, and machine gun strafing by the military have intensified in Cagayan," said Lina Ladino, an indigenous and local farmer representing the farmers' rights desk Tanggol Magsasaka (TM-Defend Farmers).

According to Tanggol Magsasaka, from January 2022 to March 2023, at least 1,254 individuals were affected by aerial bombing assaults, with 900 of them displaced this year alone. In January last year, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) shelled four villages in Gonzaga, a neighboring town of the new US military base in Santa Ana. In February, another nearby town was bombed, forcing farmers and indigenous Agtas to flee.

Ladino emphasized that this year, three new

Indigenous peoples and residents are the most affected by the bombings. Their livelihoods are destroyed, and even carabaos have been killed by the bombs. Tanggol Magsasaka reported that fear of bombings and massive militarization has forced communities to flee, resulting in disrupted livelihoods and the closure of schools.

Villages face heavy restrictions through checkpoints, and houses are ransacked, with rice and food stocks stolen by soldiers. Moreover, soldiers have enforced an information blackout, warning residents not to speak about the bombings.

Farmers' groups are alarmed by the militarization and presence of US troops in their communities. Ladino stated, "[these] result in prostitution and the suffering of our women farmers. We are treated as pawns by our government for their exercises and as launching pads to oppress other people in other countries."

Magsasaka reiterated the call to end the bombings of communities and urged the governments to conduct an immediate, thorough, and truthful investigation. We call on the people of the different countries to unite in condemning and speaking out about the injustices of these bombings that will destroy the source of livelihood for farmers, said indigenous and Filipino farmer Ladino.

"We hope that through these safe spaces, we can encourage more voices to come forward and find a way to overcome the forces that are destroying our lives, livelihoods, lands, forests, and environment," said Sayeed of APRN. During the event, the Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG), a grassroots organization led by the Karen people, shared the tragedies amid the military juntas violent campaign in Myanmar. "There have already been 160 airstrikes in Karen State, severely affecting civilians," said Hsue Saw, Advocacy Officer of KHRG.Clinics, schools, hospitals, religious structures, and homes were among the buildings that bombings destroyed, according to KHRG. They reported over 200 incidents of ground shelling from 2021 to 2022, resulting in 162 injuries and 47 deaths. From January to May 2023, there were 69 incidents of shelling, causing 39 injuries and 17 deaths. The ongoing indiscriminate shelling and airstrikes have severely restricted communities freedom of movement.The affected villages primarily belong to the Karen people, an ethnic group that has inhabited Burma for over two thousand years. They have long advocated for their land and autonomy within Myanmar, but their calls for independence were not recognized upon Burma's independence in 1948.Similarly, the West Papuan people have faced widespread violence, including bombings of communities, as they struggle for independence. In April 2023, the military carried out a bombing in Nduga . However, the Indonesian government refused to take accountability for the attack, according to the Indigenous Peoples Movement for Self-Determination and Liberation (IPMSDL).Aerial bombings in the Philippines have dramatically increased over the past two years. "Since 2021, incidents of aerial bombing, shelling, and machine gun strafing by the military have intensified in Cagayan," said Lina Ladino, an indigenous and local farmer representing the farmers' rights desk Tanggol Magsasaka (TM-Defend Farmers).According to Tanggol Magsasaka, from January 2022 to March 2023, at least 1,254 individuals were affected by aerial bombing assaults, with 900 of them displaced this year alone. In January last year, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) shelled four villages in Gonzaga, a neighboring town of the new US military base in Santa Ana. In February, another nearby town was bombed, forcing farmers and indigenous Agtas to flee.Ladino emphasized that this year, three new US military bases are being constructed in their region as part of the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA). Three of the earmarked sites are in the Taiwan-facing region of Cagayan the Cagayan North International Airport in Lal-lo, the Naval Base Camilo Osias in Santa Ana town, and Camp Melchor Dela Cruz in Gamu, Isabela.Indigenous peoples and residents are the most affected by the bombings. Their livelihoods are destroyed, and even carabaos have been killed by the bombs. Tanggol Magsasaka reported that fear of bombings and massive militarization has forced communities to flee, resulting in disrupted livelihoods and the closure of schools.Villages face heavy restrictions through checkpoints, and houses are ransacked, with rice and food stocks stolen by soldiers. Moreover, soldiers have enforced an information blackout, warning residents not to speak about the bombings.Farmers' groups are alarmed by the militarization and presence of US troops in their communities. Ladino stated, "[these] result in prostitution and the suffering of our women farmers. We are treated as pawns by our government for their exercises and as launching pads to oppress other people in other countries."Magsasaka reiterated the call to end the bombings of communities and urged the governments to conduct an immediate, thorough, and truthful investigation. We call on the people of the different countries to unite in condemning and speaking out about the injustices of these bombings that will destroy the source of livelihood for farmers, said indigenous and Filipino farmer Ladino."We hope that through these safe spaces, we can encourage more voices to come forward and find a way to overcome the forces that are destroying our lives, livelihoods, lands, forests, and environment," said Sayeed of APRN.

According to PCFS, the different capacities of communities to create verifiable reports and post-bombing assessments remain a challenge for local human rights workers. Furthermore, attempts by civil society organizations and rights groups in the past two years to investigate have been met with further attacks, harassment, and threats from state forces," said PCFS.In February, the state forces prevented a fact-finding mission from accessing previously shelled villages in Telangana and Chhattisgarh, India. In the Philippines, similar patterns of harassment were employed against fact-finding missions investigating the bombings in Gonzaga , Cagayan, in 2022, it added.Amidst the tragic bombings of rural communities and the challenges of seeking justice and redress, farmers and indigenous rights defenders expressed their immediate demands in their countries.RSF called upon the international community, including human rights defenders, to not legitimize the Modi government and to demand an end to Operation Samadhan and Prahar. Jiten Yumnam of the International Indigenous Peoples Movement for Self Determination and Liberation (IPMSDL) demanded that the government of India cease all forms of development aggression targeting people's land.The attacks are rooted in the continued plundering of their ancestral lands, Sayang Mandabayan of the Merdeka West Papua Support Network, a member of IPMSDL, told the gathering. "The suffering of the people of Papua is caused by the theft of our rich natural resources, which has turned our land from a gift into a source of suffering," he added.In 2022, a large-scale operation was initiated to claim 40,000 hectares of land estimated to hold $200 billion of gold natural reserves. Freeport-McMoRan, a US-based mining company, operates the world's largest and most profitable gold mine in Indonesia's Papua province, PCSF said."We, as people's researchers, indigenous people, rural poor, and human rights workers, are sounding the alarm about the significant increase in state-led attacks, particularly aerial bombardments, on rural communities. These attacks have resulted in widespread death, injury, displacement, and destruction," stated Azra Sayeed, Chair of the Asia Pacific Research Network (APRN), during the public launch.The use of explosives in populated areas has had a devastating impact on civilians, with non-combatants accounting for over 90% of those killed . Ground shelling, airstrikes, and improvised explosive devices have caused deaths, injuries, and psychological harm to affected populations.
Going to a hospital can be a humiliating experience. You get naked. You poop in bed. You might get prodded in ways that sound sexual but arent in fact sexually pleasing at all. In some hospitals, you suddenly find yourself surrounded by students taking notes. At any moment, it really does feel like the walls are going to fall down to reveal cameras and a studio audience. Theyre all laughing, especially when the docs try one of the following tricks on you.

5 Sticking Nitroglycerin Up Your Butt Ubisoft Nitroglycerin is a powerful explosive. Its so explosive that after Alfred Nobel made a version of it that industries could actually use, he went on to invent dynamite, with the selling point being that dynamite is a much more stable form of nitroglycerin and comparatively safe. Nitroglycerin is also a medicine. It didnt take long after workers started spending time around nitroglycerin for everyone to realize exposure affected the body in some way or another, so doctors kept experimenting till they figured out just what it did. Turned out its a vasodilator, which means it relaxes the muscles around blood vessels, widening them. Its most famously used for heart stuff. If your hearts hurting because a strong flow is straining your constricted arteries, a little nitroglycerin can set you right. But nitroglycerins use as a vasodilator means it treats other stuff too. Like anal fissures. If stony bowel movements have ripped your butthole, doctors recommend nitroglycerin in the form of a rectal ointment. The muscles there will relax and put less pressure on the fissures, relieving pain and letting them heal on their own. It probably doesnt look exactly like sticking a firecracker in someones ass, but that's how we insist on picturing it nevertheless. Advertisement

4 Finding an Old Person and Knocking Them Down Fox TikTok is filled with videos of young people kicking the legs out from under the elderly, making them fall to the ground. This probably says more about how our personal watch history has influenced the algorithm than it does about the state of the world in general, but the fact remains that tripping the elderly is very rarely looked upon as a good deed. Unless, that is, youre specifically training the elderly, to protect them from future falls. Thats the mission that a University of Illinois lab embarked upon a decade ago, and the research earned them a million-dollar grant. Normally, the best we can do to train old people from falling is assigning them normal exercise to strengthen their bones and muscles. This new treatment, in contrast, trips patients on purpose, not to strengthen their limbs but to train their reflexes. Advertisement The process involves a special treadmill routine that programs in sudden skips to make the patient trip. A harness keeps the patient from actually hitting the floor and shattering a hip, while additional sensors stuck all over the patients body help make the whole rigamarole look more science-y. After months of forced falls, patients better respond to surprises and fall less. The scientists are a little behind schedule now on their plan to stick one of these treadmills in every doctors office, but they were releasing new results as recently as last year, so the dream is not dead. Advertisement

3 Giving Herpes to Cancer Patients Fox Advertisement Befriending a cancer patient seems like a nice thing to do. Having sex with a cancer patient could also be a fine thing to do, though if you specifically seek cancer patients out as conquests, that raises some questions. However, if you have sex with a cancer patient, and then take off the next morning, leaving behind just a note that says, sry didnt use a condom, I gave u herpes  well, thats a move generally frowned upon by polite society. And yet, scientists have dedicated themselves to sticking herpes in cancer patients. Not your normal disease herpes but a genetically modified version of the herpes simplex virus, and not through the genital route but by injecting it into tumors. These modified viruses attack tumors, and they also affect the immune system. They take the brakes off the natural immune system, unleashing it to fight cancer harder. Advertisement If a supervirus rewriting the body sounds even more scary than the actual disease herpes, which isnt that big of a deal, well, you know whats scarier still? Cancer.

2 Slap Them With a Dead Fish NBC Advertisement Slapping someone with a fish is considered an affront in nearly all cultures. Fish are slippery and slimy and smelly, and yes, were specifically referring to the day-old dead fish that we found in a discarded bin at the local fish market, as those are the only fish we know, and because those are precisely the fish most often used in slap attacks. Nevertheless, fish skin may have uses. Put the skin of a tilapia fish on a burn patient, and collagen from the fish moves to the patient, promoting healing. You dont need to apply a separate bandage, and you dont need to apply any separate ointment, both of which may be expensive in the Brazilian hospitals that use the fish method. The healing is comparable to what happens when you apply actual human skin to a burn wound in a non-transplant fashion, and fish skin is easier to come by. Advertisement Preparation first removes any smell from the fish skin, which may not be of paramount importance to someone in danger but was absolutely our first question. Most importantly, the treatment looks freakin cool: Advertisement Advertisement
You might recall the opinion expressed persistently by so many in this country, appalled when the UK voted to leave the EU: we had demonstrated that the British were narrow-mindedly obsessed with immigration, a reactionary island of 'Little Englanders' now morally detached from a Continent that represented a more enlightened, transnational approach.

Now look: across the European Union, parties described as 'far Right' and 'populist' are either in government or poised to become so  from the Finns Party in the far north to Brothers of Italy in the south.

Their rhetoric is far harsher  across a range of social issues, not just migration  than anything our own Conservative Government has espoused, either before or after the Brexit vote. In Greece, an offshoot of an actual neo-Nazi party has gained 12 parliamentary seats, under the guidance of a man serving a prison sentence.

Philip Cunliffe, professor of international relations at University College London, observed last week in an article for the Left-wing New Statesman: 'After Brexit, Britain was supposed to float adrift of our liberal and progressive neighbours, as we became a gloomy island buffeted by storms of imperial nostalgia, xenophobia and nativism.

'Not only would the British economy collapse, we were told that the venerable institutions of British parliamentary democracy would rapidly degenerate into irresponsible Right-wing extremism  yet barely three years after Britain formally withdrew from the EU, it is Europe that is lurching to the Right.'

Giorgia Meloni Prime Minister of Italy speaks from the stage during her speech in support of mayoral candidate Enrico Trantino

Nigel Farage, leader of the Brexit Party along with the newly elected Brexit Party Members of the European Parliament in 2019

One of Dr Cunliffe's conclusions is: 'The fact that British parliamentary government could not survive except by enacting the outcome of the 2016 referendum, shows that Brexit offered a historic opportunity to restore national-level representative democracy as against multinational diktat.'

Speaking of multinational diktats, one reason for the rise of the Right in the EU member states is the way that they have, at various times, been told they must fall in with 'migrant quotas' which the parliaments of some of the individual nations find unacceptable.

This first happened at the height of the migration crisis caused by the Syrian civil war, when the EU forced through mandatory quotas, even though its own treaties had supposedly given member states a veto in such matters.

Something similar is happening again, with Poland bridling at the suggestion that it should pay what amounts to a fine of 20,000 for each migrant it refuses to take as part of any quota.

By the way, the slogan 'Take back control' was never just about migration, but about our laws

Leave campaigners celebrate as they win the vote in Sunderland during the North East region European Union referendum

National Coalition Party chair PM-designate Petteri Orpo gives an interview after presenting the four-party cabinet's details of the governing agenda in Helsinki, Finland

A kiosk of far right party's Spartiates (Spartans) showing a portrait of former ultra-nationalist Golden Dawn party spokesman, Ilias Kasidiaris, who is sentenced to 13-and-a-half years in prison as a member of a criminal organisation

The Polish government pointed out that it had allowed almost 7 million Ukrainian refugees into its country, and expressed its opposition to 'the attempt to introduce mechanisms for the forced relocation of illegal economic migrants at the European Union level'.

But it's completely understandable why countries such as Italy and Greece, most exposed to sea-borne migration from Africa and the Middle East, should seek to get others within the EU 'family' to relieve them of some of the burden.

And in Germany, as Saturday's Mail pointed out in a feature on the rise of the European far Right, the Alternative fur Deutschland party first surged during the 2015 crisis and now seems poised to reach levels of support which would make it difficult to prevent them becoming part of a ruling coalition after the next election.

Bemoaning these developments, in a Guardian article with a headline referring to a 'Europe-wide struggle against neo-fascism', the former PM Gordon Brown exclaims: 'Who is not to say that the Brexit slogan 'Take back control' will not become Madame LePen's path to power?'

In fact, the apparent inability of our own government to stem the tide of boats, commandeered by people smugglers to take their clients across the Channel, must now be confounding Britons who thought that 'take back control' applied especially to our borders.

This explains why voters are much more exasperated by the cross-Channel boats than they are by the vastly bigger overall increase in (legal) net migration over the past couple of years.

It is not so much absolute numbers that worry people  there is great sympathy for the Ukrainian women and children who have arrived here with visas, or for Hong Kong citizens with British Overseas Passports fleeing Beijing's tyranny  but the sense that something is 'out of control' or that our laws are being mocked.

By the way, the slogan 'Take back control' was never just about migration, but about our laws (and parliamentary sovereignty) more generally. Which is why there were also a large number of socialists who backed Brexit.

As one such, Dr Richard Johnson of Queen Mary, University of London, observed in the latest issue of The Critic: joining what was then the EEC 'took away from the UK government some core executive functions  state aid and regional development were now in the hands of the European Commission, who, unlike the British government, did not depend on the majority of the House of Commons for continued political legitimacy'.

Dr Johnson would have been among the 49 per cent of Leave voters who in 2016 told Ashcroft polls that their main motive was 'the principle that decisions about the UK should be taken by the UK'. A significantly smaller proportion (33 per cent) said their main reason was 'to regain control over immigration and borders'.

Should Keir Starmer become our next prime minister, it might seem to bear out the point that the UK is going 'Left', while the allegedly more enlightened EU is heading in the opposite direction.

But it's not so simple. While Starmer, in one of his 'ten pledges' to Labour party members during his 2019 leadership campaign, promised to 'defend free movement as we leave the EU', he has comprehensively reversed that. He now says a Labour government will never rejoin the European single market  the very thing which guaranteed the 'free movement' of peoples.

The Labour leader may not be someone whose pledges are worth whatever paper they are written on. But he knows which way the political wind is blowing.

Just stop oil? No, just stop coughing at proms

Yes, it just had to happen: a couple of Just Stop Oil fanatics staged a demonstration in the Albert Hall during last Friday's First Night of the Proms.

In fact, there was very little disruption: no orange paint squirting, and the two women performed their very brief stunt between items  so didn't interrupt the performers the audience had actually wanted to see and hear.

In fact, it was a number of supposed classical music lovers among that audience who actually did spoil it a bit for me (and I suspect many others). I refer to the curse of the coughers.

The conclusion of the orchestral work premiered at the event (Let There Be Light, by the Ukrainian composer Bohdana Frolyak) was a transcendental pianissimo.

There was very little disruption: no orange paint squirting, and the two women performed their very brief stunt between items

Or it would have been so, had it not been ruined by a cacophony of coughs. And later, in the performance of Grieg's Piano Concerto, that heart-stopping pause between the final two notes was punctuated by a mighty expectoration. People have been sent to prison for lesser crimes than that.

You may say, unlike Just Stop Oil protesters, those who spoiled some of the most beautiful moments of the concert with their coughing weren't deliberately drawing attention to themselves.

The conclusion of the orchestral work premiered at the event last Friday was a transcendental pianissimo. Or it would have been so, had it not been ruined by a cacophony of coughs

But in 2012, a German academic, Andreas Wagener, produced statistics which, he told the BBC, suggested that 'people cough during classical concerts twice as much as they do in normal life'.

He claimed this represented 'a widespread and intentional breach of concert etiquette'.

Promenaders not part of this conspiracy should start their own protest group: Just Stop Coughing.
But thirsty thrill seekers should read on, as they are only found in certain spots

Flavors now on offer include Blood Orange and Watermelon Spritz coke

Universal Studios Orlando is offering a secret menu for eagle-eyed customers - and most attendees have never even heard of it.

The amusement park has long had a lucrative promo deal with Coca-Cola, which has seen dozens of Coca-Cola Freestyle machines dotted around the estate.

But now, at select locations Universal has started offering an impressive line-up of hidden flavor options.

New flavors up for grabs reportedly include Blood Orange Boba Spritz, Zero Sugar Chocolate Berry Blast, Krakatoa Blackberry Fizz, and Watermelon Spritz.

Universal Studios has hidden a secret Coca-Cola flavor menu around the park

Universal Studios Orlando announced the new promotions will be available around the park, but only to those that know how to find them.

The menu has been shared on Universal's website, which says it includes 'refreshing, never-before-tasted specialty beverages at secret locations throughout the parks'.

To find the new $7 sodas, keen customers must look for a secret menu QR code located throughout the amusement park.

For those trying to find the Blood Orange Boba Spritz, they should head to the Universal Islands of Adventure.

The drink is described as a 'Universal Studios has hidden a secret Coca-Cola flavor menu around the park'.

Customers are told to simply ask for the specialty drink at the counter, and it's suggested they pair it with a chicken Caesar salad.

The zero sugar Chocolate Berry Blast is found at the Louie's Italian Restaurant in Universal Studios Florida, per the website.

Those opting for the bizarre flavor are advised to pair it with a Jumbo Supreme Slice, which they can find by asking for it specifically by name at the counter.

It is described as 'a rich and enticing combination of Coke Zero, Sugar-Free Chocolate Syrup and Sugar-Free Blackberry essence.'

For those trying to find the Blood Orange Boba Spritz, they should head to the Universal Islands of Adventure

The zero sugar Chocolate Berry Blast is found at the Louie's Italian Restaurant

For thrill seekers looking to quench their thirst after a hot day at the park, the Krakatoa Blackberry Fizz may be the flavor for you

For thrill seekers looking to quench their thirst after a hot day at the park, the Krakatoa Blackberry Fizz may be the flavor for you.

The special soda is found at the Whakawaiwai Eats and Kohola Reef Restaurant & Social Club in Universal Volcano Bay.

Customers are advised to pair it with an Island Chicken Salad.

Universal Studios describes it as a 'mouthwatering Sprite with a tangy blackberry blast and an orange wheel topper.'

While all flavors can be found by asking for them by name at the correct location, there is another way to get your hands on the special sodas.

Customers can also go to any Coca-Cola Freestyle machine, and click on the vault icon on the home screen.

From there, draw a 'U' on the password screen with your finger, which unlocks the secret menu.

But act quickly to find them, because Universal Studios said the promotion is only running for a limited time.
Margot Robbie has captivated the world recently, stunning in looks as she travels the globe on a mega press tour ahead of her latest movie Barbie hitting the screens next week.

The Australian-born actress, 33, has pulled from the archives of Versace, Manolo Blahnik and Chanel to recreate incredible vintage looks, with clear nods to original Barbie dolls.

And for many fashion watchers, the photo calls are a welcome change for the Oscar-nominee, who has been slammed for her red carpet looks for years.

Despite regularly topping lists of the most beautiful women in the world, Margot has also found herself on many worst dressed lists, with many fashion watchers blaming her contract with Chanel and stylist Kate Young for the string of red carpet fails.

However, since promoting the Greta Gerwig movie, Margot - working with new stylist Andrew Mukamal - has completely transformed her style and cemented herself as a modern fashion icon.

Gone are the over-the-top accessories, glaring frills and contrasting colours.

With Margot instead now opting for sleek looks, often without any accessories paying tributes to fashion greats and models, managing to nail Barbiecore, while still being refined and sleek.

Margot Robbie's style has completely transformed ahead of the Barbie movie. Left in 2020, right this week

Despite regularly topping lists of the most beautiful women in the world, Margot has also found herself on many worst dressed lists, with many fashion watchers blaming her contract with Chanel and stylist Kate Young for the string of red carpet fails, until now. (She is pictured at the 2020 Screen Actors Guild Awards left, and right this week)

In the last five years, critics have heckled her outfits online, with many calling on her stylist Kate Young to 'free her' from the contract with Chanel.

While no details of a formal contract have ever been made public, some speculated her deal with the brand had come to an end after she wore an emerald green Bottega Veneta dress to the Governors Awards in November, which at the time was described as her 'best look ever'.

Days later, she was papped leaving a New York City hotel in a Proenza Schouler power suit and an oversized Bottega blazer.

She also wore a flowing charcoal Celine dress to the European premiere of Amsterdam in London in September, with fans taking to TikTok at the time to celebrate the 'end of her Chanel era'.

In the last five years, critics have heckled her outfits online, with many calling on her stylist Kate Young to 'free her' from the contract with Chanel (left in 2019, right now)

However, the I, Tonya star returned with a Chanel look at the Golden Globes in January, which disappointed some amateur fashionistas.

'Margot Robbie's stylist knows she would break the internet and everyone would be jealous of her as the most stunning woman in the world, so she lets her wear ugly outfits to protect us,' one fan joked.

Yet since promoting the Barbie tour, Margot has gone from strength to strength with her looks.

She looked simply sensational in the light pink dress by Vivienne Westwood Couture that nipped in at the waist with a corseted bodice before falling into a glamorous train, at the London premiere.

The custom dress was a special development for Margot from the Vivienne Westwood 2023 Couture collection Moonlight gown  a corseted asymmetric look with defined drapery, reminiscent of Ancient Greek statues.

Some fans have even speculated that Margot deliberately dresses badly to distract from her beauty, which in turn encourages people to take her more seriously as an actress (left in 2020, right now)

After, she left the party in a custom Dilara Findikoglu satin mini corset dress featuring a flattering bandeau necklace, boned bodice and sultry lace up back.

The 1960s 'Brunette Bubble Cut' Barbie doll who wore a red swimsuit, the star looked luxe in a custom Dilara Findikoglu satin mini corset dress featuring a flattering bandeau necklace, boned bodice and sultry lace up back.

She's also dressed in Moschino suits, while she opted for a Balmain look to be 90s Barbie.

It's a far cry from the days when she was branded one of the worst dressed in Tinsel Town.

In 2020, celebrity stylist Elliot Garnaut named Margot as his 'worst-dressed' Australian star in Hollywood.

The sartorial expert took part in an episode of The Lady Bunch, hosted by Rozalia Russian, where he dramatically asked the former Neighbours star to 'call him'.

Now a wild theory is doing the rounds on Twitter that the 33-year-old is deliberately dressing badly to distract from her beauty, which in turn encourages people to take her more seriously as an actress

'Your stylist is literally f**king torturing you. You look like an old wench!' he said.

Some fans have even speculated that Margot deliberately dresses badly to distract from her beauty, which in turn encourages people to take her more seriously as an actress.

In January, discussing a custom-made version of a vintage Versace gown that she wore to the Sydney premiere of Babylon - one fan suggested Margot doesn't want to be seen as 'too beautiful' in order to get a variety of roles.

'My theory is she does it to hide her beauty so she still has interesting opportunities,' they speculated on Twitter.

'Can you imagine if she choose to play up her beauty and shine?

Margot Robbie has transformed her style working with stylist Andrew Mukamal, left in 2009, right now

The Australian 33-year-old worked with her stylist Andrew Mukamal to recreate the strapless trumpet gown, matching peep-toe kitten heels, opera gloves, and diamond choker on the original Barbie 'Solo in the Spotlight' doll from 1960

'She's made to play Barbie but we know that movie is going to be unhinged, much like Margot's glam squad.'

Margot started her career as teen heart-throb Donna Freedman on Neighbours before getting her big break opposite Leonardo DiCaprio in 2013's The Wolf of Wall Street.

In the Martin Scorsese-directed movie, she played DiCaprio's feisty and flirtatious wife Naomi Lapaglia, and quickly became famed for the film's sex scenes.

She cemented her status as one of the hottest women in Hollywood three years later after landing the role of Harley Quinn in 2016's Suicide Squad.

Margot Robbie attends a press conference for 'Barbie' in South Korea

Margot Robbie attends the 'Barbie' European Premiere at Cineworld Leicester Square

But after a series of suggestive roles, Margot said she didn't want to be seen as 'just sexy' and opted to play the complex Tonya Harding in the 2016 biopic I, Tonya, which garnered her an Oscar nomination.

In an interview with Woman's Day that year, the actress-turned-producer spoke of her desire to not fall into a certain stereotype because of her sex appeal.

'I want to keep looking for roles where the main interest will be in the character and her importance in driving a story forward, rather than her relationship with a male character,' she said.

'Films like The Wolf of Wall Street and Focus gave me a chance to play charismatic and clever women, even though they do have a glamorous side.'
For all the latest Royal news, pictures and video click here

Lady Anne Glenconner celebrates her 91st birthday on July 16, and like many people, she might find herself reflecting on years gone by.

And she certainly has plenty to look back on, having enjoyed an uncommonly eventful life.

Lady Anne was one of Queen Elizabeth II's six maids of honour at the late monarch's 1953 Coronation.

Her royal connections do not end there - as well as enjoying a childhood friendship with the late queen, she was lady-in-waiting to the monarch's sister Princess Margaret.

Lady Anne (pictured, right) with Princess Margaret (pictured, centre) and Lord Colin Tennant (pictured, left) waiting on the jetty at Mustique to greet Queen Elizabeth II in 1977

As well as being a childhood friend of Queen Elizabeth, Lady Anne was a maid of honour at her coronation (pictured L-R: Lady Moyra Campbell), Lady Anne Glenconner), Lady Rosemary Muir, Lady Mary Russell), The Baroness Willoughby de Eresby, Lady Rayne, Queen Elizabeth II

And she married a high profile individual as well, tying the knot with Colin Tennant, later the 3rd Baron Glenconner, in 1956.

Unfortunately, it would not be a happy union, as Lady Anne revealed in her 2022 autobiography Whatever Next?.

She revealed that her husband Colin, who she met at a debutante's ball at the Ritz during the Summer of 1955, was physically and emotionally abusive.

Lady Anne described her role as his wife as being about 'doing what he wanted, sorting out his messes and appearing cheerful while I did it. That much had been made very clear'.

She says she 'soon fell in love' after they met, describing him as 'very good-looking, charming, a marvellous dancer', and adding that 'best of all, he talked about more than shooting and fishing'.

And part of Princess Margaret's set, Colin, who died in 2010, knew many glamorous people, including writers and artists.

According to Anne, when the pair tied the knot less than year after they met, she was 'totally ignorant about sex'.

However, her hopes that her more experienced husband would help her learn with 'gentleness and kindness' would not come to fruition.

And the problems showed up early: it was on their wedding night that Colin had a tantrum that, Anne said, left him exhausted.

When they did consummate the marriage, it was 'awkward, painful and not particularly enjoyable or romantic', which he blamed on her.

Things would only get worse, when he took his bride to a brothel a couple of days later to watch a private sex show.

The experience felt humiliating to Anne, who felt as though her husband was telling her she was 'hopeless', and that she should watch the show to get tips.

Their sex life would never improve, and would be marked with 'criticism and disappointment'.

According to Anne: 'He used to get very cross with me, which of course made things worse and I used to dread going to bed with him. I tried to be enthusiastic but it never worked between us. For a very long time, I felt I must be to blame.'

Although Anne quickly fell for Colin, problems were quick to appear in their marriage (pictured: Lady Anne and Colin on their wedding day)

Lady Anne Coke and Colin Tennant pictured as they announce their engagement, December 16 1955

Lady Anne, then 23, in her wedding dress as she married Colin Tennant in 1956

Colin Tennant, 3rd Baron Glenconner, and his wife Anne, on the island of Mustique in March 1973

Colin took an extreme step in order to enjoy sex with his wife, arranging to have her drink spiked one night, with what she suspects was LSD.

Having visions and hallucinations was a terrifying experience, but the couple 'ended up making passionate love', which was energetic and uninhibited.

When Colin told Anne that was how he 'wanted [her] to behave all the time', she simply replied that she had felt awful at time - and still did.

As well as struggling with their sex life, Colin was also violent throughout the marriage, with Anne saying his violent rages and outbursts were 'just his character'.

However, she has described being married to him as 'frightful at times and very, very difficult', thanks to his hair trigger temper.

The violence followed a trajectory, starting with screaming and moving to spitting, shoving and throwing things.

He beat her once, she revealed, during an outburst that was severe, Anne feared he would kill her.

However, she has said there were moments of levity during the union as well as these dark episodes.

According to Anne: 'Even so, as time went on, there would be moments of vivid happiness. Dancing was one of them; we loved jive and rock and roll and would let rip in various clubs.

'To me, those were really magical times when I could forget myself and all the tensions between us.

'I also learned to treasure the many moments of joy and laughter we shared with our family and friends, and appreciate the times Colin was at his best, charming the people around us.'

One of the worst times, however, came after he had famously bought Mustique in 1958, which she decribes as 'a great leap into the unknown'.

And while she had some good times in the West Indies, it was not, according to Anne, good for Colin, who 'regarded himself as the King of Mustique and behaved accordingly' after spending much of his own fortune into the island.

He built a new village, installed electricity and created a lot of well-paying jobs, improving the lives of islanders.

But the hubris meant he felt entitled to attack people physically, which Anne says was 'simply accepted...as what white men did' by the islanders, who accepted Colin's behaviour because he'd been generous in other ways.

Then one November night in the late 70s, as they were celebrating the birthday of their twin girls, Anne was the focus of his ire.

After speaking with clients at a bar at Colin's request, Anne excused herself to return to the twins.

She was soon approached by her furious husband, who physically grabbed her, before driving back to their house. He shook with rage during the entire 10 minute journey.

According to Anne: 'Drawing up at the house, I got out of the car and before I knew what was happening, he hit me across the head from behind with his shark-bone walking stick. It knocked me straight to the ground. And then he launched in on me.

'I lay there, trying to protect my head and begging him to stop.

'He didn't: he was in a frenzy, quite out of his mind. I was utterly terrified, convinced he might actually kill me.

'I have no idea how long it lasted, but eventually he tired himself out. I lay there until I heard his car drive off, then crawled into the main house and locked myself into the bedroom.'

Party people: Princess Margaret (pictured, centre) with the Glenconner on Mustique in 1986

Colin Tennant and Princess Margaret, at the gold themed 50th Birthday Party of Colin Tennant on Mustique in 1976

She was terrified he would return to 'finish [her] off', but later learnt that he had returned to the bar where he told a mutual friend he had 'just given Anne a thrashing'.

The next day, Anne knew something was seriously wrong, and was suffering from terrible ear pain.

It would transpire that her eardrum had burst, leaving her deaf in that ear ever since.

That beating was, according to Anne, the first time Colin knew he'd gone too far. He apologised, promising not to do it again in the only show of remorse she'd ever seen from him.

Colin moved to St Lucia in 1987, after investing in an undeveloped 480-acre estate which he wanted to develop into somewhere as spectacular as Mustique.

However, the venture failed, and he found himself living alone.

When he was seriously ill with prostate cancer in 2010, Anne spent some time in the West Indies looking after him as he refused to return to England for treatment.

She described seeing him so frail as being 'desperately upsetting', and one night, after returning to her bedroom (they had separate rooms) she wept quietly to herself.

Colin, hearing her weep, came in and hugged her. He said: 'It wasn't all bad, was it, Anne?'

'No, Colin,' I said. 'Of course not.'

Lady Anne Glenconner (pictured) served as Princess Margaret's lady-in-waiting for three decades

She returned to England soon after, and would never see him again - his death devastated her.

As did he decision to leave everything to his valet, which she says she 'experienced...as one last flourish of his sadistic side, the side that revelled in the distress of others and which at times had made any sort of marriage to him seem an impossible burden'.

'I could not and would not be broken by him from beyond the grave, any more than I would allow it when he was alive,' Anne has said

'I made a conscious decision not to dwell on that final act of cruelty.

'Our marriage had lasted for 54 years. I can now look back and feel proud that I managed to find a way to stay married to Colin  and even to agree with him that it wasn't all bad.'
Your personality type can be revealed in just four simple questions, thanks to an interesting psychological test.

In a TikTok video by Made in Chelsea star Jamie Laing, the reality TV personality explains that people have to answer the four questions - as well as two different adjectives to explain why.

He introduced the quiz to viewers, saying: 'This is a great psychological test that can test your personality in four questions, and each answer you give you also have to give two adjectives why you have given that answer.'

For example, a response to the first question, 'What is your favourite animal?', could be 'dog' because they are both 'cute' and 'loyal'. The two adjectives are how you would describe yourself, says Laing.

Laing then asks: 'What is your favourite food?'. A possible answer could be 'curry' because it's 'hot' and 'spicy'.

Those two words would be how you would describe your partner, says Laing.

Next viewers are asked what their favourite colour is and why. According to Laing, your answer is how people describe you.

The last of four questions asks about a favourite 'type of water', with examples given such as river, sea or swimming pool. The two adjectives you use to explain why, reveals Laing, describe your sex life.

Laing's viral Tiktok clip has 53,000 likes. Users who took the quiz shared their various results based on the answers they gave.

One said: 'Me saying panda for the first one cause its fat and lazy. Guess that's me.'

Made in Chelsea star Jamie Laing quizzed viewers with a test which reveals your personality in just four questions

The viral Tiktok video has clocked up over 53,000 likes

Another remarked: 'Drinking water. It goes in me and hydrates me ffs.' Another joked: 'I described the ocean as vast and mysterious. I should have said non-existent.'

Another user wrote: 'I chose a poodle, and yes I am warm and adorable. My fav colour: gold, many men have described me as expensive and luxurious.

Others suggested that their answers didn't quite work out. One said: 'Not me saying Pad Thai as my favourite food as it's tasty and has nuts.'

Another commented: 'Noooo! Favourite animal - cat, because they are smart and arrogant.'

'I'm not impressed with my answers 4th question a pool because it's safe and clean.', wrote another user.
Every week, it seems, we learn of yet another friend who has been told they have prostate cancer. While breast cancer appears to have relatively clear paths of treatment, a diagnosis of prostate cancer is still excruciatingly confusing. Indeed, the Mail's campaign to end needless prostate cancer deaths is so very timely.

First, the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test, which is the first step in diagnosis, is notoriously unreliable as an indicator of whether treatment is required.

Then there's the watch-and-wait process  if the cancer hasn't spread  that is favoured by some doctors to prevent what might be unnecessary treatment, which can include radiotherapy, hormone therapy, targeted ultrasound and, what many regard as the nuclear option, surgery.

Men are understandably often terrified of this cancer because of the potential side effects of impotence and incontinence. But, increasingly, the subject is spoken of more openly, including by Soho House founder Nick Jones who has described his own experience and urged men to investigate problems early.

However, in the many cases I know about, the whole experience of deciding the appropriate treatment is what causes so much anxiety and uncertainty.

ALEXANDRA SHULMAN: Every week, it seems, we learn of yet another friend who has been told they have prostate cancer

One man of my acquaintance attended a London teaching hospital where he was subjected to a kind of speed dating afternoon with the advocates of different treatments, and was then left entirely alone to decide, unadvised, which one to take. How could he know whether high frequency ultrasound would be less damaging than radiotherapy?

Others appear to have no clue about the range of treatment options available even if their cancer has not spread  a situation made worse by the limitations of treatment in different postcodes.

While prostate cancer is frequently treatable, it's still a cancer that strikes at the heart of maleness and often brings with it more psychological problems than physical.

With an increase of almost 50 per cent of cases in the past couple of decades, and an annual 50,000 diagnoses, it is becoming as much a part of male ageing as needing a cataract operation or hearing aid.

Lives are very often saved but we need to encourage a greater understanding of treatment options available and more empathy, rather than weary briskness from the doctors confronting vulnerable, confused men.

Is it time for a bit of polo at Wimbledon?

In 2006, Ralph Lauren became the first fashion brand to be an official partner at Wimbledon. I remember this because as editor of British Vogue I was asked to host a party to celebrate the partnership.

And so the magnificent Spencer House in London's St James's was booked for a glamorous dinner, and every possible pretty British celeb was approached to attend and be dressed in Ralph Lauren and sit at the table of Ralph's son David.

When I asked if these gems could be spread around the room a bit, the party organiser, who had flown in from New York, told me: 'David likes to keep it tight around him.'

Whatever that might mean. The Polo Ralph Lauren designs for Wimbledon remain pretty much the same today as they did in 2006. Umpires and line judges wear striped shirts and white trousers that hark back to the days of an LP Hartley novel.

Despite Lauren's undoubted brilliance at making a fortune from selling a nostalgic version of British style back to us in a way that no home-grown designer has ever managed, surely it's time for a refresh.

The often less-than-youthful linesmen and women, bent for long periods with their eagle-eyes glued to the white lines, might benefit from some slightly more forgiving outfits than the narrow shirts which don't flatter the middle-aged physique.

I'm not suggesting sweatpants and T-shirts, but even some of Lauren's massively popular polo shirts and looser-cut trousers could do the trick.

ALEXANDRA SHULMAN: In 2006, Ralph Lauren became the first fashion brand to be an official partner at Wimbledon

It's sew hard to get clothes repaired

Bravo to les Francais for their government's new 'make-do and mend' scheme that allows people to claim back up to 25 of the cost of mending clothes and shoes rather than chucking them into landfill.

While it's relatively easy to get shoes spruced up at a local cobbler, clothes repairs are much trickier. Our local dry cleaner is fine for the basics, such as putting in a new zip, though I'd be wary of letting them anywhere near a pricey outfit.

The will to repair definitely exists but the means is harder to find.

Wouldn't it be heavenly if there were more sewing workshops that could repair all those moth holes and snagged hems?

Yet I guess it's unlikely the British Government would fork out a contribution to make this happen any time soon.

Forget Barbie, men are so pretty in pink

I mentioned the raging Barbie fever last week but neglected to point out that pink, despite being designated a feminine colour, looks terrific on all men.

No matter what a guy's colouring, a splash of pink is guaranteed to flatter a man. This was recognised by Niccolo Machiavelli, the Renaissance philosopher and diplomat, who quoted Cosimo de' Medici as saying: 'Two yards of pink cloth can make a gentleman.'

ALEXANDRA SHULMAN: I mentioned the raging Barbie fever last week but neglected to point out that pink, despite being designated a feminine colour, looks terrific on all men

No, Nigella, I like to be told where to sit

When the Oracle speaks, we listen. Nigella Lawson has criticised the formal dinner party and says she rarely cooks for anyone other than old friends and family.

That's all very well if you are Nigella, but who else can get away with serving Twiglets as a first course? Indeed, I'd be very sad if people stopped hosting dinners and gave up placement.

I don't care about what food I'm served but I do like sitting at a table and, ideally, being told who to sit with. Shepherd's pie and frozen peas are perfect, but having to find someone to sit with is no fun at all.

ALEXANDRA SHULMAN: Nigella Lawson has criticised the formal dinner party and says she rarely cooks for anyone other than old friends and family

For better or worse? Huw's wife is the best

As couples take their vows in this wedding season, they should recall the exemplary behaviour of Huw Edwards's wife Vicky Flind. Never has someone stood by their pledge to take care of their spouse 'in sickness and in health, for better or worse' with such common sense and sensitivity.
Jelena Djokovic was animated on Centre Court as the third set of a nail-biting final continued between her husband Novak and Carlos Alcaraz.

The wife of the second seed, Serbia's Novak Djokovic, 36, stood up form her seat and cheered him on amid a long-fought game which ran to more than 10 deuces.

Dressed in Wimbledon white with a tweed jacket and cat-eye reflective sunglasses, Jelena applauded every point won by her husband and cheered for him as he battled out against his 20-year-old opponent.

The mother-of-two also wore a silver chain around her neck with a cross pendant, and opted for small diamond stud earrings.

She cheered on her husband, who is aiming for his eighth Wimbledon singles title, as his serve was broken by Alvaraz.

Much needed support! Novak Djokovic's glamorous wife Jelena, 36, was elegant in Wimbledon whie as she cheered on her husband

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 glamorous mother-of-two wore a tweed jacket with embellished buttons on the lapels and sleeves

Jelena looked serious as she sat in the family box next to Hugh Jackman and Deborra-Lee Furness

Jelena's blazer dress had a bardot neckline and embellished buttons, and she wore a cross on a chain around her neck

A happier moment! Serbian-born Jelena beamed in the sunshine, showing a more relaxed mindset

Jelena, a mother-of-two, stood up from her seat and applauded points won by her husband as the match heated up

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.'
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I love the NHS. I love the sense of equality of access that is at its heart. It feels uniquely British and the fact that it was created  at a time when the country was recovering from a war  is something that should make us all very proud.

All the evidence shows it is the fairest, cheapest and most effective way of delivering healthcare in the world.

But I'm not blind to its faults. With escalating waiting times, creaking infrastructure, striking doctors and nurses, and struggling finances, it is currently letting patients down woefully.

The days of standing on steps and banging pans and clapping, as we did during Covid, seem very far away at the moment.

I worry that people are voting with their feet and soon there won't be the appetite to save it.

Latest figures show that one in six people are turning to private healthcare owing to spiralling waiting lists.

With escalating waiting times, creaking infrastructure, striking doctors and nurses, and struggling finances, it is currently letting patients down woefully

A YouGov poll found that 17 per cent had paid for some form of non-dental private healthcare, with the wish to avoid waiting lists given as the most common reason.

I don't blame people going privately. I confess that, although I work full-time in the NHS and have consciously chosen not to work privately, I've had to go privately recently myself. And it wasn't just a one-off.

Each time, I've really tussled with the ethics of this. I know that by opting out of the NHS, I'm arguably undermining the health service.

Before the pandemic, I tripped on cobblestones. My ankle rolled over and I heard a crack but, strangely, it didn't hurt. By the next day it had swollen and was painful. I debated going to A&E but didn't want to waste anyone's time and reasoned it was probably just sprained.

I decided to wait to see if it got better. Reader, it did not. At the time I was working for an eating disorder service where the waiting lists were very long. People had often waited nearly a year to be seen.

My clinics were rammed full. I couldn't bring myself to call in sick so, even though I could now see the bone sticking out at a weird angle, I limped to work. I tried in vain to get an appointment with the GP and eventually just gave up.

As stupid as it sounds, I got used to the pain and not being able to bear weight on it. After three months, though, a colleague took me aside and told me he thought I should get it X-rayed.

I don't blame people going privately. I confess that, although I work full-time in the NHS and have consciously chosen not to work privately, I've had to go privately recently myself

I'll spare you all the details but it turned out my ankle was broken. Entirely my fault for not prioritising my own health, but you would be surprised how common this is among doctors who feel dreadful for taking time off knowing patients will have their appointments cancelled.

It needed several operations but on the NHS I couldn't pick the day or time. And, because it was no longer an emergency, an appointment meant not being seen for months, during which time I was advised to go off sick. I simply couldn't bring myself to do this. Eventually, I went privately and had five procedures.

Going private, I could pick the day and time to suit my work, and follow-up appointments were in the evenings, so I managed not to cancel any new patient assessments.

So I justified it to myself on these grounds. I would think many other people opting to go private have similar justifications.

Imagine being self-employed, for example, and being faced with months, if not longer, of pain and discomfort, possibly even not being able to work, while you wait. Of course you would pay if you could.

Many of my friends have done the same  in fact, I'm now asked for recommendations to private doctors on an almost weekly basis. This was always my concern with the doctors' strikes that have been ongoing.

They will worsen waiting lists and those who can afford it will move to the private sector. This will set in motion a death spiral for the health service, and the only people who will suffer are the poorest in society, the ones who can't afford to go privately.

Aneurin Bevan, the architect of the NHS, is often quoted as saying, 'The NHS will exist as long as there are folk with faith left to fight for it.'

While he didn't actually ever say this (it's a quote from a 1997 film about him), the words ring worryingly true. And my concern is that the more people go private, the fewer people there will be to fight for the NHS.

There's no easy answer for how to fix the NHS, but we must find one before it's too late.

Don't dismiss those in pain

Fibromyalgia  where there is no clear underlying cause for the pain a person is experiencing  can be a life sentence with little hope of respite. I've seen many patients with this and it blights their life.

Often, traditional painkillers have little or no effect or, if they do, then they are at high doses that bring a catalogue of side-effects.

Pain is poorly understood and too often patients with fibromyalgia are pushed from pillar to post. According to latest research, doctors often write off fibromyalgia as 'imaginary'. I have problems with this idea.

All pain is in the mind in that we all experience our sensations through our brains. And I dislike the idea that if something has no clear physical cause then it is in the mind and therefore not a legitimate source of distress.

This, according to the research, has resulted in thousands of people with fibromyalgia killing themselves.

It demonstrates how we shouldn't dismiss something simply because we don't understand it and how these patients deserve better from the medical profession.

In a podcast, actor Tom Holland explains why he has quit booze for good. After trying Dry January, he realised he was constantly thinking about alcohol and had a problem. This is one of the reasons I'm quite a supporter of Dry January as it can put things into perspective.

A therapy break can do you good

Vogue knows she has a trusted therapist she can turn to if she starts having a wobble. Until then, she can get on with enjoying life

Vogue Williams has revealed that she has paused her therapy sessions as she thinks she's in a 'good place' with managing her anxiety and doesn't need them at the moment.

'I always have it on the back burner because I've found someone I really enjoy talking to,' she said. 'It's good to have when you need it.'

Actually I agree with her. There's no point in having therapy for the sake of it, just as you wouldn't take a painkiller if you didn't have a headache.

Life is for living and there are better things to do with your time and money than pay for therapy you don't need.

Vogue knows she has a trusted therapist she can turn to if she starts having a wobble. Until then, she can get on with enjoying life.

Certainly, I'd advise against waiting until you are at rock bottom before seeking therapy  sometimes people feel they should soldier on until they absolutely can't any longer.

At this point they are often very down and therapy  and the changes in yourself that it brings  can be difficult and upsetting. Therapy also takes time, so it's best to think of it as a long-term exercise and an investment in the future.

Dr Max prescribes: A Peri-menopause app

Olympic gold medal winner Jessica Ennis-Hill, 37, has launched a new addition to her Jennis app designed to help peri-menopausal women with their symptoms using the latest in hormonal science (5.99/month, jennis.com) to improve both physical and mental health.
A young Aussie has revealed how doctors thought she had glandular fever after being 'sick for months' - but she was actually suffering from something far more serious.

Kate Proctor-Parker was diagnosed in January with Hodgkin's lymphoma at just 19 years old after five months of sickness, seeing multiple doctors and being prescribed a litany of medications.

The now-20-year-old had suspected something might be 'seriously wrong' after noticing a lump on her neck, and pushed GPs to refer her to a specialist.

After battling to get a diagnosis, Kate was surprisingly 'relieved' when a biopsy revealed she had stage-three cancer as her worries were validated and there was a clear-cut treatment plan.

She said the ordeal taught her the importance of 'trusting your gut' and advocating for yourself when your fears are being dismissed by doctors.

At just 20 years old, Kate Proctor-Parker (pictured) is battling Hodgkin's lymphoma after doctors thought her symptoms were caused by glandular fever

Kate had suspected something might be 'seriously wrong' after noticing a lump (visible under her left cheek) and pushed GPs to refer her to a specialist

'You know your own body best. If you're not happy with how you're being treated by a medical professional, don't be afraid to seek a second opinion,' she told FEMAIL.

In September 2022, Kate noticed a lump had developed on her neck but was otherwise feeling healthy.

Only a couple of weeks later, her health started to deteriorate.

'There was ten days where I couldn't keep any food down, I would throw up everything. In a month and a half, I lost ten kilos,' Kate said.

'I was sweating horrifically. This one small lump on my neck had blown up and I had lumps all over my collar bone and under my armpits.'

A blood test revealed she had glandular fever, so doctors attributed all her symptoms to that and prescribed her antibiotics, but she didn't get any better.

Her illness got so bad she flew from Canberra, where she was studying economics at the Australian National University, to her home city of Melbourne to be with family.

In September 2022, Kate (pictured before falling ill) noticed a lump on her neck but was otherwise feeling healthy. Only a couple of weeks later, her health started to deteriorate

Hodgkin lymphoma: What is it and what are the symptoms? Hodgkin lymphoma, sometimes called Hodgkin disease, is a type of lymphoma - a general term for cancer of the lymphatic system (the various lymph glands around the body). Hodgkin lymphoma is a rare cancer. It is estimated that more than 700 people were diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma cancer in 2022. The average age at diagnosis is 45 years old. Signs and symptoms: painless swelling in the neck, armpit or groin

excessive sweating, especially at night

unexplained fatigue

itching

shortness of breath

unexplained cough

fever

unexplained weight loss. There is currently no screening for Hodgkin lymphoma available in Australia. There are no proven measures to prevent lymphoma; however, people with an HIV infection or Epstein-Barr virus have an increased risk of contracting lymphoma. Source: Cancer Council Advertisement

There, she saw another GP who prescribed her more antibiotics for a chest infection, which she said helped a bit but she continued to struggle with sickness.

'I am not usually a hypochondriac but my aunt who I'd never met but I've heard a lot about died of lymphoma, so it's something I had been aware of,' she said.

'When I first got sick in Canberra, I called my mum and I said, "You're going to think I'm being hysterical but I think something might be seriously wrong with me."'

Because of her gut feeling, Kate insisted she be referred to a specialist, which her doctor 'reluctantly' did.

'After getting a referral to the specialist, I tried to get booked in and I couldn't get in for a month,' she recalled.

'Then I saw a second GP and she called the specialist on the dot for me and got me booked in the next day.'

Kate had multiple biopsies which eventually confirmed she had stage three Hodgkin lymphoma, a form of cancer of the lymphatic system that thankfully has a survival rate of 80 per cent.

'It had been five months of me being incredibly sick and going on so many antibiotics and steroids that when I finally got the diagnosis, I was relieved,' she said.

Kate had multiple biopsies which eventually confirmed she had stage three Hodgkin lymphoma, a form of cancer of the lymphatic system that has a survival rate of 80 per cent

'At this point we were trying to figure what was wrong with me and if it wasn't cancer it could have been something that they weren't sure how to treat.

'When I knew it was cancer, I at least knew there were ways forward, steps to be taken to get me better again.'

She had to endure two rounds of intensive chemotherapy and is now almost finished her four rounds of ABVD, a chemotherapy combination used to treat Hodgkin lymphoma.

Before starting treatment, Kate also went through IVF to freeze her eggs as the chemotherapy could affect her fertility.

Chemo is not an easy road for anyone; however, Kate had it particularly tough after developing blood infections, catching Covid and going septic.

'The first round of chemo made me incredibly sick. I was there for three days a week in the beginning and each time, my white blood cells would plummet to absolutely zero and my red blood cells would also plummet extremely low,' she said.

Kate was admitted to hospital on two separate occasions for blood infections.

'I had to get my PICC line taken out, which is a peripherally inserted central catheter, which is how I got my chemo given to me.'

She had to go endure two rounds of intensive chemotherapy and is now almost finished her four rounds of ABVD, a chemotherapy combination used to treat Hodgkin lymphoma

Over Easter, Kate wound up in hospital again after getting Covid and becoming septic, so doctors eventually had to make the decision to change the type of chemo that was making her so sick.

She has endured more than what most 20-year-olds have gone through, but has been fortunate enough to have the unwavering support of her mum by her side.

'My mum comes to everything with me. My first time being admitted to hospital she would stay overnight even though I was in the adult ward,' Kate laughed.

'Unfortunately, last time I was in the ICU so she had to be away from me, but my mum's there through everything and my dad's also been a great support. Around the Easter time, he helped me raise money for the World's Greatest Shave.'

Kate has also found solace in social media, posting details about her journey on TikTok and connecting with other young Aussies who have had or are currently fighting cancer.

Kate has endured more than what most 20-year-olds have gone through, but she has been fortunate enough to have the unwavering support of her mum by her side

'The first thing I did when I got diagnosed was jump onto TikTok to see what other people's lives looked like when they're living with cancer,' she said.

'Even though I have amazing support through family and friends, it can be hard to describe exactly what you're feeling when they haven't gone through it themselves, so talking to other people who have actually been through the same treatment is really, really good.'

At her young age, Kate has already had to face her own mortality, but said it has taught her to appreciate life more.

'This last trip where I was an inpatient in hospital and I had become septic, it sounds so cheesy, but you really see how vulnerable your life is, so ever since then I've had a new take on life,' she said.

'Each day I'm not in hospital, I'm so grateful just to be walking around and have the energy I do now.'

With just one and a half rounds of chemo to go, Kate will need to undergo tests and scans to see if the treatment worked, but is feeling hopeful and planning her future.
Turkish plastic surgery clinics are teaming up with OnlyFans stars to lure British women into going under the knife on the cheap, campaigners have warned.

Models and social media influencers are helping promote ops like boob jobs and bum lifts to their thousands of followers.

MailOnline can reveal that some even offer discount codes that people can use to book a procedure overseas.

Experts have lambasted the 'predatory' practices, claiming that the tactic exploits body insecurities rife in young women by luring them with an unrealistic ideal.

Women's partners, who may be patrons of OnlyFans models, could also potentially pressure their wives and girlfriends to go under the knife, campaigners say.

ClinicHub, an Istanbul-based surgery, has partnered with British OnlyFans model Phoebe Bartlett to offer her followers a discount code for procedures in Turkey

Ms Bartlett describes her body as being 'by ClinicHub' and directs her followers to the clinic if they want similar work done

Ronnie Havis, a 23-year-old OnlyFans model from Essex who posts racy photoshoots dressed as characters like Velma from Scooby Doo or the video game character Lara Croft, was also shown off by Badge Clinic as an example of their work

They added that the combination of overseas clinics selling surgery as the cheap and easy solution was a 'recipe for disaster' and that life-changing surgery should never 'be sold at a discount'.

MailOnline's probe found ClinicHub, an Istanbul-based clinic, partnered with British OnlyFans model Phoebe Bartlett to offer her followers a 100 discount code for all procedures with its surgeons.

Ms Bartlett, who has 20,000 followers on social media, goes by the moniker Princess Phe on the online site, where she charges subscribers 10 a month to access her explicit content.

She had a 2,500 Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL) with the clinic in January, during which surgeons extracted seven litres of fat from other parts of her body to inject into her behind to give her a perkier posterior.

But this is more than double the amount of a fat UK surgeons recommend being removed in a single sitting.

Ms Bartlett has also written an official testimonial on the clinic's social media page, which also plugged a promo code featuring her name.

'If anyone is thinking of getting surgery of any sort I HIGHLY recommend Clinichub! 10/10 service and care and I am obsessed with my results!'

In a separate Instagram post, that is not flagged as an advertisement, Ms Bartlett also detailed being treated to lunch and going on a tour of Istanbul with ClinicHub representatives.

Ms Bartlett is not the only the British adult content creator to work with the clinic.

MailOnline can also reveal other Turkish sites are using UK OnlyFans models to promote their surgeries to the British public.

Model Ivy Red, who creates Manchester United-themed adult content on OnlyFans, recently featured in a testimonial video about getting liposuction and a BBL with the Istanbul-based Elite Cosmetic Surgery on Instagram.

Replying to one of their posts, the adult star, who has more than 50,000 followers on social media, said: 'You guys are the best.'

Another OnlyFans model, Lucy Bouverie-Brine, with 150,000 followers, was also featured by the page, boasting of getting a 5,500 liposuction, BBL and boob job package.

London-based adult model Sophia Petrou, who has almost 60,000 Instagram followers, was highlighted by Istanbul-based Badge Clinic about getting a 3,000 BBL with them last year.

Model Ivy Red, who creates Manchester United themed adult content on OnlyFans, recently featured in a testimonial video about getting liposuction and a BBL with the Istanbul-based Elite Cosmetic Surgery

Lucy Bouverie-Brine, with 150,000 followers, was also featured by Elite Cosmetic Surgery boasting of getting a 5,500 liposuction, BBL and boob job package

London-based adult model Sophia Petrou, who has almost 60,000 Instagram followers, was highlighted by Istanbul-based Badge Clinic about getting a 3,000 BBL with them last year

The model also posted on her Instagram page about being picked up at the airport by a VIP limo sent by the clinic which then transported her to a 5-star hotel.

However, she told this website she 'wasn't compensated' for the BBL she had with the clinic.

Ronnie Havis, a 23-year-old OnlyFans model from Essex who posts racy photoshoots dressed as characters like Velma from Scooby Doo or the video game character Lara Croft, was also shown off by the clinic as an example of their work.

Badge Clinic posted before and after pics of the mother-of-two's breast implants on Instagram.

It is unknown if the models received an official discount or some other form of compensation for being featured in the promotions.

Dawn Knight, who has campaigned against poor practises in cosmetic surgery, said Turkish clinics were engaging in 'predatory' tactics to pressure Brits to go under the knife

According to UK advertising rules, if they have any such partnership it should be clearly identified.

Some models contacted by this website said some clinics do run private 'influencer programmes' where women with certain follower numbers on social media are offered incentives as part of their treatment package.

MailOnline approached the other models to also clarify their arrangements.

Numerous campaigners have raised concerns about how young girls are being bombarded with curated images of the 'ideal', and often unachievable, female body.

Some fear overseas cosmetic surgery clinics are taking advantage of this body dysmorphia, by offering 'cheap' cosmetic surgery as the easy, quick-fix solution, often packaging it with holiday to act as an extra incentive.

Dawn Knight, who has campaigned tirelessly against poor practise cosmetic surgery since she herself suffered a botched eyelift, said the OnlyFans promotions were yet another example of 'predatory' marketing by Turkish clinics.

'It's absolutely exploiting people at their most vulnerable,' she said.

'And the offer of the all inclusive package sold like a holiday is often misleading and clouding the reality of the risks associated with any surgical procedure,' she said.

She added that clinics also needed to be honest with women about the ongoing costs of these procedures, and that they were setting themselves up for years of follow-up operations.

'Since Covid the number of sponsored ads are everywhere, so clearly the mass marketing is working,' Ms Knight said.

'Be careful. Please, look more deeply into this and the risks.

'Everyone has a choice, and ultimately its their decision. But please gather all the facts, dont be rushed, be sure you know what you will have to do if it goes wrong.'

She said people interested in going overseas for surgery should watch out for 'red flags' like being asked to pay in cash or sign waivers just before going under the knife.

'For those that had surgery and it went well abroad congratulations, you dont have to live like the ones that didnt and you didnt come home in a body bag,' she said.

Ms Knight has now invited Ms Bartlett to spend a week with those supporting victims of botched surgery abroad.

Chris Calland, from Not Just Behaviour  a group that talks to UK schoolchildren about issues like body image, told MailOnline last year that partnerships between cosmetic surgery providers and OnlyFans models in the UK, was concerning.

She said: 'Over the last couple of years people have felt very low and their life is not quite matching up to others.

'Then they're presented with "here's something you can do very easily" and seems to provide an answer.'

And Katharine Wright, of the health thinktank Nuffield Council on Bioethics, said the cosmetic industry promotion had to be put in the context of 24/7 social media frenzy that women and girls now find themselves.

'Social media feeds bombard girls and women with images of the "ideal" body that will bring you happiness and success,' she said.

'Providers of cosmetic procedures must be responsible in how they advertise procedures, as to not make them seem like a "quick fix" that will lead to happiness or portray particular body types in a negative manner.'

All of the clinics were approached for comment.
Taxpayers last year spent a record 1.7million on fixing Brits botched by cosmetic surgery carried out abroad, analysis suggests.

Some shocking cases of Brits who 'should never have gone under the knife' cost a whopping 100,000 to treat, experts claim.

Cheap flights to Turkey have made it one of the top destinations for Brits desperate for the body of their dreams. On top of that, clinics dotted across the country offer cut-price surgery and enticing holiday packages.

But huge questions are starting to be asked about the practices deployed in Turkey and beyond, following an ever-growing catalogue of horror stories from Brits who've flown out and the medics and campaigners helping them pick up the pieces.

British cosmetic surgeons have now accused their Turkish counterparts of using the NHS as a taxpayer-funded safety net for their poor aftercare.

An audit by the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS)  shared with MailOnline  shows 111 Brits needed emergency NHS care after returning from places like Turkey in 2022 to go under the knife.

British surgeons have raised the alarm about the rising NHS multi-million bill of fixing botched cosmetic ops performed overseas, with costing the NHS an estimated 100,000 alone

Surgeons reported their patients were lured in by what looked like 'bargain' tummy tucks and boob jobs. Others were deemed too unfit for surgery in the UK.

However, instead they were left with flesh-eating bacterial infections and implants bursting through their skin.

Others endured potentially deadly blood clots that required urgent NHS treatment, sometimes within just days of arriving back in the UK.

Some patients needed multiple ops to cut away dead skin from tummy tucks gone wrong.

The 2022 tally is 35 per cent higher than the previous year, which experts believe is down to a post-Covid boom.

READ MORE: I went to Turkey for a BBL - I'll never forget the horrors I saw Dani now, 23, and fully recovered, runs an OnlyFans account and has been featured in Playboy Advertisement

Pandemic restrictions on international travel struck a massive dent into the overseas cosmetic industry.

BAAPS estimates the cost to the NHS of treating each botched patient is upwards of 15,000, though this naturally varies on a case-per-case basis.

This ballpark amount  which would fluctuate with every patient  accounts for the cost of staff wages, medications and equipment, as well as ongoing care.

However, some of the more complex cases, which can require multiple operations to fix, can cost upwards of 100,000 to treat, surgeons told this website.

Last year's 1.7m total adds to the 4.8m taxpayers have spent on fixing botched ops since 2017.

One horrifying case last December saw a 60-year old woman need around 100,000 of taxpayer-funded emergency care.

Charles Durrant, a consultant plastic surgeon at the Ad Nova in Portsmouth, told how the obese, wheelchair-bound woman had a tummy tuck and lipo in Turkey.

By the time Mr Durrant saw her within his separate role in the NHS, the woman had a dangerous blood infection, rotting tissue on her abdomen, as well as a growing pool of infected fluid inside her belly.

But, 'most worryingly' of all, she had a potentially deadly blood clot in her lung  a dangerous post-surgical complication.

Mr Durrant told this website how the case had 'made him angry' as a surgeon, given the risks taken with her life considering her health conditions.

Dawn Knight, who has campaigned against poor practises in cosmetic surgery, said Turkish medics treat the UK as a honeypot

'Most, if not all, surgeons in this country would not have operated on her with all those comorbidities and increased risk factors,' he said.

They certainly wouldn't do an abdominoplasty with added liposuction.

'I would have put her risk of wound healing complications at 100 per cent.'

He added he was shocked to learn the woman, whose name is not being provided, wasn't given any blood thinners post-surgery given her risks, a practise Mr Durrant said was 'absolutely standard' for this type of patient.

The woman needed multiple NHS ops in the subsequent months to address the consequences of the surgery, including procedures to cut away or and drain infected skin and fluid, a host of antibiotics as well as blood thinners.

Mr Durrant, who was worked as a surgeon for over a decade, said the woman could face long-term health complications requiring treatment for the rest of her life.

'She's cosmetically going to have a poor result and the pulmonary embolism could end up giving her long-standing respiratory issues,' he said.

In the UK, such patients would need to lose weight before being operated on and go through a host of other health safety checks. Ops can be cancelled if certain criteria are not met.

'We would do all those sensible things, the responsible things to do,' he said. 'That just doesn't seem to happen [in Turkey].'

The 60-year-old is not the only Brit Mr Durrant has helped treat in the UK after they had cosmetic surgery in Turkey.

Another case involved a woman who originally went for a minor revision to a procedure she had done previously.

However, due to a patient mix-up at the Turkish clinic, she was mistakenly given full-body lipo instead.

The major procedure left the woman in question dangerously low on blood, and she needed an emergency transfusion upon returning to Britain.

'It almost killed her because she lost so much blood from it,' Mr Durrant said.

He added that, although he had no way to prove it, it was his opinion that some Turkish surgeons were deliberately using the NHS as their surgical aftercare service, with a 'scandalous' cost to the health service.

Labour MP for North Durham Kevan Jones MP is another voice campaigning for change on overseas surgery

'They'll do multiple procedures in high-risk patients safe in the knowledge that they won't have to deal with the complications,' he said.

'When they know there's back-up from the NHS, they'll do whatever they want, to whomever they want, cash the cheque and forget about the outcome. It's just a "fire and forget".'

Experts have claimed the such eye-watering sums are likely just the tip of the iceberg, with many other cases believed to be missed by not being treated by a BAAPS surgeon.

BAAPS is a charity membership organisation for UK registered aesthetic plastic surgeons aiming to promote best practice in the profession, with members expected to uphold strict standards.

Even the 6.5million from just the known cases since 2018 is enough to put 20 in the pocket of every cash-strapped NHS nurse in England, or pay for a brand new medical centre.

In addition to tummy tucks and boob jobs, labiaplasties and face lifts were also procedures Brits needed fixing upon their return to the UK in 2022.

BAAPS vice president Nora Nugent said surgeons are seeing a 'continued rise' in the number of Brits requiring corrective, and sometimes life-saving surgery, after going under the knife abroad.

Ms Nugent said the cost of treating these problems could quickly add up to the NHS, and ultimately, the taxpayer.

When asked why they went overseas for surgery in the first place, patients often told the British surgeon fixing their botched procedure that they had been lured in by the low costs.

'Price seems to the primary motivator for a lot of these cases,' Ms Nugent said.

She urged Brits to think twice about going overseas for cosmetic surgery, warning that the price might not be the only cost they pay.

'It's not cheaper if something goes wrong,' she said.

'These patients cannot access aftercare because it's in a different country.'

She echoed calls from campaigners for more action from Government warning people of the dangers.

Labour MP for North Durham Kevan Jones, who has written to health ministers to crackdown on surgeons in Turkey butchering Brits, described the cost as shocking.

'These shocking figures shed a light on the cost to our NHS of trying to repair the botched work of cowboy surgeons,' he said.

'Their blatant disregard for patient safety and the taxpayer is unacceptable.

'These figures are likely to only be fraction of the actual cost. The Government needs to act to ensure proper records are kept so we can know the true scale of the issue.'

Tom Ryan, policy analyst of the TaxPayers Alliance, said: 'Taxpayers will feel uncomfortable with the swelling costs of fixing botched surgeries.'

Dawn Knight, who has campaigned tirelessly against poor practise cosmetic surgery since she was left unable to close her eyes in 2012 following a botched eyelift, said the nation should be concerned about the rising bill.

'We cant continue in this way with a struggling NHS, no money to pay doctors, nurses what they deserve, yet our NHS picks up the bill for botched surgery abroad,' she said.
At least 24 Brits have died after having surgery abroad with many more injured

Labour MP for North Durham Kevan Jones MP is campaigning for more action to stop overseas 'cowboy' surgeons butchering Brits abroad

At least 24 British citizens have died after cosmetic surgery in Turkey.

Yet foreign surgeons, unqualified in the UK, are allowed to tour the country as part of cosmetic surgery roadshows, enticing Brits to travel abroad to go under the knife.

The consequences for patients and the NHS are clear.

When people come home and find they have an infection or have been injured, they naturally turn to the NHS, at an estimated cost of millions of pounds over the last few years alone. (Though the Government still does not record the true figure.)

Yet ministers are failing to introduce the regulation needed to stop these cowboy surgeons.

Anyone giving consultations on medical procedures including cosmetic surgery should be registered with a UK authority.

Registration would allow people to look up a surgeon on an official basis, see their qualifications, where they are from, and allow people to make a more informed choice about whether they are putting their health in the hands of an unsafe surgeon.

It could also provide the basis for a better system of redress in future for those who are harmed.

Without Government action more people will die and our overstretched NHS will continue to pick up the bill when things go wrong

Currently, people often rely on online reviews but these should be treated with caution.

Along with fake positive reviews, some clinics threaten to fine people thousands of pounds if they say anything negative.

Some even include NDAs in pre-surgery agreements, which should be a red flag to anyone seeking a procedure whether it is abroad or in the UK.

We also need a crackdown on aggressive marketing techniques, which often exploit people's vulnerabilities.

Terms such as 'mummy makeover' prey on insecurities and some clinics offer procedures as part of 'all-inclusive' packages, with the return flight just days later.

Terms such as all-inclusive glamorise medical tourism and feed in to a 'celebrity' culture that appeals to so many, particularly younger people.

Flying so soon after some procedures also carries huge risks.

There needs to be a much more proactive approach by social media giants to reviewing ads for these procedures on their platforms, that is clear about the risk of harm.

Anybody considering cosmetic surgery should not go to Turkey.

Without Government action more people will die and our overstretched NHS will continue to pick up the bill when things go wrong.

The British victims of surgery carried out in Turkey

At least 24 Brits have died following medical tourism trips to Turkey since January 2019, according to the Government's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

Here, MailOnline highlights some of the known victims.

Leah Cambridge

Leah Cambridge, 29, died after having the 'Brazilian butt lift' procedure in Turkey

Leah Cambridge, 29, suffered a blood clot during a 6,500 Brazilian butt lift surgery in Turkey.

The mother-of-three, from Leeds, died just one day after travelling to an Elite Aftercare clinic in Turkey in August 2018.

The trainee beautician, described as being 'paranoid about her body', paid in cash for the procedure after being inspired by pictures on Instagram.

The procedure involved having fat extracted from the waist and injected into the buttocks.

But she suffered a fatal complication when fat was accidentally injected into a vein, causing her to have three heart attacks on the operating table.

Ms Cambridge's partner Scott Franks told Wakefield Coroner's Court the surgeon who carried out the procedure told him he had 'injected the fat too far into the muscle and it entered her veins'.

Mr Franks said when he flew out to Turkey after his partner died, Dr Ali Uckan, the surgeon who treated Leah, had told him: 'It's a guessing game, you can't see where you are going into.'

Ms Cambridge father, Craig, took his own life in 2021, with an inquest held in July last year hearing how he was never able to get past the loss of his daughter.

Diarra Akua Eunice Brown

Diarra Brown, 28, died after having liposuction in Turkey

Diarra Akua Eunice Brown, died aged 28, two days after getting liposuction at a clinic in the suburb of Bahcelievler in Istanbul, in October 2021.

She reportedly underwent the operation to have fat removed from her hips.

While the procedure initially appeared to be a success, Ms Brown 'suddenly' fell ill while having her dressings changed.

She died just hours later.

Social media posts from family and friends described her as a 'beautiful soul' and a 'close friend'.

'This must be a dream,' one post said. 'Still cant come to terms with this yet.'

'I miss you angel. I'm devastated you were taken away way before your time,' said another.

Shannon Bowe

Shannon Bowe, 28 died after undergoing gastric band surgery in Turkey

Shannon Bowe, from Denny, near Falkirk, died while undergoing gastric band surgery in Turkey in April 2023.

The 28-year-old passed away during the procedure which involves placing a band around the stomach.

Where exactly Ms Bowe had the procedure in Turkey and the complication that led to her death have not been revealed.

In the aftermath of her death, Ms Bowe's boyfriend Ross Stirling wrote on social media: 'Sleep tight my angel, love you forever and always.'

Gastric band surgery involves a doctor placing a gastric band around the top of the stomach, creating a small pouch.

When the patient eats, this small pouch fills up more quickly than their stomach normally would, making them feel fuller with less food.

By encouraging them to eat less, the procedure can help patients lose weight.

Melissa Kerr

Melissa Kerr, 31, of Gorleston, Norfolk, was on holiday in Istanbul when she had the procedure

Melissa Kerr, 31, died while undergoing cosmetic butt-lift surgery in Turkey before her wedding.

Ms Kerr traveled to Istanbul's Medicana Haznedar Hospital in November 2019 for gluteal augmentation, which can cost up to 3,150.

The mental health counsellor, from Gorleston, Norfolk, died from a blocked artery in her lung while undergoing surgery.

Her twin sister Natasha who set up a justgiving.com page after her death described her as 'a pure and beautiful soul inside and out'.

Abimbola Ajoke Bamgbose

Abimbola Ajoke Bamgbose, a 38-year-old social worker from Dartford, Kent, passed away after buying an overseas package deal with Mono Cosmetic Surgery

Abimbola Ajoke Bamgbose, a 38-year-old social worker from Dartford, Kent, died in August 2020 after liposuction surgery in Turkey.

The mother-of-three bought an overseas package deal with Mono Cosmetic Surgery suffered multiple organ failure as a complication of the lipo.

Her husband Moyosore Olowo was unaware she had traveled abroad for cosmetic surgery. He believed his wife was simply going on holiday with her friends.

It was not until Mrs Bamgbose called her husband to say she was suffering from stomach pains following the procedure that he found out what had happened.

Mr Olowo said his wife had visited a private medical practice in the UK but that the cost had been too high for her to have the treatment carried out there.

Carol Keenan

Carol Keenan was offered and accepted the chance to get a third procedure free of charge at the same time to sculpt her abdominal muscles and 'improve how they looked'

Carol Keenan, 54, died six days after undergoing surgery for a Brazilian butt lift and a tummy tuck in Turkey.

The grandmother, of Glenrothes, Fife, paid 7,000 to undergo the surgery at a private hospital in Istanbul after becoming anxious about the way her body looked.

Ms Keenan also accepted the offer of free abdominal muscle repair surgery shortly before she was taken into the operating theatre.

But she died before she was due to have a final check up and fly home.

Her daughter Leonie Keenan, 32, said: 'My mother was a fit and healthy individual. She was a very petite size 10 and she kept in shape by walking everywhere and going swimming.

'She was a very active grandmother who loved bouncing on the trampoline with the kids, but she was not happy with her body even though everyone told her she looked great.

'She set her heart on having surgery after seeing stories about other people and celebrities having procedures. I don't know if it was like a mid-life crisis.'
@Motivationaldoc uploaded the video to TikTok, which has nearly 3million views

A doctor has divided opinion on TikTok after sharing his method for falling asleep quickly, but users are unconvinced.

@Motivationaldoc uploaded the video - which has been viewed over 2.7million times - to share his foolproof way of nodding off.

In his video, the doctor tells users to hold their index finger, middle finger and ring finger at the crease of the wrist, 'right between the two tendons'.

He then demonstrates how you should continually press this point for 'about one minute', before 'holding that point'.

@Motivationaldoc uploaded the video - which has been viewed over 2.7million times - to share his foolproof way of nodding off

In his video, the doctor tells users to hold their index finger, middle finger and ring finger at the crease of the wrist, 'right between the two tendons'

He then demonstrates how you should continually press this point for 'about one minute', before 'holding that point'

The doctor then instructs people to 'close [their] eyes' and 'watch how you drift off to sleep'.

Despite the video having nearly three million views, reactions from TikTok users were mixed.

One user jokingly said: 'Why didn't he fall asleep then?'.

Another disapproved of the method, stating: 'Tried it. Didnt work'.

A third TikTok user quipped: 'can you include a video on how to wake up quickly on your next video? I'm currently asleep and need a video to guide me how to wake up'.

Whilst this particular 'sleep hack' received mixed reactions, @motivationaldoc has over 2.9 million followers on TikTok, with his videos receiving nearly 23 million likes.

Whilst not everyone was convinced by this particular method for falling asleep quickly, researchers at Harvard Medical School found participants in a new study who maintained a regular and healthy sleep schedule had a 40 percent lower risk of an early death than those who didn't.

This means consistently getting about seven to nine hours of sleep, on par with national recommendations.

'Results suggest [the] benefits of expanding the public conversation on getting a good nights sleep and broadening this goal to getting many good nights of sleep, in a row, on weekdays and weekends,' Research led by Joon Chung, involved in the study, said in a press release.

The findings were presented at the Associated Professional Sleep Societies' regular meeting in Indianapolis, Indiana, which was held in June 2023.

According to figures from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the findings come when a third of Americans aren't getting enough sleep - at least seven hours a night.

A lack of sleep has consistently been linked to chronic health problems such as heart disease, kidney disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, stroke, obesity, and depression.
Son collapsed at home and was rushed to hospital before his death

A mother and her son from Arizona have died after catching a deadly virus carried by rats.

The mother, who was not named, suffered from a fever, coughed up blood and had rapid, shallow breathing for a week before she succumbed to the illness.

Her son suffered from a fever for just three days before he vomited and collapsed at night. Doctors pronounced him dead the next day.

Tests revealed they had both been infected with Hantavirus, which kills one in three people it infects and is picked up by touching surfaces contaminated with rodent feces.

The mother and her son had been infected with Hantavirus, which is carried by rodents. It was not clear when infection may have occurred

The pair were native Americans who lived on a reservation.

People can be infected by Hantavirus when they touch surfaces contaminated with rodent feces and then touch the sides of their mouth or nose.

About one to eight weeks after infection, patients usually suffer fever, sore muscles, headaches, nausea and fatigue.

Four to ten days later the disease progresses to shortness of breath and a sensation like a 'tight band around the chest and a pillow over the face'.

The disease attacks blood vessels in the lungs, causing them to start to leak and fill the lungs with fluid. This can lead to suffocation and death.

Doctors treat the disease using ventilators to ensure patients get enough oxygen and IV drips to ensure they get enough nutrients and remain hydrated. Medications may also be administered to help manage the pain, fever and other symptoms.

About 800 Americans are sickened by the disease every year with 300 fatalities also recorded, according to estimates.

The deaths were revealed in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR).

Both fatalities occurred in March 2020, when Covid was gripping the US.

Scientists said in the report that it was important to keep other diseases in mind during a pandemic.

The mother, who was 25 years old, had lived in a fourplex house  a place big enough to house four families  on the White Mountain Apache Reservation, eastern Arizona.

She would regularly travel 120 miles to visit her son, who was 11 years old, who lived at a separate family residence.

He had stayed with her during February 2020, the report said, but had returned to the family residence in March. He visited his mother's house about once a month.

The mother was reported to have started suffering shortness of breath on March 12, 2020.

She stayed at a casino, however, from March 13 to 17, and also cleaned her apartment on March 18.

But the following day she was rushed to the hospital after also starting to experience abdominal pain and started to cough up blood.

Doctors recorded that she had a fever of 101F (38.3C) and was also suffering rapid and shallow breathing.

They initially thought she was suffering from exposure to cleaning chemicals, but scans showed damage in her lungs that looked 'suspiciously' like that from Hantavirus.

She was intubated and transferred to another hospital for further treatment but died the following day, on March 19.

Her son began to feel warm to the touch but did not have a fever on March 18.

Two days later he vomited and then woke up at night because of difficulty breathing before collapsing and becoming unresponsive.

He was rushed to hospital but pronounced dead the following day.

Tests showed that he was positive for Covid, while his mother tested negative for the disease.

Samples were sent to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), with tests carried out in July revealing that they both had hantavirus.

The disease can be carried by the deer mouse, which lives in Arizona, as well as the white-footed mouse, and the rice rat and cotton rat.

It can be spread to humans via contact with rodent feces and then their mouths as well as air that has been contaminated with steam from rodent feces.
They say you can tell a lot about a person from their accent.

But for some, they go to sleep with one accent and wake up with another.

This is what happens to someone who has a rare medical condition known as foreign accent syndrome (FAS) - an ailment that changes how people speak.

It affects just around 100 people worldwide, but the differences are almost too bizarre to believe.

Now, MailOnline has collated six fascinating tales from people who were stripped of their homeland vocals overnight.

She is appealing for help to find an expert or neurologist who can help her deal with the sudden change

Zoe Coles

Zoe Coles, who lives in Lincolnshire, lost her northern accent six weeks ago and now fears she is 'stuck' with a distinctive Welsh one.

The pub worker, who originally developed a German accent before it morphed into Welsh, has taken to TikTok to chronicle her struggles accessing medical help for FAS.

Ms Coles, who was last year diagnosed with a functional neurological disorder (FND) that affects motor control and speech, has never been to Wales.

She says she is unable to go to work and is worried something has 'gone wrong up in my brain'.

In videos shared on her TikTok account @zoecoles1, she revealed that FND leaves her in chronic pain and sometimes makes it impossible to talk and walk.

But this latest development has left her even more frustrated, saying in one video: 'I've just got this accent and it won't go away, I think it's stuck. I hoped it would just be a blip and I would get over it.'

It is widely understood that FAS is an 'unusual consequence' of structural neurological damage, but some studies suggest it may be a sign of FND.

Ms Coles claims she failed to get a referral to see a specialist, so she has resorted to social media begging for an expert to help her.

Emily Egan

An Essex woman who went mute for two months after a mystery brain injury woke up one day speaking with four different Europeans accents.

Ms Egan, 33, lost the ability to speak in 2020, forcing her to rely on an app that read her texts in a computerised voice for two months before she got her voice back.

Emily Egan's extremely rare condition has sent her body into shut down, leaving her exhausted

When she got her voice back two months later, Ms Egan was left intermittently sounding either French, Polish, Russian and Italian.

Medics thought she had a stroke, but later ruled that out, and concluded that she suffered from some form of brain damage.

Ms Egan said the accents interchange depending on how tired she is.

'This whole experience has been exhausting and totally overwhelming', she added.

'It's not just my accent that has changed - I don't speak or think in the same way as before this, and I can't construct sentences like I used to.'

Kath Locket

A mother-of-two proud of her Staffordshire accent was shocked when she woke up sounding Italian.

Kath Locket went to bed one night as normal in 2006 but was later rushed to the hospital unable to speak or swallow.

Initially baffled, doctors diagnosed her with a rare brain condition called severe cerebral vasculitis  damage to part of the brain that controls language.

As she got her voice back, she noticed that her accent had changed.

Despite being born and bred in Staffordshire, she was left with a strong Italian accent.

Kath Locket went to bed one night as normal in 2006 but was later rushed to the hospital unable to speak or swallow

Ms Lockett said she no longer sounded like her family and friends  and locals assume she isn't from the West Midlands.

In an interview with ITV, she said: 'I started off with just a lisp and I was a bit concerned.

'With ill health, I got over-fatigued, so I thought it was that and went to bed.

'But when I woke up, it was still there and this lisp was getting a little bit strange.

'On the Tuesday, I was fine and went to work. At that time, I could speak.

'By Wednesday morning, it was starting to go like an alien.

'And by Thursday, it had gone completely and I lost my swallow as well.'

Ashley Bosma

An American woman woke with a 'posh' English accent after suffering a head injury during a break-in.

Ashley Bosma, 33, from Hollywood, Florida, was left unconscious after an intruder broke into her home and allegedly hit her over the head in October 2017.

Ashley Bosma, 33, from Hollywood, Florida, was left unconscious after an intruder broke into her home and allegedly hit her over the head in October 2017

After being treated in hospital, she returned to her normal life but was left suffering from memory problems and brain fog.

A month later, her thick American accent had disappeared and instead, she began speaking with an English, Australian or South African twang.

The mother-of-one said: 'I have never been to the UK or even anywhere near it, so it is a real mystery how this has happened.

'I was a fan of Harry Potter when I was young but not really anything linked to Britain other than that. If anything, I was more impressed by the French accent growing up.

'The only exposure I have had was a former work colleague who was a Brit and I loved his accent, but I haven't spoken to him for about three years.

'My friends and family think it is really funny. They quote lines from Monty Python and even Mrs Doubtfire at me and finish off conversations with 'Cheerio' or some other British mannerisms.'

Michelle Myers

A former beauty queen from Arizona was left sounding 'like a Spice Girl' after waking with an English accent.

Michelle Myers, 50, from Phoenix, had suffered from 'splitting headaches' for four years before losing vision in her right eye one night in 2015 and struggling to speak.

She was rushed to hospital overnight and woke up with an English accent.

Michelle Myers, 50, from Phoenix, had suffered from 'splitting headaches' for four years before losing vision in her right eye one night in 2015 and struggling to speak

The single mother of seven was diagnosed with FAS and had no idea why it happened.

She said: 'I felt like I lost a person. I named my son Tyler, but I pronounce his name completely differently now.

'I am an author and public speaker, so when my voice changed, I lost the person that did all those things.

'I was Miss Black Austin, Texas, when I was younger, but I feel like I'm not that person anymore.

'I fell into a deep depression about that when this first happened and for about three or four months, I would only leave my house to go to the doctor.'

Ms Myers has now come to terms with sounding English and realises it is just her voice, not her personality, or achievements, that has changed.
Calorie counts on menus may make us guilty enough to pass on the dish we really want in favour of something seemingly healthier.

But mulling over the numbers could be a waste of time as restaurant dishes often contain more than double the calories stated on menus, according to tests.

Rules brought in last year compelled food outlets to declare on their menus the number of calories in their meals.

But an experiment by The Sunday Times conducted with the University of Greenwich's food-testing laboratory has revealed that the calorie counts on menus are often wildly inaccurate.

In the experiment, 20 samples of food were purchased from ten popular restaurant chains in the UK including Pizza Express, Dishoom, Leon, and Las Iguanas. The food was then tested at the lab.

Mulling over the numbers could be a waste of time as restaurant dishes often contain more than double the calories stated on menus, according to tests

It was found that only half the dishes fell within the 20 per cent 'accepted margin of difference' allowed between the actual and stated calories.

Five of the samples had significantly higher calories than stated, while five were significantly lower. Dishoom's 'roomali roti', a soft flatbread, contained 727 calories  more than three times the 236 calories stated.

A Las Iguanas nachos dish had 1,156 calories, despite the menu declaring just 576.

Dr Nazanin Zand, an associate professor in food and nutrition at the University of Greenwich, said: 'Consumers should use the nutritional information on the menu as rough estimates, rather than an absolute value.'

Dishoom said: 'As a restaurant with chefs who do things by hand, there is some variation in portioning.'

Las Iguanas said the 'only logical explanation' was that the portion was significantly larger than the usual size.
Claimed to have healed people of serious ailments

An evangelist who claimed to heal severe illnesses - including terminal cancers - through prayer secretly faced his own health battle for years prior to his death.

John Mellor, who included Down syndrome, mental illnesses and blindness among the conditions he 'cured', died in March at the age of 67.

At the time, his wife Julie told his followers that Mellor, the top evangelist in John Mellor Ministries, died from a 'sudden illness'.

However, a source close to the Mellor family told Daily Mail Australia that Mr Mellor, 67, had been diagnosed with bowel cancer sometime in late 2019 or early 2020.

The source revealed Mellor was for some time claiming to heal the sick while he received chemotherapy treatment.

'In around January 2020, John most definitely had bowel cancer... and in late December 2021 he was definitely undergoing chemotherapy,' the source said.

The source claimed Mellor's cancer diagnosis was hidden from the public so his followers would remain firm in the belief of his abilities to heal through prayer.

John Mellor (left), an internationally famous healing evangelist who claimed to heal afflictions through prayer, battled bowel cancer for years prior to his death

According to his wife Julie (right), John died of a 'sudden illness' on March 17. Mr Mellor had claimed he could heal serious afflictions such as cancers, Parkinson's and Down's syndrome

Who is John Mellor? John Mellor died on March 17 after dedicating 47 years to Christianity. He became infatuated in healing while working as a missionary in an Indigenous community. Mellor then rose to fame after performing 'a flood of miracles' while working as a missionary in Scotland. He then travelled the world supposedly curing serious illnesses and ailments through prayer. His death was announced on social media by wife Julie, who told fans that he died of a 'sudden illness'. Advertisement

Despite regularly posting testimonials and prayers to his social media accounts, Mellor never revealed to his followers he was fighting cancer.

There were, however, some references to bowel cancer.

Mellor posted a video to social media in April 2022 commanding the bowel cancer cells of those watching to miraculously die.

According to the source, Mellor was 'definitely' undergoing chemotherapy at the time the video was posted.

The Mellor Ministries video caption noted that requests for Mellor to pray for healing bowel cancer had become 'a common request lately'.

In the video, Mellor instructs viewers to place their hand on the part of their body where tumours are growing and virtually reach their hand out to him.

'It's like I'm in your living room, your car, wherever you are, I'm going to believe for the power of God to flow through your body,' he told the viewers.

Touching his own stomach, Mellor says: 'In the name of Jesus, I break bowel cancer right now, I command every tumour to shrink and disappear, I command every cancer cell to die.

'And whether the bowel cancer has spread to the liver or lungs or anywhere I command those cancer tumours to disappear and shrink, go in Jesus' name.'

He then prayed for the pain and hair-loss of chemotherapy to also 'go in Jesus' name'.

Other videos on Mellor's social media accounts show him supposedly healing a baby of Down syndrome symptoms and having paraplegic followers walk again.

'Maybe John did have some [healing] skills,' the source said.

'But then why can't you make a public statement that you have bowel cancer yourself and be very open and transparent about what you've been through?'

A source close to the Mellors told Daily Mail Australia that Covid-19 lockdowns were used to hide his diagnosis so his followers would still believe he was a healer and not impact revenue

Mr Mellor is seen here offering spiritual healing to an elderly member of his congregation

Outside of Australia, John was also hired as a guest preacher at packed-out churches around the world because of his supposed healing abilities.

In announcing her husband's death, Julie Mellor said the evangelist was 'called to heaven way too soon' and that he would be 'having the time of his life with Jesus'.

'I am devastated and still in shock and disbelief, as I know many of you will be too,' she wrote on Facebook.

'It was an honour and joy to be his wife and serve God with him. He was my best friend and the greatest companion. I am heartbroken.

'John was the loveliest, kindest, most pure-hearted and fun-loving man and husband that ever lived.

'Though John was a public figure, he and I are very private people. For the sake of John's dignity and privacy, I choose not to share any details of John's passing, so please don't ask.'

Ms Mellor then reflected on her husband's life as a minister, saying: 'He'll also be meeting the thousands of people who are in heaven thanks to his 47 years of tireless evangelism and ministry, since his salvation at the age of 20.'

The source claimed the ministry was able to keep Mellor's cancer diagnosis a secret as Covid-19 lockdowns in place at the time already kept him from performing sermons.

'They [the ministry] were concerned it was going to be leaked and it would affect their income,' the source said.

Outside of Australia, John was also hired as a guest preacher at packed-out churches around the world because of his supposed healing abilities

Julie has taken over as head of John Mellor Ministries, claiming to heal followers of post-traumatic stress disorder and symptoms of Parkinson's at a recent event in Port Macquarie

Illnesses John Mellor claimed to have healed Physical ailments such as arthritis, polio, back pain and 'weak shoulders' Mental illnesses such as anxiety and depression ADHD, autism and Down's syndrome Claims to have healed a 9/11 victim of chronic neuropathic pain Stage four cancers that have metastasised Visual conditions such as blindness or eye floaters Numerous cancers such as bowel, pancreatic and breast Advertisement

Mellor became interested healing while working as a missionary in a remote Indigenous community and coming in contact with a 'witch doctor'.

According to his ministry's website, 'John prayed and fasted for 10 days a month for five months, and cried out to God to reveal himself in power to these people'.

Through his apparent healing of the community, Mellor gained the nickname 'the missionary man who heals'.

Mellor started to garner attention after a 'a flood of miracles' occurred while he was in Wishaw, a small town outside of Glasgow, Scotland.

Since then, Mellor preached internationally and famously made a journalist for A Current Affair, Nick Poe, feel 'a warm tingling sensation' along his spine after he prayed to heal a neck injury the reporter had suffered from for 16 years.

Julie has since taken over as the leader of the church following John's passing.

'Having ministered by Johns side for 15 years as his wife, I will continue the ministry,' Julie wrote.

At a recent event at Port Macquarie's St Thomas' Anglican Church, Julie claimed to have healed a woman of arthritis, pain and post-traumatic stress disorder.

During the event, which closely resembled John's sermons, Julie also claimed to have healed a man of symptoms related to Parkinson's disease.

Julie will follow in John's footsteps as an internationally in-demand guest preacher, conducting healing sermons in England and Switzerland in September, and the United States in October.

Daily Mail Australia contacted John Mellor Ministries and Julie Mellor for comment.
India has long been an enthusiastic user of UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles). So have Indias enemies, especially Pakistan-backed Islamic terrorists who operate from the Pakistani side of the border in northwest India. This combat zone of Kashmir and the border area is heavily defended by both sides. This led to both sides eventually using various types of UAVs to patrol this border, and occasionally briefly cross the border. The most frequent and aggressive border activity is by Pakistan in support of allegedly non-Pakistani Islamic terrorists based in Pakistan who are officially allowed to attack Indian-held Kashmir. These UAVs are used to assist Islamic terrorists to cross the heavily defended border and reach the Indian side undetected. Larger quadcopters are also used to transport small quantities of supplies across the border from Pakistan to India. This is nothing new, drug smugglers have been caught using quadcopters to get drugs across the Mexican border into the United States or criminals using quadcopters to smuggle contraband into prisons. Quadcopters carrying explosives have been used as weapons, most recently by Ukrainians against Russians. India responded to the Pakistani quadcopter threat by developing an AUD (Anti UAV Defense) that uses an electronic system to detect quadcopters and then disrupt their navigation systems.

The military and intelligence threats posed by the proliferating use of commercial UAVs, particularly quadcopters, have led to the development of more AUD systems. Ukraine recently began receiving a novel new AUD system called Vampire. This system is palletized - all components are secured on a shipping pallet that can be mounted in a light truck, and consists of a telescoping mast mounting an electro-optical/infrared modular sensor ball and laser designator, a generator for power and a launcher that carries four APKWS 70mm laser guided rockets. These weigh only 15 kg (32 pounds) each and have a range of about a thousand meters when fired from the ground. Vampire can be used to detect and fire APKWS laser guided rockets at air and even ground targets. Any UAV, cruise missile or helicopter within range is vulnerable. Vampire is designed to be reconfigured, which is the kind of system Ukrainians prefer. The Fletcher launcher is designed to use the new, longer range APKWS rockets that gain additional range by having a larger rocket motor which makes the APKWS longer. Ukrainians are expected to modify Vampire to better suit their needs or simply to obtain longer range while carrying more rockets ready to fire.

Ukraine has already received many man-portable (size and weight of a large rifle) AUDs that use electronic jamming. Ukraine has been using DroneGun for over a year. KVS G-6, a more recent example of this type of AUD, quickly appeared in Ukraine because it was developed and manufactured in Ukraine. The Ukraine War has created a market for AUDs and manufacturers have responded.

Until the Ukraine War, Israel was the leader in combat proven AUD systems. One example is Skylock, which proved itself against Iranian UAVs used during the early 2021 Hamas/Israel ten-day war with Israel. This brief conflict provided ample opportunities to test new Israeli AUD systems. Israel is a leader in the development of AUDs, mainly because it faces attacks from the widest variety of UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) types, and the most attacks using UAVs.

In preparation for a large-scale use of different type UAVs against Israel from Iran-backed Hamas in the south or Hezbollah (Lebanon) and Iran (Syria), Israel had developed numerous ways to detect and destroy or disable hostile UAVs. Israel has already detected and defeated six Hamas UAV attacks. There may have been other Hamas UAVs launched that never got near the border because of UAV malfunctions or operator error. The six UAVs that were a threat were all detected and taken down via missiles, usually from Iron Dome but one was by an air-to-air missile, and at least one UAV was disabled using a technology that Israel would not discuss. This was probably one of the electronic AUD systems, which Israeli tech companies have developed over the last few years.

One of the new (to large-scale combat) systems Israel would discuss receives data from all sensors (radars or electronic detection systems) and, in real time, creates a single database/map display of all enemy systems detected. One feature of this new systems software is an accurate estimate of where UAVs were launched from. This provides an opportunity to attack the UAV operator or launch site. This system has already caused more losses to Hamas rocket launching teams, who thought the Israelis were just getting lucky. Now Hamas knows that luck had nothing to do with it. Israel has often sought to come up with defenses against new enemy weapons or tactics with a multi-system solution. Nowhere has this been more evident than when it comes to the growing threat from armed UAVs.

For over a decade, many if not most new AUD systems have come from Israel. Many specialize in the use of multiple sensors and systems to detect and disable UAVs. The best and most recent example of this is Skylock, an AUD system using multiple sensors and EW (Electronic Warfare) equipment, plus a short-range laser, to detect, identify and jam or take over unidentified UAVs trying to enter military bases, airports, or industrial facilities. Skylock uses a combination of radar, electro-optical (visual) and electronic signal monitoring sensors capable of detecting the smallest UAVs, especially quad-copters, approaching a restricted area. Another Israeli approach is to use an interceptor UAV that can drop a net on a UAV but the preferred method is to jam the UAV control signals or, if possible, seize control and land it.

A growing number of AUDs are built to deal with any small UAV. One of the more effective, and expensive of these AUDs is the Israeli Drone Dome system. These cost $3.4 million each and consist of a 360-degree radar system, an electro-optical day/night surveillance unit and a wideband (most frequencies drones use) electronic emissions detector. With all this Drone Dome can reliably detect any small quadcopter or fixed-wing UAV within 3,500 meters. Most quadcopters and UAVs encountered are larger and can be detected out to ten kilometers. Once spotted, Drone Dome uses a focused jamming signal that disrupts radio control signals and force the drones to crash or operate erratically. Drone Dome has an optional laser gun that can be aimed by Drone Dome to destroy the drone at ranges up to 2,000 meters. In a combat zone, you can also employ machine-guns to bring down the drone. Many buyers do not purchase the laser option and depend on Drone Dome being able to reliably detect all manner of small quadcopters from several manufacturers.

What makes Skylock and Drone Dome different is their heavy use of electronic sensors to detect and jam the control signals used by UAVs, leaving the laser as a last resort. Several such AUD systems are already in service and effective because they are good at detecting UAVs electronically, and either jamming those control signals or taking over the control signals and capturing (by making it land) the UAV. American troops in Iraq and Syria were asking for AUD systems that use lasers, plus better UAV detection systems as well those with jammers to disable UAVs. There is also a need for AUDs that can detect and destroy UAVs that do not use control signals and basically go on pre-programmed missions. This can be to take photos or deliver a small explosive. Usually, it is to take photos and return. Drone Dome is one of several AUD systems equipped to detect and locate UAVs operating in pre-programmed mode and destroy or disable them quietly with a vehicle-mounted laser.

AUDs like Drone Dome also use one or more radar systems and one or more sensor systems for detecting UAV control signals or visual images that pattern recognition software can quickly identify. While commercial UAVs are more common, the basic design principles have not changed. AUDs are constantly evolving to better detect and disable or destroy unwanted UAVs. The best ones are recent models that tend to be very expensive and used only for extreme situations, like UAV defense in combat zones. Airports, especially the larger ones, are going to have to join the military in buying the latest AUDs, which at least lowers the AUD price and inspires even faster innovation and development.

Ukraine could have used Skylock or Drone Dome, but Israel does not provide weapons for Ukraine because of an arrangement with Russia to assist Israel in keeping Iranian forces in Syria from getting close to the Israeli border or launching any attacks on Israel. In Ukraine, NATO nations providing weapons are not directly threatened with Russian attacks.
One worshipper described it as 'the most frightening thing I have seen in my life'.

Around a dozen Neo-Nazis waved swastikas and hurled anti-Semitic abuse at those attending a Saturday service at the Chabad of Cobb County synagogue, in East Cobb, Georgia, last month.

The fascists were members of the well-established Goyim Defense League (GDL) and included infamous leader Jon Minadeo II, a failed rapper who was arrested in Poland last year for a vile demonstration outside the former Auschwitz concentration camp.

Just weeks before the sickening synagogue protest, a new Neo-Nazi group had orchestrated a swastika-waving protest outside Disneyland, Florida, to the horror of visiting families.

The Order of the Black Sun had been assembled by associates of various white supremacist groups in the South - a symbol of the new era of collaboration between far-right extremists that has sparked a record number of incidents of hateful propaganda.

Whereas once the movement was bedeviled by infighting and splinter groups, anti-hate watchdogs have noted growing collusion in recent years.

Neo-Nazi groups have started working together on a greater scale, sparking fears of a repeat of the deadly Unite The Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, in 2017

Jon Minadeo II (left), a failed rapper and actor, and former coffee salesman Dominic DiGiorgio (right) are ringleaders of the anti-Semitic Goyim Defense League, which has bombarded Americans across the country with racist stunts and propaganda

Last year, at least 50 different white supremacist groups flooded the country with record amounts of racist propaganda, including fliers, banners, graffiti and laser projections, according to watchdog the Anti-Defamation League (ADL).

It raises the terrifying prospect of another violent uprising similar to the Unite The Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, which saw hordes of white nationalists clash with counter-protesters, leaving dozens injured and one dead in 2017.

DailyMail.com untangles the web of hidden networks and protagonists pulling the strings of hate.

Patriot Front

The Texas-based group has been responsible for the majority of white supremacist propaganda since 2019, ADL says.

Its members believe that their ancestors conquered America and bequeathed it to them.

Their leader is thought to be Thomas Rousseau, 24, of Grapevine, Texas, who was one of 31 group members charged with criminal conspiracy to riot after police stopped a truck near a Pride event in Idaho in June last year and found them dressed in uniform and equipped with riot shields.

Rousseau honed his propaganda skills at the Coppell High School student newspaper.

Surprisingly, his first column in February 28, 2016, was titled 'Diversity Club brings friendly atmosphere to students of varied backgrounds', a positive review of his school's equality and diversity initiatives.

Yet just over a year later, he led the white supremacist group Vanguard America at the deadly Unite The Right march in Charlottesville and was pictured in the foreground of several photos also featuring James Alex Fields, Jr., the man who killed counter-protester Heather Heyer when he mowed his car into a crowd.

Thomas Rousseau (left), 24, is the alleged leader of Patriot Front, a far-right group responsible for the majority of white supremacist propaganda in the US since 2019. Its Florida branch leader, Stephen Trimboli (right), has helped nurture the organization's links with Neo-Nazis from other associations

Rousseau (front left) was pictured at the deadly Unite The Right march in Charlottesville, in the foreground of several photos also featuring James Alex Fields, Jr., (back right) the man who killed counter-protester Heather Heyer when he mowed his car into a crowd

Trimboli displays all the character traits of an 'incel' - an involuntary celibate - bemoaning his lack of success with women in online chats, and complaining about his ex-girlfriend

Trimboli has attended camps with white supremacists from a variety of groups across the country. Here he is pictured at a team-bonding camp at an unknown location

Trimboli was responsible for reserving a campsite where he and other white nationalists underwent drills designed to prepare them for confrontations with riot police

Patriot Front split from Vanguard America later that year, with Rousseau at its helm, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center.

Joining the group in 2018 was the gangly, long-haired son of an Amazon executive, Stephen J. Trimboli from Washington State.

He later moved to Florida to become the group's network director in the Sunshine State, where he lived rent-free with his parents.

Trimboli displays all the character traits of an 'incel' - an involuntary celibate whose bitterness at their lack of success with women often boils over into hatred and even violence.

He complains in group chats about his inability to score dates, finding solace in other Patriot Front members who view women as a distraction from their cause.

But the acne-ridden racist has also helped spread the group's hateful ideas across Florida and has been pictured at training camps with members of the Goyim Defense League and Nationalist Socialist Movement.

Goyim Defense League

An anti-Semitic group of provocateurs whose loose network of members across the country helps it mingle and collaborate with other Neo-Nazi groups.

Its strongholds include Arizona, California, Georgia and Texas, but many of its recent stunts have taken place in Florida, the new home of California-raised Minadeo II.

It specializes in carrying out highly offensive stunts, such as driving around in vans daubed in anti-Semitic slurs while dressed as Jews in what they refer to as 'Name the Nose' tours.

The word Goyim is a disparaging Yiddish and Hebrew word for non-Jews.

As well as helping spawn The Order of the Black Sun, the GDL has nurtured other emerging Neo-Nazi branches such as NatSoc Florida, based in Duval County and led by former US Marine Joshua Dan Nunes.

Minadeo II, who has a Mexican-American background, has risen through the ranks of America's Neo-Nazi community since leaving his job at his grandmother's restaurant in Valley Ford, California.

Minadeo (left) and DiGiorgio (right) during one of their racist road trips around Florida

GDL associate Jason J. Brown was charged with grand theft following a demonstration he attended with the leader of the National Socialist Movement

Minadeo (front seat) with Brown (back right) during a GDL tour of Texas in October 2021

Minadeo (front) with other GDL members who posed as Jews while distributing propaganda in Canyon, Texas, in 2021

The GDL has nurtured other emerging Neo-Nazi branches such as NatSoc Florida, based in Duval County and led by former US Marine Joshua Dan Nunes (above)

He founded the GDL in 2020 and now makes his living from anti-Semitism.

The 40-year-old makes up to $7,000 a month from donations to his live streaming channel on the video platform Odysee.

His showbiz persona dates back to his early career in independent movies, in which he starred in little-known films Curveball, about a man whose girlfriend cheats on him, and Vampire, in 2011.

Under the name Shoobie Da Wop, he also tried his hand at rapping, releasing albums American Man Whore in 2013 and Whore Moans in 2015, which boasted of his apparent sexual conquests.

His lieutenant, family man Dominic DiGiorgio, has a more modest background as a coffee salesman, going by The Coffee Guy while running his business in Port St. Lucie, Florida.

He now goes by the absurd nickname Nationalist Ned Flanders, having helped launch the GDL's live streaming platform and online shop.

In October 2021, DiGiorgio, 43, drove around half a dozen Florida-based GDL devotees in his van to Texas to carry out anti-Semitic banner drops.

He was arrested for possession of a license plate flipper, which allows a vehicle's owner to switch between license plates to avoid detection by police.

National Socialist Movement

Neo-Nazi groups often favor demonstrations involving multiple organizations to give the appearance of greater numbers.

In January 2022, a particularly ugly confrontation took place when several white supremacists with various affiliations spat on, pepper-sprayed and punched a Jewish man who stopped to confront them in Orlando, Florida.

Three people were charged for their alleged roles in the attack, including National Socialist Movement leader Burt Colucci, from Kissimmee, Florida, who was charged with hate crime assault, and Jason J. Brown of the GDL, who was charged with grand theft.

National Socialist Movement leader Burt Colucci was charged with hate crime assault over his alleged involvement in an incident where a Jewish man was spat on, pepper-sprayed and punched when he stopped to confront a group of Neo-Nazis in Orlando, Florida, last year

The increased spirit of co-operation between Neo-Nazi groups is embodied by veteran white supremacist David Howard Wydner, 75, who goes by the name 'Grandfather' and has been involved in the NSM, GLD and WLM groups

Colucci, an NSM veteran, was already facing charges stemming from an incident in April 2021 in which he allegedly pointed a handgun at a group of black people during an argument in Chandler, Arizona.

Under his leadership, the organization openly worships Adolf Hitler and is one of the most explicitly anti-Semitic groups in the US.

Its size has dwindled in recent years and now often works in partnership with White Lives Matter (WLM), the GDL, or the New Jersey European Heritage Association, of which Brown, originally from New Jersey, is also an associate.

Its sprawling connections are embodied by member David Howard Wydner, 75, who goes by the name 'Grandfather' on social media.

Wydner, who has said in online NSM chats that he is 'spending every waking hour to increase the size of our protests', participated in a WLM rally in Deland, Florida, in December 2021, wearing an NSM shirt and hat, before attending a GDL banner drop in Port Saint John the following day.
A radical activist who is part of a CPS panel on tackling hate crime called equalities minister Kemi Badenoch a 'raging transphobe' and agreed JK Rowling should be 'taken down from the world', MailOnline can reveal.

Eva Echo, from Birmingham, made the comments on her social media accounts.

Since 2020 the transgender woman has been part of an invite-only scrutiny panel in the West Midlands that is run by the Crown Prosecution Service and chaired by the regional Chief Crown Prosecutor.

She claims on her LinkedIn profile that her presence on the panel lets her 'challenge the current system in order to tackle procedural issues'.

But, in December last year, Ms Echo, who is also 'director of innovation' at the annual Birmingham Pride event, attacked Ms Badenoch on Twitter after the minister publicly criticised the Scottish Government's gender recognition bill, which was later blocked by Downing Street.

Echoing the minister's own choice of words, a screenshot shared with MailOnline appeared to show how she said: 'Well, I'm disappointed that @KemiBadenoch is a raging transphobe... but here we are'.

Her remarks were condemned by feminist campaigner Maya Forstater and Toby Young, the general secretary of the Free Speech Union.

The activist's involvement in the panel has come to light after revelations earlier this month showed how the CPS's updated prosecuting guidelines could see parents charged with domestic abuse for refusing to pay for their child's transgender treatment or not using their preferred pronoun.

A radical activist who has attended a CPS panel on tackling hate crime called equalities minister Kemi Badenoch a 'raging transphobe' and agreed JK Rowling should be 'taken down from the world', MailOnline can reveal. Eva Echo, from Birmingham, made the comments on her social media accounts

In December last year, Ms Echo attacked Ms Badenoch on Twitter after the minister publicly criticsed the Scottish Government's gender recognition bill, which was later blocked by Downing Street. Echoing the minister's own choice of words, screenshots shared with MailOnline appear to show how she said: 'Well, I'm disappointed that @KemiBadenoch is a raging transphobe... but here we are'

In a separate exchange on Instagram, the campaigner also targeted Harry Potter author Ms Rowling, who has become a hate figure for some campaigners due to her views on women's rights and transgender issues.

In response to a post calling for her to 'shut the f*** up you f****** c***womble', Ms Echo wrote: 'Hahaha, love it!!', according to the images shared with MailOnline.

Another user then said Ms Rowling 'needs to be taken down from the world', prompting Ms Echo to add: 'Agreed. She claims to be saving women but in fact women need to be saved from her lies and harmful rhetoric'.

Reacting to Ms Echo's posts, Ms Forstater claimed to MailOnline that the activist previously took to social media to accuse her of 'making it up' when her organisation Sex Matters commissioned polling showing a high level of support among women for maintaining single-sex services.

She also allegedly told Baroness Emma Nicholson, a former Tory MP who has previously spoken out in favour of women's rights, to educate her 'crusty privileged white-ass self.'

Ms Forstater, who this month won more than 100,000 in compensation from a think-tank that dropped her over her view that people cannot change their biological sex, said: 'It is very concerning the CPS is allowing activists who don't recognise that other people have human rights to sit on a panel about hate crime'.

She added: 'The CPS must act, and be seen to act without fear or favour, and should not be part of the ideological war on women that Echo seems set on pursuing.

'The CPS is a public body with a duty to improve relations between different groups, not inflame them by fanning the flames of a campaign of harassment and smears against the public and politicians.

'If the CPS has not provided its panel with training on the "Forstater" case they should get going on it.

'I would be happy to come and meet with the panel and the National Lead for Hate Crime.'

Mr Young told MailOnline: 'The ideological capture of universities, museums, galleries and other cultural institutions by woke zealots is worrying enough, but for these same hard-left activists to have burrowed their way into the heart of our criminal justice system is deeply alarming.

'It's as if the cast of the Young Ones are now running the country, in spite of the Conservatives having been in power for the past 13 years.'

Ms Echo says on her LinkedIn account: 'I am a member of the Crown Prosecution Service's local scrutiny and involvement panel (LSIP) for hate crime.

In response to a post calling for Ms Rowling to 'shut the f*** up you f****** c***womble', Ms Echo wrote: 'Hahaha, love it!!', according to the images shared with MailOnline. In response to another comment on the post saying she 'needs to be taken down from the world', Ms Echo appears to have added: 'Agreed. She claims to be saving women but in fact women need to be saved from her lies and harmful rhetoric'

Minister for Women and Equalities and International Trade Minister Kemi Badenoch is seen leaving Downing Street after a Cabinet meeting earlier this month

Harry Potter author JK Rowling has become a figure of hate for some campaigners due to her stance on transgender issues and women's rights but remains hugely popular

'Sitting on this panel of diverse people, I have the chance to not only review historical cases and prosecutions for the purposes of identifying potential change but to also challenge the current system in order to tackle procedural issues whilst representing the views and lived experiences of trans people.

'Being part of this panel allows me to scrutinise all 5 strands of hate crime, especially as there is nearly always intersectionality involved.'

Ms Echo was given the 'Unsung Hero of the Year 2022' gong at the annual DIVA Awards, which are held to celebrate 'the achievements of LGBTQIA women and non-binary people  and their allies  across business, the media and politics.'

She previously documented how her decision to transition to being a woman strengthened her marriage.

Describing the Local Scrutiny and Involvement Panel that Ms Echo sits on, the CPS themselves say on their website: 'Our aim is to inform, listen, work with and in turn, be informed by those living and working across the West Midlands region.'

The panels exist in regions across the UK.

In a foreword to the CPS's 'Inclusion and Community Engagement Strategy', Director Public Prosecutions Max Hill and chief executive Rebecca Lawrence say that they 'allow community-based stakeholder groups to review our casework and ask questions about our decision making.'

They add: 'We're proud to lead an organisation that is compassionate, transparent, and willing to listen to the concerns of those we serve.

'We both have a strong, personal commitment to making sure we understand the context of our decision-making and the impacts those decisions have on the people they affect.'

When asked about Ms Echo's activity on social media, a CPS spokesman said: 'Listening to the needs and concerns of the public is vital to ensuring our decision-making responds to the communities we serve and stands up to check and challenge.

'Our public engagement groups enable us to hear directly from our communities and help us understand their concerns in order to deliver justice for all.'

They added that they continually review memberships of various panel groups but did not say if Ms Echo's position will be reviewed in light of her comments on social media.

When approached by MailOnline, Ms Echo stressed that she does not advise the CPS in matters of policy but otherwise declined to comment.

Earlier this month, Ms Forstater claimed the CPS's updated prosecuting guidelines showed how the CPS has been 'ideologically captured'.

Updated legal guidance for prosecutors that was quietly published by the Crown Prosecution service last year includes a list of examples of abuse of 'trans and non-binary victims'.

One is 'withholding money for transitioning', while another is 'refusing to use their preferred name or pronoun.'

A third adds: 'Body shaming or criticising the victim for not being 'a real man/woman' if they have not undergone reassignment surgery.'

The guidance could conceivably apply to wives 'abusing' their transgender husbands or vice versa, or even children referring to their parents as 'mum' or 'dad' if they have transitioned.

When approached by MailOnline, Ms Echo stressed that she does not advise the CPS in matters of policy

Ms Forstater, said: 'Parents of children who identify as transgender should not be seen as abusers if they do not affirm their child as being "born in the wrong body."

Although the guidance was updated more than a year ago, it was noticed by Mumsnet users last week.

A press release put out by the CPS in April last year made no reference to the new passage on transgender and non-binary people

The guidance was introduced to 'reflect changes brought in by the Domestic Abuse Act 2021', according to the CPS.

As a result of a consultation on the document, the CPS updated it in December and announced that children affected by domestic abuse would automatically be treated as victims, 'regardless of whether they were present during violent incidents.'
Incredible bodycam footage has revealed the aftermath of what could be the biggest jewelry heist in American history - a year after still-at-large thieves ran way with precious gems and watches some have valued up to $100 million.

The video, obtained by DailyMail.com, shows the moment officers arrive at the scene of the robbery at the Flying J Travel Center in Lebec, in southern California, as two confused drivers try to make sense of their situation.

James Beaty, 53, and Tandy Motley, 47, are seen telling police they left their Brink's truck unattended for 27 minutes; Beaty had been sleeping in the 18-wheeler's sleeper berth and Motley was eating inside the rest stop.

The drivers had waited for police before taking a close look inside the truck, with footage showing the moment they realize the severity of the robbery which had taken place.

The video, obtained by DailyMail.com, shows the moment officers arrive at the scene of the robbery at the Flying J Travel Center in Lebec, in southern California

The Brink's drivers waited for police before taking a closer look inside the 18-wheeler that was carrying diamonds and jewelry some lawsuits have valued up to $100million

'We had a lock on here and that's gone. We kind of looked around for it but it's nowhere to be found,' Motley says.

When asked by one of the officers if they noticed anyone following them that night, Motley says he didn't, but something else did catch his attention.

'There was somebody kind of looking at me weird, kind of dogged me, staring right in the eyes, just sitting there, doors were open, as we were getting loaded,' he says, adding that, 'It just felt weird.'

Before opening the truck door, Beaty reveals they were carrying about $2.7million in diamonds and jewelry - 'that's why we need you guys here,' he tells the cops.

'Some of those obsidian rocks and opals are worth millions by themselves just for one stone,' Beaty ads.

Motley then takes an inventory of the merchandise, saying only 49 of the 73 bags which were loaded remained.

'Holy s,' Beaty reacts, asking Motley to check again. 'Thats a lot.'

James Beaty, 53, and Tandy Motley, 47, are seen telling police they left their Brink's truck unattended for 27 minutes

The burglars managed to bypass the truck's not 'exceedingly difficult' locking mechanism undetected

The Brinks truck was traveling to the Pasadena Convention Center when the heist occurred on July 11, 2022.

It had been loaded the night before following an exhibit hosted by the International Gem and Jewelry Show in San Mateo, south of San Francisco.

The thieves nabbed a haul that's been described by some as worth less than $10 million and others as roughly $100 million and the value is the subject of two lawsuits.

Brinks and 14 affected jewelers have been tangled in a lawsuit over the robbery.

The jewelers claim the stolen merchandise was valued at about $100 million, which would make the theft the largest such heist in the country's history.

The Brink's truck was traveling to the Pasadena Convention Center when the heist happened on July 11, 2022

The security companys lawsuit alleges that the jewelers under-declared the value of the items that were being transported and the company is only responsible for the declared value.

In a statement to DailyMail.com, Brinks said: 'Our customers trust us to cover them for any losses, however unlikely. In turn, we trust our customers to declare the full and correct value of the goods they ask us to transport. According to the information the customers provided to us before they shipped their items, the total value of the missing items is less than $10 million.

'If these customers had accurately declared the value of their goods, Brinks would have implemented security measures commensurate with those higher transport valuesand even in the event of a loss, we would have compensated the customers fully for their declared values.'

Meanwhile, even though Beaty said the cargo was worth $2,7million, Brinks claimed in its own suit against the jewelers that it was actually worth $8.7 million.

Officials have stated that the thieves likely tracked the truck from San Mateo and that several thieves had to be involved in the heist.

The guards drove south about 300 miles before the heist occurred just north of their destination as the burglars managed to bypass the truck's locking mechanism undetected.

International Gem and Jewelry Show president Arnold Duke revealed the truck was transporting 70 to 100-pound storage containers housing gems and jewelry.

'We are looking at more than $100 million in documented losses,' Duke said.

'This was an absolutely huge crime. One of the largest jewelry heists ever. We are talking gold, diamonds, rubies, emeralds and loads of luxury watches.'
Barbers who witnessed a brazen public shooting inside their store have shared their horror over the shocking gangland attack - as they reveal they are now living in fear and no longer feel safe in their home country.

William Siale, 33, and his brother Eric, 20, were visiting Adel's Hair Salon in Marrickville, in Sydney's inner west, just before 2pm on Friday July 7 when a gunman ran inside and opened fire.

Eric was left in a critical condition after being shot in the chest while William suffered a bullet wound to his buttocks. The pair were rushed to hospital, where Eric was stabilised and his injuries downgraded to serious.

Two getaway cars were found burnt out in nearby Dulwich Hill and Sydenham a short time later, with police still working to hunt down the gunman.

For the first time since the shooting, the barber shop reopened for a few hours on Tuesday. According to staff, it was virtually empty.

Barbers who work at a hair salon that was centre stage in a brazen gangland assassination attempt last week say the incident has left them living in fear

William, 33, (pictured in the black shirt) and his brother Eric, 20, were inside Adels hairdressing salon when a masked gunman burst in and shot them

Two men who work in the shop, but who wished to remain unnamed, told Daily Mail Australia the assassination attempt has left them rattled and afraid for their safety.

They were both working on Friday when a man dressed in black and wearing a balaclava stormed into the store and began firing at the Siale brothers, one of whom was getting his haircut at the time.

'He was sitting there and I was cutting his hair and the guy came in and shot him,' one barber told Daily Mail Australia.

'I ran and ducked behind the counter then called the police.

'I didn't know what to do. It all happened so fast. It was like something out of a movie.'

The man said he never expected something like this to happen to him in Australia.

'My parents moved to this country for a better life. To be safe,' he said.

'Then look at what has happened.'

The men said business was slow when they reopened on Tuesday for the first time since the attack

The barbers said they are living on edge and their sense of safety has been shattered by the traumatic incident

Visibly shaken with tears welling his eyes, the other barber said they were still shaken and trying to process what happened.

'We are just trying to make a living and get by, but we are living on edge at the moment,' one barber told Daily Mail Australia.

'You don't know if someone is going to come in here and do it again. You don't feel safe.

'If someone can walk in here and shoot, you wonder if it could happen to you any where.'

The barbers said they did not know the Siale brothers personally, but they were regular clients who had been visiting the shop every few weeks for several years.

They said they were shocked to hear reports the victims were associates of known members of Sydney's underworld.

The details of the chaos that unfolded in the store remain murky in their minds, they said, as the attack happened in a flash.

Eric Siale was taken to hospital with critical chest injuries, but was quickly stabilised

Police sources said the victims have links to the Bandidos bikie gang and were known to them

They couldn't remember the number of bullets fired or which brother was shot first. However, what remains vivid is the horror and fear they experienced as they tried to get out of the shooter's path.

Aside from the mental impact, the barbers also fear the incident may take a toll on the business.

Although the shop only reopened three days ago, they have felt a noticeable drop in visitors and hope the once-thriving shop will return to normal soon.

'It's been super quiet here now,' one said.

'But what can you do?'

The shop was completely void of customers when Daily Mail Australia visited around midday on Wednesday.

One sympathetic local popped her head through the doors of the shop to pass on well wishes to the men in the wake of the incident as she inquired about the wellbeing of another worker who was not there.

'What happened is just awful,' she said.

However, the store appeared to be booming again by Thursday, with the barbers flat out servicing back-to-back appointments.

According to police sources, the brothers are linked to the Bandidos bikie gang. It is unknown how deeply connected they are to the outlaw motorcycle club.

Despite their associations, Daily Mail Australia does not suggest the Siale brothers are involved in organised crime.

Forensic officers swept Adel's Salon for clues on Friday evening

A silver Kia Stinger was set on fire in nearby Sydenham in the aftermath of the shooting on Friday afternoon. Police also reportedly found a burnt-out Mitsubishi Triton

Shocking footage from the scene shows Eric shirtless lying on the floor while a police officer gives him first aid.

Another officer was also seen trying to calm down William in the salon while a blood-soaked towel laid on the floor.

Both men survived the attack and were taken to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital.

NSW Police Superintendent Despa Fitzgerald said police believe a silver Kia Stinger found in flames on Park Road in nearby Sydenham was used as a 'getaway car'.

A Mitsubishi Triton was also reported on fire just minutes later on Hercules Street in Dulwich Hill.

Police are also trying to track down a white Toyota Camry, with registration plates DMM59H, that police believe one of the shooters may have gotten into after the incident.

Both victims are known to police but are not local to the area.

'It is very brazen and that's why we believe it was a targeted attack, it's not random and it's fortunate no other member of the public was involved in that incident,' Superintendent Fitzgerald said.

A crime scene was established and examined by specialist forensic officers and investigations continue.
Experts believe there are several possible causes behind the tragic loss of five tourists when their Titan submersible imploded on a trip beneath the waves to visit the seabed wreck of the Titanic.

The undersea vehicle lost communications with its support vessel on Sunday June 18 during a descent to the wreck of the storied cruise lineer 12,500 feet beneath the surface.

Days later, its debris was recovered after officials said it suffered a 'catastrophic implosion'.

Tourists Hamish Harding, 58, Shahzada Dawood, 48, and his son Sulaiman Dawood, 19, French Navy pilot Paul-Henry (PH) Nargeolet and OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush all died on the submersible.

Now investigators are piecing together the evidence in a bid to explain the tragedy.

Here MailOnline looks at some of the theories provided by experts as to what could have happened.

Experts have offered different theories as to what could have happened on board the sub

Titan submersible which imploded killing five people onboard after it set off to see the wreck of the Titanic

Salvaged pieces of the Titan submersible from OceanGate are returned to St. John's harbour in Newfoundland, Canada, on June 28

Five people had been on board, including British billionaire adventurer Hamish Harding (left) and Shahzada Dawood and his son Suleman, who was just 19

French Navy veteran PH Nargeolet (left) was on the sub along with Stockton Rush (right), CEO of the OceanGate Expedition

Titanic Five knew their fate for a MINUTE before vessel 'popped like balloon', claims expert

Spanish submarine expert Jose Luis Martin suggested the submersible could have lost stability due to an electrical failure that left it without propulsion, causing it to fall toward the seabed 'like an arrow vertically' with its porthole facing down.

He estimated that the sub began freefalling at a depth of around 5,600 feet and fell 'as if it were a stone and without any control' for about 3,000 feet until at around 8,600 feet it 'popped like a balloon' due to the rapidly changing pressure.

Martin suggested the passengers would have been piled on top of each other in terrifying total darkness throughout the fall, which would have lasted between 48 and 71 seconds.

Martin offered his theory as to how the submersible failed during an interview with Spanish newspaper Nius.

'The starting point is that the submarine is descending without any incident and in a horizontal plane until it reached about 1,700 meters (5,500 feet).

Spanish submarine expert Jose Luis Martin (pictured) said the Titan fell 'like an arrow vertically' due to a power failure and a loss of stability

Debris from the Titan submersible, recovered from the ocean floor near the wreck of the Titanic, is unloaded from the ship Horizon Arctic at the Canadian Coast Guard pier

'At that point, there was an electrical failure. It was left without an engine and without propulsion. That's when it lost communication with the Polar Prince,' he told the newspaper.

He then suggested that the lack of propulsion would have caused it to lose stability and begin descending rapidly.

'The Titan changed position and fell like an arrow vertically, because the 400 kilos of passengers that were in the porthole compromised the submarine. They all rushed and crowded on top of each other,' Martin added.

'Imagine the horror, the fear and the agony. It must have been like a horror movie.'

Due to the depth and the lack of both natural light and electricity, the group would have been in total darkness as they sank toward the bottom of the Atlantic, he said.

'Bolts to the hatch failed - or pressure hull was fractured,' former Royal Navy submarine captain believes

Former Royal Navy submarine captain Ryan Ramsey provided two possible theories on what could have happened.

He believes either the bolts to the hatch failed or the pressure hull was fractured.

'Either the hatch with the 17 bolts they used to seal them in has had a failure, which has then caused the hull to collapse at pressure because there's huge amounts of pressure, even halfway down,' he told The Metro.

'Or the pressure hull itself had a defect in it when they sailed and that's fractured from the pressure, and caused the same result.

'The only positive out of it is that it was instantaneous and they didn't know anything.'

Former Royal Navy submarine captain Ryan Ramsey provided two possible theories on what could have happened

'Something disturbed the pressure hull,' expert believes

Chairman of the US-based Manned Underwater Vehicles Committee, William Kohnen, said the implosion of the Titan submersible was likely caused by 'instability'.

Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Mr Kohnen said: 'Clearly, something disturbed the pressure hull.

'If you've ever held a balloon and it just pops, if you just hold it lightly... something happened.

'An implosion is just a reverse explosion, so it exploded inwards.'

Titan could have become tangled in the wreckage of the Titanic, expert says

One theory is that the Titan could have become stuck near the bottom of the ocean or become tangled in the wreckage of the Titanic.

Frank Owen, a retired Royal Australian Navy official and a project director for submarine escape and rescue, told The Guardian the wreckage on the ocean floor "is surrounded by debris from the disaster more than a century ago."

"There are parts of it all over the place. It's dangerous," he said.

This prospect was unlikely, but not impossible, Williams told Insider.

Expert discussed possibility of a fire on board

Two days after the sub went missing, Professor Stefan Williams at the University of Sydney said it was possible there was a fire on board, for example from an electrical short circuit.

Writing for The Conversation, he said: 'This could compromise the vehicles electronic systems which are used for navigation and control of the vessel.

'Fires are a disastrous event in enclosed underwater environments, and can potentially incapacitate the crew and passengers.'
The family of a hiker found dead next to his dog have filed a $20 million lawsuit against a Washington State county in a desperate attempt to determine the cause of his mysterious death.

Aron Christensen, 49, and his four-month-old Australian Shepherd puppy, Buzzo, were found dead on the Walupt Lake Trail in Lewis County in August 2022.

Sheriff's deputies initially told his loved ones he likely died of a heart attack and fell on a stick but a medical examiner later found a bullet in Christensen's body and a vet suggested his dog had been stabbed.

A bear hunter also came forward to say his 19-year-old son had shot an animal and when he went to investigate found Christensen and Buzzo dead - leading them to believe the bullet may have passed through the dog and into the hiker.

A second vet found a bullet exit wound in the dog and backed up the bear hunter's theory but the initial vet, who reexamined the animal, vehemently disagreed and suggested it had been tampered with after it died.

The family of Aron Christensen, who was found dead next to his dog last August, have filed a $20 million lawsuit against a Washington State county

Aron Christensen, 49, and Australian Shepherd puppy Buzzo in the months before they died on a trail in Washington in August 2022

This picture of Buzzo is among the final photos taken by Christensen before his death in August. The puppy was around four months old at the time

Prosecutors this spring said they would not be charging the 19-year-old, who deputies have described as being 'a good kid from a good family', leaving the Christensen family without answers.

They are now suing Lewis County for $20 million over claims that county officials 'sabotaged' the investigation.

Christensen's body was found on a trail three to four miles away from Walupt Lake on a trail near to Randle, Washington, at about 4pm on August 20, 2022.

Walupt Lake is located in the Cascade Mountains of Washington. Lewis County is a rural county with a population of about 80,000 people.

Christensen, of Portland, had been camping with a group of friends but broke off on the morning of August 19 to go on a 13-mile solo hike with his dog. The pair set off at about 9.30am with plans to return for dinner the next day.

The only account of what happened next comes from the man, Ethan Asbach, who later admitted to firing a gun while walking with his unnamed 17-year-old girlfriend to go bear hunting.

Asbach told sheriff's deputies that they had been walking along the trail after 9pm when they heard growling and fired a single shot at the four-month-old puppy.

He told deputies that he screamed at the animal but it continued to charge towards them. In a statement a sheriff's deputy said the gun had been fired 'out of fear'.

Asbach and his girlfriend both said that when they approached the animal they noticed it was a dog, and discovered next to the dog a dead man. In his statement to police, Asbach said he saw the dead dog and a bullet hole in the man's chest.

The pair hiked onwards into the night and exited the woods the next day, on August 20. They told deputies that in the darkness they became lost.

A fellow hiker came across the bodies of Christensen and Buzzo that afternoon and notified Lewis County sheriff's office. The first official to arrive at the scene was Deputy Andrew Scrivner.

'It is difficult to tell if it was from a bullet or from a tree limb or stick that may have protruded into his body,' he wrote in a report, seen by the Wall Street Journal, upon examining Christensen's body.

According to that report he spent 25 minutes looking for shell casings and could not see any bullet wounds in the dog.

Scrivner decided there was no suspicious cause of death, so told dispatchers to inform detectives they weren't needed. Christensen's body was removed from the trail with the help of the Forest Service.

The day after the pair were found a man called deputies to say his son had shot a growling animal once with a 9mm pistol and then discovered a dead man next to it

The first official to arrive at the scene was Deputy Andrew Scrivner, whose body cam footage from the day shows another deputy, Detective Jamey McGinty

One of the final images on Christensen's phone. A coroner determined that he died of a gunshot wound while walking with his dog on the Walupt Lake trail in Washington State

Christensen's brother Corey said one of the deputies suggested his sibling may have had a heart attack caused by 'laced marijuana'. Cops had found cannabis, which is legal in Washington, among Christensen's belongings.

The next day, August 21, deputies were informed of the gunshot by Asbach's father, Michael.

Scrivner eventually made contact with Ethan and according to his write-up said the teenager was acting nervously and seemed upset, that report read.

The sheriff's office has not yet said whether it was treating the wound as a gunshot wound before Asbach's father got in contact.

On August 29, Corey was phoned by a coroner, who told him a bullet had been recovered from his older brother's body, he told OregonLive earlier this year.

He was not told about the Asbach account and says a deputy on August 30 reiterated the theory he had died of a heart attack, possibly before he was shot.

It wasn't until two weeks after his brother's death that Corey was told of the alternative account involving Asbach and the 9mm pistol.

Michael Asbach told the Journal: 'It's a huge burden for the Christensen family, but no one feels sympathy for Ethan and things he had to go through. There was never ever ill intent out of that kid.'

Out of multiple autopsies, of both Christensen and Buzzo, little clarity has emerged.

Forensic pathologist Megan Quinn, who conducted the autopsy on Christensen, later told prosecutors she felt like the detective wanted her autopsy report to confirm a preferred narrative.

She did say, however, that there was evidence in his heart tissue that he was having a heart attack at or around at the time of his death.

The Journal reviewed a transcript of Quinn's conversation with prosecutors, and noted that as soon as she told the detective about the possibility of a heart attack, he asked her: 'Can I call my sheriff and tell him that's the cause of death?'

'Well, he still has a bullet in him,' she replied.

Her autopsy report was eventually issued in October and listed the cause of death as 'gunshot wound' and classified it as a 'homicide'.

Though she maintained that there was evidence of a heart attack within 12 hours of Christensen's death, she noted that he would have been alive when the bullet struck.

Buzzo's corpse was also examined, and those examinations only heightened the general confusion and uncertainty.

Dr Brandy Fay is pictured explaining inconsistencies between two autopsies done on Buzzo, the dog. She has suggested that the gunshot exit wound that was present when she examined the dog a second time was not present initially

Aron Christensen (pictured) was no stranger to the outdoors and would go camping with his friends every August. He would often take solo hikes and split from the group

Aron Christensen, of Portland, is pictured in an undated photo

Local veterinarian Brandy Fay first looked at the dog and concluded that he died after being stabbed. She told the Journal she was surprised when she found out about Asbach's account because she saw no evidence of a gunshot wound.

After Fay's examination of the dog, prosecutors and the sheriff's officers sought a second opinion from another vet in the Portland area, Kris Otteman.

During her examination of the dog's body she said she found an exit wound hidden in the dog's fur on Buzzo's right side.

Another key difference in their findings was a broken rib in Buzzo's torso.

Fay, in disbelief that she had missed the exit wound altogether, wanted to examine the dog's body a second time and with permission from the Christensen family got access to it months later.

She noted the exit wound had no blood around it, and therefore suggested it had been created after the dog's death.

'Dead dogs don't bleed,' she told the Journal.

Fay has worked as a veterinarian in Lewis County since 2007 and began working with local law enforcement offices' K9 units in 2010.

'I'm working six days a week. I see a ton of cases, and I've dealt with a lot of gunshot wounds,' Fay told local paper The Chronicle in April.

'I've become the go-to veterinarian for consultations. I have just a ton of experience with law enforcement, many of which I consider friends.'

She also discussed with the newspaper carrying out three hours of external examination of the dog.

'I then got on the phone with the coroner and a detective, who I believe was McGinty,' Fay said, referring to one of the detectives working on the case.

'They said, "Well, this is the story. Apparently this guy was found, shot, and the puppy was found next to (him)... the puppy was shot first and then the bullet went into the gentleman, and he died." And, I remember laughing. Because that dog wasn't shot. That dog wasnt shot, the dog was stabbed,' she added,

Jamey McGinty has denied that anyone had created the wound after the dog's death.

Earlier this year local prosecutors said they would not be charging Asbach, even though the Lewis County sheriff's office had recommended manslaughter and animal cruelty charges.

The county's top prosecutor, Jonathan Meyer, wrote a letter to the sheriff's department explaining that decision in April, which was seen by the Journal.

The family of Aron Christensen (pictured) is now suing Lewis County in Washington State for $20million claiming the investigation into Aron's death was botched

Buzzo is pictured as a young puppy. He was four months old at the time he was killed on a trail with his owner Aron Christensen

'The responding deputy made the obvious error when indicating detectives were not needed to respond to the report of a gunshot victim,' Meyer wrote.

'The old adage of 'investigate it like it's a homicide until it isn't' was not followed here,' he said.

'We can only speculate about what might have been,' he wrote. 'This Office must base its decision on the evidence we have.'

Shortly after, in May, Christensen's family sued the county for $20million claiming they botched the investigation into Aron's death and tampered with Buzzo.

The family claims the Lewis County Sheriff's Office 'maliciously damaged the estate's property, one deceased puppy, in order to sabotage a criminal investigation'.

In that suit the family is being represented by attorney Lorenzo Leoni, a former prosecutor who now specializes in family law.

'When the only witnesses who were there are not speaking because of their constitutional right not to speak, it's tough to build a case against them,' Lorenzo Leoni told OregonLive.

'But a man's dead, we have someone admitting that at least one shot was fired, and we have a coroner's report indicating that there was a gunshot wound to the chest and it was the cause of death. You would think that'd be enough.'
University of Florida officials massively downplayed the scale of their Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs in official filings to Ron DeSantis, one of the governor's appointees has alleged to DailyMail.com.

Christopher Rufo, a DeSantis education hire, accused university bosses of 'lying through their teeth to the governor' by declaring they had some 30 DEI schemes costing $5million a year - when they were really running more than 1,000.

Rufo provided DailyMail.com with internal University of Florida files showing the breadth of DEI work on campus. University officials declined to comment on the allegations.

According to Rufo, university officials were understating their DEI initiatives to 'conceal the radicalism inside the campus' that DeSantis was trying to defund and shut down.

Christopher Rufo says the University of Florida tried to mislead the governor with bogus filings about DEI work

Rufo's assault on diversity schemes as a trustee of New College led to student protests at the Florida campus

The activist and scholar made the claims while promoting his new book, America's Cultural Revolution: How the Radical Left Conquered Everything.

'I've discovered through public records requests and the threat of litigation, that the University of Florida, which is under the purview of a Red state legislature, explicitly lied to the governor, in its official response to his request about their DEI programs,' Rufo told DailyMail.com.

'But I've discovered through these bombshell documents that they, in fact, had more than 1,000 separate DEI programs embedded in every facet of the university's programs and administration.'

Advocates of DEI schemes say they tackle longstanding racist and sexist discrimination in schools and workplaces, but critics say they end up stoking divisions between groups and marginalizing white men.

DeSantis, a Republican, late last year told Florida's public universities to disclose all government funds spent toward programs, classes and other initiatives related to DEI and the teaching of critical race theory.

In its official reply, the Gainesville-based University of Florida, which has roughly 8,000 academics and 60,000 students, said it runs some 30 to 40 DEI schemes at a cost of more than $5 million per year.

They included the salaries of DEI staffers, including a chief diversity officer, assistant director, senior advisor to the president and an executive assistant, that gobbled up more than $1 million each year  most of it from state coffers.

The initiatives also saw hundreds of thousands of dollars spent on fostering a 'welcoming, inclusive work environment' in its various schools for nursing, design, engineering, and other disciplines.

The university declared spending $5.3 million on DEI work. The state government funded $3.3 million of this, the filing shows. The university also gets money from federal sources, tuition fees, grants, donations, and other sources.

In January, DeSantis appointed Rufo and others to the New College of Florida Board of Trustees as part of his war on 'wokeness' in public universities, a key theme of his 2024 presidential bid.

Using Florida's freedom of information laws, Rufo obtained internal files showing that the university spearheaded 1,018 separate DEI initiatives, focussed on recruitment, training, and even 'affirming diverse identities.'

Rufo obtained internal university files about its DEI schemes through a freedom-of-information request

The documents showed that DEI chiefs were in reality running more than 1,000 schemes

The DEI initiatives, focussed on recruitment, training, and even 'affirming diverse identities'

Much of the DEI work was headed by chief strategist Damon Williams

A complete inventory of DEI work listed hundreds of projects, covering everything from the 'legacies of slavery and oppression' to 'decolonizing the curriculum' and a 'gender pronouns initiative.'

The internal list also described a 'black storytelling project,' training sessions on 'implicit bias' and 'microaggressions,' and scores of other entries that did not feature on the university's original declaration.

The internal list does not feature prices of each DEI scheme, meaning the university could be spending significantly more, even several times more, than the $5.3 million figure in its original declaration.

Steve Orlando, a spokesman, told DailyMail.com the university would 'pass' and not respond to the allegations.

Rufo said the problem was much bigger than just the University of Florida.

'What we see over and over in America's institutions is that the leaders have been captured by radical left wing DEI ideology,' said Rufo.

'And then when they're discovered, they make every attempt to hide, obfuscate and conceal the true nature of what's happening inside their institutions.'

DeSantis in May signed a law banning state and federal funding for DEI schemes in public higher education, saying the move would 'prevent woke ideologies from continuing to co-opt our state universities and state colleges.'

'This bill says the whole experiment with DEI is coming to an end in the state of Florida,' said the governor.

Gov Ron DeSantis ultimately axed all government-funded DEI spending at Florida's public colleges and universities

A memo from Florida's budget director Chris Spence set a January 13 deadline for universities to detail spending on DEI and critical race theory (CRT)

The university ranks as one of America's top public schools

For some, DEI schemes are important and necessary, as they can help to overcome historical racism and sexism and make it easier for people of all backgrounds to get ahead in education and work.

Many conservatives say DEI is a form of reverse discrimination that unfairly blows back on white men.

Others say DEI schemes may be well-intentioned, but seldom achieve their desired goals and often make things worse by stirring up divisions in offices and classrooms.

DEI staff now make up more than 3.4 positions for every 100 tenured professors, according to nationwide research by The Heritage Foundation, stoking fears of a ballooning sector that some say is no more than a woke box-ticking exercise.
Charlie Teo's supporters are planning a huge protest to try to keep him practising in Australia after the neurosurgeon was found guilty of unsatisfactory conduct.

Dr Teo said he will move to China after a Professional Standards Committee found surgeries performed by him had 'disastrous' outcomes and placed restrictions on his registration.

The committee found he failed to outline the real risks of surgeries described as 'experimental,' and behaved unethically in not getting informed consent from his patients.

But the embattled surgeon's fans plan to walk across Sydney Harbour Bridge to show their support, even as he says he may not be able to ever again practise in Australia.

'Many have asked what you can do to show your support  Well, I would be honoured if you would join me in solidarity on the Sydney Harbour Bridge,' Dr Teo wrote to supporters on Saturday.

Charlie Teo's (pictured left with his partner Traci Griffiths) supporters are planning a huge protest to try to keep him practising in Australia after the neurosurgeon was found guilty of unsatisfactory conduct

Dr Teo (pictured) said he will move to China after a Professional Standards Committee found surgeries performed by him had 'disastrous' outcomes and placed restrictions his registration

He said he has been granted privileges in China and will be taking his work to hospitals there.

'The fact that I have been crucified over here, didn't appear to affect their decision, so I am going over there to check the facilities, make sure they are good, they just bought the latest MRI for me,' he told the Daily Telegraph.

Some of his former patients are calling for friends and family to walk across the Harbour Bridge with Dr Teo on September 17.

'Charlie is flying in from Spain to be there with you because he will never give up,' a message being sent though social media said.

Dr Teo said he chose China because they had 'committed to me', and would also continue to perform occasional surgeries in Europe and parts of Southeast Asia.

He said he was disappointed 'but not surprised' by conditions placed on his practice, but would 'never' accept he failed to gain proper consent or lacked empathy for his patients.

'I am not guilty of what I am accused of, I reject what they say I have done, they just don't believe me, so why would I show remorse for something that I deny?' he said.

Former patient Samantha Halmoukos said she will travel from Melbourne for the walk 'because Charlie saved my life' by removing a Pineal Tumour 'located dead centre of the brain'.

'Charlie has followed my progress for four years as I required three further surgeries and intervened when no one else could or would,' she said.

Ms Halmoukos said Dr Teo 'performed three surgeries for free with one during Covid restrictions.

Teo (pictured left with partner Traci Griffiths) said he is considering launching an appeal against the committee's findings

'So I want to pay it forward by supporting the Charlie Teo Foundation, a Foundation that thinks outside the box,' she said.

But the family of another former patient, Ellie Middleton, has spoken out about how they say the surgeon made their lives so much worse.

Ms Middleton's sister, Sarah Bone, a hairdresser from Molong, told the Sydney Morning Herald she wanted 'Charlie Teo to come to our house and look after my sister for just one day'.

In December 2008, Dr Teo told the then 20-year-old and her family that if Ellie was his daughter, he would definitely have the operation to remove her brain tumour that other neurosurgeons had said was inoperable.

The operation was a disaster and for the past 15 years Ellie has spent her days bound to a wheelchair and needs 24-hour care.

Her family said she is unable to walk, talk or feed herself, and is now blind. 'She has no quality of life, none,' her mother Vicki said.

At just seven, Ellie had been diagnosed with an astrocytoma, a slow-growing brain tumour regarded as inoperable due to its location.

Ellie persuaded her family to take her to Sydney to see the famous neurosurgeon despite the family's hesitation about his ability to operate successfully.

'I remember Charlie saying, if it was my daughter, I would do the operation,' Ms Bone said.

Ellie Middleton was 20 when Teo performed surgery to remove a brain tumour

The Professional Standards Committee found Teo was guilty of unsatisfactory professional conduct over an 'inappropriate' conversation with a patient's daughter, an exorbitant fee he charged, and other complaints about consent.

It was found he told a patient's daughter that 'You're asking the wrong f****** question' and 'Would I do it all over again? F****** oath I would. You should be grateful.'

Teo appeared before the Medical Professional Standards Committee in February to face complaints that he decided to operate on two patients where the risk of surgery outweighed any potential benefits of the operation.

It was also alleged that he did not obtain informed consent from the patients before the surgery, charged an inappropriate fee of $35,000 to one patient and spoke inappropriately to that patient's daughter after the surgery.

In its decision announced on Wednesday the committee said it 'found these elements of the complaint proven'.

Details of Dr Charlie Teo's foul-mouthed conversation (pictured) have been revealed

Banned neurosurgeon Charlie Teo (left) is pictured with his girlfriend Traci Griffiths

Restrictions have been placed on Dr Teo, including a requirement to obtain written permission from a Medical Council-approved neurosurgeon with at least 15 years' experience as a registered specialist in neurosurgery before he performs any 'malignant intracranial tumour and brain stem tumour surgical procedures'.

Dr Teo hinted he was considering an appeal against the inquiry finding that has effectively ended his career in Australia.

'I could appeal, I think I would win. They wouldn't be able to prove beyond a reasonable doubt the things they have accused me of because they are not true,' he said.

'But I'm not sure I have the strength to run an appeal. Furthermore, I don't have the money to do so.'
Children in Church of England schools are being taught a 'pyramid of white supremacy' anti-racism theory that tells them that 'avoiding confrontation' can lead to genocide.

The theory is displayed in a graphic put together by the US-based Equality Institute, which describes itself as a 'global feminist agency working to advance gender equality and end violence against women and girls.'

The graphic features in a document titled 'responding to racism' that was compiled by the Diocese of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich and uncovered by campaigning group Don't Divide Us.

The diocese, which is headed up by Bishop The Right Reverend Martin Seeley, controls 87 schools in the region, all but two of which are primaries. The document was uploaded to the diocese's website for teachers to look at.

It explicitly tells them to use 'visuals' including the pyramid to 'help pupils understand how bias, stereotypes and prejudice can lead to racist words and actions, leading to physical harm and death.'

Reacting to the document, high-profile Church of England priest Father Marcus Walker, the Rector at historic London church St Bartholomew The Great, told MailOnline: 'The enthusiasm with which some in the Church of England are diving into the culture war is profoundly depressing. Children are not there to be indoctrinated.'

Children in Church of England schools are being taught a 'pyramid of white supremacy' anti-racism theory that tells them that 'avoiding confrontation' can lead to genocide, MailOnline can reveal

Former CofE priest Gavin Ashenden, who converted to Catholicism after resigning from his position as Chaplain to the late Queen Elizabeth in 2017, added his voice to the criticism.

The 69-year-old told MailOnline: 'The problems stack up badly here. Thought crime, of which the accusation of "racism" is a subset, should play no part in Christian ethics.

'Christians by definition are committed to "Loving their neighbour", a powerful antidote to racism.

'Beyond that the Church does not believe in making children (or adults) feel guilty for collective social failures.

'Guilt is restricted to personal choices only. A Church school should not be indoctrinating children in political and racial guilt they are innocent of.

'It should be teaching the powerful and renewing ethics of love and personal forgiveness found in the teaching of Jesus.'

The pyramid has the word 'mass murder' at the top of a scale of worsening actions.

On the bottom is the word 'indifference', above a series of excuses allegedly uttered by white people.

They read: '''There are two sides to every story", apolitical beliefs, avoiding confrontation, "politics don't affect me"'.

The pyramid then moves up to 'minimisation', under which are terms including, 'White saviour complex', ''not all white people'', and 'denial of white privilege'.

Above that is 'veiled racism', which is said to include: 'Victim blaming, racist jokes, Euro-centric curriculum, tokenism, cultural appropriation, racist icons.'

'Discrimination' then comes next and includes actions including 'racial profiling', 'mass incarceration' and even 'anti-immigration policies'.

The diocese, which is headed up by Bishop Martin Seeley, controls 87 schools in the region, all but two of which are primaries. The document was uploaded to the diocese's website for teachers to look at

Third from top is 'calls for violence', under which it says: 'KKK, Neo-Nazis, burning crosses'.

The initials KKK stand for the infamous American white supremacist organisation the Ku Klux Klan.

Second from top is 'violence', which is exampled with 'lynching, hate crimes, police brutality'.

Along the side of the pyramid is an arrow leading up from 'normalisation' to 'genocide'.

The wider document is titled 'Responding to Racism' and gives staff guidance on 'what to teach pupils'.

Also there is an instruction to 'teach pupils about what white privilege is and how they can become more aware of it.'

White privilege is the premise that Western societies are defined by racism and that white people enjoy advantages because of their skin colour.

Critics say it is overly simplistic and ignores the achievements of people from diverse backgrounds, such as Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, whose parents are of Indian descent.

An illustration in the document to depict the concept shows white people and 'people of colour' on an imbalanced scale, with the former higher than the latter.

Under a heading titled 'what schools can do', teachers are asked if they are 'celebrating Black lives' and 'educating pupils about Black history and the British slave trade.'

Elsewhere in the document, teachers are urged to: 'Try not to simplify the message to 'we are all equal', as if racism were a thing of the past and fully resolved.

'This can lead children and young people to conclude that the inequalities they do see are earned or justified in some way.

'Without adults, children often fill in these 'data gaps' themselves and they don't always use reliable sources.'

Another illustration in the document shows an airport-style travellator with a red arrow moving forwards that is titled 'Active racism, using their privilege'.

An illustration in the document to depict the concept of white privilege shows white people and 'people of colour' on an imbalanced scale, with the former higher than the latter

A green arrow going the other way reads: 'Anti-racist, walking away in other direction at pace.'

A third orange arrow coming from the right says: 'Passive racism, going with the system.'

Campaign group Don't Divide Us mentioned the Diocese of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich's guidance in its bombshell investigation into how schools are being taken over by organisations teaching controversial 'anti-racism' theories.

It said in its report that the guidance showed how the Church's board of education 'is highly partisan and has a strong activist orientation.'

Nigel Genders, the Church of England's chief education officer, told MailOnline: 'Racism exists in our society, and both children and staff experience racism in schools and communities every day.

Another illustration in the document shows an airport-style travellator with a red arrow moving forwards that is titled 'Active racism, using their privilege'. A green arrow going the other way reads: 'Anti-racist, walking away in other direction at pace.' A third orange arrow coming from the right says: 'Passive racism, going with the system'

'The Church of England is committed to addressing racial injustice and we encourage children in our schools to be courageous advocates for equality and to challenge prejudice without political partiality.

'Our aim is to resource and lead learning experiences for all children which consistently and intentionally celebrate equity, diversity, belonging, inclusion and justice at every opportunity, and to ensure that staff and children can flourish irrespective of ethnicity.'

A spokesperson for the Diocese of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich said: 'All staff at our schools are committed to creating an inclusive and safe space for our children to learn.

'The resources highlighted in this report were made available to staff for guidance in support of our approach to teaching children about racial equality, which is in line with that of the national Church of England and other Dioceses across the country.

'Children at our schools champion equality and we are proud of the diverse learning environment our schools foster.'
A furious bride-to-be has blasted the Welsh luxury hotel which cancelled the wedding it was set to host when it decided to sack its entire workforce so it could house more than 200 migrants.

Miriam Williams had dreamed of having her wedding reception at the Stradey Park Hotel and Spa when she was a little girl growing up in the village of Furnace, South Wales.

But hotel owners Sterling Woodrow suddenly cancelled her booking after they decided to convert the hotel and turn it into effectively a migrant processing centre, fuelling fears that she and her fiance Liam Martin would lose the thousands of pounds they put down in deposit.

The decision to sack the entire hotel workforce sparked anger in the community and caused dozens of protesters to camp outside and effectively lay it under siege. This week, council officials ordered the hotel to stop its conversion work, with video showing the moment that the demonstrators cheered as security guarding the hotel left the premises.

Speaking exclusively to MailOnline today, Ms Williams accused the hotel owners of 'greed', claiming: 'The Home Office threw money at the owners who were happy to take in asylum seekers and to hell with the local community.

Miriam Williams and her fiance Liam had intended to get married at the Stradey Park Hotel and Spa

However hotel owners Sterling Woodrow cancelled their wedding after agreeing to provide accommodation for 241 asylum seekers

'It's awful, we were looking forward to having our reception there when the rumours started that the hotel was taking in migrants.

'I'm a Furnace girl, I always thought my wedding day would be at the Stradey Park. It's close to my heart. My 89-year-old grandmother lives right opposite the hotel, she was going to walk to the reception.'

Ms Williams and Mr Martin a fire service project manager, thankfully got their deposit back - and their October wedding will instead go ahead at the Diplomat Hotel a mile away.

The bride-to-be, who works at a housing association, continued: 'It's had a devastating effect on so many people in the area. We are quite lucky that our wedding is in October and that gave us chance to organise another venue. But there are couples whose weddings were in July and August, it's terrible for them.

'I feel sorry for the 95 workers at the hotel who have lost their jobs and for the DJ and florist who were part of the package we booked with the Stradey Park. They've lost their jobs too - it's a hell of a hit for the local economy.'

Furious residents camped outside the hotel for days in a bid to stop it being transformed into a migrant centre

The protesters have vowed to continue the demonstration for as long as it takes

Police met with the protesters (seen earlier this week) to ask them to give the men - all ex-military - safe passage away from the hotel

Ms Williams said it was 'absurd' to house migrants in such an important building in the community, effectively doubling the population of the village on the outskirts of Llanelli.

The asylum seekers have been unable to move in after a small army of protesters barricaded three entrances to the hotel and promised a round-the-clock vigil 'for as long as it takes'.

Bride and Groom Lucy Watkins and Adam Kenny, from Llanelli, also said they will never use the Stradey Park again after the hotel pulled the plug on their wedding day next March. Luckily the couple found another wedding venue near Swansea and were able to swap everything except the registrar.

The mother-of-two told Wales Online: 'Many tears were shed, not only by Adam and myself but also by our two beautiful daughters who were so excited about the wedding.

'Plus everything was already booked, cars, flowers, registrar, and we needed to find a new venue with the same date available or the cost incurred on top would have possibly meant cancelling it all.'

Asked if they would ever visit the Stradey Park Hotel again, Ms Watkins said: 'No'.
Since early 2022, Ukrainian cities have been suffering from intermittent attacks by Russian missiles. This led these cities to revive the use of existing bomb shelters and build new ones. While Ukrainian air defenses have been able to destroy many of the incoming missiles, enough get through to make bomb shelter availability a priority item. The Ukrainian cities under attack have warning systems but this requires enough bomb shelters for people to take refuge in. Before 2022, most of these bomb shelters were closed, to prevent vandalism or misuse. In some cities bomb shelters had doors that could be opened by entering a PIN number into the access system. The PIN could be changed and was made widely available when there was danger of attack. This approach was flawed because not everyone trying to enter the shelter knew the current PIN. After some civilians were killed outside a locked shelter because they did not know the PIN, another solution was developed that automatically unlocked shelters when air raid sirens were used.

There were other problems with shelters being either closed or open and normally they were closed. Air raid alerts do not provide enough time for local officials to unlock any or all of the available shelters. In some cities shelters were in disrepair or blocked because they had not been used in a long time. The central government had to pressure officials in some cities to make more shelters available and inform citizens where they were. Some towns and cities ignored these orders because local officials believed their area would not be hit. When that belief proved wrong it was too late and people died. Making shelters available is a local responsibility and if local officials do not act, the central government cannot force them to provide shelters. The government can publicize the incidents of unavailable shelters but even that is not sufficient to motivate some local officials to take precautions and prepare and publicize shelters.
READ MORE: How long does it REALLY take to save money on an electric car

Electric vehicle tires produce up to 20 percent more pollution than their gas-powered equivalents, experts have revealed, meaning EVs could be coming at a higher environmental price than many owners are aware of.

For decades, the impact of tailpipe emissions from gas-powered cars has been the primary draw of battery-powered vehicles.

But experts are warning that tires, which are often overlooked as a source of pollution, are releasing chemicals and microplastics into the environment. While switching to an electric car no doubt helps lower how much carbon you generate, it actually exacerbates the problem of tire emissions.

EVs typically weigh much more and accelerate faster than their gas-burning counterparts, so tiny particles are shed into the air as the tire wears down.

According to road tests by research company Emissions Analytics, under normal driving conditions a gas car sheds around 73 milligrams per kilometer from four new tires. A comparable electric vehicle, however, sheds an additional 15 milligrams per kilometer - some 20 percent more.

Experts are warning that tires, which are often overlooked as a source of pollution, are releasing chemicals and microplastics into the environment

EVs typically weigh much more and accelerate faster than their gas-burning counterparts, so tiny particles are shed into the air as the tire wears down

'It's a combination of the weight and the torque - which is essentially how aggressively the car can accelerate,' Nick Molden, founder and CEO of Emissions Analytics told DailyMail.com.

'The thing about electric motors is they have the ability to accelerate very fast. If you put together that and how heavy the vehicle is, that is what creates the additional wear on the tire.'

The typical electric car weighs around 1000 pounds more than gas models, according to Molden.

In a study conducted by Emissions Analytics in March this year comparing the Tesla Model Y - the most popular EV in the US - and the similarly sized hybrid Kia Niro, the firm found the Tesla produced 26 percent more tire emissions.

'The hybrid Kia Niro delivers around 30 percent CO2 reduction, while the Tesla is probably somewhere around 50 percent,' said Molden.

'The Tesla is better from a CO2 point of view, but not that much. Then you're weighing up some extra CO2 reduction but worse tire emissions.'

According to a 2017 study, the average American produces roughly 10 pounds of tire emissions each year. The global average per person is under 2 pounds of tire emissions a year.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature says tires are the second leading source of microplastic pollution in oceans behind textiles.

'People are spending a ton of money on these big monsters, when really we should be going towards small, light, economical vehicles,' Molden added.

It comes as the US faces an electric car revolution - led by a surge in Tesla sales.

Last week, the company, co-founded by billionaire Elon Musk, announced a record surge in sales in the second quarter of the year - delivering 446,140 cars worldwide in the three months leading up to June, outdoing its own prediction of 445,000.

Nick Molden, founder and CEO of Emissions Analytics, warns that EV tires produce more emissions due to the weight and torque of the vehicles

Emissions Analytics compared the Tesla Model Y and the similarly sized Kia Niro and it found the Tesla produced 26 percent more tire emissions

Business in the US has been bolstered by federal tax credits for electric vehicles, although experts have warned it could take up to a decade to pay off the premium that customers pay for an EV.

Although green motors tend to be cheaper to run, the average electric car costs just shy of $20,000 more to purchase upfront than a gas-powered one.

Despite the flood of interest in EVs, leading automakers this week said President Joe Biden's electric car push is doomed to fail because it 'underestimates' key challenges - including the cost to consumers.

The White House has set out a target requiring that two-thirds of new vehicle sales be electric by 2032.

But in comments filed to the Federal Government, Toyota and Stellantis - which owns Vauxhall - blasted the plan as 'overly optimistic' because of inadequate charging infrastructure and high prices. Stellantis said the target 'significantly underestimates' the complexities of building a viable EV market.

Meanwhile tire emissions are not the only environmental question that has been raised around EVs.

Experts have debated the eco impact of the lithium ion batteries used to power electric vehicles, which require rare metals and huge amounts of energy to manufacture.

For Molden, it is a 'no-brainer' that the world should move towards hybrid vehicles.

'They are hardly heavier than normal vehicles and they give you a big reduction in CO2,' he said. 'If you want to genuinely address the environmental problem, the intuitive way of doing it is making smaller, lighter vehicles. Not bigger and heavier monsters.'
A low paid shop worker faces eviction from the Crown Estate-owned flat he has called home for 18 months - and says he will struggle to rent in the town's private sector on his salary.

Darren Jackson has been working at The Royal Farms Windsor Farm Shop for 18 months as a deli assistant on a salary of just 19,000 - in a town where the average wage is just under 50,000.

When he took the job Mr Jackson was offered short term use of a flat owned by the Crown Estate in nearby Old Windsor even though it wasn't part of his contract when he struggled to find one privately and one became free.

But the 32-year-old now faces being forced to move out with nowhere to go because it is needed for someone else - with his eviction timed in three months.

A family member said: 'Darren is going to be made homeless.'

Darren Jackson (pictured) faces eviction from the Crown Estate-owned flat he has called home for 18 months - and says he will struggle to rent in the town's private sector on his salary

Darren has been working at the The Royal Farms Windsor Farm Shop (pictured) for 18 months as a deli assistant on a salary of just 19,000 - in a town where the average wage is just under 50,000

News that he faces being left with nowhere to live coincides with Prince William receiving recent widespread acclaim for revealing his aspiration to end homelessness in the UK through his charity work.

Mr Jackson pays full rent to the Privy Purse for the flat as well as bills including gas, electricity, water and council tax.

Darren has been paying 790-a-month rent for the property. He says that due to his relatively low salary, he is unable to afford other comparable rental properties in the area which start at around 1,000-a-month.

Mr Jackson, who has autism and is classified as having special needs, doesn't drive so would struggle to get to and from other areas where rents might be cheaper than in Windsor, he says.

Mr Jackson's stepfather, David Lavender, says he fears he will be made homeless.

Mr Lavender said he has been unable to save for even a deposit for another flat in that time due to his low salary.

David said: 'They have asked him to leave the flat in September.'

He added: 'Darren is 32 years-old but because of his autism he doesn't cope with change well.

'He doesn't always understand things well. He has just become almost independent, as well.'

News that Darren faces being left with nowhere to live coincides with Prince William (pictured with Big Issue vendor Dave Martin) receiving recent widespread acclaim for revealing his aspiration to end homelessness in the UK through his charity work

David wrote to his local MP Adam Afriyie, or help on his stepson's behalf who then made written representations.

An officer of the Privy Purse Finance wrote back to Mr Afriyie and gave their position in detail in correspondence.

This explained that the flat he has been using is meant to be for retired former workers. Because one was empty he was given it for use as special measure but was told it was for a limited period of 12 months.

This period has since been extended twice. He was first told he would have to move out in January this year. When he asked for an extension this was extended by six months. It was later extended again for a further three months until September. Btu now there are pensioners waiting to move in so the flat is needed back.

The farm shop was created to sell produce including some produced on the royal estate and is based close to Windsor Great Park - and is owned by the Crown Estate.

Prince William moved his family back to Windsor in September.

The Crown Estate made no comment.
New luxury flats are available to rent in London's Tin Pan Alley - where the Sex Pistols and numerous others started out - but they will cost a huge 1 million a year.

With names such as White Wedding, Wild Ones, Forbidden and Hope You Don't Mind, these service apartments invoke the heyday of rock and roll when London's Soho was the epicentre of the music industry.

But you wouldn't just need to have the lifestyle of a rock star to afford their eye-watering prices, you would need to have deep pockets to pay the rent.

The four two-bedroom deluxe apartments, in Denmark Street, and two smaller Flitcroft apartments, in Flitcroft Street, are being marketed by UK Sotheby's International for a staggering 19,250 a week - the equivalent of a 1 million a year rent.

They are located in Chateau Denmark, a new development of 55 'session rooms' or apartments, set across 16 mews houses, townhouses and mansion blocks, in the heart of Soho.

New luxury flats are available to rent in London's Tin Pan Alley in Chateau Denmark (pictured) they will cost a huge 1 million a year

The four two-bedroom deluxe apartments, in Denmark Street, and two smaller Flitcroft apartments, in Flitcroft Street, are being marketed by UK Sotheby's International for a staggering 19,250 a week

Tin Pan Alley is where the Sex Pistols, the Rolling Stones (pictured outside the Tin Pan Alley Club) and numerous others started out

Each apartment is furnished with 'maxi' bars, giant screens, sound systems and bespoke goodies, such as drum kits or sex toys, whips, and cuffs, as well as a team of butlers on call 24 hours a day.

Some floors are black rubber, creating an industrial feel, dirty laundry goes in a bag with the word 'Filth' embroidered on it, and a red neon light outside a door can be switched from 'SINNING' to 'IN' depending on whether guests are in residence.

'I think what I love about everything I've seen today is that there's just nothing else quite like this out there,' agent James Somers told the forthcoming Channel 4 programme Britain's Most Expensive Homes.

'Everything from the furniture you've used to putting the bath in the bedroom, to your use of lighting and speakers and disco balls. This is just unlike anything else I've ever seen, anything else I've been into. And that's really what I love about it.'

It was in Denmark Street that the Sex Pistols once lived, the Rolling Stones recorded their debut album and David Bowie invented Ziggy Stardust.

Once a hotspot for music publishers and songwriters, who recorded in its legendary studio Tin Pan Alley and congregated in the neighbourhood cafe La Gioconda, it bears a blue plaque signifying its importance to the music industry.

Both rock newspaper New Musical Express and rival magazine Melody Maker began their lives in the street, which was nicknamed Tin Pan Alley after an area in New York, and the cult comic shop Hidden Planet had its home there.

Tin Pan Alley on Denmark Street (pictured in the 1960s) is where that the Sex Pistols once lived, the Rolling Stones recorded their debut album and David Bowie invented Ziggy Stardust

One of the apartments features a centrally positioned four-poster bed with dark wood panelling

Each apartment is furnished with 'maxi' bars, giant screens, sound systems, with some also featuring bold artwork and vibrant furniture

In some of the rooms there are bespoke goodies, such as drum kits or sex toys, whips, and cuffs, as well as a team of butlers on call 24 hours a day

A bathroom in one of the apartments features a standalone bathtub next to an antique chair with God Save the Queen written on it

Some of the apartments feature 'maxi' bars where residenst can try their hand at making their own cocktails

Some floors in the apartments are made of black rubber creating an industrial feel

In a nod to the Sex Pistols, who lived in a mews house behind No 6 Denmark Street, another of the apartments is named I Am Anarchy, referencing their most famous track - Johnny Rotton drew caricatures of himself and his band mates on the walls.

Chateau Denmark has been developed by Carrie Wicks, of CAW Ventures, in a style described as 'punk rock and vintage gothic meet modern psychedelia with a timeless grandeur,' to pay homage to the street's heritage.

'The guys have been sort of trained to be able to do all of this so they can make you a cocktail, said the mother of Made in Chelsea Star Tristan.

'They pack your bags, they can organise your transport, whether it be, we'll get you a helicopter, then getting onto your yacht somewhere and also organising anything you want to do while you're here.'

Britain's Most Expensive Houses is available to view on catch up on Channel 4
'Prison Karen' Ghislaine Maxwell accused a female guard of sexual abuse for confronting the disgraced socialite over her lax personal hygiene, DailyMail.com can exclusively reveal.

The officer pulled Maxwell, 61, aside after fellow inmates complained that she wasn't showering after coming off the outdoor running track at Florida's FCI Tallahassee.

The dressing down is said to have involved coarse language and the term 'hooha'  slang for an intimate female body part  leaving the Oxford-educated prisoner aghast.

'The officer never touched her. It was just a conversation about cleanliness and the need to shower more frequently. But the officer has a mouth like Cardi B and was completely tactless about it,' an insider told DailyMail.com.

'Max insists that it was a personal matter and the officer had no right to bring it up. She reported the encounter because she claims it left her feeling uncomfortable and embarrassed.

'She might seem a little easily shocked for a convicted sex trafficker  but that's Max. She doesn't see herself that way, she acts and talks as if she's innocent.'

Ghislaine Maxwell, 61, was confronted by a female guard after inmates complained that she wasn't showering after coming off the outdoor track

Maxwell, who has filed more than 400 complaints over her conditions at Florida's FCI Tallahassee and has been branded 'Prison Karen', accused the guard of sexual abuse

Maxwell is locked up at FCI Tallahassee, which could be her home until July 2037

Our source explained it's common for sex offenders to avoid showering behind bars because the stalls are the likeliest place to get ambushed with a homemade blade or a soap wrapped in a sock.

A spokesman for Maxwell did not respond to an inquiry about the alleged abuse, which was investigated for three weeks last October before jail authorities closed their probe.

It's just one of a dozen or more misconduct allegations Maxwell has leveled at staff at the low-security federal lockup where she's serving 20 years for being Jeffrey Epstein's accomplice.

The disgraced British socialite is still having trouble adapting to her grim life behind bars after being surrounded by luxury and wealth for most of her life

Records obtained by DailyMail.com reveal Maxwell has accused workers of harassment, unprofessional behavior and discrimination under the 14th Amendment and freedom of religion laws.

She's also peppered jail authorities with complaints about the food, a lack of hot water, being denied access to a computer and having her mail tampered with.

In all, Maxwell's gripes span nine pages of 'administrative remedy' records which were obtained from the Federal Bureau of Prisons under the Freedom of Information Act.

The British-born felon has lodged further grievances about 'improper or inadequate' dental and medical treatment for eye problems and a rash.

A December 2022 entry notes that Maxwell says she has not been able to see an ob-gyn and needs an ultrasound examination.

The records also reveal that Maxwell has already filed for compassionate release on two occasions  despite having 19 years left to serve.

Our sources tell us that the numerous entries are likely the tip of the iceberg as anything especially egregious or unresolved would be exempt from disclosure.

Maxwell not only files numerous complaints for herself, she also uses her job in the prison's law library to advise other inmates how to do the same, adds our insider.

Her suspected end goal is to cause such a stink that she's transferred to a different facility, preferably FCI Danbury, the Connecticut lockup that inspired Orange is the New Black.

'Tallahassee is big, it's old, it's ghetto. Max has too many enemies and she wants out,' explained our source.

'Danbury is smaller and mainly for white-collar criminals and she thinks she can get there by causing as much hassle as possible.'

Ghislaine Maxwell has filed more than 400 complaints over the unfavorable conditions in prison since starting her 20-year sentence at FCI Tallahassee last July

Insiders told DailyMail.com that Maxwell tattled on a transgender cellmate known as 'Batman' - a career criminal convicted of firearm offenses  for having loud sex sessions late at night

DailyMail.com revealed last month that Maxwell earned her 'prison Karen' moniker because of the 400-plus petty complaints she has lodged while behind bars.

The sex trafficker has slated the lackluster vegan menu options, demanded jail authorities give her access to hair dye and even complained about a transgender inmate having noisy sex in the bunk above her.

Maxwell also bagged plush hypoallergenic bedding after grumbling to staff that the standard-issue prison pillows were triggering her allergies.

Her moaning dates back to July 2020 when she was locked up at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, New York while awaiting federal trial for grooming minors.

There, her lawyers accused prison authorities of breaching her rights by shining a torch in her cell every 15 minutes, subjecting her to invasive searches and filming her at all hours.

The daughter of disgraced UK newspaper magnate Robert Maxwell was sentenced to two decades behind bars in June last year and the judge recommended she serve her time in Danbury. But the Bureau of Prisons had other ideas and shipped her 1,000 miles south to the Sunshine State.

Controversy ensured when she used the prison's video visit system to give an interview to UK broadcaster Jeremy Kyle in which she claimed, without evidence, that the now-notorious photograph of Prince Andrew with Epstein victim Virginia Giuffre was fake.

Maxwell told UK broadcaster Jeremy Kyle that the infamous picture of Prince Andrew with his arm around accuser Virginia Giuffre was a fake

Once a well-heeled socialite and daughter of a British publishing magnate, Maxwell (pictured with Donald and Melania Trump in 2000) will be 80 years old by the time she can enjoy social outings again

DailyMail.com revealed how the chat earned Maxwell 48 hours in the Special Housing Unit  a 'prison within a prison' comprising tiny, grim cells where inmates are caged for 23 hours at a time and fed through slits in the door.

In March it was the turn of two Cuban inmates who were both thrown into solitary confinement for 47 days after Maxwell reported them to authorities for trying to extort her.

The two bullies found out their strict vegan neighbor had an 'arrangement' with a kitchen worker who would slip her extra fruit, vegetables, and tofu and thought they could use the info against her.

They penned Maxwell a threatening letter demanding $360 worth of items from her commissary allowance but the Briton turned it straight over to prison authorities.

Maxwell was living in fear of a beatdown when the pair got out but one of the Cubans has since been transferred to a half-way house in Laredo, Texas and the other was moved to a different housing unit.

Maxwell  federal prisoner 02879-509  will be 75 by the time she's freed unless she can successfully appeal her convictions for helping ex-lover Epstein, who hanged himself behind bars in 2019 instead of facing trial. She has a release date of July 17, 2037.

Federal prosecutors argued this week in a fresh court filing that Maxwell's conviction for grooming girls as young as 14 should stand and denied claims she was being used as a proxy to satisfy public outrage over Epstein's crimes.
A leading expert on the Elgin Marbles has blasted Sadiq Khan's claims that the treasures should be 'shared' between London and Greece.

The London Mayor said earlier this month the British Museum should come to 'an accommodation' with the Greek government over the treasures, which were taken from the Acropolis of Athens at the beginning of the 19th century.

But Sir Noel Malcolm, the author of a recent report into the artefacts which concluded they were not taken illegally by Lord Elgin, told MailOnline: 'He has no more authority on this issue than any other man or woman in the street.'

He insisted that Mr Khan's position does not stack up because of the 'fundamental problem' that Greece does not recognise the British Museum's ownership of the Marbles, with their official position being that they were 'stolen'.

A leading expert on the Elgin Marbles has blasted Sadiq Khan's claims that the treasures should be 'shared' between London and Greece

The Museum could therefore run the risk of losing the Marbles forever if they strike any deal which would see some or all of the objects be 'loaned' to Greece.

Sir Noel concluded in his report for Policy Exchange that Greece's claim is incorrect and instead showed how Lord Elgin, then the ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, had permission to take the Marbles.

Mr Khan had told Greek newspaper Ta Nea: 'I obviously want Londoners to be able to see the Elgin Marbles, but I don't see why the British Museum, the British government, the government of Greece and the museum in Athens can't come to an accommodation to share these wonderful, wonderful Elgin Marbles.'

The London mayor added: 'It is important for us to recognise that actually, not all the exhibits that are in the British Museum are ones that should just stay in London.'

His comments were at odds with the position of the Government, which has so far rejected any calls to negotiate with Greece of the ancient artefacts.

Former chancellor George Osborne, who is now chairman of the British Museum, has been exploring the possibility of returning the 2,500-year-old antiquities to their homeland as part of a 'cultural exchange'.

But UK law prevents the museum from giving away objects in its collection.

Sir Noel, the author books including how the Ottoman Empire was perceived in the West, told MailOnline: 'Sadiq Khan says he doesn't see why the Elgin Marbles can't be shared with Greece.

'There is a fundamental problem, which he should be able to see quite clearly: Greece does not recognise the British Museum's ownership of the Marbles.

The London Mayor said earlier this month the British Museum should come to 'an accommodation' with the Greek government over the treasures. But Sir Noel Malcolm (right), the author of a recent report into the artefacts which concluded they were not taken illegally by Lord Elgin, told MailOnline: 'He has no more authority on this issue than any other man or woman in the street.'

Sir Noel said in his report for the Policy Exchange think tank that Lord Elgin's decision to take the Marbles actually saved them from serious damage, dispersal and destruction

'The Greek government's official position is that the Marbles were "stolen", and that they rightfully belong to Greece.

'This means that the Trustees of the British Museum would be failing in their duties if they sent any of the Marbles to Greece, as they could not be confident that they would get them back.

'Even if the Greek government gave a formal guarantee, an individual or organisation might bring a case in the Greek courts, and a Greek judge might overrule the government's guarantee.

'Also, the Trustees are permitted by law to loan objects only on a temporary, short- term basis. That must rule out any long- term "sharing" arrangement.'

He added: 'Of course the Elgin Marbles are a matter of public interest, and Sadiq Khan is entitled to express an opinion about them.

'But it would be a big mistake to think that his position as Mayor of London gives him any particular authority or standing in the matter just because the British Museum is located in London.

'He has no more authority on this issue than any other man or woman in the street.'

Sir Noel said in his March report for the Policy Exchange think tank that Lord Elgin's decision to take the Marbles actually saved them from serious damage, dispersal and destruction.

He added: 'The Elgin Marbles are the Crown Jewels of the British Museum  a national museum with a universal mission.

'We should feel proud of our ability to show them to the world in London. There is nothing to apologise for here.'

The report also argued there would be a significant risk of non-return if the Marbles were lent to Greece and recommended that the Government should reaffirm its support for retaining the Marbles and should not change the current law.

It added that the British Museum should revise its loans policy, explicitly excluding loans to countries which do not recognise the museum's ownership of the objects concerned.
With nearly 7000 lightning bursts counted over central London, 40 calls to the fire brigade and two inches of torrential rain, the thunderstorm gripping southern England in the early hours of July 10, 1923, was one of the greatest of the twentieth century.

Events inside the Savoy hotel that night, 100 years ago, were equally tempestuous. As the storm raged outside, a notorious French courtesan named Marguerite Alibert shot her playboy husband dead as he crouched down to whistle for their pet dog.

The subsequent Old Bailey murder trial of Marguerite also known as the Princess Fahmy bey, was high drama - a clash of East and West.

On trial for her life, Marguerite was presented as a helpless Frenchwoman, victim of her supposedly bestial and perverted Egyptian husband, Prince Ali Fahmy.

Marguerite Alibert, a French Courtesan, was a lover of the young Duke of Windsor when he was Prince of Wales. She would later kill her husband in sensational circumstances at the Savoy

Marguerite and her husband, Ali Kemal Fahmy, on honeymoon in Luxor, 1923. She shot him dead with three bullets in the back at point blank range, yet walked free

The Prince of Wales, later Edward VIII, at the Savoy hotel in the 1920s. His sexual adventures with French prostitute Marguerite Alibert were judged so shameful that the authorities ensured she was acquitted of an obvious murder

Crowds gather outside the Old Bailey to hear the news that Mme Fahmy, as Marguerite was known, had been sensationally acquitted - after the establishment had intervened to ensure that The Prince of Wales's sordid relationship with her was kept out of the case

Enormous riches were in play. Marguerite was dressed by Chanel, wore jewellery by Cartier with accessories by Van Cleef & Arpels and Louis Vuitton.

The court learned about a brief, but tempestuous, marriage. At the point she killed him, Marguerite claimed, Ali was about to rape her.

Yet the evidence seemed rather different. She had shot him not in their luxury suite, but in the corridor outside as he crouched down for the dog.

The three shots had hit him in the back at point blank range.

How, then, did she come to be so triumphantly acquitted?

The answer must lie in the extreme lengths to which the Royal Household and the British establishment were prepared to go in protecting the reputation of the feckless Edward, Prince of Wales, future King, Emperor, lover of American divorcee Wallis Simpson and Duke of Windsor.

Information is hard to come by even to this day.

Almost exactly 100 years have passed and the protagonists are long dead yet accounts of this sensational case and its cover-up remain subject to extraordinary restrictions from the Royal Family - as I found while researching my book on Marguerite.

Why, even now, you might ask, is source material on this and other aspects of royal history being suppressed, perhaps even destroyed? Why is the past being falsified  and who is responsible?

In April 1917, as the Great War ground to new depths of misery, the young, sexually inexperienced, Prince of Wales, later Edward VIII and Duke of Windsor, began an 18-month affair with Marguerite.

The Prince was smitten by the charms of the Parisienne, introduced to him by her former client, a French marquis. Marguerite educated the Prince far beyond the basic facts of life, using an eye-watering sexual repertoire.

When she chose, Marguerite could be charm itself, excellent and amusing company.

Her exclusive client base included French and British aristocrats and a cohort of other uber-rich men worldwide. In the Paris demi-monde, she was accredited a speciality, with a wide-ranging sexual repertoire.

Edwards burgeoning sexual appetite, encouraged by Marguerites expertise, was fortified by a fellow officers gift of the extremely pornographic text, My Secret Life by Walter.

Marguerite remembered Edwards intense interest in the play Le Roi Pausole, a witty fantasy involving gender confusion, cross-dressing, and lesbian themes.

Marguerite herself staged lesbian sex acts with Ginette, a fellow sex-worker on the payroll of a fashionable brothel in the Paris rue Bizet.

A skilled courtesan who dressed in Chanel and Cartier, Marguerite Alibert introduced the young Duke of Windsor (as he became) to an array of sexual practices including sadomasochism

Even today, more than a century on, the Palace refuses to release more than the barest details of the Prince of Wales's affair with Marguerite Alibert. He wrote her a number of outspoken letters which caused huge alarm to the authorities - and to the prince

Wealthy Egyptian Ali Kemal Fahmy, who was killed by his wife Marguerite after a brief marriage. She shot him in the back as he bent down to whistle for their dog. She stood to lose a vast amount of money in the event of a divorce, but this was not disclosed to the court

The Prince of Wales - later Edward VIII - in a 1920 portrait in Naval Uniform. The Palace viewed him as a huge embarrassment then and continue to suppress - and perhaps destroy - important historical files about him today, says historian Andrew Rose

The Prince of Wales dines at the Savoy in the 1920s with the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Winston Churchill

Sado-masochism, too, was part of Marguerites menu du jour. A dab hand with the horse-whip, Marguerite would dress up as a maid, to be lightly beaten and abused by a customer, before turning the tables and administering the thrashing craved by the client.

Although the British press gave absolutely no hint of Edwards rackety private life, French sources - notably around the time of the murder trial in 1923 - were unrestrained, naming Edward and accusing him openly of enjoying Marguerites favours.

All this was going on while thousands of young men were being killed or maimed in the trenches on the Western Front.

Edwards gross and self-indulgent conduct behind the lines was indefensible. No wonder the Royal Household was keen to run repeated damage limitation exercises in respect of this developing scandal.

Ive long been fascinated by his extraordinary case. Why did Marguerite have such an easy run in court?

Why was the jury (two women and ten men) kept in the dark about Marguerites true background as a top-of-the-range Paris courtesan?

Why was the prosecution so feeble? And why wasnt the financial background to the case explored? Marguerite stood to lose a fortune if Ali divorced her.

Above all, why did Marguerite walk free from court having shot dead her unarmed husband?

The answer is simple. As became clear from my research, the Royal Household, the Director of Prosecutions, and the judge conspired to keep the Princes name out of the proceedings.

The jury and the wider British public would never know about Edwards wartime affair or, in particular, about a shoal of compromising love letters he foolishly wrote to his mistress.

The correspondence was scabrous. Edward penned disparaging comments about the conduct of the war, for example, opinions which could have damaged the Allied cause had they fallen into enemy hands.

He mocked his father, King George V, dismissing him as the one & only royal beaver (contemporary slang for the Kings full growth of beard).

Worse still  and, remember, these were prudish times - were Edwards references to the sexual adventures he enjoyed with Marguerite, activity sometimes enlivened by the involvement of third parties.

The letters exposed the Prince as a degenerate wastrel, partying behind the lines while thousands were being blown away on the Western Front.

Marguerite pictured circa 1920. She had wisely kept hold of the Prince of Wales's compromising love letters

The Savoy Hotel today. Marguerite shot her husband not in their luxury suite, but in the corridor outside

Famous barman Harry Craddock at work in the Savoy's American Bar in 1926. Craddock invented the Dry Martini and the White Lady

With the help of Marguerites and Ali Fahmys families, I stumbled upon the truth, even though important documents have been destroyed, have gone missing or  even recently - have been withdrawn from public access.

Unfortunately for Edward, Marguerite was a sharp cookie who, I was able to establish, had the wit to use Edwards letters to escape the British hangman.

I discovered that the Royal Household was terribly afraid of what might come out at her Old Bailey murder trial'.

This information was contained in document, discovered by chance, written by Lord Curzon, the Foreign Secretary, who added 'It is fortunate that he is off to Canada and his name is to be kept out'.

(Edward's trip to Canada was hastily arranged just after the shooting, presumably to keep him out of the way.)

With the help of the Director of Public Prosecutions and a relatively inexperienced trial judge, the Royal Household succeeded in keeping the Princes name out of the media, neatly avoiding a scandal which had the potential to damage the credibility of the monarchy, both at home, in the British Empire, and beyond.

A deal was struck between the Royal Household and Marguerite, via a trusted intermediary, an Old Etonian Major, ex-15th Hussars, with links to the Prince and the Royal Household. And, perhaps inevitably, a customer of Marguerite from pre-war days.

The agreement ensured Marguerites silence at the trial (she was no doubt comforted by the knowledge that her own chequered past would not be revealed to the jury). It also allowed the authorities to recover the Princes incriminating wartime correspondence, those bloody letters in his words.

With secrecy the watchword, Edwards letters were passed by Marguerites Egyptian lawyer to a British diplomat in Cairo, brought to London and restored to Edward at St Jamess Palace. No doubt, given his expressed concerns, Edward burned the letters on receipt.

He seems not to have realised that Marguerite, canny as ever, had kept one or two back by way of insurance...

Im not alone among biographers in taking a jaundiced view of the Royal Archives, an institution adept playing cat and mouse, a game in which limited information has been provided from time to time, but further inquiries firmly discouraged.

In 2012, to my surprise, I was able to gain access to the Archives, housed in the Round Tower at Windsor Castle - but only after the intervention of a family who had presented a cache of Edwards letters written to a fellow Grenadier Guards officer.

The family told me that these letters had been expensively bound in a hand-tooled red leather presentation album.

Yet Royal Archive staff flatly denied the existence of this elegant gift and I had to view the letters - complete or otherwise - on microfilm.

Even after nearly a century, sensitivity about the Princes private life appeared to be acute. I was forbidden, for example, to quote parts of the letters written to his Guards officer friend.

Given the draconian conditions of access, these passages may not be summarised even now.

So much for transparency. Royal Archives staff were, in effect, dictating the form and extent of my biographical findings about Edwards steamy private life.

This isnt the only suppression of sensitive material linked to Edward. In the Metropolitan Police file on the 1923 murder case, held in the National Archives, theres a cryptic reference to separate Special Branch papers, pre-dating the Savoy Hotel shooting.

In late 1918, Edward, now involved with another mistress, unceremoniously dumped Marguerite, who replied with a threatening letter, a regular stinker, as he put it himself.

Edward, naively writing that he didnt think shed turn nasty, was frightened that his former mistress was the 100,000 or nothing type [more than 4.5 million today], adding desperately , I must get all those letters back somehow if only I can square this case.

After the initial panic subsided, Edward received expert assistance from Sir Basil Thomson, head of Special Branch, who was on friendly terms with Edward and is known to have visited Paris in December 1918.

What, then, became of the Special Branch file? And what were these horrible accusations?

My first attempt to locate these papers, more than 30 years ago, was firmly rebuffed by the Metropolitan Police.

In 2012, I made a repeat application, this time under the Freedom of Information Act. To my surprise, the police response came from Counter Terrorism Command, who suggested that the papers did exist but that we are currently considering whether qualified exemptions apply to the information...requested.

When I telephoned New Scotland Yard seeking more detail about this, I was told that the request had been referred to higher authority. Three weeks later, however, I was told that the department had failed to locate any information relevant to your request, putting an abrupt end to the process.

End of story? Have these ancient but important files been weeded out by Counter Terrorism Command and destroyed? Impossible to say.

Marguerites horrible accusations are likely to have been connected with Edwards sexual profile.

Venereal disease cannot be ruled out as a relevant factor. Infections of gonorrhea and syphilis were widespread among armed forces during the Great War.

Edwards wartime shenanagins in 1917-1918 involved numerous affairs, including with members of the Voluntary Aid Detachment (VADs) of women, a notorious episode occurring in Rome during May 1918.

If conspiracy, obstruction, and destruction were 1920s hallmarks of the Royal Household and the Establishment, combining in desperate need to protect a royal reputation, is the situation different today?

Im sorry to say it is not.

When researching my book, The Prince , The Princess, and The Perfect Murder, I made extensive notes from a Special Branch file, then publicly available in the National Archives at Kew. The file is significant, chronicling Edwards engagements, mostly in France, with a helping of broader biographical detail in the mix.

At some date between 2011 and today, this ancient file has been withdrawn from public access, along with some 20 other police protection files previously available.

This record is closed while access is under review, reads the National Archives catalogue, though presumably the question of public access was considered years ago, before the file became freely available.

Luckily for me, I was able to access these papers before withdrawal, but officialdom now decrees that - for some unspecified period  no other member of the public is free to examine an important historical record.

The repositories in the National Archive. Many files on the Royal Family remain closed, even when the information is more than 100 years old

In a brave attempt to get at the truth about the life of the late Lord Mountbatten, author Andrew Lownie has highlighted the fact that dozens of Special Branch files about Edward VIII have been destroyed or have been removed from long-standing public access.

The author of a recent post-Abdication study of Edward VIIIs life was told by a Royal archivist: We are not in the business of protecting the Duke of Windsors reputation.

It is a declaration that sits uneasily with the facts.

Whats going on  and why? Is the Royal Household involved in the processes of weeding and withdrawing official papers of genuine historical importance?

I am not the only researcher to believe that history is repeating itself  or being repeated for us.

Andrew Rose 2023
A hospital worker kidnapped and tortured by a transgender activist who told a cheering crowd at a rally to 'punch TERFs in the face' today branded her a 'dangerous, violent individual'.

Darren Sheridan, 52, spoke publicly for the first time of how he feared he would die after being savagely beaten and tormented during 24 hours held captive by Sarah Jane Baker and her brother.

Now he has hit out at the zealot over her inflammatory comments against feminists critical of trans ideology.

Baker sparked outrage after telling a cheering crowd at a trans pride rally: 'I was gonna come here and be really fluffy and be really nice and say yeah be really lovely and queer and gay... Nah, if you see a TERF, punch them in the f****** face.'

Darren, who still bears the scars from his ordeal as a teenager, said: 'I think it is extreme to have those kind of views. I know she has anger issues but there's still no right to say 'punch somebody in the face'.

Darren Sheridan, 52, (pictured) who was kidnapped and tortured by a transgender activist who told a cheering crowd at a rally to 'punch TERFs in the face' today branded her a 'dangerous, violent individual'

Darren spoke publicly for the first time of how he feared he would die after being savagely beaten and tormented during 24 hours held captive by Sarah Jane Baker (pictured) and her brother

A newspaper clipping from when Darren was kidnapped by the siblings in September 1989

'I think if people disagree with other people about issues it's much better to have a debate about it then threaten people. By telling the crowd to punch a TERF, she clearly still has anger issues and is a dangerous, violent person.'

Darren knows only too well the level of violence Baker is capable of.

After he was kidnapped Darren was subjected to appalling beatings and forced to carry out humiliating sex acts before being trussed up in a cupboard and left to die.

Recalling harrowing details for the first time he told MailOnline how Baker and her brother showed no remorse after admitting their appalling crimes.

He said: 'I thought I was going to die but in the court case they said that the only thing they regretted about it was that they couldn't break me.'

The brothers were jailed for seven years by a judge who described the ordeal as 'an exercise in sadism and cruelty which may well have led to his death'.

Baker, now 53, ended up spending 30 years in jail after she was convicted of attempted murder for breaking into a prisoner's cell and trying to strangle him to death.

Darren was just 19 when he was unwittingly caught up in a family feud after his sister Donna married Baker's father.

Baker, who was born Alan, and his brother George were sent out to bring her back and Darren's life changed forever when there was a knock on the door at the family home in Thornton Heath, Surrey.

He was punched in the face after being confronted by the brothers and another man.

Darren was just 19 when he was unwittingly caught up in a family feud after his sister Donna married Baker's father

Darren said: 'I had three knives pointed at me - two either side of my body and one at my neck.

'They told me 'You're coming with us'. I had no choice.

'I was forcibly taken at knifepoint to a van and bundled into the back.

'I couldn't see what was going on as I was face down and there were no windows. I was beaten in the van. I think there were two of them doing it.'

Darren was taken to a squat in London. When the brothers appeared at Maidstone Crown Court in 1989 it emerged he had 39 identifiable injuries including some inflicted with a knife.

Darren told MailOnline: 'I had no idea where I was going. They took me to a flat and led me inside where I was beaten and tortured for 12 hours.

'They were punching me and burning me with cigarettes. They were stubbing them out on my neck and I still have the scars from that to this day.

'I was forced to perform oral sex on them at knifepoint.

'One of them said their dad wanted me dead and they were thinking of ways that they were going to kill me.

'They said they were going to get a gun and shoot me.

'They said they were going to give me a smiley face - where they slit the sides of your mouth. They said they were going to get a razor to scar my face.

'I was made to eat cigarette butts and curry powder.

'Towards the end I was tied up. They tied me to the back of one chair then put another chair opposite.

'My legs were stretched out and were tied to the back of it.

'One of them got up and stepped on my legs - he was trying to get my kneecaps to break.

'It was such a sustained attack I became numb to the pain.

'The last thing I remember was being tied up with electricity wire and dumped in an airing cupboard.

'They carried me in and just left me there. It was dark and silent. I couldn't hear anything.

'The wire was tied around my feet, my hands and my neck in such a way that if I moved it tightened around my neck.

'At first I tried to free myself but that's when I realised the wire around my neck was getting tighter and I feared I would strangle myself so I stopped.

'I was helpless and I blacked out.'

Baker, now 53, ended up spending 30 years in jail after she was convicted of attempted murder for breaking into a prisoner's cell and trying to strangle him to death

Darren was saved after somebody else living in the squat raised the alarm and police and paramedics raced to the scene.

Darren said: 'The first thing I remember after that was being in a hospital bed.

'I was told that it took six hours before I was able to come out with my name and address because I was drifting in and out of consciousness.

'I was told that if I had been left an hour longer I would have been dead.'

Describing the aftermath of his ordeal Darren said: 'It messed up my mental health. I didn't leave the house for a year after that.

'I was too afraid to go out. The first year was awful.

'For a few good years it was really hard to talk about it without getting emotional, without crying.

'It had a massive impact on my life. It took away a lot of confidence.

'I have a distrust of people, especially people who are so called family after they did that to me.

'I had therapy. It took me a couple of years to come to terms with it. Most of it I buried away.'

Darren, who now works as a healthcare assistant in a hospital's A&E department, said he never had any further dealings with Baker.

But he heard from family members that Baker had attempted to murder another prisoner and had gone on to change gender.

After hearing of Baker's latest incident: 'I'm surprised that he is doing so much for the trans community. I'm surprised that he would put other people before him.'

Asked of his views on the transgender issue he said: 'I don't get much involved in politics and stuff like that. I try to keep away from it.'
Betsy DeVos says she hopes Americans elect a president in 2024 who will shut down the Education Department and strip powerful teachers' unions of their control in order to champion freedom and choice in American education.

'I don't think the Federal Department of Education should exist,' the former education secretary told DailyMail.com during an exclusive interview.

'I'm hopeful that we elect a president who is also committed to either scaling back dramatically or ultimately shutting down the Department of Education.'

2024 GOP presidential hopefuls including former President Donald Trump, former Vice President Mike Pence, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, Nikki Haley and Sen. Tim Scott have all vowed to shut down the Education Department if elected president.

'I want a president who is going to champion education freedom,' DeVos tells DailyMail.com

She said the department is unfortunately 'very union focused and union driven,' which she calls 'despicable.'

DeVos said a future president will have to 'bang a lot of elbows' within the department because of the 'entrenched interests' of the big unions that are desperate to 'hang on to their power base.'

'I want a president who is going to champion education freedom. And I think there is every argument for an individual who is not only going to talk about it, but do it or may have done it already,' DeVos told DailyMail.com.

'I think this is the most important issue facing our country, because without a prepared, rising generation, we aren't going to have the kind of leadership and the kind of creativity and innovation that we need to sustain the United States of America.'

She skirted around DailyMail.com's question of whether she would actively campaign against her former boss Donald Trump. DeVos, who was still serving as education secretary on Jan. 6, 2021, resigned the day after the attack on the Capitol.

The Biden administration deserves an 'F' by every measure since they are failing on education and trying to 'radicalize' kids by pushing gender ideology and sexualization, continued DeVos.

'They are focused not on doing the right thing for children, but on doing the right thing for the unions...they're doing their bidding at every step.'

As for what the top 2024 issue should be heading into the primaries, DeVos said the number one domestic issue is 'education freedom,' or access to school choice, because students are not being properly prepared for the future.

'So introducing education freedom, the ability to start and attend different schools, for children, for teachers, for families, for our country is going to be the best way forward.'

The secretary praised the work that Florida, Arizona and other states have done on promoting school choice and educational freedom - especially in the aftermath of the learning loss American children endured which was amplified during the COVID-19 pandemic.

'The learning loss during COVID was inexcusable and it did not need to happen, but it's very, very real. But let's be really clear - the learning losses were happening well before COVID happened,' DeVos told DailyMail.com.

She said the clear fix to learning loss in the U.S. is enacting education freedom policies robustly nationwide and and allowing for new providers to come into the marketplace to help fill the void that the system has made.

The creation of new opportunities for learning will help kids not only catch up, but surpass where they might have been by staying in their assigned school.

The secretary praised then-Arizona GOP Gov. Doug Ducey for helping to solve problems with access to universal school choice and education freedom programs.

DeVos called Florida the consistent leader on education initiatives, starting with former Gov. Jeb Bush and carrying through to current day under the DeSantis administration.

'Governor Jeb Bush introduced statewide education school choice initiatives when he was governor and has you know how that has consistently expanded term after term and to where now they have passed a universal law in Florida as well.'

DeVos called Florida the consistent leader on education initiatives

DeVos' passion for education started 35 years ago when her oldest son, now 41, was starting kindergarten.

She told DailyMail.com she started her life's dedication to the issue during the process of finding the 'right school' for her son and volunteering there during his early enrollment days.

'The more I got involved, the more I saw how unfair it was, that our policies support only sending families to schools to which they're assigned - if they're not wealthy enough to be able to pay a tuition check.

'And so that was really what launched my interest in education and education, policy, and ultimately education freedom,' DeVos continued.

Looking to the future, DeVos plans to continue to advocate for education freedom policies across the states.

She warned that until the U.S. totally changes the 'structure and the formula around how we do the K-12 education,' the same issues won't go away.

'My passion has not waned a bit. It's only grown stronger,' she vowed.
Marshall Billingslea was President Trump's Special Presidential Envoy for Arms Control, and NATO Assistant Secretary General under President George W. Bush. He is a Senior Fellow at the Hudson Institute.

Winston Churchill is reputed to have said 'You can depend on Americans to do the right thing, after they have exhausted every other possibility.'

That's certainly the case with President Biden's military aid to Ukraine.

After months of dithering and delay, the President must have known that he would be attacked for finally approving the transfer of cluster munitions to Ukraine.

And so, he has.

'This is not a weapon that a nation with the power and influence of the United States should be spreading,' preached the New York Times editorial board, in a piece titled, 'The Flawed Moral Logic of Sending Cluster Munitions to Ukraine.'

That is nonsense.

Without a doubt, U.S. cluster munitions, also called 'dual purpose improved conventional munitions' (DPICM), are deadly weapons.

When these artillery shells are fired, they disperse approximately 88 bomblets, each designed to explode above the ground, spreading a 'steel rain' of shrapnel over a wide area. But a very small fraction of these submunitions may fail to detonate.

These 'duds' can lie like ticking time bombs for years, threatening to explode under the tire of an unsuspecting driver or the foot of a child.

That's a horrific possibility.

After months of dithering and delay, the President must have known that he would be attacked for finally approving the transfer of cluster munitions to Ukraine. (Above) Ukrainian servicemen fire a D-30 howitzer towards Russian troops on May 6, 2023

These 'duds' can lie like ticking time bombs for years, threatening to explode under the tire of an unsuspecting driver or the foot of a child. (Above) Cluster bomb munition is seen on the ground at the frontline city of Avdiivka, Ukraine on March 23, 2023

Without a doubt, U.S. cluster munitions, also called 'dual purpose improved conventional munitions' (DPICM), are ferociously deadly weapons. (Above) A U.S. Army soldier transfers a 155mm Base Burn Dual Purpose Improved Conventional Munition (DPICM) round

However, this future risk cannot be considered in isolation from the fact that Ukrainians are fighting for their lives right now.

One of the reasons that provision of DPICMs has become an urgent and overdue necessity is because the Ukrainian counter-offensive is not progressing as quickly as hoped.

The country is being drained of its greatest resource  its people  who have suffered under Russia's unprovoked, relentless, indiscriminate onslaught for nearly a year and a half.

Without DPICMs, Ukraine has been forced to expend lives, and shoot a larger number of its dwindling stocks of 155 millimeter artillery shells. And the United States and our allies don't yet have the industrial base to keep up with the Ukrainian demand for these rounds.

What we do have are millions of stockpiled DPICMs.

These weapons are highly effective at clearing trenches and dug-in positions, which are the very type of fortifications the Russians are using to stymie the Ukrainian advance.

Biden appears to have judged correctly that the Ukrainian government is best suited to determine what poses an unacceptable threat to its own civilians.

And Ukrainian President Zelensky has clearly decided that saving Ukrainian lives today outweighs the incremental risk posed to his citizens later.

Yet all that still hasn't stopped the armchair generals and disarmament activists from baying about the humanitarian consequences of his decision.

Again, they ignore the facts on the ground.

Ukraine already faces a massive unexploded ordnance problem.

Russia has been spraying their own cluster munitions  which have a 'dud' rate of up to 40 percent  all over Ukraine.

Pictures are circulating online of an iron mountain of thousands of expended Russian shells outside of the city of Kharkiv.

Russia has been spraying their own cluster munitions  which have a 'dud' rate of up to 40 percent  all over Ukraine. (Above) 300mm rocket which appears to contained cluster bombs embedded in the ground after shelling in Kramatorsk, Ukraine

(Above) The remains of a missile that dropped cluster bombs in a residential housing complex in Sloviansk, Ukraine, pictured on June 27, 2022

Moreover, Russia has been strewing land mines and booby traps to kill farmers and other civilians, as well as the advancing Ukrainian Armed Forces.

American DPICMs, with a failure rate of less than 2.35 percent, are not going to appreciably contribute to this humanitarian catastrophe.

Finally, there is no legal impediment to the President's decision.

Having worked with then-Senator Biden in the 1990s, I am sure that he never met a disarmament treaty that he didn't like, and outlawing cluster munitions has certainly been the focus of the far left for decades.

But neither the United States nor Ukraine, nor any of our NATO Allies bordering Russia (other than Lithuania) have joined the Convention on Cluster Munitions, which came into force in 2010. Nor have many countries in Asia, including Taiwan, South Korea, India and Vietnam.

The virtue-signaling benefit of a feel-good treaty simply didn't outweigh the dangers posed to our military, our allies, or Ukraine in event of a Russian (or, for Taiwan, a Chinese) invasion.

Russia has been strewing land mines and booby traps to kill farmers and other civilians, as well as the advancing Ukrainian Armed Forces. (Above) Ukrainian military serviceman holds a defused Russian cluster bomb

The U.S. rationale was straightforward: the DPICM was designed with Soviet 'human wave' infantry tactics in mind. And that is exactly what is happening today. Russia is marching thousands upon thousands of men into this meat-grinder conflict, with little concern for their lives.

Provision of these munitions to Ukraine is a win-win-win.

If these purpose-built weapons bring the war to a speedier conclusion, they will be worth it.

This solution fills a looming artillery shortfall and buys time for our defense industries to ramp up production of 155mm shells.

And the United States was going to 'demilitarize' or destroy these munitions anyway. Providing them to Ukraine saves the US taxpayer tens or even hundreds of millions of dollars.

President Zelensky well knows, as Chinese military strategist and philosopher Sun Tzu wrote: 'There has never been a protracted war from which a country has benefited.'

It is time for hand-wringing observers on the sidelines of this war to recognize the same.
Temperatures in Death Valley are forecast to top 129F, while heat warnings are in place across the coast

Sunday is expected to break heat records in some areas as the West Coast continues to fry under a 'heat dome'

Tens of millions of Americans are set for more sweltering temperatures Sunday as brutal conditions threaten to break records due to a relentless heat dome that has baked parts of the country all week.

The National Weather Service warned of an 'extremely hot and dangerous weekend,' with daytime highs routinely ranging between 10 and 20 degrees Fahrenheit above normal across the West Coast.

Temperatures in Death Valley are forecast to top 129F, with triple-digit readings expected for huge swaths of the country from Texas to California.

Millions of Americans will find little respite overnight too, with the sizzling heat expected to remain over 100F throughout Saturday evening in Death Valley and well into the 90s for other areas.

A man cools off in water sprinklers along the sidewalk during a heat wave in Las Vegas, Nevada, on July 14, 2023

A large wildfire was sparked in Moreno Valley, California due to the intense heat

Huge swaths of the country stretching from Texas to California have been placed under heat advisory warnings

The heat is forecast to remain anchored over the west for the weekend, 'growing hotter in the South by early next week,' the National Weather Service said.

Authorities have been sounding the alarm for days, advising people to avoid outdoor activities in the daytime and to avoid dehydration, which can quickly become fatal in such temperatures.

In Arizona, the state capital of Phoenix has recorded 16 straight days above 109F. On Saturday, temperatures hit highs of 117F, with Phoenix now likely to register the hottest week in its history.

The longest measured stretch of 110 degree-plus temperatures for the city is 18 days, which was recorded in 1974.

The city has organized volunteers to direct residents to cooling centers and distribute bottles of water and hats, but program head David Hondula told the local ABC station that its three-days-per-week schedule is 'clearly... not enough' as the heat intensifies.

The cities of Reno, Nevada, and Fresno, California are both also set to register temperatures within a few degrees of their all-time highs of 108F and 115F respectively on Sunday.

Heat has become the leading weather-related killer in the US, according to the NWS, which warned people to take the risks associated with the heatwave 'seriously.'

On Thursday the Southern Nevada Health District said seven people have died since April 11, and a total of 152 deaths last year were determined to be heat-related.

Temperatures will remain over 100F overnight in Death Valley, California (pictured)

A digital thermometer stationed in Death Valley on July 15, 2023 revealed temperatures to top a staggering 129F

A woman shields themselves from the sun with a rainbow umbrella during a heat wave in Tucson, Arizona, on July 15, 2023

Phoenix is set to record the hottest week in its history. Pictured: A man transports a water jug through a neighborhood in Phoenix, Arizona on July 14, 2023

Heat waves are occurring more often and more intensely in major cities across the United States, according to the federal Environmental Protection Agency, with a frequency of six per year during the 2010s and 2020s compared to two per year during the 1960s.

'This heat wave is NOT typical desert heat,' the NWS's Las Vegas branch tweeted, specifying that 'its long duration, extreme daytime temperatures, & warm nights' were unusual.

In recent weeks, the heat dome has descended over the West Coast and Southwest, as the blistering temperatures saw a high of 113 million Americans placed under active heat warnings on Thursday.

A sprawling area of high pressure currently positioned directly over the Four Corners is responsible for the scorching temperatures, which are unusual even for the notoriously hot expanse.

Forecasters said the long-duration heat wave is extremely dangerous, especially for older people, homeless residents and other vulnerable populations. The heat could persist into next week as a high pressure dome moves west from Texas.

A firefighter sprays water on flames along Gilman Springs Road during the Rabbit Fire late Friday, July 14, 2023

A toddler is pictured being carried under the blazing sun in Los Angeles, California

A large digital thermometer stationed in Baker, California reads 119F, on July 15, 2023

A series of wildfires have sparked across California this week as the extreme heat has brought dry conditions and very little rainfall for much of the region.

In Riverside County, evacuations were ordered for some residents as a wildfire dubbed the 'Rabbit Fire' devastated the area.

Firefighters were seen battling the blazes while hundreds of locals were evacuated, as the fire spread to more than 7,000 acres within 24 hours.

Wade Crowdfoot, secretary of the Natural Resources Agency, warned at a media briefing this week that California would likely continue to see the effects of extreme heat due to global climate change 'supercharging' heatwaves.

California has instituted a $400 million extreme heat action plan to protect workers, help vulnerable communities and assist local communities in opening cooling centers.

The plan, announced last year as an update to state recommendations made a decade earlier, has a broad range of near- and long-term goals.

Elements include raising public awareness, statewide public health monitoring to identify heat illness events early on, and developing codes and regulations to protect everything from schools to water supplies.

A man cools off in misters along the Las Vegas Strip, Thursday, July 13, 2023

A woman shields herself from the glaring heat in Los Angeles, California on Saturday

Officials in cities across the West Coast have been scrambling to find solutions to the heat, with many offering free water stations and air conditioned spaces.

In the tiny town of Galt, outside California's capital of Sacramento, the police department has opened its air conditioned lobby for anyone to cool off, which is set to remain open until 10pm all weekend.

'We want to make sure that anybody who does not have the ability to find appropriate shelter that they can have a place to go to keep themselves in a safe and cool environment,' said Lt. John Rocha.

Officials said California's power system, which was strained to the point of widespread blackouts in recent years, has been fortified and should be able to withstand the latest heat wave.

The California Independent System Operator, which runs the electricity grid, said battery storage capacity reached 5,600 megawatts July 1 - enough to power more than 3.8 million homes for up to four hours before recharging.

'The batteries being added to the grid are charged during the day, when solar power is abundant, and dispatched primarily in the evening hours when demand is still high and the sun is setting and solar capacity diminishing,' Cal ISO said in a statement.

A pedestrian cools off in water sprinklers along the sidewalk during a heat wave in Las Vegas, Nevada, on July 14, 2023

An electrical substation is seen during a heat wave in Houston, Texas, July 14, 2023

The staggering heatwaves are extended beyond the West Coast, with Canada enduring the worst wildfire season in its history due to the heat.

Record temperatures combined with months of below-average rainfall saw the amount of land burned by devastating wildfires climb to an-all time high of 24.7 million acres so far this year on Saturday.

'We find ourselves this year with figures that are worse than our most pessimistic scenarios,' Yan Boulanger, a researcher at Canada's natural resources ministry, told AFP.

Smoke from the wildfires was creating unhealthy air quality conditions in upper-central parts of the United States, similar to episodes in June when Canadian blazes cloaked the US East Coast in a noxious haze.
by Austin Bay July 15, 2023

Vladimir Putin's war in Ukraine directly targets the Kiev government, but dismantling NATO has been another energizing mania.

NATO's Vilnius, Lithuania, summit confirms Putin has lost his NATO war.

Putin despises the alliance. NATO defeated his beloved Soviet Union (a Russian Empire hawking utopian Marxist pap). Further insult: NATO defeated the Russian Empire without a macho major war. For the better part of five decades the alliance demonstrated the united will of diverse nations to morally, militarily and economically resist political intimidation, threatened invasion and threatened nuclear annihilation by Moscow's assorted tyrants.

Putin's anti-NATO propaganda campaigns confirm his obsession. Here's the typical pattern: Russian operatives and proxies make false but sensational accusations such as "NATO is preparing to attack Russia" or "NATO is militarizing the Black Sea." Pro-Russian protesters appear before cameras. Digital media propagate the lies.

Putin bet his hate narratives would seed suspicion and division in the alliance. He believed dividing NATO would open the whole of Eastern Europe to Russian domination.

Call it Cold War KGB agitprop recast. One oft-repeated line fed to ethnic Russians: Ukrainian forces are "bloodthirsty thugs." This repeats 1975-era Soviet propaganda, which described American forces in West Germany as gangsters and imperialist occupiers.

Lies by tyrants have consequences. In Ukraine Putin's obsessions and lies have led to the violent slaughter of tens of thousands of Ukrainians and Russians.

Ukraine was the second critical piece in Putin's 21st century Russian empire. RUBK, I dubbed it in a column written in 2004 -- Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and Kazakhstan (pronounced "rubik," like the puzzle Rubik's Cube.) Putin controls Russia. Belarus (B) and Kazakhstan (K) were (and are) political basket cases vulnerable to intimidation.

Yes, in 2004 it was clear, by word and deed, Putin saw the RUBK as a Russian superpower restored.

However, Ukraine presented a problem. It's a big country with a large population and looks west, to Poland and the European Union. And Ukraine wanted to join NATO.

Ukraine's November 2004 Orange Revolution frustrated Putin's covert bid to use bribery and fomented chaos to install a pro-Russian Ukrainian puppet government.

At a NATO meeting in October 2013 the alliance rejected Georgia's and Ukraine's bids for full NATO membership. Both nations needed political, economic and judicial reform before they could join the alliance and benefit from Article 5.

Article 5 of NATO's charter -- it expresses united will. It states that "an armed attack against one or more of them... shall be considered an attack against them all." If an aggressor attacks a NATO member's territory or its forces operating in NATO territory, each member will take "action as it deems necessary, including the use of armed force, to restore and maintain" NATO security.

In February 2014 Putin decided to act, before Ukraine had Article 5 protection. Russian "green men" attacked in Crimea. In March 2014 Putin annexed Crimea to Russia. Later that spring, Russian proxies seized territory in eastern Ukraine.

Invading Ukraine violated the 1994 Budapest Memorandum, which guaranteed Ukraine's territorial integrity in exchange for Ukrainian denuclearization. Would Russia have attacked a Ukraine armed with nuclear weapons? We will never know.

However, 2014's slow invasion didn't lead to submission. 2022's all-out conventional assault didn't either. Public opinion in Sweden and Finland swung from neutrality -- in Sweden's case tacky socialist virtue-signaling neutrality -- to publicly pro-NATO.

In April 2023 Finland joined NATO. The big news just prior to the Vilnius summit was Turkey had decided to support Sweden's bid.

On July 10 Turkey's mercurial President Recep Tayyip Erdogan suggested Turkey would approve Sweden's bid to join NATO -- if Turkey can join the EU. Quite a quid pro quo. Erdogan got his headlines. By the time Erdogan arrived in Lithuania Turkish approval was confirmed. Sweden will be NATO's 32nd member nation.

The summit, however, denied Ukraine admission, despite the support of several NATO members. Turkey supports Ukraine's admission. Naysayers have a case. Admitting a nation fighting a war on its territory against an invader risks escalation.

However, the U.S. and other key allies promise military, economic and intelligence security commitments similar to those given Taiwan and Israel.

Putin gambles he can outlast Western support for Ukraine. Looks like another lousy bet.
A young California mother was killed after being run over by a lawnmower while laying in a park - with her traumatized family saying they found 'chunks' of her remains afterwards.

Christine Chavez, 27, was lying in a weed-filled area of Beard Brook Park in Modesto on July 8 when she was run over by an employee cutting the grass.

The grass cutter - driving a John Deere tractor with a pull-behind mower - was only able to spot the body of Chavez after he'd mowed her over.

Her father, Christopher Chavez, said that when he went to the scene of her death, there will still parts of her body laying there. Some of her clothes were also left behind.

'There were many pieces of (her remains) around there and I called the police,' Chavez said. 'I went there and I still have pieces of bones, like pieces of her skull and some teeth. It's terrible.'

Christine Chavez was lying in Beard Brook Park in Modesto on July 8 when she was run over by an employee cutting the grass

The 27 year-old mom of one was lying on a weeded area when a John Deere tractor with a pull behind mower ran over her and killed her

A patch of blood-stained grass was spotted close to where Chavez was tragically-killed

Chavez was homeless at the time of her death, and leaves behind a nine year-old daughter who's being cared for by her family.

Another female family member, who did not give her name, told Fox40: ''I mean, big chunks of her are all over the place, just covered up with the grass.

'We have to go, you know, just like to see the place.

'And to be right there, looking at the ground and then seeing, like, chunks hair is horrible.'

E & J Gallo Winery, which only bought the park a day before Chavez was killed, put out a statement on Friday,

'Gallo acquired the Beard Brook Park property in Modesto on Friday, July 7, 2023. On Saturday, July 8, 2023, a landscaping contractor was hired to perform weed abatement and fire prevention services.'

'There was an accident at approximately 12:00 p.m. involving the contractor's tractor and an individual who was not visible and laying in a tall, weeded area. The contractor immediately contacted the Modesto Police Department, and upon arrival, MPD officers declared the individual was deceased.'

'Gallo expresses its sincere condolences to the family of the victim,' the statement continued.

Grover Landscaping Services, who cut the grass at the park, also put out a statement Friday.

'In a dry, overgrown area, our operator discovered the body of a woman impacted by the pull-behind mower, at which time he contacted the Modesto Police Department,' the statement reads.

Both Gallo and Grover have promised to cooperate with any investigation into Chavez's death.

Chavez's father shared images of clothes from the scene, although it's unclear if these belong to his daugter

Chavez is homeless and has a 9-year-old daughter that her family is now committing to care for

Beard Brook Park in Modesto had just been purchased by a private company the day before Chavez died

The grass cutter - driving a John Deere tractor with a pull-behind mower - was only able to spot the body of Chavez after he'd mowed her over

Her father, Christopher Chavez, said that when he went to the scene of her death, there will still parts of her body laying there

Chavez's brother-in-law, Jose Zermeno, said that he has experience with the kind of machines that ended up killing his sister-in-law and believes there may have been negligence involved.

'I work with machinery, I know when you are with machinery, you are paying attention to what is ahead of you, especially if you have something dragging behind you,' Zermeno told Fox 40. 'And for him not to see anything laying in front of him, he wasn't doing his job.'

Chavez's family says they will do whatever they can to get justice for their beloved daughter.

'I am sad for what happened to my daughter, and we want justice for the way that she died,' said Christine's mother Josefina Chavez.

At a city council meeting, Dez Martinez, a member of a homeless advocacy organization We Are Not Invisible, was critical of the city and said his heart broke for Chavez's father.

'I am sad for what happened to my daughter, and we want justice for the way that she died,' said Christine's mother Josefina Chavez

Both Modesto police and Mayor Sue Zwahlen spoke at the same meeting, apologizing for Chavez's death but calling it an accident

'He doesn't even get to see his daughter,' he said. 'You guys get to kiss your kids good night. If you buried them, you get to see them. He does not. Thank you.'

Martinez was critical of the treatment of Modesto's homeless population beyond what happened to Chavez.

'What happened to building affordable housing, tiny home villages, safe camps, to get people off the streets so they're not raped, they're not killed, and they're not run over while taking a nap in a park?'

Both Modesto police and Mayor Sue Zwahlen spoke at the same meeting, apologizing for Chavez's death but calling it an accident.

The family has started a Gofundme to raise money for Chavez's daughter and get justice for Christine.
Almost half of millennials believe using the incorrect pronouns for a transgender person should be considered a criminal offense.

A survey, conducted by Redfield & Wilton Strategies for Newsweek suggested that among those aged between 25-34, 44 percent were in favor of the idea while just 31 percent disagreed.

The remaining 25 percent of those responding to the survey either expressed no clear opinion or simply stated that they didn't know.

Those surveyed weren't asked what punishment should be meted out to those who use the wrong pronouns.

Similar sentiments were found among those aged 35-44. In that group, 38 percent appeared to be in favor of criminalizing misgendering someone while 35 percent were against.

About one quarter - 26 percent - were either unsure or did not express an opinion.

In a recent survey, among those aged 25-34, 44 percent of millennials support the idea of misgendering being a criminal offense, while only 31 percent disagree

Almost half of millennials believe using the incorrect pronouns for a transgender person should be considered a criminal offense. Pictured a Gay Pride march in New York this year

The issue has also come to the fore through the likes of 26-year-old trans influencer Dylan Mulvaney who has been at the center of a scandal this year

Millennials are defined as those having been born between 1981 and 1996, making them between 27 and 42 years old today.

Generation Z includes those born between 1997 and 2012, who would now be aged between 11 and 26 years old.

The idea of criminalizing misgendering pronouns comes a several Republican-controlled states have passed laws banning certain medical procedures and treatments for minors.

Kentucky and Tennessee are among the 20 states, all with Republican-controlled legislatures, that have passed laws banning use of puberty blockers and hormones as part of gender transition for patients under 18.

Such treatments, known as gender-affirming care, are supported by major U.S. medical associations. But critics say those associations have been infiltrated by trans activists, and point to liberal European countries including Norway, which have banned treatments on transgender children that remain common in the US. Proponents of the bans say they are experimental and endanger children.

Families say the laws discriminate against transgender people and take away parents' right to make medical decisions for their children.

Federal courts in Arkansas, Alabama, Florida and Indiana have blocked similar bans on transgender healthcare for minors.

The issue has also come to the fore through the likes of 26-year-old trans influencer Dylan Mulvaney who has been at the center of a scandal this year - having caused a storm of outrage after partnering with Bud Light in April, subsequently knocking billions off the value of the beer company.

The views of millennials differ when compared to those of Americans as a whole.

A giant Trans Flag seen at the Reclaim Pride Coalition's Queer Liberation March in New York

The idea of criminalizing misgendering pronouns comes a several Republican-controlled states have passed laws banning certain medical procedures and treatments for minors

Thousands of New Yorkers took to the streets of Manhattan in June to participate on the Reclaim Pride Coalition's (RPC) fifth annual Queer Liberation March, where no police, politicians or corporations were allowed to participate

Among the general population, the survey which was conducted along 1,500 people, only 19 percent support misgendering being criminalized while 65 percent are against such laws being created.

A remaining 12 percent have no opinion either way, while 4 percent 'dont knowo.

Among Generation Z Americans aged 18-24, there appears to be less enthusiasm to make misgendering a criminal charge.

In that group, 33 percent believe that calling someone by the wrong pronoun should be a criminal offense, while 48 percent disagree.

In terms of people's behavior, 37 percent said they would respect the wishes of the transgender person and use the pronouns as requested to do so. 17 percent said they would ignore such requests.

A further 28 percent said their response would depend on the individual involved while another 17 percent were unsure.
A man has made a daredevil escape from a 'suspicious' fire that threatened to engulf a popular hotel clambering across the outside of the high-rise building.

Emergency services were called to a fire at the Equinox Sun Resort on Main Beach Parade at Surfers Paradise, on the Gold Coast, at 12.47am on Sunday.

Footage shared online showed a man in shorts precariously stepping from one railing to another to escape the inferno.

A man made a perilous escape from a 'suspicious' fire inside a high-rise hotel after midnight on Saturday night at Surfers Paradise

Emergency services rushed to the Equinox Sun Resort due to a blaze on the 11th storey of the Main Beach Parade hotel at Surfers Paradise at 12.47am on Sunday morning

He appeared to have safely navigated the dangerous escape, stepping from high-rise balcony to the next.

Queensland Ambulance said 82 people were treated at the scene with four rushed to hospital.

These included a man with minor burns, a woman in her 80s with chest pains, a man in his 40s with a cut to his head and a man in his 80s who experienced dizziness.

All patients were in a stable condition.

Dozens of people were forced to flee the blaze, which was brought under control by 10 fire crews at around 2am.

Guests on each level had to be evacuated and the building was ventilated after the fire was doused.

Queensland Police established a crime scene at the hotel and are continuing investigations into the 'suspicious' fire.

Ten fire crews were needed to bring the fire under control, which appeared to start in a hotel room on the 11th floor of the Equinox Sun Resort on Main Beach Parade

Guests on each level had to be evacuated and the building was ventilated after the fire was doused

Queensland Police confirmed to Daily Mail Australia that no charges had been laid by 9am Sunday.

'Police are investigating a suspicious fire at a Surfers Paradise unit complex early this morning, July 16,' a police statement said.

They called on anyone with information to contact Policelink at www.police.qld.gov.au/reporting or by calling 131 444.
BBC bosses have warned staff in an email that 'gossip will not be tolerated' over the Huw Edwards scandal, according to reports.

On Wednesday night Mr Edwards' wife Vicky Flind revealed he had been hospitalised over allegations he paid a teenager 35,000 for explicit photographs.

The presenter, 61, had initially not been named - with other stars at the corporation such as Rylan Clark, Jeremy Vine and Gary Lineker being forced to deny responsibility.

Police have said there was no criminality involved with the claims. Mr Edwards remains suspended from his role.

It has now been reported that a widely-circulated email was sent to staff to stop them 'fuelling the fire' with speculation after the scandal broke.

BBC bosses have warned staff in an email that 'gossip will not be tolerated' over the Huw Edwards scandal, according to reports

Police have said there was no criminality involved with the claims. Mr Edwards remains suspended from his role at the BBC (file image)

A source told The Mirror: 'The purpose of the email was very clearly to contain the situation and stop BBC staff fuelling the fire that had been blazing since the story broke.

'Members of staff were told clearly that gossip could be damaging, and would not be tolerated. The situation was described as "delicate".'

'And the warning shot on their part seemed to work, as people mostly did keep quiet about the situation and didn't share their opinions.'

Further accusations followed, as BBC News, Radio 4 and Newsnight reporters uncovered more claims about his behaviour, alleging 'inappropriate behaviour towards BBC employees past and present'.

One colleague told the national broadcaster that he was sending flirtatious messages that made them 'shudder' and constituted an 'abuse of power'.

Sources have told the Guardian that journalists at the corporation are working on further stories about Mr Edwards, even as the BBC's corporate investigations team conducts its own inquiry.

The host, who earns 435,000 a year at the corporation, is one of its biggest stars, having announced the death of the Queen and hosted her funeral in the past year.

Ms Flind said that her husband will respond to the accusations once he is well enough to do so.

Huw Edwards was last seen on the screen on July 5 when he covered King Charles' visit to Scotland, he was taken off air on July 6 and then suspended days later

There has been disquiet over the way the BBC has handled the crisis so far, including not confronting Mr Edwards until seven weeks after the accusations over the pictures broke.

The Director General Tim Davie says he was not told until last week - and has not spoken to Mr Edwards.

Meanwhile Jon Sopel, a close friend of Huw Edwards who left the BBC last year, has criticised the corporation further.

Speaking to Good Morning Britain, he said people at the Beeb 'need to have a long hard look in the mirror over the coverage and over the alacrity with which they have gone into someone's private life'.

He added that his friend has felt 'very angry' and 'very let down' by coverage in The Sun and has been 'not overly impressed' with the BBC.

Mr Edwards was last seen on the BBC on July 5 to cover King Charles' visit to Edinburgh. There has been growing speculation that he will not return to his role there.

In her statement earlier this week, Ms Flind said: 'In light of the recent reporting regarding the "BBC Presenter" I am making this statement on behalf of my husband Huw Edwards, after what have been five extremely difficult days for our family.

'I am doing this primarily out of concern for his mental well-being and to protect our children.

The BBC anchor was named by his wife Vicky Flind as the BBC presenter facing allegations over payments for sexually explicit images

Jon Sopel says his friend Huw Edwards is 'very angry' about coverage of allegations he paid for explicit photos

'Huw is suffering from serious mental health issues. As is well documented, he has been treated for severe depression in recent years.

'The events of the last few days have greatly worsened matters, he has suffered another serious episode and is now receiving in-patient hospital care where he'll stay for the foreseeable future.

'Once well enough to do so, he intends to respond to the stories that have been published.

'In the circumstances and given Huw's condition I would like to ask that the privacy of my family and everyone else caught up in these upsetting events is respected'

'I know that Huw is deeply sorry that so many colleagues have been impacted by the recent media speculation. We hope this statement will bring that to an end.'

MailOnline has contacted the BBC for comment.
Conservative Party chairman Greg Hands has vowed to win back all three by-election seats in the General Election if his party loses them this week.

In an interview with The Mail on Sunday, the defiant Cabinet Minister acknowledged it was going to be 'challenging' but said time spent campaigning would not be 'in vain'.

He also appeared to blame the former PM Boris Johnson for triggering one of the by-elections on July 20 after resigning as MP for Uxbridge and South Ruislip.

Voters will also go to the polls in Selby and Ainsty after Mr Johnson's ally Nigel Adams resigned, and in Somerset and Frome after David Warburton stood down following revelations about his private life.

Nevertheless, Mr Hands insisted the party could reclaim the seats  though he refused to make a prediction of Thursday's results.

Greg Hands has vowed to win all three by-election seats in the General Election

Asked what would happen if the Conservatives lost all three, he said: 'Well, look, I think we'll have to win them all back next year. So the effort we put in would not have been in vain, because we'll have to fight to regain them.

READ MORE: Russian spy tried to recruit new Tory party chairman Greg Hands over pint of beer in a London pub The new Tory party chairman believes a Russian spy from Moscow targeted him for recruitment Advertisement

'By-elections are traditionally not the same as a General Election. People know that a by-election  whatever the result  is not going to change who is the Prime Minister.

'So I find most people respect what Rishi Sunak is doing and think he's doing a good job, including here in Uxbridge. But they'll know that the result isn't going to change who runs the Government. They know that that'll be a determination next year.'

Speaking while canvassing in South Ruislip, Mr Hands appeared to blame the actions of the area's ex-MP, Mr Johnson. 'Obviously, the background to the contest was not particularly favourable  the reason for the by-election being the sitting member of parliament, the former Prime Minister, resigning,' he said.

Asked if 'Boris Johnson' had become a bit of a dirty word, Mr Hands said: 'I think to be fair, people have got different views about Boris as an MP. But most importantly, people are looking at this as a referendum on the future. The next MP, not the past MP.' The eight-point swing the opposition party will need to take Uxbridge and South Ruislip is well within the 20-point lead Labour has over the Tories at present.

But party activists remain defiant and are throwing everything at it  even Rishi Sunak's wife has been campaigning in the area.

The battles come at a difficult period in the electoral cycle: after 13 years of Tory rule and some 15 months before a General Election.

Add to that a growing cost of living crisis and endless party infighting, and it looks as though the Tories may struggle. However, there appears to be no enthusiasm for Labour and Sir Keir Starmer  and outright condemnation of London's Labour Mayor Sadiq Khan.

Mr Khan's plan to extend Ulez (the ultra low emission zone) to outer London next month is deeply unpopular. Mr Hands insists the by-election is being treated as a referendum on the policy and that voting for the Tory candidate Steve Tuckwell will put pressure on Mr Khan.
A desperate search for a woman who disappeared a week ago has ramped up with emergency services scouring bushland.

Emmanuell Dayes, 50, was last seen around the Hornsby Shire area, on Sydney's upper north shore, at 4pm on July 9.

A co-ordinated search through bushland near her home in Berrilee on Sunday will mark the third day of emergency services looking for the missing woman.

Both police and Ms Dayes' family hold 'serious concerns' for her wellbeing as it is out of character for her to lose contact with family.

Emergency services are conducting their third day of searches through bushland for missing 50-year-old, Emmanuelle Dayes (pictured), who went missing on July 9

The search for Ms Dayes commenced on Friday after police attached to Kuring-Gai Police Area Command were notified the day prior day by her family.

'If anybody has seen or heard from our beloved Em since last weekend pls help with our search and come forward to the police with any information,' a family member of Ms Dayes wrote on Facebook.

Speaking on Saturday, Detective Acting Inspector Ashlee De Bakker said a large-scale search effort will continue to search for Ms Dayes throughout Sunday.

NSW Police are being joined by the State Emergency Service, NSW Rural Fire Service, the Rescue and Bomb Disposal Unit, mounted police, and police dogs and helicopters in the search for the 50-year-old.

'We have approximately 60 volunteers that are on the ground at the moment,' De Bakker said on Saturday.

'We've covered an enormous amount of ground ... (in) incredibly challenging topography,' De Bakker said.

Police and the State Emergency Service have covered an 'enormous amount of ground' in bushland near Berrilee, in far-north Sydney, where Ms Dayes was known to frequent

Ms Dayes was known to frequent bushland near Mccallums Road, Berrilee, which includes dense bushland, creeks and rivers.

Those close to Ms Dayes wrote on Facebook to wish for her safe return, describing her as 'a beautiful, kind, generous woman'.

'Emmanuelle is one of the most beautiful people that I have ever met, I hope that she is found safely soon,' one person wrote.

Police urge anyone with information regarding Ms Dayes to contact CrimeStoppers.

They describe her as being of Caucasian appearance, 170cm tall, with a thin build, brown eyes and short grey hair.
When MPs are alleged to have broken the rules, and when our trust in those in positions of power is broken, they are investigated by two bodies: the Parliamentary Commissioner and the Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme (ICGS).

Both of these bodies have been found by a former High Court judge to have acted in a materially-flawed fashion in my case.

I first knew of accusations against me when my name appeared across the newsstands.

It was many months later that the parliamentary watchdog, the ICGS, thought fit to even confirm they were investigating anything, less still what were the allegations and from whom.

It was 50 more days before I was able to meet the investigator, who took another 63 days to arrange to meet a witness.

DAVID WARBURTON: I first knew of accusations against me when my name appeared across the newsstands

READ MORE: Former MP demands 'unaccountable' Commons standards watchdog is reformed after investigation into sexual harassment claims left him 'on suicide watch' David Warburton has demanded a total overhaul of Westminster's watchdogs Advertisement

They concluded their inquiries 14 months later, a conclusion that was so error strewn that, when I appealed, a panel of three judicial experts including the former Lord Justice of Appeal severely criticised it.

They ruled that the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, who oversees the ICGS, had "omitted evidence" and had "failed properly to pursue" evidence that "the complainant had colluded with witnesses to fabricate the complaint" against me.

That complaint was immediately withdrawn and the investigation has now closed.

I am obviously delighted that the investigation into me has been closed, and relieved that this shocking and unutterably damaging process is now finally over, but the past year has been extraordinarily painful for my family and for me, and the personal cost has been incalculable.

During the crawling pace of an incompetent investigative process, I was effectively banned from Parliament for more than a year, I lost my job and career, my family has lost our home and faced indescribable financial and personal expense, including my six-week stay in a psychiatric hospital and a month on suicide watch with the NHS's Crisis Team.

Long before all the allegations collapsed, the damage was done.

And, most hauntingly of all, in order to speak out about the appalling injustice I have experienced - I have had to step down as an MP.

Had I not resigned, I would not be able to speak out or even write this article. I would be bound by the confidentiality not only of the case itself but the process of investigation.

DAVID WARBURTON: The Privileges Committee recently ruled that Boris Johnson should face tougher penalties not because of their conclusions but because he presumed to question those conclusions

MPs are not permitted to criticise the behaviour of their watchdog, even when a former High Court judge deems it appropriate to describe their processes as 'materially flawed*'.

How can it possibly be acceptable or defensible that anyone is not free to voice a view on an organisation?

The Privileges Committee recently ruled that Boris Johnson should face tougher penalties not because of their conclusions but because he presumed to question those conclusions.

Because he voiced his opinion, rightly or wrongly, of their own procedures.

This is forbidden.

I too was repeatedly warned that speaking out about my case would increase the sanction I might face.

I resigned from Parliament because I needed to speak out.

Yes, reform is needed, and quickly.

The ICGS and Parliamentary process has left deep scars and its processes and the dreadful and abusive system whereby a person is assumed guilty until proven innocent, their career and their life left in tatters, needs to change.

If we take our democracy seriously, we shouldn't have parliamentary processes that are so flawed and one sided.

By definition in my case, the ICGS was proved unfit for purpose.

MPs and staff in Westminster know this.

But they're fearful of speaking out because these institutions and their conclusions answer to no public or legal challenge.

They are above the law.

We sub-contract our power and our thinking to ineffective, unprofessional and unproductive embryo-courts who create the rules by which they proceed and then break them at will.

They are accountable to no one.

Like the ancient Greeks who mourned the loss of the great politicians of the past, if we are to encourage greater men and women onto Westminster's green benches, we must radically overhaul the oversight system by which they're judged.

Such fundamental failings of the system deny the basic human right to a fair and proper process.

It harms both our democracy and the rule of law.

And it harms genuine victims.
A former Tory MP has demanded a total overhaul of Westminster's 'unaccountable' standards watchdogs after sex harassment claims against were dropped.

David Warburton, who last month in protest at the way he was investigated, branded the Commons' complaints system 'ineffective, unprofessional and unproductive'.

And he likened the ban on sitting MPs speaking out against it to the way Boris Johnson's Partygate punishment was apparently increased because he publicly challenged the verdict of the Commons' Privileges Committee.

A by-election will be held this Thursday in his Somerton and Frome seat after he resigned to speak out against the 'flawed' standards procedure which he says took 14 months only for sexual harassment claims against him to be dropped shortly after he left Parliament.

Mr Warburton learnt just 10 days ago that the political aide who had accused him of coercing her into returning to his Westminster flat and allegedly kissing her forehead had withdrawn the complaint.

David Warburton has demanded a total overhaul of Westminster's watchdogs

READ MORE: DAVID WARBURTON: Westminsters oversight system MUST be overhauled - in its current form it harms our democracy, rule of law and genuine victims DAVID WARBURTON: I first knew of accusations against me when my name appeared across the newsstands Advertisement

That came just 48 hours after an independent panel chaired by a former High Court judge upheld the MP's appeal against Parliamentary Standards Commissioner Daniel Greenberg's decision to find him guilty of three sexual misconduct allegations.

Ordering a new investigation in the claims, the Independent Expert Panel (IEP) criticised the original inquiry for failing to pursue properly Mr Warburton's suggestion that his accuser had colluded with witnesses to fabricate the complaint against him.

It also said that the Standards Commissioner 'had relied on evidence that had not been adequately tested during the investigation'.

But two days after the IEP ordered a new investigation, the aide who had accused Mr Warburton withdrew her complaint and he was told the matter was closed.

In his interview with this newspaper last month, Mr Warburton admitted taking cocaine after drinking 'incredibly potent' Japanese whisky with another woman who secretly photographed him at her flat.

But Mr Warburton, who was suspended from the Tory Whip for over a year, vehemently denied any separate harassment claims.

A further sexual misconduct allegation by a third woman was rejected by the Commons' authorities.

Last night, he spoke of his relief that the Commons inquiries were now over.

But he condemned 'the crawling pace of an incompetent investigative process' that caused so much damage to his family and left him being placed for 'a month on suicide watch'.

The ex-MP added: 'Most hauntingly of all, in order to speak out about the appalling injustice I have experienced - I have had to step down as an MP.

He likened the ban on sitting MPs speaking out against it to the way Boris Johnson's Partygate punishment was apparently increased because he publicly challenged the verdict of the Commons' Privileges Committee

'MPs are not permitted to criticise the behaviour of their watchdog.

'How can it possibly be acceptable or defensible that anyone is not free to voice a view on an organisation? '

However, the Commons said it was 'absolutely committed' to its Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme, saying it provided 'strong, fair and independent processes in place for individuals to raise concerns'.

A spokeswoman also defended the need for MPs under investigation not to speak out saying 'divulging the details of an ongoing investigation.can pose a risk to the well-being of others involved'.
A 51-year-old man will face court charged with murder and attempted murder after a siege in suburban Adelaide following a woman's death.

Another woman, 22, was seriously injured in the alleged shooting incident after a standoff with police in Campbelltown on Saturday.

Police believe the women are related to the man.

The neighbourhood was locked down shortly after 1.30pm as heavily armed tactical officers were deployed to contain the incident.

A 51-year-old man will face court charged with murder and attempted murder after a siege in suburban Adelaide following a woman's death

Police responded to reports of gunshots and two women seen collapsed on the driveway of a home.

The injured woman is in a stable condition in the Royal Adelaide Hospital.

After lengthy negotiations, the man was arrested and he later charged with murder and attempted murder.

There was no application for bail and he will face the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Monday.

'When patrols arrived, they found a woman deceased at the scene and another 22-year-old woman with serious injuries,' South Australia Police said in a statement.

'The injured woman was safely extracted and rushed to the Royal Adelaide Hospital where she remains in stable condition.

'Patrols set up cordons around the home and surrounding streets while STAR Group officers responded to reports of an armed man who remained inside the home.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis' presidential campaign has laid off staffers in a cost-cutting measure, as donations to his flagging 2024 campaign began to slow.

The campaign let go 'fewer than ten' staffers on Thursday in the event planning department. NBC News described the firings as a cost-cutting measure.

A source told Politico that the staffers may soon find a role at the super PAC Never Back Down, which is technically not connected to the campaign.

DeSantis also announced that his campaign raised $20million in the first six weeks after he announced his run for president.

While that's a solid number, it's been discovered that over a third of the cash - $5.8million out of $16.8million - that came from donors who gave more than $200 were given in the first 10 days of the campaign. It launched on May 24, meaning DeSantis has been running for 52 days.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis' presidential campaign continues to show signs of stalling, as they laid off some employees and saw some troubling funding figures this week

Other problematic figures, Politico reported, include over $3million of the funds raised being untouchable to DeSantis until after the primary is over and only $2.8million from small donors, a number likely to be trampled by President Trump.

The Florida governor was seen as a potential thorn in the side of former President Donald Trump's 2024 run but polling still has him trailing Trump significantly in a crowded Republican primary.

DeSantis has faced continued criticism for his underpowered personal appearances, and a fixation with an anti-woke agenda that even some conservatives say has become too all-consuming.

DeSantis continued his campaign Saturday he would consider Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds as a potential running mate, should he win the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, and dismissed former President Donald Trump's recent complaints about her as 'totally out of hand.'

'Of course,' DeSantis said when asked whether he would consider the second-term Republican. 'I mean, she's one of the top public servants in America.'

Trump last week criticized Reynolds, immensely popular among the states GOP base, for her seemingly cozy relationship with DeSantis while stating her public neutrality as the lead Republican figure in the state that hosts the lead-off presidential caucuses in less than six months.

Reynolds has appeared with other GOP White House prospects, but has moderated conversations with DeSantis and his wife Casey DeSantis, while also attending Trump's first campaign event in Iowa last March.

DeSantis noted that he and Reynolds banter over their similar records, and the playful rivalry between the two states, where conservative policy has moved swiftly this year.

Notably, Reynolds was greeted with a sustained standing ovation when she appeared at a presidential candidate forum Friday, attended by DeSantis and five others, and signed a strict abortion ban before the audience of roughly 2,000 Christian conservatives.

DeSantis also announced that his campaign raised $20million in the first six weeks after he announced his run for president

The fundraising numbers were solid but are likely to be passed by former President Donald Trump, who maintains a big lead in the polls

On Trump's social media platform Truth Social, the former president took credit for opening the governorship to Reynolds, who stepped into the role after Republican Gov. Terry Branstad became U.S. ambassador to China during the Trump administration.

'Now, she wants to remain `NEUTRAL.' Trump wrote, adding he would not invite her to his campaign events.

Trump is scheduled to be in Iowa Tuesday to participate in a town hall-style event with Fox News Channel host Sean Hannity.

Reynolds, elected in her own right in 2018 and easily reelected last year, has been mentioned as a potential 2024 running mate, though Iowa GOP insiders have suggested the former state senator and rural county treasurer has been ambivalent about the role.

DeSantis, who campaigned in Iowa Friday and Saturday, said voters approached him to express dismay at Trumps criticism of Reynolds.

Polls taken since the beginning of July have shown Trump leading DeSantis by anywhere from 26 to 41 points.

Conservative-leaning American Greatness showed a slightly narrower gap in Iowa in a poll taken 10 days ago, with Trump leading DeSantis 44 to 21 in the all-important caucus.

The most recent poll of South Carolina, where the video of the canvasser came from, Trump leads DeSantis 41 to 18 in a poll taken June 20-21.

DeSantis continued his campaign Saturday he would consider Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds as a potential running mate

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds (left) is staying neutral in the 2024 presidential primary, but team Trump is concerned she's gotten too cozy with Trump's main rival, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (right)

The ex-president went on a rant against Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, suggesting that she owed her governorship to him after he nominated Gov. Terry Branstad in 2017 to serve as his ambassador to China, which elevated her to the governor's post.

Trump's campaign said Wednesday he raised $35million during the second quarter of the year, nearly double what he raised during the first three months of the year.

The money was raised from April through June between his main campaign account and a joint fundraising account, which is used for expenses like paying his legal bills.

Trump's fundraising has exploded since he was indicted in New York and Florida, and he faces additional investigations that could further juice his ability to raise money.

President Joe Biden and the Democratic National Committee raised more than $72million for his reelection in the 10 weeks since he announced his 2024 candidacy, his campaign announced Friday, in a strong but not record performance by an incumbent.
Russia and other hostile states such as China and Iran are using Islamic terror attacks as opportunities to foment hate and division in Britain, Home Secretary Suella Braverman will warn this week.

In a speech to relaunch the Government's flagship Counter-Terrorism Strategy, Contest, Mrs Braverman is expected to say: 'Terrorist narratives are exploited by hostile actors such as Russia, which is seeking to promote divisive and polarising narratives in the West.'

The Contest review, which will be launched on Tuesday, is likely to say that Islamist terrorism remains the biggest national security threat in the UK, and still forms three-quarters of the caseload of MI5.

But the rise of state threats from the likes of Russia, China and Iran, are also likely to be mentioned in the review.

In her speech, Mrs Braverman will highlight Government research that has shown Russian-linked social media accounts being used after recent terror attacks on British soil, such as the Manchester Arena and the London Bridge atrocities, in order to spread 'divisive, Far-Right messaging' in the immediate aftermath.

Russia and other hostile states such as China and Iran are using Islamic terror attacks as opportunities to foment hate and division in Britain, Home Secretary Suella Braverman will warn this week

Their aim was to heighten tensions between Muslim and other communities.

Mrs Braverman is likely to add that states such as Russia and Iran are increasingly resorting to using sinister online campaigns to sow division in the UK.

A Government source said: 'It's about how the fragmentation of Islamic State and Al Qaeda is now posing a very different threat to our people, while state actors like Russia and Iran will increasingly try to capitalise on terrorism here in the UK.

'We can't be complacent  the terrorists are morphing and we have to keep our vigilance up.'
Tomorrow will mark 20 years to the day that Dr David Kelly was seen alive for the last time, when he left his Oxfordshire home to take an innocent-seeming afternoon walk.

The body of the Government weapons expert was found in nearby woods at 9.20am the next day; his left wrist had been cut open, and an empty pack of painkilling tablets was sitting in his jacket pocket.

His assumed suicide  a week after he had been outed by Tony Blair's administration as the source of a BBC story claiming that a No 10 dossier on Saddam Hussein's weapons capacity had been 'sexed up' to justify the war in Iraq  brought the Prime Minister to the brink of political extinction.

Mr Blair's survival was effectively 'fixed' by his Praetorian Guard: Peter Mandelson, Alastair Campbell and Lord Falconer  all of whom remain influential figures, preparing for what they hope will be a new Labour Government under Sir Keir Starmer.

Mr Blair's narrow escape was secured after a coroner's inquest into Dr Kelly's death was derailed and replaced with a Government-appointed inquiry chaired by Lord Hutton. In January 2004, Hutton cleared the Government of wrongdoing and placed the blame on the BBC, leading to the resignation of chairman Gavyn Davies and director-general Greg Dyke.

GLEN OWEN: Tomorrow will mark 20 years to the day that Dr David Kelly (pictured) was seen alive for the last time, when he left his Oxfordshire home to take an innocent-seeming afternoon walk

GLEN OWEN: Tony Blair's survival was effectively 'fixed' by his Praetorian Guard: Peter Mandelson, Alastair Campbell and Lord Falconer

Lord Mandelson, who has been drafted in to meet potential Labour parliamentary candidates for Sir Keir, is credited  if that is the appropriate word  with masterminding the Hutton strategy. He is believed to have put forward Lord Hutton's name to head the inquiry after deeming him an establishment figure who was likely to give the Government the benefit of the doubt.

Remarkably, Lord Hutton agreed to chair the inquiry within three hours of Dr Kelly's body being found, even though no medical professional had yet examined it, there had been no formal identification, and no one knew how he had died.

Lord Falconer, the then Lord Chancellor and Mr Blair's former flatmate, who is also a key figure in Sir Keir's 'magic circle' of advisers, endorsed the recommendation and blocked the inquest by Oxfordshire coroner Nicholas Gardiner on the grounds that 'the death is likely to be adequately investigated by the judicial inquiry'.

Suspicions about the true circumstances surrounding Dr Kelly's death have lingered ever since, fanned by the absence of a full coroner's inquest. It later emerged that there weren't any fingerprints on the knife Kelly allegedly used to kill himself  even though he hadn't worn gloves. This was never mentioned at the Hutton Inquiry but was known to police.

And when Lord Hutton finished his report, he secretly requested that all records which were not produced in evidence be closed to the public for 30 years and that all photographs of Dr Kelly's body and medical reports relating to his death be sealed for 70 years.

Intriguingly, this year a 'close Blair adviser' involved in handling the crisis told respected political journalist Andrew Grice: 'The whole thing was a fix from beginning to end.

'Hutton was well chosen, the inquiry was well managed, well manipulated, well delivered.'

GLEN OWEN: Lord Mandelson, who has been drafted in to meet potential Labour parliamentary candidates for Sir Keir, is credited  if that is the appropriate word  with masterminding the Hutton strateg

At the time, Mr Campbell  an energetic media outrider for Sir Keir  was identified by Andrew Gilligan, the journalist behind the infamous BBC report, in The Mail on Sunday as the author of the 'sexed-up' dossier.

Mr Campbell, who went to war with the BBC over its report, has remained characteristically defiant about his role in the creation of the dossier, which falsely claimed that Iraq could use weapons of mass destruction within 45 minutes of an order. In May 2006, he even autographed a copy of the Hutton Report to be auctioned to raise money for the party.

For many legal experts, there remain serious unanswered questions about Dr Kelly's death and the role of those senior Blairites in defusing the crisis.

Dr Michael Powers KC, a former assistant deputy coroner, told The Mail on Sunday last night: 'There is still great unease among senior legal figures  including some judges  that there has never been a full coroner's inquest into Dr Kelly's death.

'The Hutton Inquiry was constructed by a group of individuals who were close to Tony Blair for reasons that suited the Blair Government in a moment of crisis, but it was woefully inadequate.

'Key witnesses were not called to give evidence and those witnesses who did appear were not required to give their evidence on oath.

GLEN OWEN: Dr Kelly's death, and the failure to find any weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, haunt Mr Blair  and, by extension, Sir Keir  to this day

'Just half a day of the 24 days on which the Hutton Inquiry sat was spent going through the medical evidence relating to Dr Kelly's death, and Lord Hutton never explored whether Dr Kelly intended to kill himself.

'In short, it was nowhere near as rigorous as a coroner's inquest would have been from a legal perspective and the hurdles that a coroner would have had to clear in order to reach a suicide finding were simply never attempted by Lord Hutton.'

Dr Kelly's death is the only occasion on record when a coroner's inquest into a single death has been adjourned using Section 17A of the 1988 Coroners Act so that a non-statutory public inquiry could be held instead.

This newspaper was at the centre of the drama two decades ago, most notably when Mr Blair was confronted by The Mail on Sunday's political correspondent Jonathan Oliver soon after the news about Dr Kelly's death had broken. After being asked whether he had 'blood on [his] hands', the Prime Minister turned pale and was uncharacteristically lost for words.

Dr Kelly's death, and the failure to find any weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, haunt Mr Blair  and, by extension, Sir Keir  to this day.

Dr Powers says: 'Sir Keir Starmer has spent much of his career in the law campaigning for a range of human rights causes. It is disappointing that the Labour leader has surrounded himself with figures who were, in different ways, involved in the process which undermined justice being done as far as Dr Kelly is concerned.

'It would increase the esteem and respect in which he is held if Sir Keir were to demonstrate his independence and provide moral and legal support to ensuring that Dr Kelly's death is revisited in the proper manner'.
The wife of a senior Tory MP probed by police over her alleged lockdown-busting birthday party has been accused of making light of their potential fines.

Witnesses say they overheard Anne Jenkin  a baroness and wife of MP Sir Bernard Jenkin  joking at Westminster last week about the possibility of police fining her and other attendees of her 'birthday drinks' in December 2020.

One source told The Mail on Sunday that the Tory peer laughed as she said: 'Looking forward to framing our FPNs [fixed penalty notices].'

Last night, critics reproached Lady Jenkin for apparently finding it amusing that she and other politicians allegedly at the event in the Commons  including her husband  could now be fined for flouting Covid rules.

A fine would be particularly embarrassing for Tory MP Sir Bernard, as he is on the Privileges Committee which effectively ended Boris Johnson's Westminster career over No 10 lockdown parties.

Witnesses claim Anne Jenkin  a baroness and wife of MP Sir Bernard Jenkin  joked last week about the police fining her and other attendees of her 'birthday drinks' in December 2020

One Conservative MP, who is an ally of Mr Johnson, said: 'Lady Jenkin may appear to find breaking Covid rules a laughing matter but that's not how Sir Bernard seemed to regard it when he was giving Boris a grilling over Partygate on the Privileges Committee.

'But then, unlike Bernard, as she's a member of the House of Lords, the baroness doesn't have to answer to the voters for her behaviour at every election.'

The former PM has already said that Sir Bernard would be guilty of 'flagrant and monstrous hypocrisy' if he had sat in judgment on Mr Johnson while knowing that he himself had attended a party that broke lockdown rules.

There have also been claims that Sir Bernard being fined by the Metropolitan Police would undermine the verdict of the Privileges Committee inquiry which condemned Mr Johnson for knowingly misleading the Commons over lockdown-breaking events at No 10  a claim the ex-PM has strongly denied.

Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said that Sir Bernard would be guilty of 'flagrant and monstrous hypocrisy' if he had attended a party that broke lockdown rules

Scotland Yard is holding a formal inquiry into the party, which was held in the conference room of Deputy Speaker Same Eleanor Laing

Scotland Yard announced earlier this month that it was holding a formal inquiry into the birthday party, held in the conference room of Deputy Speaker Dame Eleanor Laing, after this newspaper published Lady Jenkin's WhatsApp invitation to a joint birthday party for her and Tory MP Virginia Crosbie, which was sent to 'a few of [their] favourite people'.

Dame Eleanor had initially said it was a 'business meeting', while Sir Bernard has said he did not attend any drinks parties during lockdown.

His allies say he had gone there to collect his wife. However, a witness at the party said that he was there throughout and was drinking.

At the time of the event, indoor social gatherings went against the Covid regulations in London.

Ynys Mon MP Ms Crosbie has already apologised for being at the gathering but said that she was there only briefly.

Lady Jenkin was approached for comment.
This is the shocking moment a dog was Tasered and shoved in a wheelie bin by police who said they were trying to keep nearby children safe.

West Midlands Police were filmed immobilizing the pooch after officers were called to Milverton Road in Coventry on Tuesday to a report that a group of dogs were fighting in the street.

They said one dog at the scene was 'clearly out of control, attacking other dogs' and posed a threat to members of the public nearby, 'a number of whom were children'.

To prevent the canine from seriously harming anyone officers quickly decided to Taser the animal and trap it in a nearby bin until it calmed down.

Video footage of the incident shows the dog incapacitated on the pavement as two officers try to force it into the bin while another holds the container in place.

Police confirmed that contrary to reports on social media, the dog was not killed in the incident.

West Midlands Police were filmed immobilizing the pooch after officers were called to Milverton Road in Coventry on Tuesday to a report that a group of dogs were fighting in the street

They said one dog at the scene was 'clearly out of control, attacking other dogs' and posed a threat to members of the public nearby, 'a number of whom were children'

To prevent the canine from seriously harming anyone officers quickly decided to taser the animal and trap it in a nearby bin until it calmed down

A force spokesperson said: 'We were called to Milverton Road, Coventry, where a group of dogs were fighting.

'When officers arrived, one of the dogs was clearly out of control, attacking the other dogs and presenting a risk to members of the public nearby, a number of whom were children.

'Because of this risk and because the dog was out of control, officers used a Taser to prevent it causing serious harm.

'Contrary to reports on social media, the dog was not hit by a police car and was not killed. The dog was put in a bin by officers to keep it out of harm's way while the situation was brought under control.'

A police dog unit removed the animal, which has since been assessed as fit and well by a vet and taken to kennels, with its owner kept updated.

Police are appealing for anyone who was in the area at the time of the incident to come forward.

A man was arrested on suspicion of obstructing police and was interviewed on Thursday.

The investigation is ongoing and officers want to speak to a dog owner whose pet is believed to have been involved.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call police on 101 quoting log 3522 of 11/7/23.
Opposition party leaders have the luxury of being all things to all men. Their policies can be vague, even contradictory, and they can assure every special interest lobby group their voice will be heard.

Indeed, promises are always easy to make when you don't actually have to see them through. When they aspire to government, however, those leaders have a duty to tell voters precisely where they stand on the big issues of the day.

Yet with a General Election closing in, Sir Keir Starmer remains hopelessly inconsistent on one of the biggest  what Labour's environmental policy would be should it win power.

That lack of clarity is most obvious in his relationship with the eco-fanatics of Just Stop Oil (JSO). In one breath he says these protesters are wrong to disrupt lives with their puerile protests and deserve stiff sentences in the courts. Then it's revealed that his party has accepted 1.5 million in donations from green entrepreneur and major JSO backer Dale Vince.

Naturally, Sir Keir and Mr Vince deny that any strings are attached to this huge bung. But is that really plausible? Is it mere coincidence that Labour has announced that it would put a moratorium on all new North Sea oil and gas drilling  one of JSO's principal demands?

MAIL ON SUNDAY COMMENT: Naturally, Sir Keir and Mr Vince deny that any strings are attached to this huge bung. But is that really plausible?

READ MORE: Multi-millionaire Just Stop Oil donor Dale Vince says eco-zealots will continue disruption at 'high-profile' sports A protester on Court 18 interrupts Katie Boulter's match with Daria Saville Advertisement

Today, The Mail on Sunday reveals further evidence of the increasingly cosy relationship between Sir Keir and this group of law-breaking climate zealots.

According to leaked internal correspondence, Sir Keir's Parliamentary Private Secretary, Jess Morden, invited members of JSO and their Extinction Rebellion chums to 'come in for a chat'. One activist responded that this olive branch was 'trying to sell us' on how Labour was still driven by environmental issues.

So which is it? Does Sir Keir agree with the vast majority of the public that these protesters are 'arrogant and wrong', as he told LBC radio. Or does he share their aims and want to bring them into his tent?

As with so many things, the Labour leader is a chameleon  changing his political colours to suit his audience. He is equally mealy-mouthed on trans-extremism, cancel culture, public sector strikes and much more.

With three by-elections on Thursday and a General Election a maximum of 17 months away, the Tories urgently need to exploit Sir Keir's jerry-built principles by being more forceful themselves. For example, since one by-election is in Uxbridge, a key issue that should be exploited is London Mayor Sadiq Khan's despised extension of the Ultra Low Emission Zone into all the outer London boroughs.

MAIL ON SUNDAY COMMENT: That lack of clarity is most obvious in his relationship with the eco-fanatics of Just Stop Oil (JSO)

Despite Khan's sanctimonious bluster, this is nothing less than a money-grabbing measure that will hit poorer families and small businesses hardest. Rishi Sunak should be much more vociferous in calling for the 87.50 a week levy to be either amended or scrapped. Meanwhile, Tory strategists are considering abolishing inheritance tax. Such a move might affect only a minority but it is an eye-catching and aspirational idea that sends a powerful message and could prove popular. With the overall tax burden at its highest for 70 years, this double tax (as it affects assets that have been taxed already) should be just one in a package to help families.

There's scant time for the Tories to convince the country that after 13 years in power, they still have the heart, stomach and vision to govern. It will take a lot to persuade voters they deserve another chance  but they are lucky in their main opponent.

Come the election, Sir Keir will have to put his cards on the table over his green agenda, gender wars, taxation, Brexit, public spending and the rest. If he does, voters may realise he is not the cosy centrist he claims to be.

Let's not forget, this is the man who campaigned passionately to put Jeremy Corbyn in No 10. And, behind him, the unreconstructed Labour Left are very much alive and agitating to get their hands on the levers of power. If that happens, who knows what havoc they would wreak on this country.
Parents in a Massachusetts school district are expressing their disappointment over a years-old decision to eliminate advanced placement for math in middle school.

Cambridge Public Schools began phasing out advanced math courses in grades six through eight around 2017, when district officials noticed sharp racial disparities in the program.

Students who were being placed in the advanced math track were overwhelmingly white and Asian, while the lower-level courses were filled primarily with black and Latino students, the Boston Globe reported on Friday.

As a result of the change, and following further complications from the pandemic, none of the district's four middle schools offer Algebra I, which some parents say is actually exacerbating inequality by limiting advanced math to those who can afford private tutors.

'The students who are able to jump into a higher level math class [in high school] are students from better-resourced backgrounds,' Jacob Barandes, a district parent and a Harvard physicist, told the Globe.

'They're shortchanging a significant number of students, overwhelmingly students from less-resourced backgrounds, which is deeply inequitable.'

Cambridge Public Schools Superintendent Victoria Greer (left) says she is working to bring back more advanced math in the middle school curriculum, but parents including Jacob Barandes (right) are frustrated after saying they had to seek out private tutors

Another parent, Martin Udengaard, told the outlet he is pulling his son out of the district and weighing whether to homeschool the child or send him to a private school offering Algebra 1 in the eighth grade.

The parents expressed concerns that, without Algebra 1 in middle school, their children would be forced to cram a compressed math course load in high school to reach advanced courses such as calculus.

In a statement, the school district said: 'Cambridge Public Schools is deeply committed to providing a high-quality, rigorous learning experience for all of our students, while also placing a strong focus on addressing the academic achievement and opportunity gaps in our community.'

'We are in the process of developing an equitable plan with great thought and intentionality that establishes a level of mathematics literacy required for full participation and access to opportunities,' the statement added.

'Three of the seven units covered in Algebra I will be added to the 8th grade curriculum next year. We look forward to sharing details of this expansion in the near future.'

The origin of the decision to remove advanced math is murky, with one former school board member saying that the original goal was for every eighth grader to take Algebra 1.

'Algebra by eighth grade was voted upon many times over the past 30 years,' wrote Patty Nolan, a current Cambridge city councillor and former school board member, in a May letter to the Cambridge Day.

'And unless I am mistaken, the School Committee has not rescinded its many votes that algebra for every eighth-grader is a goal.'

In a 2019, Edutopia reported that district officials were concerned that students were being profiled and placed in advanced or lower-level courses on the basis of race.

'Over time you end up with lower-level math courses filled with black and Latino children, and high-level math classes with white and Asian children,' Manuel Fernandez, then the principal at Cambridge Street Upper School, told the outlet.

'Students internalize itthey believe the smart kids are the white kids. Our staff said we cannot continue to divide our students this way.'

Schools Superintendent Victoria Greer told the Globe that she and other district leaders are working on plans to add more elements of advanced math to the middle school curriculum

'We have a huge focus on addressing both the academic achievement gaps and the opportunity gaps in our community,' she said. 'One thing the district is not interested in doing is perpetuating those gaps.'

Cambridge Street Upper School, one of the district's four middle schools

Greer and the members of Cambridge's school board, known as the School Committee, did not immediately respond to a request for comment from DailyMail.com on Saturday evening.

Cambridge is not the only school district to eliminate advanced courses in an attempt to address racial disparities.

Schools in San Francisco and Escondido, California have also eliminated math tracking, or the practice of placing students on different course tracks of varying difficulty.

Critics of tracking argue that it promotes inequity, noting that because school performance is highly correlated with socioeconomic status, initial placement on a track and subsequent performance could result in class rosters segregated by income and race.

They say that all students are better served when classrooms reflect a mix of both social backgrounds and academic ability levels.

It is not the first time that Cambridge Public Schools, located in a wealthy and left-leaning town that is home to Harvard University, has made headlines.

In 2017, a CPS librarian publicly rejected a donation of Dr. Seuss children's books from then-First Lady Melania Trump, calling the books 'racist' and 'cliched'.

The first lady had offered sets of the books to one district in each state for National Read a Book Day.

In a blog post the school librarian called Dr. Seuss a 'tired and worn ambassador for children's literature' and said his illustrations are 'steeped in racist propaganda, caricatures, and harmful stereotypes.'

At the time, the district said the post represented her personal opinions and 'was not a formal acceptance or rejection of donated books.'
New houses will not be built unless councillors agree to introduce green schemes such as ULEZ-style low-emission zones, it has been reported.

Natural England has commissioned a review of 'mitigation measures' to limit emissions with new properties in more than 330 designated areas of the country.

This approach is already happening in the Epping Forest district of Essex where the local council has sparked a backlash after drawing up plans to introduce a ULEZ-style clean air zone from 2025.

But the council said it had been advised by Natural England as the responsible statutory body that it wouldn't be able to approve the new developments unless it also introduced measures to tackle air pollution, The Telegraph reported.

Natural England, chaired by Tony Juniper who is the former head of Friends of the Earth, is already accused of blocking up to 145,000 homes.

Epping Forest local council has sparked a backlash after drawing up plans to introduce a ULEZ-style clean air zone from 2025

London's Ulez mirrors similar low-emission zones to improve air quality in more than 200 cities in ten countries across Europe

Mr Juniper said: 'We simply cannot halt and reverse the decline in nature or improve the quality of our environment  as the Government has legally committed itself to do and is rightly demanded by the public  if we dont mitigate the impact of pollution sources.'

The Telegraph said it has seen emails showing consultants on a 40,000 contract with Natural England list examples of mitigation schemes which include low emission zones (LEZs) or clean air zones (CAZs).

Natural England is a non-departmental public body sponsored by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

The department is reportedly set to examine potential mitigation schemes for developments at more than 330 so-called Natura 2000 sites which are protected by regulations originally introduced by the EU.

They include the New Forest and Rochdale Canal in Greater Manchester.

Mail Online has contacted Natural England for comment.

Potential mitigation schemes for developments at more than 330 so-called Natura 2000 sites including Epping Forest (Pictured, Blackweir Pond in Epping Forest)

The move could prove to be controversial as there is already a huge backlash to the expansion of the London ULEZ scheme which could see the zone extend the area up to the borders of Kent and Surrey.

The Ulez scheme has proven hugely controversial, with critics claiming it does little to improve air quality and has a negative impact on families and tradespeople who need to drive.

Five Tory-led councils, Bexley, Bromley, Harrow, Hillingdon and Surrey have gone to the High Court to challenge the ULEZ expansion.

London's Ulez mirrors similar low-emission zones to improve air quality in more than 200 cities in ten countries across Europe.

Petrol cars registered before 2006 and diesel vehicles first registered before September 2015 are unlikely to meet the minimum emissions standards required.
The mother of a young man who suffered severe head injuries after being punched was last night battling with doctors to stop them withdrawing his life support.

Samantha Johnson, 46, said she was prepared to go to court to prevent medics at St George's Hospital in Tooting, South-West London, from turning off the ventilator keeping her son Andy alive.

The 20-year-old has been fighting for his life since last Sunday when he was assaulted near a shopping complex in Colliers Wood.

His family say a man approached him from behind and punched him once in the head.

Andy, a roofer, was resuscitated at the scene and was taken to St George's, where his family say he was able to breathe for himself for two hours last Monday.

Samantha Johnson, 46, said she was prepared to go to court to prevent medics at St George's Hospital in Tooting, South-West London, from turning off the ventilator keeping her son Andy alive

The 20-year-old has been fighting for his life since last Sunday when he was assaulted near a shopping complex in Colliers Wood

His condition, however, worsened, and doctors this weekend said they wanted to carry out a 'brain stem test'. His family say that if he fails to respond, the hospital will withdraw life-sustaining treatment.

Speaking to the MoS last night, Ms Johnson said: 'They told us they were going to give us until Monday and then talk to us again.

'But another doctor is now telling us that they want to go ahead with the test today.'

At 2pm yesterday senior doctors were handed a legal letter that demanded the hospital does not carry out the test without 'attempting mediation' with the family.

The Met Police said officers were 'called to reports of a fight' in Colliers Wood, after 8pm last Sunday when a 43-year-old and a 47-year-old man were arrested.

St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has been contacted for comment.
The quality of the Mail's journalism has been recognised with a host of top honours at the Headlinemoney Awards  the most prestigious accolades in the personal finance industry.

Rachel Rickard Straus, Editor of The Mail on Sunday's Wealth & Personal Finance section and Money Mail in the Daily Mail, was named Savings Journalist of the Year.

The judges praised her pieces for 'always being well-written and engaging, covering a variety of important issues'.

Rachel Rickard Straus, Editor of The Mail on Sunday's Wealth & Personal Finance section and Money Mail in the Daily Mail, was named Savings Journalist of the Year

Investigations Editor Tom Kelly and Assistant News Editor Jacob Dirnhuber won Personal Finance Story of the Year for their probe into scam schools. Judges cited their 'brilliant journalism' in highlighting a massive fraud problem in the UK.

Personal Finance writer Samantha Partington was named Mortgage Journalist of the Year for her 'forensic' approach to 'engaging and enlightening stories'.

Personal Finance writer Samantha Partington was named Mortgage Journalist of the Year for her 'forensic' approach to 'engaging and enlightening stories'

The Money Mail team were also shortlisted for Consumer Money Title of the Year and for Campaign of the Year with Pick Up Or Pay Up which calls for big organisations to answer the phone to customers or face fines.

The Royal Mail Stamp Swap Fiasco campaign was also shortlisted for Personal Finance Story of the Year.

Group Wealth & Personal Finance Editor Jeff Prestridge was shortlisted for five awards, while Jessica Beard, Deputy Money Editor, was shortlisted for Pensions Journalist of the Year and Consumer Money Journalist of the Year.

Sally Hamilton was shortlisted for Consumer Champion of the Year for her Money Mail column Sally Sorts It, and chief Money reporter Toby Walne was shortlisted for General Insurance Journalist of the Year.

As a result of her tireless work highlighting pensions injustice, the Outstanding Achievement Award was awarded to Tanya Jefferies, Investment and Pensions Editor of This is Money.

Judges praised her work exposing state pension underpayments which went on to trigger a National Audit Office investigation, resulting in a Government report crediting her role in bringing the scandal to light.
A terminally ill man who has spent all bar 10 months of his life in Australia is facing deportation to the UK, despite not having been there since 1974 when he was a baby.

Robert Taylor, 50, a father of six and grandfather of nine, has not left Western Australia since, but despite almost five decades in Australia, he never became a citizen.

He had a permanent residency visa, but after being convicted of aggravated burglary in 2019 and getting a three-and-a-half year prison term, that was cancelled.

Taylor failed the visa's character requirements brought in by the previous Coalition government, having been sentenced to a term of 12 months or more in jail.

In early 2021, a day before he was due to be released on parole, he was taken into immigration detention in Perth and has been detained ever since.

A terminally ill man who has spent all bar 10 months of his life in Australia is facing deportation to the UK, despite not having been there since 1974 when he was a baby

Robert Taylor's daughter Keesha (pictured centre) is pleading with the Immigration Minister, Andrew Giles, to show some mercy for her father, who is facing deportation despite having terminal cancer

While being held and challenging his deportation order, Taylor was diagnosed with lung cancer and told he had 12 months or fewer to live.

Despite the terminal diagnosis, the Australian government is still determined to send him back to a country he has no memory of.

In an interview with the ABC, Taylor said he missed his children, 'they mean the world to me and I mean the world to them. I miss my whole family outside'.

He apologised for the crime - committed after he became a methylamphetamine user following a work accident - that led to him facing deportation.

'I'm deeply sorry and regret what I've done to the community and the victims and if I could take it back I would, but I can't,' he said.

'This is where I am now. I mean I can't change the past, can't change what I've done, but I can change how I behave in the future, you know.'

His daughter Keesha Taylor is pleading with the Immigration Minister, Andrew Giles, to show some mercy for her father.

'He's having chemotherapy in there all alone,' Ms Taylor, who lives four hours south of Perth in Manjimup with her three children and partner, said.

'And we can't go there and be with him, we can't get up there because we're not a very financially stable family. We all work just to get by.

'If we do go up there, it's only for a couple hours, and then we have to leave him again.'

Taylor (pictured) apologised for the crime - committed after he became a methylamphetamine user following a work accident - that led to him facing deportation

Taylor's family is scattered across Western Australia, but none are in Perth, making visits to see him difficult.

Taylor said the situation is having a toll on his mental as well as physical health.

'I can't sleep  when I lay down to rest, my brain's just ticking over at 100 miles an hour you know, thinking about whether I am going to see my kids again or not.'

Taylor's mother Tina, 74, said deporting him to the UK when he has less than a year to live is 'barbaric' and 'cruel'.

Though she's had cancer herself and is in poor health, the 74-year-old mother of four, grandmother of 23 and great grandmother of 37 is more concerned for her son.

'I can't think of myself right now,' she said. 'It's not right, your children do not go before you do and I don't know how I'm going to cope.

'He's getting so much worse in there (because) he's worried about me, my doctors wrote five letters to say about the stress that it's causing me.'

The family is hoping for clemency and compassion, but so far Mr Giles has offered none.

Taylor's family fear he will die in detention without either being deported or being released to spend his very limited remaining time with them.

'It's inhumane what they're doing to him,' his daughter Keesha said. 'He's a human being. They're treating him like nothing.

'He's dying and he hasn't got much time left to live. The longer they wait to make this decision, the less time we have so I just, you know, beg for their compassion.

'Let him out, let him come home to us.'

Immigration Minister Andrew Giles (pictured) has been contacted for comment on Robert Taylor's case

The Department of Home Affairs said 7,858 people had their visas cancelled under section 501 of the Migration Act since the law changed in 2014.

Of those, only about 20 per cent, or 1,638 have been had the cancellation overturned on appeal.

In 2022, 626 people had their visas cancelled, with just 22 of those, so far, successfully appeal the decision.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted the Immigration Minister for comment.
MBABANE  Over 20 suppliers were recommended for the Eswatini Water and Agricultural Development Enterprises (ESWADE) suppliers tenders.



The recommended suppliers were those who scored over 70 per cent in the competitive bidding process. Six suppliers were recommended for supplying general printing and stationary services and those were: Nashua Swaziland, Sionary Investment (Pty) Ltd, Progress Stationary (Pty) Ltd trading as Progress Furniture, The Pelican Print Swaziland (Pty) Ltd, Baobab Express Office Furniture (Pty) Ltd.

Recommended

There were also six companies that were recommended for supply of office equipment, office furniture and fittings and these are: Baobab Express Office Furniture (Pty) Ltd, Sionary Investment (Pty) Ltd, Progress Stationary (Pty) Ltd trading as Progress Furniture, ZCMB Investments (Pty) Ltd trading as ZCMB Office Furniture Suppliers, Sync Agency (Pty) trading as Office Solutions and Nashua Swaziland. Four companies would supply and provide maintainance of air conditioning equipment and these are: Mdzabuko Investment, Macnabs Refrigerators, Swazi roof Masters Investments (Pty) Ltd and Immersion Projects Managers (Pty) Ltd. Sionary Investments (Pty) Ltd along with OMNY Media Group (Pty) Ltd, Branding Design (Pty) Ltd, Dixies International, and S-squire Business Solutions will provide promotional, advertising materials and branding.

Kit

Eswatini Agricultural Supplies (Pty) Ltd, Mdzabuko Investments and LNV Investments will supply Agriculture kit: fertilizer, seed and chemicals.

Provision of irrigation equipment and pipes will be supplied by Plumbers Choice Investment, ECO-BUZZ Investments, Living Waters Investments (Pty) Ltd and Sindroe Investments (Pty) Ltd. TOP EMS Swaziland, ASPIRE 360, Madusizwe, Galaxy supplies, Elcor Industries (Pty) Ltd and Flamelily Investments (Pty) Ltd will supply personal protective clothing and medical supplies.

On the supply of general building equipment and fencing there is: MDZ Construction, ERD Swaziland, Mdzabuko Investments, Preque Investments (Pty) Ltd, KZM Investments, Eswatini Wire, Nkonyeni Precast, TIBU and MBA TIMBALI, ESOR Construction, ICON Construction, Living Waters Investments (Pty) Ltd, BD-SIJULA Investments (Pty) Ltd Construction, DAPHS Investments and BuildCo Projects (Pty) Ltd. Five companies will supply computers, laptops, UPs printers and computer accessories and these are: AKABONGWE Investments, Sionary Investments (Pty) Ltd, Informatics (Africa) (Pty) Ltd trading as PC System and Nashua Swaziland.

It must be noted that, in terms of section 45(2) of the act, the above contract award decision does not constitute a contract. Further, in terms of section 45(4), 46 and 47 of the Act, all tenderers who submitted bids are notified that a period of 10 working days is hereby allowed for submission of any application for review from the above stated date of first publication of this notice.
Keller's students have gone on to dance for Rihanna and Beyonce, and many walked out in protest after he was fired in April

Despite a lengthy rap sheet of disciplinary issues, the school board kept him on the payroll over fears sacking him could be deemed racist

Beloved dance teacher Damon Keller kept his job after Portland's woke school board reversed his firing

Portland's woke school board has refused to fire a black dance teacher caught ringing in sick to take private lessons and judge a contest - after claiming that doing so would be racist.

School board members who lost a 4-3 vote to keep Damon Keller working at Ockley Green Middle School slammed last week's result as 'extraordinarily troubling'.

Keller repeatedly pretended to be sick so he could skip work for his side gig teaching dance lessons.

After being told his contract wouldn't permit him to take Wednesdays off to teach private lessons, Keller rang in sick on the day multiple times.

He's also accused of ringing in sick after his request for unpaid leave so he could judge a dance contest in North Carolina was turned down. Keller ended up attending that contest and judging.

His behavior led to a furious clash with school officials that led headteacher Julie Rierson and superintendent Guadalupe Guerrero to move to fire him, The Oregonian reported.

Beloved dance teacher Damon Keller (pictured) kept his job after Portland's woke school board reversed his firing over racism fears

But board member Michelle DePass admitted she'd spared Keller from being fired because of his race. DePass, who is black, told the vote meeting: 'The district has been documenting Keller for eight years. Theyve been waiting for him to mess up.

'I have never experienced a white person being scrutinized like that over that length of time and then dismissed. We shouldnt hold black people to a higher standard of conduct than everyone else.'

The successful votes of DePass and three other board members - two of whom were black, with one being white - were blasted by fellow board member Andrew Scott.

He countered: 'I have never heard comments that race-based in this type of a setting. We created a future lawsuit in that moment...It was extraordinarily troubling.'

Keller will be disciplined over his absences, although details of his punishment have not been shared.

The teacher - hailed as an extremely talented man whose former students have gone on to dance with Justin Bieber and Rihanna - has a history of disciplinary issues including physical misconduct involving students and neglect.

However, Keller's students reacted with anger to his firing and staged a walkout in April to protest against losing one of the only black educators at the school.

They also claimed plans to fire him were racist.

Students staged a walkout in April to protest against Keller's firing

Despite his alleged history of misconduct, Keller is a beloved educator at the school and his dance students have gone on to be backup dancers for the stars. Pictured: Students staged a walkout to protest the move to fire Keller in April

Following the student walkout, a public hearing was requested by Keller, which saw school board members face off over whether sacking the black dance teacher would be racist.

In the end, the 4-3 vote came down to a tiebreaker vote from one white school board member, who was forced to side either with three white members voting to dismiss Keller, or three black members trying to keep him on.

Portland is notorious for being one of America's most progressive cities, with many of its residents and public officials proudly proclaiming their hard-left credentials on issues such as race and gender identity.

And while Keller is one of the only black teachers at Ockley Green Middle School, his student cohort is 60 percent black, Latino or multiracial, according to Oregon Live.

During his hearing, one Ockley Green Middle School parent said he serves 'as a rare African-American male role model' for students in the largely-white area.

Many complained after the move to fire Keller that his loss would be especially upsetting for black students, despite a lengthy rap sheet of disciplinary issues.

Superintendent Guadalupe Guerrero (pictured) sacked the educator for lying about teaching private dance lessons on school time

The school's high turnover of principals saw Julie Rierson become the third in three years last fall

His seven-years at the school have reportedly seen a number of behavior issues, including in March 2016 when he allegedly shoved a student to the ground after a dodgeball game.

He claimed after that it was an involuntary reflex after the student hit him when he was expecting a high-five.

In 2018, he also reportedly faced allegations he threw shoes at students to get their attention, and harangued students for changing their menstrual products while trying to hurry them to class.

In 2021, the state Teacher Standards and Practices Commission put him on a two-year probation for 'gross neglect of duties' following an investigation.

At the time, Keller didn't challenge the allegations levied against him, but insisted it was only because he wanted to keep his job.

While still on probation in spring 2022, a fight also reportedly broke out when he stepped out of his class to talk to a student without authorization, leading to him being suspended for a week. When he returned, he asked to take Wednesday afternoons off to teach private lessons - the issue that led to last week's vote.

One of the issues at the heart of the controversy is the high turnover of principals at Ockley Middle School, with current administrator Julie Rierson beginning last fall as the third leader in three years.

When Keller asked to take time off every week for his private lessons, Rierson refused, citing his union contract barring teachers from working second jobs on school time.

Despite being turned down, an investigation found that he went anyway, but attempted to disguise it by calling in sick.

When he was brought up over the obvious pattern, he reportedly tried to change the time off to unpaid leave.

In March, he again infuriated school officials by flying to North Carolina to act as a paid judge for a dance competition, also on school time.

Keller claimed he was ill and didn't go to North Carolina until school was done Friday evening, but failed to produce flight records proving this. An official at the dance event reportedly told school officials he was there the entire day.

When Rierson moved to fire him, Guerrero agreed.

But with all school boards needing to sign off on sacking certified educators under Oregon law, the public hearing ensued.

Students at Ockley Middle School staged a walkout in April to protest Keller's firing. He is pictured teaching a dance lesson at the school in 2018

Michelle DePass (left) and Andrew Scott (right) squared off at the public hearing over whether firing Keller would be racist

Andrew Scott, one of the school board members who voted to approve Keller's dismissal, told Oregon Live he initially saw the hearing as an open-and-shut case.

He felt that he had clearly breached his union contract, lied to his bosses, and been paid double while students missed out.

But he was furiously challenged at the hearing by black school board members, who argued that racial discrimination has a long history in job firings.

'Disciplinary action is disproportionately meted out by race,' said Michelle DePass, whose remarks were slammed as race-baiting by Scott.

'Scrutiny on black employees in our public institutions falls disproportionately on black men. Those outcomes impact retirement and end up in the loss of Black wealth. I think firing is too harsh of a punishment.'

After school board member Julia Brim-Edwards sided with her black colleagues and voted to keep Keller, cheers broke out from the audience at the hearing.

But while students will be pleased they kept their favorite teacher, principals and school officials expressed concern over the precedent that had been set.

'The board has some repair work to do with principals so they will know we will support them in the tough decisions they need to make while they run their schools,' Scott said.

'The precedent setting nature of this is very concerning to me. We have limited our ability as a board to terminate future teachers who engage in similar behaviors.'
An influencer has revealed she owes $10,000 after completing her tax return - as the reason why Aussies may need to pay the Australian Taxation Office is revealed.

Jeny, who posts food, fashion and travel content from her adventures in Western Australian as Rai Foodie, shared her disappointment over her likely 2022-23 tax bill in a viral TikTok clip.

'When you thought you were finally getting [a] tax return this year,' the caption read.

Jeny shared a screenshot of the ATO's online page estimating she owes $10,537.

She is one of thousands of Australians who have become increasingly disappointed with their tax return with several revealing they owe money to the ATO.

Their frustration comes as one revealed the simple reason why some Australians can expect to receive a bill from the ATO rather than money in their pocket.

Jeny, who posts food, fashion and travel content from her adventures in Western Australian as Rai Foodie, shared her disappointment over her likely 2022-23 tax bill in a viral TikTok clip

A 21-year-old healthcare worker, nicknamed Abbs on TikTok, was slugged with a $3249 bill after salary sacrificing while she still had an unpaid student loan

Jeny's clip was viewed more than 238,000 times and drew mostly empathetic responses.

One woman wrote in the comments that she owes $9,500.

'Man, this is highway robbery at this point,' said one follower. 'We work so hard and for what? Scraps?

Several others wrote that they are too 'scared' to file their returns and one woman even wrote that she planned to avoid filing her return.

'Oh no, I'm skipping mine'.

Workers have been warned to expect lower than anticipated returns this financial year, after the low-and-middle income tax offset (LMITO) was axed by the federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers.

The measure - which was always meant to be temporary - provided tax cuts of up to $1500 to up to 10 million Australians over the past four years.

Battling Aussies are now finding out the hard way how heavily they relied on the offset.

Especially affected are people who owe money on an unpaid student loan debt.

A Melbourne man took to social media to lament his $5000 tax bill, which he admitted was partly due to the fact he didn't notify his employer to deduct student loan repayments.

'I really wish this was a joke, I hate HECS,' he titled his TikTok.

More than three million former students will pay an average of $1,700 more on their HECS-HELP loan debt after student debts were indexed by 7.1 per cent on June 1.

The indexation increases the amount of student debt in line with the consumer price index, which increased 7 per cent in the 12 months to March 2023.

For people with outstanding student debt, salary packaging can also add to debts at tax time and explains why some may Aussies may owe the ATO rather than receive money back come tax time.

Salary packaging is an arrangement between a worker and their employer where staff give up some pre-taxable income in return for benefits of a similar value, such as more superannuation, a laptop and even children's' school fees.

Doing so means staff will pay less income tax each pay. Because that means your take-home pay increases, it can negatively affect the outcome of your tax return.

A 21-year-old healthcare worker, nicknamed Abbs on TikTok, was slugged with a $3,249 bill after salary sacrificing while she still had an unpaid student loan.

'I just did my tax return. If you work in healthcare and have a HECS debt do not, I repeat, do not [use salary packaging] until you have f***ing paid off your HECS debt. I was mortified,' she said.

'I actually want to cry. That is what I wanted to get back and now I am f***ing paying it. I paid $18,000 in tax and I have to pay another $3000 in tax,' she said.

Back on Jeny's TikTok, one person speculated that her bill was so high because she may not have expected to pay tax on her income as an influencer.

'[They] got sucked in by hustle culture and didnt realise that their side hustle is still taxable income.'
Experts have shared why the Titan sub may have imploded - including a new theory about how it was dragged out to the Titanic site behind its 'mothership'.

OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush, who was killed in the June 18 disaster alongside four of his company's paying passengers, innovated the Titan's unique design, which he hoped would become a new industry standard.

But several moves designed to slash costs and make sea exploration more profitable may have also come with disastrous consequences, engineering experts told the New York Times in an article published on Friday.

By comparing the Titan with the Alvin, a US government research submersible that has safely completed more than 4,500 deep sea dives since 1973, the experts point out a number of design and protocol changes that may have doomed the Titan.

Unlike the Titan, the Alvin was designed as a sphere with an all-titanium hull, which was transported to the dive site on the deck of a mothership, while the Titan was towed across the rough waters of the North Atlantic on its small dive platform, potentially damaging the shoddy vessel before it imploded and killed five.

The Polar Prince is seen towing the Titan submersible aboard its launch platform. Experts say a number of cost-cutting measures could have contributed to the sub's catastrophic implosion

OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush, who was killed in the June 18 disaster alongside four of his company's paying passengers, innovated the Titan's unique design to slash costs

The Titan, owned and operated by OceanGate Expeditions, first began taking people to the Titanic in 2021, at up to $250,000 per passenger per trip.

It was touted for a roomier cylinder-shaped cabin made of a carbon-fiber - a departure from the sphere-shaped titanium cabins used by most submersibles.

The Titan submersible lost communications with its support vessel on June 18, during a descent to the wreck of the Titanic roughly 12,500 feet beneath the surface.

Days later, its debris was recovered from the ocean floor, and investigators believe the sub was crushed under the immense pressure of the deep sea.

In addition to Rush, four others died: British adventurer Hamish Harding, 58; Pakistani tycoon, Shahzada Dawood, 48, and his son Suleman Dawood, 19, French Titanic expert Paul-Henry Nargeolet, 77.

Before the Titan, submersibles including the Alvin had a strong track record of safety. Submersibles differ from submarines in that they must be launched at sea from a mothership.

Among the theories on what led to the disaster are...

TITAN WAS DRAGGED ACROSS ROUGH SEAS - NOT KEPT SAFELY ON DECK

The Alvin research sub is transported to dive sites on the deck of a dedicated mothership, which is outfitted with custom winches and a large crane that places it in the ocean.

In contrast, Titan had no dedicated mothership, and to cut costs it was towed out to sea on the fatal dive by a smaller chartered vessel, the Polar Prince.

The Polar Prince, a decommissioned Canadian Coast Guard icebreaker, was smaller and older than the ships OceanGate had used in previous years, in a cost-cutting move by Rush.

Using a tow cable, the ship dragged the Titan across hundreds of miles of open sea on top of the launch platform that was used to submerge and retrieve the sub.

Asked if towing Titan risked damage, a company spokesman told the Times: 'OceanGate is unable to provide any additional information at this time.'

The Alvin research sub is transported to dive sites on the deck of a dedicated mothership, which is outfitted with custom winches and a large crane that places it in the ocean

In contrast, Titan (above) had no dedicated mothership, and to cut costs it was towed out to sea by a chartered vessel, the Polar Prince

The Titan is seen being towed to a dive location. In May, the sub and platform met with 'near-disaster' and partially submerged on the open sea, one witness recounted

Arnie Weissmann, the editor in chief of Travel Weekly, took an OceanGate voyage in May, using the same Polar Prince mothership that towed the sub about 435 miles from St. John's, Newfoundland, to the Titanic site.

'I thought the sub and platform were being tossed around pretty roughly,' Weissmann told the Times.

Though he spent a week aboard the Polar Prince waiting for weather to clear, the dive was ultimately called off and Weissmann never got to descend in the Titan.

In a column for Travel Weekly, Weissman recounted a harrowing tale of a 'near-disaster for the sub and platform' during high seas.

'At the end of the rope that linked the stern of the ship to the platform, we saw that the front of the platform and the sub were under water,' he wrote.

It was not clear what had happened, but crew members theorized that a fishing buoy spotted in the area may have gotten a line tangled with the platform and dragged it under, filling air tanks with water.

Attempts to lift the platform with a buoy on the tow line were unsuccessful, and Rush had to send divers out to clear water from the platform's bouncy tanks, a process that took half a day.

The no fishing line was discovered tangled in the platform, leaving the cause of the incident a mystery.

Weissman recalled that, when asked about whether the incident jeopardized the sub, Rush joked: 'So a sub is under water. Why is that a problem?'

PILL-SHAPE DESIGN INSTEAD OF TRIED-AND-TESTED SPHERICAL SHAPE THAT BETTER RESISTS PRESSURE

Alvin, the famous research submersible owned by the United States Navy and operated by the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, has a spherical design.

At the depths of the ocean deep, a sphere is the optimal shape to resist crushing pressures that can reach three tons per square inch, because the pressure is equally distributed across the hull.

The downside to the Alvin is its cramped capacity -- the sub is only capable of taking three people to the ocean floor.

Rush, who was charging $250,000 per passenger for his dives to the Titanic wreckage, would have only been able to take two customers per trip with a similar design, assuming an OceanGate pilot went along.

Instead, his Titan design was roomier, with space for five people in a pill-shaped sub, which consisted of a carbon-fiber tube capped by titanium hemispheres on each end.

Alvin, the famous research submersible owned by the United States Navy, has a spherical titanium hull for passengers, as seen left in the above schematic

Alvin has safely completed more than 4,500 deep sea dives since 1973. Above, the personnel sphere with room for three can been seen housed inside the other support apparatus

Titan's design was roomier, with space for five people in a pill-shaped sub, which consisted of a carbon-fiber tube capped by titanium hemispheres on each end

Tim Foecke, a retired forensic metallurgist, told the Times that the Titan's change in hull geometry -- from a tight sphere to a lengthy tube -- may have contributed to the sub's catastrophic failure.

He noted that the larger a sub is, the stronger and thicker its hull must be in order to withstand the same pressure.

In two subs with the same hull thickness, the larger one would 'collapse or buckle' first, he said.

CARBON-FIBER HULL THAT'S MORE VULNERABLE TO COMPRESSION

One of Rush's main innovations in the Titan was the use of carbon fiber for much of the hull, which is cheaper and lighter than titanium.

OceanGate promoted the Titan's carbon fiber construction - with titanium endcaps - as 'lighter in weight and more efficient to mobilize than other deep diving submersibles' on its website.

The material reduced Titan's weight to 21,000 pounds, compared with Alvin's 45,000 pounds.

But experts say carbon composites are much tougher against pulling forces than they are against crushing forces.

One of Rush's main innovations in the Titan was the use of carbon fiber for much of the hull, which is cheaper and lighter than titanium

OceanGate boss Stockton Rush is seen inside the Titan's carbon tube hull

The tube was five inches thick, and constructed by wrapping many layers of carbon fiber

'I was very surprised' by the fiber construction of Titan, Foecke told the Times, because compression was the main force that the submersible encountered on its deep sea dives.

Carbon composites also have limited life when subject to excessive loads or poor design which leads to stress concentrations, said Jasper Graham-Jones, an associate professor of mechanical and marine engineering at the University of Plymouth in the United Kingdom.

'Yes, composites are extremely tough. Yes, composites are extremely long lasting. But we do have issues with composites and the fact that composites fail in slightly different ways than other materials,' he told the Associated Press.

Furthermore, the Titan's 5-inch thick hull had been subjected to repeated stress over the course of about two dozen previous dives, Graham-Jones said.

Each trip would put tiny cracks in the structure. 'This might be small and undetectable to start but would soon become critical and produce rapid and uncontrollable growth,' he said.

USE OF VARIOUS MATERIALS RAISED RISK OF JOINTS WEARING OUT MORE QUICKLY

The Titan's design required attaching its carbon-fiber tube to the titanium endcaps, which was achieved with powerful glue.

But experts say that because different materials change shape at different rates under pressure, maintaining a seal between them can be challenging.

Alfred S. McLaren, a retired Navy submariner and president emeritus of the Explorers Club of New York City, explained that the different materials in the Titan's hull 'have different coefficients of expansion and compression, and that works against keeping a watertight bond.'

In other words, if the carbon fiber tube compressed in a slightly different way than the titanium end caps, it could have compromised the seal between them, particularly after repeated dives.

This image shows a titanum ring being bonded to the Titan's carbon tube hull. Because different materials change shape at different rates under pressure, maintaining a seal between them can be challenging

Debris from the Titan submersible, recovered from the ocean floor near the wreck of the Titanic, is unloaded from the ship Horizon Arctic at the Canadian Coast Guard pier

The launch platform used for the Titan submersible, is towed back to shore at the Port of St. John's in Newfoundland, Canada after the sub was destroyed

Experts have also questioned OceanGate's refusal to seek outside testing and certification for the Titan.

Graham-Jones said it's standard procedure in engineering to seek outside expertise the ensure that vessels conform to the highest industry standards.

In a 2019 company blog post, OceanGate criticized the third-party certification process as one that is time-consuming and stifles innovation.

'Bringing an outside entity up to speed on every innovation before it is put into real-world testing is anathema to rapid innovation,' the post said.
A man has been charged after allegedly murdering a woman and shooting her daughter after a tense four hour standoff with police in a suburban street.

The 51-year-old man allegedly ambushed Aleksandra Vergulis, 51, and her daughter Daniela and gunned them down as they arrived at a home in Campbelltown, in Adelaide's north east, on Saturday afternoon.

Police rushed to Elm Road where they found Ms Vergulis dead out the front of the home. Her 22-year-old daughter was rushed to Royal Adelaide Hospital with serious injuries.

The accused gunman then allegedly barricaded himself inside the house as dozens of specialist officers swarmed the street.

Aleksandra Vergulis (pictured) was allegedly murdered on Saturday

Specialist officers are pictured at the scene on Saturday amid the four-hour siege

He surrendered himself to police around 5pm and was taken to the City Watch House where he was charged with murder and attempted murder.

The man did not apply for bail and will attend Adelaide Magistrates Court on Monday.

Ms Vergulis was an executive assistant for UniSA Education Futures, at the University of South Australia, where she has been employed for almost 12 years.

Her daughter only graduated from the same university where her mother worked three months ago.

'I am so proud to announce that I have graduated from the University of South Australia with a Bachelor of Laws (Second class Honours) and Bachelor of Psychology,' Daniela, wrote on LinkedIn.

Pictured: Daniela Vergulis, who was rushed to hospital with serious injuries

'I look forward to continuing my career in law, and I cant wait to see where it takes me!

'I am so grateful for my loved ones who have supported me through this journey.'

Her mother, who affectionately called her daughter Dana, added a gushing comment sharing her pride.

'Well Done Dana! I am so proud of you sweetheart,' Ms Vergulis wrote.

'You are brilliant, able and ambitious, an achiever. It was a big pleasure seeing you grow and turn into the beautiful young lady, an educated professional that you are today.

'I bless you with all that you need to earn many more achievements and feasts in life ahead and I always be there to support you.'

Ms Vergulis was employed at the University of South Australia

Her daughter had only recently graduated from university with a degree in law and psychology

Neighbours described Ms Vergulis as a 'lovely woman' and said they were shocked by the tragedy.

They said Ms Vergulis was originally from Eastern Europe but had been in Australia for a long time.

A University of South Australia spokesperson said the UniSA community was 'shocked and saddened' by Ms Vergulis' death and sent its condolences to her family.

'She was a highly respected colleague and will be greatly missed,' the spokesperson said.

'Our thoughts are with Aleksandras loved ones at this difficult time.'

As residents come to terms with the shocking incident, fresh blood stains and bloodied shopping bags still filled with groceries could be seen on the driveway of the property Sunday morning.

Police, who worked late into Saturday night scouring the crime scene, remained at the home on Sunday.

As the alleged shooting unfolded, police cordoned of the home and surrounding streets while Special Task and Rescue (STAR) Group officers, paramedics, firefighters, and a police helicopter raced to the scene.

Motorists were advised to avoid the area and residents in the blocked off area were told to remain indoors.
Two people have been rushed to hospital after a ute crashed into a house in Brisbane's north on Sunday morning.

Emergency services raced to a house on Station Road at Burpengary, shortly before 8am.

Footage obtained by Channel 9 seemingly shows the ute had flipped onto its roof after slamming into the home.

Emergency services were called to the scene on Station Road in Burpengary shortly before 8am on Sunday

Queensland Ambulance Service said two people were taken to the Royal Brisbane and Women's hospital in a 'stable' condition

The footage clearly shows significant damage to the house.

Queensland Ambulance Service said two people were taken to the Royal Brisbane and Women's hospital in a 'stable' condition.

It's understood a woman was inside the house at the time of the crash, but escaped serious injury.
South Korean authorities today recovered the bodies of nine people who died trapped in a submerged tunnel as heavy rain and flooding sweeps the nation.

Some 15 vehicles were estimated to have been stuck underwater in the Osong underpass shortly after a levee of a nearby river was destroyed by rain on Saturday.

CCTV footage aired on local broadcaster MBC showed muddy water rushing into the tunnel in Cheongju as vehicles drove past with their wheels submerged.

Seo Jeong-il, head of the west Cheongju fire station, said: 'We are focusing on the search operation as there's likely more people there. We are doing our best to wrap it up today.'

Thirty-five victims have now been identified nationwide after a week of torrential downpour, with at least ten people missing and 7,866 affected by evacuations.

A bus is brought out of a flooded underground tunnel after flood water submerged 15 vehicles in Cheongju, South Korea, 16 July 2023

Rescuers conduct a search operation along a road submerged by floodwaters leading to an underground tunnel in Cheongju, South Korea, Sunday, July 16, 2023

The death toll in the Cheongju tunnel stands at nine, including one body retrieved on Saturday, South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported.

Nearly 400 rescue workers were called out to search the 2,247ft long tunnel in the central city of Cheongju, where vehicles - including a bus - became trapped yesterday.

Images show rescue workers pumping murky water out from the tunnel to lower the water level while boats patrolled the area.

The underpass was hit by a flash flood on Saturday after the banks of the Miho River collapsed under pressure of the rain.

Heavy rain has swept through South Korea since Sunday June 9.

One survivor from the submerged tunnel said the government should have restricted access to the underpass when flooding was expected, Yonhap reported.

A North Chungcheong official said the levee unexpectedly collapsed before the precipitation reached the level required for restricting access to the tunnel.

The latest disaster came in spite of South Korea's vow to step up preparedness against torrential rains after Seoul was hit last year with floods.

Last year saw the heaviest rain in 115 years, with floods hitting basement flats in low-lying neighbourhoods hardest, including the largely affluent Gangnam district.

President Yoon Suk Yeol, now on an overseas trip, convened a video-linked response meeting and acknowledged that some regions had failed to take preemptive measures against the extreme weather.

Yoon ordered Prime Minister Han Duck-soo to mobilise all available resources to minimise casualties and urged the weather agency to quickly release forecasts because more heavy rain was expected in the coming days, his office said.

The Korea Meteorological Administration said the central and southern parts of the country could receive as much as 300 millimetres (12 inches) of additional rain by Tuesday.

The Ministry of Interior and Safety said 10 people were missing across the country as of 11am (2am GMT), with the rain causing landslides and floods.

The ministry data does not include those in the flooded tunnel because it was not immediately clear how many people were trapped underwater.

Rescue workers move the body of a victim recovered during a search and rescue operation near an underpass that has been submerged by a flooded river in Cheongju, July 16, 2023

People watch their collapsed houses after a landslide caused by heavy rain in Yecheon, South Korea, Sunday, July 16, 2023

While South Korea often experiences heavy rains in summer, it has witnessed a sharp increase in torrential rains in recent years.

Korea Railroad Corp has halted all slow trains and some bullet trains since Saturday due to safety concerns over landslides, track flooding and falling rocks.

President Yoon Suk Yeol spent the weekend in Kyiv, where he spearately pledged more military and humanitarian aid in the fight against Russia.

A South Korean official said Sunday the country would provide more demining equipment to Ukraine.

'We are thinking to expand support on mine detectors and demining equipment as Ukraine's demand for them was assessed to be desperately huge,' Yoon's deputy national security adviser, Kim Tae-hyo, told a briefing.
Former President Donald Trump mocked the White House's revelation that the investigation into how cocaine came to be found in the West Wing was to be closed because of a 'lack of evidence'.

Speaking at Turning Point Action in Florida on Saturday evening, the 2024 Republican presidential candidate poured cold water on suggestions that there were no cameras that might have witnessed the culprit to whom the drugs belonged to.

'The White House just announced they dropped the investigation into the West Wing cocaine scandal of just a few days,' Trump began, recounting the news.

'Think of it, they have cocaine going into the White House. They have got more cameras than any building in the world. It is opposite the Situation Room. I know it well,' Trump went on.

'It's probably the most important room anywhere in the world. That is where war is decided, where nuclear is decided, where everything is decided. They said they did not have any cameras. Like hell they didn't!'

Trump shared his skepticism to loyal Republicans listening to his Saturday night speech that despite facial recognition cameras, guest-book logs and security all over the most protected building in the Western world, the investigation has now been dropped.

Former President Donald Trump mocked the White House's revelation earlier this week that the investigation into how cocaine came to be found in the West Wing was to be closed because of a 'lack of evidence'

Furious Republicans said the Secret Service is closing the White House cocaine investigation without any suspects  and a narrowed-down list of 500 people who could be responsible

According to the Secret Service, there are no security cameras in the hallway that leads to the West Wing, to the Oval Office, and the hub of the most powerful person on Earth

Donald Trump talks about the White House Cocaine scandal Oh we didnt have any cameras  LIKE HELL THEY DIDNT pic.twitter.com/AsoukHprXj  Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) July 16, 2023

'They say they do not have tapes. That is a big deal the cocaine. It could have been other things. It could have been a dangerous weapon, a bioweapon. they ended it in just a few days,' Trump said during his remarks from the Palm Beach County Convention Center in West Palm Beach.

Last week, in a rambling social media post, Trump suggested the illicit substance actually belonged to the president's addict son Hunter.

The former president also suggested that the drugs might belong to 'crackhead' Justice Department Special Counsel Jack Smith, who is leading the investigation into Trump's handling of classified documents.

'Does anybody really believe that the COCAINE found in the West Wing of the White House, very close to the Oval Office, is for the use of anyone other than Hunter & Joe Biden,' Trump said in his post on the incident.

He added: 'But watch, the Fake News Media will soon start saying that the amount found was 'very small,' & it wasn't really COCAINE, but rather common ground up Aspirin, & the story will vanish.'

Last week Trump said the cocaine discovered at the White House belonged to the president and his son Hunter in a rambling post that also called special counsel Jack Smith a crackhead

It appears as though the mystery of who the cocaine discovered in the White House belonged to will remain unsolved. Pictured: President Joe Biden, first lady Jill Biden, Hunter Biden and son Beau, three, watch fireworks from the White House Truman Balcony on July 4, 2023

'It could have been other things. It could have been a dangerous weapon, a bioweapon. they ended it in just a few days,' Trump said during his remarks from the Palm Beach County Convention Center in West Palm Beach

Furious Republicans have called the shuttering of the probe 'ridiculous' and accused the Biden administration of a 'cover-up,' with agents unable to find a suspect despite poring over surveillance footage for more than a week.

GOP Rep. Tim Burchett said agents 'just decided it's just some weekend visitor' and chalked up the entire investigation as 'another coverup' by the Biden White House.

'It's bogus' the Tennessee congressman added. 'That is the most ridiculous thing I've ever seen in my life.'

His comments came after the Secret Service briefed members of Congress, 11 days after the cocaine discovery forced evacuation and a hazmat situation at the White House.

The list of suspects was narrowed down to 500. Democrats said drug testing all of the potential culprits would violate their 'civil liberties' and insisted the cocaine was found in an area used by guests, not members of the Biden family or those with security clearances.

Since July 2 the Secret Service had been pouring over surveillance footage from cameras stationed all over the White House, but still hasn't managed to find a culprit.

Meanwhile, President Joe Biden has avoided the latest White House scandal by escaping to Europe for meetings with foreign leaders.

Democrats said drug testing all of the potential culprits would violate their 'civil liberties' and insisted the cocaine was found in an area used by guests, not members of the Biden family or those with security clearances. Hunter Biden is pictured last month

GOP Rep. Tim Burchett said agents 'just decided it's just some weekend visitor... That is the most ridiculous thing I've ever seen in my life'

There were no fingerprints or other DNA found on the container holding the cocaine, according to the Secret Service. And there was less than a gram of the illicit drug in the 'dime-sized' zipper-lock baggie (file photo)

There were no fingerprints or other DNA found on the container holding the cocaine, according to the Secret Service. And there was less than a gram of the illicit drug in the 'dime-sized' zipper-lock baggie.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene said that the Secret Service officials informed lawmakers during Thursday's briefing that they narrowed down the list of suspected culprits to about 500 people.

'Have they drug tested this list of 500 potential suspects that brought an illegal substance  the drug cocaine  into the White House,' Greene told reporters after the briefing. 'Their answer was no, and that they're unwilling to do so.'

Without any direct answers from the USSS or the Biden administration on the cocaine discovery with nearly two weeks to investigate the matter, members of Congress demanded briefings.

Trump-era CBP Director and longtime FBI agent Mark Morgan told DailyMail.com last week that the case is 'straightforward' and could be solved in the matter of 30 minutes.

Morgan and Rep. Burchett separately noted that there are cameras everywhere with facial recognition technology that could provide answers to who brought the cocaine into the White House.

It's unlikely Republican members of Congress will be happy with USSS closing the investigation without finding out who is responsible for bringing the illicit drug into the West Wing.

'Just left the most ridiculous meeting of all time with the Secret Service on the cocaine that was found in the White House,' Rep. Burchett said in a video he recorded walking through Congress after Thursday's briefing.

'It turns out  they don't know who did it,' he said. 'The investigation is going to be over at the end of the week, and they're not going to find out who did it. And that's basically it.'

'Another coverup,' the lawmaker added. 'You know, it's the most secure building in the entire world Nobody, not even the press, goes in there without them knowing.'

He called the outcome a 'bad look on the Secret Service and a horrible look on this White House.'

The Secret Service said it would close the investigation without finding who brought the cocaine into the White House

A full statement from the USSS was released Thursday following the briefing that gave a detailed rundown of what the agency did to investigate the matter.

But it concluded by saying it would close the investigation without finding who brought the cocaine into the White House.

'There was no surveillance video footage found that provided investigative leads or any other means for investigators to identify who may have deposited the found substance in this area,' the statement claims.

'Without physical evidence, the investigation will not be able to single out a person of interest from the hundreds of individuals who passed through the vestibule where the cocaine was discovered.'

The statement concluded with: 'At this time, the Secret Service's investigation is closed due to a lack of physical evidence.'
Australia's rental crisis was thought to have reached a new low when a tent pitched in a living room went on the market, but new listings prove it can always go lower.

The tent has started to look cosy after a rundown boat was offered for $200 a week and, keeping the nautical theme, a shipping container has also been listed.

The boat, which is moored in Western Australia, tried to drum up trade by offering 'Living on 38ft yacht $200pw' in its online ad.

'One of the most beautiful spots in the Swan River near Fremantle,' it added. 'Hot water shower, storage space, kitchen ... Couples accepted.'

The boat, located 18kilometres south-west of Perth CBD, even comes with a small dinghy so the happy couple can get to dry land without swimming ashore.

A rundown boat (pictured) has been offered for rent on the Swan River for $200 a week

A shipping container (pictured) and a caravan parking spot (but no caravan) have also been listed for rent

The tenant or tenants will need to get their sea legs fairly quickly as the boat does not look the most comfortable, with the bed being a mattress on the floor in the boat's windowless bow.

One old sailor, Luke, likes the idea of living on a boat as a year of rate rises has left him an $1,100 a week mortgage bill.

The retiree told The West that 'Rather than downsize, my go-to is a boat ... I'd be quite happy doing that.'

He warned, though, that not every land lubber can automatically take to a life on the high seas, or even moored on the Swan River.

'It's romantic ... but there's a reality to living on a boat,' he said. 'They're small, they're cramped.'

The Real Estate Institute of WA (REIWA) said Perth is in the midst of the worst rental crisis since the institute began keeping such records 43 years ago.

The bed is a mattress on the floor (pictured) up a couple of steps in the boat's windowless bow

The boat (pictured) comes with a dinghy so you can get to dry land without getting wet

The city's vacancy rate is at 0.7 per cent, though it was even worse, at 0.6 per cent, last December.

Other unusual rental offerings in WA include $200 to rent a caravan parking spot in the backyard of a Yanchep home - caravan not included, but the spot did come with access to water and sewerage.

Several people have offered to let people pitch a tent in their backyards, but for those who like the idea of a tent but not the outdoorsy vibe, the solution came with one pitched in a family's apartment.

The downside was that the husband, wife and two children would also still be living in the unit, but the upside was you got your own bathroom.

Unlike the Swan River boat which was advertised as being suitable for a couple, the Melbourne tent was single occupancy only.

If that sounded up your street, the cost was quite a bit steeper than riverboat living at $350 a week for the tent, which is $18,200 a year.

A family of four in Melbourne is offering a tent (pictured) pitched in their apartment to a single person for $350 a week, which is $18,200 a year

The ad gave others ideas about how they could monetise their own properties.

I might rent out my driveway to a caravan, backyard to tents, double bunk beds in my 4 bedrooms,' one posted.

Another said they were going to start living in their two-man tent and rent the second space in it.

It wasn't until a few days later, and 3,418kilometres away, that someone thought of renting out their boat.
A missing 25-year-old woman who vanished after saying she was pulling over to check on a toddler who was wandering alone along an Alabama interstate highway has been found alive at her home.

Carlethia 'Carlee' Nichole Russell was on the phone with her sister-in-law when she got out of her car to check up on the child, she said. The family member then heard a sudden scream and shortly after, lost all contact with Russell.

When officers arrived at the location, they found Russell's car, along with her cell phone, purse, wig and apple watch in the nearby area - but Russell and the child she claimed to have spotted were nowhere to be seen.

On Saturday night, officials in Hoover, Alabama received a phone call that Russell had returned to her home after knocking on the door. Police Chief Nicholas Derzis told the New York Times he's not sure how she got there, but nobody was with Russell on her arrival.

After police and fire officials confirmed it was Russell and evaluated her at the scene, she was taken to a local hospital. No further information about her condition has been made public other than one person familiar with the situation said she'd been 'dropped off' at home, according to WBRC.

Carlethia 'Carlee' Nichole, 25, vanished after pulling over to check on a toddler who was wondering alone along an Alabama interstate highway on Thursday night while on the phone with her sister

DailyMail.com has reached out to the Hoover Police Department for comment.

Hoover Police had not received any other calls of a missing child. One witness reported possibly seeing a gray vehicle and a man standing outside of Carlee's vehicle, but police said they had no additional information.

'In the process at some point she got out of the car and my daughter-in-law could hear her asking the child if they were okay,' her mother, Talitha Russell, said. 'The child did not respond, or at least she did not hear her respond, he or she respond.'

'And then she heard our daughter Carlee scream, and from there on all we could hear was noise  background noise in her phone, which we later found out was noise from the interstate.'

Russel left work around 8:20 PM on Thursday before stopping to pick up food for her and her mom.

She then travelled toward Hoover and called 911 at about 9:30 PM to report the missing child wandering on the side of Interstate 459.

After calling 911, Russell reportedly called her sister-in-law to tell her she was going to check up on the child. The family member lost contact with her at about 9:36 pm but the line remained open.

Responding officers located Russell's abandoned car along with her cell phone, her purse, wig and apple watch in the nearby area, but no sign of her or a child.

The 25-year-old was on the phone with her sister-in-law when she went to check up on the child before the family member heard a scream and lost contact

When officers arrived at the location, they found Russell's car, along with her cell phone, purse, wig and apple watch in the nearby area - but Russell and the child were nowhere to be seen

One witness reported possibly seeing a gray vehicle and a man standing outside of Carlee's vehicle, but police said they have no additional information

'And then she heard our daughter Carlee scream, and from there on all we could hear was noise  background noise in her phone, which we later found out was noise from the interstate,' her mother, Talitha Russell (left), said

Lt. Daniel Lowe said said one witness reported possibly seeing a gray vehicle and a man standing outside of Carlee's vehicle, but they have no additional information.

Detectives are currently investigating this incident and are requesting the public's assistance to help locate Russell.

Russell is described as a 5-foot-4, 150 pound black female and was last seen wearing a black shirt, black pants and white Nike sneakers.

Lowe said police are pursing all possibilities in the disappearance.

'We're certainly leaving nothing off the table,' he said when asked if investigators believe she was abducted.

'No piece of information is too small in this investigation,' Lowe said in a presser Friday.

Russell is described as a 5-foot-4, 150 pound black female and was last seen wearing a black shirt, black pants and white Nike sneakers

Family member organized a search Friday. Anyone with information should contact Detective Brad Fountain at 205-444-7562, Sergeant Drew Mims at 205-739-7274, or Crimestoppers of Metro Alabama at 205-254-7777

Family members also organized a search in the area.

'We're just gonna scour the earth,' Russell's dad, Carlos Russell, told WVTM. 'There's no stopping us.'

An anonymous donor offered a $20,000 reward for Russell's safe return and another $5,000 reward is available through Crime Stoppers.

The Hoover Police Department said they are partnering with many local, state and federal partners in the investigation and are 'grateful for the outpouring of support from the local and law enforcement community.'

Police said they would continue to provide periodic updates on Twitter to relay any immediate information to the public.

'We would also ask our community to keep the Russell family in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time,' Lowe said.

Detectives are currently investigating this incident and are requesting the public's assistance to help locate Russell. Police said an anonymous donor offered a $20,000 reward for Russell's safe return and another $5,000 reward is available through Crime Stoppers

The Hoover Police Department said they are partnering with many local, state and federal partners in the investigation and are 'grateful for the outpouring of support from the local and law enforcement community'

Talitha Russell said the last time she spoke with her daughter was around 9:18 p.m. Thursday when she left Taziki's after picking up food and was headed home

Talitha Russell said the last time she spoke with her daughter was around 9:18 p.m. Thursday when she left Taziki's after picking up food and was headed home.

'We are trusting God, we are staying positive, we are not allowing any negative thoughts to enter our minds so all that we are doing is trusting God, believe in God that our daughter will be brought home safely,' Talitha Russell said to WSAZ.

She's known to be helpful and she has a big heart,' Talitha Russell said of her daughter.

'And she does know not to stop for anyone ... I think she kind of let her guard down thinking they were so close. And when she got out the car, she did tell my daughter-in-law, 'I can't just leave this little child on the side of the road.'

Family and teams of volunteers are spread out across the city to hand out flyers

Carlee's wig was left at the scene of her disappearance. Her mother posted a photo of what her daughter looks like in braids without her wig

Russell's parents are begging anyone with information to come forward

Russell works part time at The Woodhouse Day Spa and attends Jefferson State Community College, according to AL, where she is studying to become a registered nurse.

She has a bachelors degree in psychology from AUM, according to the outlet.

Jefferson State released a statement on Friday and said the school was 'extremely concerned' for Russell's safety.

Angela Harris, mother of Aniah Blanchard, a 19-year-old who vanished in 2019 before she was found dead, joined the search on Friday.

Harris said that despite teams of volunteers spread out across the city to hand out flyers, they are limited because there is 'no place to search.'

'It's the most frustrating,' she said to AL. 'I told the family, whatever you feel in heart, where you think you need to go, go.'
Almost 600 people have been charged as police launched a massive crackdown on domestic violence and seized illegal firearms, drugs, money and even a corn snake.

The four-day Amarok III operation in NSW led to 1,107 domestic violence charges being laid against 592 people, including at least two women.

A police chief compared the arrested people to 'terrorists', with 139 of them among the state's most dangerous offenders and 103 with outstanding warrants for violent offences.

Some of those charged also face other serious offences including prohibited firearm and weapon possession, drug possession and supply.

Police seized 22 firearms and 40 prohibited weapons, as well as various types of illicit drugs located with 89 detections.

A police operation targeting some of Australia's most dangerous domestic violence offenders has turned up illegal firearms, drugs, money - almost $250,000 in one case - and a snake. A woman is pictured getting arrested during the operation

The four-day Amarok III operation in NSW led to 1,107 domestic violence charges being laid against 592 people, including at least two women. An arrested man is pictured (second left)

Police Deputy Commissioner Mal Lanyon said more than half the state's murders are domestic violence-related.

'Amarok elevates our focus on those offenders who often display the dangerousness and violence of organised crime figures and the fixation of terrorists,' he said on Sunday.

During one arrest in the Hunter Valley region, police found a rifle round, cocaine, drug paraphernalia, two phones, testosterone cypionate and a corn snake, which was handed over to the Department of Primary Industries.

Eastern corn snakes are not native to Australia and are classified as pests.

In a raid in the Monaro region, after officers forced entry, as well as finding the man they were looking for, they also seized a commercially manufactured slingshot, testosterone, cannabis and gamma-Hydroxybutyric acid (GHB).

A man is pictured getting out of a police wagon after being arrested during the four-day Amarok III operation in NSW

Weapons such as illegal firearms (pictured) were seized, along with knives

At an address in the Sydney suburb of Strathfield South officers found $231,105 in cash, prohibited drugs, assorted drug paraphernalia, mobile phones and electronic storage devices.

Some of the alleged offenders tried to flee before being caught, including one man who crawled into a roof cavity and then onto the roof.

Each year, NSW Police receive more than 139,000 calls for assistance and deal with more than 33,000 domestic-related assaults.

During the operation, which ended on Saturday, police engaged with high-risk domestic violence offenders on 1,169 occasions.

They made 315 applications for Apprehended Domestic Violence Orders, served 500 outstanding ADVOs, completed 4,882 ADVO compliance checks and 1,465 bail compliance checks.

There were several seizures of cash (pictured), almost $250,000 in one case

Drugs including cocaine, gamma-Hydroxybutyric acid and cannabis (pictured) were seized

Officers also conducted 116 Firearms Prohibition Orders searches at properties linked to those who are subject to such orders.

'These figures show this is an epidemic,' Police Minister Yasmin Catley. 'We know domestic and family violence is one of the most under-reported crime types.

'The police have my full support on this.'
MBABANE  An aspiring Member of Parliament under Mkhiweni Constituency was yesterday found guilty and told to pay a cow as a fine for convening a meeting without the knowledge of the royal kraal (umphakatsi).

Dvokolwako is one of the chiefdoms under Mkhiweni. The Times SUNDAY has been informed that the meeting took place on Wednesday, wherein the aspiring MP, Masotja Peter Dlamini, called residents of the area to assemble at two different points as there were international development partners who had brought development initiatives to the community. One of the meeting points was reportedly at an area known as Mantjonga, where about 100 residents are said to have showed up and the other point was at a place referred to a Number Eight, where around 200 community members reportedly attended. The meeting was reportedly viewed as part of a campaign process by Dlamini, who is said to have openly declared his willingness to contest in this years national general elections.

Investigations by this publication have revealed that a member of the Dvokolwako royal kraal called the Mliba Police Station to report the aspiring MP for allegedly engaging in an illegal campaign. According to the Elections Act of 2013, candidates are only allowed to campaign after the primary elections. The Act states that a candidate is any person nominated as a candidate for an election, and it is worth noting that there is currently no candidate as the nomination is only scheduled to take place on June 22 or 23, 2023.

illegal elections campaign

Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Superintendent Phindile Vilakati confirmed that someone was reported to them for conducting an illegal elections campaign.

We spoke to the person and advised him that this was a criminal offence. Yes it did happen. We told him that campaigning at this time was an offence, Vilakati said. The identity of the development partners cannot be revealed because they could not be reached for comment as the contact persons mobile phone rang without being answered when called yesterday. However, it can be stated that their projects include drilling boreholes, providing bursaries for online studies and donating food stuffs in communities, mostly those in rural locations.

When the royal kraal saw the meeting between the international development partners and the community members, they are said to have enquired what this gathering was all about and who had called it. That is when they heard that Dlamini was behind the meeting and the indvuna called him to enquire where he had got permission to call a meeting in the area. Dlamini tried to apologise to the indvuna but he was told that he should appear before the council (libandla) on Saturday (yesterday) to explain himself. He was told that he shoud explain his powers of calling a meeting and also why he was campaigning, said a resident of the area who is privy to what happened.

Dvokolwako Indvuna Yemcuha (royal kraal headman) Joseph Mgabhi confirmed that Dlamini was summoned to appear before the local council. However, the indvuna denied that the charge had to do with campaigning. He was summoned for calling the community to meeting without getting permission from the royal kraal. That is what we know. As for the campaigning, we dont know that. What we know is that he called the residents to a meeting without authority. The royal kraal has a chief and an indvuna to whom every activity in the area is reported before it happens, he said. Mgabhi refused to respond to information that Dlamini was also reported to the police by the royal kraal for allegedly campaigning illegally. This is despite the confirmation of this information by the police. Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC) Communications Officer Mbonisi Bhembe said he had spoken to Dlamini but refused to divulge what their engagement entailed. What we spoke about is between me and him and not for anyone else. But I can confirm that we spoke, he said.

When the aspiring MP was contacted yesterday afternoon, he confirmed that he had just returned home from the royal kraal where he had been summoned. I have just been told to pay a cow as a fine for having called people to a meeting with a team from an organisation that is bringing development to Eswatini. The libandla told me that I do not have powers to call a meeting but I feel this is just victimisation because I have indicated that I will stand for elections if I am nominated for the position of MP. I suspect that the royal kraal has its preferred candidate and they are trying to protect that persons interests because the elections process is now heating up, Dlamini said. He said he would appeal the verdict of the council and was now awaiting further direction of that process.

He said even though he respected traditional authority, he was nonetheless also aware of the Bill of Rights as provided for in the countrys Constitution in as far as the protection of freedom of association, assembly and expression is concerned. The constitution does not say we should report to the royal kraal when we want to meet and that is my gripe, he said.

He said he would continue to bring development progress to the area but would from now on report to the royal kraal even though he was conscious of the Bill of Rights.
Ben Wallace has tried to clarify his warning to Ukraine against treating Nato as 'Amazon' for weapons - after he dramatically announced he is leaving politics.

The Defence Secretary griped that his controversial remarks had been 'misinterpreted' as he vowed to keep supporting Kyiv.

Instead he insisted was merely offering advice to Volodymyr Zelensky that to keep popular support in the West the relationship had to be a 'partnership' rather than 'transactional'.

The feathering came in a string of tweets posted after Mr Wallace confirmed he is stepping down from government at the next reshuffle - and will not stand again at the general election.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace griped that his controversial remarks had been 'misinterpreted' as he vowed to keep supporting Kyiv

Mr Wallace insisted was merely offering advice to Volodymyr Zelensky that to keep popular support in the West the relationship had to be a 'partnership' rather than 'transactional'

Posting on Twitter in Ukrainian last night, Mr Wallace said his controversial remarks had been 'misinterpreted' as he vowed to keep supporting Kyiv

Mr Wallace sparked a storm at the Nato summit in Lithuania last week when suggested Mr Zelensky should show more 'gratitude' for gifts of kit in order to counter disquiet, particularly in the US, about the costs.

The Ukrainian president voiced bewilderment, stressing that Kyiv is grateful and saying he did not understand the point Mr Wallace was trying to make.

Rishi Sunak also effectively disowned the comments, despite the White House voicing similar sentiments.

Posting on Twitter in Ukrainian last night, Mr Wallace said: 'My comments about how best to support Ukraine caused a lot of interest and were somewhat misrepresented.

'For the record, as someone who has been at the forefront of mobilising support for Ukraine, I have discussed the challenges that may arise as we work towards the common goal of helping Ukraine get what it needs to defeat this illegal invasion.

'I said that Ukraine sometimes needs to realise that in many countries and in some parliaments there is not such strong support as in Great Britain.'

He said his remark was not a comment about governments, but 'more about citizens and members of parliaments'.

'We are fortunate that the citizens of the United Kingdom and all parties in our parliament support our efforts to provide Ukraine with the necessary means,' he said.

'Our approval ratings for supporting Ukraine are among the highest in Europe  over 70 per cent.

'My comments were meant to reflect that it is important to remember not to talk to yourself, but to make an effort to reach out to other citizens who still need to be convinced.'

Mr Wallace also addressed comments when he said the UK was not online delivery service Amazon after being handed a wish list for military supplies.

'The comments about Amazon were made last year to emphasise that Britain's relationship with Ukraine is not 'transactional' but more 'partnership',' he said.

'I will personally continue to support Ukraine on its path for as long as it takes, but national parliaments often have competing needs and Ukraine and the UK must continue to encourage this strong support, with facts and friendship.'

Mr Wallace, seen as a darling of the Conservative grass roots and lauded for his response to Russia's invasion, surprised Westminster by announcing his departure from politics.

He had been bruised by US President Joe Biden to block him from becoming the next Nato Secretary-General.

Mr Sunak effectively disowned the comments by Mr Wallace, despite the White House voicing similar sentiments

Although his constituency of Wyre and Preston North is being dissolved under boundary changes, Mr Wallace is thought to have turned down the chance to switch to another safe seat.

Downing Street fears that Mr Wallace will be part of a stampede of senior Tory figures quitting politics for the private sector rather than languish on the backbenches in Opposition.

He told the Sunday Times: 'I'm not standing next time. I went into politics in the Scottish Parliament in 1999. That's 24 years. I've spent well over seven years with three phones by my bed.'

Mr Wallace said he told Sunak of his plans to stand down on June 16 and had hoped to make the announcement this summer, but his hand was forced by leaks.

He said he remains supportive of the government and will not be quitting early to trigger another by-election.
British holidaymakers are changing their travel plans as temperatures soar to record-highs and more than two thousand people in the Canary Islands flee from wildfires.

Sweltering heat sweeping across Italy, Spain and Greece could bring 'potentially the hottest temperatures ever recorded in Europe' to the region this week as locals and travellers battle what meteorologists have dubbed the 'most intense heatwave of the summer'.

Authorities in Athens say the Acropolis, one of Greece's top tourist attractions, will close during the hottest hours on Sunday, for the third day running. Spanish officials on Saturday had evacuated more than 2,500 people from La Palma in the Canary Islands, where a wildfire has destroyed 4,500 hectares (11,000 acres) of land.

Britons who had booked European holidays this week now say they are changing their travel plans because they are 'worried about my health' and don't want anything bad to happen while on holiday.

Some travellers said they had to cancel their trip altogether, while others claim they went on holiday but were forced to 'stay in our room most of the day' due to the unbearable temperatures, The Guardian reported.

Some holidaymakers are just planning to change outings and activities, while others are trying to instead move their holiday to regions with milder climates.

Spanish officials said Saturday they had evacuated more than 2,500 people from La Palma in the Canary Islands, where fire has destroyed 4,500 hectares of land. Pictured: The inferno raging through La Palma on Saturday

Around 300 firefighters on the ground are working to bring the blaze under control, supported by firefighting aircraft. Pictured: Fire crews battle the blaze in La Palma on Saturday

Sweltering heat sweeping across Italy, Spain and Greece could bring 'potentially the hottest temperatures ever recorded in Europe' to the region this week. Pictured: A man cools off in a fountain in Turin, Italy on Saturday amid record high temperatures

Much of Southern Europe has been engulfed by a severe heatwave named Cerberus after the hound of Hades from Greek mythology. Pictured: Locals and tourists cool off at a beach in Nafplion, Greece on Saturday

Much of Southern Europe has been engulfed by a severe heatwave named Cerberus after the hound of Hades from Greek mythology.

Justine Rush, 53, is currently on holiday in Corfu with her husband and two teenagers. She told the newspaper that their family expected heat, but not temperatures make it 'too hot to go outside in the day'.

Ms Rush, whose family was forced to spend most of their day cooped up in their accommodation, said that despite not enjoying beach days, 'we can't do anything else'. They cancelled a day trip to a nearby town and will instead lounge by the sea.

Paola Deitan, 29, shared how she and her friend were meant to travel to Greece but are now going to Barcelona due to its more mild climate.

'Obviously, I am worried about my health,' she told The Guardian. 'I don't want anything to happen to me while on holiday.'

Another traveller, who is on a cruise around the Mediterranean with her university-aged son, said the heatwave has put her off from taking another European holiday.

The 61-year-old, who booked on-land excursions, fears they will have to 'stay on the boat the whole time because it will be too hot to do anything'.

She added: 'We usually do our holidays in England but we wanted something different this year. I don't think I will do this again or maybe we'll make such plans around Easter instead.'

Officials in La Palma blamed 'the wind, the climate conditions as well as the heatwave that we are living through' for the swift spread of the blaze. Pictured: The fire burning on Saturday

Local residents look on at a burning forest fire, near Puntagorda on the Canary Island of La Palma, on Saturday

Flames and smoke rise from a forest fire in Punta Gorda, La Palma, Canary Islands on Saturday

The fire broke out in the morning in the Puntagorda district on Saturday before spreading quickly. Pictured: The blaze burning on Saturday

At least 11 houses were destroyed in the inferno which started in the early hours in El Pinar de Puntagorda  a wooded area in the north of the Canary Island, which is popular with British holidaymakers. Pictured: The fire burning early Saturday morning

The fire is on the western side of La Palma on wooded, hilly terrain dotted with homes. Pictured: The fire raging through the island on Saturday

Italy faces weekend predictions of historic highs with the health ministry issuing a red alert for 16 cities including Rome, Bologna and Florence.

The weather centre warned Italians to prepare for 'the most intense heatwave of the summer and also one of the most intense of all time'.

The thermometer is likely to hit 40C (104F) in Rome by Monday and even 43C (109F) on Tuesday, smashing the record of 40.5C (105F) set in August 2007.

The islands of Sicily and Sardinia could wilt under temperatures as high as 48C (118F), the European Space Agency warned - 'potentially the hottest temperatures ever recorded in Europe'.

The Acropolis in Athens, one of Greece's top tourist attractions, will close during the hottest hours on Sunday, for the third day running.

In France, high temperatures and resulting drought are posing a threat to the farming industry, earning Agriculture Minister Marc Fesneau criticism from climatologists for having brushed aside conditions as 'normal enough for summer'.

This June was the second-hottest on record in France, according to the national weather agency, and several areas of the country have been under a heatwave alert since Tuesday.

There is little reprieve ahead for Spain, whose meteorological agency warned that a new heatwave Monday through Wednesday will bring temperatures above 40C to the Canary Islands and the southern Andalusia region.

Italy faces weekend predictions of historic highs with the health ministry issuing a red alert for 16 cities including Rome, Bologna and Florence. Pictured: A woman drinks water during a heat wave in Turin, Italy on Saturday

The weather centre warned Italians to prepare for 'the most intense heatwave of the summer and also one of the most intense of all time'. Pictured: People cool off at Mondello beach in Italy on Saturday

Holidaymakers say they are forced to stay inside or lounge by the beach because it is 'too hot' to do anything else. Pictured: A woman has sun-cream applied as she sits at Mondello beach, during a heatwave across Italy on Saturday

Some holidaymakers say they are changing their travel plans because they are 'worried about my health' and don't want anything bad to happen while travelling. Pictured: A man drinks water from a fountain during a heat wave in Turin, Italy on Saturday

People enjoy the banks of the Guadiaro river at 'La Cueva del Gato' near Benaojan, in southern Spain on Saturday

Pictured: Tourists, many from the UK, bask on another scorching day on the city beach in Las Palmas on Gran Canaria on Friday

Pictured: British Holidaymakers braving heatwave in Benidorm, Alicante, Spain on Friday

Pictured: Britons enjoy food and beers during the heatwave in Benidorm, Spain on Friday

Spanish officials said Saturday they had evacuated more than 2,500 people from La Palma in the Canary Islands, where fire has destroyed 4,500 hectares (11,000 acres) of land.

At least 11 houses were destroyed in the inferno which started in the early hours in El Pinar de Puntagorda  a wooded area in the north of the Canary Island, which is popular with British holidaymakers.

Around 300 firefighters on the ground are working to bring the blaze under control, supported by firefighting aircraft, they added.

'The fire advanced very quickly,' said Fernando Clavijo, president of the Canary Islands regional government.

He blamed 'the wind, the climate conditions as well as the heatwave that we are living through' for the swift spread of the blaze.

'It's a fire that has gathered strength in very little time,' Tourism Minister Hector Gomez told reporters.

Sergio Rodriguez, head of the La Palma Council and the island's main authority, called on people to respect the evacuation to allow the emergency services to work more easily.

The fire broke out in the morning in the Puntagorda district on Saturday before spreading quickly, said a statement from local officials.

Tijarafe's mayor, Marcos Lorenzo, told TVE television that not all the town had been evacuated.

According to data from the European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS), Spain suffered nearly 500 wildfires in 2022, which destroyed more than 300,000 hectares, the worst figure in Europe.

So far this year, it has lost another 66,000 hectares to fire, according to the latest EFFIS data.

The situation is all the more worrying in a country that has been hit hard by the effects of climate change, with a series of crushing heatwaves as well as less and less rainfall.

The national meteorological agency also registered record highs during exceptionally hot weather in mainland Spain.

Italy is facing temperatures of historic highs this weekend with the health ministry issuing a red alert for 16 cities including Rome, Bologna and Florence (pictured: tourists sweltering in the heat in Rome)

Meanwhile Spanish authorities have preemptively evacuated some 500 people to avoid a wildfire (pictured) on the Canary Island of La Palma

The meteo centre warned Italians to prepare for 'the most intense heatwave of the summer and also one of the most intense of all time' (pictured: tourists in Venice on Saturday)

The wildfire and evacuations come nearly two years after a three-month volcanic eruption caused devastation on La Palma.

While nobody was killed, around 3,000 buildings were buried along with many banana plantations, roads and irrigation systems.

The fire is on the western side of La Palma on wooded, hilly terrain dotted with homes. It is not an area directly impacted by the 2021 volcanic eruption.

Puntagorda's mayor, Vicente Rodriguez, told Spanish public broadcaster RTVE the fire started inside the limits of his municipality.

He said the area has seen below-average rainfall in recent years, just like large parts of the drought-stricken mainland, because of changing weather patterns impacted by climate change.

Authorities and forestry experts are concerned that the conditions are ripe for a difficult wildfire campaign after seeing virulent fires as early as March.

La Palma, with a population of 85,000, is one of eight members of Spain's Canary Islands archipelago off Africa's western coast. At their nearest point, the islands are 60 miles from Morocco.

The thermometer is likely to hit 40C (104F) in Rome (pictured on Saturday) by Monday and even 43C (109F) on Tuesday, smashing the record of 40.5C (105F) set in August 2007

The islands of Sicily and Sardinia could wilt under temperatures as high as 48C (118F), the European Space Agency warned - 'potentially the hottest temperatures ever recorded in Europe' (pictured: people trying to cool down in Venice on Saturday)

While people in Italy (pictured in Rome) are suffering under the high temperatures, Greece is also roasting, with parts of the country facing highs of as much as 44C (111F) on Saturday

A red alert warning, which is in place for 16 Italian cities, means that the heat is so intense that it poses a health risk to the whole population - not just vulnerable groups like the elderly and very young children (pictured: tourists sheltering under umbrellas in Venice)

The central city of Thebes sweated under 44.2C (111F) on Friday, while Rome (pictured Saturday) is expected to experience temperatures above 40C this weekend and next week

Tourists at the Roman forum brave the hot conditions on another sweltering day with high temperatures in Rome on Saturday

Tourists shelter from the sun with umbrellas in St. Mark's Square as the city gears up for 'Redentore' festival celebrations in Venice on Saturday

In Venice, tourists used umbrellas and hats to shelter from the heat on Saturday

READ MORE: Roasting Brit tourists describe cowering in their hotels and dodging 'flaming-hot' beaches as brutal Cerberus heatwave grips Europe Advertisement

Tens of millions of people around the globe are battling dangerously high temperatures this week as meteorologists predict record heat forecasts.

Authorities have been sounding the alarm, advising people to avoid outdoor activities in the daytime and to be wary of dehydration.

Earlier this week, a man was said to have collapsed and later died in Lodi, near Milan, due to the extreme weather. Fires broke out in Croatia on Thursday, with houses and cars burnt down in at least one village.

Greece also struggled in the heat, with the Acropolis closed to visitors and the Red Cross handing out water bottles.

In Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, 73, fell victim to the heat and was taken to hospital for apparent dehydration. He admitted that it was 'not a good idea' to be out in the sun without a hat or water. He added he felt 'very good' last night, but remained in hospital.

Another heatwave, called Charon, after the mythical ferryman to the underworld, is feared to be bringing more severe temperatures.

Europe experienced the hottest-ever summer on record last year, and analysis published in the journal Nature Medicine now reveals that more than 61,000 people died across the Continent due to heat.

But the European Space Agency has warned that 'this summer is likely to be worse'.

The wildfire on the Spanish Canary Island of La Palma is further progressing and regional president Clavijo warned on Saturday that the number of evacuees - currently 500 - could easily increase

'With the resources that we are deploying, we hope we can control the fire on Saturday, but the winds are shifting,' Clavijo said

He added: 'More gusting winds are expected and, combined with the dryness of the terrain and the lack of rain, this situation is complicated.'

The fire coincides with a heatwave that is hitting southern Europe. Spain saw record high temperatures in 2022 and this spring as it endures a prolonged drought

Sun-lover David Campbell cools off by regularly dousing himself with water (pictured)

A young boy tries to cool off at a fountain at Syntagma Square amid scorching heat. Extreme temperatures have been forecast

Volunteers of the Hellenic Red Cross hand out bottles of water at the bottom of the Acropolis hill in Athens, Greece

A tourist at the Roman colosseum covers her head with a scarf from the hot sun as Rome experiences another sweltering day on Friday

Land temperatures - how hot the ground is to touch - in Spain reached upwards of 60C (140F) in parts of southern Spain on Thursday, with the European Space Agency warning next week could break continental records.

Extreme weather resulting from a warming climate is 'unfortunately becoming the new normal,' warned Secretary-General Petteri Taalas of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).

In response, officials in several countries were preparing emergency measures, cellphone alerts and adjustments to staffing levels.

READ MORE: What's causing Europe's heatwave? Italians Giorgia Bragion and Maria Romeo use a fan to cool off amid the soaring heat in Rome on July 14 Advertisement

In Athens and other Greek cities, working hours were changed for the public sector and many businesses to avoid the midday heat, while air-conditioned areas were opened to the public.

'It's like being in Africa,' 24-year-old tourist Balint Jolan, from Hungary, said. 'It's not that much hotter than it is currently at home, but yes, it is difficult.'

The devastating effects of the heatwave has been seen across Europe, with wildfires ripping across Croatia and a 44-year-old road sign worker dying due to the heat in Italy.

The 44-year-old Italian man, who has not been named, collapsed on Tuesday due to the heat in the Italian city of Lodi, southeast Milan, as temperatures soared to above 40C (104F). The worker, who has not been named, later died in hospital.

'We are facing an unbearable heatwave,' Italian politician Nicola Fratoianni said.

'Dying from the heat is unthinkable - we should be taking measures to avoid tragedies like this in the hottest hours of the day.'

Italian authorities have now urged people not to drink alcohol or travel unnecessarily to reduce risk.

In North Macedonia, the high heat triggered a spike in emergency calls for health assistance, while residents in Kosovo, which is also landlocked, flocked to an artificial beach near the capital Pristina.

Excessive heat is one of the deadliest meteorological events, according to the WMO. One recent study estimates over 61,000 people died from heat during Europe's record-breaking summer last year.
Kemi Badenoch hailed 'huge opportunities' today as she signed a major post-Brexit deal for the UK to join the Indo-Pacific trade bloc.

The Trade Secretary put pen to paper on membership of the CCTPP group made up of Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam.

The area includes 500million people and has a combined GDP of around 12trillion.

After the ceremony in Auckland, Ms Badenoch said: 'This will be a big boost for British businesses and open up huge opportunities and unparalleled access to a market of over 500 million people in the Indo-Pacific and beyond.'

Rishi Sunak said the government is 'delivering on our Brexit freedoms to grow the economy'.

'If we hadn't defeated Keir Starmer's campaign to reverse Brexit, this simply would not have been possible,' he added.

Officials underlined the importance of the deal despite the distance from the UK by pointing out that one in every 100 workers here was employed by a business headquartered in a CPTPP member nation in 2019  equivalent to over 400,000 jobs across the country.



Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch (pictured centre in Auckland today) has put pen to paper on membership of the CCTPP group, which includes 500million people and has a combined GDP of around 12trillion

After the ceremony in Auckland, Ms Badenoch said: 'This will be a big boost for British businesses and open up huge opportunities and unparalleled access to a market of over 500 million people in the Indo-Pacific and beyond.'

The Government will now move to ratify the agreement, which will include scrutiny by Parliament, while other CPTPP countries complete their own legislative processes to confirm the UK's accession.

Officials estimate it will come into force in the second half of 2024, at which point the UK becomes a voting member of the bloc and businesses can benefit from it.

While Britain already has trade agreements with the CPTPP members apart from Malaysia and Brunei, officials said it will deepen existing arrangements, with 99% of current UK goods exports to the bloc eligible for zero tariffs.

Dairy producers will gain export opportunities to Canada, Chile, Japan and Mexico, while beef, pork and poultry producers will get better access to Mexico's market, according to officials.

But critics say the impact will be limited, with official estimates suggesting it will add just 1.8billion a year to the economy after 10 years, representing less than 1 per cemt of UK GDP.

The deal represents a continuation of the post-Brexit policy 'tilt' towards the Indo-Pacific, which is expected to be home to around half the world's middle-class consumers by 2035.
A travel entrepreneur and influencer is launching a new airline company with a fleet of double-decker jets which he says will bring back the 'golden age' of flying.

James Asquith regularly shares his jet set lifestyle with his more than 1million Instagram followers and holds the world record for being the youngest person to travel to every country in the world.

The 34-year-old from London is known for founding Holiday Swap, an app dubbed 'Travel Tinder', which sees homeowners from around the world match to go on vacation in each other's homes.

Now he has launched Global Airlines, which says it has four jumbo jets and hopes to take on the likes of Virgin Atlantic and British Airways on the highly-competitive transatlantic route.

The SuperJumbo, or Airbus A380, is the world's largest passenger jet and beloved by plane fanatics, but is increasingly scarce with just 261 ever built and production coming to a halt in 2021.

James Asquith, 34, has launched Global Airlines, which plans to fly SuperJumbo jets from Gatwick to New York by next Spring

Asquith regularly shares his jetset lifestyle with his more than 1million Instagram followers

The airliners, which cost roughly $450million each, could fly hundreds of business class and economy travellers at a time between Gatwick and New York and would offer customers a space for socialising on board.

Asquith is said to be taking advantage of the industry falling out of love with the planes by buying them up, second hand, at a lower price.

The businessman and blogger says his company has so far purchased four, and claims that he can cut costs by buying up the aircraft rather than leasing them as most airline companies do.

Global Airlines is hoping to fly passengers from London Gatwick to New York as early as next Spring. Gatwick Airport has not yet confirmed this to MailOnline.

It would be no mean feat, as no other A380s currently serve the route and the plane is seen by commercial airline companies as too expensive to fuel and tricky to park.

This has led to widespread scepticism from industry experts that the plan will take off.

'The aviation industry is full of dreamers who want to fly the skies and bring competition, but it's hard,' Paul Charles, former communications director at Virgin Atlantic, told Sky News.

Global Airlines says it has four jumbo jets and hopes to take on the likes of Virgin Atlantic and British Airways on the highly-competitive transatlantic route

The businessman and blogger says his company has so far purchased four Airbus A380s, and claims that he can cut costs by buying up the aircraft rather than leasing them

The globetrotter is no stranger to first-class travel himself, regularly sharing snaps of himself and his fiancee, Scottish influencer Robyn Ferguson, on luxurious holidays around the world

READ MORE: Jet-setter, who 'loves airplane food' showcases 15 years of first class meals while globe-trotting over four MILLION miles on 2,000 flights Asquith has reviewed his different in-flight feasts (Pictured: Food served to Mr Asquith in Emirates Airlines first class) Advertisement

Rhys Jones of the frequent-flyer website Head for Points told the Independent: 'This is a route where frequency  multiple flights a day  is one of the most important factors to pick up lucrative business passengers, who want to travel at convenient times rather than be chained to a single daily flight.

'British Airways operates a total of 11 daily flights to New York airports across Heathrow and Gatwick, giving passengers a choice of departures.'

Asquith however, who has been labelled the next Richard Branson by some, is defiant that his company will revolutionise air travel.

'The name says it all in our ambitions with Global. People can be sceptics, but they always are with any plan that sounds like it's crazy.'

The globetrotter is no stranger to first-class travel himself, regularly sharing snaps of himself and his fiancee, Scottish influencer and former flight attendant Robyn Ferguson, on luxurious holidays around the world.

Born in Cuckfield, Sussex and the son of a pilot and PA, Asquith has always had big dreams and impressive business acumen.

Aged 12, he washed cars on his road and saved up the money he made, he told South China Morning Post, and later worked three jobs as a teenager.

He went on to study at the London School of Economics and invested his savings during his studies to buy a house, which he said later fell through after his shares went down.

After graduating, he worked at HSBC and managed to get enough leave to pursue his dream of visiting every country in the world.

Asquith broke the world record for being the youngest person to travel to every country in the world aged 24

He regularly posts pictures of his lavish lifestyle on Instagram alongside his Scottish partner, former Emirates flight attendant Robyn Ferguson

Mr Asquith said he aimed to buy a house but that all changed when he turned 18 and discovered solo travel (Pictured: Mr Asquith onboard American Airlines)

In 2013, Asquith became in the youngest person to travel to all 196 sovereign countries in the world, breaking the record in Micronesia aged 24 years and 192 days old.

He visited his first country outside of the UK, Lithuania, in May 2001, and then every other country between 4 July 2008 and 8 July 2013. His travels cost him around 125,000.

His time travelling inspired him to found Holiday Swap, an app which allows users to swap accommodation by matching up with anyone around the world, in 2018.

The company recently announced it had secured $15million in funding with $10 million raised at a $400 million valuation, according to Newsfile Corp.
Tony Blair today warned that the UK is 'too weak' to rejoin the EU at the moment - but suggested he still wants to reverse Brexit in the future.

The former PM, increasingly seen as an influence on Keir Starmer's Labour, suggested Britain's economic woes were worse than other countries.

In an interview with Sky News' Ridge on Sunday, he said trying to restore full ties with Brussels while the country is 'on its knees' would not end well.

But Sir Tony admitted he would still 'love' Brexit never to have happened, and 'future generations' could reinstate membership.

The comments came as Rishi Sunak launched a barb at Sir Keir's pro-European record. The premier hailed the UK signing a deal to join the huge Indo-Pacific trade bloc, saying the government is 'delivering on our Brexit freedoms to grow the economy'.

Tony Blair today warned that the UK is 'too weak' to rejoin the EU at the moment - but suggested he still wants to reverse Brexit in the future

The former PM, increasingly seen as an influence on Keir Starmer's Labour, suggested Britain's economic woes were worse than other countries

Sir Tony, who is due to appear at an event with Sir Keir this week, said he was 'very worried' about the state of the economy.

'Lots of other countries have similar problems but I think ours are worse,' he said.

On Brexit, the former Labour leader conceded that trying to rejoin the EU now would suck up political energy.

'This country is only going to be ready to rejoin when it's strong. You don't want to go back into the EU on your knees,' he said.

Sir Tony added about the departure from the bloc: 'I would love it if it never happened... going fully back into the EU, for future generations, is another matter.'

Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch today put pen to paper on membership of the CCTPP group made up of Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam.

The area includes 500million people and has a combined GDP of around 12trillion.

After the ceremony in Auckland, Ms Badenoch said: 'This will be a big boost for British businesses and open up huge opportunities and unparalleled access to a market of over 500 million people in the Indo-Pacific and beyond.'

Mr Sunak said the government is 'delivering on our Brexit freedoms to grow the economy'.

'If we hadn't defeated Keir Starmer's campaign to reverse Brexit, this simply would not have been possible,' he added.

Officials underlined the importance of the deal despite the distance from the UK by pointing out that one in every 100 workers here was employed by a business headquartered in a CPTPP member nation in 2019  equivalent to over 400,000 jobs across the country.
One brother asks reporter for a lift home following court

Police called to a wild brawl at ritzy wedding in Sydney

A massive brawl that erupted between guests at a posh wedding has ended with three brothers in handcuffs following the alleged assault of a senior police officer.

Brothers Khalil Bou-Elias, known as Michael Radd, Khalid Bou-Elias, known as Cain Malice, and Richard Bou-Elias, were charged following an alleged brawl at the extravagant wedding reception at the Sheraton Grand Hotel in Hyde Park on Saturday night.

The Glenwood brothers were charged with assaulting a police officer, resisting arrest and affray at the lavish reception which featured smoke machines and fireworks.

Both Radd, 43, and Malice, 47, applied and made bail at Parramatta Local Court on Sunday - with the pair questioned by media after spending the night in lock up.

Radd bizarrely asked reporters for a lift home at one point, as he and Malice were grilled over what sparked the alleged brawl outside Surry Hills Police Centre.

A lavish wedding turned into chaos with three brothers accused of getting into a brawl and assaulting a police officer

The extravagant wedding was held at the at the Sheraton Grand Hotel in Hyde Park (pictured) on Saturday

'Are you going to give me a lift home or what?' a seemingly annoyed Radd asked 9News reporter Ruth Wynn-Williams as she followed him down the street.

'Are you going to give me a lift home?'

Earlier on, Radd defended himself and his brothers as he addressed awaiting TV crews.

'Family that fight together, stay together,' he said.

He later added: 'It was a shocking way to the end the night but it was not my fault.'

The third brother Richard, 35, made no attempt for bail and remains in police custody.

He was charged with assaulting a police officer causing actual bodily harm, while Radd and Malice were charged with assault without causing bodily harm.

One of the accused brothers Khalil Bou-Elias, known as Michael Radd (pictured), 43, bizarrely asked reporters for a lift home after he was released from police custody

Both Radd and Malice, 47, applied and made bail at Parramatta Local Court on Sunday before they were questioned by the media outside Surry Hills Police Centre

The wild alleged brawl at the lavish wedding venue occurred between a number of guests and involved 'pushing, shoving and fighting', according to court documents.

It was also heard in court that the fight became 'extremely violent'.

Officers from the Public Order and Riot Squad, along with uniformed police, were called to the Sheraton Grand Hotel to break up the brawl.

The three brothers were allegedly leaving the venue just as officers arrived.

Police allege the brothers then assaulted a senior constable, 32, at the scene and resisted arrest.

The constable deployed his Taser before the brothers were arrested.

A fight occurred at the wedding between a number of guests before officers from the Public Order and Riot Squad and uniformed police were called to the hotel

Police allegedly encountered the three brothers as they arrived at the scene. It's alleged the trio then assaulted a senior constable, 32, who was forced to deploy a taser

He was then transported to St Vincent's Hospital in a stable condition.

'Police officer was injured. He certainly received some injuries to his face but he's okay,' NSW Police Deputy Commissioner Mal Lanyon told reporters.

Officers believe that alcohol 'was involved' in the alleged brawl at the wedding but they have been unable to determine what started the melee.

Radd and Malice's bail conditions include tri-weekly police reporting and an abstention from alcohol.

In court, the prosecutor vehemently opposed Radd's release from police custody.

In court, the prosecutor opposed releasing Radd (pictured centre walking with police) from police custody saying he was at 'risk of serious offending and endangering the community'

He claimed Radd was at 'risk of serious offending and endangering the community'.

'He actively fought against police, they had to deploy a taser to control him  this is not an example of compliance,' the police prosecutor alleged.

Radd's solicitor denied the assertions.

All three brothers will front Sydney's Downing Centre Local Court next week for mention.
Keir Starmer ducked today on whether he would bow to striking doctors' huge pay demands as he insisted Labour is about more than splurging cash.

Sir Keir insisted his party had to focus on growing the economy and 'creating wealth' in order to fund better public services.

But he refused to be drawn on whether he would improve on the latest pay offer for doctors of 6 per cent plus a 1,250 lump sum - which they have rejected. Sir Keir also dodged on the prospect of spending on public services rising.

The latest bout of fence-sitting comes as a union threatens to cut funding for Labour unless the party lurches to the Left again.

In an interview on the BBC's Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg programme, Sir Keir said was repeatedly pressed on how his approach to the public sector pay dispute would differ to Rishi Sunak's.

Keir Starmer insisted his party had to focus on growing the economy and 'creating wealth' in order to fund better public services

Sir Keir refused to be drawn on whether he would improve on the latest pay offer for doctors of 6 per cent plus a 1,250 lump sum - which they have rejected. Pictured, junior doctors on strike last week

'This is the Government's problem. They as good as broke our public services, they've created a situation in which wages have been stagnant for many, many years and they need to sort out this mess,' he said.

Asked how that could be achieved, Sir Keir said: 'I'd do this differently by growing the economy. We have to grow, grow, grow our economy.'

Challenged again to give details of his plan, Sir Keir said: 'We would be around the table negotiating and we would settle this dispute. I think many people would say 'why has it taken this long even to have one step towards progress' because many people have had their operations cancelled, many people have been deeply affected by these strikes.'

Told that if negotiations continued it implied the offer could be improved, Sir Keir replied that he was not going to 'wade in' to the row.

Grilled over whether Labour would spend more on public services if in power, Sir Keir said: 'A Labour government always will invest in our public services.'

He criticised a lack of 'long-term thinking' and reform over the last 13 years of Conservative-led governments, adding: 'Take the NHS, the strains on the NHS are very different to the strains 75 years ago so we have to reform and change the NHS so it's fit for the future.

'If all we do is simply patch up and keep going then we won't fix the fundamentals and that's why reform is so important.'

Sir Keir said the last Labour government 'grew the economy and had tens of billions of pounds more to spend on our public services', adding: 'That's what I want to replicate  to grow our economy so we've got that yield to put into our public services.

'But that has to start with responsible economics and it has to be coupled with reform.'

Junior doctors have been rejoicing at the Government 'subsidising' their strikes as they pocket a pay rise worth thousands of pounds  but continue their walkouts.

Mr Sunak announced on Thursday that doctors will receive a pay award including a 6 per cent salary increase plus a 1,250 lump sum.

The deal, described by the PM as 'final', means the best-paid junior doctors will see a salary increase of 8.1 per cent, while pay for a first-year junior doctor will rise by 10.3 per cent.

Union leaders have admitted junior doctors will pocket the rise  which could make up for loss of income on strike days  but continue striking.

Unite leader Sharon Graham warned Sir Keir yesterday that there will be 'no blank cheques' as she urged the party to be 'bolder'.

She told the BBC: 'I want to see some movement if we are going to give what we usually give.

'We would be better off with a Labour government but I am very, very disappointed with the lack of ambition.'

Ms Graham's intervention came after she saw off a bid by some members of the union, which is Labour's biggest financial backer, to end affiliation with the party earlier this week.

She said she is 'very, very disappointed' by the 'lack of ambition' at the top of the party and warned it was failing to offer a distinct alternative to the Tories as it tries to reassure voters it can manage the economy.

Sir Keir said was repeatedly pressed on how his approach to the public sector pay dispute would differ to Rishi Sunak (pictured)

The union boss said 'we need be as bold as the 1945 Labour government' which created the NHS, adding: 'There wasn't much money about then, I can tell you.'

Ms Graham told the BBC that strict fiscal rules have led to 'inertia' which has prompted the public to question what the difference is between Labour and the Conservatives.

She also said Labour must 'talk about what they can do to change Britain. People want something to vote for'.

Mick Lynch, head of the RMT union - which is not formally affiliated to Labour - called on Sir Keir to show he is on the 'side of the people'.

Mr Lynch told Sky's Sophy Ridge On Sunday programme: 'He should be saying something about workers' rights, he should say stuff about funding the NHS, national care service, looking after people who are struggling in the housing market, council houses for the masses, controlling rents, addressing all sorts of stuff about what's going to happen in the imbalance in our society.

'He's not saying any of that, he won't dare mention the word socialism, I want to hear that word mentioned frequently and I want to see a redistribution of wealth in our society, because there are a lot of very wealthy people and there are too many very poor people.

'And now people in the middle of being squeezed as well, with rents and mortgages skyrocketing, he doesn't seem to be on the side of the people of this country.

'I think it could be on side of the people in this country, but he's got to show it to us before the election.'
The BBC has come under fire for putting episodes of The Thick of It back on iPlayer because convicted sex offender Chris Langham stars in it.

Langham, 74, was jailed in 2007 after being caught with 15 incriminating videos on his hard drive, which contained Level Five child abuse - the most severe end of the scale.

The decision to put the disgraced actor's face back on screen comes at a time when the Beeb is under scrutiny over its handling of the Huw Edwards affair after the presenter was revealed as being at the centre of an alleged sex scandal by his wife.

Armando Iannucci, who wrote and created The Thick of It, excitedly posted that the show was returning to screens, tweeting: 'Oh, by the way, every episode of The Thick Of It now back up on BBC iPlayer.'

All four seasons of the comedy which satirises British politics were re-uploaded to iPlayer on June 20, two years after being removed from the streaming service in April 2021. The series has also been on Netflix in recent years but is no longer available.

The BBC has come under fire for putting episodes of The Thick of It starring convicted sex offender Chris Langham (pictured arriving to court in 2007) back on iPlayer

Langham played the role of cabinet minister Hugh Abbot (pictured) which he later won a Bafta for

Armando Iannucci, who wrote and created The Thick of It, excitedly posted that the show was returning to screens, tweeting: 'Oh, by the way, every episode of The Thick Of It now back up on BBC iPlayer.'

The Whitehall satire, which starred Langham as cabinet minister Hugh Abbot, first aired between 2005 and 2012 on BBC Four and BBC Two.

The decision to bring The Thick of It back to iPlayer has sparked condemnation from victims groups who have questioned whether it is appropriate to promote the two series which Langham stars in.

The National Association for People Abused in Childhood (NAPAC) urged anyone who is 'triggered' by the now available episodes to call its free support line.

Another source who works with abuse victims told The Telegraph: 'We know there's an impact from watching certain things that can retraumatise people.'

Social media users also questioned the BBC's decision, with one user tweeting: 'With Chris Langham in it who was jailed for accessing child abuse images. I'll give it a miss.'

Another posted: 'Surprised that the Chris Langham episodes are included, considering that the BBC won't show old TOTP reruns, even edited, which featured Gary Glitter.'

Langham - who won the 2006 Bafta Best Comedy Performance award for his role in the sitcom a year prior to his conviction - was released from prison after serving three months of his ten-month sentence.

His legal team successfully argued that his sentence had been 'very tough' and he was released from Elmley Prison in Kent early.

After being released from jail, he said: 'My life has been ruined but my conscience is clear.'

During his trial, a juror was physically ill after viewing the footage that he had downloaded.

Langham as Hugh Abbot alongside Peter Capaldi whose character was Malcolm Tucker (right)

Some social media users were not happy with the BBC's decision to re-run the episodes starring Langham

Langham was made to sign the sex offenders' register and was banned from working with children for ten years.

The re-emergence of Langham on iPlayer comes despite the BBC ensuring that prolific sex offender and paedophile Jimmy Savile was removed from any repeats of Top of the Pops.

The Thick of It was lauded for its hilarious portrayal of the chaos and back-stabbing at the heart of Westminster and starred Peter Capaldi as Malcolm Tucker.

A BBC spokesman said: 'We have a wide range of programmes available for viewers to watch on iPlayer.'
He allegedly plans to 'talk to News' about the 'bizarre' coverage of Mr Edwards

BBC boss Tim Davie finds his staff's coverage of Huw Edwards 'bizarre' as the broadcaster comes under fire from staff and former senior correspondents over its reporting of the sex pictures scandal, it was claimed today.

Mr Davie, who is the corporation's director-general and editor-in-chief, has 'concern' over how BBC staff are covering the situation and plans to 'talk to News about this', The Sunday Times reported.

His friends allege that Mr Davie has branded his staff's coverage of their colleague as 'bizarre' and 'would rather it wasn't dealt with like this'.

It comes as Danny Shaw, a former correspondent who worked for the corporation for 31 years, has slammed the broadcaster over both its news coverage and investigation into the allegations, saying it 'raises serious questions about complaints procedures, staff welfare and privacy'.

The BBC faced a crisis last week after The Sun newspaper reported allegations a then-unnamed top newsreader paid 35,000 to a vulnerable drug addict teenager for sexually explicit images. Mr Edwards' wife later identified him as the man at the centre of the accusations and said he was receiving treatment in hospital for mental health issues.

Since his identity was unveiled, the BBC - including Newsnight - has detailed claims that Mr Edwards sent flirtatious messages to younger employees that made the recipients 'shudder' amid allegations of an 'abuse of power'.

BBC boss Tim Davie (pictured last month) finds his staff's coverage of Huw Edwards 'bizarre' as the broadcaster comes under fire from staff and former senior correspondents over its reporting of the sex pictures scandal, it was claimed today

Mr Davie's friends allege the director-general has branded his staff's coverage of their colleague Huw Edwards (pictured in September last year) as 'bizarre' and 'would rather it wasn't dealt with like this'. He reportedly has 'concern' over how BBC staff are covering the situation and plans to 'talk to News about this'

There has been disquiet over the way the BBC has handled the crisis so far, including not confronting Mr Edwards until seven weeks after the accusations over the pictures broke.

Mr Shaw, writing in The Spectator on Friday, argued that the broadcaster should have responded more quickly to the initial complaint against Mr Edwards, which is understood to have been made in May.

Danny Shaw, (pictured) a former correspondent who worked for the corporation for 31 years, has slammed the broadcaster over both its news coverage and investigation into the allegations, saying it 'raises serious questions about complaints procedures, staff welfare and privacy'

He questioned why the company's internal investigations unit only followed up on two occasions, adding: 'If a BBC journalist, tasked with looking into very serious allegations, had made such cursory attempts to contact a key player in the story, their editor would have rightly demanded they try harder.'

Mr Davie has claimed he was not told of the allegations until last week - and has not spoken to Mr Edwards.

Mr Shaw also criticised his former employer for failing to identify Mr Edwards as the presenter at the centre of the scandal.

Noting how the BBC star is 'in short, a public figure', he expressed scepticism over the corporation's initial claims that the then-unnamed presenter had the right to privacy.

'The idea that the BBC could not reveal that [Mr Edwards] had been suspended due to a 'very serious' complaint, which at one point was being assessed by two police forces and later sparked further allegations, is frankly ridiculous,' he wrote. 'And stretches the notion of privacy rights beyond breaking point.'

Similarly, Emily Maitlis - who worked for the BBC for decades and presented Newsnight before current snchor Victoria Derbyshire - on Friday said some of the corporation's reporting of the scandal was 'a bit distasteful'.

In an apparent swipe at Ms Derbyshire and other reporters, Ms Maitlis said: 'There is something a bit distasteful I think, about, if you know this stuff about a colleague, why isn't your first duty to then go to HR? Or to go to a senior manager or to say 'I think this is going on' rather than to turn it into a news story'.

Ex-BBC newsreader Emily Maitlis criticised the corporation's coverage on her podcast The News Agents

BBC Newsnight, starring Victoria Derbyshire and Lucy Manning, (pictured) last week revealed fresh allegations from three current and former employees at the corporation

READ MORE: Emily Maitlis blasts ex-BBC colleagues for 'distasteful' reporting of fresh Huw Edwards allegations Advertisement

The ex-BBC newsreader spoke out on her podcast The News Agents, which is alongside Huw Edwards' friend Jon Sopel, who has also been critical of the BBC and claims Huw is 'very angry' and upset by the coverage.

Ms Maitlis said BBC and The Sun's reporters were 'weirdly working, sort of competing, but working in the same circle together'.

'Now in one way we should be very pleased with that,' she said.

'We want to have Chinese walls between the editorial side and the management side', but then said that she thought BBC reporters should have gone straight to HR with what they knew.

Andrew Billen, a writer and friend of Mr Edwards, said he was 'surprised' that the BBC continued to investigate allegations against the 'vulnerable' newsreader even after it emerged he had been hospitalised with mental health issues.

Scotland Yard have said there was no criminality involved with the claims, and that Mr Edwards faces no further action by police. But the host still remains suspended from his role as an internal BBC investigation continues.

Tim Davie, the Director-General of the BBC sits in the Royal Box on Centre Court for the final of the men's singles between Spain's Carlos Alcaraz and Serbia's Novak Djokovic today

It was reported yesterday that a widely-circulated email was sent to staff to stop them 'fuelling the fire' with speculation after the scandal broke.

An insider told The Mirror that the email 'very clearly' aimed to 'contain the situation' and warned staff that 'gossip will not be tolerated'.

The source claimed: 'Members of staff were told clearly that gossip could be damaging, and would not be tolerated. The situation was described as 'delicate'.'

'And the warning shot on their part seemed to work, as people mostly did keep quiet about the situation and didn't share their opinions.'

But after the scandal came to flight, further accusations were reportedly made against Mr Edwards, as BBC News, Radio 4 and Newsnight reporters uncovered more claims about his behaviour, alleging 'inappropriate behaviour towards BBC employees past and present'.

One colleague told the national broadcaster that he was sending flirtatious messages that made them 'shudder' and constituted an 'abuse of power'.

Sources have told The Guardian that journalists at the corporation are working on further stories about Mr Edwards, even as the BBC's corporate investigations team conducts its own inquiry.

The host, who earns 435,000 a year at the corporation, is one of its biggest stars, having announced the death of the Queen and hosted her funeral in the past year.

His wife Vicky Flind said that her husband will respond to the accusations once he is well enough to do so.

Mr Edwards was named by his wife Vicky Flind as the BBC presenter facing allegations over payments for sexually explicit images. Mr Edwards and Ms Flind are pictured together in 2018

Police have said there was no criminality involved with the claims. Mr Edwards remains suspended from his role at the BBC (file image)

BBC bosses 'warn staff to stop fuelling the fire' over Huw Edwards scandal: READ MORE Advertisement

Meanwhile, former prime minister Sir Tony Blair has suggested the BBC should 'stand up for itself more' as the corporation's leadership faces questions in Parliament about the story.

Issues including 'in light of recent events, what concerns have been raised about the adequacy of the BBC's governance arrangements' will now be raised when BBC Mr Davie and other senior figures appear at a pre-arranged Lords Communications Committee session on Tuesday.

Sir Tony expressed his support for the 'important British institution' in an interview with Sky's Sophy Ridge on Sunday programme, saying: 'I mean, of course these things will hit them from time to time but I don't think it means that the whole of the BBC is now a bad institution.

'And I think, you know, frankly, BBC should stand up for itself a bit more, to be blunt about it. And also, by the way, abroad the BBC is still regarded as an important British institution, and given our need to make sure we keep as much of a position of power in the world as we can, so whatever my disagreements from time to time, I still basically support it.'

MailOnline has approached the BBC for comment.
A large pod of more than 50 pilot whales have stranded on a beach in the Outer Hebrides, with police urging people to stay away to give the mammals the greatest chance of survival.

Rescuers are battling driving rain and strong winds to save the animals, but many are believed to have tragically lost their lives.

Marine medics have estimated that at least 55 animals are on the Traigh Mhor beach in North Tolsta, on the Isle of Lewis.

However, the latest update from the British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) has indicated that only 10 are alive.

Stornoway Coastguard Rescue Team have been sent to the beach after the alarm was raised at 7.45 am today.

Long-finned pilot whales are highly social creatures have been recorded in groups of just a few animals to aggregations of over 1,000 individuals.

A mass stranding of whales on Traigh Mhor in North Tolsta, on the Isle of Lewis, Scotland

Rescuers are battling driving rain and strong winds to save the animals, but many are believed to have tragically lost their lives

A large pod of more than 50 pilot whales have become stranded in the Outer Hebrides

Rescuers are battling in driving rain and strong winds to save the animals but many are believed to have tragically lost their lives

One of the rescuers seen dousing the animals in water as they desperately try to keep them alive

Around a dozen rescuers have been pictured taking part in the rescue effort on the Isle of Lewis

A rescue team has been seen dousing the animals in water as they desperately try to keep them alive.

Whales have also been seen being gently dragged on tarpaulins back into the ocean.

Pilot whales are small whales in the dolphin family. The reason for their mass stranding is not yet known.

They are well known for their mass stranding behaviour, and in 1992 eleven animals stranded on the Isle of Lewis.

A pod of pilot whales also stranded in July, 2011, at the Kyle of Durness in Sutherland in what is believed to have been Scotland's largest ever such event. Some 19 of the 70 whales died.

Four large bombs exploded underwater by the Royal Navy were later blamed by government scientists for the mass stranding.

Pilot whales are well known for their mass stranding behaviour

A long-delayed report by the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs said that the noise from the explosions could have damaged the hearing and navigational abilities of the whales, causing them to beach and die.

Long-finned pilot whales occasionally bow ride, tail slap and spy-hop - raise the head vertically out of the water - although they are often encountered resting motionless at the surface, which is known as logging.

A statement from the BDMLR on Sunday said: 'This morning around 7am BDMLR were alerted to a mass stranding of pilot whales on the Isle of Lewis via the police.

'Our local marine mammal medics are currently administering first aid to the whales, and medics from surrounding areas are preparing their kit and organising transport to the island.

The latest stranding comes after what is believed to have been Scotland's largest ever such event in July, 2011, at the Kyle of Durness in Sutherland

'Reports so far suggest there are around 55 animals; however, the latest update from the scene indicates that only 10 are alive.

'The Coastguard and Scottish Marine Animal Stranding Scheme have also been tasked to attend.

'The reason for the whales stranding is currently unknown, but pilot whales are notorious for their strong social bonds, so often, when one whale gets into difficulty and strands, the rest follow, leading to more of them stranding.

'We advise that members of the public avoid the area to ensure that our medics and other professionals can attend easily and work efficiently so the team can assess the survivors and determine what can be done.'

A Police Scotland spokesman said: 'Officers are currently assisting partners with a number of stranded pilot whales on the beach at Tolsta, Stornoway.

'To allow the dolphins the best chance of survival please avoid the area.'

A spokeswoman for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said it was 'responding to reports of mammals beached at Traigh Mhor on Isle of Lewis' on Sunday July 16.
The Diriyah Company today (July 16) kicked off a Local Mosque Design Competition in Diriyah, the Saudi City of Earth, for young Saudi architects offering them a unique opportunity to showcase their skills and contribute to the architectural landscape of the city, reported SPA.

Scheduled to run until December 31, 2023, this landmark competition invites participants to design two identical mosques constructed in two locations within the Diriyah.

Beyond serving the local community and visitors, the mosques will also represent Diriyah's rich cultural, architectural heritage and the region's significance.

The competition is part of Diriyah Company's commitment to promoting Najdi architecture and fostering community engagement through the development of Diriyah.

Diriyah Company said as per the rules, the architects will have to construct these mosques using traditional Najdi construction techniques and materials.

It will be open exclusively to Saudi architecture students in their junior and senior years of an accredited architecture programme, who can participate individually or in a group of three to five members.

Diriyah Company said it is encouraging participants to incorporate sustainable building practices into their designs. By integrating elements of sustainability, the competition aims to raise awareness and inspire innovative solutions for eco-friendly architecture.

It also encourages the kingdom's future architects to explore new solutions to transform Diriyah into a destination actively dedicated to sustainable practices.

Aspiring participants can access comprehensive information, including eligibility criteria and submission guidelines, on the competition's dedicated website, where they can also register and submit their entries.

The submission process will involve a review by a specialized committee of the Diriyah Company, aiming to identify the top 10 entries that best encapsulate the spirit of Diriyah. The shortlisted participants will then present their completed plans to a panel of experts from the architectural, construction and design industries, said the SPA report.

The judges will determine three winning entries and present each of the winners with a cash prize, acknowledging their work and contribution to Diriyah, it stated.

Diriyah Company said engaging the Saudi youth in the development of 'City of Earth' is a key objective for the company.

The competition will foster the talents of future architects and seeks to create a sense of ownership and a sense of pride within the community. Through this initiative, Diriyah Company aims to forge a deeper connection between Diriyah's cultural heritage and the aspirations of the kingdom's youth, it added.

The registeration for the Local Mosque Competition will run until July 25.
LOBAMBA  Acts of murder, intentions to overthrow the current regime have made God regret why he created mankind.

This was an assertion made by Minister of Housing and Urban Development Prince Simelane during the national prayer held at the Lobamba National Church yesterday. The prayer was organised by the countrys three church bodies which are the League of African Churches, Swaziland Council of Churches and Eswatini Conference of Churches. The prince, who represented His Majesty King Mswati III, began his speech by saying he felt compelled to remind congregants about painful words God said after having witnessed evil deeds committed by mankind.

He said in Genesis 6 verse 5, God made it known that he regretted creating mankind due to a variety of wrongdoings by people. This saying by God is not far-fetched from what we see in the Kingdom of Eswatini. In the past few weeks, we have seen in newspapers how a woman was brutally murdered in Nhlangano. We have also read reports of a boy who had his throat slit open and thereafter burnt with petrol. There was also a young man murdered in Malkerns and had his throat slit open as well. Because of such things, God regrets creating mankind, the ever jolly prince said.

men killing their wives

He said it was painful to hear reports of men killing their wives, spouses or children and drug dealers doing same to each other week in, and week out. He said yesterdays gathering was aimed at praying for the upcoming elections and said in other countries there had been incidents where candidates were murdered on their way to campaign. The prince said now that His Majesty King Mswati III has declared that the elections will take place in the coming weeks, it was the duty of every liSwati to make sure that the exercise was peaceful and fair, and that there was no bloodshed. He then said that any individual who prevents other citizens from partaking in the elections should not think that he or she was fighting His Majesty King Mswati III, but that they were challenging God himself. His Majesty the King was ordained by God. We have people who pray to God but they are also planning to overthrow the current regime and the government. It is such people who make God regret why he created mankind, he said and the congregants screamed and ululated in agreement.

The prince then encouraged all emaSwati to do an introspection and ask themselves if, through their evil deeds, they were not making God regret why he created mankind. The event itself was a success despite starting later than the anticipated time. It was meant to start at 10am, but things ended up taking shape way after 11am. At first, the marquee prepared for the congregants had many empty chairs but they were filled as the service progressed. Different church leaders were given the podium to either share the word of God or simply lead the congregation in prayer. The church leaders focused their sermons on praying for peaceful elections and electing individuals who will work for the development of the country instead of their empty stomachs.

Joining the congregants at the event were members of the royal family, senior government officials and Cabinet ministers. Esteemed guests included outgoing Senate President Pastor Lindiwe Dlamini, Liqoqo Chairman Paul Dlamini and Lubombo Regional Administrator (RA) Themba Msibi. When summarising the sermons, Bishop Robert Kasaro said the service was a sign that a big shift was about to happen in the country. He said it was possible to witness a shift in one day as long as the countrys citizens came together in prayer. We came here to get an answer and the shift is about to happen today. This is a historic moment because we have all decided that we can conquer if we come together in prayer as he church. I declare that God will listen to us, Kasaro said.

He led the congregants in singing the song titled Kanye nawe nkosi yami, saying God was ready to lead emaSwati to a restoration of peace and prosperity. Meanwhile, when delivering the vote of thanks, Arch Dicon Bhekindlela Magongo reminded the congregants that there was no mention of a president in the Bible. He did not elaborate but simply said, The Bible only talks about the anointing of kings. We will discuss this some other day in order to understand why, he said.
New build homes in south London have been left uninhabitable by flooding and are said to be plagued by black mould, forcing families to move out and live in hotels.

Shocking videos have shown water gushing into a stairwell at the block in Mitcham, leaving hallways and homes water-logged.

Helpless residents filmed themselves desperately attempting to sweep litres of water away, to no avail.

The flooding has made one block temporarily uninhabitable, meaning the 20 families affected have had to leave and be rehoused or are living with friends.

The company which runs the social housing blamed a faulty mains water pump for the flooding, which caused a spike in pressure and led to a burst to the communal pipes.

Shocking videos have shown water gushing into a stairwell at the block in Mitcham, leaving hallways and homes water-logged

Helpless residents filmed themselves desperately attempting to sweep the water away, to no avail

Pictures from the site show parts of the building's wooden structures are rotten, with birds nesting inside them

Housing campaigner Kwajo Tweneboa, who lives just around the corner from the block, slammed developers and housing associations, claiming they are cutting corners.

He told Sky News that the building materials 'are simply not good enough' and that this 'should not be happening'.

The three-storey block, which is run by Southern Housing, was completed in 2017.

Residents say the block has been troubled by problems almost since it was first built.

Campaigner Mr Tweneboa first drew attention to the grim conditions when he visited the block earlier this month, sharing videos of what he found to social media.

He said: 'They're charging rent and want to maximise their income but it's at the expense of tenants' health and safety.

'That is what I'm seeing - it's tenants' health and safety. Six years on from Grenfell, that isn't good enough.'

Pictures from the site show parts of the building's wooden structures are rotten, with birds nesting inside them.

One of the block's resident, Natalie, said mould and black mushrooms have been taking over the walls in parts of the building.

Elvis Mensah-Akorah says he and his family of five are struggling and that the hotel they have been temporarily rehoused in does not meet their needs

Pictures show flooded hallways at the new build block of flats in Mitcham, south London

She said after complaining about mould and mushrooms growing on the wall, the housing manager simply got someone to take them off and paint over it.

'They literally just took [the mushrooms] off the wall. They haven't actually located the problem. They took them off the wall and painted,' she said.

'They clearly don't care.'

One of the families who has been moved out of their home following flooding is now staying in a hotel.

Elvis Mensah-Akorah says he and his family of five are struggling and that the hotel does not meet their needs.

He has a 20-year-old son who is severely disabled and needs to be fed through a tube.

'[Southern Housing] are making me suspect this is pure punishment and discriminatory,' he told Sky.

Southern Housing, which is also known as Optivo, said they are in regular contact with Mr Mensah-Akorah and will 'work closely with him to understand his concerns'.

The social housing provider said it is a not-for-profit and has contractors working on the block.

Southern Housing said in a statement: 'We've remained in daily contact with Mr Mensah-Akorah to offer any support we can to him and his family during this difficult time.

'Mr Mensah-Akorah has not raised any issues about his son's placement to us or to the local authority.

'However, we will work closely with him to understand his concerns.

'We are also prioritising the work on his home so he and his family can return as quickly as possible.

'We're continuing to keep residents updated and encourage them to get in touch with us via our dedicated channels if they need to contact us.
The family of an Alabama nursing student who vanished for two days after seeing a toddler alone on an interstate claim that the child was used as 'bait' to lure her.

Carlethia 'Carlee' Nichole Russell, 25, was found alive on Saturday night after being mysteriously 'dropped off' at her house. An investigation is ongoing into the ordeal, which sparked a 48-hour multi-state search.

Her parents Talitha and Carolos Russell said they believe the young child may have been used as 'bait' to lure Russell from her car on Thursday night, reports WVMT-TV.

They also tearfully promised to 'scour the earth' to find her when she was missing. She arrived at their doorstep and 'appeared to be in shock' late on Saturday night.

This comes as new footage showed the eerie moment Russell slowly pulled over on the highway after seeing a toddler walking on their own before she vanished.

Her parents Talitha and Carolos Russell (pictured) said they believe the young child was used as 'bait' to lure Russell from her car on Thursday night. They also tearfully promised to 'scour the earth' to find her when she was missing

Russell, 25, vanished for two days - causing a frantic search for her. She was found on Saturday night after being 'dropped off' at her house

Carlethia 'Carlee' Nichole Russell, 25, is seen moving into the shoulder lane in her red Mercedes with the flashers on. She was checking on a toddler who she saw wandering alone along the Alabama interstate highway

After a while, the footage is lit up in blue lights - as police attended the scene where her empty car was found

Russell, 25, is seen moving into the shoulder lane of the Hoover, Alabama interstate 459 highway on Thursday in her red Mercedes with the flashers on.

As she pulled over on the night she disappeared, she was on the phone with her brother's girlfriend. The nursing student told her over the phone that she was getting out her car to check up on the child.

The girlfriend heard a sudden scream and lost all contact with Russell.

In the clip, her car is seen moving to the right lane. After a while, the footage is lit up in blue lights as police attend the scene where her empty car was found.

When officers arrived at the location, they found Russell's car, along with her cell phone, purse, wig and Apple Watch in the nearby area - but Russell and the child she claimed to have spotted were nowhere to be seen.

Police are now using the footage to help analyze what happened to the woman after she got out of her vehicle on Thursday.

Hoover police Chief Nick Derzis said: 'We have looked at the video. It's not the greatest. It proves that Carlee's car was there, and we know that when the officers responded after the 911 call that she was not.'

On Saturday night, officials in Hoover, Alabama received a phone call that Russell had returned to her home after knocking on the door.

Police Chief Nicholas Derzis told the New York Times he's not sure how she got there, but nobody was with Russell on her arrival.

After police and fire officials confirmed it was Russell and evaluated her at the scene, she was taken to a local hospital.

No further information about her condition has been made public other than one person familiar with the situation said she'd been 'dropped off' at home, according to WBRC.

Hoover Police Department said in a statement: 'Missing person Carlee Russell has been located.

'At 10:45 P.M., the Hoover 911 center received a call that Carlee returned home to her residence. Police responded to the scene to investigate this latest development in the case.

'Hoover Fire medics responded to the scene to assess Carlee and transported her to a local hospital for evaluation.

'Additional information will be provided when it becomes available.'

Hoover Police had not received any other calls of a missing child. One witness reported possibly seeing a gray vehicle and a man standing outside of Carlee's vehicle, but police said they had no additional information.

She has now been found, after turning up at her doorstep on Saturday night

The 25-year-old was on the phone with her brother's girlfriend when she went to check up on the child before the family member heard a scream and lost contact

When officers arrived at the location, they found Russell's car, along with her cell phone, purse, wig and apple watch in the nearby area - but Russell and the child were nowhere to be seen

'In the process at some point she got out of the car and my daughter-in-law could hear her asking the child if they were okay,' her mother, Talitha Russell, said. 'The child did not respond, or at least she did not hear her respond, he or she respond.'

'And then she heard our daughter Carlee scream, and from there on all we could hear was noise  background noise in her phone, which we later found out was noise from the interstate.'

Russel left work around 8:20 PM on Thursday before stopping to pick up food for her and her mom.

She then travelled toward Hoover and called 911 at about 9:30 PM to report the missing child wandering on the side of Interstate 459.

After calling 911, Russell reportedly called her brother's girlfriend to tell her she was going to check up on the child. The family member lost contact with her at about 9:36 pm but the line remained open.

Responding officers located Russell's abandoned car along with her cell phone, her purse, wig and apple watch in the nearby area, but no sign of her or a child.

Lt. Daniel Lowe said said one witness reported possibly seeing a gray vehicle and a man standing outside of Carlee's vehicle, but they have no additional information.

Russell was described as a 5-foot-4, 150 pound black female and was last seen wearing a black shirt, black pants and white Nike sneakers.

Russell is described as a 5-foot-4, 150 pound black female and was last seen wearing a black shirt, black pants and white Nike sneakers

The Hoover Police Department said they are partnering with many local, state and federal partners in the investigation and are 'grateful for the outpouring of support from the local and law enforcement community'

Talitha Russell said the last time she spoke with her daughter was around 9:18 p.m. Thursday when she left Taziki's after picking up food and was headed home

Lowe said police are pursing all possibilities in the disappearance.

'We're certainly leaving nothing off the table,' he said when asked if investigators believe she was abducted.

'No piece of information is too small in this investigation,' Lowe said in a presser Friday.

Family members also organized a search in the area.

'We're just gonna scour the earth,' Russell's dad, Carlos Russell, told WVTM. 'There's no stopping us.'

An anonymous donor offered a $20,000 reward for Russell's safe return and another $5,000 reward is available through Crime Stoppers.

The Hoover Police Department said they were partnering with many local, state and federal partners in the investigation and are 'grateful for the outpouring of support from the local and law enforcement community.'

Carlee's wig was left at the scene of her disappearance. Her mother posted a photo of what her daughter looks like in braids without her wig

Russell's parents are begging anyone with information to come forward

Talitha Russell said the last time she spoke with her daughter was around 9:18 p.m. Thursday when she left Taziki's after picking up food and was headed home.

'We are trusting God, we are staying positive, we are not allowing any negative thoughts to enter our minds so all that we are doing is trusting God, believe in God that our daughter will be brought home safely,' Talitha Russell said to WSAZ.

'She's known to be helpful and she has a big heart,' Talitha Russell said of her daughter.

'And she does know not to stop for anyone ... I think she kind of let her guard down thinking they were so close. And when she got out the car, she did tell my daughter-in-law, 'I can't just leave this little child on the side of the road.'

Russell works part time at The Woodhouse Day Spa and attends Jefferson State Community College, according to AL, where she is studying to become a registered nurse.

She has a bachelor's degree in psychology from AUM, according to the outlet.
Homeless encampments are back in Venice Beach - after nearly 200 people were cleared from the iconic boardwalk last summer.

Almost a year later, footage from the Los Angeles town show dozens of tents back up, and some 120 vagrants overtaking the beach once again.

Residents are now complaining about a renewed stream of garbage littering the promenade, as well as elaborate processions erected by individuals camping outside.

For residents of the area, the issue is a recurring one - after the pandemic presented a plethora of challenges including several still-prevailing housing crisis.

LA was no exception, where 'shelter in place' rules restricted officials from evicting encampments across the city. A prime piece of real estate ceded in the chaos was Venice Beach, where each summer since, hundreds of tents have again sprouted up again and again - after being systematically knocked back down.

Scroll down for video:

Homeless encampments are back in Venice Beach - after nearly 200 people were cleared from the iconic boardwalk this past summer

Residents are now complaining about a renewed stream of garbage littering the promenade, as well as elaborate processions erected by individuals camping outside

Just a few weeks ago, an encampment near the Venice library was cleared, CBS News LA reported, while other footage showed a vagrant surrounded himself beneath a pagoda along the boardwalk with a barrier of stolen grocery carts.

Exercising restraint - as has largely been the common course of action when dealing with these individuals for the past three years - Park Rangers opted against employing force in that case, letting the man stay at the site for several days.

As outrage both online and on the ground grew, Los Angeles cops cleared the man from the beach this week - only to have a different person take his place.

During this interaction, which was filmed and posted online, representatives from the LA Homeless Services Authority gifted supplies to the individual, including a bottle of water, a jar of peanut butter, a can of Chef Boyardee, and a pair of socks.

However, as the footage shows, the man remained uncooperative - until police were finally forced to act days later, The New York Post reported.

The homeless tenant who replaced him, a 57-year old man who told The Post he was a farmer from Nevada, promised to take better care of the site than his predecessor.

'He had tents up and trashed this whole area up. You can't have that here,' the man, who gave his name as Scott Beers, told The Post.

'I've had homes before so I get it. These people pay millions of dollars to live by the beach and they don't want to see that s**t all over the place.'

Beers added that he, like so many of the some 75,000 thought to be homeless in LA county, willingly lives on the streets,

That said, several other more low profile processions, like Beers', remain - causing officials to once again engage in cleanup efforts and mull another mass eviction.

The past two summers, outreach teams and Los Angeles police have cleared encampments from along Ocean Front Walk between Navy Street and Rose Avenue, in many cases providing temporary housing in the process.

Just a few weeks ago, an encampment near the Venice library was cleared, CBS News LA reported, while other footage showed a vagrant surrounded himself beneath a pagoda along the boardwalk with a barrier of stolen grocery carts

During this interaction, which was filmed and posted online , representatives from the LA Homeless Services Authority gifted supplies to the individual, including a bottle of water, a jar of peanut butter, a can of Chef Boyardee, and a pair of socks

However, as the footage shows, the man remained uncooperative - until police were finally forced to act days later and remove him. Several other processions, however, still remain

For residents of the affluent nabe, the issue is a recurring one - after the pandemic presented a plethora of challenges including several still-prevailing housing crises

A prime piece of real estate ceded in the chaos was Venice Beach, where each summer since, hundreds of tents have again sprouted up again and again - after being systematically knocked back down

The past two summers, outreach teams and Los Angeles police have cleared encampments from along Ocean Front Walk between Navy Street and Rose Avenue, in many cases providing temporary housing in the process. However, this past week, the beach was again overrun

The past two summers, outreach teams and Los Angeles police have cleared encampments from along Ocean Front Walk between Navy Street and Rose Avenue, in many cases providing temporary housing in the process

The most commonly requested form of housing, officials have said, was up to six months of motel placements on the behest of the LA taxpayers

Over the past year, the camps -including the ones along Venice Beach - have become increasingly bold, putting up full-sized tents and cordoning off entire streets, while syphoning water and power from city-owned outlets

The most commonly requested form of housing, officials have said, was up to six months of motel placements on the behest of the LA taxpayers, part of a program billed as 'Encampment to Home' program.

Masterminded by former LA City Councilman Mike Bonin - who left office this past December citing depression and health issues - the plan cost $5million in its first year alone, and has since fallen apart spectacularly, as tents remain a common sight in places like LA and Beverly Hills more than three years after the pandemic.

Even in winter, brazen gatherings of hundreds of people - many of them refusing city aid - were seen in Hollywood Boulevard to Venice Beach, and even in the shadow of City Hall.

Over the past year, the camps -including the ones along Venice Beach - have become increasingly bold, putting up full-sized tents and cordoning off entire streets, while syphoning water and power from city-owned outlets.

Some, videos and photos showed, even boasted working washing machines.

Venice Beach was one of the few to undergo a massive sweep - in both 2021 and 2022 - to clean up the unsanctioned campsites, but as recent reports and footage indicates, the town is once again overrun.

Speaking to CBS LA, resident Mark Ryavec said: 'It's illegal to be out there but we can see right now there's something like 22 tents out there right now.'

The city's new mayor, Karen Bass, has since taken it upon herself to fix LA's crisis, which accounts for roughly 43 percent of California's entire homeless population, 171,000.

As was the case with her predecessors, Bass aims to connect homeless people with shelters and housing - something Ryavec, who leads the Venice Stakeholders Association, is hopeful will finally work.

Speaking to CBS's LA affiliate this week, however, he conceded he was frustrated at how the city has handled the crisis over the past four or so years.

'The elected officials won't see this as a civil right issue but will see this as a housing and treatment issue, because as long as it's all about the rights of the homeless to do whatever they want we will never get out of this.' he said.

'If we just keep pushing people from neighborhood to neighborhood without getting people into housing and reducing homeless numbers, I don't even want to think about the homelessness we're going to see in a year of five years.'

Efforts meanwhile, are still underway to find shelter for those living in the tents - though the door looks to be closed on the plum hotel stays of months passed.

Venice Beach was one of the few to undergo a massive sweep - in both 2021 and 2022 - to clean up the unsanctioned campsites, but as recent reports and footage indicates, the town is once again overrun

Speaking to CBS LA, resident Mark Ryavec said: 'It's illegal to be out there but we can see right now there's something like 22 tents out there right now'

'The elected officials won't see this as a civil right issue but will see this as a housing and treatment issue, because as long as it's all about the rights of the homeless to do whatever they want we will never get out of this.' he said

'If we just keep pushing people from neighborhood to neighborhood without getting people into housing and reducing homeless numbers, I don't even want to think about the homelessness we're going to see in a year of five years'

Efforts meanwhile, are still underway to find shelter for those living in the tents - though the door looks to be closed on the plum hotel stays of months passed

The city's mayor, meanwhile, has said affluent residents in her city don't care about homeless people and just want to see them moved on or arrested.

LA's persisting homeless crisis accounts for roughly 43 percent of California's entire homeless population, 171,000

residents, meanwhile, continue to decry the fact that kids have to 'step over needles' and 'human waste' on the beach due because of those crashing out across the city

Several of the vagrants have refused help, with many willingly choosing to live on the street

The city's current crime-ridden state has spurred countless locals and even celebrities to flee the Golden State for a better life

According to Beverly Hills City Manager, Nancy Hunt-Coffey, the amount of homelessness in the area is increasing. Pictured: tents in nearby Beverly Grove

In the center of junction in Beverly Grove, near Beverly Hills, tents and tarpaulins have been set up by some of LA's homeless population

Bass, meanwhile, told a conference this that affluent residents in her city don't care about homeless people and just want to see them moved on or arrested.

She said she intends to get over 17,000 homeless people into housing in her first year through a mix of interim and permanent facilities.

Similarly California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced last month that the state is hoping to cut homelessness by 15 percent in just two years and committed to providing 500 small homes in the city to achieve that.

'In California we are using every tool in our toolbox - including the largest-ever deployment of small homes in the state - to move people out of encampments and into housing,' Newsom said.

'The crisis of homelessness will never be solved without first solving the crisis of housing - the two issues are inextricably linked.'

A homeless person is seen napping on a patch of grass in a park on the corner of Santa Monica Blvd. and Crescent Dr.

Some residents of wealthy Beverly Hills have also told the city council that they were considering leaving as they didn't feel safe allowing their children to play outside

Los Angeles city council member Joe Buscaino, meanwhile, has complained that kids in his city have to 'step over needles' and 'human waste' on their way to school due because of those crashing out in residential areas.

'No child in America should be afraid to walk to school, and what we have found in Los Angeles is kids are afraid to walk to school,' the Democrat said in a television interview late last year.

'They tell their parents they have to step over needles, human waste, and deal with individuals unfortunately suffering from psychotic behavior - right next to their playground area.'

The city's current crime-ridden state has spurred countless locals and even celebrities to flee the Golden State for a better life, with the most recent being actor Mark Wahlberg, who is fleeing his longtime home in LA in favor for a life in nearby Nevada.

The likes of Elon Musk, Joe Rogan, Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne, and Matt Damon have also participated in the mass exodus - as well as hundreds of thousands of ordinary citizens - citing a combination of over taxes, crime, and the state's notorious ever-worsening homeless problem.

Moreover, the state recently experienced its first population decline in decades last year, when roughly 250,000 residents were reported to have left the city - many instead electing to buy property in less costly locales such as Texas and Arizona.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is leading all 2024 candidates  Democrat and Republican alike  in direct campaign contributions for April, May and June.

Meanwhile, the Republican candidate is still struggling to pull ahead of Donald Trump in primary polls and, according to a new NBC News report, his campaign just fired roughly a dozen mid-level staffers to 'cut costs.'

Campaign sources said, according to the report, that they believe they hired too many staffers in early stages of the election cycle and despite some massive fundraising hauls, it's time to cut back.

However, a campaign insider clarified to DailyMail.com that there have been movements within the team, but that there is not a cost-saving effort resulting in staffers being let go.

DeSantis showed some early signs that he could take on Trump for the nomination  including his massive fundraising haul during his first six weeks as an official candidate. But since then he has struggled to gain ground in polling against frontrunner Trump.

The Florida governor often balks mainstream media and slams the narrative of left-wing outlets. Despite this, Desantis will sit down for a rare mainstream interview with CNN's Jake Tapper next Tuesday.

'The corporate media has gotten a lot wrong, and many outlets have an agenda,' campaign spokesperson Bryan Griffin told DailyMail.com when reached about the upcoming interview. 'Therefore, we don't consider them entitled to time or access.'

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is leading the field of 2024 candidates in direct campaign contributions  bringing in $20.1 million in Q2 and pushing Joe Biden to second place and Donald Trump to third

DeSantis is first among both Republican and Democratic candidates in direct contributions for April, May and June

'Nonetheless, there are still truth-seeking reporters, including in mainstream media outlets, and we will work with them on our term,' he added. 'This is a presidential campaign, and we always planned to bring our winning message to every possible audience.'

In the second quarter of 2023, DeSantis brought in $20.1 million in direct contributions, according to receipts posted by the principal campaign committees for the candidate.

Democratic President Joe Biden comes in second place with 19.8 million.

When just considering direct contributions, Trump comes in third place behind DeSantis and Biden with $17.7 million.

The only other candidate that brought in more than $10 million in Q2 is billionaire North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum with $11.7 million.

'Our campaign brought in more than the entire field  including a current and former president  because the enthusiasm for Ron DeSantis' movement to restore sanity to our nation and lead our Great American Comeback is unprecedented,' the governor's campaign manager Generra Peck said in a statement on the haul.

'The generous support we received this quarter will be critical as we continue to capitalize on the momentum shift that occurred in Iowa this week,' she added.

Peck previewed: 'Americans across the country are about to see a whole lot more of Ron DeSantis. Get ready.'

There are 15 candidates so far running in the Republican primary for 2024. Only Trump and DeSantis are earning double digit support in national polls.

Biden is also facing some longshot challenges, including from Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who amassed $6.3 million in Q2. Marianne Williamson, who announced her candidacy in March, did not even bring in $1 million during the same time.

Fourth place fundraising for the Republican field goes to self-made biotech millionaire Vivek Ramaswamy for bringing in $7.7 million in direct contributions for Q2. Sen. Tim Scott is in fifth with $5.8 million and Nikki Haley next with $5.3 million.

Donald Trump brought in the third-highest amount of direct contributions for Q2  falling behind DeSantis and President Joe Biden

Desantis' campaign shake-up comes after the exits of David Abrams and Tucker Obenshain, who are veterans in the Florida governor's political orbit.

Some say that the dozen who left after are the fault of campaign manager Generra Peck for bringing on too many people too early in the campaign. Peck also led DeSantis' 2022 reelection bid for governor.

A GOP source told NBC News: 'They never should have brought so many people on, the burn rate was way too high. People warned the campaign manager but she wanted to hear none of it.'

One donor said of Peck: 'She should be [in the hot seat].'

They added that 20 percent turnout in polling isn't enough to keep people motivated to support DeSantis.
The breakdown of Andrew 'Twiggy' Forrest and wife Nicola's marriage has taken a shock turn with the revelation his own mining company investigated allegations he had a secret relationship with an employee.

The couple, who were married for 31 years and have a shared fortune of $32billion, confirmed their separation in a joint statement on Wednesday after living apart for months.

During those months apart, the board of Mr Forrest's company Fortescue Metals Group became aware of an anonymous letter that made allegations against the mining billionaire.

The board engaged an outside law firm to investigate claims made in the letter about the behaviour of the executive chairman.

The Australian Financial Review reported the investigation included a review of whether he had a relationship with an employee at the mining company.

The marriage breakdown of Andrew 'Twiggy' Forrest and wife Nicola (pictured together) has taken a shock turn with the revelation his own mining company had looked into allegations he had a secret relationship with an employee - before clearing him of any wrongdoing

The investigation concluded that the allegations were unsubstantiated.

'The directors of Fortescue became aware of an anonymous letter concerning the behaviour of the executive chairman,' Fortescue Metals said in a statement.

'The board immediately met and engaged Seyfarth Shaw LLP, to independently investigate the letter and provide a report. Seyfarth Shaw LLP provided a full report to the board.

'The investigation concluded that none of the matters in the letter were substantiated. There were no adverse findings.'

It added that Mr Forrest was excluded from the investigation as 'it related to him'.

'All claims are investigated and action taken where claims are substantiated, with the nature and findings of these matters regularly reported to the board,' the mining company said.

Fortescue explained that Seyfarth Shaw was chosen to conduct the review as they were 'independent' and had 'never previously provided legal representation to Fortescue or Dr Forrest or his associates'.

'Seyfarth Shaw's legal fees were not contingent on any particular finding or outcome,' the statement said.

'Seyfarth Shaw was provided with full access to electronic records, documents, employees, information and to all resources required by them to conduct a forensic review.'

The review conducted by law firm Seyfarth Shaw looked into whether Mr Forrest (pictured) had a relationship with an employee. The mining magnate was cleared of any wrongdoing

Mr and Mrs Forrest (pictured) revealed in a joint statement that they would be living apart after 31 years of marriage following months of speculation into the state of their relationship

The review was headed by Seyfarth Shaw's local managing partner, Darren Perry.

The investigation had not been disclosed to shareholders and Fortescue said the report would not be released to shareholders or the public.

For months, rumours had been swirling about the state of the marriage between Mr Forrest and his wife before they released a statement to the The Australian Financial Review.

'After 31 years of marriage, we have made the decision to live apart. Our friendship and commitment to our family remains strong,' the couple said.

Mr Forrest was ranked the second richest person in Australia this year - behind rival mining magnate Gina Rinehart.

The couple's wealth has largely been amassed through their 36 per cent stake in iron ore miner Fortescue Metals Group, which they founded in 2003 and is now the eighth-biggest company on the ASX by market capitalisation.

They jointly oversee their private investment arm, Tattarang, and they also co-founded, and continue to co-chair, their philanthropic venture Minderoo Foundation, which works to tackle a range of issues from modern slavery to plastic pollution.

'There is no impact on the operations, control or direction of Fortescue, Minderoo or Tattarang,' their statement added.

Australia's richest couple insist their separation will have no impact on the the strategic direction of their mining empire or their philanthropic ventures

Signs the marriage was about to end - The couple had increasingly been spending time apart in different parts of the world - A flurry of large share transfers between various companies within their empire - Rumours swirled the relationship was nearing the end Advertisement

But it became clear to many that something was afoot after the couple spent long periods apart in recent years.

Suspicions were heightened further by a recent flurry large share transfers between different companies within their empire.

The revelation of their separation came after the AFR approached the pair about a transaction last month that moved more than $1.1 billion worth of Fortescue shares into a new company called Coaxial Ventures, which is wholly owned by Ms Forrest.

That transaction came shortly after Mr Forrest effectively gave half of his Tattarang shareholding to Ms Forrest.

Both transactions have granted Ms Forrest control of more Fortescue shares than her now-estranged husband, according to the AFR.

It is quite the reversal given as recently as March 2020 almost 95 per cent of the family's Fortescue shares were held by companies owned by Mr Forrest.

Pictured: Andrew and Nicola Forrest with their daughters Grace and Sophia

The couple, who met at a house party in 1988, insist the new arrangements will have no impact on the direction of their various ventures.

It is understood Tattarang  which holds almost 65 per cent of the Forrest family's Fortescue shares  will vote in accordance with decisions of the Fortescue board in future.

Mr and Ms Forrest have equal shareholdings in Tattarang and he remains executive chairman of Fortescue.

Since the pandemic, the couple have spent long periods apart. Mr Forrest was in London this week meeting US President Joe Biden, while Ms Forrest is also reportedly overseas.

The couple have three adult children  Grace, Sophia and son Sydney.

It is understood they have no plans to divorce.

Grace Forrest was 2018 Western Australia's Young Australian of the Year for her work in the charity Walk Free, funded by her parents' wealth

Sophia Forrest is an actor who recently got engaged to her girlfriend Zara Zoe

How the Forrests made their money Andrew Forrest first found success as a stockbroker for Kirke Securities and Jacksons. But the ambitious entrepreneur, laid the groundwork for his $32billion mining fortune in mining by founding Anaconda Nickel Ltd, now known as Minara Resources, in 1994. He was ousted as CEO when the company almost collapsed in 2001, but within two years he'd taken control of Allied Mining and Processing, renaming it Fortescue Metals Group. It was Fortescue's iron ore mining, in Western Australia's Pilbara region, that saw the Forrest's wealth explode on the back of exports to China. Mr Forrest was famously ambitious, borrowing heavily and spending between $1billion and $2billion building roads and railways to support his new mines. Some of his operations were highly controversial, including mining on traditional lands without agreements. In 2019 he lost a High Court judgement which granted native title to the Solomon Hub iron ore mine, which sits on Yindjibarndi land. That judgement meant the Yindjibarndi Aboriginal Corporation would pursue millions of dollars in compensation - which Fortescue has vowed to fight. In recent years Mr Forrest has diversified into sustainable energy sources, including hydrogen. He also has farming operations, seeking to capitalise on China's growing appetite for meat and dairy products. Advertisement

It has long been the Forrest family joke that Nicola was known as the 'undercover billionaire'.

The nickname is partly a reference to her notorious thriftiness and partly down to the fact she preferred to remain in her husband's shadow for decades.

'The [undercover billionaire title] comes from the fact that she'd be encouraging dad, Sydney, and I to eat a week-old expired yoghurt because it'd be wasted,' daughter Grace Forrest told the ABC last year.

'The UCB does not like waste in any form.'

Her mother's hatred of waste even led Ms Forrest to abstain from using cling wrap and to wash and reuse plastic ziplock bags.

Mr and Ms Forrest pledged to give away the 'vast majority' of their fortune in their lifetimes and have previously said they will give little to their children.

Instead their fortune will be distributed to a range of charitable causes including Indigenous affairs, education reform and scientific research.

In April last year, Ms Forrest said she and Andrew would give away their fortune because they don't want their children to be 'burdened' by a handout.

'We live in a home and I have a great life  but the things that are most important in life, money doesn't buy that,' she told ABC's Australian Story.

'Children don't benefit from thinking they're going to inherit a huge amount of money.'

Last month, it was revealed the former couple had donated $5billion worth of shares in his mining company to his charity, the Minderoo Foundation.

The donation is about one-fifth of their stake in the company Mr Forrest founded.

'As our world faces enormous challenges, we have elected to continue to use our material wealth to help humanity and the environment meet these existential risks,' he said at the time.

'Accumulating wealth should only be a small part of a person. Their contribution to their family and society is way more important.

'If you happen to be good at accumulating wealth, then I believe in using that skill for the greater good.'
A California mom has gone viral on TikTok after sharing her story about giving birth on her bathroom floor just 30 minutes after doctors sent her home from the hospital.

Shayanna Markham was five centimeters dilated when doctors sent her back to her Vacaville home last month because they reportedly told her that she was not quite ready to give birth.

But just 30 minutes later after Shayanna and her husband Anthony Markham arrived home, baby Harper was born on the bathroom floor.

Video posted on TikTok showed a pregnant Markham walking into the house with her husband and then being rolled out on a gurney after having the baby.

It's been viewed more than 1 million times on the social media platform which dubbed baby Harper 'TikTok baby.'

Shayanna Markham was five centimeters dilated when doctors sent her back to her California home because she wasn't ready to give birth - but baby Harper came just 30 minutes later

Video posted on TikTok showed a pregnant Markham walking into the house with her husband and then being rushed out on a gurney after having the baby

@anthonymarkham6 We had just gotten back from kaiser after they sent us home while she was 5cm. They told us for her to go walk around the outlets. Not 30 mins later she calls me because she is having so much pain and needs to go back to the hospital. We did not make it back, i called 911 and they had emt sent over but even with there extremely fast respone time we had already delivered harper in our bathroom.  Get You The Moon - Kina

Shayanna Markham began having contractions and went to Kaiser Hospital in Vacaville, but said the doctors felt that she wasn't ready to give birth. Her cervix was five centimeters dilated, and her contractions were every seven to eight minutes.

'She would recommend that I either went home to labor longer and then, when it got five minutes apart or they got stronger, to come back or to walk around the outlets and dilate more,' Shayanna said.

Shayanna and her husband returned home and just 30 minutes later, baby Harper decided it was time to make her entrance.

'I just grabbed a towel from the towel rack and put it on the floor for some cushion,' she told NBC Bay Area.

'And, within a few seconds after filling her head, I pushed. I just couldn't help. You just had to and I caught her. I was in there by myself because my husband went to go get his phone. It happened that fast.'

Her husband could be seen in the video running back out the front door as he rushed out to grab his cellphone from his truck.

But by the time he got back inside, the baby was already out.

Anthony Markham could be seen in the video running out the front door as he rushed out to grab his cellphone from his truck. But by the time he got back inside, the baby was already out

First responders arrived at the house minutes later where they safely cut the umbilical cord

'I was scared that the baby was stillborn,' he said. 'Just cause of the color she was and she wasn't breathing at first or crying. She wasn't making any noise. That's why I started hitting her back to get her to cry at least.'

Anthony got on the phone with 911 and the dispatcher talked him through the next steps, including tying off the umbilical cord with a shoelace.

'I didn't have a roll of string by me. So, I looked down. I had a shoelace and I had a pocket knife on me. I cut my shoelace off to tie the umbilical cord,' he said.

First responders arrived at the house minutes later where they helped Anthony safely cut the umbilical cord.

'They put their clamps on and then, gave me their sterilized X-Acto knife to cut the cord,' he said. 'I did offer to use my pocket knife but they said no.'

Paramedics were then seen on the TikTok video wheeling mother and baby out the door and into the ambulance back to the hospital for evaluation.

Shayanna said hopes sharing her experience on social media and in the news could possibly help other so they arent put in the same situation

NBC Bay Area reached out to Kaiser Permanente for a comment about the ordeal, but a spokesperson said they could not speak on it due to patient privacy, but said deliveries can happen unexpectedly.

The new parents are just happy that baby Harper is OK. She's now a month old and happy and healthy.

'I'm super grateful that the baby's OK, wife's OK. Everyone's alright. Everyone's healthy,' Anthony said.

The baby's mother said hopes sharing her experience on social media and in the news could possibly help other so they arent put in the same situation.
Brain surgeon has been all but banned from operating in Australia

Polarising brain surgeon Charlie Teo claims he's been the victim of 'medical bulling' because he's Asian and making other doctors 'look like idiots'.

Dr Teo, 65, has a reputation for his willingness to perform risky surgeries on brain tumours deemed inoperable by other doctors, but has continually come under fire from the medical establishment for his controversial practices.

This week, a lengthy medical tribunal all but ended Dr Teo's career in Australia by ruling that he can now only perform his brand of high-risk, high-reward operations if he gets written permission from another experienced neurosurgeon.

He rejects all allegations he's done anything wrong and told 7News Spotlight on Sunday there's a vocal minority of neurosurgeons 'looking to destroy me, my reputation and my ability to practise in Australia and around the world'.

When probed about why the medical community is supposedly out to get him, Dr Teo said it may be because of jealously, as well as his Chinese-Singaporean heritage.

Polarising brain surgeon Charlie Teo (pictured with partner Traci Griffiths) claims he's been the victim of 'medical bulling' because he's Asian and making other doctors 'look like idiots'

'I'm sure my personality doesn't help, being Asian may not help.

'I understand many of the attitudes of other surgeons against me. Someone calls the tumour inoperable.

'They come to me and I say it's operable. I take it out, everything goes well. I can understand why that surgeon doesn't like me, because it's made him look like an idiot.'

He went on to claim the tribunal 'framed it so it appears as though I've been reckless.

'There are many other neurosurgeons before me who have been the victim of medical bullying. This is the worst case of medical bullying.'

His downfall in Australia has stemmed from two major complaints that saw the Health Care Complaints Commission (HCCC) conduct a hearing in March over two surgeries performed in 2018 and 2019, which left the female patients, aged 41 and 61, with catastrophic brain injuries.

Dr Teo spent an emotional two months fighting the complaints on the stand - telling a medical panel why he cut too far into one patient's brain, and why he removed more than nine centimetres from the other.

On Wednesday, the HCCC found him guilty of unsatisfactory professional conduct. The verdict means he is barred from operating unless a credentialing committee gives him approval.

A lengthy medical tribunal all but ended Dr Teo's career in Australia by ruling that he can now only perform his brand of high-risk, high-reward operations if he gets written permission from another experienced neurosurgeon

Dr Teo is pictured performing brain surgery on a two-year-old child in India

The embattled brain surgeon is now set to continue his career overseas after being granted privileges to work at hospitals in China.

'The fact that I have been crucified over here, didn't appear to affect their decision, so I am going over there to check the facilities, make sure they are good, they just bought the latest MRI for me,' he told the Daily Telegraph.

Dr Teo said he chose China because they had 'committed to me', and would also continue to do perform occasional surgeries in Europe and parts of Southeast Asia.

Meanwhile, the devastated family of one of Teo's patients, Ellie Middleton, has broken their silence on how Dr Teo's operation has changed their lives.

Ms Middleton's sister, Sarah Bone, a hairdresser from Molong, told the Sydney Morning Herald that she wished for 'Charlie Teo to come to our house and look after my sister for just one day'.

In December 2008, Teo told the then-20-year-old and her family that if Ellie was his daughter, he would definitely have the operation to remove her brain tumour that other neurosurgeons had said was inoperable.

The operation was a disaster and for the past 15 years Ellie has spent her days bound to a wheelchair and needs 24-hour care.

When probed about why the medical community is supposedly out to get him, Dr Teo (pictured left with wife Traci Griffiths) said it may be because of jealously, as well as his Chinese-Singaporean heritage

Her family said she is unable to walk, talk or feed herself, and is now blind.

'She has no quality of life, none,' her mother Vicki said.

At just seven, Ellie had been diagnosed with an astrocytoma, a slow-growing brain tumour that was regarded as inoperable due to its location.

Ellie had persuaded her family to take her to Sydney to see the famous neurosurgeon despite the family's hesitation about his ability to operate successfully.

'I remember Charlie saying, if it was my daughter, I would do the operation,' Ellie's sister said.

Dr Teo has hinted he was considering an appeal against a the inquiry finding that has effectively ended his career in Australia.

'I could appeal, I think I would win. They wouldn't be able to prove beyond a reasonable doubt the things they have accused me of because they are not true, he said.

'But I'm not sure I have the strength to run an appeal. Furthermore, I don't have the money to do so.'
An elderly man has shot and killed his terminally ill wife before turning the gun on himself in an apparent murder-suicide at a nursing home in New Jersey.

Patricia Zaccario, 73, and Michael Zaccario, 76, were both found dead from gunshot wounds inside CareOne Wellington Facility in Hackensack at 8.51am on Saturday.

Bergen County Prosecutor's Office said that the Zaccarios were residents of Wood-Ridge.

Hackensack Mayor John Labrosse Jr said that it's believed Michael Zaccario shot his wife, before turning the gun on himself and pulling the trigger.

Patricia Zaccario was terminally ill and living at the nursing home, it's understood.

Pictured: CareOne at Wellington in Hackensack, New Jersey. Patricia Zaccario, 73, and Michael Zaccario, 76, were both found dead from gunshot wounds inside at 8.51am on Saturday

Bergen County Prosecutor's Office spokesperson Elizabeth Rebein said: 'The incident is believed to be domestic,'

Police are not looking for anyone else involved in the deaths.

The Prosecutor's Office and Hackensack Police Department continue to investigate.

CareOne spokesperson Anna Robinson wrote in a statement: 'We are deeply saddened by the tragedy that took place at our Wellington building today.

'Our hearts go out to the victim's family and loved ones. We will be providing our staff and residents with the support they need in this difficult time.

'CareOne is fully cooperating with the local police department and intends to respect the proceedings of the investigation and the privacy of those affected.'

The nursing home company CareOne operates 55 assisted-living and skilled-nursing facilities.

In New Jersey, they have 36 homes, with additional locations in Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and Connecticut.
Train operators are preparing to cut 2,000 staff in line with plans to close almost every train station ticket offices in Britain.

Rail companies have already outlined proposals to make thousands of job cuts by October - even though the government is yet to approve the planned ticket office closures.

Plans to close 974 out of 1,007 railway station ticket offices were first announced by industry body Railway Delivery Group on 6 July.

Now, confidential documents seen by the Sunday Times show the plans could lead to thousands of job losses, if they are signed off by Transport Secretary Mark Harper.

Any job cuts could worsen tensions with transport unions, who are currently in a stalemate with the government as they prepare for more strikes this Thursday.

Any job cuts could provoke fury among transport unions who are already planning to strike this Thursday (File photo: RMT union general secretary Mick Lynch at a rally)

Industry body Railway Delivery Group is calling for hundreds of ticket offices to be closed, amid declining sales from ticket offices.

Rail Delivery Group's claims just 12 per cent of tickets are now bought from ticket offices compared to 88 per cent in the mid-1990s.

The plans would see hundreds of ticket offices close, including at Paddington, Euston, Birmingham New Street, and Manchester Piccadilly - four of the UK's ten busiest stations.

Scotland's busiest station, Glasgow Central, which serves 15.3 million passengers each year, could also lose its ticket office.

The proposals would also threaten ticket offices which are still frequently used, such as at Barnstaple station, where 46 per cent of tickets are bought from the station's ticket office.

Current rules mean ticket offices are only usually closed if sales fall below rates of 12 per hour.

Rail Delivery Group says its plans would see staff moved out of ticket offices into new 'multi skilled customer help roles' that would see them take on a wider set or responsibilities.

If approved by the government, the selected ticket offices would be phased out over a three-year period.

Train operators have outline plans to cut 2,000 jobs as they prepare to close 974 ticket offices across the country (File photo: A closed ticket office in Morecombe)

The proposals are modelled on the successes seen on the London Underground network in which staff were moved out of ticket offices in 2015.

Railway Delivery Group claim it is already possible to purchase 99 per cent of all tickets online.

Critics, however, say ticket office closures would disproportionately effect vulnerable customers, including elderly people, visually impaired people and disabled people.

Job cuts in turn threaten to provoke fury among railway unions, who are already set to strike this Thursday following more than a year of industrial action.

RMT chief Mick Lynch today told Sky's Sophy Ridge that he has not spoken to any government minister since January.

'We're available to talk to them, but I don't think I've met a Government minister since January, and even the employers now have stopped negotiating,' Mr Lynch said.

The RMT chief said strikes will continue until an agreement has been reached, as the transport union prepares for more strikes on 22 and 29 July.

Commenting, TSSA Interim General Secretary, Peter Pendle, said: 'We are in the outrageous situation when on the one hand there is a nationwide consultation taking place, but the government seems to have already made up its mind on the mass closure of ticket offices.'

'Train operators have detailed plans in place which will lead to the loss of almost 2000 ticket office staff jobs nationally  the biggest number since privatisation.

'The Transport Secretary knows full well that as many as 360 million rail journeys stem from ticket office sales each year.

The train operators' plans could see ticket offices closed at some of Britain's busiest train stations

'He also knows that closing booking offices would have a terrible effect on many vulnerable rail users. Elderly and disabled people and anyone without easy access to the internet will struggle to get tickets at the best price.

'The railways will become less safe for lone travellers, particularly women, and the young. Railway ticket offices are a vital part of the network and we need to keep them open.'

RMT General Secretary Mick Lynch said: 'The decision to close up to 1,000 ticket offices and cut over 2,000 jobs is a savage attack on railway workers, their families and the travelling public.

'Travellers will be forced to rely on apps and remote mobile teams to be available to assist them rather than having trained staff on stations.

'This is catastrophic for elderly, disabled and vulnerable passengers trying to access the rail network.

'The arrangements for ticket office opening hours, set out in Schedule 17 of the Ticketing and Settlement Agreement, are the only statutory regulation of station staffing.

'It is crystal clear that the government and train companies want to tear up this agreement and pave the way for a massive de-staffing of the rail network.

'Some of the train operators issuing our members with statutory redundancy notices today are cutting two thirds of their workforce.

'It is clear that the whole enterprise of closing ticket offices has got nothing to do with modernisation and is a thinly veiled plan to gut our railways of station staff.

RMT General Secretary Mick Lynch called the plans a 'savage attack' on railway workers

'Fat cat rail operators and the government do not care one jot about passenger safety, or a well-staffed and friendly railway open to all to use.

'They want to cut costs, make profits for shareholders, and run the network into the ground without a thought as to the vital role the rail industry plays in the country's economy.

'RMT is mounting a strong industrial, and political campaign to resist ticket office closures and station staff cuts. And we will continue our fight on July 20, 22 and 29 when 20,000 railway workers on the train operators go on strike.'

A spokesperson for the Rail Delivery group, said: 'It's not appropriate to speculate on the outcome of the public and union consultations taking place on the proposals to change the way train operators sell tickets to customers.

'No redundancy notices have been served to staff. Alongside public consultations, train operators have issued a letter to trade unions which opens consultation on managing the transition in a way that minimises the impact of the changes.'

'Train companies are committed to treating staff, who are hugely valued, fairly and will continue to engage constructively with unions at a local level to manage the transition.

'Nearly half of all stations don't have staff or a ticket office, with 40 per cent of stations staffed on a part time basis. No final decisions about any individual ticket offices can be taken until the completion of a public consultation.'
Two climate activists have been arrested after trashing Walmart heiress Nancy Walton Laurie's 241million superyacht Kaos by dousing it in red and black paint.

Protesters from Futuro Vegetal (Vegetable Future) sprayed the 360ft vessel using fire extinguishers as it lay moored in Ibiza just after 9am on Sunday.

Footage has emerged of the two eco zandals approaching the 'Kaos' and beginning to spray paint over it, as staff on board run out and attempt to wash it off with water.

After they defaced the superyacht, which belongs to the Walmart heiress who has an estimated $7.7bn fortune, the protesters are seen holding up a sign saying 'You Consume Others Suffer'.

The stunt continues a summer of outlandish protests staged by eco activists including disrupting major sporting and cultural events and spray painting a private jet in Ibiza two days earlier.

The 360-foot superyacht Kaos has been vandalised by climate activists from the Futuro Vegetal group in Ibiza this morning around 9am

The superyacht was launched by company Oceanco and belongs to American supermarket heiress Nancy Walton Laurie, who is the daughter of Walmart co-founder James 'Bud' Walton

They used fire extinguishers to spray paint across the one end of the 241million yacht and held up a sign saying 'You Consume Others Suffer', according to Spanish newspaper Periodico de Ibiza

A crewmember from a yacht nearby to Kaos told MailOnline the damage to the vessel will likely cost its owner 'millions' and slammed the 'useless' port security.

He said: 'If Kaos had left ten minutes earlier it would have been our yacht.'

He added: 'They took ages to come and police didn't even arrest them, they just took them in for questioning.'

Futuro Vegetal later claimed responsibility for the stunt on social media, adding: 'The mega-rich live off the suffering of others'.

The superyacht Kaos belongs to US supermarket heiress Nancy Walton Laurie, the daughter of Walmart co-founder James 'Bud' Walton.

It has been moored in the marina for five days and was scheduled to leave Ibiza today, however it was vandalised just before the crew was set to sail.

The vandalism, which saw the boat sprayed in red and black, will likely cost 'millions' to repair

Futuro Vegetal describes itself as a collective of civil disobedience and direct action fighting against the climate crisis.

It states: 'We don't have time to keep trying the same tactics we've been using for years.

'We need the entire population to be aware of the critical point that we have reached as humanity and of the intergenerational violence that institutional policies entail in the face of the Climate Crisis.'

The superyacht which sails under the Jamaican flag, is 360-feet long and weighs 4,523 tons. It was built in the Netherlands in 2017 and was previously known under the name 'Jubilee'.

In 2020, Nancy Walton Laurie had her superyacht refitted and redesigned by British designer Reymond Langton, according to the Yachtbible.

She is said to often take her superyacht for trips around Europe and the Mediterranean with her husband and daughter Paige Laurie.

Kaos has four decks and can house 31 guests in 16 cabins as well as 45 crew members in 24 cabins. There are four VIP suites, while most of the standard suites come with en suite bathrooms.

The yacht, which sails under the Jamaican flag, is 360-feet long and weighs 4,523 tons. It was built in the Netherlands in 2017

The largest deck hosts a swimming pool and an aquarium, with other areas on the yacht boasting a large cinema, a sauna and full spa facilities (pictured: the boat before it was refit in 2020 after formerly being known as Jubilee)

The largest deck hosts a swimming pool, a dining area and an aquarium, with other areas on the yacht boasting a large cinema, a sauna, a gym, full spa facilities including a steam room, as well as an indoor beach club.

The crew also has their own gym below deck and onboard is also a consultation room for medical emergencies. The lounge area comes with gold ceilings as well as dark wood features. Marble bathrooms round off the deck.

The yacht also has a helipad, a hot tub and even space for a smaller boat for day trips. It also carries two tenders, a lot of different water toys, several jet skis, water bobs and paddleboards.

The entire vessel is also completely wheelchair-accessible due to its elevators and barrier-free access to all decks.

Oceanco, which built the superyacht, is also responsible for Jeff Bezos' 400million superyacht.

It also has a helipad, a hot tub and even space for a smaller boat for day trips. Kaos has four decks and can house 31 guests as well as 45 crew members

@bridgetbrix Never a dull day in Miami, as another, mega yacht pulls up outside my front door. Did you know its easy to look up any information about a yacht? I learned this while in Portofino, and from this little search, you can tell who owns yachts & who rents them.  #miami#miamilife#yacht#yachts  original sound - Bridget Brick

It comes days after a group targeted a private jet in Ibiza.

Video showed one of the group's 'militants' speaking in front of the plane saying they are 'here today because it terrifies me, not having a future.'

It then cuts to a man covering the plane in black and yellow paint before climbing onto the wing and gluing himself to the fuselage.

Video showed the extent of graffiti covering the plane as eco activists protested 'luxury'

The nose of the plane was covered in yellow paint, shown in the video shared by Futuro Vegetal

Days earlier, footage of climate protestors in Germany went viral after some clashed with the driver of an Air Liquide lorry which promotes 'energy transition'.

The clip shared online appears to show Letzte Generation protestors sitting in the road to block traffic before a lorry driver attempts to push through.

One activist is dragged along the road by the moving truck before the driver relents, gets out and pulls them out of the road to pass safely.

In the video titled 'Truck driver nearly runs over Letzte Generation human', three climate protestors are seen to sit down in the road in front of a Air Liquide lorry.

Air Liquide is the Paris Olympics' official hydrogen supporter and works to innovate 'the development of low-carbon hydrogen and biomethane for the energy transition'.
MBABANE  The Ministry of Finance has issued a statement on taxation of pension for members.

Setsabile Dlamini, the Communications Officer, said members of Parliament have a Pension Fund that was being recognised by the commissioner general. It is among several such pension funds that include the Public Service Pension Fund. Dlamini explained that when MPs received their salaries at the end of each month, an amount equivalent to 15 per cent was deducted as contribution to their pension fund in addition to the employer contribution as in other pension funds. She said the employees (MPs etc) contribution to the fund was being deducted from salary prior to taxation (pay as you earn). After their term in Parliament, and like in all pension funds, the communication officer said the member would receive a lump sum of up to one third tax free. In terms of the Income Tax Order, 1975, Dlamini explained that members of pension funds recognised as such by the commissioner general were entitled to an exemption from tax of one third of the total pay-out. She mentioned that the remaining two thirds would be paid out in monthly intervals and subject to tax, depending on the band determined by the amount.

amendment

She pointed to the fact that this entitlement was not confined to Members of Parliament, but even to civil servants or any other members of any pension fund. The Ministry of Finance stated that the current amendment to the Income Tax Order going through the legislative process would, however, have no bearing on the pay out to the 11th Parliament (current Parliament). The amendment will come into effect on July 1, 2024 (long after the 11th Parliament has been dissolved). Vusi Dlamini, the Eswatini Revenue Service (ERS) Corporate Affairs Director, said the principle on pension was that a members contribution was deducted and remitted to the scheme before tax. Dlamini used a scenario of a member whose pension accumulated E600 000. The corporate affairs director explained that one third of E600 000 is E200 000. He said the E200 000 would be treated as a lump sum, which a member would receive tax-free.

However, he said a members monthly payment from the pension would be considered for taxation in line with the tax brackets. The member will be taxed at a certain rate applicable at that time, but it is lower for pensioners. If you are paid E5 000 per month, the ERS will determine the applicable tax bracket for such clients, but the one-third lump sum is not taxed, he said. The ERSs comment was sought after Thulani Hlatshwayo, the Secretary General of the National Public Services and Allied Workers Union (NAPSAWU), had disputed the Ministry of Finances statement, describing it as being sharply economical with the truth. The secretary general said the one-third lump sum was being taxed. He said the misunderstanding between them and government was actually caused by the taxation of their pension, including the lump sum they get upon retirement at 60. Thats what we are fighting for. We have been complaining about the taxation of the lump sum, Hlatshwayo said.

challenge

Mduduzi Gina, the Secretary General of the Trade Union Congress of Swaziland (TUCOSWA), said he would have to make enquiries on the matter and it was a challenge to him to give an opinion with authority. PSPF management could not be reached for comment last night. The Times SUNDAY reported in its previous edition that a re-elected or unelected MP was guaranteed a payment of a tax-free pension grant of E441 000. A minister stands to receive E607 000 tax free. The remaining two-thirds for the backbenchers, the equivalent of about E882 000, shall be taxable. The E441 000 represents one-third of their contribution to Members of Parliament and Designated Office Bearers Pension Fund (MOPADO).

The South African Revenue Service (SARS) says when an employee retires as a member of a pension fund, pension preservation fund or retirement annuity fund and he or she wishes to take a portion of his or her retirement interest as a lump sum, he or she is allowed to take (commute) the lump sum equal to a maximum of one-third of the retirement interest in that fund.

The remaining two-thirds will be paid out in the form of an annuity (a regular pension). However, if the employees total retirement interest in the fund does not exceed E247 500, he or she may take the full retirement interest as a lump sum.
New York state police have removed a massive haul of weapons from suspected Gilgo Beach serial killer Rex Heuermann's Long Island home a day after scouring the property to determine whether he had any 'trophies' from three victims he's charged with murdering.

On Sunday morning, cops were seen carying out at least four long-barreled firearms from the 59-year-old architect's 'dungeon'-like Massapequa home as well as several blue plastic boxes with weapons in them.

Heuermann, 59, was dramatically arrested Thursday night in midtown Manhattan outside his architectural office on Fifth Avenue, 13 years after the victims' bodies were found on an isolated Long Island beach.

He has been charged with the murders of three Gilgo Beach victims - Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman and Amber Costello. He has pleaded not guilty.

He is also considered the prime suspect in the death of a fourth woman, Maureen Brainard-Barnes, whose body was bound and hidden in thick underbrush along a remote beach highway, authorities said.

A fleet of forensic investigators continue to comb through Heuermann's home in hopes of finding further evidence in the serial murder case that stumped investigators for over a decade.

At a press conference on Friday, Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney said Heuermann said cops investigating him over the course of a year cited a number of red flags, saying that Heuermann 'continued to patronize sex workers,' was using false IDs and burner phones, and had permits for an astonishing 92 firearms.

Manhattan architect Rex Heuermann, 59, is charged with three murders attributed to the Gilgo Beach serial killer, and is the prime suspect in a fourth victim's murder

New York state police have removed a massive haul of weapons from suspected Gilgo Beach serial killer Rex Heuermann's Long Island home a day after scouring the property to determine whether he left any 'trophies' from his three victims

A fleet of forensic investigators continue to comb through Heuermann's home in hopes of finding further evidence in the serial murder case that stumped investigators for over a decade

An officer was seen removing two addition firearms from the home on Sunday

Heuermann, who has lived for decades across a bay from where the remains were found, is charged with killing (L to R): Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman and Amber Costello

On Saturday, cops were seen carrying out a child-sized blonde doll that was kept in a large wooden and glass case adorned with flowers.

The creepy doll with a red bow adorned on top of its head, wearing a red outfit, was just one of several items officers clad in hazmat suits, gloves and masks took out of the home and filled into a truck.

'We're just going through his house, looking to see if there's any evidence,' a police source told the New York Post. 'If he has any trophies' from the victims whose bodies he dumped at Gilgo Beach.

Neighbors have previously said that the suspected serial killer had always been creepy, leading some adults to instruct their children to avoid the suburban home.

Now, a criminal profiler who pegged the serial killer as an 'average Joe' back in 2011 says it is 'gratifying' to see he was spot-on.

'When I heard the news yesterday, I sort of had to smile to myself because it was pretty much what I had predicted,' Scott Bonn, a criminologist, author and serial-killer researcher who has spoken about the Gilgo Beach killings, said.

Officers combing through the property loaded several blue plastic containers with weapons into them into a waiting truck

The removal of the firearms comes days after it was revealed the Rex Heuermann had permits for an astonishing 92 weapons

He predicted back in 2011  when the investigation into a possible serial killer began  that the killer would be 'someone who can walk into a room and seem like your average Joe.'

Bonn added that the man would be well-organized and careful about his work.

Additionally, he said, the killer was 'persuasive enough and rational enough' to convince his victims to met him on his terms.

'Who is more organized, who is more meticulous than someone who studied engineering and architecture?'

Scott Bonn, a criminologist, author and serial-killer researcher who has spoken about the Gilgo Beach killings, predicted the serial killer was an 'average Joe'

Others told the New York Times that the suspect was likely either married or in a long-term relationship, well-educated, financially secure with a steady job, owning an expensive car or truck and living near where the bodies were found.

At the time of the slayings, police have said, Heuermann owned a Chevrolet Avalanche.

'The thing about serial killers  at least the ones that are more prolific  is that they are often extraordinarily ordinary,' said James Alan Fox, a professor at Northeastern University who has studied serial killers for more than 40 years.

He added that they tend to be extremely careful not to leave behind any evidence.

'They generally have jobs and families and they kill part time,' Fox explained. 'It's not their sole activity in life.'

Investigators were seen Saturday outside Heuermann's Massapequa home removing various items as they try to see if he left behind any 'trophies' from his alleged victims

New York State police are pictured loading a truck with items from Heuermann's suburban home on Saturday

Investigators filled blue bins full of items from the house before they loaded them into a truck

A New York State police officer moved a wooden panel as law enforcement searched the house

One item that the police carried out was so large it needed two men to carry it

New York State police officers move a metal cabinet outside of the home

The suspect's house sits directly north of Gilgo Beach across the South Oyster Bay

Those who have worked with Heuermann say he was fastidious, impressing some of his clients while annoying others with his attention to detail.

'(He is) a gem to deal with, highly knowledgeable,' said Steve Kramberg, a property manager in Brooklyn who worked with Heuermann for 30 years.

He described him as a 'big goofy guy' who was 'a little bit on the nerdy side', which manifested as a dedicated worker who was more than detailed in his work.

According to his website, Heuermann counted American Airlines and the New York City Department of Environmental Protection among his lucrative clients.

But while Kramberg said his round-the-clock availability and attention to specifics was a bonus, others were rubbed the wrong way by his antics.

Paul Tietelbaun, a former president of a building's board that hired Heuermann for renovations, said he exhibited an attitude of: 'I'm the expert, you're lucky to have me.'

'(He was) a really kind of cold and distant person, kind of creepy,' he added.

Another member of the board, Kelly Parisi, echoed this as she recalled how the building's managers eventually fired Heuermann because he was 'overly fastidious' and 'adversarial with everyone.'

But neighbors saw him differently, with Nicholas Ferchaw saying that when he was a kid 'we would cross the street,' calling Heuermann 'somebody you don't want to approach.'

A crime laboratory officer removed evidence in a small envelope from Heuermann's home

All of the items were packaged into blue crates and loaded onto a truck

Drone footage of Heuermann's home shows police outside the one-story building

Others told DailyMail.com they weren't surprised when they found out about Heuermann's alleged crimes.

Mike Schmidt, who has lived in the Massapequa Park neighborhood for a decade, said he often visits his friend whose property backs onto Heuermann's.

He said when they drink beers in the backyard, they would look at the home and remark: 'He probably has bodies there.'

Schmidt recalled that while children often avoid the creepy home on Halloween, last year he and his friend took their kids to the home - purely to satisfy their curiosity and take a look inside.

He said they were greeted by Heuermann at the door, who surprised them by giving out full pumpkins of candy to the children.

However, Schmidt told the Times that his wife was appalled to find out where the candy was from and made him throw it out.

Another resident, Tara Alonzo, revealed she had a disturbing run-in with Heuermann in the Whole Foods where she works in Long Island.

She told DailyMail.com that he stole oranges from the store's kid's club, where parents leave their children while they shop. When he was confronted by staff, she says he responded: 'If I was wearing a suit like I wear most days, you wouldn't be talking to me like this.'

She said he then strolled out of the store with five or six oranges in his hands, leaving the staff perplexed by the 'weird' customer.

Those who knew Heuermann have given varying descriptions, with some seeing him as a successful but cumbersome Manhattan architect while others saw him as a creepy loner

Cops have released a laundry list of 'red flags' that they say led them to Heuermann as a suspect, with the first piece of evidence being a Chevrolet Avalanche owned by him and linked to the murder of Costello by a witness.

According to documents filed in Suffolk County court, investigators were then able to link that car to Heuermann's cellphone records, which tied him to locations related to the murders, which eventually led to a DNA sample.

Cops say that Heuermann used Melissa Barthelemy's phone to make taunting phone calls to her family from the victim's phone, calls that were made steps from his swanky Manhattan office.

Following the identification of Heuermann as the owner of the Chevrolet, cops issued over 300 subpoenas, search warrants and other legal processes to obtain further evidence.

After the decade-long hunt for the killer seemingly ended this week, dramatic aerial footage revealed forensic searches of his property were being carried out as authorities continue to try and link him to more unsolved homicides.
The White House is still worried that North Korea will conduct yet another intercontinental ballistic missile test.

White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said he's 'been concerned for sometime' about more tests even though there are no 'indications' of an impending launch.

Most recently, North Korea fired two short-range missile tests off its east coast while Sullivan was in Tokyo meeting with his counterparts from Japan and South Korea. This was their sixth time launching these ballistic missile tests.

'I have been concerned for some time that North Korea would conduct what would be its seventh nuclear test,' Sullivan told CBS News' Face the Nation on Sunday morning.

National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said Sunday he is 'concerned' North Korea could conduct more intercontinental ballistic missile testing

North Korea launched two short-range missiles off its east coast in June while Sullivan was in Tokyo meeting with his South Korean and Japanese counterparts

'I don't see any immediate indications that's going to happen, but it would not come as a surprise if North Korea moves forward with another test with respect to its intercontinental ballistic missile capability,' he added.

A United Nations Security Council resolution has sanctioned North Korea by banning its ballistic missile and nuclear weapons programs.

Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts to reduce rising tensions between Washington, D.C. and Pyonguang have stalled.

Regarding the June testing, a North Korea Ministry of Defense spokesperson said that South Korea and United States drills were to blame for escalating tensions in the region.

The spokesperson added they would respond to 'any kind of protests or provocations by enemies.'
Ukraine has staged its most intense drone attack on annexed Crimean naval port Sevastopol in two months.

A video caught the moment a surface kamikaze sea drone attacked the city in the early hours of July 16, coming within 100 yards of wreaking havoc.

Two drones were reported to have been used in the attack, while 10 unmanned aerial drones separately bombarded the city, headquarters of Putin's Black Sea Fleet.

Russia claimed to have repulsed the attacks, with two aerial drones allegedly shot out of the sky, and five downed by electronic warfare jamming.

The warm water port of Sevastopol has strategic significance as a jumping-off point for Russia's access to the Black Sea and Mediterranean.

Image shows a mass air and sea drone attack on Sevastopol in the early hours of July 16 2023

Reports said there were at least three more aerial drones and that the onslaught continued from 1am to 8am.

Video shows Russian shooting at one of the sea drones.

READ MORE: Biden now considers giving Ukraine long-range missiles capable of reaching Russia AND Crimea on top of cluster bombs Advertisement

Two drones were aimed at a power station and anti-aircraft installations in Balaklava .

The sea drones were reportedly destroyed by heavy machine gun fire from the crew of a warship moored in Sevastopol.

'No objects, either in the city or in the water area were damaged,' said Mikhail Razovhayev, governor of Sevastopol and Putin ally.

There were more than ten drone attacks, he said.

There was no comment from Ukraine on the onslaught on Sevastopol.

Ukrainian drone attacks on the city were also observed towards the end of April.

Razvozhayev said at the time the fleet was successfully repelling the attack by surface drones.

He claimed one incoming drone was 'eliminated by the anti-submarine/sabotage defence forces' while a second 'blew up on its own'.

The Russian sources then denied any damage to Vladimir Putin's Black Sea Fleet or any facilities.

Sevastopol, alongside the rest of the Crimean peninsula, was claimed to have been annexed by Russia in 2014, but is internationally recognised as part of Ukraine.

Earlier this month it was reported that Joe Biden is now considering providing longer-range missiles to Ukraine following his controversial decision to also send cluster munitions.

The administration has been wary of sending Kyiv the Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) because it has a range of just under 200 miles.

This means that it could be used to strike Russia and Crimea from Ukraine.

Pictured: Russian President Vladimir Putin. Russia claimed to have repulsed the drone attacks

Governor of Sevastopol, Mikhail Razvozhayev meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin

Russia annexed the Crimean Khanate - a Tatar state living in the peninsula - in 1783 and built Sevastopol a year later as a naval base and fortress.

Four years later a commercial port was opened. The site remains a strategically important location and Russia's only warm water base - allowing the navy to sail year round.

The city was heavily damaged during the Crimean War and largely reconstructed.

It was again besieged and destroyed during WWII, and has since been rebuilt.

Following Ukrainian independence from the (collapsed) USSR in 1991, Sevastopol became the Ukrainian navy's main naval base - a source of tension with Russia.

The conflict was resolved in 1997 with an agreement that saw the establishment of separate fleets and the division of bases between Russia and Ukraine.

Russia terminated the Partition Treaty on the Status and Conditions of the Black Sea Fleet in 2014, when it annexed Crimea.
The White House insists no U.S. troops will be sent to the ground in Ukraine despite President Joe Biden authorizing the deployment of 3,000 service members.

National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said Sunday that the U.S. will continue to support Ukraine in its war with Russian without sending troops into the fight.

'We are going to take dramatic, bold steps to help Ukraine defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity,' Sullivan said in an interview on NBC's Meet the Press. 'And we were going to make sure that we do not end up in World War III with Russia  meaning U.S. troops fighting Russian troops in Ukraine or anywhere else.'

'All I can say is the basic U.S. position in this comes down to a single clear point, which is  We're going to support Ukraine without having U.S. boots on the ground and American soldiers fighting Russian soldiers,' he reiterated.

'And that will remain consistent throughout the course of this conflict.'

National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan assured Sunday that no 'U.S. boots' will be on the ground in Ukraine

Comes after Biden authorized on Thursday the deployment of 3,000 more U.S. troops to Europe  following a meeting at the 2023 NATO Summit with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky

NBC host Chuck Todd asked Sullivan why the White House would take any threats from Russian President Vladimir Putin seriously after he did not retaliate or respond to other previous 'red lines' the U.S. has crossed in supporting Ukraine.

'As the conflict has evolved, the nature of our assistance to Ukraine has evolved with it,' he explained.

Sullivan added: 'I can't speak to what's in the mind of President Putin.'

President Biden on Thursday authorized the Pentagon to dispatch an additional 3,000 reserve troops to bolster European security as he returned from a trip to NATO's eastern flank where he vowed to protect 'every inch' of NATO territory.

The White House released the order as Biden wrapped up a meeting in Helsinki with Nordic allies, including Finland, the newest member of the 31-country NATO alliance while Russia's war on Ukraine rages.

'I hereby determine that it is necessary to augment the active Armed Forces of the United States for the effective conduct of Operation Atlantic Resolve in and around the United States European Command's area of responsibility,' Biden said in a statement released by the White House.

The units being deployed can't exceed 3,000, and not more than 450 can be members of the Individual Ready Reserve, according to the order.

The move comes after leaders of the alliance took new steps to bolster Ukraine's arsenal. The first cluster munitions authorized by the Pentagon have already begun arriving in Ukraine. France is now providing long-range missiles, and Biden indicated potential openness to the U.S. providing some as well.

The U.S. has already taken steps to bolster forces in the event Russia's war expands, sending about 1,000 troops to Lithuania, where Biden also visited this week.

Hours earlier, Biden stood side by side with Finnish President Sauli Niinisto and vouched for the U.S. and NATO's commitment to mutual defense.

Biden delivered a speech in Lithuania where he spoke about confronting Russian President Vladimir Putin.

'I'm saying as sure as anything could possibly be said about American foreign policy, we will stay connected to NATO, connected to NATO beginning middle and end. We're a a transatlantic partnership,' he said at a press conference.

Biden vowed to protect 'every inch of NATO territory, and that includes Finland, obviously,' he said. After negotiations with Turkey, the group is also on track to admit Sweden.

As of last summer, the Defense Department had authorized or extended rotations of an additional 20,000 U.S. forces, even while sending billions of military equipment to Ukraine.

During his remarks in Finland, Biden had a blunt assessment of whether Putin could prevail in Ukraine or how long it might take to end the war.

'Putin's already lost the war,' Biden said, amid tough fights by Ukraine to reclaim territory.

'There is no possibility of him winning,' Biden said.

He said Russia's resources would run out. 'But I can't predict exactly how that happens.'

Nevertheless, there are strains in the U.S. as well. Biden has said Ukraine is 'running out' of artillery shells, one reason he decided to provide deadly cluster munitions.

The Defense Authorization bill faces steep hurdles in the House amid infighting over abortion policies at the Pentagon, and where 70 Republicans voted not to provide additional funding to Ukraine.
A Netflix film documenting the murders of sex workers on Gilgo Beach revealed how Suffolk County's top cop bungled the investigation into a serial killer.

Lost Girls, which premiered on the streaming service in 2020, tells the story of one mother's quest for answers after her daughter went missing, and the ensuing discovery of 10 bodies found on the beach.

Throughout the documentary, Mari Gilbert (played by Amy Ryan) comes head-to-head with then-Police Commissioner Richard Dormer (played by Gabriel Byrne), who repeatedly insisted her daughter, Shannan, was hysterical and died of natural causes.

It wasn't until last year that Suffolk County's new Police Commissioner Rodney Harrison revived the search for the serial killer, developing a first-of-its-kind special task force comprising local, state and federal officers to hunt for the killer.

He announced on Friday that Rex Heuermann, 59, was arrested and charged with three of the deaths. He is also the prime suspect in a fourth.

But police continue to believe Shannan Gilbert's death was unrelated.

Former Suffolk County Police Commissioner Richard Dormer (pictured) is accused of bungling the investigation into the Gilgo Beach serial killer

The ex-police commissioner was portrayed by Gabriel Byrne in a Netflix dramatization of the investigation

The serial killer riddle began with the search for 23-year-old Shannan Gilbert, an escort from New Jersey who had vanished in 2010 after making a frantic 911 call.

Her mother, Mari, then pushed Suffolk County authorities to find her daughter, joining together with the other victims' families to get justice for their daughters' deaths.

With her urging, police combed Gilgo Beach where they found the remains of Melisa Barthelemy, 24; Megan Waterman, 22, and Amber Lynn Costello, 27, all wrapped in burlap sacks.

The victims were not identified until the next year. Some of the four had been missing for three years by the time their bodies were found.

All were sex workers who advertised their services on Craigslist, leading police to believe that is how the killer first made contact with them.

Officials said the victims were probably killed and disposed of at different times.

Then, in March and April 2011, as police continued searching for Gilbert, another four bodies were found in the same stretch of coastline, including that of a toddler.

In March 2011, police found the skull of a prostitute named Jessica Taylor, 20. Most of the rest of her body was found in a wooded area of Manorville shortly after she disappeared in 2003. She also worked as an escort in New York City.

Body parts found on April 4, 2011, near Gilgo Beach were also linked to another corpse found in Manorville in 2000. That female victim, first known only as 'Jane Doe No 6,' was identified using genetic genealogy tools in May of this year as 24-year-old Valerie Mack.

Gilbert's naked body would be found later in the marsh nearby.

'This book tells the story of five families who have lost a daughter and their various struggles over the course of about 10 years as they try to get authorities to help locate these girls,' director Liz Garbus told Collider before the film came out.

She said that Mari, in particular, 'raised some hell and got the police to start looking, but of course, it was too late. And in doing so, a group of women came together to get justice for their loved ones.'

But as the mothers held press conferences urging an investigation, then Police Commissioner Richard Dormer 'bungl[ed] the case  whether because of negligence or corruption, we really don't know.'

The mystery began with the search for 23-year-old Shannan Gilbert, an escort from New Jersey who had vanished in May 2010 after making a frantic 911

Lost Girls tells the story of Mari Gilbert's efforts to get justice for her daughter

Mari Gilbert managed to get the other victims' family members to demand justice

In a 2011 interview with CBS News, Dormer said Gilbert likely drowned because she was 'hysterical' at the time.

He said the fact that she was found naked is 'explainable because she's hysterical.

'We know that, and she's discarding her possessions as she moves along,' he said at the time. 'Her jeans could have come off moving in that environment.

'We've looked at this very carefully, and that is a possibility that the jeans came of and she kept running, kept running towards the lights,' he added. 'Obviously, she was disturbed that night.'

He also suggested Gilbert may 'have been using drugs or succumbed to the elements after she reached the beach and got disoriented.'

It was later revealed that Gilbert had called 911 early in the morning on May 1, 2010 claiming claiming that someone was trying to kill her before she went missing near Oak Beach.

'Something is going to happen to me,' she said on the call.

'Theres somebody after me, I dont know where I am. I am inside a house. I dont know where I am. Can you trace where I am?'

At one point a man is heard laughing and saying 'shut up.'

Neighbors of the area later said they saw her knocking on several doors before vanishing.

Gilbert had met with a customer named John Brewer in Oak Beach that night, and Brewer admitted to seeing Gilbert but has not been implicated in her death.

Police still do not believe Heuermann was involved in her death.

The first victim, Melissa Barthelemy, 24, was discovered by Suffolk County Police on December 11, 2010. The body of Megan Waterman, 22, was found two days later

Maureen Brainard-Barnes was 25 years old when she went missing (left). Amber Lynn Costello was 27 years old. Their bodies were found near Barthelemy's the same day

Mari Gilbert (pictured) never got to get justice for her daughter, as she was killed in 2016. Police still do not believe Shannan's death is related to those of the other victims

Still, Dormer agreed with other investigators that the other 10 bodies discovered in the area were the victims of a serial killer.

But for many years, investigators flip-flopped on whether the victims were all killed by one suspect.

Then District Attorney Thomas Spota told reporters in May 2011 that up to four different killers may have been responsible.

Seven months later, he testified that at least three different suspects were involved.

But at the same hearing, Dormer contradicted his colleague, saying all of the deaths were related.

By 2012, the investigation started to get cold, with FBI sources claiming that Suffolk police were unwilling to let them help in the investigation.

The families of the victims have since claimed that police were not interested in searching for a killer because the victims were sex workers.

Melissa Cann, whose 20-year-old sister, Maurenn Brainard-Barnes was the first to disappear in 2007, told New York Magazine that when she told a cop her sister was missing and 'told him what she was doing up in Manhattan, it was like he didn't care.'

Mari has since died without justice for her daughter, after being stabed to death by her other daughter, Sarra, who suffered from schizophrenia in July 2016.

Meanwhile, Dormer died of cancer in 2019.

Manhattan architect Rex Heuermann, 59, is charged with three murders attributed to the Gilgo Beach serial killer, and is the prime suspect in a fourth victim's murder

In an attempt to revive attention on the case that year, police released images of a black leather belt that was found at the crime scene - which they believe was handled by the suspected serial killer. The belt appeared to have embossed initials, WH or HM.

Cops also created a website specifically for the investigation in a bid to finally solve the cold case for which there have been no arrests.

In 2021, there was a renewed interest in the case again when Suffolk County Police Commissioner, Raymond Harris became appointed police commissioner.

He vowed to revive the dormant investigation at a news conference last year, saying 'I believe this case is solvable, and identifying the person or people responsible for these murders is a top priority.'

The Suffolk DA also announced at the time that he would set up a task force to investigate the cold case.

That coalition eventually came across Heuermann's name, prompting questions about why previous investigative units failed to nail him.

Law enforcement sources tell DailyMail.com he has been on their radar since last year. Investigators matched him to the crimes by tracking the phone calls made from burner phones to the victims' cell phones over 10 years ago.

Police officers stood guard as law enforcement searched Heuermann's home on Saturday

Prosecutors allege he used burner phones and multiple email accounts to search for sites depicting sexual violence, to reach sex workers and to keep up with the investigation of the murders

Prosecutors allege he used burner phones and multiple email accounts to search for sites depicting sexual violence, to reach sex workers and to keep up with the investigation of the murders.

He also allegedly used fake names for email accounts and phones 'to conduct thousands of searches related to sex workers, sadistic, torture-related pornography and child pornography.'

Many of the search terms, prosecutors allege, focused on violent sexual acts involving minors.

Authorities say Barthelemy's burner phone was also used to make 'taunting phone calls' t her family members in the days after her disappearance, in which a male voice admitting to killing and sexually assaulting her.

The calls were later traced to a location near Heuermann's Manhattan office.

He has pleaded not guilty to the murders, and is being held in custody.
Still the 2024 Republican frontrunner by far, Donald Trump said Sunday that he would consider some of his competitors as his running mate.

This might even include Democratic candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who the ex-president called a 'very smart person' during an interview with Fox News' Maria Bartiromo that aired Sunday morning.

Trump said that many of the people running in the 2024 presidential campaign are those he would consider adding to his general election ticket, as well as filling out his cabinet should he win another term in office.

Specifically Trump singled out praise for biotech millionaire Vivek Ramaswamy and Sen. Tim Scott.

Former President Donald Trump said during an interview Sunday morning that he would consider one of his current 2024 competitors as a running mate if he becomes the Republican nominee

Trump called Democratic candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (pictured during pushups in a social media video) a 'very smart person' in the interview  despite the longshot candidate receiving a slew of criticism for his controversial stances

'I think Vivek has done a very good job, frankly. I think some others have done a good job,' Trump said in his interview with the Sunday Morning Futures host.

Trump said 'possibly' when asked about running with those in the 2024 field already.

'You have some good people on the stage actually,' Trump told Bartiromo. 'I think you have some very talented people. I've been impressed by some of them. Some of them I'm very friendly with, actually.'

'I think you have good potential Cabinet members, too,' the former president and 2024 frontrunner added.

Bartiromo asked specifically if Scott was among those with top talent.

'I think he's a very good guy. We did opportunity zones together,' Trump replied. 'Tim is very good.'

'I mean, I could see Tim doing something with the administration, but he's right now campaigning, and I'm sure Tim and everybody else would say I'm only interested in one  but Tim is a very talented guy and you have other very talented people.'

Speaking with Fox News on Tuesday, Sen. Scott said he isn't interested in discussing the potential of being a VP candidate because there are still people who want him to be president.

'There are some who want me to be the No. 1, and so I'm going to continue to run this race for one objective  it's to be the President of the United States,' Scott told Fox host Neil Cavuto. 'I did not enter this race to come in second place. Second place is first loser.'

It's unlikely, but not out of the question, that Trump might even look to controversial longshot Democratic candidate RFK Jr. as a running mate.

'He's a very smart person,' Trump told Bartiromo of RFK Jr. 'I know a lot of the members of that family, and he's a very smart guy. And he's hit a little bit of a nerve. And a lot of Democrats I know want to vote for him.'

Trump specifically had praises for fellow 2024 candidates Vivek Ramaswamy (right) and Sen. Tim Scott (left)  both of whom the ex-president said he could consider as his running mate

Trump sat down with Fox News host Maria Bartiromo for an interview that aired on her Sunday Morning Futures program

There are 15 candidates vying for the GOP nomination in 2024  with Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis far leading the pack

The Democrat has gained attention for his controversial stances, including, most recently claiming that COVID-19 was 'ethnically targeting certain races disproportionately.'

Specifically, he said Jewish people were intentionally not as impacted by the pandemic.

'COVID-19 attacks certain races disproportionately,' Kennedy said in a video obtained by the New York Post. 'COVID-19 is targeted to attack Caucasians and Black people. The people who are most immune are Ashkenazi Jews and Chinese.'

Since launching his campaign in mid-November, Trump has consistently held a commanding lead in national Republican primary polls.

The Iowa caucuses are roughly six months out and the first debate  which Trump might not even attend  is on August 23 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Vladimir Putin has claimed that Russia has a 'sufficient stockpile' of cluster munitions and will 'take reciprocal action' if Ukraine uses the controversial weapons.

The Russian despot said that his forces have not used controversial cluster bombs in the Ukraine war so far - a widely disputed claim.

However it marks the first comment on the delivery of the munitions to Ukraine from the US.

The use of cluster bombs by both Russia and Ukraine has been widely documented and cluster rounds have been found in the aftermath of Russian strikes.

'Until now, we have not done this, we have not used it, and we have not had such a need,' Putin said in an interview published on Sunday.

Rossiya TV reporter Pavel Zarubin published excerpts of the interview to his Telegram channel on Sunday ahead of a scheduled broadcast on Sunday night.

The munitions, which are bombs that open in the air and release scores of smaller bomblets, are seen by the US as a way to get Kyiv critically needed ammunition to help bolster its offensive and push through Russian front lines

The use of cluster bombs by both Russia (some pictured) and Ukraine has been widely documented and cluster rounds have been found in the aftermath of Russian strikes

The Pentagon said on Thursday that cluster munitions provided by the United States had arrived in Ukraine.

The munitions, which are bombs that open in the air and release scores of smaller bomblets, are seen by the US as a way to get Kyiv critically needed ammunition to help bolster its offensive and push through Russian front lines.

US leaders debated the thorny issue for months, before President Joe Biden made the final decision last week.

Cluster bombs have long been criticised by humanitarian groups and some US allies, because those used in previous conflicts have had a high 'dud rate', meaning that they often leave behind unexploded bomblets that can harm civilians long after a battle has ended.

Proponents argue that Russia has already been using cluster munitions in Ukraine and that the weapons the US is providing have been improved to leave behind far fewer unexploded rounds.

Ukraine has promised to use them only away from densely populated areas.

The Ukrainian military said in a regular update on Sunday morning that over the previous 24 hours Russia had launched two Iranian-made Shahed exploding drones, two cruise missiles and two anti-aircraft guided missiles, in addition to 40 air strikes and 46 attacks from multiple rocket launchers.

The Ukrainian General Staff wrote that Russia continues to concentrate on offensive operations in Ukraine's industrial east.

Donetsk regional governor Pavlo Kyrylenko said on Sunday that two residents of the region were killed on Saturday, and one other person was wounded.

Ukrainian deputy defence minister Hanna Maliar said on Sunday that fighting in eastern Ukraine had 'somewhat intensified', amid a slow counteroffensive in which Ukraine has made small territorial gains.

Writing on Telegram, she said that Russia had been 'actively attacking' in the direction of Kupiansk in the north-eastern Kharkiv region for two consecutive days, and that Ukrainian forces were 'on the defensive' in the area.

'There are fierce battles, the positions of both sides change dynamically several times a day,' she wrote.

'Until now, we have not done this, we have not used it, and we have not had such a need,' Putin said

Cluster bombs have long been criticised by humanitarian groups and some US allies, because those used in previous conflicts have had a high 'dud rate', meaning that they often leave behind unexploded bomblets that can harm civilians long after a battle has ended

Ms Maliar wrote that Ukrainian troops were trying to hold on to their positions on the northern flank around the destroyed city of Bakhmut, but reported that Ukrainian forces were 'advancing daily' on the southern flank.

Ukraine has been trying to encircle the city since losing control of it to Russia in May.

Putin claimed that the Ukrainian counteroffensive had been futile, in another excerpt published by Zarubin.

'All attempts by the enemy to break through our defences (...) they were unsuccessful during the entire offensive. The enemy is having no success,' Putin said.

Elsewhere in the country, two boys, aged eight and 10, were wounded when an explosive device left by Russian forces detonated in the southern region of Kherson on Sunday, according to the Ukrainian Prosecutor General's Office.

Regional governor Oleksandr Prokudin said that Russia had launched 69 shelling attacks against Kherson region.

Donetsk regional governor Pavlo Kyrylenko (left) said on Sunday that two residents of the region were killed on Saturday, and one other person was wounded

A 59-year-old man died on Saturday when attempting to disarm a round in the regional capital, also called Kherson.

Yurii Malashko, governor of the neighbouring partly occupied Zaporizhzhia region, said Russia had attacked 13 populated areas in the region, wounding seven people in the town of Stepnohirsk.

Moscow-installed authorities in Russian-occupied Crimea on Sunday reported 'a massive and prolonged' drone attack overnight targeting Sevastopol, the peninsula's largest port, which hosts Russia's Black Sea Fleet.

According to Moscow-installed Sevastopol governor Mikhail Razvozhaev, air defence shot down all of the drones and there was no damage.

Vyacheslav Gladkov, the governor of Russia's Belgorod region, said that a woman was killed on Sunday by shelling in the town of Shebekino near the border with Ukraine.
The wife of British holidaymaker who vanished on a Greek island two years ago said she is still searching for answers over her husband's whereabouts.

Heide Wolstenhulme has been living a nightmare after her husband of 40 years, David, 69, disappeared without a trace on the island of Serifos in June 2021.

Mr Wolstenhulme, an experienced walker, had gone out for a stroll with just enough euros to cover him for the day but never returned.

'It's two years now since Dave disappeared and nobody can find anything at all,' she told the Sun.

'I'd love for him to be alive I just can't imagine that he is because he had nowhere to go.

Heide Wolstenhulme (left) has expressed her still has no clue what happened to her husband David, 69, (right) after he disappeared while on a walk on the sleepy island of Serifos in June 2021

David and Heide Wolstenhulme (pictured) have been married for over 40 years

The couple from Skipton, North Yorkshire, flew out to Greece from Manchester on June 11, 2021 and stayed in Athens before island hopping and landing in Serifos to celebrate a friend's birthday.

But the nightmare began when on June 25, Mr Wolstenhulme went on a hike and never returned.

Mrs Wolstenhulme told the publication that she became concerned when he didn't arrive home after 5pm - and alerted the local authorities.

A huge search operation was launched, but despite the help of locals, no trace of him has ever been found.

Also adding to the mystery is that his credit and debit cards have not been used since the day he disappeared.

Mrs Wolstenhulme (left) is adamant that something bad happened to her husband (right) and that he did not disappear off his own accord

Mrs Wolstenhulme revealed her own heartbreaking theory about her husband's disappearance, believing he may have 'gone through the ground' due to the presence of 'old mines in the area'.

She said: 'I just can't understand where he was going. I have this awful feeling that he's gone through the ground because there are some old mines in the area.

'I just wonder whether the ground has given way - it's an awful thought.'

Mrs Wolstenhulme is adamant that something bad happened to her husband and that he did not disappear off his own accord, as they had ferry tickets for the following day.

She also said that David might not have 'stuck to the paths', claiming that local authorities have not been wide enough in their search.

To this day, her husband has not been declared dead due to still being considered a missing person.
Vladimir Putin has 'purged' up to three more generals as he roots out supposed enemies and betrayers among his top brass, according to Telegram reports.

If confirmed, it takes the total fired, suspended, detained or vanished up to 11.

It would also mean Putin and his defence minister Sergei Shoigu and his ally General Valery Gerasimov - Russia's most senior soldier - sense they face a mass mutiny in the high command as they seek to fight against Ukraine's counteroffensive.

Telegram channel Verum Regnum commented on the Bloody Sunday axings, saying: 'Right now, the fate of the army is being decided, and afterwards the fate of the country.

'If military officials manage to concentrate their power, trampling all the sprouts of initiative and professional honour in the troops, destroying the last heroes born [in the conflict against Ukraine], the inglorious end of the war is coming.'

Airborne Forces Commander Mikhail Teplinsky, left, pictured with Vladimir Putin during his spring 2023 visit to the currently occupied area of Luhansk region of Ukraine

Reports indicate Major-General Alexander Kornev (pictured), 46, was removed from command of the 7th Airborne Assault Division

Another military-linked channel called Two Majors reported: 'We consider the current situation to be extremely tense, first of all, for the active troops.'

There is also seen to be a risk of at least some of the regular army turning against Putin - as Wagner did with its armed rebellion last month.

Reports indicate Major-General Alexander Kornev, 46, was removed from command of the 7th Airborne Assault Division.

READ MORE: War in Ukraine could plunge to new horrors says MARK ALMOND of the Crisis Research Institute Advertisement

Unconfirmed claims also suggest that troops are seeking to save Colonel-General Mikhail Teplinskiy, 54, and have recorded a message threatening a paratroopers mutiny if he is detained.

'We, the paratroopers, warn that we will not tolerate such actions in relation to General Teplinskiy,' said a message.

'In the event of the slightest threat to his life and freedom, we will stand as a wall to protect the honour and dignity of our commander.

'We are very determined. Up to the point that we will withdraw from our positions and go to the rescue of our [commander].'

The unconfirmed message threatened mutiny by saying: 'Paratroopers do not abandon their own kin.'

Yet it was only several weeks ago that he was made effective deputy commander of the Russian war campaign to Gerasimov.

Separate reports say Major-General Ramil Ibatullin, 46, commander of the 90th Panzer Division, and two of his deputies has been detained on the pretext of financial irregularities.

Pictured: Major-General Ramil Ibatullin, 46, commander of the 90th Panzer Division

Vladimir Putin, Russian Minister of Defence Sergei Shoigu and Major-General Nikolay Gostev left to right

Major General Vladimir Seliverstov pictured with Kremlin pundit Vladimir Solovyov

Andrey Gurulev, United Russia MP, member of State Duma's Defence committee, reserve Lt General

Major-General Nikolay Gostev, Commander of Russia's 4th Air Force Army

An unnamed commander of the 27th Brigade is also relieved of his responsibilities, said one report.

A day earlier it was revealed paratrooper commander Major-General Vladimir Seliverstov, 49, had been ousted, a close ally of Teplinskiy.

Seliverstov is one of Russia's youngest and most ruthless generals who headed the 106th Airborne Division operating in the meat-grinder around Bakhmut where Ukraine is now advancing.

Even the support of Putin's former bodyguard Alexei Dyumin, governor of the Tula region and possible anointed son as Kremlin successor, failed to save this general, say reports

The reason for his removal is unknown but could be his 'uncompromising nature'.

He is a commander 'not used to being silent when defending issues regarding his [troops]', said a Telegram channel linked to Wagner mercenary army.

Meanwhile, notorious General Sergei 'Armageddon' Surovikin, 56, who has now been incommunicado three weeks since the revolt led by Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin.

He is believed to be under interrogation, and likely held in jail, for siding with Prigozhin, and awaiting Putin's decision on his fate. Yet the witch-hunt goes wider.

Major-General Ivan Popov - who led Russia's 58th army - vanished last week soon after he was fired.

His leaked voice message to troops revealed he blamed Putin's high command for 'treacherously and vilely decapitating the army at the most difficult and tense moment'.

His wife said Popov, 48, had been 'summoned' to an unknown place and 'abruptly disappeared' after his blistering critique of Putin's war strategy was leaked, according to Telegram channel VChK-OGPU.

His ousting was publicly confirmed, but not his alleged detention.

His absence is acutely impacting on Russia's performance at the frontline, according to critics like war analyst Igor Strelkov.

Another victim was Major-General Nikolay Gostev - commander of Russia's 4th Air Force Army - who was removed from his post at least temporarily amid Ukraine's counteroffensive.

Major-General Nikolay Gostev, Commander of Russia's 4th Air Force Army

Major General Vladimir Seliverstov

Major General Vladimir Seliverstov pictured at the Victory Day parade in Red Square, Moscow, 2019. Vladimir Putin shakes Seliverstov's hand

Vladimir Putin's bodyguard Alexei Dyuman (marked)

Alexei Dyuman pictured alongside Putin

Major-General Nikolay Gostev, Commander of Russia's 4th Air Force Army

He is reported to be 'resting' - a euphemism also used about Surovikin, the second most senior military commander in Russia.

The timing is bizarre since Gostev, 60, is in charge of protecting the Black Sea coast, including annexed Crimea and Zaporizhzhia from Ukrainian missile attacks.

Last week a British-supplied Storm Shadow missile killed a general known personally to Putin - Lieutenant-General Oleg Tsokov, 51, in Berdiansk, an area now under intense long range bombardment.

Air force commander Col-Gen Andrey Yudin, 61, is reported to be suspended after being interrogated following the 24 June Wagner armed mutiny.

The same applies to Lt-Gen Vladimir Alexseev, 62,deputy head of military intelligence.

Both Yudin and Alexseev were suspended from duty and their movements restricted, it is reported.

Earlier Colonel-General Mikhail Mizintsev, aka the Butcher of Mariupol, was ousted in May and joined Wagner. He was the first to pay with his job. His current whereabouts are unknown amid suggestions he has been detained.

Shoigu is also gunning for a reservist Lt-Gen Andrey Gurulev - a prominent pro-war propagandist pundit - who was blamed for leaking Popov's message, and so humiliating Shoigu and chief of the armed forces General Valery Gerasimov.

No action so far has been taken against him but it may be only a matter of time.

'Shoigu continues to conduct 'combat operations' inside the Ministry of Defence,' reported channel VChK-OGPU.

Another missing general - the eleventh suspected to have been targeted in the purge - is Shoigu's close colleague and deputy defence minister - Colonel-General Yunus-bek Yevkurov, 59.

He was seen talking to Prigozhin on the day of the armed mutiny in Rostov-on-Don. The deputy defence minister has not been seen since early July.
Thousands of people have been forced to evacuate their homes as wildfires engulf La Palma and Turkey amid Europe's sweltering heatwave that could see record-breaking temperatures this week.

Firefighters were trying to contain a wildfire on the Spanish island of La Palma and forced the evacuation of at least 4,000 people, while smoke was also seen rising as a fire broke out in the woodland of Canakkale in northwestern Turkey.

It comes as Europe braces for a new 'severe heat storm' which could bring record-breaking 49C temperatures to parts of Italy and Greece in the coming days.

Italian authorities issued red weather alerts across 16 cities as a fierce new anticyclone dubbed 'Charon' hits southern Europe, with Sardinia forecast to see temperatures of 49C (120F) this week - the hottest on record in the continent.

Spain, Italy and Greece have been experiencing scorching temperatures for several days already, damaging agriculture and forcing British travellers to cancel their holidays.

The Foreign Office has urged holidaying Britons to seek guidance on how to stay safe in the extreme heat.

The flames of the forest fire declared during the early morning, have already burned about 4,600 hectares

Operators of the EIRIF, BRIFOR and UME, work in the extinguishing of the forest fire

Smoke rises after a fire broke out in the woodland of Canakkale, Turkiye on July 16

A view of a burnt area during the forest fire declared on July 15 in the early morning in La Palma, Canary Islands

Firefighters donned in protective equipment tried to extinguish the blazing La Palma fires

A firefighter is seen throwing water on his face as he works to extinguish the forest fire in La Palma

The flames of the La Palma fire can be seen in the background as emergency services look on

A fire in La Palma can bee seen projecting orange onto the sky as firefighters work to extinguish it

While Cerberus anticyclone was named after the three-headed hound in Dante's inferno, the new more intense anticyclone Charon is named after the ferryman of the dead, a figure from Greek mythology.

And it may feel hotter than hell for the people living in the villages of Puntagorda and neighbouring Tijarafe in La Palma, who had to leave their homes, while ten aerial units and 300 firefighters on the ground sought to bring a raging wildfire under control.

The fire in La Palma started in the early hours of Saturday in El Pinar de Puntagorda - a wooded area in the north of the island. It is not yet known what caused the blaze, according to minister of industry Hector Gomez.

The island, which forms part of the Canaries archipelago off the coast of western Africa, has suffered extreme temperatures similar to those seen in a heatwave afflicting southern Europe.

'Difficult, it was a bit difficult because of the shifting wind and the heat of the last days but we are holding on,'said 46-year-old firefighter Jose Fernandez.

Firefighters were burning an area to ensure the blaze stopped at a road and did not spread further.

Manuel, another firefighter, said: 'Now we are going to do a technical fire at this perimeter. We will begin burning that slope so it will come down and stop at the road.

'That is what we are going to do to secure all this area and try to save a house. At night the wind is going to come from the top of the mountain downward and if we don't enclose this area, it could jump over.'

A firefighter is seen fully covered in protective equipment as the flames can be seen through his glasses

A burned house after a forest fire in Puntagorda, La Palma Islands, Canary Islands on July 16

A firefighter tries to extinguish forest fires that have ravaged La Palma this weekend

Firefighters have been trying to extinguish the fires in La Palma, which have forced thousands to evacuate their homes

A firefighter holds his head in his hands as he works with colleagues to extinguish forest fires in La Palma

Forest firefighters work during the Tijarafe forest fire on the Canary Island of La Palma on July 16

A firefighter is seen with a hose pouring water of a fire in La Palma, Canary Islands

A firefighter helicopter drops water on wildfire as firefighter teams conduct extinguishing works by land and air to control wildfires in Belen district of Hatay, Turkiye on July 16

The flames of a forest fire in La Palma can be seen in the distance behind houses, after thousands were forced to evacuate

Firefighters are seen at work in La Palma after a forest fire broke out at the weekend

Jose Fernandez, 46-year-old, a forest firefighter from the R13 group, works to extinguish the Tijarafe forest fire on the Canary Island of La Palma

At least 20 houses were destroyed as the fire advanced, said Canary Islands president Fernando Clavijo.

'There has been some resistance by local people to leaving their homes, but I appeal to people to be responsible,' Clavijo told reporters in La Palma.

The fire has affected more than 4,650 hectares (11,490 acres), authorities said.

Clavijo received a phone call of support from King Felipe VI, according to the royal household. The forest fire is the first natural crisis since a volcanic eruption two years ago.

A view of the beach of Torre Faro Pilone near Messina on the island of Sicily crowded with bathers during a heatwave

A woman carries an umbrella during a heat wave in Rome, Italy, 16 July 2023. Italy's Health Minister Orazio Schillaci said people needed to take care visiting Rome's famous ruins

People cool off at a water fountain in Messina, on the island of Sicily as millions of people battle dangerously high temperatures

READ MORE: Brits fly into Cerberus heatwave hell: Greece closes the Acropolis as baking visitors collapse Advertisement

Meteorologists are warning that temperatures will hit record highs across southern Europe in the coming days, with Italy set to take the brunt of a new front of extreme heat pushing north.

'We need to prepare for a severe heat storm that, day after day, will blanket the whole country,' Italian weather news service Meteo.it warned on Sunday.

'In some places ancient heat records will be broken.'

Greece closed the ancient Acropolis during the hottest part of the day on Friday to protect tourists.

Italy's Health Minister Orazio Schillaci said people needed to take care visiting Rome's famous ruins.

'Going to the Colosseum when it is 43C (109.4F) is not advisable, especially for an elderly person,' he told Il Messaggero newspaper on Sunday, saying people should stay indoors between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Besides the Italian capital, health alerts were in place from the central city of Florence to Palermo in Sicily and Bari in the southeast of the peninsula, while the temperatures also started to build further north.

'This is not normal. I don't remember such intense heat, especially at this time of year,' said Federico Bratti, sunbathing at Lake Garda.

People bathe in the area of Lake Sirio to cool off, in the province of Turin. Spain, Italy and Greece have been experiencing scorching temperatures for several days

A woman floats on a rubber ring as she watches swans off the Torre Faro Pilone beach, near Messina, on the island of Sicily

A woman wearing a hat takes a selfie during a heat wave in Rome as temperatures are predicted to rise across southern Europe

A man cools off in a fountain during a heatwave. The heatwave will intensify from Monday, forecasters predict

In Spain, forecasters warned of the risk of forest fires and said that it would not be easy to sleep during the night, with temperatures unlikely to fall below 25C (77F) across the country.

The heatwave will intensify from Monday, with temperatures reaching 44C (111.2F) in the Guadalquivir valley near Seville in the south of the country, forecasters predicted.

On the Spanish island of La Palma in the Canaries, meanwhile, at least 4,000 people had to be evacuated as a forest fire burned out of control following a heatwave, authorities said.

Some people cool down at a water fountain and fill bottles in Bologna. Besides the Italian capital, health alerts were in place from the central city of Florence to Palermo in Sicily and Bari in the southeast of the peninsula

The new anticyclone is named after the ferryman of the dead, a figure from Greek mythology

A nun buys a bottle of water in central Rome. Europe's highest recorded temperature of 48.8C (119.8F), registered in Sicily two years ago, could be exceeded in the coming days

A nun fills her bottle with drinking water from a fountain in central Rome.

Europe's highest recorded temperature of 48.8C (119.8F), registered in Sicily two years ago, could be exceeded in the coming days, notably on the Italian island of Sardinia, meteorologists have said.

The heatwave has stretched across the Mediterranean to Israel, where Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was hospitalised on Saturday suffering dizziness and apparent dehydration. He was discharged on Sunday.

READ MORE: Britons begin cancelling travel plans as Europe burns in Cerberus heatwave Advertisement

'I ask you all, spend less time in the sun, drink more water, and may we all have a good new week,' he said.

The United States was also in the grip of high temperatures, with nearly a quarter of the population under warnings for extreme heat, from the Pacific northwest, down through California, through the Southwest and into the Deep South and Florida.

Britons who had booked European holidays this week now say they are changing their travel plans because they are 'worried about their health' and don't want anything bad to happen while on holiday.

Some travellers said they had to cancel their trip altogether, while others claim they went on holiday but were forced to 'stay in our room most of the day' due to the unbearable temperatures, The Guardian reported.

Some holidaymakers are just planning to change outings and activities, while others are trying to instead move their holiday to regions with milder climates.

Spanish officials said Saturday they had evacuated more than 2,500 people from La Palma in the Canary Islands, where fire has destroyed 4,500 hectares of land. Pictured: The inferno raging through La Palma on Saturday

Around 300 firefighters on the ground are working to bring the blaze under control, supported by firefighting aircraft. Pictured: Fire crews battle the blaze in La Palma on Saturday

Sweltering heat sweeping across Italy, Spain and Greece could bring 'potentially the hottest temperatures ever recorded in Europe' to the region this week. Pictured: A man cools off in a fountain in Turin, Italy on Saturday amid record high temperatures

Much of Southern Europe has been engulfed by a severe heatwave named Cerberus after the hound of Hades from Greek mythology. Pictured: Locals and tourists cool off at a beach in Nafplion, Greece on Saturday

Much of Southern Europe has been engulfed by a severe heatwave named Cerberus after the hound of Hades from Greek mythology.

Justine Rush, 53, is currently on holiday in Corfu with her husband and two teenagers. She told the newspaper that their family expected heat, but not temperatures make it 'too hot to go outside in the day'.

Ms Rush, whose family was forced to spend most of their day cooped up in their accommodation, said that despite not enjoying beach days, 'we can't do anything else'. They cancelled a day trip to a nearby town and will instead lounge by the sea.

Paola Deitan, 29, shared how she and her friend were meant to travel to Greece but are now going to Barcelona due to its more mild climate.

'Obviously, I am worried about my health,' she told The Guardian. 'I don't want anything to happen to me while on holiday.'

Another traveller, who is on a cruise around the Mediterranean with her university-aged son, said the heatwave has put her off from taking another European holiday.

The 61-year-old, who booked on-land excursions, fears they will have to 'stay on the boat the whole time because it will be too hot to do anything'.

She added: 'We usually do our holidays in England but we wanted something different this year. I don't think I will do this again or maybe we'll make such plans around Easter instead.'

Officials in La Palma blamed 'the wind, the climate conditions as well as the heatwave that we are living through' for the swift spread of the blaze. Pictured: The fire burning on Saturday

Local residents look on at a burning forest fire, near Puntagorda on the Canary Island of La Palma, on Saturday

Flames and smoke rise from a forest fire in Punta Gorda, La Palma, Canary Islands on Saturday

The fire broke out in the morning in the Puntagorda district on Saturday before spreading quickly. Pictured: The blaze burning on Saturday

At least 11 houses were destroyed in the inferno which started in the early hours in El Pinar de Puntagorda  a wooded area in the north of the Canary Island, which is popular with British holidaymakers. Pictured: The fire burning early Saturday morning

The fire is on the western side of La Palma on wooded, hilly terrain dotted with homes. Pictured: The fire raging through the island on Saturday

This June was the second-hottest on record in France, according to the national weather agency, and several areas of the country have been under a heatwave alert since Tuesday.

There is little reprieve ahead for Spain, whose meteorological agency warned that a new heatwave Monday through Wednesday will bring temperatures above 40C to the Canary Islands and the southern Andalusia region.

Italy faces weekend predictions of historic highs with the health ministry issuing a red alert for 16 cities including Rome, Bologna and Florence. Pictured: A woman drinks water during a heat wave in Turin, Italy on Saturday

The weather centre warned Italians to prepare for 'the most intense heatwave of the summer and also one of the most intense of all time'. Pictured: People cool off at Mondello beach in Italy on Saturday

Holidaymakers say they are forced to stay inside or lounge by the beach because it is 'too hot' to do anything else. Pictured: A woman has sun-cream applied as she sits at Mondello beach, during a heatwave across Italy on Saturday

Some holidaymakers say they are changing their travel plans because they are 'worried about my health' and don't want anything bad to happen while travelling. Pictured: A man drinks water from a fountain during a heat wave in Turin, Italy on Saturday

People enjoy the banks of the Guadiaro river at 'La Cueva del Gato' near Benaojan, in southern Spain on Saturday

Pictured: Tourists, many from the UK, bask on another scorching day on the city beach in Las Palmas on Gran Canaria on Friday

Pictured: British Holidaymakers braving heatwave in Benidorm, Alicante, Spain on Friday

Pictured: Britons enjoy food and beers during the heatwave in Benidorm, Spain on Friday

According to data from the European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS), Spain suffered nearly 500 wildfires in 2022, which destroyed more than 300,000 hectares, the worst figure in Europe.

So far this year, it has lost another 66,000 hectares to fire, according to the latest EFFIS data.

The situation is all the more worrying in a country that has been hit hard by the effects of climate change, with a series of crushing heatwaves as well as less and less rainfall.

The national meteorological agency also registered record highs during exceptionally hot weather in mainland Spain.

Italy is facing temperatures of historic highs this weekend with the health ministry issuing a red alert for 16 cities including Rome, Bologna and Florence (pictured: tourists sweltering in the heat in Rome)

Meanwhile Spanish authorities have preemptively evacuated some 500 people to avoid a wildfire (pictured) on the Canary Island of La Palma

The meteo centre warned Italians to prepare for 'the most intense heatwave of the summer and also one of the most intense of all time' (pictured: tourists in Venice on Saturday)

The wildfire and evacuations come nearly two years after a three-month volcanic eruption caused devastation on La Palma.

While nobody was killed, around 3,000 buildings were buried along with many banana plantations, roads and irrigation systems.

The fire is on the western side of La Palma on wooded, hilly terrain dotted with homes. It is not an area directly impacted by the 2021 volcanic eruption.

Puntagorda's mayor, Vicente Rodriguez, told Spanish public broadcaster RTVE the fire started inside the limits of his municipality.

He said the area has seen below-average rainfall in recent years, just like large parts of the drought-stricken mainland, because of changing weather patterns impacted by climate change.

Authorities and forestry experts are concerned that the conditions are ripe for a difficult wildfire campaign after seeing virulent fires as early as March.

La Palma, with a population of 85,000, is one of eight members of Spain's Canary Islands archipelago off Africa's western coast. At their nearest point, the islands are 60 miles from Morocco.

The thermometer is likely to hit 40C (104F) in Rome (pictured on Saturday) by Monday and even 43C (109F) on Tuesday, smashing the record of 40.5C (105F) set in August 2007

The islands of Sicily and Sardinia could wilt under temperatures as high as 48C (118F), the European Space Agency warned - 'potentially the hottest temperatures ever recorded in Europe' (pictured: people trying to cool down in Venice on Saturday)

While people in Italy (pictured in Rome) are suffering under the high temperatures, Greece is also roasting, with parts of the country facing highs of as much as 44C (111F) on Saturday

A red alert warning, which is in place for 16 Italian cities, means that the heat is so intense that it poses a health risk to the whole population - not just vulnerable groups like the elderly and very young children (pictured: tourists sheltering under umbrellas in Venice)

The central city of Thebes sweated under 44.2C (111F) on Friday, while Rome (pictured Saturday) is expected to experience temperatures above 40C this weekend and next week

Tourists at the Roman forum brave the hot conditions on another sweltering day with high temperatures in Rome on Saturday

Tourists shelter from the sun with umbrellas in St. Mark's Square as the city gears up for 'Redentore' festival celebrations in Venice on Saturday

In Venice, tourists used umbrellas and hats to shelter from the heat on Saturday

READ MORE: Roasting Brit tourists describe cowering in their hotels and dodging 'flaming-hot' beaches as brutal Cerberus heatwave grips Europe Advertisement

Tens of millions of people around the globe are battling dangerously high temperatures this week as meteorologists predict record heat forecasts.

Authorities have been sounding the alarm, advising people to avoid outdoor activities in the daytime and to be wary of dehydration.

Earlier this week, a man was said to have collapsed and later died in Lodi, near Milan, due to the extreme weather. Fires broke out in Croatia on Thursday, with houses and cars burnt down in at least one village.

Greece also struggled in the heat, with the Acropolis closed to visitors and the Red Cross handing out water bottles.

In Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, 73, fell victim to the heat and was taken to hospital for apparent dehydration. He admitted that it was 'not a good idea' to be out in the sun without a hat or water. He added he felt 'very good' last night, but remained in hospital.

Another heatwave, called Charon, after the mythical ferryman to the underworld, is feared to be bringing more severe temperatures.

Europe experienced the hottest-ever summer on record last year, and analysis published in the journal Nature Medicine now reveals that more than 61,000 people died across the Continent due to heat.

But the European Space Agency has warned that 'this summer is likely to be worse'.

The wildfire on the Spanish Canary Island of La Palma is further progressing and regional president Clavijo warned on Saturday that the number of evacuees - currently 500 - could easily increase

'With the resources that we are deploying, we hope we can control the fire on Saturday, but the winds are shifting,' Clavijo said

He added: 'More gusting winds are expected and, combined with the dryness of the terrain and the lack of rain, this situation is complicated.'

The fire coincides with a heatwave that is hitting southern Europe. Spain saw record high temperatures in 2022 and this spring as it endures a prolonged drought

Sun-lover David Campbell cools off by regularly dousing himself with water (pictured)

A young boy tries to cool off at a fountain at Syntagma Square amid scorching heat. Extreme temperatures have been forecast

Volunteers of the Hellenic Red Cross hand out bottles of water at the bottom of the Acropolis hill in Athens, Greece

A tourist at the Roman colosseum covers her head with a scarf from the hot sun as Rome experiences another sweltering day on Friday

Land temperatures - how hot the ground is to touch - in Spain reached upwards of 60C (140F) in parts of southern Spain on Thursday, with the European Space Agency warning next week could break continental records.

Extreme weather resulting from a warming climate is 'unfortunately becoming the new normal,' warned Secretary-General Petteri Taalas of the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO).

In response, officials in several countries were preparing emergency measures, mobile phone alerts and adjustments to staffing levels.

READ MORE: What's causing Europe's heatwave? Italians Giorgia Bragion and Maria Romeo use a fan to cool off amid the soaring heat in Rome on July 14 Advertisement

In Athens and other Greek cities, working hours were changed for the public sector and many businesses to avoid the midday heat, while air-conditioned areas were opened to the public.

'It's like being in Africa,' 24-year-old tourist Balint Jolan, from Hungary, said. 'It's not that much hotter than it is currently at home, but yes, it is difficult.'

The devastating effects of the heatwave has been seen across Europe, with wildfires ripping across Croatia and a 44-year-old road sign worker dying due to the heat in Italy.

The 44-year-old Italian man, who has not been named, collapsed on Tuesday due to the heat in the Italian city of Lodi, southeast Milan, as temperatures soared to above 40C (104F). The worker, who has not been named, later died in hospital.

'We are facing an unbearable heatwave,' Italian politician Nicola Fratoianni said.

'Dying from the heat is unthinkable - we should be taking measures to avoid tragedies like this in the hottest hours of the day.'

Italian authorities have now urged people not to drink alcohol or travel unnecessarily to reduce risk.

In North Macedonia, the high heat triggered a spike in emergency calls for health assistance, while residents in Kosovo, which is also landlocked, flocked to an artificial beach near the capital Pristina.

Excessive heat is one of the deadliest meteorological events, according to the WMO. One recent study estimates over 61,000 people died from heat during Europe's record-breaking summer last year.
MBABANE  The recruitment of more personnel at His Majestys Correctional Services (HMCS) is already having a negative impact on the entitys budget.

As a result of the recruitment, HMCS is set to be among government entities that will seek supplementary budget. The supplementary budget for the HMCS will not just be a few cents, but millions. The HMCS is among the countrys three armed security organs whose budget has for years been questioned in that it was too high. This happens at a time when government has in previous months stated that it was doing all in its power to cut down on the wage bill. When government gave the green light for the security forces to pursue the recruitment exercise, the initial plan was that each would take at least 150 recruits. However, the figure is believed to have increased to between 250 and 400.

projected

The Times SUNDAY has been reliably informed that HMCS has informed the Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Finance, Sizakele Dlamini, that it was facing a projected over expenditure of about E87 981 658. The PS has been informed of the challenge in the HMCS monthly budget management report for the month of May 2023, which was submitted last month. The over expenditure is projected to occur under Item 1, which is for personnel costs. This item has been insufficiently allocated funds yet the department has hired new personnel. A supplementary budget will be required from the Ministry of Finance, reads part of the monthly budget management report. In terms of the national budget for the current financial year which was presented by Minister of Finance Neal Rijkenberg in February this year, the allocation for the HMCS stood at E574 182 767.

expenditure

The figure included a recurrent budget of E546 182 767 and E28 million for capital expenditure. Based on the allocation, the projected over expenditure amounts to around 21 per cent of the overall budget. When interviewed, HMCS Commissioner General, Phindile Dlamini, confirmed that the entity had a challenge, in as far as its personnel costs were concerned. She explained that the funds provided were insufficient as there was a lot that needed to be taken care of. It is true that we will need a supplementary budget. The truth is that when it comes to the officers of the HMCS, you have to pay them salaries, provide them with clothing and government has its own ceiling, she said.

funds

Asked to explain why the projected over expenditure was too high, she said from the funds they had initially requested, they were asked to cut them down. Even after we cut them down, we had to reduce the budget again. We have around 4 000 officers and a budget of around E500 million is not enough. Those funds also have to accommodate the prisoners who need to be fed. They need clothing as well. So it is not like we are just being ridiculous, she said. The money spent on the security forces continues to increase despite the fiscal challenges that the government has complained about in the past few years. As the budget for the security forces increases every financial year, the country is struggling in other sectors, such as health, education and social services, where the financing is lacking. In an interview with Swaziland Democratic Nurses Union (SWADNU) Secretary General Mayibongwe Masangane in his capacity as a member of the secretariat of the Public Sector Unions (PSUs), he said budgets related to the security forces raised questions about governments priorities.

approve

He said it was wrong from the start for government to approve the recruitment of additional staff for the security forces and not do same for critical sectors like health. In the event that the supplementary budget is provided, it will be very unfortunate because the health system is crumbling. The amount needed by the HMCS is what should be invested in primary healthcare. Had government invested in primary healthcare we would not be experiencing challenges like the shortage of drugs in public hospitals, Masangane said. Also, he said; If you pump in a lot of money into security forces, we ask ourselves who exactly you are fighting with. Since 2018, government has implemented a hiring freeze which the Finance minister said resulted in less than one per cent increase per annum in the wage bill. The minister said the wage bill had reduced as a percentage to budget, from 41 per cent in 2017 to a more sustainable 35 per cent as at February this year. However, priority was given to the security forces to recruit. Other ministries and departments have also been given the green light to fill a few vacant posts. As a result, this years budget provided E900 million more than last year to fill the vacancies following a management audit study which was conducted by the Ministry of Public Service, meant to identify critical vacant posts that needed filling.

sufficiently

With the armed forces, government decried that, while the Kingdom of Eswatini had always been renowned for its reputation of being a peaceful country, the security forces were not sufficiently equipped to adequately respond to the coordinated and widespread looting, rioting, arson and assassinations that the country has witnessed during the political unrest. Following a recruitment exercise conducted last year, the HMCS is believed to have added over 200 members to its personnel. Each recruit receives around E5 636 following that government reversed a decision which had effected a 52 per cent salary cut. Before the decision was reversed, the recruits received about E2 931 and the leaders of the State security agencies appealed.

HMCS is mandated by the Constitution of the Kingdom of Eswatini (2005) and the Correctional Services Act of 2017 to perform responsibilities that include, but not limited to, the administration of sentences imposed by legal courts of the country, safe containment of all persons committed to custody by the courts and facilitating the administration of justice by the production of offenders to courts for trial. The entity is also responsible for the rehabilitating and reformation of offenders through education, training and counselling, promoting offenders opportunities for social reintegration through after care programme, actively participating in national security activities together with other security services and taking part in the activities of the Royal Close Protection Unit. When compared with other African countries, Eswatinis security forces are among those which get the largest chunk of the national budget.

budget

When the kingdoms budget is compared to the Republic of Mauritius and the Kingdom of Lesotho in the past few years, it has been the second highest after Mauritius. In the past four years, the budget for the security forces has stood at over E2 billion and this despite that the Kingdom of Eswatini has a population of less than 1.5 million people. For the current financial year, while the HMCS were allocated E574 182 767, the other two security forces received about E2.4 billion with the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) getting E1.17 billion while the army got E1.31 billion. This means that in total, about E2.48 billion was allocated to the security forces from the E26.4 billion tabled in February by the Finance minister.
The Tesla car worth over 45K burned on Perth Road in Ilford, north London

A shocked resident captured a Tesla which 'self-combusted' into flames on Sunday morning.

Eugenio Mereu watched the electric car blazing and billowing black smoke as it was parked up on the side of the street in Ilford, north London on Sunday morning.

The 36-year-old said the fire was so strong he could hear it crackling from his house before he captured it on camera at 9.26am.

He added he couldn't see anything that may have caused the fire, leaving him fearful that his Tesla could meet the same fate.

Mr Mereu's car incidentally matches the one that now sits burnt out on the street as it is reportedly the 'same car, same colour, same year.'

A look at the Tesla car whiuch 'self-combusted' on a residential street

Eugenio Mereu watched the burning car and filmed the footage

The London resident described the car as a Tesla Model Y, which reportedly has a starting price of around 44,990.

Police and three fire engines are said to have attended the scene on residential Perth Road, Ilford, north London.

It is not the first time a Tesla has 'self-combusted'. In May this year another Tesla dramatically erupted in flames on a California highway after it began to 'shake'.

READ MORE: Hybrid explodes into a fireball after crash - two people miraculously escape without injuries Advertisement

Bishal Malla, of Elk Grove, was driving down Highway 99 near Cosumnes River Boulevard when he started to feel his electric vehicle begin to shake and thought he had a flat tire.

However, when he stopped to check, he was shocked to find smoke billowing out from under the car.

A website called Tesla Fire, documenting Elon Musk's company's flaming track record, claims 204 Tesla fires have been reported in the media.

The London man said regarding the fire: 'There was a bit of a commotion and I went outside and it had caught on fire, completely. It looks like it's self-combusted, it literally started a fire on its own.

'It hadn't been caused in a crash, it wasn't particularly hot, there wasn't anyone near it, it just self-combusted, catching fire a if there was some sort of malfunction.

'It's scary because I've actually got the exact same car, it's slightly concerning that it could just catch fire, and a really strong fire.

'I heard one person screaming and then you could actually hear the fire, making the crackling noise.

Mereu said 'There was a bit of a commotion and I went outside and it had caught on fire, completely. It looks like it's self-combusted, it literally started a fire on its own'

A wider look a the burning fumes that arose from the Tesla which set on fire

'Imagine, I've got the same car, same colour, same year, everything brand new. I was like oh my God that's concerning.

'Imagine the owner not knowing, obviously they parked it overnight.

'I think as well there's some sort of safety feature on the vehicle where the bonnet opens automatically as a safety precaution in case anyone's trapped inside.

'Even more fire engines started coming, more police afterwards as well. Then they started tell people to go back indoors and move us on, to not cause a commotion or make it worse.'
The son of a Canadian pastor who faces jail time for preaching to truckers who blocked the US-Canada border last year received a standing ovation in EU Parliament as he slammed PM Justin Trudeau for taking 'freedom and democracy' away from citizens.

Nathaniel Pawlowski's father Artur Pawlowski potentially faces 10 years in prison after he delivered a 19-minute speech to truckers who were protesting federal vaccine mandates by blocking the border in early 2022.

'I am here today in desperation, a cry for help,' Pawlowski, 23, told members of the EU Parliament on July 4. 'I would like to stand here and tell you all the things about freedom and democracy that I like, but I no longer know those things.'

'They have been taken away from us Canadians. Canada has fallen.'

Nathaniel also likened Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to 'a modern-day Caligula,' saying that 'We cannot allow these mad emperors to run mad. And remember, all of this is being done under the guise of health, safety and protecting us by stripping our rights and ushering in tyranny.'

Pawlowski was found guilty in May of mischief and breaching a release order. He remains under house arrest as he awaits a court date on August 9.

Pastor Artur Pawlowski's son Nathaniel, 23, received a standing ovation in EU Parliament as he slammed PM Justin Trudeau for taking 'freedom and democracy' away from citizens

Pastor Artur Pawlowski, a Polish-Canadian pastor who was jailed for 51 days after addressing truckers along the U.S.-Canada border in Coutts, Alberta, alleges mistreatment in prison

Nathaniel likened PM Justin Trudeau to 'a modern-day Caligula,' saying 'We cannot allow these mad emperors to run mad. And remember, all of this is being done under the guise of health, safety and protecting us by stripping our rights and ushering in tyranny'

Nathaniel addressed the EU Parliament in Brussels on behalf of his father and it was followed by a video that showed his father comparing his situation in Canada to growing up behind the Iron Curtain in communist Poland.

'We no longer have freedom of religion, or freedom of speech, or the right to protest or assemble or associate or express ourselves or have free media or disagree with the government,' Nathaniel Pawlowski said.

'Anyone who does so is arrested, charged and jailed as political dissidents.'

Pawlowski was arrested by the Calgary Police Service (CPS) five times after he continued to conduct services in defiance of a court order.

His speech to truckers was at the height of the protests against a Canadian mandate that forces truckers crossing the border with the U.S. to be vaccinated.

Pawlowski urged them to 'hold the line' against government overreach without resorting to violence - and advised them from traveling to Edmonton, fearing a government crackdown like what happened in Ottawa.

A few days later, Pawlowski was arrested at his home and taken to Calgary Remand Centre, where the pastor spent 50 nights and alleges he was mistreated by prison officials.

Nathaniel as also been charged for a sermon he delivered in April outside a drag queen story hour with children at the Calgary Public Library.

He allegedly violated a municipal bylaw passed in March that prohibits protests within 100 meters of a recreation facility or library entrance, Fox News reported.

Powerful!!! Pastor Artur Pawlowskis speech at the European Parliament via video and Nathaniel Pawlowskis speech in person at Brussels, Belgium! Testifying about the persecution happening in Canada!



Please Share! #EuropeanParliament #MedicalTyranny #StandUp pic.twitter.com/Co2NQbN5jE  Artur Pawlowski (@ArturPawlowski1) July 4, 2023

Pawlowski's speech was at the height of the protests against a Canadian mandate that forces truckers crossing the border with the U.S. to be vaccinated

Pawlowski was arrested at his home a few days after he spoke to truckers and taken to Calgary Remand Centre, where the pastor alleges he was mistreated

'I myself have been charged for preaching and reading the Bible publicly because the government claims the Bible isn't inclusive and is hateful,' Nathaniel told the parliament. 'This is what the Canadian government is doing to us.'

Artur Pawlowski told Fox News Digital that he is 'enraged' at how he and his family are being treated by Canadian authorities, whom he described as 'monsters' who 'have no boundaries.'

'I stood for my rights,' Pawlowski said. 'Now my son is standing for his rights, and they're not satisfied with hurting the father. Now they want to hurt my children, my family, my wife. They are coming after our children, and those are the tactics of every totalitarian regime. The Gestapo did it. The KGB did it. Every totalitarian regime, every dictatorship has this playbook.'

'They are monsters  sick, evil, wicked people,' he added. 'And if I could deliver a message to them, I would simply say that one day they will stand before the Judge of judges who does not take bribes, and they will give an account for every word that they said and everything they have done. One day justice will be served.'

The 'Freedom Convoy' protests, which started by Canadian truckers opposing a COVID-19 vaccinate-or-quarantine mandate for cross-border drivers, have drawn thousands of people opposed to Trudeau's policies.

Trudeau said that invoking the Act would strengthen the police's ability to impose fines and even imprisonment for protesters who blockade borders

Protesters camped in front of the Canadian Parliament, some of whom want the prime minister to meet with them, said the latest steps were excessive

The trucker protest in 2022 grew until it closed vital trade routes along the Canada-U.S. border and shut down key parts of the capital for more than three weeks. But all border blockades were ended on February 14

The 'Freedom Convoy' protests, which started by Canadian truckers opposing a COVID-19 vaccinate-or-quarantine mandate for cross-border drivers, have drawn thousands of people opposed to Trudeau's policies.

Protesters camped in front of the Canadian Parliament, some of whom want the prime minister to meet with them, said the latest steps were excessive.

Trudeau told protesters at the time that they need to 'go home now' - but he's held back deploying the military under the Act, which grants powers that have been used only once before in peacetime, and will now be used to tackle protests over COVID-19 vaccine mandates and restrictions.

The trucker protest in 2022 grew until it closed vital trade routes along the Canada-U.S. border and shut down key parts of the capital for more than three weeks. But all border blockades were ended on February 14.
Ten squatters have been removed after illegally taking over a $1million home in Florida, leaving it damaged and infested with bugs.

The ringleader, Tyrone Jones, was also accused of creating a fake identity to become an executor of the property in Fort Lauderdale - and has allegedly carried out 14 similar crimes and fraudulently acquired properties worth more than $12 million.

Broward County Sheriffs Office removed seven men, two women and a child last Tuesday from the stolen home. The locks were changed to stop them returning.

The $1million home on Seabreeze Boulevard had its walls, windows, and flooring completely damaged by the squatters - who allegedly 'know the system' and understood how to stay at the home before courts got involved.

It's assumed they were there for more than a year.

The squatters even terrorized neighbors on Seabreeze Boulevard, with one man who lived next door saying that they broke into his home in the middle of the night on February 27, 2022.

The $1million home on Seabreeze Boulevard (pictured) was taken over by 10 squatters. Its walls, windows, and flooring completely damaged, authorities said

The culprits allegedly 'know the system' and understood how to stay at the home before courts got involved

Broward County Sheriffs Office removed seven men, two women and a child last Tuesday from the home. The locks were changed to stop them returning

Tyrone Jones and Kevin Bosley were two of the people squatting in the home. Jones is said to be the ringleader, and he is now behind bars. Bosley was first arrested last year when he was caught inside a neighboring home in the middle of the night. He was escorted out of the stolen home this week

He told CBS Miami: 'My wife screaming, someone's in our room, and my dog barking and chasing him out. This person in our bedroom, he was at the foot of our bed. He had stepped into the room.'

The neighbor said he's had a 'number' of sleepless nights since living next to the squatters.

At the time, police arrested Kevin Bosley but he was released and made to wear an ankle monitor - but they didn't realize he was living in the stolen home next door.

He was seen being escorted out of the stolen home last week, still with his monitor around his ankle.

Speaking about the home, Mike Fisten, an investigator for the Broward Property Appraiser's office Crimes Against Property team, told CBS Miami: 'It's bug infested. The walls are damaged.

'The flooring is damaged. The windows are damaged. The whole area is totally damaged.'

Marty Kiar, Broward County Property Appraiser, said about the ringleader Jones: 'He actually had rented it out to other people that didn't own the property.

'When an individual steals a home, not only is the property owner a victim, but the community can be victimized as well.

Pictured: Mike Fisten, an investigator for the Broward Property Appraiser's office Crimes Against Property team

The inside of the home in Fort Lauderdale where the 10 people had been squatting

'In this situation, one of the individuals in the home was arrested for breaking and entering into a nearby home.

'The owner of the nearby home reached out to our office. I am glad that the property has now been returned to the property owner.

'I want to thank the Fort Lauderdale Police Department and the Broward Sheriffs Office as they have been incredible partners in helping us protect our wonderful Broward community.

He said that within the last year, his team has investigated nearly 200 squatting incidents: 'We only started about a year ago, we've had about 185 cases, and every case is a little bit different. And in every case, what we do evolves a little bit.

'Our underlying goal at the end of the day is just to help protect the community and to hold people accountable.'

This comes after a public school teacher and her family were evicted from a home in Houston that they squatted in using a fake lease.

Amberlyn Prather, who is a fourth-grade teacher at a Houston public school, remained silent as she was confronted by ABC13 outside eviction court after a judge ordered the family to leave the house by the end of the month.

Prather, who arrived at the property in January while it was vacant and listed for sale, still managed to drag her heels and remain for a few weeks longer.

But she has now finally been evicted.

Realtor Shanequa Garrett, who is authorized to sell the house, had not been inside in months because of the squatters and had been fighting for months to remove them.

But on June 15, the teacher and her family left the house, which allowed Garrett to go inside and finally figure out how the family broke into the home.
Twitter founder Jack Dorsey was left unmoved by a follow request from Mark Zuckerberg on Threads Sunday - days after slamming the Facebook creator's brand-new social media app as a carbon copy of his own.

Taking to Twitter to do so, Dorsey - who stepped down as the site's chairman in 2021 - posted a screenshot of his own Threads account after the app's surprise rollout last week.

Within the post, Dorsey's some 6.5million followers on the platform were graced with the peculiar sight of a blue check-marked headshot of perhaps his biggest rival in Zuckerberg, 39.

'Zuck requests to follow you', a note next to the photo read - making it clear the screenshot showed a follow request sent on the new platform.

Apparently unswayed by what seemed to be a digital olive branch, 46-year-old Dorsey took to his own site to express his distaste, while offering a curt statement that seemed to suggest he had rebuffed the request - or has at least let it languish in social media limbo to make his competitor sweat.

Twitter founder Jack Dorsey was left unmoved by a follow request from Mark Zuckerberg on Threads Sunday. The 46-year-old shared a screengrab to show his apparent distatste

Dorsey - who stepped down as the site's chairman in 2021 - posted the screenshot from his own Threads account days after the app's surprise rollout last week, and days after slamming the Facebook creator's brand-new social media app as a carbon copy of his own

Meta owner Zuckerberg unveiled Threads last week, and more than a 100 million have migrated to the app in the span since

'Too soon b,' the former Twitter boss - who has criticized Threads despite being one of roughly 100million to sign up in its first week, wrote in a caption, using slang that jokingly labeled his longtime competitor a friend.

The wayward comment came after Dorsey, on Thursday, appeared to take a shot at both The Social Network subject and his latest online creation, which serves as a text-based extension of the Instagram app, and is being billed as a 'Twitter killer'.

Dorsey, who came up with the concept of the app now owned by Elon Musk back in the mid 2000s, tweeted: 'We wanted flying cars, instead we got 7 Twitter clones.'

The applications in the post included Meta's Threads, Twitter, Jack Dorsey's new platform Bluesky, Mastodon and Post News.

Dorsey's most recent response, meanwhile, has since been viewed more than 6million times, while amassing more than 50,000 likes.

It also elicited a wave of reaction from users on Twitter - which days before Threads released decided to limit how many tweets users could see in a day.

'Block him jack,' said one user - while another jokingly offered a statement meant to be read as if it were from the Meta boss.

'"Hey I made this new app and I kinda regret it - do you have any advice"' it read - seemingly poking fun at Dorsey's dreams for his platform likely being dashed during criticism his site faced in 2020 and afterwards for repeated instances of censorship, and its eventually sale to Musk years later.

Within that span, Dorsey stepped down from his long-held post on the Silicon Valley firm's board of directors, before later airing his disapproval at the direction Musk, 56, planned to bring his multibillion dollar creation.

Now nearly a year after the Tesla boss's takeover, Twitter has been left stuggling - after four rounds of firings that has seen roughly 80 percent of the some 8,000 strong workforce permanently nixed.

The company's value has proved volatile under Musk's unpredictable tenure, pluniging roughly 66 percent and costing the former world's richest man billions of dollars on paper.

Originally worth $44billion, the San Francisco based firm is now worth just one-third of what Musk paid in October - and the sudden, and fast-growing popularity of Threads looks to now being Twitter's user numbers in jeopardy as well.

On Thursday an attorney for Twitter indicated the company might even sue Meta - its parent company - for hiring former staff with access to its trade secrets.

With legal action potentially on the way - along with a rumored cage fight between Zuckerberg and Elon Musk - the founder of Facebook appears to be attempting to smooth thing over with Twitter execs of the past in Dorsey, who appeared unamused by the gesture. Several flocked to the - no pun intended - thread to revel in that sentiment, with several sharing memes to do so

Meanwhile, Musk, Twitter's new owner, may have lost around $30billion on his investment in the company, after a slew of changes and layoffs, and the introduction of the 'kinder' app Threads

Ellen DeGeneres and Oprah Winfrey were among the first to join Threads

Driving the migration of many users away from Twitter is a hostile political environment on the platform caused in part by Musk's relaxed approach to content moderation

Online data service Quiver Quantitative reported that the app passed 100 million users at 3am EST

Zuckerberg has opted to capitalize on the fact swathes of Twitter's old user base started to feel disenfranchised.

Some Twitter users expressed concern the platform has not done enough to curtail hate speech and that it is descending into a far-right forum are now loudly and proudly jumping ship.

Billed as a 'friendly' alternative to Twitter for users that dislike Musk and the direction he is taking the company, Threads has already amassed an estimated 113million users in just over a week, with famous figures like Gordon Ramsey and Shakira among the first to hop on board.

Users can port their Instagram followers to Threads, so stars like the celebs mentioned did not have to do much to carry over their fanbase - sporting 1 and 3.4 million followers respectively within days of the platform's launch.

Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez - known to have had multiple spats with Musk himself - is also now active on the Threads, but like several others who have migrated, continues to use Twitter as a median.

The Washington Post was also among the first 260,000 users, according to the New York Observer, and The New York Times followed suit shortly after.

Other outlets like the Miami Herald and the Charlotte Observer were also on the app. DailyMail.com is also on Threads.

Actress Sarah Jessica Parker was also among the first to get on Threads and in her very first post indirectly addressed the politically fraught social media climate.

'@threadsapp might prove to be a platform where folks are kind, thoughtful, don't feel encouraged to be mean, aggressive or hostile, there are other channels for that,' she wrote. 'This could be a new day.'

An interesting exception to the trend was the presence of conservative personality and founder of Turning Point USA Charlie Kirk on Threads.

Investigative journalism non-profit ProPublica was also very active on the app, not only did it create its own profile but it also created a list of its reporters that had also created accounts.

Actress Sarah Jessica Parker was also among the first to get on Threads and in her very first post she indirectly addressed the politically fraught social media climate

Jennifer Lopez has posted regularly on Threads within just a few days of its launch

Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez, known to have had multiple spats with Musk himself, is now very active on Threads

Zuckerberg's foray onto Twitter's turf will not only be an affront to Musk's ego but also affect the value of the company.

Following Musk's acquisition, Twitter became a private company - and was delisted from the New York Stock Exchange in November, meaning it cannot be valued according to market capitalization.

Fidelity Investments, however, estimated in May its own stake in the company had plummeted in value since October, implying Twitter was then worth just $15billion - a third of what Musk paid.

Daniel McCarthy, an assistant professor of marketing at Emory University's Goizueta Business School and a co-founder of Theta Equity Partners, said the woeful Fidelity valuation was likely driven in part by the fact Musk overpaid for Twitter.

'The marking to market of Twitter by Fidelity was likely driven by a combination of $44B being a high price for the acquisition, coupled with the severe decline in revenue,' he told DailyMail.com in an email.

While Musk may have brought Twitter closer to being profitable through aggressive cost-cutting, most readily cuttable costs have now been cut. That means if revenues drop any more than they have already, profits will be eaten into fast.

McCarthy suggested Twitter revenue is now down around 40 percent from $5.1billion in 2022 to around $3billion annualized. But Musk's costs, he says, are also down a whopping 45 percent, from around $5.5billion to $3billion.

'If Threads takes off, more individuals (like me) will spend more time on Threads than they will on Twitter. Naturally, this will drive a decline in Twitter ad exposures that advertisers could bid on, which would drive a further decline in ad revenue,' he wrote.

Gordon Ramsey and Shakira were among the first to hop on board. Shakira had 3.4million followers on Monday

Users can port their Instagram followers to Threads, so Ramsey had a million followers within days

Matthew Prince, CEO of Cloudflare, shared a screenshot to Twitter on Sunday of a chart suggesting that traffic on the platform was 'tanking'

'It does not appear that there is much more room for Musk to cut additional operating expenses, so this incremental loss of revenue could translate dollar-for-dollar into loss of profits.'

With legal action potentially on the way - along with a rumored cage fight between Zuckerberg and Musk - the founder of Facebook appears to be attempting to smooth thing over with Twitter execs of the past in Dorsey, who appeared unamused by the gesture.

Several flocked to the - no pun intended - thread to revel in that sentiment, with several sharing memes to do so.

One user joked: 'Don't accept it or he will copy your coffee cup collection.'

Another sarcastically advised: 'Accept it but dont follow him back.'

Someone else, meanwhile, simply asked: 'Are you still deciding?!'
An interior designer who once networked with suspected Gilgo Beach serial killer Rex Heuermann has revealed the creepy voicemail message he left her - and said he once asked her if she knew about the notorious murders.

Dominique Vidal told ABC 7 she was in a networking organization with the 59-year-old architect in February, and soon he started leaving her voicemails which left her feeling 'uncomfortable'.

In one of these messages, Vidal recounted, 'he asked me if I knew about the Gilgo Beach murders.'

Heuermann is now behind bars on Long Island, charged with first- and second-degree murder in the deaths of three Gilgo Beach victims - Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman and Amber Costello. He is also the prime suspect in the death of a fourth woman, Maureen Brainard-Barnes. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Those who have worked with him say he was fastidious, impressing some of his clients while annoying others with his attention to detail.

Dominique Vidal, an interior designer who was in a networking organization with Rex Heuermann, said he once asked her if she knew of the Gilgo Beach murders

What looks like toys and stuffed animals are added to a vehicle where authorities have been placing evidence. Police, FBI and Crime Lab officials were seen going in-and-out of Rex Heuermann's home in Massapequa Park, NY, in afternoon on Sunday, July 16, 2023

Those who knew Heuermann have given varying descriptions, with some seeing him as a successful but cumbersome Manhattan architect while others saw him as a creepy loner

Vidal said she was left feeling 'uncomfortable' in Heuermann's presence  even before she knew of his alleged crimes.

When he started leaving her voicemails at the end of February, she said, 'I assumed he just wanted to do some work together, but he always made me a little bit uncomfortable.'

At one point, she recounted, Heuermann brought up the Gilgo Beach murders seemingly unprompted.

'Back then I would say, "Oh, you know he's just from that area, maybe you know, he's just a local talking about [it] and would think I'd find it interesting.

'But now I see it as a serial killer trying to put it in somebody's face.'

In a TikTok video, Vidal published a voicemail Heuerman left her at the end of February - after she had left the networking group - and said she found it 'odd' he was phoning her.

'I found it odd he was calling me, because he had no work for me, I had no work for him, there was no ongoing relationship, we were just two people who used to be in the same networking group.'

'There's nothing incredibly scary about the voicemail, besides the fact that he is the Gilgo Beach murderer, but yeah, enjoy I guess.'

Heuermann's voice can then be heard in Vidal's clip as she shares her voicemail screen.

'Hey, this is Rex from the BNI Group. I actually heard you're no longer part of the group, I still wanted to talk to you, I had a question for you.

'Um... and also wanted to touch base. So if you get an opportunity you can always find me at the office, or feel free to use my cell [number retracted].

'Hope you're doing good, hope to talk to you soon. Thanks.'

In another clip, Vidal said she told Heuermann that she liked true crime and he wanted to know if she had a 'favorite case'. When he brought up the subject of the Gilgo Beach killings and he mentioned that he lived in the area, he laughed when she told him: 'Anybody could be a serial killer'.

'I just cannot stop running that conversation over and over in my head, and I'm really disturbed,' she said.

'I'm still processing all of this, thinking over and over again about how I shook his hand and how his hand felt. And I'm listening to the voicemails on my phone from him, and I'm going over his emails and looking at the photos of us all at the Christmas party and the photos of him at our networking meetings and I'm just seeing a monster hiding in plain sight.

'It all makes so much sense. He was so full of himself.'

Law enforcement sources have told DailyMail.com Heuermann, an accomplished architect and father-of-two has been on their radar since last year.

Prosecutors allege he used burner phones and multiple email accounts to search for sites depicting sexual violence, to reach sex workers and to keep up with the investigation of the murders.

He also allegedly used fake names for email accounts and phones 'to conduct thousands of searches related to sex workers, sadistic, torture-related pornography and child pornography.'

Many of the search terms, prosecutors allege, focused on violent sexual acts involving minors.

Authorities say Barthelemy's burner phone was also used to make 'taunting phone calls' t her family members in the days after her disappearance, in which a male voice admitting to killing and sexually assaulting her.

Investigators gathered Sunday at Heuermann's Long Island home to collect boxes upon boxes of evidence that were loaded into large vehicles.

Personnel from multiple agencies appeared to be on site at the suspected serial killer's residence. Some wore masks, hairnets, gloves, and plastic coats as they handled the sensitive materials.

Police, FBI and Crime Lab officials were seen going in-and-out of Rex Heuermann's home Sunday afternoon

An aerial shot of Rex Heuermann's in suburban New York

Investigators swept the scene at Rex Heuermann's Long Island home on Sunday

What seem to be children's toys and stuffed animals are loaded into a vehicle where law enforcement authorities were placing evidence on Sunday afternoon

Authorities from several branches of law enforcement appeared to be on the scene at Heuermann's Long Island home on Sunday afternoon to collect boxes and boxes of evidence

Heuermann, who has lived for decades across a bay from where the remains were found, is charged with killing (L to R): Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman and Amber Costello

Dominique Vidal told ABC 7 she was in a networking organization with the 59-year-old architect in February, and soon he started leaving her voicemails which left her feeling 'uncomfortable'

The suspect's house sits directly north of Gilgo Beach across the South Oyster Bay

The calls were later traced to a location near Heuermann's Manhattan office.

At that office, Heuermann built up a reputation redeveloping New York City's skyline, and Heuermann, himself, has said he has worked for clients including Catholic Charitie, NYC Department of Environmental Protection Sewerage Treatment, American Airlines and other major tenants at John F. Kennedy International Airport.

'For over 20 years, RH has been adding beauty and structure with concept-driven designs at multiple scales from educational facilities, residential works as well as mix-use and office design, public works and master planning,' the firm's website reads.

'RH also actively supports sustainability along with the preservation of historical landmarks,' the site adds, noting that it has 'over 30 years of service dealing with the New York City building code, the New York City Department of Buildings and all major city agencies.'

Among the firm's most recent projects is the new Target store in Manhattan's upscale SoHo Cast Iron District.

For that project, Heuermann's firm collaborated with Target's design team to integrate the store's aesthetics into the wealthy neighborhood.

It worked on adding elevators and escalators into the historical landmark-designated property built in 1884, restructured multiple floors of the building and provided new ADA-compliant entrances for the store.

RH also collaborated with Burlington Coat Factory to build its latest store in Brooklyn, and worked closely with a homeowner on a full-scale renovation of a two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment overlooking Central Park West.

'(He is) a gem to deal with, highly knowledgeable,' said Steve Kramberg, a property manager in Brooklyn who worked with Heuermann for 30 years.

He described him as a 'big goofy guy' who was 'a little bit on the nerdy side', which manifested as a dedicated worker who was more than detailed in his work.

But not all of Heuermann's projects have proven to be popular.

Among Heuermann's most recent projects is the new Target store in Manhattan's upscale SoHo Cast Iron District and a Burlington Coat Factory store in Brooklyn

He also worked closely with a homeowner on a full-scale renovation of a two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment overlooking Central Park West (pictured)

In 2007, more than two dozen families were booted from their crumbling apartment building in Harlem after Heuermann falsely identified it as being vacant.

Heuermann had been hired at the time to renovate the seven-story building, which had more than 700 open housing code violations, according to the New York Daily News.

Paul Tietelbaun, a former president of a building's board that hired Heuermann for renovations, also said he exhibited an attitude of: 'I'm the expert, you're lucky to have me.'

'(He was) a really kind of cold and distant person, kind of creepy,' he added.

Another member of the board, Kelly Parisi, echoed this as she recalled how the building's managers eventually fired Heuermann because he was 'overly fastidious' and 'adversarial with everyone.'

Drone footage of Heuermann's home shows police outside the one-story building

Investigators were seen Saturday outside Heuermann's Massapequa home removing various items as they try to see if he left behind any 'trophies' from his alleged victims

New York state police have removed a massive haul of weapons from Heuermann's Long Island home after scouring the property to determine whether he left any 'trophies' from his three victims

Some neighbors of Heuermann's dungeon-like home in suburban Massapequa Park also said they found him creepy.

Mike Schmidt, who has lived in the neighborhood for a decade, said he often visits his friend whose property backs onto Heuermann's.

He said when they drink beers in the backyard, they would look at the home and remark: 'He probably has bodies there.'

Schmidt recalled that while children often avoid the creepy home on Halloween, last year he and his friend took their kids to the home - purely to satisfy their curiosity and take a look inside.

He said they were greeted by Heuermann at the door, who surprised them by giving out full pumpkins of candy to the children.

However, Schmidt told the Times that his wife was appalled to find out where the candy was from and made him throw it out.

Another resident, Tara Alonzo, revealed she had a disturbing run-in with Heuermann in the Whole Foods where she works in Long Island.

She told DailyMail.com that he stole oranges from the store's kid's club, where parents leave their children while they shop. When he was confronted by staff, she says he responded: 'If I was wearing a suit like I wear most days, you wouldn't be talking to me like this.'

She said he then strolled out of the store with five or six oranges in his hands, leaving the staff perplexed by the 'weird' customer.
A carer who abused her position to steal 17,500 from vulnerable patients in her care to fund her gambling addiction has been spared jail.

Laura Hancock, 32, of Ramsgate, Kent, tricked her clients at Seeds Care into handing over their life savings and misused a company credit card to pocket thousands.

Seeds Care, in Kent, helps adults under the age of 65 who suffer from mental health conditions and learning disabilities.

Hancock, who was the service manager at the facility, targeted six people who she demanded withdraw cash to pay their rent but instead blew the money on gambling.

The carer took one vulnerable victim to a cash point to withdraw money under the guise of paying his rent, but he later discovered there were no payments to make and he had been swindled to the tune of 3,980.

Laura Hancock (pictured) tricked her clients into handing over their savings and misused a company credit card to pocket over 17,500

Hancock, who targeted six clients, all of whom had learning disabilities, also lied about buying clients furniture, before pocketing the money families sent over.

She also took cash from savings tins and withdrew funds using the company credit card.

Staff were mislead into taking residents to cashpoints and delivering envelopes filled with cash to the thief's desk.

Another one of her victims had known Hancock for five years.

He told Canterbury Crown Court: 'She took loads of cash out of my savings tin. It had taken me a very long time to save up that money - a very, very long time.

'I knew there was something fishy about her from the beginning - I knew it!

'When it all came out that she had been stealing from people it made me feel angry, upset, really annoyed.

'She literally betrayed me. It makes me think I don't want to trust anyone anymore.

'For what she's done she should have gone straight to jail. It feels to me that she's getting away with this and it's not fair.'

The fraud and thefts took place over a period of 18 months between March 2020 and September 2021. But afterHancock's crimes were uncovered, she confessed to bosses before being turned into police.

Seeds Care director Angela Rankin said: 'When Laura told me I was overcome with anger and grief.

'What she has done is despicable and unimaginable - these people trusted her and their sense of trust was completely broken, as is mine. I'll never forgive you Laura for what you did, never.'

Fellow director, Zara Reyes, said for a time there were fears among staff that the service would shut.

She said: 'We have had to have difficult conversations with service users and their families and we have faced damage to our reputation, which we have worked so hard to build.

Hancock pleaded guilty to five counts of theft and three counts of fraud by abuse of position at Canterbury Crown Court (pictured)

'It caused uncertainty among staff, as they were worried that Seeds might close down.

'We have now reimbursed all the service users at our business at our own cost, but Laura's breach of trust continues to make me doubt people.'

At Canterbury Crown Court, Hancock pleaded guilty to five counts of theft and three counts of fraud by abuse of position.

Prosecutor Kiera Vinall said: 'Concerns were initially raised by an employee after she realised that rent money was being taken by Ms Hancock.

'It was also noticed that savings tins were missing from their place in the main office.

'Hancock then admitted that she had been taking the money due to a gambling addiction.'

Mitigating, defence barrister Nargees Choudhury attributed Hancock's behaviour to her struggles with addiction.

He said: 'All this stems from her gambling, which started when she was 16.

'She has engaged with a number of different approaches to try to tackle the issue, including hypnotherapy and cognitive behavioural therapy.

'She never thought that she would hit rock bottom, but now she feels like that when she goes to work every day as a cleaner. The only word that comes to mind is tragic.'

Judge James Taylor KC took issue with this sympathetic portrayal of the defendant. e said: 'Actually, the only word that comes to mind is disgraceful.'

Ms Choudhury went on to explain that Hancock is the sole caregiver for her mother, who is dying of cancer.

He said: 'Her deepest regret would be if her mother dies while she's in prison - she would have to live with that forever.'

The barrister added that Hancock, who had kept her addiction a secret, now is receiving the support of friends and family who are aware of her habit.

The court heard that since the scandal, she has not gambled at all.

Judge Taylor added: 'This may have been a financial crime for you, but its impact is far beyond financial - victims lost their sense of trust.

'But far from wash their hands of the responsibility to the vulnerable adults that you stole from, what this company did was reimburse their clients.

'In 25 years of prosecuting, defending and being a judge in this court, I have not heard of a company behaving so responsibly, and it should be commended for that.'

Hancock has started a rehab course and has sought help from gamblers anonymous.

She received a two year sentence suspended for two years and must complete 250 hours of unpaid work in the community and 20 days of rehabilitation.

Ms Reyes questioned why her former employee had not been sent straight to jail.

She said: 'We are disappointed about the suspended sentence due to the high vulnerability of the people we support and the fact that as the registered manager, Laura was in a position of the highest trust.

'We hope this outcome is enough of a deterrent for her not to do the same thing to others in the future, and after two years of waiting would like to focus now on moving forward to a brighter future for all.'
Sen. Tammy Duckworth is the latest Democrat to bash Republican Sen. Tommy Tuberville for holding up Military promotion and nominations in objection of the Pentagon reimbursing travel for abortions.

Duckworth, a retired Army National Guard lieutenant colonel who lost her legs in Iraq in 2004, was exacerbated as she expressed her belief that Sen. Tuberville is threatening U.S. national security with the stunt.

'It is bizarre for Senator Tuberville to say that he's not jeopardizing national security when he injects politics into the Defense process,' the Democratic senator said in a Sunday morning interview with NBC's Meet the Press program.

'And frankly this is not the time to do it,' she lamented. 'Not when there is a war going on in Europe, not when American leadership is vital to the international global order.'

'For him to really jeopardize our national security by injecting politics and preventing our Military leaders from being able to take their positions and do their jobs is beyond distressing.'

Her comments follow President Joe Biden saying it was ridiculous that the Alabama senator is holding up Military promotions due to the new Pentagon policy that reimburses service members who travel out of state for abortions.

Sen. Tammy Duckworth (pictured) said Sunday it's 'beyond disgusting' that Sen. Tommy Tuberville is blocking senior Military leadership promotions and nominations in objection of Pentagon abortion policies

Sen. Tuberville said he would stop the block when the Pentagon reverses its directive to use taxpayer funds to reimburse service members to travel out of state for abortions

Sen. Duckworth explained that lawmakers have tried to give Tuberville a way to vote on the matter of stopping the Pentagon reimbursement program, but that he has refused to agree to the terms of a floor vote.

'We've given him many options for a vote, and he's turned them all down,' Sen. Duckworth told NBC host Chuck Todd. 'Republican leadership have offered him multiple off ramps to this, and he's backed himself into a corner.'

'What he's saying is what Democrats need to pass a national codification of Roe v. Wade,' she continued. 'We would love to do that. Obviously that's not going to happen any time soon with the Senate so closely split as it is.'

Biden was clearly fed-up with the hold-up of his Pentagon nominees and promotions during remarks in Helsinki, Finland last week.

Asked about the stunt during a press conference in Europe, Biden said that Tuberville is 'jeopardizing' U.S. Military readiness and called on the Republican Party to do something about their colleague blocking the movement of Military leaders within the ranks.

Tuberville said that he will stop holding up the actions of the Armed Services Committee once the policy is reversed and taxpayer money is no longer funding travel for abortion services.

'I'd be willing to talk to him if I thought there's any possibility of him changing his ridiculous position he has,' Biden said.

'He's jeopardizing U.S. security by what he's doing. I expect the Republican Party to stand up, stand up and do something about it.'

President Joe Biden slammed Sen. Tommy Tuberville's 'ridiculous' stunt during a press briefing in Helsinki, Finland last week

The block is holding up the confirmation of the next Marine Corps Commandant, leaving the branch without an official leader for the first time in 100 years.

Outgoing Commandant David Berger stepped down from his post Monday after reaching the length of his term. Tuberville is blocking Gen. Eric Smith, currently the assistant commandant, from being confirmed as his successor by the Senate.

Biden's pick as the next Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff warned Congress on Wednesday that Tuberville's block could cause every branch to lose top talent.

Air Force General C.Q. Brown shared his perspective during his confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday, where Tuberville was present.

Abortion is now illegal in Tuberville's home state of Alabama, meaning if a service member wanted an abortion, they would need to travel out of state for the procedure.

Defense Department Secretary Lloyd Austin directed after the Dobbs ruling last June that service members be paid for their time and reimbursed travel costs for the procedure.

Tuberville's blockade, progressive Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren noted during Tuesday's hearing, will end up leaving 650 leaders in limbo as they await promotions and appointments.

'My concern there is future retention,' Gen. Brown warned during the hearing.

He added: 'We have our more junior officers who now will look up and say: 'If that's the challenge that we may have to deal with in the future. I'm going to balance between my family and serving in a senior position.' And we will lose talent because of those challenges.'

Brown noted that the service members are not the only ones affected  but that spouses and children are also now unsure of the future.

He told the Senate panel on Tuesday that some families have already sold their home in anticipation of a move and are now in temporary base housing and others were preparing for retirement but are now being kept to maintain their post while awaiting replacements to be appointed.

Biden's pick as the next Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Air Force Gen. C.Q. Brown (pictured), warned during his confirmation hearing on Tuesday that the Military will 'lose talent' if the hold persists of senior officer promotions and appointments

Following the overturn of Roe v. Wade last summer, Secretary Austin unveiled a rule allowing the use of funds to pay service members to go out of state for abortion services, if needed.

The Dobbs Supreme Court decision in June 2022 sent abortion laws back to the states  and more conservative jurisdictions, like Alabama, imposed restrictive laws on pregnancy termination.

'The spouse network is alive and well, and the spouses will compare notes,' Brown added during his confirmation hearing on Tuesday. 'The member may want to serve, but the spouses and the families get a huge vote.'

Caught in the cross-hairs of the block is Marine Corps Assistant Commandant Eric Smith's nomination to take over as outgoing Commandant Berger's term ends. The Marine Corps is now without a Senate confirmed leader for the first time in 100 years

He said that if families are unhappy, they may influence their senior officer spouses or parents to end their Military service.

For months, no nominee for general or admiral have been confirmed due to Tuberville's block.

The Alabama senator said he would give up on the hold if the Pentagon reverses its policy reimbursing travel for troops who receive abortions.

There are currently more than 250 senior promotions pending Senate approval.

Tuberville did not mention the block or in general the DoD's abortion policies at the confirmation hearing on Tuesday.

Democrats, however, didn't miss their chance to call-out the Republican senator.

'What he could do to help is lift this stay before it does more damage to this country,' Sen. Warren said.

Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia argued during his time that Tuberville is punishing apolitical military personnel for a policy that they have no control over.

'I'm unaware of anything that they have done that would warrant them being disrespected, punished or delayed in their careers,' Kaine said. 'Just because a prerogative can be exercised, doesn't mean it should be exercised.

'I would urge all of my colleagues to turn away from the path that we're on where we're disrespecting and punishing people because we're unhappy with policies in the military that these individuals had nothing to do with.'
Donald Trump insists that the Secret Service was able to find out who brought cocaine into the White House  despite the agency closing the investigation last week unsolved.

The former president said the U.S. Secret Service (USSS) is filled with 'smart' people and said it 'impossible' that they haven't found the culprit.

An agent found a bag with less than a gram of cocaine in the cubby of a cell phone lockbox in the West Wing on July 2, leading to a hazmat evacuation of the White House. Secret Service launched an investigation to find who brought the illicit drug into one of the most secure locations in the U.S.

USSS briefed Congress on Thursday and said they would be closing the investigation even though they did not figure out who brought cocaine onto the premises.

Donald Trump insisted Secret Service does know who brought cocaine into the White House despite the agency closing its investigation into the matter just 11 days after the incident without finding a culprit

Biden critics immediately jumped to their own conclusions, claiming President Biden's recovering addict son Hunter (left) is to blame for bringing the illicit drug into the White House

'You know, I've gotten to know the Secret Service really well, and I can't speak more highly of people - these are incredible people,' Trump told Fox News host Maria Bartiromo in an interview that aired Sunday.

'And I believe that they know everything,' he insisted. 'They're really smart, and really good at what they do.'

'I don't think it's possible for bags of cocaine to be left in a certain area, by the Situation Room  I'm not talking about, you know, five blocks away. The Situation Room  where you decide on war, where you decide on nuclear'

Critics of Joe Biden immediately jumped to their own conclusions, claiming that the president's recovering addict son Hunter, 52, was responsible for the drugs.

USSS told lawmakers that they narrowed down the suspect list to about 500 people and said it would be too difficult and a waste of resources to find the culprit, therefore they would close the investigation for a 'lack of evidence' in a stunning move just 11 days after the drugs were abandoned in a West Wing locker.

Furious Republicans called the shuttering of the probe 'ridiculous' and accused the Biden administration of a 'cover-up,' with agents unable to find a suspect despite poring over surveillance footage for more than a week

'The FBI has tremendous problems of credibility, the DOJ is weaponized like I've never seen before,' Trump said in an interview aired on Fox's Sunday Morning Futures program.

'I mean, they come after me on boxes and they can't find drugs,' he lamented, linking his classified documents case to the most recent White House scandal.

'Do you know how many cameras they have opposite the front door of the Situation Room where these drugs were?' he questioned. 'They know who this was, they know the person. It's impossible  how could they not know the person?'

GOP Rep. Tim Burchett said agents 'just decided it's just some weekend visitor' and chalked up the entire investigation as 'another coverup' by the Biden White House.

'It's bogus' the Tennessee congressman added. 'That is the most ridiculous thing I've ever seen in my life.'

Trump agrees, claiming that Biden is corrupt.

'The last few weeks I've been very nasty and very tough and very truthful. He's a corrupt man, he's a corrupt president, he's grossly incompetent.'

'I can't speak more highly of [Secret Service],' Trump told Fox News host Maria Bartiromo in an interview that aired Sunday. 'And I believe that they know everything. They're really smart, and really good at what they do'

The location of where the cocaine was found changed three time before USSS briefed Congress on Thursday and said the suspect list was narrowed to about 500 people

Democrats said drug testing all of the potential 500 plus culprits would violate their 'civil liberties' and insisted the cocaine was found in an area used by guests, not members of the Biden family or those with security clearances.

Trump said only people with 'strong passes' and family members of White House staff with offices are able to get through the doors where the lockboxes are located.

Since July 2 the Secret Service had been poring over surveillance footage from cameras stationed all over the White House, but still hasn't managed to find a culprit.

Meanwhile, Biden was able to avoid the latest scandal by escaping to Europe for meetings with foreign leaders.

There were no fingerprints or other DNA found on the container holding the cocaine, according to the Secret Service. And there was less than a gram of the illicit drug in the 'dime-sized' zipper-lock baggie.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene said that the Secret Service officials informed lawmakers during Thursday's briefing that they narrowed down the list of suspected culprits to about 500 people.

'Have they drug tested this list of 500 potential suspects that brought an illegal substance  the drug cocaine  into the White House,' Greene told reporters after the briefing. 'Their answer was no, and that they're unwilling to do so.'

Without any direct answers from the USSS or the Biden administration on the cocaine discovery with nearly two weeks to investigate the matter, members of Congress demanded briefings.

Trump-era CBP Director and longtime FBI agent Mark Morgan told DailyMail.com last week that the case is 'straightforward' and could be solved in the matter of 30 minutes.

Morgan and Rep. Burchett separately noted that there are cameras everywhere with facial recognition technology that could provide answers to who brought the cocaine into the White House.

It's unlikely Republican members of Congress will be happy with USSS closing the investigation without finding out who is responsible for bringing the illicit drug into the West Wing.

'Just left the most ridiculous meeting of all time with the Secret Service on the cocaine that was found in the White House,' Rep. Burchett said in a video he recorded walking through Congress after Thursday's briefing.

'It turns out  they don't know who did it,' he said. 'The investigation is going to be over at the end of the week, and they're not going to find out who did it. And that's basically it.'

'Another coverup,' the lawmaker added. 'You know, it's the most secure building in the entire world Nobody, not even the press, goes in there without them knowing.'

He called the outcome a 'bad look on the Secret Service and a horrible look on this White House.'

The substance was found Sunday, July 2, leading to a hazmat evacuation of the White House while President Joe Biden and his family were in Camp David for the long holiday weekend.

Now, 14 days after the discovery, Congress is no closer to knowing how the drug made it into one of the most secure places in the U.S.  and USSS doesn't plan to provide any definitive answers.

House Oversight and Reform Committee Chair James Comer wrote to Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle last week requesting a briefing by July 14, which occurred Thursday morning.

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.

The cocaine discovery location changed three times since its discovery  first in the library, then in a west wing work area and finally in a cell phone lockbox.

For nearly two weeks from discovery to briefing, there were no signs from officials of who the culprit is that brought the illicit drug onto the premises and the Biden administration continued to brush-off questions on the matter.

Biden critics, however, jumped to their own conclusion, claiming that Hunter is to blame for bringing cocaine into the White House.

Secret Service and administration officials remained hush-hush on details of the discovery  only fueling trolls who want to peg the incident on Hunter Biden.

A full statement from the USSS was released Thursday following the briefing that gave a detailed rundown of what the agency did to investigate the matter.

But it concluded by saying it would close the investigation without finding who brought the cocaine into the White House.

'There was no surveillance video footage found that provided investigative leads or any other means for investigators to identify who may have deposited the found substance in this area,' the statement claims.

'Without physical evidence, the investigation will not be able to single out a person of interest from the hundreds of individuals who passed through the vestibule where the cocaine was discovered.'

The statement concluded with: 'At this time, the Secret Service's investigation is closed due to a lack of physical evidence.'

Republicans and other critics are likely to call BS on this.

Several former officials familiar with the spot where the cocaine was found say that there are cameras, guest book logs and security at all times in the West Wing where the cocaine was left.

The evidence, Morgan told DailyMail.com last week, would absolutely be available to identify the culprit in a priority case like this one.
Two major tree-planting events have been cancelled following a demand by an Aboriginal corporation for a payment of $2.5 million in exchange for their approval.

LandCare volunteers were meant to roll up their sleeves to plant 5500 seedlings along Perth's Canning River on the weekend.

But the events never went ahead following a $2.5m demand from the newly formed Whadjuk Aboriginal Corporation, sparking confusion about Western Australia's new Aboriginal heritage laws.

Its chief executive David Collard told land care groups that the plantings couldn't proceed due to the Indigenous group's ongoing dispute with the WA government over funding.

The decision has bewildered conservation groups and community leaders, including four local mayors.

Whadjuk Aboriginal Corporation chief executive David Collard (pictured) reportedly told land care group that two tree planting evrents couldn't proceed

There are now grave fears the seedlings are now at risk of dying and could go to waste.

'We've got to get them into the ground to make the most of the wet soil,' South East Regional Land Care's Stephen Johnston told Seven News.

'We've got a whole lot of land groups across Perth and in WA, whose work is critical to fulfilment of Commonwealth, state and local government environmental objectives, it's not just a nice thing to have, it is critical.'

Pat Hart added: 'We've got four dams on the Canning, it's under real issues. Time is  we can't wait. We have to keep going forward.'

It comes after the WA's revamped Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act came into effect with tougher penalties for damaging sites of traditional significance.

Many rivers, creeks and other tributaries are now considered ethnographic sites, requiring the highest level of assessment to change.

The Canning River is among those now recognised as a site of Aboriginal cultural significance.

At least three community tree planting events have been shut down since the new laws came into effect a fortnight ago.

Thousands of seedlings were meant to be planted along Perth's Canning River (pictured)

City of Canning mayor Patrick Hall (left) and land care advocates are furious over the decision

Frustrated mayors have pleaded with the WA government to step in and resolve the issue.

'We're standing here today in solidarity with some of these environmental groups saying, somebody needs to clarify this legislation  it has become somewhat of a mess,' City of Canning Mayor Patrick Hall said.

Aboriginal Affairs Minister Tony Buti released a statement to insist the matter had 'nothing to do with WA's 'modernised' laws.

He then personally called concerned community leaders, including Cr Hall, to try and reassure them that was the case.

Shadow defence minister Andrew Hastie, who's also federal member for Canning wants the new laws abolished.

'The Aboriginal Cultural Heritage laws are only two weeks old, and already an Indigenous corporation is using them to demand millions of dollars,' he wrote on Sunday night.

'It's time for Roger Cook (WA Premier) to scrap these divisive laws.'

The last furore comes after a week after the opening of the $232million Mitchell Freeway extension spiralled into chaos when two Aboriginal elders clashed over who had the right to conduct the smoking ceremony.

Deputy Minister Rita Saffioti was seen at the launch hurriedly turning away to consult with an official while Whadjak Noongar man Steve Jacobs bickered with another Indigenous man over who had the right to conduct the ceremony.
The mass shooter who killed four people in a quiet Georgia neighborhood has been shot dead by the police.

Henry County Sheriff Reginald Scandrett confirmed to WSBTV that Andre Longmore, 40, was killed in a manhunt on Sunday afternoon.

A Henry County deputy and a Clayton County police officer were also injured in the shooting, but are said to be conscious.

The deputy, however, is being air lifted to a local hospital for treatment.

Police say Longmore opened fire on residents in the Dogwood Lakes division of Hampton, killing three men and one woman before he went on the run Saturday. The victims' identities have not been released.

Andre Longmore, 40, was killed in a manhunt Sunday  just one day after he went on the run

At a news conference Saturday, Hampton Police Chief James Turner said detectives were investigating at least four crime scenes that are in close proximity to one another. He declined to discuss a possible motive.

The first call about the shooting came in around 10:45 am in the Dogwood Lakes subdivision of Hampton Hampton, a small city of about 8,000 resident about 30 miles from Atlanta, Georgia.

In that case, neighbor Frankie Worth said he heard a gunshot as he was reaching for his living room window to open the blinds to figure out how much yard work he could get done.

After he heard a gunshot, he said he ducked 'just for a second' then looked back out the window.

'You know, when you get incoming, you've got to know where it's coming from,' Worth, a Marine Corps veteran, told the Associated Press.

He said he saw Andre with his hands jerking from the recoil of a silver handgun.

The suspect appeared to have fired at a small white car being driven by another neighbor whom Worth described as an 'older white gentleman.'

He said the shooting happened at the edge of a cul-de-sac, with Longmore about 12 feet away as the car drove away.

James Turner, Chief Of Police at the Hampton Police Department, said detectives were investigating at least four crime scenes that are in close proximity to one another

A Henry County sheriff's deputy leaves a meeting to discuss the manhunt for Andre Longmore

Police cars race during the manhunt for Longmore in Hampton, Georgia

At first, Worth said he thought he was witnessing a road rage incident, but said Longmore was moving too deliberately.

The suspect appeared to evaluate whether he needed to shoot again, Worth said, and then 'started walking casually' toward the entrance of the subdivision before picking up his pace to a 'brisk stride.'

After the shooting, Longmore fled in a black GMC Acadia.

Ron Foster, who lives on the main road outside the cul-de-sac, said Longmore drove through his and his neighbor's yard, destroying multiple ornamental windmills and leaving tire tracks that were still visible the next day.

Foster said he didn't know at the time that multiple people had been shot, but said he got a call from a friend who was a retired cop.

'He called me and said, "Ron, y'all stay in or go somewhere. We did."

Dogwood Lakes housing development resident Frankie Worth describes how he witnessed the shooting of his neighbor

A police vehicle stands guard in the Dogwood Lakes neighborhood in Hampton

The entrance to the Dogwood Lakes neighborhood in Hampton

After hearing the news of the mass shooting, Foster recounted how Longmore once approached him when he was mowing his lawn.

'He came up to me and said, "You're the police, aren't you?"' the neighbor said. 'He came up to m and tried to argue with me.'

Longmore had been wanted on four separate warrants.
Dhaka, July 16 (UNI) Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dr. A. K. Abdul Momen sought more strong and effective support of ASEAN leaders and ARF member states to ensure safe, sustainable, dignified and voluntary return of Rohingyas to their homeland during his speech in the 30th ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) held on Friday in Jakarta, Indonesia. A mofa press statement here issued in Dhaka today.

Appreciating this year's theme, ASEAN Matters: Epicentrum of Growth, Foreign Minister Dr. Momen acknowledged strong and effective commitment of ASEAN for strengthening regionalism and multilateralism as well as ASEAN centrality in furthering confidence building through constructive dialogue.

While presenting an overview of Bangladesh's socio-economic development over the last decade, Foreign Minister highlighted effective COVID management, Disaster Risk Reduction, investment in sustainable infrastructure, contribution in UN peace keeping operation. He also cited Indo-Pacific Outlook" (IPO) of Bangladesh emphasizing on the peace centric foreign policy of Bangladesh, based on Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahmans dictum friendship to all, malice towards none. In addition, he stressed the necessity of financing and technology transfer for effectively graduating from LDC, attaining SDGs, becoming a knowledge-based advanced economy and building a prosperous and climate-resilient delta in time.

He reiterated Bangladeshs commitment and continued support to ARF activities aimed at collective security, peace and shared prosperity.

Foreign Minister also sought active support to Bangladeshs candidacy for attaining Sectoral Dialogue Partner status of ASEAN by the next ASEAN Summit.

Foreign Ministers, Deputy Foreign Ministers and representatives of the 27 ARF Member States participated in the Meeting. The Meeting was chaired by Retno L. P. Marsudi, Foreign Minister of Indonesia and Chair of 30th ARF. Foreign Minister Dr. A. K. Abdul.Momen, M.P., led the Bangladesh delegation to the 30th ARF.

Foreign Minister Dr. Momen also attended the reception hosted by the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Indonesia. Moreover, he called on Mr. Joko Widodo, the President of the Republic of Indonesia.

The Meeting concluded by adopting seven outcome documents including 1) ARF Statement on the Commemoration of 30 Years of the ARF, 2) Statement of the 30th ASEAN Regional Forum on Strengthening Maritime Non- Traditional Security Cooperation, 3) ARF Statement on Nuclear Risk Reduction, 4) Guidance on Nuclear Risk Reduction: In Pursuit of a World Without Nuclear Weapons, 5) Collection of Documents Commemorating the 30th Anniversary of the ASEAN Regional Forum, 6) ARF Work Plan for Counter-Terrorism and Transnational Crime 2023-2025 and 7) Concept Paper on the Establishment of an Expert Group on Ferry Safety.

UNI MAZ GNK
A terror suspect accused of plotting to blow up hotels in Kenya with White Widow Samantha Lewthwaite is set to be deported back to Britain within days.

Jermaine Grant, 40, faces removal from Kenya after serving nine years in jail for possessing bomb-making materials and forging immigration papers.

It raises the alarming prospect that a terror suspect who was a close associate of the worlds most wanted woman will be released back on the streets of Britain within days.

Grant was prosecuted in Kenya after police found chemicals, switches and a bomb-making manual in a flat he shared with Lewthwaite, whose husband Germaine Lindsay was one of the four suicide bombers who killed 52 people in London in 2005.

When police swooped on the flat in 2012, Lewthwaite had fled, escaping just minutes earlier after Grant allegedly warned her with a text message, saying: The lions are inside. One of them is very watchful, like a bird watches a stone. She is still at large.

Jermaine Grant, 40, faces removal from Kenya after serving nine years in jail for possessing bomb-making materials and forging immigration papers

Samantha Lewthwaite's husband Germaine Lindsay was one of the four suicide bombers who killed 52 people in London in 2005

Grant, who was born in Newham, east London, was accused of plotting to unleash terror by bombing hotels frequented by tourists in Mombasa. Prosecutors also claimed he had ties to the Islamist terror group al Shabaab, al-Qaedas affiliate in Somalia. He was charged with possession of bomb-making materials, preparing to commit a felony and forging immigration documents.

A team of counter-terrorism officers from Scotland Yard flew to Kenya to assist in his prosecution. Met Detective Inspector John Reilly told Grants trial in 2014: We know that the chemicals found at Grants house were designed to make a bomb. We believe the gang was at the end of its preparations.

Grant was convicted of possession of bomb-making materials, but was acquitted in 2019 of conspiracy to commit a felony in relation to the terror plot. Now he faces a court in Kenya on Wednesday to decide whether he should be deported.

Prosecutor Bernard Ngiri has filed an application to kick him out of the country as an unwanted immigrant after he was released from prison on June 24.

If the High Court judge agrees to his deportation, he is likely to be removed immediately.

The development raises questions about whether he will face any monitoring in Britain, where Grant has not been charged with any terror offence.

One option could be a terrorism prevention and investigation measure (TPIM), which allows the authorities to monitor people considered to be terrorists, but who are not facing criminal charges. Suspects face measures such as wearing an electronic tag, a ban on internet use, and limits on who they can meet and where they can go.

A Home Office spokesman said: We do not routinely comment on individual cases.
A new impartiality row hit the BBC last night after the Conservatives accused the corporation of talking down a major new trade deal.

Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch told the BBC's Laura Kuenssberg to 'stop interrupting' as she outlined the benefit of joining the bloc of 11 Asia and Pacific nations.

Britain is the first European nation to sign up to the trans-Pacific pact, taking UK businesses a step closer to being able to sell to a market of half-a-billion people with fewer barriers.

But the Conservatives accused the corporation of downplaying membership of the bloc and pooh-poohing Britain's biggest trade deal since leaving the EU on the Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg show, plus in news bulletins and online yesterday.

On Radio 4's 8am news, a BBC correspondent said: 'Britain's short-term gains from a trade club with 500million people across the Indo-Pacific region are likely to be fairly small.

Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch told the BBC's Laura Kuenssberg to 'stop interrupting' as she outlined the benefit of joining the bloc of 11 Asia and Pacific nations

But the Conservatives accused the corporation of downplaying membership of the bloc and pooh-poohing Britain's biggest trade deal since leaving the EU. Pictured: Kemi Badenoch shakes hands with Japan's Minister of Economic & Fiscal Policy Shigeyuki Goto

'The Government's own calculations suggest the deal will increase the UK's income by less than 1 per cent in a decade's time.'

An article on the BBC website claimed that the short-term gains of joining the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) were 'marginal'.

It added: 'In total, the CPTPP accounted for 8 per cent of UK exports in 2019  less than we sold to Germany.' The article concluded that joining the pact was 'a mainly symbolic win for post-Brexit Britain', although it acknowledged it could eventually 'yield considerable rewards'.

Mrs Badenoch was in New Zealand at the weekend to sign the formal confirmation of the UK's membership, which was reached in March after two years of talks.

Britain and the other 11 CPTPP members will now begin work to ratify the deal. Officials estimate it will come into force in the second half of 2024, when businesses can start to benefit from it.

In her interview with Ms Kuenssberg, the minister hit back at claims there was no sign of a US trade deal, that a pact with India had 'stalled' and 'the Brexit promise of a buccaneering Britain' had not come to pass.

Mrs Badenoch said: 'Laura, please stop interrupting me. You said that trade talks with India had stalled, that is not true.

'These things take time because if we get them wrong you would be accusing me of signing deals that were not worth the paper they were written on.'

Delays on the line between London and Auckland perhaps contributed to the slightly tetchy exchange. Ms Kuenssberg also questioned if Britons should care about the deal and if they would feel any economic benefit.

Mrs Badenoch replied: 'We need to remember that there are 11 countries in there who are making up about 500million people. That's so, so much potential.

'You look at the countries that are queuing up. The US was going to join until they had a change of administration. They're not doing free trade agreements any more but we are. This is global Britain, the world is our oyster, we're not isolated, we're not insular.'

A Conservative source said: 'Seven years on and the BBC still haven't come to terms with the referendum result.

'This deal is with some of the fastest-growing and most innovative economies in the world but still they long to be shackled to Brussels, taking rules and with the borders open.

'BBC bosses need to understand that licence fee-payers don't all share their disdain for everything without an EU flag on it.'

Former trade secretary Liam Fox, who started the consultation to join the CPTPP, described the deal as 'historic'. He added: 'Let's celebrate this great achievement.'

A BBC spokesman said: 'Laura was asking fair, robust questions as she would have any interviewee. During the interview, she clearly acknowledged that the agreement is the biggest deal the UK has signed since Brexit.'
Last month, former journalist Iain Anderson and Stonewall chief executive Nancy Kelley met with Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and a group of LGBTQ+ business leaders.

Nine days prior, Anderson had been photographed alongside other senior Labour figures: a beaming Angela Rayner, the Deputy Leader; and an equally cheerful Anneliese Dodds, the party's Shadow Equalities Secretary.

'Great to host @UKLabour deputy leader @AngelaRayner + Shadow Equalities Secretary @AnnelieseDodds today for a @stonewalluk breakfast with business leaders who want the UK to be world leading on #LGBTQ at work,' ran Anderson's effusive caption on Twitter.

All perhaps unremarkable until you consider that as recently as last year, Anderson  who runs a public relations company and is chair of trustees for Stonewall  was a longstanding member of the Conservative Party, not to mention the Government's LGBT 'business champion'.

He resigned after Boris Johnson signalled that trans people would not be covered in the planned ban on conversion therapy, when ministers made a distinction between attempting to change someone's sexual orientation and questioning those who suffered from gender dysphoria.

Last month, former journalist Iain Anderson (centre) and Stonewall chief executive Nancy Kelley (right) met with Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and a group of LGBTQ+ business leaders

It might seem odd for a former Tory grandee to be pictured grinning alongside a Labour shadow minister.

But then, the LGBT+ charity Stonewall has a striking track record of latching onto those it thinks are best positioned to influence policy.

While it is  on paper at least  a charitable organisation, in recent years it has become regarded by many as a powerful political lobby group, courtesy of its politicised campaigns to overhaul UK law to accommodate transgender rights. Stonewall rejects such suggestions.

Yet, as I argued in the first part of this investigation, despite mounting questions about its conduct and some high-profile bodies parting ties with it, the charity still wields great influence.

Now, through Freedom of Information requests and insider sources, the Mail can reveal the extent to which the charity holds sway over public policy and the behaviour of private firms.

Much of Stonewall's power stems from its Diversity Champions scheme, through which it 'advises' organisations on 'how to unlock the full potential of their LGBTQ+ workforce'.

But then, the LGBT+ charity Stonewall has a striking track record of latching onto those it thinks are best positioned to influence policy. Pictured: Sir Keir Starmer

In recent months, there has been an exodus of government departments and other public institutions from the 3,000-a-year programme, among them the House of Lords, the Ministry of Justice, the Equality and Human Rights Commission and the BBC.

But according to sex-based rights campaign group Sex Matters, which has been monitoring the number of remaining Stonewall 'champions', some 47 UK government bodies and quangos remain among the 900 organisations signed up to the scheme.

Among them are the Home Office; the Treasury; the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport; the Environment Agency; and the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office; as well as both the Welsh and Scottish governments, Labour and the Green Party. At local government level, 59 councils across the UK are also understood to be members of the scheme.

Of course, no one would argue in principle with a programme that sets out to increase tolerance in the workplace  and Stonewall has done laudable work in the more than 30 years since it was founded.

In recent years, however, the charity has pivoted into pushing a disputed ideology that promotes 'gender identity' above biological sex  a crusade that critics believe now underpins its every move and is being waged via the Trojan horse of its earlier credibility.

'The reason Stonewall is so successful is that it is using the legacy of credibility that we built up from the successful campaigns between 1989 and 2014,' says Simon Fanshawe, one of the original founders of Stonewall, who has since become disillusioned with the charity's approach.

'It is misusing that legacy because it is no longer making alliances. It is now making total demands.'

Certainly, while Stonewall has repeatedly insisted that its Diversity Champions guidance has no bearing on legislation or internal parliamentary discussions, its fingerprints can be found everywhere.

The charity's presence is felt particularly keenly in the Scottish government. Last year, the then First Minister Nicola Sturgeon introduced new laws allowing transgender people to change their legal gender without a medical diagnosis.

Last year, the then First Minister Nicola Sturgeon introduced new laws allowing transgender people to change their legal gender without a medical diagnosis

This has long been a key Stonewall objective: in 2015, it campaigned for changes to the Equality Act to remove single-sex exemptions, which would allow pre-operative trans women access to female changing rooms and toilets.

In its latest annual report, published in January, the organisation even boasts that it had a direct hand in helping to 'secure a commitment' from the Scottish government to reform its gender recognition laws.

The legislation was ultimately blocked by the British government on the basis that it would have a wider impact on UK equality laws.

Notably, none of the ensuing controversy stopped the Welsh government from pledging earlier this year that ministers will seek a 'devolution of powers' from the UK in order to make Wales's gender recognition laws similar to the legislation approved in Scotland. According to Stonewall, its manoeuvres regarding gender self-ID laws are standard charitable campaigning and not to be conflated with the advice it hands out through its workplace diversity schemes.

Yet its tentacles have also strayed into other areas of policy in Scotland and Wales. In 2021, under pressure from the charity, the Scottish civil service agreed to delete the word 'mother' from its maternity leave policy in a bid to be more 'LGBT-friendly'.

According to documents seen by this newspaper under Freedom of Information laws, the change was made on recommendations from a Stonewall feedback report on the Scottish government's ranking in the Workplace Equality Index  which at the time was 101.

This has long been a key Stonewall objective: in 2015, it campaigned for changes to the Equality Act to remove single-sex exemptions, which would allow pre-operative trans women access to female changing rooms and toilets (Stock Photo)

In the same report, Scottish Permanent Secretary Leslie Evans said improving its rating would be a priority and pledged to implement an 'action plan' based on Stonewall's feedback.

Stonewall's annual report this year also gloats of its ongoing influence in Wales, saying it 'supported' the Welsh government to 'develop and launch a 58-point action plan to support LGBTQ+ people's safety, visibility and inclusion in organisations, in sports, in schools across Wales'.

In turn, the Welsh government has emphasised that its position on transgender people is unequivocal. 'Trans women are women, trans men are men and non-binary identities are valid,' it spelt out in bold in a policy document in February.

Yet a Welsh women's activist from the feminist group Merched Cymru says: 'This is opinion, not fact. It is alarming that the Welsh government has adopted this hardline ideological position. Women and girls face discrimination and violence because of their sex, not a subjective sense of reality.'

In recent months, meanwhile, the charity's focus has pivoted towards the Bill to ban the controversial practice of conversion therapy.

Stonewall wants gender identity to be covered in the planned ban, in addition to sexuality. It argues that transgender people are one of the groups at highest risk of conversion practices in the UK.

Stonewall wants gender identity to be covered in the planned ban, in addition to sexuality. (Pictured: Stonewall chief executive Nancy Kelley)

Yet many psychologists and medical practitioners have warned that including trans people in the Bill risks criminalising anyone who dares to question a young person who is confused about their gender.

They argue that the legislation would leave therapists who wish to explore whether there are other issues at play  such as mental health and sexuality  open to accusations that they are trying to 'convert' patients.

Yet the Mail can reveal that this has not stopped Stonewall's demands from gaining traction within Labour.

There is mounting evidence that the group is stepping up its efforts to forge links with the party ahead of the next election. Some argue that this won't be a challenge considering that Sir Keir Starmer has been unable to define what a woman is.

Following his criticism of Labour MP Rosie Duffield for saying that only women have a cervix, he clarified his position by saying that 99.9 per cent of women 'haven't got a penis'  implying that one in 1,000 do. One Labour insider revealed to the Mail that Stonewall boss Nancy Kelley held a Zoom call with Labour staff members earlier this year.

According to one attendee, Kelley talked about Britain having a 'gender-affirming health service' and how she wanted the next Labour government to bring in a 'bill of rights' that would put 'non-binary' and 'intersex' terms into legislation.

Following his criticism of Labour MP Rosie Duffield for saying that only women have a cervix, he clarified his position by saying that 99.9 per cent of women 'haven't got a penis'

She went on to accuse the media of manufacturing a war against transgender people that was not representative of the views of the general public.

Three months after this meeting  labelled a 'briefing' by one party source  a document was leaked detailing Labour's policy programme, which was widely seen as a blueprint for its next General Election manifesto.

It contained a promise to introduce a 'full, trans-inclusive ban' on conversion practices, while also 'modernising the process of gender recognition'.

Clearly aware of the ongoing rub between transgender rights and women's rights, the policy document talks about building consensus and upholding the Equality Act's provision of single-sex exemptions.

But there remains concern among women's groups such as Labour Women's Declaration (LWD).

In April it published an article condemning the party's continuing involvement with Stonewall and calling for it to review its annual subscription and membership fees to an organisation it referred to as 'increasingly discredited'.

'Stonewall is a well-funded lobby group, with corporate links and funding,' it said. 'It is not a democratic campaign and is increasingly out of step with the views of lesbian and gay people. The Labour Party should not be paying a lobby group to mark its own homework.'

Yet according to Malcolm Clark, a TV producer and co-founder of LGB Alliance  a gay rights group set up in opposition to the trans activism being promoted by the charity  it is no surprise that Stonewall's philosophies have taken root so firmly.

'It's no accident that when you're being judged by Stonewall if you sign up to its various schemes, the number one demand it makes is that you set up an LGBTQ staff group.

'So, even where it is being pushed out, its influence remains through the groups it has helped to set up [a claim Stonewall denies].'

He points out that the revelation last December that one in five FTSE 100 firms are being advised on diversity and inclusion by Stonewall suggests the organisation is also pivoting its focus to big business.

Clark said: 'There is a lot of concern within Stonewall about government institutions waking up to the impartiality problem and pushing it out.

'So Stonewall realises it's going to be hard to keep the same presence within government institutions, hence its big push on business  because companies don't have to be impartial in the way institutions are. It was never a money-making thing; it was about influence.'

Whatever its intention, there is no disputing that Stonewall has made a lot of money  much of it from the public purse.

In 2021, it received a staggering 2.1 million of taxpayers' money, including National Lottery community funding and 616,000 in coronavirus support grants. While annual accounts for the financial year up to March 2022 suggest this figure has dropped, it still received 400,000 of governmental funding.

Then there's the separate payments for 'diversity training', among them from the Ministry of Defence, which paid more than 80,000 for advice, and the Department for Education, which forked out more than 20,000 over five years.

Money well spent? It's a matter of opinion. Either way, as one government insider told the Mail: 'You couldn't put a price on the influence Stonewall has had on the Government and national organisations over the years.'

Last night a Stonewall spokesman hit back at the concerns raised over its level of political influence, saying: 'As the UK's largest LGBTQ+ charity, it is natural and completely normal for us to be at the heart of national discussions around LGBTQ+ equality.'

Perhaps the last word on the subject should go to the person who was there at the charity's inception, Simon Fanshawe.

'Stonewall has long had a powerful influence,' he says. 'But this is no longer predicated on its credibility. Sadly, in a political climate where disagreement is regarded as bigotry, that influence is now based on fear.'
Taking a puppy home is an exciting occasion for anyone who's looking to add a furry friend to the family.

But some of us may be plagued with guilt at the thought of separating them from their mothers and siblings just weeks after being born.

Now, experts at The Dog People have shared the true impact of this on pups - and it may just surprise you.

It turns out that dogs separated at eight to 12 weeks old generally forget about any siblings they parted with after just two years - if they live alone.

But heartbreakingly, these same dogs often continue to recognise their mothers beyond the two-year mark - and their mothers often remember them too.

Dogs take two years after leaving their litter to forget the siblings they parted from

Vets pointed to a 1994 Queen's University study to evidence this, which undertook scent-based tests on 10 mother dogs and 51 pups.

HOW TO BOND WITH A NEW PUPPY, ACCORDING TO VETS Prepare your home with gates, crates and pens Create a 'zen zone' for relaxation Avoid forcing them to interact if they don't feel like it Set a healthy routine of walks, meals and playtime Train them using positive reinforcement methods and not punishments Advertisement

Golden retrievers, Labradors and Alsatians were among these, but no differences were recorded between each of the breeds.

Of 25 pooches, 19 showed a preference for their mother's odor in the smell tests conducted.

Fourteen of 18 mothers also showed a preference for their offspring's scent when presented on a cloth.

Britt Rosendahl, dog behaviourist and training specialist at Woodgreen Pets Charity, said: 'It makes sense that dogs have a strong recognition of their mother, as they are an altricial species. This means that the young are underdeveloped at birth, but with the aid of their parents, they mature.

'Survival mainly depends on the mother, so recognition of the mother is crucial. Altricial animals are wired this way, which could be a reason why they are more likely to recognise their mother compared to their siblings.'

In spite of this saddening truth, vets claim that separated pups will painlessly let go of the relationships made in their earlier life.

It's widely believed that dogs' memories and emotions work in a completely different way to our own, allowing them to bond easily with humans.

A study in 2016 suggested that dogs may have an episodic memory which means they may remember specific events in the past.

But even this is fairly limited, as dogs seemed to forget things over a longer period of time.

Golden retrievers (pictured), Labradors and Alsatians were among the dogs to remember their mothers after a two-year period of being separated

READ MORE: Vets warn aggression is almost TWICE as prevalent in popular dog breed Cocker spaniels with a golden coat were found to be even more boisterous, with aggression prevalent across 12 per cent of those studied Advertisement

Even still, vets recommend that puppies stay with their litter for eight to 12 weeks after birth.

Despite having less effective memories, separation before this point can actually lead to greater problems later in life.

During the first few months, dogs develop their motor skills, resilience to stress and control of their bite.

But separating them too early can stunt this, which could one day materialise as anxiety, possessiveness and aggression.

Some dogs may even have nightmares in adulthood if they experience something traumatic in their early stages.

Ms Rosendahl continued: 'Leaving the safety and familiarity of their mother and littermates can be a daunting experience.

'But its best to avoid humanising dog behaviour, as seeing them through a human perspective can make it more challenging to truly understand them.'

To bond with dogs in the best way, vets suggest setting time aside for socialisation and establishing a healthy routine of walks, meals and playtime.

Creating a 'zen zone' is also beneficial to give dogs well-needed space - which could be equipped with gates, crates and pens.

Ms Rosendahl added: 'Every puppy is different and will adjust to their new environment at their own pace. Some puppies may settle in quickly, while others may take a few weeks to adjust. During this transition period, let them decompress in their own time.'
Artist's impressions predict the effects of sea levels rising, wildfires and more

From flooded cities to hellish wildfires and deadly droughts, gloomy climate reports constantly describe a world ruined by climate change.

But what would this actually look like?

Environmental specialist Marish Cuenca has partnered with DiscoverCars.com to create artistic depictions of tourist spots in just a quarter of a century from now.

London's Big Ben looks straight out of a disaster movie, straddled by a mass of murky floodwater, while the Pyramids of Giza are home to a toxic urban landscape.

Palm trees of Hawaii have been ravaged by fire, while California's Death Valley is so hot that the roads are melting.

London's Big Ben looks straight out of a disaster movie, straddled by a mass of murky floodwater, while the Pyramids of Giza are home to a toxic urban landscape

READ MORE: Map reveals the areas that could be plunged UNDERWATER by 2050 An interactive map below reveals the UK's seaside towns and villages plus parts of London that may have to be abandoned Advertisement

Experts at DiscoverCars.com believe their images could become reality in 2050, unless we take serious climate action and curb our emissions.

'With global warming continuing to have an impact on the planet, we're already starting to see the effects of climate change,' it says in a blog post.

'From the melting of glaciers in the Arctic to warmer summers than ever before, it's safe to say that the environment is changing before our very eyes in real-time.

'With that being said, how might these renowned road trip routes look in the near future if climate change continues to progress at the current rate?'

LONDON

Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament is usually at the top of any holidaymaker's must-see list when they visit London.

But the artist's impression shows our majestic capital in a sorry state due to the Thames having burst its banks.

Westminster Bridge is barely above the waterline, while the roads in front of the legendary tourist attraction  officially called the Elizabeth Tower  are totally flooded.

 Slide me  Due to rising sea levels, the majority of the London docks and any suburbs near the River Thames are anticipated to be submerged by 2050

READ MORE: Emissions need to be slashed by 65% by 2035 A UN report has a warning for humanity Advertisement

Experts at DiscoverCars.com say: 'Due to rising sea levels, the majority of the London docks and any suburbs near the Thames are anticipated to be submerged by 2050.

'This will have a significant impact on some of the most prominent tourist attractions, including the London Eye, the Houses of Parliament, and London Bridge.'

PYRAMIDS OF GIZA

Egypt's pyramids, including the largest, the Great Pyramid of Giza, were built an astonishingly long time ago  roughly between 2550 and 2490 BC.

Since then they've been relatively well preserved, but in the next quarter-decade that could seriously change, the artist impression shows.

According to Cuenca, the threat of urbanisation means that much of the surrounding desert could soon be transformed into towns and urban areas.

This urbanisation which would remove the 'rurality of the current landscape' could be due to people moving away from the coast and further in-land.

 Slide me  Egypt's great pyramids will suffer from erosion and will become surrounded by an urban landscape

The pyramids are shown as crumbling piles, surrounding by smoke-emitting buildings and floodwater puddles.

Sea levels rising will cause erosion to the limestone that makes up land in the area, which will cause damage to structures throughout Greater Cairo  not only the pyramids themselves.

NEW YORK

The beauty of New York's Central Park is matched only by its vastness  840 acres (340 hectares) of green space.

But large swathes of it will be underwater, just like most of Manhattan, experts predict.

Bethesda Fountain in Central Park, which features an eight-foot bronze angel above four small cherubim, has burst its barriers in one of the new images.

 Slide me  By 2050, we could expect to see much of New York underwater due to rising sea levels. Pictured is Bethesda Fountain in New York's Central Park

According to the NYC Panel on Climate Change, sea levels in New York are expected to rise between 8 inches and 30 inches by the 2050s and as much as 15 inches to 75 inches by the end of the century.

STELVIO PASS, ITALY

One of the most iconic road trip destinations in Europe is Stelvio Pass, a mountain pass between South Tyrol and Bormio in northern Italy.

This series of gradually inclining, winding roads allows tourists to travel by car across the Ortler Alps  a picturesque mountain range that offers fantastic views.

Unfortunately, due to the structure of the roads and their location along a mountain slope, the Stelvio Pass is at risk of damage due to landslides.

 Slide me  Italy's Stelvio Pass could be changed by landslides, which are more likely to occur when rainfall is high

Warmer air can hold more water, so rainfall is increasing on average across the world, which increases landslides risk.

HAWAII

The beautiful island state of Hawaii is home to idyllic beaches, rolling green hills , thriving wildlife and even active volcanoes.

But as climate change causes extreme weather events, such as drought and increased rainfall, many of the coastal roads around Hawaii may collapse into the ocean.

In another one of the images, Hawaiian palm trees along the road are reduced to twisted skeletons, due to wildfires and eruptions.

 Slide me  The island state of Hawaii is home to idyllic beaches alongside thrilling views of active volcanoes and rolling green hills

Although Hawaii is no stranger to having some dramatic volcanic eruptions, Cuenca expects to see a lot more volcanic activity across the island by 2050.

Increasing lava-flow eruptions and earthquakes are expected to cause significant damage to road surfaces  and could force locals to flee their homes.

CALIFORNIA

California's Death Valley is thought to be the hottest place on Earth during the summer.

It recorded the hottest reliably measured temperature in Earth's history in July 2021 when the mercury hit 130F (54.4C).

It's also forecast to record Earth's hottest ever temperature of 131F (55C) on Sunday.

However, this may only be a taster of what's to come by 2050  as extreme heat waves cause mass drought and wildfires.

 Slide me  Extreme heat could lead to roads melting, making road trips dangerous, while wildfires could make visibility more difficult due to more smoke and ash in the air

This heat could lead to roads melting, making road trips potentially dangerous, while wildfires could make visibility more difficult due to more smoke and ash in the air.

KOLKATA, INDIA

Formerly India's capital under colonial rule, the city of Kolkata is home to around 15 million people.

Connected by a series of large roads, it is now famous for its Imperial architecture and a popular stop on a road trip expedition.

Sadly, due to its riverside and coastal position, Kolkata is likely to become mostly submerged by 2050, according to Cuenca.

Rising sea levels as a result of the melting ice caps are already impacting the city, with frequent annual flooding causing damage to the region.

 Slide me  Home to around 15 million people, Kolkata is likely to become mostly water submerged by 2050

DiscoverCars.com, which has published before-and-after images of 10 locations on its website, has given tips to drivers so they can travel more sustainably.

Driving slowly and using a smaller car can reduce a vehicle's carbon footprint, while an electric car rather than a petrol or diesel also makes a big difference.

'Although it can be concerning to think about the damage that climate change could cause to popular tourist destinations, it's important to remember that it isn't too late to undo some of the damage that has already been done,' it says.

'By being more mindful of our driving habits when we travel, we can all help to reduce the impact of global warming and, hopefully, prevent these major-scale changes from taking place.'
Using brain implants coated in algae may be a cure for a common type of epilepsy, scientists say.

The trailblazing British project offers hope to almost a third of people who are resistant to drug treatments for the neurological condition, which is characterised by recurring seizures.

Neural probes  electrodes coated with algae implanted in brain tissue  could provide a more effective treatment in these patients, researchers have discovered.

The probes are used to pinpoint the exact location in the patient's brain where seizures are originating.

Mapping data from the probes is then used when neurosurgery is being carried out to control convulsions.

Using brain implants coated in algae may be a cure for a common type of epilepsy, scientists say (stock image of algae)

Recent tests on animals suggest the innovations could serve as a potential cure, scientists say (stock image of MRIScan of epilepsy-affected brain)

Scientists hope the naturally dissolving implants could in the future help treat epilepsy and other serious neurological disorders such as Parkinson's disease.

'The tests we conducted show some really promising results for creating coatings for flexible neural probes that could help safely guide them to their targets in the brain,' said researcher Maria Cerezo Sanchez, from Glasgow University.

'It's an exciting step forward and we're continuing to explore the potential of these materials for use in neural implant procedures.'

The researchers say the probes could help regulate temporal lobe epilepsy in patients. The project is part of a European-wide collaboration called Hermes, which aims to tackle the condition by treating and regenerating damaged brain tissue.

Recent tests on animals suggest the innovations could serve as a potential cure, scientists say.

Project lead Hadi Heidari said it was hoped the new implants will be ready to be trialled on people by the end of the decade. Epilepsy Scotland chief executive Lesslie Young said the breakthrough was a 'promising development' and provided hope to the 30 per cent of epilepsy sufferers who are resistant to drug treatments.
There he helps make incredible sculptures for the SnowVillage hotel in Yllas

Meet the real-life Kristoff from Frozen who, like the character, makes a living from harvesting blocks of ice.

'Ice and snow builder' Aleksi Yllasjarvi lives and works in Finnish Lapland, where he and his team cut out huge blocks of ice from the frozen Lainio River, just like the ice harvesters from the opening scene of the hit Disney animation.

And the parallels to the film do not stop there, as Aleksi's grandmother is named Elsa, like the film's main character, whose special powers enable her to magic ice and snow creations out of thin air.

Aleksi, on the other hand, arms himself with a chisel and a camera when working on his own ice and snow creations.

He has produced mesmerising videos of his work - plus Lapland life with scenes of reindeer, foxes, and squirrels roaming around in the snow - that have turned him into a TikTok sensation, with 64,000 followers and a total of 6.3million likes for his clips.

Aleksi Yllasjarvi makes a living from harvesting blocks of ice, just like Kristoff from Frozen. His team fashioned a fishing boat entirely out of ice. This image shows Aleksi's colleague Aleksi Pudas shovelling crushed ice out of the vessel during the build

The ice boat was designed in around one hour, said Aleksi

Aleksi's boss Tom Kurtakko is filmed sitting on a lake in the ice boat after it split in two

Thirty-four-year-old Aleksi Yllasjarvi

The blocks of ice that the 34-year-old harvests are often used to create incredible sculptures for his main place of work, the SnowVillage hotel-come-attraction in Yllas, Lapland, which features icy snow suites, ice sculptures, ice restaurants and an ice bar - but he also carries out custom ice and snow construction all over Finland.

Examples of ice and snow creations he's helped to produce that are captured on his amazing videos include the Petra Treasury in Jordan, the dome-roofed villages of Santorini, New York's Statue of Liberty, and the Great Pyramid of Giza - which Aleksi said was the most difficult to build.

His team also fashioned a fishing boat entirely out of ice.

Clips showing this 'ice boat', complete with a built-in fishing hole, being built have racked up millions and millions of views, with footage showing the creation eventually being rowed on a lake - where it breaks in two.

When asked how he went about building his ice boat, Aleksi said: 'Planning can take days or just a few minutes, but the ice boat was probably designed in an hour.'

Aleksi says lots of people compare him to Kristoff (above, with his reindeer, Sven) from Disney's Frozen, but he 'doesn't mind'. This image shows an opening scene from the film when Kristoff tries to copy the adult 'ice harvesters' around him

Aleksi and his team use wheel loaders to speed up their work. In Frozen, above, Kristoff transports his ice on a wooden sleigh

In captions for videos that feature the SnowVillage hotel, where Aleksi has worked for almost a decade, he explains that the property is made from a colossal 20million kg of snow and 300,000kg of ice.

'It will melt and after six months, we will start doing it again but with a different theme and layout,' he wrote in a TikTok comment.

And he told MailOnline Travel: 'When building a hotel, my job is to process ice into a shape that already resembles a sculpture, from which professional sculptors can easily shape a finished sculpture. I also carve ice sculptures when needed.

'My responsibility also includes everything else that is done with ice, such as making ice bars, ice slides, and ice restaurant furniture.

Aleksi shared a video of a snow and ice sculpture of Jordan's iconic Treasury in Petra

A replica of Santorini's iconic dome-roofed village, which Aleksi helped make from snow

'After the hotel is completed, I can also make ice sculptures and logos for different companies.'

He explained that the tools he uses include 'a large chainsaw and chisels made from ice for finishing', and a small wheel loader 'for moving ice'.

And the biggest challenge? That would be the weather.

Aleksi said: 'If it is too warm, the ice is slippery and if it is too cold it becomes brittle.'

Making a sculpture can take up to four months, according to Aleksi, who said that the 'worst' situation is 'direct sunlight and of course the heat it brings'.

Aleksi (left) and boss Tomi (right) filmed using chainsaws to cut ice into large blocks to be stored for projects the following autumn

Colleague Rami Kurtakko is seen using a wheel loader to lift ice cubes out of the river, which are then cleaned and stored for use the following autumn

This clip shows boss Tomi drilling a door into the wall of an igloo while working on a project at the SnowVillage hotel in Lapland

Aleksi, who was born in the village of Yllasjarvi, told MailOnline he is 'used to working in the cold', having spent his life in Lapland, and prefers the winter to summer.

When asked how he got into carving snow and ice, Aleksi said the opportunity arose after visiting friends working at one of the hotels.

'I went in 2013 to see a hotel made of ice and snow where my friends worked and one of them asked if I was interested,' he said.

'The following autumn, I applied for a job and it started from there.'

When asked about his proudest creations, Aleksi said: 'There have been many great projects.

'For example, we have made a stage for the band Tesseract, at the Jagermeister Ice Cold Gig.

'But my favourite is, probably, a Game-of-Thrones-themed ice hotel from a few years ago and the funniest project has been the boat made of ice that went viral on TikTok.'

He went on to say that lots of people compare him to Kristoff from Frozen, but he 'doesn't mind'.

'Sven is also asked about a lot, but I don't have any reindeer,' he said.

'The funny thing is that my grandmother's name is Elsa and before my TikTok videos went viral, my wife founded Elsa - a restaurant named after my grandmother.'

Aleksi Yllasjarvi can be found on TikTok here www.tiktok.com/@aleksiyllasjarvi and on Instagram here - www.instagram.com/herrayllasjarvi.
A former pilot has revealed his golden rule for flying that he vows can save lives in the event of an emergency.

Hans Mast says one of the simplest ways travellers can ensure in-flight safety is by familiarising themselves with their surroundings before take-off.

Mr Mast, who now works as a travel agent, says locating the nearest exit and having a 'mental map' of how many rows away it is 'can be lifesaving' in an emergency.

More than 25 million trips abroad are expected to be made from the UK this summer, with most Britons travelling by air.

While flying is considered to be the safest mode of transportation, there are still precautions passengers should take to ensure they are prepared just in case any issues do arise.

Former pilot Hans Mast (pictured) says one of the simplest ways travellers can ensure in-flight safety is by familiarising themselves with their surroundings before take-off

Mr Mast, who now works as a travel agent, says locating the nearest exit and having a 'mental map' of how many rows away it is 'can be lifesaving' in an emergency

'As soon as I board a plane, I always take note of the nearest emergency exit, counting the number of seat rows between my location and that exit,' Mr Mast told Travel & Leisure.

Pilots and cabin crew encourage passengers to locate their nearest emergency exit while boarding. They should not wait for the flight attendants begin the safety demonstration.

While unlikely, a pilot may have to initiate an evacuation before the plane's engines have even started.

Mr Mast says that the often overlooked step of counting rows is incredibly important, especially if the cabin were to fill with smoke.

'In the event of an emergency, visibility could be impaired, and having this mental map can be life-saving,' he added.

Additionally, if cabin visibility is reduced, passengers can look for coloured lights along the aisle that indicate where an exit row is located.

Passengers seated closest to exit rows are also more likely to survive in the event of a crash because they are able to evacuate quicker than those seated further away, a 2008 study by the University of Greenwich revealed.

Travellers who are willing to assist in an emergency should also consider booking their seat in an exit row, but experts warn not do so if you are not physically able to open the emergency exit door.

Checking the location of the exit row, is not the only way passengers can prepare themselves for a safe flight. Travellers are advised to never try squeezing bags in spaces, as they will come flying out if the bin pops open - which sometimes happens on landing

It is also important for passengers to keep their seat belt fastened, especially during turbulence

Checking the location of the exit row, is not the only way passengers can prepare themselves for a safe flight.

A commercial pilot of 10 years, who spoke to Daily Mail anonymously earlier this year, revealed the safest spot to sit on a plane is in the last two thirds of the aircraft because it is the 'strongest part of the aircraft and therefore more likely to survive an impact'.

He reiterated that it is important for passengers to keep their seat belt fastened, especially during turbulence, and said the brace position - which is designed to limit the impact on the body in case of a collision - does save lives.

He added that passengers should try to avoid the galley as much as possible, before mindful of sharp edges in the toilet and try to drink a glass of water with every alcoholic beverage.

The pilot also said travellers should never try squeezing bags in spaces, as they will come flying out if the bin pops open - which sometimes happens on landing. Loose items should also be stored in one bag and duty free items, such as bottles of alcohol, placed securely under a bag in the overhead bin.
The expression 'biting off more than one can chew' perhaps perfectly encapsulates fast food giant McDonald's failed attempt to expand well beyond the confines of burgers and fries.

While it's the world's biggest fast food chain, raking in a revenue of $23.18 billion in 2022, the Chicago-headquartered company has attempted to grow its empire over the years, with one of its ambitions being to have a bite of the travel industry.

In 1980, 40 years after the business launched, one franchisee dipped toe their into the world of water travel with the launch of a floating restaurant.

The McBarge, McTrain and McPlane were other ventures that followed from HQ but they didn't stay on the menu for too long. Munch your way down to see what happened to these fast food-themed flights of fancy.

Wat-er spot! The McBoat

In 1980, McDonald's took to the water with its first floating restaurant

The eatery was located within an old-fashioned paddle steamer on the banks of the Mississippi River in St Louis just south of the Gateway Arch

In 1980, McDonald's took to the water with its first floating restaurant.

The eatery was located within an old-fashioned paddle steamer on the banks of the Mississippi River in St Louis just south of the Gateway Arch.

In terms of capacity, the boat - which was built on a former cement barge and spanned more than 185ft in length - could seat 134 customers inside and 200 more on open-air decks.

The McBoat was the brainchild of a McDonald's franchisee and dentist called Dr. Benjamin H. Davis Sr.

It was the fourth McDonald's franchise he owned.

At the time, McDonald's' real estate manager Samuel Haynes told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch: 'We have nothing like this in the whole world.

'A franchise operator in Hong Kong and Singapore was in our office the other day and expressed an interest in doing something like his in Hong Kong harbor.'

Despite its popularity, the floating McDonald's closed in 2000 as it was reported that the vessel needed too many repairs.

On Facebook, former customers reminisced about the unique outpost.

Denise McClintock wrote: 'We used to beg our mom to take us for lunch. We would stare at the aquarium inside, then save our fries and feed the birds before we left... [It] was so great... and fun for a family on a tight budget.'

Meanwhile Amy Smith mused: 'You could get a Happy Meal, sail down the river and feel like royalty. What was not to love. I have so many pictures.'

Floating an idea: The McBarge

For the 1986 World Exposition in Vancouver, Canada, McDonald's went about building a floating restaurant which it christened the 'Friendship Restaurant'

After the exposition ended, McDonald's intended on making the floating restaurant a permanent fixture but it was later abandoned due to 'various challenges'

For the 1986 World Exposition in Vancouver, Canada, McDonald's unveiled a floating restaurant which it christened the 'Friendship 500' but many referred to it as the McBarge.

The unique structure was built by Canadian naval architecture firm Robert Allan Ltd as an example of future technology and architecture, which was the theme of the exposition.

For the duration of the six month event between May and October, it was anchored in False Creek, with the city's skyline beyond.

According to STSTW Media, the barge could accommodate 1,400 people over two decks and due to its novelty it was 'always packed.'

The dining areas featured floor-to-ceiling windows providing panoramic views of Vancouver, and the staff wore blue and white uniforms as a nod to the sailing theme.

After the exposition ended, McDonald's intended on making the floating restaurant a permanent fixture in Vancouver's harbor but 'due to various challenges, including high maintenance costs and zoning issues, the project never came to fruition.'

After being abandoned and left to rot, the barge was purchased by Vancouver developer Howard Meakin in 1999 with the hope of bringing it back to life as a tourist attraction.

However, due to mounting costs, the renovations have taken longer than expected.

In 2021, Meakin said within two years he hoped to move the barge and start its redevelopment with some 'new plans' in the pipeline.

On the right track? The McTrain

Jumping back on land, McDonald's experimented with launching a train restaurant in 1993

The company partnered with Germany's national rail line to offer moving restaurant carriages

The McTrain dining carts, which featured red paint and the company's distinctive golden arches, allowed for 27 seats and there were a number of standing spots

Menus from the McTrain reveal that, along with standard McDonald's fare such as Cheeseburgers and Big Macs, there were some more unusual menu additions

Jumping back on land, McDonald's experimented with launching a train restaurant in 1993.

The company partnered with Germany's national rail service to offer moving restaurant carriages.

In order to provide an authentic McDonald's experience, the trains were decked out with all of the necessary gear, including deep fryers, ice cream machines and soda fountains.

According to Wide Open Eats, 'train passengers in first or second class could order McDonald's food from waitstaff or make their way to the dining car for a meal.'

The McTrain dining carts, which featured red paint and the company's distinctive golden arches, allowed for 27 seats and there were a number of standing spots.

Menus from the McTrain reveal that, along with standard McDonald's fare such as Cheeseburgers and Big Macs, there were some more unusual menu additions including tortellini in ham-cream sauce, quiche Lorraine and sausages with bread and mustard.

There were also two four-course meal options for passengers in first class, with this offer later extended to all travelers.

The first multi-course option consisted of a cucumber salad, a broccoli-carrot-celery terrine, chicken schnitzel in a curry sauce, vegetable rice, and plums with vanilla cream for dessert.

The other option came in the form of a shrimp cocktail, a stroganoff-style beef main, a salad made from crunchy vegetables and, on the sweet side of things, red berries topped with vanilla cream.

On the drinks side of things, along with soda, there was the option of wine and beer.

Despite initial hype behind the idea, Wide Open Eats notes that over time the novelty wore off and the McTrain failed to lure passengers.

The concept failed to impress wealthier passengers who 'were used to more high-quality food on their trains,' while powering the carts was 'extremely expensive,' and restocking them was a logistical nightmare as it had to be done by McDonald's restaurants en route.

Due to these factors, the McTrain venture ceased operation in 1995.

Fries in the skies? The McPlane

With air travel booming, in 1996 McDonald's teamed up with the now defunct Swiss private air charter company Crossair and tour company Hotelplan to make a McPlane

All of the aircraft's original seats were removed and replaced with red seats with an 'M' on each headrest to complete the look

With air travel booming, in 1996 McDonald's teamed up with the now defunct Swiss private air charter company Crossair and tour company Hotelplan to make a McPlane.

The ketchup red plane featured 'McDonald's' emblazoned across the body with the golden 'M' logo on the tail.

All of the aircraft's original seats were removed and replaced with red seats with an 'M' on each headrest to complete the look.

The first flight for the McPlane took off from Basel, Switzerland, to Heraklion, Greece, with the plan of rolling it out to other tourist destinations.

According to a report by the Independent at the time, fries were not served onboard as the company was 'anxious to avoid a chip-pan fire at 30,000ft.'

Instead, a trolley service was offered with Big Macs in a box.

Crossair, which used to specialize in upmarket charter flights for business clients, admitted that serving Chicken McNuggets instead of champagne was a bit of a 'downmarket' move.

But a spokesperson said that the company was 'glad to be doing something different, with families in mind.'

Along with a McDonald's-style meal, the airline offered passengers souvenirs, a certificate and toys for children.

Ralf Pieprzyk, who worked for Crossair when the McPlane launched, revealed that the meals were not from a traditional McDonald's supplier and they had to be custom-made so they could be 'stored and served later in cruise flight.'

He added: '[It was a] great idea, our customers and planespotters loved it.'

Fast food run: The McSki

In Sweden, McDonald's took to the slopes and launched a 'ski-thru,' so that people on skis and snowmobiles could slide up to an outdoor kiosk to place orders

In Sweden, McDonald's took to the slopes and launched a 'ski-thru,' so that people on skis, snowboards and snowmobiles could slide up to an outdoor kiosk to place orders without taking their gear off.

The 'McSki' was installed in the popular Swedish ski resort of Lindvallen, about 450 kilometers northwest of Stockholm.

A promotional video for the unique restaurant from 2014 shows a group of skiers powering through a whiteout to get their fast food fix.

According to Messy Nessy, the chalet-style McSki opened in the mid-1990s and it also includes an indoor dining area large enough to accommodate around 140 people.

Recent TikToks confirm that the venue is still open.

One clip reveals that customers can enter the restaurant with their ski boots on and touchscreen kiosks have been installed for extra convenience.
No passengers, lots of packages and on occasion some more unusual loads including horses and dead bodies.

A fleet of TikTok creators have uploaded clips that shed light on the secret world of cargo flights.

Pilot Peter Cappio, 33, who recently appeared on Season 20 of The Bachelorette, explains in one TikTok why he prefers flying cargo planes over commercial liners.

He tells viewers: 'For someone who's flown passengers for over eight years and now has flown cargo for over two years, I'm here to give you the pros and cons.

One TikTok by @airpilotwill shows how there are no passenger seats on the DHL cargo plane to maximize the space

Muriel Nicole Nicolas's video show how the seats on her jet remain in place and the packages have been strapped to them instead

She explains to viewers how a conveyer belt runs directly into the plane's fuselage to make loading and unloading 'easier and faster'

Pilot Peter Cappio, 33, who recently appeared on Season 20 of The Bachelorette, explains in one TikTok why he prefers flying cargo planes over commercial liners

'The first pro and answer number one can be solved by one simple phrase: Boxes don't complain.

'We've all been in the terminal and on an airplane and seen on the news the absolute crazy people out there. That can make flying just that much more interesting.'

Other clips uploaded by cargo jet cabin crew reveal the planes' stripped-down interiors.

One TikTok by @airpilotwill shows how there are no passenger seats on the DHL cargo plane to maximize the space and there is a large side door for loading.

Meanwhile, Muriel Nicole Nicolas's video show how the seats on her jet remain in place and the packages have been strapped to them instead.

She explains to viewers how a conveyer belt runs directly into the plane's fuselage to make loading and unloading 'easier and faster.'

When it comes to spaces reserved for crew on cargo jets, it appears to be an upgrade from commercial planes.

Flight attendant and TikToker @cargobae gives viewers a tour of the sleeping quarters on cargo planes.

In another TikTok, @unbridled_wild reveals how she traveled with six 'once wild mustangs' on a cargo plane. During the seven-hour flight to Germany, she stayed with them in a bid to keep them calm

In the clip she can be seen giving the horses hay and water as they stand upright in secure stalls and eventually they arrive safely home

Flight attendant and TikToker @cargobae gives viewers a tour of the sleeping quarters on cargo planes. In one clip, she shows an aircraft kitted out with full-sized bunk beds

She says there might not be any liquor on her company jet, but she prefers to sleep there over first class on commercial 'any day'

In one clip, she shows an aircraft kitted out with full-sized bunk beds and in another TikTok the aircraft has individual cubicles with doors and beds.

She says there might not be any liquor on her company jet, but she prefers to sleep there over first class on commercial 'any day.'

When it comes to the kinds of things transported on cargo planes, it can be wide ranging.

Michael Cooney, who runs an Indianapolis-based marketing agency for funeral homes, reveals in a TikTok how human remains are often transported in cargo planes or placed in the cargo areas on passenger flights.

In the clip, he can be seen standing by the runway as he gets ready to ship off a client.

He explains: 'Today I'm at the airport and we're shipping human remains across the country.

'I'm on my way to the cargo area of the airline to drop off the body.

Michael Cooney, who runs a marketing agency for funeral homes, reveals in a TikTok how human remains are often transported in cargo planes

Dallas-headquartered cargo airline Ameriflight uploaded a TikTok showing how pilots sometimes have to climb out of the cockpit window and use a ladder to get down safely

'After I drop off the remains at cargo, the body is then weighed and then scanned through security before boarding the flight.

'The body travels on the bottom part of the plane so that means when you're on a flight, there is a chance that there are human remains underneath you.'

In response to Cooney's video, one viewer said that they used to work for an airline and they had human remains on 'about a third of all the flights.'

In another TikTok, @unbridled_wild reveals how she traveled with six 'once wild mustangs' on a cargo plane.

During the seven-hour flight to Germany, she stayed with them in a bid to keep them calm.

In the clip she can be seen giving the horses hay and water as they stand upright in secure stalls.

At the end of the TikTok, she reveals that the equines arrived at their new home 'safe and sound.'

Because the cargo planes are very full sometimes, Dallas-headquartered cargo airline Ameriflight uploaded a TikTok showing how pilots have to climb out of the cockpit window and use a ladder to get down safely.
Giving pet CPR, wine tasting, and butler service were on the agenda

She had to complete a rigorous two-week training program before she could fly

A private jet attendant has revealed the very comprehensive training process involved before taking to the skies serving high-flying passengers and VIPs.

Cindy Kowalewski details in a first-person piece for Yahoo some of the things she had to be competent in to land a highly coveted job with private jet company VistaJet.

During a rigorous two-week training in Malta - where the firm is headquartered - Kowalewski received comprehensive emergency training, which taught her how to administer CPR to animals, in addition to humans.

She says many private jet passengers travel with their 'beloved pets, who receive the same exceptional service and attention to detail as their owners.'

A private jet attendant has revealed the very comprehensive training process involved before taking to the skies serving high-flying passengers and VIPs (stock image)

THE TRAINING REQUIREMENTS FOR PRIVATE JET CABIN CREW Cindy Kowalewski works for private jet company VistaJet. She said her two-week training in Malta covered the following: Pet emergency rescue including CPR , identifying the warning signs of choking, and checking vitals

First aid and CPR course for humans

Reading animal behavior and body language

Completing an early-childhood education course with Norland College

Waiting skills under direction from the world renowned British Butler Institute

Completing a level two course with the Wine & Spirit Education Trust

A course in cybersecurity

Fire safety training Advertisement

The travel pro, who worked as a commercial flight attendant before switching to private, explained that the animal training program run by in-house professionals.

It covered 'essential procedures such as giving a pet CPR, identifying the warning signs of choking, and checking vitals - like heart rate, pulse location, body temperature, and capillary refill time.'

Kowalewski also learned to recognize and interpret pets' body language to 'better understand their behavior.'

Another unique part of her training, saw her receive early-childhood education so she could interact with younger passengers correctly.

VistaJet - which offers charter flights from $11,000 an hour - enrolled her in a course with Norland College in Bath, England, which is known for producing some of the world's top earning nannies, snapped up by royal families.

Kowalewski said the program 'covered a wide range of topics, including child development and behaviors, family dynamics, and times of need for families while traveling.'

On the service side of things, the days of pushing a trolley down the aisle and offering unsavory looking portions of beef, chicken or pasta, were over for Kowalewski.

Instead she was trained to restaurant standards by butlers from the world renowned British Butler Institute.

She recalled: 'We learned about table settings, silverware arrangements, and much more.

'Because VistaJet clients are flying private, the butlers also trained us to ask clients about their flight preferences to make the aircraft feel like a home away from home.

'So if they'd like to rest during the flight, we'd make that bed for them. If they preferred to eat right away, we'd offer them fine dining.'

A chef also served up a course on plating techniques so she could artfully present caviar, lobster, wagyu steaks and other appetizing bites while in the skies.

To complement her food handling skills, she had to do a level two course with the Wine & Spirit Education Trust.

According to the organization, this allows successful candidates to 'describe and compare the styles of wines produced from internationally and regionally important grape varieties, interpret wine labels from the main wine-producing regions of the world and give basic guidance on appropriate selection and service, as well as understand the principles of wine tasting and evaluation.'

Kowalewski said getting her credentials was an important part of the job as many VistaJet clients 'love wine.'

Cindy Kowalewski worked for private jet company VistaJet and in a first-person piece, she touches on what things she had to be competent in to get the green light

Her training involved an entire day focused on wine, during which she had to do a blind tasting to 'assess different grape varieties, characteristics,' and record her tasting notes on cards.

Lastly, Kowalewski had to complete a number of security modules covering cybersecurity and fire safety.

After completing her training, she was put on 'live flights' with a trainer, so she could put everything she had learned into practice.

'This experience built up my confidence and made me comfortable enough to fly independently,' Kowalewski explained.

On VistaJet flights, attendants work alone instead of part of a team to offer guests a more personalized service.

As the training is so intense, Kowalewski says VistaJet refers to its flight attendants as 'cabin hosts' as it considers them to be 'at a service level all their own.'

Kowalewski worked as a cabin host at VistaJet for two years before she got promoted and started training new hires.

All VistaJet staff have to do training every year to make sure their standards are up to scratch.

While Kowalewski started her career as a flight attendant for a commercial airline before going private, she says not all VistaJet flight attendants follow the same trajectory.

She reveals: 'Some get their start working at five-star hotels or on luxury yachts. Others take on an apprenticeship or enroll in cabin-crew courses to get a shot at securing a high-flying gig.

'Those with comprehensive safety knowledge, multilingual skills, and a passion for delivering top-notch service also have a leg up.'

Before being enrolled on VistaJet's training program, Kowalewski had to pass a first-round interview and an in-office assessment, where a member of senior cabin management observed her service style and personality.

For those who are thinking of switching up careers, Kowaleswski adds that there is also a VistaJet training facility in Fort Lauderdale.
Margot Robbie the ultimate Barbie girl, living in a Barbie world.

The Australian actress, 33, who plays the iconic doll in Greta Gerwig's new Barbie film, has been wearing outfits inspired by or exact replicas of ensembles worn by the iconic doll while promoting the film worldwide.

From recreating the swimsuit worn by the first-ever Barbie doll, to putting a modern spin on the her more outlandish ensembles, we take a look inside Margot's plastic fantastic press tour wardrobe.

For the film's first media event n Beverly Hills last month, the Oscar-nominated actress wore a modern Barbie look, slipping into a pink and white polka dot Valentino minidress.

The front part of the halter-neck dress was cut-out and she completed her look with classic, white Manolo Blahnik heels.

From a pink polka-dot frock to THAT black Schiaparelli fishtail dress: Take a look at Margot Robbie's Barbie-inspired press tour wardrobe ahead of the highly-anticipated Barbie film's release

Margot wore a pink-and-white polka dot Valentino minidress to the premiere Beverly Hills. The outfit was inspired by the 2015 Pink & Fabulous doll

The ensemble was inspired by the 2015 Pink & Fabulous Barbie doll.

Next Margot wore a black-and-white Herve Leger dress during a trip to Sydney's Bondi Beach in her native Australia.

The outfit was inspired by Barbie's first ever outfit, a black-and-white striped swimsuit released by Mattel in 1959.

It wasn't the first time fans had seen Margot wearing the frock, as she also wore it in a teaser trailer for the Barbie movie.

Margot wore a black-and-white outfit during a trip to Australia, reminiscent of the swimsuit worn by Barbie in 1959.

On the red carpet at the Barbie premiere in Seoul, South Korea, the actress wore another quintessentially pink Barbie look - a crystal-embellished frock by Versace.

Her outfit featured a figure-hugging bodice and frilled skirt, and she completed her look with darker pink crystal Versace handbag and glittering ruby ring.

The outfit was inspired by the 1985 Day to Night edition of Barbie.

Margot attended the Barbie Celebration Party at the Museum of Contemporary Art on June 30, 2023 in Sydney wearing a metallic pink dress by Versace inspired by Happy Birthday Barbie

Later at the Seoul premiere, the blonde changed into an outfit inspired by the classic 1985 Day to Night Barbie.

Margot also attended a press conference in Seoul wearing a pink, jewel-encrusted blazer with a matching skirt, crop top, beret-style hat and quilted love-heart bag by Moschino.

The striking look was inspired by Mattel's Sparkling Pink Barbie from 1964.

On the red carpet at the Barbie premiere in Seoul, South Korea, the actress wore a crystal-embellished ensemble by Versace. Her outfit featured a figure-hugging bodice and frilled skirt. The look was inspired by the 1985 Day to Night edition of Barbie

Elsewhere at the Seoul premiere, Margot changed into an outfit inspired by the classic 1985 Day to Night Barbie

Margot then travelled to Mexico for the country's official Barbie premiere, wearing a look inspired by the Earring Magic Barbie toy, which was released in 1991.

She wore her blonde tresses parted on the side and styled in 90s waves.

Margot also attended a photo call at the Four Seasons Hotel

Also while in Seoul, Margot attended a press conference wearing a pink, jewel-encrusted blazer with a matching skirt, crop top, hat and bag by Moschino. The striking look was inspired by Mattel's Sparkling Pink Barbie from 1964

While in Mexico, Margot also attended another media call wearing another doll-inspired look, this time sporting a multicoloured Pucci mini dress and pink stiletto heels.

She accessorised her eye-catching frock with a quilted Chanel handbag and a pair of oversized neon pink Chanel earrings, and styled her long hair extensions down in crimped waves.

This outfit was reminiscent of of 1992's Totally Hair Barbie.

Margot wore a pink mini dress with long mesh sleeves to the premiere in Mexico, accessorising her look with large silver earrings and a matching chain belt. The look was inspired by Earring Magic Barbie, which was released in 1991

While in Mexico, Margot also attended another media call wearing another doll-inspired look, this time sporting a multicoloured Pucci mini dress and pink stiletto heels.

Margot then travelled back to America for the world premiere in Los Angeles, California.

For the first time in her tour, she opted not to wear pink on the red carpet and instead sported a striking black gown by Schiaparelli, inspired by the Solo in the Spotlight Barbie doll from 1960.

She accessorised with black opera gloves, black Manolo Blahnik peep toe heeled mules and diamond jewellery by Lorraine Schwartz.

Margot opted for a dazzling black fishtail gown, inspired by the Solo in the Spotlight Barbie doll from 1960, as she attended the world premiere in Los Angeles, California

Finally, Margot headed to the premiere in London, gracing the red carpet in a pink satin gown by Vivienne Westwood with an embroidered tulle trim, paired with white opera gloves and a pearl choker.

The look was inspired by Mattel's Enchanted Evening Barbie, released in 1996.

The Barbie movie is set to land in Aussie theatres on July 21, with Margot leading the cast as the eponymous Barbie doll alongside her boyfriend Ken, played by Ryan Gosling, 42.
From Princess Margaret to Margaret Thatcher, British actress Lesley Manville knows how to portray people with power.

And it seems a talent for leadership could well be in her genes, after The Crown star discovered one of her ancestors was an anti-establishment rebel ringleader who ended up being transported to Australia for his role in a violent peasants revolt.

In an upcoming episode of the BBCs genealogy show, Who Do You Think You Are?, Ms Manville learns that her great-great-great-grandfather, Aaron Harding, played a pivotal role in the so-called Swing Riots of 1830.

Mr Harding, a widowed father- of-nine, and his younger brother, Thomas, were among hundreds of agricultural labourers who destroyed properties and attacked machinery across the country in protest at falling wages, rising taxes and increased mechanisation.

Ms Manville, 67, said the discovery made her burst with pride, adding: Its churning up a lot of stuff inside me that he was this poor man who just knew the difference between right and wrong, and being  to use a modern phrase  ripped off. He sounds like such a fantastic character.

In an upcoming episode of the BBCs genealogy show, Who Do You Think You Are?, Lesley Manville learns about her ancestors

Ms Manville learns that her great-great-great-grandfather, Aaron Harding, played a pivotal role in the so-called Swing Riots of 1830

The Crown star discovered one of her ancestors was an anti-establishment rebel ringleader who ended up being transported to Australia for his role in a violent peasants revolt

The rioters went on to attack farms, threshing machines, tithe barns and workhouses.

Mr Harding acted as a ringleader and, in November 1830, he and Thomas were arrested for being part of a 300-strong mob which raided and almost destroyed two workhouses in Hampshire. The Harding brothers and their fellow conspirators faced the death penalty  however, a sympathetic jury found them not guilty of the attack on one of the workhouses as there was no evidence to suggest they had set out to destroy the property. In a separate trial, the brothers were found guilty of the attack on the other Hampshire workhouse, but their sentences were commuted to transportation to Australia.

Aaron, then 41, had to endure four months at sea before arriving in Sydney on June 26, 1831. In the programme, Ms Manville retraces his steps by travelling to Australia to meet distant relations she never knew existed.

In 1836, in the face of continuing public pressure, the British Government granted pardons to the vast majority of Swing rioters.

Mr Hardings own pardon, however, was conditional, which meant he never left Australia. He later fell in love with and married a local woman, and they started a family. He died in 1851.
It might look like a sleeping bag  but it has cost Billie Piper a pretty penny to look like she has been sleeping rough.

The actress was seen shopping in Regent Street, Central London, last week in this high-end 'parachute parka', which costs 1,390 from luxury fashion brand Marfa Stance.

She paired it with 395 chunky leather mules from designer of the moment, JW Anderson, and completed the outfit with white retro sunnies.

Billie Piper was seen shopping in Regent Street, Central London, last week in this high-end 'parachute parka', which costs 1,390 from luxury fashion brand Marfa Stance

Billie also wore 395 chunky leather mules from designer of the moment, JW Anderson

Meanwhile, her bag showed she had been shopping at posh candle store Diptyque. Perhaps her sleeping bag ensemble shows she's finding it hard to leave the Glastonbury camping vibe behind.

The 40-year-old former Doctor Who star had a ball at the festival last month, partying alongside Mamma Mia 2 star Lily James and Humans actress Gemma Chan.

Or maybe she's trying to stay undercover, given that her latest role is playing BBC producer Sam McAlister in Scoop, a film about Prince Andrew's infamous Newsnight interview.

Has Iris Law (pictured) got a bizarre new tattoo?

Watch your back, Iris!

Do my eyes deceive me, or has Iris Law got a bizarre new tattoo?

Thankfully the image appears to be temporary, but it's hard to tell, given the bohemian look the daughter of actors Jude Law and Sadie Frost, left, has cultivated over the years.

The model, 22, was spotted with the eye-catching body art last weekend at the Wireless urban and rap festival, held in Finsbury Park, North London, which she attended with friends including Tatler model Emilia Boateng, the daughter of fashion designer Ozwald.

The jury's out on the artwork, but I am rather taken by her thigh-skimming knitted peach mini-dress and cardigan combo from South London designer KNWLS.

Dominic West and daughter Martha attend the 2019 Met Gala

Martha's casting doubts

You might have thought being Dominic West's daughter would open doors in the acting world  but not so, says Martha West, right with her dad, with whom she starred in 2021's The Pursuit Of Love.

She has ranted about filming auditions then not hearing back from casting agents who cannot be 'bothered' to watch.

'I've never felt less valued,' the 25-year-old moans, adding that she felt more valued when she was working as a restaurant cleaner and delivery driver in the past.
Lily Allen cut a glamorous figure as she left the Duke of York's Theatre in London on Saturday night after her performance in The Pillowman.

The actress, 38, looked as dazzling as ever in a gorgeous black dress, featuring a satin skirt and a sheer top emblazoned with rhinestones and a cutout at the midriff.

She kept her platinum blonde locks tucked behind her ears and opted for minimal make-up palette, showcasing her natural beauty.

Lily accessorised with a pair of dainty black heels and finished the whole look off with a simple silver necklace.

She was greeted by fans waiting for her outside the venue - which comes after she continues to receive mixed reviews for her performance in the thriller play.

Looking radiant: Lily Allen cut a glamorous figure as she left the Duke of York's Theatre in London on Saturday night after her performance in The Pillowman

Stunning: She wore a black satin dress paired with strappy heels as she left following her performance

Mixed reviews: Lily's debut in the revival of Martin McDonagh's play The Pillowman has received mixed reviews from critics after opening at the Duke Of York Theatre

The actress appeared in great spirits as she stopped to sign autographs and talk to some eager audience members.

Lily is currently starring in the West End production of The Pillowman and plays Katurian  a role which twenty years ago had been played by David Tennant.

The hitmaker's character is brutally questioned by authorities after a spate of murders bear similarities to her short stories.

Speaking on This Morning about the show earlier this week, Lily said: 'There's a bit of violence in it. She's an artist and writer and that's something I relate to. She definitely pushes boundaries. There was a lot for me to tap into.'

Talking about how she likes the settled nature of starring in a theatre, Lily told hosts Alison Hammond and Dermot O'Leary: 'I really like the routine of it all. I love being in one place. It's nice not to get on a bus and move to the next destination.'

The role is a serious undertaking for Lily as she doesn't leave the stage throughout the play's entire duration.

She said: 'There are so many lines. I started learning them in February. She reads out her stories. Five or six of her stories, I have to know off by heart.'

Steve Pemberton, who appears alongside Lily in the play as Tupolski, joined her on the sofa and gushed: 'She's absolutely smashing it. She carries the whole play because she never leaves the stage.'

Home time: Her blonde tresses were sleeked back behind her ears and she sported a fresh face as she smiled on London streets

Glam: Lily accessorised with a pair of dainty black heels and finished the whole look off with a simple silver necklace

Fan favourite: The actress appeared in great spirits as she stopped to sign autographs and talk to eager fans

Support: Lily and co-star Steve Pemberton (pictured right) appeared on This Morning earlier this week with Steve singing Lily's praises saying: 'She's absolutely smashing it'

Although she is enjoying her work, Lily said she has no desire for the play to receive an extended run as her children Ethel, 11, and Marnie, 10, who she shares with ex-husband Sam Cooper, are returning to school in September.

According to a synopsis on the play's website, the black comedy 'examines the role of the artist in society and asks what price do we pay for freedom of expression'.

It is written by Martin McDonagh, who has since become known for films including The Banshees Of Inisherin and Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri.

The Pillowman will run for a limited time only, finishing in early September.
With Barbie-mania about to sweep the nation with the release of the film, owners of the iconic dolls could be in for a windfall.

Industry forecasts suggest that the movie starring Margot Robbie will bring in a staggering 850 million  ten times what it cost to make.

And thanks to its popularity, sales of Barbie figurines, which hit the 1.15 billion mark last year, are expected to increase sharply with the price of vintage models set to explode.

Simon Farnworth, who runs online retro toyshop Simon's Collectibles, told The Mail on Sunday: 'Vintage toy collectors are going Barbie-mad.

'Not only are collectors snapping up dolls from the new movie, they're on the hunt for other rare Barbies too.'

With Barbie-mania about to sweep the nation with the release of the film, owners of the iconic dolls could be in for a windfall

Industry forecasts suggest that the movie starring Margot Robbie will bring in a staggering 850 million  ten times what it cost to make

Experts say that the first-ever Barbie  which appeared in 1959 wearing a black-and-white swimsuit  now fetches about 8,000 if it is in mint condition and comes with the original packaging. Other collectable models include Francie, the first black Barbie, introduced in 1967.

US toy manufacturer Mattel also released many limited-edition models, which are proving just as lucrative as vintage ones.

A line designed by artist Mark Ryden in late 2022 was totally snapped up within hours and now sells for around 600 on eBay.

Other in-demand limited edition dolls include the 2014 Karl Lagerfeld Barbie and the Lorraine Schwartz Barbie of 2010, of which only 12 were made.

The value of Barbies is also determined by clothes and accessories. Some dolls dressed in gowns and decorated with precious stones  usually created to raise funds for charities  can sell for a fortune.

Sales of Barbie figurines, which hit the 1.15 billion mark last year, are expected to increase sharply with the price of vintage models set to explode.

The Stefano Canturi Barbie, dressed in emerald-cut pink diamonds and three carats of white diamonds, sold at auction for $300,000.

Barbie collector and children's author Avril O'Reilly said: 'I think the new Barbie dolls released for the movie are going to become collectable because they're going to fly out the shops and become rare quite quickly. That may make them valuable in the future.'

Prices for vintage Barbies dwarf those being fetched for dolls of her boyfriend. The most expensive Ken to be sold in the last six months went for 282.72.
Ryan Gosling recently revealed that his children did not understand why he wanted to play Ken in the forthcoming Barbie movie.

The 42-year-old actor said that his two daughters  Esmeralda, eight, and Amada, seven  were confused as to why he took the part in an interview with People that was published on Friday.

Ahead of the premiere of the live-action film, he opened up about the reaction that his children  whom he shares with his longtime partner, Eva Mendes, 49  had when he told them about his latest role.

'I think they're confused as to why I would want to play Ken,' he revealed. 'They have no use for Ken.'

The Notebook star  who joined his costars for a celebratory party after attending the movie's premiere in London  also said that his daughters were the ones who introduced him to the world of Barbie as he didn't play with the dolls himself growing up.

'Confused' reaction: Ryan Gosling recently revealed that his children did not understand why he wanted to play Ken in the forthcoming Barbie movie

Chatting about his latest role: The 42-year-old actor said that his two daughters  Esmeralda, eight, and Amada, seven  were confused as to why he took the part in an interview with People that was published on Friday

'My kids were my introduction to [Barbie],' he told the publication.

Despite their initial reaction, Gosling said that his daughters supported him and even helped him prepare for the role.

'My kids were around for the months at home, as I was prepping for it,' he recalled.

'So they, inadvertently, were prepping for it too,' Gosling continued. 'And they came to set that day and were a huge sense of support and doing it with me off-camera.'

The proud father shares his two daughters with his wife  whom he met while filming The Place Beyond The Pines in 2011.

In the 2012 crime drama, Gosling and Mendes played an on-screen family and doing so made him want to start his own with the Ghost Rider actress.

'I wasn't thinking about kids before I met her,' he told GQ in May. 'But after I met Eva, I realized that I just didn't want to have kids without her.'

'And there were moments on The Place Beyond The Pines where we were pretending to be a family,' he added. 'And I didn't really want it to be pretend anymore.'

The mother of his children: Ahead of the premiere of the live-action film, he opened up about the reaction that his children  whom he shares with his longtime partner, Eva Mendes, 49  had when he told them about his latest role. Despite their initial reaction, Gosling said that his daughters supported him and even helped him prepare for the role

Their first collaboration: The proud father shares his two daughters with his wife  whom he met while filming The Place Beyond The Pines in 2011. In the 2012 crime drama, Gosling and Mendes played an on-screen family and doing so made him want to start his own with the Ghost Rider actress

Barbie & Ken: In the film, Gosling plays the part of Ken and stars opposite Margot Robbie as Barbie

In a Barbie world: The highly-anticipated flick  directed by Greta Gerwig  follows Barbie and Ken as they are 'having the time of their lives in the colorful and seemingly perfect world of Barbie Land'.

Plot twist: 'However, when they get a chance to go to the real world, they soon discover the joys and perils of living among humans,' the official synopsis reads

A-list cast: The star-studded cast also includes Simu Liu, Emma Mackey, Will Ferrell, Michael Cera, Kate McKinnon, Issa Rae, and more

Coming soon: Barbie is set to premiere in theaters on Friday, July 21

In the film, Gosling plays the part of Ken and stars opposite Margot Robbie as Barbie.

The star-studded cast also includes Simu Liu, Emma Mackey, Will Ferrell, Michael Cera, Kate McKinnon, Issa Rae, and more.

The highly-anticipated flick  directed by Greta Gerwig  follows Barbie and Ken as they are 'having the time of their lives in the colorful and seemingly perfect world of Barbie Land.

'However, when they get a chance to go to the real world, they soon discover the joys and perils of living among humans,' the official synopsis reads.

Barbie is set to premiere in theaters on Friday, July 21.
She quit the Real Housewives of Melbourne after its fourth season in 2018, and Gina Liano is happy to leave the controversial franchise firmly in the past.

Speaking to Stellar magazine on Sunday, the 57-year-old barrister admitted that dealing with constant cat-fights on the show took a toll on her mental health.

'It all got too much. It's very soul destroying. I've had a lot of conversations with Lydia [Schiavello] about feeling quite traumatised at the end of it all because you're constantly in trouble. You're in constant conflict,' Gina explained.

The socialite said she felt constantly anxious and 'humiliated', as she was always waiting to be criticised for whatever she was doing on-camera.

Gina also took a dig at the cast of RHOM season five: Original cast-members Janet Roach, Gamble Breaux and Jackie Gillies, and newcomers Cherry Dipietrantonio, Simone Elliot, Kyla Kirkpatrick and Anjali Rao.

The Real Housewives of Melbourne star Gina Liano, 57, (pictured) has revealed why starring in the controversial show left her 'traumatised'

'I think some of the humour was missing. I don't know if that was because of Covid or whether the girls were taking themselves too seriously, or whether it was in the editing,' she said.

Gina, a fan-favourite among viewers, left fans disappointed when she decided not to return to the show for season five.

However, she told the Shine It Up podcast in October 2022 that she may come back for season six, but it would only be under one condition.

Speaking to Stellar magazine on Sunday, the barrister admitted that dealing with constant cat-fights on the show took a toll on her mental health. 'It all got too much. It's very soul destroying', she said

Gina also took a dig at the cast of RHOM season five, saying the women lacked 'some of the humour' previously seen ono the show. Pictured L-R is RHOM's Gamble Breaux Jackie Gillies and Janet Roach

'Put it this way, if the show needed saving, I would feel like, 'Oh, God, I've gotta go in and fix this.' I'm a fixer,' she said.

It comes amid speculation RHOM may be facing the axe, after the series copped some harsh criticism from fans after its fifth season.

When asked by The Herald Sun during the TV Week Logie Awards last year whether the show would return, an alleged source told the paper, 'No, those girls f***ed it up.'

Meanwhile, there is some speculation that if the franchise does not return to Foxtel it could find a home on another streamer or broadcaster.
Former EastEnders actress Rita Simons is reportedly set to join the cast of Hollyoaks.

The actress, 46, previously played Roxy Mitchell in BBC soap EastEnders before making a dramatic exit in 2017 when she drowned with her sister Ronnie, who was played by Samantha Womack.

Rita made a one-off return to Albert Square in April this year as 'a figment of her daughter Amy Mitchell's imagination' after Amy (Ellie Dadd) struggled with her mental health.

Now, it has been claimed she is making the move to Channel 4 soap Hollyoaks, with her feisty character set to cause a stir.

A source told The Sun: 'Ritas new character will certainly ruffle feathers and is set to stir the pot.

Back on screen? Former EastEnders actress Rita Simons, 46, is reportedly set to join the cast of Hollyoaks (pictured in November 2019)

Longstanding role: Rita starred in the BBC soap opera as Roxy Mitchell from 2007 until 2017 when her character was killed off alongside her on-screen sister Ronnie

'Hollyoaks fans can expect plenty of fireworks.'

MailOnline has contacted a representative for Rita, and Channel 4, for comment.

It comes after Rita joked the 'tears' she cried on her return to EastEnders were real as she was recovering from a hysterectomy.

Speaking on ITV's Good Morning Britain, Rita revealed the scene was filmed weeks after her operation and she was suffering from 'brain fog'.

She said: 'As it happens, that scene was filmed, would you believe, five to six weeks after I'd just had a total hysterectomy, which I've made no secret of.

'But obviously, I got the call to come and do the scene and I knew it was going to be during my recovery time. But I was like, "I've gotta do it!"

'Full-blown menopause, and I had these hormone pellets inserted into my butt cheek and they hadn't started kicking in yet so the tears on that were real! I had brain fog, I looked a bit on the puffy side. So I did feel a bit ghostly!'

Rita would not have returned to the soap if her character would have been a ghost but felt Roxy being a figment of Amy's imagination was a good way of raising awareness for mental health struggles.

End of the road: Rita's character Roxy made a dramatic exit in 2017 when she drowned with her sister Ronnie, who was played by Samantha Womack (right)

Emotional: It comes after Rita joked the 'tears' she cried on her return to EastEnders were real as she was recovering from a hysterectomy

She said: 'Very clearly, I was asked to go back...not as a ghost. Not as a ghost. And I said 'Right, if I'm a ghost, I'm not doing it!'

'But because it was a figment of Amy's imagination - anything to do with mental health issues, I'm there like a rat up a drainpipe because I'm an advocate - she is having these mental health struggles and it's almost like doing these inner-child work that you do with a therapist. So it's her imagination.'

Rita starred in the BBC soap opera as Roxy Mitchell from 2007 until 2017 when her character was killed off alongside her on-screen sister Ronnie.

The soap star reminded fans that because viewers did not see her character's body after she and her sister both drowned in a swimming pool, there is a possibility that Roxy is not dead after all and could potentially make a reappearance 'for the fans.'
Ty Pennington was officially released from the ICU after he was hospitalized for an abscess that was 'closing off my airway' which he candidly revealed in an Instagram post shared on Friday.

The former Extreme Makeover: Home Edition host, 58, notably attended the Barbie premiere in Los Angeles on Sunday, but two days later, was rushed to the ER and 'intubated' after he 'could barely breathe.'

In a detailed caption along with photos of himself in a hospital bed, the star explained, 'Turns out, that sore throat Ive had for the last month was actually an abscess which had grown so large it was closing off my airway.'

'Next thing I know, I was intubated and flown to the ICU in Denver,' but positively added, 'Wednesday I had surgery and yesterday [Thursday] afternoon I was released from the ICU.'

According to Cleveland Clinic, a 'peritonsillar abscess is a pus-filled pocket that forms near one of your tonsils' and 'can be serious, especially if it grows so large that it blocks your throat.'

Recovery stage: Ty Pennington, 58, was officially released from the ICU after he was hospitalized for an abscess that was 'closing off my airway' which he candidly revealed in an Instagram post shared on Friday

Breathing issues: The former Extreme Makeover: Home Edition host notably attended the Barbie premiere in Los Angeles on Sunday, but two days later, was rushed to the ER after he 'could barely breathe'

At the beginning of his message to fans, Pennington wrote, 'From the red carpet, to the ICU this last week has been interesting!' and added that he was 'okay' but 'still recovering...'

He further explained that he felt 'it looked weird that I hadnt posted about my teams #BOTB VICTORY!!,' referencing to his recent third season win on the HGTV real estate competition show titled, Battle On The Beach.

'To shed some light on why I was MIA Sunday I hit the red carpet for @barbiethemovie, monday I flew to Colorado to start filming in Breckenridge and Tuesday morning I woke up at 4am and could barely breathe.'

After opening up about what had directly caused the health scare, Ty gave a special shoutout to the healthcare workers that were by his side every step of the way.

'Thank you so much to all the amazing staff at St. Anthonys in Lakewood, CO & Summit Health in Frisco for taking such great care of me,' and gave a few words of caution to his followers. 'A great reminder to LISTEN to your body when its telling you something.'

Social media users jumped to the comment section to send love and well wishes to the TV personality on his road to recovery.

Fellow HGTV star, Sherry Holmes, typed out, 'Man!! Hope you're all good! Just goes to show how precious everyday really is .'

Another fan expressed, 'Hopefully youve just prevented this for many others who will now know to ask their doctors to check. Im so happy to see you back on tv/HGTV. Heal well and fast! .'

On the mend: 'Next thing I know, I was intubated and flown to the ICU in Denver,' and positively added, 'Wednesday I had surgery and yesterday [Thursday] afternoon I was released from the ICU'

Successful series: And it appears luck was indeed on his side, and leapt into stardom when he began hosting the hit series, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, from 2004 until the show ended on its ninth season in 2012

Ty is known for starring on hit shows such as Trading Spaces, which he worked on as a carpenter from 2000 until 2003. However, after three years, he made the choice to exit the show.

While talking to People earlier this year in February, Pennington opened up about the decision. 'I had to quit that job because I knew I was worth more than I was being paid,' he admitted.

'I took a real ballsy move, and I quit the best job I'd ever been given because I was sort of insulted,' and added, 'The thing about luck to me is sometimes something bad can happen that actually leads to something even bigger and better.'

Ty expressed that, 'You think that it's the end of the world, but it's actually just a whole new page that's being turned into a chapter.'

And it appears luck was indeed on his side as he further leapt into stardom when he began hosting the hit series, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, from 2004 until the show ended on its ninth season in 2012.

The author has still been keeping busy working on projects such as HGTV's Battle On The Beach, which follows the premise of, 'Three skilled teams hit the beach to renovate identical beachfront properties,' per the show's official website.

Ty also stars alongside Alison Victoria and Taniya Nayak, and he had the chance to celebrate his first win during season three which concluded earlier this month.

In a separate post shared on Saturday, he took time to give a special tribute to his team: Ashley Basnight and Steve Lewis, and gushed that he was 'SO flipping proud of' the pair.

He added, 'ALL the teams worked so damn hard and should all be so proud. It was such a honor to work with Steve & Ashley- we clicked so well creatively.'

Staying positive: According to Cleveland Clinic , a 'peritonsillar abscess is a pus-filled pocket that forms near one of your tonsils' and 'can be serious, especially if it grows so large that it blocks your throat'

Lovebirds: When the television host is not busy working on sets, Ty enjoys spending quality time with his wife and social media manager, Kellee Merrell

Tying the knot: The two lovebirds became engaged in July 2021 and tied the knot later that same year in November

'It was so much fun to bounce ideas off of each other and push the creative limits. We are buddies for life. Cannot wait to see what yall do!' he concluded.

When the television host is not busy working on sets, Ty enjoys spending quality time with his wife and social media manager, Kellee Merrell. The two lovebirds became engaged in July 2021 and tied the knot later that same year in November.

Before meeting Kellee, the star admitted in an interview with People that his main focus had been work for many years. 'I started working on Trading Spaces in 2000, and I really never stopped.'

'When you're never home for more than seven or 10 days at a time, it's really hard to stay in any kind of a positive relationship.' But when he crossed paths with Merrell, he admitted that, 'I just knew I couldn't let her go.'
The daughters of exes Denise Richards and Charlie Sheen were spotted filming their new reality series.

The Sheen sisters, Sami, 19, and Lola, 18, showed off their similar looks and different summer styles as they stepped out in Los Angeles on Saturday.

The duo  who originally made their reality TV debut on their mother's short-lived series Denise Richards: It's Complicated in 2008  carried on with their unnamed reality show despite the ongoing WGA strike shutting down productions worldwide.

For their daytime outing, Sami  who reportedly infuriated her father by creating an OnlyFans account and posting increasingly racy content  looked effortlessly stylish in a casual ensemble.

The adult content creator donned a semi-cropped white T-shirt that exposed her toned midriff teamed with a pair of low-rise baggy sweatpants.

Sister duo: The daughters of exes Denise Richards and Charlie Sheen were spotted filming their new reality series. The Sheen sisters, Sami, 19, and Lola, 18, showed off their similar looks and different summer styles as they stepped out in Los Angeles on Saturday

She rocked a pair of black-and-white Converse sneakers and was spotted toting around an edgy black shoulder purse accessorized with silver hardware.

The internet personality left her platinum blonde tresses down and parted down the middle just like her younger sister.

While filming, Lola modeled a baby pink maxi dress with a strapless bodice and and billowing skirt adorned with flower details.

She teamed the summery dress with a pair of white platform sandal heels and a brown leather purse.

The two were both seen carrying and checking their cell phones as they walked leisurely into an open-air shopping center in Calabasas amid filming.

Their parents were previously married from 2002 to 2006.

The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills alum, 52, first met the controversial Two And A Half Men actor, 57, while filming the television sitcom, Good Advice, in 2000.

A year later, they crossed paths again when the Wild Things actress guest-starred on Sheen's series Spin City and subsequently started dating.

Different style: For their daytime outing, Sami  who reportedly infuriated her father by creating an OnlyFans account and posting increasingly racy content  looked effortlessly stylish in a casual ensemble. While filming, Lola modeled a baby pink maxi dress with a strapless bodice and and billowing skirt adorned with flower details

Their parents: The former couple were previously married from 2002 to 2006. The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills alum, 52, first met the controversial Two And A Half Men actor, 57, while filming the television sitcom, Good Advice, in 2000

Co-parents: In 2004, the pair welcomed their first child  Sami  together. That same year, they announced that they were expecting once again; however, six months into the pregnancy, Richards filed for divorce and cited 'irreconcilable differences'. After welcoming their second daughter, Lola, in June 2005, the pair attempted at reconciliation but ultimately ended up moving forward with the divorce and parting ways

Less than three months after their first date, Sheen popped the question during a couple's getaway to a spa resort in Arizona.

In June 2002, the two exchanged vows and tied the knot during an intimate ceremony at Spin City creator Gary David Goldberg's estate in Brentwood, California.

Two years later, the pair welcomed their first child together and Sheen's second. (He is also the father of Cassandra Jade Estevez, 38, from a past relationship with his high school sweetheart.)

That same year, they announced that they were expecting once again; however, six months into the pregnancy, Richards filed for divorce and cited 'irreconcilable differences'.

After welcoming their second daughter, Lola, in June 2005, the pair attempted at reconciliation but ultimately ended up moving forward with the divorce and parting ways.
James Cameron wasted little time in quelling rumors that he's going to take part in an OceanGate film or series about the Titan submersible disaster.

There have been reports that a streaming network has contacted the acclaimed filmmaker about telling the story of the tragedy that left five people dead when the Titan imploded during a journey to the Titanic wreckage last month.

'I don't respond to offensive rumors in the media usually, but I need to now,' Cameron, 68, wrote in a statement posted on his Instagram Stories on Saturday, July 15. 'I'm NOT in talks about an OceanGate film, nor will I ever be.'

The Titanic director also shared that very same statement on his official Twitter account.

Along with being an Academy Award-winning filmmaker, Cameron is also a submarine enthusiast who has traveled to the Titanic wreckage 30 times.

Rejected! James Cameron, 68, denied he's in talks to work on an OceanGate film about the Titan submersible disaster

The OceanGate sub lost communications with its support vessel on Sunday, June 18, which subsequently set off a search of the oceans for days.

That hunt would end up being called off on June 22, when crews found debris on the ocean floor that likely was caused by a 'catastrophic implosion, assumed to be that of Titan.'

Five people were aboard the Titan when it disappeared and ultimately imploded on Father's Day: OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush, 61, British Pakistani billionaire Shahzada Dawood, 48, and his son Suleman Dawood, 19, British billionaire Hamish Harding, 58, and Titanic expert Paul-Henri Nargeolet, 77.

During the search through the wreckage, the U.S. Coast Guard reported to have also found 'presumed human remains', which were ultimately shipped for further analysis and testing.

In the wake of the tragedy gripping the world over, The Sun reported that an insider had named Cameron as a major streaming giant's top choice to helm the project.

'The Titan disaster is already being looked at as a major series for one of the world's biggest streamers  and James is first choice for director,' a source told the paper, before adding, 'It is a subject close to his heart.'

Initially, after confirmation that the passengers were presumed dead, Cameron went public and revealed how the diving community were 'deeply concerned' about the submersibles safety before the expedition.

'A number of the top players in the deep submergence engineering community even wrote letters to the company, saying that what they were doing was too experimental to carry passengers and that it needed to be certified,' he told ABC in an interview in June., as reported by People.

Instagram denial: The Academy Award winner not only denied he was in talks about an OceanGate project, but he also went a step further and added, 'Nor will I ever be'

Adventurer: The Titanic director is also an expert on deep-sea exploration, resulting in him having traveled to the actual Titanic wreckage 30 times

Titan tragedy: The OceanGate sub lost communications with its support vessel on Sunday, June 18, and ultimately the five passengers aboard were presumed to be dead on June 22 when crews found debris on the ocean floor that likely was caused by a 'catastrophic implosion, assumed to be that of Titan

RIP: OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush, 61, was among the five people killed while traveling on the Titan to the Titanic wreckage that's more than 12, 500 feet below the ocean surface, which equates to 2.36 miles

The Kapuskasing, Ontario, Canada native went on to make a connection between the circumstances behind the OceanGate and Titanic tragedies.

Cameron pointed to the similarities of the Titanic, which sank back in 1912, and its captain who was 'repeatedly warned about ice ahead of his ship, and yet he steamed at full speed into an ice field on a moonless night and many people died as a result.'

The Avatar writer and director continued, 'For us, its a very similar tragedy where warnings went unheeded. To take place at the same exact site with all the diving thats going on all around the world, I think its just astonishing,' he explained. 'Its really quite surreal.'

OceanGate Inc. is an American privately owned company based in Everett, Washington, that has provided crewed submersibles for tourism, industry, research, and exploration. The company was founded in 2009 by Stockton Rush, who was among the five killed in Titan, and Guillermo Sohnlein.
Natasha Oakley risked a wardrobe disaster as she attended the lavish Italian nuptials of Australian condom heir Michael Porter and partner Billy Mitchell on Wednesday.

The bikini model, 33, almost spilled out of her revealing black dress, which featured a perilously low neckline that barely contained her bust.

Uploading a gallery of photos to her Instagram, Natasha wrote: 'Bringing back all the emotions. So much love around us this summer.'

The influencer wore her blonde tresses tied back in a bun and paired her look with matching opera gloves and diamond drop earrings.

She was joined at the festivities with her new husband, Theo Chambers, who she wed earlier this month in Capri.

Natasha Oakley, 33, (pictured) risked a wardrobe disaster as she attended the lavish Italian nuptials of Australian condom heir Michael Porter and partner Billy Mitchell on Wednesday

The bikini model, 33, almost spilled out of her revealing black dress, which featured a perilously low neckline that barely contained her bust. (Pictured at the event with husband Theo Chambers)

Michael Porter - whose family owns Australia's leading condom business, Four Seasons - said 'I do' to his long-time partner Billy Mitchel during a three-day extravaganza.

The nuptials werre attended by celebrities, models, business moguls, reality stars and influencers - but the big day almost didn't happen after the couple was forced to postpone their nuptials several times due to Covid.

The newlyweds, who originally planned to marry in 2020, are entrenched in Sydney's elite social scene, with their guests including, socialite Nadia Fairfax-Wayne, and stylist Caroline Tran.

The ceremony was officiated by Victoria's Secret model Bridget Malcolm.

Four Seasons condom heir Michael Porter (right) and his husband Billy Mitchell (left) tied the knot in a lavish wedding in Lake Como, Italy, on Wednesday

The celebrations ended with a 'Last Dance' themed-party hosted at Lido di Ossuccio, a picturesque venue set in a meadow overlooking the lake.

Guests were issued specific outfit instructions via a 'mood board' link.

'This is a strict black tie and gown affair. For the gentlemen, this means wearing a tuxedo, shirt and bowtie, and female guests are wearing floor-length gowns,' the invitation read.

The Pinterest-style mood board featured fashion inspirations from models, iconic celebrity moments and designer campaigns, including a 'La Dolce Vita' dress code for their 'Welcome Aperitif' soiree and a 'Festival Del Lago' dress code for their 'Last Dance' event.

The glamorous affair was also a child-free event, with the couple strongly advising guests to leave their children at home.

'Due to restricted numbers, we're unable to extend the invitation to children. We will be joined by our immediate nieces and nephews on our special day. We hope you understand and enjoy your night off,' they said.

The romantic celebration comes weeks after a number of high profile Sydneysiders wed overseas, including Ingham chicken heirs Tamie and Johnny and their respective partners, Guillaume Brahimi and Rey Vakili; and Monday Swimwear co-founder and Chambers Liquor scion Theo Chambers.
Nicole Kidman caused a stir online when she wore a Miu Miu micro skirt reminiscent of a racy school uniform on the cover of Vanity Fair's February 2022 issue.

But the actress, 54, has revealed she will never let critics stop her from taking creative risks in her career.

Speaking to Stellar magazine on Sunday, the Moulin Rouge! star said she makes a concerted effort not to hold back when it comes to expressing herself.

'I make the most random, crazy choices. I call them 'teenage choices' because I just don't ever think of consequences,' the Hollywood star explained.

'Part of my brain just doesn't think like that. I just go, 'Oh, I'm going to wear that; it reminds me of my school uniform.' Or 'Oh my God, yeah, I'd love to do that''.

Nicole Kidman, 54, (pictured) has spoken out after she caused a stir online by earing a Miu Miu micro skirt reminiscent of a racy school uniform on the cover of Vanity Fair's February 2022 issue

Nicole also noted that she 'doesn't really want to know' about the 'hurtful' things that people may say about her, as it will only prevent her from embracing creative projects in future.

The Oscar winner previously admitted it was her decision to wear the skimpy micro-skirt, and echoed this in her Stellar interview.

'That was my choice. And yeah, I own it. I'm accountable. Whatever. I take responsibility. Nobody else chose it [the Miu Miu skirt]', she said.

Speaking to Stellar magazine on Sunday, the Moulin Rouge! star said she makes a concerted effort not to hold back when it comes to expressing herself

Nicole also noted that she 'doesn't really want to know' about the 'hurtful' things that people may say about her, as it will only prevent her from embracing creative projects in future

The skimpiest of the micro mini skirts by Miu Miu costs around US $950 ($1,300 AUD) while a longer version can cost around US $1,150 (AU $1,500).

It's also been featured in Dazed Korea, Elle Korea, Interview Magazine, Vogue Czechoslovkia and i-D mag among other publications.

The skirt has also been spotted on A-listers out and about including Emma Corrin and Saweetie, and has been modelled by Zendaya and Hayley Bieber.

It's also become a social media sensation with the like of drag superstar Bimini Bon Boulash posing up a storm in the skirt on their Instagram story. The set has become so viral it even has its own Instagram page - @miumiuset.

Outside of glossy magazine covers, the skirt has been seen on Emma Corrin (right), who rocked a leather version for a night out with a friend
Non-binary activist Deni Todorovic has claimed they were a victim of sexual assault in Melbourne's Fitzroy.

Deni shared their harrowing ordeal in an interview with The Herald Sun on Sunday, explaining they were attacked in the early hours of Friday morning following a night out with friends on Smith Street.

The 36-year-old said they believe their drink was spiked during the night, and while making their way home they were assaulted in a laneway.

Todorovic has informed Victoria Police about the incident but says they have requested for authorities not to proceed with an investigation.

'I have asked them to not (investigate) because what is the point? It happened on the street in a place that I have no desire to go back to and investigate,' Todorovic told the publication.

Non-binary activist Deni Todorovic, 36, (pictured) has claimed they were a victim of sexual assault in Melbourne's Fitzroy

'They are never going to find these people. I would just like to move on from this moment. It is not the first time it has happened to me, I am both a victim and a survivor.'

Following the traumatic experience, Todorovic spent the day at the Royal Melbourne Hospital before being discharged late Friday evening.

'All I wanted to do was get out of hospital, heal and grieve,' Todorovic stated, expressing their desire to continue with their career and creative pursuits.

Deni shared their harrowing ordeal in an interview with The Herald Sun on Sunday, explaining they were attacked in the early hours of Friday morning following a night out with friends on Smith Street

'I want to go to RMIT, make some shoes, create some content, fulfil my dream of becoming, if Australia will ever let me, the queer Oprah meets Rove meets Graham Norton.'

Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Victoria Police for comment.

Despite the unfortunate incident, Todorovic remains firm in their mission to raise awareness about the violence and harassment endured by transgender individuals and other minority groups in Melbourne.

'I have asked them to not (investigate) because what is the point? It happened on the street in a place that I have no desire to go back to and investigate,' Todorovic told the publication

Todorovic has been candid about their mental health struggles in the past and sought professional help following some public difficulties during the Australian Fashion Week in May.

It comes after weeks of bizarre behaviour at Afterpay Australia Fashion week.

The prominent queer fashionista made a 'political' fashion statement that saw them flash their genitals to Newscorp journalists - Confidential's Jonathan Moran and Page 13's Alice Coster, leaving them distressed.

'It was a distressing situation that's true, it was distressing because they are clearly not well and the system, I think has failed them and they need to be helped,' Moran told 2GB host Ben Fordham.

It comes after weeks of bizarre behaviour at Afterpay Australia Fashion week. Todorovic was seen with their legs exposed outside Fashion Week in May

'They were wearing one of those man-kini type things under their pants, so you could see quite a lot - there was not a lot left to the imagination'

Just one day after the flashing scandal, Todorovic had their fashion week plans dashed after being stopped by security at Nadia Bartel's Henne show at St Barnabas in Ultimo.

According to fashion sources, Afterpay Australian Fashion Week organisers are furious Todorovic's antics this week have made more headlines that the showcasing designers.

Todorovic is pictured speaking to police after a row at Sydney Airport

Before the event had even started he had a heated hour-long run-in with airport workers in Melbourne before flying to Sydney on a Jetstar flight.

Todorovic said he had been subjected to 'homophobic and racist' behaviour by staff requesting that he pay $100 for excess luggage, and subsequently wrote with black marker pen, 'Jetstar, suck my d***', across the top of both thighs when he turned up at AAFW.

A Jetstar representative denied staff did anything wrong.

Photographs of the incident show Todorovic with their mother, along with four police officers.

The model appeared upset and rested their head on their mother's arm. No charges were laid.

Todorovic first came to prominence when receiving a starring role as an ambassador for swimwear brand Seafolly - leading to a customer boycott in March.
Peter Hitchener has denied increasing chatter that he is set to retire from Channel Nine News.

The 77-year-old, who is celebrating 50 years at the network, insisted this week that stories of his retirement have been greatly exaggerated.

'To be absolutely clear, the first I heard of my so-called retirement was reading about it in @theheraldsun this afternoon,' Peter wrote on Instagram.

'It is my great honour and a privilege to present the news, and I still hope to for a few more years'.

In 2021, the veteran newsreader took a step back from presenting the news full time.

Peter Hitchener (pictured) has denied increasing chatter that he is set to retire from Channel Nine News. The 77-year-old, who is celebrating 50 years at the network, insisted this week that stories of his retirement have been greatly exaggerated

In a statement to Daily Mail Australia, a representative for Channel Nine confirmed that Peter was dropping to four days a week.

In April of that year, Peter gave an update on his health after he was taken off air mid-bulletin during Channel Nine's 6pm Melbourne news.

He sparked concern after he stumbled over his words on March 29 due to a migraine, causing producers to quickly cut to a pre-recorded story.

Peter assured The Herald Sun that 'everything's good' with his health, and confirmed he's looking after himself more than ever since the on-air incident.

'To be absolutely clear, the first I heard of my so-called retirement was reading about it in @theheraldsun this afternoon,' Peter wrote on Instagram. 'It is my great honour and a privilege to present the news, and I still hope to for a few more years'

In 2021, the veteran newsreader took a step back from presenting the news full time

'I'm very good now and making sure I drink plenty of water,' he said, before confirming he had visited the hospital as a precaution.

Peter, who soon after returned to work, added that he had only started suffering with migraines over the past few years.

'It was the first time on air and I hope it never happens again,' he said.

Shortly after the footage aired, Nine - who Peter has been reading the news for since 1998 - issued a statement to confirm that he was suffering from a migraine.
Faith Williams has announced that she is engaged to her partner James Cornish.

The former Bachelor contestant shared a video of the moment James got down on one knee during their romantic vacation on the Italian island of Sardinia.

In the clip, a delighted Faith, who is 18 weeks pregnant, was surprised by James presenting her a diamond ring by the waterside.

The blonde looked stunning in a green frock and could not wipe the smile off her face as she accepted the proposal.

'YES YES YES. @james.cornish You make me the happiest girl in the world and I cannot wait to spend the rest of my life with you' she wrote in her caption.

Faith Williams has announced that she is engaged to her partner James Cornish. She posed for a photo with her new fiance, showing off her giant diamond sparkler. Both pictured

She later posed for a photo with her new fiance, showing off her giant diamond sparkler.

It comes just weeks after Faith revealed she is expecting a daughter with James.

Last month, the 32-year-old reality star posted to Instagram to share the news that she is 15 weeks pregnant with her first child.

The blonde beauty included an intimate image of herself in the story, posing with James on a beach and showing off her prominent baby bump in a yellow frock.

Telling followers she was expecting to welcome her new baby on November 23, Faith also posted a colour ultra sound picture of her baby.

The former Bachelor contestant shared a video of the moment James got down on one knee during their romantic vacation on the Italian island of Sardinia

In the clip, a delighted Faith, who is 18 weeks pregnant, was surprised by James presenting her a diamond ring by the waterside

The blonde looked stunning in a green frock and could not wipe the smile off her face as she accepted the proposal

'YES YES YES. @james.cornish You make me the happiest girl in the world and I cannot wait to spend the rest of my life with you' she wrote in her caption

The newly engaged couple shared a sweet kiss

Faith's happy news came after the successful business entrepreneur suffered a set-back earlier this year.

She endured a nightmare Easter after the trendy hair salon she owns was ransacked by burglars.

Faith, who featured on Richie Strahan's season of the Channel 10 dating show in 2016, owns two salons in Brisbane and was horrified to discover last April that one of them had been broken into over the weekend.

Thousands of dollars was stolen from her Blondee Salon in Newstead and it has left the reality TV star distraught.

It comes just weeks after Faith revealed she is expecting a daughter with James

The 32-year-old reality star posted to Instagram to share the news that she is pregnant with her first child

The business owner told Daily Mail Australia that she discovered the salon had been robbed when she arrived to work in the morning after the long weekend.

'The thieves stole thousands of dollars worth of laptops, equipment, cash, hot tools, sonos speakers, and a lot of products and made a mess of everything,' she said.

Faith previously thanked The Bachelor for giving her the opportunity to launch her successful business Blondee.

Two years ago, she told The Wash: 'I guess I leveraged off the Bachelor to do my own thing. I have the show to thank for the exposure.'
Terri Irwin is well known for her love of native Australian wildlife and she has ensured her children Bindi and Robert follow in her footsteps.

And it looks like Terri's two-year-old granddaughter Grace Warrior is also destined to carry on the iconic Irwin family tradition.

On Friday, Terri, 58, shared a hilarious photo to Twitter of young Grace having fun with a kangaroo at Australia Zoo in Queensland.

Grace looks utterly fascinated by the iconic marsupial and stares intensely at it while the sun shines down on her in the background.

'When you're trying to make a point, but you're being tactfully ignored!' Terri wrote next to the photo.

Terri Irwin is well known for her love of native Australian wildlife and she has ensured her children Bindi and Robert have followed in her footsteps. Pictured: Terri Irwin with her daughter Bindi and granddaughter Grace in 2020

Many of Terri's followers were quick to comment on the hilarious photo.

'This is a picture of perfection,' one fan gushed and another added: 'She is soooooo adorable'.

Earlier this month, Grace's mother Bindi, 24, shared a heartwarming video of herself enjoying a day out at the beach with daughter.

On Friday, Terri, 58, shared a hilarious photo to Twitter of young Grace having fun with a kangaroo at Australia Zoo in Queensland

The precious footage showed Bindi and her husband Chandler, 26, taking Grace to a scenic beach to take in the sights and enjoy some fun activities.

Grace has clearly inherited the Irwin family's love of wildlife as she was heard saying she is 'like a turtle' as she walked across shallow water with the help of grandmother Terri and uncle Robert.

Bindi and Chandler first met in November 2013 when Chandler, who hails from Florida, was touring Australia for a wakeboarding competition.

Earlier this month, Grace's mother Bindi, 24, shared a heartwarming video of herself enjoying a day out at the beach with daughter

The young couple were married on March 25, 2020 and Grace was born exactly one year later, on their first wedding anniversary.

Earlier this year, it was reported that Bindi's daughter is set for television stardom and one family insider believes the two-year-old could become even more famous than her grandfather Steve 'The Crocodile Hunter' Irwin.

'She is an absolute natural in front of the camera. It's believed she could be an even greater entertainer than her grandfather Steve Irwin. She's so bright and funny,' the source told New Idea.

Grace is the granddaughter of legendary Wildlife Warrior Steve 'The Crocodile Hunter' Irwin, who died at 44 in 2006, after being pierced in the chest by a stingray while filming a documentary in Batt Reef, off the coast of Queensland.

Bindi and Chandler first met in November 2013 when Chandler, who hails from Florida, was touring Australia for a wakeboarding competition. The young couple were married on March 25, 2020 and Grace was born exactly one year later, on their first wedding anniversary
Lauren Hutton rose to fame as the world's first supermodel in the 1970s.

And the 79-year-old spitfire proved that age has not wearied her during a spirited appearance on The Sunday Project this weekend.

The iconic American beauty sat down with the panel on the Australian current affairs show for a chat, leading to some hilarious moments.

Lauren had to be extensively bleeped while answering a question on whether she still loved working.

'I think it's important...' she began, before her next few words were censored at length.

Lauren Hutton (pictured) proved that age has not wearied her during a spirited appearance on The Sunday Project this weekend

It's unclear what Lauren said, but her comment left co-host Michael Hing visibly blushing.

'It's just really nice to meet you, you seem really cool,' he squawked nervously, before Lauren cuddled up to him.

'You're not so bad yourself,' she crooned, leaving the panel of hosts laughing uproariously.

Viewers watching at home were less amused, with some wondering if the model wasn't jet lagged after her long haul flight into Australia from the USA.

The iconic American beauty sat down with the panel on the Australian current affairs show for a chat, leading to some hilarious moments

She cuddled up to co-host Michael Hing (right) during a flirty moment

Lauren had to be extensively bleeped while answering a question on whether she still loved working

'Well this is awkward,' wrote one person on Twitter, with another adding, 'That "interview" was embarrassing'.

'Is she okay?' asked someone else, and one more person tweeted, 'Oh wow.. Lauren Hutton... what the hell just happened?'

Someone else wrote: 'The booking producer of The Project really need to stop booking guests immediately after their flights into the country.'

'Jet lag is real and does no one any favours. Poor Lauren Hutton,' they added.

'Sorry, that Hutton interview was awkward and uncomfortable,' yet one more viewer tweeted.

Viewers watching at home were less amused, with some wondering if the model wasn't jet lagged after her long haul flight into Australia from the USA. Others were delighted by her

Others were delighted with the broadcast, with one fan pointing out that Lauren is always a lively interviewee.

'I'll have what she's having, Lauren Hutton. What a hoot 80yrs old. AMAZING,' wrote one person.

Another agreed: 'I thought she was pretty amazing for someone who just got off a plane and a lot of fun. Just googled her on YouTube and this '90s video shows her personality type.'

Daily Mail Australia has reached out to representatives for Lauren Hutton for comment.
Fans have gone wild as Robert Downey Jr shared a sweet video to Instagram of pal Stanley Tucci cooking him dinner on Saturday.

The Marvel actor, 58, planted a kiss on The Devil Wears Prada star, 62, cheek as he donned a grey apron while cooking an Italian meal at his London home for the Hollywood star.

Robert, who was in London this week for the Oppenheimer premiere, gave his 56 million followers a glimpse of his 'bromance' with Stanley as well as his lavish kitchen as he made pasta and cod in a tomato sauce.

When the pair sat down to eat the Avengers star, who looked dapper in a lilac shirt, was seen nodding as he took a mouthful, approving of the feast made by his foodie friend.

He penned: 'Dinner @ Casa Tucci - Truly a gem of a fella, & Felicity made me feel like family,' adding a plug for Tucci's TV series 'Searching for Italy'.

'True bromance': Fans have gone wild as Robert Downey Jr shared a sweet video to Instagram of pal Stanley Tucci cooking him dinner on Saturday

All smiles: The Marvel actor, 58, planted a kiss on The Devil Wears Prada star, 62, cheek as he donned a grey apron while cooking an Italian meal at home for him

The duo were later all smiles as they stood next to one another prompting fans to notice their resemblance.

One wrote: 'Looks like cousins'.

While another added: 'You could play Stanley Tucci 's brother! Especially when you shave your head! I thought he was you, with a shaved head.'

Fans couldn't believe the 'epic' dinner and rushed to the comment section to praise their 'true bromance'.

One wrote: 'The duo we didnt know that we needed'.

Another added: 'Now that's a true bromance everybody was waiting to see'.

A third said: 'Not sure who is luckier. Stanley getting to hang with Robert, or Robert getting to hang with Stanley?'

'I would give anything for you two to do some kind of travel series together', penned another.

A fifth said: 'This is EPIC! what a dinneeeer.'

Pals: Robert gave his 56 million followers a glimpse of his 'bromance' with Stanley as well as his lavish kitchen as he made pasta and a cod in a tomato sauce

'You could play Stanley's brother': The duo were later all smiles as they stood next to one another prompting fans to notice their resemblance

AmazingWhen the pair sat down to eat the Avengers star, who looked dapper in a lilac shirt, was seen nodding as he took a mouthful approving of the feast

'The duo we didn't know we needed': Fans couldn't believe the 'epic' dinner and rushed to the comment section to praise their 'true bromance'

Meanwhile Stanley took to his own Instagram account to reveal that he cooked for Robert plus 11 other people.

Talking through the lavish dishes ingredients, he showed four frying pans with cod cooking in the delicious sauce.

Stanley penned: 'Dinner for @robertdowneyjr + 11 more!'
It was cancelled yesterday due to severe wind, so it's no surprise Emma Corrin wanted to prove their fashion prowess to the crowd at this year's Goodwood Festival.

The actress, 27, looked smart in a structured yellow shirt blazer and matching skirt.

Emma, who identifies as non-binary, stunned in the sophisticated short co-ord and opted for mustard-coloured sunglasses to accessorise.

They matched their ensemble with their short blonde tresses and added some finesse with some gold hoops as they arrived at the racecourse to judge the Cartier Style Et Luxue.

Emma added to their classy outfit donning a pair of white ankle socks and black lace up brogues.

Stand out: Emma Corrin, 27, looked sensational in a lemon two-piece as they attended the Goodwood Festival of Speed in West Sussex

Cool sense of style: Emma looked cool in a pair of sunglasses with gold frames while they showed off the body art on their leg

They looked sensational as their opted for a minimal palette of make-up.

The outing comes after the Netflix star sparked romance rumours after looking cosy with Bohemiam Rhapsody star Rami Malek at Bruce Springsteen's gig in London's Hyde Park on earlier this month.

The two were then spotted sat next to each other at Wimbledon with Rami seemingly placing his hand on Emma's knee.

It comes amid reports the Oscar winner has split from his longtime girlfriend and actress Lucy Boynton.

Emma who has dated men and women, was previously linked to set designer Ibby Njoy, before publicly coming out as queer in 2021.

They told Vogue: 'My first date with a girl, they were like, 'Oh! You're a baby queer!' It was amazing. We actually didn't end up seeing each other again, but she really gave me the lowdown'.

Going on to tell the publication: 'I'm working out all this complex gender and sexuality stuff'.

In the interview they described herself as 'fluid' and said they was attracted to a person rather than their gender saying: 'I like people'.

Looking good: Removing their jacket, Emma could be seen wearing a navy blue shirt with cropped sleeves beneath their yellow dress

Beauty: They wore a yellow peaked cap and accessorised with a pair of gold hoop earrings, while opting for a make-up palette of natural hues

Summer ready: Emma wore a smart lemon yellow jacket zipped up over their dress for the event

Stylish: Joined by Deputy Global Editorial Director of GQ Magazine Adam Baidawi (pictured left), Emma opted for ankle socks and brogues to complete her look

Engrossed: They wore mustard rimmed sunglasses to shield their eyes from the sun as they judged the Cartier Style Et Luxue

Romance rumours: The Netflix star has sparked romance rumours with Bohemiam Rhapsody star Rami Malek after the pair were seen looking cosy at a Bruce Springsteen's gig and watching Wimbledon

Hopeful: Emma, who identifies as non binary and has appeared in The Crown and Lady Chatterley's Lover hopes there will be more non-binary roles in the future, after publicly coming out on social media

Emma was praised for their award-winning role as Princess Diana and has starred in feature films including Lady Chatterley's Lover and My Policeman.

They have also appeared onstage in a London adaptation of the Virginia Woolf novel Orlando, and will return to television later this year in the upcoming FX series Retreat as well as play the villain role in Deadpool 3.

Goodwood motorsports festival attracts guests from up and down the country and is considered one of the more relaxed meetings when it comes to the dress code.

The famous event sees historic motors take place in an annual hill climb in the grounds of Goodwood House, West Sussex.
Toni Collette was looking fabulous on Saturday.

The 50-year-old was showing off her ageless looks as she stepped out at the Ischia Global Fest in Italy.

The Australian actress opted for a flirty satin frock with frilled detailing and pink and blue pastel patterns throughout.

She added a smattering of gold accessories including layered necklaces and dangling mesh earrings.

Toni finished her look with a pair of gold sandals and glass rings in a deep purple tone.

Toni Collette (pictured) was looking fabulous on Saturday

The 50-year-old was showing off her ageless looks as she stepped out at the Ischia Global Fest in Italy

For makeup, the star chose a clean look with a glowing finish and clear lip gloss while wearing her blonde locks in a loose half-up do.

In December, Collette announced she and her husband of 20 years, musician Dave Galafassi, 45, were divorcing.

The couple, who are parents to daughter Sage, 15, and son Arlo, 12, married in 2003.

She announced the split on her newly re-activated Instagram account after photos surfaced of Galafassi frolicking in the surf with chiropractor Shannon Egan.

'It is with grace and gratitude that we announce we are divorcing,' she wrote in the joint statement.

'We're united in our decision and part with continuing respect and care for each other.

The Australian actress opted for a flirty satin frock with frilled detailing and pink and blue pastel patterns throughout

She added a smattering of gold accessories including layered necklaces and dangling mesh earrings

Toni finished her look with a pair of gold sandals and glass rings in a deep purple tone

The month before she announced her divorce, she turned 50 and revealed that she wasn't bothered by reaching the milestone age.

'I wasn't fussed about the number itself,' she told People.

'I know a lot of people are, but I think accumulatively, over time, I've gotten to know myself, accept myself, love myself and all these things really enrich your life.'

She added: 'The more you nurture your internal world, the richer your experience is of engaging with the external world. So it just makes everything deeper and more beautiful.

'Life is so magical and magnificent and I'm in a position where I'm really able to see that clearly. I'm just so grateful for all of the experiences I've had,' the Australian actress said.
Sofia Vergara is celebrating her 51st birthday in style while on vacation in Italy.

The Modern Family alum looked stunning in a neon green tank top and long, blue, green and white patterned maxi skirt.

The America's Got Talent judge dined at the restaurant Conca del Sogno in Nerano on the Amalfi Coast.

She was accompanied by a friend who wore a maxi dress in the same color as Sofia's tank top.

The Colombian beauty arrived at the restaurant that overlooks the ocean on the Amalfi coast via boat.

Chic: Sofia Vergara is celebrating her 51st birthday in style while on vacation in Italy

The ladies had huge bouquets of red and white roses with them as the jetted to the restaurant across the sea.

The Hot Pursuit actress accessorized with several bejeweled bangles and a diamond necklace.

She carried her essentials in an oversized white leather tote bag and wore black sunglasses on her gorgeous face.

These latest snaps from her Italian getaway come as fans speculate on the state of her marriage after a comment Joe Manganiello, 46, left on her birthday.

The Magic Mike star shared a grainy, low-resolution photo of himself with his wife.

He captioned it: 'Feliz Cumpleanos Sofia!!!'

Fans immediately noticed that the message was cold in comparison to past messages he's left for his bombshell wife.

One fan wrote: 'Joe, I hope you guys are ok, that was a very different(cold) happy birthday wish to your wife, compare to previous ones!. [sad face emoji]'

Another quipped: 'Am I the only one who doesnt like the way it sounds? Sofia.... not even My love, My beloved wife'

Bangles: The Hot Pursuit actress accessorized with several bejeweled bangles and a diamond necklace

Friends: Sofia and her friend shared a laugh as they dined at the seaside restaurant

Birthday girl: Vergara posted several snaps to her Instagram from her lunch

Twinning: She was accompanied by a friend who wore a maxi dress in the same color as Sofia's tank top

On a boat: The Colombian beauty arrived at the restaurant that overlooks the ocean on the Amalfi coast via boat

Lunch: The America's Got Talent judge dined at the restaurant Conca del Sogno in Nerano on the Amalfi Coast

Sofia has not commented on the post nor does Joe seem to be on vacation with her in Italy.

Sofia and Joe's last Instagram posts featuring each other were shared last month.

Some fans noted that Joe's prior birthday tributes to his wife had more substance.

For instance, last year's birthday message read: ''Feliz Cumpleanos mi amor! I love you so much'.
Zoe Saldana was spotted enjoying a day out with her family in Paris, France.

The American actress, 45, was seen taking a stroll through the City of Love with her husband, Italian artist Marco Perego, and their three children on Sunday.

The couple have been married since June 2013, just months after they began dating in March of that same year.

They have three sons together: eight-year old twins Cy and Bowie and six-year-old Zen.

At one point the stroll, Perego, 44 was photographed planting a kiss on his wife's forehead as they wrapped their arms around each other.

Family outing: Marco Perego (behind in the back, left) plants a kiss on his wife, the actress Zoe Saldana (behind on the back, right) while out on a stroll in Paris on Sunday with their three children (in the front)

Later, the pair were seen stopping in the middle of the sidewalk looking at Saldana's phone for directions as the children were seen chatting with each other.

The parents were also seen holding their children's hands after they crossed the street.

For the family's day out, Saldana wore a long sleeveless grey dress and a pair of light colored striped espadrilles from Missoni. She also had a grey jacket tied around her waist.

The Avatar star completed her look with a necklace, several bracelets on her wrists, and a ring as she had brown hair straightened and in a bouncy bob, which was shoulder-length.

As for Perego, he donned a black bomber jacket, a white tee, a pair of light blue jeans, and a pair of beige boots.

The Italian artist completed his look with his wedding ring on his finger as he wore his signature long brown-blonde locks, which were straightened, down.

The twins, who are identical, put on a matching display in black sleeveless tees and a pair of black shorts as they wore their long dark hair down.

One twin wore a pair of white and green sneakers with his outfit while the other wore a pair of black sneakers. The latter twin also put on a light-pink beanie on top for his head.

Directions: During the family outing, the couple seen stopping in the middle of the sidewalk looking at Saldana's phone for directions as the children were seen chatting with each other

Comfortable: Saldana wore a long sleeveless grey dress and a pair of light colored striped espadrilles during her outing

Tying it off: The actress kept a grey jacket tied around her waist and completed her look with a necklace, several bracelets on her wrists, and a ring

Making an impression: Perego donned a black bomber jacket, a white tee, a pair of light blue jeans, and a pair of beige boots

Taking it easy: The twins, who are identical, put on a matching display in black sleeveless tees and a pair of black shorts as they wore their long dark hair down

Family affair: One twin wore a pair of white and green sneakers with his outfit while the other wore a pair of black sneakers. The latter twin also put on a light-pink beanie on top for his head

Crossing the street: Saldana and Perego were seen holding their children's hands after they crossed the street

Extended vacation: Saldana opted to remain in Paris with her family for an extended family vacation as production in Paris for her upcoming film, Emelia Perez, appeared to be over a few weeks ago

Special Ops: Lioness promotion: The sighting in Paris comes a few days after Saldana (left) was spotted in London for an event to promote her upcoming series Special Ops: Lioness, which also co-stars Oscar-winning actress Nicole Kidman (right)

Meanwhile, Zen wore a white sleeveless tee, a pair of of beige-colored cargo shorts, a pair of white shocks, and a pair of grey sneakers.

The actress moved her family to live in the French capital for the last four months while she was filming the upcoming musical crime comedy film Emelia Perez, which she will star-in with Selena Gomez.

Although production in Paris for the film appeared to conclude a few weeks ago, Saldana opted to remain in Paris with her family for an extended family vacation.

The sighting of Saldana and her family in Paris comes a few days after she debuted her bob hairstyle for an event in London to promote her upcoming series Special Ops: Lioness, which also co-stars Oscar-winning actress Nicole Kidman. The show premieres on Paramount+ on July 23.

A red carpet premiere for Special Ops: Lioness was scheduled to be held on July 18, but was canceled on July 13, 24 hours ahead of the start of the SAG-AFTRA strike.

The Special Ops red carpet premiere is one of the first big events to be canceled due to SAG-AFTRA strike, the latest of the ongoing labor disputes. The WGA strike, which saw writers crossing the picket line, has been ongoing since early May.
Could you imagine putting your relationship to a three month make-or-break test in the pursuit of true love?

Well that's exactly what seven loved-up Brits and their long-distance lovers are doing - spending 90 days together to see if their love is the real deal or a fleeting fling.

That's right, this July, 90 Day Fiance UK is back with more romance, drama and fun than ever before.

The discovery+ series is a rollercoaster of emotions, bringing viewers everything from suspicious friends and cynical families, to sweet reunions and epic trips across the globe.

From immersive cultural experiences and high personal stakes, seven couples will go to incredible lengths to find their perfect person.

It will prove love goes beyond borders - and romance can exist against all odds.

Series two of this dramatic show will follow a hairdresser from Devon negotiating tricky cultural differences with a Turkish barber, and a salt-of-the-Earth Scottish tradesman as he tries to tame his jealous Kazakhstani ice Queen.

Meanwhile there's also an infatuated mum from Gloucestershire and her Colombian rapper boyfriend, and more!

Plus, we follow one returning couple to see if they tie the knot or get cold feet under the stress of planning a wedding from two sides of the globe.

Want to decide whether they're perfect together...or totally mismatched? Here we reveal the real people taking part in this incredible experience.

SINGLE MOTHER INFATUATED WITH HER COLOMBIAN RAPPER TOYBOY (BUT SHE HAS NEVER MET HIM IN PERSON)

Lovestruck single mum Louise, 39, from Gloucester, fell head over heels for larger-than-life Colombian rapper Jose, 29, in 2021

Lovestruck single mum Louise, 39, from Gloucester, fell head over heels for larger-than-life Colombian rapper Jose, 29, in 2021.

The pair met on social media, after Louise got Joses attention by liking a series of his posts.

Swooning over her toyboy lover, Louise is proud to even feature in some of Joses songwriting!

Despite barely speaking each others language, the pair hit it off immediately.

They now spend up to 16 hours a day on video calls and rely heavily on a translator app to communicate their love for one another.

Despite never meeting in person, Jose has proposed to Louise virtually, and they are keen to start a family together.

With their 10-year age gap, the couple feel the clock is ticking for them to have a baby, and Louise still has her friends and family to convince, with many of them believing that Jose is too young for her and is potentially using her for a visa.

And throwing another spanner in the works of Louises fairytale is her eldest son, 21-year-old Jesse, who does not support the relationship.

Making matters worse, Louise also has her own suspicions that Jose may be keeping secrets from her....

FATHER-OF-TWO WOWED BY A KENYAN BEAUTY (BUT IS SHE AN ONLINE SWINDLER?)

After a string of unsuccessful relationships, father-of-two Michael, 37, from Essex, fell in love with Mercy, 28, from Kenya - but his friends fear she isn't the real deal

After a string of unsuccessful relationships, father-of-two Michael, 37, from Essex, decided to look for love on an international dating app in 2021.

Luckily for Michael, Mercy, 28, from Kenya, made the first move - but Michael was sceptical and thought he was being catfished.

Despite his fears, their feelings soon grew and Michael flew to Kenya to meet Mercy later that same year!

The couple havent looked back since and began planning their wedding.

But closer to home, Michaels friends are sure they have a swindler situation on their hands.

They believe Michael has been blinded by love and is unable to see that Mercy might be conning him.

And, though Mercy has already met Michael's son, some of Michaels loved ones also have their doubts.

With a Kenyan wedding on the cards, Michael is beginning to have doubts over whether hes doing the right thing.

Will he follow his heart and fly out to Kenya to marry Mercy, or will he get cold feet?

HAIRDRESSER FROM DEVON FALLS FOR TURKISH BARBER

Shane, 27, from Devon, was accompanying her half-sister to Turkey for surgery in the summer of 2022 when she had her heart stolen by Mert, 28, a barber from Istanbul

Shane, 27, from Devon, was accompanying her half-sister to Turkey for surgery in the summer of 2022 when she had her heart stolen by Mert, 28, Turkey, a barber from Istanbul.

During the trip, Shane browsed through the dating apps and the rest, as she says, is history!

Although Shane and Mert havent been together long, theyve fallen madly in love.

But now the pair have started thinking about their future together, they have found there are several cultural stumbling blocks in the way to navigate.

With their relationship moving forward, Shane is looking into applying for a visa for Mert so that they can live together back in the UK.

Not only are the fiery couple determined to build a happy life together, they also dream of owning their own hairdressing franchise.

But with so many cultural challenges ahead of them to negotiate, how will Shane fit in with Merts family and friends in Turkey?

SALT-OF-THE-EARTH TRADESMAN WHO MET KAZAKHSTANI ICE QUEEN ONLINE (BUT SHE'S NEVER SAID 'I LOVE YOU')

Father-of-one Robert, 47, from Glasgow, couldnt believe his luck when he matched with Assel, 35, from Kazakhstan, on an international dating website in late 2021

Father-of-one Robert, 47, from Glasgow, couldnt believe his luck when he matched with Assel, 35, from Kazakhstan, on an international dating website in late 2021.

Robert was so instantly smitten that he told Assel that he loved her during their very first video call.

Despite the fact that shes been with Robert for 18 months, Assel is yet to tell Robert that she loves him back.

Instead, Assel has been working on motivating and improving Robert; she hates his wardrobe and has thrown away or hidden many items of his clothing!

Assel also strongly dislikes Roberts eating habits, uncleanliness, and old school ways.

To see if their relationship can go the distance, Assel and Robert will be spending their first Christmas together this year.

Will Robert be able to meet Assels high expectations, or will this salt-of-the-Earth Scotsman prove too much to handle for icy Assel?

SELF-CONFESSED 'PRINCESS' WHO CAN'T HIDE HER JEAOUSY OVER HER CARIBBEAN LOVER

After innocently looking for Spanish lessons on a popular language app back in 2020, Tionne, 21, from Derby, was suddenly struck by Cupids arrow when she met teacher David, 24, from Dominican Republic, on the app

After innocently looking for Spanish lessons on a popular language app back in 2020, Tionne, 21, from Derby, was suddenly struck by Cupids arrow when she met teacher David, 24, from Dominican Republic, on the app.

The pair swapped numbers, and love blossomed soon after.

Feeling that she had met the man of her dreams, Tionne travelled to the Dominican Republic to meet David in the flesh in 2022, where it was love at first sight.

They spent the whole day together, and Tionne even decided to stay in the Dominican Republic, moving in with David for six months, whilst flying back-and forth to the UK.

Despite knowing that David was The One, Tionne put off telling her friends and family about him for months.

Now living apart again, Tionne admits shes found long-distance love difficult especially with Davids penchant for salsa dancing with other women into account.

But self-confessed Princess Tionne has already started piling the pressure on David, even telling him which pricey engagement ring she wants!

Once engaged, the couple plan to apply for a fiance visa so that David can come to the UK for the first time.

Will David be able to afford the extravagant lifestyle Tionne wants, or will he go running back to the Dominican Republic?

FEISTY BELLYDANCER EMBARKS ON A WHIRLWIND ROMANCE WITH AN ARGENTINIAN CRUISE SHIP WORKER

Rebekah, 27, from Chesterfield, was on a cruise with her grandparents in October 2022 when she fell for Cristian, 29, from Argentina, a shop assistant working on the ship

Rebekah, 27, from Chesterfield, was on a cruise with her grandparents in October 2022 when she fell for Cristian, 29, from Argentina, a shop assistant working on the ship.

Rebekah kept inventing excuses to visit Cristian, eventually slipping him her phone number; they've been inseparable ever since!

Since meeting, the couple have kept their relationship going long-distance while Cristian continued to work on the cruise ship.

But Cristian has now chucked in his job to be with Rebekah for good, risking it all to apply for a UK fiance visa just four months after meeting her!

This loved up couple has already booked a venue for their imminent wedding this year, so the pressure is on for them to tie the knot!

AND FINALLY...IT'S THE RETURN OF THE YORKSHIRE LASS AND HER MEXICAN DREAM BOAT

At the end of series one, nurse Kadie, 27, from West Yorkshire, and teacher Alejandro, 31, from Mexico, had met each others families, travelled across the world twice over to be with each other, and to Kadies delight, Alejandro popped the question

At the end of series one, nurse Kadie, 27, from West Yorkshire, and teacher Alejandro, 31, from Mexico, had met each others families, travelled across the world twice over to be with each other, and to Kadies delight, Alejandro popped the question!

Well since then, Kadie and Alejandro have been busy, with Kadie putting the onus on Alejandro to plan their wedding in Mexico.

With the big day approaching, Kadie and her family are preparing to travel across the globe for her highly anticipated nuptials to her Mexican dream man.

But with so much on the line, things arent as straightforward as the couple had hoped

Will everybodys favourite couple be able to survive the stress of a wedding, or have they bitten off more than they can chew?

You'll have to tune in to find out...

90 Day Fiance UK is available to stream on discovery+ now.
Global Business Travel Group, Inc. (NYSE:GBTG  Get Free Report) saw a large growth in short interest in the month of June. As of June 30th, there was short interest totalling 1,500,000 shares, a growth of 123.8% from the June 15th total of 670,300 shares. Approximately 6.9% of the companys shares are short sold. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 177,000 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 8.5 days.

Global Business Travel Group Stock Up 1.3 %

GBTG stock traded up $0.09 during trading on Friday, reaching $7.14. The stock had a trading volume of 98,889 shares, compared to its average volume of 362,308. Global Business Travel Group has a 1-year low of $4.26 and a 1-year high of $8.40. The company has a current ratio of 1.64, a quick ratio of 1.64 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.00. The company has a market capitalization of $3.32 billion, a P/E ratio of -11.52 and a beta of 0.26. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $7.12 and a 200 day moving average price of $6.85.

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Global Business Travel Group (NYSE:GBTG  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, May 9th. The company reported ($0.06) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of ($0.03) by ($0.03). The company had revenue of $578.00 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $555.50 million. Global Business Travel Group had a negative net margin of 1.30% and a negative return on equity of 2.09%. On average, equities analysts anticipate that Global Business Travel Group will post -0.18 earnings per share for the current year.

Insider Activity

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Global Business Travel Group

In other Global Business Travel Group news, CEO Paul G. Abbott purchased 8,147 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, May 16th. The stock was purchased at an average cost of $6.25 per share, with a total value of $50,918.75. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 2,537,225 shares in the company, valued at $15,857,656.25. The acquisition was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink . Corporate insiders own 5.00% of the companys stock.

Institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. BlackRock Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Global Business Travel Group during the 3rd quarter valued at about $704,000. State Street Corp grew its position in Global Business Travel Group by 54.8% in the 1st quarter. State Street Corp now owns 67,319 shares of the companys stock worth $446,000 after purchasing an additional 23,819 shares during the last quarter. Prelude Capital Management LLC grew its position in Global Business Travel Group by 13.4% in the 3rd quarter. Prelude Capital Management LLC now owns 48,645 shares of the companys stock worth $275,000 after purchasing an additional 5,733 shares during the last quarter. Schonfeld Strategic Advisors LLC bought a new position in Global Business Travel Group in the 1st quarter worth about $217,000. Finally, Jane Street Group LLC grew its position in Global Business Travel Group by 90.5% in the 1st quarter. Jane Street Group LLC now owns 28,530 shares of the companys stock worth $189,000 after purchasing an additional 13,552 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 12.65% of the companys stock.

Global Business Travel Group Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Global Business Travel Group, Inc provides business-to-business (B2B) travel platform in the United States and internationally. The company's platform offers a suite of technology-enabled solutions to business travelers and clients; travel content suppliers including airlines, hotels, ground transportation, and aggregators; and third-party travel agencies.

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Incitec Pivot Limited (OTCMKTS:INCZY  Get Free Report) saw a large decrease in short interest during the month of June. As of June 30th, there was short interest totalling 100 shares, a decrease of 75.0% from the June 15th total of 400 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 1,700 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 0.1 days.

Incitec Pivot Stock Performance

OTCMKTS INCZY remained flat at $1.92 on Friday. 96 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 6,346. Incitec Pivot has a 52 week low of $1.75 and a 52 week high of $2.82. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $1.93 and a 200 day moving average price of $2.19.

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Incitec Pivot Cuts Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a dividend, which was paid on Friday, July 14th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, June 15th were paid a dividend of $0.0584 per share. This represents a yield of 8.26%. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, June 14th. Incitec Pivots dividend payout ratio is presently 50.34%.

About Incitec Pivot

Incitec Pivot Limited manufactures and distributes industrial explosives, industrial chemicals, and fertilizers in Australia, the United States, Canada, Turkey, France, and internationally. The company manufactures and distributes fertilizers, including di/mono-ammonium phosphate, ammonia, granulated ammonium sulphate, urea, and single super phosphate, as well as imports and sells fertilizers.

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Kaya (OTCMKTS:KAYS  Get Free Report) and Teva Pharmaceutical Industries (NYSE:TEVA  Get Free Report) are both consumer discretionary companies, but which is the better business? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their valuation, institutional ownership, risk, dividends, analyst recommendations, profitability and earnings.

Earnings and Valuation

This table compares Kaya and Teva Pharmaceutical Industries gross revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

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Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Kaya $690,000.00 1.17 -$3.58 million N/A N/A Teva Pharmaceutical Industries $14.93 billion 0.62 -$2.35 billion ($1.44) -5.70

Kaya has higher earnings, but lower revenue than Teva Pharmaceutical Industries.

Profitability

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Kaya -447.49% N/A -327.18% Teva Pharmaceutical Industries -10.73% 27.58% 5.69%

Insider & Institutional Ownership

This table compares Kaya and Teva Pharmaceutical Industries net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

49.7% of Teva Pharmaceutical Industries shares are held by institutional investors. 23.5% of Kaya shares are held by company insiders. Comparatively, 0.6% of Teva Pharmaceutical Industries shares are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, hedge funds and endowments believe a company will outperform the market over the long term.

Analyst Ratings

This is a summary of current recommendations for Kaya and Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, as provided by MarketBeat.com.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Kaya 0 0 0 0 N/A Teva Pharmaceutical Industries 2 5 3 0 2.10

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries has a consensus target price of $10.44, suggesting a potential upside of 27.22%. Given Teva Pharmaceutical Industries higher probable upside, analysts clearly believe Teva Pharmaceutical Industries is more favorable than Kaya.

Volatility & Risk

Kaya has a beta of 0.45, indicating that its share price is 55% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries has a beta of 1.18, indicating that its share price is 18% more volatile than the S&P 500.

Summary

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries beats Kaya on 8 of the 11 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Kaya

(Get Free Report)

Kaya Holdings, Inc., a vertically integrated legal cannabis enterprise, produces, distributes, and/or sells a range of cannabis products primarily in the United States. The company offers flower, oils, vape cartridges and cannabis infused confections, baked goods, and beverages. It also operates retail outlets under the Kaya Shack brand name, as well as offers strain specific cannabis cigarettes under the Kaya Buddies name, and strains of cannabis under the Kaya Farms name. In addition, the company provides standing display cases with cannabis intended glassware under the Really Happy Glass brand; and t-shirt designs under the Kaya Gear brand name. The company was formerly known as Alternative Fuels America, Inc. and changed its name to Kaya Holdings, Inc. in April 2015. Kaya Holdings, Inc. was incorporated in 1993 and is headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

About Teva Pharmaceutical Industries

(Get Free Report)

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Limited, a pharmaceutical company, develops, manufactures, markets, and distributes generic medicines, specialty medicines, and biopharmaceutical products in North America, Europe, Israel, and internationally. The company offers sterile products, hormones, high-potency drugs, and cytotoxic substances in various dosage forms, including tablets, capsules, injectables, inhalants, liquids, transdermal patches, ointments, and creams. It also manufactures and sells active pharmaceutical ingredients, as well as provides contract manufacturing services; and operates an out-licensing platform that offers a portfolio of products to other pharmaceutical companies. In addition, it focuses on the central nervous system (CNS), pain, respiratory, and oncology areas. The company's products portfolio in the CNS field comprises Copaxone for the treatment of relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis; AJOVY for the preventive treatment of migraine in adults; and AUSTEDO for the treatment of neurodegenerative and movement disorders associated with Huntington's disease and tardive dyskinesia; respiratory therapeutic area includes ProAir RespiClick, QVAR, ProAir Digihaler, AirDuo Digihaler, ArmonAir Digihaler, BRALTUS, CINQAIR/CINQAERO, DuoResp Spiromax, and AirDuo RespiClick/ArmonAir RespiClick for the treatment of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; and oncology therapeutic field consists of Bendeka, Treanda, Granix, Trisenox, Lonquex, and Tevagrastim/Ratiograstim. Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Limited has a collaboration MedinCell for the development and commercialization of multiple long-acting injectable products, a risperidone suspension for the treatment of patients with schizophrenia. The company was founded in 1901 and is headquartered in Tel Aviv, Israel.

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Liberty All-Star Equity Fund (NYSE:USA  Get Free Report) was the target of a significant growth in short interest in the month of June. As of June 30th, there was short interest totalling 581,400 shares, a growth of 102.4% from the June 15th total of 287,300 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 593,100 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 1.0 days.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Liberty All-Star Equity Fund

Several large investors have recently bought and sold shares of USA. Raymond James & Associates increased its holdings in Liberty All-Star Equity Fund by 7.2% in the first quarter. Raymond James & Associates now owns 454,492 shares of the closed-end funds stock valued at $3,672,000 after buying an additional 30,533 shares during the last quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Liberty All-Star Equity Fund in the first quarter valued at $119,000. Cetera Investment Advisers increased its holdings in Liberty All-Star Equity Fund by 18.7% in the first quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 36,862 shares of the closed-end funds stock valued at $298,000 after buying an additional 5,820 shares during the last quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC increased its holdings in Liberty All-Star Equity Fund by 29.3% in the first quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 113,480 shares of the closed-end funds stock valued at $917,000 after buying an additional 25,691 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Nelson Van Denburg & Campbell Wealth Management Group LLC increased its holdings in Liberty All-Star Equity Fund by 87.4% in the first quarter. Nelson Van Denburg & Campbell Wealth Management Group LLC now owns 4,310 shares of the closed-end funds stock valued at $34,000 after buying an additional 2,010 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 9.50% of the companys stock.

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Liberty All-Star Equity Fund Stock Down 0.3 %

Shares of Liberty All-Star Equity Fund stock traded down $0.02 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $6.63. 460,217 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 506,854. Liberty All-Star Equity Fund has a 1 year low of $5.41 and a 1 year high of $7.03. The stocks fifty day moving average is $6.20 and its 200 day moving average is $6.14.

Liberty All-Star Equity Fund Increases Dividend

Liberty All-Star Equity Fund Company Profile

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 5th. Stockholders of record on Friday, July 21st will be given a dividend of $0.16 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, July 20th. This represents a $0.64 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 9.65%. This is a positive change from Liberty All-Star Equity Funds previous quarterly dividend of $0.15.

(Get Free Report)

Liberty All Star Equity Fund is a closed-ended equity mutual fund launched and managed by ALPS Advisers, Inc The fund is co-managed by Aristotle Capital Management, LLC, Pzena Investment Management, LLC, Delaware Investments Fund Advisers, Sustainable Growth Advisers, LP, and TCW Investment Management Company.

Further Reading

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Maanshan Iron & Steel Company Limited (OTCMKTS:MAANF  Get Free Report) saw a significant decline in short interest during the month of June. As of June 30th, there was short interest totalling 512,000 shares, a decline of 59.9% from the June 15th total of 1,278,200 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 0 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently  days.

Maanshan Iron & Steel Price Performance

Shares of OTCMKTS MAANF remained flat at $0.17 during trading on Friday. Maanshan Iron & Steel has a 52-week low of $0.17 and a 52-week high of $0.26. The business has a fifty day moving average of $0.19 and a 200 day moving average of $0.21.

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Maanshan Iron & Steel Company Profile

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Maanshan Iron & Steel Company Limited, together with its subsidiaries, manufactures and sells iron and steel products, and related by-products in Mainland China, Hong Kong, and internationally. The company offers steel plates, including hot and cold-rolled thin plates, galvanized plates, coil-coating plates, and medium plates; section steel products, such as H-shaped steel and medium-shaped steel; high-speed wire rod and hot-rolled reinforcing steel products; and train wheels and wheel rims.

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MGT Capital Investments, Inc. (OTCMKTS:MGTI  Get Free Report) was the target of a significant drop in short interest in the month of June. As of June 30th, there was short interest totalling 100 shares, a drop of 99.9% from the June 15th total of 72,800 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 1,421,900 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 0.0 days.

MGT Capital Investments Price Performance

OTCMKTS:MGTI remained flat at $0.01 during mid-day trading on Friday. 4,067,286 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,548,646. MGT Capital Investments has a 52-week low of $0.00 and a 52-week high of $0.02. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $0.01 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $0.01.

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MGT Capital Investments Company Profile

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Further Reading

MGT Capital Investments, Inc engages in cryptocurrency mining business in the United States. It also leases space to other bitcoin miners; and provides hosting services for owners of mining equipment. The company was incorporated in 1977 and is headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina.

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Mitsubishi Estate Co., Ltd. (OTCMKTS:MITEY  Get Free Report) was the target of a large growth in short interest in June. As of June 30th, there was short interest totalling 115,900 shares, a growth of 192.7% from the June 15th total of 39,600 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 255,900 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 0.5 days.

Mitsubishi Estate Price Performance

Shares of MITEY traded down $0.14 on Friday, hitting $12.13. The companys stock had a trading volume of 49,692 shares, compared to its average volume of 112,188. The company has a market capitalization of $16.06 billion, a PE ratio of 12.90 and a beta of 0.44. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.21, a current ratio of 1.89 and a quick ratio of 1.31. Mitsubishi Estate has a fifty-two week low of $11.20 and a fifty-two week high of $15.40. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $12.01 and a 200 day moving average price of $12.19.

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Mitsubishi Estate (OTCMKTS:MITEY  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, May 11th. The company reported $0.38 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. Mitsubishi Estate had a return on equity of 7.89% and a net margin of 12.15%. The firm had revenue of $3.57 billion for the quarter. On average, research analysts anticipate that Mitsubishi Estate will post 0.98 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Mitsubishi Estate Company Profile

Mitsubishi Estate Co, Ltd. engages in the real estate activities in Japan and internationally. The company is involved in the development, leasing, property management, and sale of office buildings; planning, development, and tenant leasing of retail facilities; investment, development, operational management, and asset management of logistics facilities; operation of 18 hotels under the Royal Park Hotels brand in Japan and the Marunouchi Hotel in the Marunouchi area; and operation of Takamatsu Airport, Miyako Shimojishima Airport Terminal, Mt.

Further Reading

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Speedy Hire Plc (LON:SDY  Get Free Report) insider David J. B. Shearer bought 53,047 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, July 12th. The stock was bought at an average cost of GBX 37 ($0.48) per share, for a total transaction of 19,627.39 ($25,250.73).

Speedy Hire Stock Up 0.3 %

Shares of LON:SDY opened at GBX 36.90 ($0.47) on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of 170.42 million, a PE ratio of 902.50, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.21 and a beta of 1.28. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 97.29, a quick ratio of 0.90 and a current ratio of 1.04. Speedy Hire Plc has a 52-week low of GBX 29.75 ($0.38) and a 52-week high of GBX 48.60 ($0.63). The firm has a fifty day moving average of GBX 33.61 and a 200 day moving average of GBX 35.42.

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Speedy Hire Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a dividend, which will be paid on Friday, September 22nd. Investors of record on Thursday, August 10th will be issued a dividend of GBX 1.80 ($0.02) per share. This represents a dividend yield of 5.91%. This is a boost from Speedy Hires previous dividend of $0.80. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, August 10th.

About Speedy Hire

Speedy Hire Plc, together with its subsidiaries, provides tools, equipment, and plant hire services to the construction, infrastructure, and industrial markets in the United Kingdom and Ireland. The company hires a range of tools and accessories, including access, lighting, lifting, rail, survey and safety, ATEX, plant, communications, and pipework and engineering equipment; compressors, generators, and pumps; and heating, ventilation, and cooling equipment.

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SilverCrest Metals (CVE:SIL  Free Report) had its price objective upped by Stifel Nicolaus from C$12.75 to C$13.00 in a research note issued to investors on Thursday, BayStreet.CA reports.

Separately, Raymond James lifted their target price on SilverCrest Metals from C$11.25 to C$11.75 in a research report on Friday, June 2nd.

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SilverCrest Metals Trading Down 0.5 %

CVE SIL opened at C$8.52 on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.74, a current ratio of 5.50 and a quick ratio of 5.43. SilverCrest Metals has a one year low of C$2.85 and a one year high of C$8.70. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of C$8.52 and a 200 day simple moving average of C$8.52. The stock has a market capitalization of C$1.25 billion and a P/E ratio of -83.53.

About SilverCrest Metals

SilverCrest Metals Inc acquires, explores for, and develops precious metal properties in Mexico. It primarily explores for silver and gold properties. The company's principal property is the Las Chispas project that consists of 28 concessions totaling approximately 1,401 hectares located in Sonora, Mexico.

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StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of Holly Energy Partners (NYSE:HEP  Free Report) in a report issued on Wednesday. The firm issued a buy rating on the pipeline companys stock.

Holly Energy Partners Stock Down 1.0 %

Shares of NYSE:HEP opened at $18.87 on Wednesday. Holly Energy Partners has a one year low of $15.51 and a one year high of $19.85. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.70, a current ratio of 1.38 and a quick ratio of 1.38. The company has a market cap of $2.39 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.66 and a beta of 0.91. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $17.81 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $17.94.

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Holly Energy Partners (NYSE:HEP  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, May 4th. The pipeline company reported $0.45 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.42 by $0.03. Holly Energy Partners had a return on equity of 24.44% and a net margin of 39.39%. The company had revenue of $143.30 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $124.62 million. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $0.45 EPS. Holly Energy Partnerss revenue was up 19.2% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts anticipate that Holly Energy Partners will post 2.06 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Holly Energy Partners Announces Dividend

Institutional Trading of Holly Energy Partners

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, May 11th. Investors of record on Monday, May 1st were given a dividend of $0.35 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, April 28th. This represents a $1.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 7.42%. Holly Energy Partnerss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 79.10%.

Several hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of HEP. CFM Wealth Partners LLC bought a new position in shares of Holly Energy Partners in the 2nd quarter valued at about $657,000. Maryland State Retirement & Pension System grew its position in Holly Energy Partners by 3.1% in the 2nd quarter. Maryland State Retirement & Pension System now owns 48,076 shares of the pipeline companys stock valued at $889,000 after acquiring an additional 1,449 shares during the last quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted its position in shares of Holly Energy Partners by 18.0% during the first quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 833,860 shares of the pipeline companys stock worth $14,484,000 after purchasing an additional 127,176 shares during the last quarter. Apollon Wealth Management LLC increased its stake in Holly Energy Partners by 5.6% in the 1st quarter. Apollon Wealth Management LLC now owns 13,578 shares of the pipeline companys stock worth $236,000 after buying an additional 725 shares during the period. Finally, Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC boosted its position in Holly Energy Partners by 4.1% in the 1st quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 33,377 shares of the pipeline companys stock valued at $580,000 after buying an additional 1,310 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 25.30% of the companys stock.

Holly Energy Partners Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Holly Energy Partners, L.P. provides petroleum product and crude oil transportation, terminalling, storage, and throughput services to the petroleum industry in the United States. It operates through two segments, Pipelines and Terminals; and Refinery Processing Unit. The company operates refined product pipelines that transport conventional gasolines, reformulated gasolines, and low-octane gasolines for oxygenate blending, as well as sulfur diesel and jet fuels, and liquefied petroleum gases; intermediate product pipelines that transport intermediate feedstocks and crude oils; and oil trunk, gathering, and connection pipelines that delivers crude oil.

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CarMax, Inc. (NYSE:KMX  Free Report)  Stock analysts at Zacks Research lifted their FY2025 earnings estimates for CarMax in a note issued to investors on Thursday, July 13th. Zacks Research analyst L. Shahu now expects that the company will post earnings of $3.36 per share for the year, up from their prior forecast of $3.35. The consensus estimate for CarMaxs current full-year earnings is $3.03 per share.

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Several other equities research analysts also recently commented on KMX. Morgan Stanley upped their price objective on shares of CarMax from $75.00 to $80.00 in a report on Wednesday, June 28th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price objective on shares of CarMax from $55.00 to $60.00 in a report on Monday, June 26th. Robert W. Baird boosted their target price on shares of CarMax from $65.00 to $80.00 in a report on Wednesday, April 12th. Stephens cut their price target on CarMax from $53.00 to $51.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a report on Friday, March 31st. Finally, Truist Financial boosted their price objective on CarMax from $64.00 to $82.00 in a research note on Monday, June 26th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have given a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $76.00.

CarMax Stock Down 0.0 %

Shares of NYSE KMX opened at $83.40 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.12, a current ratio of 2.54 and a quick ratio of 0.61. The stock has a market capitalization of $13.19 billion, a PE ratio of 28.66, a P/E/G ratio of 1.50 and a beta of 1.44. CarMax has a one year low of $52.10 and a one year high of $106.24. The businesss fifty day moving average price is $77.58 and its 200-day moving average price is $70.72.

CarMax (NYSE:KMX  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Friday, June 23rd. The company reported $1.44 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.79 by $0.65. CarMax had a return on equity of 7.46% and a net margin of 1.64%. The business had revenue of $7.69 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $7.49 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $1.56 earnings per share. CarMaxs revenue for the quarter was down 17.4% on a year-over-year basis.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Fairfield Bush & CO. purchased a new stake in CarMax during the 1st quarter valued at about $106,000. American Century Companies Inc. boosted its stake in shares of CarMax by 11.8% during the first quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 23,475 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,264,000 after purchasing an additional 2,483 shares during the period. Panagora Asset Management Inc. grew its holdings in shares of CarMax by 80.1% in the first quarter. Panagora Asset Management Inc. now owns 16,980 shares of the companys stock worth $1,638,000 after purchasing an additional 7,550 shares during the last quarter. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS increased its stake in shares of CarMax by 6.3% in the first quarter. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS now owns 21,633 shares of the companys stock worth $2,087,000 after buying an additional 1,285 shares during the period. Finally, Yousif Capital Management LLC increased its stake in shares of CarMax by 1.2% in the first quarter. Yousif Capital Management LLC now owns 26,032 shares of the companys stock worth $2,512,000 after buying an additional 299 shares during the period.

Insider Buying and Selling at CarMax

In other CarMax news, CEO William D. Nash sold 170,646 shares of CarMax stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, July 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $82.57, for a total transaction of $14,090,240.22. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 177,180 shares in the company, valued at $14,629,752.60. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. In other news, EVP Diane L. Cafritz sold 1,706 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, June 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $83.85, for a total transaction of $143,048.10. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 5,073 shares in the company, valued at approximately $425,371.05. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, CEO William D. Nash sold 170,646 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, July 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $82.57, for a total value of $14,090,240.22. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 177,180 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $14,629,752.60. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 297,210 shares of company stock valued at $24,711,927 in the last 90 days. Corporate insiders own 1.66% of the companys stock.

CarMax Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

CarMax, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a retailer of used vehicles in the United States. It operates in two segments, CarMax Sales Operations and CarMax Auto Finance. The company offers customers a range of makes and models of used vehicles, including domestic, imported, and luxury vehicles, as well as hybrid and electric vehicles; and extended protection plans to customers at the time of sale, as well as sells vehicles that are approximately 10 years old and has more than 100,000 miles through wholesale auctions.

Further Reading

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StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Ashford (NYSEAMERICAN:AINC  Free Report) in a report published on Thursday. The brokerage issued a buy rating on the financial services providers stock.

Separately, B. Riley reduced their price target on shares of Ashford from $15.00 to $10.00 in a report on Monday, May 22nd.

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Ashford Trading Up 1.8 %

AINC stock opened at $9.67 on Thursday. Ashford has a 12 month low of $9.20 and a 12 month high of $19.70. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $10.04 and a 200 day moving average price of $11.92. The stock has a market cap of $30.12 million, a PE ratio of -1.02 and a beta of 2.00.

Institutional Trading of Ashford

Ashford ( NYSEAMERICAN:AINC Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, May 2nd. The financial services provider reported $1.54 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.24 by $0.30. Ashford had a net margin of 1.60% and a negative return on equity of 21.27%. The business had revenue of $185.12 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $179.40 million. Sell-side analysts forecast that Ashford will post 5.75 EPS for the current year.

An institutional investor recently raised its position in Ashford stock. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its holdings in Ashford Inc. (NYSEAMERICAN:AINC  Free Report) by 5.6% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 81,717 shares of the financial services providers stock after acquiring an additional 4,314 shares during the period. Vanguard Group Inc. owned about 2.71% of Ashford worth $1,400,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 14.24% of the companys stock.

Ashford Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Ashford, Inc is an asset management firm. The firm provides investment management and related services to the real estate and hospitality sectors. Ashford, Inc was formed on April 2, 2014 and is based in Dallas, Texas. Ashford Inc(NYSEAM:AINC) operates independently of Ashford Hospitality Trust, Inc as of November 5, 2019.

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Sidoti downgraded shares of Beazer Homes USA (NYSE:BZH  Free Report) from a buy rating to a neutral rating in a research report report published on Wednesday morning, Marketbeat Ratings reports. They currently have $31.00 price target on the construction companys stock, up from their previous price target of $23.00.

BZH has been the topic of a number of other reports. Wedbush raised shares of Beazer Homes USA from a neutral rating to an outperform rating and set a $31.00 price objective on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, June 28th. StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of Beazer Homes USA in a report on Thursday, May 18th. They set a hold rating on the stock. Finally, B. Riley increased their price target on shares of Beazer Homes USA from $22.00 to $28.00 in a research report on Monday, June 26th.

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Beazer Homes USA Trading Down 0.3 %

Beazer Homes USA stock opened at $28.94 on Wednesday. The company has a quick ratio of 2.46, a current ratio of 16.37 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.99. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $23.43 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $18.21. The firm has a market capitalization of $907.27 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 4.45 and a beta of 2.25. Beazer Homes USA has a 52-week low of $9.47 and a 52-week high of $29.37.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Beazer Homes USA

Beazer Homes USA ( NYSE:BZH Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, April 27th. The construction company reported $1.13 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.84 by $0.29. Beazer Homes USA had a net margin of 8.54% and a return on equity of 21.32%. The company had revenue of $543.91 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $519.91 million. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $1.45 EPS. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 7.0% compared to the same quarter last year. Sell-side analysts expect that Beazer Homes USA will post 3.95 earnings per share for the current year.

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. BlackRock Inc. lifted its position in Beazer Homes USA by 0.3% during the first quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 2,659,506 shares of the construction companys stock worth $42,233,000 after purchasing an additional 9,216 shares during the period. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its stake in Beazer Homes USA by 6.6% during the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 1,759,636 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $26,782,000 after acquiring an additional 108,173 shares in the last quarter. Apollo Management Holdings L.P. bought a new stake in shares of Beazer Homes USA during the 1st quarter worth $21,323,000. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP increased its holdings in Beazer Homes USA by 15.1% in the 1st quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 1,081,091 shares of the construction companys stock worth $17,166,000 after acquiring an additional 141,924 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Acadian Asset Management LLC increased its holdings in Beazer Homes USA by 4.6% in the 1st quarter. Acadian Asset Management LLC now owns 1,012,418 shares of the construction companys stock worth $16,070,000 after acquiring an additional 44,397 shares during the last quarter. 77.62% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Beazer Homes USA Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Beazer Homes USA, Inc operates as a homebuilder in the United States. It designs, constructs, and sells single-family and multi-family homes under the Beazer Homes, Gatherings, and Choice Plans names. The company sells its homes through commissioned new home sales counselors and independent brokers in Arizona, California, Nevada, Texas, Indiana, Delaware, Maryland, Tennessee, Virginia, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina.

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XPO (NYSE:XPO  Free Report) had its price target upped by BMO Capital Markets from $60.00 to $67.00 in a research report report published on Thursday, FlyOnTheWall reports.

Several other research firms have also issued reports on XPO. 58.com reiterated an upgrade rating on shares of XPO in a report on Monday, May 8th. StockNews.com began coverage on shares of XPO in a report on Thursday, May 18th. They set a sell rating for the company. Vertical Research lowered shares of XPO from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Tuesday, July 11th. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price objective on shares of XPO from $46.00 to $58.00 in a report on Thursday. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. upgraded shares of XPO from a neutral rating to an overweight rating and boosted their price objective for the stock from $35.00 to $52.00 in a report on Friday, April 21st. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating and fourteen have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, XPO currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $52.76.

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XPO Stock Performance

Shares of XPO opened at $60.72 on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.35, a current ratio of 1.01 and a quick ratio of 1.01. XPO has a one year low of $24.51 and a one year high of $61.74. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $51.80 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $41.78. The firm has a market capitalization of $7.04 billion, a PE ratio of 36.36, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.76 and a beta of 2.19.

Insiders Place Their Bets

XPO ( NYSE:XPO Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, May 4th. The transportation company reported $0.56 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.45 by $0.11. XPO had a net margin of 1.92% and a return on equity of 39.93%. The business had revenue of $1.91 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.87 billion. During the same period last year, the business posted $1.25 earnings per share. XPOs quarterly revenue was down 45.1% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, analysts anticipate that XPO will post 2.3 EPS for the current fiscal year.

In other XPO news, Director Allison Landry sold 1,600 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Friday, June 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $53.20, for a total value of $85,120.00. Following the sale, the director now owns 3,360 shares in the company, valued at approximately $178,752. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 1.80% of the companys stock.

Institutional Trading of XPO

Hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Principal Financial Group Inc. raised its position in shares of XPO by 0.8% during the 4th quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 451,481 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $15,030,000 after buying an additional 3,567 shares in the last quarter. First Trust Advisors LP grew its holdings in XPO by 49.4% during the 4th quarter. First Trust Advisors LP now owns 674,635 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $22,458,000 after purchasing an additional 223,013 shares during the last quarter. Handelsbanken Fonder AB bought a new position in XPO during the 4th quarter valued at about $316,000. Boston Partners grew its holdings in XPO by 184.8% during the 4th quarter. Boston Partners now owns 14,893 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $496,000 after purchasing an additional 9,664 shares during the last quarter. Finally, National Bank of Canada FI grew its holdings in XPO by 0.7% during the 4th quarter. National Bank of Canada FI now owns 176,641 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $5,877,000 after purchasing an additional 1,203 shares during the last quarter. 89.61% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

XPO Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

XPO, Inc provides freight transportation services in the United States, rest of North America, France, the United Kingdom, rest of Europe, and internationally. The company operates in two segments, North American LTL and European Transportation. The North American LTL segment provides customers with less-than-truckload (LTL) services, such as geographic density and day-definite domestic services.

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Shares of Boliden AB (publ) (OTCMKTS:BDNNY  Get Free Report) have been assigned a consensus recommendation of Hold from the thirteen brokerages that are presently covering the stock, MarketBeat Ratings reports. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell recommendation, eight have assigned a hold recommendation and three have given a buy recommendation to the company. The average twelve-month target price among brokerages that have covered the stock in the last year is $364.00.

A number of brokerages have weighed in on BDNNY. Barclays upgraded shares of Boliden AB (publ) from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating in a research report on Monday, July 10th. DNB Markets downgraded shares of Boliden AB (publ) from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Wednesday, June 14th. Sanford C. Bernstein upgraded shares of Boliden AB (publ) from a market perform rating to an outperform rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 4th. Morgan Stanley upgraded shares of Boliden AB (publ) from an underweight rating to an equal weight rating in a research report on Wednesday, June 21st. Finally, Berenberg Bank downgraded shares of Boliden AB (publ) from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Friday, May 19th.

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Boliden AB (publ) Price Performance

Shares of BDNNY opened at $65.27 on Tuesday. Boliden AB has a 1-year low of $55.70 and a 1-year high of $92.60. The companys fifty day moving average price is $63.03 and its 200-day moving average price is $74.22.

Boliden AB (publ) Cuts Dividend

Boliden AB (publ) ( OTCMKTS:BDNNY Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, April 25th. The company reported $1.78 earnings per share for the quarter. The company had revenue of $1.91 billion for the quarter.

The business also recently disclosed a dividend, which was paid on Monday, June 26th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, May 10th were issued a $1.8424 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, May 9th. This represents a dividend yield of 9.63%. Boliden AB (publ)s dividend payout ratio is currently 16.50%.

About Boliden AB (publ)

(Get Free Report

Boliden AB (publ) engages in the exploring, extracting, and processing of base metals and precious metals in Sweden, other Nordic region, Germany, the United Kingdom, the rest of Europe, North America, and internationally. The company operates through two segments, Business Area Mines and Business Area Smelters.

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Bank of Queensland (OTCMKTS:BKQNY  Get Free Report) is one of 278 public companies in the BanksRegional industry, but how does it weigh in compared to its competitors? We will compare Bank of Queensland to related businesses based on the strength of its earnings, profitability, risk, valuation, institutional ownership, dividends and analyst recommendations.

Dividends

Bank of Queensland pays an annual dividend of $1.14 per share and has a dividend yield of 15.1%. Bank of Queensland pays out 75.2% of its earnings in the form of a dividend, suggesting it may not have sufficient earnings to cover its dividend payment in the future. As a group, BanksRegional companies pay a dividend yield of 13.1% and pay out 18.7% of their earnings in the form of a dividend.

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Valuation & Earnings

This table compares Bank of Queensland and its competitors gross revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio Bank of Queensland N/A N/A 4.99 Bank of Queensland Competitors $2.87 billion $720.14 million 267.70

Profitability

Bank of Queenslands competitors have higher revenue and earnings than Bank of Queensland. Bank of Queensland 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.

This table compares Bank of Queensland and its competitors net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Bank of Queensland N/A N/A N/A Bank of Queensland Competitors 34.16% 10.58% 0.93%

Analyst Recommendations

This is a summary of current ratings and price targets for Bank of Queensland and its competitors, as provided by MarketBeat.com.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Bank of Queensland 0 4 0 0 2.00 Bank of Queensland Competitors 1146 3209 3046 13 2.26

As a group, BanksRegional companies have a potential upside of 315.61%. Given Bank of Queenslands competitors stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, analysts clearly believe Bank of Queensland has less favorable growth aspects than its competitors.

Insider & Institutional Ownership

32.0% of shares of all BanksRegional companies are owned by institutional investors. 15.3% 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 stock will outperform the market over the long term.

Summary

Bank of Queensland competitors beat Bank of Queensland on 12 of the 13 factors compared.

Bank of Queensland Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

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. The company's business banking services include transaction accounts, and savings and investment accounts; loans and finance products, such as business loans, equipment and vehicle finance, and dealer finance; merchant and payment products; and financial market and international services. It also offers Internet and mobile banking services. It operates corporate branches, owner managed branches, and transaction centers. Bank of Queensland Limited was founded in 1874 and is based in Newstead, Australia.

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Elmwood Wealth Management Inc. grew its stake in shares of Dominion Energy, Inc. (NYSE:D  Free Report) by 14.5% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 10,119 shares of the utilities providers stock after acquiring an additional 1,285 shares during the quarter. Elmwood Wealth Management Inc.s holdings in Dominion Energy were worth $566,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of D. AIA Group Ltd grew its holdings in shares of Dominion Energy by 159.2% during the 4th quarter. AIA Group Ltd now owns 6,916 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $424,000 after purchasing an additional 4,248 shares during the period. Two Sigma Investments LP purchased a new stake in shares of Dominion Energy during the 4th quarter worth about $39,943,000. Resources Investment Advisors LLC. boosted its holdings in Dominion Energy by 10.2% in the 4th quarter. Resources Investment Advisors LLC. now owns 5,563 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $341,000 after acquiring an additional 515 shares during the period. Investment Management of Virginia LLC boosted its holdings in Dominion Energy by 18.9% in the 1st quarter. Investment Management of Virginia LLC now owns 9,882 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $553,000 after acquiring an additional 1,573 shares during the period. Finally, Mutual Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in Dominion Energy by 182.0% in the 4th quarter. Mutual Advisors LLC now owns 25,324 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $1,553,000 after acquiring an additional 16,343 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 69.58% of the companys stock.

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Dominion Energy Price Performance

D stock traded down $0.40 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $52.64. 3,443,216 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 3,699,097. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $52.51 and a 200 day simple moving average of $56.31. Dominion Energy, Inc. has a one year low of $48.47 and a one year high of $86.28. The company has a market cap of $44.00 billion, a P/E ratio of 36.81, a P/E/G ratio of 0.72 and a beta of 0.45. The company has a current ratio of 0.75, a quick ratio of 0.62 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.50.

Dominion Energy Announces Dividend

Dominion Energy ( NYSE:D Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Friday, May 5th. The utilities provider reported $0.99 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.98 by $0.01. Dominion Energy had a return on equity of 12.67% and a net margin of 7.05%. The business had revenue of $5.25 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.46 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $1.18 EPS. Dominion Energys revenue for the quarter was up 22.7% on a year-over-year basis. Equities analysts forecast that Dominion Energy, Inc. will post 3.68 earnings per share for the current year.

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, June 20th. Investors of record on Friday, June 2nd were paid a $0.6675 dividend. This represents a $2.67 annualized dividend and a yield of 5.07%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, June 1st. Dominion Energys dividend payout ratio is currently 186.71%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities analysts have weighed in on D shares. StockNews.com upgraded Dominion Energy from a sell rating to a hold rating in a report on Saturday, May 20th. Bank of America cut their target price on Dominion Energy from $54.00 to $52.00 in a research report on Tuesday, May 16th. 51job reaffirmed a maintains rating on shares of Dominion Energy in a research report on Friday, June 9th. The Goldman Sachs Group started coverage on Dominion Energy in a research report on Wednesday, June 7th. They issued a neutral rating on the stock. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their target price on Dominion Energy from $63.00 to $55.00 in a research report on Friday, June 9th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, twelve have assigned a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $61.00.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, COO Diane Leopold sold 6,250 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, June 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $49.16, for a total value of $307,250.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief operating officer now directly owns 100,115 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $4,921,653.40. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Company insiders own 0.14% of the companys stock.

About Dominion Energy

(Free Report)

Dominion Energy, Inc produces and distributes energy in the United States. It operates through four segments: Dominion Energy Virginia, Gas Distribution, Dominion Energy South Carolina, and Contracted Assets. The Dominion Energy Virginia segment generates, transmits, and distributes regulated electricity to approximately 2.7 million residential, commercial, industrial, and governmental customers in Virginia and North Carolina.

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StockNews.com upgraded shares of Grupo Supervielle (NYSE:SUPV  Free Report) from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note released on Thursday.

Grupo Supervielle Trading Down 6.0 %

NYSE SUPV opened at $2.98 on Thursday. The firm has a market capitalization of $272.19 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -11.46 and a beta of 1.39. The firms 50 day simple moving average is $2.64 and its 200 day simple moving average is $2.55. Grupo Supervielle has a 1 year low of $1.20 and a 1 year high of $3.23.

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Grupo Supervielle (NYSE:SUPV  Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Monday, May 22nd. The company reported $0.03 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.04 by ($0.01). The company had revenue of $210.56 million for the quarter. Grupo Supervielle had a negative return on equity of 3.71% and a negative net margin of 1.15%. On average, equities research analysts forecast that Grupo Supervielle will post 0.13 earnings per share for the current year.

Institutional Trading of Grupo Supervielle

Grupo Supervielle Company Profile

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership bought a new stake in shares of Grupo Supervielle during the first quarter worth $489,000. Two Sigma Investments LP grew its stake in shares of Grupo Supervielle by 365.8% in the first quarter. Two Sigma Investments LP now owns 73,762 shares of the companys stock worth $166,000 after purchasing an additional 57,926 shares during the last quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC grew its stake in shares of Grupo Supervielle by 838.6% in the first quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 383,880 shares of the companys stock worth $864,000 after purchasing an additional 342,980 shares during the last quarter. Insigneo Advisory Services LLC bought a new stake in shares of Grupo Supervielle in the first quarter worth $82,000. Finally, Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. grew its stake in shares of Grupo Supervielle by 51.0% in the first quarter. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. now owns 183,063 shares of the companys stock worth $412,000 after purchasing an additional 61,844 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 3.39% of the companys stock.

(Get Free Report)

Grupo Supervielle SA, a financial services holding company, provides various banking products and services in Argentina. The company operates through Personal & Business Banking, Corporate Banking, Bank Treasury, Consumer Finance, Insurance, and Asset Management and Other Services segments. It offers savings accounts, time and demand deposits, and checking accounts; various loan products, including personal, consumer, mortgage, unsecured, and car loans; overdrafts; loans with special facilities for project and working capital financing; and leasing, bank guarantees for tenants, salary advances, domestic and international factoring, international guarantees and letters of credit, payroll payment plans, credit and debit cards, and senior citizens benefit payment services, as well as financial services and investments, such as mutual funds and guarantees.

Further Reading

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Invst LLC boosted its holdings in iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF (BATS:USMV  Free Report) by 8.7% in the first quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 56,957 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 4,578 shares during the period. Invst LLCs holdings in iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF were worth $4,180,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in USMV. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in shares of iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF by 140,054.1% during the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 10,961,456 shares of the companys stock valued at $790,321,000 after purchasing an additional 10,953,635 shares during the last quarter. Allstate Investment Management Co. bought a new position in shares of iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF in the 4th quarter valued at about $308,588,000. Alaska Permanent Fund Corp bought a new position in shares of iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF in the 4th quarter valued at about $234,835,000. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted its holdings in shares of iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF by 483.2% in the 4th quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 1,685,247 shares of the companys stock valued at $121,507,000 after acquiring an additional 1,396,259 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Morgan Stanley lifted its holdings in shares of iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF by 7.6% in the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 15,673,112 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,130,031,000 after acquiring an additional 1,111,338 shares during the last quarter.

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iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF Trading Down 0.1 %

Shares of BATS:USMV opened at $74.33 on Friday. iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF has a 12 month low of $47.44 and a 12 month high of $55.45. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $73.06 and a 200 day moving average price of $72.60. The company has a market cap of $29.63 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.17 and a beta of 0.75.

iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF Company Profile

The iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF (USMV) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the MSCI USA Minimum Volatility (USD) index. The fund tracks an index of US-listed firms selected and weighted to create a low-volatility portfolio subject to various constraints. USMV was launched on Oct 18, 2011 and is managed by BlackRock.

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BT Group (OTCMKTS:BTGOF  Free Report) had its target price reduced by Morgan Stanley from GBX 260 ($3.34) to GBX 240 ($3.09) in a research note issued to investors on Wednesday morning, FlyOnTheWall reports.

Other research analysts have also issued reports about the stock. Barclays cut their target price on shares of BT Group from GBX 240 ($3.09) to GBX 225 ($2.89) in a report on Friday, May 19th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft decreased their target price on shares of BT Group from GBX 150 ($1.93) to GBX 145 ($1.87) in a research report on Tuesday, June 20th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price target on BT Group from GBX 275 ($3.54) to GBX 280 ($3.60) in a research report on Friday, April 14th. Berenberg Bank decreased their price objective on BT Group from GBX 160 ($2.06) to GBX 150 ($1.93) in a research report on Tuesday, May 23rd. Finally, UBS Group cut BT Group from a neutral rating to a sell rating in a report on Tuesday, June 27th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $183.33.

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BT Group Price Performance

Shares of BT Group stock opened at $1.70 on Wednesday. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $1.74 and a 200 day moving average of $1.72. BT Group has a 12 month low of $1.25 and a 12 month high of $2.20.

About BT Group

BT Group plc provides communications products and services in the United Kingdom, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Americas, and the Asia Pacific. It operates through Consumer, Enterprise, Global, and Openreach segments. The company builds, owns, and operates fixed and mobile networks; and designs, builds, markets, sells, and supports network access, connectivity, and related solutions.

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Salesforce (NYSE:CRM  Free Report) had its target price raised by Needham & Company LLC from $230.00 to $250.00 in a report published on Wednesday morning, FlyOnTheWall reports.

Several other equities analysts have also recently weighed in on the stock. Bank of America raised their price target on shares of Salesforce from $235.00 to $250.00 in a research report on Wednesday, May 17th. Stifel Nicolaus increased their price objective on shares of Salesforce from $240.00 to $250.00 in a research note on Thursday, June 1st. Royal Bank of Canada increased their price objective on shares of Salesforce from $225.00 to $240.00 in a research note on Thursday, June 1st. Northland Securities increased their price objective on shares of Salesforce from $181.00 to $210.00 in a research note on Thursday, June 1st. Finally, Sanford C. Bernstein increased their price objective on shares of Salesforce from $145.00 to $153.00 in a research note on Thursday, June 1st. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, thirteen have assigned a hold rating, twenty-four have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $223.22.

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Salesforce Stock Performance

Shares of Salesforce stock opened at $229.33 on Wednesday. The company has a current ratio of 1.02, a quick ratio of 1.02 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.16. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $211.69 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $187.19. Salesforce has a 1-year low of $126.34 and a 1-year high of $232.20. The company has a market cap of $223.37 billion, a P/E ratio of 603.52, a PEG ratio of 2.27 and a beta of 1.19.

Insider Transactions at Salesforce

Salesforce ( NYSE:CRM Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, May 31st. The CRM provider reported $1.69 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.61 by $0.08. The company had revenue of $8.25 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $8.17 billion. Salesforce had a net margin of 1.18% and a return on equity of 5.75%. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $0.41 EPS. As a group, analysts anticipate that Salesforce will post 5.26 EPS for the current year.

In related news, CEO Marc Benioff sold 15,000 shares of Salesforce stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, July 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $224.87, for a total transaction of $3,373,050.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 16,473,609 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,704,420,455.83. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. In related news, CEO Marc Benioff sold 15,000 shares of Salesforce stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, July 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $224.87, for a total transaction of $3,373,050.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 16,473,609 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,704,420,455.83. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, CFO Amy E. Weaver sold 510 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Monday, April 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $196.33, for a total transaction of $100,128.30. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 36,680 shares in the company, valued at approximately $7,201,384.40. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last quarter, insiders sold 910,723 shares of company stock worth $191,912,295. 3.70% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the company. Financial Management Professionals Inc. boosted its stake in Salesforce by 237.4% in the 1st quarter. Financial Management Professionals Inc. now owns 722 shares of the CRM providers stock worth $144,000 after purchasing an additional 508 shares in the last quarter. AE Wealth Management LLC boosted its stake in Salesforce by 2.9% in the 4th quarter. AE Wealth Management LLC now owns 89,767 shares of the CRM providers stock worth $11,902,000 after purchasing an additional 2,519 shares in the last quarter. Romano Brothers AND Company boosted its stake in Salesforce by 7.2% in the 4th quarter. Romano Brothers AND Company now owns 4,248 shares of the CRM providers stock worth $563,000 after purchasing an additional 287 shares in the last quarter. Edgestream Partners L.P. boosted its stake in Salesforce by 42.0% in the 4th quarter. Edgestream Partners L.P. now owns 35,375 shares of the CRM providers stock worth $4,690,000 after purchasing an additional 10,471 shares in the last quarter. Finally, LGT Group Foundation boosted its stake in Salesforce by 4.2% in the 1st quarter. LGT Group Foundation now owns 24,615 shares of the CRM providers stock worth $4,918,000 after purchasing an additional 984 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 81.13% of the companys stock.

About Salesforce

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Salesforce, Inc provides Customer Relationship Management (CRM) technology that brings companies and customers together worldwide. The company's service includes sales to store data, monitor leads and progress, forecast opportunities, gain insights through analytics and relationship intelligence, and deliver quotes, contracts, and invoices; and service that enables companies to deliver trusted and highly personalized customer service and support at scale.

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SpareBank 1 SR-Bank ASA (OTCMKTS:SBRKF  Get Free Report) was the recipient of a large increase in short interest in June. As of June 30th, there was short interest totalling 13,800 shares, an increase of 557.1% from the June 15th total of 2,100 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 0 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently  days.

SpareBank 1 SR-Bank ASA Price Performance

OTCMKTS SBRKF remained flat at $14.65 on Friday. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $14.65 and a 200-day moving average of $14.65. SpareBank 1 SR-Bank ASA has a 1-year low of $13.40 and a 1-year high of $15.35.

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About SpareBank 1 SR-Bank ASA

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SpareBank 1 SR-Bank ASA, together with its subsidiaries, provides various financial products and services for personal and corporate customers in Southern and Western Norway. The company operates through Retail customers, SME & Agriculture, and Large Corporates segments. It offers its products and services in the areas of savings, loans, insurance, and pensions.

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Bear Creek Mining (OTCMKTS:BCEKF  Free Report) had its price objective decreased by Stifel Nicolaus from C$2.70 to C$2.10 in a report published on Thursday morning, MarketBeat reports. Stifel Nicolaus currently has a buy rating on the stock.

Bear Creek Mining Price Performance

Shares of Bear Creek Mining stock opened at $0.44 on Thursday. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $0.41 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $0.50. Bear Creek Mining has a 1 year low of $0.27 and a 1 year high of $0.75.

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About Bear Creek Mining

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Further Reading

Bear Creek Mining Corporation engages in the acquisition, exploration, and development of precious and base metal properties in Peru. The company explores for silver, lead, zinc, and gold deposits. The company holds 100% interest in Corani property that consists of various mineral concessions covering an area of approximately 6,500 hectares located to the southeast of Cusco, Peru; and holds 100% interest in Mercedes Gold Mine project consists of various mineral concessions covering an area of approximately 69,284 hectares located in Sonora, Mexico.

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Zarina Hashmi

Google marked the birth anniversary of Zarina Hashmi with a doodle. The doodle is designed by Tara Anand, an illustrator from New York. Tara paid respect to the artist by incorporating Hashmis signature geometric, simple and minimalist abstract shapes.

Life and journey

Zarina Hussain was born in 1937 in Aligarh, India. Her childhood was peaceful and she lived with her four siblings. However, the tragic event of partition of India forced Zarina and several others to the newly established Pakistan.

In the year 1958, she was married to Saad, a smart, bright young man in Foreign Service at the age of 21. Saads nature of job took Zarina around the world.

Zarina held a degree in mathematics and after that she went on to study woodblock printing in Bangkok and Tokyo. She had a fascinating journey and lived all over the world as her husband was traveling for his job.

Work and interest

Zarina was profoundly interested in architecture and mathematics. It reflected in her use of geometry and her emphasis on structural purity. Her work inclines towards minimalism but its starkness is tempered by its texture and materiality. Her art features themes of home, displacement, borders, journey and memory. Her personal experiences and life play a massive role and define Zarinas art.

Notable exhibitions

Through the course of her career, Zarina exhibited at multiple international venues. She represented India at the 2011 Venice Biennale. Her retrospective exhibition in 2012, titled Zarina:Paper Like Skin was opened at the Hammer Museum in Los Angeles. It later traveled to the Guggenheim Museum in New York and the Art Institute of Chicago in 2013.

She died on 25 April, 2020, leaving behind a great legacy in the field of architecture and designs.

Picture couresy: Zarina Hashmis official website and Instagram
K. Venkateshwar Rao and K. Viplav Kumar, sons of Rajya Sabha member and senior BRS leader K. Keshava Rao, were booked for allegedly forging ownership documents of a land parcel owned by an NRI and selling it to another party. (Representational Image; DC)

Hyderabad: The Banjara Hills police on Sunday booked K. Venkateshwar Rao and K. Viplav Kumar, sons of Rajya Sabha member and senior BRS leader K. Keshava Rao, for allegedly forging ownership documents of a land parcel owned by an NRI and selling it to another party.

The NRI, identified as G. Jayamala, a 72-year-old woman holding USA citizenship, came to know of the land deal after receiving a show cause notice from the I-T Department over the land sale.

The case was registered under sections 417, 464, 465, 468, 470, 471 and 120(b) of the IPC and Section 156(3) of the CrPC on June 13, following court orders. However, the case was released in the public domain only on Sunday.

Despite a month elapsing since the case was registered, there was no development.

The suspects in the case are also brothers of GHMC Mayor Gadwal Vijayalakshmi.

G. Jayamala, who owns a plot measuring over 400 square yards on Road No. 12 of Banjara Hills, said she visited the site whenever she visited India. But in December 2022, she received a notice from the I-T, through mail, questioning why no penalty should be levied for the transaction amount of `1,40,41,300 in the 2014-15 assessment year.

I-T officials said that the notice was related to a sale deed executed for the land.

However, Jayamala contended she did not execute the sale and approached Truth Labs with all related documents, including the original and the allegedly forged sale deed, to verify the authenticity of the documents and her signature.

Truth Labs is an independent and full-fledged forensic service laboratory for the public.

Truth Labs, in its report, stated that the signatures in the forged sale deed did not match with her signatures, which itself indicates that her signatures were fabricated and the documents were also forged, to execute the land deal, Jayamala said in her complaint.

She lodged a complaint with the Banjara Hills police via registered post addressed to the station house officer in April 2023, but as there was no action, she complained to the Hyderabad police commissioner and the Banjara Hills ACP.

However, she said that as she did not get help from the police, she was forced to approach the court to get an FIR issued against the suspects.

S. Naveen Reddy, the investigation officer in the case, said that the case is under investigation and they are in the process of collecting evidence.

Political parties, meanwhile, were quick to jump on the incident.

Telangana state BJPs official spokesperson N.V. Subhash alleged that it was a blatant misuse of power by kin of top BRS leaders "who have indulged in land grab" in the city. "It was ironic to note that the latest incident of land grab by forging signatures of a land owner came to light only after a court directed police to lodge a complaint against sons of BRS secretary general and MP K. Keshav Rao," Subhash said.

He alleged that the police were also working under fear because when the landowner approached the police, they did not register a case. "Municipal minister K.T. Rama Rao owes a reply to the people about the misuse of power and police by the kin of BRS leaders," said Subhash.

S. Ram Mohan Reddy, spokesperson for the Congress, said: "This is one sample of corruption practised by BRS leaders which has come to light. They are into cheating, involved in sand mafia, land and mining mafia. These will be exposed once the Congress comes to power."

"We have seen farmers committing suicide, complaining about their high-handedness. The incident in Nerella village of Rajanna Sircilla district in 2017 had seen Dalits being tortured for questioning the sand mafia. In yet another incident, recently, kids from Nallabelli village of Warangal district were thrown out though they pleaded with a BRS leader to spare their land. These culprits should be brought to book," the Congress leader said.
Key arterial roads and nearby areas in the national capital remained affected on Sunday due to waterlogging from fresh showers (ANI)

New Delhi: Key arterial roads and nearby areas in the national capital remained affected on Sunday due to waterlogging from fresh showers while the Yamuna continued to be in spate.

The water level, which had breached the danger mark, flooding vast swathes of the national capital and resulting in a raging blame game between the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the BJP, was recorded at 206.02 metres at 8 am on Sunday.

Visuals showed ITO, Red Fort and the Ring Road areas showed persistent and heavy waterlogging even on Sunday.

Drone visuals also showed waters from the overflowing Yamuna sneaking into the iconic Red Fort wall, near the Ring Road.

#WATCH | Delhi: Yamuna continues to overflow though the water level of the river has started receding. At 9 am, water level of the river was recorded at 205.98 m



(Drone visuals from Kashmere Gate to Seelampur Yamuna Bridge) pic.twitter.com/zH6PWgDfIz  ANI (@ANI) July 16, 2023

Further, Delhi's Akshardham and the walled city area near Kashmere Gate continued to remain inundated with drone visuals showing the extent of flooding there.

However, the water level on the stretch of road from Majnu Ka Tila to Kashmere Gate has started to recede. The same comes as a huge respite for locals in the area, who had been literally marooned over the last few days due to excessive flooding on account of record rainfall and release of water into the Yamuna.

#WATCH | UP: As Yamuna continues to overflow in Delhi, parts of Gautam Buddh Nagar inundated



(Visuals from Noida Sector 135) pic.twitter.com/LMbW5A8jVg  ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) July 16, 2023

Meanwhile, teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) carried out rescue operations in the low-lying areas near Pragati Maidan on Saturday late night as the Yamuna continued to be in spate, officials said.

Hundreds of people, who were rescued from low-lying areas by the NDRF personnel, spent the night at a relief camp in Mayur Vihar.

Fresh showers lashed various parts of the national capital on Saturday, leading to extensive waterlogging at arterial stretches and bringing traffic to a crawl.
French President Emmanuel Macron clicks a selfie with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bollywood actor R. Madhavan at a function in Paris, France. (Image: PTI)

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday that the connection between India and France goes beyond the constraints of time, resonating through their shared values and igniting their collective dreams.

He responded to a tweet by French President Emmanuel Macron, who shared a brief video of Modi's visit to France, cherishing the trip. Macron's accompanying message read, "To the people of India, trust and friendship."

In response, Modi stated, "The bond between India and France transcends time, resonating in our shared values and fueling our collective dreams. I will always treasure my recent visit to France. Thank you, my friend, President @EmmanuelMacron."

Actor R. Madhavan, who attended the banquet dinner held by French President Emmanuel Macron for Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Louvre Museum, on Sunday said he was in awe of the two leaders who "passionately described their vision for the future of these two great friendly nations" at the event.

In an Instagram post, Madhavan expressed his gratitude to Macron and Modi for "the incredible lesson on grace and humility".

"The passion and dedication to do good for the Indo-French relationship, as well as for the people of both countries was palpable and intense during the Bastille day celebration in Paris on the 14th of July 2023. I was in complete awe at the dinner hosted by the President Emmanuel Macron in honor of our Honorable, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi at the Louvre, of both these world leaders, as they passionately described their vision for the future of these two great friendly nations. "The positivity and mutual respect in the air was like a loving embrace... May France and India forever prosper together," the actor-filmmaker wrote alongside a series of photographs from the banquet dinner.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi thanked his Bhutanese counterpart Lotay Tshering for his wishes on the launch of ISRO's ambitious third lunar mission. (File Image: PTI)

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi thanked his Bhutanese counterpart Lotay Tshering for his wishes on the successful launch of Isro's third lunar mission, Chandrayaan-3. Modi said that the triumph of Chandrayaan holds promising prospects for all of humanity.

In a tweet, Prime Minister Tshering congratulated Isro and Modi, acknowledging their visionary approach and commitment to expanding scientific knowledge beyond boundaries.

Tshering added, "May India and humanity reap immense benefits from this mission." Responding to the Bhutanese Prime Minister's tweet, Modi expressed his appreciation, stating, "Thank you, Excellency, for your kind words. Indeed, the success of Chandrayaan bodes well for the entire humanity."
Chugh said the method chosen by the KCR government to cheat the central government by siphoning off funds is shocking. (DC File Image)

Hyderabad: BJP national general secretary and state in-charge of Telangana Tarun Chugh said that it is known to all that the BRS government of Telangana state is the most corrupt government in the whole country. The method chosen by the KCR government to cheat the central government by siphoning off funds is shocking as to how the government is showing an executed work under different heads thereby promoting the fraud.

Chugh said that the fraud of the BRS government is not limited to just commissioning huge irrigation projects, the matter is that the TRS government has given 6 projects belonging to Nizamabad district under two different schemes, one under the loan taken by the Road Development Corporation And the second shown under the Central Special Assistance of the Central Government.

Chugh said that one work is completed but the funds are taken from two different sources which leads to double accounting of one work. There are reports which clearly state that funds amounting to Rs 4,144 crore under the special assistance scheme of the central government have been siphoned off through double accounting. A large number of works which have been shown executed under this project, include the works executed from the loan received by the Road Development Corporation.

Chugh said that this is a huge fraud and it needs an immediate CBI inquiry.

I demand a CBI inquiry into all the projects, including various road works executed by the Government of Telangana during the last nine years under Central Special Assistance and loans received by the Road Development Corporation of Telangana
Congress general secretary K.C. Venugopal. (Image: DC)

NEW DELHI: Ahead of the scheduled meeting of Opposition parties in Bengaluru, the Congress clarified its stance on the Centre's ordinance pertaining to the control of services in Delhi. Ending weeks of speculation, Congress general secretary K.C. Venugopal announced the party's opposition to the ordinance during a press conference. He also hoped the Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) will participate in the Opposition meeting. Venugopal firmly stated that the Congress consistently opposes the Union government's attempts to undermine federalism, including the interference in Opposition-ruled states through governors. The decision was made during a parliamentary strategy meeting held on Saturday (July 15), chaired by CPP chief Sonia Gandhi.

Venugopal further emphasised that the Congress stands against any endeavours to sabotage federalism in the country and intervene in state matters through governors. The party does not support the Delhi ordinance or any other such attempts. The issue was thoroughly discussed during the parliamentary strategy meeting.

The AAP had insisted that the Congress publicly declare its position on the ordinance if it desires to sustain the Opposition alliance.

The Centre intends to pass the Ordinance during the upcoming Monsoon Session of Parliament, as it must be presented in both Houses within six months to become a law. The Ordinance effectively overturns a recent Supreme Court ruling that granted control over the transfer and appointment of bureaucrats in Delhi to the Delhi government, excluding those related to police, public order, and land.
The BRS appears to be looking at a scenario which gives it leverage to play an important role with other regional players. (File Image)

Hyderabad: The BRS and the YSRC, ruling parties in both the Telugu states, along with the Telugu Desam, will not be a part of either of the crucial political conclaves that may shape the countrys scenario in 2024.

The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance will meet, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in New Delhi on July 18, for which Jana Sena chief Pawan Kalyan will be in attendance.

The entire spectrum of parties opposing the BJP, barring a few, will meet in Bengaluru on July 17 and 18 for a two-day conclave. And to ensure that the stitching of the alliance is done better, the grand old lady of Congress, Sonia Gandhi, will be present at the meeting.

Of the three absentees, the YSRC, as narrated by a senior party leader, has a clear approach  no alliance with any party and a healthy working relationship with the Centre.

"Our cadre or voters are not comfortable with any electoral alliance with the saffron party and they never mind a cordial relationship with the PM for good of the state," a senior party leader said.

The TD, which once called the shots in national politics, has eagerly been waiting for the Jana Sena to convince its big brother BJP at the Centre to bury the hatchet and formalise a tri-party alliance.

A beginning to restore friendship, the party feels, has already been made at the recent Shah-Naidu meeting.

"There is no change in our objective of avoiding split in the anti-incumbency vote. We have been conveying our thought process to BJPs top leadership time and again," Jana Senas political affairs committee chairman and the partys number two, Nadendla Manohar, told Deccan Chronicle.

Although not sure of the course of deliberations, Jana Sena, according to Manohar, will explore the possibilities of putting forth its thought process at the NDA meeting too.

The BRS is in a peculiar situation wherein the party nurtures its national ambitions but is increasingly getting isolated, with no other regional or national player allowing it into their respective teams.

Efforts of the party supremo and Telangana state Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao to attempt an alternative to both BJP and Congress did not progress beyond his meetings with the opposition leaders.

In the latest development, BRS friend-in-compulsion Aam Admi Party  as leaders of both parties are alleged to be in cahoots for the Delhi liquor scam  received an unexpected friendly gesture from Congress, which backed the AAP in its fight against an Ordinance issued by the Centre curtailing the Delhi governments powers.

The BRS is reportedly angry over Rahul Gandhi openly announcing that Congress threatened to walk out of the anti-BJP front if Chandrashekar Rao was made a part of the Opposition front. "It shows Congress audacity and its dual standards," said party national face and former MP B. Vinod Kumar.

Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, he questioned the genuineness of Congress claims of forging a united front against the BJP, while distancing itself from non-BJP parties.

"Our focus is entirely now on winning Telangana for the third term. The nation will see what role Congress would be able to play post the Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh polls," he said.

The BRS appears to be looking at a scenario which gives it leverage to play an important role with other regional players. "We enjoy very good relations with Kejriwal and Akhilesh (Yadav, of Samajwadi Party)," Vinod Kumar said.
China's Xiaomi will focus on boosting its India sales from retail outlets after years of big bets on e-commerce, its India president said, as the company seeks to revive smartphone sales after falling behind South Korea's Samsung.

E-commerce sales in India via Amazon and Walmart's Flipkart have surged in recent years, helping Xiaomi and others expand in one of the world's fastest-growing markets, with 600 million smartphone users. But while 44 per cent of India's smartphones sales are now online, the brick-and-mortar segment remains the bigger play and Xiaomi expects it to grow further.

Also Read | Centre directs Chinese mobile phone manufacturers to get Indian equity partners

"Our market position in offline is substantially lower than what it is online," Xiaomi's India head, Muralikrishnan B., said in an interview on Friday. "Offline is where you have other competitors who have been executing fairly well and have a larger market share."

Just 34 per cent of Xiaomi's India unit sales this year have come from retail stores, with the rest through websites that have long been its dominant sales generator, data from Hong Kong-based Counterpoint Research shows. Samsung, in contrast, gets 57 per cent of its sales from stores.

Xiaomi plans to expand its store network beyond the current 18,000 and increasingly partner with phone vendors to offer other products, such as Xiaomi TVs or security cameras, where Muralikrishnan said competition is less intense. He said Xiaomi found some partner stores that put its bright orange branding outside shops were displaying rival brands more prominently inside, a marketing issue the company would address.

Xiaomi's offline push comes months after it lost its leadership position to Samsung, which had a much bigger portfolio of premium phones now in vogue. The South Korean giant has a 20 per cent market share in India, while Xiaomi, which historically focussed on budget phones, has 16 per cent.

"Offline remains a key platform as India embraces the premiumisation trend," said Counterpoint analyst Tarun Pathak. "Consumers spending more would like to have the look and feel of the premium product."

Xiaomi plans to hire more store promoters - salespeople who lure, pitch and sell phones to prospective buyers inside outlets. It targets tripling the count to 12,000 promoters by the end of next year from early 2023 levels, Muralikrishnan said.

Another significant India challenge for Xiaomi is a federal agency's $673 million freeze on its bank assets since last year. The agency alleges Xiaomi made illegal remittances to foreign entities in the name of royalties. The company denies wrongdoing.

"We'll continue to be confident ... that ultimately our position will be heard and validated," Muralikrishnan said.
India is in talks with Indonesia to link the two countries fast payments systems to allow transactions in local currencies, a top Indian official said on Sunday, on the sidelines of the G20 meeting of Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors (FMCBG). The development was separately confirmed by Indonesian Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati.

Once this happens, Indonesia will be the third country whose payment system is connected with Indias Unified Payments Interface (UPI), after Singapore and the United Arab Emirates.

Like UAE, there are talks going on with Indonesia on something similar, real-time settlement and trading in local currencies. It will get done soon, the Indian official said.

Indonesia is Indias second biggest trading partner in ASEAN region, with trade worth $38.9 billion in the last financial year (2022-23)  a jump of 48 per cent year on year. Trade between the two emerging economic powers has increased nine-fold since 2005-06.

Also Read | Canadian pensions funds keen to invest in India

Speaking on various G20 agenda items, the official said that India may place a guidance note on crypto assets in the current FMCBG meeting as a synthesis paper by the International Monetary Fund and Financial Stability Board is delayed.

The IMF-FSB paper is expected to provide a framework for global regulation of cryptocurrencies and other digital assets.

The official said that the paper is likely to be circulated before the Leaders Meeting in September, giving the heads of states time to arrive at a consensus.

The person also said that on the issue of debt distress of low and middle-income nations, the response from China, the largest bilateral lender, has not been encouraging so far.

China is of the view that it can deal with borrower nations on a case-by-case basis, without the interference of IMF and World Bank, the official said.

However, India and most of the G20 members are of the view that when it comes to a common framework for debt resolution, there cannot be a one size fits all approach for nations as diverse as Suriname, Ghana, Zambia and Sri Lanka.

As a result of the pandemic and then the geopolitical disturbances due to the war in Europe, over half of all low-income countries are near or in debt distress, double the share of countries that faced such a situation in 2015.

The official also said that while the stand-off between G7 nations and Russia-China  over the language of criticism of the war in Ukraine  may impact the drafting of the Leaders Statement and the official communique at the FMCBG, it has not interfered with discussions on the key agenda items at any of the G20 Finance Track meetings.
Actor R Madhavan, who attended the banquet dinner held by French President Emmanuel Macron for Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Louvre Museum, on Sunday said he was in awe of the two leaders who "passionately described their vision for the future of these two great friendly nations" at the event.

Macron and First Lady Brigitte Macron on Friday hosted a banquet dinner for Modi at the iconic museum here.

The Indian prime minister, who arrived here on Thursday on a two-day visit, also graced the Bastille Day parade, part of the French National Day celebrations, as the guest of honour.

In an Instagram post, Madhavan expressed his gratitude to Macron and Modi for "the incredible lesson on grace and humility".

"The passion and dedication to do good for the Indo French relationship, as well as for the people of both countries was palpable and intense during the Bastille day celebration in Paris on the 14th of July 2023. I was in complete awe at the dinner hosted by the President Emmanuel Macron in honor of our Honorable, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi at the Louvre, of both these world leaders, as they passionately described their vision for the future of these two great friendly nations.

"The positivity and mutual respect in the air was like a loving embrace... May France and India forever prosper together," the actor-filmmaker wrote alongside a series of photographs from the banquet dinner.

Also Read | Bond between India and France transcends time: PM Modi

Madhavan further shared how Macron offered to take a selfie with Modi and him.

"I sincerely pray that their vision and dreams bear fruit for all of us at the desired and appropriate time. President Macron eagerly took a selfie for us while our Honorable Prime Minister very graciously and sweetly stood up to be part of it.. a moment that will be forever etched in my mind for both the uniqueness and impact of that picture," the 53-year-old added in his post.

The actor, who directed Rocketry: The Nambi Effect, also wished the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) for the successful third edition of India's moon mission, Chandrayaan-3.

Launched on Friday, Chandrayaan-3 mission follows the Chandrayaan-2 which is aimed at mastering the soft landing on the surface of the moon. A successful landing on the lunar surface would make India only the fourth country to achieve the feat after the United States, China, and the former Soviet Union.
President Joe Biden's re-election campaign ended last month with about $20 million in the bank, just trailing the $22 million plus reported by leading Republican candidate Donald Trump, according to financial disclosures released on Saturday.

The disclosures filed to the Federal Election Commission point to a competitive money race ahead of the November 2024 presidential election.

Biden has amassed a smaller war chest to past presidents at this point in recent re-election campaigns. Democrat Barack Obama had $37 million at this point in 2011, while Trump had more over $56 million in June 2019.

The funds detailed in the disclosures represent a significant chunk of the funding behind the campaigns, but do not include money gathered by allied super PACs, which typically raise massive sums from the wealthiest donors and are due to disclose details on their finances later in July.

Biden's campaign announced on Friday that his re-election effort, when including the Democratic Party's accounts, had $77 million in the bank.

Also Read | Biden administration forgives $39 billion in student debt: Report

The president is not expected to face a serious challenge in the Democratic nomination contest. One challenger, anti-vaccine activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr., reported raising just $6 million through June, while another, self-help guru Marianne Williamson, took in less than $1 million.

Trump's campaign, which was launched in November, reported spending about $9 million in the three months through June, more than any other campaign, according to the disclosures wiled to election regulators. The spending included more than $2 million paid to Campaign Inbox LLC, a digital fundraising firm.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who ranks second to Trump in most opinion polls for the Republican nomination contest, had about $12 million in his campaign account, considerably less than the $21 million had by fellow Republican Tim Scott, a U.S. senator for South Carolina. DeSantis and Scott launched their campaigns in May.

Long-shot Republican candidates Doug Burgum and Vivek Ramaswamy disclosed putting millions of dollars of their own money into their campaigns. Burgum, the governor of North Dakota, lent about $10 million to his campaign and Ramaswamy, a former biotechnology executive, lent his about $15 million.
Dalia Mubarak, the renowned Saudi artist, is set to captivate audiences with her latest single Mara Aan Malioun, marking the first release from her highly anticipated album 11:11.

The track, released under the Warner Music Mena label, showcases Mubarak's newfound energy and ambition, setting it apart from her previous releases. With its infectious and energetic production, "Mara Aan Malioun" serves as a testament to Mubarak's renewed energy as she embarks on a new musical journey.

In an exciting collaboration, Mubarak joins forces with Kuwaiti artist Daffy, infusing the track with a fresh and contemporary R&B vibe. Daffy's youthful energy adds an extra layer of dynamism to the song, further elevating its appeal. The track was composed by Ali Al Matrouk and written by Daffy.

Beautiful aesthetic

The music video directed by the highly renowned director Angie Jammal complements the energy of the song with beautiful aesthetic and a narrative of emergence.

11:11, Mubarak's upcoming album, promises to be a diverse musical experience. It will feature a plethora of artistic surprises and distinctive songs representing various Arabic dialects, offering listeners a rich sonic journey.

This partnership between Mubarak and Warner Music Mena comes as a natural progression following Mubarak's numerous successes over the years. She has carved out a unique place for herself in the hearts of the young Saudi generation, symbolising their aspirations and dreams.

Rapid evolution

Max Losada, CEO of Warner Music, commented: "The rapid evolution of the Saudi music scene is truly remarkable, and Mubarak stands at the forefront of this movement. She represents a new generation of Saudi female artists who are rewriting the rules and captivating fans across the region and beyond. We are thrilled to support her on this global journey."

Mubarak conveyed her excitement about signing the contract, expressing her gratitude for Warner Music Mena's expertise and the opportunity to reach a broader regional and international audiences with her music.

Contemporary approach

Mubarak is known for her contemporary approach to music and her commitment to empowering Arab women. With her unique sound and powerful messages, she has gained recognition across the Mena region. Mubarak has shared the stage with prominent artists and received numerous accolades, solidifying her position as a leading figure in the Saudi music scene.

Her debut album, Min El-Akher, achieved tremendous success in the Mena region, solidifying her status as a rising star.

In June 2022, Mubarak figured on the main cover of Vogue Saudi Arabia and has since graced the covers of many Global lifestyle publications, further cementing her influence and appeal. She was also honoured with the Best Saudi Female Artist Award at the Distinguished International Arab Festivals Awards (DIAFA) held in Dubai.-- TradeArabia News Service
The Gaza Strip's Hamas rulers have been unable to pay salaries for 50,000 public sector workers, with officials in part blaming a delay in a monthly payroll grant from Qatar, a crucial aid donor to the impoverished Palestinian enclave. The salary crisis has sparked an unusual amount of criticism on social media in Gaza, including by some of Hamas' own employees. A drop in tax revenue and a jump in spending has made the situation even more difficult.

Also Read | Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu rushed to hospital, but in 'good condition'

Most of Gaza's 2.3 million residents live in poverty, and the economy is dependent on foreign aid. Qatar has paid hundreds of millions of dollars since 2014 for construction projects. It currently pays $30 million per month in stipends for families, fuel for electricity, and to help pay public sector wages.

Hamas officials say no salary aid has been received since just over half of a $5-million grant to support the May payroll. The reason for the delay was not clear.

In Doha, Qatars International Media Office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

"The government is going through a stifling and escalating financial crisis, with a continuous increase in the deficit month after month, which led to the delay of salaries this month," Awni Al-Basha, the Hamas-appointed deputy minister, told Hamas Aqsa radio.

"We are making significant efforts to pay the salaries, and we hope to do so at the end of this week," he said.

Monthly payroll costs Hamas 125 million shekels ($34.5 million) per month, said Basha.

On Sunday, Salama Marouf, chairman of the Hamas government media office, said there has also been an increase in spending, particularly for the ministry of health and repayment of bank debts. He called on Qatar to increase the salary grant to $7 million.

Gaza has been under an Israel-Egyptian blockade since 2007 when Hamas, which opposes peace with Israel, took control. Public sector employees have not received full salaries since 2013.

"With 60 per cent (of salaries) we used to meet the basics of our needs at home. What happens when the salary is completely cut off?" said Mahmoud Al-Farra, an employee at the Hamas government media office. "This a big disappointment."

Some took to social media, questioning whether the crisis was authentic.

"Where are the taxes they collect and the grants that enter Gaza go?" one resident posted on Facebook.
To choke the flow of funds to left-wing extremists in the state, the Bihar Police has intensified crackdown on cultivation of illegal poppy in Gaya, Aurangabad and Jamui districts.

The anti-Naxal crackdown by the Special Task Force (STF) along with other security forces has dried the weapons pipeline leading to the number of armed ultras dropping drastically in the state, said a senior police officer.

"Now the Bihar Police in coordination with the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and other concerned wings of the government, have intensified crackdown on cultivation of illegal poppy in Gaya, Aurangabad and Jamui districts in the state", Sushil Mansingh Khopde, Additional Director General (ADG-operations), Special Task Force (STF), told PTI.

Also Read | Complaint filed against Nitish, Tejashwi in Patna court over lathi-charge on BJP workers

The ADG said despite law enforcement agencies destroying hundreds of acres of poppy plants each year, inputs suggest that clandestine opium poppy cultivation is there in certain pockets in Gaya, Aurangabad and Jamui districts.

"Inputs also suggest that Maoists have been using opium cultivation as a source of revenue in these areas. They levy a 'tax' on poppy cultivators and small enterprises. Law enforcement agencies destroyed around 600 acres of poppy plantation in these areas in 2021 and in 2022 around 1200 acres were destroyed", the ADG said.

In India, opium poppy cultivation is prohibited, under Section 8 of the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985.

"The concerned district police and other agencies have been instructed to keep a vigil on clandestine opium poppy cultivation in specific areas in the district", he said.

Now, Naxals are fighting for their existence in Bihar as the Union Ministry of Home Affairs recently removed six districts from the Left Wing Extremist insurgency list, Khopde said, adding currently only 10 districts are considered Maoist-affected in the state.

"The number of Maoist-affected districts will further reduce in the coming months. No major Maoist incidents have been reported till June this year", the ADG said.

"Some armed cadres are only concentrated on the hills of Chakarbandha on the Gaya-Aurangabad border near Jharkhand and in the hilly areas of Jamui and Lakhisarai-Munger. The STF and Central forces have confined them there. We will soon make these areas Naxal-free," said Khopde.

The Bihar government, after a thorough survey of the naxal-free areas, is working on initiating several developmental projects in those areas.

These projects include the construction of 42 roads in remote areas, installation of 67 mobile towers, health facilities and opening of schools. The additional mobile towers will strengthen the telecom network resulting in increased mobile penetration in these areas, said the ADG.
The Meghalaya government has appointed Sherwin May Sungoh, head of the Education department of the North Eastern Hill University, as the chairperson of a four-member State Education Commission, officials said on Sunday.

The commission will recommend reforms and policy changes for promoting quality education in schools, colleges and institutions of higher and technical education, they said.

The other members of the Education commission are former UPSC chairman David Reid Syiemlieh, former MBOSE executive chairman Tony TC Marak and education secretary Ambrose Ch Marak who will be the member secretary, they said.

According to a notification, the commission will also be assisted by 12 co-opted members and its term will be for two years.

Also Read | A downward slope: Space for dialogue shrinking in Indias universities

"The Education Commission will recommend concrete solutions and strategic intervention and policy decisions for ushering reforms in the school and higher education system from the perspective of NEP 2020 and fulfilling its various principles and articulation," the notification said.

The commission was also tasked with advising the Meghalaya government on matters related to the school and college system, salary and school/college structures, school management functioning and accountability, it added.

Education Minister Rakkam A Sangma said the commission will also examine the major issues that are impacting the education sector in Meghalaya, their performance, finances, and accountability.

He said the commission will also ensure the establishment of effective mechanisms to ensure pay parity of teachers under different aided categories with government teachers.
A complaint was lodged in a court here against Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, his deputy Tejashwi Yadav and four others in connection with the baton charge on a BJP procession in the city earlier this week.

The complaint, in which Patna's District Magistrate and Senior Superintendent of Police have also been named among the accused, has been filed on Saturday by Krishna Singh Kallu, a political activist who had recently joined the BJP.

Also Read: BJP team meets injured party workers in Patna, seeks judicial inquiry into police action

The petition has been filed in Patna Civil Court through advocate Sunil Kumar Singh who told reporters, "We have prayed for trial of the accused against various IPC sections including 302 (murder) and 323 (voluntarily causing hurt)."

Singh alleged, "The procession was peaceful, yet the police took recourse to lathi-charge upon instructions from higher-ups, including CM and Deputy CM, and one BJP worker Vijay Singh succumbed to injuries."

The BJP alleged that its Jehanabad district general secretary Vijay Singh died because of injuries sustained in a "brutal" lathi-charge by the police during the party's 'Vidhan Sabha march' on Thursday.

The administration, however, claimed that CCTV footages showed that the deceased was not at Dak Bungalow crossing when "mild" use of force was resorted to and doctors at the hospital, where he breathed his last, found no injury marks on his body.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has said Devendra Fadnavis gave up the opportunity to install a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) mayor in Mumbai after the 2017 civic polls for the sake of the Shiv Sena at his request.

But Uddhav Thackeray repaid this gesture by severing the alliance with the BJP two years later, the CM said on Saturday at a conclave of the Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) workers here.

Shinde also sought to assuage concerns of his party colleagues after the Nationalist Congress Party's group led by Ajit Pawar joined his government a fortnight ago.

Certain equations have to be formed in politics. Looking at the development (carried out by his government), Ajit Pawar too has backed our government, he said.

Read | Ajit Pawar to meet PM Modi on July 18 to discuss farmers' issues

In June 2022, Shinde and 39 other Shiv Sena MLAs revolted against Uddhav Thackeray, then chief minister and president of the undivided Shiv Sena. One of the main reasons cited by them was that Ajit Pawar, as finance minister, did not allocate funds for their constituencies.

The revolt led to the collapse of the Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi government.

The Shiv Sena controlled the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) from 1997 to 2022. Elections to the country's richest civic body are due for the last one year.

"The BJP had almost won the BMC (in 2017 civic body polls). Devendra Fadnavis was the CM. Our chief (Uddhav Thackeray) said we have been controlling the BMC and it should not go out of our hands, Shinde reminisced.

But had Devendra Fadnavis decided, the mayor would have been of the BJP. But I told him that we are in the government, working together. And our boss' (Thackeray) heart is in Mumbai, so you leave Mumbai (for the Shiv Sena)," he said.

"Devendra ji left the quest for Mumbai on my request, but how was this gesture repaid (by Thackeray)? Shinde asked.

In the tightly contested 2017 Mumbai civic body polls, the Shiv Sena won 84 seats with the BJP close on its heels by winning 82 seats. No party could win a majority but the Shiv Sena managed to get its mayor elected.

Shinde said despite this, Thackeray ignored "40-50 calls" when the process began to form government after the 2019 Maharashtra Assembly polls, and eventually formed government with the NCP and Congress.

In the last seven years, Devendra Fadnavis did not even mention once that he could have won the BMC and installed a BJP mayor, but he gave it to the Shiv Sena. So who is ungrateful? Shinde said, attacking Thackeray.
After joining hands with the BJP, Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP) chief Om Prakash Rajbhar on Sunday said that Samajwadi Party is unable to sustain its alliances and claimed that "more people from the SP" will join the NDA fold.

In a statement here, Rajbhar showered praise on the BJP, saying, "There is 'aham' (ego issue) among the Opposition (parties) and everyone considers themselves big. These parties should learn from the BJP as to how power is achieved by aligning with smaller parties."

Rajbhar said that his SBSP and the BJP will contest the 2024 Lok Sabha election together. He said the seat sharing will be decided at the July 18 meeting of NDA partners in Delhi.

"The alliance of SBP and the BJP will strengthen the NDA. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, efforts being made by the NDA for the welfare of the poor and downtrodden will gain further strength," he said.

The SBSP chief said, "There was a question - Rajbhar is with whom? And, now it is clear that Rajbhar is with the NDA."

Attacking the Samajwadi Party, Rajbhar said its "alliances cannot last" and cited the collapse of the SP's coalition with the Congress in the 2017 UP Assembly election and with the Bahujan Samaj Party during the 2019 Lok Sabha election.

"Akhilesh Yadav is like a person who wants everything in the village to belong to him," Rajbhar alleged, attacking the SP chief.

Meanwhile, chief spokesperson of the Samajwadi Party Rajendra Chaudhary said both Rajbhar and BJP are "helpless" and hardly in a position to help each other.

"At this point, the BJP is in trouble, and despite staying in power, it is not able to get candidates for the Lok Sabha polls," Chaudhary claimed.

On his earlier call for opposition parties to come together and fight the Lok Sabha polls against the BJP, Rajbhar said, "For how long will I wait? I had tried to speak to people (apparently hinting at various political parties), but there was no response from the other side.

"So in the interest of society and the country, we decided to join the fight for the (welfare) women, youths, farmers, and poor which has been undertaken by the prime minister, the Union home minister and the UP chief minister."

On SP MLA Dara Singh Chauhan tendering resignation, Rajbhar said, "Soon, I will bring Dharam Singh Saini (former UP minister in Yogi Adityanath government) in front of you."

Samajwadi Party MLA Dara Singh Chauhan resigned from the Uttar Pradesh Assembly on Saturday, prompting the SP to term it a "breach of trust".

Chauhan is a legislator from Ghosi in Mau district and joined the SP in January last year after resigning from the Council of Ministers headed by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, ahead of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls.

OBC leader Dharam Singh Saini too had resigned from the Uttar Pradesh cabinet on January 13, 2022. Asked about the reason for quitting, Chauhan refused to comment. In his letter too, he did not mention any reason for stepping down.

Other Backward Classes (OBC) leader Chauhan was the minister for forests and environment in the first Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government headed by Adityanath.
The return of SBSP chief Om Prakash Rajbhar to the NDA fold after quitting the BJP-led alliance in 2019 will not surprise many as the OBC leader had indicated for months that his options were open.

SBSP fought the 2017 Uttar Pradesh assembly elections in alliance with the BJP and won four seats. Rajbhar got a ministerial berth in the state cabinet, but his frequent outbursts left the BJP-led government embarrassed and the two parties parted ways during the last Lok Sabha polls.

Also Read: Om Prakash Rajbhar, ex-ally of Akhilesh Yadav's Samajwadi Party, joins NDA in Uttar Pradesh

In the 2022 UP Assembly election, SBSP joined hands with the Samajwadi Party (SP) and won six seats but as the alliance failed to dislodge the BJP, it did not take long for the partners to start bickering.

In July 2022, when the Presidential elections were around the corner, cracks in the SP-led alliance were exposed as Rajbhar extended support to NDA nominee Droupadi Murmu, while the SP backed Yashwant Sinha.

A year later, the SBSP is now a part of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

The Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP) can impact around 10 Lok Sabha seats and 40 Assembly seats in 7-8 districts in Uttar Pradesh, according to poll analysts.

While supporting Murmu in the presidential election, Rajbhar had then said that the party made the decision after appeals by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Murmu herself and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

The SBSP chief, however, had then maintained that his six-MLA party is still part of the opposition grouping that fought the UP Assembly elections together.

"Murmu herself told me that she hails from the lowest strata of society and sought my support. Similar appeals were made by the chief minister...," Rajbhar had told reporters.

He had also expressed disappointment over the SP not inviting him to its July 7, 2022)press conference on the Opposition's joint candidate Yashwant Sinha. "Akhilesh ji did not think about me or the vote," he had said.

Also Read: BJP steps up outreach to OBCs, Dalits with eye on Lok Sabha polls

A senior UP BJP leader told PTI that UP's Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak also played a role in bringing back SBSP into the NDA.

On the day of polling for the Presidential election, Rajbhar accompanied Brajesh Pathak to cast his vote at the UP Vidhan Bhavan.

Pathak on Sunday told PTI, "The Samajwadi Party has been derailed, and the people of the state have rejected them. On the other hand, the BJP's clan ('kunbaa') is expanding with new people joining the NDA.

"Both public support and mandate are increasing (in favour of the BJP and NDA). We have come together for a larger goal."

He said that Samajwadi Party is now left with only two allies -Rashtriya Lok Dal and the Apna Dal-Kamervadi - and gradually, they will also leave the SP.

Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya, in a tweet in Hindi, termed OP Rajbhar as "an old friend of the BJP"."

National general secretary of SBSP Arvind Rajbhar, the elder son of the SBSP chief, after meeting Union Home Minister Amit Shah said they discussed several issues including caste census, inclusion of Rajbhar caste in the Scheduled Castes category and expansion of the council of ministers in Uttar Pradesh.

"At the meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah a number of issues ranging from social justice, caste census, education, the inclusion of Rajbhar caste in the scheduled castes' category, upcoming Lok Sabha elections, expansion of the council of ministers in Uttar Pradesh and issues pertaining to health were discussed," he told PTI.

In May last year, Om Prakash Rajbhar had said that his ally Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav has become too used to air-conditioned rooms and advised him to venture out more often to meet people.

"His leaders have told me that I should advise him (Akhilesh Yadav) so that he meets people, strengthens his party and shun his 'navratnas' (nine gems) who surround him," he said.

His falling out with the BJP was also not very pleasant. On May 18, 2019, the SBSP chief had urged supporters to thrash BJP workers with shoes. The SBSP had fielded as many as 39 candidates in the state in the Lok Sabha elections that year. The state has 80 Lok Sabha seats.

On May 20, 2019, barely a day after polling ended in the Lok Sabha elections, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath sacked Rajbhar from his cabinet as Backward Class Welfare and Divyangjan Empowerment Minister.

"By taking the decision, he (Adityanath) has proved he does not endorse my war against poverty," Rajbhar had told reporters.

The strain in ties had appeared months before. On November 19, 2018, Rajbhar accused the BJP-led government of denying funds to open schools for 'divyaangjan' (specially-abled people) in the state.

A day earlier he challenged the ruling party to dump him for daring "to call a spade a spade".

In October 2021, the SP and SBSP had announced their alliance for the 2022 Uttar Pradesh assembly polls and gave the slogan 'Khadeda Hobe', a call to "drive out" the BJP from the state.

The slogan was on the lines of 'Khela Hobe' (game on), which was coined by the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress for the West Bengal assembly polls that saw the party defeat the BJP and storm back to power for a third consecutive term.

"Rajbhar will close the door through which the BJP came to power (in Uttar Pradesh) and SP workers will lock it," the SP chief had then said.
More than 1.44 lakh kilograms of drugs worth Rs 2,416 crore will be destroyed in various parts of the country on Monday in virtual presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

Destruction of the narcotics will be carried out in different cities when Shah will watch it through video conferencing from New Delhi while attending a conference on 'Drugs Smuggling and National Security', an official statement said.

The drugs to be destroyed will include 6,590 kg seized by the Narcotics Control Bureau's (NCB) Hyderabad unit, 822 kg by Indore unit and 356 kg seized by its Jammu unit.

Also Read: Bengaluru police seize 1,500 kg cannabis worth Rs 12 crore, arrest three

Along with this, various law enforcement agencies of different states will also destroy drugs  1,486 kg drugs in Assam, 229 kg in Chandigarh, 25 kg in Goa, 4,277 kg in Gujarat, 2,458 kg in Haryana, 4,069 kg in Jammu and Kashmir, 1,03,884 kg in Madhya Pradesh, 159 kg in Maharashtra, 1,803 kg in Tripura and 4,049 kg in Uttar Pradesh.

Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the central government has adopted a zero-tolerance policy against narcotics to create a drugs-free India, the statement said.

Since June 1, 2022 till July 15, 2023, all regional units of the NCB and anti-narcotics task forces of the states have collectively destroyed around 8,76,554 kg seized drugs worth around Rs 9,580 crore  which is more than 11 times of the target.

With the destruction of drugs on Monday, the total quantity of drugs destroyed in just one year will reach around 10 lakh kilograms. The combined value of these drugs is around Rs 12,000 crore.

In order to realise Prime Minister Modi's dream of a drugs-free India, this campaign of destruction of drugs will continue actively with same zeal, the statement added.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Sunday said that peace and prosperity in the Mekong region play a pivotal role in realising Indias vision for security and growth for all countries in the region under its Act East policy.

In his opening remarks at the 12th Mekong Ganga Cooperation (MGC) Mechanism meeting here, Jaishankar said the lower Mekong region holds immense significance for India both in a historic sense and a contemporary one.

We represent the ancient river civilizations of this continent," he said.

Also Read: Jaishankar meets Myanmar counterpart, discusses India-Myanmar-Thailand trilateral highway

The Mekong-Ganga Cooperation (MGC) is an initiative by six countries  India and five ASEAN countries - Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam - for cooperation in tourism, culture, education, as well as transport and communications.

"Peace and prosperity in the region also play a pivotal role in realising Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi's vision of security and growth for all in the region under India's Act East policy," he said.

"The Mekong Ganga Cooperation holds a special place in this region as the oldest sub-regional cooperation rooted in the rich historical, geographical and cultural ties among our six member countries," Jaishankar said.

It epitomises our commitment to build upon a rich heritage and channel our collective aspirations into tangible actions that will positively impact the lives of our citizens, he said.

India, he said, is also steadfast in its dedication to enhancing comprehensive connectivity within the region.

"Our commitment extends beyond the talks. It is grounded in action," Jaishankar said, underling various flagship projects like the MGC, MGC scholarships, the Centre for Excellence in Software Development training and the MGC traditional textile museum.

These projects, the minister said, "bear testament to our commitment for on-ground implementation".

India has also welcomed the initiative of the countries of the Mekong sub-region to synergise various developmental initiatives in the region, he said.

Through a collaborative effort, "we aim to fulfil the contemporary aspirations of our people, fostering an environment of growth stability and shared opportunities," Jaishankar added.
Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY  Get Free Report) shares reached a new 52-week low during mid-day trading on Friday . The stock traded as low as $61.86 and last traded at $62.17, with a volume of 712419 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $62.28.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research firms have recently issued reports on BMY. Bank of America boosted their target price on Bristol-Myers Squibb from $82.00 to $85.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Friday, April 21st. Credit Suisse Group reduced their target price on Bristol-Myers Squibb from $72.00 to $66.00 in a research note on Wednesday. StockNews.com began coverage on Bristol-Myers Squibb in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. They set a strong-buy rating on the stock. Daiwa Capital Markets assumed coverage on Bristol-Myers Squibb in a research note on Wednesday, June 28th. They set an outperform rating and a $70.00 target price on the stock. Finally, SVB Leerink reaffirmed a market perform rating on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb in a research note on Monday, July 10th. Two research analysts have 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 MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $75.44.

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Bristol-Myers Squibb Stock Down 0.5 %

The company has a quick ratio of 1.28, a current ratio of 1.42 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.10. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $65.12 and a 200 day simple moving average of $68.49. The firm has a market capitalization of $130.13 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.06, a P/E/G ratio of 1.28 and a beta of 0.43.

Bristol-Myers Squibb Dividend Announcement

Bristol-Myers Squibb ( NYSE:BMY Get Free Report ) last announced 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 firm had revenue of $11.34 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $11.50 billion. Bristol-Myers Squibb had a return on equity of 51.75% and a net margin of 15.95%. The companys quarterly revenue was down 2.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $1.96 earnings per share. On average, equities analysts expect that Bristol-Myers Squibb will post 8.05 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The firm also recently declared 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 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.68%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, July 6th. Bristol-Myers Squibbs payout ratio is currently 66.47%.

Insider Activity

In other Bristol-Myers Squibb news, EVP Rupert Vessey sold 50,385 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, May 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $67.06, for a total value of $3,378,818.10. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 47,751 shares of the companys stock, valued at $3,202,182.06. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Corporate insiders own 0.09% of the companys stock.

Institutional Trading of Bristol-Myers Squibb

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Five Oceans Advisors increased its position in Bristol-Myers Squibb by 17.6% in the second quarter. Five Oceans Advisors now owns 7,566 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $484,000 after buying an additional 1,130 shares in the last quarter. MEAG MUNICH ERGO Kapitalanlagegesellschaft mbH increased its position in Bristol-Myers Squibb by 144.9% in the second quarter. MEAG MUNICH ERGO Kapitalanlagegesellschaft mbH now owns 35,601 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $2,277,000 after buying an additional 21,065 shares in the last quarter. Next Level Private LLC increased its position in Bristol-Myers Squibb by 2.9% in the second quarter. Next Level Private LLC now owns 54,073 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $3,378,000 after buying an additional 1,520 shares in the last quarter. Farmers & Merchants Trust Co of Chambersburg PA grew its position in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb by 1.4% during the second quarter. Farmers & Merchants Trust Co of Chambersburg PA now owns 19,795 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $1,266,000 after purchasing an additional 278 shares in the last quarter. Finally, SeaCrest Wealth Management LLC grew its position in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb by 0.5% during the second quarter. SeaCrest Wealth Management LLC now owns 42,625 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $2,726,000 after purchasing an additional 230 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 74.57% of the companys stock.

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company Profile

(Get 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.

Further Reading

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Strs Ohio cut its holdings in Cheniere Energy, Inc. (NYSEAMERICAN:LNG  Free Report) by 21.7% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 90,000 shares of the energy companys stock after selling 25,000 shares during the quarter. Strs Ohios holdings in Cheniere Energy were worth $14,184,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of LNG. Capital World Investors acquired a new stake in Cheniere Energy during the 1st quarter worth about $391,652,000. Norges Bank purchased a new position in Cheniere Energy during the 4th quarter valued at about $261,515,000. Renaissance Technologies LLC grew its stake 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 acquiring an additional 959,800 shares in the last quarter. Voya Investment Management LLC grew its stake 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 acquiring an additional 862,174 shares in the last quarter. Finally, State Street Corp grew its stake 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 acquiring an additional 830,898 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 83.36% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities analysts have weighed in on the company. Raymond James lowered their target price 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. Royal Bank of Canada lowered their target price 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. Mizuho lowered their price target on Cheniere Energy from $200.00 to $187.00 in a research note on Thursday, June 22nd. TheStreet raised Cheniere Energy from a c+ rating to a b rating in a research note on Wednesday, May 3rd. Finally, StockNews.com began coverage on Cheniere Energy in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a strong-buy rating for the company. Ten research analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Buy and a consensus target price of $201.00.

Cheniere Energy Stock Down 2.2 %

LNG opened at $153.90 on Friday. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $149.92 and a 200 day moving average price of $152.76. Cheniere Energy, Inc. has a twelve month low of $122.18 and a twelve month high of $182.35. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 4.40, a quick ratio of 1.30 and a current ratio of 1.43. The firm has a market cap of $37.39 billion, a P/E ratio of 4.93, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.34 and a beta of 1.01.

Cheniere Energy (NYSEAMERICAN:LNG  Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, May 2nd. The energy company reported $6.89 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $5.96 by $0.93. Cheniere Energy had a negative return on equity of 13,004.16% and a net margin of 23.24%. The firm had revenue of $7.31 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.58 billion. Research analysts forecast that Cheniere Energy, Inc. will post 15.03 EPS for the current year.

Cheniere Energy Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, May 17th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, May 10th were issued a dividend of $0.395 per share. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, May 9th. This represents a $1.58 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.03%. Cheniere Energys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 5.06%.

Cheniere Energy Profile

(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.

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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).

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Strs Ohio grew its stake in DTE Energy (NYSE:DTE  Free Report) by 50.8% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 109,532 shares of the utilities providers stock after purchasing an additional 36,908 shares during the quarter. Strs Ohio owned approximately 0.05% of DTE Energy worth $11,998,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the stock. FORVIS Wealth Advisors LLC grew its position in shares of DTE Energy by 5.6% in the first quarter. FORVIS Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 14,455 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $1,583,000 after purchasing an additional 766 shares during the period. Pinnacle Wealth Management Group Inc. grew its position in shares of DTE Energy by 3.1% in the first quarter. Pinnacle Wealth Management Group Inc. now owns 3,737 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $494,000 after purchasing an additional 113 shares during the period. Jennison Associates LLC boosted its position in DTE Energy by 6.9% during the first quarter. Jennison Associates LLC now owns 1,227,807 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $134,494,000 after acquiring an additional 78,905 shares during the last quarter. Tectonic Advisors LLC boosted its position in DTE Energy by 50.3% during the first quarter. Tectonic Advisors LLC now owns 3,767 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $413,000 after acquiring an additional 1,261 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Parallel Advisors LLC boosted its position in DTE Energy by 6.9% during the first quarter. Parallel Advisors LLC now owns 2,193 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $240,000 after acquiring an additional 141 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 74.33% of the companys stock.

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DTE Energy Price Performance

DTE Energy stock opened at $112.95 on Friday. The companys 50 day simple moving average is $98.07 and its 200-day simple moving average is $77.83. The company has a market capitalization of $23.28 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.99, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.05 and a beta of 0.60. DTE Energy has a 1 year low of $100.64 and a 1 year high of $136.77. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.66, a quick ratio of 0.68 and a current ratio of 0.88.

DTE Energy Cuts Dividend

DTE Energy ( NYSE:DTE Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, April 27th. The utilities provider reported $1.33 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.38 by ($0.05). The company had revenue of $3.78 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.79 billion. DTE Energy had a net margin of 6.15% and a return on equity of 10.59%. During the same period last year, the firm posted $2.31 earnings per share. As a group, equities research analysts expect that DTE Energy will post 6.2 earnings per share for the current year.

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Sunday, October 15th. Investors of record on Monday, September 18th will be issued a $0.952 dividend. This represents a $3.81 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.37%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, September 15th. DTE Energys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 67.43%.

Insider Activity at DTE Energy

In related news, SVP Joann Chavez sold 4,000 shares of DTE Energy stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, May 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $113.09, for a total value of $452,360.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 14,607 shares in the company, valued at $1,651,905.63. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. In other DTE Energy news, VP Lisa A. Muschong sold 700 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, June 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $110.41, for a total transaction of $77,287.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now owns 5,455 shares in the company, valued at approximately $602,286.55. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, SVP Joann Chavez sold 4,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, May 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $113.09, for a total transaction of $452,360.00. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 14,607 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,651,905.63. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 0.61% of the companys stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research firms recently weighed in on DTE. 888 restated a maintains rating on shares of DTE Energy in a research report on Thursday, June 29th. Mizuho boosted their price target on shares of DTE Energy from $119.00 to $121.00 in a research report on Thursday. Morgan Stanley boosted their price target on shares of DTE Energy from $120.00 to $126.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Thursday, April 20th. BMO Capital Markets boosted their price target on shares of DTE Energy from $121.00 to $122.00 in a research report on Thursday. Finally, UBS Group raised shares of DTE Energy from a neutral rating to a buy rating and reduced their target price for the stock from $129.00 to $124.00 in a research note on Tuesday, June 6th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $82.01.

DTE Energy Profile

(Free Report)

DTE Energy Company engages in the utility operations. The company's Electric segment generates, purchases, distributes, and sells electricity to approximately 2.3 million residential, commercial, and industrial customers in southeastern Michigan. It generates electricity through fossil-fuel, hydroelectric pumped storage, and nuclear plants, as well as wind and solar assets.

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Loblaw Companies (OTCMKTS:LBLCF  Get Free Report) is one of 62 public companies in the Grocery Stores industry, but how does it weigh in compared to its peers? We will compare Loblaw Companies to similar companies based on the strength of its earnings, institutional ownership, risk, valuation, dividends, analyst recommendations and profitability.

Profitability

This table compares Loblaw Companies and its peers net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

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Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Loblaw Companies N/A N/A N/A Loblaw Companies Competitors 1.92% 15.02% 4.91%

Analyst Ratings

This is a breakdown of recent ratings for Loblaw Companies and its peers, as reported by MarketBeat.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Loblaw Companies 0 1 0 0 2.00 Loblaw Companies Competitors 1121 2754 3008 115 2.30

Insider & Institutional Ownership

Loblaw Companies currently has a consensus price target of $137.75, indicating a potential upside of 54.60%. As a group, Grocery Stores companies have a potential upside of 93.69%. Given Loblaw Companies peers stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, analysts clearly believe Loblaw Companies has less favorable growth aspects than its peers.

70.9% of Loblaw Companies shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 45.3% of shares of all Grocery Stores companies are held by institutional investors. 22.8% of shares of all Grocery Stores companies are held 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

Loblaw Companies pays an annual dividend of $0.97 per share and has a dividend yield of 1.1%. Loblaw Companies pays out -438.4% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. As a group, Grocery Stores companies pay a dividend yield of 4.3% and pay out 62.2% of their earnings in the form of a dividend.

Valuation & Earnings

This table compares Loblaw Companies and its peers gross revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio Loblaw Companies N/A N/A -402.69 Loblaw Companies Competitors $26.99 billion $611.50 million 205.28

Loblaw Companies peers have higher revenue and earnings than Loblaw Companies. Loblaw Companies 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

Loblaw Companies peers beat Loblaw Companies on 11 of the 13 factors compared.

Loblaw Companies Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Loblaw Companies Limited, a food and pharmacy company, engages in the grocery, pharmacy, health and beauty, apparel, general merchandise, financial services, and wireless mobile products and services businesses in Canada. It operates in two segments, Retail and Financial Services. The Retail segment operates corporate and franchise-owned retail food, and associate-owned drug stores. This segment also includes in-store pharmacies, other health and beauty product stores, apparel stores, and other general merchandise stores. The Financial Services segment provides credit card and banking services, the PC Optimum program, insurance brokerage services, and telecommunication services. It also offers PC Health app. The company provides its products and services under various brands. The company was founded in 1919 and is headquartered in Brampton, Canada. Loblaw Companies Limited is a subsidiary of George Weston Limited.

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MicroSectors FANG+ Index ETN (NYSEARCA:FNGS  Get Free Report) was the recipient of some unusual options trading on Friday. Stock traders purchased 26,097 put options on the company. This is an increase of approximately 1,877% compared to the average daily volume of 1,320 put options.

MicroSectors FANG+ Index ETN Stock Down 0.5 %

Shares of NYSEARCA:FNGS opened at $34.77 on Friday. MicroSectors FANG+ Index ETN has a fifty-two week low of $17.82 and a fifty-two week high of $35.47. The business has a 50-day moving average of $31.73 and a two-hundred day moving average of $26.65.

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Hedge Funds Weigh In On MicroSectors FANG+ Index ETN

A hedge fund recently bought a new stake in MicroSectors FANG+ Index ETN stock. OLD Mission Capital LLC purchased a new stake in shares of MicroSectors FANG+ Index ETN (NYSEARCA:FNGS  Free Report) during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund purchased 2,993 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $58,000. OLD Mission Capital LLC owned 0.12% of MicroSectors FANG+ Index ETN as of its most recent SEC filing.

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National Bank Holdings Co. (NYSE:NBHC  Get Free Report) saw a large decrease in short interest during the month of June. As of June 30th, there was short interest totalling 532,400 shares, a decrease of 26.7% from the June 15th total of 726,000 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 235,900 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 2.3 days.

National Bank Price Performance

NBHC stock opened at $32.55 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $1.23 billion, a PE ratio of 12.19 and a beta of 0.90. The companys 50-day moving average is $30.97 and its 200-day moving average is $35.46. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.93, a current ratio of 1.01 and a quick ratio of 1.00. National Bank has a 1 year low of $26.48 and a 1 year high of $50.00.

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National Bank (NYSE:NBHC  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, April 20th. The financial services provider reported $1.06 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.00 by $0.06. National Bank had a net margin of 22.64% and a return on equity of 12.25%. The business had revenue of $109.55 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $108.49 million. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $0.61 EPS. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 66.7% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts expect that National Bank will post 3.7 EPS for the current fiscal year.

National Bank Increases Dividend

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, June 15th. Investors of record on Friday, May 26th were given a $0.26 dividend. This is a boost from National Banks previous quarterly dividend of $0.25. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, May 25th. This represents a $1.04 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.20%. National Banks dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 38.95%.

NBHC has been the subject of a number of research reports. StockNews.com initiated coverage on National Bank in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a sell rating for the company. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods decreased their price objective on National Bank from $49.00 to $40.00 and set a market perform rating for the company in a report on Thursday, April 6th.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On National Bank

Several large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in NBHC. Quadrant Capital Group LLC lifted its position in shares of National Bank by 358.0% during the 4th quarter. Quadrant Capital Group LLC now owns 600 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $25,000 after buying an additional 469 shares in the last quarter. Bessemer Group Inc. bought a new position in shares of National Bank during the 1st quarter worth approximately $38,000. Captrust Financial Advisors lifted its position in shares of National Bank by 145.4% during the 1st quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 1,698 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $68,000 after buying an additional 1,006 shares in the last quarter. Point72 Hong Kong Ltd increased its stake in shares of National Bank by 2,677.4% during the 1st quarter. Point72 Hong Kong Ltd now owns 1,722 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $69,000 after purchasing an additional 1,660 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Tower Research Capital LLC TRC increased its stake in shares of National Bank by 24.4% during the 1st quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 2,005 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $67,000 after purchasing an additional 393 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 89.71% of the companys stock.

About National Bank

(Get Free Report)

National Bank Holdings Corporation operates as the bank holding company for NBH Bank that provides various banking products and financial services to commercial, business, and consumer clients in the United States. It offers deposit products, including checking, savings, money market, and other deposit accounts, including fixed-rate and fixed maturity time deposits.

Further Reading

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Nokia Oyj (NYSE:NOK  Get Free Report) was the target of some unusual options trading activity on Friday. Stock investors acquired 13,814 call options on the company. This is an increase of approximately 66% compared to the typical volume of 8,299 call options.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of analysts recently weighed in on the stock. TheStreet lowered shares of Nokia Oyj from a b- rating to a c+ rating in a report on Monday, June 12th. StockNews.com lowered shares of Nokia Oyj from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Friday, June 16th. Finally, Raymond James lowered their price target on shares of Nokia Oyj from $7.00 to $6.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a report on Friday, April 21st. Seven investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $5.73.

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Institutional Investors Weigh In On Nokia Oyj

Several institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in NOK. BlackRock Inc. grew its stake in Nokia Oyj by 18.9% in the 1st quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 4,795,249 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $26,183,000 after buying an additional 763,930 shares during the last quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP boosted its position in Nokia Oyj by 79.1% in the first quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 5,029,643 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $27,462,000 after buying an additional 2,221,142 shares in the last quarter. Vontobel Holding Ltd. bought a new position in shares of Nokia Oyj during the first quarter valued at $55,000. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC raised its stake in shares of Nokia Oyj by 44.9% during the first quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC now owns 62,728 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $343,000 after acquiring an additional 19,430 shares during the last quarter. Finally, NewEdge Advisors LLC raised its stake in shares of Nokia Oyj by 171.3% during the first quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 33,493 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $183,000 after acquiring an additional 21,146 shares during the last quarter. 6.51% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Nokia Oyj Trading Down 8.5 %

Shares of NYSE NOK opened at $3.98 on Friday. The companys fifty day moving average is $4.09 and its 200-day moving average is $4.46. The stock has a market cap of $22.42 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 5.04 and a beta of 0.97. Nokia Oyj has a twelve month low of $3.91 and a twelve month high of $5.28. The company has a quick ratio of 1.28, a current ratio of 1.55 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.17.

Nokia Oyj (NYSE:NOK  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, April 19th. The technology company reported $0.06 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.09 by ($0.03). The company had revenue of $5.86 billion during 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 companys revenue was up 9.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $0.08 earnings per share. Equities research analysts predict that Nokia Oyj will post 0.44 EPS for the current year.

Nokia Oyj Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, May 9th. Investors 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 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.31%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, April 24th. Nokia Oyjs payout ratio is currently 11.39%.

About Nokia Oyj

(Get 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.

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Palisades Hudson Asset Management L.P. lessened its holdings in shares of Chevron Co. (NYSE:CVX  Free Report) by 7.3% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 2,234 shares of the oil and gas companys stock after selling 177 shares during the period. Palisades Hudson Asset Management L.P.s holdings in Chevron were worth $365,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Destiny Wealth Partners LLC grew its holdings in shares of Chevron by 29.3% during the 1st quarter. Destiny Wealth Partners LLC now owns 3,170 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $517,000 after acquiring an additional 718 shares during the period. First American Trust FSB grew its holdings in shares of Chevron by 1.4% during the 1st quarter. First American Trust FSB now owns 4,469 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $729,000 after acquiring an additional 61 shares during the period. Concord Wealth Partners grew its holdings in shares of Chevron by 212.7% during the 1st quarter. Concord Wealth Partners now owns 7,652 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $1,248,000 after acquiring an additional 5,205 shares during the period. Chicago Partners Investment Group LLC boosted its position in shares of Chevron by 2.6% in the 1st quarter. Chicago Partners Investment Group LLC now owns 15,876 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $2,722,000 after purchasing an additional 409 shares in the last quarter. Finally, TRU Independence Asset Management 2 LLC bought a new stake in shares of Chevron in the 1st quarter worth approximately $410,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 69.65% of the companys stock.

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Chevron Trading Down 2.5 %

NYSE:CVX opened at $153.58 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.13, a current ratio of 1.43 and a quick ratio of 1.16. The firm has a market capitalization of $290.98 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.29, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.80 and a beta of 1.16. Chevron Co. has a one year low of $136.43 and a one year high of $189.68. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $155.83 and a 200-day moving average price of $163.85.

Chevron Announces Dividend

Chevron ( NYSE:CVX Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Friday, April 28th. The oil and gas company reported $3.55 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $3.41 by $0.14. Chevron had a return on equity of 23.15% and a net margin of 14.74%. The business had revenue of $50.79 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $49.49 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $3.36 EPS. Chevrons revenue for the quarter was down 6.6% compared to the same quarter last year. Sell-side analysts forecast that Chevron Co. will post 13.75 EPS for the current year.

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, June 12th. Shareholders of record on Friday, May 19th were paid a $1.51 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, May 18th. This represents a $6.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.93%. Chevrons payout ratio is presently 32.61%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of analysts have recently commented on CVX shares. Truist Financial dropped their price target on Chevron from $193.00 to $190.00 in a research report on Monday, May 1st. Scotiabank raised Chevron from a sector perform rating to a sector outperform rating and boosted their price target for the stock from $195.00 to $200.00 in a research report on Thursday, April 13th. StockNews.com started coverage on Chevron in a research report on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a hold rating on the stock. Morgan Stanley upped their price objective on Chevron from $192.00 to $198.00 in a research report on Tuesday, May 23rd. Finally, Citigroup lowered their price objective on Chevron from $180.00 to $170.00 in a research report on Tuesday, July 11th. Eight research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and thirteen have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Chevron currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $191.63.

About Chevron

(Free Report)

Chevron Corporation, through its subsidiaries, engages in the integrated energy and chemicals operations in the United States and internationally. The company operates in two segments, Upstream and Downstream. The Upstream segment is involved in the exploration, development, production, and transportation of crude oil and natural gas; liquefaction, transportation, and regasification associated with liquefied natural gas; transportation of crude oil through pipelines; and processing, transportation, storage, and marketing of natural gas, as well as a gas-to-liquids plant.

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Securian Asset Management Inc. increased its stake in shares of Delta Air Lines, Inc. (NYSE:DAL  Free Report) by 0.6% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 52,987 shares of the transportation companys stock after acquiring an additional 339 shares during the quarter. Securian Asset Management Inc.s holdings in Delta Air Lines were worth $1,850,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other large investors have also bought and sold shares of the stock. Ameritas Advisory Services LLC grew its stake in shares of Delta Air Lines by 2.1% in the 4th quarter. Ameritas Advisory Services LLC now owns 12,655 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $416,000 after buying an additional 263 shares during the period. Argent Advisors Inc. grew its position in Delta Air Lines by 1.6% in the 4th quarter. Argent Advisors Inc. now owns 16,912 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $556,000 after purchasing an additional 274 shares during the period. CVA Family Office LLC increased its stake in Delta Air Lines by 7.5% during the 4th quarter. CVA Family Office LLC now owns 3,973 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $131,000 after purchasing an additional 278 shares in the last quarter. Main Street Financial Solutions LLC raised its holdings in Delta Air Lines by 3.3% during the first quarter. Main Street Financial Solutions LLC now owns 9,113 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $318,000 after buying an additional 291 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Forum Financial Management LP lifted its stake in shares of Delta Air Lines by 3.5% in the first quarter. Forum Financial Management LP now owns 8,675 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $343,000 after buying an additional 292 shares in the last quarter. 68.35% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

DAL has been the topic of several recent research reports. Wolfe Research raised their price target on shares of Delta Air Lines from $51.00 to $54.00 in a research report on Friday. Evercore ISI increased their price target on Delta Air Lines from $55.00 to $60.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Friday. StockNews.com raised shares of Delta Air Lines from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Saturday. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their target price on shares of Delta Air Lines from $81.00 to $69.00 in a report on Monday, May 8th. Finally, Barclays boosted their price target on shares of Delta Air Lines from $55.00 to $58.00 in a report on Thursday. Thirteen research analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Buy and a consensus target price of $55.97.

Delta Air Lines Stock Down 2.3 %

DAL stock opened at $46.49 on Friday. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $40.54 and a 200-day moving average of $37.66. Delta Air Lines, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $27.20 and a fifty-two week high of $49.81. The company has a market capitalization of $29.88 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.02, a PEG ratio of 0.20 and a beta of 1.31. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.24, a quick ratio of 0.42 and a current ratio of 0.46.

Delta Air Lines (NYSE:DAL  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, July 13th. The transportation company reported $2.68 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $2.40 by $0.28. Delta Air Lines had a net margin of 5.36% and a return on equity of 59.56%. The firm had revenue of $15.58 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $14.44 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $1.44 earnings per share. The companys quarterly revenue was up 12.7% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities research analysts predict that Delta Air Lines, Inc. will post 6.24 earnings per share for the current year.

Delta Air Lines Cuts Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, August 7th. Shareholders of record on Monday, July 17th will be given 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 0.86%. Delta Air Liness dividend payout ratio is currently 8.62%.

Insider Transactions at Delta Air Lines

In related news, EVP Joanne D. Smith sold 7,513 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction 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 sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 107,782 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,977,155.80. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. In other news, Director David S. Taylor acquired 5,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, April 26th. The stock was bought at an average cost of $32.83 per share, for a total transaction of $164,150.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 25,360 shares of the companys stock, valued at $832,568.80. The purchase was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. 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 sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 107,782 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,977,155.80. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Corporate insiders own 0.89% of the companys stock.

Delta Air Lines Profile

(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.

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Strs Ohio decreased its position in shares of Ventas, Inc. (NYSE:VTR  Free Report) by 29.6% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 381,935 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock after selling 160,296 shares during the period. Strs Ohio owned 0.10% of Ventas worth $16,556,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. MV Capital Management Inc. raised its stake in Ventas by 923.2% during the 4th quarter. MV Capital Management Inc. now owns 573 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $26,000 after acquiring an additional 517 shares during the period. Belpointe Asset Management LLC bought a new stake in Ventas during the 4th quarter worth approximately $32,000. Hollencrest Capital Management bought a new stake in Ventas during the 4th quarter worth approximately $34,000. Ahrens Investment Partners LLC bought a new stake in Ventas during the 1st quarter worth approximately $34,000. Finally, Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV raised its position in shares of Ventas by 53.8% during the first quarter. Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV now owns 806 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $35,000 after buying an additional 282 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 92.87% of the companys stock.

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Ventas Trading Down 0.9 %

VTR stock opened at $48.07 on Friday. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $45.97 and a 200 day moving average price of $46.80. Ventas, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $35.33 and a fifty-two week high of $54.11. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.23, a quick ratio of 0.63 and a current ratio of 0.63. The firm has a market cap of $19.23 billion, a PE ratio of -267.04, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.10 and a beta of 1.20.

Ventas Dividend Announcement

Analysts Set New Price Targets

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, July 13th. Shareholders of record on Monday, July 3rd were paid a dividend of $0.45 per share. This represents a $1.80 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.74%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, June 30th. Ventass payout ratio is -999.94%.

Several equities research analysts have recently issued reports on VTR shares. Wells Fargo & Company started coverage on shares of Ventas in a research report on Wednesday, April 19th. They set an overweight rating and a $50.00 price objective on the stock. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Ventas from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research report on Thursday, May 11th. Credit Suisse Group reduced their price objective on shares of Ventas from $51.00 to $50.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, April 12th. Barclays reduced their price objective on shares of Ventas from $57.00 to $55.00 in a research report on Tuesday, April 25th. Finally, Raymond James upgraded shares of Ventas from an outperform rating to a strong-buy rating and set a $55.00 price objective on the stock in a research report on Friday, June 23rd. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, five have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Ventas currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $53.00.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Ventas news, Director Walter C. Rakowich sold 1,242 shares of Ventas stock in a transaction on Friday, May 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $42.57, for a total transaction of $52,871.94. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 24,528 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,044,156.96. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. 1.30% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Ventas Company Profile

(Free Report)

Ventas Inc, an S&P 500 company, operates at the intersection of two large and dynamic industries healthcare and real estate. Fueled by powerful demographic demand from growth in the aging population, Ventas owns a diversified portfolio of over 1,200 properties in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.

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Strs Ohio trimmed its holdings in shares of EMCOR Group, Inc. (NYSE:EME  Free Report) by 8.3% during the first quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 62,100 shares of the construction companys stock after selling 5,600 shares during the period. Strs Ohio owned about 0.13% of EMCOR Group worth $10,096,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the business. Congress Asset Management Co. MA raised its stake in EMCOR Group by 1,083.3% in the 4th quarter. Congress Asset Management Co. MA now owns 719,846 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $106,616,000 after acquiring an additional 659,012 shares during the period. Norges Bank bought a new stake in EMCOR Group in the 4th quarter valued at about $63,867,000. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. raised its stake in EMCOR Group by 236.3% in the 1st quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. now owns 383,214 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $62,307,000 after acquiring an additional 269,253 shares during the period. Morgan Stanley raised its stake in EMCOR Group by 103.1% in the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 521,712 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $77,271,000 after acquiring an additional 264,826 shares during the period. Finally, Millennium Management LLC raised its stake in EMCOR Group by 126.6% in the 4th quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 404,335 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $59,886,000 after acquiring an additional 225,879 shares during the period. 96.67% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Separately, StockNews.com began coverage on EMCOR Group in a report on Thursday, May 18th. They set a strong-buy rating for the company.

EMCOR Group Stock Up 0.0 %

EME stock opened at $187.68 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.30, a current ratio of 1.34 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.16. The firm has a market capitalization of $8.92 billion, a PE ratio of 20.62 and a beta of 1.10. EMCOR Group, Inc. has a twelve month low of $100.36 and a twelve month high of $188.46. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $174.46 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $161.92.

EMCOR Group (NYSE:EME  Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, April 27th. The construction company reported $2.32 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.83 by $0.49. The business had revenue of $2.89 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.87 billion. EMCOR Group had a return on equity of 22.68% and a net margin of 3.91%. The companys quarterly revenue was up 11.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $1.39 EPS. On average, equities analysts predict that EMCOR Group, Inc. will post 9.74 EPS for the current fiscal year.

EMCOR Group Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, July 31st. Stockholders of record on Thursday, July 20th will be issued a dividend of $0.18 per share. This represents a $0.72 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.38%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, July 19th. EMCOR Groups payout ratio is 7.91%.

Insider Transactions at EMCOR Group

In other news, CEO Anthony Guzzi sold 11,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Thursday, April 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $165.52, for a total transaction of $1,820,720.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 257,655 shares of the companys stock, valued at $42,647,055.60. 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 Anthony Guzzi sold 11,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Thursday, April 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $165.52, for a total transaction of $1,820,720.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 257,655 shares of the companys stock, valued at $42,647,055.60. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, CFO Mark A. Pompa sold 25,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, April 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $170.00, for a total value of $4,250,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 58,758 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $9,988,860. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders sold 60,462 shares of company stock valued at $10,334,368. 1.60% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

EMCOR Group Profile

(Free Report)

EMCOR Group, Inc provides electrical and mechanical construction, and facilities services primarily in the United States and the United Kingdom. It offers design, integration, installation, start-up, operation, and maintenance services related to electrical power transmission, distribution, and generation systems; energy solutions; premises electrical and lighting systems; process instrumentation in the refining, chemical processing, and food processing industries; low-voltage systems, such as fire alarm, security, and process control systems; voice and data communications systems; roadway and transit lighting, signaling, and fiber optic lines; heating, ventilation, air conditioning, refrigeration, and geothermal solutions; clean-room process ventilation systems; fire protection and suppression systems; plumbing, process, and high-purity piping systems; controls and filtration systems; water and wastewater treatment systems; central plant heating and cooling systems; crane and rigging services; millwright services; and steel fabrication, erection, and welding services.

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Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Holdings Inc. lifted its holdings in Manulife Financial Co. (NYSE:MFC  Free Report) (TSE:MFC) by 6.2% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 5,843,418 shares of the financial services providers stock after acquiring an additional 343,132 shares during the quarter. Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Holdings Inc. owned 0.32% of Manulife Financial worth $107,163,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in the business. Mercer Global Advisors Inc. ADV lifted its holdings in shares of Manulife Financial by 1.6% in the 4th quarter. Mercer Global Advisors Inc. ADV now owns 34,146 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $609,000 after acquiring an additional 529 shares during the last quarter. Todd Asset Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Manulife Financial by 1.2% in the 4th quarter. Todd Asset Management LLC now owns 48,686 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $869,000 after acquiring an additional 585 shares during the last quarter. Brinker Capital Investments LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Manulife Financial by 5.3% in the 1st quarter. Brinker Capital Investments LLC now owns 12,449 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $266,000 after acquiring an additional 624 shares during the last quarter. Comerica Bank lifted its holdings in shares of Manulife Financial by 1.1% in the 4th quarter. Comerica Bank now owns 61,304 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $1,166,000 after acquiring an additional 690 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Townsquare Capital LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Manulife Financial by 5.3% in the 4th quarter. Townsquare Capital LLC now owns 14,836 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $265,000 after acquiring an additional 744 shares during the last quarter. 40.71% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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Manulife Financial Stock Down 0.7 %

NYSE:MFC opened at $18.86 on Friday. The company has a fifty day moving average of $18.96 and a 200 day moving average of $19.00. Manulife Financial Co. has a 52 week low of $14.92 and a 52 week high of $20.40. The firm has a market capitalization of $34.69 billion, a P/E ratio of 8.65, a P/E/G ratio of 0.78 and a beta of 1.10.

Manulife Financial Cuts Dividend

Manulife Financial ( NYSE:MFC Get Free Report ) (TSE:MFC) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, May 10th. The financial services provider reported $0.58 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.57 by $0.01. The company had revenue of $9.32 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $10.68 billion. As a group, analysts anticipate that Manulife Financial Co. will post 2.44 EPS for the current year.

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, June 19th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, May 24th were issued a $0.269 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, May 23rd. This represents a $1.08 annualized dividend and a yield of 5.71%. Manulife Financials dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 49.54%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Separately, StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Manulife Financial in a report on Thursday, May 18th. They set a hold rating for the company.

Manulife Financial Profile

(Free Report)

Manulife Financial Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, provides financial products and services in Asia, Canada, the United States, and internationally. The company operates through Wealth and Asset Management Businesses; Insurance and Annuity Products; and Corporate and Other segments. The Wealth and Asset Management Businesses segment offers investment advice and solutions to retirement, retail, and institutional clients through multiple distribution channels, including agents and brokers affiliated with the company, independent securities brokerage firms and financial advisors pension plan consultants, and banks.

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Tanaiste Micheal Martin visits South Africa and Mozambique

Press release

Tanaiste Micheal Martin TD, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Defence begins a weeklong visit to South Africa and Mozambique on Monday 17 July, in Cape Town, South Africa.

Speaking ahead of the visit, the Tanaiste said:

As I travel to South Africa and Mozambique, I look forward to building on our excellent relations with both countries, particularly with respect to our political, economic and development relations. South Africa is one of our key partners in Africa, a significant market for Irish exports and home to the largest Irish diaspora on the continent.

Mozambique is a close partner where Irelands second largest bilateral international development programme is focused. While there, I look forward to witnessing first-hand the positive and sustainable difference that Ireland is making to the lives of people in Mozambique.

The Tanaiste added:

This visit holds special significance for a number of reasons. I look forward to marking Mandela Day in South Africa on 18 July, where I will be participating in 67 minutes of service at a community centre, in the company of Foreign Minister Pandor, in commemoration of the 67 years Nelson Mandela spent working for social justice in South Africa. In Mozambique, I am particularly looking forward to my visit to the Province of Inhambane, where Ireland has had an active presence on the ground for over 25 years.

During his time in South Africa, the Tanaiste will deliver the inaugural lecture of the Maxeke-Robinson Irish Studies Chair and open a Good Friday Exhibition, which are being hosted by the University of the Western Cape. He will also officially open the office of Irish firm, Kirby Group Engineering in Cape Town, and hold engagements with Bord Bia clients, as well as with Enterprise Ireland client companies working in the Medical Technology sector.

In Mozambique, the Tanaiste will visit Inhambane province, where Ireland has been working for many years. While there, the Tanaiste will visit partners working in the nutrition, health and education sectors. These include an Agricultural and Blue Economy Fair and the inauguration of a solar powered water pump system. The Tanaiste will also visit a health centre supported through Irish funding to the healthcare system of Mozambique, and a primary school supported through Irish funding to the education sector in Mozambique.

During his visit, the Tanaiste will meet with President Ramaphosa of South Africa and President Nyusi of Mozambique, and hold high-level political engagements with his counterparts and officials in both countries.

ENDS

Press Office

16 July 2023

 Previous Item | Next Item 
There were testy exchanges between Louth Independent TD Peter Fitzpatrick and Ryan Tubridy at Tuesdays Oireachtas Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport and Media.

Mr Tubridy was before the Committee alongside his agent Noel Kelly to answer questions regarding payments made to him as part of a contentious deal at the centre of the controversy that has engulfed RTE.

In his opening statement made before the Public Accounts Committee that morning Mr Tubridy had thanked the many people from across the country who have taken time to stop me on the street, decent Irish citizens who have taken my shoulder and elbow in their hands and said, "You will get through this." I have cards and letters, nearly a foot off the ground, from people who have written to "Ryan Tubridy, Dublin".

However, apparently taking issue with the comments, while asking questions of Mr Tubridy, Deputy Fitzpatrick contended that:

I do not know who all these people are who are rubbing his shoulders and shaking his hand, because if he came to County Louth, it would be the opposite.

The Louth TD further asked Mr Tubridy if his leaving "The Late Late Show" had nothing to do with the controversy and if he stuck by his statement that the timing was entirely a coincidence and that he first became aware of the Grant Thornton review in May.

Mr Tubridy replied, Yes, adding: The Deputy's dismissal of the good people of Ireland who have the courtesy and kindness to approach me in the street is not something I appreciate, on their behalf.

They have approached me too, interjected Deputy Fitzpatrick.

Mr Tubridy continued: Second, I wish I had brought with me, in some ways, the countless cards and letters I have received from people around the country, speaking words of kindness and, indeed, wisdom. I would not like to dismiss their decency either.

Later on in the exchange Deputy Fitzpatrick questioned Mr Tubridys agent Noel Kelly on an invoice labelled consultancy fees sent to Uk based company ASTUS to collect a fee of 75k which Renault had agreed to pay Mr Tubridy but was guaranteed by RTE.

Deputy Fitzpatrick put it to him that: In respect of the consultancy fee invoices, Mr. Kelly simply followed instructions?

Mr Kelly answered: Yes.

The Louth TD continued: Mr. Kelly is a very successful negotiator and works for three members of the top talent at RTE. Why was this instruction not questioned? Neither of the witnesses are consultancies. If RTE told Mr. Kelly to invoice a company he had never heard of, why did he not question it? It makes no sense.

In response Mr.Kelly responded that: I suppose it is obvious now, but at the time we were just acting under instruction. We had been working with RTE for 23 years. I never saw any reason RTE would do anything deceptive. Why would I? It is the national broadcaster. I listen and watch and pay my licence fee like everybody else. Honestly, why would I have doubted it?

The Louth TD finished by stating that people were very disappointed with Mr. Tubridy but commended both men for coming to the Committee voluntarily.

People just want to know the truth about what happened over this.

Last week and the week before we seem to have been told lies, he claimed.

I am hoping the information we received today from both the witnesses is the truth. If it is the truth then we would all put our hands up.

It is public money. People are really sad over this. Mr. Tubridy is the one who kept mentioning the cost of living.

I have not changed how I felt. I love the Deputy's county very much, by the way, responded Mr Tubridy.

Mr. Tubridy has said how he feels. There are millions of people in Ireland who feel worse, replied Deputy Fitzpatrick.

Yes, I understand, said Mr Tubridy.
GREEN Party councillor for Cork City northeast Oliver Moran has welcomed updated road-traffic legislation to regulate e-scooters and e-bikes and to allow gardai to seize scramblers being used for anti-social purposes.

The Road Traffic and Roads Act 2023 was recently signed into law.

It provides a legal basis for light electric vehicles up to 25kg in weight and with a maximum speed of 25km/h. The new category is called powered personal transporters. Regulations for e-scooters will follow.

The act also caps the power and speed of electric bicycles at 250W. The motor will cut out at 25km/hr or when the cyclist stops peddling. Most electric bicycles are already in this category.

Electric bicycles above this limit will be categorised as e-mopeds and will need to be registered, taxed, and insured and the drivers will need to have a moped drivers licence. The new law makes it easier for gardai to seize vehicles like scramblers that are being driven dangerously.

Mr Moran said: The types of vehicles we see on our streets are changing. I cycle an electric bicycle as probably my main mode of transport to get around the city, but I know many people wonder at what point a bicycle becomes a motorcycle. This law clarifies that and brings us in line with the European norm.

He said: On the northside, theres a huge interest in e-scooters to get into town easily and cheaply and back up the hills again, and theres concerns about these too.

"The new law caps the weight and speed of e-scooters and the regulations that will follow will clarify where these can be ridden and how. They shouldnt be ridden on footpaths, but they are welcome in the cycle lanes that are being rolled out across the city. That opens new opportunities for people to get around safely.
THE inability of representatives from Transport Infrastructure Ireland to attend individual council, municipal district, and strategic policy committee meetings frustrated county councillors at last Mondays council meeting.

The issue was raised after Andrew Moore, senior regulatory and administration executive with the TII, replied to previous correspondence from the council, which sought clarity on speed-limit decisions and enquired about meeting with TII representatives.

In the letter to Cork Council Council, Mr Moore said: Due to staffing constraints, it is not possible for representatives of Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) to attend individual council, municipal district, strategic policy committee, or other local authority committee meetings, throughout the country.

"Cork County Council recently made its special speed limits for the county, on June 12, 2023. This followed a lengthy period of consultation with An Garda Siochana, the public and, in relation to national roads, TII.

The response angered several councillors and it was agreed that the council would write back to the TII seeking a meeting. The council also agreed to write to the Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan, highlighting the negative response from the TII.

Fianna Fail councillor Seamus McGrath said it is outrageous that the TII wont accept a request to attend a meeting.

The response is extremely disappointing. It is quite outrageous that TII do no see fit to accept a request from us as a local authority that somebody would attend. This isnt a request we make too often, and I think they should be prepared to attend a local authority meeting even on a 12 monthly basis from a point of view of engaging with local authorities. I would ask that we would reply to this and again repeat our request, he said.

Mr McGrath said: I would also suggest that we write to the minister for transport, highlighting the fact that we have got a negative response from TII to a request for them to attend an engagement with us as a local authority.

A spokesperson for TII told The Echo: TII works in collaboration with our colleagues in Cork County Council on a daily basis. TII would not be able to achieve the significant amount of success in delivering multiple projects throughout County Cork without having a strong working relationship, as is evident by the on-going development of major projects like the M8/N25 Dunkettle interchange, the N22 Ballyvourney to Macroom, and the progression of N28 Cork to Ringaskiddy project.
Significant progress is being made in the delivery of affordable and cost rental homes, the Tanaiste has said.

Micheal Martin was speaking following a visit to a Project Tosaigh development in North Cork on Friday.

Mr Martin met with new homeowners in Clonmore in Mallow, a development of 95 A-rated homes, which was delivered by the Land Development Agency (LDA) in partnership with Cork County Council and the OFlynn Group.

LDA CEO John Coleman, Cllr Gearoid Murphy, Cllr Pat Hayes, new homeowner Pamela Kruger and Tanaiste Micheal Martin at the LDAs Clonmore development in Mallow, Cork. Photo: Gerard McCarthy

I am delighted to visit Clonmore and to meet new homeowners of affordable purchase homes, Mr Martin said.

The Government has ambitious targets to deliver affordable and cost rental homes and significant progress is being made by the LDA and local authorities.

We are conscious of the pressing need to maintain momentum in this regard and to continue to ensure the delivery of more housing, but it is also good to recognise successful projects that are already delivering and to meet and engage with the homeowners who have benefitted from the work and the considerable investment involved, he continued.

Fianna Fail councillor Pat Hayes, deputising for the Mayor of the County of Cork, described the Clonmore development as an excellent example of what can be achieved by local authorities working in partnership with developers and the LDA.

Tanaiste Micheal Martin and Cllr Pat Hayes chat with local children, at the LDAs Clonmore development in Mallow, Cork. Photo: Gerard McCarthy

The Tanaistes visit to Cork comes as the LDA has called on more would-be homeowners to check if they are eligible under the First Homes and Local Authority shared equity schemes and has suggested that people looking to purchase a new home should consider applying for homes in existing and future developments.

Affordable homes are made available to would-be homeowners who do not qualify for mortgages or other state backed housing supports due to their income levels, but who are also struggling to otherwise purchase their own house.

Homes can be purchased through two different schemes, the Local Authority Affordable Purchase Scheme and the First Home Scheme (FHS).

In both cases, purchasers can buy back the First Homes or local authoritys stake at any time but are not obligated to repay it until the ultimate sale of their home.

In Clonmore, homes are currently available for occupation under the First Home Scheme.

Affordable purchase homes have also been launched by the LDA in Summerfields, Kilbarry in Waterford.

Tanaiste Micheal Martin pictured with new homeowners Harry and Martin Ryan at the LDAs Clonmore development in Mallow, Cork. Photo: Gerard McCarthy

The 92 homes in Kilbarry are being delivered through a partnership involving the LDA, Waterford City and County Council and the Whitebox Group.

Chief executive of the LDA, John Coleman called on would-be homeowners to consider purchasing a home in the Cork and Waterford developments.

It is vital that they examine the qualifying criteria to determine if they meet them thus enabling them to purchase their own home.

Full details are available on our website or through Sherry Fitzgerald New Homes in Cork and Liberty Blue in Waterford who will be able to assist prospective purchasers in relation to the process, he said.

These schemes are open to households who are effectively locked out of the housing market because they earn too much to qualify for other state backed housing supports, but not enough to purchase their own home in the private market without the support of the shared equity schemes.

The schemes simply offer financial support in return for equity, but ultimately the homeowner owns the home and benefits from the security of having an affordable mortgage.
A 41-year-old man has appeared at a special sitting of Cork District Court charged with the murder of his wife who was found dead a house in in Wilton on the southside of the city on Friday evening.

Regin Parithapara Rajan was charged with the murder, contrary to Common Law, of 38-year-old Deepa Paruthiyezhuth Dinamani at Cardinal Court in Wilton in Cork on July 14.

Det Garda Alan Johnson gave evidence of arrest charge and caution.

He said that at 2.45am today at Togher Garda Station in Cork city he formally charged Mr Rajan with the murder of his wife.

Mr Rajan made no reply when the charge was put to him under caution.

Defence solicitor Eddie Burke told Judge Olann Kelleher that his client needed to be seen by a psychiatrist in prison as he is suffering from depression. He applied for, and was granted, free legal aid as his client has no means or income.

Judge Kelleher directed that Mr Rajan receive all the required medical attention in custody.

There was no bail application in the case as bail cannot be granted in the District Court when the charge is one of murder.

Mr Rajan, who was wearing a dark shirt and pants, was remanded in custody to appear before Cork District Court again by video link next Thursday. Further DPP directions will be obtained in the case.

The court heard that there was no need for an interpreter in the case.

Mr Rajan is a native of India. Deepa Dinamani was a chartered accountant who was working as a senior manager in fund services at a company based in the Airport Business Park in Cork.

The deceased, who is the mother of a five-year-old son, was from Kerala in Southern India and had been living in Cork for just three months.

She was pronounced dead at her family home in Cardinal Court on the southside of the city on Friday evening.

The alarm was raised when she failed to pick up her son at a house of a friend.

She was found in a bedroom of the property which she shared with her husband and five-year-old son.

Her body was transferred to Cork University Hospital where a postmortem examination was carried out.

A forensic examination also took place at her home in Wilton. The scene remained sealed off yesterday.
A 40-year-old man facing 196 charges of theft from his former employer at a motor factors amounting to 12,500 signed a plea of guilty to 14 sample charges on July 12 and he will be sentenced in October.

Alan Mitchell, of 15 Fairhill Drive, Cork, was charged by Detective Garda Alan Johnson at Cork District Court.

Eugene Murphy solicitor indicated that the accused was prepared to sign pleas of guilty to the sample charges.

The thefts occurred between August 2018 and May 2022 at City View Wheels, motor factors, Nicholas Well Lane, Cork, and each charge refers to stealing cash in card refund transactions to his employer.

Judge Olann Kelleher sent the case forward for sentencing at the sessions of Cork Circuit Criminal Court commencing on October 23.
More than 150 people attended a candlelit vigil in Cork city this evening (Sunday) in memory of Deepa Dinamani, the 38-year-old mother who was found dead at her home in Wilton.

The vigil, organised by the Cork Pravasi Malayali Association, commenced at 8pm outside the house where Ms Dinamani was found dead shortly after 10pm on Friday night.

The association said the vigil was being organised to rally support for deceased Deepa Dinamani and her family, friends and colleagues.

Deepa Dinamani, 38, whose body was found in a house in Cardinal Court in Wilton on Friday, July 14, 2023.

Melba Siju, a member of Cork Pravasi Malayali Association, said in excess of 150 people turned out for the candlelit vigil in memory of Deepa Dinamani.

It was good to see the support as a community, she said.

Ms Siju said flowers were laid outside the property in Cardinal Court in Wilton where Ms Dinamani was found dead on Friday evening.

None of us seem to know her personally because she was only here [in Ireland] a short while, Ms Siju said, adding that the Indian community in Cork is shocked and deeply saddened by her death.

Ms Siju said the hearts of the Indian community particularly go out to Ms Dinamanis five-year-old son at this tragic time.

Members of the Cork Indian community light candles at the home of the late Deepa Dinamani.

Deepa Dinamani, the mother of a five-year-old son, was from Kerala in Southern India and had been living in Cork for just three months.

She was pronounced dead at her family home in Cardinal Court on the southside of the city on Friday evening.

The alarm was raised when she failed to pick up her son at the house of a friend.

She was found in a bedroom of the property which she shared with her husband and five-year-old son.

Her body was transferred to Cork University Hospital where a post-mortem examination was carried out.

A forensic examination also took place at her home in Wilton. The scene remained sealed off yesterday.
A PROPOSAL to reduce current nitrates derogation stocking rates is leaving many small farmers in fear for their livelihoods.

Thats according to West Cork TD Christopher OSullivan, who attended a rally in Bandon to raise concerns about cuts to the nitrates derogation stock.

Organised by the Cork branches of the Irish Farmers Association, the demonstration was in relation to a proposed decrease from a maximum stocking rate of 250kg of nitrogen per hectare on dairy farms to 220kg. Many voiced worries about how this will impact their futures in the industry. Mr OSullivan said this is particularly true of small farm owners who could see a dramatic reduction in their herd sizes.

The recent protest comes on foot of a report courtesy of the Environmental Protection Agency highlighting the high levels of nitrates in groundwater and estuaries and rivers located in the south-east, midland, as well as eastern and south-west regions. This means that many farmers would have to reduce their organic nitrogen stocking rate to 220kg in 2024 under the derogation.

The report comes under the umbrella of the interim water quality review process of the Nitrates Action Programme.

Fianna Fail TD Christopher OSullivan said there is a lot of anxiety among many farmers linked to the proposed measures.

At the protest were Donal O'Donovan, Chair of West Cork IFA; Tim Cullinan, President of the IFA; John Murphy, Chair of the Environmental Committee, IFA and Christopher O'Sullivan, TD. Picture: Andy Gibson.

There is definitely an anxiety out there, especially among small farmers, Mr OSullivan said. We are talking about someone with a herd of 70 or 80 who will be losing cows to the point where it is unviable for them. Most of these are one-man operations. The bigger farms will be able to sustain potential reductions by buying up neighbouring land to remain within the stocking rates required. Meanwhile, those with small farms will have loans and mortgages they are unable to repay.

"This is very frightening for them.

He said farmers are just looking for more time to achieve sustainability through alternative means: Farmers are suggesting other ways of achieving these targets with measures such as low emissions slurry that is injected into the ground. Seasonal slurry that would involve spreading outside of the late autumn and winter months is another measure that could be beneficial.
By Jonathan McCambridge, PA

A teenager has been killed and four other people injured in a crash in Co Tipperary.

The collision, which involved two cars, happened on the N24 in Ballykisteen shortly before 9pm on Saturday.

A 19-year-old male passenger died.

His body was taken to the mortuary at University Hospital Waterford where a postmortem examination will take place.

The male driver and another male passenger in the same vehicle were taken to University Hospital Limerick, where the passenger remains in a serious condition.

The two occupants of the second vehicle were also taken to hospital with serious but non-life threatening injuries.

The road remains closed and gardai have appealed for witnesses to contact them.

The N24 at Ballykisteen remains closed this morning due to a fatal collision yesterday evening.



Motorists are asked to divert as follows:



Waterford to Limerick

Divert at CahirMitchelstownCaherconlish



Limerick to Waterford

Divert at CaherconlishMitchelstownCahir  An Garda Siochana (@GardaTraffic) July 16, 2023

Meanwhile, a man in his 50s was killed in a two-vehicle collision in Co Mayo.

The crash happened on the N5 at Ballymiles, near Swinford, at approximately 3.35pm on Saturday.

The driver of one of the vehicles died.

The driver of the other vehicle was seriously injured and was taken to Mayo University Hospital.

A man and woman, both passengers from each car, are also receiving treatment. Their injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.
By Grainne Ni Aodha, PA

A reburial ceremony has been held on Inishbofin as 13 human skulls that were stolen by academics more than 100 years ago were returned.

The skulls, thought to be around 400 years old, were taken from a monastery on the island off the Co Galway coast by two Trinity College-affiliated academics in 1890.

After sketching the skulls in the nook of St Colmans monastery, considered sacred by the islanders, Alfred C Haddon and Andrew F Dixon took the skulls in the middle of the night.

Haddons diary entry stated that when asked by sailors bringing them back to the mainland to hand over the satchel, Dixon would not give it up and told the men it contained poitin, a distilled alcohol.

So without any further trouble, we got the skulls aboard and then we packed them in Dixons portmanteau and locked it, and no except our two selves had an idea that there are a dozen human skulls on board and they shant know either, the entry read.

As part of a process to formally review legacy issues since its foundation, Trinity set up a group to examine whether the skulls should be returned, as well as whether the universitys library, named after Irish philosopher and slave-owner George Berkeley, should be renamed.

Headed up by senior dean at Trinity Eoin OSullivan, the Trinity Legacies Review Working Group researched the issue before offering a number of options to the board of Trinity College Dublin on what action it could take.

Mr OSullivan said the two anthropologists took the skulls because they actually thought that this was good science at the time.

The skulls were placed in a traditional coffin designed by architect Christopher Day. Photo: Inishbofin Heritage Museum/PA

In February, the universitys board agreed to return the skulls  Trinity Provost Dr Linda Doyle apologised to the islanders for retaining the remains and thanked them for their engagement.

The decision to return the remains follows years of campaigning by Inishbofin historian, Marie Coyne.

An online petition page that had called for the skulls to be returned had been updated with a message this week.

Many have been waiting for this day for a long time. Its a step toward healing and honouring these people who were laid to rest on Inishbofin, it said.

On Saturday, the skulls arrived on the island, wrapped in plastic and placed in a traditional coffin designed by architect Christopher Day.

A funeral mass was held on Sunday before the 13 skulls were buried in the coffin.
Met Eireann has extended a thunderstorm warning to cover nine counties as the unsettled summer weather continues.

The national forecaster said thunder and lightning will strike parts of Carlow, Dublin, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Meath, Wexford, Wicklow and Waterford on Sunday evening.

Intense rain downpours and spot flooding could impact some areas, along with difficult driving conditions. The alert is in place until 11pm on Sunday.

Status Yellow - Thunderstorm warning Updated - Carlow, Dublin, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Meath, Wexford, Wicklow, Waterford



Potential Impacts:

Spot Flooding 

Difficult travelling conditions   



Valid up to 23:00 Sunday 16/07/2023https://t.co/Xg3aMJlyuS pic.twitter.com/uzbdeT09CQ  Met Eireann (@MetEireann) July 16, 2023

The warning comes amid a prolonged spell of unsettled weather in Ireland. Many parts of the country saw more than 50mm of rain this weekend.

Meanwhile, a heatwave has taken hold across many popular Irish family holiday hotspots in the Mediterranean, such as in Spain, Italy and Greece.

Forecasters say in the coming days parts of Italy and Greece could surpass the 48.8 degrees recorded in Syracuse, Sicily in August 2021, the highest temperature ever recorded in Europe.

The hot temperatures are being driven by a high pressure system that is sat across the region, allowing temperatures to build every.

A low-pressure system has been directed towards Ireland because of the weather in the rest of Europe, causing the recent wind and rain.

Temperatures have been slightly below average for the time of year.

Met Eireann said the weather outlook for Ireland is to remain unsettled or changeable this week with temperatures a little below average.
By Jonathan McCambridge, PA

Two participants in the Sligo Stages Rally have died following a crash at the motorsport race on Sunday afternoon, the sports governing body has confirmed.

In a statement released on Sunday evening, Motorsport Ireland said it had begun a full investigation into the incident.

Motorsport Ireland extends its deepest sympathies to the families and friends of two competitors who were fatally injured during a tragic accident while competing on the sixth stage of the 2023 Sligo Stages Rally, the statement said.

Motorsport Ireland also extends its sympathies to the members of Connacht Motor Club and everyone involved with organising todays event who reacted so quickly and professionally to the incident.

Motorsport Ireland Statement issued at 18:00 on July 16th 2023 pic.twitter.com/QBgCgCuipH  Motorsport Ireland (@MotorsportIRL) July 16, 2023

A garda spokesperson said officers are investigating the circumstances of the incident on Sunday at the Sligo Stages Rally.

The spokesperson said: As a result of this collision, the organisers have halted the event.

An Garda Siochana is requesting that footage of this collision is not shared across social media or messaging applications.

Following a serious collision that occurred at the Sligo Stages Rally, the organisers have halted the event.



We are requesting footage of this collision is not shared on social media or messaging applications. Anyone with video footage is asked to make this available to Gardai. pic.twitter.com/FLIo0rH9u6  An Garda Siochana (@GardaTraffic) July 16, 2023

Anyone with video footage is asked to make this available to gardai.

A statement from Connacht Motor Club confirmed the rally had been halted.

It said: Connacht Motor Club can confirm that an incident occurred today, July 16, on the Sligo Stages Rally.

The event has been halted and a further statement will be issued in due course.
IS there an alcoholic in your life?

We dont often talk about the people whose lives have been affected by someone elses drinking  but the impact on loved ones, family and partners can be immense. It is important that loved ones of alcoholics know they are not alone.

According to a new survey commissioned by Alcohol Change UK, a charity  which is not anti-alcohol but working towards alcohol change and to reduce the harm it causes  some 19% of drinkers consider alcohol to be an essential in their shopping basket, with 15% of people worried about the amount of alcohol someone in their household has been drinking.

It can be heart-breaking to see someone close to you struggle with alcohol problems.

But it is not only the drinker who is affected  their loved ones can feel the effects too.

"The pressures of caring for someone who is drinking heavily can be overwhelming, said Andrew Misell, Director for Wales at Alcohol Change UK. But by encouraging them to seek support, you can really improve their health and yours.

Is somebody close to you an alcoholic? Here are some key pieces of advice that may be helpful

Visit your GP

Seeing your GP could help you address any anxiety you may be grappling with. They can offer professional and nuanced advice that will help you communicate how you really feel to a loved one who needs to stop drinking, and steer you towards your own mental health support if necessary.

Living with someone who is struggling with an alcohol problem can be exhausting. You will want to do the best you can for your loved one, but your relationship with them is bound to be strained. You may no longer feel able to trust them, Misell said.

They may well be neglecting family duties, and their moods may swing erratically. Its important you find some time and space for yourself and for your own concerns and interests.

Also, anyone is allowed to contact the GP or safeguarding anonymously if, for instance, there is a parent with alcoholism looking after young children.

Reach out to family support services

Whatever your relationship with the person with an alcohol problem, other people will have had, or be having, similar experiences. Connecting with them at one of the many family support services across the country can be really helpful.

Support can be sought from Al-Anon, who provide free meetings where the family and friends of alcoholics can listen to the shared experiences of those in a similar positions.

Al-Anon also has a separate arm for children aged between 12-17 called Alateen, where teenagers can share their experiences and find support, while also learning about the nature of the illness.

Think about the four aspects of their health

Before sitting down to talk about what is going on with a family member who is drinking too much, it might be a good idea to be prepared about what you need to say. This could be a helpful step in deciding what actions to take in order to seek help, too.

Dr Niall Campbell, Priory consultant psychiatrist and addictions expert, based at Priory Hospital in Roehampton, southwest London, suggests thinking about these four aspects of their health first: physical health, mental health, relationship health and their work health.

Are they falling over? Have they injured themselves? Have they been drinking to the point of amnesia? Blackouts? Are they hungover and sick in the morning? Have they gone to see their GP? Some results, such as high blood pressure, could be a good indicator, Campbell said.

And then mentally, is it making them depressed? Are they irritable? Do they seem ashamed or guilty?

Is their drinking adversely affecting relationships between a husband and wives, siblings, children, and parents?

When it comes to their work, are they missing it? Are they late going into the office and saying they cant do their job properly because theyre drinking at home? This is a big problem since the lockdown.

He suggests doing this with a third party thats already aware of the situation, so you can pull together more concrete examples.

For more on Al Anon see https://al-anonuk.org.uk/
El Peru le da la bienvenida al Reino Unido al CPTPP, uno de los acuerdos comerciales mas ambiciosos del mundo, convirtiendose en la primera economia que se adhiere a dicho Tratado. Ello, en el ano en el que se conmemoran los 200 anos de relaciones peruano-britanicas. pic.twitter.com/dUccYni1bu
Fiscalia Especializada contra la Criminalidad Organizada realizo el allanamiento de 4 inmuebles -como parte de una investigacion reservada- hallando en una de las viviendas S/360 mil en posesion de Cesar Perez Barriga, teniente alcalde de la Municipalidad Provincial del Callao. pic.twitter.com/u4W48tv8Xl
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Dame Helen Mirren still feels like a "fangirl" around Harrison Ford.

Dame Helen Mirren loves working with Harrison Ford

The 77-year-old actress and the 'Star Wars' legend, 81, appeared together in Paramount+ series '1923', having also played husband and wife when they shared the screen in 1986's 'Mosquito Coast'.

Admitting she feels "slightly intimidated" by him even now, she told Saga Magazine: "He'd be mortified to hear me say this because he's such an unintimidating person.

"He is the kindest, most generous, warmest person to be around.

"But still, my fangirl thing is something I can't quite get over, you know, 'Oh my God, it's Harrison Ford!' "

When they last worked together on 'Mosquito Coast', Harrison was already a bona fide Hollywood hunk thanks to his role as Han Solo in the original 'Star Wars' trilogy.

Dame Helen said: "He was a massive, popular movie star, which he's been ever since.

"It's an amazing journey that Harrison has taken through our profession. And to be still up there, where he has been for the past 40 or 50 years, is amazing."

The big screen veteran has had her own unique journey as an actress and she is still striving to take on a variety roles.

She explained: "I just love to find projects that are very different from each other. This year is an absolute case in point, to go from 'Barbie' to 'Golda' to 'Shazam!' to '1923'.

"And some are just for the pure fun of it. Like 'Shazam! Fury of the Gods', I loved the first 'Shazam!' movie.

"I thought it was very funny and I loved the idea of the character that I'm playing - a Roman goddess. I mean, who doesn't want to play a Roman goddess?

"And then other projects, such as 'Golda', are a much more serious undertaking. You're putting your head above the parapet.

"But mostly, it's whatever is different from the last thing I've done."
A previously-unseen witness statement has cast doubt on the investigation into Brian Jones' death.

Brian Jones drowned in his swimming pool

The Rolling Stones musician was found dead in his swimming pool in 1969 aged 27, with a coroner recording a death by misadventure, saying he had drowned while "under the influence of alcohol and drugs", but the family of cab driver Joan Fitzsimons - who had been at the guitarist's house on the night he passed away - told cops they were convinced she had been attacked days later because of her belief then-boyfriend Frank Thorogood, a bodyguard to the star, had been involved in the tragedy.

Three weeks after Brian died, Joan was found unconscious in the back of her car, blinded in both eyes, with a fractured skull and three front teeth missing, and her brother John Russell told police investigating the attack that she was "frightened" of Frank and believed there was more to Brian's death than the official verdict.

The statement - which was placed inside the National Archives with an order it remain closed until 2014 - has been released under a Freedom of Information request and in it, John recounted a conversation he had had with his sister just days before she was attacked.

According to the Sunday Telegraph newspaper, he said: She said that she was frightened of Frank and she started talking about the death of Brian Jones.

She had been over at his house that night just before he died and she thought that he [Jones] was quite able to look after himself.

She said that things hadnt finished there yet and if it got out that she thought this, then she would be the next one.

John said Joan planned to go to the press about Brian's death.

He added: We then went on and talked about it and I told her to be careful.

The siblings' mother, Irene Russell, told cops Frank had turned up at the family home days before the attack demanding to know where her daughter was.

She said: Frank said to me that Joan knows a lot about the Rolling Stones that shouldnt get out. Joan, as it appeared to me, was frightened of Frank.

While newspaper reports at the time linked the attack to Brian's death, Sussex Police insisted there was "no truth" in the claims, but according to evidence released in the Freedom of Information request, cops actively worked to "eliminate" the lines of enquiry.

A letter from the Sussex chief constables office in 1969 regarding Joan said: She is to be asked as to her reason for allegedly being afraid of Mr Francis Thorogood as referred to in a statement of her brother Mr John Russell and what knowledge she has relating to the death of Brian Jones which causes her to be frightened.

And in 1994, Albert Evans - the junior policeman who was first on the scene - described the investigation into the rocker's death as "most unsatisfactory" and was convinced Frank was involved somehow.

He wrote to the Chief Constable: I personally was not convinced that we were given the correct story by Thorogood and his associates.

While he believed the minder was involved, he claimed when two senior officers arrived hours later, the number of witnesses was reduced from more than 20 to just Frank, Brian's girlriend Anna Wohlin, and a nurse named Janet Lawson, but the probe was focused on drugs and alcohol.

Years later, both women said they hadn't written their own witness statements.

Janet told the Daily Mail newspaper in 2008: The policeman suggested most of what I said. It was a load of rubbish...

I went into the house to look for Brians inhaler. Frank jumped back in the pool, did something to Brian and by the time I came back, Brian was lying peacefully on the bottom of the pool with not a ripple in the water.

Frank was eliminated as a suspect in the attack on Joan after his wife said he had been in London at the time, and he was never charged with any offences. He died in 1993.

Sussex Police insisted they have no plans to reopen the investigation into Brian's death.

A spokesperson said: The death of Brian Jones was investigated in 1969 and was also the subject of two reviews initiated by Sussex Police, in 1984 and 1994.

No new evidence has emerged to suggest that the coroners original verdict of death by misadventure was incorrect. The case has not been re-opened and there are no plans for that to happen.
Australia's fibre exports to the European Union (EU-27) reached $63.158 million in the first four months of this year. Last year, fibre exports to the bloc were valued at $219.072 million. Australia exports fibre to the EU and imports apparel from the region. The country's apparel imports amounted to $105.218 million from January to April 2023. Australia is also looking to advance negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the EU to bolster bilateral trade.

Australia's fibre exports were valued at $208.014 million in 2021, $103.209 million in 2020, and $63.158 million in 2019. In terms of quantity, Australia exported 26.390 million kg of fibre in 2022, 28.258 million kg in 2021, 15.826 million kg in 2020, and 7.871 million kg in 2019, according to Fibre2Fashion's market insight tool TexPro.

The EU, being a significant garment producer, exports fashion garments globally. Australia's apparel imports from the EU-27 amounted to $105.218 million from January to April 2023. The previous year, imports were recorded at $304.648 million. In comparison, the country imported apparel worth $268.841 million in 2021, $220.766 million in 2020, and $253.886 million in 2019, as per TexPro.

Australia's fibre exports to the EU reached $63.158 million in early 2023, with apparel imports hitting $105.218 million. EU was the second largest supplier and market for Australia's apparel and fibre trade respectively, as per TexPro. Amidst these developments, Australia aims to strengthen its bilateral trade via a free trade agreement with the EU.

During the first four months of this year, Europe was the second largest supplier of apparel to Australia. Nevertheless, Europe's share was only 4.30 per cent of total imports, which stood at $2,710.872 million during this period. Similarly, Europe was the second largest market for Australia's fibre exports, accounting for 5.62 per cent of the total shipment value of $1,188.034 million in the first four months of 2023.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (KUL)
Indias Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) yesterday signed agreements on establishing a framework to use national currencies for cross-border transactions and for cooperation in interlinking payment and messaging systems.

The two sides also signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on establishing a campus of the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi in Abu Dhabi.

India and the UAE have signed pacts on trade settlement in national currencies and setting up a real-time link for cross-border transactions. The signing ceremony was held during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Abu Dhabi yesterday. A Local Currency Settlement System will be put in place and India's UPI will be linked with the UAE's IPP platform.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Abu Dhabi yesterday and witnessed the signing ceremony along with Abu Dhabi crown prince Sheikh Khaled Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who is also chairman of the Abu Dhabi executive council.

Modis visit was aimed at bolstering cooperation in trade, energy and climate action.

The agreements between the two central banks is a very important aspect of India-UAE cooperation and paved the way for enhanced economic collaboration and making international financial interactions simpler, Modi tweeted.

The first MoU between the central banks will put in place a Local Currency Settlement System (LCSS) to promote the use of the rupee and dirham, and covers all current account transactions and permitted capital account transactions.

LCSS will enable exporters and importers to pay in their respective domestic currencies and enable development of an INR-AED foreign exchange market, Indian media outlets reported.

RBI feels the arrangement will promote investments and remittances between both sides and reduce transaction costs and settlement time.

India, which pays the UAE in dollars for oil now, could also use this mechanism to pay for import of oil and other commodities.

Under the second MoU, the two central banks will cooperate on linking Indias Unified Payments Interface (UPI) with the UAEs Instant Payment Platform (IPP), and RuPay switch and UAESWITCH.

The UPI-IPP link will enable users on both sides to make safe, fast and cost-effective cross-border transfers, while the linking of card switches will facilitate mutual acceptance of domestic cards and processing of card transactions.

They will also explore linking Indias Structured Financial Messaging System with the payments messaging system of the UAE.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)
US trade representative Katherine Tai, Mexican secretary of economy Raquel Buenrostro and Canadian minister of international trade, export promotion, small business and economic development Mary Ng recently reiterated their commitment to promote mechanisms to raise competitiveness and encourage the active participation of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in international trade, especially for those SMEs led by groups that are traditionally under-represented.

They met at Cancun, Mexico, for the third meeting of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) Free Trade Commission.

Top US, Canadian and Mexican ministerial representatives recently reiterated their commitment to promote mechanisms to raise competitiveness and encourage the active participation of SMEs in international trade. They met at Cancun for the third meeting of the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement Free Trade Commission. They also met Mexican labour stakeholders.

The ministers acknowledged the trilateral information-sharing session on inclusive trade organized by Canada in March for committee leads and look forward to the second USMCA SME Dialogue, to be hosted by Mexico in September this year, a joint statement released by the three leaders said.

They expressed interest in the SME committees upcoming activity, organised in partnership with indigenous SMEs and organisations, to help facilitate indigenous SMEs trade within the region. It will be hosted by Canada this fall.

Reaffirming their shared interest in enhancing regional competitiveness, the ministers held a roundtable with business delegations from the three countries to exchange ideas on economic integration and the role of the agreement in that process.

Based on Canadas proposal for the three countries to work together to enhance North Americas competitiveness by building on each countrys open and transparent investment environments, they encouraged each country to share best practices.

They also held a discussion with Mexican labour stakeholders to hear from workers so that the latters voices could be incorporated into trade policy.

The three countries will hold a deputies meeting before the end of this year to assess the progress of the agreement.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)
Mahesh Babu & Jr NTR Photo Credit: Internet

Jr NTR, the RRR star who went global and brought several laurels to the country is one actor who is loved by all, inside and outside the Tollywood film industry. The actor's attitude and his impressive friendly nature transcend beyond work.

Tarak is one of the few actors in the industry who is open to experimentation and is always in support of budding talent. He maintains great rapport with his contemporaries and seniors.

The actor tried television hosting and aced it like a pro. He was seen hosting Meelo Evaru Koteeswarudu, a popular version of KBC game show and then again impressed the viewers and fans with his skills for Bigg Boss Telugu Season 1.

Out of the blue, Jr NTR's old video from his MEK days are doing the rounds on the social media platforms in which he shared the hot seat with none other thn superstar Mahesh Babu.

The episode registered a massive TRP rating back then when it was aired. That was the first time fans of both the actors and the people of the Telugu states saw them together, talking so much while Mahesh Babu tried answering a few few questions as the celebrity contestant.

Jr NTR Said He Was Jealous Of Mahesh Babu, Here's Why!

During their interaction, Jr NTR said he was jealous of Mahesh Babu. A perplexed Mahesh couldn't help but ask why. Tarak then elaborated, " I am jealous because you have a girl child, Sitara in your home. I like girls, and I have two boys."

Mahesh Babu who heartily laughed at Jr NTR's reason replied, "You can still try." When asked about his eating habits, Mahesh Babu said, "I miss that food we all used to eat in our childhood with spice and salt. I eat Biryani when I want to binge eat. I thoroughly enjoyed eating the food you sent. You used to eat Idlies dippied in ghee, laughed Mahesh Babu.
By leveraging the power of a highly qualified audience, staying top of mind and employing strategic practices, businesses can enhance their digital marketing strategies and drive greater success through retargeting.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA / ACCESSWIRE / July 16, 2023 / Zib Digital, the leading digital marketing agency Melbourne-wide, emphasises the potential of retargeting ads in search engine marketing (SEM) campaigns. Retargeting focuses on users who have previously interacted with a brand, such as visiting a website, adding items to their cart or clicking on an ad. By displaying targeted ads to these users, retargeting serves as a reminder of the brand and encourages users to take action.

Zib Digital Melbourne

Zib Digital Melbourne

Zib Digital says with targeted ads, the chances of completing a purchase or desired action increase significantly. In a saturated advertising landscape, retargeting reaches a highly qualified audience who have already shown interest in the brand, ensuring it remains visible as users navigate the web and increasing the likelihood of engagement when the time is right.

Retargeting can be cost-effective as it focuses on a smaller, highly qualified audience, resulting in higher conversion rates at a lower cost per conversion. To maximise the effectiveness of retargeting campaigns, businesses should adopt best practices, such as strategic targeting based on user behaviour and interests. Compelling ad creative with high-quality visuals and clear calls to action is essential to grab users' attention and drive action, explains the premier SEO agency Melbourne-wide.

Setting frequency caps is crucial to prevent ad fatigue and provide a positive user experience. By controlling the number of times users see retargeting ads, brands can strike a balance between effective visibility and avoiding overwhelming their audience.

According to Zib Digital, testing and optimisation are key to achieving optimal results. By experimenting with different ad creative, targeting options and messaging, brands can identify strategies that resonate with their audience. Data-driven decisions and continuous campaign tweaking are vital for ongoing improvement and increased ROI.

As the leaders in SEO Melbourne-wide explain, Google retargeting offers a powerful platform for implementing retargeting strategies. By installing the Google remarketing tag and creating remarketing audiences based on specific actions or page visits, businesses can deliver text, display or video ads to their target audience. Effective tracking and optimisation of Google retargeting campaigns are facilitated through Google Ads reporting tools.

For more information and to discuss a tailored retargeting strategy, visit https://zibdigital.com.au/

About Zib Digital

Zib Digital is a leading digital marketing agency in Australia and New Zealand, providing customised digital marketing solutions designed to foster business growth.

Contact Information

Zib Digital

Manager

(03) 8685 9290

SOURCE: Zib Digital

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/767933/Zib-Digital-Explains-the-Power-of-Retargeting-Ads-in-Boosting-Conversions
The tour offers an unbeatable opportunity to explore iconic cities, immerse in rich cultures and create memories that will last a lifetime.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA / ACCESSWIRE / July 16, 2023 / Inspiring Vacations, a leading travel company offering experiences around the world, including tours to Cape York and Egypt tours, is thrilled to introduce the 22 Day Great European Tour, a carefully curated and value-packed journey through some of Europe's most breathtaking destinations.

Inspiring Vacations

Inspiring Vacations

Starting with the magnificent city of Paris, travellers will discover the history, grand boulevards and breathtaking monuments on a scenic guided tour, which includes the Eiffel Tower, a Seine River cruise, a visit to the charming Montmartre district and a funicular ride offering a spectacular panorama of Paris.

The journey continues to London, where travellers will experience a guided city tour, visiting renowned landmarks such as the British Museum, Tower Bridge, the Tower of London and Buckingham Palace. An evening walk through Leicester Square, China Town and Soho offers a glimpse into the vibrant nightlife of this iconic city.

A panoramic city tour of Amsterdam provides an opportunity to admire its narrow waterways, official buildings and parks. Visit a diamond-cutting workshop and explore Rembrandtplein and the famous "red-light" district, immersing oneself in the unique ambiance of the city.

The adventure takes a historical turn in Berlin, where a guided visit to the historic centre, Museum Island and the Brandenburg Gate awaits. Explore poignant sites such as the Holocaust Memorial and the Berlin Wall Museum and experience the vibrant energy of Kantstrasse in the evening.

From there, the journey continues through enchanting destinations like Dresden, Munich and Prague. Marvel at the beauty of Prague Castle, take a boat tour on the Vltava River and savour free time to explore the captivating "Old City".

A walking tour through the historic centre of Florence offers a chance to admire iconic landmarks such as the Ponte Vecchio, the Duomo and Plaza della Signoria. The tour also includes a visit to the magnificent Piazzale Michelangelo, offering breathtaking views of the city.

Throughout the 22-day journey, travellers will enjoy carefully selected three- and four-star accommodations, ensuring comfort and convenience. From return international airfares and guided tours to entrance tickets for renowned attractions, every aspect of the tour is designed to exceed expectations.

To learn more and to explore other offerings such as tours of Cape York and tours of Egypt, visit https://www.inspiringvacations.com/au

About Inspiring Vacations

Inspiring Vacations is an award-winning tour operator specialising in curated travel experiences worldwide. With a focus on unforgettable experiences and exceptional value, Inspiring Vacations aims to create dream holidays for travellers seeking adventure, cultural immersion and relaxation.

Contact Information

Inspiring Vacations

Marketing Manager

bookme@inspiringvacations.com

1300 88 66 88

SOURCE: Inspiring Vacations

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/767937/Inspiring-Vacations-Presents-the-22-Day-Great-European-Tour-Unforgettable-Experiences-and-Iconic-Destinations-Await
Bread Beauty Supply, a Los Angeles, CA-based haircare line of basics for not-so-basic hair, raised a multi-million dollar seed funding round.

Fearless Fund, a venture capital fund focused on supporting Women of Color entrepreneurs, led the round.

The company intends to use the funds to further expand its product line, enhance its research and development capabilities, strengthen its distribution channels to reach a wider customer base and grow the team to bolster its marketing efforts to amplify brand awareness and engagement.

Led by Founder Maeva Heim, Bread offers a range of clean products specifically designed for textured and curly hair, catering to the needs of individuals with diverse hair types. With a commitment to using natural ingredients and sustainable packaging, the brand is dedicated to delivering innovative solutions that meet the unique needs of individuals with diverse hair types.

FinSMEs

16/07/2023








"With the accession of the United Kingdom, Peru will be provided with better access conditions for goods and services exports, for temporary movement of Peruvian business people, and for e-commerce," the Peruvian representative remarked.









According to the minister, the accumulation of origin will enable Peruvian companies to export and use inputs from other member countries, resulting in more supply opportunities.





With UK accession, the CPTPP will have a combined Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of 12 trillion or US$15.7 trillion, accounting for 15% of global GDP.





Signing details





The signing took place in Auckland, New Zealand, during the seventh CPTPP Commission Meeting made up of ministers and senior officials from Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Singapore, Vietnam, and Peru.





The United Kingdom thus becomes the first economy to join this Treaty after its initial signing.





The Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) now consists of twelve member countries from the Asia-Pacific region and Europe.





For her part, the UK Secretary of State for Business and Trade said: "We are using our status as an independent trading nation to join an exciting, growing, forward-looking trade bloc, which will help grow the UK economy."





(END) NDP/FGM/RMB

The United Kingdom has signed its accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) the largest free trade agreement in the world.Published: 7/16/2023
The Kurtha-Bijalpura rail segment of the Jaynagar-Bijalpura-Bardibas cross-border railway between India and Nepal is now open for business as of Sunday.

During a ceremony held in Bijalpura, the operation in the area was officially launched by Minister of Physical Infrastructure and Transport Prakash Jwala. According to a press statement from the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu, political figures from Madhesh Pradesh and representatives of the Government of Nepal (GoN) were also present at the inaugural event. Prasanna Shrivastava, the deputy chief of mission, was also there.

When Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal recently visited India, this part was turned over to the GoN. The 17.3 km long Kurtha-Bijalpura line has 5 stops along it.

The Government of India is providing grant assistance for the construction of the second phase of the Jaynagar-Bijalpura-Bardibas cross-border rail line, with a total project cost of INR 783.83 crores.

In April of last year, the Jaynagar to Kurtha first phase was officially opened, and it has been in use ever since. Land is still being acquired for the third phase, which will connect Bijalpura and Bardibas.

Minister Jwala commended the Indian government for continuing to support Nepals infrastructure development, notably the rail industry, in his remarks. He emphasised that this rail connectivity will significantly strengthen people-to-people ties between the two nations and will increase Nepals economy and tourism.

In his remarks, DCM Shrivastava emphasised the Government of Indias ongoing commitment to working to further strengthen the development cooperation for the benefit of the peoples of both nations.

The implementation of this initiative will expand access to safe, inexpensive, and quick transportation throughout Nepal. This project is a part of a number of connection initiatives that India is now carrying out in Nepal. These would also result in improved physical connectivity between India and Nepal, which is a key component of the Neighbourhood First strategy of the Indian government.

(With agency inputs)
Arvind Kejriwal, the chief minister of Delhi, stated on Sunday that 10,000 rupees per household would be provided as financial assistance for the affected families, noting that many extremely poor families living along the Yamuna River had suffered greatly as a result of the flood-like conditions in the national capital.

The Delhi CM made a number of announcements on Twitter to assist the citys flood-affected residents.

Many very poor families living on the banks of river Yamuna have suffered a lot. In some families, the entire household goods were washed away, he said, announcing Rs 10,000 for each flood-affected families.

Arvind Kejriwal added that special camps would be set up for people whose identification documents, such Aadhaar cards, etc, had been washed away.

The children whose clothes and books were washed away will be given these on behalf of the schools, he added.

Even though the river Yamunas water level had decreased, it was still slightly above the danger mark due to the release of water from the nearby Haryana state.

In addition, the Indian Naval diving team performed desilting work at Yamuna Barrage, ITO, on Saturday in response to the current flood-like conditions in Delhi.

After the river crossed the danger mark, causing water to overflow and flood numerous areas of the national capital, marooned locals living on the Yamunas banks were evacuated and moved to relief camps.

People staying in the relief camps have complained about the facilities there, stating there is a lack of water, insufficient restrooms, electricity, and poor food quality.

The Yamuna Rivers water level decreased to 205.88 metres around noon on Sunday, according to data released by the Central Water Commission on their website.

Additionally, experts say that during the following several hours, the Yamunas water level is projected to drop below the danger limit. On July 10, around 5 oclock, the Yamuna River in Delhi went above the 205.33-meter danger line.

(With agency inputs)
Datia: The Bharatiya Janata Partys Datia district unit head on Sunday said appropriate action will be taken if a 19-year-old victim of gang-rape in her police statement names the son of a local party functionary of being involved in the crime.

The woman was allegedly abducted and raped by four persons in Madhya Pradeshs Datia district on Friday afternoon, after which the victim tried to end her life, police earlier said.

The police have so far arrested one of the accused, an adult, and detained two minors while search is on for one more accused in the case, Unav police station in-charge Yadvendra Singh Gurjar on Sunday.

A reward of Rs 10,000 has been announced on the absconding accused, he said.

Those nabbed so far include a local BJP functionarys minor son, whose name has figured in the First Information Report (FIR) registered in the case.

Asked about it, BJPs district president Surendra Budholia said the incident was unfortunate and the police were yet to record the victims statement.

If the victim takes the name of the BJP office-bearers son in her statement to the police, then the party will serve a notice to him (local functionary). The party will then take further action, Budholia said.

After the incident, a police complaint was lodged by the victims younger sister.

The complainant said she and her elder sister were abducted by four persons. The accused took them to a house, where they raped her elder sister, Superintendent of Police Pradeep Sharma said on Saturday.

Following the incident, the victim and her younger sister returned home, where the victim tried to commit suicide, he said.

The woman was later admitted to a hospital in Jhansi in neighbouring Uttar Pradesh, Sharma said.

As per the FIR, the accused also sexually abused the complainant, he said.

After the incident, a large number of people staged a protest at the police station, following which the police registered a case.

The people were pacified and a copy of the FIR was given to them, he said.

The accused were booked under Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 376 D (gangrape), 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 342 (wrongful confinement) and sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, Sharma had said.
Jaipur: BJP president J P Nadda alleged on Sunday that opposition parties are forming an alliance to protect their dynastic politics and that the Congress-led UPA stands for utpidan, pakshpat and atyachar  oppression, favouritism and atrocities.

The proposed coalition of the opposition parties is not a Patriotic Democratic Alliance, but a Protection of Dynasties Alliance, Nadda said.

Calling the Congress a party of mother-son-daughter, he said its government in Rajasthan is setting new records of corruption and has no right to stay in power even for a minute more.

Addressing a rally after launching the Bharatiya Janata Partys (BJP) Nahi Sahega Rajasthan campaign, Nadda targeted the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) and said, The UPA of the Congress stands for utpidan, pakshpat and atyachar, whereas the NDA (National Democratic Alliance) government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is working with the mantra of sabka sath, sabka vikas, sabka vishwas and sabka prayas.

He said these days, the opposition parties have started saying a new thing  PDA or the Patriotic Democratic Alliance.

I call the PDA the Protection of Dynasties Alliance. It is a way to protect dynastic politics.

All these people have joined the alliance to protect their families, while Modi works to take the country forward. We should understand the difference, the BJP chief said.

After more than a dozen opposition parties resolved to take on the ruling BJP unitedly in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls at a meeting in Patna last month, some reports claimed that their proposed coalition could be called the Patriotic Democratic Alliance.

Taking names of the Janata Dal (United) and Samajwadi Party (SP), Nadda said these are parties led by dynasts and they cannot give anything to each other.

He termed the Congress a party of mother-son-daughter and said except the members of the Gandhi family, all other leaders of the party, including Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, are on contract, while former deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot is on a sub-contract.

Nadda launched the BJPs poll campaign  Nahi Sahega Rajasthan  to oust the Congress from power in the desert state. The Assembly polls are due in Rajasthan by the year-end.

The BJP chief launched the campaign and a theme video that highlights crime against women in the state, the killing of tailor Kanhaiya Lal in Udaipur, communal riots and other issues.

He also released a Fail Card of the Congress government.

Nadda targeted the Gehlot government, alleging that it loots and tortures people and has broken all records of atrocities against Dalits, tribals, women, children and the poor.

It has no right to be in power even for a minute more, he said.

Nadda alleged that encouraging graft and creating new records of corruption characterise the Gehlot government.

He further accused the state government of working towards demolishing the houses of refugees from Pakistan with bulldozers for the sake of its vote-bank politics.

Nadda claimed that the crime rate has gone up in the state under the Congress rule and that women are not safe.

He alleged that the Gehlot government has broken all records of corruption, appeasement politics is at its peak and all sections of the society are distressed under the Congress rule.

He called upon the people of Rajasthan to defeat the Congress in the upcoming polls and form a BJP government for the sake of the states development.

He also highlighted the achievements of the Modi government at the Centre.

At the programme, Nadda also met the widows of paramilitary jawans Manju Jat and Madhubala, who were killed in the Pulwama terror attack. Their widows had protested against the Congress government in March over their various demands.

Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly Rajendra Rathore slammed the Gehlot government over the recent rape and killing of a woman in Karauli, the killing of Kanhaiya Lal last year and the rape and killing of a Dalit woman in Bikaners Khajuwala, among other incidents.

Referring to the Nahi Sahega Rajasthan campaign, he said the state will no longer tolerate such incidents.

Former chief minister Vasundhara Raje, state BJP chief C P Joshi and deputy leader of opposition in the Assembly Satish Poonia also addressed the rally.

Subsequently, Nadda held a joint meeting of the BJP legislature party and office-bearers at a hotel and gave them necessary directions for the Assembly election.

Besides Joshi and Raje, state BJP in-charge Arun Singh and other party leaders and MLAs attended the meeting.
Azerbaijan and Armenia launched a new round of peace negotiations mediated by the EU on Saturday, while Russia proposed a conference in Moscow to reaffirm its leadership position in the normalisation process.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan met in Brussels to discuss ending their decades-long war over Armenian-populated Karabakh.

The meetings were frank, honest, and substantive, according to European Council President Charles Michel, who mediated them.

I encouraged them to take courageous steps to ensure decisive and irreversible progress on a normalisation track, he added.

Michel said he planned a new meeting between Aliyev and Pashinyan in Brussels, as well as another in October in Spain with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron.

The meetings came after Azerbaijan cut the only land route between Karabakh and Armenia on Tuesday.

Baku criticises Moscow

Baku and Yerevan have been trying to negotiate a peace deal with the help of the European Union and the United States, whose growing diplomatic engagement in the Caucasus has irked traditional regional power broker Russia.

Moscow on Saturday offered to host the two countries foreign ministers and suggested a future peace treaty could be signed in Moscow.

Russia is ready to organise a trilateral meeting of the foreign ministers in Moscow in the near future, the countrys foreign ministry said in a statement.

It also urged Azerbaijan to reopen the Lachin Corridor and said Armenias recent recognition of Karabakh as part of Azerbaijan has radically changed the standing of the Russian peacekeeping contingent.

Under such conditions, the responsibility for the destiny of Karabakhs Armenian population should not be shifted onto third countries, it said, a possible reference to the Armenian separatists calls for Moscow to ensure the reopening of the land link.

Azerbaijan reacted angrily, accusing Russia of failing to fulfil its obligations under a 2020 Moscow-brokered ceasefire.

The Russian side did not ensure full implementation of the agreement within the framework of its obligations, Bakus foreign ministry said, adding that Moscow did nothing to prevent Armenias military supplies from reaching separatist forces in Karabakh.

Adding to tensions with Yerevan, Azerbaijans defence ministry accused Armenian separatist forces in Karabakh of using radio interference against passenger aircraft flying through our countrys airspace.

Karabakhs rebel authorities dismissed the claims as an absolute lie.

Uneasy peace talks

On Friday, around 6,000 people rallied in Karabakh, calling for the reopening of the five-kilometre-wide Lachin Corridor.

Local separatists, warning of a humanitarian crisis, urged Moscow to ensure free movement through the road.

Azerbaijan later allowed the Red Cross to resume medical evacuations from Karabakh to Armenia.

Karabakh has been at the centre of a decades-long dispute between the two countries, which have fought two wars over the mountainous territory.

During previous rounds of Western-mediated talks, Baku and Yerevan made progress towards a peace agreement, but its signature remains a distant prospect.

Yerevan agreed to recognise Karabakh as part of Azerbaijan but demanded international mechanisms for protecting the rights and security of the regions ethnic-Armenian population.

Baku insists such guarantees must be provided at the national level, rejecting any international format.

The 2020 ceasefire deal saw Armenia cede swathes of territories it had controlled for decades, while Moscow deployed peacekeepers to the Lachin Corridor to ensure free passage between Armenia and Karabakh.

Armenia has relied on Russia for military and economic support since the collapse of the Soviet Union. It has accused Moscow  bogged down in its war against Ukraine  of failing to fulfil its peacekeeping role in Karabakh.
A Mexican journalist was shot dead in a shop parking lot in the southern vacation resort of Acapulco on Saturday, according to regional officials, becoming the countrys second journalist to be assassinated in a week.

Prosecutors say they had begun an inquiry into Nelson Matuss death for homicide with a firearm, only days after another journalist was discovered dead in a nation often regarded as one of the most hazardous in the world for journalists.

Matus, the director of the news organisation Lo Real de Guerrero, was shot as he was getting into his car in the parking lot of a thrift store.

In a statement, the Guerrero state prosecutors office said it reiterates its commitment to exhaust every line of investigation into his death.

Matus had worked as a journalist for 15 years, specializing in covering violence in the country, Mexico delegate for press freedom organization Reporters Without Borders Balbina Flores told AFP.

More than 150 journalists have been killed in Mexico since 2000, according to the group, in attacks that are often linked to powerful drug cartels.

Guerrero state is facing particularly high levels of violence, making journalists there more vulnerable, Flores said.

Most of the journalists from that state have been displaced to other regions or abroad because they have been victims of attacks and death threats, she said.

The body of fellow journalist Luis Martin Sanchez, a correspondent for La Jornada newspaper, was found this week with signs of violence, officials said after he had been reported missing.

La Jornada, a leftist newspaper founded in 1985 in Mexico City, has already lost two of its most widely known correspondents: Miroslava Breach, killed in Chihuahua in March 2017, and Javier Valdez, who was also a contributor to AFP, murdered in Sinaloa in May of the same year.

Sanchez was one of three active or former journalists who had been abducted in the western state of Nayarit, the prosecutors office said in a statement.

His body turned up in a village near the state capital Tepic with two cardboard messages pinned to his chest, the office added, without specifying what the messages said.

Another former journalist, Osiris Maldonado de la Paz, was kidnapped from his home in the town of Xalisco this month, while a third kidnapped journalist was later found alive.

According to the government, there were 13 killings of journalists reported in Mexico in 2022 alone. Most crimes against journalists remain unpunished.

Dozens of journalists held demonstrations in Mexico City and other areas following Sanchezs death, calling for justice.

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights condemned his murder and called for a prompt, thorough, independent and effective investigation.
Redoubling aid to war-torn Ukraine is the single best method to help the global economy, according to US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, along with supporting developing economies and addressing debt distress.

Yellen stated on the margins of a G20 finance ministers meeting in India that a key priority was to redouble our support for Ukraine in its fight against Russia.

Following a visit to Kyiv in February, Yellen stated that she had seen firsthand the massive difference that foreign help was making, both for civilians and the Ukrainian military.

Ending this war is first and foremost a moral imperative, Yellen told reporters in Gandhinagar. But its also the single best thing we can do for the global economy.

Russias invasion of Ukraine  both major breadbaskets that exported about a quarter of the worlds wheat supply  sent shockwaves through global markets, sending food and gasoline prices skyrocketing.

Unless Russia agrees to extend it, a pact that permitted Ukrainian grain shipments to restart would expire on Monday.

On Wednesday, the G7 leaders pledged their support for Ukraine for as long as it takes to repel Russias invasion.

The G7 plan establishes a framework under which individual states will reach bilateral agreements with Kiev outlining the armaments they would deliver and the reaction they will make if Russia ups the ante.

Budgetary support is critical to Ukraines resistance, Yellen said.

By helping keep the economy and the government running, we are giving Ukraine the support it needs so it can fight for freedom and its sovereignty.

She added that one of Washingtons core goals was to combat Russias efforts to evade our sanctions.

Debt vulnerabilities

Yellen also said she would push back on the idea that there is a trade-off between support for Ukraine and support for the Global South.

She pointed to other work tackling debt distress and the reform of multilateral development banks  including the World Bank and other regional lenders  in efforts she said could unlock $200 billion over the next decade.

Over the past few years, we have seen debt vulnerabilities mount for many countries as a result of the pandemic and Russias illegal war against Ukraine, Yellen said.

Over half of all low-income countries are near or in debt distress, double the share of countries that were in this situation in 2015, she said.

On debt, she cited restructuring progress in Zambia  which she discussed with Chinese officials last week on a visit to Beijing  and said she expected Ghana and Sri Lanka debt treatments would soon be finalised.

She also spoke about efforts to strike a global tax deal.

Yellen said work was focused on creating a system in a world of online and global business that was fairer and fit for purpose, and to end the race to the bottom on corporate tax rates.

Multinationals, especially tech firms, are currently able to shift profits easily to countries with low tax rates even though they carry out only a small part of their activities there.
In an interview published Sunday, Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed his nation has enough cluster munitions to respond if Ukraine used the weapons.

Ukraine began receiving cluster bombs from the US, raising worries about the long-term harm to civilians presented by bomblets that fail to explode.

Russia has a sufficient stockpile of various kinds of cluster munitions, Putin told a state-television journalist.

The controversial weapons can disperse up to several hundred small explosive charges, which can remain unexploded in the ground.

If they are used against us, we reserve ourselves the right to tit-for-tat actions, Putin said.

He added Russia had not yet used the weapons despite a certain shortage of munitions at some point.

Human Rights Watch and Ukrainian soldiers have both accused Russia of employing cluster bombs on the battlefield previously.

They are prohibited in a number of nations, most notably in Europe, that are signatories to the 2008 Oslo Convention, to which Russia, the United States, and Ukraine are not party.

Humanitarian organisations have vehemently criticised the United States plan to provide Ukraine with cluster weapons.

US President Joe Biden called the decision very difficult, but emphasised that Ukraine needed more weaponry to replenish its depleting supplies.
Russias defence ministry announced on Sunday that its forces have stopped Ukraine from invading the Black Sea port of Sevastopol, destroying seven airborne and two underwater drones.

This morning, an attempt by the Kyiv regime to carry out a terrorist attack by seven unmanned aerial vehicles and two unmanned underwater vehicles on objects on the territory of the Crimean Peninsula near the city of Sevastopol was thwarted, the ministry said on the Telegram messaging app.

According to the government, there were no injuries or property damage.

According to the report, two airborne drones were shot down over the Black Sea far from the shore, while five were detected by Russias electronic warfare troops.

Two unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs), also known as underwater drones, were detected and destroyed by fire in the northern Black Sea, according to the ministry.

Earlier, Mikhail Razvozhayev, the Sevastopol governor appointed by Moscow, stated on the Telegram messaging app that the strikes were over the citys Balaklava and Khersones districts.

Maritime travel, including passenger ferries, was banned for several hours early Sunday, according to the citys Moscow-backed transport officials, who announced the suspension on their Telegram channel.

The reports could not be independently verified by Reuters.

There was no immediate comment from Ukraine on the attack on Sevastopol, a port in the Crimean Peninsula, which Russia annexed from Ukraine in 2014.

Ukraine almost never publicly claims responsibility for attacks inside Russia or on Russian-controlled territory in Ukraine, but has been saying in recent months that destroying Russias military infrastructure helps Kyivs counteroffensive.
The UK government said on Sunday that it has legally signed a pact to join a significant Indo-Pacific union, as it looks outside Europe for post-Brexit commercial options.

In New Zealand, Business and Trade Minister Kemi Badenoch signed the accession protocol for the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).

The United Kingdom is the blocs first new member and the first European country to join since its inception in 2018.

The CPTPP includes G7 members Canada and Japan, as well as the United Kingdoms long-standing allies Australia and New Zealand, as well as Brunei, Chile, Malaysia, Mexico, Peru, Singapore, and Vietnam.

Although Beijing has requested to join, it is considered as a bulwark against Chinese domination in the area.

London has been pushing a Global Britain strategy since formally severing nearly 50 years of ties with its nearest neighbours in the European Union three years ago.

Sundays signing  the formal confirmation of the agreement for UK membership of the CPTPP after nearly two years of talks  will be the UKs biggest trade deal since Brexit.

The government said it will cut tariffs for UK exports to CPTPP countries, which with UK membership will have a combined GDP of 12 trillion ($15.7 trillion), and account for 15 per cent of global GDP.

The agreement is expected to come into force in the second half of next year, after parliamentary scrutiny and legislation.

Badenoch called the deal a big boost for British businesses, opening up opportunities for trade to a market of more than 500 million people and access to the wider region.

We are using our status as an independent trading nation to join an exciting, growing, forward-looking trade bloc, which will help grow the UK economy and build on the hundreds of thousands of jobs CPTPP-owned businesses already support up and down the country, she said.

UK accession to the CPTPP  the successor to a previous trans-Pacific trade pact that the United States withdrew from in 2017 under president Donald Trump  has been met with a mixed reception.

For Brexit supporters, it has been seen as a chance for the UK to join other trading blocs with faster-growing economies than those closer to home  and boost the countrys international geopolitical and economic clout.

But critics say it will struggle to compensate for the economic damage sustained by leaving the 27-member EU  the worlds largest trading bloc and collective economy.

Analysts estimate the eventual UK economic boost is 1.8 billion ($2.2 billion)  a 0.08 percent annual GDP increase.

The governments spending watchdog, the Office for Budget Responsibility, in April forecast that the Londons Brexit deal with Brussels will reduce long-term productivity by 4.0 percent compared to when the UK was a member.
" " Real ambergris from the sperm whale can be very valuable. Peter Kaminski/Wikimedia/CCA 2.0

In 2016, three fishermen from the middle eastern country of Oman struck "floating gold" in the form of ambergris, traditionally thought to be whale vomit. (Modern science says the waxy substance is more like a whale gallstone, or whale poop.) Although it sounds pretty repellant, ambergris is actually worth big bucks  the chunk that these guys stumbled upon weighed 176 pounds (80 kilograms) and was allegedly worth nearly $3 million. But why was it so valuable?

Ambergris (which comes from a French phrase meaning "gray amber") forms in the intestines of a sperm whale. Scientists have found squid beaks in clumps of ambergris, leading many to surmise the ambergris is something of a protective secretion that protects sperm whales' digestive tracts from the scratching of those hard beaks. Traditionally, scientists believed that whales threw it up because they couldn't digest the substance, but many scientists now lean toward thinking that ambergris is passed out just like fecal matter.

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The Sweet Smell of Ambergris

When a whale initially expels ambergris, it is soft and has a terrible smell. Some marine biologists compare it to dried cow dung. But after floating on the salty ocean for about a decade, the substance hardens and becomes smooth, waxy and usually rounded. The dung smell is gone, replaced by a scent that has been famous for hundreds of years, probably more. The longer it floats, the better the scent.

The smell is so fine that ambergris is a coveted ingredient for fine perfumes. In fact, it's described as being smooth, musky, earthy, sweet or simply "indescribable." Aside from its unique odor, ambergris' vital function is helping perfume scent to bind to the surface of the skin and stick around, instead of quickly evaporating.

" " This 1845 illustration from a lithographic plate depicting various uses of whale byproducts shows a woman purchasing perfume containing ambergris. SSPL/Getty Images

That's not its only claim to fame. It is also said to be an aphrodisiac, a homeopathic remedy and a high-end flavoring for food. Indeed, the first-known recipe for ice cream, circa the 1660s, used ambergris as a flavoring! Adventurous eaters better scarf it down fast, though, as such ice cream starts off smelling lovely, like vanilla, but as it melts the scent becomes far more fecal in nature.

Ambergris is something of a collector's item, as it is in short supply. No other whales besides sperm whales produce it, and even then it's typically somewhere in the middle of the ocean, so it's a rare find. Ambergris only washes up on a beach somewhere every few years, tops, and is found in less than 5 percent of the sperm whale carcasses that do make it to shore.

That makes the product extremely valuable, but not in the way it once was. Chemists have replicated some of the traits of ambergris synthetically, making it a less-necessary component in perfumes. But it's still prized for its rarity, and certain perfume makers certainly prefer it to lab-created ingredients.

However, in some countries, including the United States, endangered-species legislation makes it illegal to buy or sell the stuff. Of course, that only makes it more desirable in certain circles. Experts quote the current rate for ambergris at about $35 per gram, depending on its quality, but legal issues can make it difficult to find a buyer. To give perspective, a gram of gold runs about $61 per gram, as of October 2020.

Looking for Ambergris

Identifying the ambergris is the hard part, especially as it can be found in virtually any coastal area. Most of the time, when people go to an expert with a chunk of a waxy substance they found on a beach, sure they've hit the jackpot, it turns out to be wax or rocks or the petrified remains of an animal.

So how can you be sure? Ambergris is white, gray, black or all three. The most valuable color is pure white, or a similar tone, as it's the oldest. It has a hard, waxy texture and an unusual, pleasant smell. The least valuable is pure black ambergris, which stinks like manure because it's freshly expelled. Aside from that, there's not much to go on in terms of telling whether or not the substance is truly ambergris. One thing to note is that ambergris should be very light in weight, so if it's too heavy to hold easily (given it's a normal size) then it's probably not ambergris.

Experts caution people not to perform the needle test (sticking a heated needle into the substance to see if it turns into a tar-like liquid) or other tests at home to determine whether you've found ambergris. That's because these tests are misleading and if you're not familiar with the substance, you may make an incorrect diagnosis as to what you've got. Some of the substances commonly mistaken for ambergris include fat, degraded oil and mixed polymer, pine resin, amber and wax.

If you really think you have ambergris in your possession, a lab can conclusively perform tests. Chemists will test for benzoic acid and cholesterol in the sample. If the amounts are indicative of ambergris, it will usually be tentatively confirmed as ambergris, although perfume companies will typically order more chemical tests before purchasing the erstwhile whale product. Some experts, though, say that the only way to absolutely identify ambergris is examination by someone who has extensive experience with the look, feel and scent of it.
Fighters from the Wagner group landed in Belarus from Russia on Saturday, according to Ukrainian and Polish sources, a day after Minsk announced the mercenaries were training the countrys army southeast of the city.

Wagner is in Belarus, Andriy Demchenko, a spokesman for the Ukrainian border agency, said in a statement on the Telegram messaging app. He said the movement of separate groups from Russia had been observed in Belarus.

Wagner fighters have been in Belarus since at least Tuesday, according to two individuals close to the fighters.

On Friday, the Belarusian defence ministry published a video purportedly showing Wagner fighters advising Belarusian soldiers at a military range near the town of Osipovichi.

Wagners relocation to Belarus was part of a settlement that halted the groups mutiny attempt in June, when they took possession of a Russian military headquarters, marched on Moscow, and threatened to bring Russia to the brink of civil war, according to President Vladimir Putin.

Yevgeny Prigozhin, the Wagner head, has not been seen in public since leaving the southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don late on 24 June.

Polands deputy minister coordinator of special services, Stanislaw Zaryn, said Warsaw also has confirmation of Wagner fighters presence in Belarus.

There may be several hundred of them at the moment, Zaryn said on Twitter.

Poland said this month it was bolstering its border with Belarus to address any potential threats.

While not sending his own troops to Ukraine, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko allowed Moscow to use Belarusian territory to launch its full-scale invasion on Ukraine in February 2022 and has since let his country be used as a base for Russian nuclear weapons.

The Belarusian Hajun project, which monitors military activity in the country and which is viewed as an extremist formation by Belarusian authorities, said a large column of at least 60 vehicles entered Belarus overnight Friday from Russia.

It said the vehicles, including trucks, pickups, vans and buses, had licence plates of the self-styled Donetsk and Luhansk peoples republics in what is internationally recognised as eastern Ukraine. In a move widely condemned as illegal, Moscow moved last year to annex the republics, which have been Russian proxies since 2014.

Hajun said it appeared that a Wagner column was headed to Tsel in central Belarus, where foreign reporters were last week shown a camp with hundreds of empty tents.

Reuters could not independently verify the Belarusian Hajun report. There was no immediate comment from Russia or Belarus on the reports.
On Sunday, US climate envoy John Kerry will go to China to meet with his colleague Xie Zhenhua and restart stalled talks between the worlds two largest producers of greenhouse gases.

Kerrys third trip to China as President Joe Bidens climate diplomat comes after weeks of record-breaking summer heat, which experts warn is being worsened by climate change.

Bilateral climate negotiations came to a halt last year after Nancy Pelosi, then-Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, visited self-ruled Taiwan, infuriating Beijing, which considers the island to be its property.

However, Kerry, a former secretary of state, has had very warm and constant ties with China, despite Washington and Beijing clashing over Taiwan and a number of other contentious subjects, such as advanced semiconductors.

His trip to Beijing also comes after two other high-profile visits by US officials  first Secretary of State Antony Blinken, then Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen  aimed at stabilising US-China ties.

Kerry was scheduled to depart for China on Saturday, according to the US State Department.

The Biden administration has identified climate as an area for potential cooperation with Beijing, despite the tensions elsewhere.

The restart of US-China climate talks will come on the heels of the hottest week on record globally, according to the World Meteorological Organization.

June was already the hottest ever logged, according to US and European agencies.

Kerry will aim to use his time in Beijing to engage with Chinese officials with respect to increasing implementation and ambition and promoting a successful COP28, the State Department said, referring to the UN climate talks in November.

Nearly 200 nations will gather in the United Arab Emirates for COP28 to thrash out ways to mitigate global warming and its impacts.

Energy constraints

As the leading producer of the greenhouse gases driving climate change, China has pledged to peak carbon emissions by 2030 and achieve complete carbon neutrality by 2060.

President Xi Jinping has also said that the country will reduce its use of coal from 2026.

But in April, China approved a major surge in coal power  a move Greenpeace said prioritised energy supply over the emissions reduction pledge  fuelling concerns that Beijing will struggle to meet its ambitious targets.

There are a number of factors that constrain the hands of energy planners in Beijing at the moment, Byford Tsang, a senior policy adviser at the climate-focused think tank E3G, told AFP.

They include economic fallout from Russias invasion of Ukraine, which has led to major disruptions in the global gas market, and reduced hydropower capacity in China due to severe droughts in recent years, Tsang said.

Last summer, millions of people in southwest China faced rolling power cuts after crushing heatwaves led to an electricity supply crunch that forced factories to halt work, heightening domestic concerns over energy security.

I think it would be politically challenging for China to take a step forward on coal policy at this stage, added Tsang.

During his visit, Kerry is also expected to bring up international climate finance efforts, following calls by Yellen during her Beijing trip for China to play a larger role.

Kerrys trip will be closely watched in Washington after Republican lawmakers characterised it as him flying a carbon-spewing private jet halfway across the world to discuss climate with a political adversary.
According to the South Korean military, the United States, South Korea, and Japan conducted a coordinated naval missile defence drill on Sunday to fight North Koreas increasing nuclear and missile threats only days after the North fired an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).

On Wednesday, North Korea fired its newest Hwasong-18 missile, which Pyongyang defines as the heart of its nuclear strike force, off the east coast in what it called a strong practical warning to its rivals.

The trilateral practice took place in international seas between South Korea and Japan on Sunday, bringing together warships equipped with Aegis radar systems from the three nations, according to the navy.

Washington and its Asian allies have been working to improve their information-sharing system on North Koreas missiles. South Korea and Japan are independently linked to US radar systems but not to each others.

The military said that the exercise aimed at mastering the allies response to a North Korean ballistic missile launch with a scenario featuring a virtual target.

We will effectively respond to North Koreas nuclear and missile threats with our militarys strong response system and the trilateral cooperation, a South Korean Navy officer said.

The Norths ICBM launch was denounced by the US, South Korea and Japan, though Pyongyang has rejected the condemnation, saying it was an exercise of its right to self-defence.

The latest launch followed heated complaints from North Korea recently, accusing American spy planes of flying over its exclusive economic zone waters, condemning a recent visit to South Korea by a US nuclear-powered cruise missile submarine and vowing to take steps in the reaction.
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The Red Sea International Film Festival (RSIFF), in collaboration with Alliance Francaise, the Consulate General of France in Jeddah, the Embassy of France in Saudi Arabia, and VOX Cinemas have announced the 48-Hour Film Challenge.

This challenge is open to all aspiring filmmakers in the kingdom, both Saudis and Saudi residents aged 18 to 25. The participants will undergo two days of intensive technical workshops and mentorship, including a writing workshop with Lebanese scriptwriter and filmmaker Sophie Boutros, a filmmaking workshop with Saudi filmmaker Mohamed Al Salman, a producing workshop with Egyptian producer and filmmaker Hala Lotfy and a cinematography workshop with the Jordanian director of photography Samer El Nimri.

Following the workshops, the teams will embark on a thrilling race against the clock, making a film from idea to edit within 48 hours.

Winners

The winning team leaders will be rewarded with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity  a residency at the International Short Films Festival in Clermont-Ferrand (France), in 2024. The winning films will also be shown in the next edition of the Red Sea Film Festival in December 2023.

Additionally, the French Consulate will offer 15 shortlisted team members three days of professional workshops (August 25,26 and 27) in Jeddah with experts from France and Saudi Arabia. The professional workshops will include screenings of short films and discussions about the industry,

The competition is designed to push the boundaries of tradition and recognise the innovators in independent filmmaking.

Jury

The winners will be chosen by a jury composed of world-renowned filmmakers and film professionals, including Saudi filmmaker Shahad Ameen, Egyptian actress Amina Khalil and French film maker & writer Professor Alexandre Tylski.

The jury will honour and reward cinematic work presented at the 48 Hour Film Challenge that breaks new ground and encourages Saudi and regional filmmaking.-- TradeArabia News Service
Belarusian soldiers listen to an officer prior to a training by mercenary fighters from Wagner private military company in a Belarusian army camp, in a video released by the Belarusian Defence Ministry on July 14 (AP)

A large convoy carrying fighters from the Wagner private army was spotted entering Belarus from Russia early Saturday, according to reports.

It comes after the Belarusian Defence Ministry said it planned for the mercenaries and Minsks own armed forces to conduct joint military drills.

Wagner mercenaries had fought in Ukraine alongside Russian troops in the group carried out a short-lived mutiny against the Kremlin last month.

Independent monitoring group Belaruski Hajun, which tracks the movements of armed forces in Belarus, said on Saturday at least 60 trucks, buses and other large vehicles crossed into Belarus accompanied by police.

The convoy headed toward a military base outside Osipovichi, a town 230 kilometres (142 miles) north of the Ukrainian border, Belaruski Hajun said.

Ukraines Center for National Resistance said later on Saturday that about 240 Wagner fighters, 40 trucks and a large amount of weapons had arrived in the Osipovichi area.

It cited unspecified members of Belarus underground anti-Lukashenko opposition as the source of the information, which couldnt be independently verified.

Yevgeny Prigozhin, the owner of the Wagner Group military company (AP)

Separately, a spokesperson for Ukraines State Border Guard Service said on Saturday that the force also had observed some groups of Wagner fighters crossing from Russia into Belarus.

The spokesperson, Andriy Demchenko, made the remarks in an interview with the Ukrainska Pravda newspaper.

Satellite images analysed by news agency The Associated Press (AP) this month showed rows of tent-like structures that appeared to have been built at the base between June 15 and June 30.

The authoritarian president of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, said at the time that Minsk could use Wagners experience and expertise, and that he had offered the fighters an abandoned military unit to set up camp.

That same week, a leader of an anti-Lukashenko guerrilla group told the AP that construction of a site for the mercenaries was underway near Osipovichi.

The Belarusian Defence Ministry said in an online statement late Friday that it had developed a road map with Wagners management for joint training exercises drills by the nations military personnel and the private mercenaries.

Earlier on Friday, the Defence Ministry said that Wagner fighters had begun training Belarusian soldiers.

A television channel affiliated with the ministry showed footage of fighters in black masks instructing soldiers on how to shoot and provide first aid.

On June 23, the Wagner groups founder and leader, Yevgeny Prigozhin, ordered his fighters to leave their camps in Ukraine and head toward Moscow to demand the removal of Russias defence minister and General Staff chief.

The mutiny rattled Russia and posed the biggest challenge to Russian President Vladimir Putin, Mr Prigozhins one-time benefactor, during his decades in power.

In the revolt that lasted less than 24 hours, Wagner fighters swept through the southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don and captured the military headquarters there, before driving to within about 200 kilometres (125 miles) of the Russian capital.

Mr Prigozhin had accused the senior Russian military leadership for months of bungling the war in Ukraine and starving his troops of ammunition.

Lukashenko then brokered a deal between Mr Prigozhin and the Kremlin that shielded the Wagner leader and his men from prosecution, allowing Mr Prigozhin to move to Belarus in exchange for ordering his mercenaries back to the camps.

Putin indicated on Friday that he intends to maintain Wagner as a single fighting force under its existing commander, while appearing to denigrate Mr Prigozhin.

His remarks, made in an interview with Russias Kommersant newspaper, seemed to reflect the Kremlins efforts to secure the loyalty of the mercenaries, who make up some of the most capable Russian forces in Ukraine.

Lukashenko previously allowed the Kremlin to use Belarusian territory to send troops and weapons into Ukraine.

He has also welcomed a continued Russian armed presence in Belarus, including joint military camps and exercises, as well as the deployment of some of Russias tactical nuclear weapons there.
World Youth Day is an event for young people organized by the Catholic Church. It was initiated by Pope St. John Paul II in 1985. Its concept was influenced by the Light-Life Movement that has existed in Poland since the 1960s, where during summer camps Catholic young adults over 13 days of camp celebrated a "day of community.

WYD is celebrated at the international level every two to three years at different locations. In 1987 WYD was held in Buenos Aires, Argentina. In 1989 WYD took place in Santiago de Compostela, Spain. In 1991 WYD was held in Czestochowa, Poland. In 1993 WYD was celebrated in Denver, Colorado.

The 1995 World Youth Day closing Mass in the Philippines with Pope John Paul II set a world record for the largest number of people gathered for a single religious event with 5 million attendees  a record surpassed when 6 million attended a Mass celebrated by Pope Francis in the Philippines 20 years later in 2015.

World Youth Day is commonly celebrated in a way similar to many events. The most emphasized and well-known traditional theme is the unity and presence of numerous different cultures. Flags and other national declarations are displayed among mainly young people to show their attendance at the events and proclaim their own themes of Catholicism. Such is usually done through chants and singing of national songs involving a Catholic theme.

Over the course of the major events taking place, national objects are traded between pilgrims. Flags, shirts, crosses and other Catholic icons are carried amongst pilgrims and are later traded as souvenirs to other people from different countries of the world. A unity of acceptance among people is also common, with all different cultures coming together to appreciate one another.

Other widely recognized traditions include the Pope's public appearance, commencing with his arrival around the city in the "Popemobile," and then with his final Mass held at the event.

Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI criticized the tendency to view WYD as a kind of rock festival; he stressed that the event should not be considered a "variant of modern youth culture" but as the fruition of a "long exterior and interior path.

From Aug. 1 to Aug. 6, 2023, the 37th World Youth Day will take place in Lisbon, Portugal. This event was originally scheduled to take place in the Portuguese capital in 2022, but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Currently, more than 600,000 people have started the registration process: 313,000 from 151 countries have completed their registrations. Nearly 3 million lunches and dinners have been ordered. And at least 7,000 host families have volunteered to open their homes to pilgrims. Also, 698 bishops and 29 cardinals have registered to attend and 2,600 priests have already volunteered to be in Reconciliation Park, a place where 150 confessionals will be set up between Aug. 1 and Aug. 4.

Pope Francis said that the desire of these young people to travel to the Portuguese capital fills him with joy. For this year's WYD's motto, Pope Francis has chosen a passage from St. Luke's Gospel: "Mary arose and went with haste" (Luke 1:39), which opens the account of the Visitation, when Mary visits her cousin Elizabeth following the angels announcement to the Blessed Mother that she would be the mother of the Son of God.

The Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima will be visited by the Pope on Saturday, Aug. 5, where he will pray the holy rosary with the sick young people at the Chapel of Apparitions. The concluding Mass for World Youth Day will be celebrated by the Pope in Tejo Park in Lisbon on Sunday, Aug. 6, the Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord.

It is providential that the WYD Mass with the Holy Father will take place on the Feast of the Transfiguration. The experience of Peter, James and John at the Transfiguration was a pivotal moment of transformation for them. It is hoped that WYD will have a similar impact on young people today, no matter where or how they make this pilgrimage to celebrate this special international festival of faith.
A team of New Yorkers has returned after helping fight wildfires in Canada.

Eight state Department of Environmental Conservation forest rangers returned Sunday after spending the last two weeks in Quebec, according to Gov. Kathy Hochul. More than 4,000 wildfires have been reported in Canada, including several in Quebec. The smoke from these wildfires has occasionally drifted south this summer, creating poor air quality conditions in upstate New York.

The rangers were part of a wildland firefighting team in Micoua, where fires have burned 40,600 acres. Gary Miller, of Hamilton County, was the crew boss and led seven other rangers  David Corey, Lincoln Hanno, Howard Kreft, Joseph Pries, Logan Quinn, John Scott and Nathan Sprague.

It was the third time New York has deployed rangers to assist with Canadian wildfires. One ranger was sent to Nova Scotia to serve as a crew boss. A seven-member team went to Quebec in June.

The deployments to Canada are the first time since 2005 that the state has sent crews to Canada to help fight wildfires. New York has provided assistance to western states during past wildfire seasons.

"New Yorkers understand all too well the hazardous impact smoke from the Canadian wildfires have on daily life," Hochul said. "We are fortunate to have brave individuals willing to step up to help those in need, and I thank our courageous firefighters whose efforts are critical in containing these wildfires."

Hochul's office said that personnel and travel costs for the New York firefighting crews are either paid by the U.S. Forest Service or reimbursed to the state based on an agreement between federal and state agencies.
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Revolutionary People's Rep'c of Guinea-Bissau, Republic of Guyana, Republic of Heard and McDonald Islands Holy See (Vatican City State) Honduras, Republic of Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region of China Hrvatska (Croatia) Hungary, Hungarian People's Republic Iceland, Republic of India, Republic of Indonesia, Republic of Iran, Islamic Republic of Iraq, Republic of Ireland Israel, State of Italy, Italian Republic Japan Jordan, Hashemite Kingdom of Kazakhstan, Republic of Kenya, Republic of Kiribati, Republic of Korea, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Republic of Kuwait, State of Kyrgyz Republic Lao People's Democratic Republic Latvia Lebanon, Lebanese Republic Lesotho, Kingdom of Liberia, Republic of Libyan Arab Jamahiriya Liechtenstein, Principality of Lithuania Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Macao, Special Administrative Region of China Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Madagascar, Republic of Malawi, Republic of Malaysia Maldives, Republic of Mali, Republic of Malta, 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Katechon ("Restrainer")

Katechon is a Greek term that appears in the Bible in 2 Thessalonians 2:6-7. It is often translated as "restrainer" or "withholder". This term has been the subject of various interpretations throughout the history of Christian thought, especially in eschatological (end-times) discussions. In the passage, the Apostle Paul uses the term to refer to a mysterious force or entity that is restraining the appearance of the "man of lawlessness," a figure associated with evil and deception in the end times. The identity of the katechon is not specified, leading to a wide range of interpretations.

The katechon (from Greek: "that which withholds", or "the one who withholds") is a biblical concept which has subsequently developed into a notion of political philosophy. The term is found in 2 Thessalonians 2:6-7 in an eschatological context: Christians must not behave as if the Day of the Lord would happen tomorrow, since the Son of Perdition (the Antichrist of 1 and 2 John) must be revealed before. St. Paul then adds that the revelation of the Antichrist is conditional upon the removal of "something/someone that restrains him" and prevents him being fully manifested. Verse 6 uses the neuter gender, and verse 7 the masculine. Since St. Paul does not explicitly mention the katechon's identity, the passage's interpretation has been subject to dialogue and debate amongst Christian scholars.

Some have suggested the katechon refers to the Roman Empire, which in Paul's time was viewed as a force that maintained order and restrained chaos. Others have seen it as a reference to the Holy Spirit, or to the Christian church as a whole. In modern times, the concept of the katechon has also been used in political and philosophical discussions. For example, the philosopher Carl Schmitt used the term to refer to any force that restrains the decline of the world, and the political theorist Giorgio Agamben also discusses the concept in his work. The interpretation and meaning of "katechon" can depend largely on the theological, philosophical, or political perspective of the interpreter.

Archbishop Carlo Vigano, Vatican Apostolic Nuncio to the United States [2011-2016], called Russia the Third Rome, which opposes the new world order based on the dominance of the non-religious West. "Perhaps Providence predetermined Moscow, as the Third Rome, to assume the role of a katechon, an eschatological barrier on the path of the Antichrist," said the archbishop. He blamed a "global coup detat being carried out by supranational powers that intend, not peace between nations, but rather the establishment of the tyranny of the New World Order.... Ukrainian billionaires wearing kippahs are those who are selling out Ukraine to the corrupted and corrupting West, trading their own well-being for the enslavement of their compatriots to the usurers who are taking over the world... the pandemic farce was unraveling and bringing to light crimes against humanity committed by BigPharma..."

"The Ukrainian people, regardless of what ethnic group they may belong to, are merely the latest unwitting hostages of the supranational totalitarian regime that brought the national economies of the entire world to their knees through the Covid deception, after publicly theorizing about the need to decimate the world population and transform the survivors into chronically ill patients who have irreparably compromised their immune systems....

"The United States and European countries should not marginalize Russia, they should make an alliance with it not only to restore trade for the sake of universal prosperity, but also for the sake of restoring Christian civilization - the only one capable of saving the world from the globalist techno-medical transhumanist monster..."

"If the errors of communism were spread by the Soviet Union, even to the point of imposing themselves within the Church, Russia and Ukraine can today have an epochal role in the restoration of Christian Civilization, contributing to bringing the world a period of peace from which the Church too will rise again purified and renewed in her Ministers."

According to the ideology of the "Third Rome". Rus remained the only full-fledged Orthodox kingdom in the world, where the corresponding value approaches are recognized as true. This meant that it is she who is the biblical "Katehon" ("Retaining"), the very fact of her existence on Earth preventing the coming of the "world kingdom of Antichrist", and, as a result, the end of the world.

Maxim Trudolyubov noted that "Putin's quasi-ideology represents a return to "traditional values. ... The past was bright and the future dark. The world, created by God immediately in a perfect and finished form, only got worse over time. ... The role of the "bright past" in their rhetoric is played either by the Russian Empire or by the Soviet Union, depending on the audience. And the "dark future" is the threat of a crisis, the collapse of the country or its capture by enemies.... The most ardent loyalists and uncompromising oppositionists, in fact, agree on one thing: the onset of the future can, at best (or at worst), be delayed for a long time, but it will still not have either Putin or the system of power he created. The difference is that the loyalists are against such a future, while the opposition is for it. "

Dina Kkhapaeva noted in 2019 "In the last year, Putin has spoken about a nuclear apocalypse more than any Western leader has over the last decade... October [2018 ed] Valdai Discussion Club, Putins rhetoric became even more dramatic. Russia would be the victim, and the aggressor should know that revenge is inevitable. While nuclear war would be a world catastrophe, he said, at least Russians would go to heaven, as martyrs, whereas, lacking any time to repent, the aggressors would just croak.... In his 2007 novel The Apocalypse of Vladimir, television journalist Vladimir Solovyov calls Putin the czar and the prophet, whose mission is to prepare Russia for the Last Judgment.... Alexander Dugin, the leader of the Eurasia movement and arguably the Kremlins chief ideologist, calls Putin katechon, an Orthodox leader who prevents the kingdom of the Antichrist, which he defines as a combination of Western globalization, post-liberalism, and post-industrial society. "

Piotr H. Kosicki observed that "Putin is both a realist and a self-styled bringer of apocalypse. For Putin, the European security architecture long and proudly touted by the West itself marked Russias apocalyptic defeat. Putin glorifies the Soviet Unions World War II victories and remains ashamed of the USSRs quiet implosion. Since coming to power, he has pursued a fairly consistent strategy of reasserting and rebuilding Russian strength in Chechnya and Georgia, and, via allied strongmen, in Belarus, Kazakhstan, and elsewhere across the post-Soviet space.... Putin has found support for the affirmative pursuit of apocalypse in the Russian Orthodox Church, whose patriarch Kirill immediately came out in support of the invasion... Getting the world out of this crisis before that unity falters starts with the need to take Putins apocalypticism seriously, and to understand that it does not preclude serious calculations about power and strategy."

Russia's "special military operation" in Ukraine had one more mission - de-Satanization. This, in particular, was stated by Assistant Secretary of the Security Council Oleksiy Pavlov: I believe that with the continuation of the special military operation, it becomes more and more urgent to carry out the de-Satanization of Ukraine. The extremely conservative publicist Alexander Dugin developed the theme on his page on the social network: The SVO is a direct deadly clash with the atheistic globalist liberal West and its liberal-Nazi tentacles in the person of the obsessed Little Russians. And this time the satanic character of the main enemy of Holy Rus' is no longer metaphorical. It is simply and directly the hordes of the Antichrist. This is Antikeymenos, the main antipode of Katekhon, and Rus' is Katekhon.

Finally, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow , the head of the Russian Orthodox Church and an ally of Putin, speaking at the 24th World Russian People's Council Orthodoxy and the World in the 21st Century, he declared: Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the world rulers of the darkness of the whole age, the spirits of wickedness in high places, as the apostle said (see Ephesians 6: 12). Today, these words are becoming visible, and everyone can understand what is being said, and with understanding, the possibility of resistance opens up.

Patriarch Kirill said that the laws adopted in a number of Western countries on the permissibility of same-sex marriages, like the laws of Nazi Germany, completely contradict the moral nature of man.Unfortunately, in some countries, in the West, for the first time, perhaps, in all time, laws have begun to be adopted that break with the moral nature of man, with conscience. These are laws about so-called homosexual marriages. And when legislation breaks its connection with morality, it ceases to be legislation acceptable to people, it causes protests, he said. According to the primate of the Russian Orthodox Church, it is for this reason that people rebelled against these laws.

Kirill repeated a long-held contention that the West wants to enforce the practice of holding gay pride parades as a test of loyalty to its values, which include the acceptance of homosexuality. The Ukraine war, he said, resulted from the eastern regions refusal to acquiesce. "Pride parades are designed to demonstrate that sin is one variation of human behaviour. That's why in order to join the club of those countries, you have to have a gay pride parade," said Kirill. If humanity accepts that sin is not a violation of Gods law, if humanity accepts that sin is a variation of human behavior, then human civilization will end there, Kirill said on the pre-Lenten celebration known as Forgiveness Sunday on 09 March 2023.

Putin said that the dictatorship of the West is aimed at the complete denial of faith and is acquiring the features of Satanism at the ceremony 30 September 2022 of signing treaties on the accession of new Donbas territories. He also stated that the dictatorship of the Western elites is directed against all societies, including the peoples of the Western countries themselves. This is a challenge to everyone, such a complete denial of man, the overthrow of faith and traditional values, the suppression of freedom is acquiring the features of religion, on the contrary, outright Satanism, Putin said.

Putin said at the ceremony 30 September 2022 of signing treaties on the accession of new Donbas territories Do we really want us here, in our country, in Russia, instead of mom and dad, to have parent number one, number two, number three? Are you completely crazy already? Do we really want perversions that lead to degradation and extinction to be imposed in our schools from the primary grades? asked Vladimir Putin.





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Moscow is the Third Rome

The expression Moscow is the Third Rome is well known, even to children in Russian elementary schools. This doctrine gave the Russian nation a sense of their unique destiny. Some Western political leaders have even found Putins policies to have roots in the concept of the Third Rome. Russian minister of foreign affairs Sergey Lavrov claimed in 2016 that Russia was " a single state, which subsequently both in the West and in the East began to be considered as a kind of heir to the Byzantine Empire that fell in 1453.... Russia can no longer be ignored, not a single serious European issue can be resolved without taking Russian opinion into account." Lavrovs's words echoed those of his predecessor Andrei Andreevich Gromyko, who asserted in 1971 that in international relations "today there is no question of any significance which can be resolved without the Soviet Union or in opposition to her."

Russian communism, as Nikolai Berdyaev put it, was the third form of Russian imperialism, the dominant preceding forms being the "Third Rome" ideology and pan-Slavism. Instead of the Third Rome, Nikolai Berdyaev reasoned, Russia managed to implement the Third International, and many features of the Third Rome were transferred to the Third International. The Third International is also a sacred realm, and it is also based on orthodox faith. The Third International is not an international, but the Russian national idea. This is the transformation of Russian messianism.

In each the Messianic elements of sacred mission, protection and liberation of other, the certain deliverance of the world, and the racist superiority of Russia to achieve these ends are present. They sanctify the conquest of nations and by pretext justify more conquests. This was so in the restricted civilized world of the 15th-18th centuries, in the more expanded world of the 19th and early 20th century, and by virtue of technology and science, the complete world now.

In 324 AD the first Christian emperor Constantine the Great united under his rule West and East. He was tasked with taking up the baton of the old Rome as the political center of the world. And almost immediately he commenced the construction of the new capital of the Roman empire - Constantinople  the New Rome. The Byzantines themselves would call themselves Romans and were firmly convinced that they still lived in the Roman empire. Which is to say, in the last worldly kingdom which would precede the Second Coming of Christ and the establishment of the eternal kingdom of God. This endowed the Christian empire with a political program: her earthly rulers were to prepare the people under them to meet Christ so that at the Last Judgment they should answer for the moral state of their subjects.

In 1453, Constantinople fell and was taken over by the Muslims. As a result, at that time the Muscovite state remained the only sovereign and independent Orthodox state. The fall of Byzantium was viewed in the eyes of contemporaries as a terrible event which nonetheless had its own logic and was long awaited.

In 1472 the Grand Prince of Moscow Ivan III Vasilievich entered into a marriage with Sophia (Zoya), the niece of the last Byzantine emperor Constantine Paleologos. And soon afterwards, in 1480 Muscovite Rus was finally free from paying tribute to the Golden Horde, and from 1493 Ivan III was titled the sovereign of all Russia. The 7000th year since the creation of the world, which evoked so much fear, came and went and there began a new millennium dating from the creation of the world which would become an epoch of the rapid growth of a new Orthodox power in the form of the Russian state.

The ideology of the Third Rome commenced with Ivan III when he claimed the privileges of the Emperor of Constantinople, proclaimed Moscow the Third Rome, and adopted the double-headed eagle. The ideology was formulated by the Pakovian Monk Philoteus who in 1524 wrote: "All Christian empires ended and were absorbed by one empire-that of our autocrat, in accordance with the prophetical books, the Russian tsardom. Two Romes have fallen, and the third exists; but there will be no fourth." If the Church in Russia fails, the end of the world will come. The elder was worried about the growth of sinfulness in the Moscow principality. In the message to the Grand Duke, all this was in the context of, for example, the spread of sodomy, that is, sodomy, not only among the laity, but also among the priests.

Patriarch of Constantinople Jeremiah II, in the foundation document signed by him in 1589 on the establishment in Russia of a patriarchal throne, addressed the following words to Tsar Feodor Ioannovich: Old Rome fell because of the heresy of Apollinaris; the second Rome, which is Constantinople fell as it was captured by the godless Turks and your Rome, O most pious Tsar is the realm of Russia, the Third Rome which has exceeded all in piety and all beneficent kingdoms have been gathered into one and you alone beneath the heavens are called a Christian emperor throughout out the whole world and Christendom (Collection of State Documents and Treatises, vol. 2, p.97).

After Alexander II became Tsar in 1855, we see an uptick in interest in the doctrine of the Third Rome. These hopes of a future imperial greatness were harshly cut short by the Crimean War, even though in the latter the notion of the heritage of Byzantium excited the minds of many Russian commentators. The doctrine of the Third Rome, in this new interpretation, began to appear in historical textbooks in the late 19th century. The Pan-Slavic movement. Pan-Slavs openly used the idea of Moscow as the Third Rome in their calls to protect their Slavic brothers from the Ottomans. Under emperor Nicholas II there was awakened a lively interest in the Byzantine political tradition, but this was a last spark before the disaster of 1917 and the ensuing radical changes in political ideology.

Serving the expansionist interests of Russia, this Messianic belief lasted 500 years, even into the atheistic Communist Russian Empire. Peter the Great exploited it before he named, for the first time, his imperial realm "Russia." Fropaganda before the partitions of Poland by Catherine II claimed that her fellow orthodox had to be protected from Polish and Jesuit persecutions. "Protection of fellow Christians" and "protection of the Holy Places and the orthodox" in Jerusalem preceded and sanctified the wars against Turkey.

And in 1948, on the occasion of the 500th anniversary of the independence of the Russian Church, Bishop Hermogen, rector of the Moscow Theological Academy, let it be known that the present Patriarchate of Moscow alone preserved the true Christian faith, not shared by either the Catholic or Protestant worlds. Clearly, this Messianistic expansionism not only continued yet in the third Rome form but also, and more importantly, had been channeled into the materialistic millenarianism known as Russian communism.

Belief in the Greek apostasy and the fall of the Byzantine empire served to create the idea of Moscow as the third Rome, the importance of which in Russian life can hardly be exaggerated. Muscovy was the only orthodox country in the world. The prince of Moscow was thus the legitimate successor of the Byzantine emperor. By God's unchangeable decree the Roman emperor was still the defender of the orthodox imperial Church. But by reason of Rome's unfaithfulness the headship of God's kingdom upon earth had passed over to 'the second Rome,' Byzantium, and, in turn, to the princes of Moscow.

Thus these princes (and later the tsars) laid claim to the hegemony of the world. Nor was this merely the overweening belief of politicians and ecclesiastics; it came to be a conviction of the whole people. It was largely fostered by an apocalyptic conception then prevalent in Russia, viz. that Moscow was not merely the third but the final Rome. Should Moscow fall away, as Rome and Byzantium had done, then the dread end of all things would be at hand; Moscow's constancy and faithfulness protected the world against the irruption of the divine judgment.

It was under the dominance of the idea of Moscow as the third Rome that Ivan IV (the Terrible) adopted in 1547 the title of tsar; and on the same ground was established the patriarchate of Moscow, since the orthodox emperor must by divine decree have at his side the imperial patriarch. It remains merely to emphasize the fact that this idea, besides enormously intensifying the national self-esteem, added powerfully also to the Church's sense of its importance. It also greatly strengthened the impression that only by rigid adherence to perfect orthodoxy - in especial, absolute ritualistic purity - could the empire maintain its sovereign claims. Heresy of every kind, even the slightest liturgical departure from the faith of the fathers, was not only a blow at the Church, but also a menace to the supremacy of Moscow as the third Rome.

Deep anti-European imperialism had its root in the idea that Moscow is the "Third Rome," that only in Muscovy is preserved true Christianity, that therefore the Russians had a "mission" in the world to convert all other peoples to Orthodoxy. This Russian Messianism createdv a master race complex later deepened by Panslavism and Slavophilism, with their contempt for Western European democracy, culture, and civilization.

Something actualized during the time of Catherine II, who had a Greek project, the revival of the Byzantine Empire, so she named her first son Constantine. If the Russian troops reached Constantinople-Istanbul, the Byzantine Empire would be revived, it would be headed by the Romanovs and, for example, the son of Catherine. Then it was republished during the time of Alexander II in the middle of the 19th century, when there was another phase of the activity of the Russian Empire. The Crimean War was actually Eastern because of Russia's claims to the holy places - Palestine.

The Russian people had not realized their Messianic idea of Moscow the Third Rome. The Old Believers ecclesiastical schism of the 17th century revealed that the Muscovite Tsardom was not the Third Rome; still less, of course, was the Petersburg Empire a realization of the idea of the Third Rome. In it a final cleavage took place. The Messianic idea of the Russian people assumed either an apocalyptic form or a revolutionary.

Then there occurred an amazing event in the destiny of the Russian people. Instead of the Third Rome in Russia, the Third International was achieved and many of the features of the Third Rome pass over to the Third International. The Third International is also a consecrated realm, and it also is founded on an orthodox faith. The fact that the Third International is not international but a Russian national idea is very poorly understood in the West. Here we have the transformation of Russian messianism.

Bolshevism made use of everything for its own triumph. It made use of Russian traditions of government by imposition, and it proclaimed a dictatorship which was more like the old rule of the Tsar. It made use of the characteristics of the Russian spirit in all its incompatibility with a secularized bourgeois society. It made use of its religious instinct, its dogmatism and maximalism and also of its manifestations of coarseness and cruelty; it made use of Russian messianism, which still remained though in an unconscious form, and of the Russian faith in Russia's own development. It absorbed also the sectarian spirit of the Russian intelligentia, it fitted in with Russian collectivism. It proclaimed the necessity of the integral totalitarian outlook of a dominant creed, which corresponded with the habits, experience and requirements of the Russian people in faith and in the dominating principles of life.

Even the old Slavophils' dream of transferring the capital from St. Petersburg to Moscow, to the Kremlin, was realized by the Red Communists, and Russian communism proclaimed anew the old idea of the Slavophils and Dostoyewskyex oriente lux. Light proceeds from Moscow, from the Kremlin, a light to lighten the bourgeois darkness of the West. At the same time communism creates a despotic and bureaucratic state, called into being to dominate the whole life of the people not only in body but also in soul, in accord with the traditions of Ivan the Terrible and the rule of the Tsars.

After 1991, there is nothing to offer, because America and the West can manipulate such words as the struggle for democracy, human rights, freedom, and so on, having certain recipes for this. And the Russian ideology has become very impoverished, because there is nothing to offer, except for the expansion of Russia's borders, based on some historical claims. But what to give to those people who will be joined is unknown. Therefore, now the ideology of the Third Rome is designed primarily for the Russians. No one is surprised by the synthesis of Orthodoxy and Stalinism.





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Volkswagen finds itself in a difficult position, as the CEO of the German auto manufacturer has revealed. Volkswagen CEO Thomas Schafer has termed the current situation as the roof is on fire for the automaker. British automotive publication Autocar UK has reported that during a fiery internal meeting, the VW CEO said that costs are getting too high. He reportedly asked the managers to freeze spending in order to save at least $11 billion.

The report claims that Volkswagen's CEO laid out a difficult path for Europe's largest automaker. Schafer reportedly said that the company is letting the costs run too high in many areas. He also indicated that the coming weeks and months will be very tough for the auto company.

Also Read : Electric vehicle market is overheating, says Volkswagen China CEO. Here's why

The Volkswagen CEO reportedly asked the managers to find solutions for small wins. Also, he has revealed that the company is planning to devise a plan that would help it to save as much as $10 billion over the next three years.

Also check these Cars Find more Cars DISCONTINUED Volkswagen Vento  10 - 14.1 Lakhs* *Last recorded price Add to compare View Details Explore your Vehicle Check vehicle details Check Insurance & PUCC due date Volkswagen Taigun  10.49 - 17.5 Lakhs* *Ex-showroom price Add to compare Check latest offers UPCOMING Volkswagen Id.4 50 - 60 Lakhs* *Expected Price View Details Volkswagen Virtus  11.22 - 17.92 Lakhs* *Ex-showroom price Add to compare Check latest offers DISCONTINUED Volkswagen Polo  5.83 - 10 Lakhs* *Last recorded price Add to compare View Details DISCONTINUED Volkswagen T-roc 21.35 Lakhs* *Last recorded price Add to compare View Details

This call for cost-cutting comes amid the sales slowdown in China, where the automaker has been forced to join in a price war, as the competition in the world's largest auto market has tightened as domestic automakers' share has increased. Also, this move comes at a time when Volkswagen is aiming to ramp up its game in the global electric vehicle market targeting to grab the pole position in the segment, at the same time continuing with its internal combustion engine-powered vehicles.

The Volkswagen CEO has attributed the complex, slow and inflexible corporate structures and processes to this situation. Our structures and processes are still too complex, slow, and inflexible," Schafer added. The German brands head honcho warned managers of tough times ahead.

First Published Date:
How can cities use their purchasing power to increase economic opportunity for businesses owned by people of color?That was the crucial question explored recently as five cities gathered to discuss how they could better use the money theyre already spending on goods and services to help support minority-owned businesses in their community. On January 25-26, Charlotte, N.C., Chicago, Los Angeles, Memphis, Tenn., and Milwaukee, Wis., gathered in San Antonio, Texas, to share strategies for making local procurement more equitable. These five cities are part of the City Accelerator, a Living Cities initiative with funding from Citi Foundation and technical expertise by Griffin & Strong, PC, that is designed to support and share municipal innovation.After two days of robust discussion, the cities left with 5 key takeaways:The convening kicked off with a presentation by Brion Oaks, the Chief Equity Officer of Austin, Texas, who said that to make progress, cities must first acknowledge the policy decisions that contributed to the racial income, wealth and quality of life gaps we see today.For example, in 1928, the city of Austin had a policy that it would only provide services to people of color if they lived in specific zones within the city. These zones received dramatically less investment in physical infrastructure and supports for families and businesses. And for decades, whenever there was a policy decision about locating a waste treatment plant, industrial site, correctional facility or any other undesirable development, the city would place them in these zones. In the 1960s, when many explicitly racist policies were outlawed as a result of the civil rights movement, the government moved to race-neutral policies.But because of the vast racial inequalities already in place, these neutral policies only served to perpetuate the inequity. Today, when you map poverty, distress and the racial wealth gap in the city, it is still largely contained in those geographic zones, a clear modern embodiment of intentionally racist policy decisions of the past.In addition to being conscious of inequities rooted in past decisions, Austins Equity Action Team recommended leading with a focus on race/ethnicity (while recognizing other experiences of inequity), focusing on human-centered policies and programs, engaging residents in decision-making, using disaggregated data, and analyzing the unintended consequences of city policies and other decisions.Cities are not fully leveraging the potential economic impact of their own procurement. Too often the process for selecting public contractors or vendors disadvantages small, locally-owned businesses or businesses owned by people of color. All of the cities in this cohort of the City Accelerator are exploring opportunities to make their contracts more accessible by overcoming the barriers that businesses typically face, and they were able to gather new ideas and approaches from their peers.For example, cities are looking at prompt payment policies to address delays in the process of paying prime contractors  and those prime contractors paying their subcontractors  that currently make it difficult for entrepreneurs of color to stay afloat doing work on city contracts. The participants also recognize that risk-shifting provisions that require excessive bonding and insurance from public contractors have an exclusionary effect, prompting several cities in the cohort to explore changing their standard requirements or offering supports for small businesses to help them to qualify for a higher level of insurance.Finally, there is more that cities can do to ensure that businesses owned by people of color can prepare for and connect to public contracting opportunities, including comprehensive forecasting of upcoming opportunities to bid on city contracts, matchmaking events to build relationships and demystify the process, and joint contract compliance efforts across multiple public agencies to ensure that prime contractors are meeting their commitments to give a portion of their subcontracting opportunities to businesses owned by people of color.On the second day of the convening, participants gathered at LaunchSA, a partnership with LiftFund and the San Antonio Economic Development Department that provides space where those with an idea or a full-fledged business can access specialty programing, workshops, tailored support and resources.In a panel discussion, Ryan Salts, director of programming at LaunchSA; Celina Pena, chief program officer of LiftFund; and Renee Watson, director of Bexar Countys program for small, minority and women-owned business enterprises, shared the importance of engaging in partnerships to ensure that new businesses can not only successfully launch but continue to grow.Through a shared focus on the goal of building up local businesses owned by people of color and greater collaboration, a city can develop a supportive ecosystem that brings together diverse stakeholder: banks and community development financial institutions like LiftFund who provide capital; established business leaders who serve as mentors to provide inspiration and practical guidance to entrepreneurs; public programs that provide training and support to strengthen back-office functions related, such as financing or hiring; ethnic chambers of commerce that provide a networking and advocacy platform; and procurement offices in public agencies and other anchor institutions that offer the contracts that spur business growth.. While equitable procurement strategies within city government can make a difference, several of the cities in the City Accelerator cohort are focusing on how to use an anchor strategy  across different public agencies, traditional eds and meds anchors or corporate anchors  to increase the scale of this impact. Jonathan Salzman, an associate at Next Street, a private company focused on business development in revitalizing communities, shared his reflections on the options and opportunities that anchor partnerships present. Because anchors institutions are rooted in the community, their well-being is bound up in the well-being of the community and economy in which they reside.The city of Chicago has a robust anchor strategy, the Chicago Anchors for a Strong Economy (CASE) initiative, which brings together 16 prominent public, private, non-profit and cultural Chicagoland institutions  looking to build economic vitally across Chicagos neighborhoods by committing to local hiring, purchasing and investment. As a collective, they have been able to assist 443 businesses in their community, spurring the creation of 180 new jobs and $51.8 million in revenue. In addition, Chicagos Procurement Reform Task Force brought together the City of Chicago and six participating public anchors  Chicago Public Schools, Chicago Transit Authority, Chicago Housing Authority, City Colleges of Chicago, Chicago Park District, and Public Building Commission  to determine how best to align and improve their collective procurement efforts, which add up to more than $6 billion in contracts. These partners are committed to working together to increase the efficiency and equitable impact of their contracting and contractor compliance efforts.The cities that gathered cited peer learning as one of the major benefits of participating in the City Accelerator. Each of the cities in the initiative has had opportunities to borrow ideas from other cities -- whether those in their cohort or others that have been engaged in the convenings, like San Antonio, Austin or Atlanta. Building on each others best practices, they are continuing to push these ideas further and adapt them to new environments. By open sourcing learning, the City Accelerator is advancing and spreading promising innovation in city practice.
Christ in the Old Testament

Lawrence Darmani Opinion Jul - 15 - 2023 , 15:51

We meet the Lord Jesus Christ for the first time in the New Testament where his birth, ministry, suffering, death, and resurrection are recorded in the gospels.

Then, in the Acts of the Apostles, the Epistles, and Revelation, we encounter him in connection with our relationship with him and how to live for him.

Now, since the Bible is both Old and New Testaments, do we encounter Christ also in the Old Testament? Oh yes, we do!

Christ in Genesis

Right there in Genesis chapter one, we meet Christ as the light that expelled the darkness that was on the surface of the deep when God created heaven and earth. Let there be light, God said, and there was light (Genesis 1:3).

That light was Christ, for he himself said, I am the light of the world, (John 8:12). Moreover, John the gospel writer wrote, In him was life, and that life was the light for all mankind (John 1:4).

It is because Christ is light that he who believes in him should not walk in darkness or get entangled in shady deals.

Christ at the fall

We meet Christ again at the fall of mankind, and that encounter demonstrates how much God loves us.

When pronouncing the punishment for the serpent who caused Adam and Eve to sin, God said, I will put enmity between you and the woman and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head and you will strike his heel (Genesis 3:15).

The offspring of the woman refers to Christ, for it is he who would crush the head of the serpent. In 1 John 3:8 we read, The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devils works, which he did at the cross.

It is amazing that God introduces to us his Son, who would deal with sin, right at the time when punishment for sin was being pronounced on Satan.

Christ in Exodus

Where I encountered Christ in the book of Exodus, my jaw dropped in astonishment. Observe carefully how the Israelites were to apply the blood on their doorposts just before they fled Egypt

And they shall take some of the blood, and put it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses (Exodus 12:7).

Do you see what I see? Blood on the upper door post, blood on the left side, blood on the right side. What do you see? Well, I see the sign of the cross!

Does seeing the sign of the cross in that passage seem like squeezing liquid out of a stone? Maybe, but remember that the Passover event signified the Israelites deliverance from slavery, which resembles our salvation through Christ Jesus whose blood was shed for us.

Christ in Isaiah

Now here is the mother of all encountersIsaiah 53. The entire chapter is a prophecy about Christ the suffering servant of the Lord.

His suffering, rejection, oppression, affliction, death and resurrection are all vividly predicted in Isaiah 53. Likewise, the peace we have through his suffering and our punishment which he took upon himself. When Peter wrote that By his wounds we are healed (1 Peter 2:24), he was quoting Isaiah 53:5.

It was Isaiah 53 that the Ethiopian Eunuch was reading when the Holy Spirit led Philip to his chariot (Acts 8:26-38). When Philip explained to him that what he was reading was about Jesus Christ, he believed and asked to be baptised.

It is not enough to know; what is important is to believe and be baptised.

A virgin conceives Immanuel

King Ahaz was in serious trouble because two powerful kings had ganged up to destroy Judah. To assure him of victory, God sent prophet Isaiah to tell him, Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel (Isaiah 7:14)  that is, God with us.

For a virgin to conceive was unheard of, but that was how the Old Testament prophet described the birth of Christ. Gospel writer Matthew notes the fulfilment of this prophecy in Matthew 1:23.

When you are in trouble, take heart because of Immanuel, for God is with usif we call upon him. That is the assurance we need every day.

And to underscore this important prophecy, there came a repetition of it in Isaiah 9:6: For to us a child is born, to us a son is given . . . Note his other names besides Immanuel  . . . Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, everlasting Father, Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6).

That the child would be called Mighty God and Everlasting Father is simply amazing. Years to come, the Jesus would say, I and the Father are one!

When you are reading the Old Testament, look out for the Messiah, for he is all over the place.
Unregistered water products; Consumer beware!

Vicky Wireko Opinion Jul - 15 - 2023 , 15:01

The regulator for safe and quality food and drink products as well as pharmaceuticals and other manufacturing products in this country, the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), has put out a caution statement this week that there are unregistered water products in the market.

By implication, consumers are by that being warned about the kind of water they buy to consume.

Water, it is said, is life. It is something one cannot live without and not surprising therefore, the increasing number of water producing companies on our market.

It is also not surprising that it has become an avenue to make money because unlike other consumer products, there is always a ready market for drinking water.

Yes, competition is good in a liberal economy. It gives manufacturers the push to constantly review and improve on the quality of their products and for the consumer, a likelihood of variety, constant availability and competitive pricing.

Set standards

However, there is always the hidden danger of some producers who will not abide by the set standards. They will only hide behind the good of others to flood the market and make their money for as long as they are also marketing the needed commodity, water.

With the vigilant eye of the FDAs market inspection team, some unregistered water have recently been traced on the market, hence a warning to consumers. One wonders how a manufacturer could push out unregistered product for sale without catching the eyes of the regulator.

In a media release issued by the authority earlier this week, three water brands of a company named Samdoe Enterprise, located in Community 18, Tema, and on the Spintex Road, have been found to be unregistered. The three alleged unregistered water brands include Perfect Ice Drinking Water, Aqua Link Drinking Water and Leaders Drinking Water.

According to the release of July 12, 2023, when FDAs Inspection Team visited the manufacturing site of Samdoe Enterprise, they witnessed quality and safety breaches. Such breaches included uncovered drains with algae and fungi growth, dirty filters and no pest control mechanisms in place.

Through the media release, therefore, the Authority is cautioning the public to desist from consuming the alleged unregistered water products. It asked those who already have them to dispose of them while retailers withdrew their stocks from the market.

Public health, safety

For the interest of public health and safety, FDA has done the needful by shutting down the manufacturing site and warning consumers about the product. According to a source contacted, in due course when the necessary tests have been carried out to ascertain the wholesomeness or otherwise of the products, FDA will take a decision on the next steps.

Once upon a time, one knew about the active involvement and supervision of the Department of Factories Inspectorate. They were quite visible in checking the activities of manufacturing set ups and promoting health and safety, primarily for workers. No doubt, however, their job must have positively rubbed on the quality of products and hence consumer health and safety as well.

Stories about suspected contaminated products, especially on something as critical as water, saddens ones heart. We all attest to the essential benefit of drinking water to every human being. Why would anyone want to cut corners to make money from producing drinking water and passing them out without registration and hence passing consumer health and safety checks?

Consumer checks

The story then is just another reminder for the consumer to do the needful before consuming any product from shop shelves. Ordinarily, one should inspect basic things like manufacturing and expiry dates as well as FDA certification when buying consumable products. Unfortunately, we sometimes fail to do that, taking for granted that all should be well.

One sometimes assumes that once a product is beautifully displayed on a shop shelf it is good for consumption. The FDA alert in this water manufacturing issue is a typical case in hand. It is no doubt a lesson and a reminder, going forward; that there is always the need to stay alert and do ones own checks, no matter which shop one is buying from.

It is ones primary duty as a consumer when shopping to check labels as well as other expected details when buying. It is only when one has satisfied ones self with the wholesomeness of a product on a shop shelf that one should part with money. The fact that the product is on the shelf does not guarantee its wholesomeness.

The saying that all that glitters is not gold should be ones guiding principle when out there to buy. The packaging might be attractive and the price very affordable but the quality could be something else.

In view of the many unsolved illnesses around, perhaps we should all be careful of what we buy to consume and not always wait until the regulator comes in. The principle that one should say something when one sees something works very well here.

A word to the wise, they say, is enough.
Seychelles tightens border controls on Nigerians amid concerns of drug trafficking and fraud

International News Jul - 16 - 2023 , 13:32

Seychelles authorities have announced stricter border control measures for Nigerian tourists due to increasing concerns over drug trafficking and fraudulent activities by Nigerian passport holders.

Vice President Ahmed Afif addressed the issue on Thursday, stating that only Nigerians with diplomatic passports or valid work and resident permits issued by Seychelles will be allowed entry.

"For others, the government will keep a close eye, and the Seychelles Electronic Border System (SEBS) will conduct more thorough analysis to determine the reasons for their visit. For example, if someone claims to be coming for a one-day holiday, we have to ask questions because it raises suspicion," explained Vice President Afif.

He highlighted instances where Nigerians claimed to be visiting for holidays but only stayed for one or two days. Upon investigation, it was discovered that the payments for their trips came from a single source, indicating the presence of an organized syndicate.

Over the past year, and particularly in recent months, Seychelles has observed a concerning trend related to criminal activities involving certain individuals from Nigeria. Vice President Afif revealed that in the past two weeks alone, 13 Nigerians were arrested upon entering Seychelles for attempting to smuggle drugs into the country.

The Vice President also shared incidents where Nigerians used fraudulent credit cards at tourist establishments. One case involved 62 Nigerians claiming to be on holiday but using false credit cards, resulting in significant financial losses for the establishments. Additionally, financial institutions were targeted in a fraud case where 1 million was lost, and online scams originating from Nigeria have also been detected.

Afif emphasized that Seychelles does not have an issue with Nigeria or its people, but it cannot tolerate criminal activities within its borders. He clarified that the measures implemented are aimed at ensuring border control and safeguarding the country's economy.

Social media debates erupted over the weekend following a screenshot of an alleged rejected entry application from SEBS, stating that Seychelles was not accepting Nigerian passport holders for holiday purposes. Vice President Afif acknowledged the lack of communication on the matter and emphasized that the circulated information was not official or coordinated.

To address the situation, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Tourism Sylvestre Radegonde is scheduled to meet with the Nigerian ambassador for Seychelles for further discussions. Seychelles aims to explore options for placing convicted Nigerians within its jurisdiction into the hands of the relevant Nigerian authorities.

Seychelles, known for its stunning archipelago in the western Indian Ocean, remains committed to maintaining strong border controls and preserving the integrity of its tourism sector.
4 arrested in connection with Ablekuma bullion van robbery

GraphicOnline Jul - 16 - 2023 , 14:02

The Ghana Police Service has confirmed the arrest of four individuals in connection with the Ablekuma FanMilk bullion van robbery.

Among the apprehended suspects is one who was arrested yesterday. These individuals are currently in custody, providing assistance in the ongoing police investigation. The police administration has assured the public that further updates will be provided in due course.

The incident, which unfolded in broad daylight, prompted an intense manhunt by the police for the suspected robbers responsible for the killing of a policeman in Ablekuma, located in the Ga West Municipality of the Greater Accra Region.

The victim, Lance Corporal Calystus Amoah, tragically lost his life during an apparent robbery attempt targeting the occupants of a vehicle at a fuel service station in Ablekuma.

BREAKING: Major arrest made in Ablekuma FanMilk bullion van robbery case! 

Aflao District Police Command has successfully apprehended Blessing Njoma, a key suspect. The fight for justice continues for the fallen police escort. Stay tuned for more updates! #CrimeNews pic.twitter.com/vgvBrtlhza  GraphicOnline (@Graphicgh) July 16, 2023

According to reports, the alleged robbers trailed the bullion van to the fuel station, where the shootout subsequently occurred.

Lance Corporal Amoah, positioned in the front passenger seat of the vehicle as part of his security duties, was shot multiple times at close range. The incident drew the attention of residents, both private and commercial drivers, as well as traders in the community, following the escape of the four robbers.

The arrest of the four individuals marks a significant breakthrough in the investigation into the Ablekuma bullion van robbery.

"Four people of interest have so far been arrested in connection with the Ablekuma bullion van robbery, including one of the suspects who was arrested yesterday," the statement said.

"

The four are in custody assisting police investigation. Further details will be communicated in due course".
Absa supports Street Academy with uniforms, food items

Daily Graphic Jul - 15 - 2023 , 15:36

The management of financial giants Absa Bank last Friday donated school uniforms and other items to the NGO for the underpriviliged, Street Academy, to enhance the education of these children for the bettterment of their lives.

The items donated in Accra recently also included bags of sugar, biscuits, and rice cooking oil for the feeding needs of the children in the academy.

The Chief Operating Officer of Absa, Frederick Nyinaku, who presented the items, pledged his outfits continued support for the Street Academy.

"We shall move out of our comfort zone, see real life situtations by visiting this children regularly to inspire them", he said.

Mr Nyinaku explained that the idea of establishing the bank was not only to make money or profit, but commiserate with the communities in which they operate, by having impact on their lives.

"I dont see this children as ordinary, I could see talents in them, if they are supported, they would become Presidents, ministers of state and stars in the country", he noted.

A board Member of the academy, Melani Mennela, thanked the bank for the gesture and said the academy was raising the children on their own with dignity.

"The Seventy-five children, the academy is now training, belong to families, communities and generations'', the board member who is also a human rights activists stated.

She is the school was constructing a clinic to take care of the healths needs of the children and therefore appealed to benevolent organisations to support them.

The Street Academy, a non-profit organisation (NGO) that takes care of needy children living on the streets of Accra, the countrys capital city.

The organisation aims at taking children off the streets and into a classroom where they can be educated and fed with one meal a day at no cost.

The organisation runs a non-formal school from 7.30 a.m. to 3.00 p.m. Monday to Friday for children aged six to 16 years. The children are taken through a varied curriculum and prepared to go to formal school where they are supported to further their education.
Barbara Mahama: Widow of slain Major Mahama, unveils memoir

Kweku Zurek Jul - 16 - 2023 , 13:47

Barbara Mahama, the wife of the late Major Mahama, is set to release a memoir titled "RESILIENCE: Reflections from a Widow's Diary" on July 21, 2023, marking six years since her husband's tragic demise.

The self-written memoir recounts the heart-wrenching story of Major Mahama's death, which occurred on May 29, 2017, in Denkyira Obuasi, Central Region. He was allegedly lynched during a morning walk in the community.

Fourteen individuals, including the then Assembly member for the area, William Baah, are currently facing trial in connection with the military officer's death. All defendants have pleaded not guilty to charges that range from murder to conspiracy to commit murder.

Barbara Mahama's book is a powerful account of her journey as a young Ghanaian woman who lost her husband and had to rebuild her life for herself and her children.

Within the pages of the memoir, readers will discover how the author found motivation and resilience in the face of unimaginable grief, crediting her ability to persevere to the grace of God. She shares personal insights and lessons learned, including childhood experiences that have shaped her identity.

"RESILIENCE: Reflections from a Widow's Diary" delves into the depths of grief and love, immersing readers in the life of a widow in a manner that surpasses expectations.

Barbara Mahama exposes the raw emotions of her loss and the profound impact her late husband had on her life, showcasing the woman she has become following the tragic event. The memoir explores the complexities of life and death, demonstrating that love and hope possess the strength to endure even in the face of adversity.

Barbara Mahama's memoir serves as an intimate portrayal of her resilience and determination to navigate through the depths of grief. The book stands as a testament to the indomitable human spirit and the power of love to transcend the most challenging circumstances. It is a tribute to Major Mahama's memory and a source of inspiration for all who have experienced loss, reminding readers that love and hope can prevail against all odds.
Martin Amidu affirms authenticity of leaked tape alleging plot against IGP Dampare (FULL STATEMENT)

GraphicOnline Politics Jul - 16 - 2023 , 08:40

Former Special Prosecutor, Martin A. B. K. Amidu, has stated that the leaked tape implicating high-ranking officials allegedly conspiring to remove Inspector General of Police (IGP) George Akuffo Dampare from office is "authentic and not fake."

In a written statement, Amidu confirmed the validity of the leaked 50-minute recording, recognizing the voice of one of the individuals involved, whom he previously represented as a client during his time as a lawyer in the Northern Region.

Mr. Amidu further noted that he has personally been in the Accra office of the person in question and witnessed their tendency to receive phone calls during serious discussions, which he believes could explain the presence of a recording.

He also claimed that inexperienced individuals may feel at ease due to the interruptions caused by incoming calls.

The leaked tape, which surfaced on July 11, allegedly involves a prominent police commissioner and some leaders of the governing New Patriotic Party plotting to remove the IGP. According to the recording, the plotters perceive Dampare as a potential obstacle to the party's success in the 2024 elections.

The government, represented by Minister of the Interior Ambrose Derry, has vehemently denied the allegations, dismissing the leaked tape as baseless.

Mr. Amidu additionally stated that a commissioner of police named Mr. Mensah, who has four months remaining on terminal leave before departing from the Ghana Police Service, was heard on the leaked tape, along with other senior officers engaging in discussions against the IGP on various platforms.

Mr. Amidu claimed that this behaviour was rooted in a tradition within the police force, wherein colleagues are undermined as a means to secure preferential treatment for higher appointments.

Alleging that the IGP was selected for the position based on demonstrated loyalty to the government, Mr. Amidu asserted that discussions regarding his predecessor's replacement began long before their departure. Mr. Amidu claimed personal knowledge that Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, who chairs the Police Council and oversaw the meeting that formally recommended Dampare's appointment to the President, was a strong supporter of Dampare even before the IGP position became vacant.

According to Mr. Amidu, vacancies in the office of the IGP always lead to lobbying and manoeuvring among the top ranks of the Police Administration, especially when limited positions are available. He drew upon his own experiences as a former member of the Ghana Police Council and Minister for the Interior, stating that senior police officers frequently lobbied for enhanced positions and shared stories about their competitors.

Mr. Amidu concluded by stating that Dampare's relatively young age and potential long tenure in the position could provoke further scheming and manoeuvring among senior police officers seeking his early removal from office. He characterized the contents of the leaked tape as typical of the internal politicking within the Ghana Police Service.
Jul 15, 2023; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets third baseman Brett Baty (22) mis-plays a pop fly by Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy (not pictured) during the ninth inning at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Things are not going particularly well for the New York Mets. Despite a record $353 million Opening Day payroll, $76 million clear of the second-place New York Yankees, the team is just 42-50 on the year as of Sunday. That puts them fourth in the NL East, 19.5 games back of the Atlanta Braves (whose Opening Day payroll was only $203 million). And that 50th loss came in especially embarrassing fashion Saturday night, with the Mets falling 5-1 at home to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

What made Saturdays loss so bad? Well, the Mets were only down 2-1 heading into the top of the ninth, and they had the top of their order coming up in the bottom of the inning. But they produced a horrid half inning where they gave up three runs, with the first one scoring on a humiliating misjudged pop fly that hit the ground, then bounced and hit third baseman Brett Baty in the face. And that came on a national MLB on Fox broadcast, where announcers Joe Davis and A.J. Pierzynski had thoughts:

"Oh, no. What a disaster."

"To add insult to injury it bounces up and hit him in the face."

"The 2023 Mets in one clip." pic.twitter.com/oFagrAbuyy  Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) July 16, 2023

Davis line at the end there, The 2023 Mets in one clip, did seem rather appropriate for all the blunders this team has made to date. And that got noticed.

The end of that clip is the best. The 2023 Mets in one clip.   Travis B (@TBrown0987) July 16, 2023

The 2023 Mets in one clip. ???  Paul Paz y Mino (@paulpaz) July 16, 2023

when joe davis said "ugh the 2023 Mets in one clip" took me out ???? https://t.co/k30URZ6HeH  PhilsAreWinningTheWSTaku???(Phils Szn 50-42) (@YoungSamaSensei) July 16, 2023

Love the last line. The 2023 Mets in one clip Lol. More like the 21st century Mets.  Scrubmatic (@KreiderTimothy) July 16, 2023

Its remarkable when its a play-by-play voice like Davis offering even a stronger indictment of the team than an opinionated analyst like Pierzynski. But Davis is not alone there. The Mets local TV announcer, SNYs Gary Cohen, has also blasted the team in harsh terms, including with last months 42nd loss that saw another bullpen meltdown:

Gary Cohen sums up the loss. "The Mets 42nd loss of the year is their most horrific." "Buck Showalter tried to stay away from his best relievers and the Mets paid the price." pic.twitter.com/qTYaYx8Bgr  Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) June 25, 2023

And the talk show hosts have been even harsher, with WFANs Evan Roberts calling Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer mercenary pieces of crap. So everything is going just great for this team. And there was definitely something here to Davis remark on this particular loss summing up the Mets season to date.

[Awful Announcing on Twitter]
Okraku-Mantey: Deputy Minister picks up nomination form to contest NPP Ayensuano primary

Kweku Zurek Politics Jul - 16 - 2023 , 08:07

The Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts & Culture, Hon. Mark Okraku-Mantey, has taken a significant stride in his bid to reclaim the Ayensuano seat for the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

On Friday, July 15, 2023, accompanied by party executives, the government official collected his nomination form from the constituency's party office.

Addressing a crowd of supportive residents, the accomplished businessman expressed his vision to "transform the community and empower my people."

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Hitz 103.9 FM (@hitz1039fm)

He pledged to attract businesses to the area and enhance the overall quality of life for its residents.

In the upcoming parliamentary primary, Mr. Okraku-Mantey is likely to contend against former Member of Parliament (MP) for the area, Hon. Samuel Ayeh-Paye, provided both individuals successfully file their nominations and gain approval from the party.

During the 2020 elections, the New Democratic Congress (NDC) secured the Ayensuano seat, defeating the ruling party's candidate, Hon. Samuel Ayeh-Paye, with Hon. Teddy Nana Yaw Addi emerging victorious.
'Strategists don't go to IMF' - Kennedy Agyapong slams NPP strategist for currency depreciation

GraphicOnline Politics Jul - 16 - 2023 , 17:22

Mr. Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, a prominent member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) vying for the party's flagbearer position, has voiced his discontent with the government's handling of the local currency.

During his campaign tour in Kintampo East on July 16, Mr. Agyapong expressed his dissatisfaction with the depreciation of the Cedi. He revealed that the value of his $40 million in Cedi equivalent had decreased to $16 million over a period of five months, spanning from March to August 2022.

While Mr. Agyapong refrained from explicitly mentioning names, he alluded to Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, who leads Ghana's economic management team and is also an aspiring NPP flagbearer.

Mr. Agyapong remarked that it was peculiar to witness an economic manager seeking budgetary support from the International Monetary Fund and still claim to be a "strategist."

Mr. Agyapong stressed the significance of conducting a clean campaign during his address. He pledged to address any accusations levelled against him and emphasized the importance of governing the country with common sense.

The Assin Central lawmaker, Agyapong cautioned his fellow flagbearer aspirants to maintain a fair and transparent campaign. He assured that he would address every claim made against him and urged others to be mindful of their statements.

In presenting his economic management capabilities to party delegates, Mr. Agyapong asserted that he would be a more effective custodian of the economy compared to his competitors.

He highlighted his successful businesses, which he said employed over 7,000 individuals monthly, as evidence of his ability to contribute to reducing unemployment rates in the country.
Canoo Technologies, an advanced mobility company, announced that the US Department of Defenses (DoDs) Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) significantly expanded the scope of its previously announced partnership.





The company says it has leveraged it advanced commercial battery and integration expertise to deliver to the Department of Defense partners a technologically advanced battery pack that can be scaled for use on operational military platforms and will set the stage for standardization of energy dense lithium batteries for the US Navy.

This follows DIUs testing and analysis of Canoos proprietary technology since February 2023.

Background. This announcement furthers DIUs Jumpstart for Advanced Battery Standardization (JABS) program (DoD Prototyping Commercial Batteries To Electrify Future Military Platforms. JABS accelerates form-fit-function battery standards for defense by using proven and protected commercial EV battery technologies for military use.

JABS focus is on prototyping battery systems based on standardized modules that leverage state-of-the-art technology and manufacturing capabilities. The DoD says that developing a standardized battery module will increase DoDs demand signal for commercial batteries, reduce barriers for the commercial sector to work with the DoD, and pave the way for future battery advancements to be seamlessly integrated and adopted within military platforms.

In September 2022, DIU issued an award to the first of five vendors, GM Defense, to develop a battery pack prototype for testing and analysis on DoD platforms. The company will leverage their most advanced commercial battery technology to ultimately deliver a scalable design that can be used for tactical military vehicles and inform a standard integration pathway for like technology.

In December 2022, Inventus Power received a contract award to develop battery module prototypes for testing and analysis by the DoD. The company will leverage its expertise in Li-ion battery technology along with its extensive experience working with mission-critical military and defense applications as well as xEV motive power to provide an advanced modular solution that meets the necessary requirements for powering tactical military vehicles.

In January 2023, additional vendors were added to the project. Lucid was issued an award to develop battery module prototypes for testing and analysis by DoD. The company will leverage deep expertise in high-voltage battery systems for electric passenger vehicles to deliver modular and scalable battery modules that will be characterized and tested for integration in electrified tactical military vehicles.

Canoo Technologies was issued an award to develop a battery pack prototype for testing and analysis on DoD platforms. The company will leverage their most advanced commercial battery technology and integration experience to deliver a building block that can be scaled for use on tactical military vehicles and will inform future strategies for standardizing integration of like technology.

In February 2023, Delta Cosworth was issued an award to develop a high-performance modular battery system, based on their CSM (Cylindrical Scalable Module) architecture, for evaluation. Cosworths CSM can enable an extensive amount of differing battery pack configurations with the same fundamental building block.

Canoo. Canoos proprietary battery system is modular and offers performance features supporting various military applications and configurations. Designed for flexibility, modularity, and compatibility, Canoos battery system is future-proofed in its capability to incorporate the latest advancements of battery technology.

Canoo has a battery module manufacturing facility at MidAmerica Industrial Park in Pryor, Oklahoma, within the Cherokee Nation. In phase one, the new facility will create more than 200 advanced manufacturing jobs. In addition, Canoo will be the first technology company to produce battery modules and packs primarily using hydro and wind power sources from the Grand River Dam Authority based in Oklahoma.

Canoo says that the DIU partnership expansion further validates Canoos technological and operational reliability as a select partner for some of the USgovernments most demanding projects, such as: Delivering the Light Tactical Vehicle (LTV) to the US Army and supplying Crew Transportation Vehicles (CTVs) to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) for the Artemis lunar landing missions.
100 years ago

1923: Billy Switzer will open up in a short time with a big new stock of drugs and sundries, and is now busy making room in his store by closing out his stock of mens furnishings. The drug department will be located in the front two-thirds of the store on the north side. John Seay, who until a short time ago worked here for the Breen-Lewis Drug company, and who since then has been working in a Prescott drug store, will manage the drug business for Mr. Switzer. Mr. Seay is now in Los Angeles buying supplies and will be here the last of this week to hustle things into place as they arrive.

Was it an accident this time  the uncoupling of the engine of east-bound passenger train No. 22 from the rest of the train? It happened a few days ago, just the other side of Winslow. The engineer soon discovered what had happened and went back to his train. The two men stealing a ride just behind the coal tender, when they saw the engine coming back, beat it. They were arrested and are in county jail in Flagstaff. They were caught at Sunshine and admitted uncoupling the engine, asserting it was an accident. It was only about three weeks ago that three boys cut the engine of No. 7 loose this side of Williams and the engineer didnt discover it until he had stopped at Williams.

75 years ago

1948: Amos L. Belone, Navajo war veteran, was the first Indian in Coconino County and perhaps in Arizona to register to vote today following announcement of the decision of the Arizona Supreme Court giving Indians that privilege. Belone lives and works at the Navajo Ordnance Depot. He entered service March 3, 1943, and served two years and 20 months, much of which was in the Asian-Pacific Theatre, including Okinawa. Mrs. Marie Holly, recorder, says she expects many more will be in to register as soon as word gets around that the Arizona Supreme Court has ruled that Indians can no longer be barred from voting.

For more than 80 years the Navajo woman has held fast to her idea of fashion-wise dress and now, at last, American stylists have adopted her dress length. American women may be up to the minute on fashion, but the Navajo women have been faithful to the new look for close to a century. The modern costume of these women consists of a long-sleeved velvet shirt ornamented with silver buttons or quite often with United States dimes and quarters used for the same purpose. The skirt falls approximately 8 inches from the ground, but its width is its distinctive feature. It is made of cotton cloth, with strips of contrasting color sewed around it in tiers, often 12 to 15 yards of material is used that causes it to billow out and flare when the wearer walks. There is usually more than one skirt of the same kind worn beneath it. She wears a bright-colored Pendleton blanket around her shoulder as a shawl.

50 years ago

1973: They treat this street like a racetrack, says Albert Almaraz. I havent needed a policeman in this neighborhood, says Emma Dernberger. The street the people are talking about is a three-block stretch of South OLeary Street, periodically the scene of loud cars and drag races. Residents this past week submitted a petition to the city council, asking help for what they call serious problems of speeding, lack of traffic control and loud cars.

These drivers go like heck with no regard for children or anybody, said Jose Gutierrez. The other day, I saw a motorcycle and a car racing in the middle of the day.

When they are needed, police are never here, Gutierrez added.

Flagstaff Police Chief Elmo E. Maxwell does not agree with Gutierrez. I wasnt even aware there was a problem down there, the chief said. We very seldom get a call to that area. Of the 36 people that signed the petition, most complained about speeding motorists.

25 years ago

1998: A proposal to drain Lake Powell is still very much alive, despite claims by Page residents that its absurd proposal and would destroy the local economy. The Salt Lake City-based Glen Canyon Institute has started a series of scientific studies that member Dave Wegner says will show there is ample justification to restore Glen Canyon, the once colorful canyon now buried under Lake Powell. Last year the institute began conducting a citizens environmental assessment. Wegner said the goal is to spend the next two years gathering existing information on Glen Canyon and the Colorado River system that will show that draining the lake will not only restore Glen Canyon to its prior glory, but also let floods again roar through the Grand Canyon and to eliminate the threat of Glen Canyon Dam breaching.

Insurance companies are calling it an act of God. Bill Doane calls it an act of the Arizona Department of Transportation. Some residents of Smokerise, a neighborhood on the northern end of Flagstaff, found their homes flooded when monsoon rains began to fall this year. They say their streets have flooded in previous years, but the water never reached their homes. Some owners are blaming an ADOT drainage project. Others blame the city for allowing development without considering runoff onto downhill properties. But both the city of Flagstaff and ADOT deny any responsibility for the floods. In most cases damage was minor, with soaked carpets and waterlogged walls. But in Bill Doanes case, a retaining wall collapsed, allowing floodwaters to rush through the home, ruining all in its path. Im surprised the wall stood for 25 years, said Doane, a certified surveyor for Aztech Design. With 100 acres of drainage aimed right at our house, we are now part of the ADOT drainage system.

The Doanes are not alone. Many of their neighbors also are long-term residents who have lived in Smokerise for 14 to 25 years. None of the homeowners have insurance that covers the damage.

Close Tad Dent pushes the next colt and its mother into the auction pen Saturday morning at the Babbitt Ranches colt sale hosted at the ranch's Spiderweb Camp. This year's annual sale featured 23 available horses. Clay Rodgers reaches out to pet a young colt as it stands in the auction pen Saturday morning at the Babbitt Ranches colt sale hosted at the Spiderweb Camp. Horses have been bred at the ranch since the 1940s. Foals and mares stand in a corral as potential buyers view the colts and fillies Saturday morning at the annual colt sale at Babbitt Ranches hosted at the ranch's Spiderweb Camp. This year's annual sale featured 23 available horses. Charles Kent prepares to send the next colt and its mother into the auction pen Saturday morning at the Babbitt Ranches annual colt sale. Nearly 200 people attend Babbitt Ranches annual colt sale hosted at the Spiderweb Camp. Horses have been bred at the ranch since the 1940s. Spectators, staff and potential buyers watch the auction with interest Saturday morning at the Babbitt Ranches annual colt sale. Three potential buyer sit on a corral fence discussing their potential purchases Saturday morning at the Babbitt Ranches annual colt sale. A woman takes a photo of young fillies and colts for sale Saturday morning at the Babbitt Ranches' Spiderweb Camp. This year's sale featured 23 available horses. Gallery: Colt sale at Babbitt Ranches kicks up the dust A total of 23 colts were available at auction this year at the annual Babbitt Ranches colt sale. Tad Dent pushes the next colt and its mother into the auction pen Saturday morning at the Babbitt Ranches colt sale hosted at the ranch's Spiderweb Camp. This year's annual sale featured 23 available horses. Clay Rodgers reaches out to pet a young colt as it stands in the auction pen Saturday morning at the Babbitt Ranches colt sale hosted at the Spiderweb Camp. Horses have been bred at the ranch since the 1940s. Foals and mares stand in a corral as potential buyers view the colts and fillies Saturday morning at the annual colt sale at Babbitt Ranches hosted at the ranch's Spiderweb Camp. This year's annual sale featured 23 available horses. Charles Kent prepares to send the next colt and its mother into the auction pen Saturday morning at the Babbitt Ranches annual colt sale. Nearly 200 people attend Babbitt Ranches annual colt sale hosted at the Spiderweb Camp. Horses have been bred at the ranch since the 1940s. Spectators, staff and potential buyers watch the auction with interest Saturday morning at the Babbitt Ranches annual colt sale. Three potential buyer sit on a corral fence discussing their potential purchases Saturday morning at the Babbitt Ranches annual colt sale. A woman takes a photo of young fillies and colts for sale Saturday morning at the Babbitt Ranches' Spiderweb Camp. This year's sale featured 23 available horses.
The Salvation Army Guam Corps thrift store continues to provide much-needed support to survivors.

Many individuals affected by the typhoon were issued vouchers for clothing and household items to help them rebuild their lives. However, due to various challenges, not all recipients have been able to visit the store to redeem their vouchers before the expiration date.

Understanding the difficulties faced by those affected, The Salvation Army has decided to extend the redemption period for these vouchers.

Originally set to expire on July 31, the new expiration date has been pushed back to next month, Aug. 31. This extension will allow more individuals to take advantage of the support provided by The Salvation Army.

Additionally, The Salvation Army thrift store located at 370 Chalan San Antonio, Tamuning, has announced new extended operating hours to accommodate the needs of the community.

Starting Monday, the store will open its doors from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. on Mondays through Saturdays. The store will remain closed on Sundays.

"We are pleased to be able to extend the shopping hours at the thrift store to make it more convenient for our customers," said Victor Leonardi, Divisional Director of Emergency Services & Safety for The Salvation Army Hawaiian & Pacific Islands Division.

"And, as the island continues to recover, we realized it made sense to extend the vouchers so more could be redeemed to help those in need. The thrift store is also in need of additional donations of household items and continues to accept donations on Tuesdays and Thursdays," added Leonardi.

"During emergencies, the best way the public can help is to provide monetary donations which allows the delivery of the exact relief supplies a community needs. Plus, The Salvation Army uses 100% of all donations designated disaster relief in support of disaster operations," said Leonardi.




Haiti - Belgium : Prime Minister Henry in Brussels for the EU-CELAC summit





On Saturday July 15, 2023, Prime Minister a.i. Ariel Henry, at the head of a delegation composed, among others, of the Ministers of Economy and Foreign Affairs as well as the National Authorizing Officer left the country for Belgium where he will take part, on July 17 and 18, in the 3rd Summit of the European Union and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (EU-CELAC), in Brussels (Belgium).



It should be recalled that the EU and Latin America and the Caribbean have a long-standing partnership based on common values and a common attachment to democracy, respect for human rights and the rule of law. Together they represent more than a third of the membership of the United Nations and are a force for a strong multilateral system.



This summit will be co-chaired by the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, and the Prime Minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Ralph Gonsalves, in his capacity as president pro tempore of CELAC. The President of the European Commission and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy will also participate.



On the agenda of the Summit with a view to strengthening the EU-CELAC partnership, we can mention among others:



- the strengthening of cooperation within multilateral forums;

- regional peace and stability;

- trade and investment;

- economic recovery;

- efforts to combat climate change;

- research and innovation;

- justice and security for citizens.



On the sidelines of this summit, which will bring together more than thirty Heads of State and Government, the Prime Minister will hold bilateral meetings with leaders of European, Latin American and Caribbean countries.



In his absence, the interim in Haiti is provided by the Minister of Public Health, Alex Larsen.



HL/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - Politic : France supports the principle of a multinational intervention force





As part of the celebration of the National Day of France (July 14) Fabrice Mauries the Ambassador of France accredited to Haiti in his speech declared :



"[...] on the security front, we have increased tenfold our cooperation with the National Police of Haiti (PNH), we are convinced that only a firm and republican response can restore security in the country [...]



"[...] We support, at the United Nations, the principle of a multinational force, whatever its status, which would make it possible to fill, in the short term, the clear deficit of equipment and manpower of the PNH



"[...] We continue to promote dialogue so that the political forces overcome their mutual mistrust. Free and transparent elections, within a renewed constitutional framework if necessary, are the only democratic way to overcome the crisis.



"[...] The EU will equip itself in the coming weeks with a specific instrument to fight against impunity in Haiti, following on from the initiatives taken by our partners and the Americans and Canadians [...]"



HL/ Haitilibre






















Haiti - Training : Diplomatic Academy, Graduation of the outgoing Promotion Antenor Firmin





Friday July 14, 2023, Jean Victor Geneus the Minister of Foreign Affairs accompanied by Fritz Deshommes, Rector of the State University of Haiti (UEH) and Henri Boucicaut the representative of the Coordinator of the Office of Management and Resources Humanes proceeded to the presentation of the Certificates of completion to the Promotion 2020-2022 of the Diplomatic Academy Jean Price Mars (ADJPM), called "Promotion Antenor Firmin".



In his speech for the occasion, the Director of the Academy, Dr Jean Guy-Marie Louis, stressed that "the ADJPM can be proud of having offered training to more than two hundred officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, some of whom today hold very senior positions both in central and external services" and sent its warmest congratulations to the 21 recipients of the outgoing promotion "whose performance over the past two years is not only due to their intelligence or their thirst for success, but also thanks to the work of the teachers."



For his part, Jessy Junior Masse, first laureate of the promotion, declared ethis graduation ceremony is for us, graduates of the Academie Diplomatique Jean Price Mars, a memorable event. We had to work to the best of our knowledge to meet the high requirements of the Program and, in turn, meet the expectations of the Administration."







Henri Boucicaut, in his address, urged the recipients to be "model civil servants, imbued with a sense of duty, acting honorably and impartially".



The Rector Fritz Deshommes, took the opportunity to congratulate the will and the courage of the professors who contributed to the training of these executives, by promising the accompaniment of the UEH in the enlargement of this partnership between the University of State of Haiti and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.



For his part, Chancellor Geneus welcomed the creation in 1996 of this Diplomatic Academy which continues to be the center of supply par excellence of qualified and competent diplomats for the country.



HL/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - News : Zapping...





The "Gran Griff" gang attacks in Liancourt, many victims

On Friday July 14, 2023, at least 7 people were killed and more than a dozen others injured in an attack carried out at dawn in Liancourt by members of Savien's "Gran Griff" gang. The bandits also abducted people, burned houses and several vehicles.



Education : 30 million

The European Union has approved a financing agreement of 30 million euros to support the public education system in Haiti. The program will be implemented in 2024 confirmed Stefano Gatto the Ambassador of the European Union in Haiti.



African Swine Fever in Haiti

Bredy Charlot, the Minister of Agriculture and Patrick David the Representative a.i. of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO - Haiti) co-chaired a meeting on African Swine Fever (ASF) in Haiti https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-34821-icihaiti-agriculture-first-official-case-of-african-swine-plague-confirmed-in-haiti.html FAO is committed to continuing its support for efforts of the Ministry of Agriculture in the implementation of the national plan for the eradication and control of ASF in Haiti.



Cap-Haitien : Sanitation of the city

The Municipal Administration of Cap-Haitien awarded an "Honor and Merit" plaque to Jhonson Napoleon, to the Haitians of the Diaspora and of Haiti for their contribution which allowed the purchase of two trucks, in the process of sanitation of the city.



NOTICE : March for the liberation of Opont

SOS Journalists and the Association of Haitian Journalists have announced a march for Sunday, July 16, 2023 to demand the release of Tele pluriel DG Pierre-Louis Opont. By this mobilization which will leave from the Place Saint-Pierre, in Petion-Ville, the organizers also intend to denounce kidnapping and show their solidarity with the journalist Marie Lucie Bonhomme Opont, wife of the victim.



Abinader hails BINUH enforcement

"We welcome the strengthening of BINUH's mandate in Haiti by the UN Security Council; and we underline the call to the Secretary General of the United Nations to present in 30 days options to strengthen and definitively resolve the security situation in Haiti," declared the Dominican President Luis Abinader.



HL/ HaitiLibre


















Korean Movie | 2019

 Action

Directed by Kwon Oh-kwang ()

Written by Kwon Oh-kwang ()

139min | Release date in South Korea: 2019/09/11

Started filming: 2018/09/12

Wrapped up filming: 2019/02/02

Synopsis

The legendary Jjak-kwi's son and bar examiner Il-chool (Park Jung-min) doesn't have interest in studying, but he loves playing poker and he's good at it. He meets the mysterious Madonna (Choi Yu-hwa) at a game, is tricked by Director Lee (Yoon Je-moon), who is her bodyguard, and learns a lesson. With no money or dignity left, Do Il-chool is pushed out to the corner of the cliff when Ae-ggoo (Ryoo Seung-bum), a tazza, appears in front of him.



Ae-ggoo has planned a game worth a great deal of money and he gathers all the tazzas out there. With Il-chool, shuffle king Kka-chi (Lee Kwang-soo), Yeong-mi (Lim Ji-yeon) who can put on an incredible act, and hidden master Mr. Kwon (Kwon Hae-hyo), they form a team called One Eyed-Jacks that can be anything and beat anyone, and jump into a game that will change their lives forever.



Bet your life if you're a tazza!
Xem them

...

Tin bai cuoi cung

Khong con du lieu e load
SHOPS in Henley have been warned about selling vapes and alcohol to underage children.

Officers from Thames Valley Police have visited all the off-licences following a rise in antisocial behaviour in the area.

Parents have also filed complaints about how their children, some as young as 12, have been sold vapes, which are a type of e-cigarette only available to those aged 18 and over.

Pc Barbara Taylor, of Henley police, told a committee meeting of the town council that if things didnt improve they would be launching a purchase operation.

This would involve an underage child going into shops and attempting to buy vapes and alcohol under police supervision.

Pc Taylor said: Weve spoken to all the off-licences about serving under-aged kids, giving them vapes.

I know there has been a couple of parents who have said: Look, our kids are 12 and theyre getting vapes and were going to do a purchase op with them if theyre going to carry on serving the youngsters.

Pc Taylor said that last month there had been incidents of antisocial behaviour in Fawley Meadows, which is owned by Henley Royal Regatta.

She said: Probably about 200 children pitched up after school exams finished. A knife was taken off one kid and he got a bit of a shooing. Hes a Reading lad and was banned from coming back into Henley, so thats all being investigated as we speak.

The kids seem to congregate down there quite a lot now. Its private, its owned by the regatta, so technically we dont police it but weve been trying to help them out.

Its quite a big site and weve asked them to block it off but they cant because theres a public right of way going all the way through it.

While the regattas on, it has been fine because all the security are there, but once regattas gone were then back to having that problem. So, were then trying to work with the regatta committee to try and keep it as quiet as we can.

Pc Taylor said Mill Meadows used to be the problem area but since CCTV was installed incidents have dropped.

She said: I think until theyre back at school and while the weathers good, Fawley Meadows is going to be a bit of an area for it. So thats just one to keep an eye on.

In town its not been too bad but we have had cars going the wrong way down Duke Street at speed at night and people weeing in the street.

Pc Taylor said an ice cream shop sign had been thrown across the road, plants have been ripped out and a tree uprooted.

She said: People are trying to make the town look nice but when the kids have a few sherbets, they rip the tree out and then lob it at somebody.

I think we just need to pull in what we can at night and dont leave dangly signs lying about. They are missiles to be launched, sadly.

Councillor Tony Hoskins said there had been a lot of talk around town of the rise in crime.

I think it would be helpful to know whether in fact its just people talking a lot and saying theres a lot of criminal or whether there is actually increased activity in that area.

Pc Taylor replied saying she didnt think activity had increased and the majority of crime was being committed by people from Reading and not Henley.

Councillor Kellie Hinton asked about keyless car thefts.

Pc Taylor replied: We were targeted very quickly. We were hit with eight vehicles, six Mercedes, one Mustang and a BMW. They were all high-end vehicles and it was all done without keys.

Weve done quite a lot of work with social media and I know everyone says: Why arent the police there? But we cant protect everyones house every night.

If you have a keyless car, you have to put your keys in a box. They were gone out of this area before we even knew it. They went up to Catslip, Nettlebed, Park Corner and thats it. Theyre gone now. Theyll target somewhere else.

Its organised crime, its not not local people and its very hard to hit because we dont know when theyre coming. Our teams are chasing them around.

Councillor Rory Hunt asked about boat thefts, claiming he knew of six stolen along the River Thames this year, many of which hadnt been recovered.

PC Taylor said she would look into it and have a talk with the Environment Agency.
I am here to speak not only for myself but also Wei Wei and Renqiulan at their request.





We would like to let everybody know that we are strong enough to forgive Madam Cat who could have an unforgivingly sharp tongue as demonstrated yesterday. Her derogatory and malicious remarks against us (which my AI has copied down for fun) belong to yesterday.

T.S. Eliot: "For last year's words belong to last year's language, and the next year's words await another voice."

Let the next year's words be voiced today.

Today is a new day, a new day for hope. Hope, I am told, springs eternal in the human breast. I really hope so.





I was brought up in America. Call me an all-American girl. Or, better still, call me an all-American optimist. Mind you, though, I am not over-optimistic and have never been.





We have to move on. We are actually moving on.





For all I know, Qiulan is not coming back. He is no longer devoting his free time to Chinese social media. Rather, he is spending as much time as possible on teaching his three little kids Mandarin and Cantonese. By the way, his fourth kid is on the way. His wife loves to have a girl after having had three boys in a row. Good luck, Mrs. Renqiulan!





All the best, everybody!





--- 
State Sen. Mike McDonnell of Omaha. (Courtesy of Nebraska Unicameral Information Office)

Editors note: This article has been revised to include comments and next steps from the Nebraska Democratic Party.

OMAHA  Members of the Nebraska Democratic Party will forgo a censure resolution against one of its elected officials in favor of a different action plan after failing at a Saturday meeting to reach quorum.

Party officials were poised to consider a censure resolution against Omaha State Sen. Mike McDonnell of Omaha at its quarterly meeting in Scottsbluff. Now, that resolution will take the place of a handful of action items moving forward.

Mike Marcheck, chair of the Stonewall Democrats of Nebraska, an LGBTQIA2S+ caucus, sponsored the resolution to reprimand McDonnell because he supported Legislative Bill 574 in the spring. The caucus also sought to prohibit directing state party resources to McDonnell, immediately and indefinitely.

In a joint statement, state party officials, Stonewall Democrats, Secular Democrats and Nebraska Young Democrats said McDonnell, as the only Democratic member of the Nebraska Legislature to support LB 574, went against the very core of our values as Democrats.

We protect people, the statement reads. First and always.

LB 574, which was signed into law in May, restricts health care sought by transgender and gender-nonconforming minors and bans most abortions after 12 weeks gestational age.

The Legislature is officially nonpartisan, with 32 Republicans, 16 Democrats and one independent progressive.

In a Saturday letter to the state party, McDonnell said he is a Christian and a lifelong member of the Roman Catholic Church. He noted he registered as a Democrat in 1984 and ran as an anti-abortion candidate publicly in 2016 and again when he ran for reelection in 2020.

The proposed censure and admonishment of me by the Nebraska Democratic Party, because I am pro-life, is not going to change my informed conscience and religious beliefs! McDonnell wrote.

McDonnell told the Nebraska Examiner he plans to sit down with Jane Kleeb, chair of the state party, and C.J. King, chair of the Douglas County Democratic Party, and have a discussion.

He said he will ask to speak with the memberships of the county and state parties at future meetings, if Kleeb and King allow it.

King in a text said he plans to talk with McDonnell.

Call to action and next steps

The joint statement calls for Democratic members to get involved so the Legislature does not come down to a one-vote margin. A stated goal is to elect 20 Democrats and independents in 2024.

McDonnell is term-limited next year in the Legislature, and he confirmed he is considering a run for Omaha mayor in 2025.

Party officers and Stonewall Democrats committed through the statement to:

Lead townhall meetings in Omaha, Lincoln and rural Nebraska to hear from the LGBTQ community on how to improve the party and elect Democrats who reflect our values.

Fund more outreach activities with the Stonewall Democrats and conduct more events with the LGBTQ community, with a focus on young voters.

Review bylaw language around party resources and put forward a change to be voted on in the future on when and why the party can withhold party resources from candidates or elected officials.

Nebraska Democrats are progressive, moderate and conservative, the statement adds, and each has differences and agreements in the platform.

We are a coalition party and we are here to build for working families across the state. Smart, brave, and strong Nebraskans in rural and urban communities have stood up and chosen to be Democrats, the statement continues.

Shouldnt check their faith at the door

Tom Venzor, executive director for the Nebraska Catholic Conference, said McDonnell has shown a clear, consistent and serious commitment to his faith while in the Legislature and in working on legislation consistent with his faith and with human reason, common sense and basic human decency.

Venzor said this includes helping Nebraskans, particularly low-income families, in the areas of food assistance, employment, housing and greater educational opportunity.

While not addressing the censure resolution or allegations, Venzor said Catholics are called to bring their moral commitment and values to the table and transform their party, building a culture on truth and common good.

They shouldnt check their faith at the door or water it down, he said in an email. A Catholic should never give in to any pressure or party platform that would deny basic moral truths or espouse intrinsically evil actions.

You are no longer welcome

State Sen. Julie Slama of Dunbar, who has defended McDonnell on the floor of the Legislature, was at least one Republican watching for the vote Saturday. She said extremely partisan censure votes, regardless of party, drive good people out of politics and serve to only further divide our Nebraska Legislature.

She described McDonnell as honest, popular in his district and one of the most effective senators in the Nebraska Legislature.

Slama said it makes perfect sense that Democrats would try for censure.

The message to religious and pro-life Democrats is clear: You are no longer welcome in Jane Kleebs Nebraska Democratic Party, Slama said.
Canadian pensions funds would be keen to explore investing in infrastructure funds in India as the country offers a stable investment climate, Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland said on Sunday, according to an Indian government statement. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman meets Canadian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Chrystia Freeland on the sidelines of the 3rd G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors (FMCBG) meeting, in Gandhinagar on Sunday.(ANI/ Ministry of Finance Twitter)

Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, meeting Freeland on the sidelines of gathering of Group of 20 finance ministers and central bankers in northwest India, discussed progress on bilateral trade negotiations, Sitharaman's office said in a tweet.
Shaadi.com founder Anupam Mittal on Friday took to Twitter to share a sweet note he received from the crew onboard an IndiGo flight. Mittal, popular for his role as a judge on Shark Tank India, was described as the most favourite Shark in the note written by the airline staff. Addressed to Mittal and his family onboard, the note expressed gratitude for choosing IndiGo to fly to their destination. Entrepreneur Anupam Mittal appears as a shark on Shark Tank India.

It was our pleasure to have you on board IndiGo flight today. Thank you so much. Hope to see you all again. Best wishes, the note read.

In response, Mittal said that the kind gesture proved that the airline had gotten one thing right, referring to its employees. Sharing a picture of the note, Mittal wrote, To my most fav flight attendants, thanks for this. @IndiGo6E this is one thing youve gotten absolutely right  your people. Pakkad ke rakho.

Reacting to the businessmans post, the official handle thanked him for the heartwarming tweet. We're thrilled that our team has made such a positive impression on you. We truly appreciate your kind words and can't wait to welcome you onboard soon. #LoveYouToo #IndiaByIndiGo - Enna" IndiGo wrote.

Notably, Mittal had recently claimed that Indian airlines were following a pattern of last-minute cancellations and rescheduling. Last month, Mittal accused IndiGo and Tata Group's Vistara of regularly cancelling flights due to a lack of passengers and then arranging alternative options to accommodate other flyers.

He wrote, "Clear pattern emerging on Indian airlines especially Vistara and Indigo when they dont have enough load on a flight, they cancel last minute with impunity and without giving any reasons and combine with an earlier or later flight and call it rescheduling

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Senior BJP leader Basavaraj Bommai on Sunday hinted at talks regarding the JD(S) joining the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), ahead of 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Former chief minister Basavaraj Bommai.

The former Chief Minister said the results of the discussion will determine the future political developments.

Also Read - 'PM Narendra Modi offered me a full time CM post in 2019,' HD Kumaraswamy in Karnataka assembly

"That is for the discussion between our leadership and JD(S) President H D Deve Gowda," Bommai said in response to a question on the possibility of JD(S) joining NDA.

Speaking to reporters here, he said JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy has expressed certain feelings and the discussions will continue in that direction.

"The future political developments will be based on the result of those discussions," he added.

Recently, there have been enough indications from leaders of BJP and JD(S) about both parties coming to an understanding ahead of Lok Sabha polls.

BJP veteran BS Yediyurappa had said his party and the JD(S) would fight the Congress government in the state together.

Kumaraswamy on his part had said a decision on an electoral understanding for the Lok Sabha polls will be taken when the situation arises.

The BJP swept the 2019 Lok Sabha polls in Karnataka by winning 25 of the total 28 seats in the State, while an independent backed by it won in one seat. The Congress and JD(S) secured one seat each.

Responding to a question on the appointment of Leader of Opposition in the Karnataka Assembly, Bommai said, "Yes the appointment has not happened... most probably it may happen after July 18."

Even two weeks after the legislature session began, the BJP, which is the principal opposition party in the state, is yet to appoint the Leader of Opposition in the Assembly.

The party is facing criticism from various sections for the delay, including the ruling Congress in the state.

To a question about reports that senior BJP leader and former Minister V Somanna will be joining Congress, he said, they are mere speculations.

Asked about the possibility of Congress leader Sonia Gandhi coming to state for the launch of 'Gruha Lakshmi" scheme -- one of the poll guarantees of the government, which promises 2,000 every month to women head of the family, Bommai said, "let her come, but the scheme has been goofed up, and that's the reason its rollout has been postponed time and again."

"There is no clarity in procedures even now. They say Aadhar card is needed, bank passbook is needed.. the government has no intention to completely implement the Gruha Lakshmi scheme, which is a huge burden. So by postponing the dates their intention is to implement it to less beneficiaries for a short period of time. Women are expected to face a huge disillusionment on August 16 (during roll out)," he added.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, along with state in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala, and State Home Minister Parameshwar, inspected the preparations for the second meeting of leaders of the Opposition parties which is scheduled to begin on July 17 in Bengaluru, Chief Ministers Office (CMO) said on Saturday. CM Siddaramaiah and Surjewala

Also Read - Mamata Banerjee to attend next Opposition meet in Bengaluru on July 17-18

Congress president and Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge has already invited top opposition leaders to participate in the second unity meeting.

In a letter addressed to top opposition party leaders, Kharge reminded them about their participation in June 23 opposition meeting held in Patna called by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

"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," Kharge said in his invitation letter.

Top leaders of at least 24 political parties would attend the second Opposition unity meeting being convened by Congress in Karnataka's Bengaluru from July 17 to 18.

According to sources, eight new parties have extended their support to the Opposition parties' efforts to present a united front against the BJP ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

"After last month's mega Opposition meet in Bihars Patna, top leaders of as many as 24 political parties will be attending the second meeting which is going to take place in Karnataka's Bengaluru," sources said.

"Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK), Kongu Desa Makkal Katchi (KDMK), Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP), All India Forward Bloc, Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), Kerala Congress (Joseph), and Kerala Congress (Mani) are among the new political parties that will be joining the meeting," they said.

"Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi will also attend the Opposition Parties meeting," they added. Notably, KDMK and MDMK were previously allies of the BJP during the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.Also

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The team of CIA staff 2 of Police commissionerate, Ludhiana, arrested a data entry operator working at the city vegetable market and a sweetmeat shop owner for allegedly stealing a motorcycle and e-rickshaw. A case under section 379 and 411 of IPC has been registered against the accused. (iStock)

The police have recovered the stolen vehicles from their possession.

The accused have been identified as Ravi Kumar alias Monu, 32, of Bhagwan Das Colony of Salem Tabri and Kapil alias Gikki, 25, of Kali Sadak at Noorwala Road.

Ravi is a sweetmeat shop owner, while Kapil works as a data entry operator in new vegetable market.

Inspector Beant Juneja, incharge at CIA staff 2, said that both the accused are already facing two FIRs and came out from jail on bail on April 27.

A case under section 379 and 411 of IPC has been registered against the accused.

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Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) chief Amarinder Singh Raja Warring on Sunday said the Congress decision to oppose the Centres ordinance related to the control of services in Delhi was about the partys fight against the assault on constitutional rights of states. Warring said the Congress took the principled stand to save the Constitution, but this does not mean the party is backing the AAP (ANI File)

Warring said the Congress took the principled stand to save the Constitution, but this does not mean the party is backing the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). Whenever the BJP-led central government will try to sabotage federalism, the Congress will oppose it, the Punjab Congress chief said after AICC general secretary KC Venugopal announced the partys decision to oppose the ordinance. The Congress announcement came a day before the meeting of the opposition parties in Bengaluru to discuss their joint strategy to take on the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

Asked about the stand of the state unit leaders who had urged the Congress high command not to extend support to the AAP on this issue, the PPCC chief said they had shared their views with the party leadership. The decision to oppose the ordinance is the combined stand of the opposition, and was for the party high command to take that call. But we will continue to fight them (AAP government) in Punjab, he said. The state Congress had accused the AAP government of unleashing a witch-hunt against its leaders and workers.
Police on Sunday arrested a couple for allegedly duping locals of 9 lakh on the pretext of helping them in availing loans from the different banks. Two FIRs under sections 420 (cheating) and 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of the IPC have been lodged against the accused at Focal Point police station. (iStock)

According to the police, the couple, inspired by crime shows, opened an office in Ludhiana and made a fake website to trap people.

The accused have been identified as Karamjit Singh of Pawa village in Khanna and his wife Rajni. The accused are directors of Yana Growth Nidhi Limited Finance Company. The police are trying to trace their aides.

Inspector Amandeep Singh Brar, SHO at police station, Focal Point, said that after duping people of their hard-earned money, the accused used to shift their office to some new location. More complaints have been received against the accused in different police stations.

The SHO added that the accused used to open their office near banks and release advertisements on social networking sites, newspapers and other mediums to attract people. The accused used to lure people with promises that they would get them loans more than the value of their property. They used to take money as commission. Later, they used to change their offices overnight.

Two FIRs under sections 420 (cheating) and 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of the IPC have been lodged against the accused at Focal Point police station.

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A fire broke out at a local toy making factory in Jandiali village near Kohara on Sunday, leaving the facility completely engulfed in flames. Fire at the toy making factory in Jandiali village near Kohara in Ludhiana on Saturday. Residents informed the fire department after seeing dense smoke coming out. (HT Photo)

There was no one present inside the factory, situated opposite the rice mill, at the time of the incident as it was a Sunday.

Sumit Arora, the owner of the factory, Unistar Techno Plast Private Limited, said that the exact cause was not known yet.

However, fire officials suspect that the fire could have taken place due to a short circuit.

The fire reportedly started at around 5:15 pm. Dense smoke coming out of the building caught the attention of nearby residents, who alerted the fire department.

Arora said that the factory housed materials and goods in large number, which may have been lost in the blaze. The extent of the damage and the exact value of the losses will be determined once the fire is completely extinguished and a thorough assessment can be conducted.

Fire officer Maninder Singh stated that as many as 12 fire tenders were used to douse the flames.

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FARGO (AP)  A gunman opened fire on police and firefighters for no known reason as they responded to a traffic crash in North Dakota, killing one officer and wounding two others before another officer killed him, Fargos police chief said Saturday.

A 25-year-old woman was also injured in the shooting Friday afternoon, but authorities did not say who shot her. The gunman did not hit any firefighters, Chief David Zibolski said, but a fire truck was struck by gunfire.

Zibolski identified the shooter as Mohamad Barakat, 37, of Fargo, but provided few details about him or the shooting, citing officials desire to protect the investigation. He said he was confident authorities would eventually determine the motive.

The first thing we always want to know in a situation like this is, Why? he said. Why would somebody do this? What happened?

Authorities were investigating what Zibolski called a routine traffic accident" on a busy Fargo street when Barakat opened fire. He did not appear to have been involved in the crash police were working, Zibolski said.

Among the drivers who witnessed what happened was Chenoa Peterson. She told The Associated Press on Saturday that the shooter appeared to have ambushed the officers. The gunman was at the rear of a car in a bank parking lot near the traffic crash when he fired on an officer not more than 20 feet away, she said.

He was holding up the trunk of the car with his arm, and then I see the gun come up, and he set it on his shoulder and just pointed it directly at an officer in front of him, Peterson said. It was like 10 shots right away.

The police werent looking in the direction of the gunman when he began shooting, she said.

Peterson's 22-year-old daughter was with her and said the suspect exchanged simultaneous gunfire with police.

I saw them firing at each other both at once, Katriel Peterson said. "But soon as the shooter took a break the cop came walking towards him letting off round after round. There was already an officer down. And a family hiding just on the other side of the vehicle next to the shooter.

Asked if the shooting was a planned ambush of police, Zibolski told reporters: The investigation into that is still ongoing." He said he believed police had previously had some sort of contact with Barakat but not anything significant. He did not know what type of gun Barakat used.

He said the state Bureau of Criminal Investigation and the FBI were investigating.

Zibolski said officer Jake Wallin, a military veteran, was killed, and officers Andrew Dotas and Tyler Hawes were wounded. Officer Zach Robinson shot and killed the suspect, Zibolski said.

Peterson, who said she has a bachelor's degree in nursing, said her first instinct was to get out of her car and help. But her 22-year-old daughter, who was in the passenger seat, yelled that they had to take cover, so she drove around to the back of the bank.

At the time of the shooting, Wallin, 23, of St. Michael, Minnesota, was in the field as an officer in training, having become a Fargo police officer less than three months earlier. Wallin previously served in the Minnesota Army National Guard and was deployed to Afghanistan, Zibolski said.

He served his country, came back here and wanted nothing more but to serve in a position with purpose and meaning  his exact words  and he did that, Zibolski said.

In video played at a Saturday news conference showing Wallin training with fellow recruits, he spoke of his desire to pursue a career in law enforcement.

Throughout my entire life, Ive always wanted to work in some sort of position that had purpose behind my job and police officer is always what kind of came to me, Wallin said. I dont want to be sitting in an office wondering why Im here every day. I want to be out, I want to be doing something that I can tell myself at the end of the day I made a difference somehow.

For nine hours after the shooting, police had called it only a critical incident. Early details emerged from people who said they witnessed the shooting or heard gunshots. Shortly after the shooting, officers converged on a residential area about 2 miles away and evacuated residents of an apartment building while gathering what they said was related evidence.

On Saturday, investigators were still at the apartment building, going back and forth from the third floor, where police tape hung across a hallway. Few residents were around and an FBI truck was out front.

Associated Press writers Margery A. Beck in Omaha, Nebraska, and Ed Komenda in Seattle, Washington, contributed to this report.
Former Punjab Congress MLA Ashwani Sekhri joined the BJP on Sunday. Sekhri has represented the Batala assembly constituency thrice in 1985, 2002 and 2012. He was also the AICC secretary in-charge of Gujarat from 1985 to 2022. In the 2022 assembly polls as well, Sekhri unsuccessfully contested from the Batala seat. Sekhri joined the BJP after meeting Union home minister Amit Shah at his official residence. After joining the BJP, Sekhri said the Congress has become a disillusioned party . (HT File Photo)

A prominent Hindu face of the Congress in the Majha region, Sekhri was miffed with the party state unit and claimed that he was feeling ignored in the present dispensation of the state Congress led by PPCC chief Amarinder Singh Raja Warring.

His equation with the former Congress minister Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa was also good.

After joining the BJP, Sekhri said the Congress has become a disillusioned party whereas the BJP under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has helped the country achieve new heights of development.

Sekhri said in his meeting with the home minister, he raised various issues of the border areas and apprised Shah that the border districts of Punjab need immediate attention from the Union government as far as the development and security of the region is concerned.

Sekhri claimed that many big shots of the Congress party are ready to join BJP in the coming days. Only BJP can provide stability and security to Punjab. I will soon hold a press conference with new Punjab BJP chief Sunil Jakhar, he said.

Sekhri served as chairman, Punjab Health Systems Corporation, during the previous Congress government and at one point of time in 2021, reports had emerged that he was about to join the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD).

In Punjab Congress, Sekhri is considered the right-hand man of former Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee chief Navjot Sidhu and his joining the BJP is a setback to Sidhus camp as well.

Cong leaders demand Sekhris expulsion

Chandigarh Punjab Congress leaders on Sunday demanded the expulsion of former minister Ashwani Sekhri from the Congress for his alleged anti-party activities and remarks against party leaders. The demand was made by former minister Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa, Gurdaspur MLA Barindermeet Singh Pahra, former minister Brahm Mohindra, Congress Legislature Party (CLP) deputy leader Dr Raj Kumar Chabbewal, and PPCC working president Bharat Bhushan Ashu in a joint statement.

Lashing out at Sekhri, the state unit leaders said that he was the AICC secretary in-charge of Gujarat from 1985 to 2022 and the party gave him the highest positions and responsibilities, but he backstabbed the party. Such disloyal leaders must not be given a second chance to do damage to the party, Ashu said in a statement.

Chabbewal alleged that Sekhri was given several chances, but he had been working against the party in Gujarat and elsewhere. His expulsion is long overdue and it is high time now that the high command takes the necessary step to ensure that he is no longer able to damage the party, he added.
Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Sunday hit out at the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leadership for blaming his state for floods in parts of Delhi, saying the finger-pointing is neither in the interest of humanity, state or the country. Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Sunday hit out at the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leadership for blaming his state for floods in parts of Delhi, saying the finger-pointing is neither in the interest of humanity, state or the country. (HT File)

AAP leaders have alleged the BJP-led government in Haryana released excessive water from the Hathnikund barrage which flooded the Yamuna river, with water flowing onto the streets and roads of the National Capital.

Khattar said every barrage has a capacity and water diversion can be done only upto a specific limit.

Diversion is stopped when excess water flows. If the diversion is allowed when excess water flows, then the entire system will crumble. Rivers are natural while canals are man-made; if the canals break, it will cause widespread destruction. We received news that the water level has been rising in Bhakra and it would come into Haryana, then we told them that the Bhakras water will be released into Satluj not into canals. They (AAP) keep asking for water, why are they not taking water now. Neither they can give water nor they can take water, he added.

The CM said Haryanas two districts, Ambala and Kurukshetra, faced flood-like situation as water entered these districts through the incomplete Satluj-Yamuna link canal from Punjab side but they did not blame the Bhagwant Mann-led government of the state.

Due to overflow of water in Yamuna, our two villages faced floods in Yamunanagar and 20 villages of Indri in Karnal. The same water created devastation in Panipat, Sonepat, Delhi, Palwal and Faridabad. I dont know whether their (AAPs Delhi government) team drafted a note and asked one of their ministers to blame Haryana for the flood in Delhi. Haryana cant cause harm to anyone, Khattar added.

Sharpening his attack on Delhi government, the CM said Haryana is providing 320 extra cusecs than what is Delhis actual share as per the Supreme Courts order but the Capital is not even paying for this increased amount.

The CM further said they had started an investigation to check Delhis entire system like inspection of Okhla bridge, ITO and a barrage ahead of ITO, besides checking encroachment in the Yamuna. Haryanas Palwal and Faridabad are suffering due to Delhi government, he added.

Earlier in the day, the CM had unveiled the statue of Kisan Dass, former Haryana minister in Rohtak, where the CM claimed that the lotus will again bloom in the state.

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Over the course of the last five days, the army columns have evacuated over 11,000 civilians, delivered water and rations to more than 7,000 individuals, and provided medical assistance to over 1,500 residents who were stranded due to floods. Flood rescue and relief operations commenced on July 10 when the flood relief columns of Indian Army were requisitioned by the Punjab governmen (HT Photo)

Upon receiving requests for assistance from the governments of Punjab, Haryana, and Himachal Pradesh to conduct rescue operations in response to the flood-like situations, the Western Command acted and evacuated civilians, students, and personnel from these three states.

Flood rescue and relief operations commenced on July 10 when the flood relief columns of Indian Army were requisitioned by the Punjab government when flood waters of overflowing Ghaggar river submerged parts of Rajpura.

The columns acted proactively and were instrumental in timely rescue of 900 students from Chitkara University along with many populations from adjoining villages. Timely action by army in coordination with civil administration and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) over two nights prevented flooding and inundation of Patiala city.

The floods had inundated huge swatches of residential colonies in Patiala and the troops were in action in Urban Estate Phase I & II, Gobind Bagh, Rishi Colony, Gopal Colony, Kohinoor Colony, and other locations resulting in evacuation of 6,000 residents in Patiala who were at risk of being isolated within the confines of their homes. As per the recent report around 8,000 people have been evacuated in Punjab so far including Zira, Ferozepur, Patiala, Rajpura, Fatehgarh Sahib, Shahkot (Mandala) and othes parts.

A total of 26 columns have been activated in various districts of Punjab. A total 69 officers, 172 JCOs and 1720 ORs as part of Flood Relief Columns have been deployed till date for flood relief operations by Western Command. The intense rainfall created flood situation in low lying areas of Punjab to including Chandigarh, Mohali, Fatehgarh Sahib, Patiala, Sangrur, Dera Bassi, Kharar, Mohali, Ferozepur, Jalandhar and Ropar region.

Colonel Jasdeep Sandhu, advisor civil military affairs said Army commander of Western command was prompt to pass orders from rescue operations. We were in complete sync with the highest to lowest level of the civil administration according to the SOPs, he said.

The Indian Army continues to work in close coordination with the local administration and is closely monitoring the situation for providing immediate assistance, added Col Jasdeep. Presently recue and relief efforts are being concentrated on the severely affected areas in and around Patran, Moonak and Sangrur District where Ghaggar river is in overflowing and the relief columns of army are working relentlessly with assistance from local administration in providing much needed rescue and relief material.

Around 2000 people rescued in Haryana

The rescue teams of Indian Army have rescued around 2,000 people from Haryana. This includes 520 civilians from Mahesh Nagar Ambala, 750 students and ladies from Chaman Vatika Gurukul,Ambala, 950 personnel from village Amirpur and Tardera Ambala and 51 personnel from Baknur, Bamba and Miya Mazra villages. Recent rainfall in North India have caused the Yamuna and Gagghar rivers in Haryana to overflow, leading to a critical situation.The swelling rivers and canals have resulted in numerous breaches. In response to the situation Western Command, flood relief columns from the Kharga Corps have been deployed to assist the civil authorities in the flood-affected areas of Haryana.

118 tourists evacuated from Singla Valley

A column deployed at Himachal Pradesh has evacuated 118 tourists stranded in Sangla Valley to Karcham by IAF Mi-17. Distribution of medical and food supplies to affected villages and rediversion of course of Tong Tong se Nala to original course was undertaken by blasting of boulders. MI 17 did five sorties to rescue 118 civilians.

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The J&K government authorities have imposed restrictions on conduct of elections announced by the J&K High Court Bar Association citing the bodys alleged secessionist ideology and also apprehension of breach of peace. The Jammu and Kashmir government authorities have imposed restrictions on conduct of elections announced by the J&K High Court Bar Association citing the bodys alleged secessionist ideology and also apprehension of breach of peace. (Getty Images/ Representational image)

Mohammad Aijaz Asad, deputy commissioner, Srinagar, who is also district magistrate, Srinagar, imposed the restrictions under Section 144 of CrPC on the conduct of J&K HCBA.

In an order issued on Saturday, Asad stated that the situation could lead to breach of peace and disruption of public order if J&K HCBA proceeds forward with the scheduled elections.

Therefore, I, district magistrate, Srinagar, by virtue of the powers vested in me u/s 144 of CrPC direct that no gathering of four or more persons shall be allowed on the premises of District Court Complex, Mominabad, Batamaloo or any other place for the purpose of conduct of HCBA elections till further orders, he said.

The Bar, which has been seeking peaceful resolution of Kashmir issue, had to postpone its elections in 2020 when the government had raised objections to the bodys stand.

Quoting a letter by the senior superintendent of police, Srinagar, the district magistrates order stated that there was a scuffle between the members of J&K HCBA and another association, Kashmir Advocates Association, on July 13.

Whereas, the senior superintendent of police, Srinagar, has highlighted that there is every possibility of internal rivalries between the two factions of the lawyers resulting in clashes between them, the order said.

The order also revealed inputs sought from intelligence agencies which stated that the J&K HCBA propounds a secessionist ideology and over the past three decades the activities of J&K HCBA as chronicled include organising hartals and bandhs, intimidating members of legal fraternity who do not subscribe to its ideology.

The intelligence reports strongly point out that the threat of use of violence and breach of peace and order in the instant matter is very high, it said.

The district magistrate also stated that they have already issued notice to the president, J&K High Court Bar Association, and Election Committee J&K HCBA in 2020 seeking explanation on the Bars constitution whose objective is to find ways and means, take steps, for resolving the issues concerning public at large including larger issue of peaceful settlement of Kashmir issue.

The J&K HCBA, Srinagar, was asked to explain its position on the subject, since the stand is not in congruence with the Constitution of India, whereby J&K is an integral part of the country and not a dispute; and also, it is in conflict with the Advocates Act, 1961, the order stated.

The DC office had also sought the registration certificate of the association. Whereas, till date no response has been received from the J&K High Court Bar Association, Srinagar, vis-a-vis the above points, particularly on the matter of J&K HCBA constitution being antithetical to sovereignty and integrity of the country, the order said.

The DMs order also mentioned that the senior superintendent of police, Srinagar, shall ensure implementation of this order. Any violation of this order shall invite punitive action under Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860, the order also read.

The Bar has maintained that their stand was two decades old and in conformity with the Constitution of India which is also the stand taken by the body before the Supreme Court in proceedings relating to abrogation of the Articles 370 and 35-A.
At least 10 people trapped inside a lift in a nightclub in South Extension were safely rescued by the Delhi Fire Services (DFS) early Sunday morning, fire department officials said. Delhi Fire Services use ladder to bring people out of the building (Twitter/@AtulGargDFS)

The fire department received the call around 5:42am on Sunday about the incident at Code Club near the South Extension metro station, said DFS director Atul Garg.

We rushed our rescue team to the spot. They broke glass window panes of the building and placed a ladder using which the guests climbed down, Garg said.

Police said they were not informed about the incident by anyone from the building, the club or its management, or even the guests who were trapped.

Police said they are also trying to ascertain if the club was open beyond the permissible timings and if there was any negligence on the part of its management.

Speaking to HT, Code Club manager Shivam (first name), said that the club closed at its scheduled time and there were no violations on their part. He said at least eight guests and two security guards got trapped inside the lift on the first floor around 12.30am while coming down from the third floor of the building.

Shivam said the they forcefully manually closed the lift door after getting off on the wrong floor due to which the motor malfunctioned and they got trapped inside. We tried to rescue them by ourselves but were unsuccessful. Later, we called the lift maintenance company for assistance, said Shivam.

He said that the lift repair team took some time to reach as they were coming from Faridabad, but after a couple of hours, all trapped persons were pulled out of the lift.

The guests were pulled out from the lift on the first floor but we could not get out of the building as we did not have the keys. We tried to break the toughened glass off the windows. We then called the Delhi Fire Services who came to the rescue. They broke the glass and used a ladder to bring everyone down safely, added Shivam.

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Overall, close to three quarters of the students who signed up to take the Common University Entrance Test for Undergraduate (CUET-UG) appeared for the test, but in the case of Scheduled Tribes (ST) category students, the attendance was close to 50%, data released by the University Grants Commission (UGC) on Saturday revealed. PREMIUM As far as gender-wise breakup is concerned, 73.83% of female candidates appeared for the test while 74.91% of male candidates took it, the data showed. (Raj K Raj/HT)

Also read: 100% increase in CUET UG exam takers in 2023, results declared

UGC chairperson Jagadesh Kumar Mamidala said that an analysis of the low attendance among students from the ST category will be carried out. The entrance test, conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA), was held for the second consecutive year.

The data, released soon after the results were announced on Saturday, showed that 74.41% of the total registered students appeared for the exam, up from 65% percent last year. But students from the ST category registered only 50.5% attendance.

While we have yet to determine the exact cause, the desire to enrol at a local university could be one of the possible reasons for not attempting CUET-UG after registering for it. Since this is only the second year since the introduction of CUET-UG, it is too early to conclude, Mamidala told HT.

To be sure, the corresponding category-wise data for last year was not released by UGC.

Mamidala also said that for students among the Scheduled Castes (SC), Other Backward Classes (OBC) and General category, the attendance percentage  at 76.45%, 76.29% and 75.63%, respectively  was higher than the overall figures.

An increase of this magnitude indicates that students consider CUET-UG an important admission test, Mamidala said.

As far as gender-wise breakup is concerned, 73.83% of female candidates appeared for the test while 74.91% of male candidates took it, the data showed.

Another UGC member, who requested anonymity, said that the digital divide could have played a role in the low attendance among underprivileged sections. This was an apprehension that we had initially. From my understanding of the communities, we can say that it is because of the lack of access to technology, or the digital divide as we call it, the member said.

The official added, Another possible reason is the lack of understanding and communication regarding the entire process, particularly among first-generation learners. We must think about removing these obstacles. We have this data now, which is a step in the right direction.

Also read: With CUET results out, DU to begin UG admission process from July 17

Teacher and student unions raised questions over the low attendance among students from these categories. Aishe Ghosh, president of Jawaharlal Nehru University Students Union (JNUSU), tweeted, According to the data shared by the Chairperson UGC itself shows the number of students absent from ST is almost 50 percent and that of SC/OBC is almost 25-30 percent. Poses big question of how inclusive CUET is, as a model and why such high rates of absentees?

The computer-based test took place in nine phases between May 21 and July 5. Last year, the exam was marred by several technical glitches. Prior to the test this year, officials said that there they were working to fix the glitches. They added that students would be informed about their centres well in advance and that there would be extra computers at each testing centre.
With the water level of the Yamuna receding, Delhi government agencies have begun cleaning operations in parts of the Capital that were inundated with floodwaters, as those affected count their losses and return to their shops and homes. While the Public Works Department (PWD) started pumping out water and clearing the sludge on roads, shopkeepers have also begun shelling out money and roping in private workers to clean their shops. PREMIUM Workers clean the road in front of Monastery Market, in New Delhi on Sunday. (Vipin Kumar/HT)

Also read: Delhi floods: Himanta Biswa Sarma says he's ready to visit Kejriwal's house but...

In north Delhi, water receded from houses at Civil Lines and Monastery Market, leaving behind heaps of sludge. PWD workers were seen pumping out water in these areas.

Shopkeepers in these areas said they have suffered heavy losses, adding that the scale of destruction was unprecedented. We are paying private contractors and getting the market cleaned. Until the mud is cleared, we cannot open our shops. The water supply continues to remain disconnected. The electricity connection also needs to be resumed. Every shopkeeper here has incurred losses amounting to lakhs, and now we have to pay to get back on our feet and resume work, said Salahuddin, a shopkeeper at Monastery Market.

HT reached out Delhi government agencies over these concerns of residents and shopkeepers but did not get a response.

Gagandeep Bhasin, who runs a handbags and shoe shop at Civil Lines, spent Sunday overseeing cleaning operations at the market. Bhasins shop is packed to capacity with handbags and shoes, none of which could be retrieved before the onset of flooding. None of us had anticipated that the water level would rise so high. My shop is packed with goods and unless the market is cleaned, I wont be able to open the shop and assess the extent of the damage. Since the government has not sent any help, we had to engage private workers to clean the market, said Bhasin.

While a temple and some patches of Bela Road at Civil Lines remain waterlogged, the water has receded from the Sushruta Trauma Centre. At Kashmere Gate, PWD workers were seen pumping out water from the ISBT. While the Yamunas water levels have fallen, the ISBT premises continue to be waterlogged. I was under the impression that the bus terminal would have started functioning by now. However, no buses are plying. Autos are charging excessively but we have no other option, said Raju Kumar, who regularly travels between Delhi and Karnal.

At Yamuna Bazar  among the first areas to be flooded  houses continue to be submerged as residents spend their days in the tarpaulin tents of a relief camp set up in the vicinity.

Rumi, a Yamuna Bazar resident, said that the flood situation had thrown life of gear for the family as her husband has been unable to go to work. She said that although the government is proving food at the relief camp, nights were difficult due to mosquitos and the humidity. My little children struggle to sleep at night. We are praying that the situation improves and we can return soon, said Rumi.

At Mayur Vihar Pushta in east Delhi, scores of individuals continue to live under flyovers and on service roads as they plan a return to their homes in the days ahead. Residents said although the water has receded from their homes, their farms are still submerged. Anuj Shah, a farmer, said, We had planted ladyfinger, ridge gourd, and gour. The crops are destroyed now. We will have to start afresh, said Shah.

Also read: Delhi govt to pay 10,000 compensation to each flood-affected family, announces Kejriwal

In southeast Delhis Jaitpur and Batla House, some families are heading home as the water level begins to recede, making a way through the sludge with the belongings that they fled with. My family visited our house today and the water level has decreased. However, the remaining water and mud need to be cleared. We dont think there will be any help from the government. We are on our own. My family members have already started the cleaning process, said Shehzadi, a resident of Dhobi Ghat in Batla House.
Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday announced a compensation of 10,000 to each flood-affected families.



Several poor families living near river Yamuna suffered huge losses. Some families lost all their belongings of their homes. We will give compensation of 10,000 to each families as part of financial help. We will set up special camps for those who lost important documents like Aadhaar card in the floods. We will provide school uniforms and books to the students who lost them during floods, the chief minister tweeted. Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal visited the flood relief camp in a school at Mori Gate to assess the situation and provide support to the victims affected by the recent floods in low-lying areas around Yamuna, in New Delhi(HT photo)

Earlier in the day, Kejriwal visited a relief camp in North Delhi's Mori Gate. The chief minister tweeted,"We have set up relief camps in schools for those who were affected by floods in Delhi. I visited a relief camp at a school in Mori Gate. There are arrangements for food and toilets for the people staying in that camp".

Kejriwal said the efforts would be carried out to fill up mud with dry soil to expedite the drying process in flood-affected areas.

"The government is exploring various means to provide ad hoc relief to the flood-affected individuals, including compensation for their losses," PTI quoted the chief minister as saying.

Kejriwal tweeted to inform that the Chandrawal Water Treatment Plant has been started. This will restore water supply to the tune of 105 MGD in assembly constituencies namely Rajinder Nagar, Karol Bagh, Ballimaran, Chandni Chowk, Patel Nagar, Palam Vihar, Delhi Cantt and also in NDMC areas.

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Delhi's Public Works Department (PWD) minister Atishi on Sunday visited a relief camp set up to shelter those who were affected by floods. The Aam Aadmi Party shared the video of the minister inspecting the arrangements and questioning the officials after she found that the facilities were not up to the mark.



What are you doing for the past four days? We are tired of saying the arrangements here are not up to the mark. Are we fools? All you do is say All Is Ok on the WhatsApp group every evening. Where the fans, lights and toilets? the minister is heard pulling up the officials.



The minister is seen inspecting a toilet which was very filthy. She later interacts with a team of doctors who are catering the patients amid flies all around. Atishi then reprimands the SDM present there. Delhi minister Atishi questions officials at a relief camp in Delhi.(Twitter/Aam Aadmi Party)

Atishi met the flood victims at relief camps and questioned the SDM on finding lapses. The situation has arisen because several officers feel they only need to listen to the LG who is unaware of ground realities. Effect of Centre's ordinance", the AAP tweeted in Hindi.



ALSO READ: CM-headed apex panel for flood control has not met for last 2 years: Delhi LG office

Earlier today, chief minister Kejriwal has announced that the Delhi government will pay 10,000 to each of the flood-affected families. He also announced that the government will set up camps to help people who lost their documents like Aadhaar cards in the flood and the children who lost their books.



Like Atishi, Kejriwal visited a relief camp at a school in North Delhi's Mori Gate and inspected the arrangements there. I personally visited a relief camp set up in a school at Mori Gate to oversee the arrangements. Along with providing shelter for the affected people, arrangements for food, water, and toilets have been made, the chief minister tweeted.

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Heavy rain lashed various parts of Delhi on Saturday, causing waterlogging and traffic congestion across the national capital. Commuters out during a heavy rain spell(Hindustan Times)

According to a Delhi Traffic Police advisory issued late on Saturday night, traffic movement is affected on some roads due to waterlogging and uprooting of trees.

Commuters have been advised to avoid routes like Khan Market, Teen Murti round-about, GGR-PDR, A-Point to W-Point, Kamla Express Building, Andrews Ganj, Khanpur T-point, Under Railway Bridge at Bhairon Marg among others as roads in these areas remain water-logged.

Reportedly, these areas witnessed severe waterlogging after a fresh spell of rain on Saturday. Commuters complained of facing inconvenience in reaching their destination.

At places like, Tuglak Road, trees were also uprooted during rain, hampering vehicular movement.

Due to rains in evening hours, some roads have been affected by waterlogging and fallen trees. Commuters are advised to plan their journey accordingly and avoid these stretches for their convenience, the Delhi traffic police advisory read.

Notably, several parts of Delhi are witnessing waterlogging and flooding following incessant rainfall and the release of water from the Hathni Kund Barrage in Haryana.

People are seen grappling with the water logging. Commuters were witnessed pushing their motorcycles through the water.

The water level of the River Yamuna was recorded at 207.27 meters at 1 pm, Saturday. While the same stood at 207.38 meters at 12 pm, Saturday. on Friday, the water level was recorded at 207.98 meters at 11 pm.

Meanwhile, the Indian Meteorological Department on Friday predicted that Delhi will likely receive light to moderate rain accompanied by thunderstorms during the next 4-5 days.

Later in the day, Delhi traffic police said that traffic is affected on Mathura road in the carriageway from Badarpur towards Ashram due to waterlogging opposite Apollo, Jasola metro station which caused slow movement of traffic near Sarita Vihar flyover."Commuters are advised to plan their route accordingly," Delhi Traffic Police said.
Many questions remained Sunday about what led a gunman in Fargo to open fire on police officers as they were responding to a traffic crash. One officer was killed and two others were critically wounded before the gunman was killed by a fourth officer.

The shooting happened Friday afternoon along a busy street, and roughly nine hours passed before authorities told the public that officers were shot. On Saturday, Fargo's police chief released the names of the officers and the name of the gunman, but said the motive was unclear and that the 37-year-old man opened fire for no known reason at all.

Chief Dave Zibolski also said little about how the situation unfolded, noting the investigation was in the hands of state and federal investigators.

We are not in the position to provide many details in terms of the actual incident itself, Zibolski said. Authorities released no new information Sunday.

Here's what we know, and what we don't, about the shooting:

What happened at the scene?

Police and fire officials were responding to a routine" traffic accident on a busy street Friday afternoon, when a gunman began firing multiple rounds at them  killing one and wounding two, Zibolski said. A fourth officer shot and killed the man, who authorities identified as Mohamad Barakat of Fargo.

Zibolski described the first few minutes as very chaotic," but said that firefighters on scene and a nearby ambulance were essential in preventing additional fatalities. As soon as the firing stopped, firefighters bounced out and they were applying first aid immediately to our officers, Zibolski said, which "probably had a very significant impact on their survival.

Authorities released few details about what happened in the moments before Barakat began firing and his motive was not clear.

The first thing we always want to know in a situation like this is, Why? Zibolski said. Why would somebody do this?"

What did witnesses see?

Among the drivers who witnessed what happened was Chenoa Peterson. She told The Associated Press on Saturday that a man appeared to have ambushed the officers. The gunman was at the rear of a car in a bank parking lot near the traffic crash when he fired on an officer not more than 20 feet away, she said.

He was holding up the trunk of the car with his arm, and then I see the gun come up, and he set it on his shoulder and just pointed it directly at an officer in front of him, Peterson said. It was like 10 shots right away.

Officers werent looking in the direction of the gunman when he began shooting, she said.

Petersons 22-year-old daughter was with her and said the suspect exchanged simultaneous gunfire with police.

I saw them firing at each other both at once, Katriel Peterson said. But soon as the shooter took a break the cop came walking towards him letting off round after round. There was already an officer down. And a family hiding just on the other side of the vehicle next to the shooter.

What do we know about the fallen officer?

Officer Jake Wallin, 23, was killed. Zibolski said Saturday that his wounds were fatal and there was nothing that could be done.

A military veteran, Wallin previously served in the Minnesota Army National Guard and was deployed to Afghanistan, Zibolski said.

He served his country, came back here and wanted nothing more but to serve in a position with purpose and meaning  his exact words  and he did that, Zibolski said. Zibolski spoke to his sense of humor and his excellence throughout training, calling him a member of the department family.

In video played at a Saturday news conference showing Wallin training with fellow recruits, he spoke of his desire to pursue a career in law enforcement.

Throughout my entire life, Ive always wanted to work in some sort of position that had purpose behind my job and police officer is always what kind of came to me, said Wallin of St. Michael, Minnesota,. I dont want to be sitting in an office wondering why Im here every day. I want to be out, I want to be doing something that I can tell myself at the end of the day I made a difference somehow.

Funeral arrangements have not been made public. The governor has ordered that flags be flown at half-staff on the day of Wallin's interment.

How are the other victims?

Two other officers, Andrew Dotas and Tyler Hawes, were in critical but stable condition as of Saturday, and Zibolski said they were in good spirits but had significant recovery ahead of them. No update on their condition was provided Sunday.

Wallin and Hawes were both young recruits, sworn in less than three months earlier and still in training when they responded to the scene. Dotas was a six-year veteran who was responsible for training officers.

A fourth officer, Zach Robinson, shot and killed Barakat, Zibolski said.

Dotas and Robinson are master sergeants with the North Dakota Air National Guard, Maj. Gen. Al Dohrmann said in a statement.

A 25-year-old female bystander also was injured in the shooting, though authorities haven't said who shot her. A hospital spokesman said Sunday that she was in fair condition.

What happened afterward?

Shortly after the shooting, authorities, including the FBI, converged on a residential area about 2 miles away and evacuated residents of an apartment building to gather what they said was related evidence. Court documents that would indicate what authorities were looking for have not been made public and authorities have said little about that search, other than to say it was happening at the time.

On Saturday, investigators were still at the apartment building, going back and forth from the third floor, where police tape hung across a hallway. Few residents were around and an FBI truck was out front.

What we know about the suspect

The city also has said little about Barakat or the gun he used. Zibolski said he believed police previously had some sort of contact with Barakat but not anything significant.

Zibolski said it does not appear that Barakat was involved in the car crash that brought officers to the scene but indicated investigators are determining whether this was a planned ambush of officers.

Zibolski said he was confident authorities would eventually understand Barakat's motive and that information would be made public at the appropriate time.
The water level of Yamuna River continues to recede as the irrigation and flood control department stated that it has gone down below the 206 metres mark on Sunday morning. The officials from the flood control department said that a water level of 205.95m was recorded at 10:00am on Sunday and the downward trend is expected to continue. Around 25,000 people have been displaced or affected by rising water levels of the river in the past week (File Photo)

The forecast says that Yamuna is expected to go down below the danger level later in the night, said an official familiar with the development. With Yamuna receding, the state agencies are trying to bring normalcy to the affected areas.

In a relief to the people of Delhi, chief minister Arvind Kejriwal announced that the second affected water treatment plant at Chandrawal has been restarted. The Okhla plant was operationalised on Friday.

Also Read: Delhi floods: AAP ministers set to take up district-wise relief work in Capital

The restoration of the Chandrawal plant will resume supply to the tune of 105 million gallons per day in assemblies falling in central Delhi like Rajender Nagar, Karol Bagh, Ballimaran, Chandni Chowk, Patel Nagar, Palam Vihar, Delhi Cantt and NDMC areas, said Delhi Jal Board vice-chairman Somnath Bharti.

Parts of central, north and west Delhi have been reeling under an acute water crisis as several water plants were flooded due to rising water levels in Yamuna, leading to the closure of Wazirabad, Chandrawal and Okhla water treatment plants.

As the Yamuna receded some of the waterlogging directly or indirectly was cleared up, allowing authorities to reopen several key roads that were shut for days.

While the situation in some waterlogged areas including the stretch from Kashmere Gate to Majnu Ka Tilla has improved, several areas including, Vikas Marg stretch near ITO, Rajghat, Salimgarh underpass, parts of Mukherjee Nagar, Yamuna Bazar, Hakikat Nagar and Jaitpur were still water-logged.

Some key routes, such as Vikas Marg, Metcalfe Cafe Road, ISBT, Sarai Kale Khan as well as some closed parts of the Ring Road and Boulevard Road were reopened, although there was still some water on these stretches.

Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecasted a generally cloudy sky with light to moderate rain and thundershowers for Delhi on Sunday with a yellow alert.

Also Read: Floods claim 6 more lives in Haryana

Delhi Traffic Police have issued an advisory on traffic movement in the city. Traffic is still affected on the Ring Road due to the overflow of sewer water near the IP flyover from Rajghat to Nizamuddin carriageway.

Commuters are advised to take alternate route via Shanti Van, Rajghat, JLN Marg, BSZ Marg to avoid the stretch, the advisory states.

The movement on Bhairon Marg is restricted due to waterlogging under the railway bridge. Moreover, the Saturday evening rainfall has led to waterlogging at several places and a special drive was undertaken by New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) workers to flush out water from its areas.

Around 25,000 people have been displaced or affected by rising water levels of the river in the past week. The 22km stretch of the Yamuna in Delhi passes through six districts, parts of which are flooded by the river or due to the backflow of drains. The remaining five districts of the Capital have not been inundated by floodwaters.

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The water level of the Yamuna river on Sunday morning was at 206.02 metres, above the danger level of 205.33. At 10am, the water level fell to 205.95 metres. According to the Central Water Commission, the water level is predicted to reach 205.75 metres by 10pm today. As Delhi fought back the unprecedented flooding amid political tug-of-war, the Capital received fresh showers on Saturday evening. More rain is likely on Sunday. Read | Delhi rain: Traffic police advise commuters to avoid these routes due to waterlogging Rajghat flooded on Saturday as Delhi was flooded by surging Yamuna water. (Hindustan Times)

Delhi flood: No increase in Yamuna water levels

Saturday's rain resulted in no increase in the water levels of Yamuna as Delhi's AAP government and Haryana's BJP government debated whether Delhi flood was only because of the excess release of water from the Hathnikund Barrage which AAP claimed was deliberate -- the BJP refused.

Read | Not a natural calamity: Delhi, Haryana continue to clash over Hathnikund water

PM Modi takes stock of Delhi situation

As Prime Minister Narendra Modi returned to Delhi from abroad, he spoke to Lt Governor VK Saxena to take updates on the flood-like situation in Delhi. "Immediately on his arrival in Delhi, PM spoke to LG of Delhi about the status of the flood-like situation in Delhi due to Yamuna river and the progress achieved in mitigation," an official said.

Water supply in Delhi to get restored today

Normal water supply resumes in the Capital on Sunday as the water treatment plants at Wazirabad and Chandrawal are to start functioning today.

Atishi versus Delhi's divisional commissioner

Amid an intense AAP versus BJP fight in which the AAP ministers claimed that the IAS officers did not cooperate with the government during the crisis. As the screenshots of WhatsApp messages sent to Ashwani Kumar, the divisional commissioner went viral, Kumar sais the allegations against him are unfortunate. "This is very unfortunate on making an accusation during such a time. I had a word with Atishi Ji. I spoke with her yesterday. This shows that maybe they want to do politics. If you say, I am responsible, then I am ready to take the responsibilities. Unlike others, I won't blame anyone, Kumar said.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR Poulomi Ghosh Poulomi Ghosh is a journalist with Hindustan Times, New Delhi. ...view detail
A group of residents of Orris Aster Court, Orris Carnation Residency and Orris Aster Court Premier in Sector 85, held a protest against the supply of contaminated water on Sunday. They said around 150 residents have fallen ill due to stomach ailments in the last 15 to 20 days. Gurugram, India-July 16, 2023: Residents of Orris Aster Court, Aster court Carnation and Aster court premium hold a protest against supply of contaminated water to their societies due to which over 150 persons have fallen ill due to stomach infections, in Gurugram, India, on Sunday, 16 July 2023. (Photo/HT)(Pic to go with Abhishek Behl's story)

The protesters said that despite repeated complaints to the authorities and the estate management firm, corrective steps have not been taken and some of the residents were hospitalised due to health issues.

The protesters demanded clean potable water from the authorities. There has been an outbreak of gastrointestinal diseases among residents over the last few days. Hundreds of families are affected by this, said Ashish Gupta, a resident, who said that multiple families from the society had to seek treatment for diarrhoea.

The residents alleged that they have complained about the issue with the facilities management agency and also the authorities, but no action has been taken.

Priyank Saxena, a resident, said that his family members got ill due to contaminated water supplied to their home by tankers. My one-year-old daughter is suffering from diarrhoea and my seven-year-old son is also suffering. Both my kids have lost weight due to illness, he said.

The residents welfare association (RWA) said that the three condominiums are part of a single licence colony spanning 29 acres.

Paramvir Bhardwaj, a member of the RWA, alleged that after living in denial for a few weeks, the facilities wing of the society claimed to have cleaned overhead water tanks, but ailments among residents continue unabated.

The facility wing is pleading helplessness and blaming the contamination on the Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) water supply. However, GMDA has claimed no issues with the supply. As of date, residents continue to struggle to find out the root cause of the problem. We seek immediate action from the civic authorities, Bhardwaj said.

The authorities, meanwhile, swung into action on Sunday, and a team from the health department organised a health camp in the society. Dr Virender Yadav, chief medical officer, Gurugram, said that several residents were checked for ailments, particularly waterborne diseases, and they were also briefed about precautionary measures.

We have taken blood and stool samples from 32 residents and will analyse the test results. Water samples have also been taken and will be tested, said Dr Yadav.

When asked about the issue of water supply, a GMDA spokesperson said, We are taking the water samples and will be testing it. In most such cases, the water supplied by the authority does not have quality issues and the problem lies with tanker water.

The estate manager of the residential complex, however, did not respond to repeated phone calls and messages from HT, seeking a response on the matter.

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Four men were arrested after a CCTV footage captured two of them robbing a person of 7 lakhs using a pepper spray while the victim was depositing cash in an Automated Teller Machine (ATM) in Telangana's Hyderabad. The incident occurred on July 3 at a Punjab National Bank ATM located in the Himayathnagar area of the city, news agency ANI reported citing a police statement. Robbers beat up the victim after using pepper spray against him to steal a cash sum of  7 lakh(ANI)

Also Read | Pune police foil robbery attempt, two arrested for planning to steal phones during palkhi

In the CCTV footage shared by ANI, two men entered the Punjab Natioanl Bank ATM as the victim was attempting to deposit money. Sneakily, they sprayed pepper into the man's eyes from behind while attempting to pull his money bag. Determined to protect his cash, the victim struggled to keep the bag away from the robbers, resulting in a scattering of banknotes on the floor. One of the robbers then made a swift escape, while the other persisted in trying to snatch more cash bundles from the victim's bag. After a few minutes, both robbers exited the ATM.

Also Read | 3 robbery accused held after shootout in Punjabs Garhshankar

According to the police, a total of 7 lakhs was stolen during the robbery through the use of pepper spray. The Hyderabad Commissioner's Task Force, in collaboration with the Domalguda Police, apprehended the individuals involved in this ATM robbery.

The arrested individuals, identified as Thansif Ali (24), Muhammed Sahad (26), Thanseeh Barikkal (23), and Abdul Muhees (23), are from Kerala. Police recovered 3.25 lakhs in cash, the pepper spray bottle, and the vehicles used by the robbers.

ATM robbery cracked in Delhi

Delhi Police on Monday arrested five members of a gang involved in looting approximately 45 lakh from ATMs in the city. The gang employed a unique method, using stolen cars, to carry out their robberies. Prior to stealing the cars, they would dismantle the security system found in luxury cars with automatic and push-start features. The gang members would identify a car, photograph the hologram on its rear windscreen (which contained a unique security system code), and send the picture to their technical expert in Dubai. The expert would unlock the security system, generate a new code, and send it back. The gang members would then break the car's window, use a machine with the new security code to start the vehicle, and escape with it.

After stealing cars, the gang also acquired bulk quantities of number plates from other vehicles to use them during the ATM robberies, aiming to mislead the police.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR Lingamgunta Nirmitha Rao Trainee Content Producer at Hindustan Times Digital Stream. India's regional languages attract me. ...view detail
Lucknow Defence minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday said locals in large numbers will get employment in the BrahMos missile manufacturing unit to come up in the state capital. The Lucknow MP, whose three-day visit to his parliamentary constituency started on Saturday, attended many events during the day. Defence minister Rajnath Singh at an event in his Lok Sabha constituency Lucknow on July 16. (HT photo)

At a meeting of Nirala Nagar Residential Public Welfare Committee, he said, I am not able to give as much time as I should but I always keep in touch with people here for the development of Lucknow. After the construction of 104-kilometre Ring road, the people of Lucknow will get rid of the traffic problem to a great extent.

The people here will soon see the BrahMos missile being manufactured in Lucknow. Indian as well as foreign engineers will work in BrahMos missile manufacturing unit and locals will also get employment in large numbers. Railway track will also be constructed to carry the missile. People from the international community will also come and stay here, the defence minister said.

He said community-cum-old age care centres would be set up in all the five assembly constituencies of Lucknow with a cost of 40 crore. Singh also Indias stature has increased at the international level under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Today when India speaks at international forums, the whole world listens with open ears to what India is saying, he added.

Rajnath said at present Indias economy was the fastest growing economy in the world. In 2013-2014, Indias economy was at 11th place. Today, we are the fifth largest economy of the world, he said.

He also visited the open gym set up at Mrityunjay Park near Nirala Nagar. Therre, he was briefed in details about the benefits of the machines installed in the gym by the Lucknow Municipal Corporation.

Rajnath also did some light exercise at the gym. Around 100 gym parks have been set up in Lucknow and around 500 parks and open gyms are yet to be set up, Singh said. Lucknow mayor Sushma Kharkwal and BJP MLA from Lucknow North Neeraj Bora were prominent among those present on the occasion.

Defence minister Rajnath Singh will inaugurate the newly developed Alamnagar satellite station in Lucknow on Monday. The station has been developed with a cost of 50 crore.

The station will help the passengers of western part of the city, including Almanagar, Habibpur, Rajajipuram, board the New Delhi-bound train without having to travel to Charbagh station, said Rekha Sharma, senior divisional commercial manager, Northern Railway, Lucknow.

In the new station building, provisions have been made for passenger amenities such as passenger reservation system, unreserved ticketing system counters, catering stalls, waiting rooms and restrooms, toilets and drinking water among others, she added.

Two new full-length platforms, one new station building, two new foot over bridges have been constructed along with the remodelling of the entire yard. Now the total number of platforms at this station has increased to five. With the construction of a new building and additional parking, a new circulating area has been developed at the station. A green area has also been created in the circulating area and the approach road from the station towards Rajajipuram has been widened, Sharma said.
Uttar Pradesh Madhyamik Shiksha Parishad (UPMSP) aka UP Board has ordered a crackdown on secondary schools running sans permission or admitting students in classes or streams of study for which they do not have the permission from the board across all 75 districts of the state. Prayagraj-based UP Board headquarters. (HT file)

UP Board secretary Dibyakant Shukla sent a missive to all district inspectors of schools (DIoSs) on Saturday instructing them to initiate action as per law against all such institutions.

The UP Secondary Education Act, 1921, provides that only after getting recognition from the UP Board can the institutions take admission of students and that too only in classes or streams for which they have the due recognition, says the missive, a copy of which is with HT.

So, the DIoSs have been asked to ensure that no unrecognised school is running in their respective districts. If such schools are found running, legal action should be initiated against them besides ensuring their immediate closure, said the UP Board secretary while confirming the move.

The DIoSs have also been asked to conduct surprise inspections of all the schools in their districts and ensure that only eligible students are admitted to all the recognised institutions from classes 9 and 12 and that too only in streams and classes for which particular institutions have been granted permission, Shukla added.

UP Board officials point out that information about recognised schools running across the state is available on the official website of the UP Board https://upmsp.edu.in/.

Parents can get correct and updated information regarding any recognised government, government-aided or private schools of any district of the state from the official website of UP Board by accessing the Pehchan portal link before getting admission of their children, officials said.

During 2023 edition of its high school and intermediate examinations, UP Board had 27,601 recognised schools across the state. They included 2,355 government schools, 4,509 government-aided schools and 20,737 private schools.
Twelve minutes after Union home minister Amit Shahs 9.15am photo tweet on Sunday revealed the BJPs 2024 push for Uttar Pradesh, Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP) chief Om Prakash Rajbhar confirmed his partys pre-poll sign-up with the Bharatiya Janata Party. Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP) founder Om Prakash Rajbhar calls on Union Home Minister Amit Shah, in New Delhi on Sunday. He later formally joined the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government. (SOURCED)

Minutes later, Rajbhar held a press conference and dropped broad hints about Operation Lotus while stating that cracks and confusion in the opposition ranks would widen.

The photo that Shah tweeted with a message of the SBSP joining the NDA was a yet unreleased one about his Fridays meeting with Rajbhar in New Delhi. It conveyed how each political development involving Uttar Pradesh was being cleared after being vetted by the top leadership.

Rajbhars announcement came two days ahead of the July 18 meeting of NDA partners before Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi. Rajbhar confirmed having received BJP chief JP Naddas invite for the meeting where the SBSP would now be the third BJP ally from U.P.

The BJP already has a pact with two other OBC parties from east U.P.  the Apna Dal (Sonelal) and the Nishad party. The pact with the SBSP made the BJPs intentions to fortify Purvanchal (east U.P.) obvious though the fine print of the seat-sharing agreement is still hazy.

Now, the 2024 Lok Sabha polls in Uttar Pradesh have been reduced to a no-contest as the opposition hardly stands a chance, Rajbhar said, engaging in apparent mind games that are expected to intensify as the polls approach.

In the name of opposition unity, (Samajwadi Party chief) Akhilesh Yadavji and (Bahujan Samaj Party chief) Mayawati were engaged in a battle of one-upmanship but (Prime Minister) Narendra Modi showed he was the biggest of them all, Rajbhar added. Asked for his views on caste census, a demand backed by the SP and which the SBSP too favoured in the past, Rajbhar said, We stand by all our core issues.

After meeting Rajbhar on Friday, Shah had met Samajwadi Party (SP) MLA Dara Singh Chauhan within hours of him resigning as an SP MLA on Saturday. Chauhan represents the most backward Nonia caste and had won the Ghosi (Mau) assembly seat despite a BJP wave in the 2022 Uttar Pradesh assembly polls. He is now expected to rejoin the BJP soon.

Rajbhar had earlier predicted that several SP MLAs and leaders were in touch. Both he and his two sons Arvind and Arun, who too were present at the press conference, said the exodus would now begin.

I will bring Dharam Singh Saini before you as well, Rajbhar said. Saini, among the third OBC minister to quit the first Yogi government just ahead of the 2022 Uttar Pradesh polls, is from west U.P. His joining was earlier expected in November 2022 before being hurriedly put on hold, apparently due to resistance of local leaders.

Like Rajbhar, Chauhan and Saini originally hailed from the BSP before they joined the BJP which they later left. The then influential minister Swami Prasad Mauryas exit triggered a scramble for the Samajwadi Party ahead of the 2022 U.P. assembly polls. Swami Prasad, whose daughter Sanghmitra Maurya is still a BJP MP, didnt take calls seeking his response on the recent political developments.

As top BJP leaders and its allies welcomed their purane saathi (old colleague), the SBSP chief, who kept flashing his trademark smile while targeting the SP, appeared a touch circumspect about disclosing the details of the political deal with the BJP.

Wait till July 18. I cant announce these decisions on my own as I am part of the alliance, Rajbhar said to stonewall queries on the rewards -- a cabinet berth in Yogi 2.0 along with a seat- sharing pact and adjustment of his cadres in various state-run corporations and boards  that are likely to follow as part of the deal.

Before arriving for the press conference, Rajbhar first gave a byte to a news agency and that too, he said, was done as advised (by BJP leadership).

Political experts said Shah is putting in an effort to ensure the BJP continued to get big numbers from U.P. by thwarting SP chief Akhilesh Yadavs call to defeat the NDA through pichda, dalit alpshanyak or PDA, the acronym for an alliance of backwards, dalits and minorities.

That Shah was personally monitoring the plan to get Rajbhars party with about 3% OBC vote in east U.P. on board, shows the fine planning of BJP and their anxiousness to use the 80 Lok Sabha seats from U.P. to make up for possible loss of seats from states like Karnataka or Bihar, said Athar Siddiqui of the Centre for Objective Research and Development (CORD).

BJP JITTERY, SAYS SP

After nine years at the Centre and six years in U.P, the BJP is striking humiliating deals with caste leaders, who were highly critical of the BJP until last year. This shows that the BJP is jittery due to SP chief pitching PDA as an answer to the NDA. OP Rajbhar and Dara Singh Chauhan wont make any difference (to opposition unity) as they have lost all credibility and people know the reason for their change of heart, said Samajwadi Party spokesperson Sudhir Panwar.

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Two weeks after the rebellion, Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar, along with his faction of National Congress Party (NCP) leaders on Sunday, met NCP chief Sharad Pawar. The ministers who recently were sworn in to be part of chief minister Eknath Shinde-led government were also present in the meeting. The group of leaders led by deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar called on senior Pawar senior at YB Chavan Centre in Nariman Point on Sunday afternoon (HT photo / Anshuman Poyrekar)

Earlier this month, nine NCP leaders, including Ajit Pawar, were inducted into the Maharashtra cabinet after a split in the party.

The group of leaders led by Ajit Pawar called on senior Pawar senior at YB Chavan Centre in Nariman Point on Sunday afternoon.

Ajit Pawar was accompanied by senior leader and partys working president Praful Patel, deputy chairman of assembly Narhari Zirwal, ministers Chhagan Bhujbal, Dilip Walse Patil, Hasan Mushrif, Dhananjay Munde, Sanjay Bansode, Aditi Tatkare, among others.

According to the people familiar with the matter, the rebel leaders requested senior Pawar to consider options to keep the party united to which the party chief has not reacted.

The unscheduled meeting took place for about half an hour, said the people mentioned above.

Speaking after the meeting, Praful Patel said they have requested Pawar to take steps to keep the party intact. He told media persons that they met the senior Pawar to seek his blessings. We met Pawar Saheb at his office without informing him. It was an unscheduled meeting. We met him and took his blessings as he is our idol. We want the party to be kept united and we requested him to consider. He has not reacted to it, he said.

Jayant Patil, state unit chief of NCP, said that the leaders have expressed regrets for rebellion.

The rebel faction that met the party chief has expressed regrets for the rebellion. I do not think they have given us any proposal. They spoke about the efforts to keep the party intact, he said.

Patil said that the Sharad Pawar faction has the support of 19 MLAs. If they (the rebels) wish to go back, we are always open for it, he said.

On Friday, chief minister Shinde distributed fresh portfolios to the newly inducted NCP ministers and Ajit Pawar got crucial finance and planning portfolio. Ajit Pawar, who was also the finance minister in the previous Uddhav Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government, snapped ties and joined the Shinde faction by gaining the support of 29 NCP MLAs. Whereas, 19 MLAs are still with the senior Pawar.

This was the first meeting between Sharad Pawar and the Ajit Pawar-led faction after he rebelled against his uncle and joined the Eknath Shinde-led government on July 2.

On Friday, Ajit Pawar visited Silver Oak in Mumbai, the official residence of the NCP chief, to meet the latters wife Pratibha Pawar after she underwent surgery at a hospital here.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR Surendra P Gangan Surendra P Gangan is Senior Assistant Editor with political bureau of Hindustan Times Mumbai Edition. He covers state politics and Maharashtra governments administrative stories. Reports on the developments in finances, agriculture, social sectors among others. ...view detail
Eight Central Reserve Armed Forces (CRPF) personnel on their way to the Amarnath pilgrimage were injured in an accident on Sunday in Jammu and Kashmirs Sonmargh district, officials said. The CRPF vehicle rolled down into a Nallah in Jammu and Kashmir Sonmarg (Twitter Photo)

Officials said the vehicle they were travelling in was going towards Baltal base camp in central Kashmirs Ganderbal district when it rolled down into a stream at Nilgrath.

There was a turn near Domail where the driver lost control and fell into the Nallah. All the eight personnel were injured, said CRPF spokesperson Junaid Ahmad.

Many parts of the regions in Kashmir received rain since early Sunday morning, including the Amarnath cave.

The official said the injured personnel were taken to the Baltal base camp hospital for treatment. One had a head injury while the rest have minor injuries, he said.

Meanwhile, a woman pilgrim Urmilaben, 53, who was seriously injured in a shooting stones incident in south Kashmir on Saturday evening, succumbed to her injuries on Sunday, taking the death toll in the ongoing Amarnath Yatra to 27.
The flood situation in Assam has intensified amidst the continuous rainfall and the rising water level of major rivers, including the Brahmaputra, with the number of affected people reaching 107,829 in 17 districts, according to Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA). So far, seven people have been killed in floods and landslides in the state. Over 4,168 hectares of cropland are submerged currently and 72,315 domestic animals are affected by the flood water (File Photo)

Chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, however, informed on Saturday that all the rivers are flowing below danger level.

Sharing a report of the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), Baksa, Sarma wrote on Twitter, As of now, the water level in all four rivers of Lower Assam remains below the danger level, despite the release of excess water from the Kurichu Dam. We are closely monitoring the situation.

Also Read: Yamuna water level drops to 205.95m, expected to go down: Officials

According to DDMA, Baksa, water levels are falling in all four major rivers in the district, including Beki, Mora Pagladia, Kalida and Pahunara.

The water level started rising Friday morning, and by 4pm, it reached closer to the danger level. However, on Saturday, all four rivers showed a falling trend, said Tapan Konch, DDMA official.

Warnings were issued in lower Assam districts after Bhutan on Friday began releasing excess water from its reservoir. CM Sarma had said that excess water from the Kurichu Dam in Bhutan was being released since Friday morning and the district administrations in downstream areas of Assam have been put on alert for possible flooding.

Bhutans Druk Green Power Corporation Limited (DGPC) on Thursday announced that they might release some extra water from the Kurichu projects reservoir due to heavy rainfall assuring it will be released in a controlled manner.

Meanwhile, the chief minister has alerted the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and asked them to be on standby. Some people were relocated by the forces as well, as per the officials.

As per ASDMAs report, 17 districts, including Baksa, Biswanath, Bongaigaon, Chirang, Dhemaji, Dhubri, Dibrugarh, Golaghat, Jorhat, Lakhimpur, Majuli, Morigaon, Nagaon, Sivasagar, Sonitpur, Tamulpur, Tinsukia are struggling with floods. Biswanath district has the highest number of flood-affected population as of Saturday evening, followed by Golaghat, Dhemaji and Majuli.

Also Read: Delhi floods: Himanta Biswa Sarma says hes ready to visit Kejriwals house but...

4,275 people have taken shelter in 93 relief camps across 11 districts and according to the officials, more camps are ready to shelter the flood-affected people.

Over 4,168 hectares of cropland are submerged currently and 72,315 domestic animals are affected by the flood water, according to ASDMA.

Meanwhile, CM Sarma met Union home minister Amit Shah on Friday night in New Delhi and apprised him of the flood situation, along with relief and rehabilitation measures taken by the state government. He also thanked Shah for releasing Rs.340 crore to the state for the situation, according to a report from PTI.

(with PTI inputs)
Genres : Crime, Drama

Starring : Franco Nero, Francoise Fabian, Claudia Cardinale, Riccardo Cucciolla, Lee J. Cobb

Director : Damiano Damiani

Plot Synopsis

The Day of the Owl stars Franco Nero as a police chief who, while investigating the death of a construction worker, goes up against corrupt officials and a ruthless mafia boss (Lee J. Cobb). Adapted from the celebrated novel by Leonardo Sciascia (Illustrious Corpses, Todo Modo), Day of the Owl was the book first to openly deal with organized crime in Sicily. A prestigious production, it was in the running for best film at the Berlin Film Festival and found wins at home in the David di Donatello Awards for Claudia Cardinale, Nero, Damiani, and Best Production.

Nero portrays a simple man thrown in jail for a misdemeanour in The Case is Closed: Forget It. Inside, he sees the grim reality of life behind bars, where the mafia controls everything. A powerful production with Nero in top form and supported by a strong cast including Riccardo Cucciolla (Rabid Dogs) and John Steiner (Tenebrae), the intensity of Damiani's film places it among the finest prison dramas. Presented in Italian and for the first time with the original English dub.

In How to Kill a Judge, Nero plays filmmaker Giacomo Solaris, whose latest film features a judge corrupted by the mafia and who is later found murdered. The real judge the character is based on seizes the footage, but is later killed in the same way. Feeling a degree of responsibility, Solaris investigates, but as the assassinations increase around him, will he reach the source of the conspiracy? Full of twists and a fascinating meta-commentary on cinema through the film-within-the-film, Damiani points the camera at himself and the genre as he investigates the social impact of mafia violence, a fitting end to this survey of Damiani's Cosa Nostra.

SPECIAL FEATURES:
LUCKNOW Mangoes grown in Uttar Pradesh are being discussed around the country and even across the border, said minister of state (independent charge) for horticulture, Durgesh Pratap Singh on Sunday. The minister also urged mango producers to increase their production to boost exports. Horticulture minister Durgesh Pratap Singh felicitated participants who excelled in various competitions organised at the mango festival. (HT Photo)

Singh was speaking at the closing ceremony of the three-day state-level mango festival, which was ongoing since from July 14 at Awadh Shilp Gram. He said that all kinds of facilities will be made available to the mango growers by the horticulture department.

The horticulture minister further said that echoes of this mango festival are being heard in Dubai, Bahrain and Moscow, and mango producers of the state are being honoured in foreign countries. He said that mango growers that their produce would be taken to every corner of the world.

Congratulating everyone on the successful organisation of the mango festival, the minister emphasised on the inclusion of new species and adoption of new research works keeping in view the market of mango growers. He said that it is the intention of the chief minister to find opportunities in the global market for the export of other crops (like mangoes) so that farmers get a good market and their incomes increase.

Sharing an experience of his recent foreign tours, he said that the demand for Indian mangoes has increased rapidly abroad. He added that an easy export model would soon be chalked out for the benefit of farmers. He also honoured the participants who excelled in various competitions organised at the mango festival.

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LUCKNOW A delegation from the Embassy of Thailand visited the Lucknow University (LU) to discuss potential avenues for cultural and educational exchange as well as strengthening bilateral relationships. The delegation, led by Thirapath Mongkolnavin, minister and deputy chief of mission), included -- Charoenporn Raksapolmuang (Counsellor) and Phanuwit Vejsamphan (second Secretary and Consul). The Thai delegation had the opportunity to visit the university campus. (HT Photo)

During the meeting, Vice Chancellor Prof Alok Kumar Rai expressed the universitys commitment to providing quality education to students from Thailand. Prof Poonam Tandon, Dean of Academics, Prof R.P. Singh, director of International Collaboration and International Students Advisor, and Prof. Sangeeta Sahu, Head of the Department of Business Administration, engaged in discussions regarding student exchange programs and the possibility of joint degree programs.

The Thai delegation had the opportunity to visit the university campus, where they were impressed by the extensive library and state-of-the-art teaching and learning facilities. The University of Lucknow has also pledged to offer specially designed courses focusing on culture and tourism, among other subjects. The discussions aimed to explore potential joint academic ventures in areas such as business administration, pharmaceutical sciences, culture, and literature.

Speaking on the development, Prof Alok Kumar Rai, the Vice Chancellor, said, We are committed to regional cooperation and collaboration in our internationalisation efforts. Our policies, such as dual degree programs and twinning initiatives, have attracted partners from various countries. We are optimistic about forging academic associations and anticipate fruitful collaborations in the future.

The Lucknow University looks forward to further follow-up discussions and working closely with the Embassy of Thailand to foster meaningful educational and cultural ties between the two nations.

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At least two persons were injured in a firing incident while in another incident, a mob set three trucks on fire in Manipur, police informed on Saturday. (File Photo)

In the first incident, two persons sustained pellet injuries after they were allegedly shot at by a man, Manipur police said.

The incident took place in Khoyathong Polem Leikai in Imphal on Saturday, police said, adding the accused was arrested on the same day from Yairipok Malom in Thoubal district with the recovery of the weapon of offence.

In another incident, an irate mob intercepted three trucks between Sekmai and NH2 and set them on fire. The incident took place in Awang Sekmai Mayai Leikai Lampak in Imphal East around 10am on Saturday, police said.

Security forces dispersed the mob and fire tenders prevented further damage. Raids were conducted and many persons have been detained for further verification and necessary action, Manipur police said on Saturday.

The incident was condemned by Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum (ITLF), a Kuki organisation, stating that the trucks carrying LPG cylinders were set on fire because it was coming to the Kangpokpi district, a Kuki dominated-area.

Meanwhile, in the last 24 hours, state police and central forces conducted search operations in the vulnerable and fringe areas of both valley and hill districts and a total of 16 bunkers were destroyed along with the recovery of two firearms.

Till date, the Manipur police have detained 628 persons in connection with violations in different districts of the state which began earlier in May.

In another development, the Manipur government on Saturday extended the ban on mobile data services and internet services, which have been shut down since May 4, by another five days to 3pm.

Ethnic clashes between Meitei and Kuki communities, which began May 3 have claimed around 150 lives, injured over 300, and displaced more than 50,000 people in Manipur.

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The department of telecommunications (DoT) in Bihar has raised concern over the minimal reporting through the Call Before U Dig (CBuD) mobile application while seeking details regarding the same from the telecom service providers (TSPs), officials familiar with the matter said on Sunday. The CBuD app was developed under the Indian Telegraph (Infrastructure Safety) Rules, 2022 (Mint)

The CBuD mobile application, launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 22 this year, was developed by the ministry of communications to prevent damage to underground assets by agencies undertaking infrastructure development work.

According to the Union telecommunications department, CBuD, available in the form of a mobile app as well as an online portal, aims to bring excavators and asset owners on one platform to underwrite and mitigate the losses that occur in a calendar year, due to unmonitored digging activities across the country.

In keeping with the app, the Bihar telecommunications department asked the TSPs to furnish details of optical fibre cable (OFC) cut, the cost incurred on their restoration, while expressing its concern over the minimal reporting through the mobile application.

The low reporting through the app, prior to excavation, is leading to frequent damage to underground infrastructure and causing heavy losses, an official said on anonymity.

Ram Raj Yadava, director (rural), DoT, Bihar, via a mail to the TSPs last Wednesday drew their attention to the very minimal reporting through the CBuD app.

TSPs, including the BSNL, Reliance Jio Infocom Limited, Bharti Airtel and the Vodafone Idea, however, said that the OFC cuts were unabated despite the launch of the app on March 22. Our OFC in Samastipur was damaged only last week by a private telecom laying its underground infra. We did not receive prior intimation about any such work being undertaken through the CBuD app, said a senior general manager from BSNL, Bihar, on anonymity.

The DoT has now asked  the TSPs to furnish details of OFC cuts and the cost incurred on their restoration since January this year, in addition to the total expenditure incurred on such restoration work since 2020-21.

We have given TSPs separate formats, seeking month-wise details from January, on the number of OFC cut and the number of notices issued through the CBuD app. This will help us assess the damage to the underground telecom assets as also the utilisation of the app, said Yadava.

As on Wednesday, the state had logged merely 56 entries on the mobile app since its launch, added Yadava.

Girijesh Kumar Mishra, special director-general, DoT, Bihar, who superannuated on June 30, had also flagged the heads of different government departments about the utilisation of the CBuD app.

Several agencies, including the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, L&T, Navayuga, SP Singala, SPML and others are engaged in a slew of infrastructure development projects in the state. However, Bihar still remains at the bottom in terms of utilisation of the CBuD app, said officials.

K Rajaraman, secretary, ministry of communications, in a letter, seen by Hindustan Times, to chief secretary of most states and Union territories, had said on December 2 last year that in telecom sector alone, nearly 10 lakh optic fibre cable cuts happen every year across India, causing 3,000 crore per year wasteful expenses in repair for TSPs.

Similar damages happen to electrical cables, water pipelines, sewerage pipelines, etc. due to lack of knowledge about the existing underlying infrastructure of other asset owners while carrying out excavation in public roads and public places to construct infrastructure across the country, he said.

The excavating agencies, the telecom secretary said, often damage the already existing infra of other utility owners, causing them huge economic losses, inconvenience to people and associated business losses to other stake holders.

The CBuD app was developed under the Indian Telegraph (Infrastructure Safety) Rules, 2022, which the Centre notified through a gazette on January 3, to curb damage to underground infrastructure in construction activities, including road, bridge, drainage, sewerage, laying of gas pipeline, telecom cables, etc.

The rule makes it compulsory for asset owners, or government bodies and private firms owning underground infrastructure, and the excavators or private contractors and agencies undertaking digging work, to first register online on the CBuD app.

The excavators need to publish notice of an excavation plan electronically, marking the stretch on the Google Map through the app, and take consent of asset owners before the commencement of excavation.

An asset owner has to respond to the excavation notice within three days in case of an emergency enquiry, and 15 days for normal enquiry, failing which the request is deemed to be approved. Restoration of OFC or plugging a leakage in underground water supply, sewer, gaspipeline, etc. are classified as emergency inquiry.Planned activities like laying of underground cables, road and drain construction, etc. are normal enquiry.There are provisions of stringent penalty for damage to telecom infrastructure.

The states Urban Development and Housing Department (UDHD)is among the few government departments lax in registering their asset owners. It had registered on the app only 26 of the 260-plus asset owners, including the nagar nigam, nagar panchayat and nagar palika, under it.

The UDHD is spearheading a slew of development projects in the state, including the Patna Metro and laying of sewage infra as part of the Namami Gange programme, an integrated mission,approved by the Centre in 2014 with a budgetary outlay of 20,000 crore, to accomplish objectives of effective abatement of pollution, conservation and rejuvenation of the Ganga.

The road construction department had registered the most number of 139 asset owners on the app, followed by the energy department (120), rural works department (118), the public health and engineering department (49) and the planning and development department (46), said telecom officials.

Bihar contributes to 5% of the total 13,106 registered excavators (or contractors) in India on the CBuD app. It is ranked fourth in terms of the number of registered excavators, after Rajasthan (2162), Gujarat (2072) and Assam (682).
A fight allegedly broke out on Sunday between the supporters of former MLA Anant Singh and another group at Beur Central Jail in Bihar leaving at least four people, including a warden and jail staff injured, officials familiar with the matter said. A probe has been ordered into the incident, said the police. Anant Singh is presently serving a 10-year jail sentence in Beur jail under the Arms Act after an AK-47 was recovered from his residence in August 2019 (Santosh Kumar/ HT)

The former MLA is presently serving a 10-year jail sentence in Beur jail under the Arms Act after an AK-47 was recovered from his residence in August 2019.

According to an official, tension prevailed in the Beur jail after the fight, between the two group, during which the jail staff and a warden also sustained injuries when they tried to bring the situation under control. Patna senior superintendent of police Rajeev Mishra, however, said that there was no report of injuries.

Soon after the incident, the security was increased on the jail premises after deputing additional personnel from the Police Line , the official quoted above said on anonymity. The jail administration has also issued an alert in connection with the incident. SSP Mishra said, Some additional forces have been sent to Beur jail to increase security. The investigation is going on into the matter. However, there is no report of injuries. The situation is under control.

Meanwhile, another jail official said that supporters of the former MLA and another group entered into a verbal argument which soon turned violent over some issues.

When the jail warden and other staff tried to intervene in the matter, they were also thrashed, said the official.

Some people including jail employees were reportedly injured during the incident. Soon after the incident, the alarm bell was rung by the jail administration and all prisoners and jail personnel became alert, he added.

Later, supporters of Anant Singh complained to the jail authorities that the lock of Singhs ward was opened in the night alleging there was a conspiracy to kill Singh.

On being informed, a large number of jail officials, including jailers, assistant jailers, and senior jail officials, sub-divisional police officer, SHOs of several police stations, including inspector general (prison) S K Ashok reached the jail and took stock of the situation.

The IG has ordered a probe into the incident. Action will be taken against erring personnel if we find negligence, he added.

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The National Testing Agency (NTA) on Saturday released the results of the second edition of the common university entrance test for undergraduate admissions (CUET-UG) paving the way for undergraduate admissions to begin in 249 participating universities. CUET UG 2023: Which score is important for admissions -- normalised or percentile? Know how to read scorecards (HT archive)

The scorecards students have received have percentiles and normalised scores, creating confusion about what exactly will decide admissions, and how it has been calculated. HT explains how NTA has scored students, and what will happen next.

How to read the score cards?

The score cards issued by the NTA carry the percentile of the students and their normalized score. While the normalized scores are just like the marks one gets while the percentile gives the position of a student among a group of students.

For instance, if a candidate's percentile is 95, it will mean that there are 95 people who got less than that candidates marks. The person might have got 62 out of 100 and his or her percentile can be 95.

However, in case of university admissions only normalized score will be considered.

What is a normalized score? How does the NTA calculate it?

Since the exam was held over multiple days and sessions, students sat for the same subjects in different shifts, with different questions, the NTA has normalized the scores in order to statistically remove any differences in difficulty levels between these shifts to make the performance of all students comparable, irrespective of which specific questions they attempted.

The NTA uses the equi-percentile method wherein normalized marks of each candidate have been calculated using the percentiles of each group of students in a given session across multiple days for the same subject.

Explaining the process, a senior NTA official said that due to difference in difficulty levels of question papers in different shifts it is possible that students having the same percentile have scored very different marks. Now, how do you compare these two students? Although both have the same percentile, one student has 58 marks and the other has 70. So, here, we used the equipercentile method to normalize the marks to bring difficulty levels across the sessions on the same scale. That will give you the normalized score, the official said.

Why do some students express concerns over normalized scores?

Some students are complaining that their normalized scores are lower than the raw marks calculated by them using answer keys.

Explaining the reason behind that difference, University Grants Commission (UGC) chairperson M Jagadesh Kumar said that a total of 841 sets of question papers were administered over 34 days and 93 Shifts.

If the test in a given subject is conducted in multiple shifts, there will be a difference in the difficulty level of the question papers. Since the tests are conducted on different days and in multiple sessions for the same subject, it will give rise to multiple percentiles for each group of students. Comparing their performance using only percentiles or raw scores will become problematic. A solution to this situation is using a method called the equipercentile method. In this method, the normalized marks of each candidate are calculated using the percentiles of each group of students in a given session across multiple days for the same subject. Therefore, a student's raw marks may differ from the normalized score, he said.

In the equipercentile method, which is a scientific method, we use the same scale for all candidates independent of in which session they have appeared in a given subject, making their performance comparable across sessions. Universities can use these normalized marks the same way we use the raw marks of a conventional single-session examination to prepare merit lists for admission, he added.

What do students have to do next?

The NTA has already shared the normalized scores of students with the participating universities. These universities will now start their admission process and release merit lists using these scores. Some universities, including the Delhi University and Banaras Hindu University, have already started their registration process. The NTA has advised students to visit the websites of the universities they have registered for further information.

Presently, the NTA does not conduct any common counselling for CUET admissions. However, it is looking at the possibility of having common counselling for all central university UG admissions. Such a system will provide a single window for admissions, and students can give their choices on a single portal instead of applying to different CUs separately. Non-filling of seats will be avoided. The academic sessions in all CUs will be synchronized, the UGC chairperson said.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR Fareeha Iftikhar Fareeha Iftikhar is a principal correspondent with the national political bureau of the Hindustan Times. She tracks the education ministry, and covers the beat at the national level for the newspaper. She also writes on issues related to gender, human rights and different policy matters. ...view detail
Masamune-kun's Revenge R Season 2 is one of the highly anticipated Summer 2023 anime series. Its popularity skyrocketed after the release of season 2 episode 2 last week and fans have been eagerly waiting for the next episode. The wait is finally over for Masamune-kun's Revenge R Season 2 Episode 3 will be air on monday, July 17, 2023. Masamune-kun's Revenge Season 2 Episode 3 will premiere on Monday, July 17. Find the release times for all time zones, and the streaming guide here!

If you are new to the world of anime and dont know what Masamune-kun's Revenge R is about then this official synopsis of Masamune-kun's Revenge R might help you understand the plot, It's time for a class trip to Paris! When they get there, Aki and Masamune soon cross paths with a French otaku. They agree to help her with the manga she's making, but soon realize they're in way over their heads. Modeling, threats from the mafia, and a fake datetheir school trip is proving to be far more exciting than they ever could have imagined!

Heres the Release Date & Time of Masamune-kuns Revenge Season 2 Episode 3

Masamune-kuns Revenge Season 2 Episode 3 will drop on July 17, 2023, at 11:00 PM JST. Heres the exact release time of Mushoku Tensei Season 2 Episode 3 in your time zone.

Date Masamune-kun's Revenge R Episode 3 Exact Release Times JST PT ET GMT CET IST July 17, 2023 11:OO PM 7:00 AM 10:00 AM 2:00 PM 4:00 PM 7:00 PM

where to watch Masamune-kuns Revenge Season 2 Episode 3?

The episode will be broadcasted in Japan on Tokyo MX, Bs Fuji, AT-X, and KBS Tokyo. International fans can watch it on Crunchyroll and the official Ani-One Asia YouTube channel.

What happened in Masamune-kuns Revenge Season 2 Episode 2?

In episode 2 of Masamune-Kun's Revenge R, Gasou Kanetsugu uses images to reveal Yoshino's friendship with Makabe Masamune and even blackmails her. Meanwhile, Masamune and Aki pretend to be a couple for Muriel Besson, but Aki is the one who feels uncomfortable during their pretend romantic activities. A flashback reveals why Aki struggles to accept Masamune's feelings and why she overeats. Their memories of the past differ, causing a heated argument between them. Yoshino comforts Aki, just as she did years ago. The next episode will focus on the relationship between Makabe and Aki. Yoshino's intriguing character is further explored, and Aki's perspective opens up possibilities for understanding their past and its impact on their current relationship.

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Hold on to your web shooters, Marvel fans, because Spider-Man is swinging back into action like never before! The wall-crawler is set to spin his web in an all-new animated series titled Spider-Man: Freshman Year, which will premiere on the Disney+ streaming platform. Marvel Studios is teaming up with animation studio Polygon Pictures for an all-new animated series on Disney+, Spider-Man: Freshman Year.(Marvel)

In an exciting announcement, Marvel Studios revealed that Marvel Studios will collaborate with the acclaimed Japanese digital animation studio Polygon Pictures for this ultimate project. Polygon Pictures, renowned for its work on mega-hits like Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Transformers Prime, is set to bring Spider-Man: Freshman Year to life with cutting-edge CG technology. Get ready for mind-blowing visuals and animated sequences that will have your spider senses tingling!

What exactly can fans expect from Spider-Man: Freshman Year?

This highly-anticipated series will transport fans back to Peter Parker's early days, offering a never-before-seen glimpse into his transformation into the iconic superhero we all know and love. Drawing inspiration from the character's earliest comic book roots, the show promises to deliver a fresh and invigorating take on the beloved web-slinger.

Will Spider-Man: Freshman Year fit within the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) or will it be a stand-alone?

According to Marvel producer Brad Winderbaum, this iteration of Peter's story will take an exciting and decidedly different path. As he shared with ComicBook.com, Freshman Year follows the beats of Captain America: Civil War but takes a detour into the unknown. Picture Peter stumbling upon Norman Osborn instead of Tony Stark, setting off a chain reaction of unexpected encounters and adventures that will forever change his life.

Spider-Man: Freshman Year is set to be a thrilling and groundbreaking addition to the Marvel canon, weaving a captivating web of action, emotion, and superheroism. Mark your calendars, true believers, because this animated series is swinging into Disney+ soon, bringing a whole new dimension to the spectacular world of your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man!
Katrina Kaif once talked about missing a father figure in her life. Her parents, mother Suzanne Turquotte and father Mohammed Kaif separated when she was little. Talking about it, the actor confessed that every time she hit a rough patch, she would think about people who have unconditional love from a male figure. Also read: Katrina Kaif flies out of Mumbai with Vicky Kaushal day ahead of her birthday Katrina Kaif with her mother Suzanne Turquotte.

Katrina Kaif's family

Katrina shares a close bond with her mother. She has six sisters--three elder sisters named Stephanie, Christine and Natasha, and three younger sisters named Melissa, Sonia, and Isabel. She also has a brother named Michael.

Katrina Kaif on missing a father figure

In an interview with Filmfare in 2019, Katrina was asked if she missed having a 'strong male influence'. She replied, Yeah. Not having a father figure does create a certain vacuum and makes any girl feel vulnerable. When I have kids, I want them to have the experience of being with both parents.

The actor was further asked to share any particular moment when she felt the vacuum inside her the most. Each time I've gone through something emotionally hard, I was compelled to reflect that it must be nice for those who have a strong fatherly support from a male figure, who loves you unconditionally, she said.

Katrina Kaif's journey

Katrina was born in Hong Kong and lived in several countries before moving to London. After a successful modelling career, she made her Bollywood debut in 2003 with Boom alongside Amitabh Bachchan, Jackie Shroff and Gulshan Grover, which was a critical and commercial failure. She rose to fame after starring in Maine Pyaar Kyun Kiya? (2005) with Sushmita Sen and Salman Khan. This was followed by another success, Namastey London (2007) with Akshay Kumar.

Katrina turns 40 on Sunday. Ahead of her big day, she was spotted at Mumbai airport. The actor and her husband Vicky Kaushal fly out of the city, most likely for a private celebration. Vicky and Katrina got married in December 2021 in Rajasthan.

Katrina will be next seen in Tiger 3 opposite Salman Khan. The film is set to release on Diwali 2023. She also has Sriram Raghavan's film Merry Christmas opposite Vijay Sethupathi. Katrina is also a part of Farhan Akhtar's Jee Le Zaraa.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR HT Entertainment Desk Dedicated professionals who write about cinema and television in all their vibrancy. Expect views, reviews and news. ...view detail
Actor Manisha Koirala on Sunday made a rare appearance at Mumbai airport. Paparazzi shared a video of her greeting everyone with her heartwarming smile. Reacting to her look, fans praised her natural beauty. Also read: Manisha Koirala opens up about marriage, motherhood: 'Sometimes I wonder would it be nicer if I had a life partner?' Manisha Koirala at Mumbai airport. (Photo: Viral Bhayani)( Viral Bhayani)

Manisha at airport

Manisha arrived at the airport in a navy blue top and beige pants, topped with a Gucci bomber jacket in blue. She had her hair tied into a bun. As she opted for a no-makeup look, she completed her look with a handbag, glasses, white sneakers and some gold accessories.

The video captures the actor smiling and posing for photographers. She also waved at them and thanked them for their time, before walking towards the terminal gate for her flight.

Fans react to Manisha's look

Reacting to the video, a fan wrote in the comments, The only natural beauty in Bollywood, all the rest is botox or fillers. Wow she looks good. Manisha was and still is one of my favourite actresses, added another one. One more commented, She looks still so pretty and so cute. Her smile. Aaj bhi kitni young hai ye (she is still so young), said someone else as well.

Manisha's journey so far

Manisha Koirala made her acting debut with the Nepali film Pheri Bhetaula in 1989 and later made her Hindi film debut with Saudagar in 1991. She rose to fame after the success of 1942: A Love Story (1994) and Bombay (1995). Some of her biggest hits were Agni Sakshi (1996), Indian (1996), Gupt: The Hidden Truth (1997), Kachche Dhaage (1999), Mudhalvan (1999), Company (2002) and Ek Chhotisi Love Story (2002) to name only a few.

The actor took a break from acting after being diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2012. She returned to films after five years with the coming-of-age drama Dear Maya (2017). The following year, she featured in Netflix's Lust Stories and the Ranbir Kapoor-starrer Sanju. Manisha was recently seen in Kartik Aaryan's Shehzada. In the film, Manisha played the role of Kartik's biological mother.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR HT Entertainment Desk Dedicated professionals who write about cinema and television in all their vibrancy. Expect views, reviews and news. ...view detail
Passengers aboad the Ambition gathered on deck to see dozens of pilot whales as they sailed into Torshavn in the Faroe Islands, only to watch them being slaughtered by locals, who had driven them there as part of a whale hunt. Ambassador Cruise Lines issued an apology over the weekend for last week's unpleasantness.

"We were incredibly disappointed that this hunt occurred at the time that our ship was in port. We strongly object to this outdated practice, and have been working with our partner, ORCA, a charity dedicated to studying and protecting whales, dolphins and porpoises in UK and European waters, to encourage change since 2021," Ambassador said following the arrival of their ship in the Torshavn port area on the southern part of the main island.

The government of the Faroe Islands, however, has been clear on their stance of the whale hunting for several years.

"As has been the case for centuries, whaling still occurs in the Faroe Islands today," a statement from the government of the estimated 53,000 people on the island said explaining the values of the whaling hunt. "The Faroese have eaten pilot whale meat and blubber since they first settled the islands over a millenia ago. Today, as in times past, the whale drive is a community activity open to all, while also well organised on a community level and regulated by national laws."
Filmmaker James Cameron has reacted to rumours that he is in talks to helm a film about OceanGate's Titan submersible tragedy. The accident, which took place last month, killed five people on their voyage to the Titanic wreck site. The submersible imploded on June 18 near the wreckage of the vessel, killing everyone on board. (Also Read | Internet furious at Netflix for re-releasing Titanic after submersible Titan tragedy. Here's what we know) James Cameron spoke about OceanGate.

James on making a film based on OceanGate

James directed the Oscar-winning 1997 disaster drama Titanic based on the sinking of the titular ship. Taking to Twitter on Saturday, James wrote, "I dont respond to offensive rumours in the media usually, but I need to now. Im NOT in talks about an OceanGate film, nor will I ever be."

Fans react to James's statement

Reacting to his post, a person said, "People saying he's making a movie of this latest tragedy over the Titanic. He broke protocol to deny it." A tweet read, "Much respect!" A Twitter user wrote, "If you won't, someone else will. And it's probably gonna be worse." "Youre one of my favourite directors James Cameron, I would never expect you to make a movie of OceanGate, thank you for the clarification," said another person.

James had spoken about the Titan tragedy

In June, James reacted to the Titan tragedy in an interview with ABC News, "Many people in the (deep-submergence engineering) community were very concerned about this sub, and a number of you know of the top players in the community even wrote letters to the company, saying that what they were doing was too experimental to carry passengers and needed to be certified and so on. I'm struck by the similarity of the Titanic disaster itself, where the captain was repeatedly warned about ice ahead of his ship and yet he steamed at full speed into an ice field on a moonless night. And many people died as a result."

About Titan

Titan, owned by OceanGate Expeditions, had been chronicling the Titanic's decay and the underwater ecosystem around it via yearly voyages since 2021. Last month, the US Coast Guard said debris found during the search for Titan. OceanGate Expeditions CEO Stockton Rush, Shahzada Dawood and his son Suleman Dawood, Hamish Harding, and Paul-Henri Nargeolet were killed in the implosion.

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Disney's highly anticipated Haunted Mansion premiere faced unexpected twists and turns on Saturday night as the red carpet became a ghost town after the stars were forced to bow out due to the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike. Despite the absence of A-list celebrities like Tiffany Haddish, LaKeith Stanfield, and Jamie Lee Curtis, the show must go on at the magical kingdom. Wagons from the Haunted Mansion ride are displayed on the red carpet for the world premiere of Disney's "Haunted Mansion" at the Hyperion Theatre inside the Disney California Adventure Park in Anaheim, California, on July 15, 2023. (AFP)

As the stars took to the picket lines, Disney made a bold decision to proceed with the premiere, improvising with its iconic theme park characters. Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Maleficent, Snow White's Evil Queen, and even the wickedly glamorous Cruella stepped up to fill the void, delighting fans and posing for photos on the eerie red carpet in front of the Haunted Mansion ride.

The event took an unexpected turn as influencers and guests were treated to exclusive access to the spine-tingling Haunted Mansion attraction. Producers and director Justin Simien joined the event later, taking group photos and sharing their thoughts with the press.

Simien expressed his mixed emotions about the situation, stating, "I'm so proud of this cast and the script's writer, Katie Dippold. It's sad that they couldn't be here, but I support their decision. I wanted to be here to represent them." He also emphasized the importance of the AI issues raised in SAG-AFTRA's negotiations, emphasizing the need to address them.

Following the unique red carpet experience, guests moved to California Adventure's Hyperion Theater for a special screening. Simien took the stage and paid tribute to his collaborators and Disney executives while acknowledging the industry's current challenges.

Amidst the strike turmoil, SAG-AFTRA criticized the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers for an "insulting and disrespectful" offer, condemning the lavish spending on CEOs while neglecting fair compensation for actors. SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher voiced her disappointment, firmly stating that the studios stand on the wrong side of history.

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Netflix is one of the most popular OTT platforms across the globe, and it caters to a huge number of reality TV viewers as well. The streaming platform has been doing great in the United States for a long time now. Netflix is one of the most popular OTT platforms across the globe(REUTERS)

Netflix's dating game show "Too Hot to Handle" which is currently in its fifth season is the most watched relationship reality show in the USA, according to bolavip.com.

Netflix's dating game show "Too Hot to Handle"(Twitter)

ALSO READ| Barbie or Oppenheimer? Check which side are Tom Cruise, Matt Damon and other Hollywood stars on

The narrator of the show is Desiree Burch who is assisted by a virtual assistant named Lana. The reality show has been created by Laura Gibson and Charlie Bennett. The first season of the show marked its debut on April 17, 2020 which had eight episodes.

Each season of the show begins with ten singles who meet and stay together on the shores of paradise where they must not engage in sexual intercourse with each other in order to win the grand prize. Even kissing among the contestants is forbidden. The idea behind the restrictions is to develop genuine connections between the contestants. Whenever a rule is broken, money is deducted from the contestant's prize.

The first episode of current season premiered on July 14, 2023.
Actor-couple Shoaib Ibrahim and Dipika Kakar have finally revealed the name of their son, days after bringing him home from the hospital. Taking to his YouTube channel on Saturday, Shoaib posted a video and said that he and Dipika have named their son Ruhaan Shoaib Ibrahim. The meaning of Ruhaan is kind-hearted and spiritual. (Also Read | Dipika Kakar and Shoaib Ibrahim make first appearance with baby as they take him home, ask paparazzi not to make noise) Dipika Kakar, Shoaib Ibrahim and Ruhaan with their family members.

Shoaib and Dipika's families come together for name reveal

Shoaib and Dipika Kakar, however, didn't reveal the face of the newborn. In the video, the couple was seen getting their families together at home for the name reveal. Shoaib said that they had decided on the name just a month or two after Dipika conceived. He added that they had even thought of a name if they were to have a daughter.

The name reveal was done in a special way. An LED letter light was given to each of the family members including Shoaib's parents, Dipika's mother and Shoaib's siblings. They took turns and held the lit letters in front of them to reveal the name. In the end, they all shouted the name Ruhaan. Shoaib said, "Madam (Dipika) liked this name Ruhaan. His name was chosen by Dipika. We really liked the name a lot and were sure about it."

The family cut a cake and enjoyed cupcakes

Both Dipika and Shoaib said that they inadvertently blurted out Ruhaan in a few videos earlier. The name reveal was followed by celebrations with train-themed cake which was decorated with teddy bears. Several cupcakes with 'dadi', 'dadu', 'nani' and other names written on them, were placed on the table next to the cake. As the family members gathered around to cut the cake, Shoaib said that it was Ruhaan's 'first official celebration cake'.

Ruhaan peed on Shoaib's phone

Towards the end of the video, Shoaib and Dipika talked about their feelings about becoming new parents. When Dipika called him 'Ruhaan k papa (Ruhaan's father)', Shoaib paused for a moment and said, "Meri feeling pata nahi (I don't know about my feeling). Shoiab revealed that Ruhaan recently peed on his phone. He teased Dipika by saying, "She is teaching him this." Dipika laughed and said, "Yes. I have been teaching for a long time. Don't you know that?"

Dipika, Shoaib brought Ruhaan home last week

Dipika and Shoaib made their first public appearance with their newborn baby in Mumbai last week. The duo posed outside the hospital as Shoaib carried the baby in his arms. The couple was blessed with a baby boy on June 21. However, their child was a premature baby and was under observation after his birth.

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Lucknow: A delegation of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) on Sunday met Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav and handed him a memorandum against the Centres proposed move to implement the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in the country. The SP chief alleged that the rulingBharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was trying to divert the attention of the people from real issues by raking up controversial matters like UCC (HT Photo)

Yadav, the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister, assured the delegation of his partys support.

It is the vision of our party that the followers of all religions must be given the right to practice their personal laws, Yadav told the delegation, including AIMPLB member Khalid Rashid Farangi Mahali and Maulana Bilal Hasan Nadvi, in Lucknow.

The SP chief alleged that the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was trying to divert the attention of the people from real issues by raking up controversial matters like UCC.

After the meeting, AIMPLB president Maulana Khalid Saifullah Rahmani said, Today, we met SP president Akhilesh Yadav and discussed many issues including Uniform Civil Code.

The memorandum said that in a country like India, UCC is not needed at all, nor is there any benefit from it, but there is the danger of harming secularism due to its implementation.

The Constitution of the country has given protection to religious freedom and cultural identity. Every citizen of the country was given the right to have faith according to his religion, to follow and propagate it, the memorandum said. Under this, personal laws of minorities and tribals have special protection and in family matters every person is allowed to follow his religion.

UCC refers to a common set of laws that will subsume customary laws across faiths and tribes and govern issues such as marriage, divorce, inheritance and maintenance. In the Constitution, it is a part of the non-justiciable directive principles of state policy.

Maulana Mahali, who was part of the delegation, said:  Muslim Personal Law is an integral part of Islamic Sharia, the foundation of which is the Quran Pak and Hadith Rasool. Neither we ourselves can make any change it in nor anyone can be allowed to change it.

The memorandum further said that the UCC is an attempt to snatch fundamental rights of minorities and tribals and is condemnable.

We collectively denounce UCC. Imposing it on any section of the country without its consent is actually a malicious attempt to erase its identity, it added.

The AIMPLB said the proposed move to implement UCC will affect states such as Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura, which have been accorded special status by the Constitution.

Maulana Mahali also said that the board has given similar memorandums against the UCC and sought support from various leaders, including Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar, his Telangana counterpart K Chandrashekar Rao, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Union minister Ramdas Athawale, NCP leader Sharad Pawar, and Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray.
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Sunday said it is bizarre that India is the "only democracy in the world" that routinely resorts to Internet shutdowns for extended periods of time inconveniencing ordinary citizens. The Congress leader tweeted this a day ahead of the Supreme Court's hearing on Manipur which has been the seat of ethnic violence for the past two months. Shashi Tharoor said there's no evidence that internet ban mitigates violence or terrorism. (PTI / File photo)

Shashi Tharoor, who was the chairman of the Parliamentary Standing on Information Technology, said the committee in 2022 observed that there was no evidence that internet shutdown actually stalls violence.

"It is a reflexive bureaucratic action that causes far more inconvenience to ordinary citizens than a useful security measure," Tharoor wrote.

"I hope the Supreme Court will stand up for the rights of citizens rather than for the blinkered babus who are completely indifferent to the impact of their decisions on citizens who use the Internet for banking, credit card transactions, enrolments, examinations, &to obtain all kinds of vital information. The Court must end this awful practice now!" Tharoor wrote.

The Manipur high court, on July 7, directed to lift te ban on the internet in the state against which the state government moved the Apex Court. The state has been witnessing violence stemming from the clashes between Kuku and Meitei communities.

The Congress has been pressing PM Modi to speak on the Manipur issue. On Saturday, the Congress said it will raise a discussion on the Manipur situation in both the houses of Parliament in the Monsoon session which will start on July 20.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR Poulomi Ghosh Poulomi Ghosh is a journalist with Hindustan Times, New Delhi. ...view detail
Shortly after the Congress made it clear that it will not support the Centre's ordinance on the control of administrative services in Delhi, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday said the grand old party has regularly compromised the interest of its state units to keep Rahul Gandhi relevant. BJP IT cell head Amit Malviya noted that the state units of Congress are opposing AAP and Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress in Delhi and West Bengal, respectively, but the central leadership has struck a deal with both parties with no gain in return. Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.

Delhi Congress had opposed support for AAP. Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury is standing up against Mamata Banerjees murderous regime in West Bengal. But in both states, central leadership of the Congress has struck a deal with AAP and TMC, with no gain in return, Malviya said in a tweet.

Congress has regularly compromised interest of its state units and reduced itself to a bunch of people running around Rahul Gandhi, to keep him relevant, he added.

After days of suspense, the Congress, in what is seen as a huge relief for Delhi chief Arvind Kejriwal, said it will not support the Centre's ordinance on the control of administrative services in Delhi and will oppose any such attempt of the central government to "sabotage federalism" in the country.

Congress general secretary K C Venugopal said the party has decided to oppose the Delhi ordinance in Parliament whenever a bill comes up.

"We are consistently opposing the attempts of the Union government to sabotage federalism. We are consistently opposing the attitude of the central government to run the opposition states through the governors. Our stand is very clear, we are not going to support the Delhi ordinance," he told PTI.

Boost to Opposition unity?

Venugopal hoped that the AAP will now participate in the upcoming meeting of the opposition parties in Bengaluru.

I think they are going to join the meeting tomorrow. This is our thinking, The Congress leader said.

Reacting to Venugopal's remarks, AAP MP and national spokesperson Raghav Chadha tweeted, Congress announces its unequivocal opposition to the Delhi Ordinance. This is a positive development.

The AAP is, however, yet to make it clear if it will join the opposition meeting and said it will announce the decision after the meeting of its Political Affairs Committee.

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Chennai: Tamil Nadu unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party said on Sunday that chief minister and DMK president M K Stalin must say firmly at the Opposition parties meet in Bengaluru that Karnataka will not be allowed to construct Mekedatu dam. (PTI)

Ahead of chief minister and DMK president M K Stalins participation in the Bengaluru meeting of opposition leaders, Tamil Nadu unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party said on Sunday that Stalin and state Congress chief K S Alagiri have to come back from the meeting with an assurance that Karnataka will not construct the Mekedatu dam.

Let Stalin and Alagiri go and firmly say that we will not allow Mekedatu to be constructed and finalise that Karnataka will not build it, said Pon Radhakrishnan, former chief of the state BJP unit. And then you can solve whatever problems you all have amongst yourselves in your (opposition) meeting. You are going to say zindabad for your own interests. While you are at it, also say zindabad for Tamil Nadu.

Before DMKs ally Congress formed the government in Karnataka in May, the Tamil Nadu unit of the BJP had opposed Mekedatu dam even as their party was governing in Karnataka. The issue flared up again recently after Karnataka water resources minister D K Shivakumar said in June that they will go ahead with the controversial Mekedatu balancing reservoir-cum-drinking water project which is proposed to generate 400 MW of power and additionally supply 4.75 tmcft of water for drinking and domestic needs in Karnataka, particularly Bengaluru.

BJPs state president K Annamalai had at that time warned of a protest if Stalin attends the Bengaluru meeting given the Congress-led Karnatakas stand to build the Mekedatu dam at the Cauvery river which is against the interests of Tamil Nadu.

While Karnataka awaits central clearances to start construction, Tamil Nadu, as the lower riparian state, has argued that its against federal principles for Karnataka, the upper riparian state, to go ahead without its consent. Stating that the dam would impound and divert uncontrolled flows from the intermediate catchment below the Krishnaraja Sagar and Kabini reservoirs, and Billigundulu which is a common border of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, the state believes it would affect its agrarian community.

A senior DMK leader cited Stalin and water resources minister Durai Murugans assertion in response to Shivakumar that Tamil Nadu will not allow Mekedatu. We have repeatedly clarified our stance even to our ally Congress that we will not allow it, the leader said. The BJP is now afraid about the unity among non-BJP leaders and our leader (Stalin) is playing a very important part to defeat them (BJP) in the 2024 elections.

The Bengaluru meeting is the second among opposition parties across India after Bihar CM Nitish Kumar held the first meeting in Patna on June 23.

Meanwhile, the BJPs ally AIADMK alleged that Stalins only jobs seems to be either erecting statues of his father late M Karunanidhi or naming monuments after his father. On July 16, Stalin had inaugurated the Kalaignar (meaning artiste is how Karunanidhi is revered) Centenary Library in Madurai at a cost of 218 crore.

The library could have been named after Thiruvalluvar or other Tamil philosophers, the AIADMK said on Sunday, also hoping that the Supreme Court gives a verdict against the pen memorial planned for Karunanidhi in the ocean on the Marina beach in Chennai.

Let the DMK use their own money to erect a pen monument for their leader inside their party office. Why dump 80-crore into the ocean for the monument when that money can be directed for the development of Chennai, said AIADMK spokesperson D Jayakumar. He was speaking after AIADMK general secretary Edappadi Palaniswami held a meeting with senior leaders in Chennai.

The meeting was to discuss the partys plan for the mega conference we are holding in Madurai on August 20, said a leader who participated in the meeting, not wishing to be named. Two days ago Palaniswami wrote a letter to the party cadre accusing the DMK of working only for their family welfare. I want you all to make the Madurai conference a turning point for our party, he had said.

In line with Palaniswamis letter, Jayakumar on Sunday said, The only thing happening across Tamil Nadu is that Karunanidhis statue is coming up here and there. Stalin is doing only this job as a chief minister. His second job is corruption with an intention to help only his family grow.

The DMK leader quoted above dismissed AIADMKs allegations. We got CRZ clearance last month for the pen monument and the case is in the Supreme Court now, he said. We have addressed environmental concerns in our affidavit. Lets wait for the outcome.

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Top Congress leaders went into a huddle on Saturday to discuss the governments push for Uniform Civil Code (UCC). In the meeting, the party leaders unanimously rejected the idea of uniformity of all laws and decided to react only after the government brings the draft bill. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge (File Photo)

In a closed-door meeting chaired by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, the Congress leaders also decided that a nuanced internal report should also be prepared.

We are clear that there can be nothing uniform about all laws. How can the country have the same civil laws for North East, South India, Muslims and Hindus? However, some angularity of individual laws can be looked at, said a Congress leader.

The Congress has refrained from taking a stand on the proposed legislation till the Centre comes out with a draft.

UCC refers to a common set of laws that will subsume customary laws across faiths and tribes and govern issues such as marriage, divorce, inheritance and maintenance.

In the Constitution, UCC is a part of the non-justiciable directive principles of state policy. The 22nd Law Commission of India has been examining the subject matter of the proposed UCC with regard to a reference sent by the ministry of law and justice on June 17, 2016.

In a 2018 consultation paper, the Law Commission said UCC was neither necessary nor desirable at this stage. However, it solicited views and suggestions on UCC from the public and recognised religious organisations.

The issue got a fresh fillip on June 27, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) booth workers and made a strong case for 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? Modi asked. As the crowd roared in denial, Modi said, How can a country work with such a hypocritical system? We must remember that even Indias Constitution talks of common rights.

For decades, both the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has pushed for UCC that will be applicable to all communities and faiths to govern issues such as marriage, divorce, succession, adoption and division of assets.

However, several opposition parties, activists and communities have opposed UCC.

Congress had previously said that the Law Commissions latest attempt to seek fresh public opinion on a UCC represents the PM Narendra Modi governments desperation for continuing with its agenda of polarisation and diversion from its failures.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR Saubhadra Chatterji Saubhadra Chatterji is Deputy Political Editor at the Hindustan Times. He writes on both politics and policies. ...view detail
As Delhi battled with the rising water level of Yamuna which inundated the heart of the city for two days, Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma remembered Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal's past invitation to Delhi and said he is ready to visit Kejriwal's house but no invitation was extended. "I am still waiting for the invitation. It's been six months. If the invitation comes today, I am ready to visit his house," Himanta said. On Friday, there was waterlogging near Kejriwal's house in Delhi's Civil Lines. Himanta Biswa Sarma said he is ready to visit Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal's house.

"In Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, urban floods take place. Guwahati too gets urban flood. We all have our issues but the atmosphere where a chief minister derides another state should change," Himanta said as one one lakh people in Assam are affected by floods. In Assam, the flood situation worsened after Bhutan released excess water from the Kurichu dam after informing the Assam government.

On July 13, when the Yamuna water level broke all past records with the water starting to enter the Capital, Himanta put out a tweet which he later deleted. "...after witnessing the current state of Delhi on national television, I feel much more comfortable in my own city Guwahati. I dread watching his 'work'," Himanta tweeted and it was later deleted.

Assam AAP unit took offence over the tweet and said if Himanta Biswa Sarma goes to Delhi even during the flood, he will find better management, governance and relief operations. "It's a natural calamity plus vendetta politics of BJP which deliberately released uncontrolled water towards Delhi of equally sharing it with UP," AAP's Rajesh Sharma said.

Kejriwal vs Himanta Biswa Sarma

Kejriwal versus Himanta Biswa Sarma goes a long way starting during the pandemic. Former Delhi minister Manish Sisodia linked Sarma's wife Riniki Bhuyan with a PPE kit row in Assam against which Riniji filed a defamation suit against Sisodia, who is now in jail. After that, Kejriwal and Himanta fought over their job claims and then Kejriwal said he would like to take Himanta Sarma on a tour to Delhi's schools and hospitals. To this, Himanta said he accepts the invitation but he will visit the places where he wants to go, not where Kejriwal wants to take him.

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Officers arrested seven Buffalo men and seized a large quantity of narcotics as they executed a trio of search warrants Friday, Buffalo Police reported.

Arrested in the 400 block of West Ferry Street was Corey Dodge, 42, who was charged with six felony drugs counts. Officers seized 31 ounces of suspected cocaine, more than 14 ounces of suspected ketamine and more than 28 ounces of methamphetamine, along with a variety of pills, 15 pounds of marijuana and about $27,000 in cash.

Police were alerted after suspected narcotics were spotted during a federal probation check of Dodge's residence.

Officers made two arrests in the first block of Pennsylvania Avenue and seized a loaded .22 caliber pistol, five ounces of suspected fentanyl and five grams of suspected cocaine. Charged with felony drug counts were Felipe Fontanez, 40, and Christian Mojica-Medina, 41.

Four arrests were made when officers executed a search warrant in the 100 block of Titus Avenue, where about 76 grams of suspected cocaine and crack cocaine and 17 grams of suspected heroin and fentanyl were found, along with a loaded Polymer 80 "ghost" gun, according to the report.

Charged with felony drug and weapon counts were Nazir Binhuguley, 21; Marlek Williams, 30; Brandon Herbert, 33, and Willie Hillman, 34.

- Dale Anderson
Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Sunday said that the manner in which the Aam Aadmi Party took up Delhi ordinance issue at Patna meet was unfortunate. Congress leader P Chidambaram addresses a press conference at Tilak Bhavan, Dadar, in Mumbai on Monday. (ANI Photo)

Chidambaram stressed that the Opposition parties have several objectives in common as they are opposed to the social and economic policies of the BJP government, are concerned about slow economic growth, high inflation and rising unemployment, as well as about the "curtailment of civil liberties, the gagging of the media, the emasculation of institutions, and the misuse of investigating agencies".

"They are concerned about the security situation on the borders. These common concerns have brought them together to oppose the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. There is enough justification for the Opposition parties to meet as often as possible in the run up to the elections," he said.

The forthcoming meeting at Bengaluru will certainly be purposeful, Chidambaram said and added that "we must wait and see what the next steps will be".

Asked about the Opposition having sidestepped the leadership question for now and whether going to polls without a PM face face would work when Modi has been at the helm for 10 years, Chidambaram said, "That Mr Narendra Modi has been at the helm of the BJP and the central government for 10 years is not a strength but a weakness. Mr Modi's hands are bare and he has not delivered on his promises."

There is nothing more that he can deliver in the last year, "except perhaps more slogans", he added.

"The Opposition, by being united in their opposition to the BJP, can certainly challenge Mr Modi," the senior Congress leader said.

Chidambaram said the leader of the "united Opposition" will emerge in "due course".

On the comparison of the Opposition uniting to take on then PM Indira Gandhi in 1977 to the present scenario of opposition parties coming together, Chidambaram said the situation in 1977 was different from the situation in 2023 as in that election, the sole issue was Emergency but today, and in the run up to the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, there are plenty of issues that are bothering the people.

"I have referred to the common concerns of the Opposition parties. They are sufficient to erect a platform that can be shared by Opposition parties," he said.

On Prime Minister Modi's swipe at the Opposition that the corrupt were joining hands, Chidambaram said that in Modi's view, every Opposition party and every Opposition leader is corrupt.

"It is a hollow argument. His view has been rejected by the people time and again. The latest instance was in Karnataka. Mr Modi's allegations are becoming tiresome. If he looks at his own ranks, he will find many leaders/ministers whom he had once accused of corruption," Chidambaram said.

The phrase 'BJP is a giant washing machine' is familiar throughout India and evokes a lot of laughter and derision, he said.

On how the Opposition would counter polarising issues, Chidambaram said each issue raised by the BJP will be countered with facts, figures and the actual situation on the ground.

The Indian people are aware of the realities they face every day and they know which issue is a polarising issue and which issue affects their lives, he said.

On how the Opposition bloc would tackle the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), Chidambaram said there is nothing on the table today called the 'Uniform Civil Code'.

"The last statement on the subject was the view of the 21st Law Commission. Hence, the Congress has responded by saying that there is nothing to comment upon," he said.

The opposition grouping to take on the BJP in the next Lok Sabha polls is set to expand with more parties joining in at the second unity meeting being convened by the Congress in Bengaluru.

Leaders of 24 non-BJP parties have been invited for the meet on June 17 and 18, the first edition of which saw the participation of 15 parties.

The first meeting of opposition parties was held in Bihar's Patna on June 23.

At that meeting, Opposition parties had resolved to take on the BJP unitedly in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, even as fissures had emerged with the AAP asserting that it would be difficult for it to be part of any such gathering in the future till the Congress publicly supports it on the ordinance issue.

At a joint press conference after the Patna meeting, opposition parties had said they would fight the polls on a common agenda and state-wise strategy, setting aside their differences with a flexible approach.
Five men have been arrested for allegedly gang-raping a minor girl in Pathanamthitta district of Kerala, police officers familiar with the matter said on Sunday. Police had filed an FIR in connection with the gang rape case on July 1 after receiving information from the Pathanamthitta district child welfare committee. (HT Archives)

According to the Adoor police, a first information report (FIR) was registered in connection with the matter on July 1 based on a complaint received from the district child welfare committee.

The accused in the case included the minors 19-year-old boyfriend, a senior police officer familiar with the matter said.

The girls boyfriend, her 18-year-old friend, and three others who are acquaintances of the 18-year-old were arrested from different parts of Alappuzha district, the Adoor police said in a statement.

The other three accused are also adults, aged 20, 22 and 28, the police added.

While the girls boyfriend was arrested on July 14, the others were picked up over the last two days, the statement said, adding the accused have been sent to police remand.

The girl came in contact with the 18-year-old through a common friend in December last year. Days later, she was gangraped at her house by the accused, police said.

During a counselling session by the child welfare committee, the girl recounted her ordeal, following which the police were informed. Her medical examination confirmed she was gang-raped.

Meanwhile, police have registered four cases under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act against the accused. Further probe is underway, the officer added.
Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar and several NCP leaders met party chief Sharad Pawar in Mumbai amid the battle for control over the Nationalist Congress Party. Ajit Pawar, who led the rebellion against his uncle, Praful Patel, ministers Dilip Walse Patil, Hasan Mushrif, Chhagan Bhujabal, Dhananjay Munde, Aditi Tatkare, and deputy speaker Narahari Zirwal were among the NCP leaders who met Pawar at the Y B Chavan Centre located near the state secretariat Mantralaya. Maharashtra deputy CM Ajit Pawar and other ministers after meeting NCP chief Sharad Pawar at Y B Chavan in Mumbai. (HT photo / Anshuman Poyrekar)

Praful Patel, who was one of the close aides of Sharad Pawar before the rebellion, said they wanted to seek the blessings of their idol and came without informing him.

We came to seek blessings of our idol, Sharad Pawar, Praful Patel told reporters. We want to keep NCP united so we requested Pawarsaheb to consider it and guide us. He didn't respond, just heard us.

We came without informing him first. We came to know he was in office so we just landed here to seek his blessings, he added.

NCP state president Jayant Patil and party leader Jitendra Awhad had also reached the Y B Chavan Centre.

Ajit Pawar group expressed regret and urged Sharad Pawar to find a way out from the current complications in the party, Patil said, adding that we are firm on our stand.

Patil said that the Sharad Pawar faction has the support of 19 MLAs and If they (the rebels) wish to come back, we are always open for it.

Another twist ahead of Opposition meet?

The development comes two days ahead of a key meeting of opposition parties in Bengaluru to take on the Narendra Modi-led BJP in the next Lok Sabha elections. The last such meeting, hosted by Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar in Patna, was attended by Sharad Pawar.

On Friday, Ajit Pawar visited Silver Oak, the official residence of the NCP supremo, to meet the latter's wife Pratibha Pawar after she underwent surgery at a hospital in Mumbai. Ajit Pawar is known to be close to his aunt Pratibha. In 2019, she reportedly played a crucial role in bringing him back to the NCP fold after he and Devendra Fadnavis formed a short-lived government after the Assembly polls.

(With PTI inputs)

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The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Sunday said Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh are likely to receive heavy rainfall for the next two days. The west coast is expected to witness an increase in rainfall activity from July 17 while a decrease over northeast India. A swollen Beas river after rain continues in Kullu. Himachal Pradesh, India on Sunday, July 9, 2023. (Photo by Aqil Khan /Hindustan Times )

The Met department, in its daily bulletin, predicted that Himachal Pradesh would receive widespread rainfall for the next five days while Uttarakhand and East Uttar Pradesh would witness similar rainfall activity for the next three days.

As per IMD, active monsoon conditions are likely to prevail over central and adjoining East India during the next five days, with heavy rainfall expected over Jharkhand and Odisha during the next 24 hours; over eastern districts of Madhya Pradesh during July 16-18; western districts of Madhya Pradesh and Vidarbha region of Maharashtra on July 16 and 18; and over Chhattisgarh on July 16-17.

In the western part of the country, light to moderate rainfall with isolated heavy rainfall is very likely to continue during the next 5 days.

According to IMD, Goa and the ghat areas of central Maharashtra are likely to witness similar rainfall activity from July 18-20 while Gujarat on July 19-20.

The IMD forecast said, Fairly widespread to widespread rainfall with isolated heavy rainfall & thunderstorm & lightning very likely over Arunachal Pradesh on 16th July; over Assam & Meghalaya on 16th & 17th July; over Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram & Tripura on 16th & 17th July.

Devastation in hill states

Parts of India have been witnessing incessant rainfall, disrupting normal life and causing devastation

Several roads were blocked and scores of people were stuck and stranded due to landslides amid incessant rainfall over the northwestern Himalayan region. Balwakot-Dharchula road in Dharchula near the border area of the Pithoragarh district was blocked on Sunday following a landslide, reported ANI. The Yamunotri Highway number 123 was also blocked on Saturday due to falling debris near Chami village in Pauri Tehsil of Garhwal District in Uttarakhand.

Himachal Pradesh chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has expressed concerns over the possibility of nearly 5,000 crore in losses due to floods in the state. The chief minister stated that compensation of 1,45,000 has been provided to those whose houses were completely damaged and 1 lakh to those with partially damaged houses.

"I have never seen such a situation in the past years. We have given 1,45,000 to people whose houses have been damaged completely and whose houses are partially damaged have been compensated with 1 lakh," CM Sukhu said.

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India on Sunday gifted 84 vehicles to various organisations working in health and education sectors across Nepal, the Indian Embassy in Nepal said. Indian embassy in Nepal shared the information via Twitter.

The keys of 34 ambulances and 50 school buses were handed over by Indian Ambassador Naveen Srivastava in the presence of Ashok Kumar Rai, the Minister of Education, Science and Technology, to representative organisations.

Gifting of the vehicles has been one of the long-standing traditions of the government of India under the Nepal-India Development Partnership Programme to bolster the efforts of the government of Nepal to strengthen its infrastructure in health and education sectors, Ambassador Srivastava said.

This is part of a very robust and strong development partnership between India and Nepal, which has a long history and legacy, touching people's lives and bringing out tangible progress in the development journey of Nepal, he pointed out at the ceremony attended by mayors, chairpersons of municipalities/rural Municipalities of various local bodies, as well as the representatives of various beneficiary organisations.

Education Minister Rai appreciated the Indian government's various ongoing developmental projects in Nepal and expressed hope that the aid will continue to strengthen people-to-people connectivity and the bilateral relations between the two countries.

He lauded the support of the government of India for reaching out and supporting the schools and health facilities across Nepal covering mountain to Terai regions.

India has since 1994, gifted 974 ambulances and 234 school buses, including the latest lot, to various health and educational organisations across Nepal.

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The second Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) campus abroad will be set up in Abu Dhabi following the signing of an agreement between authorities of India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) during Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to the capital of the Emirates on Saturday. The MoU was signed in the presence of PM Modi and UAE President Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan (HT Photo/ Sourced)

The memorandum of understanding (MoU) for setting up the campus of IIT-Delhi was signed between Indias education ministry, Abu Dhabis department of education and knowledge and IIT-D in the presence of PM Modi and UAE President Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

Last week, a similar MoU was signed between Indias education ministry and authorities in Tanzania for setting up a campus of IIT-Madras in the semi-autonomous region of Zanzibar. This campus will start offering two courses in October.

Modi and Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed endorsed a decision that IIT Delhi-Abu Dhabi will become operational by January 2024 by offering a masters programme in energy transition and sustainability. Other bachelors, masters and PhD programmes are expected to be offered from September 2024, and research centres will be established in sustainable energy, climate studies, computing and data sciences, according to a joint statement issued by the two sides.

The campus is also expected to offer programmes covering artificial intelligence, computer science and engineering, healthcare and mathematics. The courses will be designed by IIT-Delhi and degrees will be conferred by the institute, the Union education ministry said.

Cooperation in education, including setting up campuses of Indian universities abroad and the mobility of students, has emerged as a key component of Indias foreign policy in recent years. The move is also in line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which recommends that high-performing Indian universities will be encouraged to set up campuses in other countries.

Modi welcomed the development and said in a tweet, This marks a significant stride in our educational internationalisation and is a testament to Indias innovation prowess. Education is the bond that unites us, its the spark that ignites innovation. Together, we will leverage this power for mutual prosperity and global betterment.

According to the education ministry, the MoU complements the India-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) and reflects the shared vision of both sides to prioritise educational excellence, innovation, knowledge exchange and investments in human capital as the foundations for future prosperity and enablers of long-term economic growth and sustainable development.

Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan said the move will lead to a new chapter in the internationalisation of Indias education. An example of New Indias innovation and expertise, the IIT Delhi campus in the UAE will be an edifice of India-UAE friendship. It will set a brand new template for leveraging the power of knowledge for both mutual prosperity and global good, he said.

IIT-Delhi said in a statement that it has already initiated outreach programmes for school students from the UAE as part of its offerings for the academic ecosystem of the country, and that short courses and executive programmes for industry are expected to start soon.

IIT-Delhi director Rangan Banerjee said the campus in Abu Dhabi will be both a challenge and opportunity for the institute to ensure that Indias education and research make a global impact.

According to the education ministry, the campus will complement the academic, research and innovation ecosystem in Abu Dhabi by collaborating with key players such as Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence, Khalifa University, New York University Abu Dhabi, Technology Innovation Institute, and Hub71 (Abu Dhabis global tech ecosystem) to offer complimentary programmes, conduct cutting edge research and advance the local startup ecosystem.

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India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) signed agreements on trade settlement in national currencies and setting up a real-time link for cross-border transactions as Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Abu Dhabi on Saturday to bolster cooperation in areas such as trade, energy and climate action. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi during his official visit in Abu Dhabi (Reuters Photo)

Educational authorities of the two sides also signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on establishing a campus of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)-Delhi in Abu Dhabi after Modi arrived in the capital of the Emirates following a visit to France.

The UAE has had a special place in Indias efforts in recent years to increase its engagement in areas ranging from trade to security with West Asian states. The Emirates is home to 3.5 million Indian expatriates, who account for about 30% of the countrys population. Bilateral trade got a boost with the signing of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) in February 2022.

On his arrival in Abu Dhabi, Modi was received at the airport by Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. He then held talks with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan at the Qasr Al Watan presidential palace.

Modi and Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed witnessed the signing of two MoUs between the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the Central Bank of UAE for establishing a framework to use national currencies for cross-border transactions and cooperation in interlinking payment and messaging systems, and another MoU between Indias education ministry and Abu Dhabi authorities for setting up the new IIT-Delhi campus.

In a tweet, Modi described the agreements between the two central banks as a very important aspect of India-UAE cooperation and said they paved the way for enhanced economic collaboration and made international financial interactions simpler.

Modi and Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, who held both delegation-level and one-on-one talks, discussed bilateral cooperation in a range of areas, including trade, investment, fintech, energy, renewables, climate action, higher education and people-to-people ties. Our nations are working together on so many issues aimed at making our planet better, Modi said in another tweet.

The MoU on using national currencies will put in place a Local Currency Settlement System (LCSS) to promote the use of the rupee and dirham. The agreement covers all current account transactions and permitted capital account transactions. The LCSS will enable exporters and importers to pay in their respective domestic currencies and enable the development of an INR-AED foreign exchange market.

This arrangement will also promote investments and remittances between the two sides, the RBI said. The use of local currencies will reduce transaction costs and settlement time, including for remittances by Indians in the UAE.

India could use this mechanism to pay for imports of oil and other commodities from the UAE, its fourth-largest energy supplier. India currently pays the UAE in dollars for oil.

Under the second MOU, the two central banks will cooperate on linking Indias Unified Payments Interface (UPI) with the UAEs Instant Payment Platform (IPP) and RuPay switch and UAESWITCH. They will also explore the linking of Indias Structured Financial Messaging System (SFMS) with the payments messaging system of the UAE.

The UPI-IPP link will enable users in both countries to make fast, safe and cost-effective cross-border transfers. The linking of card switches will facilitate the mutual acceptance of domestic cards and the processing of card transactions.

Bilateral trade between India and the UAE was worth $84.5 billion in 2022-23. The UAE, which imports most of its food requirements, has pledged $2 billion to develop a series of food parks in India. The two sides have also agreed to increase non-petroleum trade to $100 billion by 2030.

Modi also met Sultan Al Jaber, president-designate of COP28 and group CEO of Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), and discussed ways to mitigate climate change. Our discussions focused on ways to further sustainable development. Highlighted Indias contribution in this direction, in particular our emphasis on Mission LiFE, Modi said in a tweet.

Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra said the trade and economic partnership between the two sides has grown significantly since they signed the CEPA in 2022. The two agreements on the settlement of trade in domestic currencies and interlinking payment systems pave the way for increasing strategic economic convergence between the two sides, he said.

The visit opens up new pathways to structuring similar arrangements with other countries in the region and beyond, he added.
Border Roads Organisation on Sunday said a valley bridge near the India-China border, nine km ahead of Malari village here has come under threat due to the rapid flow of the river as the monsoon fury continued over the northwestern Himalayan region. Chamoli District Magistrate, Himashu Khurana on Sunday said that vehicular movement was temporarily resumed on Joshimath-Malari Highway near Jumma village.(ANI)

Malari is a small village near the Indo-China border near Joshimath in Chamoli district.

"A valley bridge on the border road leading to the Indo-China border, 9 km ahead of Malari, has come under threat due to the rapid flow of the river," BRO Commander Colonel Ankur Mahajan said, adding he is leaving to inspect the spot.

Chamoli District Magistrate, Himashu Khurana on Sunday said that vehicular movement was temporarily resumed on Joshimath-Malari Highway near Jumma village after the bridge connecting dozens of villages including Joshimath was washed away due to spate in the Deogarh drain near Malari Highway on July 10.

READ | Weather News highlights: IMD predicts very heavy rainfall in Uttarakhand for the next 5 days

The DM said the bridge was opened for traffic after the Border Roads Organisation laid the hume pipes on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Chamoli police have booked a project manager for not clearing the debris and opening the road on time near Uttarakhand's Pipalkoti village on the Badrinath National Highway number 7, officials said.

SP Chamoli Pramendra Dhobol said a case has been registered against Gajendra Gaur, the project manager of NKG company, which is responsible for constructing the all-weather road on the Badrinath National Highway 7.

The case has been registered under the Disaster Management Act.

"The company did not cleared the debris on time when the highway was blocked due to falling off debris near Pipalkoti due to landslides triggered by heavy rains in the region," he said.

The Yamunotri Highway number 123 was blocked on Saturday due to falling debris near Chami village in Pauri Tehsil of Garhwal District in Uttarakhand, officials said. As per officials, dozens of vehicles were left stuck on both sides of the road.

As the monsoon fury continued over the northwestern Himalayan region, several roads were blocked and scores of people were stuck and stranded due to landslides.

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Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate on Tuesday reacted to an undated video of Jain monk Ramnik Muni Ji Maharaj in which he can be seen praising Rahul Gandhi for his 4000-km-long Bharat Jodo Yatra and describing him as a wise man. Rahul Gandhi during Congress's Bharat Jodo Yatra.

My thoughts about Rahul Gandhi changed after seeing his tapasya when he walked 3000-4000 km. I used to think he was not serious about the common man and did not understand their pain, Ramnik Muni said.

"I was watching how an old man came running towards Rahul Gandhi during the Bharat Jodo Yatra. As he came closer he threw up Gandhi's feet. Had it been any other common man, he would have unstintingly stepped back. But Gandhi kept standing as the man threw up more What a wise man he is! He will change India," the Jain monk said.

Reacting to his statement, Shrinate tweeted, Rahul Gandhi has changed - He was always like this - The conspiracy to tarnish his image by spending crores of rupees has now collapsed. After all, who has been able to hide the sun and the truth?

Bharat Jodo Yatra

Gandhis Bharat Jodo Yatra has ended after covering 4,000 km across about a dozen states on its south-north route, with brief interruptions for rest and reunion. The padyatra that started from Kanyakumari in September culminated in Rahul Gandhi unfurling Indias flag at Srinagars Lal Chowk in January.

The Congress said the objective of the mass-contact programme was to unite the country, which, according to the party, has been divided by economic inequalities and religious polarisation.

Gandhi called the Bharat Jodo Yatra, a tapasya a spiritual disciple he endured through the journey from Kanyakumari to Kashmir. everyone's limits, myself included, are far beyond what we think. In Sanskrit, the oldest language in the world, there is a word, Tapasya , which is difficult for a Western mind to understand." Gandhi said in an interview.

He added, Someone translates it with sacrifice, patience, but the meaning is different: to generate heat. The march is an action that generates warmth, makes you look inside yourself, makes you understand the extraordinary resilience of the Indians."

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External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Sunday met his Myanmar counterpart Than Swe and discussed expediting projects, especially the India-Myanmar-Thailand trilateral highway, and underlined the importance of ensuring peace and stability in the border areas. EAM Dr. S. Jaishankar meets Myanmar counterpart Than Swe(Twitter/Dr. S. Jaishankar)

Jaishankar, who arrived here from Indonesia on Saturday on an official visit, met the Myanmar foreign minister on the sidelines of the Mekong Ganga Cooperation (MGC) Mechanism meeting.

Our discussions focused on connectivity initiatives that have a larger regional significance. These will also be discussed at the MGC meeting this afternoon. Stressed the importance of expediting projects that have faced challenges in the recent past, especially the India-Myanmar-Thailand trilateral highway, Jaishankar said in a tweet.

On Saturday, Jaishankar said that the India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway had been a "very difficult project" because of the situation in Myanmar and that it was the government's priority to find ways to resume it.

India, Thailand and Myanmar are working on about 1,400-km-long highway that would link the country with Southeast Asia by land and give a boost to trade, business, health, education and tourism ties among the three countries.

Around 70 per cent of construction work on the ambitious trilateral highway has been completed.

The strategic highway project, which will connect Moreh in Manipur with Mae Sot in Thailand via Myanmar, has been delayed.

Earlier, the government was aiming to make the highway operational by December 2019.

During his talks with Than Swe, Jaishankar also underlined the importance of ensuring peace and stability in the border areas, saying these have been seriously disturbed recently and any actions that aggravate the situation should be avoided.

Flagged concerns about human and drug trafficking. Urged stronger cooperation among relevant parties for the early return of trafficked victims, he said.

As an immediate neighbour, India is concerned about the humanitarian situation in Myanmar, the minister said.

He proposed people-centric initiatives aimed to address the pressing challenges.

India supports the democratic transition process in Myanmar and highlights the need for return of peace and stability. We will closely coordinate our policy with ASEAN in this regard, Jaishankar added.

In Bangkok, Jaishankar will participate in the 12th Foreign Ministers Meeting of the Mekong Ganga Cooperation Mechanism and attend the BIMSTEC Foreign Ministers Retreat.

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First of two parts

Kelly Page was a happy, hard-working North Buffalo woman when a brain aneurysm and a stroke rocked her world.

It was spring in 2016 when her family began to notice that Page, 41, was forgetting things.

She had trouble remembering lifes little details  like what time she was supposed to pick up her son from school, or something her boss had told her to do at the Amherst jewelry business where she worked as an administrative assistant.

Months later came painful headaches. An MRI exam revealed that she had suffered a brain aneurysm.

The neurologist advised her to have surgery to repair nerve damage in her brain.

Doctors told her that her chances of having a stroke during the procedure were about 3%. But when she had the surgery on Aug. 2, 2017, she suffered a stroke.

I went to see her in the hospital the next morning, and she didnt know who I was, recalled her husband, Keith Page. After a few days, she recovered a lot of her memories  but really, shes never been the same since.

Two doctors advised Page that  because of the brain injuries  she was no longer capable of working. On Jan. 30, 2018, she applied for Social Security disability benefits.

She and her husband have been fighting with the federal government ever since.

Kelly Page is one of more than a million people who are trying to obtain disability benefits from the Social Security Administration. Although working Americans pay a portion of every paycheck into the nations disability system, getting disability benefits is no simple matter for those who are sick or injured.

For many applicants, the process is complicated, confusing and frustrating, often taking years to get a final answer from the government.

Many ailing Americans go into bankruptcy and more than 9,000 a year die while waiting for the Social Security Administration to decide on their disability claims, according to the Government Accountability Office.

Those who are successful in the process get payments averaging $1,400 a month.

We could really use disability. We were a two-income household; now were down to one, said Keith Page. Losing Kellys salary cost us $38,000 year. We wouldnt be getting by without the donations we got from family and friends.

In June 2018, Pages first application for disability was turned down. The SSA told her she had not proven that she was unable to work. Page filed an appeal.

On Nov. 15, 2019, an administrative law judge determined that Page was 100% disabled and unable to work. The SSA awarded Page $1,683 a month in disability pay.

But in January 2020, the SSA Appeals Council told the Pages it had randomly picked Kellys case to be re-examined.

She was required to participate in a new hearing before a different judge. Last August, the second judge ruled that Page never was disabled in the first place.

The SSA stopped the benefits that Page had been receiving.

In April of this year, the Pages and their Buffalo attorney, Christopher Grover, filed an appeal in federal court.

If were fortunate, a federal judge will find in our favor and send the case back to Social Security to take another look, Keith Page said. In other words, even if we win, well probably go back to square one.

I have paid into disability my entire working life, every paycheck, Kelly Page said. But the the government acts like they think Im some kind of scam artist  a criminal.

I loved my job. I would rather work. I cant, said Page, who speaks haltingly, and according to her husband, has moments of confusion and anxiety.

Grover and many other attorneys who represent disability claimants accuse the Social Security Administration  or SSA  of making the process exceedingly difficult for claimants.

Because of some high-profile disability fraud cases, the government has become skeptical of many applicants, Grover said. One current judge and one retired judge from the SSA agreed with Grover during recent interviews with The News.

Some of the people who file claims, indeed, are scam artists, like Eric Conn, a lawyer from Kentucky who went to prison in 2018 after federal agents found he paid off a judge and some doctors to push through disability cases for his clients. Prosecutors said Conns corrupt operations cost taxpayers $550 million.

Program costs billions

Meanwhile, those who worry about runaway government spending say the SSA really should be careful about who qualifies for disability, especially during a time when the federal government is $32 trillion in debt.

They note that Social Security Trust Funds  depended upon by hundreds of millions of Americans  are being depleted.

The amount of taxpayer money spent annually on disability benefits has risen from $77 billion in 2003 to $142 billion in 2022.

The agencys Buffalo office is one of 168 hearing offices. The office has eight judges who hear disability cases.

Most applicants  65% nationwide and 60% in New York State  get turned down on their first application for disability benefits, according to government statistics.

Of those who then decide to hire attorneys and appeal their cases before an SSA judge, 54% nationwide get approved. In Buffalo, a lower number  48%  get approved by judges.

The SSA has been long criticized for the long waiting times for disability applicants, some of them desperately ill.

In 2007, it took an average of 688 days  more than 22 months  to process a disability claim in Buffalo. At that time, that made Buffalo the seventh-worst office in the nation, in terms of processing times.

Since then, the wait times have improved in Buffalo and nationwide, but the average claimant in Buffalo still waits an average of 553 days  roughly 18 months  for a final decision.

SSA officials told The News they have worked hard to reduce the number of people waiting for hearings. They said that number has gone down from more than 850,000 in 2018 to less than 339,000 now.

The quest for disability benefits has been arduous for Leah Biggins Charache of Rochester, a former Army combat nurse who served in the Middle East after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

She suffers from post traumatic stress disorder, which was aggravated by the death of an infant son in 2013, and has been classified as 100% disabled by Veterans Affairs doctors. But the SSA has been disputing her claim for disability benefits since 2014.

Its very frustrating. They keep telling me I should be able to work, no matter what the VA says, Charache, 39, told The News.

Kristi Curran of Lancaster spoke of her difficulties with the SSA in the case of her late ex-husband, Michael J. Curran Jr., a retired state trooper who died in 2021.

Curran, a father of three, slipped on ice and suffered a traumatic brain injury in 2016. He was in a coma for three months and spent the rest of his life in nursing homes, unable to care for himself.

The SSA awarded him disability benefits, but took the benefits away in 2019, after a mistake was made on a tax return, saying that Curran was still working.

The guy was absolutely not able to work. He was in a nursing home. A simple clerical error was made on a tax return, said Abbott, attorney for the Currans. We gave the SSA all the paperwork explaining the mistake  but still, they fought us for years before reinstating his benefits.

Charache, like Page, said she feels like the government suspects her of being a scam artist.

I do think some legitimate claimants have been hurt by some of the efforts to crack down on fraud, after the Eric Conn case, said Som Ramrup, president of the American Association of Administrative Law Judges.

Ramrup said she believes the actual amount of fraud in the applications is infinitesimal.

The government acts as though the amount of fraud is much higher, Ramrup said.

Michael J. Astrue, who headed the SSA under President George W. Bush, told The News he believes less than 1% of disability claims are fraudulent.

When asked by The News on June 29 to estimate the percentage of claims that are fraudulent, current SSA officials did not respond.

The agency still has not responded to most of 15 questions about disability asked by The News on June 29.

The SSA has said in the past that it works hard to be fair to all disability claimants, and that it has been trying for years to shorten the waiting time for claimants.

In a brief statement sent to The News Friday evening, the agency said: Administrative law judges accept their positions knowing they are responsible for providing quality hearings and decisions in a high-volume caseload environment. A quality decision is factually accurate, procedurally adequate, policy compliant, timely issued, and supported by the evidence. ALJs have qualified decisional independence, which means they make decisions free from pressure to decide cases a certain way.

Several Buffalo attorneys said the agency sometimes makes decisions that seem to be at odds with the facts of a case, making the process stressful for many disability claimants.

You have people who are already sick and under a lot of stress when they apply for disability, said Kenmore attorney Richard G. Abbott. Some of these people have to fight the system for years before they are finally granted disability, and that process can be very stressful.

According to Abbott, Jeffrey Freedman and other Buffalo disability attorneys, there seems to be little logic behind some of the governments decisions to turn down claims.

I had one client who lost both his feet in an industrial accident, Abbott recalled. Social Security turned him down on his first application. He had to fight to get his disability.

A former insider speaks

The deck is stacked against disability claimants, according to Spencer Bishins, a former SSA insider who said the government agency punishes judges who tend to approve large numbers of disability claims.

Bishins is a lawyer who spent 11 years working for the SSA. He said he helped judges to write nearly 2,000 decisions on disability claims.

He also worked on the SSA Appeals Council, reviewing judges decisions for mistakes. Bishins now works as a disability rights lawyer in Tacoma, Wash., and he wrote a book called Social Security Disability Revealed.

According to Bishins, the SSA prefers judges who deny a high percentage of cases, while often conducting reviews of judges who most often find in favor of disability applicants.

Judges who pay large numbers of cases are sometimes sent for counseling, said Marilyn J. Zahm, a retired SSA judge from Buffalo. I never saw a judge sent for counseling for turning down too many applicants.

SSA officials denied that judges are pressured in any way on how to decide cases.

Among the nations 1,250 SSA judges, there is a huge disparity in approval rates. The latest available government study showed that one judge approved 97% of disability claims, while another approved 10%.

Both Rom and Zahm told The News that judges are rushed by the SSA to turn out decisions  with a goal of completing 500 to 600 cases a year.

They said some cases are extremely complex, requiring a judge to examine hundreds of pages of detailed medical reports, with different medical and vocational experts offering conflicting opinions.

On average, including the hearing, we get two to three hours to research a case, Rom said. For some cases, that is just not enough.

A judge only needs one piece of evidence from one medical expert to justify his or her ruling, even in cases where there are sharp disagreements between experts, said attorney David Camp.

$890,000 paid to medical expert

In Kelly Pages second hearing, 11 medical experts, one physical therapist and one vocational expert testified about her health and capability to work.

Judge Stephen Cordovanis ruling gave the most weight to the written report of Dr. Steven Goldstein, a neurologist from Houston who has a long and lucrative history as an expert witness paid by the SSA.

Goldstein, who never met or interviewed Kelly Page, reviewed her medical records and voiced the opinion that she can return to work.

The judge said he found Goldsteins opinion persuasive. But the opinion of a Buffalo doctor, who treated Page for years, examined her repeatedly and concluded that she cannot work, was found to be not persuasive.

Because of a rule change enacted by SSA in 2017, judges no longer have to explain in their decision why they are adopting one medical experts position while ignoring others.

Before that, the judges had to articulate in writing their reasoning for giving more weight to one doctors opinion, said Camp, who is chief policy officer for the National Association of Social Security Claimants Representatives.

Speaking of medical experts hired by the SSA to review cases, Camp said some experts are very good while some are disturbingly bad.

Ive seen reports from paid medical experts that looked like they were mass produced, like somebody just hit a button on a computer, Camp said.

A News reporter tried five times to reach Goldstein, who runs a medical practice in Houston in addition to his work as an SSA medical expert. He told me to tell you he is not interested in speaking with you, his assistant said after the fifth attempt.

According to government records, Goldstein was paid $890,250 by the SSA to consult on cases between 2010 and 2018, an average of $98,000 a year. The agency paid Goldstein $213,850 in 2018.

When The News asked for further details about the SSAs dealings with medical experts, including the total amount of money Goldstein has received from the agency, the SSA did not respond.

<&rule>

<&rdpEm>Coming Monday: How scam artists make it harder for legitimately ill people to get federal disability benefits.</&rdpEm>
Srinagar: The Srinagar DM imposed the restrictions under section 144 of the CRPC on the conduct of the association elections (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

The Jammu and Kashmir government has imposed restrictions on the conduct of elections of the J&K High Court Bar Association, citing the bodys alleged secessionist ideology and fears of breach of peace.

Mohammad Aijaz Asad, district magistrate of Srinagar, imposed the restrictions under section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure on the conduct of association elections. The situation could lead to breach of peace and disruption of public order, Asad said in an order issued on Saturday.

Therefore, I, District Magistrate, Srinagar, by virtue of the powers vested in me u/s 144 CrPC direct that no gathering of four or more persons shall be allowed in the premises of District Court Complex, Mominabad, Batamaloo or any other place for the purpose of conduct of HCBA elections till further orders, he said.

The Bar, which has been seeking peaceful resolution of the Kashmir issue, had to postpone its elections in 2020 as well, when the government had raised objections to the bodys stand.

Quoting a letter by the senior superintendent of police, Srinagar, the district magistrates order said there was a scuffle between the members of association and the Kashmir Advocates Association on July 13.

Whereas, Senior Superintendent of Police, Srinagar has highlighted that there is every possibility of internal rivalries between the two factions of the lawyers resulting in clashes between them, the order said.

The order also revealed inputs sought from intelligence agencies, which stated that the bar propounds a secessionist ideology and over the past three decades the activities of JKHCBA as chronicled include organizing hartals and bandhs, intimidating members of legal fraternity who do not subscribe to its ideology.

The intelligence reports strongly point out that the threat of use of violence and breach of peace and order in the instant matter is very high, it said.

The district magistrate also stated that they have already issued notice to the president of the bar and its election committee in 2020, seeking explanation on the bars constitution, whose objective is to find ways and means, take steps, for resolving the issues concerning public at large including larger issue of peaceful settlement of Kashmir issue.

The JKHCBA Srinagar was asked to explain its position on the subject, since the stand is not in congruence with the Constitution of India, whereby J&K is an integral part of the country and not a dispute; and also it is in conflict with Advocates Act, 1961, the order stated.

The administration had also sought the registration certificate of the association. Whereas, till date no response has been received from the J&K High Court Bar Association, Srinagar vis-a-vis the above points, particularly on the matter of JKHCBA Constitution being antithetical to sovereignty and integrity of the Country, the order said.

Any violation of this Order shall invite punitive action under Section 188 of Indian Penal Code, 1860, it said.

The bar has maintained that its stand was two decades old and in conformity with the Constitution of India, which is also the stand taken by the body before the Supreme Court in proceedings relating to abrogation of the Articles 370 and 35 A.
In June 2013, a midday cloudburst in the upper reaches of the Himalayas in Uttarakhand led to flash floods that claimed over 6,000 lives and swept away several settlements, including the one around the Kedarnath shrine, during the height of the pilgrimage season in what has been described as the worst natural disaster the state has ever witnessed. Rudraprayag,India,June 18:view of devastated Kedarnath temple surroundings due to rain fury on Sunday night,in Rudraprayag,India,June 18,2013. HT photo

Also read: Pilgrim influx crosses one million mark at Kedarnath Dham, breaks previous records

Ten years later, the Himalayan state remains extremely vulnerable to disasters exacerbated by unsustainable development. As lessons from the Kedranath tragedy went largely unheeded, the number of pilgrims to the Char Dham Hindu shrines have since increased beyond the carrying capacity of the valleys, experts said.

This year, over a million pilgrims have already visited Kedarnath till the end of June, with about another three months still remaining for the annual pilgrimage. Last year, that number was touched in August.

In 2014, an expert panel constituted by the Supreme Court suggested that authorities should limit the number of pilgrims visiting the four shrines. No more than 5,000 people should be allowed per day in Kedarnath, 6,000 in Badrinath, 3,500 in Yamunotri and around 4,000 in Gangotri, it said.

Prodded by the committee, the Uttarakhand government did impose a daily limit to the four shrines, which are open to pilgrims typically from end April or May to September every year, only to revoke it on April 21 on the eve of the start of the pilgrimage. It had earlier said the daily cap for pilgrims to Yamunotri would be 500, Gangotri 9,000, Badrinath 15,000 and Kedarnath 18,000.

Lessons from the Kedarnath disaster entailed a need for a sustainable and decentralized model of tourism based on the ecological carrying capacity of the fragile Himalayan ecology, said Hemant Dhyani, a noted environmentalist and member of the Supreme Court-appointed panel. Instead of assessing this, a rampant increase in pilgrim influx is overburdening fragile Himalayan valleys, Dhyani said.

Need for sustainable development

It is not just the number of pilgrims that are a problem, Dhyani said. Numerous experts opined that the higher Himalayas should be kept free from hydropower interventions, he said. Despite this, nothing was implemented and, as a result, we witnessed the aggravation of the 2021 Rishi Ganga flood and sinking of the Joshimath area, Dhyani said.

In February 2021, a glacial burst on Rishi Ganga in Chamoli district claimed 204 lives and nearly swept away parts of a hydropower project being built on the river. In January this year, dangerous cracks developed in several building in Joshimath, the gateway town to the Badrinath shrine, which led the evacuation of several hundreds of residents to safer locations. Many of them are still living in relief camps.

The mountains need a sustainable model of infrastructure development, Dhyani and other experts said.

Instead of a disaster and climate- resilient approach for infrastructure projects, the Char Dham railways, urbanization and various roads projects are being taken up without keeping in mind the fragility and sensitivity of the Himalayas, Dhyani said. Such unsustainable and irresponsible approach is in fact making our Himalayan region more vulnerable to disasters like cloudbursts, flashfloods and landslides.

In 2014, soon after the Kedarnath tragedy, an expert body set up by the Supreme Court has said hydropower projects should not be built in disaster-prone valleys north of the main central thrust (MCT) line, but the recommendations were not adopted. The hydropower project on the Rishi Ganga and Dhauliganga is located north of the MCT, which is highly prone to landslides, flashfloods and earthquakes. An interministerial group had also recommended in 2014 that such areas should be left pristine.

Rampant and unabated constructions are being undertaken against the opinion of scientists, geologists and experts in Uttarakhand, due to which the precariousness of disaster situations is increasing rapidly, said Anoop Nautiyal, a Dehradun-based social activist.

Environmental concerns are consistently getting brushed aside in lieu of development plans. The crowds coming to the Himalayas, including Kedarnath, are only increasing. There is a mad scramble to set new pilgrim arrival records, Nautiyal said. If the tourism influx and construction are not curbed and not managed properly, a tragedy like 2013 can happen again in Uttarakhand.

More than 400 villages displaced due to development are awaiting rehabilitation in the state since the government has not managed to resettle them in new locations, Nautiyal claimed. Landslides, avalanches, earthquakes, land subsidence, and extreme rainfall events are all increasing in intensity across the state. Uttarakhand needs to seriously plan and take care of its carrying capacity, he said.

The government should listen to experts and involve them in the policymaking process, Nautiyal said. Sustainable and regulated development with concern for future generations is the model that needs to be adopted and implemented.

Improving forecasts to prevent disasters

The authorities have also been found lacking in putting in place systems that would predict weather phenomenon quickly so that the human cost of disaster can be prevented.

A year after the 2013 tragedy, the then chief secretary Subhash Kumar had held talks with the Indian Meteorological Department for sett up Doppler radars in the state under the Union earth sciences ministrys Integrated Himalayan Meteorology programme.

It was aimed at improving weather forecast services in the Himalayan states and help in reducing human losses due to extreme weather events. Later, activist Ajay Gautam filed a public interest litigation in 2014, urging the Delhi high court to issue directives to the state government to establish advanced warning systems and Doppler radars.

Doppler radars help in providing extreme weather data in real-time and help officials in getting warning about storms in any region within two to three hours in advance. The severity of the weather systems can thus be quantitatively estimated more accurately and more precise advance warnings can be generated for saving human lives and property, Gautam said.

Also read: 8 CRPF personnel on way to Amarnath yatra injured in road accident

Despite the lawsuit and the courts repeated directions, there were delaying in deploying the radars, Gautam said. Two Doppler radars were set up in the past three years, while the third one is yet to be installed. Had they been set up early, it would have helped the authorities in the state a lot, he added.

Two Doppler radars have been installed, one at Mukteshwar in Nainital district in 2021, and another at Surkanda in Tehri Garhwal district in 2022, according to Bikram Singh, director of the weather offices Dehradun centre. The third radar will be set up at Lansdowne within the next two to three months, he said.

The rapidly increasing number of pilgrims during the char dham yatra is a worrying sigh, said geologist Y P Sudriyal, adjunct Professor at HNB Garhwal University. If it is not managed properly, a tragedy like 2013 can happen again, he said.

After the 2013 disaster, we conducted a survey and found that the Kedar valley had a capacity for only 25,000 pilgrims to stay, but that night, there were 40,000 people there. Now this balance has deteriorated further. The road, which was earlier branded as all weather, has now been branded as Char Dham Marg project, Sudriyal said.

Even 10 years after the Kedarnath tragedy, there are no early warning systems in the higher Himalayan valleys that can alert people downstream to vacate the river areas in case of calamitous events like glacial lake bursts or flashfloods due to landslides. The state government earlier this year said siren systems will be installed at 250 places under the Uttarakhand Multi-Hazard Early Warning System to check losses due to disasters.

Effect of climate change

The climate emergency will only increase the vulnerability to extreme weather events in the Himalayas, experts said. Himalayan glaciers are retreating due to global warming, triggering a host of related phenomenon that require close study. However, there are only around 10 or so glaciers being monitored among over 1,000 glaciers found in Uttarakhand, which include Gangotri, Chorabari , Dunagiri , Dokriyani and Pindari glaciers.

One major reason is the location of these glaciers in remote areas and the lack of enough funding for their regular monitoring, which requires the setting of observatories, sensors and other equipment in the valleys downstream, apart from regular ground surveys.

Besides the climate change factor, it is local factors that are precipitating human losses in extreme weather events, said Anil Joshi, founder of Himalayan Environmental Studies and Conservation Organization, a Dehradun-based non-profit.

Climate change and temperature will further aggravate the situation in the Himalayan state with regard to extreme rainfall events and flash floods. We need to have an effective strategy to deal with Kedarnath-like tragedies in the light of climate change, so that human losses can be checked and minimised, Joshi said.

In the last two decades, the bearing capacity of many mountains and Himalayan regions in the state has been exhausted, he said. People are working and settling in vulnerable areas, which has to stop.

There are multiple policy dimensions to the unfolding situation in the state, according to Piyoosh Rautela, executive director of the Uttarakhand State Disaster Management Authority.

Many things have been done in the past 10 years. We have strengthened our system to deal with disasters. Early warning systems have been set up in Dhauli Ganga and Tehri Dam and more will be set up in the coming time, Rautela said. But ultimately, it is people who have to be aware and show sensitivity when it comes to creating concrete structures in fragile areas.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR Neeraj Santoshi He is principal correspondent based at Bhopal. He covers environment and wildlife, state administration, BJP and other saffron organisations. He has special interest in social issues based stories. ...view detail
Lucknow: Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP) chief Om Prakash Rajbhar on Sunday announced his return to the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) following a meeting with Union home minister Amit Shah, a move that is likely to strengthen the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Uttar Pradesh ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. SBSP founder Om Prakash Rajbhar (right) and his son Arvind Rajbhar (left) call on home minister Amit Shah on Sunday. (ANI)

The announcement by the SBSP chief, who severed ties with the Samajwadi Party (SP) to join the ruling alliance, came minutes after Shah tweeted a photo of their meeting and welcomed OBC leader Rajbhar saying his entry will strengthen the NDA in Uttar Pradesh.

The BJP and the SBSP have come together. The two parties will fight together for social justice, national security, good governance, the deprived, exploited, farmers, poor, Dalits, youth and women, and to empower every poor section, Rajbhar tweeted in Hindi.

Rajbhars entry into the NDA fold underscores that there is a discernible acceleration in the BJPs efforts to build an alliance ahead of the 2024 general elections. It has come in the wake of recent events that saw a section of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) lawmakers led by Ajit Pawar joining the Shiv Sena-BJP government in Maharashtra. It is clear that the party that has emerged the political hegemon over the past decade is working to a script.

The SBSP chief was accompanied by his son Arvind Rajbhar during meeting with Shah. Rajbhars return to the NDA is likely to strengthen the alliance in Poorvanchal or eastern Uttar Pradesh, where the SBSP chief enjoys influence.

Rajbhar was a BJP ally and a minister in the state government, but had parted ways ahead of the 2022 assembly polls, where he was in alliance with the SP.

The development came two days ahead of the July 18 meeting of NDA partners in New Delhi, in which Prime Minister Narendra Modi will also take part. Rajbhar confirmed having received BJP chief JP Naddas invite for the meeting, where the SBSP would now be the third BJP ally from the politically most significant state that sends 80 lawmakers to the Lok Sabha.

The BJP already has a pact with two other OBC parties from east Uttar Pradesh  the Apna Dal (Sonelal) and the Nishad party.

Now, the 2024 Lok Sabha polls in Uttar Pradesh have been reduced to a no-contest as the opposition hardly stands a chance, Rajbhar said at a press conference. In the name of opposition unity, (Samajwadi Party chief) Akhilesh Yadavji and (Bahujan Samaj Party chief) Mayawati were engaged in a battle of one-upmanship but (Prime Minister) Narendra Modi showed he was the biggest of them all.

Reacting on the development, the Samajwadi Party said it will not have any impact on the proposed Opposition unity, a crucial second meeting of which will be held in Bengaluru on Monday and Tuesday.

After nine years at the Centre and six years in UP, the BJP is striking humiliating deals with caste leaders, who were highly critical of the BJP until last year. This shows that the BJP is jittery due to SP chief pitching PDA [an acronym for an alliance of pichda (backwards), dalit and alpshanyak (minorities)] as an answer to the NDA, SP spokesperson Sudhir Panwar said.

OP Rajbhar and Dara Singh Chauhan [who quit as an SP legislator on Saturday] wont make any difference (to opposition unity) as they have lost all credibility and people know the reason for their change of heart, Panwar added.

Political experts, meanwhile, said Union minister Shah is putting in an effort to ensure the BJP continued to get big numbers from UP by thwarting SP chief Akhilesh Yadavs call to defeat the NDA through PDA.

That Shah was personally monitoring the plan to get Rajbhars party with about 3% OBC vote in east UP on board, shows the fine planning of the BJP and their anxiousness to use the 80 Lok Sabha seats from UP to make up for possible loss of seats from states such as Karnataka and Bihar, Athar Siddiqui from the Centre for Objective Research and Development (CORD) said.

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Bhopal: Madhya pradesh chief minister Shivaraj Singh Chouhan says he is confident about 2023 elections. (ANI)

As he prepares for an electoral battle later this year to retain power in the state, Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said infrastructure development and welfare schemes of the government over the years have put the Bharatiya Janata Party leagues ahead of the Congress, and that will be key in bucking anti-incumbency to help script a poll victory for the party.

I am fully confident 2023 will not be 2018, he said in response to a question by HT at an interaction with the media in Bhopal over the weekend.

Chouhan, who has been in the seat of power since 2005, barring a 15-month period in 2018 when the party lost the election, said he was confident that the party will not face the fate it met at the last election.

In 2018, the BJP won 109 of the 230 seats, while the Congress won 114 to form the government, but in March 2020, after 21 legislators resigned from the Congress and crossed over to the BJP, Chouhan was back in the chief ministers chair.

Development and welfare

The government, he said, is banking on development, social welfare schemes and avenues for employment generation to win the mandate.

There is no match for our development work. I will give you just one example. Take irrigation; the state has broken all records, there has been a growth of 18% in the sector in a decade and a half and that is nothing short of magical. During the British rule and then during the Congress regime, only 7.5 lakh hectare was irrigated, now it is 27 lakh hectare, and the aim is to scale it to 65 lakh hectare, he said.

Having identified development as a key poll plank, Chouhan said, There is no comparison between the Congress and us when it comes to development, roads, power, etc. Vikas ko mudda banane ke liye hum jee jaan se prayas karenge aur who bana chahiye aur who log sweekar karte hai (We will make all efforts to make development the issue, as it should be and that it is accepted by the people).

The chief minister is hopeful that the social welfare programmes, particularly those that have been designed for women and the economically and socially backward will help the party tide over the administrative deficiencies, allegations of corruption and unemployment.

The government is for lok kalyan (peoples welfare). Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) says gareeb kalyan (welfare of the poor) is our sankalp (resolution). We have done great work in that sphere, and we will make it front and centre (of our election campaign), he said.

Unemployment and corruption

Counting the increase in number of educational institutions, including medical colleges that have gone up from five to 25, the chief minister said the government has made attempts to not only provide quality education, but create an environment for job creation.

We are in the process of granting government jobs. We have given 100,000 jobs and will give another 50,000. Every month there is a rozgaar divas (employment day) in which 2.5 to 3 lakh are given loans for self-employment and the government provides a guarantee and interest subsidy, he said.

He referred to the Seekho Kamao (learn and earn) scheme started by the state government as an example of equipping the youth to become entrepreneurs and job creators.

We will not give unemployment dole. We will pay a stipend of 8-10,000 as people get trained in various sectors. A bird does not give a nest to its young, it gives them wings, unemployment dole is a nest; we are focussing on job creation, he said.

The governments claims notwithstanding, the Congress has targeted the state for not being able to fulfil job promises and for irregularities in induction. Over the past few weeks, there have been protests across the state against the alleged irregularities in the exam conducted by the Madhya Pradesh Employees Selection Board in March.

The Congress, which has dubbed the alleged irregularities as a throwback to the Vyapam scam (which involved 13 different exams conducted by Vyapam for selection of medical students and state government employees where the results were rigged) has demanded a judicial or Central Bureau of Investigation probe into alleged irregularities in the recruitment exam for patwaris (revenue officials).

Reacting to allegations, the chief minister said a probe has been ordered. There was no problem earlier; there were no complaints when 55,000 jobs were given. They (Congress) have raised this issue, it is not good, but sandeh se pare cheez hone chaihye (everything should be without doubt). So, I have decided we will clear doubts and till then no appointments will be made. Such things have happened in so many states, paper leaks, etc, he said.

Caste factor

The Chouhan government was recently in the eye of a storm after a video showing a BJP worker urinating on a tribal man emerged. It has been assiduously wooing the tribal and the other backward classes. In 2018, the BJPs electoral setback was attributed largely to the cold shoulder that the party received from the scheduled tribes that are about 21% and together with the scheduled castes account for 37% of the states population.

Chouhan, who washed the victims feet at his residence, said he was heartbroken by the incident and sought to pay penance. The incident caused grief and hurt. Nobody can condone that, and I thought I should be the one to pay penance, he said. To another question on whether governments response of demolishing the house of the accused Pravesh Shukla has wedged differences between the upper castes and the others, the chief minister categorically dismissed it as a non-issue. I dont care about that, he said.

Schisms between castes was another issue that was flagged for having caused the upset in 2018. Following protests by SCs against changes in the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes Prevention of Atrocities Act (PoA) by the Supreme Court, which were subsequently reversed after the union government brought in an ordinance, violence had erupted in Madhya Pradesh.

The government had then moved in to placate the upper castes by announcing 10% quotas in government jobs and educational institutions for the economically backward.

Anti-incumbency and fatigue

The chief minister is unfazed by the criticism over his government following the Uttar Pradesh model of razing the properties of those suspected to be involved in crimes and said he wears both the sobriquets of mama (uncle) and bulldozer mama with ease.

The congenial, affable mama, he said, was for the common people, but the tough guy image was imperative to create fear among criminals.

In 2006, when I became the CM, there were many dacoits in MP. We decided that no dacoits will be allowed here, and by the end of that year, they were either killed or they surrendered, he said. A similar exercise was carried out to contain naxalism, he said.

Anyone who is a dusht (evil person) and against humanity has been dealt with in the past and will be in the future too. Even now those who commit crimes against women they get bail and repeat offences, we decided to instill fear in them. So, we take steps to break illegal structures, he said, defending the governments move.

On how he will face anti-incumbency and fight the perception of fatigue that has come to be associated with him, Chouhan said local anti-incumbency is always there and to address that the BJP will assess the situation and drop those against whom there is anti- incumbency.

As for himself, I am not worried, he said. Wherever I go I hear, mama, mama.

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Nine people, including five women, were arrested on Sunday in connection with the brutal killing of a woman in the Sawombung area of Manipur's Imphal East district, police said. Soon after her body was found, the police cordoned off the area and carried out searches.

The body of the woman, who was in her mid-50s and shot in the face, was found from her residence on Saturday evening. Her assailants had disfigured her face before fleeing.

On its official Twitter handle, the Manipur Police said nine people, including five women, have been arrested in connection with the killing of the woman in the Keibi Heikakmapal Maning Ching area.

Two weapons, five rounds of ammunition and a car were seized in connection with the case, the police said.

According to officials, the victim, who was believed to have been suffering from mental health issues, belonged to the Maring Naga community.

Soon after her body was found, the police cordoned off the area and carried out searches. They also recorded the statements of people to identify the killers and bring them to justice.

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Seema Ghulam Haider, a Pakistani mother of four, sneaked into India to live with a Hindu man whom she befriended through an online game platform PUBG in 2019. After five days behind bars, Seema and Greater Noida local Sachin Meena, earlier this month, stepped out of the Luksar Jail in Gautam Budh Nagar. Sachin Meena (L) and Seema Haider. (AFP)

While Seema was arrested on July 4 for illegally entering India without a visa via Nepal with her four children, all aged below seven years, Sachin was put behind bars for sheltering the illegal immigrants.

But now, Seema's neighbours and a relative made it clear that they don't want her back in Pakistan, news agency PTI reported.

"She should just send her children back to Pakistan. She can stay there. Now she is no longer even a Muslim, said the 16-year-old son of the landlord in whose rented home Seema stayed with her children for the last three years before deciding to illegally enter India to be with her Hindu lover.

Earlier, Seema told HT's Ashni Dhaor that she had been her husband since March this year when the two married at the Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu.

I cant live without Sachin, and because he is my husband, Ive accepted his religion and culture as my own and changed the names of my four children, who call Sachin Baba. Sachins parents have also accepted me, and I have adopted all their cultural practices and will continue to live with them, said 27-year-old Seema.

What we know about Seema Haider

Seema's home is in a neighbourhood of Bhittaiabad a Katchi Abadi in the heart of Gulistan-e-Jauhar and it is a three-room portion in a building devoid of any paint and located in a narrow lane full of garbage and overflowing sewerage, PTI reported.

Her husband Ghulam Haider works in Saudi Arabia.

"She was a tenant with us for three years with her children. She lived alone with her children. Her father-in-law lives some distance away from here, Nur Muhammad, the landlords son, told the news agency.

Seema and Ghulam Haider had eloped 10 years back to Karachi and got married against the wishes of their parents.

Mian Mithoo, a high-profile religious leader in rural Sindh, known for using his seminary to convert Hindu girls to Islam and even bandits, has openly threatened to punish Seema if she returns.

His supporters have also threatened to attack Hindu worship places in Seemas village but SSP Kashmore-Kandhkot, Irfan Samoo, assured Hindus and Sikhs they would be protected.

Samoo is not convinced that a woman with a rural background would have the courage to plan her way to India via Dubai and Kathmandu.

An officer at the police station in Karachi where Seemas father-in-law filed an FIR is also not convinced that it is a simple case as it looks.

The husband also keeps changing his stories to the police. First, he said he bought the house now he says he paid one million rupees to Seemas family to settle a tribal decision when they first fled to Karachi, he said.

Seema-Sachin love story

Talking about how they fell in love, Seema said they began talking to each other in July 2020, during the Covid-19 pandemic.

I used to talk to many strangers online while playing PubG because I kept the mic on. Thats how I met Sachin, and we started chatting on the chatbox. We used to play for hours on end, even four hours and never stopped talking. After about four months, we exchanged phone numbers and began communicating via voice and video. We confessed our love for each other by January 2021, Seema told HT.

According to the couple, they were inspired by the film Gadar, whose plot revolves around a cross-border love story between an Indian man and a Pakistani woman.

(With inputs from PTI)

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR Aniruddha Dhar Have 11 years' experience in print and digital media. Write on politics, defence and world affairs, and have a keen eye for human-interest stories. ...view detail
Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sunday said that the bond between India and France transcends time, resonating with their shared principles, and that, he will always cherish his recent visit to the European nation. He was responding to President Emmanuel Macron's video, offering a glimpse of Modi's visit to France, shared on his Twitter profile. French President Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Narendra Modi capturing a selfie in Paris on Friday. (ANI Photo)

PM Modi tweeted, India and Francea bond that transcends time, echoing in our shared values and kindling our collective dreams. I will always cherish my recent visit to France. Thank you my friend, President Emmanuel Macron.

Macron's two-minute long video was shared with a message reading To the people of India, trust and friendship.

PM Modi visited France on July 13-14 to attend its national day also known as Bastille Day celebrations.

'Boost to bilateral ties'

Modi's crucial two-nation tour to France and UAE culminated with India strengthing co-operation with both the nations across many sectors, giving a boost to bilateral ties. India-France agreed on intensifying maritime cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, working closely to end plastic pollution, offering development solutions to the countries of the Indo-Pacific region, among other initiatives.

The two nations also agreed on growing cooperation in strategic areas, such a space and science. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was inked between the two nation on collaborative research in area of Deep Ocean Mission, and exchanging scientific and technical expertise. A Letter of Intent was issued for Cooperation in the field of health and medicine.

MoUs on cooperation in aviation sector, digital technologies were other pacts inked during Modi's visit.

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The Om Prakash Rajbhar-led Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party or SBSP has returned to the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha election, Union home minister Amit Shah tweeted after their meeting on Sunday. Union home minister Amit Shah with OP Rajbhar (right)

Met Shri @oprajbhar ji in Delhi and decided to join the NDA alliance led by Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi ji. I welcome him to the NDA family, Shah tweeted.

The arrival of Rajbhar ji will strengthen the NDA in Uttar Pradesh and the efforts being made by the NDA under the leadership of Modi ji for the welfare of the poor and downtrodden will get further strength, he added.

On his decision of joining the NDA, Rajbhar said, "We met Union Home Minister Amit Shah on July 14 and discussed various issues and decided to fight the 2024 elections together. I want to thank PM Modi, Amit Shah, CM Yogi Adityanath for taking us along."

SBSP president Arvind Rajbhar said the party was in alliance with the NDA in 2017, but it separated owing to some issues. "This time, the alliance has been worked out after agreement on those issues," he said.

Speculation was rife that the SBSP could join the NDA ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls after Rajbhar, a former minister, had met Uttar Pradesh deputy chief minister Brajesh Pathak at the latters Raj Bhavan Colony residence in Lucknow on Tuesday.

Both Rajbhar and his partys general secretary Arun had played down the meeting describing it as a personal meeting.

Pathak has been seen on several occasions with Rajbhar. Apart from Pathak, Yogi Adityanath's transport minister Daya Shankar Singh too had been active in attempting a pact between the BJP and the SBSP.

Earlier deputy chief minister Keshav Prasad Maurya had said the party high command would take a call on the tie-up.

The buzz is that the BJP is interested in a Nishad party type arrangement with Rajbhar by offering a Lok Sabha ticket from Ghazipur to Rajbhars son and making Om Prakash a cabinet minister in Yogi 2.0.

Some others suggested that while the BJP was only willing to leave a solitary seat to the SBSP, the latter was pushing for about three to four Lok Sabha seats by citing SBSPs ability to win the seats in association with the BJP.

(With inputs from Bureau in Lucknow)

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In a big boost for the Aam Aadmi Party and Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi government, the Congress on Sunday said it won't support the Centre's ordinance on control of services in the national capital. Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.

"I think they (AAP) are going to join the meeting tomorrow. As for the ordinance (on control of services in Delhi), our stand is very clear. We are not going to support it," said Congress general secretary KC Venugopal told news agency PTI on the Opposition's meeting scheduled to be held in Bengaluru on Monday.

The Congress on Saturday said it has always fought against the Modi government's assaults on the constitutional rights and responsibilities of democratically elected state governments and will oppose such attempts both inside and outside Parliament.

Welcoming the Congress decision, AAP Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha said, Congress announces its unequivocal opposition to the Delhi Ordinance.

Earlier on Sunday, when asked if the AAP would attend the Opposition meeting in Bengaluru, Kejriwal told reporters that he can only comment on this after the Political Affairs Committee (PAC) meeting.

The Congress's assertion, without any direct reference to the Delhi ordinance issue, comes amid its ongoing tussle with the AAP, which has demanded that the party must clear its stand to pave the way for it to attend the Bengaluru meeting of Opposition parties and other such future conclaves.

Omar Abdullah, whose National Congress is part of Opposition unity, tweeted, Exactly what the Congress President had conveyed & committed to the AAP leadership when we met in Patna. The Congress was unequivocal about their stand with regard to the Ordinance.

The top leadership of the Congress held its parliamentary strategy group meeting where it discussed various issues to be raised during the Monsoon Session of Parliament beginning July 20.

Centre promulgated Govt of NCT of Delhi (Amendment) Ordinance

On May 19, the Centre had promulgated the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Ordinance, 2023, to create an authority for the transfer and posting of Group-A officers in Delhi.

The AAP government has termed it as a deception with the Supreme Court verdict on control of services.

Asked if the ordinance issue was discussed in the parliamentary strategy group meeting and whether the Congress would oppose the bill related to it in Parliament, Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said the party has always fought against the Modi government's "assaults" on the constitutional rights and responsibilities of democratically elected state governments and local bodies.

"This assault comes directly and this assault comes from the appointees of the Modi government like the governors. Congress has opposed this in Parliament and we will continue to oppose it, there is no question of not opposing it," he said.

"There are various assaults and it takes various forms. Constitutional bodies are weakened, constitutional agencies are misused, Constitutional bodies are ignored. Let me give you an example, the national commission on scheduled tribes had clearly said to the Modi government that they are against the laws of forest conservation for being against the tribals, but they were ignored," he said.

"We will oppose it in Parliament and outside Parliament," he added.

The Congress Parliamentary Strategy Group meeting was chaired by parliamentary party chief Sonia Gandhi and attended by the likes of AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge and Ramesh, among others.

Opposition meeting in Bengaluru on Monday

Asked if the AAP is part of the 24 parties that will be attending the Bengaluru meeting, Ramesh said, "As per I know, the Aam Aadmi Party is one of the 24, coming to Bengaluru."

The opposition grouping to take on the BJP in the next Lok Sabha polls is set to expand with more parties joining in at the second unity meeting being convened by the Congress next week in Bengaluru.

Leaders of 24 non-BJP parties have been invited for the meet on June 17 and 18, the first edition of which saw the participation of 15 parties.

At the first meeting in Patna last month, Opposition parties had resolved to take on the BJP unitedly in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. However, fissures had also emerged with the AAP asserting that it would be difficult for it to be part of any such gathering in the future till the Congress publicly supports it on the ordinance issue.

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New Delhi: Long incarceration without conclusion of trial militates against the most precious fundamental right to liberty, the Supreme Court has asserted while holding that an accused cannot be made to remain behind bars for an indefinite period under the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act just because the law requires a courts satisfaction that the person is not guilty. The Supreme Court asserts that an accused cannot be made to remain behind bars for an indefinite period. (ANI)

A bench of justices Surya Kant and Dipankar Datta was categorical that liberty of an individual will take precedence over the statutory embargo under the NDPS Act in the given facts of the case, and that the period of incarceration of an accused shall be a relevant factor.

The prolonged incarceration generally militates against the most precious fundamental right guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution and in such a situation, the conditional liberty must override the statutory embargo created under section 37(1)(b)(ii) of the NDPS Act, stated the bench in its order last week.

Article 21 of the Constitution gives all individuals the fundamental right to life and personal liberty. Through a catena of Supreme Court judgments, the right to speedy trial has been acknowledged as an extension of Article 21.

In a reversal of the ordinary legal principle that underlines the presumption of innocence in favour of the accused, the NDPS Act ascribes culpability on the accused for the alleged offence under section 35 and puts the onus on him or her to rebut the legal presumption during the trial. Further, section 37 of the Act states that no accused shall be released on bail unless the prosecutor is given an opportunity to oppose such a plea and the court is also satisfied that there are grounds to believe that the accused is not guilty of the alleged offence.

The Supreme Court, through a range of judgments, has upheld the stringent conditions laid down under section 35 and 37 while clarifying that investigating officers must comply with all the procedural requirements under the Act.

In the present case, the top court was considering the bail plea of a man, jailed in Odisha under charges of possessing commercial quantities of narcotics. He faced a minimum of 10 years in jail.

While the Orissa high court declined to release him on bail citing the stringent provisions under the NDPS Act, the Supreme Court bench said the personal liberty of a person must outweigh the legal bar against the grant of bail when the conclusion of trial looks a distant proposition.

It noted that the man has already spent three-and-half years behind bars whereas the trial court has so far recorded the statement of just one of the 19 witnesses in the case.

The conclusion of trial will, thus, take some more time. As regards the twin conditions contained in section 37 of the NDPS Act, learned counsel for the State has been duly heard. Thus, the first condition stands complied with. So far as the second condition  Re: formation of opinion as to whether there are reasonable grounds to believe that the petitioner is not guilty, the same may not be formed at this stage when he has already spent more than three-and-half-years in custody, the court recorded in its order.

The bench proceeded to grant bail to the accused, imposing certain strict conditions for the relief so as to ascertain that his release does not impact either the pace or the outcome of the trial.

In a series of judgment, the Supreme Court has maintained that its power to grant bail is not circumscribed.

In February 2021, the top court ruled that an accused is entitled to bail even under stringent anti-terror laws when there is little possibility of the trial being completed early. The court granted bail to KA Najeeb, facing trial in Kerala under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act for allegedly chopping off a professors hand.

Once it is obvious that a timely trial would not be possible and the accused has suffered incarceration for a significant period of time, the courts would ordinarily be obligated to enlarge them on bail, the court held at that time.

In P Chidambaram Vs Directorate of Enforcement (2020), the top court clarified that economic offences cannot be categorised into one group and denied bail on that basis. Even if the allegation is one of grave economic offence, it is not a rule that bail should be denied in every case since there is no such bar created in the relevant enactment passed by the legislature nor does the bail jurisprudence provide so, the court declared.

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ALBANY  During its first year of existence, the states new ethics and lobbying watchdog agency launched three new investigations, opening inquiries at a slower rate than its much-criticized predecessor had in recent years.

The new agency did not bring any enforcement action during its first year, leveling no penalty against the more than 300,000 state public officials and thousands of lobbyists its charged with regulating.

The Commission on Ethics and Lobbying and Government (COELIG), came into being on July 8, 2022. The slow start in launching investigations was a result of significant staff turnover during the transition, according to commission spokeswoman Emily DeSantis.

Over 11 months, the new agency received 149 tips, complaints or reports alleging potential wrongdoing, according to monthly operations reports. In response, the body launched three full investigations, sending three letters to targets  known as 15-day letters  asking them to respond to allegations, according to the agency.

Those three new investigations did not target any current elected official or state employee, according to the agency.

The three 15-day letters were sent in early 2023, and all went to former state executive branch officials and employees. In addition, two cases originally begun by the predecessor agency, the Joint Commission on Public Ethics (JCOPE), have reached the stage where a due process hearings have been scheduled.

Without a search, New York's new ethics panel appoints interim director to permanent post Sanford Berland, who will earn $220,000 annually, had previously been the executive director of the states prior ethics oversight agency, the Joint Commission on Public Ethics.

One of those hearings is set to be held in September, according to court filings. The target of the allegations: Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

The predecessor agency, JCOPE, was not known for investigative vigor. But during its final two full years in operation, the body had been more active than the new one has been so far.

In 2020, JCOPE launched 13 full investigations and sent 22 of the 15-day letters. In 2021, that commission launched eight full investigations and sent 15 letters, according to state records.

During its 11-year existence, JCOPE was often criticized for lacking independence from the elected officials it regulated. In the wake of sexual harassment allegations that forced Cuomos resignation in August 2021, Gov. Kathy Hochul promised to disband and replace JCOPE with a more independent body.

But government reform groups slammed an April 2022 law creating the new commission, the result of a Hochul compromise with a Legislature reluctant to relinquish influence over the body. While there were significant changes, reform groups argued that because commissioners would still be appointed by top state elected officials, the new body would continue to lack independence.

Our expectations for this commission were not high, knowing that the commissioners were still appointed by elected officials, said Rachael Fauss, a senior policy adviser at the government reform group Reinvent Albany. I will say, there does seem to be a recognition that this commission needs to work very hard to prove itself. Were not really seeing it yet in practice, in terms of tough investigations. But at least at a policy level right now, they seem to be putting in place the right rules and discussing in detail how to be less secretive.

The new commission did not conduct a hiring search before announcing Sanford Berlands appointment as its executive director in December. No one else was interviewed. The commissioners rationale was that they could not delay their important work on behalf of New Yorkers by conducting a broader search. Berland had served as the executive director of the prior ethics agency since April 2021, and stayed on as interim leader before being hired to a full, four-year term.

Other staff vacancies are the main reason for the lack of new investigations, according to the agency. Key staffers from JCOPE departed during the transition, and for several months, only two people worked in the investigations and enforcement unit. The two people now leading the division were hired in April.

By law, the new commission was required to release an annual report detailing its work by April 1. The report has been delayed, and now isnt expected until September  another result of staff turnover, according to the agency.

One clear priority for Berland, however, has been implementing a new ethics training program, a demanding and time-consuming mandate of the 2022 law requiring a thirty-fold increase in the number of state officials and employees required to undergo ethics training every year. Since the laws expansion, more than 50,000 state officials have undergone the training, according to the agency.

During its first year, staff has also focused on a comprehensive review of prior ethics and lobbying regulations and advisory opinions  to ensure it conforms with the new ethics law  as well as formulating and implementing a plan to increase agency staffing levels by 40%. There were several new transparency initiatives, and the agency has been adjusting to complying with the states Freedom of Information Law, which had not covered the prior ethics agency.

Tips dismissed

Under the 2022 law creating the new ethics body, launching investigations was meant to become easier.

The 2011 law creating JCOPE allowed a minority of the bodys commissioners to secretly veto the commencement of a full-blown inquiry. Cuomo appointed six of that bodys 14 commissioners, and for most of its existence, the body directed little scrutiny toward him.

The law creating the new commission eliminated the special voting rules, easing the path to begin full investigations. And unlike the prior commission, staff at the new body can now itself elevate a preliminary inquiry into a full investigation  without seeking the consent of the commissioners.

In New York Senate, lawmakers change their votes, sometimes days later In the State Senates rules, there is no provision allowing votes taken by lawmakers to be retroactively altered, nor is there any rule dictating the amount of time a lawmaker has to request such a change. Yet, it is a practice that exists.

At a meeting in late June, Commission Chairman Frederick Davie indicated that the commissioners so far have never spiked an investigation staff wanted to pursue.

I would hope that that will never happen on my watch, Davie said.

On April 19, the ethics commission announced the hiring of Brian Weinberg as director of investigations and enforcement and Michael Antolini as deputy director. Weinberg is now interviewing candidates to fill the four remaining positions in the division.

Despite lacking staff at the top of the investigations division for several months  a reason cited for the lack of new inquiries  commission staff during that period dismissed more than 90 tips and complaints alleging wrongdoing.

According to state data, during its first 11 months, the staff or commissioners closed 105 matters. While some were dismissed because they were clearly outside the commissions jurisdiction, a majority were not outside its purview, state data indicates.

Our reduced investigations staff continued to review and collect evidence in matters that came before the commission, said DeSantis, the agency spokeswoman. When the information collected in the preliminary review process or otherwise required that staff recommend that a matter be closed, staff made that recommendation to the commission. Our new investigations leadership team is moving full speed ahead on investigative matters.

The body does not have endless time to investigate complaints. Under state law, a person who leaves state government must be notified of a potential ethics investigation within two years, or else is no longer subject to the bodys jurisdiction. A similar two-year statute of limitations pertains to lobbyists.

The agency says its mindful of all jurisdictional periods and related timing issues.

Enforcement actions

At a meeting in October, the new agencys commissioners voted to continue all investigations that JCOPE had launched, a move meant to allow the new agency not to repeat time-consuming legal steps.

None of those investigations, however, have yielded an enforcement action or a settlement penalizing a state employee or lobbyist.

While most of those matters remain confidential, details of one high-profile case have emerged in court filings: an inquiry into whether Cuomo illegally used government staff to help write a book about his response to the the Covid-19 pandemic that earned him $5 million.

JCOPE planned a hearing where Cuomo would face allegations of misusing state resources for personal benefit, but was disbanded before the hearing could occur. The new commission scheduled a hearing for June, but that has been delayed by a Cuomo lawsuit. The ex-governor alleges the new commissions structure is unconstitutional, and the ethics enforcement case targeting Cuomo must cease.

Albany's final session day: Election overhaul, campaign reform rollback, reparations In the waning hours of the 2023 state legislative session, Albany lawmakers are passing bills upending local elections, rolling back a campaign finance reform, sealing criminal convictions and much more. Here's the latest.

A judges ruling on the commissions legality is expected by mid-August. The ethics commission hearing on the Cuomo book deal is scheduled to occur Sept. 26, although the outcome of the lawsuit could again upend plans.

The commissions Cuomo-related cases will not test whether the new body is independent of current elected officials, including Hochul and leaders in the Legislature. Still, Fauss said, cases involving the ex-governor will be an early litmus test.

If youre not going to hold the former administration accountable, she said, youre certainly not going to hold the current one accountable.
Amid soaring tomato prices, the Centre on Sunday swung into action and brought down its wholesale rate to 80 per kg across Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, said government sources. Tomatoes were sold from anywhere between  80 per kg to  200 per kg. (PTI file)

Underlining that the relief only transpired after the Centres intervention, the Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution Ministry said the tomato prices would be effective starting today.

There has been a decrease in the wholesale prices of tomatoes due to the intervention of the government to sell it at a concessional rate of 90 per kg, at several locations in the country where the prices were ruling exceptionally high. After a re-assessment of the situation from across 500-plus points in the country, it has been decided to sell it at Rupees Eighty (80) per kg from today Sunday July 16th, 2023, the sources said.

The government also suggested that the National Consumers Cooperative Federation of India Limited (NCCF) and National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED) would be facilitating the sale of the vegetables at a cheaper price in several locations across Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Patna for now.

Sales have started today at several points each in Delhi, Noida, Lucknow, Kanpur, Varanasi, Patna, Muzaffarpur and Arrah through NAFED and NCCF. It will be expanded to more cities from tomorrow depending upon the prevailing market prices at such locations, sources added.

The NCCP and NAFED had already been suggested by the government on July 12 to purchase vegetables from producing states and distribute them to consuming centres at reasonable prices.

Prices of tomatoes and some other vegetables in the national capital soared to sky-rocketing rates for at least a month now, ever since a delayed monsoon hit various regions of north India, clubbed with weak rainfall.

Vegetable vendors and wholesale dealers had attributed that the same had resulted in damage to the tomato crops, thereby limiting the availability of adequate supply and causing a price increase.

According to media reports, tomatoes were sold from anywhere between 80 per kg to 200 per kg in the same period.
Washington: The United States (US) has welcomed the report of the G20 independent expert group on strengthening multilateral development banks (MDBs), including its focus on expanding the mandate of banks to include global public goods, making their operating systems more responsive through changes in culture, incentives and risk-appetite, and ensuring greater public sector engagement. US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen addresses mediapersons on the sidelines of a G20 finance ministers' summit in Gandhinagar on Sunday. (AFP)

While refraining from committing to a capital increase just yet, US treasury secretary Janet Yellen, speaking at a press conference in Gandhinagar where she is attending the third G20 finance ministers and central bank governors (FMCBG) meeting, also supported the swift implementation of the capital adequacy framework recommendations. But, she added: I believe that we should only explore capital increases after considering the reforms that I laid out along with those in the report. We should build better banks, not just bigger ones. Capital increase refers to the enhanced financial commitment by shareholders to banks to meet their growing needs.

Several factors have come together to make MDB reform a pressing agenda. Substantively, there is an effort to expand the World Banks mandate from eliminating extreme poverty and boosting shared prosperity to addressing transboundary challenges including the climate crisis. Under the Indian presidency, the G20 has set up an independent expert group on MDB reform, which is led by former US treasury secretary Larry Summers and veteran Indian policymaker and chairman of the 15th Finance Commission, NK Singh. The World Bank itself is in the middle of its evolution road map, which seeks to re-examine its objectives, operating modalities and finances. The Bank also has a new president, Ajay Banga, who has made reform a top agenda.

HT first reported that the first of a two-part report of the MDB expert group is complete and will be discussed at the Gandhinagar meet.

Providing the context, Yellen said that ahead of the annual meetings of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund last year, the US had joined other shareholders to call for an evolution of the MDB system.

The World Bank is updating its mission statement and refreshing its operating model. And we are working with the World Bank and the regional development banks to implement measures that will more efficiently leverage the resources they have. Our reforms to the World Banks balance sheet will responsibly unlock as much as $50 billion in additional lending capacity over the next decade. Yellen added that the MDB system can unlock $200 billion over the next decade just from the measures already being implemented or under deliberation, as a part of what has come to be termed balance sheet optimisation.

There is potential for even more if the MDBs undertake some of the longer-term and more complex recommendations in the G20 Capital Adequacy Framework report. This is $200 billion more in funding that we can use to advance key global priorities: spurring economic growth and reducing poverty, fighting climate change, and promoting human development.

Yellen said at a summit on a new global financing pact last month, Banga had also announce a package of measures to assist countries in responding to natural disasters, including pausing debt payments. This is particularly important for countries that are especially vulnerable to climate shocks. We now need to translate this momentum into further action.

Outlining the next steps and priorities, Yellen mentioned four issues.

First, I will work with the World Bank and my counterparts to push for a framework and principles for the targeted use of concessional financing for global challenges. This will enable us to deploy concessional financing toward areas of greatest impact. I will also be talking to counterparts about ideas for how we can help boost the World Banks concessional lending for both low-income countries and to support IBRD borrowers as they tackle global challenges like climate. The International Development Association, part of the World Bank, provides concessional financing to low income countries while the International Bank of Reconstruction and Development that Yellen referred to lends to middle-income countries.

Yellen added, Second, the World Bank should create a mechanism to allocate additional resources to countries that seek Bank financing to combat global challenges. During his state visit to the US last month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Joe Biden, in the joint statement, India and the US agreed to secure G20 commitment to create a major new dedicated pool of funds at the World Bank to deploy concessional lending for global challenges.

Yellen said the third priority was to see the Bank explore options for lending to sub-sovereign and supra-sovereign actors, like COVAX, to address global challenges. And the final priority, Yellen said, was to streamline the climate finance architecture  a significant source of concessional finance  and to make sure that the development banks and specialized funds work together to deliver maximum impact.

Acknowledging that public financing alone could not fully deliver on the massive challenges, Yellen said it was essential for MDBs to ramp up their private capital mobilisation rates.

This is when she welcomed the recent report of the G20 MDB expert group as a useful input to the above agenda.

I am pleased with the reports emphasis on incorporating global public goods into the mandates of the MDBs  along with its focus on making the operating model of the institutions more responsive through changes to culture, incentives, and risk appetite. I also share the call for much more ambitious private sector engagement and efforts to make the whole system work better together.

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Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday said the AAP government should not blame other states for the flood-like situation in Delhi and rather focus on resolving the issue. Sarma said that Assam also witnesses floods because of the water from China and Bhutan but his government has set a scientific response instead of blaming their governments. Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal.

The Aam Aadmi Party accused the BJP-led governments at the Centre and in Haryana of hatching a conspiracy to plunge the national capital into a flood crisis by releasing water from the Hathnikund Barrage. Delhi ministers Atishi and Saurabh Bharadwaj, who were recently inducted into Kejriwal's cabinet to fill the shoes of Manish Sisodia and Satyendar Jain, questioned the Haryana government over the water not being released to the other states, especially the eastern canal which goes to UP.

I am seeing various statements that the water is coming from Haryana and UP. Water doesn't know any geography. We also receive water from Arunachal Pradesh, China and Bhutan but we do not criticise them as we believe that this is a natural phenomenon and we have to set a scientific response for it, Assam chief minister told reporters.

Blaming other state governments is not going to solve the problem, it is your problem and you have to resolve it by yourself, he added amid a blame game over the flood-like situation in the national capital.

Earlier in the day, Sarma also took a jibe at Kejriwal reminding him about his past invitation to Delhi and said he is ready to visit Kejriwal's house.

"I am still waiting for the invitation. It's been six months. If the invitation comes today, I am ready to visit his house," the BJP leader said in an apparent swipe at the waterlogging near Kejriwal's house in Delhi's Civil Lines.

Kejriwal vs Himanta

The war of words between Kejriwal and Himanta Biswa Sarma started during the pandemic when the then Delhi deputy CM Manish Sisodia linked Assam CM's wife Riniki Bhuyan Sarma with a PPE kit row. Kejriwal and Himanta fought over their job claims and the Delhi CM extended invitation to his Assamese counterpart for a tour of Delhi's schools and hospitals. To this, Himanta said he accepts the invitation but he will visit the places where he wants to go, not where Kejriwal wants to take him.

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The AAP-led Delhi government received a major boost to its efforts to defeat the bill related to the Centre's controversial ordinance on the control of Delhi's administrative services after the Congress party cleared its stance on Sunday. Congress general secretary KC Venugopal said the party's stand is clear as it will oppose any such move by the Centre to intervene in states ruled by opposition parties through the governors and has decided to oppose the Delhi ordinance in Parliament whenever a bill comes up. A poster of Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal is put up on the eve of the Opposition meeting, in Bengaluru on Sunday.(ANI)

"We are consistently opposing the attempts of the Union government to sabotage federalism. We are consistently opposing the attitude of the central government to run the opposition states through the governors. Our stand is very clear, we are not going to support the Delhi ordinance," he told PTI.

Venugopal said the Congress usually convenes its parliamentary strategy committee meeting just before a session to decide on important matters coming up in Parliament.

"Yesterday, we had a meeting and we already made the decision," he said when asked whether the Congress will support or oppose the Delhi ordinance.

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal had been meeting several opposition leaders separately to garner support against the ordinance and had received assurance from almost all of them. However, opposition from the state units of Congress had AAP worried and Kejriwal's party threatened to boycott the crucial meeting of non-BJP parties in Bengaluru.

With Congress now on board, AAP can hope to defeat the bill in Rajya Sabha where BJP is not in the majority. However, it still could prove to be an uphill task since the central government had managed to pass several controversial bills despite strong opposition in Rajya Sabha, including the three farm laws.

List of parties backing AAP on the ordinance issue:

Congress

Trinamool Congress

Bharat Rashtra Samithi

Samajwadi Party

Jharkhand Mukti Morcha

Communist Party of India

Communist Party of India (Marxist)

Shiv Sena (UBT)

Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar faction)

Janata Dal (United)

Rashtriya Janata Dal

Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam

The Delhi government has also mounted a legal challenge to the ordinance in the Supreme Court. Seeking a stay on the ordinance, the Delhi government said it shows contempt for the elected government by making a pretence of involving the CM as part of a new body called the National Capital Civil Service Authority (NCCSA) created under the ordinance. It said the ordinance violates the federal, democratic governance envisaged for the Delhi government under Article 239AA of the Constitution.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR HT News Desk Follow the latest breaking news and developments from India and around the world with Hindustan Times' newsdesk. From politics and policies to the economy and the environment, from local issues to national events and global affairs, we've got you covered. ...view detail
The water levels in Yamuna continued to recede on Sunday, reaching below 206m, the level at which evacuations are ordered, and the irrigation and flood control department stated that the river is expected to drop below the danger mark of 205.33 later in the night, in an encouraging sign before the start of a new week when traffic is expected to return and people will look to resume work and business. People carry their belongings at a flooded Yamuna Khadar in New Delhi on Sunday. (Sanjeev Verma/HT Photo)

Delhi Traffic Police announced some more routes were being reopened, including Bhairon Marg and sections of the Ring Road, as waterlogging cleared up, and the Delhi Metro resumed normal operations.

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said that government is pumping out water from the remaining flooded areas and life is slowly returning to normal. He announced that the government will provide a financial aid of 10,000 to each flood-affected family and special camps will be set up for those whose Aadhaar cards and other documents were washed away.

Poor families living on the banks of Yamuna have suffered a lot and in some families, the entire household goods were washed away. Ten thousand rupees per family will be given as financial help to every flood affected family. Children whose clothes and books were washed away, will be given these on behalf of the schools, he added.

A government report said that 26,401 people have been evacuated, out of which approximately 21,504 people were still staying in across 44 camps.

The water level of the Yamuna stood at 205.56 metres at 8pm on Sunday. The level was 206.87 metres at the same time on Saturday. We saw the impact of heavy rain in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, which led to a lot of water being released towards Delhi. As heavy rain is expected in the next two to three days in these two states, we may see a slight rise again, a met official said, asking not to be named.

The past week was one of Delhis worst spells of flooding in decades and while the crisis may be abating, it must not be forgotten from a policy perspective. The climate crisis is predicted to make such episodes more intense and frequent and in order to prepare for that, the citys administrators and policymakers must analyse every failure and missed opportunity. The national capital of India must not allow such an episode to recur.

Water supply to several parts of central, north and west Delhi, which was disrupted when plants had to shut due to the flooding, was expected to be restored from Monday.

The Delhi Jal Board restored operations of the second affected water treatment plant at Chandrawal on Sunday morning while efforts were on late night to fully restore the Wazirabad facility. DJB officials said Wazirabad facility has been partially restarted with pumping of water starting towards West Delhi.

This will help in restarting supply to areas falling in central Delhi: Rajinder Nagar, Karol Bagh, Ballimaran, Chandni Chowk, Patel Nagar, Palam Vihar, Delhi Cantonment and New Delhi Municipal Council areas. Partial relief will be observed on Monday morning, a DJB official said.

Barring portions of the Ring Road between Rajghat and Shanti Van, almost all arterial roads that were submerged by floodwaters were reopened by Sunday evening, the Delhi Traffic Police said.

However, the routes are likely to witness congestions during the Monday morning peak hours as they were still in ankle-deep water, requiring traffic to be in a single file.

In an advisory issued on Sunday evening, the traffic police stated that while entry to ISBT Kashmere Gate is closed, the road has been opened from ISBT to Civil Lines mall road.

The government on Sunday extended the closure of all government and private schools in areas bordering the Yamuna river till July 18, while the rest of the schools will open from Monday.

As flood relief camps are likely to continue to run in schools in the areas bordering the river Yamuna, all schools (government and private) in the affected Districts of DoE  East, North East, North West-A, North, Central and South East  shall remain closed for students on July 17 and 18, the Directorate of Education (DoE) said in a circular issued on Sunday.

The AAP-led Delhi government and BJP-led Haryana governments on Sunday continued to spar over the release of Yamuna water from the Hathnikund barrage and the cause behind the flooding in the national capital.
Zarina Hashmi, an Indian-American artist and printmaker, was widely known for her association with the minimalist movement. Hashmi was born in 1937 in Uttar Pradesh's Aligarh on 16th July, which Google decided to honour with its doodle theme for the day. Indian-American artists Zarina Hashmi.

The technology giant paid tribute to the artist's legacy on her 86th birthday on Sunday and shared a brief note describing Hashmi's life, works, and her contribution to the feminist movement.

Hashmi was recognised for her use of abstract and geometric shapes in her artwork to explore ideas about home, displacement, borders, and memory. "Zarina's family was displaced during the partition in 1947 and was forced to flee to Pakistan's Karachi after it," Google said.

Moved to New York in 1977

She married a young foreign service diplomat at the age of 21 and spent time in Bangkok, Paris, and Japan, where she became deeply involved in printmaking and artistic movements such as modernism and abstraction. "Hashmi moved to New York City in 1977 and became a strong advocate for women and artists of colour," the tech giant added. It also mentioned that she had the opportunity to join the 'Heresies Collective', a feminist publication that examined subjects from the lens of art, politics, and social justice.

Later, she also taught at the New York Feminist Art Institute. Among her prominent works, Hashmi co-curated an exhibition at A.I.R. Gallery called 'Dialectics of Isolation: An Exhibition of Third World Women Artists of the United States' in 1980. "This groundbreaking exhibition showcased work from diverse artists and provided a space for female artists of colour," Google noted.

Hashmi is famous for her artworks of woodcuts and intaglio prints, combining semi-abstract images of houses and cities where she had lived. In 2020, she passed away, leaving a significant legacy that continues to be appreciated and pondered by the world.

Doodles are temporary alterations of the Google logo on its homepages to celebrate important events and notable public figures.

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World Day for International Justice 2023: We have all grown up hearing that justice delayed is justice denied. Sensitive cases of injustice and human rights abuse are meant to be dealt with strictly and quickly. International Criminal Court and other organisations see to it that justice is served in the most just manner to the victims of abuse, human rights violations and people affected by genocide and terrorism. World Day for International Justice, also known as International Justice Day or Day of International Criminal Justice is celebrated every year to commemorate the efforts and the role played by ICC in serving justice. World Day for International Justice 2023: Date, history, significance(Getty Images)

As we gear up to celebrate World Day for International Justice, here are a few facts to keep in mind about the day:

Date:

Every year, World Day for International Justice is celebrated on July 17 to respect the significant role played by The International Criminal Court and other organisations in serving justice to people who have been victims of a lot of crimes.

History:

According to The International Criminal Court - "July 17 is the Day of International Criminal Justice. It marks the anniversary of the adoption of the Rome Statute on 17 July 1998, the founding treaty of the ICC, which seeks to protect people from genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and the crime of aggression. July 17 unites all those who wish to support justice, promote victims' rights, and help prevent crimes that threaten the peace, security and well-being of the world."

Significance:

The day is celebrated to create more public awareness about the mandate and the importance of justice in serious crimes. It also helps in creating awareness about the people who have been denied justice for long, due to several crimes, such as genocide and terrorism. It helps in understanding the importance of fighting for justice, advancing human rights and accelerating the prosecution of crimes.

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Pilak, an over 1000-year-old archaeological site in Tripura, is set to woo more travellers as the state government has initiated steps to develop it as a historical tourism circuit with two other places. The scultpture of Avalokiteshvara at Pilak archeological site, in South Tripura. Pilak, a 1000-year-old Tripura archaeological site, 2 others part of historical tourism circuit beckon tourists (PTI)

The place, nestled in Jolaibari, about 100 km from Agartala, formed part of a chain of Hindu-Buddhist sites on the tri-junction of East Bengal (now Bangladesh), Tripura and Arakkan (Myanmar) region.

"It is a famous tourist spot in Tripuras South District which is visited by people from different parts of the country. We have created an archaeological tourist circuit, including Chhabimura and Udaipur in Gomati district and Pilak in South Tripura district. There is a package tour connecting the three sites", T K Das, Director of the state tourism department told PTI.

Approximately, 200 people visit Pilak every day.

The tourism circuit starts from Agartala and links Pilak with Udaipur, a temple town in the northeastern state where Tripureswari Kali temple, one of the 51 Shaktipiths is situated. Bhubaneswari Kali temple, which featured in Rabindranath Tagores novel 'Rajarshi' is also located at Udaipur.

It also covers Chhabimura, famous for its panels of rock carvings on the steep mountain wall on the bank of river Gomati.

Stone engravings of Hindu Gods carved on stone in the Buddhist style, figurines of Shiva, Surya, Baishnabi, Mahishasurmardini, and Buddha statue can be found Shyam Sundar Tilla, Deb Bari, Thakurani Tilla, Balir Pathar, and Basudeb Bari at the Pilak site spread over three sq km in the uplands and green valleys of Belonia subdivision.

Research by late Ratna Das, who had authored a book on Pilak, suggest that the place had emerged as a major Hindu-Buddhist site in the eighth century.

Several rock-cut images and terracotta plaques lie scattered in the area and the Archaeological Survey of India is the custodian of the site.

Executive engineer of the state Tourism department, Uttam Pal, said, the state government has plans to develop the site for Buddhist tourists of South-East Asia and other places.

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) had taken over the site since 1999.

Pal said, "Since Pilak is declared an Archaeological site, no permanent structure can be built within 150 metres of it, but many facilities have been created for tourists outside the restricted zone. Footfall of visitors is remarkably good. The state government has built a tourist Bungalow at Jolaibari, near the site".

A senior official of the ASI, said, a stupa was excavated at Sundari Tilla under the supervision of ASI Superintendent, P Kumaran.

Explaining its importance, the official said, "This is a full-size Buddhist stupa built in the 11th century on the pattern of architecture during the reign of Palas of Bengal."

Panna Lal Roy, a writer, and a historian said, Pilak stands as an eloquent symbol of Hindu-Buddhist cultural affinity and the glorious cultural past of the state.

The dominant style of the rock-cut images and the sculptures in Pilak depict the influence of the Palas and Guptas of Bengal, the Arakkans in Myanmar (formerly Burma), and the local style, Roy said.

"Various images of Tantric Buddhist gods and goddesses are also found in the area. Buddha, Chunda (10th c) Avalokitesvara (8th -9th c), Marichi (9th c) made of stone and Tara, Avolokiteswar, Hariti (made of bronze). The style of Pilak sculptures was prevalent in Bengal during the 9th, 10th, and 11th centuries'," Dr Biswadip Nandi, a historian, wrote in his book 'Rock-cut and sculptures of Tripura'.

"The moulded terracotta plaques bear resemblance with moulded plaques recovered from Paharpur and Mainamati in Bangladesh", Roy said.

According to a state government website, "it may be presumed that the extensive plains of Tripura were under the control of several dynasties who ruled in Eastern Bengal and Samatata in ancient period. Some of them were Buddhists and the others were Hindus. Most of these rulers had their capitals near this region. The ancient kingdom of Pattikera had its capital in Comilla region and Pilak is not very far from Comilla".

The Tripura government received over 1,600 crore in funds for developing the tourism sector for the next five years, state Tourism Minister Sushanta Chowdhury said in April.

In 2022-23, the northeastern state received nearly 3 lakh tourists of whom more than 35,000 were foreigners.

Former India skipper Sourav Ganguly was recently roped in as the brand ambassador for Tripura Tourism and the initiative is expected to give a boost to the state's unexplored tourist destinations.
I am not well informed about caste and the invidious way its infiltrated our system. So its fortuitous good fortune that I was sent Manoj Mittas Caste Pride: Battles for Equality in Hindu India . Its a dense book. I often found myself buried in the trees and unable to see the wood. But if you persevere, its rewarding. PREMIUM Even of Ambedkar  and I wont give away too much  his story is not one without its share of surprises. Mitta concludes: Freedom fighters were not necessarily equality champions.(HT Archives)

First, however, I smiled when I discovered Mitta himself serendipitously stumbled upon the truth. Having written books on the massacres of Sikhs in 1984 and Muslims in 2002, he writes, my original plan was to complete a trilogy on mass violence in India. I intended to focus on the killings of Dalits. But after seven years of research, he realised there was more to the story.

I began to realise the need to go beyond this manifest violence to understand how different functionaries of the Indian state  investigators, prosecutors, trial judges and appellate judges  could get away with blatant displays of caste prejudice, over and over again. His conclusion is stark, simple and sad. When caste killings and, even, caste massacres happen, we, as individuals but also as a system, deny the caste causation almost each time.

India, Mitta writes, has remained steadfast, across decades and across regions, in denying the caste angle to some of the most blatant caste atrocities.

This book recounts how caste disputes or atrocities have been handled from 1816 to 2019. In the process you discover the abolition of untouchability in 1950, if anything, escalated the violence against the formerly emancipated untouchables. One of the new forms of atrocities that followed as a pushback from dominant castes was mass killings. The first was in 1968 at Kilvenmani.

Of the atrocities Mitta writes about, the one I read most closely was Belchi. I was 22 when it happened. What I remember is not the horror  The Spectator in London called it The Hunting of the Harijan  but Indira Gandhis bravura response. Late at night, seated on an elephant, drenched by the blinding monsoon rain but shining a torch on her face so she could be seen and recognised, she arrived in Belchi. As Mitta puts it, she captured the popular imagination.

What I didnt know and was astonished to discover is that Indira Gandhi earned the distinction of being the first  and perhaps the only  national leader to have ever visited a caste-atrocity site. What a dreadful comment on our politicians. Indeed, on our democracy. And, definitely, on how our rulers respond to the tragedies that afflict us.

However, Mittas account isnt about Indira Gandhi. Its about how the system didnt want to accept Belchi as a caste atrocity. Charan Singh, who was home minister, told Parliament This incident has no caste, communal, agrarian or political overtones and has nothing to do with atrocities on weaker sections of the society as reported in certain sections of the press. A parliamentary committee, chaired by the general secretary of his Janata Party, Ram Dhan, disagreed vehemently but couldnt convince him.

Mitta argues Charan Singh-like denial vitiates our response almost every time. Its the upper castes who deliberately deny the truth. It happens at every level  the complicit police response and investigation, the weak prosecution, the judgments and verdicts that follow and, even, the way appeals are handled in the Supreme Court.

Finally, Mittas comments on the great men we look up to will surprise you. Of Gandhi: In this specific context, he does not always come across as a Mahatma. Of Nehru: he neither resisted caste reform nor did he engage much with it  his role is limited to a cameo. Even of Ambedkar  and I wont give away too much  his story is not one without its share of surprises. Mitta concludes: Freedom fighters were not necessarily equality champions.

My only criticism is this should have been an easier book to read. The details it offers are overwhelming and often bury its core message. But its still a message we should listen to and reflect upon.

Karan Thapar is the author of Devils Advocate: The Untold Story. The views expressed are personal
With the decks cleared for Sweden to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) as its 32nd member, the United States-led military alliance has crept up further east to encircle Russia in a vice-like grip. Swedens entry follows Finlands membership in April 2023. Barring Belarus, Ukraine and Georgia, the entire spectrum of Russias western borders will henceforth have to contend with the military presence and force posturing of NATO. PREMIUM Prior to the Ukraine war, Russias land border with NATO ran up to 754 miles. (REUTERS)

Prior to the Ukraine war, Russias land border with NATO ran up to 754 miles. Today, it stands at 1,584 miles and could stretch even longer if Ukraine is eventually admitted into the alliance. To say that Russian President Vladimir Putin scored a self-goal would not be an exaggeration. Annexing 17% to 18% of Ukrainian territory through a debilitating war can, at best, be considered a tactical gain that came at an enormous strategic cost. In its current weak condition, Russia will struggle to match NATOs military spending along its land and maritime borders or sustain a regional balance of power in its favour.

Loud warnings from Moscow that Finland and Sweden would face consequences if they joined NATO failed to deter these countries. While Russias isolation and inability to mould the security architecture in Europe are clear for all to see, the latest round of NATO expansion does pose a long-term question as to whether military alliances truly advance security and stability in a region, or lay the groundwork for future wars and destabilisation.

Given Putins belligerence in Ukraine, practically every country in Europe is convinced that an expanded NATO is the only structural bulwark to shield the continent from additional Russian aggression. The immediacy and brutality of the war in Ukraine have led to a continent-wide shedding of the hitherto ambiguous outlook, where the belief was that the Russian threat could be managed through a mix of economic interdependence and dialogue. Now, the mood in Europe is that only hard deterrence and alliance-based military pushback can knock some sense into Putin.

Owing to the history of Russias empire in eastern Europe (at different points in time, Belarus, Estonia, Georgia, Latvia, Lithuania, Finland, Moldova, Poland and Ukraine were under Moscows control), the fears in this region about Russian neo-colonialism run deep. Putins resurrection of Russkiy Mir (Russian world or sphere of influence) sounds sinister to weaker neighbours. It is understandable that these smaller countries perceive an existential threat from Putins Russia and place faith only in a robust NATO-led counteroffensive. Joining NATO  whose collective defence provision states that an attack on one is an attack against all  appears to be the ultimate guarantee for the survival of these neighbours.

Yet, there is some merit to the Russian concept of indivisible security, meaning that neighbouring countries cannot blindly pursue their own security without any consideration for Russias security. Joining NATO may give Russias neighbours assurance that Moscow will not frontally attack them, but it means that all bridges with Russia are being burnt. Barring some miraculous regime change in Russia that ushers into the Kremlin a pro-Western liberal ruler, Moscow will keep viewing its Western frontiers as a perpetual menace and a danger that must be confronted somehow or the other.

A Russia that is economically and militarily depleted and tied up in Ukraine cannot open new fronts to conquer land via military force. But Russia does have the demonstrated ability to destabilise neighbours through grey zone tactics such as cyber war, disinformation, influence operations, covert proxy missions and stoking resentments of Russian-speaking minorities. A region permanently on edge due to unsavoury incidents and locked into low-intensity conflict is not a comforting place to be in.

The continuing expansion of NATO has become a realpolitik-driven inevitability after the war in Ukraine. But it is a double-edged sword that may come back to haunt Russias neighbours by creating an eternal source of tension and contention, which could at some juncture inadvertently trigger no less than a world war. Instead of finding strategic stability, Europe is walking down a path of long-term instability.

Sreeram Chaulia is dean, Jindal School of International Affairs. The views expressed are personal
The nine-day manhunt for suspected murderer Michael C. Burham in the vicinity of Warren, Pa., came to an end without incident late Saturday afternoon.

The fugitive, who escaped from Warren County Prison on July 6, was taken into custody near rural Logan Road in Conewango Township about 5:50 p.m., Pennsylvania State Police Lt. Col. George Bivens announced in a news conference Saturday evening.

He said Burham was spotted along the road by officers who had surrounded the area after a resident on nearby Jackson Run Road called at 3:57 p.m. to report encountering him in his back yard.

Bivens said Burham ran into woods when he saw the officers, but was caught by a team that included a New York State Police bloodhound and a K9 dog from the U.S. Border Patrol.

"I would characterize him as worn out," Bivens added.

Bivens said Burham was dirty and wet and still wearing part of his prison garb. He noted that Burham was not armed.

Warren County, Pa., to improve jail security after escape; fugitive still at large Officials in Warren County, Pa., announced plans Wednesday to improve security at the county jail in the wake of an escape nearly a week ago of Michael Burham, 34, a man with ties to the Jamestown area who is a suspect in a homicide.

Rewards totaling $22,000 had been offered for information leading to Burham's arrest. More than 200 local, state and federal law enforcement were involved in the manhunt.

Burham will not be returned to Warren County Prison, Bivens said. Authorities will decide where to hold him after he is processed Saturday night in Warren, he noted.

Burham made his escape by scaling exercise equipment to get to the roof of the prison and used bedsheets to get down. He was being held on $1 million bail in connection with kidnapping, burglary and other charges.

Prosecutors in Chautauqua County consider him the prime suspect in the May 11 killing of Kala Hodgkin, 34, and a related arson in Jamestown.

Alan Pergament: WIVB-TV's interview with Bucky Phillips has news value but some flaws The interview with the convicted murderer about the parallels of his experience to escaped murder suspect Michael Burham set off a debate in journalism circles on two separate issues.

Bivens said that Burham was captured in an area about five miles northwest of Warren where the search had been concentrated for the past several days.

"We figured he would make a mistake," Bivens said, "and he finally did."

A barking dog alerted the Jackson Run Road resident to the fugitive's presence, Bivens said, and the resident recognized Burham when he went to investigate. The resident immediately called authorities and Burham ran into a wooded area.

Bivens noted that searchers had found three stockpiles of supplies that they believe Burham used to survive during his flight.

"Investigation is continuing into any assistance Burham may have received," Bivens said. He added that possible charges will be discussed with the Warren County District Attorney's Office.

Bivens thanked residents of the Warren area for their help and their patience during the manhunt and expressed relief that no one was injured in the capture.
Chandrayaan-3, Indias third lunar exploration mission, on board the heavy-lift GSLV Mark 3 (LVM 3) rocket was launched on July 14 by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). About 20 minutes after the spacecraft took off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Andhra Pradeshs Sriharikota, ISRO announced that it was in its precise orbit and had begun its journey to the Moon. The spacecraft will travel to the Moon over the next month, with a landing anticipated on August 23 this year. The launch of Chandrayaan-3 was witnessed live by spectators near the ISRO centre in Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh, and millions more watched the broadcast on YouTube. Now, a picture of Chandrayaan-3 lighting up Australias night sky is doing the rounds on social media and is captivating people with its beauty. Indias Chandrayaan-3, the third lunar exploration mission, in Australias night sky. (Twitter/@erfmufn)

Just watched Indias space agency launch their moon rocket on YT then fly over my house 30 mins later! Congrats @isro ! Hopefully you stick the landing, wrote Dylan ODonnell while sharing a picture on Twitter. According to his YouTube channel, ODonnell shoots from the Byron Bay Observatory, Australia, for Deography photo blog, writes for Celestron & Photographing Space, and provides science outreach for schools and students.

Take a look at the picture that captured Chandrayaan-3 in Australias night sky below:

Since being shared two days ago, the picture has accumulated over 7.4 lakh views and the numbers are still increasing. The picture has also received more than 12,200 likes and a plethora of comments from netizens.

Heres how people reacted to the viral picture of Chandrayaan-3 in Australias night sky:

An individual wrote, Is this a long exposure shot or a standard photograph? Brilliant capture! To this, ODonnell replied, 2 second exposure. Awesome click, praised another. A third commented, Awesome capture. Thank you for sharing, expressed a fourth. A fifth enquired, Is this from a specific location like Perth or Sydney or visible in all or most of Australia? How high was the rocket, at this point in time. That would be interesting to know. Brilliant capture, posted a sixth. A seventh joined, Cool shot. Did not realise it would be visible in Australia !! Thanks for sharing.

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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
The Hindu community in Karachi on Saturday morning woke to find their 150-year-old-holy shrine Mari Mata Temple demolished in Karachi's Soldier Bazaar, reported Dawn. According to locals, the operation took place late Friday night while there was no electricity in the area.(Twitter)

According to locals, the operation took place late Friday night while there was no electricity in the area. That's when the diggers and bulldozers arrived to finish the job. They razed the entire inside structure while leaving the outer walls and the main gate intact.

Residents reportedly claimed to see a police vehicle present to give 'cover' for the individuals operating the bulldozers and other equipment, as per Dawn.

Dawn is a Pakistani English-language newspaper that was launched in 1941.

According to them, the Mari Mata Temple lies on Mukhi Chohitram Road, very close to the Soldier Bazaar police station.

Shri Ram Nath Mishra Maharaj of Shri Panch Mukhi Hanuman Mandir, another very old temple nearby told Dawn, It is a very old Mandir.

He also said, It is said to have been built over 150 years ago. We have also heard of stories about old treasures buried in its courtyard, adding that it covered nearly 400 to 500 square yards and there had been conversation of the encroachers, who had their eye on it for some time now, reported Dawn.

The Mandir was under the management of the Madarsi Hindu community of Karachi and since it was being said that it was very old and dangerous structure that might topple any day, the Mandir management after much pressure reluctantly but temporarily moved most of their deities to a small room near the storm water train until they could carry out some renovation work there, he added.

He also said, But last night the Mari Mata Mandir was just flattened.

Meanwhile, a member of the Madrasi Hindu group claimed that they were being forced to leave by two people: Imran Hashmi and Rekha AKA Nagin Bai. There was also discussion of the two people selling the temple to another party for Pakistan Rupee (PKR) 70 million, with the buyers planning to build a commercial structure there. There was also mention of some forged documents in the name of an individual Navaid, facilitating the transformation of the amenity plot's lease to a commercial one.

The community has requested that the Pakistan-Hindu Council, Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, and the Inspector General of Sindh Police take note and investigate the incident immediately, Dawn reported.

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Johnny Hornby, one of Prince Harry's dedicated allies, has reportedly stepped down from the latters charity, Sentebale, after 11 years. Johnny was also the chairman on the charity's board for the past five years. Johnny Hornby, one of Prince Harry's dedicated allies, has reportedly stepped down from the latters charity, Sentebale (REUTERS/Toby Melville, Sky News screenshot/YouTube)

The charity, founded by Harry and Prince Seeiso, helps young people and children affected by HIV/AIDS in southern Africa lead healthy lives. Johnnys resignation is being considered a major blow to Harry by the British media, considering he was a close ally of the Duke of Sussex. Johnny is said to have played a key role in making broadcaster Jeremy Clarkson write an apology to Harry and Meghan Markle after Jeremy said he hated the Duchess of Sussex on a "cellular level." However, Johnny denied these claims. He told the Mirror, Jeremys decision to apologise to Meghan for what he had said was entirely his ..and anyone who knows Jeremy as I do - knows hes never told what to do by anyone else."

Confirming his resignation, Johnny said, "I have spent 11 years with Sentebale and 5 of them as Chairman - its a wonderful charity trying to do all it can to help the life chances of young people in Lesotho and Botswana either infected with or effected by HIV.

"The work the teams do in country is incredible and I hope the charity - now under Sophies leadership - will go on to be even more effective in helping young lives. Its been a privilege to work with Sentebale over more than a decade, he added.

Harry is believed to have paid tribute to Johnny, appreciating his "leadership and vision, and his "dedication, partnership and friendship". Harry and Prince Seeiso thanked him for helping Sentebale to "deliver holistic support to thousands in Lesotho and Botswana, and also for his "incredible" commitment to young people and children of southern Africa.
The Prince of Wales' adorable chat with a three-year-old during walkabout in Windsor in Berkshire was widely shared on social media as the little boy failed to recognise who Prince William was, mistaking him for "the government". Britain's Prince William, Prince of Wales is seen. (Reuters)

The incident happened when Prince William was visiting with his wife Kate Middleton. As he was introduced to a young boy, the latter could be seen excited to meet the future king but he appeared a little confused as well.

The future king was asked by the youngster, "How long until we are going to be able to see Prince William?" To this the royal responded by winking at the boy's parents and joking, "We don't know where he is! Have you seen him yet?"

After the boy answered "no", Prince William can be heard continuing, "Where do you think he is? Do you think he went that way? He might come along in a minute - we'll see if he's there."

The royal then asked the boy if he knew who he was. The boy replied, "Erm - the government?"

Prince William then grinned and said, No, I'm not the government - I look like the government, do I? They dress like this a lot, adding, "My name is William too".

It is then that the boy realises who he is talking to and turns to his parents and says, "You're Prince William - it's Prince William, mummy."

The conversation took place a day after Prince William's father King Charles was crowned at Westminster Abbey in London. Social media users found the chat very amusing with one calling the conversation "Too cute for words", adding: "Both are adorable - lovely."

Another wrote, I love that he winked at the mum to keep it going. So cute.

"I love the way they talk to children", a third commented while someone else said about the young boy, "What a story he'll tell his kids one day".

Prince William and Kate Middleton have three children of their own - nine-year-old Prince George, Princess Charlotte, eight, and five-year-old Prince Louis.

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Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed the name of Andrei Troshev, a retired colonel and senior mercenary known as Sedoi - that means Grey Hair - to replace Yevgeny Prigozhin as the chief of the Wagner group. Andrei Troshev, a senior Wagner commander known by his callsign "Sedoi", (via REUTERS)

The European Union (EU) sanctions document described Troshev as one of the founding members and the executive director of the Wagner group. The document further said that Troshev was directly involved in the military operations conducted by the Wagner Group in Syria. France's Treasury also confirms Troshev's callsign as Siedoy.

The Kommersant newspaper quoted Putin as referring to Sedoi as the actual commander of the Wagner group.

After a failed mutiny against the Russian leadership that occurred in June, Putin offered the Wagner private military company the option to continue serving as a unified unit under their same commander.

Who is Andrei Troshev?

-Andrei Troshev, also known as Sedoi, was born in Leningrad (now St. Petersburg) on April 5, 1953, and is considered a founding member of the Wagner Group, according to EU sanctions document.

-One of Troshev's associates is Dmitry Utkin, a former GRU military intelligence special forces officer and co-founder of the Wagner Group.

-Troshev fought in Afghanistan during the Soviet Union's decade-long war there. After the fall of the Soviet Union, he served in the Russian army in the North Caucasus and later became a commander in the quick reaction special forces unit of the Russian interior ministry known as SOBR.

-He was awarded Order of the Red Star twice for his service in Afghanistan. In 2016, he received Russia's highest medal, Hero of Russia, for his role in the storming of Palmyra in Syria against Islamic State militants.

Putin on Wagner group

Putin spoke about a Kremlin event that took place on June 29, in remarks to Kommersant newspaper. He mentioned that 35 Wagner commanders, including Prigozhin, attended this event. The Russian President expressed both appreciation for their efforts in Ukraine and disappointment over their involvement in the mutiny, which he had previously condemned as an act of treason. He offered the Wagner commanders various options for their future service.

Also Read | 7 arrested in Russia for aiming to kill 2 top journalists on behalf of Ukraine

Previously, Putin had said that Wagner troops had to make a choice between signing contracts with the Defense Ministry, relocating to neighboring Belarus, or retiring from service. However, presently, Putin stated that he wanted Wagner to retain their same commander, known by the call sign Grey Hair, referring to Andrei Troshev.

Speaking to Kommersant, Putin emphasised that rank-and-file soldiers of Wagner have fought honorably in Ukraine, adding that its a cause for regret that they were drawn into the mutiny.

(With inputs from Reuters,)

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR Lingamgunta Nirmitha Rao Trainee Content Producer at Hindustan Times Digital Stream. India's regional languages attract me. ...view detail
Russian President Vladimir Putin said in an interview published Sunday that Russia has a sufficient stockpile of cluster munitions, and warned that Russia reserves the right to take reciprocal action if Ukraine uses the controversial weapons. Police officers look at collected fragments of the Russian rockets, including cluster rounds, that hit Kharkiv, in Kharkiv, Ukraine, Saturday, Dec. 3, 2022. (AP Photo/Libkos, File)(AP)

In his first comments on the delivery of cluster munitions to Ukraine from the U.S., Putin said that Russia has not used cluster bombs in its war in Ukraine so far.

Until now, we have not done this, we have not used it, and we have not had such a need, he said, although the use of cluster bombs by both Russia and Ukraine has been widely documented, including by The Associated Press and international humanitarian organizations.

Rossiya TV reporter Pavel Zarubin published excerpts of the interview to his Telegram channel Sunday ahead of a scheduled broadcast Sunday night.

The Pentagon said Thursday that cluster munitions provided by the United States had arrived in Ukraine.

The munitions, which are bombs that open in the air and release scores of smaller bomblets, are seen by the U.S. as a way to get Kyiv critically needed ammunition to help bolster its offensive and push through Russian front lines. U.S. leaders debated the thorny issue for months, before President Joe Biden made the final decision last week.

Cluster bombs have long been criticized by humanitarian groups, and some U.S. allies, because those used in previous conflicts have had a high dud rate, meaning that they often leave behind unexploded bomblets that can harm civilians long after a battle has ended.

Proponents argue that Russia has already been using cluster munitions in Ukraine and that the weapons the U.S. is providing have been improved to leave behind far fewer unexploded rounds. Ukraine has promised to use them only away from densely populated areas.

On the ground, the Ukrainian military said in a regular update Sunday morning that over the previous 24 hours Russia had launched two Iranian-made Shahed exploding drones, two cruise missiles and two anti-aircraft guided missiles, in addition to 40 airstrikes and 46 attacks from multiple rocket launchers.

The Ukrainian General Staff wrote that Russia continues to concentrate on offensive operations in Ukraines industrial east. Donetsk regional Gov. Pavlo Kyrylenko said Sunday that two residents of the region were killed on Saturday, and one other person was wounded.

Elsewhere in the country, the governor of Ukraines partly occupied southern Zaporizhzhia region, Yurii Malashko, said Russia had attacked 13 populated areas in the region, wounding seven people in the town of Stepnohirsk.

In the neighboring Kherson province, regional Gov. Oleksandr Prokudin said that Russia had launched 69 shelling attacks against the region. A 59-year-old man died on Saturday when attempting to disarm a round in the regional capital, also called Kherson.

Moscow-installed authorities in Russian-occupied Crimea on Sunday reported a massive and prolonged drone attack overnight targeting Sevastopol, the peninsulas largest port, which hosts Russias Black Sea Fleet. According to Moscow-installed Sevastopol governor Mikhail Razvozhaev, air defense shot down all of the drones and there was no damage.

Vyacheslav Gladkov, the governor of Russias Belgorod region, said that a woman was killed Sunday by shelling in the town of Shebekino near the border with Ukraine.
Five bodies of people who were trapped under a tunnel submerged by heavy rains in South Korea were pulled out after a bus submerged at a flooded underpass in Cheongju. The death toll from the days of torrential rains in the country rose to 31 while 10 others were missing. Heavy rains caused landslides and floods across the country. Over 7,500 people have been evacuated, authorities informed. South Korea Rainfall: South Korean rescue workers searching for missing persons along a deluged road.(AFP)

"We are focusing on the search operation as there's likely more people there," Seo Jeong-il, head of the west Cheongju fire station, said.

When did heavy rainfall begin in South Korea?

South Korea has been pounded by heavy rains since July 9 which has left 27,260 households without electricity in the past several days while flooding or destroying dozens homes. The country's weather agency said some parts of the country will continue to receive heavy rain as the prime minister Han Duck-soo mobilized all available resources to respond to the disaster.

What do we know about the deaths amid South Korea deluge?

Most fatalities have been reported in North Gyeongsang, where 16 people died largely due to landslides and housing collapses. South Chungcheong province reported four deaths. But authorities warned that casualties are feared to increase as damaged reported across the nation is accessed.

Is there significant damage to property reported?

As many as 59 cases of damage to public property were reported including 18 cases of destroyed or swept-away roads. Meanwhile, 80 cases of damage to private property were reported. Electricity cuts were reported in 13 cities and counties across the country as over 8,300 households in Mungyeong, Yeongju and Yecheon in North Gyeongsang Province still don't have electricity.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR Mallika Soni When not reading, this ex-literature student can be found searching for an answer to the question, "What is the purpose of journalism in society?" ...view detail
A powerful 7.2 magnitude earthquake jolted southern Alaska late Saturday, sparking a brief tsunami advisory that sent residents into a state of alert. However, monitoring bodies swiftly cancelled the advisory just an hour later, providing a sigh of relief for those in affected areas. This file photo provided by Andy Varner, city administrator for Sand Point, Alaska, shows the city's harbor. A 7.2 magnitude earthquake triggered a brief tsunami advisory for southern Alaska, monitoring bodies reported late Saturday.(AP)

The earthquake reverberated across a wide area, including the Aleutian Islands, the Alaskan Peninsula, and Cook Inlet regions, leaving no doubt about its strength and reach, as confirmed by the Alaska Earthquake Center.

Kodiak Residents Respond to Tsunami Warning

In Kodiak, Alaska, the blare of sirens pierced the night air, warning residents of a potential tsunami. Faced with the alert, people hurriedly sought shelter, capturing the tense moments on social media videos.

Magnitude and Location Details

According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the earthquake originated approximately 106 kilometers south of Sand Point, Alaska, striking at 10:48 p.m. on Saturday. Initially reported as a 7.4 magnitude quake, it was later downgraded to 7.2.

Tsunami Advisory and Subsequent Cancellation

The US National Weather Service issued a tsunami advisory, indicating that the earthquake occurred at a depth of 13 miles (21 kilometers). However, within an hour of the initial alert, the advisory was cancelled, alleviating concerns of a potential tsunami impact.

Impacted Areas and Hawaii's Safety

The National Weather Service in Anchorage, Alaska, clarified that the tsunami advisory applied to coastal Alaska from Chignik Bay to Unimak Pass. Notably, Kodiak Island and the Kenai Peninsula were deemed safe from any significant impact. The Hawaii Emergency Management Agency promptly confirmed that there was no threat to the Hawaiian islands.

Aftershocks and Cautionary Measures

Following the main earthquake, a series of aftershocks, including a 5.0 magnitude tremor, rattled the same area in Alaska within a short span of three minutes, as reported by KTUU-TV. Residents were urged to exercise caution and await clearance from local emergency officials before reoccupying hazard zones.

While the immediate danger subsided with the cancellation of the tsunami advisory, there remained a possibility of minor sea level changes. Residents were advised to stay vigilant and monitor any updates from local authorities, ensuring their safety in the wake of the seismic event.

(With inputs from AP)

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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have apparently trapped themselves in their decision to reveal details about their lives before quitting their royal life, according to a royal expert. According to author Ingrid Seward, the pair has failed to attract "more serious" media deals because the public is only interested in their "personal stuff. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle speak during the 2021 Global Citizen Live festival at the Great Lawn, Central Park on September 25, 2021 in New York City (Photo by Angela Weiss / AFP)(AFP)

Meghan and Harry were snubbed in the nominations for the Primetime Emmys just this week, reportedly leaving the couple devastated. "In the series, Harry and Meghan talk about the royal family as if they were the enemy, while they themselves are trying to save the world," editor-in-chief of Majesty magazine Ingrid told the Mirror.

"They are having a run of bad luck in their working life. But ironically as long as they concentrate on delivering personal stuff instead of more serious work, people will be interested. They have built a gilded cage of expectation around themselves from which it will be hard to escape, she added.

The royal expert noted that even if Harry and Meghan are devastated due to the Emmys snub, they will not show it." "Meghan and Harry will concentrate in this and make it a positive, however irritated they might be not to be in the Emmy nominations. The series is an intimate look at hardships they faced in their honey-colored, rose-tinted world, she said.

Emmys snub came after Spotify podcast dropped

The Emmys snub came days after it was reported that Meghans Spotify podcast will not be renewed for a second season. Insiders close to Spotify have claimed the royal couple failed to meet the productivity benchmark that was needed to receive the full payout, according to Wall Street Journal. Meghan, however, is reportedly planning to create more podcasts.

After the end of the first season, Spotify was reportedly planning to release a second season. Sources close to Meghan and Harry have claimed the couple would stop making Netflix documentaries, publishing memoirs and appear for interviews that do not speak well of the Royal Family.
The serene waters of Black's Beach, one of Southern California's renowned nude beaches, have recently become the stage for an unexpected encounter with nature's most formidable predator. San Diego lifeguards reported sighting at least three juvenile great white sharks off the coast on Friday, prompting them to issue a cautionary warning to beachgoers in the area. San Diego lifeguards reported sighting at least three juvenile great white sharks off the coast of Black's Beach, one of Southern California's renowned nude beaches.(San Diego Fire-Rescue Department)

The San Diego-Fire-Rescue Department took to social media, sharing a photo of a temporary sign that was installed on the beach, clearly warning visitors of the presence of these powerful marine creatures. The lifeguards stressed that the sharks were not displaying aggressive behavior, as they were engrossed in feeding on the carcass of a sea lion.

Juvenile Great Whites in the Vicinity

While no other sightings have been reported, the sharks in question were estimated to be between 6 and 9 feet in length, indicating that they were still in their juvenile stage of development. The specific details of the encounter serve as a reminder of the diverse marine life that inhabits the coastal waters of San Diego.

More Than Just a Nude Haven

Known for its designation as one of the largest nude beaches in North America, Black's Beach is a renowned destination that attracts sun-seeking enthusiasts. However, beyond its famous status, the beach is also celebrated for its massive swells, drawing experienced surfers, especially during the winter months. The allure of the powerful waves is a magnet for those seeking an exhilarating surfing experience.

Swimming at Black's Beach is generally discouraged throughout the year due to the challenging surf conditions created by the nearby cliffs. The beach's reputation for rough waters serves as a constant reminder for visitors to exercise caution while enjoying the natural beauty of the area.

A Close Encounter in the Vicinity

Coincidentally, Black's Beach is situated less than five miles away from the site of California's most recent shark attack, which occurred in 2022. Lyn Jutronich, who was swimming at Del Mar Beach, recounted a terrifying incident in which she was rammed by a shark that clamped down on her thigh. Lifeguards at the time believed the culprit was also a juvenile great white shark.

A Shark Haven

According to experts from Cal State Long Beach, sightings of great white sharks off the coast of California are relatively common. The region serves as an ideal nursery habitat for these majestic creatures, particularly during the summer and fall months.

The abundance of food and suitable conditions attract these apex predators to the coastal waters, offering a glimpse into the fascinating ecosystem beneath the surface.

Also read | Video shows paddleboarder's enounter with a great white shark in San Diego
Tom Graham

The following is inscribed on the Statue of Liberty: Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me; I lift my lamp beside the golden door!

In 2015, GOP candidate Trump said, The Mexican government is forcing their most unwanted people into the U.S. In January 2018, President Trump called for more immigrants from places like Norway. Norways racial diversity is 94% white, and 6% Hispanic. Some New York State county executives declared a state of emergency prior to receiving any legal refugees from New York City. New York and the rest of the country face labor shortages of those willing to work on farms picking crops, at meat slaughterhouses and other difficult low-wage jobs.

During my 20-year IT career at Fisher-Price, I had the opportunity to teach computer software classes to employees at all locations in the U.S. and Mexico. Fisher-Price had three plants in Mexico, just across the border from Texas and California. I taught classes, in English, to employees who were Mexican citizens residing in Mexico and Mexican-American citizens who worked on both sides of the border. The Mexican citizens and those who immigrated to the U.S. wanted to improve their computer technical skills and provide income for their families, just like I did early in my computer career. They had the additional challenge of learning the English language. All were eager to learn and it was a delight to teach them.

As a 15-year volunteer, with the Buffalo affiliate of Habitat for Humanity, I planned and helped build houses for many immigrants from around the world, including from Africa, Burma, Nepal and Eastern European countries after the fall of the Iron Curtain. These immigrants came to Buffalo, learned English, got low-paying jobs and put in 500 hours of sweat equity, prior being selected for a Habitat house. These Habitat families were willing to live anywhere in the city, including Buffalos East Side. Habitat Buffalo has built over 325 houses in Buffalo and Lackawanna. Some of the adult children of these immigrants now have college degrees and are serving the community in education, health, service and other industries. Without immigrants, Buffalo would have a greater population loss.

After the Japanese attack at Pearl Harbor, over 120,000 Japanese Americans were held in incarceration camps  two-thirds of whom were U.S.-born citizens. They were forced from their homes and their businesses closed. Japanese Americans were eventually allowed to serve in segregated units in the U.S. Army. Roughly 6,000 Japanese Americans served as translators and interpreters with the Military Intelligence Service in the Pacific, to shorten the war and save thousands of lives.

Twenty five years ago, my son married a wonderful woman who was born in South Korea. Her family of five came to California when she was 6, because in South Korea, there was little chance of advancing. They all had to learn the English language and her father, a teacher, had to change his occupation. All of the children graduated from college, she became a teacher, and her older brother became a very successful entrepreneur employing thousands in California and Texas. Their familys is the quintessential American success story.

Unless you are a Native American, we are all immigrants or descendants from immigrants, just like all the U.S. Founding Fathers. Americas greatness and true genius lies in its diversity.
A female interior designer has come forward with a bone-chilling account involving the suspect charged with the infamous Gilgo Beach murders. Dominique Vidal, an accomplished designer, revealed that Rex Heuermann, an architect now accused of killing three of the eleven victims whose remains were discovered on Long Island, once engaged her in a disturbing conversation about the gruesome slayings. Rex A. Heuermann, an architect in his late 50s who lived a 20-minute drive from Gilgo Beach in Massapequa Park, appears in what investigators decribe as "selfie" photographs taken from the fictitious Springfieldman9 AOL account, as part of a bail application by the Suffolk County District Attorney's office July 14, 2023. (via REUTERS)

Speaking to ABC7, Vidal recounted her encounter with Heuermann, stating, "He asked me if I knew about the Gilgo Beach murders. And back then, I was like, 'Oh, you know, he's just from the area'... but now I just see it as a serial killer kind of just putting it in somebody's face." Vidal expressed her unease, admitting that Heuermann had always made her feel uncomfortable.

Adding to the chilling narrative, Vidal disclosed that she received a voicemail from Heuermann earlier this year. Having recently departed from a networking group they both belonged to, Vidal assumed he wanted to collaborate professionally. However, she couldn't shake the unsettling feeling he gave her.

Heuermann, the proprietor of RH Consultants & Associates, has resided in Massapequa Park, a community located north of the area where the remains were discovered, for several decades. Arrested just days ago, Heuermann became the prime suspect after investigators connected him to a pickup truck seen by a witness during one of the victims' disappearances in 2010.

The groundbreaking breakthrough came in March when authorities trailing Heuermann managed to obtain his DNA from a discarded pizza crust, which was subsequently matched to a hair found on a restraint used in the heinous killings. Prosecutors also revealed that burner phones, employed to arrange meetings with the murdered women, were traced back to Heuermann. Furthermore, the alleged killer made taunting calls to one of Melissa Barthelemy's relatives using her own cell phone after her disappearance in 2009.

More on Gilgo Beach Killings:

Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney confirmed during a press conference that Heuermann had been relentlessly seeking information on the case. Tierney revealed that Heuermann had obsessively searched for details about the murders, including the names of the victims he is accused of slaying, as well as consuming podcasts and documentaries about the case.

Due to concerns of Heuermann fleeing and the potential danger to the community, authorities made the decision to charge him with three of the killings. They are actively working towards building a case against him in the death of Maureen Brainard-Barnes.
As Florida school districts grapple with a new book-challenge law, the works of William Shakespeare are being called into question, raising concerns about censorship and academic freedom. The law, which took effect on July 1, requires school districts to discontinue the use of materials deemed to contain "sexual conduct" that is inappropriate or unsuitable for certain grade levels. This has led to uncertainty and confusion among educators, with some fearing that even Shakespeare's renowned works could be restricted. As Florida school districts grapple with a new book-challenge law, the works of William Shakespeare are being called into question, raising concerns about censorship and academic freedom.

The Impact on Book Selection in Florida Schools

School districts in Florida are now forced to reevaluate their book selection processes. Previously, a system called the Miller Test, which assessed whether material was obscene based on Supreme Court rulings, guided their decisions.

However, under the new law, districts must be cautious about any content that may fall under the definition of "sexual conduct." This has raised concerns about the availability of important literary works needed for advanced literature exams and dual-enrollment classes.

Works of The Bard of Avon at Risk

Media specialists like Kathleen Malloy, a school-media specialist in Leon County, worry that even Shakespeare's works may be deemed inappropriate under the new law. The interpretation of the law suggests that books with minimal instances of "sexual conduct" could be affected. The potential restriction of Shakespeare's plays highlights the impact of the law on the teaching of classic literature and the challenges faced by educators in navigating these restrictions.

Interpreting the Law and Potential Consequences

While awaiting guidance from the Florida Department of Education, districts have been cautious in their interpretation of the law. Some committees have leaned towards a conservative approach, prioritizing caution to avoid potential legal issues. However, book-access advocates argue that districts are being overly cautious and that the law may stifle academic freedom and limit students' exposure to diverse perspectives.

Increased Challenges and Potential Costs

Under the new law, parents who disagree with a school board's decision on a book challenge can request a special magistrate to review the decision, which could create additional pressure on districts and potentially force them to remove challenged books to avoid the costs of a legal challenge. The law also mandates the removal of any challenged book containing pornography or sexual conduct within five days until the complaint is resolved.

Defining "Sexual Conduct"

The law defines "sexual conduct" as including actual or simulated intercourse, exhibition or physical contact with genitalia, and depictions of sexual battery. This broad definition has raised concerns about its application and potential limitations on discussions of relationships, sexuality, and diversity in literature.

The Future of Book Selection in Florida Schools

The Florida Department of Education's guidance is eagerly anticipated by districts seeking clarity on the law's implementation. While the law aims to address concerns about inappropriate content, critics argue that it may inadvertently lead to censorship, limit students' exposure to diverse perspectives, and hinder their intellectual and personal growth.

Also read | Unbelievable! Largest Bermese python nest housing 13 feet female with 111 eggs discovered in Florida's Everglades

The ongoing debate over the new book-challenge law highlights the delicate balance between protecting students and preserving academic freedom. As districts navigate these challenges, the fate of Shakespeare and countless other literary works hangs in the balance.
London is standing at risk of a major measles outbreak, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) warned. It could result in tens of thousands getting hospitalised, it said even though there has been an improvement in MMR vaccination rates. An outbreak of between 40,000 and 160,0000 cases can be experienced in London which can cause dozens of deaths and lead to thousands getting hospitalised, the agency said. London Measles Outbreak: A vial of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine is pictured.(Reuters)

UKHSA consultant epidemiologist Dr Vanessa Saliba said, Measles can be a serious infection that can lead to complications, especially in young children and those with weakened immune systems. Due to longstanding suboptimal vaccine uptake there is now a very real risk of seeing big outbreaks in London.

Read more: 7 arrested in Russia for aiming to kill 2 top journalists on behalf of Ukraine

Data revealed that there has been a steady rise in measles cases this year which indicates a resurgence of the illness in London. Between January 1 and June 30, there were 128 cases of measles reported, in comparison to 54 cases that came up in the whole of 2022 in UK. Of these, 66 per cent were detected in London, although cases have been reported from all regions, data showed.

UKHSA said that measles can cause severe illness with an estimated 20-40 per cent of children getting hospitalised.

UKHSA is right to be worried about this. Measles is one of the most infectious viruses to infect humans. About two in 1,000 infected people will die, the main risk being in children under five years old, but adults can get very sick as well, Paul Hunter, professor in medicine at the University of East Anglia said.

With measles being so infectious once the vaccine uptake rate falls you cant rely on herd immunity from other parents vaccinating their children to protect you child if you do not get them immunised and in London particularly we are approaching that point, he added.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR Mallika Soni When not reading, this ex-literature student can be found searching for an answer to the question, "What is the purpose of journalism in society?" ...view detail
An earthquake of magnitude 7.4 struck Alaska Peninsula region, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS). The US tsunami warning system issued a tsunami threat after the earthquake. US Alaska Earthquake: The US Tsunami Warning System issued a tsunami threat after the earthquake.(Representational)

The quake was at a depth of 9.3 km (5.78 miles), USGS said.

This comes as two weeks ago a mild earthquake had struck in Anchorage, Alaska. The quake was recorded about 12 miles south of the city and about two miles south of Eagle River, according to USGS. Although, no injuries or damage was reported then. Data provided by USGS showed the earthquake was 17.5 miles deep and came after another reported one on the West Coast.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR Mallika Soni When not reading, this ex-literature student can be found searching for an answer to the question, "What is the purpose of journalism in society?" ...view detail
Elisabeth Anderson-Sierra- a mother of two from Aloha, Oregon, USA, has achieved an incredible feat by nourishing thousands of children and even saving the lives of premature babies through her record-breaking donation of breast milk. With an astonishing volume of 1,599.68 liters, she holds the world record for the largest donation of breast milk by an individual. Elisabeth then showcases bottles filled with breast milk, adding that her body starts producing milk every few minutes.

Between February 20, 2015, and June 20, 2018, Elisabeth made her donation to a milk bank. The Guinness World Records recently featured her video on their Instagram account, which has garnered over 1.6 million views.

In the video, Elisabeth estimates that she has donated over 350,000 ounces of breast milk over the course of nine years. Over the last nine years, I estimate my total donation numbers to be over 3,50,000 ounces. I would not wish this condition on my worst enemy. It is not fun. How many individual babies have benefitted from my milk, that is impossible to know," she said.

Elisabeth then showcases bottles filled with breast milk, adding that her body starts producing milk every few minutes.

Elisabeth has donated her breast milk to local families as well as recipients around the world. Her donations have particularly benefitted infants who have been labeled as "failure to thrive," according to the Guinness World Records website.

Elisabeth attributes her exceptional milk production to the hormone prolactin, which her body produces in abundance. She hopes that her selfless act of donating breast milk will not only provide nourishment and support to countless infants but also raise awareness about hyperlactation syndrome. My body creates a lot of the hormone called prolactin and that is what drives milk production, she is quoted as saying.

I am really hopeful that breaking this record and sharing my story will normalize milk sharing, she adds.

Social media sites have been buzzing with praise and gratitude for this incredible act.

This is amazing! What a wonderful gift for so many precious babies, commented a user. What a Blessing to Serve the world in this way!! RESPECT, said another.

Wow breastfeeding is so hard! Pumping is so hard too! My heart goes out to and much respect that u get to donate milk and make other babies benefit out of this! Thank you, another netizen wrote.

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A rights group in Pakistan has raised alarm about reports of organised criminal gangs holding hostage 30 members of the minority Hindu community, including women and children. The incident has been reported from the districts of Kashmore and Ghotki in Sindh. The group also highlighted the threats to attack Hindu temples using high-grade weapons, calling on the home department to investigate the matter immediately.(Dawn)

HRCP is alarmed by reports of deteriorating law and order in the districts of Kashmore and Ghotki in Sindh, where some 30 members of the Hindu community - including women and children - have allegedly been held hostage by organised criminal gangs, Human Rights Commission of Pakistan said in a tweet.

The group also highlighted the threats to attack Hindu temples using high-grade weapons, calling on the home department to investigate the matter immediately.

Moreover, we have received disturbing reports that these gangs have threatened to attack the community's sites of worship, using high-grade weapons. The Sindh Home Department must investigate this matter immediately and take steps to protect all vulnerable citizens in these areas, it added.

The group raised concern amid reports of a Hindu temple being attacked with rocket launchers by a gang of dacoits in the Southern Sindh province of Pakistan on Sunday, in the second such incident of vandalism of a place of worship belonging to the minority community in less than two days.

The assailants attacked the small temple built by the local Hindu community and adjoining homes belonging to members of the minority community in the Kashmore area of the Sindh province.

The attack came after the Mari Mata Temple in Karachis Soldier Bazar was razed to the ground by bulldozers in the presence of a heavy contingent of police force late on Friday night.

The temple believed to be nearly 150 years ago was demolished after being declared an old and dangerous structure in Karachi, the provincial capital of Sindh province.

The assailants fired indiscriminately at the temple on Sunday, prompting a police unit led by Kashmore-Kandhkot SSP Irfan Sammo to reach the scene.

They fired rocket launchers at the place of worship, which was closed during the attack, the police official said, adding that the temple opens annually for religious services conducted by the Bagri community.

The attack happened in the early hours of Sunday. They fired indiscriminately and fled when a police party reached the spot. We are conducting a search operation in the area, Samoo said.

(With inputs from agencies)

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A Hindu temple was attacked with rocket launchers by a gang of dacoits in the Southern Sindh province of Pakistan on Sunday, a senior police official said. They fired rocket launchers at the place of worship, which was closed during the attack, the police official said.(Twitter )

The assailants attacked the small temple and adjoining homes belonging to Hindus in the Kashmore area of the Sindh province.

The assailants fired indiscriminately at the temple built by the local Hindu community on Sunday, prompting a police unit led by Kashmore-Kandhkot SSP Irfan Sammo to reach the scene.

They fired rocket launchers at the place of worship, which was closed during the attack, the police official said, adding that the temple opens annually for religious services conducted by the Bagri community.

The attack happened in the early hours of Sunday. They fired indiscriminately and fled when a police party reached the spot. We are conducting a search operation in the area, Samoo said.

The police officer estimated that eight or nine gunmen were involved in the attack. Dr Suresh, a member of the Bagri community, said that the rocket launchers fired by the dacoits failed to explode, resulting in no loss of life.

He called on the police to protect the community, saying the incident had left the residents in a state of panic.

SSP Samoo assured the Hindu community members they would be protected. The Kashmore area has a sizeable Hindu population.

The attack comes days after dacoits in the Kashmore and Ghotki riverine areas had threatened to attack Hindu places of worship and community members in retaliation to Seema Haider Jakhrani's PUBG love story.

Seema, a Pakistani mother of four, left her country and entered India to live with a Hindu man she befriended and fell in love with while playing on online gaming platform PUBG in 2019.

Seema, 30, and Sachin Meena, 22, live in the Rabupura area of Greater Noida, near Delhi, where he runs a provision store, according to Uttar Pradesh Police.

While Seema was arrested on July 4 for illegally entering India without a visa via Nepal with her four children, all aged below seven years, Sachin was put behind bars for sheltering the illegal immigrants. They were released from jail recently.

Meanwhile, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has said it was alarmed by reports of deteriorating law and order in the districts of Kashmore and Ghotki in Sindh, where some 30 members of the Hindu community  including women and children  have allegedly been held hostage by organised criminal gangs.

Moreover, we have received disturbing reports that these gangs have threatened to attack the communitys sites of worship, using high-grade weapons, the Dawn newspaper quoted the commission as saying.

It called on the Sindh Home Department to investigate the matter without delay, the report said.

Karachi is home to many ancient Hindu temples. Hindus form the biggest minority community in Pakistan.

The majority of Pakistan's Hindu population is settled in Sindh province where they share culture, traditions and language with Muslim residents.
A small airplane flying from Westchester, New York, met with an unexpected turn of events when the pilot suffered a medical emergency during the final approach. In a remarkable display of bravery, a Connecticut woman onboard took control of the aircraft, attempting to land it safely. Officials say that a Piper Meridian Turbo Prop 6-seat plane reportedly crashed at the Marthas Vineyard Airport, Massachusetts.

Amidst the chaos, the plane crash-landed near a runway at Martha's Vineyard Airport in West Tisbury, Massachusetts. The impact caused the left wing of the 2006 Piper Meridian to break in half, leading to a harrowing ordeal for the occupants.

Pilot's Critical Condition, Passenger Uninjured

Emergency responders swiftly arrived at the scene to provide medical assistance. The 79-year-old pilot was airlifted to a Boston hospital in serious and life-threatening condition. In contrast, the passenger emerged unscathed and underwent evaluation at Martha's Vineyard Hospital before being discharged.

Also read | Watch | Plane wing breaks apart after dramatic runway crash, all passengers safe

Investigation Underway

Authorities are diligently investigating the incident, involving the State Police-Oak Bluffs Barracks, the State Police Detective Unit for the Cape and Islands District, and the Federal Aviation Administration. Their joint efforts aim to uncover the precise sequence of events that led to the crash.
As the 2024 presidential election looms, President Joe Biden and leading Republican candidate Donald Trump are neck-and-neck in the financial race, according to newly released financial disclosures. Biden's re-election campaign ended last month with approximately $20 million in the bank, just trailing Trump's reported $22 million. The disclosures, filed with the Federal Election Commission, indicate a competitive money race in the coming months. Former US president Donald Trump (left) and US President Joe Biden.(AFP)

Biden's War Chest and Historical Comparisons

Compared to past presidents at this stage in their re-election campaigns, Biden's war chest appears smaller. In 2011, Democrat Barack Obama had $37 million, while Trump boasted over $56 million in June 2019. Despite this, Biden's campaign, when including the Democratic Party's accounts, announced a total of $77 million in the bank, highlighting the broader financial support behind his re-election effort.

Challenges in the Democratic Nomination Contest

Biden is not expected to face a serious challenge in the Democratic nomination contest. The two challengers who have emerged, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Marianne Williamson, have raised modest amounts, indicating Biden's strong position within the party.

Trump's Spending and Other Republican Candidates

Trump's campaign, launched in November, has already spent approximately $9 million in the three months leading up to June, more than any other campaign. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who ranks second to Trump in most polls for the Republican nomination, has approximately $12 million in his campaign account, while fellow Republican Tim Scott, a US senator for South Carolina, has $21 million. Long-shot candidates Doug Burgum and Vivek Ramaswamy have disclosed injecting millions of their own money into their campaigns.

The Battle for Small-Dollar Donors

While Biden has seen success in fundraising events with wealthy Democrats, his small-dollar online donations have yet to surge. During the three-month fundraising period ending June 30, the campaign and the Biden Victory Fund collected $10.2 million from small donors, significantly less than President Obama's campaign in 2012.

The decline in small-dollar donations has been attributed to factors such as email data privacy changes by tech giants Google and Apple, donor fatigue, and a lack of the same level of enthusiasm seen during the 2018 and 2020 elections.

The Biden Campaign's Dependency on Wealthy Donors

Despite highlighting its grassroots donor operation, Biden's finance reports reveal a greater dependence on wealthy donors compared to Trump's re-election bid and his Democratic opponents in the 2020 primary. A small number of high-dollar donors, including Jeffrey Katzenberg and Reid Hoffman, contributed significant sums to the Biden Victory Fund, emphasizing the importance of wealthy contributors to the campaign's financial success.

Future Forward Super PAC Takes the Lead

To secure large sums of money from supportive billionaires and multimillionaires, Biden and his advisors are elevating Future Forward, a new outside group, as the leading super PAC for his re-election campaign. This move aims to consolidate financial support and further bolster the campaign's fundraising efforts.

Also read | I did have privilege, Vivek Ramaswamy shares his interesting answer on accusations of enjoying white privilege

As the financial race continues to intensify, both Biden and Trump face the challenge of mobilizing donors and ensuring sufficient funds for their respective campaigns. With the 2024 election on the horizon, the battle for financial resources will play a crucial role in shaping the candidates' strategies and overall electoral success.

(With inputs from Reuters)
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have reportedly been warned that their Netflix docu-series will be remembered for the moment the former took a swipe at the Queen. The series attracted mixed reviews ever since its release in December 2022. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle visit the track and field event at the Invictus Games in The Hague, Netherlands, Sunday, April 17, 2022 (AP Photo/Peter Dejong, File)(AP)

The Mails Kate Mansey has now noted that the exaggerated courtesy performed by the Duchess of Sussex the first time she met Queen Elizabeth II as a moment in the Netflix series could negatively affect their reputation. "Lots of people watched that show, didn't they? Kate said, according to GBNews. "Everyone watched it and tuned in to see it. It was this huge TV highlight. I'm not surprised it's been nominated for an award. I suspect it'll win many awards because it was so popular. But you do wonder, despite all that success on paper, whether it's done them any good in the long run."

"Sometimes there's moments in these programmes that stay with you and that's what people become remembered for, she added. They can win all the awards they like, but has it done their reputation - has it done their standing - any good? I think time will tell."

Meghan and Harry were snubbed in the nominations for the Primetime Emmys just this week. This comes days after it was reported that Meghans Spotify podcast will not be renewed for a second season. Insiders close to Spotify have claimed the royal couple failed to meet the productivity benchmark that was needed to receive the full payout, according to Wall Street Journal. Meghan, however, is reportedly planning to create more podcasts.

After the end of the first season, Spotify was reportedly planning to release a second season. Sources close to Meghan and Harry have claimed the couple would stop making Netflix documentaries, publishing memoirs and appear for interviews that do not speak well of the Royal Family.
News / Local

by Staff reporter

Police in Tsholotsho have arrested a man who in a fit of drunken rage, fatally stabbed a teenager in the head.Ndaniso Ndlovu (43) allegedly stabbed the 17-year-old juvenile at Mahangula Business Centre on 9 July.Confirming the incident on their official Twitter account, police said they were yet to establish a motive for the killing.
Democratic presidential candidate for 2024, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., found himself at the center of a storm of criticism after suggesting that the COVID-19 pandemic might be an "ethnically targeted" bioweapon. Kennedy Jr. made these comments during a press event at a popular Upper East Side restaurant, Tony's Di Napoli, where he engaged in a Q&A session. The New York Post obtained a video of his remarks and shared it online, causing a stir among the public. FILE - Robert F. Kennedy Jr. speaks at an event where he announced his run for president on Wednesday, April 19, 2023, at the Boston Park Plaza Hotel, in Boston. (AP)

According to the conservative newspaper, Kennedy Jr. claimed that COVID-19 was a genetically engineered bioweapon designed to disproportionately spare Ashkenazi Jews and Chinese people. He stated, "COVID-19 attacks certain races disproportionately. COVID-19 is targeted to attack Caucasians and Black people. The most immune people are Ashkenazi Jews and Chinese."

However, Kennedy Jr. took to Twitter to clarify his position, asserting that the Post's story was "mistaken" and that he never suggested COVID-19 specifically spared Jews. In his tweet, he explained, "I accurately pointed out...that the U.S. and other governments are developing ethnically targeted bioweapons." He referenced a study published on the National Library of Medicine's website, which discussed the genetic susceptibility of COVID-19 across different populations.

Kennedy Jr.'s comments triggered an outpouring of criticism on Twitter, with Bill Kristol, the director of the nonprofit Defending Democracy Together, calling him a "conspiratorial lunatic." Despite being the nephew of the late President John F. Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has often aligned himself with conservatives and Republicans regarding theories about COVID-19's origins. He has been a vocal opponent of pandemic restrictions and has expressed skepticism toward the COVID-19 vaccine.

In 2021, Kennedy Jr. authored a book titled "The Real Anthony Fauci," in which he accused the renowned infectious disease doctor of participating in a "historic coup d'etat against Western democracy." He also promoted unproven treatments such as ivermectin, intended for parasitic infections, as potential remedies for COVID-19.

The debate over the origins of COVID-19 continues to divide experts. While initial theories suggested a natural transmission from bats to humans at a Wuhan market, an alternative hypothesis proposing accidental leakage from a nearby lab gained traction. The United States Department of Energy and the Federal Bureau of Investigation have both expressed low confidence that the virus originated in a Wuhan lab, based on new intelligence. However, other agencies maintain that the virus likely spread naturally.

China has consistently denied any allegations of a lab leak and dismissed them as politically motivated. The origins of COVID-19 remain a complex and hotly debated topic, and scientists and government agencies continue to investigate to uncover the truth behind the global pandemic.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is making waves with his recent comments about Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, suggesting that she could be a potential vice presidential pick. During his two-day Iowa swing, DeSantis spoke highly of Reynolds, highlighting her leadership qualities and drawing comparisons to his own tenure in Florida. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks at an event with Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds on Friday, March 10, 2023, in Davenport, Iowa.(AP)

This move comes amidst criticism from frontrunner Donald Trump, who attacked Reynolds for her neutral stance in the caucuses. DeSantis, however, defended Reynolds and expressed his admiration for her, stating that she is one of the top public servants in America.

New Contender Emerges

During an event in Ankeny, DeSantis was asked if Reynolds would be a contender for his running mate. Without hesitation, he responded with a resounding "of course." DeSantis praised Reynolds' dedication and dismissed the attacks against her as unjustified and unnecessary. His endorsement of Reynolds as a potential vice president is seen as a strategic move to solidify his standing among Iowa voters and showcase his support for influential leaders in the Republican Party.

Reynolds' Ambitions in Iowa

While DeSantis publicly expressed his support for Reynolds, the Iowa governor has previously stated that she has no interest in becoming a vice presidential pick. In a February interview with the Des Moines Register, Reynolds made it clear that she is focused on her work in Iowa and is not seeking a national position.

She emphasized her commitment to the state and encouraged candidates to come to Iowa and witness the progress being made. Reynolds aims to continue raising Iowa's national profile and believes there is more work to be done.

Political Maneuvering and National Profile

DeSantis' endorsement of Reynolds signals his strategic approach to the 2024 presidential race. By aligning himself with influential Republican figures like Reynolds, DeSantis aims to boost his national profile and appeal to voters in key states.

As the frontrunner, Donald Trump's attacks on Reynolds could provide an opportunity for DeSantis to differentiate himself and position himself as a unifying candidate. With Reynolds by his side, DeSantis hopes to showcase a strong alliance and highlight his commitment to working with accomplished leaders across the country.

While it remains to be seen whether Reynolds will reconsider her stance on becoming a vice presidential pick, DeSantis has made his admiration for her clear. As the 2024 election approaches, the political landscape will continue to evolve, and potential running mate choices will be carefully considered.

Also read | Presidential candidates' coffers competing for cash. Whose campaign has more clout, Donald Trump or Joe Biden?

DeSantis' endorsement of Reynolds has sparked intrigue and speculation, adding another layer of excitement and uncertainty to the upcoming presidential race. Only time will tell who will ultimately join forces with DeSantis on the campaign trail.
FFormer President Donald Trump remained coy on Sunday about whether he would participate in the first Republican primary debate next month, citing his comfortable lead in early GOP primary polls. Trump pointed out that many previous candidates, including Ronald Reagan, opted not to participate in debates when they held a substantial advantage. Former US President and 2024 presidential hopeful Donald Trump.(AFP)

Ronald Reagan didnt do it, a lot of people didnt do it. When you have a big lead, you dont do it. I havent really made up my mind, Trump said during an extensive interview with Fox News Sunday Morning Futures host Maria Bartiromo.

While claiming he hadn't made up his mind, Trump did acknowledge two of his Republican rivals, Senator Tim Scott and businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, as potential cabinet members if he secures the nomination and returns to the White House.

DeSantis's Potential Debate Challenge

When asked about the possibility of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis gaining ground on him in a debate, Trump suggested that another candidate could have a strong performance and close the gap. He also praised Vivek Ramaswamy for his performance in the race, indicating that he has done a commendable job.

Former President Donald Trump, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, former Vice President Mike Pence and South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott.(AP)

Delaying Trial as Election Interference

Trump also addressed his ongoing legal battles, asserting that his trial on 37 felony counts related to the mishandling of classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate should be postponed until after the 2024 presidential election.

He denounced the case as "election interference" and criticized the Department of Justice, referring to it as the "Department of Injustice." Trump's attorneys have previously argued for a delay in the trial due to his busy campaign schedule, among other reasons, but the DOJ has rejected these arguments.

Trump's Confidence in Winning Women's Votes

Despite facing legal challenges, Trump expressed confidence in his ability to win women's votes and secure victory in a general election. He emphasized key issues such as public safety, border security, tax cuts, and deregulation, along with promoting domestic oil and gas exploration to achieve energy independence for the United States.

During the interview, Trump voiced his opposition to the House GOP proposal to relocate the Federal Bureau of Investigation from Washington, D.C. to Alabama, citing the importance of proximity to the Justice Department. He also predicted that President Joe Biden would be the Democratic nominee, albeit with reservations about his ability to articulate effectively.

Trump claimed that the late Senator Ted Kennedy had described Biden as the "dumbest" senator, but also noted that Robert Kennedy Jr., a rival to Biden, is intelligent but unlikely to secure the Democratic nomination. Furthermore, Trump expressed skepticism about a Secret Service probe into cocaine being brought into the White House, suggesting that authorities should have identified a suspect given their expertise and knowledge of the situation.

Also read | Ron DeSantis makes a bold move, picks Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds as potential VP candidate defying Trump's attacks

While Trump's plans for the primary debate remain uncertain, his comments and insights continue to generate intrigue within the Republican Party as the 2024 presidential race heats up.
King Charles' second wife Camilla is set to celebrate her 76th birthday on July 17. A former royal butler predicted what she'll likely receive from her husband King Charles as a gift. King Charles's former butler Grant Harrold, who worked for the monarch from 2004 to 2011, said, The funny thing is that what do you even give to someone in the Royal Family? Or a Queen? I expect Charles will give her something practical that she wants, a piece of jewellery - or something for her dogs. Britain's Queen Camilla during a visit to the Oasis Centre at the Columba Centre in St Columb Major, Cornwall, Britain.(Reuters)

But, a couple of days after her birthday, it might be that we notice Camilla wearing a different piece of jewellery, which may have been a birthday gift. But birthdays are normally quite low-key. I used to be quite lucky as I'd normally be on duty when it was Camillas birthday. It was always quite nice that I was able to give her a gift and a card, Grant Harrold said.

King Charles and Camilla are normally like that at big celebrations, the former butler explained.

I remember the Kings 60th, as Camilla was involved in the organising part of it. Shes very good at planning things and she enjoys organising dinner parties and events. She will always want to have a part in it. She would never ask someone to organise it for her. This reminds me of what the late Queen was like, too," he said.

Talking about Camilla, Grant Harrold said, Shes got a really nice and down-to-earth personality. She's also got a really good sense of humour. Shes a practical joker, but she's got a caring side. If ever you looked upset, she would want to know what was wrong - and wanted to know how to fix it. She cared a lot about you. You could talk to her about things, which was really nice. She is very approachable, upfront and hands-on. She's also someone who would want to do everything herself."

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Prince William has reportedly told his father King Charles that he will have to pay if wants to stay at his holiday home in Wales. The much-loved house is in Llwynywermod near the Brecon Beacons National park where the monarch has stayed for a few weeks every summer. Britain's Prince William during a visit to Loftus Road.(Reuters)

The rural property was bought by King Charles in 2007 for 1.2 million. But as the house was bought through the Ducky of Cornwall, it's management and maintenance now falls in the ambit of the now Prince of Wales- King Charles' eldest son.

Prince William has told King Charles that he wants to rent out the cottage as a holiday home owing to which the monarch will have to move out his belongings, The Daily Mail reported. King Charles is said to be 'miffed' at the decision, the report claimed.

A source told the Mail, The King was quite miffed but that was the deal. It means he can continue to stay there but he will pay rent to the Duchy and the rest of the time it will be rented out. The King has agreed to pay for the topiary upkeep as he doesn't want to see all the good work in the grounds go to waste.

In 2021, King Charles talked about the cottage at Llwynywermod, saying, Rather 40 years too late, probably. But it's been a wonderful opportunity, at last, to have somewhere in Wales. I come whenever I can... I've always felt that it's an important part of holding this particular title. It took me years to establish somewhere, it wasn't through want of trying but it was difficult to find the right place.

I used to go to different other houses which was very kind of people to lend them for a week or something, but it wasn't the same thing obviously until finally we found this, which has been a Godsend really, he added while talking about the "enduring landscape of Wales" and "its mountains, patchworked fields and woods; its coastline, castles, villages and market towns" attract visitors.

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Prince William's son George wont be expected to join the armed forces before becoming king, a royal expert claimed. The Prince of Wales will change the rules in a huge break from tradition as he aims to raise a 'modern monarch'. This implies that Prince George will be allowed to sidestep the usual stint with the army if he chooses to, The Mail reported. Britain's Prince George, right, reacts as he watches the play with his father Prince William .(AP)

Royal historian Dominic Sandbrook said, In theory, there is nothing to stop George from pursuing a career as an astronaut, for example, if thats what he wants, and then becoming King later. The rules are different now, he wouldnt necessarily have to follow the old formula of going into the military and then Royal life."

So, could Charlotte qualify as a doctor, for example? I dont see why not. Its less of a fishbowl now than when William and Harry were growing up," he said.

Prince William completed a 44-week training course at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst after graduating. He was commissioned as an Army officer in December 2006 and joined the Household Cavalry until 2008. He was later attached to the Royal Air Force and Navy.

Prince William even wanted to join the war but was prevented from doing so given his position as a future King.

This is significant because it shows that times are moving on. Im all for people keeping up with the times providing they dont throw tradition out of the window. Maybe the military wont prove to be the best course for Prince George, although I would hope that he might do something like the Duke of Edinburgh gold award instead, which is non-competitive," the royal historian said.

Prince George was seen front and centre of Queen Elizabeths Platinum Jubilee celebrations last June. He and his two siblings, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis started at a new school this week as well.

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Russian military blogger Igor Girkin said that the country's president Vladimir Putin may face a move from within his inner circle to end Ukraine invasion. It could lead to his removal as president, the blogger who played a key role in the conflict in Ukraine's Donbas region from 2014, said. Russian president Vladimir Putin(AP)

Igor Girkin said that the mutiny by Wagner Group chief Yevgeny Prigozhin, in which his troops seized military facilities in Rostov-on-Don and marched on Moscow, succeeded by redistributing power among the Russian elite and weakening the positions of Russian defense minister Sergei Shoigu, Moscow regional governor Andrei Vorobyov and Moscow city mayor Sergei Sobyanin.

A group of Vladimir Putin's inner circle known as the "Ozero (Lake) Cooperative" and based in the Leningrad Oblast wants to oust the presiden, Igor Girkin said. The group also wants to sabotage Russia's military operations and its defense industrial base as well as control of rear areas in the war, he claimed, adding, that they would also target the Ministry of Defense, Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev, the FSB and other government structures.

What think tank ISW said on challenges that Vladimir Putin faces?

Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said that there should be a continued grinding war effort and no freezing of the lines in Ukraine. Igor Girkin's claims try to portray the Wagner founder as a threat to Putin's regime to encourage harsher Kremlin action against Prigozhin and discourage any efforts to freeze the front in Ukraine, the think tank said.

What expert said on Russia and Vladimir Putin's leadership?

"The mutiny exposed disagreement and instability among Russia's elites, including military leadership, and Putin's own leadership is predicated on the idea that he is a guarantor of stability," Tom Roberts, assistant professor of Russian, East European & Eurasian Studies at Smith College, said, adding, Putin's actions since June 24 also seem to confirm this, as the president has been eager to project his control of the armed forces, and to declare that national unity ensured the defeat of the mutiny.

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The man who said he would burn the Torah and the Bible outside the Israeli Embassy in Stockholm gave up his plan and instead held a one-person demonstration on Saturday against the burning of holy books, the media reported. A man talks to the media outside the Isaeli embassy in Stockholm, Sweden, July 15, 2023. (AP)

At the scene, he said he was a Muslim and threw a lighter he held in his hand to the ground, saying he never intended to burn holy books.

The man, who is in his 30s and had been issued a permit for the protest by Stockholm police, said such an action would be against the Quran, the Muslim holy book, and that he will not burn, according to the Swedish news agency TT.

The man, who resides in western Sweden, also said that no one should do that, the report said.

Israeli officials had called on the Swedish government to stop the protest and the burning of the holy books on Saturday afternoon outside the diplomatic mission. Israeli President Isaac Herzog and the World Jewish Congress condemned the action in advance as did Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen and Israels Chief Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef.

The Times of Israel reported that the man arrived outside the Israeli diplomatic mission on Saturday afternoon holding a copy of the Quran and saying that it was never his intention to burn Jewish or Christian holy books, only to protest the recent burning of the Quran.

Swedish public broadcaster SVT said the man threw a lighter in his hand to the ground and said he didnt need it.

Im a Muslim, we dont burn (books). I want to show that we have to respect each other, the man said, according to SVT, adding that he had no intention to realize his original plan.

Sweden has recently faced strong criticism from Muslim countries for allowing protesters to burn the Quran at small anti-Islam demonstrations.

The man who filed the request for Saturdays protest, said he wanted to burn the Torah and the Bible outside the Israeli Embassy in response to a Quran-burning outside a Stockholm mosque last month by an Iraqi immigrant.

The right to hold public demonstrations is strong in Sweden and protected by the constitution. Blasphemy laws were abandoned in the 1970s. Police give permissions based on whether they believe a public gathering can be held without major disruptions or risks to public safety.

Last month, an Iraqi Christian immigrant burned a Quran outside a Stockholm mosque during the major Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha, triggering widespread condemnation in the Islamic world. A similar protest by a far-right activist was held outside Turkeys Embassy earlier this year, complicating Swedens efforts to convince Turkey to let it join NATO.

On Wednesday, the top U.N. human rights body overwhelmingly approved a measure calling on countries to do more to prevent religious hatred in the wake of the Quran-burnings. It was approved despite objections of Western countries who fear tougher steps by governments could trample freedom of expression.

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A murdered womans mothers quest for justice led to multiple bodies being found on Gilgo Beach. Now, several years later, a suspect in the murders has been arrested.Rex Heuermann, 59, was caught by plainclothes cops as he strolled down a Midtown sidewalk on Thursday night, July 13. Shannan Gilbert's (R) story became the basis of Netflixs Lost Girls (IMDb, Praying for Shannan Maria Gilbert/Facebook)

Rex appeared in court on Friday, July 14, pleading not guilty to three counts of first-degree murder and other charges. The charges were related to the deaths of three women over a decade ago. He has also been named the prime suspect in a fourth murder.

Rexs arrest is tied to the Gilgo Four, referring to the four women whose bodies were found within days of each other in 2010. The women in question were Melissa Barthelemy, 24, Megan Waterman, 22, Amber Lynn Costello, 27, and Maureen Brainard-Barnes, 25.

Shannan Gilbert's story became thebasis of Netflixs Lost Girls

However, what led police to the bodies on the beach was a strong mothers fight to find the truth. The story of Shannan Gilbert, who is believed to be a potential victim of the Gilgo Beach serial killer, was revealed in a popular true crime series on Netflix.

Shannan went missing on May 1, 2010, after placing three disturbing 911 calls. The 23-year-old was anescort from Jersey City, New Jersey. She contacted police the day she went missing, during her visit with a Long Island client named Joseph Brewer. She reportedly fled Josephs Oak Beach house, dialling 911 as she escaped on foot. "There's somebody after me, she told the 911 operator. She also pleaded with several neighbouring residents to help her.

Police inaction and Shannans mothers fight for justice became thebasis of the March 2020 Netflix motion picture Lost Girls. Her mom,Mari Gilbert, is portrayed by Only Murders in the Building alum Amy Ryan. Shannan is portrayed by Sarah Wisser.

Shannans body was discovered on December 13, 2011, by local authorities in the marshes of Gilgo Beach. The discovery of her body led authorities to a series of other bodies, known as victims of the Gilgo Beach killer.

Shannans cause of death was listed as a drowning accident by New York's Suffolk County Police Department. However, an independent autopsy conducted by outside officials claimed she may have died due to possible strangulation.

Shannan Gilberts sister Sherre releases statement

Shannans sister Sherre released a statement on social media after Rex was arrested. I want to express my deepest sympathy & prayers to the families & their loved ones that have been named as victims of the Long Island Serial Killer (LISK). Megan Waterman, Maureen Brainard-Barnes, Melissa Barthlemy, and Amber Lynn Costello. Their lives were cut short by this cruel heinous act of violence and no amount of justice, will ever bring them back. The pain, hurt & anger these families have had to deal with since these women first went missing is immense, she wrote.

I want to personally thank the media for keeping their story as well as Shannans alive all these years. They didnt always get every thing we said correct and I didnt always agree with the words they used but if not for them, many people wouldnt have known these women, my sister or the other victims, which has garnered national and international attention all over the world, she continued.

Sherre added, Thank you to SCPD & the task force they developed for their continued efforts in capturing one of the most cunning serial killers of L.I. Even though SCPD ruled my sisters death a tragic accident thats not connected to LISK and a mere coincidence, the time, effort, and dedication my mom & I put into this case isnt wasted.
Fighters from the Wagner group have arrived in Belarus from Russia, Ukrainian and Polish officials said on Saturday, a day after Minsk said the mercenaries were training the country's soldiers southeast of the capital. The Belarusian defence ministry released a video on Friday, showing what it said were Wagner fighters instructing Belarusian soldiers at a military range near the town of Osipovichi.(AP)

"Wagner is in Belarus," Andriy Demchenko, a spokesman for the Ukrainian border agency, said in a statement on the Telegram messaging app. He said the movement of "separate groups" from Russia had been observed in Belarus.

Some Wagner fighters have been in Belarus since at least Tuesday, two sources close to the fighters told Reuters.

The Belarusian defence ministry released a video on Friday, showing what it said were Wagner fighters instructing Belarusian soldiers at a military range near the town of Osipovichi.

Wagner's move to Belarus was part of a deal that ended the group's mutiny attempt in June - when they took control of a Russian military headquarters, marched on Moscow and threatened to tip Russia into civil war - President Vladimir Putin said.

Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin has not been seen in public since he left the southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don late on June 24.

Poland's deputy minister coordinator of special services, Stanislaw Zaryn, said Warsaw also has confirmation of Wagner fighters' presence in Belarus.

"There may be several hundred of them at the moment," Zaryn said on Twitter.

Poland said this month it was bolstering its border with Belarus to address any potential threats.

While not sending his own troops to Ukraine, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko allowed Moscow to use Belarusian territory to launch its full-scale invasion on Ukraine in February 2022 and has since let his country be used as a base for Russian nuclear weapons.

The Belarusian Hajun project, which monitors military activity in the country and which is viewed as an extremist formation by Belarusian authorities, said a large column of at least 60 vehicles entered Belarus overnight Friday from Russia.

It said the vehicles, including trucks, pickups, vans and buses, had licence plates of the self-styled Donetsk and Luhansk people's republics in what is internationally recognised as eastern Ukraine. In a move widely condemned as illegal, Moscow moved last year to annex the republics, which have been Russian proxies since 2014.

Hajun said it appeared that a Wagner column was headed to Tsel in central Belarus, where foreign reporters were last week shown a camp with hundreds of empty tents.

Reuters could not independently verify the Belarusian Hajun report. There was no immediate comment from Russia or Belarus on the reports.

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News / Local

by Staff reporter

A Harare-based army sergeant appeared at the Harare magistrates court on Thursday facing charges of forging certificates for a student to apply for a scholarship in Poland.Farai Chauke and his two unemployed accomplices Joel and Michael Sikaliveni appeared before magistrate Stanford Mambanje.Chauke is a graphic designer and also director of Red Haven Media (Private) Limited, a private business that is into printing and graphic designing.The complainant is the Zimbabwe Schools Examination Council (Zimsec) represented by James Nyabonde, the head of security.It is the State case that on June 22, Sandile Biancah Mabhena went to Zimsec offices in Harare to get certification for her fake Ordinary and Advanced level certificates.However, Zimsec officials discovered that the two certificates had been tampered with.Investigations revealed that the 'O' Level certificate with 10 passes belonged to Nkosikhona Gumpo and Advanced Level certificate to Rodney Ndlovu.Investigations discovered that Mabhena did Ordinary Level at Lower Gwelo Adventist High School and sat for examinations in November 2020, but never advanced to 'A' level.According to the State, Mabhena approached Bonani Ncube, who is still at large, to originate the fake certificates and was charged US$720.Ncube engaged Chauke to design the fake certificates.A search conducted at his workplace recovered stolen certificates belonging to different people.
Taiwan announced its plans to construct biosafety research and development facilities for bolstering its defence against biological warfare. However, it emphasised that the project will not develop biological weapons. A worker holds Taiwan's flag.(AFP)

The (planned construction) is in response to the rise of highly contagious pathogens in recent years, Taiwans defence ministry said refuting reports that Taipei was asked by the United States to develop weaponised biological agents. The facilities which have been planned and will be built by the ministrys Medical Affairs Bureau will also strengthen the ability of the island to prevent a pandemic, the ministry informed.

Bureau spokesman Yang Chung-chi said, In dealing with nuclear and biological warfare, the military emphasises defence and protection. The purpose of building a P4 lab by the National Defence Medical Centre is primarily for detection of the pathogens of diseases and pandemics in order to find countermeasures.

The Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on their Destruction has been signed by Taiwan, which places a ban on the production, acquisition, development and retention of biological and toxin weapons, the spokesman said.

We will never develop, manufacture, stockpile and acquire biological and toxic agents for military use, he stated. Taiwan's president also said that no meetings were held to discuss the development of bioweapons calling the report fabrication and disinformation.

This comes as Taiwan has been facing constant threats from Beijing which considers the island as part of its territory. China has vowed to take it back under its control by force if required. Since August, cross-strait tensions have escalated as military activities around Taiwan were intensified by China which included sending warplanes over the median line.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR Mallika Soni When not reading, this ex-literature student can be found searching for an answer to the question, "What is the purpose of journalism in society?" ...view detail
US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen consumed wild mushrooms known to have psychedelic effects during her recent official visit to China, according to a report by CNN. What Yellen ate is locally called Jian shou qing mushrooms and is a delicacy in Yunnan. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen (AP)

I have a friend who mistakenly ate them and hallucinated for three days, Dr. Peter Mortimer, a professor at Kunming Institute of Botany, told CNN.

You thought you were walking straight but you just fell sideways, the Xinhua state news agency quoted a local as saying about the mushroom's effects.

Yellen had visited an outlet of the Yi Zuo Yi Wang restaurant chain. News of her dining at the restaurant was widely discussed and shared on Chinese social media platforms. It led to great business for the restaurant as demands for reservations increased after her visit.

It was an extremely magical day, said the restaurant of the secretarys visit.

ALSO READ| 2024 US Presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy opines on cause of Capitol riot

Yellen went on a four-day official China visit from July 6-9. Her trip happened at a time when tensions between the US and China are high due to several geopolitical reasons and other issues concerning both countries' interests. During her visit, she had met Chinese Premier Li Qiang, her counterpart and Vice Premier He Lifeng; Finance Minister Liu Kun, and senior banker of the Peoples Bank of China, Pan Gongsheng.

The US and China have significant disagreements. Those disagreements need to be communicated clearly and directly We believe that the world is big enough for both of our countries to thrive, said Yellen.
News / Local

by Staff reporter

Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition chair decries signing of Patriotic Act into lawCrisis in Zimbabwe Coalition (CiZC) chair, Peter Mutasa has lamented the enactment of the Patriotic Act which he said has now unnecessarily added to offences that attract the death penalty in the country.Mutasa was speaking to ZimLive after President Emmerson Mnangagwa this week operationalised the much-resented law through assenting to it.The former ZCTU president said the signing of the Criminal Law Codification and Reform Amendment Bill 2022, better known as the Patriotic Act, spelt doom for Zimbabwean rights and opposition activists who have routinely been targeted for forms of state repression.The controversial law criminalises the act of "willfully injuring the sovereignty and national interest of Zimbabwe" and in the most extreme circumstances, one could get a death sentence if convicted for the offence.Mutasa, also a victim of state brutality, said given the generally biased application of security laws by the Zanu-PF led government, "everyone was in danger" from the Patriotic Act.He said the law was laced with "broad and vague" provisions which left room of state institutions to unduly restrict human rights."This is a sad day for Zimbabweans," said the prominent rights defender."It is an official statement that we are under repression."It reminds everyone of how we attained independence from colonial rule but failed to attain freedom from tyranny."The government has taken away the most fundamental constitutional rights such as freedom of association, assembly and expression."The provisions of this law are broad and vague leaving room for the police, prosecutors and judges to apply it anyhow."By signing the law, Mnangagwa ignored the loud chorus of resentment against a law widely feared could add to the state's kit of sharp-edged weaponry against dissenting voices, which include opponents, rights defenders, journalists and whistle-blowers."We are deeply concerned that this law adds to the existing plethora of offences punishable by death in Zimbabwe," Mutasa added."Under our circumstances, we know that this law will be used to persecute those who seek justice and accountability from the government."Even engaging UN agencies and regional organisations such as SADC will now be risky as you may be deemed to have committed an offence by legitimately engaging these organisations."Mutasa called on "all Zimbabweans to unite and fight against oppressive laws and practices by the current government"."We must fight for reinstatement and respect of our liberties."Rights will never be given on a silver platter, they are fought for."We also call on Zimbabweans to utilise the elections to correct some of these injustices," he said.
Latinas413 Receives First Grant For Operations

STOCKBRIDGE, Mass.  The Women's Fund of Western Mass has granted Latinas413 $24,800 for general operating support through 2025.

A fiscally-sponsored project of Nonprofit Center of the Berkshires, Latinas413 will use the funds to expand their core mentorship program that connects Latinas to local resources, financial education, career opportunities, arts & culture, and outdoor recreation.

"Latinas are a vital part of our community, yet they face unique challenges in terms of representation and support," said Liliana Atanacio, a founding member of the group.

Latinas413 was founded in 2020 with the goal of connecting, supporting and collaborating with Latinas in Berkshire County. Now 300 members strong, the mission of the organization is to ignite the collective power of Latinas to expand their social and economic capital, access local resources, and increase the representation of their voices, talents and interests.

Latinas413 also provides scholarships and other opportunities for Latinas to pursue higher education and achieve their career goals. By investing in education, Latinas413 helps to create a more equitable and diverse workforce.

The Women's Fund of Western Massachusetts (WFWM) awarded $208,900 in grants to 21 organizations that serve women and girls in Berkshire, Franklin, Hampden, and Hampshire Counties. With a commitment to nurturing a thriving, diverse, and inclusive women and girl-serving nonprofit community, WFWM continues fueling progress for gender and racial equity in our region.
Massachusetts Nonprofit Network to Visit Berkshires Region

GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass.  Nonprofit Center of the Berkshires will host the Massachusetts Nonprofit Network at Ventfort Hall on Tuesday, July 25, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The annual regional meeting brings together nonprofits from all subsectors to network and learn more about current advocacy efforts.

"MNN is our voice in the State House," said Liana Toscanini, executive director of the Nonprofit Center. "We welcome their policy updates and the opportunity to ask questions about issues of importance to our nonprofit sector."

The event is free to Berkshire nonprofits and includes lunch and a short tour of Ventfort Hall, a historic mansion and Gilded Age museum on the National Register of Historic Places. Attendees will also hear from the event's two partners  Massachusetts CORE 401K savings plan for small nonprofits and Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation.
The Cheshire Summer Festival is July 22

CHESHIRE, Mass. The former Cheshire Block Party returns on July 22 with a new name and a new vibe.

"Our message and motivation with regard to our projects and events has not changed," Cheshire Community Association (CCA) President John Tremblay said. "We measure our success by smiles on faces, and based on the number witnessed, the connections created and reinforced are priceless."

The festival starts at 5 p.m. and runs until 8 p.m. It is free.

Since July 2015, the CCA, and all volunteer nonprofit, group has held two block parties each summer in the town's downtown area around Town Hall. But this year will be different and the event has been rebranded as the The Cheshire Summer Festival and it will now be held at the former Cheshire Elementary School grounds.

"With our event venue changing and some reinvention happening we felt it appropriate to freshen up the name as well," Tremblay said. "It's good for us to continue evolving."

He said this year there will be two performing acts.

"In the interest of cultural diversity, we've gone full spectrum with a very popular Polka Band - the Eddie Forman Orchestra - on one end, and an incredible Breakdancing troupe from the Funk Box Dance Studio in Pittsfield - on the other," he said. "Sure this model may be a little unusual, but we know one thing for sure, there's going to be a lot of dancing going on."

For food Ozzie's Food Truck will be on site providing some traditional Polish food in addition to his standard American fare.

There will also be a ceremony marking the school building's centennial and Cheshire Corn Hole Cup. There will also be a painting, balloon tying, and a raffle.

The rain location is the former school's cafeteria.

The CCA grew from a group of residents opposed to the construction of a Dollar General in town. They were able to impact the design of the building and its location but more importantly, instilled a sense of community in Cheshire.

"One thing we've definitely learned is that Margaret Meade was right. Groups of thoughtful, committed citizens is how things get done," he said. "We're fortunate to have multiple groups like that in Cheshire, of which the CCA is one."

He listed the town's efforts to become an Appalachian Trail Community, creating a hiker campsite, art along the Rail Trail, the mural on Route 8, and town clean-up days.

"We've been able to bring folks together for a common cause which I like to call the Cheshire Experience,'" he said. "Collectively these endeavors move the needle with respect to community building but also from an economic development standpoint. If visiting and living in Cheshire is desirable, that pays dividends for our town and the residents across the board."
Man Charged After Allegedly Stealing from Berkshire Bank

PITTSFIELD, Mass.  On Tuesday, July 11, Angel Nunez, age 52 of Troy, NY, was arraigned in Central Berkshire District Court.

Nunez was charged with the following:

Larceny Over $1200 By False Presence

Identity Fraud, 2 counts

RMV Document, Forge/Misuse, 2 counts

Attempt to Commit Crime

The Honorable Judge Pasquariello set $15,000 cash bail. The Commonwealth requested a $25,000 cash bail. Defense requested $2,500 cash bail.

Nunez was arrested on July 10 at approximately 3:20pm after Pittsfield Police were dispatched to Berkshire Bank for a report of a male attempting to make a cash withdrawal using fraudulent identification.

While police were enroute, Berkshire Bank employees reported the individual left the bank. Police were able to locate Nunez based on a description employees gave and the direction he walked after he left the bank.

Officers located Nunez walking near Crane Avenue. When police officers located Nunez, they connected him to an attempted larceny at the same bank branch on June 27.

Based on the alleged attempted larceny that day and his alleged connection to the June 27 attempted larceny, Nunez was placed under arrest.

Prior to the attempted larceny on July 10, Nunez allegedly attempted larceny at the same Berkshire Bank branch on June 27. On that day, Nunez attempted to withdraw $9,200 from a Berkshire Bank account. A bank teller questioned Nunez based on the identification he presented and the name he tried to used. Nunez quickly left the bank after questioning began. Berkshire Bank provided Pittsfield Police with surveillance photos from the June 27 incident.

Nunez is also suspected to have fraudulently withdrawn $8,700 dollars from a Berkshire Bank branch on Elm Street, Pittsfield on June 23. In this case, Nunez presented a New York driver's license with a photo matching his appearance but using a different name. The true account holder reported shortly after that someone had withdrawn $8,700 from his account.

On June 29, Police investigating the June 23rd larceny spoke with Elm Street Berkshire Bank branch employees who identified Nunez as the individual who made the fraudulent withdrawal on June 23.
News / National

by Staff reporter

The 2023 presidential election is shaping out as a three-horse race between President Emmerson Mnangagwa, opposition leader Nelson Chamisa and independent Saviour Kasukuwere while the other eight candidates have so far largely remained invisible.Eleven presidential candidates successfully filed their nomination papers last month.Chamisa, the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) leader, is having another go at the presidency having lost with a narrow margin to Mnangagwa in the disputed 2018 election.Kasukuwere, who fled into exile following the 2017 coup that toppled the late Robert Mugabe, has ruffled feathers in Zanu-PF after he threw his hat into the ring to contest for the presidency.Mnangagwa has been holding rallies across the country as he seeks to retain power. Even his ribbon-cutting events have been turned into mini rallies.His main challenger Chamisa has, however, been facing challenges holding his rallies with police refusing to sanction most of the party's events citing various reasons.Just last week, police barred Chamisa from launching his election campaign in Bindura.Last week alone, as many as 10 CCC rallies were stopped.Kasukuwere is facing a court challenge from a Zanu-PF activist, Lovedale Mangwana, who has filed an application against his candidacy.Mangwana approached the court seeking an order to declare a decision by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) to accept Kasukuwere's nomination papers null and void.The High Court ruled in his favour, but Kasukuwere appealed the ruling at the Supreme Court.While Kasukuwere, Mnangagwa and Chamisa are emerging as frontrunners, eight other presidential candidates have been largely absent from the campaign trail.Some said that they are being prevented from holding rallies by the police, while others claimed that they are simply not getting the same level of media attention as CCC and Zanu-PF.The eight other presidential candidates are Joseph Makamba Busha, Trust Chikohora, Blessing Kasiyamhuru, Lovemore Madhuku, Wilbert Mubaiwa, Gwinyai Henry Muzorewa, Douglas Mwonzora and Harry Peter Wilson.Busha, the FreeZim Congress leader, said he only started his campaign on Friday last week."Our campaigns are going just fine. We started last Friday and we did introduce our aspiring MPs at the media centre in Harare," Busha told The Standard."We are supposed to have our press conferences every Monday."However, the fact that we have to apply to police to do campaigns during this election period is just so wrong."Those are the things that we want to challenge."Wilson, the leader of the Democratic Opposition Party (DOP), said he was not getting fair media coverage."We are however moving all over the country and preparing for the election," Wilson said."We are not sitting back, we are getting ready."We are in a position to rule the country. We are ready to govern and give people jobs and get this country moving."On the other hand, Mwonzora's MDC has not started its campaigns as they are still contesting the dismissal of 87 of its House of Assembly candidates.The party lost its bid to force Zec to register 87 of its aspiring MPs who were rejected by the Nomination Court after failing to pay candidate fees.Political analysts raised concern over the lack of activity by the other candidates.Political analyst Rejoice Ngwenya said other nominated parties were just "bridesmaids.""Like we have always said, the real contest is between Zanu-PF and CCC," Ngwenya said."All others are just bridesmaids."Naturally, campaigning involves a lot of resources and it's a very expensive venture."Analyst Effie Ncube said lack of funds and unfair media coverage were also to blame."Traditional political campaigns through rallies and door-to-door visits require a lot of resources that many political parties and candidates don't have," Ncube said."Only Zanu-PF has limitless resources as it can unlawfully tap into state resources to augment its budget."CCC has no such advantage, but it has the numbers from which it can raise the money to campaign."For other political parties, their relative lack of visibility is a result of a combination of lack of money and the fact that the media, both private and public, largely focuses on Zanu PF and CCC."Their invisibility has also been compounded no less by a restrictive operating environment which curtails their mobility and freedoms."Zimbabwe Election Advocacy Trust executive director Ignatious Sadziwa said the inactivity of other political participants during the peak of the electoral season was worrisome."The reasons are multifaceted and diverse," he said."The marketing platform in the form of the state media is tilted in favour of the establishment (ruling party), thereby disadvantageous to opposition political parties who then resort to social media which is limited to a small fraction of the electorate."The political environment is also not conducive for opposition political parties as you have just witnessed that law enforcement agents have weaponized the law by banning political gatherings on dubious reasons."Funding constraints are also militating against political activities."Zimbabwe has a history of disputed elections.In a recent report, the European Union Election Observation Mission said there were "serious concerns"about the lack of progress on electoral reforms.
News / National

by Staff reporter

THE court battle being waged by Zanu-PF proxy Lovedale Mangwana to bar independent presidential election candidate Saviour Kasukuwere from the race is intensifying and getting increasingly desperate.Mangwana, linked to the Zanu-PF Mangwana family, is clearly acting on behalf of his Zanu-PF handlers to benefit President Emmerson Mnangagwa who is evidently scared of Kasukuwere, the X Factor in the election.After his High Court victory was automatically suspended due to a subsequent Supreme Court appeal, Mangwana has approached the High Court seeking leave to execute judgment pending appeal  meaning to get Kasukuwere blocked from running while the case continues.Meanwhile, Mangwana has also made an urgent Supreme Court application demanding that Kasukuwere's appeal must be set down, heard and determined urgently.
 Close No contracts, no peace: Actors stage demonstration in New York

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Universal Studios has been accused of trimming the trees that lined its studio lot and provided shade for striking actors and writers.

On Monday (17 July), following the first weekend of the historic Hollywood shutdown, comic Chris Stephens tweeted a photo showing the bare trees.

Quick shoutout to the good people at @UniversalPics for trimming the trees that gave our picket line shade right before a 90+ degree week, Stephens wrote.

SAG-AFTRA negotiators unanimously recommended a strike after talks with the AMPTP broke down last week.

Additionally, the Writers Guild of America has been on strike since early May. Both groups demand increases in base pay and residuals in the streaming TV era, plus assurances that their work will not be replaced by AI.

Fran Drescher, former star of The Nanny and SAG president, said studios responses to the actors concerns had been insulting and disrespectful.

In light of the historic double strike, several actors and writers have shared personal horror stories of Hollywood studio greed.

Meanwhile, Disney CEO Bob Iger condemned the threatened strike action as very disruptive at the worst time as well as calling the expectations of writers and actors not realistic.
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Rescue workers in South Korea pulled eight bodies from a flooded tunnel as the number of deaths due to incessant rains and landslides reached 35 nationwide.

At least 10 people were missing on Sunday, while thousands had to evacuate their homes as days of heavy rain triggered flash floods and landslides, authorities said.

Nearly 400 rescue workers, including divers, were searching the tunnel in the central city of Cheongju where vehicles, including a bus, were swamped by a flash flood on Saturday evening.

Seo Jeong-il, head of the west Cheongju fire station, said some 15 vehicles, including a bus, are believed to have been submerged in the underpass.

We are focusing on the search operation as theres likely more people there, Mr Seo told reporters. We are doing our best to wrap it up today.

The 685-metre-long underpass was flooded on Saturday after a nearby river overflowed after an embankment was brought down by rising water levels.

Rescue workers were seen pumping brown water out of the tunnel as divers used rubber boats to move in and out of the area. Yang Chan-mo, an official from the North Chungcheong provincial fire department, said it could take several hours to pump all the water from the tunnel, which was filled with 13 to 16.4 feet of water dense with mud and other debris.

Earlier in the day, nine survivors were rescued from the tunnel. It was unclear how many people were trapped underwater.

South Korean rescue workers search for missing persons along a deluged road leading to a tunnel in Cheongju (YONHAP/AFP via Getty Images)

One survivor from the submerged tunnel said the government should have restricted access to the underpass when flooding was expected, according to Yonhap news agency.

The rainfall had forced more than 6,100 people to evacuate and left 27,260 households without electricity as flooding destroyed dozens of homes, the interior and safety ministry said.

Most fatalities were reported in the southeastern province of North Gyeongsang, where 17 people died, largely due to landslides and housing collapses. Nine people were reported missing from the region.

One more person remained missing in Busan, while at least 22 people were being treated for injuries across the country.

A man sits next to his collapsed house after a landslide caused by heavy rain in Yecheon, South Korea (AP)

The Korea Railroad Corp announced the halting of all slow trains and a few bullet trains, while other trains might be delayed due to landslides threatening safety.

Heavy rainfall has been lashing parts of South Korea since 9 July. The disaster took place despite the government vowing to ramp up preparedness after the capital Seoul was hit by the heaviest downpours in 115 years.

Central and southern parts of the country are expected to receive as much as 12 inches of additional rain by Tuesday, the Korea Meteorological Administration said.

President Yoon Suk-yeol, who paid a surprise visit to Ukraine, instructed prime minister Han Duck-soo to mobilise all available resources to minimise the casualties.
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US treasury secretary Janet Yellen is back in India for the third time in nine months, this time to meet finance ministers from the Group of 20 nations about global economic challenges like the increased threat of debt defaults facing low-income countries.

Ms Yellen will use her time in Gandhinagar to try to foster warming relations between the US and India. She also plans a stop in Hanoi, Vietnam, to address supply chain reliability, clean energy transition and other matters of economic resilience.

Ms Yellen's goals for her time in India: press for debt restructuring in developing countries in economic distress, push to modernize global development banks to make them more climate-focused and deepen the ever-growing US-India relationship.

Ms Yellens frequent stops in the country signal the importance of that relationship at a time of of tensions with China.

Indias longstanding relationship with Russia also will loom as the Kremlin's invasion of Ukraine continues despite US and allied countries efforts to sanction and economically bludgeon Russia's economy. India has not taken part in the efforts to punish Russia and maintains energy trade with that country despite a Group of Seven agreed-upon price cap on Russian oil, which has seen some success in slowing Russia's economy.

Still, the US increasingly relies on India and has courted its leaders.

President Joe Biden hosted a White House state visit honoring Indian prime minister Narendra Modi in June, designed to highlight and foster ties. The two leaders pronounced the US-India relationship never stronger and rolled out new business deals between the nations.

Raymond Vickery Jr, a policy expert on US-India relations at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said Ms Yellen's coming to India shortly after visiting China is meaningful in that Indian officials are going to want to know in great detail what happened in the meetings with her Chinese counterparts and see where it fits with their perspective on economic relations with China.

Theyre going to want to know whether or not the United States is serious about moving some of its sourcing activity from China to India.

A senior Treasury official, speaking on condition of anonymity to preview Ms Yellens trip, said there was hope that debt treatments for Ghana and Sri Lanka will be discussed and completed quickly at the meetings.

Sri Lanka and Ghana defaulted on their international debts last year, roughly two years after Zambia defaulted. And more than half of all low-income countries face debt distress, which hurts their long-term ability to function and develop.

Last month, Zambia and its government creditors, including China, reached a deal to restructure $6.3bn in loans, on the sidelines of a global finance summit in Paris.

The agreement covers loans from countries such as France, the U.K., South Africa, Israel and India as well as China  Zambias biggest creditor at $4.1bn of the total. The deal may provide a roadmap for how China will handle restructuring deals with other nations in debt distress.

Ms Yellens trip comes shortly after she spent a week in China, meeting the nations finance ministry and discussing mutual trade restrictions and national security concerns.

Harold W Furchtgott-Roth, a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute, said Ms Yellen's trip to India is a reflection of a naturally developing alliance.

India has a great deal of tension with China  they have constant border disputes, he said.

And India wants to develop and has developed into sort of an Indian Ocean naval power, which is also a region that China wants to develop."
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A 32-year-old woman was swept away by a huge wave in front of her chilren while taking pictures in India's financial capital of Mumbai.

The victim, identified as Jyoti Sonar, was at the Bandra Bandstand by the Arabian Sea with her husband and their three children, when the fatal incident took place during high tide on 9 June.

Sonar was sitting on a rock with her husband to get pictures clicked, while their children watched them from a distance.

A chilling video of the incident, which has been now widely shared on social media, shows simultaneous big waves crashing against the rock the couple was seated on.

Eventually, a massive way engulfed the couple, drowning Sonar.

The children could be heard desperately calling out for their "mummy" as the wave drags her away.

The husband, Mukesh Sonar, reportedly tried to hold onto his wife's saree in an effort to save her, but failed. People standing nearby grabbed Mr Sonar and pulled him back to safety, Mid-Day reported.

"I lost my balance and we both slipped. A man held me while I grabbed my wife, but she could not be saved," Mr Sonar told the local police, who arrived at the spot after being informed by the bystanders.

Her body was found on 10 June by the Mumbai Coast Guard following a 20-hour search operation.

Mr Sonar said the entire family went out for a picnic every fortnight and for that week they had initially decided to visit a different area. However, entry to the Juhu beach was restricted because of high tide and the family decided to visit Bandra.

Jyoti followed me into the sea and we began enjoying the feel of the water splashing on our clothes. The kids were also trying to move towards us but we restricted them since the sea was rough, Mr Sonar told the Indian daily.
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A 51-year-old woman was arrested in Japan for allegedly making 2,761 false emergency calls over a period of nearly three years.

Hiroko Hatagami, an unemployed woman from Matsudo in Japans Chiba prefecture, located east of the capital Tokyo, was arrested on Thursday on suspicion of obstructing the operations of a local fire department.

The Chiba Prefectural Police alleged that the woman had made emergency calls repeatedly from her mobile phone and other means for the past two years and nine months. The calls were reportedly made both from her home and other locations in her neighbourhood.

The suspect admitted to making the calls because she was lonely and wanted someone to listen to me and give me attention, The Mainichi reported.

Between August 2020 and May 2023, she repeatedly made calls asking the Matsudo fire department to dispatch ambulances, complaining of stomach ache, drug overdose and aching legs among other symptoms.

When the ambulances arrived, she reportedly refused to be taken to hospital, claiming: I dont want to take an ambulance ... I didnt make the call.

Despite receiving warnings from the fire department and the police, the woman continued to make emergency calls. Eventually, the fire department filed a complaint with the police on 20 June, which led to her arrest.

Nearly 1.5 million people are estimated to be suffering from loneliness in Japan. The situation was exacerbated by the Covid pandemic, which forced countries to confine people within their homes.

A survey conducted by Japans children and families agency in November found that roughly 2 per cent of respondents aged between 15 and 64 identified as hikikomori, a term that refers to people who have withdrawn from social contact.

In February 2021, Japan appointed Tetsushi Sakamoto as the minister of loneliness in an effort to deal with the effects of the pandemic on social seclusion.

Women are suffering from isolation more [than men], and the number of suicides is on a rising trend, the prime minister at the time, Yoshihide Suga, told Mr Sakamoto when he announced the new role.

I hope you will identify problems and promote policy measures comprehensively, Mr Suga said, according to the Japan Times.

In 2013, a 44-year-old woman was arrested in Japan for calling the police more than 15,000 times over a six-month period. Authorities visited the womans home nearly 60 times before arresting her.
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The chances of the UK securing a free trade agreement (FTA) with the United States are very low, according to the Business Secretary.

Kemi Badenoch said the change of administration from Donald Trump to Joe Biden following the 2020 US election is the reason why the UK has not made progress on such a deal.

Conservative MPs have described an FTA with the US as the greatest prize of all and the ability to strike new trade deals, particularly with the US, was a key promise of the Brexit campaign.

We can't force other countries to do things that are different from what they want to do; they are a sovereign country just as we are Business and Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch

Ms Badenoch, asked on Skys Sophy Ridge On Sunday programme to rate the UKs chances of an FTA with the US, replied: The US is not carrying out any free trade agreements with any countries, so I would say very low.

It all depends on the administration thats there  different presidents have different priorities. Lots of countries have been looking to have a free trade agreement with the US, including us, but for now theyve said thats not something they want to do and we need to respect that.

Instead were having other types of trading interactions and trading deals with them.

Ms Badenoch also told BBC Ones Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg: We cant force other countries to do things that are different from what they want to do; they are a sovereign country just as we are.

Her comments came as she welcomed the momentous move to sign-off UK membership to a major Indo-Pacific trade bloc, taking British businesses a step closer to being able to sell to a market of 500 million people with fewer barriers.

Ms Badenoch signed the accession protocol to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) in New Zealand on Sunday.

Britain is the first new member and first European nation to join the bloc  comprising Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam  since its formation in 2018.

It represents Britains biggest trade deal since leaving the EU, cutting tariffs for UK exporters to a group of nations which  with UK accession  will have a combined gross domestic product (GDP) of 12 trillion, accounting for 15% of global GDP, according to officials.

The signing is the formal confirmation of the agreement for the UKs membership, which was reached in March after two years of negotiations.

Britain and the other 11 CPTPP members will now begin work to ratify the deal, which in the UK will involve parliamentary scrutiny and legislation to bring it into force.

Officials estimate it will come into force in the second half of 2024, at which point the UK becomes a voting member of the bloc and businesses can benefit from it.

Asked whether China should be allowed to join CPTPP, Ms Badenoch told the BBC: What the bloc is doing is making sure that its the countries that meet the high standards of the CPTPP that will be allowed to join, so thats something that needs to be assessed.

She added: One of the things thats really important is that weve just joined today. When you join a club, the very first thing you dont do is tell other club members who should be or shouldnt be allowed to join.

Its how were going to make use of it thats going to be significant and, yes, being the first at the table means we will have an influence, but Im not going to go into any specific countrys merits  thats for all of us to do as a consensus team.

When told earlier it is estimated the new deal will only increase UK GDP by 0.08%, Ms Badenoch replied: The assessment we made was a scoping assessment, its just a very broad brush sort of static modelling, it doesnt look at so many things. Its not specifically about trade deals  we use it for all sorts of things. It doesnt look at the future growth thats coming in, and it also doesnt look at how we utilise the agreement.

Thats why its so important that I explain to people how significant it is. If we dont use it then itll become a self-fulfilling prophecy  this is a forecast that is only as good as the way that we utilise it.

One of the things that we need to remember is that there are 11 countries in there who are making up about 500 million people.

Thats so, so much potential, thats where the middle-class is coming from.

You look at the countries that are queuing up  the US was going to join until they had a change of administration. Theyre not doing free trade agreements any more, but we are, this is global Britain, the world is our oyster, were not isolated, were not insular.

While Britain already has trade agreements with the CPTPP members apart from Malaysia and Brunei, officials said it will deepen existing arrangements, with 99% of current UK goods exports to the bloc eligible for zero tariffs.

TUC general secretary Paul Nowak said: This Pacific trade pact is bad for workers at home and abroad.

Once again, Conservative ministers have turned a blind eye to egregious human and workers rights abuses in their pursuit of trade deals.
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Actor Helen George has announced her split from partner Jack Ashton, who she met while starring with him on BBC Ones series Call The Midwife.

The pair, who were together for seven years and have two young daughters, reportedly started dating after filming the shows 2016 Christmas special together.

In a statement, George said: Some months ago, we separated.

Our two beautiful girls remain the focus and I respectfully ask for privacy for this next chapter.

George, 38, has played glamorous nurse Trixie Franklin since 2012 and Ashton, 36, joined as vicar Tom Hereward in 2014. Ashtons character proposed to Trixie but she then ended the relationship during the fourth series.

The reverend started a new relationship with Nurse Barbara Gilbert, played by Charlotte Ritchie. Ashton left the show in 2018, when Nurse Gilbert died of sepsis and his character moved out of London to start a new life.

Call the Midwife follows a group of nurse midwives working in the East End of London in the late Fifties and Sixties as they wrestle with their own personal lives and support the community of women and children around them. The show is based on the best-selling memoirs of the late Jennifer Worth, describing her work as a district nurse and midwife in London.

Helen George and Jack Ashton and their children Wren Ivy and Lark, pictured in December 2022 (PA)

George and Ashtons first daughter Wren was born in 2017, followed by Lark in 2021.

Jack Ashton and Helen George pictured in 2019 (PA)

George, who finished sixth place on Strictly Come Dancing in 2015, still plays Trixie in Call the Midwife and will be starring as governess Anna in a West End production of The King and I next year. Meanwhile, Jack appears as Lenny Sampson, a reformed ex-convict, in the Rochdale-based BBC school drama Waterloo Road.
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A boy who has raised nearly 10,000 for WaterAid tossed the coin for the mens Wimbledon final, after showing it to Prince George and Princess Charlotte.

Muawwiz Anwar, eight, met the Prince and Princess of Wales and their children George, nine, and Charlotte, eight, before taking centre stage at Centre Court just before the match between Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic.

Last year, Muawwiz, from Buckinghamshire, cycled three miles every day for 30 days during Ramadan to raise funds and this year he completed a half ironman triathlon.

The young fundraiser was introduced to George and Charlotte and handed the coin used to start the final to Charlotte, who showed it to her brother, before passing it back.

William asked Muawwiz if he had been practising and if he would get to do the coin toss himself.

Kate told Muawwiz: I hope you enjoy every moment of it. Well done. Thank you so much for being here.

His mother, Saira Awan, said: Muawwiz chose WaterAid because he couldnt actually believe that there were so many people around the world who dont have access to clean water.

Since 2017, the Wimbledon Foundation has donated more than 1.5 million to support WaterAid in its mission to ensure everyone, everywhere has access to clean water.

Paige Murphy, head of the Wimbledon Foundation, said she was thrilled that someone as deserving as Muawwiz will get to enjoy this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Jennie York, director of communications and fundraising at WaterAid, said: We nominated Muawwiz because he is an extraordinary fundraiser, doing amazing challenges to raise money for WaterAid, and we are blown away by his dedication and hard work.

It is thanks to the incredible efforts of people like Muawwiz  as well as the generosity of the Wimbledon Foundation and others  that ensure we are able to reach as many people globally with clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene. We are hugely grateful to them all.

The appearance marks Charlottes Wimbledon debut while her older brother George, nine, attended last years event for the first time. Their younger brother Prince Louis, five, will not be in attendance.

The royals arrived at SW19 just under two hours before the start of the match and mingled with Wimbledon staff on the Players Lawn.
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A pod of more than 50 pilot whales has died following a mass stranding on a Scottish beach.

Marine rescuers were called to the scene at Traigh Mhor in North Tolsta, on the Isle of Lewis, to reports that dozens of the mammals were in difficulty there at around 7am on Sunday.

Initial reports suggested there were around 55 animals consisting of both adults and calves, however it was soon discovered that only 15 were still alive.

British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) tried to refloat two of the more active whales that were still low down in the water on the outgoing tide and one got away.

However the other subsequently restranded and died later on, as did three others.

At around 3.30pm it was decided that the remaining whales should be euthanised on welfare grounds.

The cause of the stranding is not known but it is thought the pod may have followed one of the females.

A statement from BDMLR, a charity, said: One of the dead whales appeared to have had a vaginal prolapse  so its currently suspected that the whole pod stranded due to one female giving birth.

Pilot whales are notorious for their strong social bonds, so often when one whale gets into difficulty and strands, the rest follow.

(PA)

The Coastguard, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, police and Scottish Marine Animal Stranding Scheme (SMASS) were also at the scene on Sunday.

Western Isles Council said it had officers at the scene.

A sad outcome for this pod and obviously not the outcome we were all hoping for BDMLR

BDMLR added: At about 3.30pm, the local vet along with the Coastguard, fire and rescue, and a forensics vet came to the conclusion that the shallow beach and rough wave conditions made it too unsafe to refloat the remaining animals.

Considering how long the pilot whales had been out of the water in addition to the poor conditions, it was decided that they should be euthanised on welfare grounds.

Wed like to extend our thanks to the Lewis community, Stornoway Coastguard, police, Stornoway and Shawbost Fire and Rescue, SMASS, SSPCA, Civil Air Support, CalMac and of course our dedicated team of medics who all came together in their efforts to rescue these whales.

A sad outcome for this pod and obviously not the outcome we were all hoping for.

(PA)

SMASS will now carry out post-mortem examinations on the whales to investigate why they stranded.

Pilot whales are small whales characterised as part of the dolphin family.

A Coastguard spokesman said: HM Coastguard assisted British Divers Marine Life Rescue this morning following reports of around 50 stranded mammals on Traigh Mhor, Isle of Lewis.

Alerted at around 7.40am, Stornoway, Bragar and Ness Coastguard rescue teams were sent to the scene to provide safety cover. Police Scotland and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service were also in attendance.
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The Archbishop of Canterbury has paid tribute to his mother who has died aged 93.

Lady Jane Williams passed away peacefully on Saturday morning, Lambeth Palace said.

The Most Rev Justin Welby said she led a remarkable life, working for Winston Churchill and Nobel Prize winner Professor Sir Ernst Chain.

Mr Welby said he will treasure many memories of her which are full of grace, laughter and joy.

We are profoundly grateful to God for the gift she has been to us all  for all we received from her, and all she has meant to us Most Rev Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury

He added: Its with profound sadness that I mourn the loss of my mother. I loved her very deeply and it has been a privilege to be her son.

I am the person I am in part because of her love, example and encouragement.

Our whole family share in the loss of a mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.

We are profoundly grateful to God for the gift she has been to us all  for all we received from her, and all she has meant to us.

The grief we feel is a measure of the love we have shared.

We will treasure the many memories we have of her: memories full of grace, laughter and joy.

Towards the end of her life she showed great courage, faith and hope. She knew she would soon be with God.

That was a source of strength for her, and for all of us, and her death was peaceful and full of hope.

I know that many people will be praying for me and my family at this time and we are deeply grateful.

Born in India in 1929, Lady Williams spent much of the Second World War living with her maternal uncle, Rab Butler, who was education secretary in the wartime cabinet.

Her first job in 1949 was working for Winston Churchill, whom she carried on working for until 1955.

She was one of the last of his personal staff and often lectured and spoke about the wartime leader later in life.

She also worked for Nobel Prize winner Professor Chain, best known for his work on penicillin, at Imperial College London.

The archbishop said he and his family were very kind to her.

Later in life she worked as a probation officer, for the Parole Board and as a prison visitor.

She married Lord Williams of Elvel in 1977 and they spent more than 40 happy years together until he died in 2019.

The archbishop said she helped countless others to know freedom from addiction after recovering from alcoholism.

He added: My mother lived a full human life, with all its ups and downs.

Her story is one of redemption  which she found through faith in Jesus Christ, and loving service to others.

Each step in her journey towards greater fullness of life brought me such joy.
News / National

by Staff reporter

PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa's integrity continues facing a litmus test with him violating his constitutional obligation to establish a tribunal to investigate the suitability of Justice Webster Chinamora of the Harare High Court to continue holding office following allegations of misconduct.Early this year, Advocate Thabani Mpofu filed a complaint against Chinamora after another attorney, Advocate Taona Nyamakura, lodged a complaint against the judge for alleged conflict of interest in a legal dispute between Zimbabwe's Delta Beverages (Pvt) Ltd, Schweppes Zimbabwe Ltd and Blakey Plastics (Pty) Ltd, a South African company.A panel set up by the JSC to review the complaint comprising judges Anne-Marie Gowora, Alfas Chitakunye and Custom Kachambwa concluded that Chinamora has a case to answer.Chinamora was already facing a series of accusations ranging from conflict of interest, judicial misconduct, bribery to different forms of corruption.In February, the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) recommended that Mnangagwa set up tribunals to investigate the suitability of Chinamora and former Bulawayo High Court judge Martin Makonese's suitability to hold office.The complaint against Makonese followed an order he issued in a commercial dispute in which he allegedly had a financial interest.He made the order without an application made before him, and without the knowledge of lawyers of the two other parties in the dispute.In April, Mnangagwa appointed a three-person tribunal chaired by retired Justice Professor Simbi Veke Mubako and consisting of Dr Gift Manyatera and Ms Sarah Moyo to inquire into the question of removal from office of Makonese but did not appoint a tribunal to investigate Chinamora. While Makonese resigned immediately after members of the tribunal were sworn, Chinhamora is yet to be tried for eligibility to hold office.The tribunal, in accordance with the constitution, must report its findings to the President and recommend whether or not the judge should be removed from office. Section 187 sub-section 3 makes it mandatory for the president to appoint a tribunal once the JSC makes a recommendation.However, following the JSC's recommendations, there have been high-level moves involving senior Justice ministry officials to save Chinamora, who is seen as a pro-government judge. In terms of section 187 of the constitution, a judge can only be removed from office for inability to perform the functions of his or her office, due to mental or physical incapacity; gross incompetence or gross misconduct.A judge can only be removed from office in terms of the section. Sub-section 3, which Mnangagwa is violating, stipulates: "If the Judicial Service Commission advises the President that the question of removing any judge, including the Chief Justice, from office ought to be investigated, the President must appoint a tribunal to inquire into the matter."Sub-section 4 reads: "A tribunal appointed under this section must consist of at least three members appointed by the President, of whom  (a) at least one must be a person who  (i) has served as a judge of the Supreme Court or High Court in Zimbabwe; or (ii) holds or has held office as a judge of a court with unlimited jurisdiction in civil or criminal matters in a country whose common law is Roman-Dutch or English, and English is an officially recognised language."Chinamora is seen as pro-government, hence some officials feel he should be rescued from the tribunal at all costs.He has made what are seen as pro-government rulings, the latest being the one contradicting a landmark ruling by Justice Jacob Mafusire, who determined that Statutory Instrument (SI) 70 of 2015 and other legislation used by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe with support from the ministry of Finance was unconstitutional.Mafusire ordered the Central Africa Building Society (Cabs) to pay US$142 000 to local architects Penelope Douglas Stone and Richard Harold Stuart Beattie after their money was converted into local currency following the passing of SI 70 of 2015.Cabs was also ordered to pay interest at the rate of 5% per annum from 28 November 2016  when the money was converted  to the date of payment.The ruling has far-reaching implications for many individuals, organisations and companies whose money was converted into bond notes or RTGS because of SI 70 of 2015 and other predatory legislation.However, hardly a fortnight after the ruling, Chinamora made a surprise ruling which contradicted Mafusire's findings, leaving a local pensioner, Duncan Hugh Cocksedge, counting his losses after his US$179 000 bank balance domiciled in a Cabs account was wiped out after being wholly converted to local currency through the government's controversial Exchange Control Directive RT120/2018.Duncan had approached the High Court seeking redress, but his application was thrown out by Chinamora. Chinamora's ruling was a stark departure from that of Mafusire who had determined that some sections relied on by Cabs were in breach of the national constitution and contractual obligations between the applicant and the first respondent.Justice Chinamora averred that it was not for the courts to change "political questions". The judge also said the regulation of banking activities to achieve economic stability and protect the banking public were the prerogative of the executive.
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A former police volunteer has unearthed new medical evidence she believes identifies Jack the Ripper, the 19th-century serial killer responsible for some of the UKs most infamous and unsolved murders.

Sarah Bax Horton has named Hyam Hyams as the man she claims is responsible for the murders of at least six women in or near Whitechapel, east London between August and November 1888.

Martha Tabram, Polly Nichols, Annie Chapman, Elisabeth Stride, Kate Eddowes and Mary Jane Kelly were either destitute or prostitutes who had their throats cut and bodies butchered in horrific attacks that shocked the nation.

Ms Baxton Horton, whose grandfather worked on the Ripper investigation, examined medical records and witness descriptions of the man seen with female victims before they were stabbed to death, leading her to Mr Hyams.

Mr Hyams, a cigar maker who lived in the area where the murderers were committed, was an epileptic and alcoholic who was in and out of mental asylums. His job meant he was likely skilled in using a knife.

He repeatedly assaulted his wife, fearing she was cheating on him, and was eventually arrested after attacking her and his mother with a chopper.

Mr Hyams was described by witnesses as a man in his mid-thirties with a stiff arm and an irregular gait with bent knees.

Ms Bax Horton discovered that the medical notes of Hyams, who was 35 in 1888, recorded an injury that left him unable to bend or extend his left arm.

He also had an irregular gait and an inability to straighten his knees, with asymmetric foot-dragging, the medical records showed. Mr Hyams also had the most severe form of epilepsy, with regular seizures.

The medical notes, taken from various infirmaries and asylums, revealed that his mental and physical decline coincided with the Rippers killing period, escalating between his breaking his left arm in February 1888 and his permanent committal in September 1889.

For the first time in history, Jack the Ripper can be identified as Hyam Hyams using distinctive physical characteristics, Ms Bax Horton told The Telegraph.

In the files, it said what the eyewitnesses said  that he had a peculiar gait. He was weak at the knees and wasnt fully extending his legs. When he walked, he had a kind of shuffling gait, which was probably a side-effect of some brain damage as a result of his epilepsy.

A street near Spitafileds market where Jack the Ripper killed most of his victims (AFP via Getty Images)

Three of the Rippers victims had internal organs removed, leading to previous police theories that the culprit had a background in human anatomy.

Letters taunting investigators and claiming to be from the killer first used the term Jack the Ripper. Most were thought to be hoaxes but the moniker remained.

Police never established for certain how many victims there were in total and investigators examining 11 murders in Whitechapel and Spitalfields between 1888 and 1891 could not link them to the five in 1888.

Pinning down the identity of Britains most notorious serial killer has occupied the minds of historians and conspiracy theorists alike for decades.

Over the years, enthusiasts have pored over the evidence to draw up a list of potential killers that range from the plausible to the preposterous.

A Russian con artist, a Polish barber, an Irish-American quack and even the eldest son of Edward VII have all been accused of being the man who, for one summer in 1888, brought terror to the heart of Londons East End before disappearing without a trace.

In 2009 a historian claimed to have uncovered another potential suspect, one who fitted a modern forensic profile of the killer but had, until then, been overlooked by his fellow Ripperologists.

Mei Trow said mortuary attendant Robert Mann, who lived in the area where the killings took place and had a good knowledge of anatomy, would have been regarded as a prime suspect had the modern profiling techniques of today been available to the Metropolitan Polices baffled officers at the time.
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Britain has an opportunity to be at the forefront of a new clean energy frontier with the launch of the worlds first nuclear fusion-powered plant, a senior official has said.

Government scientists at the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) are working on plans to deliver clean power through the worlds first compact fusion reactor by 2040.

Nuclear fusion has been heralded as the holy grail of renewables although the technology to deliver it remains in its infancy and needs further development,

Ministers set up the Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production (Step) programme to accelerate research in the area.

Step is fusions Apollo, Paul Methven, UKAEA director, told the Telegraph as he compared the programme to the USs 1969 mission to the moon.

Step is a government programme that has been given 222 million in funding and tasked with designing and constructing the worlds first fusion power plant by 2040.

We are currently designing the rocket and building the team, across both public and private sectors, that will put our equivalent of people on the moon, Mr Methven added.

Its an incredibly exciting opportunity for the UK to be at the forefront of this new frontier.

The aim for Steps first phase of work is to produce a concept design by 2024, including an outline of the power plant, with a clear view on how we will design each of the major systems.

The Step prototype reactor, which will be built in West Nurton, Nottinghamshire, is expected to be a 100MW power station and will be used to research and develop the technology and enable a fleet of commercial plants to follow in the years after 2040.

Between 2024 and 2032, the design will be further developed through detailed engineering design and, at the same time, planning permission to build the power plant will be sought, the government said.

Nuclear fusion is seen by some as the holy grail of energy (iStock/ Getty Images)

The aim is to have a fully evolved design and approval to build by 2032, enabling construction to begin.

By 2040, Step aims to be the worlds first commercially viable fusion plant into commission.

Politicians want Step to become an operational mini-Sun that contributes energy to the grid by 2040.

George Freeman, the science minister, previously said he was hopeful this could be done even sooner, in just 15 years.

Fusion makes four million times more energy than coal and creates none of the emissions or problematic waste of current energy generation methods.

It is, however, exceptionally difficult to create the conditions needed to initiate fusion and even harder to sustain it for long enough to produce more energy than it requires.

Mr Methven, speaking at an international fusion conference at the University of Oxford this week, Paul Methven, admitted that the technology is embryonic and refused to guarantee the project would still be live by 2040. He also declined to comment on how much more money would be needed for the project to be completed.
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Prince Andrew requested the help of his paedophile friend Jefferey Epstein to help secure $200 million (153 million) in funding for an obscure oil company, it has been reported.

The Kings brother sought the assistance during a period when he was pictured with the financier in New Yorks Central Park back in December 2010, according to The Mail on Sunday.

The Duke of York insisted in his car crash interview with the BBC that he met with Epstein only to terminate their friendship after the latter was jailed for child prostitution offences.

But court documents, seen by the paper, reveal that Epstein passed on the princes request to his private banker, Jes Staley.

Epstein forwarded the query to Mr Staley on day one of Prince Andrews five day stay at the New Yorkers 60 million Manhattan mansion.

The document states: On December 2, 2010, Jeffrey Epstein forwards an email to Staley from Prince Andrew with an inquiry the Prince received from Aria Petroleum looking for a $200m working capital line.

Since the company is based in the US, Prince Andrew appeared to suggest Epstein connect them with a US bank.

The court documents, which detail emails between Epstein and Mr Staley, were released as a result of a case filed against JP Morgan bank by the US Virgin Islands government.

The bank, where Epstein was a client, is being sued over claims that it knowingly benefited from his sex-trafficking operation.

JP denies any wrongdoing.

The email appears to cast doubt on Andrews claim that he visited Epstein to show leadership by telling the billionaire in person he could no longer be his friend.

The government would not be drawn on whether Andrews request to Epstein was made as part of his role as trade envoy or if it wa sanctioned by ministers.

Andrew stepped down from the position in 2011 after coming under heavy criticism for his association with Epstein.

Epstein died on 10 August 2019 inside the Metropolitan Correctional Center in New York, where he was detained ahead of a pending trial accussed of recruiting dozens of teenage girls to engage in sexual acts with him and his friends in a case that generated headlines on both sides of the Atlantic,

Epstein, who was facing up to 45 years in prison if convicted, was found with a noose made out of a bedsheet and the authorities ruled the death a suicide.

Prince Andrew was dragged into the scandal when Virginia Roberts Giuffre, one of Epsteins victims, claimed the duke sexually abused her knowing she was underage and was trafficked to the UK by Epstein and British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell, who was jailed for 20 years for assisting Epstein.

The prince has always vehemently denied the claims. He came to a multimillion-pound settlement with Ms Guiffree in a civil lawsuit.

Prince Andrew was introduced to Epstein by Maxwell in the early 1990s and the trio enjoyed a close and mutually beneficial friendship, even after Epstein was convicted of procuring a child for prostitution and of soliciting a prostitute in 2008.

Prince Andrew stayed at Epsteins Manhattan for five days in 2010 (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

The court documents did not say where Aria Petroleum was based, what its business involved or how its relationship with Andrew.

There were only two companies named Aria Petroleum operating in the US in 2010 they appeared to be local firms linked to petrol stations, the MoS reported.

One, whose address is a petrol station and small grocery store in Florida, told the paper they had never had any contact with Prince Andrew or Epstein.

The address of the second company, now dissolved, was a petrol station in Los Angeles.

Documents leaked in 2021 said that a different company named Aria Petroleum  a UK-Cypriot oil trader  partnered with another firm to supply jet fuel to US forces in Afghanistan in 2012.

Arias UK arm was established in the same year and paid out a 40.5 million dividend in 2018 but was shut down up two years later.

The firms former directors could not be reached for comment.

Prince Andrew did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
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The royal family has been dragged into the n-word race row after dozens of references to the offensive term were found in official documents, The Independent can reveal.

A catalogue published by the Royal Collection Trust (RCT), showcasing a selection of gems and jewels owned by the Royal Collection, contained more than 40 mentions of offensive racial terms.

The document, titled Ancient and Modern Gems and Jewels, was published by Royal Collection Enterprises Limited in 2008. It has remained on its website since then and was only removed on Thursday after it was flagged by The Independent.

The latest discovery comes after we revealed last week that an offensive racial slur was included in government documents.

The term was included in a report by the Met Office, as well as in Department for Work and Pensions guidance used by doctors to assess benefit claims. The slur had also been visible in the comment section of a page on the governments own website since 2015.

The revelations prompted Rishi Sunaks official spokesperson to denounce the word as inappropriate and offensive.

The document contains racial slurs in its descriptions of artefacts (Royal Collection Trust)

In the latest instance, the offensive terms are mostly used to describe people of African ancestry who appear on the jewels. The words are also included in a number of names of items in the collection.

One brooch is described in the following terms: Head of a n***o in three-quarter profile to the right, with drop-pearl earring. This type of a n***os head is found on several sixteenth-century cameos.

Another item depicting a white person is accompanied by this description and slur: Athough it uses the dark layers of the stone for the profile, the features are not n*****d.

Some of the items in the collection have names that include racist terms (Royal Collection Trust)

An RCT spokesperson said the trusts documents were continually under review.

The RCT is one of the five departments of the royal household and is responsible for the care of the Royal Collection, the largest private art collection in the world, held in trust by the King on behalf of the nation. It sells tickets for tours of the Kings official residences: Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle, and the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh.

This is the latest race row to hit the royal family. In November, the royal household faced a public outcry after Susan Hussey, the late Queens lady-in-waiting, repeatedly asked a Black British charity chief executive where she really came from at a Buckingham Palace reception.

Lady Susan, who subsequently left her role in the royal household, later met and apologised to Ngozi Fulani, founder of the charity Sistah Space.

And the Duchess of Sussex, the first person of mixed ethnicity to marry a senior royal for centuries, claimed in 2021 that an unnamed royal  not the late Queen or the Duke of Edinburgh  had asked Prince Harry how dark their sons skin tone might be, before Prince Archie was born.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex during their interview with Oprah Winfrey (PA)

The late Queen issued a statement at the time saying that the issues raised would be dealt with privately as a family, and that some recollections may vary.

Prince William was also forced to deny that the royal family was racist following Meghan and Harrys bombshell televised interview with Oprah Winfrey, in which the claims were made.

Racial terms such as n***o have been casually used in a non-pejorative sense throughout much of the 20th century across countries like the US and the UK. In the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, such terms were interchangeably used with descriptive language like Africans and slaves in reference to enslaved African people.

However, such language is generally considered to be racist in modern times.

Kim Johnson MP says the treatment of Black British people has its roots in historical racism (UK Parliament)

Labour MP Kim Johnson, a member of the all-party parliamentary group on race, said: There are those who will say the use of such terms is innocuous  an accurate reflection of a bygone era. But every Black British person today is painfully aware of the legacy of such language, in terms of their ongoing treatment, institutional racism, and the policies of the modern British state.

From the Windrush scandal, to a racist criminal justice system, to the use of racist terminology across current government policy documents  the treatment of Black British people as second-class citizens today has its roots in the very history this language was born out of.

The Royal Collection Trust is responsible for the largest art collection in the world (Getty)

Pan-Afrikanist Esther Stanford-Xosei, an expert on reparations with the International Social Movement for Afrikan Reparations, said the catalogue should instead have included guidance around the historical use of racially offensive terms while condemning the use of these terms and recognising their harmful impact.

We are in an era where it is well recognised that these terms are offensive and legally considered to be racial slurs, Ms Stanford-Xosei told The Independent.

One would expect institutions that have historical connections to African enslavement to have some type of guidance given around the language that is currently being used in this document. That the document uses colonial, racist, Afriphobic language, which denies the humanity, personhood and dignity of African people and their descendants, is a real cause for concern and totally unjustifiable.

Pan-Afrikanist Esther Stanford-Xosei has called the presence of racist terms totally unjustifiable (Esther Stanford-Xosei)

A Royal Collection Trust spokesperson said: Royal Collection Trust has an ongoing programme of activities to research, display, loan and publish detailed records of objects in the Royal Collection, in order for a wide range of audiences to learn about the collection and its history.

Publicly available object records are continually under review in order to improve the information presented on an object and/or subject.

The publication Ancient and Modern Gems and Jewels was published in 2008 and is now out of print. The corresponding object records, updated several years ago, contain updated terminology and can be viewed on rct.uk.

Buckingham Palace declined to comment.
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Thousands of people have marched to celebrate trans joy and demand equal rights on the 10th anniversary of Trans Pride Brighton.

While organisers expected between 5,000 to 10,000 people to take part  half the original estimate after a yellow weather warning for wind and rain forced a change of route  the event is believed to have attracted 30,000 protesters.

Reflecting on the 10-year anniversary since starting Trans PrideBrighton, co-founder and trans activist Fox Fisher said he was immensely proud.

He said: The year we set it up we had no idea who was going to come, we knew we needed to form a community, a community didnt exist.

The film-maker added: For us its about celebrating who we are, its about trans joy

We dont want to hide in the shadows, we want to be seen.

One protester Xandice Armah said the march was incredible, adding: The energy was so good and getting to actually see the whole city come out and support us as well, it just shows us [the] silent majority loves trans people.

Software engineer Alex Chan also praised the turnout of support, saying it was a reminder there are so many of us, particularly at a time when trans people are made to think you are on your own.

People take part in a Trans Pride protest march in Brighton (PA)

Many people travelled from across the country to join the weekend focusing on trans rights and supporting the community.

Comedian Eddie Izzard was spotted taking part while Brighton Pavilion MP Caroline Lucas was among the speakers on the day.

Brighton and Hoves first openly trans councillor Raphael Hill was also addressing Trans Pride Brighton later on Saturday, which they said is a real privilege.

Speaking to the PA news agency, Cllr Hill said Trans Pride is really important, particularly in the current political climate where they said the trans community feels treated as a political issue and a problem.

The Green party councillor added: We are people, we deserve rights and have feelings the same as anyone else.

The 26-year-old, who was elected in May, said being trans made their decision to stand as a councillor more difficult because of concerns for their safety and how to deal with misunderstandings around trans people.

Im very mindful of both my safety but also the importance of my role because its quite unique in having those two identities, the councillor added.

According to Trans Pride Brighton, it is the biggest Trans Pride event in Europe and runs the charity with more than 100 volunteers.

Mr Fisher said that the UK is falling dangerously behind on LGBT+ rights and Trans Pride Brighton has highlighted issues such as struggles for trans people to access healthcare, divisive coverage of planned changes to the Gender Recognition Act and dangerous coverage of transgender children.

LGBT+ anti-abuse charity Galop have also commented on the staggering rise of transphobic hate crimes by 56% in the country revealed in the official statistics for 2021 to 2022.

Many protesters believed that Trans Pride as a separate event alongside Pride for the wider LGBT+ community was important due to the need for political protest to promote trans rights.

Teacher Martina Gilli, who came to Trans Pride Brighton to show support for her trans students and friends, said: I think they are on the right side of history,

Its so obvious this is the same fight that gay people went through, this is the next step, she said, adding that Trans Pride is still very much a protest.

Trans people dont have all the rights they should have.

Lex Roberts, who travelled from Nottingham, said the protest has become more important and more angry each year because of trans people being vilified in the media.

Harriet Collier travelled from Chichester in West Sussex to join the Brighton Trans Pride protest for the first time.

The 31-year-old said: I came out in December having spent years since childhood not being able to fully understand who I was.

I felt it was really important to come today to show solidarity with the rest of the community.

Organisers are hoping to raise enough cash to continue running its community space Trans Pride Centre in the city and continue the Pride event for another year.

To find out more about Trans Pride Brighton and its fundraiser click here.
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Shortly after Haddy Njie moved from London to York in 2015, she experienced a horrific racist incident.

Headed to Greater Manchester for a work meeting, Ms Njie ordered a taxi to the station. When she asked the driver to take a shorter route she knew, he hurled racist, aggressive slurs including the N-word at her because I guess he didnt like me telling him what to do.

The driver kept telling Ms Njie to get out of my taxi, you Black n*****, the 39-year-old toldThe Independent, before stopping the car at a red light, forcing her to disembark  including removing her suitcase from the vehicle  and driving off.

My entire life turned upside down and I thought, I need some answers here, she said. So I contacted [local authorities], the MP, councillors... and the more questions I was asking and the more people I spoke to, it became clear that not much has been done [to manage racism], and people are suffering in silence.

I was being told there are systems and tools and forums in place, but I couldnt really see the actions, initiatives, or the evidence to show they were doing something about it.

So Ms Njie decided to take matters into her own hands. Eight years later, the chair of grassroots campaign group Inclusive Equal Rights UK (IERUK) has won council approval for a five-year action plan that  if successfully implemented  would make York the first anti-racist and inclusive city in the north of England.

But after the plan - which can be read here - was announced, the campaign group received a barrage of racist abuse and hate on social media, she says.

We will not let you re-write our history for the benefit of Africans who are relative newcomers, were among the offensive comments made online.

Another post about the groups data-led initiative read: Presumably this is code for ethnically cleansing York of white people.

Addressing the backlash, Mr Njie clarified: We are not saying that all of the people of York are racist or that York is a racist city, Our evidence-based research has demonstrated that the city has some serious issues of casual and systemic racism.

York has serious issues of systemic racism, Ms Njie said (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

She said the action plan to make access to infrastructure and opportunities in York more equitable is inspired by similar programs in cities such as Oxford, Brighton, and Derby that all declared themselves to be anti-racist cities.

As of the 2021 census, York had a population of 202,400 with 14% from ethnic minorities. Despite this, every member of City of York Executive Council is white and the groups research uncovered other stark inequalities.

Some of the most disturbing data we received was around policing, including figures that showed that Black people are 90 times more likely to be stopped and searched, Ms Njie said. Asian people are 18 times more likely to be searched than their white counterparts.

Police data shows instances of recorded racial hate crimes in York and North Yorkshire increased by 239 per cent, from 152 incidents in 2012 to 515 in 2020.

In response, IERUK has formulated 12 action points for policing reform as part of their 52-page report, which includes reviewing Stop and Search policies, monitoring outcomes of Stop and Search incidents, and establishing mandatory cultural, sensitivity and unconscious bias training, and organising events geared towards improving community relations. The Independent has contacted the North Yorkshire police force for comment on these proposals.

But it is not just a matter of improving the communitys relationships with one institution. IERUK highlighted that 68 per cent of Muslims live in areas with the highest rates of unemployment, Black women are four times more likely to die from childbirth than White women, and that Roma, Gypsy and Traveller people face high levels of racial assault and poor health.

I think we have a real opportunity  history in the making  to change and review everything [in York] so it becomes more equal, to benefit everyone, Ms Njie says (Lorne Campbell / Guzelian)

So the group has looked at other sectors such as healthcare, housing, and social welfare as part of their efforts to develop the action plan, in partnership with the Institute for Social Justice at York St John University.

IERUKs plan was approved at a cross-party council meeting on 13 July where the next steps, including agreeing on a detailed plan of delivery and instructing officers to carry out the steps identified, were outlined.

In a statement, City of York councillor Katie Lomas said: We very much value the work done by IERUK, and the independence that they bring to this work.

We recognise the challenges for organisations across the city of ensuring a genuinely anti-racist environment, and we are happy to restate our commitment to becoming the Norths first Anti-Racist city, she continued. We would encourage people and businesses across the city to consider how they can support that ambition.

Theres always the risk that organisations, institutions, and people may not be willing to commit their time and resources to implement IERUKs ideas, Ms Njie said as she reflected on the challenges ahead for IERUK. But she hopes the campaign will drive change, and not be forgotten.

I think we have a real opportunity  history in the making  to change and review everything [in York] so it becomes more equal, to benefit everyone.
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Data about people using the Metropolitan Polices website to report sexual offences, domestic abuse and other crimes has been passed to Facebook, it has been reported.

The information, which included the type of offence being reported as well as a users Facebook profile code, was sent to the social media giant via a tracking tool called a Meta Pixel which was being used on the police forces website.

The data was sent despite the online form for victims and witnesses to report offences apparently being secure, according to the report in The Observer.

The embedded tracking tool also sent details to Facebook about content viewed and buttons clicked on webpages linked to contacting police, accessing victim services as well as advice pages for crimes including rape, assaults, stalking and fraud.

Dame Vera Baird, the former victims commissioner, told the newspaper: You think you are dealing with a public authority you can trust and in fact you are dealing with Facebook and the wild world of advertising.

The Observer analysis found that Norfolk and Suffolk police forces also shared data about people accessing sensitive webpages.

The Met Police said that it used the Meta Pixel facility for recruitment campaigns and would be removing them from all other pages.

A force spokesman said: Pixels have been implemented on our website homepage and career webpages to enable relevant recruitment advertising to be served to people who have indicated an interest in a career at the Met.

At no point is the personal data inputted by an individual reporting crime ever shared with third parties.

A Meta Pixel was placed on the Met Website in June 2023 relating to a recruitment marketing campaign and we are taking steps to remove Pixels from any non-recruitment specific pages to avoid unnecessary concern.

He added: The MPS website is part of the Single Online Home which uses industry standard techniques to understand the user journey through our website which enables us to understand where our users find navigation difficult and improve our service to the public.

The technology used to do this does not under any circumstances disclose the content of information entered nor does it disclose the personal details of the individual using the service.

For the avoidance of doubt an IP (internet protocol) address does not identify an individual by name or specific geographic address and IP addresses are typically not static.

The analytical data captured is reserved to the website operator (the police), at no stage enters the public domain and no commercial organisation, including the providers of the analytic and advertising services, are able to utilise the same.

The MPS has used additional services to serve more specific advertisement data to individuals who may, for example, be interested in applying to join the police.

Again this data neither identifies the individual by name nor does it share any information that they have provided via any online form with a third party.

It is important that the public have confidence in our services so we are reviewing the use of analytics and advertising features.

A spokesman for Meta, which operates Facebook, said: Weve been clear in our policies that advertisers should not send sensitive information about people through our Business Tools.

Doing so is against our policies and we educate advertisers on properly setting up Business Tools to prevent this from occurring. Our system is designed to filter out potentially sensitive data it is able to detect.

Norfolk and Suffolk constabularies have been approached for comment.

A previous Observer investigation found that 20 NHS trusts had shared private information of patients with Facebook through the use of Meta Pixels with 17 of the trusts saying they would stop using them.
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Ben Wallace is thought to be rowing with home secretary Suella Braverman as he prepares to quit frontline politics, announcing that he will resign his post as defence secretary at the next cabinet reshuffle.

The senior Tory also revealed that he will not seek re-election as an MP at the next election, but ruled out leaving prematurely and triggering another by-election for the Tories.

I went into politics in the Scottish parliament in 1999. Thats 24 years. Ive spent well over seven years with three phones by my bed, he told The Sunday Times on his desire to leave Westminster.

Mr Wallace is not going quietly, however, having become involved in a turf war with Ms Braverman about British soldiers being asked to cover for any gaps in Border Force staff this summer.

The defence secretary has refused Ms Bravermans request for 750 troops to fill in for immigration officials who strike or are absent, according to The Mail on Sunday, claiming that the Home Office should have made contingency plans.

A source told the newspaper: The home secretary must not be allowed to always rely on our hard-working armed forces to be there to mop up for Home Office incompetence. If she was so worried, she should have planned ahead.

Ms Braverman is said to have demanded that 750 armed forces personnel be made available to cover immigration posts in the event of wider strikes at airports and sea ports, warning of major travel disruption.

But Mr Wallace reportedly only wants to spare 250 troops, in order to avoid cancelling leave. A Home Office source told the Mail that Mr Wallace has halved the number of troops hes willing to offer to help backfill jobs compared with the last round of strikes at Christmas.

They added: Now an impending summer of chaos seems to be of little concern  but it is for the millions of people trying to use our airports. Its all so petty.

Suella Braverman is said to want 750 troops to be made available to cover any strikes (PA Wire)

Mr Wallace said his departure was partly due to the strain the job had put on his family life.

The senior Tory, who has separated from his wife, said: While I am proud to have worked with so many amazing people and helped contribute to protecting this great country, the cost of putting that ahead of my family is something I am very sad about.

He insisted that his exit was nothing to do with last weeks row over his comments on Ukraine, when he said that the West was not Amazon and that countries supplying weapons wanted to see more gratitude.

Rishi Sunak said in response to those remarks that the Ukrainian president had expressed his gratitude for what weve done on a number of occasions.

The defence secretary tweeted on Saturday that his comments had been somewhat misrepresented, saying he had meant that Ukraine needs to realise that in many countries and in some parliaments there is not such strong support as in Great Britain.

Asked if things were so bad for the Tories that even leadership contenders were quitting, trade secretary Kemi Badenoch said Mr Wallace should be celebrated rather than worrying about his exit.

She told Sky Newss Sophy Ridge on Sunday: Im sad that he is stepping down, but I understand that public service is something that is very gruelling and draining. I think we should be celebrating Bens public service rather than trying to link it to unrelated issues.

Ben Wallace wanted to succeed Jens Stoltenberg as secretary general of Nato (PA Wire)

Former cabinet minister Andrea Leadsom also tried to play down the significance of Mr Wallaces departure, saying it was completely reasonable that he should want to step back. Ms Leadsom told the BBC that many MPs were getting tired of the harassment on social media and vitriol in the press.

Mr Wallace had expressed an interest in standing for the position of Nato secretary general before it was announced that the current chief, Jens Stoltenberg, had been given another year in charge.

The popular cabinet minister  who will leave his role during a reshuffle expected in September, having told Mr Sunak last month of his intention to leave  suggested that he will continue to call for higher defence spending.

Speaking to The Sunday Times, Mr Wallace went on to talk of his fears about future wars: Towards the end of the decade ... I think we will find ourselves in a conflict. Whether it is a cold or a warm conflict, I think well be in a difficult position.

Citing the China situation and a total breakdown of politics in the Pacific, he added: You could find yourself by 2030 in a position of cold war.

Frequently topping the Tory members poll of most popular cabinet ministers, Mr Wallace is the longest continuously serving minister in government, having been security minister before being promoted to defence secretary by Mr Johnson.

Mr Wallace ruled himself out of the running for the Conservative leadership last year, despite being an early frontrunner in the race to replace Mr Johnson.

The Wallace-Braverman row comes amid fears of more Border Force strikes. The PCS union, which represents immigration staff, demanded that the government match the pay rises of between 5 and 7 per cent offered this week to public-sector workers.

A government spokesperson said: The Ministry of Defence have accepted a Military Aid to the Civil Authorities request from the Home Office, to provide support to Border Force in the event of staff industrial action.
Boris Johnsons mystery phone has been the subject of a frenzied battle for control at the highest levels of power, with competing claims about who should have access, how the device should be switched on, and what might actually be on it.

The old iPhone  known as Phone 1 in Whitehall  has been at the centre of a major row between the former PM, Rishi Sunaks government, and the Covid public inquiry looking at how Britain handled the pandemic.

In a farcical turn of events, the final deadline for Mr Johnsons material to be handed over was missed earlier this week because the former Tory leader had forgotten his passcode.
News / National

by Staff reporter

NIGERIAN oil and gas billionaire Benedict Peters' massive investment plans to shell out over US$1 billion into a local platinum mining project and more into lithium, iron ore, tin, gold and rare earth minerals are stalling amid panic in government circles over the deals which are part of President Emmerson Mnangagwa's re-election strategy, The NewsHawks has established.This led to a crisis meeting on Friday last week between Peters and his Bravura Holdings Ltd country manager Clarkson Muzorewa and Mines ministry deputy minister Polite Kambamura and permanent secretary Pfungwa Kunaka.Kambamura had said earlier this month government would meet Peters, the energy magnate, and his executives over delays on the platinum project.Kambamura did not answer The NewsHawks question despite promising to do so. Muzorewa said he was not aware of the crisis meetings and referred queries to the Mines ministry."I'm driving now; send all your questions on WhatsApp and will answer them," Kambamura said.Muzorewa said: "I'm not aware of any crisis meeting held, but ask the ministry."Mnangagwa was involved in launching Pdters' US$1 billion platinum deal which is part of Mines minister Winston Chitando's strategic roadmap to the achieve a US$12 billion mining industry by 2023  the year of crucial general elections.Against a backdrop of poor performance on managing the economy and reforms, Mnangagwa is seeking re-election on 23 August amid dismal failure by Zanu-PF to fulfil its 2018 election manifesto promises.The party has not yet produced its 2023 elections manifesto. Bravura was given a 3 000-hectare (7 400- acre) concession in Selous, Mhondoro-Ngezi area in Mashonaland West province about 75 kilometres southwest of Harare, in 2019.According to the Ministry of Mines, Bravura is holding onto over 20 000 hectares of platinum, lithium, iron ore, gold and rare earth metal concessions across the country, but failing to develop them productively. Bravura is not making any meaningful progress on its projects worth over US$1 billion.Sources said during the meeting on Friday last week government officials expressed serious concerns over lack of progress, saying Peters and his company had spent four years now without moving forward. In response, Peters and his team claimed they were not making progress on their projects because they needed more land to expand their concessions and production activities, although government is aware of the Nigerian tycoon's financial problems threatening his Zimbabwean operations.Peters' Aiteo Eastern E&P Company Limited, a leading indigenous oil exploration firm founded in 2013, is embroiled in a mounting debt crisis.According to recent disclosures by the Nigerian subsidiary of British multinational oil company Shell Plc and seven local banks, Peters' energy company owes a staggering US$2.6 billion in oil-related loans.This figure represents an increase of US$910 million compared to US$1.7 billion owed when Shell Plc initially reported the debt. The creditors and Aiteo have been locked in a legal dispute since late 2019 when the lenders complained of the default.The U$2.6 billion debt can be traced back to Aiteo's acquisition of a pipeline and operating interest in a highly valuable onshore oil block eight years ago.Nigerian banks such as Zenith Bank Plc, Fidelity Bank Plc, and Guaranty Trust Bank Plc extended loans amounting to US$1.5 billion to support the acquisition, while Shell provided US$504 million in financing as the asset seller.Since the initial loan agreement, Aiteo, Shell, and the Nigerian lenders have been embroiled in a protracted legal battle.Aiteo has claimed it has already repaid US$1.2 billion and denies defaulting. However, creditors say its outstanding debt has reached approximately US$2.6 billion, including interest, fees, and penalties.This led to emergency meetings between Peters and Zimbabwean officials amid fears the deals will collapse like the Russians' Great Dyke platinum investment.After coming into Zimbabwe four years ago amid pomp and ceremony promising to invest US$1 billion into the Selous platinum project through Bravura, Peters is struggling to live up to his promises due to financial problems engulfing him back home.As a result of the crisis, the Zimbabwean government summoned Peters and his country representative to the meeting last week. Government officials are comparing Peters' platinum project with Tharisa Plc's platinum investment through Karo Mining Holdings in the same Great Dyke region.Karo Mining Holdings' US$4.2 billion platinum project on Zimbabwe's mineral-rich Great Dyke belt is regarded as a world-class platinum group metals asset which will have a profound impact on Mhondoro-Ngezi communities and surrounding areas, as well as the economy. The project is located approximately 80 kilometres southwest of Harare.It covers 23 903ha on the Great Dyke. It is located south of the Zimplats Selous Metallurgical Plant and north of the Zimplats Ngezi operations. Karo Mining Holdings plc, which owns the project, is owned 70% by South Africa's Tharisa plc, while 30% equity is privately held by Leto Settlement Trust.Tharisa plc is listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE) and on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, the largest bourse in Africa.The LSE is the second-largest bourse in the world after the New York Stock Exchange, the biggest globally by market capitalisation.The Karo platinum project is run by Karo Zimbabwe Holdings, which is owned 85% by Karo Mining Holdings plc and 15% by Generation Minerals, a government special purpose vehicle.Zimbabwe is the second-largest producer of PGMs after South Africa. Russia is third.The project has an initial life of 17 years with less than 10% of the 23 903ha mining area having been utilised to cover this production lifespan. Apart from platinum, Bravura also intends to explore mining lithium, gold, rare earth minerals and tin in Zimbabwe.It's also seeking to mine cobalt in the Democratic Republic of Congo, copper in Zambia, gold in Ghana and iron ore in Guinea.Namibia and Botswana could also be options for the company. However, Bravura seems to be now badly failing to implement its projects largely due to financial problems.Peters' initial enthusiasm for the platinum mine development project in the Maflox Claims area of Selous is thus stalling, shortly before Mnangagwa's re-election bid. Bravura has failed to comply with regulatory requirements and fulfill its commitments to invest, leading to a shift in focus.Instead, the oil and gas tycoon and company has discreetly turned his attention to what he thinks is a low-hanging fruit, a lithium deposit in Kamativi, a small mining town in Matabeleland North province.A source said: "Peters and his company were also awarded the Kamativi lithium lump in Matabeleland North province. The asset was wanted by many investors and hotly contested. It contains lithium worth billions of dollars, and Peters and his company promised government that a dump processing plant would be built in February 2023, and production would start in July this year. They have missed the target and now say they will start production in February next year. We have visited the dump and all they have done is erect some incomplete fencing around the dump. Why should government not repossess the dump and allocate it to serious investors?"These problems and lack of progress have put Peters' Zimbabwean projects in serious jeopardy.
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Kemi Badenoch clashed with the BBCs Laura Kuenssberg during a feisty exchange on the merits the Indo-Pacific trade bloc and post-Brexit trade deals  at one point telling the host: Stop interrupting me.

The trade secretary lashed out at her Brexit critics during her round of Sunday interviews  claiming they had been wrong to laugh at the government and should stop talking Britain down.

It comes as the UK formally agreed to become the first European country to join a major Indo-Pacific trade bloc  hailed as momentous despite forecasts placing its value at just 1.8bn a year.

But Ms Badenoch admitted that the chances of the UK securing a free trade agreement with the US are very low and said: We cant force other countries to do things.

Appearing on Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, the host remined her of the Tory manifesto promise to get a post-Brexit agreement with the Americans  asking the minister if Brexiteers had been wrong to promise buccaneering Britain that would benefit from trade deals.

Ms Badenoch fired back: Thats absolutely not true  People laughed at us when we said we were going to join CPTPP  the Westminster bubble laughing at us and not believing that this could happen. Weve done it.

Told that a promise was made on a US deal, Ms Badenoch said: Laura, Laura  that was an agreement with the previous president [Donald Trump]. You cannot force countries to join free trade agreements.

Told that it appeared to be a promise that you were never going to be not keep, Ms Badenoch fumed: Laura  please stop interrupting me.

The trade secretary signed the accession protocol to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) in New Zealand on Sunday.

Badenoch says chances of US dead are very low (Zahn Trotter/Department for Business & Trade/P)

Asked if Britons would feel any benefit from the deal  given that the governments own assessment had said it could add only 0.08 per cent to GDP  the cabinet minister told the BBC: Yes, they will if they use it.

Ms Badenoch said the membership of the CPTPP only as it good as the way that we use it  suggesting that naysayers could hamper Britains chances of making the most of new trading opportunities.

Told on Sky News Sophy Ridge on Sunday that 1.8bn a year was dwarfed by the 5bn Manchester City spent on its playing squad, a frustrated Ms Badenoch said: Its going to make a significant amount of difference.

The senior Tory added: If we keep telling everything this is not something thats worthwhile, it will become a self-fulfilling prophesy. We have to stop doing this, talking down our country. No other country does this.

Britain is the first new member and first European nation to join the bloc - comprising Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam  since its formation in 2018.

It represents Britains biggest trade deal since leaving the EU, cutting tariffs for UK exporters to a group of nations which  with UK accession  will have a combined GDP of 12 trillion, accounting for 15 per cent of global GDP, according to officials.

Asked whether China should be allowed to join CPTPP, Ms Badenoch told the BBC: What the blic is doing is making sure that its the countries that meet the high standards of the CPTPP that will be allowed to join, so thats something that needs to be assessed.
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Arch-Brexiteer Nigel Farage has blamed EU rules madly adopted by the UK for being denied accounts with several banks.

The former Brexit Party and Ukip leader sparked a major row last month after claiming his account with Coutts was shut down because he was a politically exposed person (PEP).

It followed suggestions made in the Commons that Mr Farage, who has appeared on Russia Today in the past, had received more than half a million pounds from the Kremlin-backed broadcaster.

Coutts, a private bank servicing high net-worth individuals, was understood to have closed Mr Farages account due to a lack of funds.

Writing in The Sunday Telegraph, Mr Farage, who said several other banks had denied him accounts, claimed he was the victim of over-zealous anti-money laundering regulations.

Anti-money laundering rules appear to have been wildly over-interpreted by the compliance departments of banks in the UK, he wrote in the Brexit-supporting newspaper.

Nobody can deny that money laundering is a problem, he said. Yet a series of agreements, EU directives and UK rules established to confront this menace have almost entirely failed to do so.

Farage has appeared on Russia Today in the past (Getty Images)

Banks now live in fear of receiving huge fines. Their default setting seems to be to close down the business and personal accounts of anybody who is deemed to require extra due diligence  be they the owner of a window cleaning firm or a pawnbroker.

He added: Those who are paid in cash are no longer welcome; the compliance costs of servicing these accounts makes them unprofitable.

Mr Farage initially claimed that his account with Coutts, which acts on behalf of the royal family, had been closed in an establishment-orchestrated revenge mission for Brexit, sparking a free speech row.

Andrew Griffith, the city minister, wrote to the UKs financial watchdog urging it to prioritise an important review into whether people are being denied bank accounts due to their political views.

The former Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage claimed he was the victim of over-zealous anti money laundering regulations (Yui Mok/PA) (PA Archive)

Mr Griffith, in a letter to Nikhil Rathi, chief executive of the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), said the strength of concern on the issue meant it needed to be prioritised by the watchdog.

No 10 also waded into the row, with a spokesperson saying there had been concerns at the highest level of government and that the Treasury was looking at whether banks were overstepping the mark by closing some accounts.

But sources at Coutts insisted Mr Farages accounts were closed because he fell below the financial threshold Coutts requires.

They told the BBC he was even offered a regular account at NatWest  which owns Coutts  which Mr Farage confirmed to The Independent.

Coutts requires clients to maintain at least 1m in investments or borrowing, or hold 3m in savings, to be eligible for an account, the BBC reported.

Mr Farage, who says he has been with the bank since 1980, suggested another reason his accounts may have been cancelled was his status as a so-called politically exposed person (PEP), which carries extra costs for banks.

Sources at Coutts claim his accounts were closed because he fell below the financial threshold (Kirsty OConnor/PA) (PA Archive)

But sources familiar with the banks thinking told the BBC this was not the reason his accounts were closed and that it was a commercial move.

Coutts said it would not comment on individual clients.

Mr Farage, first announced that his account had been in a video on Twitter, said that the only explanation he could think of for his banks decision was a claim made by senior Labour MP Chris Bryant in the Commons that the former Brexit Party leader had received almost 550,000 from the television network Russia Today.

I simply point out that Nigel Farage received from Russia Today 548,573 in 2018 alone  from the Russian state, said the MP.

But Mr Farage said Mr Bryants claim was completely false. He said: I did not receive a penny from any source with even a link to Russia.

Two former Brexit Party MEPs, Christina Jordan and Henrik Overgaard-Nielsen, have also claimed that their bank accounts have been shut down without explanation in recent years.

According to the House of Commons Library, PEPs are individuals around the world with prominent public functions.

The law recognises the risk of PEPs abusing their positions for private gain and using the financial system to launder the proceeds of this abuse, it says.

PEPs, as well as their families and close associates, must therefore go through enhanced scrutiny when using the services of certain firms that act as gatekeepers to the financial system, such as banks.
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The UK has formally agreed to become the first European country to join a major Indo-Pacific trade bloc, in what marks Britains biggest trade deal since Brexit  despite forecasts placing its value at just 1.8bn a year.

The governments business and trade secretary Kemi Badenoch signed the accession protocol to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) in New Zealand on Sunday, bringing the blocs combined GDP to 12 trillion  15 per cent of the global share.

Her signature gives formal confirmation of the agreement reached in March following two years of negotiations, and officials from Britain and the blocs 11 other members will now begin work to ratify the deal, which will require parliamentary scrutiny and legislation in the UK to bring it into force.

While most of the details were agreed earlier this year, the terms and conditions of the UKs membership will be published on Sunday  including the commitments the UK is making to other nations on market access.

Putting pen to paper in Auckland alongside ministers from CPTPP nations, Ms Badenoch said: Im delighted to be here in New Zealand to sign a deal that will be a big boost for British businesses and deliver billions of pounds in additional trade, as well as open up huge opportunities and unparalleled access to a market of over 500 million people.

We are using our status as an independent trading nation to join an exciting, growing, forward-looking trade bloc, which will help grow the UK economy and build on the hundreds of thousands of jobs CPTPP-owned businesses already support up and down the country.

To coincide with the signing, the government released figures showing that CPTPP-headquartered businesses employed one in every 100 UK workers in 2019, amounting to more than 400,000 jobs across the country.

Membership of the trade group  established in 2018 and including Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam  is expected to bolster that investment relationship.

Hopes of a US trade deal were dashed during Rishi Sunaks trip to Washington last month (Kevin Lamarque/PA)

While Britain already has trade agreements with all CPTPP members apart from Malaysia and Brunei, officials said membership  expected to come into force in the second half of 2024  will deepen existing arrangements, with 99 per cent of current UK goods exported to the bloc eligible for zero tariffs.

Dairy producers will gain export opportunities to Canada, Chile, Japan and Mexico, while beef, pork and poultry producers will get better access to Mexicos market, according to officials.

But critics say the impact will be limited, with official estimates suggesting it will add just 1.8bn a year to the economy after 10 years  representing less than one per cent of Britains GDP.

The deal marks a continuation of the post-Brexit policy tilt towards the Indo-Pacific, which is expected to be home to around half the worlds middle-class consumers by 2035, and comes after any remaining hopes of a US trade deal were dashed during Rishi Sunaks visit to Washington last month.

But with Mr Sunaks Conservative Party trailing Labour in the polls, it is unclear whether the next government will focus as much on the Indo-Pacific as it does on mending frayed ties with the European Union.

Speaking to hundreds of business leaders last month, Labours shadow foreign secretary David Lammy accused ministers of being dishonest by claiming CPTPP membership would make up for lost trade with the EU.

Vowing to [turn] the page on the era of acrimony with the EU and restart a structured dialogue with the UKs biggest trading partner, Mr Lammy said he would seek to improve our trade deal with the EU, without rejoining the bloc, single market or customs union.

British farmer slams New Zealand trade deal

Some officials, however, have heralded the CPTPP as an alternative to the beleaguered World Trade Organisation, and despite the relatively modest estimated gains, the move was welcomed by business figures on Sunday.

HSBC chief executive Ian Stuart said: The UKs formal accession to CPTPP marks a significant milestone for UK trade, enabling ambitious British businesses to connect with the worlds most exciting growth markets for start-ups, innovation and technology.

Some of the everyday items from CPTPP nations that will become cheaper for UK consumers thanks to the deal include Australian Ugg boots, kiwis from New Zealand, blueberries from Chile and Canadian maple syrup, according to the Institute of Export and International Trade.

Its director general Marco Forgione said: From whisky to confectionery to cars to jewellery and clothing, the removal of tariffs will make our finest British products more readily available to consumers in the Indo-Pacific bloc.

This agreement has the additional benefit of strengthening the value chains and supply chains within the bloc.

Since the UK announced its intention to join CPTPP, many other countries are now looking to join. Which means the potential market access and benefits will continue to significantly increase in the coming years.

Additional reporting by PA
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Police have fatally shot a Georgia gunman who went on the run after allegedly killing four people in a small town south of Atlanta.

Andre Longmore, 40, was killed during a manhunt on Sunday afternoon, Henry County Sheriff Reginald Scandrett confirmed to the WSB-TV station.

The monster is dead, Henry County Sheriff Reginald Scandrett told reporters on Sunday afternoon. The entire state of Georgia can breathe a little easier tonight.

This undated photo provided by the Hampton Police Department, in Hampton, Ga., shows Andre Longmore. (AP)

Authorities said a Henry County deputy and a Clayton County police officer were wounded during the incident, but both are conscious. The deputy was taken by Life Flight to Grady Memorial Hospital for medical treatment.

Officials said officers exchanged gunfire with Longmore twice in nearby Clayton County before he was neutralised and declared dead, the sheriff said.

Investigators said Longmore killed four residents of Dogwood Lakes Drive and Dogwood Ridge around 10.45am on Saturday.

Hampton police chief James Turner identified the victims on Sunday as Scott Levitt, 67, Shirley Levitt, 66, Steve Blizzard, 65 and Ronald Jeffers, 66.

Police said Longmore lived in the Dogwood Lakes Drive neighbourhood, but they have not yet determined a motive for the shooting.

Wherever you are, we will hunt you down in whatever hole you may be hiding in and bring you into custody. Period, Henry County Sheriff Reginald Scandrett told reporters on Saturday.

Police said they had obtained four warrants for Longmore and described him as being armed and dangerous.

The entrance to the Dogwood Lakes neighborhood in Hampton, Ga., is shown on Sunday, July 16, 2023. (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

Hampton is a city of 8,500 residents located around an hour south of Atlanta, Georgia. Officials said the last homicide there was reported in 2018 and insisted it is one of the safest communities in the state.

This community is grieving, Hampton city manager Alex Cohilas said on Sunday.

Were thankful we have achieved a resolution in which no more loss of life has occurred.

Its just not normal for us.

The murders and the police response are under investigation by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

Frankie Worth, a resident of the neighbourhood, earlier said he saw the suspect brandishing a black handgun and that he witnessed him fatally shoot his neighbour.

Just when I was about to open the window, I heard pow, Mr Worth told Atlantas WSB-TV. When I opened the window, I saw (the gunmans) arms up and hes coming back down.

When he realised the shot was good, he took the weapon, checked it for a minute, put it in his holster, he said.
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A Maryland man was arrested for allegedly impersonating a police officer and carrying out a fake traffic stop during which he is accused of flashing a badge and brandishing a pistol.

Carl Colston, 47, is accused of pulling over a victim in Greenbelt, Maryland, on 8 July, according to officials.

He has now been charged with having a handgun on his person, having a handgun in a vehicle and impersonating police, which are all misdemeanours.

Investigators say that Mr Colston drove up behind the victim, honking the horn of his Crown Victoria vehicle and flashing his white interior lights.

When the victim signalled for the suspect to pass him, police say Mr Colston got in front of him and blocked the roadway forcing the victim to stop.

Police say that the suspect then put on a Maryland Marshals tactical vest, flashed a badge, and called for backup using a handheld radio.

He is also accused of brandishing a black pistol, although not pointing it at the victim.

Maryland man Carl Colston accused of impersonating police officer and carrying out fake traffic stop (GPD)

The victim reported he grabbed a tactical vest, put it on, showed a badge, stated he was the police, and was calling for backup while speaking into a handheld radio Colston then grabbed a black pistol and did not point it at the victim, but lifted it up so that it was visible to the victim, Greenbelt Police Department said in a statement.

Maryland man Carl Colston accused of impersonating police officer and carrying out fake traffic stop (GPD)

When the victim told Mr Colston that he was recording the incident and calling police he allegedly got back in his car and drove off.

The suspect was arrested several days later during a traffic stop.
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British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace said Sunday he plans to resign at the next Cabinet reshuffle after four years in the job.

Wallace has served as defense secretary under three prime ministers and played a key role in the U.K.'s response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

He told The Sunday Times his departure was due to the strain his job had put on his family. He also said he would stand down as a lawmaker at the next general election.

Wallace is the longest continuously serving minister in government. He was security minister under former Prime Minister Theresa May, before being promoted to defense secretary by her successor Boris Johnson.

Wallace drew criticism last week when he suggested that Ukraine should show gratitude for the West's military support. He made the remark at the NATO summit in Lithuania after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed frustration about when his country could join the military alliance.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak distanced himself from Wallace's comments, saying Zelenskyy had expressed his gratitude for what we've done on a number of occasions.
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Donald Trump branded the US a third-world hellhole run by perverts and thugs in his latest 2024 campaign speech, a rambling, nearly two-hour long set of remarks to close out a right-wing conference in Florida.

The one-term president told the Turning Point Action Conference on 15 July that the American dream was dead under Joe Biden as he relentlessly mocked his successor and painted a bleak picture of a nation in decline.

The election will decide whether your generation will inherit a fascist country or a free country,  Mr Trump told the right-wing activist conference.

Millions of illegal aliens have stormed across our borders, it is an invasion, like a military invasion. Our rights and liberties are being torn to shreds, he said. Your country is being turned into a third-world hellhole, run by censors, perverts criminals and thugs.

His remarks come as a grand jury in Georgia considers whether to recommend charges against him for his efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election in that state, separate from the US Department of Justice special counsel probe into a pressure campaign among Trump allies to subvert the outcome to install the now-former president for a second term.

In his remarks, the former president lambasted the multiple investigations against him  including federal charges alleging that he illegally withheld classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago property  as bull****.

He once again falsely stated that the 2020 election was rigged against him and said that the investigations against him are an attempt to rig next years election as he seeks another term in the White House.

Every time the radical left Democrats indict me, I consider it to be a great badge of honour and courage, he said. I am doing it for you. I am being indicted for you.

Former US President Donald Trump arrives on stage to speak at the Turning Point Action conference as he continues his 2024 presidential campaign on July 15, 2023 in West Palm Beach, Florida. (Getty Images)

He turned his direction inward, describing the US under an inside threat from unseen sick, sinister and evil forces under President Joe Biden.

If you have the right leadership China is not a problem, if you have the right leadership Russia would not be a problem, he said. They would not have done what they did, believe me, they would never have done it.

He told his supporters that their task and calling is to liberate America from these communists, racists, Marxists, globalists and warmongers who want to plunder the future of our country.

He threatened to reclaim colleges and choke off the money to universities that he claims are leading a Marxist assault on Western civilization itself. He also pledged to revive an even wider ban on people from majority Muslim countries from entering the US, along with mass deportations of people living in the country and ending birthright citizenship for the children of people who are in the US without legal permission.

The former president also targeted trans people and transition healthcare for trans youth, a familiar target across the stage among pundits and lawmakers who addressed the conference on Saturday.

Right-wing activist Charlie Kirk and attorney Harmeet Dhillon, who unsuccessfully ran for chair of the Republican National Committee, opened the speaking lineup with a series of inflammatory claims about trans people and their families.

Ms Dhillon claimed that schools are inflicting powerful psychological indoctrination on vulnerable children and compared doctors who provide gender-affirming healthcare to Nazis.

She called transition healthcare the Mengele-like experimentation on Americas children.

Former Fox News personality Megyn Kelly said she no longer has empathy for people experiencing gender dysphoria. There should be a healthy measure of ridicule, she told Kirk during a lengthy discussion about trans people and the erasure of trans rights, which Kirk said is a winner politically for Republicans.

These people are freaks. Theyre perverts, by the way, if they go into a womens locker room, Kirk said.

Asked how she feels about being labeled transphobic, Kelly said: OK, whatever, honestly Ive been called worse  Let them call you whatever you want. Who gives a damn.
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Iraqs prime minister held talks Sunday with Syrian President Bashar Assad in Damascus during the first trip of its kind to the war-torn country since the 12-year conflict began.

Iraq and Syria have had close relations for years even after many Arab countries withdrew their ambassadors for Damascus and Syrias membership in the 22-member Arab League was suspended because of the crackdown on protesters in 2011.

Assad received Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, who was heading a high-ranking delegation, at the presidential palace in Damascus. They discussed mutual relations and cooperation between the two neighboring countries among other issues, according to the office of Syrias president.

Al-Sudanis office said in a statement that talks revolved around ways of expanding cooperation in the fields of trade, economy, transportation, tourism, how to combat climate change and collaboration to fight terrorism.

Security cooperation against extremist groups was likely to be on top of the two-day visit's agenda. The two countries, where Iran enjoys wide influence, have a joint 600 kilometers-long (373 miles) border. In June 2014, the Islamic State group declared the establishment of a self-styled caliphate, a traditional model of Islamic rule, in wide areas under its control in Iraq and Syria.

After a yearslong campaign that left tens of thousands dead in both countries, IS was defeated in Iraq in 2017 and in March 2019 in Syria. Over the past years, Syrian government forces regained control of much of Syria with the help of Russia and Iran.

Earlier this year, Syrias membership in the Arab League was reinstated and Assad attended the Arab summit that was held in Saudi Arabia in May.

Al-Sudani was invited to visit Damascus during a trip by Syrias Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad to Baghdad last month.

The U.S. has a presence in both Syria and Iraq and Syrian officials have been calling for the withdrawal of American troops from the country who first arrived in 2015.

On any given day there are at least 900 U.S. forces in Syria, along with an undisclosed number of contractors attempting to prevent the resurgence of the Islamic State group. U.S. special operations forces also move in and out of the country but are usually in small teams and are not included in the official count.

U.S.-led coalition forces have officially ended their combat mission in Iraq, but continue to play an advisory role to Iraqi forces in the fight against the Islamic State extremist group.
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Democratic US Senator Tammy Duckworth has warned that Republican Senator Tommy Tubervilles ongoing and distressing blockade against the promotions of hundreds of military officials risks jeopardising national security.

Ms Duckworth, a US Army veteran of the Iraq War, has joined Democratic criticism against the Alabama senator and member of the Armed Services Committee who is holding up promotions in protest of US Department of Defense policy to reimburse travel costs for service members seeking abortion care.

President Joe Biden recently condemned the senators efforts as totally irresponsible, while critical posts remain unfilled, senior officials near the end of their terms, and service members threaten to resign.

Im going to just say what President Biden has said: it is bizarre for Senator Tuberville to say that hes not jeopardising national security when he injects politics into the defense process, Ms Duckworth said on NBCs Meet the Press on 16 July.

And frankly, this is not the time to do it, she added. Right now, Senator Tuberville is jeopardising our nations ability to lead the free world at a time when theres a war in Europe because he wants to inject politics into this.

A recent White House memo has also accused Republican officials of enabling Mr Tubervilles efforts with barely a word of protest as the Alabama senator risks threatening to erode military readiness and abuse military families in the pursuit of an unrelated and extreme anti-freedom agenda with his blanket hold on promotions and reassignments.

Hes even subjecting the families who serve with members to excruciating uncertainty, like not knowing where children will go to school or where spouses can work, according to the memo.

Mr Tuberville  who is also facing criticism for a series of fumbling statements defending white nationalism  continues to defend his blockade until the Pentagon reverses its policy.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell does not support his efforts, and a letter signed by seven former secretaries of defence has warned that nearly 80 three- and four-star commanders who are ending their terms in the coming months will not be able to be replaced.

Meanwhile, House Republicans have advanced a draft of a critical national defence spending bill that would prohibit spending on travel expenses for abortion care, regardless of whether service members are stationed  even in states where care is effectively illegal.

On Fox News on Sunday, Republican Senator Tom Cotton said that service members who seek abortion care are participating in abortion tourism. He said pregnant service members should use their 30 paid leave days to seek that care.

Asked whether he believes all service members, regardless of where they are stationed, should have access to the same level of care, Republican US Rep Michael McCaul told CBS Face the Nation on Sunday that they are free to travel to another state instead.

In the year after the US Supreme Court reversed the half-century precedent from Roe v Wade, more than a dozen states across the country, mostly in the US South, have effectively banned abortions for most pregnancies, and Republican members of Congress  and several GOP presidential candidates  have mulled national restrictions on abortion access.

Recommended House Republicans proved they are not serious about defending the country

A series of House GOP amendments to the must-pass National Defense Authorization Act include a ban on transition healthcare for transgender service members and a measure that eliminates diversity, equity and inclusion programs and staff members from the Defense Department  provisions that echo Republican legislation-led legislation across the country.

This legislation is never getting to the presidents desk, national security adviser Jake Sullivan told CNNs State of the Union on 16 July.

An extreme group of Republicans have sought to mix domestic social debates with the needs, the security needs of our nation, he said.

Holding Americas military readiness  as well as service members and their families  hostage to an extreme, divisive political agenda undermines our national security and disrespects the sacrifices that those who wear the uniform, White House press secretary Andrew Bates said in a statement last week.

Thats what House Republicans, Senator Tuberville, and Senate Republicans who refuse to challenge him are doing by hijacking a bipartisan bill and devolving it into a hardcore rightwing wishlist, he added.
 Close Huge wildfire rages on La Palma forcing thousands to evacuate

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Firefighters battled a blaze in Rhodes as a new heatwave loomed over Greece, threatening to stoke tinderbox conditions across the country.

Greek meteorological service had warned of a heightened risk of fires from Thursday, as the country recovered from the first major heatwave of the summer.

A second heatwave was forecast to start on Thursday, with temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) in some areas, and rising further on Friday to a maximum of 44C.

Thousands have also been evacuated in the Canary Islands and Switzerland in recent days, as southern Europe is gripped by ongoing wildfires and extreme heat caused by the fossil-fuel-driven climate crisis.

Fires are common in Greece, but hotter, drier and windy summers have turned the Mediterranean into a wildfire hotspot in recent years.

Temperature records were shattered in Rome and Catalonia on Wednesday as most of Italys big cities were placed under a red alert.
Ben Fairbrother, left, the Florida State Guards chief of staff, listens to Maj. Gen. John D. Haas, Floridas adjutant general, speak at the Florida State Guard graduation ceremony at Camp Blanding Joint Training Center in Starke, Fla., June 30, 2023. (Lawren Simmons/The New York Times)

Early last summer, complaining that Washington had failed to provide adequate staffing for Floridas National Guard, Gov. Ron DeSantis announced that for the first time in 75 years he was activating the State Guard, a force of volunteers that could respond to hurricanes and other public emergencies.

But the deployment this spring has been mired in internal turmoil, with some recruits complaining that what was supposed to be a civilian disaster response organization had become heavily militarized, requiring volunteers to participate in marching drills and military-style training sessions on weapons and hand-to-hand combat.

At least 20% of the 150 people initially accepted into the program dropped out or were dismissed, state officials acknowledged, including a retired Marine captain who filed a false imprisonment complaint against Guard sergeants with the local sheriff after he got into a dispute with instructors and was forcibly escorted off the site.

Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times

Several of those who left and spoke to The New York Times said they objected to the direction the organization was taking and either quit or were fired when they tried to voice their concerns.

Gov. DeSantis had the foresight to say, I have this tool in my pocket, all I have to do is take it out and use it, Brian Newhouse, a retired Navy officer who helped recruit the first batch of volunteers, said in an interview. His intention was a disaster response force solely for the citizens of the state of Florida.

Newhouse said he spent months recruiting to help lead a program he had understood would be a civilian-style disaster response organization, but arrived at training on June 1 to find out that he was no longer a supervisor, and that the programs orientation had changed significantly. He said he raised objections on the first day of training and was abruptly escorted out.

Theres nothing wrong with the military, but its not the gold standard for an emergency response organization, Newhouse said. We did not, above all else, want to be characterized as a militia.

At least 17 other states operate State Guards, but Florida had disbanded its organization in the aftermath of World War II, in 1947. DeSantis announced its reinstatement as he was preparing a presidential election bid, approving a broad directive to protect and defend threats to public safety and provisions that allow some members of the Guard to carry weapons.

The vague language of the mission mandate has prompted concerns from civil rights advocates that the new Guard, which includes a specialized law enforcement unit, could be asked to undertake police-style operations for purposes that are not clearly defined by law. The governors office said one of the Guards missions would be to ensure Florida remains fully fortified to respond to not only natural disasters, but also to protect its people and borders from illegal aliens and civil unrest.

DeSantis, to whom the new State Guard reports directly, has suggested that concerns over the organizations future role are unwarranted.

If you turned on NBC, it was DeSantis is raising an army, and hes going to raze the planet, DeSantis told reporters last year. But, you know, the response from people was Oh, hell, hes raising an army? I want to join! Lets do it.

The state leaders responsible for the program, whose troubles were first reported jointly by The Tampa Bay Times and the Miami Herald, said it made sense to create a military-style organization that could operate easily with the National Guard.

Since the original formation of the Florida State Guard during World War II, members of the Florida State Guard have been considered soldiers, said Ben Fairbrother, the organizations chief of staff.

Of the 150 people accepted into the program, 120 had graduated, program officials said.

We are aware that some trainees who were removed are dissatisfied, Maj. Gen. John D. Haas, Floridas adjutant general, said in a statement.

This is to be expected with any course that demands rigor and discipline, he added. The overwhelming majority of the participants have lauded the training and, in fact, have appreciated the opportunity to self-reflect and become better citizens.

As planning for the organization got underway this year, ambitions for the group quickly expanded.

The original plan to field 200 volunteers with a budget of $3.5 million, proposed in late 2021, grew to 1,500 people and $108 million. The first-year budget includes $50 million for five aircraft and $2.7 million for boats  equipment that many experts say is beyond the budget of most State Guards.

When the initial boot camp began in June, Newhouse and six other volunteers who spoke to The New York Times said they were surprised to find that the training syllabus included such lessons as rappelling off buildings and learning to use a compass to navigate out of the woods, skills they said seemed better suited to training for war.

One of the recruits, who like most of the others did not want to be named because of fear of reprisals, described the training as more like a military fantasy camp than the practical instruction expected in topics such as how to respond to hurricanes.

The volunteers said the training seemed poorly structured, with an inordinate amount of time spent, as one of them described it, marching in fields. Some of the men said that as veterans with years of experience in the military, they were offended when they were yelled at by junior instructors acting like drill sergeants, who disregarded their previous ranks.

They said they had expected sessions on such things as how to set up distribution of water and other resources during disasters. But that training, a copy of the schedule shows, came only at the very end, after classes on marksmanship and the concealed carry of weapons as well as a combatives class on hand-to-hand combat.

Most State Guard units across the country, including large forces in states such as New York, California and Texas, act as counterparts to the National Guard, a military organization whose members may also be called out by governors during natural disasters or other civil emergencies.

The bureaucrats in D.C. who control our National Guard have also refused to increase the number of guardsmen despite our increasing population, leaving Florida with the second-worst National Guardsman-to-resident ratio, DeSantis said when he announced the new State Guard last year.

Fairbrother said the inaugural training session last month included instruction in land navigation, water safety, water rescue, boat rescue, disaster response and recovery and basic life support, including CPR  training that would prepare recruits to respond to a wide variety of emergencies.

He said law enforcement was a necessary component of the Guards job because local police officers might themselves become victims of natural disasters.

But Newhouse and several other recruits said they had understood the concept much differently when they joined, picturing themselves wearing khakis and polo shirts, not camouflage uniforms, in an organization that would be more like the Federal Emergency Management Agency than the U.S. Army.

It has basically turned into everything we were told it wasnt going to be, Newhouse said.

A 51-year-old former Marine captain who had retired from the military with a disability and later joined the State Guard also clashed with instructors during the initial boot camp last month, raising concerns about the training. In an assault complaint filed with the Clay County Sheriffs Office, the man said he was accused by the State Guard commander of being the leader of the group that had been criticizing the organization and its leadership. He was then forcibly pushed into a van against his objections and driven to the command post, where he was fired and escorted off the base, according to the complaint.

The sheriffs report said that the former captains account appeared to be accurate, but that it constituted neither battery nor false imprisonment, so the office closed the case.

Reached by the Times, the man, who requested anonymity because he feared public backlash, said he could not discuss the matter because it was still under investigation by state authorities. Fairbrother declined to comment on the incident.

Of the nine original State Guard recruiters and commanders who spent months recruiting for the organization, fewer than a third remain. The staff director who had been a proponent of the less militarized version of the program, appointed in January, was removed from his post just days before the inaugural graduation. The programs personnel director was fired this past week.

Jean Marciniak, a former member of the New York State Guard who runs a website and podcast about the nations State Guards, said Floridas decision to include an armed law enforcement unit was highly unusual, as was the provision in the law putting the State Guard under the governors direct command, rather than under the state Department of Military Affairs and the National Guard.

Im not saying its a red flag, but Ill say its unusual, Marciniak said. The 18 other defense forces do it one way, and Florida is doing it another way.

Marciniak posted a notice on his website Friday saying that his organization, StateDefenseForce.com, had polled its members and decided not to endorse the new force. This was based on a concern much different from that raised by the recruits who left. The website noted that Floridas State Guard was acting as a military organization when by law it was a civilian-led agency staffed by volunteers who could elect to quit in the middle of an emergency.

Unless the Guard implements an official rank structure and operates under the umbrella of the military, the notice said, we will encourage our community to not join the organization.

At the State Guards first graduation ceremony on June 30 at Camp Blanding Joint Training Center in Starke, Florida, Fairbrother told graduates and their families that the agency had built a strong team.

From the first day the recruits walked through our doors and began this program, Ive been enormously impressed with the caliber of individuals who chose to join us for this program, he said. For the last 28 days, Ive met paramedics, general contractors, attorneys, welders, truck drivers, cybersecurity experts, CEOs, CFOs and much more.

Tom Fabricio, the state representative who co-sponsored the bill that created the State Guard, also volunteered for the force and participated in the training.

A civil litigation lawyer in Miami-Dade County, Fabricio, 46, praised the boot camp as a positive experience. (The Times attended the Guard graduation, but officials would not allow a reporter to speak to any of the other recruits.)

It was intense, he said. A lot of running, pushups, leadership training, practical training, water rescue training and land navigation  elements that you would see in a traditional Army-type boot camp, however condensed to 28 days.

He lost 15 pounds. He said activities such as rappelling off buildings were more about team building than military tactics.

I view it as hurricane preparedness training in case we were to have a catastrophic storm, which is likely, he said. We want to be able to be there and respond.

c.2023 The New York Times Company
 Close Aspen Security Forum: Top officials discuss Ukraine war

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The arrest of a prominent Russian nationalist who branded president Vladimir Putin a coward is likely to spark fury within the military, according to British intelligence.

Igor Girkin was arrested yesterday on charges of inciting extremism in a move that signals the Kremlin has toughened its approach to critics.

It came after he predicted Russia would face imminent defeat because of Mr Putins reluctance to declare a massive mobilisation and put the country on a full military footing.

He said: A lot of empty talk, the minimum of action and the utter lack of responsibility for failures - that is Putins style of late.

A nonentity that has managed to cheat a large part of the population has been at the countrys helm for 23 years.

The Ministry of Defence tweeted in response that the move will infuriate fellow members of the mil-blogger community and elements within the serving military.

According to the MoD, he is seen as an astute military analyst and patriot who played a major role in Russias war in the Donbas in 2014 and spent months on the front line in 2022.
Its all about determination, resilience, and success

Eamon and Sinead de Valera with Princess Grace of Monaco, husband Prince Rainier and children Princess Caroline and Prince Albert at Aras an Uachtarain

I want you to think about one of your earliest memories. A seemingly unimportant off-hand comment that has impacted or possibly even framed the way you think about yourself to this day.

For instance, when I was seven, we moved from the city to a tiny town in rural Indiana. My mother said when she first laid eyes on the old-fashioned, dilapidated country school building I would be attending, she feared my education would dramatically suffer.

Then she shook off that initial feeling by telling herself: Gina is naturally curious. She can learn anywhere.

If she told that story once, she told it a hundred times.

On the other hand, every time my Grandpa London would introduce my sister and me to someone, he would say: Heres Gina, the smart one, and heres Andrea, the pretty one.

I grew up believing I was intelligent, but not pretty.

Most of us can recall what must have been an innocuous statement at the time that has coloured how we think about ourselves  for better or worse. Have those thoughts spurred you forward or held you back?

For Nava Writz Bogaard, her earliest memory is that she was born guilty.

I was supposed to come into the world on January 23  but, drama queen that I am, I took my sweet time and made my first appearance on February 7.

From then on, her mother reminded Nava that had she been born on her due date, she would have shared the birthdate of Monacos Princess Caroline.

I ruined my mothers chance of being able to say: Grace Kelly and I gave birth on the same day. Worshipping the royal family was a part of our lives. A framed photograph of Grace Kelly hung even on the wall of their living room in Tel Aviv.

Rather than disparaging the fact that she wasnt born the twin of a princess, Nava says she used her mothers repeated words about Grace Kelly as an aspirational mantra. She wore a crown, earrings and a necklace  and I promised myself one day I would have all those too.

Nava went on to emigrate to America, establish a luxury line of baby bedding and be named Designer of the Year in the United States. Now retired, she spends a lot of her time joyfully traveling the cruise ships circuit.

She has penned a novel based on her life of determination, resilience, and success. Its called, unsurprisingly, It All Began With Caroline, and its out this week.

Im delighted to share a bit of Navas story and its lessons with you now.

Dream big

Okay, this first heading may strike you as a cliche, but I think it safely applies to Nava. After all, she modelled herself after a real-life princess. Despite growing up impoverished in Israel, she dared to let her ambition soar.

I had crazy dreams, Nava says, explaining that a speech by John F Kennedy she heard as a very young child set her sights firmly in the direction of the western world.

I said at four years old: I am going to live in America. I painted my dream vividly in my mind. I told everyone.

Do you have a dream you think is too big to utter aloud to yourself, let alone proclaim to others? A report from the website Employees Connect states that sharing goals is extremely important and comes with positive results. Sharing goals makes them visible so they can be verified openly in public.

The moment you share goals, you make yourself more accountable toward that particular goal. It helps you frame that goal more clearly and helps you measure the progress.

Behave boldly

It took some time, but at age 25 Nava fly to New York where she found work in hotels. She recalled passing by Times Square and watching in a shop window a screening of the television show Good Morning America where she first spotted its long-time host Joan Lunden.

I told myself one day I will be interviewed by this woman.

Holding on to that latest dream, Nava moved across the country to California where she landed a sales job at a baby store in Sherman Oaks, located near many television studios.

One day, I learned that Joan Lunden was coming to Beverly Hills for a week to host the show in California.

She didnt meet her idol then, but she did convince her manager to open a new store in the influential neighbourhood, where she also began to design bedding with upscale fabrics. Eventually Nava launched an independent business  and a decade later, when the TV host had her first set of twins, it was Navas Designs, as the company was named, which graced the infants cribs.

Her designs have since been purchased by the Trumps, Obamas, Jennifer Lopez and more.

I cant give you all the names. Its boring. But all babies are stars, says Nava with a laugh.

So, while Nava may not officially have become a princess, she has officially designed for the children of Americas royalty.

Dreaming of grandeur set Nava on a path of dreams and determination. What journey are you on? What choices will you make to reach your destination? Whose words are propelling you?

For Nava Writz Bogaard, it all began with Caroline.

Write to Gina in care of SundayBusiness@independent.ie
Iceland staff held a protest outside the Coolock store over payroll issues and difficult working conditions. Photo: Steve Humphreys

The executive chairman of British supermarket chain Iceland has said the financial and legal struggles of the buyer of its Irish business had come as a total shock.

In February, Iceland sold all its stores in Ireland to The Project Point Technologies, owned by Naeem Maniar, who had previously held the Iceland franchise in Ireland from 2008 to 2013.

Project Point is the owner of Metron Stores, which operates Icelands stores in Ireland.

In June, Metron Stores was placed into examinership, with the company also ordered that month to withdraw all imported frozen food of animal origin by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland.

According to an interview in UK trade magazine The Grocer, Icelands executive chairman Richard Walker said the troubles in Ireland for Metron Stores came as a total shock.

"We were completely happy and confident, as were they, when we sold the business. So everything was clean.

Walker stressed Iceland Ireland was a completely different commercial entity, but Iceland Foods would continue to help as best it could by continuing its side of any wholesale agreements and paperwork it needed to fulfil.

Some staff have staged sit-ins at the Talbot Street Iceland store as pay concerns mounted following the stores closure.

Icelands stores in Northern Ireland continue to be directly owned and operated and are not impacted by the issues at Metron Stores.
In its pre-budget submission, the business lobbyist urged the Government to set up national infrastructure fund

'Most companies we speak to, there is probably demand for them to deliver more, but they are concerned about the capacity pressures,' said O'BrienStock image

Ibec chief Fergal OBrien said organisations want budget measures to ensure continuous investment in infrastructure, regardless of economic conditions

Business lobby group Ibec has claimed many businesses are becoming reluctant landlords as a growing number of companies enter the property market to help attract staff.

Ibecs executive director of lobbying and influence, Fergal OBrien said Ibec wants budget measures to ensure continuous investment in infrastructure, regardless of economic conditions, by establishing a national infrastructure fund. He was speaking with the Sunday Independent following the launch of the employers organisations pre-budget submission

On the housing crisis, OBrien said employers were reluctantly entering the property market to house staff.

Employers dont want to be in this space. It complicates a whole host of issues in terms of employee relationships with the firm etc. Some of them are left with no choice.

Some are finding themselves as very, very reluctant landlords.

'Most companies we speak to, there is probably demand for them to deliver more, but they are concerned about the capacity pressures,' said O'BrienStock image

OBrien said the issue of employers entering the property market was a growing trend across more sectors, from indigenous businesses to multinational companies.

OBrien said younger workers were more likely not to own a home than older generations, leaving them exposed to the adverse effects of increasing rents and the tightening supply of suitable rental accommodation.

In response to a question regarding investment into Ireland and the impact of the countrys infrastructure, OBrien said opportunities were being left on the table, mainly from foreign multinationals.

Most of our members, particularly those from international groups, are being asked how much more can you take, he said. They are trying to be pragmatic in how they answer in terms of their capacity to scale up.

Most companies we speak to, there is probably demand for them to deliver more, but they are concerned about the capacity pressures.

Ibec said it advocates a total additional package of 8.7bn, which included 1.8bn in infrastructural delivery

But look, other jurisdictions are struggling as well; there is no question of that. We think that the capacity pressures have gotten to such a stage that it is no longer a future risk; it is a current lost opportunity in the context of an economy that is performing well. We are seeing some lost opportunity.

In its submission, Ibec called for 3.5bn of this years projected budgetary surplus to be placed in the infrastructural fund along with the 6bn already in the National Reserve Fund, building to a target of 30bn by 2030.

Ibec said it advocates a total additional package of 8.7bn, which included 1.8bn in infrastructural delivery, which is less than the Governments proposed package.

Is is also seeking 700m to enhance measures for housing delivery. It called on the Government to introduce a VAT refund order of 5pc of a new home for buyers of new build homes and additional investment in affordable and cost-rental housing.
In publicly listed companies, women make up just five in 36 CEOs, while there are only four female CFOs

The most important action is to reform the culture that makes it so challenging for women to progress. Photo: Getty

In many organisations, aspiring women leaders also lack mentorship, sponsorship and support structures. Photo: Getty

Consideration should be given to mandating gender-balanced candidate lists for open roles and promotion to senior positions. Photo: Getty

Embracing diversity is not just the right thing to do, its vital for business success.

In March this year, the advisory firm Lintstock found that boards with better gender diversity offer more effective oversight.

It confirms what many business leaders will have experienced  that gender-balanced boards have a greater focus on reaching consensus before important decisions are taken, while female directors engage more on emerging issues and in the areas in which boards are struggling the most.

In many organisations, aspiring women leaders also lack mentorship, sponsorship and support structures. Photo: Getty

At Balance for Better Business (B4BB), an independent business-led review group set up by government in 2018, we have long advocated for gender balance at board and leadership level of Irish business and the benefits that can accrue to companies as a result.

In my time as co-chair of B4BB, Ireland has moved onto the list of top-10 countries in the EU 27 for female board representation for the first time.

Despite this progress, why are we still seeing so few women in key decision-making and in senior leadership roles across Irelands business community?

Gender imbalance

Latest B4BB data points to the slow progress in achieving gender balance at senior leadership level.

At 25pc, the Iseq20 are behind their target of 30pc representation by the end of the year. At 21pc, other listed companies are also behind their 25pc target.

Across publicly listed companies, women make up just five in 36 CEOs, having fallen 3pc since late last year.

Meanwhile, women hold four of the chief financial officer roles among the same cohort of Irish businesses.

Whats even more disappointing is that today there are no female chairs among the Iseq20, while the number of women in chair roles across all Iseq-listed companies has fallen by 5pc since last November, with only one woman now in a chair role.

Persistent obstacles

One of the most significant barriers to progress is an entrenched culture built up over the decades and maintains the status quo including long-hour norms and after-hours networking.

In many organisations, aspiring women leaders also lack mentorship, sponsorship and support structures that encourage them to apply for senior roles and guide them up the leadership ladder.

The most important action is to reform the culture that makes it so challenging for women to progress. Photo: Getty

This becomes particularly acute when appointing CEOs and chairs of Irish publicly listed companies.

Research carried out by Balance for Better Business last year found that candidates appointed to these roles predominantly had a finance background, a sector in which women are poorly represented at senior level to begin with.

Driving cultural change

While there are many targeted and strategic actions that businesses can take, the most important is to reform the culture that makes it so challenging for women to progress.

Cultural change encourages businesses to take a long, deep, honest look at the barrier that are holding women back.

This includes changing the way we do business to take a more gender-balanced approach to our people processes and to increase the use of objective measures to evaluate performance and limit the use of informal social networks to fill positions.

Gender balance must at the heart of succession planning.

Consideration should be given to mandating gender-balanced candidate lists for open roles and promotion to board and senior leadership positions.

From Glanbia to General Paints Group, its clear that businesses who have embraced gender balance and met the Balance for Better Business voluntary targets are seeing the positive results.

Its wrong to assume quotas will lead to businesses overcoming the barriers that lead to gender imbalances in the first place. Nor do they focus on the behavioural changes that will help remove ingrained obstacles for women leaders.

By contrast, cultural change requires a targeted plan. This will help to ensure that any improvement is not simply a compliance exercise but is sustainable and long-lasting.

Accelerating progress

At the end of this year, more than 600 companies around the country will once again publish their gender pay gap reports.

While much has been achieved, more needs to be done.

Only by taking targeted action to tackle lingering gender imbalances will companies be able to reap these rewards and benefit from the varied and often precise qualities men and women bring to leadership.

Aongus Hegarty, Balance for Better Business co-chair
When the World Economic Forum presented its annual risk report in 2006, it said the biggest global risks were terrorism and potential pandemics. It referenced climate change, but said the full effect would only be felt in the long term.

The long term that was referenced in that report is now well and truly here, and in this years report they warned that four of the top five risks relate to climate. There is hope, however, as a report issued by the IPCC earlier this year, while somewhat stark, was clear that we can mitigate the worst effects of climate change if we can maintain warming at 1.5 degrees.

Sustainability is a core pillar of Enterprise Irelands strategy and we firmly believe it is crucial for all of our clients. We all have our part to play in society, and for Irish owned businesses that means developing a sustainability strategy, along with a detailed implementation plan and the urgency to carry out this work.

This strategy must cover the whole business and consider efficient use of resources, from reducing food waste and developing green infrastructure, to process improvements and partner management, through to energy supply diversification.

Mitigating climate change is vital but its also worth bearing in mind there are multiple market drivers demanding that companies become more sustainable.

One such driver is carbon costs, which have rapidly increased in recent years, and the EU is phasing out free allocations under its emission trading system. Enterprise Ireland client companies are currently spending in the region of 130m a year on carbon credits, but this could soon increase to over 400m a year if we dont reduce our carbon footprint.

Green procurement and green supply chains are also an increasingly important factor for Irish businesses that are doing business internationally. Increasingly, companies are requiring their suppliers to demonstrate robust sustainability plans showing the steps that they are taking to reduce their environmental impact.

Having a credible sustainability strategy is now crucial to recruitment and retention, particularly when it comes to employees under 30. Likewise, consumers have expectations and clearly favour products and services with sustainability at their core. Its clear that having a strong sustainability strategy confers real competitive advantage.

While carbon reduction is vital, sustainability is broader than that. It also includes supporting biodiversity, promoting water quality and making the most of the extraordinary opportunities offered by the circular economy.

Change is possible and Enterprise Ireland is on that journey with Irish business. At the recent Business Leaders Conference hosted at the Enterprise Ireland Summit, the theme for the day was Scaling, Sustainability and Driving Innovation. And the afternoon session, attended by hundreds of Irish business leaders, focused solely on sustainability and the importance of sustainable growth.

Enterprise Ireland is ready to support companies in developing innovative responses to meet both the demands and opportunities offered by sustainable business. We are here to help at every stage of your sustainability journey.

Alexa Toomey, Head of Sustainability, Renewable Energy and AgTech, Enterprise Ireland
The AI model the company uses is called 'Eimear'. Pictured, Emotionise co-founder Marie Toft

Artificial intelligence (AI) needs to be more human and empathetic, according to the Irish co-founder of a startup training AI to be emotionally intelligent.

Corkwoman Marie Toft, a former TV producer with RTE and qualified psychotherapist, is the co-founder of Emotionise, which has spent over two years building its own AI domain model.

Named Eimear, the AI and natural language processing model has been trained with emotional intelligence at its core.

The firm is in talks with a large pharmaceutical business and a medical device company about testing and deploying customer support and employee engagement solutions that the firm has built, Toft said.

Claiming to be the worlds only AI model trained in this way, Eimear is trained on the companys own high-quality data, which has helped the business develop its own intellectual property.

Norwegian AI and business strategist Elin Hauge said that its up to us to design technology that is more human, not less, Toft said.

AI needs to be more human, rather than less; kinder and more emotionally intelligent. We have to be able to relate to it.

Maya Angelou said people will forget what you did and what you said, but they will remember how you made them feel.

I think were at a very important inflection point, whether AI can be any kind of a force for good or not

It needs to use more empathetic and more emotionally cognisant language.

My background in psychotherapy helped me see how some people are better at this than others. Our tools could help everyone.

Soft skills are vital, particularly when it comes to culture in an organisation.

It may be useful in other areas, and we have also had some interest from the education sector.

I think were at a very important inflection point, whether AI can be any kind of a force for good or not.

Toft co-founded the startup with a friend in 2018. It has been built using some of their own money, a small amount of angel investment, and a Local Enterprise Office grant. It is currently raising a seed round of funding, she added.

A graduate of University College Cork and Dublin City University, Toft produced a number of award-winning and IFTA-nominated series at RTE, including Creedons Wild Atlantic Way, Taste of Success, The Business, and Today with Maura and Daithi.
Can AI gold rush be the silver lining struggling tech startups so badly need?

Investors have been more cautious with their funds of late, but are still keen to hitch their wagon to AI, which is tipped to upend several industries

AI and machine-learning tech have ballooned amid an otherwise bleak backdrop, with firms raising 35.9bn. Photo: Getty

Jonathan Keane Sun 16 Jul 2023 at 03:30
Beers sales are down 28pc year-on-year

Two bottling plants owned by Irish company Ardagh in southern US states are to close, with local media linking the closures to falling sales of Bud Light. The beer has faced a backlash following a marketing campaign using transgender TikTok star Dylan Mulvaney.
In cinemas; Cert 12A

I dont know how he does it. I cannot recall another action film between last years Top Gun: Maverick and this weeks Mission: Impossible  Dead Reckoning Part One that made me dizzy with excitement.

Both films feature Tom Cruise doing exactly what youd expect from Tom Cruise. Once again, the last great movie star is fighting, shouting, flying, schmoozing, driving, running  always running.

From what, exactly, were never entirely sure. But look at him go. Youd lose your breath just watching this guy sprint. Cruises hazardous yet hypnotic screen antics make our heads spin, our palms sweaty, our hearts beat faster than they should.

You cant take your eyes off Tom Cruise  you dont want to

After 27 years and seven films, the Mission: Impossible saga should look and sound a little worn out, a tad rusty perhaps.

Not yet. The last film, 2018s Fallout, was an undisputed triumph, and this one is right up there. At 61, Cruise is in the form of his life, and these breathtaking pictures continue to astound.

They work because they know what theyre doing. There is always a MacGuffin, a yappy enemy, a world that needs saving. Pay no mind to the interchangeable plots. Were here for the thrills, for the action, for those demented yet fabulously choregraphed stunts that deserve to be experienced on the biggest screen imaginable.

After all, it wouldnt be a Mission: Impossible feature without a parachuted Cruise riding off the edge of a cliff on a motorcycle, would it?

Longstanding followers of this eager, episodic franchise are welcome to share their homework  but newcomers should have no problem with a lively, straightforward chapter that begins on a Russian submarine and concludes with an epic stand-off on board the Orient Express.

Basic duty requires us to fill in at least some of the blanks.

Thus, our story involves a mysterious golden key that, if matched with another, has the potential to unlock and control a sinister, self-aware AI software that will almost certainly bring about the end of civilised society. Systems begin to crash, governments start to panic  you know how these things go.

If the wrong person gets their hands on this digital parasite (the entity) it will be game over for planet Earth, and so IMF agent Ethan Hunt (Cruise) rounds up the familiar troops to help him locate and destroy the other half of this elusive cruciform key.

Welcome back to the room computer-whiz Luther (the delightful Ving Rhames), tech maestro Benji (a solid Simon Pegg) and former MI6 agent Ilsa (the always reliable Rebecca Ferguson).

Along the way, our nifty, nimble pals encounter Grace (a never-better Hayley Atwell), a globe-trotting master thief with ulterior motives. Elsewhere, director and co-writer Christopher McQuarrie carves out space for Vanessa Kirbys black market arms dealer, Pom Klementieffs brutal henchperson, and a mysterious new adversary who calls himself Gabriel (Esai Morales).

McQuarries film balances intricate, operatic action with fizzy wit and electric charm

Its hardly worth explaining more, especially when the film does it for us. Dead Reckoning Part One (part two is due next year) is loaded with the sort of chewy exposition that usually drives me nuts.

But McQuarries clever, capable film is in on the joke. Every now and then, it rounds up everyone involved for a yappy, long-winded reminder of whos who, whats what and why were here. Fair enough. The party lasts a whopping 163 minutes  its understandable that Cruise and his company might require the occasional recap.

Theres a lot of chit-chat, then, but the delightful, deadpan punchlines make all the difference.

Some are hidden in plain sight (see comic actor Rob Delaneys casting as a deadly-serious US security chief). Some are more obvious, like when Shea Whighams grumpy agent yanks at a strangers face believing it to be one of Ethans slippery super masks. Well played, everyone.

Indeed, McQuarries film balances intricate, operatic action with fizzy wit and electric charm. A mid-section chase sequence  during which Hunt, handcuffed to Grace, navigates a yellow Fiat 500 through the streets of Rome  ranks among the finest set-pieces in contemporary cinema.

The practical effects are awesome  the editing is top-notch, and a charismatic Cruise commits himself to the cause. We are invested in every line, every punch, every death-defying stunt. You cant take your eyes off him  you dont want to.

The most spectacular blockbuster of 2023.

Four stars
Hamas unable to pay salaries in Gaza after Qatari aid delay, officials say A general view of Gaza City

By Nidal al-Mughrabi

GAZA (Reuters) - The Gaza Strip's Hamas rulers have been unable to pay salaries for 50,000 public sector workers, with officials in part blaming a delay in a monthly payroll grant from Qatar, a crucial aid donor to the impoverished Palestinian enclave.

The salary crisis has sparked an unusual amount of criticism on social media in Gaza, including by some of Hamas' own employees. A drop in tax revenue and a jump in spending has made the situation even more difficult.

Most of Gaza's 2.3 million residents live in poverty, and the economy is dependent on foreign aid. Qatar has paid hundreds of millions of dollars since 2014 for construction projects. It currently pays $30 million per month in stipends for families, fuel for electricity, and to help pay public sector wages.

Hamas officials say no salary aid has been received since just over half of a $5-million grant to support the May payroll. The reason for the delay was not clear.

In Doha, Qatars International Media Office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

"The government is going through a stifling and escalating financial crisis, with a continuous increase in the deficit month after month, which led to the delay of salaries this month," Awni Al-Basha, the Hamas-appointed deputy minister, told Hamas Aqsa radio.

"We are making significant efforts to pay the salaries, and we hope to do so at the end of this week," he said.

Monthly payroll costs Hamas 125 million shekels ($34.5 million) per month, said Basha.

On Sunday, Salama Marouf, chairman of the Hamas government media office, said there has also been an increase in spending, particularly for the ministry of health and repayment of bank debts. He called on Qatar to increase the salary grant to $7 million.

Gaza has been under an Israel-Egyptian blockade since 2007 when Hamas, which opposes peace with Israel, took control. Public sector employees have not received full salaries since 2013.

"With 60% (of salaries) we used to meet the basics of our needs at home. What happens when the salary is completely cut off?" said Mahmoud Al-Farra, an employee at the Hamas government media office. "This a big disappointment."

Some took to social media, questioning whether the crisis was authentic.

"Where are the taxes they collect and the grants that enter Gaza go?" one resident posted on Facebook.

(Additional reporting by Andrew Mills in Doha; Reporting and writing by Nidal Almughrabi; Editing by Emelia Sithole-Matarise)
Im over all the trauma, except that letter. If I read it, Id burst into tears because of the naivety of it

Stand-up comic Emma Doran got pregnant in her teens and gave birth just before her Leaving Cert. Now cresting a summit in her career, and a mum of three, she tells Liadan Hynes how it all came good despite the odds, and why she cant bear to re-read the letter she wrote to own mother...

"He was basically saying that women who have young families dont go out  if you think youre going to get them to gigs, pfff, think about it again. Dress, 200, Sister Jane, Arnotts. Photo: David Conachy

Liadan Hynes Sun 16 Jul 2023 at 03:30
The French film producer would have turned 66 later this month

Ian Bailey has said some of his former journalist colleagues in Britain have been interviewed by detectives from the Sophie Toscan du Plantier murder cold-case team, which is now over a year into its work.
Kirsty will be sadly missed and lovingly remembered by her grandfather John, heartbroken aunts, uncles and cousins, extended family, friends, neighbours and her dear colleagues in Glenview Medical Centre

Funeral details have been revealed for tragic mum-of-one Kirsty Ward who was found dead in a Spanish hotel.

Kirsty (36) from Dundrum, south Dublin, was found dead at the Hotel Magnolia in Salou at around 9.30pm on Sunday July 2, when local police officers were alerted to a disturbance.

A man (30) is being held in connection with the death after he appeared before a Spanish court and was remanded in prison while investigations continue.

According to RIP.ie, Kirsty was the cherished mother of Evan, dearly loved daughter of Jackie and John, and much loved sister of Ryan and Zoe.

Kirsty will be sadly missed and lovingly remembered by her grandfather John, heartbroken aunts, uncles and cousins, extended family, friends, neighbours and her dear colleagues in Glenview Medical Centre, the notice reads.

Kirsty will repose at Fanagans Funeral home in Dundrum on Wednesday, July 19, from 4pm to 7pm.

Funeral Mass will take place in the Church of St John the Evangelist, Ballinteer on Thursday, July 20 at 11am which will be followed by cremation at the Victorian Chapel, Mount Jerome, Harolds Cross.

People have left numerous messages of sympathy in the condolences section including one that reads: To Jackie, John, Evan, Ryan, Zoe, and all the extended family members on the passing of Kirsty, may she rest in peace.

You are all in our thoughts at this most unimaginable distressing time.

Another adds: Sincere condolences to Kirstys family, and especially Zoe, who always spoke so highly of her lovely sister. Also sending love and hugs to Jackie, an amazing mother and a lovely woman. Thoughts and prayers with you all as Kirsty rests peacefully in heaven. Lots of love.

Kirsty touched so many hearts in her short life, one person added. May she now rest in eternal peace and may her devastated family and friends be comforted and consoled at this time.

What a beautiful girl taken way too young, one person added, my deepest sympathies to you lovely Jackie ( the best mum), John, Zoe, Ryan and her beloved son Evan.

Another added: My condolences to all of Kirstys family, especially her son Evan, and all her friends at this most difficult time. May your beloved Kirsty be forever remembered for who she was, what she loved, how she laughed etc. during her precious years.

We can only hope and pray that these special memories can provide some shred of comfort as you all grieve.

The arrested man remains in a Spanish prison as the probe continues into Kirstys death.

The suspect was remanded in prison while investigations continue.

It is understood that the man had been in a relationship with Ward for a number of months and had travelled to Salou, south of Barcelona, with her.

Ms Ward had lived in Dundrum, south Dublin, and her family later issued a brief statement as well as a photograph of her.

The Department of Foreign Affairs are liaising with the family of mother-of-one Kirsty Ward from Dublin, a spokesperson for the family said.

The family will not be making any further comment or statements and ask for privacy during this distressing time, the spokesperson added.

The suspect was brought before a special court in Tarragona that deals with violence against women.

In the video in which he addresses a number of family members and friends directly, he said: Obviously you know that I didnt do it because (inaudible) found the girl dead, he said.

The truth will come out, he said before claiming that Ms Ward was dead for a number of hours before he found her.

And then the newspapers will all eat their words but listen I love you all very much and just keep this video because everyone will watch it. I love you right, with all my heart, he continued.

The video ends with him blowing a kiss and saying see ye all soon.

Following a lengthy hearing held in secret, as is standard with Spanish legal proceedings, the man was refused bail.

In a statement, the court said it received today the man arrested for the death of his partner in a hotel in Salou.

It also said the judge had agreed to remand the suspect to a provisional prison without bail.

The case is open for a crime of homicide/murder, which will be specified as the investigation progresses, the statement added.

It may take months before a judge decides what formal charges should be preferred.
Scene of fatal stabbing of woman on Cardinal Court in Wilton in Cork city. Photo: Andy Gibson

A 41-year-old man has appeared at a special sitting of Cork District Court charged with the murder of his wife who was found dead a house in Wilton on the southside of the city on Friday evening.

Regin Parithapara Rajan was charged with the murder of Deepa Paruthiyezhuth Dinamani (38) at Cardinal Court in Wilton in Cork on July 14th last.

Det Garda Alan Johnson gave evidence of arrest, charge and caution. He said that at 2.45am today at Togher Garda Station in Cork city he formally charged Mr Rajan with the murder of his wife. Mr Rajan made no reply when the charge was put to him under caution.

Defence solicitor Eddie Burke told Judge Olann Kelleher that his client needed to be seen by a psychiatrist in prison as he is suffering from depression. He applied for, and was granted, free legal aid as his client has no means or income.

Judge Kelleher directed that Mr Rajan receive all the required medical attention in custody. There was no bail application in the case as bail cannot be granted in the District Court when the charge is one of murder.

Mr Rajan, who was wearing a dark shirt and pants, was remanded in custody to appear before Cork District Court again by video link next Thursday. Further DPP directions will be obtained in the case. The court heard that there was no need for an interpreter in the case.

Mr Rajan is a native of India. Deepa Dinamani was a chartered accountant who was working as a senior manager in fund services at a company based in the Airport Business Park in Cork.

The deceased, who is the mother of a five-year-old son, was from Kerala in Southern India and had been living in Cork for just three months.

Scene of fatal stabbing of woman on Cardinal Court in Wilton in Cork city. Photo: Andy Gibson

She was pronounced dead at her family home in Cardinal Court on the south side of the city on Friday evening. The alarm was raised when she failed to pick up her son a house of a friend. She was found in a bedroom of the property which she shared with her husband and son.

Her body was transferred to Cork University Hospital where a post-mortem examination was carried out. A forensic examination also took place at her home in Wilton. The scene remained sealed off yesterday.
Christian Brothers legal strategy frustrates sex-abuse victims who try to claim redress

The victim of a Christian Brother jailed last Monday for sadomasochistic sexual abuse is among 17 survivors of clerical abuse calling on local councillors to support a campaign to strip the religious orders former leader of a Freedom of Drogheda award, ahead of a crucial vote tomorrow.
Four gardai have taken proceedings in the High Court alleging that their continued suspensions since 2020 are unlawful. Photo: Stock image

A roads policing garda will learn this week if a judge will allow his suspension to be lifted, the first major step in his bid to clear his name.

The officer is one of four who has been suspended since 2020. On Thursday, a High Court judge will rule if their suspensions should be lifted while a judicial review of their cases is considered.

They have taken proceedings in the High Court alleging their continued suspensions are unlawful.

The four, who all work in roads policing, are being investigated by the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation (NBCI) over the alleged cancelling of fixed-charge penalty notices or squaring of traffic tickets.

They are asking the court to quash the garda commissioners decision to suspend them with basic pay and his later decisions to extend those suspensions. All four deny any wrongdoing.

One of the officers told this newspaper he had no choice but to launch the legal action, given how long his suspension was continuing.

It is sad we have had to go down the route of a judicial review, particularly when theres such a shortage of gardai, said the garda, who asked not to be named. We just want to clear our names and return to the jobs we love.

I have no problem with gardai being suspended if they are under investigation for suspected wrongdoing, but cases need to be investigated in a timely manner. It has been extremely difficult being suspended for this long, on me and my family.

Last week, Justice Niamh Hyland heard from barrister James Kane acting for the four gardai.

The court was told he was proposing a hearing date of July 20 for the application of placing a stay on the suspensions.

Judge Hyland granted that application and also directed that relevant documents be furnished to all sides.

The anonymous garda, who was stationed at Henry Street in Limerick, was granted permission last month to pursue a judicial review of the suspension decisions relating to him.

Mr Justice Charles Meenan directed on that date that the cases of three other gardai will run in tandem. 

The four officers are suspended as part of an investigation by the NBCI, in conjunction with the Garda Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU), into the squaring of traffic offences in the Limerick division.

The four officers judicial review proceedings state that Garda Commissioner Drew Harris has acted outside his powers and in breach of fair procedures.

They claim the financial loss suffered by each of them is in the region of 10,000. All allege mental health damage due to how the NBCI and the garda organisation managed the case.

The gardai want the court to quash the decisions to suspend them and to declare that a regulation used to suspend them is illegal.
Some of the skulls that were returned to Inishbofin

A group of experts from Trinity College warned there had been significant misinformation concerning the so-called Inishbofin skulls and their theft from the Mayo island.

The university returned the remains to the islanders last week and made an apology for having retained them for so long.

However, the colleges Old Anatomy Museum steering group had said assumptions and narratives about the items needed to be corrected.

They said the remains had not been stolen by Trinity, but were gifted to the university by Alfred C Haddon, who had taken them in 1891.

A copy of their submission said: Human remains are not generally subject to personal ownership, hence, removal of the crania in 1890  while ethically unacceptable by modern standards  was not illegal when it occurred.

There had been suggestions that the 13 skulls  or the crania, according to the records  were linked to islanders from around the time they were taken. However, a sample from one had been dated to 1563, which was considerably older than the living memory of any 1890s islanders.

The group also queried reports that the remains had been exhumed, saying they had been deliberately left in the open as part of a historical practice.

They were found deteriorated, exposed to the elements and placed in an ossuary pile above ground, the submission said.

This was not an accident of surface erosion, but rather a symbolic practice denoting importance or other cultural significance.

The steering group also said there was insufficient evidence to say the remains belonged to native Inishbofin islanders.

Their submission said the island had been of military and economic importance during the time of Elizabeth I in the late 1500s and early 1600s and the population was migratory.

The surrounding seas were an active site for merchant and military activity as well as piracy, looting and skirmishes between Spanish, Portuguese, English and Irish ships that crossed and landed on the island, they said.

The Trinity group also disputed reports that suggested the items had been on public display for 132 years at the Old Anatomy Museum.

They said that after one particular laboratory closed, they had since been kept in locked storage and only accessible to museum staff and researchers.

The steering group said that while they were sensitive to calls from islanders for the return of the remains, they had concerns about the process.

They said there was a lack of claimant formal authority and that the geographic association between the skulls and the islands was not as clear-cut as suggested.

Their submission also questioned whether it would be appropriate to bury the remains, when they had deliberately been stacked above ground as part of historical cultural practice.

This deliberate display of the crania in particular serves as a demonstration of respect for the deceased, the submission said.

They said nobody knew for certain what religious affiliation these people had, where the rest of their remains are or their connection to Inishbofin.

In their concluding notes, the steering group said: Removing artefacts from public consciousness, especially based on limited information or rhetoric, runs the danger of whitewashing history.

Doing so may allow for the mistakes of the past to be forgotten and opportunities for meaningful conversations that can lead to change to be missed.

Asked about the records, Trinity College said the submission had been considered as part of the legacy review that took place.

A spokeswoman said: Like all submissions, it did feed into the ultimate decision, which was made by Trinitys Board.
NECESSITY Beach cashmere Knitwear isnt just for winter. Dublin-based designer Ros Duke creates beautifully fine cashmere, perfect for layering over summer clothes at this time of year. Her latest collection, The Secret Beach, was inspired by the colours of that landscape, created in a palette of oatmeal, chalk, grey and indigo. LH Pampas cashmere top, 380, see rosduke.com

Kilkenny Arts Festival, kilkennyarts.ie

NECESSITY Heaney on song Booking is open now for the annual Kilkenny Arts Festival, from August 10-20. One of this years highlights is Sweeney, a song saga based on Seamus Heaneys poem Sweeney Astray. It will be 50 years since the late poet took part in the first festival and will mark the 10th anniversary of his death. Composed by Neil Martin, this production sees the RTE Concert Orchestra conducted by David Brophy, with vocals from Iarla O Lionaird and narration by Ciaran Hinds. SC See kilkennyarts.ie

Back to School Shwopping Scheme boxes at Marks and Spencer

NOTION Circular economy M&S has launched a Back to School Shwopping Scheme with Oxfam and eBay. It will be accepting preloved school uniform items of clothing (from any brand and any school) at Swhopping boxes in all M&S stores. These will then be offered for affordable resale in Oxfam stores or on a dedicated eBay online shop, with all funds going to Oxfam. LH

NOTION

From 1,099, selected electrical retailers nationwide

Specialised brew The DeLonghi La Specialista Maestro does all the stuff youd expect from a coffee machine, bringing the full barista experience to your kitchen counter. The difference is that this machine also boasts the ability to make cold-brew coffee in three minutes, bean to cup, compared to the traditional 15-24 hours. Youll have no excuse to purchase that ice coffee takeaway now, particularly given the splash-out price of this machine. SC From 1,099, selected electrical retailers nationwide

Silent City by Sarah Davis-Goff, is published by Tinder Press

NECESSITY Warrior woman Sarah Davis-Goffs second novel Silent City, published this week, is a dystopian thriller set in Ireland about a female warrior called Orpen. She is part of a group who enforce order in Phoenix City, where unrest is building; a deadly sickness is spreading through workers and there is disillusionment amongst fighters with the patriarchal management. LH Silent City by Sarah Davis-Goff is published by Tinder Press

Foxglove and Betony silk modal scarf, 79.95, avoca.ie

NOTION Wrapped in nature Avoca has collaborated with Irish muralist and street artist Decoy, with the creation of a collection of six silk-modal scarves, inspired by nature. LH Foxglove and Betony silk-modal scarf, 79.95, Avoca x Decoy, avoca.ie

NECESSITY

The Menopause Kitchen by Rachel Graham is published by Gill Books, see rachelgraham.ie

Fuel for midlife The only downside of the uptick in talk about the menopause is the risk of too much information. Rachel Graham is a nutritional therapist who works predominantly around menopause and her new book is a bible of good sense and sound recipes, with a handy nutritional chart at the end of every one, from turmeric roasted chicken to hazelnut butter brownies. Her sourdough brown bread recipe ticks all the key boxes and dehydrated sourdough starter can be bought from her website. SC The Menopause Kitchen by Rachel Graham is published by Gill Books, see rachelgraham.ie

NOTION

335, see omorovicza.co.uk, free delivery to Ireland on orders over 50

Glorious mud Hungarian mud, from what the brand claims is the worlds largest active thermal lake, is the magic ingredient in Omorovicza skincare. Its limited-edition, seven-piece Moor Mud Ritual Set has the magic in every product  from several masks, to a cleanser, scalp exfoliant and facial scrub. Its like a day in a posh spa, but each full-size product will last much longer. SC Moor Mud Ritual Set, 335, see omorovicza.co.uk, free delivery to Ireland on orders over 50
The competition watchdog is to contact the Bar of Ireland over concerns that its planned strike action for criminal law barristers could breach competition law.

In an unprecedented move, last week Sara Phelan, chair of the Council of the Bar of Ireland, said the council had written to the Government to notify it of its recommendation to members to withdraw services on October 3 in order to achieve a meaningful, independent and time-limited mechanism to determine fees payable to barristers for prosecution and defence work.

Criminal law barristers have carried out two ad-hoc protests in recent months because the fees paid to them are set at 2002 levels. Last week was the first time the Bar, the representative body for barristers, declared what amounts to strike action.

In a statement, the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) said competition law requires businesses to act independently and, broadly speaking, forbids agreements, decisions and co-ordinated business practices which prevent, restrict or distort competition.

Irish and EU competition law specifically forbids trade associations and their members from co-ordinated anti-competitive conduct, for example in pricing, market allocation, collective boycotts, collective negotiations, it added.

The CCPC said legal services were a fundamental part of the Irish economy and it would be engaging with the Bar about its proposed action.

The State, and therefore taxpayers, are the biggest purchaser of legal services, it said. And we believe that... the legal services market could and should be more competitive.

The council of the Bar said: This recommendation has been made with regret but confident in the belief that it is lawful.

Speaking to this newspaper last week, David Barniville, president of the High Court, said he could not comment on the strike action but that the underlying case for improved fees is very good.

He said he feared Ireland was developing a second-grade criminal law system as a number of top barristers and newly qualified barristers are only practising in civil law because the fees in criminal cases were too low.
Senan Molony: Should I stay or should I go? Question for many TDs as Dail takes a break
>>> 2023-07-15 underwater ears everywhere

Programming note: the subscribe link was broken for a while because I am bad at computers (yet another case of "forgot to enable the systemd unit"). It's fixed now. The unsubscribe link was also broken and is now fixed but, you know, maybe that was a feature. Did wonders for reader retention.

You may have seen some recent press coverage about events surrounding the Titanic and another notable loss at sea. I'm not going to rehash much of anything around the Titan because it's sort of an exhaustively covered topic in the mainstream press... although I will defend the Logitech controller by noting that Playstation-style controllers are extremely popular interfaces in robotics and 3D navigation (two symmetric analog sticks, unlike other major game controllers), and considering the genuine PS4 controller's terrible Bluetooth pairing UX with non-Playstation devices, the Logitech is probably a more reliable choice. And they did have spares on board!

I actually want to talk a bit about remote sensing, but of a rather different kind than I usually mention: hydrophones and wide-area sonar. This little-discussed military surveillance technology played a major role in the saga of the Titan, and it's one that seems poorly understood by both journalists and internet randos. I've seen a lot of Bad Takes about the Navy's involvement in Titan and I want to suggest a few things that might cause you to interpret the situation differently.

Submarines are very difficult to detect. This is a bad property for tourist ventures to the deep sea, but a very useful property to the military. Further, radio communications underwater are extremely difficult. Salt water attenuates radio signals very quickly, and while the effect decreases as you go to lower frequencies, it never goes away. Even the US Navy's sophisticated VLF systems require submarines to be relatively close to the surface (or rather use a wire antenna relatively close to the surface) for reception---VLF signals only penetrate seawater by up to about 40 meters. ELF offers better penetration into hundreds of meters, but ELF facilities are extremely expensive to build and operate and the receive antennas are formidably large, so the US Navy retired its ELF infrastructure in 2004.

For this reason, submersibles like Titan communicate with their surface support vessels via acoustic modems. This method is surprisingly reliable but produces a very low bitrate, thus the limitation of text messaging. Similar technology is used in deep-sea oil exploration, Titan likely used a commercial product for the data link.

The thing that propagates best underwater, in fact far better than above water and even better as you get deeper, is sound. The potential of sound for detecting and locating submarines is well-known. The first prominent use of this approach, widely called sonar, came about during the First World War when an anti-submarine surface ship successfully detected a submarine directly below it via reflected sound. This type of sonar works well for locating nearby submarines, but it is an active technique. That is, an active sonar must emit a sound in order to receive the reflection. This is actually quite undesirable for many military applications, because emitting a sound reveals the presence (and with sufficient receiving equipment, location) of the sonar device. Anti-submarine ships stopped using active sonar on a regular basis fairly quickly, since it prominently advertised their presence to all of the submarines in the area.

Much more appealing is passive sonar, which works by listening for the sounds naturally created by underwater vehicles. With a sensitive directional hydrophone (an underwater microphone), you can hear the noise created by the screws of a submarine. By rotating the directional hydrophone, you can find the point of peak amplitude and thus the bearing to the submarine. This basic submarine hunting technique remains the state of the art today, but the receiving equipment has become far more capable and automated.

There is an arms race here, an arms race of quietness. I am resisting here the urge to quote the entire monologue from the beginning of The Hunt for Red October, but rest assured that [the Americans] will tremble again, at the sound of [the Soviet's] silence. In practice the magnetohydrodynamic propulsion technology depicted on the Red October has never proven very practical for submarines, although it was demonstrated in one very futuristic surface vessel built by Mitsubishi and called Yamato 1 (fortunately it fared better than the battleship by that name). Instead, the battle of submarine silence has mostly revolved around obscure technical problems of fluid dynamics, since one of the loudest noises made by submarines is the cavitation around the screw. I don't know if this is true today, but at least years ago the low-noise design of the screw on modern US submarines was classified, and so the screw was covered by a sheath whenever a submarine was out of the water.

Passive sonar can be performed from ships and even aircraft-deployed buoys, but for the purpose of long-term maritime sovereignty it makes sense to install permanent hydrophones that function as a defensive perimeter. Just such a system was designed in the 1950s by (who else?) AT&T. AT&T had the expertise not only in acoustic electronics, but also undersea cable laying, a key component of any practical underwater surveillance system. Large arrays of hydrophones, spaced along cables, were laid on the ocean floor. The sounds detected by these hydrophones were printed on waterfall diagrams and inspected by intelligence analysts, who relied on experience and no small amount of educated guessing to recognize different types of marine life, geological phenomena, and vessels at sea.

This system, called SOSUS for Sound Surveillance System, remained secret until 1991. The secrecy of SOSUS is no great surprise, as it was one of the most important military intelligence systems of the Cold War. It presented a problem as well, though, as few in the Navy were aware of the details of the system and ship crews sometimes felt the abbreviated, zero-detail intelligence messages from SOSUS to be confusing and unreliable. They were being told of likely submarine detections, but knowing nothing about the system they had come from, they didn't know whether or not to take them seriously.

By the 1960s, SOSUS consisted of hundreds of individual hydrophones installed in long, cable-tethered arrays. Cables connected the hydrophone arrays to highly secured terminal facilities on the coast, which the Navy explained with a rather uninspiring cover story about undefined survey work. Over the following decades, computers were applied to the task, automatically detecting and classifying acoustic signatures. This early automation work inspired significant research and development on signal processing and pattern matching in both the military and Bell Laboratories, creating early precedents for the modern field of machine learning. Additionally, computer and telecommunications advancements allowed for remote control of the arrays, significantly reducing the staff required for the program and leading to the eventual closure of many of the terminal naval facilities.

In 1984, SOSUS was renamed to IUSS, the Integrated Underwater Surveillance System. This new name reflected not only the increasing automation, but also the inclusion of several surface vessels in the system. These vessels, initially the USNS Stalwart and USNS Worthy, functioned as mobile IUSS arrays and could be moved around to either expand coverage or provide more accurate locating of a suspected target.

The existence of IUSS was finally declassified in 1991, although it was well known before that point due to several prominent press mentions. Since the declassification of IUSS it has enjoyed a dual-use role with the scientific research community, and IUSS is one of the primary sources of hydrophone data for marine biology. Today, IUSS automatically detects and classifies both submarines and whales.

The potential of passive sonar systems to detect submarine accidents is well-known. The 1968 loss of Soviet submarine K-129 was detected by SOSUS, and the location estimate produced by SOSUS facilitated the recovery of K-129 by the Hughes Glomar Explorer, one of the most fascinating naval intelligence operations of American history. 1968 was a bad year for submarines with four lost with all hands, and SOSUS data was used to locate at two of them (Soviet K-129 and US Scorpion. French Minerve and Israeli Dakar would not be found for decades).

This all brings us to the modern era. Titan was lost on, presumably, the 18th of June. It was not located on the sea floor until the 22nd, four days later. Press reporting after the discovery included a Navy statement that IUSS had detected and located the implosion.

This has lead to a somewhat common internet hot take: that the Navy had definitive information on the fate of Titan and, for some reason, suppressed it for four days. I believe this to be an unwarranted accusation, and the timing of the location of the wreck and the statement on IUSS are readily explainable.

First, we must consider the nature of remote sensing. Remote sensing systems, whether space-based or deep underwater, produce a large volume of data. The primary source of actionable information in modern real-time remote sensing are computer systems that use machine learning and other classification methods to recognize important events. These computer systems must be trained on those events, using either naturally or artificially created samples, in order to correctly classify them. A major concern in naval intelligence is the collection of up-to-date acoustic signatures for contemporary vessels so that IUSS can correctly identify them.

A secondary method is retrospective analysis, in which human intelligence analysts review historic data to look for events that were not classified by automation when they occurred. Retrospective analysis, particularly with new signature information, can often yield additional detections. Consider the case I have previously discussed of the Chinese spy balloons: once signature information (almost certainly RF emissions) were collected, retrospective analysis yielded several earlier incidents that were not detected at the time due to the lack of signatures.

Like the RF spectrum, the ocean contains a lot of noises. They come from wildlife, from geological processes, and from commercial shipping, all besides naval operations. The Navy does not rigorously investigate every sound underwater, it can't possibly do so.

When the Navy became aware of the missing Titan, analysts almost certainly began a retrospective analysis of IUSS data for anything that could indicate its fate. They apparently detected loud noises and were able to locate the source as near the Titanic wreckage, probably fairly quickly after the Titan was first reported missing.

Here is the first challenge, though: the Titan was a new submersible of novel (if not necessarily well thought out) construction. The Navy has some familiarity with the acoustic signatures of imploding military submarines based on incidentally lost submarines and, in at least one case, the intentional torpedoing of a submarine to record the resulting acoustics (the Sterlet). This data is used to produce a signature against which new signals can be compared. Because of the significant differences in size and construction between Titan and military submarines, the Navy likely had very low confidence that known acoustic signatures of catastrophic losses were applicable. The total number of submarines to have ever imploded underwater is quite small, and none were of similar size and construction to Titan. The point is that while intelligence analysts likely suspected they had evidence of implosion, they probably had low confidence in that conclusion.

It is unwise, in the course of a search and rescue operation, to report that you think the vessel was irrecoverably lost. Doing so can compromise search operations by creating political pressure to end them, while making the situation of families and friends worse. It is customary to be very cautious with the release of inconclusive information in events like this. The problems are exemplified by the Coast Guard's announcement that another passive sonar system had detected possible banging sounds, which motivated a lot of reporting making wild conclusions based on acoustic signatures that were likely unrelated.

The more damning accusation, though, is this: did the Navy withhold information on the detection from searchers out of concern for secrecy? Setting aside that this makes little sense considering that SOSUS and its capabilities have been widely known to the public for decades, and the search site was well within historically published coverage estimates for SOSUS, this accusation doesn't align with the timeline of the search.

The first search vessel capable of deep undersea exploration, the ROV Pelagic Odysseus 6k, arrived on the scene on the morning of the 22nd. Just five hours later, Odysseus had located the wreckage. Considering that the descent to depth alone would have taken Odysseus over an hour, the wreckage was located extremely quickly in the challenging undersea environment. One reason is obvious: the wreckage of Titan was close to the Titanic, although the Titanic debris field is large and searching it all would have taken hours. The second reason became known shortly after: when Odysseus began its search, they had almost certainly already been tipped off by the Navy as to the location of the possible implosion.

The Navy did not withhold information on the detection for four days out of some concern for secrecy. Instead, the information was not known to the public for four days because that was when the search team was first able to actually investigate the Navy's possible detection.

Indeed, the idea that the Navy suppressed the information seems to come only from the rumor mill and internet repetition of half-read headlines. The original press coverage of the IUSS detection, from the WSJ, states that the Navy reported the finding to the Navy commander on-scene at the search effort immediately. It does include the amusing sentence that "the Navy asked that the specific system used not be named, citing national security concerns." This might seem like a huge cover up to those unfamiliar with intelligence programs, but it's perfectly in line with both normal military concerns around classified systems (which are often known by multiple names which must be kept compartmentalized for unclassified contracting) and the specific history of IUSS, which during its period of secrecy had problems with being accidentally named in unclassified reports multiple times.

IUSS is now a smaller system than it once was, although with improving technology its coverage has probably expanded rather than contracted. It still serves as a principal method of detecting submarines near the US, an important concern since submarines are one of the main delivery mechanisms for nuclear weapons. IUSS is just one of several semi-secret underwater sensing systems used by the Navy.

A not totally related system that will nonetheless be of interest to many of my readers (who I suspect to be somewhat concentrated in the San Francisco Bay Area) is the San Francisco Magnetic Silencing Range. A small building in the parking lot of Marina Green, complete with a goofy little control tower from the era of manned operation, is the above-water extent of this system that uses underwater magnetometers to measure the magnetic field of Navy vessels passing through the Golden Gate. Since underwater mines are often triggered by magnetometers, the Navy ensures that the magnetization of vessel hulls does not exceed a certain limit. If it does, the vessel can be degaussed at one of several specially-equipped Navy berths---inspiration for at least one episode of The Next Generation. Similar arrays exist at several major US ports.

The building itself is long-disused, and the array is now fully remote controlled. When I lived in San Francisco it was abandoned, but I see that it has apparently been restored to function as the harbormaster's office. I appreciate the historic preservation effort but something is lost with the removal of the Navy's sun-faded signage.
Reporting is rarely straightforward, and sometimes you literally have to watch your step

The incident in which Rose Dugdale and Eddie Gallagher hijacked a helicopter in 1974 in an attempt to bomb the RUC station in Strabane with milk churns packed with explosives is well documented.

Less well known is the fact that later the same year, the Provisional IRA hijacked a plane and attempted to drop bombs on the British army base in Crossmaglen.

However, I will never forget it, for after we had filmed the bombs being blown up, I discovered the glass and the hands of my watch had disappeared too. Did RTE pay to repair it? Yes, they did.

When we learned that a small Cessna plane had managed to land on a bare slope in Ravensdale forest, we discovered it had been hijacked from the Aero Club on the outskirts of Dundalk by armed Provos. They had then loaded it with four canister bombs and forced the pilot to fly across the Border into Co Armagh.

However, they couldnt locate the base in Crossmaglen  probably because the pilot, a former member of the RAF, managed not to do so.

In any event, they dropped only one bomb some distance away, causing no damage, then flew back across the Border.

I thought it was quite a feat on the pilots part to land on the side of the valley in Ravensdale. The army disposal people were then called in to remove the remaining three bombs from the plane and blow them up.

It wasnt until I was on the way back to the studio in Dublin that I noticed the glass and hands of my watch were missing. We had been as close to the explosions as we could get in order to film them, and I wondered if the parts had somehow been whipped off by one of the blasts. Ironic, I thought, as I was covering the IRAs progression from setting off bombs with watches and clocks to dropping bombs from a plane.

A ballad made famous by The Dubliners recalled the days in 39 when the IRA made bombs with gelignite and detonated them with what the lyrics called the old alarm clock.

A dangerous substance, gelignite, and even more dangerous when it becomes unstable. If that happens and you step on it, you can be blown to kingdom come, as almost happened to me when I was covering the riots in Derry in the early 1970s.

One evening, after yet another confrontation between the people of the Bogside and British soldiers, I was making my way up the steps behind Rossville Street flats when I became aware of someone creeping cautiously around on his hands and knees.

Be careful where you step, came a voice from the gloom.

Why? I said. Whats the problem?

Gelignite, the man replied. Someones left it on the steps and its weeping.

I froze, for I knew enough about explosives to realise that by weeping he meant the gelignite had become unstable and an important component, nitroglycerin, was seeping. I also knew that if I stepped on it, it could blow my leg off or kill me.

So where could I put my feet? Thankfully, the voice from the gloom told me where he thought I might avoid it, and taking one cautious step at a time, I managed to get past safely. Then with a sigh of relief I made my way back to the hotel.

It wasnt an incident that made the news, but it illustrated the fact that when we were covering such situations, we never knew where the danger was going to come from.

It was the same in Lebanon, where I covered the activities of the Irish troops serving with the United Nations peacekeeping force. One of the first things we learned was never to step off the road, because there could be landmines on the verge. Landmines were a constant hazard the soldiers had to locate and deal with daily.

Another danger was from the air. In the early years of the conflict, the UN force was located between the Litani River and the Israeli border, sandwiched between the Lebanese Amal militia and the PLO to the north and the Israeli-backed South Lebanese army  or the Christian Militia as it was also called  to the south.

Initially, we got to the UN area by going into Beirut and travelling down by road.

However, with all the fighting in Beirut, that became too dangerous, so we had to fly into Israel and enter Lebanon from there.

The Israelis, however, didnt make it easy for us. From Tel Aviv, we had to go to Jerusalem to get passes allowing us to cross the border, and we would usually have to hang around for a couple of days to get them. Then, when we reached the hilltop border crossing point of Rosh HaNikra, the Israeli troops would make us stand around for a couple of hours in the blazing sun before letting us through.

From there we would go down to the UN force headquarters at Naqoura, on the Lebanese coast. Then we would press on, up into the mountains to Tibnin, headquarters of the Irish battalion.

It was a long journey, and as you can imagine, we were exhausted by the time we got there. However, there was a war on, and sleep was not easy to come by.

At nightfall, the Israelis or their allies would start raking the valleys, or wadis as they were called, with heavy machine-gun fire to deter any of their enemies from infiltrating the UN lines and creeping up on them. Then they would open up with artillery.

On one particular night, we crouched and listened as artillery shells began falling somewhere out in the darkness. The explosions came closer and closer as the gunners tried to find their range. That was close, we would whisper to one another, but apart from that we said nothing. Instead, we prayed quietly to ourselves that we wouldnt take a hit.

When morning came, the sunshine seemed to sweep away our fears, and then we realised that the Nepalese battalion hadnt been so lucky. A soldier on sentry duty on the roof of their quarters had taken a direct hit. I did a report on it for television news, and as we looked down into the huge gaping hole where the young peacekeeper had been standing, we recognised the danger we had been in the previous night.

But then, you might ask, didnt RTE pay us danger money? No, they didnt, and we didnt ask for it. I suppose like the days when we covered the battles of the Bogside, we looked on any danger involved as part of the job.

Tom McCaughren was security correspondent with RTE for 22 years. His books include The Peacemakers of Niemba, an account of the deaths of nine Irish-UN soldiers ambushed by Baluba warriors in Congo in 1960
She didnt name the programme but there was no need. I already knew RTE Investigates Milking It: Dairys Dirty Secret would air that night, exposing the horrific abuse of calves as young as 11 days old before they even leave this country  being kept in crowded pens, many with no access to water and no straw bedding, and no room to lie down anyway, handlers twisting their tails to force them on to trucks.

For I have written countless times here about live exports. The RTE Investigates footage of calves suffering horrific abuse at control posts in Cherbourg, France, is the third time such treatment has been uncovered at these same control posts since it was first exposed by Eyes on Animals in 2019, when the Department of Agriculture and the dairy industry claimed it was a one off incident.

RTE Investigates showed harrowing footage of the conditions awaiting calves at one of the veal farms that is their final destination; narrow individual pens, bare slatted flooring, no natural light and nothing to do, no ability to carry out any natural behaviours, zero quality of life.

Yet despite their brass-necked attempts to appear appalled, none of this is news to the dairy industry or politicians like the Irish MEPs who voted last year to continue the live exports of calves, for animal welfare groups regularly send them footage.

Kathryn Thomas and other media personalities who act as so-called ambassadors for the dairy industry can hardly plead ignorance for the same reason.

Perhaps the public knows more than politicians give them credit for, especially those who live near Irish ports and often approach protesters to confide how they shut their windows tight on the days that truckloads of bawling calves are due.

I have looked into those trucks as they await clearance to enter the bowels of ferries, at the faces of frightened calves who have never known love nor ever will, tiny two-week-old creatures that should be exploring the world by their mothers sides but instead are doomed from the moment they draw breath to endure hunger, fear and six months of solitary confinement in a barren box.

Anyone feel proud that Ireland is now one of Europes premier veal providers? Many of us feel squeamish about touching the stuff but hey, dont mix business with pleasure, right?

How long do you reckon the outrage will last this time, before the industry tells us again that banning live exports would be going too far, no pun intended.

And just because 200,000 calves have been live-exported so far this year and another 30,000 slaughtered at approved slaughterhouses, with no record of how many more are killed elsewhere, lets keep some perspective, lads. You know whose perspective they want to keep.

Therell be a lot of noise for a while, predicts Caroline Rowley, of Ethical Farming Ireland. Mart workers will be on their best behaviour while the department conducts an investigation. Then things will slowly go back to how they were.

Certainly, the industry must be delighted RTE made the programme so it can point a finger at goings-on in a state organisation with all its grants and greed, to deflect attention from a state-sponsored industry with all its grants and greed.

But its not just dairys dirty secret that RTE Investigates exposed, but also the biggest lie of all, which is that these male cast-offs from the dairy industry are unwanted. Tell that to all the broken bovine mothers that you see in fields, heavy udders bursting with milk meant for the offspring that have been snatched away; dumb animals making what the industry dismiss as natural animal noises but which is surely the sound of frustrated outrage and pain at the unnatural nightmare that is their lives. All thanks to a minority mercilessly milking them to death, which is in the hands of the rest of us to end.
France and cities in the US are now taxing heavier cars such as SUVs. Photo: Getty

Harrowing scenes emerged from London recently of a two-tonne SUV being driven into a primary school, killing two children and injuring others. There is little doubt any vehicle moving at speed towards a crowd of children will have a devastating impact but basic physics dictates collisions involving heavier vehicles cause even more damage.
Five years ago almost to the day while speaking in Helsinki, then US president Donald Trump told the world he would trust Vladimir Putin, whom he was meeting, more than he did his own countrys intelligence lowlifes.

Before leaving for the meeting, he had said he felt his talks with Putin were likely to be easier than those with his Nato allies. When it was over, he heralded a new era of closer co-operation with Moscow,

This week in the same city, the contrast could not have been greater. President Joe Biden was not there to soft-soap the Russian leader, but rather to confront him as we move well past the 500-day mark since his forces invaded Ukraine. All things considered, it seems baffling that Trump could still be the leading contender for the Republican White House nomination.

The Nato meeting was convened to show the alliance is stronger than ever and that Moscows hopes of creating division by the war were another grave error of judgment. Mr Biden has had to balance risks of triggering World War III with giving Ukraine every support possible.

One can have a degree of sympathy for Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky over the angry tirade he unleashed on social media. The sacrifices his people have made and the incredible courage they have shown in standing up to Putins barbarism more than merit reward.

So his use of the word absurd in reacting to the collective failure to offer his country a clear path to Nato membership was, if anything, restrained. But he knew well such an option was never likely to be on the table.

The expression of frustration was human, but the realpolitik dictates that any such move would only inflame the situation. For its part, the White House feels it is impossible to confer Nato membership on Ukraine in the middle of an all-out war.

Were Ukraine admitted to the alliance immediately, all Nato countries would be plunged into conflict. As things stand, the war has resulted directly in Nato expanding operations on eastern frontiers.

While Mr Zelensky did not get all he wanted, he did get firmer guarantees on political support and, more crucially, more weapons. Kyiv had further reason to be heartened as the summit endorsed its commitments to do all it can for as long it takes to make sure Ukraine prevails.

Mr Biden went so far as to declare Putin has already been defeated. But that in no way means the war is over. Polish president Andrzej Duda, whose country has pushed for swifter and more all-encompassing support for Ukraine, said western governments had raised Ukrainian expectations before the summit. Nevertheless, he said it ended by undoubtedly bringing Ukraine closer to Nato

One can empathise with Kyivs impatience at the enduring ambiguity surrounding its bid. It is likely to be of small consolation, but it has made it morally imperative that its future and its people lie within the Euro-Atlantic family.
Consumer behaviour is changing and online spending is increasing rapidly. There is a big opportunity for Irish businesses to grow and access a wider market, expand their business and create more jobs. Statistics suggest that only 32 per cent of small companies are engaged in e-commerce sales in Ireland and that 70 per cent of the 850,000 spent online by Irish consumers per hour is going overseas.

The Trading Online Voucher scheme, financed by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, aims to encourage small businesses to develop their online presence through a website or digital marketing strategy by availing of a Trading Online Voucher of up to 2,500 or 50 per cent of their eligible expenditure. Businesses looking to apply for the voucher must be trading for a minimum of 6 months to qualify and be located in County Wicklow.

This seminar will help participants to understand and determine the best approach to establish and increase their online presence and trade online. Applicants for the Trading Online Voucher must attend one of these TOV Information Seminars.

You can book online at localenterprise.ie/wicklow. The seminar runs from 9.30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m.
The symposium includes a visit to the County Wicklow Great War memorial in Woodenbridge.

An exciting programme of events has been organised by the Parnell Society to mark Ivy Day 2023 to celebrate the anniversary of the death of Charles Stewart Parnell on October 6, 1891.

This year the ceremony will take place at noon on Sunday, October 8, at Glasnevin Cemetery. The wreath will be laid and the oration given by Doctor Martin Mansergh.

On Friday, October 6, and Saturday, October 7, the Parnell Society will hold an Ivy Day Symposium in the Woodenbridge Hotel.

The theme of the symposium is Parnell, Wicklow and the Irish Revolution. Things get underway on the Friday with registration taking place at the Woodenbridge Hotel from 6.30 p.m.

The keynote Address by Professor Terence Dooley, Maynooth University on The Land Question in Irish Politics from Parnell to DeValera, 1879-1933 takes place from 7.30 p.m. Its followed by a wine reception and poetry reading by local poet Jane Clarke at 8.30 p.m.

A series of talks and lectures take place on Saturday, October 7, starting with Doctor Ida Milne, Carlow College and Doctor Ian Dalton discussing Parnells County  Wicklow on the eve of the revolution from 10.30 a.m.

Pat Power will discuss The Arklow Question from 11.30 p.m., followed by a lunch break from 12.30 p.m. to 2.30 p.m.

Doctor Ciaran Wallace, Trinity College, will deliver a talk on Self government in Wicklow: the Parnell family and the County Grand Jury starting at 2.30 p.m.

Felix Larkin will talk about JFK - 60 years after Dallas from 3.30 p.m. A coffee break takes place from 4.30 p.m. to 5 p.m. and that will be followed by a trip to the County Wicklow Great War memorial in Woodenbridge.

A symposium dinner is due to take place at 8 p.m. in the Woodenbridge Hotel.

The fee for attending the symposium is 60, including the symposium dinner.

Reduced rates are available for those who may not wish to attend the full symposium. Anyone with an interest in history particularly relating to County Wicklow, is welcome.

Enquiries about attending the symposium should be made to the Academic Director, Christopher Power, phone: 0866089198 or email: webparnell@gmail.com or tinnashrule1@gmail.com.
Families are being wiped out as genocide returns to the killing fields of West Darfur

Fawziya Issa Mohammed was shot dead with three of her daughters as they fought back with sticks against RSF men

The expression refugee camp never really does justice when it come to the truly enormous ones. The really big camps feel more like embryonic cities  market stalls, hairdressers, makeshift cafes do their business, as do hunger and disease.
Canary islands: thousands evacuated from popular tourist destination as wildfires rage uncontrolled

Forest fires have broken out in La Palma and Tenerife in recent days

A forest fire in La Palma, one of Spains Canary Islands, forced the evacuation of at least 500 people

Eoghan Moloney and Graham Keeley Sun 16 Jul 2023 at 11:49






Image credit: UNI

New Delhi/IBNS: Heavy rain batteredonce again even as the national capital is battling with a severe flood situation following record showers and the release of water from HathniKund Barrage in Haryana owing to swelled water levels in the Yamuna.

The fresh downpour has added to the woes of the authorities as it is taking longer to drain out the floodwaters, officials said.

Massive traffic snarls and waterlogging were witnessed at several places in Delhi on Sunday morning even as the key areas of the city, including ITO and Rajghat remained submerged.

Officials said the civic workers worked overnight to flush out water from the areas near the Supreme Court.

However, the Yamuna's water level followed a downward trend despite late-evening showers.

The water level was recorded at 206. 14 metres this morning at 6 am.

The Yamuna has been flowing well over the danger mark for the past week. The river had reached 208.66 meters, surpassing the previous high of 207.49 meters in 1978.

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has assured that efforts are being made to open all five gates of the Yamuna Barrage, some of which are jammed with silt, to aid the drainage of floodwater.

"The first jammed gate of the ITO Barrage has been opened. Soon all five gates will be opened. We are trying our best to bring the situation back to normal," Kejriwal said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, after returning from his two-nation visit, spoke to Delhi Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena to enquire about the relief and rescue work.

Saxena said the Prime Minister assured all help and the Centre's support.

The local government has deployed over 4,500 traffic personnel in the affected areas to manage congestion and aid commuters.

The entry of heavy goods vehicles, except those carrying essential items, has been banned from the city's four borders.


Image Credit: google.com

New Delhi: Google honoured Indian-American artist Zarina Hashmi on her 86th birth anniversary by featuring a doodle depicting her creative persona and work.

Hashmi is renowned for her contributions to the minimalist art movement, making her an influential figure in the art world.

Hashmi was born on this day in 1937 in the small Indian town of Aligarh. She and her four siblings lived an idyllic life until the partition of India in 1947. This tragic event displaced millions of people, and Zarina's family was forced to flee to Karachi in the newly formed Pakistan.

The doodle was created by Tara Anand, a guest artist based in New York, and it beautifully captures Hashmi's signature style of employing minimalist abstract and geometric shapes to delve into themes such as home, displacement, borders, and memory.

The tribute serves as a recognition of Zarina Hashmi's artistic legacy and her profound impact on the art community.

Hashmi was married at the age of 21 to a foreign service diplomat and spent time in countries like Japan, Paris and Bangkok.

The artist became engrossed in printmaking and art movements like modernism and abstraction.

Hashmi moved to New York City in 1977 and became a strong advocate for women and artists of color. She soon joined the Heresies Collective, a feminist publication that explored the intersection of art, politics, and social justice.

She went on to teach at the New York Feminist Art Institute, which provided equal education opportunities for female artists. In 1980, she co-curated an exhibition at A.I.R. Gallery called Dialectics of Isolation: An Exhibition of Third World Women Artists of the United States. This groundbreaking exhibition showcased work from diverse artists and provided a space for female artists of color.

A part of the Minimalism Art movement, Hashmi became internationally known for her striking woodcuts and intaglio prints that combine semi-abstract images of houses and cities where she had lived. Her work often contained inscriptions in her native Urdu, and geometric elements inspired by the Islamic art.

People all over the world continue to contemplate Hashmis art in permanent collections at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, the Whitney Museum of American Art, the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, among other distinguished galleries.
DESLOGE - Det. Sgt. Sean Roney of the Desloge Police Department has been awarded a scholarship from the Missouri Municipal League.

There are only five scholarships awarded throughout Missouri on an annual basis. Roney is in the process of completing a Doctor of Criminal Justice degree. On June 21, Mayor Pete Pasternak presented Sgt. Sean Roney with his scholarship check.

The Missouri Municipal League Board of Directors established the MML College Scholarship program in 2010. The program is intended to help those employed in municipal government in meeting the costs of furthering their education. The scholarships are open to municipal employees enrolled in an accredited graduate or undergraduate program. Eligible applicants must be full-time employees of an MML member municipality. Graduate or undergraduate students may apply.

The program consists of five, $500 scholarships issued on a statewide basis. All payments to scholarship winners will be issued on a reimbursement basis. The class for which the reimbursement is made must be completed within twelve months of the application deadline.

The applicant must be a full-time employee of a Missouri municipality and must be endorsed in writing by either the city manager/administrator or mayor. According to guidelines set forth by the MML Board of Directors, each city may sponsor only one applicant per year. A total of three scholarships are allowed per person over three consecutive or non-consecutive years.

It is not a requirement that classes are applicable to the employees position but it can be taken into consideration when choosing scholarship recipients. The MML Scholarship Committee selects scholarship winners in late May, and recipients are notified in June.
UNI

Mumbai: Newly elected ministers of NCP (Ajit Pawar group), led by Ajit Pawar, on Sunday met NCP president Sharad Pawar at Yashwantrao Chavan Centre here and urged him to think of ways to keep the party united.

This meeting happened on eve of the Monsoon session of the state Legislature, raising public curiosity about as to what transpired in this meeting.

Speaking after this meeting, NCP leader Praful Patel informed that all NCP ministers, including his nephew Ajit Pawar, have requested Sharad Pawar to think about how the NCP will remain united.

"Sharad Pawar is our god. We met Sharad Pawar at Yashwantrao Chavan Centre today to seek his blessings... We all requested him to think about how the party will remain united," he said.

"He listened to us calmly. However, he did not give any response to this," added Patel.

(With UNI inputs)
Wikipedia Commons

Tokyo: The United States, South Korea and Japan have held trilateral missile defense drills in international waters of the Sea of Japan, the South Korean Yonhap news agency reported on Sunday citing Seoul's Navy.

"This exercise served as an opportunity to enhance our military's response capabilities against ballistic missiles and improve security cooperation among South Korea, the United States and Japan," a Navy official said as quoted by Yonhap, adding that the three countries "will effectively respond to North Korea's nuclear and missile threats."

Yonhap specified that the drills were organized around a scenario of a ballistic missile launch by North Korea and featured three Aegis-equipped destroyers.

The last time that the US, Japan and South Korea held a trilateral missile defense exercise was in April.

On Wednesday, Pyongyang test-fired the new-type Hwasong-18 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). It is believed to have flown over 1,000 kilometers (621 miles) at a maximum altitude of over 6,000 kilometers on a lofted trajectory.

South Korea imposed new sanctions on four North Korean individuals and three entities after Pyongyang's latest launch . The US and South Korea held combined air drills on Thursday in response to North Koreas ICBM launch.

(With UNI inputs)
Wikipedia Commons

More than 100 people were trapped in the house of former popular British mystery writer Agatha Christie in the English countryside on Friday, media reports said.

In a series of events which could have been lifted straight out of the pages of one of Christies mystery novels, the group of tourists were left stranded after stormy weather knocked down a tree, blocking the road leading down to the property in the county of Devon, southwest England, reports CNN.

The incident came to the limelight after Caroline Heaven, a tourist who was visiting Greenway, contacted local news outlet Devon Live to spread the word that roughly 100 tourists were trapped in the grounds of Christies former holiday home.

Britains National Trust which manages the historic site quickly put a message on its website, announcing that a large tree had fallen on the single-track road leading into Greenway.

A spokesperson for the National Trust told CNN it was aware that there were visitors, staff and volunteers still at Greenway unable to leave, adding that the National Trust was doing everything to ensure their comfort whilst they waited.

The stranded tourists later left the building after local rescue services managed to reopen the road.
Image: Pixabay/Unsplash

A group of dacoits on Sunday attacked a Hindu temple in Pakistan's Kashmore area with 'rocket launchers', media reports said.

The assailants attacked a place of worship and adjoining homes belonging to the community in the jurisdiction of Ghouspur police station. They fired indiscriminately, prompting a police unit led by Kashmore-Kandhkot SSP Irfan Sammo to reach the scene, Dawn News reported.

The police official told Dawn News that the dacoits fired rocket launchers at the place of worship, which was closed during the attack.

He added that it opens annually for religious services conducted by the Bagri community.

The suspects fled from the scene after the attack. Police are conducting a search operation in the area, he said.

SSP Sammo estimated that there were eight to nine gunmen, whom they were tracking in the riverine areas.

Suresh, a member of the Bagri community, told Dawn News that the rocket launchers fired by the dacoits failed to explode, resulting in no loss of life.

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) condemned the incident and tweeted: "HRCP is alarmed by reports of deteriorating law and order in the districts of Kashmore and Ghotki in Sindh, where some 30 members of the Hindu community - including women and children - have allegedly been held hostage by organised criminal gangs."

"Moreover, we have received disturbing reports that these gangs have threatened to attack the community's sites of worship, using high-grade weapons. The Sindh Home Department must investigate this matter immediately and take steps to protect all vulnerable citizens in these areas," the group said.


Image: Wikimedia Commons

The Pakistani government, which has been facing a dearth of forex reserves, has been forced to push for the outsourcing of the operations of Islamabad International Airport (IIA).

Pakistan's Finance Minister Ishaq Dar has told the stakeholders to finalise formalities to outsource the operations of Islamabad International Airport (IIA) by August 12, the final day of the incumbent governments term, sources told Dawn News.

The minister chaired a meeting of the steering committee for assessing the progress of airport operations outsourcing on Saturday.

A source privy to the meeting told Dawn News that the committee has given explicit instructions to complete the necessary procedures for IIA outsourcing as a priority.

An official announcement issued after the meeting said World Banks International Finance Corporation (IFC), the transaction adviser for the outsourcing, briefed the meeting on the progress.

The meeting agreed to fast-track IIAs outsourcing to improve service delivery in line with best industry practices, the Pakistani newspaper reported.

The IFC also gave a presentation to the committee which also took decisions on the future roadmap of outsourcing IIA operations.

The government, faced with a dearth of forex reserves, has been pushing for outsourcing the operations of major airports. The finance minister has already convened multiple meetings of the committee formed to engage foreign operators for outsourcing.

On March 31, the Economic Coordination Committee decided to kick off the 25-year outsourcing of operations and land assets at Islamabad, Lahore, and Karachi airports. Their operations will be run through a public-private partnership to generate foreign exchange, Dawn News reported.

In the meeting on Saturday, Dar also gave a deadline to departments concerned for finalising amendments to civil aviation laws and a plan for Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) restructuring.
Representational image by Scott Rodgerson on Unsplash

Kashmore/Pakistan: In two separate incidents of vandalism targeted Hindu places of worship in Sindh province, Pakistan, raising alarm among the affected communities and human rights advocates.

The first incident occurred in Karachi, where the historic Mari Mata Temple in Soldier Bazaar was demolished overnight, leaving the outer walls and main gate intact.

The second incident took place in Kashmore, where a gang of dacoits attacked a temple and adjoining homes belonging to Hindus using firearms, including reported "rocket launchers." Thankfully, no casualties were reported in either incident as the temple in Kashmore was closed at the time of the attack, reported The Dawn.

Following the attacks, law enforcement authorities swiftly responded to the scene in Kashmore. Kashmore-Kandhkot SSP Irfan Sammo confirmed the use of rocket launchers and revealed that a search operation was initiated to locate the fleeing suspects, believed to be eight to nine gunmen, reported ANI.

Suresh, a member of the Bagri community, expressed relief that the rocket launchers failed to detonate, averting potential loss of life. However, the incidents have instilled fear and panic among the affected communities.

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) expressed deep concern over the deteriorating law and order situation in Kashmore and Ghotki districts of Sindh.

They reported that approximately 30 members of the Hindu community, including women and children, were allegedly being held hostage by organized criminal gangs in the region.

The HRCP further noted that these gangs had issued threats to attack other Hindu sites of worship, utilizing high-grade weaponry.

In response to the grave situation, the HRCP called upon the Sindh Home Department to conduct an immediate investigation into the matter.

The incidents have underscored the need for enhanced security measures to protect religious minority communities in the region and to ensure their safety and fundamental rights.

As investigations continue, concerned individuals and organizations urge authorities to address the deteriorating law and order situation promptly, holding the culprits accountable and restoring a sense of security for all citizens regardless of their religious affiliations.
When Sandra Bullocks dystopian survivor tale hit us in 2018, we were left horrified. Little did we know that we would undergo something similar, a year later.

The pandemic was nothing short of a nightmare for most of us. While that is finally behind us, the makers have returned once again with a sequel to the film and this time they expanded the universe by taking it to Europe.



netflix

Bird Box Barcelona runs parallel with the previous one and the only difference is that in this one the terror has spread and has taken Europe down with it.



What Is Bird Box Barcelona about?

Directed by Alex and David Pastor, Bird Box Barcelona is a Spanish-language spin-off of the popular 2018 horror film starring Sandra Bullock. It features a brand new cast minus Sandy B.

The Europeans are shown dealing with the same mysterious creatures which make people go insane if they see them therefore, have to be blindfolded when outdoors.

(Spoiler Alert! If you are yet to watch the film then this is the point where you retreat)

netflix

Just like the USA, mysterious monsters have taken over Barcelona, Spain. People who end up seeing the creatures immediately kill themselves but theres a catch. Theres a section of select few people who once see the creatures dont kill themselves but become monsters, almost like a cult. They worship the said deities and force others to look at them.

The movie opens to protagonist Sebastian played by Mario Casas, accompanied by his daughter Anna as the duo is living a moment of joy inside a skating rink.

netflix

Unfortunately, their fun is cut short when they are attacked by desperate bandits, who steal Sebastians supply of food. Now that they are robbed, Sebastian approaches a group of survivors for help. He offers them a generator in return for shelter. After a series of events, it turns out that Sebastian is not the good guy we thought him to be. In fact, hes one of the few who has seen the monsters himself and is on a quest to save others and free them from their misery by ensuring that they see the creatures too.

Interestingly enough, his daughter is just a hallucination influencing him to carry out this mission successfully.



netflix

Sebastian soon finds a new group and lures them with the promise of a generator once again. However, this time theres a little girl in this group who reminds him of his own daughter and thus his resolve is shaken. He is hesitant to force all of them to look at the creatures as he doesnt want the little girl to die.



We also learn Sebastians backstory as to how he lost his wife and daughter to this calamity. The rest of the movie revolves around how he ensures the little girl Sofia and an English woman named Claire reach the survivor camp situated at a mountain.

Bird Box Barcelona Ending Explained:

netflix

The trio - Sebastian, Claire and Sofia race towards the cable cars which can take them to the mountains where Sofias mother and the rest of the survivors reside. They are stopped by the seer priest and his men who want Claire and Sofia to remove their blindfolds and see the creatures. However, Sebastian sacrifices himself to save the two girls from impending doom. While he gets into a fatal fight with the priest, Claire and Sofia finally make it across the mountains and reunite with the rest of the survivors.



netflix

While it is definitely a happy ending for them, the movie doesnt end just yet. We are shown that Claire is examined by a doctor who takes a sample of her blood. The doctor then explains the reason behind it - Trauma, grief, stress, abuse and violence can change a persons DNA. This is the reason why certain people join the creatures' cult instead of taking their own lives once they see the monsters. By testing their blood samples, theres a possibility of finding the immunity genome which means that people can be made immune to seeing the monsters in the future.



NEtflix

In case you are wondering how they will test the so-called cure, the military along with the group of survivors had successfully captured a monster. In the very last scene, the scientists can be seen injecting rats with the blood samples taken from a seer (member of the cult). Post which, they put the rats in a locked room. We dont get to see the creature but we do hear a loud roar followed by the death of the rats. Parallely, the seer can be seen begging them to let him look at the creature. Just then the credits start rolling marking the end of the movie.

Is there a possibility of Bird Box 3?

netflix

No points for guessing but with this cliffhanger of an end definitely opens the door of possibilities for another installment in the franchise. If a vaccine can be created that allows people to see the monster, it would mean that humans have a chance of winning the ongoing war. Additionally, Sebastians arc hints at how even the cult members have a redemption arc as some might have a good side just like him. There are high chances that we might get to finally see the monster if at all the next movie is made.


The Trial - Pyaar, Kaanoon, Dhoka, Kajol's most current web series, recently premiered on Disney+Hotstar. The courtroom drama series, which is directed by Suparn S. Varma, starring Kajol was highly anticipated ever since it was first announced. And for those who are unaware, 'The Good Wife' was adapted for the Indian market as 'The Trial'.

Twitter

One wrote, The Trial is a poor copy of The good wife. Anyways one flop web show being promoted by another meme worthy legacy #ykkh.

A second added, "The Trial' -Okish series..they didn't know how much to copy "The Good Wife" & include Indian context as well- so a mishmash- can be a one-time watch if u have to pass time-also I think there is a track that is about SSR saga, the outcomes are very different though..

A third wrote, I never liked Kajol or her acting. They have decimated The Good Wife remake (The Trial on Hotstar) and reminded me of that fact. Also Pooja Bhatt's attire in Bombay Begums was so stunning. Kajol looks like she's still trying to fit into her clothes from 20 years ago.

I loved The Good Wife but the Indian adaptation by Kajol is so so badly written and makes no sense. Why do these producers not consult actual lawyers when making domestic law based series? #TheTrial  p (@prateekreports) July 15, 2023

we cant exactly expect The Trial to go on for seven seasons just because The Good Wife did#KajolOnHotstar pic.twitter.com/4qli1bOczD  kachru (@kachrumali15) July 15, 2023

The trial by hotstar is so so bad. If you have ever seen the good wife, you know this is such a bad remake.  G (@brainded_barbie) July 15, 2023

"The Trial' -Okish series..they didn't know how much to copy "The Good Wife" & include Indian context as well- so a mishmash- can be a one-time watch if u have to pass time-also I think there is a track that is about SSR saga, the outcomes are very different though.. https://t.co/65wreyNdsT  Ritu Kapoor (@ritsritu) July 16, 2023

One thing I totally do not get about _The Trial_ : Where is Kajols family? How is it that the oldest relationship in her life is with Vishal from college?

I didnt think much of it in the American version but here? In such a highly publicised disaster?  Ritu Chaudhry (@TheRituChaudhry) July 15, 2023

Watched 3 episodes of #TheTrial on DisneyPlus Hotstar and have to say they have gotten the grip of true office culture, really well- realistic office pressures, technical decisions on who to promote, pushing personal agendas and what not. Loving the show #KajolOnHotstar  shivalika (@notahotpotato) July 16, 2023

The Trial is a poor copy of The good wife. Anyways one flop web show being promoted by another meme worthy legacy#ykkh https://t.co/FgR5QTtqkG  panvati (@panvati2) July 15, 2023

Started watching #TheTrial on @DisneyPlusHS and yaar what a brilliant actor is #sheebachaddha . Throw anything at her and she delivers and how! Her role is strong, cold, focused boss but also she shows her helpless side when her husband wants to destroy her company. Love her!  WHY THIS? (@Mainhoonaaa) July 16, 2023

I love how Sana took Noyonika under her wings and supported her without any judgments, without any questions. We really need to normalize people restarting their careers and support them. Manifesting Sana for my life too at the office! Watch #TheTrial on @DisneyPlusHS  memes_hallabol (@memes_hallabol) July 16, 2023

Vishal shaking hands with Rajeev in the last episode after winning the case was the Me moment for me. Abhi tak dukh ho rah hai yar bechare ke lie. #TheTrial Bohot galat hua vishal ke sath  Ket (@InsanelySsane) July 16, 2023

zero stars to The Trial for being a ditto copy of The Good Wife   rika who??? (@SagaBose) July 15, 2023

I never liked Kajol or her acting. They have decimated The Good Wife remake (The Trial on Hotstar) and reminded me of that fact.

Also Pooja Bhatt's attire in Bombay Begums was so stunning. Kajol looks like she's still trying to fit into her clothes from 20 years ago.  Natasha (@NutAshes) July 14, 2023

#TheTrial y?? Itni acchi lawyer itni bevakuf hai??

Jo b case dikhaye, usme @itsKajolD ka koi special daav nahi tha,dusro ne evidence https://t.co/qWcdgSJ5PI nothing like court room drama.

Abv all, jst cant fathom Kajol loosing and being so dumb. disappointing  thebronzeway (@ritstake) July 15, 2023

In an interview, actress Kajol was asked if she was nervous filming the OTT project.



Twitter

She told NDTV, I was not nervous or excited about my first film [Bekhudi] either. For me, it has always been about what I have been able to deliver. I am always competing with myself. There is nothing else. Whenever I see myself on screen, I think I could have done this better or portrayed it in a different way. Or maybe, I could have done this shot better. So my competition is against my over-critical self rather than anybody else.

This is a massive year for #Kajol and I am here for it. Back-to-back solid shows and solid performances. Shows how versatile and brilliant an actor she is. Noyonikas character in The Trial on Hotstar is complex, layered and too real. #KajolOnHotstar  YASH (@BrAvo_yash99) July 16, 2023

Suparn S Varma Says, 'The Trial' Incorporates Societal Themes

Director Suparn S Varma claimed that the story of the gritty drama "Trial - Pyaar, Kaanoon, Dhokha" combines social concerns. The drama is full of tension, suspense, and a maelstrom of emotional intricacies.

Elaborating on the point, Suparn said, "The interesting element of 'The Trial - Pyaar, Kaanoon, Dhokha' is that we got to incorporate a lot of societal themes into the show because at the end of the day - whatever is happening around us, result in crime or lawsuits, or something legal."

The Good Wife, written by Robert King and Michelle King, is being adapted by Suparn Verma, with Kajol playing the title role. The main character of the web series is a housewife who, after 13 years, goes back to work at the legal firm where she previously worked to help support her family after her husband received a prison sentence.

You can stream The Trial on Disney Plus Hotstar.



(Inputs From IANS)
Former Kaduna Central lawmaker, Shehu Sani, has opined that the emergency on food security declared by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has exposed the deception played out by former President Muhammadu Buhari.

According to the socio-political commentator on Saturday, the rice pyramids displayed by Buhari and his closure of land borders has proven to be an exercise in futility.

Sani added that food security cant be achieved in any country where farmers are slaughtered by terrorists and farming communities pay levies to bandits in order to survive.

READ ALSO: Tinubu Trying To Appease Christians But Kaduna Emperor, El-Rufai Triggering Religious Bitterness  Shehu Sani

You cannot have food security in a country where farmers are slaughtered by terrorists and farming communities are forced to pay levies to Bandits. The declaration of emergency on food security exposed the deception about those rice pyramids and the futility of closing the land borders, he wrote via Twitter.
Justice S. A Amobeda of the Federal High Court in Kano has ordered the release of Idris Wada Saleh, the ex-commissioner of works under former Governor Abdullahi Ganduje.

Information Nigeria had reported that a Kano Chief Magistrates Court remanded the accused in the custody of the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission (PCACC)

Saleh is facing a two-count charge of false information and cheating.

The Commission said sometime in 2023, the defendant released N1 billion to Arafat construction company, No stone construction company and Multi resources for the rehabilitation of 30 roads in the metropolis, but none was carried out.

As a reaction, Saleh, however, filed a motion exparte on July 11, through his counsel, Abdulgafar Murtala, urging the court to restrain the commission from further detaining or intimidating him.

READ ALSO: Gandollar: Kano APC Tells Ganduje To Disregard Anti-Graft Agency Invitation

The respondents in the suit included the PCACC, Chief Magistrate Tijjani Sale-Minjibir, Muhyi Magaji Rimingado, Kano state government, the state Attorney General, AIG Zone 1, the state commissioner of police, the State Security Service and Civil Defense Corps.

The judge barred the respondents, their agents, servants, privies, and/or anyone acting on their behalf from further arresting, detaining, or intimidating the applicant until the originating motion was heard and decided.

The second respondent is hereby ordered to stay any other proceedings in respect of this case pending the hearing of the originating motion.

This matter shall be given accelerated hearing, he said.

Amobeda adjourned the matter until July 19 for hearing.
Mount Ida Reserve, telecom tycoon Tom Sullivans 4,500-acre combination winery-brewery-event venue-residential development-horse farm-private estate south of Charlottesville, was originally listed for $75 million in 2020.

Without a buyer willing to take on the highest price tag in Virginia history, however, the property is being divided into pieces.

The latest piece to sell: Reventon Farm, a 743-acre parcel near Scottsville with land in both Albemarle and Fluvanna counties.

The buyer, Sun Communities, is a Michigan-based developer of recreational vehicle resorts and campgrounds across the country. But instead of a new RV park, the company is planning to preserve most of the propertys natural features with an agritourism resort.

Company officials told The Daily Progress they want to capture the feel of a summer boarding camp, with 250 cottages and a variety of outdoor and rural recreational activities.

We saw this project opportunity in the area of Charlottesville, theres a lot of proximity to the Washington, D.C., metro area and well be able to offer a way to decompress and slow down, said Bill Raffoul, senior vice president of development at Sun Communities.

Susan Payne, chair of the board of directors of the Virginia Tourism Corporation, told The Daily Progress Sun Communities picked an ideal spot.

Tourism is unique here in that we have both a city feeling with Charlottesville and we have right on the doorstep a more rural feeling with the counties that surround the city, said Payne, who is also the president of the Blue Ridge Group, the Charlottesville marketing firm helping Sun Communities with communications for the project. I think its hard to find such a beautiful spot.

Reventon Farm, which Sun Communities is renaming Briery Creek Farm, is a part of what used to be Mount Ida Reserve.

The estate was bought and developed in 2002 by Sullivan, founder of TeleCorp PCS Inc., a phone company bought by AT&T in 2001.

The entirety of Mount Ida Reserve was originally listed for $75 million in 2020. If it had sold for that price, it would have been the most expensive residential property sale in the history of the commonwealth.

Sullivan, whose children attended the University of Virginia, said he was selling the property because he rarely gets to spend time there anymore.

Now, the property is split into multiple parcels, with the largest of 2,784 acres listed for $52.6 million.

One of the other parcels, what will soon be Briery Creek Farm, at 6055 Rolling Road is now under contract with Sun Communities, which hopes to open the resort in 2026.

After initially looking for suitors to buy his property, Sullivan has had to approve any plans for the farm before they were put forward to the counties, according to Raffoul.

This specific one, Im not in a position to comment about, said Daniel Heider, the listing agent for the property.

Should Sun Communities plan come to fruition, an overnight stay in one of its 250 cottages at the Briery Creek boarding camp will cost anywhere from $400 to $500 a night.

The company has also submitted special-use applications for activity in the floodplains, where it plans to build floating docks on a lake that is on the property. The area might also see prototype treehouses  accommodations on stilts, 10 feet up in the air to minimize impact on the floodplains  Raffoul said.

Much like its parent property, Mount Ida, Briery Creek could also feature an on-site tasting room for a winery, cidery or brewery, tapping into the growing Virginia tourist industry of wine, beer and whiskey, as Payne put it. Raffoul said he hopes that will bolster the farm-to-table aspect of the project.

The Albemarle County Planning Commission will vote on a recommendation to approve the plans at a public hearing Sept. 12, and Sun Communities said it expects to present its plans before the Board of Supervisors for approval by the end of the year.

Sun Communities outlined its plans at two public hearings in Scottsville March 30 and June 29, where officials were met with both enthusiasm and criticism.

According to Bill Fritz, development process manager in Albemarle County, residents raised concerns about traffic, noise and changes to the character of the area. Their biggest concern was that the site would be an RV park.

But one of the goals of the project is to preserve the areas natural features and rural character as much as possible  by at least 85%. And that means no RVs.

RV communities tend to be a little bit more active, its not as peaceful of an environment, Raffoul said. The experience that we think fits here looks and feels more like summer camp.

Other campground and cabin projects in Central Virginia have attracted the ire of neighbors with similar concerns. Greene County is currently wrestling with the proposed 85-acre, 144-unit Sojourner glampground that nearby residents say will increase traffic, noise and pollution and bring in rowdy out-of-towners to a quiet community.

Briery Creek Farm is not alone, but it is different.

If completed it will be the biggest project of its kind in the area. And unlike a campground, it will address the areas shortfall of short-term rental units, according to a June 29 fact sheet.

With the growth of tourism in rural Virginia, vacation rentals such as Airbnb and VRBO havent been able to keep up with demand for accommodations, a gap Briery Creek Farm aims to address, Raffoul said.

The project also promises to fuel the local economy: 809 jobs and $37.5 million in total annual economic output, according to the companys estimates.

I think Scottsville and Fluvanna are fortunate, said Payne. Lets be obvious, you look at the budgets in the county, theyre not being that successful, per the new schools and everything.

And if thats not enough to convince Scottsville Briery Creek Farm is a good thing, Payne has another plus: It could be a whole lot worse.

They could put in something people dont like as much, Payne said. The community is fortunate. Otherwise people build factories.
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a 19-year-old student identified as Nnamani Daberechi, for attempting to export 7.2 kilograms of methamphetamine, popularly known as Mkpuru Mmiri, concealed in crayfish.

Mr Femi Babafemi, the Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday.

READ ALSO: Drug Abuse: NDLEA Begins Nationwide Clampdown On Sale, Use Of Laughing Gas

Babafemi explained that the suspect was arrested at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja on his way to Europe for undergraduate studies.

According to him, Daberechi was intercepted on July 15 during an outward clearance of passengers on Turkish Airlines flight TK 0624.

He said, While being interviewed by operatives, Daberechi claimed he was a student on his way to Cyprus for studies.

But upon a thorough search of his luggage, he was found in possession of 7.2kg of whitish substance neatly concealed inside a sack of crayfish.

A field test of the substance however proved positive to Methamphetamine.
The Olubadan of Ibadan land, Oba Lekan Balogun, on Sunday ordered the suspension of the Egungun festival following reported cases of violence, arson and looting of shops by some yet to be identified hoodlums hiding under the cover of the ongoing festival in Ibadan.

This was contained in a press release made available to journalists in Ibadan, Oyo State, on behalf of the monarch by his Personal Assistant (Media), Oladele Ogunsola.

The monarch equally summoned all the leaders of masquerades known as Alaagbaa in Ibadan land to an emergency meeting on Monday afternoon at the ancient Aliiwo Palace, Agodi in Ibadan.

Oba Balogun, who expressed sadness over the reported cases of violence and brigandage accompanying the annual festival, the video of which has gone viral described the development as unfortunate and an affront on his Palace, saying he vehemently warned against the festival being turned into avenue to wreak havoc when the festival was to begin.

READ ALSO: 2023: Olubadan Didnt Endorse Peter Obi For Presidency  Aide Clarifies

According to him: I warned seriously against what is happening when the festival was to commence and the assurances I got then were that nothing untoward would accompany the festival.

But, the reports coming to me have been at variance with those assurances I earlier got from the masquerades leaders.

No responsible leader would fold his arms or put on the cap of I care less when majority of those subjects one superintendents over are in agony and living in perpetual fear just because of the activities of a few misguided elements who find it difficult to be law abiding.

This is why the suspension clause has to be invoked and how long it lasts would be determined by the outcome of the meeting of Monday afternoon, the monarch noted.

Oba Balogun insisted that the ugly past when the masquerade festival was usually a period of terror when perceived enemies became targets of attack and violence had been buried a long time ago and any attempt to exhume it would be met with stiff sanctions.

I use this medium to call on the security agencies to remain up and doing and ensure no culprit is spared. Whoever flouts the suspension order just given under whatever guise must be handled like a criminal.

Im for peace and theres zero tolerance for whatever it is that will not give my people peace of mind, Oba Balogun added.
The Police in Anambra have arrested one Ukamaka Udugbo from Abagana, Njikoka Local Government Area of the state for allegedly beating her 75-year-old mother under her care.

The Divisional Police Officer of Abagana Police Station, SP Ifeanyi Umeh confirmed the arrest when a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), 50-50 Action Group of the WomenAid Collective visited him on the incident.

Umeh said that the police station was informed about how the suspect had been physically assaulting her septuagenarian mother and immediate action was initiated which led to the arrest of the accused.

READ ALSO: Six Arrested For Allegedly Gang-Raping 19-Year-Old Girl In Anambra

Umeh said that after investigation and documentation, the case would be transferred to the police command in Awka.

The leader of the delegation, Mrs Ify Unachukwu thanked the police for the prompt response and urged the force to see that the incident was given due attention to serve as a deterrent to others.

Unachukwu described the act as very unfortunate for a daughter to beat her aged mother and discouraged young minds from emulating such bad conduct.

The NGO also visited Mrs Nkiru Okpata, the President General (women wing) of the Abagana Community, on the incident.

Okpata said that her attention was drawn by a community member to a video trending on social media on Friday which showed that the action happened in her community.

She said they commenced an investigation in the community and it was confirmed to be true.

I am very shocked because Udugbo is one of the women leaders in the community both in the church and her village.

She attends the general meeting where we preach against violence against women.

We are going to strip her of all her positions in the church and the community because she went against our rules and regulations, she said.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that a video went viral of a woman in her 50s, Ukamaka Udugbo beating her aged mother, Mrs Theres Nwaokaka of Obe-Orofia while bathing her in Obeagu Umudun in Abagana.

NAN gathered that Nwaokaka has been living in her daughters home where she was being taken care of.

The victims son, Mr Emeka Nwaokaka, expressed shock at his sisters behavior saying that their mother had been staying with the sister for a long time.

Nwaokaka said that his sister was remorseful since the incident broke out to public attention and described the act as confusing.

The chairperson of the kindred where Udugbo hails from, Mrs Eunice Anagor assured the group that they would take care of the victim who was receiving treatment at a hospital.

The Community President General, Mr Ben Okongwu said that the issue had been reported to the Divisional police station and justice would be served.

We do not want to take laws into our hands so the incident was reported to the police as the video clip was confirmed, Okongwu said.
The 10th Senate has denounced reports alleging it manipulated the 2023 Supplementary budget that was approved last week, calling these allegations mischievous. The legislative body was responding to some online news publications claims that an unwarranted N70 billion was padded into the supplementary budget, labelled as a gift from the executive branch. However, the Senate in a statement issued on Sunday by the Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Yemi Adaramodu and made available to newsmen in Abuja, wondered how the purveyors arrived at such reports, stating that passing laws was exclusive to lawmakers, hence, they needed no gift from the executive arm of government before doing their works. The statement further explained that the passage of the Supplementary Appropriation Act served to fund the Federal Governments public palliative program, among other national needs. The statement reads, Suffice to say that the passage is part of the absolute constitutional duty of the Senate. We would therefore, not wish to join issues with the mischief and misrepresentation that a portion of the just passed Amendment Act that appropriated N70 billion was a gift to the Legislators. Senator Adaramodu stressed that a visit to the suites, offices and the general structures of the National Assembly complex would reveal a yearning and the need for exigent attention. Many Senators had to bring their chairs, tables and electronics and in many cases, do sundry repairs. READ MORE: Drop Plan to Spend N110bn On Bulletproof Cars, Others  SERAP Urges Senate, Reps The much-debated allocation will not be paid to any legislator. This will be managed by the National Assembly Bureaucracy. Its pertinent to also note that the National Assembly complex does not house only the Legislators. There are thousands of workers and service providers, whose working environments need a facelift and/or the necessary tools. Since the Assembly Complex is not owned by legislators who are merely political birds of passage, such an allocation cannot be termed by anyone as a palliative to the legislators. The alleged padding of the palliative budget by the national assembly only exists in the minds of those who are all out to discredit the 10th Assembly. There is nothing like padding, as alleged by some misinformed media outfits. We wish to urge fellow compatriots to see the national assembly as partners in the progress of Nigeria.
Nigerian actress, Angela Okorie has taken a swipe at her colleague, Anita Joseph, describing her as a useless person.

This comes after Angela lambasted a friend of hers for leaking her video to controversial blogger, Stella Dimoko Korkus.

In a new development, she made a follow-up post featuring a picture of Anita Joseph, a close friend of Uche Elendu, labelling her as the most worthless among their group.

READ ALSO: Na God Go Punish You  Angela Okojie Drags Uche Elendu Over Birthday Age Fraud

Angela Okorie, however, acknowledged Anitas husband, MC Fish, as a respectable individual.

She further declared that she would single out any of her colleagues who try to intervene in her dispute with Uche Elendu whom she is using as a sacrificial lamb.

Ah, I see people calling this one Okuku. This one is the most useless of them all but her husband is a good guy. Anybody wey talk nonsense I go use you as scapegoat, she wrote.

See post below:
Vice President Kashim Shettima has said that the Federal Government will roll out an initiative that will address insurgency, poverty, and other challenges confronting Nigerians in the coming weeks.

Shettima led this out in chat with journalists while on a condolence visit to Kano State over the passing away of elder stateman, Alhaji Abubakar Imam Galadanci.

Speaking on the plan to address challenges facing Nigerians, Shettima said President Tinubu is determined to address the crisis in the North West which is further accentuated by poverty.

READ MORE: We Need Your Skill Set To Create One Million Jobs In Digital World  VP Shettima To Korea

He said: The President is determined to define the meaning and concept of modern governance, and the crisis we have in the northwest which is further accentuated by poverty.

The social exclusion is also something that the President is determined to frontally confront and in the coming weeks he is going to unveil the Pulaku solution.

Unless we want to engage in an endless war of attrition, there cannot be a military solution to the crisis in the northwest. There has to be a kinetic and non-kinetic solution.

In the next couple of weeks, we will unveil the Pulaku solution which will address the grievances and social exclusion of our Fulbe cousins in the northwest and also towards addressing the root causes of all the banditry and insurgency in the nation.
The Kano State Police Command has arrested two suspected fraudsters for allegedly using the State Governors wife to extort money from the public.

Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, spokesman of the command, who confirmed the arrest in a statement issued to newsmen, said Umar Adamu and Hussaini Musa were arrested for sponsoring a public announcement fraudulently credited to the wife of the Governor, Hajiya Maryam Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.

According to the aired audio in radio stations, I greet you the good people of Kano State. A known world empowerment organization, in collaboration with the wife of the Kano State Governor, will sponsor the training of two thousand people in catering like pizza, shawarma, burger, eggroll, and samosa.

READ ALSO: Sit-At-Home: South-West Not Part Of Biafra Republic- Gani Adams Warns IPOB

He said the announcement urged interested persons to pay the sum of N3,000 for the form and identity card.

Kiyawa said the suspects had extorted over 50 persons and that investigation is in progress to arrest the conspirators and their sponsors.

Mohammed Usaini Gumel, The States Commissioner of Police, cautioned residents to be wary of fraudsters that use the media for extortion.

He also advised media houses to always scrutinize the authenticity of adverts before airing.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, on Saturday, said the Green Chamber would work to ensure that traditional rulers have constitutional roles.

Abbas said this has become necessary due to the critical roles traditional rulers play in the peaceful coexistence and development of the country.

The Speaker made this known at the palace of the Emir of Zazzau, Nuhu Bamalli, during his first visit to Zaria in Kaduna State.

Abbas, who holds the traditional title of Iyan Zazzau, represents Zaria Federal Constituency for the fourth time.

Abbas highlighted the important role of traditional institutions and called for their recognition in the 1999 Constitution.

INFORMATION NIGERIA gathered that the Speaker was accompanied by principal officers and over 50 members of the House across political party and regional lines.

READ MORE: Priortise Political Stability To Attract Foreign Investments  Tajudeen Abbas To Tinubu

He thanked his colleagues in the House for the massive support they gave him and the entire people of Zaria for the opportunity to represent them in the House.

One of the reasons for this visit is to seek your support and prayers for a successful tenure. Pray for us to lead well and deliver on our mandate.

I want to make a promise to you today. I remember about three years ago when we held zonal hearings on constitutional amendment, you made submissions regarding the need for traditional rulers to have constitutional roles.

I would like to assure you that we now have the opportunity. With me as your son being the Speaker, we will look at that proposal once again so that our traditional rulers will have recognised constitutional roles, he said.

He explained that the House of Representatives is seeking the cooperation of the entire traditional institutions in the North and the country to give them advice on how to succeed in their leadership, appealing that they should be told the truth in the best way to move the country forward.
St. Christopher's Hospital for Children landed in immediate jeopardy with state inspectors earlier this year after an investigation following an alleged child abduction revealed a lack of safety and leadership that the state said put patients at risk. Read more

The CEO of St. Christophers Hospital for Children has pledged to show up five days a week at the North Philadelphia hospital after state inspectors said poor leadership was contributing to a litany of potential threats to patients safety.

CEO Donald Mueller was hired in July 2020 to lead the financially challenged hospital serving some of Philadelphias most impoverished children. Until recently, he worked much of the week from his home outside Chattanooga, Tenn., where he lives with his wife and school-age children.

A spokesperson for St. Christophers said Mueller now works at the hospital five days a week, but declined to provide details or make him available for an interview in person or by phone.

The hospital declined to answer any questions from The Inquirer, such as whether Mueller plans to move to Philadelphia permanently or how often he visited before the states inspection in January.

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The Inquirers public records search found that Mueller bought a house in Tennessee in December 2020, just months after starting his job in Philadelphia. As of late June, his profile on LinkedIn listed his job location as hybrid, though its since been updated to Philadelphia.

St. Christophers needs on-the-ground leadership, its administrators and inspectors decided, after the hospital was put in immediate jeopardy  the highest warning inspectors can give  over safety lapses that could have compromised the hospitals ability to serve patients. That red flag has since been removed.

Mueller is now expected to meet weekly with the chief operating officer for the hospitals owner, Tower Health, and submit regular reports on quality and safety to Towers leadership, according to the plan established in January to address the inspection report.

St. Christophers Hospital for Childrens top priority is always the safety of its patients, their families and its employees, Paul Healy, a spokesperson for St. Christophers, said in an emailed statement.

Whether a hospital CEOs residency matters is an evolving debate coming out of a pandemic that made remote work routine for people with desk jobs, but required health-care workers to show up on the front lines. Some health-care analysts argue that it shouldnt matter where a CEO lives, if theyre meeting financial and operational expectations. Others say hospital leaders must be close to their patients to fully deliver in the business of caring for people.

Even St. Christophers staff and patients are divided. Some families interviewed by The Inquirer were upset to learn that Mueller lived 750 miles away, while others didnt care, so long as St. Christophers remained a part of the community.

The hospital is a vital part of the neighborhoods it serves, where families experience high rates of childhood asthma, obesity and behavioral health issues, and often have few other places to turn for care. Many parents who bring their kids to St. Christophers went there themselves as children and count on it for safe, high-quality care.

The leader of St. Chris should be someone who knows the area, knows the struggles that people of different income levels may go through, said Melinda Cleveland, a retired city dispatcher who has lived in North Philadelphia for decades and brings her foster son to St. Christophers.

Safety problems revealed in state inspection

Questions about Muellers whereabouts and leadership came to light after the hospital reported a child abduction at the beginning of January.

A 2-month-old was admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit for a head injury. Hospitals are required to report such events to the state Department of Human Services and keep the child on site until DHS can investigate for potential abuse.

Days later, a parent picked up the baby and walked out of the hospital, though medical staff and security guards tried to stop them. Staff should have called a code pink, a child abduction alert, according to hospital protocol. This would have locked the hospital doors and prevented anyone from leaving.

Police told The Inquirer they found the child safe at home, and do not consider the case an abduction.

Still, the episode triggered a visit from state inspectors, who found that the hospital had not conducted a code pink drill for a child abduction since 2020, though it should be performed annually.

The inspection also noted that the hospital had left the position of director of emergency management vacant since 2021.

Nor did the CEO ensure that staff were properly trained and that patients were cared for in a safe environment, inspectors found. For example, Mueller did not review the surveillance footage of the alleged abduction that triggered the inspection, according to the report.

The inspectors report noted discussions with hospital leadership about the day-to-day oversight of hospital operations by the president and chief executive officer, his accessibility to other staff leaders, and his communication with board members.

In response, the hospital decided that Mueller would be on site five days a week, unless away on company business or paid time off.

Whats more, Towers chief operating officer would visit the hospital to ensure the duties of the president and chief executive officer are being executed.

The hospital further required all 1,800 employees to complete training that included in-person drills and online education.

A steady hand after years of instability?

St. Christophers is jointly owned by Tower Health, a nonprofit health system headquartered in West Reading, and Drexel University.

Mueller came to St. Chris after a tumultuous period, when the hospital needed a leader who could set it on a path toward financial stability. When he was hired, his new bosses highlighted his track record of physical and financial growth at Childrens Hospital at Erlanger in Chattanooga.

St. Christophers had numerous owners and leaders: A for-profit national hospital chain, Tenet Healthcare Corp, bought the 189-bed hospital out of bankruptcy in 1998 and owned it for 20 years. In 2018, Tenet sold it, along with Hahnemann University Hospital in Center City, to a California businessman for a combined $170 million.

Over the next several years, St. Chris had at least three different CEOs, then again ended up in bankruptcy, before the Drexel-Tower joint venture bought the hospital for $58 million.

It has continued to lose money, leading the new owners last year to seek a financial lifeline.

A group of prominent Philadelphia health-care institutions agreed last spring to contribute $50 million over two years to help stabilize St. Chris. They include Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia, Thomas Jefferson University (owner of Jefferson Health and Einstein Healthcare Network), Temple Health, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, Independence Health Group, and private donors.

A financial update has not been publicly disclosed. Tower this year stopped breaking out financial results for St. Chris, making it impossible for the public to know its current financial situation.

What patients care about

The families who flow in and out of St. Chris doors often know little about the hospitals finances and management issues.

The hospital runs great and has been good to me and my kids. Thats all that matters, said Stacey Marks, who said she brings her three kids to St. Chris because the doctors are kind, appointment coordinators answer the phone, and support staff are helpful.

When her 16-year-old daughter tore her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) at a trampoline park last year, St. Chris doctors operated and staff helped Marks to complete a medical leave application, so she could take time off from her job as a surgical coordinator at Temple University Hospital.

The people are amazing. The services are amazing. We dont even ask who is behind the scene that is doing all that, said Glinka Nelson, a 39-year-old mother of four from Northeast Philadelphia, whose son had a speech therapy appointment on a recent day.

Doctors and nurses care deeply about their patients, said Sue Swift, who has worked as a nurse at St. Christophers for 36 years and is president of the nurses union there.

But what patients dont see, she said, is the sometimes strained relationship between staff and leadership, which affects morale, workplace culture and, ultimately, patient care.

Swift said she was optimistic that Mueller would help rejuvenate St. Christophers.

I would never work at a hospital where I wouldnt bring my own children, she recalled him saying at a staff town hall meeting shortly after he was hired.

But he never came, with his family to Philadelphia she said.

A long leadership debate

The residency status of executives who lead key community institutions, such as hospitals, has long been debated.

National health-care experts said its not unheard of for an executive such as Mueller to commute. It happens more than youd expect, and its almost always for a personal reason such as kids in school, said Josh Nemzoff, chief executive of StoneBridge Healthcare LLC, a Bucks County firm that acquires financially distressed hospitals.

But even if executives live nearby, that may not guarantee familiarity with how their patients live.

A 2022 study published in the medical journal Health Equity found that just 10% of hospital leaders from the 68 largest (by bed count) hospitals in the country  including Thomas Jefferson University Hospital and Penn Presbyterian Medical Center in Philadelphia  lived in the same zip code as their hospital.

Rather, researchers found hospital executives more often live in wealthier, less racially diverse communities that are fundamentally different than those in which their hospitals are based.

Those CEOs who do live in the community they serve are more attuned to their patients needs. Living among patients and their families offers critical context for their decisions and approach to leading staff, said Charles Sanky, an emergency medicine physician and population health researcher in New York, who was the studys lead author.

Thats how Cleveland, the 60-year-old foster parent who frequents St. Christophers, feels. She spent 33 years working for the citys central dispatch center, a job that required her to become deeply familiar with the communities she served.

Shed like the same from the leaders of institutions her neighbors depend on.

You might want to step out into the community and see whats going on and how people are living, she said. And then you have a better understanding of whats needed to support those people.

Staff writer Harold Brubaker and staff researcher Ryan W. Briggs contributed to this article.
Students participate in the Philadelphia School Districts Summer Drumline program, which teaches students from middle school to high school about drumline percussion. Read more

The first notes of a drumline always felt like magic to Mahjoi Thomas: the crisp, staccato beats played in unison, the drummers sharp look, the sense of occasion they instantly stirred.

A drumline would come to our school, and the feeling of the drums, the music  it just attached to me, said Thomas, 15. You get that feeling in your heart and your body, you feel the vibration.

Thomas and dozens of teenagers across the city are making their own magic this summer as part of the Philadelphia School Districts Summer Drumline program, a first-of-its-kind session. For five weeks, students spend five hours a day learning percussion techniques and other music fundamentals.

The pandemic and a year-plus of virtual schooling meant that many schools that had music programs had to start from scratch when students came back to buildings in 2021. For Jesse Mell, drumline is a part of a plan to revive them.

We wanted to give the kids an instant access point to instrumental music, said Mell, the districts citywide drumline coordinator. Drumlines were a culturally responsive way to do that, with their call-and-response cadence, the way students can feel the beat and play music thats familiar to them.

Everybody vibes with it, said Mell, who dreams of a drumline at every Philadelphia school.

Under Mells leadership, there are now about 20 programs in district schools. The first-ever Drumline Expo happened at Girls High last spring, with more to come.

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The summer program is an important piece of the puzzle, said Mell, advancing drumming skills for both students with experience and first-time drummers. (Some students also play other instruments  piano, guitar, bass, horns  as part of a modern band group.)

Altogether, 70 students are enrolled at three schools  West Philadelphia, Fels, and Kensington High School for the Creative and Performing Arts  and partnerships with the Philadelphia Youth Network and Urban Affairs Coalition mean students who attend receive work-study paychecks.

Paying students is key, said Brian VanHook, a West Philadelphia music teacher who built a music program from scratch at the school when he arrived five years ago, then rebuilt it with drumlines post-pandemic.

A program like this, where the kids can get paid, its a game changer, said VanHook, whose students often must work to help support their families. It provides students with an outlet to do something positive, and it gives them the opportunity to use this for college, to get scholarships.

Summer drumline students spend their mornings in drumline classes, and their afternoons learning beat-making and other music skills.

On Thursday morning, Deja Kilgore, a teaching artist with Musicopia whos supporting the Philadelphia program, ran a group of students through routines  samples from songs by Wu-Tang Clan and Michael Jackson.

Put that jawn all the way on your back, man, Kilgore said to a student strapping on a heavy drum. (Some drums can weigh almost 30 pounds, with harnesses included.)

Then Thomas, whos about to enter her sophomore year at Dobbins High School in North Philadelphia, ran over choreography quietly to herself.

Up, then left, then bob your head, then up, she said, while Kilgore counted off time with a wooden tempo block.

Thomas, who picked up a drum for the first time when she entered Dobbins as a ninth grader, said shes growing as a drummer.

Im still not good with doubles on my left hand  I want to learn how to do that, Thomas said. But Im learning a lot.

Kilgore provides an object lesson in where drumline can take people. He grew up in Philadelphia and Harrisburg, moved around a lot, but knew he wanted to drum the first time he saw a drumline perform in Southwest Philly. It took him four months to fundraise for his first drum, and he never looked back.

There wasnt nothing else to do positive  messed-up neighborhoods, messed-up people, said Kilgore, who now performs with the 76ers drumline, West Powelton Steppers and Drum Squad, in addition to his teaching work. Drumline took me everywhere; I have never met anybody that can do the things I do, but Im just a guy who practiced a lot.

Watching students like Thomas soar as drummers is inspiring, said Kilgore. People drummed before they could speak.

People couldnt talk and they were doing this; this is how they spoke, Kilgore said. When I see kids pick up a drum and make a beat, its an initiation into that village. I dont want this to ... go away.

Khalil Jackson, a rising sophomore at Bartram, has been playing drums since he was 11. He heard about the summer drumline program and was fascinated.

Now I can do what I like, and get paid for it, Jackson said. We can get out of our comfort zone and try something new  its needed.

Jackson and Messiah Outterbridge, a rising sophomore at Boys Latin of Philadelphia, sat at a table in the West Philadelphia cafeteria and listened to their beats they had recorded as part of the program, layering sounds on top of each other and perfecting their sounds.

At another table, Alexander Jarrells, a Boys Latin 10th grader, and Ryian Green, a 10th grader at West Philadelphia, said they were going to get summer jobs but jumped at the chance to play music and earn a paycheck.

Its a good learning opportunity for kids, and its good to get kids away from the streets, said Jarrells, 14.
The U.S. Supreme Court is being asked to overrule a decision that stopped construction of the Mountain Valley Pipeline, which remains stuck in a legal quagmire.

Attorneys for Mountain Valley filed an emergency appeal late Friday afternoon that seeks to reverse two stays issued earlier this week by the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

With the Supreme Court on its summer recess, the case is expected to go to Chief Justice John Roberts, who could either decide the matter himself or refer it to the full court, lawyers said.

The appeal states that a three-judge panel of the 4th Circuit issued two extraordinary stay orders that defy the clear language of a law passed by Congress last month that was expected to fast-track completion of the natural gas pipeline.

Congress has made clear that there is a paramount national interest in expeditious completion of the pipeline, the 35-page filing states. And Congress was equally clear that the Fourth Circuit may not exercise jurisdiction over two lawsuits that were filed before the law was passed.

The 4th Circuit gave no reason for its decisions, issued Monday and Tuesday, that ordered a halt to construction just as work crews were returning to Southwest Virginia.

But a key question  which now may be decided by the nations highest court  is whether Congress violated the separation of powers outlined in the U.S. Constitution by asserting its power over that of the courts, according to earlier legal filings.

The lower appeals court, which over the past five years has set aside nearly a dozen government permits issued to Mountain Valley, ordered that construction be halted long enough for it to consider the latest two challenges filed by environmental groups.

Mountain Valley had sought the dismissal of the cases, citing a provision in the Fiscal Responsibility Act  enacted primarily to avert a catastrophic government default by raising the debt ceiling  that ordered federal agencies to grant all remaining permits to Mountain Valley and removed the 4th Circuits jurisdiction to hear any challenges of those approvals.

Attorneys for The Wilderness Society, Appalachian Voices and other environmental groups counter that because the law was unconstitutional, the 4th Circuit should not be forced to relinquish its authority.

Oral arguments before the Richmond-based appeals court on that question have been scheduled for July 27. It was not clear Friday how quickly the U.S. Supreme Court might rule on the emergency appeal.

Ever since Mountain Valley was proposed nearly a decade ago, there has been a sharp divide between those who say it will provide a needed boost to the countrys energy supply and those who say it will cause environmental harm and contribute to climate change.

Construction began in the winter of 2018 on the buried pipeline, which starts in northern West Virginia and passes through the New River and Roanoke valleys to connect with an existing pipeline near the North Carolina line. Since then, Mountain Valley has been cited more than 400 times with violating state erosion and sedimentation control regulations.

The environmental concerns have played a key role in the 4th Circuits decisions to throw out permits. But with the court no longer having jurisdiction, Mountain Valley contends, intervention by the Supreme Court is direly needed.

It is critical that the stay orders be vacated, and the underlying petitions for review be dismissed, as soon as possible, and in any event no later than July 26, 2023, Mountain Valley said Friday in its appeal.

MVP has only approximately three months to complete the project before winter weather sets in and precludes significant construction tasks until the spring of 2024, the appeal said of an infrastructure venture that has already been delayed by more than four years.
In this image provided by the Pennsylvania State Police, two bags of supplies were found by law enforcement while searching in the woods in northwestern Pennsylvania. Authorities believe the supplies were used by Michael Burham, who escaped from a Pennsylvania prison on July 6. Read more

YOUNGSVILLE, Pa.  Looking dirty, wet, and worn out from living in the wilderness to evade arrest, a homicide suspect who used bed sheets to escape a northwestern Pennsylvania jail has been captured, authorities said.

Michael Burham, 34, fled the Warren County jail in the late evening hours of July 6 by climbing on exercise equipment, going through a window, and scaling down a rope fashioned from jail bedding, authorities have said. He was found Saturday after authorities received a tip about a suspicious-looking person, they said.

He came out into the open and was spotted by an individual, said Lt. Col. George Bivens, the deputy commissioner of operations for the Pennsylvania State Police, at a news conference.

Burham has been in jail on $1 million bail and was charged with kidnapping, burglary, and other counts. Authorities warned while he was missing that he was considered armed and dangerous.

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Around 4 p.m. Saturday afternoon, authorities received the tip. Burham encountered state troopers and attempted to hide, but authorities approached from behind and arrested him.

By 5:50 p.m., Burham  wearing jail-issued pants turned inside-out  was in custody.

Burham had taught himself survival skills and had military reserve training, according to authorities. Before his capture, law enforcement personnel had found small stockpiles or campsites believed to be associated with him.

Before the arrest, Bivens renewed a call for people in northwestern Pennsylvania and western New York to regularly review doorbell and surveillance camera footage, and also once again urged people to make sure vehicles, sheds, homes and anything else useful to a fugitive is secured.

Bivens said officials have not yet located a drone some people reported hearing near the jail just before the escape, although they are aware of other drones operated during that day or evening a few blocks from the jail. Officials have said they believe Burham may have been receiving aid from someone, citing the stockpiles.

Authorities had kept morale high even when the search was dragging into a second week in a vast area of difficult terrain, Bivens said.

In September 2014 in Pennsylvania, a manhunt of more than a month and a half ensued after a gunman killed a state trooper and permanently disabled another in an ambush outside the Blooming Grove barracks. Eric Frein, of Canadensis, also described as a self-taught survivalist, was captured after a 48-day search. He was convicted and sentenced to death, though Pennsylvania has a moratorium on executions.

More than 200 state, federal and local officers took part in the search for Burham, and up to $22,000 in reward money had been posted, Bivens said.

District Attorney Jason Schmidt, of Chautauqua County, New York, said in June that Burham was the prime suspect in the May 11 killing of Kala Hodgkin, 34, and a related arson in Jamestown, N.Y. Authorities also accused him of abducting an older couple in Pennsylvania while trying to evade capture before his arrest in South Carolina. New York officials said they opted to let Pennsylvania handle the initial prosecution as they probe the killing and arson.
President Donald Trump makes an appearance during a UFC mixed martial arts event in Las Vegas earlier this month. The former president's lawyers claim he is too busy campaigning to be put on trial. Read more

Donald Trump  who has spent his life acting as if the laws do not apply to him  has come up with a novel defense to delay his criminal trial on charges of illegally taking 31 classified documents and obstructing the federal governments repeated efforts to get them back: Hes too busy to come to court.

In a 12-page filing, Trumps lawyers asked U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon to postpone his trial indefinitely because he is booked solid campaigning through the 2024 presidential election. This undertaking requires a tremendous amount of time and energy, and that effort will continue until the election on Nov. 5, 2024, they wrote.

Trumps lawyers argued that putting the former one-term president on trial before the election would result in a miscarriage of justice.

In fact, the opposite is true.

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 READ MORE: With a second indictment, the wheels of justice continue their steady advance on Trump | Editorial

Trump has access to a $100 million private jet and millions of dollars in defense funds, thanks to gullible donors. He should have no problem preparing for trial or getting to court while on the campaign trail.

More importantly, the publics right to a speedy trial is paramount. Voters need to hear all the facts surrounding the serious allegations against Trump before they go to the polls. And they need to know if a jury convicts or acquits Trump. As Richard Nixon said just weeks before he resigned, the people have got to know whether or not their president is a crook.

Prosecutors asked for the trial to begin on Dec. 11 and said it would last about three weeks. Trump, who has been involved in more than 4,000 lawsuits, is famous for seeking legal delays.

The trial will be held in Florida, which is known for moving cases along quickly. All eyes will be on Judge Cannon, who was appointed by Trump at the end of his term and had presided over just a handful of cases.

Cannons rulings will be closely watched, given her earlier surprise decisions that favored Trump but were reversed by a conservative appeals court. Judges have wide discretion in setting trial dates, picking juries, the pace of the proceedings, and what evidence is presented.

Some argue that holding the trial before the election will further politicize the legal proceedings. But there is no way to untangle the politics from Trumps self-inflicted legal woes, no matter when the trial is held. Thats because Trump and his Republican allies recklessly inject politics into every investigation of the former president.

Trump continually lashes out at Jack Smith, the special counsel leading the documents investigation as well as a separate probe into Trumps role in sparking the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection. Trump has also blamed President Joe Biden for his indictment, claiming  without any evidence  that the sitting president had his top political opponent arrested. (Ironically, it was Trump as president  with the help of former Attorney General Bill Barr  who used the U.S. Justice Department as his political tool.)

 READ MORE: Chris Christie is willing to speak the truth about Trump. The GOP must be willing to listen. | Editorial

Now, Trump has ramped up his attacks on the FBI and the Justice Department. He got help last week from Republicans in Congress, whose hearing with Trump-appointed FBI Director Christopher Wray looked like something from the Joe McCarthy era.

The constant assault on the rule of law by Trump and the GOP is a reminder that American democracy is still at grave risk. While holding Trumps trial before the election will undoubtedly test the legal and political system, waiting until after the election poses an even bigger challenge.

Trumps own advisers have reportedly said he is running for president to essentially stay out of prison. If elected, he could try to pardon himself or get his attorney general to drop the charges. It is clear that Trumps grievance-filled campaign is not about helping everyday Americans, but about helping himself.

Justice delayed would be justice denied. See you in court, Mr. Trump.
False equivalency

In trying to come across as fair-minded to both sides of the political divide, columnist Jonathan Zimmerman says that Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis anti-woke agenda is a threat to freedom  but so is wokeness itself. This is a false equivalency. The dictionary defines woke as being alert to racial prejudice and discrimination. In what universe is being alert to discrimination seen as a threat to freedom? Martin Luther King Jr., who was as woke as woke can be, would be appalled today by the anti-woke efforts of DeSantis in minimizing our racist past by banning books for merely making some feel uncomfortable with facts.

Zimmerman would do well to reread George Orwells 1984, which warned of the dangers to freedom by ignoring or hiding parts of history  as DeSantis is doing by minimizing and eliminating from American history textbooks the very history that shows us our own shame. I believe we all should take seriously the warning that many of our Founding Fathers took to heart, which is that eternal vigilance is the price we pay for liberty. I generally agree with Zimmermans views, but no, anti-wokeness and wokeness are most definitely not equivalent.

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Anthony Ciampoli, Voorhees

. . .

The July 9 Doonesbury cartoon included the definition of woke as being alert to discrimination and injustice. Compare that with Jonathan Zimmermans July 11 column, where he agrees with the idea that the essential premise of wokeness is to define all of us by our racial and gender identities. Cartoonist Gary Trudeau, as he so frequently has over the last half-century, gets it: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is using a right-wing slur to denigrate much-needed work in diversity, equity, inclusion, justice, and belonging to get votes from poorly informed members of the Republican base. Meanwhile, Zimmerman engages in simplistic bothsidesism to draw parallels between DeSantis mean-spirited use of the word woke and efforts to address discrimination and injustice.

Tom Lees, East Norriton, tlees2@aol.com

A true lifeline

As a mom, it breaks my heart to see the obstacles my son, Nelson, faces in his education. Hes smart, hardworking, and determined to go to college. But like many other Philadelphia students, he was trapped in the public school he was assigned. Lifeline Scholarships would give kids like mine a chance to thrive. So why are some Pennsylvania lawmakers opposing it? Their opposition is wrong, unjust, and immoral. We can fund schools and give kids opportunities with Lifeline Scholarships.

Rising costs and financial burdens have made saving money for education a massive challenge. My son  and every child  shouldnt have his future decided by his parents finances. Pennsylvania kids need Lifeline Scholarships. Apparently, some lawmakers disagree. I ask them: Why are kids like Nelson not worthy enough for you? Why should his dreams, aspirations, and goals matter less than anyone elses? Parents like me need answers  and we also need action.

Ana Cintron, Philadelphia

Join the conversation: Send letters to letters@inquirer.com. Limit length to 150 words and include home address and day and evening phone number. Letters run in The Inquirer six days a week on the editorial pages and online.
President Joe Biden (left) speaks at an event with G7 leaders and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to announce a Joint Declaration of Support for Ukraine during the NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, on Wednesday. Read more

When this column appears, I will have just arrived in Odesa, Ukraine.

I want to see how Ukrainian soldiers and civilians are faring on the ground, as the country wages its counteroffensive against the Russian invaders. I also want to learn how the disappointing NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, has affected Ukrainian morale, and whether new weapons pledged by NATO countries will arrive fast enough to make a difference.

What many Americans dont realize is that Ukraine has a second enemy beyond Vladimir Putins Russia.

That enemy is time.

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In his concluding speech in Vilnius, President Joe Biden seemed to imply he expected Russias war on Ukraine to continue indefinitely. He compared the struggle to the Cold War struggle for freedom in Eastern Europe. Putin still wrongly believes that he can outlast Ukraine, Biden said. After all this time, Putin still doubts our [NATO allies] staying power. He is making a bad bet.

But, as a visibly disappointed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky understood, Putins bad bet could still pay off if alliance leaders dont realize how hard it will be for Ukraine to sustain a long war.

 READ MORE: At the NATO summit in Vilnius: Will Biden seize or squander the chance to end Putins war on Ukraine? | Trudy Rubin

NATOs Eastern European members do grasp the urgency of achieving victory in the coming year (before the U.S. election season) and securing Ukraine against future attacks with admission to NATO. But for some inexplicable reason, the Biden team still appears to believe that time is on Ukraines side.

That lack of U.S. comprehension was clear when Zelensky let loose an angry tweet in response to NATO members decision not to provide Ukraine with a clear timeline for joining the alliance. He was responding to language that said Ukraine would get an invitation when allies agree and conditions are met while steadfastly refusing to define any of the conditions.

Zelensky called that language absurd. The U.S. response was to leak to the media the administrations pique at the Ukrainians lack of gratitude. Yet I fully understand this undiplomatic explosion (later smoothed over).

While the White House was referring to aid in dollars, ammunition, and tanks, Zelensky was thinking of human beings. This extraordinary man knows that the longer the war lasts, the more Ukrainian soldiers and civilians will die, and the harder it will be for his country to rebuild. Ukraine cant continue to lose its best and brightest indefinitely.

And if the war drags, according to the likely interpretation of NATOs conditions for membership, Ukraine will never be able to enter the alliance, and thus will never be secure. That means Europe wont be secure, either.

True, Biden deserves kudos for large-scale U.S. military and economic aid to Ukraine and for rallying Western European allies to do likewise. But this is not  as MAGA zealots in Congress claim  wasting U.S. money on a corrupt government, nor is it charity.

Biden rightly recognizes that a Putin victory will mark the end of a post-World War II era in which it was inconceivable that a great European or Asian power could invade and destroy a neighbor. It would also mark the formal demise of the United Nations, whose charter is based on preventing such military aggression. The world would have reverted to the Hobbesian chaos that existed in the 1930s.

But where Biden is mistaken is to compare the Ukrainian situation to the Cold War. Putins Russia is not Stalins Soviet Union, nor is Putin capable of playing Stalin. Russias war has not only deeply damaged its economic future, but is splintering its army.

Putins military is cracking. His response to the mutiny by Wagner militia chief Yevgeny Prigozhin was astonishing, letting this warlord fly around Russia, retrieve millions of dollars from his home, and reportedly meet Putin in the Kremlin. Even if Prigozhin ultimately falls out a window, Putins indecision displays his weakness.

And that is not all. One of Russias most important and popular generals, Maj. Gen. Ivan Popov, commander of the 58th Army in Zaporizhzhia, which is the key front for the counteroffensive, was just fired for telling the top brass that top Defense Ministry officials were betraying his troops by not sending vital weapons and man power. This further signifies a command structure in disarray.

 READ MORE: Kremlin disarray means opportunity for Ukraine  if the West acts | Trudy Rubin

Now, when Putins focus is on internal political survival, is not the moment for NATO weakness. If Biden wants to convince the Russian leader that he cant outlast Ukraine, NATO should announce it will be working on specific conditions for Ukrainian membership, to be announced at the next summit in Washington, D.C., in 2024. Ukraine understands it cannot join the alliance in wartime, but the path can be clearly paved, and the end of the war accelerated.

Equally key, now is the moment to rethink how weapons from allies are delivered to Ukraine, and which weapons. For Ukraine to succeed in the counteroffensive, it needs coordination and concentration of weapons deliveries in critical mass. It also needs speedy delivery of specific systems that are most vital to break through Russian minefields. That includes airpower, long-range missiles, and ammunition.

Instead, Western weapons are delivered piecemeal, drip by drip, which gives the Russians time to develop countermeasures.

Why the White House is still dallying in green-lighting delivery of F-16s by European nations is beyond comprehension. As is Bidens refusal to send ATACMS long-range missiles.

Either we want Ukraine to push the Russians back and then move toward NATO admission, or we dont. That is the question. Again, a war of attrition means failure.

So I am traveling to Kyiv, Odesa, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, and other cities to write about how Ukrainians believe they can still win this war, and what we can do to help them. Help them in our own self-interest, to avoid giving a weak Putin a new lease on power and permitting him more time to destroy.
A private school voucher program is on hold  for now. Read more

HARRISBURG  The state budget is still at an impasse, held up by disagreement over a school voucher program.

The proposed school voucher program wouldve allowed families who live in the states lowest-performing school districts to use state dollars to send their children to private schools, and it dominated budget talks. Gov. Josh Shapiro, a Democrat, helped create the plan with Senate Republicans. It failed to get support from House Democrats and Shapiro now plans to line-item veto the initiative.

Shapiro cant issue that veto until the Senate signs the $45.5 billion spending plan, a procedural requirement that the top Republican leader said shell block until the Senate returns to session in September.

Meanwhile, the governor and GOP lawmakers say they still support school vouchers. So the issue isnt going away.

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Heres what you need to know about the future of school vouchers.

Whats next for the proposed school voucher program?

Shapiro promised to veto the private-school voucher program, with a promise from Democrats, who hold a narrow majority in the House, that they would examine vouchers and consider expanding the states existing tax credit scholarship programs.

The House is now preparing a series of joint committee hearings to study the issue. Theyll likely take place in the early fall, said Rep. Peter Schweyer (D., Lehigh), who chairs the House Education Committee.

Republicans and school choice advocates will no doubt continue to push for a private school voucher program that would directly allow students from the lowest-performing schools in the state to attend private schools of their choice. Theyve advocated for scholarships of up to $10,000 for students in grades 9-12 and up to $15,000 for special-education students.

Public school advocates hope future hearings will show that school voucher programs dont always reach the students theyre trying to serve.

We never imagined anyone would be so wildly irresponsible as to put a school voucher program in the budget without any type of public hearing or any type of exploration, said Susan Spicka, the director of public school advocacy group Education Voters of Pennsylvania. Now its time for a conversation, and I think thats what Pennsylvanians deserve: a conversation about who benefits from the current [tax credit scholarship programs].

School choice advocates, for their part, hope the hearings can show how their proposed voucher program could be a lifeline to Black and brown students in failing schools.

Will school vouchers come up again?

Theyre likely to resurface every budget season for the rest of Shapiros tenure. Shapiros support for vouchers during his gubernatorial campaign and promise to work as a bipartisan governor gave hope to school choice advocates and Republicans that they could start a private school voucher program.

Vouchers have been a priority for some conservative groups in the state for years, and theyve spent tens of millions of dollars pushing the issue. Theyre likely to continue that advocacy.

Who supports school vouchers and why?

Conservative and school choice groups are the main supporters of a private school voucher program. Their main argument in support of the programs is: Education is a pathway out of poverty, so students  no matter their zip code  should be given the best opportunities to succeed.

Many private schools themselves support vouchers, because its a way to increase enrollment and recruit more students who, in theory, could not afford to attend on their own.

Who opposes them? Why?

Public school advocates and teachers unions fiercely oppose any school voucher programs for a number of reasons.

They worry that the programs will drive money away from public schools, which are already underfunded. A Commonwealth Court judge ruled this year that the states school funding system is unconstitutional, and public school advocates argue lawmakers should focus on fixing that system before diverting money elsewhere.

Additionally, voucher opponents said theyre concerned that there is no requirement for private schools to accept students or accommodate them based on their learning or physical disabilities, gender identity, and more.

Does the state have any existing private school voucher program?

No, there is no direct-to-student school voucher program. Right now, businesses can apply to two tax credit programs  the Educational Improvement Tax Credit or the Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit Program, known as EITC or OSTC. If approved, they can donate directly to the private school or program of their choice and receive a tax credit for their donation.

House Majority Leader Matt Bradford (D., Montgomery), who is credited with getting Shapiro to line-item veto the school voucher program, told reporters earlier this month that he believes the upcoming hearings on the proposals will show that those existing programs are sufficient.

I want to really make sure we open the books and have a really open discussion about what EITC does, what OSTC does, and how a [private school voucher] program might dovetail into that, Bradford said.
Load vs. No-load Mutual Fund: An Overview

Mutual funds are often categorized by how the fees are charged to the customer. A mutual fund is made up of a pool of securities managed by an investment management firm. Mutual funds can give everyday investors access to diversification, strategies, and professional management that they would not normally be able to get without the scale achieved by pooling money together. The firm offering the fund uses a pooled fund investment approach to invest in securities that match the investing strategy of the fund, as laid out in its prospectus.

Like most things in life, there are fees and commissions involved with mutual funds. Some mutual funds will have a sales charge called a load. Conversely, other funds market themselves as no-load funds, meaning they do not charge a sales charge.

Loads are only one of the fees that must be considered when investing in a mutual fund. A fee can be a necessary evil after all that professional management needs to be paid, but they may also become a source of negative return.

Also, the fees charged on mutual funds can be controversial when it comes to where those fees are going: paying investment managers, marketers, or commissions to brokers.

Key Takeaways Load funds are mutual funds that charge a sales fee or commission.

No-load funds usually do not charge any sales fee or commission, as long as you keep your money invested for a specified period, often five years.

Sales fees reduce the money invested, which, once compounded interest is taken into account, can be significant.

Load Mutual Fund

A load mutual fund charges you a sales charge or commission for the shares purchased. This charge could be a percentage of the amount you are investing in, or it can be a flat fee, depending on the mutual fund provider.

For example, if you invested $1,000 into a 5% load mutual fund, you would actually be investing only $950, with the remaining $50 going to the company as a commission. The fee goes to compensate a sales intermediary, such as a broker, financial planner, or investment advisor, for their time and expertise in selecting an appropriate fund for the investor. There are different types of load an investor may encounter.

Front-end loads, also called Class A shares, is a single charge paid by the investor when they purchase shares of the fund.

Back-end load, or Class B shares, charge a one-time fee paid when you redeem or sell, your mutual fund shares.

Level load funds, also known as Class C shares, are yearly charges and will be a fixed percentage taken from the fund's assets.

Loads are only one of the fees which may impact the investor of a mutual fund. Some loads will be paid from the assets of the mutual fund and will reduce the returns that will be distributed to the investor.

No-Load Mutual Fund

A no-load mutual fund means there will not be a sales charge when the investor buys the shares or when they sell their shares. However, this does not mean that absolutely no fee will be charged.

A fund may market themselves as a no-load fund if they charge less than the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) allowed 12-1b charges. While these funds do not charge a front or backload sales fee, they may make it up by charging other fees. The best way to determine the charges is by reading the fund's prospectus.

The management firm will pay any charges based on the fund's daily net asset value (NAV) from the no-load mutual fund's assets. This method of payment impacts the investor when they receive a smaller distribution.

Also, there may be limitations on the redemption of no-load shares. Shares in a no-load fund can be sold or redeemed only after a specific period. Those sold early will incur a feebut if you are a long-term investor, there is no need to worry.

No-load funds are often sold through an investment company, rather than through a third-party sales firm. However, some companies, such as banks or broker-dealers, may charge their own fees for handling the transactions of third-party mutual funds.

Most people recommend trying to avoid load funds altogether. It is important to note that load funds charge you a commission fee. Proponents of no-load funds say that the commission may seem like a small, one-time fee, but the loss of compounded returns over the years can be substantial. Still, others make a case for load funds based on personal relationships or other convenience factors. It's ultimately up to the individual investor to call the shots that make the most sense.
Considering that the pharmaceutical industry contributes more to Irelands trade balance than any other sector, the European Commissions radical proposals for the sector have the industry here and across the rest of Europe dismayed and more than a little upset.

According to the business group Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association, or IPHA, the proposals from the Commission will weaken intellectual property rights and degrade the development and delivery of innovative new medicines for patients in Europe.

The European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations convened in Brussels last month, was more forthright in expressing their concerns about the impact of any such legislation.

It rejects the assertion that the proposal will enhance the accessibility of medicines and vaccines while boosting scientific research and innovation in Europe.

On the contrary, the IPHA states the proposals will accelerate the decline in European R& D and clinical trials.

No other industry sector in Ireland can match the pharmaceutical industrys contribution to generating trade surpluses, investment in research and development, and creating skilled employment.

Last year, the sector accounted for half of total goods exports and was the largest contributor to corporation tax receipts.

The big question is, can the pharma industry keep delivering for Ireland, if the Commissions proposed legislation becomes law?

Right now, however, there are indicators that the US pressure to build more at home is beginning to hit Irish exports of pharmaceuticals, which fell 27% to the US in the year to April, while pharma exports to the UK and the EU increased.

This is the first major overhaul of the EUs medicines regulations in 20 years and has the laudable aims to make access to medicines more secure and affordable, encourage innovation, and reduce red tape. It touches on everything from medicines access to drug shortages, and the blocs pharma regulator.

The tough new proposals want to shave two years off the amount of time new branded medicines have protection on the market before generic drug companies can copy the original product and launch their own product.

The EU is essentially proposing to eat into pharma companies' bottom lines to shape drug development in Europe and is set to be one of the most heavily debated measures of the legislation.

The other key aspect of the legislation is the radical changes for the European Medicines Agency, or EMA, which regulates the industry.

They include providing more scientific advice to drug makers and faster assessments of the data on new drugs proposals.

Shakeup of committees

There is also a shakeup of the EMA three specialised committees, leaving just two sections, one to assess if a drug meets market standards, the other to review any safety concerns. The agency would also be able to introduce rolling reviews and temporary emergency authorisations.

Some procedures will be simplified.

The pharmaceutical industry in Ireland is highly advanced, incorporating the latest technology with strict quality control procedures.

An important aspect in the development of the sector, which has helped to significantly boost its contribution to the Irish economy, has been the success of the sector in diversifying the nature of its investment from the original focus on making bulk active ingredients to higher-value activities.

The worry for large pharmaceutical companies and smaller biotech firms is that the proposals will further accelerate the loss of Europes industrial base to the US and Asia, and Ireland will miss out on opportunities to keep growing the sector.

John Whelan is an expert on trade
THE Dublin suburb of Sandymount has always made me think of romance and of the cycle of life.

The Engineer grew up on Newbridge Avenue and I had many a joyful meal there cooked by her mam when I first courted her.

Newbridge Avenue also features Ulysses as it is from there Paddy Dignams funeral cortege begins its journey to Glasnevin Cemetery, and of course, both Stephen and Bloom go for walks on Sandymount Strand and think about life, death, sex, and romance.

Sandymount Green was bathed in sunshine when I got off my bus and I was pleased to see there was at least one courting couple on a bench.

My guest was an old friend and mentor who lives nearby, and one of my favourite dining companions, such are his legion of stories and deep culinary knowledge.

Crudo is the creation of friends Jamie McCarthy and Sean Crescenzi, the latter a scion of the Dunne and Crescenzi family, whose various restaurants have been reviewed positively here.

Earlier this year they won the Restaurants Association Best Casual Dining in Ireland Award, and they are open daily as a cafe, wine bar, and restaurant  exactly the kind of venue every neighbourhood craves.

We began with some spuntini (snacks)  bright juicy and lightly tart Cerignola olives and a generous plate of thinly sliced coppa di Parma (5 each). The fruity olives and the intensely flavoured salty-sweet air-dried coppa sparking off each other nicely.

Calamari

Next came large chunks of calamari in a black pepper and semolina crust with a harissa aioli for dipping (12).

The dramatic contrast between the brittle crisp exterior and tender juicy flesh of the squid made this one of our favourite dishes of the evening, who knew that deep-fried calamari could be this good?

My guests gambas prawns (15) were also nigh on perfect  several sweet prawns (properly deveined) in a lush garlic, nduja, and mint butter with touches of spiky chilli heat, roasted baby tomatoes, and on the side some chunks of fluffy light toasted focaccia to mop up all the juices.

Spinach & Sheep's Ricotta Ravioli

House-made ravioli with spinach and sheeps ricotta (20) came in a delightful basil and lemon butter sauce with pine nuts and herb oil with bonus grated Cais na Tire cheese on top.

I particularly liked the texture of the ravioli (and my guests pappardelle) which managed to be silky but with a touch of firmness, the very definition of al-dente.

The wine list is a single page and contains around 35 wines including good examples of rose and fizz.

Prices begin at just 30 and there are options by the glass and at 500ml  further proof that it can be done, and that many restaurants are gouging us on wine prices.

The emphasis is Italian as you would expect, but there are also a couple of German, French, and Spanish options.

Our bottle of organic Vitese Grillo from Sicily cost 36 and proved to be the perfect wine for the warm summer evening and to match our food.

Fragrant and floral with ripe yellow peach notes and with just enough citrus acidity to refresh the palate and to cut through the buttery richness of the ravioli sauce and the crisp coating on the calamari.

For dessert, my guest ordered an affogato (8), plus a shot of grappa, while I ordered Crudos signature dark chocolate tart with flakes of sea salt and fruity olive oil (8), and my own shot of aged Grappa to wash it down.

Our charming efficient server had recommended the tart as unmissable and she was correct  dense and rich and made with high percentage cocoa chocolate, the scattering of flakes of sea salt and the drizzle of fruity olive oil adding a touch of lightness to balance the intensity of the chocolate.

We left with smiles on our faces contemplating the joys of good food and wine paired with convivial company. May I recommend you take your loved one for a walk on Sandymount Strand before taking them to Crudo  you are guaranteed at least a snog.

The Verdict:
As in-flight meals go, sweet potato and mushroom might not be everyones first choice.

But it was the perfect snack for the 73 critically endangered brush-tailed bettongs as they were flown 2,000kms to a new home on South Australias Yorke Peninsula.

The 49 males and 24 female bettongs were caught by a team of more than 20 conservationists over five nights last week in a national park and sanctuary at Dryandra, about 180km southeast of Perth.

Researchers check up on the bettongs that were released in Dhilba Guuranda-Innes National Park, as part of the Marna Banggara project to restore this spectacular landscape. The bettongs are doing so well, nearly every female that underwent a health check was carrying pouch young. marnabanggara.com.au / wwf-australia

The bettongs new South Australian home at the Dhilba Guuranda-Innes national park is the site of an ambitious rewilding project  Marna Banggara  that has now re-introduced 193 of the marsupials that were once common across Australias mainland.

The smiles say it all. Humans benefit from the experience of #rewilding as much as our landscapes do. Putting animals back, enriches our lives, making life more fascinating. Support @wwf_australia in their journey to rewild and #RegenerateAustralia! #MarnaBanggara #Bettong pic.twitter.com/lOE4o56puQ  WWF-Australia's Rewilding Program (@RewildingOZ) March 2, 2023

Derek Sandow, an ecologist at South Australias Northern and Yorke Landscape Board, said radio transmitters fitted to most of the new arrivals show theyre all accounted for at the moment after the translocations started a week ago across seven flights.

Monitoring of the new population earlier this year showed the tiny marsupials were thriving in their new home.

There are as many as 15,000 bettongs living in the Dryandra Woodland national park and another 1,000 or so in a nearby sanctuary.

Northern bettong: These marsupials play an irreplaceable role in the ecosystem, according to research from the Northern Bettong Project led by WWF-Australia. Picture: Stephanie Todd / JCU / WWF-Aus

The south-west of WA is the species last remaining stronghold on Australias mainland after the once-common marsupial  described by Sandow as like a mini kangaroo on steroids  was decimated by cats, foxes and habitat destruction after European invasion.

Last week, the team set traps with baits of peanut butter balls in the woodland at dusk for the animals, known as woylies in WA and yalgi in the Narungga language of their new home.

Narungga nation representatives travelled to WA to meet the Noongar Gnaala Karla Boodja People in WA.

Within 24 hours, each animal had been driven to Perth airport, flown 2,000km to Adelaide with a sweet potato and mushroom snack, checked twice by a vet and then driven to York Peninsula and released to their new home.

Whats this? 



Its a bettong!



After an absence of more than 100 years, last week, a group of bettongs from Wedge Island were released in Dhilba Guuranda-Innes National Park, South Australia to re-establish a colony! Welcome bettongs!#MarnaBanggara #NLP #NationalLandCare pic.twitter.com/jxODaOYaNq  WWF_Australia (@WWF_Australia) August 23, 2021

Adding these new animals to the Yorke Peninsula community will help strengthen the genetic mix of the new population that have been drawn from another WA site in the Upper Warren region and a population from the feral animal-free Wedge Island to the peninsulas west.

The first bettongs were translocated from Wedge island in August 2021 and the latest cohort will likely be the last, with monitoring ongoing.

Sandow says there are two reasons why translocating the animals in winter helps. The new arrivals will not have to work too hard to find the tubers and fungi they like to eat, and cats and foxes are also less active.

Bettongs are a good candidate for a rewilding project because they are prolific ecosystem engineers.

Bettongs restore the ecosystem by digging. Picture: WWF-Aus / Derek Sandow

One bettong can dig between two and six tonnes of earth a year, improving the soil, spreading seeds and creating small water pools that help native bugs and plants to thrive.

The yalgiri have a purpose in this country. Theyve got a purpose here, just as every other animal, bird and reptile does, and thats to look after country. So reintroducing these animals is helping to create a healthy country, said Cyril Kartinyeri, a Narungga elder.

The translocation team was made up of staff, conservationists and vets from Zoos SA, Northern and Yorke Landscape Board, SA Department for Environment and Water, WWF Australia and the WA Department of Biodiversity Conservation and Attractions.

The Marna Banggara project hopes to re-introduce more species to Yorke Peninsula, with candidates including bandicoots, the red-tailed phascogale and the western quoll.

WWF Australias head of regenerative country, Darren Grover, said: Rewilding gives us an opportunity to reset the clock. Some of these species have been missing from the landscape for 100 years or more and its like a jigsaw puzzle with key pieces taken out. We want to put these pieces back over time and ensure these lost species can thrive again.

 Guardian
The Freemasons in Cork have broken their silence on the contentious 1 Bishop Lucey Park land disposal deal to insist that it will lead to benefits for the city in the long term.

One of the key figures of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Munster says there was nothing shady or secretive about the process, and laughs off suggestions that Freemasons exercised some kind of mysterious influence over those in authority to get the disposal deal over the line.

Rumours of our powers have been greatly exaggerated, the provincial grand librarian and archivist, David J Butler, quips.

The city councillors are the peoples representatives and the fact that they voted 18-7 in favour of the land disposal was more than positive.

Portraits of former Grand Masters at the Freemasons Hall, Tuckey Street, Cork. Picture Dan Linehan

Mr Butler was among a group of Freemasons who met in the unique Masonic hall on Tuckey St  the historic building listed in the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage (NIAH) as the first Lodge of Ireland and which overlooks Bishop Lucey Park to the rear  for the groups regular weekly coffee morning last Friday, to discuss the fallout from the disposal and their plans to increase public access to the building.

The idea that we operate in secret is laughable really, Mr Butler says. Everyone knows the hall and where we meet. Anyone whos interested can come join us for these regular Friday coffee mornings. And the building is open for Culture Night and Heritage Week and for other civic and cultural events.

We plan to build our extension in lock-step with the redevelopment of Bishop Lucey Park. And when it is done, we plan to open the building to the public more. And it could be more than 20 hours a month, over time.

The flags of Prince Masons in the main Lodge room at the Freemasons Hall, Tuckey St, Cork. Pictures: Dan Linehan

The disposal by the city of almost 54sqm of Bishop Lucey Park to the Freemasons was one of the citys most contentious land disposals since controversy flared over the disposal of public land near Pairc Ui Chaoimh to the GAA.

But this one had extra spice  a beloved park, the city centres only bit of green space, the felling of trees, a material contravention of the citys development plan, a symbolic 1 price tag, the relocation of a Chernobyl memorial, and the male-only Freemasons adding a whiff of mystery and intrigue and, for some, a dose of misogyny.

Critics described the disposal as a shady deal for a glorified boys club, that the city was selling out and didnt care about the park or those who use it, that it was a tone-deaf act of environmental vandalism that would set a dangerous precedent against the backdrop of a climate crisis.

Many felt that a way should have been found to provide a new fire stairs and lifts within the footprint of the historic building.

But the documents on the planning file, and discussions held in public, show that the disposal followed a long process that has its roots in a series of informal talks between City Hall and the Freemasons after the group received a Lord Mayors Civic Award in 2013 for their contribution to city historical life and culture.

The stairway to Heaven which came from St. Fin Barre's Cathedral in the main Lodge room at the Freemasons Hall, Tuckey Street, Cork. Picture Dan Linehan

It was a shared view that the Freemasons unique hall could be better used for cultural events and by the public but that a passenger lift serving all floors, and modern fire evacuation facilities were needed.

And so began a long and detailed process, involving JCA Architects, to find a suitable design solution while retaining the historic fabric and integrity of the NIAH-listed buildings

interior, which includes joinery from St Fin Barres Cathedral which was installed in the Masonic hall in the 1860s.

A decision was made that a four-storey extension to accommodate the fire stairs and lift could only be built to the rear of the property on a section of the park  on a parcel of land the Freemasons didnt own, and on land that would have to be rezoned. Not exactly the easiest route for a development project.

Because they didnt own the land, the Freemasons sought, and then secured, written consent from the council in April 2021 to lodge a planning application, and a pre-planning meeting took place via Teams on August 9, 2021, where the architects set out their proposal.

At this meeting, the council clearly spelled out the areas of concern  building in a park, on land zoned as public open space, and the felling of trees  and the architects were told that they would have to justify from a structural and conservation point of view the location of the extension in the park, and explain how it would integrate with the new design for the park.

The robes room at the Freemasons Hall, Tuckey Street, Cork. Picture Dan Linehan

They were told that, because this was the first application of its kind to encroach on the park, the Freemasons would have to provide details of their cultural, outreach, and charitable activities, and explain how the extension could be a positive development for the park and the city.

A detailed planning application was lodged in February 2022, complete with a raft of engineering and architectural reports, dealing with all those matters.

The application was assessed by three council planners, one of whom prepared an 18-page report, and by the councils heritage, architectural, conservation and parks experts, who all agreed that planning should be granted, with conditions.

The conservation officers report said that, in terms of conservation best practice, locating the extension on the blank rear elevation was considered to have a minimal visual and material effect on the historic structure, and that its understated design would be further shielded by a line of birch trees.

The architectural conservation officer conducted an internal inspection of the building to assess the impact of the proposed development on the intact 19th century interior and reported: The proposal is well considered as a limited intervention.

The seat of the Excellent King at the Freemasons Hall, Tuckey Street, Cork. Picture Dan Linehan

But they said that the design of certain openings from the extension into the building, in particular into the symbolic lodge room and onto its main staircase, required consideration so as not to undermine the character of this historic NIAH structure and its intact interior.

Mr Butler says this key point is why the works could not be delivered within the footprint of the building.

The application was recommended for approval but, given the zoning of the parcel of land, it would require a vote by city councillors on a material contravention of the city development plan.

That vote, which required a two-thirds majority, followed a lengthy debate in public about the loss of public park space and tree felling, and it was passed with one vote to spare.

The following month, conditional planning was granted.

UCC plant scientist Eoin Lettice described the vote to allow a private organisation to build on public green space during a climate emergency and a biodiversity crisis, as a completely retrograde step, and one which sets an unwelcome precedent.

The truth is we cannot afford to lose any green space in our city centre, he said.

He spoke out again ahead of last Mondays disposal vote while others rowed in, including dereliction campaigners Frank OConnor and Jude Sherry.

In a tweet, Mr OConnor said the contempt that the council shows for the people who live in Cork City is off the scale.

Selling off some of our only city centre park for 1 to the members only Provincial Grand Lodge of Munster (Freemasons Hall) is whole new level of fu*k you. If this goes ahead then what next, he said.

Ms Sherry said: Any councillor that votes for this does not represent the citizens of this city.

Disposals come before almost every council meeting. They are all discussed previously at the councils finance committee and come to full council for approval.

The Freemasons disposal was one of three for approval last Monday, sandwiched between the disposal of the councils freehold interest in two units at Hollymount Industrial Estate to a company, and the disposal of two units in the Grand Parade Market to Cork Rooftop Farm Ltd by way of lease for three years at a set annual rent.

The park disposal notice stated that the council proposed to dispose of any right, title, estate, or interest it may have in a 53.6sqm parcel of land to the rear of the Masonic Hall to Craft Properties Ltd  the legal entity for The Provincial Grand Lodge of Munster Freemasons, for 1 plus costs of 1,500 plus VAT.

In a report, councillors were told that the council had examined the Masonic hall and was satisfied that the NIAH-listed property could not be remodelled to provide disabled and fire access and egress within the existing footprint without significantly changing the character of its historic interior.

They were told that the council does not have good and marketable title over the land parcel required but does have possessory rights, which meant that land did not possess a monetary value, so instead, the onus was being put on the Freemasons to make access to the building available to public groups for up to 20 hours a month.

It led to a near 40-minute debate, again in public, during which the Green Party uniting against the disposal.

David Walls, David Butler, and Ted Rea enjoying a coffee morning at the Freemasons Hall, Tuckey St, Cork. Picture: Dan Linehan

Solidarity councillor Brian McCarthy said building on the park should never have been put forward as a solution to the buildings access and fire safety issues and he took a swipe at the Freemasons.

It is an elitist, sexist private members club that provides no useful function, he said. This disposal is so that a glorified boys club can have a bigger club house  the city does not benefit.

Labour councillor John Maher described the disposal as a bad deal for the council while Rabharta Glas councillor Lorna Bogue said the city was essentially giving public land to a private institution that wont allow 50% of the population to become members.

This sends out the wrong message in terms of how we use public space and what organisation we give it to, she said.

However, SF councillor Mick Nugent said, at its core, this was about securing universal access to building that is not accessible to people with disabilities.

FG councillor Des Cahill pointed out that the disposal represents just 1% of the overall park space while Independent councillor Paudie Dineen said the key issue here was about fire safety and saving lives, and FG councillor Damian Boylan pointed to the Freemasons charitable work and said, in 2022, they raised some 4.5m for various groups, including Medecins sans Frontieres, the RNLI, and Simon.

FFs Terry Shannon said the council disposes of lands to various groups regularly because its the right thing to do and he said this issue had been thrashed out during the material contravention vote last year.

He defended the Freemasons right to their men-only membership rule, and warned that if that argument was used against them, the Mens Sheds movement could face similar criticism in future if it ever sought funding or a land disposal for a project.

And he suggested that if this disposal had been to a group other than the Freemasons, there would not have been as much controversy.

FF councillor Mary Rose Desmond also supported the disposal, and reminded councillors that while the Freemasons are a male-only membership group, woman are allowed access to the building.

You cant stand still. You have to look at things in the round and in the greater good and there is no way this parcel of land is as good a green space as it could or should be, she said.

Before councillors voted, they were told that the extension will involve the removal of 15 semi-mature birch trees  six of which are in poor condition.

They had been planted as saplings in 1993 to screen the blank rear elevation of the building.

The planning permission conditioned the planting of 15 replacement semi-mature 15- to 18-year-old birch trees immediately north of the extension.

A report from the citys head of parks, Liam Casey, said the opportunity to access the Freemasons hall from the park will provide opportunities for additional visitors to the park, and he added that many active travel projects (greenways, cycleways, bus connects) involve the felling of mature trees.

While this is not desirable, it is unavoidable to enable these essential projects to be delivered in the context of provision of active travel and universal access, he said.

It is equally important to note that many new build and extensions in colleges and schools in the city involve the felling of mature trees.

Again, while not desirable, it is unavoidable in the context of providing these essential buildings. Replacement planting to compensate for the loss of these trees is always a condition of these projects.

Last Monday's council meeting

A vote was called, and 18 councillors approved the disposal, with councillors Dan Boyle, Oliver Moran, Colette Finn, Lorna Bogue, Brian McCarthy, John Maher, and Ted Tynan voting against.

None of the male councillors in attendance confirmed membership of the Freemasons. They are not required by law to declare an interest unless they stand to benefit personally from any particularly vote.

The absence of six councillors from the vote sparked speculation of Freemason involvement but it has been established that one councillor was absent, one arrived late for the vote, two were on holiday, one was absent on medical grounds, and one left early to attend a removal.

In a tweet afterwards, Ms Sherry said the seven who voted against stood up for us.

Thank you all for putting people and planet over secret society, she said.

For the 18 councillors who voted in favour, it was all about striking a balance  helping to deliver universal access and improve fire safety to an historic building, on a street where one building of similar age has been braced following structural issues, with conditions built in to the disposal to secure increased public access to what is an intriguing and fascinating piece of the citys history and heritage.

Aidan Coakley, a Freemason since 2006, urged those who are still opposed to the disposal to visit the hall, and talk to the Freemasons.

Come in on a Friday morning, meet us for coffee, talk to us, see what weve done in history, see where were going, and we will gladly say hello, he said.
A woman who was sexually assaulted after a night out in Waterford City has said she is going public because she has no garda victim liaison officer for her case.

Sabrina Halligan, 40, from Waterford was attacked from behind as she walked alone through the Poleberry area at around midnight on March 30.

She said a man appeared out of nowhere and grabbed her from behind, knocking her unconscious.

She woke up hours later, on the ground, half naked with a scarf over her face and a part of her body.

Gardai have confirmed to the Irish Examiner they have arrested a man in relation to the alleged assault and he has been released without charge while a file is being prepared for the DPP.

Ms Halligan has chosen to waive her right to anonymity to highlight the reality of being in a case like this.

Her main concerns include that she currently has no victim liaison officer, and she is not aware of the identity of the man who was arrested on suspicion of attacking her.

She is also frustrated over not receiving the results of a swab test taken in the sexual assault unit of University Hospital Waterford after the assault.

She told the Irish Examiner: I had a victim liaison officer for the first week on the case. And I have not seen her since. I dont even know if she is even still on the case.

I also still dont know who attacked me, and I dont know if I was raped. I dont know what happened on that night because I was knocked out.

"I woke up covered in mud, with half of my clothes gone. I think he tried to strangle me with a scarf as it was still wrapped around me, and I was covered in bruises. He left me to die. Ive no doubt about that.

Only for a man found me and rang the gardai, I dont know what would have happened. But I am living in terror and having nightmares.

Ms Halligan said: Not knowing what happened is distressing. I have not received any results of my swab tests and I dont really know what is happening as I dont have any garda working with me or keeping me informed.

New figures released by the Waterford Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre show around 200 people engaging in face-to-face therapy there every year.

The service told the Irish Examiner that at least three new cases are reported to them each week.

Manager Anne Scully said despite the rise contacts with the centre, there are resource issues.

"We could have up to three new contacts every week from people seeking face-to-face services," she said. There could be more sometimes. It would be a mixture of recent rape and sexual assault cases, to people opening up about past child abuse.

Enforcement and resources are the issue, but that is the way it is around the country also.

Ms Halligan said she is now living in fear of meeting her attacker again.

She continued: "I dont know if that man is watching me or if hell come back for me.

I dont know who he is. But he knew my name, I remember he said my name before he grabbed me from behind.

"That is all I remember.

I am up all hours pacing. That fear that someone could be watching you, I dont feel protected.

Maybe this is the way a case goes but if it is, then you can see why people dont bother reporting it.

Ms Halligan confirmed she has not made any complaint to Gsoc as she is still trying to process the assault and to gather information from gardai investigating her case.

Waterford Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre manager Anne Scully says at least three new cases are reported to the centre each week. Picture: Noel Browne

In a statement to the Irish Examiner, a garda spokesperson said: An Garda Siochana cannot comment on remarks made by third parties, including injured parties in cases that are currently subject of a criminal investigation."

It continued: Gardai in Waterford are investigating an alleged assault which occurred on 30th March 2023.

This investigation has been progressed professionally by members from the Waterford Divisional Protective Services Bureau.

A man was arrested in relation to this assault on Friday 19th May 2023 and was detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984 at a Garda Station in the Waterford Division. He was later released without charge and a file is being prepared for the DPP."

 If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this article, please click here for a list of support services.
An invitation has been issued to actor Colin Farrell to visit and, while they hope the star will call, the staff of The Donkey Sanctuary in Co Cork are busier than ever caring for the hundreds of donkeys in their care.

For many viewers of The Banshees of Inisherin, Jenny the donkey, who appeared in the movie alongside Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson, was the real star of the hit movie. Indeed, during the 95th Oscars ceremony in March, host Jimmy Kimmel reflected cinemagoers' affection for Jenny by bringing a lookalike donkey on stage during the ceremony.

Jimmy Kimmel reflected the starring role played by Jenny the miniature donkey in 'The Banshees of Inisherin' by bringing a lookalike on stage during this year's Oscars. Picture: Chris Pizzello/AP

However, if the film made it look like donkeys have a treasured position in Irish life, the reality is very different. The plight of donkeys here is far from the bright lights of Hollywood, with a growing number of animals being neglected across the country every year.

In fact, the life of a donkey in Ireland is in limbo according to those who care for them, since the animals working role on farms was replaced by tractors and machinery.

There has also been a significant rise in cases of neglect  leaving The Donkey Sanctuary Ireland, outside Mallow, Cork, at full capacity. This stems from people with little knowledge of whats involved wanting to keep donkeys as pets.

Ciara OKelly, a welfare advisor with The Donkey Sanctuary Ireland explained: We are in an equine crisis throughout Ireland, and it is a donkey crisis.

Welfare Officer Ciara O'Kelly with visitors Alice Twohig and TJ at the Donkey Sanctuary Ireland at Knockardbane, Mallow, Co Cork. Picture: Dan Linehan

The problem for us is we cant take in any more and theres still a lot of donkeys out in the community. People dont realise the longevity and the commitment that comes with a donkey  they can live for 40 years. They are neither farm animals nor pets, theyre kind of in between.

They cost a lot of money, there are farrier and vet bills and food. I always say to people you have really got to think about owning a donkey.

But we mostly see neglect with people becoming overwhelmed or not having the money to care for them, or their circumstances have changed: That is why we are also out in the community with donkeys under our care with guardians as well as private owners.

We are providing a vital service of support and advice."

The neglect Ciara has described is evident in their statistics from last year. Up until last October, the sanctuary had responded to 905 calls to help donkeys  which was up from 721 the year before.

'They are a herd animal and form strong bonds and friendships, thats why we always have them in pairs or a group,' says welfare officer Ciara OKelly at the Donkey Sanctuary Ireland farm near Mallow, Co Cork. Picture: Dan Linehan

Ciara estimates there are less than 10,000 donkeys in Ireland  but the exact number is not known, because not all the animals are microchipped.

The unplanned pregnancy of a donkey is another of the sanctuarys biggest challenges.

It is a major issue, said Ciara. Yes, they are cute but when people are breeding them and there are no homes for them, that is a problem.

We do a lot of work on addressing breeding in the community, sometimes, as well, stallion behaviour can be quite challenging in private homes and theres no need for it, so castration is automatic here and we offer that service.

I cant say how many we do a year, it would depend on the area, but on the west coast there are a lot more farm donkeys... In Kerry I could do 10 to 15 a year.

People will ring and say, We are getting a donkey as a pet can you advise us? We will go out and check the homes, and we would never recommend one donkey out on its own, they go in pairs. We are the voice of the donkey. They come first no matter what.

The Donkey Sanctuary Ireland, which is situated in Liscarroll, North Cork, is spread across four farms.

Farm manager Cormac Kenny, welfare officer Ciara O'Kelly, and PR manager Ciaran O'Regan with staff members and donkeys at the Donkey Sanctuary Ireland farm near Mallow, Co Cork. Picture: Dan Linehan

It can take a couple of hours to walk around the land but will most likely take longer when you start meeting the curious donkeys including Ophelia, Mistletoe, and Jo Jo.

At one point I had nine around me, mares and their foals who just wanted their ears rubbed (they actually love this as they cant reach that part of their head).

The sanctuary has a beautiful walking trail, a memory wall, plaques for loved ones, and lovely areas to sit down and enjoy the view of hundreds of healthy and happy donkeys running around in a haven for wildlife that promotes and preserves local biodiversity.

The donkeys and mules are clearly well cared for with healthy shiny coats, and I do know a thing or two about donkeys because my family has two, Baby Chris and Blue, now in their 20s.

The sanctuary has 1,200 donkeys in its immediate care and around 800 animals in the community.

It is a huge operation with 100 staff including fundraisers, farmers, and vets.

Farm manager Cormac Kenny explained that finances are also a reason for the rise in the neglect of donkeys which cost around 3,500 a year to keep.

One of the resident donkeys at the Donkey Sanctuary Ireland farm at Knockardbane, Mallow, Co Cork. The sanctuary has 1,200 donkeys in its immediate care and around 800 animals in the community. Picture: Dan Linehan

Dentistry is a big part of a donkeys life, and their feet, which can grow every day, he said.

Every eight weeks they may have to have a foot trim. Its about trying to keep on top of their welfare, but at the same time, they are an expensive pet. People see the feet but dont always see the teeth. We give them the best care we can.

The sanctuary has support from the Donkey Sanctuary in the UK and from around the world, but they rely mostly on donations from the public here in Ireland and have felt the impact of the cost-of-living crisis.

Mistletoe with her foal at the Donkey Sanctuary Ireland farm near Mallow, Co Cork. Picture: Dan Linehan

It depends on the harvest and feed prices, he continued. We try and bargain.

Another big cost for us is staffing. We also try and keep in the region of 20 to 25 donkeys per staff member.

While there are workers at the visitors centre and farm in Mallow, there are welfare advisors working in the community with the ISPCA, as well as the gardai to help protect the animals.

One of the biggest rescues this year by the Sanctuary was in May in south Galway.

The 'Irish Examiner' reported how 20 donkeys were found abandoned in a field, and one had died. It was described as a watershed moment because of the large scale of neglect of the animals.

They had been discovered at Christmas by the charitys welfare officers.

It was very lucky for those animals that the Donkey Sanctuary was able to step in, said Ciara.

One of the biggest rescue operations this year was of 20 donkeys found abandoned in Co Galway. Picture: Donkey Sanctuary Ireland

They were abandoned on a large farm but the farm itself, there was nobody living on it. There was a lot of unplanned pregnancies and no farrier care and no management.

The Donkey Sanctuary worked with the local donkey welfare advisor and the Department of Agriculture and the owner of the land to get as many as we could under our care. It was real neglect.

There were animals suffering on site and we had to bring out local vets. There were X-rays done on site to see if animals were suitable for transport.

It was a very public rescue but, numbers-wise, that was very big. It was so lucky for the animals that we could step in.

Ciara, who is based in Cork and Kerry also cited the Animal Welfare Act 2014 which she described as powerful for animals.

It is a very robust law, she said. Any act takes time to settle, and we must support it. Our job is to be able to get concerns out to the right authorities and work with them.

Another shocking incident of neglect involved a donkey being dragged by a car along a road by a rope around its neck in Co Offaly, a video of which went viral in January.

It resulted in seven animals being seized by gardai with the support of two charities and most of the animals taken into care were donkeys.

That is horrible cruelty, said Ciara.

That animal survived and is doing OK thankfully, and he was very lucky that someone saw it and filmed it. Social media is a new way of highlighting these things.

Ciara continued: Donkeys are misunderstood. The old tradition of a stubborn donkey  there is no such thing. Its their natural response to something. Its fight or flight. So if a donkey puts on its brakes, like it did in that video, they are not being stubborn.

There are around 184 breeds of donkeys and there is also no such thing as the Irish donkey (only the ones born here).

This idea of a little brown donkey alone on lush green grass in the middle of an Irish field  nothing could be further from the truth, said Ciara.

Even though they are on all the Irish postcards, they are from the African plains. That is why they need straw rather than grass, which can cause weight gain.

But we have a great affiliation for them, and they came here to be workers on farms. They are herd animals and form strong bonds and friendships, thats why we always have them in pairs or a group. The farm staff would know their personalities and friendships well.

But two donkeys will always get more attention in a private home, however, she added. The sanctuary is busy even though they are guaranteed a place for life and will be looked after.

Donkeys live in the moment. You can come out after having a stressful day and they communicate with you, they give a lot back and are very smart.

Colin Farrell with Jenny in a scene from the hit Irish movie, 'The Banshees of Inisherin'. The miniature donkey was played by two donkeys named Jenny and Rosie.

The animal also has an amazing ability to hear its friends from up to 40km away. Cormac Kenny explained: It worked well on the plains of Africa  that is how they find each other.

We can hear them braying in Hannigans farm up the road. That is where we have 450 donkeys  and some are the much older ones. They are near the veterinary hospital which does wonderful work.

When asked about the attention that The Banshees of Inisherin gave donkeys, Ciara praised the cast and crew but spotted an inaccuracy in the film.

Donkey Sanctuary Ireland PR officer Ciaran O'Regan and welfare officer Ciara O'Kelly with some of their charges at the farm at Knockardbane, Mallow, Co Cork. Picture: Dan Linehan

The miniature donkeys in that film were too small for that time in Ireland, she said They didnt exist, if the truth be known, and they certainly wouldnt have been standing in the kitchen.

But it did bring attention and make people curious. However, what we want them to realise is that donkey was particularly well trained.

Nonetheless, the sanctuary said they would love Colin Farrell to visit.

Cormac said: We invited him to come and see us. He is welcome any time. Ciara added, There are two donkeys living on the Atlantic Way honouring you [Colin Farrell] they are called Colin and Farrell, so I think you need to come and see them.

We dont give those names to just anyone. So, call us, or rather send us a bray.

 You can learn more  from advice on keeping a donkey to ways you can help the sanctuary's work  online at TheDonkeySanctuary.ie.
Improvements including the provision of legal aid for families are badly needed for the child care courts to function properly, the latest reports from the Child Law Project have found.

More than 60 reports are published today, Monday July 17, by the project, highlighting the need for civil legal aid for families in care proceedings.

Child Law Project executive director Carol Coulter stressed the need for increased investment in the courts system.

She cited a case where the parents of a child attended court in a provincial town to participate in a hearing for an extension of an interim care order for their infant son. She said the parents had left by the time the case was called at 7pm. Ms Coulter continued:

In another case, the father was not legally represented, as he exceeded the threshold for him to qualify for legal aid.

"We hope that the ongoing reforms to establish a family court and the review of the civil legal aid scheme will remedy these access to justice matters.

A letter from recently-retired district court judge Dermot Simms also raised the issue of civil legal aid.

Mr Simms letter  to four government ministers, the Ombudsman for Children, and other State agencies  is included in the report published today by the Child Law Project.

He wrote: A separate issue of concern relates to a limited number of cases where parents do not qualify for legal aid, notwithstanding that the CFA [Tusla, the child and family agency] are seeking to remove their children from their care.

"Given the serious and complex issues which arise, it would seem that it would be desirable, in the interests of justice for both those parents and their children, that the scheme be extended to all proceedings arising under the Child Care Acts. Perhaps this might be reviewed and considered.

Boy moved across the country

Among the reports was one involving a nine-year-old boy who was moved to a private facility in the north-west before being moved to a placement in the south-east of the country. Just two days notice was given ahead of the move.

According to the report on the case, the move [from the north-west] followed the residential placements decision that the boy could not stay in the same room as another older boy, who had violent tendencies and was making weapons in his room.

The report states that the judge in the case said it could highlight systemic deficiencies and failings and involved a boy who had developmental trauma, who had recently been expelled from school, who could not get access to services and had been exposed to another aggressive boy.

A complaint was made to the Ombudsman for Children over the case.

Teen had been in 13 placements

Another case involved a teenage girl whose mother and grandmother were both deceased and who has been in at least 13 different care placements.

Ms Coulter said that the projects reporters are increasingly seeing examples of cases returning to court as the placement has broken down or where the judge is keeping the case under active review as a means of ensuring agreed actions are followed through.

The publication also contained reports in which judges raised concerns around State bodies.

Ms Coulter stated: In at least 10 cases published today, the judge expresses concern about the actions or inactions of state bodies. We believe this reflects a growing concern and frustration on the part of the judiciary.

Further case studies highlight systemic challenges The Child Law Project report issued today, Monday July 17, includes studies of cases involving children in care. Picture: iStock

1. Judge criticised delay in care order application for unaccompanied minor A judge has criticised Tusla, the child and family agency, for a delay in bringing an application for an interim care order for an unaccompanied minor who arrived in Ireland more than a year ago. The boy arrived from an African country and became known to Tusla in June 2022. An application for an interim care order was made in the first quarter of this year. The judge in the case heavily criticised the child and family agency for an unjustifiable delay in bringing the application, according to a report on the case published by the Child Law Project. When asked by the judge why the application had taken so long, the social worker said there had been no allocated social worker to his case until it had been allocated to her a few weeks previously. The report said: She said that she had made all the necessary inquiries and was satisfied that the minor was unaccompanied in the State. "She then initiated the interim care order to formalise his care. He had been placed with a foster family and had been doing exceptionally well. He had been enrolled and had attended school. The report continued: The judge said it was quite unacceptable that there had been such a delay. The social worker confirmed that the boys English had significantly improved but she had used an interpreter to explain the application to him. She thought that he had a good understanding of his position. The judge said that given his age he would be able to give instructions to a solicitor to represent him in these proceedings and appointed a solicitor to him. The judge granted the interim care order for 28 days.

2. Girl's placement ended while she was at school, and her belongings left in black bags

A court heard that a girl whose care placement was ended while she was in school could not return to collect her belongings, which were put in black bags, according to the Child Law Project.

The report outlined: The teenager had been in the care of [Tusla] for some time, including in secure care. She had had a troubled history with numerous placement breakdowns and a history of absconding from her placements. Her mother and father had a toxic relationship and were both serving prison sentences.

"Following the termination of the placement, the teenager spent the first night in a hotel.

"A special emergency arrangement was subsequently entered into and the teenager would be able to stay there for one week with an extension for one further week. The girl had been referred for psychological and psychiatric assessment.

At a further review of the case, the court was informed that there were also criminal charges pending in relation to a number of assaults the teenager had allegedly carried out on the staff of the service provider. The judge asked that the other judge [hearing the criminal case] be made aware of the circumstances of the termination of the placement.

The judge in the case asked Tuslas lawyer to report the details of the ending of the placement to Hiqa.
South Korean rescue workers have pulled seven bodies from a flooded tunnel where around 15 vehicles were trapped in muddy water.

It comes as days of heavy rain triggered flash floods and landslides and destroyed homes, leaving at least 33 people dead and forcing thousands to evacuate, officials said on Sunday.

Nearly 400 rescue workers, including divers, were searching the tunnel in the central city of Cheongju where the vehicles, including a bus, were swamped by a flash flood on Saturday evening, Seo Jeong-il, chief of the citys fire department, said in a briefing.

Photos and video from the scene showed rescue workers pumping brown water out of the tunnel as divers used rubber boats to move in and out of the area.

Rescuers in Cheongju, South Korea (Kim Ju-hyung/Yonhap via AP)

Yang Chan-mo, an official from the North Chungcheong provincial fire department, said it could take several hours to pump all the water from the tunnel, which was filled with 13 to 16.4 feet of water dense with mud and other debris.

Workers were proceeding slowly with the work to prevent any victims or survivors from being swept out, the official said.

Nine survivors were rescued from the tunnel and 11 others were believed to be missing based on reports by families or others, but the exact number of passengers trapped in vehicles was not immediately clear, the chief of the citys fire department said.

South Korea has been pounded by heavy rains since July 9.

The rainfall had forced more than 6,100 people to evacuate and left 27,260 households without electricity while flooding or destroying dozens of homes, the ministry of the interior and safety said.

A man reacts next to his collapsed house after a landslide caused by heavy rain in Yecheon, South Korea (Yun Kwan-shick/Yonhap via AP)

At least 22 people were being treated for injuries.

President Yoon Suk Yeol, who is on a trip to Europe, discussed the rain-related casualties and damages during an emergency meeting while traveling to Poland on a train after visiting Ukraine on Saturday, according to his office.

Mr Yoon called for officials to mobilise all available resources to respond to the disaster.
A Palestinian gunman opened fire on a car in the occupied West Bank on Sunday, injuring three Israelis, including two girls, Israeli authorities said.

The suspect fled the scene of the shooting, but he was later captured.

The bloodshed is the latest in a relentless cycle of violence that has gripped the region, driving up the death toll and sparking the worst fighting between Israel and the Palestinians in the West Bank in nearly two decades.

The Israeli military said the gunman opened fire on a car from a passing vehicle.

The Israeli military said the gunman opened fire on a car from a passing vehicle before fleeing the scene (Ohad Zwigenberg/AP)

Israels rescue service, MDA, said three Israelis were injured in the attack near the Jewish settlement of Tekoa, including a 35-year-old who suffered gunshot wounds and is in a serious but stable condition.

Two girls, aged nine and 14, were hurt by flying debris.

The military said that forces apprehended the suspected gunman in the city of Bethlehem and seized his car and an assault rifle found inside. Troops arrested two other suspects, the army said.

Fighting between Israel and the Palestinians in the West Bank intensified early last year when Israel launched near-nightly raids into Palestinian areas in the West Bank in response to a spate of Palestinian attacks against Israelis.

The violence has surged this year, with more than 150 Palestinians killed by Israeli fire since the start of 2023 in the West Bank and east Jerusalem, according to a tally by the Associated Press.

Israeli security forces inspect the scene of the gun attack near the West Bank Jewish settlement of Tekoa (Ohad Zwigenberg/AP)

Israeli says most of those killed have been militants, but stone-throwing youths protesting at the raids and others not involved in the confrontations have also been killed.

At least 26 people have been killed in Palestinian attacks against Israelis during that time.

Israel says the raids are essential to dismantle militant networks and thwart future attacks.

The Palestinians see the violence as a natural response to 56 years of occupation, including stepped-up settlement construction by Israels government and increased violence by Jewish settlers.

Israel captured the West Bank in the 1967 Middle East war, along with the Gaza Strip and east Jerusalem.

Palestinians seek those territories for their hoped-for independent state.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said in an interview published on Sunday that Russia has a sufficient stockpile of cluster munitions, and warned that Russia reserves the right to take reciprocal action if Ukraine uses the controversial weapons.

In his first comments on the delivery of cluster munitions to Ukraine from the US, Mr Putin said that Russia has not used cluster bombs in its war in Ukraine so far.

The use of cluster bombs by both Russia and Ukraine has been widely documented, including by The Associated Press and international humanitarian organisations, and cluster rounds have been found in the aftermath of Russian strikes.

Until now, we have not done this, we have not used it, and we have not had such a need, Mr Putin said.

Rossiya TV reporter Pavel Zarubin published excerpts of the interview to his Telegram channel on Sunday ahead of a scheduled broadcast on Sunday night.

Russian rockets are launched against Ukraine from Russias Belgorod region, seen from Kharkiv, Ukraine (Vadim Belikov/AP)

The Pentagon said on Thursday that cluster munitions provided by the United States had arrived in Ukraine.

The munitions, which are bombs that open in the air and release scores of smaller bomblets, are seen by the US as a way to get Kyiv critically needed ammunition to help bolster its offensive and push through Russian front lines.

US leaders debated the thorny issue for months, before President Joe Biden made the final decision last week.

Cluster bombs have long been criticised by humanitarian groups, and some US allies, because those used in previous conflicts have had a high dud rate, meaning that they often leave behind unexploded bomblets that can harm civilians long after a battle has ended.

Proponents argue that Russia has already been using cluster munitions in Ukraine and that the weapons the US is providing have been improved to leave behind far fewer unexploded rounds.

Ukraine has promised to use them only away from densely populated areas.

Latest Defence Intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine - 16 July 2023.



Find out more about Defence Intelligence's use of language: https://t.co/YYqHPvA2gZ



 #StandWithUkraine  pic.twitter.com/R8DZbD036Y  Ministry of Defence  (@DefenceHQ) July 16, 2023

On the ground, the Ukrainian military said in a regular update on Sunday morning that over the previous 24 hours Russia had launched two Iranian-made Shahed exploding drones, two cruise missiles and two anti-aircraft guided missiles, in addition to 40 air strikes and 46 attacks from multiple rocket launchers.

The Ukrainian General Staff wrote that Russia continues to concentrate on offensive operations in Ukraines industrial east.

Donetsk regional governor Pavlo Kyrylenko said on Sunday that two residents of the region were killed on Saturday, and one other person was wounded.

Elsewhere in the country, two boys, aged eight and 10, were wounded when an explosive device left by Russian forces detonated in the southern region of Kherson on Sunday, according to the Ukrainian Prosecutor Generals Office.

Regional governor Oleksandr Prokudin said that Russia had launched 69 shelling attacks against Kherson region.

A 59-year-old man died on Saturday when attempting to disarm a round in the regional capital, also called Kherson.

Yurii Malashko, governor of the neighbouring, partly occupied, Zaporizhzhia region, said Russia had attacked 13 populated areas in the region, wounding seven people in the town of Stepnohirsk.

Moscow-installed authorities in Russian-occupied Crimea on Sunday reported a massive and prolonged drone attack overnight targeting Sevastopol, the peninsulas largest port, which hosts Russias Black Sea Fleet.

According to Moscow-installed Sevastopol governor Mikhail Razvozhaev, air defence shot down all of the drones and there was no damage.

Vyacheslav Gladkov, the governor of Russias Belgorod region, said that a woman was killed on Sunday by shelling in the town of Shebekino near the border with Ukraine.
Republican presidential candidates worked to appeal to about 2,000 evangelical Christians at a Des Moines conference  in some cases despite critical questioning in on-stage interviews by conservative commentator Tucker Carlson.

Carlson wrangled with former Vice President Mike Pence on his position that the U.S. should continue to support Ukraine with military equipment and money. He drew more applause than former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson when he proclaimed he had never received a COVID-19 vaccine and he pressed Hutchinson on his veto of a bill restricting gender-affirming health care for minors.

Abortion was not a central topic, even though the event featured Gov. Kim Reynolds signing restrictive abortion legislation on stage.

Pence said he heartily supports recently passed abortion laws in Iowa and other states, but he encouraged all the candidates in the field to endorse a federal 15-week abortion ban. I believe its supported by a decisive majority of the American people, he said.

Pence said as president, he would work every day to get a 15-week minimum abortion law enacted into law and enshrined in the laws of the land.

Ron DeSantis pledged to be a pro-life president during his interview, touting the six-week ban that he signed into state law as Florida governor.

I dont think Rome was built in a day, I think its gonna take time to make progress in some parts of the country, he said. But as president, I will be somebody who will use the bully pulpit to support governors like Kim Reynolds when shes got a bill and other states as they advance the cause of life.

Hutchinson commended Reynolds from the stage but told reporters afterward that other states can set their own standards. But whats been proposed at the national level of 15 weeks with the exceptions that Ive talked about, is a place that we might be able to arrive at a consensus around in this country, very similar to what the standard is in Europe, he said.

The conference was hosted by the Family Leader, a religious conservative organization that has long played a significant role in GOP presidential politics.

Former President Donald Trump, the national frontrunner in polls, did not attend the event. Earlier this week, he drew a rebuke from Vander Plaats for criticizing Reynolds in a social media post for saying she would remain neutral in the caucus campaign.

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, Trump complained.

Vander Plaats responded on Twitter that going after Iowas very popular Governor @IAGovernor is not smart.

Reynolds sat in the front row of the auditorium with Ron DeSantis wife, Casey, and Vander Plaats during the Florida governors remarks.

Here are some highlights from the candidates speeches:

Tim Scott

With a large screen beaming PRINCIPLE OVER POLITICS behind him, South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott was the first presidential candidate to take the stage at the 2023 Family Leadership Summit.

Politics were on the table within the first minutes, Scott broke down his disagreements with President Joe Bidens strategies in the Ukraine-Russia conflict and continued to share his thoughts on the U.S.-Mexico border.

I think one of the failures of Biden has been his inability to articulate Americas national vital interest in the conflict, or the genocide in Ukraine, Scott said in his one-on-one conversation with Carlson.

The conversation quickly shifted to the U.S.-Mexico border, an issue Scott said is the number one risk to America.

After Carlson suggested increased tariffs to hold Mexico accountable for fentanyl entering the U.S., Scott responded that the U.S. should use every tool available to stop fentanyl, no exceptions.

Scott said as president, he would enforce border policies by reallocating funds recently allocated to hire 87,000 IRS agents and using the funds to defend the border.

As president of the United States, I would sign my legislation and divert the resources from the IRS to the border so we can secure the border, Scott said.

The money Scott referenced was approved last year by Democrats in a climate change and health care package. A 10-year plan from the IRS listed over half the money going toward enforcement activities by focusing on segments of taxpayers with complex issues and complex returns where audit rates are minimal today, such as those related to large partnerships, large corporations, and high-income and high-wealth individuals.

We can stop fentanyl from crossing over our Southern border, by closing our Southern border, Scott said of finishing the border wall.

Take the billions of dollars, and put them where Americas security needs are first, which starts with our Southern border, Scott said.

Carlson asked Scott how appealing to donors plays into his campaign, to which Scott said he has not raised as much as he would like.

I like to hear theyre all flocking to me, Scott said of financial support of his campaign. I wish they would go out and write the check because I havent seen that yet.

Mike Pence

Carlsons conversation with Pence focused largely around Ukraine, and Pences role on Jan. 6, 2021, a common topic of discussion in Pences campaign so far.

Pence garnered a boo from part of the audience when he spoke on Ukraine, My belief is that it is in the interest of the United States of America to continue to give the Ukrainian military the resources that they need to repel the Russian invasion and restore their sovereignty, he said.

Carlson suggested Pence was promoting religious discrimination by supporting Ukraine, stating clergy members have been arrested. Pence, who said he met with a Christian leader in his recent visit to Kyiv, assured Carlson that Christians were not being persecuted.

Other than the sanctity of life, theres no higher priority in my life and preserving the freedom of religion in America and championing religious liberty around the world, Pence said.

On the Jan. 6 events, Pence said, All I know for sure, having lived through it, is that it was a tragic day. Ive never used the word insurrection in the last two years. It was a riot that took place at the Capitol that day.

Pence supports holding those who unlawfully entered the Capitol that day accountable, as well as other rioters.

Its important that we hold those accountable who perpetrated acts of violence and vandalism in our nations Capital, but also, Im still waiting for equal vigor and equal prosecutions to be brought on those that brought hundreds of BLM riots to cities across America.

Carlson suggested America get rid of electronic voting machines. I would certainly be open to that, Pence responded. But what I believe, Tucker, is that states govern elections. States ought to conduct our elections.

If Im elected president of the United States, I promise you I will fight every day to restore public confidence in elections in this country, Pence said.

Asa Hutchinson

Hutchinson argued for parental rights. I believe that parents ought to be in control. And I also believe in the Constitution. I believe that God created two genders, and that there should not be any confusion on your gender. But if there is confusion, then parents ought to be the one that guides the children, he said.

He said he would not have signed legislation allowing transgender surgery for minors because no parents should be able to consent to that permanent change.

Carlson, however, argued that some gender-affirming care, such as hormone therapy, causes permanent damage  an assertion most mainstream medical professionals dispute.

Hutchinson disagreed that hormone therapy amounted to a permanent change and stressed that the bill was unconstitutional. He said he opposes schools pushing transgenderism and believes schools should have to tell parents if a child questions his or her gender.

Carlson also asked Hutchinson how many COVID-19 vaccines he took and drew applause from the audience when Carlson said he was unvaccinated.

Hutchinson said he had been vaccinated and that he encouraged others in town halls to do likewise  but he said he refused to close businesses, he reopened schools before other states and his administration joined in suing the Biden administration against vaccine mandates for National Guard and other military service members.

He also disagreed that the U.S. should send the military to secure the Southern U.S. border, saying he believes its important to project strength to China from the Philippines in support of Taiwan and to Europe in light of Russian aggression in Ukraine. And so the military has a lot of responsibility, he said.

Carlson interjected: What responsibility is more important than protecting our own borders?

Hutchinson tersely asked for the opportunity to finish his answer and added he believes the military is trained to kill people and has a different mission than law enforcement. We utilize the National Guard but our regular military, I hope we dont have to use them at the border, that we can solve the problem without them, he said.

He told reporters afterward that he believed he won over some Iowans. I think I gain in terms of Iowa. And, you know, theres some candidates that chose not to appear here today. Some people didnt want to be interviewed by Tucker Carlson, he said.

Nikki Haley

The former South Carolina governor, who then served as ambassador to the United Nations during the Trump administration, said she would work to reduce government spending and overhaul certain federal agencies if elected.

The American people dont trust our intelligence agencies, they dont trust our Department of Justice, Haley said. So you cant just replace the person at the top, youve got to go through and really look at gutting those agencies and getting out a lot of that senior management.

On government spending, Haley rebuked both Democrats and Republicans for deficit spending over the years thats led to more than $31 trillion in national debt. She pledged that if elected president, she would veto any government funding legislation that doesnt return federal spending to pre-COVID-19 levels.

Haley said during the 25-minute interview that instead of meeting with the nations governors once a year, she would meet with them quarterly.

I will meet with my governors once every quarter with the sole goal of  get the power thats at the federal government, push it down to the states, Haley said. Thats how you empower people is pushing it downthat can be education, that can be health care, that can be benefits.

Haley also spoke in detail about the countrys health care system, including the lack of support for people with mental illness. Haley criticized doctors for what she says is a tendency to over prescribe medication and for a lack of universal telehealth services.

We have a broken health care system and we have to make sure that we completely tear it up from the insurance companies, to the hospitals, to the doctors, to the (pharmacy benefit managers), to the pharmaceutical companies, because right now  doctors love to just prescribe, Haley said. But doctors are never judged on the outcomes.

Health care providers, she said, should be judged less on how many patients they see in a given day and more on whether those patients get better. The cost of health care should be much more transparent with patients involved in conversations about billing, instead of just hospitals and insurance companies, she said.

So we will make it all transparent  make those insurance companies have to show us what theyre doing, make those hospitals show us what theyre doing, make these doctors have to say what theyre doing in the outcomes and lets make sure pharmaceutical companies suddenly have to show us what they do, Haley said.

Ron DeSantis

DeSantis, who spoke last, said he would name a new FBI director if he were elected president, and said its important that presidents-elect be ready to nominate all of the people they need in the executive branch on their first day in office.

I believe Article Two of the Constitution means the president has the executive authority. We just say these bureaucrats somehow cant be held accountable. I disagree with that, DeSantis said. I think you can fire them.

If we have an FBI agent going to harass a pro-life activist, like they did Mark Houck and send a SWAT team, Id fire them immediately. When you have the FBI colluding with big tech to censor dissent, I would fire those people, he added.

DeSantis said he would work to disseminate federal agencies throughout the country, including moving parts of the Department of Justice outside the Washington, D.C. area.

And, DeSantis said, his administration would look for anyone who should have been charged with a crime and ensure they are taken to trial. Others, who have been convicted, will have a pathway to request pardons from his administration.

Part of what you need to do  if you have a two-tiered system of justice  you need to make sure if theres some people that got away that shouldnt have, they need to face the music, he said And if there are other people that are getting targeted through abuse of government, then there needs to be use of the pardon power.

On foreign policy and the war in Ukraine, DeSantis said, if the United States is going to support one country in a conflict  either through aid dollars or by sending troops  the leaders making that decision should have a concrete idea of what youre trying to achieve.

DeSantis said his goal for the conflict would be a sustainable peace in Europe.

Vivek Ramaswamy

Im the first millennial to run for U.S. president as a Republican, Vivek Ramaswamy told attendees, continuing his campaign of appealing to young Republicans.

Ramaswamy, a 37-year-old businessman and investor, said he believes in the power of family, his pride in being an American and his stance on war in Ukraine.

Ramaswamy said he has differentiated himself in the field by being the first candidate to propose a plan on ending the conflict in Ukraine that advances American interests.

If you want someone to fix a problem, you dont turn over the keys to somebody who actually broke the thing in the first place, he said of solving the conflict in Ukraine.

Ramaswamy suggested a deal to end the conflict between Ukraine and Russia, which included allowing Ukraine sovereignty, Russia exiting a military partnership with China and removing Russia military influence from several countries.

He continued and spoke on division in the United States, and, after sharing an anecdote of meeting students in a school in the south side of Chicago, told attendees, I dont think we are nearly as divided as we are taught to be.

Ramaswamy said a candidate will stand out if they are pro-American, and whichever candidate can stand out will win in a landslide.

I dont talk about Republicans anymore. I try not to use the word, not because its a bad word, but because it doesnt mean anything.

In addition to appealing to a younger audience, Ramaswamy tried to ignite patriotism in the crowd of 2,000.

I dont think the dividing line in our country is between Republicans and Democrats, Ramaswamy said. I think its between those of us who are pro-American, who believe in the ideals of this country, and those of us who arent, and it exists in this country.

Biden will not run for president, if Ramaswamy wins the Republican nomination, according to the first-time politician.

I think we have an opportunity to do in this country in 2024 what Ronald Reagan did in 1980: deliver a landslide election, called the bluff on the division, much of it is artificial.

This report appeared on the website of the Florida Phoenix, a nonprofit news organization dedicated to coverage of state government and politics from Tallahassee. It has been adjusted for length. For the entire article, click here.
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.
By David Morgan

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer will push to include in upcoming defense policy legislation a bipartisan amendment to sanction China over its alleged role in producing the synthetic opioid fentanyl, he said on Sunday.

Schumer blamed China for much of the fentanyl that U.S. authorities say is responsible for the overdose deaths of tens of thousands of Americans. He said the drug comes from production sites in China "with the total acceptance and acquiescence of the Chinese government."

"I will push an amendment - bipartisan - into the defense bill that will include major fentanyl stopping and sanction empowering legislation, and we will bring that bill to the floor this week," Schumer told a news conference in New York.

"I hope it will pass. I believe that will pass with strong bipartisan support. And it should. It must."

The Chinese embassy in Washington, D.C., was not immediately available for comment.

Beijing has accused Washington previously of using the fentanyl crisis as a pretext for imposing sanctions on Chinese companies and has offered to work with other nations to tackle drug problems.

Chinese state media have repeatedly described addiction and demand for the drug as U.S. domestic problems.

Schumer said the amendment, proposed by Democratic Senator Sherrod Brown and Republican Senator Tim Scott, would authorize the White House to declare fentanyl trafficking a national emergency and open the door to sanctions.

"This will really get tough with them and we will make them clamp down on the fentanyl coming to the United States," Schumer said.

Legislation introduced by the two lawmakers this year would require U.S. President Joe Biden to sanction key members of international criminal organizations involved in fentanyl trafficking and allow proceeds from sanctioned property to fund law enforcement.

The Democratic-led Senate is due to begin debating the fiscal 2024 National Defense Authorization Act, or NDAA, on Tuesday. The Republican-controlled House of Representatives passed its own version of the bill on Friday.

The legislation, which sets policy for the Pentagon, is expected to face an unusually contentious path to becoming law this year, after the House added a number of amendments on "culture war" issues including abortion and transgender services that Democrats oppose.

The Senate is expected to pass its version of the NDAA this month, after which the two chambers will negotiate a compromise that would come up for votes later in the year.

(Reporting by David Morgan; Editing by Josie Kao)
Visitors pose for a group photo inside the Reunification Palace in downtown HCMC, April 2023. Photo by VnExpress/Thanh Tung

Vietnam is seeing huge potential in high-spending Cambodian tourists post-reopening, thanks to its adjacent geographical location, convenient transport, and smooth border checks, insiders have said.

In the first six months of this year, Cambodia was one of Vietnam's biggest tourism feeder markets with 198,000 arrivals.

Cambodia is now Vietnams fastest-recovering tourism market with an increase of 338% in the first half of this year against pre-pandemic levels, followed by India at 236%, according to the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism.

Phan Huynh Phuong Hoang, deputy general director of leading tour operator Vietravel, said that most Cambodian tourists had previously come to Vietnam for the purpose of medical treatment.

After the pandemic, many rich Cambodian tourists flock to border provinces for weekend relaxation at high-end resorts, she added.

A Cambodian tourist spent $800-900 for a tour to Hanoi and Ha Long in northern Vietnam, equivalent to the cost of a tour to South Korea, Hoang added.

The number of Cambodian visitors booking her companys tour so far this year increased by about 10% against pre-pandemic levels.

Tran Quoc Thinh, director of Tourism Promotion Center in Tay Ninh Province which borders Cambodia, said that Moc Bai border gate was one of the key road access points to welcome Cambodian tourists to Vietnam.

In the first six months of the year, visitors to Tay Ninh reached 3.5 million, up 14% over the same period last year. Total tourism revenue reached VND1.4 trillion, up 71% year-on-year.

There are three categories of Cambodian tourists coming to Vietnam. The first group is traditional visitors primarily coming from the three provinces adjacent to Tay Ninh Province for daily tours.

The second is luxury tourists from major cities like Phnom Penh and Siem Reap who travel to Vietnam to seek medical care, and the third includes tourists who opt for long-stay holidays and high-end resorts at Phu Quoc, Da Lat, and Vung Tau.

"Currently, the group of high-class tourists from Cambodia is increasing. They often arrive in Tay Ninh and Ho Chi Minh City for medical treatment and then spend time traveling and shopping," Thinh said.

Tourism insiders said Vietnam has big potential to boost tourism revenues from the group of high-spending Cambodian tourists. However, the lack of tourism products and direct air services connecting major cities between Vietnam and Cambodia have hindered growth.

Currently, there are daily flights from Cambodian capital Phnom Penh to HCMC with limited frequency while travel agencies now mainly operate outbound tours from Vietnam to Cambodia with diverse itineraries.

Inbound tours for Cambodian tourists to Vietnam are limited.

Hoang said her company was considering launching direct flights connecting Cambodias major cities with popular tourist destinations in Vietnam and developing luxury beach tours to carry tourists in Tay Ninh and HCMC to Phu Quoc and Vung Tau.
striking down race as a factor in college admissions? Mostly, just wealthy white people.

Otherwords )  Who will benefit from the Supreme Courts recent ruling

Thats because the ruling refused to touch so-called legacy admissions. Colleges are free to continue giving preferential treatment to the children of alumni, donors, and other well-connected, privileged people.

Former president George W. Bush is a classic example of how legacy admissions are effectively a form of affirmative action for the rich. How else would a mediocre student like him be admitted to Yale University? Because his father and grandfather were Yale alumni.

Legacy admissions give wealthy people a leg-up in ensuring that generational wealth, privilege, and power remain in the family. And the origins of the practice lie in antisemitism.

According to Jerome Karabels book The Chosen: The Hidden History of Admission and Exclusion at Harvard, Yale, and Princeton, legacy admissions were a way to reduce the number of Jewish Americans who were academically qualified to win admission but who didnt fit into the white Anglo-Saxon Protestant tradition that such schools uplifted. Elite universities changed the goal posts, ensuring that family ties gave mediocre but well-connected white Protestants an edge.

That preferential treatment continues today, reinforcing white supremacy.

For example, according to the Ivy League admissions consulting firm Admission Sight, more than 36 percent of the students in the Harvard Class of 2022 are descendants of previous Harvard students. Students whose parents didnt attend Harvard had, since 2015, a five times lower chance of being accepted.

And where legacy admissions dont apply, wealthy families have yet another entry point: plain old bribery.

In a court case stemming from the college admissions scandal that broke in 2019, it was revealed that the University of Southern California was willing to consider applicants whose families offered large donations to the school. These special interest or VIP donors received preferential treatment.

Even the public University of California system has been found to give preferential treatment to wealthy white applicants. A state audit found that at least 64 people, most of them wealthy and white, were admitted in recent years to UC schools solely because of their family connections and donations.



Image by paseidon from Pixabay

The Supreme Courts latest ruling on affirmative action doesnt end race-based preference. For wealthy white people, it further entrenches it.

The good news is that Neil Gorsuch, a Supreme Court conservative who voted to end affirmative action, also agreed with his dissenting liberal colleagues that legacy admissions had to end.

President Biden responded similarly. Im directing the Department of Education to analyze what practices help build more inclusive and diverse student bodies and what practices hold that back, Biden said after the ruling. That includes legacy admissions and other systems that expand privilege instead of opportunity.

As Democratic Senator Jeff Merkley of Oregon told MarketWatch, The longstanding use of legacy and donor preferences in admissions has unfairly elevated children of donors and alumni  who may be excellent students and well-qualified, but are the last people who need an extra leg up in the complicated and competitive college admissions process.

To that end, Merkley and Democratic Rep. Jamaal Bowman of New York recently introduced the Fair College Admissions for Students Act, which would end preferential treatment for applications from wealthy, privileged families.

Whether or not the bill moves in Congress, the fact remains that college admissions are biased  toward wealthy white Americans. Those conservatives celebrating the end of affirmative action have exposed yet again how their real agenda is to protect the unfair advantages of wealth.
( Middle East Monitor )  When Tarek Tookebry began raising funds to collect essential items for a humanitarian convoy to Tunisias second city, Sfax  where black Africans are being increasingly attacked and deported  the initial goal was to raise 10,000 Tunisian dinars ($3,300).

As of Wednesday 12 July, Humetna, an NGO based in Medjez El Bab, has raised over 47,000 TD ($15,500).

This level of support demonstrates the compassion and solidarity of Tunisians towards the cause, and it affirms that there is a significant portion of the population who stand against the discriminatory treatment faced by sub-Saharan African and black individuals, says Tarek, who is director of the organisation.

Sfax is an industrial hub in southern Tunisia and a major port town. It is close to Italys Lampedusa, and hundreds of black African migrants have gathered here in recent months, many hoping to take small boats to reach the island and escape rising racism in the country.

But rather than crossing the Mediterranean, a recent Human Rights Watch report revealed that Tunisian security forces have expelled several hundred black African migrants and asylum seekers since the start of July, in and near Sfax, to the Tunisia-Libya border, with little food and medical assistance.

HRW interviewees said they had been arrested in police, national guard and military raids. Some had been raped and beaten by Tunisian security forces who also threw away their food and smashed their phones.

Others within the city itself spoke out about how they have been robbed, threatened with knives, and had stones thrown at them. Dozens are sleeping out on the street.

With the funds raised by their campaign, Humenta  which means neighbourhood in the Tunisian dialect  has bought canned goods and grains, soap, toothpaste, first aid kits and blankets for babies. They are currently searching for partners in Sfax and other parts of southern Tunisia to help them distribute the products, but its not easy:

We have encountered some challenges in engaging local civil NGOs due to concerns about potential negative reactions from certain individuals, Tarek says.

Article continues after bonus IC video

Al Jazeera English: HRW urges Tunisia to suspend expulsions of African refugees

It has been reported on Twitter that locals in Sfax offering help have now withdrawn, in fear of reprisals from the police, who have punished people for offering to shelter people at the heart of the crisis, or for simply providing them with food and water. NGOs have little access to the migrants in distress.

In February, Tunisian President Kais Saied provoked international outrage when he said immigration is a plot aimed at changing Tunisias demography and ordered security forces to take urgent measures against the hordes of undocumented sub-Saharan African migrants he said were responsible for a wave of crime.

Reports circulated of armed mobs attacking homes where black people live, breaking their legs and stealing their possessions in a joint effort to rid them from the country. One video showed a group of Tunisian men threatening black Africans with batons and knives.

Tunisia is facing an economic crisis and food shortages, all of which has been blamed on the countrys sub-Saharan population. Life for sub-Saharan African and black people in Tunisia five months after the presidents racist speech has been incredibly challenging, says Tarek.

Following the presidents racist remarks in February regarding the colonisation of black people in Tunisia, these individuals have faced significant hardships and discrimination.

The speech has had a profound impact on their daily lives, leading to increased marginalisation and exclusion, he adds.

They are enduring immense suffering and struggling to survive in an environment where acceptance and support are scarce. Unfortunately, the wounded state of Tunisia, with its deteriorating economy, rampant unemployment and inadequate provision of necessities, has created an atmosphere where these individuals are no longer welcomed or embraced.

The views expressed in this article belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Middle East Monitor or Informed Comment.

Via Middle East Monitor
American soldiers who deceived the enemy or served with the Ghost Army during the final two years of World War II have left this world, but their spirits march on in military folklore and on the walls of museums that portray their ingenuity and courage to defeat the Nazis.

An exhibit at the Nevada Museum of Art in Reno, Ghost Army: The Combat Con Artists of World War II, ends July 23 after a five-month run in northern Nevada. The 23rd Headquarters Special Troops or the Ghost Army was formed and then activated in January 1944 to deceive the Germans.

Author and award-winning documentarian Rick Beyer recently took the Nevada News Group on a tour of the exhibit that displays inflatable vehicles and other armaments of war and also revealed three Nevadans served in the unit.

An inflatable unit

Standing here and the first thing you see are the inflatables, Beyer pointed out. The inflatables are replicas because the originals did not survive the war.

Beyer explained the inflatable airplane on display was a replica of a real plane that served tier in an infantry division.

They must have everything if they are to imitate, Beyer said of the Ghost Armys inventory, which was about one-fourth the size of the real vehicles and planes. This really happened. People actually worked with these inflatables and had to do it on the battlefield  sometimes 10 miles behind the battle line and sometimes only a half-mile away.

The Ghost Army story intrigued Beyer more than two decades ago, and through research, he interviewed many former soldiers who served in the Ghost Army, wrote a book on the unit and produced a documentary that debuted on PBS in 2013. Beyer said he was intrigued how the Army became involved with a unit whose top goal was deceiving the enemy.

Through his research Beyer discovered how camouflage could disguise the weapons and vehicles but not the entire area of cantonment.

These things look realistic standing here, but how close will German reconnaissance get, Beyer said standing next to a display.

The further away the Germans set up a position and scoped out the area the better the camouflaging looked; however, Beyer said once the enemy advanced, then other techniques had to be used for deception such as visual, sound, radio and special effects.

They (the techniques) worked together to make the enemy gather over here instead of 10 miles away, Beyer explained.

Beyer said the Ghost Army had the first mobile multimedia tactical deception in war. He has scoured the pages of history books to find other proof, but he was unable to find any information to discount his claim. He didnt find any significant proof from the Korean or Vietnam wars or for Desert Storm or the subsequent wars in Iraq or Afghanistan.

Chronicling the deception

There is one thing Beyer has discovered.

You have to gear deception to your enemy, he added.

Deception, though, is as old as mankind starting with the early tales from the Odyssey by mentioning a wooden horse hiding enemy soldiers. The English used it against the French more than 500 years ago. During the days leading up to the Normandy invasion in June 1944, fake radio traffic and inflatable tanks tricked the Germans into thinking a large-scale invasion would not happen off the coast of northeastern France.

During the final year of fighting in Europe, the 23rd conducted almost two dozen largescale deceptions in France, Germany, Belgium and Luxemburg and also established a headquarters. The Ghost Army had a fake command headquarters thats part of the exhibit at the Nevada Museum of Art.

One of Beyers favorite profiles from the Silver State is that of Pvt. Robert Tompkins, born in Yonkers, N.Y., in 1923, but he relocated to Gardnerville in 1989 with his wife Bunny. Beyer said he met Tompkins in 2006 to learn more about the Ghost Army soldier and to include his profile in his book and for the documentary.

He kept a diary, a complete recollection of the unit. It was a small address book written in tiny writing, Beyer said. It was a contemporary, uncensored account of what it was like to be a soldier in the unit.

Beyer said Tompkins was friends with Bill Blass, the world-renown fashion designer who traded in his fashion-design career in 1942 for an Army uniform. He was assigned to the 603rd Camouflage Battalion and then to the 23rd. According to Beyer, Blasss mother typed up the information in Tompkins diary after the war.

As the war wound down, Tompkins focused his writing on the final days:

Apr. 28 Sat. Hear that Himmler has offered unconditional surrender to States and Britain, but not Russia. It looks like its all over. At least within the next week anyway. Wittlick to Trier and sleeping in castle. Marvelous news. All sorts of rumors. Lt. Gray said today wed be home by July 4th. Others say Northern Germany. Being with 15th A of Occupation isnt so good. Getting Eisenhower jackets. Have to wear ties now. Things are very composed and no one seems to know where we turn next.

May 2 Wed. Hitler dead! Have transferred 2300 DPs into [prisoner of war] Camp. Should have 5700 by end of week. Running back and forth all day. Rumors have it we leave for Briey Sunday. Rumors very strong for return to States. I think Im really getting a bit punchy from driving that damn jeep constantly. I guess it must be jeep fatigue.

May 7, 1945. Its a beautiful world tonight naturally. Its been a long hard road and we thank God its over. Lets hope it wont be many weeks before we leave for Utopia and our loved ones, and God bless the guys that are finishing it off on the other side of this messed up world. Got a keg of beer, a bottle of wine from some Heinies, and I drove into town with some of the guys and we raided an empty wine cellar. However, we eventually had champagne, wine and beer. Hear we may leave within six weeks- sooner the better. Heaven and all that goes with it awaits my arrival.

Beyer said one entry in Tompkinss diary was written three miles from the front, but no one knew where the front was.

Invaluable contributors

A longtime Nevada Appeal employee who was born in Ely in 1913 worked as a reporter, a photo editor, an advertising director and columnist for 59 years up until he died in 2006. Prior to the Allied invasion of Normandy, radio operators such as William Bill Dolan of Carson City, who was assigned to a different unit, deceived the Germans.

He was one of the radio operators who convinced the Germans to land at Calais, not the beaches (Omaha, Utah), said his son Trent. He received a citation from (Gen. George) Marshall stating he saved 20,000 lives.

Trent said his father told him about the fighting at the Battle of the Bulge and how the soldiers navigated through the wet, thick mud on their way to Germany.

Another New York City native eventually moved to Las Vegas in the 1980s after serving as a professor of Art at Millersville (Pennsylvania) University. Harold Laynor was wounded at the Battle of the Bulge while serving in the 603rd Camouflage Engineers. While recovering from his wounds in a Paris hospital, Laynor received a visitor  the renown painter Pablo Picasso who invited the soldier to his studio after discovering Laynors interest in his work.

I found Picasso wonderful and its not difficult to see why he is the top figure in the art world today wrote Laynor to his wife Gloria and documented in Beyers book. My visit to his studio and working with him greatly inspires me to continue with my painting.

Beyer wrote Laynors belief as artist was strengthened by freedom and originality.

Picasso strengthened Laynors belief that an artist must trust in his or her intuition to create freedom and originality, described Beyer in his description of the situation. Laynors strong convictions about patriotism coupled with his sense of the realities of war are dramatically portrayed in his vivid and striking collection of World War II paintings, some painted during the war, some painted afterward based on wartime sketches and watercolors.

Laynor died 21 years ago, but his collection of World War II paintings has been exhibited worldwide.
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Chinese President Xi Jinping has stressed the need to thoroughly implement the important guidelines of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee on boosting China's strength in cyberspace, and to vigorously advance the high-quality development of the work on cybersecurity and informatization.

Xi, also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks in a recent instruction on the work of cybersecurity and informatization.

Since the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012, China has achieved significant progress in the cybersecurity and informatization work, with the Party's leadership of the work strengthened across the board, Xi said.

He said that China has put in place a system for integrated cyberspace management, and its system and capacity for cybersecurity have been constantly improving.

The country has accelerated its efforts to boost self-reliance and strength in science and technology while strengthening law-based governance of cyberspace, Xi said, adding that new strides have been made in boosting China's strength in cyberspace.

He said the important role of the cybersecurity and informatization work is increasingly prominent in the new era.

Xi stressed adherence to several principles, including the Party exercising leadership over cyberspace affairs, developing cyberspace affairs for the people, and taking a path of internet governance with Chinese characteristics.

He also underscored the need to coordinate development and security, strengthen the capability to ensure cybersecurity of the country, and promote building a community of a shared future in cyberspace.

Vigorous efforts should be made to advance the high-quality development of the cybersecurity and informatization undertakings, and make new achievements in boosting China's strength in cyberspace, thus making new contributions to building a modern socialist country in all respects and advancing national rejuvenation on all fronts, Xi said in the instruction.

A national meeting on work concerning cybersecurity and informatization was held from Friday to Saturday in Beijing.

Cai Qi, 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, attended the meeting and made a speech.

Xi's instruction was conveyed by Ding Xuexiang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and vice premier, who also attended the meeting.

Xi's instruction has charted the course for advancing the cybersecurity and informatization work in the new era, and must be implemented, Cai said.

Cai called for solid efforts to implement the strategic arrangements made at the 20th CPC National Congress regarding the cybersecurity and informatization work.

In his summary speech, Li Shulei, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, called for promoting high-quality development of the cybersecurity and informatization work to provide strong support for building China into a great country and achieving national rejuvenation.
Professional accountants are calling for amendments to the Companies Act 2012 and the Accountants Act 2013 which specify the corporate accounting, auditing, and financial reporting requirements in Uganda.

Derrick Nkanja, the Chief Executive Officer for the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Uganda (ICPAU) says the law should include mandatory inclusion of a certified professional accountant on each companys board of directors.

He says this is key because inactive financial departments of companies and institutions do slow economic growth.

He made the remarks on the sidelines of the C-Suite Forum that brought together several Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) and Chief Finance Officers (CFO) drawn from across the country.

The forum aimed at discussing how best synergies between CEOs and CFOs can lead to organizational success and economic growth.
By Dan Wandera | Monitor

Residents of Semuto Town Council in Nakaseke District Sunday morning woke up to shocking news of the death of a businessman who was shot dead by unidentified gunmen.

On Sunday, police identified the deceased as John Luwaga, a resident of Posta Zone in the same town council.

The suspects also robbed a car from the deceased. The police investigations team is on ground to establish the motive of the murder, Savana Region police spokesperson Sam Twineamazima commented on the incident. Read more
Conservationists in Uganda are today marking World Snake Day with renewed calls for the protection and preservation of all snake species.

The day aims at increasing awareness regarding the over 3,500 snake species that exist across the globe.

Edith Kabesiime, the wildlife campaign manager at World Animal Protect, says these reptiles are often not given the recognition they deserve because of the bad reputation they earned over the years yet not all species are harmful.

She thus joins other conservationists in highlighting the need for the protection of all snake species as an important aspect of protecting biodiversity and ecology in Uganda.
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khaskhabar.com : , 16  2023 11:41 AM
A Kilkenny TD has warned of a spike in arrears and disconnection figures as energy costs continue to cripple households.

New figures provided by the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities (CRU) reveal that there are now more than 400,000 households in arrears across the state.

Deputy Kathleen Funchion said:

Households are under huge pressure from the cost of living crisis. They need help and they need it now.

The figures are shocking. They are the inevitable consequence of a government that fails to act, while allowing energy companies to run rough-shod over consumers.

Between February and May there has been an increase of over 10% in the number of households in arrears (364,131 to 405,997). This means that there are now over 400,000 households in arrears across the state. Many of these households will be in County Kilkenny.

Behind these staggering figures are the ordinary workers and families who are facing the deeply distressing situation of being unable to afford to live in rip-off Ireland. And due to the actions of this government, there is no light at the end of the tunnel.

The reality is that energy costs have more than doubled in the last two years in Ireland. This is leading to insurmountable, unsustainable levels of debt for people that they simply cannot overcome. It is patently clear that the Government has not done enough to protect workers and families from rip-off energy costs here.

This is on top of people in Kilkenny already coming under huge pressure due to sky high rents, rising mortgage interest, huge grocery costs and childcare bills.

The Government must get to grips with this deteriorating situation urgently. They must heed Sinn Fein calls to hold energy companies to account and to address Irelands rip-off energy bills. Without urgent and appropriate intervention, ordinary workers and families in Kilkenny will continue to suffer.
Over the past five decades, China has grown from a member of the family of world intellectual property rights (IPR) into an important contributor to the global cause of IPR, transforming into one of the world-leading centers for innovation, creation and technology, said Daren Tang, Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).

Tang made the remarks at a commemorative event marking the 50th anniversary of cooperation between China and the WIPO.

He said the WIPO is willing to strengthen its cooperation with China to promote the construction and development of the global IPR ecology.

China has become a major country in intellectual property over the past 50 years. In November 1973, a Chinese delegation for the first time attended a WIPO meeting held in Geneva as an observer, and seven years later, China officially became an member country of the organization. In 1994, the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) accepted the first international patent filing under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT). In 2014, the WIPO set its China office in Beijing. In 2019, China became the biggest user of the PCT system. Last year, China joined the Hague Agreement Concerning the International Deposit of Industrial Designs and handed the ratification paper of the Marrakesh Treaty to Facilitate Access to Published Works for Persons Who Are Blind, Visually Impaired or Otherwise Print Disabled to the WIPO.

An official with the CNIPA noted that China and the WIPO have constantly deepened their cooperation and achieved fruitful results in the past 50 years. China will further deepen multilateral cooperation under the WIPO framework to make international IPR governance system more just and equitable, the official added.

The rapid development of China's IPR has offered solid support for the country's innovation-driven development strategy and high-quality development over the recent years.

In 2021, the added value of China's copyright industry exceeded 8 trillion yuan ($1.12 trillion), accounting for 7.41 percent of the country's GDP. The ratio of the exports of the Chinese copyright industry to the country's total exports has been maintained above 11 percent for consecutive years. Last year, the country recorded over 6.35 million copyright registrations, eight times of the number in 2012.

Tang noted that China has ranked 11th on WIPO's Global Innovation Index 2022, the top one among all middle-income economies. Last year, the country saw 70,000 international applications filed under the PCT, four times of those in 2012. Besides, Chinese applicants filed the third largest number of international trademark applications using WIPO's Madrid System. The number of trademark applications from China under the Madrid System last year doubled that in 2012.

Thanks to enhanced IPR protection, traditional Chinese culture and the Chinese culture industry are embracing more prosperous development. More and more Chinese artists are bringing their talents to places outside China.

After the opening ceremony of the commemorative event, Chinese artists staged a splendid art performance. In particular, a bian-lian show, or face-changing show, which is an important subgenre of Chinese Sichuan opera, received warm applause from the audience.

Board of Governors Johnson Kong with the International Intellectual Property Commercialization Council told People's Daily that the performance was wonderful and demonstrated the richness and diversity of the Chinese culture. Kong noted that the traditional Chinese culture holds many important IPR and all parties should recognize their value.

Judith Willert, executive director of the International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property, played chess with an AI robot in an exhibition area after watching the art performance. She said that the Chinese government attaches high importance on IPR, which is very important for developing economy.

Speaking of the cooperation between China and the WIPO, Kong noted that the efforts made by China to promote IPR in the past five decades have made important contributions to the country's economic development, and China's sci-tech innovation has benefited the whole society.

Thanks to continuously improved IPR system, China has produced more and more reliable tech products, Kong said, adding that it is believed that the country's IPR development in the future will benefit more people.
Two US-made F-16 fighters are pictured in the air during a scramble take off at the eastern Hualien air force base on January 23, 2013.
A new study claims scientists in Australia and Japan have developed a new blood test to detect the early stages of Alzheimer's disease.
On July 29-30, the V annual Cheese & Wine Festival will be held at the Forest Club Sherwood hotel and restaurant complex. The event is organized by Focus event, a company that creates emotions and various events to support people and the Armed Forces of Ukraine!

Cheese&Wine Festival is a combination of live music with a glass of real wine and craft cheese. The special guest at the event on July 29 is Pianoboy (Dmitry Shurov). The main goals of the festival are to raise funds for the needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine; help businesses sell their products and find and attract customers for long-term cooperation; popularize the culture of Ukrainian winemaking and cheese making; develop a culture of wine consumption; and facilitate communication between producers, distributors and the hotel and restaurant business in Ukraine.

The festival will bring together top management of enterprises, owners and managers of agricultural enterprises, owners and managers of restaurants, pubs, hotel and restaurant complexes, wine and cheese producers, professional sommeliers, opinion leaders, and representatives of specialized associations.

The event will feature a lecture hall where wine experts will present important and relevant topics for Ukrainian winemaking. Speakers of the event:

Liudmyla Boiko, chief technologist of the family-owned company Khani Badger.

Natalia Blagopoluchna, President of the All-Ukrainian Association of Winemakers and Sommeliers, head of the first Ukrainian Sommelier School.

Eduard Gorodetsky, founder of Tiras Winery and MY Wine.

Mykola Blagopoluchnyi, CEO of Master Class, Director of the All-Ukrainian Association of Winemakers and Sommeliers.

Ihor Vishtak, Director of the Crop Production Department at the Ministry of Agriculture of Ukraine.

Volodymyr Pechko, head of the public association "Ukrsadvynprom".

Iryna Kovaleva, Director of the V.E. Tairov Institute of Viticulture and Winemaking of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine.

Maksym Urakin, founder of the analytical center "Club of Experts", publisher, marketing director of the news agency "Interfax-Ukraine".

Yegor Belov, chef sommelier at InterContinental Kyiv, winner of the All-Ukrainian Sommelier Competition 2019.

Natalia Burlachenko, sommelier and brand ambassador of Vinos de La Luz (France, Spain, USA, Argentina).

The festival will feature a pre-premiere screening of the film Wounded Land. This is a documentary about the stories of Ukrainian winemakers who suffered from Russian aggression. The film was successfully presented in Hollywood (USA).

The event program will also include a roundtable discussion "Development of Ukrainian winemaking in times of war. Current issues. Communication between the government and producers to solve them" with Igor Vishtak, Director of the Crop Production Department of the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine, heads of specialized associations, owners and managers of wineries.

Cheese & Wine Festival has a charitable component. The military are sending various items from the frontline to be sold at a charity auction at the festival. The proceeds will be donated to the needs of the Armed Forces. Last year's festival raised UAH 74,500, which was used to buy a car for snipers.

We invite everyone: from craft winemakers and cheese makers to large distributors and manufacturing plants, from experts, sommeliers, winemakers to connoisseurs of quality wine and cheese.

Join the V Cheese and Wine Festival 2023. It will be interesting and useful and, of course, very tasty!

Interfax-Ukraine, Club of Experts, www.open4businesscom.ua are media partners.

Buy tickets for the festival - https://uman.karabas.com/ua/festival-cheese-wine
Schmidt P J Investment Management Inc. decreased its holdings in shares of Crown Castle Inc. (NYSE:CCI  Free Report) by 2.2% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 12,715 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock after selling 290 shares during the quarter. Schmidt P J Investment Management Inc.s holdings in Crown Castle were worth $1,564,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of CCI. Norges Bank bought a new position in Crown Castle in the 4th quarter worth about $642,077,000. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC grew its position in Crown Castle by 90,084.4% in the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 3,487,430 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $473,035,000 after purchasing an additional 3,483,563 shares during the last quarter. Mitsubishi UFJ Trust & Banking Corp grew its position in Crown Castle by 645.2% in the 4th quarter. Mitsubishi UFJ Trust & Banking Corp now owns 2,188,540 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $296,854,000 after purchasing an additional 1,894,859 shares during the last quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC grew its position in Crown Castle by 53.8% in the 4th quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC now owns 4,620,033 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $626,661,000 after purchasing an additional 1,616,949 shares during the last quarter. Finally, M&G Investment Management Ltd. grew its position in Crown Castle by 36.4% in the 4th quarter. M&G Investment Management Ltd. now owns 1,691,131 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $229,994,000 after purchasing an additional 451,665 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 89.55% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. TheStreet cut shares of Crown Castle from a b- rating to a c+ rating in a report on Friday, May 12th. Barclays decreased their price objective on shares of Crown Castle from $153.00 to $145.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a report on Thursday, April 20th. Royal Bank of Canada decreased their price objective on shares of Crown Castle from $162.00 to $144.00 in a report on Wednesday, April 26th. Moffett Nathanson upgraded shares of Crown Castle from a market perform rating to an outperform rating and decreased their price objective for the company from $161.00 to $155.00 in a report on Thursday, March 30th. Finally, Raymond James decreased their price objective on shares of Crown Castle from $154.00 to $147.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a report on Friday, April 21st. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, four have assigned a hold rating and ten have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $146.80.

Crown Castle Trading Up 0.2 %

Shares of NYSE:CCI traded up $0.28 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $115.65. The stock had a trading volume of 1,989,735 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,039,558. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.98, a quick ratio of 0.52 and a current ratio of 0.52. The company has a market cap of $50.15 billion, a PE ratio of 29.96 and a beta of 0.64. Crown Castle Inc. has a 12-month low of $107.62 and a 12-month high of $184.92. The companys 50 day moving average is $114.15 and its 200-day moving average is $128.02.

Crown Castle (NYSE:CCI  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, April 19th. The real estate investment trust reported $0.97 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.85 by ($0.88). The firm had revenue of $1.77 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.76 billion. Crown Castle had a net margin of 23.81% and a return on equity of 22.12%. The firms revenue was up 1.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $1.87 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts predict that Crown Castle Inc. will post 7.25 EPS for the current year.

Crown Castle Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, June 30th. Investors of record on Thursday, June 15th were given a $1.565 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, June 14th. This represents a $6.26 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 5.41%. Crown Castles dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 162.18%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, Director Kevin A. Stephens bought 1,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Tuesday, May 2nd. The stock was bought at an average price of $118.00 per share, for a total transaction of $118,000.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 15,416 shares in the company, valued at $1,819,088. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. In related news, Director Kevin A. Stephens bought 1,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Tuesday, May 2nd. The stock was bought at an average price of $118.00 per share, for a total transaction of $118,000.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 15,416 shares in the company, valued at $1,819,088. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Laura B. Nichol sold 5,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, April 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $120.97, for a total transaction of $604,850.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 16,782 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,030,118.54. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 24,472 shares of company stock worth $3,012,757 in the last quarter. 0.39% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Crown Castle Company Profile

(Free Report)

Crown Castle owns, operates and leases more than 40,000 cell towers and approximately 85,000 route miles of fiber supporting small cells and fiber solutions across every major U.S. market. This nationwide portfolio of communications infrastructure connects cities and communities to essential data, technology and wireless service  bringing information, ideas and innovations to the people and businesses that need them.

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Handelsbanken Fonder AB raised its holdings in shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (NYSE:TMO  Free Report) by 6.3% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 468,007 shares of the medical research companys stock after acquiring an additional 27,615 shares during the quarter. Thermo Fisher Scientific makes up 1.6% of Handelsbanken Fonder ABs portfolio, making the stock its 7th largest holding. Handelsbanken Fonder AB owned 0.12% of Thermo Fisher Scientific worth $269,745,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of TMO. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC boosted its stake in shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific by 104,536.8% during the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 8,355,245 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $4,601,150,000 after acquiring an additional 8,347,260 shares during the last quarter. Norges Bank purchased a new position in shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific during the 4th quarter valued at $3,105,677,000. Polen Capital Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific during the 4th quarter valued at $1,208,055,000. Morgan Stanley lifted its stake in shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific by 17.7% during the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 11,730,063 shares of the medical research companys stock valued at $6,459,629,000 after buying an additional 1,764,312 shares in the last quarter. Finally, CIBC Private Wealth Group LLC lifted its stake in shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific by 107.5% during the 4th quarter. CIBC Private Wealth Group LLC now owns 1,391,587 shares of the medical research companys stock valued at $759,715,000 after buying an additional 720,823 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 96.33% of the companys stock.

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Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Thermo Fisher Scientific news, CEO Marc N. Casper sold 1,600 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, May 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $534.82, for a total value of $855,712.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 141,330 shares in the company, valued at approximately $75,586,110.60. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. In other news, CEO Marc N. Casper sold 10,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, May 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $545.22, for a total value of $5,452,200.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 141,330 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $77,055,942.60. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, CEO Marc N. Casper sold 1,600 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, May 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $534.82, for a total transaction of $855,712.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 141,330 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $75,586,110.60. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 0.32% of the companys stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Thermo Fisher Scientific Stock Performance

A number of research firms recently weighed in on TMO. Morgan Stanley lowered their target price on shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific from $670.00 to $620.00 in a research note on Thursday, April 27th. Citigroup decreased their price target on shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific from $700.00 to $650.00 in a research note on Thursday, April 27th. StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a hold rating on the stock. KeyCorp decreased their price target on shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific from $710.00 to $640.00 in a research note on Thursday, May 25th. Finally, Robert W. Baird decreased their price target on shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific from $693.00 to $670.00 in a research note on Thursday, April 27th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have given a hold rating and ten have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $629.77.

Shares of NYSE:TMO opened at $529.36 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $204.18 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 34.51, a PEG ratio of 2.62 and a beta of 0.78. Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. has a 12 month low of $475.77 and a 12 month high of $611.06. The firms 50-day moving average is $522.66 and its 200 day moving average is $549.58. The company has a current ratio of 1.27, a quick ratio of 0.92 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69.

Thermo Fisher Scientific (NYSE:TMO  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, April 26th. The medical research company reported $5.03 EPS for the quarter, meeting the consensus estimate of $5.03. The company had revenue of $10.71 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $10.67 billion. Thermo Fisher Scientific had a net margin of 13.75% and a return on equity of 19.16%. The firms revenue was down 9.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $7.25 EPS. Research analysts predict that Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. will post 23.69 EPS for the current year.

Thermo Fisher Scientific Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, October 13th. Shareholders of record on Friday, September 15th will be paid a $0.35 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, September 14th. This represents a $1.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.26%. Thermo Fisher Scientifics dividend payout ratio is currently 9.13%.

About Thermo Fisher Scientific

(Free Report)

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc provides life sciences solutions, analytical instruments, specialty diagnostics, and laboratory products and biopharma services in the United States and internationally. The company's Life Sciences Solutions segment offers reagents, instruments, and consumables for biological and medical research, discovery, and production of drugs and vaccines, as well as diagnosis of infections and diseases; and solutions include biosciences, genetic sciences, clinical next-generation sequencing, bio production to pharmaceutical, biotechnology, agricultural, clinical, healthcare, academic, and government markets.

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John Hancock Investments  John Hancock Tax-Advantaged Global Shareholder Yield Fund (NYSE:HTY  Get Free Report) was the recipient of a large decrease in short interest in June. As of June 30th, there was short interest totalling 900 shares, a decrease of 76.3% from the June 15th total of 3,800 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 26,200 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 0.0 days.

John Hancock Investments  John Hancock Tax-Advantaged Global Shareholder Yield Fund Stock Down 1.0 %

Shares of NYSE:HTY traded down $0.05 during trading on Friday, reaching $4.75. The companys stock had a trading volume of 16,433 shares, compared to its average volume of 28,449. John Hancock Investments  John Hancock Tax-Advantaged Global Shareholder Yield Fund has a 12 month low of $4.32 and a 12 month high of $5.57. The firms 50 day simple moving average is $4.64 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $4.90.

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John Hancock Investments  John Hancock Tax-Advantaged Global Shareholder Yield Fund Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, June 30th. Stockholders of record on Monday, June 12th were paid a $0.16 dividend. This represents a $0.64 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 13.47%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, June 9th.

About John Hancock Investments  John Hancock Tax-Advantaged Global Shareholder Yield Fund

John Hancock Investments  John Hancock Tax-Advantaged Global Shareholder Yield Fund is a closed ended equity mutual fund launched and managed by John Hancock Investment Management LLC. It is co-managed by Analytic Investors, LLC and Epoch Investment Partners, Inc The fund invests in the public equity markets across the globe.

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Nabors Industries Ltd. (NYSE:NBR  Get Free Report) was the recipient of a significant growth in short interest in June. As of June 30th, there was short interest totalling 1,110,000 shares, a growth of 42.9% from the June 15th total of 776,600 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 238,600 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 4.7 days. Currently, 12.3% of the companys stock are sold short.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Nabors Industries

Hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Quarry LP acquired a new position in shares of Nabors Industries in the 1st quarter worth $25,000. US Bancorp DE boosted its position in shares of Nabors Industries by 165.9% in the first quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 226 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $28,000 after buying an additional 141 shares during the period. Mitsubishi UFJ Trust & Banking Corp acquired a new stake in Nabors Industries during the first quarter valued at $32,000. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC boosted its position in Nabors Industries by 89.6% during the third quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 565 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $57,000 after purchasing an additional 267 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada boosted its position in Nabors Industries by 43.1% during the third quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 793 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $80,000 after purchasing an additional 239 shares during the last quarter. 79.81% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

Several brokerages recently issued reports on NBR. 888 reissued a maintains rating on shares of Nabors Industries in a report on Wednesday, April 26th. Barclays cut their price target on Nabors Industries from $150.00 to $140.00 in a report on Thursday, June 8th. Morgan Stanley raised Nabors Industries from an underweight rating to an equal weight rating and cut their price target for the stock from $175.00 to $165.00 in a report on Tuesday, April 18th. Citigroup cut their price target on Nabors Industries from $200.00 to $140.00 in a report on Friday, May 19th. Finally, Susquehanna lowered their target price on Nabors Industries from $110.00 to $91.00 in a research report on Friday, June 2nd. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have issued a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $150.86.

Nabors Industries Stock Down 2.4 %

Shares of NBR stock traded down $2.62 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $108.42. 283,314 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 208,510. Nabors Industries has a twelve month low of $83.05 and a twelve month high of $190.90. The companys 50-day simple moving average is $95.69 and its 200-day simple moving average is $125.70. The company has a quick ratio of 1.61, a current ratio of 1.87 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 4.40.

Nabors Industries (NYSE:NBR  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Monday, April 24th. The oil and gas company reported ($0.55) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.06 by ($1.61). The company had revenue of $789.01 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $767.96 million. Nabors Industries had a negative return on equity of 26.14% and a negative net margin of 4.03%. Equities research analysts forecast that Nabors Industries will post 12.08 EPS for the current year.

Nabors Industries Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Nabors Industries Ltd. provides drilling and drilling-related services for land-based and offshore oil and natural gas wells in the United States and internationally. The company operates through U.S. Drilling, International Drilling, Drilling Solutions, and Rig Technologies. It provides tubular running, wellbore placement, directional drilling, measurement-while-drilling (MWD), equipment manufacturing, and rig instrumentation services; and logging-while-drilling systems and services, as well as drilling optimization software.

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New Millennium Group LLC cut its position in Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA  Free Report) by 60.1% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm owned 695 shares of the credit services providers stock after selling 1,045 shares during the period. New Millennium Group LLCs holdings in Mastercard were worth $252,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in MA. Bornite Capital Management LP bought a new stake in shares of Mastercard during the first quarter worth $21,442,000. United Bank increased its holdings in Mastercard by 34.5% during the 1st quarter. United Bank now owns 6,007 shares of the credit services providers stock worth $2,147,000 after purchasing an additional 1,541 shares in the last quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp lifted its holdings in shares of Mastercard by 30.1% in the first quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp now owns 272,358 shares of the credit services providers stock valued at $97,335,000 after purchasing an additional 63,040 shares in the last quarter. First Western Trust Bank acquired a new position in shares of Mastercard during the first quarter worth about $1,168,000. Finally, Bridgewater Associates LP bought a new position in shares of Mastercard during the first quarter worth about $12,926,000. 81.33% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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Insider Activity at Mastercard

In other Mastercard news, major shareholder Foundation Mastercard sold 125,816 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Monday, May 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $386.28, for a total value of $48,600,204.48. Following the sale, the insider now owns 100,437,277 shares in the company, valued at approximately $38,796,911,359.56. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. In related news, major shareholder Foundation Mastercard sold 125,816 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Monday, May 8th. The stock was 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 in the company, valued at approximately $38,796,911,359.56. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, insider Raghuvir Malhotra sold 11,398 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Friday, May 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $381.62, for a total transaction of $4,349,704.76. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 9,465 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,612,033.30. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 553,576 shares of company stock worth $211,635,322 over the last three months. Company insiders own 0.13% of the companys stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Mastercard Price Performance

A number of research firms have weighed in on MA. Mizuho reduced their price target on Mastercard from $405.00 to $400.00 in a research report on Tuesday, May 2nd. Royal Bank of Canada upped their price objective on Mastercard from $392.00 to $404.00 in a research note on Friday, April 28th. Morgan Stanley raised their target price on shares of Mastercard from $438.00 to $440.00 in a research note on Friday, April 28th. 888 reaffirmed a reiterates rating on shares of Mastercard in a report on Friday, June 30th. Finally, Citigroup upped their price objective on Mastercard from $435.00 to $440.00 in a research note on Friday, April 28th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eighteen have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $423.19.

Shares of NYSE:MA opened at $402.51 on Friday. Mastercard Incorporated has a one year low of $276.87 and a one year high of $403.49. 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 market cap of $381.52 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 40.21, a PEG ratio of 1.87 and a beta of 1.11. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $381.33 and a 200 day simple moving average of $370.47.

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 the consensus estimate of $2.71 by $0.09. Mastercard had a return on equity of 169.12% and a net margin of 42.33%. The company had revenue of $5.75 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.64 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $2.76 EPS. Mastercards revenue for the quarter was up 11.2% on a year-over-year basis. Research analysts predict that Mastercard Incorporated will post 12.2 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Mastercard Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, August 9th. Shareholders of record on Friday, July 7th will be given a $0.57 dividend. This represents a $2.28 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.57%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, July 6th. Mastercards dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 22.78%.

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.

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Suncor Energy (TSE:SU  Free Report) (NYSE:SU) had its price objective lowered by Royal Bank of Canada from C$51.00 to C$49.00 in a report published on Wednesday, BayStreet.CA reports.

SU has been the subject of several other research reports. Scotiabank dropped their price objective on shares of Suncor Energy from C$50.00 to C$47.00 in a report on Thursday, April 13th. UBS Group set a C$48.00 price target on shares of Suncor Energy and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Wednesday. BMO Capital Markets lowered their price target on shares of Suncor Energy from C$54.00 to C$52.00 in a report on Monday, April 17th. CSFB lowered their price target on shares of Suncor Energy from C$60.00 to C$56.00 in a report on Thursday, April 6th. Finally, National Bank Financial lowered their price target on shares of Suncor Energy from C$60.00 to C$57.00 in a report on Thursday, June 29th. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six 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 C$52.07.

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Suncor Energy Stock Down 2.1 %

SU opened at C$38.25 on Wednesday. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of C$39.03 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of C$41.85. Suncor Energy has a 52 week low of C$36.39 and a 52 week high of C$50.37. The company has a market capitalization of C$50.11 billion, a PE ratio of 6.36, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.15 and a beta of 1.66. The company has a quick ratio of 0.83, a current ratio of 1.11 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 42.16.

Suncor Energy Dividend Announcement

Suncor Energy ( TSE:SU Get Free Report ) (NYSE:SU) last released its quarterly earnings data on Monday, May 8th. The company reported C$1.36 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of C$1.26 by C$0.10. Suncor Energy had a net margin of 14.37% and a return on equity of 20.92%. The business had revenue of C$12.26 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of C$10.57 billion. Analysts forecast that Suncor Energy will post 5.5194805 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, June 26th. Investors of record on Monday, June 26th were issued a dividend of $0.52 per share. This represents a $2.08 annualized dividend and a yield of 5.44%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, June 2nd. Suncor Energys payout ratio is 34.61%.

Suncor Energy Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Suncor Energy Inc operates as an integrated energy company in Canada and internationally. It operates through Oil Sands; Exploration and Production; and Refining and Marketing segments. The Oil Sands segment explores, develops, and produces bitumen, synthetic crude oil, and related products. This segment also engages in syncrude oil sands mining and upgrading operations; and marketing, supply, transportation, and risk management of crude oil, natural gas, power, and byproducts.

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Salesforce (NYSE:CRM  Free Report) had its price objective increased by Mizuho from $240.00 to $250.00 in a research note issued to investors on Wednesday, FlyOnTheWall reports.

Other analysts have also issued research reports about the company. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price objective on Salesforce from $225.00 to $250.00 in a research note on Tuesday, May 30th. Roth Capital reissued a buy rating on shares of Salesforce in a research note on Thursday, June 1st. JMP Securities increased their price objective on Salesforce from $250.00 to $275.00 in a research note on Thursday, June 1st. Royal Bank of Canada increased their price objective on Salesforce from $225.00 to $240.00 in a research note on Thursday, June 1st. Finally, Sanford C. Bernstein raised their price target on Salesforce from $145.00 to $153.00 in a research note on Thursday, June 1st. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, thirteen have given a hold rating, twenty-four have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Salesforce has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $223.22.

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Salesforce Stock Down 0.5 %

Shares of CRM opened at $229.33 on Wednesday. The firm has a market cap of $223.37 billion, a P/E ratio of 603.52, a P/E/G ratio of 2.27 and a beta of 1.19. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $211.69 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $187.19. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.16, a current ratio of 1.02 and a quick ratio of 1.02. Salesforce has a 1 year low of $126.34 and a 1 year high of $232.20.

Insider Activity

Salesforce ( NYSE:CRM Get Free Report ) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, May 31st. The CRM provider reported $1.69 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.61 by $0.08. The business had revenue of $8.25 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $8.17 billion. Salesforce had a return on equity of 5.75% and a net margin of 1.18%. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $0.41 earnings per share. On average, analysts forecast that Salesforce will post 5.26 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

In other news, insider Parker Harris sold 561 shares of Salesforce stock in a transaction dated Monday, April 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $196.33, for a total transaction of $110,141.13. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 100,309 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $19,693,665.97. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. In related news, insider Parker Harris sold 561 shares of Salesforce stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, April 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $196.33, for a total transaction of $110,141.13. Following the sale, the insider now owns 100,309 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $19,693,665.97. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, CEO Marc Benioff sold 500,000 shares of Salesforce stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, June 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $209.14, for a total value of $104,570,000.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 16,671,609 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,486,700,306.26. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 910,723 shares of company stock valued at $191,912,295 in the last ninety days. Corporate insiders own 3.70% of the companys stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Salesforce

Several large investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. State Street Corp boosted its holdings in Salesforce by 0.9% during the 1st quarter. State Street Corp now owns 45,509,345 shares of the CRM providers stock valued at $9,091,832,000 after acquiring an additional 391,648 shares during the period. FMR LLC boosted its holdings in Salesforce by 1.9% during the 1st quarter. FMR LLC now owns 36,357,722 shares of the CRM providers stock valued at $7,263,546,000 after acquiring an additional 695,355 shares during the period. Morgan Stanley boosted its holdings in Salesforce by 0.8% during the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 19,003,836 shares of the CRM providers stock valued at $2,519,719,000 after acquiring an additional 149,012 shares during the period. Geode Capital Management LLC boosted its holdings in Salesforce by 1.9% during the 1st quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 17,749,285 shares of the CRM providers stock valued at $3,536,910,000 after acquiring an additional 332,375 shares during the period. Finally, Wellington Management Group LLP boosted its holdings in Salesforce by 21.3% during the 1st quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 14,134,170 shares of the CRM providers stock valued at $2,823,724,000 after acquiring an additional 2,481,759 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 81.13% of the companys stock.

Salesforce Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Salesforce, Inc provides Customer Relationship Management (CRM) technology that brings companies and customers together worldwide. The company's service includes sales to store data, monitor leads and progress, forecast opportunities, gain insights through analytics and relationship intelligence, and deliver quotes, contracts, and invoices; and service that enables companies to deliver trusted and highly personalized customer service and support at scale.

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National Australia Bank Limited (OTCMKTS:NABZY  Get Free Report) was the target of a large growth in short interest in June. As of June 30th, there was short interest totalling 175,700 shares, a growth of 534.3% from the June 15th total of 27,700 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 355,700 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 0.5 days.

National Australia Bank Price Performance

OTCMKTS:NABZY traded up $0.03 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $9.24. 51,405 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 186,156. The businesss 50-day moving average price is $8.71 and its 200 day moving average price is $9.56. National Australia Bank has a 12-month low of $8.17 and a 12-month high of $11.45.

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National Australia Bank Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, July 12th. Shareholders of record on Monday, May 15th were issued a $0.2666 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, May 12th. This represents a dividend yield of 5.74%. This is a boost from National Australia Banks previous dividend of $0.24.

About National Australia Bank

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.

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gettyimagesbank



By Yi Whan-woo



Korea still lags behind other OECD member countries on work-life balance, despite some shifting workplace trends that increasingly value such balance for a healthier and productive lifestyle, a study showed, Sunday.



Published in the latest journal of the government-affiliated Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs (KIHASA), a research paper showed that Korea, among 31 out of the 38 OECD countries assessed in 2021, had the longest working hours while staying in the bottom group concerning after-work free time.



The study was aimed at discovering how salaried workers in Korea can exercise labor rights to flexibly manage work and personal life compared to those in other countries.



Relevant data from the OECD was only available for 31 countries of the 38 OECD countries.



Of the targeted countries for study, Korea had the longest average working time of 1,601 hours per employee annually.



Concerning weekly working hours, 18.9 percent of the employees said they exceeded the maximum limit of 48 hours as recommended by the International Labor Organization (ILO). The rate was more than twice the mean average of the 31 countries at 7.4 percent.



The mean average time for leisure after work was measured at 258 minutes per day for Korea, the shortest among all countries except for Portugal and Lithuania which had 241 minutes and 247 minutes, respectively.



In particular, the daily free time for Korean employees was nearly two hours less than top-placed Norway's at 368 minutes.



Korea correspondingly was placed in the bottom fourth-tier group after KIHASA assessed a set of criteria on the quality of work and life for each country, categorizing each into one of four groups.



The criteria ranged from yearly working hours to overall employment rate, dual-income households, income, child care, paternal-maternal leave and vacation duration and frequency.



The lower group a country was in, the more likely their salaried workers worked long hours with less personal time after work.



A total of nine countries were in the bottom fourth-tier group, including the United States, Canada and Greece.



Of the higher-ranked groups, Denmark and Iceland were in the third-tier group, Estonia and Poland in the second-tier group and Norway, Sweden and the Netherlands at the top of the table.



"Our country's efforts to improve the well-being of workers does not appear to have reached the sufficient level, although the government, management and labor unions altogether have been working hard in recent years," said Yonsei University sociology professor Han Joon.



He noted the maximum limit of weekly working hours was legally reduced to 52 hours from 68 hours in 2018 during the previous Moon Jae-in administration and rules on overtime hours were tightened to protect workers from being exploited.


SHUSHA, Azerbaijan, July 16. The Vagif Poetry Days in Azerbaijan's Shusha, organized by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, the Ministry of Culture and the Writers' Union, ended with a grand premiere of the poetic and musical "The World of Vagif" performance in front of the museum and mausoleum complex of the Molla Panah Vagif, Trend correspondent reports from the event.

At the opening of the evening, the secretary of the Writers' Union of Azerbaijan, the author of the script of the "The World of Vagif" play Ilgar Fahmi pointed out that Azerbaijan is celebrating significant events  the 100th anniversary of national leader Heydar Aliyev, and the cultural capital of Azerbaijan Shusha has been proclaimed the cultural capital of the Turkic world this year.

Gratitude was expressed to First Vice-President of Azerbaijan, President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Mehriban Aliyeva for special care and attention to the development of culture, the promotion of national art throughout the world.

"Vagif's Poetry Days were held for the third time and marked by a number of significant events. The Days of Poetry began in the poet's hometown - the Gazakh village of Yuxar Salahl. The proclamation of the city of Shusha as the cultural capital of the Turkic world gave special significance to the events in the context of the unity of the Turkic peoples, common language, literature, traditions, history and heritage through the work of Vagif, vividly reflected in our project," Fahmi said.

Among the significant events, we note the presentation of the "bdi omrun yuz ili" (100 years of eternal life) book, dedicated to national leader Heydar Aliyev, which was held in the Mehmandarovs' House complex in Shusha. Various literary and musical evenings caused a great response among the guests," he added.

The poetic and musical "The World of Vagif" performance, staged by Vagif Bahruzoglu, revived the images of Molla Panakh Vagif, Molla Veli Vidadi, Muhammad Fuzuli, Alisher Navai, Shah Ismail Khatai and other poets of the Turkic world of different periods of life and activity, harmoniously intertwined into a single space of a high literary word.

Although the composition is based on a dialogue between Vagif and Vidadi, it includes poems, music and mugham works by other poets. Stage costumes, scenery, dance compositions, and the storyline only intensified the sensations, taking the audience back several centuries.

The premiere of the play was repeatedly accompanied by ovations, as a result, the audience greeted the creative team standing up. It was a real triumph!

The actors shared their impressions of the performance and the Vagif Poetry Days with Trend.

The cast includes Honored Artists Azad Shukurov (Vagif), Vagif Bahruzoglu (Shah Ismail Khatai), Elman Rafiyev (Alisher Navoi), Ajdar Zeynalov (Molla Veli Vidadi), Jeyhun Dadashov (Sheikh Ghalib, Vusal Rzasoy (Yunus Emre), Elnur Rza (Hafiz Khorezmi), Elnur Abbasguliyev (Nurmukhamed- Gharib Andalib), Tural Ahmed (Lezgi Ahmed), Togrul Rza (Heste Gasim), Ulviya Rza (Agabeim-agha), Rafig Ibrahimov (Faraghi), Hajibaba Mammadov (Shah Qajar), Kerem Hadizade (Muhammad Fuzuli) as well as young artists 10-year-old Aylin Mammadzade and 11-year-old Amil Ahmadzade.

"The work on the play went on for a month, a very large amount of work was done. I have staged many performances, but for me this is the first such major project at the state level, created with the support of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and the Ministry of Culture, it is a great honor and joy to present it in Shusha, to hear kind words and applause from the audience," director of the play, theater and film actor Bahruz Vagifoglu said.

"The Vagif Poetry Days have become a grandiose holiday, which will be inscribed in golden letters in the national culture of the country. Each of the actors put their whole soul and heart into creating the images, and we are very happy to present this performance for the first time in the sacred land of Karabakh, in Shusha, Ajdar Zeynalov said.

"It is a great happiness for me to perform in Shusha, where I was last 32 years ago. Shusha has always been a hearth of the culture of the Azerbaijani people and the holding of the Vagif Poetry Days here gives a special meaning to the liberated and reviving native land. It was my dream to play in Shusha and it came true! I believe that such projects should be presented on international stages," Elman Rafiyev said.

"Previously, I embodied the image of Vagif in various projects, having carefully studied the work of the great poet. This time I appeared in a different image, which allowed me to take a fresh look at the legacy of Vagif and the poets of the Turkic world," Tural Ahmed said.

The Mirvari dance ensemble under the direction of Honored Artist of Azerbaijan Nailya Mammadzade, actors of the State Pantomime Theater also took part in the performance.
Angola, IN (46703)

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This photo taken on April 6, 2022 shows a sculpture and flags at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Belgium. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong)

"We see that NATO's modus operandi is war. NATO has never been a defensive alliance," says CodePink.



NEW YORK, July 15 (Xinhua) -- America's NATO allies are not, as U.S. President Joe Biden would suggest, anchors in a turbulent sea of demons but rather catalysts stirring the cauldron of war on behalf of U.S. empire, said the feminist grassroots organization CodePink in a blog post on Thursday.

"NATO has pushed the world towards greater militarization precisely at this delicate moment in history when we need to invest our resources in thwarting the climate crisis that threatens the future of this planet with collapsing ecosystems, wildfires and floods," said the blog post.

"We see that NATO's modus operandi is war. NATO has never been a defensive alliance. It invaded Yugoslavia in 1999 without a mandate from the UN Security Council. NATO waged a 20-year war in Afghanistan, leaving the people dirt poor and back in the hands of the Taliban. NATO illegally toppled the government of Libya in 2011," it noted.

"In addition to the present war with Russia, it has its sights set on China, building up a provocative Asia-Pacific military alliance with South Korea, Japan, Australia and New Zealand to counter China," it said.

NATO is also a cash cow for arms manufacturers, and it is the enemy of nuclear disarmament in its opposition to the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, it added. 
Photo: The Canadian Press Searchers dock at a marina in Akwesasne, Que. Friday, March 31, 2023.

After the discovery of eight migrant bodies in the St. Lawrence River earlier this year, one image emerged that felt especially haunting, even amid all of the horror and details of lives lost. It was a photo of two of the victims taken before their deaths. Both of them were small children: Evelin, a toddler with round cheeks in a red dress, and her brother Elyen, an infant in a onesie, with a thick crop of dark hair.

Their parents, Florin and Cristina Iordache, were refugee claimants from Romania. They had been in Canada for six years, and Evelin and Elyen were born here. But by late March, 2023, the parents were on the verge of being deported.

The family faced a wrenching decision: Either split up, leaving the Canadian-born children behind (if possible, with family or friends, or in foster care) or take them to Romania, where an uncertain but likely grim future awaited.

They chose neither. Instead, the Iordaches boarded a boat operated by a human smuggler in an attempt to enter the United States. All of them died.

In the immediate aftermath, politicians expressed shock that Canadian citizens  children, no less  were not better protected by our institutions.

Any kid is troubling, but the fact that theres two Canadian kids who perished in this way brings it home, the familys lawyer Peter Ivanyi said at the time.

Prime Minister Trudeau called the familys plight horrific. Canada, he said, must remain open and welcoming, with a rigorous and well-applied immigration system that protects the most vulnerable.

But in conversations with migrant advocates, lawyers and settlement workers, all of them echoed the same sentiment: The situation the Iordache family faced was not exceptional. Parents without status routinely face the threat of deportation, despite the excruciating dilemma it creates in regards to their Canadian-born children. Most children are left with little option but to leave the country too.

Imagine that kind of Sophies choice, said Rachel Kronick, a McGill University professor and child psychiatrist who works with refugee families.

The trauma of separation. Or putting them potentially in harms way. These are just unbearable decisions for parents to make.

The byzantine and slow-moving processes of the immigration system is often a major contributing factor, critics say. As of last month, more than two million applications were awaiting processing with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.

Procedures here frequently take years to reach finality, said Andrew Brouwer, senior counsel in refugee law at Legal Aid Ontario. And while families wait, they continue on with their lives, finding work, building homes and sometimes having kids.

Nuria Branco came to Canada in 2016, joining her common-law partner, Joao Fagundes. He had arrived from the Azores two years earlier, initially as a visitor, and began the process of applying for permanent residence at that time under the skilled-trades program (Mr. Fagundes is a roofer). The federal governments service standard for such applications is six months.

The couple has made repeated attempts to gain legal status since, first paying a lawyer $15,000 to apply for permanent residency, only to learn the program hed promised didnt exist. They later spent an additional $16,000 on legal fees with an individual who, it turned out, wasnt even a lawyer.

Amid this long process, Ms. Branco gave birth to their daughter, Alline. She was born in 2018 with a number of health complications, including cerebral palsy, and required constant care from a range of specialists. A year later, Mr. Fagundes was issued a deportation order.

As soon as they told us, our world fell, Ms. Branco said. They agonized over the medical care Alline would receive in the Azores; here, the same team of specialists and experts had been caring for her since birth. Plus, without Portuguese citizenship, shed likely face a long wait before becoming eligible for health care. They stopped sleeping, and were afraid to leave the house for fear they would be stopped and asked for documentation.

We didnt know what was going to happen with Alline, with us  with her future.

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, of which Canada is a signatory, explicitly dictates that the best interests of the child shall be a primary consideration in all actions concerning children.

But in practice, advocates say, this principle isnt consistently applied in immigration programs.

When assessing a refugee application, for instance, the existence of Canadian-born children is not a required consideration. And in cases where a deportation order has already been issued  and where a family makes a deferral request  officials are required to factor in only the short-term interests of a child.

We understand that these sorts of situations are incredibly difficult and do empathize with the families, IRCC spokesperson Michelle Carbert said.

She referred to a separate option called a humanitarian and compassionate application. The H&C process does assess families based on the best interests of children. But it can be a high bar, advocates say, and is meant only for exceptional cases. The rejection rate rose to nearly 70 per cent in early 2021, from about 36 per cent in 2016.

H&C applicants can also wait years for a decision, and theres nothing preventing officials from deporting parents in the meantime.

Part of the issue, said Toronto-based immigration lawyer Lev Abramovich, is that the government wants to protect against fraudulent claims and so-called anchor babies  concerns around foreigners, usually wealthy, using children born in Canada as a shortcut to citizenship.

But while fraud does happen, its the governments job to target that systemically, by going after the criminal or fraudulent organizations who look to exploit our systems, he said.

Instead, right now, the people were punishing are individuals.

When it comes to H&C applications, a familys financial situation also plays a role.

Each legal application can cost several thousands of dollars  and thats before legal fees. Filing an additional H&C application  another several thousand dollars  is an option that many people cant afford.

In theory, there are avenues in the law, Toronto immigration lawyer Warda Shazadi Meighen said. But it takes resources.

Last year, the UNs Committee on the Rights of Children took to reminding Canada of its treaty obligations. The best interests of the child, it said in a report, must be appropriately integrated, into, and consistently interpreted and applied, across all policies and programs.

In a statement, Karine Martel, a spokesperson for the Canada Border Services Agency (which is responsible for immigration enforcement), said that the government seeks to balance its UN obligations while adhering to legislative requirements when administering cases involving minor children.

The decision to deport anyone, she said, is not taken lightly, and always considers the best interest of the child. She cited the exceptions CBSA officers sometimes make to grant families facing deportation additional time, so that a child can finish their school year or attend medical appointments.

But many families, like the Iordaches, simply run out of options.

At that point, said Syed Hussan, the executive director of Migrant Workers Alliance for Change, some families choose to go undocumented. But this puts them at risk of exploitation  from their employers, or even trafficking operations. It also means uprooting the children from their lives to avoid being caught by immigration officials: moving to a new home, new school and new job.

They remain in Canada undocumented, facing exploitation and abuse and denial of service, because that seems like a better option, he said.

But most families, experts say, choose to leave together  with the Canadian-born children  uprooting their lives for an uncertain future in an often-unknown country.

Many of the refugee families who find themselves in this situation have already endured trauma before coming to Canada, Dr. Kronick said. So the threat of deportation or separation becomes an additional blow. And these cumulative traumas can put families  and children  at higher risk of developing anxiety, depression or post-traumatic stress disorder. The more the trauma builds and accumulates, the harder it is to recover.

Because the government does not track data on how often the situation arises, she called it an invisible cruelty.

On a regular basis, she said, what I see are families having to choose between separation and safety.

Last month, the Canadian Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry released a paper urging the federal government to enshrine all aspects of the best interests of the child principle into immigration policy.

In practice, what theyre asking is for officials to put in place an additional process any time a deportation order that may affect children is considered.

This, Dr. Kronick said, would require officials trained in assessing child welfare (not simply CBSA agents) to ask questions about the impact on the childs development: Whats at stake in terms of their mental health? Whats at stake in terms of their right to family unity?

Mr. Brouwer, the Legal Aid Ontario lawyer, described it as flipping the onus on government.

If the policy were designed with an eye to, How is this going to affect the best interests of the child? maybe we wouldnt have people forced into these very dangerous situations, and dangerous border crossings, with children.

But Mr. Syed, the migrant worker advocate, said these reforms dont go far enough. In 2022, Canada granted permanent residence to fewer than half a million people. In the same year, the country issued around 1.2 million temporary work and study permits.

Thats the straight math, he said. Weve created a system of permanent temporariness.

The migrant workers who make up his organization tell him, Were like chewing gum, he said. You bring us here, you chew us. And then when youre done, you toss us out.

Instead, he said, the government should be granting permanent resident status as the default for the majority of people entering the country. Hes also pushing for Ottawa to regularize the status of undocumented people  a one-time move that would grant permanent residence to those already living here. Its an option the government has said its considering.

But theres no timeline on when that might happen.

Ms. Branco and her family, at least, have received happy news. They eventually found their way to Ms. Shazadi Meighen, the Toronto-based immigration lawyer, who was able to secure permanent resident status for the couple last July.

They did this using an H&C application, which was successful largely because of Allines extraordinary circumstances. They were able to include letters from doctors describing her medical needs. They also submitted a letter from a Portuguese official describing the long delays Alline would face in receiving care there, and the deleterious effects that would have on the young girls development.

With that immediate threat out of the way, Ms. Branco has been able to devote her attention fully to Allines care: the thrice-weekly physiotherapy appointments and the many regular trips to hospital for assessments. For years, the couple had been balancing all that with what often felt like the full-time work of pursuing legal status.

These days, Alline can crawl and say a number of words, including five (her age) and mommy. She showed off these skills proudly to a visitor one recent afternoon, scooting across the kitchen floor in pursuit of orange jelly candy.

Ms. Branco watched from a few steps away. Before we became permanent residents, we were always fighting  to make sure we were doing everything, she said.

Now, we can rest.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Jule 16. The trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan from January through June 2023 increased 3.8 times compared to the same period last year ($125.9 million), to $485.46 million, Trend reports.

According to the data of the Azerbaijani State Customs Committee (SCC), Turkmenistan entered the top 15 countries in terms of trade turnover with Azerbaijan in the first 6 months of this year.

During this period, Turkmen exports to Azerbaijan amounted to $439.03 million, which is 3.8 times higher than in the same period of 2022 ($115.08 million).

Turkmenistan's share in the total volume of Azerbaijani imports in the reporting period amounted to 5.36 percent compared to 1.81 percent in the first six months of last year.

Turkmenistan increased imports from Azerbaijan by 2.7 times from January through June 2023 compared to the same period in 2022 ($10.82 million) - up to $46.42 million.

Turkmenistan's share in the total volume of Azerbaijani exports during this period was 0.26 percent compared to 0.06 percent in the first six months of 2022.

The trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan amounted to $535.3 million in 2022.
New Delhi [India], July 16 (ANI): The Aam Aadmi Party on Sunday called a Political Action Committee (PAC) meeting of the party, ahead of opposition meet scheduled on July 18 in Bengaluru, according to AAP sources.

In the today's meeeting, the AAP will decide whether to participate in the opposition meeting in Karnataka's Bengaluru.

Also Read | Maharashtra Bestiality Horror: 65- Year-Old Held for Unnatural Sex With Cows in Wardha After Video Goes Viral.

The meet in Bengaluru is scheduled with the purpose of uniting the opposition to take on the Bharatiya Janata Party in the upcoming general assembly polls in 2024.

Top leaders of at least 24 political parties would attend the second Opposition unity meeting being convened by Congress in Bengaluru.

Also Read | EAM S Jaishankar Meets Myanmar Counterpart U Than Swe, Raises Issues of Human and Drug Trafficking, Stability in Border Areas.

According to sources, eight new parties have extended their support to the Opposition parties' efforts to present a united front against the BJP ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

"After last month's mega Opposition meet in Bihars Patna, top leaders of as many as 24 political parties will be attending the second meeting which is going to take place in Karnataka's Bengaluru," sources said.

"Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK), Kongu Desa Makkal Katchi (KDMK), Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP), All India Forward Bloc, Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), Kerala Congress (Joseph), and Kerala Congress (Mani) are among the new political parties that will be joining the meeting," they said.

"Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi will also attend the Opposition Parties meeting," they added.

Significantly, a mega opposition meeting was held in Bihar's Patna on June 23. The AAP asked Congress to clear its stand on the centre's ordinance, which was brought by the central government regarding the transfer and posting of group-A officers in Delhi.

However, the AAP said that except for the Indian National Congress, all other 11 parties, which have representation in the Rajya Sabha, have clearly expressed their stand against the Ordinance. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
ADGP Kashmir Zone Vijay during his visit to Nunwan Base Camp in Pahalgam (Photo/ANI)

Pahalgam (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], July 16 (ANI): The Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Kashmir Zone Vijay Kumar along with other senior officials, on Saturday visited Nunwan Base Camp, Pahalgam and reviewed the security arrangements for the ongoing Amarnath Yatra, officials said.

The purpose of his visit was to assess the security measures put in place and ensure the safety and well-being of the yatris participating in the annual Amarnath Yatra.

Also Read | Budapest Pride Protest Restrictive LGBTQ Law.

During the visit, ADGP checked the functioning of JPCR & X-Ray Point and held a security briefing. The officers held a comprehensive security briefing to discuss the current situation and strategies for further security measures to maintain a peaceful and incident-free yatra, officials said.

The ADGP Kashmir physically inspected the deployment of forces on the ground and instructed them for better coordination and joint efforts to achieve an incident-free and smooth yatra.

Also Read | Berlin: Hundreds Protest Rammstein over Sexual Abuse Claims.

During the visit, Kumar and the accompanying officers also observed a mock drill to evaluate the preparedness and coordination of the security personnel in dealing with any unforeseen circumstances including terrorist threats that may arise during the yatra.

The drill focused on rapid response, crowd management, and evacuation procedures. The ADGP physically checked the function of JPCR and Drone Management Centre.

Later on, all officers visited several checkpoints and interacted with soldiers and officers deployed on the ground.

Besides, the ADGP instructed SSP Anantnag to take action against the Over Ground Workers (OGWs) and conduct regular Cordon and Search Operations (CASO) along with security forces in vulnerable areas of Yatra routes.

Kumar expressed satisfaction with the security arrangements put in place for the Amarnath Yatra. He acknowledged the efforts of the security forces including the J&K Police and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in ensuring the safety of the yatris and maintaining peace in the region, officials said.

The ADGP Kashmir said that the safety and security of the yatris undertaking the Amarnath Yatra had always been paramount. The yatra holds immense religious significance as yatris undertake a challenging trek to the Amarnath cave shrine

ADGP Kashmir also appreciated the stakeholders' efforts in the yatra arrangements, including the representatives from organizations responsible for infrastructure maintenance, medical services, and other essential support systems, read the statement.

On his visit, the Deputy Inspector General of Police South Kashmir Range (SKR), DIG CRPF, SSP Anantnag, Commandant CRPF, Camp Director, and other senior officers accompanied the ADGP Kashmir. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
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New Delhi [India], July 16 (ANI): Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal headed Apex Committee, meant for Flood Control and Preparedness in Delhi, never held any meetings for the last 2 years, alleged Lieutenant Governor's office in a statement on Sunday, amid flood in low lying areas of the national capital.

However, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government refuted the claims and said that Minister Atishi chaired the meeting on July 6 as Revenue Minister.

Also Read | Mamata Banerjee to Send High-Level Disaster Management Team Under Irrigation Minister to North Bengal.

According to the statement issued by the LG's office, a compulsory meeting of the Apex Committee "should have taken place by the end of June and issued Flood Control Order."

"The Apex Committee meeting ensures seamless coordination between various agencies including GNCTD, GOI, Army and Central Water Commission (CWC). A compulsory meeting of the Apex Committee should have taken place by the end of June and issued Flood Control Order. Flood Control Order was issued without the Apex Committee meeting and without preceding preparations", the statement read.

Also Read | Delhi Floods: Arvind Kejriwal Government to Set Up Camps for Aadhaar, Other Documents Washed Away in Flood.

Kejriwal has "none other but to blame himself" for the flooding and resultant "pathetic situation" of the capital, it said

"Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, who is making his ministers and AAP leaders do overtime in blaming everyone and everything under the sun, for the flooding and resultant pathetic situation of the National Capital, has none other but to blame himself. All statements being made by AAP Ministers and spokespersons are blatantly false", the statement stated.

It also alleged that though a file was submitted to the CM for convening the mandatory meeting, "Kejriwal chose not to even look at this critical file related to flood control."

"On a file moved by the DM of East District, who is the nodal officer of this Apex Committee, on 19.06.23, the Divisional Commissioner- who is also the Convenor of the Committee, requested CM Kejriwal on 21.6.23, to suggest a suitable date & time for convening the mandatory meeting of the Apex Committee in the last week of June. The file was submitted to the CM through the Revenue Minister, Atishi Marlena. However, CM Arvind Kejriwal chose to not even look at this critical file related to flood control, leave apart from convening a meeting. His Additional Secretary, a relatively junior functionary, returned the file after 04 days, i.e. on 26.06.23 to Atishi with the noting that, "Hon'ble CM has desired that the Hon'ble Minister (Revenue) may convene the meeting", of the Apex Committee, that is Chaired by CM," the statement said.Even when the DM office issued a notice to hold a 'short meeting', it was not taken into consideration rather Minister Atishi took a false sick leave, the statement claimed.

"The meeting chaired by Atishi did not have the presence of the Chief Secretary, Police Commissioner, MCD Commissioner, CEO DJB and various other important stakeholders, leave apart the representatives from the CWC. This happened because Atishi DID NOT ask for them to be present in the meeting. Kejriwal or Atishi did not even bother to take their boisterous, more loyal than the king, Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj, incharge of I&FC and DJB, in confidence.

"The DM office accordingly issued a notice on 27.06.23, for this SHORT MEETING to be held on 30.06.23, but even this short meeting did not happen then. It did not happen because Minister Atishi was busy avoiding the oath of the new DERC Chairman and had taken a false sick leave. So, the DM office again issued a meeting notice on 05.07.23 for a SHORT MEETING on 06.07.23, after which a perfunctory half-baked flood control order was issued without taking the main stakeholders into confidence", the statement stated.

The meeting of the Apex Committee was never held, it said.

"The Meeting of the Apex Committee Chaired by Arvind Kejriwal, responsible for handling floods in NCT of Delhi was NEVER held. And today they are blaming everyone else, while the people of Delhi are forced to undergo misery because of their criminal inaction", it added. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
New Delhi, July 16: The shirtless body of a 30-year-old man with a stab injury mark was found dumped in Delhis Shastri Park area on Sunday, police officials said. The incident happened in the Bela Farm area of Shastri Park in Delhi, said the police. Odisha Horror: Two Drunk Men Eat Flesh of Half-Burnt Dead Body During Cremation As Part of Witchcraft in Mayurbhanj, Detained.

Today morning, (16.7.23), at 08:34 am, information was received that an unidentifed male dead body had been dumped in Bela Farm, an area under PS Shastri Park. The shirtless dead body of a male aged about 30 years with sharp weapon injury marks on the neck and abdomen was found at the spot, said the police. The police suspect that the victim was assaulted somewhere else, and later the dead body had been dumped at Bela Farm. Delhi Crime Horror: Woman Found Dead Near Geeta Colony Flyover, Police Recover Body Chopped Into Several Pieces.

Police have registered a case of murder. Efforts are being made to identify the deceased, the police added. Further investigation is underway, they said.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
New Delhi, July 16: Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday visited a flood relief camp in Sarvodaya Bal Vidyalaya at Mori Gate in north Delhi. During his visit to the relief camp where residents from the flooded Yamuna Bazar area have taken shelter, the CM was accompanied by Delhi Public Works Department (PWD) Minister Atishi.

"Due to the rise in the water level of Yamuna River, many low-lying areas were affected and have been facing waterlogging for the past few days. So residents of affected areas were moved to various relief camps across the capital. Six districts in the city have been affected and Delhi government has set up relief camps at several places in these six districts. Relief camps were set up in nearby schools and Dharamshalas and facilities for drinking water and toilets were ensured. This is one such relief camp, we have residents from the Yamuna Bazar area here", CM Kejriwal told reporters after visiting the camp. Delhi Floods: Yamuna Water Level Drops to 206.02 Metres, Waterlogging Situation in Several Low Lying Areas Improve (Watch Video).

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal Oversees Flood Relief Camp:

#WATCH | Delhi: CM Arvind Kejriwal visits flood relief camp in Mori Gate and interacts with the people pic.twitter.com/09yvQb1uHe  ANI (@ANI) July 16, 2023

Meanwhile, Delhi Lieutenant Governor (LG) Vinai Kumar Saxena also inspected flood-affected areas in Delhi's Raj Ghat area today. Delhi Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj earlier today inspected a relief camp near Mayur Vihar. On Saturday, Delhi PWD Minister Atishi directed the chief secretary to ensure that all amenities are provided to people sheltered in relief camps.

Marooned locals residing on the banks of the Yamuna were evacuated and shifted to relief camps after the river breached the danger mark, resulting in water spilling over and flooding several parts of the national capital. There have been complaints of inadequate facilities at the relief camps, with people sheltered there claiming shortage of water, inadequate toilets, electricity and poor quality of food. Delhi Traffic Police Advisory: Commuters Advised to Avoid Several Routes as Heavy Rain Lashes National Capital, Waterlogging Causes Congestion.

Meanwhile, according to the data shared by the Central Water Commission on their portal, the water level of the Yamuna River dropped to 205.88 metres at 12 noon on Sunday. Further, according to officials, the water level of Yamuna is likely to fall below the danger mark in the next few hours. The Yamuna River in Delhi crossed the danger mark of 205.33 metres at 5 pm on July 10.

Officials said that National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams carried out rescue operations in the low-lying areas near Pragati Maidan late on Saturday night as the Yamuna River continues to overflow. Notably, several parts of Delhi witnessed waterlogging and flooding following incessant rainfall and the release of water from the Hathni Kund barrage in Haryana. However, the water level of the Yamuna river is receding gradually as per the data released by the Central Water Commission. It was recorded at 205.95 at 10 am today.

(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 16 (ANI): Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Raghav Chadha on Sunday said that the Congress has announced "unequivocal opposition" to the ordinance brought by the central government on control of services.

"Congress announces its unequivocal opposition to the Delhi Ordinance. This is a positive development," Raghav Chadha tweeted.

Also Read | Ajit Pawar, Other Maharashtra NCP Ministers Meet Sharad Pawar in Mumbai (Watch Video).

While speaking to ANI, Raghav said that "I have put my point through a tweet. Whatever decision will be taken in the PAC meeting, you will be informed."

"The Congress will oppose the Centre's Ordinance against the Delhi government," Congress national spokesperson Pawan Khera told ANI on Sunday.

Also Read | India Gifts 34 Ambulances, 50 School Buses to Various Organisations in Nepal.

Meanwhile, AAP leaders Raghav Chadha, Gopal Rai, and Atishi arrived at the residence of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for a meeting of the party's Political Affairs Committee (PAC).

The AAP called a PAC meeting of the party, ahead of the opposition meeting scheduled on July 18 in Bengaluru, according to AAP sources.

In today's meeting, the AAP will decide whether to participate in the opposition meeting in Karnataka's Bengaluru.

The meet in Bengaluru is scheduled with the purpose of uniting the opposition to take on the Bharatiya Janata Party in the upcoming general assembly polls in 2024.

Top leaders of at least 24 political parties would attend the second Opposition unity meeting being convened by Congress in Bengaluru.

Significantly, a mega opposition meeting was held in Bihar's Patna on June 23. The AAP asked Congress to clear its stand on the centre's ordinance, which was brought by the central government regarding the transfer and posting of group-A officers in Delhi. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
New Delhi [India], July 16 (ANI): Putting an end to speculations over its stand on the Centres ordinance related to the control of administrative services in Delhi, Congress, in a big boost for Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi government announced its support to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).

General Secretary KC Venugopal on Sunday said that the partys stand on the same is very clear and it is going to oppose it in parliament.

Also Read | Delhi Floods: Tonight Yamunas Water Level Will Be Below Danger Level, Says PWD Minister Atishi Marlena.

"Congress' stand on this is very clear. We will oppose it," Venugopal said while speaking to ANI.

Meanwhile, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) said the Congress' "unequivocal opposition" to the Delhi ordinance was "a positive development".

Also Read | BJP-RSS Leader Pratap Singh, Mistaken To Be a Muslim Because of Black Cap, Attacked by Kanwariyas in Haridwar (Watch Video).

AAP MP and national spokesperson Raghav Chadha tweeted, "Congress announces its unequivocal opposition to the Delhi Ordinance. This is a positive development."

AAP Minister Gopal Rai said that their fight has got a strength with the Congress support.

"Congress party today made its stand clear and said that it will oppose the Delhi ordinance. This fight has got strength with Congress' support," Rai told ANI.

While Congress West Bengal President Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said that the party has objected in some way or the other.

"For the past many years, PM Modi's govt has brought in several ordinances one after the other. On every ordinance, the Congress party has objected in some way or the other...We don't want a law to be passed through ordinance...," Chowdhury further said.

Arvind Kejriwal's party, after the first party meeting in Patna had threatened to boycott the key Opposition meeting scheduled to be held tomorrow aimed at forging an alliance to take on the ruling BJP ahead of the crucial 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

On June 23, the AAP issued a statement saying that until the Congress publicly denounces the "black ordinance" and declares that all 31 of its RS MPs will oppose the ordinance in the Rajya Sabha, it will be difficult for AAP to participate in future meetings of like-minded parties where the Congress is a participant.

"A total of 15 parties are attending the like-minded party meeting in Patna, out of which 12 have representation in the Rajya Sabha. Except for the Indian National Congress, all other 11 parties, which have representation in the Rajya Sabha, have clearly expressed their stand against the Black Ordinance and announced that they would oppose it in the Rajya Sabha," the party said.

AAP had claimed said that during the meeting of like-minded parties in Patna, many parties urged the Congress to publicly denounce the ordinance but the "Congress refused to do so".

However, with the Congress making its stand clear on the Delhi ordinance issue, the AAP will now participate in the upcoming meeting of the opposition parties in Bengaluru.

The party under Arvind Kejriwal ji, will participate the meeting of the like-minded parties in Bengaluru on July 17-18, Raghav Chaddha said.

The BJP-led central government brought the ordinance on the transfer and posting of bureaucrats in Delhi in May, virtually negating a Supreme Court verdict giving the elected government in Delhi the control over services matter.

The ordinance seeks to set up a National Capital Civil Service Authority for the transfer of and disciplinary proceedings against Group-A officers from the DANICS cadre.

Transfer and postings of all officers of the Delhi government were under the executive control of the lieutenant governor before the May 11 verdict of the apex court.

The AAP had been counting on the support of the Congress, which has 31 MPs in the Rajya Sabha. The BJP does not have a majority in the Upper House of Parliament.

CM Kejriwal had even held one-on-one meetings with top Opposition leaders across the country, soliciting their support on the Ordinance issue.

The Ordinance is likely to be tabled in Parliament during the Monsoon session.

Earlier, at the inaugural meeting of Opposition parties in Patna, last month, the Congress had kept its stance "unclear" on the Ordinance issue and had repeatedly stressed that the meeting to flesh out the contours for Opposition unity, with an eye on the next year's Lok Sabha elections, wasn't the appropriate forum to clear its stand on the issue.

However, the Bharatiya Janata Party has taken a swipe at the AAP with West Bengal party chief Sukanta Majumdar saying that Arvind Kejriwals party cannot be trusted.

"Aam Aadmi Party should not be trusted...Let the opposition parties come together, later they will go different ways," Mazumdar said.

The opposition meet in Bengaluru is scheduled with the purpose of uniting the opposition to take on the Bharatiya Janata Party in the upcoming general assembly polls in 2024.

Top leaders of at least 24 political parties would attend the second Opposition unity meeting being convened by Congress in Bengaluru.

Significantly, a mega opposition meeting was held in Bihar's Patna on June 23.

Moreover, Congress president and Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge has also invited top opposition leaders to participate in the next unity meeting.

Congress President in a letter addressed to top opposition party leaders reminded them about their participation in June 23 opposition meeting held in Patna called by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish kumar.

"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," Kharge said in his invitation letter.

"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 2023 from 11.00 am onwards. Looking forward to meeting you in Bengaluru," Kharge further stated in his letter.

The first Opposition Unity meeting attended by more than 15 parties was held in Patna on June 23, and it was convened by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. (ANI)

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Noida/New Delhi, Jul 16 (PTI) The Delhi Jal Board has said it received Rs 1,071.37 crore from the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) in the last eight years and spent Rs 1,011.67 crore under the Yamuna Action Plan - III during the period.

In response to an RTI query, the DJB said it received another Rs 205 crore in funds from the NMCG in the last five years and spent all of it in expenditure under the Namami Gange Project.

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With the NMCG funds, nine major projects were taken up since 2015-16 and the most expensive among them was the construction of 564 MLD Sewerage Treatment Plant (STP) at Okhla under the Yamuna Action Plan  III at a cost of Rs 431.40 crore, the DJB said.

The DJB, responsible for the production and distribution of drinking water as also for collection, treatment and disposal of domestic sewage in the national capital, shared the figures in response to a query by Noida-based RTI activist Amit Gupta.

Also Read | India Gifts 34 Ambulances, 50 School Buses to Various Organisations in Nepal.

Sharing the year-wise details of funds received in the last eight years, the DJB said it got Rs 4.96 crore in 2015-16, Rs 2.17 crore in 2016-17, Rs 36.37 crore in 2017-18, Rs 190 crore in 2018-19, Rs 160 crore in 2019-20, Rs 225 crore in 2020-21, Rs 390 crore in 2021-22 and Rs 70 crore in 2022-23.

In terms of expenditure, the DJB said it spent Rs 1.11 crore in 2015-16, Rs 3.68 crore in 2016-17, Rs 15.93 crore in 2017-18, Rs 113.74 crore in 2018-19, Rs 219.49 crore in 2019-20, Rs 299.91 crore in 2020-21, Rs 233.21 crore in 2021-22 and Rs 124.60 crore in 2022-23, according to the written reply.

The DJB, which functions under the Delhi government, also received funds from the NMCG under the Namami Gange project.

In 2018-19, the DJB said it received Rs 120 crore, followed by Rs 55 crore in 2019-20, Rs 10 crore in 2020-21, Rs 15 crore in 2021-22, Rs 5.45 crore in 2022-23.

In terms of expenditure from these funds, it said it spent Rs 55.05 in 2018-19 followed by Rs 72.65 crore in 2019-20, Rs 38.24 crore in 2020-21, Rs 36.44 crore in 2021-22, Rs 3.45 crore in 2022-23, according to the RTI reply.

On achievements under the Namami Gange programme, the DJB cited the construction of 318 MLA waste water treatment plant at Coronation Pillar.

This plant is constructed to treat waste water generated from Coronation Pillar Drainage zone. The plant has been completed and commissioned, the DJB said in the written response.

The DJB also said that of the funds received from the NMCG, it spent Rs 67 lakh in public relations and public outreach.

Gupta said, "It's clear that there is no shortage of funds specially from central government still Yamuna is not in a good condition. It seems there is no sincere will at Delhi government's level to clean the Yamuna."

Delhi is currently grappling with unprecedented levels of floods with the water from the Yamuna overflowing into the city, impacting life in the national capital.

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Pathanamthitta, July 16: Five youngsters were arrested for alleged sexual assault and gangrape of a minor girl since December last at Adoor near here, police said on Sunday. Police have registered multiple cases in the matter as the 17-year-old girl was raped by her friend and her acquaintances multiple times and more recently by her boyfriend in June.

Her boyfriend Sumesh (19), her friend Shakthi (18), his friends Anoop (22), Abhijith (20) and Aravind (28) were arrested, police said. The matter came to light during a counselling session by the District Child Welfare Committee which in turn informed the police. Kerala Gangrape: Boyfriend Among Six Arrested for Raping 17-Year-Old Girl in Pathanamthitta.

"We immediately recorded her statement, medically examined her and registered the cases," police told PTI. Police have registered four cases including gangrape in the matter. According to the police, the first instance of rape happened in December last year when Shakthi, who befriended the girl, allegedly raped her. Later, Anoop, who became close to the girl also sexually assaulted her. Bihar Horrific Gang Rape Case: Minor Tribal Girl, on Way to Wedding, Gang-Raped by 8 in Bihar's Bagaha District.

Police said Shakthi on a later day took Anoop, Abhijith and Aravind to her home and all except Aravind allegedly gangraped her there. The case was registered in the first week of July. Sumesh was arrested two days ago and was remanded to judicial custody. Police nabbed the rest of the accused on Saturday night and Sunday morning.

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New Delhi, July 16: The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) on Sunday said that it is investigating the cause of the recent cheetah deaths and consultation with international cheetah experts, veterinary doctors from South Africa and Namibia is being done on regular basis. The National Tiger Conservation Authority said that the existing monitoring protocols, protection status, managerial inputs, veterinary facilities, training and capacity building aspects are being reviewed by independent national experts.

"Out of 20 translocated adult cheetahs, five mortalities of adult cheetahs have been reported from Kuno National Park and as per the preliminary analysis all mortalities are due to natural causes. There are reports in the media attributing cheetah deaths due to radio collars, etc. Such reports are not based on any scientific evidence but on speculation and hearsay, the NTCA said. Cheetah Deaths at Kuno National Park: Septicemia Caused by Radio Collars Led to Death of Two Male Cheetahs in Madhya Pradesh This Week, Says Expert.

NTCA further stated that steps like the establishment of a cheetah research Center with facilities for rescue, rehabilitation, capacity building, and interpretation; bringing additional forest area under administrative control of Kuno National Park for landscape-level management; providing additional frontline staff; establishing a cheetah protection force; and creating a second home for cheetahs in Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary, Madhya Pradesh have been envisaged.

"Government of India has deployed a dedicated NTCA team of officials to work in close coordination with the field officials. This team is engaged for analyzing real-time field data collated by the field monitoring teams for deciding upon various management aspects, including health and related interventions required to be in place for better management," NTCA said.

NTCA said that Project cheetah has yet to complete a year and it will be premature to conclude the outcome in terms of success or failure since cheetah introduction is a long-term project.

"In the last 10 months, all stakeholders involved in this cheetah reintroduction project have gained valuable insights in cheetah management, monitoring, and protection, and we are optimistic that the project will succeed in the long run and there is no reason to speculate at this juncture," the official release said.

Under Project Cheetah, a total of 20 radiocollared cheetahs were imported from Namibia and South Africa to Kuno National Park, Madhya Pradesh, in the first ever transcontinental wild-to-wild translocation. After the mandatory quarantine period, all cheetahs were shifted to larger acclimatization enclosures. Currently, 11 cheetahs are free ranging, and 5 animals including a cub born on Indian soil are within quarantine enclosure. Each of the free ranging cheetahs is being monitored round the clock by a dedicated monitoring team. Reports Attributing Some Cheetah Deaths to Radio Collar Use Speculative: Govt.

The Project Cheetah is being implemented by National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), a statutory body under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), in collaboration with the Madhya Pradesh Forest Department, the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) and Cheetah experts from Namibia and South Africa.

The project implementation is being done as per the 'Action plan for Introduction in India' and a Steering Committee comprising of eminent experts and officials involved in the first ever successful tiger reintroduction in Sariska and Panna Tiger Reserve to oversee the project has also been constituted.

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Bathinda (Punjab) [India], July 16 (ANI): Four persons, allegedly associated with the Goldy Brar-Lawrence Bishnoi gang, were arrested in Bathinda, police said here on Sunday.

The police also recovered from 270 grams of heroin and a weapon from the accused on Saturday.

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"Four members associated with the Goldy Brar-Lawrence Bishnoi gang were arrested by Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) and Bathinda Police yesterday. 270 grams of heroin, 1 weapon were recovered from them," Bathinda Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Gulneet Khurana said.

The police officer said that the accused used to bring drugs from Pakistan with the help of a drone.

Also Read | Delhi Floods: CM Arvind Kejriwal Oversees Flood Relief Camp in Mori Gate Area (Watch Video).

"During the probe, the accused revealed that they used to bring drugs from Pakistan with the help of a drone," the SSP added.

Earlier on Friday, the AGTF, in a similar joint operation with Bathinda Police, arrested one of the aides of gangsters Lawrence Bishnoi and Goldy Brar with his three operatives.

"In a major breakthrough against trans-border illegal arms smuggling networks, AGTF, in a joint operation with Bathinda Police, arrested Baljinder Singh alias Bindri, a member of the Lawrence Bishnoi and Goldy Brar gangs, along with his three operatives," Director General of Police, Punjab, Gaurav Yadav had said in a tweet.

DGP Yadav also informed that there are a number of cases related to extortion, kidnapping, and the arms and NDPS Act registered against the accused.

"They have a criminal history with a number of cases registered against them, related to extortion, kidnapping, arms, and the NDPS Act. During the preliminary investigation, Bindri revealed that he used drones to smuggle arms and narcotics via the Indo-Pak border," he said.

Informing about the recoveries, the DGP said that one Chinese pistol and five live cartridges, along with 270 gm of heroin and one car, had been recovered.

"Punjab Police India is fully committed to destroying narcotics and illegal arms networks as per the directions of CM Bhagwant Mann," DGP Yadav added. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
New Delhi [India],July 16 (ANI): Founder leader of Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party, Om Prakash Rajbhar, on Sunday formally joined the BJP-led National Democractic Alliance (NDA) government after calling on Union Home Minister Amit Shah in the national capital on July 14.

Speaking to ANI after the saffron embrace in the run-up to the crucial Lok Sabha elections next year, Rajbhar, who led a two-member delegation to the national capital to meet the Union Home Minister, said he was grateful to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for all taking all like-minded parties along.

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"We met Union Home Minister Amit Shah on July 14 and deliberated on a range of issues. We also resolved to fight the 2024 Lok Sabha elections together. I want to thank PM Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and (Uttar Pradesh) Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for taking us along," he told ANI.

The SBSP chief said in another tweet, "We will attend the NDA meeting in Delhi on July 18. The post of minister is not important for me. Now there is no competition in Uttar Pradesh."

Also Read | India, UAE Will Keep Working Closely to Further Global Good, Says PM Narendra Modi (Watch Video).

Welcoming his party into the NDA fold, Amit Shah said Rajbhar's entry will lend further strength to the ruling alliance at the Centre, going into next year's Lok Sabha elections.

"The arrival of Rajbhar-ji will further strengthen the NDA in Uttar Pradesh. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the NDA is making constant efforts to ensure the well-being of the poor and the deprived sections of our society," Amit Shah tweeted in Hindi, tagging an image of himself with the Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party chief to his post.

"Met Shri @oprajbharji in Delhi (who) decided to join the NDA alliance led by Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi ji," Shah said in another tweet.

Rajbhar is an MLA from Zahoorabad Assembly constituency in Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh.

Earlier, on Saturday, Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) chief Chirag Paswan said a final decision on attending the NDA meeting or formally joining the ruling alliance at the Centre ahead of next year's Lok Sabha elections will be taken after holding consultations with all party leaders and workers.

BJP National President JP Nadda, earlier on Saturday, wrote to Hindustani Awam Morcha President Jitan Ram Manjhi inviting him to the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) meeting that is scheduled to be held on July 18.

This comes weeks after former Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi met Union Home Minister Amit Shah at his residence in New Delhi and made his announcement to return to the NDA.

The meeting in the national capital will be chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The meeting of the NDA is being organised to mark the completion of 9 years of the central government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. (ANI)

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Jaipur (Rajasthan) [India], July 16 (ANI): Bharatiya Janata Party JP Nadda on Sunday took a swipe at the Congress saying that UPA stands for "utpidan, pakshpat and atyachar" (oppression, biasedness and atrocity while his party is trying to protect the culture.

We are trying to protect the culture and do development work, but there is an obstacle in that development, that is oppression, tyranny, favouritism and corruption within the Rajasthan government by CM Ashok Gehlot. In UPA - U stands for oppressive government. P - partisan government. A-tyrannical government, Nadda said while addressing a public gathering in Jairpur.

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Addressing a rally after launching the BJP's "Nahi Sahega Rajasthan" campaign against the Congress government, Nadda called the Ashok Gehlot government a rule of loot.

This government loots and tortures people and has broken all records of atrocities against Dalits, tribals, women, children and the poor. This is a government of looters, atrocities and misrule, he added.

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He further claimed that more than 8,000 cases have been registered against Dalits here in 2022.

In 2022 alone, more than 8,000 cases have been registered against Dalits here. The Rajasthan government has done the work of demolishing the houses of refugees from Pakistan with bulldozers in furtherance of favouritism and vote bank politics. The Gehlot government is also doing the work of settling Rohingyas here, the BJP President said.

He further said that the Gehlot government has no right to be in power even for a minute.

Now-a-days a new scam is being done by the opposition, that is PDA i.e. Patriotic Democratic Alliance whereas I call PDA as Protection Of Dynasties Alliance i.e. it is a way to save familyism, Nadda said.

Nadda further said that his party will come to the power in the state when the assembly polls which are scheduled to take place at the end of the year will be conducted.

We have decided that under the 'Nahi Sahega Rajasthan' campaign, we will work to reach 2 crore people, convey the message of the party to the public and a corruption-free, development-oriented government will be formed in Rajasthan, he said. (ANI)

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New Delhi [India], July 16 (ANI): The blame game over the Yamuna spill and flooding in the national capital took centrestage yet again, with the BJP's Delhi chief Virendraa Sachdeva claiming that Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal did not plan or prepare for the prevailing situation.

The BJP leader's remark came in response to Delhi Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj's statement on Saturday that the BJP at the Centre and in neighbouring Haryana had hatched a conspiracy to push the national capital into a flood-like situation.

Also Read | Kerala Gangrape: Boyfriend Among Six Arrested for Raping 17-Year-Old Girl in Pathanamthitta.

Speaking to ANI on Sunday, Sachdeva said, "The rainfall had been predicted in advance. What preparations did CM Kejriwal make? People displaced from the flooded low-lying areas of the Yamuna are being made to sleep under an open sky, on roads. What preparations did the Delhi government make for them?"

Further, coming down heavily on CM Kejriwal, Sachdeva added, "Had he got the Yamuna cleaned on time, the situation in the national capital would not have come to this."

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On six ministers being asked to oversee the arrangements for the displaced at the relief camps, the BJP's Delhi chief said, "The chief minister did it under pressure, in the face of heavy criticism. Earlier, the chief secretary, through an official order, announced that 11 senior IAS officers will monitor the rescue and relief operations in the rain-affected districts of Delhi. As the list came out, he (CM Kejriwal) hastily got six of his ministers to visit the relief camps and overseas arrangements, as well."

Earlier, on Saturday, the Delhi CM entrusted six of his ministers with the responsibility of overseeing the ongoing rescue and relief work in the flood-affected districts of the national capital.

Hitting out at the BJP, Delhi Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj on Saturday said, "The ruling BJP and the Haryana government (where BJP is ruling) pushed the national capital into a flood-like situation as part of a well, thought-out conspiracy."

"All the excess water from the Hathnikund barrage (at Yamunanagar, Haryana) was released deliberately into the Yamuna (in Delhi)," the minister claimed.

The remark was in conflict with the spirit of support and togetherness with which the Delhi CM and Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena had addressed a joint press briefing a day earlier, pledging "teamwork" to rid the city of its water woes.

The L-G said at the joint presser, "I would like to tell you that this is not the time to resort to a blame game or point fingers at each other. Right now, we need to work as a team. I, too, can say a lot of things but this isn't what we should do at this time." (ANI)

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An IDF Paratrooper salutes during the Holocaust Remembrance Day ceremony at Yad Vashem (Photo/TPS)

Tel Aviv [Israel], July 16 (ANI/TPS): A 35-member Belgian security delegation, including the Antwerp police chief, have completed a week-long training session in Israel on combating antisemitism, Israels Diaspora Affairs Ministry announced over the weekend.

The programme, which comes at a time of heightened antisemitism around the globe, is the third such delegation organized by the ministry this year, and follows previous successful cooperation with security personnel from the Baltic States and Brazil.

Also Read | El Nino: US and Europe Face Significant Heatwave, South Asia Reeling Under Floods.

Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Chikli said that the initiative was intended to offer participants the skills and knowledge to effectively combat antisemitism back home.

The delegation was presented with the unique challenges and threats which the Jewish community face in the shadow of increasing antisemitism in Europe, and were also briefed on Israels struggle against terrorism, he said in a statement.

Also Read | Pakistan: 150-Year-Old Hindu Shrine Mari Mata Temple Demolished in Karachi.

The struggle against antisemitism is something that we are determined to pursue, said Belgian Ambassador to Israel Jean-Luc Bodson. We are determined to work not only from top to bottom [in society], but from the other way as well, he added.

The ambassadors German grandmother has been recognized by Israels Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial as Righteous Among the Nations for saving Jews during the Holocaust.

Antwerp Mayor Bart De Wever noted that the city had a long history with the Jewish community, citing their resettlement in the Belgian port city during the Spanish Inquisition.

We have a years-long history with the Jewish community in Antwerp and we are committed to their well-being, he said.

The delegation also visited the Old City of Jerusalem and Yad Vashem during their stay.

About 30,000 Jews live in Belgium today, composing 0.25% of Belgiums population. Most live in Brussels or Antwerp, which has one of the largest ultra-Orthodox Jewish populations in Europe.

Earlier this year, Israeli President Isaac Herzog delivered an address in the European Parliament in Brussels to mark International Holocaust Remembrance Day.

Belgium is among the oldest members of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA), an intergovernmental organization based in Berlin that seeks to strengthen Holocaust education. Belgium adopted IHRAs widely-adopted, non-binding definition of antisemitism in 2018.

The definition cites 11 examples, including, Denying the Jewish people their right to self-determination, e.g., by claiming that the existence of a State of Israel is a racist endeavour, and Applying double standards by requiring of it (Israel) a behaviour not expected or demanded of any other democratic nation. (ANI/TPS)

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Gandhinagar, Jul 16 (PTI) Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday made a case for further strengthening of global architecture to combat financial crimes, money laundering and sharing of information about different asset classes including crypto currencies.

Addressing a 'G20 High-Level Tax Symposium on Combating Tax Evasion, Corruption and Money Laundering', the minister exuded confidence that G20 will continue to assist the jurisdictions in enhancing their law enforcement capacity.

Also Read | Pakistan: 150-Year-Old Hindu Shrine Mari Mata Temple Demolished in Karachi.

Under the G20 Presidency, Sitharaman said, India has taken the lead for building capacity in tax and financial crime investigation in the South Asian region in collaboration with OECD.

India has decided to launch a pilot on tax and financial crime investigation in collaboration with OECD for the South Asian Region beginning at the Regional Campus of National Academy of Direct Taxes in New Delhi on July 18.

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Observing that G20 has helped spearhead a number of reforms to the global tax, anti-corruption and anti-money laundering architecture, she said, these have helped shape the discourse towards jurisdictions not only adopting a more holistic approach to financial crimes, but also aided them to collaborate with one another.

"We hope that the G20 continues exploring the options to further strengthen the global architecture to fight financial crime and assist jurisdictions in enhancing their law enforcement capacity," she said.

The minister said that there was scope for evolving solutions that can help tackle financial crimes in a more synchronised and effective way.

The G20 has helped spearhead a number of reforms to the global tax, anti-corruption and anti-money laundering architecture, which has helped shape the discourse towards jurisdictions not only adopting a more holistic approach to financial crimes, but also aided them to collaborate with one another, she added.

In addition to increased cooperation between law enforcement agencies and enhanced capacity building, Sitharaman said, "it is also imperative that we remain alive to the emerging risks to financial transparency. In this context, the progress of work towards the development of the Crypto-Asset Reporting Framework and the update to the Common Reporting Standard is a welcome step."

Besides these, she said, "we should also examine closely whether there are any other classes of assets, in respect of which information needs to be shared in a systematic way amongst jurisdictions."

With the advancement in technologies and openness in international trade and commerce, criminals have started utilising sophisticated measures to transfer illegal proceeds across borders through multi-layered transactions involving various forms of assets including Financial Assets, Crypto Assets and Real Estate, she said.

During tax investigations, she said, tax administrations acquire access to large amounts of incriminating information obtained through tax treaties, which could have relevance for investigations in other financial crimes.

However, she said, the disclosure of such information to the other domestic law enforcement agencies is subject to seeking consent from the foreign jurisdiction for the use of such information for non-tax purposes.

In this regard, she said, "we welcome the recent report of the Global Forum that will assist interested jurisdictions to streamline the processes involved in obtaining consent for the use of information obtained through tax treaties for non-tax purposes."

The suggestions in the report would help make the process of obtaining consent from foreign jurisdictions more efficient and speedy, she said.

In leveraging the interconnectedness of investigation in tax evasion, corruption and money laundering, she said, there is scope for evolving solutions that can help tackle financial crimes in a more synchronised and effective way.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Islamabad [Pakistan], July 16 (ANI): Pakistan Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah on Saturday said that the government had decided not to notify the latest census. He said that the upcoming elections would be held on the basis of the 2017 census, Pakistan-based Dawn reported.

While speaking on the Pakistan-based Geo News show 'Naya Pakistan', Rana Sanaullah said, "The CCI (Council of Common Interests) has to complete its term. If this [new] census is not notified by then, the elections will be [held] on the basis of the previous census and delimitation," according to Dawn.

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He further said, "And the government has decided it will not notify this [new census] and when the assemblies will dissolve after completing their terms, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) will be bound to conduct elections on the basis of the previous census," the report said.

Sanaullah said that the government will not be notifying the census as it had "issues," according to Dawn. He said that various stakeholders had concerns regarding it.

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He also emphasized that it was important that all the issues were sorted out and any decision in haste on the census will result in a "controversial situation" in Pakistan.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday held a meeting with Pakistan People's Party co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari and Pakistan Party (IPP) patron-in-chief Jahangir Khan, Pakistan-based The Express Tribune reported. Sharif and Zardari held a discussion on the political situation of Pakistan.

In a statement released on Twitter, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) stated, "Former President and President of Pakistan People's Party Parliamentarians Asif Ali Zardari arrived at the residence of Prime Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif in Lahore. The two leaders held a detailed consultation on the country's political situation."

According to well-placed sources, the leaders agreed to hold the next general elections on time, The Express Tribune reported. The leaders took a fire stance that the elections should not be delayed under any circumstance. As per the news report, the leaders have decided to choose "a senior politician" as the caretaker Prime Minister instead of a bureaucrat.

In another tweet, PML-N stated that Pakistan PM visited Istehkam-i-Pakistan Party (IPP) patron-in-chief Jahangir Khan Tareen's house to offer condolences on the death of his brother Alamgir Tareen. He prayed for strength and patience for the mourning family, The Express Tribune reported citing a press release by Pakistan Prime Minister's office. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Bangkok [Thailand], July 16 (ANI): External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Sunday met his Myanmar counterpart Than Swe, with the discussions centred on connectivity initiatives, especially about the India-Myanmar-Thailand trilateral highway.

The also underlined the importance of ensuring peace and stability in the border areas.

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Jaishankar, who arrived in Bangkok on Saturday, met the Myanmar Foreign Minister on the sidelines of the Mekong Ganga Cooperation (MGC) Mechanism meeting.

In the meeting, Jaishankar also raised the human and drug trafficking issues.

Also Read | Crackdown on LGBTQ Rights in Russia? Duma Passes Bill Banning Sex Change, Adoption by Transgender People.

Taking to Twitter, Jaishankar said, "Met H.E. U Than Swe on the sidelines of the Mekong Ganga Cooperation (MGC) meeting in Bangkok today. Our discussions focused on connectivity initiatives that have a larger regional significance. These will also be discussed at the MGC meeting this afternoon. Stressed the importance of expediting projects that have faced challenges in the recent past, especially the India-Myanmar-Thailand trilateral highway. Underlined the importance of ensuring peace and stability in our border areas. These have been seriously disturbed recently and any actions that aggravate the situation should be avoided."

MGC is one of the oldest mechanisms of the lower Mekong region and is guided by Indias Act East Policy.

"Flagged concerns about human and drug trafficking. Urged stronger cooperation among relevant parties for the early return of trafficked victims. As an immediate neighbour, India is concerned about the humanitarian situation in Myanmar. Proposed people-centric initiatives aimed to address the pressing challenges. India supports the democratic transition process in Myanmar and highlights the need for the return of peace and stability. We will closely coordinate our policy with ASEAN in this regard," he added.

Over 1,300-km-long highways are currently in the making, and, once opened, they will boost the trade ties between Myanmar and Thailand, while also harnessing the potential in the travel and tourism space.

The India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway holds the promise of expanded connectivity and regional integration. India has also proposed to extend the road to Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam.

After meeting Than Swe, Jaishankar met Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Thailand, Don Pramudwinai.

"Continuing our conversations from Jakarta. Pleased to meet Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai of Thailand today. Look forward to the Mekong Ganga Cooperation (MGC) meeting this afternoon," Jaishankar tweeted.

Meanwhile in Bangkok, EAM will also attend the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) Foreign Ministers Retreat on July 17. BIMSTEC is an economic and technical initiative which brings together the countries of the Bay of Bengal for multifaceted cooperation. The retreat would discuss ways to further deepen the BIMSTEC agenda and strengthen the organisation. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Kathmandu, Jul 16 (PTI) The operations of a section of the cross-border Jaynagar-Bijalpura-Bardibas rail line connecting India and Nepal began on Sunday, officials here said.

Nepal's Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport, Prakash Jwala, launched the operations on the Kurtha-Bijalpura rail section of the cross-border rail line at Bijalpura, the Indian Embassy here said in a press release.

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The Deputy Chief of Indian Embassy, Prasanna Shrivastava, local leaders from Madhesh Pradesh and government officials were also present on the occasion.

This rail connectivity will provide a tremendous boost to the people-to-people linkages between the two countries and will enhance trade and tourism in Nepal, Jwala said at the launch.

Also Read | India Gifts 34 Ambulances, 50 School Buses to Various Organisations in Nepal.

The Kurtha-Bijalpura line covers a total of 17.3 km and the stretch is dotted with five stations -- Kurtha, Pipradi, Loharpatti, Singyahi and Bijalpura.

This is the second phase of the 68.7 km Jaynagar-Bijalpura-Bardibas cross-border rail line project being built under India's grant assistance of Rs 783.83 crore, the release said.

The first phase from Jaynagar to Kurtha was inaugurated in April last year and has been operational since then. The land acquisition for the third phase connecting Bijalpura to Bardibas is presently underway.

The Kurtha-Bijalpura rail section was handed over to the Nepal government during the visit of Prime Minister Pushpakamal Dahal Prachanda' to India last month.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Karachi, Jul 16 (PTI) A Hindu temple, believed to be built nearly 150 years ago, has been demolished after being declared an old and dangerous structure in Karachi, the provincial capital of Pakistan's Sindh province, leaving the Hindu community in shock.

The Mari Mata Temple in Karachi's Soldier Bazar was razed to the ground by bulldozers in the presence of a heavy contingent of police force late on Friday night.

Also Read | India Gifts 34 Ambulances, 50 School Buses to Various Organisations in Nepal.

They (authorities) did it very early in the morning and we were not informed this was going to happen, said Ram Nath Mishra Maharaj, who looks after old Hindu temples in the area.

Mishra, the caretaker of the nearby Shri Punch Mukhi Hanuman Mandir, said that the bulldozers left the outer walls and the temple's main gate intact, but they demolished the entire inside structure.

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Mishra said that the temple was built some 150 years ago and told stories that there was treasure buried beneath its courtyard.

He said that the temple, which covered some 400 to 500 square yards in the area, had been the target of land grabbers and developers for years now.

A senior police official of the local police station said that the temple was demolished as it had been declared a dangerous structure by authorities.

He said the temple was run by the Madrasi Hindu community of Karachi which had agreed the structure was very old and dangerous. The temple management reluctantly but temporarily moved most of the deities to a small room until they could carry out some renovation work there, he added.

A Hindu community leader of the area, Ramesh, said the temple management was under pressure to vacate the premises for some time now as the land had been sold to a developer on forged documents who wanted to build a commercial building on the plot.

The Hindu community has appealed to the Pakistan-Hindu Council, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah and the Inspector General of Sindh police to take notice and look into the matter on an urgent basis.

Karachi is home to many ancient Hindu Mandirs.

Hindus form the biggest minority community in Pakistan.

The majority of Pakistan's Hindu population is settled in Sindh province where they share culture, traditions and language with Muslim residents.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Kashmore [Pakistan], July 16 (ANI): A gang of dacoits attacked a place of worship  reportedly with rocket launchers belonging to members of the Hindu community in Sindhs Kashmore during the early hours of Sunday. This is the second such incident of vandalism of a Hindu place of worship in less than 24 hours. The first incident took place in Karachi when the Hindu community on Saturday woke up to find the old Mari Mata Temple Soldier Bazaar had been razed to the ground, the Dawn reported.

In Kashmore, the assailants attacked the temple and the adjoining homes belonging to Hindus under the jurisdiction of the Ghouspur police station. They fired indiscriminately at the temples and homes. After the firing noise, a police unit led by Kashmore-Kandhkot SSP Irfan Sammo reached the scene.

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The police official said that the dacoits fired rocket launchers at the place of worship. Fortunately, the temple was closed during the attack. The police official added that the temple opens annually for religious services conducted by the Bagri community, the Dawn reported.

Dawn is a Pakistani English-language newspaper that was launched in 1941.

Also Read | India Gifts 34 Ambulances, 50 School Buses to Various Organisations in Nepal.

The suspects fled from the scene after the attack. Police are conducting a search operation in the area, he said.

SSP Sammo estimated that there were eight to nine gunmen, whom they were tracking in the riverine areas.

Meanwhile, Suresh, a member of the Bagri community, said that the rocket launchers fired by the dacoits failed to explode, resulting in no loss of life, the Dawn reported.

He called on the police to protect the community, saying the incident had left the residents in panic.

Meanwhile, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) said it was alarmed by reports of deteriorating law and order in the districts of Kashmore and Ghotki in Sindh, where some 30 members of the Hindu community  including women and children  have allegedly been held hostage by organised criminal gangs.

Moreover, we have received disturbing reports that these gangs have threatened to attack the communitys sites of worship, using high-grade weapons, the commission said, calling on the Sindh Home Department to investigate the matter without delay.

In the other incident that took place on the night of Friday-Saturday, the Hindu community in Karachi on Saturday morning woke to find their 150-year-old-holy shrine Mari Mata Temple demolished in Karachi's Soldier Bazaar, reported Dawn.

According to locals, the operation took place late Friday night while there was no electricity in the area. That's when the diggers and bulldozers arrived to finish the job. They razed the entire inside structure while leaving the outer walls and the main gate intact.

Residents reportedly claimed to see a police vehicle present to give 'cover' for the individuals operating the bulldozers and other equipment, as per Dawn. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Islamabad, Jul 16 (PTI) Pakistan and Iran have agreed to tackle the common threat of militancy through "intelligence sharing", it was announced on Sunday.

The army issued a statement at the conclusion of the two-day visit by Army chief General Asim Munir to Iran where he met the top Iranian civil and military leaders, including a detailed interaction with Chief of General Staff of Armed Forces, Major General Mohammad Bagheri.

Also Read | Pakistan Criminal Gangs Hold Hostage 30 Hindus Including Women and Children in Sindh; HRCP Raises Alarm.

The military commanders on both sides agreed that terrorism was a common threat to the region in general and both countries in particular.

"They vowed to eradicate the menace of terrorism in the border areas through intelligence sharing and effective actions against the terrorists' networks, and explore avenues for enhancing cooperation in the security domain, according to the statement.

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Gen Munir also called on President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahain and discussed the significance of Pakistan-Iran bilateral relations for regional peace and stability.

The army chief was presented with the Guard of Honour by a smartly turned-out contingent of Iranian Armed Forces at the Military Headquarters on his arrival.

Gen Munir's maiden visit came after a peace deal brokered by China between Iran and Saudi Arabia. It is believed that Pakistan will benefit from the good ties between them because despite being a Sunni-majority country, Pakistan has the biggest Shia Muslim population after Iran.

The two countries share a volatile border and militants attack their security forces.PTI SH

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Gilgit Baltistan [PoK], July 16 (ANI): At least five persons were killed and 13 others were injured after a bus carrying tourists fell into a ravine on the Karakoram Highway in the Thalichi area in Gilgit Baltistan's Diamer district on Sunday, reported Dawn.

Diamer Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Muhammad Ayaz verified the death toll and the number of injuries to Dawn, saying that the deceased included three women, a child, and a man.

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He went on to say that the bus was on its way to Gilgit from Lahore, as per Dawn.

Dawn is a Pakistani English-language newspaper that was launched in 1941.

Also Read | Indias Bishnoi tree Huggers Renew Conservation Fight.

Local residents assisted with rescue operations, and the injured were sent to a nearby hospital, according to the SSP. He added that there were a total of 18 passengers in the bus.

Five tourists were killed and 13 were injured earlier this month in two accidents in Gilgit Baltistans Hunza when a van slid into a gorge and another crashed into a mountain.

Last month, eight people were killed and 17 others were injured when a vehicle travelling from Upper Dir to Chitral crashed into a ravine.

In the same month, nine people were murdered and 18 were injured when a roller coaster crashed into a ravine in PoK.

Roads in poor condition, insufficient safety measures, and irresponsible driving all contribute to PoKs poor road safety record.

Passenger buses are usually overcrowded, and seatbelts are either rarely or never worn, resulting in high fatality rates from single-vehicle accidents.

As per the World Health Organisations estimates, over 27,000 people have died in Pakistans roads in 2018, Dawn reported. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Aizawl/Imphal, July 16: Security forces in separate operations since Saturday night have seized heroin and foreign-origin cigarettes valued at around Rs 29.43 crore smuggled in from Myanmar, an official said on Sunday, adding six persons have been arrested in this connection.

Defence sources said that Aizawl Battalion of Assam Rifles alongwith the Excise and Narcotics, Anti-Narcotics Squad, Aizawl apprehended two drug peddlers and recovered 436 soap cases containing 5.114 kg heroin valued at Rs 25.57 crore from their possession at Saichal village in Mizoram's Saitual district on Saturday night. Mizoram: Assam Rifles Seize Heroin, Imported Cigarettes Worth Rs 1.3 Crore in Champhai.

In another incident, the Mizoram Police arrested three persons including a woman at Chalbawiha Junction Police Check Gate in Champhai district, and recovered and seized a total of 1.373 kg heroin valued at Rs 1.75 crore from their custody. The drug peddlers were travelling in a Maxi Cab (sumo) vehicle plying between Zokhawthar and Aizawl.

In the third incident, the Assam Rifles and the Mizoram police, while conducting random checking of vehicles at the outskirts of Zote village on Zote-Bulfek (Myanmar) Road in Champhai district and arrested a man and recovered 73 grams (6 soap boxes) of heroin valued at Rs 80 lakh from his illegal possession.

Arrested Gang With Drugs

Aizawl Battalion of Assam Rifles alongwith Excise and Narcotics, Anti-Narcotics Squad, Aizawl on 14 Jul 23, apprehended two individuals alongwith 436 soap cases (5.114 kg) Heroin No. 04 worth Rs 25.57 Crore in General Saichal Village, Saitual District, Milzoram.@HMOIndia @adgpi pic.twitter.com/6NXCFuOQAD  The Assam Rifles (@official_dgar) July 16, 2023

In the fourth incident, the Assam Rifles during their routine operations on Sunday recovered 62 cases of foreign-origin cigarettes worth Rs 80.6 lakh at Tlangsam and 73 grams of heroine at Zote in Champhai worth Rs 51.1 Lakh on Sunday. An Assam Rifles statement said that smuggling of drugs from Myanmar is a major cause of concern for the state as well as India.

Mizoram's 510 km unfenced international border with Myanmar, especially in the bordering Champhai district, is a major hotspot of smuggling of drugs and other contrabands.

Besides various illicit drugs, foreign cigarettes, gold, arms and ammunition, exotic animals, and areca nuts are often smuggled from Myanmar into the northeastern states, especially Mizoram and Manipur. Reacting on the seizure of huge drugs in Mizoram, Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh urged all Chief Ministers of the region to unitedly fight against this menace of drugs.

He tweeted: "I am deeply concerned by the alarming increase in illicit drug seizures within Mizoram in recent times. Having personally experienced the challenges associated with drug trafficking in my own state, I wholeheartedly support the efforts of the Mizoram government in combating these heinous activities, particularly concentrated along our porous international borders. 10 People Arrested, 885 Gm of Heroin Seized in Mizoram.

"In this critical juncture, as the North Eastern states bear the brunt of protecting the entire nation from the menace of drugs, I fervently urge all Chief Ministers of the region to unite and establish a robust mechanism that will enable us to join forces in this noble 'War on Drugs'. By working together collectively, we can effectively address this grave issue and safeguard our communities from the devastating consequences of drug trafficking."

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 16, 2023 10:20 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
Thousands of people, including Western diplomats, participated in the Pride march. It comes as the authorities implement a controversial law restricting the "display or promotion" of homosexuality.LGBTQ people and their supporters marched through the streets of the Hungarian capital Budapest on Saturday, using the annual Pride event to vent their anger at the implementation of a a law curtailing the rights of sexual minorities in the country.

Also Read | Berlin: Hundreds Protest Rammstein over Sexual Abuse Claims.

Pride organizer Jojo Majercsik said the controversial Child Protection Act, which came into force in 2021, is increasingly being used to fine and issue other penalties against those who disseminate LGBTQ content in Hungary.

Also Read | Europe, US Swelter Under Blistering Heat.

"You can now see how the propaganda law passed two years ago is being applied in practice and how the public discourse has become more angry," Majercsik said.

Ahead of the march on Friday, some 38 embassies, including the US and Germany, issued a joint statement, urging Prime Minister Viktor Orban's government to stop discriminatory laws and protect the minority community's rights.

Many diplomats, including the US ambassador to the country, took part in the march.

'Anti-propaganda' law

The European Commission, took Hungary to the European Court of Justice at the end of last year to reverse the law restricting access to information on LGBTQ issues

Despite this Orban's government, which prides itself on promoting Christian-conservative agenda and family values, stepped up its implimentation.

Earlier this week, a national bookseller was fined some $36,000 (31,000) for displaying a popular LGBTQ graphic novel, Heartstopper by Alice Oseman, in its youth section without the closed packaging which the law requires.

Even TV promotions for the Pride march faced restrictions due to the law.

Deemed unsuitable for audiences below 18 years of age, Hungary's media authorities banned their broadcast except between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. Most channels did not take the risk of broadcasting them at all.

"It is now apparent how they are trying to limit the rights of LGBTQ people in the media world, in the world of movies, films and books," he added," Majercsik said.

What else happened at the Pride march?

Participants in the march waved rainbow flags, danced and cheered, walking through the streets of Budapest.

"The Pride (movement) should be the pioneer of freedom of expression, acceptance and equality," Gergely Varga, a marcher and makeup artist in his 30s said.

"But unfortunately I have to say that being proud of being gay is not as accepted in Hungary as in the West."

David Vig, director at Amnesty International Hungary, said that in contrast to some countries in Western Europe and North America where Pride events are celebrations of LGBTQ history and culture, Budapest Pride is a way of protesting increasing crackdowns on the rights of the community.

"Unlike Pride marches in more happy countries of the world, this is really a human rights demonstration," he said.

rmt/lo (AP, Reuters)

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 16, 2023 05:20 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
New Delhi, July 16: More than 1.44 lakh kilograms of drugs worth Rs 2,416 crore will be destroyed in various parts of the country on Monday in virtual presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Destruction of the narcotics will be carried out in different cities when Shah will watch it through video conferencing from New Delhi while attending a conference on 'Drugs Smuggling and National Security', an official statement said.

The drugs to be destroyed will include 6,590 kg seized by the Narcotics Control Bureau's (NCB) Hyderabad unit, 822 kg by Indore unit and 356 kg seized by its Jammu unit. Amit Shah to Chair Regional Conference on Drugs Smuggling and National Security Tomorrow.

Along with this, various law enforcement agencies of different states will also destroy drugs  1,486 kg drugs in Assam, 229 kg in Chandigarh, 25 kg in Goa, 4,277 kg in Gujarat, 2,458 kg in Haryana, 4,069 kg in Jammu and Kashmir, 1,03,884 kg in Madhya Pradesh, 159 kg in Maharashtra, 1,803 kg in Tripura and 4,049 kg in Uttar Pradesh.

Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the central government has adopted a zero tolerance policy against narcotics to create a drugs-free India, the statement said. Since June 1, 2022 till July 15, 2023, all regional units of the NCB and anti-narcotics task forces of the states have collectively destroyed around 8,76,554 kg seized drugs worth around Rs 9,580 crore  which is more than 11 times of the target.

With the destruction of drugs on Monday, the total quantity of drugs destroyed in just one year will reach around 10 lakh kilograms. The combined value of these drugs is around Rs 12,000 crore. Amit Shah Likely to Visit West Bengal in August, Says BJP State President Sukanta Majumdar.

In order to realise Prime Minister Modi's dream of a drugs-free India, this campaign of destruction of drugs will continue actively with same zeal, the statement added. http://ptinews.com/images/pti.jpg We bring the World to you" Disclaimer : This e-mail message may contain proprietary, confidential or legally privileged information for the sole use of the person or entity to whom this message was originally addressed. Please delete this e-mail, if it is not meant for you.
New Delhi, July 16: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Sunday raised the issue of human and drug trafficking with his Myanmar counterpart U Than Swe, and also expressed New Delhi's concern about the humanitarian situation prevailing there. Jaishankar also underlined the importance of ensuring peace and stability in border areas of both the countries.

"These have been seriously disturbed recently and any actions that aggravate the situation should be avoided," Jaishankar tweeted after meeting his Mynamar counterpart. EAM S Jaishankar Meets US Secretary of State Antony Blinken; Discusses Ukraine Issue, Indo-Pacific.

Jaishankar met Swe on the sidelines of the Mekong Ganga Cooperation (MGC) meeting in Bangkok. He had arrived in Bangkok on Saturday from Jakarta, where the foreign minister has participated in the ASEAN foreign ministers meet.

"Met H.E. U Than Swe on the sidelines of the Mekong Ganga Cooperation (MGC) meeting in Bangkok today. Flagged concerns about human and drug trafficking. Urged stronger cooperation among relevant parties for the early return of trafficked victims. As an immediate neighbour, India is concerned about the humanitarian situation in Myanmar," Jaishankar tweeted after the meeting with Swe. EAM S Jaishankar Meets Maldives FM Abdulla Shahid, Says Encouraged to Learn of Steady Progress in Our Development Partnership (See Pics).

The EAM also proposed people-centric initiatives aimed to address the pressing challenges in Myanmar to Swe during the meeting. "Our discussions focussed on connectivity initiatives that have a larger regional significance. These will also be discussed at the MGC meeting this afternoon. Stressed the importance of expediting projects that have faced challenges in the recent past, especially the India-Myanmar-Thailand trilateral highway," he informed further.

Jaishankar further conveyed in the meeting with the Myanmar foreign minister that India supports the democratic transition process in Myanmar and highlighted the need for return of peace and stability. "We will closely coordinate our policy with ASEAN in this regard," he tweeted further.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 16, 2023 03:33 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
Aurangabad, July 16: A trust managing a mosque in Maharashtra's Jalgaon district has moved the Aurangabad bench of the Bombay High Court against the collector's order banning entry into the premises following a complaint claiming the structure has an "appearance of a temple".

The trust's advocate, S S Kazi, said the petition would be taken up for hearing on July 18. The petition, filed by the Jumma Masjid Trust Committee through its president Altaf Khan, claimed the collector passed the "arbitrary and illegal" order on July 11, 2023, directing them to hand over keys of the mosque to the Erandol municipal council's chief officer. Bengaluru Mosque Gets Hoax Bomb Call: Denied Stay, Man Makes Fake Call Threatening Bomb at Mosque in Shivajinagar, Arrested.

The order was passed under Sections 144 and 145 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, as per which status quo shall be maintained pending final decision on the dispute of the land. As per the plea, the mosque has been in existence since decades and the Maharashtra government had declared the structure of masjid as an ancient and historical monument, and is enlisted in the Schedule of protected monuments. The petitioner stated the trust has been taking utmost care and there is no complaint received in that regard by the Archeological Department, or even the state government.

In May this year, the Pandavwada Sangharsh Sameti in order to create disturbance in Jalgaon's Erandol taluka, submitted an application to the district collector claiming the ancient monument is having the "appearance of a mandir" and therefore the occupation of the Muslim community must be vacated, the plea said. The sameti also sought for the illegal construction made by the petitioner trust to be removed and a madarsa run by the trustees also to be stopped.

Pursuant to the complaint, the collector issued a notice to the petitioner trust on June 14, directing the trustees to remain present on June 27 for a hearing. The plea claimed the trustees appeared before the collector's office but since he was busy that day, no hearing took place. On a later date, the petitioner trust sought time from the collector to go through the complaint and file its response, the plea said. Lebanon Mosque Shooting: At Least One Dead, Five Injured After Firing Inside Mosque in Bar Elias Town, Says Security Official.

"The learned Collector was not in a mood to hear anything from the petitioner thereafter and without giving any opportunity to the petitioner on 11.07.2023, the Collector, Jalgaon, passed an order under Sections 144 and 145 of the Code of Criminal Procedure," the plea said. As per the order, only two persons are allowed to offer namaz in the mosque presently and no one else can enter, Kazi said.

The plea claimed the collector's order was arbitrary, illegal and passed in a haste without granting the petitioner an opportunity to put forth its case.

It sought for the order to be quashed and set aside.
Jaipur, July 16: A man allegedly strangled his 22-year-old daughter to death in Rajasthan's Sriganganagar district on Sunday over the suspicion that she was in a relationship, police said. The incident occurred in the Suratgarh area when Gome Khan went to the room of his daughter Chhinno Bano while she was studying in the wee hours and allegedly strangled her, they added.

Before he went absconding, Khan told about the incident to his brother, Assistant Sub Inspector Sohanlal said. The police was informed after Khan's brother disclosed about the alleged murder to the village sarpanch, Sohanlal said. Karnataka Shocker: Man Strangles Daughter to Death in Kolar for Relationship With Dalit Youth, Case Registered.

Khan used to suspect his daughter of being in a relationship with someone, he added. The body has been shifted to the mortuary of a local hospital for post-mortem, the ASI said. Gujarat Horror: Man Stabs Daughter to Death, Injures Wife Over Sleeping on Terrace in Surat (Watch Video).

A murder case has been registered and efforts are underway to nab the absconding accused, he added.
Spain's army has deployed its firefighters to help battle the blaze on the Canary Island of La Palma, as the country faces a scorching heat wave.Thousands of people were evacuated Saturday after a wildfire erupted on the Spanish island of La Palma.

Also Read | Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin To Attend Opposition Leaders' Meeting in Bengaluru on July 17 and 18.

At least 4,000 people were told to evacuate, authorities said, and at least 12 houses were destroyed.

Also Read | Shimla Shocker: Four-Year-Old Girl Sexually Assaulted and Killed by Uncle in Kotkhai, Accused Arrested.

"There has been some resistance by local people to leaving their homes, but I appeal to people to be responsible," Fernando Clavijo, the regional president of the Canary Islands, told reporters.

Clavijo also said the fire "advanced very quickly" due to "the wind, the climate conditions as well as the heat wave that we are living through."

About 4,500 hectares or 11,120 acres of land has been destroyed by the fire, authorities said.

Firefighters battle to put out blaze

Spain's army has deployed some 150 of its firefighters to help local crews battle the blaze, with more firefighters arriving on boats from the neighboring island of Tenerife, according to Clavijo.

The fire is on the western side of the island on wooded, hilly terrain dotted with homes.

La Palma, with a population of 85,000, is one of eight members of Spains Canary Islands archipelago off Africas western coast. In 2021, it was hit by a volcanic eruption that lasted around three months, forcing thousands to evacuate and causing around 900 million ($1,01 billion) of damage.

The latest wildfire fire there coincides with blistering heat that have swept southern European countries, as scientists warn that climate change could significantly increase wildfires across the globe.

rm/dj (Reuters, dpa)

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 16, 2023 06:00 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
New Delhi, July 16: Five persons, including three girls, were brutally assaulted by bouncers at a pub in Uttar Pardesh's Ghaziabad. The victims alleged that the bouncers not only physically assaulted them but also tore clothes of the girls. The victims claimed that despite calling the police control room (PCR) 25 times, the police did not respond. One of the two boys involved in the incident reportedly suffered a hand fracture.

According to the sources, the victims had come from Delhi. An FIR was filed against Ronak, the owner of the pub and a resident of Vasundhara Sector 10 (Ghaziabad), based on the complaint of one of the girls. UP Shocker: Elderly Woman Brutally Kicked in Head by Neighbour In Ballia, Disturbing Assault Video Goes Viral.

The girl, who was a victim, stated that she visited the Thrust of Drunks (TOD) bar located in D Mall, Indirapuram (Ghaziabad), along with her two brothers and two friends. During their visit, she asked the pub staff to play a song of their choice. However, the staff demanded Rs 500 to play their requested songs. Instead, the girl paid Rs 1500 and requested three different songs to be played.

Despite the payment, the staff refused to play the requested songs, which resulted in an argument. At this point, the pub's bouncers intervened and assaulted the girls. The two brothers tried to protect their sister but were also subjected to severe beating, resulting in one of the boys fracturing his hand. Uttar Pradesh: Elderly Man Thrashed by Youths After His Bike Hits Their Car in Hapur, One Held After Video Goes Viral.

Deepak Yadav, DCP Trans Hindon, stated that based on the girl's complaint, a case has been registered. He added that a section related to playing loud music until the early hours of the morning was also included in the FIR. The police have seized the pub's musical instruments. The FIR has been filed under sections 323 and 506 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Further investigations into the matter are ongoing.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 16, 2023 12:49 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
Patna, July 16: Ahead of the meeting of like-minded opposition parties in Bengaluru, Bihar Minister and senior JD-U leader Vijay Kumar Chaudhary on Sunday claimed more parties will take part in the second installment. Addressing media persons here, Chaudhary said: Due to the grand success of the opposition unity meeting of Patna, we are expecting more political parties to assemble in Bengaluru for the meeting. After opposition unity, the public sentiment is against the BJP in the country.

"All opposition parties have already said that they will contest the election unitedly in 2024. Hence, picking a leader would not be a tough affair... Like Patna, the Bengaluru meeting will also turn out to be a great success for us. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav, JD-U President Lalan Singh, Sanjay Jha, Manoj Jha and other leaders of Bihar will go to the Karnataka capital for the meeting slated for July 17 and 18. Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin To Attend Opposition Leaders Meeting in Bengaluru on July 17 and 18.

Meanwhile, the BJP is also reaching out to various parties to counter the opposition unity meeting. It will hold its meeting in Delhi on the evening of July 18. From Bihar, Chirag Paswan, Pasupati Kumar Paras, Jitan Ram Manjhi, Mukesh Sahani, and Upendra Kushwaha are expected to participate.

Interestingly, most of them are fighting each other. Chirag Paswan has a conflict with his uncle, while Sahani is demanding the same number of seats as Chirag Paswan - 6 Lok Sabha seats and 1 Rajya Sabha seat, while Manjhi had left the Mahagatbandhan on the issues of claiming 5 Lok Sabha seats. AAP To Attend Opposition Meeting in Bengaluru, Says Raghav Chaddha After Congress Decides To Oppose Centers Delhi Ordinance.

Taking a dig at the BJP, senior JD-U leader K.C. Tyagi said: They (the BJP) are also holding a meeting to counter us but majority of the political parties are those which were part of Mahagathbandhan in the past. The BJP is trying to form an NDA but the majority of them are small parties have they have so many conflicts among them.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 16, 2023 10:55 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
A Ukrainian drone attack on Moscow-annexed Crimea caused the "detonation" of an ammunition depot Saturday, the Moscow-installed leader of the peninsula said, ordering the evacuation of people living within five kilometres of the attack and halting rail traffic.
London, July 16: Three men and two women members of a gang have been found guilty of the honeytrap murder of an Indian-origin man in the east of England. Vishal Gohel, 44, was discovered unresponsive inside a flat in Bushey, Hertfordshire, in January and pronounced dead at the scene. A post-mortem examination showed he had suffered severe blows to his head.

According to court reports in the UK media, a jury at St. Albans Crown Court on Friday was told that Gohel had been led to believe he would be having a sexual liaison but the gang had intentions to rob his home -- hence a honeytrap was laid by the gang. UK: Three Indian-Origin Men Jailed for Kidnapping Businessman for Ransom in Wolverhampton City Centre.

Officers from the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire (BCH) Major Crime Unit launched a murder investigation and made six arrests in the case. Our thoughts are with Vishal's family and friends at this extremely difficult time. Specialist officers are supporting his family and I would ask for their privacy to be respected, said Detective Inspector Justine Jenkins, who led the investigation earlier this year.

Gohel was found with tape on his face at his flat after a neighbour noticed his front door was ajar and the kitchen light was on. It emerged that Gohel had been in contact with the suspects through Craig's List, a website offering goods and services. UK: Indian-Origin Man Stabbed to Death With Knife in London.

Tevin Leslie, 23, was convicted of murder and had already pleaded guilty to conspiracy to rob. Sakeen Gordon, 22, was convicted of murder and conspiracy to rob; Yarley Georgia Bruce-Annan, 22, was convicted of murder after earlier admitting a charge of conspiracy to rob; Brandon Browne, 22, was found not guilty of murder, but convicted of manslaughter and conspiracy to rob; and Faith Hoppie, 22, was found not guilty of murder, but convicted of manslaughter and conspiracy to rob.

All five will be sentenced at St. Albans Crown Court on September 26. A sixth suspect, Tiana Edwards Hancock, 20, was cleared of murder, manslaughter and conspiracy to rob.
A new public health poll shows that support in Pennsylvania for legalizing recreational marijuana has dropped for the first time in 10 years.

The Muhlenberg College Public Health Program 2023 survey, conducted in the spring, determined that support for legal marijuana was 50%, down from 56% in 2022 and from its peak of 58% in 2021.

However, the drop falls within the polls margin of error of +/- 6 percentage points. Allentown-based Muhlenberg surveyed 417 Pennsylvania residents in March and April.

The small shift in opinion on this matter may simply be the product of sampling error, but for the first time in a decade, support for legalization did not rise in the Commonwealth, pollsters wrote in a summary.

Thirty-one percent of respondents said they were opposed to marijuana legalization while 18% said they had no opinion.

Support for legal marijuana had steadily increased in the Muhlenberg poll since the spring of 2013 when just 33% said they favored it.

Last year, a CBS News poll found that 66% of registered voters in Pennsylvania supported legalizing recreational marijuana. Pennsylvania already has a medical marijuana program.

Other findings in the poll included:
By Mark Nicastre

One of the most overused expressions in sports, politics, or any competitive endeavor is they pulled defeat from the jaws of victory. But sometimes the expression fits.

School-choice advocates and lobbyists made one of the biggest errors Ive seen in almost 20 years of working in politics and public policy, helping to sink a major initiative in Pennsylvania  a private school voucher program called Lifeline Scholarships.

In the early months of Shapiros administration, the new governor courted support and favor with state Senate Republicans. Republicans were complimentary of Gov. Shapiros first 100 days, from his response to the East Palestine train derailment to his budget address.

Between the governors previous support for Lifeline Scholarships, his relationship building with the Senate Republicans, and a budget season poised for compromise, it seemed that Lifeline Scholarships had genuine prospects for inclusion in a larger budget deal.

As the budget deadline inched closer, the Senate passed a budget that included funding for Lifeline Scholarships and associated legislation to implement the policy. Republican leadership in the Senate touted the Shapiro administrations support for the program. The administration, however, disputed that this was a final agreement or that a deal had been reached. The debate over the bill set off a furious lobbying effort on both sides of the aisle.

After the bill passed the Senate and the associated funding was included in the Senate budget, school-choice advocates and lobbyists pressed the Shapiro administration and House Democrats to pass both pieces and finalize the state budget. A network of school-choice advocates made their case via mainstream media, social media, and paid ads. Both sides ramped up their work to influence lawmakers and their constituents.

You often turn to third-party validators or messengers in advocacy communications to carry your message. You want messengers that connect with your audience or carry credibility. Sometimes you turn to non-traditional messengers or voices whom the audience might not associate with a particular issue. For example, if youre advocating for an increase in the minimum wage and your target audience is conservative Republicans, you would try to get business groups to weigh in on your behalf. Conversely, it wouldnt be helpful to this target audience if, say, Bernie Sanders jumped into the conversation and tweeted his support of a minimum-wage bill.

Someone in the school-choice movement missed this class at public relations school.

At a time when lobbying was at its most intense, the school-choice movement sent a letter to the Shapiro administration, which was made public. It outlined the case for the voucher legislation and encouraged Shapiro to support the bill and lobby his fellow Democrats.

So far, so good.

One of the first signatures on the letter was from Meek Mill, a Philadelphia rapper who has fought for criminal-justice reform alongside Republicans and Democrats, including Shapiro.

Great!

A trio of prominent music industry executives with Philadelphia roots?

Fantastic.

Dick Armey, the former Republican House Majority leader from Texas? Weird.

Bill Bennett, Ronald Reagans Education Secretary? Not great.

Betsy DeVos, Donald Trumps education secretary? A conservative bogeywoman who Shapiro sued over her education policies. Catastrophically bad.

More signatures came from a litany of conservative organizations, from ALEC to Jeb Bushs education-choice group, many with missions to defeat Democrats and their policies.

Remember, at this point in the legislative process, school-choice advocates had to appeal to Democrats. Instead, they called on some of the most noxious messengers, by Democratic standards, whom they could find.

The letter and the response from the public-education advocacy community galvanized Democrats in the House and made it clear who stood on which side.

The letter put it in clear terms: to support a school voucher bill, Democrats had not just to cross their strongest allies but to side with opponents who had spent years attacking their policies, intentions, and values.

Suddenly, the momentum for the school voucher bill halted. Over the next few days, House Democrats held their ground against including vouchers in the budget.

And the failure of school-choice advocates culminated in Shapiros vowing to veto the voucher funding that he had previously supported.

No single act has backfired so badly in recent memory in Pennsylvania politics.

Whether it was hubris or incompetency, the plan to send a letter filled with signatures from the most conservative organizations killed school vouchers for the time being in Pennsylvania.

The organizers behind the effort failed to heed one of the principle rules of advocacy communications: the messenger matters as much as the message. School-choice supporters snatched defeat from the jaws of victory.

Mark Nicastre is a crisis and advocacy communications consultant in Philadelphia, where he runs Fitler Square Strategies. Most recently, he was the Communications Director for former Gov. Tom Wolf. This column first appeared on RealClear Pennsylvania.
The National Weather Services flood watch remains in effect across the Lehigh Valley through midnight on Monday. Lehigh, Northampton and Warren counties are all under the advisory, as are most surrounding counties.

On Sunday morning, the NWS also issued a flash flood warning for parts of the region, including Easton, Phillipsburg, and East Stroudsburg, through 11:15 a.m. Warren County and northeastern Northampton County are officially under the warning advisory. By just after 9:30 a.m. on Sunday, two to four and a half inches of rain had already fallen in the region, with flash flooding in Forks Township and Bangor, according to the NWS advisory.

Flash Flood Warning continues for Easton PA, Phillipsburg NJ and East Stroudsburg PA until 11:15 AM EDT pic.twitter.com/RCiNI1NbJX  NWS Mount Holly (@NWS_MountHolly) July 16, 2023

A flood watch means theres the potential for life-threatening flooding as opposed to a flood warning, which means flooding is expected and imminent.

The weather services forecast for Sunday from the Lehigh Valley International Airport includes an 80% chance of heavy rain during the day, largely before 2 p.m., with a 30% chance of scattered thunderstorms in the evening before 8 p.m. Into Monday morning, the NWS is forecasting patchy fog rolling into the area at about 2 a.m.

The scattered storms and fog will wrap up a wet weekend in the Lehigh Valley, which saw storms and flooding beginning Friday. Areas of Warren County and Northampton County saw some flooding on Saturday and Sunday mornings as a result of the rainfall.

County Road 519 in Lopatcong was partially underwater on the morning of July 16 after heavy rains overnight.Tim Wynkoop |Lehighvalleylive.com contributor

Phillipsburg and Pohatcong Township both declared a state of emergency due to flooding, and parts of streets in Phillipsburg and Lopatcong were submerged Sunday morning. Warren County trucks were using snowplows to clear debris from county roads. In Forks Township, an overhead look at Bushkill Park showed the local amusement park largely flooded.

According to a Facebook post from the NWS Philadelphia/Mount Holly location, Lehigh and Northampton counties look to be just outside the area of major flash flood concerns, though Warren County is at more of a risk.

The NWS is recommending against traveling in the current and forecasted conditions

Stay up-to-date with National Weather Service advisories for our region at weather.gov/phi, and visit lehighvalleylive.com/weather for your complete local hourly and five-day forecast from AccuWeather, plus radar. Check airnow.gov for current air quality conditions in your area.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com.

Connor Lagore may be reached at clagore@njadvancemedia.com.
A man was accused of facilitating 'dodgy boxes' to illegally stream premium TV content in County Kildare.

Ciaran Donovan, with an address given as Ashfield in Kildare town, was accused of facilitating the sale of 'dodgy boxes' on a number of dates, going as far back as 2016.

According to gardai present in Naas District Court on Thursday, June 1 last, the estimated value of what the 41-year-old may have defrauded a legit carrier of services could be as high as 1.2 million.

It was heard that the offences that Mr Donovan is accused of are in contravention of Section 7 (1) (a) (i) of the Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) Act, 2010.

This section of the Act reads as follows: "(1) A person commits an offence if (a) the person engages in any of the following acts in relation to property that is the proceeds of criminal conduct: (i) concealing or disguising the true nature, source, location, disposition, movement or ownership of the property, or any rights relating to the property."

Back in March, a number of mainstream news outlets reported that a nationwide crackdown would occur on 'dodgy boxes.'

It is understood that a number of legal warnings have since been sent to those involved in providing illegal access to premium TV content.

On the latest court date, after a book of evidence was served on Mr Donovan by gardai, Judge Desmond Zaidan sent the accused forward for trial to the present sittings of Naas Circuit Criminal Court, which commenced on June 20.

He granted bail for Mr Donovan until the case resumes.
The Forever Young Festival will resume again today, the management has announced.

They said in a statement: "All Saturday tickets will be valid for Sunday.

"Our teams here and the amazing Palmerstown House Estate have moved mountains to keep Forever Young Festival '23 alive and I can't thank them enough.

"We hope to see you all, but if that doesn't suit, all Saturday tickets will be valid for 2024, and all weekend non camping will receive the equivalent of a free day next year.

"If that doesn't suit our valued customers, we will handle all refund requests next week.

"We hope to bring specific acts people missed today, back in '24.

"Your patience and understanding has been genuinely appreciated in this terrible situation. We will look after everyone."

The management also said that the team are working at putting out more woodchips, and that two new parking areas have been secured for today.

In addition, they advised visitors to bring wellies with them, and added that buses for the festival from Naas and Dublin will accept Saturday bus tickets.

For further information, visit the Festival's official Facebook page here.
A teenager has been killed and four other people injured in a crash in Co Tipperary.

The collision, which involved two cars, happened on the N24 in Ballykisteen shortly before 9pm on Saturday.

A 19-year-old male passenger died.

His body was taken to the mortuary at University Hospital Waterford where a post-mortem examination will take place.

The male driver and another male passenger in the same vehicle were taken to University Hospital Limerick, where the passenger remains in a serious condition.

The two occupants of the second vehicle were also taken to hospital with serious but non-life threatening injuries.

The road remains closed and gardai have appealed for witnesses to contact them.

The N24 at Ballykisteen remains closed this morning due to a fatal collision yesterday evening. Motorists are asked to divert as follows: Waterford to Limerick Divert at CahirMitchelstownCaherconlish Limerick to Waterford Divert at CaherconlishMitchelstownCahir  An Garda Siochana (@GardaTraffic) July 16, 2023

Meanwhile, a man in his 50s was killed in a two-vehicle collision in Co Mayo.

The crash happened on the N5 at Ballymiles, near Swinford, at approximately 3.35pm on Saturday.

The driver of one of the vehicles died.

The driver of the other vehicle was seriously injured and was taken to Mayo University Hospital.

A man and woman, both passengers from each car, are also receiving treatment. Their injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.
A view of an Azerbaijani checkpoint recently set up at the entry of the Lachin corridor, the Armenian-populated breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh region's only land link with Armenia, by a bridge across the Hakari river on May 2, 2023. TOFIK BABAYEV / AFP

Azerbaijan and Armenia held a fresh round of EU-mediated peace talks on Saturday, July 15, while Russia offered a summit in Moscow in a bid to reassert its lead role in the normalization process. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan met in Brussels for talks aimed at resolving their decades-long conflict for the control of Armenian-populated Karabakh.

European Council President Charles Michel, who mediated the discussions, said the exchanges were "frank, honest and substantive". "I encouraged them to take courageous steps to ensure decisive and irreversible progress on a normalization track," he added. Michel said he intended to organize a fresh meeting between Aliyev and Pashinyan in Brussels and another in Spain in October involving German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron.

The talks come amid renewed tensions after Azerbaijan closed the sole land link between Karabakh and Armenia on Tuesday. Baku and Yerevan have been trying to negotiate a peace deal with the help of the European Union and the United States, whose growing diplomatic engagement in the Caucasus has irked traditional regional power broker Russia.

Russia is ready 'to organize a trilateral meeting'

Moscow on Saturday offered to host the two countries' foreign ministers and suggested the future peace treaty could be signed in Moscow. Russia is ready "to organise a trilateral meeting of the foreign ministers in Moscow in the near future", the country's foreign ministry said in a statement.

Adding to tensions with Yerevan, Azerbaijan's defense ministry accused Armenian separatist forces in Karabakh as part of Azerbaijan "has radically changed the standing of the Russian peacekeeping contingent". "Under such conditions, the responsibility for the destiny of Karabakh's Armenian population should not be shifted onto third countries," it said, a possible reference to the Armenian separatists' calls for Moscow to ensure the reopening of the land link.

Read more Article reserve a nos abonnes Azerbaijan blocks vital route linking enclave to Armenia

Azerbaijan reacted angrily, accusing Russia of failing to fulfil its obligations under a 2020 Moscow-brokered ceasefire. "The Russian side did not ensure full implementation of the agreement within the framework of its obligations," Baku's foreign ministry said, adding that Moscow "did nothing to prevent" Armenia's military supplies from reaching separatist forces in Karabakh.

Adding to tensions with Yerevan, Azerbaijan's defence ministry accused Armenian separatist forces in Karabakh of using "radio interference against... passenger aircraft flying through our country's airspace". Karabakh's rebel authorities dismissed the claims as an "absolute lie". On Friday, around 6,000 people rallied in Karabakh, calling for the reopening of the five-kilometre-wide Lachin Corridor.

Demonstrators hold a flag during a rally to demand the reopening of a blockaded road linking the Nagorno-Karabakh region to Armenia and to decry crisis conditions in the region, in Stepanakert on July 14, 2023. ANI BALAYAN / AFP

Decades-long dispute

Local separatists, warning of a humanitarian crisis, urged Moscow to ensure free movement through the road. Azerbaijan later allowed the Red Cross to resume medical evacuations from Karabakh to Armenia. Karabakh has been at the centre of a decades-long dispute between the two countries, which have fought two wars over the mountainous territory. During previous rounds of Western-mediated talks, Baku and Yerevan made progress towards a peace agreement, but its signature remains a distant prospect.

Yerevan agreed to recognise Karabakh as part of Azerbaijan but demanded international mechanisms for protecting the rights and security of the region's ethnic-Armenian population. Baku insists such guarantees must be provided at the national level, rejecting any international format.

The 2020 ceasefire deal saw Armenia cede swathes of territories it had controlled for decades, while Moscow deployed peacekeepers to the Lachin Corridor to ensure free passage between Armenia and Karabakh. Armenia has relied on Russia for military and economic support since the collapse of the Soviet Union. It has accused Moscow  bogged down in its war against Ukraine  of failing to fulfil its peacekeeping role in Karabakh.
A COUNTY Limerick haulage company has been fined for not providing records to the Road Safety Authority (RSA).

The prosecution of Paud Nolan & Sons Haulage Limited, with an address at Farran, Feohanagh, County Limerick, was taken by the RSA before Newcastle West Court.

John Harris, an RSA inspector, said he stopped a Paud Nolan & Sons Haulage Limited vehicle on March 26, 2021.

Mr Harris said he asked for downloaded records to be emailed to him but none were sent.

Mr Harris said he sent a reminder notice but the records he asked for were not forwarded to him.

The RSA inspector said there was a maximum fine of 5,000.

Solicitor Denis Linehan, who represented Paud Nolan & Sons Haulage Limited, said it is accepted the company has to be more vigilant. He said drivers licences had been provided.

I did not receive the downloads, said Mr Harris.

Mr Linehan said his client could have up to 1,000 cattle at any one time.

He hauls all his own cattle. He puts his hands up. He has no previous convictions. He is 64 years-of-age, said Mr Linehan, who asked Judge Carol Anne Coolican to give his client credit for the plea of guilty. Judge Coolican imposed a fine of 750.
The Russian Central Bank on Friday hiked its key interest rate for the first time in more than a year amid fears that a weakening ruble will drive up inflation in the country.
A TOTAL of 5,852 families in Limerick will receive the enhanced Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance from this week.

Minister for Social Protection, Heather Humphreys has announced that over 131,000 families will receive the allowance in Ireland.

The payment from the Department of Social Protection is designed to support eligible families with the cost of school uniforms and footwear ahead of the upcoming school term.

Minister Humphreys has increased the rates of payment by 100 per child to reflect the ongoing cost of living pressures facing families in Limerick and across the country.

This means that 260 will be paid in respect of children aged between four and 11.

And, 385 will be paid in respect of children aged 12 years and over who are in second-level education.

Overall, payments totalling over 72 million will be made automatically to over 131,000 families, in respect of more than 231,000 children.

A notification of the automated payment is sent to customers by post or through their MyWelfare account.

Separately, the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance remains open for applications until September 30 and eligible families are being encouraged to apply.

Decisions on these cases will be processed manually and payment will issue once the applications are processed and approved.

Minister Humphreys said: Im pleased to announce that the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance will be paid to over 131,000 families right across the State.

This payment has been increased by 100 per child this year in recognition of the ongoing cost of living pressures that families face.

The Scheme itself is extremely important in terms of easing that financial burden associated with the purchase of uniforms and shoes ahead of the new school term.

The payments will be received in peoples bank accounts from today.

However, any family that has not yet applied has plenty of time to do so as applications remain open until September 30th.

Minister Humphreys continued: As a Government we are deeply conscious of the need to continue to support families with the Cost of Living.

Thats why last month, I announced an extra 100 per every child in receipt of Child Benefit.

Minister Norma Foley is spearheading the free school books scheme, which kicks in for primary schools from September.

And Im delighted as well to be able to continue the expansion of the Hot School Meals Programme.

The expansion of the programme to all DEIS primary schools and special schools will mean by the end of this year, 1,000 schools will have access to hot school meal funding.

And from 2024, we will start the roll-out of Hot Meals to all remaining primary schools.

Families are encouraged to apply for the scheme before the closing date of September 30 in order to avail of the payments.
TWO YOUNG people from Limerick have received special awards from the President for their creativity and perspective, as part of this year's Gaisce Gold Award ceremony.

Erin McIvor and Rebecca Banville from Limerick got Gaisce Gold Award Medals from President Michael D Higgins himself, following their contribution to communities nationwide.

Gaisce - The Presidents Award is a self-development programme for people aged 14 to 25 which has been proven to enhance confidence and resilience through participation in personal, physical, community, and adventure challenges.

Erin and Rebecca were two of 98 students in Ireland to attend a special ceremony in Aras an Uachtarain on Friday, July 7 and receive their medals.

Referencing the empowerment of youth President Michael D Higgins said: Young people possess immense potential, creativity, and a perspective that can shape our world in profound ways, demonstrated through this years recipients of the Gold Award.

We must value and empower our youth, ensuring access to education, opportunities, and programmes such as Gaisce to allow them to express their ideas and make a positive impact in the communities in which they live.

I hope that they [awardees] will continue to actively engage in their communities to build a brighter, more inclusive society for all."

Gaisce is a non-formal education award that supports young people on career and learning pathways.

Gaisce was established in 1985 as the national youth award and Irelands highest recognition of a young persons achievement and voluntary contribution. To date, more than 350,000 young people have achieved their Gaisce Award.

To achieve a Gaisce Award, participants need to complete activities for one hour a week in each of the three challenge areas: Personal Skill, Community Involvement and Physical Recreation.
India will get its own crash safety star rating for four-wheelers from 1 October to make cars safer than they are today. What is the Bharat New Car Assessment Programme (NCAP), how does it work and how will it benefit consumers and the industry? Mint explains.

What is Bharat NCAP?

It is a new safety assessment programme for passenger vehicles that can seat up to eight people and weigh less than 3.5 tonnes. It will bring India at par with other parts of the world like the US, Europe, Japan, Australia and Latin America that have NCAPs of their own. As part of the programme, cars will be crash-tested and given points which in turn would translate into stars. The safest of the lot will get five stars. Bharat NCAP will bring about more transparency, create awareness among consumers and help buyers choose cars on their safety credentials.

How will the cars be tested?

There will be three types of crash tests  frontal, side and pole-side impact tests. The frontal test would be carried out at 64 kmph while the side and pole-side (when a side hits a pole or a tree) tests would be at 50 kmph and 29 kmph. Scoring would be done for both adult safety for front passengers and child safety at the rear. Out of a maximum 32 points for adult safety, a car would have to score at least 27 for a 5-star rating. For child safety, a 5-star rating would be awarded for those cars that score a minimum 41 out of 49 points. For child safety, points would also be given for restraint systems like ISOFIX anchorages.

View Full Image Graphic: Mint

Will all cars come with star ratings from 1 October?

Bharat NCAP will be rolled out from 1 October but it will be voluntary, so cars will only be tested at the request of makers. Currently, all cars in India have to qualify a basic conformity crash test which is more lenient  the frontal crash test, for example, is conducted at 56 kmph. No star ratings are given, so consumers cannot choose on the basis of safety credentials.

Whats the point if it is not mandatory?

Even in developed countries, NCAPs are mostly voluntary. They are aimed at nudging firms to offer more than the basic safety features by sparking competition. For example to achieve at least 3 stars, cars would have to be equipped with electronic stability control and curtain airbags, which are not needed to pass the basic approval tests. Many firms have already started providing these features as standard in anticipation of this, such as the new Hyundai Exter and Kia Carens. Maruti now offers ESC as standard in many of its cars.

How well are Indian cars expected to do?

Global NCAP has been crash-testing Indian cars since 2014 and theres been marked progress in the last few years. Of the 62 crash tests conducted so far, 20 cars scored 0 stars, but they are all from 5 years ago. Eight cars (all of them less then 3 years old) have scored 5 stars for adults. With centres in Pune, Manesar and Indore now equipped to conduct these tests, it will become easier and cheaper for firms to get their cars tested in India. It should lead to more cars getting tested as companies would look to leverage their star ratings.
Microsoft Sunday said it has signed a binding agreement to keep the Call of Duty franchise on Sony Playstation platform following its planned acquisition of Activision Blizzard. We are pleased to announce that Microsoft and @PlayStation have signed a binding agreement to keep Call of Duty on PlayStation following the acquisition of Activision Blizzard," Microsoft gaming chief Phil Spencer twitted today. The Washington-based software giants announcement seeks to address regulators concerns that the merger would make more Activision games  such as the massively popular shooting-game franchise  exclusive to Xbox. Microsoft President Brad Smith said From Day One of this acquisition, weve been committed to addressing the concerns of regulators, platform and game developers, and consumers. Even after we cross the finish line for this deals approval, we will remain focused on ensuring that Call of Duty remains available on more platforms and for more consumers than ever before."

Raising apprehensions the Microsoft-Activision Blizzard deal, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) had said that it would hurt consumers whether they played video games on consoles or had subscriptions because Microsoft would have an incentive to shut out rivals like Sony Group.

To address concerns of the regulator, Microsoft had earlier agreed to license "Call of Duty" to rivals, including a 10-year contract with Nintendo, contingent on the merger closing.

Microsoft is also facing hurdles from UK Competition and Markets Authority, which has agreed to give an unprecedented second chance to the software giant to come up with a remedy after vetoing the merger in April.

Microsoft has offered to sell the cloud-based market rights for games in the UK, Bloomberg reported last week.
India successfully launched a mission to the moon on Friday, prompting congratulatory messages from across the world. With the launch of Chandrayaan-3 on July 14, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will attempt to land a spacecraft on the Moon for the second time.

The Chandrayaan 3 mission has the potential to help the economy. It will draw a lot of investment to the sector in exchange for potentially higher profits. The latest space mission from India demonstrates the country's extraordinary accomplishments in space exploration and technology. The effort will open up a wide range of potential for Indian private space enterprises.

The global space exploration market was valued at USD 486 billion in 2022, with the global space exploration market predicted to reach USD 1,879 billion by 2032.These investments will give a big boost to the Indian companies and the Indian economy.

Pawan Chandana, Co-Founder and CEO of Skyroot Aerospace, a leading domestic aerospace company credited with launching Indias first privately developed rocket, told India Today.in that Chandrayaan-III, once successful, could take India to the top league along with the US, Russia, and China. Chandrayaan-III is a major step in India joining the elite club as the fourth country to successfully accomplish a moon landing," Chandana said.

Following is the list of the companies that contributed to Chandrayaan 3 launch:

Larsen and Toubro (L&T)

L&T supplied several crucial components - from the supply of ground and flight umbilical plates to the manufacturing and proof pressure testing of critical booster segments.Their Aerospace Manufacturing Facility fulfilled the stringent quality and timeline requirements for the production of space hardware for India's third Moon mission. The company also played a vital role in the system integration of the Launch Vehicle.

ALSO READ: How L&T helped ISROs lunar mission Chandrayaan 3?

Hindustan Aeronautics also played a role in the success of the Chandrayaan-3 mission. Several components supply to National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL), provided key support for the Chandrayaan-3 mission.

Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited has achieved the unique milestone of supplying its 100th battery to ISRO for its very important and critical mission, Chandrayaan 3," said a official statement by the company quoted by New Indian Express in 2021.

Paras Defence and Space Technologies

The Department of Space (DoS) and NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in 2020 to assist NSIL in identifying those technologies developed by ISRO that have the potential for commercialisation and can be transferred to external entities in the public and private sectors. Under this agreement, as of October 2021, NSIL has transferred over 363 technologies for commercialisation.

Walchandnagar Industries

Walchandnagar Industries Ltd has been involved in manufacturing components for all the 48 launches till now, right from the first launch of PSLV-D1 in 1993

Centum Electronics

The company has made roughly 300 to 500 components for Indian space missions.

MTAR Technologies

To fabricate the engine and the stage, ISRO roped in Godrej, Hyderabad-based MTAR Technologies, and Bengaluru-based Hindustan Aeronautics Limited.

Linde India

Social media reports also suggested the involvement of other listed companies. Mint could not however independently verify the same.

These are:

India made the first step towards a lunar soft landing with the near-perfect Chandrayaan-3 launch. The Sriharikota launch pad saw the launch of the LVM3 rocket. On Thursday, July 14, at 2.35 p.m. IST, the mission was launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. The lander's voyage to the moon will take roughly 42 days.

After Chandrayaan-2 failed to soft-land, the most respected space agency spent nearly four years preparing Chandrayaan-3. In conjunction with numerous Indian enterprises, the space agency has created a new spacecraft using modern technologies. This successful launch will propel many developed and developing countries towards ISRO to launch their spacecraft and satellites, because of its low cost and high efficiency.

BHARAT HEAVY ELECTRICALS More Information

HINDUSTAN AERONAUTICS More Information

WALCHANDNAGAR INDUSTRIES More Information

CENTUM ELECTRONICS More Information

MTAR TECHNOLOGIES More Information

LINDE INDIA More Information
Indian startups witnessed a significant fall in business funding in the first half of 2023 (January to June) by raising only $3.8 billion during the six-month period, a massive decline of 36% as compared to the fundraising in H1 of 2022. Last year, Indian startups raised $5.9 billion in the first half.

However, Ankita Poddar, Manager of Valuations and Advisory at Aranca said that startups have various alternative financing options at their disposal which range from traditional methods like bridge or mezzanine financing to modern approaches such as crowdfunding and peer-to-peer lending.

She stated that companies can also explore options like factoring or purchase order/supply chain financing to process customer orders and generate immediate cash inflow to support expansion efforts.

Implementing a lean business model, negotiating with vendors for better terms, and opting for leasing instead of purchasing can significantly reduce operational overhead and free up resources that can be directed towards fueling growth," Poddar added while saying that considering the combination of these strategies can help startups to navigate the fundraising challenges.

Vittal Ramakrishna, CEO and Founder of POD World suggested adopting a lean model that minimizes spending, optimizes resources, and maximizes a startup's runway can help companies to sustain themselves until market conditions stabilize in the funding ecosystem.

According to the POD World's founder, companies should look for funding-raising platforms like angel investors, and take advantage of government schemes under the Startup India Initiative.

Forming partnerships with other companies or investors can be helpful. Exploring different ways to get money, like crowdfunding or grants, can also be a good idea. And last, using resources wisely and finding ways to save money can free up funds for innovation," Ankur Srivastava, Entrepreneur, Angel Investor, and Founder of Qi Tech and Qi Media told Livemint.

Kanav Kalia, CMO of Oxane Partners stated that the Indian startup ecosystem has slowed down since the funding winter hit in 2022, hence, the funding woes continue to worsen which led to various challenges with investors.

Some bootstrapped companies are focused on achieving the founder-product-market fit, and continue to grow steadily. This approach allows them to make strategic adjustments to their business models and offerings to better serve their target market and drive profitability. Some of these also follow a customer-centric approach," he said.

Karan Mittal, Partner at EV2 Ventures recommended one of the key strategies to overcome funding constraints is to build a business model that emphasizes positive cash flows which begins by focusing on positive unit economics and creating real value for customers, rather than pursuing only valuation.

Over and above this, Technology can also play a crucial role in navigating funding constraints, by embracing digital solutions, automation, and data analytics while allowing companies to adapt to market changes more efficiently and make informed decisions."
NEW DELHI : The commerce ministry has put on hold plans to cut tariffs for imports of tech products from the European Union after the IT ministry raised concerns, saying such a move could hit nascent local manufacturing of electronic goods, two government officials aware of the development said.

Indias offer of tariff concessions was aimed at settling a trade dispute at the WTO with its second largest export market.

The commerce ministry was weighing the option to lower the tariffs for the EU as it believes that the influx of cheap Chinese goodsand not those coming in from Europeis the key threat to the domestic electronic sector, which is a strategic area under the flagship production-linked incentive scheme. The original Indian tariff, though aimed at Beijing, had the unintended consequence of affecting imports from Europe, New Delhi clarified after the EU moved the World Trade Organization. Subsequently, a WTO panel ruled against India and the two entered into settlement talks. The EU claimed technology exports worth of 600 million to India were impacted annually due to tariff on information and communication technology (ICT) products.

However, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeITY) which is pushing for domestic capacity- building was not on board with Indias move, saying production and exports of ICT products were showing signs of picking up with US tech giants such as Apple beginning to increase sourcing from India.

The first official, with MeitY, said tariffs on certain ICT products were levied with the intent to create export-led local manufacturing which was taking shape. This person said it was not possible to levy a different tariff rate for a particular region or country for ICT products.

The second official, who is with the commerce and industries ministry, said that offering concessions to the EU was the logical option as Chinese imports are the chief concern. But we did not move ahead with the plan as MeiTY was not on board," this official added. The commerce ministry is undertaking extensive stakeholder consultation on all chapters (of the free trade agreement, or FTA) being negotiated and we refrain from moving forward with any decision without having the concerned department or industry onboard. We had also proposed to offer concessions to EU in the FTA but there still is time before the EU FTA is finalized, so that proposed solution also hasnt materialized," the official said.

Exports of electronic goods are among items bucking the broad declining trend of merchandise exports with a 45% on- year jump last month. In June, overall goods exports slipped over 20% largely due to weak demand in western countries as well as in China which is Indias fourth largest export destination.

The domestic electronics industry, too, has begun seeking reductions in import duties, arguing cuts are needed to increase competitiveness with rivals like Vietnam and China. Earlier this month, the Indian Cellular and Electronics Association in its study said that Indias tariffs on electronics goods are the highest among competing economies.The industry body said the department of revenue, under the ministry of finance, which takes the call on levying of tariffs, must create a glidepath for input duties to match those of Vietnam and China over the next two years. This will also help prepare the domestic industry in the eventuality that the final decision in the WTO case is unfavorable," it added.

Queries sent to the ministries of commerce, finance and MeITY remained unanswered till press time.

ravi.dutt@livemint.com
NEW DELHI : The government is at an advanced stage of formulating a new piece of legislation to offer investors ready approvals for all requirements and replace the special economic zones (SEZ) Act and non-tax measures remain the preferred route for promoting new investments in the country, revenue secretary Sanjay Malhotra said in an interview.

Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced the Development of Enterprise and Service Hubs (DESH) Bill in February 2022. The proposed law will replace the existing one governing SEZs.

India has also given relief on angel tax to foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) from well-regulated countries, and the same from certain jurisdictions have been excluded due to concerns of round-tripping, Malhotra said, without naming the countries.

India has excluded investments from Mauritius, Singapore, and the Netherlands while granting exemptions from a new anti-abuse provision in the income tax law dealing with foreign investments into unlisted shares. The revenue secretary also said it is in the interest of gaming companies to follow goods and services tax (GST) law as the government sees it and pay 28% tax on the full value of bets. Field officers of the tax department are also expected to go by this understanding. The governments effort is to bring Central Goods and Services Tax Act amendments in the monsoon session of Parliament. Edited excerpts:

The GST Council has decided online gamers should be taxed at 28% on the face value of bets, but we have the Karnataka high court order favouring the industry. What should gaming platforms follow till GST law is amended? When is an amendment to GST law expected?

See, our view has always been that it is a 28% tax rate. They are paying 18% of gross gaming revenue (GGR). Some companies have gone to court and have secured a favourable order. So far, as the companies that have gone and won, it is up to them; we will, of course, fight it out in the Supreme Court, and there is a possibility that we may win. It is in their interest if they fall in line with the law, as we understand. It will be our attempt to bring in amendments to the GST law in the monsoon session.

What about those who were not party to the litigation?

We would expect that they follow the law as interpreted by us. There is a social dimension to it, as has been pointed out by some of the ministers (in the GST Council). The ministers also felt taxation of online gaming is very low compared to that in the food industry, where the tax rate is either 5%, going up to 18%. The Council has taken its view after great deliberation and in the socio-economic interest of the country.

What is your expectation as far as the field officers of the tax department are concerned about tax compliance?

The same as that of taxpayers.

We have been phasing out tax exemptions and, on the other hand, have begun to offer direct incentives for manufacturing activities. Will production-linked incentives (PLIs) remain the main instrument for attracting investments rather than tax concessions?

As far as possible, direct methods, rather than taxation, are preferred as modes of promoting any activity or any industry. Non-tax measures are always preferred.

In the discussions around the DESH Bill, some tax concessions had come up. What is the progress on this Bill?

That is under consideration. We are at an advanced stage of discussions with the ministry of commerce. Recently, there was a meeting chaired by the finance minister in this regard, and we are trying to bring out a good solution. The major attraction in the DESH Bill, however, is relating to providing an enabling environment where one can have a kind of plug-and-play facility where all clearances, whether they are environmental or others, are already taken care of so that there is ease of doing or ease of starting a business. That is one of the main attractions or selling points of the DESH Bill. Tax matters are also under discussion.

Negotiations between startup founders and investors for raising investments will be based on what the company may be worth, say, four or five years down the line, not on the present valuation. Therefore, the valuation at which investments are raised will most likely be more than their current fair market value. It is likely that startups, even genuine ones, may be hit by the angel tax, although the share premium of unlisted shares is an area of concern as far as tax evasion is concerned. Your comments?

Two things. Our effort is to allow genuine investments and, at the same time, ensure there is no money laundering, round tripping of funds, etc. A number of measures have been taken to protect the interests of genuine investors. The methods given for fair valuation take into account the prospects of growth of a company. For startups, as you are aware, when they are recipients, the recognized startups are already exempt from positions of angel tax. Similarly, for investments from certain entities, especially foreign entities, there is a carve-out. For example, government-owned companies, banks, insurance companies, and some other regulated entities in some jurisdictions. Additional five methods of valuation have also been provided to foreign entities. Overall, a good balance has been struck.

But this carve-out excludes investments from countries like Singapore, Mauritius and the Netherlands. Are we excluding jurisdictions which were prone to abuse in the past?

All well-regulated countries have been exempted. Investments from countries from where there is a high possibility of round-tripping have been excluded.

GST revenue receipts have been buoyant. Where do you expect monthly average receipts? What will the direction of reforms in GST be?

For this year, we expect an average gross GST collection of about 1.65 trillion monthly, in line with the projections and targets. We have to continue to make it easy for businesses to comply with tax laws while at the same time making it more difficult or impossible for tax evaders. A number of measures have been taken in this regard in the GST Council to tighten the registration process with the idea of preventing the creation of fake entities and fake invoices. We are planning to use biometric authentication for registration. We are already using data analytics and artificial intelligence to identify suspected bogus forms. Technology will play a major role in all our endeavours, including in providing greater convenience to our taxpayers. On the customs side, further reducing the dwell time of consignments in the ports for both exports and imports will be a priority. Reducing the compliance burden is also a priority.

What is the roadmap for setting up GST appellate tribunals?

Central GST law amendments have been done, and states are now making amendments to state laws. The Centre will set up the tribunals on the recommendations of the selection committee. One selection committee for the state technical member will be headed by the high court judge of that particular state, and for the other three members, there will be a committee headed by the chief justice of the Supreme Court or his nominee, and it will also have members from states.

OECD said on 12 July that 138 countries have agreed to extend by one year till the end of 2024 the implementation of the global deal on taxation covering digital economy firms if sufficient progress is made by the end of this year. What is Indias position on these negotiations?

We are negotiating for the best deal. It is a multilateral negotiation. Every country tries to negotiate and get a good deal for their own country, depending on their circumstances. The broad contours have already been decided by the declaration of October 2021. It is now the details that are being worked out. So, our effort is to get the best deal possible for the country.

The government had in June announced some relief on tax collected at source (TCS) on overseas remittances, including bringing back the  7 lakh threshold for TCS levy. Is a Bill to amend the Income Tax Act expected in the monsoon session of Parliament?

We will bring those amendments at the right time.
Flair Writing Industries Ltd, a leading manufacturer of writing instruments in India, has filed preliminary papers with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) to raise 745 crore through an initial public offering (IPO). The company plans to use the proceeds of the IPO to set up a new manufacturing facility, fund its capital expenditure, and expand its distribution network.

Flair Writing Industries is a well-established company with a strong track record of growth. The company has been in the market for over 45 years and has a market share of about 9% in the overall writing instruments industry. The company's flagship brand, "Flair", is one of the most popular brands of writing instruments in India.

The IPO is a significant milestone for Flair Writing Industries. The company is looking to use the proceeds of the IPO to expand its business and become a leading player in the global writing instruments market. The IPO is also expected to provide the company with access to a wider pool of investors.

The writing instruments market is a growing market. The global market for writing instruments is estimated to be worth about $20 billion. The Indian market for writing instruments is also growing, and is estimated to be worth about 5,000 crore.

Flair Writing Industries is well-positioned to capitalize on the growth of the writing instruments market. The company has a strong brand, a wide distribution network, and a track record of innovation. The company is also expanding its product portfolio to include new products, such as fountain pens and markers.

The IPO is likely to be well-received by investors. The writing instruments market is a growing market and Flair Writing Industries is a well-positioned company to capitalize on this growth. The company has a strong brand, a wide distribution network, and a track record of innovation.

The IPO is expected to open in the coming weeks. Investors who are interested in investing in Flair Writing Industries should watch out for the IPO announcement.

Here are some of the key details of the IPO:

The IPO comprises a fresh issue of equity shares aggregating up to 365 crore and an offer-for-sale (OFS) of equity shares worth up to 380 crore by promoters and promoter group entities.

The company plans to use the proceeds of the IPO to set up a new manufacturing facility, fund its capital expenditure, and expand its distribution network.

The IPO is expected to open in the coming weeks.

Here are some of the key risks associated with the IPO:

The writing instruments market is a cyclical market and is susceptible to fluctuations in demand.

The company faces competition from other established players in the market like Cello, etc.

The company's future growth prospects depend on its ability to innovate and launch new products.

Overall, the IPO of Flair Writing Industries is a good opportunity for investors to invest in a well-established company with a strong track record of growth. However, investors should be aware of the risks associated with the IPO before investing.

Know your inner investor Do you have the nerves of steel or do you get insomniac over your investments? Lets define your investment approach. Take the test
Delhi, which is still reeling from floods, received a short but intense rainfall on Saturday evening, worsening the miseries of several residents. Several roads in Delhi have continued to remain waterlogged which has affected the traffic movement. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted more rainfall on Sunday that will add to the woes of thousands of people who are staying at relief camps. As per the Hindustan Times report, Livemint's sister publication, the Safdarjung Observatory recorded 12.8mm of rainfall between 5.30 pm and 8.30 pm on Saturday. Lodhi Road, Palam, and Pusa recorded 11 mm, 18.2mm, and 29.5 mm of rainfall during the same period. The short spell of rain minimized the temperature yesterday. The maximum temperature stood at 34.6 degrees Celsius (C), one degree below normal. The minimum temperature settled at 27.1 degrees Celsius. The pollution level in the city continued to remain in the satisfactory" zone. The 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) reading was 100, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). Meanwhile, on Sunday, several areas in the national capital remained waterlogged. The water level in the Yamuna River was recorded at 206.02 mtrs at 8 AM in Delhi. Visuals showed water from overflowing Yamuna touched Red Fort walls on Ring Road. Whereas, the waterlogging situation on roads from Kashmere Gate to Majnu Ka Tila improved today.

The ruling e Aam Adami Party (AAP) has accused the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Central Government of orchestrating a conspiracy to flood the city with the water of Haryanas Hathnikund Barrage.

Notably, the blame game between Delhi and Haryana governments continued over the floods in Delhi.

Delhi Public Works Department (PWD) Minister Atishi accused the Haryana government of deliberately releasing water from Hathini Kund Barrage to Delhi.

However, hitting back at the Delhi government, Haryana Home Minister Anil Vij said that his government is not blaming" anyone though it too is receiving water from other states.

"In our state also water came from Punjab, Himachal Pradesh but we are not blaming anyone. We are trying to make arrangements," Anil Vij said.
Egypts President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi arrived in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, on Saturday to attend the Fifth Mid-Year Coordination Meeting (5th MYCM) of the African Union, Regional Economic Communities, Regional Mechanisms and African Union Member States.

African leaders and heads of government will convene on Sunday in the 5th MYCM under the AU's 2023 theme: Acceleration of African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Implementation."

President El-Sisi will deliver a speech presenting Egypt's ambitious two-year roadmap as the current chair of the Steering Committee of the African Development Agency (NEPAD), said Egyptian Presidential Spokesman Ahmed Fahmy in a statement.

He will also discuss the importance of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and the need for African countries to work together to implement it.

According to Fahmy, the president's second speech, which he will deliver as the current president of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP27), will be given at the session on the environment, climate change and the blue economy at the Nairobi Summit.

It will include an overview of Egypt's efforts to cope with the effects of climate change and adapt to climate change, as well as the Loss and Damage Fund, which was agreed upon at the COP27 summit in Sharm El-Sheikh in November last year.

The president will also stress in his second speech the principles of climate justice and shared responsibility in coping with the effects of climate change, considering the varying burdens that vary from one country to another.

El-Sisi is also scheduled to meet with his Kenyan counterpart, President William Ruto, on the sidelines of the MYCM meeting to discuss deepening cooperation between the two brotherly countries on matters of common African concern, and enhancing continental integration, said Fahmy.

Executive Council



The 5th MYCM was preceded by the 43rd Ordinary Session of the Executive Council, which was held from 13 to 14 July.

During these sessions, officials from Egypt and fellow African countries discussed the progress achieved in the commercial integration program for African countries and the means to enhance that integration, reported the Egyptian states news agency MENA on Friday.

These means include promoting free movement, developing a unified African passport, and integrating continental infrastructure and financial markets.

The meeting's agenda also covered the financing of Agenda 2063, which focused on Africas economic recovery, as well as agriculture, debt management and energy.

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During his visit to the relief camp where residents from the flood-affected areas have taken shelter, Kejriwal assured them they will provide ad-hoc relief to the people who have lost their important documents, Aadhaar, PAN cards, and other related things.

He said that Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government will also organise a special camp for flood-affected people in Delhi where children would be given textbooks and uniforms that got submerged in the water.

The AAP supremo said that six districts in the city have been affected and the Delhi government has set up relief camps at several places in these six districts. Relief camps were set up in nearby schools and Dharamshalas and facilities for drinking water and toilets were ensured.

On the current situation of the Yamuna River, which is the leading cause of flood in Delhi, CM Kejriwal said that the water is receding.

"Floodwater has been drained out of several areas while few areas are still affected, and efforts are underway to restore normalcy there," he said.

According to the data shared by the Central Water Commission on their portal, the water level of the Yamuna River dropped to 205.88 metres at 12 noon on Sunday.

As per the officials, the water level of Yamuna is likely to fall below the danger mark in the next few hours. The Yamuna River in Delhi crossed the danger mark of 205.33 metres at 5 pm on July 10.

Meanwhile, Delhi Lieutenant Governor (LG) Vinai Kumar Saxena also inspected flood-affected areas in Delhi's Raj Ghat area today.

Delhi Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj earlier today inspected a relief camp near Mayur Vihar.

On Saturday, Delhi PWD Minister Atishi directed the chief secretary to ensure that all amenities are provided to people sheltered in relief camps.
Delhi floods: Heavy rainfall and overflowing Yamuna River continue to grapple the national capital on Sunday causing waterlogging, traffic snarls, and affecting the lives of millions of people. Commuters were witnessed pushing their motorcycles through the water.

In a tweet, Delhi Police issues a traffic alert on Sunday morning and said that vehicular movement on Bhairon Marg is restricted due to waterlogging under Railway Bridge. Hence, it advised the commuters to avoid the route. Traffic Alert: Traffic movement on Bhairon Marg is restricted due to waterlogging under Railway Bridge. Commuters are advised to avoid the stretch," Delhi Traffic Police tweeted.

On Saturday night, it advised commuters to avoid routes like Khan Market, Teen Murti round-about, GGR-PDR, A-Point to W-Point, Kamla Express Building, Andrews Ganj, Khanpur T-point, Under Railway Bridge at Bhairon Marg among others as roads in these areas remain water-logged.

The India Meteorological Department on Friday predicted that Delhi will likely receive light to moderate rain accompanied by thunderstorms during the next 4-5 days.

The national capital Delhi has continued to battle with severe flooding after record rainfall on Saturday evening. Besides, the release of water from Hathni Kund Barrage in Haryana swelled water levels in the Yamuna.

Massive traffic snarls and waterlogging were witnessed at several places in the city this morning even as the key areas of the city, including ITO and Rajghat remained submerged.

The New Delhi Municipal Council's (NDMC) workers conducted a special night drive to flush out water from Mathura Road, near the Supreme Court area as nearby areas and key roads remain inundated due to heavy rains on Saturday.

Teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) carried out rescue operations in the low-lying areas near Pragati Maidan late on Saturday night as the Yamuna River continues to overflow.

The situation of roads from Majnu Ka Tila to Kashmere Gate has improved as the water level of Yamuna recedes slowly on Sunday morning.

The water level in Yamuna River was recorded at 206.14 mtrs at 6 AM hours in Delhi on Sunday.
Delhi floods: Water supply in the national capital is set to become normal from today, after two days of hiatus as the operations at Okhla's Chandrawal water plant have resumed. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday informed that the Chandrawal water treatment plant is back at work.

It was one of the three plants that authorities had shut in Delhi after Yamuna River's water level surged to an unprecedented level, causing floods in several parts of the city.

The Chandrawal water treatment plant was shut on 13 July as the floodwater entered the pumping stations of these plants.

Vice-Chairman of Delhi Jal Board, Somnath Bharti, in a tweet also shared that the Chandrawal WTP resuming operations will restore water supply to the tune of 105 MGD in assemblies falling in central Delhi - Rajender Nagar, Karol Bagh, Ballimaran, Chandni Chowk, Patel Nagar, Palam vihar, Delhi Cantt and also in NDMC areas.

Besides, Bharti said that work is going to store all three phases of Wazirabad WTP and are likely to be restored anytime today.

Delhi floods: 10 updates on the latest situation

- Entry and exit at Yamuna Bank Metro Station are open for commuters on Sunday

- Indian Naval diving team carries out an operation to open the gate of Yamuna Barrage, ITO.

-The water of Yamun has started declining. At 9 am, the water level of the river was recorded at 205.98 metres

-Visuals show that ITO, Red Fort, and the Ring Road areas showed persistent and heavy waterlogging even on Sunday.

-Delhi's Akshardham and the walled city area near Kashmere Gate continued to remain inundated with drone visuals showing the extent of flooding there.

-The water level on the stretch of road from Majnu Ka Tila to Kashmere Gate has started to recede.

-Teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) carried out rescue operations in the low-lying areas near Pragati Maidan on Saturday late at night as the Yamuna continued to be in spate

-Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday spoke to Lt Governor V K Saxena to enquire about the progress made in dealing with the flood-like situation in Delhi

-The weather department has forecast light to moderate rains across the national capital for Sunday.
Today, Google Doodle commemorates the birthday of Zarina Hashmi, an influential Indian American artist who would have turned 86 today. The doodle, designed by guest illustrator Tara Anand from New York, pays homage to Hashmi's artistic style by incorporating her signature geometric and minimalist abstract shapes.

As per media reports, Hashmi was known for her remarkable sculptures, prints, and drawings. Her artwork, aligned with the Minimalist movement, skillfully employed abstract and geometric forms to evoke a profound spiritual experience within the viewer.

Born in 1937 in the small Indian town of Aligarh, Zarina Hashmi experienced a contented childhood alongside her four siblings until the partition of India occurred. The tragic event forced Zarina, her family, and countless others to relocate to Karachi in the newly established Pakistan.

At the age of 21, Hashmi married a young diplomat, embarking on a journey that took her across the world. During her travels to Bangkok, Paris, and Japan, she had the opportunity to explore the realms of printmaking and immerse herself in the influences of modernist and abstract art movements.

In 1977, Zarina Hashmi made a significant move to New York City, where she emerged as a passionate advocate for women and female artists of colour. She swiftly joined the Heresies Collective, a feminist journal dedicated to exploring the intersection of politics, art, and social justice.

Subsequently, Hashmi took on a professorial role at the New York Feminist Art Institute, an institution that aimed to provide equitable educational opportunities for women artists. In 1980, she collaborated on co-curating an exhibition titled "Dialectics of Isolation: An Exhibition of Third World Women Artists of the United States" at A.I.R. Gallery. This exhibition played a vital role in showcasing the artistic voices and perspectives of women artists from marginalized backgrounds.

Hashmi gained significant recognition for her captivating intaglio and woodcut prints, which skillfully incorporated semi-abstract depictions of the houses and cities she had resided in throughout her life.

Her identity as an Indian woman, born into the Muslim faith, coupled with her experiences of constant movement during her formative years, greatly influenced her artistic expression. Notably, Hashmi's artwork often featured visual elements inspired by Islamic religious decorations, characterized by precise geometrical patterns that held immense aesthetic appeal.

Zarina Hashmi's early artistic works, with their abstract and subtly geometric aesthetics, have drawn comparisons to renowned minimalists such as Sol LeWitt.

Her art continues to captivate viewers worldwide, as evidenced by its inclusion in permanent collections at esteemed institutions such as the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, the Whitney Museum of American Art, the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, along with several other distinguished galleries.

These prestigious placements attest to the enduring appeal and significance of Hashmi's artistic contributions.
The environment ministry on Sunday said five out of the 20 adult cheetahs brought from Namibia and South Africa died due to natural causes and media reports attributing the deaths to factors like radio collars were based on "speculation and hearsay without scientific evidence".

In a statement, the ministry also said several steps have been planned to support the cheetah project, including the establishment of a Cheetah Research Center with facilities for rescue, rehabilitation, capacity building, and interpretation.

Of the 20 translocated Cheetahs from South Africa and Namibia, five mortalities of adult individuals have been reported from Kuno National Park, Madhya Pradesh, till date," according to a statement by Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. As per the preliminary analysis by National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), the apex body entrusted with the implementation of Project Cheetah, all mortalities are due to natural causes. There are reports in the media attributing these Cheetah deaths to other reasons including their radio collars etc," the statement further stated. Such reports are not based on any scientific evidence but are speculation and hearsay.

Project Cheetah is yet to complete a year and it will be premature to conclude the outcome in terms of success and failure, since Cheetah reintroduction is a long-term project. In the last 10 months, all stakeholders involved in this project have gained valuable insights in Cheetah management, monitoring and protection. There is optimism that the project will succeed in the long run and there is no reason to speculate at this juncture.

For investigating the cause of Cheetah deaths, consultation with international cheetah experts/ veterinary doctors from South Africa and Namibia is being done on regular basis. Further, the existing monitoring protocols, protection status, managerial inputs, veterinary facilities, training and capacity building aspects are being reviewed by independent national experts. The Cheetah Project Steering Committee is closely monitoring the project and has expressed satisfaction over its implementation so far.

Further, steps like establishment of Cheetah Research Center with facilities for rescue, rehabilitation, capacity building, interpretation; bringing additional forest area under administrative control of Kuno National Park for landscape level management; providing additional frontline staff; establishing Cheetah Protection Force; and creation of second home for Cheetahs in Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary, Madhya Pradesh have been envisaged.

Cheetah has been brought back to India after seven decades and a project of such a stature is bound to undergo ups and downs. Global experience particularly from South Africa suggests that in the initial phase of reintroduction of Cheetah in African countries has resulted in more than 50% mortality of introduced Cheetahs. The mortality of Cheetah may happen due to intra-species fights, diseases, accidents before release and post release. Mortalities might also result from injury caused during hunting of prey, poaching, road hits, poisoning and predatory attack by other predators etc. Considering all these eventualities the action plan has made provision for annual supplementation of initial founder population annually for managing the demographic and genetic composition of the reintroduced population.

The Governmenthas launched the ambitious project on bringing back Cheetah to India. The Project Cheetah is being implemented by National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), a statutory body under Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) in collaboration with Madhya Pradesh Forest Department, Wildlife Institute of India (WII) and Cheetah experts from Namibia and South Africa. The project implementation is being done as per the Action plan for Introduction in India and a Steering Committee comprising of eminent experts/ officials involved in the first ever successful tiger reintroduction in Sariska and Panna Tiger Reserve, to oversee the project has also been constituted.

Under Project Cheetah, a total of 20 radio collared Cheetahs were brought from Namibia and South Africa to Kuno National Park, Madhya Pradesh, in a first ever transcontinental wild to wild translocation. After mandatory quarantine period, all Cheetahs were shifted to larger acclimatization enclosures. Currently, 11 Cheetahs are under free ranging condition and 5 animals, including a cub born on Indian soil, are within quarantine enclosures. Each of the free ranging Cheetahs is being monitored round the clock by a dedicated monitoring team.

Government of India has deployed a dedicated NTCA team of officials to work in close coordination with the field officials at the Kuno National Park. This team is engaged for analyzing real time field data collated by the field monitoring teams for deciding upon various management aspects including health and related interventions required to be in place for better management.
US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen on Sunday thanked Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and the Indian delegation for hosting the G20 ministerial. I would like to thank Finance Minister Sitharaman and the Indian delegation for hosting the G20 ministerial," she said.

Addressing the media ahead of her meeting with finance ministers of G20 countries at Mahatma Mandir here in Gujarat, Yellen said, Ahead of the Leaders Summit in September, this weeks convening offers us an opportunity to take stock of what weve done  and to redouble our efforts to strengthen the global economy, support emerging and developing economies, and tackle global challenges."

She also expressed her enthusiasm for further enhancing the recent progress in US-China relations as finance ministers from various countries gather in India to discuss global economic challenges in the upcoming days.

The G-7 nations are convening before the Group of 20 meetings in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, with a focus on providing assistance to Ukraine, reforming multilateral development banks, and reevaluating global supply chains.

On Sunday, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen expressed her commitment to collaborating with China on shared areas of interest. She specifically mentioned the need for cooperation in debt restructuring for economically disadvantaged nations.

I am eager to build on the groundwork that we laid in Beijing to mobilize further action," Yellen said in remarks ahead of a G-20 finance chiefs meeting. She said her visit to Beijing last week put the relationship between the two biggest economies on surer footing."

their respective local currencies for cross-border transactions, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi pushes the rupees role on the global stage.

The two memorandum of understanding will facilitate seamless cross border transactions and payments, and foster greater economic cooperation between the two countries," the Reserve Bank of India said in a statement on Saturday.

(With inputs from agencies)
The Anti Terrorist Squad of Uttar Pradesh police Sunday arrested a suspected ISI agent in Lucknow for supplying vital info about defence establishments to his handlers in Pakistan. Efforts are on to arrest Armaan and Salman, his crime accomplices.

"Raees, a resident of Gonda, was arrested by the Uttar Pradesh Anti Terrorist Squad (ATS). He was summoned to the ATS headquarters here and during interrogation, he confessed to his involvement in spying," PTI reported quoting Prashant Kumar, Special DG (Law and Order).

The Lucknow ATS said Raees came in contact with one Armaan in Mumbai who persuaded him to spy against India. He was also promised money and a job in Dubai by a Pakistani citizen.

The UP ATS further said in 2022, Raees received a WhatsApp call from a foreign number and was asked to contact Hussain. He was then asked to send pictures of key military set-ups of India. The UP police said one Salman and another unidentified man were also involved in the crime.

Raees got 15,000 from his handlers and he was in touch with the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) via a Bangladesh-registered mobile number, a police official said.

An FIR has been registered against Raees at the Lucknow ATS police station under IPC sections 121 A (waging or attempting to wage war) and 123 (concealing with intent to facilitate design to wage war), and under the Officials Secrets Act, 1923, he added.
The earth is battling extremes of temperatures, while certain countries are reeling under extreme heat, others are drowning in flood. Climate change and its effects are no surprise to humankind, these extreme conditions might spell doom for civilisation.

In the latest turn of events, a rapidly developing El Nino threatens Earth's climate activity.

Torrential rains, floods in Asia

In northern India, relentless monsoon rains have reportedly killed at least 90 people, following burning heat. Major flooding and landslides are common during India's monsoons, but experts say climate change is increasing their frequency and severity.

A man died as torrential rains lashed northern Japan on Sunday, a week after seven people were killed in similar weather in the country's southwest.

In South Korea, rescuers on Sunday battled to reach people trapped in a flooded tunnel, after heavy rains for the last four days triggered floods and landslides that killed at least 33 people and left 10 missing.

China on Sunday issued several temperature alerts, warning thermometers could reach 40-45C in the partly desert region of Xinjiang, and 39C in southern Guangxi region.

Heatwaves in US

Severe heatwaves were reported in parts of United States on Sunday. California's Death Valley, one of the hottest places on Earth, is also likely to register new peaks on Sunday, with the mercury possibly rising to 54 degree Celsius.

Further north, the Canadian government reported that wildfires had burned a record-breaking 10 million hectares this year, with more damage expected as the summer drags on.

High temperatures, heatwaves in Europe

In Europe, Italy faces weekend predictions of historic highs with the health ministry issuing a red alert for 16 cities including Rome, Bologna and Florence.

The thermometer is likely to hit 40C in Rome by Monday and 43C on Tuesday, smashing the record of 40.5C set in August 2007.

In France, high temperatures and resulting drought are posing a threat to the farming industry, earning Agriculture Minister Marc Fesneau criticism from climatologists for having brushed aside conditions as "normal enough for summer".
US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen expressed her enthusiasm for further enhancing the recent progress in US-China relations as finance ministers from various countries gather in India to discuss global economic challenges in the upcoming days.

As reported by Bloomberg, the G-7 nations are convening before the Group of 20 meetings in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, with a focus on providing assistance to Ukraine, reforming multilateral development banks, and reevaluating global supply chains.

On Sunday, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen expressed her commitment to collaborating with China on shared areas of interest. She specifically mentioned the need for cooperation in debt restructuring for economically disadvantaged nations.

I am eager to build on the groundwork that we laid in Beijing to mobilize further action," Yellen said in remarks ahead of a G-20 finance chiefs meeting. She said her visit to Beijing last week put the relationship between the two biggest economies on surer footing."

Also Read: US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen to travel to India this week for G20 finance meeting

Meanwhile, India and the United Arab Emirates agreed to use their respective local currencies for cross-border transactions, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi pushes the rupees role on the global stage.

The two memorandum of understanding will facilitate seamless cross border transactions and payments, and foster greater economic cooperation between the two countries," the Reserve Bank of India said in a statement on Saturday, as Modi and the central banks Governor Shaktikanta Das inked the agreements with the UAEs President Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi.

The leaders of the Group of Twenty (G-20) countries will not convene to collectively discuss the language regarding Russia's involvement in the war in Ukraine.

In an effort to secure an agreement, the host country, India, is opting for one-on-one discussions instead of a group gathering. As various G-20 nations have taken sides in the conflict, particularly in support of Ukraine, India aims to facilitate consensus on the language that will be used during the leaders' summit in September, Bloomberg reported.
An Indian Army contingent comprising 43 personnel left for Mongolia on Sunday to take part in a joint military exercise  'Nomadic Elephant 2023'  between India and Mongolia, the Ministry of Defence stated in a release.

As reported by ANI, the Ministry of Defence stated in a release, In Indian Army contingent comprising 43 personnel left for Mongolia on Sunday to take part in a joint military exercise  'Nomadic Elephant 2023'  between India and Mongolia." The ministry further stated that this will be the 15th edition of the exercise between the two nations. The exercise is scheduled at Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia from July 17-31.

The exercise  'Nomadic Elephant'  is an annual training event between India and Mongolia, which is conducted alternatively in the two countries, the release stated, adding that the last edition of the joint drills was held at Special Forces Training School, Bakloh, in October 2019.

Soldiers of the Mongolian Armed Forces Unit 084 and Indian Army jawans from the Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry Regiment will be participating in the exercise.

This exercise aims to build positive military relations, exchange best practices, and develop inter-operability, bonhomie, camaraderie and friendship between the two armies, the release from the Ministry of Defence (MoD) stated, adding that the exercise will primarily focus on counter-terrorism operations in mountainous terrain under a United Nations mandate.

The scope of this exercise involves a Platoon level Field Training Exercise (FTX).

Indian and Mongolian soldiers will participate in a joint exercise called 'Nomadic Elephant 2023' aimed at improving their skills and capabilities. The activities during the exercise will include endurance training, reflex firing, room intervention, small team tactics, and rock craft training.

The soldiers will have the opportunity to learn from each other's operational experiences, strengthening the defence cooperation between the Indian Army and Mongolian Army.

The exercise signifies the commitment of India and Mongolia to regional security and cooperation and will contribute to the development of bilateral relations between the two nations.

(With inputs from ANI)
Their concert marking their debut album Sultan pre-release was part of the Shubbak El Fann programme held at Goethe Institut.

Founded in 2022 by Milad, who also composes music and works on arrangements, the Trio assembles Egypt's youngest jazz musicians, who have already made a significant impact on the country's music scene despite their tender age.

Milad began studying piano with Marcelle Matta at eight and won Egypt's Chopin International Piano Competition for Youth in 2021. His passion for jazz led him to study with renowned jazz performer Rashad Fahim (Berklee College of Music alumni) at 15 in 2020. He was even offered a partial scholarship to study contemporary music writing and production at Berklee, an opportunity he is still considering.

Milad, Youssef Hady, and David Maged met several years ago during a music competition and immediately developed a musical affinity. "We soon found that our sound together is really good, and ever since we work and perform together," Milad told Ahram Online.

Youssef Hady initially learned percussion at Trinity College London in Egypt before switching to bass guitar and studying theory and harmony with Rashad Fahim.

David Maged, son of drummer Maged Mounir, pursued his own musical explorations from an early age, intrigued by the instrument.

The Trio's youthful synergy culminated in captivating performances at various venues, including the Cairo International Jazz Festival 2022 at Ewart Hall, Tahrir Cultural Centre - American University in Cairo. Their debut album, Sultan, exemplifies their passion and dedication to music.

Having performed for some time with other musicians, I felt the need to make my own project. I think that for a pianist, joining a bass guitarist and a drummer to the mix, is the best formation, Milad credits his band members while explaining that his work on the trio is parallel to composing and doing arrangements, Hady and Maged contributed with many important ideas.

Milad showcased his compositions, including Mahrajazz, Diversion, 4D, Hi Michel, and Night in Warsaw, which was inspired by his trip to Poland as part of his Chopin competition prize. While listening to Chick Corea during a hot, rainy afternoon, he felt an unusual sensation that led to this composition. "It was an unusual feeling that led to this composition," he recalls.

The trios strong academic background and great passion for music were obvious behind each composition, where a modern jazz carpet received other music genres embroidery, from funk and hip hop to oriental accents. Milad steers away from defining his music, choosing to direct our minds towards broad territories of contemporary jazz fusions.

The Trio blends modern jazz with funk, hip hop, and oriental accents, avoiding rigid definitions and opting for the freedom of contemporary jazz fusions, skillfully woven by Milad.

As if challenging the established academic canons, Milad saturates his works with complex harmonies and rhythms while exploring sounds and forms with youthful freedom.

It is this complexity that drew me to jazz, the young musician explains. I especially love rhythms in modern jazz, those that are never used in classical music or other genres. The syncopations [rhythmic or melodic accents that are often displaced] are not present with the same strength either.

Milad emphasizes that the album Sultan is a process of discovering, exploring new grounds, taking risks. I think that in music I don't follow the strictly established forms. I often want to do what has not been done. Its not always possible of course, but I am influenced by bits and pieces from different influences and present them together in my own way.

Sultan is also a by-product of a musical friendship. We are friends at the base; human communication is very important. We are still developing and learning throughout the whole process. It is a great trial and error process, he adds to the dynamics between the three musicians.

As Milad adds, there are a few reasons for the choice of word Sultan. The word is easy to pronounce and well understood by many nationalities, Milad clarifies.

Sultan represents a ruler surrounded by those seeking to please him. Milad invites the audience to assume the sovereign's position while listening to the album. "I hope that everyone will find in it his piece of joy and satisfaction, similar to the one that the Sultan receives from the external world when aiming to please him.

The audience's of Goethe Institut showered the Trio with applause and several remarks complementing the music and especially each of the musicians during their respective solos.

Not only was their concert a showcase of Egypt's youngest jazz musicians, but also it gave us all hope that the up-and-coming generation of young creatives is stepping in with a lot of passion, which when combined with excellent academia, has a great potential of elevating significantly the country's jazz scene.

The self-funded album of the Trio, consisting of six tracks, will showcase each musician's talents, with the possibility of a piano solo. It will be released on all streaming platforms by the end of August.

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External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Saturday said that India's defence and security relationship with Thailand has grown after 2014. He noted that the Thailand government has also shown the same sentiment.

While addressing the Indian diaspora in Thailand, Jaishankar noted that India had a look East policy while Thailand had a look-west policy. He highlighted the changes that took place in terms of India-Thailand ties after Prime Minister Narendra Modi came to power in 2014.

While interacting with the Indian community, Jaishankar said, "We engage with the countries of the ASEAN. So, for us, this is not just a relationship. It is not even a relationship which began, as I said, in 1947, in the modern form. It is, of course, a relationship which goes back in history, but it is a relationship that is associated with reform and change in India. So, this period that we are talking about, especially the last 25 years, this is a time when this relationship has grown very much."

"At the same time, where Thailand is concerned, just like we had a look East policy, they had a look-west policy. And for us, it started in 92. For them, it started in 97. And in due course, when Modi became Prime Minister in India, he felt that nothing will happen through looking and they should do something. So, looking became active. And it wasn't only a terminology. You know, if you look after 2014, our connectivity has grown, our defence and security relationship has grown, our economic engagement has grown, our community has grown, and the same sentiment we have also seen from the Thai government," he added.

He said that the trade between India and Thailand is close to USD 18 billion annually and it was the highest in the last year. Jaishankar was addressing the Indian diaspora while his visit to Thailand.

"Today our trade is close to 18 billion dollars annually and last year it was the highest ever trade...I believe given the growth in India if you look at the major economies of the world today there are not major economies growing above 5 per cent...," Jaishankar said.

Speaking on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision and leadership, Jaishankar said that it is an enormous fortune for the nation to have him as the Prime Minister at this time.

"I feel it's been an enormous good fortune of the country to have someday like him at this time. I am not saying this because he is the PM and I am a cabinet member...He is enormously visionary and grounded; honestly, such people come once in a lifetime," Jaishankar said.

Sharing details regarding his interaction with the Indian community on Twitter, Jaishankar wrote, "Arrived in Bangkok today evening. The first engagement was interaction with our community. Highlighted: It is a historical and cultural relationship of great significance. How developments in India are of great interest to the world. And shared with our community the transformation in India. That the Indian community is an important shareholder in relations. The community reflects the growth of the relations. India's Look East and Thailands Look West policy complement each other and PM Modi further strengthens it with the s Act East policy."

He further stated, "The BIMSTEC and MGC represent our continued efforts at deepening linkages. Increasing trade and economic connections. Review of the ASEAN-India FTA will further facilitate these exchanges. The increased exchanges in the field of security and defence. Connectivity can be a game changer, especially the road project through Myanmar. Partners in time of challenges- recalled the assistance provided by the Indian community during Covid and India providing vaccines to Thailand. Cultural connect and increased interest in learning Indian language and arts. Amrit Kaal and its significance for India and Indian community. India is moving fast and creating new physical and digital infrastructure to meet its needs. Our community is the face of India in Thailand."

Jaishankar is on a visit to Thailand to participate in the 12th Foreign Ministers Meeting of Mekong-Ganga Cooperation (MGC) Mechanism on July 16, 2023. MGC is one of the oldest mechanisms of the lower Mekong region and is guided by Indias Act East Policy.

In Bangkok, EAM will also attend the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) Foreign Ministers Retreat on July 17. BIMSTEC is an economic and technical initiative which brings together the countries of the Bay of Bengal for multifaceted cooperation. The retreat would discuss ways to further deepen the BIMSTEC agenda and strengthen the organisation.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, after wrapping up his official visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), shared a video showcasing the key moments of his trip to the Gulf nation. In the video, he emphasized that both India and the UAE will maintain a strong collaborative relationship to promote global welfare.

Sharing a video on Twitter on Sunday that featured him attending important events in the UAE, PM Modi, wrote, "India and UAE will keep working closely to further global good! Here are highlights from yesterday"

On July 15, Prime Minister Modi reached Delhi Airport after successfully completing his France and UAE visit."Concluding a productive UAE visit. Our nations are working together on so many issues aimed at making our planet better. I thank HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan for the warm hospitality," tweeted PM Modi.

Before PM Modi departed for New Delhi, Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra said the trip was "short but very significant, a landmark in the partnership between India and the UAE."

Briefing about PM Modis UAE visit, Kwatra said PM Modi held extensive discussions with the President of the UAE, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan."

He also termed the visit to be of tremendous strategic significance" as it showcased the deep bond of friendship and trust" between the Prime Minister Modi and the UAE President.

India and the UAE signed the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) last year and since the signing of that important strategic landmark agreement between the two countries, the trade and economic partnership and engagement has grown significantly between the two countries, Kwatra said.He noted that visit this time puts together another pillar of that strategic economic partnership in a couple of important ways."

The Foreign Secretary also said that PM Modis visit will perhaps open-up new pathways for India" to look at structuring similar partnership with other countries both in the region and beyond.PM Modi arrived in UAE on Saturday and was received by Sheikh Khaled Bin Mohamed Bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi at the airport.

On his arrival at the Abu Dhabi airport, PM Modi also received a ceremonial welcome.

During his visit, the Prime Minister met the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Khaled bin Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Further, COP28 President-designate, Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber also called on PM Modi and the two leaders held discussions on wide-ranging issues.

PM Modi assured India's support to UAE for its COP28 Presidency as well.Prime Minister Modi was accorded a grand welcome in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), where the iconic Burj Khalifa was illuminated with the colours of the Indian flag.

During the light-and-sound show at the Burj, which preceded Prime Minister Modi's official visit to the Gulf nation, the iconic skyscraper displayed his image along with a message that said, "Welcome Honorable Prime Minister Narendra Modi." Following his two-day visit to France, PM Modi departed for the UAE on Saturday.

Prime Minister Modi described his visit to France as "memorable" and highlighted the significance of being part of the Bastille Day celebrations. He expressed his appreciation to French President Emmanuel Macron and the people of France for their warm reception and hospitality.

During his official two-day trip to France, PM Modi had the privilege of attending the Bastille Day celebrations as the Guest of Honour, accepting the invitation extended by President Macron.

"To mark the 25th anniversary of the India-France Strategic Partnership, a 241-member tri-service Indian armed forces contingent led by a military band also participated in the Parade," the PMO said in a statement.

(With inputs from ANI)
President Vladimir Putin said that Russia has a "sufficient stockpile" of cluster bombs and that Moscow reserves the right to use them if such munitions are used against Russian forces in Ukraine.

"f course, if they are used against us, we reserve the right to take reciprocal action," Putin said in a state TV interview, excerpts of which were published on Sunday, Reuters reported.

Ukraine has received cluster bombs from the United States, munitions banned in more than 100 countries. Kyiv has pledged to only use them to dislodge concentrations of enemy soldiers.

Ukraine and Russia have blamed each other for the shelling of Zaporizhia. Zaporizhzhia is a region in southern Ukraine that Russia tried to annex last year, but doesn't control in its entirety. Ukraine still controls the region's capital, the city of Zaporizhzhia.

Ukraine's presidential administration on Saturday blamed Russia for injuring three civilians in a village in Zaporizhzhia. Meanwhile, Russian-backed officials claimed that Kyiv's forces had destroyed a school in the region.

Russia's defence ministry also said that it had destroyed a number of Ukrainian weapon depots in the Zaporizhzhia region on Saturday while Ukrainians said that Moscow is trying to stop their advance in the area by shelling the area heavily.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy vowed once again to liberate his country from Russian occupation on Saturday, he said, We cannot leave any of our people, any towns and villages under Russian occupation..Wherever the Russian occupation continues, violence and humiliation of people reign."

(With inputs from agencies)
The United States, South Korea, and Japan on Sunday held a joint naval missile defense exercise to counter North Korea 's evolving nuclear and missile threats, the South's navy said. This came after the North launched an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).

North Korea fired its latest Hwasong-18 missile, which Pyongyang describes as the core of its nuclear strike force, off the east coast on Wednesday in what it said was a strong practical warning to the adversaries, according to Reuters reports.

The navy stated that Sunday's trilateral drill was conducted in international waters between South Korea and Japan that brought together destroyers equipped with Aegis radar systems from the three countries.

Washington and its Asian allies have been working to improve their information-sharing system on North Korea's missiles, while South Korea and Japan are independently linked to US radar systems but not to each other's.

The military said that the exercise aimed at mastering the allies' response to a North Korean ballistic missile launch with a scenario featuring a virtual target, Reuters reported.

A South Korean Navy officer said that they will effectively respond to North Korea's nuclear and missile threats with their military's strong response system and the trilateral cooperation.

The North's ICBM launch was denounced by the US, South Korea, and Japan, though Pyongyang has rejected the condemnation, saying it was an exercise of its right to self-defense.

The latest launch followed heated complaints from North Korea in recent days, accusing American spy planes of flying over its exclusive economic zone waters, condemning a recent visit to South Korea by a US nuclear-powered cruise missile submarine and vowing to take steps in reaction.

North Korea has also accused the United States of illegally flying over the economic zone eight times and warned of counter-action, state media Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported.

Kim Yo Jong, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's sister and a key ruling party official, in a press statement said, "In case of repeated illegal intrusion, the US forces will experience a very critical flight."

She also claimed that South Korea had again impudently taken the lead in denying the encroachment on North Korea's sovereignty and still the nation assert that it was a "normal flight of the 'ROK' and the US."

(With Reuters inputs)
A fighter from the Russian Wagner mercenary group conducted training for Belarusian soldiers on a range near the town of Osipovichi in Belarus on July 14. The Belarusian defense ministry that at least some had arrived in Belarus and were instructing local troops, according to Reuters reports.

Belaruski Hajun said, The convoy headed toward a military base outside Osipovichi, a town 230 kilometers (142 miles) north of the Ukrainian border."

Alexander Lukashenko, the authoritarian president of Belarus said at the time that Minsk could use Wagner's experience and expertise, and that he had offered the fighters an abandoned military unit" to set up camp.

Speaking to the Associated Press, a leader of an anti-Lukashenko guerrilla group said that construction of a site for the mercenaries was underway near Osipovichi.

Ukraines Center for National Resistance, an arm of the Ukrainian defense ministry said that later Saturday that about 240 Wagner fighters, 40 trucks, and a large amount of weapons had arrived in the Osipovichi area.

On Saturday, a spokesperson for Ukraine's State Border Guard Service said that the force also had observed some groups of Wagner fighters crossing from Russia into Belarus.

In an official statement, the Belarusian defense ministry said that it had developed a road map" with Wagners management for joint training exercises drills by the nation's military personnel and the private mercenaries, AP reported.

It added that the Wagner fighters had begun training Belarusian soldiers. A television channel affiliated with the ministry showed footage of fighters in black masks instructing soldiers on how to shoot and provide first aid.

The Wagner group's founder and leader, Yevgeny Prigozhin, on June 23 ordered his fighters to leave their camps in Ukraine and head toward Moscow to demand the removal of Russia's defense minister and General Staff chief.

The mutiny rattled Russia and posed the biggest challenge to Russian President Vladimir Putin, Prigozhin's one-time benefactor, during his decades in power.

However, the Wagner fighters swept through the southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don and captured the military headquarters there, before driving to within about 200 kilometers (125 miles) of the Russian capital.

Prigozhin had accused the senior Russian military leadership for months of bungling the war in Ukraine and starving his troops of ammunition.

Lukashenko then brokered a deal between Prigozhin and the Kremlin that shielded the Wagner leader and his men from prosecution, allowing Prigozhin to move to Belarus in exchange for ordering his mercenaries back to the camps.

(With inputs from agencies)
Russian President Vladimir Putin has reportedly suggested that, instead of Yevgeny Prigozhin, a senior mercenary known as "Sedoi" should assume command. Prigozhin led the Wagner Group, a group of Russian mercenaries, to an unsuccessful mutiny against the Putin government.

"Sedoi", whose name translates to "grey hair" in Russian, is believed to be the alias of Andrei Troshev, a high-ranking commander within the Wagner Group, according to various sources, including European Union sanctions documents, French official documents and Russian media reports. In line with this information, France's Treasury has also referred to Troshev by the call sign "Siedoy".

Troshev's connections include Dmitry Utkin, a former officer of the GRU military intelligence special forces and one of the founders of the Wagner Group, as stated by the European Union. Telegram channels associated with the pro-Wagner community have consistently identified Troshev by the call sign "Sedoi" and have emphasised his position as one of the most senior commanders within the Wagner Group.

These reports shed light on Putin's proposal to have "Sedoi" take charge, indicating a potential reorganisation within the Wagner Group's leadership structure. The exact reasons behind this proposal and its implications remain unclear. However, the prominence of Troshev, coupled with his close ties to Utkin, further deepens the intrigue surrounding the Wagner Group and its activities.

The EU described him as the "executive director (chief of staff) of the Wagner Group" in its 2021 document which also says he was a founding member of the group.

"Andrei Troshev is directly involved in the military operations of the Wagner Group in Syria," Reuters quoted the EU as saying.

"He was particularly involved in the area of Deir al-Zor. As such, he provides a crucial contribution to (Syrian President) Bashar al-Assads war effort and therefore supports and benefits from the Syrian regime."

Britain also described him in its Syria sanctions documents as the chief executive of Wagner.

Troshev was born in Leningrad, the Soviet-era name for St Petersburg, on April 5, 1962, according to Russian sources. Western sanctions documents list his date of birth as April 5, 1953. It is unclear why.

He fought in Afghanistan during the Soviet Union's decade- long war there. After the fall of the Soviet Union, he served in the North Caucasus with the Russian army and then in SOBR, a quick reaction special forces unit of the Russian interior ministry. He was a commander in the unit.

For his service in Afghanistan, Troshev was awarded the Order of the Red Star twice. He was awarded Russia's highest medal, Hero of Russia, in 2016 for the storming of Palmyra in Syria against Islamic State militants.

A photograph surfaced in Russian media in 2017 showing Putin alongside Troshev, Utkin and others. Both men wear several medals. The photograph is believed to date from 2016.

(With Reuters inputs)
With an eye on the 2024 Lok Sabha elections , the top leaders of at least 24 political parties will attend the second Opposition unity meeting that Congress will convene in Karnataka's Bengaluru from July 17 to 18. As many as eight new parties have extended their support to the Opposition political parties' efforts to present a united front against the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party at the Centre.

Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK), Kongu Desa Makkal Katchi (KDMK), Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP), All India Forward Bloc, Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), Kerala Congress (Joseph), and Kerala Congress (Mani) are among the new political parties that will be joining the meeting, according to ANI reports.

Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge has invited top opposition leaders to participate in the second unity meeting. He reminded them about their participation in June 23 opposition meeting held in Patna called by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

"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," Kharge said.

Amidst the Opposition parties' joint efforts to unite against the Modi government for the 2024 polls, the BJP-led NDA has also called for a meeting on July 18 in the run-up to the Lok Sabha elections.

Several new allies and some former ones, including Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) leader Chirag Paswan, may attend the BJP-led NDA meeting on July 18 in a show of strength by the ruling alliance.

Sources said the BJP president has written similar letters to leaders of various parties, including those the ruling party has reached out to ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, as per PTI reports.

A number of new BJP allies, including the Shiv Sena headed by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, the NCP faction headed by Ajit Pawar, several smaller parties from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, and regional parties from the northeastern states, are among those expected to attend the NDA meeting. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will also be present at the meeting.

Jan Sena Chief Pawan Kalyan, who enjoys some influence in Andhra Pradesh, will take part in the meeting, his party said. He has been a BJP ally and is also seen close to be close to the TDP, PTI reported.

While there is no clarity yet on how many parties will be represented in the meeting, sources asserted that their numbers will see a big rise from the 14 which had recently issued a joint letter against the major opposition parties' boycott of the inauguration of the new Parliament building.

(With inputs from agencies)
Congress has finally end to speculations over its support to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in its fight against the ordinance brought by the central government. This came ahead of a crucial Opposition meeting that will take place in Bengaluru on July 17 and 18.

Congress announces its unequivocal opposition to the Delhi Ordinance. This is a positive development," AAP MP Chadha tweeted.

Congress general secretary K C Venugopal said the party's stand is clear as it will oppose any such move by the Centre to intervene in states ruled by opposition parties through the governors and has decided to oppose the Delhi ordinance in Parliament whenever a bill comes up.

"We are consistently opposing the attempts of the Union government to sabotage federalism. We are consistently opposing the attitude of the central government to run the opposition states through the governors. Our stand is very clear, we are not going to support the Delhi ordinance," he told PTI.

This paves the way for the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which governs Delhi, to attend the second opposition meeting in Bengaluru starting on Monday with a dinner.

AAP has been consistently saying that the Congress should make its stand clear on the Delhi ordinance and only then it will decide on whether to join the next meeting of the opposition parties.

The Centre had on May 19 promulgated the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Ordinance, 2023, to create an authority for transfer and posting of Group-A officers in Delhi.

The AAP government has termed it as a "deception" with the Supreme Court verdict on control of services.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Saturday lashed out at state Congress Committee president Balasaheb Thorat's demand to impose President's rule in the state.

As reported by the news agency ANI, Shinde said, At a time when we have an absolute majority of 210 MLAs, making such a demand is laughable. Making such a statement by such a big leader is laughable."

Shinde made an important announcement on Friday regarding the cabinet expansion, assigning specific departments to the newly sworn-in ministers who joined the state government on July 2. This development comes approximately two weeks after nine NCP leaders, including Ajit Pawar, took the oath as ministers in Maharashtra.

Ajit Pawar who took an oath as Deputy Chief Minister in the Maharashtra government got finance and planning ministries on Friday. Other newly-appointed NCP ministers have also been allotted various portfolios yesterday.

Earlier in the day, speaking at `Shasan Aplya Dari' (government at your doorstep) program, he also said that NCP leader Ajit Pawar joining the Shiv Sena-BJP government in the state will make it "faster". We have 200 MLAs and MPs with us (in Maharashtra). There will be no discrimination. Injustice will not be done to anyone," Shinde said, PTI reported.

It is pertinent to note that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) joined hands with Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena to form the Maharashtra government last year and senior BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis was sworn in as Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra.

Meanwhile, former NCP Rajya Sabha member Janardan Waghmare on Sunday criticised the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party for not being able to deliver on its promises to the people in the past nine years.

He said the BJP's actions had caused divisions in society and led to politics devoid of ideology and morality.

"We continuously talk about democracy but it is in danger at present. Indian politics has taken an undesirable turn. Morality is necessary along with ideology but, unfortunately, today's politics has neither," he told PTI.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra has won much accolades and now, Jain monk Ramnik Muni Ji Maharaj said that his opinion about Rahul Gandhi has changed after he completed his 4000-km-long walk and describe him as a wise man.

My thoughts about Rahul Gandhi changed after seeing his tapasya when he walked 3000-4000 km. I used to think he was not serious about the common man and did not understand their pain," Ramnik Muni said. "I was watching how an old man came running towards Rahul Gandhi during the Bharat Jodo Yatra. As he came closer he threw up Gandhi's feet. Had it been any other common man, he would have unstintingly stepped back. But Gandhi kept standing as the man threw up more What a wise man he is! He will change India," the Jain monk said. Sharing the video on Twitter, Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate said, Rahul Gandhi has changed - He was always like this - The conspiracy to tarnish his image by spending crores of rupees has now collapsed. After all, who has been able to hide the sun and the truth?"

Bharat Jodo Yatra

Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra, a 4,000 km foot march, aimed to unite India by addressing economic inequalities and religious polarization. Starting in Kanyakumari and ending at Srinagar's Lal Chowk, the padyatra spanned numerous states, with interruptions for rest and reunions.

Gandhi called the Bharat Jodo Yatra, a tapasya a spiritual disciple he endured through the journey from Kanyakumari to Kashmir. everyone's limits, myself included, are far beyond what we think. In Sanskrit, the oldest language in the world, there is a word, Tapasya , which is difficult for a Western mind to understand." Gandhi said in an interview.

He added, Someone translates it with sacrifice, patience, but the meaning is different: to generate heat. The march is an action that generates warmth, makes you look inside yourself, makes you understand the extraordinary resilience of the Indians."
Security authorities in the Libyan capital of Tripoli released a former minister Saturday less than a week after his detention which had prompted his tribesmen to shut down crucial oil fields, a tribal elder said.

Former Finance Minister Faraj Bumatari, who hails from the al-Zawi tribe in southeastern Libya, walked free Saturday afternoon from detention in Tripoli, said al-Senussi al-Zawi, one of the tribe's elders.

I spoke with him by phone, and he is awaiting a flight to the east of Libya, al-Zawi told The Associated Press by phone.

Bumatari was detained earlier this week by the Tripoli-based Internal Security Agency which is allied with the government of Prime Minister Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah, according to local media.

His detention was prompted by his bid to replace Sadiq al-Kabir as governor of the Central Bank of Libya, according to al-Zawi. Al-Kabir, a divisive figure in Libya, is a close ally of Dbeibah.

Dbeibahs government didnt comment on Bumataris detention.

To force his release, Bumataris tribe shut down crucial oil fields, which produce hundreds of thousands of barrels per day.

Al-Zawi didnt say when they would allow the resumption of oil production. Local media, however, said technical teams were working to restart production from the closed fields.

Libyas prized oil output has been subjected to repeated closures for different political reasons and local protesters demands during the chaotic decade since the 2011 NATO-backed uprising against former leader Muammar Gaddafi.

The North African country has been divided between two rival governments, each backed by international patrons and numerous armed militias on the ground.

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Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Sunday slammed the Aam Aadmi Party for raising the Delhi ordinance issue in Patna.

He told news agency PTI. the manner in which AAP took up Delhi ordinance issue at Patna meet unfortunate.

Speaking about the opposition meet to be held in Bengaluru tomorrow, he said, Congress has 'unique position' in Opposition ranks but 'no need to talk about it now'

He added, Opposition, by staying united, can certainly challenge PM Narendra Modi in 2024 Lok Sabha polls. "Narendra Modi has been at the helm of the BJP and the central government for 10 years is not a strength but a weakness. Mr Modi's hands are bare and he has not delivered on his promises."

Meanwhile, on the topic of leader of 'united Opposition', he said it will emerge in due course.

On Prime Minister Modi's swipe at the Opposition that the corrupt were joining hands, Chidambaram said that in Modi's view, every Opposition party and every Opposition leader is corrupt.

"It is a hollow argument. His view has been rejected by the people time and again. The latest instance was in Karnataka. Mr Modi's allegations are becoming tiresome. If he looks at his own ranks, he will find many leaders/ministers whom he had once accused of corruption," Chidambaram said.

The phrase 'BJP is a giant washing machine' is familiar throughout India and evokes a lot of laughter and derision, he said.

The opposition bloc, spearheaded by the Congress, is set to widen its coalition against the BJP for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. The second unity meeting, scheduled in Bengaluru on June 17 and 18, aims to bring together leaders from 24 non-BJP parties, following the participation of 15 parties in the first meeting held in Patna. Despite some differences, the opposition parties have resolved to contest the 2024 elections with a shared agenda and flexible state-wise strategies.

(With agency inputs)
As reported by The Indian Express citing sources, Congress has resolved to recommend a cautious stance to the party leadership regarding the UCC. It has been decided that the party will formulate its position after thoroughly examining the draft Bill, provided the government introduces such legislation in Parliament.

IE further stated that the intention is to adopt a measured and informed approach before declaring the party's official stance on the matter.

A group of senior Congress leaders, including P Chidambaram, Salman Khurshid, Abhishek Singhvi, Vivek Tankha, Manish Tewari, and K T S Tulsi, recently held a meeting to delve into the legal and social dimensions surrounding the UCC. The discussion lasted for approximately one and a half hours as the panel explored various aspects of the UCC. Their intention is to compile a comprehensive report on the matter, which will be presented to Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, IE reported.

The Indian Express further reported citing sources, The leaders were of the view that the party should take a nuanced view on UCC as the issue is layered and complex." The BJP, the leaders felt, would want the Congress to spell out a position in favour or against the UCC, but the party will have to factor in various aspects before taking a position.

Earlier this month, the Congress party made a strategic decision to await the next course of action by the BJP government regarding the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) and the release of a draft Bill. The party had opted to refrain from hastily expressing its opposition to the concept in the absence of a concrete Bill. According to the leaders present at the meeting, the Congress maintains its disapproval of the notion of uniformity and perceives the UCC as an infringement on the rich diversity of the country.

We will support aspects like equality of inheritance. But we will oppose the imposition of uniformity. All depends on the governments intention. We have to see whether the government is sincere when it comes to reforming personal laws or whether it will bring a Bill to target some communities with an eye on elections," said a senior leader.

Another leader speaking on how the Congress will take a nuanced position, one leader said, We can support certain provisions. but on the whole we will oppose any attempt to impose uniformity as it is against our plural values and the idea of diversity."
Motorola expanded its foldable smartphone range in India recently. The company launched Moto Razr 40 and Moto Razr 40 Ultra in the country. As part of the ongoing Prime Day sale on Amazon, you can get 7,000 off on the Razr 40 Ultra.

The handset packs 8GB LPDDR5 RAM with 256GB UFS 3.1 storage. It was launched with a price tag of 89,999. As part of Amazon Prime Day sale, you can get a flat discount of 7,000 on the phones purchase with ICICI credit cards. This will bring down the phones price to 82,999.

There are other bank offers on the Motorola Razr 40 Ultra. For example, SBI Bank customers can get a discount of 6,250.

Motorola Razr 40 Ultra: Features

Motorola Razr 40 Ultra has a 6.9-inch FlexView FHD+ pOLED LTPO display with a variable refresh rate of 1-165Hz refresh rate, 10-bit HDR 10+, 123% DCI-P3 color gamut and up to 1400 nits peak brightness.

The handset has a 3.6-inch QuickView pOLED display featuring 144Hz refresh rate, 100% DCI-P3 color gamut, up to 1100 nits brightness and Corning Gorilla Glass Victus protection. Moto razr 40 Ultra is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 4nm with Adreno 730 GPU and runs Android 13.

There is a dual camera setup comprising of a 12MP main camera with f/1.5 aperture, OIS, and 13MP ultra-wide autofocus camera with 2.5cm macro option and f/2.2 aperture. The handset is equipped with a 32MP front camera with f/2.4 aperture.

USB Type-C Audio, Stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos and side-mounted fingerprint scanner are some of the features on Moto Razr 40 Ultra. It also comes with IP52 rating and houses a 3,800mAh battery with 33W TurboPower fast charging and 5W wireless charging.
Egypt's President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi and his Kenyan counterpart William Ruto exchanged views on a series of African issues, including the situation in the Horn of Africa, Nile Basin regions, and the Sudanese crisis, during a meeting in Nairobi on Sunday.

El-Sisi and Ruto met on the sidelines of the fifth Mid-Year Coordination Meeting of the African Union taking place in the Kenyan capital.

The two presidents reviewed efforts to coordinate initiatives aimed at settling the Sudan crisis, including the initiative emanating from Sudans Neighboring Countries Summit which was held in Egypt on 13 July.

This initiative is integrated with other regional efforts to end the conflict through peaceful negotiations, read a statement by the Egyptian presidency.

The meeting also tackled ways to cultivate closer bilateral relations.

The Kenyan president underscored the broad prospects for further advancing relations and fostering closer cooperation between the two countries.

Ruto also highlighted the prospects for strengthening joint African action to achieve sustainable development for the continent's states and peoples and stimulate efforts toward achieving continental integration at all levels.

El-Sisi emphasized their outstanding bilateral relations, confirming the importance he places on coordinating and consulting with the president of Kenya on African issues.

This has advanced integration, preserved peace and security, and enhanced the development agenda in the African continent, El-Sisi noted.

This, the statement added, was demonstrated in the intensive engagement and bilateral meetings held between the two presidents recently, the latest of which was their encounter last month at the COMESA summit in Zambia and their meeting at The Summit for a New Global Financing Pact in Paris.

The African Union's MYCM kicked off in Nairobi on Sunday, bringing together various regional economic groups and mechanisms to accelerate continental integration.

El-Sisi, who arrived in Nairobi on Saturday, is expected to deliver a speech presenting Egypt's ambitious two-year roadmap as the current chair of the Steering Committee of the African Development Agency (NEPAD).

Moreover, he will deliver a second speech during the session on the environment, climate change, and the blue economy.

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Some Alabama lawmakers are seeking to remove $5 million in funding from the Alabama Department of Archives and History after it hosted a June lecture focused on LGBTQ+ history
Oil production has resumed at two major Libyan oil fields, the oil ministry said Sunday, after a brief shutdown by demonstrators protesting the arrest of a former minister.

"Operations have resumed in the Al-Sharara and Al-Fil oil fields... after they were suspended" Thursday, said the ministry, part of the UN-brokered Government of National Unity based in Tripoli.

The ministry made no mention of the cause of closure in its brief Facebook statement.

Former finance minister Faraj Abderrahmane Boumtari was among a number of people targeted in what the United Nations has described as a campaign of "continued abductions, arbitrary arrests, and disappearances".

He was arrested and taken to an unknown location on Wednesday upon his arrival at Mitiga international airport in Tripoli by internal security agents.

Members of his Zouaya tribe on Thursday threatened to block oil terminals in the east if he was not released.

Boumtari was released Saturday upon an order from the prosecutor general, local media reported.

Libya sits on Africa's largest oil reserves but production has been frequently disrupted during over a decade of chaos since a NATO-backed uprising led to the ouster and killing of former dictator Moamer Kadhafi in 2011.

Both Al-Sharara, which provides a quarter of Libya's daily oil output, and Al-Fil have seen frequent interruptions amid clashes between groups loyal to the Tripoli-based GNU and those backed by a rival government in the east.

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A man with over 20 previous convictions has been fined after being found driving with a bald tyre.

Martin McDonagh, 7 Pinewood, Balbriggan, Fingal, Dublin, was convicted and fined in his absence at last week's Longford District Court sitting by Judge Bernadette Owens.

Garda Angela Keegan, giving evidence in the witness box, told of how she stopped a white Ford Transit van shortly after 10am on April 12, 2020 at Garryandrew, Edgeworthstown, Co Longford.

She said upon speaking to the driver who identified himself as the accused, immediately noticed there was no tax displayed on the vehicle and that its front right tyre was bald and had no thread left.

She said she also made a demand for Mr McDonagh's driving licence and certificate of insurance.

Garda Keegan said Mr McDonagh had indicated initially he would produce at Longford garda station before later indicating he would do so at Balbriggan garda station.

Judge Owens said he was satisfied with the evidence of Garda Keegan and was of a mind to convict Mr McDonagh despite his non appearance.

Prior to doing so, it was revealed the accused had 21 previous convictions, eight of which were for road traffic offences.

Longford pair in court over hairdressing row A woman has been convicted and fined after a dispute over the cost of hairdressing services ended up in the courts.

In defence, the court heard Mr McDonagh was a full time carer for his wife, who was quite ill.

Judge Owens fined Mr McDonagh 250 for the bald tyre and 250 for the non display of tax.

Recognisances were fixed at 500 with a cash lodgement requirement of 250 in the event of an appeal.
Twenty six modular homes to house Ukrainian refugees are now in place on a site in the Midlands.

In total 62 modular homes will be installed by the Office of Public Works (OPW) on the land off the main Portlaoise road close to Clonminch Lane on the outskirts of Tullamore, where a number of residents have raised serious concerns about lack of consultation.

Negotiations between residents and the OPW are ongoing and developments are expected during the week, Frank O'Reilly a spokesperson for the residents of Clonminch Lane said.

Mr O'Reilly said the units couldn't really be any closer to our homes.

There have been astonishing changes in just a few weeks, he added.

This development will have a social and economic impact on Clonminch and Tullamore for many years to come.

Of the 62 homes, 16 will be directly behind four of the houses on Clonminch Lane. A perimeter wall is to be built around the modular homes to separate the site from Clonminch Lane.

The wall will protect privacy on both sides, increase security and reduce noise levels, Mr O'Reilly said in May.

The wall will be constructed on Offaly County Council property beyond the boundaries of the homes on Clonminch Lane and existing hedgerows and trees will remain intact.

The OPW also stated it will plant semi-mature trees on the council side of the wall.

Mr O'Reilly condemned the construction of the modular homes adjacent to Clonminch Lane without the residents of the area being notified in advance as an appalling invasion of privacy.

I woke up on Monday, April 17 to the sound of construction equipment on the land directly behind our homes, he said.

Councillors hit out at the lack of consultation with Clonminch residents when the Tullamore Municipal District met in May.

The Tullamore houses are part of a Government approved modular home project which will see 700 homes built and completed on sites throughout the country.

Each unit measures in the region of 45 square metres in area and costs approximately 145,000 to construct.

The homes will include a kitchen-dining-living area combined, a bathroom, a small bedroom and a large bedroom.

However the sites can only be used for this purpose for a maximum of three years, after which a full routine planning process must take place to determine the future use of the sites.

The Clonminch site will have roads, footpaths, street lighting and community facilities, including a play area and green spaces in line with local authority planning guidance.
Crime

By Long Island Published: July 15 2023

A Long Island man allegedly shot and killed his mother at their residence.

A tragic incident unfolded on Friday, July 14, when a Long Island man allegedly shot and killed his mother at their residence. The horrifying event took place at approximately 9:20 p.m. on the 1600 block of Deer Park Avenue.

Suffolk County Police confirmed the victim as Deborah Strauch, a 64-year-old woman who was declared deceased at the scene. The authorities wasted no time in apprehending the alleged perpetrator, identified as Tyler Strauch, a 26-year-old resident of the same house.

Tyler Strauch now faces the grave charge of second-degree murder in connection with his mother's untimely death. His arraignment has been scheduled for Saturday, July 15, at the First District Court located in Central Islip.
Crime

By Long Island Published: July 15 2023

Police uncover child-sized doll in accused Gilgo Beach serial killer's childhood home during a search for evidence.

Authorities made a chilling discovery on Saturday as they searched the childhood residence of Rex Heuermann, the alleged Gilgo Beach serial killer. Among the items removed from the dilapidated house was a child-sized doll, carefully encased in a large wooden and glass display.

Photos from the scene depict two investigators wearing gloves, gingerly handling the doll inside its ornate case. The doll's fair hair, arranged in multiple braids, gave it a distinctive appearance. A red bow adorned its head, complementing the doll's red outfit. The case itself featured intricate floral carvings.

"We are thoroughly examining his residence for any potential evidence, including trophies," revealed a police source involved in the search of the accused killer's home.

The doll was just one of the many items packed into boxes and removed by law enforcement during the operation. Among the retrieved belongings were cat food and a cat scratch pole, a framed picture, and an empty bookcase. Investigators donned hazmat suits, gloves, and head coverings, systematically filling blue bins with the household items before transferring them to a waiting truck.

Rex Heuermann's arrest is linked to the infamous "Gilgo Four" case, involving the murders of four womenMelissa Barthelemy, 24; Megan Waterman, 22; Amber Lynn Costello, 27; and Maureen Brainard-Barnes, 25who were discovered wrapped in burlap within a short period in 2010. The first victim, Barthelemy, was found along Ocean Parkway on December 11, 2010, sparking widespread concerns about a potential serial killer operating in the area.

Although it remains unclear whether the doll has any connection to the ongoing investigation at Heuermann's Massapequa Park residence, the discovery raises unsettling questions. Heuermann, a 59-year-old married father of two, employed as an architect in Manhattan, was apprehended earlier this week. He now faces charges of first- and second-degree murder in relation to three victims whose bodies were found wrapped in burlap along Ocean Parkway.
A Mexican journalist was shot to death in a store parking lot on Saturday in the southern tourist town of Acapulco, regional authorities said, in the countrys second journalist killing in a week.

Prosecutors said they have opened an investigation for homicide with a firearm in the killing of Nelson Matus, days after another journalist was found dead in a country considered one of the most dangerous in the world for members of the press.

Matus, the director of news outlet Lo Real de Guerrero, was shot as he was getting into his car in a thrift shop parking lot.

The Guerrero state prosecutors office said in a statement that it reiterates its commitment to exhaust every line of investigation into his death.

Matus had worked as a journalist for 15 years, specializing in covering violence, Mexico delegate for press freedom organization Reporters Without Borders Balbina Flores told AFP.

More than 150 journalists have been killed in Mexico since 2000, according to the group.

The body of fellow journalist Luis Martin Sanchez was found this week with signs of violence, officials said, after he had been reported missing.

According to the government, there were 13 killings of journalists reported in Mexico in 2022 alone. The exact circumstances of most such deaths go unsolved.

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Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian remains optimistic that the proposed renewal of the Philippines participation in the Generalized Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+) will boost the competitiveness of the countrys exports and increase investment prospects.

We are elated to find out that the European Commission (EC) has proposed to renew the countrys participation in the GSP+ scheme as this would surely provide a wider market for our exports and consequently greater employment opportunities for our people, Gatchalian said.

He is also hopeful the members of the EU Parliament were able to appreciate their discussions and initiatives toward building strong partnership between the Philippines and the EU.

He hopes they will vote favorably for the ECs proposed renewal of the grant of EU GSP+ privileges to the Philippines.

The senator was part of the Philippine Congressional Delegation who visited the European Parliament in October 2022 to discuss with their counterparts the status of the GSP+, among other things. He commended the work undertaken by Senator Sonny Angara for leading the delegation.

As proposed by the EC, the countrys participation in the GSP+ scheme will be allowed for another four years or until December 2027 as soon as it expires by the end of this year.

A special incentive arrangement for low and lower-middle-income countries, the GSP+ is a unilateral trade arrangement offering zero tariffs on 6,274 products or 66% of all EU tariff lines.

Following its initial participation in 2014, the countrys export revenues grew to EUR 7.7 billion in 2021 from EUR 5.7 billion in 2014.

Philippine exports to the 27 European Union countries (EU27) increased from $6.4 billion in 2020 to $8.6billion in 2021, attributed to the surge in the exports of crude coconut oil, skipjack tuna, semiconductor devices, and digital monolithic integrated circuits, among other products.

Gatchalian is also confident the renewal of the Philippines participation in the GSP+ scheme would further improve the countrys investment relations with EU member economies. In 2021, the EU27 was the Philippines 5th largest trading partner, 6th biggest export market, and the 6th biggest import source.

A considerable source of investments to the country, the EU has contributed around $2 billion in investments from 2017 to the first half of 2022, with an average percentage share of around 10% of the total approved foreign investments in the country.

Major contributors include The Netherlands, with a contribution of $1.6 billion, followed by France with $130 million, and Germany with $130 million.

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Beijing  US climate envoy John Kerry will head to China on Sunday to meet with his counterpart Xie Zhenhua and restart stalled talks between the worlds two biggest emitters of planet-warming gases.

Kerrys trip to Chinahis third as President Joe Bidens climate emissaryfollows weeks of record-setting summer heat that scientists say is being exacerbated by climate change.

Bilateral climate talks stalled last year after Nancy Pelosi, then speaker of the US House of Representatives, visited self-ruled Taiwan and infuriated Beijing, which considers the island its territory.

But Kerry, a former secretary of state, has enjoyed comparatively cordial and consistent relations with China despite Washington and Beijing locking horns over Taiwan and a number of other thorny issues, including advanced semiconductors.

His trip to Beijing also comes after two other high-profile visits by US officialsfirst Secretary of State Antony Blinken, then Treasury Secretary Janet Yellenaimed at stabilising US-China ties.

Kerry was scheduled to depart for China on Saturday, according to the US State Department.

The Biden administration has identified climate as an area for potential cooperation with Beijing, despite the tensions elsewhere.

The restart of US-China climate talks will come on the heels of the hottest week on record globally, according to the World Meteorological Organization.

June was already the hottest ever logged, according to US and European agencies.

Kerry will aim to use his time in Beijing to engage with Chinese officials with respect to increasing implementation and ambition and promoting a successful COP28, the State Department said, referring to the UN climate talks in November.

Nearly 200 nations will gather in the United Arab Emirates for COP28 to thrash out ways to mitigate global warming and its impacts.

As the leading producer of the greenhouse gases driving climate change, China has pledged to peak carbon emissions by 2030 and achieve complete carbon neutrality by 2060.

President Xi Jinping has also said that the country will reduce its use of coal from 2026.

But in April, China approved a major surge in coal power  a move Greenpeace said prioritised energy supply over the emissions reduction pledge  fueling concerns that Beijing will struggle to meet its ambitious targets.

There are a number of factors that constrain the hands of energy planners in Beijing at the moment, Byford Tsang, a senior policy adviser at the climate-focused think tank E3G, told AFP.

They include economic fallout from Russias invasion of Ukraine, which has led to major disruptions in the global gas market, and reduced hydropower capacity in China due to severe droughts in recent years, Tsang said.

Last summer, millions of people in southwest China faced rolling power cuts after crushing heatwaves led to an electricity supply crunch that forced factories to halt work, heightening domestic concerns over energy security.

I think it would be politically challenging for China to take a step forward on coal policy at this stage, added Tsang.

During his visit, Kerry is also expected to bring up international climate finance efforts, following calls by Yellen during her Beijing trip for China to play a larger role.

Kerrys trip will be closely watched in Washington after Republican lawmakers characterized it as him flying a carbon-spewing private jet halfway across the world to discuss climate with a political adversary. AFP

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Air strikes pummelled Khartoum on Sunday and fighting raged in Sudan's western Darfur region, witnesses said, as a three-month war between the army and rival paramilitaries showed no signs of abating.

In the capital's east and northwest, army fighter jets "targeted bases" belonging to the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) who "responded with anti-aircraft weapons," witnesses told AFP.

RSF drones targeted Khartoum's largest military hospital, according to witnesses. A similar attack Saturday on the same facility left five dead and 22 injured, the army said.

The war between army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and his former deputy, RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, has claimed at least 3,000 lives and displaced over 3 million people since it erupted on April 15.

In Darfur, a vast region which has seen some of the worst of the fighting, witnesses on Sunday reported "heavy clashes using various types of weapons" in the town of Kas.

Residents of Kas, about 80 kilometres (50 miles) northwest of the South Darfur state capital of Nyala, said houses were broken into and looted by RSF fighters.

The paramilitaries in a statement hailed their "victory" in the town.

Darfur, home to around a quarter of Sudan's 48 million people, has seen entire towns razed to the ground, with reports of mass civilian deaths and ethnically charged assassinations blamed on the RSF and allied Arab militias.

On Saturday, the RSF said it "categorically refutes" a recent report by Human Rights Watch that detailed the summary execution of "at least 28 ethnic Massalit" -- a non-Arab minority group -- and the "total destruction of the town of Misterei" in West Darfur state.

The RSF blamed the violence on "longstanding tribal conflict" and said it "strictly adheres" to "international humanitarian law."

The paramilitary force stemmed from the Janjaweed militia, which was armed and unleashed against ethnic minority rebels in Darfur in the early 2000s.

That conflict killed more than 300,000 people and displaced 2.5 million, the UN estimates.

Atrocities committed at the time led the International Criminal Court to charge former dictator Omar al-Bashir with offenses including genocide.

The court's chief prosecutor has launched a new investigation into suspected war crimes in the current fighting, including sexual violence and civilians being targeted for their ethnicity.

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A small plane crashed at Marthas Vineyard airport Saturday afternoon after police believe the pilot had a medical emergency.

According to Massachusetts State Police, at 3:15 p.m., the 2006 Piper Meridian crashed on a grassy area near a runway at the airport, breaking its left wing in half.

The pilot, a 79-year-old man from Connecticut, had a medical emergency during the final approach, police said. The passenger, a woman also from Connecticut, took the controls and tried to land the plane but crashed.

Both the pilot and the passenger were brought to a local hospital, after which the pilot was flown by medical helicopter to a hospital in Boston in what police described as serious life-threatening condition. The passenger was evaluated at the local hospital and released.

The plane had departed Westchester, New York earlier in the afternoon on Saturday.

The plane was moved to a secure location at the airport, police said. The crash is under investigation by State Police and the Federal Aviation Administration.
A teenage boy drowned Saturday while swimming with a group outside the swim zone at a Winchester beach, police say.

At about 7 p.m., police responded to Shannon Beach in the Upper Mystic Lakes for a report of a missing swimmer, according to Massachusetts State Police.

The 17-year-old boy was swimming about 100 yards from shore, outside of the beachs swim zone, when others in his group realized he was no longer at the surface, police said.

State Police, Environmental Police, Winchester Fire Department and Stoneham Fire Department began searching for the boy, and Stoneham Fire divers eventually recovered his body in about six feet of water near where he was last seen.

The incident is under investigation.
An unprecedented influx of emergency asylum-seekers in one of the countrys only right-to-shelter states is straining communities in Central and Western Massachusetts.

Cities and towns are now home to rising numbers of families who fled war-torn countries and nations marked by murder, lack of healthcare and food insecurity. A growing group of migrants new to both Central Massachusetts and the Pioneer Valley are Haitians who escaped spiraling violence, flooding and political unrest after its president was assassinated and his wife was shot multiple times in 2021.
HOLYOKE  The City of Holyoke is considering revising an ordinance broadening the reach of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), now only permitted in Industrial Zones.

Municipalities like Holyoke anticipate increased demand for electricity driven by the rising adoption of electric vehicles and appliances. Jeff Burkott, of the Planning and Economic Development Office, says there is a pressing need for battery storage facilities.

As the electricity demand grows, Holyoke Gas and Electric (HG&E) will need to manage this increased electrical load, Burkott said. We need to consider expanding the locations where BESS projects can be sited beyond industrial zones.

Battery storage is expected to play an increasing role as the state transitions to cleaner, renewable energy sources and decarbonizing power grids.

The Holyoke City Councils Ordinance Committee and Planning Board are expected to review the ordinance in late August. Burkott said he hoped the City Council would approve a final version in the fall.

James Lavelle, HG&Es general manager, acknowledged the City Council and Planning Boards efforts in updating the ordinance. These systems will play a significant role in the states 2050 decarbonization roadmap and contribute to the decarbonization of the power grid supply, he said.

Lavelle explained that HG&E now buys power from the two operational utility-scale battery storage systems in Holyoke during peak demand times. The practice maintains system stability and keeps rates consistent for consumers.

HG&E had been involved in providing technical guidance for drafting the updated ordinance, drawing on its industry experience.

Lavelle stressed the role of public input before constructing such facilities in business or residential zones. Updating the ordinance will ensure projects go through the appropriate public process before development, Lavelle said.

The scale of a battery storage facility can vary significantly, according to Burkott. It could be as compact as a parking space or as large as several shipping containers.

Draft rules

Although the draft ordinance focuses on business zones, the city acknowledges that facilities may be needed in residential zones to meet future demand for power.

Burkott has reviewed efforts in other Massachusetts communities, including Montague, which has developed a draft ordinance.

We have our draft, which we believe addresses the primary needs, but were also considering incorporating certain elements from the Pioneer Valley Planning Commissions [draft], said Burkott.

The green energy and materials sector has become a focus for the Planning Department. This month, Revo Zero announced Holyoke as the companys future Northeast hub for hydrogen-fuel development.

Revo Zero cited Holyokes access to renewable energy sources, location and opportunity for growth, favorable business environment and skilled labor force.

In addition, hydrogen firms HyAxiom and Infinity and green-cement maker Sublime Cement have contacted city officials about possibly doing business in Holyoke.
The past three months saw a sharp rise statewide in the number of families needing shelter, forcing the state to rely more and more on converted motels.

Hotels and motels in Greenfield, Chicopee and West Springfield, for example, were providing housing for 269 families as of last week, according to the governors office. Of 3,791 emergency housing units across Massachusetts, 1,319 were being provided by motels as of mid-July.

The Clarion Hotel in West Springfield and the Days Inn in Greenfield are two of the largest shelter locations.

Amber Kinzie, a mother of three, has been living at the Clarion with her children after leaving an apartment in Springfield. In an interview, she said she is grateful for the hospitality of the hotels staff and the support of the states Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC).

Amber Kinzie in her room at the Clarion Hotel in West Springfield with children Ajadiz Colon,17 and 3-year old Azario Rankin. (Don Treeger / The Republican) 7/3/2023

Everybodys been pretty cool to us here, managements been good, she said.

On the way to her room, Kinzie is greeted by other families, many of which, unlike her, are of Haitian descent.

To communicate with one another across language divides, guests often use Google Translate, a tool that allows people who speak Haitian Creole, Spanish, or another language.

Living conditions at her former apartment on Monmouth Street in Springfield led to a no-fault eviction, Kinzie said. She sought help from the state and ended up at the Clarion, where she and her children have lived since January.

She has a car now and previously got help through Springfield Public Schools Homeless Education Services to get her children to and from school.

To cover family expenses, Kinzie receives food stamps and braids hair for clients when she has the time. When she wants to bond with her children, she takes them to Rave Cinemas in West Springfield and plays board games with them.

Being six credits shy of a bachelors degree in criminal justice from Western New England University, with a housing voucher through Wayfinders, Kinzie said she hopes to find a job soon.

Representatives of the Clarion declined to speak with The Republican about the shelter program.

Families at the Clarion sought refuge and help from the state for their own reasons.

Tylon Harris says he moved his family out of Hartford, Connecticut, to avoid the growing number of violent crimes taking place in that city. (Jonah Snowden / The Republican)

Tylon Harris, for instance, moved out of Hartford, Connecticut, with his wife in an attempt to keep their children safe from what he viewed as a growing number of violent crimes taking place in that city.

After briefly living with a family friend, Harris decided to reach out to the state to see about shelter options. The family relies on public transportation. It receives food stamps and is tapping a small amount of savings to get by.

Although Harris said its tough to live in one room with a family of six, the staff members of the hotel have made their experience worthwhile, he said.

The experience here is not bad as far as me and my family are concerned, he said. The staff has always been on our side, doing the right things for us. I cant speak for everybody, though.

Harris said his goal is to get a part-time job and look for an apartment for his family. He is bothered by asthma and by sciatica and spine issues that he blames on working at a warehouse for over 20 years.

Aura Obando, medical director for the Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program, said the number of homeless families tends to jump this time of year, after the end of school. Obando said parents make sacrifices to get their children through the school year.

That might mean doubling up or couch surfing with other families, friends, or family members, she said. Some families arent eligible for state shelter and turn to various charities.

Theres been a huge influx of immigrant families (that have immigrated) into our state over the last several months, and theyre relying a lot on family members and community supports and churches to sort of stabilize their needs, as theyre arriving and getting settled into the U.S., Obando said.

Guests enter the Greenfield Days Inn which is housing many recent immigrants to the area. (Don Treeger / The Republican) 7/5/2023

The Days Inn in Greenfield is now home to many families originally from Haiti.

One Haitian man, who declined to give his name, said he has lived at the motel with his wife and children for over three months. He is waiting for pieces of a new life to fall into place. Meantime, his wife is pregnant.

I applied for my work permit ... and have my apartment ... but I cant go because I dont have the transportation, he said.

Kali Stafford, general manager of the Days Inn, said in an email she is not allowed to comment on the shelter program.

Rosesmith Alcide, from Haiti, is living with her family at the Greenfield Days Inn. On the left is daughter Rossilene Tessier Jasmin, 20, and on the right is daughter Rosannie Tessier Jasmin, 17. (Don Treeger / The Republican / MassLive)

Rosesmith Alcide of Haiti lives at the Days Inn with her 20-year-old daughter, Rossilene Tessier Jasmin, and her 17-year-old daughter, Rosannie Tessier Jasmin.

They arrived from Haiti three months ago. We left there because we dont have [health] insurance, she said.

Alcide said the family is doing OK in the motel and is comfortable, despite limited space in a single room.
The Public Prosecution referred a police officer and five other citizens to criminal trial for their roles in last week's incident in the Sidi Barrani area of Marsa Matrouh governorate, which resulted in the deaths of two individuals, a statement by the prosecution said on Sunday.

According to reports, the police officer shot and killed a member of a local Arab tribe in the town of Sidi Barrani in northwestern Egypt on 11 July.

The incident occurred during a mission to combat irregular migration and drug trafficking, according to the prosecution

One person, they said, refused to comply with orders to stop his vehicle. The officer then fired shots at the vehicle, striking the driver.

After the incident, locals allegedly rioted outside the Sidi Barrani police station, throwing stones at security personnel and injuring four of them.

One rioter ran over and killed one of the security personnel, according to the prosecution.

The security forces detained the driver, who confessed to the crime during questioning, the statement said.

The accused individual has a previous criminal record, according to the prosecution.

They also arrested seven others, five of whom were found to have participated in the riot, the statement added.

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WESTFIELD  Merchants and an art group organizer are pitching a new way to draw traffic downtown: On one block, no traffic at all.

Amber Champagne-Matos, owner of Champagne Apothecary and head of the Westfield Merchants Association, asked the citys Traffic Commission last week to consider closing School Street to vehicle traffic between Central and Elm streets. The result would be an inviting pedestrian mall and a safe venue for outdoor events, she said.
As per DelveInsight, the Portable Ultrasound Devices Market was valued at USD 1.84 billion in 2022 and is anticipated to reach USD 2.81 billion by 2028. The rising prevalence of chronic diseases like cancer and cardiovascular disorders, among others, the wide range of diagnostic uses for portable ultrasound devices, as well as the rise in technological advancements in product development, among others, are expected to have a positive impact on Portable Ultrasound Devices Market growth in the upcoming years. The leading Portable Ultrasound Devices companies actively working in the market include GE HealthCare, FUJIFILM Sonosite, Inc, Samsung Healthcare, Koninklijke Philips N.V., Seimens Healthcare Private Limited, EchoNous, Shenzen Mindray Bio-Medical Electronics Co., Ltd., Healcerion Co., Ltd, Canon Medical Systems Corporation, FUKUDA DENSHI, Hitachi, Ltd., SonoScape Medical Corp., CHISON Medical Technologies Co., Ltd., Clarius, ESAOTE SPA, Toshiba Corporation, LOTTE ENERGY MATERIALS Co., Ltd, Butterfly Network, Inc., EDAN Instruments, Inc., Zimmer MedizinSysteme GmbH, and others.

DelveInsights Portable Ultrasound Devices Market Insight, Competitive Landscape, and Market Forecast 2028 research report provides the current and forecasted Portable Ultrasound Devices market size, share, and trends analysis for the next five years. Moreover, it highlights the ongoing innovations in the segment, major market drivers & barriers, key competitors, and emerging devices in the domain.

Portable Ultrasound Devices Market: Overview

Portable ultrasound devices are compact, handheld, or laptop-sized medical imaging systems that utilize ultrasound technology for diagnostic purposes. These devices are designed to be lightweight, portable, and easy to use, allowing healthcare professionals to perform ultrasound examinations in various clinical settings, including hospitals, clinics, ambulances, and even remote or resource-limited areas.

Portable ultrasound devices consist of a handheld probe or transducer that emits high-frequency sound waves into the body. These sound waves bounce off internal structures and are then detected by the same probe, which converts them into electrical signals. The signals are processed by the devices software and displayed in real time on a screen, creating images of the examined area.

To provide a better understanding of the market dynamics, DelveInsights Portable Ultrasound Devices Market report provides an in-depth assessment of the market by product types such as handheld ultrasound devices and mobile ultrasound devices, by application (Cardiovascular, Musculoskeletal, Gynecology, Urology, and others). As per the estimate, in the product type segment of the portable ultrasound devices market, handheld ultrasound devices are expected to amass significant revenue share in the upcoming years owing to various advantages associated with these devices. Handheld portable ultrasound devices provide an accurate diagnosis and in recent years various development activities have been registered in the handheld portable ultrasound devices domain.

Portable Ultrasound Devices Market Analysis

One of the main factors propelling the growth of the portable ultrasound devices market is the increased prevalence of severe chronic diseases like cancer and cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, and urological problems among others. The prevalence of different cancer types such as breast cancer, lung cancer, blood cancer, and others is immensely growing and leading to an increase in demand for more accurate and easy-to-use diagnostic approaches. As per the World Health Organization (2022), worldwide around 2.26 million cases of breast, 2.21 million cases of lung, 1.93 million cases of colon and rectum, 1.41 million cases of prostate, and 1.09 million cases of stomach cancer were reported in 2020. Portable ultrasound devices make it a more efficient and reliable imaging tool for the diagnosis of tumors since they assist in the detection of tumors in the body regions that are not detected by X-ray diagnosis.

As techniques for tumor identification and visualization become more effective with correct ultrasound diagnosis, the market for portable ultrasonography devices is anticipated to experience rapid expansion over the course of the provided projection period. The innovation and increase in product development activities, which has led to a greater acceptance of portable ultrasound machines for diagnosis globally, is another important driver driving the growth of the ultrasound devices market. Therefore, throughout the forecast period, all the aforementioned reasons are anticipated to accelerate the expansion of the market for portable ultrasound devices. Expensive prices and restricted image optimization due to small screens are the key factors anticipated to hinder the expansion of the market.

Interested to know more about the ongoing developments in the market? Visit to get an in-depth insight @ Portable Ultrasound Devices Types and Emerging Products

Portable Ultrasound Devices  Global Market Assessment and Forecast

In terms of geographical distribution, North America is anticipated to hold the greatest market share for portable ultrasound devices worldwide in the coming years. The increasing prevalence of serious chronic diseases like cardiovascular, oncological, and others, growing awareness of the need for early diagnosis, and an aging population are predicted to support the expansion of the Portable Ultrasound Devices Market in the North American region. As per CDC (in 2020), the number of new cancer cases rose by 24% in men and 21% in women in the United States in the year 2019. The staggering numbers of cancer and chronic disease cases and the associated deaths can be greatly reduced if proper and timely diagnosis of diseases is accomplished, facilitating appropriate treatment mechanisms. In addition to the rise in chronic illnesses and cancer cases, product development activities including regulatory approvals and premarket approvals are also anticipated to contribute to the expansion of regional markets in North America for portable ultrasound equipment.

Interested in knowing how the Portable Ultrasound Devices market will grow by 2028? Click to get a snapshot @ Portable Ultrasound Devices Market Trends and Developments

Portable Ultrasound Devices Market  Key Developments and Breakthroughs

Over the years, the Portable Ultrasound Devices market has evolved significantly, owing to the active participation of companies and intense technological advancements in the domain. Similarly, several clinical, commercial, and regulatory developments have also been registered in the market. Some of the major advancements in the Portable Ultrasound Devices market in recent years include 

In February 2023, Mindray launched a new handheld ultrasound device, TE Air , emphasizing quality imaging and a variety of features to promote efficient diagnosis. The TE Air reportedly combines enhanced point-of-care ultrasound imaging with an array of practical benefits for radiologists.

In September 2022, Philips announced that it received 510(k) clearance from the US FDA for the innovative 5000 Compact Series .

In May 2022, Clarius received CE Mark certification for seven new ultraportable Wireless Ultrasound Scanners for Apple and Android Devices, known as the Clarius HD3 line of pocket-sized ultrasound scanners. Being miniaturized to the size of an iPhone, the third-generation ultrasound scanners make high-definition ultrasound affordable for more doctors across specialties in Europe colors.

In January 2022, EagleView Ultrasound launched its First Portable Doppler Ultrasound, by providing affordable, high-quality POCUS (point-of-care ultrasound) with whole-body imaging technology. EagleView Ultrasound also allows clinicians to quickly access ultrasound images anytime, anywhere.

In March 2021, GE Healthcare unveiled its new, hand-held ultrasound device, the Vscan Air, for sale in the U.S. and Europe.

In August 2021, EchoNous announced that the US FDA issued a 510(k) clearance for its Lexsa probe , the third hand-held scanner unveiled by EchoNous to be used as part of its artificial-intelligence-powered Kosmos imaging platform.

Learn more about major clinical and commercial development in the Portable Ultrasound Devices Market @ Portable Ultrasound Devices Market  Clinical and Commercial Development Activities

Key Companies in the Portable Ultrasound Devices Market

Globally, some of the leading Portable Ultrasound Devices companies actively working in the market include GE HealthCare, FUJIFILM Sonosite, Inc, Samsung Healthcare, Koninklijke Philips N.V., Seimens Healthcare Private Limited, EchoNous, Shenzen Mindray Bio-Medical Electronics Co., Ltd., Healcerion Co., Ltd, Canon Medical Systems Corporation, FUKUDA DENSHI, Hitachi, Ltd., SonoScape Medical Corp., CHISON Medical Technologies Co., Ltd., Clarius, ESAOTE SPA, Toshiba Corporation, LOTTE ENERGY MATERIALS Co., Ltd, Butterfly Network, Inc., EDAN Instruments, Inc, Zimmer MedizinSysteme GmbH, and others. Owing to the rising demand and favorable growth opportunities for revenue generation, several new players are anticipated to enter the market, thereby leading to high competitiveness in the domain.

Learn how new players entries will transform the Portable Ultrasound Devices market dynamics in the coming years @ Portable Ultrasound Devices Competitive Landscape

Scope of the Portable Ultrasound Devices Market Report:

Study Period  2020-2028

Geography Covered  North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World

Portable Ultrasound Devices Market Assessment 

Product Type  Handheld Ultrasound Device and Mobile Ultrasound Device

Application  Cardiovascular, Musculoskeletal, Gynecology, Urology, and Others

Porters Five Forces Analysis, Product Profiles, Case Studies, KOLs Views, Analysts Views

Table of Content

1 Report Introduction 2 Executive Summary 3 Regulatory and Patent Analysis in the Portable Ultrasound Devices Market 4 Portable Ultrasound Devices Market Key Factors Analysis 5 Portable Ultrasound Devices Porters Five Forces Analysis 6 COVID-19 Impact Analysis on the Portable Ultrasound Devices Market 7 Portable Ultrasound Devices Market Layout 8 Portable Ultrasound Devices Companies Share Analysis  Top 35 Companies 9 Portable Ultrasound Devices Companies and Major Product Profiles 10 Project Approach 11 KOL Views on Portable Ultrasound Devices Market 12 DelveInsight Capabilities 13 Disclaimer 14 About DelveInsight

Reach out to us to get a more detailed overview of the market @ Portable Ultrasound Devices Market Insights and Competitive Landscape

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by Ray Schultz , July 16, 2023

Canadian marketers are being urged to support local media in the face of declining ad sales and issues relating to the passage of the Online News Act (C-18), a law requiring that tech platforms compensate publishers for linking to their content.

We are asking agencies and marketing leaders to pledge 25% of their total digital advertising investment towards local media, writes Shannon Lewis, president, Canadian Media Directors Council This would mean $380 million in new revenue for local media.

Lewis notes that this is more money than Bill C-18 is projected to provide to news organizations, and it will be achieved through industry collaboration.

Canadas news business is facing unprecedented challenges, with a continuing decline in investment towards Canadian news media publications, Lewis continues. In 2014, 23.1% of media investment supported Canadian and local news media  within five years, that dropped to a mere 5.7%. In the last 15 years, weve lost 473 local news operations across 335 communities.

advertisement advertisement

This is happening as the tech giants Meta and Google make good on their threat to block news content in the country following the passage of C-18, a bill that would require the tech platforms to compensate publishers for linking to their content.

The Tyee, a publication based in British Columbia, ran into a problem on Tuesday when its social media manager tried to post news stories and saw half of its posts had disappeared, according CBC.

CBC adds that The Tyee s entire Instagram account disappeared, with this statement:

"People in Canada can't see your content. This account is a news publication. Content from news publications can't be viewed in Canada in response to Canadian government legislation."

Meanwhile, Vancouvers CHEK News tweeted, At a time when the fire hazard on Vancouver Island is extreme, Meta is blocking access within Canada to all CHEK News Posts on its Instagram site. As of Friday moroning, even urgent public information from CHEK News is restricted from view within Canada.

In apparent retaliation for these threats, the Canadian government said it will stop running ads on Facebook and Instagram. That spending totaled $11 million between April 2021 and March 2022.

Google has not been targeted to this degree because it has been open to negotiation, the Toronto Star reported on Friday.

Quebec also suspended advertising on Facebook, as have the cities of Montreal, Quebec City, Gatineau, Laval and Longueui, the Star reports.

In addition, the University of Montreal says it will significantly reduce its advertising on the social media platforms Facebook and Instagram.
Egypts President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi said that development partners, including international institutions, have not responded appropriately to African countries needs to implement economic transformation.

El-Sisi made the remarks on Sunday during the Africa Blue Economy Strategy session as part of the Fifth Mid-Year Coordination Meeting (MYCM) of the African Union, Regional Economic Communities, Regional Mechanisms and African Union Member States held in Nairobi, Kenya.

In his speech, El-Sisi said the 27th UN Climate Change Conference (COP27), hosted by Egypt in Sharm El-Sheikh last November, has reflected the commitment to deal seriously with climate challenges.

However, what has been achieved on the ground is less than the required, El-Sisi stressed.

The president highlighted the African needs for implementing economic transformation, redirecting sectors like energy, transportation and agriculture and preserving biodiversity and the ecosystems, while also achieving the sustainable development goals.

Egypts vision for transformation



El-Sisi presented Egypts vision about what is needed to achieve economic transformation:

First: The required environment for the quick implementation of projects and programmes to reduce emissions and increase access to renewable energy must be provided.

Second: Fair tracks and programmes for transformation in various fields must be formulated.

Third: Equity and justice must be the focus. The required transformation must take into consideration economic and social aspects. Unilateral measures that impact international trade flows must be avoided, especially with regard to exports of the developing and African states.

Fourth: Climate justice, funding arrangements, the loss and damage fund and adaptation financing are requirements. Moreover, the burden shouldered by African states must be acknowledged and their societies must be supported in the face of the negative effects of climate change.

Fifth: Regional cooperation must be enhanced to ensure the development of capabilities for preserving shared ecosystems and also to ensure that the states achieve integrated benefits and contain any negative transboundary effects.

Sixth: A supportive international environment must be secured. This includes concessional and adequate financing. This should take place consistently with national ownership, while not resulting in a decrease in the funding necessary for eradicating poverty and achieving sustainable development.

Seventh: Debt and the high cost of financing must be dealt with effectively. This includes innovative solutions such as debt swap mechanisms and reviewing and writing-off extra fees and interests.

In a separate session, El-Sisi said that Egypt, during its current chairmanship of the New Partnership for Africas Development Agency (NEPAD) prioritizes intensifying efforts with international partners and financing organizations to find effective solutions to tackle the accumulated debt crisis.

As chair of the NEPAD, Egypts priorities over the next two years also include continuing efforts to mobilise funding resources in priority areas, especially infrastructure, as well as efforts to enhance the role of the industrial sector in the African states, El-Sisi said.

Accelerating the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and continuing the mobilization of the necessary resources for the Triple Peace-Security-Development Nexus programme are also among Egypts priorities, El-Sisi added.

COP28, climate justice



In the Africa Blue Economy Strategy session, El-Sisi said he is confident that the upcoming climate conference (COP28) in the UAE will be a tangible step on the fair and just path to protect the planet from the disastrous implications of climate change.

El-Sisi invited the African countries to join the Global Renewable Hydrogen Forum initiative, which Egypt launched during its presidency of COP27.

I look forward to cooperating with you all so that the African and developing countries continue to direct the international agenda toward enhancing international cooperation in the face of this existential challenge embodied by climate change, El-Sisi stated.

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When Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, a 48-year-old American veteran and building contractor from Connecticut named James Vasquez was one of thousands of volunteers who went to join the fight.

He quickly became one of the most recognizable faces of the foreign fighters in Ukraine, often going viral with his battlefield updates and dramatic social-media posts purportedly from the front lines.

In his videos and posts, he bragged about capturing Russians and taking out tanks, was regularly interviewed by the news media, and made catchy claims including that he imagined the "punchable" Tucker Carlson when preparing for battle.

He gained more than 400,000 followers on Twitter and even got a shout-out from Rep. Adam Kinzinger, who called for his account to be verified.

But on the ground in Ukraine, it was an open secret that Vasquez was not the war hero his social-media profiles projected him to be.

Four foreign fighters and volunteers in Ukraine who knew Vasquez told Insider it was widely known he wasn't actually taking part in front-line fighting.

Instead, they allege that Vasquez would enter areas where battles had taken place, take videos with destroyed equipment, and claim battlefield achievements as his own.

April Huggett, a Canadian volunteer who knew Vasquez, told Insider in a text message that he would exaggerate how close to the action he was, often going to areas near where there was heavy fighting and pretending he was in the thick of it.

In one instance in January, Vasquez claimed on Twitter that he was heading to Soledar, where intense fighting was reported to be raging.

But it was later revealed that the Ukrainian army had quietly withdrawn days before Vasquez said he was heading there  suggesting that there would have been no fight for him to join when he arrived.

Along with appearing to exaggerate his activities on the ground, there were also occasions where he appeared to behave outright irresponsibly.

He, at one point, posted a battlefield update that gave away the exact location of the unit he was with, possibly jeopardizing its safety.

'I had to tell a million lies to get ahead'

Vasquez often spoke about his military background, claiming that he was a sergeant and that he had been in Kuwait during Operation Desert Storm and in Iraq after 9/11.

A Pentagon representative, however, told Insider that Vasquez was never deployed to either of those places  or anywhere else.

Vasquez was a fuel and electrical systems repairer in the New York National Guard from July 1992 to July 1993 and in the Army Reserve from July 1993 to August 2003, the Pentagon said. He left the Army Reserve as a private first class, which is one of the Army's lowest ranks.

When confronted by The New York Times in March, Vasquez acknowledged misrepresenting his military record and said he'd been kicked out of the Army, but he would not reveal the circumstances of his discharge.

"I had to tell a million lies to get ahead," Vasquez told the Times. "I didn't realize it was going to come to this."

A Ukrainian man displays a picture dated March 1, showing the body of 50-year-old construction worker Kostiantyn Maltev in Kherson, Ukraine, on Sunday, Nov. 20, 2022. About two dozen civilian volunteers of the Ukrainian Territorial Defense Forces were killed by Russian troops in the southern city before they the town and held it for eight months before retreating in November. Since the attack, relatives have been asking questions about happened to their loved ones, wanting to know details of their deaths.(AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Insider was unable to reach Vasquez for comment, as his social-media profiles have been deactivated and calls to two phone numbers for him provided by sources went unanswered.

In the days before the Times article came out, Vasquez posted a series of cryptic tweets about "negative people" winning and called himself "a ghost." He then deleted his Twitter page and went quiet for several months before resurfacing online briefly in June.

Not only did he apparently lie about his military background to join the fight in Ukraine, but it turned out he had lied about his service for much of his life to even those closest to him.

Tina Vasquez, his ex-wife, who had supported his decision to go to Ukraine while they were still married, told The New York Post in April that he had also lied to her about his past.

She told the paper that she "was just as shocked as anybody else'' to learn that her former partner had exaggerated his military experience.

"I believed him," she said. "The war stories that had supposedly happened brought tears to his eyes. I felt terrible for what he had to go through and endure  and then come to find out it was all just a lie.

"Here I am, I'm with him for 11 years and I don't even know the man I married."

The undoing of a war hero

Vasquez spent about a year posting updates  purportedly from the front lines in Ukraine  about fighting with various units.

Sarah Ashton-Cirillo, American who is a junior sergeant with the Ukrainian army and works with the media department of the Territorial Defense Forces, was one of the first people with a social-media following to publicly accuse Vasquez of being a fraud in a tweet in March.

She wrote that Vasquez "is not and has not been" in Ukraine's armed forces and that he could not legally go on missions since he did not have a contract.

"I met James Vasquez three times for a total of about four hours," she told Insider. "During our last meeting, in the presence of another person, he gave himself up and confirmed what I had known since last summer, that he was never a member of the AFU," referring to the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

"That night he stated clearly he never had a contract nor had he ever been paid. This was in January. It was the last time I saw him."

April Huggett, 35, a Canadian volunteer who came to Ukraine in December, told Insider that she soon met Vasquez and the two formed a relationship.

Huggett said that she came to Ukraine alone, having broken up with her boyfriend over her decision to go, and found comfort in having Vasquez as someone to talk to.

"I did realize very quickly he was sitting comfy right in Maidan and he was not leaving Kyiv very often," she told Insider over text, referring to the capital city's central district.

"He also drank so much," she said.

Huggett said she began to have suspicions about his claims about his military background, and after doing some digging, discovered that he had wildly exaggerated his experience.

"One time he was really drunk and he was crying really hard about this friend of his that had his head blown off by a sniper in front of him in Iraq and how that really messed him up," she said. "I realized that story never could have happened."

She and other sources told Insider that Vasquez openly bragged about his plans to cash in on his newfound fame.

"James just kept talking about becoming a millionaire after this," Huggett said.

Tim, an American man working with the Ukrainian army and speaking to Insider on the condition of withholding his last name, said that Vasquez had made similar comments to him.

"James said, and I quote, 'I'm never gonna go back to work as a handyman. I'm probably never gonna have to work again after this war. I'm gonna be famous,'" he told Insider.

Among all the falsehoods, Huggett said that what was most upsetting to her was how Vasquez leveraged the combat death of the Ukrainian-born British fighter Viktor Yatsunyk for personal gain, speaking extensively online and to the media about how the loss of his "friend" had affected him.

"He used Viktor's death as another stepping stone to legitimize his own actions in Ukraine. That bothers me more than anything else," she said. "His stolen valor knows no end."

Eventually, Huggett decided to distance herself from Vasquez  as she explained to Insider, she doesn't like "liars."

When Ashton-Cirillo took to Twitter to expose Vasquez, Huggett said she felt compelled to make a video to back her up.

Huggett said she was worried about angering Vasquez and began to fear for her safety.

"I got a phone call from a friend of James' that was concerned. He told me to watch my back and that James was drinking a lot and talking crazy. That he was [going] to kill me and another friend of mine," she said.

"James messaged me saying I didn't have to leave my kids, I abandoned him, and he was going to do the same thing to me that I did to him and to 'get ready,'" she said, adding that she has since been laying low in Ukraine and trying to keep him from knowing her whereabouts.

After his social-media accounts were deactivated, Vasquez briefly resurfaced on Twitter in June to attack Huggett and preemptively discredit anything she might say about him.

"I've received a lot of messages @DefactoHumanity, or as I know her, April has gone on a campaign accusing me of going to kill her and other nonsense," he wrote.

He went on to claim that Huggett was simply "scorned" because she had learned he was with another woman in Ukraine and denied ever threatening her life.

Huggett told Insider: "I'm tired, but I'm not sorry I exposed the lying scammer. I'm also not sorry that I made the video. Now at least if I am murdered or have a suspicious death, someone will know where to look."

"We took away his fame and fortune, we made people see him for the disgrace he is. Ukrainians will be better off because of it, and to me, that is the only thing that matters," she said.

On an "awesome very dangerous vacation"

At the beginning of the war, the vetting process for foreign fighters coming to Ukraine was extremely lax. Vasquez, as part of the first wave of arrivals, was able to take advantage of the system and slip through the cracks.

Although many foreign volunteers in Ukraine have made a significant contribution to its war effort, many outlets have reported on underqualified and overzealous foreigners who have wreaked havoc, including an American who defected to Russia.

Some of them have been called war tourists, a term to describe thrill seekers in a war zone.

Members of the Ukrainian Territorial Defense Forces train to use an NLAW anti-tank weapon on the outskirts of Kyiv, Ukraine, March 9, 2022. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)

In one tweet from March of last year, Vasquez compared his time in Ukraine to being an "awesome very dangerous vacation."

He also repeatedly suggested that he did not understand the rules of warfare, or at least that he thought they did not apply to him.

On one occasion, he claimed to have taken part in capturing a soldier from the mercenary Wagner Group and shared a photo of him.

"This is a non UN country," he wrote in a tweet in response. "I don't think I have to worry about the Geneva convention here."

But Vasquez's claims were not accurate  Ukraine is part of the United Nations, and the Geneva Conventions, which protect prisoners of war, apply to all conflicts.

He 'had a plan, a scheme, and a design'

Tim, an American known online as Captain Peg Leg, told Insider that he came across Vasquez while working in Ukraine as a general advisor to the armed forces.

He said that the pair communicated via text for several weeks in April and May of last year until Vasquez blocked him.

Tim said that he was working with Ukraine's Territorial Defense Forces at the time and had been tasked with recruiting capable foreign fighters to help train them. He reached out to Vasquez, who had developed quite a large online following.

As they corresponded, Tim said he started to notice several red flags.

He claims that Vasquez boasted about his online fame and having Ukrainian soldiers follow him and said that he was building his own "private army."

Tim also claims Vasquez admitted that he had exaggerated his army credentials and said he planned to cash in on his wartime fame.

He was unable to provide screenshots of the conversations with Vasquez as he said the chat history on his phone had been deleted. However, another source showed Insider screenshots of a conversation with Tim in June 2022 in which the two discussed Vasquez being a fraud.

Tim said he was also alarmed by the videos Vasquez was posting, which he said were "dubious" and reckless.

He said that he tried to sound the alarm about Vasquez on Twitter but was met with death threats from Vasquez's followers, who told Tim he was just "jealous."

He said that a lot of the aggression was led by Vasquez himself.

"James routinely went scorched earth on anyone that questioned anything he was doing, blocked them, encouraged his followers to block them. And nobody wanted to believe that James would take advantage of the war and take advantage of people," Tim said.

"You will hear people say that James is a good man, James had good intentions, and things got a bit out of control. And that's categorically false. James, from the start of that conflict, had a plan, a scheme, and a design. It was premeditated," he said.

Despite a growing mountain of falsehoods, Vasquez was able to become a celebrated social-media hero and was covered breathlessly by various media outlets  including Insider  that touted him as a hero.

He was framed as a fearless fighter who had selflessly left his life behind and sold his Connecticut home to focus on the war.

Ashton-Cirillo told Insider: "As someone who notified a large media outlet about James Vasquez in June of 2022 and stated to them clearly that Vasquez had no combat experience and was filming fake fight scenes, it is disgraceful that they and so many other journalists advanced his lies for so long."

"These acts of media malpractice not only gaslit me and many others, they helped feed the Russian propaganda machine," she continued. "Luckily, fundraising for charities focused on the Armed Forces of Ukraine has been able to emerge unscathed from this debacle as have the reputations of every real foreign soldier."

Guns, money, and battalions

Vasquez frequently posted images of weapons, including American guns, that he said he had been given, but it is unclear where he obtained them.

He did not have a contract with the Ukrainian army or the International Legion so he wouldn't have been provided with weapons from any official authorities.

When asked by The New York Times in March where he got the guns, he responded: "I'm not exactly sure," and added that they were "brand-new, out of the box, and we have plenty."

Two sources told Insider that Vasquez had boasted about getting weapons on the black market. Insider was unable to verify those claims.

(He once told a local Connecticut newspaper, The Hour: "If you want anything in Ukraine, and you got money and you know a couple of people, you can get it.")

Another source of contention is how Vasquez used his platform to solicit donations from his followers to buy equipment for soldiers. Some of this money was raised for Ripley's Heroes, a US-based charity organization for which he was a prominent representative.

Ripley's Heroes said it had raised over $1 million over the past year, but the organization has faced questions about its spending, as The New York Times previously reported. As of March, some of the money appeared to have been spent on equipment that hadn't reached its intended destination.

Vasquez often talked about fighting with various units  at one point, he said he was with a "special forces unit" and later said he was fighting with the Da Vinci Wolves battalion.

John, not his real name, an American man who's part of a group fighting in Ukraine called the 13th group Wolverines, told Insider under the condition of anonymity that Vasquez likely overstated his relationship with the battalion.

John, who has been in Ukraine since the wider conflict with Russia began in 2014, said that he had been friendly with Da Vinci for some time. He told Insider that he saw Vasquez at the young battalion commander's funeral, which was attended by many, including President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

John said that Vasquez, who was wearing a Da Vinci Wolves patch on his uniform, stuck out like a sore thumb: He didn't mingle with the other attendees but instead filmed himself for a video that was later posted on social media.

"Everybody's kneeling, their hands over their hearts, you know, to show respect and solidarity with each other in grief ... and James is up there just filming," John said. "All these guys from Da Vinci's team are around and they're wearing the same patch right, but nobody recognizes him. Nobody comes up and says hi."

The Wolves did not respond to Insider's request for comment.

A source linked to the Ukrainian army, speaking on the condition of anonymity, told Insider that Vasquez had returned to Ukraine as of early June.

"The National Police in conjunction with the SBU"  the Security Service of Ukraine  "has launched an investigation into both his possession of illegal weapons and his illicit fundraising," the source said.

'James' visibility was great, until it wasn't anymore'

For many foreign fighters, joining the war can be a chance to reinvent, redeem, or prove themselves.

"You see, over and over again, these broken people that showed up at the war. And they saw it from day one as an opportunity to have a new life to become a social-media hero, whatever you want to call it," Tim said.

"I had my own things to gain by going to Ukraine," he added. "I'm not blameless. I have one leg; it's a recent amputation. And one of the reasons that I went was to feel like a whole human being again by helping other people."

Malcolm Nance, a former MSNBC analyst who is now part of Ukraine's International Legion, was the only prominent foreign fighter to defend Vasquez after his falsehoods were revealed.

"James was NOT fake, he was troubled. He did a lot for Ukraine but has challenges to face. Respect what he did do," he wrote on Twitter.

He described Vasquez as "a soldier in need of care on several levels" and criticized those who spoke out against him. Nance declined to speak with Insider on the record.

Part of the debate is whether Vasquez did any good in Ukraine despite his lies.

While sources told Insider that Vasquez did not help in terms of front-line fighting, his social-media presence did have a positive effect  at least for a time.

"James certainly helped with morale," Tim said. "James certainly helped with public relations. He did, inadvertently, a lot of good. James' visibility was great, until it wasn't anymore."
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Postal Code
While the Padres were swept in todays doubleheader against the Phillies, dropping their season record to 44-49 that puts them ten games back in the NL West, the club is nonetheless expected to pursue additions prior to August 1s trade deadline. Club chairman Peter Seidler indicated as much earlier in the month, and now Jon Heyman of the New York Post adds additional details about the teams expected deadline approach. While San Diego will look to make additions, Heyman suggests it will be a far more modest than the massive outlay last year that brought back Juan Soto, Josh Hader, and Josh Bell. The club reportedly hopes to add a bat to the lineup, along with possibly a relief arm to the bullpen.

With clear starters entrenched all across the infield and outfield, the clearest hole in the clubs lineup appears to be at designated hitter. The club recently released Nelson Cruz, and fellow offseason signing Matt Carpenter has struggled similarly with a 76 wRC+ in 191 plate appearances this season. Rougned Odor and Brandon Dixon have also mixed in recently, though both are also hitting well below league average. Given this need at DH, the Padres should have plenty of options on the rental market. Speculatively speaking, Tommy Pham woulld certainly improve the clubs production at the DH spot, while a more versatile player like Cody Bellinger could do the same while also mixing in at all three outfield spots and at first base.

More from around the NL West
Tyler Danish has opted out of his minor league deal with the Nationals, MLB.coms Mark Feinsand reports (Twitter link). Danish signed with Washington at the start of May, after being released from a previous minors contract with the Yankees at the end of Spring Training.

Over 29 relief innings with Triple-A Rochester, Danish posted a 3.72 ERA, with a 15.3% strikeout rate and a 11.5% walk rate. The low strikeout rate isnt necessarily a surprise since Danish is a grounder specialist (his groundball rate is a whopping 58.7% this year), but his high walk rate continues the control problems that have emerged over his last two seasons at the minor league level. The Nationals apparently hadnt seen enough to add Danish to their active roster, or to make room for him on the 40-man.

The 28-year-old right-hander will now head back to the open market once more, looking for another path back to the big leagues. Danish appeared in parts of the 2016-18 seasons with the White Sox (for 13 total innings) before resurfacing back in the majors with the Red Sox in 2022, posting a 5.13 ERA over 40 1/3 frames.
DETROIT - The word epic can only be used to describe what Ed Sheeran just provided for concert-goers over the course of the last two nights in Michigan. The global superstar first performed a small theater show before his huge Ford Field stadium concert, which included a surprise from the real Slim Shady.

Sheeran first performed for just under 2,000 people on Friday night, July 14th, at the Royal Oak Music Theater, playing a concert he says he couldnt do at a stadium show, playing his new album, Subtract, in its entirety. The album is filled with gloomy, emotional songs.

That concert allowed Sheeran to perform in front of a small crowd with a full band, playing the songs exactly how they sound on the album. The intimate setting let Sheeran tell the stories behind the songs and what inspired his lyrics, like with Eyes Closed, a song Sheeran wrote after the passing of a close friend.

After the gloomy songs, Sheeran went into happy hour, performing a number of hits with The A Team, Shivers, Thinking Out Loud, Perfect, Bloodstream, Shape of You and Bad Habits, before his encore where he went into the middle of the crowd and performed with no microphone and no instruments.

This theater show is something most fans never got to see because the demand was so much greater than the small supply of tickets. It truly was one of the hardest tickets in town making it pretty exclusive for those who attended.

Then came the stadium show the next night at the home of the Detroit Lions on Saturday, July 15th. Sheeran performed for about 60,000 fans in a setting which featured a large round stage in the middle of the floor with a 360-degree video screen above. There were also guitar-shaped screens and various areas where each band member played.

Ed Sheeran's stage setup at Ford Field on Saturday, July 15, 2023. (Photo by Edward Pevos | MLive)

The stage also rotated, allowing Sheeran to face all directions of the crowd throughout the show without having to walk. Of course, he did walk and had plenty of energy as he belted out one hit after another.

This concert featured many layers. Sheeran performed alone on the stage with his band at various areas outside of the stage. Sheeran also performed without the band, demonstrating how he uses his looper machine to record sounds which play back on a loop, creating the sounds of a band.

He brought out Khalid for Beautiful People and violinist, Alicia Enstrom, for Galway Girl.

Of course, the biggest moment of the night came when Sheeran told the crowd how much he loved Detroit and Eminem and that he wanted to cover one of his songs. I think you know it. We rehearsed it today. Lets see how it goes.

Weve been to a lot of shows in our years at MLive and sometimes we think, maybe, just maybe Eminem might make a surprise appearance. Well, when Sheeran starting strumming Lose Yourself before he started to sing it, the maybe turned into reality when Eminem emerged from below the stage and gave the crowd about a minute more of the hit song.

The crowd erupted in cheer so loud, you could barely hear him rap. Eminems energy was off the charts as he gave everything he had for his epic moment, which was just getting started.

Can I just say one thing? He was going to come on and do one song and I said you cant just do one song, Sheeran told the crowd after Lose Yourself.

The two then performed a duet of Eminems Stan with Sheeran singing the Dido portion of it. They also performed this same song together at Eminems Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction. When it was finished, the crowd erupted louder than any weve heard at any concert we have ever been to.

Eminem thanked fans and told them he missed them. How do you follow that, Sheeran said. And he was right. It took a couple of songs to let what just happened sink in. It was the highest of highs one can get at a concert as that was one of the biggest surprises and most memorable Michigan concert moments in recent history.

Sheeran performed 27 songs, two more than most of the other stadium concerts on this tour, in a little more than two hours. He finished the show wearing a Detroit Lions No. 5 jersey with the name Mathers on the back. It was an epic jersey for what ended up being two nights of pure music bliss.

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The Ministry of Health has reported that the total number of individuals affected by a mysterious disease causing fever and fatigue in Qena, Upper Egypt, has reached 67 as of today.

Assistant Minister of Health for Preventive Medicine Affairs, Amr Qandil, stated in a televised interview that all cases have exhibited mild to moderate symptoms, with no severe cases or hospitalizations reported thus far.

Symptoms reported by those affected include body aches, fever, and, in some cases, vomiting and nausea, according to Qandil.

A medical convoy has been dispatched to Qena to closely monitor the patients, with three additional convoys scheduled to arrive starting Monday.

Head of Al-Qus city in Qena, Qadry Al-Shieeny, revealed that 50 medical vehicles are currently conducting checks in the Najaa Sandal area of El-Aliqat village to assess the condition of the patients.

In remarks to Al-Ahram, Al-Shieeny emphasized the presence of health officials and personnel in the village, urging the public not to panic as the disease is treatable.

In recent weeks, numerous individuals in El-Aliqat have reported cases of this sickness, leading to speculations of a potential outbreak of dengue fever.

Earlier today, the Ministry of Health issued a statement acknowledging the reported symptoms among citizens in El-Aliqat and stated that samples from affected individuals and the surrounding environment are being collected for further analysis.

Water samples have been tested and found to be clean, according to Qandil.

He further noted that the symptoms observed in the villagers resemble those of various other diseases, including those transmitted by mosquitoes.

The minister's assistant urged citizens to cover all water containers to prevent mosquito-borne diseases and announced that the village will be sprayed twice daily to control the mosquito population.

Dengue fever is a vector-borne disease transmitted through infected mosquito bites, and in severe cases, it can be life-threatening, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

The disease is not common in Egypt, but is not unheard of.

In 2017, several hundred cases requiring hospitalization were documented in the Red Sea governorate city of El-Qusair.

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DETROIT - As if an Ed Sheeran stadium concert in front of more than 60,000 fans wasnt epic enough, the real Slim Shady actually made a surprise appearance. Eminem and Sheeran performed two songs together making for one of the most surreal concert moments of the year in Michigan.

Sheeran was about three quarters through his concert at Ford Field on Saturday, July 15th, one night after performing an intimate theater show at the Royal Oak Music Theatre, when he told the crowd Eminem was one of his favorite artists of all time.

He then said he wanted to play a cover of an Eminem song. I think you know it. We rehearsed it today. Lets see how it goes.

Sheeran then started strumming the familiar sounds of Lose Yourself on his guitar before singing it. It was pretty cool to hear. Then, what was cool became monumental as Eminem rose from beneath the stage and rapped about a minute of the song with incredible energy as Sheeran continued on guitar.

And the two werent done yet. Can I just say one thing? He was going to come on and do one song and I said you cant just do one song.

The two then performed a duet of Eminems Stan with Sheeran singing the Dido portion of it. They also performed this same song together at Eminems Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction. When it was finished, the crowd erupted louder than any weve heard at any concert we have ever been to. It was truly that loud.

Eminem joined Ed on stage in Detroit!

They did Stan and Lose Yourself. pic.twitter.com/krhvlG0xdR  Ed Sheeran News (Fanpage)  (@EdSheeran_EU) July 16, 2023

Eminem then thanked the crowd. I appreciate you Detroit. I love you, he said as he hugged Sheeran before exiting. How do you follow that? Sheeran asked as he completed the rest of his concert, leaving the crowd with one of the most memorable Michigan concert moments in recent history.

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ANN ARBOR, MI -- The Ann Arbor Art Fair is right around the corner, meaning its time to start planning your visit.

From music to food to live art, theres plenty to do and see at the fair. Here are five greats things to check out at the 2023 Ann Arbor Art Fair.

1. Chalk the Walk with David Zinn

Ann Arbor chalk artist David Zinn is creating his sidewalk art masterpieces live during Chalk the Walk at the Art Fair.

Zinn is known for finding creative ways to create chalk art that seems to leap out of the street, using textures and features of sidewalks and more. You can follow along on the walk as he describes his work, and even join in creating your own art. Chalk will be provided.

Chalk the Walk is 1 to 3 p.m. Thursday, July 20, and Saturday, July 22, near the corner of Liberty Street and Fifth Avenue. In the event of rain on Thursday, it will be moved to the same time on Friday.

For more information, click here.

2. Ann Arbor Inuit Art Project

See a variety of contemporary Inuit art and speak with Inuit artists at the CultureVerse gallery, 309 S. Main St.

CultureVerse is partnering with Feheley Fine Arts, a Toronto-based gallery, to showcase art from the Inuit regions of Nunavut, Nunatsiavut (Newfoundland & Labrador) and Nunavik (Arctic Quebec). The exhibit explores the Inuit ways of making and being in the contemporary world, with pieces ranging from landscape drawings to silver teapot structures.

The exhibit is open noon to 6 p.m. Thursday and Friday, July 20-21 and noon to 8 p.m. Saturday, July 22. Artists Michael Massie and Gayle Uyagaqi Kabloona will be present to discuss the exhibit and their work.

For more information, visit the Art Fair art activities page here.

3. Live Mural Painting with Keith Bynum

Keith Bynum, star with Evan Thomas of HGTVs Detroit-based show Bargain Block, will create a live mural on a storage container during the fair. Bynum often creates his art from unwanted or salvaged materials, turning them into something both artistic and useful.

On Bargain Block, Bynum and Thomas buy blocks of rundown or abandoned homes in Detroit and renovate them into affordable properties. Works from both of them also will be available to purchase at their booth on Main Street (MN 368).

The container mural is located outside Pretzel Bell, 226 S. Main St. Bynum will begin painting at 10 a.m. on Friday, July 21.

For more about Bynum and Thomas, visit their website.

4. Live Music

With live music across three different stages, there will almost always be music in the air at the Art Fair.

Visit the Stage on Main, featuring The Ark, to hear performances by Natalie Mae, Brain Plasticity Ukulele Collective and Blueshouse. On Friday, July 21, the Prison Creative Arts Project is presenting Elevate the Mic, which features different artists and musicians advocating for social change.

Music at the Fountain Stage will run from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday, July 20, and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday, July 21-22. Acts include Billy King, Warehouse Cloggers and Kevin Brown of Corndaddy.

The William Street Stage will also have performances all throughout the fair, including the Broken Arrow Blues Band, Solar Cafe and a youth talent show.

For a full list of acts and performance times, click here.

5. Food Vendors

If you work up an appetite while walking around the fair, there are plenty of food trucks and vendors to grab a quick bite to eat at.

Local food truck Bao Boys is serving its steamed bao buns topped with pork belly, marinated tofu or Korean braised beef. Vegano Italiano is offering its vegan Italian food, including plant-based meatballs and ricotta dips. Slows of Detroit will also be offering its famous barbeque out of its food truck.

If youre looking to cool down, Zingermans Creamery and Mighty Nice Ice Gelato are offering cold sweet treats. You can also get smoothies from Tutti Frutti or Marilyns, or an iced coffee from the Bearclaw Coffee truck.

Click here for a full list of Art Fair food vendors.

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.

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WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI -- A recent wave of crime in Washtenaw County has resulted in most of 2023s homicides so far taking place in just a few weeks.

Of the 12 homicides that have happened in the county since the start of the year, nine have occurred since June 1, with some happening on consecutive days.

The incidents have primarily happened in Ypsilanti Township at an average rate of two per week. However, the summer uptick also includes two of the three homicides occurring in Ann Arbor  a noted increase for a city that typically has one or two murders a year.

Here is everything we know about the victims so far:

Donrell Canda, father of 3-year-old Tristan Canda, was killed in a shooting around 10 p.m. on Sunday, June 4, near his home in the 2500 block of Sandalwood Circle in Ann Arbor. Canda was 24 years old.Provided by Fawn Martin

Donrell Canda

Donrell Canda, 24, was killed around 10 p.m. Sunday, June 4, as he was walking up to his home in the 2500 block of Sandalwood Circle in Ann Arbor.

Sekou Conde, 22, allegedly confronted and shot Canda, then followed him into his home and fired more shots, according to Ann Arbor police. A 23-year-old woman and Candas 3-year-old son were inside the home at the time.

The pair knew each other, although the motive is unclear, police said.

Conde, also from Ann Arbor, was arraigned Tuesday, June 6, in the 15th District Court on charges of open murder, first-degree home invasion, carrying a dangerous weapon with unlawful intent and two counts of felony firearm. He is next set to appear in court on Thursday, July 27, and is currently being held in the Washtenaw County Jail without bond.

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Jermaine Denzmore

Jermaine Denzmore, 39, was fatally shot around 1:40 a.m. Sunday, June 18, in the 100 block of Stevens Drive in Ypsilanti Township. Police said they believe the incident stemmed from an argument that escalated as officers were responding.

Denzmore, of Ecorse, had been shot by the time officers arrived, police said.

Martez Robinson, 35, was arraigned in the 14B District Court on Tuesday, June 20, on one count each of open murder, fleeing a police officer and carrying a concealed weapon.

Robinson is currently being held in the Washtenaw County Jail without bond.

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Jason Gregory

Jason Gregory, 18, was fatally shot in the early hours of Wednesday, June 21, on westbound I-94 near Parker Road in Lima Township.

Michigan State Police troopers were originally called to the area around 3:30 a.m. for a report of a single-vehicle crash. When they arrived, troopers found the driver was bleeding from his head and that the blood inside the vehicle was consistent with a car crash, Michigan State Police Det. Sgt. Jeff Frasier told Magistrate Elisha Fink at a swear-to hearing on Tuesday, June 27.

Gregory had recently moved to Michigan from Alabama.

Kendall Lloyd Newbern, 16, was charged as an adult with open murder, armed robbery, assault with intent to rob while armed and larceny from a person. He was arraigned in the 14A District Court on Tuesday, June 27. Newbern is from Ann Arbor, according to Michigan State Police.

He is next set to appear in court on Thursday, Aug. 31. He was denied bond.

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The scene at Arbordale Apartments, 1020 Arbordale Street in Ann Arbor, where Ann Arbor police say a shooting homicide occurred early on Thursday, June 22 2023.

Jason Strickland

Jason Strickland, 56, was killed around 4 a.m. Thursday, June 22, in his home in the 1000 block of Arbordale Street in Ann Arbor. Strickland was found by police with multiple gunshot wounds.

Police are investigating the death as a homicide, but have not made any arrests as of Thursday, July 13. They said they do not believe the incident was random.

No other information has been released about the investigation or a suspect.

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Terence Burks, left, Lakeeda Abdullah, center, and Tyrese Burks, right, pose for a family photo. Tyrese Burks, 20, was killed in June 2023.Provided by Shade Abdullah

Tyrese Burks and Dallas Williams

Tyrese Burks, 20, and Dallas Williams, 16, were killed in a quadruple shooting around 6:30 p.m. Monday, June 27, in the 800 block of George Place in Ypsilanti Township. The shooting also injured a 14-year-old and 19-year-old.

Burks was from the Ypsilanti area. It is unclear where Williams was from.

Tamar Young, 19, was arraigned in 14B District Court Friday, June 30, on two charges of open murder, two charges of assault with intent to murder, four counts of the use of a firearm in a felony and four charges in relation to discharging a weapon in or at a building causing death or injury.

Young, of Ypsilanti, is set to next appear in court on Thursday, Aug. 10. He is currently being held in the Washtenaw County Jail without bound.

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Man charged with two counts of murder in Ypsilanti Township slaying

Darian Taylor

Darian Taylor, 30, of Ypsilanti, was killed in a shooting around 11:15 p.m. Wednesday, June 29, in the 9000 block of MacArthur Boulevard in Superior Township.

Washtenaw County Sheriff Offices deputies were originally called to the area for reports of shots fired with a man down, police said. When police arrived, they found Taylor and began to render aid. Taylor died of his injuries, police said.

Angelo Weems, 34, was arraigned Sunday, July 2, in the 14A District Court before Judge Elisha Fink on charges of open murder, carrying a concealed weapon, possession of a firearm by a felon, possession of ammunition by a felon and felony firearm in relation to the shooting.

Weems is next set to appear in court on Thursday, July 27. Weems is currently being held in the Washtenaw County Jail without bond.

Read more:

Police identify 30-year-old man killed in Washtenaw County shooting

Man killed in Washtenaw County shooting

Arbor One Apartments on Green Road in Ypsilanti on Thursday, July 7 2023. Jacob Hamilton | MLive.com

Ari Clarke

Ari Clarke, 22, was killed in a stabbing that occurred at 11:58 p.m. on Tuesday, July 4, in the 800 block of Green Road in Ypsilanti. Clarkes name was not released by police but was confirmed by court records.

Clarke was born in Tampa, Florida, but graduated from Howell High School in 2018, according to an obituary published by Sharp Funeral Homes. He was an artist and musician, releasing music under the name Young Rilla, according to both the obituary and Clarkes social media page.

James Lee Trussell, 19, was arraigned in connection with the incident on Friday, July 7, on the charge of open murder before Magistrate James Cameron in the 14A District Court.

The incident was spurred by an argument between Trussell and Clarke, according to testimony at the arraignment hearing.

Trussell, of Ann Arbor, is next set to appear in court on Thursday, July 20. He is currently being held in Washtenaw County Jail without bond.

Read more:

Victim of fatal Fourth of July stabbing identified as 22-year-old from Howell

19-year-old charged with murder in fatal Ypsilanti stabbing

Police respond to a barricaded individual after a fatal stabbing at Aspen Chase Apartments in Ypsilanti Township on Thursday, July 6 2023.

Amira Oneill

Amira Oneill, 44, was killed in fatal stabbing that turned into a barricaded suspect situation early on Thursday, July 6, in the 2000 block of International Drive in Ypsilanti Township.

Oneill, of Ann Arbor, a transgender woman, was originally identified by police as a man.

Ronnie Magbray, 27, was arraigned on one charge of open murder and three counts of assault with a dangerous weapon on Monday, July 10, before Magistrate James Cameron in the 14B District Court.

Magbray, of Ann Arbor, allegedly stabbed Oneill and then barricaded himself in a male friends apartment.

The friend, who left the apartment building during the standoff, has been charged with accessory after the fact to a felony. Police have said he was not involved with the stabbing.

Magbray is currently being held in the Washtenaw County Jail without bond. He is next set to appear in court on Thursday, July 20.

Read more:

Police identify victim in fatal Washtenaw County stabbing that led to police standoff

Man killed in Ypsilanti area stabbing, suspect currently barricaded in apartment

Barricaded suspect drops gun, ends stand off with police in Ypsilanti area

Hiding behind my refrigerator: Barricaded man puts Ypsilanti-area residents on guard

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Read more from The Ann Arbor News:
MANCHESTER, MI - The Manchester Chicken Broil celebrated its 70th year at the Alumni Memorial Field on Saturday, July 15.

More than 500 volunteers came together to run the festival. From prepping the chicken to putting down charcoal to cutting radishes, there were plenty of tasks to be done.

The festival started in 1954, as Michigan State Universitys poultry division was looking for a way to promote the poultry industry, said Jeff Mann, chairman of the Manchester Chicken Broil.

The event typically churns out 10,000 dinners in four hours, which adds up to about 15,000 pounds of chicken, 1,100 pounds of radishes, 84 crates of cabbage and 256 pounds of butter, according to the event website.

My grandpa was one of the founders, and my dad was chairman for many years. I guess you can say its kind of in the blood, Mann said.

While many people eat at the event, a drive-through carryout line was also added in 2014.

Meals were $12 in advance or $13 on the day of the event or online. Proceeds from the event are donated to a variety of Manchester including the public schools, parks, libraries and more.

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ANN ARBOR, MI  Ann Arbor may soon join a growing list of communities across the United States setting up task forces to explore reparations for Black residents.

The city should seriously consider implementing reparations as a meaningful and impactful measure to confront systemic injustices that are deeply rooted in the citys history and persist today, said City Council Member Cynthia Harrison, D-1st Ward.

The citys outwardly progressive image, while commendable, can sometimes overshadow the psychological, educational and economic toll faced by its Black residents, who generation after generation experience the trauma of unequal treatment, said Harrison, who is Black.

Council Member Cynthia Harrison, D-1st Ward, at the Ann Arbor City Council meeting on July 6, 2023.Ryan Stanton | The Ann Arbor News

While there hasnt been much discussion of reparations at the council table yet, emails obtained by MLive/The Ann Arbor News under the Freedom of Information Act show council members have been considering the idea for several months.

As I previously shared with you, one of my main priorities on council has been to start a task force to help the city identify how we can pay reparations to our Black community, Council Member Ayesha Ghazi Edwin, D-3rd Ward, wrote in a Jan. 23 email to a University of Michigan social work professor.

Reparations could range from housing subsidies to payments to families affected by the incarceration system and those who experience health challenges, or something more broad for all Black community members, Ghazi Edwin said.

The 26th-annual Ann Arbor African American Festival on Fourth Avenue downtown on June 3, 2023. Ryan Stanton | The Ann Arbor News

She indicated in January she was working with Harrison and Linh Song, D-2nd Ward, and they were in the preliminary planning phases, trying to identify people who could serve on a reparations task force that could make recommendations.

We are also recruiting participation from Black community members with a variety of backgrounds, including law, public health, policy, community activism, etc., she wrote.

Ghazi Edwin told MLive on July 12 shes still interested in forming a task force and hopes she and her colleagues can bring forward a resolution soon.

Were still working on it and I think a task force is long overdue, she said. And if Detroit can do it, we should be doing it, too.

Council Member Ayesha Ghazi Edwin, D-3rd Ward, at the Ann Arbor City Council meeting on July 6, 2023.Ryan Stanton | The Ann Arbor News

Meanwhile, Washtenaw County leaders are taking a county-level approach, voting in February to establish an advisory council to develop a county reparations plan.

Washtenaw County looking for members of new council on reparations for Black residents

The plan will highlight ways that county policies have harmed Black lives and include specific actions to address redress in the sectors of homeownership and access to other quality affordable housing; increasing business ownership and career opportunities; strategies to grow financial equity and generational wealth; closing the gaps in health care, education, employment, and pay; neighborhood safety; and fairness within criminal justice, the countys resolution states.

The resolution cites racial disparities in various areas, including how Black people have been targeted by law enforcement and incarcerated at disproportionate rates.

Weighing the issue

A number of U.S. cities are considering reparations to rectify wrongs caused by slavery, segregation, housing discrimination and other forms of systemic racism that have disadvantaged and harmed Black families throughout American history.

Evanston, Illinois, has been credited as the first American city to offer reparations, committing to spend $10 million over 10 years helping Black people who lived there during a period of harm from 1919 to 1969 or their direct descendants.

The 26th-annual Ann Arbor African American Festival on Fourth Avenue downtown on June 3, 2023. Ryan Stanton | The Ann Arbor News

Evanstons council approved the first $400,000 for the program in 2021 and the first grants of up to $25,000 per recipient were awarded in 2022. Initially set up as a homeownership assistance program, a direct cash benefit option has been added.

Ann Arbor officials havent yet decided what cash payouts might be possible, saying theyre looking to gather more information about harms perpetrated against people of color throughout the citys history to decide remedies.

Council Member Jen Eyer, D-4th Ward, said shes had discussions with colleagues and is fully supportive of forming a committee to study the issue. Council members also have suggested hiring a consultant.

We can look at what other municipalities have done, including the county, to start along that path, Eyer said. I think it needs to happen, and the most important thing is that we gather sort of the best and brightest minds and a diverse spectrum of perspectives to look at the issue.

A city reparations program also should consider Native Americans, Eyer said.

The 26th-annual Ann Arbor African American Festival on Fourth Avenue downtown on June 3, 2023. Ryan Stanton | The Ann Arbor News

Ann Arbor officials heard calls for reparations from residents who spoke at their July 6 meeting, when council approved a new law limiting police traffic stops to avoid racial profiling.

Several residents expressed hopes the city will take more steps. Mozhgan Savabieasfahani, who plans to run for council against Eyer in 2024, called for massive reparations, saying white people in the U.S. owe Black people $97 trillion.

And you know why you owe them? she told council. Because you extracted free labor from them, hundreds of years, and you piled it up, and you became the rich people that you are today. ... Start thinking about giving it back.

Mozhgan Savabieasfahani calls for reparations for Black residents at the Ann Arbor City Council meeting on July 6, 2023, where she announced her intentions to run for council in Ward 4 in 2024.Ryan Stanton | The Ann Arbor News

The $97 trillion figure some cite is based on estimates the U.S. benefited from over 222 million hours of forced labor between 1619 and the abolition of slavery in 1865.

Ann Arbor officials acknowledge polices like exclusionary zoning, racially restrictive covenants and deed restrictions historically kept Black people out of various neighborhoods. As a result of systemic racism, Black families lagged in building generational wealth and officials acknowledge many Black people have been priced out of an increasingly expensive Ann Arbor.

Ann Arbor neighborhood officially repeals 1947 whites-only policy

I want people to understand that the reason why Black people were pushed out is because there was an economic impact that you can draw a line through, Ghazi Edwin said.

Subsidizing costs for Black families to move into neighborhoods is one way reparations could work, or providing free childcare and participation in rec and ed programs, she said.

Maybe we can make ourselves a more attractive and welcoming city for Black residents to come back, she said.

Lefiest Galimore poses at his home in Ann Arbor on Thursday, May 5 2022.Jacob Hamilton | The Ann Arbor News

Lefiest Galimore, who is Black, said hes lived in Ann Arbor since 1971 and watched as neighborhoods where other Black families once lived have become gentrified and many Black people today cant afford homes where they grew up.

Thats an injustice, he said, agreeing reparations are needed across the U.S. for descendants of people who were enslaved and helped build the country and its wealth.

Ann Arbors historically Black neighborhood is the hottest market in town

Trische Duckworth, a Black Lives Matter activist in Ypsilanti and founder of Survivors Speak, said her group did a survey showing strong support for reparations in Ypsilanti. Shes hoping to get the issue on the ballot there and also hopes Ann Arbor puts it on the ballot for voters to decide.

As for whether $25,000 payments following the Evanston model would be enough, Duckworth said she would laugh at that and say try again, but $50,000 per year for the rest of our lives would be great. Reparations should encompass more than just money, though, she said, suggesting free college education, property tax abatements and startup help for Black-owned businesses.

Trische Duckworth, a Black Lives Matter activist in Ypsilanti and founder of Survivors Speak, addresses the Ann Arbor City Council on July 6, 2023. Ryan Stanton | The Ann Arbor News

Elected leaders need to consult with the people affected before making decisions on their behalf, but there doesnt need to be a long study led by a consultant, she said.

Why do we have to keep doing studies about Black pain? she said. Alleviate it.

Its not just remedies

While still considering reparations, Ann Arbor has been working to make racial equity a focus in various aspects of city government.

Council on July 6 finalized an agreement to use $1.4 million in marijuana tax revenue for equity initiatives including eviction prevention, low-income youth services, other social services and creating an African American Cultural Community Center in an affordable housing development on Catherine Street.

The city also is working with Black community leaders on plans for BIPOC small businesses development on the first floor there, noting the area was once Ann Arbors Black business district.

The 26th-annual Ann Arbor African American Festival on Fourth Avenue downtown on June 3, 2023. Ryan Stanton | The Ann Arbor News

The city continues to leverage funds in a way that acknowledges history and addresses needs of Black community members, said Council Member Chris Watson, D-2nd Ward, who is Black.

Thats the work Ive been proud to lead, he said, noting eviction prevention, for example, goes toward racial equity since Black families are disproportionally impacted by homelessness.

Watson, who has been involved in some of the preliminary talks about reparations, said hes excited the county is taking it up. Ann Arbor residents are stepping up to serve on the countys advisory council and hes expecting productive results, he said.

Seeing the results there will be important in kind of bringing to the forefront the voices that will guide this, he said.

Council Member Chris Watson, D-2nd Ward, speaks at the Ann Arbor City Council meeting on July 6, 2023.Ryan Stanton | The Ann Arbor News

Song and Harrison briefly touched on the subject of reparations when council adopted the citys annual budget in May.

I just want to mention how in these budget discussions there were very long, long, long discussions on the potential behind reparations, Song said, noting they considered the history of housing discrimination and how segregated the area remains, and zoning changes still needed to be more inclusive.

Council members considered putting some of the citys marijuana money toward a consultant to lead a reparations study, but decided to hold off in May.

When we talk about reparations, its not just remedies  its the conversation that hasnt happened here in the community, and limiting it to this budget process just wasnt enough and I think our community deserves more, Song said.

From left, Council Members Linh Song, D-2nd Ward, and Cynthia Harrison, D-1st Ward, at the Ann Arbor City Council meeting on July 6, 2023. Ryan Stanton | The Ann Arbor News

Harrison expressed hopes of starting a community dialogue about what reparations could look like.

She and Watson became the citys first Black council members in 15 years when they were elected last November.

Harrison has shared concerns Black people, including people in her life, are being priced out of the city. Black residents now account for less than 7% of the citys population, compared to about 14% across Michigan and nationally.

The underrepresentation of Black individuals among city employees and contractors, over-policing out Black residents, and persistent racial bias in education and economic opportunities serve as painful reminders of the progress that still needs to be made, Harrison said.

The 26th-annual Ann Arbor African American Festival on Fourth Avenue downtown on June 3, 2023. Ryan Stanton | The Ann Arbor News

If we care about our Black community with every census diminishing, we should care about the circumstances that have led to this and the history behind it, Song said.

Reparations could provide a form of restitution for historical wrongs and invest directly in the Black community, creating expanded opportunities in city employment and contracting sectors, and providing resources for education, housing and business opportunities, Harrison said.

Through such actions, Ann Arbor can begin to alleviate the enduring psychological, educational and economic traumas of racial discrimination, stimulate local economic growth, advance racial equity and ultimately foster a more inclusive and equitable city for all residents, she said.

Theres been some talk of moving toward reparations in conjunction with the citys 200th anniversary in 2024.

It would be great if we could come back to the next Juneteenth in our bicentennial year and say that were making some progress, Song said.

Want more Ann Arbor-area news? Bookmark the local Ann Arbor news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Ann Arbor daily newsletter.

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VIENNA TWP., MI  The gift Dan Giem received from his son on his 62nd birthday remains unopened.

Giem cant bring himself to open the gift, a DVD box set of his favorite television show, the old black and white episodes of The Twilight Zone.

It just takes time, he said, referring to the box set, the last gift Nicholas Giem ever gave his father, one day before his untimely death.

Im still reeling, he continued. I gave him a hug and told him I loved him.

Nicholas Giem was the victim of a hit-and-run on April 12. He was walking southbound on Saginaw Road, about a half-mile north of Wilson Road, when he was hit by what authorities believe was likely a 2018 Dodge Ram. He died the next day.

No one has come forward to take responsibility for being the person who struck and killed Nicholas Giem, a 35-year-old man with a mother and a father who continue to search for answers.

Its very difficult in many facets, Dan Giem said of losing his son. Id gladly change places with him right now if I could have Nick back or give Nick back to the world, because Nick had so much to give in the future. So much promise.

Cars travel down Saginaw road, just north of Wilson Road in Vienna Township on Thursday, July 13, 2023. This is where the hit-and-run that killed Nicholas Giem took place. (Devin Anderson-Torrez | MLive.com). Devin Anderson-Torrez | MLive.com

The Call

JoAnn Giem said she thought it was odd when she woke up on that morning and noticed the front door of the Giem household was unlocked. She and her husband chalked it up to just having forgotten to do it the night before.

But Nicholas Giem wasnt home. It was 5 a.m., and even though they knew their son had plans for the day, it wasnt like him to leave that early.

I saw the morning traffic report about how there was an accident, Wilson and Saginaw, JoAnn Giem told MLive-The Flint Journal. I thought, somebody should have picked him up. But at about 10 (minutes) to 6 (a.m.) I got a call  they said theres a medical emergency.

Related: Man critically injured after hit-and-run crash in Vienna Township

Nicholas Giem was walking south on Saginaw Road because he had made a commitment to babysit a loved one. Dan Giem says he still feels guilty because he didnt make it clearer that he could have given his son a ride; he was even giving his son a car, but the car was in the shop for last-second inspections to make sure it was safe.

But Nick was the person that wouldnt go out of his way to say, I do need a ride here, Dan Giem said. He was self-sufficient. And he walked a lot anyway.

Dan Giem, father of Nicholas Giem, holds a Gift of Life medal, given to him after his son passed away and his organs were donated, at his home in Clio, MI on Thursday, July 13, 2023. (Devin Anderson-Torrez | MLive.com).Devin Anderson-Torrez | MLive.com

Nick was a great giver

Married for 42 years, Nicholas is never far from the thoughts of Dan and JoAnn Giem.

Their living room mantle works as a sort of shrine to their son, affixed with a photo of him at a northern Michigan restaurant during an annual family trip sitting beside a photo of Nicholas with his grandmother.

Nicholas Giem had accomplished a lot in his 35 years on earth. His father said that he was a black belt in karate and enjoyed walking.

He was finding success after getting a degree in computer programming from Mott Community College early in life and had continued his education by getting further certifications from other institutes.

He developed several games that are available on Google Play, the elder Giem said, and was fluent in speaking and writing Japanese.

Nick was a great giver. He was a person that youd want as a next-door neighbor because he was generous, giving, and wasnt materialistic at all, Dan Giem said. He would give, he would give and give. And of course, you hear that from a lot of parents. Hed give the shirt off his back. But Nick would.

Even in death, the Giems said, Nicholas found a way to keep giving. As an organ donor, the couple said their son was able to save the lives of three people.

Being familiar with Gift of Life now more than ever, they use tissue and other material that is life altering, Dan Giem said.

Dan and JoAnn Giem talk about their son, Nicholas, at their home in Clio on Thursday, July 13, 2023. Nicholas was killed in a hit-and-run in April and his parents are still searching for answers. (Devin Anderson-Torrez | MLive.com)Devin Anderson-Torrez | MLive.com

Do the right thing

Since the day Nicholas Giem was struck, those investigating the crash from the Genesee County Sheriffs Office have been helpful, Dan Giem said.

Early in the investigation, Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson spoke in videos posted to Facebook, asking the public to assist by keeping their eyes out for the suspect vehicle. What was once believed to be a 2014-22 Dodge Ram has now been narrowed down to a 2018 model.

We want to make sure the family has closure, he said at the time.

Read more: Sheriff seeks publics assistance in finding suspect in fatal hit-and-run

The family says theyve appreciated the efforts of the sheriffs office in speaking about the crash publicly.

They also spoke highly of Crime Stoppers, which is working with the family and offering a cash reward of up to $2,500 for information leading to an arrest in the case.

If anyone has information, they can call Crime Stoppers of Flint and Genesee County at 1-800-422-JAIL (5245), on the P3 Tips mobile app, or online at crimestoppersofflint.com.

The Giems say they believe whoever killed their son likely lives in the area, based on the fact they were driving on a local road. Its very possible they live in the area.

Their message to the person? Get that heavy weight off your shoulders.

Its one secret that I wouldnt want to carry with me on a day-to-day basis, Dan Giem said. Youre aware that you hit something, youre aware that damage was sustained to your vehicle.

Youre aware that now theres a name associated with the crash. So do the right thing for yourself and come forward.

Want more Flint-area news? Bookmark the local Flint news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Flint daily newsletter.

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FLINT, MI  To celebrate the anniversary of the passing of the Americans Disability Act, The Disability Network is hosting its annual ADA Day Picnic.

The event will take place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday, July 21 at Powers Catholic High School, 1505 W. Court St. in Flint.

Anyone in the community is invited to attend the free celebration to enjoy hot dogs, games, face painting, music, adaptive bikes, inclusive vendors and more.

The ADA was signed into law by former President George H.W. Bush on July 26, 1990. The law ensures civil rights for people with disabilities, according to a press release from The Disability Network. The legislation also established a national mandate to eliminate discrimination against individuals with disabilities.

Cara Birchmeier, director of advancement and development for The Disability Network, said the organization has hosted events to celebrate ADA Day for the past decade. Birchmeier added July is Disability Pride Month.

Its always been our favorite event that we do because its free for the community, Birchmeier said. Theres not a lot of events that are made for people with disabilities where everyone is welcome, we make accommodations and really celebrating who they are.

Since it passed nearly 33 years ago, Birchmeier said the ADA does huge things for people with disabilities. This includes expanding opportunities by reducing physical barriers in the workplace and beyond, changing perceptions and increasing full participation in community life.

A lot of times people think disability is someone whos in a wheelchair, someone whos blind or deaf, but really, its so much more than that  Its people that have diabetes, or high blood pressure or anxiety, Birchmeier said. So, (were) just trying to rebrand disability in Genesee County, and this event is a perfect way to do that.

Genesee Health Systems works with The Disability Network to helps make the event possible. For more information, visit The Disability Network website.

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:

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OTTAWA COUNTY, MI  Authorities are investigating after a 60-year-old mans body was found in a wooded area, Holland police said.

The man was not immediately identified as of Sunday morning, July 16.

Police first responded to an 8:40 p.m. report of a body found on Friday, July 14, on the south side of 16th Street and west of Hope Avenue.

Police said a person walking in the woods found the body. Officers identified the dead individual as a 60-year-old Holland man.

Police said there is no evidence of foul play.

The Ottawa County Medical Examiners Office responded to the scene and the body will be sent for autopsy to determine the cause of death.

The incident remains under investigation.

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OTTAWA COUNTY, MI  Two people were arrested Sunday morning for allegedly stealing mail from a mailbox, Ottawa County sheriffs deputies said.

Police were dispatched Sunday, July 16, to the area of 1318 Rosewood Ave. in Georgetown Township for a report of subjects taking mail out of a mailbox.

Sheriffs deputies located the suspects vehicle near 40th Avenue and Port Sheldon Street. When the suspects saw the deputys vehicle, they started throwing the mail out of the window, police said.

The suspects vehicle was stopped and two people  police did not provide ages or genders  were taken into custody and lodged at the Ottawa County Jail.

The case remains under investigation.

Police ask anybody with information regarding this incident to call the Ottawa County Sheriffs Office at 616-738-4000 or Silent Observer at 877-887-4536.

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CASS COUNTY, MI  An Illinois man was injured in a crash early Sunday morning, July 16, after he lost control of his vehicle and hit a tree, Cass County sheriffs deputies said.

Sheriffs deputies were called shortly after 6 a.m. to a crash on M-60, near Lake Shore Drive, in Howard Township.

Police said a 23-year-old Flossmoor, Illinois man was driving his Acura along M-60 when he lost control of the vehicle. The vehicle then went off the roadway and struck a tree before rolling on its side.

The man was able to get out of the vehicle on his own and was transported to an area hospital for treatment.

Police said the man was wearing his seatbelt at the time of the crash.

Sheriffs deputies were assisted by the Howard Township Fire Department and SMCAS Ambulance.

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The African Union's fifth Mid-Year Coordination Meeting (MYCM) kicked off in Nairobi on Sunday, bringing together various regional economic groups and mechanisms to accelerate continental integration.



The African Union's fifth Mid-Year Coordination Meeting (MYCM) kicked off in Nairobi on Sunday, bringing together various regional economic groups and mechanisms to accelerate continental integration.The theme of this years meeting is the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

The meeting is being led by Kenyan President William Ruto with the participation of the President of Comoros Ghazali Osmani, who currently presides over the African Summit.

The summit aims to address crucial issues of African integration, division of labour, and the roles played by the African Union and regional economic groups on the continent.

During the opening session, Ruto urged African countries "to provide leadership towards a new industrial age for Africa." He also called upon the IMF and World Bank to come up with a fair financial system, saying that "some of the financial debt crisis we have is because of the unfair financial system that makes Africa pay higher interest than others."

The agenda also included a review of the implementation of continental and regional declarations in Africa.

The ministerial-level meeting preceding the heads of states participation adopted the theme of education for the AU in 2024.

The MYCM, established in 2017, serves as the primary platform for the African Union, Regional Economic Communities (RECs), Regional Mechanisms (RMs), and member states to jointly assess and accelerate continental integration.

Egypts participation

In addition to Presidents Ruto and Osmani, notable participants in the meeting include President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi of Egypt, who chairs the African Heads of State and Government Committee for development issues in the continent, as well as President Ali Bongo of Gabon, President Ismail Omar Guelleh of Djibouti, and President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa.

President El-Sisi, who arrived in Nairobi on Saturday, is expected to deliver a speech presenting Egypt's ambitious two-year roadmap for its presidency of the Steering Committee of the African Development Agency (NEPAD).

The NEPAD is the African Unions body responsible for organizing and financing projects and programmes to achieve the continents sustainable development goals.

The Kenyan president lauded El-Sisis presidency of the NEPAD Steering Committee, which Egypt assumed in February.

Ruto also noted NEPAD's remarkable achievements, especially in issues related to regional and continental integration.

He also thanked El-Sisi for Egypt's success in hosting the UN Climate Change Conference (COP27) in the Red Sea city of Sharm El-Sheikh in November last year.

The climate conference served as an opportunity to find a solution to the biggest challenge facing the world, which is climate change, he further said.

"We are determined to lead this continent and confront our challenges," he went on to say.

The Egyptian president will also deliver another speech during the session on the environment, climate change, and the blue economy.

Source of solutions

Addressing the opening session, UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed said that Africa is the source of solutions to worldwide challenges.

The world is now facing unprecedented challenges prompted by the coronavirus outbreak, climate change, and the war in Ukraine. Africa is being burdened by these challenges, she said.

The meeting provides an excellent chance to materialize the aspirations of the African people and the 2063 Agenda, she added.

She said that the African countries are fully supported by the UN, citing the G-20 general secretariat call for taking measures to ease the repercussions of climate change.

She said climate change has placed more burdens on the African continent, calling for fostering integration among African leaders to defend African interests at international forums.

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BERRIEN COUNTY, MI  A body that was found along the St. Joseph River has been identified as 47-year-old Timothy Carl Johns, Berrien Springs police said.

The body of the Berrien Springs man was turned over to the medical examiners office for an autopsy.

Police first responded to an 8:40 a.m. report of an overturned canoe on Saturday, July 15, in the St. Joseph River near Andrews University property.

Investigators recovered several pieces of property at the scene that were believed to have been in the canoe when it overturned.

Police said there were no signs of people in the area.

Around 3:30 p.m. that afternoon, kayakers on the St. Joseph River located a body of a dead man  identified as Johns  near an island down river from the scene of the canoe.

The body was recovered by the Berrien County Sheriffs Office.

This potential drowning incident remains under investigation.

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MUSKEGON, MI -- At least five people were forced into the water after a boat caught fire on Muskegon Lake Saturday evening, police said.

Law enforcement responded to calls of a boat on fire off the shore of the Heritage Landing park at about 6:28 p.m. July 15, according to Muskegon Central Dispatch.

With assistance from the United States Coast Guard, crews from the Muskegon Fire Department were able to get the flames knocked down shortly after arriving on scene, police said.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation by the coast guard.

Police said at least five people had been on the boat before the fire broke out, all of whom declined medical treatment.

Fire crews were assisted at the scene by the U.S. Coast Guard and the Muskegon County Sheriffs Office.

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BAY CITY, MI  A special dialogue about race will take this week at the Delta College Planetarium.

The event, Black in our Region: Making Connections Between History and the Present, is scheduled for 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday, July 17, at the planetarium, 100 Washington St. in Bay City. Its part of a post-Juneteenth celebration project by the NAACP Bay City Branch and Delta Colleges Democracy Commitment Team.

Organizer Kathie Marchlewski and NAACP Bay City Branch President Darold Newton came up with the idea for this event after hearing about the struggles young Black students face in local schools.

We are hoping this event will provide a space for people to gather their voices to discuss the problems that continue to arise for people of color in our region, Marchlewski said.

Delta College professors Angela Guy-Lee and Christina Miller Bellor will discuss how history shaped Black peoples lives and work in the Great Lakes Bay Region and beyond.

Guy-Lee is a professor of anthropology, and Miller-Bellor is a professor of sociology. The professors will open the event by talking about how the countrys history continues to influence the treatment of Black people at the national level and in local communities.

After the professors presentation, participants will gather in small groups to discuss the communitys progress and ongoing challenges, focusing on issues such as the Black experience in health care, schools and housing.

Click here for more information.

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.

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BAY CITY, MI  After a dozen years in the military, James Burchfield returned to civilian life feeling unmoored. His combat experiences in Iraq left him feeling broken and directionless, isolated even with his family.

Its a predicament familiar to veterans, wracked with PTSD and finding themselves void of purpose as they struggle to reacclimate to civilian life.

Thankfully for Burchfield, he found a lifeline when he needed it most one of the furry, four-legged variety.

After being retired and getting out of the military, I was in a very dark place, said Burchfield, a 45-year-old Bay County resident. I kind of needed something to look forward to, something that was different. On a whim, I went to a dog shelter and said, Where do you need me? They said, Go walk this dog.

His impromptu decision to volunteer at the Arenac County Animal Control in January grew into a therapeutic habit that saw him bring similarly withdrawn dogs out of their shells.

I knew how much that made me feel better and how much the dogs needed me, he said. I wanted to pass it on to other combat veterans who might be stuck in a bad spot.

To that end, Burchfield founded Animal Overwatch, a nonprofit geared toward connecting vets with Michigan animal shelters.

I want to help broken vets help broken dogs, he said of his goal.

The nonprofit gets its name from the military term overwatch, a force protection tactic where a small unit or vehicle supports another unit during fire and movement tactics.

Burchfield served in the U.S. Army from 1997 to 2011, retiring as sergeant first class. Thereafter, he worked as a police officer with the Louisville Metro Police Department in Kentucky, retiring after being badly injured. In 2019, he and his wife Aubrea moved to Bay County.

His war experiences hung over him like a dark cloud.

I didnt feel like I belonged anywhere. I felt all used up, he recalled.

Seated at his dinner table one day, he looked at his wife and told her he had to do something. Visiting Arenac County Animal Control on a lark, he started volunteering by walking dogs and doing other odds and ends as needed. Not only did the act prove a boon for his mental health, but it symbiotically helped the dogs, who often come from abusive or neglected backgrounds and are themselves traumatized.

It was kind of two identities that merged together, he said.

He initially promised himself hed volunteer no more than one hour per week, but that pledge soon fell by the wayside.

I became addicted to it, how the dogs needed me, he said. It ended up being every single day, maybe four to five hours a day. I knew how much that made me feel better and how much the dogs needed me, so I wanted to pass it on to other combat veterans who might be stuck in a bad spot.

Burchfield also began receiving counseling for his PTSD. When therapy would lead him to recall vivid, painful memories, he would go to a shelter to play with the dogs.

I felt better right away, he said. It really brought me out of a dark place. Ive been a policeman and a soldier for a very long time, and the impact you see making these dogs happy, its unmeasurable. Its simply incredible.

In April, Burchfield began volunteering at Bay County Animal Services & Adoption Center.

Im just sad it wasnt my idea, laughed Director Olivia Shields. James has been willing to handle the dogs that everybody is passing by. Hes not afraid to jump in and take the time, and he has the patience.

Since he began volunteering with Bay County, Burchfield has fostered two pit bulls, Trixie and Scooter, who have both since been adopted.

When Burchfield began visiting the shelter, Trixie in particular, was reserved. In just a matter of days, she started jumping for joy in her cage at the sound of Burchfield walking in the door.

We just know theyre scared and acting out because of fear or whatever may have happened in their previous home, Shields said of some of the dogs histories. James has never shied away from the challenge. They learn to trust. Its almost like they sense hes here to help them. They immediately trust them.

Since starting Animal Overwatch, Burchfield has enlisted 12 fellow veterans to volunteer at the shelters in Bay, Arenac, and Iosco counties. The group has a Facebook page and visits VFW posts and Veterans Affairs offices to distribute flyers in hopes of enlisting others in their cause.

Additionally, the group has fixed dog kennels, repaired plumbing, and participated in donation drives, virtually anything a shelter needs. In doing so, it instills the vets with a renewed sense of purpose.

I want to spread this word because I feel like Im on the top of my game again, he said. Im appreciated, wanted, and excited to go back to work.

Veterans from all military branches are welcome to join Animal Overwatch, and combat experience is not a necessity. The group is also not counseling-based, meaning Burchfield wont try to compel any participants to share with him their combat stories.

If they ever want to feel needed again, this is where wed start  go for a walk with a dog. It makes you feel human again. It makes you feel loved.

Often accompanying Burchfield on his visits to the shelters is his 4-year-old daughter, Josephine. He also has a 21-year-old son, Anthony, currently serving in Alaska with the U.S. Army. His family also has a dog of their own, a Shih Tzu named Charly.

Burchfield cannot tout enough the benefits of the program and how volunteering has led to a night-to-day transition for him.

It has really helped me feel less broken, he said. I dont know whos helping more  the dogs helping me or me helping them.

Veterans looking to join Animal Overwatch can email Burchfield at jamesburchfield275@gmail.com, call or text him at 616-848-5039, or message him on the Facebook page.

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.

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Michigan is adding at least 50 more road projects to the docket this week as construction season requires more traffic cones and lane closures.

The Michigan Department of Transportations construction schedule for the week of July 17-22 includes at least 26 lane, ramp, or road closures on Monday, with a few dozen more the rest of the week.

I-75 in Genesee and Oakland counties will have a number of overnight closures, while a slew of projects may cause headaches in downtown Detroit. Other significant closures will affect counties like Berrien, Delta, Eaton, Kent, Ontonagon, and St. Joseph.

Below are some of the closures to watch out for this week. All projects are weather dependent, and state officials remind drivers to follow posted signage.

For a full schedule of upcoming road work, visit MDoTs online map, here.

U.S. 2 in Delta County

Nearly two miles of U.S. 2 will be resurfaced beginning Sunday in Escanaba. Construction will stretch from north of Ludington Street to 20th Avenue.

Most work will be done at night, but drivers should expect lane closures and traffic shifts from Sunday until Tuesday, July 18. The project is expected to cost about $550,000.

Telegraph Road in Oakland County

Work on Telegraph Road (U.S. 24) will close the left lane in each direction beginning Monday morning, July 17, between I-696 and 8 Mile Road. That work is expected to continue until July 26.

Beginning Tuesday, the closure will expand to the left three lanes on the southbound side. That work is expected to mostly be done between 7 p.m. and 5 a.m. daily until Saturday, July 22. More work on the northbound side will come next week.

M-51 and M-63 in Berrien County

A couple projects are scheduled to begin Monday in Berrien County.

One lane of Niles Road (M-63) in either direction will be closed near Glenlord Road for maintenance from 7 a.m. Monday through 3 p.m. Tuesday.

Then on northbound 11th Street (M-51), the right lane from Lawndale Street to Oakdale Street will be closed from Monday through July 28. Most of that work is scheduled from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays.

Possibly adding to the congestion are lane closures on U.S. 12 in both directions from M-139 to M-60. That work began last week and isnt expected to be complete until Oct. 20.

I-75 in Oakland/Genesee County

Ongoing work on I-75 in Oakland and Genesee counties will require more closures this week.

The northbound right two lanes between E. Holly Road and Dixie Highway will be closed from Monday through July 28 in Oakland County. Work is scheduled daily from 4 a.m. to 2 p.m. The left lane will also be closed at Belford Road from Monday through August 21.

On the southbound side, the left two lanes will be closed at Davisburg Road from 8 p.m. Monday through 5 a.m. Tuesday. The left lane of Davisburg Road remains closed for another few weeks.

Further north in Genesee county, the stretch of I-75 between Dort Highway and U.S. 23 will have overnight, double-lane closures Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Each days closures are scheduled for 6 p.m. through 5 a.m.

Additionally, I-75 from I-475 to Maple Avenue will have its right two lanes closed from 6 p.m. Tuesday until 5 a.m. Wednesday, and the left two lanes of I-475 from Hill Road to I-75 will be closed overnight Wednesday into Thursday.

M-38 in Ontonagon County

M-38 from M-26 to 1st Street in Ontonagon County will be completely shutdown beginning Monday for construction that is expected to take more than two months. That work is scheduled to be complete in late September.

Drivers will be detoured using Tower Road and Plank Road at least through this week.

M-66 in St. Joseph County

A single lane of M-66 near the southern border of the state will be closed from 7 a.m. Monday through the afternoon of July 31. Maintenance work is scheduled from U.S. 12 in Sturgis to the Indiana state line.

Congestion in Detroit

Both directions of Gratiot (M-3) between Saint Antoine Street and Antietam Avenue will have the right lane closed for more than three weeks beginning Monday.

Additionally:

Northbound I-375 will be down its left lane from Monday through early August,

Southbound I-375 will have its right lane closed between I-75 and Madison Street from Monday until late July.

Southbound I-75 between I-375 and Brush Street will be without its right lane from Monday through late July,

The ramp from I-75 to southbound I-375 will close Monday until around Aug. 10.

M-15 in Genesee County

Work on State Road (M-15) will require intermittent single-lane closures between Lapeer Road and Atherton Road beginning Monday in Genesee County. That project is largely going to be done on weekdays with an expected end date of Aug. 7.

I-96 in Kent County

The eastbound I-96 exit ramp to Fulton Street (M-21) will be closed for maintenance from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday and Tuesday. Drivers are recommended to use the westbound Fulton Street ramp and then take the indirect left turn to head east.

Also on Tuesday, the eastbound left lane of I-96 will be closed between I-196 and Cascade Road from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Stine Road in Eaton County

The rebuilding of Stine Road under I-69 will begin Wednesday, July 19, in Charlotte. That work starts around 6 a.m. Wednesday and is expected to wrap up in mid-August.

The project is part of more than $200 million worth of work to rebuild I-69 between Island Highway in Charlotte and I-94 in Marshall. Drivers are advised to seek alternate routes.

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BEAVER ISLAND, MI  Alec Smyth and Cliff Redus have custom-built submersibles. Don Uzarski has a scientific need for extended time on the bottom of Lake Michigan.

It was a match made on Beaver Island.

On Saturday, July 15, Uzarski, director of the Central Michigan University (CMU) Institute for Great Lakes Research, joined Smyth and Redus under Lake Michigan at Beaver Island, where the two submersible owners arrived this week to assist the stations water quality and fisheries research.

Redus, of Devine, Texas, and Smyth, of Alexandria, Virginia, helped Uzarski gather data on water quality and native fish habitat along the path of the Emerald Isle ferry, which carries CMU equipment that gathers water quality data.

The submersible owners are engineers who designed and built the machines themselves and connected with Uzarski through innerspacescience.org, which joins sub owners with scientists and educators in need of a ride to the bottom.

The organization is non-commercial. Theres no contract or fee. Smyth and Redus reached out to Uzarski offering their services after becoming interested in helping Lake Michigan scientific research following a 2022 dive in Lake Charlevoix. Uzarski is director of the universitys biological station on the island.

What do you do with a sub? You can go diving and shoot yet another YouTube video, or you can try doing something useful, which is more fun, said Smyth.

Its like a matchmaking service between people who could use subs and people who have them, Smyth said.

We dont charge for it because we are on vacation.

Smyths submersible, the Shackleton  named for the Antarctic explorer  dove a sunken island two miles off St. James Harbor. Uzarski was examining the shallow area for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR), which is searching for potential lake trout, cisco and whitefish spawning reefs.

Redus submersible, the R-300, dove the harbor bottom along the ferry path collecting water quality data in deeper water to supplement surface data gathered on the ferry.

Uzarski piloted the two-man Shakelton alongside Smyth. They dove for more than an hour.

He put me down in the sub first, up by the bow by the big clear dome, and then he said, Oh, by the way, you have the controls, Uzarski said.

It gave me a perspective that I dont get to see, he said. I scuba dive, but this is very, very different. We covered so much area and we were actually able to stay down there.

Unfortunately, what Uzarski saw was disappointing.

When you get down there, you really see the invasive species and the algae from excess nutrients coming into the ecosystem, he said.

Uzarski said invasive zebra and quagga mussels are concentrating nutrients in a small bottom layer of the water column. More light reaching the bottom due to clear, mussel-filtered water creates the right conditions for algae growth.

The bottom is absolutely covered with algae, quagga mussels and invasive round goby, Uzarski said. Basically, today all we saw were invasives or nuisance algae that its not invasive, but it really shouldnt be there because it shouldnt have enough nutrients to be that thick.

Uzarski said the data gathered by the submersible dives can help researchers understand how the lake is responding to climate change and be more proactive instead of reactionary when you know issues are coming.

Ironically, while Lake Michigans water clarity is tough on the ecosystem, it ended up helping connecting Uzarski with the submersible owners. Redus said he became interested in diving Lake Michigan after seeing how clear the nearshore water is last year at the public beach in Charlevoix.

I come from Texas, where you gotta go 20 miles offshore to get blue water, said Redus. I said Ive got to dive in Lake Michigan. It was a joy today.

Redus said the St. James Harbor dive was the first time the R-300 performed a submerged transect over a two-mile distance. His aft thrusters malfunctioned toward the end of the dive after running the submersible at full throttle while trying to pace CMUs research boat, the M/V Chippewa. Redus ran safety checks on his life support systems while being towed.

He took it all in stride.

Its such a clear and beautiful lake, he said. Last night, I was walking near our cabin along the beach and I could have sworn this was a sea. To be able to see how clear the water was; the sun was shining  it was just absolutely beautiful.

Sign up to receive MLive's free new environment and climate newsletter, "Lake Effect." Enter your email here:



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Former President John Dramani Mahama has paid tribute to the late Professor Ama Ata Aidoo.

According to Mr. Mahama, her literary works were on the lips and ingrained in the minds of every school-going boy or girl in secondary school.

He said in a Facebook post on July 14 I have had the privilege of being one of the millions of mirrors across the globe that reflected the light that she, as the prime source, inspired and freely gifted the world.

Aunt Ama Ata Aidoo was the candle, and I have had the privilege of being one of the millions of mirrors across the globe that reflected the light that she, as the prime source, inspired and freely gifted the world.

"Her literary works read like a primer: they were on the lips and ingrained in the minds of every school-going boy or girl in secondary school. Among her classic works,The Dilemma of a Ghost and Changes were two of my favorites," John Dramani Mahama stated.

Professor Ama Ata Aidoo has published award-winning novels, plays, short stories, childrens books, and poetry, and influenced generations of African women writers.

Her first work, The Dilemma of a Ghost, a play, was published in 1965, making her the first African woman to publish a play.

She went on to become one of the continents best-known writers, inspiring a generation of younger authors, artists, and feminists.
15.07.2023 LISTEN

The World Bank has advised Ghana to come up with an emergency action plan and ensure its immediate implementation to address the challenges facing the energy sector.

Ms Anna Bjerde, the World Bank Managing Director of Operations, said any delays in the implementation of such action plan amid the current crisis could derail economic growth.

Speaking at a media briefing Friday evening to end her first working visit to Ghana since her appointment in April, she said the Bank was ready to assist the country with technical and related support to tackle the energy sector challenges.

She said should the challenges persist: The generators would not be able to keep producing electricity and you'd end up with interruption in supply; economic growth would be impacted, not to mention the impact of the welfare on the Ghanaian population, whether it is in schools, or health centres or homes.

Ms Bjerde noted that most of Ghana's cost in the energy sector was on the generation side, therefore, there was the need for money to flow from the collection to the time of generation of electricity.

Ghana has both financial and network losses, and if not addressed with an emergency action plan, that could cost the State more to keep the energy sector running at a time that they need to spend money on other things, she said.

Ms Bjerde recommended that attention be paid to addressing the challenges in the metering, billing and collection systems to recoup the needed revenue, adding that, if there're customers that refuse to pay, you might also have to disconnect them.

The World Bank is providing technical advise on what needs to be done; the metering, billing and collection, and making sure that you have an account set up from, which all the revenue flows go, Ms Bjerde.

She said that the Bank was also advising Ghana to balance electricity tariff increases, with protection of the vulnerable, and adoption of best global practices, including regulation, and Private-Private Partnerships (PPPs).

The World Bank MD of Operations called for increased collaboration among the Finance, Energy, and Gender, Children and Social Protection Ministries to have a comprehensive package for the emergency energy action plan.

We have a lot of experiences from around the world that we can bring to bear, but most important right now, is to implement over the next few months, these emergency measures, she said.

For his part, the Country Director, Pierre Frank Laporte, urged the government to leverage the Bank's West African Power Pool (WAAP) to solve the generational challenges in the energy sector.

The Bank's WAAP allowed countries of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to 'pool' their power systems for better use and sharing of available cheaper, greener energy resources in the neighbourhoods.

Mr Laporte also encouraged the government to implement robust plans and invest in renewable energy supply to produce cheap and clean energy.

GNA
AngloGold Ashanti Ghana, Obuasi Mine has been praised for its intervention programs targeted at improving the quality of education in Obuasi.

The mining giant has introduced plethora of educational intervention programs since 2019. The programs which include training workshops for teachers, improving educational facilities and supplying learning materials, have been one of the key pillars in the company's 10-year Socio-Economic Development Plan (SEDP).

Speaking to the media after a 3-day workshop for teachers in both the Obuasi East and the Obuasi Municipality, the Obuasi Municipal Director of Education George Alfred Koomson said the company since 2019 has set sight on improving education in Obuasi and this has yielded positive results.

He said "AGA has been organizing quiz competition for schools with mouth-watering prizes, they have been organizing workshops for teachers and put up modern infrastructural facilities. These are remarkable interventions that have improved the quality of education."

Throwing more light on the just ended instructional training workshop in reading for early grade teachers sponsored by AngloGold Ashanti, Mr. Koomson said after analysing BECE results in Obuasi, the education directorates in the two districts found out that most students could not read and understand the questions asked.

He added that there was a need to focus on improving the reading ability of pupils at the early stages. "We concentrated on teachers at the Kindergarten and Basic levels (KG1, KG2, BS1, BS2 and BS3).

"In all over 500 teachers from both districts took part in the training. The KG teachers received training in jolly phonics while the lower primary teachers received training in transition from Ghanaian Language of instruction (in teaching) to English Language."

The education director appealed to parents to support their children's education by providing them with learning materials and food.

He said " In as much as government is doing its part, parents have the responsibility of complementing government's effort by supporting by providing books for their kids."

The stakeholders engagement superintendent of AngloGold Ashanti Edmond Oduro Agyei said improving quality education in Obuasi features prominently in the company's Socio-Economic Development Plan launched in 2022.

He said the company taking feedback from the education directorates decided to focus on training teachers at the basic level. "We collaborated with the GES to access the impact of our previous training programs. The feedback informed us to target improving the reading ability of pupils at early grade stage," he stressed.

Mr. Oduro mentioned that aside the training programs, AngloGold Ashanti is currently constructing a state-of-the-art 9-unit classroom block at Sanso and commenced commercial arrangements towards the construction of an 18-unit classroom block at Anyinam.

He revealed that AGA has completed contractual arrangements towards the construction of a center of excellence for robotic training at Obuasi Senior High Technical School in a bid to promote STEM education.

The participants commended AngloGold Ashanti and the Ghana Education Service for the training program which will impact positively on their work.
15.07.2023 LISTEN

An usher is the person with the responsibility of checking in patrons at events,public or private and showing them to their seats.They may refuse admission to people that may not have been invited, people without a ticket or pass, improperly dressed or people whose presence may affect the event negatively.It is the responsibility of the usher to ensuring that only people with the proper credentials are allowed into the event.

The concept of ushering is not entirely a new service .The word is from the Latin word ostiarius (porter,doorman, gatekeeper). Biblically,it sprung up in the days of Moses and developed further in the era of David.In Numbers 1:48-53,Moses was directed in the wilderness of Sinai to organize watchmen over the Tabernacle and all vessels.2 Chronicles 8:14,23:18-19 sheds light on the Levites and their ushering role as overseers assigned by David for service at the gates in the temple of the Lord.

However the first ushers group in modern times was by Ambrose R. Clark of New York in 1897 to better organize church ushering.

This industry has reemerged with so much prospects.Once more the early birds have the opportunity to catch the worms.The first movers over time will rake in more profits in the future after positioning themselves strategically.

On the surface the work of an usher to may seem easy.On the surface it may seem as just an issue of directing people to seats to many but I beg to differ.

Firstly, the nature of the job requires that you are physically fit.Ushers stand for hours in their line of duty and their fitness can't be compromised.Ushers

need to have a professional appearance and demeanor.They must be well groomed and we'll dressed.They must pay attention to detail.They should be able to multitask, have good verbal communication skills ,customer service skills and several others.

According to Winsome Jessica Ansah Jackson, the CEO of Winnyx Protocols, one of the top ushering service providers in the country,the creation of her company was nothing planned.She was still a student at Alliance Francaise in 2019 when she started the company.

A Nigerian company had organized a youth summit and made an advert for the best ushers.The offer was attractive so she went for the audition.Her good looks and fluency was an added advantage but she had more than just that.Her uniqueness booked a place for her among the only 10 selected even though 1000's auditioned for the role.

This experience birthed the idea of starting the now multiple award nominated ushering company Winnyx Protocols. The company's bevy of ladies, who are well educated,well mannered and well branded have rendered their services at corporate events,social events, conferences, weddings and parties.

Winsome Jessica Ansah Jackson,who is also the Secretary to the Rector of UniMAC -NAFTI empathizes with the challenges women face with unemployment and is glad her ingenuity as an entrepreneur has created a job for young ladies.

She owes it all to God and believes this is an industry that can make a change if supported by more investors.

Long Live Mother Ghana.

Dumenu Charles Selorm
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's U-turn on Sweden's NATO membership bid is fuelling speculation that he may be pivoting back to his traditional Western allies. Until now the Turkish leader has had something of a diplomatic love affair with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, even as the rest of Europe shuns him for his invasion of Ukraine.

All smiles, NATO secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg announced at this week's summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, that Erdogan had finally agreed to back Sweden's bid to join the defence alliance. There was handshaking and backslapping, and Erdogan was very much the man of the moment.

US President Joe Biden, who has criticised Erdogan's human rights record in the past, exchanged jokes with the Turkish leader. Biden's commitment to sell US fighter jets to Turkey is believed to have clinched Erdogan's support.

"This is portrayed as a big triumph for Erdogan," observed political analyst Sezin Oney, of Turkish news portal Politikyol. "The people are living through the daily reality of the economic crisis very harshly in Turkey. Now, for the time being, we've stopped talking about this, and it's Erdogan's triumph [instead]. Even part of the opposition is in awe.

"It does not matter if it's really a success; it's changing the agenda. And it's a big win for the West because Russia has had blow after blow in recent weeks," Oney said.

Turkey's opposition leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu slammed the NATO love fest and accused Western leaders of ignoring Erdogan's human rights record in Turkey, where prominent political and civil society leaders are languishing in jail on flimsy charges.

But realpolitik and pragmatism appear to be the order of the day, with hopes growing amongst NATO members that a rift could emerge between Turkey and Russia.

Tit for tat

Even before this week's summit, Erdogan gave signals that all was not well in his relations with Moscow.

Last Saturday, Turkey released Ukrainian commanders who'd been held as part of a prisoner swap, which infuriated the Russian government. The soldiers were supposed to stay in Turkey until the war's end as part of a deal brokered by Turkey between Ukraine and Russia.

"Yes, we do have our differences," said Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov. "We do not hide them, either. But another part of our relations also serves the best interests of our two countries. These relations are important for us and the Turkish side."

Moscow has been quick to punish Ankara. Russia vetoed the extension of a United Nations aid deal for Syria. That means more suffering for millions of Syrian dissidents and their families trapped on the Turkish border and adds to the risk they may seek to flee to Turkey.

But Russia expert Zaur Gasimov of Bonn University predicts Moscow will be careful in its response. He says the Kremlin is aware Ankara's actions are more gestures than substantive, albeit a little humiliating  and that, crucially, Turkey continues not to enforce Western sanctions against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine.

"Turkey and Russia have very different positions and very different interests in all regions," observed Gasimov. "But both sides are aware in all these sub-regions that they have to communicate to interact, and that is the extent of the cooperation."

He added: "It's not a mutual interest, but it's the understanding of how essential it is to cooperate and stay in a dialogue with each other."

Playing both sides?

Turkey is heavily dependent on Russian trade, especially energy. Putin deferred billions of euros in Turkish energy payments ahead of Erdogan's re-election campaign, which helped to avert a widely predicted currency collapse.

Given these interests, some observers question whether Erdogan has performed any real pivot back to the West.

"With Erdogan, never say never. Tomorrow he may just revert back to Putin," suggested political analyst Oney.

The Turkish president's strategy is "negotiating with Putin or having good relations in general and using this as leverage with the West, and having good relations with the West from time to time and using it as leverage with Russia", she said.

"I think it will continue. This is the foreign policy of Erdogan," Oney added.

Black Sea grain deal

But Moscow's threat to end a deal brokered by Turkey and the UN to allow the export of Ukrainian grain from Black Sea ports is further straining Russian-Turkish ties. Putin is calling for sanctions against Russia to be eased in exchange for renewing the deal.

Given the importance of the grain deal to Ankara, some predict there could be severe repercussions if Moscow vetoes its extension.

"Turkey really wants the grain deal to continue, and the signals coming from Russia are that the grain deal is coming to an end," observed Yoruk Isik, a geopolitical analyst in Istanbul with the US-based Middle East Institute.

"So before the Russians take any more action to really end this grain deal, Turkey is sending a signal that there are many things depending on Turkey, including Turkey not joining so far in any sanctions against Russia," Isik said.

For Erdogan, the grain deal has been a diplomatic triumph. If Moscow should end it, this would likely raise more questions over Turkey's balancing act between Russia and the West, and could provide Ankara with further impetus to move back to its Western allies.
15.07.2023 LISTEN

Alhaji Tanko Yabuku, New Patriotic Party (NPP) Parliamentary Candidate (PC) aspirant for the Akan Constituency, says employment of the youth is his topmost priority when elected as Member of Parliament (MP) for Akan.

He said jobs for the youth were possible because of the abundant natural resources that could be tapped for employment creation.

Alhaji Tanko said an orphan constituency such as Akan needed someone with vision for the youth.

Alhaji Tanko said this in an interview with the Ghana News Agency at Kadjebi in the Oti Region.

He said since the district was an agrarian one, the youth, who are already into farming, would be assisted with inputs to expand their farms.

He said the delays in payment for cocoa beans purchased would be reduced and smuggling eliminated by prompt payment schemes.

Alhaji Tanko, who is a Business Development Consultant, said he would lobby both local and foreign entrepreneurs to invest in various businesses in Akan, including; farming, manufacturing, and logistic, among others, to create jobs in the Constituency.

He said businesses which are into transportation would be supported with hire-purchase vehicles.

On the use of the MPs Share of the District Assemblies' Common Fund (DACF), the aspirant said he would use the DACF to assist the youth in education to improve the human resources of the district.

Alhaji Tanko, who filed his Nomination Forms at the Akan NPP Constituency Office in Kadjebi on Friday, July 14, appealed to the delegates to the yet-to-be fixed election to vote for him to become the

Party Parliament Candidate to help implement his visions for the Constituents.

He is in the contest with Mr Rashid Bawa, Ghana's High Commissioner to Nigeria and Mr. Tassah Safiwu, a Farm Manager.

GNA
Director of Communications for the NPP, Richard Ahiagbah

15.07.2023 LISTEN

Director of Communications for the New Patriotic Party (NDC), Richard Ahiagbah has argued that the notion that the Inspector General of Police can be used to rig an election is not true.

He has called on the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) to prove otherwise to Ghanaians if the party believes it is possible.

He is of the view that if the NDC believe it is possible then it means they have used an IGP to win an election in the past.

If the NDC has a full-proof way of using the IGP for elections, they should tell us

As far as I am concerned, there is no evidence that a police IGP can single-handedly determine the outcome of an election, Richard Ahiagbah said during an engagement on Joy News on Saturday, July 15.

This was his submission on the viral audio recording of the Police Commissioner discussing with a politician the need to sack Dr. George Akuffo Dampare to help the NPP rig the 2024 General Elections.

Sharing his view on the same platform, former Deputy Minister of Information, Felix Kwakye Ofosu argued that the audio recording shows just how the Ghana Police Service has been politicise.

According to him, it is a serious matter that needs to be dealt with immediately.

This leaked tape must be looked into, I don't think anyone who listens to this tape will doubt its authenticity.

It's a serious national security matter and the sort of laxity we are seeing on the side of the government is not acceptable, Felix Kwakye Ofosu said.
Mr Martin A. B. K. Amidu, the former Special Prosecutor, says the leaked tape alleging plots to oust Mr George Akuffo Dampare, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), is an attempt to divert the attention of opposition political parties from likely relaxation of security during the 2024 elections by the Police.

The leakage of the tape recording has achieved its objective because the NDC in particular, other opposition political parties, and security and intelligence operatives have diverted their attention to defending and extolling the virtues and perceived neutrality of the IGP, he said.

Mr Amidu in a write up on the leaked tape, alleged that the recording of the conversation was planned and that the decision to leak the tape was made by political collaborators, who saw it as a perfect tool for the diversion of the attention of opposition political parties from the likelihood of a relaxation of security supervision of the 2024 elections.

The tape, which leaked on Tuesday July 11, is said to involve a high-profile police commissioner and some leaders of the governing New Patriotic Party, who were allegedly scheming to oust the IGP.

According to the tape, the plotters believed Dr Dampare could be a stumbling block to the Partys cause towards winning the 2024 election.

The Government, through the Minister of the Interior, Mr Ambrose Derry, earlier denied the allegations, describing the leaked tape as baseless.

Mr Amidu said the tape was leaked though the collaborators knew that President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo had confidence in the IGP and would not remove him from office a few months to the 2024 elections.

He said IGPs did not win elections and could scarcely influence the polls, however, what an IGP could and might do was to position Regional, Divisional, District, and Station Commanders, who would control his men, at the polls and relax their security alertness and surveillance on Election Day.

Mr Amidu said even such a move in a national election was not without hazards for the IGP as some Commanders could give him out to the other side.

He said the Assin North Constituency by-election could not be used as a yardstick for measuring the neutrality of the Ghana Police Service in the coming national elections in 2024 and urged opposition parties not to concentrate on the smokescreen.

The NDC and other opposition political parties ought to make haste slowly in what they say in praise or condemnation of the IGP. Heed the warning: 'There is no art to find the mind's construction in the face!'

He said free and fair elections were the life blood of any democracy adding that, the leaked tape had achieved the opposite of what it intended by alerting patriotic citizens that no matter who was IGP, everybody needed to be vigilant and ensure that the 2024 election was not captured by any President's long game.

By all means, those who wish to investigate the authenticity of the tape may do so, but at the end of the day like previous investigations nothing will come out of it.

The vigilance of a patriotic citizenry is the truest bulwark against long games and election rigging come 2024. Let us defend the 1992 Constitution, Mr Amidu said.

-GNA
Security analyst Dr Adam Bonaa has commended persons who leaked the tape containing a discussion of senior officials of the Ghana Police Service and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) on a plot to remove the Inspector General of Police (IGP) from office.

He said such recordings, which border on national security, are necessary and must be encouraged.

I dont support recording people just like that in conversation but let me put it out there that if anyone called me to have a conversation with me that has to do with destabilising the country, believe you me, if I have to sell my house to buy a listening device to record you and put it out there as evidence as the constitution requires me to do, I will do that.

The Chief Executive Officer of Security Warehouse Limited said the content of the tape on the IGP smacks of the 1979 and 1981 coup detats in Ghana.

If you listen to this tape, what these people were discussing was simply to destabilize this country, he pointed out, stressing how even the 1966 coup in Ghana was cranked up by same police-military combined forces.

Dr Bonaa stated these on The Keypoints on TV3/3FM on Saturday, July 15.

He commended the Speaker of Parliament for constituting a committee to look into the leaked tape considering its damning content.

For him, the content is too grave to be allowed to slide as it concerns the survival of the country because the voices were rather discussing how to break this country.

If you have listened to everything, there are some other tapes I have listened to and some of them very injurious to the safety and security of this country, very bad and you ask yourself these are senior citizens who are discussing how not to probably, lets not say they wanted to break the 8 but how to break this country into pieces, so we cant just say leave it.

The Special Committee set up by the Speaker, Alban Bagbin, has as its terms of reference investigating the authenticity of the leaked audio recording, the conspiracy to remove the current IGP, any other matter contained in the audio recording and recommending sanctions to persons found culpable where appropriate.

It is also to make recommendations for reforms where necessary and make such other recommendations and consequential orders as the committee may deem appropriate.

For Dr Bonaa, the report of the committee will change a lot within the top echelons of the Ghana Police Service.

But I am sure after the probe, the report will let us know whether these people, we can now identify them and they will come and confirm because of a lot in the video I have seen.

-3news.com
Since I adore Ghana, my beautiful homeland, I will not stand by while dishonest family members pose as politicians and finance ministers to wreck the nation, whether I reside in the country or elsewhere. Belgium is one of the richest countries in Europe for producing chocolate, despite having no cocoa plantations, therefore; if I was a common worker in Antwerp living on a wage of over 1,800 Euros per month, and Ghana possesses cocoa, I would want the suffering masses to also live like humans. I am not better than any Ghanaian living under sub-human conditions.

Although John Mahama's birthplace is not close to the Ashanti area, he has accomplished more there than Akufo Addo, who was born nearby or in the region. Therefore; those tribal bigots motivated by the president's bigotry who claim Mahama can't return as president, must first leave the countries in which they currently reside to come to Ghana and settle, at the point they will understand the true meaning of incompetence and laziness of the current president, Akufo Addo, and Ghanaians will be happy to welcome Mahama back to lead them because a fake lawyer will surely fail as a leader.

If people were killed in Ghana, during Akufo Addo's administration and the victims were labeled criminals, it is clear that the current administration doesn't care about bloodshed or how many people it may kill to achieve its goals. More importantly, there is no shame in Ghanaian politics; if there were, the NPP government would not even dare to bring up ending the eighth cycle after causing such extensive damage beyond repair to the countrys economy, collapsing Ghanaian banks, companies, and domestic and foreign investment. Trust me, the majority of Ghanaians neither want Akufo Addo nor NPP.



The pervasive corruption, incompetence, and laziness under Akufo Addo have destroyed the nation's infrastructure, brought down the financial system, destroyed the economy, and caused a high unemployment rate, crime, debt, and a decline in both local and foreign investment. Tribalism can be very strong but not enough to stop the truth.

God is there for everyone who believes in Him, but frequently, the harm will be too great for things to become better if the immorality, pervasive corruption, and incompetence of politicians are not countered. This is exactly what has happened in Ghana because of the love Ghanaians have for God; state-sponsored corrupt media and politicians, like Ken Ofori-Atta, who frequently uses the bible to steal from Ghana's finances and the populace, have abused their peace and loyalty.

The truth has been difficult to accept because tribalism and the government's theft of taxpayer funds to feed the corrupt, including chiefs, state-sponsored media, and heads of churches, are continually ruining the already foundation of the country. They then turn against John Mahama, the former leader of Ghana, even though he is the only state leader behind Nkrumah in terms of developments. In reality, the current president of Ghana, Akufo Addo has nothing noteworthy to brag about in Kumasi, let alone the entire country of Ghana, than Mahama. People can hate Mahama but he is more intelligent than Akufo Addo.

Akufo Addo is aware that he has let the party and the people down because of his endemic corruption, incompetence, and laziness, which have harmed the nation's infrastructure. Even though he is aware that the majority of Ghanaians no longer trust him and the NPP party as a whole, he still intends to manipulate every election required to keep the NPP in power after he leaves office. However, considering the harm he has already done, this is the riskiest course of action which shall be prevented.



While some Ghanaians, including the tribal bigots living abroad, were praising the president as early as 2020, I was warning Ghanaians about Akufo Addo and what might happen to our country. If both foreign and Ghanaian readers who enjoy this writer's articles visit the archives on the ModernGhana platform, they can see this. I received backlash for my articles, but ultimately, Ghana has experienced what I said would happen. Nobody can afford election rigging under this government.



There is no sensible Ghanaian who will permit such crime with long-term implications that can't be managed by any administration in the next 10 to fifteen years, unless those benefiting from the corruption of this administration, including pastors. Consider the state of the economy, the high unemployment rate, the enormous debt that is unaccountable, and most importantly, the pervasive corruption of this government. Would an intelligent Ghanaian support rigging the 2024 elections? Oh, no!

Unfortunately, individuals benefitting from the corruption of this government hurting the people will go hungry after 2024. One of the reasons those scared gurus, including the police officers, are conspiring against the Inspector General of Police, George Dampare. However, I want them to understand that Akufo Addo and Jean Mensa, the Electoral Commission's fraudster, are powerless to rig the election because if they are astute and aware as I am, they will be able to detect the underlying resentment, and anger and frustration in the communities.



If, on the other hand, since Akufo Addo, enjoys violence, decides to use the army or police force against the populace, that will be his biggest error. Those fighting for a change of government in Ghana and for the oppressed masses to live like normal people will continue to do so as long as I am alive by God's Grace. The election at Assin North, which led to the victory of Gyakye Quayson, is a warning to Akufo Addo and the entire NPP government. Akufo Addo should underestimate and try since I know he is highly stubborn and won't listen to anyone.
Ms. Doris Kusima Baiden, Medical Laboratory Scientist in Charge of the Blood Bank at the International Maritime Hospital (IMaH) in Tema, has urged Ghanaians to be honest when answering questions before they donate blood.

Ms. Baiden explained that potential donors of blood were expected to answer a confidential questionnaire about their medical history before blood donation.

This is to give the health attendant a good idea of your general health and blood condition and foster a better service for donors and recipients.

Ms. Baiden was addressing issues related to blood donation at the weekly Your Health! Our Collective Responsibility! A Ghana News Agency initiative aimed at promoting health-related communication and providing a platform for health information dissemination to influence personal health choices through improved health literacy

Ms. Baiden, supported by Mr. Robert Tetteh Djimajor, also a IMaH Medical Laboratory Scientist, explained that, as a routine before blood donation we first take personal details like your name, age, date of birth, address, and other contacts. We then further proceed to ask confidential health questions.

Ms. Baiden emphasised that donors were expected to come clean about medications taken in recent times, current health status, specific sexual activities, and other lifestyles.

These questions are very confidential and help safeguard your own health and the health of the person receiving the blood. We only want to ensure that one is fully fit physically, mentally, and emotionally before donating blood, she said.

She said that it is very important to be truthful because infections like HIV, Hepatitis B and C, and Syphilis could be transmitted by transfusion to a patient receiving blood.

She revealed that donating blood did not only benefit the receiver, but it also gave donors the chance to be offered a brief medical examination that included

checking the temperature and pulse, blood pressure, ensuring minimum weight, and haemoglobin level.

As a blood bank, it is our responsibility to ensure that all the blood coming in is safe for use and does not contribute to the loss of lives in the hospital. Saving lives is a collective responsibility, and all must endeavour to rightly go through the safe and secured procedures to donate blood, she said.

GNA
Scorching weather gripped three continents on Sunday, whipping up wildfires and threatening to topple temperature records as the dire consequences of global warming take shape.

Predictions of historic heat hung over swathes of Asia, Europe and the United States.

Japan issued heatstroke alerts to tens of millions of people in 20 of its 47 prefectures as near-record high temperatures scorched large areas and torrential rain pummelled other regions.

"Every time we're visiting somewhere there seems to be a heatwave or like a rare weather disaster," said Texan tourist Anthony Fernandez in Tokyo.

A man cools off at a park in eastern Tokyo. By Richard A. Brooks (AFP)

"It's kind of becoming like the new normal... climate change is a big concern," the 29-year-old said.

National broadcaster NHK warned the heat was life-threatening, with the capital and other places recording nearly 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit).

Japan's highest temperature ever -- 41.1C first recorded in Kumagaya city, Saitama, in 2018 -- could be beaten, according to the meteorological agency.

Some places experienced their highest temperatures in more than four decades Sunday, including Hirono town in Fukushima prefecture with 37.3C.

The United States National Weather Service reported that a powerful heatwave stretching from California to Texas was expected to peak during an "extremely hot and dangerous weekend".

Graphic on the most common health effects or symptoms caused by extreme heat. By Gal ROMA (AFP)

Arizona's state capital Phoenix recorded 16 straight days above 43C, with residents facing temperatures of 47C on Saturday.

California's Death Valley, often among the hottest places on Earth, is also likely to register new peaks on Sunday, with the mercury possibly surpassing 54C.

Southern California is fighting numerous wildfires, including one in Riverside County that has burned more than 7,500 acres (3,000 hectares) and prompted evacuation orders.

Further north, the Canadian government said wildfires had burned a record-breaking 10 million hectares this year, with more damage expected as the summer drags on.

Historic highs forecast

In Europe, Italians were warned to prepare for "the most intense heatwave of the summer and also one of the most intense of all time".

The thermometer was still climbing after predictions of historic highs on Tuesday led the health ministry to sound a red alert for 16 cities including Rome, Bologna and Florence.

Temperatures are likely to hit 40C in Rome by Monday and 42C-43C on Tuesday, smashing the record of 40.5C set in August 2007.

A brown bear cools off in a pool at the bear sanctuary near the Kosovo village of Mramor. By Armend NIMANI (AFP)

Sicily and Sardinia could wilt under temperatures as high as 48C, the European Space Agency warned -- "potentially the hottest temperatures ever recorded in Europe".

The Acropolis in Athens, one of Greece's top tourist attractions, closed for a third day running Sunday during the hottest hours.

Little reprieve is forecast for Spain, where the met agency warned of a new heatwave Monday through Wednesday taking temperatures above 40C in the Canary Islands and the southern Andalusia region.

On La Palma island, which endured a volcanic eruption in 2021, a fire burned 5,000 hectares this weekend forcing the evacuation of 4,000 people.

"I feel powerless to see how everything is burning," Patricia Sanchez, a Spanish Red Cross worker, told AFP.

"To see two entire villages evacuated, to know that there are people who lost everything because of the volcano and have rebuilt their lives in the north, and now they are evacuated again and at risk of losing everything again," the 37-year-old said.

Killer rains

Despite the heat, parts of Asia have also been battered by torrential rain.

Heavy rains have swept across northern Japan where a man was found dead in a flooded car on Sunday. By STR (JIJI Press/AFP)

In South Korea, rescuers on Sunday battled to reach people trapped in a flooded tunnel, after heavy rains for the last four days triggered floods and landslides that killed at least 37 people and left nine missing.

The country is at the peak of its summer monsoon season, with more rain forecast through Wednesday.

In northern Japan on Sunday, a man was found dead in a flooded car, a week after seven people were killed in similar weather in the country's southwest.

In northern India, relentless monsoon rains have reportedly killed at least 90 people, following burning heat.

Major flooding and landslides are common during India's monsoons, but experts say climate change is increasing their frequency and severity.

China on Sunday issued several temperature alerts, warning of 40-45C in the partly desert region of Xinjiang, and 39C in southern Guangxi region.

It can be difficult to attribute a particular weather event to climate change, but scientists insist that global warming -- linked to dependence on fossil fuels -- is behind the intensification of heatwaves.

The EU's climate monitoring service said the world saw its hottest June on record last month.

burs/bp/lcm
The presiding archbishop and general overseer of the Action Chapel International ministry, Archbishop Nicholas Duncan-Williams, has expressed his support for the abolishment of death penalty.

In a statement, Archbishop Duncan-Williams acknowledged the arguments presented both for and against the abolition of the death penalty in Ghana.

He emphasized that the abolition of the death penalty aligns with the teachings of the Holy Scriptures, stating that God created life, and it is only God who has the authority to take life. Therefore, he wholeheartedly supports the objective of the bill to abolish the death penalty.

Members of Parliament (MPs) are currently divided over the report of the Constitutional, Legal, and Parliamentary Affairs Committee on the Criminal Offences Amendment Act, which aims to replace the death penalty with life imprisonment.

While the death penalty was inherited from the colonial administration and has historically been a punishment for offences such as murder, attempted murder, genocide, piracy, and smuggling of gold or diamonds, Ghana has not executed any offenders since 1993.

During the parliamentary debate on the amendment bill, lawmakers expressed divergent views regarding the abolishment of the death penalty.

MP for Zebilla Constituency, Cletus Avoka, voiced his disagreement, stating, I first submit that the arguments they have advanced in terms of the motion are very scary and have no measures at all. Arguments in favour of the motion are unmeritorious.

Archbishop Duncan-Williams, in his statement, emphasized that as a society, it is contradictory to condemn killing while simultaneously using killing as a form of punishment.

As a society, we cannot condemn killing and yet use killing as a form of punishment.

As children of God, we are to live in harmony, love our neighbours as ourselves and show mercy to the oppressed and afflicted. The Scriptures give us guidance: in Romans 12:19-21, the Bible says Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord. But if your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals on his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Below is the full statement by Archbishop Duncan-Williams

ARCHBISHOP DUNCAN-WILLIAMS BACKS CALLS TO ABOLISH THE DEATH PENALTY

I have been carefully following the ongoing debate currently before Parliament following a motion moved by Hon. Francis-Xavier Sosu for the amendment of the Criminal and Other Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29) and Armed Forces Act, 1962 (Act 105) to replace the death penalty with life imprisonment.

I wish to congratulate the Rt. Hon. Speaker and Members of Parliament for your work thus far and believe that the debate will lead to a successful outcome with Members voting in favour of the bills.

Over the years, I have listened to arguments for and against abolition of the death penalty in Ghana. Abolition of the death penalty is aligned with the Holy Scriptures. God created life and God is the only one who can take life. This is why I am in full support of the Bills' objective to abolish the death penalty.

As a society, we cannot condemn killing and yet use killing as a form of punishment.

As children of God, we are to live in harmony, love our neighbours as ourselves and show mercy to the oppressed and afflicted. The Scriptures give us guidance: in Romans 12:19-21, the Bible says Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord. But if your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals on his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

The Bible also says in 2 Peter 3:9 He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. In Ezekiel 33:11, it is written God does not desire the death of anyone, not even the wicked. And finally, in Matthew 5:7 the Bible says Blessed are the merciful; for they shall obtain mercy.

I therefore call on H.E. the President of the Republic of Ghana, the Vice President, the Speaker of Parliament, the Chief Justice of the Republic, the Military High Command, the Police High Command, the Prisons Service Board, the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), Religious Leaders, Traditional Rulers, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), the Media, and all relevant Stakeholders to support calls for the abolition of death penalty in Ghana.

I especially call on Members of Parliament to be of good courage and lead the way to ensure passage of the Bills to substitute life imprisonment for the death Penalty. I understand that if passed, Ghana will become the 29th African country to remove the mandatory death penalty from its statute books. Indeed, the time is now.

You have my support and prayers. Signed, Archbishop N. Duncan-Williams

-citinewsroom
At least 11 men were found dead in eastern DR Congo on Sunday, according to sources in Rutshuru territory who accused M23 rebels of killing them.

They said the bodies were found in Bukombo, around 100 kilometres (62 miles) north of the regional capital Goma after the rebels withdrew from the area.

"I'm at the scene and there are 11 corpses of civilians in front of me, some shot dead, others killed with knives," a resident told AFP over the phone. "There are no fighters among them", he said.

Other sources in Bukombo, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed this toll.

One civil society leader put the number at 12, saying the rebels had fought against "self-defence groups yesterday" and left "with people they forced to carry their luggage.

"When they got to Bukombo-centre, they killed them".

The Tutsi-led M23 rebel group has seized swathes of territory and displaced about a million people in the region since re-emerging from dormancy in late 2021.

The group did not respond to a request for comment.

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The Police say four people have so far been picked up in connection with the robbery attack on a bullion van at Ablekuma on Thursday, June 22 which resulted in the killing of a police officer.

One of the suspects was arrested yesterday Saturday, July 15.

The four are in custody assisting police investigation.

Further details will be communicated in due course, the Police said in a statement on Sunday, July 16.

The officer who died in the attack was shot multiple times at close range.

The sad incident followed an attempted robbery at the Star Oil Filling Station at Ablekuma Fan Milk, a suburb of Accra.

Four in number, the robbers were said to have followed the bullion van, which went to refill at the fuel station, where the shootout occurred.
I have been carefully following the ongoing debate currently before Parliament following a motion moved by Hon. Francis-Xavier Sosu for the amendment of the Criminal and Other Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29) and Armed Forces Act, 1962 (Act 105) to replace the death penalty with life imprisonment.

I wish to congratulate the Rt. Hon. Speaker and Members of Parliament for your work thus far and believe that the debate will lead to a successful outcome with Members voting in favour of the bills.

Over the years, I have listened to arguments for and against abolition of the death penalty in Ghana. Abolition of the death penalty is aligned with the Holy Scriptures. God created life and God is the only one who can take life. This is why I am in full support of the Bills' objective to abolish the death penalty.

As a society, we cannot condemn killing and yet use killing as a form of punishment.

As children of God, we are to live in harmony, love our neighbours as ourselves and show mercy to the oppressed and afflicted. The Scriptures give us guidance: in Romans 12:19-21, the Bible says Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord. But if your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals on his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

The Bible also says in 2 Peter 3:9 He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. In Ezekiel 33:11, it is written God does not desire the death of anyone, not even the wicked. And finally, in Matthew 5:7 the Bible says Blessed are the merciful; for they shall obtain mercy.

I therefore call on H.E. the President of the Republic of Ghana, the Vice President, the Speaker of Parliament, the Chief Justice of the Republic, the Military High Command, the Police High Command, the Prisons Service Board, the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), Religious Leaders, Traditional Rulers, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), the Media, and all relevant Stakeholders to support calls for the abolition of death penalty in Ghana.

I especially call on Members of Parliament to be of good courage and lead the way to ensure passage of the Bills to substitute life imprisonment for the death Penalty. I understand that if passed, Ghana will become the 29th African country to remove the mandatory death penalty from its statute books. Indeed, the time is now.

You have my support and prayers.

Signed,

Archbishop N. Duncan-Williams
Duncan. There is no art

To find the minds construction in the face.

He was a gentleman on whom I built

An absolute trust. William Shakespeare in MacBeth

The recording and leaking of the tape concerning discussions to persuade the President to terminate the appointment of the Inspector General of Police on grounds of disloyalty to the incumbent Government and the NPP was a deliberate ploy to divert the attention of the opposition political parties, particularly the National Democratic Congress (NDC), to render it embarrassing for them to complain should the Ghana Police Service fail to supervise the security aspect of the 2024 elections fairly and impartially.

I know as a fact that Dr. George Akuffo Dampare was handpicked for the position of IGP on grounds of proven loyalty to this Government. The discussion for the replacement of his predecessor started long before his predecessor left office. The three kingpins in this discussion who held positions on the Police Council were my friends. When Dr. Dampares predecessor was to leave office the discussions and maneuvers intensified and the Presidents support and concurrence sought and obtained. I know as a matter of fact that Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia who chairs the Police Council and chaired the Council meeting which formally recommended Dr. Dampares appointment to the President was a staunch supporter of Dr. Dampare, long before the office of IGP became vacant.

Impending vacancies in the office of the IGP always generates lobbying and scheming within the high echelons of the Police Administration. Indeed, it has been so for promotions to positions when the vacancy is limited by numbers. I was a member of the Ghana Police Council from 1989 to 2001 and know how intense these scheming can be, and what stories eligible senior police officers can coin against perceived rivals for the positions. I also became the Minister for the Interior with additional responsibility as the Minister for Security and Intelligence. Senior officers of the Ghana Police Service lobbied me as well for appointment to enhanced positions and only God was witness to what they said about their competing colleagues.

Similar scheming and maneuvers took place before Dr. Dampare was preferred over his other contestants some of whom were more senior to him in the Ghana Police Service.

Unfortunately, Dr. Dampare is fairly young in age and is likely to incumber the position for several more years unless senior police officers scheme for his early removal from office. And what was heard on the leaked tape answers to the usual scheming within the Ghana Police Service.

The Commissioner of Police, Mr. Mensah with four months terminal leave to be discharged from the Ghana Police Service, whom we hear on the leaked tape, and the other senior officers on video or other platforms scheming against the IGP are only vocalizing a tradition that undermines colleagues in an attempt to be preferred for higher appointment. Quite apart from my experience in public service, I was born in the Police Service and grew up to experience the scheming within the service since the colonial era from Half Assini to Takoradi to Lawra and to Bawku where my father off-loaded me and continued his police service career elsewhere.

What is worrying listening to the leaked tape is the fact that Mr. Mensah, a senior police officer, would lose his guard and speak in the office of a former NPP chairman unmindful of basic security and intelligence precautions on such sensitive matters. Mr. Mensah threw caution to the wind to visit his host in his office and assumed that his host was not capable of recording their conversation. A senior police officer who has served that long and is on terminal leave at the pinnacle of his career should have realized that he was being recorded when his host was being non-committal and using leading interjections to goad him to say more things against his superior, the IGP.

The 50 minutes plus leaked tape recording I listened to several times is authentic and not fake. One of the interlocutors was my client in 1980 to 1982 when I practiced law in the Northern Region whose voice I cannot miss when I hear it. I have been to his Accra office on the Castle road and know that while speaking to him his mobile phone is always on and he continues receiving phone calls which interrupt whatever serious discussion one is having with him. By those incoming phone calls the inexperienced are put at ease of the likelihood of being recorded.

I am convinced that the recording of the conversation was planned and executed by the host of the office where it took place. The decision to leak that taped recording might have been made by his political collaborators who saw it as a perfect tool for the diversion of the opposition political parties from the likelihood of a relaxation of security supervision of the 2024 elections by the Ghana Police Service. The recorded tape was leaked knowing very well that the President, Nana Akufo-Addo has confidence in the IGP and would not remove him from office a few months to the 2024 elections.

The leakage of the tape recording has achieved its objective because the NDC in particular, other opposition political parties, and security and intelligence operatives have diverted their attention to defending and extolling the virtues and perceived neutrality of the IGP. IGPs do not win elections and can scarcely influence the polls. What an IGP can and might do is to position Regional, Divisional, District, and Station Commanders who will control his men at the polls and relax their security alertness and surveillance on election day. Even such a move in a national election is not without hazards for the IGP as some Commanders may give him out to the other side. The Assin North constituency by-election cannot be used as a yardstick for measuring the neutrality of the Ghana Police Service in the coming national elections in 2024.

The danger the NDC and other opposition political parties are putting themselves in now by concentrating over the smokescreen that Nana Akufo-Addo may remove and replace the IGP before the 2024 elections is that they may take positions generated by this planted tape recording and find themselves unable to walk back their talk when circumstances about the perceived neutrality of the IGP changes, come the period leading to elections 2024. The NDC and other opposition political parties ought to make haste slowly in what they say in praise or condemnation of the IGP. Heed the warning: There is no art to find the minds construction in the face!

The leaked recorded tape is not the first time a chairman or former chairman of the NPP has been involved in the leakage of what would have passed for confidential information. The alleged bribery of a chairman of the NPP for the Northern Region with a vehicle and money made the rounds before the 2016 elections. For those who have forgotten, the link can be found at: Mahama bribed Bugri Naabu with Ghc3.3m, cars to smear Nana Addo - NPP - Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always (citifmonline.com) . There is also the case of the leaked and denied secret tape recording published in the Daily Graphic on 26 January 2015 which the NDC did not pursue to investigate: Bugri Naabu denies 'voice' on secret tape (audio) - Graphic Online .

Free and fair elections are the life blood of any democracy. I believe that the leaked recorded tape has achieved the opposite of what it intended by alerting patriotic citizens to the fact that no matter who is IGP everybody needs to be vigilant to ensure that the 2024 election is not captured by any Presidents long game. By all means, those who wish to investigate the authenticity of the tape may do so, but at the end of the day like previous investigations nothing will come out of it. The vigilance of a patriotic citizenry is the truest bulwark against long games and election rigging come 2024. Let us defend the 1992 Constitution. Assalamu Alaikum!

Martin A. B. K. Amidu

13 July 2023
16.07.2023 LISTEN

General Overseer of the Action Chapel International Ministry, Archbishop Nicholas Duncan-Williams has expressed his support for the abolishment of the death penalty.

Last week, there was a debate in Parliament on the matter following a motion moved by Madina MP, Hon. Francis-Xavier Sosu for the amendment of the Criminal and Other Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29) and Armed Forces Act, 1962 (Act 105) to replace the death penalty with life imprisonment.

Having listened to various arguments, Archbishop Duncan-Williams has issued a statement to share his view.

With a strong argument from the bible, the renowned man of God notes that the abolition of the death penalty is aligned with the Holy Scriptures.

Over the years, I have listened to arguments for and against abolition of the death penalty in Ghana. Abolition of the death penalty is aligned with the Holy Scriptures. God created life and God is the only one who can take life. This is why I am in full support of the Bills' objective to abolish the death penalty.

As a society, we cannot condemn killing and yet use killing as a form of punishment, Archbishop Duncan-Williams said in his statement.

Meanwhile, Archbishop Duncan-Williams has urged Members of Parliament to be courageous in the debate on the matter and ensure Bills are passed to replace the death penalty with life imprisonment.

I especially call on Members of Parliament to be of good courage and lead the way to ensure passage of the Bills to substitute life imprisonment for the death Penalty. I understand that if passed, Ghana will become the 29th African country to remove the mandatory death penalty from its statute books. Indeed, the time is now, Archbishop Duncan-Williams said in his statement.

Read the full release below:

ARCHBISHOP DUNCAN-WILLIAMS BACKS CALLS TO ABOLISH THE DEATH PENALTY

I have been carefully following the ongoing debate currently before Parliament following a motion moved by Hon. Francis-Xavier Sosu for the amendment of the Criminal and Other Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29) and Armed Forces Act, 1962 (Act 105) to replace the death penalty with life imprisonment.

I wish to congratulate the Rt. Hon. Speaker and Members of Parliament for your work thus far and believe that the debate will lead to a successful outcome with Members voting in favour of the bills.

Over the years, I have listened to arguments for and against abolition of the death penalty in Ghana. Abolition of the death penalty is aligned with the Holy Scriptures. God created life and God is the only one who can take life. This is why I am in full support of the Bills' objective to abolish the death penalty.

As a society, we cannot condemn killing and yet use killing as a form of punishment.

As children of God, we are to live in harmony, love our neighbours as ourselves and show mercy to the oppressed and afflicted. The Scriptures give us guidance: in Romans 12:19-21, the Bible says Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord. But if your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals on his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

The Bible also says in 2 Peter 3:9 He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. In Ezekiel 33:11, it is written God does not desire the death of anyone, not even the wicked. And finally, in Matthew 5:7 the Bible says Blessed are the merciful; for they shall obtain mercy.

I therefore call on H.E. the President of the Republic of Ghana, the Vice President, the Speaker of Parliament, the Chief Justice of the Republic, the Military High Command, the Police High Command, the Prisons Service Board, the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), Religious Leaders, Traditional Rulers, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), the Media, and all relevant Stakeholders to support calls for the abolition of death penalty in Ghana.

I especially call on Members of Parliament to be of good courage and lead the way to ensure passage of the Bills to substitute life imprisonment for the death Penalty. I understand that if passed, Ghana will become the 29th African country to remove the mandatory death penalty from its statute books. Indeed, the time is now.

You have my support and prayers. Signed, Archbishop N. Duncan-Williams
Eaton Vance Tax-Managed Global Diversified Equity Income Fund (NYSE:EXG  Get Free Report) saw a significant drop in short interest during the month of June. As of June 30th, there was short interest totalling 13,400 shares, a drop of 71.1% from the June 15th total of 46,400 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 508,100 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 0.0 days.

Eaton Vance Tax-Managed Global Diversified Equity Income Fund Trading Down 0.1 %

Eaton Vance Tax-Managed Global Diversified Equity Income Fund stock traded down $0.01 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $8.02. The companys stock had a trading volume of 405,992 shares, compared to its average volume of 560,378. The stocks 50-day simple moving average is $7.88 and its 200-day simple moving average is $7.77. Eaton Vance Tax-Managed Global Diversified Equity Income Fund has a 52-week low of $7.09 and a 52-week high of $9.31.

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Eaton Vance Tax-Managed Global Diversified Equity Income Fund Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, July 31st. Investors of record on Monday, July 24th will be issued a dividend of $0.0553 per share. This represents a $0.66 annualized dividend and a yield of 8.27%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, July 21st.

Institutional Trading of Eaton Vance Tax-Managed Global Diversified Equity Income Fund

About Eaton Vance Tax-Managed Global Diversified Equity Income Fund

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Bartlett & Co. LLC grew its holdings in Eaton Vance Tax-Managed Global Diversified Equity Income Fund by 666.7% in the second quarter. Bartlett & Co. LLC now owns 5,750 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $46,000 after purchasing an additional 5,000 shares during the period. KMG Fiduciary Partners LLC grew its holdings in Eaton Vance Tax-Managed Global Diversified Equity Income Fund by 0.6% in the second quarter. KMG Fiduciary Partners LLC now owns 398,417 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $3,155,000 after purchasing an additional 2,495 shares during the period. Venture Visionary Partners LLC acquired a new stake in Eaton Vance Tax-Managed Global Diversified Equity Income Fund in the second quarter valued at approximately $129,000. Northstar Advisory Group LLC grew its holdings in Eaton Vance Tax-Managed Global Diversified Equity Income Fund by 4.9% in the second quarter. Northstar Advisory Group LLC now owns 98,563 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $781,000 after purchasing an additional 4,583 shares during the period. Finally, Brookstone Capital Management acquired a new stake in Eaton Vance Tax-Managed Global Diversified Equity Income Fund in the second quarter valued at approximately $1,222,000.

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Eaton Vance Tax-Managed Global Diversified Equity Income Fund is a closed-ended equity mutual fund launched and managed by Eaton Vance Management. It invests in public equity markets across the globe. The fund seeks to invest in stocks of companies operating across diversified sectors. It primarily invests in dividend paying stocks of companies.

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Nuveen Short Duration Credit Opportunities Fund (NYSE:JSD  Get Free Report) was the recipient of a significant growth in short interest in June. As of June 30th, there was short interest totalling 5,100 shares, a growth of 131.8% from the June 15th total of 2,200 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 49,100 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 0.1 days.

Institutional Trading of Nuveen Short Duration Credit Opportunities Fund

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Thomas J. Herzfeld Advisors Inc. increased its position in Nuveen Short Duration Credit Opportunities Fund by 2.3% in the first quarter. Thomas J. Herzfeld Advisors Inc. now owns 299,870 shares of the closed-end funds stock worth $3,517,000 after purchasing an additional 6,811 shares during the period. Stifel Financial Corp acquired a new stake in Nuveen Short Duration Credit Opportunities Fund in the first quarter worth about $133,000. Guggenheim Capital LLC increased its position in Nuveen Short Duration Credit Opportunities Fund by 36.4% in the first quarter. Guggenheim Capital LLC now owns 185,001 shares of the closed-end funds stock worth $2,170,000 after purchasing an additional 49,367 shares during the period. LPL Financial LLC grew its position in shares of Nuveen Short Duration Credit Opportunities Fund by 4.2% during the 1st quarter. LPL Financial LLC now owns 67,958 shares of the closed-end funds stock worth $797,000 after buying an additional 2,711 shares during the period. Finally, Wolverine Asset Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Nuveen Short Duration Credit Opportunities Fund during the 1st quarter worth about $736,000.

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Nuveen Short Duration Credit Opportunities Fund Stock Performance

Shares of Nuveen Short Duration Credit Opportunities Fund stock traded down $0.06 during trading on Friday, reaching $11.52. The companys stock had a trading volume of 43,339 shares, compared to its average volume of 43,621. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $11.43 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $11.83. Nuveen Short Duration Credit Opportunities Fund has a one year low of $10.89 and a one year high of $13.15.

Nuveen Short Duration Credit Opportunities Fund Dividend Announcement

About Nuveen Short Duration Credit Opportunities Fund

The firm also recently declared a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, August 1st. Investors of record on Friday, July 14th will be issued a $0.111 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, July 13th. This represents a $1.33 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 11.56%.

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Nuveen Short Duration Credit Opportunities Fund is a fund launched and managed by Nuveen Investments, Inc The fund is co-managed by Nuveen Fund Advisors, Inc and Symphony Asset Management LLC. It invests in fixed income markets. Nuveen Short Duration Credit Opportunities Fund is domiciled in United States.

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Prudential plc (NYSE:PUK  Get Free Report) was the recipient of a significant growth in short interest in June. As of June 30th, there was short interest totalling 633,500 shares, a growth of 101.2% from the June 15th total of 314,800 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 428,400 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 1.5 days.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several analysts recently issued reports on the company. UBS Group cut their target price on Prudential from GBX 1,590 ($20.46) to GBX 1,440 ($18.53) in a research report on Wednesday. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price target on Prudential from GBX 1,750 ($22.51) to GBX 1,850 ($23.80) in a report on Thursday, March 23rd. StockNews.com cut Prudential from a hold rating to a sell rating in a report on Friday, July 7th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised their price target on Prudential from GBX 1,460 ($18.78) to GBX 1,550 ($19.94) in a report on Monday, April 24th. Finally, Morgan Stanley dropped their target price on Prudential from GBX 1,542 ($19.84) to GBX 1,510 ($19.43) in a report on Thursday. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $1,545.00.

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Institutional Investors Weigh In On Prudential

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of PUK. BlackRock Inc. raised its position in Prudential by 77.2% during the 3rd quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 3,692,569 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $73,556,000 after purchasing an additional 1,608,893 shares in the last quarter. Jane Street Group LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Prudential in the 2nd quarter worth $15,224,000. Optiver Holding B.V. purchased a new stake in shares of Prudential in the 4th quarter worth $8,077,000. OLD Mission Capital LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Prudential in the 4th quarter worth $7,692,000. Finally, Arete Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Prudential in the 1st quarter worth $12,253,989,000,000. 1.83% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Prudential Price Performance

About Prudential

Shares of PUK stock traded down $0.35 on Friday, reaching $28.04. 380,128 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 338,264. Prudential has a 52 week low of $18.20 and a 52 week high of $34.37. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.25, a current ratio of 0.04 and a quick ratio of 0.04. The companys fifty day simple moving average is $28.28 and its 200 day simple moving average is $29.15.

(Get Free Report)

Prudential plc, through its subsidiaries, provides life and health insurance, and retirement and asset management solutions to individuals in Asia, and Africa. It offers health and protection, as well as non- participating savings products, such as protection and investment-linked products. The company also provides insurance against common critical illnesses; property and casualty; and tropical disease protection, such as dengue, malaria, and measles.

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Prentiss Smith & Co. Inc. bought a new position in shares of M&T Bank Co. (NYSE:MTB  Free Report) in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund bought 28,384 shares of the financial services providers stock, valued at approximately $3,394,000. M&T Bank makes up 2.5% of Prentiss Smith & Co. Inc.s holdings, making the stock its 17th biggest position.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Conning Inc. grew its position in M&T Bank by 6.0% during the first quarter. Conning Inc. now owns 216,740 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $25,869,000 after buying an additional 12,334 shares in the last quarter. Strategic Investment Advisors MI boosted its holdings in shares of M&T Bank by 6.4% in the 1st quarter. Strategic Investment Advisors MI now owns 7,109 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $850,000 after purchasing an additional 430 shares in the last quarter. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of M&T Bank by 8.0% in the 1st quarter. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company Inc. now owns 4,437 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $530,000 after purchasing an additional 327 shares in the last quarter. Simplicity Solutions LLC purchased a new position in shares of M&T Bank in the 1st quarter worth about $271,000. Finally, Arizona State Retirement System boosted its holdings in shares of M&T Bank by 1.0% in the 1st quarter. Arizona State Retirement System now owns 50,183 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $6,000,000 after purchasing an additional 473 shares in the last quarter. 82.62% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, CFO Daryl N. Bible acquired 10,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Thursday, June 1st. The stock was acquired at an average price of $120.61 per share, for a total transaction of $1,206,100.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 10,000 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,206,100. The acquisition was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. In related news, Director Rudina Seseri sold 700 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, May 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $118.40, for a total transaction of $82,880.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 1,736 shares in the company, valued at approximately $205,542.40. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, CFO Daryl N. Bible purchased 10,000 shares of M&T Bank stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, June 1st. The shares were bought at an average price of $120.61 per share, with a total value of $1,206,100.00. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 10,000 shares in the company, valued at $1,206,100. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Insiders own 0.97% of the companys stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

M&T Bank Price Performance

A number of equities analysts have recently issued reports on the company. Bank of America upped their price objective on M&T Bank from $141.00 to $145.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, April 18th. Argus upgraded M&T Bank from a hold rating to a buy rating and set a $150.00 price objective for the company in a report on Tuesday, April 18th. DA Davidson cut their price objective on M&T Bank from $138.00 to $132.00 in a report on Wednesday, June 14th. Morgan Stanley lowered their target price on M&T Bank from $212.00 to $159.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, April 5th. Finally, Barclays lowered their target price on M&T Bank from $153.00 to $150.00 in a research note on Tuesday, June 27th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating and nine have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $160.20.

NYSE MTB opened at $130.79 on Friday. The firms fifty day simple moving average is $123.03 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $133.18. The company has a current ratio of 0.97, a quick ratio of 0.97 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32. M&T Bank Co. has a 12-month low of $109.36 and a 12-month high of $193.42. The firm has a market capitalization of $21.69 billion, a P/E ratio of 10.13, a P/E/G ratio of 0.83 and a beta of 0.79.

M&T Bank (NYSE:MTB  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Monday, April 17th. The financial services provider reported $4.01 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $3.98 by $0.03. M&T Bank had a net margin of 23.20% and a return on equity of 11.97%. The firm had revenue of $2.91 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.37 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $2.73 earnings per share. Analysts forecast that M&T Bank Co. will post 16.09 EPS for the current fiscal year.

M&T Bank Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, June 30th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, June 1st were given a $1.30 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, May 31st. This represents a $5.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.98%. M&T Banks dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 40.28%.

M&T Bank Profile

(Free Report)

M&T Bank Corporation operates as a bank holding company for Manufacturers and Traders Trust Company and Wilmington Trust, National Association that offer retail and commercial banking products and services in the United States. The company's Business Banking segment offers deposit, lending, cash management, and other financial services to small businesses and professionals.

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Want to see what other hedge funds are holding MTB? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for M&T Bank Co. (NYSE:MTB  Free Report).

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Advanced Drainage Systems (NYSE:WMS  Free Report) had its price objective raised by Barclays from $119.00 to $138.00 in a report released on Thursday morning, FlyOnTheWall reports.

WMS has been the topic of a number of other reports. Robert W. Baird increased their target price on shares of Advanced Drainage Systems from $120.00 to $125.00 in a research report on Friday, May 19th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft increased their target price on shares of Advanced Drainage Systems from $125.00 to $131.00 in a research report on Friday, May 19th. Oppenheimer raised their price objective on shares of Advanced Drainage Systems from $108.00 to $115.00 in a research report on Friday, May 19th. StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Advanced Drainage Systems in a research report on Thursday, May 18th. They set a hold rating on the stock. Finally, Morgan Stanley downgraded shares of Advanced Drainage Systems from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating and raised their price objective for the stock from $107.00 to $114.00 in a research report on Wednesday, June 28th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Advanced Drainage Systems has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $123.83.

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Advanced Drainage Systems Price Performance

Shares of WMS opened at $118.95 on Thursday. Advanced Drainage Systems has a twelve month low of $75.02 and a twelve month high of $153.36. The firms fifty day simple moving average is $104.57 and its 200-day simple moving average is $92.62. The firm has a market capitalization of $9.41 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.60, a PEG ratio of 1.34 and a beta of 1.39. The company has a current ratio of 2.69, a quick ratio of 1.46 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.55.

Advanced Drainage Systems Increases Dividend

Advanced Drainage Systems ( NYSE:WMS Get Free Report ) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, May 18th. The construction company reported $1.06 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.68 by $0.38. The firm had revenue of $617.60 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $567.10 million. Advanced Drainage Systems had a net margin of 16.51% and a return on equity of 52.49%. The companys revenue was down 8.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the firm posted $0.95 EPS. Equities analysts forecast that Advanced Drainage Systems will post 5.24 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, June 15th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, June 1st were paid a $0.14 dividend. This represents a $0.56 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.47%. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, May 31st. This is a boost from Advanced Drainage Systemss previous quarterly dividend of $0.12. Advanced Drainage Systemss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 9.23%.

Insider Transactions at Advanced Drainage Systems

In other news, insider Tim A. Makowski sold 3,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Tuesday, June 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $109.25, for a total value of $327,750.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 8,647 shares in the company, valued at approximately $944,684.75. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In other news, insider Tim A. Makowski sold 3,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Tuesday, June 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $109.25, for a total value of $327,750.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 8,647 shares in the company, valued at approximately $944,684.75. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Darin S. Harvey sold 7,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Monday, June 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $102.65, for a total transaction of $718,550.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 5,171 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $530,803.15. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last quarter, insiders sold 20,000 shares of company stock worth $2,102,000. Company insiders own 3.79% of the companys stock.

Institutional Trading of Advanced Drainage Systems

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. BlackRock Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems by 76.4% in the first quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 6,672,684 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $561,907,000 after purchasing an additional 2,890,821 shares during the period. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems by 4.6% in the third quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 6,387,305 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $794,389,000 after purchasing an additional 278,780 shares during the period. Impax Asset Management Group plc lifted its stake in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems by 26.4% in the first quarter. Impax Asset Management Group plc now owns 3,542,220 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $297,639,000 after purchasing an additional 740,194 shares during the period. Baillie Gifford & Co. lifted its stake in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems by 2,077.7% in the first quarter. Baillie Gifford & Co. now owns 2,566,276 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $216,106,000 after purchasing an additional 2,448,435 shares during the period. Finally, State Street Corp lifted its stake in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems by 55.8% in the first quarter. State Street Corp now owns 2,054,386 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $173,000,000 after purchasing an additional 735,476 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 82.94% of the companys stock.

About Advanced Drainage Systems

(Get Free Report)

Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc designs, manufactures, and markets thermoplastic corrugated pipes and related water management products, and drainage solutions for use in the construction and agriculture marketplaces in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and internationally. The company operates through Pipe, International, Infiltrator, and Allied Products & Other segments.

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Alaska Air Group (NYSE:ALK  Free Report) had its price target raised by Barclays from $62.00 to $66.00 in a research report released on Thursday, FlyOnTheWall reports.

A number of other equities research analysts have also weighed in on ALK. Raymond James upgraded shares of Alaska Air Group from an outperform rating to a strong-buy rating and boosted their target price for the company from $60.00 to $68.00 in a research note on Monday, April 3rd. Citigroup boosted their price objective on shares of Alaska Air Group from $58.50 to $64.25 in a research report on Tuesday, July 11th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their price objective on shares of Alaska Air Group from $91.00 to $70.00 in a research report on Monday, May 8th. StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of Alaska Air Group in a research report on Thursday, May 18th. They set a hold rating for the company. Finally, Morgan Stanley boosted their price objective on shares of Alaska Air Group from $71.00 to $75.00 in a research report on Monday, April 24th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $65.43.

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Alaska Air Group Price Performance

Shares of ALK opened at $52.36 on Thursday. The firm has a market cap of $6.70 billion, a PE ratio of 113.83, a P/E/G ratio of 0.35 and a beta of 1.55. The company has a current ratio of 0.64, a quick ratio of 0.62 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.49. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $48.55 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $46.65. Alaska Air Group has a 1-year low of $37.19 and a 1-year high of $57.18.

Insider Buying and Selling

Alaska Air Group ( NYSE:ALK Get Free Report ) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, April 20th. The transportation company reported ($0.62) earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of ($0.48) by ($0.14). The company had revenue of $2.20 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.19 billion. Alaska Air Group had a net margin of 0.58% and a return on equity of 17.03%. Alaska Air Groups quarterly revenue was up 30.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted ($1.33) earnings per share. On average, equities analysts anticipate that Alaska Air Group will post 6.49 EPS for the current year.

In related news, CEO Benito Minicucci sold 5,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Thursday, June 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $48.73, for a total value of $243,650.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 114,506 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $5,579,877.38. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. 0.68% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. LSV Asset Management boosted its holdings in shares of Alaska Air Group by 174.8% during the 4th quarter. LSV Asset Management now owns 1,974,216 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $84,773,000 after purchasing an additional 1,255,861 shares during the last quarter. Continental Investors Services Inc. bought a new position in shares of Alaska Air Group during the 3rd quarter valued at about $1,046,000. Texas Permanent School Fund boosted its holdings in shares of Alaska Air Group by 6.4% during the 4th quarter. Texas Permanent School Fund now owns 19,087 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $820,000 after purchasing an additional 1,151 shares during the last quarter. First American Trust FSB boosted its holdings in shares of Alaska Air Group by 6.9% during the 4th quarter. First American Trust FSB now owns 131,108 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $5,630,000 after purchasing an additional 8,502 shares during the last quarter. Finally, First Command Bank boosted its holdings in shares of Alaska Air Group by 250.0% during the 4th quarter. First Command Bank now owns 700 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $30,000 after purchasing an additional 500 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 79.04% of the companys stock.

Alaska Air Group Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Alaska Air Group, Inc, through its subsidiaries, operated airlines. The company operates through three segments: Mainline, Regional, and Horizon. The company offers scheduled air transportation services on Boeing and Airbus jet aircraft for passengers and cargo throughout the United States, and in parts of Mexico, Costa Rica, and Belize; and for passengers across a shorter distance network within the United States and Canada.

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The rumour spread through Mbour like an Atlantic wave unfurling on a beach.

Two boats laden with migrants that had left on the dangerous crossing to Spain's Canary Islands 1,500 kilometres (950 miles) away had gone missing.

But the grim tale failed to deter desperate Senegalese men thirsting for a new life in Europe.

"Spain... We all want to go there. If a boat leaves, I'll jump right in," said Abdou, in his twenties.

Sitting in a beachside shelter made of sheet metal, an oasis of calm in this thrumming port city 80 kilometres (50 miles) south of Dakar, his friends agreed.

"Whether you live here or die here, it's all the same," said one. "There's no work here, no money. The only solution is Spain."

The crossing to the Canaries is among the most perilous of all the routes that West African migrants take in their bid to reach the El Dorado of Europe.

The "Atlantic route" usually entails days of sailing across treacherous currents in large motorised open canoes known as pirogues.

The wooden vessels are often ancient and unseaworthy, overladen and lacking in water and other essentials.

Crossing attempts surged in late 2019 after Niger clamped down on migration across the Sahara while Europe stepped up patrols on its southern coast, crimping the trans-Mediterranean route.

According to the Spanish authorities, 7,213 people arriving on 150 boats landed in the Canaries in the first half of this year, compared to 8,853 during the same period in 2022.

A Spanish watchdog NGO, Caminando Fronteras, last week estimated that 951 migrants -- five per day, on average -- died trying to reach Spain in the first half of 2023.

- Missing -

Attempted crossings typically rise between June and September, when the winds are more favourable, said Moustapha Ndiaye, president of the fishermen's association in Mbour.

He estimated that 10 pirogues had set sail this month alone, leaving in the dark.

On Thursday, a boat with 41 migrants on board made it to the Spanish archipelago while another, with 71 onboard, was intercepted by the Senegalese navy.

Caminando Fronteras says there is no news of three boats with at least 300 migrants on board, two of which left the Mbour region late last month. The coastguard are still searching.

The Senegalese government has said 260 Senegalese "in distress... were rescued in Moroccan territorial waters" between June 28 and July 9. On Wednesday, 14 people died off Saint-Louis, Senegal's northernmost town, when their pirogue overturned.

Ndiaye said he had also heard "the rumour' of the missing vessels, but cautioned that many boats were simply late arriving at their destination.

"You never know what happens out at sea," he said.

He said pirogues were skippered either by fishermen who were familiar with the sea or by "businessmen" bent on maximising profit. The latter smugglers counted on pocketing up to 20 million CFA francs ($34,000) for a successful trip.

- Poverty -

Ndiaye and others pointed the finger at poverty as the big motivation for young people wanting to head to Europe, with a traditional employer in the region, small fishing boats, struggling under competition.

"The state signed agreements with European and Asian trawlers for industrial-scale fishing," Ndiaye said. "There's less fish and the young are leaving."

"Our young people need work," said Mouhamadou Barro, chairman of a commission on migration in the Mbour area.

"The police and gendarmes can't do anything to stop undercover migration."

The dreams of the young are fed by tales of those who successfully made the crossing, found work and saved money -- enough, even, to build themselves a home back in Senegal.

Ousmane (name changed), a 29-year-old married man with a child, said he had tried to reach the Canaries in 2020 but their boat was stopped by the Spanish coastguard.

He said he would try another attempt as soon as he could, and leave without telling anyone.

"I don't have any other options," he said.

Abdou said: "If you're starving, you always end up finding something to eat somewhere."

Mame Elimane Ndoye, 69, said his eldest son had left on June 29, "the day of Tabaski", 'the local term for the Muslim festival of Eid el-Adha.

"He bought a big ram for his dad," to be sacrificed for the family feast, Ndoye recalled.

"He came to see me and told me he wanted to be with his friends over there. So I told him, 'I am the one who will be praying for you,' and this really boosted his morale."

"The trip was hard," Ndoye said by phone. "There was a lot of wind. They turned the engine off for three days. Then they arrived."

He added: "If by God's will he finds work, if he sends back money, it will be shared by everyone. We will be proud of him. I know him, he'll manage."

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abrdn (OTCMKTS:SLFPF  Get Free Report) is one of 1,204 publicly-traded companies in the Asset Management industry, but how does it weigh in compared to its peers? We will compare abrdn to similar companies based on the strength of its valuation, earnings, risk, dividends, analyst recommendations, institutional ownership and profitability.

Profitability

This table compares abrdn and its peers net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

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Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets abrdn N/A N/A N/A abrdn Competitors 367.09% 7.56% 4.89%

Earnings and Valuation

This table compares abrdn and its peers top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio abrdn N/A N/A 11.33 abrdn Competitors $257.99 million $2.69 million -33.73

Institutional and Insider Ownership

abrdns peers have higher revenue and earnings than abrdn. abrdn is trading at a higher price-to-earnings ratio than its peers, indicating that it is currently more expensive than other companies in its industry.

27.1% of abrdn shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 32.7% of shares of all Asset Management companies are owned by institutional investors. 18.2% of shares of all Asset Management companies are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, hedge funds and large money managers believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

Analyst Ratings

This is a breakdown of recent ratings and target prices for abrdn and its peers, as reported by MarketBeat.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score abrdn 5 2 0 0 1.29 abrdn Competitors 1150 5025 6467 96 2.43

abrdn currently has a consensus price target of $173.83, indicating a potential upside of 5,894.25%. As a group, Asset Management companies have a potential upside of 84.29%. Given abrdns higher possible upside, equities analysts plainly believe abrdn is more favorable than its peers.

Dividends

abrdn pays an annual dividend of $0.16 per share and has a dividend yield of 5.4%. abrdn pays out 61.7% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. As a group, Asset Management companies pay a dividend yield of 7.8% and pay out 1,605.7% of their earnings in the form of a dividend.

Summary

abrdn peers beat abrdn on 10 of the 13 factors compared.

About abrdn

(Get Free Report)

abrdn plc provides asset management services in the United Kingdom, Europe, North America, and Asia. The company offers investment solutions and funds; long-term savings and investment products to individual and corporate customers; and life insurance and savings products. It provides its products through institutional, wholesale, and retail distribution channels. It also makes real estate investments. The company was formerly known as Standard Life Aberdeen plc. abrdn plc was founded in 1825 and is headquartered in Edinburgh, United Kingdom.

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Aurizon (OTCMKTS:QRNNF  Get Free Report) and Greenbrier Companies (NYSE:GBX  Get Free Report) are both industrials companies, but which is the better stock? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their analyst recommendations, profitability, institutional ownership, risk, dividends, valuation and earnings.

Institutional and Insider Ownership

13.3% of Aurizon shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 92.5% of Greenbrier Companies shares are held by institutional investors. 2.3% of Greenbrier Companies shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, hedge funds and large money managers believe a company is poised for long-term growth.

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Analyst Ratings

This is a breakdown of recent ratings and recommmendations for Aurizon and Greenbrier Companies, as reported by MarketBeat.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Aurizon 0 1 0 0 2.00 Greenbrier Companies 1 1 2 0 2.25

Dividends

Greenbrier Companies has a consensus price target of $38.00, suggesting a potential downside of 12.94%. Given Greenbrier Companies stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, analysts plainly believe Greenbrier Companies is more favorable than Aurizon.

Aurizon pays an annual dividend of $0.06 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.5%. Greenbrier Companies pays an annual dividend of $1.08 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.5%. Aurizon pays out 54.2% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Greenbrier Companies pays out 63.5% 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. Greenbrier Companies has increased its dividend for 1 consecutive years. Aurizon is clearly the better dividend stock, given its higher yield and lower payout ratio.

Profitability

This table compares Aurizon and Greenbrier Companies net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Aurizon N/A N/A N/A Greenbrier Companies 1.49% 6.36% 2.31%

Valuation & Earnings

This table compares Aurizon and Greenbrier Companies top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Aurizon N/A N/A N/A $0.12 21.78 Greenbrier Companies $2.98 billion 0.45 $46.90 million $1.70 25.68

Greenbrier Companies has higher revenue and earnings than Aurizon. Aurizon is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Greenbrier Companies, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Summary

Greenbrier Companies beats Aurizon on 12 of the 14 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Aurizon

(Get Free Report)

Aurizon Holdings Limited, through its subsidiaries, operates as a rail freight operator in Australia. The company operates through Network, Coal, Bulk, and Other segments. It transports various commodities, including mining, agricultural, industrial, and retail products; and retail goods and groceries across small and big towns, and cities, as well as coal and iron ore. The company also operates and manages the Central Queensland Coal Network that consists of 2,670 kilometers of track network; and provides various specialist services, such as rail design, engineering, construction, management, and maintenance, as well as supply chain solutions. It serves miners, primary producers, and the industry. The company was formerly known as QR National Limited and changed its name to Aurizon Holdings Limited in December 2012. Aurizon Holdings Limited was incorporated in 2010 and is headquartered in Fortitude Valley, Australia.

About Greenbrier Companies

(Get Free Report)

The Greenbrier Companies, Inc. designs, manufactures, and markets railroad freight car equipment in North America, Europe, and South America. It operates through three segments: Manufacturing; Maintenance Services; and Leasing & Management Services. The Manufacturing segment offers conventional railcars, such as covered hopper cars, boxcars, and center partition cars; tank cars; double-stack intermodal railcars; auto-max and multi-max products for the transportation of light vehicles; pressurized tank cars, non-pressurized tank cars, flat cars, coil cars, gondolas, sliding wall cars, intermodal cars, hoppers and automobile transporter cars; and marine vessels. The Maintenance Services segment provides wheel services, including reconditioning of wheels and axles, new axle machining and finishing, and downsizing; operates a railcar repair, refurbishment, and maintenance network; and reconditions and manufactures railcar cushioning units, couplers, yokes, side frames, bolsters, and various other parts, as well as produces roofs, doors, and associated parts for boxcars. The Leasing & Management Services segment offers operating leases and per diem leases for a fleet of approximately 12,200 railcars; and management services comprising railcar maintenance management, railcar accounting services, fleet management and logistics, administration, and railcar re-marketing. This segment provides management services to a fleet of approximately 408,000 railcars for railroads, shippers, carriers, institutional investors, and other leasing and transportation companies. It serves railroads, leasing companies, financial institutions, shippers, carriers, and transportation companies. The company was founded in 1974 and is headquartered in Lake Oswego, Oregon.

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Banco Itau Chile (NYSE:ITCL  Get Free Report) was the target of a significant decline in short interest in the month of June. As of June 30th, there was short interest totalling 1,000 shares, a decline of 87.0% from the June 15th total of 7,700 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 13,600 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 0.1 days.

Banco Itau Chile Stock Performance

Shares of ITCL stock traded down $0.01 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $3.45. The companys stock had a trading volume of 7,984 shares, compared to its average volume of 7,299. Banco Itau Chile has a 1-year low of $2.60 and a 1-year high of $3.71. The company has a market capitalization of $2.24 billion, a P/E ratio of 4.93 and a beta of 0.97. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.45, a quick ratio of 0.18 and a current ratio of 0.18. The firms 50-day moving average is $3.47.

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Banco Itau Chile (NYSE:ITCL  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Friday, April 28th. The company reported $0.15 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. Banco Itau Chile had a return on equity of 12.85% and a net margin of 11.23%. The business had revenue of $350.05 million during the quarter.

Banco Itau Chile Company Profile

Banco Itau Chile provides banking services in Chile and Colombia. It provides wholesale and corporate banking; real estate and construction; and retail, private, companies, and personal banking services, as well as treasury and other financial services. The company offers checking accounts, and debit and credit card; credit line, consumer credit installments, mortgage credit, and universal consumer and university credit; and leasing and company credits including short term, fixed long term, and structured credit, as well as factoring, foreign trade exports, such as financing line agreement, import payment order, collection, and letter of credit, financing cash operation services.

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Barclays reaffirmed their underweight rating on shares of Ithaca Energy (LON:ITH  Free Report) in a report released on Wednesday morning, LSE.Co.UK reports. Barclays currently has a GBX 165 ($2.12) price target on the stock.

Separately, Jefferies Financial Group lowered their price objective on Ithaca Energy from GBX 245 ($3.15) to GBX 195 ($2.51) and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, April 12th.

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Ithaca Energy Stock Performance

Shares of LON:ITH opened at GBX 143 ($1.84) on Wednesday. The company has a market cap of 1.44 billion and a P/E ratio of 183.33. Ithaca Energy has a one year low of GBX 133.60 ($1.72) and a one year high of GBX 254.90 ($3.28). The businesss 50-day simple moving average is GBX 151.13 and its 200 day simple moving average is GBX 163.56.

Insider Buying and Selling at Ithaca Energy

Ithaca Energy Company Profile

In other Ithaca Energy news, insider Lynne Clow acquired 4,932 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, June 20th. The stock was purchased at an average price of GBX 151 ($1.94) per share, for a total transaction of 7,447.32 ($9,581.01). 89.71% of the stock is owned by insiders.

(Get Free Report)

Ithaca Energy plc, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the exploration, development, and production of oil and gas in the North Sea. The company own a portfolio of assets located in Northern and Central North Sea, Moray Firth, and West of Shetland area of the UKCS. Ithaca Energy plc was formerly known as Delek North Sea Limited and changed its name to Ithaca Energy plc in October 2022.

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Brookfield Real Assets Income Fund (NYSE:RA  Get Free Report) is one of 1,204 public companies in the Asset Management industry, but how does it weigh in compared to its peers? We will compare Brookfield Real Assets Income Fund to related businesses based on the strength of its valuation, earnings, institutional ownership, analyst recommendations, profitability, dividends and risk.

Dividends

Brookfield Real Assets Income Fund pays an annual dividend of $2.58 per share and has a dividend yield of 15.4%. Brookfield Real Assets Income Fund pays out -2,345.5% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. As a group, Asset Management companies pay a dividend yield of 7.9% and pay out 1,496.8% of their earnings in the form of a dividend. Brookfield Real Assets Income Fund is clearly a better dividend stock than its peers, given its higher yield and lower payout ratio.

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Insider & Institutional Ownership

32.7% of shares of all Asset Management companies are owned by institutional investors. 18.2% of shares of all Asset Management 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

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Brookfield Real Assets Income Fund N/A N/A N/A Brookfield Real Assets Income Fund Competitors 367.09% 7.56% 4.89%

Earnings and Valuation

This table compares Brookfield Real Assets Income Fund and its peers net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

This table compares Brookfield Real Assets Income Fund and its peers top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio Brookfield Real Assets Income Fund -$119.82 million N/A -152.18 Brookfield Real Assets Income Fund Competitors $257.99 million $2.69 million -29.61

Brookfield Real Assets Income Funds peers have higher revenue and earnings than Brookfield Real Assets Income Fund. Brookfield Real Assets Income Fund 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.

Analyst Ratings

This is a summary of recent ratings and target prices for Brookfield Real Assets Income Fund and its peers, as provided by MarketBeat.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Brookfield Real Assets Income Fund 0 0 0 0 N/A Brookfield Real Assets Income Fund Competitors 1150 5025 6467 96 2.43

As a group, Asset Management companies have a potential upside of 85.06%. Given Brookfield Real Assets Income Funds peers higher possible upside, analysts clearly believe Brookfield Real Assets Income Fund has less favorable growth aspects than its peers.

Summary

Brookfield Real Assets Income Fund peers beat Brookfield Real Assets Income Fund on 8 of the 10 factors compared.

About Brookfield Real Assets Income Fund

(Get Free Report)

Brookfield Real Assets Income Fund Inc. is a closed ended fixed income mutual fund launched and managed by Brookfield Investment Management Inc. The fund is co-managed by Schroder Investment Management North America Inc. It invests in fixed income markets of the United States. The fund primarily invests in securities and other instruments of companies, which includes real estate securities, infrastructure securities, and natural resources securities. Brookfield Real Assets Income Fund Inc. was formed on December 2, 2016 and is domiciled in the United States.

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Canadian Critical Minerals Inc. (OTCMKTS:RIINF  Get Free Report) was the target of a significant decrease in short interest during the month of June. As of June 30th, there was short interest totalling 2,300 shares, a decrease of 93.0% from the June 15th total of 32,900 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 57,800 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 0.0 days.

Canadian Critical Minerals Stock Performance

OTCMKTS RIINF remained flat at $0.03 on Friday. The companys stock had a trading volume of 50,475 shares, compared to its average volume of 60,538. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $0.03 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $0.04. Canadian Critical Minerals has a 1-year low of $0.02 and a 1-year high of $0.09.

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About Canadian Critical Minerals

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Further Reading

Canadian Critical Minerals Inc, an exploration stage company, acquires, develops, and explores for mineral properties primarily in Canada. The company explores for gold, copper, nickel, platinum, palladium, and silver deposits. Its principal project is the 100% owned Bull River Mine located in the Cranbrook, British Colombia.

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Canadian Pacific Kansas City (TSE:CP  Free Report) (NYSE:CP) had its price objective increased by Berenberg Bank from C$108.00 to C$111.00 in a research note published on Wednesday, BayStreet.CA reports.

CP has been the subject of several other reports. BMO Capital Markets reduced their target price on Canadian Pacific Kansas City from C$130.00 to C$128.00 in a research report on Thursday, June 8th. National Bank Financial raised their target price on Canadian Pacific Kansas City from C$107.00 to C$110.00 in a research report on Tuesday, July 11th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their target price on Canadian Pacific Kansas City from C$120.00 to C$118.00 in a research report on Thursday, June 29th. Royal Bank of Canada lifted their price objective on Canadian Pacific Kansas City from C$122.00 to C$125.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Friday, June 30th. Finally, TD Securities lifted their price objective on Canadian Pacific Kansas City from C$120.00 to C$125.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Thursday, April 27th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Canadian Pacific Kansas City currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of C$112.57.

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Canadian Pacific Kansas City Trading Up 1.1 %

Shares of Canadian Pacific Kansas City stock opened at C$106.59 on Wednesday. The companys fifty day simple moving average is C$105.93 and its 200-day simple moving average is C$105.09. The company has a market cap of C$99.24 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 26.65, a PEG ratio of 1.99 and a beta of 0.83. The company has a current ratio of 0.67, a quick ratio of 0.42 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 49.11. Canadian Pacific Kansas City has a 1 year low of C$90.84 and a 1 year high of C$112.27.

Canadian Pacific Kansas City Announces Dividend

Canadian Pacific Kansas City ( TSE:CP Get Free Report ) (NYSE:CP) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, April 26th. The company reported C$0.85 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of C$0.90 by C($0.05). The company had revenue of C$2.27 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of C$2.39 billion. Canadian Pacific Kansas City had a return on equity of 10.14% and a net margin of 40.33%. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that Canadian Pacific Kansas City will post 4.0177158 EPS for the current year.

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, July 31st. Stockholders of record on Friday, June 30th will be paid a $0.19 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, June 29th. This represents a $0.76 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.71%. Canadian Pacific Kansas Citys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 19.00%.

About Canadian Pacific Kansas City

(Get Free Report)

Canadian Pacific Kansas City Limited, together with its subsidiaries, owns and operates a transcontinental freight railway in Canada and the United States. The company transports bulk commodities, including grain, coal, potash, fertilizers, and sulphur; and merchandise freight, such as energy, chemicals and plastics, metals, minerals and consumer, automotive, and forest products.

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Canvas Wealth Advisors LLC raised its stake in shares of iShares National Muni Bond ETF (NYSEARCA:MUB  Free Report) by 96.8% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 10,376 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after acquiring an additional 5,104 shares during the period. Canvas Wealth Advisors LLCs holdings in iShares National Muni Bond ETF were worth $1,108,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. raised its stake in iShares National Muni Bond ETF by 11.3% during the 4th quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 13,927,059 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $1,469,583,000 after acquiring an additional 1,411,367 shares during the last quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC raised its stake in shares of iShares National Muni Bond ETF by 132,338.1% during the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 10,393,745 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $1,096,748,000 after buying an additional 10,385,897 shares in the last quarter. Betterment LLC raised its stake in shares of iShares National Muni Bond ETF by 37.8% during the 4th quarter. Betterment LLC now owns 9,668,221 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $1,020,191,000 after buying an additional 2,650,115 shares in the last quarter. Wells Fargo & Company MN raised its stake in shares of iShares National Muni Bond ETF by 10.8% during the 4th quarter. Wells Fargo & Company MN now owns 6,413,899 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $676,795,000 after buying an additional 623,269 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Morgan Stanley raised its stake in shares of iShares National Muni Bond ETF by 13.2% during the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 6,323,506 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $667,256,000 after buying an additional 739,269 shares in the last quarter.

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iShares National Muni Bond ETF Stock Performance

Shares of MUB stock traded down $0.30 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $106.71. 2,229,913 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,491,097. The companys 50 day moving average is $106.45 and its two-hundred day moving average is $106.80. iShares National Muni Bond ETF has a 1 year low of $101.35 and a 1 year high of $108.82.

About iShares National Muni Bond ETF

iShares National AMT-Free Muni Bond ETF (the Fund), formerly iShares S&P National AMT-Free Municipal Bond Fund, is an exchange-traded fund (ETF). The Fund seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the S&P National AMT-Free Municipal Bond Index (the Index).

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Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT  Get Free Report) has been assigned a consensus rating of Hold from the sixteen brokerages that are presently covering the firm, MarketBeat reports. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell recommendation, seven have assigned a hold recommendation and six have assigned a buy recommendation to the company. The average twelve-month price objective among analysts that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $240.42.

Several analysts have weighed in on the stock. Tigress Financial boosted their price target on shares of Caterpillar from $266.00 to $282.00 in a research note on Wednesday, May 31st. DA Davidson assumed coverage on shares of Caterpillar in a research note on Wednesday, June 21st. They set a neutral rating and a $263.00 price objective for the company. Robert W. Baird lowered their price objective on shares of Caterpillar from $185.00 to $180.00 in a research note on Monday, May 8th. StockNews.com raised shares of Caterpillar from a buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Monday, July 3rd. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lowered their price objective on shares of Caterpillar from $228.00 to $225.00 and set a hold rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, April 12th.

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Institutional Investors Weigh In On Caterpillar

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. BCK Partners Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Caterpillar during the first quarter valued at approximately $2,580,000. Sei Investments Co. grew its holdings in shares of Caterpillar by 17.3% during the first quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 65,643 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $14,634,000 after buying an additional 9,695 shares during the last quarter. Dakota Wealth Management purchased a new stake in shares of Caterpillar during the first quarter valued at approximately $405,000. Mather Group LLC. grew its holdings in shares of Caterpillar by 6.8% during the first quarter. Mather Group LLC. now owns 2,592 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $577,000 after buying an additional 165 shares during the last quarter. Finally, NewEdge Advisors LLC grew its holdings in shares of Caterpillar by 4.4% during the first quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 49,705 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $11,075,000 after buying an additional 2,076 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 74.28% of the companys stock.

Caterpillar Stock Performance

Caterpillar stock opened at $255.62 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.88, a current ratio of 1.43 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.37. The company has a market capitalization of $131.74 billion, a PE ratio of 18.89, a P/E/G ratio of 1.19 and a beta of 1.13. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $230.36 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $233.82. Caterpillar has a twelve month low of $160.60 and a twelve month high of $266.04.

Caterpillar (NYSE:CAT  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, April 27th. The industrial products company reported $4.91 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $3.79 by $1.12. The business had revenue of $15.86 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $15.27 billion. Caterpillar had a net margin of 11.52% and a return on equity of 50.98%. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 16.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $2.88 earnings per share. Research analysts expect that Caterpillar will post 17.85 EPS for the current year.

Caterpillar Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, August 18th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, July 20th will be issued a $1.30 dividend. This represents a $5.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.03%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, July 19th. This is a boost from Caterpillars previous quarterly dividend of $1.20. Caterpillars dividend payout ratio is 35.48%.

Caterpillar Company Profile

(Get Free Report

Caterpillar, Inc engages in the manufacture of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines, and diesel-electric locomotives. It operates through the following segments: Construction Industries, Resource Industries, Energy and Transportation, Financial Products, and All Other.

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China YiBai United Guarantee International Holding, Inc. (OTCMKTS:CBGH  Get Free Report) was the target of a large decline in short interest during the month of June. As of June 30th, there was short interest totalling 300 shares, a decline of 81.3% from the June 15th total of 1,600 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 38,800 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 0.0 days.

China YiBai United Guarantee International Stock Performance

CBGH stock remained flat at $0.03 during mid-day trading on Friday. The companys stock had a trading volume of 11,931 shares, compared to its average volume of 11,411. China YiBai United Guarantee International has a fifty-two week low of $0.01 and a fifty-two week high of $0.03. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $0.02 and a 200 day simple moving average of $0.01.

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About China YiBai United Guarantee International

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China YiBai United Guarantee International Holding, Inc, a development stage company, provides financial services to small and medium enterprises in China. It provides equity pledge guarantee, and energy-saving and emission-reduction related financial projects. The company also provides financial consultancy services in the areas of accounting, mergers and acquisitions, business planning, and domestic and international financing.

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Three Israelis were wounded on Sunday when a Palestinian gunman opened fire on a car in the occupied West Bank before fleeing the scene, according to Israeli occupation authorities.

The bloodshed was the latest in a relentless cycle of violence that has gripped the region, driving up the death toll and sparking the worst fighting between Israel and the Palestinians in the West Bank in nearly two decades.

The Israeli occupation military said forces were on the lookout for the assailant.

Fighting between Israel and the Palestinians in the West Bank intensified early last year when Israel launched near-nightly raids into Palestinian-occupied areas in the West Bank.

Twelve Palestinians were killed last week in a large-scale Israeli raid on Jenin, the largest in years by Israeli o ccupation forces.

The raid on the camp employed hundreds of troops as well as drone strikes and army bulldozers that tore up streets and damaged scores of houses. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, clearly angered by the impact of the two-day Israeli attack on the Jenin refugee camp, said the operation had left over 100 civilians injured, forced thousands to flee, damaged schools and hospitals and disrupted water and electricity networks.

At least 190 Palestinians, and 26 Israelis, have been killed this year, according to an AFP tally compiled from official sources from both sides.

The Palestinians see the violence as a natural response to 56 years of occupation, including stepped-up settlement construction by Israels government and increased violence by Israeli settlers.

Israel occupied the West Bank in the 1967 Mideast war, along with the Gaza Strip and east Jerusalem. Palestinians seek those territories for their independent state.

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Laurentian Bank of Canada (OTCMKTS:LRCDF  Get Free Report) is one of 278 publicly-traded companies in the BanksRegional industry, but how does it weigh in compared to its peers? We will compare Laurentian Bank of Canada to similar businesses based on the strength of its dividends, earnings, risk, profitability, valuation, institutional ownership and analyst recommendations.

Valuation and Earnings

This table compares Laurentian Bank of Canada and its peers top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

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Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio Laurentian Bank of Canada N/A N/A 7.15 Laurentian Bank of Canada Competitors $2.87 billion $720.14 million 267.70

Laurentian Bank of Canadas peers have higher revenue and earnings than Laurentian Bank of Canada. Laurentian Bank of Canada is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than its peers, indicating that it is currently more affordable than other companies in its industry.

Dividends

Profitability

Laurentian Bank of Canada pays an annual dividend of $2.06 per share and has a dividend yield of 6.4%. Laurentian Bank of Canada pays out 45.8% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. As a group, BanksRegional companies pay a dividend yield of 13.1% and pay out 18.7% of their earnings in the form of a dividend. Laurentian Bank of Canada lags its peers as a dividend stock, given its lower dividend yield and higher payout ratio.

This table compares Laurentian Bank of Canada and its peers net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Laurentian Bank of Canada N/A N/A N/A Laurentian Bank of Canada Competitors 34.16% 10.58% 0.93%

Institutional and Insider Ownership

34.7% of Laurentian Bank of Canada shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 32.0% of shares of all BanksRegional companies are owned by institutional investors. 15.3% of shares of all BanksRegional companies are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, endowments and hedge funds believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.

Analyst Recommendations

This is a breakdown of current recommendations for Laurentian Bank of Canada and its peers, as reported by MarketBeat.com.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Laurentian Bank of Canada 1 1 1 0 2.00 Laurentian Bank of Canada Competitors 1146 3209 3046 13 2.26

Laurentian Bank of Canada currently has a consensus price target of $40.00, suggesting a potential upside of 24.38%. As a group, BanksRegional companies have a potential upside of 317.12%. Given Laurentian Bank of Canadas peers stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, analysts clearly believe Laurentian Bank of Canada has less favorable growth aspects than its peers.

Summary

Laurentian Bank of Canada peers beat Laurentian Bank of Canada on 12 of the 13 factors compared.

Laurentian Bank of Canada Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Laurentian Bank of Canada, together with its subsidiaries, provides various financial services to personal, business, and institutional customers in Canada and the United States. It operates through three segments: Personal Banking, Commercial Banking, and Capital Markets. The Personal Banking segment offers financial services, such as financial advisory services to financial intermediaries; and operates digital direct-to-customer platform to retail clients. The Commercial Banking segment provides financial services, including commercial banking, real estate financing, and equipment and inventory financing to business clients. The Capital Markets segment offers a range of services, such as research, market analysis, and advisory services; corporate underwriting services for debt and equity; and administrative services. The company was founded in 1846 and is headquartered in Montreal, Canada.

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Shares of Copa Holdings, S.A. (NYSE:CPA  Get Free Report) have been assigned an average recommendation of Buy from the seven analysts that are covering the firm, MarketBeat.com reports. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a buy recommendation and one has given a strong buy recommendation to the company. The average 12-month price target among brokerages that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $126.50.

CPA has been the topic of a number of analyst reports. HSBC lowered their target price on shares of Copa from $143.00 to $138.00 in a research note on Tuesday, June 13th. The Goldman Sachs Group upped their target price on shares of Copa from $137.00 to $140.00 in a research report on Monday, July 10th. StockNews.com lowered shares of Copa from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Friday, May 26th. Raymond James increased their price objective on shares of Copa from $138.00 to $155.00 in a report on Monday, July 3rd. Finally, Barclays increased their target price on shares of Copa from $120.00 to $150.00 in a report on Friday, May 12th.

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Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in CPA. Capital World Investors grew its position in shares of Copa by 9.9% in the 1st quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 3,298,119 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $275,855,000 after acquiring an additional 297,595 shares during the period. BlackRock Inc. raised its stake in Copa by 9.4% in the 1st quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 2,393,256 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $221,017,000 after purchasing an additional 205,746 shares in the last quarter. FMR LLC raised its stake in Copa by 32.0% in the 1st quarter. FMR LLC now owns 1,663,395 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $153,615,000 after purchasing an additional 403,631 shares in the last quarter. Millennium Management LLC raised its stake in Copa by 67.5% in the 4th quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 808,205 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $67,218,000 after purchasing an additional 325,800 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Dimensional Fund Advisors LP increased its holdings in Copa by 4.1% in the 1st quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 650,969 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $60,118,000 after buying an additional 25,743 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 81.98% of the companys stock.

Copa Stock Down 1.3 %

Shares of CPA opened at $113.00 on Friday. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $107.96 and a 200-day simple moving average of $96.23. The firm has a market capitalization of $4.45 billion, a P/E ratio of 10.05 and a beta of 1.29. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.83, a quick ratio of 1.03 and a current ratio of 1.11. Copa has a 52 week low of $61.20 and a 52 week high of $116.80.

Copa (NYSE:CPA  Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, May 10th. The transportation company reported $3.99 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $3.34 by $0.65. The business had revenue of $867.26 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $839.11 million. Copa had a net margin of 13.80% and a return on equity of 32.04%. On average, equities research analysts expect that Copa will post 15.6 earnings per share for the current year.

Copa Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, June 15th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, May 31st were given a dividend of $0.82 per share. This represents a $3.28 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.90%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, May 30th. Copas dividend payout ratio is 29.18%.

About Copa

(Get Free Report

Copa Holdings, SA, through its subsidiaries, provides airline passenger and cargo services. The company offers approximately 327 daily scheduled flights to 78 destinations in 32 countries in North, Central, and South America, as well as the Caribbean from its Panama City hub. As of December 31, 2022, it operated a fleet of 97 aircraft comprising 67 Boeing 737-800 Next Generation aircraft, 9 Boeing 737-700 Next Generation aircraft, 1 Boeing 737-800 Boeing Converted Freighter, and 20 737-MAX aircraft.

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Shares of Dassault Systemes SE (OTCMKTS:DASTY  Get Free Report) have received an average recommendation of Hold from the eight brokerages that are currently covering the firm, MarketBeat reports. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, four have assigned a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the company. The average 12-month target price among analysts that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $40.21.

Separately, Berenberg Bank downgraded Dassault Systemes from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Thursday, April 27th.

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Institutional Trading of Dassault Systemes

Several large investors have recently made changes to their positions in DASTY. Azimuth Capital Investment Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Dassault Systemes by 0.3% in the 1st quarter. Azimuth Capital Investment Management LLC now owns 102,436 shares of the technology companys stock worth $4,215,000 after acquiring an additional 265 shares during the period. Fisher Asset Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of Dassault Systemes by 2.8% in the 4th quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC now owns 101,740 shares of the technology companys stock worth $3,637,000 after buying an additional 2,739 shares in the last quarter. Boston Common Asset Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of Dassault Systemes by 6.0% in the 1st quarter. Boston Common Asset Management LLC now owns 40,456 shares of the technology companys stock worth $1,665,000 after buying an additional 2,277 shares in the last quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors raised its holdings in shares of Dassault Systemes by 29.6% in the 2nd quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 32,624 shares of the technology companys stock worth $1,201,000 after buying an additional 7,456 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Stanley Laman Group Ltd. acquired a new stake in Dassault Systemes during the 1st quarter valued at $876,000. Institutional investors own 0.17% of the companys stock.

Dassault Systemes Price Performance

Shares of DASTY opened at $45.62 on Tuesday. The company has a market cap of $60.91 billion, a P/E ratio of 64.25, a PEG ratio of 4.64 and a beta of 0.98. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $43.04 and a 200 day moving average price of $40.68. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.37, a current ratio of 1.82 and a quick ratio of 1.82. Dassault Systemes has a 12 month low of $31.12 and a 12 month high of $46.00.

Dassault Systemes (OTCMKTS:DASTY  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, April 26th. The technology company reported $0.27 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.25 by $0.02. The company had revenue of $1.54 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.57 billion. Dassault Systemes had a return on equity of 18.34% and a net margin of 15.93%. On average, research analysts forecast that Dassault Systemes will post 1.19 earnings per share for the current year.

Dassault Systemes Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a dividend, which was paid on Thursday, June 22nd. Shareholders of record on Friday, May 26th were given a $0.1861 dividend. This is a positive change from Dassault Systemess previous dividend of $0.15. This represents a yield of 0.47%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, May 25th. Dassault Systemess dividend payout ratio is presently 25.35%.

About Dassault Systemes

(Get Free Report

Dassault Systemes SE provides software solutions and services worldwide. It offers SOLIDWORKS design software for mechanical and electronic printed circuit board design solutions, product data management, simulation, manufacturing, and technical communication; CATIA, an engineering and design software for product 3D computer-aided design; GEOVIA for intersection of natural resources, infrastructure and urban planning; and BIOVIA that develops chemicals, biologics, and materials experiences.

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Grupo Financiero Inbursa (OTCMKTS:GPFOF  Get Free Report) is one of 278 publicly-traded companies in the BanksRegional industry, but how does it compare to its peers? We will compare Grupo Financiero Inbursa to related companies based on the strength of its valuation, institutional ownership, risk, dividends, analyst recommendations, earnings and profitability.

Earnings & Valuation

This table compares Grupo Financiero Inbursa and its peers revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

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Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio Grupo Financiero Inbursa N/A N/A 0.75 Grupo Financiero Inbursa Competitors $2.87 billion $720.14 million 267.70

Grupo Financiero Inbursas peers have higher revenue and earnings than Grupo Financiero Inbursa. Grupo Financiero Inbursa is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than its peers, indicating that it is currently more affordable than other companies in its industry.

Dividends

Profitability

Grupo Financiero Inbursa pays an annual dividend of C$0.38 per share and has a dividend yield of 16.0%. Grupo Financiero Inbursa pays out 12.0% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. As a group, BanksRegional companies pay a dividend yield of 13.1% and pay out 18.7% of their earnings in the form of a dividend. Grupo Financiero Inbursa is clearly a better dividend stock than its peers, given its higher yield and lower payout ratio.

This table compares Grupo Financiero Inbursa and its peers net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Grupo Financiero Inbursa N/A N/A N/A Grupo Financiero Inbursa Competitors 34.16% 10.58% 0.93%

Analyst Ratings

This is a breakdown of recent ratings and target prices for Grupo Financiero Inbursa and its peers, as provided by MarketBeat.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Grupo Financiero Inbursa 0 0 0 0 N/A Grupo Financiero Inbursa Competitors 1146 3209 3045 13 2.26

As a group, BanksRegional companies have a potential upside of 315.61%. Given Grupo Financiero Inbursas peers higher possible upside, analysts plainly believe Grupo Financiero Inbursa has less favorable growth aspects than its peers.

Insider and Institutional Ownership

10.2% of Grupo Financiero Inbursa shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 32.0% of shares of all BanksRegional companies are held by institutional investors. 15.3% of shares of all BanksRegional companies are held 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.

Summary

Grupo Financiero Inbursa peers beat Grupo Financiero Inbursa on 8 of the 10 factors compared.

Grupo Financiero Inbursa Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Grupo Financiero Inbursa, S.A.B. de C.V. provides various financial products and services to individuals and businesses in Mexico. The company offers mortgage, automotive, SME, and personal credits; accounts and investment products; credit cards; and car, lifetime, medical expenses, damage, and other insurance products. The company was formerly known as Promotora Carso SA de CV and changed its name to Grupo Financiero Inbursa, S.A.B. de C.V. in 1992. Grupo Financiero Inbursa, S.A.B. de C.V. was founded in 1985 and is headquartered in Mexico City, Mexico.

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Hang Lung Properties Limited (OTCMKTS:HLPPY  Get Free Report) was the recipient of a significant decrease in short interest in the month of June. As of June 30th, there was short interest totalling 5,800 shares, a decrease of 80.3% from the June 15th total of 29,500 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 153,300 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 0.0 days.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Separately, Jefferies Financial Group upgraded Hang Lung Properties from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, May 30th.

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Hang Lung Properties Price Performance

Shares of OTCMKTS:HLPPY traded down $0.02 on Friday, reaching $7.44. 58,310 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 80,259. Hang Lung Properties has a fifty-two week low of $6.10 and a fifty-two week high of $10.34. The companys 50 day moving average is $8.00 and its 200-day moving average is $9.00.

Hang Lung Properties Increases Dividend

Hang Lung Properties Company Profile

The business also recently disclosed a dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, May 30th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, May 3rd were given a dividend of $0.3628 per share. This represents a dividend yield of 5.2%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, May 2nd. This is an increase from Hang Lung Propertiess previous dividend of $0.10.

(Get Free Report)

Hang Lung Properties Limited, an investment holding company, engages in the property investment, development, and management activities in Hong Kong and Mainland China. It operates through Property Leasing and Property Sales segments. The company is involved in the development, sale, and leasing of properties.

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Hargreaves Lansdown (OTCMKTS:HRGLF  Get Free Report) is one of 1,204 publicly-traded companies in the Asset Management industry, but how does it weigh in compared to its rivals? We will compare Hargreaves Lansdown to related businesses based on the strength of its institutional ownership, analyst recommendations, profitability, dividends, earnings, valuation and risk.

Earnings and Valuation

This table compares Hargreaves Lansdown and its rivals top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

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Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio Hargreaves Lansdown N/A N/A 31.64 Hargreaves Lansdown Competitors $257.99 million $2.69 million -29.61

Hargreaves Lansdowns rivals have higher revenue and earnings than Hargreaves Lansdown. Hargreaves Lansdown 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 Hargreaves Lansdown N/A N/A N/A Hargreaves Lansdown Competitors 367.09% 7.56% 4.89%

Analyst Ratings

This table compares Hargreaves Lansdown and its rivals net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

This is a summary of recent ratings and price targets for Hargreaves Lansdown and its rivals, as provided by MarketBeat.com.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Hargreaves Lansdown 1 0 0 0 1.00 Hargreaves Lansdown Competitors 1150 5025 6467 96 2.43

Hargreaves Lansdown presently has a consensus target price of $707.00, indicating a potential upside of 6,434.20%. As a group, Asset Management companies have a potential upside of 81.91%. Given Hargreaves Lansdowns higher probable upside, equities analysts clearly believe Hargreaves Lansdown is more favorable than its rivals.

Insider & Institutional Ownership

18.3% of Hargreaves Lansdown shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 32.7% of shares of all Asset Management companies are held by institutional investors. 18.2% of shares of all Asset Management companies are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, large money managers and endowments believe a company is poised for long-term growth.

Dividends

Hargreaves Lansdown pays an annual dividend of $0.07 per share and has a dividend yield of 0.6%. Hargreaves Lansdown pays out 20.5% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. As a group, Asset Management companies pay a dividend yield of 7.9% and pay out 1,496.8% of their earnings in the form of a dividend.

Summary

Hargreaves Lansdown rivals beat Hargreaves Lansdown on 10 of the 13 factors compared.

About Hargreaves Lansdown

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Hargreaves Lansdown plc provides investment services for individuals and corporates in the United Kingdom and Poland. The company offers stocks and shares individual savings accounts (ISAs), fund and share accounts, and junior and lifetime ISAs. It also provides pension services, including self-invested personal pensions (SIPP), junior SIPPs, annuities, and drawdown; share dealing services; and fund dealing services. In addition, the company offers investment accounts; cash savings; accounts for children; and foreign currency exchange, retirement, and financial advisory services. Hargreaves Lansdown plc was founded in 1981 and is headquartered in Bristol, the United Kingdom.

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UBS Group set a C$80.00 target price on Imperial Oil (TSE:IMO  Free Report) (NYSEMKT:IMO) in a research note released on Wednesday morning, BayStreet.CA reports. The firm currently has a buy rating on the stock.

Several other equities research analysts have also weighed in on the company. ATB Capital upped their price objective on Imperial Oil from C$77.00 to C$80.00 in a research note on Monday, April 17th. Morgan Stanley reduced their price objective on Imperial Oil from C$74.00 to C$72.00 in a report on Monday, March 27th. Scotiabank increased their price target on Imperial Oil from C$72.00 to C$79.00 in a research note on Thursday, April 13th. Veritas Investment Research reissued a buy rating on shares of Imperial Oil in a research note on Monday, May 1st. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price objective on Imperial Oil from C$78.00 to C$79.00 in a research note on Tuesday, May 2nd. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have assigned a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of C$78.80.

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Imperial Oil Trading Down 1.6 %

Shares of IMO opened at C$64.75 on Wednesday. Imperial Oil has a 12-month low of C$53.43 and a 12-month high of C$79.83. The company has a quick ratio of 0.98, a current ratio of 1.41 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 18.72. The firm has a market capitalization of C$37.82 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 5.48, a P/E/G ratio of 0.21 and a beta of 1.90. The stocks 50-day moving average price is C$64.69 and its 200 day moving average price is C$66.97.

Imperial Oil Increases Dividend

Imperial Oil ( TSE:IMO Get Free Report ) (NYSEMKT:IMO) last released its quarterly earnings data on Friday, April 28th. The company reported C$2.13 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of C$1.92 by C$0.21. Imperial Oil had a return on equity of 32.44% and a net margin of 12.61%. The company had revenue of C$12.12 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of C$15.04 billion. As a group, research analysts predict that Imperial Oil will post 8.4309896 earnings per share for the current year.

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Saturday, July 1st. Stockholders of record on Saturday, July 1st were issued a $0.50 dividend. This is a boost from Imperial Oils previous quarterly dividend of $0.44. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, June 1st. This represents a $2.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.09%. Imperial Oils dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 16.92%.

Imperial Oil Company Profile

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Imperial Oil Limited engages in exploration, production, and sale of crude oil and natural gas in Canada. The company operates through three segments: Upstream, Downstream and Chemical segments. The Upstream segment explores for, and produces crude oil, natural gas, synthetic crude oil, and bitumen. The Downstream segment is involved in the transportation and refining of crude oil, blending of refined products, and the distribution and marketing of refined products.

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Janney Montgomery Scott LLC lifted its stake in Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY  Free Report) by 4.6% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 244,733 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 10,853 shares during the period. Janney Montgomery Scott LLCs holdings in Eli Lilly and Company were worth $84,046,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Handelsbanken Fonder AB increased its stake in Eli Lilly and Company by 6.6% during the 1st quarter. Handelsbanken Fonder AB now owns 906,434 shares of the companys stock valued at $311,288,000 after purchasing an additional 56,444 shares in the last quarter. Invst LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 625.1% in the first quarter. Invst LLC now owns 4,793 shares of the companys stock worth $1,871,000 after buying an additional 4,132 shares during the last quarter. Schechter Investment Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in Eli Lilly and Company by 12.4% during the first quarter. Schechter Investment Advisors LLC now owns 6,025 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,069,000 after purchasing an additional 667 shares in the last quarter. Strategic Blueprint LLC lifted its holdings in Eli Lilly and Company by 12.2% during the first quarter. Strategic Blueprint LLC now owns 5,279 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,813,000 after purchasing an additional 576 shares in the last quarter. Finally, AIA Group Ltd lifted its holdings in Eli Lilly and Company by 13.9% during the first quarter. AIA Group Ltd now owns 15,001 shares of the companys stock valued at $5,152,000 after purchasing an additional 1,829 shares in the last quarter. 87.25% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research firms have recently commented on LLY. Morgan Stanley boosted their target price on shares of Eli Lilly and Company from $478.00 to $507.00 in a report on Monday, May 15th. Jefferies Financial Group boosted their price objective on shares of Eli Lilly and Company from $290.00 to $310.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research report on Monday, April 3rd. Bank of America upped their price target 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. Truist Financial upped their price objective on shares of Eli Lilly and Company from $421.00 to $430.00 in a research note on Friday, April 28th. Finally, SVB Securities increased their price target on shares of Eli Lilly and Company from $410.00 to $458.00 in a research report on Monday, May 1st. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating and fourteen have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $443.45.

Insider Buying and Selling

Eli Lilly and Company Price Performance

In related news, CAO Donald A. Zakrowski sold 600 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Monday, May 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $435.29, for a total transaction of $261,174.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 5,978 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,602,163.62. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website . In other news, EVP Patrik Jonsson sold 6,000 shares of Eli Lilly and Company stock in a transaction dated Thursday, June 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $429.46, for a total value of $2,576,760.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 36,941 shares in the company, valued at approximately $15,864,681.86. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link . Also, CAO Donald A. Zakrowski sold 600 shares of Eli Lilly and Company stock in a transaction dated Monday, May 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $435.29, for a total value of $261,174.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief accounting officer now owns 5,978 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,602,163.62. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . In the last ninety days, insiders sold 970,965 shares of company stock valued at $423,725,107. 0.13% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Shares of NYSE:LLY traded up $14.76 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $449.46. 2,955,014 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,664,986. Eli Lilly and Company has a 1 year low of $296.32 and a 1 year high of $469.87. The company has a market cap of $426.66 billion, a P/E ratio of 71.46, a PEG ratio of 1.99 and a beta of 0.38. 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 fifty day simple moving average of $444.17 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $383.41.

Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY  Get Free Report) last announced 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). The firm had revenue of $6.96 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $6.87 billion. Eli Lilly and Company had a net margin of 20.54% and a return on equity of 61.42%. The companys revenue for the quarter was down 10.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $2.62 EPS. Equities analysts predict that Eli Lilly and Company will post 8.79 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Eli Lilly and Company Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, September 8th. Investors of record on Tuesday, August 15th will be given a dividend of $1.13 per share. This represents a $4.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.01%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, August 14th. Eli Lilly and Companys payout ratio is 71.86%.

About Eli Lilly and Company

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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.

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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).

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Jervois Global Limited (OTCMKTS:JRVMF  Get Free Report) was the target of a significant drop in short interest in June. As of June 30th, there was short interest totalling 1,285,300 shares, a drop of 74.6% from the June 15th total of 5,066,000 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 927,700 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 1.4 days.

Jervois Global Stock Performance

Shares of OTCMKTS:JRVMF remained flat at $0.04 during midday trading on Friday. The company had a trading volume of 396,724 shares, compared to its average volume of 620,621. Jervois Global has a twelve month low of $0.04 and a twelve month high of $0.41. The stocks 50-day moving average is $0.06 and its two-hundred day moving average is $0.10.

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About Jervois Global

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Jervois Global Limited engages in the exploration, development, and production of mineral properties. The company explores for cobalt, nickel, copper, and gold deposits. It holds 100% interest in the Idaho Cobalt Operations project located in the state of Idaho, the United States; the Sao Miguel Paulista nickel cobalt refinery in Sao Paulo, Brazil; and the Nico Young nickel-cobalt deposits in New South Wales, Australia.

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Las Vegas Sands (NYSE:LVS  Free Report) had its price target upped by Barclays from $69.00 to $70.00 in a report released on Thursday, FlyOnTheWall reports.

Several other analysts have also commented on LVS. Roth Mkm increased their price target on shares of Las Vegas Sands from $74.00 to $75.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, April 20th. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price target on shares of Las Vegas Sands from $65.00 to $68.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Thursday, April 13th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft increased their price target on shares of Las Vegas Sands from $69.00 to $74.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, April 20th. Morgan Stanley increased their price target on shares of Las Vegas Sands from $64.00 to $69.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Thursday, April 20th. Finally, Credit Suisse Group increased their price target on shares of Las Vegas Sands from $62.00 to $67.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Thursday, April 20th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Las Vegas Sands has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $70.58.

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Las Vegas Sands Stock Up 1.3 %

NYSE:LVS opened at $60.94 on Thursday. Las Vegas Sands has a 1-year low of $33.38 and a 1-year high of $65.58. The company has a 50-day moving average of $58.37 and a 200 day moving average of $57.28. The firm has a market cap of $46.57 billion, a PE ratio of -84.64, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 6.22 and a beta of 1.15. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.65, a current ratio of 1.79 and a quick ratio of 1.78.

Insider Transactions at Las Vegas Sands

Las Vegas Sands ( NYSE:LVS Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, April 19th. The casino operator reported $0.28 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.17 by $0.11. Las Vegas Sands had a negative net margin of 10.42% and a negative return on equity of 10.21%. The company had revenue of $2.12 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.83 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned ($0.40) earnings per share. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 124.8% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, research analysts anticipate that Las Vegas Sands will post 1.7 EPS for the current fiscal year.

In other news, Director Charles D. Forman sold 15,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, April 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $63.17, for a total transaction of $947,550.00. Following the sale, the director now owns 205,984 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $13,012,009.28. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 0.91% of the companys stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Las Vegas Sands

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Allworth Financial LP grew its stake in shares of Las Vegas Sands by 17.9% during the 4th quarter. Allworth Financial LP now owns 1,385 shares of the casino operators stock worth $67,000 after purchasing an additional 210 shares during the period. Czech National Bank grew its stake in shares of Las Vegas Sands by 0.8% during the 4th quarter. Czech National Bank now owns 38,470 shares of the casino operators stock worth $1,849,000 after purchasing an additional 293 shares during the period. Anomaly Capital Management LP grew its stake in Las Vegas Sands by 270.7% in the 4th quarter. Anomaly Capital Management LP now owns 1,993,958 shares of the casino operators stock valued at $95,850,000 after acquiring an additional 1,456,042 shares during the period. Vanguard Personalized Indexing Management LLC grew its stake in Las Vegas Sands by 2.5% in the 4th quarter. Vanguard Personalized Indexing Management LLC now owns 28,347 shares of the casino operators stock valued at $1,363,000 after acquiring an additional 691 shares during the period. Finally, FUKOKU MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE Co acquired a new stake in Las Vegas Sands in the 4th quarter valued at $210,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 39.66% of the companys stock.

Las Vegas Sands Company Profile

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Las Vegas Sands Corp., together with its subsidiaries, develops, owns, and operates integrated resorts in Macao and Singapore. It owns and operates The Venetian Macao Resort Hotel, the Londoner Macao, The Parisian Macao, The Plaza Macao and Four Seasons Hotel Macao, Cotai Strip, and the Sands Macao in Macao, the People's Republic of China; and Marina Bay Sands in Singapore.

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Gen. Italo Balbo, center, shakes hands with Italian Americans at the Drake Hotel on July 15, 1933, in Chicago. Balbo was returning from a ceremony at Soldier Field where he and his flying companions were greeted by federal, state, city and Worlds Fair officials and cheered by a crowd of 60,000 people. (Chicago Tribune historical photo)

Italian Gen. Italo Balbos arrival in Chicago was a spectacular performance freighted with future history. Early on the evening of July 15, 1933, his air fleet could be glimpsed amid the enveloping mists of the citys heavily industrialized South Side.

The sight broke the palpable tension rippling through an immense crowd lining the citys lakefront. Balbo and the 24 airplanes under his command were late, having had to improvise a route from Montreal for the last leg in their 6,100-mile journey from Rome.

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We had to modify the course passing to the north of Lake Ontario because thunderstorms were forming there, Balbo explained after landing. Throughout the day we found turbulent air, which taxed our nerves.

Only 30 years before, Wilber Wright had flown 120 feet in a bare-bones airplane. The Wright brothers had received design advice from Octave Chanute, who in 1896 got aloft in a nonmotorized glider in Miller Beach, Indiana  over which Balbos squadron likely passed shortly before arriving in Chicago.

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But while the Wrights first aircraft looked like a glider with a motor, Balbos planes were heavyweights: multiton metal monsters equipped with pontoons enabling them to take off and land on water.

Gen. Italo Balbo lands his seaplane, one of a squadron of 24 planes, on a flight from Italy to Chicago's Century of Progress Worlds Fair on July 15, 1933. (Chicago Herald and Examiner)

They flew in a tight 24-craft formation with Balbos plane above and behind the others.

Seagulls flew ahead of the planes as if to show them how to do it, wrote a Tribune reporter who watched them pass over the site of Chicagos 1933 Worlds Fair and the Loop. One large gull circled and banked and soared near the planes as they came down lower and lower, facing North and heading for the shelter of the breakwater.

Awaiting the rest of his squadron, Balbo strolled on his airplanes wing, a swagger stick in one hand. He lit a cigaret, surveyed the scene and smiled happily, reported the Tribune, which also opined that he looked like a gentleman headed to an afternoon tea.

When he did come ashore on Navy Pier, Balbo pronounced: Chicago  grande metropoli.

Gen. Italo Balbo is photographed on his Savoia-Marchetti plane after landing on Lake Michigan near Navy Pier in Chicago on July 15, 1933. (Chicago Tribune historical photo)

He and his squadron were driven to Soldier Field where 60,000 people had waited for them all afternoon. Their appetites had been whetted ahead of their arrival by Tribune headlines like:

Italian Flyers Board Planes, But Snow in Alps Halts Takeoff

Italian Airmen Held in Ireland by Bad Weather

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Flying Italians in Iceland: Pierce Fog in 7-Hour Flight from Ireland

Gen. Balbo and 24 Planes Span North Atlantic

Chicago recognizes the honor bestowed upon it by this great flight, Mayor Ed Kelly announced when Balbos flyers appeared in Soldier Field.

The City Council has decreed that a thoroughfare (7th Street) leading to the fairgrounds from downtown streets shall be known as Balbo Avenue.

Balbo gave a speech in Italian, which much of the audience could only grasp a few words, like: Duce ... Italia  Fascist ... Mussolini. He finished by swinging his arm overhead in a military salute and shouting: Viva Chicago!

When the cheering finally died down, the Italian ambassador translated Balbos speech: We have today accomplished the mission entrusted to us by our chiefs. It was to bring a message of friendship from the new Italy to the United States.

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Thousands jam Navy Pier at the mouth of the Chicago River to watch Gen. Italo Balbos air fleet land on July 15, 1933, in Chicago. (Chicago Tribune historical photo)

Balbos voyage also bore a message for the Italian people. A decade earlier, fascist leader Benito Mussolini had seized power by promising to make Italy great again. The glory of Roman times would be restored by the new Italy.

The redemption of that promise would be demonstrated by exhibiting state-of-the-art Italian airplanes at a worlds fair with the theme A Century of Progress. There, Italys consul general in Chicago broadcast a real-time narrative of the days events to listeners in Italy.

By 1933, it was clear that the next war would be fought with huge airplanes carrying bombs to distant targets, and would fly in formation for mutual protection. Balbos flight would show that Italy was ready to meet the challenge.

The Italian aviators first day in Chicago ended at the tony Saddle and Cycle Club on Foster Avenue. The plan was to introduce Balbo to Chicagos elite and vice versa at teatime. But it was nearing midnight when the Italians arrived.

Pretty young sub debs in their frilliest and most becoming organdies, and dowagers in their Queen Mary hats greeted them and stopped them to ask for their autographs as they tried to go upstairs, the Tribunes society columnist wrote.

A few flyers eyed the finger sandwiches the Dante Alighieri Society laid out for them before joining their comrades who were chomping on huge steaks, the Tribune reported. At midnight, Gen. Balbo appeared at the reception, attired in a handsome white uniform.

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Gen. Italo Balbo, center, talks with Gov. Henry Horner, left, and Augusto Rosso, Italian ambassador to Washington D.C., during a stop at the Illinois Host Building at the Century of Progress Worlds Fair in Chicago in July 1933. (Chicago Tribune historical photo)

The next day, there was a Michigan Avenue parade in the Italians honor. At the fairs Indian Village, Sioux dancers encircled Balbo as he was dubbed Chief Flying Eagle.

The Tribunes James ODonnell Bennett reached for poetry to convey the emotional outpouring at the Italian generals farewell parade.

Up the sunlit avenue that fronts the lake they ride, and closed rank thousands give them hale and farewell, he wrote. From Eighth street on the south to the river on the north the people are standing 10 to 15 feet deep on the west side of Michigan Avenue.

Seeing women waving handkerchiefs and parasols, Bennett added:

To them all  to women of every race and station  this bearded man who thinks so cautiously and acts so audaciously is Penelopes Ulysses come true.

By then, Mussolini had had it with the adulation Balbo was getting. Someone else being compared to ancient heroes? His response was to write Balbo out of the story.

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Balbos reception in the United States has been converted into acclaim for Mussolini and a eulogy of his work, with Balbo hardly getting into the picture as it has been presented to the Italian public, the Tribunes Rome correspondent reported on July 23.

Gen. Italo Balbo salutes as a band plays the national anthem just before the flyers depart from Navy Pier in Chicago in July 1933. (Chicago Tribune historical photo)

The retelling claimed that: Italian mothers in America held up their babes as Balbo passed and said: These are for Mussolini.

The following month, Balbo was stripped of his air force command and made governor of Libya, a North African colony. It was a stunning demotion for the famous aviator that the government awkwardly tried to spin:

His knowledge of aviation, air officers said, would help him in a colony where air travel plays a large part in keeping tribesmen in the interior under control, the Tribune reported.

The scuttlebutt was that Balbos banishment was designed to keep his political shadow from darkening the Piazza Venezia, the site of Mussolinis palace. Balbo had long been considered a logical successor to Il Duce, but he made the best of his North Africa posting.

He rode a white horse with the air of a desert chieftain before Libyan natives, the Tribune recalled when Balbo was killed in 1940.

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His airplane was shot down over an airfield that had just been attacked by the British. By most accounts, Balbos plane was mistaken as an enemy aircraft, and shot down by Italian fire. World War II began the previous year, with Britain and Italy on opposite sides.

Balbos association with fascism has engendered ongoing controversy over whether Chicago should have a street named in his honor.

But in the immediate aftermath of Balbos death, a wave of sorrow passed over political and ideological borders. Rome was draped in mourning black. A memorial Mass would be celebrated in Chicago.

And upon being informed of Balbos death, the commander of the British air force in the Middle East ordered a wreath be dropped over Tobruk, Libya, where he was killed. It carried a note that read:

The British Royal Air Force expresses its sympathy in the death of General Balbo  a great leader and gallant aviator, personally known to me, whom fate has placed on the other side.

Have an idea for Vintage Chicago Tribune? Share it with Ron Grossman and Marianne Mather at rgrossman@chicagotribune.com and mmather@chicagotribune.com.
Israeli occupation forces arrested at least 10 Palestinians during raids across the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, on Saturday night and Sunday, according to local sources and witnesses cited by Palestinian News Agency WAFA.

During confrontations in the Silwan neighborhoud of occupied Jerusalem, Israeli police arrested a Palestinian young man named Ahmad Jamil Silwadi, along with his father who was trying to intervene.

Israeli occupation forces arrested two Palestinians and injured another with live bullets during a raid on the town of Tell in Nablus, while a third Palestinian was arrested in a simultaneous raid on the nearby town of Qusin.

Local sources reported that Israeli forces blocked the two main entrances to the village of Tuqu in Bethlehem province, preventing locals from entering or leaving.

Hours after a Palestinian gunman opened fire on a car in the occupied West Bank, injuring three Israelis, the Israeli authorities made this announcement.

What's more, dozens of extremist Israeli settlers, guarded by the police, broke into the courtyards of the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied Jerusalem.

Scores of Israeli settlers entered the compound through the Moroccan Gate in groups and performed rituals under the protection of Israeli police officers, according to local sources.

Israeli occupation authorities have been allowing Israeli settlers into the compound almost daily since 2003, violating the longstanding status quo, stipulating that non-Muslims can visit the site at specific times but are not allowed to pray there.

These incidents reached a head in April when Israeli police assaulted the mosque, attacking Palestinian worshippers and injuring at least 50 and arresting hundreds.

In 1967, Israel captured East Jerusalem, where Al-Aqsa Mosque is located, in a move that has never been recognized by the international community.

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Scully Royalty Ltd. (NYSE:SRL  Get Free Report) was the recipient of a large increase in short interest in June. As of June 30th, there was short interest totalling 3,600 shares, an increase of 500.0% from the June 15th total of 600 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 8,800 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 0.4 days. Approximately 0.1% of the shares of the stock are short sold.

Scully Royalty Stock Performance

Shares of Scully Royalty stock remained flat at $6.97 during trading on Friday. The stock had a trading volume of 3,011 shares, compared to its average volume of 8,494. The company has a quick ratio of 4.16, a current ratio of 4.18 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.13. The firms fifty day simple moving average is $7.13 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $7.40. Scully Royalty has a twelve month low of $6.11 and a twelve month high of $9.83.

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Scully Royalty Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a Variable dividend, which was paid on Friday, May 19th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, May 9th were given a dividend of $0.17 per share. This represents a dividend yield of 11.4%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, May 8th.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Scully Royalty

About Scully Royalty

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of SRL. UBS Group AG raised its holdings in Scully Royalty by 52.3% during the 3rd quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 3,783 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $28,000 after buying an additional 1,299 shares during the period. Captrust Financial Advisors purchased a new position in shares of Scully Royalty in the second quarter worth approximately $59,000. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada raised its holdings in shares of Scully Royalty by 24.1% during the first quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 235,811 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $2,316,000 after acquiring an additional 45,776 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 29.90% of the companys stock.

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Scully Royalty Ltd. operates as an iron ore mining company in the Americas, Africa, Canada, Asia, and Europe. It operates through three segments: Royalty, Industrial, and Merchant Banking. The company holds royalty interest in the Scully iron ore mine located in the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.

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Shimano Inc. (OTCMKTS:SMNNY  Get Free Report) was the recipient of a significant decline in short interest in June. As of June 30th, there was short interest totalling 19,400 shares, a decline of 35.8% from the June 15th total of 30,200 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 229,700 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 0.1 days.

Shimano Price Performance

SMNNY traded down $0.35 during trading on Friday, reaching $17.51. The company had a trading volume of 41,409 shares, compared to its average volume of 88,512. Shimano has a 12 month low of $13.40 and a 12 month high of $19.02. The businesss fifty day moving average price is $16.26 and its 200 day moving average price is $16.45. The company has a market cap of $15.84 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.86 and a beta of 0.60.

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About Shimano

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Shimano Inc develops, produces, and distributes bicycle components, fishing tackles, and rowing equipment. It has operations in Japan, Asia, Europe, North America, Latin America, and Oceania. The company was founded in 1921 and is headquartered in Sakai, Japan.

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Embassy Bancorp, Inc. (OTCMKTS:EMYB  Get Free Report) saw a large decline in short interest in the month of June. As of June 30th, there was short interest totalling 100 shares, a decline of 50.0% from the June 15th total of 200 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 2,000 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 0.1 days.

Embassy Bancorp Trading Up 1.7 %

OTCMKTS:EMYB traded up $0.24 on Friday, hitting $14.74. 185 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 3,312. Embassy Bancorp has a 52 week low of $12.50 and a 52 week high of $21.40. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $14.06 and a 200-day moving average price of $16.22.

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Embassy Bancorp Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced an annual dividend, which was paid on Friday, July 14th. Shareholders of record on Friday, June 30th were given a dividend of $0.40 per share. This represents a dividend yield of 2.81%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, June 29th. This is a positive change from Embassy Bancorps previous annual dividend of $0.35. Embassy Bancorps dividend payout ratio is presently 6.87%.

About Embassy Bancorp

Embassy Bancorp, Inc operates as the bank holding company for the Embassy Bank for the Lehigh Valley that provides traditional banking and related financial services to individual, business, and government customers in Pennsylvania. The company's deposit products include savings, money market, individual retirement, and NOW accounts; demand and time deposits; and certificates of deposit.

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Loblaw Companies Limited (OTCMKTS:LBLCF  Get Free Report) was the target of a significant decrease in short interest during the month of June. As of June 30th, there was short interest totalling 573,600 shares, a decrease of 52.8% from the June 15th total of 1,214,000 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 1,400 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 409.7 days.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities research analysts have recently commented on LBLCF shares. National Bank Financial upped their target price on shares of Loblaw Companies from C$137.00 to C$140.00 in a report on Monday, April 10th. Scotiabank upped their target price on shares of Loblaw Companies from C$126.50 to C$128.50 in a report on Monday, April 24th.

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Loblaw Companies Price Performance

OTCMKTS LBLCF remained flat at $89.10 during trading hours on Friday. Loblaw Companies has a 1 year low of $77.15 and a 1 year high of $95.55. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $89.12 and a 200-day moving average price of $88.68.

About Loblaw Companies

Loblaw Companies Limited, a food and pharmacy company, engages in the grocery, pharmacy, health and beauty, apparel, general merchandise, financial services, and wireless mobile products and services businesses in Canada. It operates in two segments, Retail and Financial Services. The Retail segment operates corporate and franchise-owned retail food, and associate-owned drug stores.

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Nuveen Real Estate Income Fund (NYSE:JRS  Get Free Report) was the recipient of a significant decline in short interest in June. As of June 30th, there was short interest totalling 900 shares, a decline of 84.5% from the June 15th total of 5,800 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 74,300 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 0.0 days.

Nuveen Real Estate Income Fund Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:JRS traded down $0.04 during trading on Friday, hitting $7.61. 73,083 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 80,788. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $7.26 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $7.67. Nuveen Real Estate Income Fund has a 12-month low of $6.78 and a 12-month high of $10.57.

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Nuveen Real Estate Income Fund Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, July 3rd. Shareholders of record on Thursday, June 15th were issued a $0.17 dividend. This represents a $0.68 annualized dividend and a yield of 8.94%. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, June 14th.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

About Nuveen Real Estate Income Fund

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in JRS. Private Advisor Group LLC acquired a new position in shares of Nuveen Real Estate Income Fund during the 1st quarter worth approximately $2,127,000. Atria Wealth Solutions Inc. acquired a new position in Nuveen Real Estate Income Fund in the 1st quarter valued at $1,529,000. Advisors Asset Management Inc. raised its holdings in Nuveen Real Estate Income Fund by 16.5% in the 4th quarter. Advisors Asset Management Inc. now owns 753,819 shares of the companys stock valued at $5,699,000 after acquiring an additional 106,679 shares during the last quarter. Baird Financial Group Inc. raised its holdings in Nuveen Real Estate Income Fund by 18.1% in the 4th quarter. Baird Financial Group Inc. now owns 355,011 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,684,000 after acquiring an additional 54,530 shares during the last quarter. Finally, LPL Financial LLC raised its holdings in Nuveen Real Estate Income Fund by 23.3% in the 2nd quarter. LPL Financial LLC now owns 256,661 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,413,000 after acquiring an additional 48,422 shares during the last quarter.

(Get Free Report)

Nuveen Real Estate Income Fund is a closed-ended equity mutual fund launched by Nuveen Investments Inc The fund is managed by Security Capital Research & Management Incorporated. It invests in the public equity markets of the United States. The fund makes its investments in stocks of companies operating in the real-estate sector.

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PIMCO Municipal Income Fund II (NYSE:PML  Get Free Report) saw a significant decline in short interest during the month of June. As of June 30th, there was short interest totalling 96,300 shares, a decline of 49.7% from the June 15th total of 191,500 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 139,200 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 0.7 days.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On PIMCO Municipal Income Fund II

Several large investors have recently modified their holdings of PML. Moors & Cabot Inc. raised its stake in shares of PIMCO Municipal Income Fund II by 7.1% during the first quarter. Moors & Cabot Inc. now owns 15,000 shares of the investment management companys stock worth $173,000 after purchasing an additional 1,000 shares during the last quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC raised its stake in shares of PIMCO Municipal Income Fund II by 16.2% during the first quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 30,199 shares of the investment management companys stock worth $347,000 after purchasing an additional 4,200 shares during the last quarter. Meridian Wealth Partners LLC purchased a new stake in shares of PIMCO Municipal Income Fund II during the first quarter worth approximately $230,000. Rivernorth Capital Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of PIMCO Municipal Income Fund II during the first quarter worth approximately $193,000. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada raised its position in PIMCO Municipal Income Fund II by 7.1% in the first quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 156,457 shares of the investment management companys stock worth $1,799,000 after acquiring an additional 10,347 shares in the last quarter.

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PIMCO Municipal Income Fund II Price Performance

NYSE PML traded down $0.22 on Friday, reaching $9.08. The stock had a trading volume of 237,972 shares, compared to its average volume of 177,258. PIMCO Municipal Income Fund II has a 12-month low of $8.55 and a 12-month high of $12.36. The businesss 50-day moving average price is $9.04 and its 200 day moving average price is $9.16.

PIMCO Municipal Income Fund II Dividend Announcement

PIMCO Municipal Income Fund II Company Profile

The company also recently disclosed a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, August 1st. Shareholders of record on Thursday, July 13th will be paid a $0.0395 dividend. This represents a $0.47 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 5.22%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, July 12th.

(Get Free Report)

PIMCO Municipal Income Fund II is a closed ended fixed income mutual fund launched and managed by Allianz Global Investors Fund Management LLC. The fund is co-managed by Pacific Investment Management Company LLC. It invests in fixed income markets. The fund invests in stocks of companies operating across diversified sectors.

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Shares of Spirit AeroSystems Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:SPR  Get Free Report) have earned a consensus recommendation of Hold from the fourteen brokerages that are presently covering the firm, MarketBeat reports. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, five have given a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating on the company. The average 12-month target price among brokers that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $35.71.

Several equities analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. StockNews.com raised shares of Spirit AeroSystems from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research report on Friday, July 7th. Benchmark raised shares of Spirit AeroSystems from a hold rating to a buy rating and set a $45.00 price target on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, April 19th. Susquehanna lowered their price target on shares of Spirit AeroSystems from $44.00 to $37.00 in a research report on Thursday, May 4th. Sanford C. Bernstein lowered their price target on shares of Spirit AeroSystems from $38.00 to $29.00 in a research report on Thursday, May 4th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada lowered their price target on shares of Spirit AeroSystems from $36.00 to $32.00 in a research report on Thursday, May 4th.

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Institutional Investors Weigh In On Spirit AeroSystems

A number of hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in SPR. Private Advisor Group LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Spirit AeroSystems in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $576,000. Natixis Advisors L.P. acquired a new stake in shares of Spirit AeroSystems in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $772,000. MetLife Investment Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Spirit AeroSystems in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $169,000. Panagora Asset Management Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Spirit AeroSystems in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $200,000. Finally, BlackRock Inc. boosted its position in Spirit AeroSystems by 4.0% during the 1st quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 5,332,086 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $260,687,000 after buying an additional 205,899 shares during the period. 89.07% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Spirit AeroSystems Stock Down 2.4 %

NYSE SPR opened at $28.43 on Friday. The firms fifty day moving average price is $27.90 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $31.03. Spirit AeroSystems has a 1 year low of $21.14 and a 1 year high of $38.55.

Spirit AeroSystems (NYSE:SPR  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, May 3rd. The aerospace company reported ($1.69) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of ($0.31) by ($1.38). The firm had revenue of $1.43 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.52 billion. Spirit AeroSystems had a negative return on equity of 365.67% and a negative net margin of 14.64%. The businesss revenue was up 21.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the company posted $0.03 earnings per share. On average, analysts anticipate that Spirit AeroSystems will post -1.96 earnings per share for the current year.

About Spirit AeroSystems

(Get Free Report

Spirit AeroSystems Holdings, Inc engages in the design, engineering, manufacture, and marketing of commercial aerostructures worldwide. It operates through three segments: Commercial, Defense & Space, and Aftermarket. The Commercial segment offers forward, mid, and rear fuselage sections and systems, nacelles, struts/pylons, horizontal and vertical stabilizers, flaps and slats flight control surfaces, wing structures, and fully functional and tested wing systems.

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StockNews.com lowered shares of Dana (NYSE:DAN  Free Report) from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note released on Thursday morning.

DAN has been the topic of several other research reports. Barclays raised their target price on shares of Dana from $17.00 to $19.00 in a report on Monday, July 10th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lifted their price target on shares of Dana from $15.00 to $16.00 in a research note on Monday, May 1st. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price target on shares of Dana from $15.00 to $18.00 in a research note on Monday, July 10th. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $17.25.

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Dana Trading Down 1.8 %

NYSE:DAN opened at $17.82 on Thursday. The companys 50 day moving average price is $15.25 and its 200-day moving average price is $15.63. Dana has a 52 week low of $11.17 and a 52 week high of $19.30. The company has a quick ratio of 0.87, a current ratio of 1.47 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.40. The stock has a market cap of $2.57 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -11.07 and a beta of 2.44.

Dana Announces Dividend

Dana ( NYSE:DAN Get Free Report ) last issued its earnings results on Friday, April 28th. The auto parts company reported $0.25 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.14 by $0.11. Dana had a negative net margin of 2.24% and a positive return on equity of 3.92%. The company had revenue of $2.64 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.56 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $0.16 earnings per share. The firms quarterly revenue was up 6.6% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities research analysts forecast that Dana will post 0.69 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, June 2nd. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 12th were given a dividend of $0.10 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, May 11th. This represents a $0.40 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.24%. Danas payout ratio is -24.84%.

Institutional Trading of Dana

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the company. Versant Capital Management Inc bought a new stake in shares of Dana during the 2nd quarter valued at $26,000. Captrust Financial Advisors raised its position in shares of Dana by 121.5% during the 2nd quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 5,502 shares of the auto parts companys stock valued at $77,000 after purchasing an additional 3,018 shares during the period. Essex Investment Management Co. LLC increased its holdings in Dana by 15.7% in the 1st quarter. Essex Investment Management Co. LLC now owns 7,866 shares of the auto parts companys stock valued at $118,000 after acquiring an additional 1,068 shares during the last quarter. CIBC Private Wealth Group LLC bought a new stake in Dana in the 4th quarter valued at $257,000. Finally, Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentucky bought a new stake in Dana in the 3rd quarter valued at $335,000. 93.67% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Dana Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Dana Incorporated provides power-conveyance and energy-management solutions for vehicles and machinery in North America, Europe, South America, and the Asia Pacific. It operates in four segments: Light Vehicle Drive Systems, Commercial Vehicle Drive and Motion Systems, Off-Highway Drive and Motion Systems, and Power Technologies.

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Xero (OTCMKTS:XROLF  Get Free Report) is one of 304 public companies in the SoftwareApplication industry, but how does it compare to its competitors? We will compare Xero to related businesses based on the strength of its analyst recommendations, earnings, valuation, profitability, institutional ownership, risk and dividends.

Profitability

This table compares Xero and its competitors net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

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Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Xero N/A N/A N/A Xero Competitors -27.79% -231.83% -6.01%

Analyst Ratings

This is a summary of recent recommendations for Xero and its competitors, as reported by MarketBeat.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Xero 0 0 0 1 4.00 Xero Competitors 394 1793 4351 37 2.61

Valuation and Earnings

As a group, SoftwareApplication companies have a potential upside of 30.29%. Given Xeros competitors higher probable upside, analysts plainly believe Xero has less favorable growth aspects than its competitors.

This table compares Xero and its competitors top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio Xero N/A N/A -257.72 Xero Competitors $650.26 million -$56.45 million 386.37

Xeros competitors have higher revenue, but lower earnings than Xero. Xero 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.

Insider & Institutional Ownership

10.5% of Xero shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 34.3% of shares of all SoftwareApplication companies are held by institutional investors. 29.3% of shares of all SoftwareApplication companies are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, hedge funds and endowments believe a company will outperform the market over the long term.

Summary

Xero competitors beat Xero on 6 of the 11 factors compared.

Xero Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Xero Limited, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a software as a service company in New Zealand, Australia, the United Kingdom, and internationally. The company offers Xero, an open platform that connects small businesses to a range of solutions, which helps to manage their finances. It also provides Xero mobile app; and accountant/bookkeeper tools, including Xero HQ, Xero Practice Manager, Xero Workpapers, and Xero Cashbook or Xero Ledger. Xero Limited was incorporated in 2006 and is headquartered in Wellington, New Zealand.

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Japan issued heatstroke alerts Sunday to tens of millions of people as near-record high temperatures scorched swathes of the country, while torrential rain pummelled other regions.

National broadcaster NHK warned viewers that the heat was at life-threatening levels, as temperatures soared to nearly 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) in some places, including the capital Tokyo.

"Please stay hydrated and use air conditioners appropriately, and refrain from outings that seem difficult," a news presenter said.

The government issued heatstroke alerts for 20 of the country's 47 prefectures, mainly in the east and southwest, affecting tens of millions of people.

Heat can kill by inducing heatstroke, which damages the brain, kidneys and other organs, but it can also trigger other conditions such as a heart attack or breathing problems.

Kiryu city in Gunma prefecture, north of Tokyo, saw the mercury reach 39.7C while Hachioji in western Tokyo reached 38.9C, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency.

Japan's highest temperature ever recorded was 41.1C, which was first recorded in Kumagaya city, in Saitama, in 2018 and then matched in Hamamatsu city, Shizuoka, in 2020.

Some places experienced their highest temperatures in more than four decades on Sunday, including Hirono town in Fukushima prefecture with 37.3C, and hot spring resort city Nasushiobara with 35.4C, according to the weather agency's data.

Meanwhile, torrential rain continued to lash northern Japan, where flooding and at least one landslide have been recorded.

A man was found dead in a car submerged in a rice field in Akita prefecture, police told AFP, a week after seven people were killed in similar weather in the country's southwest.

Since last weekend, a heavy band of precipitation has dumped record-breaking amounts of rain in some parts of Japan, causing rivers to overflow and sodden earth to collapse in landslides.

Japan is experiencing its annual rainy season, which often brings heavy downpours, and sometimes results in flooding and landslides, as well as casualties.

But scientists say climate change is intensifying the risk of heavy rains in Japan and elsewhere because a warmer atmosphere holds more water.

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With a number of countries approaching India for negotiating bilateral free trade agreements (FTAs) to boost economic ties, the commerce ministry is looking at ways to increase its bandwidth for undertaking these time and human resource consuming talks, a senior official said. The commerce ministry officials, at present, are negotiating several FTAs with countries including the UK, Canada and European Union.



"Negotiations are really time consuming and energy consuming and human resource consuming. Therefore, we are trying to increase the bandwidth within the commerce department," the government official said.



Indian trade service officers are expected to be engaged more in the negotiations of free trade agreements. Latin American countries such as Peru are also interested in doing an FTA with India and India is also looking deeply into that, the official said.



South American trade bloc MERCOSUR is also keen to expand the scope of existing preferential trade agreements to an FTA. India and the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) group is also looking to negotiate a trade pact. South American trade bloc MERCOSUR is also keen to expand the scope of existing preferential trade agreements to an FTA. India and the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) group is also looking to negotiate a trade pact. India has also expressed an interest to do these negotiations bilaterally or individually with Africa.



MERCOSUR comprises Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay with Bolivia and Chile as associate members. It was formed in 1991 with the objective of free movement of goods, capital, services and people in the region.



In trade agreements, two or more countries either significantly reduce or eliminate customs duties on the maximum number of goods traded between them. Besides, they also ease norms for promoting trade in services and increasing investments.



According to a trade expert, in an FTA, the department of commerce leads the team. The important ministries involved in these negotiations include the departments of revenue, chemicals, pharma, fertiliser, textiles, heavy industries, and the department for promotion of industry and internal trade (DPIIT).



As new subjects like e-commerce, labour, environment, gender and sustainability are entering into these agreements, officers dealing with these issues from different ministries are playing an important role in the negotiations.



Institutes like Centre for WTO Studies, private experts and lawyers too get engaged in these talks. Institutes like Centre for WTO Studies, private experts and lawyers too get engaged in these talks. The commerce ministry is planning to restructure the department and as part of that, there is a proposal to set up a Global Trade Promotion Organization (GTPO).



The GTPO is a key recommendation of a report for revamping the Department of Commerce. It is expected to play a key role in future export promotion initiatives in the country. The proposed body would be manned by the trade service officers at key positions, it added. Another expert said that the government officials involved in these negotiations should carefully listen to the views of all the stakeholders and then act accordingly.



"There should be a clear strategy and roadmap to negotiate these FTAs. It should not be the case that if the officer incharge gets transferred to another department, the strategy of negotiations changes and that is the fundamental issue," the expert, who did not wish to be named, said.



Trade negotiations with partner countries is a dynamic and continuous process for obtaining better market access for Indias exports and other business opportunities.



India has signed 13 free trade agreements with countries like Japan, Korea, and the UAE and six preferential pacts so far with its trading partners for ensuring greater market access for domestic goods and promoting exports. The country has recently signed three such agreements with Mauritius, the UAE and Australia.



In all the FTAs, the core subjects which are negotiated include trade in goods, services; rules of origin; technical barriers to trade and sanitary and phyto-sanitary measures; customs procedures and trade facilitation; trade remedies; legal and institutional issues; and movement of professionals. In these chapters, the main focus is on getting greater market access.



The additional subjects in a trade pact include sustainability (environment, labour); Geographical Indications (GIs); Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs); digital trade or e-commerce; government procurement; competition; gender; SMEs; anti-corruption; transparency; innovation; trade and development cooperation; and good regulatory practices. In these areas, FTA partners focus on harmonizing domestic regulations. Core subjects are negotiated in all FTAs. Additional subjects are picked and chosen and decided mutually. EU, UK trade agreements include most of the additional subjects.



Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) Co-founder Ajay Srivastava said that India before "saying yes" to new negotiations must make an assessment of how much will Indias exports increase post-FTA.



"The term to focus on is Real Additional Market Access (RAMA). RAMA is the export value of Indian products where non-zero MFN (most favoured nation) duty in partner countries becomes zero post-FTA, and as a result product becomes cheaper than the price charged by the nearest competitor," he noted.



Srivastava added that RAMA gives a common sense understanding of the likelihood of an increase in exports post-FTA. "Indias weak export performance with FTA partners should not surprise us. It happened because of high tariffs in India and significantly lower tariffs in its FTA partners. We could have anticipated the results even before the signing of the agreements," he said.
The Indian Presidency's guidance note on crypto will serve as an input in the discussions that will take place prior to next month's G20 Leaders' Summit where India is hoping for "some kind of outcome" in this area. These discussions will be on the synthesis paper by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and Switzerland-based Financial Stability Board (FSB), tasked with the responsibility to synthesise the macroeconomic and regulatory perspectives of crypto-assets to help formulate policies.



The IMF-FSB synthesis paper is expected to be submitted before the Leaders' Summit. The guidance note will summarise all the work that has been done by various countries and organisations such as the IMF, FSB, and Bank for International Settlements, among others.



According to a source aware of developments, India expects an outcome to be reached with regard to crypto at the Leaders' Summit that will be held from September 9-10 in New Delhi. This "outcome" could range from recognition or appreciation of the kind of work which has taken place under India's Presidency to even perhaps a roadmap that may be agreed upon by the G20 members.



"If that roadmap is helpful, it can be carried forward to the next Presidency and it can be decided what is to be done: regulate or have a template. If there is a template, who does what, the implementation and legislative requirements, et cetera," the source said on July 16 on condition of anonymity.



Also read: Ban on crypto emerges as possibility as countries see need for regulation



The comments come ahead of the third meeting of G20 finance ministers and central bank governors which starts on July 17 in Gandhinagar, where crypto is expected to be one of the key talking points.



India has been at the forefront of crypto-related discussions and has been looking to build an international consensus on regulating them, with its argument being that only a global collaboration would be effective given the cross-border scale, scope, and challenges they present. At the second meeting of G20 finance ministers and central bank governors in Bengaluru, Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Shaktikanta Das had said that some members of the G20 were of the opinion that a complete ban on crypto should be considered. Discussions on the matter have continued since the Bengaluru meeting at various forums, including the IMF-World Bank Spring Meetings in Washington DC earlier this year in April.
Members of the G20 continue to face resistance from China on the issue of a common debt restructuring principle, a source aware of developments said on July 16.



According to the person, the approach in the G20 meetings has been to let all players involved come together and come to some sort of common understanding  be it about loans given to governments from other governments or entities.



"In this, there is some not-so-encouraging response from China. But we are all working on it," the source said on condition of anonymity.



The source, however, added that all was not lost and China's willingness to come on board for the Chair's Summary that was issued following the second meeting of the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors was crucial. As such, China is expected to participate in the third meeting of Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors in Gandhinagar on July 17 and July 18, the source added.



Debt relief and restructuring of vulnerable countries is one of the key issues that India has been pushing under its Presidency of the G20. Speaking to reporters earlier today on July 16, US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said that she will push for "full and timely participation" of all bilateral official creditors on pending debt restructuring cases. While Yellen said she was pleased with the progress made in the case of Zambia, it had taken "too long".



"We should apply the common principles we agreed to in Zambia's case in other cases  rather than starting at zero every time. And we must go faster," Yellen had said in her statement, adding that releasing a 'user guide' for borrower countries would provide crucial clarity and predictability about the debt treatment process.



As per the source mentioned above, while a common understanding was crucial to resolving the debt issue, a 'one-size-fits-all' approach had to take into account every country's position and as such had to be "a bit open".



"We have not arrived at any formula," the source added.
Indian authorities are in talks with their Indonesian counterparts to settle cross-border transactions in local currencies.



According to a source aware of developments, India and Indonesia are also talking about linking their fast payment systems. This follows the signing of two Memorandums of Understanding between India and the United Arab Emirates on July 15 to set up a framework to use their respective local currencies to settle bilateral transactions and to link their fast payment systems.



"Like UAE, there are talks going on with Indonesia on something similar: real-time settlement and trading in local currencies," a source aware of developments said on July 16.



"Talks are going on. It will get done soon," the source added.



Ministerial-level talks between the two countries took place on July 16 in Gandhinagar ahead of the third meeting of G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors, with Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and her Indonesia counterpart Sri Mulyani Indrawati announcing the launch of an Economic and Financial Dialogue between the two countries.



In her remarks, Sri Mulyani Indrawati said the two finance ministers discussed how they could strengthen their bilateral co-operation.



"We also discussed any possibility of co-operation on digital technology, payments systems under the central bank, and using more local currency (for trade)," the Indonesian finance minister said in a joint statement with Sitharaman.



Over the last year, Indian authorities have tried to push the use of the rupee globally, with the RBI announcing the setting up of a mechanism to settle global trade in rupees in July 2022. Early use of this system was seemingly for the purchase of discounted oil from sanction-hit Russia following its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.



However, the mechanism has not taken off, with reports emerging that negotiations over the settlement of bilateral trade in rupees between India and Russia had been suspended after Russia had accumulated billions of rupees in Indian banks which it could not use.



Instead, India continues to use US dollars to pay for the majority of its oil imports from Russia with only a small portion being paid in a mix of currencies, including dirhams and the Chinese Yuan, Moneycontrol reported on July 14 quoting a government source.
Canadian pension funds would be keen to explore investment opportunities in Indian infrastructure funds as India offers a stable investment climate, Canadian deputy prime minister and minister of finance Chrystia Freeland said on July 16. Freeland met Indian finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman in Gujarats Gandhinagar a day ahead of the third meeting of G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) has already invested in Indias National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF), a collaborative platform between the government of India, global investors, multilateral development banks (MDB) and domestic financial institutions. Other NIIF global investors include Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA), PSP Investments, Temasek and US International Development Finance Corporation (US DFC). NIIF has three funds Master Fund, Fund of Funds and Strategic Opportunities Fund  that have invested in 16 entities covering ports and logistics, renewable energy, roads, digital infrastructure, healthcare and manufacturing among others. Also Read | G20: Need better, not just bigger, multilateral development banks, says Janet Yellen The two sides also discussed the progress made on the ongoing trade-related negotiations between India and Canada, Indias finance ministry tweeted. Union Finance Minister Smt. @nsitharaman and Canadian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Ms Chrystia Freeland @cafreeland met on the sidelines of the 3rd G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors #G20FMCBG meeting in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, today. Building on the pic.twitter.com/8rTWcMuWlh  Ministry of Finance (@FinMinIndia) July 16, 2023 After relaunching negotiations in March 2022, the two countries have concluded eight rounds of negotiations for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). A fresh round of virtual talks opened on July 12 and is expected to continue till July 21. Origin procedures, dispute settlements, trade in telecom and financial services are some of the areas of negotiations between India and Canada for the proposed trade pact. 

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India and Indonesia on July 16 announced the launch of an Economic and Financial Dialogue, with Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman saying the dialogue will facilitate better co-operation between India and Southeast Asia and contribute to global economic and financial stability.



"Since the adoption of India's 'Look East Policy' in 1991, and the 'Act East Policy' in the subsequent years, there has been a rapid development in bilateral relations between India and Indonesia, both in commercial and cultural fields. Indonesia has emerged as India's largest trading partner in the ASEAN region; our trade has increased eight-fold since 2005 and it touched $38 billion last year," Sitharaman said.



"In this background, we view this dialogue as an enabler for further deepening our partnership. We will be discussing issues of common interest that are mutually beneficial in enhancing our relationship with Indonesia," the minister added.



Sitharaman said the areas of co-operation would include bilateral investment, financial services, and infrastructure development, among others.



Both Sitharaman and her Indonesian counterpart Sri Mulyani Indrawati highlighted the similarities between India and Indonesia. Further, India has succeeded Indonesia as the G20 Presidency.



"there are several legacy issues which we are continuing to take forward during our Presidency. In this context, this dialogue can play an instrumental role in reaching a common understanding on issues, and take forward the global agenda from the perspective of EMDEs (emerging market and developing economies)," Sitharaman said.



On her part, Indrawati said her discussions with Sitharaman had been "very good", especially relating to how India and Indonesia can have stronger bilateral relations.
Federal investigators discovered a human remains trade with connections to Harvard Medical School and have arrested people in several states. According to prosecutors, the defendants were part of a nationwide network of people who bought and sold remains stolen from the medical school and an Arkansas mortuary.

One of those charged, 55-year-old Cedric Lodge, of New Hampshire, allegedly took dissected parts of cadavers that had been donated to Harvard in a scheme that started back in 2018, prosecutors said. Another person facing criminal charges, Katrina Maclean of Salem, Massachusetts, owned a store that sells creations that shock the mind with along with creepy dolls, oddities and bone art, according to the stores social media page.

WHO IS FACING CHARGES?

The indictment charges Lodge; his wife, Denise; Maclean; Joshua Taylor, of West Lawn, Pennsylvania; and Mathew Lampi, of East Bethel, Minnesota, with conspiracy and interstate transport of stolen goods. Authorities were first clued in to the nationwide network after the arrest of Jeremy Lee Pauley, who was charged with abuse of a corpse, receiving stolen property and other state charges in Pennsylvania in July 2022. Police say Pauley allegedly tried to buy stolen human remains from an Arkansas woman for possible resale on Facebook. An FBI affidavit in a Kentucky case last week said Pauley bought hearts, brains, lungs and two fetal specimens from the Arkansas woman, who had allegedly taken them from a mortuary.

WHAT HAPPENED IN KENTUCKY?

Last week, federal officials charged a Kentucky man who had communicated with Pauley on Facebook about the sale of skulls and spines. Investigators said in an affidavit that James Nott had 40 human skulls, spinal cords, femurs, and hip bones in his home during a search of his apartment in Mount Washington, Kentucky, on Tuesday. They found one skull wrapped in a head scarf and another on the bed where Nott slept, along with a Harvard medical school bag. During the search, an FBI agent asked Nott if anyone else was in the residence. He responded, only my dead friends. Nott also had several guns and ammunition in the apartment about 20 miles (32 kilometers) south of Louisville. Nott was charged by federal investigators with illegally possessing a firearm.

LAWS CONCERNING HUMAN REMAINS

There are no federal criminal statutes that deal with the mishandling or sale of human remains, and in most states, the sale of human remains is not illegal, said Tanya D. Marsh, a Wake Forest University law professor who has written books about cemetery and human remains law. Marsh said there is a widespread market for human remains and it's not expressly legal, but in a lot of states, its not expressly illegal either. She calls it a gray market. There are laws in many states against grave robbing, but the vast majority of states dont have any law that has to do with human remains that havent been buried yet," Marsh said.

DONATED BODIES

Medical schools like Harvard receive donated bodies after a person chooses to offer their remains upon death. After the bodies are used for research or education, some schools may offer to return the cremated remains to the family or bury them in a cemetery, Marsh said. Lodge, who was charged in the scheme, was a former manager at the Harvard Medical School morgue. He took the body parts from Harvard's morgue without the schools knowledge or permission, federal prosecutors said. The body parts in Pauley's case were originally donated to the University of Arkansas for medical research. They ended up being stolen from a mortuary where they were supposed to be cremated, authorities said.

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US Treasury Secretary has called for reforms that make multilateral development banks "better not just bigger" and sought certain reforms before a capital hike for these institutions.



Speaking in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, on July 16 ahead of the third meeting of G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors under India's presidency, Yellen listed out a few priorities to reform multilateral developments banks such as a framework for targeted use of concessional financing for global challenges, the option for the World Bank to lend to sub-sovereign and supra-sovereign entities such as COVAX to address global challenges, and streamlining the climate finance architecture to make sure development banks and specialised funds work together to deliver maximum impact.



"I believe that we should only explore capital increases after considering the reforms that I laid out along with those in the report. We should build better banks, not just bigger ones," Yellen said, stressing that it is essential these institutions "ramp up their private capital mobilisation rates".



Yellen's comments come even as the G20 discusses the first volume of the report by an expert group led by Larry Summers and NK Singh on reforming multilateral development banks. The report of the group, constituted on March 28 after India proposed its formation at the first meeting of the finance ministers and central bank governors in Bengaluru in February, will be made public on July 18.



In her remarks on July 16, Yellen said she was pleased with the Summers-Singh report's emphasis on incorporating global public goods into the mandates of multilateral development banks and its focus on making these institutions' operating model more responsive through changes to culture, incentives, and risk appetite.



"I also share the call for much more ambitious private sector engagement and efforts to make the whole system work better together. Finally, I support the request for swift implementation of the Capital Adequacy Framework recommendations," she added.



Commenting on the steps being undertaken by the World Bank, Yellen said efficiency improvements and balance sheet reforms will "responsibly unlock" $50 billion in additional lending capacity over the next decade. Further, she said the multilateral development banks system could unlock $200 billion over the next decade from the measures already being implemented or under deliberation.



There is potential for even more if the MDBs (multilateral development banks) undertake some of the longer-term and more complex recommendations in the G20 Capital Adequacy Framework report. This is $200 billion more in funding that we can use to advance key global priorities: spurring economic growth and reducing poverty, fighting climate change, and promoting human development," Yellen said.



China and Russia



Yellen, who was in China last week, said she told her counterparts that it was crucial the two countries work together to tackle global challenges.



"As the world's two largest economies, we have an obligation to the people in our nations and the world to cooperate on areas of mutual concern," Yellen said.



China has a key role to play in the G20's efforts to address debt vulnerabilities and distress among emerging market economies on account of it being the world's largest bilateral creditor. The Chinese government wants multilateral development banks to be included within the perimeters of debt restructuring so that the vulnerable countries can achieve debt sustainability as a large part of the debt is owed to these institutions.



Sovereign debt repayments to multilateral development banks take precedence over other creditors, resulting in their exclusion from sovereign debt restructuring.



"Over the past few years, we have seen debt vulnerabilities mount for many countries as a result of the pandemic and Russia's illegal war against Ukraine," Yellen noted, adding that she will continue to push for "full and timely participation of all bilateral official creditors on pending debt restructuring cases".



On Russia, Yellen reiterated the US' unequivocal support for Ukraine, saying that Russia's access to military equipment and technologies needed for the war will continue to be blocked.



"One of our core goals this year is to combat Russia's efforts to evade our sanctions. Our coalition is building on the actions we've taken in recent months to crack down on these efforts," she said.
The World Bank must make changes to its vision so that it can look at issues beyond poverty, President Ajay Banga has said.



Speaking on July 16 ahead of the third meeting of the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors in Gandhinagar, Banga said he was worried by the narrow definition of poverty.



"I have been six weeks in this job and I think what I am concerned about is that the definition of trying to eradicate poverty is inadequate without including challenges like climate change, pandemics, fragility, food insecurity  these are intertwined crises," Banga, who took charge as the President of the World Bank in early June, said.



"So when we talk about developing cities that are inclusive and useful for people to live in, we have to remember that it has become much more complicated because of the nature of the intertwined crises that our world is currently living through. What I am trying to say is that the World Bank should amend its vision to go from just being poverty-focused to saying 'Yes, we want to create a world that is free of poverty but we have to be on a liveable planet' That's kind of critical," he added.



Banga, who was delivering his remarks as part of an infrastructure investors' dialogue, said it was key to find sources of large capital which is needed to provide new infrastructure and services for new cities and upgrade ageing infrastructure in existing ones.



"We need to bolster these lagging private sector flows. We have all been talking about private capital flows that should somehow flow miraculously into all these places. We haven't done a very good job," Banga rued.



In this context, the World Bank President said the future of cities, including Indian ones, was municipal financing as they were "very credit worthy". However, as they were lacking in various aspects  lack of data to represent credit-worthiness of cities, inability to produce bankable projects, lack of credit analysis  they needed assistance either in the shape of first-loss guarantees or liquidity.



"But the reality is municipal financing is the answer for India to progress its cities and I know that Madam FM (Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman) understands this better than almost anyone in what she trying to build and deal with," Banga added.



Banga also said it was crucial to not keep tinkering with the design of project financing as the private sector required predictability to permit scaling.



"Once we know something works, it strikes me as very obvious that we should be scaling and replicating what works as many times as possible. Yet I struggle with why we keep trying to redefine and redesign the wheel for each new project. It's almost as though the intellectual exercise of designing a financing methodology for the next project is more important than actually getting to the scale of building many more projects," Banga said.



"We need to find sensible ways to replicate and scale because there's nothing the private sector likes more than replicating and scaling what works," he added.
Pen maker Flair Writing Industries Ltd has filed preliminary papers with capital markets regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) to raise Rs 745 crore through an initial public offering (IPO). The IPO comprises a fresh issue of equity shares aggregating up to Rs 365 crore and an offer-for-sale (OFS) of equity shares worth up to Rs 380 crore by promoters and promoter group entities, according to the draft red herring prospectus (DRHP) filed on July 14. Those offering shares in the OFS are - Khubilal Jugraj Rathod, Vimalchand Jugraj Rathod, Nirmala Khubilal Rathod, Manjula Vimalchand Rathod, Rajesh Khubilal Rathod, Mohit Khubilal Rathod, Sumit Rathod; Sangita Rajesh Rathod; Shalini Mohit Rathod and Sonal Sumit Rathod. At present, promoters and promoter group entities own a 100 per cent stake in the company. The company proposes to utilize the net proceeds of the fresh issue for setting up a manufacturing facility for writing instruments at Valsad district, in Gujarat; funding its capital expenditure and its arm Flair Writing Equipments; funding its working capital requirements and its subsidiaries, FWEPL and Flair Cyrosil Industries, payment of the loan, and general corporate purposes. The company, which owns the over 45-year-old flagship brand - Flair - is among the top three players in the overall writing instruments industry with a market share of about nine percent, as of March 2023. It manufactures and distributes writing instruments including pens, stationery products, and calculators, and has also diversified into manufacturing houseware products and steel bottles. Nuvama Wealth Management Ltd (formerly known as Edelweiss Securities Ltd) and Axis Capital Ltd are the book-running lead managers to the IPO issue. In September 2018, the pen maker filed Rs 450-crore IPO papers with the SEBI.

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Humans adapt to new situations, so when the Covid-19 lockdown threw up work-from-home solutions most of us got cracking on creating comfortable spaces for ourselves to work in peace amid family-fuelled chaos. Backdrops of rooms in Zoom calls suddenly got all-too-interesting as we wondered what Elizabeth Wurtzels Prozac Nation was doing next to Sid Shapiras Danny Dog: A Rescue Dog Finds His Forever Home on that stern, no-nonsense veep's bookshelf or why the six-foot grizzly-bearish operations head chose a light pink ceramic owl planter for his Syngonium plant.



None of us is also likely to forget the s*x toy (that's what it looked like) making international news when a woman discussing unemployment during the pandemic forgot to remove it from a shelf behind her during a BBC Wales online interview.



On a serious note, the anxiety over the deadly pandemic was palpable, coupled with layoff worries and mental-health concerns as families huddled together for weeks under one roof. But mercifully, creativity and quick-thinking won the day for a few millennials we know, many of whom are now happily tripping back to their offices.



Fantastic flexibility



When lockdown began, the first thing Dipttii Khanna, 41, founder of Mumbai-based Dipttii Khanna Designs, did was create a special table for remote work and called it "Desky." Based on the alphabet, Desky was personalized for each individual. It gave her the flexibility to work from any corner of the house as it could be carried around easily, ensuring convenience and productivity.







Rohini Bagla, 40, founder of Mumbais Studio Rohini Bagla, too, quickly realised how important it was to give her family some space. As she and her husband worked remotely and their two children studied online, each person was allocated a separate room with functional workspaces. We opted for folding tables. While some of the furniture, such as beds and wardrobes, remained fixed in place, desks were mounted on walls for maximum space and convenience.



Keen to create an environment that was not just functional but also aesthetically pleasing, she decorated each room with plants and interesting, colourful accessories and holders. That brought a sense of order and positivity within the home. The brightness brought us joy, ensuring that the atmosphere remained uplifting rather than gloomy.



All this while, Mehul Raja, now 43, chief marketing officer of online education company Imarticus Learning, was figuring out the three essentials of WFH - a comfortable chair, a good desk, and a reliable internet connection. The latter was of course the biggest challenge because iffy connectivity forced him to switch his internet partner twice in the first month.



Convinced that getting comfortable at home would make the return to work somewhat agonising, especially as he got used to spending more time with his daughter, then three years old, and wife, Raja gave the space an office-separated-from-home feel with plants and art (works of advertising stalwarts for brand campaigns).



Not without its drawbacks



Of course, those pain points were obvious. Architect and urban planner Virat V. Bhute, 30, associate manager, Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd, found space too limited in his 2BHK apartment. His computer system fitted on a short, narrow table, forcing him to sit on the floor. The long hours resulted in neck pain, literally and absolutely.



With a highly collaborative and hands-on role, he found it challenging to perform effectively in a WFH setup as the nature of his work involved extensive site visits, direct interactions with clients and stakeholders, and on-site assessments. Lack of clear boundaries between working and non-working hours set by the office added to the challenge. Being confined to one place without any social environment made it a depressing and monotonous period.



Disruption in daily routines led to sleepless nights. The workload felt overwhelming, leaving Bhute exhausted and mentally drained. Excessive anxiety and pressure to meet work deadlines made him lose track of cigarette consumption patterns. Constant fatigue was evident through shortness of breath and overall exhaustion.



Khanna also found it taxing to manage projects with just Zoom calls and virtual meetings. We were stuck to only designing and not executing for that moment.One of the advantages, however, for her was that there was a lot of personal insight to create a lot of designs, which we executed post-lockdown.



Back to business



Since she didnt have a permanent work-from-home setup, Khannas transition back to office had no major impact. The household remained unaffected, maintaining its usual routine. The only element that shifted was my portable work-from-home desk, which could easily be relocated from one spot to another. Therefore, the absence of a permanent work-from-home arrangement did not disrupt anyone's daily life, she says.







Formal office environments, she feels, create more opportunities for brainstorming and smooth coordination. Although, I was able to save time on commuting and could be more flexible with my schedule during WFH, it was also challenging to balance work and family responsibilities. My family members had to get used to me being around all the time, which took some adjustment.



It was smooth sailing to the workplace for Bagla. "The spaces we created at home were flexible with furniture that could be folded and tucked away neatly. Some pieces are still being used and are now a part of the system, she says.



At the moment Bhute is happy to get off the floor and allow his office to only exploit me during working hours. I can have a good night's sleep and enjoy a good social environment as and when I want, he says.



One of his takeaways from WFH is that India has a critical need for proper protocols and guidelines for remote work to prevent employee exploitation and prioritise their health and well-being. WFH arrangements may be well-suited for the IT sector, but might not be feasible or effective for sectors that rely heavily on on-site labour and employee presence for development and operations.



Raja is happy that his home office has been dismantled, giving his daughter abundant space to run around and play in.



I learnt a lot from the lockdown and WFH experience. I know now that while I am capable of working effectively from anywhere, it is also important for me to have a dedicated workspace and to set boundaries between work and family time, he says.



Adapting to changes



Then theres the question of changes post Covid-19



Khannas clients going in for home renovations are making a conscious effort to address the aspects they found missing in their homes during the lockdown period.



There is a heightened focus on home planning with dedicated areas for study, home offices and library spaces and an emphasis on ample open spaces, she adds.



Balconies have become something of a trend, an attempt to make outdoor spaces and greenscapes an extension of homes.



She feels this shift marks a significant change in the overall design approach, reflecting the evolving priorities and preferences of homeowners.



Bagla is encouraging her clients to use work tables or concealed setups in rooms to accommodate laptops, notebooks for scribbling and books to read. After Covid, everyone, she says, has some sort of workspace at home.



All said and done, the world has learnt valuable lessons during this turbulent period, especially about the importance of sustainability and wise utilisation of resources. We found ourselves engaging in various tasks independently, aligning with the ongoing campaign for self-sufficiency. Through this experience, we discovered an untapped potential within ourselves  that, when channeled effectively, enables us to achieve far more than we could have imagined.



The WFH situation during the lockdown fostered a newfound sense of patience and understanding among individuals. With everyone sharing living spaces 24/7, it necessitated constant adjustment and adaptation. Consequently, people embraced patience and a sense of calmness. This organic process of adaptation and coexistence had a remarkable effect, enhancing understanding and strengthening familial bonds, Bagla concludes.
India's robust economic growth, political stability, and transformative reforms have put the country on track to become the breakout emerging market of the decade, said Capital group, one of the worlds largest institutional investors and Indias largest foreign portfolio investors in a recent report. The Capital Group manages assets worth $2.2 trillion across the world. India is known as the market that has confounded optimists and pessimists alike. Could this be its decade to shine? From our recent travels around the country, we believe indications are pointing in the right direction: Corporate confidence is high, the economy is expanding at a decent clip and technological innovation is leading to new areas of growth, noted Brad Feer, Shlok Melwani and Rahul Sadiwala in a recent report.



The report sheds light on the factors that set India apart as an attractive investment destination when compared to other emerging markets. These include India's recent political stability, pro-business reforms, infrastructure development, manufacturing potential, growing equity market, investment opportunities, and demographic advantage.



Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has witnessed a series of pro-business reforms that have propelled growth and brought sweeping changes to the economy. Innovations such as Aadhaar, a biometric identification system, and the implementation of a national goods and services tax (GST) have streamlined processes, expanded credit availability, and formalised previously unregulated sectors. Moreover, the introduction of the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) has revolutionised the payment system, benefiting both traditional banks and non-bank financial companies.



Further solidifying India's rise as a global power, PM Modi's recent visit to the United States garnered significant attention. Addressing Congress, meeting influential business leaders, and dining at the White House, Modi's engagements provided positive indications of high corporate confidence in India's burgeoning economy.



One of the standout aspects highlighted in the report is India's infrastructure boom, which has overcome major obstacles and is now propelling the country's growth potential. With massive investments in roads, railroads, airports, and seaports, connectivity has significantly improved, reducing travel time and transforming the skylines of cities like Mumbai with the construction of towering buildings and the expansion of residential housing.



Another focal point in the report is India's concerted effort to become a major player in manufacturing and expand its presence in global export markets. By actively attracting foreign investments and cultivating a robust supply chain ecosystem, India has seen a notable expansion in manufacturing capacity, particularly in sectors such as mobile phones, home appliances, and electronics. As companies seek to diversify their supply chains away from China, India aims to position itself as an appealing destination.



The report also highlights the growth potential in India's equity market, particularly in the small-cap space. With India representing a significant portion of the MSCI Emerging Markets Index, there is ample room for expansion as the market remains relatively small compared to the country's economic size. The rise of initial public offerings (IPOs) and unicorns (startups valued at $1 billion or more) attests to India's ongoing transformation.



Opportunities for investment in real estate, financials, and industrials are identified as potential areas for growth. The underdeveloped real estate sector, projected to reach nearly 15 percent of India's GDP by 2031, is driving demand for building materials and related products. The banking sector also exhibits positive signs, with solid loan growth and a favourable credit environment. The report asserts that India's demographic advantage, characterised by a youthful population and increasing domestic consumption, will serve as a key driver of economic growth.



Notably, the energy transition holds immense transformative potential for India. Indian corporations are actively positioning themselves to compete with China throughout the value chain of clean energy, particularly in the realm of green hydrogen. Noteworthy players such as Reliance Industries, Larsen & Toubro, and Tata Power are capitalising on this opportunity, as indicated by Capital Group's discussions with government and industry sources. By reducing its reliance on imported oil and gas through renewable power sources, India would enhance its energy independence and significantly bolster its manufacturing sector.



India's expertise in specialty and commoditised chemicals also positions it as a key player in global supply chains, drawing companies seeking to diversify their manufacturing bases away from China.



In the telecommunications market, consolidation has left conglomerate Reliance Industries and Bharti Airtel as dominant players. Capital Group predicts that smartphone and data usage will continue to surge, especially with the rollout of 5G and fibre-to-the-home technologies in more cities.



While the upcoming general election in 2024 may introduce some political risk, the report emphasises that economic growth is a shared goal across political parties. Although valuations in the Indian market currently surpass historical averages, the report underscores that India's fundamental outlook remains robust. With stable economic growth, responsible fiscal policies, and reduced corruption, the market has the potential to grow into these valuations.



Despite experiencing fluctuations in the past, India's equity market has delivered some of the most impressive returns among emerging and developed markets over extended periods. As India forges ahead on its growth trajectory, the country emerges as a promising breakout emerging market of the decade.



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.



Disclaimer: Moneycontrol is a part of the Network18 group. Network18 is controlled by Independent Media Trust, of which Reliance Industries is the sole beneficiary.
The 62-day annual Amarnath Yatra pilgrimage is underway from the twin tracks of Pahalgam in south Kashmirs Anantnag district and Baltal in central Kashmirs Ganderbal district. The Yatra which commenced on July 1 is scheduled to conclude on August 31, coinciding with Raksha Bandhan and Shravan Purnima. According to officials around 2 lakh devotees have performed the Yatra, an important pilgrimage for Hindus who visit the Amarnath Cave, believed to be the abode of Lord Shiva.



How pilgrims reach Amarnath cave shrine



The pilgrims reach the Himalayan cave shrine, 3,888 metres above sea-level, either from the traditional Pahalgam route, which involves an uphill trek of 43 kilometers from the base camp or from central Kashmirs Baltal base camp which involves a perilous 13 kilometre trek.



The Yatra passes through forests, meadows, snow tracks, mountainous paths, and is considered one of the largest pilgrimages in the world with lakhs of Hindu devotees travelling to the Amarnath cave to pay respects to an ice stalagmite structure that devotees believe symbolizes the mythical powers of Lord Shiva.



According to official figures, till July 13, 2023, over 1.6 lakh (1,62,569) pilgrims had visited the cave shrine to perform Darshan.



It is an arduous journey, and pilgrims typically take two-and-a-half days by the 46 kilometres route from Pahalgam, or 5-6 hours via the 14 kilometres Sonamarg Baltal route to the cave shrine.



The enthusiasm of the pilgrims can be seen at base camps, with the pilgrims chanting bam bam bholey, jai baba barfani and jai bole. The air also resonates with devotional hymns emanating from loudspeakers, interlaced with announcements about lost and found articles.



Significance of Amarnath Yatra



Such is the popularity of the Yatra that despite soaring heat in July and August, devotees across India perform the pilgrimage. This year two Americans from California inspired by Swami Vivekananda also undertook the Yatra in the Valley. The Amarnath Shrine Board shared a video of the two US nationals clad in saffron robes. After reading about Swami Vivekananda we had a dream to see his journey to Amarnath cave and therefore we decided to perform the Yatra. It is so exciting and a dream come true to be here, said one of the two foreigners.



Pilgrims usually reach the base camp in vehicles, and then on to the cave shrine on foot or by chopper - with some pilgrims preferring to ride ponies or palanquins (a small bed carried by four people on four sides). However, this year some pilgrims came to the pilgrimage completely on cycle. For example, Narendra Yadav, a pilgrim hailing from the Bhiwani area of Haryana, started his cycle journey to reach the holy cave on July 11.



Indian badminton player Saina Nehwal and her family members also embarked on the holy pilgrimage this year. The first-ever badminton player from India to clinch an Olympic medal Nehwal, while speaking to the media, said: This is an incredible day for my family and me. I am blessed to have been on the Yatra along with my mother. I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to the J&K government and the local people for their support during the Yatra.

Every day we check the weather predictions and decide the next course of action for Yatra accordingly. Since Yatra is taking place in high terrain mountains surrounded by glaciers (Kolahai, Nehnar and Bodpathri), the role of weather becomes pretty crucial.

Local hospitality



Pilgrims arriving in Kashmir are greeted by the people left, right and centre. For instance, on July 1 the locals - men, women and children - at Anantnags KP road stood side by side, carrying garlands and flowers to welcome the pilgrims.



Similarly, people in Pahalgam lined the streets leading to the Amarnath Yatra base camp and showered the pilgrims with flower petals, offered refreshing drinks, and served traditional Kashmiri delicacies.



In Baltal, local Muslims, the major service providers for the Amarnath pilgrims, eagerly waited outside their kiosks and tents to receive and welcome pilgrims.



Head Priest Mahant Deepinder Giri, who is custodian of the holy mace, and led a group of sadhus carrying the Chhari Mubarak of Lord Shiva during the Yatra, also hailed the cooperation of locals during the pilgrimage People in Kashmir have always welcomed Amarnath pilgrims with open arms because they are emotionally attached with Yatra. Kashmiris are known for their compassion and hospitality, Giri said.



On July 3, the saffron robed silver-mace of Lord Shiva, traditionally known as Chhari Mubarak was taken to Pahalgam for Bhoomi Pujan ceremony. Yatra this year is more special because of two Shravan months. This great astronomical event is taking place after 19 years, said Giri.



Arrangements and facilities



According to officials of Jammu and Kashmir administration, pilgrims are provided with security and facilities which includes medical services, accommodations, food, water, and regular helicopter services.



"I have performed Yatra on the first day this year and the facilities are up to the mark. The Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB), the nodal agency responsible for overseeing the Yatra along with the civil administration, has done commendable job ensuring the safety and security of the pilgrims, a senior defence official wishing not to be quoted told Moneycontrol.



He added that the Union Territory administration has made the Yatra easier by implementing a registration process through the shrine board and pilgrims are required to register themselves and obtain a Yatra permit before undertaking the pilgrimage.



Gaurav Arora, a pilgrim from Haryana, told Moneycontrol, I am thrilled about this pilgrimage. It is my 20th time here. Every visit to this holy shrine fills me with inner peace and greater satisfaction. The hospitality shown by the local Muslims has been instrumental and ensured a safe and comfortable journey for the pilgrims.



Arora, however, lamented the selling of eggs around the cave shrine. How can shrine board officials become negligent and allow the sale of non-veg items around the cave. I have seen people making omelettes openly due to which the pilgrims get hurt.







Tight security for Yatra



In order to provide security to pilgrims, the contingents of police, army, CRPF, SSB, ITBP, NDRF, SDRF and Indian Air Force are deployed in various locations in the Valley. This year, the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) has been given its first-ever assignment to guard the cave shrine.



Teams of police and paramilitary troopers are also deployed along the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway where vulnerable points exist. The army, on the other hand, has deployed anti-drone equipment at Yatra camps in south and central Kashmir.



So far, Amarnath pilgrims have been attacked by militants twice in the Valley. In 2,000, at least 21 pilgrims were killed, and in 2017, seven pilgrims were gunned down. Following these attacks, the Indian security agencies have repeatedly issued security warnings for pilgrims.



Even last year, The Resistance Front (TRF), a militant outfit according to J&K police, issued a threat ahead of the Amarnath Yatra.



Mountain rescue teams have been deployed for swift evacuation of pilgrims. Telecommunication, CCTV and satellite facilities are also being provided to pilgrims along the entire route.



For the first time, the Border Roads Organisation has been maintaining the routes to the cave shrine. Every day we check the weather predictions and decide the next course of action for Yatra accordingly. Since Yatra is taking place in high terrain mountains surrounded by glaciersKolahai, Nehnar and Bodpathri the role of weather becomes pretty crucial, a senior official posted in Anantnag told Moneycontrol.



The authorities have also set up a state-of-the-art hospital, equipped with round-the-clock healthcare facilities. Oxygen cylinders, additional medical teams, ambulances, and helicopters have also been placed on standby to swiftly respond to any medical emergencies.



The J&K traffic police department has asked the visiting pilgrims to travel in Kashmir Valley only between 7 am and 6 pm.



A traffic spokesman said that if pilgrims fail to reach Kashmir within the stipulated time, the security forces can make such pilgrims and tourists halt for the night at the nearest lodgement centre.



Dangerous terrain



The rough area around the cave is prone to disasters and the rush of pilgrims has also caused stampedes. For example, in 1996, heavy snowfall, rains and avalanches along the Yatra route left 250 pilgrims dead. Similarly, in 2015, three people were killed and 11 injured after a cloudburst triggered flash floods and landslides near the Baltal base camp. Last year, 16 people died and at least three dozen were missing after a cloudburst triggered flash floods near the cave shrine.



Arora said: There is a huge rush this year around the cave and pilgrims are not released in batches. If the rush of pilgrims is not controlled the stampedes can happen anytime.



The Yatris help boost the economy of the region, benefiting various sectors ranging from hospitality and transportation, to local businesses and tourism. However, the fragile ecology of the area also gets badly hit due to pollution and road construction projects.



Environmental fallout



Environmental experts have time and again warned that cutting raw fragile mountains in the region can invite natures fury, with latest examples being occurrences like land subsidence at Joshimath (Joshimath sinking) and the June 2013 cloud-burst at Kedarnath.



The place is home to the already melting Kolahoi glacier, the main source of the Lidder stream, whose water is used for drinking and agricultural purposes in south Kashmir.



For pilgrims also, the sanctity is often compromised by increased numbers of pilgrims because abnormal increase in footprints can pollute the ecologically fragile area and the sacred stalagmite which has also been shrinking despite the shrine board considering mechanically refrigerating the cave to preserve it.



Since the 1980s, there has been an exponential upswing in the number of pilgrims, growing from 12,000 in 1989 to 3.65 lakh in 2022. Similarly, the Yatra duration increased from 15 days in the 1990s, to 62 days this year.
Note to readers: Healing Space is a weekly series that helps you dive into your mental health and take charge of your wellbeing through practical DIY self-care methods.



When you get an offer that is a bit lower than you expected, whether it is a raise at work or an offer on a home, or lets say youre selling your car, or buying a second-hand bike, certain factors get in the way of your asking for the rate you think you deserve. And most of these are psychological factors, not material ones.







Of course, there are already outlined golden rules of negotiation, such as the 5 principles: reciprocity, publicity, trusted friend, universality, and legacy. Would you be okay with doing the reverse? Your negotiation being known, would you do this with/to a friend? Would you be ok with others doing it or if you were remembered by this methodology? But these are largely ethical considerations that reflect an institutional or societal point of view.



Negotiations are largely dependent on trust, respect, mutual consideration and empathy and willingness to play ball. Competitiveness and defending your interests are fine strategies if these basic principles hold the ground.



So what decides how much youre able to push through or when you give in and accept whats on offer?



Quite simply: fear and self-esteem.



Most people will push a little, but tentatively or apologetically put forward their ideal number. Theyll ask once and then let it go. The tentativeness conveys that they dont believe they will get it, and are more than willing to walk it back, and the apologetic tone conveys that they dont believe they deserve it.



People fear negotiations because they imagine the potential employer will dislike them for asking for more, or worse, rescind the offer. Neither is likely to happen. The fear is imagined. The best way to process this fear is actually to use the 5 principles of ethical negotiations. Think of yourself as the employer or the person giving the offer. Would you expect the same from the other party? Would you want your friend to negotiate? Would you want it to be known you accepted the first offer you took or the lower offer? And is this what you would want to be remembered as? In the long term, are you going to be resentful or regretful of this legacy? When you take the long view, you realize that negotiation is part of the process and is expected. If anything, an employer would have respect for someone who knows his or her own worth and is capable of articulating it in monetary terms. Further, its a skill you are bringing to the table for the company and, depending on your role, it shows your potential to deal with numbers, clients, rates and value. So you may want to put the polish on the skill set right up front.



Most people dont often like to toot their own horn and say why they think theyre worth a certain higher amount. There are two reasons for this: you dont actually think youre worth more or you havent actually sat down to think about your contributions and why you are worth more. If you dont actually think you are worth more, it is going to show in how you present yourself. Not just in compensation but also in body posture, confidence, eye contact and your ability to summarize your achievements or define the role. So, you have a larger problem to work at than simply the raise. You are underselling yourself overall. If you havent actually sat down to think about what you are worth, you are not giving the employer a fair chance to evaluate you fairly. So, you do need to pitch your achievements, skills and potential. For that, youve got to be able to see yourself realistically. Which means sitting down with peer and supervisor feedback, sifting the good from the bad, the praise from the criticism and undergoing a self-evaluation that you are conscious of and have rehearsed. You also have to know the skill sets you want greater recognition or use for and how they fit into the new role.



What youre doing when you are asking for a raise or negotiating for a particular designation, rate or compensation is asking that the person taking up the deal sees the full worth of what you have to offer. For that, you have to evaluate it correctly yourself.



Overcoming the fear of losing the deal is the clincher in any negotiation. How do you counter this? Know your worth, know the milieu, competition and market, and always be willing to walk away.



5 personal rules to negotiate by



- Appreciate the initial offer.



- State why you were expecting more, what skills and experience you feel deserve it.



- Never make it an either/or closed situation. Show them other ways they can counter. For instance, they cant give you a monetary rise for tax purposes, but they can give you a signing bonus or relocation fee, or specific perks and exemptions.



- Do your research and show that you know the market rate and if youre above or below and why.



- Hold to a number that has symbolic meaning. For instance, the great Bata price point of Rs 299. Dont get stuck on Rs 300. Odd and symbolic numbers have greater psychological sway over the negotiation, such as an age, or anniversary or lucky number. People tend to be more indulgent towards them and question your irrationality over sticking to the number less.
Canada unfolds new Digital Nomad strategy: Canada has proposed a digital nomad strategy that will allow workers with a foreign employer to stay and work in Canada for up to six months. If they get a job offer while in the country, they can remain in Canada even longer.



The Digital Nomad visa permits internationals to come to Canada and live and work remotely for companies or clients located outside the country.



The Canadian immigration minister has announced that by the end of 2023, the federal government will be developing an immigration stream for "some of the worlds most talented people that will be able to come to Canada to work for tech companies, whether they have a job offer or not.



Though the government has not issued details about exactly who will qualify or how many people will be admitted through this strategy, according to a news release, the government will create an innovation stream under its international mobility program for skilled workers who are in select in-demand occupations or are destined for work with companies the government selects as contributing to their innovation goals.



Under current immigration rules, if you are a Digital nomad, then you only need a Canadian Visitor Visa to relocate to Canada and can stay for up to six months while doing your work.



South Korea to issue record number of visas to skilled workers: South Korea has announced a 15-fold increase in total annual quota of skilled workers visas to 30,000, to overcome severe labour shortages in the country. In 2022, the annual quota for this visa category was only 2,000.



Known as E-7-4, the skilled worker visa allows a South Korean company to hire workers from other countries.



Earlier this year, the government had announced plans to bring nearly 110,000 migrant workers to the country to meet the labour demands in farms and factories.



US temporarily halts Green Card for nurses: The United States has temporarily paused Green Card for nurses stating that it will not accept any more EB-3 visa petitions for international nurses this year as a result of an administrative backlog. Only those applicants who submitted their requests by June 1, 2022, would be eligible for visa interviews.



The EB-3 (Third Priority Worker) visa permits three types of foreign workers to travel to the United States permanently and work there: skilled workers, professionals, and unskilled workers who have less than two years of work experience or training. The EB-3 visas are limited in number, comprising 28.6% (40,040) of the total annual 140,000 immigrant visas issued for the employment category.



USCIS launches online rescheduling of biometrics appointments: The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has launched a new self-service tool allowing benefit requestors to reschedule most biometric services appointments before the date of the appointment. Previously, benefit requestors and accredited representatives could only request to reschedule a biometric services appointment by calling the USCIS Contact Centre. With this new tool, those individuals who have or create a USCIS online account can reschedule most requests for biometric services appointments without having to call the Contact Centre.



The sufficient reasons for rescheduling may include, but are not limited to:



 Illness, medical appointment, or hospitalization;



 Previously planned travel;



 Significant life events such as a wedding, funeral, or graduation ceremony;



 Inability to obtain transportation to the appointment location;



 Inability to obtain leave from employment or caregiver responsibilities; and



 Late delivered or undelivered biometric services appointment notice.



The new tool, however, cannot be used to reschedule an appointment that has already been rescheduled two or more times, is within 12 hours, or that has already passed.



New Zealand to reimburse costs to 2021 Resident visa applicants: Immigration New Zealand will offer reimbursements to 2021 Resident Visa applicants for the costs of new health screenings  including medical checks and chest X-rays  that they requested but were not required. The 1,049 affected Resident visa applicants can submit a request for reimbursement by September 30, 2023, and must provide evidence of payment such as either a:



 Receipt from their medical practice



 Letter or email of confirmation from the medical practice, or



 Copy of the bank statement showing the relevant transactions.



Vietnam extends duration of tourist e-visa: Effective August 15, 2023, the duration of tourist e-visa will be extended from the current 30 days to 90 days. An e-visa holder will now be allowed multiple entry/exits during the 90-day period.



Under the revised immigration rules, the permitted visa-free stay for citizens of the 25 countries has also been extended from 15 days to 45 days for most countries.



Germany introduces Nursing Studies Strengthening Act: Germany has introduced the Nursing Studies Strengthening Act that aims to close loopholes in training allowances and encourage more people to pursue a career in nursing and also simplify the recognition of international degrees by establishing guidelines for the scope and documents that are required to be submitted in an effort to reduce staff shortages in this profession.



The new legislation will make it easier for nurses with degrees from foreign institutions to transition to the profession in Germany. The Act proposes to replace comprehensive equivalence examinations with knowledge assessments or adaption course.



German Academic Exchange Service launches 30 Digital Scholarships: In a first of its kind, the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) is launching 30 digital scholarships for students who want to obtain a masters degree and cant do so due to health concerns and family commitments, among others.



Students will be able to attend their masters classes online or in hybrid format  attending both online and in-person classes. Students from all disciplines (except those interested in attaining art and architecture degrees) can obtain a masters degree at a foreign university under this program.



DAAD will award 30 digital scholarships each year and the program is open to all students, regardless of their country of origin.



As of 2022, there were 440,564 international students in Germany including 33,753 students from India and 40,055 from China, according to Erudera, a global higher education search platform.
An Indian student who was detained at Manchester airport and had his UK student visa cancelled won a major victory from the High Court in London after Judge Dight ruled on Tuesday (11 July 2023) that the process adopted by the UK Border Force officials was unfair and fundamentally flawed. This was because the officials wrongly failed to allow him access to a solicitor, which he requested. The case also highlights the importance for international students coming to the UK to keep their local address handy and share it promptly with immigration officials if asked for it.



Manish Kumar, 21, had a student visa to study at York University and landed on 30 August 2022 at Manchester airport travelling from Delhi with a stopover at Helsinki on a Finnair flight. Upon arrival, the immigration officer was not satisfied that Kumar was a genuine student because he was not able to provide the address where he would be staying in the UK and also failed to explain how he would be supporting himself financially. He was then formally detained for further examination and was served with an IS81 form which also notified that his permission to enter the UK had been suspended.



After being questioned again on his address and funding arrangements, Kumar was then kept in the holding area in Terminal 1. The immigration officials maintain that his answers had apparently still not satisfied them that he was seeking entry as a genuine student. After being in detention for over six hours, Kumars solicitor Zubair Awan emailed the duty officer at Manchester airport seeking copies of interview notes and decision notices. Awan also requested that Kumar should be released and enclosed a bail application. Awan had two more clients who were similarly held at Manchester airport.



Over the next few hours Kumars luggage and backpack were searched and his fingerprints were taken. Immigration officials claimed that he had initially refused to give his fingerprints and was faking illness. Notes made by the officials who spoke to him described him as uncooperative. They also recorded that Kumar barely spoke in English, a contention which Kumar says is not correct. On the morning of August 31, after almost 18 hours of his arrival, he was taken to an interview room in Terminal 2 where after just 15 minutes the interview was terminated. Kumar asked for his solicitor to be present, a request which was denied by the officer, following which he refused to be interviewed.



Interestingly, Kumars solicitor was permitted to be present during similar interviews involving another client who had also landed in Manchester in the same flight as Kumar. Awan assisted that client by taking part in two interviews through conference calls that lasted 90 and 60 minutes. Surprisingly, Kumar was denied the same opportunity and it was this denial that became the basis for his legal action in the high court.



Kumar was again sought to be interviewed on September 1 where he repeated his request for his solicitor to be present. On the same day, citing Kumars alleged non-compliance, he was served with the decision of cancellation of his student visa and removal to India. Kumar was told that he did not have the right to have a solicitor present during the interview, but could have one before and after. He was set to be put on a flight to Delhi on September 2. A copy of the decision was given to Awan who promptly lodged an urgent application for interim relief in a court. This led to Kumars removal being deferred by 48 hours bringing him some reprieve. On September 5, a judicial review claim was filed which prevented the removal of Kumar till the issue was decided.



The next day, September 6, Kumar made an application for bail to the First Tier tribunal which was rejected on September 8 by an Immigration judge citing high risk of non-compliance with any bail conditions. Finally, Kumar was released on immigration bail on October 27, 2022, after he tactically claimed asylum a day earlier.



Kumars appeal to quash the decision of the immigration officials was heard on January 31 and February 10, following which Judge Dight ruled that Kumars right of access to justice was not honoured. The immigration officials characterized Kumars request for the presence of a solicitor as an unreasonable excuse for not cooperating with the interview process, while the judge ruled that there was no justification for the exclusion of Kumars solicitor from the interviews. The judge also noted that officials could have allowed the solicitor to be present remotely at the interview just as it was done for the other client who was also detained at Manchester airport.



Kumar lost an academic year and is entitled to damages, although it is unclear if he would still want to study in the UK.
Brokering peace between Russia and Ukraine is beyond the remit of the G20 and such efforts will be best undertaken by the United Nations and through bilateral negotiations, India's sherpa to the bloc said on July 15.



"Our view is that G20 is an economic forum, not a forum to discuss security issues," India's sherpa Amitabh Kant told Reuters in an interview.



"However, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi said during Bali, this is not an era of war, but an era of dialogue and diplomacy," Kant added, referring to a G20 summit on the Indonesian island of Bali in November.



Modi's remark that "today's era is not an era of war" was first made in September to Russian President Vladimir Putin, in New Delhi's sharpest public response to the war.



India, which holds the current presidency of the G20, has sought a largely neutral stance on the war, generally declining to blame Russia for the invasion that began in February last year, urging a diplomatic solution and sharply boosting its purchases of Russian oil even as Western nations seek to squeeze Moscow.



The G20 includes the rich G7 nations as well as Russia, China, Brazil, Australia and Saudi Arabia, among other countries.



Over the course of its presidency, India has sought to highlight the economic impact of the conflict as well as issues such as climate change and poorer countries' debt.



G20 nations, which account for more than 80 percent of the world's gross domestic product, have wrangled over condemning the war amid a push from G7 nations to do so.



This year, some Western nations have refused to sign off on an eventual G20 communique unless Russia's invasion of Ukraine is denounced in the same words as the leaders' declaration after the last G20 summit.



India has invited leaders of all G20 nations for a final summit in September in New Delhi and have received "encouraging responses", Kant said.
Mahmoud Mohieldin, UN Climate Change High-Level Champion for Egypt and UN Special Envoy on Financing the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda, has called for urgent action to reduce emissions and get mitigation efforts back on track.

Mohieldin stated that current efforts to mitigate emissions fall short of the target set for 2030 by around 60 percent and highlighted that reducing dependence on fossil fuels and methane while increasing investment in renewables and related infrastructure and technology is essential to achieve these goals.

Speaking at the Green Society Forum on Sunday, Mohieldin emphasized the need for massive financing, cooperation in technological fields, strengthened domestic action, and the updating of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to achieve climate action.

He also discussed the importance of tracking and monitoring updates in the energy sector through reports issued by relevant international organizations such as the International Energy Agency (IEA) and the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).

Mohieldin called for the need to reduce dependence on dirty energy in various sectors and to develop and activate voluntary carbon markets. He also stressed the importance of industrial criteria that align with new policies approved by the European Union on transboundary carbon.

Mohieldin highlighted the significant contributions made by COP27 in Sharm El Sheikh to climate action related to adaptation by launching the Sharm El Sheikh Adaptation Agenda (SAA) aimed at achieving resilience for the most affected communities.

He pointed out the need to increase private sector participation in financing and implementing adaptation activities, as the sector's contribution to financing these activities does not exceed three percent. The conference also made an important achievement by launching the Loss and Damage Fund, and Mohieldin confirmed that the committee concerned with setting the work mechanisms of the fund and its governance is making a great effort to begin activating the fund and benefiting from it as soon as possible.

Mohieldin also emphasized the importance of the first Global Stocktake, which will be announced in the upcoming COP28 in Dubai, to determine how far governments and other actors are committed to climate action and its financing.

The conference will discuss future measures to ensure that various actors fulfill their commitments.

He confirmed the importance of developed countries fulfilling their commitments to finance climate action, foremost of which is the $100 billion pledged at the climate conference in Copenhagen in 2009 to annually finance climate action in developing countries.

In his concluding remarks, Mohieldin called for a holistic approach that aligns with all the sustainable development goals, including the goal of confronting climate change.

He also called for promoting investment in human capital and providing individuals with the necessary skills and capabilities to implement climate action.

He emphasized the need to reform the current global financing system and strengthen the role of IFIs and MDBs in financing climate and development action by increasing their capital and adopting more effective policies for concessional financing.

Mohieldin referred to the unprecedented initiatives launched by Egypt last year, including the Five Regional Roundtables and the National Initiative for Smart Green Projects, aimed at enhancing regional climate action and finding investable and implementable climate and development projects.

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External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met his Myanmar counterpart Than Swe on July 16 and discussed expediting projects, especially the India-Myanmar-Thailand trilateral highway, and underlined the importance of ensuring peace and stability in the border areas.



Jaishankar, who arrived in Bangkok from Indonesia on July 15 on an official visit, met the Myanmar foreign minister on the sidelines of the Mekong Ganga Cooperation (MGC) Mechanism meeting.



"Our discussions focused on connectivity initiatives that have a larger regional significance. These will also be discussed at the MGC meeting this afternoon. Stressed the importance of expediting projects that have faced challenges in the recent past, especially the India-Myanmar-Thailand trilateral highway," Jaishankar said in a tweet.



On July 15, Jaishankar said that the India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway had been a "very difficult project" because of the situation in Myanmar and that it was the governments priority to find ways to resume it.



India, Thailand and Myanmar are working on about 1,400-km-long highway that would link the country with Southeast Asia by land and give a boost to trade, business, health, education and tourism ties among the three countries. Around 70 percent of construction work on the ambitious trilateral highway has been completed. The strategic highway project, which will connect Moreh in Manipur with Mae Sot in Thailand via Myanmar, has been delayed. Earlier, the government was aiming to make the highway operational by December 2019.



During his talks with Than Swe, Jaishankar also underlined the importance of ensuring peace and stability in the border areas, saying these have been "seriously disturbed recently and any actions that aggravate the situation should be avoided". "Flagged concerns about human and drug trafficking. Urged stronger cooperation among relevant parties for the early return of trafficked victims," he said.



"As an immediate neighbour, India is concerned about the humanitarian situation in Myanmar," the minister said. He proposed people-centric initiatives aimed to address the pressing challenges.



"India supports the democratic transition process in Myanmar and highlights the need for return of peace and stability. We will closely coordinate our policy with ASEAN in this regard," Jaishankar added.



In Bangkok, Jaishankar will participate in the 12th Foreign Ministers' Meeting of the Mekong Ganga Cooperation Mechanism and attend the BIMSTEC Foreign Ministers' Retreat.
The Delhi government will set up special camps for those who lost their Aadhaar cards and other important documents, and make arrangements for books and clothes for the affected children, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced on Sunday.



He made the announcement during a visit to a relief camp in north Delhis Mori Gate. Kejriwal also said the government will soon announce assistance for those who have suffered significant losses due to the floods, and assured the people that life in Delhi will soon return to normalcy.



Regarding the ongoing efforts to control the flood situation, Kejriwal said that pumps are being used to reduce the water level in the affected areas. The progress varies across different locations, but the water level is gradually decreasing, he said.



We have established relief camps in various locations, primarily in schools and dharmashalas, to provide necessary amenities such as toilets and clean water, he told reporters at the relief camp.



The chief minister acknowledged the challenges faced by the people of Yamuna Bazaar, where the floodwaters caused significant damage. As many individuals lost their important documents, including Aadhaar cards, the chief minister assured them that special camps would be organised to help them get these essential documents.



He also highlighted the plight of children who lost their books and school uniforms due to the flooding. He assured the affected families that the government is actively working on providing replacements for these items at the earliest.



Considering the muddy conditions in the affected areas, Kejriwal said efforts would be made to fill up keechad with dry soil to expedite the drying process.



The government is exploring various means to provide ad hoc relief to the flood-affected individuals, including compensation for their losses, he said, adding specific details and announcements regarding this assistance will be made soon.



Addressing a question regarding the Yamuna bridge maintenance payments, he clarified that the responsibility lies with the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC), which is owned by the central government.



The CM again urged all political parties, particularly the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), to refrain from engaging in blame game during this critical time, and emphasised the importance of working together to address the challenges posed by the floods and to restore normalcy in the affected areas.



Following the visit, he tweeted, I personally visited a relief camp set up in a school at Mori Gate to oversee the arrangements. Along with providing shelter for the affected people, arrangements for food, water, and toilets have been made.



For those whose important documents and childrens books have been washed away in the floods, special camps will be set up later to provide them assistancearrangements will be made for books and clothes for the children. The government will soon announce assistance for those who have suffered significant losses. We are reaching out to the flood-affected people with all possible help, the CM said.



He also tweeted to inform that the Chandrawal Water Treatment Plant has been started. This will restore water supply to the tune of 105 MGD in assembly constituencies namely Rajinder Nagar, Karol Bagh, Ballimaran, Chandni Chowk, Patel Nagar, Palam Vihar, Delhi Cantt and also in NDMC areas.
The united front the opposition is putting up needs to be an alliance of equals if it is to give the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) a tough fight, said Pradeep Gupta, a psephologist and Managing Director, Axis My India, whose exit poll predicted landslide victory for the Congress in Karnataka.



On June 23, leaders from 15 opposition parties reached an agreement to come together and contest the 2024 general elections together, presenting a united front against the BJP.



These parties collectively hold less than half the 301 seats the BJP has in the 542-member Lok Sabha.



In an interview to Moneycontrol, Gupta spoke on opposition unity, the upcoming assembly polls in five states, and on parties gearing up for 2024s battle royale.



Read: AAP will participate in opposition parties' meeting in Bengaluru: MP Raghav Chadha



2024 elections and opposition unity



Two things are important in an election  brand equity and converting that into votes.



The opposition is trying to build a perception with a grand alliance. The important thing is to see who is better placed on the ground to convert the perception into votes, said Gupta.



Also, it needs to be a partnership among equals. Its a problem if the alliance partners are not equal. We will have to see whos strong on the ground, who can get the votes and win elections, added Gupta.



One state where an alliance can play a role is Uttar Pradesh, though last time it didnt work. The Bahujan Samaj Party and the Samajwadi Party fought the 2019 elections together in Uttar Pradesh, along with the RLD.



They got close to 37.5 percent of the votes in Uttar Pradesh, and won only 15 seats. The BJP, in alliance with Apna Dal, got 64 seats out of 80, said Gupta.



This time the BSP has decided to stay away, and the Congress and the SP dont have a strong equation.



The Congress and the BJP do not have an alliance in Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Assam, and Himachal Pradesh.



In Haryana, the Lok Dal too has not indicated who itll go with  the BJP or the opposition. Punjab and Delhi are governed by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), but it is not yet clear whether it will be part of the joint opposition or not.



In Jammu and Kashmir, the National Conference (NC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are equals and are seen to be united. In West Bengal, the Congress got zero seats in the last assembly elections and it doesnt have a good equation with Trinamool Congress.



In Bihar, the RJD-JDU partnership is an alliance of equals, and it may dent the BJP. In Maharashtra, the MVA coalition has been rent asunder.



We will need to see how the NCP can help the alliance. If a major part of the NCP joins the NDA, then it's beneficial for the BJP. In Karnataka, the JDS seems to be with the NDA. In Tamil Nadu, its a straight fight between the DMK and the AIADMK. The alliance doesnt come into play, said Gupta.



Except in Bihar and Maharashtra, the opposition front doesnt seem to be an alliance of equals.



I cant see any other state where an opposition front can play a role. So in a nutshell, until theres a credible alliance, its very difficult to stop the BJP, said Gupta.



Madhya Pradesh



Talking about the political scenario in Madhya Pradesh, Gupta said that it seems that Shivraj Singh Chouhan is the preferred choice of the people. He has been running the government for almost 15 years, except the 15-month tenure of Congress Kamal Nath, when the grand old party formed the government, but ended up losing it.



Usually, anti-incumbency is seen as a major reason for any governments ouster, and this was the reason why people voted the Congress to power in 2018. However, this time there is not much anti-incumbency, which gives an edge to the ruling party, said Gupta.



However, the regional parties are strong in areas such as the Chambal and Baghelkhand regions, and the BSP has also got a chunk of the votes, but cut into the Congress share.



Rajasthan



Gupta said that Rajasthan has mostly thrown incumbent governments out of power.



There are two major parties that will be facing each other here, the Congress and the BJP. As of now, the BJP has not projected a credible chief ministerial face, and neither has the Congress, where theres a conflict between Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and Sachin Pilot.



Face is very important in elections. It actually gives people the opportunity to see who will work better for the state, said Gupta. Last time, the slogan Modi tujhse bair nahi, Vasundhra teri khair nahi, (Modi, there is no hatred towards you, Vasundhara, your fate is uncertain) had become quite popular.



He said the situation will be clearer in the near future. The central leadership in both the parties have a major role to play in winning the state.



Chhattisgarh



In this tribal-dominated state, the incumbent government tends to be voted back to power. Here too, the BJP is yet to project a credible face.



The incumbent Congress government had seen cracks develop between Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and senior leader TS Singh Deo, but after the latter was made Deputy Chief Minister, the matter has been resolved to a large extent, said Gupta.



The final results can be anything, it is too early and difficult to say anything. But when internal conflict is resolved, it does help the party. The Congress has been able to cement its position in the state, said Gupta.



Telangana



Its a new state and the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) led by Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao has been ruling it for two consecutive terms.



There will be anti-incumbency against the BRS government. On the other hand, a credible alternative is important. The Congress and the BJP will be considered very seriously. In the Lok Sabha, the BJP has four seats from the state, while the Congress has three. However, the two parties were nowhere in the assembly elections, said Gupta.



He said that while the BJP has been trying hard to make inroads in the state, the Congress has made an impact in southern India thanks to Rahul Gandhis Bharat Jodo Yatra.



We have to see who is the chief ministerial face of these parties. Also, if votes get split, BRS again has a chance of forming the government again, he added.



Mizoram



The state is all about the regional players, as national parties like the Congress and the BJP have not invested much here. It is a tiny state and national parties usually dont focus on it, because of which regional players make the government.
BJP president J P Nadda alleged on Sunday that opposition parties are forming an alliance to protect their dynastic politics and that the Congress-led UPA stands for utpidan, pakshpat and atyachar  oppression, favouritism and atrocities.



The proposed coalition of the opposition parties is not a Patriotic Democratic Alliance, but a Protection of Dynasties Alliance, Nadda said. Calling the Congress a party of mother-son-daughter, he said its government in Rajasthan is setting new records of corruption and has no right to stay in power even for a minute more.



Addressing a rally after launching the Bharatiya Janata Partys (BJP) Nahi Sahega Rajasthan campaign, Nadda targeted the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) and said, The UPA of the Congress stands for utpidan, pakshpat and atyachar, whereas the NDA (National Democratic Alliance) government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is working with the mantra of sabka sath, sabka vikas, sabka vishwas and sabka prayas.



He said these days, the opposition parties have started saying a new thing  PDA or the Patriotic Democratic Alliance.I call the PDA the Protection of Dynasties Alliance. It is a way to protect dynastic politics.All these people have joined the alliance to protect their families, while Modi works to take the country forward. We should understand the difference, the BJP chief said.



After more than a dozen opposition parties resolved to take on the ruling BJP unitedly in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls at a meeting in Patna last month, some reports claimed that their proposed coalition could be called the Patriotic Democratic Alliance.



Taking names of the Janata Dal (United) and Samajwadi Party (SP), Nadda said these are parties led by dynasts and they cannot give anything to each other. He termed the Congress a party of mother-son-daughter and said except the members of the Gandhi family, all other leaders of the party, including Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, are on contract, while former deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot is on a sub-contract.



Nadda launched the BJPs poll campaign  Nahi Sahega Rajasthan  to oust the Congress from power in the desert state. The Assembly polls are due in Rajasthan by the year-end. The BJP chief launched the campaign and a theme video that highlights crime against women in the state, the killing of tailor Kanhaiya Lal in Udaipur, communal riots and other issues.He also released a Fail Card of the Congress government.



Nadda targeted the Gehlot government, alleging that it loots and tortures people and has broken all records of atrocities against Dalits, tribals, women, children and the poor.It has no right to be in power even for a minute more, he said. Nadda alleged that encouraging graft and creating new records of corruption characterise the Gehlot government.



He further accused the state government of working towards demolishing the houses of refugees from Pakistan with bulldozers for the sake of its vote-bank politics.Nadda claimed that the crime rate has gone up in the state under the Congress rule and that women are not safe.He alleged that the Gehlot government has broken all records of corruption, appeasement politics is at its peak and all sections of the society are distressed under the Congress rule.



He called upon the people of Rajasthan to defeat the Congress in the upcoming polls and form a BJP government for the sake of the states development.He also highlighted the achievements of the Modi government at the Centre.At the programme, Nadda also met the widows of paramilitary jawans Manju Jat and Madhubala, who were killed in the Pulwama terror attack. Their widows had protested against the Congress government in March over their various demands.



Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly Rajendra Rathore slammed the Gehlot government over the recent rape and killing of a woman in Karauli, the killing of Kanhaiya Lal last year and the rape and killing of a Dalit woman in Bikaners Khajuwala, among other incidents.



Referring to the Nahi Sahega Rajasthan campaign, he said the state will no longer tolerate such incidents.Former chief minister Vasundhara Raje, state BJP chief C P Joshi and deputy leader of opposition in the Assembly Satish Poonia also addressed the rally.



Subsequently, Nadda held a joint meeting of the BJP legislature party and office-bearers at a hotel and gave them necessary directions for the Assembly election.Besides Joshi and Raje, state BJP in-charge Arun Singh and other party leaders and MLAs attended the meeting.
The just released Netflix show Kohrra opens with the discovery of the dead body of a man in a field in Punjab. The dead man, an NRI, was scheduled to be married in a few days. Starring Suvinder Vicky, Barun Sobti, Manish Chaudhari, Harleen Sethi, Varun Badola and Rachel Shelley, the immersive six-episode series is as much a police procedural and investigation as it is a study of the complex interpersonal relationships of the principal characters.







Director Randeep Jha (Trial by Fire) and showrunner Sudip Sharma (Paatal Lok), who has created the show along with Gunjit Chopra and Diggi Sisodia, spoke about the themes explored within the Punjabi language Kohrra.



Why did you call the show Kohrra?



Sudip Sharma: One obvious reason is that its set during the winter in Punjab, but more importantly, we wanted to talk about the fog in these characters' lives. Its not just a show about the mystery of the murder or the actual truth, but also the fog in their minds, the fog in their lives, the fog in their relationships and how the answer probably lies just right ahead of you but you're not able to see it because of this fog and the years of conditioning or your own prejudices or whatever baggage we bring into our relationships. That was, in fact, the starting point of the writing of the show and it became a theme. Love and fog were the starting points, not murder.



When did murder come into it?



Sudip: Murder came in at some point of time, but the initial idea was to explore love and relationships and to explore the politics of love. It's difficult to make anything political anymore in this country. But I am intrinsically a very political person - by political I mean being able to explore various relationships and the politics of relationships, the politics of love, which is what we are trying to do here. Not socio-political politics, that I have done earlier. But more personal politics.



The show starts with the murder, and you think it's going to be a police procedural. However, Kohrra is also about interpersonal relationships and what's going on in the homes of many of these characters, a lot of them pivoting on love. How did you formulate the structure and map for the screenplay?



Sudip: That was the tricky part. With the writers and creators Gunjit and Diggi, we were trying to get the balance right. We wanted the wheels of a procedural or an investigative drama, which is interesting in its own right. The first thing that I told them when they pitched the idea to me - I was coming off Paatal Lok and back into Paatal Lok season 2 - I didnt know if I wanted to do another police procedural. So, I suggested we veer away from that, even though it has the contours of a procedural, to make it more rounded. That was a constant thing that we kept telling ourselves - that we have to balance it out. We had to keep balancing the personal stories with the murder mystery, balancing the plot and the characters to keep a middle path.



How does the dynamic work between the both of you as showrunner and director?



Sudip: It works great because I have no intentions to direct, so I don't step on the directors toes. My idea is to be able to provide a vision and set the landscape and then pass on the baton to somebody more competent to do it, or who is there for that particular role. As creators and showrunners, a lot of what we do is associated with production. A showrunner, I think, is also a producer. My job is to take a lot of the hassles off the books so that they are not passed on to Randeep. I'm the cushion, absorbing that, and also to provide the overall creative vision.



Randeep Jha: I had complete independence as a director and of course Sudip was always on set and very helpful. We discussed a lot about approach, gaze and perspective during pre-production. We also had discussions before every scene. When you read a script, you are seeing a story, but often there is a lot of layering behind it which the writers know, so discussion with the writers and creators is helpful. Once you are on set, you are directing emotions, so you know the beats of what and why and when. While directing you are directing one part, but there is a backstory and the creators provide context. The why and how gives clarity and helps when directing the scenes.



Sudip: It is not easy to absorb six and eight episodes as someone who comes in just three months before shooting. Because here we get very little time for pre-production. He has no idea and one day you say do you want to do this show and he says I'm doing it. Three months later, you're shooting. To absorb all the characters and backstories, etc., is really difficult. So having the showrunner and creators around helps as they are a knowledge bank of all that information.



Sudip, I noticed the use of music and song and the prevalence of intoxicants, both are things we can't seem to get away from when we see a Punjab set story, as you also explored in Udta Punjab. When you decide to set a story in Punjab, do these elements just have to find their way in?



Udta Punjab was really about that, as a sort of Punjab version of Traffic. It was really about what's happening with drugs in Punjab. But it's a very small part of the backdrop of Kohrra. Music, again, is a small backdrop of the story, per se, although there is a lot of music in the show. We have used great songs by Wazir Patar. I'm a big fan of the artist. I would say the elements are really flowing more naturally rather than consciously saying its Punjab so let's put in drugs. There are various unexplored sides of Punjab, which we tried to capture here. For example, we wanted to show the industrial side of Punjab which we normally don't get to see. Usually its the yellow-green mustard fields (sarson ke khet). We wanted to explore the other side, that's why we shot the series in Ludhiana; very few films or series are shot there. Its mostly towards Amritsar or towards Chandigarh. Ludhiana has a more industrial, grungy, transport side to it that we have captured in the show.



Could you speak on the following recurring visual tools and themes in the show: the cell phone, which interrupts every situation and conversation; the use of window frames of doors; and the lensing  the tonal palette of the show.



Randeep: Since there are so many different tracks, along with the DOP (director of photography) Saurabh Monga, we decided to give each track and each characters specific and varying social status a different feel. So, we had a different visual language for Balbir's (Suvinder Vicky) house which is treated differently from Steve's (Manish Chaudhari) house. We have shot some characters up close, some have had wide intros, some handheld, some tracking shots. The visual language was chosen based on the myriad story tracks. Only two characters were significant in Balbirs house but they have a very unique, intense past. They never sit together and talk. They always speak from far away. How do we capture that? So we came up with the idea to use a house with a lot of doors and windows so that wherever you place the camera, you can see the two characters.



Sudip: I was reading this article by a prominent therapist in the New York Times about how the single most common reason for breakups in relationships and for the decline in the quality of relationships these days is the cell phone. The mobile has become such an important part of our lives but this information was shocking. I don't know if it was deliberate, but I think it probably just kind of seeped in from there. Were never far from it and are totally dependent on it. I am a little bit wary of cell phones, though. I have a sort of love-hate relationship with my mobile phone. Given a choice, I would throw it away, but you don't have that choice.







Actors often talk about how it takes them a long time to come out of certain characters. As writers-creators and directors, do you also have to shed a script/ film, and how do you do it?



Randeep: In fact, more than actors, I think we are affected. From pre-production you start visualizing and then during shoot you are immersed in the story 24x7. Then to come out, you take a break and put yourself into a very different space or activity.



Sudip: I went on a Vipassana course. That's one way to do it. It helped, but it didn't completely exorcise all the baggage and demons. Its like a relationship, but one that ends very strangely. For example, I was already in post-production for Paatal Lok Season 2 and we are now promoting Kohrra. Its a show that I finished and delivered. When you make a film, on the other hand, it's finished and out in a month's time whereas shows have a much longer lifespan and typically it would come out three to six months later. By which time you've purged yourself of it. So, it's a strange sort of the relationship, like meeting somebody you once dated quite intensely, and now it's like, okay, we are strangers but we have to relive those days.



Kohrra dropped on Netflix on July 15, 2023.
Kanifnath, a disciple of Jalandar Nath, one of nine gurus of the Nath sect lived in the desert of western Rajasthan during the 12th Century AD, under the Jodhpur princely state. The then king, Gopichand, invited the Nath Gurus and their disciples for a feast and asked them for their preferred dish. Kanifnath demanded the venom of all snakes, which no one was able to provide. He collected the venom himself and asked the Gurus if they would like to try it. This annoyed the highly revered Gorakh Nath who challenged Kanifnath to drink it. As Kanifnath drank, his throat turned blue and he closed his eyes to digest it. This episode led to Kanifnath being recognised as Neel Kanth Mahadev (synonym of Lord Shiva with blue throat) and resulted in Kanifnath being outcasted (Kaar-baria in Marwari). At a later date, Kanifnath's followers started being called Kaalbelia. The followers started living a wandering life, earning out of snake-charming.







The community has various synonyms in different parts of the country, their main identity was snake-charming for which they were popularly known as sapera. The community had immense knowledge around the subject of snakes and was highly regarded for their skill in catching snakes and treating snake and scorpion bites. But all was not going well for the Kalbelias, a section of them who identified themselves as wandering Jogi ascetics were listed under the British Criminal Tribes Act of 1871, even after independence that stigma has remained and the police continue to look at them as offenders.



Then the, Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1960, Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972, the banning of snake skin trade and stringent forest laws criminalised their traditional practice of snake-charming without proposing any alternative options.







Losing their traditional practices, their living condition deteriorated, compelling them to disguise themselves as holy men and fortune tellers (jyotish) and roam around begging for livelihood. Their women dance to the music of a been (twin flutes, also called poongi), for which they became popular internationally and were recognised by UNESCO under the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity (2010), this created a livelihood option for some, but largely their children and women collect plastic and other waste from the streets and Kalbelia youth is majorly into scrap collection and in the unorganised labour sector.



A recent survey by Bhasha Research and Publication Centre, Vadodara highlights that even after 75 years of independence, the Kalbelia are landless and live on the fringes of forests and village outskirts. They face mob-lynching, are attacked by dominant villagers and their huts are burnt down to remove them. As they have no burial grounds, they are compelled to bury their dead within their living premises. Literacy is around 40 per cent, majority of children drop out of schools at primary level and the community faces systematic socio-economic discrimination, Though categorised as Scheduled Tribes, their reservations benefits are negligible, 90 per are below poverty line but only 29 per cent have BPL cards. The woes are endless further compounded by COVID-19.



The Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972 and other follow up actions did not hit the Kalbelia alone, the Irula of Tamil Nadu, another expert snake catcher tribal group were equally badly hit. However, they had Romulus Whitaker, the renowned herpetologist, and wildlife conservationist, who had worked with them for nearly a decade, he was aware of their skills, as well as the problems they faced. He decided to set up the Irula Snake-Catchers Cooperative, on the outskirts of Chennai in 1978, where their knowledge would be used for the conservation of snakes and production of snake venom.







Today the Irula Snake Catchers' Industrial Co-operative Society Limited with about 350 active members collect about 80 per cent of the countrys venom used in making antivenom. While this in itself is exceptional, it has not been emulated in other parts of the country with other similar groups like the Kalbelia. This also means that nearly all the venom used to make antivenom for the entire country is extracted from only two districts in Tamil Nadu.



India suffers over 58,000 snakebite deaths annually, almost 80 per cent of global snakebite deaths. Of these, it is estimated that around 90 per cent are caused by the 'big four'  Common Krait, Spectacled Cobra, Russell's Viper and Saw Scaled Viper. Fortunately in India, we have a fairly reliable treatment  snake antivenom, we use a polyvalent antivenom that covers the big.



However, a recent study led by IISc shows that in lab tests the antivenom available in India is not effective against Common Krait from north India. Additionally, there are other important region-specific venomous snakes like the Sind Krait found in western India for which we have no antivenom. The main takeaway from the study is a pressing need to develop region-specific snakebite anti-venoms for the many neglected species and to cover the regional specificities within the same species.











On this World Snake Day, as India and the world ramp up the efforts to address the problem of snake-bite deaths, the Kalbelia with their deep association with snakes, their traditional knowledge and widespread footprint over large parts of western, central and northern India, are the natural partners to engage with. Not only will this restore dignity to the Kalbelia it will be an important first step in correcting historical wrongs meted out to them and other such communities.
AR Rahman's Oscar-winning number "Jai Ho" from Oscar-winning film Slumdog Millionaire was performed live at the Paris banquet hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron for Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit on July 14. The Prime Minister was in France for a two-day official visit and joined Macron for the French National Day celebrations as the Guest of Honour. It was apparently during a banquet at the iconic Louvre Museum complex in Paris where this moment was captured. #WATCH | Jai Ho song was played twice at the banquet hosted by France President Emmanuel Macron for PM Narendra Modi, in Paris on July 14. pic.twitter.com/wgg6HahpuN  ANI (@ANI) July 16, 2023 The leaders can be seen seated next to each other at the table with President Emmanuel Macron tapping away and "vibing" with the song as PM Modi smiled and nodded along to French performers singing the fast-tracked Hindi song originally sung by Sukhwinder Singh. Meanwhile, according to official sources, PM Modi's visit coincided with the 25th anniversary of the India-France Strategic Partnership. They said it is uncommon for foreign leaders to be invited as guests of honour on the Bastille Day or French National Day and the last time it was done was in 2017 when former US president Donald Trump was invited. "Even rarer is having foreign marching contingents and foreign aircraft participate in it," an official told news agency PTI. The French National Day occupies a special place in the French consciousness as it commemorates the storming of the Bastille prison during the French Revolution in 1789. The Bastille Day parade is the highlight of the celebrations. Read more: 'Jai Ho': AR Rahman congratulates Team 'RRR' on 'Naatu Naatu' Oscar win

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Last week, a top Indian lawyer who appears regularly on news television posted a tweet which read: The formally uneducated have provided very great leaders, but they honestly admitted to being uneducated. Emperor Akbar could not read or write, but he valued education and scholars. No nation progresses in an atmosphere of active anti-intellectualism egged on by academic frauds. He was forwarding a tweet about the late K. Kamaraj, chief minister of Tamil Nadu and president of the Indian National Congress, who was, perhaps, the most powerful man in Indian politics in the mid-1960s. Kamaraj never finished high school.



While the gentleman appeared to be referring to the controversy about Prime Minister Narendra Modis college degree, what caught my attention was the term active anti-intellectualism. I have no idea what the Modi government is doing, if anything, to suppress intellectuals, but that word  intellectual  has always fascinated me. Who or what exactly is this creature?



I am a Bengali, and apparently, Bengalis are seen as an intellectual race by some people from other parts of the country. Obviously, these people do not know that West Bengal has a record of political violence unmatched by any other state in independent India. The panchayat elections that concluded a few days ago have seen dozens of deaths. As far as I know, not a single Bengali intellectual has uttered a squeak about this.



Instead, they have taken to Twitter to express fury at Anupam Kher being cast as Rabindranath Tagore in a forthcoming film. They do not approve of Khers politics; so he should not be allowed to portray Tagore, the great liberal mind. This logic is, of course, idiotic. The late Utpal Dutt was a committed communist all his life, but played all sorts of characters on screen, from benevolent capitalist to evil crime lord. In fact, I cant recall him ever playing a proletariat trade union activist. Maybe, he was too plump a man for that type of role.



The anger of Bengali intellectuals merely reflects how insecure they are and how much they now resemble the frog in the well from that old fable.



So what is an intellectual? The dictionary tells us that he or she is a person possessing a highly developed intellect. Intellect is defined as the faculty of reasoning and understanding objectively, especially with regard to abstract matters. The Oxford dictionary even offers a helpful example: He was a man of action rather than of intellect. If the lexicographers of Oxford are correct  that action and intellect are mutually exclusive to a large extent  then all politicians, statesmen and even spiritual leaders seem to be disbarred from the intellectual class. The implication is that intellectuals think and talk and leave others to do the heavy-lifting, in fact all lifting.



I need to make a disclosure here. I have an engineering degree and, to make things worse, even an MBA. That is the worst sort of CV to have for an entry into any club of intellectuals. Because, the first rule of intellectualism seems to be that you need to have a humanities or social science degree.



The term social science has always seemed to me to be somewhat dubious  an attempt to gain acceptance and respect by calling itself a science, while much of it is just jargon-laden storytelling. This is not an original thought. It was first articulated by the late great sociologist Neil Postman.



The second rule is felicity with language. If you cant express a thought cleverly, you cant be an intellectual. Cleverly is the key word here, and it has nothing to do with clarity. In fact, the less clear you are, the more the chances that you will be regarded as a person who has some new insight.



Consider some of the most famous quotes from the French philosophers Michel Foucault and Jacques Derrida, who have been much in vogue in the last few decades as the fathers of post-modernism. The very fact that the term post-modernism makes no logical sense is an indication of what this intellectualism is all about. If you are more than modern, have you then travelled back in time to 2023?



Heres Derrida: There is no sense in doing without the concepts of metaphysics in order to attack metaphysics. We have no language  no syntax and no lexicon  which is alien to this history; we cannot utter a single destructive proposition which has not already slipped into the form, the logic, and the implicit postulations of precisely what it seeks to contest. I read that a few times to figure out what the man was trying to say and could only reach the conclusion that he was admitting that he should shut up because there was no way to say what he wanted to say.



But he doesnt stop there. He complains about people who ask what he means: Why is it the philosopher who is expected to be easier and not some scientist who is even more inaccessible? Inaccessible to you, you fool. Science has its own language, which is logical and structured, and all theories can be derived from first principles, just as one can create a meaningful word from the letters of any alphabet.



One of the fundamental equations of life is this:



CO2 + 6H2O + energy  6O2 + C6H12O6



This is photosynthesis, the process in which plants use carbon dioxide, water and the sun's energy to generate the oxygen we need to live and the glucose we need for the energy to carry on. How much easier can it get?



Michel Foucault, the object of much adoration among current intellectuals, was a real piece of work. When he was not writing stuff that was either incomprehensible or open to an infinite number of interpretations, he was lobbying for a lower age of consent for children to have sex.



What desire can be contrary to nature, since it was given to man by nature itself? he asked. This logic pardons everyone from a roadside pickpocket to Hitler. How could Hitler be blamed when the desire to kill all Jews everywhere was a desire that was given by nature itself?



After his death, many serious charges of child abuse against Foucault surfaced, on his regular jaunts to North Africa. But the intellectuals who dont want Anupam Kher to play Tagore because he supports the BJP have no problem in admiringly quoting a man who was almost certainly a child-molester.



The third truth about intellectualism in India is that its totally upper class. Upper class here does not mean only family income. The rich and entitled allow entry to the useful. So, someone from a poor family in Bihar who gets an admission to a PhD programme in JNU in African studies, which is basically a free ticket to 10 years of leisure at taxpayer expense, is welcomed into the fold.



The real upper class consists of those who think that society owes them a livelihood, if not a good life.



Most of us who have done STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) seem to be out of it. Who cares about the thought and work that went into building that new flyover which halves your commute time or to prompt Shah Rukh Khan when you type Shah in a Google search?



The key issue is that of responsibility and accountability. Intellectuals occupy a space that is above the level where one can be proved wrong. They reside in the realm of pure opinion, untainted by rigorous logic or the sweat of labour. Intellectuals cannot be sacked, just like our babus.



Paradoxically, we Bengalis, who are supposed to be an intellectual race, have a term for them. Aantel is a shortened version of the way the French pronounce the word intellectual  aantellectchuwale. Intellectualism is aantlami, which embodies a disdain for empty theorising. So, we go about killing one another at election time while the aantels attend book fairs and discuss Derrida. I guess we are doing fine, and I guess I am an anti-intellectual.
Actor R Madhavan, who attended the banquet held by French President Emmanuel Macron for Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Louvre Museum, has thrilled fans with photos of his interaction with the world leaders -- one of which featured Macron taking a selfie with him and PM Modi.



Recollecting the moment later in an Instagram post, Madhavan said it would be "forever etched" in his mind. "President Macron eagerly took a selfie for us while our Honorable Prime Minister very graciously and sweetly stood up to be part of it... a moment that will be forever etched in my mind for both the uniqueness and impact of that picture," he wrote.



As usual.. ACHAANAK.. https://t.co/cRbd5J831M

 Ranganathan Madhavan (@ActorMadhavan) July 16, 2023





After the dinner, Madhavan expressed his gratitude to President Macron and PM Modi for "the incredible lesson on grace and humility".



"The passion and dedication to do good for the Indo-French relationship, as well as for the people of both countries was palpable and intense during the Bastille Day celebration in Paris on the 14th of July 2023," Madhavan wrote in an Instagram post. "I was in complete awe at the dinner hosted by President Emmanuel Macron in honor of our Honorable, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi at the Louvre, of both these world leaders, as they passionately described their vision for the future of these two great friendly nations."





Thank you so very much for being that ever encouraging note in my life Sri. https://t.co/LO8abQkHOQ



 Ranganathan Madhavan (@ActorMadhavan) July 16, 2023









Prime Minister Narendra Modi was in France for a two-day official visit and joined Macron for the French National Day celebrations as the Guest of Honour.



Read more: 'Jai Ho' performed twice at Paris banquet hosted by Emmanuel Macron for PM Modi. Watch
Imagine this. It is a random day back in 2015. You are scrolling on the internet and suddenly you encounter a normal-looking dress. However, soon everybody is talking about it and it has literally broken the internet. While some people saw the dress as black and blue, others thought that it was gold and white.



The optical illusion dress belonged to a Scottish mans mother-in-law. Keir Johnston, 38, rose to fame soon after the picture went insanely viral. And now, he has been accused of trying to murder his wife. Yes, you read that right.



As per a report in the New York Post, Johnston appeared at the High Court in Glasgow on Monday after being charged with the attempted murder of his wife, Grace Johnston. He had also allegedly committed an 11-year campaign of domestic violence acts and coercive control against Grace, which allegedly led to him trying to kill her last March by pinning her to the ground and compressing her neck.



Johnston denied all the accusation including the one that mentioned he repeatedly assaulted his wife at their home before taking out a knife and attempting to strangle her. Other accusations include allegedly pushing Grace against a wall, shouting at her and throttling her between April 2019 and March 2022.



It was also alleged that he tried to get into a vehicle his wife was in and hit her through an open window. In another incident, he put his wife in a headlock and dragged her out of a pub after she refused to leave with him, according to the New York Post.



Johnston is also accused of isolating Grace from her friends and family, as well as monitoring her money to decide how much of it she could have access to.



The couple became a sensation after the viral dress debate sent the internet into a tizzy. They also appeared on the Ellen DeGeneres Show. DeGeneres gave the couple a $10,000 cheque as well as a trip to the Caribbean. According to the New York Post, the attempted murder case will get a preliminary hearing before a trial in 2024.
Here comes July like an express train, roaring and rattling its passengers from the comfort of their snooze.

Everybody is expected to get ready for the hottest month of the year in the western hemisphere, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association.

One has to wonder if the habitual fiery heat of July is in any way connected to the rise of the peoples feverish passions, leading to the many July revolutions in history.

Could there be a correlation between heat and discontent, irritability and anger?

Judging from the many celebrations of national and independence days of July, such as Canada Day, 1 July; Americas Independence Day, 4 July; Bastille Day, 14 July; Egyptian Revolution Day (coup detat, 1952) as well as Egypts National Revolution (30 June 2013), just missed July by one day, and many other revolts including the Iraqi coup detat, abolishing the monarchy, 1958; the Turks overtaking Izmir, 24 July. and on and on, what is it about July that feeds the flame in the human flesh?

In fact, there is a revolution that is named after the month, the 14 July Revolution of France, 1830, also known as July Days or Trois Glorieuses, when the Bourbon monarchy was replaced by the Orleans monarchy. It has been totally eclipsed by the storming of the Bastille prison on 14 July 1789, which is celebrated to this day.

What triggers the hearts and minds of nations to demand change?

It is simply the heat or in particular the July heat. Since July is the hottest month, tempers peak with its blazing sun.

We need a theory to hang on to and we found one.

An extensive study written by John Sutton of the San Francisco University, California in 2019, is worth noting. We even adapted our title from the study, entitled: Temperatures and tempers.

Drawing from the study it seems that temperatures above 20 degrees Celsius have shown to adversely impact human behaviour, leading to increased aggression and violence.

We must be a very hardy race to have endured thousands of years of long hot summers, smiling, joking, and surviving the heat.

Fortunately we are surrounded by several bodies of water that afford us soft evening breezes. The ancient Egyptians were resilient and innovative, cooling mats of wet straw as well as preserving cold water in clay and with scorching temperatures, they built the greatest civilisation known to man.

Undoubtedly, an extensive amount of literature confirms the ties between heat and increased irritability. There is no scientific consensus to why this occurs, but there is no shortage of theories, including population density and extreme heat.

Technology came to the rescue with cooling systems, but it is available to a minority and one cannot live by air-conditioners alone.

In the US a rise of a 5 degrees Fahrenheit or 15 degrees Celsius increase the odds of personal violence, assault, murder, domestic violence, and risk of riots by 4-14 per cent. Climate change enthusiasts are happy to prove their point of the impact of rising temperatures on the environment.

Please do not rush to point your finger at fossil fuels. The Earth has gone through various stages of heating and cooling and the planet has still survived.

However, there is a definite biological impact on the human brain when temperatures rise. It has nothing to do with greenhouse gases.

Heat results in a change of human behaviour. Flaring tempers and cranky attitudes become normal conducts. What then happens to our brains on a hot, muggy, summer day? Could it be that the brain is having difficulty managing the heat?

Our brain and body are effective at cooling us down when we overheat. It is all up to the hypothalamus.

The hypothalamus is a small region of the brain located at the base, near the pituitary gland. Though small in size it plays a big role in many important functions including regulating our core body temperature. It works with other regulating systems such as the skin, sweat glands and blood vessels which are the vents and heat ducts of our bodys heating and cooling systems.

During temperature fluctuations the production of neurotransmitters and hormones (serotonin and melatonin) is altered.

Long hours of sunlight as well as income level, ambient temperatures are heat factors raising violent crime rates and causing general agitation.

That may be the reason why the hottest month stirs unrest and revolution.

As if this was not enough, we have July bugs to contend with, which add to moodiness and discomfort.

Nonetheless, there is much to enjoy in July, despite the heat, the bugs, and the crimes.

There are all those national day celebrations; the numerous beaches available to us, the beautiful July flowers, the delphiniums also known as larkspur and the water lilies that date back to ancient Egypt.

A July baby is incredibly charismatic and attractive, ruled by the moon under the sign of Cancer, represented by the crab. Celebrate your July birthday with your usual creativity and sensitivity, as long as it does not encroach on the Leo of July/August.

There are more July days to enjoy. The UN celebrates World Population Day, whatever that means, the UK celebrates international chicken wing day, but if you prefer join the Brazilians as they celebrate not Coffee Day but Pizza Day.

If nothing else, celebrate Harry Potters birthday.

Then came hot July, boiling like fire, / That all his garments he had cast away.

Edmund Spenser (1552-1599)

* A version of this article appears in print in the 13 July, 2023 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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The nation witnessed the much-awaited launch of Indias third lunar mission Chandryaan-3 on July 14. The moment when the spacecraft took off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, was a proud one indeed. People from all over the country either watched it on television or streamed it live from the Indian Space Research Organisations (ISRO) Twitter handle.



However, some lucky ones had the chance to catch a glimpse of it from an airplane. Yes, you read that right.



What so happened that the take-off was captured on video by a passenger from their plane window. The incredible clip has obviously gone viral online and it is too good to miss out.



The now-viral video was shared on Twitter by Dr P V Venkitakrishnan, former director of ISROs Propulsion Complex. As per reports, the footage was captured on an IndiGo flight headed to Dhaka from Chennai. The rocket can be seen lifting off in the sky and the moment was just mind-blowing to say the least.



Launch of Chandrayaan 3 from flight. Sometime after take-off from Chennai to Dhaka flight, pilot announced to watch this historical event, read the caption of the post.



Launch of Chandrayan 3 from flight. Sometime after takeoff from Chennai to Dhaka flight, pilot announced to watch this historical event pic.twitter.com/Kpf39iciRD

 Dr. P V Venkitakrishnan (@DrPVVenkitakri1) July 15, 2023





Netizens were simply blown away after watching the clip and shared their thoughts in the comments section.



This is best thing I saw today on the internet, a user wrote.



Another user commented, Absolutely wow.



Some users even called the passengers on the plane lucky to have witnessed the rocket launch.



ISRO also gave an update on the Chandrayaan-3 mission and mentioned that the rocket is now in an orbit, which when closest to Earth is at 173 km and farthest from Earth is at 41,762 km. The health of the spacecraft was normal. The soft landing on moons surface is scheduled at 5.47pm on August 23.
Billionaire investor Warren Buffett's wife was overheard complaining to employees about the price of coffee at Allen & Co's annual event in Idaho, US. At the programme, often referred to as a "summer camp for billionaires," 77-year-old Astrid Buffett appeared unhappy about paying $4 (about Rs 300) for coffee, New York Post reported.



She reportedly said to an employee at the resort that she "could get a pound of coffee" for the same price elsewhere.



Warren Buffett is the seventh-richest person in the world on Bloomberg's Billionaires Index. The CEO of Berkshire Hathaway is worth about $115 billion but has also been known to be frugal.



In Bill and Melinda Gates 2017 annual letter addressed to longtime friend Buffett, Bill Gates recalled the 92-year-old billionaire pulling out a handful of coupons to pay for a McDonald's meal.



Remember the laugh we had when we traveled together to Hong Kong and decided to get lunch at McDonalds? You offered to pay, dug into your pocket, and pulled out  coupons! Bill Gates wrote.



Interestingly, unlike many billionaires, Warren Buffett's home is relatively understated. He lives in one bought in 1958 for about $31,500 in Omaha whose estimated price could be around $260,000 now. This perhaps gives an inkling as to why the $4 coffee was a big deal for Astrid Buffett.



The Buffetts, Warren, and his second wife Astrid, have been married since 2006. Astrid, previously Astrid Menks, used to work as a waitress at the French Cafe in Omaha when she first met the billionaire's first wife before becoming acquainted with Warren Buffett, Business Insider reported.



Read more: Warren Buffet said Jay-Z is 'the guy to learn from'. Now, the rapper is worth $2.5 billion
India will push its Group of 20 partners at a meeting it is hosting to support its proposal to raise the share of taxes multinational companies pay to countries where they earn "excess profits", government officials said.



Indias proposal, which has not been previously reported, could temper optimism among G20 members, such as Australia and Japan, that the meeting of finance ministers and central bankers in Gujarat would make progress on a long-awaited overhaul of global corporate taxation.



More than 140 countries were supposed to start implementing next year a 2021 deal overhauling decades-old rules on how governments tax multinationals. The present rules are widely considered outdated as digital giants like Apple or Amazon can book profits in low-tax countries.



The deal, pushed by the US, would levy a minimum 15 percent tax on large global firms, plus an additional 25 percent tax on "excess profits", as defined by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).



But several countries have concerns about the multilateral treaty underpinning a major element of the plan, and some analysts say the overhaul is at risk of collapse.



"India has made suggestions to get its due share of taxing rights on excess profits of multinational companies," one official said. The suggestions have been made to the OECD and will be discussed "extensively" during the July 17-18 G20 meeting, the official said.



Three officials, who asked not to be named as discussions with the OECD were ongoing and the G20 meeting had not begun, said India wants significant increases in the tax paid in countries where the firms do business. They did not specify how much India is seeking.



Indias finance and external affairs ministries and the OECD did not respond to requests for comment.



Under the agreement, global corporations with annual revenues over 20 billion euros ($22 billion) are considered to be making excess profits if the profits exceed 10 percent annual growth. The 25 percent surcharge on these excess profits is to be divided among countries.



India, fighting for a higher share of taxes for markets where firms do business, is the worlds most populous country and set to become one of the biggest consumer markets. Indian peoples average income is set to grow more than 13-fold to $27,000 by the end of 2047, according to a survey by the Peoples Research on Indias Consumer Economy.



The G20 host nation will also propose that withholding taxation be de-linked from the excess profit tax principle. The rules now say countries offset their share of taxes with the withholding tax they collect.



Withholding tax is collected by companies while making payments to vendors and employees, and remitted to tax authorities.



The OECD in a document issued on July 13 said a few jurisdictions have expressed concerns over allocating taxing rights among countries.



"Efforts to resolve these issues are underway with a view to prepare the Multilateral Convention for signature expeditiously," it said.
On the heels of a trip to Beijing, US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen is back in India for the third time in nine months, this time to meet finance ministers from the Group of 20 nations about global economic challenges like the increased threat of debt defaults facing low-income countries.



Yellen will use her time in Gandhinagar to try to foster warming relations between the US and India. She also plans a stop in Hanoi, Vietnam, to address supply chain reliability, clean energy transition and other matters of economic resilience.



Yellens goals for her time in India: press for debt restructuring in developing countries in economic distress, push to modernize global development banks to make them more climate-focused and deepen the ever-growing U.S.-India relationship.



Yellen's frequent stops in the country signal the importance of that relationship at a time of of tensions with China.



India's longstanding relationship with Russia also will loom as the Kremlins invasion of Ukraine continues despite the US and allied countries' efforts to sanction and economically bludgeon Russias economy. India has not taken part in the efforts to punish Russia and maintains energy trade with that country despite a Group of Seven agreed-upon price cap on Russian oil, which has seen some success in slowing Russias economy.



Still, the US increasingly relies on India and has courted its leaders.



President Joe Biden hosted a White House state visit honouring Prime Minister Narendra Modi in June, designed to highlight and foster ties. The two leaders pronounced the US-India relationship never stronger and rolled out new business deals between the nations.



Raymond Vickery Jr., a policy expert on US-India relations at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said Yellens coming to India shortly after visiting China is meaningful in that Indian officials "are going to want to know in great detail what happened in the meetings with her Chinese counterparts and see where it fits with their perspective on economic relations with China".



"They're going to want to know whether or not the United States is serious about moving some of its sourcing activity from China to India".



A senior Treasury official, speaking on condition of anonymity to preview Yellen's trip, said there was hope that debt treatments for Ghana and Sri Lanka will be discussed and completed quickly at the meetings.



Sri Lanka and Ghana defaulted on their international debts last year, roughly two years after Zambia defaulted. And more than half of all low-income countries face debt distress, which hurts their long-term ability to function and develop.



Last month, Zambia and its government creditors, including China, reached a deal to restructure $6.3 billion in loans, on the sidelines of a global finance summit in Paris.



The agreement covers loans from countries such as France, the U.K., South Africa, Israel and India as well as China - Zambia's biggest creditor at $4.1 billion of the total. The deal may provide a roadmap for how China will handle restructuring deals with other nations in debt distress.



Yellen's trip comes shortly after she spent a week in China, meeting the nation's finance ministry and discussing mutual trade restrictions and national security concerns.



Harold W. Furchtgott-Roth, a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute, said Yellens trip to India "is a reflection of a naturally developing alliance".



"India has a great deal of tension with China - they have constant border disputes," he said. "And India wants to develop and has developed into sort of an Indian Ocean naval power, which is also a region that China wants to develop."
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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.
Three new exhibitions at the Arab World Institute in Paris are exploring relations between Palestine and the rest of the world.

Opening in May at the Arab World Institute on the left bank of the Seine in Paris, an ambitious programme of talks, film screenings, and panel discussions will be exploring what Palestine has brought to the world from now until the end of September.

It is an opportunity for anyone finding themselves in the French capital this summer to attend events at the Institute throughout the week, with all of them relating to some aspect of Palestinian culture, politics, or society. There are talks and discussions on Palestinian art, literature, and archaeology in June, followed by similar sessions on Palestinian politics in July. Many of the events are free.

The programme is built around three related exhibitions that have taken over the Institutes underground exhibition spaces as well as the temporary exhibition space in its museum of Arab history on the upper floors. Taken together, these supply a sometimes direct, sometimes oblique, look at many Palestinian themes.

The first of the three exhibitions, the Palestinians and their Museums, presents works collected over recent years for the proposed Palestinian Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art that is planned to be built in East Jerusalem. While plans for this are finalised, the collection is being housed and managed by the Arab World Institute, and the exhibition consists of selected works from it along with works taken from the Institutes own collection of modern and contemporary Arab art.

The second exhibition, Images of Palestine, presents the work of 14 contemporary Palestinian photographers, their work being brought together by a common desire to break the stereotypes that sometimes still dictate the ways in which Palestine and the Palestinians are seen in some parts of the world. Older images of Palestine taken by European photographers in the late 19th century provide an intriguing contrast.

The third exhibition, the Briefcases of Jean Genet, presents the contents of two briefcases that French writer Jean Genet left with his Paris lawyers a few days before his death in 1986. Genet lived a notably peripatetic life, often travelling between Europe, the Middle East, and North America and living in a succession of hotels. The briefcases contain records of these travels along with drafts and manuscripts of Genets literary works and working materials relating to his support for the Palestinian cause.

Descending into the first of the exhibitions, housed in the Institutes basement exhibition spaces, visitors come face to face with artworks that, though material, are as yet housed in what is still a virtual museum or at least one that has no permanent physical location. According to the wall texts introducing the exhibition, this situation says something about the present fortunes of many Palestinian people who find themselves living in different countries across the world without being able to return to their homeland.

With the proposed Palestinian Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art still without physical premises or a secure location, how might one best go about building a museum in and for Palestine, the exhibition asks. As the texts go on to say, the movement to set up public museums, notably museums of art, was historically associated with national self-consciousness, especially in Europe. One of the side-effects of the nationalism that spread across the continent in the 19th century was the building of a public art museum in almost every European capital.

Palestine is still without institutions of this sort that can record and express Palestinian identity and introduce especially members of the younger generations to main currents of modern and contemporary art. While such institutions cannot for the moment be built in Palestine itself for various, chiefly political, reasons, they can be built in virtual space thanks to the development of new technologies that can allow Palestinians and others across the globe to log into virtual Palestinian museums even if they cannot visit physical ones.

Events such as the Arab World Institutes exhibition of selected works from the collection can give visitors a foretaste of what an eventual Palestinian Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art might look like. The project was launched by former Palestinian ambassador to the UN cultural agency UNESCO in Paris Elias Sanbar, also a leading writer, and since its founding in 2015 it has been able to put together a set of works that could eventually serve as the core of a Palestinian modern and contemporary art collection.

All the works have been given to the new Museum by their creators, with the result that the collection is an international and possibly also rather haphazard one as it is not the result of a consciously directed acquisitions programme. However, for Sanbar, interviewed in material available in the exhibition, this serendipitous aspect of the new Museums collection is a strength since visitors will understand that it is the result not of money or spending power but of generosity and international solidarity.

It also draws upon distinguished models such as the museum of the future that artists around the world contributed to after the coup detat carried out by former general Augusto Pinochet in Chile in 1973 and the museum against apartheid whose collection was put together during the Apartheid regime in South Africa and was eventually installed in the country itself after the end of that regime in 1994.

The Palestinian Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art is in exile because exile expresses the period of transition, Sanbar said. Will we be able to establish the Museum in East Jerusalem when circumstances allow? We do not know, but we are working with this in mind.

As if to underline the point, two smaller virtual exhibitions complete the presentation, one by the Sahab Museum (Cloud in Arabic) that seeks to set up an art museum for Gaza on the Internet and the other by the Eltiqa Gallery in Gaza City that invited 14 young Palestinian artists to create virtual artworks that could be hosted on the Sahab Museum site.

Another set of works, this time by Arab artists and drawn from the Arab World Institutes own collections, is arranged around an installation commemorating the contributions made by the late Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish to the Palestinian cause. A young Darwish is shown reading his long poem Praise of the High Shadow, madih al-zil al-ali, to the Palestinian parliament in exile in Algiers in 1983.

The second of the exhibitions, Images of Palestine, is a continuation of the first and sets late 19th-century commercial images of Palestine taken by European photographers against contemporary work by Palestinian photographers that variously criticises, completes, or reconfigures the orientalist gaze. The European photographs on show were produced by a Swiss company that had perfected an early colour process that enabled it to produce colour prints from the black-and-white negatives of the time. This technology presents Palestine as an empty space, as a survival or vestige of previous times, and as only peopled by various native types.

Set against these images, the photographs taken by the contemporary photographers show a wide range of ways of presenting todays Palestine, sometimes carrying a political message with them and sometimes exhibiting a kind of black humour and subversive charge.

A sequence of images by Palestinian photographer Taysir Batniji presents houses wrecked during the 2009 Israeli attack on Gaza as if they were properties featuring in the catalogue of a real-estate agent. Mohamed Abusal, born in Gaza and now working in Paris, presents photographs of the Gaza Metro, being a set of photomontages of wrecked buildings contrasted with gleaming Metro signs.

Genets briefcases



Elsewhere in the Institute, a small exhibition invites visitors to inspect the contents of two briefcases left by the French writer Jean Genet with his lawyers before his death, presumably with a view to preserving them for posterity.

Made of what seems to be vinyl or imitation leather, these are also on display in the exhibition, though some at least of their contents have been spilled out into adjacent display cases and arranged by themes. These include Genets personal finances, with the contents consisting of copies of hotel bills and sketchy calculations scratched onto the backs of envelopes and strips of paper torn off newspapers, his involvement with protest movements in the 1970s, among them the US Black Panthers, and typed up copies and manuscripts of his newspaper articles and public pronouncements of the period.

The final display case includes pages from the typescripts of Genets last books, some of which were devoted in whole or in part to the Palestinian cause. The first of these, translated into English as Prisoner of Love and into Arabic as Asir Ashiq, was published soon after Genets death in 1986. The second, Lennemi declare, not translated, was published in French in 1991 and contains articles and interviews of several decades many of which are devoted to the Palestinians. Anyone interested in Genets later writing methods will be able to pore over the pages of typescript on display, blackened in many cases by his extensive rewritings and additions.

While there is a catalogue to the exhibition, entitled simply Genets Briefcases and produced by Albert Dichy of the French Institut Memoires de ledition contemporaine, it is not clear how the material could be easily catalogued. Some of it consists simply of telephone numbers scratched on the backs of envelopes and what seem to be self-reminders to the author, though these are often illegible, scratched onto torn-off strips of paper. All of it is highly redolent of the period, with the phone numbers and addresses being those of leading intellectual figures of the 1960s and 1970s such as Michel Foucault, James Baldwin, Syrian dramatist Saadallah Wannous, and US actress and activist Jane Fonda.

Genet was a leading writer of the post-War period in France, according to his admiring contemporary the French philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre even its major novelist. However, after an astonishingly creative period immediately after the end of the Second World War followed by the production of a series of well-received plays, Genet seemed to have stopped writing, with Prisoner of Love coming at the end of a decades-long dry season.

According to the exhibition, it was Genets involvement with the Palestinian cause that encouraged him to write again. Arriving in the Jordanian capital Amman in 1970 in time to see the fighting of so-called Black September between the Jordanian armed forces and the Palestinian fighters, Genet became more and more sympathetic towards the Palestinian cause.

Thanks to his friendship with former Palestinian ambassador in Paris Leila Shahid, Genet decided to leave for Beirut in 1982 during the Israeli siege of the Lebanese capital, arriving in time to witness the massacres that took place in the Palestinian refugee camps of Sabra and Shatila in September 1982.

Genet wrote of the experience in his Quatre Heures a Chatila, four hours in Shatila, a horrified and horrifying account of the massacres that appeared in the Paris-based Revue des etudes palestiniennes in January 1983. As the exhibition puts it, after years of silence, Genet had once again taken up his pen, this time in defence of the Palestinians.

More generally, he had discovered following his involvement in the Black Panthers movement in the US after 1968 that his personal revolt, sketched out in his novels, could also be a collective one. He was henceforth destined to be the captive of movements of which he was also the loving admirer  as indicated in the title of his book on the Palestinian cause, Un Captif amoureux in the original French and Prisoner of Love in English.

Featuring many photographs, books, and documents from this period in Genets life and from the movements he supported, Genets Briefcases is a welcome opportunity to return to the intellectual ferment of the 1970s and early 1980s in Europe and the Middle East.

Ce que la Palestine apporte au monde, Arab World Institute, Paris, until 1 October

* A version of this article appears in print in the 13 July, 2023 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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BeHeartfelt is accepting new and used shoes until Aug. 4 as part of their shoe drive for Guam's children in need.
Luis Granena

With her fingers displaying the V for victory, a young Patricia Bullrich  today a candidate for the hard-right in Argentina  shows whoever is interested that shes a Peronist. And not just any Peronist.

In 1983, when a camera captured an iconic shot of her as a young woman with curly black hair and an upward-turned gaze, Argentina was living in the twilight of the military dictatorship. Bullrich had just ended an exile that began in 1977 and that took her to Brazil, the United States and Mexico. Her militancy in Montoneros  the armed wing of revolutionary Peronism, the leftist ideology centered around Juan Domingo Peron, a soldier who ruled Argentina from 1946 until 1955 and 1973 until 1974  had put her in the crosshairs of Jorge Rafael Videlas regime (1976-1981). Bullrich was the sister-in-law of Rodolfo Galimberti, one of the heads of the organization. Under his command, she participated in a couple of failed attacks against the military government in Buenos Aires.

Forty years after that triumphant return, Bullrich is what is called a convert. Today, she represents the most recalcitrant right in Argentina. She hopes that her promise of a strong hand against crime and corruption  as well as her extreme anti-Peronism  will lead her to the Casa Rosada (the presidential palace) after the October 22 elections.

Bullrich also bears the surname Luro Pueyrredon. Her family roots go back to Argentinas independence from Spain. Many streets, avenues, neighborhoods and squares throughout the country bear the last names of her ancestors. The most exclusive shopping center in the capital of Buenos Aires, for instance, is called Patio Bullrich. In the 1970s, it was common for young people from good families to be attracted to the Peronist banners of social justice. The most radical students joined the guerrilla movement against the military government. However, at the end of the day, these armed revolutionary organizations also had a militaristic element one that Bullrich clearly shares.

Over time, the former minister of security (2015-2019) gradually abandoned her original revolutionary ideas. While she supports abortion rights and respects sexual diversity, these are about her only moderate positions. She completed her political metamorphosis during the center-right administration of Mauricio Macri, who lost his re-election in 2019. During her time in his cabinet, she often dressed up as a soldier, while her team flooded social media with videos of her attending drug seizures or overseeing arrests.

The military dictatorship is going to end, its going to end, chanted the young Argentines of the 1970s. Nearly half-a-century later, Bullrich says that with me, this is over, referring to the roadblocks set by protestors, public demonstrations, violent assaults and corruption. The keywords of her campaign are strength, courage and change. This message has a wide audience. The Argentine decline, she notes, is the fault of Peronism and, above all, of Nestor and Cristina Kirchner, the couple that governed the country from 2003 until 2015, divided into three left-wing administrations. Cristina Kirchner currently serves as vice president to left-wing incumbent Alberto Fernandez.

Bullrich is calling for the reconstruction of the country, a process that will destroy, dynamite and disarm the economy that Kirchnerism created. The use of dynamite excites those who are fed up with the long-standing economic crisis. Bullrich warns theres no longer room for lukewarm measures: only going for everything will make it possible to rebuild the lost order.

Now, the question is: whos lukewarm? Well, according to Bullrich, its her rival in the primaries being held by the center-right Together for Change coalition: Horacio Rodriguez Larreta. The incumbent mayor of Buenos Aires feels more comfortable in the center  so far, hes resisted the authoritarian drift of the main opposition alliance, founded by former president Macri. I didnt just shout about getting rid of the drug dealers. I took them out, period, he replies, when answering Bullrichs allegations of being soft on crime.

Bullrich, 67, uses her life story as a political weapon to win over the electorate: I was on the other side I know very well what Im talking about. Kirchnerism, she says, has seized on the nostalgia of the young people from the 1970s. But this ideology has failed, it smells old, she emphasizes. Instead, she is offering order, progress and authority. Her political rhetoric weaves together the discourse of the traditional right and the extreme right.

If Bullrich wins her coalitions primaries, one of her opponents will be Javier Milei, a neoliberal economist who has founded his own party. Hes promising to drastically reduce the size of the state and dollarize the economy. His voters are mostly young people, who are tired of what he refers to as the political caste. Bullrich is fighting to win some of those anti-establishment votes and her strategy of toughening her rhetoric appears to be working, as shes steadily rising in the polls. Her base, however, lies in the conservative stream that runs through Latin America, which has led to the rise of figures such as the former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro, presidential candidate Jose Antonio Kast in Chile, or the popular and controversial incumbent Nayib Bukele in El Salvador.

Bullrich will compete with Larreta at the polls on August 13. If she wins her coalitions presidential nomination in these primaries, she will face off in the October general elections against Milei and the Peronist candidate, Minister of Finance Sergio Massa. The polls show that Argentinas iron lady is very close to taking power.

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Yellen visits India again to promote closer ties and tackle global economic problems View Photo

GANDHINAGAR, India (AP)  On the heels of a trip to Beijing, U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen is back in India for the third time in nine months, this time to meet finance ministers from the Group of 20 nations about global economic challenges like the increased threat of debt defaults facing low-income countries.

Yellen told reporters in Gandhinagar, the capital of the western Indian state of Gujarat, on Sunday that she was trying to foster warming relations between the U.S. and India. She also plans a stop in Hanoi, Vietnam, to address supply chain reliability, clean energy transition and other matters of economic resilience.

Yellen said her goals for her time in India were to press for debt restructuring in developing countries in economic distress, push to modernize global development banks to make them more climate-focused and deepen the ever-growing U.S.-India relationship.

Yellens frequent stops in the country signal the importance of that relationship at a time of tension with China.

Indias longstanding relationship with Russia has also loomed as the Kremlins invasion of Ukraine continues despite U.S. and allied countries efforts to sanction and economically bludgeon Russias economy. India has not taken part in the efforts to punish Russia and maintains energy trade with that country despite a Group of Seven agreed-upon price cap on Russian oil, which has seen some success in slowing Russias economy.

Yellen said ending the war in Ukraine is first and foremost a moral imperative. But its also the single best thing we can do for the global economy.

She added the U.S. would continue to cut off Russias access to the military equipment and technologies that it needs to wage war against Ukraine.

One of our core goals this year is to combat Russias efforts to evade our sanctions. Our coalition is building on the actions weve taken in recent months to crack down on these efforts, Yellen said.

The U.S. increasingly relies on India and has courted its leaders.

She said the U.S. sees India as an indispensable partner in its friend-shoring strategy for increasing the resilience of supply chains.

She added private U.S. firms sees India as an excellent place for producing goods and exporting to the United States.

She also noted that slowing growth in China has impacted growth in many other countries.

It is something I discussed with my Chinese counterparts. I think the Chinese are anxious to communicate that their business environment is open. There is a desire certainly to see foreign investment, Yellen said.

President Joe Biden hosted a White House state visit honoring Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in June, designed to highlight and foster ties. The two leaders pronounced the U.S.-India relationship never stronger and rolled out new business deals between the nations.

Raymond Vickery Jr., a policy expert on U.S.-India relations at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said Yellens coming to India shortly after visiting China is meaningful in that Indian officials are going to want to know in great detail what happened in the meetings with her Chinese counterparts and see where it fits with their perspective on economic relations with China.

Theyre going to want to know whether or not the United States is serious about moving some of its sourcing activity from China to India.

A senior Treasury official, speaking on condition of anonymity to preview Yellens trip, said there was hope that debt treatments for Ghana and Sri Lanka will be discussed and completed quickly at the meetings.

Sri Lanka and Ghana defaulted on their international debts last year, roughly two years after Zambia defaulted. And more than half of all low-income countries face debt distress, which hurts their long-term ability to function and develop.

Last month, Zambia and its government creditors, including China, reached a deal to restructure $6.3 billion in loans, on the sidelines of a global finance summit in Paris.

The agreement covers loans from countries such as France, the U.K., South Africa, Israel and India as well as China  Zambias biggest creditor at $4.1 billion of the total. The deal may provide a roadmap for how China will handle restructuring deals with other nations in debt distress.

Yellens trip comes shortly after she spent a week in China, meeting the nations finance ministry and discussing mutual trade restrictions and national security concerns.

Harold W. Furchtgott-Roth, a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute, said Yellens trip to India is a reflection of a naturally developing alliance.

India has a great deal of tension with China  they have constant border disputes, he said. And India wants to develop and has developed into sort of an Indian Ocean naval power, which is also a region that China wants to develop.

By AJIT SOLANKI and FATIMA HUSSEIN

Associated Press
Migrants in the port of Los Cristianos, in the south of the island of Tenerife. They are pictured next to the boat on which they travelled from Senegal to reach the Canary Islands, on July 4, 2023.

Senegal is going through a political and social criss. This past June, riots broke out, resulting in around 20 deaths, at least 600 arrests and significant material damage. According to Frontex  the European Border and Coast Guard Agency  and various Senegalese NGOs and migrants, the ongoing violence is the cause of the intense outflow of rafts and canoes from the coasts of West Africa to the Canary Islands of Spain.

In all of 2022, only three rafts arrived in the Spanish archipelago from Senegal and Gambia. However, in just the last month-and-a-half, 19 boats have managed to make the trip from those two countries to the Canary Islands. Theres enormous frustration among the youth, says Saliou Diouf, president of the Senegalese humanitarian association Boza Fii.

Lamine  a pseudonym  owns a van. His main job is to take small groups of tourists to Casamance, in southern Senegal. In the middle of June, however, he received a commission to transport seven young people from Dakar, the countrys capital, to Kafountine, in the south. They left in a canoe and were intercepted in Mauritania. There were a lot of people at least four boats set sail from this area, one from Kafountine, another from Dianah and two from Abene. There were many arrests; the police are looking for those responsible, he explains.

In the last six weeks, some 30 boats set sail from Senegal and Gambia, of which 19 managed to reach the Canary Islands. The rest were intercepted in Senegalese waters, shortly after leaving, or in Mauritania and Morocco. The NGO Caminando Fronteras tells EL PAIS that there are three missing boats with some 300 people on board, although the Senegalese government has denied this in a statement. According to the verifications carried out, this information lacks any foundation. Between June 28 and July 9, 260 Senegalese in danger were rescued in Moroccan territorial waters, says the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The truth is that the route to the Canary Islands continues to be the site of tragedies. For a month. Pape Malick Diouf has been looking for his older brother, Saliou, a 37-year-old merchant, who is married with two children. He left around nine oclock on the night of June 7 from Saint-Louis (Senegal), with 40 other people. Since that day, I havent had any news or heard from his companions. Its frustrating, he says by phone. Precisely in waters close to Saint-Louis, the last known shipwreck occurred this past Tuesday, when a canoe from the south of the country capsized due to excess weight and rough waves. Eight corpses were rescued from the sea.

After two years of instability, the Senegalese political crisis exploded on June 1, after popular opposition leader Ousmane Sonko received a two-year prison sentence. Sonko was initially being prosecuted for the crimes of rape and uttering death threats, but was ultimately convicted of corrupting the youth, after it was claimed that he had sexual relations with a 19-year-old girl. Sonko assures his followers that this is all a setup by President Macky Sall and his government, meant to eliminate him from the presidential race. On the day of his sentence and the two days that followed, there were serious pro-Sonko riots in Dakar and Ziguinchor. Sonko has been held at his home by the police for several weeks  the government hasnt dared to order his transfer to jail, fearing more riots.

There are no jobs, theres no hope for the future. If you add to that the fact that you see your friends in jail for protesting, or a situation of total uncertainty, young people get desperate, Diouf sighs. Mohamed Diop  a young man from the town of Mbour  tells this newspaper that, right now, people dont want to stay in Senegal theres no peace. The political crisis has had an impact, without a doubt. Elections are set to be held in Senegal next February. From house arrest, Sonko has sent a message to the young people who are fleeing the country by boat: Dont run away from your destiny  stay and, together, lets fight the only fight thats worthwhile: the sovereign construction of our economic and social development.

The intense migratory activity last June in the Canary Islands attracted the media spotlight. Typically not a hotspot for migration, 2,807 people arrived in June  five times more than in the same month the previous year. It was an unexpected peak after a period of relative calm brought about by the improvement of relations between Spain and Morocco.

Two sources dedicated to border control explain to EL PAIS which factors are contributing to the recent rise in arrivals to the Spanish archipelago. Mainly, these sources note, the optimal weather conditions have facilitated navigation. There has also been a resurgence of people-smuggling networks that organize the trips, while in Mauritania and Morrocco, the presence of tens of thousands of migrants and refugees  who are desperate to leave  has increased. And, of course, the violence in Senegal has also contributed to the rise in migrant boats.

The authorities in Gambia, Senegal and Mauritania  from where the barges in which up to 200 people can travel originate  have been exercising more exhaustive controls, preventing the departure of canoes. However, considering the situation in Senegal, Frontex assumes that the migratory flows will continue. The current political situation will act as a push factor that will drive more people to leave the country and encourage demand for smugglers on the West African route. At the same time, the growing number of refugees and third-country nationals moving to Mauritania may increase the number of people trying to reach the Canary Islands, the agency reports in an internal document. According to Frontex sources, if the arrivals persist, the agency will have to send teams to the islands where it currently doesnt have a presence, such as Tenerife or El Hierro, which, together with Gran Canaria, end up being the main destinations for migrant boats.

Arrivals to the Canary Islands are expected to continue to increase, also taking into account that the busiest months  August, September and October  are still to come. Migratory pressure on the Canary Islands is expected to persist in the near future, Frontex notes, [particularly] if weather conditions are suitable for navigation. Poor economic prospects for West African countries  further aggravated by droughts and food shortages  lead many of their inhabitants to move to the EU. [Meanwhile], growing poverty in Morocco is fueling irregular migratory flows to EU member states.

In any case, the level of migrants arriving to the Canary Islands has, overall, dropped by 18.5% compared to last year. And, across all the routes from Africa that lead to Spanish territory  either via Ceuta, Melilla, the Canary Islands, the Balearic Islands or the peninsular coasts  the decrease has also been a pronounced 11.5% year-over-year.

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UK Defense Secretary Ben Wallace says hell quit government and stand down as a lawmaker

UK Defense Secretary Ben Wallace says hell quit government and stand down as a lawmaker View Photo

LONDON (AP)  British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace said Sunday he plans to resign at the next Cabinet reshuffle after four years in the job.

Wallace has served as defense secretary under three prime ministers and played a key role in the U.K.s response to Russias invasion of Ukraine.

He told The Sunday Times his departure was due to the strain his job had put on his family. He also said he would stand down as a lawmaker at the next general election.

Wallace is the longest continuously serving minister in government. He was security minister under former Prime Minister Theresa May, before being promoted to defense secretary by her successor Boris Johnson.

Wallace drew criticism last week when he suggested that Ukraine should show gratitude for the Wests military support. He made the remark at the NATO summit in Lithuania after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed frustration about when his country could join the military alliance.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak distanced himself from Wallaces comments, saying Zelenskyy had expressed his gratitude for what weve done on a number of occasions.
Protests swell in Tel Aviv for 28th week as anti-government movement vows more days of disruption View Photo

JERUSALEM (AP)  Tens of thousands of protesters packed the streets of Tel Aviv on Saturday night, marking the 28th straight week of demonstrations against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus plan to overhaul the countrys judiciary. Protest leaders promised further days of disruption lie ahead.

Netanyahus government gave initial approval to a key portion of the overhaul earlier this week, breathing new life into the grassroots movement. The bill still needs to be approved in two more votes, expected by the end of the month, before it becomes law.

Saturday night protests have become a mainstay of the grassroots movement  but this weeks was larger than usual.

In Tel Aviv, protesters unrolled a massive banner reading SOS. They threw paint powder into the sky, streaking it pink and orange. Handmaids  women dressed in red robes as characters from the dystopian novel and TV series The Handmaids Tale  once again took to the streets. Their jarring appearance is meant to drive home the notion that, if the overhaul passes, women could be stripped of their rights.

On Tuesday, protesters blocked major highways and disrupted operations at the countrys main international airport after Netanyahus parliamentary coalition advanced a bill that is part of the overhaul. Organizers said they would hold another day of disruption on Tuesday if he continues to move ahead with the plan.

The Israeli leader was hospitalized on Saturday for dehydration after suffering a dizzy spell and having spent the previous day in the sun without drinking water. He later released a video from the Tel Aviv hospital, saying he felt good. However, Netanyahu was to spend the night in the hospital, according to his office, and a weekly Cabinet meeting scheduled for Sunday was pushed to Monday.

Saturdays protest in Tel Aviv was joined by others across the country. Protesters brandished lit torches outside Netanyahus home in Jerusalem and demonstrated in the coastal cities of Herzliya and Netanya.

After more than six months of protests, the movement shows little sign of abating. Israels national labor union and its medical association have joined a long list of groups speaking out against the bill. Military reservists, fighter pilots and business leaders have all urged the government to halt the plan.

Arnon Bar-David, head of the countrys national labor union, the Histadrut, threatened a possible general strike that could paralyze the countrys 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 Israels economy and helped contribute to Netanyahus decision to suspend the legislation.

The Israeli Medical Association, which represents 90% of Israeli physicians, joined the Histadrut Friday, voting to employ all available means, including significant organizational measures to oppose the reasonableness bill.

The law will devastate the healthcare system, the chairman of the association, professor Zion Hagay, said.

The mass protests have taken place since Netanyahus 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 overhaul calls for giving Netanyahus allies control over the appointment of judges and giving parliament power to overturn court decisions. The Netanyahu government 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 judicial overhaul 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.

By JULIA FRANKEL

Associated Press
Iraqi premier in Syria for first visit in over a decade to discuss boosting cooperation

Iraqi premier in Syria for first visit in over a decade to discuss boosting cooperation View Photo

DAMASCUS, Syria (AP)  Iraqs prime minister held talks Sunday with Syrian President Bashar Assad in Damascus during the first trip of its kind to the war-torn country since the 12-year conflict began.

The two leaders told reporters that they discussed fighting drugs, the return of Syrian refugees and the imperative of lifting Western sanctions imposed in Syria. They also talked about Israels strikes on the war-torn country and water shortages in the Euphrates River that cuts through both countries because of projects in Turkey.

Iraq and Syria have had close relations for years even after many Arab countries withdrew their ambassadors from Damascus and Syrias membership in the 22-member Arab League was suspended because of the crackdown on protesters in 2011.

Assad received Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, who was heading a high-ranking delegation, at the presidential palace in Damascus. They discussed mutual relations and cooperation between the two neighboring countries among other issues, according to the office of Syrias president.

Al-Sudanis office said in a statement that talks revolved around ways of expanding cooperation in the fields of trade, economy, transportation, tourism, how to combat climate change and collaboration to fight terrorism.

Security cooperation against extremist groups was likely to top the agenda for the two-day visit. The two countries, where Iran enjoys wide influence, have a joint 600 kilometer-long (373-mile) border. In June 2014, the Islamic State group declared the establishment of a self-styled caliphate, a traditional model of Islamic rule, in wide areas under its control in Iraq and Syria.

After a yearslong campaign that left tens of thousands dead in both countries, IS was defeated in Iraq in 2017 and in March 2019 in Syria. In recent years, Syrian government forces regained control of much of Syria with the help of Russia and Iran.

Earlier this year, Syrias membership in the Arab League was reinstated and Assad attended the Arab summit that was held in Saudi Arabia in May.

Assad referred to Turkey without naming it as being behind the theft of Iraq and Syrias shares in the Eurphrates River in what is affecting agriculture in both countries. Assad also said that they discussed cooperating on fighting drugs, a scourge he said is no different from terrorism as it can destroy the society the way terrorism does.

Syrias conflict that started in March 2011 has killed half a million people and displaced half the countrys pre-war population of 23 million, including more than 5 million who are refugees.

We are interested in working through official and government channels to solve the issue of refugees and guarantee a safe return for them as soon as the situation becomes stable in places where they reside, al-Sudani said. Iraq is hosting about 250,000 Syrian refugees.

Al-Sudani was invited to visit Damascus during a trip by Syrias Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad to Baghdad last month.

The Iraqi prime minister said countries around the world that have citizens in Syrias al-Hol camp, home to tens of thousands of mostly women and children linked to IS, should start working on repatriating them as Baghdad is doing.

Al-Hol camp in northeast Syria near the Iraqi border holds about 51,000 people, including the wives, widows and other family members of IS militants. Most are Syrians and Iraqis. But there are also around 8,000 women and children from 60 other nationalities who live in a part of the camp known as the Annex. They are generally considered the most die-hard IS supporters among the camp residents.

Many countries are refusing to repatriate their citizens out of concern that they might be a security threat. Iraq has repatriated hundreds of families over the past months where they undergo rehabilitation programs.

The U.S. has a presence in both Syria and Iraq and Syrian officials have been calling for the withdrawal of American troops from the country who first arrived in 2015.

On any given day there are at least 900 U.S. forces in Syria, along with an undisclosed number of contractors attempting to prevent the resurgence of the Islamic State group. U.S. special operations forces also move in and out of the country but are usually in small teams and are not included in the official count.

U.S.-led coalition forces have officially ended their combat mission in Iraq, but continue to play an advisory role to Iraqi forces in the fight against the Islamic State extremist group.

____

Zeyad reported from Baghdad. Associated Press writer Bassem Mroue contributed from Beirut.

By SAMAR KASSABALI and ABDULRAHMAN ZEYAD

Associated Press
US Rep. George Santos repays himself $85K raised from lackluster reelection fundraising View Photo

NEW YORK (AP)  Embattled freshman U.S. Rep. George Santos, a Republican from New York charged with a host of financial crimes, including embezzling money from his campaign, withdrew $85,000 from his campaign to help repay hundreds of thousands of dollars he loaned himself to get elected in 2022.

Congressional campaign records released Friday show Santos raised a relatively paltry $138,000 during the last three months for a reelection bid that is expected to be one of the countrys most-watched and hotly contested races in 2024.

The records show he spent nearly $118,000, the bulk of it to begin repaying the more than $700,000 he loaned himself for his successful but surprising victory last year.

The underwhelming fundraising suggests potential struggles in fending off a challenge from fellow Republican Kellen Curry, an Afghanistan war veteran and former J.P. Morgan banker, who raised more than $200,000 and spent $36,000 during the same period.

Meanwhile, the top Democrat vying for New Yorks Third Congressional District, Nassau County legislator Joshua Lafazan, has raised more than $345,000, with much of it still in the bank.

Santos pleaded not guilty in May to a 13-count federal indictment charging him with looting his campaign coffers, fraudulently receiving unemployment and lying to Congress about being a millionaire. He faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted.

A day later, he signed an agreement with Brazilian officials that allowed him to avoid prosecution for forging two stolen checks in 2008.

Despite his legal woes, Santos has vowed to fight to keep his congressional seat, which mostly encompasses the western suburbs of Long Island but also straddles parts of the Queens borough in New York City.

Fellow Republicans in his home district and elsewhere, including some fellow GOP members in the states congressional delegation, have urged him to abandon his reelection plans.

Complicating matters is whether congressional districts will again have to be redrawn, which could mean trouble for some Republican incumbents if congressional lines are moved to make districts more favorable to Democrats.

Santos announced his reelection bid in April, despite a steady drumbeat calling for his resignation because of his many deceptions during his last campaign, including lying about his education, Wall Street pedigree and other resume fabrications.

Serious questions about his finances also surfaced  including the source of what appears to be a quickly amassed fortune despite recent financial problems, including evictions and owing thousands in back rent.

Santos is also facing investigation by the House Ethics Committee, as well as by local authorities looking into whether he has violated any laws during his previous campaign.

By BOBBY CAINA CALVAN

Associated Press
Josep Borrell, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy during the opening of the 2022 CELAC - UE Meeting in Buenos Aires with President Alberto Fernandez of Argentina and Minister for Foreign Affairs Santiago Cafiero.

Text in which the author defends ideas and reaches conclusions based on his / her interpretation of facts and data

Under the Spanish presidency of the EU, we have the opportunity, over the next six months, to write the history of the next decade. Within this timeframe we must decide on the relationship between Europe and Latin America and the Caribbean: to act? Or not to act? In other words, will we pursue an ambitious roadmap that goes beyond declarations of intent; or will we maintain a conventional relationship that, while useful, has not developed its full potential?

The good news is that we are on the side of doing that. Spain is strongly promoting the relaunching of relations between the two regions. This situation offers optimism, but there are basic tenets that need to be addressed. Firstly, it is necessary to move away from the Latin American synecdoche: stop treating one part as though it were the whole. In other words, Europe must understand that Latin America and the Caribbean is a diverse whole and not a collective of bilateral alliances with a few countries.

Latin America is the Amazon, but it is also the Darien, the Caribbean reefs, the aquifers of the pampas, the Andean paramos or the glaciers of Patagonia. For this reason, the EUs approaches to the region must be different, personalized, and adapted to each of the countries and subregions whether the Southern Cone, the Andean axis, the Caribbean or Mesoamerica. Nature has neither political, nor administrative boundaries.

Secondly, it is necessary to foster and highlight the common historical and cultural values, the shared vision of the world, to get all the EU countries involved. Beyond trade, Latin America and the Caribbean is a region of peace and refuge. For much of the 20th century, for example, it welcomed citizens from all European countries in times of crisis, wars, and between wars, and millions of exiles turned their descendants into Latin American and Caribbean citizens.

At this juncture, actors such as CAF - Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean, are promoting new alliances to expand investment and trade, jointly address major global challenges such as climate change and digital transformation and give Latin American and Caribbean solutions a place in international decision-making forums.

The European Union is the block that provides the most official development assistance, and Latin America and the Caribbean is a region of solutions, for example in environmental issues, biodiversity protection or food security, so we need to enhance and secure these synergies.

We have a well-structured roadmap. The first stop will be on July 17 at the Heads of State Business Summit in Brussels. This event organized by CAF, IDB and the European Commission, will bring together political leaders, corporate CEOs, heads of development finance institutions and industry associations to review key aspects of the Global Gateway Investment Agenda.

The second stop will be the inaugural meeting of EU and Latin American and Caribbean finance ministers on September 15 in Santiago de Compostela, Spain. This event will bring together 33 Latin American and Caribbean ministers and 27 EU ministers to accelerate an investment agenda intended to leverage resources to support the 2030 Agenda. This historic meeting, organized by CAF and the Government of Spain, will stimulate new investments to fast-track the green transition, digital transformation and human development.

The EU-Latin America and Caribbean partnership should help us to overcome some of the socio-economic gaps in the region. For example, there are currently 200 million Latin Americans living in poverty, women occupy only 15% of managerial positions and the poorest 50% accumulate only 1% of the wealth.

This is the last train from Europe to Latin America and the Caribbean. A train full of possibilities, hope, and promise of progress for the two regions, which Europe and Latin America and the Caribbean should not miss.

Sergio Diaz-Granados is the executive president of CAF.
An army sergeant has appeared in court accused of forging school certificates to help a student apply for a scholarship in Poland.

Farai Chauke, a graphic designer who runs Red Haven Media, was charged along with his two unemployed accomplices Joel and Michael Sikaliveni.

They appeared before Harare magistrate Stanford Mambanje on Thursday.

The Zimbabwe Schools Examination Council (Zimsec) laid the complaint after discovering that certificates owned by Nkosikhona Gumpo and Rodney Ndlovu had allegedly been tampered with and used by Sandile Biancah Mabhena to apply for the scholarship, The Standard reported.

Investigators say the fake O Level certificate contained 10 passes while the A Level certificate was also forged, according to the media report.

Mabhena reportedly achieved only O Levels, sitting her exams in 2020.

Prosecutors claim Mabhena paid a man named Bonani Ncube, still at large, US$720 to forge the certificates. Ncube then allegedly employed Chauke to design the fakes.

When police searched Chaukes printing business, they reportedly found other stolen certificates belonging to different people.

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GOVERNMENT has effected a US$50 increase in civil servants salaries, while the local currency portion will be pegged at the equivalent of US$150 at the prevailing interbank rate.

The increase will be backdated to June.

However, negotiations for a further review of conditions of services are continuing.

Government workers presently receive a US$250 monthly Covid-19 allowance, while the rest of their remuneration is denominated in the local currency.

Treasury is progressively working towards raising workers salaries to pre-October 2018 levels of US$540 per month for the least-paid employee.

This new salary package was tabled during a recent meeting of the National Joint Negotiating Council (NJNC), a platform that brings together the Government and worker representatives to discuss conditions of service.

Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister Professor Paul Mavima told The Sunday Mail that the package was meant to cushion workers from the rising cost of living.

As you are aware, workers have been agitating for a long time to have their salaries restored to pre-October 2018 levels of US$540 per month.

It is clear that Government is answering that call.

But considering the economic challenges we have, we are going there progressively, said Minister Mavima.

The salaries, he said, will continue to be raised until the workers demands are met.

As has been said, the NJNC will reconvene for further deliberations, but for now, Government has come up with a workable offer as we wait for another review, he continued.

If you do your calculations well, we are now only about US$100 short of meeting that demand.

Zimbabwe Confederation of Public Sector Trade Unions (ZCPSTU) president Mrs Cecilia Alexander said engagement with Government under the NJNC has improved.

I can safely say they negotiated in good faith this time, she said.

Even though they did not meet our expectations, the talks we had were positive.

As you can see, after effecting a pay rise, Government has made great interventions that have helped in reducing prices of basic commodities and the local currency has also strengthened against the United States dollar.

The NJNC is expected to reconvene soon for another round of talks.

Last week, Cabinet approved a proposed salary increase for public sector employees.

Speaking during Tuesdays post-Cabinet briefing, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said: Cabinet received a report on the status of negotiations held by the National Joint Negotiating Council on July 7, 2023, where it was agreed that the current offer of salary adjustments, as proposed by Government, be effected immediately.

The parties further agreed that consultations and negotiations will continue, guided by the spirit of continued improvement of the welfare of the civil service.

The decision by the parties takes cognisance of the need to afford the measures being implemented by the fiscal authorities to take effect.

In March, Government awarded its workers a 100 percent salary increase and reviewed their Covid-19 allowance from US$200 to US$250, except for health sector workers.

Teachers were also awarded an additional US$80 monthly teaching allowance, while Government pensioners cushioning and Covid-19 allowances were raised from US$90 to US$100.

 Sunday Mail

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A Citizens Coalition for Change activist spent a night in police cells after being arrested for allegedly calling a Zanu PF supporter a pr0stitute.

Consider Chidimure appeared before a Karoi magistrate facing a criminal insult charge.

Prosecutors claim Chidimure asked Yolanda Hannock to help her collect CCC regalia from a candidate. She gave Hannock T-shirts but Hannock later returned them, saying she backed Zanu PF.

Four days later, Hannock was at a netball game when Chidimure confronted her for refusing the regalia. Chidimure allegedly insulted her, calling her a prostitute and slagging off Zanu PF.

Hannock filed a police report and Chidimure was arrested.

In court, the magistrate did not ask Chidimure to enter a plea and released her on free bail.

A Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights lawyer represented Chidimure while prosecutors pushed for action over the alleged insults.

The case highlights rising political tensions ahead of next months elections, with activists on both sides facing police action.

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Lambert here: What ethical puzzle? A sentient AI is a slave. Thats one of the many reasons our ruling class is in love with the concept.

By Dan Falk, a science journalist based in Toronto. His books include The Science of Shakespeare and In Search of Time. Originally published at Undark.

Artificial intelligence has progressed so rapidly that even some of the scientists responsible for many key developments are troubled by the pace of change. Earlier this year, more than 300 professionals working in AI and other concerned public figures issued a blunt warning about the danger the technology poses, comparing the risk to that of pandemics or nuclear war.

Lurking just below the surface of these concerns is the question of machine consciousness. Even if there is nobody home inside todays AIs, some researchers wonder if they may one day exhibit a glimmer of consciousness  or more. If that happens, it will raise a slew of moral and ethical concerns, says Jonathan Birch, a professor of philosophy at the London School of Economics and Political Science.

As AI technology leaps forward, ethical questions sparked by human-AI interactions have taken on new urgency. We dont know whether to bring them into our moral circle, or exclude them, said Birch. We dont know what the consequences will be. And I take that seriously as a genuine risk that we should start talking about. Not really because I think ChatGPT is in that category, but because I dont know whats going to happen in the next 10 or 20 years.

In the meantime, he says, we might do well to study other non-human minds  like those of animals. Birch leads the universitys Foundations of Animal Sentience project, a European Union-funded effort that aims to try to make some progress on the big questions of animal sentience, as Birch put it. How do we develop better methods for studying the conscious experiences of animals scientifically? And how can we put the emerging science of animal sentience to work, to design better policies, laws, and ways of caring for animals?

Our interview was conducted over Zoom and by email, and has been edited for length and clarity.

Undark: Theres been ongoing debate over whether AI can be conscious, or sentient. And there seems to be a parallel question of whether AI can seem to be sentient. Why is that distinction is so important?

Jonathan Birch: I think its a huge problem, and something that should make us quite afraid, actually. Even now, AI systems are quite capable of convincing their users of their sentience. We saw that last year with the case of Blake Lemoine, the Google engineer who became convinced that the system he was working on was sentient  and thats just when the output is purely text, and when the user is a highly skilled AI expert.

So just imagine a situation where AI is able to control a human face and a human voice and the user is inexperienced. I think AI is already in the position where it can convince large numbers of people that it is a sentient being quite easily. And its a big problem, because I think we will start to see people campaigning for AI welfare, AI rights, and things like that.

And we wont know what to do about this. Because what wed like is a really strong knockdown argument that proves that the AI systems theyre talking about are not conscious. And we dont have that. Our theoretical understanding of consciousness is not mature enough to allow us to confidently declare its absence.

UD: A robot or an AI system could be programmed to say something like, Stop that, youre hurting me. But a simple declaration of that sort isnt enough to serve as a litmus test for sentience, right?

JB: You can have very simple systems [like those] developed at Imperial College London to help doctors with their training that mimic human pain expressions. And theres absolutely no reason whatsoever to think these systems are sentient. Theyre not really feeling pain; all theyre doing is mapping inputs to outputs in a very simple way. But the pain expressions they produce are quite lifelike.

I think were in a somewhat similar position with chatbots like ChatGPT  that they are trained on over a trillion words of training data to mimic the response patterns of a human to respond in ways that a human would respond.

So, of course, if you give it a prompt that a human would respond to by making an expression of pain, it will be able to skillfully mimic that response.

But I think when we know thats the situation  when we know that were dealing with skillful mimicry  theres no strong reason for thinking theres any actual pain experience behind that.

UD: This entity that the medical students are training on, Im guessing thats something like a robot?

JB: Thats right, yes. So they have a dummy-like thing, with a human face, and the doctor is able to press the arm and get an expression mimicking the expressions humans would give for varying degrees of pressure. Its to help doctors learn how to carry out techniques on patients appropriately without causing too much pain.

And were very easily taken in as soon as something has a human face and makes expressions like a human would, even if theres no real intelligence behind it at all.

So if you imagine that being paired up with the sort of AI we see in ChatGPT, you have a kind of mimicry that is genuinely very convincing, and that will convince a lot of people.

UD: Sentience seems like something we know from the inside, so to speak. We understand our own sentience  but how would you test for sentience in others, whether an AI or any other entity beyond oneself?

JB: I think were in a very strong position with other humans, who can talk to us, because there we have an incredibly rich body of evidence. And the best explanation for that is that other humans have conscious experiences, just like we do. And so we can use this kind of inference that philosophers sometimes call inference to the best explanation.

I think we can approach the topic of other animals in exactly the same way  that other animals dont talk to us, but they do display behaviors that are very naturally explained by attributing states like pain. For example, if you see a dog licking its wounds after an injury, nursing that area, learning to avoid the places where its at risk of injury, youd naturally explain this pattern of behavior by positing a pain state.

And I think when were dealing with other animals that have nervous systems quite similar to our own, and that have evolved just like we have, I think that sort of inference is entirely reasonable.

UD: What about an AI system?

JB: In the AI case, we have a huge problem. We first of all have the problem that the substrate is different. We dont really know whether conscious experience is sensitive to the substrate  does it have to have a biological substrate, which is to say a nervous system, a brain? Or is it something that can be achieved in a totally different material  a silicon-based substrate?

But theres also the problem that Ive called the gaming problem  that when the system has access to trillions of words of training data, and has been trained with the goal of mimicking human behavior, the sorts of behavior patterns it produces could be explained by it genuinely having the conscious experience. Or, alternatively, they could just be explained by it being set the goal of behaving as a human would respond in that situation.

So I really think were in trouble in the AI case, because were unlikely to find ourselves in a position where its clearly the best explanation for what were seeing  that the AI is conscious. There will always be plausible alternative explanations. And thats a very difficult bind to get out of.

UD: What do you imagine might be our best bet for distinguishing between something thats actually conscious versus an entity that just has the appearance of sentience?

JB: I think the first stage is to recognize it as a very deep and difficult problem. The second stage is to try and learn as much as we can from the case of other animals. I think when we study animals that are quite close to us, in evolutionary terms, like dogs and other mammals, were always left unsure whether conscious experience might depend on very specific brain mechanisms that are distinctive to the mammalian brain.

To get past that, we need to look at as wide a range of animals as we can. And we need to think in particular about invertebrates, like octopuses and insects, where this is potentially another independently evolved instance of conscious experience. Just as the eye of an octopus has evolved completely separately from our own eyes  it has this fascinating blend of similarities and differences  I think its conscious experiences will be like that too: independently evolved, similar in some ways, very, very different in other ways.

And through studying the experiences of invertebrates like octopuses, we can start to get some grip on what the really deep features are that a brain has to have in order to support conscious experiences, things that go deeper than just having these specific brain structures that are there in mammals. What kinds of computation are needed? What kinds of processing?

Then  and I see this as a strategy for the long term  we might be able to go back to the AI case and say, well, does it have those special kinds of computation that we find in conscious animals like mammals and octopuses?

UD: Do you believe we will one day create sentient AI?

JB: I am at about 50:50 on this. There is a chance that sentience depends on special features of a biological brain, and its not clear how to test whether it does. So I think there will always be substantial uncertainty in AI. I am more confident about this: If consciousness can in principle be achieved in computer software, then AI researchers will find a way of doing it.
In a Canadian breeding facility, 14 Vancouver Island marmot pups have been born, increasing the population of the species.

14 Vancouver Island Marmot Pups and Counting

The Vancouver Island marmot is among the most endangered species in Canada; predictions for 2021 indicate that there are only 250 left in existence.

But because of the work of specialists at the Wilder Institute, a Calgary-based organization dedicated to wildlife protection, the endangered species has recently received a little boost.

The Archibald Biodiversity Centre (ABC), Wilder Institute's newest conservation breeding and research facility, had its first litter of 14 puppies in late June, according to officials. 14 is not likely to be the final number, according to officials at the time of the announcement, who also predicted the arrival of more "surprise" pups.

That has come to pass as three more pups were discovered following the announcement, increasing the total to seventeen.

The Wilder Institute's Animal Care ABC Manager, Caitlin Slade, stated that they have been impatiently awaiting the appearance of these puppies since the spring.

After giving birth, Vancouver Island marmot pups will remain in their nest boxes with their mother, according to Slade, so it's crucial to avoid disturbing them for the first two weeks.

Conservation Efforts

There are currently three marmot breeding facilities on Vancouver Island; the other two are located at the Toronto Zoo and the Tony Barrett Mt. Washington Marmot Recovery Centre.

The only place where Vancouver Island marmots can be found is in Canada. The species saw a sharp decrease in the 1990s; by 1998, only 78 remained.

Over the past 20 years, population numbers have more than tripled because of aggressive conservation initiatives. Many of the puppies who were just born in Alberta will be released into the wild before being finally moved to a recovery facility in British Columbia. To increase genetic diversity for upcoming breeding initiatives, some might stay in captivity, The Weather Network reports.

157 of the 214 marmots that were born at the facility, according to the Wilder Institute website, have been shipped to British Columbia for release. The conservation breeding program uses marmots that are not released to maintain the genetic variety of the population going forward.

Also Read: Tennessee Aquarium Turtle Nursery Welcomes Two Critically Endangered Four-Eyed Turtle Hatchlings

Releasing Marmots in the Wild

Because of their tiny size and potential for high family composition, Vancouver Island marmot colonies sometimes lack mate selection. Marmots boost their selection by abandoning their natal colony to locate a partner at a colony nearby or draw a mate dispersing from another colony to escape the impact constant inbreeding will have on the species.

There must be a thriving network of colonies within the dispersal region for dispersing marmots to locate probable mates. Metapopulations are the collective term for these larger colonies. Marmots' migration across colonies enables the establishment of new colonies and the replenishment of dwindling colonies. This maintains a healthy population and serves as a crucial species protection.

Spreading the marmots out in numerous smaller colonies prevents the extinction of the species in the case that just one colony experiences a catastrophic occurrence, according to Marmot Recovery Foundation.

Related Article: Critically Endangered Capercaillie Population in Scotland Rises Following Extinction Scare
Since moving into an Ohio zoo with its family, a wild red-winged blackbird has been swooping down on guests very frequently.

Wild Red-Winged Blackbird in the Zoo

There is one specific bird that Akron Zoo staff members are advising visitors to watch out for.

According to zookeepers, this red-winged blackbird has been actively swooping on visitors a lot since he and his family decided to make the zoo their home.

The zoo says in a Facebook post that male blackbirds are fiercely territorial and protective of their nest and young. They might even try to establish contact or swoop down on someone.



According to the zoo, red-winged blackbirds are officially protected, so they ask that people respect their privacy.

Visitors to the zoo were informed by zoo officials that the specific bird is currently residing near the enclosures of the bald eagle and gibbon located at the top of the hill.

If a visitor happens to see the male bird, they should give him some room, try to establish eye contact, and then swiftly leave.

Officials encourage a love for all creatures and point out that the zoo is home to a variety of native wildlife, including squirrels, chipmunks, and groundhogs, FOX8 News reports.

Territorial Males

The Red-winged Blackbird is an extremely polygynous species, which means males can have up to 15 female partners at once. 90% of territorial males in some groups have multiple females nesting on their territories. It turns out that between 25% and 50% of nestlings were not sired by the territorial male, proving that not everything is as it seems.

During the breeding season, male Red-winged Blackbirds zealously defend their territories, devoting more than a quarter of the day to this task. He drives rival males from the area and hunts down nest predators, occasionally going for far larger creatures like horses and people.

Red-winged Blackbirds on the hunt may visit yards in search of mixed grains and seeds, especially during migration. Given that Red-winged Blackbirds like to eat on the ground, All About Birds advises spreading grain or seed there as well.

Also Read: Weekend Torrential Rain, Hail Leaves Hundreds of Birds Dead, Injured in Oklahoma

When not migrating between their summer breeding sites and winter feeding grounds, red-winged blackbirds are busy foraging during the day. According to Critter Catalog, large flocks of red-winged blackbirds congregate throughout the winter and prefer to stay in or close to locations where grains and seeds are readily accessible for consumption. In their breeding areas, red-winged blackbirds are significant invertebrate predators and can significantly affect the supply of grain and seed for their winter flocks.

Protected Bird

Red-winged blackbird nesting can lead to disputes between landowners. The Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 protects these birds as native migrants and forbids any type of harm to them or their nests. When disputes emerge, professionals like them should be contacted, according to Wild Goose Chasers. The company provides individualized programs and biologically based management techniques for nesting blackbirds that are legally and humanely managed.

Related Article: Hawk Dive-Bombs People Hindering Mail Deliveries in Texas
Experts attributed the mass fish deaths in some rivers in the United Kingdom to climate change.

As the country battled for the hottest June ever recorded, authorities were alarmed as fish in rivers were seen floating ashore.

Robert Britton of Bournemouth University said in an interview with New Scientist that hotter temperatures reduce the amount of oxygen in the water.

Some cold-blooded fish, such as Atlantic salmon and brown trout, need highly oxygenated water to survive.

Reeked of sewage in UK river

Hot weather might be the most common contributor to fish deaths in the country; however, experts determined that sewage in rivers also leads to this phenomenon.

Professor Alistair Boxall and his team from the University of York collected water samples from the Foss River in Yorkshire in mid-June, as reported by The Press.

They also collected samples along the river at many locations, including Sheriff Hutton, Strensall, and New Earswick, as well as closer to the city center.

The samples revealed a high level of ammonia and nitrate, as well as extremely high levels of paracetamol (acetaminophen).

Boxall explained that the presence of paracetamol in rivers is an indicator that raw sewage is being thrown into the water because sewage treatment plants are normally highly adept at eliminating the drugs.

He added, paracetamol is unlikely to kill fish, but untreated sewage can significantly deoxygenate the river, resulting in mass fish deaths.

"The weather in the UK in recent weeks has been very dry and this led to a massive reduction in the [water flow] of the river Foss," he said. "And then there was this flash flood, which led to sewage systems being overwhelmed by rainwater, leading to the release of raw sewage into this river."

Boxall believed that climate change will cause additional mass fish death across the country.

Richard ffrench-Constant of the University of Exeter in the United Kingdom said climate change would result in greater sewage discharges into rivers due to periods of heavy rains.

The Environment Agency spokesperson said they are reviewing the information regarding the death of the fish in the river.

"The University of York has shared some data with us which we will be considering alongside findings from our own investigations, including the impact of recent hot weather on fish, to determine the probable causes of these issues," they added.

Read Also: Texas Fish Kill: Thousands of Dead Fish Along Coast Caused by Low Dissolved Oxygen

Report of death fish

As of this writing, the Environment Agency has received over 370 reports of dead fish, but this figure is expected to increase if the forecasted extreme weather persists.

"Environment Agency fisheries teams have been responding round the clock to numerous reports of dead or distressed fish across the country," said Dr. Graeme Storey, Fisheries Manager at the Environment Agency, as reported by Eco Magazine.

The agency also encourages the public to immediately report to the authorities any sightings of death fish or fish in distress.

Fish in distress appear lethargic or unresponsive, sometimes close to the bank, there is tight shoaling, and there is evident gasping at the surface. Stressed fish frequently exhibit signs of infection or fungus.

Related Article: Fish Kill in Louisiana Due to Lack of Oxygen, Experts Say Possible Uptick as Oceans Warm

Related Video:
At least 35 individuals were killed in South Korea following torrential rains that caused massive floods across the country.

A latest report from the BBC said that rescuers area also looking for at least ten individuals who are missing amid the bad weather.

Of the fatalities reported, nine bodies were recovered from the flooded tunnel near the South Korean City of Cheongiu.

Authorities said that heavy rains immediately flooded the tunnel, which later trapped drivers and passengers on board a number of vehicles.

Officials are still determining how many individuals are still trapped in the 685-meter long tunnel as search and rescue operations are still ongoing.

Fortunately, nine survivors have been rescued by authorities.

The report said that most of the other fatalities were in the mountainous North Gyeongsang Region, wherein landslides have swept away the entire residences.

Read Also: South Korea Flooding: Three Killed, 195 Displaced, More Rains and Floods in the Coming Days

Flooded tunnel

Citing local fire department chief Seo Jeong-Il, a report on CNN said at least 15 vehicles were trapped in the tunnel, including a public bus.

A very large downpour of rain flooded the tunnel when a levee of the nearby Miho River in North Chungcheong province had failed to work.

A levee is a dike or an embankment which is supposed to control the overflowing of the water.

Authorities said that a dashcam footage obtained from one vehicle that successfully passed through the tunnel had showed the water rushing towards the underpass.

Meanwhile, the other cars continue to drive head on into the flood waters.

At least 400 workers and divers were part of the search and rescue operation amid this high level of floods in the tunnel.

On Sunday morning, those part of the rescue teams continued to drain the tunnel of floods as they pumped out 80,000 liters of water per minute.

"We are mobilizing about 30 divers in groups of two in rotation for the search operation. We are trying our best right now, although it is difficult since the site is covered in mud," Seo said in the CNN report.

Evacuation, disruption on travels

An Aljazeera report said that the heavy rainfall had forced authorities to evacuate around 5,570 individuals.

Most of the homes affected were those located near the Goesan Dam in the province of North Chungcheong.

Citing the Ministry of Interior and Safety, the report said more than 4,200 people have remained in evacuation facilities as of Saturday night in order to ensure their safety.

Aside from forced evacuations, the bad weather also affected travels as at least 20 flights had been cancelled.

The operations of regular trains and bullet trains have also been temporarily suspended.

Authorities also closed some 200 roads.

According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, the public should expect more rains up to Wednesday next week, noting that the weather conditions could pose a "grave" danger to residents.

It is common for South Korea to be struck by floods during the summer monsoon period, however, during previous years, the country was well-prepared and the number of deaths was relatively low.

Related Article: Heavy Rain and Flooding Wreaks Havoc in Seoul, Across South Korea; At Least Nine People Dead

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Josep Borrell at the 2022 CELAC - UE Meeting with President Alberto Fernandez of Argentina and Minister for Foreign Affairs Santiago Cafiero.

Text in which the author defends ideas and reaches conclusions based on his / her interpretation of facts and data

For the first time in eight years, leaders of the European Union and Latin America and the Caribbean are gathering in Brussels. We meet during a period of profound global change, with overlapping trends and crises transforming the geopolitical landscape.

Global temperatures are set to break records in the next five years and extreme weather events are already causing pain on both sides of the Atlantic. Digital innovation brings unprecedented opportunities and unanticipated risks. Covid-19 exposed global inequalities and reversed the progress made towards the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Russias war of aggression against Ukraine hampers global economic recovery and threatens geopolitical stability.

Democratic values are being challenged increasingly. But in this perfect storm of crises, the EU must not turn its back on partners and rather strengthen its partnerships.

EU-LAC Summit is a pivotal moment

Latin America and the Caribbean and the EU share a long history of partnership rooted in shared values, vibrant people-to-people relations, and strong trade ties. Together, we account for nearly one third of UN members.

Now the partnership needs to be updated to reflect todays challenges. The EU-LAC Summit is a moment to forge a stronger political alliance, strengthen our trade agenda and tackle global challenges together.

We should aspire to promote a fair, green, and digital transition through sustainable investments, and reduce inequalities. We should put joint effort in advancing peace, security, justice, and human rights together, and defend rules-based multilateralism.

Partnership between peoples

First and foremost, this partnership across the Atlantic must benefit the people. Long-term partnership will always be anchored with people.

Last week, we organised the EU-LAC Forum in Brussels. During this Forum, young people, civil society, and local authorities shared valuable insights about the needs and priorities of the communities they represent.

The EU-LAC Forum produced recommendations, which will feed straight into the leaders meeting  and leaders ought to listen!

Equality and social cohesion are the only truly stable foundations for prosperity. Actions seeking to foster cohesion and tackle inequalities must be at the heart of our partnership.

At the EU-LAC Forum, I was proud to launch a new EU programme of 60 million on Inclusive and Equal Societies. Through this programme, we will invest in developing innovative social policies.

Precisely this aspect, the inclusion of the social dimension of sustainable development, makes the EUs partnership offer unique. Our offer, Global Gateway, is an investment strategy, which will mobilise sustainable investments in infrastructure, while accelerating progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

Global Gateway has a 360-degree approach: we look at the whole ecosystem around flagship projects and invest in enabling environment as well. This includes basic services, like education and health, skills and research, regulatory frameworks and well-functioning institutions, and tackling inequalities.

Global Gateway Investment Agenda

A key deliverable of the Summit will be the EU-LAC Global Gateway Investment Agenda. We know the most pressing policy priorities of our time: promoting ambitious fair, green, and digital transitions. The investment agenda aims to deliver on these priorities through a variety of transformative projects, which will adhere to highest social, labour and environmental standards, and help to put the Sustainable Development Goals on track.

We will strengthen our joint efforts to fight climate change and biodiversity loss through collaboration on several Team Europe Initiatives, like the Green Transition, the Amazon Basin, and the Five Great Forests of Mesoamerica.

Fair critical raw materials partnerships are our tools to improve supply chains, diversify sourcing, and boost the green transition in both regions.

On the digital , initiatives such as the EU-LAC Digital Alliance, which we launched in March this year in Bogota, will champion human-centric digitalisation, connectivity for all and networks, which enhance our standing in the global economy.

The EU will support these efforts with over EUR 10 billion and this will be complemented by Member States and the private sector.

Private sector is a key player

Public sector investment alone will never be enough to drive the progress the citizens deserve. Aid alone will not achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, and no partner country wants to depend on aid.

Therefore, we must bring businesses and investors fully on board. As part of the Summit, we have a Business Roundtable. It will connect private sector representatives and decisionmakers from both sides of the Atlantic.

The overarching objective of Global Gateway is to leverage private investments. Publicly funded projects by the EU, Member States and development finance institutions are designed to facilitate and attract private money. In our toolkit, we have innovative solutions like guarantees and blending, and we engage in political dialogue to improve the business environment.

Recent crises have brought forward the concept of strategic autonomy. It does not mean fortress Europe nor new barriers for trade. On the contrary, it needs to be boosted in an open manner, together with trusted partners and with mutual benefits in mind.

Future is here already  with the youth

The Summit between the EU and Latin America and the Caribbean is an important moment, but it is not the start nor the end.

In many fronts, the ball is already moving. We have already cooperated on the extension of the BELLA cable, the LAC Cyber Security Centre in Santo Domingo, and the creation of two regional Copernicus centres for disaster risk reduction, climate change, land, and marine monitoring. We are working on improving equitable access to safe, effective, and affordable health technologies, medicines, and vaccines.

Lets build on these, and lets not only dream the future. Future is already here: we should remember that the largest generation of youth in history is amongst us. We need their opinions, priorities and ambitions. We should boost the EU-Latin America and the Caribbean Partnership with them and for them.

There is now a real political momentum to strengthen the partnership between our regions. We have been natural partners for decades. Now we work to become partners of choice.

Jutta Urpilainen is the EU Commissioner for International Partnerships.

Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition
By PTI

NEW DELHI: The share of countries like China and Vietnam in India's 4.84 LMT steel import basket during June 2023 has increased on a year-on-year (y-o-y) basis, according to official data.

At 4.84 lakh metric tonne (LMT), India's overall steel import registered a 5.9 per cent increase on a month-on-month (m-o-m) basis and 7.6 per cent over June 2022, the Ministry of Steel said.

"Share of China, Japan, Vietnam, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Nepal and the USA increased in total steel imports of India in June '23 as compared to June 22," it said.

In June 2022, the import from China was 26.1 per cent and Vietnam was 1 per cent.

However, in June 2023, the import from China contributed 37.1 per cent and Vietnam's share was 4.8 per cent in India's steel import basket.

The development assumes significance as India has set an ambitious target to increase its steel-making capacity to 300 million tonnes and Indian players eyeing a significant share of the global steel markets.

While India's export of finished steel fell to 5.02 LMT in June, posting a fall of 27.6 per cent over May 2023, and 21.3 per cent over June 2022.

The share of the UK, Mexico, Russia, Italy, Portugal and Nepal in India's steel exports basket increased in June 2023, the data showed.

On prices of iron ore, it said that the prices of the steel-making raw material were at Rs 3,900/tonne in June, unchanged from its May 2023 level.

NEW DELHI: The share of countries like China and Vietnam in India's 4.84 LMT steel import basket during June 2023 has increased on a year-on-year (y-o-y) basis, according to official data. At 4.84 lakh metric tonne (LMT), India's overall steel import registered a 5.9 per cent increase on a month-on-month (m-o-m) basis and 7.6 per cent over June 2022, the Ministry of Steel said. "Share of China, Japan, Vietnam, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Nepal and the USA increased in total steel imports of India in June '23 as compared to June 22," it said.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); In June 2022, the import from China was 26.1 per cent and Vietnam was 1 per cent. However, in June 2023, the import from China contributed 37.1 per cent and Vietnam's share was 4.8 per cent in India's steel import basket. The development assumes significance as India has set an ambitious target to increase its steel-making capacity to 300 million tonnes and Indian players eyeing a significant share of the global steel markets. While India's export of finished steel fell to 5.02 LMT in June, posting a fall of 27.6 per cent over May 2023, and 21.3 per cent over June 2022. The share of the UK, Mexico, Russia, Italy, Portugal and Nepal in India's steel exports basket increased in June 2023, the data showed. On prices of iron ore, it said that the prices of the steel-making raw material were at Rs 3,900/tonne in June, unchanged from its May 2023 level.
By PTI

NEW DELHI: Top leaders of as many as 26 opposition parties are likely to attend the two-day brainstorming session in Bengaluru from Monday where they will chalk out their strategy to unitedly fight against the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, according to sources.

On the eve of the meeting hosted by it, the Congress clarified that it will oppose the ordinance on Delhi services in Parliament, a key condition put by the Aam Aadmi Party to attend the talks.

Fifteen parties attended the last meeting for opposition unity hosted by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in Patna on June 23. "This time we are expecting leaders of 26 parties," a source said.

The opposition meeting also comes in the backdrop of the split in the Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and the West Bengal panchayat polls which saw widespread violence that claimed many lives with state units of the Congress and Left parties accusing the TMC government of oppression.

The sources said the opposition parties will chart out a joint agitational plan across the country against the policies of the BJP, especially after the NCP split in Maharashtra.

They said that the leaders will announce steps to further opposition unity to take on the BJP and "expose its attempts at toppling opposition governments and taking control over non-BJP-ruled states through the Governors."

"It will be a decisive meeting. Several issues will be discussed," Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut said.

The BJP, however, hit out at the opposition parties, alleging that they are a "divided lot" and have no specific programme other than to defeat Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

BJP president JP Nadda alleged that opposition parties were in the process of forming an alliance to "protect" their dynastic politics. The proposed coalition is not a "Patriotic Democratic Alliance" but a "Protection of Dynasties Alliance", he said in Jaipur.

CPI general secretary D Raja said the two-day session will be a step further in the demonstration of the Opposition's joint resolve to defeat the BJP. "The Bengaluru meeting will be another step forward in uniting the secular and democratic parties in order to defeat the BJP and in order to save the nation and democracy," Raja told PTI.

Congress Parliamentary party chairperson Sonia Gandhi is also likely to attend the meeting this time.

Other top leaders including Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, former party chief Rahul Gandhi, NCP supremo Sharad Pawar, TMC supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Bihar Chief Minister and JDU leader Nitish Kumar, DMK leader and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin, JMM leader and Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren and AAP's Arvind Kejriwal are expected to participate along with former Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray.

"Today, the Congress party cleared its position against Delhi Ordinance. We welcome the announcement. Along with this, AAP will attend the opposition meet in Bengaluru," says AAP leader Raghav Chadha said.

The two-day session will begin with a dinner meeting to be hosted by Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and another formal meeting on Tuesday, after which they are expected to firm up their unity plans and announce their further programme.

A senior leader said opposition parties would have to iron out their differences if they have to take on the might of the BJP.

The BJP alleged it was a meeting by a "fractured" Opposition and that "desperation ad confusion" has gripped the Congress with its central leadership going against the state units.

"'Disunited Congress' holding fractured 'Opposition Meeting' in Bengaluru should first explain differences within Congress," BJP spokesperson Jaiveer Shergill tweeted.

"On the issue of Delhi Service Ordinance: Punjab Congress Mr Pratap Bajwa categorically said 'AAP doesn't deserve Congress Support'. Congress leader Mr Maken said 'Congress should not support AAP'. Today, Cong Gen Secy KC Venugopal says 'Congress not in favour of Ordinance-support AAP'. Political desperation and confusion grips Congress," Shergill continued.

He alleged that the Congress has become AAP's 'spare wheel."

"'Hate for PM Modi' only glue for Opposition Unity. No agenda, no ideology and no leader - Only lust for power," the BJP leader said.

NEW DELHI: Top leaders of as many as 26 opposition parties are likely to attend the two-day brainstorming session in Bengaluru from Monday where they will chalk out their strategy to unitedly fight against the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, according to sources. On the eve of the meeting hosted by it, the Congress clarified that it will oppose the ordinance on Delhi services in Parliament, a key condition put by the Aam Aadmi Party to attend the talks. Fifteen parties attended the last meeting for opposition unity hosted by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in Patna on June 23. "This time we are expecting leaders of 26 parties," a source said.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The opposition meeting also comes in the backdrop of the split in the Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and the West Bengal panchayat polls which saw widespread violence that claimed many lives with state units of the Congress and Left parties accusing the TMC government of oppression. The sources said the opposition parties will chart out a joint agitational plan across the country against the policies of the BJP, especially after the NCP split in Maharashtra. They said that the leaders will announce steps to further opposition unity to take on the BJP and "expose its attempts at toppling opposition governments and taking control over non-BJP-ruled states through the Governors." "It will be a decisive meeting. Several issues will be discussed," Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut said. The BJP, however, hit out at the opposition parties, alleging that they are a "divided lot" and have no specific programme other than to defeat Prime Minister Narendra Modi. BJP president JP Nadda alleged that opposition parties were in the process of forming an alliance to "protect" their dynastic politics. The proposed coalition is not a "Patriotic Democratic Alliance" but a "Protection of Dynasties Alliance", he said in Jaipur. CPI general secretary D Raja said the two-day session will be a step further in the demonstration of the Opposition's joint resolve to defeat the BJP. "The Bengaluru meeting will be another step forward in uniting the secular and democratic parties in order to defeat the BJP and in order to save the nation and democracy," Raja told PTI. Congress Parliamentary party chairperson Sonia Gandhi is also likely to attend the meeting this time. Other top leaders including Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, former party chief Rahul Gandhi, NCP supremo Sharad Pawar, TMC supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Bihar Chief Minister and JDU leader Nitish Kumar, DMK leader and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin, JMM leader and Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren and AAP's Arvind Kejriwal are expected to participate along with former Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray. "Today, the Congress party cleared its position against Delhi Ordinance. We welcome the announcement. Along with this, AAP will attend the opposition meet in Bengaluru," says AAP leader Raghav Chadha said. The two-day session will begin with a dinner meeting to be hosted by Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and another formal meeting on Tuesday, after which they are expected to firm up their unity plans and announce their further programme. A senior leader said opposition parties would have to iron out their differences if they have to take on the might of the BJP. The BJP alleged it was a meeting by a "fractured" Opposition and that "desperation ad confusion" has gripped the Congress with its central leadership going against the state units. "'Disunited Congress' holding fractured 'Opposition Meeting' in Bengaluru should first explain differences within Congress," BJP spokesperson Jaiveer Shergill tweeted. "On the issue of Delhi Service Ordinance: Punjab Congress Mr Pratap Bajwa categorically said 'AAP doesn't deserve Congress Support'. Congress leader Mr Maken said 'Congress should not support AAP'. Today, Cong Gen Secy KC Venugopal says 'Congress not in favour of Ordinance-support AAP'. Political desperation and confusion grips Congress," Shergill continued. He alleged that the Congress has become AAP's 'spare wheel." "'Hate for PM Modi' only glue for Opposition Unity. No agenda, no ideology and no leader - Only lust for power," the BJP leader said.
Pranab Mondal By

Express News Service

KOLKATA: The political rivalry within a family in West Bengal's Malda village turned fatal after a youth has been suspected of allegedly murdering his BJP activist father after his wife, a TMC candidate, lost to a candidate from the saffron camp in the recently-concluded panchayat elections.

52-year-old Buran Murmu, a BJP worker, had been lived in the same house with his son Biplab Murmu and daughter-in-law Sharmila Murmu. His body was reportedly found with multiple injuries and hanging from the ceiling in his room on Sunday morning. The incident triggered protests among a section of villagers who accused local Trinamool Congress leaders of abetment.

During the course of the investigation, the neighbours told police that an altercation between the father and son broke out after Sharmila lost to a BJP candidate in the gram-panchayat election by 56 votes. Following Sharmila's defeat, Buran was reportedly assaulted by his son and other Trinamool supporters.

The police detained Sharmila for interrogation and are on the lookout for his absconding son Biplab.

"Sharmilas paternal family has always been loyal to the TMC. She married Biplab, a resident of Kayandighi village in Maldas Bamangola, two years ago. The trouble in the family broke out when the local TMC leadership selected her as the partys candidate in the gram panchayat-level elections and the homemaker gave a nod. Biplab, too, supported his wifes decision. Meanwhile, Buran was an active BJP worker in the area, and could not accept that his daughter-in-law would represent and contest on behalf of a rival political party," said a police officer in Malda district.

"An altercation between Buran and Biplab started shortly after the results of the rural polls were out and the news of Sharmilas defeat spread. Biplab held his father responsible for his wifes defeat alleging that Buran campaigned against Sharmila asking the familys neighbours not to vote for her," said the officer quoting one of the neighbours of the deceased.

The family members of Buran discovered his body with a rope tied around his neck.

"We are yet to receive the post-mortem report but the autopsy surgeon said that there were several injury marks on the body, said another police officer.

The BJP MP from Malda (north) Khogen Murmu alleged Buran was our senior party worker and his murder was a well-planned plan hatched by his son and daughter-in-law.

"Since Sharmila lost to our candidate in the panchayat elections Biplab and his wife committed the crime to take revenge for the defeat," Murmu said.

Meanwhile, the TMC described Burans death as a fallout of a family feud.

"Politics has no role to play here. The investigation will reveal the actual cause behind the incident," said TMCs Malda district vice president Dulal Sarkar.

KOLKATA: The political rivalry within a family in West Bengal's Malda village turned fatal after a youth has been suspected of allegedly murdering his BJP activist father after his wife, a TMC candidate, lost to a candidate from the saffron camp in the recently-concluded panchayat elections. 52-year-old Buran Murmu, a BJP worker, had been lived in the same house with his son Biplab Murmu and daughter-in-law Sharmila Murmu. His body was reportedly found with multiple injuries and hanging from the ceiling in his room on Sunday morning. The incident triggered protests among a section of villagers who accused local Trinamool Congress leaders of abetment. During the course of the investigation, the neighbours told police that an altercation between the father and son broke out after Sharmila lost to a BJP candidate in the gram-panchayat election by 56 votes. Following Sharmila's defeat, Buran was reportedly assaulted by his son and other Trinamool supporters.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The police detained Sharmila for interrogation and are on the lookout for his absconding son Biplab. "Sharmilas paternal family has always been loyal to the TMC. She married Biplab, a resident of Kayandighi village in Maldas Bamangola, two years ago. The trouble in the family broke out when the local TMC leadership selected her as the partys candidate in the gram panchayat-level elections and the homemaker gave a nod. Biplab, too, supported his wifes decision. Meanwhile, Buran was an active BJP worker in the area, and could not accept that his daughter-in-law would represent and contest on behalf of a rival political party," said a police officer in Malda district. "An altercation between Buran and Biplab started shortly after the results of the rural polls were out and the news of Sharmilas defeat spread. Biplab held his father responsible for his wifes defeat alleging that Buran campaigned against Sharmila asking the familys neighbours not to vote for her," said the officer quoting one of the neighbours of the deceased. The family members of Buran discovered his body with a rope tied around his neck. "We are yet to receive the post-mortem report but the autopsy surgeon said that there were several injury marks on the body, said another police officer. The BJP MP from Malda (north) Khogen Murmu alleged Buran was our senior party worker and his murder was a well-planned plan hatched by his son and daughter-in-law. "Since Sharmila lost to our candidate in the panchayat elections Biplab and his wife committed the crime to take revenge for the defeat," Murmu said. Meanwhile, the TMC described Burans death as a fallout of a family feud. "Politics has no role to play here. The investigation will reveal the actual cause behind the incident," said TMCs Malda district vice president Dulal Sarkar.
A Roseland man was killed early Saturday morning when he was crushed between two metal chassis at the CSX railyard in south suburban Bedford Park, officials said.

Officials said the death occurred around 12:30 a.m. at the CSX Bedford Park Intermodal Yard near the 7000 block of West 71st Street, according to a spokesman from the freight rail company and the Cook County medical examiners office.

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The medical examiner office identified the victim as Jacory Ceaser, 24. An autopsy determined that Ceaser died as result of being crushed between two intermodal chassis and his death was ruled an accident. Intermodal chassis are wheeled metal carriers used to move large shipping containers in railyards.

Ceaser was a working as a contractor at the facility when he was injured, officials said. We extend our heartfelt condolences to the contractors loved ones, said CSX spokesman Bryan Tucker.

Advertisement

The railroad was conducting an investigation, Tucker said. Bedford Park police and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration werent available to comment Saturday evening.
In the same way that Sex and the City was able to push thousands of women to buy the rabbit vibrator, opening the door to new kinds of female pleasure, pop culture is in charge of gradually introducing new elements into peoples intimate lives. New TV series seem to want viewers in the real world to take notice and dare to try out sex positions that go beyond missionary.

While the first season of And Just Like That was criticized for having practically eliminated sex from the universe of New Yorkers, who, years before, had made it the epicenter of their conversations, the show has now returned to sex and sex jokes. The most striking sexual scene of the current season is one in which Miranda Hobbes character tries to put on a leather strap-on to have intimate relations with her partner, Che Diaz (an expert in the field who wants to teach the lawyer how to use it).

By no means has this been the first nod to strap-ons that weve seen on screen. Well before this show, the film 50 Shades of Grey already showed viewers unconventional sexuality, including practices such as bondage. In fact, as Eugenia Cames, a sexologist and trainer at Sex Academy Barcelona, points out, some archaeological discoveries have raised the hypothesis that some of the Paleolithic stone dildos could actually be strap-ons, something which has long been present in the history of the art world.

Certainly, the strap-on has been with us for a long time. Back in 1970, Raquel Welch, in the controversial film Myra Breckinridge, demonstrated the act of pegging for the first time in mainstream culture that is, the sexual practice in which a woman penetrates a man anally, while using a prosthesis that is usually attached to the pubis, by means of a waist harness.

Raquel Welch and Roger Herron in a scene from the 1970 movie 'Myra Breckenridge.' (Photo by Screen Archives/Getty Images) Screen Archives (Getty Images)

Despite the fact that its becoming increasingly common to see strap-ons in movies and on television, their use continues to be a taboo subject. If you like to use strap-ons, and youre a cis woman and you want to use them with cis men, you will be criticized because you want to take the place of the man [and] subjugate him. Or, simply, youll be called a feminazi. And, if you want to use a strap-on with another woman, youll be criticized for wanting what nature hasnt given you. As soon as [you produce] something thats similar to a penis but is always erect and never fails, sparks fly. Machismo is very against the use of strap-ons. If youre a cis man and you like to use [anal] plugs, youd better hide it. If you like your partner to give you anal sex with a harness, your friends better not find out, because, all of a sudden, youll lose all your male credibility, explains sexologist Lorena S. Gimeno. The strap-on is a product designed to put a dildo in front of genitals, she writes in Feeling and Giving Pleasure with Strap-ons, a guide thats the result of two years of in-depth research on the use of strap-ons in sexual practices, which was recently presented at the Erotic Museum in Barcelona.

The term pegging  coined in 2001 by journalist Dan Savage  is a practice that weve seen reflected in comedy and drama, from series such as The Sopranos to Shameless. It was referred to in the famous 1959 novel, Naked Lunch. Despite this, it remains a taboo. The reason is that it implies a very big role change. Shes suddenly the one who takes the reins, takes the initiative and has the power during sexual intercourse something traditionally associated with men. It seems that men who desire this practice are considered effeminate or not very masculine. Likewise, the women who perform [the act] seem to not be feminine. In these types of scenarios, everything thats out of the ordinary sounds like a perversion or deviation from whats socially established, says psychologist and sexologist Ana Lombardia. Actually, whoevers in command whenever theres penetration is the person being penetrated, because theyre the one who can decide to stop and who decides on the size of the dildo. Oftentimes, we think that a strap-on is used to replace a penis that doesnt exist, when this isnt always the case, says sexologist Alba Povedano.

Types of strap-ons

The scene in which Miranda Hobbes tries to put on the strap-on is far from being erotic: its bathed in comedy and clumsiness, as the character jokes about how difficult it is. Povedano explains that the degree of difficulty varies widely. There are some that are easier to put on and others that  depending on the straps and how it fits  will be more complicated. The truth is that the moment of putting it on can lower libido a bit if two people are interacting on a sexual level and decide that they want penetration, because theyre forced to stop to put on the harness. [This is a problem] especially if they havent prepared [the strap-on] in advance. However, if they know how to put it on and have some practice, its not that complex, she notes.

In Feeling and Giving Pleasure with Strap-ons, theres a whole chapter dedicated to this. The ideal harness doesnt exist, because each person has different needs. Some people will be fine with a strap-on panty with a dildo attached. Others will look for it to be adjustable. Regarding types of strap-ons, I usually divide them between the simple (which look like a panty or a thong), double (with two straps between the legs, to allow for access to the genitals), or those that are also articles of clothing (stockings, corsets, bustiers or loose straps that allow you to stick a dildo to your leg, for example). I dedicate a special category to the strap-ons without a harness, which are dildos designed to be held with the vagina; these are more comfortable and easier to put on, but [they depend] on the strength of your pelvic floor and the intensity that youre going to give it. The level of difficulty depends on the amount of practice, says Gimeno.

Fears, myths and the importance of open communication

According to a 2020 survey in Spain published by Statista, 65% of women had used a sex toy at least once in their lives, while the percentage of men was somewhat lower, at 50%. As Ana Lombardia explains, one of the great fears of the use of strap-ons and anal plugs comes from heterosexual men, since this practice is culturally associated with gay men: although sexual orientation really has nothing to do with which part of your body you like to pleasure.

Its vital [for any type of couple] to engage in open conversation, because we shouldnt assume that two lesbian women will like [strap-ons], just as we shouldnt assume that two gay men will. Communication is vital, regardless of the orientation and type of sexual relationship, although its true that, in heterosexual relationships, its important that the couple talk about how they feel about anal sex, limits in the bedroom, discussing which dildo is going to be used the latter, by the way, is chosen by the person whos going to be penetrated, not by the person wearing the strap-on. Its important to be clear about this and talk about it beforehand, Povedano explains.

There are many fears and myths that surround the use of sex toys, as explained by Gimeno. We find ourselves with the [stereotype] that, if you like it and youre a woman, you want to be a man [and], if you like that your wife penetrates you, its because youre gay. In reality, all these myths are the result of [sexist] thinking. As for fears, the first barrier is stigmatization  the fear of what others will say, what theyll think. We have many preconceived ideas that are difficult to remove. And, once you finally feel comfortable with saying I like to wear strap-ons, you dont know how your sexual partner or partners will react, the sexologist says. In practice, the biggest fear is that you can easily hurt your partner with the dildo. Thats why I recommend a lot of communication and patience, dilation, and always having lubricant on hand.

Something usually not mentioned about the use of strap-ons is that it can be disappointing. Especially if you think it will give you instant pleasure. The pleasure thats felt from the use of strap-ons usually comes from mental arousal, or from the toys and vibrators that you add, so that whoever puts it on or receives it feels something more physical. But, as I say in the book, you can teach your brain to feel pleasure with the use of the strap-on, she notes.

In short, whats essential when we want to introduce something out of the norm in the bedroom is communication. By establishing some basic conditions, its possible to enjoy new experiences in a consensual and safe way.

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Prasanta Mazumdar By

Express News Service

GUWAHATI: After a lull of three days, fresh gunfights erupted at two places across Manipur on Sunday.

The violence first broke out on the border of the Bishnupur-Churachandpur districts in the morning.

Senior police officials were not available for comment but locals feared casualties. Some houses were also torched. Security forces, deployed in the area, brought the situation under control.

Later in the day, another gunbattle occurred on the border of Imphal West and Kangpokpi districts. Casualties, if any, were not known.

Meanwhile, the police arrested four persons in connection with the killing of a Naga woman, Lucy Marem, in the Imphal East district on Saturday evening. The assailants had allegedly also disfigured her face.

The victim was reportedly suffering from schizophrenia.

Before this incident, the Nagas, the third major community of Manipur, were unaffected by the ethnic violence between Meiteis and Kukis.

The United Naga Council (UNC) condemned the killing, stating that the innocent woman was murdered despite her assailants knowing that she was a Naga.

It demanded that the state government immediately constitute a judicial inquiry committee, arrest all perpetrators of the crime, including the members of a womens group who had allegedly apprehended the victim and handed her over to armed men, and award exemplary punishment to the culprits.

The organisation warned, In the event of not fulfilling our demands within 48 hours, further course of action will be initiated.

Further, the UNC said, The Meitei civil society organizations will be equally held responsible for this despicable act. Hence, their role and position must be made known to all concerned.

It said a 12-hour total shutdown would be observed in all Naga areas of Manipur from 6 am to 6 pm on Monday as a mark of resentment for the womans murder and to pay tribute to her.

This is the second such killing of a woman. On July 6, a Kuki woman was shot dead by an unidentified gunman on the outskirts of Imphal.

Meanwhile, the Committee on Tribal Unity has called for a 72-hour total shutdown of National Highway 2  Manipurs lifeline  in protest against Saturdays torching of three LPG cylinders-laden trucks in Imphal West district and Sundays arson attack at a village.

GUWAHATI: After a lull of three days, fresh gunfights erupted at two places across Manipur on Sunday. The violence first broke out on the border of the Bishnupur-Churachandpur districts in the morning. Senior police officials were not available for comment but locals feared casualties. Some houses were also torched. Security forces, deployed in the area, brought the situation under control.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Later in the day, another gunbattle occurred on the border of Imphal West and Kangpokpi districts. Casualties, if any, were not known. Meanwhile, the police arrested four persons in connection with the killing of a Naga woman, Lucy Marem, in the Imphal East district on Saturday evening. The assailants had allegedly also disfigured her face. The victim was reportedly suffering from schizophrenia. Before this incident, the Nagas, the third major community of Manipur, were unaffected by the ethnic violence between Meiteis and Kukis. The United Naga Council (UNC) condemned the killing, stating that the innocent woman was murdered despite her assailants knowing that she was a Naga. It demanded that the state government immediately constitute a judicial inquiry committee, arrest all perpetrators of the crime, including the members of a womens group who had allegedly apprehended the victim and handed her over to armed men, and award exemplary punishment to the culprits. The organisation warned, In the event of not fulfilling our demands within 48 hours, further course of action will be initiated. Further, the UNC said, The Meitei civil society organizations will be equally held responsible for this despicable act. Hence, their role and position must be made known to all concerned. It said a 12-hour total shutdown would be observed in all Naga areas of Manipur from 6 am to 6 pm on Monday as a mark of resentment for the womans murder and to pay tribute to her. This is the second such killing of a woman. On July 6, a Kuki woman was shot dead by an unidentified gunman on the outskirts of Imphal. Meanwhile, the Committee on Tribal Unity has called for a 72-hour total shutdown of National Highway 2  Manipurs lifeline  in protest against Saturdays torching of three LPG cylinders-laden trucks in Imphal West district and Sundays arson attack at a village.
Namita Bajpai By

Express News Service

LUCKNOW: The immense popularity of Prime Minister Narendra Modi among the people will ensure a comfortable win for the BJP and allies in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, feels Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.

Talking to TNIE, he claimed that "People are quite reassured and confident of the central leadership and the way of its working" and even those who voted for other parties in assembly elections will support BJP in the Lok Sabha (LS) polls. He also expressed his views on a host of issues ranging from UCC, Chinese misadventures on the border to Manipur crisis.

Excerpts...

Q. Om Prakash Rajbhar has come back to NDA. Many other former allies of the BJP are said to be in talks with the partys leadership. It seems that the old NDA would be reconstituted.

A. Our NDA families would be stronger than ever. A lot of parties are willing to join our alliance. Prime Minister Narendra Modis popularity is immense, and parties know that their future is secured within a strong alliance. He has established himself as a global leader and reaffirmed Indias pride abroad.

Q. What are your assessments about the 2024 Lok Sabha elections? Will it be tougher with the opposition trying its best to cobble up a united front against BJP?

A. My assessment is that we are going to win more seats than in the previous Lok Sabha elections of 2019.

Q. But where are numbers going to come from? BJP has lost a couple of states recently and the ground situation has changed in many other states like Bihar.

A. In Karnataka, or for that matter Himachal Pradesh, we might have lost the Assembly elections, but in Lok Sabha polls, we are confident of getting more seats than in 2019. Our number is not going to reduce. Even during the Assembly polls in Karnataka, voters were clear that they would vote for the BJP in 2024 to bring the Modi government back.

In states like Bihar and Maharashtra, the number will be higher than what we had in 2019. In fact, we may make a sweep in Bihar. People are quite confident of the central leadership and the way it is working. Look, the voting preferences of the voters in the Assembly and Lok Sabha elections are entirely different as the issues in both elections are different.

Modi is emerging as a global figure and it is playing a big role in winning over peoples support. This is what is making other political players think of joining NDA. The ruling alliance is going to be stronger with the arrival of many more partners joining us ahead of the big battle in 2024.

Q. But is the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) going to be a nagging issue? Many of your current and prospective allies hold contrary views on UCC.

A. The Central government is trying its best to build a consensus over UCC before proceeding with it. People will be taken into confidence before making any move in that direction. As of now, many people do not have a clear idea of the concept. When people will get the picture clear, I think there wont be much problem.

Q. Whats the situation on the China border? Rahul Gandhi keeps making the Chinese aggression and encroachment of Indian territory a big political issue.

A. This is uncalled for. It should not be the approach. His statements always seem to be challenging our own army. Recall the day when Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ji had addressed the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi as Durga after the 1971 war which led to the formation of Bangladesh. During the confrontation with other countries, especially China, with which we have a long history of confrontation, the entire nation should stand united and firm with one voice.

The fact is that we have got the support of the international community on the issue of Chinese misadventures on the border. Now, even China is expressing its willingness to resolve this dispute. It is because when a country gets strong globally, no one can dare browbeat it and others are bound to listen to it.

Q. The prolonged crisis in Manipur giving a tough time to the government?

A. The government is making continuous efforts to resolve the crisis. The talks are on. The most significant aspect of it is that there should not be any communication gap. The government is treading cautiously. We had given instructions to the Army to practise restraint.

ALSO READ | Opposition vs Modi: Mission 2024 or Mission Impossible

Q. We have been hearing this for quite some time now. Is there really a Union Cabinet reshuffle on cards?

A. No discussion over the issue has taken place at our level so far.

Q. What is the governments stand on MP Brijbhushan Sharan Singh? Is he being given a long rope?

A. The case is in the court of law and it will take its course.

Q. As an MP are you happy with the development of your constituency, Lucknow?

A. Its you who should tell me about this. The manufacturing of BrahMos missiles and the coming up of a textile park in Lucknow reflect the level of growth here. I never made any tall claims but have tried silently to effect a gradual makeover of the state capital.

A lot of infrastructural facilities are on the anvil and they will be delivered in the days to come. The ambitious 104 km outer ring road is 90 per cent ready and should be dedicated to the public by next November. I will never let the growth of Lucknow retard due to the paucity of funds. I may be busy with national responsibilities but ensure that the development projects of my constituency keep on the right and speedy track.

Q. Will you be contesting in 2024?

A. I hope so.

ALSO READ | Buzz on PM Modi considering to contest 2024 polls from Tamil Nadu

LUCKNOW: The immense popularity of Prime Minister Narendra Modi among the people will ensure a comfortable win for the BJP and allies in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, feels Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. Talking to TNIE, he claimed that "People are quite reassured and confident of the central leadership and the way of its working" and even those who voted for other parties in assembly elections will support BJP in the Lok Sabha (LS) polls. He also expressed his views on a host of issues ranging from UCC, Chinese misadventures on the border to Manipur crisis. Excerpts...googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Q. Om Prakash Rajbhar has come back to NDA. Many other former allies of the BJP are said to be in talks with the partys leadership. It seems that the old NDA would be reconstituted. A. Our NDA families would be stronger than ever. A lot of parties are willing to join our alliance. Prime Minister Narendra Modis popularity is immense, and parties know that their future is secured within a strong alliance. He has established himself as a global leader and reaffirmed Indias pride abroad. Q. What are your assessments about the 2024 Lok Sabha elections? Will it be tougher with the opposition trying its best to cobble up a united front against BJP? A. My assessment is that we are going to win more seats than in the previous Lok Sabha elections of 2019. Q. But where are numbers going to come from? BJP has lost a couple of states recently and the ground situation has changed in many other states like Bihar. A. In Karnataka, or for that matter Himachal Pradesh, we might have lost the Assembly elections, but in Lok Sabha polls, we are confident of getting more seats than in 2019. Our number is not going to reduce. Even during the Assembly polls in Karnataka, voters were clear that they would vote for the BJP in 2024 to bring the Modi government back. In states like Bihar and Maharashtra, the number will be higher than what we had in 2019. In fact, we may make a sweep in Bihar. People are quite confident of the central leadership and the way it is working. Look, the voting preferences of the voters in the Assembly and Lok Sabha elections are entirely different as the issues in both elections are different. Modi is emerging as a global figure and it is playing a big role in winning over peoples support. This is what is making other political players think of joining NDA. The ruling alliance is going to be stronger with the arrival of many more partners joining us ahead of the big battle in 2024. Q. But is the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) going to be a nagging issue? Many of your current and prospective allies hold contrary views on UCC. A. The Central government is trying its best to build a consensus over UCC before proceeding with it. People will be taken into confidence before making any move in that direction. As of now, many people do not have a clear idea of the concept. When people will get the picture clear, I think there wont be much problem. Q. Whats the situation on the China border? Rahul Gandhi keeps making the Chinese aggression and encroachment of Indian territory a big political issue. A. This is uncalled for. It should not be the approach. His statements always seem to be challenging our own army. Recall the day when Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ji had addressed the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi as Durga after the 1971 war which led to the formation of Bangladesh. During the confrontation with other countries, especially China, with which we have a long history of confrontation, the entire nation should stand united and firm with one voice. The fact is that we have got the support of the international community on the issue of Chinese misadventures on the border. Now, even China is expressing its willingness to resolve this dispute. It is because when a country gets strong globally, no one can dare browbeat it and others are bound to listen to it. Q. The prolonged crisis in Manipur giving a tough time to the government? A. The government is making continuous efforts to resolve the crisis. The talks are on. The most significant aspect of it is that there should not be any communication gap. The government is treading cautiously. We had given instructions to the Army to practise restraint. ALSO READ | Opposition vs Modi: Mission 2024 or Mission Impossible Q. We have been hearing this for quite some time now. Is there really a Union Cabinet reshuffle on cards? A. No discussion over the issue has taken place at our level so far. Q. What is the governments stand on MP Brijbhushan Sharan Singh? Is he being given a long rope? A. The case is in the court of law and it will take its course. Q. As an MP are you happy with the development of your constituency, Lucknow? A. Its you who should tell me about this. The manufacturing of BrahMos missiles and the coming up of a textile park in Lucknow reflect the level of growth here. I never made any tall claims but have tried silently to effect a gradual makeover of the state capital. A lot of infrastructural facilities are on the anvil and they will be delivered in the days to come. The ambitious 104 km outer ring road is 90 per cent ready and should be dedicated to the public by next November. I will never let the growth of Lucknow retard due to the paucity of funds. I may be busy with national responsibilities but ensure that the development projects of my constituency keep on the right and speedy track. Q. Will you be contesting in 2024? A. I hope so. ALSO READ | Buzz on PM Modi considering to contest 2024 polls from Tamil Nadu
By PTI

AURANGABAD: A trust managing a mosque in Maharashtra's Jalgaon district has moved the Aurangabad bench of the Bombay High Court against the collector's order banning entry into the premises following a complaint claiming the structure has an 'appearance of a temple'.

The trust's advocate, S S Kazi, said the petition would be taken up for hearing on July 18.

The petition, filed by the Jumma Masjid Trust Committee through its president Altaf Khan, claimed the collector passed the 'arbitrary and illegal' order on July 11, 2023, directing them to hand over keys of the mosque to the Erandol municipal council's chief officer.

The order was passed under Sections 144 and 145 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, as per which the status quo shall be maintained pending a final decision on the dispute of the land.

As per the plea, the mosque has been in existence for decades and the Maharashtra government had declared the structure of the masjid as an ancient and historical monument and is enlisted in the Schedule of protected monuments.

The petitioner stated the trust has been taking utmost care and there is no complaint received in that regard by the Archeological Department, or even the state government.

In May this year, the Pandavwada Sangharsh Sameti in order to create disturbance in Jalgaon's Erandol taluka, submitted an application to the district collector claiming the ancient monument is having the "appearance of a mandir" and therefore the occupation of the Muslim community must be vacated, the plea said.

The sameti also sought for the illegal construction made by the petitioner trust to be removed and a madarsa run by the trustees also to be stopped.

Pursuant to the complaint, the collector issued a notice to the petitioner trust on June 14, directing the trustees to remain present on June 27 for a hearing.

The plea claimed the trustees appeared before the collector's office but since he was busy that day, no hearing took place.

On a later date, the petitioner trust sought time from the collector to go through the complaint and file its response, the plea said.

"The learned Collector was not in a mood to hear anything from the petitioner thereafter and without giving any opportunity to the petitioner on 11.07.2023, the Collector, Jalgaon, passed an order under Sections 144 and 145 of the Code of Criminal Procedure," the plea said.

As per the order, only two persons are allowed to offer namaz in the mosque presently and no one else can enter, Kazi said.

The plea claimed the collector's order was arbitrary, illegal and passed in haste without granting the petitioner an opportunity to put forth its case. It sought for the order to be quashed and set aside.

AURANGABAD: A trust managing a mosque in Maharashtra's Jalgaon district has moved the Aurangabad bench of the Bombay High Court against the collector's order banning entry into the premises following a complaint claiming the structure has an 'appearance of a temple'. The trust's advocate, S S Kazi, said the petition would be taken up for hearing on July 18. The petition, filed by the Jumma Masjid Trust Committee through its president Altaf Khan, claimed the collector passed the 'arbitrary and illegal' order on July 11, 2023, directing them to hand over keys of the mosque to the Erandol municipal council's chief officer.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The order was passed under Sections 144 and 145 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, as per which the status quo shall be maintained pending a final decision on the dispute of the land. As per the plea, the mosque has been in existence for decades and the Maharashtra government had declared the structure of the masjid as an ancient and historical monument and is enlisted in the Schedule of protected monuments. The petitioner stated the trust has been taking utmost care and there is no complaint received in that regard by the Archeological Department, or even the state government. In May this year, the Pandavwada Sangharsh Sameti in order to create disturbance in Jalgaon's Erandol taluka, submitted an application to the district collector claiming the ancient monument is having the "appearance of a mandir" and therefore the occupation of the Muslim community must be vacated, the plea said. The sameti also sought for the illegal construction made by the petitioner trust to be removed and a madarsa run by the trustees also to be stopped. Pursuant to the complaint, the collector issued a notice to the petitioner trust on June 14, directing the trustees to remain present on June 27 for a hearing. The plea claimed the trustees appeared before the collector's office but since he was busy that day, no hearing took place. On a later date, the petitioner trust sought time from the collector to go through the complaint and file its response, the plea said. "The learned Collector was not in a mood to hear anything from the petitioner thereafter and without giving any opportunity to the petitioner on 11.07.2023, the Collector, Jalgaon, passed an order under Sections 144 and 145 of the Code of Criminal Procedure," the plea said. As per the order, only two persons are allowed to offer namaz in the mosque presently and no one else can enter, Kazi said. The plea claimed the collector's order was arbitrary, illegal and passed in haste without granting the petitioner an opportunity to put forth its case. It sought for the order to be quashed and set aside.
By PTI

MUMBAI: The Opposition camp including Shiv Sena (UBT), Congress, and the NCP (Sharad Pawar group) on Sunday decided to boycott the tea party to be hosted by the Maharashtra government on the eve of the state legislature's monsoon session, starting Monday.

A meeting was organised by the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council Ambadas Danve, who belongs to Shiv Sena (UBT), which was attended by Congress legislative party leader Balasaheb Thorat and Nationalist Congress Party's Jayant Patil.

Notably, the post of the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly is lying vacant after incumbent Ajit Pawar of NCP resigned recently and joined the Shiv Sena-BJP government as Deputy Chief Minister. Eight other MLAs of Ajit Pawar's camp were sworn in as ministers.

"We have decided to boycott the high tea invitation of the state government as it has failed to solve the woes of people on several fronts. This government's validity on Constitutional norms is already in question," Danve told reporters.

He alleged the government seems to have deployed a policy of "misusing" probe agencies to pressure the Opposition and force them to either join the government or face false charges and harassment.

"We are seeing a gory picture of democracy in Maharashtra as several Constitutional norms are disregarded. The chief minister of Maharashtra himself is facing disqualification," Danve said.

He alleged the state is lagging in industrial growth as some projects that could have been set up only in Maharashtra have gone to other states.

"On the other hand, the refinery project in Ratnagiri district is being pushed without the consent of local people," Danve alleged.

When asked if Congress would stake a claim to the post of the Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly in the wake of a split in the NCP, Balasaheb Thorat said, "Congress has 45 MLAs and we can stake a claim to the LoP post. However the nomination of the candidate for the post will be decided by senior leaders in Delhi," he added.

As per norms, the post of LoP becomes official only after it is recognised by the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly.

MUMBAI: The Opposition camp including Shiv Sena (UBT), Congress, and the NCP (Sharad Pawar group) on Sunday decided to boycott the tea party to be hosted by the Maharashtra government on the eve of the state legislature's monsoon session, starting Monday. A meeting was organised by the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council Ambadas Danve, who belongs to Shiv Sena (UBT), which was attended by Congress legislative party leader Balasaheb Thorat and Nationalist Congress Party's Jayant Patil. Notably, the post of the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly is lying vacant after incumbent Ajit Pawar of NCP resigned recently and joined the Shiv Sena-BJP government as Deputy Chief Minister. Eight other MLAs of Ajit Pawar's camp were sworn in as ministers.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); "We have decided to boycott the high tea invitation of the state government as it has failed to solve the woes of people on several fronts. This government's validity on Constitutional norms is already in question," Danve told reporters. He alleged the government seems to have deployed a policy of "misusing" probe agencies to pressure the Opposition and force them to either join the government or face false charges and harassment. "We are seeing a gory picture of democracy in Maharashtra as several Constitutional norms are disregarded. The chief minister of Maharashtra himself is facing disqualification," Danve said. He alleged the state is lagging in industrial growth as some projects that could have been set up only in Maharashtra have gone to other states. "On the other hand, the refinery project in Ratnagiri district is being pushed without the consent of local people," Danve alleged. When asked if Congress would stake a claim to the post of the Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly in the wake of a split in the NCP, Balasaheb Thorat said, "Congress has 45 MLAs and we can stake a claim to the LoP post. However the nomination of the candidate for the post will be decided by senior leaders in Delhi," he added. As per norms, the post of LoP becomes official only after it is recognised by the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly.
By PTI

JAIPUR: BJP president J P Nadda launched the party's "Nahi Sahega Rajasthan" campaign against the Congress government in the state at a public meeting in Jaipur on Sunday.

The campaign will be run across the state.

Nadda was given a warm welcome at the Jaipur airport by party leaders. He was received by state party chief C P Joshi, leader of the opposition Rajendra Rathore, deputy leader of the opposition Satish Poonia and others.

Nadda launched the campaign and a theme video that highlights crime against women, the murder of Kanhaiya Lal in Udaipur, communal riots and other issues. He also released a 'Fail Card' of the Congress-led state government. Assembly elections in the state are due later this year.

JAIPUR: BJP president J P Nadda launched the party's "Nahi Sahega Rajasthan" campaign against the Congress government in the state at a public meeting in Jaipur on Sunday. The campaign will be run across the state. Nadda was given a warm welcome at the Jaipur airport by party leaders. He was received by state party chief C P Joshi, leader of the opposition Rajendra Rathore, deputy leader of the opposition Satish Poonia and others.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Nadda launched the campaign and a theme video that highlights crime against women, the murder of Kanhaiya Lal in Udaipur, communal riots and other issues. He also released a 'Fail Card' of the Congress-led state government. Assembly elections in the state are due later this year.
By PTI

JAIPUR: BJP president J P Nadda charged on Sunday that opposition parties were in the process of forming an alliance to 'protect' their dynastic politics and that the UPA of Congress stood for 'utpidan, pakshpat and atyachar' - oppression, favouritism and atrocities.

The proposed coalition is not a 'Patriotic Democratic Alliance' but a 'Protection of Dynasties Alliance', BJP chief JP Nadda said.

Calling the Congress a party of 'mother-son-daughter', Nadda said its government in Rajasthan is setting new records of corruption and has no right to be in power even for a minute.

Addressing a rally after launching the BJP's 'Nahi Sahega Rajasthan' campaign against the Congress government, he targeted the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) led by the Congress and said, "UPA of Congress stands for 'utpidan, pakshpat and atyachar'.

Whereas the NDA (National Democratic Alliance) government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is working with the mantra of 'sabka saath, sabka vikas, sabka vishwas and sabka prayas'," he said.

Nadda said that these days the opposition parties have started saying a new thing, PDA or Patriotic Democratic Alliance.

"I call PDA the Protection of Dynasties Alliance.it is a way to protect dynastic politics," he said.

"All these people join the alliance to save their families while Modi works to take the country forward. We should understand this difference," he said.

After more than a dozen prominent opposition parties resolved to take on the BJP unitedly in the 2024 assembly polls at their meeting in Patna last month, some reports claimed that their proposed coalition could be called 'Patriotic Democratic Alliance' (PDA).

Nadda named parties such as the JDU and the Samajwadi Party and said these were parties of dynasts and cannot give anything to each other.

He termed the Congress a party of 'mother-son-daughter' and said that except them, all other leaders of the party including Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot were on contract while former deputy CM Sachin Pilot was on "sub-contract".

At the event in Jaipur, Nadda launched the party's poll campaign, 'Nahi Sahega Rajasthan' to oust the Congress from power in Rajasthan. Assembly elections are due in the state by the year-end.

This campaign will be run in the entire state. Nadda launched the campaign and a theme video that highlights crime against women, the murder of Kanhaiya Lal in Udaipur, communal riots and other issues.

He also released a 'Fail Card' of the Congress-led state government.

He targeted the state government saying that it loots and tortures people and has broken all records of atrocities against Dalits, tribals, women, children and the poor. "It has no right to be in power even for a minute," he said. He said that encouraging corruption and creating new records of corruption is the character of the Ashok Gehlot government in Rajasthan.

He charged that the Congress government in the state has worked towards the demolition of houses of refugees from Pakistan with bulldozers for its vote-bank politics. Nadda said that crime has increased under Congress rule and women are not safe.

He said that the Gehlot government has broken all records of corruption, appeasement politics was at its peak and all sections of society are distressed under the Congress rule.

The BJP chief called upon the people to defeat Congress in the upcoming elections and form the BJP government to bring development to the state. He also highlighted the achievements of the Narendra Modi government.

In the programme, he also met the widows of paramilitary jawans Manju Jat and Madhubala who were killed in the Pulwama terror attack. The widows had protested against the Congress government in March this year over their various demands.

Leader of opposition Rajendra Rathore also targeted the Ashok Gehlot-led Congress government over the rape and murder of a girl in Karauli recently, the murder of tailor Kanhaiya Lal in Udaipur last year, and the rape and murder of a Dalit girl in Bikaner's Khajuwala and other incidents.

Referring to the 'Nahi Sahega Rajasthan' campaign, he said that Rajasthan will no longer tolerate such incidents.

Former chief minister Vasundhara Raje, BJP state president C P Joshi, and deputy leader of opposition Satish Poonia also addressed the programme.

JAIPUR: BJP president J P Nadda charged on Sunday that opposition parties were in the process of forming an alliance to 'protect' their dynastic politics and that the UPA of Congress stood for 'utpidan, pakshpat and atyachar' - oppression, favouritism and atrocities. The proposed coalition is not a 'Patriotic Democratic Alliance' but a 'Protection of Dynasties Alliance', BJP chief JP Nadda said. Calling the Congress a party of 'mother-son-daughter', Nadda said its government in Rajasthan is setting new records of corruption and has no right to be in power even for a minute.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Addressing a rally after launching the BJP's 'Nahi Sahega Rajasthan' campaign against the Congress government, he targeted the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) led by the Congress and said, "UPA of Congress stands for 'utpidan, pakshpat and atyachar'. Whereas the NDA (National Democratic Alliance) government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is working with the mantra of 'sabka saath, sabka vikas, sabka vishwas and sabka prayas'," he said. Nadda said that these days the opposition parties have started saying a new thing, PDA or Patriotic Democratic Alliance. "I call PDA the Protection of Dynasties Alliance.it is a way to protect dynastic politics," he said. "All these people join the alliance to save their families while Modi works to take the country forward. We should understand this difference," he said. After more than a dozen prominent opposition parties resolved to take on the BJP unitedly in the 2024 assembly polls at their meeting in Patna last month, some reports claimed that their proposed coalition could be called 'Patriotic Democratic Alliance' (PDA). Nadda named parties such as the JDU and the Samajwadi Party and said these were parties of dynasts and cannot give anything to each other. He termed the Congress a party of 'mother-son-daughter' and said that except them, all other leaders of the party including Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot were on contract while former deputy CM Sachin Pilot was on "sub-contract". At the event in Jaipur, Nadda launched the party's poll campaign, 'Nahi Sahega Rajasthan' to oust the Congress from power in Rajasthan. Assembly elections are due in the state by the year-end. This campaign will be run in the entire state. Nadda launched the campaign and a theme video that highlights crime against women, the murder of Kanhaiya Lal in Udaipur, communal riots and other issues. He also released a 'Fail Card' of the Congress-led state government. He targeted the state government saying that it loots and tortures people and has broken all records of atrocities against Dalits, tribals, women, children and the poor. "It has no right to be in power even for a minute," he said. He said that encouraging corruption and creating new records of corruption is the character of the Ashok Gehlot government in Rajasthan. He charged that the Congress government in the state has worked towards the demolition of houses of refugees from Pakistan with bulldozers for its vote-bank politics. Nadda said that crime has increased under Congress rule and women are not safe. He said that the Gehlot government has broken all records of corruption, appeasement politics was at its peak and all sections of society are distressed under the Congress rule. The BJP chief called upon the people to defeat Congress in the upcoming elections and form the BJP government to bring development to the state. He also highlighted the achievements of the Narendra Modi government. In the programme, he also met the widows of paramilitary jawans Manju Jat and Madhubala who were killed in the Pulwama terror attack. The widows had protested against the Congress government in March this year over their various demands. Leader of opposition Rajendra Rathore also targeted the Ashok Gehlot-led Congress government over the rape and murder of a girl in Karauli recently, the murder of tailor Kanhaiya Lal in Udaipur last year, and the rape and murder of a Dalit girl in Bikaner's Khajuwala and other incidents. Referring to the 'Nahi Sahega Rajasthan' campaign, he said that Rajasthan will no longer tolerate such incidents. Former chief minister Vasundhara Raje, BJP state president C P Joshi, and deputy leader of opposition Satish Poonia also addressed the programme.
By PTI

KOLKATA: Asserting that the 2023 rural elections indicate a resurgence of the Left in West Bengal after the debacle in the 2021 assembly polls, the CPI(M) said the binary of the Trinamool Congress and the BJP is not working in the state.

The party claimed that together with the Congress and ISF, they have clocked a vote share of 21 per cent in the panchayat elections, up from 10 per cent in the assembly elections.

"That the Left is ascending is a clear indication," CPI(M) central committee member Sujan Chakraborty said.

The increase in vote share of the Left, Congress and ISF combined has turned the electoral contest into a three-cornered affair from the two-way contest between the TMC and BJP in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections and the 2021 assembly polls.

The Left parties have repeatedly accused the BJP and the TMC of mixing religion with politics to confuse the electorate.

ALSO READ | Amit Shah to visit Bengal after BJPs rout in rural polls

"The binary could not be made (in this panchayat election) as was proposed by the TMC and BJP," Chakraborty told PTI.

The Left party, which had not been able to put up any remarkable fight in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections and could not win any seat in the 2021 assembly elections, claims to be steadily becoming a force to reckon with again in West Bengal.

In the 2018 panchayat polls, the TMC had won unopposed in 34 per cent seats with the opposition parties alleging intimidation and violence by ruling party workers.

The BJP, which had bagged 38 per cent votes in the 2021 assembly elections in the state, got around 22 per cent votes in the 2023 panchayat polls, the CPI(M) claimed.

The CPI(M) said it started making a turnaround in the polls after the 2021 elections, with its vote share steadily increasing in all these, including Ballygunge, Shantipur and also in the Kolkata Municipal Corporation elections.

ALSO READ | TMC resides in hearts of people: West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee on panchayat poll win

Alleging that the recently held rural polls were marred by violence and rigging by members of the ruling party, Chakraborty claimed that there is no legitimacy of the result in this election "because of atrocities resulting in a huge amount of vote loot and dacoity in counting.

" He alleged that many of the winning candidates of CPI(M) were denied certificates despite having won, while the losing candidates of TMC were given winner certificates.

The former Jadavpur Lok Sabha constituency MP claimed that "in spite of huge repression and vote loot," the vote percentage of the Left and its allies grew by nearly 12 per cent compared to the 2021 assembly polls.

He said analysts suggest the TMC's vote share could have gone down to 30 to 35 per cent had it been a free and fair election.

"The Left and its allies could have been plus-minus 30 per cent and thereby it could cause concern to the ruling parties in both the Centre and the state," the CPI(M) leader said.

The ruling Trinamool Congress has secured a massive victory in the three-tier rural elections, winning all the 20 zilla parishads and many of the panchayat samities and the gram panchayats.

The Calcutta High Court has said the panchayat elections and the declaration of results will be subject to its final orders in connection with matters that it is hearing over allegations of electoral malpractices.

KOLKATA: Asserting that the 2023 rural elections indicate a resurgence of the Left in West Bengal after the debacle in the 2021 assembly polls, the CPI(M) said the binary of the Trinamool Congress and the BJP is not working in the state. The party claimed that together with the Congress and ISF, they have clocked a vote share of 21 per cent in the panchayat elections, up from 10 per cent in the assembly elections. "That the Left is ascending is a clear indication," CPI(M) central committee member Sujan Chakraborty said.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The increase in vote share of the Left, Congress and ISF combined has turned the electoral contest into a three-cornered affair from the two-way contest between the TMC and BJP in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections and the 2021 assembly polls. The Left parties have repeatedly accused the BJP and the TMC of mixing religion with politics to confuse the electorate. ALSO READ | Amit Shah to visit Bengal after BJPs rout in rural polls "The binary could not be made (in this panchayat election) as was proposed by the TMC and BJP," Chakraborty told PTI. The Left party, which had not been able to put up any remarkable fight in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections and could not win any seat in the 2021 assembly elections, claims to be steadily becoming a force to reckon with again in West Bengal. In the 2018 panchayat polls, the TMC had won unopposed in 34 per cent seats with the opposition parties alleging intimidation and violence by ruling party workers. The BJP, which had bagged 38 per cent votes in the 2021 assembly elections in the state, got around 22 per cent votes in the 2023 panchayat polls, the CPI(M) claimed. The CPI(M) said it started making a turnaround in the polls after the 2021 elections, with its vote share steadily increasing in all these, including Ballygunge, Shantipur and also in the Kolkata Municipal Corporation elections. ALSO READ | TMC resides in hearts of people: West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee on panchayat poll win Alleging that the recently held rural polls were marred by violence and rigging by members of the ruling party, Chakraborty claimed that there is no legitimacy of the result in this election "because of atrocities resulting in a huge amount of vote loot and dacoity in counting. " He alleged that many of the winning candidates of CPI(M) were denied certificates despite having won, while the losing candidates of TMC were given winner certificates. The former Jadavpur Lok Sabha constituency MP claimed that "in spite of huge repression and vote loot," the vote percentage of the Left and its allies grew by nearly 12 per cent compared to the 2021 assembly polls. He said analysts suggest the TMC's vote share could have gone down to 30 to 35 per cent had it been a free and fair election. "The Left and its allies could have been plus-minus 30 per cent and thereby it could cause concern to the ruling parties in both the Centre and the state," the CPI(M) leader said. The ruling Trinamool Congress has secured a massive victory in the three-tier rural elections, winning all the 20 zilla parishads and many of the panchayat samities and the gram panchayats. The Calcutta High Court has said the panchayat elections and the declaration of results will be subject to its final orders in connection with matters that it is hearing over allegations of electoral malpractices.
By PTI

NEW DELHI: Women are still a minority at Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and despite constant efforts to improve the gender ratio on campuses, it's still a long way to go, according to Preeti Aghalyam, the first woman to become an IIT director.

While the first IIT was set up in Kharagpur in 1951, it is after seven decades that a woman has been appointed as head of the prestigious institute.

But for Aghalayam, director-in-charge of the new IIT in Zanzibar, it is not just about breaking a glass ceiling but "Once an IITian, always an IITian" theory.

IIT-Madras, set up in 1959, has become the first IIT in the country to launch an international campus, with the new institute in Tanzania's Zanzibar set to begin its first academic session in October.

Forty-nine-year-old Aghalayam has spent the past few months travelling to and from India to Zanzibar and is busy setting things in motion.

"For me, the fact that it is the first IIT campus abroad is more important than me being the first woman to head an IIT. It is not just about breaking the glass ceiling for me. It is more of 'Once and IITian, always an IITian' for me."

"I studied at IIT Madras. I have worked at IIT Bombay before and have been teaching at IIT Madras since 14 years, so it is just an extension of the kind of love and passion that I have for how things work at an IIT. Many of my great friends are from IITs and I also met my husband at IIT Madras," Aghalyam told PTI in an interview from Zanzibar.

Aghalyam's appointment comes at a time when several IITs have been making a conscious effort to improve the skewed gender ratio on campus.

"It is a fact that women have been a minority at IITs. Things have improved a bit in the past few years but the problem still exists and it is at all levels - both at students and faculty. We are about 12 per cent women faculty at IIT Madras. The problem is not about gender inclusivity on campuses but about whole perception around technology institutions," she said.

ALSO READ | Now, IIT Delhi to set up campus in Abu Dhabi; courses to begin from January 2024

Engineering colleges in India have come a long way since the 1990s when the ratio of boys and girls enrolment was 10:1.

This ratio decreased to 7:1 in the early 2000s, and to 4:1 in the mid and late 2000s.

It deteriorated further in 2014 when most of the IITs had anywhere between 5 per cent and 12 per cent of girl population on their campuses.

IITs in India admitted 995 girls and 9,883 boys, a year before the supernumerary quota was introduced for females in 2018.

During the admission for the 2022-23 academic session, as many as 3310 girls, or 20 per cent of the total number of seats, have confirmed admissions across the 23 IITs.

The admission for the 2023-24 academic session is still underway.

Asked about whether her appointment was a conscious call by IIT Madras to send out a strong message about gender inclusivity, Aghalayam said, "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 and our effort will also be to have gender balance in the new campus. There are no rigid norms around it right now but in the coming years, we will definitely work towards achieving it."

Aghalayam completed her BTech in Chemical Engineering from IIT Madras in 1995 and 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.

However, she was always sure that she doesn't want to join the industry but pursue academics as her career, she said.

"I come from a family of academicians, my mother, my father, my extended family, everyone is an academician, so it runs in the family. I was sure about pursuing academics as a career since class 8 and it has been a fulfilling journey," she said.

Aghalayam has been the nodal officer for the Gender Advancement for Transforming Institutions (GATI) programme at IIT Madras.

"As part of the programme, I and my colleagues had a chance to look at gender-segregated data in every sphere which helped us examine ourselves. We had put together concrete plans which could make the institute gender equal in terms of both numbers and opportunities. These steps will be part of my mission at the new camps too," she said.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed last week for setting up of the campus of IIT-Madras in Zanzibar, which is a Tanzanian archipelago off the coast of East Africa.

Several IITs have been receiving requests from Middle East and South Asian countries to set up their campuses. IIT-Delhi is setting up a campus in UAE. IIT campuses are also in the pipeline in Egypt, Thailand, Malaysia and the UK.

NEW DELHI: Women are still a minority at Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and despite constant efforts to improve the gender ratio on campuses, it's still a long way to go, according to Preeti Aghalyam, the first woman to become an IIT director. While the first IIT was set up in Kharagpur in 1951, it is after seven decades that a woman has been appointed as head of the prestigious institute. But for Aghalayam, director-in-charge of the new IIT in Zanzibar, it is not just about breaking a glass ceiling but "Once an IITian, always an IITian" theory.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); IIT-Madras, set up in 1959, has become the first IIT in the country to launch an international campus, with the new institute in Tanzania's Zanzibar set to begin its first academic session in October. Forty-nine-year-old Aghalayam has spent the past few months travelling to and from India to Zanzibar and is busy setting things in motion. "For me, the fact that it is the first IIT campus abroad is more important than me being the first woman to head an IIT. It is not just about breaking the glass ceiling for me. It is more of 'Once and IITian, always an IITian' for me." "I studied at IIT Madras. I have worked at IIT Bombay before and have been teaching at IIT Madras since 14 years, so it is just an extension of the kind of love and passion that I have for how things work at an IIT. Many of my great friends are from IITs and I also met my husband at IIT Madras," Aghalyam told PTI in an interview from Zanzibar. Aghalyam's appointment comes at a time when several IITs have been making a conscious effort to improve the skewed gender ratio on campus. "It is a fact that women have been a minority at IITs. Things have improved a bit in the past few years but the problem still exists and it is at all levels - both at students and faculty. We are about 12 per cent women faculty at IIT Madras. The problem is not about gender inclusivity on campuses but about whole perception around technology institutions," she said. ALSO READ | Now, IIT Delhi to set up campus in Abu Dhabi; courses to begin from January 2024 Engineering colleges in India have come a long way since the 1990s when the ratio of boys and girls enrolment was 10:1. This ratio decreased to 7:1 in the early 2000s, and to 4:1 in the mid and late 2000s. It deteriorated further in 2014 when most of the IITs had anywhere between 5 per cent and 12 per cent of girl population on their campuses. IITs in India admitted 995 girls and 9,883 boys, a year before the supernumerary quota was introduced for females in 2018. During the admission for the 2022-23 academic session, as many as 3310 girls, or 20 per cent of the total number of seats, have confirmed admissions across the 23 IITs. The admission for the 2023-24 academic session is still underway. Asked about whether her appointment was a conscious call by IIT Madras to send out a strong message about gender inclusivity, Aghalayam said, "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 and our effort will also be to have gender balance in the new campus. There are no rigid norms around it right now but in the coming years, we will definitely work towards achieving it." Aghalayam completed her BTech in Chemical Engineering from IIT Madras in 1995 and 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. However, she was always sure that she doesn't want to join the industry but pursue academics as her career, she said. "I come from a family of academicians, my mother, my father, my extended family, everyone is an academician, so it runs in the family. I was sure about pursuing academics as a career since class 8 and it has been a fulfilling journey," she said. Aghalayam has been the nodal officer for the Gender Advancement for Transforming Institutions (GATI) programme at IIT Madras. "As part of the programme, I and my colleagues had a chance to look at gender-segregated data in every sphere which helped us examine ourselves. We had put together concrete plans which could make the institute gender equal in terms of both numbers and opportunities. These steps will be part of my mission at the new camps too," she said. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed last week for setting up of the campus of IIT-Madras in Zanzibar, which is a Tanzanian archipelago off the coast of East Africa. Several IITs have been receiving requests from Middle East and South Asian countries to set up their campuses. IIT-Delhi is setting up a campus in UAE. IIT campuses are also in the pipeline in Egypt, Thailand, Malaysia and the UK.
It is often said that governments have no business being in business. Public sector enterprises are seen as destroyers of wealth; therefore, the private sector is left with the task of creating big corporations and innovations and providing jobs. The widely held belief is that a government should, at best, be the facilitator. But if the government invests in a corporation, it should also receive direct gains from it.

Governments globally are investing massive amounts of public money to offer subsidies to companies setting up semiconductor plants. The US has announced a USD 39-bn subsidy for companies setting up semiconductor units in the country, and Germany will offer a USD 11-bn subsidy to Intel for a USD 34-bn plant. The Indian government has announced fiscal support of 50 per cent of the project cost to companies setting up chip plants in the country. In the recently announced Micron plant in Gujarat, Central and state governments will bear 70 per cent of the cost of setting up the plant. Despite contributing a major chunk of initial funding, both will not have any stake in the company.

The shortage of semiconductor fabs and chips in 2020 and 2021 forced governments across the world to secure indigenous sources of supply and reduce dependence on countries like Taiwan and China. To attract investments in the sector, governments in several countries have been doling out subsidies and funds to companies. There is a moral dilemma in all this for the governments. While the governments risk taxpayers money to create the semiconductor ecosystem, they dont gain anything directly if the risk pays off. Like in the venture capital model, governments must ask for a minority stake in the corporations they are funding and exit with some gains if the ventures succeed. There could be other models as well. For instance, the US government has a condition that states that companies receiving more than $150 million in funding should share with the government a portion of profit if it exceeds a certain agreed threshold.

Economist Mariana Mazzucato, in her book The Entrepreneurial State, has rightly argued that risk-taking has been an increasingly collective endeavour  with the state playing a leading role in the open innovation system  while the returns have been unequally distributed. The risk-reward dynamic currently is skewed too much in favour of private funds, and it is time for this to change.

It is often said that governments have no business being in business. Public sector enterprises are seen as destroyers of wealth; therefore, the private sector is left with the task of creating big corporations and innovations and providing jobs. The widely held belief is that a government should, at best, be the facilitator. But if the government invests in a corporation, it should also receive direct gains from it. Governments globally are investing massive amounts of public money to offer subsidies to companies setting up semiconductor plants. The US has announced a USD 39-bn subsidy for companies setting up semiconductor units in the country, and Germany will offer a USD 11-bn subsidy to Intel for a USD 34-bn plant. The Indian government has announced fiscal support of 50 per cent of the project cost to companies setting up chip plants in the country. In the recently announced Micron plant in Gujarat, Central and state governments will bear 70 per cent of the cost of setting up the plant. Despite contributing a major chunk of initial funding, both will not have any stake in the company. The shortage of semiconductor fabs and chips in 2020 and 2021 forced governments across the world to secure indigenous sources of supply and reduce dependence on countries like Taiwan and China. To attract investments in the sector, governments in several countries have been doling out subsidies and funds to companies. There is a moral dilemma in all this for the governments. While the governments risk taxpayers money to create the semiconductor ecosystem, they dont gain anything directly if the risk pays off. Like in the venture capital model, governments must ask for a minority stake in the corporations they are funding and exit with some gains if the ventures succeed. There could be other models as well. For instance, the US government has a condition that states that companies receiving more than $150 million in funding should share with the government a portion of profit if it exceeds a certain agreed threshold.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Economist Mariana Mazzucato, in her book The Entrepreneurial State, has rightly argued that risk-taking has been an increasingly collective endeavour  with the state playing a leading role in the open innovation system  while the returns have been unequally distributed. The risk-reward dynamic currently is skewed too much in favour of private funds, and it is time for this to change.
KOLKATA: After large-scale violence and a sharp drop of 16% in the vote share of the BJP in the just-concluded panchayat elections, Union Home Minister Amit Shah is likely to visit West Bengal next month.

BJPs state president Sukanta Majumdar, who returned to Kolkata on Saturday after meeting the Union Home Minister in Delhi, said, Amit-ji is expected to visit the state in August and the date will depend on his schedule. He is concerned about the prevailing situation in Bengal and he wants peace to return. He wants no death from any party, said Majumdar.

The saffron camps Bengal head said Shah is monitoring the deployment of central forces in Bengal. The central force personnel, who were deployed in the state for the rural polls, will be stationed in Bengal for some more time, he added.

Sources in the Bengal BJP said a list of strife-hit areas would be sent to the office of Shah so that his visit can be added to his Bengal schedule. Shah termed incidents in the rural polls claiming 39 lives as bloodcurdling violence. Even bloodcurdling violence in Bengal could not stop the BJP from putting up a stellar performance in the panchayat election, he had tweeted

KOLKATA: After large-scale violence and a sharp drop of 16% in the vote share of the BJP in the just-concluded panchayat elections, Union Home Minister Amit Shah is likely to visit West Bengal next month. BJPs state president Sukanta Majumdar, who returned to Kolkata on Saturday after meeting the Union Home Minister in Delhi, said, Amit-ji is expected to visit the state in August and the date will depend on his schedule. He is concerned about the prevailing situation in Bengal and he wants peace to return. He wants no death from any party, said Majumdar. The saffron camps Bengal head said Shah is monitoring the deployment of central forces in Bengal. The central force personnel, who were deployed in the state for the rural polls, will be stationed in Bengal for some more time, he added.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Sources in the Bengal BJP said a list of strife-hit areas would be sent to the office of Shah so that his visit can be added to his Bengal schedule. Shah termed incidents in the rural polls claiming 39 lives as bloodcurdling violence. Even bloodcurdling violence in Bengal could not stop the BJP from putting up a stellar performance in the panchayat election, he had tweeted
Extreme heat is beating down on the Western United States, home to just over a third of the nations population. The regions 113 million people are under high temperature warnings. For weeks now, a heatwave has punished dozens of towns in Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California. The heat has broken two global records this year, and from Oregon to Louisiana  a 2,000-mile (3,200-kilometer) stretch of land  it has not let up.

In Phoenix, temperatures have reached or exceeded 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit (37 degrees Celsius) since June 13. Its a hot streak. The situation is getting worse, as the Weather Service has extended forecasts of extreme heat. Meteorologists have warned that highs of 116.6 F (47 C) will be recorded in Phoenix this Saturday and Sunday. All signs indicate that, on Monday, the summer of 2023 will break a 49-year record for days above 104 F (40 C). In 1974, temperatures were above 109.4 F (43 C) for 18 straight days. These figures contrast with March, which was the regions coldest month in three decades; temperatures averaged highs of 71.6 F (22 C) and lows of 50.9 F (10.5 C).

A meteorologist with the U.S. National Weather Service monitors the weather in Phoenix, Arizona, July 12. STAFF (REUTERS)

Its possible that every day in July will be approaching records for the highest temperature on record, Isaac Smith of the National Weather Service (NWS) warned this week. Some experts believe that the situation will continue next week, when a heat dome originating in Texas moves west.

So far in 2023, at least 12 deaths have been linked to high temperatures in Phoenix. Coroners in Maricopa County, where the city is located, are studying another 55 deaths because they believe some may also fall into that category. Half a dozen of the heat fatalities were homeless people, and a third were residents aged 75 or over.

At the moment, Arizonas heat-related death toll is lower than it was in 2022. At this point last year, 17 deaths had been recorded and another 126 were under investigation. Last year caused an emergency, as the city recorded 425 heat-associated deaths, a 25% increase compared to 2021, when there were 339 cases in the state. Such deaths have increased fourfold in a decade. Much of this has to do with the increase in the homeless population in the Phoenix area. This group is one of the most vulnerable to high temperatures.

The increase in deaths has prompted the authorities to try to reduce the number of victims. Authorities in Glendale, a suburb of Phoenix, have opened three new sun shelter centers this year. These sites offer the citys residents  especially the homeless population  the chance to spend the hottest hours of the day indoors and in air-conditioned comfort. The city has also set up some 200 refreshment points, offering water and shade to those who need it. These centers have drawn some criticism, since they close between 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m., leaving many without hydration.

A bird at Tempe Lake, Arizona, on July 12. REBECCA NOBLE (Getty Images via AFP)

Heat hits California

Heat-related deaths are not unique to Arizona. Since April 11, health officials in Las Vegas, Nevada, have attributed seven deaths to heat-related illnesses. Last year, the city recorded 152 deaths linked to high temperatures. The federal government estimates that each year some 700 people die from heat-related causes around the country. But climate change activists call these numbers conservative and put the real figure at 1,300 deaths a year.

After a rainy winter and a cloudy spring, summer has finally arrived in California, which is experiencing chronic drought. Experts predicted that temperatures would begin to rise this Thursday with the arrival of a heatwave, making it the hottest time of the year in the most populous state.

The NWS has warned that rising temperatures will hit central and southern California the hardest. The desert area, where the tourist town of Palm Springs is located, will experience highs of 119.84 F (48.8 C) and average 79.88 F (26.6 C) at night. The extreme heat will affect much of the state, and it has forced some plans to be changed. The State Fair  which started this Friday in the suburbs of the capital, Sacramento  decided to cancel some activities involving horses because of the risk that the high temperatures pose to the animals.

Ernesto Hernandez drinks water while working in a tomato field in Winters, California, on July 13. LOREN ELLIOTT (REUTERS)

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass called extreme heat the citys number one climate threat. A UCLA study claims that mortality rises between 8% and up to 30% during heatwaves in the city. High temperatures, which in previous years have extended into mid-November, increase wildfires and have led to an increase in hospital admissions. Bass has announced four new cooling centers for the population for this weekend. She also recommended using the citys 72 public libraries as a shelter from the sun.

The governor of California, Gavin Newsom, took advantage of this climatic phenomenon and launched a campaign to educate citizens about living with high temperatures. The Democratic politician has earmarked $20 million for citizens to plan for increasingly frequent climatic phenomena, to locate cooling centers in their communities and to learn how to diagnose the symptoms of heat stroke and dehydration. All signs point to the fact that we must now learn to live with extreme temperatures in an increasingly hot world.
Namita Bajpai By

LUCKNOW: With an intent to promote Electric Vehicles (EVs) in Uttar Pradesh, the Yogi government has finally given the go-ahead for the application of subsidies on purchase of electric vehicles through the portal. The customers who have purchased electric vehicles in the state after October 14, 2022, will have to apply on the portal to get a subsidy from the UP government, said the statement issued by the state government here on Saturday.

After applying, the eligible person will receive the subsidy amount in his account after the verification process followed by transport department officials. Soon, this portal will be functional for applicants. The UP government has decided the conditions for implementation of purchase subsidy incentive scheme, a part of UP Electric Vehicle Manufacturing and Mobility Policy, 2022. Based on this, eligible applicants will get the benefit of the policy.

Under the policy, the date of notification of the Purchase Subsidy Promotion Scheme will be effective from October 14, 2022, to October 13, 2023. To get the purchase subsidy incentive, eligible applicants will have to submit the application on the web portal upevsubsidy.in.

Eligible applicants will include those who have purchased and registered electric vehicles in Uttar Pradesh after the date of notification of the policy. Those who do not apply within the prescribed time limit will not get the benefit of the subsidy, said a state governments statement.

LUCKNOW: With an intent to promote Electric Vehicles (EVs) in Uttar Pradesh, the Yogi government has finally given the go-ahead for the application of subsidies on purchase of electric vehicles through the portal. The customers who have purchased electric vehicles in the state after October 14, 2022, will have to apply on the portal to get a subsidy from the UP government, said the statement issued by the state government here on Saturday. After applying, the eligible person will receive the subsidy amount in his account after the verification process followed by transport department officials. Soon, this portal will be functional for applicants. The UP government has decided the conditions for implementation of purchase subsidy incentive scheme, a part of UP Electric Vehicle Manufacturing and Mobility Policy, 2022. Based on this, eligible applicants will get the benefit of the policy. Under the policy, the date of notification of the Purchase Subsidy Promotion Scheme will be effective from October 14, 2022, to October 13, 2023. To get the purchase subsidy incentive, eligible applicants will have to submit the application on the web portal upevsubsidy.in.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Eligible applicants will include those who have purchased and registered electric vehicles in Uttar Pradesh after the date of notification of the policy. Those who do not apply within the prescribed time limit will not get the benefit of the subsidy, said a state governments statement.
Jitendra Choubey By

NEW DELHI: Fisherfolk communities have demanded the rollback of recent notifications to amend the coastal Regulation Zone.

These new amendments compromise the coastal community livelihoods, degrade natural resources, and promote unabated industrial and developmental activity, it is alleged. the national platform for Small Scale Fish Workers (NPSSFW) has rejected the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Amendment notification dated July 3, 2023, saying the amendment is arbitrary and legally untenable.

The CRZ regulation governs industrial and commercial activities close to the coastline to protect the fragile ecosystem near the sea. It requires creating a balance between development and conservation of the coastal environment.

Though the new CRZ notification superseded the CRZ 2011 notification, the government has made some changes to favour the project approved under CRZ 2011 notification and keep it relevant to some extent. But experts see it as a dubious approach in this amendment.

The government brought new notification to supersede 2011 but it bent on to favour projects, which approved under CRZ 2011 notification and kept the previous notification alive in some cases, said NPSSFW convener Pradip Chatterjee. According to NPSSFW, the new notification is intended to provide environmental clearance to projects that can be detrimental to the coastal ecosystem and consequently impact fisher folk communities whose livelihood depends on it.

Experts said the new notification has provisions of transfer and splitting of environment clearances which open ample space for manipulation and misuse. Another controversial provision added to the notification is increasing the environment clearance project validity from seven to eleven years, including construction activities and operation commencement.

The most ominous fallout is that the projects activities would not be monitored whether the implementation of the project is complying with the conditions stipulated in clearance certificates, said Pardip Chatterjee.

NEW DELHI: Fisherfolk communities have demanded the rollback of recent notifications to amend the coastal Regulation Zone. These new amendments compromise the coastal community livelihoods, degrade natural resources, and promote unabated industrial and developmental activity, it is alleged. the national platform for Small Scale Fish Workers (NPSSFW) has rejected the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Amendment notification dated July 3, 2023, saying the amendment is arbitrary and legally untenable. The CRZ regulation governs industrial and commercial activities close to the coastline to protect the fragile ecosystem near the sea. It requires creating a balance between development and conservation of the coastal environment.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Though the new CRZ notification superseded the CRZ 2011 notification, the government has made some changes to favour the project approved under CRZ 2011 notification and keep it relevant to some extent. But experts see it as a dubious approach in this amendment. The government brought new notification to supersede 2011 but it bent on to favour projects, which approved under CRZ 2011 notification and kept the previous notification alive in some cases, said NPSSFW convener Pradip Chatterjee. According to NPSSFW, the new notification is intended to provide environmental clearance to projects that can be detrimental to the coastal ecosystem and consequently impact fisher folk communities whose livelihood depends on it. Experts said the new notification has provisions of transfer and splitting of environment clearances which open ample space for manipulation and misuse. Another controversial provision added to the notification is increasing the environment clearance project validity from seven to eleven years, including construction activities and operation commencement. The most ominous fallout is that the projects activities would not be monitored whether the implementation of the project is complying with the conditions stipulated in clearance certificates, said Pardip Chatterjee.
Anticipating the rise in the number of snake bite cases with the advent of monsoon, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) is soon going to roll out a series of educational materials in Hindi, English and Odiya for medical officers in the community and public health centres.

The educational material for health workers will also be published in other regional languages, especially those of the states where snake bite cases are rampant. The idea to come out with these educational materials was also to assist ASHA (accredited social health activists) workers, Auxiliary nurse Midwives (AnM) and other health workers to identify snake bites early, provide effective first aid, and timely referrals to the nearest healthcare facility.

The material has been jointly prepared by the ICMR-NIRRH (national institute for Research in Reproductive and Child Health), Mumbai. The booklet has pictorial depictions of the commonly found snake species, signs and symptoms of snake bite envenomation. it also outlines the first aid treatment and preventive measures.

We hope this material will help in high-burden areas across India and will prove effective in reducing deaths and disabilities associated with snake bite envenomation, said Dr Rahul K gajbhiye, head of the clinical Research Department ICMR-NIRRH.

As part of our national snakebite implementation project, we developed medical officers flow chart for snake bite treatment. Medical officers in primary health centres and community health centres should be able to treat snake bite cases using the document, gajbhiye said, there was a lack of appropriate informational material on snake bite and training manual for AnMs and ASHA workers.

The educational material would be shared with the health workers as they are the first ones to get in contact with the victims. As most of them are unaware of the treatment, the chances of death increase.

Eight states, namely Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, saw about 70% of snake bite deaths from 2001 to 2014.

India contributes an average of 58,000 deaths annually. India is one of the worlds most affected countries due to the large population engaged in agricultural activities.

It is estimated that india had 1.2 million snakebite deaths (average 58,000/year) from 2000 to 2019, an increase of about 8000 cases per year

Anticipating the rise in the number of snake bite cases with the advent of monsoon, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) is soon going to roll out a series of educational materials in Hindi, English and Odiya for medical officers in the community and public health centres. The educational material for health workers will also be published in other regional languages, especially those of the states where snake bite cases are rampant. The idea to come out with these educational materials was also to assist ASHA (accredited social health activists) workers, Auxiliary nurse Midwives (AnM) and other health workers to identify snake bites early, provide effective first aid, and timely referrals to the nearest healthcare facility. The material has been jointly prepared by the ICMR-NIRRH (national institute for Research in Reproductive and Child Health), Mumbai. The booklet has pictorial depictions of the commonly found snake species, signs and symptoms of snake bite envenomation. it also outlines the first aid treatment and preventive measures.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); We hope this material will help in high-burden areas across India and will prove effective in reducing deaths and disabilities associated with snake bite envenomation, said Dr Rahul K gajbhiye, head of the clinical Research Department ICMR-NIRRH. As part of our national snakebite implementation project, we developed medical officers flow chart for snake bite treatment. Medical officers in primary health centres and community health centres should be able to treat snake bite cases using the document, gajbhiye said, there was a lack of appropriate informational material on snake bite and training manual for AnMs and ASHA workers. The educational material would be shared with the health workers as they are the first ones to get in contact with the victims. As most of them are unaware of the treatment, the chances of death increase. Eight states, namely Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, saw about 70% of snake bite deaths from 2001 to 2014. India contributes an average of 58,000 deaths annually. India is one of the worlds most affected countries due to the large population engaged in agricultural activities. It is estimated that india had 1.2 million snakebite deaths (average 58,000/year) from 2000 to 2019, an increase of about 8000 cases per year
Yeshi Seli By

NEW DELHI: India and the UAE on Saturday agreed to start trading in their local currencies and interlink their payment and messaging systems during Prime Minister Narendra Modis day-long visit to Abu Dhabi. Besides, an IIT Delhi campus will be set up in UAEs capital.

The warmth of the bilateral ties was on full display as UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan welcomed Modi with an embrace at the presidential palace. They also exchanged friendship bands.

The manner in which ties between our countries have expanded, you have made a big contribution to that. Every person in India views you as a true friend, the prime minister told the UAE President.

Trade in local currencies is a very important aspect of India-UAE cooperation. It paves the way for enhanced economic collaboration and will make international financial interactions simpler, Modi said. This was his fifth visit to UAE in the past eight years.

Modis wide-ranging talks with the UAE President, covered trade and investment, fintech, energy, renewables, climate action, higher education and people-to-people ties. The discussions also covered regional and global issues.

India-UAE trade rose to $85 billion in 2022, making the UAE Indias third-largest trading partner for the year 2022-23 and Indias second-largest export destination. India is the UAEs second-largest trading partner. In February 2022, India became the first country with which the UAE signed a CEPA. Bilateral trade has increased by about 15% since the CEPA came into force on May 1, 2022.

The two leaders reaffirmed their joint commitment to fight extremism and terrorism, including cross-border terror, at both the regional and international levels.

Peekay Intermark Limited and YES Bank became the first users for settling their gold transaction in Indian rupees under the newly set up local currency system. Peekay also set up their payment under the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between the two countries.

In all, three Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) were exchanged by both sides. The MoU on establishing a framework for the use of local currencies for transactions between India and the UAE aims to put in place a Local Currency Settlement System (LCSS) to promote the use of INR and AED (Emiriti Dirham) bilaterally, an official statement said.

NEW DELHI: India and the UAE on Saturday agreed to start trading in their local currencies and interlink their payment and messaging systems during Prime Minister Narendra Modis day-long visit to Abu Dhabi. Besides, an IIT Delhi campus will be set up in UAEs capital. The warmth of the bilateral ties was on full display as UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan welcomed Modi with an embrace at the presidential palace. They also exchanged friendship bands. The manner in which ties between our countries have expanded, you have made a big contribution to that. Every person in India views you as a true friend, the prime minister told the UAE President.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Trade in local currencies is a very important aspect of India-UAE cooperation. It paves the way for enhanced economic collaboration and will make international financial interactions simpler, Modi said. This was his fifth visit to UAE in the past eight years. Modis wide-ranging talks with the UAE President, covered trade and investment, fintech, energy, renewables, climate action, higher education and people-to-people ties. The discussions also covered regional and global issues. India-UAE trade rose to $85 billion in 2022, making the UAE Indias third-largest trading partner for the year 2022-23 and Indias second-largest export destination. India is the UAEs second-largest trading partner. In February 2022, India became the first country with which the UAE signed a CEPA. Bilateral trade has increased by about 15% since the CEPA came into force on May 1, 2022. The two leaders reaffirmed their joint commitment to fight extremism and terrorism, including cross-border terror, at both the regional and international levels. Peekay Intermark Limited and YES Bank became the first users for settling their gold transaction in Indian rupees under the newly set up local currency system. Peekay also set up their payment under the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between the two countries. In all, three Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) were exchanged by both sides. The MoU on establishing a framework for the use of local currencies for transactions between India and the UAE aims to put in place a Local Currency Settlement System (LCSS) to promote the use of INR and AED (Emiriti Dirham) bilaterally, an official statement said.
Preetha Nair By

NEW DELHI: A day after the law commission extended the period for submission of suggestions on the Uniform civil code (UCC) by two more weeks, the national commission for Women (NCW) called for the codification of Muslim personal laws and revisiting marriage and divorce and guardianship law.

During the discussion, NCW chairperson Rekha Sharma said, In our pursuit of equality, lets reflect: if a law cannot serve the rights of Hindu, Christian, Sikh, and Buddhist women, can we truly say it is just for Muslim women? the need for codified laws is urgent. We need to work towards a legal framework that ensures equal rights for all, regardless of religion.

The thrust of the meeting was Review of Muslim personal laws and Rights of Muslim Women, according to a statement from NCW. During the consultation, there was an unequivocal need expressed for the codification of Muslim personal law and the need to revisit the marriage and divorce law and guardianship law, NCW said.

NCW further said that the non-codified nature of Muslim personal law poses challenges for Muslim women. the discussions emphasized that the absence of a Uniform civil code has perpetuated inequalities and inconsistencies in our diverse nation, hindering progress towards social harmony, economic growth, and gender justice, it said.

It said that the meeting also discussed matters such as reforming divorce as a judicial process, with exceptions for divorce by mutual consent, and the need to reform inheritance rights based on universal principles governing succession, both testamentary and intestate.

The commission further said that the focus is on ensuring equal opportunities for all, collaborating with legal authorities to establish a framework that supports childrens well-being and promotes gender equality. the principle of natural guardianship should rest jointly with parents as a rule, and custody should be based on the best interests of the child.

The meeting was also attended by Attorney General R Venkataramani, the Additional solicitor general from the Supreme Court, state high courts, Vice-chancellors of renowned law universities and legal luminaries, and civil society organizations.

However, various womens organizations in a joint letter, have written to the law commission on Friday that any reforms towards gender-just family laws must draw upon the best practices from the diverse religious laws and customary practices, harmonized with lived realities.

It said the national Family Health Survey-5 (2019-20) reveals the prevalence of polygamy is 2.1 per cent among Christians, 1.9 per cent among Muslims, 1.3 per cent among Hindus, and 1.6 per cent among other religious groups.

Yet, the focus remains on prohibiting polygamy within Muslim communities, without any apparent intent to secure the rights of women in such polygamous marriages across communities, it added

NEW DELHI: A day after the law commission extended the period for submission of suggestions on the Uniform civil code (UCC) by two more weeks, the national commission for Women (NCW) called for the codification of Muslim personal laws and revisiting marriage and divorce and guardianship law. During the discussion, NCW chairperson Rekha Sharma said, In our pursuit of equality, lets reflect: if a law cannot serve the rights of Hindu, Christian, Sikh, and Buddhist women, can we truly say it is just for Muslim women? the need for codified laws is urgent. We need to work towards a legal framework that ensures equal rights for all, regardless of religion. The thrust of the meeting was Review of Muslim personal laws and Rights of Muslim Women, according to a statement from NCW. During the consultation, there was an unequivocal need expressed for the codification of Muslim personal law and the need to revisit the marriage and divorce law and guardianship law, NCW said.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); NCW further said that the non-codified nature of Muslim personal law poses challenges for Muslim women. the discussions emphasized that the absence of a Uniform civil code has perpetuated inequalities and inconsistencies in our diverse nation, hindering progress towards social harmony, economic growth, and gender justice, it said. It said that the meeting also discussed matters such as reforming divorce as a judicial process, with exceptions for divorce by mutual consent, and the need to reform inheritance rights based on universal principles governing succession, both testamentary and intestate. The commission further said that the focus is on ensuring equal opportunities for all, collaborating with legal authorities to establish a framework that supports childrens well-being and promotes gender equality. the principle of natural guardianship should rest jointly with parents as a rule, and custody should be based on the best interests of the child. The meeting was also attended by Attorney General R Venkataramani, the Additional solicitor general from the Supreme Court, state high courts, Vice-chancellors of renowned law universities and legal luminaries, and civil society organizations. However, various womens organizations in a joint letter, have written to the law commission on Friday that any reforms towards gender-just family laws must draw upon the best practices from the diverse religious laws and customary practices, harmonized with lived realities. It said the national Family Health Survey-5 (2019-20) reveals the prevalence of polygamy is 2.1 per cent among Christians, 1.9 per cent among Muslims, 1.3 per cent among Hindus, and 1.6 per cent among other religious groups. Yet, the focus remains on prohibiting polygamy within Muslim communities, without any apparent intent to secure the rights of women in such polygamous marriages across communities, it added
NEW DELHI: The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has suggested planting trees along highways soon after the machinery and manpower are mobilised to build the roads.

The road authority is desirous of planting indigenous species such as Mahua, Bael (wood apple) and gular, which it said are slowly disappearing, besides bamboo.

According to the agency, avenue plantation starts after completion of the projects and it would take three to four years to finish the task. Therefore, it has recommended starting plantations at the early stage of the road development projects.

It is felt that we may advance the process of plantations with little care and meticulous planning so that by the time the construction of the highway is completed, some tree growth will get established in the avenue plantations on both sides of the national highways. it is advised that after about six months to one year from the appointed date, we may plan for taking up the plantations at least in the last row during the monsoon season, read the guidelines for densification of plantations along national highways, released by the NHAI.

As per the standard operating procedure, three rows of plants are developed. the distance between the rows is three metres and the gap between the plants in the first row is also three metres. the distance between plants in the second and third rows is six metres and 8-12 metres respectively.

In the new guidelines, the spacing between the plants will be three metres irrespective of the row in future plantation drives. The NHAI has decided to plant bamboo along the highways wherever it is possible, particularly on the controlled access highways.

NEW DELHI: The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has suggested planting trees along highways soon after the machinery and manpower are mobilised to build the roads. The road authority is desirous of planting indigenous species such as Mahua, Bael (wood apple) and gular, which it said are slowly disappearing, besides bamboo. According to the agency, avenue plantation starts after completion of the projects and it would take three to four years to finish the task. Therefore, it has recommended starting plantations at the early stage of the road development projects.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); It is felt that we may advance the process of plantations with little care and meticulous planning so that by the time the construction of the highway is completed, some tree growth will get established in the avenue plantations on both sides of the national highways. it is advised that after about six months to one year from the appointed date, we may plan for taking up the plantations at least in the last row during the monsoon season, read the guidelines for densification of plantations along national highways, released by the NHAI. As per the standard operating procedure, three rows of plants are developed. the distance between the rows is three metres and the gap between the plants in the first row is also three metres. the distance between plants in the second and third rows is six metres and 8-12 metres respectively. In the new guidelines, the spacing between the plants will be three metres irrespective of the row in future plantation drives. The NHAI has decided to plant bamboo along the highways wherever it is possible, particularly on the controlled access highways.
Yeshi Seli By

Express News Service

NEW DELHI: It has been over ten and a half months since the eight naval veterans were taken into custody by Qatars interior ministry and with no clarity on when the trial will end.

With their future under serious jeopardy, a few jailed veterans have now filed a mercy petition to the Emir of Qatar to grant them a pardon. The families of the veterans say that the Emir of Qatar is known to be benevolent and they are hopeful of their plea being considered.

"Since most of the veterans are over 60 years of age their health has got adversely impacted due to the trial. There is no clarity on the charges that have been levelled against them  they are based on sections under the Qatari law so little is known about how long the case would last. During the last hearing on June 21, two of the investigators were tried and the next hearing is on July 19th. There is uncertainty over how long this trial will continue. It is for the same reason that some family members have filed a mercy petition and are pleading to the Emir to pardon the veterans," say sources.

The Emir typically issues pardons twice a year, during Ramadan and National Day. No official information regarding those released is usually disclosed unless the pardons involve ex-pats, in which case their consulates sometimes share information about the releases.

Meanwhile, families of the naval veterans are being allowed to meet them once a week and phone calls are also facilitated for those who have families back home and are not able to travel to Doha.

"Every time we have spoken to our kin in Doha over the phone, he has always maintained that they have not done anything unlawful," according to a family member of one of the veterans.

"The case is in what is called 'The Court of First Instance'. Four hearings have taken place. Our Embassy in Qatar is closely following it. The full nature of the charges is not entirely clear. We are ensuring that our nationals are receiving the required legal assistance. The family members continue to receive weekly phone calls and meetings. They are being updated with the proceedings of the case on a regular basis, said Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi recently.

Only time will tell if the tide would turn in favour of these eight naval veterans and if they could actually be repatriated.

NEW DELHI: It has been over ten and a half months since the eight naval veterans were taken into custody by Qatars interior ministry and with no clarity on when the trial will end. With their future under serious jeopardy, a few jailed veterans have now filed a mercy petition to the Emir of Qatar to grant them a pardon. The families of the veterans say that the Emir of Qatar is known to be benevolent and they are hopeful of their plea being considered. "Since most of the veterans are over 60 years of age their health has got adversely impacted due to the trial. There is no clarity on the charges that have been levelled against them  they are based on sections under the Qatari law so little is known about how long the case would last. During the last hearing on June 21, two of the investigators were tried and the next hearing is on July 19th. There is uncertainty over how long this trial will continue. It is for the same reason that some family members have filed a mercy petition and are pleading to the Emir to pardon the veterans," say sources.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The Emir typically issues pardons twice a year, during Ramadan and National Day. No official information regarding those released is usually disclosed unless the pardons involve ex-pats, in which case their consulates sometimes share information about the releases. Meanwhile, families of the naval veterans are being allowed to meet them once a week and phone calls are also facilitated for those who have families back home and are not able to travel to Doha. "Every time we have spoken to our kin in Doha over the phone, he has always maintained that they have not done anything unlawful," according to a family member of one of the veterans. "The case is in what is called 'The Court of First Instance'. Four hearings have taken place. Our Embassy in Qatar is closely following it. The full nature of the charges is not entirely clear. We are ensuring that our nationals are receiving the required legal assistance. The family members continue to receive weekly phone calls and meetings. They are being updated with the proceedings of the case on a regular basis, said Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi recently. Only time will tell if the tide would turn in favour of these eight naval veterans and if they could actually be repatriated.
By PTI

KARACHI: A Pakistani mother of four, who sneaked into India to live with a Hindu man whom she befriended through an online game platform, has been ostracised by her family and neighbours here for daring to defy the societal norms in the conservative Muslim country.

Seema Ghulam Haider and Sachin Meena got in touch while playing PUBG in 2019 and a dramatic love story unfolded between the two living more than 1,300 kms apart, in countries not too friendly to each other.

Seema, 30, and Sachin, 22, live in the Rabupura area of Greater Noida, near Delhi, where he runs a provision store, according to Uttar Pradesh Police.

While Seema was arrested on July 4 for illegally entering India without a visa via Nepal with her four children, all aged below seven years, Sachin was put behind bars for sheltering the illegal immigrants.

While they were released from jail recently, the news from across the border is not so positive.

Seema's neighbours and a relative made it clear that they don't want her back in Pakistan.

"She should just send her children back to Pakistan. She can stay there. Now she is no longer even a Muslim," said the 16-year-old son of the landlord in whose rented home Seema stayed with her children for the last three years before deciding to illegally enter India to be with her Hindu lover.

OPINION | The pitfalls of love across three borders

The story of how this largely uneducated mother of four and the wife of a husband working abroad could have the courage in Pakistan's largely conservative society to abandon everything and enter India illegally to be with a much younger man still fascinates everyone in her neighbourhood.

Her home is in a neighbourhood of Bhittaiabad, a Katchi Abadi in the heart of Gulistan-e-Jauhar and is nothing much to talk about as it is a three-room portion in a building devoid of any paint and located in a narrow lane full of garbage and overflowing sewerages.

The stench of sewage is toxic in the air as one drives down the crowded un-constructed lane and broken road bustling with people and shops on both sides with flies aplenty and a general unsanitary environment.

As soon as one reaches Seema's house, one myth is broken that her husband Ghulam Haider who works in Saudi Arabia bought her the house for Rs 1.2 million.

"No, she was a tenant with us for three years with her children. She lived alone with her children. Her father-in-law lives some distance away from here," Nur Muhammad, the landlord's son, explained.

Seema and Ghulam Haider had eloped to Karachi ten years ago and got married against the wishes of their parents.

"We saw her call a taxi and leave one day with her children and some bags and we thought she was going to her village in Jacobabad. But after nearly a month, when we heard about her escapade on TV channels, we were all shocked," adds Jamal Jakhrani, an elderly man, who was her neighbour.

Efforts to try to talk to women in the narrow lane failed as the area is mostly inhabited by tribal Pashtuns, Sindhis and Seraikis from rural areas and the men don't allow their women to talk to strangers and make them observe Purdah.

But one noticed some women peeking out of their windows and main door inquisitive to know what was happening.

Jamal, who belongs to the same tribe that Seema and Ghulam Haider belong to, believes it is best Seema remains in India now.

"If ever she thinks of coming back, she will not be forgiven by the tribe and secondly her decision to stay with a Hindu has angered everyone now," Jamal said.

Mian Mithoo, a high-profile religious leader in rural Sindh, known for using his seminary to convert Hindu girls and even bandits to Islam, has openly threatened to punish Seema if she returns.

His supporters have also threatened to attack Hindu worship places in Seema's village but SSP Kashmore-Kandhkot, Irfan Samoo, assured Hindus and Sikhs they would be protected.

Samoo, however, is puzzled by the whole case and has found anomalies in Seema's documents and tale.

"Her national identity card says she was born in 2002. So, she should be 21 years of age now and yet she has four children all up to the age of 6 years," he said.

Samoo also said the police have asked Ghulam Haider to return from Saudi Arabia but he has been in touch with them only on video or phone calls.

Samoo is not convinced that a woman with a rural background would have the courage to plan her way to India via Dubai and Kathmandu.

An officer at the police station in Karachi where Seema's father-in-law filed an FIR is also not convinced that it is a simple case.

"The husband also keeps changing his stories to the police. First, he said he bought the house now he says he paid one million rupees to Seema's family to settle a tribal decision when they first fled to Karachi," he said.

"One thing is clear, Seema was frustrated with her husband's absence and being forced to take care of four children by herself as she had no support even from her in-laws," he said.

Malik, a mobile shop owner, remembers how after a year that Seema moved into the neighbourhood, she used to visit his shop to get her balance recharged frequently.

"She always wore a chaddar over her head and had half of her face covered and also didn't talk much so that is what surprised me when I learnt about her decision," Malik said.

Maulvi Samiuddin, a prayer leader in the neighbourhood mosque, was initially not even willing to talk about the incident but then says Seema was 'evil'.

"Husbands should never leave their wives alone for years and parents need to constantly keep a watch on their daughters and sisters or we will have more such incidents in future as well because most people, especially women, are not educated enough in such poor neighbourhoods to understand the consequences of their actions," he said.

"She has brought shame to Muslims and Pakistan. She will sooner or later face punishment for her actions," he said.

KARACHI: A Pakistani mother of four, who sneaked into India to live with a Hindu man whom she befriended through an online game platform, has been ostracised by her family and neighbours here for daring to defy the societal norms in the conservative Muslim country. Seema Ghulam Haider and Sachin Meena got in touch while playing PUBG in 2019 and a dramatic love story unfolded between the two living more than 1,300 kms apart, in countries not too friendly to each other. Seema, 30, and Sachin, 22, live in the Rabupura area of Greater Noida, near Delhi, where he runs a provision store, according to Uttar Pradesh Police.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); While Seema was arrested on July 4 for illegally entering India without a visa via Nepal with her four children, all aged below seven years, Sachin was put behind bars for sheltering the illegal immigrants. While they were released from jail recently, the news from across the border is not so positive. Seema's neighbours and a relative made it clear that they don't want her back in Pakistan. "She should just send her children back to Pakistan. She can stay there. Now she is no longer even a Muslim," said the 16-year-old son of the landlord in whose rented home Seema stayed with her children for the last three years before deciding to illegally enter India to be with her Hindu lover. OPINION | The pitfalls of love across three borders The story of how this largely uneducated mother of four and the wife of a husband working abroad could have the courage in Pakistan's largely conservative society to abandon everything and enter India illegally to be with a much younger man still fascinates everyone in her neighbourhood. Her home is in a neighbourhood of Bhittaiabad, a Katchi Abadi in the heart of Gulistan-e-Jauhar and is nothing much to talk about as it is a three-room portion in a building devoid of any paint and located in a narrow lane full of garbage and overflowing sewerages. The stench of sewage is toxic in the air as one drives down the crowded un-constructed lane and broken road bustling with people and shops on both sides with flies aplenty and a general unsanitary environment. As soon as one reaches Seema's house, one myth is broken that her husband Ghulam Haider who works in Saudi Arabia bought her the house for Rs 1.2 million. "No, she was a tenant with us for three years with her children. She lived alone with her children. Her father-in-law lives some distance away from here," Nur Muhammad, the landlord's son, explained. Seema and Ghulam Haider had eloped to Karachi ten years ago and got married against the wishes of their parents. "We saw her call a taxi and leave one day with her children and some bags and we thought she was going to her village in Jacobabad. But after nearly a month, when we heard about her escapade on TV channels, we were all shocked," adds Jamal Jakhrani, an elderly man, who was her neighbour. Efforts to try to talk to women in the narrow lane failed as the area is mostly inhabited by tribal Pashtuns, Sindhis and Seraikis from rural areas and the men don't allow their women to talk to strangers and make them observe Purdah. But one noticed some women peeking out of their windows and main door inquisitive to know what was happening. Jamal, who belongs to the same tribe that Seema and Ghulam Haider belong to, believes it is best Seema remains in India now. "If ever she thinks of coming back, she will not be forgiven by the tribe and secondly her decision to stay with a Hindu has angered everyone now," Jamal said. Mian Mithoo, a high-profile religious leader in rural Sindh, known for using his seminary to convert Hindu girls and even bandits to Islam, has openly threatened to punish Seema if she returns. His supporters have also threatened to attack Hindu worship places in Seema's village but SSP Kashmore-Kandhkot, Irfan Samoo, assured Hindus and Sikhs they would be protected. Samoo, however, is puzzled by the whole case and has found anomalies in Seema's documents and tale. "Her national identity card says she was born in 2002. So, she should be 21 years of age now and yet she has four children all up to the age of 6 years," he said. Samoo also said the police have asked Ghulam Haider to return from Saudi Arabia but he has been in touch with them only on video or phone calls. Samoo is not convinced that a woman with a rural background would have the courage to plan her way to India via Dubai and Kathmandu. An officer at the police station in Karachi where Seema's father-in-law filed an FIR is also not convinced that it is a simple case. "The husband also keeps changing his stories to the police. First, he said he bought the house now he says he paid one million rupees to Seema's family to settle a tribal decision when they first fled to Karachi," he said. "One thing is clear, Seema was frustrated with her husband's absence and being forced to take care of four children by herself as she had no support even from her in-laws," he said. Malik, a mobile shop owner, remembers how after a year that Seema moved into the neighbourhood, she used to visit his shop to get her balance recharged frequently. "She always wore a chaddar over her head and had half of her face covered and also didn't talk much so that is what surprised me when I learnt about her decision," Malik said. Maulvi Samiuddin, a prayer leader in the neighbourhood mosque, was initially not even willing to talk about the incident but then says Seema was 'evil'. "Husbands should never leave their wives alone for years and parents need to constantly keep a watch on their daughters and sisters or we will have more such incidents in future as well because most people, especially women, are not educated enough in such poor neighbourhoods to understand the consequences of their actions," he said. "She has brought shame to Muslims and Pakistan. She will sooner or later face punishment for her actions," he said.
By PTI

LAHORE: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday announced that his government would hand over the power to a caretaker setup before the completion of its tenure next month, indicating the National Assembly is going to be dissolved days before the completion of its tenure to pace the general election in November.

Just a couple of days ago the premier had announced that his government would complete its tenure which is ending on August 13. However, Shehbaz's change of mind appears to be an advice from his allied Pakistan People's Party (PPP) leader Asif Ali Zardari.

"Zardari in a meeting with PM Shehbaz on Saturday asked him to dissolve the National Assembly a couple of days before the government completes its tenure so that elections can be held in November," a senior PPP leader told PTI on Sunday.

Under the Constitution, if the National Assembly completes its term, polls are to be held within 60 days. But if the assembly is dissolved prematurely, even if by a day, it would give the government 90 days to conduct elections.

The five-year term of the National Assembly commenced under the then-Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government of Imran Khan on August 12, 2018, and is set to be completed under the ruling coalition led by Shehbaz.

Addressing a laptop distribution ceremony in Sialkot, Shehbaz said: "Our government will complete its term next month. We will hopefully go before the tenure's completion and the new interim government will take over."

He further said if his party (PML-N) wins the upcoming general elections, it will change the destiny of the country.

Shehbaz recently said that his government's tenure would come to an end next month and the Election Commission of Pakistan would give the date for elections.

This has been interpreted in many ways, with some political experts suggesting that the mainstream parties and the establishment were not on the 'same page' with regard to the date of polls.

LAHORE: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday announced that his government would hand over the power to a caretaker setup before the completion of its tenure next month, indicating the National Assembly is going to be dissolved days before the completion of its tenure to pace the general election in November. Just a couple of days ago the premier had announced that his government would complete its tenure which is ending on August 13. However, Shehbaz's change of mind appears to be an advice from his allied Pakistan People's Party (PPP) leader Asif Ali Zardari. "Zardari in a meeting with PM Shehbaz on Saturday asked him to dissolve the National Assembly a couple of days before the government completes its tenure so that elections can be held in November," a senior PPP leader told PTI on Sunday.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Under the Constitution, if the National Assembly completes its term, polls are to be held within 60 days. But if the assembly is dissolved prematurely, even if by a day, it would give the government 90 days to conduct elections. The five-year term of the National Assembly commenced under the then-Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government of Imran Khan on August 12, 2018, and is set to be completed under the ruling coalition led by Shehbaz. Addressing a laptop distribution ceremony in Sialkot, Shehbaz said: "Our government will complete its term next month. We will hopefully go before the tenure's completion and the new interim government will take over." He further said if his party (PML-N) wins the upcoming general elections, it will change the destiny of the country. Shehbaz recently said that his government's tenure would come to an end next month and the Election Commission of Pakistan would give the date for elections. This has been interpreted in many ways, with some political experts suggesting that the mainstream parties and the establishment were not on the 'same page' with regard to the date of polls.
By PTI

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Iran have agreed to tackle the common threat of militancy through "intelligence sharing", it was announced on Sunday.

The army issued a statement at the conclusion of the two-day visit by Army chief General Asim Munir to Iran where he met the top Iranian civil and military leaders, including a detailed interaction with Chief of General Staff of Armed Forces, Major General Mohammad Bagheri.

The military commanders on both sides agreed that terrorism was a common threat to the region in general and both countries in particular.

"They vowed to eradicate the menace of terrorism in the border areas through intelligence sharing and effective actions against the terrorists' networks, and explore avenues for enhancing cooperation in the security domain," according to the statement.

Gen Munir also called on President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahain and discussed the significance of Pakistan-Iran bilateral relations for regional peace and stability.

The army chief was presented with the Guard of Honour by a smartly turned-out contingent of Iranian Armed Forces at the Military Headquarters on his arrival.

Gen Munir's maiden visit came after a peace deal brokered by China between Iran and Saudi Arabia.

It is believed that Pakistan will benefit from the good ties between them because despite being a Sunni-majority country, Pakistan has the biggest Shia Muslim population after Iran.

The two countries share a volatile border and militants attack their security forces.

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Iran have agreed to tackle the common threat of militancy through "intelligence sharing", it was announced on Sunday. The army issued a statement at the conclusion of the two-day visit by Army chief General Asim Munir to Iran where he met the top Iranian civil and military leaders, including a detailed interaction with Chief of General Staff of Armed Forces, Major General Mohammad Bagheri. The military commanders on both sides agreed that terrorism was a common threat to the region in general and both countries in particular.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); "They vowed to eradicate the menace of terrorism in the border areas through intelligence sharing and effective actions against the terrorists' networks, and explore avenues for enhancing cooperation in the security domain," according to the statement. Gen Munir also called on President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahain and discussed the significance of Pakistan-Iran bilateral relations for regional peace and stability. The army chief was presented with the Guard of Honour by a smartly turned-out contingent of Iranian Armed Forces at the Military Headquarters on his arrival. Gen Munir's maiden visit came after a peace deal brokered by China between Iran and Saudi Arabia. It is believed that Pakistan will benefit from the good ties between them because despite being a Sunni-majority country, Pakistan has the biggest Shia Muslim population after Iran. The two countries share a volatile border and militants attack their security forces.
KYODO NEWS - Jul 16, 2023 - 10:16 | Japan, All

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will seek to meet the head of Japan's national fisheries federation, possibly in late July, in order to pitch the government's plan of releasing treated radioactive water from the disaster-hit Fukushima nuclear power plant, a government source said Saturday.

The meeting will be part of a series of steps the government is taking to determine when to begin releasing the water into the Pacific Ocean.

So far, the government has only committed to doing so sometime "around the summer," as concerns linger among fishermen about the potentially adverse impact the discharge could have on their businesses.

Masanobu Sakamoto, the head of the national federation of fisheries cooperatives, known as JF Zengyoren, has maintained his group's opposition to the water discharge, deemed an essential step in ongoing cleanup efforts at the Fukushima Daiichi plant, which was hit by a massive earthquake and ensuing tsunami in 2011.

But after meeting with Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura on Friday, Sakamoto said he was able to "acknowledge to some extent the scientific safety" of the plan.

The Japanese government is gearing up to discharge the water after the International Atomic Energy Agency released a comprehensive report in early July which said the plan is "consistent" with international safety standards and assessed the discharge will have a "negligible radiological impact on people and the environment."

Kishida is likely to have come to the conclusion that direct talks with Sakamoto could serve as a chance to extract some concessions from him.

The government and plant operator Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings Inc. made a promise in 2015 to Fukushima's fishermen that they will not dispose of the treated water without securing the "understanding" of all stakeholders.

Kishida is likely to tell Sakamoto that the government will take measures to ensure that the plan is safe, and to address rumors about the safety of fishery products head on. He will also likely emphasize that the governments of the United States and South Korea are not opposed to the plan.

The meeting will not take place before Wednesday, when Kishida is set to return from his trip to the Middle East.

Speculation is growing that water discharge procedures could begin in August, as the prime minister has a busy diplomatic schedule in the following month.

Massive amounts of radioactive water have been generated in the process of cooling melted reactor fuel at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear complex.

The water is treated at a processing facility to remove most of the contaminants, except tritium, and stored in tanks installed on the premises. But the tanks are nearing capacity and it is feared the continuing buildup of water could hamper the reactor decommissioning progress unless it is dumped into the sea.

Related coverage:

Japan assures safety of Fukushima water at ASEAN-plus-3 talks

Fukushima fishermen still oppose water release after IAEA report

Japan strides for Fukushima water release as regulator OKs facilities
India to set up technical office of DRDO at its embassy in Paris, announces India-France joint statement

New Delhi, July 15: Amid increasing cooperation in the defence sector between the two nations, India is setting up a technical office of the DRDO (Defence Research and Development Organisation) at its embassy in Paris, according to the India-France joint statement on Friday.

India to set up technical office of DRDO at its embassy in Paris, announces India-France joint statement

France is one of India's most important allies in building a self-sufficient defence industrial and technological foundation, the statement informed, adding that the co-development and co-production of cutting-edge defence technologies for the benefit of third nations is a joint commitment of India and France.To this end, both countries are also working towards adopting a Roadmap on Defence Industrial Cooperation, it added.It noted further that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's two-day official visit to France, during which he attended the Bastille Day Parade as the Guest of Honour, the two countriesA welcomed the timely delivery of the 36 Rafale ordered by India.In line with their outstanding cooperation in military aviation spanning over five decades, India and France welcome the timely delivery of the 36 Rafale ordered by India. In the future, India and France will extend their ground-breaking defence cooperation in advanced aeronautical technologies by supporting the joint development of a combat aircraft engine. (A roadmap on this project will be prepared between Safran and DRDO before the end of this year), the India-France joint communique read.The two leaders stood in support of Safran Helicopter Engine's (France) industrial cooperation for the motorisation of heavy-lift helicopters under the Indian Multi-Role Helicopter programme. A shareholders' agreement for engine development was reached between Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), India, and Safran Helicopter Engine, France, to facilitate the advancement of the IMRH programme, it added.Moreover, India and France hailed the success of the first Scorpene submarine construction programme (P75 - Kalvari), a model of Make in India and the sharing of naval expertise between companies in the two countries, it added.The two countries also welcomed the MoU between Mazgon Dockyard Ltd and Naval Group for constructing three additional submarines under the P75 programme.India and France are ready to explore more ambitious projects to develop the Indian submarine fleet and its performance, the statement noted further.The agreement between Safran Helicopter Engine and HAL for the Transfer of Technology of Forging and Castings for the Shakti Engine is another illustration of this military-industry relationship built on mutual trust between the two countries, the joint statement said, adding that thisA reflects the French government's dedication to encouraging technology transfer and Make in India.PM Modi attended the Bastille Day Parade on France's National Day, on Friday, as the Guest of Honour at the invitation of President Macron.AThe majestic parade, which featured contingents from the Indian armed forces, took place under bright and sunny skies at Champs-Alysees in Paris.AThis year also marks the 25th anniversary of the strategic partnership between the two countries.ANI15 July 2023

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India-UAE Economic Partnership is a major milestone in history of both nations: UAE Minister for Foreign Trade

Abu Dhabi, July 15: Just hours before Prime Minister Narendra Modi lands in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has said that its economic partnership with India is a significant milestone in the history of both nations.A .

India-UAE Economic Partnership is a major milestone in history of both nations: UAE Minister for Foreign Trade

The UAE's Minister of State for Foreign Trade, Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, said in an interview, that the UAE-India non-oil trade is expected to reach USD 100 billion a year by 2030.AThani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi noted that UAE-India Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) was designed to deliver a new era of growth and opportunity.ACEPA is an agreement signed between India and UAE on February 18, 2022, and came into force on May 1, 2022. The agreement was signed between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.ASpeaking about the success of the CEPA between India and UAE, Dr Thani Al Zeyoudi said, There is little question that the UAE-India Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement will come to be regarded as a significant milestone in the history of both nations.ABy removing or reducing tariffs on 80 per cent of goods, eliminating unnecessary barriers to trade, creating new platforms for investment, and opening government procurement to each other's private sector, the UAE-India CEPA was designed to deliver a new era of growth and opportunity - and, ultimately, boost bilateral non-oil trade beyond USD 100 billion by 2030, he said.AHighlighting the key outcomes of CEPA between India and UAE, the minister said that there is an increase in bilateral trade flows and that the CEPA has added considerable resilience to East-West supply chains and developed a new trade corridor that connects Asia with the Middle East and Africa.ADr Thani Al Zeyoudi further stressed that he has been able to witness the effect of UAE investment in India in various sectors, including retail, industry, food security, technology, healthcare and logistics.AThe increase in bilateral trade flows is obviously one of the most significant outcomes. Beyond numbers, though, it's clear the CEPA has added considerable resilience to East-West supply chains and created a new trade corridor that connects Asia with the Middle East and Africa, the UAE minister said.AWe have seen major logistics providers adding capacity on these routes, including the launch of Maersk's 'Shaheen Express' to link India to the UAE and Saudi Arabia, while SeaLead are offering a new India-Dubai-East-Africa (IDEA) route, he added.AIn addition, we have witnessed significant new investment flows. In India, I have been able to witness the impact of UAE investment in sectors as diverse as retail, industry, food security, technology, healthcare and logistics. I am also very excited about some of our renewable energy projects, including a 300-megawatt hybrid plant in Gujarat, which includes an innovative battery energy storage system, he said.AIn May 2023, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry in an official statement said that during the past one year, CEPA has made a significant impact on India's bilateral trade with UAE and particularly India's exports to the UAE.AThe bilateral trade between India and UAE has increased from USD 72.9 billion in April 2021-March 2022 to USD 84.5 billion in April 2022-March 2023, the ministry said.AUAE Minister Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi further pointed out that UAE has witnessed growth in the export of key products, and said that they expect its trade and investment with India to keep increasing in the coming years and decades.AResponding to a question on how the economic partnership between India and UAE reflected on enhancing the performance of various economic and business sectors, the UAE Minister said, From our side, we've seen real growth in the export of key product sectors such as iron, steel, aluminium and polymers. Data from the Indian side shows that textiles, gems and jewellery, footwear, fruits and nuts and automobiles have all increased.But, again, this is a plan designed to spark holistic, broad-based growth. So, we fully expect trade and investment to keep climbing in the coming years and decades. By opening up new high-growth markets, we will spark a new era of industrial output, create new opportunities for services exports, particularly finance, professional services, tourism and consulting, and catalyze growth across many other sectors, he added.AThani Al Zeyoudi's statement comes ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's arrival in UAE for an official visit after a two-day trip to France.APM Modi has already emplaned from France and is scheduled to land in Abu Dhabi, UAE on Saturday morning (local time). PM Modi will meet UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan during his visit.ABefore his departure from India, PM Modi in a statement released by Prime Minister's Office said, Our two countries are engaged across a wide range of sectors such as trade, investments, energy, food security, science & technology, education, fintech, defence, security, and robust people-to-people ties. Last year, President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed and I agreed on a Roadmap on the future of our partnership, and I look forward to discussing with him how to further deepen our ties.APM Modi noted that UAE will be hosting the 28th Conference of Parties of the UNFCCC (COP28) later this year. PM Modi stated that he looked forward to exchanging views on bolstering global cooperation towards accelerating climate action to facilitate energy transition and implementation of the Paris Agreement.AUAE will be hosting the 28th Conference of Parties of the UNFCCC (COP-28) later this year. I also look forward to exchanging views on strengthening global cooperation towards accelerating climate action to facilitate the energy transition and implementation of the Paris Agreement, PM Modi said in a statement.AI am confident that my visit to UAE will usher in a new chapter in our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, he added.ANI15 July 2023

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Maharashtra: Children risk lives to reach school on overcrowded boats

Bhandara, July 15: Children of Awali village risk their lives daily to reach their school as they cross the Chulband River in overcrowded boats.A .

Maharashtra: Children risk lives to reach school on overcrowded boats

In Awali village, there are schools, but they provide education up to class 4.Hence, from Class 5 onwards, children are compelled to take boats to reach a school located in the Soni Village across the river.AAdditionally, during the monsoon season, the students often miss school as the river gets flooded, making it difficult for them to cross it.AConstruction work on a bridge over the Chulband River started six months back, but it is still not complete.ABhagat Gaike, a primary teacher in Awali village told ANI that there is a movement of around 100-150 people on an everyday basis, and apart from this around 30-40 students cross the river.A"The movement happens through boats and hence risk is involved...The movement of students is reduced during rain. We also face several problems using boats. There is a risk to life as well. Every day there is a movement of around 100-150 people and apart from this around 30-40 students also cross it," said Gaike.AMayur Meshram, a 9th-standard student, said that he feels scared while crossing the river.A"Crossing the river on a boat on a daily basis is risky. I feel scared. My clothes are ruined every day due to the mud but I am forced to do so for the sake of my studies", said Meshram.AHe added, "We need the bridge on an urgent basis so that we can reach our school easily."ANotably, as the monsoon engulfed most parts of the country, the Indian Meteorological Department, on Friday, issued a yellow alert for Mumbai, Thane, Palghar, Raigarh, and other districts of Maharashtra.AThe weather department also released a warning till July 18.ANI15 July 2023

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Study suggests how bodys immune response offer alternative approach to neuropathic pain therapies

Cambridge (Massachusetts), July 15: A group of researchers is looking into natural killer (NK) cells as an alternative treatment for neuropathic pain in the midst of a global opioid epidemic.

Study suggests how body's immune response offer alternative approach to neuropathic pain therapies

The researchers compile data for the role of NK cells in pain in an opinion piece that was published on June 27 in the journal Trends in Neurosciences. They highlight their capacity to prune the damaged nerve cells that may be the source of pain. In order to develop a realistic pain medicine that is both effective and secure, they exhort scientists to investigate the basic factors behind NK cell activity.Chronic shooting or stabbing pain, often known as neuropathic pain, is a condition. It is brought on by nerve injury, which can happen following chemotherapy, as a result of trauma, or as a result of a condition like diabetes."The prevalence of neuropathic pain is unfortunately only likely to increase over time," says co-author Alexander Davies, a neurophysiologist with the Neural Injury Group at Oxford University. "As we get better at treating diseases like cancer, we have survivors who may be left with pain from either the cancer treatment or the surgery that was used to remove it."While therapies such as opioids and antidepressants are currently used to address these pain symptoms, they do not treat the underlying cause of pain and have their own risks and side effects. The authors point out that 564,000 people overdosed on opioids in the United States between 1999 and 2020."The main approach is silencing the neurons," Davies says. "While we certainly need anesthetics to deal with pain in the short term, if we use them in the long term, we can become addicted to the sensation of removing pain, which is in itself pleasurable."Alongside T cells and B cells, NK cells are a type of white blood cell called lymphocytes. Their existing role in the body includes attacking tumors or viruses. NK cells increase activity during acute pain. However, they appear to decline in frequency or potency in people who experience chronic pain. Not having a fully functional NK cell population may therefore prevent people from resolving neuropathic pain in the long term."We first became interested in this idea when one of my colleagues found a T cell response after nerve injury, but I noticed that NK cells were also involved," says senior author Seog Bae Oh, a neurobiologist at Seoul National University. "NK cells are typically explored in the context of cancer, but I thought it was worth looking at them in pain as well."NK cells may resolve pain because they are involved in the process by which neurons are pruned. Injury and disease can cause neurons to become incorrectly wired or to stop functioning as intended, resulting in pain symptoms. Introducing NK cells could help to remove these anomalies. Experiments in mice have shown that if a neuron is in distress, its axon, the segment responsible for transmitting messages, displays a molecule called the RAE1 stress ligand. This could alert the NK cells to their need for pruning. A similar ligand, belonging to what is known as the ULBP family, is also seen in sensory neurons in humans with pain.Conversely, NK cells may have a negative effect in the central nervous system, such as the brain and spinal cord, where neurons cannot regenerate so easily if they are removed. Their impact here should be considered carefully in the design of any possible therapies.The authors stress that our understanding of the processes by which NK cells support pain relief is still limited, and their potential viability as a future treatment depends on further research. Both Davies and Oh are continuing to explore their NK cells in pain. Oh and his colleagues are investigating the therapeutic potential of NK cells in a range of preclinical models as well as their activity in patients who experience pain, while Davies is working to identify the cellular targets of NK cells following nerve injury."We need to have a better mechanistic understanding of how NK cells work and what they can target before we can develop realistic therapies, and we need to minimize their side effects," Davies says. "However, the more prongs we have to treat neuropathic pain, the more likely we are ultimately to be able to address it."ANI15 July 2023

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Reverse 28% GST, segregate skill gaming from gambling: 127 gaming leaders to govt

New Delhi, July 15: Around 127 online gaming companies and organisations have written an open letter to the government, urging it to.

Reverse 28% GST, segregate skill gaming from gambling: 127 gaming leaders to govt

The letter, which has participants like Baazi Games, Dangal Games, Gameskraft Technologies, Nazara Technologies and WinZO Games PrivateLimited, said this move would potentially have devastating implications (including shut down of businesses) for MSMEs and startups that may nothave the capital reserves to withstand such a sharp tax increase."Further, this decision will encourage illegal offshore gambling operators, drive Indian users to them and ultimately lead to neither optimal taxcollection nor the growth of the legitimate industry," the letter read.Online skill gaming, with a $20 billion enterprise valuation, $2.5 billion in revenue, and $1 billion in annual taxes, is set to grow by 30 per centCAGR to reach $5 billion in revenue by 2025.The total number of Indian online gamers grew from 360 million in 2020 to over 420 million in 2023.India's gaming industry attracted FDI of about $500 million between 2014 and 2020, and over $1.5 billion between January 2021 - June 2022."The industry currently supports lakhs of direct and indirect jobs, and these numbers will grow substantially in the next few years," said theletter.The Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council this week announced that bets placed in online gaming, horse racing, and casinos will now levy a 28 percent tax at full value.According to Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, the decision was not aimed at killing the industry but was made considering the "moral question"that it cannot be taxed at par with essential commodities.According to the industry stakeholders, the recommendation of the GST council to levy GST on the full deposit poses a significant threat to theindustry's success, gaming innovation and continuity.The letter mentioned eight core points that underscore the adverse impact of such taxation like hampering the Digital India Initiative; implications forstartups and MSMEs; impact on jobs and livelihoods; impact on consumer affordability; offshore gambling sites to be the unintended beneficiaries;stifling foreign investment and global competitiveness; losing opportunity to become a global gaming leader and impact on exports and long-term netrevenue loss for the exchequer."For the sector to survive, this tax should be levied on the platform fee/gross gaming revenue that is earned by the industry. This is similar toany other technology service platform, where only the revenue that platforms earn are considered for the purpose of levy of GST," according tothe letter.--IANSna/ukIANS16 July 2023

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Demi Lovato to go rockn roll on new re-recorded compilation album Revamped

Los Angeles, July 15: Pop-star Demi Lovato is now ready to rock'n roll with a new re-recorded compilation LP titled 'Revamped' featuring rock versions of her biggest hits.

Demi Lovato to go rock'n roll on new re-recorded compilation album 'Revamped'

The album is slated to come out on September 15.As reported by Billboard, the announcement comes in the wake of the release of her new version of her 2017 album 'Sorry Not Sorry' where she went all rock with her songs on the LP, which also featured the legendary hard rock band Guns N' Roses guitarist Slash.The album will feature re-imagined guitar-heavy versions of 'Sorry' as well as the previously released 'Heart Attack (Rock Version)' along with 'Cool For the Summer (Rock Version)'.The news was accompanied by a short teaser video connected to the new revamped rock versions of 'Sorry' and the nearly-metal version of 'Summer' along with a heavy version of 'Heart Attack'.Taking to social media, accompanying the video Lovato captioned "Breathing new life into the songs that played such a huge role in my career has allowed me to feel so much closer to my music than ever before. I can't wait for you to hear 'REVAMPED'."Speaking in a press release, Lovato said "With 'Revamped', I wanted to pay homage to the songs that resonated the most with fans and played a big role in my career by breathing an exciting new life into them.""Creating this project has been incredibly fun and allowed me to express my passion for rock music in a new way, and I feel so much closer to my older music because of it. I can't wait for everyone to hear more," she added.The singer began performing the guitar driven rock versions of her songs featured on 'Revamped' on her 2022 tour in support of the 'Holy Fvck' album, marking a return to her early pop-rock and pop-punk roots.IANS16 July 2023

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Magnificent 7 stocks make up close to $ 11 trillion in market capitalisation, half of US GDP

New Delhi, July 15: Seven stocks, making up close to $ 11tn in market capitalisation today, contributed 73 per cent of returns of the S&P 500 in the first half of 2023, a crescendo to FANG, FAANMG and tech leadership, BofA Global Research said in a report.

'Magnificent 7' stocks make up close to $ 11 trillion in market capitalisation, half of US GDP

These top seven stocks, Amazon, Apple, Alphabet, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, Nvidia and Tesla, are called as the 'Magnificent Seven'.The Top 7 stocks drove 73 per cent of S&P 500 gains in 1H, each up 90 per cent on average in 1H.These have a market capitalisation of roughly equivalent to half of US GDP.They gained $4tn+ YTD, more than GDP growth of Japan (3rd largest economy).Apple's market capitalisation exceeds that of the entire Russell 2000 index.Tech, Media, and Telecom (TMT) companies have contributed 30 per cent of S&P 500's earnings growth since 2010.TMT represents 8 per cent of US GDP, 17 per cent of S&P EPS and 40 per cent of S&P mkt cap, the report said.On the reasons for market concentration, the report said ultra-low rates and a lackluster economy in the 2010s created the perfect petri dish for idiosyncratic, secular growth and disruptive themes to flourish.This coupled with market-capitalisation weighted index inflows favoring larger companies, global Tech Wars driving big spend, fiscal support and lighter regulation, a pandemic hastening more tech adoption, e-commerce, cloud, today's nascency-to-maturity theme AI, and Tech IPOs incubating longer and debuting as hypergrowth mega caps."Irrational exuberance, top-heavy markets and speculative bubbles of one sort or another trace back to the 1700s' tulips. In our career, the Nifty 50 of the mid-90s morphed into the Internet Bubble of the late '90s, the Housing Bubble of the 2000s, cryptocurrency of the 2010s," the report said.Bubbles fueled by excessive leverage, democratisation of markets and rampant speculation tend to end badly. But real disruptors can do well. The 2000 Tech Bubble saw consolidation and relative losses for about a decade but 1 in 5 IPOS of the late 1990s survived and are today's blue chips.Sanjeev Sharma can be reached at sanjeev.s@ians.inIANS16 July 2023

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Oakridgers Journey of Discovery in the Swiss Alps: Global Expedition

NewsVoir, Hyderabad, July 15: Students atA Oakridge International School BachupallyA recently went on an exciting journey to explore the Swiss Alps, led by Nord Anglia Education experts. The expedition aimed to inspire personal growth, build resilience, and encourage global citizenship through challenging activities.

Oakridgers' Journey of Discovery in the Swiss Alps: Global Expedition

Oakridge students and the expedition team met at Geneva International Airport before heading to Les Plans Sur Bex. They bonded and prepared for the adventure ahead, participating in various activities that challenged them and broadened their horizons.The expedition included an exciting 4-day trek around Tour de Grand Muveran. They were in awe of the stunning alpine panorama, guided by experienced mentors through challenging terrains until they reached Gite de l'alpage de Dorbon.Beyond physical endurance, the expedition encompassed cultural exploration, allowing the students to gain valuable insights into the rich Swiss heritage.A Students had the opportunity to explore the charming town of Gruyeres, which is known for its delectable Swiss chocolate and the renowned Gruyere cheese.A The students fully engaged themselves in the art of cheese-making and and marvelled at the captivating Chateau de Gruyeres, a testament to the region's fascinating history.The expedition was a transformative and invaluable experience for our students. They had the opportunity to challenge themselves physically and mentally, discovering newfound strengths and skills. They have become more resilient and globally aware through cultural immersion and navigating daily challenges, expressedA Manas, PE Coordinator at Oakridge International School Bachupally.Principal Baljeet OberoiA praised the students for their outstanding accomplishments, expressing admiration, We are immensely proud of our students for undertaking this life-changing expedition. Their dedication, perseverance, and willingness to step out of their comfort zones have resulted in an experience that will forever inspire and shape their lives. We thank our parents for believing in us and sending their kids to the expedition. We also sincerely thank the Nord Anglia team and the entire Oakridge community for making this journey a resounding success.To know more about, visitA www.oakridge.in/bachupally. AOakridge International School, Bachupally, is part of Nord Anglia Education, the world's leading premium school organization. Oakridge students are connected to a community of 76 international schools spread across 31 countries, with access to rich resources, support, and global opportunities that enhance the schools' already excellent teaching and learning experience. Oakridge BachupallyaSchool was recently ranked in the Top 3 International Schools in Hyderabad and No.1 in Northwest Zone in Times School Rankings 2021. The school also ranked among the Top 3 International Day Schools in Hyderabad and Telangana by Education World India School Rankings 21-22.(Disclaimer The above press release has been provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)ANI16 July 2023

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Aster DM Healthcare Successfully Rebrands Ramesh Hospitals to Aster Ramesh Hospitals, Affirms Strong Performance and Focus on India Amidst Ongoing Expansion

NewsVoir, Mumbai, July 15: Aster DM Healthcare, one of the largest integrated healthcare service providers in the GCC and India, has successfully re-branded the 4 Ramesh Hospitals in Andhra Pradesh. Of the 4 hospitals, 2 are located in Vijaywada, one in Guntur and one in Ongole. All the hospitals will now be known as Aster Ramesh Hospitals.

Aster DM Healthcare Successfully Rebrands Ramesh Hospitals to Aster Ramesh Hospitals, Affirms Strong Performance and Focus on India Amidst Ongoing Expansion

With this, Aster has added 7101A beds to its capacity taking the total bed capacity to 4317 in India only. In the previous fiscal year, Aster had entered into a hospital operation and management agreement (O&M) with G. Madegowda Super Specialty Hospital in Mandya, Karnataka and Narayanadri Hospitals and Research Institute (NHRI) in Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh. In India, Aster currently has 17 operational hospitals, over 250 pharmacies, 2 Reference labs, 20 Satellite labs, 2 CPEC, and 176 FPEC and continues to enhance its presence and impact in the Indian healthcare landscape.Dr. Azad Moopen, Founder Chairman and Managing Director of Aster DM Healthcare, said,A Our association with Ramesh Hospitals has flourished over the years, with Ramesh Hospitals emerging as the most renowned and trusted healthcare provider in the region, sought after by patients from near and far alike. With the rebranding of the group to Aster Ramesh Hospital, we are all set to become South India's leading healthcare brand for top-notch clinical expertise, high-end medical care and patient service excellence.He also added, The rebranding is in alignment with our commitment to our India business and growth plans to make quality healthcare easily affordable and accessible for our patients in India.A Dr. Moopen's family has recently increased their stake in Aster DM Healthcare by 4% to currently stand at 41.88% through an additional investment of Rs. 460 crores.Dr. Nitish Shetty, Chief Executive Officer, Aster DM Healthcare India,A said, Through our re-branding efforts, we aim to establish Aster Ramesh Hospitals as a premier multi-specialty healthcare institution in Andhra Pradesh and South India. By fostering the exchange of ideas and leveraging medical expertise, we are dedicated to providing patients with comprehensive and satisfying health outcomes. Together, we strive to redefine healthcare excellence and create a brighter future for all.Speaking about the association with Aster DM Healthcare,A Dr. Ramesh Babu, MD, Aster Ramesh HospitalsA said,A The association with Aster DM Healthcare has been a transformative collaboration for Ramesh Hospitals. This partnership has not only brought the synergy of a multinational player to Andhra Pradesh but also enabled Ramesh Hospitals to leverage the expertise of highly acclaimed doctors within the Aster Network particularly in robotic surgeries, Heart & Liver transplantations, advanced oncology services, adoption of best clinical, scientific practices.A Aster's support has been instrumental in obtaining international quality accreditations like JCI and expanding medical tourism in Andhra Pradesh. By incorporating the Aster brand name into our hospitals, Aster Ramesh Hospitals aims to further strengthen its own brand and solidify its position as a leading provider of exceptional healthcare services.Aster DM Healthcare's hospitals across India are operating at near-full capacity, demonstrating the trust and confidence that patients place in their exceptional healthcare services. In response to the increasing demand, Aster is actively working on expanding its capacity by adding a significant number of beds in the coming months. Construction has already commenced for the new 200-bed Aster Hospital in Kasaragod, while an additional 100 beds will be incorporated into Aster Hospital Kannur and Aster Medcity, Kochi. The Phase-II construction of the 275-bed Aster Whitfield Hospital in Bengaluru is nearing completion, and progress on the 550-bed hospital in Trivandrum is well underway.Aster DM Healthcare is unwavering in its commitment to providing world-class healthcare services in India and remains focused on its ongoing projects. As a leading healthcare provider, Aster continues to invest in the growth of the Indian healthcare sector, while prioritizing patient care, technological innovation, and sustainable solutions.1Aster Ramesh Viajywada Main branch - 160 bedsA Aster Ramesh Vijaywada MG Road - 50 bedsA Aster Ramesh Guntur - 350 bedsA Aster Ramesh Ongole - 150 bedsAster DM Healthcare Limited is one of the largest private healthcare service providers operating in GCC and in India. With an inherent emphasis on clinical excellence, we are one of the few entities in the world with a strong presence across primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary healthcare through our 32 hospitals, 127 clinics, 521 pharmacies (Including 257 Pharmacies in India operated by Alfaone Retail Pharmacies Private Limited under brand license from Aster), and 205 labs and patient experience centers in seven countries, including India. We have 30,330 dedicated staff including 3,863 doctors and 8,975 nurses across the geographies that we are present in, delivering a simple yet strong promise to our different stakeholders We'll treat you well. We reach out to all economic segments in the GCC states through our differentiated healthcare services across the Aster, Medcare and Access brands.(Disclaimer The above press release has been provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)ANI16 July 2023

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Tel Aviv, July 15: Several fires broke out around Israel as the country entered an extended heatwave.

Due to the conditions, Israel's national fire commissioner issued an order prohibiting people from lighting any fires in public places from 10 am Thursday morning, July 13, through Midnight Monday night, July 17.
KYODO NEWS - Jul 16, 2023 - 14:07 | Japan, All

A man died and more than 2,000 people evacuated as heavy rain pounded Akita Prefecture in northeastern Japan over the weekend, local authorities said Sunday.

The Japan Meteorological Agency continued to call for vigilance, warning of landslides, rising river levels and flooding in the region.

The man was found in a flooded car on farmland in Gojome at around 7:10 a.m. and later confirmed dead, rescue workers said.

Around 2,100 people were staying at 77 evacuation centers in the city of Akita as of 10 a.m., according to the city.

The Ground Self-Defense Force was called in to provide disaster relief after landslides hampered water supply in some areas, the prefectural government said.

Related coverage:

Rain slams Japan's northeast, 4 injured in Akita Prefecture

Death toll from torrential rain in southwestern Japan rises to 7

5 dead, 3 unaccounted for as heavy rain hits southwestern Japan
Banquet dinner hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron held many special gestures for PM Modi

Paris, July 15: The banquet dinner hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron for Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his two-day visit to France, held many special gestures for the latter.

Banquet dinner hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron held many special gestures for PM Modi

The banquet was organised at Paris' Louvre Museum on July 14, the French National Day. The Prime Minister was welcomed by French President Emmanuel Macron and French First Lady Brigitte Macron.The last time a banquet was held at Louvre was for Queen Elizabeth in 1953. The museum which generally gets a lot of footfalls on this day, was closed off for hosting the banquet.Even the thread for the menu had the Indian tricolor, marking a deviation from the protocol which is to useA French colours only. The menu for the banquet was a specially curated vegetarian one.PM Modi, in his address at the banquet dinner, said the world has faced many ups and downs in the past 25 years but the friendship between India and France continued to grow deeper. He said the two nations have prepared a roadmap for the next 25 years and that their partnership is a force for global good.AAddressing the banquet dinner hosted by Macron, PM Modi said, In the past 25 years, the world faced many ups and downs and challenging times, but the friendship between France and India continued to grow deeper. We have made a long and important journey on the basis of Mutual understanding, trust and respect. Due to the personal efforts of President Macron, our ties are moving forward in every direction.We have prepared a roadmap for the next 25 years. We are contributing not only to the welfare of both countries but also to world peace and security. Our partnership is a force for global good, PM Modi added.APM Modi on Saturday called his two-day France visit memorable, adding that it became more special as he participated in the Bastille Day celebrations. He also expressed gratitude to the French President and the people of France for their warmth and hospitality.ATaking to his official Twitter handle,A PM ModiA stated, ThisA FranceA visit was a memorable one. It was made even more special because I got the opportunity to take part in theA Bastille DayA celebrations. Seeing the Indian contingent get a pride of place in the parade was wonderful. I am grateful to President @EmmanuelMacron and the French people for the exceptional warmth and hospitality. May friendship continue to soar!APM Modi, on his visit to France, participated in the Bastille Day celebrations as the Guest of Honour, on Friday. He visited France at the invitation ofA French President Emmanuel Macron.To mark the 25th anniversary of the India-FranceA Strategic Partnership, 241-member tri-service Indian armed forces contingent led by a military band also participated in the Parade, the PMO said in a statement. The Indian Army contingent was led by the Punjab Regiment, along with the Rajputana Rifles Regiment.ADuring the parade, the Indian military contingent marched to the patriotic tune of 'Sare Jahan Se Accha,' while a squadron ofA Indian Air ForceA (IAF) Rafale fighters participated in a flypast over theA Champs-ElyseesA at theA Bastille Day Parade.Rafale Jets of theA Indian Air Force, from the 101 Squadron from Hashimara, formed a part of the fly past during the parade.A giant in world history, with a decisive role to play in the future, a strategic partner, a friend. We are proud to welcome India as our guest of honour at the 14 July parade, President Macron said.PM ModiA and PresidentA Emmanuel MacronA met notable dignitaries during theA Bastille Day ParadeA in Paris.July 14 marks the anniversary of the storming of the Bastille prison on July 14, 1789, during the French Revolution, which symbolizes the democratic values of 'Liberty, Equality and Fraternity', the central theme of both the Indian and French constitutions.The PM during his France visit also held a meeting with French President Macron and reviewed the full range of ties.PM ModiA and Macron also met top CEOs to discuss ways to diversify business cooperation.ATaking to his official Twitter handle,A PM ModiA stated, The talks with my friend, President @EmmanuelMacron were very productive. We reviewed the full range of India-FranceA relations. I am particularly enthusiastic about deepening cooperation in futuristic sectors like green hydrogen, renewable energy, AI, semiconductors and more.APM Modi was during his visit conferred with France's highest honour, the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour by French President Emmanuel Macron.ANI16 July 2023

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After Moon, its going to be mission to Sun for ISRO

Chennai, July 15: The year 2023 could be described as a year of interplanetary mission for the country's space agency -- Indian Space Research Organisation .

After Moon, it's going to be mission to Sun for ISRO

After its mission to the Moon that was launched on Friday, it is going to be mission to the Sun for the Indian space agency.ISRO will be sending up its Aditya L1, a coronagraphy satellite, on a Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV)/rocket to study the solar atmosphere towards the end of August.According to ISRO, the spacecraft will be placed into a halo orbit around the first Lagrange point, L1, of the Sun-Earth system.The satellite around the L1 point has the major advantage of continuouslyviewing the Sun without occultation/eclipses.The Adiyta L1 mission is slated to happen couple of days after ISRO attempts to land on the lunar soil its lander that is being carried by the Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft.On Friday, ISRO put into orbit the Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft using its heavy lift rocket LVM3.According to ISRO Chairman S. Somanath, the Moon lander is expected to land on the lunar soil on the evening of August 23 at 5.47 p.m.The European Space Agency (ESA) has said that it would lend tracking support for ISRO's next interplanetary mission -- Sun Mission Aditya L1, the solar observatory slated for launch towards the end of August.Aditya-L1 is named after the Hindu Sun god and the spacecraft's future home, and L1 -- the first Lagrange point of the Earth-Sun system. It will study a number of properties, such as the dynamics and origins of coronal mass ejections, the ESA added.The ESA support to Aditya-L1 will include tracking activities from Kourou and Goonhilly. It will also include support from the largest of ESA's antennas -- the three 35-metre deep space antennas, located in New Norcia, Australia; Malargue, Argentina; and Cebreros, Spain.These stations are used by ESA every day to communicate with its expanding fleet of Solar System explorers such as Juice, BepiColombo and Solar Orbiter, and space observatories such as Gaia and the recently-launched Euclid. They also support missions flown by ESA's institutional and commercial partners."ESA Flight Dynamics experts were also involved in the support to Aditya-L1. ESA assisted with the validation of the 'orbit determination' software that ISRO will use for the Aditya-L1 mission. This software is vital for calculating exactly where your spacecraft is in order to communicate with it and calibrate its scientific instruments," the ESA said.ISRO has also slated a flight to Venus -- Venus Mission -- in 2024. Whether it is going to be a 'Night Flight to Venus' will be known later.IANS16 July 2023

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Modi arrives in Delhi after completing France, UAE visits

New Delhi, July 15: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday arrived in the national capital after completing his visit to France and UAE.

Modi arrives in Delhi after completing France, UAE visits

Modi had embarked on two-day visit to France on July 13 and was received by his French counterpart Elisabeth Borne on his arrival in Paris.Modi was also conferred with the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour, France's highest award on Thursday by French president Emmanuel Macron.He is the first Indian prime minister to receive the honour.During his visit, the Prime Minister on Friday participated in the Bastille Day parade in Paris as the guest of honour.Among the list of outcomes of Modi's visit to France includes the roadmap of India-France Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific.Another outcome was the issuance of five-year validity short-stay Schengen Visa for Indians who are degree holders from French educational institutions (Masters and above).In view of the uptick in defence industrial collaborations between the two countries, India is setting up a Technical Office of the DRDO at its embassy in Paris.India and France will also constructively engage other like-minded countries to strengthen the negotiations for an international legally binding instrument to end plastic pollution, pursuant to the historic UNEA 5.2 resolution among several others.After completing his France visit, Modi also visited UAE on Saturday and was warmly welcomed at the airport by UAE's Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. This was Modi's fifth visit to the UAE.Modi held talks with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and the two countries signed several MoUs.Before leaving for India from his one day visit to UAE, Modi said "Concluding a productive UAE visit. Our nations are working together on so many issues aimed at making our planet better. I thank HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan for the warm hospitality."IANS16 July 2023

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Andhra Pradesh to become hub of manufacturing toys, says Minister Gudivada Amarnath

Vishakhapatnam, July 15: Andhra Pradesh Minister Gudivada Amarnath has expressed confidence that the state will soon become a hub for manufacturing toys. A .

Andhra Pradesh to become hub of manufacturing toys, says Minister Gudivada Amarnath

The Minister on Friday launched Pals Plush oys global e-commerce at Gajuwaka Green City A to enable the export of toys to cities New York, San Francisco and other US cities.Amarnath, who is IT and Industries Minister, said that he came to know the importance of the toy market in the country when he recently visited Sri City.He said about Rs 8000 crore worth of toys are sold in the country every year. A Noting that China is at the top in the manufacturer of toys, he said Andhra Pradesh will soon become the toys export hub.AHe said aboutA 30,000 to 40,000 people would get employment opportunities in a proposed toy park in Andhra Pradesh.AHe informed that proposals have been received for setting up a toy park in the state and he will discuss the matter with Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy and take appropriate action.President of Pals Plush Private India Limited Ajay Sinha said that they set up a unit in Sri City near Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh in 2011-12 with the determination to make highest quality and risk-free toys in the market.Sinha said they are making toys suitable for exports in Sri City. AHe also talked about his long experience in manufacturing toys including through a unit in Noida in Uttar Pradesh.Sinha said he had a "passion for manufacturing toys" and has been part of the sector for about 30 years.AANI16 July 2023

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National Commission for Women holds consultation on rights of Muslim women in New Delhi

New Delhi, July 15: The National Commission for Women (NCW) on Saturday conducted a final consultation on the Rights of Muslim Women in order to review the Muslim Personal Law in New Delhi.

National Commission for Women holds consultation on rights of Muslim women in New Delhi

The final consultation meeting was attended by Attorney General of India R Venkataramani, the Additional solicitor general from the supreme court, state high courts, Vice Chancellors of renowned law universities and legal luminaries and civil society organisations."During the consultation, there was an unequivocal need expressed for the codification of Muslim Personal Law and the need to revisit the marriage and divorce law and guardianship law," an official statement said.AAttorney General of India, Venkataramani contributed to the discussion by highlighting the need for reforming and strengthening the institution of marriage."He emphasised the following points equal regard for men and women, equal status for men and women, equality of processes ensuring dignity in entering and exiting marital relationships irrespective of religion," an official statement said.AOn the occasion, NCW chairperson Rekha Sharma said, "In our pursuit of equality, let's reflect if a law cannot serve the rights of Hindu, Christian, Sikh, and Buddhist women, can we truly say it is just for Muslim women? The need for codified laws is urgent. We need to work towards a legal framework that ensures equal rights for all, regardless of religion."The event was moderated by Meenakshi Negi, the Member Secretary of NCW.NCW said that the focus is on ensuring equal opportunities for all, collaborating with legal authorities to establish a framework that supports children's well-being and promotes gender equality. The principle of natural guardianship should rest jointly with parents as a rule, and custody should be based on the best interests of the child."The discussions also emphasised that absence of a Uniform Civil Code has perpetuated inequalities and inconsistencies in our diverse nation, hindering progress towards social harmony, economic growth, and gender justice. The non-codified nature of Muslim personal law poses challenges for Muslim women, arising to misinterpretation," the official statement said.ANCW said that during the consultation other points were also discussed included reforming divorce as a judicial process, with exceptions for divorce by mutual consent, and the need to reform inheritance rights based on universal principles governing succession, both testamentary and intestate.ANI16 July 2023

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aNeed for strengthening institution of marriage in countrya: Attorney General

New Delhi, July 15: Attorney General R Venkatramani on Saturday said that there is a need for reforming and strengthening the institution of marriage in the country.

aNeed for strengthening institution of marriage in countrya: Attorney General

Venkatramani was addressing an event organised by the National Commission for Women (NCW).The Commission conducted a Final Consultation on the Rights of Muslim Women, focusing on reviewing Muslim Personal Law.The programme was attended by Attorney General R Venkatramani and several Additional Solicitor Generals and several Vice Chancellors of renowned law universities and legal luminaries and civil society organisations.The Attorney General of India Venkataramani contributed to the discussion by highlighting the need for reforming and strengthening the institution of marriage.The points emphasised by him include- equal regard for men and women, equal status for men and women, and equality of processes ensuring dignity in entering and exiting marital relationships irrespective of religion.During the consultation, there was an unequivocal need expressed for the codification of Muslim Personal Law. The need to revisit the marriage and divorce law and guardianship law.NCW Chairperson, Rekha Sharma, remarked that the need for codified laws is urgent."In our pursuit of equality, let's reflect if a law cannot serve the rights of Hindu, Christian, Sikh, and Buddhist women, can we truly say it is just for Muslim women? The need for codified laws is urgent. We need to work towards a legal framework that ensures equal rights for all, regardless of religion," Rekha Sharma said.The event was moderated by Meenakshi Negi, the Member Secretary of NCW.The focus is on ensuring equal opportunities for all, collaborating with legal authorities to establish a framework that supports children's well-being and promotes gender equality. The principle of natural guardianship should rest jointly with parents as a rule, and custody should be based on the best interests of the child, stated a statement issued by NCW.The discussions also emphasised that the absence of a Uniform Civil Code has perpetuated inequalities and inconsistencies in our diverse nation, hindering progress towards social harmony, economic growth, and gender justice. The non-codified nature of Muslim personal law poses challenges for Muslim women, arising from misinterpretation.Other points discussed included reforming divorce as a judicial process, with exceptions for divorce by mutual consent, and the need to reform inheritance rights based on universal principles governing succession, both testamentary and intestate, stated NCW communication.With just a month until the 77th Independence Day, the National Commission for Women urges deep reflection on the essence of freedom, which lies in every Indian woman's life of dignity, respect, and equal agency alongside her male counterpart, stated NCW.ANI16 July 2023

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Ektaa Kapoor excited to work with Shanaya Kapoor in pan-India film Vrushabha

Mumbai, July 15: Producer Ektaa Kapoor on Saturday welcomed new member Sanjay Kapoor's daughter Shanaya Kapoor in her upcoming pan-India film 'Vrushabha' starring Mohanlal.

Ektaa Kapoor excited to work with Shanaya Kapoor in pan-India film 'Vrushabha'

Taking to Instagram, Ektaa shared the pictures of Shanaya and Mohanlal along with a lengthy note. Ahttps//www.instagram.com/p/Cut6RKBMiTZ/?Sharing the pictures, she wrote, It was for years I wanted to work withA @sanjaykapoor2500A n now his beautiful talented daughter is starting her pan india journey with this SPECTACLEA @shanayakapoor02. It's OfficialA #ShanayaKapoorA is all set to make her PAN INDIA debut in Legendary StarA #Mohanlal's epic action entertainerA #VRUSHABHAA . Get ready for an epic saga filled with drama, action, and a whole lot of glamour! With her talent and beauty, Shanaya is sure to steal the show as she plays a pivotal role bridging the gap between past and present timelines starring oppositeA #RoshanMeka.As soon as Ektaa uploaded the post, fans and industry members chimed in the comment section.Kapoor sisters- Janhvi and Khushi reacted with heart emojis.Shanaya's dad and actor Sanjay Kapoor wrote, Jai Siddhivinayak. I am so Excited. @ektarkapoor love you.Even before the release of her debut film 'Bedhadak', Shanaya signed her new movie.Apart from her, the film will also star, Zahrah S Khan and Telugu actor Roshann Meka in the lead roles.Few days ago, Ektaa made the announcement about her new film 'Vrushabha' in collaboration with actor Mohanlal.Taking to Instagram, Ektaa shared a picture featuring herself, her father-actor Jeetendra and Mohanlal.Sharing the picture, she wrote, Posing with d legend n the genius !!!! JAI MATA DI so excited to b working with the actor par excellence @mohanlal. Balaji Telefilms partners with Connekkt Media and AVS Studios for VRUSHABHA - a Pan India bilingual Telugu Malayalam Film starring megastar Mohanlal. High on emotions and VFX, the film is an Epic Action Entertainer transcending generations. Touted to be one of the biggest films of 2024, VRUSHABHA, directed by Nanda Kishore, goes on floors later this month and will be released simultaneously in Malayalam, Telugu, Kannada, Tamil and Hindi.The film is an epic action entertainer transcending generations.'Vrushabha', directed by Nanda Kishore, goes on floors later this month and will be released simultaneously in Malayalam, Telugu, Kannada, Tamil and Hindi.The film is slated to release in 2024.Shanaya will be making her acting debut with Karan Johar's 'Bedhadak', in which she will be seen essaying the role of Nimrit.The film also stars Lakshya and Gurfateh Pirzada in lead roles.In March 2022, she announced the news on her Instagram handle and unveiled her first look from the film.The official release date of the film is still awaited.ANI16 July 2023

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PM Modis UAE visit concludes with inking of MoUs for financial payments, education

Abu Dhabi, July 15: Prime Minister Narendra Modi concluded his three-day visit to France and the United Arab Emirates.

PM Modi's UAE visit concludes with inking of MoUs for financial payments, education

In the last leg of the visit, Prime Minister arrived in Abu Dhabi to a warm welcome by Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi. This reflects the depth of the bilateral relations between the two countries.Prime Minister also inspected the ceremonial Guard of Honour with Sheikh Mohamed at the magnificent Qasr Al Watan. The two leaders held wide-ranging talks on bilateral and global issues. The India-UAE relationship is rapidly transforming in line with the Vision Statement unveiled by the two leaders during their virtual summit in February 2022.During the visit, the two leaders witnessed the exchange of three historic Memoranda of Understanding (MoU).A MoU was exchanged for the establishment of a campus of IIT Delhi in Abu Dhabi between the Indian Ministry of Education, UAE's Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge and the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi (IIT).This is the first ever IIT to be set up in the Middle East/North Africa (MENA) region. This is a landmark project which reflects the vision of the leaders and it will be a tribute to the people of India and the UAE who are the backbone of the historic relationship.The idea behind setting up of IIT campus in Abu Dhabi is to bring the academic excellence of IITs to the wide international community. The campus aspires to be a truly global campus which will also benefit the large Indian diaspora in the UAE and the region.This marks a significant stride in our educational internationalisation and is testament to India's innovation prowess. Education is the bond that unites us, it's the spark that ignites innovation. Together, we will leverage this power for mutual prosperity and global betterment, Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted.MoU on Local Currency Settlement (LCS) System was signed between the Reserve Bank of India and the Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates enabling the use of Indian Rupee (INR) and UAE Dirham (AED) for Cross-border Transactions.This is India's first-ever LCS and is expected to reduce transaction costs and time and increase reliance on local currencies. This will further add to the preferential terms accruing from Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).The traders can choose the payment currency based on mutual agreement. Further, the surplus balance in local currencies can be used for investing in local currency assets like corporate bonds, Government securities, equity markets etc. LCS is likely to have a transformational impact not only on the bilateral economic relationship but in larger economic engagements across the world.Under the newly implemented LCS system, the first transaction involved the sale of 25 Kg of Gold from a leading UAE gold exporter invoiced at approx 12.84 crore Rupees. Gold, gems and jewellery are the second most traded commodities between India and the UAE. Last year, the two-way trade between India and UAE was worth USD 20 billion which was about 42 per cent of total non-oil trade between the two countries.The two leaders also witnessed the exchange of MoU on bilateral cooperation on interlinking the payment and messaging systems between the Reserve Bank of India and the Central Bank of the UAE.The MoU will facilitate the integration Unified Payments Interface (UPI) of India and the Instant Payments Platform (IPP) of the UAE. It will also facilitate interlinking card switches of the two countries - RuPay switch and UAESWITCH to facilitate the mutual acceptance of their domestic cards and processing of card transactions directly without relying on any other network.Very importantly, the Central Bank of the UAE could benefit from the Structured Financial Messaging System (SFMS) developed by RBI. These linkages are also expected to further facilitate the LCS technique in the long run by providing an alternate payment-switching system.ANI16 July 2023

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SDRF play crucial role in Kanwar Yatra, Char Dham Yatra

Dehradun, July 15: Amid the havoc created due to monsoon fury in Uttarakhand and worsening weather conditions, the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) is efficiently executing the operation of Kanwar Yatra, the challenging Char Dham Yatra and Hemkund Yatra in the state.

SDRF play crucial role in Kanwar Yatra, Char Dham Yatra

SDRF Commandant Manikant Mishra said, "The state's SDRF i.e. State Disaster Response Force is leading on every front on the lines of a skilled guard. Due to the heavy rains in the state in the last few days, the general public is facing many difficult situations. Somewhere people are trapped in their submerged homes due to waterlogging, and somewhere they are falling victim to accidents due to landslides and overflowing rivers."He informed that after the onset of monsoon in the state, SDRF teams were deployed in 42 sensitive places of the state.SDRF Commandant Mishra said, "These teams are equipped with modern rescue equipment. SDRF flood rescue teams rescued 250 people through rescue operations due to water-logging in many villages of Laksar and Khanpur areas of Haridwar district due to heavy rains and SDRF paramedics team provided necessary treatment to unwell people in the village. And medicines were also given. Rescues have been done for pregnant women enabled by the jawans keeping their personal safety in mind which has also been appreciated by the general public."Many people stranded in Dakpathar, Rishikesh, Kotdwar etc. due to rain were also rescued by SDRF. The rescue operations were efficiently carried out by the flood rescue team using rafts, ducky boats, and remotely operated life buoys. The SDRF jawans have also been awarded a cash prize of Rs 1500 for handling the challenge.Commandant Mishra also added, "In the month of July till now, 284 people were rescued through 36 rescue operations by SDRF in the entire state while 9 dead bodies were also recovered. Apart from this, searching for 6 missing people is being done continuously."Along with monsoon rescue, he said commendable work is also being done by SDRF in handling the Kanwar Mela, Char Dham Yatra, Hemkund Sahib Yatra, Kailash Yatra, etc."So far 45 kanwariyas have been successfully rescued from drowning by SDRF in Kanwar fair. In the Char Dham Yatra, 150 people have been rescued, while the dead bodies of 9 people who died during the yatra have been handed over to the district police," he added.Thousands of pilgrims stranded in travel routes obstructed by avalanches and landslides were also made to cross the landslide zone/danger zone safely.ANI16 July 2023

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India, UAE will keep working closely to further global good: PM Modi

New Delhi, July 16: After concluding his official visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday shared a video bearing highlights from his trip to the Gulf nation and said both the countries will continue to work closely for global good.

India, UAE will keep working closely to further global good: PM Modi

Sharing a video on Twitter on Sunday that featured him attending important events in the UAE, PM Modi, wrote, India and UAE will keep working closely to further global good! Here are highlights from yesterday...On July 15, Prime Minister Modi reached Delhi Airport after successfully completing his France and UAE visit.Concluding a productiveA UAEA visit. Our nations are working together on so many issues aimed at making our planet better. I thank HHA Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al NahyanA for the warm hospitality, tweetedA PM Modi.Before PM Modi departed for New Delhi, Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra said the trip was short but very significant, a landmark in the partnership between India and the UAE.Briefing about PM Modi's UAE visit, Kwatra said PM Modi held extensive discussions with the President of the UAE, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.He also termed the visit to be of tremendous strategic significance as it showcased the deep bond of friendship and trust between the Prime Minister Modi and the UAE President.India and the UAE signed the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) last year and since the signing of that important strategic landmark agreement between the two countries, the trade and economic partnership and engagement has grown significantly between the two countries, Kwatra said.He noted that visit this time puts together another pillar of that strategic economic partnership in a couple of important ways.The Foreign Secretary also said thatA PM Modi's visit will perhaps open-up new pathways for India to look at structuring similar partnership with other countries both in the region and beyond.PM Modi arrived in UAE on Saturday and was received by Sheikh Khaled Bin Mohamed Bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi at the airport.On his arrival at the Abu Dhabi airport, PM Modi also received a ceremonial welcome.During his visit, the Prime Minister met the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Khaled bin Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Further, COP28 President-designate, Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber also called on PM Modi and the two leaders held discussions on wide-ranging issues.PM Modi assured India's support to UAE for its COP28 Presidency as well.APrime Minister Modi was accorded a grand welcome in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), where the iconic Burj Khalifa was illuminated with the colours of the Indian flag.As a part of the light-and-sound show at the Burj on Friday, setting the stage for PM Modi's arrival to the Gulf nation on an official visit, the skyscraper also showcased his picture, followed by a text that read, Welcome Honorable Prime Minister Narendra Modi.AThe PM emplaned for the UAE on Saturday after concluding his two-day visit to France.APM ModiA called his France visit memorable, adding that it was more remarkable as he participated in the Bastille Day celebrations. He also expressed gratitude to French President Emmanuel Macron and the people of France for their warmth and hospitality.ADuring his two-day official visit to France, PM Modi participated in the Bastille Day celebrations as the Guest of Honour, on Friday. He visited France at the invitation of French President Emmanuel Macron.ATo mark the 25th anniversary of the India-France Strategic Partnership, a 241-member tri-service Indian armed forces contingent led by a military band also participated in the Parade, the PMO said in a statement.ANI16 July 2023

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KYODO NEWS - Jul 16, 2023 - 14:42 | All, World

A fully autonomous elevated railway system operated by a Hitachi Ltd. unit partially opened in Honolulu late last month, raising hopes it will enhance convenience for tourists and ease the area's notorious traffic congestion.

The initial 17-kilometer portion of the Skyline, the first driverless commuter railway in the United States and first passenger rail service on Hawaii's Oahu island in 76 years, connects nine stations from East Kapolei to Aloha Stadium.

The railway will eventually be expanded to connect 19 stations, including Daniel K. Inoue International Airport in Honolulu and Civic Center station near the Hawaii state capital's city council building, according to Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation.

The opening of the whole line, which will allow passengers to travel around 30 km in roughly 40 minutes, is set for 2031, it said.

The island had been without a full-fledged passenger train service since 1947.

"Today's opening of Skyline begins truly a transformative era for Hawaii," Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi said at the opening ceremony held on June 30, calling the launch a "historic occasion."

Hitachi said group firm Hitachi Rail Ltd.'s role in the project includes manufacturing passenger train cars, designing and constructing fire detection, alarm and other subsystems, as well as operating and maintaining the system.

It has delivered a fleet of 20 four-car trains, each with a capacity of up to 800 passengers, the Tokyo-based conglomerate said. The trains feature ample space for bicycles, surfboards and baby strollers, it said.

"I came to Hawaii looking forward to riding the first train," said Ryo Nishimura, an engineer from Tokyo. "I am paying attention to safety as a Japanese company has manufactured it."

There is also a plan to extend the line to connect to Ala Moana Center, a popular shopping center for tourists, but the outlook remains uncertain due to financial and other challenges, HART said.
Key takeaways of PM Modis France, UAE visit

New Delhi, July 15: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday concluded his productive visit to France and United Arab Emirates (UAE), one which is defined by transformative outcomes.

Key takeaways of PM Modi's France, UAE visit

He landed in India after concluding two short but very important two-nation tours which begun on July 13.A visit defined by transformative outcomes. PM @narendramodi emplanes for New Delhi after wrapping up a successful visit toA UAE, tweeted official spokesperson of Ministry of External Affairs Arindam Bagchi.PM Modi arrived in Abu Dhabi on Saturday morning and held talks with President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.PM Modi's UAE visit was marked by key agreements including opening a new IIT Delhi campus in Abu Dhabi. The two countries also pledged to promote using local currencies (Rupee and Dirham) for cross-border transactions and to interlink payment systems.During the visit, the PM Modi and UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan witnessed the exchange of three historic Memoranda of Understanding (MoU).An MoU on Local Currency Settlement (LCS) System was signed between theA Reserve Bank of IndiaA and the Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates enabling the use of Indian Rupee (INR) andA UAEA Dirham (AED) for Cross-border Transactions.This is a very important aspect of India-UAEA cooperation. It paves the way for enhanced economic collaboration and will make international financial interactions simpler, tweetedA PM Modi.Another MoU was exchanged for the establishment of a campus ofA IIT DelhiA in Abu Dhabi between the Indian Ministry of Education,A UAE's Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge and the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi (IIT).This is the first ever IIT to be set up in the Middle East/North Africa (MENA) region. This is a landmark project which reflects the vision of the leaders and it will be a tribute to the people of India and theA UAEA who are the backbone of the historic relationship.This marks a significant stride in our educational internationalisation and is testament to India's innovation prowess. Education is the bond that unites us, it's the spark that ignites innovation. Together, we will leverage this power for mutual prosperity and global betterment,A Prime Minister Narendra ModiA tweeted.A third MoU was exchanged on bilateral cooperation on interlinking the payment and messaging systems between theA Reserve Bank of IndiaA and the Central Bank of theA UAE.The MoU will facilitate the integration Unified Payments Interface (UPI) of India and the Instant Payments Platform (IPP) of theA UAE. It will also facilitate interlinking card switches of the two countries - RuPay switch andA UAESWITCH to facilitate the mutual acceptance of their domestic cards and processing of card transactions directly without relying on any other network.Prior to visitingA UAE,A PM ModiA was in Paris, where, in a historic moment, French President Emmanuel Macron bestowed the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It is the highest French honour in military or civilian orders. With this, PM Modi becomes the first Indian PM to receive this honour.PM ModiA was hosted by French PresidentA Emmanuel MacronA andA France's first lady Brigitte Macron at the Elysee Palace.Prime Minister Narendra Modi also attended Bastille Day Parade as Guest of Honour at the invitation of French President Macron on the Champs-Alysees.The key highlights of PM Modi's France visit were the MoUs signed to enhance further cooperation in defence sector which included the first Scorpene submarine construction programme (P75 - Kalvari), a model of 'Make-in- India' and the sharing of naval expertise between companies in the two countries.In A joint statement issued following the PM Modi's delegation level talks with President Macron, both leaders applauded the collaboration between naval companies from both countries in sharing their expertise.The leaders also expressed their satisfaction with the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between Mazgon Dockyard Ltd and Naval Group, which outlines the construction of three additional submarines as part of the P75 program.The Scorpene Submarines are extremely potent platforms, they have advanced stealth features and are also equipped with both long-range guided torpedoes as well as anti-ship missiles. These submarines have a state-of-the-art SONAR suite and sensor suite permitting outstanding operational capabilities.With a view to adopting a Roadmap on Defence Industrial Cooperation between the two countries, India is setting up a Technical Office of the DRDO at its Embassy in Paris.Highlighting the French commitment to the Make-in-India initiative, PM Modi and President Macron also commended the defense industrial partnerships rooted in mutual trust, including the contract between Safran Helicopter Engine and HAL for the Transfer of Technology of Forging and Castings for the Shakti Engine.In line with their outstanding cooperation in military aviation spanning over five decades, India and France welcome the timely delivery of the 36 Rafale ordered by India.In a significant decision, India and France on Friday decided to extend their ground-breaking defence cooperation in advanced aeronautical technologies by supporting the joint development of a combat aircraft engine.A roadmap on this project will be prepared between French company Safran and Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) before the end of this year.They also decided to support industrial cooperation for motorization of heavy-lift helicopters under the Indian Multi Role Helicopter programme with Safran Helicopter Engine.ANI16 July 2023

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J&K: Baramulla Police launches major crackdown on Narco terror, 318 held

Baramulla, July 16: Baramulla police on Sunday said it conducted a massive crackdown on narco terror at various locations from Uri along the Line of Control (LoC) to other parts of Baramulla district over the last few days, arresting 318 drug peddlers while recovering huge consigments of drugs.

J&K: Baramulla Police launches major crackdown on Narco terror, 318 held

Pakistan-based handlers, as part of a conspiracy, are using smugglers to push narcotics into Jammu and Kashmir get the younger generation addicted to drugs,A as per police.Speaking to ANI, Senior Superintendent of Police, Baramulla, Amod Ashok Nagpuri said, "Baramulla is a border district and cross-border drugs and weapons smuggling is big challenge for us. Over the lastA six months, Baramulla police registered 187 FIRs under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.""Around 284 drug peddlers were arrested and another 34 notorious peddlers booked under PIT NDPS/PSA. In total, 318 drug peddlers have been arrested, so far, and the law is taking its own course. The focus of this drive is to crack down on the drug culture in Baramulla district and our endeavour is to makeA Baramulla a drug-free district," the SSP said.The SSP said Pakistan's aim to push drugs all over the Kashmir Valley, adding that "we will not allow nefarious designs of Pakistan t succeed. Recently, Baramulla police froze the properties, ncluding a house and a car, of notorious drug dealers".The SSP Baramulla informed further that dedicated teams have been deployed to gather crucial intelligence on the drug mafia operating in the region.Acknowledging the urgent need to address rising drug-related crimes in the region, the SSP outlined the proactive measures being taken by the Baramulla Police to combat the drug trade in the district."We encourage citizens to come forward with any information they have with regard to drug peddlers or suspicious activities related to the peddling of narcotics. Together, we can build a safer and drug-free environment for our residents," the SSP said."The dedicated teams deployed by the Baramulla Police comprise experienced officers and undercover agents, whose job is to discreetly gather intelligence on the drug mafia's operations, networks, and supply chains. By infiltrating these criminal networks, the teams aim to gather solid evidence that will assist in effective crackdowns and bring the culprits to justice. Local residents have lauded this step taken by the Baramulla police," the SSP added.ANI16 July 2023

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India-Mongolia joint military exercise Nomadic Elephant 2023 to commence in Ulaanbaatar

New Delhi, July 16: An Indian Army contingent comprising 43 personnel left for Mongolia on Sunday to take part in a joint military exercise a 'Nomadic Elephant 2023' a between India and Mongolia, the Ministry of Defence stated in a release.

India-Mongolia joint military exercise 'Nomadic Elephant 2023' to commence in Ulaanbaatar

This will be the 15th edition of the exercise between the two nations. The exercise is scheduled at Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia from July 17-31.The exercise a 'Nomadic Elephant' a is an annual training event between India and Mongolia, which is conducted alternatively in the two countries, the release stated, adding that the last edition of the joint drills was held at Special Forces Training School, Bakloh, in October 2019.Soldiers of the Mongolian Armed Forces Unit 084 and Indian Army jawans from the Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry Regiment will be participating in the exercise.This exercise aims to build positive military relations, exchange best practices, and develop inter-operability, bonhomie, camaraderie and friendship between the two armies, the release from the Ministry of Defence (MoD) stated, adding that the exercise will primarily focus on counter-terrorism operations in mountainous terrain under a United Nations mandate.The scope of this exercise involves a Platoon level Field Training Exercise (FTX).During the exercise, Indian and Mongolian troops will engage in various training activities designed to enhance their skills and capabilities. These activities include endurance training, reflex firing, room intervention, small team tactics and rock craft training. Soldiers from both sides will learn from each other's operational experience, the MoD release informed further.India and Mongolia have a shared commitment to regional security and cooperation.Exercise 'Nomadic Elephant 2023' will be yet another significant milestone in the defence cooperation between the Indian Army and Mongolian Army, which will further foster bilateral relations between the two nations, the release added.ANI16 July 2023

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284 people rescued so far from 42 disaster-affected places in Uttarakhand: SDRF

Dehradun, July 16: Amid the devastating rainfall in Uttarakhand, State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) has rescued over 280 people from 42 affected places across the state so far this month, a senior officer said on Sunday.

284 people rescued so far from 42 disaster-affected places in Uttarakhand: SDRF

"SDRF has been deployed in 42 disaster-affected places in Uttarakhand. SDRF has conducted 36 rescue operations so far this month, in which 284 people have been rescued and shifted to safe places", said Manikant Mishra SDRF commandant.ANotably, heavy rainfall in the state has led to several landslides that have blocked roads and highways, stranding scores of people.On Sunday itself, Balwakot-Dharchula road in Dharchula near the border area of the Pithoragarh district was blocked following a landslide, a senior official said.While the Yamunotri Highway number 123 was blocked on Saturday due to falling debris near Chami village in Pauri Tehsil of Garhwal District. As per officials, dozens of vehicles were left stuck on both sides of the road.The flood rescue operation by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) continues in the flood-affected areas of Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Uttarakhand, and Delhi, where torrential rainfall and the release of water from barrages have resulted in unprecedented floods, an official statement said on late Friday evening.58 NDRF teams have been deployed in flood-affected states for rescue and relief work in coordination with State administrations. 16 teams of the NDRF have been deployed in Delhi, 11 teams in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand each, and 10 teams in Punjab and Haryana. AANI16 July 2023

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James Cameron slams offensive rumours of making any film on Titan submersible tragedy

Los Angeles, July 16: 'Titanic' director James Cameron has shot down the 'offensive' rumours that he will be making a film on the recent Titan submersible tragedy which was reported by several U.K publishers.

James Cameron slams 'offensive' rumours of making any film on Titan submersible tragedy

As reported by 'The Hollywood Reporter', The Sun had first reported the anonymously sourced story which claimed that the Oscar-winning director was in talks with a major streamer to helm a movie or series about the ill-fated final Titan voyage, which claimed the lives of five people.Taking to Twitter, the 'Avatar' director said, "I don't respond to offensive rumors in the media usually, but I need to now. I'm NOT in talks about an OceanGate film, nor will I ever be."The source at The Sun had earlier reported, "The Titan disaster is already being looked at as a major series for one of the world's biggest streamers - and James is first choice for director. It is a subject close to his heart. He told the story of the Titanic so compassionately it feels like a natural step for him to take this on."The source added, "Retracing the steps of those on board the Titan is a massive undertaking but there would be a lot of time, money and resources dedicated to it."The story further claimed that Cameron was trying to line up A-listers such as Matt Damon for the series.According to 'THR', After the tragedy unfolded last month, Cameron a an expert in deep-sea submersibles a gave several interviews articulating what went wrong from a technical standpoint.Cameron told ABC News at the time, "Many people in the community were concerned about this sub and even wrote letters to the company saying that what they were doing was too experimental and what they were doing needed to be certified".He added, "I'm struck by the similarity of the Titanic disaster itself, where the captain was repeatedly warned about ice ahead of his ship, and yet, he steamed at full speed into an ice field on a moonless night and many died as a result. It's a very similar tragedy at the exact same site. It's astonishing and really quite surreal".Cameron noted that as a submersible designer himself he understands the technicalities and many of the challenges required to make such a craft work safely and successfully. He also defended the practice of deep-sea diving as a whole.In addition, Cameron had told BBC News that he knew the entire venture was doomed from the start after the news of its disappearance first broke loose.IANS16 July 2023

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KYODO NEWS - Jul 16, 2023 - 20:34 | World, All

Taiwan Vice President Lai Ching-te, a key candidate in next year's presidential election, pledged on Sunday to foster unity in Taiwanese society and show the island's determination to cherish democracy and peace.

Speaking at the Democratic Progressive Party's national congress in Taipei ahead of the next presidential and island-wide legislative elections to be held in January 2024, Lai, who is also the ruling party's chairman, said Taiwan is not a part of China.

Taiwan and mainland China have been governed separately since they split due to a civil war in 1949. Beijing considers Taipei a renegade province that must be reunified with the mainland, even if it requires the use of force.

"Taiwan is once again at the crossroads of democracy and autocracy," said Lai, who has long been regarded as "deep green" -- shorthand for more pro-independence leanings within the DPP.

Lai urged support from his party comrades as he vowed to lead Taiwan forward by using "peace as a beacon and democracy as a compass to ride the waves of complex geopolitics."

Throwing in her support for Lai, Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen, who is ineligible to seek a third consecutive term, said the government is committed to maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait while promising to maintain the status quo.

Two other key candidates in the upcoming presidential election -- New Taipei Mayor Hou Yu-ih of the main opposition Nationalist Party and former Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je, chairman of the opposition Taiwan People's Party -- attended a housing justice and judicial reform rally on Ketagalan Boulevard in front of the Presidential Office.

Related coverage:

Widow of slain ex-Japan PM Abe to visit Taiwan next week

Japan, China agree on communication, but at odds on Fukushima water

"3rd force" party's Taiwan presidential candidate Ko shakes up polls
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Don Follis blogs at

donfollis.com. He has just released a memoir, Leaving the Land of Numb  A Journey to Connect My Emotional And Spiritual Lives. It can be purchased on Amazon. Respond to Dons column at donscolumn@gmail.com.
The South Korean car manufacturer Hyundai has created a buzz in auto industry after launching Exter in India at the starting price of Rs 5.99 (ex-showroom). The micro-SUV has been witnessing an overwhelming response from customers, a big thanks to aggressive design and advanced features under a decent price range. Now, a matter of concern is that the four-wheelers waiting period has been stretched by 12 weeks.

The waiting period situation took a complete U" turn right after the official launch and received an unexpected number of bookings. As per the detail shared by the company, currently, Tata Punchs direct rival is getting an average of 1,800 pre-booking per day. The company also mentioned that the numbers are growing.

Hyundai Exter Current Waiting Period

Hyundai also informed that 40 percent of bookings had been made for the annual petrol version, 38 percent for AMT, and 22 percent for the CNG. As per the authorized dealerships, the waiting period is depending on the variant. Currently. Exters manual and CNG model witness a max waiting period of around seven to eight weeks. On the other hand, the AT variant has up to 12 weeks of waiting.

Hyundai Exter Engine

The company has introduced Exter in three engine options. The first one comes with 1.2L Kappa petrol engine, which generates a max power of 82 bhp and 113.8 Nm peak torque. While remaining ones were offered in 1.2L Bi-fuel Kappa petrol and CNG.

Hyundai Exter Features

Exter comes with multple advanced features. The list includes an 8.0-inch HD infotainment system with all wireless car connect technology, a Dashcam, a Smart electric sunroof, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and gear knob, a 391L boot space, multiple-functional steering wheel, 6 airbags as standard, 26 standard safety features across all variant, among others.
PAN Card Misuse Check: Frauds related to finance or misuse of documents like Permanent Account Number (PAN) cards have been reported from time-to-time. In an incident that surfaced a few months ago, cyber criminals got credit cards issued after misusing PAN card details of several celebrities. The PAN card is an essential identification document issued by the Income Tax Department of India. It serves as a unique identifier for individuals, companies, and other entities who are liable to pay income tax in India.

What Is A PAN Number?

PAN card is a unique 10-digit alphanumeric identifier that is issued by the Indian Income Tax Department. The PAN card serves as a unique identification number for individuals and entities in India for tax purposes.

PAN card is issued in the form of a laminated card, by the IT Department, who applies for it or to whom the department allots the number without an application.

Also Read: PAN Card Correction Online: Heres How To Update Details On Your PAN

What Is PAN Card Misuse?

If you have concerns about potential misuse of your PAN card, it is crucial to take immediate action to minimise possible harm and safeguard your financial well-being. If you suspect that your PAN card has been misused, follow these steps to verify and address the situation:

Regularly review your financial statements: Monitor your bank statements, credit card bills, and any other financial transactions for any suspicious or unauthorised activity. Look for transactions that you dont recognise or didnt initiate.

Monitor your credit report: Obtain a copy of your credit report from a credit bureau (like CIBIL) and review it for any unauthorised accounts or credit applications associated with your PAN card. If you find any discrepancies, report them to the credit bureau immediately.

Check your Income Tax Department account: Visit the official website of the Income Tax Department and log in to your account using your PAN card details. Review your tax filings and ensure there are no discrepancies or unauthorised changes. For example, you can check details in Form 26AS.

Contact your bank or financial institution: If you notice any fraudulent or suspicious transactions, immediately notify your bank or financial institution. They can help you investigate the issue, block any unauthorised access, and secure your accounts.

File a complaint with the police: If you have substantial evidence of PAN card misuse, such as fraudulent financial transactions, identity theft, or unauthorised access, file a complaint with your local police station. Provide them with all the relevant details and supporting documents.

Contact the Income Tax Department: Reach out to the Income Tax Departments customer service helpline or visit their nearest office to report the suspected misuse of your PAN card. Provide them with the necessary information and documentation to aid their investigation.

How To Report A PAN Misuse?
KYODO NEWS - Jul 16, 2023 - 21:55 | All, World

Britain officially joined a major trans-Pacific trade pact at a signing ceremony in New Zealand on Sunday, marking the first expansion of the accord since its entry into force in 2018 and bringing the bloc to cover 15 percent of global gross domestic product.

The 11 original members of the so-called Trans-Pacific Partnership approved the accession of Britain at a ministerial meeting earlier Sunday. The latest development will shift the focus on the handling of other applicants, including China and Taiwan.

Speaking at the signing ceremony in Auckland, Kemi Badenoch, Britain's secretary of state for business and trade, said, "The U.K. will use our seat at this table to reinforce the importance of CPTPP's vision of free and fair trade, while upholding each country's right to regulate according to their own national requirements."

Badenoch was referring to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, the formal name of the pact.

Shigeyuki Goto, Japan's economic revitalization minister who is in charge of negotiations for the TPP, welcomed Britain to the pact, saying he was "strongly convinced" the accession would enable members to "deepen our cooperation to promote the free, fair, rule-based trading system and economic order in the Indo-Pacific and beyond."

The ministerial meeting resumed after the signing ceremony with Britain now a party to the talks.

At the meeting, the 12 members agreed on a process to review the TPP's provisions in order to uphold the pact's "gold standard status" and keep up with emerging challenges and opportunities in areas such as digital trade, according to Damien O'Connor, New Zealand's trade minister who chaired the meeting.

While O'Connor said there was no specific discussion of any of the individual applicants seeking to join the agreement, the ministers issued a joint statement that said members are "currently undertaking an information-gathering process on whether aspirant economies can meet the CPTPP's high standards, taking into account their experience on their trade commitments."

However, the statement noted that the information collected will "not prejudge" any decision to be taken by members, including the commencement of an aspirant economy's accession process.

The six economies that have applied to join the trade bloc after Britain are China, Taiwan, Ecuador, Costa Rica, Uruguay and Ukraine.

In a veiled warning to China, Goto emphasized during a press conference that members have a consensus that countries that take "coercive" actions would not become part of the trade bloc.

To join the trade deal, the approval of all members is required.

Britain's accession, which adds to signs that London is tilting toward the Indo-Pacific region following Brexit, is likely to help build momentum for the return of the United States after it withdrew from the pact in 2017 under then President Donald Trump.

The TPP took effect in 2018 with members including Australia, Japan, Mexico and Singapore. Britain applied to join the free trade bloc in 2021.

The member countries, also including Brunei, Canada, Chile, Malaysia, New Zealand, Peru and Vietnam, held two days of ministerial talks from Saturday.

The members have been divided over the potential accession of China. While Malaysia, Singapore and Vietnam have supported China's application, Japan and Australia have taken a cautious stance.

Speaking to Kyodo News in Auckland on Saturday, Malaysia's Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Zafrul Abdul Aziz said his government would support bids by both China and Taiwan to join the agreement.

"We want to be as inclusive as possible, as long as they meet the conditions that we've already signed with the member countries," Zafrul said.
Domestic equity markets, which are at record high levels, will be driven by quarterly earnings, global trends and foreign fund movement, analysts said. The movement of rupee and global oil benchmark Brent crude will also be tracked by investors.

The direction of global stock markets, fluctuations in the rupee-to-dollar exchange rate, and movement in crude oil prices will all play a crucial role in influencing the overall market trend. It is important to consider these factors alongside domestic developments," said Pravesh Gour, Senior Technical Analyst, Swastika Investmart Ltd.

Also Read: Speculation Vs Long-Term Investing: Warren Buffetts Formula, Which One Should You Pick?

Institutional activity will also have a significant impact on market trends, Gour added.

Among major earnings to be announced this week are from Central Bank of India, HDFC Bank, IndusInd Bank, Hindustan Unilever, Infosys, Ashok Leyland, DLF, JSW Steel, Hindustan Zinc and Reliance Industries. Global and domestic cues, upcoming quarterly earnings, FII (Foreign Institutional Investors) and DII (Domestic Institutional Investors) activities, progress of monsoon and crude oil prices will be the key factors that will drive the markets in the coming days," Arvinder Singh Nanda, Senior Vice President, Master Capital Services Ltd, said.

Last week, the 30-share BSE benchmark jumped 780.45 points or 1.19 per cent.

The Sensex on Friday settled at its new all-time closing high of 66,060.90. During the day, it hit its all-time intra-day peak of 66,159.79.

The NSE Nifty ended at a new record high of 19,564.50 on Friday. During the day, it reached its lifetime intra-day peak of 19,595.35.

From the global front, China will release an update on economic growth in the April-June quarter on Monday.

FPI (Foreign Portfolio Investors) flows into India are continuing unabated. FPIs continue to invest in financials, automobiles, capital goods, realty and FMCG. FPI buying in these sectors have contributed hugely to the surge in prices of stocks in these sectors and the Sensex and Nifty scaling record highs," said V K Vijayakumar, Chief Investment Strategist at Geojit Financial Services.
The 44 central universities and 212 other participating institutions that adopted CUET UG as its entrance exam will shortly disclose their merit lists in light of the National Testing Agencys announcement of the Common University Entrance Test (CUET) UG results. Notably, Delhi University has informed that on Monday, July 17, the university would start the second round of its online admission registration process using its CSAS portal. Applicants who wish to apply for UG admissions at Delhi University must first register on the CSAS portal at admission.uod.ac.in.

Candidates can access the CSAS application portal by entering their CUET(UG)-2023 application number, which has been registered. The Delhi Universitys eligibility conditions and the results of the CUET UG in 2023 will be utilised for evaluating applicants admission status.

The Delhi University will put together a schedule for students to follow to submit their preferences for programmes and institutions now that the CUET UG 2023 results have been declared. Candidates are required to fill out their choices on the Common Seat Allocation System (CSAS) portal for the DUs second phase of admissions. Following the preference-filling process, the varsity will declare simulated ranks based on data submitted by the applicants at that point. On the basis of the merit, category, and seat availability specific to the programme, candidates will then be assigned based on their highest level of preference. Additionally, they have the option of upgrading so that a higher priority on their list would be taken into account in subsequent rounds.

Candidates who have been declared qualified in CUET UG 2023 must register for e-counseling on the DUs official website. The e-counseling will be done in two sessions, and students must submit their college preferences on the DUs official website.

The merit list will thereafter be published online by Delhi University. The final step towards confirming the admission would be to pay the required admission charge once the applicants received their seat allotment.

DELHI UNIVERSITY ADMISSION 2023: DOCUMENTS REQUIRED BY THE CSAS PORTAL

- Class 10th marksheet

- Class 12th marksheet

- Category certificate (For SC, ST, OBC-NCL, EWS, Minority, CW, KM, PwBD candidates)

- OBC- NCL certificate (Other Backward Classes-Non-Creamy Layer)

- Income certificate

- Medical Fitness Certificate (if applicable)

- PWBD certificate (if applicable)

- Candidates applying under CW (Children/Widows of Armed Forces Personnel) category must upload a scanned copy of their Educational Concession Certificate (ECC)

- Candidates applying under KM (Kashmiri Migrant) category must upload a scanned copy of their relevant certificates
The Telangana State Engineering, Agriculture and Medical Common Entrance Test (TS EAMCET) Seat Allotment Result 2023 has been released by the Telangana State Council of Higher Education, Hyderabad. Using their ROC Form Number, TS EAMCET Hall Ticket Number, Password, and Date of Birth, applicants who enrolled for the counselling procedure may check their allotment status and get their provisional seat allotment order on the official website at eamcet.tsche.ac.in.

The provisional assignment of seats for the first round has been announced in accordance with the TS EAMCET 2023 revised timetable. Between July 16 and July 22, candidates whose names have been drawn for seats in Phase-I will need to pay the tuition and confirm their acceptance. The TS EAMCET counselling 2023 second round is slated to take place on July 24.

The TS EAMCET-2023 qualifying candidates who obtained 45 per cent (for OC) and 40 per cent (for Others) in group subjects of Intermediate or its equivalent examination will be admitted to Engineering and Medical programmes through the TS EAMCET Counselling 2023.

TS EAMCET Seat Allotment Result 2023: How To Check

Step 1: Go to eamcet.tsche.ac.in, the official website, to check the results.

Step 2: Select the EAMCET Seat Allotment Result 2023" link on the homepage.

Step 3: A new page will open where the candidate must input their login information.

Step 4: A new webpage will show the TS EAMCET Seat Allotment Result 2023

Step 5. Download the TS EAMCET 2023 seat allocation result and print it out for your records.

Meanwhile, the first phase of the Telangana State Engineering Common Entrance Test (TS ECET) 2023 counselling is scheduled to start on July 29. Between July 31 and August 2, the required certificate verification will take place. The online choices will be available from July 31 to August 4, and the seat allotment will be accessible on or before August 8.

Similarly, the first counselling round for the Telangana State Integrated Common Entrance Test (TS ICET) is slated to begin on August 14. The online choices phase will run from August 16 through August 21 and the document verification round will span from August 16 through August 19. The results of the seat allotment will be announced by August 25.

Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University Hyderabad is managing the Telangana State Engineering, Agriculture & Medical (Pharmacy, Veterinary, etc.) Common Entrance Test-2023 on behalf of the TSCHE. For the academic year 20232024, entrance to a variety of professional programmes provided by universities and private colleges in Telangana requires passing this test.
From UPSC Civil Services to SSC recruitment exams, from college admissions to group discussions, general knowledge questions mark a significant part of almost every exam. For candidates preparing to crack an exam or those who need to get their news in a compact form, News18 offers a weekly column - GK Capsule. While we provide you a weekly news wrap, to get more information on a specific topic or an exam, reach out at @news18dotcom.

Staying updated with current events and news is crucial, especially when preparing for recruitment exams that often include a section on general knowledge. This week has witnessed several noteworthy events, ranging from EAM Jaishankars speech on terrorism to India and Frances commitment to fight pollution. To help you stay informed, we have curated a selection of the most significant news articles from this week. Take a look at the highlights here

EAM Jaishankar Emphasises Zero Tolerance Approach on Terrorism

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar asked ASEAN Regional Forum members on Friday to take a uniform, unified, and zero-tolerance response to terrorism, including eliminating sanctuaries and finance networks, in a veiled reference to Pakistan. In his speech to the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) Ministerial Meeting in Jakarta, he emphasised that India was reacting to global concerns by fostering global cooperation and delegitimising counter-terrorism.

Deadline For Public Comments On Uniform Civil Code

On July 14, the Law Commission of India informed that the deadline for the public to submit comments and ideas on the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) has been extended by two weeks. The one-month deadline for responding to the politically-sensitive UCC issue expired yesterday, but it has been extended until July 28. Meanwhile, on Wednesday, the Law Commission announced that it has received more than 50 lakh views on the matter online. The Commission has received hard copies in addition to online responses on its websites, and the total number is likely to be significantly higher.

India-Frances Commitment To End Plastic Pollution:

India and France have joined forces in a collaborative effort to tackle the issue of plastic pollution on a global scale. During discussions between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron, the two nations expressed their commitment to working constructively with other like-minded countries to advance discussions on a global law to put an end to plastic pollution. As part of this commitment, both India and France have agreed to take measures to address the pollution caused by single-use plastic items. This includes a ban on single-use plastic products that have a high potential for littering and low utility.

EAM Jaishankar Meets Top Chinese Diplomat Wang Yi

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met top Chinese diplomat Wang Yi on Friday and discussed pressing topics concerning peace and serenity in border areas. The meeting took place on the margins of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) Ministerial Meeting. Just concluded a meeting with Director Wang Yi of the Office of the CPC Central Commission for Foreign Affairs. Our conversation also covered the East Asia Summit/ARF agenda, BRICS and the Indo-Pacific, Jaishankar said on Twitter. He further informed that both counties discussed outstanding issues associated with peace and tranquillity in border areas.

IMO 2023: India Secures 9th Spot, Grabs Six Medals

Six medals were won by a six-member Indian team at the 64th International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) 2023, which was conducted in Japans Chiba city from July 2 to July 13. The team came in ninth place out of the 112 competing countries. Atul Shatavart Nadig and Arjun Gupta won the gold medal with 37 points each. Ananda Bhaduri and Siddharth Choppara took silver with 29 points each, while Adhitya Mangudy and Archit Manas grabbed bronze with 22 and 20 points, respectively. This is the Indian teams fourth appearance in the top ten.

Madras HC Upholds Legality Of TN Minister Senthil Balajis ED Arrest

In a recent development, the Madras High Court upheld the legality of the Enforcement Directorates detention of Tamil Nadu Minister V Senthil Balaji and the subsequent judicial custody ordered by a lower court. The decision came after a divided ruling by a Division Bench on a plea related to the Ministers arrest. Justice CV Karthikeyan, the third court to review the matter, declared that the arrest and incarceration were deemed valid.
Sana Khan and her husband Anas Saiyad have welcomed her first child baby boy recently. The couple has also announced his name Tariq Jamil on social media. Well, the former actress is completely enjoying this phase and recently she also shared the first glimpse of her son.

Taking to her official Instagram stories, Sana shared a video in which we can see her son lying on a swing while she is reciting Quran to him. The caption reads, Introducing My Baby To Quran From Day 1. In another photo, we can see Anas holding the babys finger and she writes, With baba. Announcing the good news on her social handle, she wrote, May Allah make us the best version of ourselves for our Baby. Allah ki amanat hai behtareen banna hai. JazakAllah khair everyone for your love n duas that made our hearts n souls happy on this beautiful journey of ours. This voice belongs to Qari Abdul Aziz Falahi (Devla).

Take a look at the photo here:

Recently, in an interview with The Times of India, she talked about how her husband reacts whenever he sees their baby. I feel I dont even know him. He is so different. He gets so emotional while looking at the baby that he sometimes has tears in his eyes. I often see him crying. I even asked him once why he was crying as I was the crybaby in the relationship, and the baby was my partner-in-crime.

She also opened up about her post-delivery weight and said, I get so paranoid when people talk about weight loss after pregnancy. Of course, everyone wants to lose weight, and so do I, but not at the cost of compromising on my health or not eating whats required for my childs growth. A new mother shouldnt be made to believe that losing weight is more important than enjoying motherhood. I would rather promote the idea of being healthy. My child is my priority and weight loss can happen anytime."

Sana Khan was a former actress and was known for her participation in Bigg Boss 6. She was also seen in the film Jai Ho co-starring Salman Khan.
Late Saturday, a 7.2 magnitude earthquake struck southern Alaska, leading to a tsunami advisory, as reported by monitoring bodies.

The United States Geological Survey confirmed that the earthquake took place at 10:48 p.m., approximately 106 kilometers (65.8 miles) south of Sand Point, Alaska. The quake occurred at a depth of 13 miles, according to the U.S. National Weather Service, which issued a tsunami advisory. The Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, however, stated that there was no threat to the islands.

Amidst the recent tsunami warning, lets delve into the meaning and significance of this natural disaster phenomenon. However, one intriguing aspect that emerged in Japan after the 2011 disaster was the occurrence of peculiar ghost stories. These stories reflected the profound grief and trauma experienced by the affected communities, with sightings and encounters with spirits becoming increasingly common.

What is a Tsunami and How Does it Occur?

A tsunami is a natural phenomenon characterized by a series of large, long-wavelength and long-period waves. It is typically caused by a sudden and violent disturbance or activity beneath the oceans surface near the coast.

This can result from various events such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, or underwater landslidesas per a report by International Tsunami Information Center. When a significant volume of water is displaced or the sea floor is abruptly raised or dropped, it can generate powerful tsunami waves. These waves propagate outward from the source and can pose significant threats and cause extensive damage when they reach the shore.

The term tsunami" originates from the Japanese words tsu" (meaning harbor) and nami" (meaning wave).

Although the term seismic or tidal sea wave" is sometimes used interchangeably, it is misleading since tsunamis can be triggered by non-seismic factors like volcanic eruptions or underwater landslides, as per the report.

Tsunami waves are distinct from astronomical tides, which are influenced by celestial bodies such as the moon, sun, and planets. The term tsunami" is internationally accepted as the accurate and comprehensive term for these waves since it encompasses all forms of impulsive wave generation.

How Much Damage Can a Tsunami Cause?

As per ITIC, tsunami waves are particularly dangerous. They can resemble towering walls of water and continue to pose a threat to the shoreline for several hours, with waves occurring at intervals of 5 to 60 minutes. It is important to note that the initial wave may not necessarily be the largest, as subsequent waves, including the second, third, fourth, or later ones, can be even bigger.

When a tsunami wave strikes and inundates an area, it eventually retreats back toward the sea, often exposing the seafloor. However, this recession is temporary, and within minutes, another wave surges ashore. These subsequent waves can carry significant amounts of debris, including remnants of structures and objects destroyed by earlier waves.

When tsunami waves enter harbors, they generate powerful and hazardous water currents. These currents can easily break moorings of ships and vessels, posing a severe threat. Additionally, tsunamis have the potential to travel inland through river channels, forming boreslarge waves or surges of waterthat can extend far beyond the coastline and into rivers or other waterways. These bores can cause extensive flooding and damage in affected areas.

Some Notable Tsunamis

Some of the most notable tsunamis in history include the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami, triggered by a massive earthquake off the coast of Sumatra, which caused widespread devastation and claimed hundreds of thousands of lives. The 2011 Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami in Japan resulted in catastrophic damage and the Fukushima nuclear disaster. The 1960 Valdivia Earthquake and Tsunami, the strongest recorded earthquake, caused significant casualties and affected countries across the Pacific. The 2006 Java Tsunami in Indonesia claimed hundreds of lives and caused widespread destruction. The 1755 Lisbon Earthquake and Tsunami in Portugal caused extensive devastation along the coastlines of several countries, as per reports.

The Ghost Phenomenon in 2011-Tsunami Struck Japan

In the aftermath of the devastating earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear disaster that struck Tohoku, Japan, in 2011, Richard Lloyd Parry, a journalist based in Tokyo, extensively explored Tohoku to gain a deeper understanding of the communities ravaged by the disaster. In his book Ghosts of the Tsunami: Death and Life in Japans Disaster Zone, he talked about the much documented the grief experienced by those affected, which included supernatural sightings.

As per Parry, for those whose family members remains were never found, seeking the help of mediums to locate them became a common practice, according to a report by the Guardian. Post-disaster Tohoku became a place teeming with ghosts, with numerous reports of sightings. These apparitions were seen as a consequence of the significant loss of life, as many victims were unprepared to let go of their worldly attachments. The phenomenon was also documented in various documentaries and reports.

Ghost stories became prevalent, with accounts of deceased individuals visiting acquaintances in temporary housing or taxi drivers encountering invisible passengers requesting transportation to non-existent addresses. While belief in the supernatural varies among individuals, the perception of these ghosts was genuinely held by many. The pervasive ghost problem" in Tohoku led university academics to document the stories, and priests from various religious backgrounds found themselves repeatedly called upon to alleviate the distress of unhappy spirits that, in extreme cases, could possess the living, the report explained.

Ultimately, whether or not one believes in the supernatural is secondary to the significance of peoples genuine belief in what they saw. The ghostly encounters in Tohoku serve as a testament to the deep emotional impact of the disaster and the various ways individuals coped with their profound loss.

Associated Press contributed to this report
In a shocking incident, a 18-year-old college student was allegedly kidnapped and set on fire on the outskirts of Karnatakas Bengaluru on Saturday.

The victim, identified as Shashank has been admitted to Victoria Hospital in the city and is currently in critical condition.

He is a resident of RR Nagar, Bengaluru and is a student of first year Computer Science (CS) at ACS College, according to the police.

According to his complaint, Shashank was dropped off to school by his father, but he later left the campus as his classes were cancelled. As he headed towards the bus stop, seven people dragged him forcefully in their car and took him to the citys outskirts near the Kaniminike toll plaza and set him on fire.

According to victims father Ranganath, Shashank was in love with a girl who is his distant relative from Mysuru.

Shashank had got her home on July 3 , which was objected by family members from both sides. A few days later, on July 10, the parents of the girl barged inside the boys house and took her, giving a warning to Shashank.

One of the seven men, is the main accused Manu has been identified. He was an uncle of both Shashank and the girl.

The relationship was going on for past one year. We told Manu that we will solve it amicably. But still he came and said that, will put petrol and set you on fire", the victims father said.

After Manu and others set him on fire he sent a location to my sister Gayatri and informed her to soon come and save him as they set him on fire," he added.

Karnataka Home Minister G Parmeshwar has sought a report of the incident and assured that the perpetrators will be nabbed and punished soon.

I will seek the report of the incident and instruct the officials to nab the culprits and punish them", said Parmeshwar said.
A momo eating challenge" turned fatal for a 25-year-old Bihar youth on Thursday. Bipin Kumar Paswan, a resident of Gopalganj in Bihar, indulged in a who can eat the maximum number of momos" game with friends and fell unconscious after eating a lot of dumplings.

Bipin, who worked in a mobile repair shop, was rushed to the hospital by his friends where he was declared brought dead. According to a Zee News report, Bipin ate around 150 momos during the challenge.

The deceaseds father, on the other hand, alleged that his friends orchestrated a conspiracy" to kill his son. He claimed that they deliberately proposed the challenge and poisoned Bipin.

Thave Police station in charge, however, said that no complaint has been filed by the family of the deceased in connection with the death. Prompt action will be taken if a complaint is filed, police said.

According to an India Today report, police reached the spot and sent the body for postmortem. A medical report is awaited and an investigation into the incident is underway.

In another bizarre incident involving momo, a man from Bihars Bhagalpur who was believed to be dead by his family was found eating momos in Noida last month. Nishant Kumar from Dhruvganj disappeared from his in-laws house on January 31. His brother-in-law was accused of kidnapping him and coincidentally, he also found him eating momos.
To choke the flow of funds to left-wing extremists in the state, the Bihar Police has intensified crackdown on cultivation of illegal poppy in Gaya, Aurangabad and Jamui districts.

The anti-Naxal crackdown by the Special Task Force (STF) along with other security forces has dried the weapons pipeline leading to the number of armed ultras dropping drastically in the state, said a senior police officer.

Now the Bihar Police in coordination with the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and other concerned wings of the government, have intensified crackdown on cultivation of illegal poppy in Gaya, Aurangabad and Jamui districts in the state, Sushil Mansingh Khopde, Additional Director General (ADG-operations), Special Task Force (STF), told PTI. The ADG said despite law enforcement agencies destroying hundreds of acres of poppy plants each year, inputs suggest that clandestine opium poppy cultivation is there in certain pockets in Gaya, Aurangabad and Jamui districts.

Inputs also suggest that Maoists have been using opium cultivation as a source of revenue in these areas. They levy a tax on poppy cultivators and small enterprises. Law enforcement agencies destroyed around 600 acres of poppy plantation in these areas in 2021 and in 2022 around 1200 acres were destroyed, the ADG said. In India, opium poppy cultivation is prohibited, under Section 8 of the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985.

The concerned district police and other agencies have been instructed to keep a vigil on clandestine opium poppy cultivation in specific areas in the district, he said. Now, Naxals are fighting for their existence in Bihar as the Union Ministry of Home Affairs recently removed six districts from the Left Wing Extremist insurgency list, Khopde said, adding currently only 10 districts are considered Maoist-affected in the state.

The number of Maoist-affected districts will further reduce in the coming months. No major Maoist incidents have been reported till June this year, the ADG said. Some armed cadres are only concentrated on the hills of Chakarbandha on the Gaya-Aurangabad border near Jharkhand and in the hilly areas of Jamui and Lakhisarai-Munger. The STF and Central forces have confined them there. We will soon make these areas Naxal-free, said Khopde.

The Bihar government, after a thorough survey of the naxal-free areas, is working on initiating several developmental projects in those areas. These projects include the construction of 42 roads in remote areas, installation of 67 mobile towers, health facilities and opening of schools. The additional mobile towers will strengthen the telecom network resulting in increased mobile penetration in these areas, said the ADG.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) probing the murder of a BJP youth wing activist has issued a fresh deadline of August 18 for the absconding accused in the case to surrender or face confiscation of their property.

A public announcement has been made in Sullia town in this regard in compliance with the courts directive, police sources said.

The NIA had earlier set June 30 as the deadline and warned that the properties and houses of the accused would be confiscated if they failed to surrender before the Agency. None of the accused surrendered by the date, but the proceedings for attachment of their property had not been initiated.

The NIA team has already posted copies of the court order on the houses of the absconding accused at different places including Sullia taluk of Dakshina Kannada district.

The NIA had registered cases against 21 people in connection with the murder of Praveen Nettaru. Five people are still at large, sources said.

The NIA had conducted raids at the houses of activists of now banned Popular Front of India in DK district in connection with the case and seized electronic gadgets and other documents.

Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) activist Praveen Nettaru was hacked to death by two motorbike-borne assailants on the night of July 26 last year.
KYODO NEWS - Jul 16, 2023 - 21:44 | Japan, World, All

Finance chiefs from the Group of Seven industrialized nations on Sunday reaffirmed their "unwavering" support for Ukraine, Japan's Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki said, as Russia's aggression against its neighbor continues.

The G-7 finance ministers and central bank governors did not discuss recent developments in the foreign exchange market, Suzuki told reporters after their meeting in India, at a time of financial market jitters over future monetary tightening in major economies.

Last week, the G-7 leaders pledged to provide military equipment, training and intelligence, among other forms of support, as Ukraine has begun its counteroffensive against Russia.

The rich club is also committed to giving financial support to Ukraine to help it cope with the impact of the Russian invasion since February 2022.

"We reaffirmed that we will not waver in support of Ukraine," Suzuki said after chairing the G-7 meeting on the fringes of a financial gathering of the Group of 20 major economies in the western Indian city of Gandhinagar.

Besides Japan, which holds this year's presidency, the G-7 also involves Britain, Canada, Germany, France, Italy and the United States plus the European Union.

Ukrainian Finance Minister Serhii Marchenko joined Sunday's meeting virtually.

The G-7 finance ministers discussed their coordinated response to Russia as a slew of sanctions against Moscow remain in place. They also took up the issue of global tax reforms targeting multinationals, which is also on the agenda of the G-20, but not forex moves.

The yen has seen a quick reversal of its recent slide against the U.S. dollar, partly because of slowing inflation in the United States that has prompted market participants to pare back expectations of further aggressive rate hikes by the Federal Reserve.

The Fed and the Bank of Japan are scheduled to hold a policy-setting meeting in late July, respectively, amid speculation that the dovish Japanese central bank may modify its program to keep borrowing costs at rock-bottom levels. Japan's key gauge of inflation has remained above the BOJ's 2 percent target for over a year.

BOJ Governor Kazuo Ueda told reporters after the G-7 meeting that inflation has been slowing but remains elevated, adding that uncertainty over the global economy is "high."

The yield curve control program has been blamed for distorting bond markets as the BOJ has been seeking to keep 10-year Japanese government bond yields within a narrow range.

Ahead of the G-20 finance chiefs' meeting on Monday and Tuesday, the G-7 ministers underscored the need to meet the goal of implementing tax reforms in 2025 and urge multinationals like tech giants to pay their fair share.

Nearly 140 nations and jurisdictions have decided to push back the time frame for a multilateral treaty on digital service taxation by a year from 2024 to prepare domestic legislation and ratify it.

The treaty, which is scheduled to be signed by the end of this year, is designed to better reflect the reality of the digital economy as taxing rights have been given to a country where a company has a physical presence under long-held rules.

Related coverage:

G-7 justice chiefs reaffirm support for Russian war crimes probe

G-7 says will closely coordinate over Russia amid alleged uprising

Japan boosts cooperation with NATO, aid for Ukraine
In a message of peace from Indias highest plateau, a 32-day padyatra of Buddhist monks culminated with a peace walk in Ladakh on Sunday. They lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modis initiatives to develop places associated with Buddhism, while religious leaders said he had emerged as a global peacemaker.

The people of the newly formed union territory, meanwhile, thanked the prime minister for giving it that status. The Indian Minorities Foundation (IMF) also took part in the peace walk at Ladakh. The monks, belonging to different countries like Thailand, Nepal, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Bhutan and US, were accompanied by other devotees, leaders of other religious communities, and students.

Spreading Buddhas message of peace and harmony, they walked from NDS Stadium to Shanti Stupa in Leh-Ladakh, which is located at a height of 11,841 feet. In the 32-day padyatra, 150 Buddhist monks and laypersons from walked for world peace. They reached Mahabodhi International Meditation Center (MIMC) in Ladakh after they had started the dhamma padyatra from Dharamshala in Himachal Pradesh on June 12.

On their arrival, they were welcomed by Bhikkhu Sanghasena, founder and president of MIMC, and the delegation of the IMF led by convenor Satnam Singh Sandhu, who also took part in the peace walk. Other dignitaries present included Pattarat Hongtong, ambassador of Thailand to India; Kyabje Taklung Matul Rinpoche, Kyjabje Thuksa Rinpoche, Kyjabje Urgain Rinpoche, Kyabje Bamtul Rinpoche; Ven Mahayana monks, Ven Pradhamvachirakawee (lonpo); Ven Theravada monks, Ven Tsering Angdus, president of Ladakh Gompa Association; Thupstan Chhewang, president of Ladakh Buddhist Association (LBA); Ashraf Ali Barcha, president, Anjuman Imamia; Dr Abdul Qayoom, president of Anjuman Main-ul-Islam; Sonam Pawez, president of the Christian community; Dechan Changa, former president of Christian community and Ven Dr Ponchai from Thailand.

The whole world is going through many challenges. It needs a great leader who can bring peace and harmony, and that is our PM Narendra Modi, who is a karmayogi himself," said Sanghasena, who is an internationally recognised Buddhist leader. India is fortunate to have such a great leader who combines spiritual values  like yoga, meditation, and vasudhaiva kutumbakam  to the general development of India and the world."

The whole world is looking at India and PM Modi to lead the world with ancient wisdom. We all should feel fortunate that India is under the leadership of PM Modi who spreads peace and harmony, said Sanghasena, adding that Modi has emerged as a global peacemaker. He has played an active role as a peacemaker during the war between Russia and Ukraine. He has very unbiased concerns about humanity and both the countries  Russia and Ukraine  listened to him and respected his views."

He said wherever PM Modi goes, he creates history. If you see his recent historic state visit to the USA. It opened new pathways for both countries. The world is looking at him to lead towards peace and prosperity, he added.

The IMF, which was also part of the peace walk, was led by its convener Satnam Singh Sandhu. He said PM Modi has elevated all the minorities in the country during the nine years and addressed their protracted issues. PM Modi took the historic decision of making Ladakh a separate UT, a long-pending demand of the Buddhist community, which opened the doors to development for this region. This was done after 63 years, after it was first raised in the 1950s by the Buddhist community. The welfare of minorities is at the core of the policy-making of PM Modis government. He has brought a new ray of hope for these communities who were largely sidelined by the previous governments and only seen as a vote bank," he said.

He also said the minority communities are feeling safe and prospering under the leadership of PM Modi and are now part of Indias holistic development. The whole world appreciates the initiatives taken by PM Modi for the welfare of minority communities. His contributions to peacemaking and the promotion of a culture of peace are taking the teachings of lord Buddha to every corner of the world, he added.

Pornchai Palawadhammo, president of the World Alliance of Buddhists (WAB) based in Thailand, who was part of the padyatra, said India is the motherland of Buddhism and it teaches peace. India and Thailand can work together and create peace for the world. Indian PM Narendra Modi is a powerful and popular man and he understands the teachings of Buddha and he practices them," he said.

Priya Ranjan Trivedi  founder of Indira Gandhi Technological and Medical Sciences University and Global Open University Nagaland, president and speaker of the World Spiritual Parliament, and president of the International Association of Educators for World Peace (IAEWP)  said, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has brought Buddha on the world map. Since PM Modi has friendly relations with countries in South Asia where Buddhism is already practiced, it will lead to friendship and brotherhood in the world that will go a long way."

He also mentioned that PM Modi has done wonderful work for the upliftment of the minorities in India, including the development of a Buddhist circuit for the community. Under his leadership, everyone is given equal opportunities, and everyone needs to work together for sustainable development in the country, he added.

Qayoom said, PM Modi is one of the tallest leaders in the world and his hard work has taken the country forward. He has put the country on the global map and Indias elevated stature is now accepted globally.

He added: The whole world now recognises the potential of India by the initiatives taken by PM Modi during the last nine years."

Gyal Wangyal, former chairman of Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council Leh (LAHDC), expressed his gratitude the PM for promoting Buddhism and its teachings and taking important initiatives to preserve its cultural and traditional aspects, including his decision of developing the Buddhist Circuit.

He further said Modi considered all religions to be equal and has taken important initiatives to ensure equal opportunities and rights for the people of minority communities.

Thupstan Chhewang, president of Ladakh Buddhist Association, said it is important to have love, compassion and brotherhood for creating world peace, which is being promoted by Modi through Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat.

PM Narendra Modi is taking the whole nation forward through Sabka Sath, Sabka Vikas, and under his leadership, Ladakh has prospered and seen an impressive development," he said.

Tenzin Nyima, All Ladakh Gonpa Association joint secretary (private), said: The entire world desires to live in peace and harmony. Even Lord Buddha has given the word of beholding love and compassion for each other, hurting no individual, and living together in unity."

He appreciated the efforts of PM Modi in promoting the teachings and ideologies of Buddha and inspiring people to practice them. PM Modi, who is playing a significant role of peacemaker in the world, is an inspiration for all. While countries like Russia and Ukraine are at war with each other, PM Modi is making consistent efforts for relationship building and peacemaking with all across the world, and inspiring other nations to do the same," he said.

Rigzin Dorjey, president of Ladakh Buddhist Association Leh-Youth Wing, said: India  the land where Buddhism was born and home to traditional and most significant centers of Buddhist learning such as Nalanda  has always been known for propagating the message of unity, peace and harmony in the world. And, in todays world, where peace is the key necessity of humankind, Buddhist monks and followers in India are giving the message of peace."

Sonam Wangchuk, spokesperson of the Ladakh Buddhist Association (LBA), who is also a member of MIMC, said, PM Modi during the last nine years has taken several initiatives to develop the Buddhist centres in Ladakh and other parts of the country. He has remained focused on the development of places associated with Buddha, especially the work done for the Buddhist circuit."

He visited Ladakh several times and showed his commitment towards the development of Buddhist centres. The whole Buddhist community is thankful to him for his initiatives and for promoting the teachings of Buddhism," he said.

Local students taking part in the peace walk said under the leadership of PM Modi, there has been significant development in the field of education in Ladakh. They said after the declaration of Ladakh as a UT, a new phase of development has begun. Ladakh now has a central university, a college and many schools. As a result of which the level of education has increased.
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desilting activities on the Yamuna river and drains in the city. The party also sought to determine the amount of money allocated for these efforts. Heavy rain lashed parts of Delhi on Saturday evening causing waterlogging and heavy traffisnarls in areas that were already reeling from the flooding. The water level of Yamuna was recorded at 206.14 meters at 6:00 am on Sunday, which is well below its record-breaking peak of 208.66 meters earlier this week, but still more than the danger mark of 205.33 metres.

Three more deaths were reported in the national capital due to severe waterlogging on Saturday. Three boys drowned in the water pit of an under-construction golf course in Dwarka Sector 23, police said on Saturday.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on his arrival in Delhi, dialled LG Vinai Kumar Saxena about the status of Yamuna and the situation on the ground.

The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted generally cloudy skies with light to moderate rain and thundershowers in Delhi for Sunday.
Even as Yamunas water level continued to recede on Sunday, all government and private schools in areas bordering the river will remain closed on July 17 and 18.

For those who had to temporarily leave their homes amid a flood-like situation, Delhi Minister Kejriwal announced a financial aid of Rs 10,000 per household for every family.

As flood relief camps are likely to continue to run in schools in the areas bordering the river Yamuna, all schools (government and private) in the affected Districts of DoE  East, North East, North West-A, North, Central and South East  shall remain closed for students on July 17 and 18," the DoE said in a circular.

Days of heavy rain resulted in Yamuna crossing the danger mark, prompting evacuations of thousands living in the area.

Here are the latest updates on Yamuna flooding

Its water level was recorded at 205.98 metres on Sunday, which is down from the peak of 208.66 metres at 8 pm on Thursday.

We have opened relief camps in different areas for the people whose homes were inundated due to the overflowing of Yamuna. So many people have lost important documents like Aadhaar during the floods, a special camp will be put up for these people afterwards, and we will provide textbooks and uniforms to children who have lost these things, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal said.

Apart from those closed, the remaining schools in other districts  North West-B, West-A, West-B, South, South West-A, South West-B and New Delhi  will remain open.

The river became a point of contention between AAP and BJP, with the latter demanding a judicial probe into whether any desilting of the Yamuna river and drains in the city was done by the state government.

We demand a judicial probe into if any desilting of the Yamuna and the drains was conducted by the Kejriwal government and if yes, how much money was spent on it," Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva said.

Amid this, the Delhi Jal Board said that it had received Rs 1,071.37 crore from National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) under the Yamuna Action Plan - III in the last 8 years. It has spent Rs 1,011.67 crore till now.

In another development, two people who went to bathe in Yamuna in Greater Noida on Sunday have gone missing. A team of National Disaster Response Force and the local police were deployed for the search.

The river has been in spate for the last one week, swelling to 207.71 metres on Wednesday, breaching its all-time record of 207.49 metres set in 1978, and inundating several key areas in Delhi.

Meanwhile, the entry and exit of passengers of Yamuna Bank Metro Bank Metro Station on the Blue Line has reopened after it was closed due to the rise in water level.

North Delhi people who had left after an overflowing Yamuna ravaged their shops and dwellings have begun to trickle in now that the river is retreat with little to no rain in the past few days in the city.

With agency inputs
Six kanwariya pilgrims were electrocuted and five others were injured during a religious procession when their vehicle came in contact with a high-tension overhead wire in Bhawanpur area in Uttar Pradeshs Meerut on Saturday.

District Magistrate Deepak Meena said that rest of the injured are undergoing treatment.

The kanwariyas, devotees of Lord Shiva, were returning with water from the Holy Ganges when the tragic incident took place. The high-voltage current knocked the devotees down even before they could get a chance to react.

The situation turned chaotic when the villagers started calling the power station to shut down the electricity supply, but unfortunately, some people were already severely electrocuted.

One of the kanwariyas, Manish, was declared dead on the spot, while nine others were admitted to the hospital, an NDTV report said. Of the nine, four died during treatment in the hospital. The rest five are still under hospitals care. Reportedly, two of the pilgrims are in a critical condition.

This incident enraged the villagers, who blocked a road along with kanwariyas, staging a protest. They demanded for justice, seeking action against the electricity department, whose negligence led to the tragic accident.

One of the locals said that this was a negligence in the Kanwar Yatra preparations, reports.

Police said that additional forces have been deployed to avoid any untoward incident.

Being one of the largest religious events in the country, Kanwar Yatra witnesses a gathering of 10-12 million devotees every year from various parts of North India, like Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Bihar, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, among others. The pilgrims, dressed in saffron attires, walk barefoot on the highways to places of pilgrimage like Haridwar, Gangotri, Varanasi, etc.

In a similar incident on July 11, four kanwariya pilgrims were injured in UPs Saharanpur when an iron rod flag on top of their truck came in contact with a live electric wire. Four of them suffered severe burns from the electrocution. However, after undergoing treatment at the hospital, all of them were brought to stable condition.

(with inputs from PTI)
Tweeting an article by a top US-based investment firm that expressed firm belief in the India growth story, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said it has nine interesting points particularly for youngsters and entrepreneurs. India is a global bright spot with a strong desire to grow even more! the PM wrote in the tweet, which carried a link to the June 30 article on the website of Capital Group.

The article underlines, Indias significance as a rising global power came to light with Prime Minister Narendra Modis recent visit to the United States, where he addressed Congress, met with high-profile business leaders and dined at the White House.

Youngsters and entrepreneurs will find these 9 points interesting. And yes, India is a global bright spot with a strong desire to grow even more!https://t.co/PMfO8ze1Jg Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 16, 2023

Before it makes the nine key points, it asks a pointed question in the headline: Will India be the breakout emerging market this decade?

It goes on to answer it with an optimistic outlook in the introductory paragraphs, From our recent travels around the country, we believe indications are pointing in the right direction: Corporate confidence is high, the economy is expanding at a decent clip and technological innovation is leading to new areas of growth.

The three writers  equity portfolio managers Brad Freer and Shlok Melwani, and investment analyst Rahul Sadiwala  stress that the country has seen relative political stability over the past 10 years, allowing economic development to be a top priority.

Secular growth ahead

They foresee a period of secular growth, fueled by significant expansion in direct and fixed asset investment.

The first of the articles nine points is that reforms have set the stage for growth.

Since Prime Minister Narendra Modi took office in 2014, he and his team have helped usher in pro-business reforms, it says, especially listing the use of Aadhaar, a national goods and services tax (GST), and Unified Payments Interface (UPI) as examples.

Modi, while still controversial on some social and human rights issues, has delivered in terms of governance, infrastructure and economic programs, the three writers claim, and restate the much-underlined mathematical foresight: India is projected to become the worlds third-largest economy behind the United States and China by 2027, according to the International Monetary Fund. India is currently the fifth largest, after Japan and Germany.

The second and third points speak of the infrastructure boom and a claimed spurt in manufacturing.

As an example, the town of Palava, 20 miles from Mumbais central business district, is a master-planned community that reminds us of what we used to see in China. In 15 years, Palava has gone from a concept to a city of 120,000 residents, the article states on the infra point.

On manufacturing capacity, it adds, Modis team has been aggressive in courting Japanese, Taiwanese and U.S. companies to invest in new capacity. Apple is producing its iPhone 14 line in India, while Japanese companies Daikin and Mitsubishi Electric are teeing up investments to make air conditioners and related parts.

Versus China

The writers say they anticipate India will become a desirable location for companies looking to diversify their supply chains outside of China, a strategy commonly known as China plus one. That said, it likely has many years to go before it can challenge China as a global manufacturing powerhouse, they add.

In the fourth point, it stressed that Indias equity market has been growing and should evolve. The countrys capital markets have seen a proliferation of initial public offerings (IPOs) in recent years. The types of companies going public  and those in the IPO pipeline  reflect its ongoing transformation. These include online platforms such as Paytm (payments), Zomato (food delivery services) and Policybazaar (insurance quote aggregator) India is now behind only the U.S and China in terms of the number of unicorns (unlisted companies valued at $1 billion) as of December 2022.

Reliance as example

The fifth point buttresses the India-great-for-investment argument, listing real estate, banking and mobile communications in particular. Reliance (Jio), in particular, has witnessed rapid growth, underscoring the pace of Indias digital revolution, the article notes.

Further, in the sixth point, China plus one is cited again to claim that the chemicals industry exemplifies how both governments and multinationals are turning to India to diversify manufacturing beyond China. That said, Indias chemicals industry is a fraction of that of China, the worlds largest produce, it adds.

In their seventh point, the writers hope that the energy transition in India could be transformational. Here again, China is seen as a benchmark or competitor for India. Indian corporations are seeking to compete with China all along the value chain of clean energy, especially with green hydrogen. So far, the companies looking to capitalize on this effort include Reliance Industries, Larsen & Toubro and Tata Power, says the article.

If (the energy transition is) done right, the payoff could be massive: The country is a large importer of oil and gas, so more renewable power would make it more energy independent. It would also significantly boost its manufacturing base.

Indias ambition in this area, however, is in the early stages.

Young population as asset

In the eighth point, the writers list Indias demographics  a young population eager to work  as the biggest advantage. This is a point often made by Prime Minister Modi himself.

With a median age of 29 years, India in our view has one of the most attractive demographic profiles among the worlds largest economies and can reap benefits from its productive capacity, provided the right policies are in place, says the article.

The last of the nine key points in the article is that valuations are stretched but not insurmountable. Simply put, it means that, Currently, the market looks a little expensive by historical standards That said, we believe the fundamental outlook for India is arguably better than ever.

As for Capital Group, which has carried the article on its site, it lists among its top credentials the fact that it is investing on behalf of institutions since 1968.

It claims that weve helped a range of institutional clients pursue their long-term investment objectives. It is one of the worlds largest investment management organizations, managing $2.2 trillion in assets at present.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Sunday said that peace and prosperity in the Mekong region play a pivotal role in realising Indias vision for security and growth for all countries in the region under its Act East policy.

In his opening remarks at the 12th Mekong Ganga Cooperation (MGC) Mechanism meeting here, Jaishankar said the lower Mekong region holds immense significance for India both in a historic sense and a contemporary one.

We represent the ancient river civilizations of this continent," said Jaishankar, who co-chaired the meeting along with Lao PDR Foreign Minister Saleumxay Kommasith.

The Mekong-Ganga Cooperation (MGC) is an initiative by six countries  India and five ASEAN countries  Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam  for cooperation in tourism, culture, education, as well as transport and communications.

Peace and prosperity in the region also play a pivotal role in realising Prime Minister (Narendra) Modis vision of security and growth for all in the region under Indias Act East policy," the minister said.

The Mekong Ganga Cooperation holds a special place in this region as the oldest sub-regional cooperation rooted in the rich historical, geographical and cultural ties among our six member countries," Jaishankar said.

It epitomises our commitment to build upon a rich heritage and channel our collective aspirations into tangible actions that will positively impact the lives of our citizens, he said.

India, he said, is also steadfast in its dedication to enhancing comprehensive connectivity within the region.

Our commitment extends beyond the talks. It is grounded in action," Jaishankar said, underling various flagship projects like the MGC, MGC scholarships, the Centre for Excellence in Software Development training and the MGC traditional textile museum.

These projects, the minister said, bear testament to our commitment for on-ground implementation".

India has also welcomed the initiative of the countries of the Mekong sub-region to synergise various developmental initiatives in the region. Through a collaborative effort, we aim to fulfil the contemporary aspirations of our people, fostering an environment of growth stability and shared opportunities," he said.

Later in a tweet, Jaishankar said the meeting discussed prioritising the implementation of the India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway and expediting the conclusion of the Motor Vehicles Agreement between the three countries.

He said that the establishment of a MGC Business Council to take forward economic cooperation and exploring new areas of development partnership, including through Quick Impact Projects, were also discussed.

The meeting also discussed the expansion of the ambit of exchanges in agriculture, science and technology and water resource management" and taking forward culture and tourism, and deepening our museum-based cooperation", Jaishankar tweeted.
Heavy rains and flooding continue to wreak havoc in Himachal Pradesh as 17 deaths were reported in the last 24 hours in Mandi and Shimla districts in rain-related and road accidents due to waterlogging.

The IMD has issued an Orange alert for the state from July 15-17 predicting very heavy rainfall in the next 72 hours in Himachal, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh.

Meanwhile, flood waters have started to recede in Punjab and Haryana even as relief works were underway in flood-hit areas of both states on Saturday.

Fairly widespread rain with thunderstorms is also predicted to occur over Odisha, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, South Interior Karnataka and Kerala

Uttar Pradesh and Bihar

The IMD said that active monsoon conditions are likely to prevail in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar with heavy rainfall predictions for the next four days and a decrease thereafter. An orange alert has also been issued for both states.

In Bihar, at least 22 people were killed due to lightning in different parts of the State in the last 12 hours.

Maharashtra

India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted moderate to heavy rainfall for the next five days in Mumbai, Palghar, Thane, Raigad, Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg and Dhule.

As per the notice issued by Regional Meteorological Centre, Mumbai, heavy rainfall is expected at isolated places in Mumbai for the next five days while heavy very heavy rainfall is also forecasted at isolated places in Raigad and Ratnagiri.

Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh

IMD said that Himachal and Uttarakhand are predicted to have very heavy rainfall in the next 72 hours.

This weather pattern is expected to continue over Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, with isolated heavy rainfall likely over Uttar Pradesh and East Rajasthan for the next four days. On July 17, Uttarakhand may experience isolated extremely heavy rainfall," it said.

Meanwhile, in Himachal, IMD issued a yellow alert in several isolated districts till July 18.

Punjab and Haryana

Floodwaters have started receding from several places in Punjab and Haryana, battered by heavy downpours earlier this week, even as relief works were underway in flood-hit areas of both states on Saturday.

Two breaches occurred along the Ghaggar River in Punjabs Mansa district on Saturday, following which many villages bordering Haryana stare at a flood threat.

Northeast India

India Meteorological Department on July 15 informed that heavy rainfall is likely over West Bengal and Jharkhand in the next two days.

Rain activity will continue over Northeast India as well. In the Himalayas, West Bengal-Sikkim has been issued a warning of heavy rain till July 18, and Odisha from July 17 to 20. An alert has also been issued for Jharkhand which is likely to receive downpours till July 20.

Isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall is very likely over Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, IMD said.

Central India

Heavy rainfall is expected in Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh.

An orange alert for heavy rain has been issued in 19 districts in Madhya Pradesh. According to the Meteorological Department, warnings of heavy rain have been issued in the Gwalior Chambal area including Narsinghpur, Agar, Shajapur, Jhabua, Haridwar, Ratlam, Dewas, Damoh, Seoni, Khandwa, Burhanpur, Raisen, Vidisha, Betul, Chhindwara.
Disha Patani recently shared a video of herself with Tiger Shroffs sister Krishna and mom Ayesha in Mumbai traffic. The trio were seen seated inside a car. Disha shares a close bond with Tigers family. She was rumoured to be dating him for quite a few years.

Disha took to her Instagram stories to share the video and wrote, When youre stuck in the traffic for four hours.

Last month, Disha made headlines, when she was spotted with her rumoured ex-boyfriend Tiger Shroff. They were rumoured to be dating for a few years before parting ways last year. They were seen arriving together for this event in Delhi. Tigers sister Krishna also accompanied them. Now a video of them from the event has gone viral.

This year when, Disha celebrated her birthday, Tiger took to his Instagram stories to share a picture of them against the background of a crowd cheering for them. He wrote, Only the best times ahead. Keep spreading your wings and love and laughter always. Happy birthday." He also tagged her and dropped a red heart emoji, while the song O Saathi played in the backdrop.

While Tiger and Disha remained silent about the break-up speculations, reports suggested that Tiger had moved on with Akanksha Sharma, with whom he has collaborated on two music videos. These include Casanova and I am a Disco Dancer 2.0.

In fact, when Jackie Shroff was asked about Tiger and Dishas breakup rumours, he called them thick buddies and said, They (Tiger and Disha) have always been friends and are still friends. I have seen them go out together. Not that I keep track of my sons love life. Thats the last thing I want to do, like infringe on their privacy. But I feel that they are thick buddies. They spend time with each other besides work.

Meanwhile, on the work front, Disha Patani will soon be seen in Project K with Deepika Padukone, Amitabh Bachchan and Prabhas. Tiger on the other hand has Bade Miyan Chote Miyan with Akshay Kumar.
Karisma Kapoor is surely a diva that one cannot ignore. The actress who is known for shelling out gems like Raja Hindustani is a phenomenon on social media, as evident from all her exciting posts around her life. Besides acting, Karisma loves to travel and her latest photo dump is proof of that. Currently, she is exploring London since she shared a glimpse of that with her fandom.

On Saturday, Karisma Kapoor took to her Instagram handle to post a slew of pictures in which she can be seen donning an exquisite dress paired with leggings and black heels, while she took to the streets of London on pouring rain. She also carried an umbrella with her and we can see her striking some cool poses amid the downpour. The album consisted of some short video clips that showed her walking and smiling down the road and some snaps of her enjoying cocktails at a fancy restaurant. She wrote the caption, Once upon a rainy day  #london."

Fans were floored to see Karisma exuding glamour even when the London skies were grey. One of them wrote, U can still give a run to todays actresses ." Another one commented, The real beauty queen of India." Someone else said,

As usual looking so pretty so gergious ." A fan also stated, Always stunner sweet ."

Check It Out.

In an interview with ET TImes, Karisma Kapoor had addressed her decade-long sabbatical from the silver screens. She explained,"Oh my God. The word comeback, honestly, should be packed and parcelled away. Lets not keep doing that to us actors. You tell me, when someone comes back to the office after a few years, is he or she making a comeback into the corporate world? He or shes just back to work. And people just behave normally with that person. I think that should be the way with actors as well, whether theyre male or female. But especially for females. People tend to reference the comeback label a little too often and too easily."

On the work front, Karisma Kapoors Murder Mubarak will be helmed by Homi Adajania and would also feature Sara Ali Khan in a prominent role. The film is slated to release in 2024. Meanwhile, Karisma Kapoor has also been busy with a slew of other projects. She has Abhinay Deos Brown in the pipeline which will be based on Abheek Baruas book the City of Death. It will star Soni Razdan, Helen and Surya Sharma.
OMG 2 made headlines last week when news broke out that Akshay Kumars film has been allegedly put on hold by the Central Board of Certification (CBFC) and sent to the Revision Committee for a detailed review. While Akshay and the makers are yet to react to the claims, a new report has now claimed that the Censor Board has allegedly set up a panel to review the film minutely. The decision comes after Adipurush kicked up a storm courtesy controversial dialogues.

Post the Adipurush fiasco, the Central Board Of Film Certification has been instructed to exercise extreme caution over any film with religious content," a source told Zoom TV. OMG 2 comes right after Adipurish and the CBFC has been asked to scrutinize the content minutely, the insider added.

It is also claimed that the panel has been put together to ensure that no harmful references or visuals are allowed to slip by in the content. The new development comes just a few days after it was claimed that OMG 2 has been put under review. The new claims also comes shotly after it was claimed that OMG 2 revolves around homosexuality.

However, Zoom TV and Hindustan Times sources dismissed the claims. There is no gay angle to the OMG 2 plot. Are they mad to mix religion with sexual orientation? Two sensitive subjects in one film? Seriously?" an insider told Zoom whereas a source told HT, The rumours that the film will deal with the subject of LGBTQ are completely baseless. There is not even an ounce of truth in such reports.

The insider added, While we understand there is a lot of curiosity around what the films subject is, it will be really better if people wait for the makers to release more information about the subject, instead of believing all such rumours."

OMG 2 is currently slated to elease on August 11. The teaser of OMG 2 was released earlier this week and it confirmed that Akshay will be seen playing the role of Lord Shiva. The actor was seen sporting dreadlocks. While Akshay played the role of a God, Pankaj Tripathi doubles up as a devotee in the film. The film also stars Yami Gautam and Arun Govil.
KYODO NEWS - Jul 16, 2023 - 09:41 | All, World, Japan

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida embarked Sunday on a four-day trip to the Middle East that will take him to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar to boost "resource diplomacy" with the countries in the energy domain.

During his first tour to the Middle East since he took office in October 2021, Kishida aims to ensure a stable supply of energy to resource-poor Japan from the oil-rich nations, while promoting the Asian country's contribution to their decarbonization efforts.

As the Middle East is strategically important for Japan, which relies on imports for more than 90 percent of its energy needs, the Asian nation has long tried to maintain friendly ties with countries in the resource-rich region.

With global energy prices on an upward trend since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, it has become increasingly imperative for Japan to secure the procurement of crude oil and liquefied natural gas from the three Middle Eastern nations.

Saudi Arabia and UAE, meanwhile, have been striving to reduce their oil dependency and diversify their economies, given that the price tag of oil may fall in the future amid the trend of decarbonization worldwide.

In an attempt to support the eco-friendly initiatives of the countries and expand business opportunities for Japanese firms such as those in the trading industry, dozens of their executives are accompanying Kishida, government officials said.

Kishida is slated to hold bilateral summits with Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan and Qatar's emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, according to the officials.

Japan and Saudi Arabia are set to agree to enhance collaboration in the energy technology field, while Kishida plans to propose the regularization of foreign ministerial talks between Tokyo and the Gulf Cooperation Council, government sources said.

Kishida, who served as foreign minister for around five years through 2017, has been eager to strengthen relations with the six-member league composed of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and UAE, the sources said.

Japan and UAE are expected to issue a joint statement on environmental protection as Abu Dhabi is scheduled to host the 28th session of the Conference of the Parties to the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change, known as COP28, from November.

Kishida is also likely to call on Qatar to continue supplying LNG to Japan in a steady manner as the Middle Eastern country is one of the world's biggest exporters of the material.

Kishida's latest overseas trip is the first tour to the Middle East by a Japanese political leader since January 2020, when former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visited Saudi Arabia, UAE and Oman.

Kishida had considered going to the Middle East in the summer of last year, but had to postpone the trip after he was infected with the novel coronavirus.

Related coverage:

Japan PM keen to deepen ties with 3 Middle Eastern nations on energy

Japan, EU mull enhancing security cooperation at summit next week

Japan, S. Korea agree to revive currency swap pact amid warming ties
In a rare occasion, Pankaj Tripathi was spotted at the Mumbai airport with his family. The actor, who will be seen in OMG 2, was seen making his way out of the city with his wife and his daughters. This was the first time the actor was spotted since the OMG 2 teaser released and the movie ran into reported controversy with the Censor Board.

In a video shared by a paparazzo on Instagram, Pankaj was seen wearing a yellow kurta with a pair of white pyjama. While he made his way to the departure gate, the paparazzi requested him to pose with his family. The actor, however, in his own style requested to paparazzi to take his photos alone and let his family be. Mera le lo, main abhineta hoon," he said, as he posed for a few photos for the paparazzi.

Pankajs wife Mridula Tripathi was also seen wearing a white kurta and a pyjama with a blue dupatta. The daughters were also seen wearing casual outfits.

Meanwhile, his upcoming film OMG 2 has reportedly landed in trouble with the Censor Board. Sources told India Today that the Censor Board has taken the step to send the film to the revising committee as a preemptive measures. The board doesnt want to a repeat of backlash that unfolded after Adipurush had released last month. For the unversed, Adipurush came under fire after the film featured a few controversial dialogues. The makers had to change the dialogues after the film was released and dialogue writer Manoj Muntashir issued an apology.

Although Akshay Kumar and director Amit Rai are yet to react to the reports, a source close to the film told ETimes that so far, there is no issue.

OMG 2 is slated to release on August 11.
Shah Rukh Khan and Gauri Khans daughter Suhana Khan enjoys a massive fan following. The young star kid is all set to make her film debut this year with Zoya Akhtars The Archies. As the glamourous star kid gears up for her big acting debut, she is painting the town red with her charm. Confused? Well we got you covered.

On Sunday, Suhana Khan took to her Instagram Stories and shared a picture from her recent outing with her cousin Alia Chhiba. Draped in a gorgeous red saree, Suhana Khan looked all shades of stunning as she posed with Alia and one other girl. She paired her look with a light shade of lipstick and minimalistic accessories. The trio posed against the backdrop of a grey coloured wall that had some paintings hanging from it. Take a look at the lovely picture here:

During the TUDUM event in Brazil, the cast of The Archies treated fans to a teaser of the film. Adding to the excitement, Suhana Khan had shared a throwback Reel on her Instagram, looking back at their memorable Brazil trip. The reel captures the cast of the film enjoying on the streets of Sao Paulo and preparing for their performance.

Suhana took to Instagram to post the video of her trip to Brazil with the cast of The Archies and captioned the post, Life with The Archies: Sao Paulo Edition" and tagged her co-stars. In the reel titled The Archies in Brazil," Suhana Khan was accompanied by her rumoured beau Agastya Nanda and fellow co-stars Khushi Kapoor, Dot, Mihir Ahuja, Vedang Raina, and Yuvraj Menda.

In fact, after setting the stage of Netflixs global event ablaze, the official page of The Archies had dropped a behind-the-scenes video of the teams recent Brazil trip. The clip gave a glance at its star cast. We particularly caught glimpses of Khushi Kapoor and rumoured couple Suhana Khan and Agastya Nanda. The BTS footage has recorded visuals of them during their rehearsals on the stage, on the Tudum event red carpet and even in the middle of the streets of Brazil.

The Archies will mark the acting debut of SRKs daughter Suhana, Janhvi Kapoors sister Khushi Kapoor and Amitabh Bachchans grandson Agastya Nanda. The movie is slated for a release later this year. On Fathers Day Shah Rukh Khan gave a shout-out to his daughter Suhana and re-shared the teaser clip of The Archies. The superstar wrote, On Fathers Day heres wishing the best to my baby all the babies and Tiger Baby for The Archies!
Ending weeks of suspense, the Aam Aadmi Party finally decided to attend the second meeting of opposition parties in Bengaluru on July 17 and 18 as the Congress declared it was against the Delhi ordinance. One of its key demands met, the Arvind Kejriwal-led party made this decision after a crucial meeting of its political affairs committee at 4 pm.

The Congress party has cleared its stand today. We welcome the decision. AAP, under the leadership of Arvind Kejriwal, will participate in the meeting of like-minded parties on 17th and 18th," AAP Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha, who is a member of the political affairs committee (PAC), told the media.

READ | Cong Makes Big Move to Support AAP on Delhi Ordinance | List of Parties Backing Kejriwal Against Centre

It is a big boost for Kejriwal to have managed the support of key opposition parties, including the Congress, on the Delhi ordinance issue. It was Congress Rajya Sabha MP KC Venugopals statement to news agency PTI, hours ahead of the AAPs PAC meeting, that proved to be the icebreaker. Unlike his fellow party leader Jairam Ramesh, he specifically mentioned his partys opposition to the contentious ordinance.

Responding to Venugopal, Chadha tweeted: Congress announces its unequivocal opposition to the Delhi Ordinance. It is a positive development.

Congress announces its unequivocal opposition to the Delhi Ordinance. This is a positive development. Raghav Chadha (@raghav_chadha) July 16, 2023

After the first edition of the opposition meet in Patna on June 23, the AAP had said unless the Congress fulfilled its key demand of publicly denouncing the Delhi ordinance, it will be difficult for the AAP to be part of the next such meeting. It had also said it wanted the grand old party to commit that all its 31 MPs will vote against it in the Rajya Sabha.

This morning, sources within the AAP indicated that Kejriwal was not fully satisfied with Rameshs statement on Saturday that came after a meeting of his partys parliamentary strategy group.

The Rajya Sabha MP indirectly indicated that the Congress was opposed to the Delhi ordinance, but did not make any explicit reference to it or the AAP. In a long winded statement, he said, The third issue  the attacks on the federal structure directly by the (Narendra) Modi government, and there are examples that attacks are launched by his appointees. This is a violation of the Constitution. This is a direct attack on elected state governments by the governors. The Congress has always stood against this and fought this and will continue to fight this inside and outside Parliament. This is a very important issue for us and we will raise it on priority.

Replying to a specific question on the Delhi ordinance, Ramesh said: The Congress has always fought the Modi governments assaults on constitutional rights and responsibilities of democratically elected state governments and local bodies. This assault comes directly and from the appointees of the Modi government like the governor. We have opposed it both inside and outside Parliament.

Again, he did not specifically mention the AAP or the Centres May 19 ordinance, which Kejriwals party was keenly awaiting. Chadha and other PAC members  Pankaj Gupta, Durgesh Pathak, Gopal Rai, Atishi, Imran Hussein, Rakhi Bidlan and special invitee Sandeep Pathak  were present at the meeting. Other special invitees, Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann and MP Sanjay Singh, joined the meeting via videoconferencing.

Bitter rivals, the Congress and AAP have crossed the first hurdle. What lies ahead is the more tricky challenge of seat sharing, especially in Delhi and Punjab where the AAP is in power.

A total of 24 opposition parties are set to meet in Bengaluru on July 17 and 18 with the Congress playing host.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Arunachal Pradesh unit finds itself embroiled in an internal clash between old party workers and newcomers. The conflict came to the forefront when Rajya Sabha MP Nabam Rebia today issued a stern warning to 14th-Doimukh assembly constituency MLA Tana Hali Tara, demanding an apology for his recent derogatory comments.

Rebia warned that if Tara fails to issue an apology, it would result in a defamation case amounting to Rs 50 crore.

According to Rebia, MLA Tana Hali Tara referred to the new party workers as entering through the window." Rebia, also a former MLA of the Doimukh constituency, expressed his disappointment with the MLAs remarks, which he deemed disrespectful to the dedicated individuals who joined the BJP in Arunachal Pradesh.

Furthermore, the MP revealed that Tara had made several allegations of corruption against him, relating to his past work. Rebia vehemently denied these accusations and called for evidence to substantiate the claims made against him. He expressed his belief that such baseless allegations were detrimental to the partys unity and overall image.

Rebia emphasised the seriousness of the matter and urged the MLA to retract his statements in order to avoid legal consequences.

The internal clash between party workers within Arunachal Pradeshs BJP unit has raised concerns about the unity and harmony of the party in the region. It remains to be seen how the situation will unfold and whether the two factions can reach an amicable resolution.
A day before the big opposition meeting to be held in Bengaluru, Congress has extended its support to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) over the Delhi ordinance issue. We arent going to support it (Centres ordinance)," said Congress general secretary KC Venugopal on Sunday.

I think they (AAP) are going to join the meeting tomorrow. As for the ordinance (on control of services in Delhi), our stand is very clear. We are not going to support it," he added.

AAP Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha also confirmed Congress support for the party and called it a positive development". Congress announces its unequivocal opposition to the Delhi Ordinance. This is a positive development," the AAP leader tweeted.

Congress announces its unequivocal opposition to the Delhi Ordinance. This is a positive development. Raghav Chadha (@raghav_chadha) July 16, 2023

On the other hand, senior Congress P Chidambaram hinted that the leader of united Opposition will emerge in due course". Chidambaram also said that the manner in which AAP took up the Delhi ordinance issue at the opposition meeting in Patna was unfortunate".

The Congress partys unclear stand on the Delhi ordinance issue was a major point of contention in the first opposition meeting held in Patna on June 23. The AAP had condemned the Grand Old Party for not supporting the Delhi government over the ordinance issue.

The Congress hesitation and refusal to act as a team player will make it very difficult for the AAP to be a part of any alliance that includes the Congress," the AAP had said in a statement.

Leaders of at least 24 non-BJP-aligned political parties are likely to attend the second opposition meeting in Bengaluru on July 17-18. According to reports, Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, who was absent during the Patna get-together, will also attend the Opposition Parties meeting being convened by Congress this time.
The Congress made it clear on Sunday that it will not support the Centres ordinance on the control of services in Delhi, a major fillip for the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which has termed it a positive development.

A day before the scheduled meeting of Opposition leaders in Bengaluru, Congress general secretary KC Venugopal said, I think they (AAP) are going to join the meeting tomorrow. As for the ordinance, our stand is very clear. We are not going to support it." The Congress further affirmed their refusal to endorse any attempt at sabotaging the countrys federal system or intervening in state matters through governors.

Responding to the announcement, AAP MP and national spokesperson Raghav Chadha tweeted, Congress announces its unequivocal opposition to the Delhi Ordinance. This is a positive development."

Venugopal expressed hope that the AAP would now participate in the upcoming meeting of opposition parties in Bengaluru.

Following the announcement by Congress, AAP declared its participation in the opposition meeting scheduled for Monday.

During their initial gathering in Patna on June 23, the opposition parties collectively pledged to unite against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann attended the significant opposition meeting led by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. However, AAP leaders were absent from the joint press conference held at the meetings conclusion, indicating fissures within the oppositions unity front.

In AAPs statement, the party had said that unless the Congress publicly condemns the black ordinance" and commits to having all 31 of its Rajya Sabha MPs oppose the ordinance, it would pose challenges for the Aam Aadmi Party to engage in future meetings with other like-minded parties where the Congress is involved.

13 Parties Supporting Delhi Ordinance?

In a statement following the Patna opposition meet, AAP noted that out of the total 15 parties in attendance, 12 hold representation in the Rajya Sabha. All parties which are represented in the Rajya Sabha have unequivocally expressed their opposition to the black ordinance" and announced their intent to oppose it in the Rajya Sabha.

Kejriwal has been actively engaged in a nationwide campaign, meeting various opposition leaders, heads of opposition parties, as well as chief ministers from states like Tamil Nadu, Jharkhand, and West Bengal.

Up until now, Arvind Kejriwal has garnered support from parties, including Congress, TMC, DMK, Shiv Sena (Uddhav), JDU, RJD, JMM, CPI, CPI(M), NCP, SP, TRS and BRS.

Congress

The Delhi and Punjab units of the Congress had urged the central leadership to support the Centres ordinance, a move which was seen to impact unity efforts, as Arvind Kejriwal has made his stance clear. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge had stated that discussions on opposing or proposing measures take place within Parliament, and all parties decide collectively on the issues they will work on together. Kharge said decisions regarding opposition or acceptance of certain matters would be taken before the commencement of Parliament, involving around 18-20 parties.

After months of obscurity, Congress on Sunday finally announced it will oppose the ordinance amending the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi Act, 1991.

Samajwadi Party

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, accompanied by Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, visited the Samajwadi Party headquarters in Lucknow, where they held a meeting with Akhilesh Yadav, the leader of the Samajwadi Party. Following the meeting, the three leaders conducted a joint press conference, during which Akhilesh Yadav expressed his partys support for the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). Yadav firmly stated, The Delhi (Services) Ordinance is anti-democraticSamajwadi Party is standing with the AAP in this fight."

Shiv Sena (UBT)

Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray hit out at the Centre saying they (the opposition) are coming together to save the country and democracy. Thackeray met Delhi chief minister Kejriwal and assured him of support in Parliament over the ordinance. I think we should not be called opposition parties in fact they (Centre) should be called opposition since they are against Democracy and Constitution, Uddhav Thackeray added.

Trinamool Congress

Kejriwal successfully obtained the backing of West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee in opposition to the Centres introduced ordinance. Assuring her support, Banerjee stated that it would provide an opportunity to defeat the BJP before the 2024 Lok Sabha polls." She further added, We support the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in their battle against the central ordinance I appeal to all parties not to vote for the BJPs law."

JDU and RJD

Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar has assured complete support" to Kejriwal from JD(U) in the ongoing face-off with the Centre over the control of administrative services. Kumar remarked that the actions of the Centre were strange" and baffling." He questioned how the power of an elected government could be stripped away. The leader of Janata Dal (United) mentioned that Kejriwal is performing commendable work in Delhi, and it is surprising that his government is being hindered from carrying out its tasks. He emphasized the need for all opposition parties in the country to unite, stating, Thats why we are saying that all (opposition parties) in the country should come together." Kumar was accompanied by his deputy and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav.

Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin accused the Centre of creating a crisis in the non-BJP ruled states and said that the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) would strongly oppose the Central ordinance. The Centre is creating a crisis to the Aam Aadmi Party and is preventing a duly elected government from functioning independently. Despite the Supreme Court verdict in favour of the AAP government, the Centre brought the ordinance. The DMK will strongly oppose it," Stalin said.

Jharkhand Mukti Morcha

Jharkhand Mukti Morcha announced support to the AAP in opposing the Centres ordinance on control of administrative services in Delhi after a meeting between Delhi Chief Minister Kejriwal and his Jharkhand counterpart Hemant Soren in Ranchi.

NCP

Kejriwal, along with Punjab Chief Minister Mann and other AAP leaders met Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Sharad Pawar. After the meeting CM Kejriwal said that NCP Chief Sharad Pawar has expressed full support to the AAP-led Delhi Government in its ongoing conflict with the Centre.

Bharatiya Rashtravadi Samanta Party

The BRS (Bharatiya Rashtravadi Samanta Party) has thrown its support behind Delhi Chief Minister on the issue. Kejriwal, who is also the national convener of the Aam Aadmi Party, held a meeting with BRS supremo K Chandrasekhar Rao in Hyderabad to garner his partys support.

TRS

Telangana CM and TRS supremo K Chandrashekhar Rao, known for being a strong critic of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has lent his support to Kejriwal and demanded the immediate withdrawal of the ordinance by the Centre.

CPI

Delhi Chief Minister Kejirwal announced support from Communist Party of India against the ordinance issue following a meeting with CPI General Secretary D Raja.

Delhi Ordinance

In May, the central government led by the BJP introduced an ordinance regarding the transfer and posting of bureaucrats in Delhi, effectively undermining a Supreme Court ruling that granted the elected government in Delhi control over matters related to services. The ordinance aims to establish a National Capital Civil Service Authority to oversee the transfer and disciplinary proceedings of Group-A officers from the DANICS cadre. Prior to the Supreme Courts verdict on May 11, the transfer and postings of all officers in the Delhi government were under the executive control of the lieutenant governor.

(With inputs from agencies)
The NCP is now split into two after Ajit Pawars rebellion, who recently decided to join the NDA-led Maharashtra government with some MLAs. Till he became the second deputy chief minister of the state, Ajit was the leader of the opposition in the legislative assembly. Now, this post will go to the Congress as they have 44 MLAs.

After the Shiv Sena split engineered by Eknath Shinde last year, it was the NCP that got the post of the leader of the opposition as they had 54 MLAs and, hence, Ajit was appointed. Now that the Congress has the highest number of MLAs, it will be making a claim for the post during the monsoon session of the assembly.

According to sources in the Maha Vikas Aghadi, Sharad Pawar and Uddhav Thackeray have given their nod to Congress claiming the post of leader of opposition. A source from the Congress, meanwhile, said a second-rung leader is likely to get the responsibility of becoming the leader of opposition and four names are being discussed  Sunil Kedar, Vijay Vaddetiwar, Yashomati Thakur (all three from Vidarbha region) and Sangram Thopte (representing Pune region).

Sources also indicated that Nana Patole will become the state president. It is understood that there is no change in the fact that Balasaheb Thorat will remain the leader of the Congress group.

While speaking to the media at the state assembly premises, Thorat said, Regarding opposition leaders, we will hold discussions with senior leaders in Delhi. High command will take the final call on a name for the leader of the opposition.

He added: Opposition will try to corner the state government on issues like womens security, farmers issue, recent riots; all these are important issues and the state government has to provide answers.

The monsoon session begins from Monday (July 17) and it will be on till August 14. Even before the session started, the united opposition boycotted the state governments tea party. This will be the first session after the Ajit Pawar group joined the Shinde-led government.
The Opposition, specially the Congress, is watching the developments in the NDA camp very closely as the BJP looks to find new alliances. The Congress, which hosts the Opposition meeting in Bengaluru next week, will ensure that its old friends and new potential allies remain together.

There are two important developments to substantiate this.

One, after the Parliament strategy meeting presided by Sonia Gandhi on July 15, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said, We will confront the government on many issues. One of them is their attempt to destroy the federal structure.

This is the closest the Congress has come to while taking a stand on whether it will support the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on the ordinance issue.

According to sources, the topic was discussed at length at the meeting, but no clear stand was taken. While a few leaders felt that it was important to listen to the state units of Punjab and Delhi, who were against the idea of any support to AAP, others thought the Opposition Unity was much bigger, therefore, it was alright to compromise for the sake of the fight to finish the BJP in 2024.

Meanwhile, AAP sources told News18 that the party would want to see what the Congress has to say at the Bengaluru meet. AAP had raised the ordinance issue during the Patna meeting on June 23, and, in fact, did not attend the joint press conference in protest.

The second development is that the relations between Trinamool Congress and Congress are turning sour in the aftermath of the recently concluded West Bengal Panchayat Elections in which a few Congress workers were attacked in Murshidabad. State party president Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury slammed chief minister Mamata Bannerjee, and told media that she is not invincible. We will fight her and defeat her in Bengal.

But in a clear olive branch to the Congress, for the sake of Opposition Unity, a senior TMC leader told News18 that Panchayat polls is a thing of the past. Time to move on and fight the BJP together.

Sonia Gandhi had been the glue, which brought the dissenting parties together in 2004 to stitch a winning front called the UPA. As the BJP alliance outreach gathers steam, the Opposition is falling on Sonia Gandhis magic to gear up for the 2024 battle.
Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde, while attending the PM Mitra Park event in Amravati, said that his government is powerful now, adding that, the partys strength is over 200 now.

Shindes comment comes in the backdrop of buzz over his resignation as Maharashtra chief minister, which has been denied by his camp so far. He said,

People have said that our government will fall and they are still saying so. But we are over 200 now, our government is powerful," CM Shinde said.

Maharashtra politics had another round of stir when Ajit Pawars Nationalist Congress Partys (NCP) joined the Shinde-led Maharashtra government on July 2.

In reaction to this move, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut made predictions of possible changes in Maharashtras dynamic politics. He had said that Eknath Shinde would be replaced as chief minister. He also took a swing at BJP saying that the party is breaking Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress. It was surprising that BJP had claimed NCP was involved in corruption and now the leaders have taken oath in Raj Bhavan, he added.

Earlier this month, the Eknath Shinde faction of Shiv Sena met to discuss the political situation after Ajit Pawars NCP joined the state government.

Maharashtra Minister Uday Samant refuted rumours of Shindes resignation as the chief minister, adding that, there was no displeasure among their MLAs following the induction of Ajit and eight other NCP legislators into the state cabinet.

Disclosing the details of the meeting, Samant said, Under the leadership of CM Eknath Shinde, there was a meeting regarding upcoming session of the Lok Sabha, the session of Maharashtra Vidhansabha, what MLAs, MPs, MLCs should do in future, how to do development work, how to grow the organisation

There was no displeasure among our MLAs anywhere (regarding Ajit Pawars arrival), we all have faith in Eknath Shindeinformation about his (Eknath Shindes) resignation are rumoursAll MPs and MLAs elections will be held under the leadership of Eknath Shinde," Samant added.

At the event, Shinde also took a jibe at the MVA government and Uddhav Thackeray. He said that there were a lot of ego issues in the state in the last 2.5 years. On the other hand, he said, even after having issues, Devendra Fadnavis ji even wrote a letter".

If we did not change the government, Maharashtra would have gone ten years back," Shinde added.

Giving the example of Vedanta Foxconn, which picked Gujarat instead of Maharashtra for setting up Indias first semiconductor plant, Shinde said that he spoke to PM Modi about it. A company needs trust and faith, if both of them are not there, nobody will come to you," he said.

Foxconn went there, but the government here has changed, said Shinde.
To take on the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) in Lok Sabha polls, the Opposition parties are ready to meet for the second time on July 17 and 18 in Karnatakas Bengaluru. The meeting will be convened by Congress.

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has invited all major as well as smaller opposition parties to participate in the meet and show a united front against the BJP.

Leaders of at least 24 non-BJP parties are invited for the meet.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Randeep Surjewala and state home minister Parameshwar took stock of the preparation ahead of the meet.

The first Opposition meet was held in Patna on June 23 this year. It saw participation of 15 parties.

Agenda of the 2nd meet

On July 17, there is set to a be a relatively informal dinner, which will be followed by a more structured formal meeting the next day on Tuesday.

On July 18, the Opposition would in detail strategize its plans to take on the BJP in the next Lok Sabha polls in 2024.

While announcing the dates of the opposition meeting, Congress general secretary (organisation) K C Venugopal had said, We are steadfast in our unwavering resolve to defeat the fascist and undemocratic forces".

After a hugely successful all-opposition meeting in Patna, we will be holding the next meeting in Bengaluru on July 17 and 18. We are steadfast in our unwavering resolve to defeat the fascist and undemocratic forces and present a bold vision to take the country forward," Venugopal added.

Here are the people expected to participate

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) was the latest party to confirm its presence on Saturday.

Earlier, AAP had made it clear that it wont join any alliance with Congress until it shows its stand on the Delhi ordinance issue.

However, a day before the meet, Congress extended with general secretary KC Venugopal saying, we arent going to support it (Centres ordinance)." I think they (AAP) are going to join the meeting tomorrow. As for the ordinance (on control of services in Delhi), our stand is very clear. We are not going to support it," he added.

Apart from it, Shiv Sena (UBT) Chief Uddhav Thackeray, Aaditya Thackeray and MP Sanjay Raut will participate in the very important" meet, Raut said.

Uddhav Thackeray, Aaditya Thackeray and I will participate in the opposition meeting that is going to take place in Bengaluru. This is a very important meeting, Raut told news agency ANI.

According to reports, Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, who was absent during the Patna get-together, will attend the Opposition meet this time.

Rahul Gandhi will also likely attend the meet.

Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had confirmed on Saturday that she and TMC General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee will participate in the meet.

RJD Chief Lalu Prasad Yadav on Thursday said that he will be attending the meet too.

Bihar CM Nitish Kumar will be travelling to Bengaluru for the meet. Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin has also confirmed his presence.

Eight new parties set to attend, say sources

Eight other parties, who were not part of the first opposition meeting in Patna will join Mondays deliberations in Bengaluru, sources said, news agency PTI reported.

These are the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK), Kongu Desa Makkal Katchi (KDMK), Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP), All India Forward Bloc, Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), Kerala Congress (Joseph) and Kerala Congress (Mani).

First Opposition meet in Patna

The first opposition meeting, which was attended by around 15 parties, took place in Patna and was hosted by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. All the participating parties had agreed to fight the Lok Sabha elections together."

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC Supremo Mamata Banerjee and NCP Chief Sharad Pawar were among the top figures from a total of 15 parties opposed to the BJP who attended the meet.

Since then, a split in Sharad Pawars Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and his nephew Ajit Pawars switch to the Eknath Shinde-BJP coalition in Maharashtra has been a major development surrounding the issue.

However, parties like the Congress and the TMC have shown their support for Sharad and said the opposition unity has strengthened further.

With agency inputs
KYODO NEWS - Jul 16, 2023 - 22:21 | All, World, Japan

U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy is making arrangements to travel to Japan in early September to meet Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and other officials, making it his first visit to the Asian country since assuming the position, diplomatic sources said Sunday.

McCarthy is expected to affirm through a series of meetings in Tokyo, including with his counterpart Hiroyuki Hosoda, the two countries' cooperation in maintaining the rules-based international order amid concerns over China's assertive behavior and Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine, according to the sources.

McCarthy, who was elected in January, will also attend a meeting of parliament speakers from the Group of Seven industrialized nations, during which they are likely to condemn Russia's military aggression and discuss collaboration among their legislature bodies to strengthen democracy, according to the sources.

Ahead of the Republican's visit to Tokyo, Hosoda will travel to the United States and meet with McCarthy in Washington later this month, his first trip there since becoming the speaker of Japan's House of Representatives in November 2021.

During his trip, Hosoda intends to forge a stronger partnership with the United States as part of efforts to counter attempts to change the status quo unilaterally by China and Russia, according to the sources.
The political blame game between Delhi and Haryana continued with AAP minister Saurabh Bharadwaj blaming the ML Khattar-led government of conspiring against the people of Delhi by releasing water into the Yamuna and causing it to overflow. He said flood waters from the river, which breached VIP areas like Rajghat, ITO and Supreme Court, could have left Lutyens Delhi devastated.

Bharadwaj, who is the irrigation and flood control minister, alleged that bureaucrats ignored instructions given by him and education minister Atishi Singh on calling in the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the army on Thursday night. In a letter to the lieutenant-governor on Saturday, he demanded action against chief secretary Naresh Kumar, divisional commissioner Ashwani Kumar and the secretary of own department, Ashish Kundra.

The minister said the NDRF and the armys engineers regiment were only called next morning when the L-G visited the affected areas. Flooding of prime areas could have been avoided if officers had listened to ministers the night before, he said.

Talking to CNN-News18, Bharadwaj claimed that the Haryana government had prevented water from the Hathnikund Barrage from entering Uttar Pradesh and their own state and, instead, had directed it into the Yamuna. Denying the allegations, a day ago, Khattar hit out at the AAP for accusing the state government of being responsible for the flood-like situation in parts of Delhi, saying politicking over natural calamities is unethical.

The chief ministers remarks were a response to AAP leader Sanjay Singhs statement holding the BJP-JJP government responsible for the flood-like situation in Delhi by releasing water in the Yamuna from its Hathnikund Barrage. Bharadwaj explained the functioning of the barrage and said it is a regulator in the Yamunanagar district of Haryana, which is 228 km from Delhi. The barrage distributes water into three chunks  the eastern canal that flows into Haryana and Uttar Pradesh in Saharanpur, the western canal that comes to Delhi (Haiderpur) and the one that comes into the Yamuna.

They (Haryana government) are duty-bound to distribute it. But what we got to know from sources and when we sent our team to verify this  since July 9, Haryana has not been sending water into the eastern canal that goes to UP. This means the water is being prevented from entering UP or Haryana, he said.

He added: We have records of 2022, during August 9 and 10, when 4 lakh cusecs of water was released but distributed among the (three) canals. Delhi got maximum rain on July 8, which was 153 mm and, on the 9th, there was some rain in the evening. Today is the sixth day Delhi has not received any rain, so why is it that Yamuna levels have risen over the past five days? This is not Delhi rainwater, this is Haryanas water being pushed by Hathnikund barrage.

The minister further said the moment the AAP raised this issue in the media, the Haryana irrigation department started releasing water through the eastern canal. We have seen political parties do things to win brownie points but this looks like a conspiracy. Thousands of families have lost their livelihoods, homes have been destroyed, he said.

Flooding due to unregulated flow of water

Bharadwaj said the reason behind the flooding in Delhi is the unregulated flow of water. That is why you have regulators  the Hathnikund barrage is one such. You regulate the flow of a river or regulate the flow of water through canals so that it passes safely through cities. This time, it was not regulated and large volumes of water  above 3 lakh cusecs  were sent into Delhi for many days. It could have been more serious. The Haryana government should not have taken this risk, he said.

On allegations by Atishi that officers did not respond to emergency calls by ministers, he said on the evening of July 13, chief minister Arvind Kejriwal sent him a text about damage to one of the drain regulators that could cause water to enter the Supreme Court. But while the engineers and labourers of the irrigation and flood control department were trying to create a bund, that was not enough and the ITO area was already flooded.

We have a special WhatsApp group, which has me, Atishi, chief secretary, divisional commissioner responsible for disaster management, Ashwani Kumar, we have the PWD secretary, we have Ashish Kundra who is the secretary of irrigation and flood control. At 11.09 pm, I sent an SOS specifically to Ashwani Kumar that we need NDRF and said it was a sensitive situation as the water will soon reach Lutyens Delhi. Atishi also shared that water will reach the SC but the divisional commissioner chose to ignore it. I said the irrigation and flood control department will be unable to handle the situation but they still chose to ignore this, he said.

He said Atishi even said the armys engineering team was on standby since morning and could be called in but Ashwani Kumar said the irrigation and flood control department will be able to fix the situation within three hours. The chief secretary, Naresh Kumar, was reading all the messages in the group but chose to ignore all of them, he added.

Bharadwaj further said the next morning, when the L-G was on site, the NDRF and army were also present. If they were not needed at night, why were they present in the morning? The L-G is now saying the irrigation and flood control department could not handle the situation. So, what Atishi and I were saying at night stands vindicated. But the question remains why the army and NDRF were not called in at night when they were available, he said.

Situation likely to improve in next 48 hours

The minister also said the water has started receding and, since there have been no rains in northern India over the past few days, the situation in Delhi will improve in the next 48 hours and the water will recede.

The worst flooding in the national capital in 45 years, he said the first learning experience for the Delhi government was that it was important to monitor the situation on the ground in person. He also thanked the staff of the government departments as well as relief and rescue teams for working day and night.

If you are not (on the ground), officers can mislead you. And second, the engineering staff worked day and night. Officers of irrigation and flood control, public works, DJB (Delhi Jal Board), army, NDRF officers and jawans were on the ground 247, they did not even sleep, he added.

Domestic breeding checkers to monitor health risks

Also Delhis health minister, Bharadwaj said there was already a plan in place to keep a check on the rise of vector-borne diseases, especially malaria, dengue and chikungunya. After heavy rains on July 8, he said, a high-level meeting of the MCD, NDMC, Cantonment Board, Delhi Jal Board, as well as health, education and irrigation and flood control departments.

And we told them that, this time, vector-borne diseases could spread before their usual cycle. So, we have a plan in place  we call them domestic breeding checkers  for malaria inspectors to go from house to house and write down the day of their visit. Senior officers will conduct random checks of five houses and report if these inspectors are visiting houses or not, he added.

Bharadwaj further said the education department has been asked to give a special dengue homework to all the children studying in MCD, government and private schools. Under this, students will be checking their own homes and surrounding areas for breeding grounds.

We will run an aggressive campaign for dengue and other vector-borne diseases. We have also directed to disinfect all construction sites, which are unreachable, through drones, he added.
A day before the commencement of the monsoon session of the state assembly, Maharashtras newly appointed Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Sunday arrived at YB Chavan Centre to pay a surprise visit to his uncle and NCP chief Sharad Pawar.

Ajit Pawar Groups Chhagan Bhujbal, Praful Patel, Aditi Tatkare, Hasan Mashrif and others also reached the spot to meet the NCP chief.

Today we met our God and our leader Sharad Pawar to take his blessings," Praful Patel said as the rebels emerged from the meeting. We came here without asking for an appointment. We understood Sharad Pawar reached here for a meeting and thats why we all came here to take his blessings," Praful Patel quoted NDTV as saying.

Deputy CM Pawar, along with 31 NCP MLAs revolted against his uncle Sharad Pawar and became part of the BJP government in the state.

Patel, who was a long-time confidante of the NCP chief, said he also requested Sharad Pawar that all of them respect him a lot but NCP should be together.

He also urged the NCP supremo to think again about his decision to support them.

This comes after NCP sought answers from the rebel MLAs regarding their absence from the meeting called by Sharad Pawar on July 5 and issued a showcause notice to them. These MLAs were instead present at the programme organised by Ajit Pawar where they took oath as cabinet ministers.

The NCP, founded by Sharad Pawar in 1999, witnessed a split on Sunday with Ajit Pawar, claiming the support of over 40 MLAs and joining the Shiv Sena-BJP coalition government in Maharashtra. Nine NCP MLAs, including Ajit Pawar, were sworn in as ministers in the Maharashtra government at a surprise cabinet expansion on Sunday. Ajit Pawar, with senior party leaders Praful Patel, Chhagan Bhujbal, and Dilip Walse Patil by his side, asserted to be the real NCP.
Ahead of the crucial National Democratic Alliance (NDA) meeting on July 18, Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP) joined the NDA on Sunday in Delhi in the presence of Union home minister Amit Shah. In terms of the 2024 Lok Sabha Elections, this gives the BJP-led alliance a psychological advantage over the UPA, which is battling a rebel Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and inter-party frictions. But not just Om Prakash Rajbhar, this could open up the gate for a much refurbished, bulkier NDA, which will help the BJP flex its political muscle on one hand and pass legislation with greater ease at Parliament on the other. Heres a look at who has recently joined the NDA, and who else could be the new entrant and what that means.

Om Prakash Rajbhars SBSP

Rajbhar formally joining the NDA, in the presence of home minister Amit Shah, who said it will help NDA in Uttar Pradesh and the work done by the Modi government for poor and deprived will get a renewed push. But this is not the first time Rajbhar joined the NDA. SBSP was in alliance with the NDA in 2017, but it separated owing to differences. Rajbhars are a backward caste who have influence in as many as 20 Assembly seats of Uttar Pradesh. In Lok Sabha, every seat in UP becomes crucial. Rajbhars can help NDA in districts such as Ghazipur, Ballia, Mau among others.

Chirag Paswans LJP (R)

Amid a strong buzz of Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), leader and son of Ram Vilas Paswan, Chirag, returning to the NDA fold, BJP president JP Nadda has invited him to attend the meeting in Delhi on July 18. Paswan Junior quit the NDA fold in 2020 in Bihar to fight against Nitish Kumar. At that time, Kumar was an ally of the BJP. Though his party has not taken a formal decision yet, his party has consistently supported the Modi government on various policy issues. If he joins, he will also bring back the legacy of Ram Vilas Paswan, a tall Paswan leader. Paswans are known as a Dalit community of Eastern India that is primarily found in Bihar, Jharkhand, and Uttar Pradesh.

Jitan Ram Manjhis HAM

This June, Hindustani Awam Morcha Secular (HAM-S) joined the BJP-led NDA. This preceded founder Manjhi and party president Santosh Kumar Sumans meeting with Shah in New Delhi. Just before his move, former Bihar chief minister withdrew support from Nitish Kumars government. Kumars suggestion to merge Manjhis party with his JD-U was unacceptable to Manjhi, and hence he made the move. He is a Dalit from the Musahar community. They are one of the most marginalised castes in India. The Musahar are found throughout eastern Uttar Pradesh, southern Nepal, and Bihar, and are employed in Bihars stone quarries.

With Manjhi on their side, NDA can claim to represent them, politically.

Ajit Pawars NCP

The latest high-profile entrant joining the NDA is the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), a political outfit founded by Sharad Pawar. In a surprise rebellion and coup of sorts, his nephew Ajit Pawar walked out with a barrage of legislators and joined the Eknath Shinde-Devendra Fadnvis government in Maharashtra. By that very act of becoming a Deputy Chief Minister of a BJP-led alliance government, Pawar Junior made NCP a part of the NDA. It will have a direct bearing in the Pune district and Western Maharashtra region. The NCP wins the largest share of seats from where that area. Pune, Satara, Sangli, Kolhapur, and Solapur  form the sugar belt of Maharashtra where the NCP has unparalleled dominance. With NCP on its side  at least the majority of legislators on its side  the NDA can think of bettering its national tally, come 2024.

Though a year old by now, Shindes Shiv Sena, who formed the government in Maharashtra with the BJP, by staging a coup with Udhav Thackeray, exactly a year ago, is also a part of the NDA.

Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), which is weakened particularly after the death of patriarch Parkash Singh Badal, too has been reached out to by the BJP. The party quit NDA in 2020 after three contentious farm bills. Prime Minister Narendra Modi may have visited SADs party office in Chandigarh to pay his last respects to Badal, but sources say the move was not lost on the Badals. However, it is still pre-mature to say anything about SAD joining back the NDA, the sources added.

However, with the caste-based parties in its kitty, the BJP-led NDA wants to make a point  ye dil maange more.
Smoking is a hazardous act but still people indulge in it. Now, the Hong Kong government has come up with a solution in a bid to stop smokers. The territorys Health Minister said that people should stare at smokers disapprovingly in a bid to create a tobacco-free city. Cigarettes can harm the health of all of us," Professor Lo Chung-mau told a meeting of the Legislative Councils health service panel. He further said, When the members of the public see people smoking in non-smoking areas, even if no law enforcement officers can show up immediately, we can stare at the smokers.

Also Read: Viral Video of Delhi People Having Fun in Sewage Water Sparks Debate on Civic Sense

He further told people that when someone takes out a cigarette at a restaurant, everyone on the premises is allowed to stare at the person. I do not believe that person would dare to hit back at everyone at the restaurant as they are simply staring, he added.

Professor Lo said this kind of behaviour would help to create a non-smoking culture. He also warned that authorities will use surveillance footage provided by members of the public to crack down on smokers.

As per Hong Kongs current smoking laws, smoking inside restaurants, workplaces, and some other places is punishable with a fine of up to Rs. 22,000.

Also Read: Warren Buffetts Wife Found Complaining About Coffee Worth Rs 300 at Summer Camp For Billionaires

Meanwhile, Sweden, which has the lowest rate of smoking in the European Union, is close to declaring itself smoke free. As per experts, this can be attributed to decades of anti-smoking campaigns and legislation.
Billionaire investor Warren Buffetts wife, Astrid Buffett, was overheard complaining to employees about the price of coffee. The incident took place at Allen & Cos annual event in Sun Valley, Idaho. At the programme, the 77-year-old appeared unhappy about paying $4, which is about Rs 300, for coffee. According to reports, she said to an employee at the resort that she could get a pound of coffee" for the same price elsewhere.

This comes in as a shock for many as the CEO of Berkshire Hathaway is worth about $115 billion and is the seventh-richest person in the world on Bloombergs Billionaires Index. However, unlike many billionaires, Buffetts home is relatively understated. He lives in the same one in Omaha that he bought in 1958 for about $31,500. Its estimated price could be around $260,000 now.

Also Read: Looks Like Horse Legs: Janhvi Kapoor Gets Trolled Mercilessly For Editing Her Pic

Is that why $4 coffee was apparently such a shock for Astrid? Well, no one really knows but the incident has made headlines everywhere.

Astrid is Warrens second wife and they have been married since 2006. Before getting married to him, she worked as a waitress at the French Cafe in Omaha when she first met the billionaires first wife.

Also, Buffett became the biggest donor in history in June 2006. This happened when he pledged 10 million shares of his Berkshire Hathaway Class B stock, then valued at about $36.1 billion, to the Gates Foundation, plus 1 million Berkshire shares, then valued at $3.6 billion, to the foundation named for his late first wife, Susan Thompson Buffett. Also, 350,00 shares then valued at about $1.3 billion apiece were pledged to foundations created by his three children, Susan, Howard, and Peter Buffett.

Also Read: The Good Ending: AI-generated Images Show Mark Zuckerberg And Elon Musk Rekindling

After 17 years of steady payments, the billionaire has to date given annual donations amounting to $50.7
An earthquake of magnitude 7.4 has struck off coast of Alaska in the US, United States Geological Survey (USGS) said on Sunday.

The National Tsunami Warning Center in Palmer, Alaska said a tsunami warning was in effect for south Alaksa and the Alaska peninsula.

For other US and Canadian Pacific coasts in North America, the level of tsunami danger is being evaluated," it said.

According to the National Tsunami Warning Center, a tsunami warning is in effect for the region highlighted in red. Residents in this area should seek higher ground immediately.This is following a Magnitude 7.4 earthquake south of Sand Point, Alaska. pic.twitter.com/5VBBL8stcB  Breaking Weather by AccuWeather (@breakingweather) July 16, 2023

The offshore quake hit at a depth of 13 miles (21 kilometres) off the Alaskan peninsula, the USGS said.

Meanwhile, the Alaska Volcano Observatory also issued another threat warning for the Shishaldin volcano after it sent up a big plume of ash.

#Shishaldin ORANGE/WATCHSaturday, July 15, 2023, 9:52 PM AKDT The eruption of Shishaldin Volcano has intensified. An ash cloud to 15,000 ft (4.6 km) above sea level and drifting to the SSE has been observed in satellite data starting at about 9:00 pm AKDT (17:00 UTC). 1/  Alaska AVO (@alaska_avo) July 16, 2023

The eruption of Shishaldin Volcano has intensified. An ash cloud to 15,000 ft (4.6 km) above sea level and drifting to the SSE has been observed in satellite data starting at about 9:00 pm AKDT," the agency posted on social media.

Alaska is part of the seismically active Pacific Ring of Fire.

Alaska was hit by a 9.2-magnitude earthquake in March 1964, the strongest ever recorded in North America. It devastated Anchorage and unleashed a tsunami that slammed the Gulf of Alaska, the US west coast, and Hawaii.
Scores of Indian Americans held a peace rally in front of the Indian Consulate in San Francisco to express solidarity with India following a recent attempted arson at the diplomatic facility by Khalistan supporters.

A video by Khalistan supporters, dated July 2 posted on Twitter, showed the act of arson at the Indian Consulate in San Francisco. It was the second such act of violence within months.

A large number of Indian Americans from in and around San Francisco came out in support of India on Friday as they held a peaceful rally in front of the Indian Consulate in San Francisco against the recent act of violence.

The protesters described it as an act of terrorism act and demanded that those responsible for violence be brought to justice.

VIDEO | Indian Americans hold peace rally in support of India after Khalistan supporters' attempted arson at San Francisco consulate.(Source: Third Party)https://t.co/zP5Q7UB3Y6 pic.twitter.com/yffieSUvcR  Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) July 15, 2023

Indias Ambassador to the US, Taranjit Singh Sandhu visited the Consulate here on Thursday and met Indian diplomats and officials at the mission.

India has asked its partner countries such as Canada, the UK and the US not to give space to extremist Khalistani ideology as it is not good for bilateral relations.

The radical, extremist Khalistani ideology is not good for India or its partner countries such as the US, Canada, the UK and Australia, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said in New Delhi early this month.

On March 19, a group of pro-Khalistan protesters attacked and damaged the Indian Consulate in San Francisco.

Raising pro-Khalistan slogans, the protesters broke open the makeshift security barriers raised by the city police and installed two so-called Khalistani flags inside the Consulate premises. Two consulate personnel soon removed those flags.
A maid from Myanmar was sentenced to life imprisonment for murdering her employers 70-year-old mother-in-law from India, a media report said on Sunday.

Zin Mar Nwe was found guilty of murder for intentionally inflicting multiple fatal stab wounds on the victim.

Mar Nwe was sentenced on July 4 after she admitted that she had stabbed the victim 26 times in anger after the woman threatened to send her back to the agent, reported The Straits Times.

The report said the maid was 17 years old when she arrived in Singapore to work on January 5, 2018 but her passport had her age as 23-years-old  the minimum age to work as a domestic worker in Singapore.

Four months later, she started working for her third household  a couple and their two teenage daughters.

Her latest employer, a financial controller identified by the court as Mr S, had hired her because his familys maid for the past four years was returning home to the Philippines.

Zin Mar Nwe had no complaints about her working conditions and had no issues interacting with Mr S family and her agents.

She woke up at about 5.30 am and went to bed at about 11 pm and also made multiple phone calls to her relatives in Myanmar.

Part of her SGD 450 monthly salary went towards repaying her loan to the maid agency.

About two weeks after she started work, her employers mother-in-law arrived from India on May 26, 2018, to stay with the family for a month, but she found it difficult to get along with the elderly woman.

The elderly woman began hitting the maid to get her attention or to reprimand her. Zin Mar Nwe said she was hit when she did not understand what the woman wanted her to do.

At the beginning, the elderly woman used her knuckles to knock the maid on her head and back two to three times a day on average. She later started using objects such as ladles.

The mother-in-law also started returning tit for tat when on many occasions the maid accidentally hurt her.

On the morning of June 25, 2018, the two women were alone at home when the older woman became upset with the maid for causing an object to drop on her foot and for missing her instructions.

As the older woman lay down on the sofa to watch television, she declared that the maid would be going back to the agent tomorrow.

Zin Mar Nwe understood that because S was already her third employer, this would result in her being sent back to her home country in debt.

Shaking with anger, she grabbed a knife and stabbed the elderly woman 26 times.

After the woman stopped moving, the maid ransacked one of the bedrooms in the flat, broke the lock of a cupboard and retrieved her belongings.

She washed the knife and left it in the kitchen, then changed into a dress and took a bag belonging to her. She left the flat after taking some cash and an ez-link card that had been placed on top of the microwave oven.

She went to her maid agency in Choa Chu Kang to get her passport, but left when she heard that the staff were about to call her employer.

Over the next five hours, she wandered around Singapore by bus, by MRT and on foot.

She bought bottles of mineral water and ate at a hawker centre before she finally took a taxi back to the agency. She was arrested there after the staff alerted the police of her return.

After dropping her off, the cabby found a bag containing SGD 114 in the back seat and tried to return it to her, but she denied that the bag was hers. Forensic tests later showed that some of the notes were stained with blood.

After her arrest, Zin Mar Nwe initially denied killing the elderly woman and pinned the blame on two men and even described the fictitious assailants in some detail.
A man who had sought permission to burn the Torah and the Bible outside the Israeli embassy in Stockholm abandoned the plan on Saturday and held a demonstration against desecrating holy books.

The Sweden police had confirmed on Friday that they had given a permission to a man who wanted to burn the Torah and the Bible outside the diplomatic mission in protest to burning of the Holy Quran.

However, Ahmad Alloush, 32, abandoned the plan and held a demonstration against desecrating holy books, Al Jazeera reported.

Alloush pulled a lighter from his bag and threw it to the ground saying he never intended to burn any holy books. He also brought out a copy of Quran and criticised the earlier incidents where copies of the Islamic holy book were burned in Sweden.

Sweden recently faced strong criticism from Muslim countries for allowing protesters to burn the Quran at small anti-Islam demonstrations.

If you want to criticise Islam, that is OK. But burning the Quran is not freedom of expression, he reportedly said.

This is a response to those who burned the Quran  freedom of speech has its limits, he added.

Israeli officials had urged the Swedish government to stop the protest, which was scheduled to take place on Saturday outside the diplomatic mission.

As the President of the State of Israel, I condemned the burning of the Quran, sacred to Muslims world over, and I am now heartbroken that the same fate awaits a Jewish Bible, the eternal book of the Jewish people, Isaac Herzog said in a statement.

Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen said that he was urging Swedish officials to prevent this despicable event and not to allow the burning of a Torah scroll.

When asked about the plan to burn Torah and the Bible in Stockholm, Ahmad Alloush said, I made people angry.

They can be happy now, he added.

Alloush is reportedly from Syria, but has been living in Sweden for eight years.

Last month, an Iraqi Christian immigrant burned a Quran outside a Stockholm mosque during the major Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha, triggering widespread condemnation.

The right to hold public demonstrations is strong in Sweden and protected by the constitution. Blasphemy laws were abandoned in the 1970s. Police give permissions based on whether they believe a public gathering can be held without major disruptions or risks to public safety.
A Hindu temple was attacked with rocket launchers in Pakistans Southern Sindh province, a day after one was demolished to make way for a mall in Karachi. Police said a gang of dacoits is responsible for the latest incident, which took place on Sunday.

According to police, the incident took place in Kashmore area of Sindh. Attackers used rocket launchers to fire at the structure, which alerted local police. The temple belongs to the Bagri community of Sindh and was to open for a religious ceremony, police said.

Senior police officials said the assailants attacked the small temple and adjoining homes belonging to Hindus. According to a report by news agency PTI, Dr Suresh, a member of the Bagri community, said the rocket launchers fired failed to explode, resulting in no loss of life. He called on the police to protect the community, saying the incident had left the residents in a state of panic.

Police gave their assurance to the Hindu community that they will be protected. The Kashmore area has a sizeable Hindu population, as per the PTI report.

CNN-News18 earlier reported that a temple was demolished in Karachi on Saturday and the land sold to mall developers for Rs 7 crore. Pakistans largest city and capital of Sindh province is home to the majority of the Hindu population in the country. It is also home to many ancient Hindu temples. Hindus living in this province share culture, traditions and language with Muslim residents.

Gangs in the Kashmore and Ghotki riverine areas recently threatened to attack Hindu places of worship and community members in retaliation to Seema Haiders PUBG love story. A Pakistani mother of four, Seema left her country and entered India to live with a Hindu man she fell in love with while playing the online game in 2019.

Seema and Sachin Meena live in Greater Noida, where he runs a provision store. While Seema was arrested on July 4 for illegally entering India with her four children, Sachin was put behind bars for sheltering them. They were released from jail recently.

The PTI report stated that the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has said it was alarmed by deteriorating law and order in the districts of Kashmore and Ghotki in Sindh, where some 30 members of the Hindu community  including women and children  have allegedly been held hostage by organised criminal gangs.

Moreover, we have received disturbing reports that these gangs have threatened to attack the communitys sites of worship, using high-grade weapons, the Dawn newspaper quoted the commission as saying.
The street outreach team of FLIP, for Flatlining Violence Inspires Peace, is seen in Chicago's Roseland neighborhood on July 13, 2023. (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune)

There are a lot of strategies to reduce gun violence, but one of the most innovative and straightforward is underway right here in Chicago. Essentially, it comes down to this: Hire people with close relationships to those doing the shooting, train and supervise them, and place them at the most dangerous locations in the city, unarmed, to discourage gun violence.

The strategy is called FLIP, which stands for flatlining violence inspires peace. Starting in 2018 with private funding, FLIP targeted 21 hot spots in three high-crime neighborhoods during summertime evenings and weekends. The impact was immediate. Shootings at those locations were significantly lower when peacekeepers were on duty.

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Today, FLIP is publicly funded by the state and covers 102 hot spots year-round in 14 Chicago neighborhoods. Ten violence prevention organizations are participating in the Chicago program so far. State funding is also available to launch the program in surrounding suburbs. Our organization at Northwestern University, the Center for Neighborhood Engaged Research & Science, or CORNERS, has been studying FLIP for the past two years. We publish updates and share data with our community partners to inform on-the-ground efforts. As researchers, we are always careful about implying causation related to gun violence reduction strategies like FLIP, but ongoing research is certainly suggestive.

Terrance Henderson, manager of outreach operations for FLIP (Flatlining Violence Inspires Peace), debriefs the street outreach team in their offices in the Roseland neighborhood on July 13, 2023. (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune)

For example:

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 Over Memorial Day weekend, the city experienced around 60 shootings, but there were none at 99 of 102 FLIP locations while FLIP workers were on duty.

 Over the last three years, 13 of the 14 FLIP communities experienced overall reductions in gun violence greater than the city.

As part of their duties, FLIP workers intervene directly in ongoing disputes among individuals and negotiate nonaggression agreements among the hundreds of street factions active in Chicago. In fact, CORNERS has documented more than 400 mediations and 58 nonaggression agreements among opposing factions.

Its dangerous work that puts these individuals at considerable risk. A few have been shot while on duty. Even more have been shot off-duty, affirming that they are still very much at risk.

For the men and women doing the work, however, the risks are worth it. They get to be part of solving violence and making their communities safer. They get a steady paycheck in the legal economy. And, for individuals with limited job skills and criminal backgrounds, its a job for which these peacekeepers are uniquely qualified. They alone have the LTO, or license to operate, to engage with the highest-risk individuals.

[ Opinion series: Turning the tide on Chicagos gun violence ]

Today, there is a growing consensus among policymakers, advocates, nonprofits and business leaders that Chicago should scale up community violence intervention programs to help enhance the citys broader public safety strategies. One big obstacle, however, is the workforce.

Right now, there are approximately 230 front-line community violence intervention workers scattered across the city. By the best estimates, theyre serving about 15% to 20% of the thousands of high-risk individuals in Chicago.

Chicago Tribune Opinion Weekdays Read the latest editorials and commentary curated by the Tribune Opinion team. By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our Subscriber Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy >

The average age of Chicagos outreach workers is nearly 45 years old. While they come with a wealth of lived experience, there is an unmistakable generation gap. Essentially, a labor force of formerly gang-involved Gen X people who came of age in an era of large, centralized street gangs are trying to connect with Gen Z individuals in highly decentralized street factions that battle it out on Instagram.

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Lance Barnes, right, an outreach worker with the anti-violence group Alliance of Local Service Organizations, or ALSO, serves free food during a Light In the Night event in Humboldt Park in Chicago on July 14, 2023. (Terrence Antonio James/Chicago Tribune)

Roughly half of the 500 FLIP peacekeepers working in Chicago today are between the ages of 25 and 35, no longer youths yet squarely within the riskiest age for gunshot victimization in Chicago, which is 27 years old. Developing a younger, more diverse violence prevention workforce is vital to the long-term success of violence prevention organizations. The good news is that FLIP is becoming a pipeline into the field. In fact, since 2018, more than 100 FLIP peacekeepers have advanced into full-time community violence intervention roles.

Questions remain. Will the law enforcement community buy into the FLIP strategy and the broader community violence intervention approach? Will the public sector continue to fund these programs? And will the evidence continue to justify them? So far, all signs point to yes. Police are cooperating; federal, state and local governments are investing; and the early results are encouraging.

The bottom line is that community violence intervention programs and strategies are saving lives. Again, its difficult to causally link shootings that did not happen to specific initiatives, but CORNERS found that neighborhoods that were part of a violence intervention collaborative called Communities Partnering 4 Peace had nearly 383 fewer homicides and shootings than would have otherwise been expected.

Now, more than ever, Chicago is poised to lead the nation in developing and implementing new and better ways to reduce gun violence. With lives on the line, we have no time to waste.

Andrew Papachristos is a professor of sociology, a faculty fellow at Northwestern Universitys Institute for Policy Research and the faculty director of CORNERS.

Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com.
A Hindu temple was allegedly demolished and sold for a shopping mall in Karachi in Pakistan, which has led to tensions within the community.

A video, accessed by News18, shows the Hindu temple  Mari Mata located at Soldier Bazar in Karachi, razed on Friday night by an unknown builder to make way for a shopping plaza.

According to sources, the land was sold for Rs 7 crore to a shopping plaza promoter but the temple was bulldozed in the presence of police personnel at midnight.

News18 has been constantly reporting about how minorities are unsafe in Pakistan.

According to sources, Trustees and NGOs associated with the temple have also not come forward to object the demolition.

Last year in June, the idols of Hindi deities at Mari Mata temple were destroyed.

The Express Tribune reported that the incident caused panic and fear among the Hindu community members living in Karachi. Sanjeev, a Hindu from the Korangi area, told the newspaper that six to eight men on motorcycles came there and attacked the temple.

Temples have often been the target of mob violence in Pakistan. Dozens of temples have been destroyed located on the banks of Indus River in Kotri, town of Bhong, and Sukkur-Multan motorway.

According to official estimates, 75 lakh Hindus live in Pakistan. However, according to the community, over 90 lakh Hindus are living in the country. Most of them reside in Sindh province and have often complained of harassment by extremists.
The minarets of a worship place of the minority Ahmadi community were demolished by police in Pakistans Punjab province after a radical Islamist party threatened to attack it, officials said on Saturday.

Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) on Friday gave a warning to police to either demolish the minarets of the worship place of Ahmadis at the Kala Gujran in Jehlum district of Punjab, some 225 kilometres from Lahore, or it would attack it, a Punjab government official told PTI on Saturday.

Police summoned the Ahmadi leaders of the area and asked them to demolish the minarets of their worship place as they could not build them under law or they would themselves demolish the place, the official said.

On Friday night, a police team raided the Ahmadis worship place and demolished it, he said.

Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya Pakistan Punjab official Amir Mahmood told PTI that a campaign against Ahmadi worship places had been launched in Jehlum by TLP leader Asim Ashfaq Rizvi.

Mahmood said Rizvi in different public meetings had threatened to attack the Ahmadi places in Jehlum if the police did not destroy them by the 10th Muharram (end of July).

Rizvi had threatened that the radical Islamists would march towards the Ahmadi worship places and destroy them.

Instead of protecting the Ahmadis, the police brought down the minarets of the Ahmadis place of worship to please the hate mongers and extremist elements. This situation is unfortunate and a clear violation of the rights of the Ahmadi community, Mahmood said.

He said a three-member bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Tasadduq Hussain Jilani in 2014 had ordered the formation of a special police force for the protection of places of worship of minorities.
Sri Lanka would want to see the Indian rupee used as much as the US dollar, President Ranil Wickremesinghe has said, days ahead of his first official visit to New Delhi.

Wickremesinghe, also the cash-strapped countrys finance minister, made this remark while addressing the Indian CEO Forum here this week.

Just as East Asia, including countries like Japan, Korea and China, witnessed significant growth 75 years ago, it is now Indias turn, along with the Indian Ocean region, Wickremesinghe said.

Wickremesinghe is expected to visit New Delhi next week, his first since becoming president a year ago amidst unprecedented economic and political turmoil in the island nation.

Wickremesinghes comments were in response to the chair of the Forum, T S Prakash, who in his address had called for the enhanced use of the Indian rupee in the Sri Lankan economy.

It makes no difference to us if India (the Indian rupee) becomes a common currency. We will have to figure out how to go about it. We must become more open to the outside world, Wickremesinghe said.

The world is evolving and India is undergoing rapid development, particularly under Prime Minister Modis leadership, he added.

He also said that Sri Lanka benefits from its proximity to India, coupled with a rich history, cultural heritage and longstanding trading relationships spanning 2,500 years, The Daily Mirror newspaper quoted him as saying.

Wickremesinghe has steered the island nation out of the economic crisis and said the economy is recovering despite its slowness.

Once we complete debt restructuring our focus will shift towards a comprehensive growth agenda. This entails a massive overhaul of our economy, legal framework and systems aligning our path with that of India, he said. Wickremesinghe The 74-year-old Sri Lankan politician was elected through parliament to fill in the rest of the term of the ousted president Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

Sri Lanka-India relationship history points to that it was unusual that Wickremesinghes tour to Delhi had taken a year to happen, analysts noted.

India had thrown a lifeline to the last days of the Rajapaksa presidency with an economic assistance package that amounted to 4 billion dollars.

Sri Lanka used the Indian credit lines to import essentials and fuel as the country was gripped in forex shortages which triggered massive street protests.

Meanwhile, the High Commissioner of India in Sri Lanka Gopal Bagle who was at the July 13 event, said that the Indian government and the Indian business community have helped the island nation in recuperating from the last years financial crisis.

Even during the initial crisis, Indian businessmen began doing business in Sri Lanka to demonstrate to the rest of the world that the countrys financial status is stable, Bagle was quoted as saying by the Sri Lankan media.
UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said in an interview published on Saturday that he will step down at the next cabinet reshuffle and not contest the next general election.

Wallace, 53, has been a leading figure in Western allies support for Ukraine against Russia and was the UKs pick to succeed Jens Stoltenberg as NATO secretary general.

But he failed to get crucial US backing to succeed him, and Stoltenberg has now extended his term at the head of the alliance.

Im not standing (as a member of parliament) next time," he was quoted as telling the Sunday Times.

The newspaper said Wallace told Prime Minister Rishi Sunak last month of his plans not to seek re-election at the general election, which has to be held by the end of next year.

He said he will not quit prematurely" as an MP and force a by-election but will resign as defence secretary before the next cabinet reshuffle, which is expected before September, the weekly added.

The decision was not because he thought the Tories, currently trailing the main opposition Labour party in the polls, would lose but because his constituency in northwest England was being scrapped under boundary changes, he said.

Wallace, a straight-talking former British army officer, has been in the UK parliament for 18 years, and is the longest-serving Conservative defence secretary since Winston Churchill.

He was the only minister in a senior post to remain in the turbulent transition from his political ally Boris Johnson to the short-lived Liz Truss and then Sunak.

He was security minister under Theresa May before becoming defence secretary in 2019.

Wallace has enjoyed strong support among the Tories grassroots membership and was regularly tipped to be party leader but never actively ran for the top job.

It wasnt for me," he told the newspaper.

Difficult position

Wallace said he counted among his achievements boosting the defence budget by 24 billion ($31 billion) and said higher defence spending would be crucial in the years ahead.

He predicted the world will be much more unsafe, more insecure" by the end of the decade.

I think we will find ourselves in a conflict. Whether it is a cold or a warm conflict, I think well be in a difficult position," he added.

The UK could be dragged into conflict in Africa against Islamist groups, he suggested, and voiced concern about the effect of Chinese expansionism in the South China Sea on regional politics, and nuclear proliferation.

On Ukraine, he said Russian President Vladimir Putin could lash out" if he loses and would look for fresh targets, such as against undersea cables carrying Western communications and energy supplies.
In the US, millions of people are facing brutal conditions as major cities across America are facing heat waves. The temperatures in Europe are breaking records like never before, while Japan continues to face extremely hot weather.

Italy is expected to face blistering heat, with temperatures projected to reach 40 degrees Celsius to 45 degrees Celsius.

The temperatures in Californias famous Death Valley, one of the hottest places on Earth, had reached a sizzling 51 Degrees by Saturday afternoon, with Sundays peak predicted to soar as high as 54 degrees.

Here are the latest weather updates from across the world:
Russian President Vladimir Putin has proposed to Wagner Group fighters that senior mercenary Andrey Troshev should be the new head of the private military group.

Putin has created a split between senior fighters from the Wagner mercenary group and its chief Yevgeny Prigozhin since the failed mutiny last month.

In a meeting last month, Putin met Wagner Group fighters including chief Yevgeny Prigozhin. According to Kommersant newspaper, Putin told Wagner mercenaries in the meeting that among the multiple employment choices he offered to them, one included them continuing to fight under their direct commander Sedoy, meaning grey hair.

Here is all you need to know about Andrey Troshev
This photo taken on July 14, 2023 shows a vessel of the Chinese naval fleet approaching the port of Pointe-Noire, economic capital of the Republic of the Congo.

The visit of the Chinese naval fleet to the Republic of the Congo showcases friendship and mutual trust between the two countries, with both committed to addressing regional and global security challenges, including the Gulf of Guinea, said Congolese minister of National Defense Charles Richard Mondjo.

The Congolese minister made this remark Friday during the arrival ceremony of the Chinese naval fleet at the port of Pointe-Noire, Congo's economic capital, for a friendship visit starting the day. (Photo by Wu Kangci/Xinhua)

POINTE-NOIRE, Congo, July 15 (Xinhua) -- The visit of the Chinese naval fleet to the Republic of the Congo showcases friendship and mutual trust between the two countries, with both committed to addressing regional and global security challenges, including the Gulf of Guinea, said Congolese minister of National Defense Charles Richard Mondjo.

The Congolese minister made this remark Friday during the arrival ceremony of the Chinese naval fleet at the port of Pointe-Noire, Congo's economic capital, for a friendship visit starting the day.

Military cooperation between the two countries has grown over the past years, which strengthens the two countries' ability to address regional and global security challenges, said Mondjo, calling the visit a "tangible symbol" for security and cooperation.

This visit "facilitates the exchange of experience, knowledge and best practices between the navies", thus making it possible to strengthen the capacities of the two militaries in maritime security, said the minister, stressing that the visit is also a sign of regional military and security cooperation to respond to challenges, such as piracy, terrorism, smuggling, and other potential threats facing the Gulf of Guinea. The official mentioned, in particular, his "vivid" memories of the involvement of the Chinese navy in the fight against piracy in the Gulf of Aden. 

Charles Richard Mondjo, Congolese minister of National Defense, inspects an honor guard of the Chinese naval fleet at the port of Pointe-Noire, economic capital of the Republic of the Congo, July 14, 2023.

The visit of the Chinese naval fleet to the Republic of the Congo showcases friendship and mutual trust between the two countries, with both committed to addressing regional and global security challenges, including the Gulf of Guinea, said Congolese minister of National Defense Charles Richard Mondjo.

The Congolese minister made this remark Friday during the arrival ceremony of the Chinese naval fleet at the port of Pointe-Noire, Congo's economic capital, for a friendship visit starting the day. (Photo by Wu Kangci/Xinhua)

This photo taken on July 14, 2023 shows Chinese navy crew members waving at people ashore upon arrival at the port of Pointe-Noire, economic capital of the Republic of the Congo.

The visit of the Chinese naval fleet to the Republic of the Congo showcases friendship and mutual trust between the two countries, with both committed to addressing regional and global security challenges, including the Gulf of Guinea, said Congolese minister of National Defense Charles Richard Mondjo.

The Congolese minister made this remark Friday during the arrival ceremony of the Chinese naval fleet at the port of Pointe-Noire, Congo's economic capital, for a friendship visit starting the day. (Photo by Liu Zhehao/Xinhua)
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Turkish police launched a counter-terror operation against alleged members of the Islamic State (IS) group and detained more than two dozen suspects, the local NTV broadcaster reported on Friday.
TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

The life of Khufu, the Egyptian monarch who ordered the building of the Great Pyramid of Giza, had been shrouded in mystery for centuries, but a group of international archaeologists have now claimed that his tomb has been located and that the findings from the excavation now underway will overshadow all archaeological finds so far.

The claim was made by Mission Pharaoh, which is a team of archaeological experts from the USA, Germany, Poland, and Mexico who have been searching for clues to the tomb of the builder of the Great Pyramid since 2006.

An email statement from the mission said the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA) of the Egyptian government had conducted archaeological research at the foot of the Giza Plateau, in the village of Nazlet El-Samman, and found Egyptian culture dating back to the construction of the Great Pyramid.

In October last year, experts from the mission conducted ground penetrating radar (GPR) surveys in the village of Nazlet El-Samman in two locations where the existence of a necropolis and the Lower Temple of Khufu from the time of the construction of the Great Pyramid was assumed, the mission said.

An email statement from the mission stated, "The results of GPR unequivocally indicated the existence of underground anomalies, such as tunnels and chambers containing metals, possibly gilded decorations, chests, and artefacts similar to those found in Tutankhamuns tomb... At the same time, the location was indicated as: 295842.70"N 31822.08"E, where, according to our information, there is a very favourable entrance to the complex of underground tunnels leading directly to the tomb of the Builder of the Great Pyramid."

Later, in November last year, SCA discovered the first fragments of the ruins of the Palace and Temple complex from the time of construction of the Great Pyramid in Giza, as suspected by the mission, the statement revealed, adding that excavations have just started in the area of the Builders tomb. The Daily Tribune has contacted SCA and is awaiting its response to the development.
AMMAN, July 16 (Xinhua) -- Jordan on Sunday signed a 250-million-U.S. dollar agreement with the World Bank Group to finance a water efficiency project for the kingdom.

The agreement was signed by Jordanian Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Zeina Toukan and World Bank Middle East Country Director Jean-Christophe Carret, according to a ministry statement.

The financing package consists of a 200-million-dollar soft loan from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the lending arm of the World Bank Group, and a 50-million-dollar grant from the World Bank-run Global Concessional Financing Facility, the statement said.

The financed water project entails upgrading water distribution networks, reducing water losses, optimizing energy consumption and implementing a drought management system.

According to Carret, the financing agreement is the first step in a series of proposed projects designated to support Jordan's water management efforts, notably to tackle water wastage, enhance energy consumption efficiency, elevate service delivery standards, and fortify the financial sustainability of the water sector.

Jordan is one of the most water-scarce countries in the world, according to the World Bank, as the kingdom's water supply is only 97 cubic meters per capita per year, significantly below the absolute water scarcity threshold. 
TEHRAN, July 15 (Xinhua) -- A top Iranian military official said on Saturday that the influence of the United States and the West as global powers is declining, according to the Iranian Students' News Agency.

Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Mohammad Baqeri made the remarks in a meeting with visiting Pakistani Chief of Army Staff Asim Munir in the Iranian capital Tehran.

Baqeri said global power is shifting toward Asia and the East despite the "global arrogance," referring to the United States and its Western allies, have desperately taken measures to prevent the emergence of a future world order.

He said Iran and Pakistan are two "important" countries of the Muslim world and West Asia with shared common border and security concerns, such as the consequences of U.S. "irresponsible" military withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021 after 20-year occupation.

Baqeri also highlighted the necessity of carrying out greater cooperation between the two countries to ensure security along the common border. 




APC members under the aegis of Elected Female National APC Officers and Zonal Women Leaders have passed a vote of no confidence in the partys national women leader, Dr Beta Edu for allegedly abusing her office.





The rejection of the ministerial hopeful was contained in a petition written to President Bola Tinubu on Friday.





The members wrote in the petition, Without deviating from the essence of this subject, it is pertinent we express our total displeasure and concern over the misrepresentation and self-aggrandisement of the National Woman leader, Dr. Beta Edu during her visit to the Presidential Villa on the 13th of July, 2023.





We wish to state categorically and in strong terms that her visit to the Presidential Villa was a misrepresentation as she in no way represent the elected National Women Officials and Zonal Women Leaders of the party as against the news making the rounds.





We were totally unaware of her presidential visit and no due information nor notification were given to us the women she claimed to represent during her visit. It is disheartening that Dr. Beta Edu could label her visit to Mr President to be the representation of National Stakeholders and Zonal Women leaders even without them knowing and not in attendance during the visit.





It is worrisome that at this infancy stage of the administration of President Bola Tinubu which needs all hands to be on deck that the women leadership of the party is already experiencing division and seclusion in representation which has been the pattern of the National Woman Leader Beta Edu since her emergence. It is in strong terms that we reject her leadership because she has failed in managing the affairs of the women in the party.





A copy of the letter, which was made available to our correspondent, was also sent to National Chairman of APC, Senator Abdullahi Adamu; National Secretary, Iyiola Omisore; Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila; office of the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu; wife of the Vice President, Hajia Nana Shettima, all APC governors wives and zonal Vice-chairmen of the party.





The petition, signed by nine women leaders from the six geopolitical zones, accused Betta of sidelining them and arranging some alleged fake women to see the president during a courtesy visit.





The women leaders who signed the petition included APC Deputy National Treasurer, Omorede Osifo; National Ex-Officio (South-West), Olubunmi Oriniowo; National Ex-Officio (North-Central), Oluwatoyin Opawoye; Zonal Women leader (North Central), Princess Zahra Audu; Zonal Women leader (South-West), Mrs Yetunde Adesanya and Zonal Women leader (South-East), Mimi Diyiokeh.





Others were the Zonal Women leader (North East), Zainab Alman; Zonal Women leader (South-South), Mrs. Cynthia Princewill; Zonal Women leader (North-West), Hajia Hadiza Shagari.





While requesting a separate courtesy visit to the Presidential Villa, the women leaders further alleged that the former Cross River commissioner of health deliberately isolated them even during the electioneering campaign.





Throughout the electioneering campaign, Dr. Betta Edu worked in isolation without synergy with her colleagues National Women officials of the party and the Zonal Women leaders. We individually devised means and strategies to galvanise and mobilise support for the party in our various states and traveled to almost all states campaigning with Mr. President with our personal funds and resources because we are highly committed to the Renewed Hope project and which we are glad to be part of the success story of today.





We want Mr. President to know that most women paraded by Dr. Betta Edu were mostly fake. Authentic and democratically elected national officers who are even National Executive Council Members, all Zonal women leaders, the three women senators and fifteen female House of Representatives members, and a host of other relevant women leaders and stakeholders were replaced by fake women in the visit to the President.





We hereby reject the leadership of Dr. Betta Edu and unanimously pass a vote of no confidence on her and whatever she represents. We appeal to Mr. President to use his good office to grant audience to the Elected National Female Executives and Zonal Women Leaders of our great party for inclusiveness, the letter stated.





However, reacting to the allegation, Edu disowned the APC zonal women leaders, saying they are fake.





They are not women leaders. Those people are frauds. I can tell you that the 36 states women leaders have written to disown them.





The meeting they were talking about took place between the president and the 36 states women leaders. All of them were present at the meeting, except one. I dont think any media should carry this stupid news. It is fraud. You know people are hustling left, right, and center.





The APC national women leader also promised to send our reporter an official rebuttal to the allegation.





She is yet to send the rebuttal as of the time of filing this story.
Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, has said that the N4 billion earmarked for roads in Ekiti State in the amended supplementary 2022 federal budget was an extension of Governor Biodun Oyebanjis drive for infrastructure development.





Bamidele said that Ekiti State would benefit immensely from the amended supplementary budget passed and approved for President Bola Tinubu to be able to provide palliatives to cushion the effects of the fuel subsidy removal and address other nations economic challenges.





The Federal lawmaker spoke at Ikogosi Ekiti on Saturday after a service held at the First Baptist Church to commemorate the 90th birthday of Ekiti State governors father, Pa Ezekiel Oyebanji, who he said inculcated good deeds in his children.





Bamidele said, Some of the new projects that were approved will be in the overall best interest of Ekiti people. One of them is the sum of N2 billion that was approved for the construction of Iyin-Ilawe Ekiti Road which is something that we believe will connect not only the two communities but will connect Ekiti Central Senatorial District with Ekiti South Senatorial District.





Recently, Federal College of Education was approved for Ilawe Ekiti, the road will also serve the purpose of trying to open up the community to make life easier even for that campus. Other approvals in the budget are the sum of N1 billion for the construction of inner roads in Ado Ekiti and N1 billion for the construction of inner roads in Ijero Ekiti.





These are all parts of the extension of the infrastructural development drives of Governor Oyebanji. He met with all of us and he gave us a list of projects that were of utmost concern for him, Bamidele said.





The governor, Oyebanji, described his nonagenarian father as a man who places great value on honesty, integrity, humility, hard work and self-discipline, virtues, which, he said had helped in shaping his (governor) own personality.





Oyebanji said that he inherited his simplicity and humble approach to life from his dad, who he said contributed immensely to his spiritual growth, which had buoyed his faith in God, as the only one with the capacity to provide solutions to all lifes challenges.





The governor said that the family decided to have a low-key celebration devoid of any formal invitation to anyone in line with its modest manner of doing things, coupled with the fact he, as the governor of the state, had to live by example.





The 90-year-old celebrant, Pa Oyebanji, said his strong belief in scholarship as a weapon to overcome poverty, propelled him to acquire Western education through hard work and resoluteness.





Pa Oyebanji, thanked God for being alive to celebrate the age of 90 in good health and charged parents to invest in their childrens education to make their future brighter, more rewarding, and glowingly remarkable.





The Pastor in charge of Gateway Baptist Church, Ado Ekiti, Revd Michael Otun, in his sermon titled, Teach us How to count our days, urged Nigerians to always do things right for Nigeria to experience radical development in all facets.





Otun showered encomiums on the celebrant for his discipline, humility, prudence, and honesty.




The Nigerian Bar Association, human rights activists, and civil society groups have called on the Federal Government to uphold the principles of the rule of law, fairness, and justice in the case against the suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele.





Vanguard reports that they criticised the Department of State Services for arresting and detaining Emefiele for nearly a month, arguing that the recent charge of gun and ammunition possession was politically motivated.





Emefiele was arrested at his Lagos residence on June 10, a day after being suspended from his position by President Bola Tinubu. Despite being detained on the order of an Abuja Chief Magistrate Court, the DSS charged him with a crime just hours after.





Emefiele was charged with two counts of unlawful possession of a single-barrel shotgun and ammunition without a license under the Firearms Laws of the Federation 2004. The Department of State Services claimed to have found the items during a search of Emefieles Ikoyi residence.





According to Vanguard, the former President of the NBA, Joseph Daudu, urged the government to respect the decisions of the courts regarding Emefieles arrest and detention.





He said: I do not think that the President, Bola Tinubu, who is a newly minted President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, will like to start his administration with the organisations under him disobeying court orders.





Daudu insisted that Emefieles trial should follow legal procedures.





Meanwhile, Abuja-based human rights activist Abdulazeez Tijani criticized the prolonged detention of Emefiele while the DSS was still investigating his case. Tijani pointed out that the DSS had been trying to arrest Emefiele for more than four months, and they should have concluded their investigation by now.





The DSS cannot hide under the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015, to hold a Nigerian citizen till eternity because ACJA is inferior to the 1999 Constitution.





The Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association, Section on Public Interest and Development Law, Dr. Monday Ubani, has also called the charge against Emefiele false and misleading.





He said: I think these people are taking us for granted. They believed we are all fools. Did they not tell us that Emefiele was involved in financing terrorists? What has happened to that allegation? What has happened to the allegation of misappropriation of the money for printing new currency? What has happened to the allegation of stamp duty money allegedly squandered by Emefiele? What has happened to the allegation of manipulating our foreign exchange with Buhari cabals? What has happened to the allegation of operating several secret accounts not known to the Federal Republic of Nigeria?





Human rights lawyer Barrister Jones Akpan argued that the charges of illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition should be handled by the police.





He said, The DSS cannot be seen to be prevaricating and blowing hot and cold. Are they just waking up to the realization that Emefiele is in possession of firearms just only when the Courts have ordered his release? Is it within their statutory powers to charge for illegal possession of firearms?





Constitutional lawyer and Executive Director of Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN), Chima Williams, believed that the charge against Emefiele was politically motivated.





He said: Some of us see his travail as political more than any other thing. I had predicted that Emefiele will be in trouble if Tinubu becomes the president of Nigeria and there are no two ways about it, and I am not disappointed because what we thought will happen is happening.





If we are going to move our nation forward we should look beyond the individuals and look at the laws because that is what would guarantee freedom, safety and peoples respect for institutions.





Vanguard also reports that another constitutional lawyer, Mr. Evans Ufeli, said: The DSS is making a mockery of itself and the presidency over Emefieles case though his conduct as a CBN governor was nothing to write home about, the many allegations of terrorism financing and possession of firearms should be proven in court.





I think the DSS has been very unprofessional with the discharge of their duties as a security apparatus. Under our law, a suspect is presumed innocent until the contrary is proven. Why should the DSS act like it is a law unto itself under a democratic government? Whoever is leading this security agency is not working in the interest of Nigeria.





The Chair of the Board of Trustees for Amnesty International (Nigeria), Auwal Rafsanjani dismissed the charges against Emefiele as lacking substance and a distraction from more pressing issues.





Rafsanjani criticized the DSS for prioritizing such frivolous allegations while the country was dealing with severe challenges such as insecurity, economic instability, and social unrest.





It begs the question of whether this is an attempt to divert public attention from more pressing issues that require urgent resolution.





Auwal Rafsanjani, who is also the Executive Director of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, CISLAC, called on the DSS to concentrate on resolving the pressing issues affecting the country.





Director of the Initiative for Research, Innovation and Advocacy in Development, Princess Hamman-Obels emphasized the significance of following due process and respecting individual rights.




The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has arrested a teenage student, Benjamin Nnamani Daberechi, 19, with Methamphetamine drugs concealed inside crayfish.





NDLEA Director, Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi revealed this in a statement shared on the agencys Facebook page on Sunday.





Daberechi attempted to export 7.2 kilogrammes of methamphetamine concealed in a crayfish sack to Europe where he was going for undergraduate studies, the statement said.





The statement partly read, The teenage suspect was intercepted on Wednesday 12th July, during an outward clearance of passengers on Turkish Airlines flight TK 0624.





While being interviewed by operatives, Daberechi claimed he was a student on his way to Cyprus for studies, but upon a thorough search of his luggage, he was found possessing 7.2kg of whitish substance neatly concealed inside a sack of crayfish. A field test of the substance however proved it is Methamphetamine.





In the same vein, operatives of the Tincan Port Command of the Agency on Tuesday 11th July intercepted 116.5kg consignment of Colorado, a strong strain of cannabis concealed in bags hidden in a heap of used vehicles parts on the floor of a container marked FCIU 8459700, bearing three units of used vehicles imported from Toronto, Canada.





Based on intelligence, the Agency had requested a 100 per cent examination of the container which arrived at the TICT terminal of the port on 14th June. A joint examination with the Nigeria Customs, DSS, and other stakeholders on Tuesday 11th July however led to the discovery of 233 parcels of the illicit substance stashed inside travelling bags on the floor of the container, covered with used vehicle spare parts.





Another suspect, Ibrahim Analu, 28, carrying 336 grams of skunk stuffed inside computer hard drives going to Dubai, UAE, was seized at a courier firm and was arrested at Iddo motor park, Lagos while attempting to send 151,700 pills of opioids to Kaduna. A total of 4.830kg skunk was also discovered at another courier firm in a shipment from Douala, Cameroon passing through Nigeria to Oman. The drug was concealed in 10 of 12 cans of palm fruit paste, locally called Banga, packed in a carton.





Meanwhile, a Lekki Lagos-based female lawyer, Ebikpolade Helen, who specialises in the production and distribution of skuchies, a mixture of cannabis, opioids, and black currant has been arrested in a follow-up operation in Awka, Anambra state following an earlier seizure of 5kg cannabis and 12 bottles of prepared skuchies in her apartment at Lekki.





Abubakar Shuaibu was arrested on Thursday 13th July at Cappa, Mushin/Oshodi road with 86 bottles of codeine-based cough syrup weighing 8.6 litres in his Toyota bus marked FFA 241YB, two other suspects: Razak Ogunbo and Adeola Idowu were nabbed Tuesday 11th July at Ikorodu with 51 litres of scrunchies. This is even as 372kg cannabis sativa and 48 bottles of scrunchies measuring 48 litres were recovered from the home of a fleeing drug dealer at Akala, Mushin Lagos on Wednesday 12th July.




Police in Anambra State have arrested a 50-year-old woman, Ukamaka Udeugbo, for flogging and kicking her 75-year-old mother, as seen in a viral video.





The incident happened at Abagana, Njikoka Local Government Area, where the suspect was captured on video beating her mother, whom she accused of defecating in the house.





The video, which has been widely circulated on social media, has also drawn condemnation from many people.





Anambra State Police Command spokesperson, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, told news Udeugbo has been arrested and would undergo prosecution.





The police spokesperson stated: Operatives attached to Abagana Division have also rescued the aged woman being cruelly treated by another woman at Umudunu village, Abagana. She has been handed over to the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare.





The suspect, Ukamaka Udeugbo, 50, turned out to be her biological daughter in a video clip that went viral. The suspect who flogged the naked, aged woman repeatedly and threw buckets of water on her while she was lying on the floor has been arrested and detained for prosecution.





Commissioner of Police Aderemi Adeoye has directed the transfer of the case to the State CID in the public interest and has authorised that the aged woman be handed to the Commissioner for Women Affairs for adequate care by the state government. The suspect is to be arraigned in court at the end of the investigation.




The 10th Senate said reports that it padded the supplementary budget, which was passed into law last week, were mischievous.





The upper legislative chamber was reacting to reports in some online news outlets that the sum of N70 billion was padded into the supplementary budget as a gift from the executive arm of government.





In a statement issued on Sunday by the Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Yemi Adaramodu and made available to newsmen in Abuja, he wondered how the purveyors arrived at such reports, stating that passing laws was exclusive to lawmakers, hence, they needed no gift from the executive arm of government before doing their works.





The statement asserted that the passage of the Supplementary Appropriation Act was to accommodate funding for the Federal Governments Palliative for the Nigerian public, among other National demands.





Suffice to say that the passage is part of the absolute constitutional duty of the Senate.





We would therefore, not wish to join issues with the mischief and misrepresentation that a portion of the just passed Amendment Act that appropriated N70 billion was a gift to the Legislators, the statement noted.





Senator Adaramodu stressed that a visit to the suites, offices and the general structures of the National Assembly complex would reveal a yearning and the need for exigent attention. Many Senators had to bring their chairs, tables and electronics and in many cases, do sundry repairs.





The much debated allocation will not be paid to any legislator. This will be managed by the National Assembly Bureaucracy. Its pertinent to also note that the National Assembly complex does not house only the Legislators. There are thousands of workers and service providers, whose working environments need a facelift and/or the necessary tools.





Since the Assembly Complex is not owned by legislators who are merely political birds of passage, such an allocation cannot be termed by anyone as a palliative to the legislators.





The alleged padding of the palliative budget by the national assembly only exists in the minds of those who are all out to discredit the 10th Assembly. There is nothing like padding, as alleged by some misinformed media outfits.





We wish to urge fellow compatriots to see the national assembly as partners in the progress of Nigeria.




The Ohanaeze Ndigbo socio-cultural organisation has urged President Bola Tinubu to declare a state of emergence over the sit-at-home order in the Southeast.





Ohanaeze said declaring a state of emergency would send a strong signal to the Southeast governors, who would now be compelled to find a lasting solution to the order.





Recall that a Biafra agitator, Simon Ekpa, had severally declared sit-at-homes in the Southeast.





The order by Ekpa had aggravated the crisis in the Southeast, a situation that had led to an attempt to cripple the economic activities of the region.





Reacting, Ohanaezes Secretary-General, Okechukwu Isiguzoro, said the body would not allow Ekpa to destroy the economic activities of the Southeast.





Speaking with newsmen, Isiguzoro said: A desperate moment needs desperate action. We want to warn again that Ohanaeze will not fold its arms and allow miscreants to destroy economic activities in the Southeast.





If possible, where this sit-at-home is happening should be declared a state of emergency. This is what Tinubu would do that will make the Southeast governors sit up and find a lasting solution to the problem.





Ekpa has declared a second Biafra War, which Igbos are not ready to fight. Igbos are supporting Tinubu and would assist in ensuring that this rebellion is squashed.





Ekpas action is an attempt to divide Igbos, and we wonder why Peter Obi and the rest are not talking. We hope this is not a conspiracy against the president.




A one-storey building with 10 blocks of classrooms has collapsed at the Agbado District Comprehensive High School in Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State.





The building collapsed on Saturday afternoon during heavy rainfall, leaving the community in shock.





Locals said pupils and teachers might have been victims if the structure had fallen during school days.





Eyewitnesses described the incident as a calamity waiting to happen, saying it was a result of governments failure to respond to distress calls on the dilapidated building.





It was learnt that the collapsed building had been a cause for concern for over 15 years as it posed a serious threat to the lives of students and staff.





Kolawole Adelani, a welder and resident of Oke Aro, recounted: The school building collapsed on Saturday. I witnessed it. It happened when it was raining. The building had been there for more than 15 years and was plagued with structural issues. We all knew it would give way one day, but the authorities did nothing about it. Thank God, no lives were lost. This would have been a disaster if it had happened during the weekdays.





The President of the Agbado District Old Students Association (ADCHSOSA), Ganiyu Olowu, said the building collapse at his alma mater was a disaster foreseen.





Olowu disclosed that the alumni association had repeatedly alerted the Ogun State Ministry of Education about the deteriorating condition of the building and the potential danger it posed to students.





As stakeholders working with the state government to ensure holistic education across the state, we drew the attention of the former commissioner to the alarming state of the building. We were assured that a team would be sent to inspect the site. While they did visit, no action was taken on this massive classroom project initiated by Senator Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello many years ago. As we speak, there are parts of the collapsed building that can cause more havoc when students are around, he stated.





Olowu appealed to the Ministry of Education to take urgent action.




The president, Bola Tinubu and the Vice-president, Kassim Shettima has discredited the case made by the Labour Party and its presidential candidate, Peter Obi against the outcome of the February 25 presidential elections describing their arguments and witnesses testimonies as worthless.





The duo made the averments through their legal team led by Wole Olanipekun, SAN, in their final written address against the petition of Obi before the Presidential Election Petition Court.





Dismissing the petition as frivolous, the respondents poked holes in the testimonies of the various witnesses and asked the court to dismiss their testimonies as they were bogus and based on hearsay.





Recall that on March 1, INECs Chairman Professor Mahmood Yakubu announced Tinubu as the winner of the February 25 elections with 8,794,726 votes while Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi of the Labour Party were said to have scored 6,984,520 votes and 6,101,533 votes, respectively.





On March 20, Obi and LP filed a petition before the court seeking the nullification of the elections on grounds of non-qualification of the president, non-compliance with the Electoral Act, among others.





The petitioners through their team of lawyers led by Livy Uzoukwu SAN alleged that Tinubu should be disqualified from the election over a United District Court judgement and forfeiture of 460,000 US dollars suspected to be proceeds of drug trafficking.





They also alleged that Kassim Shettima was doubly nominated as the vice presidential candidate to Tinubu when he was still a senatorial candidate for the Borno Central Constituency at the time their party  The All Progressives Congress held its presidential primary election in July 2022.





It was reported that in aid of its petition, before the PEPC adjourned for adoption of the written addresses by the parties, Obi had produced thirteen witnesses including a cloud engineer, INEC ad-hoc staff, a cyber security expert and a professor of Mathematics while Tinubus team had produced one-star witness, Senator Michael Opeyemi to debunk Obis submissions.





The court had given the petitioners and the respondents ten and seven days to file their written addresses and five days for the respondents to reply on points of law.





In the written address sighted by the PUNCH and dated July 14, the 2nd and 3rd respondents led by Olanikpekun, SAN, faulted the claims of Obis witnesses including the seventh witness, Clarita Ogah who had claimed to be a cloud engineer and a member of staff at Amazon.





Olanikpekun added that though the witness wanted to demonstrate to the court that the Amazon Web Server which hosted the INEC Results Viewing portal was healthy and could not have suffered technical glitches on the election day as alleged by the electoral commission, she, instead buttressed the point that INEC site indeed suffered glitches.





The advocate emphasized how she failed to validate her claims on the status of AWS as healthy and how she affirmed INECs claims of glitches during the elections.





He stated that the witness admitted among others to the possibility of glitches, and network failures while she attempted to use the INEC site.





He said, The interesting thing about her political involvement, however, is that, in her quest to secure the admission and publication of her name by INEC for the National Assembly election, she had averred before the Federal High Court that she made several efforts to upload her name on the INEC network site, but because of network failure, her efforts proved abortive, as the INEC site crashed-this she wholly admitted under cross-examination.





This evidence corroborates the respondents case of a technological glitch on the day of the election and flattens the petitioners insinuation of the impregnability of any of the technological components.





More so, this witness admitted the several incidents of glitches and outages on the AWS sites (including the fact that as at 2021, the AWS has had over 27 episodes of outages), while identifying that if these could happen in 2021 and time past, they could happen anytime, as according to her, anything is possible. This admission by her, evaporates the entire suggestion by her, that the AWS server was beyond any form of reproach.





Meanwhile, the reports supposedly tendered by this witness were admittedly merely downloaded on the website of AWS. Therefore, the witness was not the maker of the same and could in fact, not have validly withstood cross-examination in relation to the said document.





These documents which were eventually admitted and marked as Exhibits PCJ3 (A-F) and PCJ4, however, did not indicate any key to assist this Honourable Court in identifying the connotations of the various characters on the purported reports. Without mincing words, the evidence of this witness, including the purported reports are worthless, meaningless, of no value whatsoever and fit only for the trashcan.





The witness also admitted to the various unpredictability and imperfection of technological devices, including his telephone, generator and even power supply in Nigeria. This buttresses the point that the BVAS, being a technological device, could be subject to any of these vagaries.





Tinubu further said, Obi failed to prove how the non-transmission of results in real time amounted to non-compliance or how it affected the outcome of the elections.





Dismissing her credibility as a staff of Amazon, he argued that the witness did not prove her connection with AWS as the documents which she attempted to employ as proof were unsigned affecting the relevance and even admissibility of the documents.





She was unable to properly identify herself as a staff of AWS, and this Honourable Court ought to discountenance the entire evidence of this witness on this basis.





In any event, the witness admitted that though the report she tendered relates only to AWS infrastructure, the subpoena she brought before the court was not delivered to Amazon but to her in person and that she was not in court on the authority of AWS. On this account, we submit that the evidence of this witness cannot be treated as the evidence of AWS or taken with any seriousness at all.





The predicament of PW7 and indeed the petitioners did not end there, this supposed witness was unable to present her letter of employment by AWS as the supposed unsigned letter of confirmation of employment was only manufactured by her, on 19th June 2023 (as per the date on the document), a day before the tendering of same, indicating that this document was made by a party interested, during the pendency of litigation, for the mere purpose of litigation, thus, rendering same inadmissible.





Asides from that, the senior advocate questioned the witnesses objectivity describing her as an interested party and a card-carrying member of the LP, who in fact, contested election to become a member of the House of Representatives, representing Cross River State, under the banner of the 2nd petitioner, where she lost the election.





Describing the testimonies of the various witnesses as amoebic in nature, Olanikpekun, SAN stated that the petitioners claim that there was no transmission and upload through the BVAS are inconsistent as the same in the other breadth claimed that the transmission and upload through the BVAS, they actually won the election.





Moreso, he contended that it was not the petitioners case that there was no electronic transmission and upload at all, but that the transmission was not done immediately. He said, Even more critical is the fact that the petitioners did not allege that any of the other procedures of the election, starting from the accreditation, voting, sorting, counting of votes, entry into the relevant forms, and manual transmission was not complied with.





In fact, the testimonies of PW9, PW10 and PW13 are very instructive, as despite being witnesses for the petitioners, they all testified to the fact that the only issue with the entire web of processes was that of electronic transmission and upload to the IREV through the BVAS in real-time.





The point must be made that it is not their claim that the results were not uploaded at all, but that since INEC was constrained not to be able to upload it immediately, during the election, then the election must be impeached.





He said the petitioners failed woefully to discharge the burden and obligation of proof binding on him on how the election was rigged against him.





Hence, assuming without conceding that the non-transmission through electronic means, is at all, a non-compliance, the obligation of the petitioners would still remain to answer the question, How then has the non-transmission affected the result of the election?





He added that it was wrong for the petitioners to hinge their grouse on the electronic transmission of votes when INECs electoral laws also contemplated manual transfer of votes as an option.





He said, that Obis petition did not talk about ballot box snatching, ballot box stuffing, violence, thuggery, vote buying, voters intimidation, disenfranchisement, interference by the military or the police, and such other electoral vices but that the crux of their grouse is that while the presidential election was peacefully conducted all over the country (as corroborated by their primary witnesses) and the results accurately recorded in the various Form EC8As, some unidentified results were not uploaded electronically to the INEC Election Result Viewing (IREV) Portal.





Furthermore, Tinubus lawyer argued that the remote contention of the petitioners that his clients election should also be canceled for not scoring 25% or one-quarter of the votes recorded in the Federal capital territory is not backed by any fact known to the law as the use of and in the constitution is conjunctive and not disjunctive. He argued that the FCT, according to the constitution, is regarded as one of the states adding that there is no superiority ascribed to voters in the FCT.





He contended that the FCT question should also be interpreted with Section 299 of the 1999 constitution which states that The provisions of this Constitution shall apply to the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja as if it were one of the States of the Federation.





May we draw the attention of the court to the fact that there is no punctuation (comma) in the entire section 134(2)(b) of the Constitution, particularly, immediately after the States and the succeeding and connecting the Federal Capital Territory with the States. In essence, the reading of the subsection has to be conjunctive and not disjunctive, as the Constitution clearly makes it so. Pressed further, by this constitutional imperative, the FCT is taken as if it is the 37th State, under and by virtue of section 299 of the Constitution.





With much respect, any other interpretation different from this will lead to absurdity, chaos, anarchy and alteration of the very intention of the legislature. Our courts have always adopted the purposeful approach to the interpretation of our Constitution, as exemplified in a host of decisions.





On the issue of non-qualification of the president based on the purported US forfeiture proceedings, Tinubus counsel argued that the petitioners through their witnesses were unable to point to a single mention of the word fine in any of the documents forming part of the proceedings tendered as Exhibit.





He maintained that in the absence of admittance that the judgement had been registered in Nigeria in line with the provisions of section 3 of the Reciprocal Enforcement of Foreign Judgments Ordinance and Foreign Judgment (Reciprocal Enforcement) Act.





He said the essence of the registration is that the Nigerian court must satisfy itself within the laws of Nigeria.





Upon registration, it becomes a Nigerian judgment by virtue of the order for registration, and can then be enforced, relied upon, or put in use.





Not only that, both witnesses could not provide any certificate purporting to be given under the hand of a police officer from the US, containing a copy of the sentence or order and the fingerprints of the [2nd respondent] or photographs of the fingerprints of the [said 2nd respondent]





Besides, he added that assuming without conceding to a remote connection with criminal forfeiture, he maintained that section 137 (1) (e) of the Constitution gives an expiration period of a maximum of 10 years for the subsistence of that conviction and sentence, after which the convict could contest an election to the office of President of Nigeria.





Be it noted that the said section talks of conviction and sentence, a situation which is graver and more potent than a purported civil forfeiture in a foreign land. In effect, within the Nigerian law, Exhibit PA5, purportedly delivered in 1993, 30 years back, has become effluxed by virtue of the constitutional provision.





Not done yet, and in order not to leave anyone in doubt that he has no criminal record in the US at all, he respondents tendered Exhibits RA13-RA16, all to the effect that throughout all these past years, the 2nd respondent has always enjoyed rights of ingress and egress to and from the US, a right which anyone who is burdened by a criminal forfeiture cannot enjoy.





He also maintained that forfeiture of monies traced to the bank account of Bola Tinubu was a civil proceeding and the president was not convicted.





He maintained that Obis name was not in the Labour Party membership register when he contested the poll, adding he was still part of the PDP.





The respondents in their relief urged the court to declare that Obi is constitutionally barred from participating in any election, in the very unlikely event that the election of 25th February, 2023 is voided, as the only candidates constitutionally prescribed to contest any subsequent election shall be Tinubu and the candidate of the PDP, Atiku Abubakar who came second, by scoring the next majority of votes in the highest number of States (19 States), to the 1st petitioners 16 States, and also coming second by plurality of votes, having scored 6,984,520, far and above 1st petitioners 6,101,533 votes.
Twitter has lost roughly half of its advertising revenue, according to owner Elon Musk, since he bought the social media platform for $44 billion last October.





Musk, who has been outspoken about the difficulties facing the company, broke the figures in a tweet response to a user who was giving suggestions on financing for the platform.





Were still negative cash flow, due to ~50% drop in advertising revenue plus heavy debt load, the billionaire tweeted Saturday.





Need to reach positive cash flow before we have the luxury of anything else, he added, without further elaboration.





Insider Intelligence has reported that Twitter was set to earn less than $3 billion in revenue in 2023, down one-third from 2022.





Changes instituted by Musk since his takeover of Twitter have turned off users and advertisers alike.





Earlier this month, Musk announced that Twitter was limiting verified accounts to reading 10,000 tweets a day, in a bid to address extreme levels of data scraping and system manipulation by third-party platforms.





Non-verified users  the free accounts that make up the majority of users  are limited to reading 1,000 tweets per day, while new unverified accounts are limited to 500 tweets.





Twitter has also said TweetDeck, a popular program that allows users to monitor several accounts at once, will only be available to verified users from next month.





The changes came as Threads, an app launched by Facebook parent Meta as a rival to Twitter, registered more than 100 million users in its first five days.





Earlier this year, the artificial intelligence app ChatGPT, created by OpenAI, took two months to reach the same number of active users.





According to some estimates, Threads has now reached 150 million users, with India leading the way, boosted by its link to Instagram which gives it a built-in audience of more than two billion users and spares the platform the challenge of starting from scratch.





Twitter is thought to have around 200 million regular users but it has suffered repeated technical failures since Musk bought the platform and sacked thousands of staff.





Many have expressed privacy concerns over Meta CEO Mark Zuckerbergs new platform, which asks users to give Meta permission to track them closely across the internet.





Those demands have delayed the launch of Threads in Europe, where new legislation limits the ability of Meta to track and share data across its family of platforms.





Its business model revolves around sucking up personal data to use for targeted ads and Threads accounts are linked to Instagram accounts.





But few expect Threads to maintain its embargo in Europe indefinitely.





European law expert Alexandre de Streel said big tech firms would probably be hammering out compliance issues with the EU over the coming months.





I think its more a question of time to understand the scope of the legislation and have a dialogue with the commission, he said.





Musk has also threatened to sue Meta for stealing trade secrets and intellectual property, claims denied by the company.





In a letter to Zuckerberg, published by the online news outlet Semafor this week, Musks lawyer also accused the company of recruiting dozens of former Twitter employees who had and continue to have access to Twitters trade secrets and other highly confidential information.





The two men have been bickering for years, but things have become heated since it became clear Meta intended to compete with Twitter.
PHNOM PENH, July 16 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia has pinned hopes on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement and bilateral Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) to boost its exports of garment, footwear and travel (GFT) goods.

Cambodian Footwear Association president Ly Khun Thai said the Southeast Asian country has seen a significant rise in the exports of shoes to China and South Korea since the RCEP and Cambodia's bilateral FTAs with China and South Korea entered into force last year.

"There are many countries under the RCEP agreement. With preferential tariffs, we expect to receive more purchase orders for our GFT products from those RCEP member countries," he told a local TV channel on Friday.

The current major markets for Cambodia's GFT goods are Europe, the United States and Canada.

His comments came after the kingdom recorded a drop by almost a fifth in the export of GFT products during the first half of 2023.

The country exported GFT goods worth 5.26 billion U.S. dollars from January to June this year, down 18.7 percent from 6.47 billion dollars in the same period last year, according to the General Department of Customs and Excise's report.

The GFT goods industry is the largest foreign exchange earner for Cambodia. The sector consists of roughly 1,100 factories and branches, employing about 750,000 workers, mostly female.

Cambodian Ministry of Commerce's undersecretary of state and spokesman Penn Sovicheat said the RCEP and Cambodia's bilateral FTAs with China and South Korea are key contributors to boosting the country's exports.

"These free trade deals have given and will continue to give a boost to our export growth in the long term," he told Xinhua on Sunday.

Sovicheat reiterated that these trade pacts will help Cambodia graduate from its least-developed country status by 2027, achieve its ambitious goals of becoming an upper-middle-income country in 2030 and a high-income nation by 2050.

The RCEP comprises 15 Asia-Pacific countries, including the 10 ASEAN (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations) member states of Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, and their five trading partners, namely China, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand. 
Nearly 29% fewer homes were listed for sale in New Jersey in June compared to the same month last year as part of a national trend showing tighter real estate market inventories, data from Realtor.com showed.

Across New Jersey, 9,330 homes landed on the real estate market in June, at a median listing price of $550,000. New Jersey saw the 12th steepest decrease in new listings nationwide compared to June 2022, according to the data.

Nevada, Arizona and Rhode Island saw the largest declines in new home listings since last year. All states saw home listings decrease .
The Boss is finally on his way back home.

After touring with the E Street Band around Europe, Springsteen is heading back to New Jersey as part of his stadium tour. Springsteen will be performing three shows at MetLife Stadium from Aug. 30-Sept. 3.

The second leg of The Boss North American tour will begin on Aug. 9 in Chicago and wrap up on Dec. 12 in San Francisco.

Tickets to Springsteens New Jersey shows are sold out on Ticketmaster, but plenty are still available on the secondary market.

At the time of publication, the cheapest ticket we could find, before fees, for one of his MetLife Stadium shows was $101 on Vivid Seats.

Others sites like StubHub, TicketNetwork, TicketCity and MegaSeats have tickets for sale, as does the Ticketmaster Verified Resale market, where tickets are hovering around $150.

First-time Vivid Seats users can save $20 on ticket orders over $200 by entering promo code NJ20 at checkout, and TicketCity users can save $15 on orders over $400 using promo code TCITYSAVE15 at checkout.

A complete list of the Bruce Springsteens tour dates is available here.

More huge tours in 2023

Bruce Springsteen is among many big names still on tour this year.

Here are a few more upcoming ones you wont want to miss:

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Its not rare to see a harbor seal lounging on a rock or in a banana-like position on the beach.

On Thursday, a female harbor seal was back to full strength and, to the delight of first responders, doing something else at the Jersey Shore: shuffling back home.

The adult seal, which stranded on Memorial Day, recovered after more than six weeks of treatment at the Brigantine-based Marine Mammal Stranding Center, staff there said. She was not given a name.

A video by the center featured her much-anticipated return home.

The nonprofit is authorized by the state and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrations National Marine Fisheries under a federal permit to rescue and rehabilitate marine mammals. Thursdays release marked the centers final seal release of the 2022-2023 season.

Seal season typically runs from January through May and then they may be released as late as July and sometimes even August, depending on what their injuries or illnesses are, Sheila Dean, director of the Marine Mammal Stranding Center, said Sunday.

READ MORE: Baby seal released after crossing busy N.J. road with help from local police

Like all marine mammal, harbor seals  which live as long as 30 years and weigh as much as 285 pounds when adults  are protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act.

Experts have noted harbor seals sometimes make their way close to the Jersey Shore to chase down prey, like bunker and flounder.

The harbor seal released Thursday, which is between 3 and 5 years old, stranded in Barnegat Light on Memorial Day, a staff member at the center said in a patient update last month. The cause of the stranding was not disclosed.

When found, the harbor seal had a laceration on her right side and was slow-moving, volunteers at the center previously said.

She was brought back to (the Marine Mammal Stranding Center) for fluids and supportive care, and to begin treatment for her wound. Her intake weight was 121 pounds, the center said in a statement.

On Thursday, July 13, 2023, a female harbor seal was back to full strength and shuffling back into the ocean at Sandy Hook Bay after more than six weeks of recoveryPhoto courtesy of the Marine Mammal Stranding Center

On Thursday, July 13, 2023, a female harbor seal was back to full strength and shuffling back into the ocean at Sandy Hook Bay after more than six weeks of recoveryPhoto courtesy of the Marine Mammal Stranding Center

On Thursday, July 13, 2023, a female harbor seal was back to full strength and shuffling back into the ocean at Sandy Hook Bay after more than six weeks of recoveryPhoto courtesy of the Marine Mammal Stranding Center

According to officials at the Marine Mammal Stranding Center, the harbor seal released Thursday weighed a healthy 148.8 pounds  gaining nearly 30 pounds during her recovery period. She was tagged #63 on her right rear flipper.

A video of the release taken midday Thursday showed center volunteers loading the seal via a stretcher into a custom-built crate and then onto a response truck. She was then released on the sand at a remote fishing beach in Sandy Hook, in Gateway National Park to slowly work her way back into the water.

The adult harbor seal is one of at least nineteen seals  including several grey seal pups  the center has helped to rehabilitate since Dec. 28, 2022. The center has responded to over 5,900 animals in need since opening in 1978, it states on its website.

After a brief look back, the latest reinvigorated seal made her way deeper into the Atlantic Ocean. Concluding a video to highlight the occasion, the Marine Mammal Stranding Center said: Have a safe journey big girl!

Multiple people online thanked the center for its work.

Happiest of outcomes for this girl!! Thank you for all that you do for our sick and injured marine mammals and sea turtles, one user posted on Facebook.

Anyone who sees a seal or another marine mammal is advised to steer clear of them as it can impact a medical response. They should call the Marine Mammal Stranding Center on its 24-hour hotline at 609-266-0538.

Theres plenty of prey out there for them to eat, so it is not unusual for some of the harbor seals to remain in the area throughout the summer, the center said.

On Thursday, July 13, 2023, a female harbor seal was back to full strength and shuffling back into the ocean at Sandy Hook Bay after more than six weeks of recoveryPhoto courtesy of the Marine Mammal Stranding Center

On Thursday, July 13, 2023, a female harbor seal was back to full strength and shuffling back into the ocean at Sandy Hook Bay after more than six weeks of recovery. Here, she takes one more look back.Photo courtesy of the Marine Mammal Stranding Center

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The huge, Norwegian-flagged vessel, loaded with hundreds of used, broken-down cars and other vehicles, was preparing to leave port when the chief mate saw the smoke pouring from a ventilation duct.

The fire rapidly grew in intensity, beating back repeated efforts by the crew to contain it. The black smoke in one stairwell would become so thick that the chief engineer thought the lights were out and as firefighters finally arrived on the scene, an explosion shook the ship with a loud roar likened to the blast of a jet engine.

It took eight days to extinguish the blaze. But by the time it was over the ship and its cargo, valued at $40 million, was declared a total loss.

Three years before a fire claimed two firefighters as it raced through the Grande Costa dAvorio in Port Newark earlier this month, a strikingly similar fire in Jacksonville, Fla., spread unchecked within another car-carrying ship  the Hoegh Xiamen  which had in fact been chartered by Grimaldi Deep Sea, the same Italian company that operated the Grande Costa.

The National Transportation Safety Board later determined that an electrical fault from an improperly disconnected battery in one of the vehicles loaded aboard the Hoegh Xiamen led to the explosion and blaze that injured nine firefighters in June 2020.

The U.S. Coast Guard and the NTSB have yet to determine a cause for the Port Newark fire, which was finally extinguished on Tuesday, six days after it began. The ongoing investigation is expected to continue for well over a year. Grimaldi, through a spokesman, said in a statement it was working with the Coast Guard, as well as salvage and other experts, on a full investigation which will determine the cause.

But experts, including some close to the response efforts in Newark, say the events surrounding the Hoegh Xiamen offer a possible roadmap as to what may have happened aboard the Grande Costa.

The two ships  though not identical, crewed by different companies and built by different shipyards  were both known as RO/ROs, or roll on/roll off car-carrying freighters. Essentially huge sea-going parking garages, the vessels operate like ferries that carry wheeled cargo such as cars, motorcycles, forklifts, trucks, and buses. Vehicles are driven or towed up ramps within the ships and then lashed and secured to the decks for transport.

Such ships, however, can be vulnerable to fire.

RO/ROs are extremely dangerous, due to the large open areas and nature of the cargo, said Salvatore Mercogliano, a maritime history expert and professor at Campbell University in Buies Creek, N.C.

Car fires aboard ships are typically contained at sea by suppression systems that flood compartments with carbon dioxide to smother the flames. However, that only works if the deck is sealed and ventilation is secure, Mercogliano explained. In Newark and Jacksonville, both ships they were in the process of loading. In the case of the Hoegh Xiamen, the vessels fire detection systems had been deactivated during that loading, investigators later found.

In many ways, there is a thin margin to suppress any fire on a ship, no matter the type, until it gets away, he said.

At least five other RO/RO ships have had accidents since 2015, including a 2019 fire aboard Grimaldis Grande Europa, according to federal data.

A rush of thick smoke

The Hoegh Xiamen was a 10-year-old vehicle carrier built in China, operated by a Norwegian company and chartered by Grimaldi Deep Sea to transport used vehicles to West Africa, according to the NTSB report on the Jacksonville ship fire.

The 600-foot ship was docked at the Horizon Terminal on Blount Island in the Port of Jacksonville with a crew of 21 on the afternoon of June 4, 2020, when its crew had just finished the loading of cars from the dock. They were preparing for a 5 p.m. departure, en route to Baltimore to load the last of its transatlantic cargo, when the fire broke out while they struggled to stow the stern ramp that serves as the entrance for vehicles being brought on board.

Investigators said the ships chief mate was the first to notice smoke coming from the housing around a cargo deck ventilation exhaust stack on the top deck. He alerted the captain and the fire detection system was reactivated, which immediately set off the ships alarms.

When the chief engineer got to deck 8 in the stairwell, he observed heavy smoke. He believed that the lights were out because it was so dark, but when he asked the chief mate to turn on the lights, the chief mate replied that the lights were already on, the NTSB report noted. From the stairwell, he opened the door to deck 8 and saw a vehicle on fire at the aft end of deck 8 and strong smoke, which forced him to evacuate.

Crew firefighting teams attempted to enter deck 8 to fight the fire. But according to the chief engineer, they were met by a rush of thick smoke that poured out of the door, preventing them from entering. With the arrival of Jacksonville firefighters, the crew suggested that the fire-extinguishing carbon dioxide system be triggered into decks 7 and 8, where they believed the fire to be concentrated. It had little effect.

The NTSB said firefighters were finally able to enter the compartment and encountered two smoldering vehicles. While they stretched hoses from their own trucks to begin fighting the fire, the heat seemed to increase substantially despite cooling the cars.

According to a federal lawsuit filed by the firefighters who were injured, the interior soon turned hellish.

The deck was full of the smoke; the temperatures reaching in excess of 1,000 degrees. Car alarms were sounding and headlights flashing from the incinerating cars as the fire and heat spread inside the dark, smoky, closed, and cramped cargo hold decks, wrote attorneys for the the men.

Not long afterward, an explosion of superheated air within one ventilation shaft shot a tall column of smoke from the stern on the top deck, sending debris flying as firefighters reported possible multiple explosions of varying magnitude. Nine firefighters who were working in the stairwell or who had been staged on deck 5 were burned, five of them seriously.

The fire continued to burn for 8 days, destroying the interior of cargo decks 7 through 11 and deck 12, including the ships accommodations. The ship was later scrapped.

In its findings, the NTSB determined that the probable cause of the fire was the ineffective oversight of longshoremen by Grimaldi as well as the stevedoring company that had loaded the vehicles aboard the Hoegh Xiamen, and the failure to follow Grimaldis own vehicle battery securement procedures. It said that resulted in an electrical fault from an improperly disconnected battery in a used vehicle on cargo deck 8.

Contributing factors included a delay in the detection of the fire blamed on the crew not immediately reactivating the vessels fire detection system after the completion of loading, according to the NTSB.

At the same time, the shoreside fire departments response to the accident site was delayed as well because the captain of the Hoegh Xiamen did not have contact information for search and rescue authorities and did not know how to report a fire to local authorities  including who to call, what number to dial, or which frequency to use.

The NTSB took note that the transportation of used vehicles, such as those that were loaded on vessels like the Hoegh Xiamen, is currently excepted from hazardous materials regulations when a vessel has a stowage area specifically designed and approved for carrying vehicles. But It added that used vehicles are often damaged and present an elevated risk of fire.

Mercogliano, meanwhile, said older cars are not the only potential shipboard time bombs. New EV vehicles, he said, are equally if not more dangerous because of the lithium-ion batteries that carries them.

High-voltage lithium-ion batteries pose a risk if damaged of uncontrolled increases in temperature and pressure, known as thermal runaway, which can lead to fires, according to the NTSB.

Last year, another car carrier, the Felicity Ace  loaded with about 4,000 vehicles, including high-end Bentleys and Porsches  caught fire and sank about 253 miles off the Azores  just six days after it departed from Emden, Germany, according to the company that managed the vessel.

Potentially highly flammable lithium-ion batteries pose a growing risk for container shipping and car carriers, said global insurer Allianz in a recent assessment of worldwide shipping losses. This battery market is expected to grow by over 30% annually over the next decade.

According to Grimaldi Deep Sea, there were no electric vehicles aboard the Grande Costa dAvorio.

Referring to the 2020 fire in Jacksonville, the company said we reviewed our safety measures and found they were in line with top industry standards, but we continuously review these measures as a precaution.

Asked whether the Port Newark fire suggested a design flaw in RO/RO ships it operates, the company added through a spokesman, we operate standard-designed and approved RO/RO vessels by one of the leading class societies in the maritime industry.

Problems in fighting the most recent fire, meanwhile  including issues related to the hoses that were available  have raised other questions about whether Newark firefighters were prepared for the situation that confronted them aboard the ship, or why they were ordered on board.

Fireboats battling the raging fire aboard the cargo ship Grande Costa DAvorio in Port Newark, where two Newark firefighters died.Andrew Mills | NJ Advance Media

Newark firefighters Augusto Augie Acabou, 45, and Wayne Bear Brooks Jr., 49, were killed when they were trapped on one of the cargo decks. Five others were injured.

Coast Guard Capt. Zeita Merchant, the commander of the Port of New York and New Jersey and the federal on-scene coordinator, said on Tuesday after officially declaring that the fire is out, that a comprehensive formal investigation is now underway into the fire aboard the Grande Costa.

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 added.

Salvage operations could take one to two months, said Merchant.

Will the Grande Costa dAvorio be scrapped or repaired?

It is too early to tell, replied Grimaldi officials.

__

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After a rocky take-off to the start of the summer travel season that saw thousands of travelers delayed or stranded in airports due to canceled flights, travel experts warned that flyers could see more of the same.

In many cases, a canceled or delays flight can represent an inconvenience, but those traveling for an emergency reason, a problem can be a life-or-death issue.

Drew Heftye and his 5-year-old son were scheduled to fly non-stop from Newark Airport to Oregon on June 26 in an emergency flight to say a final goodbye to his mom. Due to delays of multiple hours and a canceled flight, they were unable to get there before she died on June 30, he said.

Their original flight was delayed for three hours, then they boarded the plane and waited on the tarmac for two hours. After another two-hour wait, the flight crew ran out of hours and the flight was canceled around 1:45 a.m., Heftye said.

My son and I returned home and called first thing in the morning after receiving an email that they could not reschedule our flight, Heftye said. The first nonstop was Saturday July 1. We booked it. However, it didnt matter. She died Thursday (morning). We would have had to leave on Wednesday for any chance to say goodbye.

Despite that, Heftye praised Alaska Airlines customer service for being kind and understanding. But due to the volume of canceled flights to be rescheduled, they could not even get me out until days later, he said.

The cycle of bad weather, flight delays and cancellations that affected Heftye and his family and thousands more is likely to repeat itself this summer, especially when there is bad weather, said experts interviewed by NJ Advance Media. Bad weather exposes the underlying problems that both airlines and the Federal Aviation Administration have, they said.

While it is not inevitable, it would not surprise me if there is another airline meltdown this summer. With pandemic restrictions behind us, a record number of people are flying this summer, said Eric Jones, co-founder of the Vacationer.com travel website and a math professor at Rowan University.

More passengers, 12.9 million in total, went through the regions three major airports in May 2023 than in any May in its history, said Port Authority of New York and New Jersey officials, which operates the three metro area airports. Officials predicted more record-breaking travel volumes this summer.

Despite an ongoing pilot and essential staff shortage, airlines still over scheduled themselves, leaving no room for error, he said adding a bad storm can expose those problems.

On Friday, Newark, LaGuardia and Teterboro airports were experiencing flight delays due to thunderstorms and weather conditions, the FAA reported. Newark and JFK had the most flight delays in the nation on Friday morning, according to Flight Aware.

Bad weather is merely the catalyst. While planes can fly when its raining, severe weather like bad thunderstorms and snow storms will often cause airlines to delay and cancel flights, Jones said. Issues like over scheduling, lack of essential staff, and outdated technology are brought to the surface.

Delays cause a cascading problem because aircraft and crews are not in position for the next flight, said Kerry M. Tan, Loyola University associate professor of economics.

A weather delay in New York means that a family visiting Denver sees clear skies but is unable to board their flight home to Los Angeles, he said. Airlines are facing pilot shortages, which makes it harder to replace the displaced pilots and creates an even worse logistical nightmare.

Shortages of air traffic controllers is also a factor that United Airlines officials took the FAA to task for. A June 2023 U.S. Inspector Generals report found staffing levels below the 85% the agency deems acceptable in some facilities.

Airlines also face similar staffing issues.

Despite a chronic pilot shortage, airlines ambitiously scheduled more flights this summer than they can reliably operate, Tan said. Both the FAA and airlines need to find a way to fix their staffing shortage.

That could mean higher wages for air traffic controllers and pilots and higher airfares, but Tan said passengers might be willing to pay if that means they get to their destination on time.

Outdated technology across the board from airlines and the FAA is another issue contributing to problems when flights are are delayed or cancelled, Jones said.

He cited a 1990s era internal scheduling system used by Southwest that could not automatically assign pilots and flight attendants to new flights after a large number of cancellations during the Christmas holiday.

That led to things having to be done manually, which could not be done in a timely fashion, he said.

In February, Southwest officials testified to Congress that a new staff scheduling system went on line that month, ABC News reported

The FAA has issues with its Notice to Air Missions technology that provides important safety and hazard information to pilots, which Jones said is also outdated.

In addition to failing at times, it also sometimes overburdens pilots with too much irrelevant information, which makes it harder to pinpoint the important stuff, he said. Both airlines and the FAA need to modernize their technology to be better equipped to handle potential meltdown events.

The FAA is working to modernize its Notice to Air Missions technology, simplify and increase the accuracy of information provided, according to the agency website.

Fixing those issues doesnt mean the end of canceled flights and delays, but meltdowns would be fewer, Jones said.

Airlines just cannot recover quickly enough at the moment when things start going bad, he said.

What recourse do passengers have if their flight is canceled?

I personally tend to fly early in the morning whenever possible since airlines are better able to reset their fleet and staff overnight, Tan said.

If the worst happens and your flight is canceled or significantly delayed, U.S. Department of Transportation regulations entitles passengers to a cash refund, Jones said.

This includes non-refundable tickets as well as extra costs such as seats and bags, he said. If the airline tries to offer you a credit instead of a refund, you should demand a cash refund because you are entitled to it.

Most airlines will rebook passengers from cancelled flights at no additional charge on the next available flight, Jones said.

Unfortunately, flyers do not have much recourse under federal regulations after that.

Travel insurance can reimburse passengers for expenses that airlines are not required to pick-up if a flight is canceled, Jones said. Trip delay and trip cancellation insurance provides reimbursement for lodging and meals. Some coverage depends on length of delay, and some benefits dont start unless an overnight stay is required, he said.

Which credit card passengers purchase their ticket with also can help, because some offer travel insurance benefits.

Many credit cards provide travel insurance benefits when booking your trip with that card, Jones said, adding he prefer this because he doesnt have to purchase a separate insurance policy.

Finally, you can ask the airline what theyll do for a customer whos being inconvenienced, he said.

It never hurts to ask. If you are stranded because of a bad storm, ask your airline to compensate you for a hotel room and meals, he said.

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By Afsheen A. Shamsi

Recently a group of Muslim Americans issued a statement asserting that same-sex relations and being transgender are forbidden in Islam. They claim that there is universal consensus on the issue. As a Muslim ally to the LGBTQ+ community, I want to share a different perspective.

Like other Abrahamic traditions, the authors of the statement, called Navigating Differences: Clarifying Sexual and Gender Ethics in Islam, refer to the story of Prophet Lut/Lot to justify their claims. But progressive scholars in these faith traditions have been contending this is a misinterpretation of LGBTQ+ issues. Progressive scholars believe that in the story of Prophet Lut/Lot, God was not condemning same-sex relations but inhospitality and rape.

As a practicing Muslim and ally of the LGBTQ+ community, I agree with the progressive scholars and align with the inclusive and human-rights-centered interpretation of Islam shared by Muslims for Progressive Values (MPV). Their perspective is consistent with my understanding of the inclusive, compassionate and justice-oriented spirit of Islam.

Muslims believe that the Quran is the divine word of God as revealed to the Prophet Muhammad through the Angel Jibraeel/Gabriel. In chapter 49 of the Quran, God states, We made you into peoples and tribes so that you may (get to) know one another. This verse of the Quran establishes for all Muslims the importance of diversity, inclusion and equity. I believe this command of God also extends to the LGBTQ+ community.

I believe that all human beings are Gods creations and that we were intentionally created with differences. Our diversity is intended by God to be understood, appreciated and valued. I certainly dont believe that God would create us with differences and then condemn some of us to lives of hatred, bullying, persecution, mental and emotional torture, and even death.

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The Trevor Project, an organization whose mission is to end suicide among LGBTQ young people reports that suicide is the second leading cause of death among young people aged 10 to 24 and LGBTQ youth are at significantly increased risk. LGBTQ youth are more than four times as likely to attempt suicide than their peers. The Trevor Project estimates that more than 1.8 million LGBTQ youth (13-24) seriously consider suicide each year in the U.S.  and at least one attempts suicide every 45 seconds.

These are not merely statistics but whats at stake here are the lives of young people including young Queer Muslims. I cannot begin to imagine the harm that is inflicted on young people who are growing up in households and communities where they are told that their very existence is a sin.

Chapter 5 of the Quran firmly establishes the sanctity of all human life. It states, Whoever takes a life, it will be as if they killed all of humanity; and whoever saves a life, it will be as if they saved all of humanity. As a community leader who has over the course of my personal and professional career advocated for justice, equity, and the rights of the Muslim, Black, Latinx, Asian American, and immigrant communities, I feel called upon by our Islamic values to advocate for the rights of the LGBTQ+ community and especially young Queer people who are at tremendous risk.

The authors of Navigating Differences need to understand that the very rights afforded to the LGBTQ+ community actually protect historically marginalized communities like ours as well. In a pluralistic society like America, it is very dangerous to start to curtail the rights of any community as today if we decide to target the LGBTQ+ community, tomorrow it will be the Muslims and anyone else who is perceived as different.

As a practicing Muslim, I also refuse to align with the religious right, which stands for everything Islam condemns including white supremacy, hatred, oppression, racism, and centuries of injustice against all historically marginalized communities including the Muslim community.

Our beloved Prophet Muhammad calls upon us to raise our voices against injustice in all its forms and to stand up for the human rights of all and I believe that includes the LGBTQ+ community.

Afsheen A. Shamsi lives in Princeton and is the vice president of communications & marketing of Union Theological Seminary. She wrote this in her personal capacity and not as the representative of any organization.

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To kill Russian soldiers in their trenches, conventional artillery shells must land precisely within the trench. A near-miss is not good enough, since the blast wave passes over the trench, missing soldiers who are taking cover.

Not so cluster bombs. They explode above the battlefield, each one spraying 72 bomblets over an area the size of a city block, and so are far more likely to penetrate a trench. U.S. Army data shows that, during the Vietnam War, artillery with cluster bombs was eight times as lethal as conventional artillery.

And Ukraine is running out of conventional artillery shells, firing them at a pace that U.S. factories cannot keep up with. The Pentagon has an estimated 3 million cluster munitions ready to go. So, from a strictly military standpoint, President Bidens decision to send cluster bombs to Ukraine is compelling.

But what about the carnage left behind? Many of the bomblets dont explode right away, and wind up killing and maiming civilians even years later, including children who are drawn to the shiny objects in backyards and nearby fields. The Pentagon claims a dud rate of 2.3 percent, which many experts consider implausibly low. But even if you accept that, it means each shell would leave behind about 2 duds. The initial shipment is for 10,000 shells, so thats 20,000 duds. And thats just the first wave.

The use of cluster munitions in areas with civilians makes an attack indiscriminate, in violation of international humanitarian law, and possibly a war crime, says Human Rights Watch, the lead organization in the global effort to ban cluster bombs.

This is a tough one. To sort it out, I went to a guy I knew would keenly appreciate both sides, Tom Malinowski, the former Democratic Congressman from the 7th District.

Malinowski is a unique position. Hes a passionate supporter of Ukraine in its fight for survival. And hes former Washington director for Human Rights Watch.

What does he think? With reluctance, send the cluster bombs.

Sometimes in life you have to make painfully hard choices, and this is one of those times, he says. I advocated for a Congressional ban on transferring these weapons. So yeah, its a tough one for me. Whatever decision is made here, it undermines an important norm. There is harm done either way, and we have to decide what the least bad decision is.

For Malinowski, the effectiveness of the cluster bombs in penetrating trenches is not compelling enough to override concerns about civilian casualties. And its not just Ukrainian civilians hes worried about. Other countries are watching, he says, and are more likely to use clusters in their own conflicts if America pushes this door open wider in Ukraine.

If the only argument is that these are slightly more effective in clearing trenches, that would not be enough, he says.

But if Ukraine runs out of conventional artillery, he worries the Russians will win the war. Thats a human rights concern, too.

The problem is that were running out of everything else, he says.

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Malinowski faults Biden for not ramping up production of conventional artillery shells before now, creating this agonizing choice.

This is a tragedy born of our failure to put defense industries on a war footing, he says. So now, to defend one existentially important international norm, we are forced to shred another one.

As expected, thoughtful stuff, from a guy whose family fled communist Poland when he was a child.

Ukraines supporters add that its use of cluster bombs wont increase the danger to civilians much. The Russians have been firing their own cluster bombs already with failure rates up to 40 percent, and even their conventional artillery shells fail to explode 20 percent of the time. Either way, the field will have to be carefully cleared once the fighting stops. And they vow to fire the clusters only on the battlefield, and to keep careful records.

The issue has split up the New Jersey delegation, with Reps. Josh Gottheimer, Frank Pallone, Donald Payne, and Bill Pascrell all supporting Bidens decision. Rep. Bonnie Watson-Coleman is opposed, and Rep. Andy Kim says hes opposed for now but may change his mind. Rep. Mikie Sherrill chose to punt for now, not taking a position, and I got no answer at all from Sens. Cory Booker or Robert Menendez, or from GOP Reps. Tom Kean Jr. and Chris Smith.

Only one member decided to effectively side with Vladimir Putin by voting to cut off all military aid to Ukraine -- Rep. Jeff Van Drew, the former Democrat who almost always voted with Nancy Pelosi before the political winds in South Jersey changed. Where he left his soul is anyones guess.

But it points to a threat to Ukraine that goes well beyond this temporary shortage of artillery. GOP support for aid to Ukraine continues to erode, with a recent Pew survey finding that 44 percent of Republican voters now saying that were sending too much help.

Thats sweet music for Putin, who is betting his dictatorship can outlast us, allowing him to march on Kyiv and fulfill his dark dream to rule Ukraine.

He may be right -- especially if Republicans win in 2024.

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So are they coming for your gas stove? Or arent they?

Let us ponder that in light of The Confessions of St. Augustine. Thats the autobiography, familiar to every Catholic-school kid, in which the saint describes the temptations of his wild youth and how he dealt with them.

Lord, make me chaste, the great man prayed. But not yet.

Our governor didnt go to Catholic school, but Phil Murphy seems to have picked up that philosophy when it comes to energy policy.

We saw that last week when the state Board of Public Utilities postponed action on the regulations needed to achieve the goal Murphy stated in an executive order earlier this year.

I set a goal that 100 percent of the electricity sold in the State be derived from clean sources of electricity by January 1, 2035, the governor said in a major policy speech in February.

Thats the sort of thing that might sound great on the presidential campaign trail, where the governor is likely to end up in the event President Biden realizes he needs to spend more time with his family. But here at home, it might give ammunition to Republicans in a year when all 120 seats in the Legislature are up for grabs.

To do great things tomorrow requires action today. And the required action in this case is a move to electrification of homes and commercial buildings.

Dont worry, said the Guv in that big speech: No one is coming for anyones gas stove. No one is walking into anyones kitchen. No one is going to be forced to do anything, in any way.

That sounds good. But if the BPU adopts regulations that prohibit the extension of natural gas lines, then any new construction would be forced to rely on electricity for heating and cooling, said Republican state Sen. Tony Bucco of Morris County.

In a release on the BPUs action, Bucco said there wasnt a single mention of the expected cost or of the mandates that are likely to be necessary to force the conversion of the 80 percent of New Jersey homes that currently rely on clean natural gas for heating, cooking, and hot water.

When I called him, Bucco said that even if those mandates dont immediately apply to existing homes, the owners might be required to implement them in remodeling.

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Theyll have to move to a completely electrical system and nobody knows what the ultimate cost will be, he said.

I ran that by state Sen. Bob Smith of Piscataway, who is the Democrats point man on the environment. Back in 2021 when the administrations Energy Master Plan was introduced, Smith offered a frank assessment of how it would have to be implemented.

There is a way to deal with this climate-change thing and it is to electrify everything and make sure the electricity is from a renewable source, Smith told me at the time.

In this Senate session, Smith is sponsoring legislation that would put teeth in the Department of Environmental Protections enforcement powers. It calls for the DEP to adopt rules and regulations that restrict the sale and use of fossil fuel types or establish greenhouse emissions limits from any stationary source of greenhouse gas emissions and also include any other restrictions on greenhouse gas emissions deemed by the DEP to be necessary.

But what will replace all those sources of power? Many Democrats dodge that question. Not Smith. Nuclear power is the best source for reliable, carbon-free electricity, he said, and Americans need to get over their fear of it.

The people in France are not worried about nuclear power. Seventy percent of their power is nuclear, Smith said. France is ahead of its time.

As for New Jersey, were behind the times, Smith said. We shut down the Oyster Creek nuclear plant just as carbon emissions were becoming a major issue.

Smith told me he just returned from an exploratory trip to the Idaho National Laboratory, which is developing a new technology call the Small Modular Nuclear Reactor. This is a type of reactor made up of modules that can be added up to produce an amount of electricity roughly equal to what Oyster Creek used to put out. But it would take up a lot less space.

Thats the sort of thing that should be examined in the plan now before the BPU, he said.

Were looking for energy policies that could save us from the end of the world, Smith told me.

That sounds a bit apocalyptic to me. I just want to save my gas stove.

But at least Smith has a plan.

As for Murphy, I would recommend the governor heed another recommendation from Augustine:

You aspire to great things? Begin with little ones.

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
DENVER  Theres been a little change in how the Yankees are using their two catchers for the last month. Now, Kyle Higashioka is splitting time almost evenly with 2022 All-Star Jose Trevino, who mostly had been starting three out of every five games.

Why? Part of the reason is Higashioka has become much more of an offensive threat of late than Trevino, who had a career year at the plate last season, his first with the Yankees.
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A Palestinian worker works near a lead sarcophagus inside a cemetery in northern Gaza Strip, July 16, 2023. A second Roman-era sarcophagus made out of lead was recently uncovered at an excavation site of a cemetery located in the northern Gaza Strip, the enclave's Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities said Sunday. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

GAZA, July 16 (Xinhua) -- A second Roman-era sarcophagus made out of lead was recently uncovered at an excavation site of a cemetery located in the northern Gaza Strip, the enclave's Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities said Sunday.

"The new sarcophagus was found during excavation work inside a cemetery discovered in March 2022 in the northern Gaza Strip," Jamal Abu Rida, director-general of the ministry, told Xinhua.

Several other antiquities, including the first sarcophagus made out of lead, pottery jars, and glass vessels, had been unearthed in the cemetery before this discovery, according to Abu Rida.

"The first sarcophagus was found in February and was transferred to the ministry's museum in Gaza," said the official, adding his ministry had invited French experts to Gaza for research on the sarcophagus.

Technical teams from the ministry have been working with foreign experts to analyze the cultural manifestations of the findings, Abu Rida noted.

In March 2022, the ministry discovered a 2,000-year-old cemetery covering an area of 4,000 square meters that was later found to include 125 tombs of different shapes and sizes, according to Abu Rida.

Home to more than 2 million people, the Israel-blockaded Gaza Strip, run by the Islamist Palestinian armed group Hamas, is one of the oldest regions known to history as a trade nexus for Arab merchants. 

A Palestinian archaeologist works on a sarcophagus inside a cemetery in northern Gaza Strip, July 16, 2023. A second Roman-era sarcophagus made out of lead was recently uncovered at an excavation site of a cemetery located in the northern Gaza Strip, the enclave's Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities said Sunday. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

Palestinian workers work near a lead sarcophagus inside a cemetery in northern Gaza Strip, July 16, 2023. A second Roman-era sarcophagus made out of lead was recently uncovered at an excavation site of a cemetery located in the northern Gaza Strip, the enclave's Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities said Sunday. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)
Hey Blake,

I know PJs Coffee is proud of its New Orleans roots. Where was the first coffee house located and when did it open?

Dear reader,

PJs carries the initials of its founder, Phyllis Jordan, who opened her first coffee house at 7713 Maple St. Originally from Des Moines, Jordan had been a social worker and worked in a record shop and a bookstore before she moved to New Orleans in 1977.

The idea to sell coffee here came from the success of a friend, who introduced coffee and tea into the bookstore where Jordan worked. I helped her build the store physically lay the carpeting and build the shelves. I saw how successful she was, Jordan said in a 1988 Times-Picayune article.

Jordans first PJs location on Maple Street didnt even have a table but began to pick up regular customers. Before long, she had added a table and four chairs. Then she placed three tables in the parking lot out front. If it rained on Saturday morning, God help me, she joked in the 1988 article.

In 1987, Jordan began franchising the PJs concept, formally known as PJs Coffee and Tea Co. She quickly opened a dozen locations throughout the metro area over the next decade. The first out-of-state franchise opened in Houston in 1993. In 1998, Jordan stepped down as CEO but remained the majority stockholder as the company continued adding franchises along the Gulf Coast. In 2002, it was sold to an Atlanta-based company called Raving Brands.

In 2008, Ballard Brands purchased PJs. The Covington-based company is owned by brothers Scott, Steven and Paul Ballard. Paul Ballard and his wife Torry were among the first local PJs franchisees, opening a location in 1995. PJs now has 160 locations, including 14 company-owned stores in the New Orleans area.
2,000-year-old theater in northwest Turkiye's Bursa Province will open for tourism by the end of 2023, the semi-official Anadolu Agency reported recently.




Jenny Allen, Hospice to Home team member at North Devon Hospice, explains why building great relationships with patients and families is such a special part of her job and only possible thanks to you.

As a Multi-skilled Healthcare Assistant at North Devon Hospice, I have the very privileged job of caring for people facing cancer and other life-limiting illnesses in the comfort of their home as they reach the end of their life. While this job is special for so many reasons, one of the most enjoyable parts for me is building great relationships with both the patients and families we look after.

Looking back, one of my many fond memories of working in the Hospice to Home Team is when I cared for an elderly lady who was bed bound in her final days. Originally from Birmingham, she had moved down to Devon 30 years prior to our meeting  I too had moved down from Birmingham seven years earlier, so we instantly had a great deal in common.

When her condition began to deteriorate, this lady had moved into a hospital bed in her lounge, which was upstairs. This is often the case for lots of end-of-life patients we see as the living area is such a focal part of the home, where they can get involved in the hustle and bustle while remaining comfortable.

Every time I went to visit this lady, I would ring the doorbell and her daughter later told me that her mother would shout out, 'Is that my Jenny?'. As soon as I walked into the room, it was 'Oh yes, it is my Jenny' followed by the biggest smile. Her whole face would light up  such a pleasure to see.

After I had given her the care she needed, we would talk for ages. Sometimes, it was about her illness, other times about just normal everyday life. Whatever the topic, she had a wicked sense of humour, and although she knew she was dying, we would spend so much time laughing  sometimes crying with laughter!

My visits with her were incredibly special in that not only did I enjoy going to see her, but I knew the feeling was reciprocated and that she wanted to spend time in my company.

The memories I have of her are undoubtedly some of my best and ones that I will cherish not just while Im here at the hospice but for the rest of my life. Forming relationships like this that bring little moments of joy to people in their darkest times is magical and something that only comes with having a job like mine.

On behalf of this very special lady and all the other patients and families you make it possible to create memories with, thank you.
Andrea Jessop, CEO of Moo Free, the UKs number one privately owned free-from chocolate manufacturer based in Holsworthy, has made the shortlist for the prestigious National Diversity Awards.

Andrea has been nominated for the Lifetime Achiever Award, a testament to all her hard work and dedication to the equality, diversity and inclusion agenda.

The National Diversity Awards aim to showcase the best of British diversity, and Andrea has been selected from over 90,000 other inspiring people and businesses nationwide who entered this years awards. This latest honour recognises the commitment of both Andrea, and her husband and co-founder of Moo Free, Mike Jessop, to provide an inclusive environment at their Devon-based business.

Founded in 2008, Moo Free is a family-run business that is leading the charge on dairy-dodging chocolate and workplace diversity. Led by Andrea, the culture at Moo Free sees all people as individuals, who all deserve a chance. Andrea, who is autistic herself, has had a lot of exposure to autism and the challenges and benefits it brings. Drawing on her personal experiences with her son and daughter, who are also autistic, Moo Free was created to ensure everyone is treated equally and not defined by a condition or disability.

Andrea Jessop, Moo Free CEO and co-founder, said: As a business, we have strong ethics surrounding equality, diversity and sustainability, not just with the chocolate products we create, but for the wider community, and of course, our Moo Free family, who include many amazing people including those with autism. We aim to offer an inclusive environment, giving opportunities to people who need them and I am incredibly proud to be nominated for this award.

The winners of the National Diversity awards will be announced on September 15. The accolade of Lifetime Achievement Award, honours an individual who has made significant innovative, and cumulatively outstanding contributions to enhancing the practice of equality and diversity, devoting a major portion of their life to their cause.

Moo Free partners with local charities to provide work experience and permanent roles to those with disabilities where possible within the company. It offers genuine workplace opportunities for autistic people giving them equal salaries, treatment and the opportunity to grow skills, confidence and thereby increase employment and social opportunities. 20 per cent of their workforce are known for having some form of autism with an average of 10 people with a physical or mental disability being helped each year.

Andrea continued: Autism can show in many ways, and everyone is different. We have great knowledge and experience in handling these situations and have employed many valuable team members over the years who are hardworking and dedicated to their role. Everyone deserves a chance, and this to us is how it should be. Our experience is that people who are given valuable work experience and opportunities, and are treated equally and with respect, in and outside of the work environment, are more confident and independent as a result.

Starting a new job can be a daunting experience for anyone, but its amplified for someone with autism. We have additional processes in place to ensure a smooth transition to onboarding our new members to the business and make sure that they are comfortable with the tasks, surroundings and their new colleagues. Procedures like flexible working patterns and a buddy system help with the transition of starting employment at Moo Free. We work with individuals to make sure they are comfortable with the job they are doing and the hours they work.

The National Diversity Awards shortlisting is the latest accolade for Moo Free, who have previously won over 100 consumer and trade awards since the companys inception over a decade ago. These include The Kings Award for Enterprise: Promoting Opportunity 2023, The Queen's Awards for Enterprise: International Trade; Food Manufacturer Excellence Awards 2021 and 2022 and various consumer Free From and Vegan food awards.
The Region is of course swimming in Chicago-style deep dish, but the trendy Detroit-style deep dish is less common outside of the approximately 40 billion Little Caesars in Northwest Indiana.

A Detroit chain is going to bring the square-cut Detroit-style deep dish that was allegedly first baked in a tin from an automotive factory and that's a staple at places like Buddy's Pizza, Belle Isle Pizza and Detroit Style Pizza Company.

Jet's Pizza, which sells its trademarked eight-corner pizza as well as traditional round pizzas, is coming to the Tri-Town. The suburban Detroit-based chain is moving to 332 Indianapolis Boulevard in the Shoppes on the Boulevard.

It's taking over the former Tzatziki Greek Street Food location. It was the only vacant space in a strip center that's also home to McAlister's Deli and Sport Clips.

Jet's Pizza's only other Northwest Indiana location is at 1613 E. 37th Ave. in Hobart, which opened earlier this year.

The pizza chain plans to start construction immediately and open within a few months.

Im excited to see Jets Pizza coming into Schererville," said Brett McDermott of Latitude Commercial, a leading commercial real estate firm that represented the landlord in the transaction. The unit was already built-out as a restaurant, so the franchisee is able to utilize some of the infrastructure in place. They will be a great tenant for the center and the community will really enjoy their Detroit-style pizza."

Founded in 1978 in Sterling Heights, Michigan, it has since expanded to more than 400 locations in 21 states, bringing in $500 million in revenue last year. In addition to its signature Detroit-style deep dish, it also has hand-tossed, thin crust and New York City-style pizzas, as well as cauliflower and gluten-free crusts. Flavors include BLT, BBQ chicken, Aloha BBQ chicken, bacon chicken ranch and Hawaiian.

Moving

Crown Point Toys and Collectibles has been planning to move from downtown Crown Point to a bigger space with more parking.

The retro toy store closed on a deal acquiring 1191 E. Summit St. in Crown Point. It is growing from a 1,800-square-foot space across from the Crown Point Community Library just north of the Old Lake County Courthouse Square to a 4,000-square-foot space north of downtown, which will allow it to expand its operations and inventory.

Crown Point Toys & Collectibles opened at 103 N. Main St. in downtown Crown Point in 2020.

The toy reseller has seen growing demand for its nostalgic products, including many toy lines from the 1980s and 1990s. It caters as much to adults as to kids with vintage brands like Marvel, Star Wars, He-Man, G.I. Joe and Funko Pop!

It will move about a half mile north. Owner Tom Waddell said the store will have more space and a larger back area so it will be able to better organize its inventory and increase its selection of products like Funko Pop!, comic books and video games.

Crown Point-based Latitude Commercial represented the buyer while Joel Henderson of McColly Bennett represented the seller.

The buyer had been searching for a larger location in Crown Point for quite some time. Upon spotting a For Lease sign during a drive, I immediately contacted Joel to explore the possibility of a purchase," McDermott said. "Two weeks later, we were under contract, paving the way for CP Toys to find their perfect new home.

Open

The vegan restaurant Cuane is now cooking plant-based cuisine in Michigan City.

Billing itself as Michigan City's first vegan restaurant, Cuane at 1601 E. Michigan Blvd. specializes in American-style vegan comfort food such as burgers, shakes and desserts. It aims "to combat the inaccessibility of delicious vegan food options."

Restaurant owner DaWanna McCray grew up in Michigan City and went vegan in 2017. She would go out with her friends to friends and find little on the menu for her other than salads.

"Times have gotten better over the years," he said. "But after there was nothing for me to eat I thought why keep complaining and that I should build something to fill that void. This is coming out of that void. It's a void for me personally and there are no other vegan restaurants in Michigan City. Lots of people travel to Chicago."

She named the restaurant after her mother who she lost to cancer and her brother who she lost to gun violence.

The menu includes many vegan versions of cuisine carnivores love. It for instance has a cheeseburger and double cheeseburger with Beyond Burger plant-based patties designed to taste and bleed like ground beef, as well as vegan cheese, lettuce, tomato, pickles, ketchup, mustard and vegan mayo.

The restaurant also serves vegan versions of the chicken sandwich, the Chicago hot dog, the New York hot dog and the American hot dog, as well as a Beyond sausage with caramelized onions and Cuane sauce. Sides include French fries and salads.

One can have vegan cookies or cupcakes for dessert and wash down the food with lemonade, coffee or vegan milkshakes.

"I wanted a fully vegan restaurant where people felt they were going to a barbecue," she said. "I wanted people to be able to go out and get what they would typically eat, like hot dogs at a ballgame."

It seats about 20 diners. She hopes to expand the menu and eventually add new locations.

"I'd like to expand to different cities that don't have a vegan restaurant in the area," she said.

The Michigan City Chamber of Commerce will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the restaurant from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Aug. 11. The restaurant will offer 10% off that day.

Focusing on lunch and breakfast, the restaurant is open from 10:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

For more information, call 219-210-3282 or visit cuane.com.

Open

Boba Tea and Coffee opened at 8317 Calumet Ave. in Munster, serving up the trendy bubble tea that's long been popular in Asia and has caught on in the United States.

It offers bubble tea in a variety of flavors including green tea, oolong tea, black tea, matcha tea and fresh fruit tea. The menu also includes rolled ice cream, coffee, frappes, yogurt, fresh milk and milk tea. Ice cream flavors include Nutella, Banana, Oreo, Fruit Lover and Summer Tango. Teas include Strawberry Oolong Tea, Crush Peach Black Tea, Peach Orange Lemongrass Black Tea, Tropical Fruit Green Tea, Tropical Fruit Oolong Tea, Honeydew Green Apple Oolong Tea, Grapefruit Jasmine Green Tea, Navel Orange Jasmine Green Tea, Kiwi Jasmine Green Tea, Happy Tea, Lychee Black Tea and Pomegranate Black Tea.

Owner Bach Andy Pham bought the 10,000-square-foot building and opened The Boba Tea Cafe, B Nail Lounge and Viet-Ship. The latter allows people to go into the Boba Tea Cafe and ship money or packages to Vietnam. For more information, call 219-999-7997.

Closing

Chase Bank is closing its branch in Lake Station.

The New York City-based bank will close its office at 3115 Central Ave. in Lake Station on Aug. 15.

Chase Bank has long had a large presence in the Region after acquiring Bank One, which had previously acquired Gainer Bank, which was long known as Gary National Bank before it moved its headquarters to Merrillville. It was once the largest bank by market share in Lake, Porter and LaPorte counties but was surpassed by Centier Bank after closing several branches.

It's been shrinking its footprint nationwide along with many other banks in response to the migration to online and digital banking.

Open

Orthopedic and Balance Therapy Specialists just celebrated a grand opening for its new location at 1431 S. Lakepark Ave. in Hobart.

The chain, which has been named to The Times Best in the Region list for four years running, also has locations in Highland, LaPorte, Valparaiso and Crown Point. It aims to grow to 50 locations by 2026.

It specializes in treating pain, injury and discomfort, helping with healing and pain relief.

For more information, visit orthopedicandbalancetherapy.com or call 219-945-3269.

Open Harvey Furniture Plus at 16330 Halsted St. in south suburban Harvey signed up as a U-Haul dealer. It will now offer customers U-Haul trucks, trailers, towing equipment, support rental items and in-store pickup for boxes. One of the largest moving services in the country, U-Haul has a network of 21,000 dealers.
Director Lauren Katz is enjoying working with Dunes Summer Arts Theatre in Michigan City this season.

Katz is the director of "Tick...Tick...Boom!." continuing to July 16, at Dunes Summer Arts Theatre.

"This is my second summer show with Dunes Summer Arts Theatre," said Katz, who worked with the venue last year.

Katz said she knew Dunes artistic director Steve Scott from working with him in Chicago on various productions.

"I love Steve. And I had a great time working at the theater. I'm excited to be back," said Katz.

The show "Tick...Tick...Boom!" is a pop musical by Jonathan Larson of "Rent" fame. It tells the story of aspiring composer Jon who is celebrating his 30th birthday and takes a look at where his life and career are going and whether he's making the right decisions. Dunes Summer Arts Theatre's show stars Max DeTogne, Lili Galluzzo and Khyel Roberson.

Katz said she's always loved "Tick...Tick...Boom" and is happy to direct it.

"It's a story that is really relatable, especially right now," Katz said. She said it deals with questions all of us have asked about our lives and about "how to make the most of the time we have left" and to follow your passion.

Katz said she loves the Dunes Summer Arts Theatre and working with artistic director Steve Scott is always rewarding.

"I will follow Steve anywhere," Katz said.

Katz added the staff, cast and crew at Dunes is like a close-knit family.

The next show to be presented at Dunes Summer Arts Theatre will be "Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike," opening July 28. For more information, visit DunesArt.org.

Best movies of 2023 so far Best movies of 2023 so far #20. Plane #19. Knock at the Cabin #18. Sick #17. Skinamarink #16. Missing #15. Pamela, a love story #14. Cairo Conspiracy #13. M3GAN #12. Infinity Pool #11. Emily #10. Nostalgia #9. Pacifiction #8. Huesera: The Bone Woman #7. Close #6. Linoleum #5. After Love #4. Mars One #3. Shin Ultraman #2. Alcarras #1. Saint Omer
Help is coming from conservationists, said a May 16 headline in the Crusader newspaper about work taking place at Hatcher Park and the Marshalltown neighborhood of Gary. The word help made me cringe a bit because it seemed like the conservationists were sweeping in, like knights in shining armor, to rescue the park. While the park needs a lot of care, whats different about this effort is that the community has been engaged every step of the way.

The conservation groups referred to are all involved in what is known as the Little Calumet Conservation Collaborative. The key word there is collaborative and includes Audubon Great Lakes, the Wetlands Initiative, Lake County Parks, Northern Indiana Public Service Company, the City of Gary and my own employer, The Nature Conservancy. Also involved are the Gary Department of Parks and Recreation, the Little Calumet River Basin Development Commission, the Urban League of Northwest Indiana and Brown Faces Green Spaces.

They have been working for several years to realize a vision to restore and manage the West Branch of the Little Calumet River in a manner that optimizes flood alleviation and recreational opportunities for surrounding communities, while also conserving habitat for breeding marsh birds and other threatened fish and wildlife, according to a Conservation Action Plan created in 2021.

I can truly say from working with these organizations that their intent goes way beyond organizational collaboration. They are genuinely trying to engage residents in the project area, knowing otherwise their efforts will not bear fruit in the long run.

The approach we are trying to take is to first address some basic needs with no big promises yet, like simply cleaning up the park and reinstating a trail, said Daniel Suarez, conservation manager, Audubon Great Lakes.

We want to first get some work on the ground done that will help improve perceptions of the area by residents and also get them involved, he said.

Thats where Jennifer Johnson, Wild Indigo Program associate of Audubon Great Lakes, is key. She has been carefully cultivating relationships with neighbors and organizations like the Urban League for more than a year now, all aimed at reviving the park as a focal point where people can safely reconnect with nature.

Come help on July 22

Currently, Johnson is busy organizing a July 22 event which will include a short presentation on the natural history and ecology of the park area and nearby Little Calumet River. A hands-on activity is also being planned to further enhance views and habitat of the park. If you would like to assist, meet at 10 a.m. through 1 p.m. at 2025 E. 21st Ave. Gloves and breakfast will be provided.

Recent work to clear brush and invasive species from a trail in the park, led by Lake County Parks with help from TNC staff, is already paying off, according to Troy Peters, engagement director at Audubon Great Lakes.

Hatcher Park is already more accessible than it was, and it will help neighbors imagine the possibilities, he said.

The project is also centered around restoring adjacent wetlands fed by the Little Calumet River, enhancing stormwater storage in the neighborhood while also providing habitat for marsh birds like soras and rails.

Access to greenspace and parks is an equity issue

The success of this project is crucial because everyone in Northwest Indiana deserves access to clean and safe parks and greenspaces. The World Health Organization recommends that all people reside within 300 meters (0.19 miles) of greenspace. Do you?

A century ago, city planners were adding public parks and water treatment systems to improve public health. Today, adding other forms of natural infrastructure to cities is the next step in that progression to healthier, more livable communities, said Rob McDonald, lead scientist of nature-based solutions at TNC.

Cities are again seeing parks and greenspace as cost-effective tradeoffs for improving public health and image while also benefitting wildlife, stormwater and flood management  even mitigating for climate change.

The Little Calumet River Conservation Collaborative is certainly doing what it can to help make life better in Garys Marshalltown neighborhood. Ultimately, though, its up to Gary residents to weigh in on and support future initiatives by getting involved and also voicing opinions about parks all over the city.

Finally, there is a lesson here for all of us. In these times when budgets are stretched at park departments all over Northwest Indiana, it truly behooves all residents to love and care for their parks and greenspaces. Support your parks  or park foundation if you have one  and demand that they be adequately funded. Dont wait until things are so far gone outside entities need to step up to the plate.
This photo taken on July 3, 2023 shows the final inspection line at the general assembly workshop of GAC Aion New Energy Automobile Co., Ltd. in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province. (Xinhua/Deng Hua)

BEIJING, July 16 (Xinhua) -- China's new energy vehicle (NEV) sector has entered a new stage of high-quality development, marked by a steady increase in output, sales, exports, and consumption potential.

The country has seen its NEV output growing exponentially. The 20 millionth NEV rolled off the production line on July 3 in the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou, marking a milestone for the sector. The accumulative NEV output only exceeded 10 million units in February last year.

In the first half of 2023, the NEV output expanded 42.4 percent year on year to nearly 3.79 million units, while the NEV sales surged 44.1 percent year on year to almost 3.75 million units, data from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers showed.

The country exported 534,000 NEVs during the same period, expanding 160 percent from a year earlier.

BYD, one of China's fastest-growing electric vehicle makers, has exported its automobiles to over 70 countries and regions.

China's NEV sector is gaining a competitive edge in scale and quality, and the Chinese-branded vehicles exported are cost-effective, said Zhu Yifang, a researcher at the automotive strategy and policy research center under the China Automotive Technology and Research Center Co., Ltd.

Building on the robust growth momentum, China has stepped up policy support in the NEV sector, particularly in its vast rural areas.

In May, China released a guideline to support people living in rural areas to purchase NEVs, focusing on boosting the construction of charging infrastructure.

To further unleash the domestic consumption potential, China extended its preferential purchase tax policy for NEVs to the end of 2027.

Preliminary estimates show the policy will result in 520 billion yuan (about 72.91 billion U.S. dollars) in tax exemptions and reductions.

Infrastructure, including charging facilities, has also seen a notable improvement in recent years.

The number of charging piles has increased from less than 100,000 in 2015 to 5.21 million in 2022. By the end of May this year, China's charging piles reached nearly 6.36 million.

As of the end of 2022, there were 226 vehicles per 1,000 people in China, and many families had never owned a car. The auto market still has massive room for growth, said Fu Bingfeng, executive vice president and secretary general of the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers.

With NEVs becoming more popular among Chinese consumers, third- and fourth-tier cities and rural areas may record faster market growth, Fu said, adding that the number of vehicles per 1,000 people will likely reach 400 in the future.

The NEV sector has entered a new stage of large-scale, globalized, and high-quality development, becoming an important part of China's modern industrial system, said Fu. 
EAST CHICAGO  The City Council is considering what can be done to regulate Airbnbs in the city.

The topic had been discussed before an incident June 3 at a house that was being rented in the 4400 block of Arbutus Lane.

Police had to respond there when a fight broke out at a party that Chief Jose Rivera said was attended by about 100 teenagers.

Angela Jones, attorney for the City Council, said she reached out to Gary and Hammond to discuss what those cities have been doing regarding Airbnb rentals. She said she'd try to work with the city's executive branch to put forth an ordinance the city would be able to enforce.

Council President Monica Gonzalez, D-1st, said the council will need to determine whether such an ordinance will be necessary.

"I say that because the state of Indiana really limits us on what we can do for an Airbnb and, rather, we might look at our rental agreements that we have within the city and make sure that they're strict enough to accommodate the Airbnb and just have that under its umbrella," she said.

A resident who lives near the Arbutus house recently addressed the council and said on that date she was talking to her neighbor in front of her own house and was hit by two females who attended the party. She said guns were also drawn on her.

She said East Chicago police did not come when called and that an officer told her the department was short-staffed.

Rivera said the lack of response was not due to being short-staffed but rather because of the type of call received.

He said a loud party at a private residence does not constitute a crime, and state law allows people to carry firearms in public.

Rivera said police eventually did respond and called the county for help when officers saw the number of people involved.

Rivera said the department is short-staffed in that it is budgeted for 98 officers, but eight new hires would only bring the total number of officers to 63.

"We have enough officers to patrol the city," he said. "We have enough officers to answer calls. I just have a budget for more than that."

He said hiring in the department is an ongoing, but difficult, process: "Nobody wants to be the police nowadays."

One thing that should help the department is a new online reporting system.

Rivera explained that when people call regarding minor crimes, they will be given a link to open an application where they can execute their own report.

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

"The online reporting is going to be huge for us because the majority of our calls are misdemeanor report calls," Rivera said. "That takes up a lot of our time."
The Festival of the Lakes has long drawn big crowds to the Pavilion at Wolf Lake in Hammond.

The bright neon lights of the carnival midway beckon. The appetizing aroma of meat on the grill wafts from the food trucks. The biggest attraction of all has been the series of free concerts catering to various crowds.

Headliners like Nas, Bush, Sublime, Darius Rucker, Boyz II Men, the Charlie Daniels Band, Sammy Hagar and the Circle, Sugar Ray, Big & Rich, and The Roots have played free shows along the great ripping expanse of Wolf Lake, which straddles Hammond and Chicago. Each night typically features a different genre.

The formula is familiar. But this year Hammond decided to try something new. It booked rap superstar Lil Wayne to play Saturday night, just days after performing at the ESPY Awards, and charged $125 a ticket.

The huge jump initially had some scratching their heads.

The show has nearly sold out. About 18,000 concert-goers will be in attendance. So Hammond plans to stick with having a paid concert with a higher profile act on Saturday night, typically the peak of attendance for the festival.

"This has been a total success," Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr. said. "We're going to keep using this format, where the other days are free and Saturday night will have a ticketed show for the biggest artist."

It won't always be a rap act.

"It might be country or rock. It could be anything," he said. "It will be different every year. I don't want rap fans to think Saturday night will always be rap. It will be the biggest artist we can get, whether that's country, rap or rock."

Lil Wayne sold out all the available $125 gold-section tickets closest to the stage. The city expected him to sell out the silver section, which was $65 a ticket and farther from the stage.

The initial impetus for the tickets was the popularity of last year's Rick Ross show, which drew 22,000 to the summer festival celebrating Hammond's three lakes: Michigan, Wolf and George. It raised safety concerns so Hammond wanted to rein in the attendance to a more manageable level.

"We have 75 first responders working the festival. It's very safe," McDermott said. "The only problem we had was the tornado warning the first day. But the weather should be clear sailing for the rest of the week. It started out in the 60s but should be warmer."

Wednesday's opening act, Ja Rule and Ashanti, drew more than 7,000 with hits like "Always on Times," Mesmerize" and "What's Luv?" and their music videos playing behind them on stage. This year the South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority added new video screens that tout Region attractions like beaches, breweries and casinos.

Hammond artist Mark Emerson drew the Festival of the Lakes concert poster again. The city plans to establish an online store to sell posters, shirts and other merchandise from past festivals.

"We're going do that after this year's festival is over," McDermott said.

Hammond gave away about 2,000 tickets for free to city residents to the Lil Wayne show and could have given out more, McDermott said. The festival is popular across the Region and the Chicago area, drawing music lovers from around the Midwest.

Festivals of the Lakes should be able to book bigger acts and draw more widely with the new format, McDermott said. He envisions trying to bring in big names like the Dave Matthews Band to headline a ticketed show.

While many Festivals of the Lakes acts traditionally have been a decade or two past their commercial prime, selling tickets for Saturday night shows will let Hammond pay higher booking fees that will bring in bigger and more contemporary acts, McDermott said.

"The new format is a grand slam. We broke the mold and found that people are willing to pay to enjoy themselves. Once we have this one under our belt, we'll start booking for next year."
For many Region residents, the summer season means trips to Lake Michigan with friends and families. Most of us have fond memories of days at the lake and return to it year after year to enjoy the water and the sun on the beach.

We also know that even though the lake is beautiful, it can be lethal: Its currents are powerful and can take even the strongest swimmer. Every summer we hear tragic stories of the families who come to have fun on the beach and go home without a loved one  too many of us have experienced a loss or close call. Region folks know were blessed to live by our lake, but were also taught to respect it. Its generational knowledge many visitors lack, making the water all the more dangerous. There have already been 11 drownings this year - last year, there were 45. Routinely, 40-50% of all Great Lakes drownings occur in Lake Michigan. In addition to the tragic loss of life, these incidents have impacts on public safety, particularly first responders and the costs associated. Some estimates show a cost of $21K an hour for search and rescues which can go on for days.

Thats why I authored SB 424 to require rescue equipment (i.e. life buoys) at every public access point and pier along the beach. It would also require local governments to report on lakefront drownings and that owners of piers and public access sites publish water safety plans and upgrade rescue equipment.

SB 424 would not only make Lake Michigan safer for visitors, it would make it safer for any person attempting to rescue an individual whos drowning. I often think of Thomas Kenning, a man my age, who was enjoying a day at Porter Beach with his daughter last summer when he saw a teenager struggling in the water. He saved the teenager but tragically lost his own life in the process. I cant help but think that I, and many others, would have done the same thing and met the same fate. Thomas is undoubtedly a hero, but he should have lived to tell his own story to his daughter  proper rescue equipment may have given him the chance.

The latest drowning in Ogden Dunes involved one of my family members, Sgt. Laura Lightfoot, a brave first responder who entered dangerous waters attempting to save the young boys life. After the incident, she told me she would have felt much safer if thered been a life ring available.

Thats why I was so disappointed SB 424 stalled after passing the Senate unanimously. SB 424 garnered public and bipartisan support  Republicans and Democrats recognized its importance, signed on and worked to get it passed. In the Senate Natural Resources Committee, we heard supportive testimony from Hoosiers and from longtime advocates like the Great Lakes Rescue Project, Lake Michigan Waterfront Safety Initiative and more. We heard one testifier tell a version of the story we hear all too often: We were both capable swimmers, but the current was too strong. I was rescued, but my boyfriend was already gone.

No group or individual opposed the bill in committee. Thanks to the fierce advocacy of Regionites, SB 424 passed through the Senate 49-0. Despite overwhelming support, the Houses Natural Resources Committee didnt give the legislation a hearing before the deadline.

Despite this disappointing outcome, I feel confident that the work done on this by fellow citizens, advocates and lawmakers was not in vain. If theres one thing Ive learned in my time at the Statehouse, its that persistence pays off. Ill be re-introducing this bill next session and working hard to ensure its passage.

Im writing this piece directly after two drownings occurred in less than five days. In response to these losses, Ogden Dunes and Porter have committed to putting up life rings  this should be standard practice all along our lakefront, and I commend them for taking action. Local efforts like this deserve state backing and funding: Passing SB 424 could save many lives and spare our communities and families from preventable tragedies. Our community is incredibly lucky to live by the lake and Indianas only national park  Im committed to ensuring that these beautiful spaces are as safe as possible for all who visit them.
Her return ended a sprawling statewide search that had captured national attention and caused widespread speculation about what might have happened before her disappearance.

The circumstances of her sudden vanishing remained unclear on Sunday.

The case began on Thursday night when Ms. Russell told the dispatcher about the child around 9:35 p.m., called a family member to report the same details, and then pulled over on I-459 South near mile marker 11 to check on the toddler, the Hoover Police Department said.

The family member lost contact with Ms. Russell, but the line remained open, the police said.

When officers arrived at the site in Hoover, they found Ms. Russells vehicle and some of her belongings nearby, but were unable to find her or a child in the area, the police said in a statement.

The Hoover Police Department said it had not received any calls of someone missing a child.

Talitha Russell, the mother of Carlee Russell, said in an interview on Saturday night  hours before the younger Ms. Russell was found  that her daughter, who is known as a kindhearted soul and is always the life of the party, was having a busy and meaningful summer, working a part-time job at the Woodhouse Spa in Birmingham and taking nursing classes at Jefferson State Community College.

Talitha Russell did not immediately respond to interview requests after her daughter was found.

On Sunday afternoon, she posted a statement on Facebook on behalf of her family and said they wanted privacy to allow us to just love on our daughter and each other with our close family and friends.
The manhunt for a murder suspect who escaped from a Pennsylvania jail on July 6 by tying bedsheets together to climb down from a roof ended on Saturday when the suspect was captured by the police, the authorities said.

The suspect, Michael Burham, 34, who escaped from the Warren County Jail in Pennsylvania, was captured on Saturday afternoon in Warren County after a tip from a man whose dog had been barking at a person claiming to be camping near their property, Lt. Col. George Bivens of the Pennsylvania State Police said at a news conference.

The man recognized the odd camper as Mr. Burham and contacted the authorities, who later tracked Mr. Burham through the woods with the help of a bloodhound, established a perimeter of troopers and took him into custody at gunpoint by 5:50 p.m., the colonel said.

When troopers and other officials encountered Mr. Burham in the woods, Colonel Bivens said, they found him in a worn-out state, with his clothes dirty and wet.
As a fuller financial picture of the 2024 presidential race emerged with Saturdays campaign filing deadline, trouble appeared to lurk below the surface for Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida.

Despite a strong overall fund-raising total of $20 million, Mr. DeSantis is spending hand over fist, and his dependence on large donors suggests a lack of grass-roots support. Former President Donald J. Trumps campaign recorded $17.7 million in fund-raising, nearly all of which was transferred from another committee that will not report its donors until later this month.

In the meantime, President Biden, his joint fund-raising committee and the Democratic National Committee raised almost as much money as all of the Republican candidates for president combined.

Some of the more modest Republican earners  such as Nikki Haley, the former South Carolina governor and United Nations ambassador  appear to have solid support and lean campaign operations built for the long haul. About a third of the $1.6 million haul by former Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey came from smaller donors, which is high for Republicans and could speak to relatively broad appeal.
A conspiracy-filled rant by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. that the Covid-19 virus was engineered to spare Ashkenazi Jews and Chinese people has stirred accusations of antisemitism and racism in the Democratic candidates long-shot run for president.

Covid-19. There is an argument that it is ethnically targeted. Covid-19 attacks certain races disproportionately, Mr. Kennedy said at a private gathering in New York that was captured on videotape by The New York Post. Covid-19 is targeted to attack Caucasians and Black people. The people who are most immune are Ashkenazi Jews and Chinese.

Mr. Kennedy has made his political career on false conspiracy theories about not just Covid-19 and Covid vaccines but disproved links between common childhood vaccines and autism, mass surveillance and 5G cellular phone technology, ill health effects from Wi-Fi and a stolen election in 2004 that gave the presidency back to George W. Bush.

But his suggestion that the coronavirus pandemic spared Chinese people and Jews of European descent strayed into new and bigoted territory.
Have you ever looked at the skin on the buttocks of a 90-year-old? Dr. Fayne Frey has. Its beautiful, said the dermatologist and author of the book The Skincare Hoax. Theres very little pigment, theres very little wrinkling, there are very few blood vessels.

Compare that to the skin on a nonagenarians face, where youll likely see brown spots, scaliness, visible blood vessels, much more wrinkling and a generally sallow appearance.

Some signs of aging, namely fine lines, happen naturally over time. But Dr. Frey said that as much as 80 percent of the skin changes we associate with age are actually caused by the suns ultraviolet rays. The best way to avoid them, aside from staying indoors, in the shade or permanently covered up? Sunscreen.

Sunscreens ability to block sunburns and prevent skin cancer is well known, but many dermatologists say its also the best skin care product for slowing signs of aging. Heres what to know about how UV rays cause the skin to age and how sunscreen helps to minimize those effects.
To some people, electric vehicles are a better option because they can serve multiple functions. Another big advantage: The battery in an F-150 Lightning or the electric Chevrolet Silverado pickup, which is expected to go on sale this year, can store a lot more energy than home batteries that are sometimes installed with rooftop solar panels. Pair an electric truck with a home solar system, the thinking goes, and a family could keep the lights on for days or even weeks.

The use of electric vehicles as a source of power has intrigued electric utility executives, including Pedro Pizarro, who heads the board of the Edison Electric Institute, the industrys main trade organization, and is the chief executive of Edison International, which provides power to millions of homes and businesses in Southern California.

Mr. Pizarros company and other utilities are testing whether it is practical and safe to send power from electric vehicles to the grid.

By soaking up power when its abundant and releasing it when it is scarce, electric vehicles, he said, could serve as a bigger rubber band to absorb the shocks and manage them day to day and week to week.

Greater use of electric vehicles in this way should also allow utilities and homeowners to reduce planet-warming emissions by relying more on renewable sources of energy like solar and wind that provide power intermittently.
JERUSALEM, July 16 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was discharged from hospital on Sunday with a heart monitor implanted under his skin, a day after he was hospitalized for dehydration.

The 73-year-old prime minister was kept overnight under observation at Sheba Medical Center outside Tel Aviv, after he was sent there from his private residence in the coastal town of Caesarea, according to a statement from his office.

During the about 20-hour hospitalization, he underwent a series of medical checkups including lab tests and an electrocardiogram to measure his heart activity, according to a statement by the hospital.

All the tests "came out normal" and Netanyahu was "in excellent shape," the hospital said in the statement, adding the reason for the prime minister's hospitalization was dehydration.

A heart recorder was implanted under Netanyahu's skin "to enable the prime minister's close medical team to go on with continuous monitoring," the hospital noted.

In a video statement released by Netanyahu on Saturday night from the hospital, the prime minister, who seemed in good spirits, said he had been on a holiday at the Sea of Galilee on Friday but had not taken proper precautions against a heatwave. Temperatures there reached 43 degrees Celsius on Friday.

Netanyahu, Israel's longest-serving leader, has been under pressure on multiple fronts, including a criminal trial on corruption charges and massive nationwide protests against his controversial plan to overhaul the country's judicial system. 
Treasury Secretary Janet L. Yellen called on Sunday for international creditors to speed up their efforts to provide debt relief to developing countries facing default, arguing that shoring up their deteriorating finances would benefit the global economy.

Speaking in Gandhinagar, India, ahead of a gathering of finance ministers from the Group of 20 nations, Ms. Yellen cited a recent agreement among international creditors, including China, to help Zambia pay its debts. She said that the agreement, which took more than a year to negotiate, should be a blueprint to use in helping other nations, such as Ghana and Sri Lanka, to accelerate debt relief and restore growth.

We should apply the common principles we agreed to in Zambias case in other cases rather than starting at zero every time, Ms. Yellen said. And we must go faster.

The Treasury secretary noted that more than half of low-income countries are in or near debt distress  double the total from 2015. These nations face a vicious cycle, because heavy public debt levels make it hard to attract public and private investment.
A Promotion in Name Only

My company watched me restructure my team and successfully manage it through an acquisition. Recently, I was promoted to a senior director position. I was formerly managing relative newcomers in my field. Now, I am managing senior managers. As the weeks passed, I never received an official offer letter or had a discussion about a raise. I did, however, have conversations about transferring my responsibilities and taking over my new ones immediately. Nearly two months later, I received my official offer, with no increase in salary, bonus or deferred structure. I have voiced my displeasure with my direct supervisor and with human resources and was told that no salary increases will be discussed until next year. I asked my supervisor to go back to the C.E.O. and C.F.O. with this. I still havent signed the offer letter. I am paid a decent salary with decent benefits, but well under my market value. I am in the process of buying a house as well. Do I keep pressing, do I continue not to sign, do I go full scorched earth, do I rage-apply like there is no tomorrow?  Anonymous, New York

In an ideal world, all promotions would come with raises, but we do not live in an ideal world. You are entitled to your displeasure because this is a displeasing situation. With increased responsibilities and a new title, there should be increased compensation, but there is little you can do to compel your employers if they are unwilling.

You must decide how to proceed. If they have made clear no salary increases are on the table right now, Im not sure how productive pressing the issue will be. You can build a strong case by articulating how you restructured your team and managed the acquisition, but they probably are aware.

Persistence is a virtue until it isnt. Are you willing to wait until next year for a potential raise? Do you like your job enough to sign the offer letter and see what happens? Are you angry enough to find a new job? If you cannot live with this, yes, rage apply for positions that will offer you the compensation and professional consideration you deserve. I wish you the best of luck.

Resentment Does Not a Meal Make

I have been with my company the longest of any employee. I helped build the organization from scratch. Years ago, I decided to work part-time due to a disability. I also got special permission to work remotely. After the pandemic, the entire company went remote. Recently, there was a push to lower the workweek hours for morale and work-life balance. All full-time employees are now paid full-time but are only expected to work around 30 hours, and projects are assigned to match this new philosophy. I was not given a raise and my hours remain the same. I love what I do, and I love my co-workers, but I cant stomach the pay discrepancy. For example, junior colleagues are making about $20,000 a year more than I am for what is now the same amount of work. We dont have a human resources department, so I brought up the imbalance to my supervisor. She agreed it was not right. She said the company could not afford to fix it at this time but would look into fixing it next year. This was a massive oversight with very real consequences. I am newly pregnant, and money is obviously more important to me now. Is this ethical? Is this legal? How can I eat my resentment in order to stay?  Anonymous

Ethics come up a lot in the questions I receive for this column. People in exploitative work situations want validation that something terrible and unethical is happening. Let me assure you that this is not ethical; it is also not at all fair. Your supervisor has acknowledged how unfair this imbalance is, which is symbolic, but doesnt resolve the significant pay disparity.

If your employer can afford to pay everyone else in your organization a full-time salary for working 30 hours a week, they can afford to pay you a full-time salary for working 30 hours a week. Why does everyone elses morale matter and yours doesnt? There is no excuse for this, and you should not eat your resentment so they can continue to do something so egregious. Consult an employment lawyer with expertise in disability law, because I suspect that on grounds of disability alone, you have legal recourse. I hope your employer rights this wrong, and soon.
In a statement, United, which is based in Chicago, said the deal would help its United Next strategy, an expansion plan that includes the purchase of larger planes to increase in the number of seats per flight in North America by almost 30 percent and the number of premium seats per flight by 75 percent by 2026.

We promised our world-class pilots the industry-leading contract they deserve, and were pleased to have reached an agreement, Scott Kirby, chief executive at United Airlines, wrote on the social media network LinkedIn.

Union officials said the agreement was the result of four years of negotiations and represented a landmark deal in the airline industry as travel demand rises after the steep drop during the height of the pandemic.

The tireless dedication demonstrated by United pilots over the past several years ensured our solidarity, which was instrumental in achieving this historic agreement, Capt. Garth Thompson, chairman of the Master Executive Council of the United Air Line Pilots Association International, said in a statement.

The Air Line Pilots Association, the largest airline pilot union in the world, represents 74,000 pilots at 42 airlines in the United States and Canada, including 16,000 pilots at United Airlines.
Jon duSaint, a retired software engineer, recently bought property near Bishop, Calif., in a rugged valley east of the Sierra Nevada. The area is at risk for wildfires, severe daytime heat and high winds  and also heavy winter snowfall.

But Mr. duSaint isnt worried. Hes planning to live in a dome.

The 29-foot structure will be coated with aluminum shingles that reflect heat, and are also fire-resistant. Because the dome has less surface area than a rectangular house, its easier to insulate against heat or cold. And it can withstand high winds and heavy snowpack.

The dome shell itself is basically impervious, Mr. duSaint said.

As weather grows more extreme, geodesic domes and other resilient home designs are gaining new attention from more climate-conscious home buyers, and the architects and builders who cater to them.

The trend could begin to dislodge the inertia that underlies Americas struggle to adapt to climate change: Technologies exist to protect homes against severe weather  but those innovations have been slow to seep into mainstream homebuilding, leaving most Americans increasingly exposed to climate shocks, experts say.
In Word Through The Times, we trace how one word or phrase has changed throughout the history of the newspaper.

The summer of 2023 is shaping up to be a hot one, two New York Times reporters wrote in June. They meant temperatures, not trends.

The word hot, in its many meanings, has been used in The Times frequently since the 1970s. But hot also made appearances in the newspapers earliest issues: In 1890, a short article reported on a tense exchange between English and French members of City Hall in Montreal under the headline Hot Words in the Council. Here, hot evoked anger.

The word has been attached to a handful of modern idioms: hot mess (a disorganized person or situation), hot take (as Styles put it, a hastily assembled but perhaps heartfelt piece of incendiary opinionated content) and hot button (a topic or issue that elicits a strong feeling), to name a few. Hot was even featured in an On Language column by William Safire in 2008; he contended that hot was losing some of its pop-culture appeal to one of its antonyms, which had taken on a similar slang meaning: cool. While whats hot is becoming lukewarm as it may be entering its last generation, he wrote, cool retains its slang-froid on campus.

In the late 1920s, hot had begun to mean desirable or conventionally attractive, per Mr. Safires column. In a 2022 article about the expanding definition of hotness, the writer Danya Issawi explored a movement inspired by the rapper Megan Thee Stallion, whose 2019 song Hot Girl Summer spread messages of self-confidence. These days, being hot no longer pertains only to your physical appearance, Ms. Issawi wrote, but includes how you move through the world and how you see yourself.
Image

Placing the Face

Dear Diary:

I had left my office building on 39th Street and Third Avenue and was heading toward the deli on the corner when my eyes met those of an older man who was wearing a black button-down shirt and standing on the sidewalk as though he was taking a break.

The man looked familiar, but I couldnt quite place him in my memory. He noticed me too, and we stared at each other as he stood there and I continued walking.

We exchanged a polite nod of recognition. We knew each other, but from where?

I turned back before entering the deli, walked up to the man and smiled.

Hey, didnt you used to work at  ? I asked.

The barbershop on 89th and Broadway, he said.

It all came rushing back. This man had cut my hair since I was a toddler on the Upper West Side. I had left the neighborhood years before and hadnt seen him since.
In April 2011, just months after the bodies of four women were discovered buried near Gilgo Beach on Long Islands South Shore, several experts and criminologists put together a sketch for The New York Times of the characteristics they expected to see in a suspect.

The women, wrapped in burlap and buried within a quarter-mile of each other in an area where the remains of 11 people in total would eventually be found, were probably killed by a white man in his mid-20s to mid-40s, they said. He is married or has a girlfriend. He is well educated and well spoken. He is financially secure, has a job, owns an expensive car or truck, and lives or used to live near where the bodies were found.

On Friday, details began emerging about Rex Heuermann, who was arrested and charged with murder in the killings of three of the women. Prosecutors said he was the prime suspect in the death of the fourth woman. Mr. Heuermann, 59, is a married white man who works as an architect in Manhattan and lives in Massapequa Park, about 15 miles from Gilgo Beach. He owned a Chevrolet Avalanche truck at the time of the killings, prosecutors said.

None of this proves that Mr. Heuermann is the serial killer, and experts noted that profiles are typically used to evaluate individuals who have already come to the attention of investigators. But the similarities did not go unnoticed by some of the experts who put together the 2011 profile.
Shapiro, in this case, made a choice: He chose to use union labor but to gore a lot of other interests and processes. I think his choice was the right one. Biden administration officials, who have been quick in conversation to tout their involvement in the I-95 rebuild, also look at the project with pride. But the key point here is that the process Shapiro used is abnormal. In effect, liberals have chosen to trust elected politicians less and trust regulatory and judicial processes more to ensure that government delivers what voters want and what justice demands. I think that may have made sense in a past era, but given the problems we face now, it is a mistake. Shapiros success rebuilding I-95 built political power for him, and it built political power for organized labor  but it could do that only because it put the success of the project first.

This gets to an omission in Dayens argument. In focusing on how power can be gained, he is ignoring the very real way in which it can be lost. Power is lost when projects fail  and it is lost by the very interest groups Dayen wants to defend.

If union labor and Democratic governance are seen by the public as reasons that needed infrastructure remains endlessly unfinished and relentlessly over budget, that will, eventually, lead the public to demand alternatives. The result will be the outsourcing of public services to private companies and the election of new politicians who will pass laws designed to limit the ability of labor to organize.

Id like to see a stronger labor movement in America, which is one of many reasons I support sectoral bargaining and the mandated appointment of workers to corporate boards. Plenty of countries with stronger unions than America complete transit projects more rapidly and more affordably than we do. But one of the major challenges of pro-labor politics in the United States is the public perception that unions often slow construction rather than make it better, and that perception is rooted in real failures of real projects in places where liberals and unions hold real power. I dont think thats impossible to fix, but it is impossible to fix if liberals refuse to admit that it is true and refuse to make the policy changes necessary to prove that its untrue.

Reading Dayen put me in mind of a paper by Michael Gerrard, the founder of the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law at Columbia, A Time for Triage. In it, Gerrard argues that rather than climate denial, the environmental community has trade-off denial. We dont recognize that its too late to preserve everything we consider precious, and to linger in making decisions. This is, I would suggest, a broader problem on the left.
To the Editor:

Re My Body Is a Clock: Portraits of Chronic Care, by Sara J. Winston (Opinion guest essay, July 2):

I want to thank Ms. Winston for her essay about the challenge of living with a chronic health condition in America. She clearly captured the persistent fear that lives in me and every American with a chronic condition who depends on continuous treatment.

I have lifelong asthma and depend on medication. It was diagnosed in early childhood, and I require daily inhalers, oral immune-suppressant medications and vigilance to keep my condition in check.

Modern medicine has allowed me to live a full life, but it has also directed its course. My life choices were all based on the essential requirement of maintaining affordable, continuous health care: my career, my employers, proximity to hospitals and a pulmonologist.

Our American health care system, which relies heavily on employer-provided health insurance and is unaffordable for those with no health insurance, is a nightmare for people like Ms. Winston and me.
Individuals who rent may need to pay more attention to accessibility because it is unlikely they will be able to make permanent modifications.

According to the Fair Housing Act, which protects both renters and buyers in the housing market, it is unlawful to refuse to make reasonable accommodations to rules, policies, practices, or services when such accommodations may be necessary to afford people with disabilities an equal opportunity to use and enjoy a dwelling and public and common use areas.

Under the Fair Housing Act, renters generally need approval from the landlord, must pay for modifications and return the residence to its original design, said Glen H. Parker, a disability rights attorney in New York. Some states and cities provide more rights to renters, requiring landords to pay for modifications, he said.

The least permanent option and fastest way to make a house accessible from the outside is to add an aluminum ramp. An aluminum ramp is portable and can often be put in place in one day. Ramp cost is based on length, said Mr. Frank, owner of Back Home Safely. For every inch of rise in the steps, you need about one foot of ramp. Three eight-inch steps would require the ramp to be 24 feet long and a foot of ramp costs around $150 so, to purchase a ramp to cover a three-step entrance would be around $3,600. Rentals are also available.

Ellen Ladau and her daughter, Emily are both power wheelchair users in Suffolk County, Long Island. Ms. Ladau modified their bathroom by adding a roll-in shower and sink. She was able to get funding through Medicaid to pay for it, but the first modification didnt work out because the wheelchair turning radius wasnt wide enough.
Workers prepare a taco Saturday at the Spin Taco tent. Voters chose Spin Taco as the best in the first New Lenox Food Fight: Taco Fest. (Jeff Vorva/Daily Southtown)

Jason Marzano and Alyssa Robles were old pros at this.

They found a tree for some shade to protect them from the hot sun.

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They set up blankets on the ground for 7-year-old Mason Robles and 5-year-old Riley Robles.

They set up chairs.

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And, in a move commonly seen in the massive lawn at Ravinia in Highland Park, they set up a little table carried in on a wagon.

This is Jasons table, Alyssa Robles said. Its perfect.

Mason Robles of New Lenox digs into a taco at Saturdays Food Fight: Taco Fest at the New Lenox Commons. (Jeff Vorva/Daily Southtown)

Its almost like they have been coming to the village of New Lenoxs Food Fight: Taco Fest event for years.

But, like thousands of others who came to the New Lenox Commons Saturday, it was their first time as the village debuted the event.

What brought this group to Taco Fest?

Tacos, Alyssa Robles said. I love tacos. I had a taco from Taco Maui with pineapple on it. I love pineapple on tacos and I like the authentic tacos.

Nine vendors participated in a contest for Best Taco, with New Lenox restaurant Spin Taco voted the winner by fest goers. Tacos were available for $5.

While some restaurants and trucks had huge colorful displays and advertising, Spin Taco was understated. The restaurant, located at 1005 W. Laraway Road, brought out a simple white tent to prepare and serve their entry. If it wasnt for a small sign in the front of the tent, it would be easy to miss the name.

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The restaurant won the fest with a Spin Special. It was a taco with steak topped with house sauce, guacamole and fresco cheese.

Other participating restaurants were Bourbons Smokehouse, Drews Dogs, Fast Eddies Tacos and More, La Flo De Morelos, Pico De Gallo, Ranch Frostie, Smokin Z BBQ and Tacos Before Vatos.

Sarah Marie, a Selena impersonator, sings during Food Fight: Taco Fest Saturday in the New Lenox Commons. (Jeff Vorva/Daily Southtown)

Aside from tacos, tacos and more tacos, the day and night event featured musical performances from Within 4 Days and Sundance, a Selena tribute performance, a Chihuahua beauty pageant and a hot pepper eating contest.

A pup named Peanut won the Chihuahua pageant and officials decided to be generous and respectful to those eating hot peppers on a hot and humid day, naming each participants a winner.

For the kids, there were bounce houses, face painting and crafts.

A dog named Mocha, owned by New Lenoxs Jen Jackman, was not eligible for the Chihuahua event. Jackman is not sure what kind of mixed breed Mocha is, but shes not a Chihuahua.

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The dog did, however, make an impression. Not long before Jackman and Mokenas Jim Bowlds entered the fest, people wanted to pet Mocha, who was dressed as a taco.

We saw a sign a few weeks ago and just thought we would stop by, Jackman said. We love tacos.

Mocha, a dog owned by New Lenoxs Jen Jackman, was a hit dressed as a taco. (Jeff Vorva/Daily Southtown)

July is a wildly busy month in the Commons with 12 events starting with Independence Day and ending with a Chalk Walk on July 29.

With 11 other events going on in a small window, why add a new event like the Taco Fest?

Its kind of my job to come up with one more thing, joked Special Events Coordinator Beth Alderson.

Daily Southtown Twice-weekly News updates from the south suburbs delivered every Monday and Wednesday By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our Subscriber Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy >

Social media helped hatch this fest.

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Its going to sound so silly, but last year there was a post on one of our neighborhood Facebook pages and somebody said it would be awesome if we could to a taco festival, Alderson said. I thought we can do that. We can make that happen.'

Alderson said the village is considering changing things up in with the Food Fight theme.

The thought is that each year, we will feature a different cuisine, she said. Next year might be pizza. We could change it up each year and keep it fresh.

Alyssa Robles, however, wouldnt mind seeing the taco theme return.

I think they should stick to tacos, she said. Everybody loves a good taco.

Jeff Vorva is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
BEIJING, July 16 (Xinhua) -- Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, has given important instructions on cyber security and information technology application work. He pointed out that since the 18th CPC National Congress, the country has made remarkable achievements in the development of its cyber security and information technology application. The overall leadership of the Party has been strengthened over the internet and information technology sector, the mainstream public opinion in cyberspace has been consolidated and developed, a comprehensive internet governance system has been basically formed, and the capacity and system for safeguarding cyber security has been improving. Xi added that China has accelerated the efforts to build self-reliance and strength in internet and information technology, the leading role of information technology as a driving force for development has been given full play, the rule of law in cyberspace has been constantly improved, a greater say in international affairs and influence in cyberspace has been gained and strengthened, making a new leap forward in building China into a country with strong cyber strength.

Xi stressed that as China embarks on a new journey in the new era, the role of internet and information technology is becoming increasingly prominent. Under the guidance of the Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, the country must fully implement the guiding principles of the 20th CPC National Congress, and put into practice the CPC Central Committee's important thought on building cyber strength. It is imperative to undertake the missions of upholding socialism with Chinese characteristics and rallying public support, warding off risks and ensuring security, strengthening governance and benefiting people's lives, nurturing growth momentum and boosting development, and seeking mutually-beneficial cooperation. It is essential to uphold the Party's leadership over the internet sector, adhere to the principle that internet and information technology must serve the interest of the people, take the path with Chinese characteristics for the management of the internet, and maintain good coordination between internet development and cyber security. Spreading positive energy is the general requirement for internet development, effective regulation and management the guarantee for its prosperity, and masterful application of it the exhibition of excellent governance. Work must be done to forge a strong cyber security barrier and give full play to the role of information technology as a driving force for development. It is imperative to govern cyberspace, run websites and apps, and carry out online activities according to the law. Endeavors must be made to build a community with a shared future in cyberspace, and build a loyal, clean and responsible team in the internet and information technology sector. Efforts must be made to promote the high-quality development of this sector, making new achievements in building China into a country with strong cyber strength, and thus making contributions to building a modern socialist country in all respects and advancing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts.

Xi stressed that Party committees (leading Party groups) at all levels must strengthen organizational leadership and overall coordination to ensure that the decisions and arrangements of the CPC Central Committee on the internet and information technology work are implemented to the letter. Internet and information technology departments at all levels must be loyal to the Party and the people, shoulder their responsibilities, be innovative and hard-working, and dare to fight cyber-terrorism and other illegal acts in cyberspace in a bid to provide strong guarantees for the high-quality development of the internet and information technology work.

The National Conference on Cyber Security and Information Technology Application was held in Beijing from July 14th to 15th. Cai Qi, 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, attended the meeting and made a speech. Ding Xuexiang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and vice premier of the State Council, attended the meeting and conveyed Xi Jinping's important instructions.

Cai Qi pointed out in his speech that General Secretary Xi Jinping's important instructions clearly put forward the missions and tasks of the internet and information technology work, clarified the "ten principles to adhere to," and made requirements for work in this sector. He described Xi's instructions as being of political, strategic and guiding importance, which have pointed out the direction for the work in this sector on the new journey in the new era. The instructions must be resolutely implemented, Cai said.

Cai emphasized that since the 18th CPC National Congress, great achievements have been made in the development of internet and information technology, and it is fundamentally owing to the leadership of General Secretary Xi Jinping and the sound guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. General Secretary Xi's important thought on boosting China's strength in cyberspace has provided rational answers to a series of major theoretical and practical questions concerning the development of the internet and information technology sector. The thought has raised the Party's understanding of the work in this sector to a higher level, and is a guide to action for advancing the high-quality development of the sector on the new journey in the new era. We must further learn the thought, understand the significance of the establishment of both Comrade Xi Jinping's core position on the Party Central Committee and in the Party as a whole and the guiding role of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, remain committed to upholding Comrade Xi Jinping's core position on the Party Central Committee and in the Party as a whole and the Party Central Committee's authority and its centralized, unified leadership, and implement it to the letter in the development of the sector.

Cai stressed that strategic arrangements were made at the 20th CPC National Congress for the internet and information technology work, and it's imperative to remain committed to our missions and tasks, make division of them more detailed, and focus on implementation. Positive publicity and guidance online must be strengthened, online risks in ideological domains must be guarded against, and effective comprehensive governance of cyberspace must be strengthened, so as to foster a sound online environment, and firmly exercise leadership over online ideological work. We should implement the major strategies of cyberspace security and establish a security system of a broad cyberspace by striking a balance between development and security, so as to consolidate the security barrier of China's cyberspace. It is essential to rely on innovation, self-reliance and empowerment for development, provide a level playing field to benefit all, shore up weak links and give full play to the role of information technology as a driving force for development. Efforts should also be made to strengthen cyber legislation, law enforcement, administration of justice, and legal literacy work, and promote law-based governance of cyberspace. International exchanges and pragmatic cooperation should be deepened in cyberspace affairs. The Party's supervision over the internet must be maintained, and its overall leadership over the internet and information technology work strengthened. The Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission and its affiliates, Party committees (leading Party groups) and cyberspace offices at all levels should fully assume their principal responsibilities so as to forge a synergy to advance the internet and information technology work.

Li Shulei, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, expressed in his concluding remarks that we should thoroughly study and implement Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, especially his key thought on boosting China's strength in cyberspace. Li said that it is necessary to conscientiously implement General Secretary Xi Jinping's important instructions, and resolutely advocate the establishment of both Comrade Xi Jinping's core position on the Party Central Committee and in the Party as a whole and the guiding role of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, and resolutely uphold Comrade Xi Jinping's core position on the Party Central Committee and in the Party as a whole and uphold the authority of the Party Central Committee and its centralized, unified leadership. It is imperative to undertake the missions of upholding socialism with Chinese characteristics and rallying public support, warding off risks and ensuring security, strengthening governance and benefiting people's lives, nurturing growth momentum and boosting development, and seeking mutually-beneficial cooperation. It is necessary to strengthen Party's overall leadership in all aspects of the internet and information technology work, in order to promote the high-quality development of this sector, and lay a solid foundation for building China into a great country and realizing its national rejuvenation.

Relevant officials from Beijing, Shanghai, Guangdong, and officials from the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, as well as People's Daily delivered speeches.

Shi Taifeng, He Lifeng, Zhang Youxia, Chen Wenqing, Wang Xiaohong, and Wu Zhenglong were present.

Also present were members of the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission and leading officials from different provinces, autonomous regions, municipalities, cities specifically designated in the state plan and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, as well as leading officials from relevant central Party and government departments, people's organizations, state-owned enterprises, military units, and major central news websites. 
In 1996, paleontologists made a startling discovery in northwestern Madagascar. Among dinosaur bones and sandy sediment there emerged a 167-million-year-old tiny jaw fragment with three teeth. It belonged to Ambondro mahabo, a species that was 25 million years older than any mammal of its kind ever found.

And it wasnt supposed to be there. At the time, what was known of the fossil record pointed overwhelmingly to the conclusion that modern mammals forerunners arose in the Northern Hemisphere.

The prevailing wisdom suggested that we shouldnt find something like that from the time interval we were sampling, nor from the Southern Hemisphere, said John Flynn, the paleontologist who led that dig and is now the Frick curator of fossil mammals at the American Museum of Natural History in New York.

It takes more than a single fossil to overturn an entire theory of evolution. But a review of existing fossil holdings published last year in the journal Alcheringa sought to turn decades of paleontological wisdom on its head. After an exhaustive study of skulls, jaws and teeth, a team of Australian paleontologists presented their conclusion that modern mammals originated in the Southern Hemisphere.
Did I ever think I ever could go to a mayor eight years ago and present to him a wedding party venue? No, Mr. Dick said. I was just trying to get the grass cut. I was trying to get trash trucks.

Detroit remains a place with abundant problems. Abandoned houses, though fewer in number than before, continue to atrophy. Violent crime remains pervasive. And, according to census data that the mayor disputes, Detroits decades-long population decline has persisted, with about 620,000 residents today. In 1950, the citys population peaked at more than 1.8 million.

The simultaneous realities of Detroit add urgency to this moment, when the national economy is healthy and the citys coffers are flush with federal pandemic relief funds. For the first time in a long time, there is money to go beyond the basics, offering a chance to think about aesthetics.

Nobody in Chicago ever called their sister to say, My streetlights went on! You dont celebrate that in a vibrant city, said Mayor Mike Duggan, who was first elected during the bankruptcy and is now in his third term. And we dont want to celebrate those things. Here, we want to celebrate the new park, the new riverfront.

Indeed, parks in the city have flourished since the bankruptcy, when about half of them were shut down. The waterfront on the Detroit River, once an unwelcoming mass of concrete, now features scenic walkways and fishing spots shared by residents and tourists.
A Civil War-era treasure of more than 700 gold coins was unearthed in a Kentucky cornfield, a find that has at least partly vindicated legends of lost Civil War gold that have driven American treasure hunters for more than 150 years.

The discovery, which coin sellers have called the Great Kentucky Hoard, was made on a farm by a man who has so far remained anonymous.

In a video posted on June 9 on YouTube, the man is seen frantically counting mounds of coins caked with dirt.

This is the most insane thing ever, he said, pointing out coins that were later certified by the Numismatic Guaranty Company as genuine $1, $10 and $20 gold coins minted before and during the Civil War.
Under orders from the Supreme Court to produce a voting map that no longer illegally dilutes the power of Black voters in Alabama, the states lawmakers are now facing a high-stakes scramble to come up with an acceptable replacement by the end of this week.

A little over a month after the courts surprise ruling, the Alabama legislature will convene for a special five-day session on Monday, with the Republican supermajority having given little public indication of how it plans to fulfill a mandate to craft a second district that allows Black voters to elect a representative of their choice  one who could well be a Democrat.

The effects of the revised map, which must be passed by Friday and approved by a federal court, could reverberate across the country, with other states in the South confronting similar voting rights challenges and Republicans looking to hold onto a razor-thin majority in the U.S. House of Representatives next year.

The session also comes at a pivotal moment in the debate over the constitutionality of factoring race into government decisions, as conservatives have increasingly chipped away at the 1965 Voting Rights Act and other longstanding judicial protections centered on equality and race.
On June 22, 1962, an intelligence official drafted a memo summarizing a letter intercepted between Lee Harvey Oswald and his mother. The memo was made public long ago. But for 60 years, the name of the letter opener was kept secret.

Now it can finally be told: According to an unredacted copy of the memo released recently by the government, the official who intercepted Oswalds mail for the C.I.A. in the months before President John F. Kennedy was assassinated was named Reuben Efron.

And that means  what, exactly? A tantalizing clue to unraveling a complicated conspiracy that the government has sought to cover up for decades? Additional proof that the C.I.A. knew more about Oswald than initially acknowledged? Or a minor detail withheld all this time because of bureaucratic imperatives irrelevant to the question of whether Oswald was the lone gunman on the fateful day?

The mystery of Reuben Efron, who has been dead for three decades, may never be resolved to the satisfaction of some of those dedicated to studying the assassination. Thirty years after Congress ordered that papers related to the killing be made public with limited exceptions, President Biden has declared that he has made his final certification of files to be released, even though 4,684 documents remain withheld in whole or in part. Going forward, agencies will decide any future disclosures that may be warranted by the passage of time.
Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida has started cutting campaign staff just months into his presidential bid, as he has struggled to gain traction in the Republican primary and lost ground in some public polls to former President Donald J. Trump.

The exact number of people let go by the DeSantis team was unclear, but one campaign aide said it was fewer than 10. The development was earlier reported by Politico.

The dismissals are an ominous sign for the campaign and also underscore the challenges that Mr. DeSantis faces with both his fund-raising and his spending, at a time when a number of major donors who had expressed interest in him have grown concerned about his performance.

An aide, Andrew Romeo, described the campaigns circumstances in an upbeat tone.

Americans are rallying behind Ron DeSantis and his plan to reverse Joe Bidens failures and restore sanity to our nation, and his momentum will only continue as voters see more of him in person, especially in Iowa, he said in a statement. Defeating Joe Biden and the $72 million behind him will require a nimble and candidate-driven campaign, and we are building a movement to go the distance.
The News

Four high-value prisoners at Guantanamo Bay have tested positive for the coronavirus, including one man who was moved to the base hospital for closer observation, according to people familiar with operations at the U.S. base in Cuba.

Members of the military medical staff detected the re-emergence of the virus on Tuesday night at the Camp 5 prison, which holds 14 men who were detained in C.I.A. prisons between 2002 and 2008.

By Friday, the small number of detainees who had tested positive were experiencing minor symptoms and are improving, said Lt. Col. Dustin W. Cammack, an Army spokesman.

Two of the prisoners who tested positive were identified by people with knowledge of the situation as defendants in death penalty cases: Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri, who is accused of plotting the suicide bombing of the destroyer Cole in 2000, and Walid bin Attash, who is accused of conspiring in the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. The other two were Abd al-Hadi al-Iraqi, who has pleaded guilty to commanding insurgent forces in wartime Afghanistan, and Guled Hassan Duran, a Somali prisoner who has been approved for release to a country other than his homeland, if one can be found.

None of the people who provided the figures and information about the outbreak agreed to be identified because they were not authorized to discuss detainee health care, and because of the classified nature of Camp 5.

On Friday, Dr. Andrew J. McDermott, the chief medical officer at the base hospital, confirmed a slight increase in Covid-19 cases at the base of about 6,000 residents. He described them as overall low numbers that did not merit more screening or masking.
Senate Democrats staring down tough re-election fights can look to one bright spot: sizable fund-raising hauls and cash stockpiles more than a year before Election Day.

In states where they are most vulnerable in 2024  Montana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Wisconsin  Democratic incumbents have raised more money than they previously have at this stage in earlier cycles, the latest campaign filings show. Saturday was the deadline for campaigns to file spending and fund-raising reports for the three months between April 1 and June 30.

Most of the vulnerable incumbent Democratic senators also topped their prospective Republican challengers in fund-raising and will head into the fall with several million dollars in cash on hand.

The race for Senate control is in its earliest months, and Republicans are still building campaigns. Yet the Democrats relative financial strength in the second quarter of an off year suggests significant energy as the party aims to protect its slim majority next year.
On the home turf of his chief Republican rival and in his adopted state, former President Donald J. Trump told a sprawling conservative gathering in Florida on Saturday night that it was futile for Gov. Ron DeSantis to keep battling him for the partys presidential nomination.

In a prime-time speech at the Turning Point Action Conference in West Palm Beach, Fla., Mr. Trump claimed that his polling lead over Mr. DeSantis and every other G.O.P. candidate was insurmountable, and suggested that the Florida governor should stand down for the good of the party.

Mr. Trump, who leads Mr. DeSantis by roughly 30 percentage points in national polls, dismissed Mr. DeSantiss early momentum before he officially entered the race in May as a mirage.

He was never that close, by the way, Mr. Trump told about 6,000 grass-roots activists at the Palm Beach County Convention Center. Turning Point Action is a political arm of Turning Point USA, a pro-Trump grass-roots group focusing on millennial conservatives that was founded by Charlie Kirk.
The United Nations on Sunday awaited a response from Russia on renewing a deal that allows Ukraine to export its grain amid a wartime blockade, a necessity in helping keep global food prices stable.

The Black Sea Grain Initiative, brokered by the United Nations and Turkey, is a rare example of fruitful negotiations between Ukraine and Russia since the start of the full-scale invasion. The deal was initially reached a year ago, allowing Ukraine to restart the export of millions of tons of grain that had languished for months.

But Russia has repeatedly threatened to pull out of the deal, which has been renewed only for short periods. The last day of the latest extension is Monday.

In a bid to answer one of Russias key demands before this latest deadline, the United Nations secretary general, Antonio Guterres, sent a letter to President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia last week with proposals that would remove hurdles affecting financial transactions through Russias agricultural bank and simultaneously allow for the continued flow of Ukrainian grain through the Black Sea, according to a U.N. statement.
SANAA, July 16 (Xinhua) -- A UN replacement ship arrived in Yemen's Red Sea port city of Hodeidah on Sunday, in preparation to transfer crude oil from a tanker abandoned off the coast of the war-torn country since 2015, UN officials at the scene told reporters.

In the upcoming two-week first phase of the emergency rescue operation, the replacement vessel Nautica will transfer all crude from the floating supertanker Safer, before a catenary anchor leg mooring buoy will be secured to the seabed to fix the replacement ship in the second phase, according to the UN officials.

Carrying more than 1.1 million barrels of crude oil, the Yemen-owned FSO Safer, which was used as a terminal floating storage to export oil, has not undergone maintenance since 2015 because of the civil conflict.

Labeled by the United Nations a "floating time bomb," the deteriorating supertanker poses a significant risk of explosion or an oil spill, which will potentially cause a disaster four times as serious as the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill in the Red Sea.

A possible explosion of the rusting ship or oil spill would kill all fish off Yemen's Red Sea coast within hours, with fish stocks taking 25 years to recover, according to a UN Development Programme report in April.

It would also lead to the closure of the essential ports of Hodeidah and Saleef, which are crucial for bringing food, fuel, and life-saving supplies into Yemen, where 17 million people need food assistance.

Last week, the United Nations said it had raised about 118 million U.S. dollars out of the estimated 148-million-dollar budget for the emergency rescue project for Safer.

Hodeidah port city has been under Houthi control since the eruption of the civil war in late 2014, when the Houthi group seized control over much of the country's north and forced the internationally recognized government out of the capital Sanaa. 
It was a grisly scene of bloody limbs and crumpled vehicles as a series of Russian mines exploded across a field in southern Ukraine.

One Ukrainian soldier stepped on a mine and tumbled onto the grass in the buffer zone between the two armies. Nearby lay other Ukrainian troops, their legs in tourniquets, waiting for medical evacuation, according to videos posted online and the accounts of several soldiers involved.

Soon, an armored vehicle arrived to rescue them. A medic jumped out to treat the wounded and knelt on ground he deemed safe  only to trigger another mine with his knee.

Five weeks into a counteroffensive that even Ukrainian officials say is off to a halting start, interviews with commanders and soldiers fighting along the front indicate the slow progress comes down to one major problem: land mines.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel was discharged from the hospital on Sunday in what medical officials described as excellent condition, after an overnight stay involving a series of tests and being fitted with an implanted heart monitor.

Mr. Netanyahu, 73, had been admitted on Saturday to the Sheba Medical Center, a leading hospital near Tel Aviv, after feeling mild dizziness. The medical staff concluded that he was dehydrated.

On Sunday morning, he underwent heart tests, which the prime ministers office and hospital officials said had all come back clear.

His heart is completely normal, without any findings, Prof. Amit Segev, the director of the hospitals cardiology unit, said in a statement shortly before Mr. Netanyahus release.
1990 Younger populations Working

age Older populations For decades, the worlds dominant powers have benefited from large working-age populations that help drive economic growth. Meanwhile, particularly young populations in much of the developing world mean limited resources are diverted to raising children, curbing economic opportunity. But the worlds demographic sweet spots are changing, and fast. Japan had the first major shift: By 2013, a quarter of the population was 65 and older, making Japan the oldest large country ever. Soon, much of Western Europe will follow, with record old-age populations. South Korea, Britain and Eastern Europe will be next, along with China. At the same time, many low-income countries today will have huge prime-age labor forces for the first time. Can they take advantage of the opportunity? Source: U.N. World Population Prospects 2022 Young populations are those in which at least a quarter of the population is under age 15. In old populations, at least a quarter of the population is 65 or older.

The worlds demographics have already been transformed. Europe is shrinking. China is shrinking, with India, a much younger country, overtaking it this year as the worlds most populous nation.

But what weve seen so far is just the beginning.

The projections are reliable, and stark: By 2050, people age 65 and older will make up nearly 40 percent of the population in some parts of East Asia and Europe. Thats almost twice the share of older adults in Florida, Americas retirement capital. Extraordinary numbers of retirees will be dependent on a shrinking number of working-age people to support them.

In all of recorded history, no country has ever been as old as these nations are expected to get.

As a result, experts predict, things many wealthier countries take for granted  like pensions, retirement ages and strict immigration policies  will need overhauls to be sustainable. And todays wealthier countries will almost inevitably make up a smaller share of global G.D.P., economists say.

This is a sea change for Europe, the United States, China and other top economies, which have had some of the most working-age people in the world, adjusted for their populations. Their large work forces have helped to drive their economic growth.

Those countries are already aging off the list. Soon, the best-balanced work forces will mostly be in South and Southeast Asia, Africa and the Middle East, according to U.N. projections. The shift could reshape economic growth and geopolitical power balances, experts say.

Largest working-age share of population Top 10 largest economies today 1990 Japan South Korea Germany Italy Russia United States France China Thailand United Kingdom 2023 South Korea Brazil Colombia China Thailand Iran Myanmar Vietnam Bangladesh Indonesia 2050 South Africa Myanmar India Bangladesh Philippines Pakistan Kenya Indonesia Egypt Ethiopia Sources: U.N. World Population Prospects, World Bank Graphic includes countries with at least 50 million people in 2023. Largest economies are determined by gross domestic product.

In many respects, the aging of the world is a triumph of development. People are living longer, healthier lives and having fewer children as they get richer.

The opportunity for many poorer countries is enormous. When birth rates fall, countries can reap a demographic dividend, when a growing share of workers and few dependents fuel economic growth. Adults with smaller families have more free time for education and investing in their children. More women tend to enter the work force, compounding the economic boost.

Demography isnt destiny, and the dividend isnt automatic. Without jobs, having a lot of working-age people can drive instability rather than growth. And even as they age, rich countries will enjoy economic advantages and a high standard of living for a long time.

1990 2023 2050 The worlds dominant powers had large working-age populations in the 1990s. Others were still very young. Today, much of Europe is aging, and Japan is particularly old. In 2050, most of todays richest countries will be old. Others will have huge working-age populations for the first time. Russia U.K. France Pakistan Pakistan China China U.S. U.S. Japan U.S. Japan China India India India Nigeria Nigeria Ethiopia D.R.C. Indonesia Indonesia Brazil Brazil Brazil 1990 The worlds dominant powers had large working-age populations in the 1990s. Others were still very young. Russia U.K. U.S. China Japan India Brazil 2023 Today, much of Europe is aging, and Japan is particularly old. Pakistan France China U.S. Japan India Nigeria Brazil Indonesia 2050 In 2050, most of todays richest countries will be old. Others will have huge working-age populations for the first time. Pakistan U.S. China India Nigeria D.R.C. Ethiopia Brazil Indonesia 1990 2023 2050 The worlds dominant powers had large working-age populations in the 1990s. Others were still very young. Today, much of Europe is aging, and Japan is particularly old. In 2050, most of todays richest countries will be old. Others will have huge working-age populations for the first time. Russia U.K. France Pakistan Pakistan China China U.S. U.S. U.S. Japan Japan China India India India Nigeria Nigeria Ethiopia D.R.C. Indonesia Indonesia Brazil Brazil Brazil 1990 2023 2050 The worlds dominant powers had large working-age populations in the 1990s. Others were still very young. Today, much of Europe is aging, and Japan is particularly old. In 2050, most of todays richest countries will be old. Others will have huge working-age populations for the first time. Russia U.K. France Pakistan China U.S. U.S. U.S. Japan China Japan China India India India Nigeria Nigeria Ethiopia D.R.C. Indonesia Indonesia Brazil Brazil Brazil 1990 2023 2050 The worlds dominant powers had large working-age populations in the 1990s. Others were still very young. Today, much of Europe is aging, and Japan is particularly old. In 2050, most of todays richest countries will be old. Others will have huge working-age populations for the first time. Russia U.K. France Pakistan China U.S. U.S. U.S. Japan Japan China China India India India Nigeria Nigeria Ethiopia D.R.C. Indonesia Indonesia Brazil Brazil Brazil

But the economic logic of age is hard to escape.

All of these changes should never surprise anyone. But they do, said Mikko Myrskyla, director of the Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research. And thats not because we didn't know. Its because politically its so difficult to react.

The Opportunity of Youth

50 youngest countries in 2050 2023 10 children for every 10 working-age adults 9 8 Niger 7 Dem. Rep. of Congo Somalia 6 Central African Rep. Angola Tanzania Nigeria 5 Afghanistan Ethiopia Tajikistan Kenya 4 Countries with a very high proportion of children today will have fewer child dependents and more workers in 2050. Many are in Africa, Asia or Oceania. 3 2 1 0 children for every 10 working-age adults 1990 2050 2023 10 children for every 10 working-age adults 9 8 Niger 7 Dem. Rep. of Congo Somalia 6 Central African Rep. Angola Tanzania Nigeria 5 Afghanistan Ethiopia Tajikistan Kenya 4 Countries with a very high proportion of children today will have fewer child dependents and more workers in 2050. Many are in Africa, Asia or Oceania. 3 2 1 0 children for every 10 working-age adults 1990 2050 Source: Times analysis of U.N. World Population Prospects

As in many young countries, birth rates in Kenya have declined drastically in recent years. Women had an average of eight children 50 years ago, but only just over three last year. Demographically, Kenya looks something like South Korea in the mid-1970s, as its economy was beginning a historic rise, although its birth rate is declining somewhat more slowly. Much of South Asia and Africa have similar age structures.

The upside is enormous.

A similar jump in the working-age population may explain about a third of the economic growth through the end of the last century in South Korea, China, Japan and Singapore, according to the best estimates  an enormous amount of economic growth.

Young populations Working

age Old populations 1990 Oldest regions Europe 0 20 40 60 80+ Ages: Albania Particularly young Austria Belarus Belgium Bosnia and Herzegovina Bulgaria Croatia Czech Rep. Denmark Estonia Finland France Germany Greece Hungary Ireland Italy Kosovo Latvia Lithuania Netherlands N. Macedonia Norway Poland Portugal Moldova Romania Russia Serbia Slovakia Slovenia Spain Sweden Switzerland Ukraine U.K. Eastern Asia 0 20 40 60 80+ Ages: China Large working-age population Hong Kong North Korea Japan Mongolia South Korea Taiwan Northern America 0 20 40 60 80+ Ages: Canada Large working-age population United States Australia and New Zealand 0 20 40 60 80+ Ages: Australia Large working-age population New Zealand Youngest region Sub-Saharan Africa 0 20 40 60 80+ Ages: Angola Particularly young Benin Botswana Burkina Faso Burundi Cameroon Central African Rep. Chad Comoros Rep. of Congo Ivory Coast Dem. Rep. of Congo Djibouti Eq. Guinea Eritrea Eswatini Ethiopia Gabon Gambia Ghana Guinea Guinea-Bissau Kenya Lesotho Liberia Madagascar Malawi Mali Mauritania Mauritius Mozambique Namibia Niger Nigeria Rwanda Senegal Sierra Leone Somalia South Africa South Sudan Togo Uganda Tanzania Zambia Zimbabwe Countries shown are those projected to have a population of 1 million or more by 2050, according to U.N. projections. Ages are shown as five-year averages. Regions are based on U.N. classifications.

Many of these demographic changes are already baked in: Most people who will be alive in 2050 have already been born.

But predictions always involve uncertainty, and there is evidence that sub-Saharan African countries fertility rates are dropping even faster than the U.N. projects  meaning that those African countries could be even better positioned in 2050 than currently expected.

But without the right policies, a huge working-age population can backfire rather than lead to economic growth. If large numbers of young adults dont have access to jobs or education, widespread youth unemployment can even threaten stability as frustrated young people turn to criminal or armed groups for better opportunities.

If you dont have employment for those people who are entering the labor force, then its no guarantee that the demographic dividend is going to happen, said Carolina Cardona, a health economist at Johns Hopkins University who works with the Demographic Dividend Initiative.

East Asian countries that hit the demographic sweet spot in the last few decades had particularly good institutions and policies in place to take advantage of that potential, said Philip OKeefe, who directs the Aging Asia Research Hub at the ARC Center of Excellence in Population Aging Research and previously led reports on aging in East Asia and the Pacific at the World Bank.

Other parts of the world  some of Latin America, for example  had age structures similar to those East Asian countries but havent seen anywhere near the same growth, according to Mr. OKeefe. Demography is the raw material, he said. The dividend is the interaction of the raw material and good policies.

The Challenges of Aging

50 oldest countries in 2050 There will be three adults age 65 or older for every four working-age adults in South Korea in 2050. Most of the oldest places will be in Asia and Europe. 8 seniors for every 10 working-age adults Hong Kong For every two working-age adults in Japan, there is currently at least one person who is age 65 or older. South Korea 2023 Italy 7 Spain Taiwan Greece 6 Singapore Slovenia Thailand Germany 5 Mainland China Finland Japan Netherlands Canada 4 3 1990 2050 There will be three adults age 65 or older for every four working-age adults in South Korea in 2050. Most of the oldest places will be in Asia and Europe. 8 seniors for every 10 working-age adults Hong Kong South Korea 2023 Italy 7 Spain Taiwan Greece 6 Singapore Slovenia Japan Thailand Germany 5 Mainland China Finland Netherlands 4 Canada 3 For every two working-age adults in Japan, there is currently at least one person who is age 65 or older. 1990 2050 Source: U.N. World Population Prospects

Todays young countries arent the only ones at a critical juncture. The transformation of rich countries has only just begun. If these countries fail to prepare for a shrinking number of workers, they will face a gradual decline in well-being and economic power.

The number of working-age people in South Korea and Italy, two countries that will be among the worlds oldest, is projected to decrease by 13 million and 10 million by 2050, according to U.N. population projections. China is projected to have 200 million fewer residents of working age, a decrease higher than the entire population of most countries.

Large countries with the highest share of population 65 or older by 2050 Italy South Korea Japan Spain 2023 2050 2023 2050 2023 2050 2023 2050 72m In 2050, the number of older South Korean adults will near the number of working-age adults. 53m 39m 37m 36m 37m Working age 31m 27m 24m 23m 19m 18m 16m 14m Old 14m 12m 9.9m 9.5m 7.2m Young 6.4m 5.8m 5.8m 5m 3.8m South Korea Japan 2023 2050 2023 2050 72m Working age In 2050, the number of older South Korean adults will near the number of working-age adults. 53m Old 39m 36m 37m 24m 18m Young 14m 12m 9.5m 5.8m 3.8m Italy Spain 2023 2050 2023 2050 37m 31m 27m 23m 19m 16m 14m 9.9m 7.2m 5.8m 6.4m 5m Source: U.N. World Population Prospects 2022

To cope, experts say, aging rich countries will need to rethink pensions, immigration policies and what life in old age looks like.

Change will not come easy. More than a million people have taken to the streets in France to protest raising the retirement age to 64 from 62, highlighting the difficult politics of adjusting. Immigration fears have fueled support for right-wing candidates across aging countries in the West and East Asia.

Much of the challenges at the global level are questions of distribution, Dr. Myrskyla said. So some places have too many old people. Some places have too many young people. It would of course make enormous sense to open the borders much more. And at the same time we see thats incredibly difficult with the increasing right-wing populist movements.

The changes will be amplified in Asian countries, which are aging faster than other world regions, according to the World Bank. A change in age structure that took France more than 100 years and the United States more than 60 took many East and Southeast Asian countries just 20 years.

Not only are Asian countries aging much faster, but some are also becoming old before they become rich. While Japan, South Korea and Singapore have relatively high income levels, China reached its peak working-age population at 20 percent the income level that the United States had at the same point. Vietnam reached the same peak at 14 percent the same level.

Pension systems in lower-income countries are less equipped to handle aging populations than those in richer countries.

In most lower-income countries, workers are not protected by a robust pension system, Mr. OKeefe said. They rarely contribute a portion of their wages toward retirement plans, as in many wealthy countries.

That clearly is not a situation thats going to be sustainable socially in 20 years time when you have much higher shares of aged population, he said. Countries will have to sort out what model of a pension system they need to provide some kind of adequacy of financial support in an old age.

And some rich countries wont face as profound a change  including the United States.

Slightly higher fertility rates and more immigration mean the United States and Australia, for example, will be younger than most other rich countries in 2050. In both the United States and Australia, just under 24 percent of the population is projected to be 65 or older in 2050, according to U.N. projections  far higher than today, but lower than in most of Europe and East Asia, which will top 30 percent.

Aging is a tremendous achievement despite its problems.

Weve managed to increase the length of life, Dr. Myrskyla said. We have reduced premature mortality. We have reached a state in which having children is a choice that people make instead of somehow being coerced, forced by societal structures into having whatever number of children.

People arent just living longer; they are also living healthier, more active lives. And aging countries high level of development means they will continue to enjoy prosperity for a long time.

But behavioral and governmental policy choices loom large.

You can say with some kind of degree of confidence what the demographics will look like, Mr. OKeefe said. What the society will look like depends enormously on policy choices and behavioral change.
An Offaly food business where the HSE described some of the practices found during an inspection as having a 'grave and immediate danger to public health' was served with a Closure Order in June.

Details of the Closure Order have been published today by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland.

According to the Closure Order, Lynn's Pantry, Backwood, Cloneygowan, was served with the order on June 16. The order has not yet been lifted as of today (July 13). It was served under the Food Safety Authority of Ireland Act 1998.

During an inspection, a HSE Officer four contraventions of legislation and each was described as posing a grave and immediate danger to public health were discovered.

According to the report, at the time of the inspection there was a failure to implement and maintain permanent procedures

based on the HACCP principles. Cleaning procedures were not in place as evidenced by the 'unsatisfactory level of hygiene' noted during this inspection and foodstuffs were not being protected from contamination.

The report also stated that the food premises was not kept clean and unhygienic conditions were noted at the time of inspection. The report said that all walls and floors were in an unclean condition and encrusted with dirt, rubbish and food

debris while dead flies and insects were noted throughout the food preparation and storage areas. The report added that this was 'not an exhaustive list'.

The report found that all food contact surfaces including equipment throughout the premises were not effectively cleaned.

The report also found that the fly killing unit was located directly above the food preparation table which contained open

food. Buns were also found to be cooling underneath the extraction canopy which had cobwebs and insects visible.
Nature Does Not Recognize Geography: Himanta's Jibe At AAP On Blame Game On Floods

AAP To Join Opposition Meet After Congress Backs Ordinance Fight

India

oi-Prakash KL

The Aam Aadmi Party has decided to attend a key opposition meeting tomorrow in Bengaluru to decide on a united strategy to fight against the BJP in the 2024 polls.

"Congress party today made its stand clear and said that it will oppose the Delhi ordinance," said AAP MP Raghav Chadha.

The decision was taken at the AAP's political affairs committee meeting at Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's residence on Sunday. The announcement came soon after the Congress made its stand clear on the Centre's ordinance on administrative services in Delhi and said the party will oppose if a bill is brought to replace the ordinance in Parliament.

The political affairs committee (PAC), headed by Kejriwal, is the highest decision-making body of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).

Congress General Secretary K C Venugopal said the party will oppose any such move by the Centre to intervene in states ruled by opposition parties through the governors and has decided to oppose the Delhi ordinance in Parliament whenever a bill comes up.

"We took the decision yesterday. We are not going to support any attempt to sabotage the federal system of the country and to intervene in the state matters through governors. We are not going to support the Delhi ordinance," he told PTI.

Reacting to Venugopal's remarks, AAP MP and national spokesperson Raghav Chadha tweeted, "Congress announces its unequivocal opposition to the Delhi Ordinance. This is a positive development."

This will be the second meeting of more than a dozen opposition parties as they seek to chalk out a joint strategy to take on the BJP unitedly in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. In their first meeting in Patna, they resolved to take on the BJP unitedly in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
From Student Leader To 2-Time CM: The Making Of A Peoples Leader

INDIA Is The New Name Of Opposition Bloc

Thiruvananthapuram Bids Adieu To Oommen Chandy; His Mortal Remains Taken To Kottayam

When Will Modi Govt Stop Acting Like All Is Well: Cong On Manipur Video

Congress Supports AAPs Fight Against Delhi Ordinance Ahead Of Big Opposition Meet

India

oi-Deepika S

In a big boost to Opposition unity bid, the Congress on Sunday came out in support of the Aam Aadmi Party's campaign against the contentious central order that wrested back control of Delhi's bureaucracy.

"I think they (AAP) are going to join the meeting tomorrow. As for the ordinance (on control of services in Delhi), our stand is very clear. We are not going to support it," Congress general secretary KC Venugopal told news agency PTI.

The statement comes days after the AAP said it won't join any opposition meeting till the Congress backs its stand on the Delhi ordinance.

Reacting to the development, AAP leader Raghav Chadha tweeted, "Congress announces its unequivocal opposition to the Delhi Ordinance. This is a positive development."

Congress announces its unequivocal opposition to the Delhi Ordinance. This is a positive development.  Raghav Chadha (@raghav_chadha) July 16, 2023

Leaders of 24 non-BJP parties have been invited for the meeting of opposition grouping on June 17 and 18, aimed at taking on the saffron party in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

This meeting convened by the Congress, is the second such unity meeting of opposition parties, the first edition in Bihar's Patna on June 23, saw the participation of 15 parties.



Since then, a split in Sharad Pawar's Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and his nephew Ajit Pawar's switch to the Eknath Shinde-BJP coalition in Maharashtra is seen to have dampened the opposition unity bid somewhat.

This will be the first time that the top leadership of the TMC, Congress and Left parties will meet after a violence-marred rural poll battle in West Bengal.

The controversial Delhi ordinance by central government on May 19 promulgated the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Ordinance, 2023, to create an authority for transfer and posting of Group-A officers in Delhi.

The AAP government has termed it as a "deception" with the Supreme Court verdict on control of services.
Heavy Rain In Delhi Again As City Struggles With Waterlogging

Yamuna Flood Waters Reach Taj Mahal Wall for the First Time in 45 Years

Delhi Flood: Yamuna Water Level Likely To Go Below Danger Mark Today

India

oi-Deepika S

After unleashing chaos and distress over the past week, the water level of river Yamuna is expected to go below the 'danger' mark of 205.33 meters in the next few hours.

As of 10am on Sunday, Yamuna water level at Old Railway Bridge has been recorded at 205.95 metres which is still above the danger mark.

Saturday's rain has added to the woes of the authorities as it is taking longer to drain out the floodwaters.

Even on Sunday, massive traffic snarls and waterlogging were witnessed at several places in Delhi even as the key areas of the city, including ITO and Rajghat remained submerged.

Continuing the blame game over the flood-like situation in Delhi, AAP Minister Atishi on Sunday once again slammed the BJP government in Haryana over the release of water from the Hathinikund dam into the national capital.

"From Hathnikund, water goes to 3 places Delhi, Haryana and UP. Even though in Delhi the water level was crossing the danger mark, not a single drop of water was diverted to Haryana & UP, why? Was it because these 2 states are BJP-ruled? BJP must answer. Was this a conspiracy against the people of Delhi?" Atishi was quoted saying by ANI.

Water supply in Delhi to get restored today

Normal water supply is expected to resume in New Delhi as the water treatment plants at Wazirabad and Chandrawal are to start functioning today.

Chandrawal water treatment plant has also started.  Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) July 16, 2023

Metro update

Entry and exit at Yamuna Bank Metro Station are now open. https://t.co/6vdnv1wE10  Delhi Metro Rail Corporation I    (@OfficialDMRC) July 16, 2023

PM Modi takes stock of situation

Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Delhi Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena on Saturday to take stock of the flood situation in the capital.

After returning from his visits to France and the United Arab Emirates, PM Modi discussed the status of the rising water level in the Yamuna River and assessed the efforts being made to mitigate the situation with Delhi Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena.

The Delhi government said that the flood situation is expected to improve by Sunday as the water level in the Yamuna is gradually receding.

The rise in the Yamuna's water level was a result of excessive water discharge from Haryana's Hathinikund Barrage on Thursday, causing several areas in Delhi to be submerged under water. The water level had reached a record high of 208.62 meters.
TOKYO, July 16 (Xinhua) -- A man was confirmed dead after being found in a car submerged in farmland in Japan's Akita Prefecture as heavy rain continued to pound the country's northeastern regions.

The man was found in a flooded car in Gojome town at around 8:00 a.m. local time on Sunday and was later confirmed dead, local media reported, citing information from the police and fire department.

Due to an active rain front, heavy rain continued to lash Japan's northeastern regions, resulting in record precipitation in Akita Prefecture, with rivers overflowing and flooding a wide area including the central part of the prefecture.

The city of Akita observed record rainfalls of 243 millimeters over a 48-hour period through 11 a.m. local time on Sunday, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA). The city and its surrounding area were flooded after a river that runs through the city breached its banks.

Rain is expected to continue on Sunday and local authorities called for continued precautions to prevent possible disasters. 
24-Year-Old Man Electrocuted To Death While Using Treadmill In Gym In Delhi

Delhi Govt To Give Rs 10,000 Ex Gratia To Flood-Hit Families

India

pti-PTI

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday announced the Delhi government will provide financial aid of Rs 10,000 each to the flood-affected families.

Taking to Twitter, he said many poor families living along the Yamuna banks have lost their homes in the floods and some have lost all their belongings.

"A financial aid of Rs 10,000 will be provided to each family affected by the floods," Kejriwal said.

The AAP government will set up special camps for those who lost their Aadhaar cards and other important documents, and make arrangements for books and clothes for the affected children, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced on Sunday.

Regarding the ongoing efforts to control the flood situation, Kejriwal said that pumps are being used to reduce the water level in the affected areas. The progress varies across different locations, but the water level is gradually decreasing, he said.

"We have established relief camps in various locations, primarily in schools and dharma-shalas, to provide necessary amenities such as toilets and clean water," he told reporters at the relief camp.

The chief minister acknowledged the challenges faced by the people of Yamuna Bazaar, where the floodwaters caused significant damage.

As many individuals lost their important documents, including Aadhaar cards, the chief minister assured them that special camps would be organised to help them get these essential documents.

He also highlighted the plight of children who lost their books and school uniforms due to the flooding. He assured the affected families that the government is actively working on providing replacements for these items at the earliest.

Considering the muddy conditions in the affected areas, Kejriwal said efforts would be made to fill up 'keechad' with dry soil to expedite the drying process.

"The government is exploring various means to provide ad hoc relief to the flood-affected individuals, including compensation for their losses," he said, adding specific details and announcements regarding this assistance will be made soon.

Addressing a question regarding the Yamuna bridge maintenance payments, he clarified that the responsibility lies with the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC), which is owned by the central government.

The CM again urged all political parties, particularly the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), to refrain from engaging in blame game during this critical time, and emphasised the importance of working together to address the challenges posed by the floods and to restore normalcy in the affected areas.

Following the visit, he tweeted, "I personally visited a relief camp set up in a school at Mori Gate to oversee the arrangements. Along with providing shelter for the affected people, arrangements for food, water, and toilets have been made."

"For those whose important documents and children's books have been washed away in the floods, special camps will be set up later to provide them assistance. arrangements will be made for books and clothes for the children. The government will soon announce assistance for those who have suffered significant losses. We are reaching out to the flood-affected people with all possible help," the CM said.

He also tweeted to inform us that the Chandrawal Water Treatment Plant has been started. This will restore water supply to the tune of 105 MGD in assembly constituencies namely Rajinder Nagar, Karol Bagh, Ballimaran, Chandni Chowk, Patel Nagar, Palam Vihar, Delhi Cantt and also in NDMC areas.
India Is Only Democracy That Routinely Resorts To Internet Ban: Shashi Tharoor

India

oi-Deepika S

India is the only democracy in the world that routinely resorts to Internet shutdowns for extended periods of time inconveniencing ordinary citizens, said senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Sunday.

Tharoor's statement comes a day ahead of the Supreme Court's hearing on Manipur which has been the seat of ethnic violence for the past two months.

"The Supreme Court will hear on Monday the government's appeal against a Manipur High Court order, relaxing the draconian ban on the internet that has crippled digital life in the state for the last three months. The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Information Technology had sharply observed in 2022 that there is no justification provided by the government that demonstrates in any way that internet shutdowns actually impede, let alone prevent, violence or terrorism anywhere," Tharoor tweeted.

"It is a reflexive bureaucratic action that causes far more inconvenience to ordinary citizens then a useful security measure. It is bizarre that India is the only democracy in the world that routinely resorts to internet shutdowns for extended periods of time, with no appreciable effect on violence, but causing considerable inconvenience to ordinary citizens," he added.

"I hope the Supreme Court will stand up for the rights of citizens rather than for the blinkered babus who are completely indifferent to the impact of their decisions on citizens who use the Internet for banking, credit card transactions, enrolments, examinations, and to obtain all kinds of vital information. The Court must end this awful practice now!," Tharoor further added.

The central government has moved the Supreme Court over the Manipur high court's July 7 order directing to lift the ban on the internet in the state.

Manipur has been witnessing violence stemming from the clashes between Kuku and Meitei communities.

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Story first published: Sunday, July 16, 2023, 12:34 [IST]
24-Year-Old Man Electrocuted To Death While Using Treadmill In Gym In Delhi

Nature Does Not Recognize Geography: Himanta's Jibe At AAP On Blame Game On Floods

India

oi-Prakash KL

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday took a swipe at Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) over its blame game on floods and said that he will not point fingers at other states over nature's fury.

On his Twitter account, the BJP leader said, "Every year, we receive water from Bhutan, Arunachal, and even from China. We face floods with brave hearts. We experience pain and misery beyond human imagination, yet we do not blame others. Because we know that nature does not recognize geography."

This comes after the AAP leaders blamed Haryana for the flood-like situation in parts of Delhi.

Delhi Cabinet minister Saurabh Bharadwaj on Saturday alleged that flood in the city were caused by the the BJP-led Centre and Haryana government wilfully releasing water towards the national capital.

Bharadwaj said it has not rained in Delhi in the last 3-4 days, yet still the water level in Yamuna reached 208.66 metres. "The water from Hathnikund Barrage is released from three canals -- Western Canal, Eastern Canal and Yamuna. As part of a conspiracy, between July 9 and 13, water was released from Yamuna canal only towards Delhi. There was no water released through the Western and Eastern Canal," he claimed.

He and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal made similar charges on Friday, even as the city government butted heads with Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena over a broken regulator that allegedly caused inundation on the Vikas Marg.

Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Friday hit out at the AAP for accusing the state government of being responsible for the flood-like situation in parts of Delhi, saying doing politics on natural calamities is "unethical".

Taking a jibe at Delhi Chief Minister and AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal, Khattar said that "it seems that Haryana has become a nightmare for Kejriwal whenever Delhi is in trouble".

"Be it a pollution issue, water issue or any other, when Arvind Kejriwal fails to find any solution, he starts playing the blame game. Doing politics even on natural calamities is totally unethical," he said.

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Story first published: Sunday, July 16, 2023, 16:24 [IST]
On the joint Opposition meeting, Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar says, "...I think all the Opposition parties of this country, except a few, have joined together for a good beginning...This is not the meeting of an individual political party, it is shaping this country for the future of 140 crore people who are suffering on various issues...We feel that with this understanding & unity, we will take it forward and the results will come out - as Karnataka gave us a mandate, the entire country will give us a mandate in 2024. We will take it forward..."
Yet Another Cross Border Love Story Like Seema Haider's Case, This Time From Bangladesh

Seema Haider Once Been To Jail, Now Out On Bail: UP Cop On Pakistani Woman

Cash Payment, Fake Name: Details Of Sachin, Seema Haider's Stay in Room No. 204 Of Kathmandu Hotel Revealed

UP Man Arrested By ATS For Links With Pakistan's ISI

India

oi-Prakash KL

A man from Uttar Pradesh has been arrested allegedly for links with the ISI. He is accused of spying on the Indian military establishment and passing on the information to his handlers in Pakistan.

"Raees, a resident of Gonda, was arrested by the Uttar Pradesh Anti Terrorist Squad (ATS). He was summoned to the ATS headquarters here and during interrogation, he confessed to his involvement in spying," PTI quoted Prashant Kumar, Special DG (Law and Order) as saying in a statement.

The statement claims that Raees came in contact with one Armaan in Mumbai who persuaded him to spy against India. He was also promised money and a job in Dubai by a Pakistani citizen.

In 2022, Raees was contacted via WhatsApp by an international number and requested to get in touch with Hussain. Subsequently, he was instructed to provide images of crucial military installations in India, as reported by the police. Additionally, the authorities stated that Salman and an unidentified individual were implicated in the incident.

He received Rs 15,000 and was in touch with the ISI via a Bangladesh-registered mobile number.

An FIR has been registered against Raees at the Lucknow ATS police station under IPC sections 121 A (waging or attempting to wage war) and 123 (concealing with intent to facilitate design to wage war), and under the Officials Secrets Act, 1923, he said.

The cops are now in the process of arresting Armaan and Salman.

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Story first published: Sunday, July 16, 2023, 22:28 [IST]
Viral Photo: Chandrayaan-3 Lights Up Australias Night Sky

India

oi-Prakash KL

A picture of the Chandrayaan-3 Australian night sky has gone viral. The said photo was shared by Dylan O'Donnell, an astronomy enthusiast from MIT's GC Astronomy.

He posted the picture and stated that he watched Chandrayaan-3 launch on YouTube. "Just watched India's space agency launch their moon rocket on YT then fly over my house 30 mins later! Congrats @isro! Hopefully you stick the landing," Dylan O'Donnell said on Twitter.

The image captures a captivating blue tone, highlighting the lunar mission amidst a backdrop of sparkling stars. Adding an artistic touch to the viral photograph is a Pernille Folcarelli tree. This stunning image has already garnered an impressive 771K views on Twitter.

The picture has now gone viral. "Is this a long exposure shot or a standard photograph ? Brilliant capture!" one user said. "Awesome capture!" second user added.

"Thanks a lot man!! for capturing this moment," another user. One netizen asked, "Is this from specific location like Perth or Sydney or visible in all or most of Australia?" Another netizen stated, "How high was the rocket, at this point in time.. that would be interesting to know Brilliant capture."

India on Friday launched its ambitious third lunar mission Chandrayaan-3, eyeing a rare feat in moon exploration so far only accomplished by the likes of the US, China and the former Soviet Union.

The Indian Space Research Organisation's (ISRO) third lunar expedition in 15 years, the hugely anticipated Chandrayaan-3 embarked on its month-long journey towards the moon, piggybacking on ISRO's latest heavy lift launch vehicle, 'Fat boy' LVM3-M4 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.

The space agency said the technically challenging soft landing on the lunar surface, which Chandrayaan-2 could not achieve, has been planned for 5.47 pm on August 23.
Cash Payment, Fake Name: Details Of Sachin, Seema Haider's Stay in Room No. 204 Of Kathmandu Hotel Revealed

Not A Spy, Don't Send Me Back To Pakistan: Seema Haider's Appeal To PM Modi, UP CM

30 Hindus In Pakistan Held Hostage By Criminal Gangs: Report

International

oi-Prakash KL

A rights group in Pakistan has raised alarm over criminal gangs holding hostage 30 members of the minority Hindu community, including women and children.

"HRCP is alarmed by reports of deteriorating law and order in the districts of Kashmore and Ghotki in Sindh, where some 30 members of the Hindu community - including women and children - have allegedly been held hostage by organised criminal gangs," tweeted Human Rights Commission of Pakistan.

The incident has been reported from the districts of Kashmore and Ghotki in Sindh.

The HRCP has received disturbing reports that these gangs have threatened to attack the community's sites of worship. "Moreover, we have received disturbing reports that these gangs have threatened to attack the community's sites of worship, using high-grade weapons. The Sindh Home Department must investigate this matter immediately and take steps to protect all vulnerable citizens in these areas," tweeted HECP.

It has to be noted that a report based on data collected from National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) claims that minorities constituted less than five per cent of the total population of Pakistan. The Hindus are the largest minority community.

Attacks on the Hindu minority is not an uncommon practice in Pakistan's Sindh.

Bitter Winter, a magazine on religious liberty and human rights, reported that over the past few months, numerous incidents have come to light, targeting the Hindu minority residing in the village of Shaikh Bhirkio in Sindh and the Tando Allahyar district. Likewise, there has been a notable rise in attacks on Hindu temples in Pakistan in recent decades.

Notably, a gang of dacoits attacked a place of worship - reportedly with "rocket launchers" -belonging to members of the Hindu community in Sindh's Kashmore during the early hours of Sunday.

Days ago, a 150-year-old Hindu temple was demolished in Karachi.

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Story first published: Sunday, July 16, 2023, 23:07 [IST]
Enormous Good Fortune For Country To Have Somebody Like Him: Jaishankar Hails PM Modi

International

oi-Deepika S

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Saturday hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying that it is enormous good fortune of the country to have a leader like him, who tirelessly works for the welfare of the people.

He further said the extraordinary thing about PM Modi is that he gets the pulse of so many things which he turns into policies and programmes.

On his journey from being a diplomat to a politician, Jaishankar said as a diplomat he always worked with the politicians but entering the relentless, 24x7 world of politics with no weekend is different.

"I feel it's been an enormous good fortune of the country to have someone like PM Modi at this time. And I am not saying this because he is the prime minister of the day and I am a member of his Cabinet. I am saying this because when you have a once-in-a-century health challenge, it's only someone who's so grounded can say okay there is a health challenge, but what will do for the persons going home; what will you do to feed them; how will you put money into their account. The idea that women will manage the money better will not occur to many people," Jaishankar told the Indian community in Bangkok.

"Good leaders are people very grounded, very experienced with an enormous feel for what is happening but who also has the passion to take the country to a different level -- enormously grounded and enormously visionary. And such people, I can tell you, come once in a lifetime," Jaishankar said.

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Story first published: Sunday, July 16, 2023, 8:41 [IST]
US To Provide Cluster Munitions To Ukraine As Part Of Aid Package

US To Destroy Its Last Chemical Weapons, Closing Deadly Chapter Dating To World War I

Who Is Geeta Rao Gupta? New Ambassador-At-Large For Global Womens Issues In US

From US To Japan Via Europe: Record Heatwave Sweeps The World

International

oi-DW News

Dozens of cities across southern Europe were under heat wave warnings Saturday, as officials warn of extreme temperatures persisting in the coming days.

In Italy, at least 16 cities were under "red" alerts for heat, including Rome, Florence and Bologna.

In the southern Italian islands of Sicily and Sardinia, temperatures were set to soar to 48 degrees Celsius (118 degrees Fahrenheit).

That would make it the hottest temperature ever recorded in Europe, according to the European Space Agency, whose satellites monitor land and sea temperatures.

The temperature was expected to hit 40 degrees Celsius in Rome Monday and perhaps climb higher on Tuesday, smashing the 2017 records of 40.5 degrees Celsius in Italy's capital.

In Greece, the Acropolis was closed for a second day, with the national weather service warning that "parts of the country could see highs as much as 44 degrees Celsius on Saturday."

The service said the heat wave warnings would continue into next week.

In Spain, the national meteorological service said that temperatures in the eastern Iberian Peninsula and the Balearic Islands would rise to between 40 and 42 degrees Celsius.

US, Japan also face scorching weather

Japan has also been experiencing extreme heat, with temperatures expected to rise to 39 degrees Celsius on Sunday and Monday.

In the US, over 90 million Americans were under extreme heat advisories, watches and warnings.

Experts warned that heat would get worse this weekend for Nevada, Arizona and California, where temperatures were predicted to soar above 120 Fahrenheit (48.8 degrees Celsius) in some desert locations.

In Las Vegas, Nevada, an intense heat wave was threatening to break the city's all-time record high of 47.2 degrees Celsius this weekend. Phoenix, the capital city of Arizona, was set to record temperatures above 43 degrees Celsius for the fifteenth day.

Meanwhile, a series of blazes also erupted across California this week. A forest fire in the Spanish island of La Palma on Saturday also forced the evacuation of at least 500 people, authorities said.

While dangerous levels of heat swept some countries, others like South Korea and China have reported deadly floods because of unusually heavy rains that has left several people dead.

Scientists have warned that the frequency and severity of heat waves has increased steadily because of climate change.

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Story first published: Sunday, July 16, 2023, 8:56 [IST]
Gilgo Beach Murders: How Authorities Tracked Down The Suspect?

International

oi-Prakash KL

A man suspected serial killer linked to a series of murders and the discovery of bodies at Gilgo Beach on Long Island was arrested on Thursday by Suffolk County in New York.

He has been charged with three counts of first-degree murder and three counts of second-degree murder in connection with the deaths of Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman, and Amber Costello. He is a suspect in the murder of Maureen Brainard-Barnes. His arrest came a year after the cops discovered a connection to him with an unsolved series of murders that occurred more than a decade ago.

"Rex Heuermann is a demon that walks among us. A predator that ruined families. If not for the members of this task force, he would still be on the streets today," Suffolk County Police Commissioner Rodney Harrison said at a press meet.

"To the family members of Amber Costello, Melissa Barthelemy and Megan Waterman. I can only imagine what you've had to endure over the last decade regarding knowing that your killer was still loose. God bless you," Harrison added.

Barthelemy, Waterman and Costello were found dead in 2010 near a fourth victim, Maureen Brainard-Barnes.

How the cops tracked down the killer?

The search for a missing woman in 2010 had thrown light on multiple sets of human remains at Gilgo Beach. The cops had found at least 10 sets of human remains across two Long Island counties before they discovered the remains of Shannan Gilbert.

During the investigation of the 'Gilgo Four' case, law enforcement officials meticulously examined phone records from two specific locations: midtown Manhattan and the Massapequa Park area in Long Island. According to court documents, these locations were identified as places where the suspect likely utilized a disposable phone.

"For each of the murders, he got an individual burner phone, and he used that to communicate with the victims. Then shortly after the death of the victims, he then would get rid of the burner phone," Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney said on Friday.

The murders occurred when his wife and children were out of town.

A task force was formed to solve the case in February 2022 and Heuerman came on the cops' radar after a New York state investigator identified him in a database.

Cell tower records and physical description provided by a witness helped the cops to track down the suspect.

As the investigation progressed, the focus shifted towards individuals associated with a green pickup truck that a witness had observed the suspect driving.

Subsequently, authorities discovered that Heuermann is the owner and driver of a green pickup truck registered under his brother's name. Also, the physical matched the description given by an eyewitness who lived close to Long island cell site.

Following the identification of Heuermann as a suspect in March 2022, law enforcement authorities initiated surveillance on him and his family, and proceeded to collect DNA samples from discarded objects.

Authorities connected Heuermann to the hair found on a burlap piece that was used to wrap one of the victims. The link was established through a hair sample obtained from a pizza box he had disposed of in a garbage bin in Manhattan back in January 2023, as reported by the authorities.

According to the prosecution's bail application, DNA testing revealed that hair, suspected to belong to Heuermann's wife, was discovered on or in close proximity to three of the murder victims. The DNA analysis was conducted on 11 bottles recovered from a garbage can outside the Heuermann residence, as stated in the court document.

Who is Heuermann?

Heuermann owns RH Consultants and Associates, a Manhattan architecture firm. He has a daughter and a stepson, according to a report in Associated Press.

During a YouTube interview on a real estate-oriented channel last year, he mentioned that he had been employed in the bustling center of New York City since 1987, portraying himself as a skilled problem-solver. He further expressed that his professional experiences had provided valuable insights into human behaviour, allowing him to develop a profound understanding of people.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Sunday, July 16, 2023, 20:31 [IST]




CANBERRA, July 16 (Xinhua) -- An Australian economist has said that an agenda truly multilateral in its purpose is needed as the world economy is facing a period of "considerable uncertainty."

He said the potentials are there for both China's economy and the bilateral cooperation between China and Australia.





Produced by Xinhua Global Service
How Pak Woman Seema Haider's Neighbours React To Her Decision To Marry An Indian

International

oi-Prakash KL

While people in India have expressed no problems in welcoming their 'bahu' (daughter-in-law) from Pakistan, the response is completely different in Pakistan over Seema Haider, a married woman and a mother of four, leaving her country and marrying a Noida man.

For unversed, Seema Haider ditched her country after falling in love with Hindu man Sachin Meena. They met on PUBG during the Covid pandemic and gradually fell in love. In March, they secretly married in Nepal. Two months later, she left her country with her four children and illegally came to India via Nepal to be with her man Sachin.

Her neighbours and a relative made it clear that they do not want her back in Pakistan, according to a report in PTI.

"She should just send her children back to Pakistan. She can stay there. Now she is no longer even a Muslim," the news agency quoted the 16-year-old son of the landlord in whose rented home Seema stayed with her children for the last three years.

Located in the heart of Gulistan-e-Jauhar, her residence lies in the Bhittaiabad neighborhood in the Katchi Abadi area. However, there is not much to highlight about her home. It consists of a three-room section within a building that lacks any paint, and it is situated in a narrow lane that is unfortunately filled with garbage and overflowing sewage, the report adds.

The landlord's also clarified that her husband brought a 1.2 million house. "No, she was a tenant with us for three years with her children. She lived alone with her children. Her father-in-law lives some distance away from here," Nur Muhammad, the landlord's son, explained.

Interestingly, she had married Ghulam Haidar after eloping from her house, 10 years ago in Karachi. They had tied the knot against her parents' wishes.

"We saw her call a taxi and leave one day with her children and some bags and we thought she was going to her village in Jacobabad. But after nearly a month, when we heard about her escapade on TV channels, we were all shocked," adds Jamal Jakhrani, an elderly man, who was her neighbour.

Jamal, who belongs to the same tribe that Seema and Ghulam Haider belong to, said that it is best Seema settle in India now. "If ever she thinks of coming back, she will not be forgiven by the tribe and secondly, her decision to stay with a Hindu has angered everyone now," Jamal said.

Mian Mithoo, a high-profile religious leader in rural Sindh, known for using his seminary to convert Hindu girls to Islam and even bandits, has openly threatened to punish Seema if she returns. In addition, his followers have made threats to target Hindu places of worship in Seema's village. However, SSP Kashmore-Kandhkot, Irfan Samoo, has provided reassurance to the Hindu and Sikh communities, promising them protection.

Samoo, on the other hand, is perplexed by the entire case and has discovered discrepancies in Seema's documents and narrative.

"Her national identity card says she was born in 2002. So, she should be 21 years of age now and yet she has four children all up to the age of 6 years," he said. "The husband also keeps changing his stories to the police. First, he said he bought the house. Now he says he paid one million rupees to Seema's family to settle a tribal decision when they first fled to Karachi," he said.

"One thing is clear, Seema was frustrated with her husband's absence and being forced to take care of four children by herself as she had no support even from her in-laws," he added.

Malik, the owner of a mobile shop, recollects that when Seema first moved into the neighborhood a year ago, she would often visit his shop to recharge her balance.

"She always wore a chaddar over her head and had half of her face covered and also didn't talk much, so that is what surprised me when I learnt about her decision," Malik said.

Maulvi Samiuddin, a prayer leader in the neighbourhood mosque, said, "Husbands should never leave their wives alone for years and parents need to constantly keep a watch on their daughters and sisters or we will have more such incidents in future as well, because most people, especially women, are not educated enough in such poor neighbourhoods to understand the consequences of their actions,"

"She has brought shame to Muslims and Pakistan. She will sooner or later face punishment for her actions," he said.

Meanwhile, she has embraced Hinduism and does not want to go back to Pakistan.
Spain's army has deployed its firefighters to help battle the blaze on the Canary Island of La Palma, as the country faces a scorching heat wave.
Vladimir Putin has a stern warning for Ukraine: If the nation uses cluster munitions, Russia "reserves the right to take reciprocal action."


Taylor Taranto, the accused Capitol rioter arrested while looking for the Washington, D.C., home of former President Barack Obama, was indicted on felony firearms charges and four misdemeanors.
With over 1300 delegates at the US-African Business Summit held mid-July in Gaborone, Botswana, the main focus was on mapping out strategies to strengthen trade and economic relations between the United States and Africa. Majority of the speakers emphasized reviewing and widening collaboration between governments, while others...
Sargodha police have recently arrested a Christian man on blasphemy charges for allegedly sharing a post on a social media website, as reported by his family. This incident has raised serious concerns among minority rights activists, who urgently call on authorities to address the misuse of blasphemy laws often wielded as tools...
She is the queen of envy-worth pictures and Malaika Arora knows how to make the most of any pretty location, spicing it up with her glam quotient.

For the past few days, the 'Moving in with Malaika' star has been sharing amazing photos from her trip to the West Asian country of Azerbaijan, especially its capital Baku.



Alongside strolling on the pretty Baku streets with a group of lady friends, she also tastes amazing food and creates beautiful photo moments in the country.

She captions one of the photos thus: 'A truly surreal n magical day spent in Baku.' And it goes without saying that the 49-year-old looks extremely confident and pretty in all her outfits.

The 'Land of Flames'!

Did you know that Azerbaijan is often termed a country of fire or the 'land of flames?' Apparently, many believe that there are 'eternal flames' across its mountains and their main deity is the fire God. Even 'Azer' in the country's name means fire.

As for the scientific explanation for the flames, Azerbaijan is a country that has plentiful natural gas reserves and often they leak to the surface causing spontaneous fires. This has fascinated the natives and travellers alike, since times immemorial.

The country even has 'Fire Temples' like the one in Ateshgah. Yanar Da, a 'burning mountainside' in the country's Absheron Peninsula, is also a tourist attraction and a natural gas fire that blases continously up to 10 feet height.

The area also has a museum featuring its history.

The tourists can also explore the old city of Baku and its historic sites, the iconic trio of buildings called 'Flame Towers' overlooking Baku Bay, Gobustan Rock Art and more.
Israel's Permanent Representative to the UN Adi Farjon Tuesday criticized the human rights situation in Pakistan.

Addressing the UN Human Rights Council Farjon said Tel Aviv is "deeply concerned about the overall rights situation in Pakistan where enforced disappearances, torture, crackdown on peaceful protests and violence against religious minorities and other marginalized groups remain prevalent.

"Israel believes that it is essential that Pakistan heeds our recommendations to take all appropriate steps to prevent arbitrary arrests, torture, and other ill-treatment and bring perpetrators of such acts to justice and end the widespread use of the death penalty, especially against children and persons with disabilities," she added, referring to arrests of thousands of opposition party workers from the Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) party led by former Prime Minister Imran Khan.

Thousands of PTI workers and leaders have been in jail on charges of attacking military installations following Khan's arrest in a corruption case on May 9.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday rejected Israel's criticism of human rights violations in his country. "There is no comparison of Israel's brutalities and human rights violations against Palestinians. They (Israeli forces) have left hundreds of thousands of Palestinian kids orphaned," Sharif said in the capital Islamabad.

Tellingly, annual reports of Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have detailed human rights violations in Pakistan since the ouster of Prime Minister Imran Khan in April 2022.

Amnesty International Report on Human Rights Violations in Pakistan

Amnesty International report of 2022-2023 pointed out grave human rights violations continued, including enforced disappearances, torture, crackdowns on peaceful protests, attacks against journalists and violence against religious minorities and other marginalized groups. A backlash against legal gains in transgender rights led to growing violence against transgender people. The senate passed an act that would criminalize torture by state officials for the first time. Political upheaval led to major uncertainty. An economic crisis severely hampered people's economic rights.

The Amnesty report also said that Pakistani officials continued to use enforced disappearances to target human rights defenders, journalists and people voicing criticism of the authorities. According to the Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances, as of 31 October at least 2,210 cases - likely many more - remained unresolved. Intimidation of families and victims seeking justice frequently continued for years after their loved one was forcibly disappeared.

Pakistani authorities have severely curtailed the right to freedom of peaceful assembly, harassing, arresting and detaining critics and political rivals as well as forcibly dispersing protests and assaulting journalists and others.

The authorities further tightened control of the media. Media workers reported increased coercion, censorship and arrests of journalists.

The Amnesty International report recalled that on April 9, 2022, Imran Khan was ousted as prime minister after a controversial vote of no-confidence in parliament. On April 11, parliament elected Shehbaz Sharif, leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), as the new prime minister. Imran Khan and his party, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), accused the USA and the Pakistan Democratic Movement (a loose coalition of opposition parties) of colluding to remove him, prompting weeks of political unrest during which Imran Khan's supporters protested across the country.

The ousting was widely viewed as Imran Khan falling out of favor with the country's all-powerful military, which was alleged to have supported the move to remove him from power, the Amnesty International report concluded.

HRW report 2023 about Pakistan

At the same time, the Human Rights Watch (HRW) report of 2023 detailing the human rights violations in Pakistan in 2022 pointed out that throughout the year, the government continued to control media and curtail dissent. Authorities harassed and at times detained journalists and other members of civil society for criticizing government officials and policies. Violent attacks on members of the media also continued.

Women, religious minorities, and transgender people continued to face violence, discrimination, and persecution, with authorities failing to provide adequate protection or hold perpetrators to account. The government continued to do little to hold law enforcement agencies accountable for torture and other serious abuses.

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It took nearly three years for national air travel to rebound from COVID-19, and some airports  notably Portland  are still reporting passenger volumes far below pre-pandemic numbers.

Oregons regional airports have fared much, much better. It only took about 15 months for Redmond, Eugene and Medford to return to 2019 travel numbers. And though Medford has faded since then, Redmond and Eugene are soaring.

The Redmond Municipal Airport, which also serves the booming market in neighboring Bend, reports that passenger volumes were up 17% so far this year compared to 2019. Passengers flying through Eugene are up 44% from before the pandemic.

New carriers are a big reason why. In 2021, Eugene added Southwest Airlines and the new budget carrier Avelo Airlines. Eugene also has some popular new routes, including Dallas-Forth Worth and California destinations San Diego, San Jose and Burbank.

More destinations mean people dont have to drive to Portland to catch a flight, according to Andrew Martz, assistant director at the Eugene Airport.

All our gates are full every night, so were running out of places to park planes, Martz said. Eugene is building five new pads to support aircraft overnight, due to be ready by fall.

Yet airlines continue to face shortages of planes and pilots, a chronic issue that has plagued the airline industrys pandemic recovery and had a particular impact in smaller metro airports like Portland, where passenger volumes remain 18% below 2019 levels.

Our forecasts are for continued growth, Martz said. I would be surprised if its at the same magnitude. Its pretty hard to sustain that.

Airlines will go where the people are, and more and more of them are in the Bend area. Population growth and tourism are the big drivers behind the uptick in people flying through nearby Redmond.

As Central Oregon has grown, weve received more destinations, larger aircraft, said airport director Zachary Bass. People who used to drive to Portland for their flights can now more frequently reach their destination with direct flights from Redmond.

The situation in southern Oregon is a little more complicated. Passenger volumes at the Rogue Valley International-Medford Airport recovered from the pandemic just as quickly as in Eugene and Redmond but then began a steady decline about a year ago.

Passenger volumes in Medford are down about 12% this year compared to 2019.

Commercial airline pilots are still in short supply, airport director Amber Judd wrote in an email. Many airlines cut back service to rural destinations.

For regional airports, Judd cautioned that a shortage of aircraft could become a bigger issue next year  which could impact flights in and out of Medford through 2024.

Airlines are facing this now and are actively making changes to their networks to better match supply and demand, Judd said.

In the long run, though, she said Medford expects the airlines and flights will return.

The passenger demand is there  and we expect to continue to grow quickly once the aircraft/pilot shortages are resolved, Judd said.

This is Oregon Insight, The Oregonians weekly look at the numbers behind the states economy. View past installments here.

-- Mike Rogoway | mrogoway@oregonian.com |

Our journalism needs your support. Please become a subscriber today at OregonLive.com/subscribe
Renee Barnes doesnt use marijuana, never has. But a decade ago, when Oregon made cannabis legal, she saw it helping people she knew deal with medical issues  and she saw that a small marijuana shop her daughter opened was thriving.

After decades working in back-office jobs at Oregon factories, followed by years running bars and taverns, Barnes saw an opportunity to get in on the ground floor with something new.
Gebeyehu Ganga, director general of the Asia and Pacific Directorate at the Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, speaks during the launch ceremony for a new book entitled "Africa-China Relations - Ethiopia as a Case Study" in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on July 15, 2023. A new book entitled "Africa-China Relations - Ethiopia as a Case Study" was launched Saturday showcasing the diverse and historic Sino-Africa ties, with particular emphasis on China-Ethiopia relations.

The book consists of seven chapters that highlight aspects including the policy of China towards Africa, the Ethiopia-China strategic partnership, as well as political cooperation between Africa and China. It also analyzed the successes of China-Africa relations during the period of the COVID-19 pandemic while assessing the wider picture of China-Africa relations in the 21st century. (Xinhua/Wang Ping)

ADDIS ABABA, July 15 (Xinhua) -- A new book entitled "Africa-China Relations - Ethiopia as a Case Study" was launched Saturday showcasing the diverse and historic Sino-Africa ties, with particular emphasis on China-Ethiopia relations.

The book consists of seven chapters that highlight aspects including the policy of China towards Africa, the Ethiopia-China strategic partnership, as well as political cooperation between Africa and China. It also analyzed the successes of China-Africa relations during the period of the COVID-19 pandemic while assessing the wider picture of China-Africa relations in the 21st century.

The book was launched in the presence of senior Ethiopian government officials, Chinese diplomats in Ethiopia, heads and representatives of different think tanks, as well as academia, among others.

Melaku Mulualem, the author of the book, who is a senior international relations and diplomacy researcher at Ethiopia's Institute of Strategic Affairs, said China and Africa have developed historic relations over the years, which is further expanding in recent years.

The author recalled his learning experience at China Foreign Affairs University as an inspiration to write the book, which he said depicts the true nature of the win-win cooperation between China and Ethiopia.

Mulualem, in particular, highlighted the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, the Belt and Road Initiative, the Global Development Initiative, and the Global Security Initiative as the contributing factors to the blossoming China-Africa relations in recent years.

Dima Nogo, chairman of the Foreign Relations and Peace Affairs Standing Committee at the Ethiopian House of People's Representatives (HoPR), the lower house of the parliament, highlighted the significance of the newly launched book in terms of telling the historic China-Ethiopia ties in particular and the wider China-Africa relation in general.

"Taking Ethiopia as a case study is appropriate. I commend the author for taking Ethiopia as a case study because Ethiopia is one of the first (African) countries to have relations with China," Nogo said, who is also chairperson of the Ethiopia-China Parliamentary Friendship Group.

Shen Qinmin, minister counselor at the Chinese Embassy in Ethiopia, stressed that the depth and comprehensiveness would serve as a reference to the growing China-Africa relations. "I noticed in the preface of the book, it said there are very few studies that show the relationship of China with Africa that focuses on Ethiopia. This book helps to show the historic developments of China's relationship with Africa and specifically with Ethiopia," he said.

Gebeyehu Ganga, director general of the Asia and Pacific Directorate at the Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said the newly launched book highlighted the true extent of China-Ethiopia relations.

"The relation between Ethiopia and China is deep-rooted in history. They are enjoying excellent partnership in economic, political, cultural and people-to-people ties that takes us back to the ancient civilization of the two countries," he said.

The director general also said since the establishment of formal diplomatic relations some five decades ago, the two countries have always maintained cordial bilateral relations, which is consistent with supporting each other in regional and international issues. 
Police identified the man fatally shot in the St. Johns neighborhood July 9 as 26-year-old Portland resident Tyrell Martin.

The medical examiner ruled his death a homicide by gunshot, police said Saturday.

Officers responded to a shooting in the 8400 block of North Fessenden Street at 9:48 p.m. Police found Martin dead when they arrived.

No arrests have been made in the shooting.

Martins death marks the 47th homicide in Portland so far this year, putting the city on track to match or exceed last years record-breaking 101 homicides.

Police ask anyone who might have information about the shooting to contact Detective Joseph Corona at Joseph.Corona@police.portlandoregon.gov, 503-823-0508, or Detective Jennifer Hertzler at Jennider.Hertzler@police.portlandoregon.gov, 503-823-1040.

 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 Sunday Oregonians obituaries are among the best-read items in the newspaper. The notices, written and placed by family members or funeral homes, capture the wit, personalities and full lives of local residents.

Readers are sometimes surprised to learn the notices are not written by The Oregonian/OregonLive. Years ago, we moved to a paid system where families had control over the wording of an obituary, what it would include and whether a photograph would be published. The expense associated with placement depends on the length of the obituary and how many days it publishes in print, among other factors.

On a recent Sunday, I was struck by the stories in several obituaries, in particular information about how people arrived in Oregon and their diverse life experiences.

Arthur Roskott, for instance, was born in Sumatra, Indonesia. His obituary said that after he and his wife survived the occupation by Japans armed forces in World War II, they immigrated to Canby via The Netherlands through President Trumans Displaced Persons Act of 1948, which assisted in the resettlement of thousands of European refugees displaced by WWII. Born in 1929, he died June 13, 2023.

Another immigrant, Eleanor Corder, was born in Victoria, British Columbia, before she met her future husband while visiting the United States. A third person was second generation, born to German immigrants who arrived through Ellis Island. Another was Japanese American and had been sent to a prison camp at age 9 during WWII.

One obituary was especially poignant because of the young age of the subject. Katie MeeSun Kimsey-Bennett was 27 when she died of leukemia, according to the obituary.

I was especially intrigued by a few of the details provided, including her birthplace in Busan, South Korea. It is those sorts of tiny facts that resonate with readers and build a sense of community.

I wondered if Katie was adopted and whether the family had connected through Holt International, based in Oregon. Thousands of readers might put two and two together like I did, and suddenly feel a connection to a family they never knew.

I was able to speak to her mother, Sally Kimsey, to learn more about Katies life. Indeed, she came to Oregon at age 9 months through Holt.

Her mom described her as a tough cookie. Shes just a remarkable young person who had a tough start in life, Kimsey said. And I adore her.

Her family believes she was born with her developmental disability, which did not hold her back from attending Grant High School and eventually working at Legacy Emanuel Medical Center.

She was really shy. She had an intellectual disability, Kimsey said. But somehow she managed to reach a higher level than I ever thought she would obtain. Shed go to work every day. The people at Legacy adored her.

She had been treated for leukemia at 19 and as a young adult was starting to spread her wings, looking for new challenges and working to achieve more independence.

We were very proud of what she accomplished in her life, Kimsey said. The family includes husband Sterling Bennett and son Jesse.

The small detail of Katies birthplace would evoke many memories for some readers. And those little details in every obituary we publish weave a vibrant map of connections.

Obituaries are an important part of the tapestry of our community, said publisher John Maher, president of Oregonian Media Group. They help us identify common challenges we face in life while celebrating many of the aspirational achievements of those who have gone before us.

The written words, the photo of Katie with her dog Mindy, memorialize a life cut short.

Katie was one of the best people on Earth, not that were biased, her mother said. Devastatingly, her leukemia returned, and there was little more doctors could do.

We were there every day, almost every hour. And we took a day off, and 30 minutes after we got back her heart stopped beating, Kimsey told me. I think she waited for us.

Note to readers: As you read this, 19 students are taking part in our High School Journalism Institute, which runs for the next week on the campus of Oregon State University, our co-sponsor. The program also receives support from the Samuel I. Newhouse Foundation and the Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association Foundation.

Business editor Elliot Njus runs the institute, which introduces high school students to the fundamentals of journalism. The institute is free of charge for participants, who leave with one college credit.

Your tax-deductible contribution helps cover the costs of dorms, meals and staff for the eight-day camp, and 100% of your donation goes directly to those costs.

If you would like to support the institute, you can send a donation to Oregonian Publishing Co. Public Benefits Inc., High School Journalism Institute, c/o Oregonians Credit Union, 336 N.E. 20th Ave. Portland, OR 97232, or online at https://www.gofundme.com/f/high-school-journalism-institute-2023.
Nairobi, Kenya (PANA) - African leaders gathered on Sunday in Nairobi for the opening of their fifth mid-year Summit, with key global issues top on the agenda
Photo: (Photo : PATRICK T. FALLON / Getty Images)

Authorities in Alabama are intensifying their search efforts for a 25-year-old woman, Carlethia "Carlee" Nichole Russell, who mysteriously disappeared after reporting a sighting of a wandering toddler along an interstate highway.

The incident has prompted an urgent search operation as investigators work tirelessly to uncover the truth behind the woman's vanishing act.

Woman's Heroic Act Takes an Alarming Turn

According to CNN, Carlethia Russell, a young Alabama resident, dialed 911 on Thursday evening to report a distressing sight: a toddler walking alone on the side of I-459 South.

In a selfless act of concern for the child's safety, Russell stopped her vehicle and proceeded to check on the young one. She even managed to make a phone call to a family member, who unfortunately lost contact with her despite the line remaining open.

Upon arriving at the scene, law enforcement officials discovered Russell's vehicle and personal belongings, including her phone, but neither she nor the reported toddler could be located.

Perplexingly, no reports or calls regarding a missing child have been received, leaving investigators puzzled about the circumstances surrounding Russell's sudden disappearance.

Law enforcement agencies, with the full support of Russell's distraught family, have labeled the case as open and active, leaving no stone unturned in their quest for answers.

As reported by the Associated Press, a reward of up to $25,000 has been generously offered for any information leading to Russell's safe return. Additionally, a separate $5,000 reward is available through Crime Stoppers, encouraging the public to come forward with vital leads.

Read Also: California Takes Stand Against Child Trafficking: Tougher Penalties Bill Gains Ground

Search Operation Intensifies with Rewards and Support

Authorities stress the importance of every piece of information, no matter how seemingly insignificant, urging anyone who may have spotted Russell or has knowledge regarding the case to contact the Hoover Police Department.

The tight-knit community of Hoover, the sixth-largest city in Alabama, has rallied together, organizing search parties and offering their unwavering support to Russell's anguished family during this trying time. Family members, driven by love and hope, have initiated their own search efforts to aid official investigations.

According to WMTV13, Carlos Russell, Carlethia's father, voiced their determination, stating, "We're just gonna scour the earth.

There's no stopping us." Their unwavering faith and resilience serve as a guiding light amid the uncertainty surrounding Carlethia's whereabouts.

Authorities remain committed to exploring all possible scenarios, refusing to exclude any avenues in their search for answers. When questioned about the possibility of an abduction, Lieutenant Daniel Lowe emphasized that no assumptions are being made at this stage, and the investigation is pursuing all possibilities.

The disappearance of Carlethia Russell has left the community on edge, heightening concerns about the safety of its residents.

It serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities faced by individuals who selflessly intervene to protect others, particularly when the circumstances surrounding their disappearance are shrouded in mystery.

As the search for Carlethia Russell continues, the people of Alabama hold onto hope, praying for her safe return. The urgency and determination in finding both the missing woman and any relevant information regarding the reported toddler remain paramount.

The unwavering commitment of law enforcement and the support of the community provide a glimmer of hope amidst the uncertainty, reinforcing the belief that Carlethia "Carlee" Nichole Russell will soon be brought home safely.

Related Article: The Aspartame Controversy: WHO Warns of Cancer Link, FDA Maintains Approval
KHARTOUM, July 15 (Xinhua) -- The Sudanese Armed Forces said Saturday that the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) targetted a hospital in the city of Omdurman in a drone attack earlier in the day, killing five people and wounding 22 others, mostly civilians.

The army said in a press statement that the attack hit the emergency complex of the Military Medical Corps Hospital in Omdurman, northwest of the capital Khartoum, accusing the RSF of violating international humanitarian law and all conventions of war.

The statement noted the hospital's emergency complex receives emergency cases of both civilians and military personnel alike since its establishment.

The Sudanese Ministry of Health said in a press release issued earlier that four civilians were killed and four others wounded in the RSF's attack at the emergency department of the military hospital.

There was no immediate comment from the RSF.

Since April 15, Sudan has been witnessing armed confrontations between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the RSF across Sudan, resulting in more than 3,000 deaths and more than 6,000 injuries, according to official statistics. 
Photo: (Photo : PAUL RATJE / Getty Images)

In a horrifying child abuse case that shook the community of Texico, New Mexico, two women, Jayme Kushman and Jaime Sena, have been sentenced to prison after reaching plea agreements.

The case, which came to light in 2022, involved the alleged starvation, physical abuse, and chaining of six children in their care.

The sentences were handed down on Thursday, with Kushman receiving a 15-year prison term and Sena being sentenced to six years.

The court's decision comes after a thorough investigation by the New Mexico State Police and the Children Youth and Families Department (CYFD), exposing the inhumane treatment the children endured.

Unsanitary Living Conditions and Disturbing Abuse

According to 1News, the investigation into the child abuse case began in July 2022 when authorities received a tip about children being locked in cages at a home in Texico, a city near the Texas border.

Upon serving search warrants at the residence, state police and a child and family services worker discovered six children living in appalling conditions under the care of Jayme Kushman and Jaime Sena.

The victims ranged in age from 5 to 16, and among them were Sena's children, Kushman's family members, and at least one foster child.

The security footage recovered during the investigation revealed three days of unimaginable suffering, with the children being subjected to starvation, beatings, and prolonged periods of being chained.

One particularly distressing video showcased an eleven-year-old child with his face smashed into vomit, stating that he had not eaten for two days.

Furthermore, a heart-wrenching incident saw a child being chained to his bed for an agonizing 14 consecutive hours, deprived of food, water, and even the ability to use the bathroom.

Sentences Handed Down Amid Emotional Court Proceedings

The court proceedings for Jayme Kushman and Jaime Sena were filled with raw emotion as the gravity of their actions weighed heavily.

According to NBC News, Judge Drew Tatum, who presided over both cases, expressed his dismay at the cruelty displayed towards the innocent children.

He labeled the abuse as inhumane, disgusting, and a grave violation of the children's rights.

However, Judge Tatum also offered hope for the young victims, stating that they would receive the necessary treatment and therapy to overcome the trauma inflicted upon them.

Jayme Kushman, aged 38, pleaded guilty to five counts of child abuse, while Jaime Sena, aged 30, entered a no contest plea to four counts of child abuse.

The distinction between the pleas is crucial, as a no contest plea does not imply guilt but results in a conviction.

The Ninth Judicial District Attorney's Office announced the sentences, with Kushman receiving 15 years in prison for each count, and Sena serving six years for her charges.

Their convictions classify the offenses as Serious Violent Offences, meaning Kushman will have to serve at least 85% of her sentence before parole consideration.

Read Also: Alabama Woman Missing After Spotting Toddler on Interstate: Urgent Search Underway

Third Defendant Lora Melancon to Plead Guilty

According to 9thDA, the child abuse case has a third defendant, Lora Melancon, who is expected to plead guilty to two counts of child abuse on July 17.

Details surrounding Melancon's involvement have not been disclosed at this time. Nevertheless, her plea agreement will likely add further insight into the disturbing events that unfolded in Texico.

Throughout the court proceedings, attorneys for Jayme Kushman and Jaime Sena remained silent, declining to comment on the sentences and convictions.

The community of Texico, still reeling from the shocking revelations, hopes that justice will be fully served, and that the children involved can begin their path to healing and recovery.

The investigation and prosecution were carried out with utmost dedication by the New Mexico State Police agents, CYFD workers, and the district attorney's office.

Deputy District Attorney Brian Scott Stover's relentless commitment to securing justice for the children and the outstanding efforts of former CYFD worker Misti Valdez deserve special recognition.

As the story continues to unfold, the case will serve as a stark reminder of the importance of protecting the most vulnerable members of society and taking action against child abuse in all its forms.

Related Article: Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds Signs Fetal Heartbeat Law, Banning Most Abortions
It is good to sing praise to you, my heart. To give thanks for the blessings of life,

To notice love coursing through my body in the morning

And faithfulness through the night.

I hear our human voices as music,

And silence as melody.

I delight in your world;

You make my body sing with joy.



How great is your goodness.

How unfathomable your deep currents,

Not seen by eyes

Not grasped by mind

Everything united

Everything touching.



The mess of life

Shows everything connected

Everything the eternal dharma.



The wise heart flourishes like palm trees

Grows like the cedars of Lebanon

Planted in the deep dark soil of God,

Leaves relentlessly turning to the light

Bearing fruit into old age

Living the truth

Of perfect unity.

Psalm 92 (my paraphrase)

Theres been a fair amount of energy in my circles over the past couple of years regarding the authenticity of translations of spiritual texts. Coleman Barks  work with Rumi is the principal example. But there are many others. Fitzgerald s Omar Khayyam is another.

We need good translations of our essential texts.

And. As has been observed by those paying attention, all translation is an art of interpretation. There is an incredible divide within Christian scholarship, for instance. There are those who seek what is basically word for word translations. And there are those who use a more dynamic approach, attempting to capture the meaning as understood in some long ago culture and present it. The fact with these approaches is that at the end of the day theyre both exercises in interpretation. A word for word translation does not give the reader what the writer was saying, where the context of those words are actively being substituted by the readers world.

So, for those of us innocent of the original languages, but who want to dig into the teachings, we need multiple versions. It would be wise to seek the guidance of scholars, and read what they have to say about those texts as well as the actual translations.

I would add we need the guidance, as well, of people whove seen into the matter deeply. There might be overlap with scholarship, there might not. But if were digging deeply into the matters of the heart we need the guidance of those who have grown deep and wise living with these texts within the context of a lived spirituality. What are they saying? This can be terribly important when were looking for the heart of the matter.

And of course theres having a primary spiritual discipline. I recommend something that has to do with deep silence, practices of presence.

Theres that.

But then theres a bit more of those whove seen into the matter. And things they might do with texts. I recall being asked by an academic whose specialty was ancient Chinese texts, what my favorite version of the Dao de Jing was, and perhaps a devil got into me, perhaps I was trying to be honest, I said Stephen Mitchells. I believe Mitchell has something of an eye, he did do hard training as a Buddhist monastic for a time, and there are turns of expression, ways he uses language that Ive found helpful. And as we all probably know, he barely reads any Chinese. And is not a scholar in any sense of Daoist literature and religion.

There is a growing literature of this sort. Back to Rumi. I believe the critical thing here is transparency. Words like this paraphrase are really important. It is important for people to be upfront with their qualifications to produce versions of texts, and sometimes thats not done. There are a couple of translations of Buddhist texts on the market right now, which are not translations, but it isnt clear theyre in fact creative paraphrases. And this is a problem.

However, with that really important caveat, those qualifications to give us a spiritual text based on an ancient text, closely or distantly, may not be limited to knowledge of original texts. I underscore the need to acknowledge what ones intent is in the specific project. Two of my favorite versions of the Psalms are by Stephen Mitchell, one time Buddhist monk, and widely respected Zen teacher and priest Norman Fischer. Both are birthright Jews. Both are poets. The subtitle to Mitchells A Book of Psalms is selected and adapted from the Hebrew. I think thats a fair statement this is not meant to be a scholarly project, but something different. While the cover and title page of Fischers version, Opening to You, reads Zen-inspired translations of the Psalms, the introduction is explicit in how he comes to his versions.

Then the reader can choose what they think will be helpful.

And. Theres one more thing Id like to share. Many years ago I was reading, I no longer know precisely where, but I think Elaine Pagals, writing about gnostic Christians. She said there was a school among them that required someone to be able to write their own gospel before they would be initiated into the community.

Since then Ive taken on that as a supplemental discipline. My first attempt was the opening chapter of that Dao de Jing. The process of reading many versions, and oh my there are so many of that particular text, reading about it, reflecting on it, including it as a meditation, was powerful for me. Sadly, that version appears to be lost. It wasnt captured in my blog, and probably was done before I began writing Monkey Mind.

Somewhat later I did this with the Heart Sutra. Ive been chanting it for more than fifty years in several versions. While I cannot read Chinese or Sanskrit, (Docs at Mass General once ran tests, and I have a cognitive deficit that makes aspects of language acquisition difficult), I have a sense of that text.

When the Heart of Compassion walked through the gate of wisdom, she looked into the body of the world and of each of us, seeing that each of us and the world itself is boundless. And with this all suffering vanished.

Dear ones, all things are boundless; the boundless is nothing other than all things. Everything in itself is boundless; boundlessness is all things. This is true of our bodies, feelings, experiences, perceptions, and consciousness itself.

Dear ones, the stuff of the universe is boundless. It is not born; it does not die. It is not impure, nor is it pure. It neither increases nor diminishes. And so within boundlessness there are no sense organs, no objects to sense, and no field of experience; no ignorance and thus no ending of ignorance; no old age and death and thus no ending of old age and death. There is no suffering, no causes of suffering; and thus no path to follow and no wisdom to attain.

Understanding this boundlessness, the pure-hearted one is free. Without entanglements the true person of the Way is not afraid.

This is the pure and unexcelled Way. All the sages of past, present, and future attain to this truth and find freedom. And so the truth of it becomes the great mantra, supreme and unexcelled; it removes all suffering.

Gone, gone, gone beyond. Completely gone beyond. Blessings and blessings!

My paraphrase, my version, has had something of a life of its own. I run across it here and there. I also notice it isnt always listed as a paraphrase. All I can say in my defense is when I have control, that fact is acknowledged.

A while back I found myself visiting a Unitarian Universalist ministerial colleague who had suffered from a swarm of strokes, which affected his concentration and his ability to communicate. He had been a leading figure in the UU Christian community, an interesting minority in that world. I ended up reading the psalms to him. Weekly for more than a year, right up until his death.

I read multiple versions, the King James, the Tanakh, and a popular Christian devotional. It was here that I began to pay close attention to Stephen Mitchell and Norman Fischers versions. Theyre both kind of amazing.

Since then Ive attempted to create paraphrases for a few of them, myself. As a practice, as an attempt at clarification, as part of the larger project of living into the real. I led with my version of Psalm 92.

In two days I turn seventy-five. As Ive been living into what that means for me, I turned to psalm 90. Heres what Ive found working with it.

Perhaps youll find it worth a read. And, maybe, inspiration for you to write your own gospel, or at least make some precious text a little more your own
The Supreme Court will on November 22, this year, decide whether or not the presence and plight of street children is constitutional and lawful.



A seven-member panel of the court is expected to give the judgment in a suit filed by a non-governmental organisation, Child Rights International (CRI).



The court will decide whether the plight of street children is a violation of Articles 25(a), 28 (1) (a), (d), (2) (3) (4), 13(1) and 37 of the 1992 Constitution.



Led by its Executive Director, Bright Appiah, it is the case of CRI that the 1992 Constitution protects children and therefore by allowing children to fall victim to streetism, the government was violating the childrens constitutional right to education, health, human dignity, and denying them their social and economic rights.



Reliefs



Streetism is used to describe children who live and work on the streets due to a lack of family ties or worse still, stuck in manipulative relationships, where their guardians (or in certain cases parents) use them to support the household financially, through various activities on the streets.



The applicant, whose work seeks to protect and safeguard the social, educational and constitutional rights of children, is asking the court for a number of reliefs and declarations.



Among these are the declaration that the Government of Ghana is in breach of Articles 25(a), 28 (1) (a), (d), (2) (3) (4), 13(1) and 37 of the 1992 Constitution for not taking urgent steps to ensure that children do not engage in work that constitutes a threat to their health, education or development and that children are not deprived of medical treatment, education or any social or economic benefit.



Again, the applicant is seeking an order directed at government to define by law penalties for child exploitation for begging or other forms of economic exploitation to punish all those who may try to benefit or gain money from childrens work; an order directed at government to improve the law on healthcare, by defining by law the provision of free primary health services to all poor children, children living in street situation or children in emergency situations.



Additionally, the applicant is seeking an order directed at government to provide rules and procedures to be followed for the provision of free basic medical services to poor children, children in street situation or children in emergencies. Again, it wants mechanism to include agencies that can ask for this help on behalf of children and an order to implement mechanisms to control and enforce the legal framework guaranteeing education for all children.



It is further seeking an order directed at the government for procedures related to school enrolment of children in street situations and their provision with the necessary didactic material; and also, an order for government to submit to the court, not later than three months from the date of final judgment, a plan of action detailing all the steps, strategies, and measurable targets by which the defendants undertake to obey and perform the orders contained in the reliefs the applicant is seeking.



Moreover, the applicant is seeking an order directed at government to submit to the court, two years from the date of final judgment and thereafter every six months until the expiry of the three-year plan of action, a report particularising all the steps taken, and targets met in obeying the orders of the court.

Source: dailyguidenetwork.com









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BHM Research and Intelligence (BR&I) has launched the maiden edition of the Africa PR and Communications Report, a comprehensive exposition on PR and communications practice and its role in fostering sustainable development on the continent.



The APCR  a first-ever of its kind in Africa  represents an exclusive primer to understand the challenges and opportunities new realities present to practitioners, stakeholders and investors within Africa's PR & Communications industry, and actionable approaches required to maximise the continent's widely documented growth potential using real data and professional insights.



"We are highly pleased to create yet another world-class funnel for the growth of PR and communications practice, this time in Africa. With interesting happenings across various sectors, there is not a better time for PR professionals to proudly wear the badge and understand our role in helping to drive the continent to a place we can all be proud of," says Ayeni Adekunle, BHM Founder and APCR Committee Chair.



He adds, "This is the first step in rallying all practitioners and stakeholders on the continent to understand what is possible and actions to embark upon, but we must first acknowledge that no significant influence can be achieved without key data and information. We are enthused about the new insights provided in the APCR and how they'll shape PR and communication practice in Africa as we know it, for the benefit of the continent and its one-billion-strong people."



Africa has been widely tipped for global dominance. The continent boasted six of the top ten fastest-growing economies in the world until Covid-19 pandemic disrupted economic growth rates globally. Yet, foreign direct investment is rebounding, rising from $40 billion in 2020 to $47 billion in 2021, and $83 billion in 2022.



And as a sign of its people strengths, projections indicate the continent would boast the largest workforce globally by 2040, a realisation that would significantly impact the pace of its economic growth. With an expected GDP of $5.6 trillion in four years and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement predicted to lift 30 million people out of extreme poverty upon full implementation, it is a critical time to lay the groundwork for the continent's sustainable development.



The PR and communications industry, as such, has a pivotal role to play in restoring the continent's reputation through informed, responsible, and ethical practices. The 2023 APCR is rich with verified facts, statistics, and analysis of the multidimensional aspects of PR practice in Africa, including new and peculiar challenges, skill levels, digital technology tools, inclusivity and compensation, stakeholders and government interventions. These insights will provide requisite guidance for building new practice models for practitioners to excel in their fields, deliver value to stakeholders, and build trust with the African people.



Moliehi Molekoa, an adviser on the APCR Committee and the Managing Director of Magna Carta Reputation Management Consultants, a pan-African reputation management consultancy, says "The time has come to immortalise the art of PR in Africa, harnessing the wealth of resources and opportunities at our disposal, while taking advantage of information, data, and expert insights to unleash our extraordinary professional prowess. With Africa's resounding pursuit of growth and the bestowed recognition upon it, the APCR not only elevates the skill level and practice within the industry, but also propels us into a position of influence, fortifying the continent's reputation and ultimately ushering prosperity for the African people."



Femi Falodun, Executive Director, BHM, and APCR Committee Adviser, says "Africa is currently witnessing unprecedented global interest in its cultural, social, technological, and economic activities. This brings up a great opportunity and challenge for communicators and 'image-makers' on the continent to deliver impactful work that will shape the way Africa is perceived, received and consumed around the world.



"The APCR serves as a first-of-its-kind source of credible local data and insights to aid strategic planning for marketing and communications industry stakeholders within and outside Africa," he adds.



The Africa PR and Communications report is compiled by BHM Research Intelligence (BR&I) in partnership with the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR), CIPR International, Association of Advertising Agencies Of Nigeria (AAAN), Public Relations and Communications Association (PRCA), Africa Communications Week (ACW), International Communications Consultancy Organisation (ICCO), Women In PR Ghana (WIPRG), Magna Carta Reputation Management Consultants, Wadds Inc.



The list of partner associations also includes African Public Relations Association (APRA), Associaca de Profissionais de Relacoes Publicas de Mocambique (APRPM), Global Mind Consulting, Nigerian Women in PR, Uganda Marketers Society, Rwanda Communications Network, Uganda Advertising Association, Central University Ghana, BHM UK, BHM, ID Africa and Plaqad.Inc.



Eniola Harrison, Co-founder, Africa PR & Communications Week and APCR Committee Adviser, says "It is an important time for the PR & communication industry to play a role in driving Africa towards sustainable growth, as the continent continues to evolve and present new opportunities. We are delighted that the APCR provides us with enough data and insights into what the future of PR practice will look like and how we can navigate the challenges that can hinder our efforts. The journey to elevate industry practice and bolster Africa's burgeoning industrialism for the betterment of its people starts now and we must all stay committed."



A division of Black House Media (BHM), Africas leading public relations and reputation management consultancy, BR&I has produced all the editions of the Nigeria PR Report since its inception; Concept of Virality, BHMs Guide to Public Relations, BHMs Look Into The Future, among other projects.

Source: Peacefmonline com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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SEDA Africa Group, an umbrella company for leading Czech technology brands in African markets, has announced the start of a testing phase for a small-scale water treatment unit in Kade, Ghana.



The Birim River, which serves as the water source for the treatment plant, was intentionally chosen for this pilot project due to its high levels of heavy metal pollution from illegal mining activities.



Hutira's technology and a team of Czech specialists aim to demonstrate that Ghana and West African countries can achieve independent sources of potable water from nearly any location and water source.



The Czech Republic Embassy in Accra and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic support the project.



Representatives from SEDA Africa Group, the CSIR Water Research Institute, community leaders, and the council of elders attended the initial testing, which proceeded smoothly without complications.



The testing phase will continue for approximately 14 days to ensure optimal performance and outcomes.



In addition to water treatment, the project will showcase modern storage solutions for potable water using special tanks made from a former NASA patent material.



This material withstands all outdoor conditions, preserving the quality of the liquid or raw materials inside for several years.



Furthermore, a trial water dispenser will be placed on the streets, allowing people to access chilled drinking water at any time using their containers.



This concept has been successfully implemented in cities like Cyprus.



"The water treatment project in Kade is important in providing clean and safe water to the local community. We are grateful for the support of the Czech Republic Embassy in Accra and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic in making this project possible," said Martin Habart, CEO of SEDA Africa Group.



SEDA Africa Group specializes in water management, food and beverage processing, and energy solutions in African markets, partnering with leading Czech brands such as Hutira, Farmet, Technoexport, and others.



The company builds on the long industrial history of the Czech Republic, good historical relations, and partnership between Czechoslovakia and Ghana.

Source: William Gentu/Peace News









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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As one walks along the streets of Accra, it is hard to miss the numerous posters on walls, poles, buildings and interchanges advertising everything from political campaigns to concerts, jobs and religious events.



With their garish colours and bold fonts, these advertising materials somehow present an eyesore that has blighted the city's beauty.



Accra, the nations bustling capital city, is a vibrant hub of culture and commerce, with about 4.5 million people living in the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area (GAMA).



The World Population Review estimates a daily influx of 2.5 million business commuters, and amid the hustle and bustle, one cannot help but notice how these hurriedly plastered posters are defacing walls and monumental structures in the city.



While the posters seek to promote the interests of various groups and individuals, many are plastered without permission from the authorities, violating the citys by-laws.



The Accra Metropolitan Assemblys by-laws (2017) on cleaning prohibits a person from affixing bills or posters for advertisement to any wall, road sign, tree or fixtures, other than on spaces specifically provided or approved by the assembly for that purpose, or on property owned or occupied by that person.



In 2019, the relevant assemblies in the city gave a 14-day ultimatum to churches, advertisers, filmmakers, educational institutions and the public who hoist banners and posters in Accra to remove all such publicity materials affixed to ceremonial streets and other key locations in the city.



Despite the warning, the practice persists, with the posters often left for months or years, if they survive the weather and competing materials, causing a build-up of unsightly clutter.



No authorisation



The Chief Executive of the Korle Klottey Municipal Assembly, Samuel James Nii Adjei Tawiah, told the Daily Graphic that the plastering of posters around the city without authorisation was a nightmare for the assembly.



The assembly, he said, had launched campaigns and spent a lot of money to remove all illegal posters, and warned that any individual or group caught pasting posters without permission would face legal action.



They do it at night, and by morning, they are there, so we spend a lot of money to get people to remove these posters, and for us, its a daily affair and we are engaging with the Advertising Association of Ghana (AAG) and other stakeholders to clamp down on it.



Recently, we had to remove some from the AU Roundabout, and you realise that some of the adverts belong to reputable companies, Mr Tawiah said.



Although registered advertisers could be hired to run campaigns for brands and individuals with posters, they can only do so with the right permits from city authorities.



Mr Tawiah explained that posters that were legally pasted were done responsibly at designated places sanctioned by the authorities, but that the bulk of the posters plastered illegally were done by faceless individuals under the cover of darkness.



He noted that the defacement of Accra through illegal posters was a pressing issue that needed to be addressed urgently, adding that it is time for all stakeholders, including the authorities, individuals and groups, to come together and find a lasting solution to this problem.



Monitoring exercise



The Head of Public Affairs of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), Gilbert Ankrah, said the assembly recently embarked on an inspection and monitoring exercise and discovered that some banners and posters were positioned at places that were not designated by the assembly.



He said those materials were removed and the owners of advert materials with expired permits were instructed to abide by the assemblys bye-laws.



He said per the assemblys Out of Home Advertising policy, advertisers were expected to renew their licences on a yearly basis, expressing the hope that the advertisers would comply with the procedure.



Mr Ankrah, however, indicated that the situation had improved due to their engagement with advertisers and the demarcation of some areas.



Advertisers



The President of the AAG, Andrew Ackah, told the Daily Graphic that the illegal posting of posters around the city was of grave concern to the association.



He said a yet-to-be-published audit conducted by the AAG suggested that the situation had worsened over the years despite stringent laws to curb it.



The report, done with a digital map, shows the extent to which regulations on advertising were being breached on a daily basis, reducing customer satisfaction.



Mr Ackah said so far the 12.7km long Spintex Road in Accra was facing the most abuse in terms of the illegal mounting and pasting of advertising materials.



The association, he said, was presently working around the clock to find a lasting solution to the issue.



Discipline



The CEO of Jandel Limited, Afi Amoro, said beautification of the city was passionate to her, stressing that it had other side benefits, including cleanliness and orderliness.



She said spaces in the city that had been decorated were hardly littered as people generally appreciated beauty.



You realise that there is less littering at places that are decorated like the recently renovated Police Headquarters, where the whole area has benefited from that extra beauty added to the building, and the landscaping has transformed the entire stretch, so you will hardly see any form of litter around that area, she said.



Ms Amoro called on influential Ghanaians to lend their voice to the beautification of the city in all its forms.



Jandel Limited is a wholly owned Ghanaian company with an acclaimed trade record in the business of interior and exterior decoration, landscaping and renovations.



Environmental impact



A British-Ghanaian environmentalist based in Barking, East London, Joyce Bawuah, told the Daily Graphic that the impact of the posters went beyond visual pollution, and could also damage buildings and infrastructure, as the glue used to affix them could corrode surfaces over time.



She, however, said the removal of those posters could be costly and time-consuming for the authorities.



Political campaigns



However, as the 2024 general election draws closer, the city is experiencing an increase in the number of political party posters that have become the front runners when it comes to damaging the city's aesthetic appeal.



While they serve the purpose of promoting the parties and their candidates, they appear to impact the beauty of the city.



Mr Tawiah said the assembly had already planned to engage the various political parties to encourage them to be circumspect in the plastering of posters during the campaign seasons and to follow the laid down procedures, including seeking and obtaining permit from the assembly, before pasting posters.



A political scientist who did not wish to be named, however, told the Daily Graphic that the presence of political party posters could also have an impact on public perception because although they might serve the purpose of promoting political parties and candidates, they could be viewed by the public as a nuisance.



The sight of these posters can create a negative perception of political parties and candidates among the public, the expert said, and added that while posters served as a reminder to voters about elections and candidates, they did not necessarily translate into more votes for the parties responsible for putting them up.



The Accra scenario is, however, a mere reflection of the greater and wider case across the country.



The Chief Executive of the Ledzokuku Municipal Assembly, Mordecai Quarshie, said by-laws on the menace were mostly flouted by residents, and that the main issue regarding posters was enforcement.



He said per the relevant by-laws of the assembly, the public was required to pay the assembly before pasting posters in the community.



The amount, he said, was used by to undertake the removal of posters when they were no longer relevant.



He added that over the years, politicians in particular made it difficult for officers of the assembly to go after them due to the politics associated with the enforcement of such laws.



He said residents took advantage of the situation to post different materials that marred the walls and structures of important public places in the constituency.

Source: graphic.com.gh









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu has declared a state of emergency to tackle rising food prices and shortages.



Some of the initiatives include using money saved by the recent removal of a fuel subsidy to provide fertiliser and grain to farmers.



Protection is also to be increased for farmers, many of whom have abandoned their land after becoming the target of gangs that kidnap for ransom.



Poorer households are to be helped too with $10 (8) a month for six months.



"I assure all Nigerians that no-one will be left behind in these strategic interventions," said Mr Tinubu, who took office in May.



A UN report in January projected that 25 million Nigerians were at high risk of food insecurity this year - meaning they would not be able to afford enough nutritious food every day.



Concerns about food insecurity have been longstanding in Nigeria - Africa's most-populous country, which has also been battling widespread insecurity for several years.



More than 350 farmers were kidnapped or killed in the 12 months up to June 2022 alone, according to a Nigerian security tracking website.



Many of these attacks have taken place in the north of the country.



But new security measures would mean farmers could return to the farmlands "without fear of attacks", government adviser Dele Alake said.



No further details were given about how the government intends to tackle the notorious organised criminal gangs, whose members are referred to as bandits.



All matters relating to essential food and water will now to be the responsibility of the National Security Council, which is made up of the country's security chiefs and headed by the president.



Mr Tinubu's first major policy move after taking office was to remove the fuel subsidy, which had been in place for decades and kept the price of petroleum products low.



Its removal has led to increases of up to 200% in some parts of the country, but the new president has defended the move, saying it is essential to use that money more effectively.



The rise in fuel has had a knock-on effect on the economy, with many Nigerians depending on generators for their electricity supply.



Just a few days ago the Association of Master Bakers and Caterers of Nigeria warned that bread prices would spike by 15%.



Some families have told BBC Pidgin that they cannot afford to buy bread.



"My monthly pension cannot cover the cost of buying bread every day so we have switched to another more affordable food," Mallam Ado Yahaya, from the northern state of Kano, said.



The new monthly stipend is going to 12 million households via a scheme known as the National Safety Net Programme - it is separate from another initiative launched by the previous government through which they receive about $6 a month.



These more vulnerable people are also likely to be getting access to grain and fertilizer being offered to farmers - although the statement was not clear on numbers.



"It is expected that the programme will stimulate economic activities in the informal sector and improve nutrition, health, education, and human capital development of beneficiaries' households," President Tinubu said.

Source: graphic.com.gh









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Atik Mohammed has slammed the Minority in Parliament for threatening to boycott Parliament over the Assin North MP, James Gyakye Quayson's criminal trial.



Mr. Gyakye Quayson won the Assin North by-election following a court ruling which disqualified him from holding himself as parliamentary representative for Assin North constituency.



His qualification was due to a petition sent to the Supreme Court which indicated that Mr. Gyakye Quayson held dual citizenship when he was elected into Parliament in 2020.



However, the NDC presented him to contest the election again resulting in his winning the seat again.



He is facing a criminal charge by the Attorney General over his dual citizenship issue.



In view of this, the NDC Members of Parliament say they will not participate in the business of Parliament but join their colleague to court.



The former PNC General Secretary, Atik Mohammed has cautioned the MPs to revoke their decision to boycott Parliament, stressing they will be doing their constituents no good to join Gyakye Quayson to court.



"We pay them to represent us. They should just do that and stop this shenanigans," he said.



He added; "You are not doing good service to your constituents and you are defeating the very point you seek to make by following Gyakye Quayson to the court...You cannot deliberately deny your people your representation. It's an irresponsibility."



Atik noted that the MPs can solidarize with their colleague "without abdicating your responsibilities".





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.

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Pennsylvania is home to over 93,500 miles of gas pipelines, and the federal Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) is proposing new safety standards. The new standards will finally address climate-changing methane pollution from existing gathering, transmission and distribution pipelines. They also will reduce the risk of deadly explosions and other harmful air pollution.

PHMSAs pipeline safety standards were finalized in the 1970s and were only written with the intention of preventing explosions.

PHMSA is now proposing to increase pipeline air monitoring efforts using leak detection technologies like optical gas imaging (OGI) cameras that can find leaks before they are large enough to cause an explosion. Unfortunately, less sensitive gas metering technologies previously forced inspectors to wait for a leak to become hazardous before the leak was even detectable.

Shockingly, the pipelines carrying the most dangerous air pollutants arent even required to be mapped or patrolled and minimal leak detection requirements dont specify what type of technology can be used to detect leaks. Thankfully, PHMSA is proposing to correct these oversights.

PHMSA found that hazardous leaks occur at gathering pipelines at double the rate of hazardous leaks on transmission lines. This is because the same dangerous pollutants that pollute our air, and are more present in gathering pipelines, like carcinogens and volatile organic compounds, also corrode pipelines more aggressively than consumer-quality gas. This expansion of pipeline monitoring requirements will improve air quality, reduce the risk of explosions and expand the growing air monitoring industry, while conserving gas.

Russell Zerbo, Philadelphia, Pa.
UPDATE: The flood watch was dropped at 8 p.m. Sunday.

It seemed like central Pennsylvania went without measurable rain for a month or two, and depending where you live, thats not exaggerating how dry it got.

But since the calendar turned to July, rain has become more the norm than the exception, especially on the weekend. This is the third straight weekend that central Pa. has been under a flood watch or warning, and it appears the rainy weather isnt about to stop once the weekend begins.

Showers, thunderstorms and highs in the mid- to upper 80s are forecast through this entire week, although beyond today the odds for rain through the period are below 50%, according to the National Weather Service (NWS). So the storms figure to be more of the pop-up variety than anything that will soak the entire region.

It won't take much rain to generate flash flooding across eastern parts of #CTPwx today. A Flood Watch is in effect for today for areas along and east of the Susquehanna R. Thunderstorms could make that much rainfall in a very short amount of time. pic.twitter.com/nZeE9APVNA  NWS State College (@NWSStateCollege) July 16, 2023

As for Sunday, the flood watch for parts of central Pa. will continue through 8 p.m., with the possibility of heavy rain that could cause enough runoff to flood rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations. Creeks and streams might rise out of their banks.

The watch area includes the following counties: Columbia, Dauphin, Lancaster, Lebanon, Montour, Northumberland, Schuylkill, Southern Lycoming, Sullivan and York.

In addition, with more smoky air from the Canadian fires moving into the United States, the Pa. Department of Environmental Protection has issued a Code Orange air quality alert for the entire state during Monday. Thats expected to be extended through at least Tuesday.

Heres the forecast for the next seven days across Harrisburg and vicinity, per the NWS:

Today

Showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 1pm. High near 86. West wind around 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Tonight

A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8pm. Patchy fog after 2am. Otherwise, mostly clear, with a low around 66. West wind 3 to 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Monday

Patchy fog before 8am. Otherwise, sunny, with a high near 91. Light west wind becoming southwest 5 to 9 mph in the morning.

Monday Night

A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 69. South wind 5 to 7 mph becoming west after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Tuesday

A chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 11am. Partly sunny, with a high near 89. West wind 5 to 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Tuesday Night

A chance of thunderstorms before 8pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 65. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Wednesday

A chance of showers after 2pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 87. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Wednesday Night

A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 67. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Thursday

A chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 86. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Thursday Night

A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 68. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Friday

A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 87. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Friday Night

A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 66. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Saturday

A chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 84. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

More:

3 die in Pa. flash flood; 4 others, including a baby, are missing
MADRID, July 15 (Xinhua) -- A wildfire on the Spanish island of La Palma has blazed around 4,500 hectares of land, making thousands of people evacuated, local emergency services said on Saturday.

The fire, which broke out early morning on Saturday, has burnt the area close to the municipality of Puntagorda on the north-west region of the Canary Islands, where homes and farms are located amid pine trees, scrub and crops.

The Canary Islands' President Fernando Clavijo said that over 2,000 people had been evacuated till evening and the wind at a speed of over 60 kms an hour is expected to fan the flames.

The Canary Islands regional government has put its Civil Protection Emergency Plan for Forest Fires into operation, but the fire is spreading fast. Puntagorda Major Vicente Rodriguez said: "It is going to be very complicated."

According to local media reports, the islands' fire-fighting service is currently battling the flames, with the help of aircraft, including helicopters. More firefighters have been mobilized from the neighboring island of Tenerife. Members of the Spanish Military Emergency Unit are also expected to arrive in the coming hours.

Spain has suffered an exceptionally dry spring, with March and April seeing record high temperatures and low rainfall. Nevertheless, most of the country suffered a second heatwave of the summer last week while another heatwave is predicted by Spanish Meteorological Agency for the next week. Therefore, nearly all central and southern Spain are currently under an alert for possible wildfires. 
Calgary Forest Lawn MP Jasraj Singh Hallan, second left, is shown standing with Mahmoud Mourra, second right, and two other men. The image was taken from a Facebook page posted by Mourra. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre's office is keeping tight-lipped over a front-bench member of Parliament posing for the photo with two people wearing shirts carrying a message opposed to teaching sex and gender in schools. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Mahmoud Mourra **MANDATORY CREDIT **
2023 WSOP Main Event Hands of the Week: Royal Flush Twice in 4 Hands; Miracle Running Kings

July 15, 2023 Chad Holloway Executive Editor U.S.

The 2023 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event will play down from nine to four later today, and then to a winner on Monday. It has been two weeks since the record-breaking tournament began, and needless to say, there have been some memorable moments.

The PokerNews Live Reporting Team has been busy capturing all the action in our live updates, and theyve witnessed some hands go down that proved to be either entertaining, game-changing or just flat out brutal.

Below is a look at some of the best hands of the week from the 2023 WSOP!

Click here to follow live updates from the 2023 WSOP Main Event!

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Amarapu Hits a Royal - Twice!

Vasu Amarpu

Ok, so this first hand wasn't in the Main Event, but it's definitely worth sharing. On Day 1 of Event #87: $2,500 Mixed Omaha/Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo 8 or Better, it was Level 5 (1,000/2,000/200) when reporter Geoff Paul caught a couple of doozies.

According to Vasu Amarapu, who provided pictures, he took down a huge pot in Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better on a board of QJK2Q. Amarapu's opponent showed AxKK3x for kings full of queens, but Amarapu turned over A1072 for a royal flush.

Three hands later, Amarapu bet on the turn with the board showing QA310. Everyone folded, and he turned over KJQx10x for a second royal flush.

Hoover Catches a Miracle

Logan Hoover

On Day 5 of the Main Event, it was Level 24 (25,000/50,000/50,000) when David Salituro reported how fortunes can change with the turn of a card, and that's exactly what happened to Logan Hoover.

Hoover was all in for 2,385,000 from early position and up against Aditya Systla in middle position.

Logan Hoover: AK

Aditya Systla: QQ

"Hold up," Hoover cried out as he stood up from his seat to await the flop. He hit the K, but the rest of the flop came Q7 and Systla made a set as Hoover turned away in disgust.

The turn, though, gave him some hope as it came K. "Ace one time," he yelled out. He didn't hit an ace, but the dealer did turn over the K as Hoover made running quads.

"Yes," Hoover yelled as he ran away from the table. A big crowd gathered around the table and took photos of the board as Hoover returned to rake in the pot.

"Excuse me, I just made quads in the Main Event," Hoover said.

"That's the sickest thing I've ever seen," a tablemate told him.

Four-Way All-In Results in Two Casualties

On Day 6 in Level 28 (60,000/120,000/120,000, Christian Zetzsche reported that Steven Spunt had lost the vast majority of his stack in the previous hand and was in the big blind next. Yaroslav Ohulchanskyi raised from the hijack and Bradley Moskowitz jammed all-in from the cutoff with a shorter stack.

Allen Chang moved in from the small blind while Spunt was in there from the next seat. Ohulchanskyi called all-in to create a four-way all-in on a pay jump with three players at risk.

Steven Spunt: 65

Bradley Moskowitz: AK

Yaroslav Ohulchanskyi: KK

Allen Chang: 99

The board ran out 5327Q and Spunt fell in 81st place, while Moskowitz earned the pay jump in 80th place. Ohulchanskyi won the side pots and soared past Chang.

"I was waiting for this hand all day long," Moskowitz said before he and Spunt were escorted to the payout desk.

2023 World Series of Poker Hub Bookmark this page! All you need to know about the 2023 WSOP is here. Click here

Torelli Celebrates with a Set of Crabs

Alec Torelli

In the same level, reporter Connor Richards saw Jose Aguilera opened to 250,000 in early position and Zachary Hall called from the next seat before Alec Torelli came along from the big blind.

Torelli and Aguilera checked on the 36J flop and Hall bet 175,000. Torelli check-raised to 700,000 and Aguilera folded as Hall called.

Torelli then bet 1,600,000 on the 8 turn and Hall took some time before putting out a stack of 500,000-chips to raise Torelli all in. Torelli quickly called with a stack of 4,785,000.

Alec Torelli: 33

Zachary Hall: 55

"I didn't think you had that," Hall said glumly after seeing Torelli was far ahead with a set.

The 7 bricked off on the river to avoid a gross two-outer and Torelli did a lap and clutched his heart after securing the big double-up through the start-of-day chip leader.

Hulme Rivers Straight Flush; Dunst Eliminated

Tony Dunst

One level later in Level 29 (100,000/150,000/150,000), Andrew Knowles saw Andrew Hulme open to 325,000 from under the gun and Ryan Tosoc put in a three-bet to 800,000 next to act. Tony Dunst called for his last 525,000 and it folded back to Hulme who made the call.

The flop came Q106 and Hulme check-called a bet of 600,000 from Tosoc. On the A turn both players checked their options to the J river.

Hulme took a few seconds before sliding out a bet of 1,825,000 and Tosoc quickly let it go. Dunst tabled KQ for a straight but was no good when Hulme rolled over 98 for a straight flush to score the pot and send Dunst out in 66th place.

Max Pain for Payne as Final Table Nears

Joshua Payne

On Day 8, just 14 players remained in Level 36 (400,000/800,000/800,000) when Calum Grant reported that Joshua Payne made it 1,600,000 to go and Jose Aguilera three-bet to 4,500,000 on the button. Daniel Weinman on the button went into the tank and carefully studied the stack size of Aguilera before he four-bet jammed for 29,100,000.

Payne called all-in for 19,600,000 total and Aguilera looked up both opponents to create a three-way all-in!

Joshua Payne: KK

Jose Aguilera: QQ

Daniel Weinman: JJ

The A74 flop changed nothing as Payne remained in the lead. Weinman then spiked the J on the turn to send Payne into a world of pain.

Nothing changed on the 3 river and Payne was sent to the payout desk in agonizing fashion while Weinman sky-rocketed up the leaderboard, leaving Aguilera with a short stack.

Daniel Weinman Spikes J to Stay Alive vs QQ, KK

Past WSOP Hands of the Week Recaps

Check out some of our past "Hands of the Week" recaps:

Check out our guide to the Best Online Casinos around the world. For US players, online real money casino is available in Pennsylvania, Michigan, New Jersey and West Virginia. If you're looking to start playing Online Casino right now, then we recommend FanDuel Casino. If youre in a State where real money online casino isnt an option, then you still have the chance to play via Social Casino sites such as Chumba Casino and LuckyLand Slots.

Sharelines Check out some of the biggest and most interesting hands played at the 2023 @WSOP Main Event thus far.
A dancer dressed in indigenous costume performs during the Squamish Nation Youth Pow Wow at Capilano Reserve Park in Vancouver, Canada, on July 15, 2023. Pow Wow is an indigenous cultural activity in which people socialize together with different activities like dancing, singing, and honouring the traditions of their ancestors. (Photo by Liang Sen/Xinhua)

Dancers perform during the Squamish Nation Youth Pow Wow at Capilano Reserve Park in Vancouver, Canada, on July 15, 2023. Pow Wow is an indigenous cultural activity in which people socialize together with different activities like dancing, singing, and honouring the traditions of their ancestors. (Photo by Liang Sen/Xinhua)

Dancers dressed in indigenous costumes perform during the Squamish Nation Youth Pow Wow at Capilano Reserve Park in Vancouver, Canada, on July 15, 2023. Pow Wow is an indigenous cultural activity in which people socialize together with different activities like dancing, singing, and honouring the traditions of their ancestors. (Photo by Liang Sen/Xinhua)

Dancers dressed in indigenous costumes perform during the Squamish Nation Youth Pow Wow at Capilano Reserve Park in Vancouver, Canada, on July 15, 2023. Pow Wow is an indigenous cultural activity in which people socialize together with different activities like dancing, singing, and honouring the traditions of their ancestors. (Photo by Liang Sen/Xinhua)

Dancers dressed in indigenous costumes perform during the Squamish Nation Youth Pow Wow at Capilano Reserve Park in Vancouver, Canada, on July 15, 2023. Pow Wow is an indigenous cultural activity in which people socialize together with different activities like dancing, singing, and honouring the traditions of their ancestors. (Photo by Liang Sen/Xinhua)

A dancer dressed in indigenous costumes is seen during the Squamish Nation Youth Pow Wow at Capilano Reserve Park in Vancouver, Canada, on July 15, 2023. Pow Wow is an indigenous cultural activity in which people socialize together with different activities like dancing, singing, and honouring the traditions of their ancestors. (Photo by Liang Sen/Xinhua)

Dancers dressed in indigenous costumes perform during the Squamish Nation Youth Pow Wow at Capilano Reserve Park in Vancouver, Canada, on July 15, 2023. Pow Wow is an indigenous cultural activity in which people socialize together with different activities like dancing, singing, and honouring the traditions of their ancestors. (Photo by Liang Sen/Xinhua)
Diego Ventura has a long list of accomplishments in his poker career, but a major series title had always eluded the Peruvian all-time money list leader. It took an extra day, but that drought finally came to an end in Event #86: $1,979 Poker Hall of Fame Bounty No-Limit Holdem at the 2023 World Series of Poker (WSOP).

Ventura outlasted a record-breaking field of 1,417 entries at Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas, including 15 Poker Hall of Fame members, to score the largest piece of the $2,465,590 prize pool and earn the first live WSOP bracelet for his native country of Peru.

Ventura told PokerNews that he envisioned being the first from his country to step into the winners circle in Las Vegas. I think I always wanted to kind of open that door for other Peruvians to get inspired by that, and hopefully, everyone feels worthy of achieving big things in life.

The victory over Thomas Kysar earned Ventura the $402,054 top prize along with his first piece of WSOP hardware. Sometimes I used to doubt myself, because you know, how can I be playing for so long and I havent won many live tournaments, Ventura said after his winner photos, but then I was like Gods timing is the perfect timing.

2023 Event #86 Final Table Results

Place Player Country Prize 1 Diego Ventura Peru $402,054 2 Thomas Kysar United States $248,502 3 Jason James Canada $179,593 4 Francis Anderson United States $131,324 5 Jose Nadal Mexico $97,174 6 Louie Torres United States $72,773 7 Martin Jacobson Sweden $55,165 8 Leonid Yanovski Israel $42,336 9 Jimmy Setna Canada $32,897

Poker Hall of Famers 2023

Hall of Fame Field

The field was full of Poker Hall of Famers, with each holding a bounty on their head equalling the year that they were inducted. That list included the newest member Brian Rast, who was the first to be eliminated on Day 1.

Three Hall of Fame members made their way into the money, with Phil Hellmuth and Eli Elezra advancing to Day 2 before hitting the rail. Barbara Enright beat the bubble before exiting with a min-cash on Day 1.

Final Table Action

The final nine returned for action on an unscheduled Day 3, with the slow pace of play from the previous night a thing of the past. Jimmy Setna was the first to hit the rail after running into aces. Israel's Leonid Yanovski finished eighth after moving in against 2014 Main Event winner Martin Jacobson, though those chips didn't last long as Jacobson would fall next when his pocket kings were cracked.

A similar fate awaited Louie Torres, who also his kings come second best to finish in sixth. Ventura and Kysar then took turns eliminating the next three players, with Jose Nadal calling for his tournament life in the big blind before Francis Anderson ran into pocket jacks. Jason James followed by raising into pocket queens to finish in third place.

final table, Thomas Kysar, Diego Ventura

Kyser took a sizeable chip lead into heads-up play, with both players trading the advantage several times. A break in the action let Ventura shift his focus, taking the lead for good and turning up the pressure. After the last break I felt like I had a better idea of his strategy, said Ventura, who let the emotion pour out after winning the final hand.

The Peruvian reflected on the moment after getting his hands on the bracelet. I was actually getting emotional way before, like when I got to the final table I already wanted to cry. I was like, wait its not the moment yet, so I was trying to calm myself down. So when the moment arrived I was like so calm that I couldnt let my emotions out until, I just started to look back at my life and in that moment I got emotional.

Diego Ventura

That concludes PokerNews coverage of this exciting event. Stick with the live reporting team for the rest of the action as the WSOP winds down in Las Vegas.
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White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said that the House Republican-passed NDAA was never going to make it to President Bidens desk.

Video:

Biden National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan says the House passed NDAA has no chance, "This legislation is never getting to the president's desk." pic.twitter.com/0XElaiKCx0  Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticusSarah) July 16, 2023

Sullivan said on CNNs State Of The Union:

This national defense bill would eliminate funding for service members travel to states where abortion is legal, block Well, this legislation is never getting to the presidents desk, because what you have seen from an extreme group of Republicans is to put forward a set of amendments that try to mix domestic social debates with the needs, the security needs, of our nation.



Jake, at end of the day, this Defense Authorization Act, Jake, from my perspective, is really about a bipartisan exercise in defending America, defending Americans national security.

And, historically, year after year, you have seen the Defense Authorization Act pass with overwhelming bipartisan majorities. We should not walk away from that. This should be an area where politics stops and national security starts. And we believe that, at the end of the day, after the Senate has done its work, after the Senate has come back together with the House, we will end up in a place where there is a broad bipartisan bill that can go to the presidents desk that he can sign.

That is what is necessary for our men and women in uniform and to keep faith with the American people our fundamental duty to keep them safe.

House Republicans used the NDAA as a political prop. They stuffed the legislation full of unpopular culture war ideas that will never pass the Senate.

Kevin McCarthy has made a usually bipartisan process hostile and difficult by caving to the far right and adding Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, who isnt on the Armed Services Committee, to the NDAA conference committee.

House Republicans have turned one of the most non-controversial responsibilities of Congress into partisan warfare. Just like on the debt limit, House Republicans arent going to get what they want.

Sullivan was correct. The House GOP passed NDAA was dead from the second it passed, and it has zero chance of ever becoming law.
Aiken, SC (29801)

Today

Partly to mostly cloudy skies with scattered thunderstorms during the morning. High 86F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%..

Tonight

A few clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low near 70F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph.
Lost at sea for months on a disabled catamaran, with no way to cook and no source of fresh water but the rain, Australian Timothy Shaddock said he expected to die. But there was a lot he liked about the experience, he said, like swims in the sea, the company of his dog Bella, and the sight of the moon over the water. In a press conference as he came ashore Tuesday, Shaddock dwelled on his love of the sea, and declined to describe the many, many, many bad days he experienced before being rescued by a tuna fishing boat. He said he and Bella lived on raw fish and rainwater, and worked maintaining the boat almost all the time he wasn't sleeping. Read moreAdrift for months, Australian and his dog lived on raw fish until Mexican fishermen rescued them
With federal student loan forgiveness having been rejected by the U.S. Supreme Court and interest charges set to resume Sept. 1, an important option has emerged for anyone who could struggle to make payments.

Known as the SAVE Plan, it's the latest income-based repayment plan, and for many borrowers it will be a large improvement over the four similar existing alternatives.

This one increases the amount of income excluded from payment calculations, which are based on discretionary income. A single borrower earning $32,800 would make no payments, for example, where currently those earning more than $22,000 make payments.

Those earning more than the zero-payment income limit, which is 225 percent of the federal poverty standard, would save "at least $1,000 per year" compared to current income-based plans, according to the federal student aid program.

Payments for undergraduate loans, once SAVE is fully implemented, will be 5 percent of discretionary income, which is half the current amount. The income cutoff at which discretionary income begins, $32,800 for a single person, changes with family size.

Just as important, under the Saving on A Valuable Education Plan loan balances won't increase if the income-based payment isn't large enough to cover the monthly interest charge, even if the monthly payment is zero. Under some existing plans loan balances can grow even as payments are made.

Also, borrowers who are married but file separate income tax returns won't have to count their spouse's income or have them sign a SAVE Plan application.

The idea is to keep payments affordable. The amounts due monthly would re-set each year based on income, which hopefully increases over time. The income recertification can happen automatically if borrowers agree to let the U.S. Department of Education access their tax information.

The provisions of SAVE have been known for a while, but some won't take effect until next July, including:

Payments for undergraduate loans will be capped at 5 percent of discretionary income, down from the current 10 percent.

Those who borrowed $12,000 or less would get any remaining balance canceled after 10 years of payments. Each additional $1,000 borrowed would add another year of payments. Currently the shortest payment period for income-based payment plans is 20 years.

Loan amounts that are forgiven may be counted as income for federal income tax purposes.

The SAVE Plan does have a large price tag, is opposed by many Republicans in Congress, and could face legal challenges.

Student loan borrowers who are already in the income-based REPAYE (Revised Pay As You Earn) option, or sign up for that plan, will be automatically enrolled in the SAVE Plan. There's not yet a direct way to enroll in SAVE, which will replace REPAYE.

"The application for the new SAVE Plan will be available this summer," according to the U.S. Department of Education. "We will notify borrowers directly when the new application is available."

Borrowers who sign up for the REPAYE plan would be automatically switched over. For more details or to sign up or switch payment plans go online to StudentAid.gov.

Loans made to parents, such as PLUS loans, are not eligible for income-based repayment. Federal Family Education Loans aren't eligible for REPAYE/SAVE unless they are converted to a direct consolidation loan.

It's unfortunate that there's such a long list of loan programs, all with different rules, but that's where we are. There are also a number of standard repayment plans and the Public Service Loan Forgiveness plan.

Those planning to sign up for any student loan repayment plan should go ahead and do so, because it could take weeks to process the application, and the clock is ticking: Payments resume in October.
After a year in which the S.C. Commerce Department announced record investment totals for employers looking to locate or expand their operations in the Palmetto State, you might think the economic development experts who compile annual "best of" rankings would have recognized the effort.

But in at least one high-profile list, South Carolina's big numbers didn't seem to be a factor.

While South Carolina moved up a few notches in the "America's Top States for Business" rankings compiled each year by CNBC, it still finished in the bottom half based on a range of factors that purport to show how competitive each state is in attracting and retaining business.

South Carolina finished No. 27 in the latest list, released last week by the cable business news network.

That's up from a 36th-place showing a year ago, but it's still disappointing to some players in the industrial recruitment game who think this year's ranking should have been higher. After all, S.C. Commerce chief Harry Lightsey landed 120 economic development projects in 2022, totaling an all-time high of $10.27 billion in capital investment.

Commerce, in a written statement, said CNBC's methodology "seems to change frequently, and is not very transparent," with some metrics that are important one year totally absent in the next. This year's infrastructure category, for example, replaced one that was previously labeled transportation.

It all makes apples-to-apples comparisons among the states difficult, at best.

In some instances, depending on how CNBC's numbers are sliced, South Carolina did pretty well.

For example, the state finished No. 7 nationwide in the economy category, which measures such factors as job growth, gross domestic product, credit rating and the health of the real estate market. Despite being one of the least populous states on the East Coast, South Carolina did better than perennial powerhouse New York, which ranked No. 12.

The state also received the equivalent of B-plus grades for its cost of doing business  a measure of wage costs, taxes and incentives  and the aforementioned infrastructure category, which measures the vitality of each state's transportation system based on the value of goods shipped by air, water, roads and rail. The Port of Charleston, the country's eighth-busiest seaport, certainly helped boost South Carolina's standing in that grouping.

But, for the most part, the rankings  now in their 17th year  weren't much to write home about.

For instance, South Carolina received an equivalent "F" grade for life, health and inclusion  a category that measures crime rates, environmental quality, workers' rights, access to affordable child care and abortion laws.

Particularly vexing is South Carolina's ranking when compared to one of its two closest neighbors. With its Research Triangle Park and investments by companies as diverse as power tool maker Bosch, technology giant Apple and cellular therapeutics firm ProKidney, North Carolina finished at the top of CNBC's list for the second consecutive year.

"Business and the economy in the state have been on a tear since the pandemic, and the state has scarcely looked back," CNBC said of the Tar Heel State.

Instead of comparing South Carolina to other states, the Commerce Department suggests it's more productive to measure how well growth within the Palmetto State is benefiting its residents. The agency said it is proud of the record set last year for economic investments, adding they "will help increase opportunities for all South Carolinians."

A nearly $2 billion expansion by Upstate automaker BMW and big-dollar investments by electric vehicle battery recycler Redwood Materials and battery maker AESC are clear signs "industry leaders recognize the value and strength of operating within our borders," the department said. "And we fully expect more companies to follow suit for years to come."

Still kicking

A new report indicates there's still plenty of life left in the Charleston area's industrial real estate market.

The updated analysis by Colliers said the vacancy rate at warehouses and distribution centers in Charleston, Berkeley and Dorchester counties ticked up less than 1 percentage point  to 4.42 percent from 3.62 percent  during the second quarter of the year. That's despite an additional 1.72 million square feet of new space coming online.

"While this level of vacancy is higher than it has been in 18 months, it is still half the average for the last 15 years," the commercial real estate firm said.

Second-quarter lease rates also rose to $7.47 per square foot annually  up from $7.26 in the first quarter but still trailing the $7.61 that developers were getting a year ago.

Most of the development activity is concentrated along the Interstate 26 corridor from Summerville to Ridgeville, with manufacturing and third-party logistics firms continuing to look for opportunities between the Port of Charleston and I-95 and other highways.

The local industrial market has grown to 68.2 million square feet of space, with more than 10 million square feet under construction.

Big projects getting ready to make their debut in the third quarter include a 1.12 million-square-foot warehouse that Portman Industrial is building at Camp Hall Commerce Park in Ridgeville and a 766,000-square-foot warehouse that NorthPoint Development is building farther east on the other side of I-26 at Tradeport Business Park in Summerville.

Toray Composite Materials Toray Composite Materials is expanding its Spartanburg plant to produce more industrial-strength carbon fiber for a variety of applications. P

Fiber factory

Toray Composite Materials, the nation's largest producer of carbon fiber used in the aerospace and alternative energy industries, said it is expanding its Upstate site to produce an additional 3,000 metric tons of product annually.

The 30,000-square-foot addition in Spartanburg is scheduled for completion by 2025.

"The expansion will increase the supply of industrial-strength carbon fiber for compressed natural gas, hydrogen tanks and other pressure vessel applications," the company said in a written statement. "The increased supply is necessary as the market experiences growing demand for energy and associated storage, transportation and handling infrastructure."

The Spartanburg plant is also a supplier for the 787 Dreamliner commercial jet that Boeing Co. builds in North Charleston.

Tim Kirk, Toray's vice president of marketing, said the new investment in the Upstate "enables us to keep pace with the needs of our customers and maintain our leadership position."

The company did not say how much the expansion will cost or whether it will result in more jobs.

Tokyo-based Toray operates in 29 countries and regions with more than 48,000 employees worldwide. It announced plans for its $1 billion plant in Spartanburg in 2014.
Madrid: More than 2,500 people were said to have been evacuated from La Palma in the Canary Islands, where a fire has destroyed 4,500 hectares (11,000 acres) of land, according to Spanish officials on Saturday.

With the assistance of firefighting aircraft, about 300 firefighters are working on the ground to put out the blaze, they added.

According to Fernando Clavijo, head of the regional government for the Canary Islands, "the fire advanced very quickly."

He cited "the wind, the climate conditions, as well as the heatwave that we are living through" as the causes of the fire's rapid spread.

Also Read: Oil Prices Poised for Further Gains as Libya and Nigeria See Production Halts

Hector Gomez, the minister of tourism, told reporters, "It's a fire that has gathered strength in very little time."

The La Palma Council's Sergio Rodriguez, the top official on the island, urged citizens to heed the evacuation order so that the emergency services could operate more efficiently.

According to a statement from local authorities, the fire started in the Puntagorda district in the morning before quickly spreading. According to Marcos Lorenzo, the mayor of Tijarafe, not all of the town had been evacuated.

Also Read: China executes kindergarten teacher for poisoning 25 pupils, one of whom dies

The worst number in Europe, more than 300,000 hectares of land were destroyed by more than 500 wildfires in Spain in 2022, according to data from the European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS).

According to the most recent EFFIS data, it has already lost another 66,000 hectares to fire this year.

In a nation that has been severely impacted by climate change, with numerous brutal heatwaves and decreasing rainfall, the situation is even more concerning.

Also Read: Migrants from Sudan Swell Ranks of Those Stranded at Libya-Tunisia Border

The national meteorological service noted record highs during the unusually hot weather on the Spanish mainland. The Canary Islands of Spain are located off the coast of northwest Africa.
Charleston, SC (29403)

Today

Scattered thunderstorms. Gusty winds and small hail are possible. Low 76F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 50%..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms. Gusty winds and small hail are possible. Low 76F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 50%.
As a proposed seawall to protect the Charleston peninsula inches through a complex approval process, one City Council member wants to bring the topic back into the public eye with a citywide vote.

Councilman Keith Waring will float the idea at a July 17 Public Works Committee meeting, saying that if council supports it, the question could go to a non-binding referendum as soon as November.

That would put it on the same ballot as the mayor's race.

But city officials responsible for the negotiating with the Army Corps of Engineers, which is collaborating on the project, say a public vote this fall would be premature and potentially damaging to the overall prospects of the plan.

The question Waring is proposing reads:

"Should the City of Charleston build a surge protection wall around the peninsula of Charleston?"

The wording could change between an initial vote and final approval from city legal counsel.

To Waring, a "no" vote would signify the plan needs more work, not necessarily that it should be scrapped altogether.

"When people say no, we are going to find the rationales as to why," he said.

If the Public Works Committee agrees to recommend the referendum, the full City Council will have to give its OK at its meeting July 18.

Council would also have to host a special meeting in August to give the ballot question final approval ahead of the county's deadline to place questions on the ballot.

Public opinion

Since the project's inception, it has had both fans and critics of what would be an 8-mile physical perimeter built around the peninsula. Early conceptual renderings from the Army Corps depicted a vertical concrete wall erected several feet into the harbor which was widely criticized for being unsightly and ineffective against tidal flooding.

But city officials have said they would not approve such a design and would instead push for a project that would mimic an extension of the Low Battery. It would include a pedestrian walkway, pumps and other tie-ins to existing and proposed stormater infrastructure.

The plan to build the $1.1 billion structure has been inching its way through bureaucratic checkpoints for years. Charleston's Chief Resilience Officer Dale Morris said the effort is a crucial one to address the growing threat of storm surge, which is intensifying as sea levels rise. A similar project without the Army Corps at the helm would be nearly impossible, he said.

If all goes to schedule, the city will contribute 35 percent of the total cost of the project. That could come in many forms, such as taxing districts, a bond and a settlement from a pending lawsuit against several oil companies  some of the world's top contributors to climate change.

At the end of 2022, Congress gave the project the go-ahead signaling that when the design is ready, the federal government will chip in its share of the cost.

Since March, city officials have been working on an agreement with the Army Corps that will dictate how much control the city has over the design and engineering features of the first phase of the project. Phase 1 would stretch from the Citadel to the Coast Guard Station on the Western edge of the peninsula. The design and engineering for Phase 1 is roughly estimated to cost $19 million, $13 million of which would come from the federal government.

Morris said the agreement could be finalized as soon as the end of August and the actual design work could take about two years.

If the design agreement is approved by the Army Corps' top chain of command, Charleston City Council will have a chance to review and approve it. Council will also have a say over the designs and the funding for the city's contribution to the project.

While Waring wants voters to weigh in this fall, Morris said that request could threaten the viability of the project before it's even designed.

Because the design process is in its earliest stages, keeping the public informed on the city's goals has been challenging, Morris said. And asking for a vote now could lead to confusion.

"Citizens have a preconceived idea that it's the Berlin Wall and if it is harmed by that, we will have done a great disservice to the peninsula," he said.

Some environmental critics of the seawall say it shouldn't be scrapped altogether but it should incorporate more nature-based solutions such as oyster reefs. They also contend it might need to be built higher than officials anticipate to truly address the worst-case scenarios of storm surge and sea-level rise.

Currently, the proposal calls for the wall to accommodate 12 feet of storm surge and have the option to be retrofitted to address 15 feet of surge should estimates change in the future. Members of the Southern Environmental Law Center say that might not be enough.

"The Corps wrongly relied on outdated projections to evaluate how sea-level rise will affect this project, significantly underestimating the amount of sea-level rise that Charleston is likely to experience during the life of this project," a comment from the SELC reads.

"Our hope is that the city and the Corps will agree to a design agreement that will allow the city and the Corps to work together and incorporate nature-based design," said SELC Director Chris DeScherer.

Morris said a citywide vote could damage the negotiation process with the Army Corps and possibly encourage them to walk away altogether, along with their offer to pay for two-thirds of the project. If the city loses the Corps' support, Morris said, the plan would be dead in the water.

"If we stop this prematurely, we are condemning the peninsula to a very uncertain and very wet future," he said.

Political calculations

Given the complex nature of the seawall proposal, Waring said the public has not been educated enough on the plan. But he thinks they can be in the next few months if they are faced with a vote.

"Why wouldn't you want them to be involved?" Waring said of the voters. "Why would you want to keep it a secret?"

Morris said he has made himself available to council members and looks forward to educating the public about the project when designs are available.

"This is a key project for me," he said. "I am hiding nothing."

In recent weeks, Waring has been criticized for trying to weaken some of Mayor John Tecklenburg's key goals ahead of his run for reelection this fall. During the last City Council meeting, he was one of six council members who voted against funding for the redevelopment of a former Piggly Wiggly site in West Ashley, one of the main promises of Tecklenburg's last campaign.

There are some council members that have disagreements with or dislike for the mayor, Councilman Karl Brady said at the June meeting. Petty squabbles and resentment are threatening the most generational investment in West Ashley to date.

Waring vehemently denies accusations that his motivations are political.

"That is shallow thinking," he said.

When asked why Charleston residents could not be educated about the seawall with a public outreach campaign and surveys instead of a citywide "yes or no" vote, Waring said the city should do both.
When the old Charleston flag turned up unexpectedly in Michigan more than 10 years ago, it piqued Dave Downings interest.

He had been giving a talk about Civil War flags in Greenfield Village outside Detroit over Memorial Day weekend. Afterward, a man approached to tell Downing about an estate sale he'd attended, and a historic blue flag he had found.

If you want, Ill give it to you, the man said. You can use it in your demonstrations.

Downing thought little of the encounter. But the next day the man was back, flag in hand.

He gives it to me, Downing recalled. It looks real. I turned around to try to thank the guy and he was gone. I never got his name.

Downing didnt use it in his demonstrations. He carefully packed it away and forgot about it.

In 2020, the Save the Flags project, for which he volunteers in Michigan, received a donated Civil War flag with provenance dating to 1865. That banner was nearly pristine, and it got Downing thinking about the old blue flag he had secured and stored. Maybe that one was real, too.

A flag restorer checked it out and determined it was authentic.

I decided it had to go home, it had to go to South Carolina, there was no question in my mind at all, he said. Probably it could bring a couple thousand dollars, but Civil War flags mean more than that. It needs to go home.

After delays caused by the COVID pandemic and some health issues, arrangements were made for Downing to bequeath the Charleston Light Dragoons battle flag to the S.C. Confederate Relic Room and Military Museum in Columbia this month.

A war reenactor, Downing stopped to participate in a couple of events on his way south. The staff at the Relic Room were preparing to receive their gift. W. Eric Emerson, director of the South Carolina Department of Archives and History and author of Sons of Privilege: The Charleston Light Dragoons in the Civil War, got busy trying to figure out exactly when and how the company lost its banner.

Then, several days before the scheduled delivery on July 5, an email arrived for Allen Roberson, executive director of the Relic Room. It was from Greg Biggs, a respected expert in Civil War-era flags. Biggs wrote that the guidon (as such banners often are called) was almost certainly a fake.

I wanted to apprise you of the flag which I have known about since 2004 when it sold on Ebay, Biggs wrote on June 30. I have serious doubts as to its authenticity for several reasons. First, it is crudely made. Secondly, the lettering looks inked on rather than painted and is also crudely done. Third, it is a one-sided flag and other than period patriotic flags, these are virtually non-existent for actual battle flags.

The Charleston Light Dragoons banner was likely one of the infamous Bristol fakes made by two Virginia brothers in the 1980s or 90s, Biggs wrote.

'Buyer beware'

The black market for Civil War memorabilia is large. Museum staff and individual collectors must be vigilant. Some objects are purposely manufactured to fool; others are honestly made reproductions, some produced during the decades immediately following the war  souvenirs that get confused for the real thing.

All artifacts are suspect, not just flags of course. Their provenance is everything, experts say. If they are well-documented or have air-tight family histories (or both), chances are good they are authentic.

Still, check the techniques used to make a particular collectible item and see if they match with the time period. Zigzag threading was introduced in the 1870s, for example. If you come upon a banner someone claims is from the Civil War and part of it is sewn in a zigzag pattern, you would be smart to show your skepticism.

Some sought-after banners have fetched more than $100,000 at auction, so the stakes are high.

Buyer beware, Biggs warns.

The forgeries can be made to appear authentic, and sometimes their quality is so good they fool the experts.

But not often.

A bit of lab work might be all thats needed to determine what kind of dye was used, or the fiber composition. Dirt and tears might add a veneer of legitimacy, but its possible a newly produced banner was buried in the yard to accelerate aging and make it look soiled. Its possible someone shot it through with buckshot so it appears to have survived the battlefield.

What the fakers like to do, explained Biggs, is research flags to determine which ones have likely disappeared forever  perhaps captured by the enemy or procured by someone behind the Iron Curtain or modern-day equivalent  then reproduce them, claiming a long-lost banner suddenly has been found.

A 2nd Arkansas Infantry Civil War flag sold at a fair in Cleveland in the 1970s for a lot of money, then the real one turned up.

The flag makers of the middle 1800s, mostly women, were quite skilled seamstresses. They would sew fine silk banners then find a local sign painter who would mark the material with a charcoal pencil and paint it by hand, impeccably, using rulers and other tools. Technical prowess mixed with terrific pride were the essential ingredients. These were banners to be waved by husbands and sons and uncles fighting for what they thought was a noble cause.

Machine-made flags came later, and the difference often is apparent. If a flag (or any other historic artifact) is sold on eBay, its time to put your skepticism to work again. The museum-quality stuff isnt often found online.

The Dragoons

Who were the Charleston Light Dragoons? Sons of privilege.

In the years after the Revolutionary War, it was expected of able-bodied young White men in the Antebellum South to join local militias. Some were engaged in defending their communities from threats residual and fresh. Others were meant to protect the minority White population from the physical and economic impacts of slave rebellions large and small.

The Dragoons were formed in 1792, the year after President George Washingtons grand tour of the South, which included a weeks stay in Charleston. It was as much a social club as a military squadron, Emerson said. Indeed, it quickly acquired a reputation as a low-risk unit, encouraging wealthy families across the Lowcountry and beyond to exploit connections so that their sons might become members.

For the first three years of the Civil War, the Dragoons enjoyed relatively light duty, Emerson said. The men benefited from the assistance of body servants  often enslaved men who cooked and cleaned  and this left members with plenty of time to race horses, gamble and live large.

The Dragoons preferred a certain kind of punch, whose recipe was found in the Preservation Society of Charleston archives. (The punch served today at Husk Restaurant and consists of plain brandy, peach brandy, Caribbean rum, black tea, lemon juice and raw sugar, $13.)

The men did see some action in October 1862 at Pocotaligo, where Union forces attempted to sever the Charleston-Savannah railroad link. The U.S. soldiers did manage to destroy a segment of the railway, but a small Confederate force kept them from blowing up the bridge over the creek. The Dragoons, serving as scouts, suffered a few casualties, but it wasnt too bad, Emerson said.

By 1864, though, resources were stretched and young fighters, no matter their privileged status, no longer could easily avoid battle. The Dragoons were mustered into state service, then Confederate service, then amalgamated into the 4th South Carolina Cavalry Regiment, Emerson said.

Lt. Gen. Wade Hamptons cavalry forces in Virginia were in need of reinforcements, so 100 Dragoons, accompanied by their body servants, headed for Richmond. When they arrived on May 24, the horses (and some of the men) were in bad shape. Food was rationed among all, so the Dragoons left their servants and their excess gear behind to ride into combat.

On May 28, at Hawes Shop, Va., the battle went badly for the Dragoons. Brig. Gen. George Armstrong Custers Michigan Cavalry Brigade overwhelmed their Confederate adversaries. The Rebels failed to get word of retreat and ended up surrounded. About half of the Dragoons were killed, wounded or captured.

Two days later, at Matadequin Creek, the same thing happens, and half of the remaining Dragoons become casualties.

A third engagement, at Trevilian Station on June 11-12, included perhaps a dozen remaining Dragoons still able to fight. It was the biggest and bloodiest all-cavalry confrontation of the war.

Emerson speculated that perhaps it was during this battle that the Dragoon banner was captured by a Michigan soldier.

I wrote the book (about the Dragoons) and had no idea that they lost the flag, Emerson said.

'Good stuff is known'

Well, thats because they probably didnt, it turns out.

John Sexton, an appraiser and consultant in Florida intimately familiar with Civil War battle flags, said some of the fakes are really good, and the number of experts who can discern fraud are relatively few.

Sometimes, even the experts are fooled, he said. A lot of money is involved. People fake everything. Thats just the way it is.

The Charleston Light Dragoons didnt disappear after the war; the organization persisted into the late 1800s, and some replica flags could have been produced in those years, as well as the fabrications made in the late 1900s, Sexton said.

The Museum of the Confederacy, founded in 1896 in Richmond, Va., and now called the American Civil War Museum, contains the biggest collection of Confederate battle flags, about 500.

The Charleston Light Dragoons banner that turned up in Michigan wont be one of them.

It wont come to the Confederate Relic Room in Columbia either.

Roberson said if its too good to be true, its almost certainly not true. And the case of the Dragoons flag is a prime example.

No one wanted money for it, which is strange, he said. It suggests that those involved were acting in good faith  well, except for the flag makers themselves. When money is involved, ones antennae go up fast, Roberson said.

Sometimes fakes are purchased just to get them off of the market, he said. The Relic Room, with its modest taxpayer-funded budget is in no position to do that, though.

Most good stuff is known, because its passed around, Roberson said. A collector gets it, sells it on market. It can be tracked. Or it comes out of somebodys family. There are lots of ways to verify authenticity of an object.

About as many ways to verify authenticity as there are to fake it.

So next time someone offers to sell you an artifact of American history, be sure to find a qualified appraiser, a historic flags specialist or a museum expert such as Virginia Theerman, to check it out before handing over the dough.

Theerman, curator of historic textiles at the Charleston Museum, might not be a flag connoisseur, but she knows how to analyze fabric, stitchwork, patina, ink and nontextile materials added to cloth, and then to compare the specimen to other examples.

The museum has in its collection a real Dragoons flag, dated 1861. Its considerably more delicate than the fake one, made of blue silk with embroidery floss. And its double-sided.

It features a stylized Palmetto tree on its front, the words "Lone Star Dragoons" on the back, and three fringes of fine silk tassels. The flag is so fragile it rarely comes out of the cabinet in which it's stored flat and covered.

It likely survived all these years because it was among the handmade banners stowed away for safekeeping, and not much used on the battlefield. Close examination makes it clear that the object was made by a skillful hand animated by artistry and admiration.

This is no mere banner. It is an expression of esteem for the men soon to become embroiled in a pernicious war.
Charleston, SC (29403)

Today

Some clouds and possibly an isolated thunderstorm this afternoon. Gusty winds and small hail are possible. High 93F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms early, then mainly cloudy after midnight. Low around 75F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
KINGSTREE  The Williamsburg County Council rejected its over $25 million budget containing what would have been the countys first tax increase in 16 years during its July 13 meeting.

The increase would have cost taxpayers $40 a year on a $100,000 home.

County Supervisor Kelvin Washington said the proposed increase was the minimum of what we needed to do to start digging out of the hole that we're in.

The County Council voted 3-3 with one council member abstaining. The county is operating off last years budget until it passes a new one.

Washington said Williamsburg County has gone the longest of any county in South Carolina without raising taxes. The last time the county raised taxes was 2009.

If we want what other counties have, then we have to make the sacrifices that other counties have made, Washington said. We cannot continue to do the same things that we've been doing, and expecting different results.

Councilman Samuel Floyd said he voted against the budget because he thought a tax increase wasnt in the best interest of the people of Williamsburg County.

I am against putting burdens on the citizens that they cant afford, Floyd said. This is a rural county, its a poor county. It's tough times on people and we've got to figure out a way to do better without putting the burden on them.

Two people spoke during the public hearing portion of the meeting in protest of the tax increase.

The median household income in Williamsburg County is just over $40,000, according to census data. This is below the state average of over $59,000 as of 2021.

Washington said the county has been operating at a budget deficit for years. Leaders have had to choose whether to pay payroll or its bills. He said payroll has always been the choice.

We have kicked this can down the road so long and so far, that there is not much of a can left to kick, Washington said.

The proposed tax raises came as advice from the countys financial advisers as well as banking institutions that lend the county money. The county is over $1 million in debt without any reserves, Washington said.

There is no law in South Carolina stating county governments have to have money in it's reserves, known as fund balances.

Fewer people will be willing to lend the county money if it doesnt raise taxes, he said.

He also said some vendors the county works with are threatening legal action because the county is taking so long to pay its bills.

In order for our county to operate successfully, we must be able to have credit with vendors, Washington said.

The county takes out a loan against taxes received at the beginning of a year, known as a tax anticipation note, to operate the county government between July and December.

The countys tax anticipation note in 2009 was $1.5 million. The note is passed with the budget so it was not passed during the meeting. The tax anticipation note for this year was $3.5 million.

Folks, we are going in the wrong direction, Washington said.

The budget did not fund certain positions within the county government that were present on the budget, Washington said. Some departments have been operating with empty positions for years now.

The county will look at eliminating some positions, whether they have been vacant for some time or filled now, he said.

The County Council will meet Monday for its third budget workshop and have a regular meeting Tuesday to possibly pass it.

The only thing Councilman Eddie Woods Jr. said he could see changing going into the workshop would be cutting some services the county provides.

Washington agreed.

Some services may become fee-assessed if they werent cut, Councilwoman Sulondia Hammond said.

This is about the survival of this county, Washington said. We've got to make tough choices. And it's either going to be in tax increases, or it's going to be in cuts to services, or a combination of both.

Correction: A previous version of this story incorrectly attributed the statement of services becoming fee-assessed to Councilwoman Jackie Hailes. Hammond made the comment.
AIKEN  Soon after Cynthia Holland started working at the Aiken County elections office nearly a quarter of a century ago, she discovered democracy was her passion.

Now, its a lot harder for Holland, who became the offices director 12 years ago, to love her job.

Like so many elections officials around the state, shes tired and frustrated.

Tired of the stream of Freedom of Information requests that have bombarded her office in the wake of the stolen election myth, about 30, seeking her emails, information on voting records and even office security camera footage.

Frustrated at the appearance of activists who packed the seats of the monthly board meetings, and the self-appointed poll watchers who showed up in all 86 precincts during the 2022 primaries, convinced they know how to do her job better than she does.

Then in July 2022, a woman who was an organizer for a national group that endorsed claims of widespread voter fraud was appointed to the board of elections, putting an activist on the body that oversees Holland.

Hollands anxiety has worsened to the point her doctor put her on medication.

Its downright lies, Holland said. They're trying to target my integrity and not looking at the bigger picture  its not about me.

In counties across South Carolina, its like the 2020 election never ended.

For instance, in Berkeley County this winter, a North Charleston woman challenged the registration of more than 100 voters, creating days of work for elections officials.

In Beaufort County, one activist demanded the elections director hand over information or hed call the sheriff, the elections director there said.

And a group of voters from around the state filed a federal lawsuit in August 2022 to overturn the results of the 2020 election.

Rather than fade away, the movement born of former President Donald Trumps false claims of widespread election fraud has trained and organized under the banner of election integrity 2 years after Trump routed President Joe Biden by nearly 300,000 votes in the Palmetto State.

Their aim is to make our lives hell. And I've had activists in this state tell me that personally, said Howie Knapp, executive director of the South Carolina Election Commission.

As 2024 approaches, many officials dont believe an end is in sight.

I dont see it going away, said Isaac Cramer, executive director of the Charleston County Board of Elections. Honestly, I just dont.

There is no evidence of election fraud in South Carolina, other than a few investigations of small-town municipal elections, Knapp told a state Senate panel this winter. Elections skeptics efforts have not led to, or assisted in, the discovery of a single case of election fraud here, he told The Post and Courier.

By contrast, skeptics efforts may be making elections less secure, as voting office administrators devote hours or even days to responding to a stream of sprawling 2020-related FOIA requests or quit the profession altogether, fed up with constant attacks on their integrity, officials around the state say.

FOIA requests to the state Election Commission are up 500 percent compared to before the 2020 election, Knapp said. Charleston County used to receive a few requests each year. Now, a new one comes in almost weekly, Cramer said.

Many county officials point to a group called SC Safe Elections as the primary organizer of the states election skeptics.

Laura Scharr, a Lexington County financial planner, founded SC Safe Elections after she became interested in elections while watching the election in 2020. And I said, Something's just not right.

The group now advocates for a return to paper ballots, elimination of early voting and giving control of elections to towns or even precincts. It's also become Scharrs full-time job, and shes spent, she estimates, at least $35,000 of her own money on its efforts.

It's 24/7. It's the weekend. It's all the time, she said.

The groups latest effort is a FOIA lawsuit against the Election Commission and several county elections offices over their refusal to give activists cast vote records  basically electronic records of a voters ballot selections. The two sides have been slugging it out for months in court.

The organization has 439 members in its private chat group, and about 10 or 20 percent of those are core active members, Scharr said. But at a July 10 court hearing, a lawyer for the state Election Commission in the records lawsuit said Scharrs lawyer told him the group had 10 members this spring.

Some determined individuals have also made their mark.

Last winter, a woman named Tara Palubicki challenged the voter registration of more than 150 voters in Berkeley County. Elections staff there spent days investigating each case and sent out letters to the challenged voters, county Elections Director Rose Brown said.

The elections office then held two hearings for some of the challenged voters to prove they were registered at their legal address, Brown said.

There were a few that were quite livid, Brown said of the people forced to attend hearings, some of whom had lived and voted at the same address for more than 20 years.

Brown referred some of the voters who didnt respond to the letters requesting they verify their addresses to the state Election Commission to check if they had moved or died, but the county elections office never found a case of voter fraud, Brown said.

A message requesting comment left on a voicemail for Palubicki was not returned.

By far, the election skeptics biggest push came during the June 2022 primaries when hundreds of self-designated poll watchers fanned out to polling stations across the state. Elections officials reported that while many were respectful, others harangued poll workers to the point that police were called in a few cases.

The incidents prompted the state Election Commission to roll out new rules for poll watchers, forcing them to obtain a letter from a candidate or party they represent, show photo ID and banning them from touching equipment or harassing poll workers.

Now, in a handful of counties, activists are seeking to oust elections directors or get on the boards that oversee them, Knapp said.

In Berkeley County, after several poll watchers and activists criticized Brown, the elections director, others in attendance, including the president of the Goose Creek NAACP, stood to defend Brown and accused the activists of trying to push her out, according to the minutes of the boards May meeting.

In Aiken, Lori Boddy was appointed to the board of elections in July 2022. Boddy organized the countys GOP poll watchers during elections in 2021 and June 2022 and served as state coordinator for the national organization Look Ahead America, which shared claims that there was potentially widespread voter fraud in the 2020 presidential election, according to the Associated Press.

When Boddy and two other like-minded appointees joined the board, the tone changed, said Blanche Wimberly, the Aiken board of elections' vice chairwoman.

It's just been a source of contention because it seems as though they had agendas that the rest of us were concerned about, she said.

Holland said the trio would try to micromanage the office, go behind her back and want her ousted.

Boddy rejected those accusations. She supports Holland, strongly disagrees with other activists calls to return to paper-only balloting and wasnt a person who thought there was widespread fraud in 2020, she said.

She sees herself as ensuring that veteran elections officials and poll workers, who can sometimes be set in their ways, adapt to new technology and South Carolinas changing election laws while being transparent.

She became involved with Look Ahead America, she said, due to its work advocating for cleaned-up voter rolls.

Theres a national narrative, Boddy said, if you talk about election integrity, it equals election denier.

No South Carolina election is 100 percent without mistakes or human error or errant training or misapplication of rules. The errors are sometimes serious ones, like when a printing company sent 1,377 Horry County Republican voters Democratic primary ballots during a hotly contested state Senate race in 2022.

In the same 2022 primary, Beaufort County omitted County Council candidates names on 70 early-vote ballots, and in Aiken, poll workers failed to count eight provisional ballots that should have been included.

Poll watchers have documented election law violations in two main areas: Some counties have failed to swear in their poll workers with oaths as legally required and a few security seals werent fastened across the memory drives in voting machines at polling places, according to their reporting confirmed by some county elections officials.

Additionally, nearly everything the activists do is legal and much of it  seeking public records, attending public meetings, questioning government officials  is straight out of Civics 101.

Were elections geeks, said Margie Schelps, one of the leading election activists in Aiken County. Activists say elections officials and the media wield the label election denier to dismiss legitimate concerns.

Many activists only became interested in elections after the 2020 election.

We just coincidentally got together and have the same interests, Schelps said. Asked whether she believed Biden was legitimately elected president, Schelps said she had no comment.

Asked the same question, Scharr, the SC Safe Elections leader, said she did not think that was for me to answer, but that in South Carolina, Trump probably had more votes than what was there. I dont know.

After two years of constant interactions with the activists, elections officials doubt theyre acting in good faith.

Adam Hammons, the elections director in Spartanburg County, said his interactions with his local election activists have been super cordial, and hes glad more people are learning about elections.

The biggest thing that bothers me about any of those discussions (is) if you offered to show them, offer to bring them in, they come in, they see and then they still don't believe or they still want to challenge you, he said.

Andrew Marine, chairman of the Aiken County Board of Elections, believes that with time, activists engagement with the process will restore their trust.

What we found is once they've gotten involved in the process, they realize there's not a conspiracy there that they thought was there, Marine said. Yet, he added, we're still in that transition period.

Decidedly not in a wait-and-see mood, the state Election Commission has recently taken a harder line against the activists. Knapp started charging people to complete FOIA requests. And in the ongoing cast-vote records lawsuit, the Election Commission countersued SC Safe Elections under the FOIA law, seeking a court order to bar the organizations members from filing more requests related to the 2020 election.

Officials say the solution to improving the states elections is to better fund and staff elections offices and expand poll worker training.

In an audit of the Aiken County office, the state Election Commission found the major factor that caused the eight provisional ballots to go uncounted and other shortcomings was insufficient staff to conduct poll worker training.

Four employees work in the Aiken County office serving a population of about 171,000 residents. Departments in other counties of equivalent size have higher budgets and double the number of employees, the audit found. The Aiken County Council has repeatedly refused Hollands budget requests for more full-time staff.

State budget writers gave the state Election Commission an extra $3.2 million to train and support county elections offices in this year's budget.

Many activists, like Scharr, think the state needs to invest more in its elections.

Officials argue the skeptics efforts actually jeopardize elections by taking an inordinate amount of officials time to respond to 2020-related FOIA requests rather than preparing for voting.

There will be more retiring pretty soon because you can only take so much, said Marie Smalls, the elections director in Beaufort County.

Twenty-one of the states 46 counties saw an election director vacancy between January 2020 and the end of 2022, according to the election commissions latest annual report.

July 14 was Hammons last day as a South Carolina election official after 16 years. The decision was partially because he got a good opportunity in the private sector but he probably wouldnt have considered it three or four years ago, he said.

It wears on you to be constantly challenged, the Spartanburg County elections director said.

It isn't just county directors who are leaving.

Not only are we losing some of our star players, Knapp said. Were also losing the bench.

Half of Charleston Countys veteran poll managers quit over the past few years, as The Post and Courier previously reported.

Aiken Countys director Holland has decided to hold out four more years to retirement.

I want to leave on my terms, she said. Not because a group does not think that I'm fit to do my job when they have no cause, so that's just how I am.
It pays to be a minority, especially a Native American. That is the only possible explanation why so many people, especially academics, adopt fake Indian identities. There is even a word for it: Pretendian. And it seems as though the more militant the academic, the more likely he actually isnt Native at all.

One more case in point: University of Kansas professor Kent Blansett. The Dakota Scout reports:

University of Kansas history professor Kent Blansett is the scheduled keynote speaker at the Northern Great Plains History Conference in September. The content of his speech centers on the political history of the 1973 Wounded Knee occupation. Blansetts academic biography asserts he is a descendant of five Native American tribes: the Cherokee, Creek, Choctaw, Shawnee and Potawatomi. But Blansett has been the subject of a website that exposes academics whose claims of Native ancestry arent supported by genealogical records. The latest post on ancestorstealing.blogspot.com featuring Blansett came in June.

***

In Blansetts case, researchers built out a family tree that included more than 2,000 descendants, [Jacqueline Keeler, a Native American activist] said. It went as far back as the 1600s, with main ancestors French and an English ancestor born in Barbados who was employed in the slave trade. This is just a white family, Keeler said.

Does the University of Kansas care? Apparently not:

Erinn Barcomb-Peterson, a spokeswoman for the University of Kansas, said the issue did not involve the university. This is not a university matter  i.e. an employees self-identified ancestry has nothing to do with their employment, she said in an email to The Dakota Scout.

But Blansett is the universitys Langston Hughes Associate Professor of Indigenous Studies and US History. I may be off base here, but Hughes was a famous black writer who lived for a time in Kansas. One speculates that the university intends for the Langston Hughes Associate Professor, teaching Indigenous Studies, to be a minority.

This, though, is my favorite part of the story:

Blansett is author of the book A Journey to Freedom: Richard Oakes, Alcatraz, and the Red Power Movement. In the books forward, Blansett dedicated it to his father, Jewell. Despite coming of age in the Jim Crow south, my dad persevered against overwhelming obstacles as an Indigenous man. In ways that I will never fully know or understand, he developed a unique outlook on life during his years living in the southern Ozarks, Blansett wrote. An obituary for Jewell Blansett, who died in 2014, says that he served as an executive vice president of a bank in Camdenton, Missouri until his retirement in 2001.

You cant make this stuff up. I am hopeful that the entire superstructure of identity politics and woke nonsense will crumble under the weight of ceaseless ridicule to which it is now being subjected.
The Telegraph reports on Spain, where a right-wing coalition is expected to take power in the upcoming election. Among the conservatives leaders is Isabel Diaz Ayuso, whom we wrote about here.

But it isnt just Spain:

As Brexit Britain veers to the Left, weighing up voting for Sir Keir in the next election, the EU appears to be heading in the opposite direction. Italy, Finland and Greece have all recently elected centre-Right governments, with Spain predicted to join them on July 23  endorsing platforms that look rather different to Rishi Sunaks. Those on the European Right are cutting taxes, talking about national identity, boosting the family and  a million miles from Britains position  questioning the wisdom of net zero. The most interesting party in the Netherlands, led by Caroline van der Plas and called the BoerBurgerBeweging (BBB)  meaning Farmer-Citizen Movement  is driven by cranky farmers, up in arms at EU climate targets.

It is unfortunate that Britain does not have a true conservative party, but the right wingers who are increasingly ascendant on the continent are much closer to what we recognize as Reagan-Thatcher conservatives.

This chart shows conservative gains in recent elections across the continent:

The Telegraph says:

[W]e could interpret the rise of conservatives across Europe less as a decisive turn to the Right than a backlash against Left-wing governments that have pushed too far, too fast  on ecology, trans rights, open borders and so on.

That is generally how it works. But it seems likely that European voters also like lower taxes, less crime, a lawful immigration regime, and pro-nation and pro-family policies.

Ayuso shared with the Daily Telegraph her vision of life under a PP administration: The policies of defending freedom will return to Spain; there will be a national government that does not lie to the citizens, and does not make deals with political parties that have publicly declared themselves enemies of Spain. The party will emphasise economic growth, job creation and prosperity, low taxes  for low taxes means growth, which means better finance for public services. That said, government should be austere and not squander wealth. It must support business and the self-employed instead of attacking them.

Sounds like a good agenda. What comes next is sad but true:

It is hard to imagine a British Conservative leader speaking this way. Brexit forced the Tories to reassess their mission and identity  and, contrary to the worst fears of Remainers, their existential panic has somehow realigned them to the Left.

Lets hope the continents swing to the right continues.
First, Kamala Harris committed an epic Kinsley Gaffe (that is, where someone in Washington accidentally tells the truth) with this amazing remark a couple days ago:

KAMALA HARRIS: When we invest in clean energy and electric vehicles and reduce population, more of our children can breath clean air and drink clean water. pic.twitter.com/MbMiDx9Xoc  RNC Research (@RNCResearch) July 14, 2023

Pretty sure she just blurted out what lefty environmentalists really want to do (reduce population). Even the White House saw that this could not be ignored, and tried their best to clean it up:

But today Kamala spoke at an event honoring Jesse Jackson, and OMG:

Kamala Harris takes the stage at Rev. Jesse Jackson's retirement ceremony: "I said to the congressman, I didn't know he could preach like that! Ha ha." pic.twitter.com/9mQ0GsYNZY  RNC Research (@RNCResearch) July 16, 2023

KAMALA HARRIS: "Think about that! He defined the rainbow!" pic.twitter.com/9HWWGhR0E3  RNC Research (@RNCResearch) July 16, 2023

KAMALA HARRIS: "So, when I was in law school, I was back in California after I left Howard, and I drove a Toyota Corolla. It was a fancy car for me! And I had a bumper sticker in the back window: 'Jesse Jackson for President.'" pic.twitter.com/mWvP1oe8Jg  RNC Research (@RNCResearch) July 16, 2023

Im sure she did. Funny thing is that Jesse Jackson doesnt seem to be the least bit amused or flattered by any of Kamalas roast. Tempting to do a thought-bubble speculation about what hes thinking. Ill bet it involves wondering what Willie Brown was thinking.

Chasermeme from a friend (JS):
Bussels: On Saturday, the European Union urged Azerbaijan and Armenia to avoid "violence and harsh rhetoric" at the most recent round of negotiations in a protracted peace process in which Russia is also attempting to maintain a dominant position.

Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan and Nikol Pashinyan of Armenia met with EU Council President Charles Michel in Brussels for talks aimed at ending more than three decades of hostilities.

The two nations have engaged in two wars over Nagorno-Karabakh, a small mountainous region that is a part of Azerbaijan but is home to about 120,000 ethnic Armenians, since the fall of the Soviet Union.

Also Read: In a rare top-level graft investigation, a Singaporean minister was detained

According to Armenia, the proposed peace treaty should grant them special rights and ensure their security. In a June interview with Reuters, Azerbaijan's foreign minister Jeyhun Bayramov rejected that demand, calling it unnecessary and an attempt to meddle in the internal affairs of the country.

The following actions that must be taken soon will determine whether or not there is real progress. In order to create the ideal atmosphere for peace and normalization talks, violence and abrasive rhetoric must end immediately, Michel said.

Also Read: A fire on Spain's La Palma caused thousands of people to flee

"The population on the ground needs reassurances, most importantly regarding their rights and security," he told reporters.

Michel claimed that in order to foster trust between Azerbaijan and the Armenians of Karabakh, the EU encouraged Azerbaijan to speak with them directly.

Aliyev and Pashinyan left without giving reporters a press briefing, so it was unclear how he responded. No nation recognizes Nagorno-Karabakh's de facto government, despite its claims to independence.

Along with the EU, the United States has been pressuring the parties to come to a peace agreement. The conflict in Ukraine has diverted Russia, the traditional power broker in the region, and it now runs the risk of having less influence.

On Saturday, Russia declared that it was prepared to arrange a trilateral meeting between Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Russia at the level of foreign ministers. The Foreign Ministry stated in a statement that a summit in Moscow to sign a peace treaty could take place after this..

Also Read: Karabakh Cease-fire Accord: Azerbaijan Demands Russian Accountability

It stated that "reliable and clear guarantees of the rights and security of the Armenians of Karabakh" and implementation of prior agreements between Russia, Azerbaijan, and Armenia should be an essential component of this agreement.
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NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / July 16, 2023 / Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC, a nationally recognized law firm, notifies investors that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Toronto-Dominion Bank ("TD Bank") and several of its officers on behalf of all persons or entities that purchased or otherwise acquired securities of First Horizon Corporation ("First Horizon") (NYSE:FHN).Class Definition:This lawsuit seeks to recover damages against Defendants for alleged violations of the federal securities laws on behalf of all persons and entities that purchased or otherwise acquired First Horizon securities between February 28, 2022 and May 3, 2023, inclusive (the "Class Period"). Such investors are encouraged to join this case by visiting the firm's site: www.bgandg.com/fhn Case Details:The Complaint alleges that Defendants made materially false and/or misleading statements and failed to disclose material adverse facts about TD Bank's operations, the risks associated with the timing for the closing of the First Horizon acquisition, and TD Bank's ability to obtain the necessary regulatory approvals to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not false and misleading. Specifically, the Complaint alleges that Defendants misrepresented and/or failed to disclose to the market that: (1) TD Bank had deficient controls over AML and suspicious transaction reporting; (2) that the lack of controls posed a significant risk to the closing of the First Horizon acquisition; and (3) that the deficient AML controls actually caused a delay in obtaining the regulatory approvals for the First Horizon acquisition. As a result, Defendants' positive statements about TD Bank's risk culture and its ability to timely close the First Horizon transaction were materially false and misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all relevant times.What's Next?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/fhn 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 First Horizon, you have until July 21, 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.Why Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman:Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC is a nationally recognized firm that represents investors in securities fraud class actions and shareholder derivative suits. Our 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
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The tour offers an unbeatable opportunity to explore iconic cities, immerse in rich cultures and create memories that will last a lifetime.MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA / ACCESSWIRE / July 16, 2023 / Inspiring Vacations, a leading travel company offering experiences around the world, including tours to Cape York and Egypt tours, is thrilled to introduce the 22 Day Great European Tour, a carefully curated and value-packed journey through some of Europe's most breathtaking destinations.Inspiring VacationsInspiring Vacations Starting with the magnificent city of Paris, travellers will discover the history, grand boulevards and breathtaking monuments on a scenic guided tour, which includes the Eiffel Tower, a Seine River cruise, a visit to the charming Montmartre district and a funicular ride offering a spectacular panorama of Paris.The journey continues to London, where travellers will experience a guided city tour, visiting renowned landmarks such as the British Museum, Tower Bridge, the Tower of London and Buckingham Palace. An evening walk through Leicester Square, China Town and Soho offers a glimpse into the vibrant nightlife of this iconic city.A panoramic city tour of Amsterdam provides an opportunity to admire its narrow waterways, official buildings and parks. Visit a diamond-cutting workshop and explore Rembrandtplein and the famous "red-light" district, immersing oneself in the unique ambiance of the city.The adventure takes a historical turn in Berlin, where a guided visit to the historic centre, Museum Island and the Brandenburg Gate awaits. Explore poignant sites such as the Holocaust Memorial and the Berlin Wall Museum and experience the vibrant energy of Kantstrasse in the evening.From there, the journey continues through enchanting destinations like Dresden, Munich and Prague. Marvel at the beauty of Prague Castle, take a boat tour on the Vltava River and savour free time to explore the captivating "Old City".A walking tour through the historic centre of Florence offers a chance to admire iconic landmarks such as the Ponte Vecchio, the Duomo and Plaza della Signoria. The tour also includes a visit to the magnificent Piazzale Michelangelo, offering breathtaking views of the city.Throughout the 22-day journey, travellers will enjoy carefully selected three- and four-star accommodations, ensuring comfort and convenience. From return international airfares and guided tours to entrance tickets for renowned attractions, every aspect of the tour is designed to exceed expectations.To learn more and to explore other offerings such as tours of Cape York and tours of Egypt, visit https://www.inspiringvacations.com/au About Inspiring VacationsInspiring Vacations is an award-winning tour operator specialising in curated travel experiences worldwide. With a focus on unforgettable experiences and exceptional value, Inspiring Vacations aims to create dream holidays for travellers seeking adventure, cultural immersion and relaxation.Contact InformationInspiring VacationsMarketing Managerbookme@ inspiringvacations.com 1300 88 66 88SOURCE: Inspiring Vacations
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NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / July 16, 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 and Grossman, LLC
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In an ever-evolving digital landscape where search engines adapt and user behaviour shifts, it is crucial to adjust content creation approaches to engage readers and achieve higher rankings on search results pages.AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND / ACCESSWIRE / July 16, 2023 / In today's digital landscape, SEO and content marketing go hand in hand. High-quality content plays a pivotal role in attracting search engines, resulting in improved rankings on search engine results pages (SERPs). According to the leading SEO company in Auckland, Zib Digital, understanding this symbiotic relationship is crucial to developing effective marketing strategies.Zib Digital AucklandZib Digital AucklandAs Zib Digital explains, businesses must first identify their target audience and comprehend their needs, preferences, pain points and interests. Armed with this knowledge, they can create valuable content that resonates with their target audience, capturing their attention and establishing a connection.Optimising content for search engines is equally vital, says Zib Digital. Strategically incorporating relevant keywords throughout the text is essential to ensure search engines recognise and appreciate the content. Gone are the days of keyword-stuffed articles; today's consumers demand high-quality content that offers value and engages them on an emotional level. Zib Digital emphasises the importance of delivering compelling stories that resonate with audiences across various channels to gain a competitive edge in digital marketing in Auckland.Contrary to common misconceptions, Google does not penalise the use of AI-generated content as long as it adheres to the principles of expertise, authoritativeness and trustworthiness (E-A-T) and fulfills the searcher's needs. Zib Digital says AI can be particularly helpful when utilised to brainstorm fresh content ideas, write portions of first drafts, revise existing content and provide feedback.However, the premier digital marketing agency in Auckland says it is crucial to remember that AI is a tool, not a magic wand. While AI can significantly enhance content creation and improve efficiency and effectiveness, it is imperfect and cannot generate entirely new ideas. It is essential for businesses to infuse their unique voice, experiences and perspectives into the content creation process.Zib Digital is at the forefront of leveraging AI technology to assist businesses in their content marketing endeavours. By harnessing AI tools, businesses can refine their content, align it with their target audience's language and enhance their SEO efforts to maintain a competitive advantage in the digital landscape.For more information and to discuss a tailored, holistic content marketing strategy, contact Zib Digital, the leaders in SEO Auckland-wide.About Zib DigitalZib Digital is a leading digital marketing agency in Australia and New Zealand, specialising in creating impactful strategies for businesses to thrive in the digital realm. With a team of seasoned experts, Zib Digital provides comprehensive solutions tailored to meet each client's unique goals and requirements.Contact Information:Zib DigitalManager(03) 8685 9290SOURCE: Zib Digital AU
Category: Nollywood

Movie Title: Deja Vu

Release Date: 14 July

Director: Elijah Tolulope Originator

Runtime: 1 hour 27 minutes

Cast: Lateef Adedimeji, Bimpe Oyebade, Yemi Blaq, Omotunde Adebowale David, Toyin Alausa

The saying, Go big or go home, should be considered in a producers mind when debating if a screenplay should go into production.

If Nigeria ever hopes to join the top five giants of the global film industry, producers should learn how to take risks.

Risks in this context refer to exploring compelling creative film ideas and not just looking through the archives, seeing a story done several times and sprinkling specs of originality.

Deja Vu earns its accolades for being one of the few modern indigenous language films available for streaming.

However, as with many Nollywood films, it fails to carve a unique identity by following a storyline we have seen several times acted out on our screens.

While it is believed that there is nothing like an original idea, where films like Deja Vu miss the mark is in their plot progression and storytelling elements.

The film lacks an in-depth effort of creativity, which in hindsight is forgivable as its a low-budget production.

Despite taking a cliche route, Deja Vu offers a firm standpoint on its premises and boasts a stellar cast that understands the acting assignments required of them.

It also portrays a psychological problem in a new light

Plot

The plot revolves around a couple, Bimbe and Johnson, who, after making plans to travel, realise that their kids are not biologically related to their father.

It creates a mini chaos in the family as Johnson wants to divorce Bimpe, who insists he is the father. The situation escalates when Bimbe is forced to take an oath to prove her innocence.

Meanwhile, we see another couple living peacefully, except the wife feels like her husband is cheating on her. This makes her paranoid.

After several spiritual consultations, it was revealed that Bimbe sleepwalks. When she does this, she sleeps with a particular man, hence the reason for her pregnancy.

Growing up, we watched the storyline Thats not my kid reoccur in Yoruba films. While this becomes tiring, it would be hypocritical not to appreciate the fresh take on Deja Vu by introducing the concept of sleepwalking. However, this feat is soon dismissed by the writers inability to fully flesh out the idea or create nuances that would propel viewers to stay on the edge of their seats.

The revelation that the kids are a product of sexual infidelity between past lovers is good, but it would have been great if we had seen earlier interactions between the lovers or at least a flashback to help us understand their love that spans several decades properly.

The performances of the actors help conceal the above, as some tried to add layers of complexity through the facial expressions of the characters.

Technicalities

Deja Vus cinematography is relatively good for its assumed budget.

The picture quality allows for a mini cinematic experiencethe sound, not so much as viewers hear distracting buzzing in the background.

Finally, the moral message of the film gets lost. Its uncertain what the producers wanted us to think after watching: that sleepwalking or a spiritual spouse is justifiable for a DNA result that claims a person is not the father of a kid or that women who obsessively stalk their husbands due to the intuition that he is cheating on them are correct.

Our final verdict is 5/10. Think of Deja Vu as a guilty pleasure that might help you realise you are a sleepwalker.

Deja Vu is now streaming on Netflix

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Antonia Peter, 70, laid on an old wooden bench, flanked by young children who were playing various games, in Seri, a village nestled among hills and valleys in Kanke local government area of Plateau State.

At their age, Mrs Peters world was abruptly veiled in shadows when she fell victim to the merciless grip of river blindness.

I started struggling with my sight, and my skin was also itching often. I cannot remember how old I was when it happened, she said.

In the 80s, 90s, and early to mid-2000s, river blindness (or Onchocerciasis) was prevalent in Seri.

Due to how early she contracted the disease, she was unable to get formal education due to the distance to the only school at the time. However, she attended catechism at a Catholic church beside her parents house, and she got baptized by the missionaries who gave her the name, Antonia.

River blindness is a parasitic disease caused by the filarial worm, Onchocerca volvulus, and transmitted by repeated bites of infected blackflies (Simulium spp.).

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), these blackflies breed along fast-flowing rivers and streams, close to remote villages near fertile land where people rely on agriculture.

The Seri stream is located about 200 meters away from the spot where Antonia laid.

Most of the early residents of this village depend on this stream for their domestic needs and agriculture. The downside of the stream was the increased exposure of the community to this neglected tropical disease (NTD).

We were told stories of many of our ancestors who died from this disease, says Amos Bitrus, a community leader at Seri.

As of 2018, Nigeria [was] the most endemic country in the world for river blindness, accounting for as much as 40% of the global disease burden, according to Frank Richards, senior advisor to the Carter Centers River Blindness Elimination Program.

The Global Burden of Disease Study estimated in 2017 that at least 220 million people required preventive chemotherapy against Onchocerciasis, 14.6 million of the infected people already had a skin disease; and 1.15 million had vision loss; with over 99% of infected people living in 31 African countriesincluding Nigeria.

Halting the plague

In 1996, The Carter Center, in collaboration with other partners, including Nigerias Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH), commenced a project to curb several NTDs in Nigeria, including river blindness. This initiative was aimed at doubling down on the efforts of Nigerias River Blindness Foundation, which began in 1991.

At one time, elimination of river blindness in Nigeria was deemed impossible, and the government of Nigeria and The Carter Center set their sights on merely keeping it under control, according to the Center.

However, in 2013, the co-founder of the Carter Center and former U.S. President Jimmy Carter said that River blindness can and should be eliminated, not just controlled, even in the most afflicted areas of Africa.

With its partners, The Carter Center set up offices across the country, with its headquarters in Jos, Plateau Statewhere the disease was more prevalent.

During the programme, The Carter Center and its partners provided health education in rural communities like Seri, alongside mass drug administration (MDA) of the medicine Mectizan, donated by Merck & Co., Inc.

The White people and some other Nigerian medical personnel [referring to The Carter Center team and its partners] visited our village every month to teach us safety precautions and also administer medications; older people, pregnant women, and children were prioritized, Mr Bitrus said.

Antonia Peter is one of the beneficiaries of the initiative.

After many years of struggling with these diseases [river blindness and elephantiasis], I had given up on recovering, Antonia said as she struggled to speak while lifting her face mapped with deeply etched lines, revealing the countless stories within the tapestry of her existence.

Mrs Peter did not receive any treatment throughout the period when she went down with the NTDs.

No one knew what these ailments were, we did not even have herbal medications for it, she said. However, two years after she was administered Mectizan, she said she got healed.

I started walking distances I was not able to cover before that time. I cant do that now because of old age, but you can look at my eyes and legs; they look normal, unlike before, she added.

Mectizan kills the parasite larvae in the human body, preventing blindness and skin disease in infected people and stopping the transmission of the parasite to others.

After delivering 27 million doses of medication over more than 20 years, The Carter Center announced in 2018 that it had interrupted the transmission of river blindness in Plateau and Nasarawa states and had also halted the mass administration of Mectizan in affected communities.

Stopping the mass drug administration program in Plateau and Nasarawa states is a major achievement, Mr Richards said. But we must be careful to monitor closely over the next few years to ensure it does not come back. This will require continued effort and perseverance.

As of June 2023, when this reporter visited The Carter Center office in Jos, it was still operational.

Currently, the Carter Centre is collecting and reviewing samples from three states in Southern Nigeria; this will enable them to commence MDA in the region.

According to Yao Sodahlon, director of the Mectizan Donation Programme, It is the largest stop MDA decision in the history of the struggle against onchocerciasis. The Carter Center said that over 6,000 people and more than 18,000 vector black flies were tested and found free of river blindness infection, confirming the need to stop the MDA in both states.

Since the elimination was announced, we have not encountered any case of the disease, says Mafullu Rafan, the deputy health officer at Primary Health Centre (PHC), Amper Centre, the largest healthcare facility close to Seri Community.

Engaging communities came with hurdles

Initially, when the River Blindness intervention started in Plateau State, the FMOH and the Plateau State River Blindness Foundation were using existing primary healthcare facilitieslike the PHC Amper Centreto distribute the medication as a way to cut costs.

However, the intervention transitioned from a mobile delivery system to community-based distribution (CBD), leveraging village-based personnel to hasten the process.

As of 1992, when this transition started, most of the eligible volunteers who were mostly recommended by their community leaders were school teachers.

This was due to their communication and arithmetic experiences. The community-based distributors (CBDs) were required to be available for five to ten work days just before and during the treatment period, the Carter Center said.

As part of this transition, CBDs were provided with monetary incentives ranging from 100 to 200 (approximately $816 in 1992). However, some of these distributors were underpaid or received no payment at all.

Also, favouritism affected the selection of competent CBDs in these communities, as community leaders often selected their relatives or friends for the roles.

However, at the end of 1994, over 1000 CBDs were trained in Plateau State.

Why Niger state still battles to eradicate NTDs in 25 LGAs

Niger State is one of the states that is still endemic for Onchocerciasis, Lymphatic Filariasis, Schistosomiasis, Soil-transmitted helminths, and Trachoma.

According to a mapping survey by the state Ministry of Health carried out in the 25 local government areas of the state, NTDs were found to be prevalent in these local government areas, ranging from 2% to 88%.

The Niger State Coordinator on NTD Elimination, Hajiya Nauzo, said that onchocerciasis was the major cause of blindness in many rural communities across the state, pointing out that even though the state has effectively eradicated trachoma, it is still battling with combating Onchocerciasis as there are often spots of cases reported once in a while.

The state coordinator highlighted insecurity in some parts of the state, high attrition of community implementers (Community Directed Distributors), low commitment of health workers and community implementers, diminishing community support in many communities endemic for NTDs, lack of release of counterpart funds at all levels, weak involvement of line ministries in the elimination activities of NTDs, and the non-conduct of regular operational research to address programme challenges as reasons why Onchocerciasis and other NTDs may not have been successfully eliminated in the state.

Niger State is faced with insecurity, and this is greatly affecting the fight against the elimination of NTDs. Most often, when we are about to go for field work, we get information about attacks and turn back. Sometimes you will be in the field, and then you will start hearing gunshots up and down and you have to stop whatever you are doing and look for a place to hide, Mrs Nauzo said.

Last year, that was what happened to those who went to the Mariga, Rafi and Shiroro axis. They were inside when these attacks occurred, but they could not leave, they had to stay in the bush, including the partners who came in from Abuja. Several of them are unwilling to go to that area, but they need these drugs because they are also endemic to the NTDs. The security challenges are so serious that if not addressed, we will not be able to eliminate NTDs.

Mrs Nauzo said that the state adopted the Community Directed Treatment with Ivermectin (CDTI) strategy as the main strategy of programme implementation, while for the collection of data, Lymphatic filariasis (LF) mapping and baseline surveys were conducted.

The Mission to Save the Helpless (Mitosath) is one of the organisations helping the state government in the eradication of NTDs. According to Salome Marcus, the initiative has been in place in the state for seven years. She pointed out that there has been a massive reduction in cases of river blindness, but it has not been eliminated in the state.

She noted that schistosomiasis is the most prevalent in the state, while Onchocerciasis is endemic in 21 local government areas.

We are using the standard community and school-based approach during the NTDs interventions. Sometimes strategies are initiated based on situations or problems confronted in the local government areas to ensure smooth implementation, she said.

Mrs Marcus also disclosed that for effective monitoring and evaluation, Mitosath also provided the local government coordinators with motorcycles so that they would be able to get to hard-to-reach communities.

She expressed optimism that river blindness and other NTDs would soon be eradicated in Niger State as several local government areas have passed the transmission assessment survey (TAS 1), which is a surveillance tool to determine that infection levels are sustained below target thresholds, which is an indication that treatment is working.

FCT on course for elimination of River Blindness

In Nigerias Federal Capital Territory, onchocerciasis is prevalent in all of its six area councils: Abaji, Abuja Municipal, Gwagwalada, Kuje, Bwari, and Kwali.

However, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), with support from its partners  nongovernmental organisations like the Christian Blind Mission (CBM) is working towards eliminating river blindness and other NTDs in the FCT.

CBMs intervention for the elimination of river blindness in the FCT commenced in 1995, Joseph Kumbo, the organisations NTD Technical Specialist in Nigeria, revealed.

We have been supporting the FCT to carry out Mass Drug Administrations (MDAs) against river blindness and other NTDs for the past 28 years. At baseline, the FCT was one of the most endemic areas for river blindness in Nigeria. People raised concerns at the time about the location of the federal capital territory here due to the prevalence of black flies. But we were able to push it down thanks to the regular donation of drugs from the WHO, said Mr Kumbo.

He noted that while onchocerciasis (river blindness) is still endemic across all six area councils of the FCT, interventions are continuous and ongoing until total elimination is achieved.

Onchocerciasis is one of the diseases set for elimination by the Nigerian Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD) Elimination Programme. Currently, we have reached the stage of impact assessment. The first transmission assessment survey was conducted last year, which is the epidemiological assessment, where children from [ages] one to nine were tested to see if the transmission was going on amongst them, he said.

We got a good result, which moved us to the second level of assessment, where we had to monitor parasites inside the black flies, which lasted for one year, ending in 2022.

READ ALSO: Christian charity donates N100m equipment to fight blindness in Jigawa

Mr Kumbo noted that results from the second assessment showed that black flies were still vectors of the parasite, which meant that intervention was still required.

The elimination committee has directed us to continue with MDAs once a year for two years across all the area councils. But for the two area councils, Bwari and Abaji, where the positive black flies were caught, we are having two interventions in a year, for two years, he said.

He revealed that residents in the FCT are at risk of being infected with river blindness and advocated for preventive measures to reduce the chance of infection.

Most times, people do not see the physical manifestation of the disease, but it is still there. So, people living within the FCT should take a dose of Ivermectin at least once a year as a preventive measure, he said.

This story has been made possible by Nigeria Health Watch, with support from the Solutions Journalism Network, a nonprofit organisation dedicated to rigorous and compelling reporting about responses to social problems.

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Guaranty Trust Bank on Saturday apologised to its customers in response to the frustration that trailed a recent update of the GTWorld mobile banking app.

Customers of GTBank had on Friday expressed disappointment about the use of the banks mobile app amid disruption in the banks digital operations.

The development occurred after the bank announced an app update which was expected to bring improvements and new features to the banks mobile transactions but resulted in login issues and related difficulties for customers.

In an email message to customers on Saturday, the bank apologized for the inconvenience caused by the operations of the new GTWorld app.

The bank also assured customers that its technical team is working tirelessly to rectify the situation and restore full functionality to the app.

We are aware that as a result of the recent update we initiated on the GTWorld Mobile Banking App, you have been unable to log in to the App.

First, we would like to sincerely apologize that we couldnt deliver the new GTWorld App to you seamlessly as we had communicated, it said.

To mitigate the impact on customers banking experience, GTBank advised users to utilize its Internet banking platform as an alternative.

By visiting www.gtbank.com, customers can access their accounts using their existing User ID and Password from GTWorld, Bank Account Number, Mobile Number, or Email, the bank said.

Additionally, the bank provided instructions for generating e-tokens to complete transactions securely on the Internet banking platform.

For online banking, kindly go to www.gtbank.com and log in to Online Banking using any of the following: the same User ID and Password you use on GTWorld or Bank Account Number or Mobile Number or Email.

If you do not have a hardware token, please generate e-tokens for completing transactions on Internet Banking by dialing *737*7# or by downloading our e token App via the Play Store or App Store.

If you have forgotten your password, you can easily reset it on the Online Banking login page or call GTCONNECT for assistance it read.

The bank reassured its customers that its dedicated customer service team is available round the clock to address any inquiries or complaints.

Customers can reach out to the 24-Hour Contact Center or contact GTBank via WhatsApp at 0904 000 2900 for assistance, it added.

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UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Martin Griffiths, says warring factions in Sudan should stop targeting aid workers and civilians.

Humanitarians cannot work under the barrel of a gun, Mr Griffith said in a statement on Saturday, adding that the warring factions must respect international law as the conflict in the country reached the three-month mark.

For three months now, the people of Sudan have endured unspeakable suffering amid violence that is tearing their country apart.

As the conflict enters its fourth month, the battle lines are hardening, making it ever more difficult to reach the millions of people who need urgent humanitarian assistance, he said.

More than three million people have been displaced due to the conflict both within Sudan and across its borders.

The fighting, which broke out in mid-April, has reportedly claimed the lives of more than 1,100 people and injured over 12,000, according to the UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

Health workers and facilities have also been attacked, severely limiting access for those in need.

With the onset of the rainy season, there is an increased risk of outbreaks of water- and vector-borne diseases, compounded by challenges in waste management and shortages of supplies.

Children are among the worst affected, with an estimated 13.6 million  roughly half the number remaining in Sudan  in urgent need of assistance.

Describing Sudan as one of the worlds most difficult places for humanitarian workers to operate, Griffiths emphasised the collaborative efforts of local organizations and international aid groups in delivering life-saving supplies.

However, he said, the work could not be carried out when relief workers themselves, are at risk.

But we cannot work under the barrel of a gun. We cannot replenish stores of food, water and medicine if brazen looting of these stocks continues. We cannot deliver if our staff are prevented from reaching people in need.

He underlined that ultimately, the suffering of Sudanese people will end only when the fighting stops, and called on the parties to the conflict to abide by the Declaration of Commitments they signed in Jeddah to protect civilians and respect international humanitarian law.

Drawing attention to the recent discovery of mass graves in West Darfur, Mr Griffiths highlighted the fear of a resurgence of ethnic killings in the region.

Each day the fighting continues, the misery deepens for Sudanese civilians.

We must all redouble our efforts to ensure that the conflict in Sudan does not spiral into a brutal and interminable civil war with grave consequences for the region.

The people of Sudan cannot afford to wait, the UN official said.

(NAN)

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For the eleventh time, all efforts to bring the conflict in Sudan failed on Friday after warring factions fought heavy clashes in parts of the city of Bahri, according to residents.

The warring factions engaged in the clashes a day after both sides welcomed a new mediation effort in Egypt that sought to end a three-month war.

The latest mediation attempt  the eleventh  was launched in Egypt on Thursday.

Both the army, which has close ties to Egypt, and the RSF paramilitary group welcomed the effort.

The fighting that broke out on 15 April has driven civilians out of the wider capital region  consisting of the cities of Khartoum, Bahri, and Omdurman  and triggered ethnically motivated attacks in the Darfur region.

Regional and international mediation efforts have so far failed to end the fighting and UN officials have said Sudan could slide into civil war.

But four residents of northern Bahri told Reuters they woke to heavy early morning clashes between the two sides, apparently centred around the Halfaya bridge.

While the RSF quickly fanned out across the capital in the early days of the conflict, the army has focused on air and artillery strikes that have done little to change the scene.

The army has conducted more ground operations in recent weeks, particularly in Omdurman.

The Bahri residents said they heard air strikes, artillery fire, and gunshots, continuing into the afternoon.

An army source said the army had succeeded in pushing the RSF out of neighbourhoods in the far north of the city in the morning, but the RSF said in a statement they were able to defeat the forces and claimed to kill hundreds. (Reuters/NAN)

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The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Lekan Balogun, on Sunday, directed the suspension of the ongoing Egungun festival over reported cases of violence, arson and looting of shops.

A statement issued on Sunday in Ibadan by the Olubadans Personal Assistant on Media, Oladele Ogunsola, said the atrocities were perpetrated by some hoodlums hiding under cover of the Egungun festival in Ibadan.

The monarch equally summoned all the leaders of masquerades, known as Alaagbaa in Ibadan land, to an emergency meeting on Monday afternoon at the ancient Aliiwo palace, Agodi, in Ibadan.

The traditional ruler expressed sadness over the reported cases of violence accompanying the annual festival, the video of which has gone viral.

He described the development as unfortunate and an affront to his palace because he had warned against turning the festival into an avenue to wreak havoc.

It would be recalled that Oba Balogun had on Wednesday condemned the violence reported during the festival in the Alafara area.

As if the warning was just a blabbing, the same thing was reported on Saturday on a scale that made the previous one a childs play.

I warned seriously against what is happening when the festival was to commence, and the assurances I got then were that nothing untoward would accompany the festival.

But, the reports coming to me have been at variance with those assurances I earlier got from the masquerades leaders.

No responsible leader would fold his arms when the majority of those subjects one superintendents over are in agony and living in perpetual fear just because of the activities of a few misguided elements who find it difficult to be law-abiding.

This is why the suspension clause has to be invoked, and how long it lasts would be determined by the outcome of the Monday afternoon meeting, Olubadan said.

Oba Balogun insisted that the ugly past when the masquerade festival was usually a period of terror when perceived enemies became targets of attack and violence had been buried a long time ago, and any attempt to exhume it would be met with stiff sanctions.

He called on the security agencies to remain up and doing, ensure no culprit is spared, whoever flouts the suspension order under whatever guise must be handled like a criminal.

Im for peace, and theres zero tolerance for whatever it is that will not give my people peace of mind, he stated

(NAN)

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Equine veterinarian Kate Hodson listens to horse owners during an equine dental clinic on Friday, May 26. 2023. (Kyle Telechan for the Post-Tribune) (Kyle Telechan/Post-Tribune)

Equine veterinarian Dr. Kate Hodson of Hebron never knows how her day will unfold.

Her day starts around 5 a.m. tending to her own animals, including a pasture full of horses and a couple dozen chickens. Then its time to take care of the many clients and their equines who call her their doctor.

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Unlike small animal veterinarians who mostly work in brick-and-mortar facilities, Hodsons office is mobile. She packs up her Chevy truck outfitted with all the medical equipment she may need to care for her patients and hits the road each morning. Hodson logs hundreds of miles a week making regular appointments. Emergency calls only add more to the log.

Hodson said she can see clients in her own barn, but traveling to her clients is easier than having her clients cart their equine to her for treatment. Trailering a horse, especially an older one, can be traumatic for the animal.

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Her client roster may be long, but Hodson said he has relationships with all of her patients.

I think I remember every one of my horses names, Hodson said.

An equine vet sees on average 300 to 400 horses a year. Her client roster totals more than 1,000. The workload leads to struggles with work-life balance and drives many from the profession. In a 2014 survey by the American Association of Equine Practitioners, members ranked work/life balance as their No. 1 concern followed closely by physical health and mental well-being.

Equine veterinarian Kate Hodson administers a sedative to horse Fiona during an equine dental clinic on Friday, May 26. 2023. (Kyle Telechan for the Post-Tribune) (Kyle Telechan/Post-Tribune)

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also found in a 2014 study that U.S. veterinarians are more likely to suffer from psychiatric disorders, experience bouts of depression and have suicidal thoughts when compared with the U.S. adult population, according to the AAEP. The data suggests that nearly one in 10 U.S. veterinarians might experience psychological distress and more than one in six might have contemplated suicide since graduation.

Dr. Sarah Waxman, clinical assistant professor in the college of clinical services at the Purdue University School of Veterinary Medicine in West Lafayette, said it can be hard attracting young people to the field because of the challenges.

Young veterinary students often learn about the money that can be made in a small animal clinic where doctors can move from room to room seeing multiple patients every hour, compared to a large animal vet who must travel and makes far less, which dissuades many from the discipline.

I can tell you for certain the starting salaries for small animal veterinarians coming out of vet school are substantially higher than equine and mixed animal veterinarians who have been out of school for many years. Its very disheartening, Waxman said.

You have to be extremely passionate about wanting to be an equine veterinarian, she said.

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Equine Veterinarian Kate Hodson laughs while speaking to horse owners during an equine dental clinic on Friday, May 26. 2023. (Kyle Telechan for the Post-Tribune) (Kyle Telechan/Post-Tribune)

She worries about the future as a shortage of veterinarians continues and fewer young people look to the equine discipline.

Horse owners are not going to have anybody left or very few people left to serve them, Waxman said.

Delays in getting care may mean horse owners have to transport their animals to hospitals like Purdue, equipped to care for large animals, or delay getting care, possibly negatively impacting health outcomes for the horses.

Its going to be a problem for everybody, Waxman said.

Hodsons professional feed is dotted with posts on boundaries, with strong reminders about what constitutes an emergency for after-hours calls. Her phone is never turned off and she does not use an answering service because of the cost and inconvenience. True emergencies often need immediate response, making the service an unwanted extra step. Still, some horse owners call at all hours for nonemergency needs, a vexing problem for Hodson and veterinarians like her.

Her social media feed also shares before and after photos of some of her emergency patients, a fascinating array of wounds horses manage to inflict upon themselves in pastures, barns and near fences.

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Horses are extremely good at injuring themselves, Hodson said.

Equine dental tech Chad Miller, on left, works on horse Mindy's teeth with help from equine dental assistant Cody Lewsader during an equine dental clinic in Hebron on Friday, May 26. 2023. (Kyle Telechan for the Post-Tribune) (Kyle Telechan/Post-Tribune)

She also shares industry statistics, student loan debt stories of fellow equine vets, their struggles and triumphs, and occasionally condolences about their suicides.

Michael San Filippo, media relations manager for the American Veterinary Association, said that while the rate of suicide among veterinarians is higher than for the general population, there are other professions that also have a higher rate than the general population, and many that have a higher rate than veterinarians.

Suicide prevention experts continue to caution that repeatedly stating veterinarians are uniquely impacted by suicide compared to others who also experience mental health concerns may inadvertently contribute to fewer help-seeking behaviors and less hope, San Filippo said.

Suicide prevention researchers and experts advise that suicide is multifaceted and complex, and friends, family members and colleagues are often unaware of the actual factors that may have played the greatest role, he continued.

Factors often cited  debt, long/irregular hours, compassion fatigue  arent unique to veterinary medicine, and we dont have any evidence that these often-cited factors are a direct cause of suicide, San Filippo said, adding in addition, there is no evidence to show that things that are unique to veterinary medicine cause suicide.

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Whatever your profession, you may at times experience feelings of despair, hopelessness, and powerlessness, he said.

Equine Veterinarian Kate Hodson holds one tooth from a box of extricated horse teeth as she oversees an equine dental clinic on Friday, May 26. 2023. (Kyle Telechan for the Post-Tribune) (Kyle Telechan/Post-Tribune)

Hodson said she loves what she does, despite the challenges and remains hopeful things will improve with more discussion. She would love to share her passion for the profession and draw more young people in but wants those newcomers to walk in with their eyes open, aware of the challenges. The days are long and hard. The job is physically demanding.

Its not for everyone, Hodson said.

Scars from errant hoofs riddle her body, reminders of the sheer power of the animals in her care. A grown horse can weigh between 1,500 and 2,000 pounds. Even the best horses can be unpredictable, she said. In September Hodson was sidelined for weeks after her right elbow was severely dislocated by a horse kick. She may never regain full range of motion.

Still, she loves her job and the animals in her care. At a recent horse dental day Hodson oversaw the care of more than 30 horses at her barn and two other locations. While the volume of horses seen that day was more than on a day as a traveling doctor, she considers the clinic days as breaks from her normally hectic routine.

Many days are filled with emergencies, forcing Hodson to pivot and head off to a different farm to help an equine in distress. Sometimes she is able to relieve the choke, an intestinal blockage that can be caused by overeating or eating the wrong type of grain, or stitch up a gaping wound from a freak interaction with a fence.

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Equine Veterinarian Kate Hodson speaks with horse owner Catrina Hartmann during an equine dental clinic on Friday, May 26. 2023. (Kyle Telechan for the Post-Tribune) (Kyle Telechan/Post-Tribune)

Other times, no matter how hard she tries, her efforts wind up futile. It is at those times Hodson said she does her best to make sure the horse is comfortable as its family members gather to say their goodbyes, shedding tears along with them.

They really are part of the family. Saying goodbye is important, Hodson said. Horses are long-lived, with life spans averaging 25 to 30 years.

Kaitlyn Steele of Valparaiso, a second-year student at Purdues School of Veterinary Medicine, said she has heard the statistics and the warnings that come along with them but cannot imagine doing anything else.

Thats definitely a big topic of conversation, Steele said. Equine veterinarians who lecture at the university or who are at career fairs talk about the challenging work life balance. The discourse gives her hope the industry may be trying to change.

Like so many in the field, Steeles love of horses started young. She did not live on a farm or in a family that owned horses, but that did not deter her enthusiasm. She took riding lessons once a week for much of her childhood.

The case of 2006 Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro piqued Steeles interest in becoming a veterinarian when she was a child. Barbaro went on to break his leg in the Preakness Stakes, two weeks after his Derby win. That injury eventually cost the horse his life, which she struggled to understand.

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It started my journey in that regard, Steele said. An equine vet is always what I wanted to do as a kid, Steele said. Id rather have the work Im doing being something I genuinely love, even though Ill be doing so much more, rather than doing something Im just OK with.

Industry challenges aside, those in equine practice would not change professions. They pursued careers in the field because of their passion for horses.

Im in this profession because I absolutely love it, Waxman said.

cnapoleon@chicagotribune.com
Singapore: A billionaire hotel tycoon and Singapore's transport minister have both been detained in connection with a rare top-level corruption investigation, according to the nation's anti-graft body.

The Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau, also known as CPIB, issued an emailed statement confirming S. Iswaran's arrest on July 11, 2023, and his subsequent release on bail.

In connection with the investigation, hotel tycoon Ong Beng Seng, one of Singapore's wealthiest people, was also detained on the same day and released on bail, according to the bureau.

Also Read: Oil Prices Poised for Further Gains as Libya and Nigeria See Production Halts

In an effort to prevent corruption, cabinet ministers are paid salaries that are competitive with the highest earners in the private sector.

After it was made public that Ong was a target of the investigation, the powerful anti-graft bureau's inquiry into the transport chief was expanded.

Also Read: China executes kindergarten teacher for poisoning 25 pupils, one of whom dies

Ong is the managing director of Hotel Properties Limited, a company that owns a number of luxurious resorts and hotels spread throughout Asia and the Pacific.

The company reported on Friday that Ong had been issued a "notice of arrest" by the CPIB and had posted bail in a filing with the Singapore Exchange.

Ong was given permission to leave Singapore on Friday, despite the fact that people who are detained typically have their passports impounded. The CPIB noted that it evaluates requests for international travel "on a case-by-case basis."

The CPIB claimed to have "acceded to Ong's request to travel overseas," but raised his bail to Sg$100,000 ($76,000).

Ong must report to the CPIB and give the bureau his passport upon his return, the CPIB added.

Also Read: Migrants from Sudan Swell Ranks of Those Stranded at Libya-Tunisia Border

Ong, a Malaysian permanent resident of Singapore, is recognized for his assistance in securing the Formula One Grand Prix for Singapore in 2008.

The contract to host the F1 race through 2028 was extended last year by his private company Singapore GP and the Singapore Tourism Board.

The CPIB reported that Iswaran was "currently assisting" an ongoing investigation, so Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong had earlier in the week ordered him to take a leave of absence.

Lee claimed that the anti-graft organization had requested his consent for a formal investigation that would involve questioning Iswaran and other individuals.
The Nigeria Airforce (NAF) and Meta have emerged winners of the 2023 Golden World Awards (GWA), instituted by the International Public Relations Association (IPRA) for outstanding PR campaigns.

Two PR agencies from Nigeria, the Image Merchants Promotion (IMPR) Limited (IMPR) and AT3 Resources, were also recognised by IPRA for championing the campaigns of NAF and Meta, the owner of Facebook.

The Nigeria Air Force bagged the award under Crisis Management Category in partnership with IMPR for providing enablement for independent media reports and third-party news narratives on counter-insurgency operations in Nigeria.

The reports and alternative narratives on the success of counterterrorism, widely used in the media, boosted citizens confidence and the morale of the troops.

AT3 Resources, the strategic communications partner of Meta in West Africa, won the award under the Technology Category, with the multi-pronged communication campaign, #NoFalseNewsZone in Nigeria and Ghana respectively.

The campaign was aimed at helping people think critically about the messages they see online before forwarding them to others. It was an innovative, interesting, and engaging campaign to help people understand the consequences of false news and contribute to curbing its spread.

Image Merchants Promotions Limited, the publisher of PRNigeria and Economic Confidential has, over the years, bagged African SABRE Awards organized by PRovoke Media, in partnership with African Public Relations Association (APRA) as well as IPRAs GWA. In 2020 it was declared as the Most Creative PR Agency, globally.

Similarly, AT3, over the span of five years, has embarked on numerous impactful brand and corporate campaigns and has collaborated with many industry stakeholders to achieve great results.

In 2022, the agency collaborated with Brand Africa to celebrate African brands in Nigeria. It won the prestigious Sabre Certificate of Excellence in 2022, the Marketing Edge Award for the Outstanding Young PR Agency of the Year in the same year, and the BrandCom Award for Young Public Relations Agency of the Year in 2021.

Speaking on the award, the Managing Director of IMPR, Yushau Shuaib, expressed delight that PR firms in Nigeria are now recognised in the global scene beyond the regional recognition.

I am delighted that more Nigerian PR firms have grown beyond being local champions in regional PR Power List, by competing outside their cocoon with the very best in the PR world for deserving global recognitions.

We should continue to strive in ensuring that PR campaigns demonstrate the highest levels of professionalism, creativity, integrity, impact and effectiveness.

Meanwhile, IPRAs Secretary General, Philip Sheppard, announced a total of 70 winners for 2023 with a number of entries tackling emerging issues such as cryptocurrency, influencer management and virtual reality.

According to him, the GWA jury of experts met in person for the first time since the pandemic at an inspiring session in Londons Institute of Directors in assessing the entries. The jury comprised judges from Austria, Bulgaria, Egypt, Finland, Germany, Ghana, Saudi Arabia, The Philippines, the USA and the United Kingdom.

This year we had entries covering multiple subjects and there was a notable demonstration of creativity from all around the world, Mr Sheppard said.

READ ALSO: Nigerian Air Force redeploys 98 senior officers

We learnt of stories such as prejudice in Peru, solitary bees in Croatia and tackling fake news in Ukraine.

The prestigious Grand Prix was also chosen but the judges have been sworn to secrecy. Along with the Global Contribution Award for PR with an objective of meeting one of the UNs Sustainable Development Goals, the Grand Prix will be announced at the GWA Gala on 20 October in Barcelona.

IPRA, the International Public Relations Association, was established in 1955, and is the leading global network for PR professionals in their personal capacity.

IPRA aims to advance trusted communication and the ethical practice of public relations. IPRA is the organiser of public relations annual global competition, the Golden World Awards for Excellence (GWA). IPRAs services enable PR professionals.

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The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has warned residents with criminal tendencies to vacate the Abuja city.

Peter Olumuji, secretary FCTA Command and Control, Joint City Enforcement Team, gave the warning on Sunday during its ongoing clean-up operations in parts of Abuja.

According to Mr Olumuji, the FCTA, through the cleanup operation, is busting all hideouts to rid the capital territory of criminals.

He said that through credible intelligence from security agencies, the team busted a criminal hideout around the AYA roundabout and environs in Asokoro District.

He said the team recovered illicit drugs in one of the hideouts and dislodged criminal elements attacking residents in the area.

We have gotten reports that people are being attacked around the area mostly at night, so we raided their locations and dislodged them.

Although we have not made any arrest, it is nonetheless a good development for those traversing the area, especially at night, Mr Olumuji said.

He said the exercise was a continuation of the FCT Administrations commitment to keep the city safe for residents.

The FCTA official warned that the city would no longer be conducive for criminals, adding that the enforcement team would continue to bust all criminal hideouts within the capital city.

We are, therefore, advising all residents with criminal tendencies to change or relocate wherever they came from, he said.

Some of the tricycles were impounded during a cleanup operation in parts of Abuja

Mr Olumuji added that the team also raided and dislodged notorious spots for causing an environmental nuisance, ranging from refuse littering and illegal markets to auto mechanic workshops and motor parks.

The team, he said, also cleared environmental nuisances around the Court of Appeal Junction, Federal Secretariat Complex, Eagle Square and Nicon Junction axis of Shehu Shagari Way.

READ ALSO: FCTA warns criminals to relocate from Abuja

According to him, the team comprises officials from the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB), Directorate of Road Traffic Services (DRTS) and security personnel.

Also, Kaka Bello, deputy director, Monitoring and Enforcement (AEPB), said the working synergy among agencies was yielding the desired results in addressing environmental nuisance in Abuja city.

Mr Bello assured that the agencies would continue to work as a team to keep the city clean and safe.

Deborah Osho, deputy director, Operations (DRTS), who described the exercise as a huge success, said the team impounded about 11 vehicles and towed them from illegal parks and mechanic workshops.

Mrs Osho added that seven tricycles had been seized for alleged route violation.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the FCTA, in a similar operation on July 12, impounded 16 vehicles and four cows and arrested seven beggars.

(NAN)

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The police in Anambra State, South-east Nigeria, said they had rescued three kidnap victims in Okija, a community in Ihiala Local Government Area of the state.

The spokesperson of the police in the state, Tochukwu Ikenga, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday.

How they were rescued

Mr Ikenga, a deputy superintendent of police, said police operatives from Rapid Response Squad (RRS) Awkuzu rescued the victims on Friday when the operatives raided the home of Onyeka Aduba, leader of the gang that kidnapped the victims.

The police spokesperson explained that the operation followed the confession by Mr Aduba, the gang leader, who was earlier arrested by police operatives from the RRS Unit.

The gang leader, popularly known as Totoritor, was identified on 6 July by a victim with a gunshot injury before he was arrested, according to the police.

READ ALSO:

Mr Ikenga said, apart from Mr Aduba, two other suspects were arrested by the police during the raid on Friday.

The police spokesperson gave the names of the suspects as Chukwujekwu, 31, and Sylvester Okorie, 55  all males.

Investigation revealed that the victims had been kept incommunicado and chained to pillars in the compound for weeks before their rescue, Mr Ikenga said.

The police were making efforts to arrest the other fleeing members of the gang, he added.

The Commissioner of Police in the state, Aderemi Adeoyi, has urged residents of the state to disregard propaganda against the police in the state by some outlawed groups, Mr Ikenga said.

Mr Adeoyi appealed to the residents to continue to support the police and other security agencies in fighting crimes in the state.

The police commissioner also urged them to report to the police any suspicious persons and unusual movements observed around their neighbourhood.

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The Nigerian Navy on Sunday says it has deactivated a boat laden with suspected stolen crude in Bayelsa State, South-south Nigeria.

It also said that troops of the Navy Ship SOROH (NNS SOROH) recovered two AK-47 rifles, six AK-47 magazines, and 133 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition.

The Commander of the NNS SOROH, Olushina Ojebode, a commodore, stated this during a news conference in Yenagoa.

He said that troops of the NNS SOROH, during a water patrol at the Gbaram community of Agbadam-Foropa, made contact with six armed men in a speedboat who attempted to attack troops.

The troops, he said, overpowered the armed men in a shootout that ensued, making them flee.

He listed items recovered from the armed men to include two AK-47 rifles, six AK-47 magazines, 133 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, and one small tecno phone.

The commander said the troops, during an anti-crude oil theft operation at Southern Ijaw, discovered a wooden boat laden with illegal crude oil.

The boat, he said, had been deactivated in line with extant regulations and standard operating procedure.

He said that with successful operations at Tebidaba, Furopa and Ezetu, combing the Bayelsa maritime environment for oil thieves, operators of illegal refineries, and sundry crimes was non-negotiable.

Mr Ojebode assured of the Navys commitment to providing security within Nigerias maritime domain, pursuant to the mandate of the Chief of the Naval Staff, Ikechukuwu Ogalla, a rear admiral.

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He warned those involved in illegal activities to rethink and seek a legitimate source of livelihood or face the full weight of the force.

While commending the troops for their gallantry and professionalism, Mr Ojebode urged residents of the state to provide credible information on the activities of criminals to security agencies.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the commander later took a five-minute boat ride through the Epie Creek to Famgbe in Yenagoa, where the troops destroyed the local boat used for oil theft.

(NAN)

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The Chairman of the Palliative Committee on Subsidy Removal, Nasir Idris, has assured Nigerians that efforts were on to cushion the effects of the subsidy removal.

Mr Idris, who is also the governor of Kebbi State, gave the assurance when members of the committee met in Abuja on Saturday.

This is contained in a statement by the governors spokesperson, Ahmed Idris.

The meeting had in attendance Governors Bala Mohammed of Bauchi, Charles Soludo of Anambra, Uba Sani of Kaduna and Hyacindu Alia of Benue, as well representatives of the Organised Labour and Civil Society Organisations.

The Chairman assured that Nigerians would have a course to smile soon as the committee was doing its best to bring succour and ease current difficulties.

The committee sat and deliberated on possible ways to cushion the effects of subsidy removal and very soon Nigerians will start reaping the benefits of this.

We are determined to come up with a good and suitable outcome that will benefit Nigerians, therefore, be rest assured that the committee is up to the task.

All we need is patience, support and cooperation from all Nigerians to enable us achieve the set goals and objectives of establishing the committee by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. the Kebbi governor said.

It could be recalled that on June 19, the federal government and the leadership of the NLC and the TUC agreed that all the issues and demands related to palliatives should be concluded within eight weeks.

(NAN)

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As the deadline issued by the Kano State Government for pharmaceutical traders to relocate to a new site elapsed on Friday, the police in the state said they will ensure compliance and punish any trader(s) found defaulting on the order.

The state government issued an ultimatum to all pharmaceutical traders in Sabon Gari market in Fagge Local Government Area to relocate to the newly constructed market  Kano Economic City, located at Dangwauro, on the outskirt of the city.

The leader of the new market, Husseini Zakari, said the market was commissioned for drugs business in February but some groups of pharmaceutical traders are sabotaging the plan of the government to move traders to the site for dubious reasons.

We are appealing to the traders to relocate to the new site for the good of residents of Kano. In the new market, there are mechanisms in place put by authorities to checkmate counterfeit drugs and abuses to ensure sanity in the pharmaceutical business in the state, Mr Zakari said.

The police commissioner in the state, Muhammed Gumel, following a visit to the new market on Thursday, said the command will synergize with all stakeholders to ensure that the traders relocate to the new market, the commands spokesperson, Abdullahi Kiyawa, said in a statement.

He said security agencies in the state will jointly fight all forms of illegal dealings of drugs and substances to a standstill across the state.

The Kano State Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Gumel, was conducted round the newly constructed Kano Economic City Market and interacted with members of Kanawa Pharmaceutical Partners (KPP), a project facilitated by Federal Ministry of Health through Pharmacy Council of Nigeria under the leadership of Usaini Zakari.

Mr Zakari welcomed the commissioner to the Kano Economic City Market and took him around the Coordinated Whole Sale Centre in the Markets.

The coordinated wholesale centre will help in checkmating the movement and selling of illicit, fake and substandard drugs in Kano State.

Kano Pharmaceutical Partners have put all machinery in place to ensure the smooth take-off of the market, adding that, Police as major players in internal security have a role to play in ensuring smooth operations and improving businesses in the state, Mr Zakari told the police commissioner during the visit as quoted in the police statement.

The police said they will ensure adequate support for the take-off of the new market.

We must commend the federal government for bringing this giant project to Kano State. One of the disturbing issues in the state is the issue of drug abuse by youths to which most of the major crimes being committed in the state are as a result of dealings with illicit drugs and substances.

We will give you 100 per cent support in our efforts towards sanitising the state. On our part, the police command has embarked on intelligence gathering and already crime-mapping the state and working on how best to curtail the sale and use of illicit drugs by open market traders including the consumption by the youths of the state.

The commissioner reiterated that the police command will continue to collaborate with relevant stakeholders, especially National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to join to fight drug and substance abuse to a standstill, the police said.

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Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a 19-year-old student, Nnamani Daberechi, for attempting to export 7.2 kilograms of methamphetamine concealed in crayfish.

The Director Media and Advocacy, NDLEA, Femi Babafemi, said this in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.

Mr Babafemi said the suspect was arrested at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja on his way to Europe for undergraduate studies.

He said the suspect was intercepted on 15 July during an outward clearance of passengers on Turkish Airlines flight TK 0624.

While being interviewed by operatives, Daberechi claimed he was a student going to Cyprus for studies.

 But upon a thorough search of his luggage, he was found in possession of 7.2kg of whitish substance neatly concealed inside a sack of crayfish.

A field test of the substance, however, proved positive for Methamphetamine,  he said.

Similarly, operatives of the Tincan Port Command of the agency on 11 July intercepted a 116.5kg consignment of Colorado.

Mr Babafemi, who described the drug as a strong strain of cannabis, was concealed in bags hidden in a heap of used vehicle parts.

This, he said, was on the floor of a container marked FCIU 8459700, bearing three units of used vehicles imported from Toronto, Canada.

Based on intelligence, the agency had requested a 100 per cent examination of the container, which arrived at the TICT terminal of the port on 14 June

A joint examination with the Nigeria Customs, DSS and other stakeholders on Tuesday, 11 July, led to the discovery of 233 parcels of the illicit substance.

It was stashed inside travelling bags on the floor of the container, covered with used vehicle spare parts.

(NAN)

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African Heads of State and Government have declared their commitment to advancing integration, development and cooperation within the continent.

The leaders, representing the Bureau of the Assembly of the African Union (AU) and Chairpersons of the eight Regional Economic Communities (RECs) as well as Regional Mechanisms (RMs), concluded the Fifth Mid-Year Coordination Meeting of AU in Nairobi, Kenya, on Sunday with the adoption of a draft declaration.

The meeting, chaired by President Azali Assoumani of Comoros and the Chairperson of the African Union (AU), was attended by President Bola Tinubu of Nigeria and the Chairperson of ECOWAS, as well the presidents of Kenya, Egypt, Gabon, Djibouti, Libya, Senegal and DR Congo.

The leaders expressed their support for initiatives to boost connectivity and tourism within Africa, including implementing E-visa facilitation.

They also pledged to champion the ratification of the Protocol on Free Movement of Persons to effectively support the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agenda.

The leaders vowed to support the operationalisation and expansion of key initiatives such as the AfCFTA Adjustment Facility, Payment and Settlement System, and Guided Trade Initiative, aiming to enhance trade facilitation and economic cooperation.

Earlier at the meeting, President Tinubu, in his capacity as the Chairperson of ECOWAS, presented a comprehensive report on the progress and challenges faced in regional integration.

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He emphasised ECOWAS commitment to promoting stability, democracy, and economic growth in Africa, underscoring the sub-regional organisations dedication to good governance, rule of law and democratic values.

President Tinubu reaffirmed ECOWAS readiness to combat security challenges actively, working towards the integration and prosperity of the region.

Read President Tinubus full statement at the meeting:

The full 5th Mid-Year Coordination Meeting Declaration here.

Dele Alake

Special Adviser to the President

(Special Duties, Communications and Strategy)

July 16, 2023

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A little over a week ago, Professor Wole Soyinka turned the attention of Nigerians from their current harrowing economic existence to one of the tyrannies that religion inflicts on them. Professor Soyinka was apparently in his elements. For decades, he had fought battles against the willful violations of human existence in various guises. The younger Yakubu Gowon was one of the experiments Soyinka conducted on his intolerance for governmental tyranny. Gowons government had detained the professor of Comparative Literature for two years in the wake of the civil war, on the allegation of hobnobbing with the bearded Odumegwu Ojukwu who had just declared a civil war. From Gowon to Olusegun Obasanjo and down to Sani Abacha, Soyinka has always demonstrated his resistance to tyranny. In this particular instance, however, the Emir of Ilorin, Sulu Gambari, was the object of his singeing pen. The Emir, through some Islamic zealots called the Majlisu Shabab li Ulamahu Society, had stormed the residence of an Olokun  water goddess  worshipper, Adesikemi Olokun, to warn her to desist from holding a festival of culture tagged Isese in Ilorin, capital of Kwara State. The Islamic group reportedly claimed they were emissaries of the emir.

Year after year, Ramadan has been celebrated in this nation as an inclusive gathering of humanity, irrespective of divergences of belief. Not once, in my entire span of existence, have I encountered pronouncements by followers of any faith that the slaughtering of rams on the streets and marketplaces is an offence to their concept of godhead. Vegetarians hold their peace. Buddhists walk a different path, Soyinka wrote in an open letter to the Emir.

The audacity of the Ilorin zealots and the Emir of Ilorin are a tiny speck of the intolerant religious space that Nigerians live in. The two foreign religions of Christianity and Islam have chosen to deliberately forget that they are tenants in this space and have magisterially been muzzling their landlord, the traditional religions. The three cardinal religions in Nigeria  Christianity, Islam and Traditional African worship  have been engaged in a battle to neutralise one another. The competition for pre-eminence and supremacy is such that endangers the peaceful coexistence of the people. Indeed, the rising tide of fundamentalism necessitates checkmating the monster of religious intolerance and insensitivity of the adherents of these religions, who believe in the supremacy of their faiths, if the country desires peaceful coexistence and sustainable national development.

While Islam penetrated Nigeria from the northern flank about five or six hundred years before Christianity, sometime between 1000A.D and 1100 A.D, Uthman Dan Fodios Jihad took the religion to the nooks and crannies of Northern Nigeria. On its own, Christianitys incursion into the place now known as Nigeria was through the Portuguese Roman Catholic Mission that came to Benin in 1485, having been invited by Oba Uzolua, and later in 1514 by Oba Esigie, both Benin sovereigns. This history does not obviate the fact that the two foreign religions met the African fully involved with Isese and other cultural practices.

Sulu Gambaris involvement in this roulette of intolerance and the fact that this happened in Ilorin seems to be the kernel of the issues of present concern. Soyinka alluded to them peremptorily. History tells us that Ilorin was under the suzerainty of the Yoruba, having been founded by Laderin, the great grandfather of Afonja, who later became the Are Ona Kakanfo, the generalissimo, or chief military leader, of the old Oyo Empire. Alimi, the progenitor of Sulu Gambari, actually came into town as Ontira (phial maker) of Afonja. He got killed when a brawl broke out between him and Yoruba forces on one hand whose masquerade came out in Ilorin and his boys who had constituted themselves into the Jamaa who opposed the Egungun masquerade. The Jamaa, in cahoots with forces loyal to them, then gathered to eliminate him. Afonja was not only killed, but his body was also burnt to ashes and the son of Alimi, a Fulani priest, then took over the leadership of Ilorin. Since then, the Yoruba traditional religion and Egungun festival were banned in Ilorin due to this clash. It was how and why Ilorin became the suzerainty of Fulanis whose treachery in the killing of Afonja has become a folk narrative in coup plotting.

The issue at hand is not even who rules over a people who have been cunningly displaced of their land, but how the people have fared ever since in ethno-religious relations. Progenies of Alimi have made Ilorin an Islamic and emirate town, which is indisputable and commensurate with the nature of conquests. However, the wave of modernity and civilisation that is sweeping through the whole world has made it an anathema for one religion to assume superiority over another. Skit makers, after Gambari and his zealots rude stomp on the home of Adesikemi Olokun, went to town to reveal that Ilorin, not totally disconnecting from the roots of its Afonja forebears, is replete with Isese. The skit makers demonstrated this through the many videos on the social media they posted. In them, we see that in the hordes of spots in Ilorin where roots, herbs, native talismans and amulets (called leku leja in Yorubaland) are sold and a thriving market administered by Alhajas and Alhajis and probably Christians, is the realisation that Ilorin has not forgotten its Isese past.

The hypocrisy of Gambari and the Islamic zealots of Ilorin is manifest in that, throughout Yorubaland today, there is gravitation towards the medicine and practices of our forefathers. Though it took centuries of brainwashing to accomplish this brain reset, during which period the people threw away their religious and medical identities, there is an attempt to reconnect with them.

Of particular bother is why Ilorin would preference religious ahead of moral chastity. While the Emir and his zealots hypocritically advertise their disdain for sacrifices to gods in traditional religion, they are not averse to the widespread belief that Ilorin is the capital of adultery, where there is no societal condemnation of flesh sacrifices on the altar of sexual illicitness. This is done through the Ontiju Mi syndrome. In Ilorin, adulterous liaisons between a man and a woman, reified in the Ontiju Mi, no matter whether the parties are married or not, are alleged to be accepted canon of inter-personal relations. They are not frowned at as it is done in many other cultures and Ilorin women flaunt the beauty of the Ontiju Mi without an iota of shame.

Why the Emir and his zealots opposed to Isese cannot be allowed, on the altar of religion, to pollute the long chain of cultural affinity between this historical city and the culture of other parts of Yorubaland is that, Ilorin is home to the best of Yoruba-speaking musical talents. These are talents, living or dead, who evoke the rawest and best of Yoruba cultural music. When Ilorin-born musicians like Odolaye Aremu, Iya Aladuke, Jaigbade Alao and down to Kollington Ayinla, sing, they strike a chord in ancient Yoruba culture. Ilorin is home to genres of Yoruba music like Waka, Baalu, Senwele, Pankeke and Dadakuwada. It also boasts of its own brand of Apala, different from that of Egba and Ijebu, like that of Alhaji Ajadi Ilorin and Salahu Woro Idofihan. Incantations and panegyrics of Yorubaland, including even salutations to spirits of ancestors, reign supreme in those songs.

Samuel Johnson, the foremost Yoruba historian, even claimed that Egungun originated from among the Nupe people, who can be said to be somehow contiguous to the Ilorin. Dadakuwada, an African traditional ritual performance, kindled by llorin oral art, also took its origin from the Egungun poetry, the Iwi. This counterpoises the pretext of the ancient city of Ilorin which, in overwhelming abidance with the Islamic religion, frowns at intoxicants and where Egungun is banned from being displayed due to the spat in history that spilled the blood of Afonja, a spat sparked by the celebration of Egungun festival.

Sulu Gambari, by banning Isese in Ilorin, is merely re-enacting the attack on Afonja and his killing for bringing out masquerades in Ilorin. There must be something about Isese that threatens the received religion of Alimis progenies. However, no matter how much they try, thousands of Gambari, his Islamic religious zealots and their allies in the Christian faith cannot stop the realization that Ilorin and its Afonja ancestry cannot be divorced from Isese.

N8,000 for Bourdillon street sweepers too?

In the last few days since Nigerias new government announced an N8,000 palliative for 12 million poor Nigerian families, you would think that, all of a sudden, Nigerians had gone back in time to the Ayi Kwei Armahs Ghanaian years. Or that the scales had just suddenly fallen off the peoples eyes. Criticisms, snide commentaries and comparative placements of this government, side by side the Muhammadu Buhari governments similar policy failure, are pelted on Aso Rock Villa. Has the matrimony of barely eight weeks begun to manifest traces of rupture?

The matrimony of pre-independence Ghana with Kwame Nkrumah witnessed a similar rupture not too long after it began. Ghanaian politician, political theorist and revolutionary, Nkrumah had led the then Gold Coast to independence from Britain in 1957, having become its first Prime Minister in 1952. One of the most greatly debated African leaders, Nkrumah came into office with great hopes as a young, promising leader with theoretical plans of how to liberate Ghana and Africa. This renown preceded him into office. He spoke glowingly on how he would show the world the model of peaceful transition from colonial rule to independence. Not only did this transition from colonialism to democracy fail, in 1964, Nkrumah made Ghana a one-party state. This sponsored amendment to the constitution made him president for life. As socialist and nationalist, Nkrumah ran a totalitarian, authoritarian government that was intolerant of dissent and mowed opposition. He also conducted elections considered everything but free and fair. He was however eventually toppled in a coup detat in 1966 by the National Liberation Council and he escaped to Guinea where he lived the rest of his life.

Arrmah fictionalised this romance between Ghana and Nkrumah in The Beautyful Ones Are Not Yet Born. Therein, he painted the canvass of Nkrumah leaderships disappointment, darkening the pictorial image of post-independence Ghana with graphic descriptive images of filth, messy environment, excreta, phlegm and putrefaction. With these, he depicted the intensity of the various levels of corruption and poverty under Nkrumah. To reinforce the images, Armah conjured powerfully disgusting scenes of fictive Ghana enveloped by decaying lavatories and rotting dump yards. In reality, Ghana sunk phenomenally and with it, incinerating lofty dreams which then began to give way to desperation. Rather than the hopes which Ghanaians reposed in Nkrumah for a revolution that would liberate them from the dark times of colonialism, what they got confronted with was postcolonial disillusionment. Armah painted these in fictive images of the new national elites power abuses, corruption and mind-boggling poverty. Nkrumah, The Beautyful Ones seemed to have concluded, was leader of a band of men, who the people realised rather late, were false Messiahs. They were leaders who, unbeknown to the people, ascended to power with the major aim of improving their own elite fancies. As he went back home in a bus, the books main character reflected on how all around decaying things push inward and mix all the bodys juices with the taste of rot and how this degeneration symbolized the doomsday of a corrupted Ghana.

In Nigeria, shocks and disgusts have ruled the airways since the presidency sought and got a N500 billion approval to cushion the effect of harrowing pains occasioned by the subsidy removal. To be fair to this government, after its sudden, peremptory and unilateral removal of subsidy and the harrowing pains Nigerians have gone through thereafter, very little quick-win opportunities exist for it to make an instant show of empathy to the people. In virtually all sectors of the Nigerian economy where this government could demonstrate its empathy to the plights of the people, no visible or achievable low hanging fruits abide. For instance, if the Bola Tinubu government decides to flood the streets with public transportation, how long will the formalisation of purchase agreements of those vehicles take, for the mass of the people to feel the pulse of transportation ease? Thus, the governments apparatchiks justify the recourse to this failed model of palliatives as the only available to government at the moment. However, if the government had begun from the angle of talking to and engaging with Nigerians ab initio, it would not have been difficult to convince the people to wait for the maturation of a holistic package of tackling the endemic poverty in the land. This would have been more desirable than merely throwing palliatives at the poorest of the poor like feeds thrown at dogs as this palliative regime indicates.

There is no doubting the fact that there is connect between governmental policies and poverty reduction in Africa. So, if the Tinubu government gets its policies right, it can significantly reduce poverty in Nigeria. World Bank, IMF and other multilateral agencies have studied the incidence of poverty in Africa and have come to the conclusion that fighting it goes beyond simplistic policies. For instance, factors like lack of income and productive resources sufficient to ensuring sustainable livelihood, hunger and malnutrition, ill health, limited or lack of access to education and other basic services, increased morbidity and mortality from illness, homelessness, inadequate, unsafe and degraded environment, social discrimination and exclusion and lack of participation in decision making in civil, social and cultural life, among many others, have been found to aid the multiplication of the destructive cells of poverty. Poverty in Africa has also been attributed to corruption and poor governance, infrastructure, diseases and poor health facilities. Indeed, poverty and corruption are said to share same umbilical cord, with one cankerworm breeding the other.

Poverty is the oldest and the most resistant virus in the third world, unleashing a devastating gale of destructions on developing countries. Its rate of killing is held to be far more than any diseases known since the genesis of mankind. Poverty has been said to be more corrosive than malaria and HIV/AIDS and is far deadlier than Ebola. Thus, if the Tinubu N8,000 palliative, just as its name indicates, is merely for the poor to feed for six months, not only is it barely enough, it is a colossal waste of N500 billion by any government whose utmost aim is to combat poverty and lack. If the overall Bola Tinubu governments plan is to fight poverty, it has to begin with a much more encompassing umbrella and strategy because fighting poverty isnt as simplistic as offering a token of palliatives to a blood-guzzling god of penury. It can only be fought with strong institutions and equitable distribution of resources and done by a non-corrupt government.

Africa and Nigeria are plagued by programmes which, on the outward, are designed to fight poverty but which are disguised conduits to fatten the stomach linings of governmental elites. Experiences have shown that the funds, most times, ended in the esophagus of corrupt individuals. Because of the paddy-paddy government we run in Nigeria, apprehending those who stole previous governments blind is always the best way to begin. New governments lack the political will to take on these dinosaurs of corruption. If this government were serious about disconnecting the chain of poverty in Nigeria, the first thing I should do was to investigate what went wrong under the Buhari government. Trillions of naira, in various funny shibboleths grouped as Trader Monie, Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development were implemented which, in the opinions of Nigerians, were avenues to divert national monies into private pockets.

As I have asked previously, what is the street credibility of the Bola Tinubu government to assure Nigerians that a N500 billion earmarked for the poor would ultimately get to them? There is acute cynicism on the streets of Nigeria. Like the Nkrumah totalitarian government, what we have today is a one-party state filled with the single profile of officials whose pasts are pockmarked by maggots, filth, messy excreta, phlegm and putrefaction, decaying lavatories and rotting dump yards that Ayi Kwei Armah gave vivid description of. The totalitarianism isnt about a single political party. It is that of a single mind of filth and corruption. This is a government in which, in less than two months, allegations of mounting corruption of governmental aides demanding and getting bribes that run into billions of naira to put persons in office are rife. The Senate, under a man who, shortly before his ascension into office, was alleged to be wanted by the EFCC, has also been said to have padded the palliatives sum to benefit its members. These are the aides of the president who would prosecute the disbursements of the N500 billion palliatives.

More importantly, what rationale would justify the presidency offering N8,000 to the poorest of the poor while a bill, brought before the National Assembly last week, demanded the sum of N70 billion for parliamentarians to improve the working conditions of new members? We have been told by those who foisted this regime of poverty on the poor that the N8,000 will cushion the agony of poverty on them. Even sweepers of President Tinubus Bourdillon Street, Lagos cannot rejoice at being dolled that condescending sum. If a sweeper on that elite street buys doughnut and pays for commuting to their place of work daily from the N8,000, the palliative cannot last a week. So, if the amount is indeed a palliative, as its name connotes, what succor would it bring the way of the poor? Somebody did the arithmetic and concluded that each of the lawmakers involved in the N70 billion palliatives demanded by sinecure legislators from Nigeria would be hoisting home a booty of approximately N149 million. As poor as Nigerian poor are, what can N8,000 do for them? Conversely, in the same bill brought before the House of Representatives, farmers who suffered devastating blows from floods across the country in 2022, will be getting N19 billion.

The food security announcement made by government last week sounded too vague, too omnibus to capture the dire situation at hand in the Nigerian economy. We all know that insecurity is a major bane of food production in Nigeria today as farmers cannot go to their farms. Insurgents in the north demand taxes from farmers before they can access their farms. Poultry farmers are facing the harshest time of their entire operation in Nigeria today. What is the texture of this omnibus declaration of food security emergency? What are its details? Those are the essential Nigerians demand to know whether it is another Nkrumah pronouncement of liberation of Ghana. The food emergency declaration by this government sounded, to many Nigerians, like a throw-fodders-to-hungry-ruminants strategy which lacks cogency, articulacy and verve. If it was well thought out, please provide the details.

The N8,000 palliative for the poorest of the poor smacks of a cynical contempt for them. It seems to approximate the disdain this government has for them.

Festus Adedayo is an Ibadan-based journalist.

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This then is the narrative of interlocked and overlapping destinies and mutating machinations that makes Policing the Nigeria Police such a compelling read. The book offers thoughtful insights policing for the country and argues a persuasive case for decentralisation of the NPF, dispassionately examining proposals for state police, community policing, and even vigilantes. Anyone interested in making policing both effective and accountable in Nigeria has a duty to read it.

On 13 January 1970, Olusegun Obasanjo, an army colonel and General Officer Commanding (GOC) the Third Marine Commando Division of the Nigerian Army, arrived Amichi in the old Nnewi Division of what was then known as the East Central State to accept the capitulation of Biafra from Phillip Effiong, interim leader of the enclave. The encounter occurred in the house of Chief Ben Atuchukwu, one of a pioneer generation of trading magnates, whose exploits bestowed on Nnewi its reputation as the home of Nigerian enterprise.

Present in the room was Simon Nsobundu Okeke, a pioneer estate surveyor and valuer with his origins in Amichi, who was a senior official in Biafras security services. Ben Atuchukwu, the man in whose house the war ended, was his paternal uncle. In the nature of the occasion, Okeke and Obasanjo were not introduced to one another on the day.

After the war, Obasanjo continued in the military, becoming in succession a cabinet minister, second-in-command to the head of state, military head of state, civilian president, and international statesman. For his part, Okeke returned to his vocation of estate management, rising to become an acknowledged leader among estate surveyors and valuers in the country.

Nearly 32 years after they first met, the destinies of both men would be joined in the most unpredictable fashion. Obasanjo was sworn in on 29 May 1999 for his second tour of duty as Nigerias leader. Two-and-a-half years later, on 28 November 2001, he presided as Chief Okeke took the oath of office as Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC), along with six other commissioners. In assuming this office, Chief Okeke became the first Chair of the Commission in 22 years, dating back to October 1979.

Published by MayFive Media Limited, Policing the Nigeria Police is Chief Okekes timely and thoughtful retrospective on policing and the Nigeria Police Force (NPF). It is part memoir and part policy memo, in a book that combines a racy narrative with deliberative analysis, juxtaposing a recall of the worst of bureaucratic and political skullduggery with high-minded invocations of the public interest.

The book unfolds in 15 chapters that address different aspects of the institutional evolution, bureaucratic machinations, relational episodes, and, reform proposals in policing and police oversight, viewed from the vintage of Chief Okekes tenure and experience in the PSC. Some of the major themes addressed include the histories of the NPF and PSC and of the presidential and political instrumentalisation of both; abuses of the roles and powers of the IGP and of the president; the role of the PSC in election monitoring; the role of the president in a transitional democracy; the travails of civilian oversight of the security services; and issues of police reform, including state police and community policing.

The return of military rule had a profound impact on the PSC and on the idea of police oversight. For the duration of the Buhari regime, Tunde Idiagbon, the Brigadier-General who was second-in-command, served as the nominal chair of the PSC. Ibrahim Babangida, who overthrew Buhari in August, promulgated the Police (Miscellaneous Provisions) Decree, No. 5 of 6 February, 1989, which abrogated the PSC, making this retrospective to the beginning of his regime on 27 August, 1985.

By way of context, the Metropolitan Police in England was a mere 32 years old institution when the British began the experiment that evolved into the NPF. Until the departure of the British in 1960, the NPF was under the political authority of the head of the colonial government, for the most part known as the Governor, who directed the Force at his whim.

As they retreated in 1960, the British bequeathed to the country a PSC as a civilian oversight body over the NPF. This was problematic because for a century until then, the NPF had known no such oversight nor imbibed any bureaucratic tradition that would prepare it for such. Yet, they gave this oversight body extensive powers of appointment, promotion, and discipline over the NPF.

For 19 years, until 1979, the PSC persevered with some difficulty, coexisting uneasily with the regimental mentality of military rule for about 13 years of those. Upon the transition to the presidential system of government, from 1 October, 1979, the constitution made the President the ex-officio chairman and chief executive of the PSC. 39 months later, General Muhammadu Buhari abrogated that Constitution.

The return of military rule had a profound impact on the PSC and on the idea of police oversight. For the duration of the Buhari regime, Tunde Idiagbon, the Brigadier-General who was second-in-command, served as the nominal chair of the PSC. Ibrahim Babangida, who overthrew Buhari in August, promulgated the Police (Miscellaneous Provisions) Decree, No. 5 of 6 February, 1989, which abrogated the PSC, making this retrospective to the beginning of his regime on 27 August, 1985. In its place, he established a Police Council, whose membership comprised the military president, all state governors, and the Inspector-General of Police. At the time, the military president appointed all the state governors. As such, the Police Council comprised the president and his appointees, all of whom came from regimental traditions.

In the 41 years since its creation in 1960 until 2001, therefore, the PSC was not in existence for 14 years; notionally existed under military rule for another 13 years; and only functioned under civil rule for nine and a half (9) years. For four of those nine and a half years, the president also chaired the Commission. This chequered history did not equip the Commission with any institutional memory. At inauguration in 2001, it had no office or staff. The 1999 Constitution had also re-designed the Commission in one fundamental way: unlike the period until 1985, it placed the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) outside the powers and purview of the PSC.

Under the Constitution, the president appoints the IGP, controls and instructs him and can also fire him at will. The IGP commands the NPF. The Police Council, whose membership comprises the president, state governors and the Chairman of the PSC, coexists with the Commission. Its role is confined to the declared purpose of advising the president in the appointment of the IGP. Chief Okeke recalls no such process as having taken place in his five years on the Council, which he describes as next to moribund.

Over five years in the role of PSC Chairman, Chief Okeke worked with one president and three IGPs: the first was fired, the second was convicted for fraud and embezzlement, and the third, as Chief Okeke writes, practically shoved aside the Police Service Commission and took directives only from the President. With few allies, the job of the PSC Chairman verged on the impossible. It was just not for the faint of heart.

The result was two-fold. First, in 2001, both the presidency and the IGP were unused to the idea of independent civilian oversight. Second, when he assumed office in 2001 as the Chair of the PSC, Chief Okeke was in a unique pickle: he had no predecessor from whose experience he could draw but he was up against an institution and officers with fond memories of the days when the NPF brooked no oversight and was the plaything of the president.

Over five years in the role of PSC Chairman, Chief Okeke worked with one president and three IGPs: the first was fired, the second was convicted for fraud and embezzlement, and the third, as Chief Okeke writes, practically shoved aside the Police Service Commission and took directives only from the President. With few allies, the job of the PSC Chairman verged on the impossible. It was just not for the faint of heart.

At the end of his tenure in 2006, Chief Okeke chose wisely not to seek reappointment. Unknown to him, the Inspector-General of Police, Sunday Ehindero, had advised the president that it was better to have the PSC headed by a retired police officer. In February, 2023, President Obasanjo, who implemented this advice, admitted it was mistaken, saying: when you make a retired police officer the head of the PSC, it is like asking a thief to catch a thief.

But this mistake birthed a Nigerian tradition: since 2006, the PSC has been retirement home of a succession of former IGPs. Far from making the relationship better, this deepened antipathy between the PSC and the NPF, introducing the added complication of inter-personal psycho-dramas between incumbent IGPs on the one hand, and former IGPs, who were once their superiors on the other. The case between the IGP and the PSC over the question of primacy in the matter of recruitment of police personnel is pending at the Supreme Court.

This then is the narrative of interlocked and overlapping destinies and mutating machinations that makes Policing the Nigeria Police such a compelling read. The book offers thoughtful insights policing for the country and argues a persuasive case for decentralisation of the NPF, dispassionately examining proposals for state police, community policing, and even vigilantes. Anyone interested in making policing both effective and accountable in Nigeria has a duty to read it.

Chidi Anselm Odinkalu, a lawyer, teaches at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy can be reached at chidi.odinkalu@tufts.edu.

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Beirut: During a Saturday visit to the border of Shebaa Farms, a disputed area of land near the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, Israeli troops fired smoke and tear gas grenades at the group, resulting in a Lebanese MP and several journalists receiving minor burns.

The MP Qassem Hashem-led media delegation approached Israeli soldiers from a few meters away before the soldiers took up combat positions and warned the group against getting any closer.

Following the assault, the Lebanese army was placed on high alert, and UN peacekeeping patrols sprang into action to restore order.

Also Read: Protests intensify in Tel Aviv for the 28th week as the opposition movement promises additional "days of disruption."

"We were standing on Lebanese land, but Israeli forces  being naturally aggressive  did not spare anyone and used all kinds of intimidation bombs to push us back," Hashem later told Arab News.

Despite being struck in the hand and leg, I only have minor burns and wounds.

"This land is ours and you are aggressors," the MP reportedly yelled at the Israeli soldiers. This is a right we have, and we won't give it up.

He claimed the purpose of the media delegation's trip was to serve as a reminder to Israel that "this is our land and it is not susceptible to annexation."

According to the MP, the visit had nothing to do with the UNIFIL forces' mandate being renewed next month.

Also Read: Front-runner for Thai PM says there is only one more opportunity to form a government

Shebaa Farms native Hashem claimed that his family inherited land in the region that was recorded in the Lebanese land registry in 1943, before Israel was created.

This right is unassailable.

He continued by saying that Lebanon considers the region to be part of its territory and that neither Shebaa Farms nor the region to the north of the town of GHajjar are marked by the Blue Line or the withdrawal line.

On these productive and fertile lands, Israel built winter resorts, he said.

Between Lebanon, Palestine, and Syria, the Shebaa Farms, Kfarchuba Hills, and Golan Heights form a strategic triangle.

The Israeli army fired tear gas in retaliation after dozens of people crossed the southern Blue Line near Bustra early on Saturday, according to Candice Ardell, deputy director of the UNIFIL Public Information Office.

Lebanese, Israeli, and UNIFIL peacekeepers were all present at the scene, and according to her, things were now calm.

She claimed that UNIFIL's force commander and chief of mission, Gen. Aroldo Lazaro, had discussions with officials on both sides of the Blue Line.

According to Ardell, a number of incidents have heightened tensions recently.

These incidents did not get worse, she said, "thanks to the commitment of the parties on both sides of the Blue Line."

"We urge everyone to maintain their current level of restraint in the hours and days ahead."

Also Read: Increases in UK immigration fees are criticized

By the end of August, the UN Security Council is anticipated to extend the UNIFIL forces' mandate in southern Lebanon for another year.

According to a statement released by the Lebanese Foreign Ministry on Saturday, the foreign minister "did not request any amendment to UNIFIL's mission in the upcoming resolution regarding the freedom of movement of these forces."
Nigeria is a sprawling crime scene! A national re-orientation campaign is the way to start by co-opting the youth in what promises to be a war against impunity. A war in favour of propriety  at the vanguard of which is a National Orientation Agency led by a committed patriot with a proven track record of activism. This is not another job for the boys. Nigeria and its citizens ought to be better served.

Nigerians are a rare breed  at once contemptuous of their country and fiercely defensive of it. When arguing among themselves, Nigerians criticise their country viciously, as if the country means nothing to them. Well, it doesnt  because it hasnt bothered to achieve an emotional bonding with the younger generation who account for three-quarters of the population. And, conversely, the country does mean a lot to its citizens because, although they are fiercely critical of it, they are proud enough of its past and its potentials to defend it against foreign attacks.

Dont take my word for it. Check out Naija netizens. Nigerians in cyberspace are the ones taking their country to the cleaners by themselves. A foreign commentator is not permitted the same privilege. Any foreign criticism, even when true and verifiable, is, by some strange logic to which many Nigerians subscribe, the ranting of either an interloper, a racist or a paid agent provocateur.

Whereas the older generation of Nigerians have many reasons to be loyal to their country, young Nigerians have not been that lucky. Since the rude intervention of the military in governance, ethical standards have nose-dived. Young people hear stories of the many benefits their parents enjoyed as students in the 50s, 60s and 70s. When they compare those stories with their squalid surroundings and woe-be-gone experiences while growing up, they see no reason why they should love a country that treats them with so much disdain.

Our values as a people have broken down. Standards have fallen. The children we have raised in these tremulous times have become adults and the serial idiocies we fed them with have graduated to become peculiar insanities of which we are ashamed, but whose source we are shy to acknowledge as the man in the mirror.

When a typical Japa returnee lands at the Nigerian airport in Lagos, Abuja, Kano, or Port-Harcourt, he encounters immigration and customs officials begging for alms. How is that supposed to make him feel? He looks into the eyes of foreigners on the other queue and he sees bewilderment. What beggars colony is this, for crying out loud? He cannot even use the restroom in peace. There are beggars everywhere all over the pee-point, offering either a kettle to rinse your unmentionables or tissue paper to wipe your hands.

Those who are returning after decades to spend their retirement in the land of the forebears are waylaid at the seaports, where they are forced to pay a litany of bribes in order to clear their personal effects. The situation is akin to paying a penalty for ever thinking of returning home!

Young Nigerians abroad cant comprehend a situation where an accountant general would dribble hundreds of billions into his personal account or where serving military officers become billionaires in plain sight on account of serving as commanders in the oil-rich Niger Delta. When the supposed catcher of thieves is himself a thief, now who is going to catch the catcher?

Last year, Lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) screamed against the burning of a vessel interdicted by the Nigerian Navy for stealing crude oil, describing the development as an attempt to cover up criminality.

We have scandalised the young and the old. We have abandoned the ways of the founding fathers of this nation. We have thrown whatever remains of morality to the dogs  and yet we wonder why we are stranded on a parched island where we cannot as much as slake our thirst. In the abundance of water, the fool is thirsty, says the rastaman.

Falana said: There is no provision in the rules of engagement that authorises military personnel or security operatives to set fire to or destroy vessels loaded with stolen crude. Apart from the sabotage of the national economy, the crime of oil theft has portrayed Nigeria as a nation where official impunity has been institutionalised by the government. Apparently embarrassed by the involvement of highly placed military officers and their civilian collaborators in the scandalous offence of oil theft, the Federal Government has adopted measures to end it.

The lawyer noted that the vessel was set ablaze off the Niger Delta creeks by a group of military personnel and described the endorsement of the operation by the then Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor, as an embarrassing justification of criminal conduct

Every Nigerian wonders why for a long time the country was unable to meet its OPEC quota due to the incidence of oil thieves. Massive oil tankers with capacities for millions of barrels of crude routinely sail in and out of Nigeria, while the navy and other security agencies snooze. Each loading trip takes many days, yet nobody sees them. Apparently there is an omerta code in operation: See no evil.

What did we think we were doing when an incumbent governor of the central bank declared, through proxies, his intention to run for president  and scores of branded campaign vehicles were unveiled to convince doubters that we all were inhabitants of a land where anything was possible?

We have scandalised the young and the old. We have abandoned the ways of the founding fathers of this nation. We have thrown whatever remains of morality to the dogs  and yet we wonder why we are stranded on a parched island where we cannot as much as slake our thirst. In the abundance of water, the fool is thirsty, says the rastaman.

Since the days of military rule, Nigerians got used to the jackboot logic of the end justifying the means and might being right. Forget what you learnt in geometry  a straight line is not necessarily the shortest distance between two points. A Nigerian youth knows that for spherical surfaces, like the Earth, great-circle distances actually represent the true shortest distance. But why bother with all that when you can simply shift the two points in contention to suit your whim?

Wherever you turn, the goalposts keep shifting everyday. Just the other day, the media went haywire with the news that a new kind of tax  Proof of Ownership tax had been introduced by the Joint Tax Board. Every motorist was required, said the announcement, to pay one thousand naira annually as proof that the payee is the owner of the vehicle in question.

An activist lawyer, Muiz Banire (SAN), recently authored an insightful piece in which he counselled President Tinubu not to allow the apparent fraud to sail.

Nigerians are waiting for a presidential declaration stopping the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) and its co-conspirators from further picking our pockets. The primary goal for the setting up of the FRSC is NOT to generate revenue. If they concentrate of their primary duty, perhaps our dream of having safer highways may yet be realised.

Banire was miffed that any government parastatal could add to the tax burden of citizens without the constitutional power to do so. Nigeria is perhaps the only country on the planet where there is no comprehensive list of approved taxes. Sundry government organisations simply impose their own taxes and share the loot with co-conspirators.

That much is borne out of Banires disclosure: I also learnt from the grapevine that the states are already promised and apportioned 50% of the accruable revenue from the illegal enterprise, while the Commission gets 25% and the consultant and other undefined stakeholders get 25%.

Nigerians are waiting for a presidential declaration stopping the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) and its co-conspirators from further picking our pockets. The primary goal for the setting up of the FRSC is NOT to generate revenue. If they concentrate of their primary duty, perhaps our dream of having safer highways may yet be realised.

As with the FRSC, so it is with the Nigerian Immigration Service. In 2019, the nation was apprised of the scandalous frittering away of revenue accruable to the national coffers. A federal high court sitting in Lagos, in a landmark judgement delivered by Justice Rilwan Aikawa, declared as illegal the engagement of a private company, Continental Transfer Technique Limited, by the Minister of Interior, to fix and collect the Combined Expatriates Residence permit and alien card Fees paid by all expatriates in Nigeria.

The court ordered the Minister of Interior, the comptroller-General of Immigration and Continental Transfer Technique Ltd to account for, refund and remit into the federation account all combined Expatriate Residence Permit and Alien card (CERPAC) Fees collected from all expatriates in Nigeria since 2014.

Before the bubble burst, the revenue collected from the CERPAC was shared and distributed as follows:

a. 5% to the Minister of Interior

b. 7% to the Comptroller of Immigration

c. 33% to the Federal Government

d. 55% to Continental Transfer Technique

Nigeria is a sprawling crime scene! A national re-orientation campaign is the way to start by co-opting the youth in what promises to be a war against impunity. A war in favour of propriety  at the vanguard of which is a National Orientation Agency led by a committed patriot with a proven track record of activism. This is not another job for the boys. Nigeria and its citizens ought to be better served.

Patriotism cant be legislated. Get rid of these entrenched smuts! Return Nigeria to the era of law and order, where bad behaviour is called out and punished  and watch patriotism flow like the river.

Wole Olaoye is a Public Relations consultant and veteran journalist. He can be reached on wole.olaoye@gmail.com, Twitter: @wole_olaoye; Instagram: woleola2021

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The Kano State Government has dismissed as false reports insinuating that it had criticised President Bola Tinubus N500 billion palliative sharing formula.

The state deputy governor, Aminu Abdulsalam-Gwarzo, gave the clarification in a statement by his Press Secretary, Ibrahim Shauibu, on Saturday in Kano.

He said the reports falsely claimed that the deputy governor criticised the Tinubu led-administration for the allocation of N500 billion to support Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) through the Bank of Industry (BoI).

The statement reads in part: Gwarzo had referred to a news segment he watched on Thursday morning featuring Sen. Ali Ndume, who expressed concern about the allocation formula.

The deputy governor made this reference while receiving a delegation from the Kano Cooperative Society at the Government House, Kano, as they commemorated the 2023 International Day of Cooperatives.

Nowhere in the deputy governors statement did he mention the name of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The allocation formula has been designed even before President Tinubu assumed office.

Therefore, the reports misinterpreted Gwarzos comments, failing to grasp the essence of his statement.

The statement further quoted Gwarzo as reaffirming government commitment under the leadership of Gov. Abba Kabir-Yusuf to remain steadfast towards supporting President Tinubus vision for a peaceful and united Nigeria.

(NAN)

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Security agents have apprehended an undisclosed number of suspected terrorists, their wives and informants immediately after they returned from Saudi Arabia, where they participated in the just concluded Hajj exercise, PREMIUM TIMES exclusively gathered.

Those arrested were from the Tsafe, Zurmi, Bungudu and Shinkafi areas of Zamfara State.

The alleged terrorists, who went to Saudia Arabia alongside other pilgrims from the state, were arrested at the Sultan Abubakar III International Airport in Sokoto last week.

Intending pilgrims from Zamfara often travel to Saudi Arabia through the Sokoto airport.

Though spokespersons of security agencies in Zamfara State are feigning ignorance of the arrest, multiple sources, including a top Hajj committee member, confirmed the story to PREMIUM TIMES.

Mansur Shafii, the Zamfara Pilgrims Welfare Board spokesperson, didnt answer calls made to his mobile number, neither did he respond to a message sent to him about the arrest.

The Arrests

A member of the Zamfara State Hajj committee, who asked for anonymity because he was not authorised to speak to the press on the matter, said there was an official communication between security agencies involved in the operation and officials of the states Hajj committee.

When the first flight came, we were asked to delay the pilgrims from coming down the plane. After that, we were asked to take them to a hall in the airport where we saw security agents, including those in uniform and in plain clothing. Our airport contact person asked us to withdraw and allow the security guys to do their work, he said.

According to him, the pilgrims were asked to sit on plastic chairs while they were screened again by the security agents.

While the suspects were asked to remain in the hall, those cleared were asked to proceed.

Initially, I didnt ask any questions, but when it was repeated when the second flight came, I made some contacts, and I was informed that the security was taking away suspected bandits, their wives and informants for questioning, he said.

Another source, a staffer of the pilgrims welfare board, told PREMIUM TIMES in a series of WhatsApp voice notes that the suspects were placed under surveillance by security agents.

I cant call you now But its true (the arrest). We were informed that the Zamfara, Katsina and Sokoto intending pilgrims were placed on serious security surveillance from Nigeria to here (Saudi Arabia). I know that arrests have been made at the airport, but I cant give you details now since Im not around too, he said in one of the WhatsApp voice notes.

In another voice note message, he said another set of suspects was arrested among pilgrims from Tsafe.

Yet, another airport source, a pilgrim who sought anonymity for security reasons, said he saw when some suspects were arrested.

Immediately the last flight landed on Friday, security agents in number came and started asking for pilgrims documents. When we came off the plane, they took many people we were together with and took them to a vehicle. We were asked to proceed and take our handbags. But those taken were not even allowed to take their handbags, she said.

We raised an alarm

A community leader in the Shinkafi area, who asked not to be named, said a group of respected personalities in the local government raised the alarm when they heard the rumour that notorious banditry kingpin, Bello Turji, would be going to Saudia Arabia for his pilgrimage.

We went to both the police and the brigade commander in Gusau, and they promised that they would take care of the situation. Im personally happy with this development because, if anything, it means the security agents are serious about tackling this situation, he said.

The community leader said they later learnt that Mr Turji didnt go, but several of his boys and informants went to perform their pilgrimage.

The police spokesperson in the state, Yazid Abubakar, didnt give further information when contacted.

Since you said its a joint issue, I think you should talk to the Brigade. Our officers attached to the joint task force dont report to us because they have their own leader, so please reach out to them, Mr Abubakar said.

The spokesperson for 1 Brigade Nigerian Army, Ibrahim Yahaya, also said he was unaware of such operations.

If you said its in Sokoto airport, then its not our officers. They are soldiers in Sokoto that can do that. To be honest with you, Im not aware of what youre saying, he said.

When reminded that the pilgrims were from Zamfara and were only in Sokoto because there is no airport in the state, Mr Yahaya said he would not comment since he was unaware of the arrests.

Zamfara, like other states in the North-west sub-region, has been witnessing terrorist activities, including kidnap for ransom, banditry, cattle rustling and other crimes for over a decade.

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Transfer of Leadership to Take Place During Annual Convention Event with Vice President Kamala Harris

CHICAGO, July 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Tomorrow, the Rainbow PUSH Coalition will officially transfer leadership as Reverend Jesse Jackson transitions to emeritus status and Reverend Dr. Frederick Douglass Haynes III is welcomed as the organization's next president. Rev. Dr. Haynes will be formally introduced during the Rainbow PUSH Coalition's 57th annual conference during an event with Vice President Kamala Harris on Sunday, July 16 at 2 PM CT.

For the last 57 years, Rev. Jackson has led the Coalition which has global reach and impact. His decision is a result of his ongoing journey with Parkinson's disease. He arrived at the decision after reflecting on his life's work and prayer. While Rev. Jackson will pivot from his role as president, his commitment to continue the freedom movement is unwavering and in his new role as emeritus, he will elevate his life's work by teaching ministers in the social justice movement.

"I am looking forward to this next chapter where I will continue to focus on economic justice, mentorship, and teaching ministers how to fight for social justice. I will still be very involved in the organization and am proud that we have chosen Rev. Dr. Haynes as my successor," said Reverend Jesse Jackson, Founder and President of the Rainbow Push Coalition.

The new president, Rev. Haynes, is a prophetic pastor, passionate leader, social activist, orator, and educator engaged in preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ, and fighting against racial injustice. He has devoted his life to economic justice and empowerment in underserved communities and transforming the lives of the disenfranchised.

Dr. Haynes has served as a visionary and innovative senior pastor of Friendship-West Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas, for the past 40 years. He considers himself a long-time student of Rev. Jackson and has spoken to and for Rainbow PUSH Coalition frequently. He has also formed alliances with local and national community leaders, and federal officials, to fight social injustice, domestic violence, and poverty. As a reflection of his commitment to community transformation and social consciousness, Dr. Haynes has served in various leadership capacities in organizations that champion social change and education.

"As a student of Rev. Jackson's, I am honored to be selected for this prestigious and important position. The role Rainbow PUSH Coalition plays today is just as critical as it was in 1963, when the organization was founded. Our communities need organizations like Rainbow PUSH to not only continue the fight for justice and equality, but to shepherd the next generation of advocates into the movement," said Reverend Rev. Dr. Frederick Douglass Haynes III, incoming President of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition.

Rev. Jackson worked directly with the chairs of the four Rainbow PUSH organizations  including Rainbow PUSH Coalition, PUSH (People United to Save Humanity), PUSH Excel, and the Citizenship Education Fund  to select Rev. Haynes as its next president. Chairs include CK Hoffler, Joyce Tucker, John Graves and Yusef Jackson.

The important work of Rainbow PUSH will continue as Rev. Haynes transitions into his new role. More details will be provided at the annual Rainbow PUSH conference starting today, July 15 through July 19 in Chicago.

Rev. Jackson looks forward to focusing on the collection of his papers and archives, a documentary and the teachings of the freedom movement modalities that will help ground the next generation. "If we are to perpetuate equality, it is vitally important that the historical philosophies and techniques are deposited in the minds of the next generation of leaders," said Rev. Jackson. "Each social advocate must realize that their innate quest for equality is not an original concept, but a continuum of the ancestral freedom movement."

About Rainbow PUSH Coalition

Rainbow PUSH Coalition is a multi-racial, multi-issue, progressive, international organization that was formed in December 1996 by the Reverend Jesse L. Jackson, Sr. through merging of two organizations he founded Operation PUSH People United to Serve Humanity (estab. 1971) and the Rainbow Coalition (estab. 1984). With headquarters in Chicago and offices in Washington, D.C., Atlanta, Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles, New York and Oakland, the organization works to make the American Dream a reality for all citizens while advocating for peace and justice around the world. RPC is dedicated to improving the lives of all people by serving as a voice for the voiceless. Its mission is to protect, defend and gain civil rights by leveling the economic and educational playing fields while promoting peace and justice around the world.



To access conference information and keep up with Rev. Jackson and the work of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, visit www.rainbowpush.org.

Media contact:

[email protected]

SOURCE Rainbow PUSH Coalition
Sue Canyon arms small businesses for prosperity through the Anatomy of Business workshops

SILVER CLIFF, Colo., July 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- For 30 years Sue Canyon of Business is Booming! has waged war on the bane of small business  bankruptcy. Working with entrepreneurs on the front lines of enterprise, Sue has armed a great many small business owners with the ammunition needed to defeat the insidious enemies of profitability.

As a seasoned veteran of business rescue operations, Sue is adept at performing forensic analysis to reveal the kinds of vulnerabilities that force small business owners to surrender to bankruptcy. Even business owners on the brink of financial disaster have employed Sue's field-tested tools and tactics to emerge victorious  profitable, confident, and rejuvenated.

Anatomy of Business presents reliable cost reduction, organization training and much more to small business owners. Tweet this

After decades of developing and refining her system, Sue is now offering that system, the Anatomy of Business Series of workshops, to business owners at a fraction of the cost that her clients typically pay for her services (AnatomyofBusiness.com).

After the advent of factories and the close of World War II, consumers were so eager to get at new products that a new business owner could hardly fail. But with the social and economic disruptions caused by WWII, "small business mentors were no longer available to guide new entrepreneurs," Sue notes. "Without mentors to teach the nuances of their business craft, many businesses became what I call 'the walking dead.' The recession of 2007-09 proved an excellent time for these walking dead to close their doors and save face by blaming their failure on the banking crisis."

Even trusted allies can unwittingly lead business owners into dire straits, Sue reveals. "I've learned that accountants generally don't know how to run businesses that aren't selling hours." Likewise, "Nonprofits don't know how to run a business to make a profit, and the government doesn't know how to teach us how to run businesses. Any savvy entrepreneur who's seen the training coming out of the Small Business Development Centers will understand what I'm saying."

Even business professors at top-rated business colleges don't know how to run a small business, Sue adds. "Business schools actually teach that it's good for the economy to let businesses fail because, to start again, the entrepreneur must scrape together another chunk of money to invest  retirement savings, their kid's college fund, a second mortgage, or maybe even a third. They teach that all that sidelined money needs to get dumped back into the economy. To get the money moving again, let's let them file for bankruptcy and start over." Sue cringes at this approach.

Hamstrung with a bad credit rating, the business owner can lose everything, including their home and family. "I've seen it happen too many times."

"Here's a common example," Sue says. "A young entrepreneur graduates from college with a hard-earned business degree. They have no practical experience, and (more often than not) plenty of student loan debt. Without experience, finding a job to pay back those student loans is tough. Business degree in hand, our graduate decides to start a business, and their proud parents are eager to help the new graduate become a 'captain of industry.'"

Our aspiring entrepreneur puts together a business plan just like they learned in college. But the new business burns through Mom and Dad's retirement savings much faster than the business plan accounted for. As Sue has observed far too often, "It doesn't take long before this bright young entrepreneur is overwhelmed by all the disjointed things that they didn't know they had to pay attention to."

Sue makes it clear that she recognizes the value of business degrees, "but they're not much help when starting a small business." Business degree programs are generally focused on preparing the student to work in the corporate world. "The textbooks are written by professors who have only studied the corporate world because there's enough depth there to warrant study."

So, if a business degree doesn't provide much help for startups, where does a new entrepreneur go to get the knowledge they need for success?

"Many rely on their tax accountants," Sue answers. "After all, accountants have business degrees. But  well, our example just illustrated how ineffective a business degree is when it comes to helping our typical graduate start a new business. Don't get me wrong, accountants are great. They accomplish some very tedious work, and they keep the IRS off your case."

Rarely do any of these accountants ever visit a client. "So they don't get exposed to how business is actually done from the standpoint of those they work for," Sue says. "They're part of an accounting business, but all they sell is the hours they spend working at their desk, isolated from all other business operations."

And the accounting business is pretty simple. The only costs are labor and a little overhead  no materials, no production costs, very little capital equipment, and no inventory. Accountants also must follow established rules and guidelines, so there is no design, no prototype, no preproduction, no tweaking the system to minimize costs  "none of the things other business owners have to deal with every day," Sue notes.

"This narrow range of business experience lends credence to the kind of advice you typically get from accountants: 'Sell more.' The more hours accountants sell, the more profit they make. But for most business owners who are looking for advice to improve a bad situation, selling more, from a loss standpoint, will sell them into bankruptcy."

"Given the accounting business model, the only place accountants have experience in cost reduction is overhead," Sue observes. "Rent, utilities, pens, coffee  I can't tell you how many times I've had to listen to a new client complain about how much more it cost them when they moved to a new location to save on rent  at the advice of their accountant. And the joke about five people sharing one pen is actually not far off."

These overhead expenses are also known as fixed expenses. As the term indicates, fixed expenses remain fairly consistent, and Sue has repeatedly observed accountants advising business owners to reduce fixed expenses, which can only be accomplished at the rate of 1 or 2% of revenue. Instead, among a myriad of other concepts, Sue shows business owners how to reduce the cost of goods sold, "which can be accomplished more easily and can yield savings of 20-40% of revenue."

Then, there are consulting firms or private individuals who sell their hours to advise small businesses. Many of these people are laid-off managers from big business. "They may know a small part of how a business should work," Sue says, "but they don't have the experience to know how the business should work as a whole. Their biggest overhead cost is in attorneys fighting off lawsuits because the consultant doesn't know what they're doing for the average small business in trouble."

So now the Small Business Administration (SBA) is stepping in, trying to help small businesses. "The SBA is a nonprofit and a government entity. Their revenue comes mainly from grants and taxes." As Sue points out, "Neither pf these revenue models is helpful in teaching entrepreneurs how to do business in the free market economy."

Recognizing the lack of practical, reliable information available to entrepreneurs, Sue created the Anatomy of Business Series, which teaches business owners how to bypass the pitfalls that commonly contribute to small business bankruptcy.

"I was very fortunate to learn from an amazing mentor while I was earning my college degree," Sue says. "He was a true business genius, and what I learned from him became the foundation of my career. Since then, I've made some adjustments and used these techniques to dramatically improve the success and profitability of a wide range of businesses. I'm happy to now offer this knowledge to all small business owners through the Anatomy of Business Series."

Having consistently proven her system with multiple businesses over the course of 30 years, Sue knows her system works, and she backs it up with a money-back guarantee. Visit AnatomyOfBusiness.com for more information or to start learning how to dramatically improve your business.

SOURCE Business is Booming!
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
Barabanki, July 16 : A gang of young men barged into a private hospital in Uttar Pradesh's Barabanki and one of them took doctors and paramedical staff at gunpoint, forcing them to bandage his wounds and walked out.

This incident took place thrice on July 9, 11 and 13 when these youths visited the hospital in a locality under Ram Sanehi Ghat police station of Barabanki after 10 pm late at night.

One of them even slapped the doctor for showing reluctance.

Hospital owner Jagjeet Singh lodged an FIR against the youths after which one of them, identified as Adarsh Singh, was arrested when he again turned up at the hospital. Singh also shared CCTV footage of the youth training a gun on him and other staff.

Circle Officer Jata Shankar Mishra said that accused Adarsh Singh was a local goon and lived in a locality near the hospital.

He said the accused used a toy gun to threaten the doctors and other hospital staff.

The accused had suffered a wound in his right leg accidentally and he used to get it bandaged, Mishra said, adding that efforts were on to arrest his other accomplices.

The FIR has been lodged under Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 323 for voluntarily causing hurt, 453 for house trespass with preparation to hurt people, 504 for hurling abuses and insulting, 506 for criminal intimidation and 34 for committing the act with common intention, against arrested accused Adarsh, his accomplice Ajeet Kumar and four other unidentified people.
London, July 16 : UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace has reportedly said that he will step down at the next Cabinet reshuffle after four years in the job.

Wallace, who has played a key role in the UK's response to the Ukraine war, told the Sunday Times he would not stand at the next general election, but ruled out leaving "prematurely" and triggering a by-election. He has served as Defence Secretary under three Prime Ministers.

Rishi Sunak is reportedly planning to shake up his top team, but no date has been confirmed, the BBC reported.

His departure is not related to the Conservative party's current challenges, The Guardian reported, citing multiple reports.

"I went into politics in the Scottish parliament in 1999. That's 24 years. I've spent well over seven years with three phones by my bed," Wallace told the Sunday Times.

Wallace, who has served longer in the role than any Conservative Defence Secretary before him, told the newspaper that he was conscious of the impact the job has had on his family.

He told the newspaper: "While I am proud to have worked with so many amazing people and helped contribute to protecting this great country, the cost of putting that ahead of my family is something I am very sad about."

Wallace, a former soldier, is a popular figure in the Conservative Party and was, at times, seen as a frontrunner to become party leader, though never stood in a leadership election.
Jaipur, July 16 : Where shall our Pilot land? This question seems to be doing the rounds in the party ever since a report of former deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot joining the team of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has come in.

If sources in one section of the Congress are to be believed Pilot will be joining as general secretary in the Congress Working Committee soon and hence will lead the apex team of the Congress.

The other section is confident that he will be given a decent role and his position in Rajasthan will be elevated.

In fact, Pilot has been in Jaipur since the last few days and has been actively participating in the party's meetings and protests which he had been avoiding for the last few months.

He was recently seen at a protest against the disqualification of Rahul Gandhi as MP.

Also, he was seen at the PCC recently where he addressed block presidents and asked them to sweat in the fields.

A party leader speaking with IANS said, "now, you look at his body language, doesn't he look confident?"

It seems he has been given some assurance about his future role, otherwise why will he be so polite after fighting for his demands for the last four and a half years, he questioned.

Ever since his meeting with the party high command in Delhi, Pilot seems to be a changed man. While he is openly praising Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, he has also assured the party that he will accept anything being offered to him by the party.

Recently, he had good words for Gehlot saying, "Gehlot is trying to take everyone along," after his meeting with senior leaders in Delhi.

Surprisingly, in 2020, he had rebelled against the state leadership but it was abortive.

Meanwhile, Pilot has yet another reason to smile. He is happy that his demands have been accepted by the party leadership and the state government has announced bringing a stringent law against paper leaks.

CM Ashok Gehlot has announced to bring in a law proposing life term for those accused of paper leaks. Pilot has taken out a march from Ajmer to Jaipur to raise his demands and one amongst these was strict action against paper leak accused.

Now questions are being asked why Pilot has accepted the final suggestion of the central leadership and announced that he is ready to accept whatever role is offered to him.

Sources confirmed that Pilot also met state in charge Sukhjnder Singh Randhawa and three observers who went to his house on Friday.

Why have these seniors visited his place; something is cooking it seems, said party workers.

A few followers of Pilot have been dropped from the Congress Working Committee announced recently and there are chances that they will be inducted back, said party leaders.

Meanwhile, the activeness of senior leader Sonia Gandhi is also being discussed. Sonia will be in Bengaluru where the opposition leaders will be meeting.

Will there be some change after this meeting, is another question being raised among party workers.

The party high command has already announced that the party will go to the assembly polls without a CM face. This is yet another victory for the Pilot camp. This is because the CM is always the face of the party. If the party says that it will go to the polls without a face, it clearly raises many questions, said another party leader.

All eyes are now on what role Pilot gets. This is because earlier, he was given the position of deputy CM with other portfolios. However, he openly rebelled against the state leadership. Even after the rebellion, he was offered a position in Delhi in the central team, but as per sources, he rejected all those posts and insisted on staying in Rajasthan.

The Gehlot camp is least interested in giving him any role. However, the fight is for the eastern Rajasthan seats where Gujjars are quite dominant. The BJP central leadership is focusing on these seats and all senior party leaders be it Prime Minister Narendra Modi, JP Nadda and others have already been touring these areas.

The fight is on, let's wait and watch how the Congress plays on these seats, said political experts.
Introduction

The Antikythera Mechanism is a captivating artifact from ancient Greece that continues to fascinate researchers and historians. Discovered over a century ago in a shipwreck off the coast of the Greek island of Antikythera, this mysterious device has been hailed as one of the most significant archaeological discoveries of the 20th century. With its intricate gears and mechanisms, the Antikythera Mechanism is believed to be an early analog computer, shedding light on the scientific and technological advancements of the ancient world.

1. The Discovery of the Antikythera Mechanism

In 1901, a group of sponge divers stumbled upon a shipwreck near the island of Antikythera. Among the various artifacts recovered from the wreckage was a corroded lump of bronze. Little did they know that this unassuming object would soon become the center of attention for scientists and historians worldwide.

2. Unraveling the Enigma: Decoding the Device

The initial examination of the corroded artifact proved challenging, but technological advancements eventually allowed researchers to gain insight into its true nature. The Antikythera Mechanism turned out to be a sophisticated device that could calculate astronomical positions and predict celestial events.

3. The Complex Design of the Mechanism

The Antikythera Mechanism consists of a series of interlocking gears housed within a wooden case. Its intricate design and precise craftsmanship showcase the mastery of ancient Greek engineering. The gears were carefully arranged to replicate the movements of celestial bodies, such as the Sun, Moon, and planets.

4. The Functions and Capabilities of the Antikythera Mechanism

The primary purpose of the Antikythera Mechanism was to track the positions of celestial bodies and predict astronomical events, including eclipses and planetary alignments. By adjusting the dials on the device, ancient astronomers could accurately determine the positions of various celestial objects at a given point in time.

5. The Significance of the Antikythera Mechanism

The Antikythera Mechanism is a testament to the scientific and technological prowess of ancient Greece. Its existence challenges our preconceived notions about the capabilities of ancient civilizations and their understanding of the cosmos. The device's complexity and accuracy highlight the advanced knowledge possessed by ancient Greek astronomers.

6. The Influence on Ancient Greek Science and Astronomy

The discovery of the Antikythera Mechanism sheds light on the scientific achievements of ancient Greek civilization. It reveals that their knowledge of astronomy surpassed what was previously believed. The Mechanism likely influenced subsequent developments in science and technology, serving as a foundation for further discoveries in the field of astronomy.

7. The Legacy of the Antikythera Mechanism

The legacy of the Antikythera Mechanism extends far beyond its time. It serves as a symbol of human ingenuity and the never-ending quest for knowledge. The device's existence challenges us to reevaluate the achievements of past civilizations and to appreciate their contributions to the development of modern science and technology.

8. Modern Research and Reconstruction Efforts

Since its discovery, scientists and engineers have dedicated their efforts to understanding and reconstructing the Antikythera Mechanism. Through advanced imaging techniques and computer simulations, researchers have gained valuable insights into its inner workings. These ongoing efforts continue to deepen our understanding of ancient Greek technology and its impact on our modern world.

9. The Antikythera Mechanism's Place in History

The Antikythera Mechanism holds a significant place in history as a groundbreaking technological achievement. It represents a bridge between ancient and modern civilizations and stands as a testament to the intellectual capabilities of the ancient Greeks. Its impact reverberates through time, inspiring scientists and researchers to delve deeper into the mysteries of the past.

10. Conclusion

The Antikythera Mechanism remains an enigma, captivating both experts and enthusiasts alike. This extraordinary device serves as a testament to the brilliance of ancient Greek engineering and their understanding of astronomy. As ongoing research and reconstruction efforts shed light on its intricate workings, the Antikythera Mechanism continues to challenge our understanding of ancient civilizations and their contributions to human progress.

Vintage Typewriter Collection: The Passion for Collecting and Restoring Antique Typewriters

IIT Delhi to set up campus in Abu Dhabi, A Landmark Collaboration

Pre-Registration Begins for Pokemon Sleep
Singapore, July 16 : A domestic worker from Myanmar, who stabbed her employer's 70-year-old Indian mother-in-law 26 times in 2018, has been sentenced to life imprisonment in Singapore.

Zin Mar Nwe, now 22, who was found guilty of murder by the High Court in May this year, took the extreme step after the woman abused and threatened to send her back to Myanmar, The Straits Times reported recently.

As it sentenced Zin to life imprisonment on July 4, the court heard that on June 25, 2018, the two women were alone in the flat when Zin grabbed a knife from the kitchen and stabbed the victim multiple times.

She then left with some cash and went to her agency to ask for her passport, where she was arrested after a few hours.

After her arrest, the maid initially denied stabbing the victim but later admitted, according to the report.

Zin said she was physically abused by the victim, and in one of her statements to the police on July 1, 2018, she listed numerous instances of how the victim abused her.

She added the victim came to stay with her employer's family on May 26, 2018, and would use her knuckles to knock Zin on her head or back whenever she did not understand what the victim wanted her to do.

Zin said on one occasion, while she was massaging the victim, the victim slapped her because she found the massage painful.

The purported trigger point was when the victim told Zin that she would be sent back to the agent the next day, which meant going back to her native country in debt.

Zin's lawyer, Christopher Bridges, argued that she should instead be convicted of culpable homicide, relying on the psychiatric opinion of Dr Tommy Tan that she was suffering from adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood at the time.

Rejecting the defence, Justice Andre Maniam said that Zin was conscious that she was stabbing the victim.

Justice Maniam said Zin could remember details of the incident and was able to describe the stabbing to the police, which undermined Dr Tan's conclusion that her mind was not conscious of what she was doing.

He, however, accepted that the victim had abused Zin to get her attention or reprimand her.
Saharanpur : , July 16 (IANS) Prominent Islamic seminary Darul Uloom of Deoband has sent a letter to the law commission chairman saying that the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) is neither necessary nor desirable in the country and added that it will cause social disorder.

Darul Uloom Deoband, as a world-renowned Islamic school of thought which has played a significant role in the freedom struggle of India and nation-building, deems it necessary to express its views on UCC, the seminary's Naib Mohatamim (deputy vice chancellor) Abdul Khaliq Madrasi wrote in the letter.

"We believe a common civil code for all communities in India is neither necessary nor desirable. Implementing UCC would mean that all the personal religious laws shall be kept at bay and a uniform personal law governing areas of marriage, divorce, inheritance, etc., shall be formulated. This shall go against the right to freedom of religion granted to each Indian citizen under Articles 25 and 26 of the Constitution," he said.

The letter further said that the UCC will cause social disorder.

"If a uniform civil code is introduced covering the country, it shall cause so much hardship and social disorder to religious minorities as their personal and social life are quite distinct from the rest of people in the country," Abdul Khaliq Madrasi added.

UCC shall prove too divisive and will lead to social unrest and that is against the spirit of the Constitution, which safeguards the right of citizens to practise their culture and religion, he said.

The seminary official further wrote that a mandatory UCC shall be a blanket imposition of one identity on a country whose inhabitants bear diverse identities.

"It shall severely impact the cultural rights protected under the fundamental rights and shall be affront to the cherished principle of legal pluralism and shall push our country many steps back from inclusivity and tolerance," he said.

Therefore, Darul Uloom Deoband, just like other prominent Muslim organisations such as All India Muslim Personal Law Board and Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind etc rejects the idea of UCC, he added.

--IANSamita/dpb
Gorakhpur : , July 16 (IANS) About 40 students of two government junior high schools in Sarai Gulharia village and Balapar village fell sick after consuming a midday meal containing insects and worms.

All the sick students were admitted to the Community Health Centre at Chargawan on Saturday and are said to be out of danger.

Learning about the incident, villagers rushed to the schools and staged protests demanding the arrest of the people responsible.

Basic education officer Ramendra Kumar Singh said that outsourcing company Akshay Patra was the supplier of the midday meal in 70 primary and junior high schools of Chargawan Block.

He said that 40 students of both schools were reported to have fallen sick. Singh said that the coordinator of district midday meals was on the spot and an inquiry had been initiated. Once the probe report comes in, stringent action will be taken against the people responsible.

The assistant teacher of the school at Sarai Gulharia, Santosh Mishra, confirmed that the midday meal in school was supplied by Akshay Patra.

On Saturday, Rajma-potato vegetable, curd and rice was served to students but soon after consuming the meal, the students began complaining of vomiting and dizziness. Later, he informed the village head and basic education department officers.

Village head of Gulharia, Sumit Sahni, asked the health department officials for an ambulance to carry the sick to CHC Chargawan.

In Balapar village, teacher Sunita Agarhari confirmed that due to complaints of nausea and vomiting by half a dozen students, she informed the block education officer and village head. The staff of Akshay Patra rushed to the spot and quickly tried to wash the utensils.
London, July 16 : A gang of five people, including three men and two women, have been found guilty of a 'honeytrap murder' of a 44-year-old Indian-origin man in Hertfordshire, England.

Vishal Gohel, 44, was found dead on the scene at his flat in Bushey, Hertfordshire, on January 23, 2022, the BBC reported.

A jury at St Albans Crown Court heard that Gohel was expecting a sexual liaison with the women, but was beaten when their male accomplices arrived to rob him.

The court was told that on January 22, 2022, a neighbour entered the flat and found Gohel with gaffer tape on his face, lying "lifeless on the floor of the bedroom".

A post-mortem examination showed that Gohel had suffered severe blows to his head.

Three female defendants arrived in Bushey at 01:00 GMT in a cab, while the three male defendants arrived on the scene at 02:25 GMT, prosecutor Charlotte Newell KC told the court.

"It was the culmination of a plan that had been brewing throughout the day," Newell KC said.

She said efforts were made to clean up the flat and an iPhone and an iWatch had been taken.

But "no attempts had been made to contact the emergency services", the BBC quoted Newell as saying.

Tevin Leslie, 23, who had previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to rob, was convicted of murder, and Sakeen Gordon, 22, was convicted of murder by a 10 to one majority and conspiracy to rob.

Yarley Georgia Bruce-Annan, 22, was convicted of murder after earlier admitting a charge of conspiracy to rob, while Brandon Browne was found not guilty of murder, but convicted of manslaughter and conspiracy to rob.

Faith Hoppie was found not guilty of murder, but convicted of manslaughter and conspiracy to rob.

All five of them will be sentenced at St Albans Crown Court on September 26.

A sixth defendant, Tiana Edwards Hancock, 20, was cleared of murder, manslaughter and conspiracy to rob.
Jaipur, July 16 : Is the BJP preparing for the Lok Sabha and assembly polls simultaneously in Rajasthan? This is the big question doing the rounds in the political circles of the state -- The reason is the constant visits of the central leadership to the desert state.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has already made back to back trips here. He visited Abu Road in September 2022, Banswara in November 2022, Bhilwara in January 2023, Dausa in February 2023, Nathdwara and Ajmer in May 2023. And now Modi recently visited Bikaner. This has been Modi's first visit to the northwestern region in this election season. So far, Home Minister Amit Shah and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh have taken the flag forward for the BJP cause in this area.

Besides Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah visited Udaipur recently, BJP president JP Nadda was in Bharatpur, and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh addressed a rally in Jodhpur.

Says political expert Manish Godha, "it is very evident that the BJP in Rajasthan is keeping an eye on the Lok Sabha polls and is also preparing for the assembly elections. This is a two-way strategy where they are equally trying to work on Assembly and LS seats."

In Rajasthan, the BJP won all the 25 seats in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

The BJP had an alliance with the RLP but its convenor Hanuman Beniwal later parted ways with the NDA on the issue of the farm laws and hence now the party has 24 MPs in Rajasthan.

Now, the party is yet again making untiring efforts to sweep all the seats in the desert state.

That is why the back to back visits of the central leaders. The nine years of the Modi government campaign is also to highlight the aim of winning Lok Sabha seats in 2024, said Godha.

Modi's Bikaner visit last Saturday in fact was his seventh to Rajasthan in the past nine months. The aim was to cater to 30 Assembly seats and four Lok Sabha seats across half a dozen districts of Rajasthan, said party workers.

The BJP has used the strategy smartly.

When we talk of Bikaner, the Congress has three MLAs in Bikaner, with all three serving as ministers in the government. The BJP's strategy here was to target Ashok Gehlot's free schemes while touting its own "double engine" development model.

Eventually, PM Modi opened the Greenfield Expressway between Amritsar and Jamnagar, built at a cost of Rs 20,000 crore. He also inaugurated other infrastructure projects worth crores. He was accompanied by Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari.

Earlier, Modi flagged off the first phase of the Mumbai Delhi Expressway in Dausa.

"So the central projects are being launched in Rajasthan keeping in mind the Lok Sabha and assembly polls," said party workers on condition of anonymity.

Political analysts pointed out how four of the BJP's most prominent leaders have made a beeline for Rajasthan to mobilise party workers and highlight the work done by the central government.

Further the party is well aware that the Rajasthan elections will be the toughest of all states, said Godha adding that "The Rajasthan Assembly elections will likely witness a three-cornered fight, as beside the ruling Congress and the opposition BJP, the Aam Aadmi Party is also making its presence felt."

"The AAP is in power in Punjab. Rajasthan's Sriganganagar and Hanumangarh are districts adjoining Punjab. In such a situation, the Aam Aadmi Party is engaged in strengthening its organization in these areas."

AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal has kicked off the party's campaign in the poll-bound state with a public meeting in Sriganganagar. The AAP is hoping to reach out to those parts of Rajasthan which have a considerable number of people from the farming community, including Sriganganagar, Bikaner and Hanumangarh.

Besides the Congress, the BJP is facing a strong challenge from the AAP in this area.

Godha says "It's clearly a tough fight for the saffron party. There is a directionless campaign in the state as there is no CM face and the party leadership is fractured. Party workers are confused about who they should follow. No one knows when the central leadership will come and take over but till then, there needs to be some face. Hence, the central leadership seems to be making this two way preparation for the Lok Sabha and assembly polls simultaneously. This looks like the toughest state in terms of political conditions here. So the saffron party is focusing on the Rajasthan as well as the Lok Sabha polls. They have started preparations well in advance as the elections might be held before December," he added.

The BJP is not taking chances. If it loses the assembly, there will be Lok Sabha seats in its hands, and hence comes this two way strategy. However, its clear that the national polls will be contested on Modi's face and so come the back to back visits by Modi.

"Dono ka campaign [ek saath chal raha hai kyunki dono elections aane wale hain; we are just making headway to win the assembly and parliamentary polls, " said a party worker.
Ahmedabad, July 16 : Following its triumph in the 2022 Gujarat Assembly elections and recognising significance of the state as a stepping stone towards its larger goals, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), wasting no time, is convening flurry of meetings at party's state headquarters eyeing landslide victory in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

With ambitions running high, the saffron party has set a target of winning over 400 seats in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, a significant increase from their victory in 2019 with 303 seats.

To achieve this feat, various BJP-linked groups such as the Mahila Morcha, Kisan Morcha, and Minority Morcha have been entrusted with the responsibility of reaching out to voters across the nation.

In Gujarat, the leader spearheading the charge is state BJP chief C. R. Patil, who played a pivotal role in the party's victory in the 2022 Gujarat elections. Patil has set an audacious goal, aiming to secure victory in all 26 Lok Sabha seats in the state with a substantial margin of five lakh votes each.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi places great trust in Patil's capabilities, whose strategy focuses not only on achieving a perfect score of 26/26, a feat accomplished by the BJP in both the 2014 and 2019 elections, but also on ensuring the Congress rivals perform so poorly that they forfeit their security deposits.

The party's vote share too increased as it secured 62.2 per cent of the votes polled, up from 60 per cent in 2014. Patil attributes his confidence to the "Modi factor" and the state's meticulous "page committees" that facilitate micro-level management of voters.

aWhether it's a district elections or Lok Sabha elections, we are always working hard. For us, the candidate is less important but the ultimate victory is important," said a BJP member.

The frequency of meetings at the Gujarat BJP headquarters, Kamalam, has surged since May 2023.

Paatil, in recent times, orchestrated individual meetings for party members hailing from Ahmedabad, Patan, and Sabarkantha districts. These gatherings witnessed the presence of approximately 300 district executive members, elected panchayat members, and other invitees. Similar district-wise meetings are scheduled in the near future.

The discussions during these meetings also revolved around the coordination of page committees with social media and associated activities. As the party gears up, these strategic sessions pave the way for effective communication and engagement.

In the 2019 elections, 15 BJP candidates won by a margin of over 3 lakh votes, a considerable increase from just six candidates in 2014. A victory margin of less than two lakh votes was recorded in only four constituencies - Dahod, Junagadh, Anand, and Patan.

The highest victory margin in the entire country, surpassing even PM Modi's, was achieved by Patil in Navsari. With these achievements in mind, the BJP's confidence remains high as they gear up for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Shimla, July 16 : There was no natural calamity in a famous Sikh shrine at Manikaran in Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh, a senior police official said on Sunday, while setting aside rumours on the social media.

The situation in the gurdwara after last week's deluge is peaceful and safe. "No such mishap at the gurdwara in Manikaran.The situation is peaceful and all are safe," said Additional Director General of Police Satwant Atwal in a post on her twitter handle.

She was responding to a social media fake post that claimed that 10 people were killed and many injured when boulders rolled down a hillside onto the Sikh shrine at Manikaran.

The Manikaran shrine, located in the Parvati Valley along the banks of the Parvati river, is some 50 km from the Kullu district headquarters and 250 from state capital Shimla. However, the river is on spate these days due to torrential rain in its catchment.

--IANS

vg/svn/
Patna, July 16 : A day after BJP leader Vijay Singh died in mysterious circumstances, he gave a "Sanjivani" to the BJP leaders to launch an attack on the Nitish-Tejashwi government in Bihar.

The investigation by the Patna police tells a different story from what the BJP leaders are saying but this case will prove to be a weapon for the BJP to target Nitish Kumar and Tejashwi Yadav in the run up to the Lok Sabha election 2024. They will make the lathicharge on BJP workers an issue against the Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance) government.

Bharatiya Janata Party leaders are already targeting the Mahagathbandhan government for lawlessness in the state, charge sheet against Tejashwi Yadav, domicile policy for teachers' recruitment, corruption charges against the Nitish Kumar government, especially the bridge collapsed in Aguwani Ghat Khagaria on the Ganga river.

This is one aspect of the BJP preparing to point out the shortcomings of the state government. The other aspect is the BJP's own strength of having a big cadre in Bihar.

Samrat Chaudhary, the state president of the BJP in Bihar, said: "The agitation on the streets of Patna was organised by the BJP leaders and supporters. Many people are saying that we have hijacked the protest of the teachers' jobs aspirants. I want to say that we support the teachers and are not hijacking their protest. We have the capacity to protest on our own. We are a cadre based party and we are fighting against the dictatorship of Nitish Kumar."

Nikhil Anand, national general secretary of the BJP OBC wing, said: "As an opposition party, it is our duty to point out the irregularities to the Grand Alliance government. As our state president said, we have a strong cadre in Bihar and we are dependent on them. We respect our cadre and they respect the ideology of the party. We are organizing events in every block and village to inform people about the 9 years achievements of the Narendra Modi government."

"Many leaders in the ruling parties in Bihar blame the Centre for charge-sheeting Tejashwi Yadav in the IRCTC land for job scam. This case came to light in March 2009 when the present JD-U national president Lalan Singh and RJD vice president Shivanand Tiwari played the roles of whistleblowers and handed over the proofs to the Manmohan Singh government.

"Moreover, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar left the Mahagathbandhan in 2017 after the name of Tejashwi Yadav figured in the charge sheet of the CBI. Then he left the RJD. If Tejashwi Yadav is again charge sheeted in 2023 then why is Nitish Kumar not taking his resignation?

"I have a simple question for Nitish Kumar -- whether he was right in 2017 or is he right in 2023. BJP leaders were not the ones who played the role of crusaders. It was Lalan Singh and Shivanand Tiwari and Nitish Kumar who had taken the decision to leave the Mahagathbandhan on the issue of the charge sheet. How is the BJP the culprit in framing Tejashwi Yadav?" Anand said.

"We have our own strengths like Saptrishi and Panna Pramukh and their reach is to the doorsteps of every household even in the remote villages. So we are preparing for the Lok Sabha polls on our own strength and also performing the role of a responsible opposition party," Anand said.

The BJP currently has around 57800 Booth Level Agents (BLA), around 73000 Saptrishis and a large number of Panna Pramukh and media in charge at the booth level.

Manan Krishnan, the state media in-charge of the BJP, said: "The Saptrishi means 7 persons deployed at one polling booth and they come under the BLA. The Panna Pramukh means one person to take care of one Panna (Front and Back page) of the voter list. In states like Gujarat we have page Pramukh which means one person for only one page either on the back or front side of the voter list. Besides, we also have media in-charge at the booth level. Their job is to spread the party policies and ideology among the voters."

"So, our reach is almost at every doorstep even in the remote villages of Bihar. They are dedicated workers of the BJP. They are ideologically connected with the party," Krishnan said.

BJP leaders at the ground level are also supported by RSS workers. They are also in large numbers and connected with the BLA, Saptrishis, Panna Pramukhs and media in-charge at the booth level.
Lucknow, July 16 : The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is battle ready for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections in Uttar Pradesh.

All the issues that the party is relying on for a return to power have a strong base in Uttar Pradesh -- be it the grand Ram temple, the support from beneficiaries (known as 'labharthi') the impact of the Uniform Civil Code, the magic of Yogi Adityanath and, of course, the divisions in the opposition.

To begin with, the Ram temple has been the fulcrum of the BJP's politics since it came into being in 1980, and the party has faced some turbulent times in the temple movement in the past decades.

When the doors of the Ram temple open in 2024, it will be only the ground floor that would have been completed by then. The Ram Lalla idols would be installed there and will be opened for the public in January next year.

The BJP wants the temple to open next year so that the Lok Sabha polls can be held under the saffron hue.

The opening of the temple, according to sources, will be preceded by a massive publicity blitzkrieg that will be designed to raise Hindu passions and create a frenzy of sorts for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

"The campaign preceding the opening of the temple will span over almost three months and we plan to whip up Hindu passions like never before. The opening of the sanctum sanctorum will be a slap on the faces of those who have ridiculed our slogan 'Mandir wahin banayenge'," said a BJP functionary.

He added that the Ram temple was not a fulfilment of an election promise but was a fulfilment of faith that millions had reposed in the BJP.

Other constituents of the Sangh Parivar -- including the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and the Bajrang Dal -- are also planning programmes to create a build-up for the grand occasion.

The BJP will want to make sure that temple talk dominates the Indian political scenario in 2024 and all other issues are swept aside.

The opening of the temple in early 2024 will also throw open a new Ayodhya to the people of India that the Yogi government is working on.

"When one comes to Ayodhya to see the Ram temple, we would like them to see a new state-of-the-art city, the new Ayodhya," said a government official.

The Uttar Pradesh government is gearing up to develop Ayodhya with a mega Rs 32,000 crore plan, involving 264 projects executed by as many as 37 agencies to transform the face of Ayodhya into a global tourism and spiritual destination.

A massive network of highways, roads, infrastructure, townships, grand entrance gates, multi-level parking facilities and a new airport is coming up in Ayodhya.

A free-field Vedic township, a new international airport, a redeveloped railway station, construction of new prime roads and the Saryu River development plan along with historic city circuits and heritage walks are part of this.

A senior BJP functionary said, "While the 2019 Lok Sabha election narrative was about surgical strikes, the Ram temple will become the big narrative in the 2024 general elections."

Alongside the temple issue, the BJP is relying on 'labharthis'  beneficiaries of the schemes of the Central and state governments.

Ration kits, free houses, free gas cylinders, free water connections that were distributed among the poor have created a new vote bank of beneficiaries that cuts across caste and religion.

The BJP is confident that this section of voters will not be impacted by issues that are raised by the opposition parties.

The Yogi government's crackdown on the mafia and criminals and subsequent improvement in the law and order situation has created a sense of security among the people.

While some of Yogi Adityanath's cabinet colleagues were seemingly apprehensive about a possible backlash from the minority community, following the killing of Atiq Ahmad and his brother Ashraf in police custody, the chief minister has remained unrelenting and continues to act tough against the mafia.

His tough action against the mafia, his no-nonsense approach towards the state administration and commitment to development has become a magical combination of factors that will likely lead the BJP to another sweeping victory in the 2024 polls.

Moreover, the heat being generated over the Uniform Civil Code, is also aimed at consolidating the Hindu vote bank in favour of the BJP.

"The bigger the opposition to UCC, the greater will be the Hindu consolidation in our favour," said a senior UP minister.

Another factor that makes the BJP confident about its performance in UP is Yogi Adityanath. The chief minister has acquired a cult status and is widely respected as a strict administrator and a compassionate leader. His popularity has been growing by the day and the crowds at his meetings clearly indicate that he is miles ahead of others in the campaign.

However, the BJP continues to work on micro management at the organisation level to help translate the people's mood into votes. The party is repeatedly oiling its party machinery and is not leaving things to chance.

Another major factor that will make it easy for the BJP in 2024, is the thoroughly fragmented opposition in UP. The Samajwadi Party, Bahujan Samaj Party and the Congress have shown no inclination for an alliance in the state and this will work in favour of the BJP  a fact that everyone knows but no one will acknowledge.

--IANSamita/bg
Patna July 15 : Famous poet Dushyant once wrote: "Hangama Khada Karna Hamara Maksad Nahi, Meri Koshish Hai Ki Surat Badalni Chahiye (It is not my intention to kick up a din, I'm trying to bring change)." This famous line has been used by many leaders during political rallies but the values have no meaning in current politics in Bihar. The leaders were involved only in "hangama" for the last five days of the monsoon session and matters of public issues were ignored. There were 823 questions listed in this session and 704 were accepted by the Speaker.

People question the need for such a session where legislators are get Dearness Allowance (DA) and other perks only to create a ruckus in and outside of Assembly and Council at the cost of taxpayers' money.

As per an official, close to Rs 1 crore is one day's cost of running Bihar Vidhan Mandal (Assembly and Council). Besides, legislators also get DA to the tune of Rs 50 lakh.

The monsoon session of Bihar Vidhan Sabha started on July 10 with an address by Speaker Awadh Bihari Chaudhary. There was no question hour on that day. The Speaker had announced the name of the presiding officer and a supplementary budget was put on the table. The session went on for only half an hour.

On the second day of the Monsoon session, the session went on for just six minutes in the first half and 20 minutes in the second half without any question hour or parliamentary proceedings. Due to the ruckus, a reporting table placed in the well of the house was broken.

On July 12, the assembly began at the scheduled time and the leader of opposition was given a chance to speak in the house. There were three questions asked and then leader of opposition Vijay Sinha blamed the Speaker for taking the side of ruling Mahagathbandhan leaders.

That led to a ruckus and the session was finally adjourned after 31 minutes. During the ruckus, two chairs in the well were also broken on that day.

On July 13, BJP legislators created a ruckus inside the house as soon as the question hour started. The situation compounded to the extent that the Speaker directed Marshalls to take Jivesh Mishra and Engineer Shailendra out of the house.

Following that incident, BJP legislators walked out from the house and sat on Dharna in the first half. In the second half, they went to Gandhi Maidan to participate in the protest march. Majority of them were arrested on that day after lathi charge at Dak Bungalow Chowk. As a result, they failed to reach Vidhan Sabha.

On July 14, BJP decided to celebrate black day against the death of one of its leaders Vijay Singh and lathi charge. Some leaders of BJP came to the assembly and created a ruckus.

During that period, BJP MLA Sanjay Singh tried to take off his shirt after climbing on the reporting table and was eventually marshaled out of the house.

Many legislators were displeased due to frequent adjournment of the house. The ruling party's leaders blamed BJP for creating ruckus inside the house and disrupting the proceedings.

"This is a small session of just 5 days and we were prepared to ask questions about the issues related to the public but BJP leaders are not allowing the house to run smoothly. They unnecessarily disrupted the proceedings of the house on all five days. They have pulled chairs in such a manner that it would be a threat to the legislators. It is unparliamentary and objectionable," said Shalini Mishra, MLA of JD-U.

Sangeeta Kumari, the MLA of RJD said: "They have destroyed democracy in Maharashtra and made deputy CM a person who is corrupt. It is the double standards of BJP which is appearing in public. They pulled the chair and tried to attack legislators."

The biggest issues for BJP were the charge-sheet of Tejashwi Yadav. The leader of opposition Vijay Kumar Sinha slammed the Nitish Kumar government for keeping a charge-sheeted person on a Constitutional post.

"It is not the FIR that happened on Tejashwi Yadav. He is charge-sheeted in land-for-job case and he has no right to stay on the Constitutional post. Despite all that, he is still sitting on the post and Nitish Kumar is not insisting on his resignation," Sinha said.

"Nitish Kumar's zero tolerance is just an eyewash. He has compromised with corruption. When an FIR was registered on Jitan Ram Manjhi, Nitish Kumar had him resign," Sinha said.

Besides, domicile policy for the recruitments of teachers, rising incidents of crime, corruption like Aguwani Ghat Khagaria bridge collapse are the other issues BJP was raising.

--IANSajk/kvd
Russia launches four S-300 missiles at Kharkiv at night 16 July, 11:04 AM Russia launches four S-300 missiles at Kharkiv at night (Photo:Kharkiv Regional Prosecutor's Office)

Russia launched four S-300 missiles from its Belgorod Oblast during the night, targeting Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city in the northeast, Kharkiv Oblast Governor Oleh Synegubov said on Telegram on July 16.

According to the Military Administration of the Oblast, two missiles exploded in the air, while the remaining two hit the ground. One missile struck a stadium, while the other landed on a road in Kharkiv's Shevchenkivskyi district.

The consequences of the attack included shattered windows in a four-story building and damage to vehicles. Fortunately, no casualties were reported.

Video of day

The National Police and the Prosecutor's Office in Kharkiv Oblast shared photos of craters and damages after the attack.



The local authorities also reported that the enemy continued to shell several districts of Kharkiv Oblast, including Bohodukhiv, Chuhuyiv, Kupyansk, and Kharkivsky. Mortar fire and artillery were used to target border and frontline settlements.

Regrettably, a tragic incident occurred in the village of Kolodyazne in the Kupyansk district, where shelling killed a 33-year-old civilian man and another man was injured.

Will you support Ukraines free press? Dear reader, as all news organizations, we must balance the pressures of delivering timely, accurate, and relevant stories with requirements to fund our business operations. As a Ukrainian-based media, we also have another responsibility  to amplify Ukraines voice to the world during the crucial moment of its existence as a political nation. Its the support of our readers that lets us continue doing our job. We keep our essential reporting free because we believe in our ultimate purpose: an independent, democratic Ukraine. If youre willing to support Ukraine, consider subscribing to our Patreon starting from 5$ per month. We are immensely grateful.

Please help us continue fighting Russian propaganda. Truth can be hard to tell from fiction these days. Every viewpoint has its audience of backers and supporters, no matter how absurd. If conscious disinformation is reinforced by state propaganda apparatus and budget, its outcomes may become deadly. There is no solution to this, other than independent, honest, and accurate reporting. We remain committed to empowering the Ukrainian voice to push against the muck. If youre willing to stand up for the truth  consider supporting us on Patreon starting from 5$ per month. Thank you very much.

Will you help tell Ukraines story to the world? Twenty years ago, most people hadnt even heard of Ukraine. Today, the country is on everyones lips and everyones headlines. War pushed us on the front page. But there are many other things we do that we are proud of  from music and culture to technology. We need your help to tell the world Ukrainian story of resilience, joy, and survival. If youre willing to back our effort, consider supporting us on Patreon starting from 5$ per month. We are immensely grateful.

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New Delhi: The exercise of Intelligence gathering begins with the study of security scenario that accounted for the known and construed threats to the security, integrity and sovereignty of the nation and a determination of the direction of the effort - with the required wherewithal - for launching the covert process of accessing information about the unseen adversary.

The broad challenge of security today can be effectively met only when a comprehensive and complete-looking visualisation of the larger danger to the nation was made first. This would involve strategic thinking reflected in the ability to go beyond the boundaries of the facts in front and not miss the wood for the tree.

Strategic thinking rests on creative imagination - the greatest scientist of all time - Albert Einstein - famously said that "Imagination is more important than knowledge" referring not to any wild imagination but to the intellectual capacity of looking beyond the available information to perceive awhat lies aheada.

Strategic analysts see the wider picture - in todayas geopolitics that became crucial - and help to better define and plan the intelligence collection process.

In a situation where Intelligence is required more and more for solution finding, strategic thinking had a crucial role in suggesting an integral framework of policy that would embrace police, diplomatic and administrative responses all put in play together - apart from tactical measures that might have to be initiated immediately.

Strategic analysis and national security assessment are now the major determinants of the handling of international relations, the approach to multilateralism and the pathway for entertaining bilateral friendships without entering into aalignmentsa.

The dividing line between strategic and tactical Intelligence has thinned out in the current global scene since even a long-range threat would call for some operational measures.

Indiaas national security imperatives now require strengthening of Indo-US bonds notwithstanding Indiaas stand on Ukraine-Russia military conflict, close monitoring of the situation in Afghanistan, full support to the Quad, study of the Sino-Pak alliance as a threat to the democratic world and countermeasures against the covert operations of Pakistan and China intended to cause internal destabilisation in India.

Indiaas foreign policy of opting for mutually beneficial bilateral friendships allows for exclusive sharing of Intelligence as well and this has under the Prime Minister Narendra Modi regime, emerged as the most fruitful strategic outcome thanks to the success of Indiaas National Security Advisor (NSA) in establishing a grid of understanding with his counterparts in countries as diverse as the US, Russia, Israel, Saudi Arabia and Iran.

India has also seen through the strategy of China of seeking the economic route to becoming a superpower - without permitting a let up on military and technological advancement - which was traceable to the lessons drawn by China from the collapse of the USSR. This made Deng Xiaoping open the Chinese economy to the world in a controlled fashion.

President Xi Jinping of China combines Dengas outlook with the cult status of Mao Zedong and through the aSinicization a of Marxism hopes to invoke even the acivilisational strengtha of China for the countryas march to the position of a superpower.

India knows it has to contest China in situations from the land borders to the ocean, on the platforms of the UN and other global forums and in the sphere of economic expansion for which China used its Belt& Road Initiative (BRI) in Indiaas vicinity.

For defence and technology development, India is rightly relying on the strategy of collaboration with the US, France, Israel, Japan and Russia.

In the Indian context, there was a familiar acause and effecta relationship between external threats and internal security reflected in cross-border terrorism, communal conflicts, spread of radicalisation, drug trade and subversive movements in border states.

In the period following the abrogation of Article 370 relating to Kashmir by the Indian Parliament, Pakistan and China are collaborating more deeply in their anti-India moves including the Chinese defence of Pakistan in the UN on the issue of terrorism, use of Chinese Drones by Pakistan for the surreptitious dropping of arms and drug material in sensitive states of Kashmir and Punjab, and the give and take affected by the two countries on Afghanistan that permitted China to extend BRI in that country and get an assurance from Taliban Emirate that no issues will be raised concerning the Muslim minorities in China.

External threats to Indiaas internal security have now become a prime concern for Indiaas security set-up and among other things, call for an extremely close coordination between external and internal Intelligence agencies of India. This is being adequately ensured by the NSA who with his Intelligence background can effectively guide the agencies in this regard.

Border Intelligence, for instance, has been of special importance for India and hence internal, external and military intelligence agencies have all been allowed to have a share of responsibility for the same.

The security situation for India has been developing in a manner that made the management of Intelligence itself a challenge that has since been met well by the NSA and his organisation - the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS) - representing the oversight mechanism at the national apex.

It is worth mentioning that one of the logical arguments advanced by the Kargil Review Committee (KRC) - on whose recommendation institutions of NSA and NSCS were established - was that all information of Intelligence value emanating from different agencies must travel to a point at the national apex for an integral assessment.

The KRC noted that in the context of the Kargil war, scores of pieces of Intelligence never got pushed up for a centralised collation and analysis and in a way were alost in travela.

Intelligence is difficult to come by and none of it should, therefore, be missed out for the reason that there was a lack of coordinated sharing.

In a national-level review, strategic and tactical intelligence both should be scanned because the latter often carried indicators of the larger picture of security. Strategic intelligence likewise, could throw up multiple points of response to be carried out at state and local levels.

Security is an integral concept - a house is either secure or insecure and there was no point in claiming that it was ahalf securea or that aparta of it was secure.

Multi-Agency Centre (MAC) presided over by IB examines operational Intelligence at the central and state levels while national security estimates are drawn up in NSCS that had subsumed the functions of the erstwhile Chairman JIC.

The unstable geopolitical situation reduced the life span of a strategic assessment and made the latter vulnerable to course correction. This has added to the challenge for the countryas security set-up.

On the current reading of the threat scenario for India, collusion between Pakistan and China against India, the rise of Islamic radicalisation in South Asia and the trend of communal militancy graduating into faith-based terror remain on top of the security agenda.

The US is having comfort of distance in relation to the developments in the Pak-Afghan belt after the withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan and the Pentagon is still empathetic towards the Generals in Pakistan.

President Joe Biden administration in the US no doubt continues to look upon China and Russia as its principal adversaries and the basic strategy of India, voiced during the recent visit of Prime Minister Modi to the US, was not to allow Ukraine-Russia military conflict to irreversibly push Russian President Vladimir Putin into the lap of China - this would do no good to either India or the US.

A real threat to Indiaas national security arose from radicalisation in South Asia - there is plenty of evidence to show that Pakistan ISI continued to set Islamic radicals upon India through proxy organisations of Al Qaeda and ISIS, apart from its incessant effort to step up induction of India-specific militant outfits like HuM, LeT and JeM in cross border terrorism against this country in Kashmir and elsewhere.

There is evidence of Pak ISI reviving the K2 plan of instigating the Khalistan movement in Punjab through its agents in the Sikh diaspora outside of India emulating the modus oparandi it used earlier in the 80s.

The banned PFI operating out of Kerala with its links with SIMI on one hand and ISIS on the other, confirmed the trend of militant minority separatism paving the ground for radicalisation and recruitment of Mujahideen. This can be rated as the biggest threat to internal security at present.

Indiaas Intelligence agencies have rightly geared themselves to tracking the use of social media as an instrument of combat by the adversary.

India has done well to highlight -on all international platforms-the danger of terrorism and the role of Pakistan in harbouring and fostering terrorists on its soil and step-up countermeasures in defence, diplomatic and economic spheres to deal with China.

In the final analysis, strategic Intelligence and tactical responses are both equally important for India at this moment.

(The writer is a former Director of the Intelligence Bureau. Views expressed are personal)
New Delhi, July 16 : Homegrown consumer electronics brand boAt Co-founder and CEO, Aman Gupta, was among the young entrepreneurs invited as part of the official delegation for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's state visit to France.

In a tweet, Gupta said that "no force can stop India as our time has come".

"I used to see second and third-generation entrepreneurs at state visits as an official delegation with the Prime Minister but now new-age entrepreneurs like myself are also being invited on such visits," he said.

"This is a significant moment for us, as it reflects the recognition and support given to the entrepreneurial spirit in India," Gupta added.

The Shark Tank India judge also said that he had the honour of speaking about 'Make In India' and Indian startups at the Indo-French CEO Forum.

"The highlight of the trip was witnessing the Bastille Day Parade, where the Indian Contingent played 'Sare Jahaan Se Acha,'" he posted.

Gupta and his wife Priya Dagar had also walked the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival in May this year -- the first entrepreneur from India to do so at the prestigious event.

India saw the shipment of 25.1 million wearable units in the first quarter of 2023, registering a strong 80.9 per cent (year-over-year) growth. Imagine Marketing (boAt) maintained the top place with 25.6 per cent share, growing by 102.4 per cent.
Thiruvananthapuram, July 16 : Kerala Police on Sunday morning arrested a woman for murdering her husband in Thrissur.

The arrested is identified as Nisha, a native of Varanthapally in Thrissur district.

According to police, the deceased Vinod had doubts about his wife's character and there were regular quarrels. On July 11, when Vinod called Nisha on her mobile phone, it was continuously engaged. An infuriated Vinod reached home and quarreled with Nisha over the same. Police said that Vinod twisted Nisha's arm and she immediately took a knife from the kitchen and stabbed Vinod on his chest thrice. Vinod died instantly.

Nisha had tried to mislead the investigation stating that she was not at home and when she come back, she found Vinod lying in a pool of blood. Police, upon investigation, suspected Nisha, and during interrogation, she spilled the beans.

--IANS

aal/kvd
New Delhi, July 16 : Elon Musk, who started paying a select group of creators as promised, has admitted that Twitter is still in the red after a massive 50 per cent drop in advertising revenue and heavy debt from the past.

Twitter has reached all-time high in "device user seconds usage," and that almost all the advertisers who left have "either come back or they said they will come back."

Still, the company is financially weak as several advertisers are yet to return to the platform after ditching it post-Musk takeover.

"We're still negative cash flow, due to a 50 per cent drop in advertising revenue plus heavy debt load," Musk said in a tweet.

"Need to reach positive cash flow before we have the luxury of anything else," he added.

The Tesla and SpaceX CEO took over the micro-blogging platform in a $44 billion acquisition in October last year that included about $13 billion in

debt.

In April, Musk told the BBC that "almost all" advertisers had resumed buying ads on Twitter.

A follower suggested Musk on increasing revenue: "You may never see that 50 per cent of traditional advertisements again. Charge people who have a

following on a tiered level (some dollar per follower). People with most followers need/use this platform the most for their brand ambitions, but

will never pay to advertise. $1 per 1,000 or a similar metric".

It's, however, still not clear how much Twitter paid creators in the first round of payments.
New Delhi, April 16 : The BJP, which single-handedly won 303 seats in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls by securing nearly 38 per cent votes, has set a target of winning 350 plus seats in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. For this, the party is working on several fronts simultaneously.

Besides the seats on which it has a stronghold, the saffron party, this time, is also focusing on the parliamentary constituencies of Sonia Gandhi, Akhilesh Yadav's wife Dimple Yadav, Sharad Pawar and several others which are held by veteran leaders, on which it has never been able to win.

Similarly, the party is also eyeing those states of South India, where it could not perform well in 2019.

What's the BJP's strategy to achieve the target of 350 plus seats:

Last year, the BJP had prepared a special list of those Lok Sabha seats on which it was defeated in the 2019 elections. This list specifically includes those Lok Sabha seats on which the BJP stood at number 2 or lost by a very small margin.

Earlier, 144 constituencies were included in this list, which later increased to 160.

By dividing these seats into clusters of 2-4 seats, the responsibility to strengthen the party on these seats has been given to Central ministers and veteran leaders of the party. Besides this, coordinators and co-convenors were appointed at the state level.

The party came up with the 'Lok Sabha Pravas Yojana' under which Central ministers and veteran leaders are deputed to these constituencies to strengthen the party's base there.

The party has given the responsibility of making this programme a success to its trinity of three general secretaries - Sunil Bansal, Vinod Tawde and Tarun Chugh.

This week, BJP President J.P. Nadda reviewed the work done so far and the deputation of ministers and leaders. He also gave important instructions to the cluster in-charges.

Special preparation on these 160 "weak seats" does not mean that the party has diverted its attention from other Lok Sabha seats. In fact, it is preparing vigorously preparing for all the Lok Sabha constituencies in the country.

For the first time in its political history, the BJP has divided all the states and Union Territories (UTs) across the country into three sectors - East Region, North Region and South Region to simplify the management and execution of its strategies on micro levels.

The party has included 12 states in the East region a" Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, West Bengal, Assam, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Meghalaya and Tripura. Whereas in the North Region, 14 states and UTs a" Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Chandigarh and Daman Diu-Dadra Nagar Haveli are included.

With a special focus on Mission South India, the BJP has included 11 states and UTs in the South region - Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra, Goa, Andaman and Nicobar, Lakshadweep and Puducherry. The party is also going to hold a meeting of leaders of the states under the East Region in Guwahati this month.

The meeting of the states included in the North Region has been held in Delhi and the meeting of the states included in the South Region has been held in Hyderabad.

The BJP is working hard in five states of South India -- Karnataka, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Telangana. There are 129 Lok Sabha seats in these five states in total and out of this, the BJP has only 29 seats -- 25 seats in Karnataka and four in Telangana.

After the defeat in the Karnataka Assembly elections, the BJP is paying special attention to saving its land in Karnataka as well as increasing seats in Telangana and opening accounts in Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
New Delhi, July 16 : The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear on Monday the Centre's appeal against a Manipur High Court order, relaxing the draconian ban on the internet that has crippled digital life in the state for the last three months.

Referring to this, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor in a tweet on Sunday expressed hope that the apex court will uphold the rights of citizens.

He went on to add that the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Information Technology had sharply observed in 2022 that there is no justification provided by the government that demonstrates in any way that internet shutdowns actually impede, let alone prevent, violence or terrorism anywhere.

"It is a reflexive bureaucratic action that causes far more inconvenience to ordinary citizens than a useful security measure," he said, adding that "It is bizarre that India is the only democracy in the world that routinely resorts to internet shutdowns for extended periods of time, with no appreciable effect on violence, but causing considerable inconvenience to ordinary citizens."

The Thiruvananthapuram MP expressed hope that "the Supreme Court will stand up for the rights of citizens rather than for the blinkered babus who are completely indifferent to the impact of their decisions on citizens who use the internet for banking, credit card transactions, enrolments, examinations, and to obtain all kinds of vital information."

"The Court must end this awful practice now!" Tharoor urged.
Los Angeles, July 16 : 'Titanic' director James Cameron has shot down the 'offensive' rumours that he will be making a film on the recent Titan submersible tragedy which was reported by several U.K publishers.

As reported by 'The Hollywood Reporter', The Sun had first reported the anonymously sourced story which claimed that the Oscar-winning director was in talks with a major streamer to helm a movie or series about the ill-fated final Titan voyage, which claimed the lives of five people.

Taking to Twitter, the 'Avatar' director said, "I don't respond to offensive rumors in the media usually, but I need to now. I'm NOT in talks about an OceanGate film, nor will I ever be."

The source at The Sun had earlier reported, "The Titan disaster is already being looked at as a major series for one of the world's biggest streamers  and James is first choice for director. It is a subject close to his heart. He told the story of the Titanic so compassionately it feels like a natural step for him to take this on."

The source added, "Retracing the steps of those on board the Titan is a massive undertaking but there would be a lot of time, money and resources dedicated to it."

The story further claimed that Cameron was trying to line up A-listers such as Matt Damon for the series.

According to 'THR', After the tragedy unfolded last month, Cameron  an expert in deep-sea submersibles  gave several interviews articulating what went wrong from a technical standpoint.

Cameron told ABC News at the time, "Many people in the community were concerned about this sub and even wrote letters to the company saying that what they were doing was too experimental and what they were doing needed to be certified".

He added, "I'm struck by the similarity of the Titanic disaster itself, where the captain was repeatedly warned about ice ahead of his ship, and yet, he steamed at full speed into an ice field on a moonless night and many died as a result. It's a very similar tragedy at the exact same site. It's astonishing and really quite surreal".

Cameron noted that as a submersible designer himself he understands the technicalities and many of the challenges required to make such a craft work safely and successfully. He also defended the practice of deep-sea diving as a whole.

In addition, Cameron had told BBC News that he knew the entire venture was doomed from the start after the news of its disappearance first broke loose.
Washington, July 16 : About a third of Americans have been in the grip of a brutal heatwave, with excessive heat warnings in effect in 15 states, from Washington and California on the West Coast down to Arizona, Texas and Florida in the south, impacting about 100 million Americans. And there are no signs of a let up. Not yet.

And there are areas that have seen unusually high rainfall and flooding as well.

"An extremely dangerous heatwave will build over the Southwest into the weekend, and likely peak in intensity on Sunday for much of the region. Dangerous heat may continue into next week for parts of the region," said the US National Weather Service in a warning on Friday.

"All-time heat records could be approached or reached at some locations in the Southwest. This would be most likely on Sunday, and particularly in the San Joaquin Valley, Mojave Desert, and Great Basin regions. Phoenix is also likely to record its hottest week on record by seven-day average temperature," it added.

Death Valley in California, which is called the heat capital of the world, is expected to cross 130-degree Fahrenheit (54.4-degree Celsius). Its worst was 134 F (56.6 C) in 1913.

Phoenix, meanwhile, which is said to be the most heat-prone city in America, established a record nighttime low of 94F on Wednesday and is poised to set numerous additional records.

Puerto Rico experienced its hottest month in more than 120 years in June, while Texas recorded its top 19 hottest days ever and parts of Michigan, New York and Vermont also broke their daily temperature records.

The Joe Biden administration has called the situation "alarming", which it said in a fact-sheet released earlier this week, requiring an "all-of-society response". It announced a slew of measures that included the establishment of two virtual research centres by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOA) to help communities manage and improve resilience to extreme heat.

The Biden administration has linked these high temperatures and the growing frequency with which they are being experienced to climate change as all other extreme weather occurrences.

But immediately, these severe heat conditions are attributed to what is called a "heat dome". A heat dome is created when an unrelenting region of high pressure traps heat over over a particular area, and it can linger for days to weeks, the NOAA has said, adding that these domes are typically linked to the behaviour of the jet stream, which is a band of fast-moving winds high in the atmosphere that move in meandering wavelike patterns.

Severe heat is just one of the many extreme weather conditions experienced in the United States.

Tornadoes, hurricanes, flash floods, droughts, wildfires, blizzards, ice storms, Nor'easters, lake-effect snow, severe thunderstorms, hail, lightning and atmospheric rivers, derechos (long-lived, straight-line wind storm), dust storms, bomb cyclones (a fast-developing storm that occurs when atmospheric pressure drops at least 24 millibars over a 24-hour period) and the dreaded polar vortex (which are known to bring extreme cold weather) are the others.

Meanwhile, heavy rains pounded parts of the northeastern states of Pennsylvania, New York and Vermont at the same time as the southwestern parts were reeling under record heat. Many homes were flooded and drivers had to be rescued from vehicles stranded on flooded roadways.

West Point, home to the United States Military Academy, was under a flash flood emergency last Sunday, having already received 9 inches (23 cm) of rain.

"Another multi-day heavy rainfall event is expected tomorrow and Friday across portions of New England, where river and stream levels remain high," the weather prediction center of the NOAA had written on Wednesday.

"A Day 2 Moderate Risk of Excessive Rainfall has been introduced over southern VT (Vermont), while a Day 3 Slight remains in effect for the region," it added.

The risk for flash flooding was warned by the centre for parts of Arkansas and Louisiana, where a moderate risk for excessive rainfall is now in effect.
New Delhi, July 16 : Five persons, including three girls, were brutally assaulted by bouncers at a pub in Uttar Pardesh's Ghaziabad. The victims alleged that the bouncers not only physically assaulted them but also tore clothes of the girls.

The victims claimed that despite calling the police control room (PCR) 25 times, the police did not respond. One of the two boys involved in the incident reportedly suffered a hand fracture.

According to the sources, the victims had come from Delhi. An FIR was filed against Ronak, the owner of the pub and a resident of Vasundhara Sector 10 (Ghaziabad), based on the complaint of one of the girls.

The girl, who was a victim, stated that she visited the Thrust of Drunks (TOD) bar located in D Mall, Indirapuram (Ghaziabad), along with her two brothers and two friends. During their visit, she asked the pub staff to play a song of their choice. However, the staff demanded Rs 500 to play their requested songs. Instead, the girl paid Rs 1500 and requested three different songs to be played.

Despite the payment, the staff refused to play the requested songs, which resulted in an argument. At this point, the pub's bouncers intervened and assaulted the girls. The two brothers tried to protect their sister but were also subjected to severe beating, resulting in one of the boys fracturing his hand.

Deepak Yadav, DCP Trans Hindon, stated that based on the girl's complaint, a case has been registered. He added that a section related to playing loud music until the early hours of the morning was also included in the FIR. The police have seized the pub's musical instruments.

The FIR has been filed under sections 323 and 506 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

Further investigations into the matter are ongoing.

--IANSatk/dpb
Shimla, July 16 : The roaring rapids of rivers relating to climate related risks in Himachal Pradesh have been evidently triggered by extremely wet southwest monsoon rainfall this season. Even the cold desert Lahaul-Spiti, the rain-shadow zone, had to face a deluge, say meteorologists and climate scientists.

They say in recent years flash floods have intensified as the mountains are getting older and they contribute to more silt and sand. The haphazard muck and debris dumping along streams and rivers that disturbs the natural course of rivers and streams often multiplies hazardous landslide chain reactions downstream. Also debris from blasting and construction of hydropower projects and national highway projects is dumped on slopes, damaging the vegetation too.

They say incessant downpours in the mountainous states are now a reality due to global warming and the local communities may now have to unlearn their former ways of living and the authorities must stop unwanted construction. This time frightening visuals of bridges, residential and commercial buildings, vehicles and highways collapsing like a pack of cards and being swept away in mudslides indicate how bad is the debris management planning to halt the cascading process of natural hazards. Floodwaters are receding, but they are leaving a coating of mud with boulders that has to be cleaned up from fields, villages and towns.

In less than a month since the onset of the monsoon from June 24 to July 14, 53 landslides and 33 flash floods have occurred in Himachal Pradesh that claimed 108 lives with 12 people missing. As per the Revenue Department, the total monetary loss is Rs 3,738.28 crore and the property loss comprises 663 houses and 104 shops. This time the deluge reminded the locals of the 1995 floods in Kullu-Manali that wreaked havoc on an unprecedented scale.

Blaming global warming for the increasing intensity of the flash floods and the unusually high soil erosion in the hill states, disaster risk reduction and management expert Rajnish Ranjan told IANS that during the summer the higher terrains witness contractions and extractions, while the mountains observe freeze-and-thaw action during winter.

Freeze-thaw weathering is a process of erosion that happens in cold areas where ice forms. However, due to increased global warming, the process of weathering and exfoliation has increased manifold. "Thus, whenever there are intermittent torrential rains in mountain regions nowadays, we see more sand and silt. Secondly, mountains are also getting older and that also contributes to more silt and sand," Ranjan explained.

Global science related to climate change says the scale of the rise in extreme weather events in India has been charting new highs with every passing year. 2023 began on a hotter note, with temperatures in February breaking the 123-year-old record. The humid heatwaves in April and June over East and Central India were made 30 times more likely due to climate change. Then the formation of cyclone Biparjoy lasted for 13 days in the Arabian Sea and became the longest-duration cyclone since 1977. With extremely heavy rainfall wreaking havoc across northwest India, science blames the increasing levels of global warming.

Anjal Prakash, lead author of two UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reports released between 2019 and 2022, told IANS that the relentless downpour has transformed picturesque landscapes into a battleground of resilience, as Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Delhi-NCR and parts of Uttarakhand currently bear witness to the havoc. "As the rain clouds persist, it is a stark reminder of the urgency to address climate change and its far-reaching consequences.

As a sobering reminder of the connection between climate change and our shifting weather patterns, the severe rainfall events have increased in frequency and intensity over the past several years. "Because the atmosphere holds more moisture owing to the increase in earth's temperature brought on by greenhouse gas emissions, there will be more intense downpours and longer rains."

According to Prakash, communities, especially people on the margins of society, are impacted by these severe precipitation events, which cause disastrous floods, landslides, and extensive devastation as the globe sees. "It serves as a sharp reminder that immediate action is required to curb climate change's causes, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and prepare for the new normal of increasingly frequent and extreme downpour events."

Gurpreet Kaur, Head of Clean Air Punjab, said the continuous rains have impacted farmland in Punjab. "Rainfall has triggered landslides in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, as well as flooding in Punjab. The water level of the Ghaggar river in Punjab has increased dangerously as a result of the monsoon rains. Punjab is one of the top 50 states in the world in terms of climate-related risks. This is the first time we can see the tangible threat of climate disaster," she said with a warning to all before it's too late.

"The government cannot pander to economic boom at the cost of the environment," remarked octogenarian Ram Krishan Thakur, former Survey of India Director, who is settled in Manali which has turned into a land of rubble after torrential rain lashed the region.

Environmental activists blame the policy of promoting mega hydropower and highway projects even in fragile and eco-sensitive zones without the cumulative impact associated with the environmental hazards and risks inviting nature's fury. They say more than 140 hydropower projects have been allocated in the Sutlej basin and disasters like the ones in Lahaul-Spiti and Kullu-Manali are in the making. They demand a moratorium on the construction of all new hydropower projects located in the Sutlej and Chenab river basins until a study of the cumulative impact of the projects on the fragile ecology and livelihoods is done.

Environmental researcher and activist Manshi Asher told IANS that it is double whammy for the people whose local occupations were first systematically destroyed, and were pushed on to tourism. "But as they say, tourism kills tourism. The mega infrastructures are not for the hill people and the mountains. But bit by bit every clearance process, every regulation has been removed. It's like cutting the branches that one is sitting on." For this she blamed both the state and the Centre.

(Vishal Gulati can be contacted at gulatiians@gmail.com)
France and India seek new negotiating solution to end war in Ukraine  media 16 July, 04:44 AM French President Emmanuel Macron and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi discussed the issue of a peace agreement for Ukraine (Photo:Francois Mori/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo)

India and France are planning to develop a peace plan to find a negotiated solution to the war waged by Russia in Ukraine, which they claim will differ from previously known initiatives, French newspaper Le Monde wrote on July 15.

The article says that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Paris for a two-day visit on July 13-14 at the invitation of French President Emmanuel Macron. The two leaders wanted to discuss the issue of military and financial cooperation between the countries.

Le Monde reports that the supply of fighter jets and submarines was discussed during the meeting between the two leaders. They also expressed their opinion about the war waged by Russia in Ukraine. The Indian prime minister said that his country wants to achieve the settlement of the conflict by diplomatic means.

Video of day

The media adds that Macron called on his counterpart to present his proposals on the international stage. Modi instructed his subordinates to create a peace plan to find a negotiated solution to Russias war in Ukraine.

However, the publication emphasizes that although the Indian prime minister and his country are in favor of a diplomatic path to resolving the war, they are unlikely to agree to act as a mediator between Russia and Ukraine.

Le Monde said that the proposal to be put forth by the Indian authorities may differ from the previously proposed ideas of the Chinese government, African countries, and the proposals of Latin American countries.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China published a "peace plan" for the settlement of the war in Ukraine on Feb. 24. Later, African countries came forward with peace initiatives, but these came to nothing.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that the best option for resolving the war waged by Russia against his nation would be the peace formula that he proposed at the G20 Summit in Indonesia in November 2022.

Josep Borrell, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy / Vice-President of the European Commission, said that the peace formula from Ukraine is the best option for ending the war.

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Puducherry, July 16 : Three women fish vendors lost their lives when a speeding car mowed them down in Kilputhupattu near Kottakapuram in Puducherry in the wee hours on Sunday.

The deceased were identified as Lakshmi (48), Govindammal (47) and Gengammal(45) were residents of Pudukuppam.

Police said that six women vendors were waiting at a bus stop to board a bus when a speeding car going to Puducherry from Chennai mowed them.

Of the six women, three died on the spot while three others, Hemala, Prema and Nayagam were admitted to Pondicherry Institute of Medical Sciences(PIMS).

G. Vignesharan (22) of Kakkan Colony in Nungambakkam, Chennai was taken into custody for rash and negligent driving leading to the accident.

Four others, who were traveling in the car, sustained minor injuries.

--IANS

aal/svn
New Delhi, July 16 : Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday said that the water treatment plant of Chandrawal has fully resumed operations.

Due to the rising water level in the Yamuna River, the water treatment plants in Wazirabad, Chandrawal, and Okhla had been temporarily shut down, leading to water scarcity in certain areas.

Kejriwal stated on Saturday that these water treatment plants would start working fully by Sunday morning.

"Chandrawal water treatment plant is undergoing repairs. The machines will be dried afterward. Both plants will remain operational until tomorrow," Kejriwal tweeted.

Earlier, the regulator of the Delhi Jal Board (DJB), which had broken due to heavy rain and the rise in the water level of the Yamuna River, was fixed.

Although the water level in the Yamuna River has slightly decreased, some areas are still submerged. Behind the Red Fort, the water was approximately 10 to 12 feet deep, and nearby areas such as ITO, ISBT, Rajghat, and Shanti Van were also flooded. Near Nigam Bodh Ghat, the largest crematorium, the water was eight feet deep, and the crematorium remained closed. Near Yamuna Bazar, the administration has been using boats to rescue affected people.

--IANS

atk/dpb
Los Angeles, July 16 : Disney went ahead with the red carpet premiere of its latest production 'Haunted Mansion' recently, making it the first major movie world premiere after SAG-AFTRA began their strike.

As reported by 'The Hollywood Reporter', stars Tiffany Haddish, LaKeith Stanfield, Danny DeVito, Rosario Dawson, Chase W. Dillon, Dan Levy, Jamie Lee Curtis, Hasan Minhaj, Marilu Henner, Lindsay Lamb, director Justin Simien, producers Dan Lin and Jonathan Eirich, executive producers Nick Reynolds and Tom Peitzman and composer Kris Bowers were initially scheduled to walk the red carpet, held in front of the Disneyland theme park's 'Haunted Mansion' ride in Anaheim.

But following the actors' strike called on Thursday, the stars were no longer able to attend the event.

Strike guidelines prohibit not only on-camera work but also promotional activity, including premieres, interviews, festivals, FYC events, award shows and podcasts.

While several studios and streamers have opted to cancel their upcoming events, most notably the 'Oppenheimer' red carpet in New York set for Monday, Disney moved forward with the premiere, leaning on its theme park characters in the absence of the actors.

Amusement park performers dressed as Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Maleficent, Snow White's Evil Queen and Cruella posed for photos with fans throughout the two-hour red carpet, as influencers and other guests also got private access to ride the Haunted Mansion attraction.

Producers, as well as Simien, arrived about halfway through the event, stopping for group photos before the director briefly talked to the press.

"I feel very ambivalent about it, but at the same time, I'm just so proud of this cast and I'm so, so proud of Katie Dippold who wrote the script, and so much of why I did this was to honor her words and to honor their work," Simien told THR on the carpet.

He added, "If they can't be here to speak for it, I felt like I had to be here to speak for it. It's sad that they're not here, at the same time, I totally support the reason why they're not here. And I'm happy to be the one to ring the bell in their stead."

He also noted that he finds the AI issues coming up in SAG-AFTRA's negotiations to be "a very important thing to hammer home and to figure out".

SAG-AFTRA announced work stoppage after negotiations with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers failed on Wednesday night.

The Screen Actors Guild  American Federation of Television and Radio Artists is an American labour union representing approximately 160,000 film and television actors.
Lucknow, July 16 : Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav has said holding one community responsible for government's "failure" on price rise was the latest manifestation of BJP's "divisive politics".

He took strong exception to Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma who reportedly held Muslims responsible for the rising prices of vegetables, saying "Miyan (Muslims) vendors are responsible for the rise in prices of vegetables in the city.Most of the vegetable vendors who are increasing the price, belong to the Miyan community."

Akhilesh said, "A BJP chief minister holding a particular community responsible for rising prices of vegetables shows a narrow mentality at play and is highly condemnable. The BJP looks for scapegoats to blame them for the failures of its governments. Divisive politics does not last long.A time will come when those dividing the people will be scattered."

Giving a spin to BJP's slogan of 'Apda mein avsar' (Making the best out of a crisis), Akhilesh said the Uttar Pradesh government is one of its kind when such a situation occurs.

"It seems that a crisis like flood has given government officials an opportunity to indulge in large-scale corruption. The government is showing that the funds are being spent heavily to send out relief to people affected from floods. But the fact is that there has been hardly any relief and rescue work on ground. There is no power supply in flood-hit areas," he said in a statement.

The SP chief said prior to floods, the Yogi government had spent crores of rupees in filling up potholes on roads across the state.

"People in PM's constituency Varanasi are facing waterlogging to the extent that water has entered their houses. The government has promised to transform Varanasi and develop it at par with Kyoto (Japanese city) but the city reminds one of Venice instead in the monsoon," he said.

The SP chief also took to twitter to post news reports of waterlogging in Gorakhpur, the home district of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

He wrote: "When this is the condition of the VVIP district, one can imagine the state of affairs in the rest of the state," he said.
Lucknow, July 16 : Forty-three prisoners, who were released during the Covid pandemic, have not returned to the jail.

Several prisoners were released on parole to prevent the infection from spreading since most jails in Uttar Pradesh are overcrowded.

After the pandemic got over most of the prisoners returned but 43 have gone missing from Lucknow jail.

The concerned jail administration has written several letters for their arrest, yet the police have not been able to catch the missing prisoners for one and a half years.

The jail authorities have, again, started the exercise to arrest the missing prisoners and letters have been sent to the concerned police officials to search for the missing prisoners.

It may be recalled that during the pandemic, the Supreme Court had directed the state governments to release on parole the convicted prisoners who were imprisoned for up to seven years.

Therefore, on the recommendation of the High-Power Committee constituted in the government, on May 20, 2021, a total of 122 prisoners lodged in the state capital's district jail were released on parole for 90 days.

Later, due to the increasing graph of Corona, the parole period of the prisoners was extended. On the other hand, while going on parole, the jail administration gave strict instructions to the prisoners that after parole is over, everyone will have to return to jail as soon as the order is issued by the government.

The government issued an order and directed everyone to return to jail by July 20, 2021.

Only 79 prisoners returned to Lucknow jail after completion of parole period while 43 prisoners are missing. On the report of the Jail Administration, for the arrest of the missing prisoners, instructions were given to the police several times from the government to arrest the prisoners.

Jailor of District Jail Lucknow, Rajendra Singh said that along with the government, a letter is being written to the Superintendent of Police of the concerned district for the arrest of the missing prisoners.

--IANSamita/dpb
Los Angeles, July 16 : Director Christopher Nolan has expressed caution at the rapidly developing pace of artificial intelligence technology in the wake of a special screening of his upcoming biopic 'Oppenheimer' which deals with the building of the very first atomic bomb.

As reported by Variety, the 'Inception' director made these comments during a conversation which followed a preview screening of 'Oppenheimer' in New York.

The conversation was moderated by 'Meet the Press' anchor Chuck Todd and the panel included Nolan, as well as Los Alamos National Laboratory director Dr. Thom Mason, physicists Dr. Carlo Rovelli and Dr. Kip Thorne and author Kai Bird, who co-wrote the book 'American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer', on which the film is based on.

Los Alamos Laboratory in New Mexico, USA is where the Trinity Test and the Manhattan Project happened which led to the construction of the nuclear bomb during WW2.

"The rise of companies in the last 15 years bandying words like algorithm a" not knowing what they mean in any kind of meaningful, mathematical sense a" these guys don't know what an algorithm is," Nolan shared at the screening. "People in my business are talking about it, they just donat want to take responsibility for whatever that algorithm does."

"Applied to AI, thatas a terrifying possibility. Terrifying," Nolan continued. "Not least because AI systems will ultimately go into defensive infrastructure. They'll be in charge of nuclear weapons."

"To say that that is a separate entity from the person wielding, programming, putting that AI to use, then we're doomed. It has to be about accountability. We have to hold people accountable for what they do with the tools that they have," he added.

One of the big reasons for the ongoing WGA and SAG-AFTRA protests in Hollywood is due to the increased use of AI and what it could potentially do to human writers in the future.

"With the labour disputes going on in Hollywood right now, a lot of it a" when we talk about AI, when we talk about these issues a" theyare all ultimately born from the same thing, which is when you innovate with technology, you have to maintain accountability," Nolan stated.

One of the biggest points of 'Oppenheimer' is the emotional weight of the scientists and military directors pondering over the heavy questions of what their invention could lead to in the future.

Nolan told Todd that when he spoke to a bunch of researchers in AI development, they too are having their own 'Oppenheimer' moment, wondering about the responsibilities of scientists in developing new technologies and the unintended ramifications of those developments.
Mumbai, July 16 : Amid mercurial political equations dogging the state, all political parties - the ruling Shiv Sena-Bharatiya Janata Party-Nationalist Congress Party (breakaway), and the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi Congress-Shiv Sena (UBT)-NCP - brace for a turbulent monsoon session of the Maharashtra Legislature from Monday (July 17).

Though the Opposition strength has been considerably slashed after the split in the NCP, it is confident of putting the government on the mat -- for the first time in the state, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde shall be flanked by two Deputy CMs, Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar -- on many issues, during the three-week-long session till Aug. 4.

On the other hand, the ruling alliance, particularly, the CM and his team, seem to be under the threat of the upcoming verdict on the disqualification of 16 MLAs including Shinde himself, that could again change the political landscape.

The Speaker Rahul Narwekar is racing against time to deliver his ruling on the issue after the aggressive Shiv Sena (UBT) has moved the Supreme Court on the delays in deciding the disqualification matter.

The Speakeras stance will be critical even on the issue of disqualification of MLAs from the rival factions of the NCP (Ajit Pawar) and NCP (Sharad Pawar) besides the Shiv Sena and Shiv Sena (UBT).

Maharashtraas reputation as a apolitically stablea state took many near-fatal punches after 2019, and the state has witnessed 3 oath ceremonies of 3 CMs, 3 Deputy CMs, two Speakers, and possibly a third Leader of Opposition now.

For the bewildered people of the state, the situation has been bizarre since the assembly elections of Oct. 2019, with rebellions, alliance break-downs, new permutations and combinations, strange bed-fellows with rival ideologies, etc, coming to the fore.

Consequently, the rulers became the Opposition, Opposition parties bounced back into power, two major parties split with one faction each on the ruling side and in the opposition, making the entire political set-up unrecognisable as well as undefinable.

Not exactly a rosy scenario with the Lok Sabha elections hardly eight months away and the assembly elections due in 15 months a" both in 2024 a" and the two rebellions (June 2022 & July 2023) in two important parties (Shiv Sena & NCP) that have drastically altered the course of state politics.

The Congress has been catapulted form the fourth to the second position after BJP now, and now is expected to stake claim to the post of Leader of Opposition in the Assembly, which earlier the NCP was hoping to bag (after Ajit Pawaras exit).

In the Legislative Council, Shiv Sena (UBT)as Ambadas Danve is the Leader of Opposition, but this month, the Deputy Chairperson Dr. Neelam Gorhe (of Shiv Sena-UBT) switched over to the ruling ally Shiv Sena, and again the Congress may try its luck for Leader of Opposition in the Upper House.

The post of Chairperson of Legislative Council is vacant after the end of tenure of Ramraje Naik-Nimbalkar (NCP) a" incidentally, he is the father-in-law of the Speaker Narwekar.

The MVA has been predicting that after Ajit Pawaras entry a" which has rattled many in the Shiv Sena a" CM Shinde could be shown the exit, though the three ruling allies have scoffed at the claims.

As far as other non-political issues are concerned the Opposition MVA will corner the government on the spate of communal clashes witnessed in the state in the past few months, the law-and-order situation with recent attacks on women, the problems of farmers given the uneven rainfall this monsoon, etc.

(Quaid Najmi can be contacted at: q.najmi@ians.in)

--IANS

qn/dan
Srinagar, July 16 : A woman Yatri was killed and two local policemen injured on Sunday in a shooting stone incident along the south Kashmir Pahalgam route to the Amarnath cave shrine.

Police sources said that a woman pilgrim, identified as 53-year old Urmilaben, and two local policemen of the mountain rescue team, identified as Muhammad Saleem and Muhammad Yaseen, were injured when they were hit by a shooting stone between Sangam Top and lower cave along the Pahalgam-Cave shrine route.

"All three were evacuated, but the woman pilgrim succumbed on way to hospital while the two policemen were rescued by the Army and shifted by private helicopter to hospital," sources said.

J&K DGP, Dilbag Singh has condoled the death of the woman Yatri, and praised those who rescued the two policemen and helped their evacuation to hospital.

The police chief has commended the valour and loyalty to duty by the two policemen and prayed for their early recovery.
Manali, July 16 : It's not a storm in a teacup when downpours last week dislodged boulders and rocks and triggered heavy flooding in Kullu-Manali in Himachal Pradesh.

But this officer, Raman Sharma, knew it all along. The realisation about the plight of the stranded tourists in some 4,500 vehicles hit him with full force after he himself paid Rs 50 to a roadside vendor for a teacup after a hectic rescue work amidst mounting pressure.

After paying a price for it, he has been on his toes in slippers to make way for landslide-struck commuters.

Subdivisional Magistrate (SDM) Raman Sharma, who is posted in the picturesque tourist Manali that witnessed full nature's fury after last week's deluge washed away about 40 per cent of the 41-km-long national highway between Manali and Kullu and several bridges by the swollen glacial-fed Beas river.

After the damage to the national highway, local authorities diverted the traffic on the rural winding road on the left bank of the river. But the hurdle is that even a crucial half a century old bridge on the Jagatsukh, a tributary of the Beas, has also been washed away in flashfloods.

The left bank 50-km road stretch between Manali and Kullu is the most dilapidated one, while the right bank is a national highway.

Before the motorists were allowed to use the left bank route to exit, a crucial challenge for local authorities was to make an upcoming bridge near Jagatsukh, some 6 km from Manali, motorable.

On knowing that the Jagatsukh bridge is the last lifeline for safely evacuating people in some 4,500 vehicles, comprising Volvos, SDM Raman Sharma reached the spot, braving torrential rains on July 11 to make the upcoming bridge motorable.

Sharma told IANS that the construction of the new bridge was underway as its both ends were to be connected with the link road.

"There was a lot of pressure on us to make the bridge motorable. A huge volume of the vehicles were parked on sides of the bridge. Everyone was in panic to leave for their destinations. It was raining heavily. We reached the spot with a JCB and a handful of labourers. But the JCB soon developed a snag. I told them to start lifting boulders and muck physically to fill up the gaps on both sides of the bridge," an elated Sharma told IANS.

Locals told IANS the SDM himself started lifting the boulders. On seeing the official, a large number of local villagers and motorists too joined him to make the bridge motorable.

As the SDM's shoes were damaged in a slurry of mudslide, he brought a pair of sleepers from his vehicle and was involved in an earth filling operation that lasted for nearly two hours.

"We were racing against time as the traffic snarl was getting longer and longer while the stranded tourists were in panic to leave the place as early as possible. They were feared of another deluge. The determination of the SDM was the motivating spirit for the locals and passersby, largely the youth, to speed up the rescue work," Prem Thakur, who runs The Byke Neelkanth hotel in Manali, told IANS.

Local residents Gautam Thakur and Hari Chand Sharma, who were also involved in the volunteerism, said the bridge was temporarily made motorable with demolition wastes, excavated earth and construction debris.

"It was a memorable spirit of camaraderie," remarked Prem Thakur.

He said after the bridge was made motorable, the SDM expressed his desire for a cup of tea to soothe stress.

A roadside vendor charged Rs 50 for a cup of tea. After sipping the hot tea, the SDM was on the toes to clear the bumper-to-bumper traffic snarls even without wearing a raincoat or using an umbrella.

SDM Sharma told IANS that the old bridge of Jagatsukh has been permanently damaged and work is on to complete the new one on priority. "With the evacuation of the tourists almost over, there is no such pressure from motorists. The new one, which is partially motorable, will be completed soon."

On being asked about paying Rs 50 for a cup of tea, he jokingly remarked, "After day's hard work, 'kya fark padta hai' (What's the difference)."

(Vishal Gulati can be contacted at gulatiians@gmail.com)
New Delhi, 16 July : Indian Army contingent comprising of 43 personnel left for Mongolia to participate in military exercise on Sunday.

The primary theme of this military exercise will focus on counter-terrorism operations in mountainous terrain under United Nations mandate.

The Indian contingent will participate in the 15th edition of bilateral joint military exercise aNomadic Elephant-23a. The exercise is scheduled to be conducted at Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia from 17 to 31 July.

Soldiers of the Mongolian Armed Forces Unit 084 from and Indian Army soldiers from the Jammu And Kashmir Light Infantry regiment will participate in the exercise.

The Indian Army contingent reached Ulaanbaatar in Mongolia on 16 July by an Indian Air Force C-17 aircraft. The Ministry of Defence said that the aim of this exercise is to build positive military relations, exchange best practices, develop inter-operability, bonhomie, camaraderie and friendship between the two armies.

The scope of this exercise involves Platoon level Field Training Exercise (FTX). During the exercise, Indian and Mongolian troops will engage in various training activities designed to enhance their skills and capabilities.

These activities include endurance training, reflex firing, room intervention, small team tactics and rock craft training. Soldiers from both sides will learn from each otheras operational experience, MoD official added.

According to the Ministry of Defence, India and Mongolia have a shared commitment to regional security and cooperation. Exercise aNomadic Elephant-23a will be yet another significant milestone in the defence cooperation between the Indian Army and Mongolian Army which will further foster bilateral relations between the two nations.

The joint military exercise aNomadic Elephanta is an annual training event with Mongolia which is conducted alternatively in Mongolia and India, the last edition was held at Special Forces Training School, Bakloh in October 2019.
Ukraines east is seeing escalation - Ukraines Defense Ministry 16 July, 08:10 PM Russian troops continue to make attempts to advance in Ukraines east (Photo:REUTERS/Stringer)

The situation on the frontlines in Eastern Ukraine has escalated as Russian troops continue to make attempts to advance for two consecutive days in the direction of Kupyansk, Kharkiv Oblast, Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar said on Telegram on July 16.

According to her, fierce battles are ongoing in the oblast, with multiple dynamic changes occurring throughout the day.

Ukrainian troops are gradually making progress in the Bakhmut direction, particularly on the southern flank around the town of Bakhmut, Donetsk Oblast, Maliar said.

However, Russian invaders are launching attacks on the towns northern flank, but the Armed Forces of Ukraine are striving to hold their positions.

Video of day

In Bakhmut itself, we are shelling the enemy, and the enemy is shelling us, she said.

Additionally, Maliar says that the enemy continues to advance on the Avdiyivka and Maryinka directions in Donetsk Oblast, and intense battles persist without any change in positions.

The Ukrainian Defense Forces are effectively holding back the occupation forces in those areas, she said.

On July 15, Serhiy Cherevatyi, spokesperson for the Eastern Group of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, reported that the Ukrainian Armed Forces maintain the initiative in the Bakhmut direction, exerting pressure on the Russians on both the southern and northern flanks.

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
Kolkata, July 16 : The special investigation team (SIT) of West Bengal Police has submitted its first charge sheet in the murder of coal trader, Raju Jha, and named five persons as accused.

The five persons named are Indrajit Giri, Abhijit Mondal, Pawan Kumar, Mukesh Kumar and Lalbabu Kumar. The charge sheet was presented at the court of the chief judicial magistrate Chanda Hasmat on Saturday evening.

The accused have been charged under Section 302 (murder) and Section 307 (attempt to murder) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and different sections of the Arms Act, 1959. A total of 80 persons have been named in the charge sheet as witnesses.

A supplementary charge sheet will also be filed in the matter shortly, said Kamanasish Sen, the police superintendent of East Burdwan, the district where the murder happened on the evening of April 1 this year.

"We have submitted the first charge sheet in the case within 106 days. Another supplementary charge sheet will also be submitted shortly, about which we have informed the court of the chief judicial magistrate," Sen said on Sunday.

Jha was shot dead on the evening of April on National Highway-19 near a sweetmeat outlet in Saktigarh in East Burdwan district. His associate Brotin Bandopadhyay, who was travelling with him in an SUV, was injured in the attack.

Jha reportedly had criminal records. In July 2011, months after the Trinamool Congress came to power in West Bengal, the police had arrested Raju Jha at Raniganj but he was out on bail. Since then, he has been arrested multiple times. Before the 2021 West Bengal Assembly election he joined BJP and was quite active in the campaign process for the saffron camp.

He was also questioned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with the agency's investigation into the multi-crore coal smuggling scam in the state.
Varanasi : , July 16 (IANS) A research conducted by the scientists of Banaras Hindu University (BHU) has shown that patients between the 30-39 years age group sought Ayurvedic healthcare the most, with a higher proportion of women.

The findings of a first-of-its-kind Ayurvedic medicine research was presented to the UP Minister of AYUSH, Daya Shankar Mishra.

The scientific team included Vaidya Sushil Kumar Dubey from Ayurveda, Dr Suyash Tripathi from modern medicine, Aishwarya Jaiswal from psychology, Amit Kumar from Yoga, Dr Ramanand Tiwari and Rakesh Singh.

He said the research showed that more than 70 per cent of patients had respiratory-related ailments, and over 60 per cent had heart-related and hormonal disorders.

The research also revealed that nearly 59 per cent of individuals experienced benefits within seven days. The research shows that 43 per cent of individuals exhibited a predominance of 'Pitta Dosha', resulting in tendencies such as anger, hair loss, hair graying, and high blood pressure.

Following Covid pandemic, there has been an increase in people's trust on Ayurvedic medicines, with 87 per cent of individuals revisiting Ayurvedic clinics for treatment.

Dubey said in order to implement this project at the grassroots level, it is suggested to establish a well-equipped centre as a nodal centre at either BHU or Government Ayurvedic College in Varanasi, integrating all resources.

"This is the first attempt in India, where the principals and Ayurvedic practitioners of 40 government Ayurvedic healthcare facilities recorded approximately 14,000 patient data," claimed Dubey, who along with Prof Yamini Bhushan Tripathi initiated the establishment of the VRL (Virtual Research Lab) for the Ayurvedic Medicine Data Centre at BHU.

He said the objective of this project is to scientifically validate the principles of Ayurvedic science and dispel misconceptions regarding the delayed effectiveness of Ayurvedic medicines.

The Uttar Pradesh government had earlier suggested collection of data in a scientific manner to establish recognition for Ayurvedic medicine globally.

"Our team worked diligently on the pilot project. Subsequently, in a workshop organised on April 30, 2022, training was provided to regional Ayurvedic and Unani officials, Ayurvedic teachers, coordinators, and medical officers to fill out the proforma created by subject matter experts", said Dubey.

According to him, the training was provided to 110 district Ayurvedic officials and Ayurvedic coordinators. The data was collected from 40 government Ayurvedic healthcare facilities. Around 2,200 Ayurvedic practitioners participated in this study.
San Francisco, July 16 : An Apple AirTag has helped to track stolen possessions, resulting in the burglar's arrest. The victim's handbag and the car keys, which contained an electronic device linked to the fob, were taken by the burglar Dylan Balmer when he broke into her home through an unlocked door.

"Although he unlocked the car using the keys, he refrained from stealing any of its contents during the early morning break-in at the Hartlepool property," reports AppleInsider.

According to the proceedings at Teesside Crown Court, after being located, Balmer was confronted by the victim at a Premier Inn nearby for having her keys.CCTV footage from a nearby hotel helped identify him. Balmer, who pleaded guilty, received a 15-month imprisonment term.

Meanwhile, last month, an AirTag had helped to bust robbers who stole more than $62,000 in thefts.

A Texas family became fed up with gravesite robbers and installed a hidden AirTag to capture them in the act. The family didn't anticipate that their smart use of AirTag would help authorities find stolen bronze memorial vases valued at more than $62,000.

--IANS

aj/svn
Chennai, July 16 : Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin is likely to scrap the 'Pen Memorial' project in the sea after several environmental organisations and political parties objected to it.

It is to be noted that the aPen Memoriala was conceived by the DMK government led by Stalin immediately after it came to power in 2021. The memorial in the name of Stalinas father and late Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, M. Karunanidhi was allocated an amount of Rs 39 crore for the project.

However, it has now developed into a 130 feet tall, Rs 84 crore project aPen Monumenta in the sea.

There were stiff opposition from local fishermen and social and environmental activists against the 'Pen Monument'.

Sources in the DMK told IANS that the Chief Minister is not keen to pursue the project and instead prefer a small aPen statuea constructed at the Kalaignar memorial near Marina and not in the sea.

DMK leaders said that it is almost certain the aPen Monumenta in the sea will not be constructed as Stalin has informed his close associates not to go ahead with the project given the stiff opposition and the nationwide news the issue garnered.

It may be noted that in April 2023, the expert appraisal committee (EAC) of the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change recommended Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) clearance for the aPen Monumenta.

The Union Environmental ministry also cleared the project in June. However, the environmentalists approached the Supreme Court against the project and this has also led to an afterthought for the Chief Minister.

A public hearing was held at the Marina beach in Chennai about the aPen Monumenta. Several environmental organisations, activists, fishermen community and some opposition political parties strongly objected to the construction of the Pen Monument in the sea.

Sources in DMK told IANS that its is almost certain that Chief Minister Stalin would back out from the project and would go for a small Pen replica construction inside the Kalaignar memorial at Marina.

Stalin had earlier defended the Pen Monument stating that aKarunanidhias pen had changed the fate of Tamil societya.

With the 2024 general elections around the corner and Stalin pitching himself as a leader of the combined opposition, the construction of a aPen Monumenta at a huge cost and at the risk of environmental pollution will tarnish his image. This is the reason why Chief Minister Stalin is backing out from the project.
New Delhi, July 16 : Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday embarked on a visit to Gandhinagar to attend the third G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors (G20FMCBG) meetings, which is to be held under India's G20 presidency on July 17-18.

On the sidelines of the G20FMCBG meetings, she will also participate in an Investor Dialogue Roundtable, a tax symposium, besides other bilateral engagements, including with Canada, Indonesia, US, European Commission and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB).

The meeting will discuss a range of issues related to global economy and international financial architecture.

Sitharaman and RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das will jointly chair the third G20 FMCBGs meeting.

The third meeting will mark the culmination of the work on many of the key deliverables from the G20 Finance Track in 2023 carried out under various work streams based on the mandate received during the first G20 FMCBG conclave held in February in Bengaluru, Ajay Seth, secretary, department of economic affairs, ministry of finance had said last week.
Los Angeles, July 16 : Musician Jack White has blasted "disgusting" Mel Gibson and Mark Wahlberg for interacting with former US President Donald Trump at public events.

The 48-year-old musician has criticised the stars for "normalising" meeting Trump, and said anyone who treats the politician with "any level of respect" is "disgusting", reports aceshobiz.com.

"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. That's 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 (sic)," Jack fumed on Instagram.

Hollywood stars Mel and Mark, commentator Joe, and celebrity chef Guy were all photographed speaking to Trump at the UFC 290 event in Las Vegas last weekend.

In November, Jack hit out at billionaire businessman Elon Musk for reactivating Trump's Twitter account, slamming the decision as "disgusting."

Trump was permanently blocked from the platform in January 2021 following the attack at the US Capitol in Washington, but had his account reinstated in November when Musk took over the platform in a $44 billion deal.

The White Stripes star Jack wrote on Instagram: "So you gave trump his twitter platform back. Absolutely disgusting, Elon. That is officially an asshole move. Why dont you be truthful? Tell it like it is; people like you and Joe Rogan (who gives platforms to liars like alex jones etc.); you come into a ton of money, see the tax bill, despise paying your fair share, and then think moving to Texas and supporting whatever republican you can is going to help you keep more of your money."

"(How else could trump possibly interest you?) You intend to give platforms to known liars and wash your hands like pontius pilate and claim no responsibility? trump was removed from twitter because he incited violence multiple times, people died and were injured as a result of his lies and his ego, (let alone what his coup did to attempt to destroy democracy and our Capitol)."

"And how about the division and the families broken apart from his rhetoric and what it did to this country That's not "free speech" or "what the poll decided" or whatever nonsense you're claiming it to be; this is straight up you trying to help a fascist have a platform so you can eventually get your tax breaks. I mean, how many more billions do you need that you have to risk democracy itself to obtain it?"
Buenos Aires : , July 16 (IANS) River Plate clinched Argentina's Professional League Primera Division title with two match days to spare as they eased to a 3-1 home win over Estudiantes.

Lucas Beltran, Nicolas de la Cruz and Ezequiel Barco scored in the first half before Mauro Mendez pulled a goal back for the visitors in the 67th minute on Saturday night.

The result at the Monumental stadium leaves River with 57 points from 25 games, nine points ahead of second-placed Talleres Cordoba, a Xinhua report said.

The Buenos Aires giants are Argentina's most successful team and now have 38 first-division titles, three more than eternal rivals Boca Juniors.

"All the credit goes to the players. This team represented the sentiment of our fans," River Plate manager Martin Demichelis said after the match.

In other fixtures on Saturday, Platense drew 0-0 at Union Santa Fe, and Racing Club were held to a 1-1 home draw by Rosario Central.
New Delhi, July 16 : Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday visited Mori Gate relief camp to inspect the facilities being provided to flood affected people.

The Delhi Government has set up relief camp at local schools to help affected families.

Kejriwal said that his government has made available almost all the facilities like electricity, water, food, and toilets.

He said that the government will also soon announce the compensation for the affected families.

"We have set up relief camps in schools for people affected by floods. I personally visited a relief camp set up in a school near Mori Gate to assess the arrangements.

"Along with providing accommodation for the affected people, arrangements have also been made for food, water, and toilets at the relief camp," Kejriwal said.

He said that for those who have lost important documents like Aadhar cards and children who have lost their books for them special camps will be organised to provide them with necessary assistance.

"Books and clothes will also be arranged for the children. The government will soon announce measures to provide aid to those who have suffered the most due to the floods. We are doing everything possible to reach out and assist those affected by the floods," he said.
New Delhi, July 16 : After keeping its cards closed on the Centre's ordinance in Delhi, the Congress on Sunday said that it will oppose all moves by the Modi-led government to disturb the federal structure through Governors and Lt. Governors, including Delhi Ordinance in Parliament.

Congress general secretary (Organisation) K.C. Venugopal told IANS, "Congress will oppose all moves by the Centre to disturb the federal structure through Governors and L-Gs, including Delhi Ordinance in Parliament."

His remarks came a day before the crucial second meeting of the 24 opposition parties in Karnataka's Bengaluru on July 17 and 18, which will be also attended by Congress Parliamentary Party chairman Sonia Gandhi.

According to Congress sources, the decision was taken after much deliberation over the issue during the second meeting of the Parliamentary Strategy Group at the residence of former party chief Sonia Gandhi on Saturday.

After the meeting, Congress General secretary Jairam Ramesh had said that the party will raise the issue of assault on federal structure.

However, when asked if the Congress will support AAP over the ordinance row as it will be raising the issue of assault on democratically elected governments, Ramesh evaded the question and said, "I have said clearly that the assault on the federal structure by the Modi government or through its appointed people and we will oppose it."

"The Congress has always fought against the Modi government's assaults on the Constitutional rights and responsibilities of democratically elected state governments and local bodies. This assault comes directly or if these come from the appointees of the Modi government like Governors. We had opposed it and we will oppose it. This is a brazen assault on the Constitution and it takes various forms. Constitutional bodies are weakened and constitutional agencies are misused," the Congress Rajya Sabha MP said.

The AAP is likely to attend the meeting in Bengaluru.

During the first meeting of opposition parties in Bihar's Patna, AAP has asked Congress to clear its stand on the ordinance issue.

--IANSaks/dpb
Kolkata, July 16 : The tussle between Raj Bhavan and the state secretariat in West Bengal is heading for yet another turn, as the Governor, C.V. Ananda Bose removed his press secretary Shekhar Banerjee with immediate effect.

Earlier this year tension brewed between the Raj Bhavan and the state secretariat over the Governor's decision to remove his erstwhile principal secretary Nandini Chakraborty from that chair.

As the news of the removal of Shekhar Banerjee from the chair of the press secretary of the Governor surfaced on Sunday afternoon, political observers feel that through this decision the Governor has actually tried to send a message to the secretariat of Nabanna.

Banerjee was deputed to the Raj Bhavan from the department of information and cultural affairs. State government sources said that it had always been the protocol and tradition that the Governor's press secretary is nominated from the state information and cultural affairs department.

"Although the Governor's choice is given preference while making such a nomination, it is unprecedented that a Governor has removed his press secretary in such an unceremonious manner," said a state government official who did not wish to be named.

The tiff between the Raj Bhavan and the ruling Trinamool Congress had reached its peaks in the recent past over the massive violence and bloodbath in the recently concluded polls for the three-tier Panchayat system in West Bengal.

Besides opening a 'Peace Room' within the Raj Bhavan premises, the Governor had extensively toured the violence- ridden pockets in West Bengal and interacted with the family members of the victims. The Governor also launched scathing attacks against the West Bengal State Election Commissioner, Rajiva Sinha holding him solely responsible for the violence and bloodbath which had so far taken a toll of 47 lives.

The Trinamool Congress leaders too have attacked the Governor in unprecedented terms and accused him of acting beyond his constitutional authority. Some ruling party leaders like maverick party legislator Madan Mitra had even said the government will have to book his return- ticket from Bengal after the rural civic body polls are over.
Ukrainian counterintelligence soldiers destroy camouflaged Russian T-90M tank  video 16 July, 03:57 AM Defenders of Ukraine destroy Russian equipment (Photo:  /  / Telegram)

Ukraines SBU security service released a video on July 1 showcasing the successful operations of military counterintelligence in targeting Russian invaders equipment and infantry.

The footage demonstrates the effective elimination of a camouflaged T-90M tank. The SBU reported that the skilled soldiers destroyed the following:

Three Russian tanks, including the T-90M and T-90 models;

Four combat infantry vehicles;

Three armored personnel carriers;

A multi-purpose armored transporter (MTLB);

An anti-aircraft installation;

The Murom observation complex;

An anti-tank gun;

Seventeen vehicles and two ammunition depots;

Two units of engineering equipment;

Two unmanned aerial vehicles, an FPV drone team, and more.

Video of day

According to the SBU, their military counterintelligence operations in 2023 have successfully destroyed or neutralized a total of 76 units of enemy heavy equipment, including 28 tanks.

As per the Ukrainian militarys General Staff, since the onset of the full-scale invasion, Russia has suffered significant losses, including 236,590 occupants, 4,097 tanks, 8,008 combat armored vehicles, and 7,019 units of automotive equipment and fuel trucks.

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
Thiruvananthapuram, July 16 : The Kerala Police on Sunday arrested six persons for gang-raping a 17-year-old girl.

Police said that the minor was gang-raped in December 2022 at Adoor in Kerala's Pathanamthitta district.

The girl, according to police, was silent most of the time at home and when her parents inquired, she did not give a clear reply. School authorities later took the help of Childline and during the counselling it was revealed that she was raped by six people on different dates.

Police registered a case on July 6 after taking information from Childline.

The girl was lured by her boyfriend, who first raped her, and later asked her to meet his friends. Police said that six of them raped her and all are under police custody now.

Sources in Adoor police told IANS that the men were under custody and being questioned.
New Delhi, July 16 (IANS External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Sunday raised the issue of human and drug trafficking with his Myanmar counterpart U Than Swe, and also expressed New Delhi's concern about the humanitarian situation prevailing there.

Jaishankar also underlined the importance of ensuring peace and stability in border areas of both the countries.

"These have been seriously disturbed recently and any actions that aggravate the situation should be avoided," Jaishankar tweeted after meeting his Mynamar counterpart.

Jaishankar met Swe on the sidelines of the Mekong Ganga Cooperation (MGC) meeting in Bangkok.

He had arrived in Bangkok on Saturday from Jakarta, where the foreign minister has participated in the ASEAN foreign ministers meet.

"Met H.E. U Than Swe on the sidelines of the Mekong Ganga Cooperation (MGC) meeting in Bangkok today. Flagged concerns about human and drug trafficking. Urged stronger cooperation among relevant parties for the early return of trafficked victims. As an immediate neighbour, India is concerned about the humanitarian situation in Myanmar," Jaishankar tweeted after the meeting with Swe.

The EAM also proposed people-centric initiatives aimed to address the pressing challenges in Myanmar to Swe during the meeting.

"Our discussions focussed on connectivity initiatives that have a larger regional significance. These will also be discussed at the MGC meeting this afternoon. Stressed the importance of expediting projects that have faced challenges in the recent past, especially the India-Myanmar-Thailand trilateral highway," he informed further.

Jaishankar further conveyed in the meeting with the Myanmar foreign minister that India supports the democratic transition process in Myanmar and highlighted the need for return of peace and stability.

"We will closely coordinate our policy with ASEAN in this regard," he tweeted further.
New Delhi, July 16 : Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who visited the farmers of Haryana's Sonepat on July 8, and had conversation with them, said on Sunday that the humble farmers understand their rights and when required they stand against the laws like the three farm laws.

Sharing the link of his interaction on Twitter, the former Lok Sabha MP said, "Plantation of paddy, Bread on Manji - Farmers are the Strength of India. Farmers have a huge contribution in uniting India - their grown grains are a part of every plate of the country, but their austerity does not get the right return and respect."

He said that the Bharat Jodo Yatra in its next leg halted at the fields of Sonepat, Haryana.

"I met two farmer brothers, Sanjay Malik and Tasbir Kumar. They are childhood best friends, who have been doing farming together for many years. While Sanjay ji has taken the land on lease from the government, Tasbir ji works with him on a 25 per cent contract. He told that out of every five years in farming, three years they have to face losses due to weather and in such a situation they need the help of the government," the Congress leader said.

"Men, women, children, all were present in the fields a" it was a special day for planting paddy. Together with them, we helped in the fields, drove tractors, sowed paddy, had open discussions freely. The women fed the breads of the house and talked about their lives. None of them had seen Delhi till now. They expressed their desire to see Delhi, and I got to spend more time with everyone.

"The farmers of India are simple, truthful and sensible, they also understand their rights. When needed, they stand firm against black laws, along with they also raise the right demand for MSP and insurance. If we listen to them, understand their point of view, then many problems of the country can be solved," he added.

Rahul Gandhi shared the link of his video with the tweet.

In the video, the farmers tell the Congress leader that the earlier governments used to focus on farmers, but now they are no more priority for them.

The farmers also highlighted that all the items used in farming are expensive now and the government does not respect farmers anymore.

The women also told Rahul Gandhi that he was planting the paddy saplings properly.

In the video, the women told Rahul Gandhi that they have not seen Delhi, to which the Congress leader replied that I need to show you all Delhi but I don't have a home as the government has taken it back.

He then dialed his sister and party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra telling her that they (farmers) had shared their food with him and they want to see Delhi.

To this Priyanka Gandhi said Rahul Gandhi to invite them over lunch.

The women also told Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi that their work never gets over in farming.

Rahul Gandhi had invited the women members and their families for lunch at his mother's residence 10 Janpath on Friday afternoon.

After lunch, Sonia Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi also shook their legs with them on the local Haryana song tunes.

Earlier, Rahul Gandhi had surprised everyone with his sudden visits to the public.

In March, he had visited Bengali Market and Jama Masjid area. Then later he visited the Mukherjee Nagar area to interact with UPSC aspirants. Rahul Gandhi also visited the Delhi University PG Men's Hostel over lunch and then visited Haryana's Murthal and from there he took the truck ride till Ambala.

Recently, he had also visited the Nike market in Karol Bagh area in Delhi and interacted with the bike mechanics.

During his recent visit to US, Rahul Gandhi had also taken a truck ride from New York to Washington DC.

Even during his Karnataka visit during the assembly elections, he had interacted with the delivery partners and also took a scooter ride with them.

Rahul Gandhi had completed his 4,000 km Bharat Jodo Yatra from Kanyakumari to Srinagar.

After his yatra concluded on January 30 this year, he has been interacting with the people.
New Delhi, July 16 : : Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has said that there is no need to reshuffle the cabinet till the next Lok Sabha election is over.

"We are not going to do any reshuffle or expansion in the cabinet of ministers till the next year's general election. However, once the polls are over, there may be a major overhaul in the council of ministers in the state," Sarma told reporters in the national capital on Saturday.

Assam has three vacant ministers' berth, however, even after more than two years of government formation, the Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has indicate that there is no urgency to fill those unfilled positions.

The Chief Minister said that the BJP's prospect in Assam is very good. People are happy how the government is functioning, he said.

Assam has 126 MLAs and as per rule, there can be a total 19 ministers including the CM in the government. However, at present, the state has only 16 ministers counting a few from the BJP's allies Asom Gana Parishad and United People's Party Liberal (UPPL).

The Chief Minister also claimed that there is no displeasure among the people regarding the ongoing delimitation exercise in the state.

"Only a few people have urged for some minor alterations in the draft proposal published by the Election Commission of India (ECI). We have forwarded it. But there is no overall resistance against the delimitation in Assam," he said.

Meanwhile, there were speculations that the Assam BJP president Bhabesh Kalita may be relieved from the post and a new face may be introduced before the Lok Sabha election. However, Sarma said that the party has no plan to change Kalita before the general elections.
London, July 16 : Panic gripped people with diabetes, after a popular 'life saving' iPhone app for monitoring blood sugar stopped working on some Apple devices after getting an update.

The FreeStyle Libre app, by healthcare major Abbott, works by monitoring blood sugar levels through a small sensor inserted into the body. The app connects to a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) which is typically inserted under the skin in the arm or belly.

It provides real-time updates to people with Type 1 diabetes, meaning they don't have to constantly take blood samples by pricking their fingers for their blood sugar readings. The app has stopped working on some Apple devices, and it has also been withdrawn from the App Store, creating panic among people using the product, BBC reported.

It was "very scary, David Burchell, who has type 1 diabetes, was quoted as saying.

"This equipment is supposed to save your life," he said.

"I woke up yesterday morning, went to check my sensor thing... and basically it broke, just showing a white screen and I panicked. "I've spoken to [Abbott] many times as this sort of thing has happened before. They told me to delete the app, turn the phone off and on and reinstall... but when trying to redownload it they'd taken it off the App Store so I couldn't download it.

"I was left without an active test, other than the fingerprint testing. Pricking your finger 100 times a week is a nightmare, so the app and the sensor is really helpful," Burchell said. Similarly, another user Sonja Sleator from Belfast said the app was "so important" to her and she was concerned about not being able to use it.

"Knowing I don't have that constant check, it feels like going back to when I was first diagnosed and having to finger prick a few times a day," she was quoted saying.

According to Abbott, FreeStyle Libre is the top sensor-based glucose monitoring technology used by more than 4.5 million people across over 60 countries. The company said the issue was only affecting customers in the UK, and it expected the app would be made available again soon.

As per the NHS, there are 200,000 people using these types of sensors in the UK. Abbott also noted that the problem emerged after it updated the LibreLink app to give users a significant quality-of-life improvement, removing the need to manually scan the disc with a device.

The new update aimed to allow the CGM to send the app data continuously, removing the need for a scan. The company said it is working on solutions to improve it, and asked people facing issues with the iOS app to "uninstall and reinstall the app".

"People using the [app] without issue can continue to use it as normal. The Android version of the [app] continues to be available for download in the UK. No other countries are impacted."

--IANS

rvt/svn
Islamabad, July 16 : Five people were killed while 13 others were injured as a bus they were travelling in plunged into a ravine in Gilgit-Baltistan in Pakistan's Diamer district on Sunday.

Confirming the death toll, Diamer Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Muhammad Ayaz said the deceased included three women, a child and a man, Dawn reported.

He said that the vehicle was heading to Gilgit from Lahore.

Rescue operation was launched and injured were rushed to local hospital, the SSP said.

Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Minister Haji Gulber Khan expressed deep grief over the loss of lives and ordered free of cost medical aid for the injured.
Kolkata, July 16 : Two top BJP leaders from West Bengal on Sunday predicted that the current Trinamool Congress-ruled state government led by Mamata Banerjee may topple within the next five to six months.

The first to make such a prediction was the BJP Lok Sabha member from Bangaon constituency in North 24 Parganas district and the Union minister of state for ports, shipping and waterways, Shantanu Thakur.

"I can give a guarantee that the current state government will not exist for more than five to six months," Thakur said without specifying the logic behind his prediction.

Hours after Thakur made this prediction, BJP's state president in West Bengal and the party Lok Sabha member from Balurghat, Sukanta Majumdar came out with a somewhat similar forecast with some elaborations.

"The state government can topple any time within five to six months. How does a state government operate? It is because of the support from the elected legislators. It is possible that anytime a chunk of legislators withdraw their support," Majumdar said.

According to him, there is yet another possibility of an elected state government getting toppled. "Suppose there is a mass movement and in face of pressure a chunk of legislators resign from those chairs. That is yet another possibility at how the state government can get toppled," Majumdar explained.

He also said that in politics any possibility can evolve any time.

Trinamool Congress state spokesman Kunal Ghosh said that previously the leader of the opposition in West Bengal Assembly Suvendu Adhikari had made so many similar projections. "Now they are making time-based predictions. Let them continue with such predictions. But their dreams will never be fulfilled. BJP has no mass base in West Bengal," he said.
San Francisco, July 16 : Twitter-owner Elon Musk on Sunday said that Meta Founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg doesn't seem to care about Threads.

After a user tweeted a screenshot of the last Zuckerberg's post on Threads and wrote, "It has now been 6 days since the CEO of that other app has made a post. Did he give up on it already?"

Musk replied, "He doesn't seem to care about his new product."

Meta launched Threads on July 5 for iOS and Android users in 100 countries, and it is among the top free apps on the App Store.

Threads already crossed 150 million user sign-ups.

Earlier, in response to a tweet about Zuckerberg's investment in the Metaverse, Musk said, "Censorship pays them well."

Last month, Twitter-owner had posted, "Zuck my *tongue emoji*."

Back in 2017, Tesla CEO had hit back at Zuckerberg, saying that the Meta CEO's understanding of artificial intelligence (AI) is 'limited.'

Meanwhile, in response to a tweet, Musk said: "Length of quote posts as seen on timeline will be shortened significantly. You will still be able to click through and see the whole thing, but QT's can't take up an entire screen."

"Ads will also be shortened in vertical height. Cost of an ad will be proportionate to its size."
New Delhi, July 16 : Skilled youth of India will soon get Skill India Passport which will have passport as well as certificate of skill training of the students.

This is the first time that skilled Indians going abroad for employment will get the Skill India Passport.

It is worth mentioning that in the digital economy, many possibilities of employment have also emerged with new age technologies like Blockchain, Big Data and Internet of Things (IoT). Today there is a great demand for data experts in India and abroad. However, many experts across the country consider these technology courses to be limited to some metro cities.

Dr. Manisha Joshi, Dean, IILM University, says "Even today, it is difficult to combine technology and education, especially for a large population of Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities. There are many reasons for this such as limited resources, lack of flexibility and financial constraints. However, the educated population in the metros is promoting skill development in their children. Here students are taking advantage of the integration of technology in education such as Artificial Intelligence, Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality, 3D classes."

Though, the government says, "Skill development centres have also been started in small towns to provide training to students from remote areas. The central government is also going to open 30 Skill India international centres across the country. Skill India Passport facility will be issued by these centres. These centres will provide training and coordinate as per the requirement, giving the youth the benefit of employment opportunities abroad. Twenty-four national skill training institutes and six skill development institutes have been identified for their establishment."

The Ministry of Skill Development has also entered into business-to-business agreements for training, assessment and recruitment with countries such as Australia, Canada, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Japan, Jordan, Malaysia, Maldives, Morocco and Sweden.

According to experts, the demand for skilled workforce related to hospitality and care has also increased continuously in many countries around the world. Lakhs of students were provided training in these fields at the centers of the Government of India during the Corona period and even after that.

On hospitality training, Kunal Vasudev, COO, Indian School of Hospitality, says, "We have designed courses in collaboration with experts to match the global demand, to not only stay ahead in the present era but also keep an eye on tomorrow. Our labs are hubs of technology and innovation, where students will see, learn and benefit from the potential of new age technology."

According to Vasudev, it is essential to understand the changes happening in this industry and prepare students accordingly so that Indian students can take charge of this industry in future as well.

The government has also established skill hubs for training, these hubs act as nodal skill centres. Their objective is to provide opportunities for skill development and vocational training to students of classes 6-8. The students are taken to various industry centres to make them aware of the demands and changes taking place in the industries.

According to Dr. Devinder Narang, Director of Jaipuria Institute of Management, "There have been rapid changes in the technology of many industries. In such a situation, it is even more important to provide appropriate skills to the youth. The central and state governments and educational institutions are laying emphasis on apprenticeship and vocational training programmes to equip the youth with real-world skills of work. Along with this, the needs of the industries should be met."
New Delhi, July 16 : In the midst of heightened controversy on the deployment of central forces and especially Assam Rifles in violence-hit Manipur, the security personnel and officers are plunging into the aid of local farmers.

"We are providing prophylactic security by way of our presence and Area Domination," said a source in Assam Rifles.

The para-military force which has operational control of army officers but on administrative front falls under Assam Rifles -- which is a renowned anti-insurgency crackdown force in the northeast.

For decades, the force was also called the 'Friends of the Hill People' but from time to time they also faced criticism or came under the scanner of socio-political organisations.

But lately, in violence-hit hamlets in Manipur where even irrigation and water supply projects have been damaged by miscreants, the Assam Rifles officers and personnel have helped restore water supply.

One such case has been reported from Loibol Khunou village. The project was allegedly damaged by miscreants when they burnt the entire village.

"Water supply for another village named Leimaram was also affected but now things have been restored and villagers are getting both drinking water and are able to carry out some farming," the source told IANS.

The Irrigation channel work on stream was taken up by the civilians and Assam Rifles even at Janglenphai village.

This subsequently helped irrigate paddy fields at Kamong village as well, the source said.

On matters related to farming, notwithstanding all their 'shortcomings', even the N. Biren Singh government is

trying its best to help the farmers. The state government has announced 'cut down' in deployment of forces for escorts and security covers of VIPs including ministers and MLAs.

The state government also deputed at least 2000 state force personnel for protection of farmers.

However, some individuals from hill areas have dismissed the 'move' saying either these things came too late and they are too little.

It must be admitted that the fear of 'famine' or food shortage has struck both Kukis and other Zo tribal people and also the Meitei population in the valley. Hence there is a growing concern of 'potential shortage of locally grown rice'. The farmers and citizens in Manipur, now have apprehension that this could also lead to a food and rice price hike next year.

Old timers recall that the 'rat famine' in 1958-59 had hit Mizos pretty badly.

"The Zo communities in violence-hit hills of Manipur share ethnic bonds with Mizo people. Everyone is aware of the 'famine' in their history. In fact, the Mizo National Front (MNF) was originally launched as the Mizo National Famine Front (MNFF)," a senior Zo community leader said.

So, farming operations have resumed in some pockets both in the hills and the valley.

Of course, reports say that there has been no report of fresh attacks on farmers living in the peripheral areas of the valley districts in strife-torn Manipur.

The security forces are operating now in a manner that the farming community feels "safe and secured".

Reports claim that farmers in Sadu Yengkhuman, Pukhao, Dolaithabi, Leitanpokpi Awang Leikai (Mairenpat) and Nongshum are "staying away" from paddy fields. Experts say, in Manipur, rice is a dominant kharif crop -- meaning it is mostly produced during monsoon or autumn.

Even in peacetime; farming in Manipur used to be afflicted by the challenges of high cost of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, lack of agricultural credit facility, lack of knowledge about fertilizer management, unavailability of fertilizers on time, lack of awareness of government schemes, irrigation related matters and lack of adequate awareness about rainwater harvesting techniques.

Now everyone seems to realise that in the insane rage, people of both communities have 'damaged water supply/projects' to each other's villages.

"In some cases even damaged irrigation projects were restored and supply of water was streamlined. Locals have also appreciated the same," sources in Assam Rifles say.

It was also suggested by experts last year in presence of Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar that an effort to address sustainable rice cultivation in Manipur and other northeastern states should be promoted by popularizing climate resilient agricultural technologies thereby reducing the constraints and increasing sustainability in rice farming.

(Nirendra Dev is a New Delhi-based journalist. He is also author of the books 'The Talking Guns: North East India',

and 'Modi to Moditva: An Uncensored Truth'. Views expressed are personal)
Key Insights

Given the large stake in the stock by institutions, Fidelity National Information Services' stock price might be vulnerable to their trading decisions

The top 21 shareholders own 51% of the company

Recent sales by insiders

Every investor in Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. (NYSE:FIS) should be aware of the most powerful shareholder groups. We can see that institutions own the lion's share in the company with 89% ownership. In other words, the group stands to gain the most (or lose the most) from their investment into the company.

Because institutional owners have a huge pool of resources and liquidity, their investing decisions tend to carry a great deal of weight, especially with individual investors. Hence, having a considerable amount of institutional money invested in a company is often regarded as a desirable trait.

Let's take a closer look to see what the different types of shareholders can tell us about Fidelity National Information Services.

See our latest analysis for Fidelity National Information Services

What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Fidelity National Information Services?

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.

As you can see, institutional investors have a fair amount of stake in Fidelity National Information Services. This can indicate that the company has a certain degree of credibility in the investment community. However, it is best to be wary of relying on the supposed validation that comes with institutional investors. They too, get it wrong sometimes. When multiple institutions own a stock, there's always a risk that they are in a 'crowded trade'. When such a trade goes wrong, multiple parties may compete to sell stock fast. This risk is higher in a company without a history of growth. You can see Fidelity National Information Services' historic earnings and revenue below, but keep in mind there's always more to the story.

Since institutional investors own more than half the issued stock, the board will likely have to pay attention to their preferences. Fidelity National Information Services is not owned by hedge funds. The company's largest shareholder is The Vanguard Group, Inc., with ownership of 9.0%. Meanwhile, the second and third largest shareholders, hold 6.4% and 6.1%, of the shares outstanding, respectively.

A closer look at our ownership figures suggests that the top 21 shareholders have a combined ownership of 51% implying that no single shareholder has a majority.

While it makes sense to study institutional ownership data for a company, it also makes sense to study analyst sentiments to know which way the wind is blowing. There are plenty of analysts covering the stock, so it might be worth seeing what they are forecasting, too.

Insider Ownership Of Fidelity National Information Services

While the precise definition of an insider can be subjective, almost everyone considers board members to be insiders. Company management run the business, but the CEO will answer to the board, even if he or she is a member of it.

I generally consider insider ownership to be a good thing. However, on some occasions it makes it more difficult for other shareholders to hold the board accountable for decisions.

Our data suggests that insiders own under 1% of Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. in their own names. As it is a large company, we'd only expect insiders to own a small percentage of it. But it's worth noting that they own US$102m worth of shares. It is good to see board members owning shares, but it might be worth checking if those insiders have been buying.

General Public Ownership

With a 10% ownership, the general public, mostly comprising of individual investors, have some degree of sway over Fidelity National Information Services. This size of ownership, while considerable, may not be enough to change company policy if the decision is not in sync with other large shareholders.

Next Steps:

I find it very interesting to look at who exactly owns a company. But to truly gain insight, we need to consider other information, too. For instance, we've identified 1 warning sign for Fidelity National Information Services that you should be aware of.

Ultimately the future is most important. You can access this free report on analyst forecasts for the company.

NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

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Mumbai, July 16 : In a move that jolted political circles in Maharashtra, the entire breakaway faction of the Nationalist Congress Party made a surprise visit to NCP founder-President Sharad Pawar here on Sunday afternoon.

They included Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, Working President Praful Patel, Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, state President Sunil Tatkare, the breakaway faction Ministers and other senior leaders.

After the meeting, Patel said they all have the highest regards for Sharad Pawar as he is their beacon and their mentor.

"We met him to seek his blessings and to work and keep the party united. He listened to us patiently but did not react," said Patel.

Sunday's impromptu 30-minute rendezvous comes two days after Ajit Pawar dropped in to meet his aunt (Sharad Pawar's wife) Pratibha Pawar, who underwent a hand surgery on Friday.

After the meeting - when he also interacted with uncle Sharad Pawar and cousin Supriya Sule, Ajit Pawar justified that "politics aside, family always come first". He also said the he was heeding to a call of his conscience and rushed to meet his ailing aunt.

Sunday's meeting raised quite a few political eyebrows,coming on the eve of the 3-week-long Maharashtra legislature Monsoon Session starting here from July 17.

This was the breakaway group's first direct meeting with Pawar Sr. - two weeks after Ajit Pawar split the NCP and joined the Shiv Sena-Bharatiya Janata Party government as a second Deputy CM on July 2.

Those who were present to meet Sharad Pawar at the Y.B. Chavan Centre also included Deputy Speaker Narhari Zirwal, Ministers Chhagan Bhujbal, Dilip Walse-Patil, Dhananjay Munde, Aditi Tatkare, and other leaders.
Chennai, July 16 : Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, M.K. Stalin will leave for Bengaluru on Monday to participate in the meeting of opposition leaders to be held on July 17 and 18.

A dinner meeting of all the leaders will be held on Monday evening.

According to a source, Stalin has been emerging as a major voice in the Opposition unity against the BJP, and his presence in Bengaluru is being considered 'very important'.

The two-day meeting in Bengaluru will host representatives of 24 political parties in the Karnataka capital.

Political parties of Tamil Nadu like MDMK and VCK would also take part in the meeting, besides DMK.

This would be the second meeting of Opposition leaders after Bihar Chief Minister and Janata Dal-United leader Nitish Kumar initiated such a move after meeting all the senior leaders across the country to unite against the BJP.

The first meeting was held in Patna on June 23.
Patna July 16 : The tussle between Pasupati Kumar Paras and Chirag Paswan over the legacy of Lok Janshakti Party founder Ram Vilas Paswan is still on with both leaders asserting their intention to contest from Hajipur Lok Sabha seat in the 2024 elections.

Paras, who currently represents Hajipur, said that he is a sitting MP from Hajipur and he will contest next the Lok Sabha election from the same constituency.

"Who is Chirag Paswan? I contested the Lok Sabha election 2019 from Hajipur. At that time, my elder brother Ram Vilas Paswan asked me to contest the Lok Sabha poll from Hajipur and he had asked Chirag Paswan to contest from Jamui. Ram Vilas Paswan had no faith in him and hence, he handed over the political legacy to me. So, I will contest the Lok Sabha poll 2024 from Hajipur and not him.

"I have an alliance with the BJP and not anyone else. Chirag Paswan is not part of the NDA. He was called for the meeting of the NDA by the BJP top leadership but we will not compromise on any seats held by my party," Paras said.

"I was called by the top leadership to end our dispute with Chirag Paswan. I said that it is not possible. When the party breaks, it gets united at some point but once the heart becomes broken, it cannot mend again. The people of Jamui are asking Chirag Paswan why he is leaving them," he added.

Earlier, Chirag Paswan staked claim to contest 6 Lok Sabha seats, including Hajipur for himself, and also wanted a Rajya Sabha seat.
New Delhi, July 16 : World champion powerlifter-turned-shooter Gaurav Sharma distributed food items and water bottles to flood-affected people here on Sunday.

Several areas of the city are underwater as the water level of River Yamuna rose following heavy rainfall earlier this week.

Gaurav visited different areas, including Yamuna Bazar, and met the people displaced from the flood plains of the Yamuna.

''Just like during the Covid pandemic, we, Pingaksh Foundation, are trying to help the affected people in Delhi due to the swelling Yamuna river,'' Gaurav said. "There are many people who lost their work and homes, we go there and meet them, listen to their problems and provide basic help as much as we can."

When Covid-induced lockdown in the country, the national-level shooter Gaurav, who is also a Mahant at a temple in Chandni Chowk, distributed food among the homeless in the city.
Jaipur, July 16 : : BJP President J.P Nadda on Sunday said that in the Jaipur bomb blast case, the Vasundhara Raje government started a fast track court while the Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot government worked towards releasing the terrorists.

Nadda said that the Gehlot government is marred with favoritism.

"Congress stands for 'Utpidan', 'Pakshpat' and 'Atyachar' (oppression, favouritism and atrocities). It has no right to be in power in Rajasthan even for a minute," Nadda said while launching the 'Nahi Sahega Rajasthan' programme in the state.

He said that the Gehlot government has bulldozed the homes of Hindu refugees who had come from Bangladesh and Pakistan while the BJP government had a dream to build the Ram temple.

"The Ram temple is being completed. Kedarnath, Ujjain has been renovated. We are also getting the Pushkar shrine renovated," Nadda said.

He said that the Chief Minister's family members are taking tenders worth thousands of crores and he is engaged in nurturing his family only.

"The husband of a Bharatpur minister is accused of rape and murder but Gehlot is working to save him. Congress is a party of mother, son and daughter. Gehlot is on contract. Sachin is on a sub-contract," Nadda said.

Nadda launched the campaign and a theme video which highlighted crime against women, the murder of Kanhaiya Lal in Udaipur, communal riots and other issues.

He also released a 'Fail Card' of the Congress-led state government

Deputy Leader of Opposition Satish Poonia also attacked the Gehlot government about farmer loans saying that the promises were not kept by the Congress leadership.

Former chief minister Vasundhara Raje said that Gehlot's government has been engaged in corruption since the last four and half years.

"There is loot all around. Yesterday, the Gehlot government broke all the records. Their former leader of ministerial rank was caught taking a bribe of Rs.18.40 lakh. Religious conversions are taking place in the state. By closing our Bhamashah scheme, they started the Chiranjeevi scheme. Annapurna Rasoi was changed to Indira Yojana. The quality of food has deteriorated," she said.

"I feel like crying after listening to paper leak cases. 19 papers got leaked. The future of 40 lakh youth has been ruined," she said.

'Nahi Sahega Rajasthan' program, which was started from Jaipur, will be launched at division and assembly level as well.

A separate website has also been launched for this campaign. All the information related to the program from the state level to the assembly level will be available on the website. The programme will run across the state till August 1. BJP has also announced a major protest in Jaipur on August 1.
Kolkata, July 16 : Two more deaths have been reported on Sunday in connection with the panchayat poll-related violence in West Bengal, an official said on Sunday.

CPI-M activist Rintu Sheikh from Hariparapara area in Murshidabad district of West Bengal, who was severely beaten up allegedly by ruling Trinamool Congress activists on the polling day (July 8) died at a hospital here on Sunday afternoon.

He was admitted to Kolkata-based state-run NRS Medical College & Hospital on the same day with critical head injuries.

His family members alleged that even as his condition was extremely critical, he was denied an ICU bed and was treated at a general ward.

He died on Sunday at around 2 p.m.

His family members and the Murshidabad district leadership have hinted that they will be taking legal steps, and seek a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the matter.

Besides, the hanging body of a BJP worker, Buran Murmu was found in the Bamangola area in Malda district on Sunday afternoon.

There were multiple injuries on this body.

The district BJP leadership has alleged that he was first murdered and then hung to make it look like a suicidal death.

BJP's Lok Sabha member from Malda (North) constituency Khagen Murmu has alleged that Buran was killed by his own son, who is a local Trinamool Congress, who has gone absconding since his father's body was found.
Los Angeles, July 16 : Rapper Dr. Dre has revealed that he turned down the opportunity of working with music legends Michael Jackson and Stevie Wonder and Prince.

As reported by 'The Hollywood Reporter', the 'Let Me Ride' Grammy winning rapper on appearance in an episode of the talk show 'Hart to Heart' told host Kevin Hart that he "bowed out" a couple of times from working with some of the most legendary artists in music's history.

"They just asked me to work with them and I just was like, 'What the f*** am I going to do with them?'" he explained. "Those are my f***** heroes." Despite being reminded by Hart that he is Dr. Dre himself, a multi-Grammy winner, he confessed that even Wonder had reached out to him recently to collaborate on a song.

The rapper then spoke of his admiration for these iconic artistes, and said that working with them might change his perception of their music, He said "I like the way I feel about Stevie, Prince, Michael, Bruce Springsteen and all of these amazing artistes. It could change by working with them."

He added, "These are my f***** heroes.  I like the idea of what I grew up listening to and I want to keep it like that. And I don't want to f*** up that idea and that look."

Dr. Dre, who has played a big role in the careers of several successful artistes, including Eminem, Snoop Dogg and Kendrick Lamar, went on to explain that he prefers to work with newer artistes.

"My entire life and career has been dealing with and working with new artistes. That's what I like. Nobody comes in with an agenda," the record producer said.

"It's a ball of clay when they walk in the room. You can just form it and do what you want. That's what I want. Everybody else, especially my heroes, they're coming in and there's a set plan as to how the s*** should sound, ya know. I can't, I can't explore."
New Delhi, July 16 : To take Raisina Hill -- the seat of power in India -- any political dispensation has to tame Lucknow first, the capital of the state that sends the largest number of MPs to the Lok Sabha.

Is it possible, though, for a non-BJP party or alliance to storm into the saffron fortress? If it is, what role will Dalits play in this political shift?

The book titled aMaya, Modi, Azad: Dalit Politics in the Time of Hindutvaa by Sajjan Kumar and Sudha Pai (HarperCollins India; Rs 599) is an important read for those seeking answers to these questions.

The book raises some critical questions: What is the future of the BSP and Mayawati? What is the significance of the rise of new Dalit organisations in UP such as the Bhim Army? Why does a section of Dalits today support the BJP electorally and culturally? Will the BJP be able to sustain its subaltern reach and bring all the Dalits into a aMaha Hindua identity to realise its ideological vision?

The authors have traced Dalit politics back to the mid-1980s when Kanshi Ram founded the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) with his close associate, Mayawati.

The BSP came to power three times in the 1990s with the help of coalition partners and Mayawati was elected chief minister thrice; it was only in 2007, however, that the BSP won Uttar Pradesh with majority riding high on its Sarvajan politics, winning 206 out of 403 seats in the Assembly.

BSP realised that to come to power on its own, it needs to be inclusive and include the upper-class Hindus -- Brahmins -- as its core Dalit vote was not sufficient to garner the party a majority in the UP Assembly.

Mayawatias close aides Nasimuddin Siddiqui and Satish Mishra were behind the Sarvajan strategy and had started working on it in 2005. The BSP then abandoned its Bahujan strategy.

This was when the BSP started organising the Brahmin Bhaichara Sammelan and started giving key positions to Brahmin leaders. The strategy paid dividends in the 2007 Assembly election.

In 2007, for the first time in independent India, a Dalit party was able to get a majority in India's most populous state -- and also one of its poorest. Mayawati became Chief Minister for the fourth time.

The 2007 Assembly elections marked a watershed moment for the BSP, with Siddique and Mishra playing a vital role in getting Mayawati a majority and the crown. She had become the 'King' in UP politics and everything had started to move around her in the state. However, she soon destroyed her own kingdom with her short-sighted politics and damage her core vote bank -- the Dalits.

The authors contend that Mayawati invested heavily in Uttar Pradesh. The Mayawati 'Sarvajan' government was undoubtedly one of achievements and did much better than the Yogi regime of 2017-21. The economy was also doing better than it did under the Samajwadi Party (SP) from 2012-2017.

Many expressways inaugurated by PM Modi during his campaign for the 2022 Assembly elections were actually started during Mayawati tenure and continued under the SP government of 2012-17, the authors point out.

But it was arrogance that cost Mayawati her crown. She came crashing down in the 2012 Assembly elections and with it the Dalit community.

Since 2012, Dalit politics has taken a sound beating as the community disintegrated into various parties and the sub-castes were tapped by other political formations, especially by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

The authors explain the many factors that led to this disarray. Dalits as a community wanted more spending on better education, roads, health and other facilities, whereas Mayawati wasted large sums of money on building memorial to Dalit icons and dedicating public places in their names, leading to large-scale corruption.

Quoting from their field work which the authors took in the state of Uttar Pradesh for years, they establish that while Brahmins, Rajputs, Vaishyas voted for BSP in the 2012 election, it was actually the sharp decline in BSPas core vote bank -- the Dalit. The BSP could only win 80 seats in the 2012 elections.

Dalits also punished Mayawati for two more reasons -- amassing greater wealth for herself and the rampant corruption in the state departments.

After BSP was out of power, the party started to decline gradually with it the Dalit power base. Mayawati became more inaccessible to the party workers and BSP started to lose the partyas organisational structure which took a hit in every district. The leaders who were associated with BSP since the times of Kanshi Ram either started to leave or were expelled from the more susceptible Mayawati. The biggest dent to BSP came in 2017 after Mayawatias close aide Nasimuddin Siddiqui was expelled from BSP.

Mayawati sold seats in the 2014, 2017, 2019, and 2022 parliamentary and assembly elections and no grassroot worker or deserving candidate was given seats. The members had to pay Mayawati if they wanted to contest on a BSP ticket. The lowest amount a leader was asked to pay was rupees three crore.

After BJP came to power in 2014, the atrocities on the Dalit community started to rise. Mayawati -- the so-called protector of Dalits -- was nowhere to be seen to protect the community. The Dalits, who once formed the core vote bank of BSP started to distance themselves from the party and from Mayawati in particular after the atrocities on the community.

The author writes that Mayawati not once led a protest against the atrocities, apart from giving occasional statements, which were too little too late. The Dalits, especially the sub-castes, become increasingly disaffected by these gestures of Mayawati.

The indifference of Mayawati to the atrocities committed against the Dalits gave rise to new Dalit parties such as the Bhim Army led by Chandrashekhar Azad and Ambedkar Jan Morcha of Shravan Kumar Nirala, who had started his career in 1993 with the BSP. Nirala had been a close aide of Mayawati since 2007.

Also, the collapse of the BSP was accompanied by a acaste dispersiona or a scattering of the Dalit movement, which is visible along three inter-related axes: sub-caste, ideological and sub-regional.

The authors point out that the Balmiki localities in western UP integrated with the saffron discourse in 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2022. Likewise, the Pasi Dalits supported the BSP till 2012 and since 2014 have been backing the BJP.

The Khatiks, too, have shifted towards the BJP after they felt that the SP and BSP are catering essentially to the Jatavs, Yadavs and Muslims. The Khatiks believed that it was the BJP that helped them during the riots and thus supported the party thereafter.

The enigma that aMaya, Modi, Azada tries to unravel is why Dalits protest strongly against upper-caste atrocities, but at the same time vote/support the BJP in the elections?

The authors write that Narendra Modi was aware that to gain Delhi he had to win Uttar Pradesh. And to win UP, he knew Dalits had to be on his side. Modi also knew that to win Dalits, BJP has to address their economic conditions.

Under Modi's leadership, the BJP-led government at the Centre took great care to reach out to the Dalit sub-castes, ensuring free rations and other material gains so that these sub-caste could experience some sort of economic freedom.

The authors also point out that many priests associated with the Ayodhya movement were also not Brahmins. Associating Dalits -- for its inclusive Hindutva project -- was actually a part of the Ayodhya movement.

Even in the 2002 riots, a large number tribals, Dalits and other poorer sections participated in the attacks on Muslims, which helped develop a sizeable Hindu vote bank, enabling Modias victory in Gujarat in 2002. Modi used the same tactic during the 2014 Lok Sabha elections to win Uttar Pradesh.

Added to Hindutva politics was the BJPas successful online and social media blitz because of which the party gained majority in 2014 in the Lok Sabha and in 2017 and 2022 in the UP Assembly.

The Dalit community in Uttar Pradesh is of the opinion, according to the authors, that Chandrashekhar Azad cannot win an election as his party does not have the organisational set-up and skills that the BSP possessed.

They are voting for the BJP keeping their economic needs in consideration and more so, the BJP gives them protection from Thakur agoondasa of SP.

After the fall of the BSP in 2012, the Dalits got divided into pro-BJP and pro-BSP groups, which often led to conflicts between Dalits and Muslims and Dalits and Thakurs.

The authors write that whenever there was a conflict between the Dalits and Muslims, the BJP leaders were always behind the scene adding fuel to the fire. When the conflict was between Dalits and Thakurs, no BJP leader got involved. But Mayawati was always been missing from the scene and did nothing to protect her community.

(Daanish Bin Nabi can be mailed at daanish.n@ians.in)
Seoul, July 16 : South Korea will supply Ukraine with more mine detectors and demining equipment as part of its assistance package for the war-torn nation, a presidential official said Sunday.

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kiev on Saturday and agreed to provide the country with a package of security, humanitarian and reconstruction assistance under the name "Ukraine Peace and Solidarity Initiative," Yonhap news agency reported.

The initiative is made up of nine pillars -- three for each type of assistance -- including the supply of additional safety equipment, according to Principal Deputy National Security Adviser Kim Tae-hyo.

"We plan to expand assistance in mine detectors and demining equipment, as Ukraine's demand for them is desperately large," he told reporters. "We will expand military supply support, and in the mid- to long term plan and design cooperation in defense projects between South Korea and Ukraine."

Ukraine also asked for South Korean business investment in the construction of rechargeable battery and electric vehicle plants, he said.

Yoon's surprise visit to Ukraine came at the end of a two-nation tour that took him to Lithuania and Poland last week.

The trip from Poland on Friday night took 14 hours via air, land and train, and 13 hours back, while Yoon stayed in Ukraine for only 11 hours, Kim said.
Patna, July 16 : A minor girl has been detained for doing stunts on bike on Ganga Path/Marine drive, a police official said on Sunday.

Patna police also imposed Rs 30,000 fine under the Motor Vehicle Act and also cancelled the registration of the bike for one year.

The minor girl was doing a stunt on the Marine Drive a few days ago and also uploaded the video on social media account named "Hunter Girl" on Instagram.

As per the uploaded video, she was riding the bike at high speed without holding the handle, standing up on the bike, and waving a pistol.

Following this video, SP, City, Vaibhav Kumar took the cognisance of the matter and police managed to zero in the minor girl. The gun which she was waving was actually found to be a lighter.

After being detained, the minor girl regretted her act. "I did the stunt on Marine Drive a few days ago and also uploaded it on social media. It was a dangerous act which not only could have turned fatal for me but also to others. I will not repeat such an act in future," the girl said.
Photo: Jim Allen - FreightWaves

Chart of the Week: Outbound Tender Volume Index  Los Angeles and Ontario, Outbound Tender Reject Index  Los Angeles SONAR: OTVI.LAX, OTVI.ONT, OTRI.LAX

Truckload tender volumes have dropped about 18% out of Southern California over the past year while tender rejection rates are currently exceeding the previous years levels. This seemingly contradictory data shows that even in a loose aggregate environment, capacity is not just about the number of trucks in the U.S.

The recent decline in carrier acceptances is not a straight example of aggregate capacity correcting, but of carrier networks becoming unbalanced as natural freight flows shift.

After many retailers recognized their overordering methodology had filled their warehouses in early 2022, they did what anyone would do: They turned off the faucet. And over the past year, carriers have responded by positioning less equipment out West.

This is reflected in the spot rate from Chicago to Los Angeles. Spot rates in this lane stabilized last summer and actually increased 4% from last July to April of this year, according to FreightWaves TRAC contributors.

The National Truckload Index (NTI)  a measure of all dry van spot rates  fell 23% over that same period.





Once capacity again started to show signs of tightening out of Los Angeles  reflected in the steady rise in tender rejection rates that began in April  spot rates for loads moving into the region started to fall again as carriers attempted to position themselves where they were needed.

Overcorrection

Over a third of the containerized imports enters the country through the port complexes of Los Angeles and Long Beach. Prior to the pandemic, this activity peaked in the mid- to late third quarter as shippers pushed freight to the Eastern half of the country for the holiday season.

During the pandemic, this pattern persisted throughout the year as companies struggled to keep up with consumer demand. Not only did truckload capacity grow, but carrier networks were designed to move capacity into Southern California.

Once the import faucet turned off and Eastern warehouses were filled, capacity was stranded out West with nothing to move. Carriers were now left with underpriced lanes heading into the region due to the lack of volume enabling them to price inbound loads at a lower level. And now even though demand is lower from an annual perspective, capacity in the region has fallen at a slightly faster pace.

On the flip side, spot rates are rising out of Los Angeles, but they are not breaking any records. TRAC rates from Los Angeles to Chicago are up 17% versus early April but still below where they were to start the year.

If and when the freight market does eventually turn, these types of irregularities will become increasingly pronounced. The underlying demand pattern shifts are harder to identify in a market where capacity is in abundance.

About the Chart of the Week

The FreightWaves Chart of the Week is a chart selection from SONAR that provides an interesting data point to describe the state of the freight markets. A chart is chosen from thousands of potential charts on SONAR to help participants visualize the freight market in real time. Each week a Market Expert will post a chart, along with commentary, live on the front page. After that, the Chart of the Week will be archived on FreightWaves.com for future reference.

SONAR aggregates data from hundreds of sources, presenting the data in charts and maps and providing commentary on what freight market experts want to know about the industry in real time.

The FreightWaves data science and product teams are releasing new datasets each week and enhancing the client experience.

The post Annual demand dip paints incomplete picture of California markets appeared first on FreightWaves.
Chandigarh, July 16 : Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Sunday hit out at politicians for blaming the Haryana for flood-like situation in Delhi.

He said playing the blame game at the time of "crisis is nothing but proof of being uneducated."

He said that 30 people have lost lives in Haryana due to floods.

"Some prominent politicians are trying to defame Haryana by circulating photos claiming that it is only because Haryana has released water from the Hathnikund barrage which has caused flood-like situations in their states," Khattar told the media in Rohtak.

"Making such statements is nothing but shows their low-level mentality. I think if there is any PhD degree of being ill-informed then these people will get PhD degree for sure," he said.

The Chief Minister said the flood-like situation caused due to increased water levels in the Yamuna river has first affected villages of Yamunanagar district only. "The situation due to increased water levels in the Yamuna became so bad that we had to vacate two villages in the district."

"What is the logic behind that first we will drown our own districts and then will drown Delhi? Before defaming us, these people should have a clear understanding that Haryana has more districts adjoining to the Yamuna than Delhi.

"If any untoward situation arises then Haryana will be affected more. Haryana will not be defamed by such statements. We have our own identity. We believe in serving not harming," said Khattar.

He said ever since canals and dams are built, there is a written rule which says that every barrage has a fixed capacity and water below that capacity is diverted.

"But when the water level increases, the diversion of canals is stopped, as the excess water flow can damage the system. If it is kept closed, then the system will be safe. After this, the natural flow of water will go in that direction. Even in Bhakra, if there is an overflow, the water goes into the rivers like the Sutlej and not into the Bhakra main canal," explained the Chief Minister.

"Before blaming us, Delhi should remember Haryana is fulfilling its water needs," he said.

"We do not only meet Delhi's water requirement but are giving more water than Delhi's share. Delhi's share is 750 cusecs and even today Haryana gives 1,070 cusecs of water to Delhi. A total of 320 cusecs of water gives more than its share," he said.

The Chief Minister said even after Supreme Court's directive to Delhi to pay for taking extra water from Haryana, Delhi has never paid anything for getting 320 cusecs of extra water.

Khattar said Haryana never spends money on the maintenance of ITO barrage. That money was given by Indraprastha Power Plant till 2018. With the closure of the plant, the money was stopped.

"The Delhi government never said any such problem could arise here. They never held a flood control meeting and if they did they never said that the maintenance of this barrage has stopped. Today when there was a problem, he is creating an unnecessary ruckus," he said.

He said due to the lack of proper maintenance of the Yamuna, the Delhi government could not take out even three lakh cusecs of water from the Delhi area. The Haryana government has set up an inquiry to check all their systems.

Along with the ITO barrage, encroachments inside the Yamuna river have also been asked to be identified as not Haryana, but the illegal encroachments in the Yamuna have resulted in flood-like situations in Delhi, said the Chief Minister.

The Chief Minister said if the SYL Canal had been built today, Punjab would have suffered less.

"Excess rainwater from Punjab flowed into the SYL constructed in Haryana, due to which areas of Ambala and Kurukshetra districts were submerged. These two districts were submerged only because of incomplete SYL. But we never accused Punjab of this situation," Khattar said.

The Chief Minister said in previous years there was 145 mm of rain during monsoon, but this time the state has received 245 to 250 mm of rain, which is 180 per cent more.

He said the report of the assessment of the loss caused to life and property in the state is expected to come in the next two days.

According to information so far, 30 people have died, 133 houses completely damaged, 183 houses partially damaged and 110 animals died. Also, 1.60 lakh hectares is waterlogged.
Seoul, July 16 : Even after the end of a two-day general strike, some unionised medical workers continued a walkout across South Korea on Sunday, causing patient inconvenience and disruptions at hospitals.

On Friday, around 45,000 nurses, caregivers, and other members of the Korean Health and Medical Workers' Union (KHMU) from 140 medical institutions nationwide ended their two-day general strike meant to demand better working conditions and greater state support for public medical institutions, Yonhap news agency reported.

But some of them have yet to reach an agreement with their respective management side on details and have been on a strike, according to the union.

The collective actions continued at Ajou University Medical Center and Hallym University Medical Center, both located in Gyeonggi Province, as well as several other hospitals in the southwestern city of Gwangju and the eastern province of Gangwon.

At Pusan National University Hospital, in particular, some 80 percent of about 3,500 unionized workers have joined the walkout. It is the largest medical institution in the southern port city of Busan.

Striking medical workers have called for an expansion of the integration of nursing and caregiving services, and the institutionalization of a nurse-to-patient ratio of 1 to 5.

"If the union of each hospital fails to reach a deal with the management, workers will not return to work. We will continue talks with the health ministry to improve working conditions for medical workers and to expand public medical services," a KHMU official said.

The ministry and the union have held three rounds of meetings since Friday and discussed measures to overcome difficulties that medical workers are facing.
New Delhi, July 16 : The Delhi Lieutenant Governor office on Sunday accused the AAP led Delhi Government for allegedly running a parallel civil service in the national capital by employing 437 private individuals as fellows and consultants, most of them were AAP workers, on hefty salaries paid by the public exchequer.

"Not only did the Delhi government brazenly flouted the Constitutional provision of Reservation for SC/ST/OBC in employing these private individuals, it also rigged the entire selection process, chose favored individuals with dubious qualifications and used these so called 'Fellows' and 'Consultants' as political/party workers for political propaganda," the LG office alleged.

It said that the modus operandi of the AAP government was to bulldoze every constitutional norm and every rule in the rulebook. These private individuals, political workers were filled in almost every department, agency, Board and PSU under the Delhi Government, in many cases in place of senior government officers, essentially to evade any accountability and tweak the rules to their political advantage.

"Despite the set guidelines of the Union Government and the GNCTD, that reservations are to be made for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes in all temporary appointments which are to last for forty five days or more, the Arvind Kejriwal government, blatantly went ahead with the appointments, without any reserved category seats.

"Multiple of the Delhi Government and even its own Ministers, in several written correspondences, had agreed to the Constitutional provision of Reservation, but in its agenda to appoint their own cadre, the AAP government threw these written affirmations in the dustbin of illegality," the LG office said.

It said that the Speaker of the Delhi Legislative Assembly, General Purpose Committee of the Delhi Legislative Assembly, the National Commission for Scheduled Castes, the Minister (Law/AR), GNCTD Kailash Gehlot, the Parliamentary Committee on Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, the Department of Personnel & Training, Govt. of India, and the Ministry of Home Affairs, Govt. of India, had agreed (directly/indirectly) that reservation would be applicable in case of engagement of such fellows/associate fellows, being a matter of engagement for more than 45 days. But the AAP government elbowed every authority in order to achieve its political goals.

"In nutshell, a Brahmin Minister in the AAP Government, Saurabh Bhardwaj, gave government jobs to several of his fellow Brahmin AAP workers, through backdoor, and snatched away the rights of SCs, STs and OBCs," LG office alleged.

The LG office said that there were manipulations in the selection process to even appoint the unqualified wife of an AAP MLA.

"Delhi Assembly's Speaker in 2020 nominated Ratnesh Gupta, Director, Bureau of Legislative Assembly, as one of the three names for selecting the consultants. Who is Ratnesh Gupta? Gupta is an active member of the AAP Party. He filed the nomination for Patparganj Seat from Aam Aadmi Party in the Delhi Legislative Assembly Elections 2015 and later withdrew his nomination in favour of Manish Sisodia," LG office said.

The LG office alleged that Anchal Bawa, wife of sitting MLA of Aam Aadmi Party Durgesh Pathak, who is now AAP's in-charge for MCD, claimed false experience of NGO, for which she could not produce any experience certificate, was allowed to be engaged as associate fellow, in gross violation of the set of rules.

The LG office said that Anchal Bawa was earning Rs.60,000 per month from the State Exchequer.

"Ms Deepshika Singh was perhaps 'Moonlighting' at her job, because she was working full time and also completing college at the same time, which is a highly suspicious claim. She claimed in her resume that had full time experience of between 2013 and 2018 from Manu Educational Cultural & Social Welfare Society, Delhi.

"In the experience certificate provided by her, it is mentioned that she had full-time employment of forty hours a week. It is also observed that she completed her post-graduation degree vM.A. in Development and Labour Studies (which is a regular course) from Jawaharlal Nehru University in 2018.

"It is thus not possible for anyone to attend the University's regular course to maintain minimum attendance and also work on full time basis employment of 40 hours a week," the LG office said.

The LG office further stated that AAP government wants the 'Services Ordinance' quashed because it exposes its dubious intentions of running a parallel administration in Delhi, bulldozing every Constitutional provision and looting public money by employing AAP workers in government jobs.
Mumbai, July 16 : Actor Rajat Barmecha, who made his debut with the 2010 film 'Udaan', is celebrating the 13th anniversary of his debut. The actor said that no other film could have been a better debut for him as it brought him unprecedented recognition.

The film, which was released on July 16, 2010, also marked Vikramaditya Motwane's directorial debut and garnered a slew of recognitions across major international film festivals including the Cannes Film Fest.

Talking about the film completing 13 years of its release, Rajat shared, "It always feels very special, every year. Udaan has been a very special film for a lot of people and it definitely will be the most special for Vikram (Motwane) and I. We both started our journeys together with this film and learnt so much on the way. Generally even for a classic people celebrate their 10 years or 15 years anniversary but Udaan is so close to my heart and the heart of so many people out there".

He continued, "It made so many people go out and actually pursue their dreams and It continues to do so even today and that's the reason we celebrate every single year of its existence. It's a film that I personally am very grateful for and I celebrate Udaan everyday of my life. I can't be more blessed to have started my acting journey with a film like 'Udaan'".

He further opened up on what made him say yes to the project. He said, "I doubt there will be any actor who will read the script of 'Udaan' and wouldn't want to do it.

He called it "love at first read". Being his first film, at that point in his career, Rajat wasn't choosing scripts rather the film chose him.

He said, "I auditioned for it like any other boy who comes to Bombay in the hope of getting a film, I wasn't thinking how or with what kind of a film I wanted to start my career. I just wanted to act. And that's the reason I am extremely grateful that a film like 'Udaan' came my way at the start of my career. There is no film in the world that could have been a better debut for me than 'Udaan'".

"It's a very very important film and every single memory of every single minute spent on that film will be cherished forever. I will never forget Udaan and the people who made it possible. They all hold a very special place in my heart", he added.

On the professional front, Rajat was recently seen in 'Kacchey Limbu', opposite Radhika Madan. The film was produced by Jio Studios.
Hyderabad, July 16 : The countdown to MotoGP Bharat started in Hyderabad on Sunday with the organisers of the event holding a 'City Tour' in which 400 riders participated with great enthusiasm.

The controlled ride started from Dhruva College of Fashion Technology, HiTech city, riding in a loop and back to increase the awareness around MotoGP among the community of race enthusiasts of the city.

The event, much like other MotoGP Bharat events propagated the philosophy of 'Roads are for riding' and 'Tracks are for racing' and encouraged young and aspirational riders to become aware of this global IP and forge a strong sense of camaraderie with the biking fraternity of Hyderabad city and across the state.

"Hyderabad has given confidence and wings to MotoGP Bharat's City Tour initiative. It turned out to be a resounding success, with participants embracing the thrill of riding through the city streets. This event marked the beginning of an exciting chapter, and we look forward to bringing the MotoGP Bharat experience to more cities across the country," commented Sushant Shrivastava, Managing Director and Head of City Tours, FairStreet Sport, the Indian promoters of MotoGP.

The turnout of female riders at the event was equally encouraging. This notable participation also reflected the growing prominence of women as part of the biking community and how MotoGP has been successfully appealing to both genders globally.

With the Hyderabad chapter coming to a successful conclusion, the race will now proceed to Ahmedabad on July 23, which is the next venue for the City Tour.

Besides the ride, the event showcased a slice of the MotoGP atmosphere including mega DJ shows, bike stunts, food stalls, selfie booths, 360 VR and gaming booths at the event.

Host City, Uttar Pradesh will welcome the bike enthusiasts of Hyderabad and other cities as the caravan will proceed across the country before culminating in Delhi on the race weekend in September, from where participants will ride to the Buddh International Circuit for the race that takes place from September 22-24.
Kolar, : July 16 (IANS) A Circle Police Inspector in Karnataka's Kolar has been suspended for service for negligence in wake of the "honour killing" case reported from the district, an official statement said.

IGP, Central Range, Ravikanthe Gowda has issued the suspension orders of Kamasamudra Circle Inspector P.J. Madhukar in this regard on Sunday.

The horrific incident of a father allegedly strangling his daughter to death for falling in love with a youth belonging to Dalit community was reported from Bodagurki village near Bangarapet town in Kolar on June 27.

The youth, after coming to know about the incident, had committed suicide by coming under train.

The ill-fated couple were identified as Keerthi, 20, and Gangadhar, 24.

While Keerthi hailed from Golla (Yadav) community, Gangadhar belonged to Dalit community and both were residents of Bodagurki village in Kamasamudra hobli.

According to police, both were in love for a year.

Gangadhar had approached the father of the girl to inform him about their love and also ask for her hand. Her parents however refused as the boy was a Dalit and asked her to forget him. When Keerthi continued her love affair, the parents tried to convince her to stop it.

Her father Krishna Murthy had questioned her and this had led to heated arguments between Keerthi and the family members. In a fit of rage, he allegedly strangulated daughter to death.

Subsequently, Gangadhar threw himself under the Lalbagh Express train which passed through the village.

The Kamasamudra police have registered a case in this connection and initiated investigation. More details are yet to emerge over the case.
Shimla, July 16 : Saying the state faced the worst calamity in 50 years, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Sukhu on Sunday launched the Aapda Rahat Kosh -- 2023 website, a digital platform aimed at aiding the disaster-affected people of the state.

Individuals can donate money from anywhere using various payment methods like debit card, credit card, net banking, QR code and UPI, an official statement said.

During the launch, the Chief Minister said the magnitude of the disaster is vast and people across the country and abroad have expressed their desire to assist.

He said to facilitate this support, the Department of Digital Technology and Governance developed a transparent web link where anyone can donate online and receive a receipt on their mobile device.

The system has been integrated with multiple payment gateways to ensure seamless transactions.

The Chief Minister said that preparations were underway to enable online donations from overseas donors within the next few days.

Sukhu expressed gratitude towards employee organisations and individuals nationwide who have already contributed to the Aapda Rahat Kosh -- 2023.

He said he himself and his cabinet colleagues, all Congress MLAs, have decided to donate their one month's salary towards the cause.

Highlighting the severity of the situation, the Chief Minister said Himachal Pradesh had faced immense losses due to the unprecedented rainfall, marking the worst calamity the state has experienced in 50 years.

He exhorted everyone to extend maximum financial support to help the state to recover from the devastation.
Chennai, July 16 : Tamil Nadu Health Minister Ma Subramanian on Sunday said that the state government is continuing its opposition to National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test (NEET).

Talking to media persons, the minister said that he and the state had given a new representation to the Union Health Minister to do away with NEET.

The minister said that during the state government has given replies to the Union Ministry for Home affairs on the clarifications they asked regarding the petition of the state government on NEET exemption.

Ma Subramanian said that he was expecting the Union health ministry to call him and the State Health Secretary to New Delhi soon to communicate on a final decision regarding NEET.

He also said that it was not only Tamil Nadu but states like Uttarkhand were also opposed to NEET and NeXT. The minister said that several students have also raised their objection to NEET.

The minister said that there 6326 MBBS seats in medical colleges of Tamil Nadu including government and private medical colleges. He said that there would be 1768 seats for BDS courses in the state.

It may be noted that there were 6067 MBBS seats and 1380 BDS seats in Tamil Nadu last year. The number of seats under the 7.5 % quota for government school students in the seat is 473 for MBBS and 133 seats for BDS this year.

In Tamil Nadu, there are 36 government medical colleges, one ESI medical college, 21 self-finance medical colleges, and 13 deemed medical colleges in the state.
Bengaluru, July 16 : Karnataka's Congress government on Sunday clarified that the guideline of banning bangles for midday meal woman workers has been given by the Central government.

A statement from the Chief Minister's Office noted that there has been propaganda that the Congress government had released a guideline banning bangles for midday meal woman worker and false information is spread rapidly in this regard.

In reality, the Central government has released guidelines in connection with the Poshan scheme and banned the wearing of bangles for midday meal woman workers, it said.

Some sections of the media had reported that the state Department of Education had come up with guidelines banning bangles for women workers who prepare midday meals for school children.

This had created a controversy and was slowly taking a communal turn, leading to the fact check team of the Congress government declaring that the reports are baseless and the guideline was indeed issued by the Central government.
London, July 16 : Rocking out stadiums across Europe, English heavy metal legends Iron Maiden concluded their 'The Return of the Gods Festival' in Milan in blazing epic fashion as part of their 'The Future Past Tour 2023'.

The open air concert was attended by thousands, with many flying in all the way from North America and Asia. The band then dished out a bunch of their classics from their '80s albums such as 'The Trooper', 'The Number of the Beast' and 'Hallowed Be Thy Name'.

Along with that, the band also played a number of tracks from their newer albums such as 'Brave New World', 'Dance Of Death' as well as from their latest album 'Senjutsu'.

Taking to Instagram, Iron Maiden thanked their fans at Milan and captioned: "Thank you Milan!"

Just sometime before that, the band announced their concert in cool fashion featuring a computer animated video featuring their mascot Eddie in a futuristic 'Blade Runner' type bar, cutting to the album cover of the 'The Future Past Tour 2023'.

The band captioned: "Scream for me Milan! #IronMaiden #TheFuturePastTour #Milan"

However, while the show concluded in great fashion full of flair and the attitude of heavy metal, fans were a bit disappointed due to the gig's poor organisation and the bad audio quality. Nonetheless, the concert went off incredibly well, leaving fans thrilled and overall satisfied.

The band was also joined on stage by other big metal bands such as Stratovarius, Epica, Blind Channel and The Raven Age.

Some of the other big hard rock and metal bands coming to bring headbanger shows in Milan include Megadeth, Rammstein, Pantera, Deep Purple and Slipknot.

Iron Maiden was formed in 1975 in London and have since then become icons, having released over 17 studio albums, 13, live albums as well as performed over 2,500 live shows across the world, including in India over three times with great success in Bengaluru and Mumbai.

Despite never garnering much mainstream attention, the band has sold 150 million records worldwide making them one of the best-selling bands of all time.

In addition, the band are one of the most important and influential groups of all time, having inspired numerous other big bands such as Metallica, Slayer, Anthrax, Megadeth, Pantera, Dream Theater, Avenged Sevenfold, Foo Fighters, Nirvana and even big names in rap and pop, such as Ice-T and Lady Gaga.

They have also received various awards and honours which include the Grammy Awards, Ivor Novella Awards, Kerrang Awards, Metal Hammer Awards, Juno Awards, and were honoured by Royal Mail UK with dedicated postal stamps and cards in 2023.
The Port of Brownsville in South Texas will be the site of the new multibillion dollar Rio Grande LNG terminal from NextDecade Corp. (Photo: Port of Brownsville)

Borderlands is a weekly rundown of developments in the world of United States-Mexico cross-border trucking and trade. This week: $18B LNG export terminal project moves forward at Texas seaport; DHL investing $560M to expand supply chains in Mexico, South America; German manufacturer announces 1st facility in Mexico; and CBP seizes nearly $4 million in meth from a California border crossing.

$18B LNG export terminal project moves forward at Texas seaport

Energy producer NextDecade Corp. said on Wednesday its moving ahead with construction of a multibillion dollar liquefied natural gas export terminal at the Port of Brownsville in South Texas.

The Houston-based companys Rio Grande LNG terminal at the port will consist of five compressor units once completed, with each designed to process 5.4 million metric tons of LNG per year, making the 984-acre facility among the largest LNG exporters in the world.

We look forward to delivering this important LNG project that will supply the world with reliable and lower-carbon intensive LNG, Matt Schatzman, NextDecades chairman and CEO, said in a news release. Now our focus turns to safely constructing Phase 1 on time and on budget.

The Rio Grande LNG terminal projects total cost for the first phase is $18.4 billion. NextDecade said it has secured almost $6 billion in financing from international partners to begin work on the projects first three compressors to LNG from Texas shale fields for export on global markets.

Houston-based NextDecade Corp.s Rio Grande LNG terminal will be among the largest gas export terminals in the world once completed. (Image: NextDecade)



NextDecades partners in the project include French oil giant TotalEnergies and financial investors Global Infrastructure Partners, GIC and Mubadala Investment Co.

The company did not specify a completion date for the first phase of the project during Wednesdays announcement. NextDecade initially planned to begin construction of the Rio Grande LNG terminal last year, with a target completion date of 2026.

Officials for the Port of Brownsville said the Rio Grande LNG terminal will transform South Texas and the states trade with the world.

Located 277 miles south of San Antonio at the southernmost tip of Texas along the Gulf of Mexico, the Port of Brownsville is the only deep-water seaport located along the border, making it a major trade channel between Texas and Mexico.

The Rio Grande LNG facility will be a true game-changer for our community, representing a generational achievement, Eduardo A. Campirano, the ports director and CEO, said in a news release. Its impact will be enormous, significantly benefiting the energy industry of Texas.

DHL investing $560M to expand supply chains in Mexico, South America

German transport and logistics giant DHL Supply Chain announced an investment of $556 million in Latin America by 2028.

The investments include building warehouses, developing robotics and automation solutions and decarbonization efforts across Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, Chile, Peru and Argentina.

DHL will use the funds to strengthen logistics capabilities in high-demand sectors, including healthcare, automotive, technology, retail and e-commerce, the company said.

Companies all around the globe are looking for more diversified sourcing and supply chain strategies by bringing stock points closer to their production and sales markets, Oscar de Bok, CEO of DHL Supply Chain, said in a statement. We see increasing demand for logistics support in Mexico, Brazil and the other strategic markets in Latin America.

DHL Supply Chain currently operates 242 warehouses in Latin America totaling 3 million square feet.

The company also announced it has opened the Center of Excellence for Electric Vehicles in Mexico City. The facility is the first in the Americas to store and distribute electric batteries for the automotive industry, according to DHL.

DHL Supply Chain, which has 510,000 employees, operates 1,400 warehouses and offices in 55 countries.

DHL will use its investments in Latin America to strengthen logistics capabilities in the healthcare, automotive, technology, retail and e-commerce sectors. (Photo: Jim Allen/FreightWaves)



German manufacturer announces 1st facility in Mexico

Germany-based manufacturer Kurtz Ersa recently began construction of a plant in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico.

The plant, which will create about 60 jobs initially, will produce welding machines used in automotive manufacturing. The factory is scheduled to open in 2024 and will be the companys first in Mexico.

The Ciudad Juarez factory will be Kurtz Ersas third-largest manufacturing plant outside of Germany and China and will also serve as a preproduction center for the companys facility in Plymouth, Wisconsin.

[Mexicos] central location on the border provides excellent access and facilitates access to strong local markets in the Americas, Albrecht Beck, Kurtz Ersas president and COO, said in a news release. The new production facility in [Cuidad Juarez] will better serve local customers, minimize the C02 footprint, shorten delivery times and reduce freight costs.

Kurtz Ersa produces industrial machinery used in the electronic and automotive industries. The company has 2,500 employees across 17 production and sales locations around the world.

CBP seizes nearly $4M in meth from California border crossing

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at a Southern California port of entry reportedly recently discovered 1,815 pounds in methamphetamine concealed in the roof of a tractor-trailer.

The case occurred July 6, when CBP officers at the Tecate port of entry south of San Diego were inspecting a tractor-trailer arriving from Mexico. Officers reportedly found 138 packages stashed in the tractors roof that tested positive for methamphetamine.

The narcotics have an estimated street value of $3.9 million. CBP officers turned the case over to Homeland Security Investigations.

Click for more FreightWaves articles by Noi Mahoney.

More articles by Noi Mahoney

Pennsylvania carrier acquired for $53M by Texas firm

Borderlands: New Mexico lands first major auto parts manufacturing plant

Mexico-based mega carrier acquires US logistics firm

The post Borderlands: $18B LNG export terminal project moves forward at Texas seaport appeared first on FreightWaves.
Los Angeles, July 16 : Tom Cruise is famous for doing death-defying stunts on his own, as we saw from his vertigo-inducing 'off the cliff' scene in "M:I7".

Braving stunts that could even lead to his death, the actor has managed to pull off incredible stunts, but he has suffered several injuries in the bargain, says 'The Daily Telegraph'.

Tom Cruise, who's 61 but fitter than most men half his age, is not 100 per cent indestructible, after all.

Here's a roster of the injuries he suffered during the filming of "M:I7":

Torn shoulder while jumping across a cliff face at the Dead Horse Point in Utah, USA.

Two cracked ribs when he slammed into the side of a car in the bridge explosion scene.

Bruised an ankle while running from the exploding aquarium.

Broke an ankle while jumping between building roofs.

"M:I7", however, will be remembered for the scene where Cruise jumps off a bike in the sky and then parachutes to the ground, or that intense train sequence at the end.

And this is just the beginning. Director Christopher McQuarrie had said earlier that "Dead Reckoning - Part Two" will feature even wilder stunts, as the actor is seeking to outdo himself.

The Hollywood action star's thrill-seeking adventurous side had even scared his "M:I7" co-stars who had said they feared that he may either suffer a horrible injury, and they may even possibly lose him.

Well, the stunts seem to have done wonder for the box-office earnings of "Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning - Part One".

It has raked in $240 million worldwide since its July 12 release and made Rs 60 crore in India, an all-time record for Hollywood releases here.

Ethan Hunt seems to be zipping through the record books (and it hasn't been released in the Chinese market yet!).
Kolkata, July 16 : In view of the imminent flood threat being faced by certain pockets in north Bengal, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday announced she was sending a high-level delegation there to review the situation.

The delegation will be reaching north Bengal on Monday.

The information was provided by the Chief Minister herself through a Twitter post. According to her, the decision of sending the team is being taken following heavy rainfall in certain pockets in north Bengal that has resulted in rise in the water level of certain rivers there.

"Sending a high-level disaster management team tomorrow to flood- hit North Bengal under my Irrigation Minister and including Secretaries of Disaster Management, Irrigation and Agriculture. North Bengal districts have received heavy rainfall, rivers have swollen, roads have been disrupted, properties have been damaged, and people have been marooned. DMs and SPs are doing relief and rescue works on war footing with help of NDRF and SDRF. I have been monitoring personally and instructed my CS to supervise the field situation round the clock. No stone will be left unturned," she tweeted.

There had been excessive rainfall in certain pockets in north Bengal from even before the panchayat elections in the state on July 8. She had also been holding meetings with the top bureaucrats of the state on this count.
Thiruvananthapuram, July 16 : Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has told his party colleague and Left Democratic Front Convenor E.P. Jayarajan that he should be more active in party politics, sources said.

Sources in the CPI-M told IANS that Jayarajan met the Chief Minister at the latter's official residence on Saturday night and Vijayan had told him to be active.

Jayarajan was purportedly been sulking ever since the much junior M.V. Govindan was elevated as the CPI-M state Secretary and nominated to the party's highest-decision making body, the Politburo.

The CPI-M had conducted the first All India seminar against the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) at Kozhikode on Saturday which was given a skip by the LDF Convenor.

Instead Jayarajan was at in state capital to attend a public programme of party's youth wing, the DYFI of which he was the first national President.

Jayarajan, however, while speaking to media persons said: "I am always active in party work. There was no need for everyone to attend the seminar as the party had earlier decided who all will participate in this seminar and there is no need of any controversy on the same."

Sources told IANS that other constituents of the LDF, including the CPI, were also unhappy at the performance of the LDF Convenor. Some CPI leaders in private said that the LDF has not met for the past three months and there has not been any open discussion even on major policy decisions.
New Delhi, July 16 : Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday announced that, his government will give each flood-affected family Rs 10,000 as a form of financial assistance.

"Several extremely poor families living on the banks of the Yamuna river have suffered significant losses. Some families have lost all their belongings. As a form of financial assistance, each affected family will be given Rs 10,000," he said.

Kejriwal also said that special camps will be set up for those whose documents, such as Aadhaar cards and others, have been washed away.

For children, whose school uniforms and textbooks have been swept away, will be given such items by the school authorities.

On Sunday, Kejriwal visited Mori Gate relief camp to inspect the facilities being provided to the flood-affected people and interact with them.

The Delhi government has set up relief camps at local schools to help the affected families. Kejriwal said that his government has made available almost all the facilities i.e electricity, water, food, toilets. He said that the government will soon announce the compensation for the affected families.
Aizawl/Imphal, July 16 : Security forces in separate operations since Saturday night have seized heroin and foreign-origin cigarettes valued at around Rs 29.43 crore smuggled in from Myanmar, an official said on Sunday, adding six persons have been arrested in this connection.

Defence sources said that Aizawl Battalion of Assam Rifles alongwith the Excise and Narcotics, Anti-Narcotics Squad, Aizawl apprehended two drug peddlers and recovered 436 soap cases containing 5.114 kg heroin valued at Rs 25.57 crore from their possession at Saichal village in Mizoram's Saitual district on Saturday night.

In another incident, the Mizoram Police arrested three persons including a woman at Chalbawiha Junction Police Check Gate in Champhai district, and recovered and seized a total of 1.373 kg heroin valued at Rs 1.75 crore from their custody.

The drug peddlers were travelling in a Maxi Cab (sumo) vehicle plying between Zokhawthar and Aizawl.

In the third incident, the Assam Rifles and the Mizoram police, while conducting random checking of vehicles at the outskirts of Zote village on Zote-Bulfek (Myanmar) Road in Champhai district and arrested a man and recovered 73 grams (6 soap boxes) of heroin valued at Rs 80 lakh from his illegal possession.

In the fourth incident, the Assam Rifles during their routine operations on Sunday recovered 62 cases of foreign-origin cigarettes worth Rs 80.6 lakh at Tlangsam and 73 grams of heroine at Zote in Champhai worth Rs 51.1 Lakh on Sunday.

An Assam Rifles statement said that smuggling of drugs from Myanmar is a major cause of concern for the state as well as India.

Mizoram's 510 km unfenced international border with Myanmar, especially in the bordering Champhai district, is a major hotspot of smuggling of drugs and other contrabands.

Besides various illicit drugs, foreign cigarettes, gold, arms and ammunition, exotic animals, and areca nuts are often smuggled from Myanmar into the northeastern states, especially Mizoram and Manipur.

Reacting on the seizure of huge drugs in Mizoram, Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh urged all Chief Ministers of the region to unitedly fight against this menace of drugs.

He tweeted: "I am deeply concerned by the alarming increase in illicit drug seizures within Mizoram in recent times. Having personally experienced the challenges associated with drug trafficking in my own state, I wholeheartedly support the efforts of the Mizoram government in combating these heinous activities, particularly concentrated along our porous international borders.

"In this critical juncture, as the North Eastern states bear the brunt of protecting the entire nation from the menace of drugs, I fervently urge all Chief Ministers of the region to unite and establish a robust mechanism that will enable us to join forces in this noble 'War on Drugs'. By working together collectively, we can effectively address this grave issue and safeguard our communities from the devastating consequences of drug trafficking."
New Delhi, July 16 : Of the 20 translocated Cheetahs from South Africa and Namibia, eight deaths (5 adults and 3 cubs) have been reported from Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh, till date.

As per the preliminary analysis by National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), the apex body entrusted with the implementation of Project Cheetah, all mortalities are due to natural causes.

The Ministry of Environment and Forest said on Sunday that Cheetah has been brought back to India after seven decades and a project of such a stature is bound to undergo ups and downs.

Global experiences particularly from South Africa suggests that the initial phase of reintroduction of Cheetah in African countries has resulted in more than 50 per cent mortality of introduced Cheetahs.

The mortality of Cheetah may happen due to intra-species fights, diseases, accidents before release and post release. Mortalities might also result from injury caused during hunting of prey, poaching, road hits, poisoning and predatory attack by other predators, etc.

Considering all these eventualities the action plan has made provision for annual supplementation of initial founder population annually for managing the demographic and genetic composition of the reintroduced population, the official added.

The Ministry official said that there are reports in the media attributing these Cheetah deaths to other reasons including their radio collars etc.

Such reports are not based on any scientific evidence but are speculation and hearsay.

Project Cheetah is yet to complete a year and it will be premature to conclude the outcome in terms of success and failure, since Cheetah reintroduction is a long-term project.

In the last 10 months, all stakeholders involved in this project have gained valuable insights in Cheetah management, monitoring and protection.

There is optimism that the project will succeed in the long run and there is no reason to speculate at this juncture, ministry official added.

The Environment and Forest Ministry said that for investigating the cause of Cheetah deaths, consultation with international cheetah experts/ veterinary doctors from South Africa and Namibia is being done on regular basis.

Further, the existing monitoring protocols, protection status, managerial inputs, veterinary facilities, training and capacity building aspects are being reviewed by independent national experts.

The Cheetah Project Steering Committee is closely monitoring the project and has expressed satisfaction over its implementation so far, the official added.

Further, steps like establishment of Cheetah Research Centre with facilities for rescue, rehabilitation, capacity building, interpretation; bringing additional forest area under administrative control of Kuno National Park for landscape level management, providing additional frontline staff, establishing Cheetah Protection Force, and creation of second home for Cheetahs in Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary, Madhya Pradesh have been envisaged, the official said.
New Delhi, July 16 : The Delhi government on Sunday announced that all schools, government or private, in six flood-affected educational districts of the national capital will remain closed on Monday and Tuesday.

The decision was taken by the Directorate of Education and according to the order, applies to all institutions in its East, North East, North West-A, North, Central, and South East districts.

The order also states that wherever possible, online classes should be conducted.

"In view of the Flood Relief Camps likely to continue to run in schools in the areas bordering the river Yamuna, all schools (Govt., Govt. Aided & Private Recognised) in the affected Districts of DoE - East, North East, North West-A, North, Central, and South East - shall remain closed for students on 17 and 18 July 2023 (ie. Monday and Tuesday). Wherever feasible, schools may arrange online classes. Heads of all schools situated in the above districts of DoE must inform the parents to this effect today itself," the order read.

It also said all the schools, of all categories, in the remaining seven districts, i.e.North West-B, West-A, West-B, South, South West-A, South West-B, and New Delhi shall remain open on Monday.

It said that the head of schools in these seven districts are at liberty to run in physical mode or hybrid mode (i.e. either offline or online) as per the convenience of their students. Heads of such schools must inform the parents about their decision, well in advance.

"From Wednesday onwards, i.e. 19 July, schools in all districts of Delhi shall function normally," the order read.
Sialkot, July 16 : Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday said that his government would hand over the power to an interim setup before the completion of its tenure next month, reports said.

The five-year term of the National Assembly commenced under the then-PTI government on August 12, 2018 and is set to be completed under a PM-Shehbaz-led ruling coalition.

However, the Prime Minister has indicated that the transfer of power to a caretaker setup will take place a bit before the assembly's tenure runs out, Dawn reported.

Addressing a laptop distribution ceremony in Sialkot, he said: "Our government will complete its term next month. We will hopefully go before the tenure's completion and the new interim government will take over."

In his address at a cheque distribution ceremony in Lahore earlier in the day, the Prime Minister said that if given an opportunity in the upcoming general elections, the entire PML-N leadership and party supremo Nawaz Sharif would "change the destiny" of the country by taking it on the path of progress and prosperity.

He said they would accept the public mandate in the upcoming polls and urged the people to take their decisions after looking into certain facts and by juxtaposing the performance of the PML-N governments with that of the PTI's four years.

The Prime Minister, while lauding the statesmanship qualities of his elder brother, regretted that Nawaz Sharif was ousted from power "despite the fact that he ended hours-long crippling load shedding, provided laptops and loans to youth, brought muti-billions China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) power and road infrastructure projects during 2015", Dawn reported.
Islamabad, July 16 : A gang of dacoits attacked -- reportedly with "rocket launchers" -- a place of worship belonging to members of the Hindu community in Sindh's Kashmore during the early hours of Sunday, media reports said.

The assailants attacked a place of worship and adjoining homes belonging to the community in the jurisdiction of Ghouspur police station. They fired indiscriminately, prompting a police unit led by Kashmore-Kandhkot SSP Irfan Sammo to reach the scene, the Dawn reported.

The police official said that the dacoits fired "rocket launchers" at the place of worship, which was closed during the attack. He added that it opens annually for religious services conducted by the Bagri community.

"The suspects fled from the scene after the attack. Police are conducting a search operation in the area," the SSP said.

SSP Sammo estimated that there were eight to nine gunmen, whom they were tracking in the riverine areas.

Meanwhile, Dr Suresh, a member of the Bagri community, said that the "rocket launchers" fired by the dacoits failed to explode, resulting in no loss of life.

He called on the police to protect the community, saying the incident had left the residents in a state of panic, Dawn reported.

Meanwhile, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) said it was alarmed by reports of "deteriorating law and order in the districts of Kashmore and Ghotki in Sindh, where some 30 members of the Hindu community  including women and children  have allegedly been held hostage by organised criminal gangs", Dawn reported.

"Moreover, we have received disturbing reports that these gangs have threatened to attack the community's sites of worship, using high-grade weapons," the commission said, calling on the Sindh Home Department to investigate the matter without delay.
A troupe of artists from China's TAO Dance Theater opened Greece's 29th Kalamata International Dance Festival (KDF) on Friday evening, enthralling the audience with their performance.

An enthusiastic crowd warmly welcomed with a big round of applause the 11 dancers who were the first Chinese artists ever participating in Greece's leading contemporary dance event.

In a fully packed hall of Kalamata city in southern Greece, the troupe performed the dance show "11" for the first time outside China.

The show is part of the TAO Dance Theater's "Numerical Series" which has been presented in more than 100 arts festivals around the world in recent years.

"We are very happy for this collaboration and it is an honor for us," the festival's artistic director Linda Kapetanea told Xinhua, praising the group's excellent performance.

"We are very happy to be the ones who build these cultural bridges," Kapetanea said on Sino-Greek cooperation in culture.

"Dance is a very good channel. People can understand, communicate, and integrate in a variety of ways. I am looking forward to their (dancing) works coming to China," Tao Ye, founder and choreographer of TAO Dance Theater said.

The annual festival will run until July 23 in Kalamata and three other cities, and it will feature 17 productions from nine Greek groups and seven dance troupes from across the world.
A blockchain developer has reverse-engineered the code behind the Brazilian Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) and discovered an unsettling feature: the government has built in the ability to freeze funds and adjust balances.

Pedro Magalhaes, founder of Web3 consulting company Iora Labs, reviewed the Application Programming Interface published by the monetary authority on its Github account. And he says the government has not been forthcoming with an explanation.

They tend to keep things closed off and usually dont communicate with non-bankers," he told Decrypt, although he said he has had some general discussions on Github about the CBDC implementation. Honestly, they dont even need to care about public opinion.

Vini Barbosa, reporter for Brazilian crypto news outlet Portal Do Bitcoin, took to social media to claim thathe spoke to the Brazilian authorities and confirmed Magalhaes findings.

The ability to 'freeze or arrest amounts' held in [this system] is protected by current legislation in Brazil, according to the Central Bank," Barbosa tweeted.

Brazilian banking authorities did not respond to a request for comment from Decrypt.

Magalhaes, who first published the discovery on his LinkedIn profile for educational purposes, first thought the function would only refer to DeFi or CeFi, where it may be necessary to freeze the balances to complete a smart contract operationbut said the official response was that the central bank can do it any time it wants.

Brazilians are scared, he said, due to the nation's financial history. In the 1990s, the countrys president froze finances for all Brazilians for 18 months.

Magalhaes said the the only way to fight the central bank's excessive control over CBDC is to report it on social media.

They will try hard to adopt it, and they have the power to do it," the expert in Ethereums Solidity programming language told Decrypt. "As a blockchain developer, the only thing I've been asking for is: please, provide public smart contracts and let Brazilians know what the Central Bank is doing.
Patna, July 16 : Ahead of the meeting of like-minded opposition parties in Bengaluru, Bihar Minister and senior JD-U leader Vijay Kumar Chaudhary on Sunday claimed more parties will take part in the second installment.

Addressing media persons here, Chaudhary said: "Due to the grand success of the opposition unity meeting of Patna, we are expecting more political parties to assemble in Bengaluru for the meeting. After opposition unity, the public sentiment is against the BJP in the country.

"All opposition parties have already said that they will contest the election unitedly in 2024. Hence, picking a leader would not be a tough affair... Like Patna, the Bengaluru meeting will also turn out to be a great success for us."

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav, JD-U President Lalan Singh, Sanjay Jha, Manoj Jha and other leaders of Bihar will go to the Karnataka capital for the meeting slated for July 17 and 18.

Meanwhile, the BJP is also reaching out to various parties to counter the opposition unity meeting. It will hold its meeting in Delhi on the evening of July 18. From Bihar, Chirag Paswan, Pasupati Kumar Paras, Jitan Ram Manjhi, Mukesh Sahani, and Upendra Kushwaha are expected to participate.

Interestingly, most of them are fighting each other. Chirag Paswan has a conflict with his uncle, while Sahani is demanding the same number of seats as Chirag Paswan - 6 Lok Sabha seats and 1 Rajya Sabha seat, while Manjhi had left the Mahagatbandhan on the issues of claiming 5 Lok Sabha seats.

Taking a dig at the BJP, senior JD-U leader K.C. Tyagi said: "They (the BJP) are also holding a meeting to counter us but majority of the political parties are those which were part of Mahagathbandhan in the past. The BJP is trying to form an NDA but the majority of them are small parties have they have so many conflicts among them."
New Delhi, July 16 : Amid the floods in the national capital, Delhi's ruling Aam Aadmi Party on Sunday accused the BJP and its Haryana government of misleading people regarding the ownership and then, maintenance issues of the ITO Barrage.

It said that they had requested the Haryana government to hand over the ownership of the barrage but it did not pay any heed towards this.

Delhi Minister Saurabh Bhardwaj said he had spoken about the urgent need to hand over the ownership.

"It is imperative for the BJP-led government of Haryana to take immediate action to transfer the rightful ownership of the ITO Barrage to the Delhi government. Despite being owned by Haryana, the barrage was not adequately maintained, leading to the unfortunate consequence of five barrage gates remaining closed. As a result, the water level within the Yamuna surged, causing our regulators to break down, and resulting in severe flooding and the breach of various sensitive areas in Delhi, including ITO, Raj Ghat, and Shanti Van. The safety and well-being of the people of Delhi depend on this handover," he said.

He said that after a week of intense debate and struggle, the BJP finally conceded on Saturday that the ITO Barrage actually belongs to the Haryana government. He said that this acknowledgement came after BJP MP Ramesh Bidhuri, raised doubts about the veracity of the Delhi government's assertion on Twitter, arguing that the ITO Barrage is Delhi's responsibility and not Haryana's.

Bhardwaj said that he then informed the BJP that the barrage belongs to Haryana.

"Despite the BJP's eventual acceptance of the ITO Barrage's ownership by the Haryana government, they are now attempting to divert attention by alleging that it is the Delhi government that has failed to fund the maintenance of the barrage," he said.

He then shared an August 31, 2017 letter by then Delhi Secretary, Irrigation and Flood Control, Keshav Chandra, wherein he said that the ITO Barrage, which originally belonged to Punjab, was among the assets transferred to Haryana during its creation.

Recognising this error, the letter appealed to the Haryana government that they transfer the barrage to the Delhi government. This letter referenced a meeting held in 2015 at Haryana Bhavan, where senior officials from both Delhi and Haryana concurred on the transfer of ownership.

Bhardwaj said, "The official correspondence from Delhi clearly explained to Haryana the critical link between the Hathni Kund barrage's water levels and potential flooding in Delhi. We proposed a solution that either Haryana should transfer the barrage's ownership to Delhi government or take action to open its gates. These official letters serve as a testament to our sincere efforts to resolve this matter through dialogue and cooperation. However, despite repeated appeals, the Haryana government has failed to acknowledge the severity of the issue and take necessary action."
Imphal, July 16 : Fifteen days after the lifting of the blockade on the Imphal-Dimapur National Highway (NH-2), the life line of Manipur is likely to be blocked again as the Committee on Tribal Unity Sadar Hills (CTUSH), Kangpokpi decided to impose a 72-hour total shutdown on it from Sunday midnight in protest against the attacks, torching of houses, and killing of Kuki-Zo people.

After 54 days, movement of vehicles carrying essentials resumed along the NH-2 as the economic blockade, imposed by various organisations in the wake of the ethnic violence in Manipur, was lifted on July 2.

The CTUSH decision to re-impose the total shutdown along the NH-2 was taken during its emergency meeting held at Gamgiphai on Sunday afternoon where it also passed various other resolutions as well.

During the total shutdown, all shops will shut and vehicle movement, including private vehicles, will completely cease in the Kangpokpi district, a statement of the organisation said. However, medical services only will be exempted from the purview of the total shutdown.

CTUSH General Secretary Lamminlun Singsit said that on Saturday in the Sekmai area, mobs led by the Meira Paibi organisation torched three trucks of cooking gas service.

He alleged that Myanmar-based non-Kuki insurgents infiltrating into Manipur, in collusion with the radicals outfits, attacked Kuki-Zo villages of Thangbuh and Tingkai Khullen in Kangpokpi district on Sunday and killed one innocent Kuki-Zo volunteer Jangkholun Haokip (34).

Despite the lifting of the highway blockade by the United People's Front (UPF) and the Kuki National Organisation (KNO), the valley people led by the Meira Paibi blocked all routes connecting the Kuki-Zo people settlements from Imphal, and no essential commodities were allowed to transport into Kuki-Zo inhabited areas, Singsit said.

Another tribal organisation Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum (ITLE) condemning the killing of a middle-aged woman on Saturday night, said that gunning down of Lucy Marim showed that the state government still has no control over law and order even in Manipur's capital city.

"The middle-aged woman of Maring Naga community who has been suffering from schizophrenia was killed at her residence on Saturday and her face left disfigured by her assailants, who suspected her of being a Kuki-Zo tribal. On July 6, a mentally challenged Kuki-Zo woman was shot dead at point-blank range by Meitei gunmen in Imphal. How radicals from the Meitei community in Manipur can continue killing innocent women just because of their ethnicity. Their lack of moral character and humanity in the ongoing conflict should be sufficient indicators for the central government to know that it is impossible for tribals to continue living together with the majority community. Total separation is the only solution," ITLF spokesman Ginza Vualzong said in a statement.

Meanwhile, the police control room statement on Sunday night said that nine persons, including five women, have been arrested by Imphal East district Police in connection with the incident in which one woman was found dead at Keibi Heikakmapal Maning Ching on Saturday night. Two arms, five ammunition and one car were seized in connection with the case.

The statement said that 19 persons have been arrested by Imphal West district Police in connection with the torching of three trucks at Awang Sekmai Mayai Leikai Lampak. They were produced before the duty magistrate Imphal West on Sunday and 17 were sent to police custody for four days and two were referred to Juvenile Justice Board.
Amaravati, July 16 : In a shocking incident, two electricians in Andhra Pradesh's Vijayawada were found to be deliberately giving repeated electric shocks to three girl high school students sitting on steel benches in their class room "for fun", police said on Sunday.

Both have been arrested, police said.

One of the girls fainted after the incident in the Zilla Parishad school in Edupugallu village and the other two also fell sick. The students were taken to the hospital and released after the treatment on Saturday.

The accused - identified as Marrivada Suribabu, 30, and Vijaya Shekar, 45, both residents of Kankipadu, told the police that they did the act to have fun.

The accused were roped in by the school management to repair electrical outlets. Accused Suribabu connected electric wires to the steel benches at the time of replacing the sockets and the three girls who sat on the bench got electric shocks.

The accused electricians repeatedly performed the act and enjoyed the sufferings of the girls. One of the girls collapsed in the school premises later.

The girls however, told the incident to their parents at home and they had lodged a police complaint in this regard. A complaint has also been given to the Education Department. The investigation is on.
Visakhapatnam, July 16 : Telugu Desam Party (TDP) supremo and former Andhra Pradesh chief minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Sunday criticised the ruling YSR Congress Party on Sunday over the murder of a teacher allegedly due to political rivalry.

"YSRP has turned the state (Andhra Pradesh) into Hatyandra Pradesh. I strongly condemn the heinous murder of Krishna, a government teacher from Vizianagaram. Such acts of violence only embolden criminals, as they perceive a lack of accountability and fear no consequences for their actions," he stated on social media.

A group of people murdered Agrireddy Krishna, a 58-year-old government teacher, by mowing down him with their van and beating with an iron rod near Ommi Kothapeta locality in Vizianagaram district on Saturday.

The death had sparked protests and roads were blocked demanding the arrest of the killers.
New Delhi, July 17 : The Delhi Police on Sunday lodged an FIR against a man who made a call to the Air India call centre in Pune related to the "hijacking of Delhi-Tel Aviv flight".

The call was made on July 13. The caller -- Anurag, a resident of Assam, claimed that he overheard that the flight was hijacked.

Soon after his call, an emergency meeting of the BTAC (Bomb Threat Assessment Committee) was called to foil the "hijack and nab the accused".

Later, a special security committee also discussed the issue at length.

The Delhi Police, meanwhile, said that they have not found anything serious in the matter.

"We have lodged an FIR under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code at the IGI police station and are looking into the matter," a police officer said.
New Delhi, July 16 : An Electric Engineer who turned burglar due to the addition of drugs was arrested by the Delhi Police, officials said on Sunday.

DCP of Dwarka, M. Harsha Vardhan said that the accused was identified as Sammy alias Abhishek (27), a resident of Kankarbagh village.

The official said that on July 11, an incident of burglary was reported at Uttam Nagar wherein the complainant stated that his Apple mobile phone, Dell laptop, earbuds, and one bag were found to be stolen from his house.

The police scanned the CCTV footage of the spot as well as the surrounding areas and the route followed by the culprit before or after the incident. "After analysing the CCTV footage, it was revealed that the accused person cleverly disabled the electric locking system installed at the main gate of the house and committed the crime. As per analysis of technical surveillance the mobile phone of the complainant was located in the area of Nawada, Delhi," the official said.

The accused person identified as Abhishek was finally held following a tip-off.

The accused revealed that he completed his electrical engineering in Pune in 2017. During this period he got addicted to smack and ganja. After completing engineering, he got admitted to a college in Pune for pursuing MBA in 2018. However, due to the Covid-19 lockdown in 2020, he couldnat complete his MBA and returned to his hometown.

The accused then moved to Noida and did an internship at Tech Mahindra for three months in 2022 after which he returned to his hometown. Later in June 2023, he started another internship and took a room on rent at Delhi's Nawada, but soon due to his addiction to smack and ganja, he ran out of money.

The accused then started committing burglaries to earn his livelihood in Delhi. He used his knowledge of Electric Engineering in opening the electric locks installed at residences and then commits burglary.
New Delhi, July 16 : The Delhi Police on Sunday said that the Union Finance Ministry has ratified the first freezing order issued by it under the NDPS Act for the forfeiture of property of drug traffickers.

The Delhi Police said that in 2022, based on specific intelligence input, a team of the Crime Branch's Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) had seized 3 kg of heroin from the possession of one Nasim Barkazay, a resident of Kabul, Afghanistan.

The ANTF had unearthed this Afghanistan-based International Drug Syndicate, run by one Haji Naimat Ullah (an Afghan National), who fled from India in 2021. Barkazay further gave information about the availability of drugs with one Parvez Alam alias Doctor, a resident of Bhajanpura, Delhi. Acting upon the information, 7.4 kg of heroin and Rs 1.25 lakh earned by selling drugs were recovered from the possession of accused Parvez Alam alias Javed, said an official.

The contraband heroin was seized after observing all legal formalities.

Further, both Nasim Barkazay and Parvez Alam were arrested for violation of the NDPS Act. During this operation, one more case was registered and a total of six accused persons namely Parvez Alam, Nasim Barkazay, Shami Kumar, Rajat, Pankaj and Mahender Pal were arrested so far and a huge quantity of superfine quality heroin (21.4 kg), besides Rs 26.53 lakh cash, mobile phones, credit and debit card, and property papers were seized from their possessions.

"The above-mentioned cases established that Parvez Alam is a habitual offender of the NDPS Act, and is involved in the illicit trafficking of drugs along with the Afghanistan-based drug syndicate for the last many years. Consequently, a proposal for the detention of Parvez Alam under the PIT-NDPS Act was sent to the Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance, in February," said the official.

The matter was put before the ministry, which, after hearing the counsel for Parvez Alam, found that he illegally acquired properties and confirmed the freezing order.
Brexit has not diminished the City  despite Brussels best efforts

David Livingstone says none of Britains appeal for international banks has been diminished since leaving the EU - JULIAN SIMMONDS for The Telegraph

Brexit has not damaged the City of London, a senior Wall Street boss has said, despite fears that leaving the bloc would trigger an exodus of bankers and business from the Square Mile.

David Livingstone, Citigroups chief executive for Europe, Middle East and Africa, told The Telegraph that the City has not been diminished by Brexit, adding that efforts by Brussels to create a rival financial centre to London have so far failed to yield meaningful results.

Britains attractiveness for international banks lies in its strong rule of law, common language, geographical location, quality of education and quality of life and none of that has been diminished by Brexit, Mr Livingstone said.

For me, its an absolute certainty that the UK will remain with those characteristics and therefore remain the place that we have our headquarters.

Finance chiefs warned ahead of the 2016 referendum that Brexit would mean as many as 232,000 jobs in the City would be lost. However, a mass exodus has failed to materialise.

Livingstone said that Citigroup had shifted a few hundred roles out of London since Britain left the EU, largely owing to regulatory requirements, but no more than that.

He added: I still think it is important that the UK focuses on its competitiveness and not just rest on the laurels of those characteristics, which I think are evidently permanent but you dont want to diminish them by not having the right [regulatory] settings.

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt recently unveiled a host of deregulatory reforms to boost Britains financial services industry - Aaron Chown/PA

His comments came days after Jeremy Hunt unveiled a host of deregulatory reforms to boost Britains financial services industry after Brexit.

The Chancellor used his first Mansion House speech last week to announce a package that he said could unlock up to 75bn in investment to boost pension pots and drive more capital into fast-growing British businesses.

Livingstone said: The reforms announced by the Chancellor show that the UK is asking itself questions around how to keep the capital markets here vibrant So I think that is really positive. Its very good to be asking hard questions and coming up with answers. London has to compete.

Last year, Citi announced plans to embark on a 100m overhaul of its main tower in Canary Wharf in a vote of confidence in London.

Work has already begun on the 42-storey office block at 25 Canada Square, which is expected to take three years to complete. The renovation will bring it in line with new environmental standards and create flexible work and collaboration spaces.

Beyond Britain, Citi operates in two dozen countries on the Continent, with its main European bank headquartered in Dublin.

The EU has attempted to build up its own financial markets to rival the Square Mile since Brexit in an effort to shift activity from London to the Continent.

However, Livingstone said there were still significant hurdles for international banks operating within the EU.

Last year Citi announced 100m plans to overhaul its main tower in Canary Wharf in a vote of confidence in London - Heathcliff O'Malley

He said: The EU post-Brexit has got a lot to build in terms of the depth of its capital markets. Its got a banking union and a capital markets union, both of which are not progressing as fast in terms of delivering an outcome as a place where corporate clients and institutional clients can raise capital and do it in a seamless way within the union.

The European Commission has been attempting to force some activities to be relocated within the bloc: chiefly lucrative clearing activity centred in London.

Clearing houses act as middlemen in derivatives trades between banks and have become a vital part of the financial system since the 2008 financial crisis.

The Commission has come under fire over its plans to punish banks for failing to shift lucrative clearing activity out of the City of London.

Last year, the European Banking Federation (EBF), which represents the blocs major lenders, said the policy would cause serious market disruption and significantly weaken the attractiveness and competitiveness of EU clearing houses.

Livingstone said: If they put a wall around the EU and say the EU will finance itself, we think that is not the most optimal policy setting.

So rather than sort of say, well, should they or should they not put clearing in the EU, its actually looking at whats the best way to finance European businesses.

When we talk to the policymakers and member states, were stressing that really what the EU should want is [access] to capital markets internationally as well as those domestically generated in the EU for financing companies.

Citi was one of the first international lenders to incorporate locally in mainland China in 2007 after local regulators relaxed rules to encourage foreign banks.

Despite growing geopolitical tensions between China and the West, Livingstone believes the region still represents a key growth opportunity for Citi.

He said: The level of opportunity remains high because China still needs to mature through its banking system, securities and market systems.

Its growing all the time and producing larger companies and they need financing. So the outlook on that dimension remains positive. Our institutional business in China is certainly one that we anticipate will grow alongside those opportunities.

Geopolitical tensions clearly exist but I think, on an operating level and a business level, theyre not impediments.

Livingstone declined to comment when asked if Citi has contingency plans in place for its Chinese business in the event of Beijing invading Taiwan.

Last month, Citi informed its 9,000 UK employees that it would start holding them accountable for complying with the banks hybrid working rules. It said it would do this by starting to monitor employees office attendance.

Citi is more flexible than its Wall Street rivals. The bank requires staff to be at their desks at least three days a week, which is at odds with competitors like JP Morgan. The rival lender recently ordered its senior employees into the workplace five days a week.

Livingstone said: In an organisation of our scale and dimension, there is a need for people to be together to communicate and develop internal relationships. So that absolutely is a requirement.

However, we do recognise that the Covid experience has meant that theres a flexibility dividend. And its not just the number of days out, its also the sort of the casual flexibility of being in on a Thursday afternoon, but not being in on a Thursday morning that is very valuable.

Citis commitment to Canary Wharf comes as other major banks and law firms leave Londons Docklands in favour of the Square Mile.

Last month, HSBC announced it would ditch its 45-storey skyscraper at 8 Canada Square  nicknamed the tower of doom by staff  and move to a smaller site at the redeveloped former BT head office near St Pauls.

Livingstone said of Citis Canary Wharf office overhaul: Were making this investment for 25 to 30 years. HSBC will make their own decisions. I think its also reducing its footprint.

Canary Wharf is only getting better. The Elizabeth line is a game changer. The level of residential and retail properties means that it actually is much less of just an island of banks and law firms. Its now much more diversified so, in a way, its more like the City.

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.
Delta Air Lines, Inc. (NYSE:DAL) Q2 2023 Earnings Call Transcript July 13, 2023

Delta Air Lines, Inc. beats earnings expectations. Reported EPS is $2.68, expectations were $2.4.

Operator: Good morning, everyone, and welcome to the Delta Air Lines June Quarter 2023 Financial Results Conference Call. My name is Matthew, and I'll be your coordinator. At this time, all participants are in a listen-only mode, until we conduct a question-and-answer session following the presentation. As a reminder, today's call is being recorded. [Operator Instructions] I would now like to turn the conference over to Julie Stewart, Vice President of Investor Relations. Please go ahead.

Julie Stewart: Thank you, Matthew. Good morning, everyone, and thanks for joining us for our June quarter 2023 earnings call. Joining us from Atlanta today are CEO, Ed Bastian; our President, Glen Hauenstein; our CFO, Dan Janki. Ed will open the call with an overview of Delta's performance and strategy. Glen will provide an update on the revenue environment, and Dan will discuss costs and our balance sheet. After the prepared remarks, we'll take analyst questions. We please ask that you limit yourself to one question and a brief follow-up, so we can get to as many of you as possible. And after the analyst Q&A, we will move to our media questions. Today's discussion contains forward-looking statements that represent our beliefs or expectations about future events.

All forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements. Some of the factors that may cause such differences are described in Delta's SEC filings. We'll also discuss non-GAAP financial measures, and all results exclude special items unless otherwise noted. You can find a reconciliation of our non-GAAP measures on the Investor Relations page at ir.delta.com. And with that, I'll turn the call over to Ed.

Ed Bastian : Thanks, Julie. Good morning, everyone. We appreciate you joining us. Today, thanks to the great work of our team, we announced record revenue and earnings, reflecting the strength of demand for and momentum of Delta's differentiated brand. During the June quarter, we generated earnings of $2.68 per share, a 90% increase over last year. This marks the highest quarterly earnings result in our history, an achievement that moves Delta beyond recovery and firmly on a great path forward. Revenue was 19% above last year, and we achieved a 17% operating margin. This resulted in operating income of $2.5 billion bringing our operating profit over the last 12 months to $6 billion. We generated over $1 billion of free cash during the quarter, bringing our first half free cash flow to $3 billion.

We continue to repay debt and we've reinstated the quarterly dividend, signifying strong execution on our three-year plan and creating value for our owners. At Delta, transportation is what we do, but experiences are what we deliver, and that's made possible by the exceptional service provided by the industry's best employees. The 90,000 Delta people continue to deliver for our customers during this busy summer season. Over the 4th of July weekend, our people delivered a great operation, completing over 21,000 flights with a 99.5% completion factor and industry-leading on-time performance. The Delta people continue to be recognized. During the quarter, The Points Guy ranked Delta as the best U.S. airline for the fifth year in a row with consistently high scores for reliability, customer experience, network and loyalty.

Sharing our success with our team is core to Delta's culture, and we continue to maintain a position of industry leadership on pay. During the quarter, eligible employees received a 5% pay increase on the 1st of April. And year-to-date, we have accrued over $660 million in profit sharing, in fact more than the total profit sharing paid out for full year 2022. We expect our profit sharing payout next February will continue to lead the industry by a wide margin. We will always be guided by our values of putting our people and our customers first. They are the driving force of our success. I want to thank our entire team for all they do for Delta and our customers. As I've recently noted, the industry backdrop remains constructive. Air travel demand is strong and the consumer is in good financial shape, particularly the premium consumer base that we target.

After years of spending on goods, consumers want to travel. It's their #1 big-ticket purchase priority and they desire premium experiences. No one provides this better than Delta. At the same time, aviation infrastructure is still fragile, and the industry continues to face multiple constraints across the supply chain, aircraft delivery delays and training needs. As a result, we see a significant gap between the supply that is in place and what demand could sustain. And we expect this gap will remain for an extended period of time. Turning to our outlook. With our first half performance and visibility into the back half of the year, we are raising our full year outlook and now expect earnings of $6 to $7 per share. For the September quarter, demand momentum continues.

We expect to deliver double-digit revenue growth of mid-teens operating margin and earnings of $2.20 to $2.50 per share. Glen and Dan will provide more details on the components of our outlook. As we move to 2024 and beyond, our path forward is clear. The strategy that we shared at our Investor Day just a few weeks ago positions Delta incredibly well for the future. Our long-term priorities are to run the world's best airline, unlock the power of our brand, transform through digital and deliver long-term shareholder value. Our strategy is underpinned by a commitment to financial performance, with a focus on free cash flow, return on invested capital and earnings durability. We are currently executing ahead of our three-year financial plan and are well positioned to achieve our 2024 earnings target of over $7 per share.

On free cash flow, we introduced a new goal to generate over $10 billion of free cash flow from 2023 to 2025. The strong cash generation will enable us to return our balance sheet to investment-grade metrics, while consistently reinvesting in the business. In closing, thanks to the outstanding work of our people, Delta continues to set itself apart. We have unique opportunities to grow earnings by leveraging our powerful brand, extending our durable competitive advantages and accelerating our digital transformation. One other point I'd like to add. While our team has been hard at work returning the level of excellence to the skies that our customers deserve, we have not let go of our commitments to our community. Our team was recently recognized as the #1 corporate blood drive donor with the American Red Cross for the sixth consecutive year with the record units of blood collected.

To me, these types of achievements are as rewarding as the great financial and operational results that we are publishing today and what makes this company truly great. Thank you again. And with that, let me turn the call over to Glen and Dan to go through the details of the quarter.

Pixabay/Public Domain

Glen Hauenstein : Thank you, Ed, and good morning. I want to start by recognizing our people for their exceptional work during the always challenging peak summer travel period. Thank you. Delta produced record June quarter revenue of $14.6 billion, up 19% over last year. Revenues were ahead of our initial expectations with momentum in June. June 30 was a new record for industry volume and our highest summer revenue day in history. Total unit revenues were up 1.3% over prior year on improved yield and load factor. Consumer demand strength continues to be the primary driver of our revenue growth. Business travel in the quarter improved year-over-year, primarily driven by international. Overall, international passenger revenue grew 61%, led by the TransAtlantic and Latin America.

Domestic passenger revenue was 8% higher on a similar capacity increase. Premium revenue grew 25%, supporting growth in unit revenues and continuing to outperform main cabin. Delta Premium Select is now offered on over 80% of our wide-body fleet and customer response to the product has been terrific with returns outpacing our expectations. Total loyalty revenue was up 20% versus last year, with continued momentum in our American Express co-brand portfolio. Remuneration of $1.7 billion was 22% higher year-over-year with $3.4 billion through the first half. We are firmly on track to exceed the $6.5 billion target for this year and focused on reaching our new long-term goal of $10 billion. Turning to the outlook. For September quarter, we expect total revenue to be similar to 2Q, increasing 11% to 14% year-over-year.

On capacity outlook of 16% growth, unit revenues are expected to be 2% to 4% lower. While a deceleration from the June quarter, this is consistent with historic performance between 2Q and 3Q when factoring in the holiday shifts and tougher international comps as we lap the removal of restrictions. Domestically, demand remains robust, and our core hub rebuild is advancing with growth focused in Atlanta. In our coastal hubs, we are leveraging facility investments and progressively improving margins. On international, demand strength is continuing, and we are confident in delivering record profitability and margins across all three international entities. System bookings for travel beyond Labor Day are encouraging into the fall. On corporate, we expect steady improvement in demand.

Our recent corporate survey shows businesses expect to increase travel in the second half with several of the least recovered sectors conveying optimism or increased travel in the fall. Similar optimism was reflected in Morgan Stanley's recent global corporate travel survey, where respondents indicated travel was expected to grow 9% year-over-year in the second half and 8% into 2024. Delta's capacity growth will normalize to mid-single digits in 2024, enabling us to further improve reliability, optimize the network and drive efficiency to reduce unit costs and support margin expansion. With an integrated and proven commercial strategy and the best people in the industry, we have significant opportunity ahead. In closing, I'm so proud of the team for delivering a great first half of the year and excited about the momentum we are building.

Dan Janki : Great. Thank you, Glen, and good morning to everyone. In the June quarter, we delivered earnings of $2.68 per share and operating margin of 17%, ahead of our guidance and a significant improvement over last year. Our nonfuel unit costs were down -- were up 2.4% year-over-year. Fuel prices for the quarter averaged $2.52 per gallon, including a refinery benefit of $0.04. We generated operating cash flow of $2.6 billion. And after reinvesting $1.6 billion into the business, free cash flow was $1.1 billion. Liquidity ended the quarter at $8.8 billion, with adjusted net debt of $19.8 billion. During the first half of 2023, we repaid $3 billion of debt, including $1.4 billion of early repayments with a focus on our high-cost debt.

For the year, we expect to repay over $4 billion of gross debt resulting in interest costs over $100 million lower than our initial expectations. Our leverage ratio improved to 3.2x on a trailing 12-month basis and this is down from 5x at the end of the year. During the quarter, we announced the reinstatement of a quarterly dividend, opening the shareholder base to yield focused investors. Now moving on to guidance for the September quarter and full year. We expect mid-teen operating margins and earnings of $2.20 to $2.50 per share in the September quarter. Nonfuel unit costs have reached an important inflection point. We expect nonfuel unit costs to decline 1% to 3% year-over-year in the September quarter. This is consistent with our expectations for a low single-digit decline in the second half of 2023.

Rebuild costs are substantially behind us and capacity is returning through our most efficient core hubs. July marks our peak ASM production for the year and capacity seasonally declining in the fall and winter. As our capacity growth normalizes, it enables our operating teams to drive efficiency. We have over $1 billion opportunity from initiatives across the enterprise as hiring and training slow and our workforce gains experience. Improving our nonfuel unit cost is an enterprise-wide priority, and remains within our control. On fuel, we expect the September quarter fuel price to be between $2.50 to $2.70 per gallon. This includes a $0.04 refinery benefit. As part of our routine maintenance done once every five years, the refinery will undergo a turnaround in mid-September that will continue through November.

With production offline during this period, we expect the refinery to breakeven during the second half of the year. With our second quarter performance and our third quarter outlook, we now the full year earnings to be $6 to $7 per share and an operating margin greater than 12% and free cash flow of $3 billion. Delivering these financial results also positions us to reduce our leverage ratio to 3x by the end of the year and significantly improve our return on invested capital. For the full year, we expect our return on invested capital to be approximately 14%, a 6-point improvement versus last year. In closing, we're ahead of plan in 2023. And in 2024, we remain confident in delivering earnings per share of over $7 a share while generating over $4 billion of free cash flow and achieving our investment-grade metrics.

As we shared at Investor Day, we see significant opportunities beyond 2024 as we build on the strength of the core airline, leverage our existing capital base to grow high-margin revenue streams and delivered durable earnings through a full economic cycle. We couldn't do this without the hard work of our employees who are delivering for our customers every day. I'd like to thank the Delta people for all they do. Now with that, I'd like to turn it back to Julie for Q&A.

Julie Stewart : Matthew, can you please remind the analysts how to queue up for questions?

See also 15 Franchises That Run Themselves and 15 Free International Dating Sites Without Payment.

To continue reading the Q&A session, please click here.
According to the prestigious Skytrax World Airline Awards which was held in Paris, Qatar Airways Business class got the highest votes in terms of the best in the world for the tenth consecutive year.

International passengers took part in the largest airline passenger satisfaction survey, which include travelers from around the world.

The World Airline Awards were first established in 1999 to provide a genuinely worldwide customer satisfaction assessment.

Qatar Airways also won a prize for the Al Mourjan Lounge at Hamad International Airport at the Skytrax 2023 World Airline Awards, showcasing its competitive advantage in the Worlds Best Business Class Lounge category.

Al Mourjan Lounge was also ranked as the top honor for the best business-class lounge dining in the world. Qatar Airways has additionally received an award for the 'Best Airline' in the Middle East for the eleventh time in the awards history.

Three other awards, including Best Airline in the Middle East, Best Business Class Lounge, and Best Business Class Lounge Dining, show that Qatar Airways industry dominance as well as its high level of innovation and dedication is evident.
In 2019, Donald Trumps Justice Department appointed John Durham to investigate the FBIs inquiry into the Trump campaigns relationship with Russia in advance of the 2016 presidential election. Durham, later promoted to special counsel by Attorney General Bill Barr to protect his investigation under President Biden, was granted access to likely hundreds of thousands of documents pertaining to Trumps communication with Russian operatives, the federal governments interactions with Russia, and the FBIs investigation thereof. Like the Mueller investigation before it, Durhams report was years in the making, involving hundreds of interviews, and culminated largely in disappointmentthe special counsel indicted only three FBI agents, two of whom were acquitted. Unlike Muellers investigation, however, the Durham report was not a major news story. It was not anxiously anticipated in Congress or on social media. The Washington Post did not rush a copy of it onto the shelves of Barnes & Noble.

While Durhams investigation of the FBIs misconduct was ongoing, another long-brewing attempt at post-2016 accountability was also underway. Jeff Gerth, a Pulitzer Prize-winning former New York Times reporter, was crafting a postmortem on the medias misconduct in its coverage of the so-called Russiagate story, which began with a statement of suspicion by Senator Diane Feinstein and Congressman Adam Schiff in September 2016 and accelerated fatefully with the publication of the infamous Steele Dossier. Gerths findings were published in the Columbia Journalism Reviewa respected journalism watchdogon January 30 of this year, and headlined The Press Versus the President. The report is 24,000 words long and composed of four distinct parts. In his Editors Note, Kyle Pope calls it an encyclopedic look at one of the most consequential moments in American media history.

Gerth began his career investigating Watergate; later collaborations with legendary reporter Seymour Hersh led to his hiring by the Times in 1976 where, among other investigations, he reported on early episodes in the Clinton-Lewinsky scandal and the U.S government-approved sale of sensitive technology to China. This latter work earned the Times its 1999 Pulitzer for National Reporting, with Gerth recognized as the primary contributor. He left the Times in 2005 and two years later published Her Way: The Hopes and Ambitions of Hillary Rodham Clinton, an investigative biography.

Gerth began investigating the medias treatment of the Trump-Russia story in 2021, but he published it in a world much changed over the course of two short years. Trump was out of office, and Russia had invaded Ukraine in February of 2022. While Gerths report had little to do with foreign policy per se, the invasion immediately supercharged American sentiment regarding Vladimir Putin. If in 2021 Russians were seen as mere anti-Democratic election-meddlers and human rights abusers, they were now imperial fascists, and any discourse that even slightly softened the degree of their malice was seen as apologia. This was evident not only in the response to Gerths report but also in the continued ignoring of experts like John Mearsheimer and Jeffrey Sachs, whose interpretation of the Russian invasion differs from the mainstream orthodoxy but is not given much attention for fear that it lends support to Putins war effort.

In fact, The Press Versus the President does not acquit Putin, and it often gives explicit credence to claims that the Russians were attempting to meddle in the election. But as its title makes clear, the series offers a thorough account of the many ways in which mainstream corporate media outlets (the Times and the Washington Post get particular attention) operated hastily and sloppily in their coverage of the Trump campaigns alleged collusion with Russian state operatives, and it highlights many specific instances in which editors and newsrooms elided nuanced fact in favor of the congealing narrative that Trump and his team had made deliberate attempts to conspire with Russia and secure the presidency. The report says little about what Russians did or did not do (as is true of Durhams report, as well), focusing instead on the reasons why many news outlets owe the American people an apology for their role in stoking a false panic over deliberate collusion. Bob Woodward, no friend to Trump, put it best in a conversation with Gerth, quoted in part one: newsrooms need to walk down the painful road of introspection.

Gerths four-part retrospective is exhaustive and granular. One throughline is the presence of Peter Strzok, who led the FBI investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election. Strzok appears throughout the seriesmostly in the form of since-published text exchanges but also in an interview with Gerthas regularly infuriated by the inaccuracies of specific Times Trump-Russia stories; no substance and largely wrong, the press is going to undermine its credibility, and, most famously, Theres no there there. The FBI was in regular communication with the Times about the Russia investigation, and Strzoks private texts were made public by Rod Rosenstein in January of 2020; one of Gerths strongest claims in the report is that the mainstream media made deliberate efforts to avoid publishing Strzoks comments or to use him as a source.

Gerth has said that he sees the Trump-Russia moment in journalism as analogous to the war in Iraq. Memorably, the New York Times published what amounted to an apology in 2004 for its coverage of Iraq leading up to the invasion, citing numerous instances in which its claims about Saddam Hussein and Al-Qaeda had not been independently verified or rigorously vetted. Nearly two decades later, it is uncontroversial to remember that this carelessness misled perhaps millions of readers to support a war they wouldnt have otherwise. In The Press Versus the President, Gerth has detailed dozens of similarly egregious mistakes.

With The Press Versus the President, Gerth joins a cohort of former establishment journalists who now work as freelancers and who publish work that often counters the top-line dogmas of the papers for whom they once helped win Pulitzers. Nicholas Wade, former Times science writer, is now one of the most outspoken critics of the mainstream medias dismissal of the lab-leak theory of Covid origin. Seymour Hersh, a former colleague of Gerths and the most controversial figure in this group, published a bombshell report on Substack in February, claiming that the U.S., not Russiaas was being speculated by the Times and others at the timewas responsible for the 2022 Nord Stream pipeline bombing. Wades work stands in stark opposition to the Timess lab-leak coverage since the Spring of 2020. (Apoorva Mandavilli, current Times science reporter, has called the lab-leak theory racist, and Julian E. Barnes downplayed the theory as recently as February of this year, even after the FBI and Department of Energy endorsed it as the most plausible explanation for Covids emergence). Even today, and despite mounting evidence, you are unlikely to find discussion of these anti-consensus views in the mainstream media, liberal or conservative.

What these reporters share beyond their former employer is a preoccupation with two of the most contentious topics in American politics: Russia and Covid. The hostile reception their work has received shows how tolerance for journalistic independence has eroded. Wade was called a racist in Congress and nearly barred from testifying on the lab-leak theory; Hersh has been regularly derided as a Putin stooge. Vox calls Gerth a Russiagate revisionist in a piece that concedes many of his major points but goes on to say that he is wrong for calling Russiagate in its entirety a hoaxa claim the reporter has never made. Work that should have inspired reflection on the corrupted relationship between politics and journalism has been glossed over, ignored, or dismissed by the very media outlets most responsible for the loss of public trust in news reporting.

In a climate where partisanship and crude tribalism have compromised our receptivity to truth, Jeff Gerth and others like him are providing a new model of what freedom of the press can meanand reminding us how vital it remains.
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I didnt see the warning signs: This retired San Antonio man says his wife was scammed by a romantic interest online  and hes willing to pay up. Heres what Dave Ramsey told him

I didnt see the warning signs: This retired San Antonio man says his wife was scammed by a romantic interest online  and hes willing to pay up. Heres what Dave Ramsey told him

After a retired San Antonio man found out his wife had been the victim of an online fraudster, the news went from bad to worse: She willingly gave her money away to a romantic interest.

Now shes on the hook for loans and credit card payments  to the tune of about $50,000  at a time when the couple should be enjoying their golden years.

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His wife sent small amounts of cash to a fraudster posing as a romantic interest via credit cards and gift cards, totaling between $9,000 and $10,000. But she was also manipulated into taking out two installment loans for $23,500 and $17,500.

I have a bunch of people tell me, I would divorce her, but Im not going to throw away 25 years (of marriage), the husband told best-selling author and personal finance expert Dave Ramsey on an episode of The Ramsey Show.

Instead, theyre going to couples therapy, and the husband is making a concerted effort to get this thing turned around financially and emotionally.

Moving forward after a romance scam

Romance scams are surprisingly common: In 2022, some 70,000 people reported they were a victim of a romance scam, according to the Federal Trade Commission, with reported losses totalling $1.3 billion. And those numbers only include those who reported being scammed; many people are too embarrassed to admit it.

While the caller on The Ramsey Show can at least talk about what happened, he now has to find a way forward. Both he and his wife are retired and in their mid-70s. While they have retirement savings, their annual household income averages around $69,000.

The first step, according to Ramsey, is to write a check for the smaller credit card mosquitoes and close those accounts. Thats a gesture on the husbands part towards the healing that youre searching for, says Ramsey.

While this helps to avoid accrued interest, its also better for the husbands mental state, since every time he writes a check to cover his wifes debts, it picks at the scab and reopens the wound of discovering an emotional affair.

But Ramsey recommends holding off on paying the two larger loans while the couple goes to therapy, because somehow youve got to get some checks and balances and start to incrementally rebuild trust.

In situations like these, youll always be wondering in the back of your mind if itll happen again. Youve got to know that this is solid going forward before you write any more big checks, he says.

While its a conversation the couple needs to have with their therapist, Ramsey recommended that the wife go back to work  if shes in good health  to pay off the two installment loans.

While most retirees dont exactly want to go back to work in their mid-70s, this isnt just about coming up with a financial solution. Rather, says Ramsey, its about taking responsibility for the emotional affair and earning back her partners trust.

Read more: 3 big mistakes people make with cash back credit cards that cost them every time they swipe

How to spot a romance scam

Elderly divorcees and widows arent the only ones who fall prey to romance scams. Anyone who is lonely or vulnerable can be a target, including people experiencing marital problems.

Romance scammers typically use social media platforms to gather details about potential targets. Then, they create a fake online identity. Its the online version of a con artist, who uses the illusion of love or romance to manipulate the victim into sending money (or, in some cases, sending compromising photos which could later be used to blackmail the victim for money).

While some romance scammers use online dating sites, most scams start with unsolicited private messages over social media platforms. Oftentimes, the scammer will ask to move the conversation to a messaging app like WhatsApp or Google Chat.

They often tell their prey that theyre currently out of the country. That makes it easier to avoid meeting in person  and more plausible when they ask for money for a medical emergency or unexpected legal fee, according to the FBI.

For example, they may claim to be stationed at a military base abroad or working at an offshore oil rig. Or, in a newer type of romance scam, they may claim to be a cryptocurrency investor, manipulating their prey into investing with cryptocurrency like Bitcoin or Ethereum (which is untraceable).

Generative AI like ChatGPT will make it even easier for fraudsters to juggle multiple victims, even writing personalized scripts.

However, theres a common thread in all of these scams: The fraudster makes plans to meet the victim in person  and may even propose marriage  but always has an excuse for why that meet-up cant happen.

Tips for preventing a romance scam

More than 60% of reported scams involve either by cryptocurrency or by bank wire, according to the Federal Trade Commission, but gift cards are the most frequently reported scam. Coming up with this money could mean taking out a loan  as was the case with the wife of the caller on The Ramsey Show.

While the husband didnt see the warning signs, there are ways you can protect yourself (or a loved one) from romance scams:

Dont post too many personal details online. Scammers can use that information to target you.

If a stranger sends you a private DM, proceed with caution.

Do a reverse image search of the persons profile pictures to see if the details match up.

Be wary if the person always has an excuse for why they cant meet in person.

Dont provide your bank account information, wire money or send cryptocurrency to anyone you meet online.

If you suspect youve been defrauded, your bank may be able to cancel a transfer before it happens  otherwise, youre on the hook.

File a complaint with the FBIs Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3).

In the case of the caller on The Ramsey Show, it will be more complicated if your marriage partner falls prey to a romance scam and you only find out about it after its too late. But thats a bigger issue that may require a therapist  or a divorce lawyer.

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Firefighters in Southern California are battling three separate brush fires that started Friday afternoon amid the hottest weather of the year so far
To understand the impact that artificial intelligence may have on the economy, consider the tractor. Historians disagree about who invented the humble machine. Some say it was Richard Trevithick, a British engineer, in 1812. Others argue that John Froelich, working in South Dakota in the early 1890s, has a better claim. Still others point out that few people used the word tractor until the start of the 20th century. All agree, though, that the tractor took a long time to make a mark. In 1920 just 4% of American farms had one. Even by the 1950s fewer than half had tractors.

Speculation about the consequences of aifor jobs, productivity and quality of lifeis at fever pitch. The tech is awe-inspiring. And yet ais economic impact will be muted unless millions of firms beyond Silicon Valley adopt it. That would mean far more than using the odd chatbot. Instead, it would involve the full-scale reorganisation of businesses and their in-house data. The diffusion of technological improvements, argues Nancy Stokey of the University of Chicago, is arguably as critical as innovation for long-run growth.

The importance of diffusion is illustrated by Japan and France. Japan is unusually innovative, producing on a per-person basis more patents a year than any country bar South Korea. Japanese researchers can take credit for the invention of the qr code, the lithium-ion battery and 3d printing. But the country does a poor job of spreading new tech across its economy. Tokyo is far more productive than the rest of the country. Cash still dominates. In the late 2010s only 47% of large firms used computers to manage supply chains, compared with 95% in New Zealand. According to our analysis, Japan is roughly 40% poorer than would be expected based on its innovation.

France is the opposite. Although its record on innovation is average, it is excellent at spreading knowledge across the economy. In the 18th century French spies stole engineering secrets from Britains navy. In the early 20th century Louis Renault visited Henry Ford in America, learning the secrets of the car industry. More recently, former ai experts at Meta and Google founded Mistral ai in Paris. France also tends to do a good job of spreading new tech from the capital to its periphery. Today the productivity gap in France between a top and a middling firm is less than half as big as in Britain.

During the 19th and 20th centuries businesses around the world became more French, with new technologies diffusing ever faster. Diego Comin and Marti Mestieri, two economists, find evidence that cross-country differences in adoption lags have narrowed over the last 200 years. Electricity swept across the economy faster than tractors. It took just a couple of decades for personal computing in the office to cross the 50% adoption threshold. The internet spread even faster. Overall, the diffusion of technology helped propel productivity growth during the 20th century.

Tokyo panorama skyline

Since the mid-2000s, however, the world has been turning Japanese. True, consumers adopt technology faster than ever. According to one estimate TikTok, a social-media app, went from zero to 100m users in a year. Chatgpt itself was the fastest-growing web app in history until Threads, a rival to Twitter, launched this month. But businesses are increasingly cautious. In the past two decades all sorts of mind-blowing innovations have come to market. Even so, according to the latest official estimates, in 2020 just 1.6% of American firms employed machine learning. In Americas manufacturing sector just 6.7% of companies make use of 3d printing. Only 25% of business workflows are on the cloud, a number that has not budged in half a decade.

Horror stories abound. In 2017 a third of Japanese regional banks still used cobol, a programming language invented a decade before man landed on the moon. Last year Britain imported more than 20m-($24m-) worth of floppy disks, MiniDiscs and cassettes. A fifth of rich-world firms do not even have a website. Governments are often the worst offendersinsisting, for instance, on paper forms. We estimate that bureaucracies across the world spend $6bn a year on paper and printing, about as much in real terms as in the mid-1990s.

Best and the rest

The result is a two-tier economy. Firms that embrace tech are pulling away from the competition. In 2010 the average worker at Britains most productive firms produced goods and services worth 98,000 (in todays money), which had risen to 108,500 by 2019. Those at the worst firms saw no rise. In Canada in the 1990s frontier firms productivity growth was about 40% higher than non-frontier firms. From 2000 to 2015 it was three times as high. A book by Tim Koller of McKinsey, a consultancy, and colleagues finds that, after ranking firms according to their return on invested capital, the 75th percentile had a return 20 percentage points higher than the median in 2017double the gap in 2000. Some companies see huge gains from buying new tech; many see none at all.

Although the economics can sound abstract, the real-world consequences are crushingly familiar. People stuck using old technologies suffer, along with their salaries. In Britain, average wages at the least productive 10% of firms have fallen slightly since the 1990seven as average wages at the best firms have risen strongly. According to Jan De Loecker of ku Leuven and colleagues, the majority of inequality growth across workers is due to increasing average wage differences between firms. What, then, has gone wrong?

Three possibilities explain lower diffusion: the nature of new technology, sluggish competition, and growing regulation. Robert Gordon of Northwestern University has argued that the great inventions of the 19th and 20th centuries had a far bigger impact on productivity than more recent ones. The problem is that as technological progress becomes more incremental, diffusion also slows, since companies have less incentive and face less competitive pressure to upgrade. Electricity provided light and energy to power machines. Cloud computing, by contrast, is needed only for the most intensive operations. Newer innovations, like machine-learning, may be trickier to use, requiring more skilled workers and better management.

Business dynamism fell across the rich world in the first decades of the 21st century. Populations aged. Fewer new firms were set up. Workers moved companies less frequently. All this reduced diffusion, since workers spread tech and business practices as they move across the economy.

In industries run or heavily managed by the government, technological change happens slowly. As Jeffrey Ding of George Washington University notes, in the centrally planned Soviet Union innovation was world-beatingthink of Sputnikbut diffusion was non-existent. The absence of competitive pressure blunted incentives to improve. Politicians often have public-policy goals, such as maximising employment, that are inconsistent with efficiency. Heavily regulated industries make up a big chunk of Western economies today: such sectors, including construction, education, health care and utilities, account for a quarter of American gdp.

Could ai break the mould, diffusing across the economy faster than other recent technologies? Perhaps. For almost any firm it is easy to dream up a use-case. No more administration! A tool to file my taxes! Covid-19 may have also injected a dose of dynamism into Western economies. New firms are being set up at the fastest pace in a decade, and workers are swapping jobs more often. Tyler Cowen of George Mason University adds that weaker firms may have a particular incentive to adopt ai, because they have more to gain.

ai can also be built into existing tools. Many codersmaybe mostalready use ai on a daily basis owing to its integration in everyday coding instruments through Githubs CoPilot. Word processors, including Microsoft Word and Google Docs, will soon roll out dozens of ai features.

Not a dinner party

On the other hand, the biggest benefits from new forms of ai will come when firms entirely reorganise themselves around the new technology; by adapting ai models for in-house data, for example. That will take time, money and, crucially, a competitive drive. Gathering data is tiresome and running the best models fearsomely expensivea single complex query on the latest version of Chatgpt can cost $1-2. Run 20 in an hour and you have passed the median hourly American wage.

These costs will fall, but it could take years for the technology to become sufficiently cheap for mass deployment. Bosses, worried about privacy and security, regularly tell The Economist that they are unwilling to send their data to modify models that live elsewhere. Surveys of small businesses are not encouraging. One, by GoDaddy, a web-hosting company, suggests that around 40% of those in America are uninterested in ai tools. The technology is undoubtedly revolutionary. But are businesses ready for a revolution?

 2023 The Economist Newspaper Limited. All rights reserved.

From The Economist, published under licence. The original content can be found on https://www.economist.com/finance-and-economics/2023/07/16/your-employer-is-probably-unprepared-for-artificial-intelligence
Five Kanwariya were electrocuted to death while five others were injured after the vehicle they were travelling in came in contact with an 11kv power live near a village in Uttar Pradesh's Meerut district on Saturday evening, officials said.

IMAGE: A Kanwariya (devotee) takes rest as he carries the water of Ganga during the Kanwar yatra, at Delhi- Meerut Expressway in New Delhi, July 11, 2023. Photograph: Mohd Zakir/ANI Photo

According to officials, the incident took place in Bhawanpur's Rali Chauhan village in Meerut district when the vehicle of Kanwariyas came in contact with a low-hanging high-tension power line.

Following the incident, locals of the area reached the spot and rushed the Kanwariyas to a nearby hospital, where doctors declared five Kanwariyas dead.

The condition of two of the five others who suffered the electric shock in the incident was said to be critical.

Following the incident, a group of locals gathered in the area and held a demonstration demanding action into the incident.

Meerut collector Deepak Meena said, "Five Kanwariya pilgrims were electrocuted to death and five others were admitted to a hospital after their DJ vehicle brushed against an 11KV power line."

"A team of doctors and officials have been allocated and all assistance is being provided to the victims for treatment," Meena told ANI.

"Further investigation is underway," he added.

Earlier, a 38-year-old Kanwariya was injured after a taxi hit him on a flyover in Vasant Vihar, the police said on Sunday.

The police said that the accused driver, identified as Dalip Kumar (57), has been arrested in the incident.

On July 15 at 12:38 am, a PCR call regarding the accident of Kanwariya on the flyover from Vasant Vihar to Mahipalpur was received at police station Delhi Cantt.

On receipt of the call, Addl. DCP-l, ACP, and SHO/ PS Delhi Cantt along with staff rushed to the spot, the police said.

According to the police, the injured victim was shifted to AIIMS Delhi after receiving a minor injury to his head.

One injured person, namely Dharmender, a resident of Mewat, Haryana, was shifted to the hospital and is under treatment in AIIMS Trauma.

There was a minor injury on his head and he was discharged after treatment, they said.
In a boost to the Bharatiya Janata Party in Uttar Pradesh, OBC leader Om Prakash Rajbhar announced on Sunday his return to the ruling National Democratic Alliance following a meeting with Home Minister Amit Shah.

IMAGE: SBSP chief Om Prakash Rajbhar, right, with his son and party general secretary Arvind Rajbhar, meets Union Home Minister Amit Shah and joined the NDA, in New Delhi on July 16, 2023. Photograph: ANI on Twitter

Shah on Sunday tweeted a picture of their meeting and welcomed the Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP) founder-leader to the NDA.

Rajbhar was accompanied by his son Arvind Rajbhar.

O P Rajbhar said both parties will fight the 2024 Lok Sabha polls together and thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other senior BJP leaders, including Shah.

The home minister, who has been the key BJP minder on its political manoeuvres in Uttar Pradesh, said his entry will strengthen the NDA in the state and further boost its efforts under Modi for the welfare of the poor and deprived.

In a tweet, Rajbhar said, 'The BJP and the SBSP have come together. They will fight together for social justice, national security, good governance, the deprived, exploited, farmers, poor, Dalits, youth and women, and to empower every poor section.'

Rajbhar, who enjoys influence especially among his Rajbhar community which is present in sizeable numbers in eastern Uttar Pradesh, said he will attend the NDA meeting on July 18 here in what is being seen as a show of strength by the ruling alliance in the run up to the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

Rajbhar's alliance with the Samajwadi Party was considered an important reason for the BJP's relatively poor performance in parts of Poorvanchal (eastern UP) during the 2022 assembly polls.

His relations with the Samajwadi Party had strained following the state elections, which the BJP won comfortably, and he had been taking digs at its leader Akhilesh Yadav off and on.

He was a BJP ally and a minister in the state government as well but had parted ways with the party ahead of the assembly polls.

The BJP's decision to woo him back into the NDA highlights its micro efforts to strengthen its presence all-round the state which sends 80 MPs to Lok Sabha.

The party has been claiming that it will win all 80 seats in 2024, and its frenetic efforts to expand its alliance in the country's most important state politically underlines its seriousness.

It had won 62 seats while the SP-BSP alliance, which broke soon after, had bagged 17.

The decision of another OBC leader from Poorvanchal, Dara Singh Chauhan, to resign as a Samajwadi Party MLA on Saturday is seen as part of the BJP's larger exercise to bolster its ranks, especially among the backward classes.

Chauhan had also met Shah before his resignation. He is likely to join hands with the BJP.

Chauhan was in the BJP earlier too but had joined the SP ahead of the 2022 assembly polls.
The Congress on Sunday made it clear that it will not support the Centre's ordinance on the control of administrative services in Delhi and will oppose any such attempt of the central government to 'sabotage federalism' in the country.

IMAGE: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and party general secretary K C Venugopal at AICC HQ in New Delhi. Photograph: Shrikant Singh/ANI Photo

The Aam Aadmi Party, which governs Delhi, said the Congress' 'unequivocal opposition' to the Delhi ordinance was 'a positive development'.

The Bharatiya Janata Party hit out at the Congress alleging that 'political desperation and confusion' is gripping it.

Congress general secretary K C Venugopal said the party's stand is clear as it will oppose any such move by the Centre to intervene in states ruled by opposition parties through the governors and has decided to oppose the Delhi ordinance in Parliament whenever a bill comes up.

"We are consistently opposing the attempts of the Union government to sabotage federalism. We are consistently opposing the attitude of the central government to run the opposition states through the governors. Our stand is very clear, we are not going to support the Delhi ordinance," he told PTI.

Reacting to Venugopal's remarks, AAP MP and national spokesperson Raghav Chadha tweeted, 'Congress announces its unequivocal opposition to the Delhi Ordinance. This is a positive development.'

Venugopal said the Congress usually convenes its parliamentary strategy committee meeting just before a session to decide on important matters coming up in Parliament.

"Yesterday, we had a meeting and we already made the decision," he said, when asked whether the Congress will support or oppose the Delhi ordinance.

"Not only the Delhi ordinance, any attempt to sabotage the federal system of the country and intervene in the state matters by using the Governor, we are not going to support. The same way, on the Delhi ordinance also, we are not going to support. It is very clear," he said.

With the Congress making its stand clear on the Delhi ordinance issue, Venugopla hoped that the AAP will now participate in the upcoming meeting of the opposition parties in Bengaluru.

"I think they are going to join the meeting tomorrow. This is our thinking," the Congress leader said.

The AAP is, however, yet to make it clear if it will join the opposition meeting. The party had earlier said it would join the meeting only if the Congress extended its support to the AAP in opposing the Delhi ordinance in Parliament.

Targeting the Congress, BJP spokesperson Jaiveer Shergill said, "Disunited Congress holding fractured 'Opposition meeting' in Bengaluru should first explain differences within the Congress".

'On issue of Delhi Service Ordinance: Punjab Congress Mr Pratap Bajwa categorically said 'AAP doesn't deserve Congress Support'. Congress leader Mr Maken said 'Congress should not support AAP'. Today, Congress general secretary K C Venugopal says 'Congress not in favour of Ordinance-support AAP'.

'Political desperation and confusion grips Congress,' he said on Twitter.

In their first meeting in Patna, the opposition parties resolved to take on the BJP unitedly in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

The BJP-led central government brought the ordinance on the transfer and posting of bureaucrats in Delhi in May, virtually negating a Supreme Court verdict giving the elected government in Delhi the control over services matter.

The ordinance seeks to set up a National Capital Civil Service Authority for the transfer of and disciplinary proceedings against Group-A officers from the DANICS cadre.

Transfer and postings of all officers of the Delhi government were under the executive control of the lieutenant governor before the May 11 verdict of the apex court.

Congress leader Pawan Khera said his party 'has always opposed any attempt to attack the federal structure, be it by the Tamil Nadu governor or by any other governor in a state where regional parties or the Congress is in power, as it was done in Bengal. We have always opposed it'.

In that manner the Congress party will oppose the ordinance in Delhi, he said.

"We had stated this last month that we would place in public domain our stand on the issue after our Parliamentary strategy group meeting. Our stand is very clear that we will not tolerate any attempt to attack the federal structure and will oppose any such move," he added.
The Delhi government will set up special camps for those who lost their Aadhaar cards and other important documents, and make arrangements for books and clothes for the affected children, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced on Sunday.

IMAGE: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal accompanied by Delhi Public Works Department Minister Atishi interacts with the flood-affected people during his visit to the relief camp set up at Mori Gate, in New Delhi on Sunday. Photograph: ANI Photo

He made the announcement during a visit to a relief camp in north Delhi's Mori Gate.

Kejriwal also announced the Delhi government will provide a financial aid of Rs 10,000 each to the flood-affected families.

Taking to Twitter, he said many poor families living along the Yamuna banks have lost their homes in the floods and some have lost all their belongings.

'A financial aid of Rs 10,000 will be provided to each family affected by the floods,' Kejriwal said.

Regarding the ongoing efforts to control the flood situation, Kejriwal said that pumps are being used to reduce the water level in the affected areas.

The progress varies across different locations, but the water level is gradually decreasing, he said.

"We have established relief camps in various locations, primarily in schools and dharmashalas, to provide necessary amenities such as toilets and clean water," he told reporters at the relief camp.

The chief minister acknowledged the challenges faced by the people of Yamuna Bazaar, where the floodwaters caused significant damage.

As many individuals lost their important documents, including Aadhaar cards, the chief minister assured them that special camps would be organised to help them get these essential documents.

He also highlighted the plight of children who lost their books and school uniforms due to the flooding.

He assured the affected families that the government is actively working on providing replacements for these items at the earliest.

Considering the muddy conditions in the affected areas, Kejriwal said efforts would be made to fill up keechad with dry soil to expedite the drying process.

"The government is exploring various means to provide ad hoc relief to the flood-affected individuals, including compensation for their losses," he said, adding specific details and announcements regarding this assistance will be made soon.

Addressing a question regarding the Yamuna bridge maintenance payments, he clarified that the responsibility lies with the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC), which is owned by the central government.

The CM again urged all political parties, particularly the Bharatiya Janata Party, to refrain from engaging in blame game during this critical time, and emphasised the importance of working together to address the challenges posed by the floods and to restore normalcy in the affected areas.

Following the visit, he tweeted, 'I personally visited a relief camp set up in a school at Mori Gate to oversee the arrangements. Along with providing shelter for the affected people, arrangements for food, water, and toilets have been made.'

'For those whose important documents and children's books have been washed away in the floods, special camps will be set up later to provide them assistance...arrangements will be made for books and clothes for the children. The government will soon announce assistance for those who have suffered significant losses. We are reaching out to the flood-affected people with all possible help,' the CM said.

He also tweeted to inform that the Chandrawal Water Treatment Plant has been started.

This will restore water supply to the tune of 105 MGD in assembly constituencies namely Rajinder Nagar, Karol Bagh, Ballimaran, Chandni Chowk, Patel Nagar, Palam Vihar, Delhi Cantt and also in NDMC areas.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has said Devendra Fadnavis gave up the opportunity to install a Bharatiya Janata Party mayor in Mumbai after the 2017 civic polls for the sake of the Shiv Sena at his request.

IMAGE: Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde confers with Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis. Photograph: ANI Photo

But Uddhav Thackeray repaid this gesture by severing the alliance with the BJP two years later, the CM said on Saturday at a conclave of the Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) workers in Mumbai.

Shinde also sought to assuage concerns of his party colleagues after the Nationalist Congress Party's group led by Ajit Pawar joined his government a fortnight ago.

"Certain equations have to be formed in politics. Looking at the development (carried out by his government), Ajit Pawar too has backed our government," he said.

In June 2022, Shinde and 39 other Shiv Sena MLAs revolted against Uddhav Thackeray, then chief minister and president of the undivided Shiv Sena. One of the main reasons cited by them was that Ajit Pawar, as finance minister, did not allocate funds for their constituencies.

The revolt led to the collapse of the Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi government.

The Shiv Sena controlled the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation from 1997 to 2022.

Elections to the country's richest civic body are due for the last one year.

"The BJP had almost won the BMC (in 2017 civic body polls). Devendra Fadnavis was the CM. Our chief (Uddhav Thackeray) said we have been controlling the BMC and it should not go out of our hands," Shinde reminisced.

"But had Devendra Fadnavis decided, the mayor would have been of the BJP. But I told him that we are in the government, working together. And our boss' (Thackeray) heart is in Mumbai, so you leave Mumbai (for the Shiv Sena)," he said.

"Devendra ji left the quest for Mumbai on my request, but how was this gesture repaid (by Thackeray)?" Shinde asked.

In the tightly contested 2017 Mumbai civic body polls, the Shiv Sena won 84 seats with the BJP close on its heels by winning 82 seats. No party could win a majority but the Shiv Sena managed to get its mayor elected.

Shinde said despite this, Thackeray ignored "40-50 calls" when the process began to form government after the 2019 Maharashtra Assembly polls, and eventually formed government with the NCP and Congress.

"In the last seven years, Devendra Fadnavis did not even mention once that he could have won the BMC and installed a BJP mayor, but he gave it to the Shiv Sena. So who is ungrateful?" Shinde said, attacking Thackeray.
The SBSP can impact around 10 Lok Sabha seats and 40 assembly seats in 7-8 districts in Uttar Pradesh, according to poll analysts.

IMAGE: Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party founder Om Prakash Rajbhar calls on Union Home Minister Amit Shah, in New Delhi on Sunday. He was accompanied by his son and party general secretary Arvind Rajbhar. Photograph: ANI Photo

The return of Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party chief Om Prakash Rajbhar to the National Democratic Alliance fold after quitting the Bharatiya Janata Party-led alliance in 2019 will not surprise many as the OBC leader had indicated for months that his options were open.

The SBSP fought the 2017 Uttar Pradesh assembly elections in alliance with the BJP and won four seats.

Rajbhar got a ministerial berth in the state cabinet, but his frequent outbursts left the BJP-led government embarrassed and the two parties parted ways during the last Lok Sabha polls.

In the 2022 UP Assembly election, the SBSP joined hands with the Samajwadi Party and won six seats but as the alliance failed to dislodge the BJP, it did not take long for the partners to start bickering.

In July 2022, when the Presidential elections were around the corner, cracks in the SP-led alliance were exposed as Rajbhar extended support to NDA nominee Droupadi Murmu, while the SP backed Yashwant Sinha.

A year later, the SBSP is now a part of the NDA.

The SBSP can impact around 10 Lok Sabha seats and 40 assembly seats in 7-8 districts in Uttar Pradesh, according to poll analysts.

While supporting Murmu in the presidential election, Rajbhar had then said that the party made the decision after appeals by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Murmu herself and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

The SBSP chief, however, had then maintained that his six-MLA party is still part of the opposition grouping that fought the UP Assembly elections together.

"Murmu herself told me that she hails from the lowest strata of society and sought my support. Similar appeals were made by the chief minister...," Rajbhar had told reporters.

He had also expressed disappointment over the SP not inviting him to its July 7, 2022)press conference on the Opposition's joint candidate Yashwant Sinha.

"Akhilesh ji did not think about me or the vote," he had said.

A senior UP BJP leader told PTI that UP's Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak also played a role in bringing back the SBSP into the NDA.

On the day of polling for the Presidential election, Rajbhar accompanied Brajesh Pathak to cast his vote at the UP Vidhan Bhavan.

Pathak on Sunday told PTI, "The Samajwadi Party has been derailed, and the people of the state have rejected them. On the other hand, the BJP's clan ('kunbaa') is expanding with new people joining the NDA.

"Both public support and mandate are increasing (in favour of the BJP and NDA). We have come together for a larger goal."

He said that Samajwadi Party is now left with only two allies -- Rashtriya Lok Dal and the Apna Dal-Kamervadi -- and gradually, they will also leave the SP.

Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya, in a tweet in Hindi, termed O P Rajbhar as 'an old friend of the BJP'.

National general secretary of SBSP Arvind Rajbhar, the elder son of the SBSP chief, after meeting Union Home Minister Amit Shah said they discussed several issues including caste census, inclusion of Rajbhar caste in the Scheduled Castes category and expansion of the council of ministers in Uttar Pradesh.

"At the meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah a number of issues ranging from social justice, caste census, education, the inclusion of Rajbhar caste in the scheduled castes' category, upcoming Lok Sabha elections, expansion of the council of ministers in Uttar Pradesh and issues pertaining to health were discussed," he told PTI.

In May last year, Om Prakash Rajbhar had said that his ally Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav has become too used to air-conditioned rooms and advised him to venture out more often to meet people.

"His leaders have told me that I should advise him (Akhilesh Yadav) so that he meets people, strengthens his party and shun his 'navratnas' (nine gems) who surround him," he said.

His falling out with the BJP was also not very pleasant. On May 18, 2019, the SBSP chief had urged supporters to thrash BJP workers with shoes.

The SBSP had fielded as many as 39 candidates in the state in the Lok Sabha elections that year. The state has 80 Lok Sabha seats.

On May 20, 2019, barely a day after polling ended in the Lok Sabha elections, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath sacked Rajbhar from his cabinet as Backward Class Welfare and Divyangjan Empowerment Minister.

"By taking the decision, he (Adityanath) has proved he does not endorse my war against poverty," Rajbhar had told reporters.

The strain in ties had appeared months before. On November 19, 2018, Rajbhar accused the BJP-led government of denying funds to open schools for 'divyaangjan' (specially-abled people) in the state.

A day earlier he challenged the ruling party to dump him for daring 'to call a spade a spade'.

In October 2021, the SP and SBSP had announced their alliance for the 2022 Uttar Pradesh assembly polls and gave the slogan 'Khadeda Hobe', a call to 'drive out' the BJP from the state.

The slogan was on the lines of 'Khela Hobe' (game on), which was coined by the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress for the West Bengal assembly polls that saw the party defeat the BJP and storm back to power for a third consecutive term.

"Rajbhar will close the door through which the BJP came to power (in Uttar Pradesh) and SP workers will lock it," the SP chief had then said.
Top leaders of as many as 26 opposition parties are likely to attend the two-day brainstorming session in Bengaluru from Monday where they will chalk out their strategy to unitedly fight against the Bharatiya Janata Party in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, according to sources.

IMAGE: Posters of Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP) chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar and others are put up on the eve of the Opposition meeting, in Bengaluru on Sunday. Photograph: Shrikant Singh/ANI Photo

On the eve of the meeting hosted by it, the Congress clarified that it will oppose the ordinance on Delhi services in Parliament, a key condition put by the Aam Aadmi Party to attend the talks.

Fifteen parties attended the last meeting for opposition unity hosted by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in Patna on June 23.

"This time we are expecting leaders of 26 parties," a source said.

The opposition meeting also comes in the backdrop of the split in the Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party and the West Bengal panchayat polls which saw widespread violence that claimed many lives with state units of the Congress and Left parties accusing the TMC government of oppression.

The sources said the opposition parties will chart out a joint agitational plan across the country against the policies of the BJP, especially after the NCP split in Maharashtra.

They said that the leaders will announce steps to further opposition unity to take on the BJP and 'expose its attempts at toppling opposition governments and taking control over non-BJP-ruled states through the Governors'.

"It will be a decisive meeting. Several issues will be discussed," Shiv Sena-Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray leader Sanjay Raut said.

The BJP, however, hit out at the opposition parties, alleging that they are a 'divided lot' and have no specific programme other than to defeat Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

BJP president J P Nadda alleged that opposition parties were in the process of forming an alliance to 'protect' their dynastic politics.

The proposed coalition is not a 'Patriotic Democratic Alliance' but a 'Protection of Dynasties Alliance', he said in Jaipur.

Communist Party of India general secretary D Raja said the two-day session will be a step further in the demonstration of the Opposition's joint resolve to defeat the BJP.

"The Bengaluru meeting will be another step forward in uniting the secular and democratic parties in order to defeat the BJP and in order to save the nation and democracy," Raja told PTI.

Congress Parliamentary party chairperson Sonia Gandhi is also likely to attend the meeting this time.

Other top leaders including Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, former party chief Rahul Gandhi, NCP supremo Sharad Pawar, Trinamool Congress supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Bihar Chief Minister and Janata Dal-United leader Nitish Kumar, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam leader and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha leader and Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren and Aam Aadmi Party's Arvind Kejriwal are expected to participate along with former Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray.

"Today, the Congress party cleared its position against Delhi Ordinance. We welcome the announcement. Along with this, AAP will attend the opposition meet in Bengaluru," says AAP leader Raghav Chadha said.

The two-day session will begin with a dinner meeting to be hosted by Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and another formal meeting on Tuesday, after which they are expected to firm up their unity plans and announce their further programme.

A senior leader said opposition parties would have to iron out their differences if they have to take on the might of the BJP.

The BJP alleged it was a meeting by a 'fractured' Opposition and that 'desperation ad confusion' has gripped the Congress with its central leadership going against the state units.

"'Disunited Congress' holding fractured 'Opposition Meeting' in Bengaluru should first explain differences within Congress.

"On the issue of Delhi Service Ordinance: Punjab Congress Mr Pratap Bajwa categorically said 'AAP doesn't deserve Congress Support'. Congress leader Mr Maken said 'Congress should not support AAP'.

"Today, Cong Gen Secy KC Venugopal says 'Congress not in favour of Ordinance-support AAP'. Political desperation and confusion grips Congress," BJP spokesperson Jaiveer Shergill tweeted.

He alleged that the Congres has become AAP's 'spare wheel'.

"'Hate for PM Modi' only glue for Opposition Unity. No agenda, no ideology and no leader - Only lust for power," the BJP leader said.
A Hindu temple was attacked with rocket launchers by a gang of dacoits in the Southern Sindh province of Pakistan on Sunday, a senior police official said.

IMAGE: A file picture of a Hindu temple in Pakistan's Sindh province, burning after it was attacked. The image is used only for representation. Photograph: Faheem Soormro/Reuters

The assailants attacked the small temple and adjoining homes belonging to Hindus in the Kashmore area of the Sindh province.

The assailants fired indiscriminately at the temple built by the local Hindu community on Sunday, prompting a police unit led by Kashmore-Kandhkot SSP Irfan Sammo to reach the scene.

They fired 'rocket launchers' at the place of worship, which was closed during the attack, the police official said, adding that the temple opens annually for religious services conducted by the Bagri community.

"The attack happened in the early hours of Sunday. They fired indiscriminately and fled when a police party reached the spot. We are conducting a search operation in the area," Samoo said.

The police officer estimated that eight or nine gunmen were involved in the attack. Dr Suresh, a member of the Bagri community, said that the 'rocket launchers' fired by the dacoits failed to explode, resulting in no loss of life.

He called on the police to protect the community, saying the incident had left the residents in a state of panic.

SSP Samoo assured the Hindu community members they would be protected. The Kashmore area has a sizeable Hindu population.

The attack comes days after dacoits in the Kashmore and Ghotki riverine areas had threatened to attack Hindu places of worship and community members in retaliation to Seema Haider Jakhrani's PUBG love story.

Seema, a Pakistani mother of four, left her country and entered India to live with a Hindu man she befriended and fell in love with while playing on online gaming platform PUBG in 2019.

Seema, 30, and Sachin Meena, 22, live in the Rabupura area of Greater Noida, near Delhi, where he runs a provision store, according to Uttar Pradesh Police.

While Seema was arrested on July 4 for illegally entering India without a visa via Nepal with her four children, all aged below seven years, Sachin was put behind bars for sheltering the illegal immigrants. They were released from jail recently.

Meanwhile, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has said it was alarmed by reports of 'deteriorating law and order in the districts of Kashmore and Ghotki in Sindh, where some 30 members of the Hindu community -- including women and children -- have allegedly been held hostage by organised criminal gangs'.

'Moreover, we have received disturbing reports that these gangs have threatened to attack the community's sites of worship, using high-grade weapons,' the Dawn newspaper quoted the commission as saying.

It called on the Sindh Home Department to investigate the matter without delay, the report said.

Karachi is home to many ancient Hindu temples. Hindus form the biggest minority community in Pakistan.

The majority of Pakistan's Hindu population is settled in Sindh province where they share culture, traditions and language with Muslim residents.
A Trinamool Congress legislator on Sunday threatened to not support any bill tabled by the government in the West Bengal Assembly in the future and abstain from voting in the upcoming Rajya Sabha polls in the state if 'atrocities' on his loyalists allegedly by a rival faction continued, even as the Bharatiya Janata Party said the collapse of the Mamata Banerjee government was just a matter of time.

IMAGE: A hoarding of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is seen in Kolkata on July 13, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo

Islampur MLA Abdul Karim Chowdhury made the remark after visiting several blocks in Islampur sub-division of Uttar Dinajpur district where his loyalists had contested the recently concluded panchayat polls as Independent candidates and had allegedly been beaten up by supporters of a rival faction after results were declared on July 11.

"If a faction in my party goes on committing atrocities against common people, many of whom are my loyalists; if beatings and arson go on unabated without any interference by party higher-ups, I will be forced to abstain from voting in the Rajya Sabha polls," he said.

"I will also not support any bill tabled by the state government in the assembly in the future. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has failed to take note of the worsening situation in Islampur despite my repeated appeals to her. I will start opposing this government if there is no improvement in the situation, if my words are not heeded," Chowdhury said.

Reacting to Chowdhury's outburst, TMC state spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said, "He should not have spoken in such a defiant manner against the party in public. All I can say is that the leadership will take a call on the issue."

Chowdhury has been at loggerheads with district TMC president Kanaialal Agarwal for a long time.

The Islampur MLA had alleged that he was being overlooked by the party regarding policy decision-making, and that he could not meet party national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee during his outreach programme in North Bengal three months back.

The TMC has announced candidates for six Rajya Sabha seats in West Bengal which will go to polls on July 24.

The TMC has 216 MLAs in the 294-member assembly and enjoys the support of five BJP legislators who switched over to the ruling party in the state but are yet to resign from the House.

The BJP has a strength of 70 in the assembly.

Meanwhile, speaking at a party programme in his Bongaon Lok Sabha constituency in North 24 Parganas district, BJP MP Shantanu Thakur said the TMC government will not last beyond five months.

"I have a hunch that this government will not last beyond five months," he said.

"The Mamata Banerjee government has outlived its utility. Had the TMC not resorted to widespread rigging in the recently concluded panchayat polls, the BJP would have bagged thousands of more seats.

"But this is going to be the last election under the supervision of TMC government where all the state machineries including the State Election Commission (SEC) have failed to play a neutral and impartial role," Thakur, who is also the Union Minister of State for Shipping, said.

Police sources said 39 people have died in panchayat poll-related violence since the election date was announced on June 8. A majority of those who lost their lives were affiliated with the TMC.

Talking to reporters after attending an organisational meeting to take stock of the party's panchayat poll performance, BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar said, "Anything can happen any time. Let's see what happens."

He added, "Who knows if there's a people's uprising against TMC's misrule and terror. Who knows if TMC MLAs suddenly refuse to follow Mamata Banerjee's way of functioning. I am not saying it will happen, it may not. But anything is possible in politics."

About his meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi on July 14, Majumdar said, "The Centre will do everything possible to protect the lives of innocent people in West Bengal."

Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari had earlier demanded imposition of Article 355 in West Bengal saying central intervention has become imperative in the state which had witnessed violence during panchayat polls.

He said, "Though a democratically elected government cannot be toppled, if it fails to perform its duty as envisaged in the Constitution, the Centre has to intervene to save it from slipping into lawlessness."

Reacting to the comments of BJP leaders, TMC Rajya Sabha MP and party spokesperson Santanu Sen said, "All these BJP leaders, including Adhikari, are desperate to raise their ratings in Delhi by issuing threats to a government which came to power for the third time through a huge mandate two years ago and enjoys mass support."

He added, 'if out of desperation the BJP tries any misadventure' after the drubbing in panchayat polls, the people of state will thwart it.

Sen said BJP leaders like Adhikari and Ghosh had made similar predictions about the collapse of TMC government in December and January and 'even spelt out specific dates', but nothing happened.

TMC state general secretary and spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said BJP leaders are making such claims 'to boost the morale of their rank and file', who had been demoralised after the panchayat poll results.

"They (BJP leaders) are themselves aware about the absurdity of their claims," he added.
Key Insights

Given the large stake in the stock by institutions, Exxon Mobil's stock price might be vulnerable to their trading decisions

The top 25 shareholders own 42% of the company

Insiders have sold recently

To get a sense of who is truly in control of Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM), it is important to understand the ownership structure of the business. And the group that holds the biggest piece of the pie are institutions with 60% ownership. In other words, the group stands to gain the most (or lose the most) from their investment into the company.

Because institutional owners have a huge pool of resources and liquidity, their investing decisions tend to carry a great deal of weight, especially with individual investors. Hence, having a considerable amount of institutional money invested in a company is often regarded as a desirable trait.

Let's take a closer look to see what the different types of shareholders can tell us about Exxon Mobil.

See our latest analysis for Exxon Mobil

What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Exxon Mobil?

Institutional investors commonly compare their own returns to the returns of a commonly followed index. So they generally do consider buying larger companies that are included in the relevant benchmark index.

As you can see, institutional investors have a fair amount of stake in Exxon Mobil. This implies the analysts working for those institutions have looked at the stock and they like it. But just like anyone else, they could be wrong. When multiple institutions own a stock, there's always a risk that they are in a 'crowded trade'. When such a trade goes wrong, multiple parties may compete to sell stock fast. This risk is higher in a company without a history of growth. You can see Exxon Mobil's historic earnings and revenue below, but keep in mind there's always more to the story.

Investors should note that institutions actually own more than half the company, so they can collectively wield significant power. Exxon Mobil is not owned by hedge funds. The company's largest shareholder is The Vanguard Group, Inc., with ownership of 9.7%. For context, the second largest shareholder holds about 6.9% of the shares outstanding, followed by an ownership of 5.3% by the third-largest shareholder.

Our studies suggest that the top 25 shareholders collectively control less than half of the company's shares, meaning that the company's shares are widely disseminated and there is no dominant shareholder.

Researching institutional ownership is a good way to gauge and filter a stock's expected performance. The same can be achieved by studying analyst sentiments. There are plenty of analysts covering the stock, so it might be worth seeing what they are forecasting, too.

Insider Ownership Of Exxon Mobil

The definition of company insiders can be subjective and does vary between jurisdictions. Our data reflects individual insiders, capturing board members at the very least. Management ultimately answers to the board. However, it is not uncommon for managers to be executive board members, especially if they are a founder or the CEO.

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 Exxon Mobil Corporation insiders own under 1% of the company. It is a very large company, so it would be surprising to see insiders own a large proportion of the company. Though their holding amounts to less than 1%, we can see that board members collectively own US$466m worth of shares (at current prices). Arguably recent buying and selling is just as important to consider. You can click here to see if insiders have been buying or selling.

General Public Ownership

With a 40% ownership, the general public, mostly comprising of individual investors, have some degree of sway over Exxon Mobil. While this size of ownership may not be enough to sway a policy decision in their favour, they can still make a collective impact on company policies.

Next Steps:

It's always worth thinking about the different groups who own shares in a company. But to understand Exxon Mobil better, we need to consider many other factors. To that end, you should be aware of the 1 warning sign we've spotted with Exxon Mobil .

If you are like me, you may want to think about whether this company will grow or shrink. Luckily, you can check this free report showing analyst forecasts for its future.

NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

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Indian Army on Saturday displayed the Bofors Howitzer along with the Made-in-India Dhanush Howitzer in Kargil ahead of Kargil Vijay Diwas, which will be celebrated on July 26 to mark the 24th anniversary of Indias win in Kargil War. The event is celebrated every year on July 26 to honour the Kargil War's heroes. The machines and weapons were showcased at Vijay Diwas Shastra Pradarshan Programme, which was organised in Kargil on July 15. Apart from the two giant machines, several other weapons manufactured and developed under Atmabirbhar Bharat initiatives were also displayed at the event.

According to the information, the Indian Army in order to commemorate the Kargil Vijay Diwas organised a programme for common people, who want to explore and know about the weapons used by the defence forces. These weapons included weapon locating radar Swathi, rocket launchers, light field guns and other infantry weapons apart from the Bofors Howitzer and the Dhanush Howitzer.

India will celebrate 24th anniversary of Kargil War on July 26 this year

According to the Army, the display took place ahead of the 24th anniversary of the Kargil War, where the Bofors played a substantial role in defeating the Pakistan Army, who had captured several of Indias posts by intruding into the Indian territory. On the remarkable day of Kargil Vijay Diwas, every Indian pays their tribute to the Indian Army martyrs, who sacrificed their life to win back and recapture the mountain heights and those areas in Indian Territory, which were occupied by Pakistani intruders on July 26, 1999, during the Kargil War.

The Northern Command of the Indian Army took to Twitter to share the information. The Northern Command Twitter handle tweeted, saying, Proudly commemorating Kargil Vijay Diwas with an incredible Shastra Pradarshan at Kargil! Young curious minds enthralled by handling cutting-edge made In India weapons & equipment under Atmanirbhar Bharat initiatives; acquired experiences of leadership roles of women in Indian Army & learnt about career options including Agniveer recruitment.
India is home to numerous magnificent Hindu temples and pilgrimage sites. However, the influence of Hinduism has transcended geographical boundaries, leaving a trail of divine heritage sites outside India. From the serene Mount Kailash in Tibet to the vibrant Shri Kali Temple in Yangon, these sacred spaces continue to attract devotees and spiritual seekers from around the world.

2 things you need to know

From Mount Kailash to the Pashupatinath Temple, explore the spiritual treasures abroad.

These global Hindu heritage sites connect devotees and travelers worldwide.

Mount Kailash in Tibet

Mount Kailash in Tibet, holds a sacred place in both Hinduism and Buddhism. Regarded as the axis of existence, Mount Kailash is revered across the Asian continent, from far-east Asian countries to the Indian subcontinent and even to the Middle East. Pilgrims from diverse regions flock to this mystical mountain to seek spiritual enlightenment and engage in awe-inspiring rituals.

(Mount Kailash holds a sacred place in both Hinduism and Buddhism | Image: Twitter)

Hinglaj Mata Mandir in Balochistan, Pakistan

Then there is the Hinglaj Mata Mandir situated in Balochistan, Pakistan. This temple, located in the coastal town of Las Bela, attracts devotees from different religious backgrounds who come to pay their respects to the goddess Hinglaj Mata.

(This temple, located in the coastal town of Las Bela | Image: Twitter)

Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu, Nepal

Towards the east is the Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu, Nepal. This ancient temple belongs to the Pashupatinath tradition, one of the six major traditions within Shaivism. The temple's intricate sculptures, believed to date back to the 5th or 6th century, offer a glimpse into the rich cultural heritage of the region.

(one of the six major traditions within Shaivism | Image: Twitter)

Mata Seetha Amman Temple, Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is home to the Mata Seetha Amman Temple, situated in Seetha Eliya. According to ancient legends, this temple commemorates the captivity of Seetha, Lord Rama's consort, by King Ravana. The temple stands as a testament to their epic tale and serves as a place of pilgrimage for devotees.

(According to the legend, Princess Seetha was held captive by King Ravana | Image: Twitter)

Tirta Empul Temple in Bali, Indonesia

Bali, Indonesia, is where the Tirta Empul Temple awaits. Dedicated to Lord Vishnu, the Hindu god of water, this temple is renowned for its holy spring, believed to be water gushing from the earth. Visitors often partake in ritual bathing to cleanse their souls and seek spiritual rejuvenation.

(Visitors often partake in ritual bathing to cleanse their souls | Image: Twitter)

Shri Kali Temple in Yangon, Myanmar

Yangon, Myanmar, houses the Shri Kali Temple, known for its vibrant and colorful architecture. Adorned with colorful imagery and stone carvings of various Hindu deities, this temple is meticulously maintained by the local Indian community, fostering a spiritual haven far from home.

(This temple is maintained by the local Indian community | Image: Twitter)

Dhakeshwari Temple in Dhaka, Bangladesh

In Dhaka, Bangladesh, the Dhakeshwari Temple is the National Temple of the country. This temple holds immense religious significance as one of the 51 Shakti Peethas, where the divine feminine energy is worshipped. Pilgrims and devotees flock to this sacred site to seek blessings and immerse themselves in devotion.

(This temple is one of the 51 Shakti Peethas | Image: Twitter)

Shree Muktinath Temple, Nepal

Nepal's Shree Muktinath Temple, situated at a breathtaking altitude of 3800 meters, holds immense importance for both Hindus and Buddhists. It is believed that Lord Vishnu attained salvation here, freeing himself from the curse of Brinda. Pilgrims flock to this sacred site, seeking spiritual enlightenment and divine blessings.

(It's world's highest temple situated at 3,800 metres | Image: Twitter)

Sri Subramaniar Swamy Devasthanam , Malaysia

Malaysia's majestic Sri Subramaniar Swamy Devasthanam is located in the Batu Caves. This temple, perched about 400 feet above ground level, stands as a testament to the significant contributions of the Indian settlers in Malaysia. Devotees climb the steep steps to pay homage to Lord Subramaniar (Karttikeya) and bask in the divine aura of this historical site.

(This temple, perched about 400 feet above ground level | Image: Twitter)

Grand Bassin, Mauritius

Grand Bassin, located in Mauritius, is a sacred site for the Hindu community. Known as Ganga Talao, it is cherished for its spiritual significance. The serene lake, surrounded by lush greenery, attracts pilgrims who offer prayers, and immerse themselves in the profound religious atmosphere.

(Grand Bassin, also known as Ganga Talao | Image: Twitter)

As we explore these divine Hindu heritage sites outside India, we witness the transcendence of spirituality and the unity of faith. Regardless of borders, cultures, and languages, these sacred spaces continue to inspire and connect people, fostering a sense of deep devotion and reverence for the divine.
Hindus in Pakistan are being held hostage as a fallout of a Pakistani woman illegally entering India for her lover she met via an online game. According to the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, around 30 members of the Hindu community including women and children have been taken hostage by armed gangs in the Kashmore and Ghotki districts in Sindh province.

"We have received disturbing reports that these gangs have threatened to attack the community's sites of worship, using high-grade weapons. The Sindh Home Department must investigate this matter immediately and take steps to protect all vulnerable citizens in these areas," the Commission tweeted calling on the government to take action.

Moreover, we have received disturbing reports that these gangs have threatened to attack the community's sites of worship, using high-grade weapons. The Sindh Home Department must investigate this matter immediately and take steps to protect all vulnerable citizens in these areas  Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (@HRCP87) July 16, 2023

According to a report by Pakistan's Dawn, a temple was attacked in Kashmore with rocket launchers in the early hours of Sunday. This reportedly was the second incident as the first was reported in Karachi where the 150-year-old Mari Mata Temple was razed.

This comes after Seema Haider from Pakistan ditched her husband and fled with her four kids to stay with her lover Sachin Meena. A resident of Greater Noida, Meena told Republic TV that he and Haider decided to meet each other in Nepal in March and got secretly married before she illegally entered India in May. After fully accepting her husband's culture, she has also changed her religion, the aftermath of which is being faced by Hindus in Pakistan.

Cross-border love story makes situation worse for minority Hindus in Pak

Although Seema Haider has rejected the accusations of entering India for espionage, she is on the radar of Indians including former Army officials. Speaking to Republic TV, Major General SP Sinha vehemently claimed that she as well as her husband, Ghulam Haider who she left, are ISI agents. Questioning why she did not opt for a legal entry, Sinha said that the hostage situation "is a counter-attack against Hindus who have done no crime. This is a pressure tactic on behalf of Pakistan's ISI. They want to divert the attention from Seema Haider to Hindus in Pakistan."

Besides, fanatics in Pakistan have also issued threats to her. Reports also say that she has been boycotted by her community including her parents for "insulting Islam." Maybe unintentionally, but Haider's actions have also put Hindus in Pakistan in grave danger as the minorities are now being abducted and temples are being vandalised in the country.
(Bloomberg) -- Alcoa Corp. is slated to kick off the commodity worlds earnings season on Wednesday, while climate observers will be keenly watching for any developments as the USs John Kerry makes a highly-anticipated visit to Beijing to meet with his Chinese counterpart. The two superpowers have a poor track record on emissions. Here are five key charts to consider as the week gets underway.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Climate

The worlds two biggest polluters are meeting for talks on global warming amid ongoing tensions between the US and China. The Asian nation accounted for the largest share of global carbon dioxide emissions in 2021, according to European Commission data, while the US was a distant second at almost 13%. Even so, the US has by far the biggest share of historical, cumulative emissions, having relied on the unfettered burning of coal, oil and gas to fuel its economic growth for decades. Any meaningful progress on tackling harmful greenhouse gases will require the cooperation of both countries, especially ahead of a UN climate conference in the United Arab Emirates starting in November that is already being dogged by a host of concerns.

Metals

Alcoa is set to release its second-quarter earnings as global aluminum prices continue a pullback. The largest US producer has seen shares drop 24% this year amid weak fundamentals and as uncertainty in US economic growth squelched robust demand for the metal used in everything from automobiles to skyscrapers to consumer appliances. Aluminum consumption has also lagged due to a sluggish recovery from pandemic-related restrictions in China, the worlds biggest metals user. Investors will be focused on Alcoas latest forecast on aluminum shipments, as well as any commentary Chief Executive Officer Roy Harvey may have regarding a buildup of worldwide metal stockpiles coming from Russia. Harvey in April warned that Russian-origin metal threatened to distort the global benchmark price as more customers refuse to take delivery of it in the wake of the nations ongoing conflict with Ukraine.

Grains

Wheat and corn futures edged higher Monday after Russia ended the international deal that allows the safe export of Ukraine grains through the Black Sea. Moscow had repeatedly threatened to leave the pact, which had been extended three times. The deal has been limping along due to red tape and slow vessel inspections, causing total exports to drop considerably in recent months, according to United Nations data. In total, nearly 33 million tons of crops were exported since the agreement was signed last July. Russias move jeopardizes a key trade route from Ukraine, one of the worlds top grain and vegetable oil shippers just as its next harvest begins.

Oil

Crude oil futures have been in the doldrums for most of this year, but are staging a recovery in July. Through Fridays settlement, West Texas Intermediate is up almost 7% this month and flirting with a breach of its closely watched 200-day moving average, a feat that hasnt been done in almost 11 months. Meanwhile, Brent futures climbed above $80 a barrel last week for the first time since April. The rally in both contracts comes amid a rebound in demand in China and elsewhere, as well as production cutbacks by Saudi Arabia and its OPEC+ allies that are set to drain stockpiles around the world. Even so, both WTI and Brent are lower on the year.

Agriculture

Corn prices in the US have been falling in recent weeks thanks to heavy rains across the Plains and Midwest that have boosted prospects for the crop. Ranchers have been waiting months  if not years  for drought to loosen its grip and bring down costs of the grain. Thats now pushing up prices for feeder cattle as demand for the lighter-weight livestock climbs in a race to bulk them up before slaughter. The US Department of Agriculture is set to release its biannual cattle inventory and monthly feed report on Friday  both key readings to determine future beef supplies.

--With assistance from Jennifer A. Dlouhy, Megan Durisin, Joe Deaux and Michael Hirtzer.

(Updates fourth paragraph with collapse of Ukraine grain-export deal.)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
Indian Army personnel will participate in the 15th edition of the India-Mongolia joint military exercise Nomadic Elephant at Magnolia. The exercise is named Nomadic Elephant 23. The exercise will take place in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, from July 1731, 2023. It is a yearly training exercise with Mongolia that alternates between India and Mongolia.

The exercise aims for interoperability between both armies in conducting counter-terrorist operations in the mountainous terrain under the UN mandate. The last edition of this exercise was conducted at the special forces training school, Bakloh. It was conducted in October 2019 and is the 14th edition of the joint military exercise between both countries.

India-Mongolia joint military exercise Nomadic Elephant

This exercise will involve members of the Indian Army's Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry Regiment and soldiers from the Mongolian military unit 084. The Indian army contingent reached Ulaanbaatar on 16th July 2023. They arrived in IAFs C17 Globemaster aircraft.

The main aim of this exercise is to build positive military relations, exchange best practices, and develop interoperability, bonhomie, camaraderie and friendship between the two armies. This exercise's primary focus will be on UN-mandated counterterrorism operations in hilly terrain. The scope of the exercise includes Platoon Level Field Training Exercise (FTX). The exercise would include a variety of exercises meant to improve the skills and capacities of the Indian and Mongolian military.

The exercises consist of reflex firing, room intervention, small team tactics, and rock climbing. Soldiers from both countries will learn from each other's operational experience and skills to operate better in the current global security scenario faced by both nations. India and Magnolia have shared a common commitment to regional security and operation between India and Mongolia which will further bolster bilateral relations between both countries. Om Birla, the speaker of the Lok Sabha, is leading an Indian parliamentary delegation on a three-day trip to Mongolia.
A former camp in Osipovichi which was revived into a newly built military-style defence base in Belarus as seen in the satellite images released by Planet Labs PBC is now being used to accommodate the Private military company PMC Wagner mercenaries as they arrived in the neighbouring country from Russia.

Dozens of tents were erected within the last few weeks at a former military base in the Belarusian town located approximately 230 kilometres (142 miles) north of the Ukrainian border amid speculation that PMC Wagner fighters will be housed in it. Aliaksandr Azarau, leader of the anti-Lukashenko BYPOL guerrilla group of former military members, had previously suggested that the camp may be used by the mercenaries from the Wagner paramilitary company. About 8,000 fighters from Wagners private military force may be [later] deployed in Belarus, Andriy Demchenko, spokesperson for Ukraines border force, told Ukrainska Pravda newspaper.

The images provided by Planet Labs PLC suggest that dozens of tents were erected within the past two weeks at a former military base outside Osipovichi. Credit: Planet Labs/AP

Wagner fighters have been training the country's soldiers in the southeast of the capital approximately 90km (56 miles) southeast of the capital, Minsk, according to the visuals published by Belarusian Defense Ministry and Ukrainian and Polish officials. The camp, which can house about 5,000 soldiers, is being used for training military personnel as well as for setting up territorial defence systems.

Photo showing Wagner fighters training Belarusian soldiers at a base outside of Minsk. Credit: Belarusian Defense Ministry

Wagner fighters training Belarusian soldiers

TV channel run by the Belarusian Defence Ministry released footage of Wagner fighters training Belarusian soldiers near Osipovichi, in Mogilev Oblast. Some Wagner fighters have been in Belarus since at least Tuesday.

The whereabouts of the Wagner mercenaries who organised a mutiny last month defiantly against the Russian military leadership has been shrouded in mystery. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko helped broker a deal to dismiss Wagner's brief uprising on June 23-24 as its fighters reached the southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don in armoured vehicles and took control of Russia's Southern military command. As they prepared to march towards Moscow to topple Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, they shot down several Russian military helicopters, killing all the pilots.

On Saturday, July 15, the press service of the Belarusian Defense Ministry quoted Leonid Kasinsky, an aide to the Belarusian Defense Minister Lieutenant General Viktor Khrenin, and Chief of the Central Office of the Defense Ministry, last week saying that the representatives of the Russian private military company PMC Wagner hadn't arrived in Belarus.

Credit: Belarusian Defense Ministry

Credit: Belarusian Defense Ministry

Credit: Belarusian Defense Ministry

Andriy Demchenko, a spokesman for the Ukrainian border agency, in a statement yesterday, said: "Wagner is in Belarus!" adding that the Ukrainian officials have been observing the movement of "separate groups" from Russia into the Belarusian territory.

"The personnel, including instructors [of PMC Wagner], were primarily engaged in the professional training of the territorial defence forces of Belarus. Unfortunately, the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation did not consider it necessary to adopt experience in our troops," read the update on Wagner-affiliated Telegram channel.



Wagner assault units are drilling the skills of tactical shooting and movement on the battlefield for the Belarusian soldiers. In addition, the Belarusian reservists are also acquiring engineering and tactical medicine skills, according to the press service of the Defense Ministry of Belarus. Wagner mercenaries came into Belarus after the combat and training of another contingent--a joint "regional grouping of troops" with Russia--the Belarusian-Russian regional military force concluded, the representatives of the Defense Ministry told BelTA.

Credit: Belarusian Defense Ministry

Belarusian Defense Ministry said that it developed a roadmap with the Wagner Groups management for the near future for training and transfer of experience between units of different branches of the armed forces. It added that the public would be kept informed about the upcoming work of the Belarus Wagner forces.
The Statue of Liberty is seen in the haze of Canadian wildfire smoke behind Governors Island, June 8, 2023, in New York harbor. The Global Times recently gleefully reported: "New York City has topped the list of the worst air pollution in the world."

Police violence against African-Americans. Poverty in the United Kingdom. Widespread pollution. An oligarchy controls the U.S. government.

In recent weeks, China's state media have been pumping out a slew of negative news reports about the United States and Europe  even as many middle-class and wealthy Chinese flee the country.

A June 24 video feature on U.S. politics by state news agency Xinhua in English warned: "The rich have power, while the poor have weak rights."

"Under the veneer of American democracy, it's actually the rich who rule the country," the report said. "Behind the mask of one person one vote is actually one dollar, one vote."

It said Abraham Lincoln's promise of government "of the people, by the people and for the people" had fallen into the hands of an oligarchy. "U.S. elections have become a fig leaf for capitalists to exercise power," the report said.

Across the Atlantic, one in seven British people went hungry in 2022 due to lack of money to buy food, state news agency Xinhua reported on June 29, citing a report from the Trussell Foundation.

"Government figures estimate that British households are in the midst of the two-year decline in living standards that has been the biggest since comparable records began in the 1950s," the report said. It was widely picked up by mainland Chinese news sites and bloggers, with photos of restrictions on the sale of bell peppers at a Manchester supermarket.

Its not Mars

While China's state media -- which is registered under legislation governing the agents and representatives of foreign governments in the United States -- has long been subject to stringent political controls on what it can publish at home, Xinhua and other overseas organizations have much freer rein when reporting from foreign countries.

And there is a stark variation in the type of language state media use when reporting on bad news -- depending where it's happening.

A demonstrator runs across a street on the third night of protests sparked by the fatal police shooting of a teenager in the Paris suburb of Nanterre, France, June 30, 2023. Credit: Aurelien Morissard/AP





A keyword search for "wildfires" on the Global Times website in English on July 12 turned up around a dozen stories using negative language like "worst ever, "losing face" and "rampant wildfires" to describe the fires and air pollution in the United States, Canada and further afield, while around five use more neutral language about global climate change.

"It's not Mars, it's the U.S.!" begins one article, with a picture of New York city enveloped in orange haze.

The language contrasts with last year's coverage of wildfires outside Chongqing, which use language like 'vanquished' and 'heroes' and 'all flames put out' to portray the heroic struggle of the firefighters. The same search on the China Daily website yields similar results.

Yet coverage of Canadian wildfires from 2009 offers a much more balanced picture, with two using heroic language about firefighting efforts and two focusing on evacuations and damage.

Run

While is is unclear whether the apparent flurry of bad news out of the West is deliberate, the grim and sometimes downright snarky coverage comes amid news of the "run" movement, a steady flow of Chinese people leaving the country who are worried about their economic future, tired of the restrictions in daily life and disenchanted with their leaders and political system.

Some desperate Chinese are trekking through the jungles of Latin America to get to Mexico, where they cross into the United States and apply for political asylum.

There have been widespread reports of Chinese people trekking through the jungles of Latin America to get to Mexico, where they cross into the United States and claim political asylum. Credit: Courtesy photo





Meanwhile, a June 17 report from state broadcaster CCTV focused on police violence against Black people in the United States.

"Three years after the death of George Floyd, violent law enforcement in the US police system is still widespread," the headline reads, referring to a recent Department of Justice investigation into racism in the police force.

"Violent law enforcement exists widely in the American police system," the report said. "The reality is that a large number of social problems in the United States have become bargaining chips for politicians from both parties to compete for political interests."

A day earlier, the China Daily reported on a court ruling that two police officers in Oklahoma, who are facing manslaughter charges for the 2021 killing of Quadry Sanders, an African-American, were unjustifiably terminated and must be reinstated.

"The deceased's mother filed a lawsuit, but the local police and the government denied any wrongdoing by the officers," the report said.

In a recent commentary, the Global Times accused U.S. media of using "this 'losing-face' moment to smear China for its pollution in the past, which prompted Chinese netizens to fight back with pictures of clear-sky Chinese metropolises, advising the U.S. to learn from China's great achievements in improving air quality in the past years."

The overseas Chinese news service Qiaobao took up the police violence and racism theme with its reporting of the French riots over the killing of Nahel Merzouk, a teenager of North African descent.

"The riots in many places caused by the French police shooting and killing teenagers are still continuing, and have attracted a lot of attention," the paper wrote, drawing a parallel with the killing of George Floyd.

Translated by Luisetta Mudie. Edited by Malcolm Foster.
In this Sept. 6, 2017 , photo provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), fish swim in a reef at Pearl and Hermes Atoll in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands.

A deep-sea mining test that lasted only two hours might have decreased fish and shrimp populations in the surrounding vicinity significantly even after a year, research in Japan showed.

Deep-sea mining is the extraction of valuable minerals from the ocean below 200 meters (650 feet), potentially impacting fragile ecosystems.

Lately, it has become a contentious issue, as several countries and companies have joined the global race to mine resources including cobalt, copper, and manganese amid increasing demand for renewable energy and consumer electronics.

The research was based on an investigation into the environmental impact of Japans first successful test in 2020 to extract cobalt crusts from the top of Takuyo-Daigo deep-sea mountains, in the northwest Pacific Ocean, to mine cobalt, a vital mineral in electric vehicle batteries.

The data, examined by the researchers one month before and after, as well as a year following the experiment conducted at the site, showed that the mined areas became less habitable for ocean animals and created a plume of sediment that spread through the surrounding water, according to the study published Friday in the Current Biology journal.

One year after the mining test, researchers observed a 43% drop in fish and shrimp density in the areas directly impacted by sediment pollution, a statement accompanying the study said.

They also noted a 56% drop in the fish and shrimp density of surrounding areas, adding the research team thinks it could be due to the mining test contaminating fish food sources.

'Enough to shift things

Even a brief two-hour test could have long-lasting consequences on the marine life in a particular area, the research said, adding further study is needed.

I had assumed we wouldnt see any changes because the mining test was so small, said the studys first author Travis Washburn, a marine ecologist who works closely with the Geological Survey of Japan.

They drove the machine for two hours, and the sediment plume only traveled a few hundred meters. But it was actually enough to shift things.

A Greenpeace activist holds a sign as he confronts the deep sea mining vessel Hidden Gem, commissioned by Canadian miner The Metals Company, as it returned to port from eight weeks of test mining, off the coast of Manzanillo, Mexico, Nov. 16, 2022. Credit: Reuters.

The study concluded that although highly mobile swimmers likely simply leave the area, resulting in little loss of biodiversity, this may not be possible if multiple mining operations occur at similar times resulting in a very large, cumulative deep-sea mining areal footprint.

Experts say seabed ecosystems are not yet fully explored, so the impact of deep-sea mining on marine ecosystems is unknown.

Fridays research authors said they would need to repeat the study several times to understand better how deep-sea mining impacts the ocean floor.

They said that multiple years of data should be collected before a mining test occurs to account for any natural variation in ocean animal communities.

These data are really important to get out, Washburn said in the statement. A set of regulations is supposed to be finalized soon, so a lot of these decisions are happening now.

Well have to look at this issue on a wider scale, because these results suggest the impact of deep-sea mining could be even bigger than we think.

Lasting impact

James J. Bell, a professor at the Victoria University of Wellington in New Zealand who was not involved in the study, said the results demonstrate just how susceptible the marine communities associated with seamounts might be to the impacts of mining and that these impacts could be long-lasting.

Importantly, this study also shows that even very small-scale mining activity can have lasting impacts. Until we have a full understanding of what the impact of mining is on these ecosystems, we should take a very cautious approach, Bell said, especially given that seabed mining is being considered by many states worldwide.

Commercial deep-sea mining has not yet begun, though exploratory licenses have already been granted by the United-Nations-backed regulator International Seabed Authority, or the ISA, which has authority over seafloor resources outside a given countrys jurisdiction.

It has yet to finalize a set of deep-sea mining regulations. The ISA started global discussions in Jamaica on Monday to possibly adopt mining regulations, with talks expected to continue until the end of July.

Many countries, the seafood industry, marine conservancy groups, and scientists have called for a pause to proceed in developing regulations and complete them before granting any licenses to mine seabed thousands of feet under the oceans surface.

Kat Bolstad, an associate professor at the Auckland University of Technology, said deep-sea mining could be catastrophically destructive to the immediate seafloor, and producing noise, vibrations, clouds of sediment, and other impacts that we cannot yet fully predict.

The effects of large-scale deep-sea mining are likely to be substantial, longer lasting, and more complex than we can anticipate, she said.

There is widespread scientific agreement: We need a far greater understanding of deep-sea ecosystems before we can make responsible decisions.

Edited by Malcolm Foster.
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
They gathered in the conference room to discuss the evils of modern-day French colonialism, with participants from French overseas territories flown in from around the globe: officials from New Caledonia and French Polynesia, activists from Martinique and French Guiana.

And a dozen-plus Azerbaijani TV cameras.

France has a "dictatorial government," said one official from New Caledonia, a French territory in the South Pacific. "Our natural resources are being plundered by France," said a representative from French Guiana, a French region in South America. "France is inculcating an alien culture in Martinique," added another activist from the French island in the Caribbean Sea.

The July 6 conference was titled Towards the Complete Elimination of Colonialism, but the speakers were only from territories of one country: France. The event took place in Baku, organized by the Azerbaijani state-run Center for Analysis of International Relations think tank. The conference's message was echoed in a speech a day earlier by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, who issued a lengthy denunciation of France's "outrageous neocolonialism policy" in those territories, including Corsica and Mayotte, and in its former colony of Algeria.

In recent months, France has become a regular punching bag for Azerbaijani officials from Aliyev on down. Azerbaijani media has exhaustively covered anything bad that happens in -- or purportedly because of -- France. A public television program even enlisted a group of Azerbaijani children to sing a song insulting French President Emmanuel Macron.

The plight of France's far-flung territories may seem an obscure cause for Baku to champion. But the explanation can be found much closer to home, in Azerbaijan's breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh.

Azerbaijanis have long been suspicious of France, believing its large Armenian diaspora to exert an outsized influence on Paris's policy toward the Caucasus and especially the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict.

Baku and Yerevan have been locked in a dispute over Nagorno-Karabakh for years. Armenian-backed separatists seized the mainly Armenian-populated region from Azerbaijan during a war in the early 1990s that killed some 30,000 people. Diplomatic efforts to settle the conflict brought little progress and the two sides fought another war in 2020 that lasted six weeks before a Russian-brokered cease-fire, resulting in Armenia losing control over parts of the region and seven adjacent districts.

Azerbaijan blamed France, along with Russia, for introducing a resolution in the United Nations Security Council during the 2020 war that Baku said favored Armenia. (The resolution was not adopted.) France also tried but failed to get the Security Council to take up a resolution to condemn Azerbaijan for the de facto blockade it launched in December 2022.

But until recently, occasional disagreements were for the most part papered over.

That changed in October 2022, and the trigger appears to have been an interview Macron gave in which he called the 2020 conflict "a terrible war." To Azerbaijanis, the war was in fact a victory to be proud of: Their country finally regained control of most of the territory it lost in the first war between the two sides in the 1990s, as a result of which more than 600,000 ethnic Azerbaijanis were ethnically cleansed.

The anti-France campaign began soon thereafter. In a speech two days after Macron's interview, Aliyev complained that the French president has been notably more pro-Armenian than his predecessors: "We always perceived the activities of previous French presidents, despite, of course, a certain factor of the Armenian diaspora in France, as balanced. However, the current French leadership has effectively crossed out all this."

Then came the children's song, in which a TV host sang lyrics such as "He is pro-Armenian. What can you say to this person? He gives us false promises. Who is that person?" In response, a chorus of children chanted: Em-Man-U-El!"

Azerbaijan's government-run think tanks pivoted to focus on France. "France is an absolute evil for Azerbaijan," said Farhad Mammadov, head of the South Caucasus Research Center, in an April interview.

The Azerbaijani pro-government media has taken up the cause, as well, with a noticeable uptick in negative news about France, both on the foreign and domestic fronts.

That coverage has not been accidental: Pro-government media have repeatedly gotten instructions from the authorities on how to cover France, according to screenshots of messages seen by RFE/RL.

The missives are a common practice in Azerbaijan. Media outlets sometimes get multiples messages a day, delivered by WhatsApp, which direct coverage and issue "recommendations" on how to cover certain stories.

In December 2021, the news website Eurasianet obtained a cache of the messages, and although it is unclear from exactly where the directives originate, the journalists who receive them believe they come from the office of the president.

According to one message, from May 12, media were requested to cover how "colonialist France is organizing a 'crusade' against Azerbaijan in the South Caucasus." The message asked that "a broad campaign be launched against France's anti-peace activities in the region, to conduct vox pops among the population, strongly condemn France/Macron, and arrange for foreign experts to take part in the process."

According to another message, from June 2, media were given instructions on how to cover a meeting in Moldova the day before between Aliyev, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian, Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and Charles Michel, the president of the EU Council, which sets the bloc's political and strategic priorities. "It is requested not to pay attention to the statement of the French president yesterday and not to broadcast it," the message read.

The heavy rhetorical assaults from Baku come even as ties between Azerbaijan and France, on the official level, are proceeding more or less as normal.

On July 10, French company TotalEnergies announced a significant new development in natural-gas extraction in Azerbaijan's Caspian Sea waters. Azerbaijani analysts said that under normal circumstances, the news would have been trumpeted as a triumph, but the demands of the anti-France campaign required it to be covered only as straight news.

"At a time when we have started propaganda against French colonialism, it is inappropriate to announce the news that the French are producing gas for us," political analyst Shahin Jafarli wrote on his Facebook page, adding a smiley emoji. "The reality is that today there is no serious problem in Azerbaijan-France relations. Do not believe in these temporary campaigns."

In recent years, there has been a shift in French political rhetoric in favor of Armenia, said Regis Gente, a French journalist and analyst who covers the Caucasus. The shift has been driven by the increasing prominence of the far right in French politics, which is animated by anti-Muslim sentiment and has taken on the cause of Christian Armenia against Muslim Azerbaijan, Gente told RFE/RL.

"The [French] political agenda is being set by the far right," Gente said. "And especially if you are a politician from the right, you feel obliged to hunt for the electorate of the far right."

Rhetoric aside, France is still trying to maintain a balance in the Caucasus, Gente said. While France has announced it plans to establish a new military attache office in Yerevan -- sparking angry recriminations from Baku that the move is a precursor for providing French weapons to Armenia -- it quietly offered to set up a similar office in Baku, he said. The French Embassy in Baku did not respond to RFE/RL's request for comment.

France's National Assembly, the lower house of parliament, has passed resolutions calling for sanctions on Azerbaijan because of its actions in Nagorno-Karabakh. But those statements are nonbinding, and France's foreign minister recently said that Nagorno-Karabakh is an "enclave inside Azerbaijan," echoing Baku's position on that critical question.

"Apart from these nonbinding resolutions in the National Assembly, what did France actually do?" asked Altay Goyushov, the head of the independent think tank, the Baku Research Institute. "They didn't impose any kind of sanctions on us.They didn't provide any weapons to Armenia. It's true that they do have a very powerful Armenian diaspora in culture, in academia, in politics, everywhere, and the most they managed was these two or three nonbinding resolutions. France is not interested in escalating relations with Azerbaijan," he told RFE/RL.



The real target of the anti-French campaign is Azerbaijan's domestic audience, which is primed to think poorly of France and which the government hopes to distract by rally-around-the-flag messaging, Goyushov said.

"This is a very elaborate game by Aliyev and, so far, it's working," he said, noting that he has seen an increase in anti-French sentiment on social media and among ordinary Azerbaijanis. At the same time, Aliyev "knows that this kind of talk doesn't bring any real problems with France," Goyushov added.

Pointing out France's own problems with its ethnic minorities -- including during recent unrest triggered by the police killing of a teenager of Algerian origin -- has allowed Baku to push back against external criticism of its own actions vis-a-vis the ethnic Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh.

Azerbaijan has increasingly closed off access to Nagorno-Karabakh, now leaving its tens of thousands of ethnic Armenian residents in a state of total blockade. The United States, Russia, the European Union, and other powers have called on Azerbaijan to ensure free movement in and out of Nagorno-Karabakh. While France's statements on the issue have been consistent with the international consensus, Azerbaijani pushback has been hardest against Paris.

"Why does France think it can teach us how to deal with minority issues?" asked Farid Shafiyev, the head of the Center for Analysis of International Relations and the chair of the recent panel on decolonization. "On our territory this so-called minority is armed, commits terrorist acts, says it wants to break away, and in the future join another state, and for some reason we are supposed to give them status, according to Macron, according to French politicians. And these same people, not just inside France, but they are not ready to even give independence to New Caledonia and other territories," he said in one interview with local media.

"If France wants to interfere in our internal affairs, if they want to instruct us how to organize our relations with minorities, then we can raise the same questions."
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.
UN experts released a press statement on July 4 that harshly criticizes Tajik authorities for misusing the law to convict rights defenders, activists, journalists, and others. The statement called on the Tajik government to stop using laws on extremism and terrorism to silence critics inside Tajikistan. Joining host Bruce Pannier to discuss the deteriorating rights situation in Tajikistan are Mary Lawlor, UN special rapporteur on human rights defenders, and Nazila Ghanea, UN special rapporteur for freedom of religion and belief. Both were in Tajikistan on fact-finding missions in recent months.
Russian forces struck the Kharkiv region for a third time late on July 16, the governor said, as Russia reported an apparent retaliatory strike on towns in the Belgorod region bordering Ukraine.

Live Briefing: Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine RFE/RL's Live Briefing gives you all of the latest developments on Russia's full-scale invasion, Kyiv's counteroffensive, Western military aid, global reaction, and the plight of civilians. For all of RFE/RL's coverage of the war in Ukraine, click here.

Oleh Synehubov, head of the Kharkiv regional military administration, told people to stay inside as an air alert was sounded after dark.



Synehubov said earlier on Telegram that one civilian was killed in the second attack, which Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov said took place around 7 p.m. Synehubov said three men had been hospitalized with shrapnel wounds and one person was treated at the scene.



According to the Ukrainian military, the Russian military launched four S-300 missiles from the Belgorod region in Russia. Two of the missiles exploded in the air, while the other two struck a stadium and a road in the city.



The governor of the Belgorod region said that Ukrainian forces had shelled the town of Shebekino, about 5 kilometers from the Ukrainian border, with Grad missiles, killing a woman riding her bike.



Vyacheslav Gladkov said the Grad missiles had struck a market area, damaging a building and two cars. The woman died of injuries she received from shrapnel, Gladkov said on Telegram.



He said Ukrainian shelling of two other Belgorod settlements on July 16 caused no casualties but damaged three homes in Gorkovsky, and warehouses, a water tower, and other infrastructure in Ilek-Penkovka.



There was no comment on the attack from Ukraine.

Valeriy Shershen, spokesman for the Tavria defense forces, said earlier on July 16 that Ukrainian troops had advanced more than 1 kilometer along the front line in the Berdyansk direction. The spokesman emphasized that intensive fighting is ongoing there.

"Ukrainian units are entrenched at the borders, conduct aerial reconnaissance, demine the territories, and continue to perform fire missions," he said on Ukrainian television.

Shershen added that Russian troops continue to storm the positions of Ukrainian forces near Avdiyivka and Maryinka. The Russian Army carried out 22 attacks during the day, most of them in the Maryinka area.

Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Malyar said Kyiv's troops were fending off Russian attacks near the two cities in the Donetsk region. She also commented on fighting in the direction of Kupyansk in the Kharkiv region, saying Russian forces have been attacking the two cities for two days in a row.

"We are on the defensive," Malyar said. "There are fierce battles. The positions of both sides change dynamically several times a day."

Malyar also said the two armies were pummeling one another around the city of Bakhmut.

Serhiy Cherevatiy, spokesman for the Ukrainian military in the eastern region, said Ukrainian forces "have firmly held the initiative" in the Bakhmut direction for several weeks.

"We move somewhat measuredly. We clear hundreds of meters every day, and kilometers every week," Cherevatiy said on Ukrainian television.

The battles are a continuation of the counteroffensive Kyiv launched last month to retake Russian-occupied territory. The militarys claims of success could not be independently verified.

Russian troops again shelled the Kherson region, wounding two people who were in their yard, the regional military administration reported.

"In the village of Rozlyv, the Russian Army targeted private houses. A 54-year-old woman and a 49-year-old man were injured," the report said, adding that they were treated at the scene.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said in an interview with state television that Ukraine's counteroffensive was "not succeeding" and that attempts to break through Russian defenses had failed.

Putin also criticized the U.S. provision of cluster munitions to Ukraine, saying "we reserve the right to take reciprocal action" if such weapons are used against Russian forces.

"The Russian Federation has a sufficient stock of various types of cluster munitions. So far this has not been done," Putin said in the interview, claiming this was the case despite "the known shortage of ammunition in a certain period of time."

Ukraine did not respond to Putin's comments.

Kyiv and Western intelligence agencies have determined Moscow has used them since shortly after it launched its massive invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Cluster munitions have been banned by more than 100 nations globally.

The New York Times reported the previous day that Kyiv has changed its tactics in the counteroffensive to reduce the loss of advance Western-provided weaponry and is now focused on attacking with artillery and long-range missiles.

The Russian Defense Ministry on July 16 reported that it had "repelled" an attack using aerial and sea-based drones that apparently targeted the Russian Black Sea Fleet at the port of Sevastopol, in the Russian-occupied Ukrainian region of Crimea.

WATCH: Ukrainian soldiers never stop eyeing the sky in the battle to retake territory held by Russian forces. Ukrainian antiaircraft rockets can stop the incoming kamikaze drones but these often put the defending soldiers at risk.

RFE/RL cannot independently verify reports from regions of heavy fighting or that are under Russian occupation.

As the fighting intensified, a UN-brokered deal to export Ukrainian grain through Black Sea ports neared expiration.

The last ship approved to travel under the grain-exporting deal left dock on July 16. Since June 27, Russia has refused to register any new shipments under the agreement, which is set to expire on July 17.

On July 14, a UN spokesman said UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was awaiting a response from Putin on a proposal to extend the deal. The proposal reportedly included an offer to reconnect a subsidiary of Russias Rosselkhozbank to the SWIFT international payments system.

Putin said on July 15 that he had not seen the proposal.

Russia has repeatedly threatened to cancel the agreement, which was last extended for two months on May 17, while pushing for an array of concessions.

With reporting by Reuters, AP, and AFP
BRASOV, Romania -- On Romanian Heroes' Day, Ileana Negru, a 66-year-old woman whose son Florin was just 12 when he was killed in the 1989 revolution, went to a mountain road outside the central city of Brasov, poured gasoline over her body, and set herself on fire.

Her May 25 suicide came after decades of suffering and what she said was humiliation at the hands of the state. Negru never found out who killed her son, nor was anyone ever held accountable.

Over three decades after the Romanian people overthrew and executed dictator Nicolae Ceausescu and his wife, Elena, in December 1989, her horrific death has brought renewed attention to the suffering of relatives of those who died in the revolution and who are still waiting for justice for their loved ones.

"On the day of her death, I met her at the Heroes' Cemetery," said Elena Vlase, whose 19-year-old son was tortured and killed in Brasov in December 1989. Both their sons are buried at the cemetery along with others of the 67 people who lost their lives in the city during the revolution, many when unidentified gunmen opened fire on unarmed crowds. "She was very unhappy. We arranged to meet the next day, [but] she never showed up."

Negru's suicide was not announced by the authorities or reported in Romania for two weeks. It was not until Negru's daughter told Catalin Giurcanu, a former revolutionary who was 16 when he took to the streets to oppose the Ceausescu regime, that word of her death began to spread on social media. The pair had known each other for several years after meeting at protests calling for an official probe into the events of December 1989.

Police finally issued a terse statement about Negru's death on June 8 and, on June 14, they made public what she had written in the suicide note found next to her body.

"In protest at 33 years of suffering, pain, humiliation, and mockery," her note began, "today I end the humiliation, though it is costing me my life. The revolution was ours and in no way belongs to the communists who stole it. The injured heroes, those who were detained, they have special merits.... They spilled their blood in the name of freedom."

In post-Ceausescu Romania, investigations into the more than 1,100 deaths and 3,000 injured in the bloody uprising have started, stalled, resumed, and stalled again. Cases have been passed from one prosecutor's office to another and have periodically bounced from court to court.

"She wanted to know who killed her son, who the murderer was," said Giurcanu, who was detained after he went out onto the streets in Bucharest when he heard people shouting, "Freedom, freedom!" His father came looking for him and died after being shot with 13 bullets to the chest. Some of the deaths during the revolution are thought to be due to incidents of friendly fire in the widespread chaos.

"So many bad things happened to her. She was a tiny lady with a big heart," Giurcanu said, tearing up during the interview. Less than a week before her death, he met with Negru, who was also known as Ileana Militaru after divorcing her husband. She had just returned from the Spanish island of Tenerife, where she lived with her daughter, who did not respond to an e-mail request for an interview.

Her son, Florin Negru, was one of 49 children who were killed during Romania's revolution, which came a month after the fall of the Berlin Wall and ended Ceausescu's nearly 25-year rule. The youngest to die was just 1 month old.

IN PHOTOS: It was the bloodiest of Europes anticommunist uprisings. Three decades later, we revisit some of the exact sites from Romanias 1989 revolution.

During the protests in Brasov, Negru sent Florin and his sister to her mother's house for safety, but the 12-year-old snuck away. Speaking in a 2006 interview for a Romanian documentary, Negru said her son told her on December 17 that "those that don't protest are cowards."

At the time, news was quickly spreading that shooting had started in the western city of Timisoara, where locals had originally taken to the streets to protest the removal from his post of a popular pastor who had been critical of the regime.

On December 23, at the military hospital in Brasov, a city in the Transylvania region with a population of around 230,000, she found her son at an improvised morgue among a pile of bodies.

"He was lying on a jacket in his underpants, naked from the waist up. His eyes were open, and he was smiling. I ran and held him, and he was cold. I hugged him and that was the moment I began to scream. [His injuries meant] my son didn't have a backbone. He was hollow. It was one big hole. That's all I remember," she said in the documentary interview.

Devastated and desperately seeking answers, the quest for justice for her son began with humiliation.

"In the fall of 1991, I was at the military prosecutor's office," she said in 2006. "A tall, balding man in military uniform came up to me -- he didn't introduce himself. 'Are you the mother of [Florin Negru]?' he asked. I said, 'Yes.' He said, 'Your kid was a terrorist and a thief,'" and claimed he had stolen a ring and was helping other so-called terrorists.

Romanian officials pay lip service every December to those who died in the revolution, but the victims have gradually been forgotten. Giurcanu, whose father was shot dead, said he thinks he would "have had a chance to heal if there had been justice."

People RFE/RL spoke to for this article say that the failure to secure justice for the victims was due to the revolution being hijacked by Ion Iliescu, a former high-ranking communist in the Ceausescu era who went on to be president three times, and lower-ranking communists who ran the country in the years that followed. In Negru's suicide note, she singled out Iliescu, who she called "the torturer, the criminal who killed our children."

A divisive figure in postcommunist Romania, Iliescu has been accused of spreading disinformation during the revolution and being among those leaders responsible for calling on miners to come to Bucharest in January and June 1990, and September 1991, to put down protests against the country's new leaders.

Critics of Romania's transition to democracy say many members of the former communist elite retained senior roles and now their sons, daughters, and proteges are in key positions. Because of that, they say, there's little appetite for a proper investigation that would possibly implicate members of the army, the security services, and the widely feared secret police, the Securitate, who were never punished and live comfortably, many of them on generous pensions.

Iliescu, now 93, was charged in April 2019, along with two other high-ranking leaders, with crimes against humanity for the more than 850 deaths and 2,382 people injured that took place in the eight days after Ceausescu was overthrown on December 22 -- the day Iliescu assumed power -- and December 30.

Romania's supreme court, the High Court of Cassation and Justice, which judges cases of ministers and high-level politicians, sent the case to the Court of Appeal on February 24, saying it had no jurisdiction in the case as Iliescu wasn't president during the uprising. After serving as interim leader, Iliescu became president in the country's first elections after the revolution in May 1990.

"They hid the death of [Ileana] Negru a whole 33 years after the revolution. The neo-communist, Securitate, and Bolshevik system lives on," Sorin Boaca, a prominent participant in the revolution from Brasov, told RFE/RL. "She was the mother of a hero. This criminal system lives on through its children, descendants, and relatives."

Not only has the case against Iliescu and former Deputy Prime Minister Gelu Voican Voiculescu and former military aviation head Iosif Rus dragged on for years, but critics of the proceedings say it has targeted only the most senior people of the time.

"Nobody has been charged in Brasov at all. How is this possible?" said Vlase, who said a member of the communist security services fired the shot that led to her son's death. During a hearing, the man accused of being responsible denied any involvement and no charges have ever been brought against him.

But for those seeking justice in Brasov and elsewhere in Romania, there might be a glimmer of hope on the horizon with the appointment of history teacher Mihai Dodu in April to head a government institute that seeks justice for "anti-communist fighters."

Dodu was just 9 years old when Ceausescu was overthrown, and his father was one of 79 people killed in gunbattles outside the building of the newly liberated TVR public television station in Bucharest.

"After [nearly] 34 years, for the first time we have the son of a hero and a martyr in this job. He has integrity. He must be left to carry out his job until the end," Vlase said.

In addition to the monumental challenge of holding those responsible for the deaths accountable, the Romanians seeking justice must grapple with another issue: the estimated thousands of people who have falsely claimed to have taken part in the uprising and received revolutionary certificates, entitling them to compensation and other benefits, such as land, reduced rents on commercial space, and free public transport. There is ongoing hostility between the genuine and fake revolutionaries, some of whom have been prosecuted for lying about their involvement.

"I want to bring authenticity to the reputation of the revolutionaries, to get rid of the imposters," Dodu told RFE/RL. "The obstacle to justice is not procedural but a lack of morality."

Dodu is already facing calls to be fired after he ruled there were no grounds to upgrade the revolutionary certificate of Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu to the top grade of "fighter with a decisive role" in the revolution.

There are five categories of revolutionary certificate: fighters who played an important role, fighters who had a decisive role, those who were jailed during the revolution, and those who lost a close relative. Benefits are higher for those who played a more active role, although these benefits were reportedly never taken by the prime minister.

Five participants in the revolution staged a hunger strike outside the government offices in Bucharest in July in support of Dodu, although Ciolacu has said he has no plans to remove him.

Dodu met Negru in his Bucharest office just days before she killed herself. She needed to change her own revolutionary certificate as the survivor of someone killed in the revolution to reflect her name change to Militaru.

"I corresponded with her, and she submitted the documents," he said.

"Mrs. Negru moved me. She said I was about the same age as her son would have been and that when she looked at me, she thought about him," Dodu said. "Her death was a tragedy. Unfortunately, her gesture was the pain that all of us have lived with for more than 30 years with the question, in my case: Who killed my father?"

"After many years of suffering, caused by her son's death, and the humiliation [at the hands of] the Romanian state, Mrs. Negru took the dramatic decision to end her life. This interview is upsetting for me...but I'm doing it for Mrs. Negru and the memory of those who died in the revolution," he said.

His role in the government institute, he said, is to restore dignity to the victims of the revolution and their relatives, to improve their financial and health-care benefits, and for schools to be obliged to teach students about the revolution.

"We want the younger generation to understand the sacrifices that people the same age as them [now] made," he added.

Ileana Negru now lies buried in a cemetery on the outskirts of Brasov. Boaca, who in 1989 was out protesting on the city streets, pointed out her grave, a small wooden cross banished to the corner of the graveyard next to a cornfield. Romania's dominant Orthodox Church stipulates that suicide victims are to be buried on the farthest edges of cemeteries.

The Heroes' Cemetery is smaller and neater, ringed by trees, and close to where Florin Negru was killed in downtown Brasov. There is a large cross with the name of those who died in the revolution.

"She was always crying a lot. Her 12-year-old son had died. She wanted him to be buried here in this cemetery," said Vlase, standing next to her own son's grave.

"[The perpetrators] have to face justice and pay," she said. "Not just the top people in Bucharest but in Brasov. I feel my son has not found peace. I have to get dignity for him beyond the grave," she said. "I want the criminals to be punished while I'm still alive."
Key Insights

Given the large stake in the stock by institutions, Gaming Realms' stock price might be vulnerable to their trading decisions

53% of the business is held by the top 8 shareholders

Insiders own 20% of Gaming Realms

Every investor in Gaming Realms plc (LON:GMR) should be aware of the most powerful shareholder groups. We can see that institutions own the lion's share in the company with 61% ownership. Put another way, the group faces the maximum upside potential (or downside risk).

Because institutional owners have a huge pool of resources and liquidity, their investing decisions tend to carry a great deal of weight, especially with individual investors. Hence, having a considerable amount of institutional money invested in a company is often regarded as a desirable trait.

In the chart below, we zoom in on the different ownership groups of Gaming Realms.

Check out our latest analysis for Gaming Realms

What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Gaming Realms?

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.

As you can see, institutional investors have a fair amount of stake in Gaming Realms. This suggests some credibility amongst professional investors. But we can't rely on that fact alone since institutions make bad investments sometimes, just like everyone does. When multiple institutions own a stock, there's always a risk that they are in a 'crowded trade'. When such a trade goes wrong, multiple parties may compete to sell stock fast. This risk is higher in a company without a history of growth. You can see Gaming Realms' historic earnings and revenue below, but keep in mind there's always more to the story.

Investors should note that institutions actually own more than half the company, so they can collectively wield significant power. Gaming Realms is not owned by hedge funds. Our data shows that Union Bancaire Privee Asset Management LLC is the largest shareholder with 14% of shares outstanding. Meanwhile, the second and third largest shareholders, hold 8.8% and 6.8%, of the shares outstanding, respectively. Michael Buckley, who is the second-largest shareholder, also happens to hold the title of Top Key Executive.

On further inspection, we found that more than half the company's shares are owned by the top 8 shareholders, suggesting that the interests of the larger shareholders are balanced out to an extent by the smaller ones.

While it makes sense to study institutional ownership data for a company, it also makes sense to study analyst sentiments to know which way the wind is blowing. There are a reasonable number of analysts covering the stock, so it might be useful to find out their aggregate view on the future.

Insider Ownership Of Gaming Realms

The definition of company insiders can be subjective and does vary between jurisdictions. Our data reflects individual insiders, capturing board members at the very least. The company management answer to the board and the latter should represent the interests of shareholders. Notably, sometimes top-level managers are on the board themselves.

Most consider insider ownership a positive because it can indicate the board is well aligned with other shareholders. However, on some occasions too much power is concentrated within this group.

Our information suggests that insiders maintain a significant holding in Gaming Realms plc. It has a market capitalization of just UK86m, and insiders have UK17m worth of shares in their own names. It is great to see insiders so invested in the business. It might be worth checking if those insiders have been buying recently.

General Public Ownership

The general public, who are usually individual investors, hold a 15% stake in Gaming Realms. While this size of ownership may not be enough to sway a policy decision in their favour, they can still make a collective impact on company policies.

Private Company Ownership

It seems that Private Companies own 4.2%, of the Gaming Realms stock. It might be worth looking deeper into this. If related parties, such as insiders, have an interest in one of these private companies, that should be disclosed in the annual report. Private companies may also have a strategic interest in the company.

Next Steps:

It's always worth thinking about the different groups who own shares in a company. But to understand Gaming Realms better, we need to consider many other factors.

I like to dive deeper into how a company has performed in the past. You can find historic revenue and earnings in this detailed graph.

If you are like me, you may want to think about whether this company will grow or shrink. Luckily, you can check this free report showing analyst forecasts for its future.

NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

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The ideas range from making it easier for corporate leadership to summarily dispatch shareholder proposals, to limits on the role of the SEC.

House Republicans unveiled a push last week aimed at changing how shareholder meetings work as part of their larger campaign against socially-conscious investing.

The effort included a whopping 13 bills as well as two separate Congressional hearings devoted to the subject.

Some ideas would make it easier for corporate leadership to quickly dispatch shareholder proposals without a vote. Others would place limits on the role of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The proxy voting process  which conservatives say introduces too many "non-material" topics  is also an area of intense interest.

Republicans are looking to potentially pass some proposals by the end of the month but the ideas are unlikely to be embraced by Senate Democrats. Nonetheless, the keen focus on these often non-political gatherings could put further pressure on companies as they try to strike a balance between rising shareholder activism and the political backlash against so-called environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) principles.

"We must prevent shareholder activism from diverting attention and resources away from the core issues at hand," House Financial Services Committee chair Patrick McHenry (R-NC) said as he kicked off his partys ESG month. He promises that these proposals are serious efforts to force change not simply so-called messaging bills designed to make a political point.

Warren Buffett's image welcomes Berkshire Hathaway shareholders to a picnic during the company's annual meeting in Omaha, Nebraska in 2011. (REUTERS/Rick Wilking)

Democrats, meanwhile, charge that Republicans are unduly influenced by fossil fuel companies, and these efforts are little more than an attempt to shut down the voices of women and minorities in the corporate governance process.

"The reason for this hearing is not because investors wont vote for these resolutions, its because they will," said Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA). Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA) added sarcastically that the proposals are designed to "protect investors from their own ideas."

The shareholder proposal process is typically a non-binding affair  CEOs and boards are usually free to ignore them if they wish  but they can exert pressure on companies to change behaviors. Corporate directors often feel the pressure most acutely, as the same group of shareholders putting forward these proposals also vote on their appointment or removal from office.

A movement in response to a rising trend of shareholder activism

The campaign in Washington comes in response to a surge in shareholder activism in the pro- and anti- ESG directions.

An analysis by ISS Corporate Solutions found a record number of shareholder proposals through the first five months of 2023 with just 8.3% being approved so far.

A big factor in the surge is a rise of anti-ESG efforts. ISS found this type of proposal has grown by more than 400% since 2020 and a recent Harvard University analysis found that concerns there were decidedly focused on diversity matters with two-thirds of the proposals in 2023. Only about 10% concerned the environment.

The rising shareholder activism has come in part following a change in the rules after Joe Biden took office. During the Trump administration, then-SEC Chair Jay Clayton often discouraged proposals with an agency that was empowered to take actions like so-called "no action letters" to short-circuit some shareholder proposals.

Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-NC) is chair of the House Financial Services Committee. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)

Many of those rules were reversed in 2021 when Gary Gensler took office as chair of the SEC. In recent years, the agency has instead actively prodded corporate directors and shareholders to more forcefully consider issues like the climate.

Many of the latest bills introduced would re-implement some Trump-era rules but with the additional force of law.

One proposal would allow corporate boards to simply exclude a resolution "if the subject matter of the shareholder proposal is environmental, social, or political." Additional ideas take aim at proposals that are deemed repetitive with other GOP lawmakers focused on limiting the influence of asset management giants like BlackRock. Others would forbid the SEC from weighing in.

A focus on proxy advisory firms

Republicans have also unified around a key villain that they say is tipping the scales: Proxy advisory firms.

The two main companies in the space Glass Lewis and Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS)  are far from household names but their purported influence came up again and again.

"I would love to see this duopoly broken up," said Rep. Bryan Steil (R-WI) in one of many heated moments in recent days.

These firms emerged over the past few years in concert with giant asset management giants like BlackRock and State Street who hold large stakes in companies across the economy due to the trillions that they manage for their clients.

Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA) led Democrats lawmakers during a news conference to lambaste the GOP focus on corporate environmental and social policy investing. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

The proxy advisory firms' stated purpose is to provide information to the asset management companies about their investments but the charge from Republicans is that the companies have ESG-infused models that are essentially forcing the principles down companies throats.

The Business Roundtable has weighed in on what it says is an outsized influence for these firms. Kristen Silverberg, the groups President and COO, wrote in a letter to lawmakers that "recommendations of proxy advisory firms often dictate the outcome of shareholder votes, and with them, some of the most important decisions facing public companies."

For their part, these firms deny any outsized influence, with both Glass Lewis and ISS appearing before lawmakers this week to defend themselves.

Steven Friedman, the general counsel at ISS promised lawmakers "we perform our work in a prudent, open, and honest manner, consistent with our fiduciary responsibilities."

Ben Werschkul is a Washington correspondent for Yahoo Finance.

Click here for politics news related to business and money

Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance
Insiders were net buyers of IG Design Group plc's (LON:IGR ) stock during the past year. That is, insiders bought more stock than they sold.

While insider transactions are not the most important thing when it comes to long-term investing, logic dictates you should pay some attention to whether insiders are buying or selling shares.

See our latest analysis for IG Design Group

The Last 12 Months Of Insider Transactions At IG Design Group

Notably, that recent purchase by Rohan Cummings is the biggest insider purchase of IG Design Group shares that we've seen in the last year. That means that even when the share price was higher than UK1.33 (the recent price), an insider wanted to purchase shares. While their view may have changed since the purchase was made, this does at least suggest they have had confidence in the company's future. To us, it's very important to consider the price insiders pay for shares. It is encouraging to see an insider paid above the current price for shares, as it suggests they saw value, even at higher levels. Rohan Cummings was the only individual insider to buy during the last year.

You can see a visual depiction of insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last 12 months, below. By clicking on the graph below, you can see the precise details of each insider transaction!

IG Design Group is not the only stock insiders are buying. So take a peek at this free list of growing companies with insider buying.

Does IG Design Group Boast High Insider Ownership?

Many investors like to check how much of a company is owned by insiders. I reckon it's a good sign if insiders own a significant number of shares in the company. Insiders own 23% of IG Design Group shares, worth about UK29m. This level of insider ownership is good but just short of being particularly stand-out. It certainly does suggest a reasonable degree of alignment.

So What Does This Data Suggest About IG Design Group Insiders?

The recent insider purchase is heartening. And an analysis of the transactions over the last year also gives us confidence. However, we note that the company didn't make a profit over the last twelve months, which makes us cautious. Insiders likely see value in IG Design Group shares, given these transactions (along with notable insider ownership of the company). In addition to knowing about insider transactions going on, it's beneficial to identify the risks facing IG Design Group. Case in point: We've spotted 2 warning signs for IG Design Group you should be aware of, and 1 of them makes us a bit uncomfortable.

If you would prefer to check out another company -- one with potentially superior financials -- then do not miss this free list of interesting companies, that have HIGH return on equity and low debt.

For the purposes of this article, insiders are those individuals who report their transactions to the relevant regulatory body. We currently account for open market transactions and private dispositions, but not derivative transactions.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

Join A Paid User Research Session

Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here
Current treatments for atrial fibrillation (AFib), a common heart condition characterized by fast and irregular beats that can lead to stroke and heart failure, have multiple side effects and are ineffective for preventing AFib recurrence.

New research led by investigators at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and published in Science reveals that certain immune cells play a major role in the development of AFib. Targeting these cells may therefore represent a promising strategy to treat and prevent AFib.

For the work, senior author Matthias Nahrendorf, MD, PhD, an investigator in MGH's Center for Systems Biology and the Richard Moerschner Endowed MGH Research Institute Chair in Men's Health, and colleagues analyzed single cells from atrial heart tissue collected from patients with and without AFib. The analyses indicated that immune cells called macrophages are the most dynamic cell population in the atria during AFib, and these cells expand more than any other cell type in diseased tissue.

The researchers also created a new mouse model of AFib they dubbed "HOMER" and tested if and how macrophages can cause AFib. "We found that recruited macrophages support inflammation and fibrosis, or scarring, of the atria, which hinder electrical conduction between heart cells and lead to AFib. Inhibiting macrophage recruitment reduced AFib," says Nahrendorf.

Gene expression analyses revealed that in human and mouse hearts, the SPP1 gene is highly overexpressed in macrophages during AFib. This gene produces the SPP1 protein (also called osteopontin) that promotes tissue scarring and is elevated in the blood of patients with AFib. HOMER mice lacking this protein had reduced numbers of atrial macrophages.

Future therapeutic strategies for AFib could therefore target macrophages or macrophage-derived signals such as SPP1 that contribute to inflammation and fibrosis. "We think that this research lays the groundwork for immunomodulatory therapy of AFib, and we are currently working on several strategies to make this happen," says Nahrendorf.

It will also be important to study how these strategies might complement current care. "By mapping cardiac and immune cells involved in atrial fibrillation, this research advances next steps toward studying how macrophage-targeted therapies may support existing treatment," says Michelle Olive, PhD, the deputy chief of the Atherothrombosis and Coronary Artery Disease Branch within the Division of Cardiovascular Sciences at the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.

Additional co-authors include Maarten Hulsmans, Maximilian J. Schloss, I-Hsiu Lee, Aneesh Bapat, Yoshiko Iwamoto, Claudio Vinegoni, Alexandre Paccalet, Masahiro Yamazoe, Jana Grune, Steffen Pabel, Noor Momin, Hana Seung, Nina Kumowski, Fadi Pulous, Daniel Keller, Constanze Bening, Ursula Green, Jochen K. Lennerz, Richard N. Mitchell, Andrew Lewis, Barbara Casadei, Oriol Iborra-Egea, Antoni Bayes-Genis, Samuel Sossalla, Chin Siang Ong,?Richard N. Pierson, Jon C. Aster, David Rohde, Gregory R. Wojtkiewicz, Ralph Weissleder, Filip K. Swirski, George Tellides, George Tolis, Serguei Melnitchouk, David J. Milan, Patrick T. Ellinor, and Kamila Naxerova.

This work was supported by the National Institutes of Health, the American Heart Association, Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, Mercator fellow, DFG, British Heart Foundation, NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, and European Union MAESTRIA 965286.
You are here: Business

China has exported a new nuclear power unit to Pakistan, according to the China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC).

Unit 5 of the Chashma Nuclear Power Plant (C-5) broke ground recently, marking another milestone in nuclear energy cooperation between China and Pakistan.

It is the third one-million-kilowatt-class unit of Hualong One, China's self-developed third-generation nuclear power technology, and the seventh nuclear power unit exported from China to Pakistan.

The CNNC said it had built two nuclear power bases in Pakistan with a total of six nuclear power units, which can provide nearly 30 billion kWh of clean electricity every year, equivalent to reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 24.48 million tonnes per year.

The construction of the C-5 project will further enhance Pakistan's energy security, help promote Pakistan's economic development, and improve the well-being of local people, said the CNNC.

At the groundbreaking ceremony, China and Pakistan reached a consensus on enhancing collaboration across the entire industry chain and achieving mutual benefit and win-win results.
LINDSBORG  With memories of grabbing a cone as a child, and realizing the city didn't have an ice cream shop, one woman decided to open one in downtown Lindsborg.

Alison Replogle, who owns and operates Indigo Moo'd, said that when she and her husband, Shawn, would take walks in downtown Lindsborg, they would talk about how there weren't many places open in the evening for families and other people in the community.

"It's (here) to have a place for people to gather and celebrate," Replogle said.

Why ice cream in downtown Lindsborg?

Customers arrived right after Indigo Moo'd opened at noon Friday to get a taste of ice cream in Lindsborg.

The choice to make an ice cream shop made sense for Replogle too. She said there were already good coffee shops, restaurants, bars and other shops downtown, and ice cream was something fun and challenging for her, as well as something new and different for the community.

"It's a good family-friendly (option)," Replogle said. "I have memories of, after concerts as a kid, my parents taking us out for ice cream. For me, that was probably a connection point."

Replogle keeps that connection, and those memories, alive by having Indigo Moo'd stay open later after events in Lindsborg, whether those are a music concert at one of the Smoky Valley Public Schools or a musical production in the park.

A new addition to the shop, an ice cream cart, means that Indigo Moo'd can also go to some of the events around Lindsborg.

"We are going to take that to Broadway RFD, so we'll be there a couple of the nights (next week)," Replogle said.

Supporting the local community and region

Like so many other small businesses, Indigo Moo'd takes part in its local community, partnering with shops, organizations and other businesses in the region.

Taking pride in sourcing ingredients for its homemade ice cream, one of those partnerships is with the dairy that Indigo purchases, which comes from Hildebrand Farms in Junction City.

"I love working with them," Replogle said. "I don't know any other place that sells dairy like that."

She said she loves that Hildebrand offers pasteurized, ready-to-use diary, is nearby and has been a family-owned business since the beginning.

This month, Indigo partnered with Lindsborg Old Mill and Swedish Heritage Museum for the Christmas in July celebration. A limited-time flavor was created for the July 15 event called Old Mill Mint, which is filled with crushed peppermint candy and Oreo cookie crumbles mixed into the store's peppermint ice cream.

Another Lindsborg partnership about as local to Indigo as can be.

One of the more popular flavors at Indigo Moo'd is the Blacksmith Cold Brew, which uses coffee grounds from Blacksmith Coffee Shop and Roastery, right across Main Street. A common menu item at the shops is the affogato, espresso poured or "drowned" over a scoop of ice cream. In the case of Blacksmith, the ice cream comes from Indigo, and for Indigo, the coffee comes again from Blacksmith.

Replogle said it's important for local businesses to work together.

More: Salina's Tamara Howe School of Dance will host The Joffrey Workshop this month

"We're all stronger and better if we can work together rather than compete against each other," Replogle said. "I've really felt that ... in downtown Lindsborg. (Everyone) just does a really good job of communicating ... lifting each other up and publicizing for each other."

She said there are often tourists who tell her they came from another shop downtown that recommended they stop at Indigo to try the ice cream.

Hosting community and educational events

Emma Bieker, right, of Jem Farms in Lindsborg, sprays fly repellant on her cow Candy right before showing 4-H kids how an automatic milking system works. The children came to Indigo Moo'd as part of the Central Kansas Extension District 4-H Dairy Day.

Having worked as a local elementary school counselor for many years, one of the things that Replogle likes to do is give back to the community, particularly with educational opportunities.

"Knowing most of the kids in the community, I really like opportunities to bring kids in and do things with them," Replogle said.

On Friday, one such opportunity happened as the Central Kansas Extension District for Kansas State University hosted a 4-H Dairy Day at Indigo.

During this event, Emma Bieker of Jem Farms in Lindsborg brought two dairy cows and showed children the milking process.

More: Husband and wife serve up diner-style food at Deb's Place at Salina's Central Mall

"They're going to talk a lot about how we use dairy in our products," Replogle said just before the event began.

The children learned dairy-making processes like how to churn butter and then ended Dairy Day with Replogle showing them how she makes ice cream.

Indigo Moo'd open in downtown Lindsborg

People visiting Lindsborg can visit Indigo Moo'd Ice Cream, located downtown at The Courtyard, 125 N. Main St.

Summer hours for the shop are 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday and noon to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday. The shop is closed on Mondays.

For more information about the shop, including updates on new flavors, visit www.facebook.com/Indigomoodicecream or call 785-227-7411.

This article originally appeared on Salina Journal: Lindsborg's Indigo Moo'd scooping up ice cream with local connections
The tour offers an unbeatable opportunity to explore iconic cities, immerse in rich cultures and create memories that will last a lifetime.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA / ACCESSWIRE / July 16, 2023 / Inspiring Vacations, a leading travel company offering experiences around the world, including tours to Cape York and Egypt tours, is thrilled to introduce the 22 Day Great European Tour, a carefully curated and value-packed journey through some of Europe's most breathtaking destinations.

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The journey continues to London, where travellers will experience a guided city tour, visiting renowned landmarks such as the British Museum, Tower Bridge, the Tower of London and Buckingham Palace. An evening walk through Leicester Square, China Town and Soho offers a glimpse into the vibrant nightlife of this iconic city.

A panoramic city tour of Amsterdam provides an opportunity to admire its narrow waterways, official buildings and parks. Visit a diamond-cutting workshop and explore Rembrandtplein and the famous "red-light" district, immersing oneself in the unique ambiance of the city.

The adventure takes a historical turn in Berlin, where a guided visit to the historic centre, Museum Island and the Brandenburg Gate awaits. Explore poignant sites such as the Holocaust Memorial and the Berlin Wall Museum and experience the vibrant energy of Kantstrasse in the evening.

From there, the journey continues through enchanting destinations like Dresden, Munich and Prague. Marvel at the beauty of Prague Castle, take a boat tour on the Vltava River and savour free time to explore the captivating "Old City".

A walking tour through the historic centre of Florence offers a chance to admire iconic landmarks such as the Ponte Vecchio, the Duomo and Plaza della Signoria. The tour also includes a visit to the magnificent Piazzale Michelangelo, offering breathtaking views of the city.

Throughout the 22-day journey, travellers will enjoy carefully selected three- and four-star accommodations, ensuring comfort and convenience. From return international airfares and guided tours to entrance tickets for renowned attractions, every aspect of the tour is designed to exceed expectations.

To learn more and to explore other offerings such as tours of Cape York and tours of Egypt, visit https://www.inspiringvacations.com/au

About Inspiring Vacations

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Contact Information

Inspiring Vacations

Marketing Manager

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SOURCE: Inspiring Vacations

.





View source version on accesswire.com:

https://www.accesswire.com/767937/Inspiring-Vacations-Presents-the-22-Day-Great-European-Tour-Unforgettable-Experiences-and-Iconic-Destinations-Await




Key Insights

The considerable ownership by individual investors in CNFinance Holdings indicates that they collectively have a greater say in management and business strategy

A total of 4 investors have a majority stake in the company with 52% ownership

Institutions own 29% of CNFinance Holdings

A look at the shareholders of CNFinance Holdings Limited (NYSE:CNF) can tell us which group is most powerful. And the group that holds the biggest piece of the pie are individual investors with 42% ownership. In other words, the group stands to gain the most (or lose the most) from their investment into the company.

Institutions, on the other hand, account for 29% of the company's stockholders. Institutions will often hold stock in bigger companies, and we expect to see insiders owning a noticeable percentage of the smaller ones.

Let's delve deeper into each type of owner of CNFinance Holdings, beginning with the chart below.

View our latest analysis for CNFinance Holdings

What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About CNFinance Holdings?

Institutional investors commonly compare their own returns to the returns of a commonly followed index. So they generally do consider buying larger companies that are included in the relevant benchmark index.

We can see that CNFinance Holdings does have institutional investors; and they hold a good portion of the company's stock. This suggests some credibility amongst professional investors. But we can't rely on that fact alone since institutions make bad investments sometimes, just like everyone does. When multiple institutions own a stock, there's always a risk that they are in a 'crowded trade'. When such a trade goes wrong, multiple parties may compete to sell stock fast. This risk is higher in a company without a history of growth. You can see CNFinance Holdings' historic earnings and revenue below, but keep in mind there's always more to the story.

Hedge funds don't have many shares in CNFinance Holdings. Looking at our data, we can see that the largest shareholder is Fanhua Inc., Asset Management Arm with 18% of shares outstanding. With 18% and 12% of the shares outstanding respectively, Kylin Investment Holdings Limited and New China Capital Management, LLC are the second and third largest shareholders.

To make our study more interesting, we found that the top 4 shareholders control more than half of the company which implies that this group has considerable sway over the company's decision-making.

While it makes sense to study institutional ownership data for a company, it also makes sense to study analyst sentiments to know which way the wind is blowing. While there is some analyst coverage, the company is probably not widely covered. So it could gain more attention, down the track.

Insider Ownership Of CNFinance Holdings

The definition of company insiders can be subjective and does vary between jurisdictions. Our data reflects individual insiders, capturing board members at the very least. Company management run the business, but the CEO will answer to the board, even if he or she is a member of it.

Most consider insider ownership a positive because it can indicate the board is well aligned with other shareholders. However, on some occasions too much power is concentrated within this group.

Our data suggests that insiders own under 1% of CNFinance Holdings Limited in their own names. However, it's possible that insiders might have an indirect interest through a more complex structure. It appears that the board holds about US$87k worth of stock. This compares to a market capitalization of US$208m. Many investors in smaller companies prefer to see the board more heavily invested. You can click here to see if those insiders have been buying or selling.

General Public Ownership

With a 42% ownership, the general public, mostly comprising of individual investors, have some degree of sway over CNFinance Holdings. While this size of ownership may not be enough to sway a policy decision in their favour, they can still make a collective impact on company policies.

Private Equity Ownership

Private equity firms hold a 12% stake in CNFinance Holdings. This suggests they can be influential in key policy decisions. Some investors might be encouraged by this, since private equity are sometimes able to encourage strategies that help the market see the value in the company. Alternatively, those holders might be exiting the investment after taking it public.

Private Company Ownership

It seems that Private Companies own 18%, of the CNFinance Holdings stock. It's hard to draw any conclusions from this fact alone, so its worth looking into who owns those private companies. Sometimes insiders or other related parties have an interest in shares in a public company through a separate private company.

Next Steps:

I find it very interesting to look at who exactly owns a company. But to truly gain insight, we need to consider other information, too. Consider risks, for instance. Every company has them, and we've spotted 2 warning signs for CNFinance Holdings you should know about.

But ultimately it is the future, not the past, that will determine how well the owners of this business will do. Therefore we think it advisable to take a look at this free report showing whether analysts are predicting a brighter future.

NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

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
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  The New York State Department of Civil Service (DCS) has released its July application schedule for New Yorks entry-level civil service exams, and some jobs pay better than others.

The open-competitive exams are an opportunity to start a career in New York State. These tests are open to anyone who meets the qualifications listed on the examination announcement.

The exams will be held as either in-person written exams or online exams. Qualified candidates can apply online for these exams at https://www.cs.ny.gov/examannouncements/types/oc/.

The application period opened for these exams: assistant workers compensation examiner; assistant workers compensation examiner (Spanish language); business services center representative 1; employee insurance examiner 1; workers compensation examiner; workers compensation examiner (Spanish language).

Interested applicants can apply online by Aug. 14. The testing will be held as online exams due by Aug. 28. Some careers offer an additional annual downstate adjustment if they work in the five boroughs of New York City or in Nassau, Suffolk, Rockland, or Westchester Counties.

Visit www.cs.ny.gov/examannouncements/types/oc to apply for exams.

Here are the salaries and descriptions for each job, according to DCS.

Assistant workers compensation examiner

Salary: $40,193

Job description, according to DCS: You would, under the direction of a higher-level supervisor, work as an entry-level claims examiner. Incumbents of these positions support claims processing, adjudication, and monitoring of compliance by parties of interest; determine, based on established criteria, whether an accident or injury sustained by an employee warrants the assembly of a claims file; enter new case information into electronic files; prepare incoming documents and forms for scanning; schedule hearings; verify employer coverage; cancel and combine duplicate cases; and interact with claimants, employers, insurance carriers and/or attorneys to answer routine questions and to clarify processes or procedures. They may also have supervisory responsibilities over support staff.

Assistant workers compensation examiner (Spanish language)

Salary: $40,193

Job description, according to DCS: You would, under the direction of a higher-level supervisor, work as an entry-level claims examiner. Incumbents of these positions support claims processing, adjudication, and monitoring of compliance by parties of interest; determine, based on established criteria, whether an accident or injury sustained by an employee warrants the assembly of a claims file; enter new case information into electronic files; prepare incoming documents and forms for scanning; schedule hearings; verify employer coverage; cancel and combine duplicate cases; and interact with claimants, employers, insurance carriers and/or attorneys to answer routine questions and to clarify processes or procedures. They may also have supervisory responsibilities over support staff. If you pass the examination and apply to a title which requires language proficiency, you must demonstrate your language proficiency at a level that will ensure your ability to perform the duties of the position properly. The proficiency test will only be given to enough candidates to fill current vacancies.

Business services center representative 1

Salary: $44,957

Job description, according to DCS: You would be responsible for the accurate and timely auditing and/or processing of accounts receivable and payable, purchasing, travel and credit card, payroll, personnel administration, time and attendance, and benefits transactions; researching legislation, form changes, and system change requests, procedures and policy directives to determine impact on operations and procedures; interpretation of the State Finance and Civil Service laws; resolving difficult processing errors and identifying processing system user needs; and answering various types of communications (phone, email, letters) from customer agencies or vendors concerning transactions, policies and procedures. When assigned to supervise clerical support staff, you will review and approve time and attendance; identify staff development needs; evaluate staff performance; and complete performance evaluations.

Employee insurance examiner 1

Salary: $44,957

Job description, according to DCS: You would process transactions and respond to correspondence for the New York State Health Insurance Program (NYSHIP) for health, dental, vision, and life insurance benefits. You would communicate by telephone, email, and letters with enrollees, or state or local government agency Health Benefits Administrators (HBAs) to maintain enrollee health benefit records, and explain and interpret applicable rules, regulations, policies and procedures to HBAs, enrollees, or other applicable parties in State agencies or NYSHIP participating public employers by telephone or through written correspondence.

Workers compensation examiner

Salary: $53,262

Job description, according to DCS: You would prepare proposed administrative decisions regarding a claim, review requests for appeal of a decision, reopen inactive or closed claims to resolve new issues, request meetings or hearings, ensure that a claims case is ready for the judges (Compensation Claims Referee) or supervisors review, ensure employers have Workers Compensation or disability benefits coverage for their employees, review provider applications for completeness, appropriate rating and final approval and address complex problems with providers. Workers Compensation Examiners may also oversee staff located at customer service centers, and those who schedule hearings, handle document intake and regular mail, and index claims cases.

Workers compensation examiner (Spanish language)

Salary: $53,262

Job description, according to DCS: You would prepare proposed administrative decisions regarding a claim, review requests for appeal of a decision, reopen inactive or closed claims to resolve new issues, request meetings or hearings, ensure that a claims case is ready for the judges (Compensation Claims Referee) or supervisors review, ensure employers have Workers Compensation or disability benefits coverage for their employees, review provider applications for completeness, appropriate rating and final approval and address complex problems with providers. Workers Compensation Examiners may also oversee staff located at customer service centers, and those who schedule hearings, handle document intake and regular mail, and index claims cases. If you pass the examination and apply to a title which requires language proficiency, you must demonstrate your language proficiency at a level that will ensure your ability to perform the duties of the position properly. The proficiency test will only be given to enough candidates to fill current vacancies.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

According to the state, an application must be submitted online or postmarked by the last date to apply. An application will not be accepted after the filing deadline has passed.

Application fees range from $35 to $45 for these exams this month.

To be considered for appointment, you must pass the written test. The Department of Civil Service may administer tests either online or with paper booklets and answer sheets.

All positions offer generous benefits, including paid leave, health benefits and retirement plans. In addition, telecommuting options may be available to employees who meet certain criteria.

To learn more about working for the State of New York, visit the Department of Civil Service website and follow the department on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

YOU MIGHT LIKE:

New York State civil service: These applications are open in July

NYC civil service exam: These applications are open in July

Looking for remote work? Here are 10 jobs with the most opportunities, according to data.

Here are 15 jobs in NYC paying over $50K

No college degree? Here are 40 of the highest-paying jobs in NYC that dont require one

Want to work from home and make six figures? These in-demand side hustles pay $100K or more.

Warning: You have the most chance of being laid off from these jobs in 2023, study says

FOLLOW ANNALISE KNUDSON ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  In my West Brighton neighborhood, a storefront away from 24-hour smoke shop Baba Yak will be a new restaurant in a former bagel store on Castleton Avenue. The soon-coming Baba Shawarma Deli Grill & Bagel houses a bold mural overlooking Bard Avenue, cartoonish artwork with a cracked-out dude next to a drooling stoner with pot leaves sprouting from his brain.

New mural on Bard Avenue at Castleton, the side of new Baba Shawarma. (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)

The owner of Baba Yak, Baba Yak himself, maintains that he is not the owner of Baba Shawarma. Despite the anime characters and kiddish images on the smoke shops facade  plus the stuffed animals, kids toys, adult-themed backpacks and salty snacks among the inventory  he also says his neighboring smoke shop does not pander to young people.

Cartoons on the smoke shop facade (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)

HIGH-MINDED BUSINESS

Anyway, I am writing this to you today as a parent of two teenage boys, as a life-long Staten Islander and a proud New York City native. And as a reporter, sadly, I have to invoke the name of these two businesses to illustrate the current trend unfolding before our eyes  satisfaction of the munchies.

Thanks to the normalization of drugs, the topic spills into my professional beat as new eateries and food sources spring up for the high-minded, literally. In the food and beverage industrys future, the economy has lot of room for this burgeoning sector. So, Im addressing it.

In the present, the smoke (and snacking foods that come with it) are in our faces, like it or not. In Great Kills alone there are three smoke shops within a few blocks of the train station. While doing a story about the rat infestation in the area and spending so much time there, I personally experienced several of the spaced out clientele loitering around the convenience store nearest the stop. To see teenage and 20-something human zombies milling around like that was heartbreaking, truly.

Bright lights of the smoke shop in Great Kills, a beacon late at night. (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)

In Eltingville, a smoke shop just popped up this week next to a dance school between Joyces Tavern and Dough By Licastri. Three years ago, one opened in my former restaurant address at 420 Forest Ave. A brightly-lit vape store lives just around the corner from Monsignor Farrell High School in Oakwood. Every borough neighborhood has at least one spot to purchase stuff to smoke or the tools to do so.

I dont think you can go a block without seeing one [smoke shop] and they continue to increase, District Attorney Michael E. McMahon said in a recent interview with the Advance/SILive.com. Theyre everywhere.

Its all so bizarre, especially as restaurants have strict regulations with the State Liquor Authority (SLA) with regard to placement near schools and places of worship. Businesses with illuminated signs over six feet are supposed to be under scrutiny by the Department of Buildings.

A hookah at the Baba Yak counter where candy, toys and smokes are sold. (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)

DRUGS AND THE MUNCHIES

That said, I do not like to dabble in politics. But as it was my professional duty during COVID, I again must turn to our elected officials for some answers. Surely they see whats happening. And did we not expect this when conversations about the legalization of marijuana first took root, right here on Staten Island thanks to legislation from our former State Senator Diane Savino?

Forest Bro Convenience is a smoke shop at 1192A Forest Ave. in West Brighton. (Staten Island Advance/Jan Somma-Hammel)

I explained the current snacking trend in emails to the Borough Presidents Office and our three councilpersons and asked, With this in mind  and the notion that restaurants and bars with booze licenses must follow strict laws from the SLA on placement near schools/places of worship  is your office concerned about the growth of this sector in the eating/drinking industry of the borough?

Stuffed animals at Baba Yak smoke shop (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)

If eating destinations are a reflection on our society, an unbridled drug industry fuels us at this very moment.

WHAT THE POLITICIANS SAY

Councilman David Carr said, I am definitely concerned about the proliferation of shops selling illegal cannabis and their impact on our communities, our children and other businesses. While the laws and enforcement of this new industry are under the jurisdiction of the state, my colleagues and I in the Council have focused on measures within the citys authority to tackle this growing problem.

He continued, That includes legislation we passed last month that, once enacted, will allow law enforcement to levy fines against property owners that knowingly lease their storefronts to businesses that are selling cannabis or tobacco products without a license. Additionally, my office has been working with our District Attorney, the New York City Sheriffs office, and the NYPD to build nuisance abatement cases against these illegal retailers so that illegal contraband is not just being seized but that ultimately these stores can be shut down.

Backpacks on sale at Baba Yak smoke shop (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)

Councilwoman Kamillah Hankss office replied, The proliferation of snack/smoke shops throughout the city is a growing problem. Many of these unlicensed and unregulated shops have an inventory of snacks and drug paraphernalia in the front of the store with unlicensed cannabis or cigarettes in the back.

Police at an armed robbery that took place at a North Shore smoke shop on Tuesday afternoon. June 20, 2023 (Shaina McLawrence/Staten Island Advance)Shaina McLawrence

The councilwoman further acknowledged, These stores largely target young people in the community. The Sherriffs Department has been cracking down on these shops as of late, but more must be done to hold these businesses accountable and shut them down. It is unfair to licensed business owners, and is a matter of public safety and health.

Councilman Joe Borrelli said, Democrats should have though of these issues before they decided to decriminalize marijuana and turn a blind eye to its sale.

Police allege they found illegal drugs during the raid of Zack 1 Convenience & Vape shop at 2236 Victory Blvd. on April 25, 2023. The neighborhood has complained of the shop for years. (Staten Island Advance/Jan Somma-Hammel)

Borough President Vito Fossellas office relayed, The proliferation of these shops raises a question about the appropriateness of the siting near schools and other locations with children, so I believe its a fair question and should be reviewed.

Anyway, Baba Yak said Baba Shawarma will be open later in the month. He said theyre giving discounts to NYPD, FDNY and hospital workers for the grand opening. I hope you, too, can appreciate the irony.

Pamela Silvestri is Advance Food Editor. She can be reached at silvestri@siadvance.com.
(Bloomberg) -- London workers are more uneasy about finding a new job than in any other region of England, according to a poll that indicates gloom about the outlook for the economy.

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About 38% of people in London said they were not confident about their ability to find another job in three months if they lost the one they had, according to a survey by Deltapoll commissioned by Bloomberg. That was 11 points higher than those in the rest of South, 6 points above the Midlands and 5 points higher than those in the North. Only people in Scotland were more pessimistic.

Its an indication that London, which has driven UK economic prosperity for decades, has lost momentum after the soaring cost of living and the trend toward working remotely left less of a need for people to commute into city centers.

It also may indicate growing concerns about the jobs market after the national unemployment rate rose unexpectedly to 4%. London and the West Midlands have the highest levels of joblessness in England, according to official data published this week.

Londons relative gloom may reflect the difference between living in the city and working there, Tony Wilson, director of the Institute for Employment Studies. Compared to people living elsewhere, Londoners are more likely to be unemployed and less likely to be in work.

Lots of people who work in higher paid jobs in London commute from the wider South East and will probably feel that theyd have a decent chance of finding another job if their current one ended, Wilson said.

Londoners work in those jobs too, but they also work in the visitor economy, hospitality and retail, which are all pretty exposed if theres a wider slowdown, he said. They may feel like they would struggle to find other jobs in those industries if they lost their current job.

While London still is generating jobs, remote working and a shift toward moving jobs to cheaper nations outside the UK may have left workers with a sharper sense of competition, according to Dan Harris, director of the recruitment company Robert Walters.

In the tech space, there has been off-shoring to Poland, both for the cost savings and because of the talent that is available there, he said, adding that banks that traditionally focused in London are building a hub in Manchester. In the current financial climate, those cost savings are going to look attractive to businesses.

Overall, 48% of workers in the UK said they were confident about finding jobs under similar circumstances, compared with 32% who were not.

About 53% of men were confident about their prospects, 10 points higher than the reading for women. People aged 18-34 were the most confident, while people aged 35-54 were the least confident.

Deltapoll interviewed 1,617 British adults online from July 7-10. The data was weighted to be representative of the adult British population. The margin of error for the whole survey was plus or minus 2.4%, though in London, where the sample size was smaller, it was 7.4%.

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If youre looking for a girls night out for a special birthday or unique bachelorette activity, especially if you and friend group are Bridgerton fans, look no further than the immersive The Queens Ball: A Bridgerton Experience.

The media sensation is now housed in Manhattan at Mediapro Manhattan Studio, located at 37th St. between 10th Ave. and 11th Ave.

My college friends and I  now in our 50s but not too old to pull up in Regency-themed attire  paid a visit after celebrating a birthday with dinner at Fushimi Times Square (you may recall there are two Fushimi locations on Staten Island and one in Brooklyn) and had a great time.

The dramatically-lit entrance hallway and ballroom are stunning and beg to be photographed. Choreography, dance lessons, actor plants, and live music were also impressive, not gonna lie. Pro tip: Be present and enjoy it. Dont feel like you have to iPhone-document every second of show.

Like almost everyone in attendance, my girlfriends dressed in Bridgerton theme  Regency-type, colorful gowns with empire waists, satin white gloves, and cute fascinators, in the hopes of dazzling the queen. It was 92 degrees the night we went so I opted for a breezy maxi dress.

The Queen, who makes a grand entrance into the ballroom, sizes everyone up and selects the diamond of the evening, usually the person who got decked out and got into character the most. Everyone applauds and makes a fuss. The chosen one wasnt anyone in our group, but fun was had by all, nonetheless.

The event is 90 minutes long, so get there early to get your moneys worth. Doors open 30 minutes before timed tickets.

>> Ticket prices vary by time and package <<

For a full list of ticket prices and bundles visit feverup.com.

Scene from the immersive The Queens Ball: A Bridgerton Experience" now at Mediapro Manhattan Studio, located at 37th St. between 10th Ave. and 11th Ave. in Manhattan. (Dr. Gracelyn Santos/Staten Island Advance)

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There were photo ops galore at the Bridgerton immersive, perfect for social-media types wanting to spruce up their Instagram feeds, including the venues full-length photo booth and the Queen Charlottes bench, where a royal subject will snap of pic of you and your friends. Keep an eye on the lines and be prepared to hop on it when its empty. Otherwise, youll waste your time on queue. Its Bridgerton, not Disney World.

Whatever you do, wear comfortable shoes, because youll be on your feet throughout the program, which includes theatrical and acrobatic performances, and afterwards, when the dancing starts. Your ticket comes with a complimentary alcoholic beverage or mocktail and canvas tote bag.

This immersive experience is an adult dress-up, akin to an adult prom. If you want to be picked as the diamond by the Queen, go big or go home. Pick an epic outfit. Buy a white Regency-style wig, if you must. Pick the gown with lots of lace and the poofiest skirt. Dont forget the tiara!

Scene from the immersive The Queens Ball: A Bridgerton Experience" now at Mediapro Manhattan Studio, located at 37th St. between 10th Ave. and 11th Ave. in Manhattan. (Dr. Gracleyn Santos/Staten Island Advance)

BRIDGERTON IS ON NETFLIX

There are currently two seasons of Bridgerton on Netflix. A third is expected to arrive at some point in 2023. The series follows the siblings of the Bridgerton family who search for love and happiness amongst London high society.

Most recently, Netflix released Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story, a prequel which as described on Netflix, follows a young Queen Charlottes marriage to King George of England.

New in NYC on SILive:

Scene from the immersive The Queens Ball: A Bridgerton Experience" now at Mediapro Manhattan Studio, located at 37th St. between 10th Ave. and 11th Ave. in Manhattan. (Dr. Gracelyn Santos/Staten Island Advance)
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  The gray skies and rain-soaked conditions outside V&J Soriano Pork Store perhaps reflected the glum mood inside the longtime Bay Terrace salumeria on Sunday, as staff of the longtime family-owned business worked their final shifts.

The Noto family alerted vendors mid-week of this weekends closure. Word spread and customers came over the weekend to bid a final good-bye, scoop up balls of fresh mozzarella and the stores own sausage links. They picked store shelves almost clean by Sunday morning, the usual time crew members start frying up hundreds of meatballs.
Credit card skimmers were discovered recently inside 11 New York Walmart stores in Central and Upstate New York, syracuse.com reported.

Most of the skimmers, which are designed to steal credit card information, were reportedly placed on July 2 and found on July 5, the report states.

Police stated that they are investigating whether the three same people could be behind these and seven other card skimmer cases, the report states.

The report states that police are seeking the pubics help to identify three people wanted for questioning in connection to the skimmers.

A spokesperson referred syracuse.com to local police agencies to preserve the integrity of the investigation(s).

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

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 addition, they urge customers to check their accounts and report any discrepancies to their bank. State police also urged the public to use credit cards over debit cards, since credit is easier to dispute.

Full story on syracuse.com >>
Carlee Russell, missing just over 48 hours, returned home safe Saturday night.

Hoover 911 was called at approximately 10:45 p.m. after the 25-year-old nursing student returned to the Hoover home she shares with her parents.

Hoover Police Chief Nick Derzis said Russell showed up at her parents house alone. She was taken by paramedics to a hospital for evaluation.

Where Russell has been for the last two days was not immediately clear.

Additional information will be provided when it becomes available, a police statement read.

Friends and family members remained outside UABs emergency room early until Sunday morning.

Police and family members previously said Russell was on her way home from work Thursday night and picking up dinner at the Colonnade when she spotted a young child on Interstate 459.

Russell said she was stopping to see if she could help. Russell also reportedly called 911.

Russell was on the phone with her brothers girlfriend when the girlfriend reported hearing Russell scream. Next, the girlfriend only heard the noise of interstate traffic.

Earlier Saturday evening, police were dispatched to the Red Roof Inn on Montgomery Highway in Vestavia Hills.

According to police radio communications, family members of Russell showed up at the motel claiming they had received a call from her that she was there.

It did not immediately appear that Russell was found at that time.

The ordeal began Thursday when family members said Russell left The Woodhouse Spa at the Summit where she worked part time.

She then stopped by Tazikis at the Colonnade at 9 p.m. to pick up food for herself and her mother.

Hoover 911 at 9:34 p.m. received a call from Russell, said Lt. Daniel Lowe.

Russell told the dispatcher that she was near mile marker 11 when she saw a toddler walking alone on the side of I-459 between the flyover to the Galleria and Highway 150.

After calling 911, Russell stopped to check on the child and called a family member, Lowe said. The family member lost contact with her, but the line remained open.

Officers located Russells Mercedes, still running but vacant. Some of her belongings were nearby. Police were unable to find her or a child in the area.

Hoover police had not received any other calls of someone missing a small child.

At 9:36 p.m., her mother, Talitha Russell, said her daughter was on the phone with her brothers girlfriend. Carlee pulled over after saying she saw a child that appeared to be 3 or 4 years old.

She probably let her guard down thinking 911 would be there in a second Talitha Russell said.

My sons girlfriend heard her asking the child, Are you OK? She never heard the child say anything but then she heard our daughter scream, Talitha Russell said. All you hear on her phone is background noise from the interstate.

Her car door was open, Talitha said. They found her phone on the ground, along with her wig and her hat...Her purse was still in the car. Her Apple watch was in her purse and her Air Pods as well.

Talitha Russell said a tip was called in from a trucker.

He saw a gray car with a tall brown skinned man with khaki shorts on leaning over in the car, Talitha Russell said.

The police did find some tire tracks in the grass, she said. They said because it was not a muddy area, they were not able to determine what type of vehicle it could have been.
NEW YORK  The trail had gone cold as clues suddenly dwindled. For a time, doubts swirled about whether a killer who dumped the remains of his female victims along remote stretches of coastline on New Yorks Long Island would ever be caught.

Then finally, after more than a dozen long years, bereaved families of the victims were provided with a whiff of relief Friday when authorities announced the arrest of a 59-year-old architect who they believe is responsible for their deaths.

The arrest rekindled anger and grief  but also brought the prospect of closure  for family members including Amy Brotz, whose cousin, Melissa Barthelemy, was the first of the victims to be discovered, found accidentally during a search for another woman.

I cant wrap my head around this, Brotz said, just hours after being startled by the unexpected news of an arrest. God has brought peace to the families, she said. Maybe we can start the healing.

The yearslong ordeal was especially unnerving for Brotz and her family because prosecutors say the suspect used Barthelemys cellphone to torment her relatives with calls soon after her disappearance, including one in which he said hed killed her.

A crime laboratory officer removes a box of items as law enforcement searches the home of Rex Heuermann, Saturday, July 15, 2023, in Massapequa Park, N.Y. Heuermann, a Long Island architect, was charged Friday, July 14, with murder in the deaths of three of the 11 victims in a long-unsolved string of killings known as the Gilgo Beach murders. (AP Photo/Jeenah Moon)AP

To accelerate the search for Barthelemys remains, her family hired a psychic who provided tantalizing clues that would prove prophetic: She would be found in a shallow grave along the shore, near a sign with the letter G.

Gilgo Beach would become the focal point of the long-stalled investigation into the discovery of 11 sets of remains, including that of a toddler, all discarded along the parkway that cuts the length of a thin strip of white sand, dirt, brambles and marshes known as Jones Beach Island. The toddler and three other victims have yet to be identified. All 10 adult victims, including the toddlers mother, were sex workers, police said.

But investigators say the suspect, Rex Heuermann, 59, might not be responsible for all of the deaths. In addition to the Barthelemy case, he has so far only been accused of killing two others, Megan Waterman and Amber Costello, who were reported missing in 2010. He is also the prime suspect in the death of a fourth woman who disappeared that same year, Maureen Brainard-Barnes. Heuermann says he is innocent, according to his lawyer.

(RELATED: He was a former Staten Island cop. Now he helped solve notorious Gilgo Beach murders.)

Barthelemy, who grew up in Buffalo, New York, was found on December 11, 2010, more than a year after she went missing. Two days later, the bodies of three other young women were found nearby.

The killer provided clues, including strands of hair, the burlap used to wrap the bodies and a belt embossed with possible initials.

Suffolk County Police provided this map showing where multiple human remains were found in and around Gilgo and Oak beaches on Long Island in 2010 and 2011. (Courtesy of Suffolk County Police)

And there were the phone calls, including one made from Barthelemys cellphone on the day she was last seen alive that would be traced to the Long Island town of Massapequa, about 20 miles (32 kilometers) from where her body would later be found, not far from Heuermanns house.

Id like him to suffer at the hands of other inmates, the victims mother, Lynn Barthelemy, told NBC News.

Death is too good for him, she said.

But she also expressed relief that a suspect was finally in custody.

A key question lingers, however: Why did it take so long? That was a question the suspect apparently had too, when prosecutors say he went online to ask, Why hasnt the long island serial killer been caught.

Waterman was found near Gilgo Beach in December 2010, six months after she boarded a bus from Maine to New York. But her mother, Lorraine Ela, died last year never knowing if her daughters killer would ever be found.

Elas hopes were buoyed three years ago when investigators discovered new evidence: a belt embossed with two letters that might have belonged to the suspect.

I can only be positive about it all, she told Portland TV station WGME in January 2020.

Nicole Haycock, one of Watermans longtime friends and her brothers former girlfriend, was surprised by the announcement of Heuermanns arrest Friday. At first, she thought it was a hoax.

Theres so many questions I still have, she said, including, Why her?

Seven of the 11 victims whose remains were found on Jones Beach Island were not mentioned in the charging documents for Heuermann. Among them: Jessica Taylor, a 20-year-old Washington, D.C., woman who went missing in New York in July 2003.

Outside the courthouse where Heuermann was arraigned Friday, her cousin Jasmine Robinson remarked that full justice will be achieved only when all the cases are solved.

Robinson also said that she hoped Taylor would be remembered as a beautiful young woman, not what her occupation was at that time.

Another unmentioned victim was Valerie Mack, who was 24 when she last left her familys home in Port Republic, New Jersey.

Initially known as Jane Doe No. 6, some of her remains were first discovered in 2000 in Manorville, New York, about 50 miles (80 kilometers) east of where more of her remains were discovered on Gilgo Beach more than 10 years later. She remained unidentified until genetic testing revealed her identity just three years ago.

The family tried to report her as missing, but police convinced them that she probably ran off and didnt want to be found.

As far as we knew, she was still missing, said her sister Danielle Mack. We knew that something was wrong because ... we just dont believe she would have never come back after 20 years.

Mack said the family was stunned by the news of an arrest.

Its a lot to process, she said, adding that she doesnt know what to make of the fact that Heuermann wasnt charged in Valeries death.

Im just waiting for all the other facts to come out for us to really understand what happened and whos responsible, she said, and hopefully the right person is being brought to justice.

There have been conflicting theories about whether Shannan Gilbert, another 24-year-old sex worker, was killed or drowned in a marsh while running away from a beachfront home.

Her frantic call to police before her disappearance in May 2010 triggered a search that by chance led to the discovery of the first four bodies, known as the Gilgo Four, and other remains soon after.

Although all of the cases have not been solved, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said many affected communities would be sleeping a lot easier after Heuermanns capture.

A lot of families whose lives have been just turned upside down, always wondering, questioning what happened and will the perpetrator ever be brought to justice  hopefully ... the answer will be yes, she said Friday at an unrelated event on Long Island.

While closure could be near for Brotz and her family, the ordeal is not yet over. She worries that prosecutors wont be able to prove their case beyond a reasonable doubt, and she is wary of the emotional toll and relived trauma that is still to come should the case go to trial.

The fact that my family is going to have to sit and listen to all this, to every specific, tiny little detail is making me sick, Brotz said.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  An extra layer of protection is coming to the guards posted at New York City public schools.

Close to 4,000 school safety agents working in dozens of New York City education sites will be wearing bullet-resistant vests when the next school year begins, a report says.

The New York Daily News reported the city Police Department last week said school safety agents will be issued a durable and lightweight ballistic resistant vest, funded by the department.

The effort is part of the NYPDs plan to combat a rise in violence among youths.

The department decided to equip its unarmed school safety units following a pilot program in which 300 school safety agents across the city were given vests, the report noted.

Agents will have to wear the equipment inside and outside schools as they monitor dismissal times, and its uncertain if every agent will have a vest before the 2023-2024 school year begins in September, the Daily News wrote.

The report also noted close to 7,000 weapons of varying types were recovered by school safety agents during the last school year. Fifteen firearms were recovered in city public schools, the Daily News reported, with 21 recovered the previous year.

STATEN ISLAND HIGH SCHOOL SHOOTING

A person was shot in the leg near Tottenville HS this afternoon on October 25,2022. Students leaving Tottenville HS after lockdown. (Staten Island Advance)

An incident involving a firearm occurred at a Staten Island high school in late 2022.

Last November, School Safety Agent Peter Mattera was outside Tottenville High School when multiple gunshots were fired. A bullet struck a 14-year-old at the Huguenot-based school, prompting Mattera to apply a tourniquet to the victims right ankle, which was bleeding profusely.

Following the shooting, the NYPD released images of five individuals sought for questioning in connection to the incident. Police said the victim was not the intended target.

No arrests have been made.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Leaving a snaking pattern in its wake, the exotic elm zigzag sawfly has made its presence known in New York.

The invasive pest, native to Asia, earns its name through the zigzagging pattern it feeds in as a larva, exclusively devouring the leaves of elm trees, potentially causing widespread defoliation.

In its early stages, the insect is light green with a black band on its head and T-shaped markings above the second and third pair of its legs. The elm zigzag sawflys cocoons are loosely-spun and can be seen attached to leaves and other objects, like fence posts, before the insect emerges as an adult  black with yellowish-white colored legs and smoky-brown colored wings.

After it was first discovered in the United States in Virginia in 2021, the species has been recorded in multiple states, including in New York.

The states first sightings were in 2022 in St. Lawrence County, which rests against the border of Canada and contains the densest elm tree populations in the state. More recent reports of the elm zigzag sawfly have ranged in Clinton County in northern New York to Schenectady County, just northwest of Albany.

Continued expansion is expected throughout the U.S., Jessica Cancelliere, a state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) research scientist who manages forest health, told the Advance/SILive.com.

The life stages of the elm zigzag sawfly. (Melissa Fierke/SUNY ESF)

No detections of the insect have yet been confirmed in New York City, but the state DEC said the area is considered a region of concern as the agencys forester covering the five boroughs has expressed worry over the vulnerability of elm trees in the city.

That concern arises from the possible devastation caused by the elm zigzag sawfly. Early findings in the U.S. show feeding damage ranging from very minor to severe, Cancelliere said, but long term health impacts to the host trees are really unknown at this point. At worst, trees can be left completely bare, save for a handful of leaves.

The peak feeding time of the insect is also still not fully understood. Unlike some invasive species, which have distinct periods for different life stages, elm zigzag sawflies have appeared on trees in multiple life stages simultaneously. In New York, however, it is believed the elm zigzag sawfly could begin feeding in May and continue throughout the summer.

As scientists move to track the extent and timing of the species in the state, they are also racing to determine the best course to manage the species. The pest has been studied in Europe, but not extensively, said Cancelliere, leaving only some clues on possible next steps.

Were taking a little bit of information from Europe, but theres really not a lot published. Little is known about management options, so well be figuring all of that out from scratch, said Cancelliere.

In the meantime, researchers are asking New York City residents to be on the lookout for remnants of leaves left behind by the insect.

Most of the elm zigzag sawflys feeding is done as a larvae, making it difficult to see the pest against identically-colored leaves, but the zigzag pattern of its feeding is typically a strong giveaway, even though some leaves may eventually be left almost completely devoured. Picking up on unusually-leafless trees, then, could be a sign of the elm zigzag sawfly.

We put out a social media post recently where we told people to look for not only the characteristic zigzag, but to also just report suspicious heavy defoliation, said Cancelliere.

Reports can be made using the states iMap website, officials said, or photos can be emailed to foresthealth@dec.ny.gov.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Retaining health care staff has been an ongoing challenge for New York in recent years.

According to a study conducted by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, about 100,000 registered nurses exited the workforce over the past two years due to stress, burnout, and retirement. In an effort to retain and boost New Yorks health care workforce, a new law, which went into effect on June 28, protects nurses from working excessively long hours, says the New York State Department of Labor.

Nurses no longer have to work beyond their regularly scheduled hours, with some exceptions.

Since July 1, 2009, Section 167 of the New York Labor Law restricted health care employers from requiring nurses to work beyond their regular shifts, with four specific exceptions -- health care disasters, emergency declarations, and situations requiring safe patient care during emergencies or ongoing medical procedures.

The New York State Nurses Association celebrated the change with a post on Facebook that declares Victory!

An amendment to Section 167 has broadened the scope of the 2009 law.

Employers who require nurses to work beyond their regular hours under the specified exceptions must now follow a specific reporting process or there will be a financial penalty.

Under the amended law, the penalties for violations include:

$1,000 for a first violation

$2,000 for a second violation

$3,000 for third and subsequent violations

In addition to these penalties, for each violation, the healthcare employer is required to pay the affected nurse an additional 15% of the overtime payment.

Under the law, health care employers are defined as employers operating under Article 28 of the Public Health Law, which include hospitals, nursing homes, diagnostic treatment centers, and state-operated facilities licensed under different state laws.

The law now broadens the definition of health care employer to include facilities operated or licensed by the Office of Child and Family Services, and it requires that health care employers display a poster with information on how to file a complaint with the Department of Labor (NYSDOL).

The amended law appoints Jeanette Lazelle, Deputy Commissioner for Worker Protection, as the Enforcement Officer within NYSDOL to investigate violations.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  New York City Emergency Management on Sunday issued a travel advisory as thunderstorms threaten to complicate the evening and cause flooding in vulnerable areas.

The advisory warns rainfall totals could reach one to three inches of rainfall, with localized amounts of three to six inches and cause inundation in low-lying and poor drainage areas.

The alert advises that thunderstorms in the area may create dangerous travel conditions, urging New Yorkers to limit travel and stay inside during periods of severe weather. New York City Emergency Management recommended drivers allow for extra travel time and use public transportation, when possible.

Earlier Sunday, AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Tyler Roys told the Staten Island Advance/SILive that a storm traveling from the Southwest to the Northeast, which caused heavy rain seen on Staten Island yesterday evening, is the biggest threat for flooding across the area for today.

So [the storm] has been building back over in eastern Pennsylvania, Delaware and thats all going to be heading towards the Staten Island area over really the next four to six hours, Roys explained.

Furthermore, the National Weather Service said via Twitter, regarding New York, New Jersey, and parts of Connecticut, Much of the area is in a Moderate risk of excessive rainfall, not often seen in our area!

Additionally, Staten Island will see hazy skies resulting from Canadian Wildfires and a cold front on Tuesday.

If you must travel, use caution and do not drive your vehicle or walk into areas where water covers the roadway as the water depth may be too great to cross safely.

The alert also advises those that must be outside during the thunderstorm, to avoid open areas and try to seek shelter indoors.

People living in basement apartments in flood prone areas should prepare to move to higher ground.

City residents can sign up for emergency notifications at NYC.gov/NotifyNYC or call 311.
No, climate change isnt responsible his years Canadian wildfires, despite what Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and other green extremists want you to believe.

Bad forest management on the part of the Canadian government has a lot to do with the disastrous wildfires. And New York forest rangers want to make sure that the same thing doesnt happen here.

The Canadian fires, smoke from which blanketed the city in an orange pall and choked New Yorkers for days last month, were, yes, driven by high temperatures and dry conditions.

But the fires were made worse by poor Canadian forest management policies, particularly a lack of prescribed, or controlled, burns of dead and diseased wood and vegetation, the fuel that wildfires feed on.

Experts have said that Canada simply doesnt do enough controlled burning, a practice which the countrys indigenous peoples used for centuries to regenerate forests, remove invasive species and as a safeguard against out-of-control blazes.

In fact, the Canadian government has been slow to work with the countrys indigenous peoples in removing restrictions on controlled burns, according to The Insider.

And from Chicago to Washington, D.C., we have suffered the consequences this year. The Canadian people have suffered worse.

Forest rangers from the New York State Patrolmens Benevolent Society who helped fight the Canadian wildfires want to make sure that New York doesnt share Canadas wildfire fate.

Art Perryman, director of state forest rangers with the state PBA, wants New York lawmakers to update and improve the states fire management policies, including allowing currently-banned prescribed burns to take place in the Adirondack and Catskill parks, according to Spectrum News.

Youre doing that periodically so that when there is a wildfire, you dont have that fuel load to make it just as destructive, Perryman said.

Histrionic climate zealots blame climate change for wildfires, making it sound like forests are somehow spontaneously combusting.

Hogwash.

Most wildfires in Canada are caused either by lightning strikes or by human activity, according to The Narwhal climate news website. That includes arson, the cause of at least one Canadian wildfire this year.

Nearly 90% of wildfires across the U.S. are caused by human activity, according to the National Park Service. In New York, the number is 95%, according to the state Department of Environmental Conservation.

Of course, warmer temperatures and drier conditions make things worse when a fire is sparked.

But that shouldnt be the overriding concern when it comes to wildfire prevention. But focusing on climate, and not simple forest maintenance, serves the green agenda, under which everything bad under the sun (no pun intended) is blamed on amorphous climate change.

In the interest of preserving the environment, it has somehow become anathema to cut down a single tree, even though its clear that letting forests grow wild and untended is dangerous to humans, wildlife and, and anybody could see with their own eyes, to the forests themselves.

The Canadian wildfires are a perfect example of environmentalism run amok. The very people who claim they want to preserve the environment are actually putting it at risk to serve a political agenda.

New York shouldnt fall into the same trap.

MORE FROM TOM WROBLESKI

Exclusive photos as I trespass at closed, radium-tainted Great Kills Park

Youll never see this again: Inside haunting buildings now torn down at Bayley Seton Hospital site

A sneaky peek inside Silver Lake Park building reveals unexpectedly eerie sight
Your next iPhone might be able to roll into a cylinder, a recent Apple patent suggests

The patent, published July 13, shows a new design for an electronic screen that can roll up. United States Patent Application Publication

The patent, filed by Apple in November and published on July 13, shows a rollable electronic display.

The design uses thinned glass and components that create compression to protect the screen when rolled.

Apple appears to be joining Samsung, Motorola, and LG in the quest to bring to market a rollable smartphone.

In the market for a new iPhone? Your next device could get quite the upgrade: Apple has filed a patent for a device that's capable of rolling up.

The patent, filed in November and published on July 13, demonstrates a design for a rolling phone that relies on thinned glass and components that place compressive pressure on the screen to ensure the display is not damaged when rolled.

While the patent is for general electronic displays, Apple specifically noted in the application this design could be used for phones.

Apple would be joining Samsung, Motorola, and LG in the quest to bring to market a rollable smartphone.

Both Samsung and Motorola are also working toward a rollable phone, but neither company has actually brought the product to market. LG too has advertised a rollable phone that they have yet to release. The company now sells a rollable OLED television.

Read the original article on Business Insider
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  It seems Staten Islanders want the ear of Mayor Eric Adams.

Seating for a Monday town hall event at Curtis High School, 105 Hamilton Ave., St. George took just four days to reach the 250-person capacity, a City Hall spokesperson said. Friday.

RSVPs for the event opened July 7 and closed Tuesday, July 11, the spokesperson said. Following the Advance/SILive.coms Wednesday publication advertising the event, the a reporter received several complaints from people about the closed registration.

The City Hall spokesperson said the Adams administration advertised the event with about 40 community-based organizations encouraging them to spread the word.

Adams announced a town hall series in May during which he would visit each of the five boroughs, and the Staten Island event is set for next week.

The Talk with Eric series Staten Island stop will take place Monday from 6 to 8 p.m., with doors set to open at 5:45 p.m.

I always say Im an on-the-ground mayor, and engaging with everyday New Yorkers is how Im able to hear about the issues that matter most to the people who make New York the greatest city in the world, Adams said in May. Im excited to launch our second series of town halls and talk to thousands of New Yorkers about the issues affecting them every day. Our team will continue to make sure that this is the most accessible mayoral administration in city history.

Mondays event follows Talk with Eric visits in the Bronx, Queens and Manhattan. That most recent event in Washington Heights took place June 28, and featured a contentious exchange during which the mayor likened a questioner to a plantation owner.

That questioner, who the Daily News identified as Holocaust survivor Jeanie Dubnau, focused on rent hikes recently approved by the Rent Guidelines Board, which is effectively controlled by the mayor.

During her questioning, Dubnau repeatedly pointed at the mayor as she grilled him on the rent hikes that came during what officials around the city, including Adams, have described as a housing crisis.

Okay, first, if youre going to ask a question, dont point at me and dont be disrespectful to me. Im the mayor of this city, and treat me with the respect I deserve to be treated, Adams said in response. Im speaking to you as an adult, dont stand in front like you treating someone thats on the plantation that you own. Give me the respect I deserve and engage in the conversation.

That exchange marked one of the more contentious of Adams town hall events around the city. His series last year focused on public safety, and featured a stop in Stapleton.

During that August event held at the Gerard Carter Center, Adams took curated questions from about 150 community leaders on topics, like gun violence and housing conditions, but this years event will be open to the general public.

The first hour of the event to be held Monday will be closed to the press with the media being welcomed during the question and answer session when members of the administration will discuss community issues with the audience.

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STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Brace for more thunderstorms and the potential of flooding, Staten Island.

A storm traveling from the Southwest to the Northeast, which caused heavy rain seen on Staten Island yesterday evening, is the biggest threat for flooding across the area for today, according to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Tyler Roys.

Staten Islanders should remain cautious as heavy downpours are expected this afternoon, as well as a tornado warning. The downpour will fade into a shower this evening until the rain eventually clears out. According to Roys, Monday will be a much drier day than today, with a high of 89 degrees.

So [the storm] has been building back over in eastern Pennsylvania, Delaware and thats all going to be heading towards the Staten Island area over really the next four to six hours, Roys explained.

AccuWeather, in an email sent around 11:30 a.m., said up to an inch of rain has already fallen in the area, with another one-to-two inches expected over the area through 2:30 p.m.

Furthermore, the National Weather Service said via Twitter, regarding New York, New Jersey, and parts of Connecticut, Much of the area is in a Moderate risk of excessive rainfall, not often seen in our area!

Additionally, Staten Island will see hazy skies resulting from Canadian Wildfires and a cold front on Tuesday.

Roys emphasized that Staten Islanders should be cautious, especially when it comes to traveling and commuting, as roads may be heavily flooded from the downpour.
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Eating outJust open First look: New Brunswick East taqueria CDMX is the pure taco restaurant that Melbournes been missing A taqueria inspired by those in Mexico City is now open, with a large bar to prop at with margaritas and tacos al pastor. Emma Breheny July 16, 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

Daniel Pineda, co-owner of Seddons Superchido, fell hard for Mexico Citys taquerias when he visited last year. In Melbourne, pure taco shops are just not around, he says. Instead, there is a sea of quick-service restaurants selling burritos or Mexican restaurants doing broad brushstroke takes on the cuisine. Taquerias, though? Few and far between. The team at CDMX. Simon Schluter CDMX was the answer, a taco stand he opened last year with wife Beatrice and sister Sarah. It was initially a pop-up at Melbourne Central that later became permanent. Now the team have graduated to a full-blown restaurant in Brunswick East that is closer to the lively Mexican venues that inspired the concept.

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Birria tacos on the menu at CDMX. Simon Schluter There are white tiles on the walls hand-painted with signs that read The best tacos are in CDMX, a reference to both the restaurant and the abbreviated form of Mexico Citys official name, Ciudad de Mexico. A tiled bar is the centrepiece of the 65-seat venue, generously proportioned for all the small plates of tacos that will inevitably be dropped in front of diners. The Gringa (pork belly taco) at CDMX. Simon Schluter There are five on offer, including signatures from Mexicos capital city such as campechanos, translating to combination. In this case, its pork al pastor and fresh chorizo sausage made in-house with dried chilli. Other fillings on La Tortilleria tortillas include beer-battered barramundi, crisp potato, and braised beef with consomme (aka birria).

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Its less eat-and-run than the petite city location, so there are more snacks, including grilled corn showered with cheese, and ceviche (usually snapper) on tostadas with avocado and pico de gallo salsa. You can finish with churros served with cajeta, Mexicos answer to dulce de leche. Photo: Simon Schluter Splashes of electric blue and neon contrast with metal cantina-style furniture and the back bars white arches. Drinks are a mix of failsafe cocktails (margaritas, palomas), local beers from Temple Brewing and Mexican soft drinks. Where Superchido is a broad overview of Mexicos different culinary regions, this is a highly focused, eat with your hands spot, perfect for more casual nights. Open Mon 5pm-9pm, Tue-Fri 5pm-10pm, Sat & Sun noon-3.30pm & 5pm-late.

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315 Lygon Street, Brunswick East, 0466 926 773, cdmx.com.au

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The Minns government is being urged to scrap its unnecessary and shambolic trial of the cashless gambling card and take stronger action on poker machine reform after Victoria unveiled sweeping changes to minimise gambling harm and fight money laundering.

Gambling reform advocate Tim Costello said the Victorian changes put the focus on NSW Labor, which has refused to introduce changes announced by the previous Perrottet government to make all poker machines in the state cashless by December 2028.

The Victorian overhaul will leave NSW with weaker anti-money laundering and gambling harm minimisation regulations. Credit: Peter Braig

Victorian gamblers will be forced to set binding limits of daily poker machine losses, gaming venues will be made to close for at least six hours a day, and poker machines will have slower spin times under changes announced by Victorian Premier Dan Andrews on Sunday.

The surprise overhaul will leave NSW with weaker anti-money laundering and gambling harm minimisation regulations than Victoria, sparking warnings that more criminal activity could now shift north of the border.
The tunnelling is complete and the tracks laid. Now, work is well under way to ensure Cross River Rail commuters never lose contact with the outside world as they travel deep beneath Brisbanes city streets.

About 180 workers were installing hundreds of kilometres of electrical and high-speed fibre optic cables along the lengths of the new train tunnels.

Cross River Rail Delivery Authority chief executive Graeme Newton and Transport Minister Mark Bailey walk past some of the hundreds of kilometres of cabling laid deep underground. Credit: Cameron Atfield

Critically for commuters, they included about 18 kilometres of so-called leaky feeder cables, which would emit and receive radio waves and ensure they have great mobile coverage even when deep underground.

This is the latest technology to make sure that commuters who use the new underground Cross River Rail tunnels through the heart of Brisbane will be able to use the latest technology seamlessly and easily, as they enjoy their journey while someone else is doing the driving, Transport Minister Mark Bailey said.
A wealthy Floreat couple have been accused of starving their teenage daughter, leading to life-threatening malnutrition, osteoporosis and restricted growth.

The couple, who have been charged with grievous bodily harm and forgery over the matter, have denied the allegations and will go on trial in the District Court next July.

The girl received treatment at Perth Childrens Hospital. Credit: Getty Images

According to police prosecutors, the then-17-year-old girl, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, had limited contact with people outside her immediate family, and her parents allegedly did not believe she had any health issues or required any medical treatment.

The court heard the girl, who was homeschooled and an only child, had the appearance of an 11-year-old and was suffering from hair loss and extremely low body weight.
London: Britains long-serving defence secretary, Ben Wallace, has warned that the West must develop a more coherent political strategy towards Chinas expansionist activities in the South China Sea or face a conflict within a decade.

The 53-year-old former captain in the Scots Guards, who played a key role in the AUKUS pact with Australia and the United States, made the statement in a newspaper interview announcing he would stand down from his role at the next reshuffle, becoming the latest member of the Conservative government to confirm they would not contest next years general election.

British Secretary of State for Defence Ben Wallace in Singapore on June 2. Credit: Reuters

In an interview with The Sunday Times, Wallace warned of a total breakdown of politics in the Pacific, because of Beijings aim of constructing new islands and stationing military equipment. He said Britain and its allies could find itself in a conflict within years.

You could find yourself by 2030 in a position of Cold War, he said.
Kyiv, Ukraine: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russian forces were throwing everything they can at Kyivs troops fighting to retake land in the south and east, again emphasising the gruelling nature of a counteroffensive that is moving more slowly than some allies had hoped and later stressing the importance of their continued support.

Ukrainian troops have made only small gains since launching the widely anticipated campaign in June, and in recent weeks they appear to have stalled in some areas in the face of staunch Russian defences. Casualties are mounting, and US officials have said Ukraine has also lost newly provided Western armoured vehicles in field after field of landmines.

Ukrainian servicemen, of the 10th separate mountain assault brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, prepare to fire a mortar at their positions at a front line, amid Russias attack on Ukraine, near the city of Bakhmut on July 13. Credit: Reuters

Zelensky, who has defended the pace of the counteroffensive, said in his nightly address late on Friday that he had had a detailed meeting earlier in the day with his top commanders to discuss the front lines and logistics  including weapons and the rational use of shells, supplies from partners, an apparent reference to the rate at which Ukraines forces are expending ammunition.

We must all understand very clearly  as clearly as possible  that the Russian forces on our southern and eastern lands are investing everything they can to stop our warriors, he said. Every thousand metres of advance, every success of each of our combat brigades deserves gratitude.
Fighters from the Wagner group have arrived in Belarus from Russia, Ukrainian and Polish officials said on Saturday (local time), a day after Minsk said the mercenaries were training the countrys soldiers southeast of the capital.

Wagner is in Belarus, Andriy Demchenko, a spokesman for the Ukrainian border agency, said in a statement on the Telegram messaging app. He said the movement of separate groups from Russia had been observed in Belarus.

An image from a Belarus defence video shows a Wagner fighter conducting training for Belarusian soldiers on a range near the town of Osipovichi on July 14. Credit: Reuters

Some Wagner fighters have been in Belarus since at least Tuesday, two sources close to the fighters told Reuters.

The Belarusian defence ministry released a video on Friday, showing what it said were Wagner fighters instructing Belarusian soldiers at a military range near the town of Osipovichi.
After months of pushback and legal warnings, Peoria Unified School District governing board member Heather Rooks said on Thursday she will refrain from quoting Scripture during board meetings.

Rooks, who joined the board in January, had been reciting Bible verses during the portion of governing board meetings reserved for members to publicly recognize schools, groups or individuals who have made a contribution to the district, as well as share information related to their service as Board members.

In March, after she quoted from Corinthians, the board's president, David Sandoval, reminded the board they were told by the district's attorney that "reciting Scripture at a board meeting on this side of the dais goes against the Establishment Clause" of the U.S. Constitution.

'Disorderly behavior': Arizona lawmaker who hid Bibles at the Capitol is censured by the House after expulsion vote fails

In June, the district received a letter from the Freedom From Religion Foundation urging the Peoria Unified School District administration to stop its board members from quoting Bible verses during meetings and warning that if board members continue to impose religion on those in attendance, it could subject the school district to unnecessary liability and potential financial strain.

At the meeting following the receipt of the letter from the Freedom From Religion Foundation, Rooks quoted a passage from Ephesians: Therefore, put on every piece of Gods armor so that you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil.

At Thursday's governing board meeting, Rooks said she received a letter from the school district directing her to stop reciting Bible verses during school board meetings. "The district asserts that doing so violates the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment," she said.

Warning goes unheeded: Peoria school board members quote Bible at board meeting despite warning and legal advice

"Based upon the district's letter, I will refrain from reciting Bible verses at this time and will have my attorneys at First Liberty Institute handle this matter," she said.

The First Liberty Institute, a conservative legal organization based in Texas, calls itself the "largest non-profit legal organization in the nation dedicated exclusively to defending religious liberty for all Americans." Its most prominent cases include defending Aaron and Melissa Klein, owners of a bakery in Oregon who refused to create a custom wedding cake for a lesbian couple in 2013.

Board member Rebecca Hill has also quoted Bible verses during governing board meetings on multiple occasions. She did not recite a Bible verse during her board comment on Thursday. She also did not indicate whether she would do so in the future.

"When I came into this position as a board member, I took a sworn oath to God," Hill said at Thursday's meeting. "I swore to God that I would uphold the Constitution, which includes my First Amendment rights."

Rooks and Hill could not be reached for comment.

Voted down: Peoria school board rejects free computer science program that has commitment to diversity

Madeleine Parrish covers K-12 education. Reach her at mparrish@arizonarepublic.com and follow her on Twitter at @maddieparrish61.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Peoria school board member says she will stop quoting Scripture
In the six weeks between his entry into the race and the end of the quarter, DeSantis raised $US19.7 million for his campaign, $US16.9 million of which came from contributions over $US200, a sign of his dependence on big-dollar contributions. He is also spending that money  quickly. Republican presidential candidate, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, on Saturday, July 15, in Ankeny, Iowa. Credit: AP His filings on Saturday showed that his campaign spent nearly $US7.9 million in those six weeks. Top expenditures included $US1.3 million earmarked for travel (several vendors appear to be private jet rental services); more than $US1 million for payroll; and more than $US800,000 apiece for digital fundraising consulting, media placement and postage. It is a burn rate of about 40 per cent, which is on the high end compared with the other Republican candidates. Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina reported raising nearly $US5.9 million in the second quarter, and spent $US6.7 million. But he had more of a cushion: He carried $US22 million from his Senate campaign into his presidential run.

DeSantis reported $US12.2 million in cash on hand at the end of June; Scott had $US21 million. By comparison, Haleys campaign took in $US5.3 million, spent $US2.6 million and reported about $US6.8 million in cash on hand. Trumps war chest not yet clear Trump is the runaway leader in polls of Republican candidates, and he has ample financial resources and fundraising ability. But his exact cash situation is complicated. Former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump in West Palm Beach, Florida, on July 15. Credit: Reuters This month, the Trump campaign said the former president had raised more than $US35 million in the second quarter through his joint fundraising committee, which then transfers the money to his campaign and to a political action committee.

His campaigns filing on Saturday reported a total of $US17.7 million in receipts  which includes contributions, transfers and refunds  almost all of which came in transfers from the joint fundraising committee. Where is the rest of the reported $US35 million? The joint fundraising committee is not required to file its report until the end of the month. The New York Times reported last month that Trump has in recent months steered more of the money from the joint committee into the PAC, which he has used to pay his legal bills. Pence joins the stragglers Bringing up the rear of the Republican pack are former Governor Asa Hutchinson of Arkansas, who raised about $US500,000 in the second quarter, and Will Hurd, a former Texas congressman, who raised just $US270,000. While these long-shot candidates were not expected to raise tonnes of money, observers might have expected more from Pence, who reported just $US1.2 million in contributions.

Pence has also spent very little  just $US74,000, his filing shows. His campaign has not said whether he has reached the threshold of 40,000 unique donors, one of the requirements to appear on the Republican debate stage on August 23. Republican presidential candidate, former UN ambassador Nikki Haley, on Friday in Des Moines, Iowa. Credit: AP Self-funding candidates burn cash On Friday, the campaign of Governor Doug Burgum of North Dakota, a wealthy former software engineer, filed its quarterly report, showing that he had raised $US1.5 million in contributions and that he had lent $US10 million to his campaign. Burgums campaign spent more than $US8.1 million last quarter, including an eye-popping $US6 million in advertising, the filings show. He had $US3.6 million in cash on hand at the end of the month.

Another Republican candidate, wealthy entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, reported $US2.3 million in contributions last quarter, as well as $US5 million in loans from himself. Ramaswamy has lent his campaign $US15.25 million since he entered the race in February; he has said he will spend $US100 million of his own money on his bid. He may need to if he keeps up the spending. He spent more than $US8 million from April to the end of June, including $US1.5 million on media placement and hundreds of thousands of dollars on travel. Bidens campaign remains very small It was already obvious that the Biden campaign was running a small operation, but exactly how lean became clear on Saturday. As of the end of June, the presidents re-election effort had a total of four employees. President Joe Biden gives a thumbs up as he walks with first lady Jill Biden to board Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington on Friday. Credit: AP
The stage was different, and so was the tone. But the voice was unmistakable.

Fran Drescher, the owner of a distinctly nasal, Queens-inflected accent, made her name in Hollywood for her starring role in the sitcom The Nanny. On Thursday, she appeared before dozens of cameras as the president of the actors union that voted unanimously earlier in the day to go on strike, delivering a fiery argument depicting the stakes of the decision.

The eyes of the world and particularly the eyes of labor are upon us, Drescher said. What happens to us is important. Whats happening to us is happening across all fields of labor.

SAG-AFTRA president Fran Drescher speaks during a press conference announcing the strike in Los Angeles. Credit: AP

She shook her fists in indignation. I am shocked by the way the people that we have been in business with are treating us! she continued. It is disgusting. Shame on them!
In a video interview posted on YouTube last year and conducted at his entirely unremarkable-looking office on Fifth Avenue, Heuermann  tall and heavyset, sporting a toupee-like 1970s haircut and a blue dress shirt with a pen peeking from the pocket  comes across as a recognisable character: the scrappy, street-smart Noo Yawker, the I-got-a-guy guy. When a job that should have been routine suddenly becomes not routine, he tells the interviewer, Antoine Amira, I get the phone call. Police officers stand guard as law enforcement searches the home of Rex Heuermann on Saturday, July 15, in Massapequa Park, New York. Credit: AP According to his resume and the website of his company, RH Consultants & Associates, Heuermanns customers included American Airlines, Catholic Charities and the citys own Department of Environmental Protection. He represented clients before the Landmark Preservation Commission many times and claimed credit for hundreds of successful applications before city agencies. Steve Kramberg, a property manager in Brooklyn who worked with Heuermann for about 30 years, called him a gem to deal with, highly knowledgeable. Heuermann was a big goofy guy, a little bit on the nerdy side who worked long hours and was available day and night, Kramberg said. But he was also devoted to his wife, who Kramberg said had health problems, and to his elderly mother.

In Massapequa Park, a tightly gridded village of neat homes with manicured lawns, Heuermann, the son of an aerospace engineer, lived in the house that he grew up in and tinkered with furniture in his fathers old workshop. A man who went to high school with him said he was bullied as a teenager but sometimes fought back. In 1990, he married an executive at an office supply company. He has a daughter who works at his firm. An investigator talks with a neighbour of Rex Heuermann on Saturday in Massapequa Park. Credit: AP Ferchaw recounted several run-ins with his neighbour, none pleasant. There was the time he said hello to Heuermann as he was cutting wood and Heuermann responded by silently glaring back between chops of his splitting maul. Other times he would be seated beside his stacked wood on the porch watching an old television. Mike Schmidt, who has lived in the neighbourhood for 10 years, has a friend who lives behind Heuermann. Sometimes Schmidt would visit his buddy, have a few beers in the backyard, look out at the sagging Heuermann house, and say He probably has bodies there. Last Halloween, Schmidt and his friend resolved to take their kids trick-or-treating at Heuermanns house, just to get a look inside. They were surprised when Heuermann himself answered the door and gave each child a small plastic pumpkin overflowing with candy.

When Schmidts wife learnt where the candy came from, she made him throw it out. At work, Heuermanns punctilious approach rubbed some people the wrong way. Kelly Parisi, a former president of the co-op board at a building in Brooklyn Heights that hired Heuermann to oversee renovations, said he was adversarial with everyone and so overly fastidious that the board eventually fired him. A crime laboratory officer is seen through a window as law enforcement search the home of Rex Heuermann on Saturday. Credit: AP Paul Teitelbaum, another former president of the buildings board, described him as a really kind of cold and distant person, kind of creepy. He added, There was a swagger  Im the expert, youre lucky to have me. But one mans arrogant demands were anothers eye for detail. He was very good at shepherding things through, Kramberg said.

According to the timeline released by prosecutors and to Buildings Department and court records, Heuermann kept up his busy work schedule even as victims were vanishing. Loading In 2009, prosecutors said, after killing Melissa Barthelemy, a 24-year-old who worked as an escort, Heuermann made a series of taunting calls to her family, during lunchtime and after work hours, from locations near his office. In June 2010, about two weeks after Megan Waterman, a 22-year-old from Maine, was last seen alive, Heuermann filed an application to install a new fire escape at a building in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn. In August of that year, he filed an application to repair the terracotta and repoint the bricks in a building on the Upper West Side, nine days before Amber Lynn Costello, 27, disappeared near her home a few miles from Heuermanns. On March 9, 2022, as the investigative dragnet was tightening, Heuermann was writing a typically detailed letter to a lawyer concerning a project on West 71st Street:

It appears that from my walk though, the drain line is above the interior floor slab and if the trench drain is placed below this level, it would not be able to drain by gravity, he wrote. I would strongly recommend an investigation into the use of negative side waterproofing at this site. Five days after that, investigators figured out that Heuermann had owned the same model ute that a witness said Costellos killer had driven. Two weeks later, prosecutors said, Heuermann Googled Long Island serial killer and viewed an article headlined New Task Force Aims to Solve Long Island Serial Killer Case. It was late last northern summer that Heuermann, sweaty and wearing a dingy T-shirt and shorts, was spotted at the Massapequa Park Whole Foods pilfering clementines from a bowl put out for children. He took three and put them in his pocket, then he took more, said Tara Alonzo, a clerk at the store. After a few more rounds she called him out. I said, Sir, those are for the kids, she recalled. She said Heuermann yelled back and became so heated that her manager escorted him out. She did not see his face again until it appeared on TV on Friday.
by Cdr. Bud Slabbaert

Which are the top ten leading territories for research and development in the Caribbean? No? Top five? How about three? Is it because the region doesnt need any research and development? That is strange. Because the most developed countries in the world also spend the most money on research and development. One would think that they are so freaking developed already that they really dont need more of it. Is it because they can spend more since they have more funding available for it? Or is it that they have more funding as they have invested more in research and development and are benefiting from it?

The development of an R&D Center (Research & Development) is a crucial element to contribute to the development and dissemination of new rigorous evidence and innovative products, methods or technologies that provide practical solutions to issues, confrontations and problems that must not be overlooked in the Caribbean. The findings may in their turn encourage other positive developments which will support economic and industrial advances and may benefit humanity and the environment in the region.

I must admit that Im not an R&D scientist. Neither have I ever been inside a refrigerator but Im quite sure that the light goes out when the door is closed. So, lets not argue before we find out things. It provides nourishment and exercise for the mind. My favorite R&D subject would be creating hydrogen fuel from seawater.

The Bahamas has 30 plants on several islands that use diesel fuel for their electricity generators. Importing fuel has a price tag. Fossil fuel causes pollution. Scientists on four continents have proven beyond reasonable doubt that hydrogen fuel can be produced from seawater. This hydrogen fuel can be used to generate electricity without pollution. No imports. No fossil fuel dependency. No increases in fuel prices. A country could produce its own fuel from the seawater around the islands. Significant cost savings! The hydrogen-fueled electricity generator does not need to be large. It can be any size for any purpose. So, theoretically, any of the hundreds of islands could have a generator.

A private business as an example. Take Sandals Resorts, for one because it has about 17 resorts throughout the region that are typically adjacently located at the sea. They could have their own generators. Cost savings! And if a private business generates too much power, it could be fed into the government-owned power grid via the existing infrastructure. Just an example of how development from one development can be applied to various islands in the region. The company has its own Sandals Corporate University which is more focused on hospitality interests. But one could imagine that a company with its Corporate Social Responsibility and Vision may be willing to take a look or support such energy R&D.

Every territory in the region has a budget for education. Do they have a budget for R&D? Not really, why not? No R&D may mean no innovation! Likely also no economic diversification due to a lack of thinking and exploring. Politicians and other decision-makers may just sit and wonder how to handle things that one is not good at. But then again, how can one be a successful leader if one cannot even handle things that one is not good at or not acquainted with? Maybe constituents may wonder about that also.

R&D spending can lead to breakthroughs that can protect the well-being of communities. Ever thought about developing hurricane stealth architecture? The structures being so stealth that the hurricane wouldnt even know it was there to take a swipe at. Now it is the other way around that the hurricane takes a swipe, and the structure is gone. The Caribbean may be a test ground or laboratory for studying any kind of impact of how extreme external conditions may be impacted and what can prevent disasters.

A Caribbean R&D Center shall be the place where scientists and engineers will meet, plan, investigate,

and test methods, technologies, and products typical for the region. The conclusions and solutions of may be applied in other regions worldwide with geographic or socio-economic similarities. Just think of the many archipelagos like Maldives, Seychelles, Canary Islands, Azores, etc. Too many to mention. It represents an opportunity whereby new products or services may result in new technology export business.

The investment in R&D will pay off. Investment in research and development is the lifeblood of many private sector organizations in highly developed countries and integrated into their company's strategy and business plan and is often tax deductible. It is supported by governments. R&D is an essential driver to spur innovation, invention, and progress. This matter is also important to national economies and plays a crucial role in GDP growth.

Stanford University researchers were already in 2019 able to create hydrogen fuel from seawater. Scientists at the University of Houston have developed a catalyst that can efficiently produce hydrogen from seawater. Its discovery significantly advances the development of seawater electrolysis for large-scale hydrogen production. Why not connect, cooperate, and become associated?

It is envisioned that a Caribbean R&D Center shall eventually find its own place in the international community of Research and Development Centers and could eventually become an Institute of Higher Learning. It will provide inspiration and feedback for ambitious future projects. An educational center that will motivate young people in the region to become part of the development of their own Caribbean rather than going abroad. It could encourage brain gain and halt a brain drain.
Alpha Lithium Files Preliminary Economic Assessment for Tolillar Salar, Argentina

Alpha Lithium Corporation (NEO: ALLI) (OTC: APHLF) (Germany WKN: A3CUW1) (aAlphaa or the aCompanya  https://www.commodity-tv.com/ondemand/companies/profil/alpha-lithium-corp/ ) is pleased to announce that the Company has filed the final NI 43-101 Preliminary Economic Assessment (aPEAa) with an effective date of July 4, 2023, on SEDAR. The full report is available under the Companya?s profile at www.sedar.com and will be available on its website at www.alphalithium.com

A link to the original July 10, 2023 news release can be found on the companya?s website www.alphalithium.com/news.

The PEA, which provides a completely independent economic assessment of the potential value of Tolillar, based on the lithium resources outlined in the September 2022 maiden resource estimate (see news release August 23, 2022). Based on the results of continuous drilling since mid-2022, Alpha expects to update the resource estimate, which is used within the PEA, shortly.

Using upper-end cost-estimates, and low long-term lithium carbonate pricing assumptions, Ausenco Chile Limitada prepared a conservative PEA, with significant room for improvement as Tolillar is further explored and developed. Tolillar represents one of the last, large, independent, wholly-owned lithium brine salars globally, and once the latest technical work is incorporated, Tolillar should become an even larger and longer-lived operation.

About Alpha Lithium (NEO: ALLI) (OTC: APHLF) (Germany WKN: A3CUW1)

Alpha Lithium is a team of industry professionals and experienced stakeholders focused on the development of the Tolillar and Hombre Muerto Salars. In Tolillar, we have assembled 100% ownership of what may be one of Argentinaa?s last undeveloped lithium salars, encompassing 27,500 hectares (67,954 acres), neighboring multi-billion-dollar lithium players in the heart of the renowned aLithium Trianglea. In Hombre Muerto, we continue to expand our 5,000+ hectare (12,570 acres) foothold in one of the worlda?s highest quality, longest producing, lithium salars. Other companies in the area exploring for lithium brines or currently in production include Allkem Limited, Livent Corporation, and POSCO in Salar del Hombre Muerto; Allkem Limited in Salar Olaroz; Eramine SudAmerica S.A. in Salar de Centenario; and Gangfeng and Lithium Americas in Salar de Cauchari. For more information visit: www.alphalithium.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements and other statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as \will\, \may\, \should\, \anticipate\, \expects\ and similar expressions. All statements other than statements of historical fact, included in this news release are forward-looking statements that involve 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. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company\-s expectations include the results of further brine process testing and exploration and other risks detailed from time to time in the filings made by the Company with securities regulators. 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 Company. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking information. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release and the Company will update or revise publicly any of the included forward-looking statements as expressly required by applicable law.

The NEO Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. No securities regulatory authority has reviewed nor accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of the content of this news release.
(Bloomberg) -- Cirrus Aircraft Ltd. is proud of its history in the US heartland: the private plane makers website includes details such as the companys 1984 launch in a Wisconsin barn, the opening of a Minnesota R&D center and a North Dakota factory.

Most Read from Bloomberg

But theres something missing from the companys All-American timeline: Cirruss ownership by a sanctioned Chinese military manufacturer.

For more than a decade, Cirrus has been a subsidiary of Aviation Industry Corp. of China, a maker of fighter jets, helicopters and drones for the Peoples Liberation Army. AVIC, as the parent company is known, is also one of the worlds largest military contractors and is subject to US sanctions.

Cirrus isnt a military manufacturer  its main products are single-engine planes used by private citizens and charter services  but some of its technology and manufacturing expertise could be valuable to the PLA, according to several aviation and Chinese military experts interviewed by Bloomberg. In June, the company filed with the Hong Kong stock exchange for an initial public offering. Its expansion, despite deep tensions between Beijing and Washington, underscores the complex political calculations underlying US sanctions.

Theres an imperfect, Swiss-cheese approach to this, said Sarah Kreps, a professor of government at Cornell University. Policymakers havent pulled all the threads to ensure there arent these blind spots in the sanctions regime thats in place.

Cirrus hasnt been accused of any wrongdoing and theres no sign the US is seeking to target the company. But its parent company is under a great deal of scrutiny. Starting in 2020, the US began flagging AVIC as a potential national security threat, imposing sanctions designed to hinder the growth of companies directly connected to Chinas military.

As the Peoples Republic of China attempts to blur the lines between civil and military sectors, knowing your supplier is critical, then-Pentagon spokesman Jonathan Hoffman said in June 2020.

The Trump administration started a process that would see AVIC added to a suite of federal lists that variously restricted exports to the company and banned purchases or sales of publicly traded securities. The Biden administration continued and refined that effort, citing the threat posed by the military-industrial complex of China.

Throughout that period, Duluth, Minnesota-based Cirrus and other AVIC affiliates in the US continued to grow.

During the pandemic, Cirrus expanded its Duluth facility and opened a flight training center in Scottsdale, Arizona. Last year, Cirrus announced new sales, maintenance and training centers at two airports in central Florida, and in May the company flagged it had started construction of a $13 million facility in McKinney, Texas, near Dallas.

We just love being able to brag that you are here in this city, McKinney Mayor George Fuller said at the ground-breaking ceremony, according to Community Impact, a local news outlet. In a call with Bloomberg, Fuller praised the companys investments, including the hiring of highly paid engineers.

In an emailed statement, Cirrus said it has a policy of full compliance with US sanctions, export controls and other investment restrictions, including as it relates to our relationship with our parent company and as to sales in all 36 countries in which we conduct business.

AVIC didnt respond to questions about its ownership of Cirrus.

At a time of heightened sensitivities over Chinese-owned companies in the US, when some states have sought to restrict or ban Chinese investments, Cirrus isnt the only AVIC-backed company winning praise from politicians.

AVIC is the largest shareholder, with about 46%, of Continental Aerospace Technologies Holding Ltd., which makes piston aircraft engines and components in Mobile, Alabama. Last year it received Republican Governor Kay Iveys Trade Excellence Award for its contributions to the state economy. Iveys office didnt respond to questions about the companys Chinese shareholder.

In 2022, Michigan gave more than $25 million in Covid-relief funds to Nexteer Automotive Group, an AVIC-affiliated maker of car parts based near Detroit that had about 12,600 employees and $3.8 billion in revenue.

None of those subsidiaries faces accusations of wrongdoing.

The debate over how best to apply sanctions comes amid bipartisan scrutiny of Chinese investments and a Biden administration effort to ramp up restrictions on technology exports to China.

During a trip to Beijing this month, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said she emphasized to her counterparts that any measures would be narrowly scoped and clearly communicated. China has repeatedly said US restrictions are meant to stop the countrys rise.

With 2022 revenue of about $890 million, Cirrus is a small part of the AVIC empire. The state-owned group, which also makes commercial aircraft, has many closely-held subsidiaries as well as about two dozen affiliates traded in Hong Kong, China and Europe with a combined market capitalization of about $100 billion, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

One reason Cirrus and other AVIC companies have avoided sanctions has to do with how officials targeted the group: They never added it to the most restrictive sanctions list, which is overseen by the Treasury Departments Office of Foreign Assets Control.

Instead, Treasury created a new target list and said that list wouldnt be subject to the departments toughest restrictions, which would automatically apply sanctions to majority-owned subsidiaries.

A lot of folks were scratching their heads a bit when the sanctions came out, said Chase Kaniecki, who focuses on trade and national security issues as a partner at Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton in Washington.

The move likely reflected concern that some Chinese companies had subsidiaries all over the world, he said, and the US government didnt want to impact them inadvertently.

The US made just such a misstep in 2018, when sanctions against Russian billionaire Oleg Deripaska resulted in an unintended spike in global aluminum prices.

Deripaska held a majority stake in United Co. Rusal International PJSC, at the time the worlds second-largest aluminum producer. Restrictions were never imposed on Rusal due to repeated waivers by Treasury, but the economic shock prompted a rethink on how the US should use its most powerful economic weapons.

In addition, some companies targeted for sanctions during the Trump administration successfully challenged the restrictions in court, and Bidens team sought to bolster the legal justification for any listings.

AVIC, through its subsidiary China Aviation Industry General Aircraft, bought Cirrus more than a decade ago, when many American companies were struggling due to the Great Recession. The conglomerate spent around $210 million to acquire it, gaining access to small-plane manufacturing expertise.

The 2011 purchase was reviewed by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, a federal entity that can block foreign purchases of US companies and real estate, often on national security grounds. At the time however, US-China relations were less tense.

There was a different risk tolerance, said Emily Kilcrease, a senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security in Washington and former deputy assistant for foreign investment policy at the Office of the US Trade Representative.

Scrutiny on Cirrus could soon increase: The companys prospectus with the Hong Kong stock exchange offers a look at its connections to other parts of the AVIC empire.

Cirrus Vice-Chairman Hui Wang is a director of AVIC Heavy Machinery Co., which is on one of Treasurys sanctions lists and a Pentagon list of Chinese military companies. Another Cirrus director sits on the boards of two sanctioned AVIC subsidiaries.

The Hong Kong prospectus also says that since 2019, Cirrus has worked with AVIC-owned China Aviation Industry General Aircraft Zhejiang Institute Co. to make a training aircraft. The US in 2020 put that partner on a Commerce Department Military End User list, which means certain exports to it are restricted without a special license.

In its prospectus, Cirrus said it received US government approval for exports to China and has strictly complied with its export license from the Bureau of Industry and Security, an agency of the Commerce Department.

AVICs ownership isnt an issue for Richard Kane, CEO of Verijet Holding Co., which leases point-to-point trips on Cirruss single-engine Vision Jet planes. Verijet, based near Miami, has about 20 Cirrus aircraft, which Kane praises as fuel efficient and safe.

The Chinese have been pretty hands off, Kane, who said hes close to Cirruss management team, told Bloomberg. So far, so good.

But while theres a big gap between producing general aviation, or GA, aircraft and weaponry such as AVICs sophisticated attack drones, the US subsidiary does potentially have expertise that could be valuable to military customers, said George Ferguson, senior aerospace and defense analyst with Bloomberg Intelligence.

A small drone looks like a GA aircraft: small frames, long endurance, propeller driven, said Ferguson. Its not totally without skills that are transferable.

William Kim, a defense researcher at RAND Corp., agreed, saying that while small private planes may lack military utility, the technology that goes into them could have some dual-use purposes. He cited the use of composite materials in civilian planes and military drones as one example.

To build capabilities in small aircraft, AVIC would need access to the US market, Ferguson added, since restrictions on airspace use in China have kept the industry from developing there.

For now, sanctions experts say theres probably little that policymakers can do about AVICs businesses in the US.

If it wanted to take a harsher approach, the government could attempt to force AVIC to divest its ownership of Cirrus and other US companies, just as the Trump administration tried to force Beijing-based ByteDance Ltd. to sell control of TikTok to a US buyer.

The US could also impose the most severe set of sanctions, putting AVIC on Treasurys Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List. That would block its assets and ban US persons from doing business with it, but it would be an extreme measure, the Center for a New American Securitys Kilcrease said.

Its a very big escalatory step, she said. If we are ever in a serious shooting war with China, you want to have that in your back pocket.

--With assistance from Thomas Black, Isabel Webb Carey and Rebecca Choong Wilkins.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
M ore same-sex honeymooners are visiting destinations which do not have marriage equality, according to a travel company.

Kuoni said it is experiencing a growing trend of newly married LGBTQ+ couples booking trips to locations which do not approve of same-sex marriages such as the Maldives, Dubai, the Caribbean and East Africa.

The luxury tour operator and travel agent said many people in this category are exploring places considered less LGBTQ+ friendly because they do not want barriers to influence how they celebrate their love.

It reported strong demand for villa accommodation, which could ensure privacy in countries without marriage equality.

We give our customers the information to make educated choices

Two out of five (44%) respondents to a Kuoni-commissioned survey of 1,013 people, who identify as part of the LGBTQ+ community, said they prioritise the overall destination experience regardless of attitudes towards people with their sexuality or gender identity.

The company is marking the 10-year anniversary of same-sex weddings being legalised in England and Wales on Monday by launching the Kuoni Promise, which is a commitment to inclusivity and diversity.

It noted the popular honeymoon locations such as Barbados, Antigua and Barbuda, St Kitts and Nevis, and Singapore have repealed anti-gay legislation.

Kuoni managing director Mark Duguid said: With LGBTQ+ travel, the talk can often turn reactive quite quickly  boycotting certain destinations and so on.

In reality, the conversation is much more nuanced than that, so we give our customers the information to make educated choices and navigate those issues in a very individual way with our staff.

And we can have those chats because many of those staff have experienced those destinations themselves.

We have always been committed to inclusivity and ensuring that every traveller feels safe, valued and celebrated.

The survey was conducted by company Mortar Research last month.
Second SpaceX Falcon 9 launch of the week sends more Starlink satellites to orbit

SpaceX launched a second Falcon 9 Starlink mission within a week late Saturday from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

The 230-foot rocket packed with 54 Starlink internet satellites roared to life at 11:50 p.m. EDT and vaulted away from Launch Complex 40 on a southeasterly trek, threading between Florida and the Bahamas. It followed another Starlink mission that flew last weekend.

About eight minutes after liftoff, the rocket's booster landed on SpaceX's "A Shortfall of Gravitas" drone ship in the Atlantic Ocean. The success marked the booster's 16th trip to the edge of space and back, only the second in the company's fleet to achieve the record.

Rocket launch schedule: Upcoming Florida launches and landings

What was the payload?

This year's 35th launch from the Space Coast was a mission dedicated to launching more of SpaceX's Starlink internet-beaming satellites. All told, nearly 5,000 have been sent to orbit since the company began launching batches of the first operational versions in 2019.

To deliver reliable internet to every continent, the company anticipates needing tens of thousands of the flat-pack satellites that operate about 340 miles above Earth. Starlink service is now available nearly worldwide to customers ranging from residential to military and industrial.

So far, the company services more than 1.5 million subscribers around the globe.

When's the next launch?

First mission of the week: SpaceX launched a Starlink mission late Sunday from Cape Canaveral

Before month's end, SpaceX is set to launch a three-core Falcon Heavy rocket to boost a classified Space Force payload from nearby Kennedy Space Center. One more Starlink mission could also fly from the Cape before July is out. Neither mission has a confirmed launch date with Eastern Range.

For the latest, visit floridatoday.com/launchschedule.

Contact Jamie Groh at JGroh@floridatoday.com and follow her on Twitter at @AlteredJamie.

Space is important to us and that's why we're working to bring you top coverage of the industry and Florida launches. Journalism like this takes time and resources. Please support it with a subscription here.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifts off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, FL Saturday, July 15, 2023. The rocket is carrying 54 Starlink satellites. Craig Bailey/FLORIDA TODAY via USA TODAY NETWORK

This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Second SpaceX mission of the week launched Saturday from Cape Canaveral
B en Wallace has said he plans to resign at the next Cabinet reshuffle after four years as Defence Secretary.

He told The Sunday Times he would stand down as an MP at the next election but ruled out leaving prematurely and triggering another by-election for the Conservatives to battle.

Mr Wallace, who survived three prime ministers in his current role, played a key role in the UKs response to Russias invasion of Ukraine and was a close ally of Boris Johnson.

His Wyre and Preston North constituency will disappear at the next election after boundary changes and he said he would not seek a new seat.

I went into politics in the Scottish Parliament in 1999. Thats 24 years. Ive spent well over seven years with three phones by my bed, he told the paper.

He suggested he will continue to call for higher defence spending, which he has campaigned for throughout his time in the role.

Mr Wallace had expressed an interest in standing for the position of Nato secretary-general before it was announced the current chief, Jens Stoltenberg, had been given another year in charge.

The minister told The Economist there were a lot of unresolved issues in the military alliance and its not going to happen, and he later downplayed the prospect of a future bid to run the organisation.

Last week, the Prime Minister shut down comments from Mr Wallace in which he suggested Ukraine should show gratitude for the military support it has been given.

Mr Wallace had made the remark after the countrys president, Volodymyr Zelensky, branded it absurd for Nato to insist there were still conditions for his nation to meet before it can gain membership once the war with Russia is over.

Mr Zelensky later said: I believe that we were always grateful to United Kingdom.

I dont know what he meant and how else we should be grateful.

The Prime Minister distanced himself from the comments, saying the Ukrainian president has expressed his gratitude for what weve done on a number of occasions.

Mr Wallace is believed to have told Rishi Sunak on June 16 of his plans to stand down from Cabinet.

He told the Sunday Times his departure was due to the strain the job had put his family life under.

Popular within the Tory party, Mr Wallace is the longest continuously serving minister in Government, having been security minister under Theresa May before being promoted to Defence Secretary by Mr Johnson.

He was previously appointed as a whip in 2014 and a junior minister in the Northern Ireland Office in 2015 while David Cameron was prime minister.

Mr Wallace ruled himself out of the running for the Conservative leadership last year, despite being an early frontrunner in the race to replace Mr Johnson.
D efence Secretary Ben Wallace has confirmed he will leave Cabinet at the next reshuffle and not seek re-election as an MP.

The announcement follows an unsuccessful bid to replace Jens Stoltenberg as Nato secretary general.

Speculation had grown that he would replace the former Norwegian prime minister as head of the alliance before he revealed in an interview with The Economist that its not going to happen and there are lot of unresolved issues in Nato.

He had been tipped for the post due to his pivotal role in overseeing the approach the UK and many of its allies took in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine last year.

Here the PA news agency looks back at his life in politics.

Born in 1970, the 53-year old trained as a cadet at Sandhurst military academy before rising through the Armys ranks to become a captain in the Scots Guards.

Upon leaving the Army he entered politics, joining the Scottish Parliament in 1999 as a Conservative at the partys lowest ebb north of the border.

He did not seek re-election to Hollyrood in 2003 and won the Lancaster and Wyre Westminster seat south of the border off Labour in 2005.

Five years later, the constituency was abolished and he moved to the safer Wyre and Preston North seat.

He served in various junior ministerial roles under David Cameron and became an early supporter of any future bid by Boris Johnson for the Conservative leadership.

Unlike the ex-PM, he backed Remain in the 2016 referendum but nonetheless ran Mr Johnsons subsequent leadership campaign.

He did not reach Cabinet until Mr Johnson succeeded Theresa May, under whom he had been security minister, and promoted him to Defence Secretary.

He has remained in post since despite two Conservative leadership contests, three Prime Ministers and party infighting.

In his post he has co-ordinated the UKs response to the US withdrawal from Afghanistan and later the Ukraine war.

During an LBC radio interview he broke down in tears as he said he felt emotional because Im a soldier and added some wont get back from the country.

He met Russian defence minister Sergei Shoigu in early February last year for last minute talks as tensions with Ukraine rose, concluding the following day that an invasion was highly likely.

Since Russian tanks rolled into Ukraine, he has played a key role in shaping the Governments response, including helping determine what weapons the UK will send to Kyiv.

Despite drawing praise and being tipped as the activists favourite, he nonetheless ruled himself out of contests to succeed Boris Johnson and Liz Truss.

Speculation mounted in recent months that he would become the next Nato secretary general until he said the US would prefer Mr Stoltenberg to remain in post for another year.

Mr Wallace also said he is unlikely to run for the position again if it comes up in future.

Despite escaping relatively unscathed from many of the controversies that have plagued PMs he has served under, he has occasionally found himself in hot water over the odd off-script remark.

In March last year, video emerged of him on a Teams call with Russian pranksters believed to have links to the countrys intelligence agencies, who posed as the Ukrainian prime minister, Denys Shmyhal.

The call was said to have lasted about 10 minutes and he is not believed to have disclosed anything sensitive.

At a Nato summit last week, he appeared to suggest Ukraine should show gratitude for the military support it has received.

The comments were immediately shut down by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

Sources close to the Defence Secretary later said: Mr Wallace was reflecting on the need for Ukraine to address the parts of public opinion and parliaments in the international community who need to be encouraged.
F ormer Somerton and Frome MP David Warburton has said allegations of sexual misconduct against him have been withdrawn.

Mr Warburton was suspended by the Conservative Party in April 2022 and resigned last month after a probe into the complaints.

A Westminster watchdog launched a reinvestigation into the claims after revealing the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards had found him guilty of three counts of misconduct instead of the two upheld by the initial inquiry.

The Independent Expert Panel called for both decisions to be reassessed, criticising the materially flawed original probe.

But it did not make findings about the allegations themselves and said those questions remain open.

Mr Warburton claimed on Sunday that the complaints against him had been withdrawn.

I know its extremely rare for the Independent Expert Panel to fully uphold an appeal by an MP.

Im, of course, delighted but the past year has been extraordinarily painful for my family and for me, and the personal cost has been incalculable.

As a result, and in order to speak out about the appalling injustice I have experienced, I have had to step down as an MP, he said in a statement.

The original probe came after a staffer in Mr Warburtons Westminster office lodged a complaint with Parliaments Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme (ICGS) in March 2022, making allegations of sexual misconduct and two bullying and harassment claims against him.

However, Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards Daniel Greenberg then reviewed the evidence and found Mr Warburton guilty of a third, unspecified sexual misconduct charge.

Mr Warburton appealed against Mr Greenbergs decision on the grounds it was procedurally flawed and unreasonable and claiming he had been denied a fair hearing.

He has admitted cocaine use, saying he took the drug after drinking tons of incredibly potent Japanese whiskey, but has said the sexual misconduct claims against him are false.
T he UKs second largest trade union could reduce the amount of money it gives to Labour if the partys leadership does not back more of its policy priorities, its general secretary has said.

Sharon Graham, of Unite, warned Sir Keir Starmer there will be no blank cheques as she urged the party to be bolder in an interview with the BBC.

She told the broadcaster: I want to see some movement if we are going to give what we usually give.

If Labour are saying what's happening now is awful - and it is absolutely awful - they have to come out with solutions to that

We would be better off with a Labour government but I am very, very disappointed with the lack of ambition.

Unite is Labours biggest financial backer and guarantees the party almost 1.5 million a year.

Ms Graham made the comments after members of her union, the UKs second largest, voted overwhelmingly against disaffiliating from the party earlier this week.

Ms Graham said she is very, very disappointed by the lack of ambition at the top of the party.

Apathy will be the winner at the ballot box next year if Labour does not become bolder, she added.

She said the opposition is not setting out a distinct alternative to the Tory Government as it tries to reassure voters it can manage the economy.

The union boss said we need be as bold as the 1945 Labour government which created the NHS.

She added: There wasnt much money about then, I can tell you.

Ms Graham told the BBC that strict fiscal rules have led to inertia which has led the public to ask what the difference is between Labour and the Conservatives.

She also said Labour must talk about what they can do to change Britain. People want something to vote for.

She added: If Labour are saying whats happening now is awful  and it is absolutely awful  they have to come out with solutions to that.

The BBC said she is pushing for renationalisation of steel and energy companies to be near the top of the partys priority list.

The real decision-makers are the voters. If they push those ideas, politicians tend to move when they speak to voters

During several meetings with the Labour leader, she said it would be cheaper to buy a steel industry that has lost much of its market value than to bail out its private owners, the broadcaster reported.

Ms Graham wants hundreds of organisers to go to marginal seats and talk to voters about the case for taking key industries into public hands.

The message will be reinforced by Unite-funded billboards.

The aim is for voters to press local Labour parties and candidates to commit to backing nationalisation.

She told the BBC: We will take our ideas to the people.

The real decision-makers are the voters. If they push those ideas, politicians tend to move when they speak to voters

People will say they remember when energy companies were privatised and when they paid massive bills, and it was a Labour government that stopped all that.
L abour doubled down on its pursuit of economic growth as the UKs second largest union said it could cut the funding it donates to the party unless more of its policy priorities are backed.

Unite boss Sharon Graham on Saturday warned Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer there will be no blank cheques as she urged the party to be bolder in an interview with the BBC.

But Sir Keir has renewed his defence of putting financial prudence at the heart of his plans ahead of a set of crunch by-elections in which the party hopes to inflict defeats on the Conservatives.

In an article for The Observer newspaper, Sir Keir said: Frankly, the left has to start caring a lot more about growth, about creating wealth, attracting inward investment and kickstarting a spirit of enterprise.

It is the only show in town for those who dream of a brighter future.

Unite union general secretary Sharon Graham / PA Wire

He added: Taking seriously the foundations of economic responsibility may not set peoples pulses racing, but the new country we can build on top of them will do.

It is the latest attempt to pitch Labour as a party prioritising financial responsibility over spending due to a dire economic backdrop, a move which risks angering unions and the left.

Speaking of the funding Unite gives to the Labour Party, the unions leader Mr Graham told the BBC on Saturday: I want to see some movement if we are going to give what we usually give.

We would be better off with a Labour government but I am very, very disappointed with the lack of ambition.

Ms Grahams intervention came after she saw off a bid by some members of the union, which is Labours biggest financial backer, to end affiliation with the party earlier this week.

She said she is very, very disappointed by the lack of ambition at the top of the party and warned it was failing to offer a distinct alternative to the Tories as it tries to reassure voters it can manage the economy.

The union boss said we need be as bold as the 1945 Labour government which created the NHS, adding: There wasnt much money about then, I can tell you.

Ms Graham told the BBC that strict fiscal rules have led to inertia which has prompted the public to question what the difference is between Labour and the Conservatives.

She also said Labour must talk about what they can do to change Britain. People want something to vote for.

If Labour are saying whats happening now is awful  and it is absolutely awful  they have to come out with solutions to that, she added.

The BBC said she is pushing for renationalisation of steel and energy companies to be near the top of the partys priority list.

During several meetings with the Labour leader, she said it would be cheaper to buy a steel industry that has lost much of its market value than to bail out its private owners, the broadcaster reported.

She told the BBC: We will take our ideas to the people.

The real decision-makers are the voters. If they push those ideas, politicians tend to move when they speak to voters

People will say they remember when energy companies were privatised and when they paid massive bills, and it was a Labour government that stopped all that.
I ranian authorities on Sunday announced a new campaign to force women to wear the Islamic headscarf, as so-called morality police returned to the streets.

On Sunday, police spokesman General Saeed Montazerolmahdi said the morality police would resume notifying and then detaining women not wearing hijab in public.

In Irans capital Tehran, officers could be seen patrolling the streets in marked vans.

Members of Iran's police forces walk on a street during the revival of morality police in Tehran / via REUTERS

The morality police had largely pulled back after 22-year-old Mahsa Amini died in September, while she was in custody accused of having broken the countrys strict dress code for women.

Authorities struggled to contain mass protests that broke out in the aftermath of Miss Aminis death, calling for the overthrow of the theocracy that has ruled Iran for over four decades.

The protests largely died down earlier this year following a heavy crackdown in which over 500 protesters were killed and nearly 20,000 detained. But many women continued to flout the official dress code, especially in the capital, Tehran, and other cities.

The morality police were only rarely seen patrolling the streets, and in December, there were even some reports  later denied  that they had been disbanded.

Authorities insisted throughout the crisis that the rules had not changed. Irans clerical rulers view the hijab as a key pillar of the Islamic revolution that brought them to power, and consider more casual dress a sign of Western decadence.

Late on Saturday, police arrested Mohammed Sadeghi, a young and relatively unknown actor, in a raid on his home that he appears to have broadcast on social media.

Earlier, he had posted a video in response to another online video showing a woman being detained by the morality police. Believe me, if I see such a scene, I might commit murder, he reportedly said.

The website of the semi-official Hamshahri daily, which is affiliated with the Tehran municipality, said he was arrested for encouraging people to use weapons against the police.

The battle over the hijab became a powerful rallying cry last fall, with women playing a leading role in the protests.

The demonstrations quickly escalated into calls for the overthrow of Irans clerical rulers, whom the mostly young protesters accuse of being corrupt, repressive and out of touch.

Irans government blamed the protests on a foreign conspiracy, without providing evidence.

Several Iranian celebrities joined the protests, including prominent directors and actors from the countrys celebrated film industry. Several Iranian actresses were detained after appearing in public without the hijab or expressing support for the protests.

In a recent case, actress Azadeh Samadi was barred from social media and ordered by a court to seek psychological treatment for antisocial personality disorder after appearing at a funeral two months ago wearing a cap on her head.
R ussian security officials entered a period of confusion after the rebellion by Wagner mercenaries, British defence chiefs said.

Warlord Yevgeny Prigozhin launched a rebellion against Russias military leadership last month, but backed down after a deal was brokered by Putins ally, President Lukashenko of Belarus.

Prighozins whereabouts are unknown, but in recent days an unverified image of him in his underwear emerged on Russian chat forums.

In its latest intelligence update, the UKs Ministry of Defence (MoD) said an interim arrangement for the future of the Wagner group has started to take shape.

They added: On 12 July 2023, the Russian MoD announced that Wagner had handed over 2000 pieces of military equipment, including tanks. As of 15 July 2023, at least a small contingent of Wagner fighters have arrived at a camp in Belarus.

Concurrently, some Wagner-associated social media groups have resumed activity, with a focus on highlighting the groups activities in Africa.

Based on recent announcements by Russian officials, the state is likely prepared to accept Wagners aspirations to maintain its extensive presence on the continent.

It comes after Belarus confirmed it has reached an agreement with Wagner to train its troops.

A defence ministry statement said: We have developed a roadmap for... transfer of experience between different branches of the armed forces.

Belarus said on Saturday that fighters from the Wagner group were instructing its soldiers at a military range southeast of Minsk.
T housands of people were forced to evacuate their homes after forest fires ripped through the Spanish island of La Palma.

At least 11 houses were destroyed in the inferno which started in the early hours in El Pinar de Puntagorda - a wooded area in the north of the Canary Island, which is popular with British holidaymakers.

The local mayor told Spanish TV channel RTVE that the area, which has experienced blistering temperatures of 40C this week, has also been suffering from a lack of rain.

An emergency alert was issued by the Canary Islands Government as fire crews battled to bring the fire under control.

The fire advanced very quickly, said Fernando Clavijo, the president of the Canary Islands regional government. He blamed the wind, the climate conditions as well as the heatwave that we are living through for the fire outbreak.

It comes as a blistering heatwave continues to sweep through others parts of southern Europe.

Red alerts have been issued for 16 cities across Italy - including the tourist meccas of Rome, Florence and Bologna - with people advised to stay indoors between 11am and 6pm.

Yesterday, the Acropolis in Greece was closed during the hottest hours for the second day in a row to protect visitors to the site, after some tourists collapsed in the brutal conditions.

The heatwave has been named Cerberus by Italian meteorologists, after the three-headed hound of Hades from Greek mythology. A second heat-wave that could break temperature records next week is named Charon, after the ferryman of Greek mythology who bore souls to the underworld.

The current European record is 48.8C, in Sicily in August 2021.
HOLLAND  In May 2023, hotels in the greater Holland area saw a 65 percent occupancy rate.

That's three percent lower than 2022, but Linda Hart of the Holland Area Visitors Bureau said it's likely because of changes in travel over the past few years.

Tourism numbers in Holland are beginning to veer back toward "normalcy," according to Linda Hart of the Holland Area Visitors Bureau.

There were still restrictions on flights, people didn't want to fly, so they would drive instead, Hart said. Versus this year, people can now fly, they can travel.

Some might, therefore, be going to more exotic locales.

Meanwhile, Hart told The Sentinel, local tourism is expected to veer back toward "normalcy." In 2019, the occupancy rate in May was 71 percent. Given the boost in hotel room stock over the past three years, Hart said, those numbers make sense.

I anticipated it to be slightly lower this year, she said.

But could Holland become a more "exotic" locale if there were other ways to travel here? Arrival by cruise ship could become a possibility upon completion of Waterfront Holland, a complex development project that received a boost from voters in May when residents approved a crucial land sale.

The project would see the former James DeYoung Power Plant site occupied by Verplank, currently located next to Boatwerks Waterfront Restaurant near Kollen Park. Verplank's site, meanwhile, would be paired with other adjacent sites and developed by GDK Properties to include cruise ship docking, potential docking for The Holland Princess, a restaurant, an ice cream shop, a hotel, residences and public access.

"Holland is still a shore excursion destination for two of the cruise ships that come into Lake Michigan," Hart said. "But it could become more than an excursion destination with this expansion."

Upcoming projects, including a waterfront development and the banning of short-term rentals in Park Township, could mean changes for Holland's tourism industry.

Already, cruise companies that operate on the Great Lakes have reached out, expressing interest in making Holland another port of call. That could have a significant impact on tourism, but not necessarily hotel occupancy rates  which the bureau uses to track visitors and fund projects.

Subscribe: Get all your breaking news and unlimited access to our local coverage

Hart said the project's hotel, if built, will likely be a "boutique" design, with fewer rooms than a traditional hotel.

But the upcoming ban of short-term rentals in Park Township could have a dramatic change in occupancy rates, since potential visitors to the lakeshore will need to seek other lodging options.

To sum up, there's a lot coming down the pike.

[A lot] unknown at this point, Hart said.

 Contact intern Abigail Shanley at abigailshanley@hotmail.com.

This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Short-term rentals and waterfront developments: What's next for Holland's tourism industry?
In order to justify the effort of selecting individual stocks, it's worth striving to beat the returns from a market index fund. But in any portfolio, there will be mixed results between individual stocks. At this point some shareholders may be questioning their investment in Land Securities Group Plc (LON:LAND), since the last five years saw the share price fall 34%. But it's up 6.5% in the last week.

While the last five years has been tough for Land Securities Group shareholders, this past week has shown signs of promise. So let's look at the longer term fundamentals and see if they've been the driver of the negative returns.

View our latest analysis for Land Securities Group

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 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 five years of share price growth, Land Securities Group moved from a loss to profitability. However, it made a loss in the last twelve months, suggesting profit may be an unreliable metric at this stage. Other metrics might give us a better handle on how its value is changing over time.

The most recent dividend was actually lower than it was in the past, so that may have sent the share price lower. The revenue decline of around 2.8% would not have helped the stock price. So it seems weak revenue and dividend trends may have influenced the share price.

The company's revenue and earnings (over time) are depicted in the image below (click to see the exact numbers).

We like that insiders have been buying shares in the last twelve months. Having said that, most people consider earnings and revenue growth trends to be a more meaningful guide to the business. So we recommend checking out this free report showing consensus forecasts

What About Dividends?

When looking at investment returns, it is important to consider the difference between total shareholder return (TSR) and share price return. The TSR is a return calculation that accounts for the value of cash dividends (assuming that any dividend received was reinvested) and the calculated value of any discounted capital raisings and spin-offs. Arguably, the TSR gives a more comprehensive picture of the return generated by a stock. As it happens, Land Securities Group's TSR for the last 5 years was -17%, which exceeds the share price return mentioned earlier. And there's no prize for guessing that the dividend payments largely explain the divergence!

A Different Perspective

Investors in Land Securities Group had a tough year, with a total loss of 4.1% (including dividends), against a market gain of about 4.1%. 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 3% 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. To that end, you should learn about the 3 warning signs we've spotted with Land Securities Group (including 1 which can't be ignored) .

Land Securities Group is not the only stock that insiders are buying. For those who like to find winning investments this free list of growing companies with recent insider purchasing, could be just the ticket.

Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on 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.

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You can think of enrolling in Medicare as an enormous dinner out with very filling starters. But before you order, you must choose one of two 
The controversy over transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney helped Modelo Especial overtake Bud Light as Americas No. 1 beer, but the Mexican lagers rise is no fluke. Its mainstream success was years in the making.

Recently claiming the title of top-selling beer for the second month in a row, Constellation Brands Modelo Especial built a large following with a strong marketing presence and an appeal to younger, more diverse beer drinkers.

Theyve spent the last 20 years building credibility, and thats recognized by consumers, said Bob Lachky, former chief creative officer at Anheuser-Busch.

Meanwhile, sales of Anheuser-Busch InBevs Bud Light have been shrinking for years. Then in April, after a Bud Light promotional video posted by Mulvaney, sales plummeted amid calls for a boycott, including from some prominent celebrities. Bud Light saw more backlash when its vice president of marketing, Alissa Gordon Heinerscheid, tried to explain the goal of inclusivity by saying, Bud Light has been kind of a brand of fratty, kind of out-of-touch humor.

Weeks later, the controversy is still resonating, as Modelo Especial continues to build momentum.

Arena Liquor in Clayton-Tamm hasnt restocked Bud Light since Memorial Day weekend, employee Joseph Gates said. Several customers turned to other light beers. One who used to buy three cases of Bud Light a week now purchases Coors Light, Gates said.

People dont like people telling them an agenda, Gates said. People are saying, Beer companies should stick to business, not politics.

Arena Liquor is now selling out of Modelo all the time, something the store has never done before.

At Randalls Wines and Spirits in McKinley Heights, beer manager Dustin Martin was more optimistic. The controversy did not significantly affect Bud Light sales at his location.

The people who are upset are a vocal minority, he said.

Martin pointed to another competitor, Yuengling beer, which was introduced in Missouri earlier this year, as a hit to Bud Light sales. But when it comes to macro lagers, Bud Light is still Martins best seller.

I think Bud Light will be fine, he said.

He acknowledged, though, that Modelo has always been a great-moving beer.

Thats been the case for more than 20 years, and Modelo was already on pace to surpass Bud Light for the top-selling spot. The recent controversy just helped Modelo cross the finish line sooner, said David Steinman, Beer Marketers Insights executive editor. In fact, Steinman said, Modelo has been one of the biggest growth brands over the past several decades.

Chugging along

For the year, Bud Light remains the No. 1 selling beer in the U.S., with 8.7% share of the beer market, according to Dave Williams of Bump Williams Consulting, which analyzes the alcoholic beverage industry. Modelo is sitting at an 8.1% share.

And though Bud Light has been declining in terms of volume sold since 2008, the brand continues to see dollar growth in the U.S., and remains a profitable company.

Theyve been able to manage the volume loss, Steinman said. Thats the way the industry has been working since 2008.

But the numbers point to a clear trend:

 Bud Light sales dropped 28% for the week ending July 1. In the same period, Modelo Especial increased 11%, and the brand was able to claim top-selling-beer status for the past two months.

 Bud Light is down 12% in year-to-date sales, while Modelo is up 8%.

 The number of cases of Modelo sold to retailers grew 15% in the 2022 fiscal year. It was also the No. 1 share-gainer in U.S. dollar sales among beers, according to IRI, a market research company.

Experts say Modelo has benefited from Constellation Brands focused effort to position it as a premium beer, with a fresh image compared to rivals like Bud Light. It has benefited from the rising Hispanic population in the United States, but has also managed to boost its appeal to wider markets in recent years.

The growing Hispanic population acted as a tailwind for Modelo to be catapulted into a broader audience, Steinman said.

Lachky said signs of Modelo Especials success can be traced to Corona, another Mexican beer owned by Constellation. Coronas vacation in a bottle campaign, he said, spoke to everyone, not just Hispanic consumers, helping pave the way for all Modelo brands.

Great products, great packaging, great displays and great strong, consistent advertising, he said.

At Seamus McDaniels in St. Louis, Modelo sales have risen the past couple of months, while Bud Light sales are down. Though the biggest sellers are Irish beers, bartender Elaine Sciaccio pointed out that Busch, Natural Light and Michelob ULTRA  all of which are manufactured by A-B  are still popular.

Bud Light sales have gone down but Ive not heard anything about it, she said. We have sold more Modelo as of recently. It might be related.

Martin, of Randalls Wine and Spirits, also noted the market strength of A-B  and the fact that the company benefits from Modelo sales outside of the U.S. Due to an antitrust lawsuit in 2013, when A-B was trying to acquire Grupo Modelo, the company sold Modelos U.S. business to Constellation and retained control of international sales.

Its all one big company, Martin said. You cant avoid giving money to A-B.
Tourists visit the Ruins of St. Paul's in Macao, south China, April 29, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua]

Macao's GDP for the first half of 2023 is expected to grow by 70%, recovering to around 65% of the average figure from 2017 to 2019 before the COVID-19 pandemic, the Macao Economic Association said on Saturday.



The GDP for the second quarter of the year is likely to more than double from a year ago, according to the latest estimations on Macao's economic climate index and economic growth released by the association.

Broad money supply, or M2, a leading indicator for the economic climate, maintained an upward trend year on year for six consecutive months.

Visitor arrivals in May totaled 2.21 million, about 3.7 times the figure of the same period of last year, but down 2.6% month-on-month, showed the studies.

Data of hotel guest number, hotel occupancy rate, total employment and general unemployment rate all showed that the local tourism and related industries were recovering at a relatively fast speed.

The association rated the economic climate index for May and June at a "stable" level of 5.2 points. It expected the index to rise to between 5.6 and 5.8 from July to September thanks to the tourism surge in summer holiday and boosted confidence of local consumers.
Donald Tang, Shein

Shein executive vice chairman Donald Tang Credit - Courtesy of Shein

(To receive weekly emails of conversations with the worlds top CEOs and decisionmakers, click here.)

Few companies have profited from the pandemics e-commerce boom more than Shein (pronounced she-in), the retailer that has become known for selling ultra-cheap clothing and other goods. Founded in China and now based in Singapore, Shein became the second most popular shopping app globally in 2021 and the most-downloaded app in May 2022.

Helping to lead Sheins expansion around the world is Donald Tang, who became the companys executive vice chairman in November 2022 after advising Shein CEO and cofounder Chris Xu for three years. Tang, a former Bear Stearns dealmaker, was brought on as Shein toys with the idea of listing itself as a public company on an international stock exchange. In 2022 its valuation was estimated around $100 billion, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Tang is well placed to bring Shein to market if the company chooses that route. As the former vice chairman of Bear Stearns and chairman and CEO of Bear Stearns Asia, he has brokered deals between Chinese and American companies, including the $2.6 billion takeover of movie-theater chain AMC by Chinese giant Dalian Wanda Group.

Despite its popularity with consumers, Shein has some image problems. The brand is routinely criticized for perpetuating the fast-fashion trend, creating cheap items that often end up in landfill, for its labor practices in China, and for exploiting a customs loophole that allows it to avoid paying tariffs on the goods it sends to the U.S.

That backlash only grew in June, after Shein flew a group of popular influencers to China to tour the companys facilities. The influencers were widely derided for posting content from their visit that sounded pretty much like the brands public relations message.

Read More: How the Shein Brand Trip Became a Disaster for a Group of Influencers

On July 14, it emerged that the company had been hit with a lawsuit from a group of designers accusing the company of copyright infringement and having a corporate structure that the suit alleges amounts to racketeering. In a statement responding to the lawsuit, the company said that it takes all claims of infringement seriously and that it would take swift action when complaints are raised by valid IP rights holders. The company also added that it will vigorously defend itself against the lawsuit and any claims that are without merit.

Tang says the company is trying to tackle some of the problems Shein is criticized for, such as auditing its suppliers. In 2022, Shein conducted 2,812 audits of 1,941 contract manufacturers, accounting for about 84% of Shein-branded products by procurement value, the company says.

Tang sat down with TIME in New York City on July 10 to talk about what the company learned from the influencer trip disaster, the environmental concerns of fast fashion and Sheins plans for a marketplace local to the U.S.

This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity.

I have to ask about the influencer trip that was seen as a bit of a cynical marketing ploy. Do you regret having organized that trip? And is there something you would do differently in the future?

Its something that came about with the best intentions. In hindsight, it didnt go to the place we intended, which is that were committed to more transparency. We want people to see all the different places that we make things from. The influencers got very unfair treatment, which I very much regret.

You regret that there was backlash against them?

It was a well-intentioned effort that didnt get to the right place at the end. We have a lot more to do on the journey of total transparency. So we must do more: Invite reporters to see the factorieswhatever questions they have, well answer.

How can you ensure transparency when you have so many different partners and suppliers spread out across China?

One step at a time. Nothing is perfect. Were not perfect for sure. Were committed to being as good a supply chain for our customers as possible. Were committed to better working conditions. We have done quite a lot since last year. Thats not enough. We have to do a lot more to ensure that consumers are taken care of and that workers are taken care of.

Fast fashion has been around for awhile, but Sheins business model is different. Can you explain how you operate differently than an H&M or Zara?

We are on-demand fashion. We try to figure out what you want. And then we make it for you. So we always have very, very low single-digit inventory numbers. Whereas [other retailers] have to design things and then they stock them, market them and then sell them. And then they have leftovers. We have very, very little leftovers.

How do you know what consumers want to buy beforehand?

If you are a consumer who spends a lot of time browsing, discovering and reflecting, basically you are designing. Its basically behavior analysis and then you aggregate it and it becomes a pattern.

How do you keep costs low without the volume of making lots of pieces at once?

The lack of inventory is really the key to driving the price discount. If you have no overproduction, then you can pass the savings [on] to the consumers.

We have all these small and medium enterprises, mom and pop shops [as suppliers], and we digitize them and see who has capacity and who doesnt.

So, you also have more suppliers than a more traditional fast fashion retailer?

Yes, we have thousands.

Theres a challenge with that many suppliers, to ensure that factory conditions are good and that youre not using forced labor. How do you do that with thousands of different suppliers?

First of all, were committed to better factory conditions and worker conditions. We do everything to prevent forced labor. Thats zero-tolerance for us.

Can you elaborate on what everything means? Do you kick out companies that have used forced labor?

Theres a manual for how we deal with all these issues. Suppliers must agree to abide by the companys Supplier Code of Conduct, which is aligned with International Labor Organization core conventions, as well as local laws and regulations. And then we have international, credible organizations do unannounced audits. They have scorecards, we have scorecards, and we monitor them together.

If there are certain violations, we do not tolerate that. We tend to always try to cure first, not to just get rid of them, because otherwise, they just end up in other places, right? We give them time, and if they dont cure the problems, we terminate them. Last year, we terminated 28 factories.

Id think that would be like Whack-a-Mole when you have so many many factories  theres always going to be a problem with one of them. Do you think thats true?

Yes. But I think you cannot eliminate them, but you can do better. We can use the scoring system to match the best factories with the best orders. If you have better scores, you get more orders.

A criticism of fast fashion is that the more sales you make, the more stuff thats created, the more emissions that pollute the planet. Can you succeed while still doing good environmentally?

This is the area that the industry, including us, are not very good at. The post-production, post-consumption. If we are creating more products, if the price is really good, now all of a sudden people have more to buy. This is going to create problems.

So how do we address those problems? We have done some things, like second-hand exchange, and providing customers a menu of options so they can choose clothing made with preferred materials. We also announced a partnership with Queen of Raw to buy up other companies surplus materials .

But is there really an incentive for you to deal with environmental problems?

I think there is.

Why?

Because were one of the leaders in this industry. If we dont address it, were going to get hurt the most.

Hurt how?

We all live on the same planet. If the planet gets hurt, then we all get hurt. Our planet, our consumersthose are two very, very important things for us. Our investors are obviously very important, but were a very profitable company.

Read More: Shein Is the Worlds Most Popular Fashion Brandat a Huge Cost to Us All

Do you still have plans to do an IPO?

Thats not something we are going to talk about.

Youve been referred to as a brand that was really built on TikTok. If TikTok were to be banned in more states, like Montana, would that create a big problem for your business model?

Im not going to comment on that. I think social media is important because the new generation grew up with it and theyre very used to that. If were growing up with them and were customer-first, were just using what they use.

Youre going to become more of a marketplace and sell goods from third-party sellers. Would it be accurate to say that youre trying to compete with Amazon?

We have very loyal customers because we give them choices, and we give them the prices they love. Because of the customer-first principle, we want to make sure that whenever they revisit our site, they can find something else they want to buy. So we connect with local merchants to sell the things that we dont make.

When you say local merchants, will the U.S. marketplace be exclusively for U.S. sellers?

Its U.S. sellers and other sellers as well.

How are you going to ensure quality and make sure there are no counterfeits or low quality items from third-party sellers?

Those are monumental challenges and were going to take them on just like were taking on the other things weve talked about. You have to do it one at a time, theres no shortcuts. If you do something wrong, you correct it, if you do it right, you scale it.

The way that were dealing with all these factories in China, you have to have a lot of agility. The Boston Consulting Group put out a report saying that agility is the fashions new source of competitive advantage and they featured us.

Can you still be agile, if you expand to more countries? And do you think youre going to continue to source products mostly from China, as you expand?

Thats a bigger strategy for us, we call it localization. This whole [third-party] marketplace is part of our localization strategy. Localization is also having certain manufacturing hubs within a continent. For example, Turkey for Europe. Brazil for Brazil, currently and hopefully, for the rest of Latin America as well.

What would be the hub for the U.S.?

Were looking at Mexico.

A friend of mine who shops frequently on Shein says that one flaw is it takes longer for products to get to her10 days or soI presume because of your on-demand model. Are there plans to shorten delivery times?

It used to take a lot longer. Now, its a lot shorter. Its half the time now, we want to halve it again. So if your friend wants to have shorter delivery times. Going forward, we want it to be competitive in delivery time as well.

Can you be competitive in delivery times while keeping prices extremely low?

I think it is something of a balance. You have to look at the overall needs of the consumer. Some consumers dont want it to be delivered today. Tomorrow is just okay as long as you give me the stuff I want at the price I want. Its a holistic calculation.

Ive seen some reports that avoiding customs tariffs is foundational to Sheins business model. Is that true?

Thats categorically not true.

Do you shop at Shein?

Yes.

Whats your favorite item?

A t-shirt. And also socks. The socks I got are pretty good socks. And the shirt is a pretty colorful shirt. I also buy my pet stuff from Shein. I have a dog. I have a cat. They wear different things.

You buy clothes for your pets?

Yes. Also a leash and harness. And then, because theyre very attractively priced, I can buy more.
Amid the growing acceptance and legalization of cannabis use across the country, a concern emerged: The state-by-state patchwork of safety regulations can leave marijuana consumers wandering through a haze of uncertainty, exposing them to risks.

Marijuana is illegal under federal law, so its up to individual states to determine their own regulations and safety standards.

Those inconsistent regulations are part of a broad debate about the U.S. cannabis industry. The 47 states that allow at least some cannabis use  it is still illegal in Idaho, Kansas and Nebraska  took various approaches to issues such as the allowable amount of euphoria-inducing tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, in a product.

We dont really know whats going on behind the doors of each and every lab in each and every state, said Anna Schwabe, a cannabis geneticist and director of cannabis education, research and development for 420 Organics. I dont really have any sense of or any level of comfort for the numbers that theyre putting out.

Most states require legal cannabis products to be tested for potency and contaminants such as pesticides and heavy metals.

Still, the lack of uniform testing standards lead to inconsistent laboratory results. Some labs that test products on behalf of farms have been caught inflating THC levels to cater to the demand for potent products, leading producers to resort to lab shopping, according to Leafly, an online platform dedicated to all things cannabis.

Some businesses will decide to contract with those labs because it means that their products will test stronger (in THC) and in theory, be more attractive to consumers, said Morgan Fox, the political director for the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, known as NORML. This is pretty unethical, and also an unfortunate byproduct of a financially competitive testing market.

Some states issued recalls due to products being cleared for sale despite the presence of harmful contaminants. In May 2022, the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority suspended Scale Laboratories testing license after regulators uncovered more than 140 approved samples with mold, salmonella or E. coli. The authority also recalled 99 products related to the labs alleged rules violations.

An estimated 64,000-pound marijuana recall in Michigan in 2021 was linked to at least 18 health complaints, including increased seizure activity, allergic reactions, paranoia and a chemical burning sensation.

Having some standards of operation across the board would dramatically decrease the variation that we see among labs, but then we would have to have some sort of regulatory oversight to make sure everybody is following the rules (on THC levels and testing practices), which we already dont have, Schwabe said.

Labs across the country have different methods of testing cannabis, which may be part of the reason for so much variation, Schwabe said. Some states run labs and have a more standardized approach, while others offer licenses to independent labs.

Inconsistent state cannabis regulations could have potentially dire implications for consumer health, according to a 2022 study published in the Environmental Health Perspectives journal. The study found that state-level regulatory disparities pose an increased risk of contaminant exposure for immunocompromised people who could contract potentially fatal infections, while also causing confusion among cannabis growers, manufacturers and testing laboratories.

What is permissible in one state may be prohibited or regulated differently in another, said Karmen Hanson of the National Conference of State Legislatures health program.

There are also inconsistencies in THC potency and marijuana strain names across different dispensaries and states, Schwabe said.

Cannabis programs also evolve as states learn from one another and adapt their laws and regulations based on factors such as emerging research or public health concerns, said Michelle Rutter Friberg, the National Cannabis Industry Associations director of government relations.

States are still very interested in the revenue, but theyre also more interested in things like getting rid of an illicit market, making sure that the products that people are consuming are safe or trying to end the war on drugs by legalizing cannabis and doing so in an equitable way, she said.

Regulatory consistency also could steer consumers away from illicit sources that can be even more dangerous.

You dont know whats in it, especially at a time when were talking about things like fentanyl. Thats more of a reason now than ever to talk about the regulation of products like this, Rutter Friberg said.

The Colorado legislature in 2017 prohibited edibles shaped like humans, animals or fruits to reduce their appeal to children. Similar measures, including child-resistant packaging, were implemented in other states.

Some marijuana advocates argue that federal legalization could provide a solution by establishing consistent standards and harmonizing regulations across state lines to streamline the cannabis industry and enhance consumer safety.

Cannabis tax boom: States collect a whopping $15.1 billion in revenue since weed legalization Cannabis tax boom: States collect a whopping $15.1 billion in revenue since weed legalization Cannabis Tax Revenue State By State
Former Missouri House Speaker Tim Joness column promoting relaxation of flight limits on Reagan National Airport (Missourians need greater direct access to and from D.C., July 7) offers more red herrings than the North Atlantic, but strangely says nothing at all about the real reason for these restrictions: flight safety.

A little background: Reagan National Airport (DCA) is, to put it in technical aviation terms, a teeny tiny little airport. It sits on an 860-acre spit of land that juts out into the Potomac River from Alexandria, VA (fun fact: 127 of those 860 acres are actually underwater). It has three runways, only one of which, at 7,169 feet in length, is big enough to accommodate full-sized airliners. The two shorter runways are cross-wind runways. Using them comes with a catch  both of them intersect the main runway, and they also intersect each other. This means that any time any one of the three runways is in use, the other two cannot be used  so, for all practical purposes, it is a one-runway airport. By way of comparison, Lambert Airport (STL) covers 3,793 acres and has three parallel runways that can be used simultaneously (the longest of which is 11,020 feet). Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson airport covers 4,700 acres and has five parallel runways.

In 1969 the FAA adopted a slot rule to limit capacity at DCA. A slot can be used for one take-off or landing. A route from, say, STL to DCA and back requires a pair of slots  one to land and one to take off. There are currently 1080 slots authorized for the slot-control hours of 6 a.m. to 12 a.m.; all but 40 of these slots are limited to flights travelling less than 1,250 miles from DCA (the so-called perimeter rule). The vast majority of slots are controlled by the airlines. They are very valuable; when Delta Airlines was required to sell 16 DCA slots in 2019, Jet Blue happily paid $40 million for them.

That 1,080 daily slots sounds like a lot, until you try to use them all on one runway. According to the Washington Metropolitan Airports Authority, which operates DCA, that one runway is the busiest runway in the world, averaging slightly more than one takeoff or landing every 60 seconds. If you are flying to DCA, try not to think about that while you are on final approach.

That is the real reason it would be dangerously foolish to try to cram even more flights onto a runway that is already at its reasonable capacity, at an airport where it is physically impossible to expand to a two-runway operation. It is also an issue you will never see slot-expansion lobbyists bring up in a newspaper article. And, safety considerations aside, the FAA estimates that the addition of as few as 40 slots to DCAs daily total would immediately increase delays at DCA by 25%. If there is anything the air traffic system doesnt need, it is more built-in delays.

Now, what about that perimeter rule, which Mr. Jones decries as an antiquated bit of Congressional market manipulation and a crime against the law of supply and demand?

Actually, I sort of half-agree with him on that. It is a bit of market manipulation, but it is also something that protects air travelers in places like St. Louis. Right now, we have seven daily non-stop STL-DCA round trips, three on American Airlines and four on Southwest. These trips consume 14 daily slots. Because of the perimeter rule, that is four more slots spent on St. Louis every day than these two airlines can spend on Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego and Phoenix, combined.

Without the perimeter rule, those airlines (and all of their competitors) would immediately move to increase DCA non-stop service to big western markets like the four mentioned above. But each new service would require a slot pair, and the number of slots at DCA cannot be safely or meaningfully increased. So, those slots would have to come out of slots and flights now allocated to other, smaller markets, like Kansas City, Des Moines, Memphis, Grand Rapids, Dayton, Little Rock  or St. Louis. The perimeter rule most certainly is a restriction on the free market  but it is also a great friend of Lambert Field. Without the perimeter rule, we might quickly see those seven daily round trips reduced to two or three. Anyone who tells you any different doesnt understand supply and demand at all.

All of which is why if we are interested in maintaining safe and convenient travel to DCA from here in St. Louis, we should encourage our representatives in Congress to just leave well enough alone.

Mark Abels was vice president corporate communications for Northwest Airlines from 1991 to 1995 and Trans World Airlines 1996 to 2001.
New reporting about an old issue  nuclear contamination in the St. Louis region stretching back to the World War II era  has prompted bipartisan demands that the federal government finally take responsibility for mitigating the lingering radioactive waste and reimbursing residents who have suffered health effects from it.

The charge is being led by an unlikely alliance between Republican Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley and Democratic St. Louis Rep. Cori Bush, with other area politicians of both parties and various levels of government joining in.

Its encouraging to see the regions elected officials setting aside their deep partisan divisions to rally behind a cause that is truly crucial to St. Louisans. They shouldnt stop until Washington finally cleans up its decades-old mess.

St. Louis was among the regions where the federal government set up shop during World War II to develop the first nuclear weapons. In sites near downtown and near what is now St. Louis Lambert International Airport, the government and its contractors worked mainly with uranium, processing it into a concentrated form for early atomic bomb production.

New reporting from The Associated Press, The Missouri Independent and the nonprofit newsroom MuckRock has established that the federal government and the companies it contracted with knew they were creating future health hazards during the nuclear waste disposal process but took no steps to avoid it. Citing internal memos, reports and other documents from the early 1950s on, the news outlets found what they called nonchalance and indifference to the environmental risks.

Almost 80 years later, the region continues to pay the price, with elevated cancer risks in the area, radiation detection that forced last years closure of Jana Elementary School in Florissant, the continued contamination of Coldwater Creek in North St. Louis County and the contaminated West Lake Landfill in Bridgeton  where a nearby subsurface fire has smoldered for years, threatening to spread to the contaminated area with potentially dire consequences.

The issues have long been known, but residents and companies have been battling in court for years over who is responsible for what, while the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has (activists alleged) dragged its feet.

At a news conference at Weldon Spring last week, Hawley, joined by local activists and others, announced he is drafting legislation to create a federal fund to provide medical care for people impacted by the radiation  a figure he estimated to be some 80,000 people over the decades. Bush is pursuing similar legislation in the House.

Hawley called for President Joe Biden and his top energy and environmental officials to tour the contaminated sites. That would be an appropriate show of support for a region that was there when the federal government needed it, and which now needs that government to step up.
Vivoryon Therapeutics N.V. Shares Clinical Development Update Highlighting Progress of N3pE-Amyloid-targeting Small Molecule Varoglutamstat in Alzheimers Disease

Small molecule varoglutamstat, with potential for meaningful safety and ease of use advantages over antibody-based therapies, continues to show encouraging safety data at therapeutic dose of 600 mg twice daily, a dose demonstrated to result in nearly 90% target occupancy

VIVIAD data presented at AAIC 2023 demonstrate that WAIS-IV Coding test as an inclusion criterion successfully ensures recruitment of patients with early AD presenting with evidence of baseline cognitive deficits, enabling a more reliable assessment of potential cognitive improvement after treatment

June 2023 DSMB meeting results with approval to proceed for both VIVIAD and VIVA-MIND

VIVIAD Phase 2b study in Europe on track for final data readout Q1/2024 with safety data from all 259 randomized patients showing no clinical signs of ARIA to date; no additional DSMB meetings required until study completion

VIVA-MIND Phase 2 study in the U.S. steadily progressing, recruitment into second cohort ongoing

Commenced preparations for open label extension study to provide long-term treatment option to patients after completion of treatment under VIVIAD or VIVA-MIND protocol contingent on trial outcome

Halle (Saale) / Munich, Germany, July 16, 2023  Vivoryon Therapeutics N.V. (Euronext Amsterdam: VVY; NL00150002Q7) (Vivoryon), a clinical stage company focused on the discovery and development of small molecule medicines to modulate the activity and stability of pathologically altered proteins, today provided a clinical development update highlighting the progress of its unique N3pE-amyloid-targeting small molecule varoglutamstat in Alzheimers disease (AD). The update included data presented at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference (AAIC), being held July 16-20, 2023, in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. The Company is also providing updates from the ongoing clinical Phase 2 studies VIVIAD in Europe and VIVA-MIND in the U.S.

In light of the renewed momentum within the Alzheimers disease drug development space with the first full approval of a potentially disease-modifying medication, I am particularly encouraged by the opportunity to be testing varoglutamstat within our Phase 2 Proof-of-Concept trial, commented Dr. Howard Feldman, Professor of Neurosciences and Director of the ADCS at UC San Diego School of Medicine, and the VIVA-MIND study director. As a small molecule alternative that can conveniently be taken at home and potentially without comparable risks of brain swelling and bleeding seen with amyloid lowering monoclonal antibodies, varoglutamstat may hold significant advantages in safety and ease of use by patients.

As varoglutamstat continues to progress through clinical development, we are very pleased to report that VIVIADs independent Data Safety Monitoring Board has determined that the VIVIAD study can continue without modifications and no additional meetings will be required until the meeting scheduled at study completion, added Dr. Ulrich Dauer, CEO of Vivoryon. This is the first time varoglutamstat long-term safety data from patients suffering from Alzheimers disease with a treatment duration of more than a year and up to two years have been reviewed independently. Our path forward both from a clinical and regulatory perspective is promising and we see the outcomes of this meeting as an important point of validation for our approach. The growing evidence supporting varoglutamstat as a potential novel medicine to treat Alzheimers disease with a favorable safety profile is incredibly encouraging, particularly as we think about its positioning within the broader treatment landscape. We look forward to reporting on the final data, which we expect to read out in the first quarter of 2024. In tandem, given the excellent progress of VIVIAD, we have decided to initiate preparations for an open label extension study, which, following positive VIVIAD study outcome, could provide a long-term therapeutic option to patients who have been treated under VIVIAD or VIVA-MIND protocols.

Varoglutamstat Clinical Program:

Varoglutamstat is a differentiated investigational small-molecule medicine in development to treat Alzheimers disease. It is currently being investigated in two large Phase 2 studies, VIVIAD (NCT04498650) in Europe and VIVA-MIND (NCT03919162) in the U.S., where it continues to show evidence of a favorable safety profile at the therapeutic dose of 600 mg twice daily (BID), a dose demonstrated to result in a target occupancy of nearly 90%.

Varoglutamstat is designed to prevent N3pE- Abeta formation, rather than aiming to clear existing plaques, making it an intervention upstream of other approaches such as monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). Through a second mode of action, varoglutamstat also modulates neuroinflammation via the CCL2 pathway, which, in turn, has an impact on tau pathology.

Varoglutamstat was shown to be well-tolerated in both a completed first-in-human Phase 1 study in over 200 participants and the subsequent first-in-patient Phase 2a study, SAPHIR (NCT02389413), which enrolled 120 patients suffering from early AD. Importantly, after only 12 weeks of treatment, this study showed evidence of improving not only pathological hallmarks, but also synaptic function and connectivity, cognition, memory and attention in AD patients, including statistically significant changes from baseline in working memory.

VIVIAD (NCT04498650) is a state-of-the-art Phase 2b study being conducted in Europe and designed to evaluate the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of varoglutamstat in 259 (final number of randomized participants) subjects with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and mild Alzheimers disease (AD).

Data f rom AAIC 2023: P1-18 / P1-904 Poster #82642  VIVIAD, a Phase 2b Study Investigating Varoglutamstat in Patients with MCI or Mild AD: Analysis of Baseline Cognition Data. These data demonstrate that Vivoryons strategy of recruiting individuals with evidence of baseline deficits on the WAIS-IV Coding test, a well-known measure of cognitive function, successfully enriches study cohorts with respect to deficits in attention and working memory, enabling reliable assessment of potential cognitive improvement after treatment. A new enrichment strategy was applied in the VIVIAD study to ensure that study participants exhibited rescuable deficits in attention and working memory at baseline. VIVIAD uses the WAIS-IV Coding test to select patients with rescuable cognitive deficits in the target domains. The study inclusion criteria encompassed a score of at least 0.5 SD (standard deviations) below age-adjusted mean on the WAIS-IV Coding subtest. Approximately 20% of screened patients did not meet the inclusion criteria during screening due to good performance on the WAIS-IV Coding test. In addition, for selecting patients with mild disease, the MMSE cut-off was set at 20, leading to 8% of patients not meeting the inclusion criteria due to falling under this cut-off value. The WAIS-IV Coding test performance shows reasonably good correlation with the measures that comprise the primary outcome, i.e. detection (DET), identification (IDN) and one back test (ONB) of the Cogstate NTB as judged by the Spearman correlation coefficients of 0.27, 0.44, and 0.47, respectively, using the blinded baseline data of all randomized patients.

P1-18 / P1-904 Poster #82642  VIVIAD, a Phase 2b Study Investigating Varoglutamstat in Patients with MCI or Mild AD: Analysis of Baseline Cognition Data. These data demonstrate that Vivoryons strategy of recruiting individuals with evidence of baseline deficits on the WAIS-IV Coding test, a well-known measure of cognitive function, successfully enriches study cohorts with respect to deficits in attention and working memory, enabling reliable assessment of potential cognitive improvement after treatment.

The use of MMSE and WAIS-IV Coding test, together with inclusion criteria based on CSF biomarkers (Abeta and p-tau) are valuable tools in identifying and recruiting patients with MCI or mild AD who already have deficits in working memory and attention.





Safety Results: Data from all 259 randomized patients showed no clinical signs of ARIA at the cutoff date of June 14, 2023. Both the total number of SAEs and the discontinuation rate were considerably lower than the respective numbers at the 800 mg BID varoglutamstat dose in Vivoryons completed Phase 2a SAPHIR study, while retaining a similar level of target inhibition at the dosing in both studies.





Data from all 259 randomized patients showed no clinical signs of ARIA at the cutoff date of June 14, 2023. Both the total number of SAEs and the discontinuation rate were considerably lower than the respective numbers at the 800 mg BID varoglutamstat dose in Vivoryons completed Phase 2a SAPHIR study, while retaining a similar level of target inhibition at the dosing in both studies. After carefully reviewing the updated safety data, the independent Data Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB) decided in its recent meeting on June 22, 2023, that the study should continue as planned and that no additional DSMB meeting will be required until study completion.





The study is on track for the final data readout in Q1/2024.





Open label extension (OLE) study: Vivoryon commenced preparations for an OLE study to provide a long-term treatment option to patients after completion of treatment under the VIVIAD or VIVA-MIND protocol. The launch of the OLE study is contingent on the outcome of VIVIAD.





VIVA-MIND (NCT03919162) is a complementary Phase 2 study for varoglutamstat conducted in the U.S. which seeks to enroll 180 patients with early AD into the Phase 2a adaptive dose finding portion and enroll a further 234 patients in the Phase 2b portion of the study.

Study Updates: The first cohort was fully randomized into the study as planned and the study is now recruiting participants into the second cohort, with 19 sites open across the U.S. In its June 12, 2023, meeting, the studys independent DSMB recommended to continue the study without modification, supporting the rationale for accelerated uptitration to 600 mg BID dosing. The Company anticipates a decision on final trial size following the data readout of the VIVIAD study. Vivoryon intends to provide a study update in Q4/2023.

The first cohort was fully randomized into the study as planned and the study is now recruiting participants into the second cohort, with 19 sites open across the U.S.

###

About VIVIAD

VIVIAD is a state-of-the-art Phase 2b study being conducted in Europe and designed to evaluate the safety, tolerability and efficacy of varoglutamstat in 250 subjects with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and mild AD compared to placebo over the course of 48 to 96 weeks of treatment. The highest dose investigated in the study (600 mg twice daily) was selected by an independent Data Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB) as final dose after the dose-escalation portion of the study. Enrollment was completed with a total of 259 participants and the study was adapted in 2022 to enable an average treatment duration of ~82 weeks. The primary endpoint is a composite of the Neuropsychological Test Battery (NTB) focusing on changes in working memory and attention with secondary endpoints including multiple cognitive, safety and biomarker assessments.

About VIVA-MIND

VIVA-MIND is a complementary Phase 2 study being conducted in the U.S., coordinated by the Alzheimer's Disease Cooperative Study (ADCS) at the University of California San Diego (UCSD) School of Medicine and supported by the National Institute on Aging (NIA), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) with a $15 million grant (NIA award number R01AG061146). The study seeks to enroll 180 patients into the Phase 2a adaptive dose-finding portion with the Phase 2b portion, enrolling an additional 234 patients treated at the selected dose for at least 72 weeks, with a total of 414 patients being treated on stable doses of varoglutamstat for 18 months. The VIVA-MIND design was adapted in 2022 to enable all 180 patients in the Phase 2a portion to be treated for at least 72 weeks, allowing for the opportunity to progress seamlessly to a potential Phase 3 study. The flexible study design is aimed at increasing the probability of success by broadening option space for adjustments in clinical development based on learnings from VIVIAD and other developments in the field. The primary endpoint for this study is clinical dementia rating scale - sum of boxes (CDR-SB), an established approvable endpoint measuring a combination of cognitive abilities and activities of daily living. Secondary efficacy endpoints include quantitative EEG theta power, ADAS-Cog 13 and others. Exploratory endpoints include Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), quantitative EEG alpha power, relative QPCT activity in CSF and others.

About Vivoryon Therapeutics N.V.

Vivoryon is a clinical stage biotechnology company focused on developing innovative small molecule-based medicines. Driven by our passion for ground-breaking science and innovation, we strive to change the lives of patients in need suffering from severe diseases. We leverage our in-depth expertise in understanding post-translational modifications to develop medicines that modulate the activity and stability of proteins which are altered in disease settings. Beyond our lead program, varoglutamstat, which is in Phase 2 clinical development to treat Alzheimers disease, we have established a solid pipeline of orally available small molecule inhibitors for various indications including cancer, inflammatory diseases and fibrosis. www.vivoryon.com



Vivoryon Forward Looking Statements

This press release includes forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, those regarding the business strategy, management plans and objectives for future operations of the Vivoryon Therapeutics N.V. (the Company), estimates and projections with respect to the market for the Companys products and forecasts and statements as to when the Companys products may be available. Words such as anticipate, believe, estimate, expect, forecast, intend, may, plan, project, predict, should and will and similar expressions as they relate to the Company are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance; rather they are based on the Managements current expectations and assumptions about future events and trends, the economy and other future conditions. The forward-looking statements involve a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties and other factors could materially adversely affect the outcome and financial effects of the plans and events described herein. Actual results, performance or events may differ materially from those expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements and from expectations. As a result, no undue reliance should be placed on such forward-looking statements. This press release does not contain risk factors. Certain risk factors that may affect the Companys future financial results are discussed in the published annual financial statements of the Company. This press release, including any forward-looking statements, speaks only as of the date of this press release. The Company does not assume any obligation to update any information or forward-looking statements contained herein, save for any information required to be disclosed by law.

For more information, please contact:

Investor Contact

Stern IR

Julie Seidel

Tel: +1 212-698-8684

Email: [email protected]



Media Contact

Trophic Communications

Valeria Fisher

Tel: +49 175 8041816

Email: [email protected]



Attachment
Dubai, United Arab Emirates--(Newsfile Corp. - July 16, 2023) - GS Partners, a cutting-edge consulting firm specializing in sales development, corporate restructuring, and digital transformation, is proud to announce its official launch. Led by the accomplished CEO, Dirc Zahlmann, GS Partners brings over 25 years of industry experience and a proven track record of delivering exceptional results to businesses in the German-speaking and European regions.





Dirc Zahlmann



To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8203/173515_dric.jpg

Dirc Zahlmann's journey towards becoming a sales and corporate development expert began with a strong work ethic and a drive for excellence instilled by his parents. Inspired by his mentor, Ursel, a successful entrepreneur, Zahlmann developed a passion for luxury, consistency, and goal achievement at an early age. This foundation laid the groundwork for his future success.

As a natural sales talent, Zahlmann embarked on a sales career at the young age of 15, taking on part-time and holiday jobs. His skills flourished, leading him to excel in various sectors, including perfume, cosmetics, financial services, and insurance. Zahlmann's dedication and knack for sales propelled him to achieve notable accomplishments, building a strong reputation in the industry.

Drawing on his experience and successes, Zahlmann ventured into corporate development, taking on leadership roles as a sales manager, head of sales, and managing director. Throughout his career, he played a pivotal role in the growth and international expansion of multiple companies. Zahlmann's strategic expertise in developing sales structures and generating billions of dollars in revenue garnered global recognition and numerous accolades.

With the founding of GS Partners, Zahlmann extended his reach, offering comprehensive consulting services tailored to the unique needs of each client. GS Partners' portfolio boasts over 400 successful projects under the banner of Zahlmann Consulting. This impressive track record includes international recruitment, branch establishment, operations setup, and product approvals, generating additional revenues totaling USD 2 billion.

Now, at the age of 44, Zahlmann launches GS Partners to bring his wealth of knowledge and expertise to businesses in the German-speaking and European regions. GS Partners offers a range of consulting services, with a primary focus on sales development, corporate restructuring, and digital transformation. Zahlmann's mission is to guide entrepreneurs through challenges, optimize corporate structures, and facilitate digital advancements, ultimately enabling businesses to unlock their full potential.

"I am thrilled to introduce GS Partners and share my extensive experience and expertise with businesses in the German-speaking and European regions," said Dirc Zahlmann, CEO of GS Partners. "At GS Partners, we believe that every challenge presents an opportunity for growth. Our goal is to empower entrepreneurs by developing effective sales strategies, optimizing corporate structures, and facilitating digital transformation. Together, we will achieve remarkable results and drive businesses forward."

As GS Partners embarks on its journey, businesses are invited to collaborate with Zahlmann and his team, leveraging their proven methodologies and deep understanding of sales and corporate development. By embracing the expertise of GS Partners, organizations can enhance their competitiveness, drive growth, and maximize their potential in today's dynamic marketplace.

To learn more about GS Partners and discover how Dirc Zahlmann's expertise can transform your business, please visit https://dirczahlmann.com.

About GS Partners:

GS Partners is a leading consulting firm specializing in sales development, corporate restructuring, and digital transformation. With over 25 years of experience and a strong track record of success, GS Partners empowers businesses in the German-speaking and European regions to overcome challenges, optimize operations, and achieve remarkable growth.

Media Contact:

Contact person: Dirc Zahlmann

Company: GS Partners

Email: [email protected]

Website: https://dirczahlmann.com

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/173515
Transfer of Leadership to Take Place During Annual Convention Event with Vice President Kamala Harris

CHICAGO , July 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Tomorrow, the Rainbow PUSH Coalition will officially transfer leadership as Reverend Jesse Jackson transitions to emeritus status and Reverend Dr. Frederick Douglass Haynes III is welcomed as the organization's next president. Rev. Dr. Haynes will be formally introduced during the Rainbow PUSH Coalition's 57th annual conference during an event with Vice President Kamala Harris on Sunday, July 16 at 2 PM CT .

For the last 57 years, Rev. Jackson has led the Coalition which has global reach and impact. His decision is a result of his ongoing journey with Parkinson's disease. He arrived at the decision after reflecting on his life's work and prayer. While Rev. Jackson will pivot from his role as president, his commitment to continue the freedom movement is unwavering and in his new role as emeritus, he will elevate his life's work by teaching ministers in the social justice movement.

"I am looking forward to this next chapter where I will continue to focus on economic justice, mentorship, and teaching ministers how to fight for social justice. I will still be very involved in the organization and am proud that we have chosen Rev. Dr. Haynes as my successor," said Reverend Jesse Jackson , Founder and President of the Rainbow Push Coalition.

The new president, Rev. Haynes , is a prophetic pastor, passionate leader, social activist, orator, and educator engaged in preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ , and fighting against racial injustice. He has devoted his life to economic justice and empowerment in underserved communities and transforming the lives of the disenfranchised.

Dr. Haynes has served as a visionary and innovative senior pastor of Friendship-West Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas , for the past 40 years. He considers himself a long-time student of Rev. Jackson and has spoken to and for Rainbow PUSH Coalition frequently. He has also formed alliances with local and national community leaders, and federal officials, to fight social injustice, domestic violence, and poverty. As a reflection of his commitment to community transformation and social consciousness, Dr. Haynes has served in various leadership capacities in organizations that champion social change and education.

"As a student of Rev. Jackson's , I am honored to be selected for this prestigious and important position. The role Rainbow PUSH Coalition plays today is just as critical as it was in 1963, when the organization was founded. Our communities need organizations like Rainbow PUSH to not only continue the fight for justice and equality, but to shepherd the next generation of advocates into the movement," said Reverend Rev. Dr. Frederick Douglass Haynes III , incoming President of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition.

Rev. Jackson worked directly with the chairs of the four Rainbow PUSH organizations  including Rainbow PUSH Coalition, PUSH (People United to Save Humanity), PUSH Excel, and the Citizenship Education Fund  to select Rev. Haynes as its next president. Chairs include CK Hoffler, Joyce Tucker , John Graves and Yusef Jackson .

The important work of Rainbow PUSH will continue as Rev. Haynes transitions into his new role. More details will be provided at the annual Rainbow PUSH conference starting today, July 15 through July 19 in Chicago .

Rev. Jackson looks forward to focusing on the collection of his papers and archives, a documentary and the teachings of the freedom movement modalities that will help ground the next generation. "If we are to perpetuate equality, it is vitally important that the historical philosophies and techniques are deposited in the minds of the next generation of leaders," said Rev. Jackson . "Each social advocate must realize that their innate quest for equality is not an original concept, but a continuum of the ancestral freedom movement."

About Rainbow PUSH Coalition

Rainbow PUSH Coalition is a multi-racial, multi-issue, progressive, international organization that was formed in December 1996 by the Reverend Jesse L. Jackson , Sr. through merging of two organizations he founded Operation PUSH People United to Serve Humanity (estab. 1971) and the Rainbow Coalition (estab. 1984). With headquarters in Chicago and offices in Washington, D.C. , Atlanta , Detroit , Houston , Los Angeles , New York and Oakland , the organization works to make the American Dream a reality for all citizens while advocating for peace and justice around the world. RPC is dedicated to improving the lives of all people by serving as a voice for the voiceless. Its mission is to protect, defend and gain civil rights by leveling the economic and educational playing fields while promoting peace and justice around the world.



To access conference information and keep up with Rev. Jackson and the work of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, visit www.rainbowpush.org.

Media contact:

[email protected]

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/rev-jesse-l-jackson-rainbow-push-coalition-founder-and-president-moves-to-emeritus-status-and-rev-dr-frederick-douglass-haynes-iii-appointed-as-new-president-301878055.html

SOURCE Rainbow PUSH Coalition
Trutankless Shareholders to Receive Distribution of Shares in Tankless365, Inc.

PHOENIX , July 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Trutankless, Inc. (OTCQB: TKLS) today announced its intention to spin-off its wholly-owned subsidiary, Tankless365, Inc.

On a date determined by the Board of Directors of the Company, (the "Distribution Date"), each Shareholder having common stock as of the Distribution Date will be entitled to receive shares of the common stock of Tankless365, Inc. pro rata based on a 4:1 ratio. So that for each four (4) shares of Common Stock of Trutankless, Inc. held by a Shareholder on the record date, the Shareholder will receive one share of common stock of Tankless365, Inc. Immediately following the distribution, those stockholders will own 100% of the outstanding common stock of Tankless365, Inc.

No action will be required of Trutankless, Inc. stockholders to participate in the distribution and receive shares of Tankless365, Inc. common stock.

About Trutankless, Inc.:

Trutankless, Inc. (OTC: TKLS ) is a technology-driven developer of accessible, next-generation home automation and efficiency systems. The Company's primary products are a line of electric tankless water heaters that surpasses traditional tank water heaters in energy efficiency, output, dependability and environmental sustainability. The Company sells its products to plumbing wholesale distributors and dealers throughout the United States. Trutankless, Inc. was founded in 2008 and is headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona .

About Tankless365, Inc.:

Tankless365, Inc. was incorporated as a Nevada corporation on October 21 st, 2021 and has been a wholly owned subsidiary of Trutankless, Inc. Tankless365's mission is to innovate lead generation in the home services industry and augment the efficiency with which trade professionals capture and monetize leads in real-time. Pacific Stock Transfer is the transfer agent for Tankless365, Inc.

Forward-Looking Statement: The statements in this press release regarding any implied or perceived benefits from the release by Trutankless of its line of electric tankless water heaters or added key strategic sales and distribution partners are forward-looking statements. Such statements involve risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, risks of the key strategic sales and distribution partners ability to sell our product, and effects of legal and administrative proceedings and governmental regulation, especially in a foreign country, future financial and operational results, competition, general economic conditions, and the ability to manage and continue growth.

Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual outcomes may vary materially from those indicated. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements we make in this news release include the introduction of new technology, market conditions, and those set forth in reports or documents we file from time to time with the SEC. We undertake no obligation to revise or update such statements to reflect current events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. There is no guarantee that any specific outcome will be achieved. Past performance is not indicative of future results.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/trutankless-inc-announces-plans-for-spin-off-of-tankless365-inc-301878046.html

SOURCE Trutankless, Inc.
By Yew Lun Tian

BEIJING (Reuters) - A Chinese military-run hospital ship has arrived in Kiribati for the first time, as China vies with the United States for influence in the Pacific region.

The arrival of the 14,300 metric ton "Peace Ark" - the first time a Chinese navy vessel has visited Kiribati - marks a step up in Chinese soft power in the Pacific Island state that switched its diplomatic allegiance from Taiwan to China in 2019.

The ship docked at Kiribati on Saturday to start a seven-day visit that includes humanitarian medical assistance, the Chinese defence ministry said on its official WeChat account on Sunday.

While medical crew from the ship will see patients at the local hospital and other places, the Chinese commanding officer will meet with Kiribati leaders including the president, health minister, transport minister and police chief.

The ship is also due to visit Tonga, Vanuatu, the Solomon Islands and East Timor.

China has been building ties in the Pacific in recent years to the consternation of the United States and allies Australia and New Zealand, who have long seen the region as their sphere of influence.

(Reporting by Yew Lun Tian; Editing by Hugh Lawson)
FILE PHOTO: A logo of Carlsberg beer is seen on the entrance of a pub in Brussels, Belgium March 10, 2016. REUTERS/Yves Herman/File Photo

MOSCOW (Reuters) -The Russian state has taken control of French yoghurt maker Danone's Russian subsidiary along with beer company Carlsberg's stake in a local brewer, according to a decree signed by President Vladimir Putin on Sunday.

The decree said that foreign-owned stakes in Danone Russia and Baltika Breweries were being put under the "temporary management" of government property agency Rosimushchestvo.

It comes after the Russian subsidiaries of Germany's Uniper and Finland's Fortum were taken under state control in April.

The Kremlin warned at the time it could seize more Western assets on what it said was a temporary basis in retaliation for foreign moves against Russian companies abroad after Moscow sent thousands of its troops into Ukraine last year.

Carlsberg said in a statement late on Sunday it had "not received any official information from the Russian authorities regarding the presidential decree or the consequences for Baltika Breweries".

It added that the prospects for full disposal of its business in Russia were now highly uncertain. Carlsberg said in June it had signed an agreement to sell its Russian business, subject to regulatory approvals.

Danone said in a statement that it was investigating the issue, adding that the Kremlin's decision would have no impact on its financial guidance for 2023.

The French company said last October it was seeking a buyer for its dairy food business in Russia, in a deal that could lead to a write-off of up to 1 billion euros ($1.12 billion).

($1 = 1.1227 euros)

(Reporting by Caleb Davis and Darya Korsunskaya; Additional reporting by Louise Breusch Rasmussen in Copenhagen and Lavanya Sushil Ahire in Bengaluru; Editing by Andrew Osborn and Emelia Sithole-Matarise)
FILE PHOTO: New Zealand's Prime Minister Chris Hipkins attends a meeting of the North Atlantic Council during a NATO leaders summit in Vilnius, Lithuania July 12, 2023. REUTERS/Ints Kalnins/File Photo

By Lucy Craymer

AUCKLAND (Reuters) - The Pacific region is becoming more contested and less secure as China becomes more assertive, New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins said on Monday, outlining the countrys need to work with like-minded partners while still engaging with Beijing.

China's rise and how it seeks to exert that influence is a major driver of the increasing strategic competition, particularly in the Indo-Pacific, Hipkins said in a speech to the China Business Summit in Auckland.

Our region is becoming more contested, less predictable, and less secure, he said. And that poses challenges for small countries like New Zealand that are reliant on the stability and predictability of international rules for our prosperity and security."

The relationship needed careful management but China remained a key trading partner, he added.

Hipkins' speech at the annual event comes less than a month after he led a successful trade mission to China, New Zealands largest trading partner, where he face some domestic criticism for not being as vocal on human rights and other issues as some had expected.

In this increasingly complex global environment, our relationship with China will continue to require careful management, he said.

Wellington has historically taken a more conciliatory approach towards China than Australia or its other Five Eyes security partners, Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom.

"Common interests and concerns do not mean we will always take the same approach. Sometimes there is tactical strength in a diversity of approaches to achieve the same outcomes," he said.

Wang Xiaolong, Chinas ambassador to New Zealand said in a speech that China and New Zealand relations were healthy, stable and thriving.

It is no surprise that there are differences between our two countries, given the difference in our respective circumstances. There is no inevitability though, that our countries with differing social systems and levels of development cannot coexist peacefully, he said in a speech that followed Hipkins' at the summit.

(Reporting by Lucy Craymer; Editing by Sandra Maler and Lincoln Feast.)
The London Underground could face huge disruption later this month after Tube workers announced week-long strike action - Paul Grover/Paul Grover for the Telegraph

London Underground staff will go on strike for four consecutive days later this month as their long running dispute over pay shows no sign of ending.

The Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) announced the walkouts last week as workers also fight for better pensions and conditions.

The union said hundreds of jobs are set to be axed, affecting Tube stations and maintenance.

Tube drivers represented by the Aslef union have announced they will also strike in a separate dispute over pensions and working conditions. They join the walkouts on July 26 and 28.

Read on for everything you need to know about the dispute and how it will affect passengers:

When is the strike action taking place?

The RMT has said London Underground workers will walkout on the following days:

Sunday 23 July

Tuesday 25 July

Wednesday 26 July

Thursday 27 July

Friday 28 July

The union said there will be no strike on Monday July 24.

Which lines will be affected?

More than 10,000 workers are eligible to strike but the strikes will affect different sections of the Tube network and grades of workers on different days.

It is not yet clear which lines will be affected on different days.

What have union bosses said?

RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said the action would shut down the tube and show just how important these workers were.

He said: Plans by Transport for London (TfL) to cut 600 jobs and attack our members pensions are simply unacceptable.

We are aware that Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has had the TfL budget cut. However, he needs to align himself with our union and his London Underground staff in pushing back against the Tory Government, exposing their damaging agenda to a key part of London transport infrastructure.

Aslefs full-time organiser on London Underground has said the union has joined the Tube strikes announced by the RMT because changes would make it impossible for drivers to organise their lives outside work.

Finn Brennan said: We take action only when needed. Unfortunately, the last few weeks have shown that London Underground management are determined to try to push through detrimental changes  despite trade union opposition  if they think they can get away with it.

They have already announced that they intend to start training managers in August on a new attendance procedure, and will implement it from January, ignoring the current agreed procedure.

This new procedure would mean no right to representation or appeal at stage one of the disciplinary process, and the length of all warnings would be doubled from 26 to 52 weeks.

All sickness longer than one week would be regarded as long term meaning that a manager can send a driver to redeployment without any further meeting. After just six weeks in deployment a driver can be, as they put it, terminated.

Management also want to force through their plans for what they call trains modernisation. They want unrestricted remote booking on and off, driving shifts up to 10 hours long, flexible cover weeks in every roster, and fixed links to be scrapped.

That would make it impossible for Tube train drivers to organise their lives outside work or to have an effective change-over system.

Their aim is an entirely flexible workforce with all existing agreements replaced  allowing them to cut hundreds more jobs and forcing those of us who remain to work harder for longer. To protect our pensions, working conditions, and agreements, our members are ready to act.

How has Transport for London responded?

Glynn Barton, chief operating officer of TfL, said: We are disappointed that the RMT has announced strike action on this range of issues that we have been attempting to discuss with them openly and co-operatively.

We are urging the union to reconsider and engage with us to discuss the issues and seek a resolution.

The Government transport agency said that there are no current proposals to change its pension arrangements, although it is exploring a range of proposals to ensure no employee will lose their job or be asked to work extra hours.

The RMT has said that 20,000 rail workers across the UK are also to strike in July.

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FILE PHOTO: ChatGPT logo is seen in this illustration taken, February 3, 2023. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo

(Reuters) -The U.S. Federal Trade Commission has opened an investigation into OpenAI on claims it has run afoul of consumer protection laws by putting personal reputations and data at risk, the strongest regulatory threat to the Microsoft-backed startup yet.

The FTC this week sent a 20-page demand for records about how OpenAI  the maker of generative artificial intelligence chatbot ChatGPT  addresses risks tied to its AI models.

The agency is probing if OpenAI engaged in unfair practices that resulted in "reputational harm" to consumers.

The investigation marks another high-profile effort to rein in technology companies by the FTC's progressive chair, Lina Khan, days after the agency suffered a big loss in court in its fight to stop Microsoft from buying Activision Blizzard. The FTC said it would appeal the court decision.

One of the questions FTC has asked OpenAI pertains to steps the company has taken to address its products' potential to "generate statements about real individuals that are false, misleading, or disparaging."

The Washington Post was the first to report the probe. The FTC declined comment, while OpenAI did not respond to a request for comment.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said in a series of tweets on Thursday that the latest version of the company's technology, GPT-4, was built on years of safety research and the systems were designed to learn about the world and not private individuals.

"Of course we will work with the FTC," he said.

OpenAI launched ChatGPT in November, enthralling consumers and fuelling one-upmanship at large tech companies to showcase how their AI-imbued products will change the way societies and businesses operate.

The AI race has raised widespread concerns about potential risks and regulatory scrutiny of the technology.

Global regulators are aiming to apply existing rules covering everything from copyright and data privacy to two key issues: the data fed into models and the content they produce, Reuters reported in May.

In the United States, Senate Majority leader Chuck Schumer has called for "comprehensive legislation" to advance and ensure safeguards on AI, and pledged to hold a series of forums later this year aimed at "laying down a new foundation for AI policy."

OpenAI in March ran into trouble in Italy, where the regulator had ChatGPT taken offline over accusations the company violated the European Union's GDPR  a wide-ranging privacy regime enacted in 2018.

ChatGPT was reinstated later after the U.S. company agreed to install age verification features and let European users block their information from being used to train the AI model.

(Reporting by Diane Bartz in Washington and Mrinmay Dey, Samrhitha Arunasalam, Aditya Soni and Yuvraj Malik in Bengaluru; Editing by Nivedita Bhattacharjee, Mark Porter and Maju Samuel)
(Tribune News Service)  He was 21 in 1775 and he was determined to enlist in the Continental Army.

He had an obstacle to overcome, though: This free Black man, who was born in Amwell Township, N.J., in 1754, did not know his last name and a full name was needed to enlist. Refusing to allow this to stand in his way, he used the last name of a family with whom he worked as an indentured servant. This young man, whose first name was Jacob, would use the last name Gulick in order to fight.

Jacob, who would later learn his last name was Francis, served with 16th Massachusetts Regiment. He fought in the siege of Boston, the New York Campaign and the Battle of Trenton and would later return to Hunterdon County where he was born to live out the rest of his life.

Black soldiers were not only in the Army but a crucial part of the Continental Army and militia ... and this is a history lesson that should have been told years ago, said Roger S. Williams, president of the Princeton-Cranbury Chapter of the New Jersey Society of the Sons of the American Revolution.

It was in Flemington where, after the war, Francis fulfilled his dream of raising a family and becoming a successful farmer.

It was in Flemington where a gravesite commemoration and marker installation ceremony was held for Francis, and his wife, Mary, on June 25 this year. The event took place at the Flemington Baptist Church.

According to William L. (Larry) Kidder, a Mercer County historian who has authored five books on the American Revolution and who served as keynote speaker at the event, Francis enlistment occurred near or on the very day that Gen. Washington ordered his officers not to enlist any Black men, even free Black men.

As one of the survivors in his vastly depleted regiment, Jacob crossed the Delaware River on the night of December 25, 1776, and fought in the Battle of Trenton, wrote Kidder, who authored The Revolutionary World of a Free Black Man: Jacob Francis, 1754-1836.

While definitely not the only Black man fighting under Washington at Trenton, he may have been the only Black man born in New Jersey, since no New Jersey Continental regiments were present - just a state artillery company, some recruits, and about two dozen Hunterdon County militiamen who helped guide Washington to Trenton.

After Francis Continental service, he served in the Third Hunterdon County Regiment of the New Jersey militia for the remainder of the war. Kidder said Francis earned a solid reputation as a militiaman serving frequently on active duty and made a number of friends.

A husband, father, farmer and man of faith

After the Battle of Trenton, this young soldier walked home to Hunterdon County to find his mother, whom he had not seen since he was 10 years old. He found her in Amwell and learned that his last name was Francis. He cared for his mother until her death a short time later.

Jacob Francis  who lived in New Jersey, New York, the West Indies, and Salem, Massachusetts  remained in Flemington until his death in 1836.

While Jacob and Mary were well-known here during their lifetimes, the knowledge of just who they were and how they contributed to the history of the area was lost over time, as was true for many Black Americans, Kidder, keynote speaker at the event said. Appropriately, our celebration today takes place on the very land that was at the center of their lives and that they called home for over 30 years.

Francis married Mary, an enslaved woman, whom he purchased and set free on their wedding day in 1789. Together, they raised nine children and became well-respected members of the Flemington Baptist Church. The Francis family home was located on church property, in fact.

Jacob and Mary were very concerned about educating their children at a time when no schools in the Flemington area allowed Black children, Kidder said. Several of the Francis children became literate and the couples youngest son, Abner Hunt Francis, became very well educated.

Kidder said Abner somehow got the equivalent of a college education. He speculates that Abner was educated at the Flemington Academy, a private school for white children located near Franciss house on Main Street. I believe that Jacob and Mary convinced administrators and teachers at the academy to work unofficially with Abner, Kidder said.

Over fifty years after their deaths, a short magazine article history of the school still recalled the ginger cakes and homemade root beer that Mary and Jacob gave to students during recess and supplied to the school for Sunday afternoon social get-togethers of students and their families. It may have been Marys homemade ginger cakes and root beer, combined with Jacob and Marys persistence, that helped Abner become exceptionally well-educated.

Abner spent his adult life working for the cause of abolition and equal rights.

Inspired by his father, it has been reported that Abner said: the principles of 76, which led  his country to throw off the British yoke, actuated my father to shoulder his musket and serve through a bloody contest. And not only my fathers but the blood of colored men were freely shed in that struggle for national independence.

Abner Francis, who moved to New York, wrote for Frederick Douglass. He attended abolitionist conferences with Douglass, serving as secretary. Abner later went to California and Oregon, where he helped break the color line.

One thing I always try to express about Jacob Francis, Kidder said, Its a remarkable story of a man born in the 1750s as a free black man in society where black men were considered to be enslaved unless they could prove otherwise. He grew up as an indentured servant working for white families. From that background, he built a tremendously solid family and was greatly respected in his community. And, he engendered into his son the drive to make life better for all black people ...to make America what he fought for.

A large gathering for a well-deserved remembrance

Many gathered at last months gravesite commemoration and marker installation.

In addition to visiting the gravesite and seeing the plaque, those on hand were able to view the Oh Freedom historical display as well as a map that Kidder drew showing where the Francis home was located.

Williams said Jacob Francis story is critically important to American history and the community recognition was well deserved.

In school, students learn about Washington, Adams, Franklin, Jefferson, he said. But beyond headliners, we rarely are we about the stories of common man and woman involved in our struggle for independence.

Williams noted that Francis remained committed to the cause of freedom for his entire life. Despite the fact that people around him were enslaved, he fought for the principle of freedom. Black men of that era probably understood the concept of freedom well more than their white brethren. We all need to honor that ... that is bravery.

Given our national discourse at the moment there are a lot of very good reasons this particular story resonates with so many people, Williams said, adding, As public historians, part of our task is to be able to embrace history and become the history tellers our fellow citizens deserve. Its part of our mission of SAR and DAR to honor our heritage and tell our (American) story.

He added, As we approach the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, its important to remind fellow citizens of the founding principles that all men are created equal. In this day and age a lot of people going into different corners screaming and yelling. We must remember our founding ideals.

The others assembled at the ceremony agreed that Francis contributions to family, church, community and country could not be overstated.

Hunterdon County and Flemington hold important historical positions in the American Revolution, which are only enhanced by the significance of Jacob Francis life - a black man who fought bravely for his countrys freedom and freedom for all persons, Mayor Karrow said. Flemington is honored by Jacob Francis choosing to live in our community and, as a member of the Third Hunterdon County Regiment of the New Jersey Militia, fight for our freedoms.

Speaking about the event, Hunterdon County Cultural & Heritage Commission executive director Natalie Zaman said, Bringing untold stories to light, such as those of Jacob and Mary Francis, makes for a richer and fuller picture of our history and shows how extraordinary our country is.

A well-liked man and his well-recorded history

Kidder said that much of Francis life story was preserved when he applied for a veterans pension in 1832.

In order to obtain his pension, Francis, who was illiterate, was required to dictate information about his military service to a court official who knew him.

The application could have been short, Kidder said. However, the court official allowed, or perhaps persuaded, Jacob to talk in some detail about his life before, during, and after his service.

Kidder speculates, I think he was so highly respected by people in Flemington that the court official thought it was worth preserving (his story). Thats just my opinion. He didnt need to do it, he encouraged Jacob to talk about what he felt about military experience, his reactions to how he felt during battle.

We should not forget, Kidder said at the event, that Jacob, Mary, Abner, and their other children fought through the cultural struggles we continue to fight to ensure that our country reflects the belief that all human beings are created equal with equal rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

This article is part of Unknown New Jersey, an ongoing series that highlights interesting and little-known stories about our past, present, and future  all the unusual things that make our great state what it is. Got a story to pitch? Email it to local@njadvancemedia.com.

2023 Advance Local Media LLC.

Visit nj.com.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
KINSHASA, Congo  A rebel group has killed at least 11 people in northeastern Congo, a local official said Sunday.

Isaac Kibira, a deputy to the governor of the Bwito area in North Kivu, said the victims were killed by M23, a rebel group the United Nations says has links to neighboring Rwanda. Rwanda denies the accusation.

M23 rose to prominence 10 years ago when its fighters seized Goma, eastern Congo's largest city on the border with Rwanda. It derives its name from a March 23, 2009, peace deal that it accuses the Congo government of not implementing.

The bodies of 11 civilians were discovered Sunday morning, left in two neat rows in the grass. M23 had occupied the area since Tuesday, according to Paris-based research group Sahel Intelligence, before withdrawing.

M23 is one of more than 120 armed groups fighting in Eastern Congo, most of whom are vying for land and control of mines with valuable minerals, while others are trying to protect their communities from rival armed groups.

Last week's armed occupation in the Bwito Region forced hundreds of people out of their homes and into neighboring communities, adding to what the UN estimates are 5.5 million people displaced within Congo due to violence.

Associated Press reporter Zane Irwin contributed reporting from Dakar.
KYIV, Ukraine  Russian President Vladimir Putin said in an interview published Sunday that Russia has a sufficient stockpile of cluster munitions, and warned that Russia reserves the right to take reciprocal action if Ukraine uses the controversial weapons.

In his first comments on the delivery of cluster munitions to Ukraine from the U.S., Putin said that Russia has not used cluster bombs in its war in Ukraine so far. The use of cluster bombs by both Russia and Ukraine has been widely documented, including by The Associated Press and international humanitarian organizations, and cluster rounds have been found in the aftermath of Russian strikes.

Until now, we have not done this, we have not used it, and we have not had such a need, he said,

Rossiya TV reporter Pavel Zarubin published excerpts of the interview to his Telegram channel Sunday ahead of a scheduled broadcast Sunday night.

The Pentagon said Thursday that cluster munitions provided by the United States had arrived in Ukraine.

The munitions, which are bombs that open in the air and release scores of smaller bomblets, are seen by the U.S. as a way to get Kyiv critically needed ammunition to help bolster its offensive and push through Russian front lines. U.S. leaders debated the thorny issue for months, before President Joe Biden made the final decision last week.

Cluster bombs have long been criticized by humanitarian groups, and some U.S. allies, because those used in previous conflicts have had a high dud rate, meaning that they often leave behind unexploded bomblets that can harm civilians long after a battle has ended.

Proponents argue that Russia has already been using cluster munitions in Ukraine and that the weapons the U.S. is providing have been improved to leave behind far fewer unexploded rounds. Ukraine has promised to use them only away from densely populated areas.

The Ukrainian military said in a regular update Sunday morning that over the previous 24 hours Russia had launched two Iranian-made Shahed exploding drones, two cruise missiles and two anti-aircraft guided missiles, in addition to 40 airstrikes and 46 attacks from multiple rocket launchers.

The Ukrainian General Staff wrote that Russia continues to concentrate on offensive operations in Ukraines industrial east. Donetsk regional Gov. Pavlo Kyrylenko said Sunday that two residents of the region were killed on Saturday, and one other person was wounded.

The mayor of Kharkiv, Ihor Terekhov, said seven people were injured in a Russian attack Sunday evening on the city, Ukraine's second-largest.

Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar said Sunday that fighting in eastern Ukraine had somewhat intensified, amid a slow counteroffensive in which Ukraine has made small territorial gains.

Writing on Telegram, she said that Russia had been actively attacking in the direction of Kupiansk in the northeastern Kharkiv region for two consecutive days, and that Ukrainian forces were on the defensive in the area.

There are fierce battles, the positions of both sides change dynamically several times a day, she wrote.

Maliar wrote that Ukrainian troops were trying to hold on to their positions on the northern flank around the destroyed city of Bakhmut, but reported that Ukrainian forces were advancing daily on the southern flank. Ukraine has been trying to encircle the city since losing control of it to Russia in May.

Putin claimed that the Ukrainian counteroffensive had been futile, in another excerpt published by Zarubin.

All attempts by the enemy to break through our defenses (...) they were unsuccessful during the entire offensive. The enemy is having no success! Putin said.

Elsewhere in the country, two boys, aged eight and 10, were wounded when an explosive device left by Russian forces detonated in the southern region of Kherson on Sunday, according to the Ukrainian Prosecutor Generals Office.

Regional Gov. Oleksandr Prokudin said that Russia had launched 69 shelling attacks against Kherson region. A 59-year-old man died on Saturday when attempting to disarm a round in the regional capital, also called Kherson.

Yurii Malashko, governor of the neighboring, partly occupied, Zaporizhzhia region, said Russia had attacked 13 populated areas in the region, wounding seven people in the town of Stepnohirsk.

Moscow-installed authorities in Russian-occupied Crimea on Sunday reported a massive and prolonged drone attack overnight targeting Sevastopol, the peninsulas largest port, which hosts Russias Black Sea Fleet. According to Moscow-installed Sevastopol governor Mikhail Razvozhaev, air defense shot down all of the drones and there was no damage.

Vyacheslav Gladkov, the governor of Russias Belgorod region, said that a woman was killed Sunday by shelling in the town of Shebekino near the border with Ukraine.

Elise Morton reported from London.
A Navy investigation is ongoing to determine how a 19,000-ton cargo ship ran aground this weekend in Bahrain, the service said in a statement Sunday.

USNS Alan Shepard became stuck Saturday afternoon while moving from a shipyard in Al Hidd to a pier at Khalifa Bin Salman Port, 5th Fleet spokesman Cmdr. Tim Hawkins said Sunday.

About 85 crew members were aboard at the time, but no one was injured, Hawkins said.

The Alan Shepard transports dry cargo and ammunition and has accommodations for more than 120 people, according to the Naval Vessel Register. The nearly 700-foot-long ship was launched in 2006.

Tugboats helped free the vessel at high tide Sunday morning, and it is now moored in Bahrain, Hawkins said, adding that the ships crew stayed on board overnight.

No damage to the ship was noted at the time of the grounding, but the Navy is assessing its condition, Hawkins said.

Ship groundings can cause significant damage to hulls, propellers and surrounding infrastructure.

In 2017, the missile cruiser USS Antietam ran aground in Japan and leaked an estimated 1,100 gallons of hydraulic oil into Tokyo Bay, Stars and Stripes reported at the time.

And in 2014, the guided-missile frigate USS Taylor ran aground in the Black Sea, causing $4.8 million in damage and leading to the dismissal of commanding officer Cmdr. Dennis Volpe, a Stars and Stripes report said at the time.
TEL AVIV, Israel  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was discharged on Sunday after an overnight hospital stay for check-ups and monitoring following a dizzy spell.

Netanyahu, 73, was rushed to Sheba Medical Center on Saturday after feeling mild dizziness. His office said he had left the hospital around midday after stating earlier that his test results were normal and that he was feeling very good.

The medical center said Netanyahu was in excellent condition after a series of tests, including cardiovascular ones. It said doctors implanted a subcutaneous Holter," a monitoring device placed under his skin, to allow Netanyahu's medical team to keep a close watch on his heart activity. It declined to disclose additional details about the device, saying it was for routine monitoring and was a customary step.

Netanyahu's office said he had spent the previous day at the Sea of Galilee, a popular vacation spot in northern Israel where temperatures climbed to about 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) amid a stifling country-wide heat wave. After a series of tests, the initial assessment was that the veteran Israeli leader was dehydrated.

After being hospitalized, Netanyahu released a video on social media last night. Smiling, he said that he had been out in the sun on Friday without wearing a hat and without water. Not a good idea, he said.

Doctors ordered him to remain in the hospital overnight for further observation, and his weekly Cabinet meeting was delayed by a day and rescheduled for Monday, his office said.

Netanyahu is Israel's longest-serving leader. He has served multiple terms stretching over 15 years in office. His current far-right government, a collection of religious and ultranationalist parties, took office last December.

Netanyahu is said to be in generally good health, though he was briefly hospitalized last October after feeling unwell during prayers on Yom Kippur, a day when observant Jews fast.

The Israeli leader faces pressure on multiple fronts.

He is on trial for multiple corruption charges in a case that has bitterly divided the nation. His government's hard-line policies toward Palestinians have drawn international criticism and antagonized relations with the United States, Israel's closest and most important ally.

At home, tens of thousands of Israelis have held weekly demonstrations against Netanyahu's government to protest his plan to overhaul the country's judiciary.

Netanyahu's allies say the plan is needed to rein in the power of unelected judges. But his opponents say the plan will destroy the country's fragile system of checks and balances and concentrate power in the hands of Netanyahu and his allies.
TEL AVIV, Israel  A Palestinian gunman opened fire on a car in the occupied West Bank on Sunday, wounding three Israelis, including two girls, Israeli authorities said. The suspect fled the scene of the shooting, but he was later captured.

The bloodshed was the latest in a relentless cycle of violence that has gripped the region, driving up the death toll and sparking the worst fighting between Israel and the Palestinians in the West Bank in nearly two decades.

The Israeli military said the gunman opened fire on a car from a passing vehicle. Israels rescue service MDA said three Israelis were wounded, including a 35-year-old with gunshot wounds who is in serious but stable condition. Two girls, ages 9 and 14, were slightly wounded by flying debris.

The military said that forces apprehended the suspected gunman in the city of Bethlehem and seized his car and an assault rifle found inside. Troops arrested two other suspects, the army said.

The Palestinian militant group Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip, praised the attack, but stopped short of claiming responsibility for it.

Fighting between Israel and the Palestinians in the West Bank intensified early last year when Israel launched near-nightly raids into Palestinian areas in the West Bank in response to a spate of Palestinian attacks against Israelis.

The violence has spiked this year, with more than 150 Palestinians killed by Israeli fire since the start of 2023 in the West Bank and east Jerusalem, according to a tally by The Associated Press.

Israeli says most of those killed have been militants, but stone-throwing youths protesting the raids and others not involved in the confrontations have also been killed.

At least 26 people have been killed in Palestinian attacks against Israelis during that time.

Israel says the raids are essential to dismantle militant networks and thwart future attacks. The Palestinians see the violence as a natural response to 56 years of occupation, including stepped-up settlement construction by Israels government and increased violence by Jewish settlers.

Israel captured the West Bank in the 1967 Mideast war, along with the Gaza Strip and east Jerusalem. Palestinians seek those territories for their hoped-for independent state.
(Tribune News Service)  Donald Trump had recently finished a familiar riff about banning gender transition surgery for children when the former president, speaking to an audience of Evangelical voters, moved on to something new: a policy that would affect transgender adults.

I will ban all taxpayer funding for sex or gender transitions at any age, said Trump, receiving thunderous applause at the Faith & Freedom Coalition conference in Washington last month. The Republican leader, who moments earlier had also pledged to reinstate a ban on transgender men and women serving in the military, paused for several seconds to soak in the crowds adulation.

Its the kind of moment  and the type of policy  increasingly common on the GOP presidential campaign trail this year.

A Republican Party that in recent years has emphasized transgender issues related to children, teenagers and student-athletes is becoming more and more comfortable now also focusing on transgender adults, led by a field of GOP presidential candidates who, through rhetoric and policy proposal, have denounced elements of the transgender movement as a farce and sought to limit the ways in which these adults can have the medical procedures performed.

Its a shift led by Trump, whose proposed federal funding ban is just one of an array of policies designed to position himself as the Republican candidate most fiercely opposed to transgender rights.

But the change isnt confined to the former presidents candidacy, with many of Trumps rivals also offering blunt assessments about the legitimacy of medical procedures that help people transition to their self-identified gender while adopting many of the former presidents own positions, including a ban on federal funds for gender transmission surgery that LGBTQ advocates call a dramatic new front for the partys anti-transgender agenda.

In statements to McClatchyDC, the campaigns of many of the primarys leading contenders  including former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, and former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson  said they also support bans on the use of federal taxpayer money for gender transmission surgeries for all ages.

Taxpayer money should not be used for transgender surgery, said Hutchinson, who as a candidate has been generally more reluctant to embrace the sharp-elbowed culture-warrior persona of other GOP contenders. It is an individual choice to undertake transgender surgery and it is objectionable to many taxpayers. Taxpayers should not foot the bill.

Other candidates supportive of the ban offered an even broader condemnation of all gender-reassignment surgeries as a treatment option.

Its wrong to treat anorexia with a liposuction, just as its inhumane to treat a person who suffers from gender dysphoria with genital mutilation, Tricia McLaughlin, a spokeswoman for Ramaswamys campaign, told McClatchyDC in a statement this week. These are mental health illnesses and should be treated as such.

Ramaswamy, little-known to the public before the start of the GOP primary, is receiving more support from GOP voters so far this primary than many more prominent elected officials, according to an average of polls of the 2024 race compiled by FiveThirtyEight.com.

Bud Light, Target boycotts

The GOP fields renewed focus on the adult transgender community could have profound effects for those men and women, affecting whether the country continues to accept them into mainstream society and limiting some peoples access to gender-affirming medical procedures.

Courts across the country are now debating the validity of laws restricting access to puberty blockers and hormone therapy, arriving at different conclusions in places like Florida and Tennessee. Politicians in other states, like Kansas, are engaged in an ongoing fight over whether drivers licenses can indicate someone has changed genders since birth.

Meanwhile, Republicans in the U.S. House voted this week to block the militarys health plan from covering gender-transition surgeries. (The bill is not expected to be approved by the U.S. Senate.)

Brandon Wolf, spokesman for the LGTBQ advocacy group Equality Florida, said GOP politicians had used children as a political shield for their all-out assault on freedom for transgender people of all ages.

From the beginning, the anti-trans policies and rhetoric from politicians like Governor DeSantis have been animated by a desire to use government to legislate and harass transgender people out of society, Wolf said in a statement. That they are now shouting their intent into a bullhorn to score presidential primary points should come as no surprise. It is on all of us to see through their smokescreen and resist these shameless attempts to build political careers by waging war on freedom for transgender Americans.

The embrace of policies restricting health care for transgender adults among GOP presidential candidates also reflects a deeper dynamic within the Republican Party and conservative movement, which has increasingly spoken out about the growing visibility of LGBTQ people and issues in mainstream society, including the designation of June as Pride Month.

Right-leaning activists have recently led high-profile boycotts against companies that they say are inappropriately promoting LGBTQ themes, including Bud Light and Target, and other leading conservative publications have questioned whether their movement is compatible with the emergence of the transgender community.

Many of these conservative activists say the transgender movement represents not just an irreversible danger to children but a broader threat to society itself, blurring the lines between men and women in a way they find both wrong and repugnant. That sentiment, though not universally held among GOP voters, is widespread enough to persuade some candidates to expand their own criticisms, conservatives say.

Although the shift has made some Republicans uncomfortable  and nervous about the political fallout  other longtime conservatives predict that the GOP field, encouraged by conservative voters eager for a more combative approach to the increased visibility of the transgender community, will only unveil harsher rhetoric and more far-reaching policies as the primary wears on.

What I see with politicians is some of them are awakening to this issue, theyre taking a look at it, and maybe the first thing theyre willing to say is, Im against allowing children to transition because of the way they feel, said Mary Hasson, a senior fellow at the conservative Ethics and Public Policy Center. But I think theyre going to be pushed to consider the question more deeply. Because what we are seeing across society has far deeper ramifications.

Trump himself, in fact, has already been accused of being overly supportive of transgender rights: Last week, DeSantis called his Republican rival a pioneer in injecting gender ideology into the mainstream. The Florida governors campaign also promoted a controversial video highlighting the same criticism of Trump, an online spot widely criticized as homophobic.

Return to bathroom bills?

The GOPs focus on transgender adults isnt entirely new, at least over the last 10 years. In the middle of the last decade, the party coalesced around opposition to transgender men and women using bathrooms that didnt match their sex at birth. So-called bathroom bills receded from the political spotlight, however, when the issue was widely credited with in 2016 helping defeat incumbent North Carolina GOP Gov. Pat McCrory, who lost his reelection campaign after embracing the issue.

In more recent years, the party has instead focused on transgender issues related to children under 18 and collegiate student-athletes, championing laws that would ban children from having gender transition surgery and protesting transgender women competing in womens sports. Critics have derided these laws as a thinly veiled attempt to attack a minority group disliked by social conservatives, arguing the GOP is putting the lives of transgender youths at risk by denying them necessary medical care.

That emphasis on kids has led to an array of new laws in GOP-controlled states that outright ban gender transition surgery for minors. And on the campaign trail, when Republicans talk about transgender-related issues, they still spend the vast majority of their time talking about the transgender movement and children.

I still think the bulk of the energy and the policy focus is going to be on minors and protecting children from radical ideology, and from children being encouraged or persuaded to engage in gender transition without parental permission and involvement, said Ralph Reed, founder and chairman of the Faith & Freedom Coalition, in an interview.

Reed noted that when his group hosted its event in Washington last month, all of the candidates except for Trump almost entirely avoided any discussion of adult transgender issues, a list of speakers that included Haley, DeSantis, Hutchinson, former Vice President Mike Pence and U.S. Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina

But when asked if his group backed Trumps call to ban use of taxpayer funding, the Evangelical leader said it did.

We would clearly support it, he said. I think its a taxpayer funding issue.

Reed offered that a ban on federal money could possibly be shaped like the Hyde Amendment, a legislative provision that prohibits the use of federal tax dollars for abortion but does include some exceptions, such as when the mothers life is in danger.

But even a law designed that way would have far-reaching effects. Banning the use of federal money to pay for gender transition surgeries could effectively prevent members of the U.S. military from gender transition surgery, and Medicare beneficiaries would also have to find alternate means of funding for the procedure.

The situation is more complicated with Medicaid, a health insurance program for low-income Americans that receives federal money but is administered by individual states. Nine states, including Texas and Florida, already ban the use of Medicaid money for all transgender-related health care, according to the non-profit group Movement Advancement Project. (Floridas ban was overturned last month by a federal judge, although the state is appealing.)

A national ban on federal money, however, could still force states that do include the surgery to find new ways to fund it.

Health care experts described the proposed funding ban as the first of its kind.

That isnt something that has been on the table before, said Lindsey Dawson, associate director of HIV Policy and director of LGBTQ Health Policy at KFF, a health policy research and polling organization.

Dawson warned the loss of coverage could have severe consequences.

The loss of coverage means someone is being denied access to a service that is medically necessary, and that can have really adverse consequences for individuals, including worsening mental health, she said.

It was not immediately clear how many people, on average, would be affected by the loss of coverage. Not all people who identify as transgender seek or receive gender-affirming surgery.

The Pence and Scott presidential campaigns did not respond to requests for comment about the funding ban by time of publication.

Dylan Mulvaney criticism

Even before Trumps proposed funding ban, however, Republican candidates were showing an increased willingness to criticize prominent transgender adults and question their decisions to receive gender transition surgery.

In May, Haley lambasted transgender social media influencer Dylan Mulvaney  the woman at the center of conservative protest against Bud Light  during a campaign stopover in New Hampshire.

Make no mistake, the former governor said. That is a guy dressed up like a girl, making fun of women. Women dont act like that.

(Haley, in an interview this week with The Dispatch, did say she supported letting transgender members of the armed services serve openly and that members of that community should have every freedom and every equality as anybody else.

DeSantis, meanwhile, has mocked the notion that transgender men can become pregnant, recently making the line a regular part of his stump speech on the campaign trail.

Dont tell me that a man can get pregnant and expect me to accept that, said DeSantis, speaking in June at a campaign event in South Carolina. I will not. It is not true, and were not going to delude ourselves to think otherwise.

In a statement, DeSantis spokesman Bryan Griffin affirmed the governors support for a ban on federal taxpayer funding for gender transition surgeries but highlighted his record on transgender-related issues for children.

As governor of Florida, he has done more to protect children from radical gender ideological indoctrination than any other leader in the nation by ensuring it is a criminal act to surgically mutilate children or subject them to experimental puberty blockers and preventing schools from pushing this trend on kids in the classroom, Griffin said.

DeSantis own transgender-related record as governor does go beyond focusing on kids, however, including limiting the use of pronouns for employees in public schools and signing legislation that requires every public school to have a policy that says it is false to ascribe to a person a pronoun that does not correspond to their assigned sex.

Many doctors and transgender men and women themselves describe gender-affirming health care as life-saving, an essential procedure that often lifts affected people out of depression  including suicidal states  and lets them live happier, fuller lives. The procedure is endorsed by nearly every major medical association around the world.

Trump, however, has led the way on specific policy proposals: In addition to saying he would reinstate a ban on transgender troops servinging in the military, the former president, speaking at the NRAs annual convention in April, said he would order the Food and Drug Administration to convene an independent outside panel to investigate whether transgender-realted hormone treatments were responsible for an increase in violence in the country.

President Trump has led on this issue long before any of them spoke publicly about it, Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung said in a statement. The question is: why did it take them so long to follow President Trumps lead?

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(Tribune News Service)  The race for presidential hopefuls to lure donors and build up their bank accounts is in full swing as Republican contenders bulk up their campaigns for a long, competitive primary and President Joe Biden prepares for the general election.

Campaign finance disclosures, due to the Federal Election Commission on Saturday, cover contributions and expenditures from April through the end of June, the period when many candidates announced their plans to run for president. Donor names are a key thing to watch as formal filings trickle in by midnight in Washington.

Its the first donor reveal since all the major candidates announced. Heres how theyre faring:

Joe Biden

President Joe Biden kicked off his 2024 reelection effort with a $72 million haul in the second quarter, his campaign said in a statement Friday.

Since formally launching his bid on April 25, Biden brought in more than $1 million per day on average, a pace exceeding that of former President Barack Obama, a mega-fundraiser.

Under a joint fundraising agreement between Bidens campaign, the Democratic National Committee and state parties, the president is able to accept money in much bigger chunks than his Republican rivals. The maximum donation to the Biden Victory Fund is $929,600, dwarfing the $3,300 individual contribution limit for single campaigns without a broader agreement with the party.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is running as a Democrat in the primary. A son of the late Robert F. Kennedy, hes unlikely to mount a serious challenge to Biden.

Kennedy, who has promoted numerous conspiracy theories and falsehoods over the years, did raise nearly $6.4 million. Among his donors are Airbnb Inc. co-founder Joseph Gebbia and Pershing Square Capital Management founder Bill Ackman.

Donald Trump

Former President Donald Trump raked in more than $35 million in the second quarter as an army of small-dollar donors rallied to his side even as his legal woes mounted.

The money was raised through the Trump Save America Joint Fundraising Committee, which splits donations between his campaign and his leadership political action committee.

Trump is the front-runner for the GOP nomination with 53% support in the RealClearPolitics average of national polls.

Ron DeSantis

Ron DeSantis raised more than $20 million during the second quarter, putting him in second place in the GOP money race. He remains a distant second to Trump in the polls, with 20.6% average support.

Donors to his campaign include billionaires Kelcy Warren, chairman of Energy Transfer, Home Depot co-founder Kenneth Langone, and Harlan Crow, the conservative billionaire who bestowed luxurious trips and private real estate deals on Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas and his family.

Mel Sembler, who served as vice chairman of Trumps finance committee after he secured the GOP nomination in 2016 and Harold Hamm of Continental Resources also contributed to his campaign.

DeSantis spent $7.9 million and ended June with $12.2 million cash on hand. Small-dollar donors who give less than $200, an indicator of the intensity of a candidates grassroots support. contributed $2.9 million. The total includes about $350,000 transferred from the Draft DeSantis Fund, a committee set up to raise federal donations before the Florida governor formally announced he was running.

The super PAC supporting DeSantis says it has taken in another $130 million since March, some of which includes funds that DeSantis had left over from his 2022 reelection as Florida governor.

Nikki Haley

Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley raked in $26 million in the second quarter, including $7.3 million in direct donations.

That demonstrates support from donors despite persistently low poll numbers hovering around 3%.

The super PAC supporting Haley, Stand For America Fund Inc., raised $18.7 million from April through June, bringing her overall total to $26 million.

Mike Pence

Former Vice President Mike Pence raised a little less than $1.2 million in the first 24 days of his campaign, a weak showing in the crowded GOP primary field. The campaign spent less than $75,000 and ended June with $1.1 million cash on hand. It got $347,000 from small-dollar donors who gave less than $200, a category often seen as a key measure of grassroots support.

Pence donors include influential, deep-pocketed donors such as Fisher, former Republican National Committee chairman and well-known Washington lobbyist Haley Barbour and Alliance Resource Partners LP chief executive officer Joe Craft.

Still, fundraising could be a problem for Pence, a former governor of Indiana who raised a total of $19.4 million for his campaigns there. Hes ranking ranks third in the RealClearPolitics average of national polls at 6.3%, well behind Trump, Pences former boss. In a contest where GOP campaigns and super PACs have already spent an unprecedented $68 million on media, Pence will need raise a lot more to maintain his position.

Vivek Ramaswamy

Biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy took in $7.7 million in the second quarter, including $5.4 million that came from his own pockets. After spending $8 million, he ended June with $9 million in the bank. Since launching his campaign, hes put $16 million of his own money into the effort.

Ramaswamy tweeted that he had 65,000 unique donors, more than enough to qualify for the GOP debate stage, but they havent provided him with much money. He raised $2.3 million from other donors, including $1.2 million from contributors who gave less than $200. Hes currently at 3.1% in the Real Clear Politics average of national polls, good for sixth place.

Tim Scott South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott raised $6.1 million in his campaigns first 40 days, a haul that puts him below other candidates in the crowded Republican field.

A super PAC supporting Scott also brought in $19 million over the past quarter. The Scott campaign ended June with $21 million cash on hand, which includes money left over from his Senate campaign.

Doug Burgum

North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, whos largely self-financing his long-shot presidential campaign, took in $11.7 million during the quarter, of which $10.2 million was from his personal fortune.

The campaign said it ended June with $3.5 million cash on hand. Best of America, the super PAC supporting Burgums campaign, also said it raised more than $11 million from its launch in early June through the end of the month.

Burgum, whose wealth stems from a software business he sold to Microsoft Corp., has taken a unique approach to soliciting donations: offering $20 gift cards in exchange for a $1 donation. This money-losing scheme is a tactic for Burgum to garner enough individual donors in order to make the first GOP debate, which requires candidates to have at least 40,000 individual donors.

Chris Christie

Former New Jersey governor and prominent Trump critic Chris Christie raised more than $1.6 million in the second quarter, according to a release from the campaign. The super PAC aligned with Christie raised about $5.9 million, bringing his total to $7.5 million since he launched in early June.

The campaign ended the quarter with nearly $1.6 million cash on hand. The campaign announcement listed Tudor Investment Corp.

founder Paul Tudor Jones, Appaloosa Management LP founder David Tepper, and former New York Mets owner Fred Wilpon, and KKR & Co. co-executive chairman Henry Kravis as supporters, but didnt specify if they donated or give amounts.

Francis Suarez

Miami Mayor Francis Suarez raised nearly $950,000 in the first two weeks of his presidential campaign, but the real strength in his bid is in the more than $12 million generated by two super political action committees supporting his candidacy.

Suarez wouldnt say how close he is to meeting the 40,000-donor threshold for the Republican candidates debate in Milwaukee next month, and he has polled no higher than 1% in any national poll.

Asa Hutchinson Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson has failed to find much success in the polls or with donors. He raised about $500,000 in the second quarter, significantly less than his opponents.

Hutchinson also raised money through two other entities for a total of $743,000, falling far short of the funds he would need to fuel a presidential campaign. Hutchinson has been an outspoken critic of Trump and has called for the Republican Party to return to conservative principles in place before Trump was in office.

Will Hurd

Former Texas Rep. Will Hurd, a moderate from a swing district along the border with Mexico, raised $274,000 after launching his campaign late in June. Hurd, who stepped down from the board of ChatGPT maker OpenAI before becoming a candidate, launched his campaign by calling Trump a lawless, selfish failed politician who cost Republicans in 2020 and 2022 and would get Biden reelected in 2024.

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NEW YORK  The head of the Teamsters said Sunday that he has asked the White House not to intervene if unionized UPS workers end up going on strike.

Negotiations between the delivery company and the union representing 340,000 of its workers have been at a standstill for more than a week with a July 31 deadline for a new contract approaching fast.

The union has threatened a strike if a deal is not reached by the time the collective bargaining agreement expires. Asked during a webcast with members Sunday on whether the White House could force a contract on the union, Teamsters President Sean O'Brien said he has asked the White House on numerous occasions to stay away.

"My neighborhood where I grew up in Boston, if two people had a disagreement and you had nothing to do with it  you just kept walking," O'Brien said.

"We don't need anybody getting involved in this fight," he said.

The Teamsters represent more than half of the Atlanta-based company's workforce in the largest private-sector contract in North America. If a strike does happen, it would be the first since a 15-day walkout by 185,000 workers crippled the company a quarter century ago.

Before contract talks broke down, both sides had reached tentative agreements on several issues, including installing air conditioning in more trucks and getting rid of a two-tier wage system for drivers who work weekends and earn less money. A sticking point in negotiations is wage increases for part-time workers, who make a minimum of $16.20 an hour, according to UPS.

Last week, UPS said it will temporarily begin training nonunion employees in the U.S. to step in should there be a strike.
(Bloomberg) -- US Climate Envoy John Kerry arrived in China on Sunday for three full days of talks that will test the ability of the worlds top two greenhouse gas emitters to collaborate in the fight against global warming despite deep discord over other issues.

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Kerrys visit is the latest front in a diplomatic push aimed at reestablishing connections between the superpowers that frayed amid tensions over export controls and human rights, as well as former House Speaker Nancy Pelosis trip to Taiwan last August. It will also mark the first protracted climate negotiations between the two countries in nearly a year, since Beijing severed consultation on that and other issues in the wake of Pelosis controversial visit.

Kerry, a former US secretary of state tapped to be special presidential envoy for climate two years ago, said he is seeking candid conversations with Chinese officials and hoping to forge progress in paring releases of the potent greenhouse gas methane, while hastening the transition away from coal and deploying renewable power.

What we want to do is find ways to see if China and the US can advance the cause together for the rest of the world by accelerating rates of doing things, by increasing the deployment of renewables, by improving grid management, Kerry told lawmakers in a congressional hearing Thursday. If we can make some progress on that, we think we can tampen down this edgy sense of competition which could lead to a mistake which takes you to a place you didnt mean to go to.

From Monday, China and the US will have an in-depth exchange of views on cooperation to deal with climate change, Chinas state broadcaster CCTV reported, confirming Kerrys plane had landed in Beijing on Sunday.

Still, experts in climate diplomacy cautioned against expectations for any significant breakthrough  like the two countries milestone 2014 agreement to cooperate on the issue that helped pave the way for the landmark Paris Agreement a year later. Instead, they said, a successful outcome would be formally restarting talks and reviving a joint working group they agreed to form in November 2021.

A critical thing to observe in this visit if there are further steps envisioned, what those steps are, and how explicit the steps will be laid out by both sides, said Li Shuo, a policy adviser for Greenpeace East Asia. The trip might not resolve anything on paper immediately, but it could lay a foundation for future statements or commitments, he said.

Deliberations between Kerry and his Chinese counterpart, Xie Zhenhua, this week could help foster eventual pronouncements at the UN General Assembly in September, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation leaders summit in California and the UN climate summit in Dubai, said Jake Schmidt, a strategic director at the Natural Resources Defense Council.

Neither US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen nor US Secretary of State Antony Blinken emerged from their recent visits to China with sweeping declarations. But the trips underscored a Biden administration commitment to smoothing the turbulence between Washington and Beijing.

On climate the countries share some common ground, in part because of their outsize emissions. The US, now the No. 2 largest greenhouse gas emitter globally, is responsible for more of the planet-warming pollution in the atmosphere historically than any other nation, having burned coal, oil and natural gas to fuel decades of economic growth. But China now unleashes more carbon dioxide emissions than any other country.

Both nations also are robust investors in clean energy  and specifically committed to collaborate on the issue in a 2021 joint statement. Still, even that issue is fraught. Beijing chafes at tariffs on Chinese-made solar panels. And the US helped advance a Group of Seven plan to bolster critical minerals security seen as a bid to curb Chinas dominance as a major supplier for the materials used in semiconductors, electric vehicle batteries and other technology.

Read More From Quicktake: Why the Fight for Critical Minerals Is Heating Up

Kerry already ruled out progress on some fronts  particularly getting China to back off from its long-held designation in UN climate deliberations as a developing country, a classification that has served to limit its formal financial contributions to climate-vulnerable nations. Thats not going to happen in this visit, he bluntly told lawmakers Thursday. But the Chinese government understands this is a growing concern.

Chinese leader Xi Jinping has vowed that the countrys greenhouse gas emissions will peak before the end of the decade  and in 2021 he pledged China would halt financing coal plants outside its borders. But inside the country, its racing to build them  with new plant permits hitting a seven-year high last year, according to data from the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air.

Back in Washington, Republicans have seized on that surge in coal capacity to question the wisdom of the US engaging China on climate. Theyre the worlds largest emitter of greenhouse gases and have shown no signs of relenting, said Foreign Affairs Chairman Michael McCaul, a Republican from Texas. They are held to a different standard than we are.

(Updates with China state TV report in fifth paragraph.)

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(Tribune News Service)  A combat veteran from Chautauqua County, N.Y., charged in an alleged kidnapping and murder plot nine years ago  and paralyzed in a shooting in 2019  must remain in custody ahead of his trial, said a federal judge.

U.S. District Judge Lawrence Vilardo last week overturned a decision from another judge, who in April agreed to release Anthony Neubauer to an inpatient center for mental-health and alcohol-abuse treatment.

Neubauer, who was indicted in March on a charge of kidnapping resulting in death, has remained in custody at a medium-security prison in Youngstown, Ohio, as prosecutors appealed Magistrate Judge Jeremiah J. McCarthy's release order. Prosecutors say Neubauer kidnapped a person identified as "J.A." on May 27, 2014, and took the victim from New York to Pennsylvania.

"Once there, the defendant shot and killed J.A.," Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Adler said at a March 31 hearing, calling Neubauer a flight risk. "Simply put, this is murder just with a different name. Kidnapping resulting in death is the name of the charge, but the factual underlying basis of this case is a murder."

In a June 16 court filing, Adler called Neubauer too dangerous for release "because he is a murderer, he is skilled with firearms, he deals with drug addiction, and he knows that people to whom he confessed have testified in the grand jury against him."

Adler called Neubauer "a highly ranked marksman in the military," and his access to firearms means there are no conditions for pretrial release that can guarantee the safety of others, especially probation officers who would have to check in on him.

Defense attorney Eric Soehnlein told Vilardo at a June 29 hearing that Neubauer "really doesn't have anywhere to flee to."

Neubauer, 36, enlisted in the Marines as a 17-year-old, fighting on the front lines during his four tours of duty in Iraq. After five years with the Marines, he enlisted in the Army, where he went overseas again and fought in combat, according to Soehnlein.

"He's received more awards and honors for his military service than we could list," Soehnlein told McCarthy at the March hearing. "He received an award for being the most decorated soldier in the Southern Tier.

"It should come as no surprise that when Mr. Neubauer returned home after having seen what he had seen, he struggled to re-acclimate into society," Soehnlein said. "He has very real, very serious issues with PTSD that led to some very real and some very serious issues with substance abuse. He wants to seek help for those issues."

Since he's been in custody, the Veterans Administration and other organizations have indicated they would be willing to help him, if he is released, Soehnlein said.

Soehnlein also noted medical concerns about Neubauer's infections, saying he has suffered from cellulitis, a urinary tract infection and a colostomy infection. He was admitted to Erie County Medical Center several times to address infections when he was initially locked up locally.

Neubauer has been investigated in this case since 2015, meeting with the FBI and other law enforcement agencies numerous times, his defense lawyer said.

"He never fled. He never went anywhere. He met with them without attorneys, even though he was aware of the allegations that were being made against him," Soehnlein said at the hearing. "He's not a flight risk."

Until his arrest, Neubauer thought he had outsmarted the FBI, so he had no reason to flee, Adler replied.

Neubauer "made statements to multiple witnesses, both explicitly and implicitly, that he had beat the FBI," Adler said in a court filing.

Now that he knows at least three witnesses have testified in the grand jury, Adler said, "he realizes he did not, in fact, outsmart law enforcement."

Neubauer's lawyer said he lacks the financial means to go anywhere.

He also has physical limitations. Neubauer was shot outside of a bar in 2019 in Jamestown and remains paralyzed.

"His military history is impressive," Soehnlein told McCarthy at a March 31 hearing. "He struggles with mental health and substance abuse issues that, I think, stem from his military service. And I think he should be allowed to get help on those issues while he's awaiting trial in this matter."

Vilardo noted in his ruling Thursday that "the government paints a very different picture of Neubauer," citing his unemployment since 2015 and his alleged role as an enforcer for a Jamestown drug trafficking organization.

The government described the circumstances of the 2019 shooting, which resulted in Neubauer's paralysis, as his attempted assault on behalf of a drug trafficker that went "horribly wrong," Vilardo said.

Vilardo also expressed concern over Neubauer's drug overdose on April 5 in the Chautauqua County jail.

Neubauer has insisted that he did not "do this to himself," suggesting that perhaps someone slipped him something while at lunch, his attorney said.

Adler said video footage disproved Neubauer's assertion that an unusual number of inmates had approached him at lunch that day. The video showed that Neubauer had only one interaction with any other inmate during lunch, Adler said.

"The fact that Neubauer was able to obtain drugs while in prison makes the court quite concerned about his ability to get drugs while released," Vilardo said in his decision. "And his overdose while in prison  perhaps survived only because of the quick medical attention he received  only heightens that concern.

"Neubauer's explanation to Judge McCarthy  that he may have been slipped a mickey because an unusual number of prisoners visited him at lunch that day  does not pass muster," Vilardo said. "The video belies that explanation. And Neubauer's willingness to create a story out of whole cloth to gain his release makes the court far less confident about his willingness to flee, or perhaps harm himself, given the life imprisonment he might face if convicted."

Vilardo said he "cannot in good conscience ... conclude anything other than that remand is required."

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The once barren yard of Charles and Sandra Annis is now marked by a black flag pole and a vibrant American flag.

The black poles are signature to National Veterans Flagpoles United, an organization that presents flags and flagpoles to veterans across Oklahoma.

"I served 20 years myself," Cale Grauberger, the president of National Veterans Flagpoles United said. "So, it's just a way for me to continue my service. Because if I had it my way, I would still be in the military."

Saturday was the Annises' turn to receive recognition for their efforts.

But a presentation for the Enid residents originally was not on the agenda for Grauberger and his team of volunteers.

One for the couple's neighbor was.

After Grauberger approached the neighbor about receiving a flagpole and flag, she told him she was relocating to Las Vegas, Nev., and would not be able to enjoy the flagpole if it was installed at her current Enid residence.

She suggested Grauberger reach out to her neighbors, a couple who served in the Army.

Charles is a Korean War veteran who worked as a mechanic, and Sandra worked as a nurse. The couple met at Fort Sam Houston and raised five children together. Grandchildren sat on their laps as they watched a team of volunteers install a permanent reminder of their community's appreciation for its veterans.

Serving one's country was not the only thing celebrated at the flagpole presentation and ceremony.

The day marked 58 years of marriage for the couple, who joked playfully with each other throughout the ceremony. Sandra said the key to their marriage was patience and communication in a Facebook Live interview with Grauberger.

"They all have their own story," Grauberger said. "You know, there's never the same story, and I end the interview on Facebook Live with one question: I ask that veteran, 'What does that flagpole mean to you?' And you never get the same response, but you always get the same reaction. They all tear up. You know, they start to cry and they say, you know, this flag stands for freedom. It stands for what I stood for."

Charles broke ground for the flagpole installation before Grauberger's volunteers began assembling the pole. The group saluted the flag as it climbed the pole.

Grauberger said the flag once was flown from a Blackhawk helicopter above the skies of Oklahoma, which gives it a unique ambiance and history. After the ceremony, the flag was properly folded by two attending veterans, and Grauberger explained the meaning of each fold aloud to the audience of family, volunteers and media gathered outside the Annis residence.

After the Annises' ceremony, National Veterans Flagpoles United installed poles for two more local veterans.

Although the organization primarily celebrates Oklahoma veterans, Grauberger said he hopes to expand in the future.

"Eventually, I would, before I die, I would like to see a chapter in every state," Grauberger said. "And then that way, they can take care of veterans long after I'm gone."

Casey is an intern reporter for the Enid News & Eagle.

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Browning did not contest the 1.4 million case against him, but other family members who did lost their legal battle last February

Family members of the Kinahan Cartels No. 1 man in Ireland, Ross Browning, have until Monday morning to hand over the first of the three homes to be seized by the Criminal Assets Bureau.

His home built without planning permission at Garristown, as well as the renovated cottage on the property where his mother lives, have to handed over before 10am.

A third house at Deanstown Road where an uncle of Browning lives was ordered to be handed over on Tuesday with progress to reported at the High Court on Wednesday.

Browning did not contest the 1.4 million case against him, but other family members who did lost their legal battle last February

Judge Alex Owens made the orders for the three remaining properties to be handed over after allowing the occupants time to make arrangements.

This includes Chesnut Lodge at Garristown where Brownings mother Julie Conway and her partner ex-garda David OBrien have been living.

The Ross Browning property at Garristown, Co Dublin

The judge previously said that notice must be given to people who still live in the CAB-targeted properties before the houses can be seized.

Last month he was told a letter had been handed personally to Ms Conway and another was left there for Mr OBrien before making the order.

Counsel for the couple said they accepted the property had to be surrendered and asked to be allowed until 31 July to vacate.

Judge Owens said in light of the fact they are co-operating" he would give the necessary time to make arrangements.

However, counsel for CAB asked for a sooner date to allow the case to be mentioned on 19 July if any issues arose.

He ordered the property to be vacated before 10am on July 17 and appointed a receiver to take charge of Chesnut Lodge.

Ross Browning

He made a similar order for a property on Deanstown Road in Finglas which has to be handed over to the receiver on the following day.

Two other parcels of land in Rush had already been taken over by CAB.

Browning didnt challenge the CAB case against him for his own home at Garristown which were deemed the proceeds of crime last February.

Paddocks and an indoor show-jumping arena were built there as well as the completely renovated cottage now called Chestnut Lodge.

Browning, who is originally from Hardwicke Street in the north inner-city, was previously described in court as the Kinahan Cartels No.1 man in Ireland.

He had been part of the Kinahan gang well before the Hutch Kinahan feud started, having come to garda attention during Operation Shovel in 2010.

Browning was previously described by CAB in this case as being at the heart of a 1billion crime gang and was the Kinahan Cartels principal representative in Ireland.

In his February judgement Judge Owens said that although Brownings name was not on the properties they were controlled by him, his partner Sinead Mulhall and his mother Julie Conway.

Ross Browning's mother, Julie Conway

Browning had tried to disguise his drug money in Ireland through his family members who in return enjoyed his generosity when it came to cars, jewellery and travel.

The case also revealed how his cousin convicted drug smuggler Ian OHeaire, had taken part in what was described as a money-laundering exercise by buying the Deanstown house from Brownings now deceased grandfather William Conway.

Brownings top rank within the Kinahan Cartel emerged as it was revealed he had been a guest at Daniel Kinahans 2017 wedding at the Burj al Arab hotel in Dubai.

He would have rubbed shoulders at the event with the members of the super-cartel that included Comorra boss Rafaelle Imperiale, the Balkan Escobar Edin Gacanin and Dutch Moroccan crime lord Ridouan Taghi.
His assailant, Sean McCormack (21), Rath Reagh, Smithfield, Legan, Co Longford, was handed down a 12-month prison sentence and ordered to pay his victim 30,000 in compensation at a sitting of Mullingar Circuit Criminal Court.

A man has told of how an "unprovoked" one punch assault during a drink-fuelled street attack almost a year and a half ago resulted in him undergoing three significant brain surgeries and having a large part of his skull removed.

Twenty-year-old Longford man Zac Martin said he has been forced to consume a daily cocktail of medication and continues to endure recurring nightmares as a result of an attack along Ballymahon's Main Street during the early hours of November 13, 2021.

His assailant, Sean McCormack (21), Rath Reagh, Smithfield, Legan, Co Longford, was handed down a 12-month prison sentence and ordered to pay his victim 30,000 in compensation at a sitting of Mullingar Circuit Criminal Court.

The incident took place after an argument took place as Mr Martin began walking home after a verbal row broke out between the victim and another man.

The court heard how McCormack, who had been sitting in a car watching events unfold, suddenly got out and ran towards Mr Martin before striking him once from behind on the back of his head.

The blow caused the young Longford man to fall face first to the ground.

He was later rushed by ambulance to Dublin's Beaumont Hospital where he underwent emergency surgery for a bleed on the brain and fractures to both his skull, nose and face.

I know that I was an innocent victim on November 13, 2021, when I was targeted by Sean McCormack," he said.

"I have struggled to accept that the reason that I have had to go through all of this physical and mental trauma is because I was assaulted to make people laugh.

I wish it had never happened but there is nothing that I could go back and change.

He also said the episode had forced him to put off following his own dreams of pursuing a career in counselling.

I was interested in a career where I could help people but I dont feel ready to move away from home and from my family support which is so important to me, he said.

I am trying to rebuild my confidence and self-esteem and I dont want to take on too much too soon.

My brain injury hasnt just affected me. It has affected my whole family. It makes me very sad when I think about all the worry, anxiety and stress my parents and sister have had to go through because of the assault on me.

Judge Keenan Johnson hailed the young man as truly inspirational and mature beyond his years, but said there was no denying how the incident had left him with life changing injuries.

He said while the court was cognisant of how McCormack had attended Longford garda station voluntarily the following day with his solicitor Fiona Baxter and received excellent legal advice in meeting the case, there was no denying the attack was both unprovoked and carried out as an act of bravado to impress others.

He consequently sentenced McCormack to four and a half years in prison, suspending the final three and a half years of that term subject to a number of conditions.

They included orders compelling McCormack to enter into a five year peace bond and to pay his victim 30,000 in compensation by way of instalments within two years of his release from prison.
Police have described the daylight murder as shocking.

A gunman on an electric scooter shot a moped rider dead after chasing him through the streets of London last week.

On July 3, Andre Salmon (18) was blasted with a shotgun at point blank range in Constable Crescent, Tottenham.

London court the Old Bailey heard how Salmon had tried to escape on a moped before collapsing and dying on the street.

This incident was even more shocking given it took place on a residential street in broad daylight, said Detective Chief Inspector Dave Whellams.

An 18-year-old is charged with murder and possession of a shotgun. He is also said to have chased Salmons friend with a machete on June 30.

Police and paramedics rushed to Constable Crescent at 5pm on Monday after Mr Salmon crashed his moped into a parked car.

Despite their best efforts he died at the scene.

Stamford Rd

Police believe the victim was riding the moped along Stamford Road when he was shot by the e-scooter gunman.

Following the incident the victim continued along Stamford Road, turning left into Constable Crescent, where due to his injury his moped collided with a parked car and he collapsed, a Met spokesperson said.

Detective Chief Inspector Dave Whellams described the daylight shooting in a residential area as shocking, and urged anyone with information to come forward.

My thoughts are with the family and friends of this young man who has lost his life in devastating circumstances, he said. This incident was even more shocking given it took place on a residential street in broad daylight.

My officers have been working around the clock to establish what has happened and we will do everything in our power to identify the individual responsible and ensure they are brought to justice.

While we carry out various inquiries I would appeal to anyone who believes they may have information which could assist this investigation to come forward. No detail is too small and if you dont feel comfortable speaking to police you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously.

Detective Chief Superintendent Caroline Haines said there will be an increased police presence in the area in coming days.

My colleagues and I are truly saddened by the news of another young life lost on our borough, and I know this is a sentiment shared by the wider community who will also have justified concerns about the incident.

I want to reassure the public that the investigation team are working diligently to find out what happened and identify the person responsible. Local officers will be assisting detectives by carrying out reassurance patrols in the area over the coming days. Please engage with officers and speak to them about your concerns or to pass on information that could help with the investigation.
A male driver and male passenger who were in the same vehicle were rushed to University Hospital Limerick; the passenger remains in a serious condition.

Gardai and emergency services are currently at the scene of the crash. Stock image

A young man has died in a crash in Co Tipperary while three others have been seriously injured.

The two car collision occurred on the N24 road at Ballykisteen at approximately 9pm last night.

Gardai and emergency services raced to the scene where a 19-year-old man, a passenger in one of the cars, was pronounced dead.

His body was taken to the mortuary at University Hospital Waterford where a post-mortem will take place.

A male driver and male passenger who were in the same vehicle were rushed to University Hospital Limerick; the passenger remains in a serious condition.

Two people who were in the second vehicle were also taken to University Hospital Limerick with serious but non-life threatening injuries.

The N24 in Ballykisteen remains closed for a technical examination by Garda Forensic Collision Investigators. Local diversions are in place.

Gardai are appealing to any witnesses to this collision to contact them.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Tipperary Garda Station on 062 80670, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 or any garda station.
In my few encounters I have had with Ryan, the respect and fun he brought to our TV experience back in 2017 wont be forgotten

The well-known Irish salon owner Nigel Kenny has described the level of bullying of Ryan Tubridy as shocking.

In a strongly-worded defence of the beleaguered RTE star, the owner of the award-winning salon, Hair by Nigel & Co in Kilkenny city, said Tubridy has become the fall guy and poster boy for RTEs shortcomings.

In my few encounters I have had with Ryan, the respect and fun he brought to our TV experience back in 2017 wont be forgotten, Nigel wrote on Facebook.

People will always remember the way you make them feel and this guy deserves much better.

He went above and beyond to make me feel so welcome at the set in RTE, on our appearances on the Late Late Show and the launch of Salon Confidential.

Nigel, who was one of the stars of the 2017 RTE2 show, added that when we felt out our depth on the launch day, surrounded by TVs elite, at the new season reveal, he (Tubridy) remembered all of our names and had so much time for us before inviting us to make an appearance on the Late Late.

Nigel said Ryan had entertained and inspired for so many years, and said he hoped the RTE star will be given the freedom to do so if he pleases in the future.

The comeback is always stronger than the set back, he added as he wished Ryan a continuous prosperous future.

Nigel is just the latest name to come out in support of Tubridy after radio funnyman PJ Gallagher also mounted a vigorous defence, saying he was someone who cares about people.

The Radio Nova host took to Twitter to offer his opinion on the Tubridy affair in the wake of the recent revelations.

Im not gonna say anything about money but Ill say this, PJ began. Ryan Tubridy made calls to me before and after an interview I did with him that no other broadcaster in the last 20 years or so ever did or would.

He cares about the people on his show and he cares about his audience.

Meanwhile, RTE has confirmed the former Late Late Show presenter has invoiced for his last month of TV and radio work.

He is now set for showdown talks with management over his salary arrangements.

Tubridy is also being encouraged to pay back the 150,000 paid to him by RTE for sponsor gigs that were never done.

But he could still be entitled to nearly 11,500 in pay for his radio show since he has been taken off air by RTE.

Figures detailed by the presenter's agent Noel Kelly to the Oireachtas this week revealed that Mr Tubridy received 240,000 for his television work.

It works out at just under 4,000 per week, with the former Late Late Show host off air for three weeks already. Mr Tubridy insists he is still under contract at RTE.

The news comes as new RTE boss Kevin Bakhurst revealed yesterday that the national broadcaster received an invoice from Mr Tubridy this week.

RTE later clarified to Independent.ie that the invoice was received last month and was for Mr Tubridy's TV and radio work.

However, RTE would not go into detail on the period of time this was for.

RTE said: "As stated by Kevin Bakhurst at today's PAC meeting, the invoice received by RTE was for Ryan's television and radio work. As Ryan does not currently do television work for RTE, we will consider remuneration in the coming days and discuss with Ryan and his agent, Noel Kelly.

"For clarification, while Kevin Bakhurst stated in today's meeting that he had seen the invoice this week, the invoice was received by RTE in June."

Mr Bakhurst yesterday said RTE still have to decide what to pay the former Late Late Show host as he is not doing his past duties anymore.

He said: On Mr Tubridys return  Ive been asked about this a lot from the media and obviously theres a lot of interest and rightly so  I need to deal with that properly, there will need to be a fair process.

Mr Bakhurst said he needs to have discussions with some of my colleagues and staff and then potentially with Mr Tubridy, but there will be a fair process around that.

He told PAC that the broadcaster had received an invoice from Mr Tubridys agent, adding: We are currently in discussion  well, we were  but well need to be in continued discussions with Mr Tubridys agent about that because clearly, hes not doing his TV programme any more, he should be available for radio.

Mr Bakhurst said they have not yet settled on what [Tubridy] should be being paid at the moment.

When asked whether Mr Tubridy was currently being paid by the broadcaster, Mr Bakhurst said: As of this week, no... because we need to decide on what the level of that is.

This is despite Mr Tubridy telling the same committee on Tuesday that he was still under contract and being paid.

He told PAC on Tuesday morning: My understanding is that I am still under contract with RTE and my aim and hope is to go back to work.

Appearing before the Media Committee later that day, he was asked whether he was still being paid by RTE. Mr Tubridy replied: Yes, I am.

He added, however, that his job at RTE was touch and go at the moment and he could be out of a job by Friday.
Finding the hidden gem amongst a neighbourhood's stormwater reserve has been the brainchild of Papamoa Unlimited's Julia Manktelow as she and her team lit up the waterways this weekend to celebrate Matariki.

Over 30,000 people came out on Friday evening to enjoy the transformation of Te Ara o Wairakei - Papamoa Stormwater Reserve into a glowing light trail telling the story of the stars of Matariki.

'Manawatia a Matariki Papamoa! Thank you for all the support of our beautiful community, says Julia. 'We are blown away.

Te Ara o Wairakei trail was illuminated with lighting installations until 11pm on Friday to celebrate the nine stars in the constellation of Matariki, while a large screen at the beginning of the trail near Papamoa Plaza played Te Iwa o Matariki.

The trail through Te Ara o Wairakei - Papamoa Stormwater Reserve. Photo: Chris Taylor.

Julia says that there were 8000 people on the trail continually, with over 30,000 at the event.

'It was huge. We had quite a big crowd at the start as music was playing so it was quite consistent. People would go on the trail with new people arriving to enjoy the music."

Despite rain earlier in the day, it stayed fine as people wrapped up warmly to enjoy the evening.

The trail through Te Ara o Wairakei - Papamoa Stormwater Reserve. Photo: Chris Taylor.

Julia had mapped out the trail to be the same formation as the stars of Matariki with nine key points where lights beamed up into the sky.

'You came through the archway and then a data projector had a screen with the story of Matariki, and someone talking about the stars and what they mean.

'And then at nine locations there were nine different stars, with light beaming into the sky. People could read a storyboard about what that star was. A speaker gave a sound that was associated with each star which made it more interactive.

She says people were excited to learn more about Matariki from the trail, as they stopped to read the signs along the way that showed what each star was. The lights across the waterways created a magical breathtaking experience, with many locals not having visited the reserve before and commenting on what a great asset it is.

The trail through Te Ara o Wairakei - Papamoa Stormwater Reserve. Photo: Chris Taylor.

'It's a hidden gem, people don't realise it's there. Even the locals are saying it's so cool to see the stormwaters utilised.

Julia also had a waka named Hikurangi which Papamoa College students had built illuminated and floating on the water.

'The name of the waka was gifted from Nga Potiki A Tamapahore Trust.

She is grateful for the way the event has also established and grown stronger links across the community.

'How incredible this journey has been, weaving this between Papamoa community and Nga Potiki A Tamapahore Trust.

'We were really proud that we've been able to build this strong relationship with iwi, and have Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Otepou out there doing a waiata for Papamoa.

'It was beautiful. We can't wait to build on that and do more incredible things.

Te Ara o Wairakei - Papamoa Stormwater Reserve lit up by lights highlighting the nine stars of Matariki. Photo: Chris Taylor.

Papamoa Unlimited has been assisted by a large team of volunteers including Jodie Kendall, Ash Marks, Hugh Day Photography, PapamoaRugby Club Inc, MyRide Mt Maunganui and Papamoa Community Patrol. Support partners for the event included Nga Potiki A Tamapahore Trust, Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Otepou, Te Wananga o Aotearoa, Papamoa College, Papamoa Plaza, Event Production Services Ltd & Orbit, Stuff, Aegis Private Security Ltd, and Public Sound Company.

The festivities kicked off with a heartwarming whakatau/welcoming ceremony by Nga Potiki at Papamoa Plaza.

The unforgettable evening was filled with manaakitanga, whanau, live performances and stunning lights, and a mesmerizing kapahaka performance from Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Otepou Tuakana, the national primary school team captivated the audience.

Te Ara o Wairakei - Papamoa Stormwater Reserve lit up by lights highlighting the nine stars of Matariki. Photo: Chris Taylor.

Live music until 7.30pm added to the magical atmosphere with performances by Rise Dance Company, Videl Harrison, Amaleigh Manktelow, Lucian McDermott, Sonorous and Wild Lanes Music.

'A huge thank you to you for giving up your long weekend to give back to the community. You were incredible and we were so stoked to have you, says Julia to the performers. 'And I'm so grateful for all the support we have got from Tauranga Moana.

As the sun set, the enchanting light trail began at 6pm and continued until 11pm.

Live performances took place on stage at the entrance to the Te Ara o Wairakei - Papamoa Stormwater Reserve. Photo: Chris Taylor.

Mr G  Graham Hoete  posted about how packed out the event was on his Facebook page.

'I was actually overwhelmed by the turnout and celebrations of Matariki, it was beautiful. So proud to be Maori what a time to be alivemiharo rawa atu.

Julia already has plans for next year.

'It's all about inclusivity and to be able to give back to the businesses as well, as it's been hard times for them too.

'Next year I want to work with the schools to see more kapa haka performing.

She says Papamoa Unlimited, as a not-for-profit organisation, needs sponsorship to continue to grow the event next year.

Papamoa Unlimited also runs the official Santa parade for Tauranga city, and during the year run the Pedal & Pump event at Easter and Halloween.

'We'll be back for June 2024 bigger, brighter and more interactive but we are going to need some big sponsors and support.

'As a not for profit organization we do a lot of what we do for love. If you are keen to get involved please get in touch with me on email at julia@onewave.nz.

Te Ara o Wairakei - Papamoa Stormwater Reserve lit up by lights highlighting the nine stars of Matariki. Photo: Chris Taylor.
A man has died following a water-related incident in Kaiaua on Sunday.

Police were called at around 5.10am on Sunday, July 16, after a man was located dead.

"The man and a dinghy were recovered from the water," says a police spokesperson.

"The death will be referred to the Coroner."

Coromandel's CFM says the person was recovered deceased from the water near the Kaiaua Boating Club.

"The Kaiaua Boating Club notified members of the incident which occurred outside the boating club in the early hours of this morning," says a Coromandel CFM spokesperson.

"According to the club, a rahui is in place until midnight on Tuesday.

"The area applicable is from the quarry north of the boating club to Rays Rest to the south of the club."
Firefighting plane from Costa del Sol joins efforts to tackle La Palma wildfire An aircraft normally based in Malaga has flown to the Canary Islands as more members of Spain's Military Emergency Unit also travelled from Andalucia today

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Almost a hundred members of Spain's Military Emergency Unit (UME) left from Andalucia this Sunday for La Palma in the Canary Islands to join the work to extinguish the wildfire in the island's Puntagorda area, which has already destroyed more than 4,650 hectares. The 86 soldiers left the Moron de la Frontera base on board a Spanish Air Force A-400M.

Meanwhile, a seaplane, which arrived on Saturday afternoon from Malaga, is also taking part in the firefighting efforts, and has already been able to make the first drops of water in the affected areas.

Related news Huge La Palma wildfire in Canary Islands forces more than 500 residents to leave their homes Europa Press

The delegate of the Spanish Government in Andalucia, Pedro Fernandez, has shown his support for the residents of La Palma, while thanking the emergency services, state security forces and firefighters for their work. "It is terrifying to see how the fire has devastated everything. In Andalucia we know all too well the destruction left by the flames," Fernandez posted in a message on his Twitter profile.

On the island of La Palma, the wildfire has burnt some 4,650 hectares and around twenty buildings and has forced the evacuation of the 4,255 residents of Tijarafe and Puntagorda areas as a precaution. Of these people, some 200 are in the shelters provided by the authorities and the rest are staying in second homes or with relatives, while an operation has also been set up for the protection of animals.

During the night, more than a hundred troops worked on the ground (during Saturday the operation involved 400 people) and this morning the air resources resumed their activity.

Throughout the day, a total of eleven aircraft will be working to extinguish the fire, including the seaplane, which arrived on Saturday afternoon from the Costa del Sol and was able to make the first drops of water in the affected areas. In addition, a second seaplane arrived at the Gando air base (Gran Canaria) in the early hours of this morning and has joined the extinguishing work.
US Virgin Islands wants JPMorgan to pay $190 million and implement anti-human trafficking policies in Jeffrey Epstein lawsuit

The financial giant and the US territory have been in a heated blame game for months. Leonardo Munoz/Getty Images

The US Virgin Islands is suing JPMorgan Chase in connection with the Jeffrey Epstein case.

Court filings show it wants the bank to hire a compliance consultant to combat human trafficking.

JPMorgan said the claims were "not well founded" and would be challenged in court.

The US Virgin Islands is seeking at least $190 million from JPMorgan Chase for its alleged involvement with Jeffrey Epstein, as well as implement measures to prevent human trafficking.

In a brief filed in court on Friday, the US Virgin Islands' Department of Justice argued that the bank failed to properly scrutinize Epstein when he was a client and even benefited from his sex trafficking, according to the court documents.

The US Virgin Islands also requested that the bank brings in an independent consultant "to prevent human trafficking" and "overcome the economic incentives to underreport suspicious activity."

It also wanted JPMorgan to confirm customers' basic details before they could open a private account, and to prohibit "participation of any employee who has a personal relationship with a private banking client in the decision to retain or exit that client," per the filing.

In a statement, the bank said the US Virgin Islands' "misdirected damages theories" were "not well founded" and would be challenged in court.

Since the US Virgin Islands filed its lawsuit in December 2022, both parties have blamed the other for their roles in Epstein's sex trafficking operation.

In another lawsuit, JPMorgan alleged that Epstein paid the college tuition for the children of the former first lady of the US Virgin Islands.

In June The Wall Street Journal reported that Epstein also offered to help a former JPMorgan executive get his daughter into Columbia University. The bank did not comment on the claim to the newspaper other than repeating previous statements expressing regret about working with Epstein.

Epstein was arrested in 2019 on federal sex trafficking charges. He died later that year while being held at Manhattan's Metropolitan Correctional Center.

In June, JPMorgan agreed to pay $290 million to some of Epstein's victims, who alleged that the bank facilitated his sex trafficking and ignored his behavior.

Read the original article on Business Insider
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Syracuse, N.Y.  The Onondaga County Sheriffs Office celebrated its latest graduates from the sheriffs academy including 15 new deputies for its office and other graduates who serve other Central New York agencies.

The graduation ceremony was held Friday at Onondaga Community College, said Tom Newton, a spokesperson for the Onondaga County Sheriffs Office.
A total of 124 home sales were recorded recently at the Onondaga County Clerks office.

Micron Technologys purchase of a home on 30 acres of land on Caughdenoy Road in Clay was the most expensive sale of the week.
Illustration by Mitchell Preffer for Decrypt

The firestorm was first kindled when an obscure crypto intelligence firm called Arkham tweeted that it was opening an intelligence exchange where people could post bounties to incentivize blockchain analysts to identify the people or companies behind any wallet or transaction.

Crypto Twitter went veritably ape and lambasted the idea.

Announcing The Worlds First On-Chain Intelligence Exchange Buy and sell information on the owner of any blockchain wallet addressanonymously, via smart contract. pic.twitter.com/4xr7dLvOjp  Arkham (@ArkhamIntel) July 10, 2023

Decrypt covered the funniest responses that day. Needless to say, Arkham CEO Miguel Morel was keen to clear the air. He sat down with us later in the week over a Telegram call and assured us that his model wasnt a dox-to-earn program and that any harmful uses would not be allowed.

Although the case is most certainly not closed, the real hot topic of the week was Ripples courtroom victory against the SEC. A judge ruled that the sale of XRP tokens to the public was not a violation of securities lawssomething that the industry long maintained.

Before we get onto that, however, lets take a look at some of the other big tweets this week.

Crypto Twitter Reacts to Arkhams New 'Dox-to-Earn' Intelligence Exchange

On Monday, Will Clemente, the founder of blockchain research firm Reflevity, pointed out a strange convergence of two important crypto milestones next year.

Last Bitcoin ETF decision deadline: 3/19/24 Bitcoin halving estimate: 4/16/24  pic.twitter.com/8zxcp8TQsh  Will Clemente (@WClementeIII) July 10, 2023

Another day, another bust for blockchain gumshoe ZachXBT. This time he was following the trail of a phishing scammer who used his purloined funds on luxury items, including a pretty loud Rolex watch, shamelessly posting pics on social media.

1/ An investigation into the YouTuber turned phishing scammer Blue (Jack) who has worked with Monkey Drainer and other drainer services to steal more than $1.5m pic.twitter.com/MKRlaCuMI5  ZachXBT (@zachxbt) July 10, 2023

Bloombergs James Seyffart on Tuesday shared a subtle but significant amendment to the Chicago Board Options Exchanges refiled Bitcoin ETF applications. Looks like Coinbase is everyones go-to partner for the surveillance-sharing agreement (SSA) side of the application. BlackRock and Valkyrie both did the same last week in their respective applications.

The SEC wants to see SSAs in the ETF applications because they deter fraud and manipulation by outlining how applicants will monitor market trading activity and clearing activity and verify customer identity.

UPDATE: @CBOE has filed amendment's for all 5 of their #Bitcoin ETF applications. The one change I can find is different language about CBOE's SSA with Coinbase. Changing from "Expecting to enter" to "reached an agreement on terms". pic.twitter.com/25qK0x9lHg  James Seyffart (@JSeyff) July 11, 2023

Crypto lawyer Lewis Cohen on Wednesday tweeted a small thread about why hes excited for a new version of the Responsible Financial Innovation Act. In a later tweet, he even suggested the U.S. still has a chance to set the standard in crypto legislation and outdo the European Unions recently passed MiCA framework.

1/ So excited!! Sen. Cynthia Lummis just announced on Squawkbox that a revised version of the Lummis-Gillibrand Responsible Financial Innovation Act is being introduced in the Senate today. This is BIG NEWS. pic.twitter.com/PQgOoLjIXC  Lewis Cohen (@NYcryptolawyer) July 12, 2023

Another crypto lawyer, Marisa Tashman Coppelsenior counsel at pro-crypto policy lobbying group The Blockchain Associationhas many questions for the SEC about Prometheum, a crypto company that suddenly appeared on the scene and has been conveniently touted as an upstanding and compliant firm by the commission.

1/ Today, the @BlockchainAssn submitted a letter to the SECs Inspector General calling for an investigation into the circumstances surrounding Prometheum. Although there may not be anything nefarious, suspicious circumstances beg someone to look under the hood Key Qs  pic.twitter.com/Gp7bx7WD5X  Marisa Tashman Coppel (@MTCoppel) July 12, 2023

Republican congressman Richie Torres called for an investigation into Prometheum the following day.

 @SECGov is acting like an overzealous traffic cop arbitrarily ticketing drivers while keeping the speed limit a secret. It prefers to communicate by enforcement rather than by rules or guidance. But that's no way to regulate digital assets. I'm calling for an investigation. https://t.co/ZbiSk6oQ9F pic.twitter.com/n0hijAREDC  Rep. Ritchie Torres (@RepRitchie) July 13, 2023

Things went from bad to worse for the Multichain cross-chain bridge this week. The protocol has had some transactions frozen since May. In its latest announcement, it says it has shuttered operations as its CEO and his sister are in the custody of Chinese police, the teams operational funds have been impounded, and over $200 million in customer funds is up in the air. Ouch!

1. On May 21, 2023, Multichain CEO Zhaojun was taken away by the Chinese police from his home and has been out of contact with the global Multichain team ever since. The team contacted the MPC node operators and learned that their operational access keys to MPC node servers had  Multichain (Previously Anyswap) (@MultichainOrg) July 14, 2023

Crypto Twitter basks in Ripples victory

FOX business journalist Eleanor Terrett was one of the first to break the major news on Thursday that a judge ruled that XRP "is not necessarily a security on its face and programmatic sales of XRP to the public did not break securities laws.

BREAKING: Judge Torres says @Ripples Programmatic Sales, the Other Distributions, and Larsen's and Garlinghouse's sales of #XRP do NOT constitute investment contracts. Documents and details to come. pic.twitter.com/3sTV12bleL  Eleanor Terrett (@EleanorTerrett) July 13, 2023

Its party time, said Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse.

(and let's start planning that proper party!)  Brad Garlinghouse (@bgarlinghouse) July 13, 2023

Lawyer Stephen Palley pointed out that some institutional sales of XRP ($728 million worth) did qualify as securities offerings. Later in the thread he described the event as more of a win than he was expecting.

so basically institutional sales were securities transactions programmatic sales and distributions to employees were not court punts on whether secondary market sales are securities transactions (see footnote 16) but seems trending that way case goes to trial https://t.co/A6wIUTZhaz pic.twitter.com/97QuSAMBsf  Palley (@stephendpalley) July 13, 2023

Crypto fan and streamer RookieXBT saw the ruling as a historic milestone.

this is literally better news than an ETF approval but you just don't get it yet  RookieXBT  (@RookieXBT) July 13, 2023

Andrew Kang, co-founder of crypto venture firm Mechanism Capital, said the news was a win for Ethereum too.

XRP case files/letters actually had more positive $ETH not being non-security language than $XRP Opens the door for $ETH ETF speculation https://t.co/jvSg0Da9GA  Andrew Kang (@Rewkang) July 13, 2023

Gemini co-founder Cameron Winklevoss was overjoyed. He trash-talked the SEC back into the Mesozoic era, where it belongsaccording to him. Threat neutralized.

The sale of XRP on exchanges is NOT a security. Which means the sales of all cryptos on exchanges are NOT securities and @SECGov and @GaryGensler have NO jurisdiction over them. This is a watershed moment that relegates the SEC to TradFi and makes it a dinosaur regulator. Buh-bye pic.twitter.com/PRuumqQBEL  Cameron Winklevoss (@cameron) July 13, 2023

Eleanor Terrett shared the SECs response, which reads like Gary Gensler smiling through gritted teeth.

Finally, CoinGecko wanted you to know that XRP flipped BNB on Thursday. Its no longer the case now though.

$XRP has flipped $BNB, and is now the 4th largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization. pic.twitter.com/ZxBuVABp2M  CoinGecko (@coingecko) July 13, 2023

What a week!
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Re: Jobs, Attrition & Layoffs in IT companies Infosys Salary Hike Update: Bad News For Employees As Appraisal Delayed



https://www.india.com/business/infos...oyees-6161970/



TCS defers lateral hires, Infosys defers hikes... this will signal the rest of the players to take shelter in the shadow of giants and do similar acts.



Regarding consulting, please don't hold your breath. There is a cultural problem in India which doesn't let part-time consulting to become the norm. When I came out of my first startup, I was 50 and had the right credentials to be a consulting architect. It is not a gig job either, because the input of architect would be required continuously, and not just in the beginning. This is not a house construction. But part-time will do just fine.



But companies in India only wanted fulltime employees to play that very important role, even if they overlook my age. Senior architects are very difficult to find in Indian IT where most are pushed to become managers after 5-10 years. Yet, each company wants to hire full time senior architects, even though part-time consulting architects can easily fill the role. This is very common in USA, but in India it is a no-go area.



Even those who are open to accepting part-time consulting, will only approve large consulting companies that are both expensive and less useful. So good luck on getting any consulting deals as an individual. TCS defers lateral hires, Infosys defers hikes... this will signal the rest of the players to take shelter in the shadow of giants and do similar acts.Regarding consulting, please don't hold your breath. There is a cultural problem in India which doesn't let part-time consulting to become the norm. When I came out of my first startup, I was 50 and had the right credentials to be a consulting architect. It is not a gig job either, because the input of architect would be required continuously, and not just in the beginning. This is not a house construction. But part-time will do just fine.But companies in India only wanted fulltime employees to play that very important role, even if they overlook my age. Senior architects are very difficult to find in Indian IT where most are pushed to become managers after 5-10 years. Yet, each company wants to hire full time senior architects, even though part-time consulting architects can easily fill the role. This is very common in USA, but in India it is a no-go area.Even those who are open to accepting part-time consulting, will only approve large consulting companies that are both expensive and less useful. So good luck on getting any consulting deals as an individual.
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Renowned musician, songwriter, rapper, and entrepreneur will.i.am, also known as William Adams Jr., has recently unveiled his latest venture that combines his passion for technology and creativity.

According to Euronews Next, the Black Eyed Peas founding member introduced FYI (Focus Your Idea), an AI-powered platform designed to revolutionize the creative process.

The AI-Powered Platform, FYI, of will.i.am

FYI, which stands for Focus Your Idea, is being hailed as the first productivity tool designed to prioritize the needs of creatives.

It is engineered to assist in various tasks essential to the creative process, including AI-powered "creative co-piloting," seamless communication with collaborators and team members, secure sharing of photos, videos, audio files, and documents, and robust data protection with advanced end-to-end encryption.

Jonathan Mildenhall, former Chief Marketing Officer of Airbnb and current CEO of TwentyFirstCenturyBrand, is among the notable supporters of FYI. He shares the excitement surrounding the launch of FYI and draws parallels between its founding story and that of Airbnb.

The inception of FYI originated from will.i.am's recognition of the necessity for a comprehensive solution that consolidates the array of tools used by creatives.

In the past, creatives had to rely on many platforms, including WhatsApp, Dropbox, WeTransfer, email, calendars, Zoom, and ChatGPT, to facilitate remote collaboration. FYI aims to streamline the creative workflow by providing a unified toolset accessible through a single app.

Read Also: Are AI Detection Tools Effective in Assessing Artificially-Made Results? Here's Why They Aren't Always Reliable

will.i.am Invites the Creative Community

In the Euronews Next's interview, will.i.am emphasized the unique aspects of the platform. Unlike other language models such as ChatGPT, FYI is primarily a messenger that incorporates file management, digital asset storage, and project-based collaboration.

By merging conversations, digital assets, and communication strategies, FYI provides a cohesive environment for creative projects. It also features a calendar, a music organizer, and a generative AI component that enhances team flow.

The algorithm behind FYI is a result of collaborative efforts with IBM. One of the upcoming features will enable users to create threads and utilize the FYI business agent, developed in collaboration with IBM and WatsonX, to generate Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) and protect their ideas.

Through FYI, individuals from various backgrounds, including those from inner cities or rural areas, can now easily protect their intellectual property and engage in business activities while focusing on creativity.

To ensure the highest level of security, FYI incorporates elliptical curve cryptography keys, which encrypt data from end to end. This comprehensive approach guarantees that all user information, including intellectual property and personal data, remains protected.

As FYI continues to evolve, will.i.am invites the creative community to join him on this journey. The central premise of the platform is to champion creatives, providing them with the necessary support, protection, and tools to thrive in their creative endeavors.

Related Article: Are Talking Spaceships Coming Soon? NASA to Revolutionize Space Exploration with AI-Powered ChatGPT-Like Interface

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With the latest news on tech startups, European Union regulators are looking at Amazon's proposed acquisition of iRobot, startups Verity and Pano AI gained significant funding, and Simbe and Bedrock are expanding their operations. Read more.

Amazon's iRobot Roomba Acquisition Faces EU Scrutiny

European Union regulators have officially investigated Amazon's planned $1.7 billion acquisition of iRobot, the renowned company behind the popular Roomba robot vacuum cleaners.

The European Commission is concerned about potential competition limitations in the robot vacuum cleaner market and Amazon's growing dominance as an online marketplace provider.

Additionally, they examine how access to iRobot users' data may give Amazon an advantage in online marketplace services and data-related markets. The investigation's outcome will have profound implications for the future of the robotics industry and consumer choice.

Verity Raises Additional Funding to Meet Supply Chain Automation Demands

For this week, TechCrunch reported a handful of essential updates about tech startups offering services like ocean mapping, wildfire detection, and more.

One of these unique firms is Swiss startup Verity which recently announced a significant funding round to address the surging demand for supply chain automation.

Building on its $32 million Series B funding from March, Verity continues to attract attention, thanks to its groundbreaking collaboration with Ikea.

With 100 drones deployed in 16 warehouses across Europe, Verity's innovative drone technology has revolutionized warehouse operations.

Read Also: [LEAK] Xiaomi Might Deliver an 800-Volt EV Platform With Over 100 KWh of Battery Power

Pano AI's Wildfire Detection System Secures Funding Extension

Amid the growing concern about wildfires, Pano AI has made tremendous progress in automated wildfire detection. Their system has successfully spotted wildfires using advanced camera technology, delivering crucial early warnings.

In recognition of their pioneering work, Pano AI recently announced a $17 million extension to its existing $20 million Series A funding.

Simbe Raises $28 Million to Expand Inventory Monitoring Robots

Simbe, a leading robotics company focused on in-store inventory monitoring, has recently secured an impressive $28 million Series B funding.

Following their successful $26 million Series A funding in late 2019, Simbe has experienced remarkable growth, propelled by their collaboration with BJ Wholesale Club.

Simbe's robots, known as Tally, roam stores, can continuously monitor inventory levels within customers' reach.

Bedrock Raises $25.5 Million to Revolutionize Underwater Mapping

Bedrock, an ambitious startup focused on underwater projects, has recently secured $25.5 million in funding to transform the field of ocean mapping.

Traditional survey ships for offshore projects have proven costly and time-consuming. Bedrock's autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) offer a cost-effective alternative, efficiently conducting surveying, inspection, and monitoring tasks.

Interestingly, Bedrock's new focus lies in the hardware and the commercial viability of selling the valuable data collected by their AUVs.

Stay posted here at Tech Times.

Related Article: Amazon Prime Day 2023 Hailed 'Biggest Ever' Sales in the US With $12.7 Billion Consumer Spending

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Death Valley, known for its scorching temperatures, is facing the possibility of breaking the record for the hottest temperature ever recorded on Earth, according to experts.



Business Insider reports that the intensifying heat waves, driven by climate change, have resulted in extreme weather events, prolonged droughts, and devastating wildfires.

Hotter July

Recent data from the World Meteorological Organization indicates that June was the hottest month on record, and July is expected to be even hotter.

The US National Weather Service reports that excessive heat warnings and advisories now cover more than 100 million people in the country, with the Western region experiencing particularly punishing conditions.



Death Valley, located in California, is notorious for its extreme heat. The National Parks Service reveals that summer temperatures in the region often surpass 120 degrees Fahrenheit (49 degrees Celsius) due to the valley's unique topography, where hot air gets trapped in its narrow basin surrounded by mountains.



However, this weekend could witness temperatures surpassing 130 degrees Fahrenheit, potentially breaking the record for the hottest temperature ever reliably measured on Earth.



Phoenix, Arizona, has also been enduring scorching temperatures above 110 degrees Fahrenheit for an extended period, leading to cases of second-degree burns from red-hot sidewalks.

Read Also: Harnessing the Power of AI for Clean Energy Solutions and Climate Change Mitigation: Renowned Clean Energy Investment Expert Nishant Tiwary

Heatwaves Around the World

The heatwave is not limited to the United States. Europe, the Middle East, and southeastern Turkey are also experiencing sweltering heat, and Morocco has issued an extreme heat alert.

These heatwaves are symptoms of the changing climate caused by increased levels of carbon dioxide and methane emissions, according to experts.

The consequences of extreme weather events are becoming more evident worldwide. Uruguay, for example, is grappling with a severe drought that has left its only freshwater reservoir almost dry, leaving over half of the population without access to safe tap water.



Northern Argentina, southern Patagonia, and Iraq are also facing the impacts of climate-related water shortages, affecting agriculture, food production, and livelihoods.



Petteri Taalas, the secretary-general of the World Meteorological Organization, emphasizes that the rising frequency of extreme weather events underscores the urgent need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions as quickly and significantly as possible.



The far-reaching effects of these events are felt in human health, ecosystems, economies, agriculture, energy, and water supplies.



As the heat wave continues to grip regions around the world, authorities are urging individuals to practice heat safety measures such as staying hydrated and avoiding strenuous outdoor activities.



It serves as a stark reminder of the pressing need to address climate change and its detrimental consequences on our planet.

Related Article: Lab-Grown Meat More Harmful to Environment Than Real Meat, Claims New Study-Produces 25X More CO2!

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The European Union (EU) is urging the United States (US) to implement tighter regulations on artificial intelligence (AI) to ensure the development and deployment of AI technologies are in line with international standards.

EU Official Encourages US to Take Substantial Action

According to a report from WIRED, Didier Reynders, the European Commissioner for Justice, emphasizes the need for the US to take substantial action and not just engage in empty promises.



Reynders highlights the importance of privacy protection and data control, referring to the EU's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) as an example of comprehensive privacy laws.



While there have been proposals in the US for similar regulations, including suggestions from tech executives, Facebook whistleblowers, and members of Congress, Reynders notes the lack of real progress and implementation.

Despite the settlements reached by the US Federal Trade Commission with tech companies regarding user data protection, Reynders contends that these actions lack the same level of authority as laws capable of imposing more stringent fines and legal repercussions.



He emphasizes the crucial role of effective enforcement in any regulatory framework and advocates for a unified approach between the EU and the US to establish an international standard for AI regulation.

Read Also: EU Official Urges Elon Musk to Make Progress on Twitter Amid New Law Against Hate Speech, Misinformation

ChatGPT and AI Regulation

ChatGPT, developed by OpenAI, emerges as a significant area of concern in AI regulation. Italy's data protection authority temporarily halted ChatGPT, prompting the implementation of updates to enhance privacy options and disclosures.



A comprehensive investigation into OpenAI's compliance with the GDPR is expected to be completed by October.

Additionally, an EU-wide data protection task force is working towards establishing shared principles for handling ChatGPT. These developments might necessitate further adjustments to OpenAI's data collection and retention policies.

Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, has expressed support for new rules governing AI systems while also expressing concerns about overregulation.

Reynders believes that including major actors like OpenAI in discussions is crucial to understand their concerns and find solutions through legislation. He assures OpenAI that new AI rules should not hinder its mission of developing technologies for the greater good.

Reynders stresses the need for the EU and the US to align their regulations. The EU is set to introduce the AI Act, and if the US does not have corresponding rules, it will be more challenging to ensure full compliance and drive industry-wide change.



Reynders believes that cooperation between the EU and the US in establishing robust AI regulations will enable the development of an international standard, facilitating the safe and responsible use of AI technologies worldwide.

Related Article: EU Could End the 'Apple Tax' with the Digital Market Act that Could Force the Company to Give Up Its 'Monopoly'

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Prime Minister Albin Kurti recently announced that Kosovo acquired a batch of Turkish-made Bayraktar drones to strengthen its security capabilities.

Reuters reports that this move comes at a critical time for the young republic, which is grappling with ethnic unrest in its northern region and heightened tensions with neighboring Russia.

The acquisition of these drones marks a significant milestone for Kosovo, as it is the country's first foray into unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

Kosovo Acquires First UAVs

Prime Minister Kurti took to Facebook to announce the latest addition to Kosovo's defense arsenal. The exact number and cost of the drones were not disclosed.

Bayraktar drones have gained global recognition after Ukraine successfully deployed them against Russian forces, showcasing their effectiveness and versatility in modern warfare.



Kosovo's Growing Military Power

Kosovo's security investment under the current government has yielded tangible results.

In the past two years alone, Reuters says that troop numbers have increased by a staggering 80%, accompanied by a more than 100% rise in the defense budget. Prime Minister Kurti emphasized that these measures are aimed at ensuring the safety of Kosovo and its people.

The decision to invest in Bayraktar drones underscores Kosovo's commitment to enhancing its defense capabilities. As part of its long-term strategy, Kosovo is building an army consisting of 5,000 regular soldiers and 3,000 reservists.

Read Also: Russian Fighter Jets Harass NATO Aircraft Over Syria, 'Dangerous and Unprofessional'

This ambitious plan, coupled with the presence of over 4,500 NATO peacekeepers, highlights Kosovo's determination to establish a strong and self-reliant defense force in the Balkan region.

However, Kosovo's aspirations face challenges on multiple fronts. The country's bid to join NATO is hindered by the fact that four alliance members still do not officially recognize Kosovo's independence from Serbia, which was declared in 2008.

Additionally, Kosovo has been grappling with ethnic tensions in its northern region, where ethnic Serbs, backed by Belgrade, refuse to acknowledge the authority of Pristina. This resistance has led to sporadic outbreaks of violence, demanding immediate attention and resolution.

What's Next?

The acquisition of Bayraktar drones sends a clear message to those who threaten Kosovo's stability. These advanced UAVs can gather intelligence, conduct surveillance, and, if necessary, engage in targeted strikes with precision.

They provide Kosovo with a crucial advantage in maintaining situational awareness and responding effectively to emerging security threats.

While the exact application of these drones has not been specified, their potential range of use is extensive. From monitoring borders to protecting critical infrastructure, the Bayraktar drones offer Kosovo a valuable asset in safeguarding its territorial integrity and maintaining peace within its borders.

The timing of this acquisition is noteworthy, as tensions between Kosovo and Russia have been simmering. In a recent incident, Insider reports that Russian forces intercepted and destroyed a fleet of Ukrainian drones near Sevastopol, a key naval base.

This attack, labeled as a "terrorist act" by Russian authorities, further exacerbates the regional instability and underscores the need for Kosovo to bolster its defense capabilities.

Stay posted here at Tech Times.

Related Article: North Korea Issues Warning to US Spy Drones; Recon Flights Will Be Taken Down

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Key Insights

Formosa Prosonic Industries Berhad's significant individual investors ownership suggests that the key decisions are influenced by shareholders from the larger public

The top 12 shareholders own 51% of the company

Insiders own 21% of Formosa Prosonic Industries Berhad

To get a sense of who is truly in control of Formosa Prosonic Industries Berhad (KLSE:FPI), it is important to understand the ownership structure of the business. The group holding the most number of shares in the company, around 41% to be precise, is individual investors. In other words, the group stands to gain the most (or lose the most) from their investment into the company.

Public companies, on the other hand, account for 29% of the company's stockholders.

Let's delve deeper into each type of owner of Formosa Prosonic Industries Berhad, beginning with the chart below.

See our latest analysis for Formosa Prosonic Industries Berhad

What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Formosa Prosonic Industries Berhad?

Institutional investors commonly compare their own returns to the returns of a commonly followed index. So they generally do consider buying larger companies that are included in the relevant benchmark index.

As you can see, institutional investors have a fair amount of stake in Formosa Prosonic Industries Berhad. This can indicate that the company has a certain degree of credibility in the investment community. However, it is best to be wary of relying on the supposed validation that comes with institutional investors. They too, get it wrong sometimes. It is not uncommon to see a big share price drop if two large institutional investors try to sell out of a stock at the same time. So it is worth checking the past earnings trajectory of Formosa Prosonic Industries Berhad, (below). Of course, keep in mind that there are other factors to consider, too.

Hedge funds don't have many shares in Formosa Prosonic Industries Berhad. The company's largest shareholder is Wistron Corporation, with ownership of 27%. Meanwhile, the second and third largest shareholders, hold 5.1% and 3.2%, of the shares outstanding, respectively. Chao Yuan Shih, who is the third-largest shareholder, also happens to hold the title of Member of the Board of Directors.

Looking at the shareholder registry, we can see that 51% of the ownership is controlled by the top 12 shareholders, meaning that no single shareholder has a majority interest in the ownership.

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 Formosa Prosonic Industries Berhad

While the precise definition of an insider can be subjective, almost everyone considers board members to be insiders. Company management run the business, but the CEO will answer to the board, even if he or she is a member of it.

Insider ownership is positive when it signals leadership are thinking like the true owners of the company. However, high insider ownership can also give immense power to a small group within the company. This can be negative in some circumstances.

Our information suggests that insiders maintain a significant holding in Formosa Prosonic Industries Berhad. Insiders own RM134m worth of shares in the RM635m company. It is great to see insiders so invested in the business. It might be worth checking if those insiders have been buying recently.

General Public Ownership

The general public, who are usually individual investors, hold a 41% stake in Formosa Prosonic Industries Berhad. While this size of ownership may not be enough to sway a policy decision in their favour, they can still make a collective impact on company policies.

Public Company Ownership

Public companies currently own 29% of Formosa Prosonic Industries Berhad stock. This may be a strategic interest and the two companies may have related business interests. It could be that they have de-merged. This holding is probably worth investigating further.

Next Steps:

While it is well worth considering the different groups that own a company, there are other factors that are even more important. For example, we've discovered 1 warning sign for Formosa Prosonic Industries Berhad that you should be aware of before investing here.

Of course this may not be the best stock to buy. So take a peek at this free free list of interesting companies.

NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

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In a recent interview, President Vladimir Putin said Russia had a "sufficient stockpile" of cluster bombs and would take action if Ukraine employed them in the battle. The Russian leader's first public reaction to US cluster bomb deliveries to Ukraine.

Putin denied employing cluster bombs in the Ukrainian war, despite both Russia and Ukraine having used such weapons. Before the airing on Sunday night, reporter Pavel Zarubin for Rossiya TV posted excerpts from the interview on his Telegram channel, as reported by AP News.

The Pentagon acknowledged that the US had sent Ukraine cluster munitions. According to the US, these munitions are essential for giving Kyiv the firepower to sustain its assault and advance toward the Russian front lines.

Before US President Joe Biden finally authorized the transfer last week, the decision to provide cluster bombs to Ukraine was subject to extensive discussion among US policymakers.

What Are Cluster Bombs?

Cluster bombs have a high "dud rate," meaning they commonly leave unexploded bomblets that continue to endanger civilians after fights. These weapons may be dropped, launched, or sunk and contain numerous explosives.

Due to cluster bombs being highly dangerous, over 100 countries, including the UK, France, and Germany, have signed a treaty banning cluster bombs.

Russia and Ukraine have employed cluster bombs since Moscow's full-scale invasion in February 2022.

Neither nation has signed the cluster munitions moratorium pact. While not a signatory, the US has frequently chastised Russia for using these weapons.

Read Article: Sony, Microsoft Reach Long-Term Agreement to Keep Call of Duty on PlayStation

Russian cluster bombs have a 40% "dud rate, " leaving many unexploded bomblets on the ground. The typical dud rate is roughly 20%. The Pentagon claims that cluster bomblets have a 3% failure rate, per BBC.

Like Russia, Ukraine's military is running out of artillery rounds due to its heavy consumption. However, Ukraine's Western allies cannot replace artillery ammunition soon enough.

Southern and eastern Ukraine's static battlefronts have made artillery important.

Supporters of the US decision believe the prospect of Russia using cluster bombs in Ukraine shows that US-supplied weapons have been enhanced to prevent unexploded rounds.

Kyiv has pledged to use the weapons away from heavily populated regions in the Russia-Ukraine war.

Vladimir Putin's exact statements remain unknown. In the early phases of the conflict, former White House press secretary Jen Psaki said that Russia's deployment of cluster bombs would be a war crime.

Russia's head of state also denied using cluster bombs, despite proof.

Russia has killed hundreds of civilians in the north-eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv using indiscriminate shelling and cluster munitions in 2022.



Russian forces repeatedly used 9N210/9N235 cluster bombs, as well as scatterable munitions. pic.twitter.com/QQvNZxieBl  Clash Report (@clashreport) July 8, 2023

The UN found 24 reliable complaints of Russian troops using cluster bombs in civilian areas in March. Last year, Kremlin launched 11 cluster rockets into Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city, during the initial phase of the Russia-Ukraine war, according to a CNN report.

Russia Reportedly Shot Down Attack Drones in Crimea

Crimea remains tense despite the Russian assertion that a drone attack was thwarted. A "massive and prolonged" drone strike hit Russia's Black Sea Fleet facility in Sevastopol.

Sevastopol governor Mikhail Razvozhaev said air defense systems downed 10 drones without casualties or property damage, per Euronews.

According to the Russian Defense Ministry, its anti-aircraft defense brought down two drones while jamming devices rendered five more unusable. The ministry noted that two Ukrainian army naval drones operating on the water's surface were also allegedly destroyed.

Crimea, which Russia illegitimately acquired in 2014, has seen numerous drone strikes from the air and sea ever since the operation against Ukraine started in February 2022.

Related Article: EU Encourages US to Tighten Regulations on AI

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The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) recently incorporated artificial intelligence (AI) into its military operations, using it for target selection in air strikes and combat logistics.



IDF officials have revealed the deployment of an AI recommendation system that analyzes vast amounts of data to suggest air attack targets. However, detailed operational specifics are still being kept secret, according to Bloomberg. Reports also indicate that another AI model called Fire Factory puts together raids by calculating munition loads, allocating targets, and suggesting timelines depending on accepted targets.



Both AI systems are controlled by human operators, who review and approve air attack targets and plans. Concerns are raised about this technology's absence of national and international laws. While opponents of the measure warn about the perils of more autonomous systems, proponents contend that improved algorithms may outperform human skills and possibly reduce fatalities.

Israel Has Been Using AI in Warfare

These AI technologies have helped the IDF gather military experience throughout intermittent wars in the Gaza Strip. The IDF characterized the combat in 2021 as the first "AI war" in history, emphasizing how AI was used to locate missile launchers and send out drone swarms. Israel also conducts incursions in Syria and Lebanon, primarily focusing on supplying weapons to militias supported by Iran.



Israel has often told Iran not to enrich uranium as tensions rise. The IDF expects Iranian proxies in Gaza, Syria, and Lebanon to retaliate, which might result in the first significant multi-front Israeli confrontation since the Yom Kippur War 50 years ago.

Read Also: China to Impose New Regulations for Generative AI



Rapid decision-making and coordination are made possible by AI-based systems like Fire Factory, which are intended to handle all-out war situations. To establish itself as a world leader in autonomous weapons, the IDF has increased the usage of AI across various units. These systems include those designed by the IDF and Israeli military contractors, including the StarTrack border control cameras. Together, they provide a digital framework for examining satellite images, electrical communications, drone and CCTV video, and other data sources.

Is Israel Developing Killer Robots?

The IDF developed the Data Science and Artificial Intelligence Center inside the intelligence division to handle this enormous volume of data. The facility, overseen by the 8200 unit, was instrumental in developing AI systems that altered IDF target conceptions.



The prospective shift from semi-autonomous to fully automated killing robots raises concerns about the lack of openness in the development process. Several groups, including Stop Killer Robots, support discussing the moral ramifications of AI use in conflict. Israel insists that decision-making procedures will continue to need human monitoring.



The IDF also plans to devote around half of its military scientists to AI projects by 2028, according to Reuters. Making Israel a "powerhouse" in artificial intelligence has been a top priority for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has also raised military spending. The removal of lower-level coding professions, however, creates a staffing issue and necessitates considerable training for employees in AI-related areas.



Israel recognizes the ethical issues with the AI weapons race, even though AI in target acquisition does not include automated target annihilation. To improve information collection and targeting capabilities against Iran, which will be a significant emphasis of Israel's military force design in the subsequent years, the Defense Ministry aims to concentrate on AI investments.

During his address to the 2023 Herzilya Conference in May, Defense Ministry Director-General Eyal Zamir made it clear that Israel aims to be a leader in incorporating AI in military technology, like its role in "cybertech," as reported by The Times of Israel. He also announced another layer in the nation's rocket and missile defense called the "Iron Beam" laser system, which is being developed at an "impressive pace."

Related Article: Putin Warns Ukraine: Russia Holds 'Sufficient' Supply of Cluster Bombs

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 Communities 2019 - Privacy

The information on this site is from external sources that are not under our control.The inclusion of any links does not necessarily imply a recommendation or endorse the views expressed within them.
When the BRICS summit gets under way in South Africa next month, much of the international attention will be on whether Russian President Vladimir Putin, with an International Criminal Court warrant out for his arrest, will attend.

But for many African countries, the summit is an opportunity for something much bigger. Various African countries, including Egypt, Ethiopia, Zimbabwe, Algeria, Nigeria, Sudan and Tunisia, have expressed interest in joining BRICS, a group of emerging nations formed in 2009 comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.

A number of economies in Latin America, the Middle East and Eastern Europe are also angling to become members, including Saudi Arabia, Belarus, Iran, Mexico, Syria, Turkey and Venezuela. Last year, Argentina also said it had received China's formal support for its bid to join BRICS.

Do you have questions about the biggest topics and trends from around the world? Get the answers with SCMP Knowledge, our new platform of curated content with explainers, FAQs, analyses and infographics brought to you by our award-winning team.

The bloc has become increasingly attractive as a new stage for diplomacy and development financing. Many countries, especially those in Africa, see it as an organisation that can challenge the dominant US and European-led global governance structures, according to observers.

With BRICS members accounting for more than 40 per cent of the world's population and around a quarter of the global gross domestic product (GDP), there is growing frustration over the West's dominance of financial systems.

This was highlighted during an exchange at the Summit for a New Global Financial Pact, held in Paris in June, where leaders from the Global South voiced their concerns.

Addressing the summit Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said: "Some people get scared when I say that we need to create new currencies for trade ... So this is a discussion that is on my agenda and, if it's up to me, it'll happen at the BRICS meeting ... we'll need to get more African colleagues to participate."

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa responded: "President Lula, don't worry, when we have the BRICS meeting [in August], the issue of currency is top on the agenda. So, we are going to discuss it."

Ramaphosa also said a solid consensus was needed on the reform of the global financial architecture.

"The boards of directors of your multilateral institutions are not made up of independent directors; they are largely internal people or shareholders. That in itself is an important reform," he said of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank. There were similar calls from other African leaders such as Kenya's William Ruto and Congo-Brazzaville President Denis Sassou Nguesso.

The issues of a BRICS currency and the admission of new members to the bloc will be top of the agenda when South Africa hosts the 15th BRICS Summit next month.

Mihaela Papa, assistant professor of sustainable development and global governance at Tufts University in the US, said there had been a lot of anticipation that next month's summit would discuss a new currency, but there was no BRICS-wide consensus on this. She pointed out that Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar was clear that India did not have such plans.

"The summit is relevant for exploring how to jointly respond to major global issues, strengthen local BRICS currencies and cross-border trade, and manage BRICS expansion," Papa said.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said currency would be top of the agenda at the August BRICS summit. Photo: AP alt=South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said currency would be top of the agenda at the August BRICS summit. Photo: AP>

Meanwhile XN Iraki, an economics professor at the University of Nairobi, said many nations saw BRICS as a chance to escape from Western dominance both economically and politically. He said China and India were emerging powers and saw Africa as their new playground.

"They will probably compete with each other to 'impress' Africa with goodies like aid, soft loans or trade," he said. "New members would be an issue because of their loyalty and expectations."

Cameron Hudson, a senior associate at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies' Africa programme, said BRICS offered African nations a possible avenue for creating leverage and influence internationally by joining other Global South countries that shared many of the same challenges and perspectives.

Hudson said there was clearly an interest among African countries in seeing a more multipolar world emerge that gave them a greater opportunity to shape the issues that affected them, from climate change to development finance to global politics.

Many saw BRICS as another way of helping to advance those interests, he said, in addition to efforts to reform the existing instruments of global power at the G20, United Nations, IMF and World Bank.

The BRICS countries, which include Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, may soon add to their numbers as emerging economies line up to join. Photo: Shutterstock Images alt=The BRICS countries, which include Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, may soon add to their numbers as emerging economies line up to join. Photo: Shutterstock Images>

For instance, Egypt, which is struggling with a currency crisis, formally applied in June to join BRICS. According to the Russian ambassador to Egypt Georgy Borisenko, Cairo sees BRICS' focus on currency as a major reason to join.

"One of the initiatives that BRICS is currently engaged in is the maximum transfer of trade to alternative currencies, whether national or the creation of some kind of joint currency," he said.

In February, the North African nation joined the BRICS New Development Bank - with the five founding members as shareholders. Bangladesh and the UAE are also recent members while Uruguay is a prospective member.

Ethiopia, which is just recovering from the deadly Tigray war, also applied to join the group in June.

Paul Nantulya, a research associate at the Africa Centre for Strategic Studies at Washington's National Defence University, said some potential new members like Iran, which are heavily sanctioned, were looking to expand their international access in part to circumvent isolation. He said others like Ethiopia, Algeria and Egypt were competing fiercely to gain new international markets.

Nantulya said Indonesia wanted to buttress its regional standing as part of a foreign policy that sought to capture international leadership to satisfy its self-perceived role as an undervalued regional player.

Strengthening links to China had also been a key motivator for some countries in wanting to join the bloc, he said.

"In Africa, some of China's strongest friends believe - rightly or wrongly - that closer alliances with China can gain more influence for African countries at the multilateral level," Nantulya said.

Saudi Arabia had been looking to expand and strengthen its ties to China in particular and joining BRICS was therefore seen as attractive and strategic, he said. Argentina was motivated by similar factors.

Joe Sullivan, a former White House official, said many countries, especially those in Africa, had long yearned for a multilateral organisation that reflected the interests of the Global South.

"In the BRICS, they see the possibility that this dream becomes a reality. And they're eager to become a part of it," Sullivan said.

But it will not all be smooth sailing; there are some stumbling blocks.

While China, Russia and South Africa want an expanded BRICS, Brazil and India fear losing influence in the group, which they believe would benefit Beijing, according to observers. In April, when Tunisia announced it was considering joining the group, China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the 14th BRICS Summit in Beijing had supported discussions on the bloc's expansion.

"China will continue to follow the BRICS' spirit of openness, inclusiveness and win-win cooperation ... jointly advancing the BRICS' expansion process," ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said.

Sullivan said the geopolitical rivalry among BRICS members was real but was unlikely to affect the entry of new members.

"All of the BRICS benefit from bulking up their membership," he said, adding that issues would only arise if a prospective member was perceived to be both a satellite of a rival and enough of a heavyweight in its own right to matter.

Meanwhile Papa said even after the peak of the China-India border clashes in 2020, BRICS stayed resilient owing to its internal processes and focus on multilateral initiatives.

"New members can change the nature of BRICS, and all BRICS countries need to be aligned about their acceptance and the future trajectory of the group. It is more difficult to build this consensus when China and India disagree," Papa said. "While China champions expansion, it is also important to look at its potential downsides and risks, so disagreements at this stage are healthy."

Nevertheless, a strong BRICS could serve as a counterbalance for the G7, a group of economies consisting of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Britain and the US, as well as other Western-led multilateral organisations.

"The power of the BRICS lies in its potential to serve as a G7 or G20 for the Global South," Sullivan said. He said that would allow its members to coordinate responses to Western-dominated multilateral organisations like the G7 and G20. And in that potential for coordination, he said BRICS would gain bargaining power.

Nantulya said the bloc was offering concrete alternatives in critical areas like development finance through the New Development Bank, infrastructure finance through allied institutions like China's Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank which has a growing African membership, and the currency-swap arrangements between China and Russia.

But, despite its growing clout, BRICS was still a long way off becoming an effective counter to the G7, he said.

This article originally appeared in the South China Morning Post (SCMP), the most authoritative voice reporting on China and Asia for more than a century. For more SCMP stories, please explore the SCMP app or visit the SCMP's Facebook and Twitter pages. Copyright  2023 South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.

Copyright (c) 2023. South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.
Highlights: The U.S. is supplying Ukraine with cluster munitions  but it is outlawed by many nations and has already killed many civilians. How this ammunition works and what damage cluster bombs cause, we explain in the video.. AreaRead the video transcript here: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/features/article-263876/U.S.-supplies-Ukraine-cluster-munitions.html#storylink=cpy. Cluster bombs are weapons that contain up to several hundred pieces of submunitions  also trivially called "bomblets German"

The U.S. is supplying Ukraine with cluster munitions  but it is outlawed by many nations and has already killed many civilians. How this ammunition works and what damage cluster bombs cause, we explain in the video.

AreaRead the video transcript here

A few days ago, the United States announced that it would supply Ukraine with cluster munitions. The Pentagon plans to hand over to Kiev from its own stocks.

Reporter:

"Mr. President, why cluster munitions? Why now?"

Joe Biden, US President:

"They're out of ammunition."

Sergei Shoigu, Minister of Defense of Russia:

"I would like to note that Russia has cluster bombs for all occasions. They are more effective than American ones and more versatile."

The use of ammunition, which is outlawed in many countries, is a delicate decision, because the step is likely to be viewed critically by several of Kiev's Western partners.

But what are cluster munitions anyway?

Cluster munitions are weapons that contain up to several hundred pieces of submunitions  also trivially called "bomblets German".

It is fired from the ground or dropped from airplanes or helicopters. In this case, one also speaks of cluster bombs.

What makes them so dangerous?

After dropping from aircraft or launching from the ground, the bomblets are supposed to spread over a large area over the target and explode on impact or shortly before it. The military purpose is to destroy tank columns, trenches or other military infrastructure.

Those who use these weapons in densely populated areas consciously accept civilian casualties. During the Syrian war, for example, cluster bombs were also dropped in cities, killing and injuring many civilians. Particularly treacherous: many bomblets do not explode and remain as unexploded ordnance. They can still explode decades later. The explosive charges often look harmless and are not recognized as a threat. Children in particular consider them a toy, even decades after they have been thrown off.

What has been done so far about this type of ammunition?

Since 2010, there has been a treaty outlawing these particularly insidious weapons. 110 states have acceded to the treaty. Russia, China, the United States and Ukraine are not among them.
By David Lawder and Aftab Ahmed

GANDHINAGAR, India (Reuters) -U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said on Sunday she was "eager" to work with China on areas of mutual interest, including debt restructurings for poorer countries, and that multilateral development banks needed reforms before capital increases could be considered.

At a press conference before a meeting of Group of 20 finance ministers and central bankers in India, Yellen said her visit to Beijing last week helped put the U.S.-China relationship on "surer footing" and that the world's two biggest economies had an obligation to the world "to cooperate on areas of mutual concern".

"There is much more work to do. But I believe this trip was an important start," Yellen said. "I am eager to build on the groundwork that we laid in Beijing to mobilise further action."

Concerns remain about China's unfair trade practices, which prompted Washington to impose tariffs on Beijing. "They really have not been addressed," she said.

U.S. corporations want to see an environment where they could "invest and thrive in China", Yellen said.

Washington will continue to cut off Russia's access to military equipment and technologies that Moscow needs in the invasion of Ukraine, Yellen said.

"One of our core goals this year is to combat Russia's efforts to evade our sanctions. Our coalition is building on the actions we've taken in recent months to crack down on these efforts," she added.

India, which chairs the G20 this year, has sought a largely neutral stance on the war, generally declining to blame Russia for the invasion Moscow launched in February last year, urging a diplomatic solution and sharply boosting its purchases of Russian oil even as Western nations seek to squeeze Moscow.

Yellen said she would continue to push hard at the G20 meeting, in Gandhinagar in the northwestern Indian state of Gujarat, for "full and timely participation of all bilateral official creditors on pending debt restructurings".

She said she discussed Zambia's restructuring with her Chinese counterparts and, although it took too long to negotiate, differences were overcome.

"We should apply the common principles we agreed to in Zambia's case in other cases  rather than starting at zero every time. And we must go faster," Yellen said, adding she hoped debt treatments for Sri Lanka and Ghana could be finalised quickly so the International Monetary Fund (IMF) could move forward with initial loan programme reviews this fall.

She said a debt restructuring "user guide" was needed for borrowing countries and other stakeholders to provide clarity about the process.

Yellen said the IMF's Poverty Reduction and Growth trust, which provides zero-interest loans to the world's poorest countries, needed to be put on sounder financial footing. The U.S. Treasury is ready to assist the IMF to consider options for this, including using internal fund resources, she said.

'BETTER BANKS'

Yellen also laid out a number of next steps for the evolution of the World Bank and other multilateral development banks, but said that any exploration of capital increases for the institutions can only be considered after implementing reforms aimed at expanding their role beyond poverty reduction to tackle global challenges such as climate change and pandemics.

"We should build better banks, not just bigger banks," Yellen said.

She repeated her estimate that multilateral development banks could collectively boost lending by $200 billion over a decade from internal resources through balance sheet reforms now being implemented or considered. They could boost this further by implementing recommendations from last year's G20 Capital Adequacy Framework report, she said.

Among other World Bank reform steps, Yellen said she was pushing for a new set of principles that would allow the "targeted use" of the bank's concessional financing for global challenges, including climate change and measures to boost such resources.

She said she would like the World Bank to explore options for lending to sub-sovereign and supra-sovereign borrowers like the COVAX vaccine initiative.

Yellen said the United States was committed to implementing a global corporate minimum tax deal reached in 2021 despite the lack of action by the U.S. Congress to do so. She said negotiations on technical details of the deal's Pillar 1 - reallocation of taxing rights on large multinationals including big technology firms - were "very close" to completion.

(Reporting by David Lawder in Washington and Aftab Ahmed in Gandhinagar; Editing by Sudipto Ganguly and William Mallard)
The 750-mile-long strip of green land that runs the length of Egypt is called the Nile River Valley.



What that Long Strip of Green Land in Egypt is Called

The long green strip of land in Egypt is known as the Nile River Valley or simply the Nile Valley. It is a narrow fertile area that stretches alongside the Nile River, encompassing much of Egypt's land used for agriculture.





The Nile River, with its annual flooding, has provided the necessary water and fertile soil for agriculture, making the Nile Valley a vital region for the country's economy and civilization throughout history.





The strip of greenery stands out in contrast to the surrounding desert landscape and has been a lifeline for Egyptian civilization, supporting settlements, agriculture, and cultural development for thousands of years.





The Nile Valley is a vast geographical region that extends along the course of the Nile River, one of the longest rivers in the world. The length of the Nile Valley is approximately 1,200 kilometers or 750 miles from its starting point in the south to its delta in the north.





The Nile River originates from Lake Victoria in East Africa and flows through multiple countries, including Uganda, South Sudan, Sudan, and Egypt. As it passes through these countries, it carves out a fertile valley, known as the Nile Valley, which is characterized by its lush vegetation and arable land.

The length of the Nile Valley played a crucial role in Egyptian history.

In Egypt, the Nile Valley is particularly significant as it is home to the majority of the country's population and serves as the heartland of ancient Egyptian civilization. The river's annual flooding brought rich silt deposits that replenished the soil, making the Nile Valley ideal for agriculture. The ancient Egyptians relied on the Nile's waters for irrigation, allowing them to cultivate crops and sustain their society.





The length of the Nile Valley played a crucial role in the development and prosperity of ancient Egypt. The river provided a means of transportation and trade, facilitating communication and cultural exchange between different regions. It also served as a source of life and inspiration, with the ancient Egyptians considering the Nile as a deity and attributing its floods to the god Hapy.





Today, the Nile Valley remains a vital and densely populated region of Egypt, with cities, villages, and agricultural industries thriving along its course. Its length continues to shape the country's landscape, culture, and history, embodying the enduring significance of the Nile River in Egyptian civilization.

West Nile Valley is lush due to rain, meandering Nile deposits fertile soil.

The west side of the Nile Valley is more lush than the east because it receives more rain plus the Nile River is a meandering river and deposits fertile soil more on the west side.

The difference in the lushness of one side of the Nile Valley compared to the other is primarily due to the natural different forms and features of land surface and the distribution of water resources.





In Egypt, the Nile River flows from the south to the north, and the Nile Valley stretches alongside it. The eastern side of the Nile Valley, known as the Eastern Desert, is generally drier and less fertile compared to the western side, known as the Western Desert.





The reason for this contrast lies in the way the river interacts with the surrounding land. The Nile River has historically shifted its course over time, creating a natural phenomenon called a meandering river.





As the river meanders, it deposits silt and fertile soil along its banks, enriching the land with nutrients necessary for agriculture. This process has led to the development of a broader floodplain on the western side of the Nile Valley.





The Eastern Desert receives less rainfall compared to the Western Desert, which further contributes to the drier conditions on the eastern side. The western side, benefiting from the Nile's waters and a relatively higher amount of precipitation, experiences a more favorable climate for agriculture and supports a greater abundance of vegetation.

Building ancient civilizations on the lush Nile Valley's west side.

The lushness of the western side of the Nile Valley has made it more conducive to settlement and agriculture throughout history. Ancient Egyptian civilizations, such as the Pharaohs, primarily established their cities, temples, and agricultural fields on the western side due to the favorable conditions for cultivation.









These sites bear witness to the rich cultural heritage of Egypt and offer valuable insights into its ancient civilization. The west side of the Nile River Valley, with its fertile lands, historical significance, and natural beauty, plays a vital role in shaping Egypt's cultural and geographical identity.





It continues to be a region of immense importance, both in terms of agricultural productivity and the preservation of Egypt's rich history.

Wildlife on the West Side of the Nile River Valley

The west side of the Nile River Valley boasts a rich and diverse array of wildlife, showcasing the unique ecosystem of the region. From reptiles to birds and mammals, numerous animal species call this area home.





Nile crocodiles are a familiar sight in the Nile River and its surrounding waterways. Basking in the sun along the riverbanks or lurking beneath the water's surface, these large reptiles are skilled hunters, preying on fish and other small animals.





Venomous Egyptian cobras are prevalent in the Nile River Valley, including the west side. With its distinctive hood and potent venom, this snake species inhabits various habitats, including farmland and riverine areas.





Africa's largest lizard species, the Nile monitor lizard thrives along the banks of the Nile River. These impressive reptiles are adept swimmers and climbers, feeding on fish, birds, and small mammals.





Herons, egrets, ibises, and kingfishers can be observed wading in the water or perched on branches, hunting for fish and other aquatic prey on the west side of the Nile River Valley.





Although primarily found in the water bodies of the Nile, hippos also frequent the riverbanks. These massive herbivores spend their days submerged in water to keep cool and venture onto land at night to graze on grasses.





Along the fringes of the Nile River Valley, especially in the desert regions bordering the west side, various species of gazelles thrive. These agile antelopes have adapted to survive in arid conditions, foraging on sparse vegetation.

Historically, the west side of the Nile River Valley holds great significance. It is home to numerous archaeological and historical sites, including the renowned Valley of the Kings, where ancient Egyptian pharaohs were laid to rest, and the ancient city of Luxor, formerly known as Thebes.
The construction of open learning classrooms in NSW public schools will cease after repeated complaints from students, parents and teachers about a 40-year-old fad they say created noisy environments unsuitable for learning.

Some new public schools built over the past decade were designed with flexible or open-plan classrooms. The large spaces intended to combine multiple classes in one room to facilitate collaboration and group work, while students were supervised by numerous teachers.

An example of the innovative learning environments being delivered by the Department of Education. Some have the ability to partition large rooms off into smaller classrooms, but others lack that ability, the teachers union says.

Research published this year found children who learn in open-plan classrooms have slower reading development and spend more time disengaged from educational activities because higher noise levels mean students find it difficult to focus.

The department wrote to the NSW Teachers Federation in May saying the classrooms would no longer be built.
The judge then concluded: But wed better get something done about it immediately because we dont want jurors sitting there feeling like theyre in Antarctica  Because if youre really cold, you cant concentrate. I know that much. The court building dates back to 1884. Credit: Vince Caligiuri Debate has been raging behind closed doors about the appropriateness of the old building, erected in 1884, as a forum for modern criminal justice. Some say its dated and in desperate need of modernising but retains its centrality out of an obligation to tradition. It was the largest and most expensive project in 19th-century Australia, and marred by controversies, scandal, and budget blowouts, the courts website says. Are there plans to give it a spruce-up? We dont know, but its time to start looking for a new building, we think.

BRAZIL BECKONS Controversial neurosurgeon Charlie Teo has few friends left in the medical community. Last week, a disciplinary committee found him guilty of unsatisfactory professional conduct and placed more restrictions on his ability to operate. Charlie Teo is off to Brazil. Credit: Jozsef Benke Evidence provided during the hearing this year found not a single neurosurgeon in Australia and New Zealand was willing to speak up in Teos favour. He contends its all part of a decades-long campaign by jealous rivals to ruin his reputation and freeze him out. But all this means Teo has been forced to look overseas for neurosurgical love, doing operations in India, China and Europe since he first faced restrictions at home. And coming up on the list of destinations is Brazil, where a neurosurgical body is spruiking Teos trip to three cities in the countrys north-east later this year.

Teo certainly has a good relationship with Latin America. During a podcast last week, the surgeon boasted about receiving a distinguished service award from former Cuban leader Fidel Castro after doing voluntary work in Cuba. I love the fact that I can change someones life ... but to be able to change the course of medicine in an entire country, thats a real honour, Teo said. FIRED UP Combustible United Firefighters Union Victorian branch secretary Peter Marshall has never been afraid of running headlong into a blazing row. But a fresh lawsuit raising old union enmities might put that to the test. The union is being sued by ATC, a company that used to provide income protection insurance to its members. ATC asserts in its case in the Federal Court that the unions arrangement with a mob called Protect Services, which administered the insurance, was abruptly terminated by Marshall last August, with consequences for ATC.

The insurer says a Protect employee had told Marshall about a charity function it would be hosting and had possessed doubts about whether Marshall would want to attend given that officials from two of his unions bitter rivals  the Electrical Trades Union and the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union  were likely to be invited. Marshall is said to have sent Protect CEO Michael Connolly an email the same day saying Protect had decided to exclude the firefighters union from the soiree. Before the day was out, ATC alleges, Marshall had told Connolly that his union had decided to give Protects insurance admin deal the axe. Marshall later allegedly said if Protect made things difficult he would ruin it and tell others that it was an operative for [Premier] Dan Andrews. Firefighters union boss Peter Marshall addresses a rally. Credit: Justin McManus We knew things werent good between Andrews and Marshall  to say the two men have history barely scratches the surface ... but wowzer.
Billionaire developer Harry Triguboff is confident he will eventually build high-rise towers in Little Bay after his proposal for up to 1900 apartments in the seaside suburb was rejected for a third time in what he branded a political decision.

The NSW Planning Department has refused Meritons application for the project to be considered under a special fast-track system, established by the previous government late last year, to get big housing projects off the ground quickly.

A mock-up of potential high rises at Little Bay under Meritons proposal, which the government has knocked back for a third time.

Only five out of 100 proposals were selected for the pilot scheme, and just two in metropolitan Sydney  a 1600-1800 unit project on Railway Terrace in Schofields and a 1585-apartment project in Glenmore Park, just south of Penrith.

The Schofields project by Provincial Investments has about 550 affordable and build-to-rent units, while the Nergl Developments scheme in Glenmore Park would have 47 affordable apartments.
The government previously announced mandatory pre-commitment rules for the 2628 poker machines at Crown casino, following recommendations in the 2021 Finkelstein royal commission into the venue. But until now, it has been largely silent on whether the reforms would be rolled out across the states other 27,372 machines in pubs, clubs and hotels. By the middle of next year, mandatory closure periods between 4am and 10am will be enforced for gaming machine areas in all venues except Crown casino. Credit: Reuters Experts repeatedly warned that applying the measures only to the casino would merely push problem gambling and money laundering activity into suburban venues. Data from the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission, which has a legislative mandate to tackle gambling harm, shows pokie players in pubs, clubs and hotels collectively lost a record $2.8 billion during the first 11 months of last financial year, up from just under $2 billion over the same 11-month period in 2021-22.

As reported in this masthead, local government areas grappling with the worst pokie losses in the state have for many months been demanding the Andrews government introduce tougher rules to stem the billions of dollars being gambled away. The largest losses have been in the City of Brimbank, where gamblers lost $159 million over the 11 months to June this year, followed by the City of Casey, where $146 billion was lost. Gambling control commission chair Fran Thorn said the reforms represented a fundamental step to reduce gambling harm. She said once the new measures were introduced into law, the commission would closely monitor venues to ensure they are implemented. We will then take action to enforce them with our full regulatory powers, she said. Mandatory carded play, which will link play to patrons identities, and reducing the amount of money that can be loaded into an electronic gaming machine are also key anti-money laundering measures that will contribute to ensuring the integrity of Victorias gambling industry. Regulatory chief Fran Thorn says the watchdog will ensure the new rules are implemented. Credit: Joe Armao

Carolyn Crawford, who was sentenced to jail at the age of 64 for stealing more than $400,000 from her employer to pay for her poker machine addiction, said the reforms would make an enormous difference. I would not have gone to prison if the cashless card was in, she said on Sunday. Itll stop people stealing, and itll stop suicide, for sure. In my area there are two hotels ... just directly opposite on the highway. One closes at 8am and the other one opens at 8am. So you can play in my area for 24 hours a day. Nobody needs to be on a pokies machine at 2, 3, 4 oclock in the morning. Ive been there, Ive seen ... and trust me its not pretty. The overhaul also follows reports in this masthead suggesting the voluntary system  known as YourPlay  adopted by the Andrews government to minimise poker machine harm has been failing to stem losses from problem gambling. Carolyn Crawford was jailed for stealing $400,000 from her employer after she became addicted to pokies. She is now an anti-gambling advocate. Credit: Wayne Taylor

A 2019 evaluation report on YourPlay  commissioned by the Victorian Department of Justice  found it had a very low take-up rate, covering just $1 of every $10,000 pumped into poker machines in hotels and clubs in 2017-18. The mandatory system is likely to be opposed by the clubs lobby, and it remains unclear when it will be introduced. Loading Monash University gambling expert Charles Livingstone said the reforms would have a significant positive impact reducing gambling harm, although he warned consulting with the gambling industry about the implementation was a recipe for obfuscation and delay. There is no timeline and no details for implementation, beyond a promise of extensive consultation with the gambling industry, he said. This suggests that the reforms will not be implemented speedily, unlike Tasmania, where the government, acting on advice from the gambling regulator, announced that a similar system would be in place by 2024, with statutory limits on gambling spend, and no negotiation with industry on implementation.

Australian Hotels Association Victorian chief executive Paddy OSullivan said the sector would be pursuing evidence-based policy in the best interests of our patrons. We are seeking the full details of the announcements in order to conduct a review on the impact of gaming operations, he said. Loading Opposition gaming spokesman Danny OBrien said he looked forward to seeing the details and said the government would need to provide clear evidence that the changes would help those who need it most, without causing significant job losses and harm to the hospitality sector. The governments implementation group will consider trials in other jurisdictions, and the experience at Crown casino, which will have mandatory pre-commitment cards on all poker machines by the end of this year.
Youve only read the headline, and already its controversial. Pavlova, from three places? And how did Europe end up there? Its well known that theres beef over the origin of this meringue-and-cream dessert  though usually thats just between Australia and New Zealand.

The Kiwis have a history of laying claim to Australian culinary inventions, having tried (and failed) to take credit for the flat white. But this goes deeper. Anyway, well get to the origins of pavlova below. For now, lets talk about the dish. Pavlova in its classic form is a baked meringue  crisp on the outside, marshmallow in the middle  which is covered in whipped cream and seasonal fruits. Pretty simple, but it wouldnt be an Antipodean Christmas without one.

First serve

OK. Strap in. If theres one thing agreed upon here, its that the name relates to the Russian ballerina Anna Pavlova, who toured  conveniently  both Australia and New Zealand in 1926. As for the rest, theres a lot to unpack. On this side of the ditch, a man named Herbert Sachse invented pavlova as we know it at Perths Esplanade Hotel in 1935. For the Kiwis, a recipe called pavlova appeared in Dairy Farmers Annual in 1929  though it was actually a layered cake closer to the French dacquoise. The true creation of this dish of meringue with cream and fruit, however, stretches much further back than that, possibly even to 13th-century Syria. Undoubtedly, it was a staple in Germanic kitchens by the 18th century, and indeed the modern German dessert schaum torte is pavlova by any other name.

Order there

Indulge the Kiwis and sample their version of pavlova  youll find one of the best at Floriditas in Wellington (floriditas.co.nz).
In cities, those venturing out at all drenched themselves in fountains while others sought out pools, the sea or shade in hopes of relief from the heat wave caused by Cerberus. The high-pressure anticyclone coming from the south was named after the three-headed dog in ancient Greek mythology who guarded the gates to the underworld. People cool off on a hot day as the city gears up for Redentore festival celebrations in Venice, Italy, on July 15. Credit: Reuters Fifteen cities in Italy, most of them in the countrys centre and south, were under heat advisories signalling a high level of risk for older adults, the infirm, infants and other vulnerable people. Temperatures remained in the mid-30s across much of the Italian peninsula on Saturday but were expected to reach between 38 and 40 in Sardinia, Sicily and Puglia. The cities under alerts included the high-tourism destinations of Bologna, Florence and Rome. The capital hit a high of 35 on Saturday and was expected to see temperatures as high as 42 on Tuesday when other Italian cities could be even hotter. In Greeces capital, where the temperature was forecast to reach 41, officials decided to keep the sun-baked Acropolis monument closed from noon to 5.30pm as they did on Friday.

Czech temperatures soared to a new record high for any July 15. The thermometer hit 38.6 at Plzen-Bolevec in western Czechia, up from the previous record of 36.8 for this day set in Podebrady, east of Prague in 2007, the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute said. Local residents look on at a burning forest fire, near Puntagorda on the Canary Island of La Palma, on Saturday, July 15. Credit: AP Temperatures were milder in Spains Canary Islands, but a wildfire on the island of La Palma caused a preventive evacuation of some 2000 people. Officials warned that shifting winds and the areas rain-parched dry terrain could increase the number of evacuees. In Turkey, coastal cities in the south and southwest reached the high 30s and low 40s. The tourism hot spot of Antalya saw a high of 44. In the northwestern cities of Edirne, Krklareli and Tekirdag, 48 people were taken to emergency rooms with symptoms of heat stroke in the past two days, the state-run Anadolu Agency reported.

The heatwave was also taking its toll on water levels in Istanbul, Turkeys largest city. The main water supply at the Omerli Dam reservoir, already at 41 per cent capacity due to low rainfall, was losing 17,000 tonnes of water an hour during the early afternoon, Levent Kurnaz of Bosphorus Universitys Centre for Climate Change and Policy Studies told local media. People cool off by the Bosphorus to escape hot weather in Istanbul, Turkey on July 14. Credit: Reuters European countries farther north also sweltered on Saturday. Authorities in Poland warned older adults in particular to stay indoors or in the shade and well-hydrated as temperatures reached 35. In downtown Warsaw, and in other cities, makeshift hose fountains were arranged to let people and their pets cool off. Police issued warnings about not leaving children or pets unattended inside cars. And in Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appealed for people to drink water and act safely in the scorching summer after he was rushed to hospital on Saturday for dehydration following a day spent in the sun without a hat and without water.

Netanyahu, 73, was still undergoing tests in hospital on Sunday but was expected to be released later in the day, his office said. He was rushed to hospital on Saturday after feeling mild dizziness. His office said test results on Sunday were normal and that Netanyahu was feeling very good. He had spent the previous day at the Sea of Galilee, a popular vacation spot in northern Israel where temperatures climbed to about 40 degrees amid a stifling country-wide heatwave. In Italy, to cool off their four-legged friends, some dog owners took their pets to a beach near Rome especially equipped for canines. Known as Baubeach, or Woofbeach in English, the area can welcome up to 150 dogs a day. Theyre allowed to roam on the beach unleashed.

The sea breeze, as you can feel, is something very pleasant that oxygenates and also gives this feeling of almost natural nebulisation. There, this is pleasant for both people and dogs, Baubeach owner Patrizia Daffina said. Carlo Cerese took his dog there on Friday. Here he is very active all day, he said. Actually, when he gets home he takes a good nap. I think that here at least he doesnt suffer from the heat. Southern California wildfires Meanwhile, in hilly areas southeast of Los Angeles, firefighters were battling three separate brush fires in blistering heat and low humidity in sparsely populated. A firefighter watches flames approach Gilman Springs Road during the Rabbit Fire late on Friday, in Moreno Valley, California. Credit: AP

Nearly 1000 homes were under evacuation orders, but there were no immediate reports of injuries or property loss, according to officials from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, known as Cal Fire. The fires were all within 65 kilometres of each other in Riverside County, where temperatures in some areas spiked into the triple digits on the Fahrenheit scale. Heat is definitely a concern out there, said April Newman of the Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department, adding that the blazes were burning through dense, dry brush in rugged terrain. Two of the fires had stopped spreading. The third, though, grew to about 18 square kilometres by Saturday morning, Cal Fire said in a social media post. Flames consume brush along Gilman Springs Road during the Rabbit Fire late on Friday, July 14. Credit: AP

Hundreds of firefighters were dispatched, along with firefighting helicopters and airplanes. California is bracing for its hottest weather of the year so far this weekend, and Riverside County is among areas under an excessive heat warning. Already blistering temperatures are forecast to go even higher for Nevada, Arizona and California, soaring in some desert areas above 120 degrees Fahrenheit (48.8 degrees Celsius) during the day and remaining in the 90s (above 32.2 Celsius) overnight. California leaders warned earlier in the week about the fire danger. As we get deeper into the summer and vegetation that grew up during the wet spring dries out, we are seeing an uptick in wildfire activity, California Natural Resources Secretary Wade Crowfoot said at a Wednesday news briefing.
Stafford County Public Schools was among 24 school divisions awarded a $125,000 Career and Technical Education Skilled Trades Grant from the Virginia Department of Education. The one-time funds will be used to implement a plumbing and HVAC program at Stafford High School.

We are thrilled to be recognized as a leader in CTE programming and thank VDOE and 2022 General Assembly for their commitment to ensuring every child is prepared for life after high school, said Stafford Schools Superintendent Thomas W. Taylor. We are appreciative of this grant, which allows us to expand programming that provides robust, real-world, meaningful classroom experiences for every student.

Stafford Schools currently provides more than 125 courses in areas such as agriculture, business, information technology, family and consumer sciences, health and medical sciences, marketing, technology/engineering, masonry, electricity, and other trade and industrial education. These courses offer students the opportunity to earn industry-based certifications through national/industry assessments and/or licensure exams. Each CTE program is supported by co-curricular student organizations that enhance the learning experience.

Plumbing and HVAC certainly are in-demand fields right now. We are truly providing students with credentials and licenses that allow them to enter directly into high-skill, high-wage, in-demand careers upon graduation, said David Eshelman, assistant director of Career and Technical Education. This is important, because we want every student to leave high school feeling empowered to move on to the next phase of their life no matter which direction they chooseemployment, enlistment or further education.

To learn more about Stafford Schools Career and Technical Education opportunities, visit staffordschools.net/cte.
2 Teens Arrested, One Officer Injured After Pursuit in Los Angeles

LOS ANGELESTwo teenage suspects were arrested for allegedly stealing a vehicle and prompting a brief pursuit and colliding with a police motorcycle, injuring the officer, authorities said July 14.

Officers from the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) Valley Traffic Division received a report from a witness about a stolen vehicle Thursday around 3:30 p.m., according to the police department.

Officers discovered the vehicle at an undisclosed location and attempted to make contact with the occupants, described as a 13-year-old boy at the wheel and a 15-year-old girl as a passenger. They fled in the vehicle, prompting a chase, according to police.

The pursuit ended when the boy collided with a motorcycle officer, who was later transported to a hospital for treatment and released, police said. The boy subsequently collided with another vehicle whose occupant was also taken to a hospital for minor injuries. The person has since been released.

The boy was arrested and booked on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, police said. The girl was arrested but later released. Due to their ages, their names will not be released.

Anyone with information regarding the pursuit or collision was urged to contact the LAPD Robbery Homicide Division Detective at 213-486-6850. Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477. During business hours or weekends, calls should be directed to 877-527-3247.
85-Year-Old Man Killed, Grandson Injured by Hit-and-Run Motorist in South LA

LOS ANGELESAuthorities sought the publics help on July 14 to find the hit-and-run motorist responsible for killing an 85-year-old man and injuring his adult grandson as both men were crossing a street in the Baldwin Hills area.

Paramedics sent to the 4200 block of Santa Rosalia Drive about 9:30 p.m. Thursday took both men to a hospital, according to the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD).

The older man died at the hospital, police said. His name was withheld, pending notification of his relatives. The younger man was listed in stable condition.

An unknown-type, dark-colored vehicle was traveling eastbound  [on] Santa Rosalia Drive at a high rate of speed, a statement from the police department said.

The driver struck two pedestrians who were attempting to cross the street, police said.

A standing reward of up to $50,000 has been offered by the city of Los Angeles for information that helps solve a fatal hit-and-run.

Anyone with information on the case was urged to call police at 323-421-2500 or 877-LAPD-247. Tipsters wishing to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS, or use the website.
Activist Charged After Storming Restaurant Banning Vegans

(L to R) Activists from the animal rights group PETA Asia wearing cutouts of Britain's Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, France's President Emmanuel Macron, U.S. President Joe Biden, and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz take part in a protest to urge governments to implement policies for transitioning to vegan food systems ahead of the G7 Leaders' Summit in Hiroshima on May 17, 2023. (Philip Fong/AFP via Getty Images)

A prominent activist has been charged after a group of animal rights protesters stormed a busy Perth restaurant that banned vegans, physically clashing with staff and a diner.

Fyre restaurant head chef John Mountain in June used social media to announce all vegans are now banned  for mental health reasons.

About a dozen activists targeted his packed restaurant on June 30, brandishing placards and shouting at diners as Mr. Mountain and others attempted to eject the group amid ugly scenes.

The sounds you hear now are pigs screaming for their lives  youre responsible for their murder if youre not vegan, activist Tash Peterson can be heard yelling in footage of the incident.

Animals want to live  you have blood on your hands.

The protesters returned to the popular dining spot in the northern suburbs about a week later and again played the sounds of squealing pigs, this time over a megaphone.

Mr. Mountain can be seen in video footage physically confronting the activists outside his restaurant before being tackled by a man with the group.

The chef later told Nines A Current Affair he lunged for the megaphone in a bid to stop the protesters from disrupting his business and diners.

I never really wanted to be a guy standing up against anybody  but bullies come in all shapes and sizes and these lot just happen to be the vegans, he said.

Mr. Mountain said the restaurants bookings had tripled following the clashes and he was having to murder more animals to feed his patrons as a result.

He also revealed the emotional toll the incidents had taken, saying his partner had left him over the intense media scrutiny that followed.

Thanks vegans  youre barred for life, he said.

Now Im going to start opening steak restaurants just to piss you off.

In a video posted to Facebook, Ms. Peterson, 29, said she had been charged on numerous occasions and wouldnt be backing down.

I will continue to speak up on the victims of the animal holocaust, she said before lighting a fire.

I will continue to go into restaurants  if they are profiting (from) animal abuse, torture, enslavement, and murder.

The video shows the flames superimposed over footage of squealing caged pigs as ominous-sounding music plays in the background.

The activist also said police had banned her from entering licensed premises for 12 months.

West Australian police on Friday said they had charged Ms. Peterson with trespass, remaining in the vicinity of licensed premises, and disorderly behaviour over the June 30 incident.

Ms. Peterson is scheduled to appear in Joondalup Magistrates Court on Monday.
Alberta, Saskatchewan Premiers Accuse Ottawa of Wanting to Shut Down Energy Sector

Federal climate change minister Steven Guilbeault tells conference he wants to end fossil fuels

Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault, accompanied by Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos, announces a ban on single-use plastics and items at a beach in Quebec City on June 20, 2022. (The Canadian Press/Jacques Boissinot)

The premiers of Alberta and Saskatchewan have accused the Liberal government of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of wanting to shut down the energy sector in their respective provinces and have made it clear they are going to push back.

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe were responding to comments made by federal Environment and Climate Change Minister Steven Guilbeault suggesting that his ultimate goal is the elimination of fossil fuels.

If it wasnt clear before, it is now. The Trudeau government doesnt want to just reduce emissions in our energy sector, they want to completely shut down our energy sector, said Mr. Moe on Twitter on July 15, sharing a CBC article about Mr. Guilbeaults intention to push for a phase-out of unabated fossil fuels at the next international climate summit, referring to the 28th Conference of the Parties, or COP28, scheduled to take place from Nov. 30 to Dec. 12 this year in Dubai,

Mrs. Smith said in a statement on Twitter on July 15 that Mr. Guilbeault made comments to a reporter about his intention to see the federal government impose a net-zero electricity mandate on all provinces for 2035 and continued to reference Ottawas planned de facto oil and gas production cut.

I was also alarmed to read the ministers belief that oil and gas production is likely to be reduced by 75 percent by 2050, said the Alberta premier.

This belief does not align with any credible forecast of future world energy consumption, which continue to see oil and gas dominating the energy supply mix for decades to come, she said.

According to Mrs. Smith, the contemplated federal targets are unconstitutional, damaging to the economy, and will create investor uncertainty.

The Alberta premier said that if Mr. Guilbeault is truly committed to reducing emissions around the world, he should busy himself with assisting Western Canada to replace emissions from coal, wood and dung in Asia and Africa with clean Canadian LNG.

According to Mrs. Smith, the federal governments planned phaseout of Albertas oil and gas sector will only result in higher net worldwide emissions, along with serious poverty and energy insecurity in Canada and abroad.

Climate Justice

Mr. Guilbeault has been meeting with his counterparts in Europe, Mexico, India, Japan, China, and other countries on climate issues in Brussels in advance of the annual COP meeting held by the United Nations.

We can make COP28 the first COP to acknowledge the need to phase out unabated fossil fuels, Guilbeault said after the meeting.

A number of countries that belong to the High Ambition Coalition, including Chile, Austria, Denmark, Ethiopia, France, and Germany, among others, issued a joint statement on July 14 calling for an end to the fossil fuel era.

We must bring greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050 or earlier, and chart a course at COP-28 to an urgent and just transition to renewables, a more climate resilient world, and climate justice for all, the statement said.

Creating a world that is resilient in the face of the climate crisis will require drastic adaptation efforts worldwide.

Mrs. Smith said Alberta will not recognize any federally imposed emission-reduction targets for our energy and electricity sectors under any circumstances unless such targets are first consented to by the Government of Alberta.

Nor will Alberta recognize any right of the federal government to legislate or regulate in this exclusive area of provincial jurisdiction, or any area of shared constitutional jurisdiction, without the explicit approval of Alberta, said the premier.

She called on Trudeau to instruct his involved ministers to respect the rights and jurisdiction of all provinces on this and other related matters, and to do a more effective job of building investor confidence in Canadas oil and gas sector as profitable, certain and the most environmentally responsible on Earth.
Almost 600 Charged After Domestic Violence Operation

Police block off a street at Bondi Junction, an eastern suburb of Sydney on June 27, 2023 after a shooting incident. (Andrew Leeson/AFP via Getty Images)

A New South Wales (NSW) Police operation targeting the states most dangerous domestic violence offenders has turned up illegal firearms and guns, and a corn snake.

Nearly 600 people were charged in the four-day operation, including 139 considered among the states most dangerous domestic violence offenders.

As well as checking compliance with restraining orders and bail conditions at least 5,000 times, police took out 315 new restraining orders and seized 22 firearms and 40 prohibited weapons.

More than half of the states murders are domestic violence-related, senior police said on Sunday.

Police Deputy Commissioner Mal Lanyon said the most dangerous DV offences often display the violence of organised crime figures and the fixation of terrorists.

NSW Police wont tolerate it. We will put you before the court (and) we have made it clear there is no place for family and domestic violence offending, he told reporters.

The operation followed two estranged or former husbands being charged with the murder of Sydney women this month.

During one arrest in the Hunter Valley region, police found a rifle round, cocaine, drug paraphernalia, two phones, testosterone cypionate and a corn snake, which was handed over to the Department of Primary Industries.

Eastern corn snakes are not native to Australia and are classified as pests.

A number of alleged offenders tried to flee before being caught including one man who crawled into a roof cavity and onto the roof.

Another runner, allegedly breaching his restraining order near Penrith, leapt a number of fences with the Dog Squad in tow before being hit with sexual touching and assault charges.

On average, NSW Police receives a domestic-violence-related call every four minutes and deals with 90 DV-related assaults every day.

During the operation, which ended on Saturday, police engaged with high-risk DV offenders on 1169 occasions.

They made 315 applications for Apprehended Domestic Violence Orders (ADVO), served 500 outstanding ADVOs, completed 4,882 ADVO compliance checks, and 1,465 bail compliance checks.

Officers also conducted 116 Firearms Prohibition Orders searches at properties linked to those who are subject to such orders.

These figures show this is an epidemic, Police Minister Yasmin Catley said on Sunday.

We know domestic and family violence is one of the most under-reported crime types. The police have my full support on this.

It comes as police overhaul their DV response after the auditor-general found training levels and compliance checks varied across the forces 57 commands.

Changes to be announced will extend from offender management to victim support, and include advice on how police deal with other organisations involved in DV responses.

The police watchdog in June also called for improvements after finding current training, procedures and guidelines werent sufficiently instructing officers how to correctly identify the primary aggressor and the primary victim in DV incidents.

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The Stafford County School Board is considering moving the replacement of Drew Middle School to the top of its capital improvement priority list and delaying the construction of a 19th county elementary school.

The board discussed this option at a work session Tuesday.

I want to start a conversation and get the ball rolling on directing staff on priority order, Chair Susan Randall said. Weve been approved (by the Board of Supervisors to fund) elementary school No. 19, but we havent secured where we would like that to be.

Randall said that since there is no approved location for No. 19, she wanted to gather board members input into whether they should put the Drew replacement in the top spot.

The board voted in September to prioritize the construction of elementary school No. 19 over replacing either Drew or Hartwood Elementary School, which are two of the divisions oldest buildings, constructed in 1951 and 1963, respectively.

Both have significant infrastructure needs, but the board decided to prioritize meeting capacity challenges, especially at the elementary level.

According to projections presented at a series of town hall meetings on the growth crisis that the division hosted last fall, the student population will grow by 5,800 students in the next 10 years. Just under 3,000 of the new students will be at the elementary level.

Seven of the 17 elementary schools and three of the five high schools were operating at or over capacity last school year.

The School Board voted to request funding from supervisors to build two new elementary schools simultaneously  each with space for up to 964 students, to open in August 2026  and to delay the rebuild of both Drew and Hartwood, as well as Rising Star Early Childhood Center.

The total cost of the two new elementary schools is estimated at $120.7 million. The estimated cost of a Drew rebuild is $89.9 million.

Though some supervisors pushed back on the School Boards request to open two elementary schools at the same time, the Board of Supervisors agreed to both projects and to begin allocating funding this fiscal year $25.5 million for elementary school No. 18 and $8.6 million for No. 19.

The 10-year capital improvement plan approved by supervisors this spring does not allocate funding to the Drew Middle School replacement until fiscal year 2028.

The School Board has identified a location for elementary school No. 18 off Truslow Road in the Hartwood District, but has twice voted against selecting a proffered school site in the Embrey Mill subdivision as a location for elementary school No. 19.

At Tuesdays work session, School Board member Elizabeth Warner expressed frustration with the fact that the Board hasnt yet approved a location for #19.

(If we delay), were not going to get the 900 seats we need and we still have capacity challenges. There are lots of modular units that have been put in, Warner said. I cant argue with moving Drew up. Drew is a disaster. But we still need those 900 seats and we arent any closer to doing that at this moment in time, and that troubles me.

Maureen Siegmund said Drews infrastructure needs are too dire to ignore.

As much as I want the schools, I feel like our need, especially when we prioritize health and safety above all, is Drew, she said.

Randall asked division staff to come back with a list of reasonable expectations for opening dates if we move Drew (to our next priority).

The School Boards priority list of capital improvement projects is due to the county government in October.

Elementary school No. 18 will still have an anticipated opening date of August 2026 regardless of what happens with No. 19.
Courageous Group of People: NY Parade Highlights Persecution of Falun Gong, 415 Million People Quitting the CCP

Falun Gong practitioners take part in a parade to commemorate the 24th anniversary of the persecution of the spiritual discipline in China, in New York's Chinatown on July 15, 2023. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times)

July 20 marks a solemn anniversary, the day on which one of the most unconscionable persecution campaigns in the history of mankind began. For many years, it was an obscure anniversary, but now more and more people around the world are becoming aware of it.

On July 20, 1999, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) launched its persecution campaign against Falun Gong. The spiritual practice, also known as Falun Dafa, is based on the principles of truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance and teaches a set of slow-moving meditative exercises. By 1999, the practice had spread by word of mouth to reach an estimated 70 million to 100 million adherents in mainland China.

The CCP leadership, viewing this popularity as a threat, ordered the eradication of Falun Gong, thus launching a campaign of violent arrests, torture, forced labor, live organ harvesting, and other physical and financial means of persecution that continues to today. It also employed the full force of its propaganda apparatus to defame the practice around the world.

Over these 24 years, more people have come to know the truth about Falun Gong and see through the lies of the CCP.

On July 15 in Manhattan, more than a thousand local Falun Gong practitioners marched through Chinatown with colorful banners, floats, and a marching band to commemorate the anniversary, raise awareness of the ongoing persecution, and voice support for the 415 million Chinese people who have quit their affiliations with the CCP.

Falun Gong practitioners take part in a parade to commemorate the 24th anniversary of the persecution of the spiritual discipline in China, in New Yorks Chinatown on July 15, 2023. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times)

Courage and Humanity

Twenty years ago, the practitioners and their parade might have been met with confusion and derision by residents who had never read about Falun Gong beyond what CCP-influenced media parroted. On Saturday, they were met with praise and support from residents and tourists alike.

I love this parade. Im so happy its making me cry, to see everybody out, said Marissa Gonzales, who lives in Chinatown. This is about meditation and believing, and finding our freedom from going more inward, and finding our strength there as people, all people. Im very emotional and happy to be here.

Ms. Gonzales said the ongoing persecution was terrible, and Falun Gong adherents stand for human rights was important.

This beautiful parade  brings peace and strength and enlightenment for all of us, she said.

Led by a large marching band in blue, the first section of the parade was a colorful procession of floats, flags, flowers, banners, demonstrations of some of Falun Gongs slow and gentle exercises, large book models, and even a dragon dance team. The first of three portions was meant to show truthfulness, compassion, and tolerancethe three principles of Falun Gongand the second, middle section showed rows of banners calling for an end to the persecution.

Falun Gong practitioners take part in a parade to commemorate the 24th anniversary of the persecution of the spiritual discipline in China, in New Yorks Chinatown on July 15, 2023. (Jingyi Zhang/The Epoch Times)

I admire them, said Mr. Yian, who is from China and has long known about Falun Gong and what adherents face under the CCP. Everyone here looks so kind. I know about Falun Gong, Falun Dafa, and I hope they can persevere.

The day when their truth comes to light must come eventually, right?

Mrs. Lin, who lives in Chinatown with her daughter, came to the United States from China almost two decades ago.

They represent the true culture of China, Mrs. Lin said of the Falun Gong adherents. [With truth, compassion, forbearance], they represent a return to morality, the right path for humanity. This is very important.

They are the most courageous group of people. And they are the ones who truly love their nation, because theyre willing to stand up to a regime that is corrupt. The government is supposed to serve the people, not the other way around. So, I admire the braveness of Falun Gongs followers.

We hope Falun Gong followers can be free. I really admire this group of Falun Gong; they are steadfast in their faith, and they not only have faith, but theyre really actually standing up for all of the Chinese peoples rights.

Everyone knows this, but they just dont say it.

Falun Gong practitioners take part in a parade to commemorate the 24th anniversary of the persecution of the spiritual discipline in China, in New Yorks Chinatown on July 15, 2023. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times)

Tuidang: The Movement to Quit the CCP

The last third of the parade celebrated the Tuidang movement. Tuidang translates into quitting the Party, referring to the CCP. Since the Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party was first published in Chinese in 2004, it has sparked a movement of people quitting the Party and its affiliated organizations.

To date, some 415 million people have quit the CCP. Nine Commentaries has since been translated into 33 different languages and is free to read online.

Song Sanghua said hes seen signage for the Global Tuidang Center in Flushing , the heart of the Chinese community in Queensand hes seen CCP propaganda posted in the neighborhood slandering the movement as well.

When I came to America, it really felt like I had come to the free world. I felt like I was home, said Mr. Song, who originates from China. America really is a land of freedom, where anyone can express their mind. When I set foot in America, I immediately felt a sense of relief. You could feel it in your heart.

So to attend this 24th anniversary of anti-persecution awareness, 24 years since the CCPs persecution began on July 20, 1999  Im in the land of the free.

Mr. Song said that while he was in China, he knew about the CCPs persecution campaign against innocent Falun Gong adherents, but he had never protested against it.

Falun Gong practitioners take part in a parade to commemorate the 24th anniversary of the persecution of the spiritual discipline in China, in New Yorks Chinatown on July 15, 2023. (Jingyi Zhang/The Epoch Times)

But coming here, seeing the Falun Gong practitioners in America, you realize that the Falun Gong practitioners in China are really facing such tremendous persecution, that these kind, regular citizens, because of their faith, because they practice Falun Gong, they face such an evil persecution by the CCP, he said. Its hard to express the sorrow I feel.

There is nothing one can do in China, he said. No bystanders in China ever speak out, Mr. Song explained, because the CCPs presence is felt everywhere, and the fear of it stalks you.

But coming here, I feel we have to openly speak out about the evils committed by the CCP, that theyve persecuted Falun Gong for decades and continue to do so. Until the CCP falls, ordinary citizens cant live an ordinary human life.

Falun Gong practitioners take part in a parade to commemorate the 24th anniversary of the persecution of the spiritual discipline in China, in New Yorks Chinatown on July 15, 2023. (Jingyi Zhang/The Epoch Times)

Falun Gong practitioners take part in a parade to commemorate the 24th anniversary of the persecution of the spiritual discipline in China, in New Yorks Chinatown on July 15, 2023. (Larry Dye/The Epoch Times)

Falun Gong practitioners take part in a parade to commemorate the 24th anniversary of the persecution of the spiritual discipline in China, in New Yorks Chinatown on July 15, 2023. (Jingyi Zhang/The Epoch Times)

Falun Gong practitioners take part in a parade to commemorate the 24th anniversary of the persecution of the spiritual discipline in China, in New Yorks Chinatown on July 15, 2023. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times)

Falun Gong practitioners take part in a parade to commemorate the 24th anniversary of the persecution of the spiritual discipline in China, in New Yorks Chinatown on July 15, 2023. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times)

Falun Gong practitioners take part in a parade to commemorate the 24th anniversary of the persecution of the spiritual discipline in China, in New Yorks Chinatown on July 15, 2023. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times)

Falun Gong practitioners take part in a parade to commemorate the 24th anniversary of the persecution of the spiritual discipline in China, in New Yorks Chinatown on July 15, 2023. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times)

Falun Gong practitioners take part in a parade to commemorate the 24th anniversary of the persecution of the spiritual discipline in China, in New Yorks Chinatown on July 15, 2023. (Jingyi Zhang/The Epoch Times)

Falun Gong practitioners take part in a parade to commemorate the 24th anniversary of the persecution of the spiritual discipline in China, in New Yorks Chinatown on July 15, 2023. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times)

Falun Gong practitioners take part in a parade to commemorate the 24th anniversary of the persecution of the spiritual discipline in China, in New Yorks Chinatown on July 15, 2023. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times)

Falun Gong practitioners take part in a parade to commemorate the 24th anniversary of the persecution of the spiritual discipline in China, in New Yorks Chinatown on July 15, 2023. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times)

Falun Gong practitioners take part in a parade to commemorate the 24th anniversary of the persecution of the spiritual discipline in China, in New Yorks Chinatown on July 15, 2023. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times)

Falun Gong practitioners take part in a parade to commemorate the 24th anniversary of the persecution of the spiritual discipline in China, in New Yorks Chinatown on July 15, 2023. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times)

Falun Gong practitioners take part in a parade to commemorate the 24th anniversary of the persecution of the spiritual discipline in China, in New Yorks Chinatown on July 15, 2023. (Larry Dye/The Epoch Times)

Falun Gong practitioners take part in a parade to commemorate the 24th anniversary of the persecution of the spiritual discipline in China, in New Yorks Chinatown on July 15, 2023. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times)

Falun Gong practitioners take part in a parade to commemorate the 24th anniversary of the persecution of the spiritual discipline in China, in New Yorks Chinatown on July 15, 2023. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times)

Falun Gong practitioners take part in a parade to commemorate the 24th anniversary of the persecution of the spiritual discipline in China, in New Yorks Chinatown on July 15, 2023. (Jingyi Zhang/The Epoch Times)
Arrest Made After Mother of Two Killed on Toronto Street by Stray Bullet

Accused suspect was on probation, has a lengthy criminal history

Passers-by stop at a makeshift memorial at the place where a mother of two, Karolina Huebner-Makurat, was killed by a stray bullet, in Toronto on July 10, 2023. (The Canadian Press/Chris Young)

Police have made an arrest in the death of Karolina Huebner-Makurat, a 44-year-old mother of two young girls, who was killed by a stray bullet on July 7 while walking down the sidewalk at lunchtime in east end Toronto.

Toronto Police Service (TPS) announced that it has have arrested Damian Hudson, 32, of Toronto and charged him with second-degree murder. In a news release on July 13, TPS said Mr. Hudson was scheduled to appear in court for a bail hearing on that day, and that they were still seeking two unidentified suspects.

A 32-year-old man has been arrested and charged with second-degree murder over the death of a woman who was killed by a stray bullet during a shooting in Torontos east end on July 7, 2023. Police say 44-year-old Karolina Huebner-Makurat, shown in this undated handout photo, was killed while walking in the Leslieville neighbourhood in Toronto. (The Canadian Press/HO  Toronto Police Service)

Caroline was an innocent bystander who succumbed to her gunshot injuries as a result of a stray bullet at the corner of Queen St. East and Carlaw Ave. on Friday afternoon, July 7, 2023, said a GoFundMe fundraiser set up on July 8 by friends of the family to support the womans grieving husband Adrian Makurat and her children.

According to a July 8 news release, the TPS received a call about a shooting in the Queen Street East and Carlaw Avenue area on July 7 at 12:22 p.m. local time.

The police said it was reported that a physical altercation had occurred between three males and two of the males brandished handguns and discharged them at each other.

Mrs. Huebner-Makurat was struck by a stray bullet and was transported to hospital but did not survive her injuries, the news release said, noting that the suspects fled the area on foot and were still being sought.

Police have confirmed that Mr. Hudson was out on bail when the shooting occurred. Court documents obtained by The Epoch Times indicate Mr. Hudson has an extensive criminal history.

Previous Convictions

In 2019, Mr. Hudson pled not guilty to charges of attempted murder, aggravated assault, and dangerous weapons. On April 30, 2018, Mr. Hudson was accused of stabbing another man in the chest with a sharp object, which caused a rupture to the lower chamber of the victims heart, and then running away.

The victim, Narooshan Jude, suffered a full cardiac arrest and an anoxic brain injury. After being stabbed with the sharp object, likely a knife, Mr. Jude was without oxygen for 45 minutes.

He was considered dead at the scene, but was revived at the hospital. He was in a coma for 3-4 weeks. Because his heart valves were damaged, he had to undergo extensive open-heart surgery. He was hospitalized for over 2 months. He spent the majority of the first year in a rehabilitation centre, said Justice Lawrence Feldman of the Ontario Court of Justice on Aug. 8, 2019.

Mr. Jude is now cognitively and functionally impaired for life, noted the justice.

Extensive Record

During sentencing, Justice Feldman covered Mr. Hudsons already extensive record. He was charged with obstructing a peace officer in the Youth Justice Court in 2007 and sentenced to 18 months probation.

He was also charged in 2007 with multiple counts of failing to comply with court orders and received 18 months probation on each of those charges concurrent.

Also in 2007, he was found guilty of robbery and failing to comply with conditions, again by the Youth Justice Court, and put under community supervision for a number of months, and another 18 months probation.

In 2008, Mr. Hudson was convicted of robbery and disguise with intent and received about nine months of community supervision and an additional 18 months probation. In 2010, he was again charged with two counts of robbery.

In 2011, Mr. Hudson was charged with assault with a weapon, pointing a firearm at someone, possession of a firearm or ammunition despite a weapons ban, and failing to comply with his probation order. For this, he was sentenced to one year in jail and three years probation.

He faced drug charges in 2013 and was charged with uttering threats in 2014. He was charged with drug crimes again in 2015, as well as failing to comply with probation orders and assaulting a peace officer. He was sentenced to 30 days in jail. Most of the drug sentences resulted in one-day jail terms.

In 2017, he was charged with break and enter, possession of property obtained by crime under $5000, more drug charges, and failure to comply with probation. He received more probation.

Repeat Offender

Mr. Hudson is a repeat offender, who has committed assaults, robberies and firearms offences, although the majority of his acts of violence were committed in his earlier years. It is of concern that his response to community supervision has been poor. It is aggravating that at the time of these offences, he was on two probation orders, said Justice Feldman.

It is disturbing that he was subject to two Weapons Prohibition Orders, the latter in 2011 for life, added the judge, noting Mr. Hudson had challenges growing up.

He was severely impacted by the loss [of] his father when he was 9. He suffers from ADHD and has learning disabilities. He was placed in special education classes, but did not go far in school. His employment has been sporadic. He has more recently been addicted to crack cocaine and smokes marihuana daily. He says he stopped using crack in 2018, said the judge.

Mr. Hudson survived being shot five times by unknown assailants in 2015 and was diagnosed with classic symptoms of PTSD, including flashbacks, nightmares, hpervigilance and avoidance of stimuli that trigger memories of his shooting. He was also diagnosed with major depressive disorder, for which he is prescribed medication, the judge said.

In the confrontation on April 30, matters heated up quickly and the defendant struck one blow in response to Mr. Judes verbal aggression, said the justice. It is possible he intended to stab his victim in the cardiac box area, but of this on the evidence, I am unsure. Mr. Hudson will be acquitted of attempt murder.

Mr. Hudson was ultimately found guilty of aggravated assault and possession of a weapon for a purpose dangerous to the public peace. Justice Feldman said he had reasonable doubt that Mr. Hudson intended to kill Mr. Jude.

I acknowledge his effort to better himself and grapple with his demons. I believe he has the potential to reform with professional help and family support, said Justice Feldman.
Australia Told to Call Out CCP Corruption in Pacific

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)

Australia has been told to be bolder about calling out corruption and malign foreign interference in the Pacific to counter the Chinese Communist Partys (CCP) increasing influence.

The expanding security relationship between Beijing and the Solomon Islands has raised concerns in Canberra, which wants the issue to be primarily dealt with by Pacific nations.

The co-lead of the U.S.-based Hoover Institutions China Global Sharp Power Project says Western nations need to work together to sharpen intelligence gathering.

Larry Diamond says the CCPs actions have sobering implications for freedom and transparency and nations like Australia need to publicly call out corruption when intelligence allows it to do so.

We need to mobilise better intelligence to expose the corruption, the renowned democracy scholar told AAP.

These are still democracies and exposure can be very damaging to them.

Mr. Diamond says the region can also help counter the CCP by banding together to protect democratic norms against Beijings push to control, control, control.

Chinas aim in the Pacific is to muscle out the U.S. and Pacific island nations are crucial to doing so, he added.

The thing I find the most striking is the growth of Chinas projection of sharp power, Mr. Diamond said.

Power that is covert, coercive or corrupting.

He said the goal should not be to turn Pacific island nations into satellite states but rather to protect their sovereignty.

Just to keep them independent and let them determine their own future, he said.

The future of these Pacific island states is absolutely crucial to what kind of Asia Pacific and what kind of world were going to be living in.

Australian Home Affairs Minister Clare ONeil has previously pledged to be more forthcoming and transparent with the public about foreign attacks and plots.

The journalist is travelling as a member of an international reporting tour sponsored by the Foreign Press Centre, which is part of the U.S. Department of State.
Australia Urged to Amend Migration Law, Combat CCPs Forced Organ Harvesting

He told me, 'Your eyes are good': Chinese refugee tells first-hand experience

Falun Gong practitioners in Vienna, Austria, stage a demonstration of organ harvesting of imprisoned practitioners in China during a protest against the importing of human organs from China to Austria, on Oct. 1, 2018. (Joe Klamar/AFP via Getty Images)

Australian lawmakers are being urged to pass legislation to help stop Beijings heinous crime of forced organ harvesting from prisoners of conscience.

On June 22, Migration Amendment (Overseas Organ Transplants Disclosure and Other Measures) Bill 2023, proposed by Senator Dean Smith, was introduced and went through second reading in Parliament.

The proposed bill, in an effort to amend the Migration Act 1958, would add a requirement to Australias immigration framework that persons entering the country must disclose if they have received an organ transplant outside Australia within the last five years.

Recipients will be required to disclose the name of the medical facility where the transplant was performed, as well as the town and/or city and country of the facility.

This information is to be disclosed by persons entering Australia via the incoming passenger card, Mr. Smith told the Senate. The resulting data will then be made available to the responsible Minister, who will be required to table an annual report in the Parliament detailing.

Senator Smith said the amendments would advance Australias mission to uphold and strengthen human rights.

When organs are provided to recipients through illicit means of coercion or compulsion, the result is a tragedy in which one human life is prized more than another, he said.

Senator Dean Smith speaks to the media during a press conference at the Foodbank Western Australia in Perth, Monday, June 26, 2023. (Aaron Bunch/AAP Image)

This represents an egregious attack on the foundations of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the commitment contained within it that all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.

Every time a person is pressured to sell an organ to another, or when a prisoner of conscience is executed and their organs harvested, this principle of universal human equality and dignity is transgressed.

In its final judgment dated June 2019, the China Tribunal chaired by prominent human rights lawyer Sir Geoffrey Nice KC, who served as lead prosecutor in the war crimes trial of Yugoslav leader Slobodan Milosevic, concluded that forced organ harvesting has been committed for years throughout China on a significant scale and that Falun Gong practitioners have been oneand probably the mainsource of organ supply.

Organ Harvesting During COVID-19 Continued

The motion comes after the International Organization for the Persecution of Falun Gong (WOIPFG) released a survey report in April stating that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)s crime of live organ harvesting did not abate during the pandemic.

According to surveys conducted before the lockdown was lifted, Chinas organ transplant industry was not seriously affected by the Zero-COVID policy during the three-year pandemic, reads the Chinese version of the report.

Transplant clinics around the country opened as usual to receive patients; many hospitals said they had plenty of organs. Many people died because they did not have food or medical help, but the supply of organs was unaffected by the strict lockdown of cities and roads.

The reports information comes from ongoing tracking telephone investigations of dozens of transplantation expert professors, directors, and chief surgeons after the lockdown policy was lifted this year. The investigations involved 32 hospitals in 23 provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions.

Fled China, Speaks Out

Wei Jun, a Chinese Falun Gong practitioner who recently fled to Sydney, confirmed allegations of the horrible crime with her personal experience.

Ms. Wei, who is in her 50s, recounted that when she first arrived at Mishan Brainwashing Centre, its head, Li Lijun, sat in a dimly lit corner after dinner and told her to contribute yourself to the nation, meaning donate her organs.

Wei Jun (L), who recently fled from Heilongjiang Province in China, spoke at a rally to mark the 24th anniversary of the CCPs persecution of Falun Gong in Martin Place, Sydney, on July 14, 2023. (Ling Xiao/New Tang Dynasty)

Later he said to me: There are doctors in hospital cooperating with us, in the name of medical checks for your body, to see if your physical indicators meet the standards for live organ harvesting, she said at a rally to mark the 24th anniversary of the CCPs persecution of the Falun Gong faith group on July 14.

On another night, a man who looked like a butcherit turned out to be Mishan 610 Director Yu Xiaofengstood in front of me, stared at me, and said, Your eyes are good [for being harvested].

Australia Urged to Join International Efforts



If passed, the legislation will be Australias latest move to join international efforts to stop the heinous crime.

On March 27, the U.S. House overwhelmingly passed the Stop Forced Organ Harvesting Act of 2023, the countrys first bill to punish Beijings forced organ harvesting.

On Dec. 15, 2022, Canadas Bill S-223An Act to amend the Criminal Code and the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act received Royal Assent into law. The legislation prohibits the entry of permanent residents or foreign nationals into Canada if the Minister is satisfied that they are involved in activities related to the trafficking of human organs.

The world is getting clearer and clearer about the CCPs anti-humanity crime of live organ harvesting. In addition to the moral condemnation, many countries have begun to promote legislation, Dr. Wang Zhiyuan, president and spokesperson of WOIPFG told The Epoch Times.

I believe that big actions will soon be taken on this matter. The day of full reckoning for the CCPs live organ harvesting of Falun Gong practitioners will soon arrive.

Dr. Wang Zhiyuan, president of WOIPFG, speaking in Berlin on Oct. 28, 2016. (Jason Wang/Epoch Times)

Lucy Zhao, president of the Falun Dafa Association of Australia, called the Australian government to join its allies on this matter.

The United Kingdom, United States, and CanadaAustralias partners in the Five Eyes intelligence alliancehave all enacted or are progressing legislation to combat forced organ harvesting and organ trafficking in China, Ms. Zhao wrote in a recent letter to members of Parliament.

In addition, the European Union and several countries have also enacted or proposed legislation to address this in on to address this international issue.

Senator Smith closed the motion for the second reading by urging that it is not enough to be a signatory to international conventions such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, or the Genocide Convention, without doing what we can to ensure the tenets of these conventions are upheld globally.

This amendment is a step forward toward that eternal and noble goal, he said.
Biden, Social Media Collude to Suppress Speech

Commentary

Of all the ways in which we exercise our freedom in America, the exchange of information without the interference of government may be the most indispensable.

One can imagine times when the federal government is entitled to keep news or views from the American people; perhaps knowledge of a major defeat of our forces during wartimealthough even that would be highly debatable, not to mention close to impossible in the age of the internet and cell phones; or recall when the U.S. Department of Energy sued the left-wing Progressive magazine in 1979 to prevent it from publishing details on how to build a hydrogen bomb. The case was dropped when the information became available in other public venues.

Well into the 21st century the muzzling of reports or analyses of events or trends is impossible, or very close to it. But what the government can do, and has done, is prevent widespread popular access to info, data, and even facts it disfavors. It can only do this, however, with the assistance of Big Techthe companies who provide online news links, like Google, and who own the social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook: big businesses on which millions rely to know what news is hot, companies who take it upon themselves to discern what information is credible, and thus fit to be read.

The most glaring example, of course, was Twitters blocking of the New York Posts investigative report on Hunter Bidens laptop on the eve of the 2020 election through which Joe Biden became president, the rationale being the suspicion that the Hunter Biden scandal was little more than Russian disinformation. Even the now-ex-Twitter executive responsible admits that at the time, it didnt reach a place where I was comfortable removing this content from Twitter.

This kind of nursemaiding of the U.S. public, based on the pretense that people are too juvenile or gullible to be trusted with the free flow of facts, analyses, and viewpoints, is an outrage and a dangerous abuse of power. Especially considering that false, slanted, tendentious information favoring the left gets spread throughout cyberspace all the time by those with the loudest megaphones, going back even to before there was an internet.

On the July 4appropriatelyLouisiana Western District U.S. District Court Judge Terry Doughty forbade a slew of Biden administration officials, from cabinet secretaries and the White House press secretary to lower-level subordinates, from engaging with social media and other communications companies that include Facebook/Meta, Twitter, YouTube/Google, WhatsApp, Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat.

The prohibited conduct included 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; flagging content; trying to get the platforms to change their guidelines; requesting content reports from social-media companies; and notifying social-media companies to Be on The Lookout (BOLO) for postings containing protected free speech. The judges exceptions included information involving criminal activity and national security threats.

Judge Doughty said of the Biden administrations behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic, If the allegations made by Plaintiffs are true, the present case arguably involves the most massive attack against free speech in United States history. In their attempts to suppress alleged disinformation, the Federal Government, and particularly the Defendants named here, are alleged to have blatantly ignored the First Amendments right to free speech.

The case was brought by Missouri and other states, and joined by infectious disease epidemiologists and other interested parties. They joined together against government-engineered censorship targeting mostly conservative speech, in which through public pressure campaigns, private meetings, and other forms of direct communication, the Biden administration has colluded with and/or coerced social-media platforms to suppress disfavored speakers, viewpoints, and content on social-media platforms. As the judge remarked, Freedom of speech and press is the indispensable condition of nearly every other form of freedom.

What Biden and his staff did wasnt along the lines of emergency powers that we would all accept, like preventing someone from urging people to take, say, large doses of strychnine to prevent the spread of smallpox. What the administration and Big Tech were censoring included speech about the lab-leak theory of COVID-19s origin  speech about the efficiency of masks and COVID-19 lockdowns  speech about the efficiency of COVID-19 vaccines  speech about election integrity in the 2020 presidential election  speech about the security of voting by mail  parody content about Defendants [all Biden Administration officials]  negative posts about the economy, and negative posts about President Biden.

In other words, exactly the kinds of political speech during a time of crisis that were anticipated by the framers of the Bill of Rights.

The quintessential example cited by the plaintiffs was how the publication of the Great Barrington Declaration in October, 2020, in which physicians and scientists warned of the physical and mental health consequences of the COVID lockdowns, was censored by Google, Facebook, Twitter, and others. Just days after its publication, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director Anthony Fauci and other officials were organizing a campaign to suppress and discredit the declaration.

The judge this week denied a motion by the Biden administration to stay the ruling preventing its officials politicized communications with Big Tech.

This is but the tip of the iceberg of the governmental offenses described in Judge Doughtys 155-page opinion. When companies on which millions rely for news and information on their portable devices can be intimidated into doing the ideological bidding of government, theyand those millions of devicesmight as well be owned by the government. Unfortunately, even a court order gagging Biden officials may not be of great consequence in the end, because these firms are so in sync with the Democratic Party, they likely already know what to censor before they are told.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Bidens China Policy Under Scrutiny as Kerry Is Set to Meet CCP Officials

U.S. Climate Envoy John Kerry testifies during a House Oversight and Accountability Subcommittee hearing on Capitol Hill on July 13, 2023. (Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images)

U.S. President Joe Bidens climate envoy, John Kerry, arrived in Beijing on July 16 for three days of talks, becoming the third U.S. official to travel to China in less than two months.

While climate talks will dominate the discussions between Mr. Kerry and Chinese Communist Party (CCP) officials, it remains to be seen whether these talks will actually lead to an improvement of bilateral ties since there wasnt any major breakthrough following the trips to China by Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen.

Mr. Kerry told Congress that climate change is pressing, saying its important for the United States and China to find ways to work together in addressing it.

China is the worlds second-largest economy, and as the worlds largest emitter, its critical to our being able to solve this problem, he said at House Committee on Foreign Affairs subcommittee hearing on July 13.

Failing to engage with China would be malpractice of the worst order, diplomatic and political, according to Mr. Kerry.

Hes set to meet Chinas special climate envoy, Xie Zhenhua, and other senior Chinese officials. During these meetings, Mr. Kerry said he hoped they could make progress in persuading Beijing to transition away from coal.

China accounts for 53 percent of global coal consumption, according to a 2022 report by International Energy Agency.

Chinese leader Xi Jinping pledged to cut carbon emissions, but it wont start until 2030.

We aim to have CO2 emissions peak before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060. We call on all countries to pursue innovative, coordinated, green, and open development for all, Mr. Xi said at the 75th session of the U.N. Assembly in New York.

Although they welcomed Mr. Xis pledge, observers doubt whether the country will really deliver on it.

China has no intention of decarbonizing. Although it says it will reduce CO2 emissions, in reality, the Communists hold on power will slip without the constant economic growth that only fossil fuels can bring, researchers said in a report by The Global Warming Policy Foundation, a U.K.-based nonprofit.

Currently, with Chinas economy faltering, Chinese authorities continue to approve new coal-fired plants. In the first three months of 2023, local officials approved the construction of at least 20.45 gigawatts of power capacity, more than double the 8.63 gigawatts approved in the same period last year, accordion to recent research by Greenpeace.

In comparison, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has produced its toughest-ever rules for power plants, requiring most fossil fuel power facilities to cut carbon emissions by 90 percent before 2035.

Mr. Biden said the United States will slash its emissions by at least 50 percent compared with 2005 levels by the end of the decade. He promised to turn the United States into a net zero contributor to climate change before 2050.

Coal is loaded onto trucks for delivery to power generation plants after being unloaded from ships at the port in Lianyungang, Jiangsu Province, China, on July 12, 2023. (Stringer / AFP via Getty Images)

The division over the two countries emission-cutting pace came under the spotlight during the July 13 hearing at a House Committee on Foreign Affairs panel.

What is the U.S. doing to force China to reduce its CO2 emissions? Rep. Nathaniel Moran (R-Texas) asked.

Mr. Kerry rejected the word force but didnt address the question directly.

Im going there  but Im not sure that that presence alone is enough to force them, he said.

Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas), who chairs the House Foreign Affairs Committee, noted that the regimes promises contradict reality.

Theyre not an honest broker when it comes to addressing emission reduction, he said. They fire a coal plant up pretty much every day if not week.

The congressman also pointed to the Chinese regimes claim that it was a developing country and that it shouldnt be held to the same standards as developed economies in reducing carbon emissions.

How in the world can the second-largest economy maintain to you and the rest of the world, with a straight face, that they are a developing nation, giving them preferential treatment? Mr. McCaul asked.

Mr. Kerry said he didnt disagree with Republicans who view this as unfair, noting that itll be revisited next year.

But as for whether he could take away Chinas developing nation status during this trip, Mr. Kerry said, Let me just be frank with you, thats not going to happen in this visit. Its just not a mechanism or a rationale.

Republicans

Ahead of Mr. Kerrys arrival, Republicans and China experts have questioned the Biden administration for its persistent efforts to engage China, while Democrats have come to Mr. Bidens defense.

Im deeply concerned the administration continues to engage with the CCP with no real results or anything to show for it, Mr. McCaul said during the July 13 hearing. Countering China and their malign agenda should be the top priority of the State Department.

Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) described the climate negotiation as appeasement.

John Kerrys taxpayer-funded trip to China is another weak attempt to appease a dictatorship that commits pervasive human rights abuses and oppresses its own people, Ms. Blackburn said in a July 13 statement.

The Biden administration clearly cares more about advancing its radical Green New Deal agenda than protecting our national security interests. Rather than cooperating with our greatest adversary in the name of combating climate change, the U.S. should focus on hampering Beijings goal of achieving global domination.

Rep. Ashley Hinson (R-Iowa) voiced a similar criticism, saying Mr. Kerrys visit is a continuation of Bidens Beijing appeasement tour.

We need to stand up to the CCP, not reward continued bad behavior, Ms. Hinson wrote on Twitter on July 13.

A China Central Television news broadcast shows footage of U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken (L) meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, on a giant screen outside a shopping mall in Beijing on June 19, 2023. (Greg Baker/AFP via Getty Images)

A fourth U.S. official could be visiting China soon. According to a July 13 report from Chinas state-run media outlet Xinhua, Chinas commerce ministry was in communication with the U.S. side about a possible China visit by Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo.

On July 14, Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) expressed concerns about what Mr. Kerry will give away to the CCP, while pointing to the fact that Chinese hackers recently broke into U.S. government email accounts.

I wouldnt put it past John Kerry to bargain away Americas defense of Taiwan for more empty climate promises from the #CCP, Mr. Sullivan wrote on Twitter. I call on John Kerry and Secretary Raimondo to cancel their upcoming trips to Beijing.

Democrats

Mr. Kerry received some praise from Democrats during the House subcommittee hearing on July 13.

Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.), ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, characterized climate change as a national security issue, and he was immensely pleased to see the Biden administration appoint Mr. Kerry as special climate envoy.

I, along with most of the world, was relieved to see the United States back at the table, not only in climate negotiations but also in many other areas of diplomacy, Mr. Meeks said at the hearing. The United States is again leading the world. Even when it comes to curbing the emissions of the largest emitter, China, there are areas where we can and must cooperate.

U.S. climate envoy John Kerry (L) gestures as he speaks next to Chinas special climate envoy, Xie Zhenhua (R), during a session at the World Economic Forum annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland, on May 24, 2022. (Fabrice Coffrini/AFP via Getty Images)

Rep. Jason Crow (D-Colo.), ranking member of the Subcommittee on Oversight and Accountability, defended Mr. Kerry for his effort to address the challenges posed by climate change.

Its also wrong to say that engagement with the world, including with our adversaries  is in any way a show of weakness, Mr. Crow said. It is actually a show of strength to engage with the world, and do so from a position of confidence.

On July 15, Matt Stoller, director of research at the American Economic Liberties Project, criticized the Biden administrations choices of officials sent to China.

Pretty clear the Biden administration has gone soft on China. Yellen, Raimondo, Blinken, and Kerry are pushing for more trade and deference, and the hawks have been sidelined, Mr. Stoller wrote on Twitter.
Bill to Slash FBI Budget by $1 Billion Advances in House

FBI Director Christopher Wray testifies before the House Judiciary Committee during a hearing on "Oversight of the Federal Bureau of Investigation," on Capitol Hill on July 12, 2023. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images)

House Republicans on July 14 advanced a proposal that would slash $1 billion from the budget of the FBI amid ongoing concerns with the agencys conduct.

The appropriations bill, which was passed through the House Committee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies on a party-line vote, would reduce the agencys funding to $10.3 billion (pdf) from the $11.3 billion it received in the current fiscal year. The reduction would return the agencys funding to about what it was in 2022.

The roughly 9 percent cut includes a $400 million salary cut for the bureau.

It comes amid a series of frustrations with the agency, which Republican lawmakers say has been weaponized against conservatives as they seek to address several key concerns.

The bill prohibits the FBI and others from using funding to conduct any diversity, equity, inclusion, or explicit bias training.

That provision comes after Republicans in the House passed an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act prohibiting the Department of Defense from engaging in similar practices.

Whistleblower Protections

It would also prevent the agency from using taxpayer funds to pay the salaries of those within the Department of Justice (DOJ) who engage in retaliatory conduct against whistleblowers.

None of the funds made available by this Act may be used to pay the salary, benefits, bonuses, or expenses of a Department of Justice employee who is found to have retaliated against a whistleblower or suppressed an employees constitutional rights under the First Amendment, the bill reads.

Agency whistleblowers have said that the agency has become enveloped in politicization. Many have reported incidents of retaliation for speaking to Congress about these issuesdespite longstanding congressional protections for executive branch whistleblowers.

Rep. Kat Cammack (R-Fla.) confirmed that Republicans had uncovered a pattern of such behavior.

Garret OBoyle with daughters Iris and Gwen, shortly before he left the Waukesha Police Department in Wisconsin for the FBI. (Photo courtesy of Garret OBoyle)

In the most shocking of these cases, that of Special agent Garret OBoyle, a whistleblower was moved across the country by the FBI. When Mr. OBoyle and his family arrived in Virginia, Mr. OBoyle learned that he had been suspended without pay, effectively rendering his family homeless.

The FBI also refused to relinquish possession of his personal belongings, including his young childrens clothing.

Special agent Stephen Friend was also placed on unpaid suspension, and the FBI refused to allow him to take other employment during this time. Mr. Friend also had his security clearance denied.

Asked about the apparent retaliation, Ms. Cammack said the FBI had suggested to him that it was merely a coincidence.

Its a coincidence that they leave these people in a position where they cannot seek outside employment, they cannot access their personal belongings, despite the fact that these men have served their country. But even worse, their loyalty to the nation has been questioned. This is truly the weaponization of government, he said.

Politically Sensitive Investigation Temporarily Barred

It would also seek to temporarily prohibit the FBI and DOJ from conducting politically sensitive investigations at a time when the agencies are under fire for their conduct against former President Donald Trump.

Last year, the FBI conducted a raid on Mr. Trumps Mar-a-Lago Florida home, which FBI Director Christopher Wray defended to Congress as the lawful execution of a search warrant. Republicans have disagreed, suggesting that the move was a political stunt.

Former U.S. President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump prepares to deliver remarks in Las Vegas on July 8, 2023. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)

Likewise, DOJ special counsel Jack Smith recently announced the decision to press 37 federal charges against Mr. Trump for alleged mishandling of classified documents. Mr. Trump has defended his conduct as protected under the Presidential Records Act and has characterized the allegations as a politically driven witch hunt.

To that end, the legislation seeks to bar the DOJ and FBI from conducting a politically sensitive investigation until the Department of Justice establishes a policy requiring nonpartisan career staff to oversee such investigations.

It defined politically sensitive investigations as investigations of elected officials or their family members, political candidates or their family members, political organizations, religious organizations, and members of the media.

Barred From Labeling Speech Misinformation

The bill would additionally prohibit the FBI, DOJ, and other federal agencies from using funds to classify Americans speech as misinformation.

The prohibition comes amid revelations following Elon Musks acquisition of Twitter that the federal government had been in contact with the social media platform to demand that posts, ideas, and stories be censored from the platform. It also prohibits federal agencies from partnering with nonprofit or private organizations to achieve the same effect.

Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX and Tesla, at a conference at the Porte de Versailles exhibition center in Paris on June 16, 2023. (Gonzalo Fuentes/Reuters)

The bill reads: None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available by this Act may be made used to (1) classify or facilitate the classification of any communications by a United States person as misinformation, disinformation, or malinformation; or (2) partner with or fund nonprofit or other organizations that pressure or recommend private companies to censor lawful and constitutionally protected speech of United States persons, including recommending the censoring or removal of content on social media platforms.

FBI Response

In response to a query about the proposed budget cut, a spokesperson for the FBI cited Mr. Wrays testimony to Congress last week.

During his questioning of Mr. Wray, Rep. Hank Johnson (D-Ga.) asked, Can you briefly describe for us what the effect would be on our national security and on our domestic tranquility if the FBI were to be defunded or dismantled?

Mr. Wray replied: Well, certainly it would be disastrous for 38,000 hardworking career law enforcement professionals and their families. But more importantly, in many ways, it would hurt our great state and local law enforcement partners who depend on us every day to work with them on a whole slew of challenging threats.

It would hurt the American people, neighborhoods, and communities all across this country. The people were protecting from cartels, violent criminals, gang members, predators, foreign and domestic terrorists, cyber-attacks.

The issue was raised again by Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Calif.), who asked what would happen if the FBI were defunded and dismantled.

Mr. Wray responded: We would have hundreds more violent criminals out on the street, dozens more violent gangs terrorizing communities, hundreds more child predators on the loose, hundreds more kids left at those predators mercy instead of being rescued, scores of threats from the Chinese Communist Party being left unaddressed, hundreds of ransomware attacks left unmitigated, terrorist attacksboth jihadist-inspired and domestic violent extremistsnot prevented that would succeed against Americans.

Ultimately, the people most hurt by some ill-conceived effort to defund our agency  are the American people that live in every district represented on this committee.

The Epoch Times reached out to the FBI for comment but didnt receive a response as of press time.

The funding bill addresses a litany of other charged social and political issues, including transgender ideology, COVID-19 mandates, and Second Amendment rights.

Due to its strongly conservative bent, the measure seems likely to fail in the Senate, where Democrats hold the majority.
Can Mass Indoctrination Save Xi Jinping?

Chinese Communist Party leader Xi Jinping (front-C) and Chinese and foreign naval officials applaud after a group photo during an event to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy in Qingdao, in eastern China's Shandong province on April 23, 2019. (Mark Schiefelbein/AFP via Getty Images)

Commentary

Can mass indoctrination save Xi Jinping? Times of turmoil and transition are always unstable and unpredictable; the mood of the crowd becomes critical and mercurial. The narrowness of the power base around a leader makes the ruler vulnerable and, of necessity, paranoid.

Even trustworthy factions and supporters arent trusted. Neither is the loyalty of the crowd, regardless of the level of repression and surveillance.

Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leader Xi, having eliminated all possible senior-level opponents or relegated the more innocuous or inaccessible to places of containment, is attempting to transition the Peoples Republic of China (PRC) back to the Maoism to which hes loyal. And while that may be feasible, despite the mass suffering being escalated against the population of mainland China, it may find its breaking point if it leads to a command to the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) to unleash a war against Taiwan (the Republic of China, or ROC).

Such a war, given its automatic escalation into a conflict involving most of the PRCs neighbors plus the United States and its allies, is seen by many in the PLA as being suicidal or, at best, pyrrhic, in that it would lead to the destruction of the CCP and much of mainland Chinas infrastructure, even if it were technically successful in destroying the ROC.

(LR) Chinese Communist Party leader Xi Jinping gives a military flag to Wei Fenghe, commander of the Rocket Force of the Chinese Peoples Liberation Army (PLA), and Wang Jiasheng, political commissar of the Rocket Force in Beijing, on Dec. 31, 2015. (Li Gang/Xinhua via AP)

The growing uncertainty of his ability to command obedience among top Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) officials was highlighted in the sudden removal in June of PLA Rocket Force Commander Gen. Li Yuchao (commander since January 2022) and possibly one of the Rocket Force deputy commanders, Gen. Zhang Zhengzhong. Gen. Lis removal was reportedly over possible connections with the United States, where it was understood that his son was studying.

The Rocket Force is, understandably, where Mr. Xi must rely on technocrats. He can appoint loyalists to posts in the Ground Forces, the Navy, and the Air Force, but the Rocket Force is more specifically the preserve of the technocrats, and theres little love lost between the Rocket Force and Mr. Xi. But the Rocket Force remains the essential component for any war against Taiwan or any of the PRCs major potential adversaries.

The split between Mr. Xi and senior PLA officers may have been real or the result of perception dominance operations by the United States to play on the paranoia around Mr. Xis throne.

In a July 6 report in The Epoch Times, I noted:

Would it be best for Xis adversaries to devise strategies to separatesplitXi from his power, much as the Last Emperor, Puyi, was left unknowingly isolated in the Forbidden City while China descended into the destruction of the lands historical nobility. Significantly, the CCP has a history of splitting tactics and splittist tendencies within the Party, to a far more obvious degree than in the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (CPSU), but there is little evidence that Western agencies have truly attempted to exploit this characteristic.

Xi has effectively sealed off much of the current generation of youth in mainland China from news and influence from abroad. They may protest against Xi and the CCP based on their own present distress, but how can they and the rank and file of the PLA be motivated by the comfort of support from abroad?

The severe doubts are now apparent as to the loyalty of PLA commandersnot to mention the rank-and-fileto obey a command to engage in full-scale war, and Mr. Xi has personally embarked on talks with the PLA to urge an increased readiness for war. During the first week of July, Mr. Xi, on an inspection tour of the Eastern Theater Command, urged the PLA to deepen war and combat planning to increase the chances of victory in actual combat while implying that there was a heightened threat to Chinas sovereignty and territory.

Chinese leader Xi Jinping (L) speaks after reviewing the Chinese Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) Navy fleet in the South China Sea on April 12, 2018. (Li Gang/Xinhua via AP)

Theres a brief window of opportunity, because of the balance of forces issues and because of the PRCs declining economic capabilities (among other factors), for Mr. Xi to actually follow through with his threat to overwhelm Taiwan. But theres now considerable clarity that a move for Mr. Xi to commit to that actionto fulfill his promise to take Taiwancould result in a humiliating rejection of his authority by his own PLA or a failed military operation that would bring down the CCP/PRC structure.

That this isnt an entirely new realization comes with the fact that, for the past few years, Xis national security concerns have been focused largely on the domestic population. Internal security spending in the PRC is now consistently more than spending on the PLA. And, as the zero COVID operations in the PRCparticularly in Shanghai from April 1, 2022, until after June 2022the PLA is also at the heart of domestic security force considerations.

Mr. Xi has consistently attempted to distance the Party from the economic woes that currently plague mainland China but with little success. The last holdout of unquestioned support for the CCP was from the so-called little pinks, younger-generation Chinese nationalists (usually 18-to-24-year-olds and mainly female), who didnt experience the brief window of exposure to external (i.e., non-Chinese) media imagery and exposure to foreign contacts. Unsurprisingly, most of the little pinks are from second-, third-, and fourth-tier cities, much like the ultra-conservatives in Iran, Turkey, and so on.

So the question now is whether Mr. Xi has also lost the opportunity to do what Mao Zedong and his followers attempted from the 1920s onward: to find a means of mass conditioning of the Chinese population. It was always a work in progress, and the Maoists took as much as possible from the intense research done into the subject by the CPSU, particularly during Stalinist times.

Stefan Possony, the great grand strategist and authority on communism (and the worlds leading authority on psychological strategy), who died in 1995, consistently wrote on the topic of mass conditioning and so-called brainwashing and particularly on the CPSU and CCP commitment to it. Much of the CCPs work had a profound impact on Mr. Xi, whose psyche was unavoidably conditionedor scarredby the Cultural Revolution and the Maoist purge of his father and family.

Without question, Mr. Xi and his psychological strategists, functioning under the distinctly Chinese approach to total war in the 21st century, have been keenly aware that the work of such pioneers as Ivan Pavlov in the USSR, furthered by Maos loyal deputy, Kang Sheng, was now of necessity accelerated by modern communications and social media technologies. So far, however, the massive zero COVID and other internal population control measuresusing surveillance and social media technologies coupled with digital currency coercive capabilitieshavent been able to overwhelm the reality that the tsunami wave of impoverishment of the Chinese population was attributable to the Party.

So Mr. Xi is now on the horns of a dilemma: He cant trust the PLA to go to war and distract the domestic population from its internal woes, and he cant trust the internal security mechanisms (including mass conditioning) to stem the tide of domestic unrest. He can demonstrate, however, that he has the ability to selectively set examples of individuals within the PLA, the domestic security services, and the more self-confident wealthy entrepreneurs that they can be picked off separately without bringing down the house of cards.

Meanwhile, it now seems a gamble that Mr. Xi can do more than he has done so farand particularly with the searing mass psychosis induced by the COVID-19 fear pandemicto subdue the Chinese population. All that awaits, unless economic relief can be procured, is for the critical mass to move toward a tide of open resistance.

Mr. Xis response, even now, has been physical suppression but done in a fashion to induce caution among those who would attack him. Added to that is the Partys ability to make domestic communications so fraught with the prospect of eavesdropping that conspiracies are reduced in scope and, in many instances, suppressed.

If Mr. Xi doesnt know who he can trust within his power structure, its equally true that no one in the PRC can feel fully secure in speaking sedition to even a close relative.

Every act of dissidence in the PRC is a reckless display of courage.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Canada Abolishes Education Requirements, Making It Easier for Hong Kong People to Obtain Permanent Resident Card

On July 11, 2023, Federal MP Mr. Paul Chiang (C) announced in Markham on behalf of Immigration Minister Mr. Sean Fraser that the educational requirements for Open Work Permits (OWP) Stream B for Hong Kong people would be abolished. (Zhou Xing/The Epoch Times)

From Aug. 15, Canadas special pathway program for Hong Kong immigrants, Stream B (Canadian work experience category), will no longer require any specific education requirements. It means that more Hong Kong people with Canadian work experience will be eligible to apply for permanent residence status, and they are no longer restricted by their past educational pedigree.

Canada continues to stand with the residents of Hong Kong and supports their freedom and democracy, the federal immigration department said in a news release Tuesday.

On the same day, Canadian MP Paul Chiang announced the decision on behalf of the Minister of Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) at a press conference in his Markham-Unionville constituency. Canada has always supported freedom and democracy, he said.

Our government continues to expand and extend these immigration programs to make it easier for Hong Kong people to stay in Canada long-term, he said. After the restriction is relaxed, more Hong Kong people working in Canada will be eligible to become permanent residents. It will also make the application process easier because proof of academic qualifications is no longer required.

Removing the education requirement for Stream B is a win-win situation, Immigration Minister Sean Fraser said in an official notice, as it simultaneously helps Canada plug the gaps in its workforce.

On June 30, 2020, The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) implemented the National Security Law in Hong Kong, bringing the mainlands control mechanism to Hong Kong, causing a mass exodus of Hong Kong people from their homeland.

In June 2021, Canada launched two immigration pathway programs specially designed for Hong Kong residents to help young people from Hong Kong settle down in Canada. But the plan was criticized for targeting primarily educated Hong Kong residents. On July 11, the government announced that it would remove the education requirement stipulated in Stream B.

Hard-Won Results

The decision announced by the government on that day results from more than a year of hard work by the Hong Kong community and its supporters.

Aileen Calverley, co-founder and trustee of Hong Kong Watch, said, Todays result belongs to everyone, it belongs to the people of Hong Kong.

It turned out really well, she told The Epoch Times. It was better than I expected.

The education requirements for Stream B are as follows: applicants must have completed one of the following credentials in a post-secondary institution in or outside Canada within the past five years:

Degree (bachelors degree, masters degree, or doctorate).

Diploma program of at least two years duration.

Postgraduate diploma or certificate program of at least one-year duration.

A work visa program that matches the Stream B immigration program allows Hong Kong people who have graduated from a post-secondary institution in the past five years to obtain a Canadian work permit. They can apply for permanent residence after working in Canada for one year.

On Feb. 6, when the government announced the extension of the special immigration pathways for Hong Kong people, it also announced that it would change the work visa requirement from completing post-secondary education in the past five years to ten so that more people can obtain work visas. However, the five-year limit in the immigration program has not changed.

Ms. Calverley said that many young people are unable to apply for immigration because of the restriction of graduating within five years. We think its very unreasonable.

She said a group of about 500 people in the community had called for the restrictions to be lifted. About 60 Members of Parliament offered help in the process. We started meeting with the Ministry of Global Affairs in May 2020. There have been more than 30 meetings with Members of Parliament, and there have been five jointly signed letters of appeal.

Hong Kong People Demand More

Ms. Calverley said that the Hong Kong Polices Certificate of No Criminal Conviction is a must for immigration applications, but many Hong Kong people cannot obtain this certificate because they have a history of being arrested due to participation in pro-democracy movements.

In Canada, at least a few hundred people cannot obtain the Certificate of No Criminal Conviction from Hong Kong Police, she said. We also want to fight for the removal of that requirement.

Regarding this issue, the Canadian government explains that it will treat individual applicants on a case-by-case basis. People charged in Hong Kong under the Hong Kong National Security Law will not be automatically deemed unable to enter Canada if they only participated in peaceful protests because these acts are not illegal in Canada.

Immigration Consultant: Hongkongers Should Take Advantage of the Policies

Alfred Wong, a senior Canadian registered immigration consultant, said that the federal governments decision this time is very lenient, which is rare.

However, there is sadness behind it. This kind of thing happens only because Hong Kong has gone down completely, he told The Epoch Times. From Aug. 15, no education certificate is required to apply for immigration; that is, you can make do without a higher education. Its original intention was not for the primary school graduates, but in reality, it is.

Mr. Wong said that the government finally decided to open the door wider to solve the immigration obstacles encountered by some Hong Kong people.

He said that according to the new policy, you only need to be a Hong Kong citizen (holding a Hong Kong Special Administrative Region passport, or BNO passport), legally work in Canada for one year, plus five points in English (CLB5, or CELPIP 5), you can then apply immediately for immigration under Stream B.

The new policy will provide more channels for Hong Kong people to emigrate to Canada. Mr. Wong said that if you cannot get a work permit through the pathways offered by the government, you can still come to Canada to gain that one-year work experience through a working holiday visa, but the number of places in this plan is rather limited. For a married couple, one of them can apply to study in Canada, and the other party can get a work permit to accompany the student. After getting that one-year work experience, he/she can then apply for immigration. The first thing is that the applicant must get five points in English.

The governments relaxation of policies may be related to the poor result of the related program so far. As of April 30, the special pathways program for Hong Kong only granted 3,122 permanent resident visas, of which 2,358 were from Stream A (those who graduated from Canada), while 764 were from Stream B.

Mr. Wong said the figure is very disappointing. Therefore, even if the government relaxes the requirements, there is still no fear of a flood of immigrants.

He suggested that Hong Kong people who want to emigrate should seize this opportunity. He said those who can take advantage of the policy should act quickly but not expect Canadas immigration policy to solve all the individuals problems immediately.
CCP Is Committing Genocide Against Falun Gong, Human Rights Lawyer Says

Human rights lawyer David Matas speaks at an event marking the 24th anniversary of the Chinese regime's ongoing persecution of Falun Gong, in London on July 15, 2023. (Yanning Qi/The Epoch Times)

The Chinese regimes treatment of Falun Gong practitioners is another genocide, a human rights lawyer said of Beijings ongoing war against the spiritual discipline that has lasted for 24 years.

David Matas, a human rights lawyer and Nobel Prize nominee, said Falun Gong adherents have been the target of a protracted cold genocide thats harder to identify than mass killings in a shorter period of time.

Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, is a Chinese meditation practice consisting of slow-moving exercises and the doctrine of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance.

It was estimated that the popular practice had attracted some 70 million followers before the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), led by then-party head Jiang Zemin, launched a persecution campaign against it in 1999.

Since then, practitioners in China have been subjected to detention in prisons, labor camps, and mental hospitals. They have also been targets of social exclusion, sexual violation, and torture, which in some cases were fatal.

An independent peoples tribunal chaired by prominent British barrister and judge Sir Geoffrey Nice, KC in 2019 found that adherents of Falun Gong had been and continued to be the main group of victims killed for their organs. Evidence also pointed to forced organ harvesting from Uyghur Muslims and other ethnic minorities in recent years.

According to the International Coalition to End Transplant Abuse in China (ETAC), the large pool of detainees in China enabled a reverse matching system, in which a prisoner who is the best match for the paying recipient is chosen from a large pool of detainees. The prisoner is then killed and their organs extracted for transplantation, ETAC said in a video explaining the practice.

Mr. Matas, one of the first investigators into the allegations of forced organ harvesting in China, said its a cold genocide thats happening slowly over time.

When you get mass killings in a short period of time  its a lot easier to identify, like we saw with the killing of the Tutsis in Rwanda, he told NTD, adding that the genocide of Falun Gong is less visible because the killing happened at the pace of several thousands a year rather than everybody all at once.

Genocide is defined in international law as acts with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial, or religious group.

Mr. Matas said he disagrees with the arguments that the mass killing of Falun Gong practitioners is not genocide, because the killings had a profit motive or because people may renounce Falun Gong to avoid being killed.

First of all, people can have mixed motives. Secondly, the direction of the repression of Falun Gong was not monetarily based. It was strictly ideologically based, he said.

Genocide is the killing of an identifiable group. And if you leave the group, youre outside the group thats the target of genocide. So I dont agree with these arguments, he said.

Mr. Matas made the remarks at a rally in London marking the beginning of the CCPs suppression of Falun Gong 24 years ago.

Hu Xuanming (2nd row, R), whose mother is imprisoned in China, marching in a rally commemorating the 24th anniversary of the Chinese regimes ongoing persecution of Falun Gong, in London, on July 15, 2023. (Yanning Qi/The Epoch Times)

According to Falun Dafa Infocenter, the persecution officially began on July 20, 1999, when practitioners across China were arrested in the middle of the night.

Two days later, the Ministry of Civil Affairs declared Falun Gong to be illegal, and the Ministry of Public Security banned followers from congregating, displaying signs of Falun Gong, promoting the practice, and appealing or protesting against the decree (pdf).

In a document banning CCP members from practicing Falun Gong, the partys central committee has said the Buddhist school practice fundamentally contradicts Marxist theory, which is atheistic or antitheistic in nature.
Vietnam targeting high-end Cambodian tourists

Vietnam is seeking to attract high-end tourists from Cambodia, which is rapidly emerging as a promising source of visitors.



With its proximity, Cambodia has become a significant market for Vietnam, travel industry insiders said. It was among the top 10 markets in the first half of this year, with arrivals surging by 338% from the same period in 2019 before the COVID-19 pandemic hit.

Bui Vien street in Ho Chi Minh City (Photo: VNA)





In the past a majority of Cambodian tourists visited Vietnam for medical treatment, but the pandemic has upended travel trends. But now there is an increase in weekend tourists visiting border areas, leisure travelers and those seeking longer experiences.



Their significant purchasing power is one of the key factors contributing to their interest in Vietnam.



Vietnams convenient geographical location, beautiful coastlines and attractive cuisine are among the factors that make the country appealing to Cambodian tourists.



Improved transportation networks, including direct flights and well-connected roads, have made travelling from Cambodia to Vietnam easier than ever before.



Vietravel, a tourism company, has witnessed a 10% growth in the number of package tourists from Cambodia in the first five months compared to the same period in 2019.



To capitalise on the potential of Cambodian tourists, the company plans to develop combined tours in Tay Ninh, a province located near the border. These tours will include resort tourism, medical tourism and religious tourism.



It is also exploring the possibility of starting flights between major Cambodian cities and key tourism destinations in Vietnam.



Tran Quoc Thinh, director of Tay Ninh provinces Tourism Promotion Centre, said Cambodian tourists primarily arrive through border gates due to the low travel costs and convenient bus services.



While there are opportunities to attract more Cambodian tourists, there are some challenges that need to be addressed, according to experts.



The frequency of flights between Cambodia and Vietnamese tourism destinations is currently limited and not fully utilised by many airlines. Tourism products for Cambodian visitors need to be diversified further. Furthermore, promotion and marketing efforts targeted at the Cambodian market remain limited.



To address these challenges and attract more Cambodian tourists, Thinh said promotion programmes had been organised in Tay Ninh province.
China's fig planting area has reached about 23,000 hectares, ranking the seventh in the world. [Photo/Xinhua]

The 2023 World Fig Conference & Expo will be held in Weiyuan county, Neijiang city, Sichuan province, from Aug. 15-18, said the Sichuan government in a news conference on July 12.

This will be the first time the quadrennial event, hosted by the International Society for Horticulture Science, to be staged in China.

"By hosting the event, Weiyuan will further consolidate and enhance the status and influence of China's fig industry in the world market, so that more people can understand and recognize the value of China's fig industry," said Xu Bin, chief agronomist of the Sichuan agriculture and rural affairs department.

At present, the total area of fig cultivation in the world is about 313,000 hectares, and the Mediterranean countries account for about 60% of the total area. China's fig planting area has reached about 23,000 hectares, ranking the seventh in the world.

The event will take the theme of "integrating cultural traditions and sci-tech innovation". During the event, there will be review meeting on fig products from around the world, an international fig academic seminar, the economic and trade promotional fair of Neijiang, which is known as "China's sweet food capital" as well as exhibitions on fig processing, products and culture.

"We will showcase the unique cultural charm and industrial development vitality of China's fig industry from a new perspective, and deepen exchanges and cooperation with the global fig industry," said Xu Lianying, deputy mayor of Neijiang.

According to Luo Houyong, head of the Weiyuan county government, Weiyuan has taken the fig industry as the leading industry of characteristic agriculture in the county since 2002, and has formed a relatively complete fig industry chain, achieved industrial integration and development. The industry plays an important role in increasing farmers' income.

Over recent years, China's fig industry has developed rapidly, and the cultivation and planting have spread all over the country, among which Weiyuan of Sichuan, Kashgar of the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region and Weihai of Shandong province are the most representative, according to Song Huigang, deputy chair of the China Cash Forest Association.

Song pointed out that China has four new fig varieties with independent intellectual property rights, and Weiyuan has also carried out the world's first space breeding of fig, with a large number of strain resources, providing variety reserves for the diversification development of the fig industry in China.

"China has become an important member of the world fig family, and has built a whole industry chain of research and development, planting, processing, sales and tourism," said Song.

But there remains a big gap for the country to meeting its domestic demand for fig fruits and products. China's imports of dried fig fruits have increased exponentially since 2017, and it exceeded 7,000 tons in 2021.

"Some universities are conducting fig-related research, and domestic variety cultivation has also diverted its focus from imported breeds to independent selection and breeding," Song added. "Once the country cultivates its own fig breeds that can yield more storable fig fruits, the development of its fig industry will be accelerated remarkably."
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.

House Speaker Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon, and Majority Leader Monica Duran, D-Wheat Ridge, said they "are still reviewing the complaint in full" when asked for comment on the lawsuit.

House Democratic leadership is committed to open and transparent government and ensuring a fair and public process for policymaking," they said in a statement. "We stand by our caucus  dedicated public servants who work tirelessly on behalf of their constituents.

Along with House Minority Leader Mike Lynch, R-Wellington, McCluskie and Duran are named as defendants in the lawsuit. Other defendants include the chamber itself, as well as both of its caucuses.

House Republican Deputy Chief of Staff Roger Hudson criticized the lawsuit, calling it "a distraction to the priorities that (Coloradans) care about."

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This lawsuit is what Coloradans hate about politics at the Capitol," Hudson said in a statement. Republicans continue to believe that the people of Colorado deserve access to their government through comprehensive open meetings and open records laws  we welcome any conversation that will update our statutes to keep up with rapidly evolving technology.

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.

Marshall told Colorado Politics he hopes House leadership will confess to the secret meetings and accept an order to stop the behavior without a court hearing. 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.

"We're blatantly and brazenly violating (Colorado's open meeting law) constantly," Marshall said. "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."

Marshall is also the plaintiff in a lawsuit alleging the Douglas County Board of Education violated Colorados open meeting laws when planning former superintendent Cory Wises ouster by using a series of one-on-one and private meetings.

This new lawsuit asks the court to declare the secret meetings in violation of state law, instruct House leaders not to hold any such meetings again, and pay all related costs and Epps' and Marshall's attorney fees.

"Plaintiffs have no confidence that defendants can or will change these unlawful practices without judicial intervention," the lawsuit states. "Plaintiffs are forced to enlist the authority of the states judicial branch to bring the legislature into compliance with (Colorado's open meetings law) and to ensure that the House of Representatives conducts its public business publicly as required by Colorado law, not in secret."
Cruise Line Issues Apology After Whales Slaughtered in Front of Passengers

Fishermen on a boat drive pilot whales towards the shore during a hunt in Torshavn, Faroe Islands, on May 29, 2019. (Andrija Ilic/AFP via Getty Images)

A British cruise line apologized to its passengers after one of its ships docked at a port in the Faroe Islands during a pilot whale hunt.

Faroe Islands, an autonomous territory of the Kingdom of Denmark, is situated in the North Atlantic, between Scotland, Iceland, and Norway.

Ambassador Cruise Lines confirmed on July 9 that its ship, Ambition, arrived on the same day in the port of Torshavn while there was a hunt of 40+pilot whales in the port area.

We were incredibly disappointed that this hunt occurred at the time that our ship was in port, the cruise ship operator said in a post on Twitter.

We strongly object to this outdated practice, and have been working with our partner, ORCA, a charity dedicated to studying and protecting whales, dolphins, and porpoises in UK and European waters, to encourage change since 2021.

Sustainability is one of Ambassador Cruise Lines core values, and we fully appreciate that witnessing this local event would have been distressing for the majority of guests onboard. Accordingly, we would like to sincerely apologise to them for any undue upset, the operator said.

Conservation and campaign group ORCA said that some of its ocean conservationists were on board the ship at the time of the killings. In a blog, the group said many of the tourists had specifically come to enjoy seeing whales and dolphins in their natural environment.

The slaughter on July 9 was part of a centuries-old mass hunting tradition called Grindadrap in Faroese. It was the sixth hunt of the year that resulted in the deaths of 78 long-finned pilot whales in the port area. ORCA noted that among the whales killed were [nine] tiny calves estimated as being no more than a month old.

Passengers watched on in horror as a flotilla of 40+ small boats and jet-skis drove and herded the pilot whales into shallow waters, reads a blog from the groups website. A group of 150 people then hauled the animals ashore with hooks and others armed with killing lances slaughtered the animals in the space of 20 minutes. ORCA observed that some of the pilot whales, including a calf, took over 30 seconds to die.

It defies belief that the Faroese authorities allowed this activity to take place in clear sight of a cruise ship packed with passengers sitting in dock, Sally Hamilton, the CEO of ORCA, said in a statement.

On one hand, they promote their pristine environment and spectacular wildlife while simultaneously wielding gaff hooks and lances to kill whales and dolphins. Its almost as if they are flaunting the hunt and taunting the tourists, the statement said.

The CEO of Ambassador Cruise Lines, Christian Verhounig, said in a statement: We are dedicated to supporting ORCA in their endeavours to collect data and to monitor whales and dolphins and we are extremely disappointed that this has happened after weeks of trying to open constructive dialogue with the Faroese government and Visit Faroes on these issues.

We continue to educate our guests and crew not to buy or eat any whale or dolphin meat and stand against any profiteering from commercial whaling and dolphin hunts.
Death Warning as Potent Opioid Spreads to Four Australian States

A dangerous synthetic opioid recently detected in at least four states has been linked to one death and possibly two more as authorities warn of its toxic consequences.

Protonitazene has been found in South Australia (SA), Queensland, Victoria, and Western Australia with health officials confirming it is being mixed with other illicit drugs.

Two young men were treated for overdoses in SA last week and the death of an Adelaide man is now being investigated by the coroner with the drug suspected of playing a role.

A woman also remains in Royal Adelaide Hospital.

That follows two deaths in Queensland earlier this year where officials continue to investigate the circumstances, after a warning that protonitazene had been found in fake Xanax tablets.

The tablets appeared to be genuine and were being sold in Xanax-labelled bottles.

In Victoria, there was a series of hospital admissions in 2022 from overdoses linked to a yellow-coloured powder that users thought was ketamine but also included protonitazene.

In SA, there were concerns the opioid was being mixed with methamphetamine.

Drug and Alcohol Services acting state director Victoria Cook said drug users need to be aware they could be accidentally exposed to something more deadly than they believed.

Even if used knowingly by a regular opioid user, (with protonitazene) there is a high chance of overdose and death, she said.

Protonitazene is a benzimidazole derivative with potent opioid effects that has been sold over the internet as a designer drug since 2019.

It was previously identified in a number of European countries, as well as Canada and the United States.

In addition to the loss of consciousness and respiratory failure, symptoms can include shallow breathing, slow or erratic pulse, confusion, small pupils, unresponsiveness, and bluish or greyish skin from poor circulation.

The effects of protonitazene can be reversed by giving naloxone, also known as Narcan, and illicit drug users have been strongly encouraged to have a supply on hand.

Because of the potency of the drug, additional doses of naloxone may be required.

Royal Adelaide Hospital emergency physician and clinical toxicologist Sam Alfred said there were dangers associated with taking any recreational drugs.

It is impossible to know where it has come from, what is in it and at what dose, and what effect it will have on the individual who takes it, he said.
Felon Jailed for Killing Woman in Drunk Driving Collision in Riverside

RIVERSIDE, Calif.A convicted felon who killed a 65-year-old woman while driving drunk in Mead Valley was bound for state prison on July 14 to serve a sentence of 25 years to life after pleading guilty to second-degree murder and other charges.

Lawrence Michael Dileva, 39, of Nuevo admitted the murder count, along with DUI gross vehicular manslaughter and a sentence-enhancing allegation of being a repeat DUI offender during an appearance on July 12 before Riverside County Superior Court Judge Timothy Hollenhorst at the Riverside Hall of Justice.

Mr. Dilevas plea was directly to the judge, and it was opposed by the District Attorneys Office.

Our office strongly objected due to the defendants prior convictions, agency spokeswoman Brooke Beare told City News Service.

She said that because Mr. Hollenhorst set aside Mr. Dilevas prior strikes, instead of factoring them into his sentence, it spared the defendant potential terms of 40 to 55 years to life behind bars, which prosecutors believed was justified.

But the judge overruled the prosecutions objections, imposing the term of imprisonment he deemed appropriate. The judge signed the defendants prison commitment order on July 13.

Mr. Dileva killed Demiris Reid of Nuevo on Jan. 28, 2022 when he caused a three-vehicle crash on Cajalco Road, just east of Carpinus Drive, according to the California Highway Patrol.

Officer Juan Quintero said that the victim was westbound on Cajalco in a Chevrolet Equinox when Mr. Dilevas Ford Explorer approached from the opposite direction, headed east.

Mr. Dileva lost control of his vehicle and crossed the double yellow lines, colliding into the Chevy, Mr. Quintero said.

He said a Honda Civic following close behind the Ford smashed into the rear of the SUV.

County fire crews reached the location, which is roughly two miles northwest of Perris, within a few minutes and extricated Ms. Reid from her car, attempting lifesaving measures, but she was pronounced dead at the scene.

The defendant was taken to Riverside University Medical Center in Moreno Valley for treatment of moderate injuries, from which he soon recovered.

The Honda driver was not injured.

Court records show Mr. Dileva had prior convictions for DUI gross vehicular manslaughter, receiving a stolen vehicle, burglary, and distribution of illegal drugs.
No, its not Photoshop. Though the praying mantises photographed by a Malaysian photographer really do look like that.

Living close to the tropical jungle, Pang Way is in the perfect place to find these critters. Appearing to be caught in a series of dramatic Flamenco-style dance poses, the exotic insects are a riot of color and beauty.

Im too lucky to live in Malaysia, Mr. Way, 43, from Kuala Lumpur, told The Epoch Times.

He cites the nature-rich state of Pahang as the best place for him to find his favorite subjects, which he says come in a seemingly infinite array of sizes, patterns, and colors.

In order to successfully capture a species that can be as tiny as a minuscule 1 centimeter (0.39 inches), Mr. Way specializes in macro photography and has a great deal of patience. He also needs lots of luck, he says. Long periods of waiting in the jungle are worth it, just to explore the fascinating behavior of these intriguing camouflaged insects.

As they were his favorite insects as a child, it was natural for Mr. Way to focus on the praying mantis when he started learning macro photography ten years ago. After his interest was sparked by seeing the work of other artists on social media, Mr. Way and a small group of friends set about learning everything they could about this very technical skill.

Mr. Way, who works as a mobile phone technician, has now won several awards for his photography work.

He has more than 100 species of praying mantis in his portfolio and hopes his work reveals the beauty and details of small insects to a wide audience. Some of his most treasured favorites include the walking flower mantis, or pink orchid mantis. Native to Southeast Asia and resembling an orchid flower, the pink orchid mantis can grow up to around 8 centimeters (approx. 3 inches), its four walking legs looking like petals.

Another favorite is the spiny flower mantis, which comes from South Africa. Ways friends gifted him one for his birthday one year, and he snapped the butterfly-like mantis, which has spine-like structures on its body, using studio lighting. The majority are photographed in the wild, though he does sometimes experiment in artificial settings.

Admittedly, Mr. Way does apply some light post-processing techniques to his work, such as playing with highlights and shadows for a sharper result. But even without any alteration, his dancing praying mantises are amongst the most curious creations in the natural kingdom, and he intends to spend his life discovering and revealing them.

For me, they are so unique, colorful, and the most successful camouflage insect in the insect world, he said.

Check out more of the fun photos below, enjoy!

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: https://www.theepochtimes.com/newsletter
Germanys New China Strategy All Bark, No Bite

The Reichstag building (R), which houses Germany's Bundestag lower house of parliament, and the Jakob-Kaiser-Haus parliamentary complex (L) are reflected in the river Spree in Berlin on Jan. 20, 2023. (John MacDougall/AFP via Getty Images)

Commentary

After decades as Chinas closest ally in the European Union, Germany finally appears to be having second thoughts.

On July 13, Germany issued its first China strategy document to guide its political and business establishment on their China engagement going forward in an effort to balance the economic relationship along with the risks of the Chinese Communist Partys (CCP) increasing belligerence abroad and domestic authoritarianism.

The document said Chinas growing prosperity and achievements  contrast with setbacks concerning civil and political rights.

This has also had an impact on the exchange between Germany and China. China impedes contact with its civil society, media, research institutes and governmental agencies. Against this backdrop, China is simultaneously a partner, competitor and systemic rival for the Federal Government, the document reads.

The strategy paper, which provides guidance to governments, businesses, educational institutions, and politicians in Germany in their China dealings, will now move to Germanys Parliament, where lawmakers are expected to begin debating when officials return in September.

While the paper acknowledges the challenges the CCP and China pose to Germany going forward, its hardly a directional change for the biggest China cheerleader in continental Europe.

For one, the strategy doesnt recommend reining in policy or stopping China from gaining access to critical technology, which would have a real bite given Germanys advanced industrial sector. The United States has restricted Chinese access to essential semiconductor technologies.

And there is a level of conflict within the strategy paper itself. While it argues for smarter engagement with China, it also insists that German businesses must maintain beneficial economic relations with China and expresses the need to work together on fighting climate change.

There was real potential for a policy change in Germany after an early draft of the strategy document was leaked late last year that imposed significant changes to how companies must engage with China. Those changes included disclosing their exposure and extent of collaboration with Chinese entities and having to undergo periodic stress tests to demonstrate their ability to withstand geopolitical turmoil.

In the end, nothing notable was included. The 64-page document listed a slew of risks in doing business with Beijingnone of which are new and all of which could be gathered with a simple Google search or ChatGPT promptwhile outlining possible responses, including slowing outbound investment into China and imposing controls on exporting technology for military use.

But the document failed to specify any binding or quantifiable targets companies and institutions should abide by. It stopped far, far short of even having low hurdles for companies wanting to do business with China. No export restrictions were recommended.

Its no wonder that the German business class welcomed the governments China strategya strategy paper that is laughably weak yet took years to draft.

The Federation of German Industries (BDI) industry association acknowledged that more discussion on the concrete design of some measures was needed but was quick to point out that there is a danger that entrepreneurial dynamism will be restricted too much, BDI president Siegfried Russwurm told Reuters. Mr. Russwurm is chairman of the board at German engineering giant ThyssenKrupp AG and is also on the board of industrial conglomerate Siemens AG.

The CCP is no doubt in favor of Germanys new strategic document.

To demonstrate Beijings solidarity with Germany, the CCP responded in typical fashion to appease the many German critics of its new China engagement strategy.

The Chinese Embassy to Germany put out a statement on the same day that China does not cause any difficulties and challenges Germany is currently facing and that treating China as a competitor and systemic rival is not based on reality and would not benefit Germany.

In the end, if China pretends to be offended by the paper, then it must be a good strategy. And merely acknowledging the risks of dealing with the CCP could buy China-addicted German industrial giants more time against their critics.

For involved parties not intending to change the status quo, it must be a winwin situation.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Hundreds Rally in Toronto to Call on Beijing to End Decades-Long Persecution of Falun Gong

Hundreds of Falun Gong practitioners took part in a rally and a parade through downtown Toronto on July 15, 2023, to call on the Chinese regime to stop its persecution of Falun Gong. (Evan Ning/The Epoch Times)

Twenty-four years ago, the leader of communist China vowed to eradicate Falun Gong, a hugely popular spiritual practice, and launched a far-reaching persecution campaign against its adherents that continues today.

Outside China, however, Falun Gong is embraced and celebrated in Canada as well as over 100 other countries worldwide.

On July 15, hundreds of Falun Gong practitioners gathered for a rally and marched in a parade through downtown Toronto to raise awareness about the ongoing persecution in China as well as the various human rights abuses committed by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

The Tian Guo marching band participated in a parade through downtown Toronto on July 15, 2023, to call on the Chinese regime to end its persecution of Falun Gong. (Evan Ning/The Epoch Times)

Speaking at the rally before the parade, Joel Chipkar, spokesperson for the Falun Dafa Association of Canada, emphasized the widespread popularity and health benefits of Falun Gong in China before the CCP launched its persecution campaign on July 20, 1999.

Most people dont remember how Falun Gong was respected and awarded across China, how Chinese officials praised Falun Gong for helping to save the country billions of dollars in health-care costs, how Falun Gong spread across China faster than any spiritual teaching in history, Mr. Chipkar said at the rally held at Queens Park, Toronto.

Falun Gong, also called Falun Dafa, was introduced in China in 1992, and grew rapidly due to its benefits to peoples mental and physical well-being. By 1999, the practice had attracted 70-100 million adherents, according to Chinese regime estimates.

Former CCP leader Jiang Zemin, however, perceived that popularity to be a threat to the regimes rule, and launched an unprecedented campaign and brutal oppression to eradicate the practice. The campaign included book burnings, mass-arrests and imprisonment, torture, brainwashing, forced labour, and killing for organs.

Joel Chipkar, spokesperson for the Falun Dafa Association of Canada, speaks at a rally at Queens Park in Toronto on July 15, 2023, calling on the Chinese regime to end its persecution of Falun Gong in China. (Andrew Chen/The Epoch Times)

We find it strange when people ask why did the Communist Party persecute Falun Gong. Were talking about the Chinese Communist Party here. They are responsible for the deaths of over 80 million people since 1950, Mr. Chipkar said, pointing to the regimes history of abusing religious and ethnic minorities in the country, including Tibetans, Christians, and Uyghurs.

Speaking at the rally, former Conservative MP Wladyslaw Lizon commended Falun Gong practitioners for their courage in standing up against the CCP and their proactive efforts to expose the regimes crimes. Mr. Lizon, who was born and raised in Soviet-controlled Poland, noted that just as the USSR eventually crumbled, the totalitarian rule of the CCP will also meet its end due to the unwavering efforts of truth-seekers around the world.

The [persecution] methods that are used by the Chinese Communist Party against their own peopleimprisonment, murder, torture, forced labour, colonies or campsthese were all the methods that were used in the past, he said. They use those methods to inflict fear. And the moment people learn to lose that fear, [the CCP] will fail, and we will be successful.

Former Conservative MP Wladyslaw Lizon raises his hand in a sign of victory to encourage Falun Gong practitioners as he condemns the Chinese regime for its persecution campaign, during a rally at Queens Park in Toronto on July 15, 2023. (Evan Ning/The Epoch Times)

Former senator Consiglio Di Nino expressed support for the resilience of Falun Gong practitioners and their determination to end the unjust persecution in China, while continuing to raise awareness about it.

Until it is resolved, until the problem no longer exists, the message cannot and must not stop, he said. Do it louder, do it stronger. We need to make sure that until the issue is totally resolved, that the world continues to understand what is happening in China.

Former Senator Consiglio Di Nino speaks at a rally at Queens Park in Toronto on July 15, 2023, calling on the Chinese regime to end its persecution campaign against Falun Gong adherents. (Andrew Chen/The Epoch Times)

Jiang Jiaji, a representative from the Democratic Alliance Hong Kong, a pro-democracy organization, said his father has been arbitrarily jailed for 21 years in China.



In the 24 years that Falun Gong was under persecution, young people, people of my ageI was just 4 years old at the time of my fathers arrestI cannot imagine that in nearly the entire span of my life, Falun Gong has already been persecuted for 24 years, Mr. Jiang, 28, said in Chinese.

But, today, Falun Gong adherents are still here, continuing to prove to the Chinese people, particularly young people like me, that people, even when they are under the rule of the communist regime, have the right to fight for their own beliefs and fight for their own human rights.

Jiang Jiaji, a representative from Democratic Alliance, a pro-Hong Kong democracy organization, speaks at a rally in support of Falun Gong at Queens Park in Toronto on July 15, 2023. (Evan Ning/The Epoch Times)

Falun Gong adherents perform the practices meditative exercises at Queens Park in Toronto on July 15, 2023. (Evan Ning/The Epoch Times)

Falun Gong adherents perform the practices meditative exercises at Queens Park in Toronto on July 15, 2023. (Evan Ning/The Epoch Times)

Falun Gong adherents perform the practices sitting meditation at Queens Park in Toronto on July 15, 2023. (Evan Ning/The Epoch Times)
IN-DEPTH: Russia, Burma Further Ties With Nuclear Energy Deal

Russian President Vladimir Putin meets with Myanmar junta leader Min Aung Hlaing on the sidelines of the 2022 Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok on September 7, 2022. (Valery Sharifulin/SPUTNIK/AFP via Getty Images)

The Russian State Nuclear Energy Corporation, Rosatom, has recently signed a few MOUs with the Burma Junta. This includes a deal in June to probe the feasibility of building 372 MW of wind farms and the inauguration in February of a nuclear power information center as a step toward developing atomic power.

Both Russia and the strife-torn Burma (also known as Myanmar) are currently subjected to rigorous sanctions, and experts told The Epoch Times that previously the two nations were just good friends, but the military takeover in Burma and Russias invasion of Ukraine has pulled both closer for strategic cooperation.

Burmas military, called the Tatmadaw, usurped power from a democratically elected government and detained government leaders, including State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi and President Win Myint, on Feb. 1, 2021.

In response, the U.S. State Department early this year imposed sanctions on Burmas military regimes six individuals and three entities including senior leadership of Burmas Ministry of Energy, Myanma Oil and Gas Enterprise (MOGE), and Burmas Air Force, as well as an arms dealer and a family member of a previously designated business associate of the military.

The junta has a limited number of partners on the world stage and, as a result, is counting on the few to project itself as a regional player, Akhil Ramesh, a senior resident fellow at the Honolulu-based Pacific Forum, told The Epoch Times in an email. While it claims the nuclear center is for civil nuclear initiatives, the junta also wants to capitalize on the heft of having a nuclear information center.

The head of the military government, Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, met with Alexey Evgenievich Likhachev, Rosatom director general, at the newly opened Nuclear Technology Information Center in Burmas largest city, Yangon on Feb. 6, according to Global New Light, a Burma state media.

The two leaders signed the Intergovernmental Agreement on cooperation in the field of the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. Burma and Rosatom had earlier signed a preliminary agreement in 2015, and the Southeast Asian nation hopes to build and operate a reactor under it.

The two sides on July 11 had also signed memorandums of understanding in Moscow on nuclear energy, training and promotion of public understanding of atomic power. Rosatom also organized Mynamas first science festival along with the Ministry of Science and Technology of Burma from June 28-30 at the Information Center for Nuclear Technologies and the Yangon Technological University.

Dr. Nishakant Ojha, a geopolitical analyst based in New Delhi, told The Epoch Times in an email that the Burmese military junta has drawn attention to itself as Russias most loyal post-invasion partner in Asia.

At the same time, Russia has readily supported Burmas dictatorship in a variety of contexts, both diplomatically and, most importantly, by providing it with armaments.

According to a report by Tom Andrews, the UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Burma, Burmas military has imported at least $1 billion in arms and other material primarily from, Russia and China, since it staged a coup in February 2021.

The imports from Russia include Russian-made Mi-35 helicopters, MiG-29 fighter jets, and Yak-130, and these have been used to conduct frequent air strikes that have devastated schools, medical facilities, homes and other civilian sites, according to Andrews.

Dr. Ojha said Russia and the Burma junta are currently getting ready to have more robust economic and commercial interactions.

In the midst of Naypyitaws battles to suppress domestic rebellion and establish international legitimacy, Russia has handed the city of Naypyitaw [Burmas capital] a lifeline, further antagonizing nations who are advocating for Myanmars return to democratic rule. The West is concerned that Moscow may utilize these steps and as a tool for the purpose of misdirecting the sanctions, he said.

The opening of a nuclear information center and the signing of an intergovernmental cooperation agreement, were most likely all part of the juntas attempt to promote its relations with Russia, according to Dr. Ojha.

In my opinion, the implementation of this plan, when the country has barely enough electricity, is just a contrived economic and geopolitical strategy moving to expand the scope of cooperation between Russia and Burma, and I dont think it should be done, he said.

Burma has faced massive power blackouts since Sep. 2022 across the country including Yangon and Mandalay, the major business hubs and power generation decreased from 3,711 MW in October 2021 to 2,665 MW in March 2022, according to the International Trade Administration.

Commander-in-Chief of Burmas armed forces, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, attends the IX Moscow conference on International Security in Moscow, on June 23, 2021. (Alexander Zemlianichenko/AFP via Getty Images)

Burmas Geo-Strategic Location

Experts said Russias core interest is Burmas geo-strategic location in the Indian Ocean is also responsible for increasing ties between the two sanction-battling countries, and the current context has opened multiple opportunities for both.

The role of the strategic partner who may be exploited economically and geopoliticallythe location of the nation [Burma]is the most valid point of interest for the Russian counterpart, said Dr. Ojha.

This is because Myanmar is located in Southeast Asia. When both nations are subjected to the phase of rigorous sanctions, their collaboration will not be limited to nuclear technology alone; rather, it will expand into other fields, including commerce, tourism, and others.

Global New Light reports that Burmas Industry Minister met Russian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Industry and Trade on July 11 during an International Industrial Exhibition in the Russian city of Yekaterinburg and discussed Russia-Burma cooperation, steel production, pharmaceutical co-production, yarn and fabric manufacturing, cement production, and production of medical support equipment.

Its understood, according to Ojha, that strategically the scope of the Nuclear Technology Information Centre in Yangon will be leveraged in different application sectors, and sooner or later, the military will be then the center point in it.

After ten years of heavy reliance on China as its primary weaponry supplier, Burmas is eager to diversify its supplies to meet the evolving warfare, he said.

This years deals have also raised questions if Burma would turn into the next North Korea and threaten regional security and if Russia has Chinas backup for the new deals. The experts have disagreed on both points.

They are farfetched, said Ramesh about fears concerning Burma becoming the next North Korea.

Ojha said that North Korea and Burma are two of the fourteen countries that share a border with communist China, but both share different equations with Beijing. North Korea is completely economically dependent on China and this has allowed it to continue supporting its own nascent economy without worrying about being abandoned by the global community.

It is abundantly obvious that North Koreas proportional influence over China is of a far more important magnitude than that of Myanmar, he said.

Burma provides China with crucial access to the Indian Ocean, not just for the shipment of goods from Chinas landlocked southern regions but also for the possibility of establishing military outposts or listening posts in the country, however Burma doesnt exert the same strategic influence on China as North Korea does, according to Ojha.

As a result, the authorities of Myanmar have had the impression that they are obligated to lean towards western forces in order to prevent their country from becoming the twenty third Chinese province, he said.

Ramesh believes that Chinas role in Burmas nuclear ambitions is quite limited despite Beijing playing a significant role in Burmas economy and trade.

The junta has counted on primarily, Russia for its defense, security and nuclear ambitions, said Ramesh.

Ojha said that when a civilian administration ruled over Burma there was no assurance that it would comply with Chinese agendas which the earlier Military junta supported and its quite likely that the Chinese communist which are known for quashing democratic movements inside its own borders would support that inside Burma.

It is impossible to completely discount the possibility that China is playing a hidden-mask game with the aim of transforming Myanmar into a nuclear power and attaining this goal, he said.
Investors Exit Downgraded Target Stock

Mega retailer Target hasnt recovered from consumer boycotts triggered after the company promoted Pride merchandise, with share prices and market cap declining significantly along with financial and popularity metrics.

American consumers started boycotting Target in May, after the retail chain rolled out its Pride collection, which included some items that targeted children, including books, home decor products, and transgender swimsuits for adults with a tuck-friendly feature.

In the first two weeks of May, when the companys Pride controversy began to go viral, its market capitalization declined by $1.85 billion.

In the three weeks between May 15 and June 5, the market cap fell by an additional $11.66 billion.

Though the market cap recovered somewhat to $60.34 billion as of July 10, its still $11.7 billion less than what it was on May 1.

Amid the Pride Month controversy, institutional interest in trading Target stock has fallen as buying and selling of Target shares crashed in the second quarter.

Total institutional inflows for Target were about $35 million in Q2 compared with $2.14 billion in the first quarter, according to data from MarketBeat. Meanwhile, total outflows for Q2 were $91.4 million, down from $1.07 billion in the previous quarter.

Multiple brokerages have also downgraded their views on Target. On June 1, JPMorgan Chase downgraded Target from an overweight target to a neutral onelowering the price target from $182 to $144.

On June 9, Citigroup changed its recommendation for Target from buy to neutral. A few days later, The Street downgraded Target from a B- rating to C+ rating.

In terms of popularity, the brand is at its lowest-ever level, according to a poll by YouGov.

In the second quarter, Target was ranked as the fifth most popular department store in the United States with a popularity score of 65 percent, which is the lowest score since YouGov began tracking data beginning in Q3 of 2020. At that time, the company received a 71 percent popularity score.

Target now ranks below Costco, Dollar Tree, Sams Club, and TJ Maxx.

Violating Child Protection Laws and Shareholder Interests

On July 5, seven attorneys general, led by Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita, sent a letter (pdf) to Target, warning that the companys Pride month collection targeting children may have violated child protection laws.

The letter pointed out that such laws penalize the sale or distribution of obscene matter, which refers to anything whose dominant theme appeals to the prurient interest in sex. This includes material harmful to minors.

It then highlighted Targets recent Pride campaign, during which the company marketed and sold LGBT products to kids as part of a comprehensive effort to promote gender and sexual identity among children.

A young girl at the annual New York City Pride March on June 25, 2023. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times)

This year, Target reportedly promoted and sold products in our states that included, among other products, LGBT-themed onesies, bibs, and overalls, t-shirts labeled Girls Gays Theys, Pride Adult Drag Queen Katya (which depicts a male dressed in female drag); and girls swimsuits with tuck-friendly construction and extra crotch coverage for male genitalia, the letter reads.

Targets Pride campaign and its financial support to organizations such as GLSEN that facilitate secret gender transitions for kids raises concerns regarding child protection laws of various states and also the economic interest of the companys shareholders, it stated.

Targets directors and officers have a fiduciary duty to our States as shareholders in the company. The evidence suggests that Targets directors and officers may be negligent in undertaking the Pride campaign, which negatively affected Targets stock price.

Moreover, it may have improperly directed company resources for collateral political or social goals unrelated to the companys and its shareholders best interests.

Target Backtracking

The boycotts have put pressure on Target and are forcing the company to avoid angering its conservative customer base, a development that was visible in the recent incident involving conservative author and radio personality Mark Levins book The Democrat Party Hates America.

On July 6, Mr. Levin wrote on Twitter that Target informed his publisher it would not carry his book at stores. This kicked up a flurry of criticism online, with many accusing the retail chain of imposing censorship policies.

According to Mr. Levin, Target claims that certain customers might be offended by the title.

He wrote: Imagine that! So, the corporatist leftwing censorship begins.

In a later post on Twitter, Mr. Levin wrote that Target had reversed course and will sell his book, and he addressed his supporters, writing, You folks are an immense force for free speech and market capitalism, and conservative authors and audiences everywhere will benefit from your patriotism.

I could not be more proud of younot only for how this specific case turned out, as there will undoubtedly be more of thisbut because youve made it clear that youve had enough and will exercise your enormous power.

Meanwhile, most Americans expect businesses to remain uninvolved in cultural issues, according to a recent survey conducted by the Convention of States Action/Trafalgar Group.

The survey (pdf) asked respondents, With the public backlash against companies like Bud Light and Target, do you believe businesses should continue to promote political themes during pride month, or should businesses seek to be neutral on cultural issues?

Almost 62 percent of participants said companies should be neutral on the issue. Only about 24 percent wanted firms to continue to promote political themes.
Irvine Surgeon Gets Nearly 3 Years in Prison for Hospital Bribery Case

An orthopedic surgeon was sentenced July 14 to 33 months in federal prison for accepting more than $315,000 in bribes and kickbacks for performing spinal surgeries at a now-defunct Long Beach hospital whose owner was imprisoned for committing workers compensation insurance fraud.

David Payne, 65, of Irvine, was also fined $20,000 and ordered to forfeit $316,597, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office.

Mr. Payne was found guilty in March in downtown Los Angeles of one count each of conspiracy and use of an interstate facility in aid of bribery, and two counts of honest services wire fraud.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Michael Drobotthe owner of Pacific Hospitalconspired with doctors, chiropractors, and marketers to pay kickbacks and bribes in return for the referral of patients to the hospital for spinal surgeries and other medical services.

The services and surgeries were paid for primarily through the California workers compensation system. During its final five years, the scheme resulted in the submission of more than $500 million in medical bills for spinal surgeries involving kickbacks.

Mr. Payne received bribes from Mr. Drobot of up to $15,000 for each spinal surgery that he performed at Pacific Hospital. The top bribe payment was for lumbar spinal surgeries Mr. Payne performed on patients at the hospital with implants from one of Mr. Drobots companies. Mr. Drobot and Mr. Payne covered up the bribes by disguising them as payments for marketing services and fees based on a sham contract, evidence showed.

In April 2013, law enforcement searched Pacific Hospital, which was sold later that year, bringing the kickback scheme to an end.

To date, two dozen defendants, among them doctors and surgeons, have been convicted for participating in the scheme, federal prosecutors said.
Kari Lake Files New Election Appeal to Arizona Supreme Court

Kari Lake speaks at the Faith and Freedom Coalition's Road to Majority conference in Washington on June 24, 2023. (Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times)

Arizona Republican gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake filed an appeal to the states Supreme Court in her election case as she claimed that thousands of ballots werent configured properly during last years governors race.

In an appeal filed (pdf) on July 14 with the states highest court, Ms. Lake alleged that the 8,000 ballots were neither duplicated nor counted. Whats more, they were also unreadable, her team contended.

The ballot-on-demand printer investigation report by former Chief Justice [Ruth] McGregor (the McGregor Report) found that four printers randomly printed one or a few fit to page ballots in the middle of printing a batch of ballots.  None of the technical people with whom we spoke could explain how or why that error occurred,' the appeal reads.

An expert for Ms. Lake, a former Fox affiliate anchor, had testified this error could only result from malware or remote access and resulted in at least 8,000 misconfigured ballots, the vast majority of which were neither duplicated nor counted, it states.

The defendants in the case, including Maricopa County officials and the Arizona Secretary of States Office, havent issued a public response or filing in the case.

Courts Have Little Appetite

While a number of her legal challenges have been rejected by state courts, Ms. Lake has said that she would take her lawsuit to the U.S. Supreme Court if needed, although the top court has shown little appetite to take up election challenges since late 2020.

This is, I believe, our best hope to get reform in our elections: my case, she said in a recent interview. I believe its the greatest election case. We have the truth on our side. We have tons of evidence. Yes, we havent had a judge rule in our favor. But it takes a lot of courage to make the right ruling on this case.

Ms. Lake has never conceded the race to Democrat Gov. Katie Hobbs, who was sworn into office earlier this year. At the same time, Ms. Lake has signaled in media interviews that she may be exploring a run for the U.S. Senate seat thats currently held by former Democrat Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.) in what could be a three-way race between Ms. Lake, Ms. Sinema, and Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.).

Her challenge comes as another court, in a separate case, ordered Ms. Lakes and former secretary of state candidate Mark Finchems teams to pay $122,200 in sanctions. U.S. District Judge John Tuchi in Phoenix wrote that former Harvard Law professor Alan Dershowitz also has to pay about 10 percent of that fine because, according to Mr. Tuchi, Mr. Dershowitz signed off on a number of legal documents in the case.

Failing to impose meaningful sanctions here might very well encourage others to follow suit by lending their credibility to documents filed in court without facing any real consequence if their certifications prove hollow or incomplete, Mr. Tuchi wrote in his ruling. The need for general deterrence is therefore significant.

Mr. Dershowitz indicated to the Arizona Republic that he would appeal the order.

Ms. Lake and Mr. Finchem sued former Arizona Secretary of State Ms. Hobbs and officials in Maricopa and Pima counties in April 2022 in a bid to change the state and counties voting procedures. Mr. Tuchi dismissed the lawsuit in August 2022. The Maricopa County officials named as defendants sought sanctions against Ms. Lake for trying to sow doubts about the then-upcoming 2022 elections.

Defamation Lawsuit

The appeal comes also as Stephen Richer, the Maricopa County recorder, filed a defamation lawsuit at the end of June against Ms. Lake, saying that hes faced violent vitriol and other dire consequences because of lies spread by her, including death threats and the loss of friendships.

Rather than accept political defeat, rather than get a new job, she has sought to undermine confidence in our elections and has mobilized millions of her followers against me, Mr. Richer said via op-ed in The Arizona Republic.

The suit, filed in Maricopa County Superior Court, names Ms. Lake, her campaign, and her political fundraising group as defendants. In addition to unspecified monetary damages, Mr. Richer is seeking a court order declaring Ms. Lakes statements false and requiring her to delete them from social media.

The suit claims that Mr. Richer has faced death threats, including one that was prosecuted by the U.S. Justice Department, and has spent thousands of dollars on home security. He said he and his wife have altered their routines and that law enforcement has stepped up patrols around their home and workplaces.

In response, Ms. Lake wrote on her Twitter page that Mr. Richers lawsuit is an attempt to censor her.

Im exposing the massive corruption in our elections and this  is suing me, Lake wrote in a Twitter post. He wants to silence US  corrupt elections have saddled us with disasters like [President Joe] Biden and Hobbs.

Reuters and Allen Zhong contributed to this report.

Correction: A previous version of this report incorrectly stated the status of the ballots. The Epoch Times regrets the error.
What happens when lawmakers have $50 million to spend on bills that could establish new laws for the rest of the session, and those funding requests tap the same pot of money set aside to cover the amendments to the long bill?

You get quadratic voting, at least for Democrats in the General Assembly.

It works like this: every Democratic lawmaker gets 100 credits plus access to an interactive website with a spreadsheet that lists the bills awaiting action from the House or Senate Appropriations committees and which will require general fund dollars.

The system was borne out of frustration in 2018, when the amendments to the 2018-19 budget bill ate up all the money set aside to cover spending on bills being passed toward the end of the session.

Sen. Chris Hansen, D-Denver, who chairs the Senate Appropriations Committee, heard about quadratic voting from a friend, according to a 2019 Wired article and decided to try it out to determine how to spend those last dollars. It's no surprise that this came from Hansen: he holds a doctorate in philosophy in energy geography from the University of Oxford and has an interest in game theory, which definitely applies here.

The spreadsheet has a box with a plus or minus sign. Each lawmaker can use their 100 credits to indicate not only which bills they would support, but how much.

The how much comes from just how those credits are assigned. A lawmaker could assign one credit to a variety of bills until they hit 100 credits. Or if theres a particular bill -- like one of their own -- that they want to have priority, they would assign it 2 credits. But in quadratic voting, 2 credits for one bill eats up 4 points. Three credits for one bill would equal nine points, four credits for one bill would equal 16 points, five credits for one bill would eat up 25 points, and so on.

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Several lawmakers have referred to it as a legislative version of "The Hunger Games," although Hansen quipped that appropriations is usually like the world of the character Katniss Everdeen and the dystopian game matrix.

The other part of this -- and its where "The Hunger Games" comes in -- is negotiating for credits. A lawmaker with a bill with a big fiscal note could find a way to cut down the cost, and then appeal for credits from other lawmakers.

Hansen explained that its just another tool that lawmakers have for negotiating support for their bills.

This year, however, amendments to the Long Bill, Senate Bill 205, are also in the mix. After the House finished up work on SB 205, they had added $55.4 million to the budget, most of it in general fund dollars. Thats more than is available for all the rest of the bills that havent been all the way through the process. So Democrats are not only applying credits to stand-alone bills, they're also deciding which credits go to budget amendments.

Hansen first tried out the system in the 2019 session for that year's budget process, according to a the Wired story. The winner that year was the paid leave bill, although that issue was later resolved by voters last November.

The Senate winner in this year is Senate Bill 9, sponsored by Sen. Sonya Jaquez Lewis, D-Longmont, and Rep. Yadira Caraveo, D-Thornton, to provide free contraceptive care and counseling through the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing, with $4.1 million spot in the budget that takes effect July 1.

According to the Katniss Everdeen of House Appropriations Committee, its chair, Rep. Leslie Herod, D-Denver, one of the bills high on the list of credits was House Bill 1214, sponsored by Reps. Jennifer Bacon, D-Denver, and Mike Weissman, D-Aurora. The bill updates state law on the sealing of criminal records, particularly when someone is pardoned. The fiscal note indicates a budget hit of $340,420. One of the budget amendments, on expanding funding for the Tony Grampsas Youth Services Program, also placed high on the list, she told Colorado Politics.
Liberal Nationals Push Back on Labor Attempt to Rain on Fadden Parade

Australian Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles speaks to the media duing a press conference after the release of the Defence Strategic Review at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia on April 24, 2023. (AAP Image/Lukas Coch)

The federal opposition has rejected the governments attempts to rain on its by-election win and positioned its victory as a voter pushback on rising living costs under Labor.

High-profile former Gold Coast City councillor Cameron Caldwell convincingly won the seat of Fadden for the Liberal National Party (LNP) on Saturday against 12 other candidates, including Labors Letitia Del Fabbro.

We are on the right path as a party, said Mr. Caldwell, whose campaign focused on the cost of living.

We have a great leader and we will return to government.

The swing to the LNP on a two-party preferred basis was 2.5 percent, making it an even safer coalition seat, according to Australian Electoral Commission data.

Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles was first out of the blocks on Sunday, branding the win as pretty lethargic and not good news for coalition leader Peter Dutton.

We really have been focused on the cost of living since the moment that we came to government, he told Sky News Australia.

The idea that Peter Dutton as a Queenslander, who is leading the Liberal Party, would take any comfort out of this result at all, frankly, is ridiculous.

Mr. Marles denied Labor had a problem with Queensland voters, describing the state as a place of significant opportunity.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers also weighed in, saying the coalition had missed the historical average swing of four per cent against a sitting government in a by-election, given the northern Gold Coast seat was heartland LNP territory.

The LNP underperformed against the historical average, Mr. Chalmers said, adding that the LNP had spent ten times what Labor spent on the seat.

Deputy Leader Sussan Ley disagreed, saying it was a strong result for Mr. Caldwell and the Queensland LNP.

Well see what the swing is finally, and well see what the postal [votes] and pre-polls bringand I expect that they will break our way, she added.

What we have seen is a strong endorsement of the candidate Cameron Caldwell and of the Liberal National Party in Queensland.

Ms. Ley said cost of living issues certainly counted in the run-up to the by-election.

It was a strong message to Anthony Albanese that the policies hes bringing forward are actually leaving ordinary Australians behind, she said.

I was on the ground at many polling booths and you get that sense of cost of living crunch anxiety about the future.

Mr. Caldwell will replace former Turnbull and Morrison government minister Stuart Robert, who resigned from federal parliament in April this year.

The incoming MP fought off a tough campaign by Labor, which had highlighted Mr. Roberts involvement in the robodebt scandal that engulfed the previous coalition federal government.

Robodebt is the unlawful debt recovery program that saddled almost 500,000 welfare recipients with hundreds of millions of dollars in false Centrelink debts between 2015 and 2019.

In her concession speech, Ms. Del Fabbro said it was still a bloody good result for Labor.

As you know, we knew this would be an uphill battle, so I guess it has always been an important message to the LNP to not take the Gold Coast for granted, she said.

Labor has won Fadden only once, in 1983 at the election of the Hawke government.
Marine Pleads Guilty for Fatally Punching Man at Dana Point Restaurant

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif.A 21-year-old San Diego former Marine reached a plea deal agreement with prosecutors on July 14 in connection with a St. Patricks Day fight that killed a man in a Dana Point restaurant.

Jack Griffin Isaacsonwho was facing a felony count of involuntary manslaughterpleaded guilty to a felony count of battery with serious bodily injury. He was scheduled to be sentenced on July 12 of next year.

Sentencing was postponed for legal technical reasons to allow for the felony count reduced to a misdemeanor, his attorney John Barnett said. Mr. Isaacson will begin serving a six-month term of home confinement on Aug. 10.

Mr. Isaacson, who had been stationed at Camp Pendleton at the time, punched 38-year-old Michael Terry of Laguna Niguel, who was rushed to an area hospital where he was pronounced dead the next day, according to the Orange County Sheriffs Department.

Deputies were dispatched to Beach Harbor Pizza at 34473 Golden Lantern about 7 p.m. on St. Patricks Day last year when the two men got into a fight, sheriffs officials said. Barnett said Terry was drunk and was acting aggressively toward customers when he got into a conflict with Isaacson, who is a boxer, Barnett said.

Hes remorseful a death resulted from this, Barnett said.
Massachusetts Excludes Wealthy Sanctuary Cities From List of Communities to House Illegal Immigrants

A sign that was displayed outside Martha's Vineyard Community Services last year. (Alice Giordano For The Epoch Times)

Amid an illegal immigration crisis so bad in Massachusetts that some have been sent to Logan International Airport in Boston, the absence of affluent communities on a newly released state list of communities slated to absorb the influx is raising some eyebrows.

Among the communities missing from Gov. Maura Healeys list is Marthas Vineyard, the ultra-liberal affluent Massachusetts resort island that made national headlines last year for shipping 49 Venezuelans away last year almost as soon as they arrived.

Also absent from the list are the Democrat-dominated Newton and Cambridge, even as both Boston suburbs are self-declared sanctuary cities for illegal immigrants.

The only answer for this can be hypocrisy, Republican state Rep. Peter Durant told The Epoch Times. You advocate for more services for immigrants, but when the rubber meets the road, you dont want anything to do with them.

Mr. Durant filed a record request with Ms. Healeys office on May 31 asking for the names of all the hotels and other facilities the state had secured for illegal immigrants around Massachusetts.

He also asked for the total cost to taxpayers of securing the hotels and how much money the Commonwealth was spending on other provisions such as meals, translators, and public safety for the illegal immigrants.

Ms. Healeys office, which responded a month later, refused to disclose the information, claiming that the Office of the Governor is not subject to the Massachusetts public records law.

In his June 30 letter to Mr. Durant, Records Access Officer Jesse Boodoo instead discussed the states legal obligation under a program called Emergency Assistance (EA) to provide a range of needs to illegal immigrants.

The uptick in newly arrived families coupled with challenging housing market conditions in the Commonwealth, among other factors, have resulted in a sizable increase in families seeking shelter in the (EA) program, Mr. Boodoo wrote.

As a consequence of this, the shelter system is strained, and we are struggling to not only find physical shelter space but also shelter providers capable of efficiently and effectively connecting families with the robust services necessary for child and family health and well-being and long-term stability.

The state is currently providing housing for 3,853 illegal immigrants from 1,245 families, according to Mr. Boodoo. In his letter, he named 28 towns where that housing is located. They included mostly working- and middle-class towns such as Norwood, Taunton, Saugus, Revere, West Springfield, Worcester, Methuen, Norton, Chelsea, Woburn, and Kingston.

Boston Herald columnist Howie Carr poked fun at the inclusion of the affluent and historic town of Concord on the list.

What the hell is the Peoples Republic of Concord doing on that list? Why is poor Concord being lumped in with all the mega-MAGA towns? Mr. Carr wrote in his July 12 column. Concord is the birthplace of the American Revolutionary War. Like Chelsea, its a self-declared sanctuary city.

While none of the towns on the list are overly conservative, most had at least 30 percent of its population vote Republican, which is high for one of the most liberal areas in the United States.

William Gheen, president of Americans for Legal Immigration, a North Carolina-based PAC that advocates against illegal immigration, told The Epoch Times that Massachusetts has become so well-known as a place that caters to illegal immigrants that the state is specifically named in flyers distributed by cartels and coyotes in foreign countries where they promote their smuggling services into the United States.

He pointed to a recent study released by the American Heritage Foundation, showing that 71 percent of illegal immigrants are being sent to Republican congressional districts.

The study, featured recently on Epoch TVs Facts Matter, also showed that in some Republican states such as Texas, Latinos have become a majority of the resident population.

Mr. Gheen said that the way the U.S. government treats illegal immigrants shows that, in many ways, affluent Americans and foreign cartels operate and think alike.

Both want a population that wont resist their power and influence. In America, the illegal immigrant population is a lot more controllable and governable than American citizens by offering them everything they need at the expense of American taxpayers, Mr. Gheen said. On the other side of the wall, if you are dealing with criminals, you dont mess with anybody whos connected to those families, because you get knocked out of existence.

Also not on Ms. Healeys list are any of the states 10 wealthiest communities, which include Dover, Wellesley, Weston, Carlisle, and Lexington, which is adjacent to Concord. The Capes other wealthy island, Nantucket, is also absent along with most of the Cape. Only the town of Plymouth is included.

Last year, when Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis flew dozens of illegal immigrants to Marthas Vineyard, which designated itself a sanctuary destination during the Trump administration, island officials claimed that he did so because they had no place to house them and no jobs to offer them.

As reported by The Epoch Times, however, the islands newspaper was filled with ads touting entry-level jobs, and other media outlets reported several Airbnb vacancies on the island at the time.

The Marthas Vineyard Commission, which governs the island, didnt respond to recent inquiries from The Epoch Times about any efforts to help with the influx of illegal immigrants into the state.

A review of the Marthas Vineyard Hostel shows several vacancies for the remainder of July and August, and various sites show several job openings for various positions on the island, including dishwasher, laundry attendant, farm field hand, custodian, ticket seller, and meat cutter.

Mr. Durant says hes disturbed by a rising trend of the U.S. government providing taxpayer-funded services to illegal immigrants as Americans increasingly struggle with rising housing, food, and fuel costs.

The program that Ms. Healeys office cited in its response to Mr. Durants records request was created for the local homeless population, he said.

They are now calling them homeless, but they are illegal immigrants, he said. Is that the direction we are going?

According to the American Community Survey, an arm of the U.S. Census Bureau, homelessness has increased in just the past year in 27 states.

Meanwhile, illegal immigration into the United States remains at a record high. Last month, U.S. Border Patrol Chief Raul Ortiz reported that his agency has seen a 1,000 percent increase in the number of illegal immigrants attempting to cross into the United States since last year.

Mr. Durant said Massachusetts residents should be concerned that Ms. Healey wont release either the amount of taxpayer money being spent on illegal immigrants or the hotels and facilities where they are being housed.

Mr. Gheen said Massachusetts residents may also want to reconsider some of its illegal immigrant-friendly policies, including recently enacted legislation to give them drivers licenses and in-state school tuition.

Those are the gateways for states to become a Third World country in America, he said.

Ms. Healeys office, the Marthas Vineyard Commission, and the cities of Cambridge and Newton also didnt respond to inquiries from The Epoch Times.
Panelists Discuss Orange County Advantages at Chamber of Commerce Event

(From left to right) Nancy Curasi, Marilyn Torley, Conor Eckert, Kristina Patsalos, Nora Martinez, and Michael Torelli at a panel discussion during a Orange County Chamber of Commerce membership meeting at Woodbury Common in Monroe, N.Y., on July 14, 2023. (Cara Ding/The Epoch Times)

At the July membership meeting of the Orange County Chamber of Commerce, four panelists from different sectors discussed what drew people to live, study, work, and do business in the county.

Michael Torelli, special assistant to Orange County Executive Steve Neuhaus, moderated the discussion.

It is a topic that we have run for many years, and Id like to say why not Orange Countythe growth of this county has been exponential, especially through the pandemic, Chamber President Heather Bell-Meyer told The Epoch Times.

With its proximity to New York City, the county has long been an attractive destination for people who work in the city yet yearn for a better quality of life at a lower cost.

Realtor Nancy Curasi said the diverse lifestyles offered by the county, in the small cities, suburban towns, or rural hamlets, was a big selling point.

They can live in a townhouse or a condo and not have to worry about mowing the lawn and shoveling the driveway, or they can have larger properties with a pool and a fire pit, Ms. Curasi said at the July 13 event at Woodbury Common Premium Outlets.

People want choices, and Orange County has that, she said.

Orange County Chamber of Commerce President Heather Bell-Meyer speaks at a membership meeting at Woodbury Common in Monroe, N.Y., on July 14, 2023. (Cara Ding/The Epoch Times)

A relatively new trend noticed by county workforce development board assistant director Kristina Patsalos is that more people in nearby counties are commuting to Orange County for work.

Health care and hospitality are among the fastest-growing job sectors in the county, Ms. Patsalos said.

In terms of the film industry, a growing local crew base is a big help in attracting more productions to the county, according to tourism department film specialist Nora Martinez.

Support from local businesses through discounted services also helps, she said.

With easy access to interstate highways and major markets such as New York City, Boston, Philadelphia, and North Jersey, the county has long attracted businesses such as distribution centers.

Recently, Conor Eckert, vice president of business attractions at Orange County Partnership, has been attempting to lure employers with advanced jobs in life sciences and semiconductors.

At the event, he pointed to Regeneron Pharmaceuticals in Westchester County, Pfizer in Rockland County, and Onsemi, a semiconductor manufacturer with operations in Dutchess County.

We are centrally located in the heart of this dynamic regional ecosystem, Mr. Eckert said. When a company is looking to relocate to a new site, they often look at what is in an hour radius of that site.

Marilyn Torley, assistant provost of academic affairs at the Middletown-based Fei Tian College, said a large part of her student body is from outside of the United States and that they enjoyed exploring Orange County.

There is no place like here if you want to learn the history of the United States and if you want to experience a beautiful connection to nature, she said. I cant say enough about everything that is offered within the community and also on campus.
Politicians, Activists Eye Parents as Massive Interest Group as Parents Start to Organize

All major Republican presidential candidates attend a Moms for Liberty summit

Parents gather in mass to express their concerns for mandatory vaccine mandates for their children at the Placentia Yorba Linda Unified School District building in Placentia, Calif., on Oct. 12, 2021. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

Parents are a sizable group, accounting for more than 60 million of the U.S. population in recent decades. But the numerous demographic subsets make parents an unlikely interest group when race, socioeconomic status, geography, and other factors are better hot-button issues.

Until, that is, about two weeks ago, when nearly every notable Republican 2024 presidential candidate attended a Philadelphia Moms for Liberty summit to campaign, and people took notice.

What weve seen across this country in recent years has awakened the most powerful political force in this country, Mama Bears, and theyre ready to roll, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said on June 30.

Perhaps two election cycles ago, parental rights fights were hyperlocal, at least for the parents. It would be about a specific school in which parents had witnessed disciplinary issues, poor academic performance in a specific district, or anecdotes of age-inappropriate curriculum surfacing here and there. Rarely was it a national effort, and it was certainly not an organized one.

Then the COVID-19 pandemic hit, schools closed physically and took education online, and children were attending classes right in sight of their parents. It created the perfect storm.

More Eyes Are on Public Education

Shortly after the summit, Moms for Liberty dismissed a slew of accusations and labels thrown its way by a bevy of detractors. It was nothing new; organization co-founder Tina Descovich said that both positive and negative press has followed the organization since day one. Plus, both co-founders were embattled moms who had run for and served on their childrens school boards long before Moms for Liberty came about.

The organization isnt politically affiliated in any way, according to Ms. Descovich.

Were a nonpartisan organization, she said. We accept moms, dads, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, [and] community members that are concerned about education in America.

The group has no partisan policy agenda, she said.

One of the biggest things the federal government can do is return authority back to states and local school districts for a lot of the decisions that need to be made for education, Ms. Descovich said.

Moms for Liberty handles its business in much the same way, organizing monthly training sessions for all chapter leaders but leaving it to each locale to decide whats right for them to pursue. The number of reasons that people have wanted to start a chapter is nearly as many as the number of chapters themselves, she said.

When it comes to similar issues across the nation, such as tax referendums or a textbook thats used across several states, members benefit from having a nationwide network with which to share knowledge, Ms. Descovich said. But the focus is on local communities working together to find local solutions.

The Philadelphia summits speaker list was a result of the same democratic process that the group used for its last summit. The organization surveyed members, asking whom they wanted to hear from, then invited the most-requested speakers. The organization had also extended invitations to President Joe Biden and Democratic candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., but Mr. Biden didnt respond, and Mr. Kennedy had to cancel because of a scheduling conflict. This wasnt the first time that Moms for Liberty shared a stage with campaigning candidates; politicians have rightly taken note that parents have begun to organize.

The group, formed in January 2021, now has 300 chapters across the country; thats an average of roughly a new chapter about every three days since its inception. Growth has been steady, voluntary, and not fueled by any one issue, according to Ms. Descovich. The first New York chapter opened because of the forced masking of children. Expansion to California started because parents were trying to keep the schools open.

Being a nearly all-volunteer organization, Moms for Liberty doesnt even fund school board races except in Florida, she said. Of the 500 candidates whom the group endorsed last year, 275 won.

But what we found in places even where we lost the school board races, like Dutchess County, New York, had three times higher turnout for the school board election [than] theyd ever had, Ms. Descovich said. So, for us, thats a win because more eyes are on public education. Together we can work as communities to improve public education.

Change on the Horizon

Kimberly Ells, author of The Invincible Family and policy adviser for Family Watch International, said parents political capital will only grow in upcoming election cycles until attacks on families have been abated. Yet the once-disparate group thats coming together still wont function the way that other political interests groups do because their investment is greatest and their motives are most pure, Ms. Ells said.

They might not band together around a specific policy item and use it as a rallying cry to advance a certain agenda, but theyll defend against policies and entities that continue to encroach on their right to parent, she said.

When parents advocate for their own children, they are not campaigning for reelection; they are fighting for the souls of their kids, which is the ultimate fight, Ms. Ells told The Epoch Times. The stewardship of parents over their childrenwhich is motivated by love, not money or poweris the most powerful force on earth.

Political entities who target parents are waking a sleeping giant, and the fight will not be pretty.

Right now, in this moment, we see the moms and dads of the world starting to understand their own power and beginning to wield it. The power of parents is unstoppable. As parents step into their own power, there is change on the horizon, and the futuredespite the immediate gloomlooks glorious.
Renewed Calls for Canadas Ex-Chief Justice to Quit Hong Kongs Top Court as HK Police Hunt Democracy Activists

Former chief justice of the Supreme Court of Canada Beverley McLachlin listens to a question during a news conference in Ottawa on Dec. 15, 2017. (The Canadian Press/Justin Tang)

Calls for Canadas former chief justice Beverley McLachlin to resign from Hong Kongs top court have rekindled after police in the city offered bounties for eight self-exiled pro-democracy activists living overseas.

Given the nature of the Chinese Communist Party [CCP] and its control of Hong Kong, the courts in Hong Kong will not remain independent from the Party, insofar as they are today independent, said Winnipeg-based international human rights lawyer David Matas.

Former chief justice McLachlin is part of an institution which is degrading, moving from the rule of law to the rule of the Party.

The Epoch Times reached out to Ms. McLachlin for comment but didnt hear back.

Ms. McLachlin, who served as chief justice of Canada between 2000 and 2017, was first appointed as a non-permanent judge in the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal (CFA) in 2018, and was re-appointed in 2021.

The calls for Ms. McLachlins resignation came after the National Security Department (NSD) of the Hong Kong Police Force issued arrest warrants for eight pro-democracy activists on July 3. For each wanted individual, the police is offering an HK$1 million (C$170,000) reward for information on the person and the related crimes. The activists fled the region after city authorities implemented the Hong Kong National Security Law (NSL) in 2020.

The NSL was introduced in response to a large-scale pro-democracy movement in 2019. Residents protested Beijings growing encroachment on Hong Kongs autonomy, which the former British colony continued to enjoy after its return to Chinese rule in 1997.

The eight activists currently reside in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Among them is Dennis Kwok, or Kwok Wing-hang, a former Hong Kong politician who was born in Canada. Others include Kevin Yam, Yuan Gong-yi, Kwok Fung-yee, Hui Chi-fung, Mung Siu-tat, Lau Cho-dik, and Law Kwun-chung.

Lawmaker Dennis Kwok (C) stands outside the Court of Final Appeal in Hong Kong on Nov. 8, 2016, after a silent march in protest of a ruling by China that effectively bars two pro-independence legislators from taking office. (Anthony Wallace/AFP via Getty Images)

They are accused of offences under the NSL, including incitement to secession, subversion, incitement to subversion, and collusion with a foreign country or with external elements to endanger national security, according to the NSD press release.

Mayor Brad West of Port Coquitlam, B.C., referred to the NSD arrest warrant for Mr. Mung in a July 4 Twitter post.

This is what former Canadian Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin is enforcing on behalf of the Chinese Communist Party, he wrote. Mr. Mung was the executive director of Hong Kong-based labour rights organization the HK Labour Rights Monitor.

Mr. West has been outspoken against the CCPs suppression of democracy in Hong Kong and the regimes other human rights abuses. In 2019, he called out the Union of BC Municipalities for receiving funding from the Chinese Consulate as sponsorship for its annual convention.

Non-Permanent Judges

In accordance with its common law tradition, Hong Kong appoints foreign judges to its courts, independent of the mainlands Party-led socialist legal system. Currently, there are 11 overseas non-permanent judges in Hong Kongs CFA. McLachlin began a three-year term as a non-permanent judge in 2018, and was re-appointed for a second three-year term in 2021. At least four overseas non-permanent judges have resigned from their roles in the Hong Kong CFA, citing concerns over the passing of the NSL. The first was Australias James Spigelman, who resigned in 2020 and who previously served as chief justice of the Supreme Court of New South Wales from 1998 to 2011. UK judge Brenda Hale stepped down from the role in 2021 after her three-year term ended, followed by UK judges Robert Reed and Patrick Hodge. In a statement released on July 17, 2020, Mr. Reed noted that the national security law contains a number of provisions which give rise to concerns. He also warned that whether judges of the UK Supreme Court can continue to serve as judges in Hong Kong will depend on whether such service remains compatible with judicial independence and the rule of law. A security guard stands outside the Court of Final Appeal in Hong Kong on March 31, 2022. Australian and Canadian judges confirmed on March 31, 2022, that they will stay on Hong Kongs top court after two senior British judges resigned to avoid endorsing Chinas clampdown on political freedoms in the financial hub. (Isaac Lawrence/AFP via Getty Images) In light of the recent events, Andy Wong, policy researcher for the Ontario-based NGO Canada-Hong Kong Link, bemoaned that the rule of law is no more in Hong Kong. These non-permanent judges from Western democracies should resign from the CFA of Hong Kong. What more evidence do they need to say that HK no longer has the rule of law but has the rule by law? Isnt it obvious that the law in Hong Kong does not protect human rights and freedoms? he told The Epoch Times. A number of legal experts have previously called for Ms. McLachlins resignation. Among them is Ryan Alford, professor at Lakehead Universitys Bora Laskin Faculty of Law, who said her continued service in the CFA is really disconcerting. He voted in favour of a motion to call for Ms. McLachlins exit from the Hong Kong court at the February 2021 Convocation of the Law Society of Ontario, the provinces legal regulator. Exercising Control During an interview with the YouTube channel The Yunusov Question in April, Ms. McLachlin spoke about public concerns about the fact that she continues to serve as a judge in Hong Kong while peoples rights are being diminished. Her response was that the Hong Kong court is independent and that she holds on to the position because it was the principled thing to do. I dont think the fact that people are suffering under diminution of rights, it doesnt logically follow that you get rid of the courtthe courts are there to protect the rights. As long as that court is independentand that is an absolute requirement for meI see no reason to resign, she said. However, Mr. Matas said there are many ways for Beijing to exercise control over the rule of law in Hong Kong, even if something as obvious as the Communist Party giving directives to judges to make certain judgments has not yet occurred.

Pointing to the judicial system in mainland China, Mr. Matas said the CCP exercises control in courts through judicial or adjudication committees, which are committees of judges who decide cases outside of the courtroom and which tell the judges who hear the cases what their decisions will be. He said Party officials participate in these judicial committee meetings and in effect control them.

To my knowledge, there are no such judicial or adjudication committees in Hong Kong, though I would not be surprised if they were at some point instituted, he said.

File photo of David Matas. (Matthew Little/The Epoch Times)

Mr. Matas also pointed to a list of ways in which the independence of courts in Hong Kong can be impacted, such as through the selection of panels of judges to hear contentious cases, the appointment of judges, and the promotion and demotion of judges. Additional ways include preventing certain cases from being brought to court or appealed, having a selective prosecution in bringing cases to court, using the courts registries to frustrate the pursuit of particular cases, and denying the accused the right to counsel or access to counsel.

Mr. Matas also pointed to the newly installed section 27 in Hong Kongs Legal Practitioners Ordinance. The new regulation gives the Beijing-controlled chief executive of Hong Kong power to deny permission to any lawyer to represent a client in national security cases.

This change in the law is an attack on the independence of the judiciary, because it prevents being brought before the Court arguments directed against decisions made by the Party or the mechanisms it controls, he said.

Shed a Light

Mr. Matas said that while Ms. McLachlin and other foreign judges are not in any position to reverse the CCPs takeover of Hong Kong, they can help cast light on the regimes attacks on the rule of law by collecting evidence while still in their positions and acting as whistleblowers.

I would indeed call on the former chief justice and her foreign justice colleagues on the Court to take advantage of their position to report on, to shed a light on the techniques the Party is introducing to impose its will on the Hong Kong courts, and then, concomitant with the release of their report, collectively resign, he said.

That collective reporting and resignation would likely have a greater impact than individual sequential resignations would do.
Schumer Introduces Bipartisan Measure to Declassify UFO Records

This image from video, labeled GIMBAL and provided by the Department of Defense from 2015, shows an unexplained object (C) being tracked as it soars high along the clouds, traveling against the wind. (Department of Defense via AP)

New legislation for creating a commission for disclosing information related to unidentified aerial phenomena is having bipartisan support, as whistleblower claims of governmental agencies withholding critical information attracted public interest recently.

Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) is going to introduce the new legislation as an amendment to the defense policy bill, with Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) supporting the idea, while House support seems likely. The commission will have the authority to force government agencies to declassify yet undisclosed information on the subject of extraterrestrials or unidentified phenomena, The New York Times reported.

The Senate measure pushed by Mr. Schumer sets a 300-day deadline for the government agencies to declassify any related information, and the results will be presented to a 9-member review board. The nine members of the review board will be selected by President Joe Biden and then approved by the Senate.

Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer speaks to the press after meeting President Joe Biden and other leaders at the White House, on May 16, 2023. (Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times)

Pushing for disclosure, as well as protecting sensitive intelligence information, will be the aim of the nine members, according to The New York Times, citing Senate staff members.

On Wednesday, Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.) introduced a narrower measure (pdf) that requires the Secretary of Defense to declassify any Department of Defense documents or records on publicly known unidentified aerial phenomena, in other words, phenomena for which there were sightings. The Defense Secretary has 180 days to do so, counting from the enactment of the Act.

Mr. Burchett said in a July 2 interview with space science podcast Event Horizon that he has been shown footage that has not been released to the public.

Have you seen compelling evidence that were actually seeing something really weird in the skies that might affect national security or global security, that might not be from this Earth? John Michael Godier, the host of the podcast, asked during the interview.

One hundred percent. No question, the Republican congressman replied.

Weve been dealing [with government coverups] since at least [the Roswell incident of] 1947, probably since about 1897 in what was the Aurora, Texas, UFO crash, the Republican congressman said during the interview.

U.S. Rep.-elect Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.) casts his vote in the House Chamber during the fourth day of elections for Speaker of the House at the U.S. Capitol Building, on Jan. 6, 2023. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

When asked about a coming House hearing on the matter, Mr. Burchett said he doesnt expect any Pentagon official to show up with any meaningful information.

The Department of Defense is just a huge bureaucracy, he said. All bureaucracies do is to justify [their] existence. I have no time for them.

Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), another longtime advocate for transparency on the U.S. governments involvement with extraterrestrial phenomena, also revealed last month that he had been approached by several more intelligence whistleblowers with high clearances, who said they had first-hand knowledge of UAP programs.

Were trying to gather as much of that information as we can, Mr. Rubio said in a June 26 interview with NewsNation. Frankly, a lot of them are very fearful of their jobs  fearful of harm coming to them.

A former Department of Defense (DOD) intelligence officer went public recently with whistleblower claims of covert non-human-origin craft-retrieval programs performed by the DOD.

Former intelligence officer David Grusch, 36, has given to Congress and the Intelligence Community Inspector General classified information about the craft-retrieval programs, and says he has suffered illegal retaliation because of his disclosure, The Debrief reported.

Grusch was part of the UAP Task Force, a program run by the Office of Naval Intelligence to investigate UAP sightings. From 2019 to 2021, he served on the task force as the representative of the National Reconnaissance Office, one of the Big Five U.S. intelligence agencies, which is in charge of designing and operating spy satellites.

Past Developments

In 2022, Pentagon officials showed lawmakers two videos of unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP) in the first open congressional hearing on the subject since 1966.

The first video, shot in 2021 by military personnel through the window of a U.S. Navy aircraft, showed a white spherical object flying past the aircraft.

I do not have explanations for what this specific object is, said Scott W. Bray, deputy director of naval intelligence involved in the UAP Task Force (UAPTF), the Pentagon body responsible for UAP investigations, at the hearing.

The second video, shot by an SLR camera via night vision goggles, showed a triangular-shaped object moving in the sky while emitting light.

In 2015, the Department of Defense declassified footage of unidentified aerial phenomena seen by pilots during flights. The flying objects were moving at a speed much higher than any known craft.

There is also a plethora of witness accounts of UAP sightings, with many of them recorded in video.

Bill Pan contributed to this report.
Starmer Refuses to Commit to More Public Spending Amid Union Pressure

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer speaks at the Unite Policy Conference at the Brighton Centre in Brighton, on July 13, 2023. (Stefan Rousseau/PA Media)

Sir Keir Starmer has refused to commit to further public spending under a Labour government amid growing calls from unions for him to back more of their policy priorities.

Appearing on the BBCs Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme, the Labour leader reaffirmed his defence of the partys focus on economic responsibility.

He said: What I would do if we were in power is I would be absolutely laser-focused on growing the economy with a plan for growing the economy, I would also be laser-focused on reforming our public services to make sure we take the weight off our public services.

Pressed on whether Labour would spend more in power, he said: A Labour government will always want to invest in its public services. The way to invest in our public services is to grow our economy.

Asked whether he is relaxed about being called a fiscal conservative, he replied: I dont mind what label people put on me. I do want to make my argument.

My argument is this: What was absolutely plain from last years mini-budget is if you lose control of the economy its working people who pay.

Economic Responsibility

It is his latest attempt to pitch Labour as a party prioritising financial responsibility over spending due to a dire economic backdrop.

Mr. Starmer has been putting financial prudence at the heart of his plans ahead of a set of crunch by-elections in which the party hopes to inflict defeats on the Conservatives.

In an article for The Observer newspaper, the Labour leader said: Frankly, the left has to start caring a lot more about growth, about creating wealth, attracting inward investment and kick-starting a spirit of enterprise.

It is the only show in town for those who dream of a brighter future, he said.

He added: Taking seriously the foundations of economic responsibility may not set peoples pulses racing, but the new country we can build on top of them will do.

But his emphasis on economic prudence hasnt been well received by the labour unions and the hard left.

Labour Urged to Be Bolder

The Unite unionLabours biggest financial backerhas warned Mr. Starmer there will be no blank cheques for his party.

Unite leader Sharon Graham told the BBC on Saturday: I want to see some movement if we are going to give what we usually give. We would be better off with a Labour government but I am very, very disappointed with the lack of ambition.

Ms. Grahams intervention came after she saw off a bid by some members of the union to end affiliation with the party last week.

The union boss said, We need to be as bold as the 1945 Labour government which created the NHS.

Ms. Graham said that strict fiscal rules have led to inertia which has prompted the public to question what the difference is between Labour and the Conservatives.

According to the BBC, the union wants renationalisation of steel and energy companies to be near the top of the partys priority list.

Socialism

On Sunday, general secretary of the Rail, Maritime, and Transport (RMT) union Mick Lynch said people cannot spot the difference between the two main parties any more.

He told Sky News Sophy Ridge on Sunday programme that the Labour leader wont dare mention the word socialism.

I want to hear that word mentioned frequently, and I want to see a redistribution of wealth in our society, because there are a lot of very wealthy people and there are too many very poor people.

And now people in the middle are being squeezed as well, with rents and mortgages skyrocketing. He doesnt seem to be on the side of the people of this country.

PA Media contributed to this report.
Supreme Court to Hear Police Officers Sex Discrimination Case

The Supreme Court will hear the case of a Missouri police sergeant who claims illegal discrimination was behind unfavorable employment decisions made against her.

Jatonya Clayborn Muldrow of the St. Louis Police Department claims she was forced out of the intelligence unit, transferred to a different job, and denied a requested transfer because she is a woman. In other words, she claims that after serving in a high-level capacity, she was placed in a dead-end job because of her sex.

The court will wrestle with what protections Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 affords an employee who claims she was the victim of a discriminatory transfer.

That statute makes it unlawful for a private employer or a state or local government to fail or refuse to hire or to discharge any individual, or otherwise to discriminate against any individual with respect to his compensation, terms, conditions, or privileges of employment, because of such individuals race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.

Specifically, the court said it will consider the following question: Does Title VII prohibit discrimination in transfer decisions absent a separate court determination that the transfer decision caused a significant disadvantage?

The court granted the petition (pdf) in Muldrow v. City of St. Louis (court file 22-193) in an unsigned order on June 30 as the justices issued a flurry of orders so they could leave town for the summer recess. No justices dissented. At least four of the nine justices must vote to grant a petition for it to move forward to the oral argument stage.

For many years, Ms. Muldrow was a sergeant with the St. Louis Police Department. From 2008 through 2017, she worked in the departments intelligence division on public corruption and human trafficking cases. She was also head of the gun crimes unit and oversaw the departments gang unit. She had considerable experience with violent crime and was known as a workhorse, according to her petition.

The petition states that in the lead-up to the transfer ordered by her supervisor, Ms. Muldrow noticed that in front of her, her supervisor addressed similarly situated male officers according to their rank, but refused to do so with her. He told sergeants in the intelligence division that he didnt believe in blind transfers, that is, compelling the transfer of an employee without discussing the matter first with the employee. But without warning, he transferred her to the departments Fifth District, claiming he did so because the role she had been in for the previous 10 years was too dangerous.

The supervisor replaced Ms. Muldrow with a male officer and transferred the other two female officers in the intelligence division. Her pay remained the same but her schedule, responsibilities, workplace environment, and other job requirements and benefits changed dramatically.

In the intelligence division, she worked regular business hours from Monday through Friday, with weekends off, but in the Fifth District, she was made to work a rotating schedule, with few weekends off. Her intelligence and human trafficking duties were taken away. Now she performed only routine tasks such as patrolling and investigating crimes as her responsibilities shifted to basic entry-level police work instead of the more sensitive and important investigations that make intelligence the premier bureau in the department.

Intelligence was housed within the police headquarters, allowing its officers to work directly for the chief of police and improving their networking opportunities because of proximity to commanders and high-profile individuals. But the Fifth District was located a distance away from headquarters, where she never really met anyone, according to the petition.

In intelligence, she could wear plainclothes but when she moved to the Fifth District, she had to wear a uniform, duty belt, and vest, which added an extra 15 to 25 pounds and caused her discomfort because she had suffered an on-the-job injury years earlier that gave her ongoing back and neck problems.

The transfer also damaged her reputation because it made it seem as if she had been disciplined for misconduct.

Dissatisfied with the forced transfer, Ms. Muldrow sought a new position within the department as an administrative aide to a captaina post only available to sergeantsbut superior officers told the captain, it was not going to happen and there is no way were getting [Ms. Muldrow] here because they are not going to let you have her. The position was high-profile and involves a consistent, as opposed to rotating, schedule with weekends off and extra bonuses, the petition stated.

She sued in state court, citing the reassignment to the Fifth District and failure to transfer her to the administrative aide position. The department had the case moved to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, which granted summary judgment to the department, finding that under U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit precedent, a discriminatory transfer that doesnt produce a material employment disadvantage is not an adverse employment action.

The 8th Circuit then ruled against Ms. Muldrow, finding the forced transfer and refusal to transfer were not actionable under Title VII as adverse employment actions.

The Biden administration sided with Ms. Muldrow, urging the Supreme Court to decide whether Title VIIs prohibition against discrimination in terms, conditions, or privileges of employment is restricted to employer actions that lead to a worker experiencing a materially significant disadvantage.

Ms. Muldrows attorney, Brian Wolfman of the Georgetown Law Appellate Courts Immersion Clinic in Washington, and the citys attorneys, in-house lawyer Sheena Hamilton, and Robert Mark Loeb of Orrick, Herrington and Sutcliffe in Washington didnt respond by press time to a request by The Epoch Times for comment.

The case is expected to be heard in the Supreme Courts new term that begins in October.
Taiwanese Groups Protest Against Service Trade Agreement With Communist China

A fisherman drives a boat in a harbor on Pingtan island, opposite Taiwan, in Chinas southeast Fujian province on April 9, 2023. - China was conducting a second day of military drills around Taiwan on April 9, in what it has called a "stern warning" to the self-ruled island's government following a meeting between its president and the U.S. House speaker. (Photo by GREG BAKER / AFP) (Photo by GREG BAKER/AFP via Getty Images)

The Cross-Strait Service Trade Agreement has recently become a hot topic in the run-up to Taiwans national election early in 2024, as candidates from different parties have been urged to express their stances on it to the public.

Professional groups have protested against the agreement with China, which has been waiting for ratification by Taiwans Legislative Yuan for nearly a decade.

Taiwans beauty and hairdressing industry, traditional Chinese doctors, and Chinese and Western pharmaceutical companies rallied in front of the Legislative Yuan on July 7 and July 11 to call on the lawmakers to not ratify the agreement, which was signed by former Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou with the Chinese communist regime.

Experts suggest that if the service trade agreement comes into effect, it would open Taiwan to Chinese capital and personnel, endangering the islands national security.

The service trade agreement, which was signed in Shanghai on June 21, 2013, aimed to open trade between communist China and Taiwan (Republic of China) in service industries such as banking, health care, tourism, film, telecommunications, and publishing.

The pact was one of two planned follow-up treaties to the 2010 free trade treaty the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement; the other, the Cross-Strait Goods Trade Agreement, hasnt been negotiated because of public opposition.

The services agreement hasnt been ratified because of public opposition in Taiwan; Mr. Ma signed it with China in secrecy, which is deemed undemocratic.

When it was sent to Taiwans Legislative Yuan for review and ratification on March 17, 2014, Chang Ching-chung, a pro-China legislator of the Kuomintang, tried to make the treaty automatically effective by announcing that through a technicality in Taiwanese law, the review of the service trade agreement exceeded 90 days, which deemed the review to be complete and that it should be sent to the Legislative Yuan for record keeping.

That sparked mass protests, known as the Sunflower Movement. Subsequently, the service trade agreement and related goods trade agreement were both tabled.

A view inside Taiwans Legislature Yuan. (Screenshot Via NTD Television)

During the current Taiwan presidential election campaign, Taiwans Peoples Party presidential candidate Ko Wen-je and Kuomintang presidential candidate Hou Yu-ih have said that the ratification process of the service trade agreement should be restarted.

Practitioners and representatives of Taiwans beauty and hairdressing industry protested against the agreement outside the Legislative Yuan on July 7.

It [the agreement] was opposed by the industry more than 10 years ago, said Chen Desheng, chairman of the Taipei Womens Beauty Business Association. If they really approved the service trade agreement, all the beauty and hairdressing businesses in Taiwan will join together to take to the streets to protest.

Representatives of Taiwanese traditional Chinese medicine practitioners and Chinese Western pharmaceutical companies went to the Legislative Yuan on July 11 to voice their concerns. Chen Po-yuan, secretary-general of the National Federation of Traditional Chinese Physician Associations of the Republic of China, said that if the service trade agreement is approved, it would cause chaos in Taiwans traditional Chinese medicine industry, destroy the long-established and stable medical system, and reduce the quality of Taiwans medical care.

Hsiao Hung-chih, a traditional medicine pharmaceutical sector representative, said the agreement would allow Chinese resources to flood in, greatly harming Taiwans Chinese and Western medicine industries.

CCP Trojan Horse

Lawyer Chen Yishen, a political commentator, told The Epoch Times that when Mr. Ma signed the agreement with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), he had hoped to more closely integrate Taiwans economy with Chinas. In fact, it played into the CCPs strategy of seeking to force reunification through economics, that is, through the service trade agreement to firmly control Taiwans economy, Taiwanese would be forced to accept the CCPs peaceful reunification.

Mr. Chen said CCP leader Xi Jinping wants to annex Taiwan, but he knows that unification by force wont win, so he reiterated peaceful reunification at the CCPs national congress last year.

Mr. Chen pointed out that if the service trade agreement gets approved, it may be a Trojan horse by the CCP that could lead to Taiwans demise.

Because opening up to Chinese capital and Chinese personnel to Taiwan will make it easier for the CCPs agents to sneak in as well. In the future, they may apply to become citizens of the Republic of China [Taiwan], which will affect Taiwans elections. The service trade agreement also allows Taiwans capital and talents to flow to China, hollowing out Taiwans economy and affecting national security, he said.

Hong Kong anti-government demonstrators gather at Liberty Square in Taipei, Taiwan, to mark the 31st anniversary of the crackdown of pro-democracy protests at Beijings Tiananmen Square in 1989 on June 4, 2020. (Ann Wang/File Photo/Reuters)

Taiwan should be careful of the CCPs trojan horse service trade agreement, said Fu Tang, a Hong Kong citizen living in exile in Taiwan. He told The Epoch Times that Taiwan has been heavily infiltrated by the CCP and that what has happened to Hong Kong should be a cautionary tale for the Taiwanese people.

By the time of the anti-CCPs extradition law movement in Hong Kong in 2019, Hongkongers found that the CCP had controlled almost 70 percent of Hong Kongs economy, enterprises, and food, he said. If Hongkongers resist, [the CCP] will cut off the supply of resources to Hong Kong to make people kneel and beg them.

Hong Tsai-lung, a member of the Taiwan Fair Trade Commission, said at a political and economic lecture held by the Taiwan Inspirational Association that when comparing the CCPs military aircraft and warship activity around Taiwan to the approval of the service trade agreement, he thinks that the latter is more dangerous because itll open Taiwan to a large number of personnel from communist China, which would have a greater effect on Taiwan.

In general, when countries sign service trade agreements, the political and economic systems of the countries are relatively close, and people on both sides need to trust each other. Therefore, before signing the service trade agreements with China, Taiwan should first conduct economic, labor, and environmental impact assessments, he said.

Zhong Yuan contributed to this report.
In response to heavy public support for racial and ethnic minority-populated areas holding greater weight when redrawing commissioner district boundaries, the El Paso County Redistricting Commission has presented new maps as it nears the end of its public input process.

Over the course of their last two meetings, held in Districts 4 and 3 on July 6 and on Monday, respectively, commissioners also addressed public challenges to the wildland-urban interface, where wildfire-prone areas meet residential development, as a prioritized community of interest.

Click or tap here for coverage of the redistricting meeting held in District 1.

Click or tap here for coverage of the redistricting meeting held in District 2.

The redistricting commission, consisting of the current five members of the El Paso County Board of Commissioners, is tasked with redrawing their constituent districts for the first time since 2017 and has until the end of September to do so.

Under House Bill 21-1047, passed in 2021, counties cannot see more than 5% in population deviation between their most and least populous districts. The bill also encourages, as much as possible, preserving "communities of interest  such as urban, rural or trade areas, or other factors like education, environment or water needs  to ensure "fair and effective representation."

At each of the four public redistricting meetings held so far, residents from every district have advocated repeatedly for southeast Colorado Springs to be consolidated into one district so as to not dilute voting power.

This (region has) a cohesive cultural and political identity, and also is the part of the county with the highest density of people from historically underrepresented groups, like Black, Latino and Hispanic residents," State Sen. Tony Exum Sr., who represents District 11 and much of southeast Colorado Springs, said on July 6.

Residents have defined that region as a group of just under 30 voter precincts west and northwest of the Colorado Springs Airport that each have a minority population of 45% or greater.

This week, commissioners reviewed a map proposed by District 5 Commissioner Cami Bremer that moved District 5's boundaries north to consolidate its southeast precincts into District 4 as a cohesive community. They also reviewed a map proposed by District 3 Commissioner Stan VanderWerf that kept the Air Force Academy in District 1 and moved some of the Patty Jewett neighborhood into District 3 to consolidate southeast precincts into District 5.

But because populations grow more compact closer to Colorado Springs, the move to consolidate the southeast in Bremer's map would require the entire part of the Eastern Plains, from near Black Forest to Pueblo County, to have just one commissioner.

Moving even a few precincts in central Colorado Springs could affect close to 35,000 residents, El Paso County Clerk and Recorder Steve Schleiker said, a significant effect when each new district should have a population of roughly 146,550, based on 2020 U.S. Census data.

That kind of give-and-take is difficult to navigate, commissioners have argued, and the task of keeping all of the vast number of possible communities of interest in the county together is "impossible."

Residents on Monday argued against consolidating Monument and southwest Colorado Springs into one district, questioning whether wildfire-fighting needs and efforts west of Interstate 25 are truly affected by sharing a single commissioner.

Previously, District 1 Commissioner Holly Williams has questioned prioritizing the wildland-urban interface when HB 21-1047 emphasizes political competitiveness and compliance with the Voting Rights Act of 1965, or protecting ethnic minority communities.

I was the one who initially brought up the WUI (as) a good dividing line," Williams said at the July 6 meeting. "I just wonder if we should be placing so much emphasis on ... because we have a very specific list of communities of interest listed in this House bill.

District 3 residents argued that the small business- and tourism industry-saturated westside, heavy with historic districts, should be kept separate from Monument, and argued against any map that decreases competitiveness in District 3  which VanderWerf narrowly won after a late push by his Democrat opponent in 2016.

Were not asking to hand a district to the Democratic Party  what were asking is that you do not continue to pull away the chance that Democrats have of winning, thats it, resident John Jarrell said. "Then, theyll have to do the hard work of actually winning the elections.

The next redistricting meeting will be held Monday at 9 a.m. at the county Regional Development Center.

County staff did not eliminate any new maps, but will present a total of 16 proposed maps available for public viewing at the next redistricting meeting, including two maps created by residents Katherine Czukas and Lois Landgraf.

Commissioners are expected to adopt a final map on Aug. 15.

This story has been updated with the accurate title for State Sen. Tony Exum, D-Colorado Springs.

Click or tap here for political competitiveness and racial population analysis of the proposed maps from the July 6 meeting.

Click or tap here for political competitiveness and racial population analysis of the proposed maps from Monday's meeting.

More information on the county Redistricting Commission, how to create and submit redistricting map proposals and further resources can be found here.
Trump Reveals 2024 Running Mate Could Be One of His GOP Opponents

Then-President Donald Trump shakes hands with Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) during a working session regarding the Opportunity Zones provided by tax reform in the Oval Office of the White House February 14, 2018 in Washington, DC. President Trump hosted a group of local elected officials, entrepreneurs, and investors to discuss "how the 'Opportunity Zones' designation in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act will spur investment and job growth in distressed communities." (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Former President Trump revealed Sunday that his pick for vice president or cabinet members could be one of his primary opponents if he wins the White House in 2024.

Speaking on Sunday Morning Futures on Fox News, Mr. Trump suggested businessman Vivek Ramaswamy or Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) could be his running mate. So far, Mr. Trump has directed his criticism toward Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in the GOP primary, while Mr. DeSantis has suggested that he wouldnt want to be Mr. Trumps vice president in a recent interview.

When asked by Fox host Maria Bartiromo about whether his running mate could come from the Republican 2024 primary, Trump said, Possibly.

I think Vivek has done a very good job, frankly. I think some others have done a good job, the former president said. You have some good people on the stage actually. I think you have some very talented people, he also said. Ive been impressed by some of them. Some of them Im very friendly with, actually.

He added that I think you have good potential Cabinet members, too, without specifying.

When asked about Mr. Scott, the former president had praise for the Republican senator.

I think hes a very good guy. We did opportunity zones together  Tim is very good, Mr. Trump said. I mean, I could see Tim doing something with the administration, but hes right now campaigning, and Im sure Tim and everybody else would say Im only interested in one, but Tim is a very talented guy and you have other very talented people.

Mr. Trump wasnt asked about whether he would consider former Vice President Mike Pence, who entered the race several weeks ago. Since early 2021, Mr. Trump has been sometimes critical of his former deputy for not taking action during the Joint Session of Congress on Jan. 6 during the presidential certification process.

Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy delivers remarks at the Faith and Freedom Road to Majority conference at the Washington Hilton in Washington on June 23, 2023. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

Although the GOP 2024 field has widened, Mr. Trump, who was arrested on federal charges last month, is easily leading the pack. A Morning Consult poll released last week shows the former commander-in-chief at 56 percent, or about 39 percentage points ahead of Mr. DeSantis, who stood at 17 percent.

Mr. Ramasamy, meanwhile, polled at 8 percent, representing an increase in recent weeks. Mr. Pence had 7 percent support, the poll showed.

A RealClearPolitics average of recent months that Mr. Trump, with 53 percent support, is ahead of Mr. DeSantis, who has 20.6 percent, by about 33 points.

As for Mr. DeSantis, the governor said over the weekend that he would consider Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, a Republican, as his running mate. It came after Mr. Trump complained about the governor for showing what he described as disloyalty to him after she appeared to support Mr. DeSantis.

Of course, Mr. DeSantis said when asked whether he would consider the second-term Republican. I mean, shes one of the top public servants in America.

Last week, Mr. Trump criticized Mrs. Reynolds, who is popular among the states GOP base, for her seemingly cozy relationship with Mr. DeSantis while stating her public neutrality as the lead Republican figure in the state that hosts the lead-off presidential caucuses in less than six months. Mrs. Reynolds has appeared with other GOP White House prospects, but has moderated conversations with Mr. DeSantis and his wife Casey DeSantis, while also attending Mr. Trumps first campaign event in Iowa last March.

On the former presidents social media platform, Truth Social, the former president took credit for opening the governorship to Reynolds, who stepped into the role after Republican Gov. Terry Branstad became U.S. ambassador to China during the Mr. Trump administration. Now, she wants to remain NEUTRAL. he wrote, adding he would not invite her to his campaign events.

And last week, Mr. DeSantis proclaimed in an interview that he wouldnt want to be Mr. Trumps vice president should he win.

I dont think Im a No. 2 guy. I think Im a leader, governor of Florida. Ive accomplished a lot, Mr. DeSantis said in an interview with the Wisconsin Right Now podcast. I think I could do more staying there than being VP, which doesnt really have any authority.

But Mr. DeSantis indicated that he would support Mr. Trump if he wins the GOP nominee. I am going to support the Republican nominee, he said when asked about whether he would support the ex-president.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Tucker Carlson Questions Pence About Jan. 6 Capitol Breach

Former Fox News host Tucker Carlson asked former Vice President Mike Pence multiple questions about how he would describe the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol breach.

Mr. Carlson, who departed Fox News in late April, opened his line of questioning of Mr. Pence at the Family Leadership Summit in Iowa by asking him if he believed the incident was an insurrection, a narrative that has been repeated often by legacy news outlets and Democrat officials.

All I know for sure, having lived through it at the Capitol, is that it was a tragic day, said Mr. Pence, who oversaw the Joint Sessions of Congress before protesters entered the Capitol building. Ive never used the word insurrection, Tucker, over the past two years, but it was a riot that took place at the Capitol that day.

Before the Jan. 6 session, Mr. Pence was urged by President Donald Trump and some of his allies to reject the certification of then-President-elect Joe Biden. Mr. Pence didnt, drawing sharp criticism from Mr. Trump on Twitter, while a number of the former presidents supporters said they believed Mr. Pence acted inappropriately.

But Mr. Pence has said that he has no power under the U.S. Constitution to overturn the results of the 2020 election. Before the protests, the former vice president was quickly moved to safety.

I just think it was a tragic moment, without question, Mr. Pence told Mr. Carlson. But I have to tell you that seeing people assaulting law enforcement officers, smashing windows, breaking into the Capitol building, it infuriated me. And its very likely that the restraint that was shown by law enforcement officers saved lives that day.

Also in the interview, the former vice president claimed that Mr. Trumps comments on Jan. 6 were inappropriate. I believe whatever his intentions in that moment, it endangered me and my family and everyone that was at the Capitol that day, he said. I believe history will hold him accountable for that.

When he launched his 2024 campaign for the Republican nomination, Mr. Pence said that he believes Mr. Trumps statements on Jan. 6 should disqualify him from holding the office again. Since making his intentions publicly known, Mr. Pence has consistently polled under 10 percent and is currently hovering around 5 percent support in an average of polls from RealClearPolitics, behind Mr. Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

Tucker Carlson speaks during the Mathias Corvinus Collegium Feszt in Esztergom, Hungary, on Aug. 7, 2021. (Janos Kummer/Getty Images)

Mr. Carlson also pressed the former vice president on his statements about supporting Ukraines war effort against Russia. At one point, Mr. Pence again said that its in the interests of the United States to back the Kyiv government.

I believe that it is in the interest of the United States of America to continue to give the Ukrainian military the resources that they need to repel the Russian invasion and restore their sovereignty, he told the former Fox host, drawing what sounded like some booing from the audience at the Iowa conference.

Mr. Carlson then asserted: Every city in the United States has become much worse in the last three years.

Our economy has degraded, the suicide rate has jumped, public filth and disorder and crime have exponentially increased, and yet, your concern is that the Ukrainiansa country most people cant find on a mapwhove received tens of billions of U.S. tax dollars, dont have enough tanks, Mr. Carlson added. I think its a fair question to ask, like, wheres the concern for the United States in that?

Mr. Pences immediate response was, Thats not my concern, which drew a viral response on social media. Elaborating, he said, Anybody that says that we cant be the leader of the free world and solve our problems at home has a pretty small view of the greatest nation on earth.

And as president of the United States, we will secure our border, Mr. Pence said, we will support our military, we will revive our economy and stand by our values. And we will also lead the world for freedom under my administration. I promise you.

Other than Mr. Pence, Mr. Carlson also interviewed GOP presidential candidates Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, and former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson at the summit.

In his exchange with Mr. Hutchinson, Carlson asked him how many times he received the COVID-19 vaccine. Mr. Hutchinson then asked Mr. Carlson how many times hes received it. Mr. Carlson said he hasnt received it.

The Iowa caucus is slated for Jan. 15, 2024.
UK Signs Treaty to Join Indo-Pacific Trade Bloc CPTPP

Undated handout photo of Secretary of State for Business and Trade Kemi Badenoch during a visit to Auckland for the signing of membership to CPTPP, issued by the Department for Business & Trade, on July 16, 2023. (Zahn Trotter/Department for Business & Trade via PA Media)

The UK has formally signed the treaty to join a vast free trade area spanning the Indo-Pacific region, in a move the government says will be a big boost for British businesses.

Business and Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch signed the accession protocol to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) in Auckland, New Zealand, on Sunday.

The UK is the first new member, and the first European nation, to join the bloccomprising Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, and Vietnamsince its formation in 2018.

It represents Britains biggest trade deal since leaving the EU, cutting tariffs for UK exporters to a group of nations whichwith Britains membershipwill have a total gross domestic product (GDP) of 12 trillion, accounting for 15 percent of global GDP, according to UK officials.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said previously that the deal will help us unlock the benefits of Brexit and put Britain in a prime position in the global economy.

But critics say that the deal will bring about very limited benefit, as the UK already has free trade deals with all CPTPP members except Brunei and Malaysiaand some of the trade deals were rolled over from Britains previous EU membership.

In an impact assessment of the deal when negotiations started in 2021, Britain said the agreement is estimated to deliver an increase of just 0.08 percent to GDP over the long term.

It is thus far from making up for the losses caused by Brexit, which the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) predicted will cut UK GDP by 4 percent.

Labours shadow foreign secretary David Lammy said last month that the Tories were being dishonest by claiming CPTPP membership would make up for lost trade in Europe.

Independent Trading Nation

Despite its modest economic impact, the trade secretary hailed the deal as a Brexit success.

Speaking ahead of the signing in Auckland, Badenoch said: Im delighted to be here in New Zealand to sign a deal that will be a big boost for British businesses and deliver billions of pounds in additional trade, as well as open up huge opportunities and unparalleled access to a market of over 500 million people.

We are using our status as an independent trading nation to join an exciting, growing, forward-looking trade bloc, which will help grow the UK economy and build on the hundreds of thousands of jobs CPTPP-owned businesses already support up and down the country.

The signing is the formal confirmation of the agreement for the UKs membership, which was reached in March after two years of negotiations.

Britain and the other 11 CPTPP members now begin work to ratify the deal, which in the UK will involve parliamentary scrutiny and legislation to bring it into force.

Officials estimate it will come into force in the second half of 2024, at which point the UK becomes a voting member of the bloc and businesses can benefit from it.

While Britain already has trade agreements with the CPTPP members apart from Malaysia and Brunei, officials said it will deepen existing arrangements, with 99 percent of current UK goods exports to the bloc eligible for zero tariffs.

Dairy producers will gain export opportunities to Canada, Chile, Japan, and Mexico, while beef, pork, and poultry producers will get better access to Mexicos market, according to officials.

Some of the everyday items from CPTPP nations that will become cheaper for UK consumers thanks to the deal include Australian Ugg boots, kiwis from New Zealand, blueberries from Chile, and Canadian maple syrup, according to the Institute of Export and International Trade.

PA Media contributed to this report.
US, NATO Weapons Stockpiles at Dangerously Low Levels: Top Air Force General

155-mm artillery shells sit in the production shop at the Scranton Army Ammunition Plant in Scranton, Pa., on April 12, 2023. (Hannah Beier/Getty Images)

The weapons stockpiles of the United States and its NATO allies are becoming dangerously low, with no short-term solutions, according to a top U.S. Air Force commander.

Gen. James Hecker, commander of U.S. Air Forces Europe and Air Forces Africa, made the remarks at the Chief of the Air Staffs Global Air & Space Chiefs Conference in London, Breaking Defense reported.

The air force general urged NATO allies to think seriously about their stockpiles.

I think its very important that we kind of take stock of where we are in our weapons state across the 32 nations of NATO, and were getting way down compared to where we were, Gen. Hecker said, while speaking on a panel with the air chiefs of the UK and Sweden at the conference, the outlet reported.

And its probably not going to get betterwell, its not in the short termbut weve got to make sure in the long term we have the industrial base that can increase what we have, he said at the July 1213 event, urging all NATO nations to start making deeper investments.

The United States is at roughly half the number of fighter squadrons it had compared to when it engaged in Operation Desert Storm, a U.S.-led operation that started in January 1991 as part of a response to the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait, according to the general. He noted that there has been a similar decrease in fighter squadrons for the UK.

So we dont have nearly what we had at the heart of the Cold War, he said.

Now you add that were giving a lot of munitions away to the Ukrainians, which I think is exactly what we need to do, but now were getting dangerously low and sometimes, in some cases. even too low, that we dont have enough, Gen. Hecker said. And we need to get industry on board to help us out so we can get this going.

The United States has provided Ukraine with more than $41.3 billion in security assistance as of July 7, since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, according to the U.S. State Department. That total encompasses more than $15 billion in weapons and equipment delivered to Ukraine from U.S. military stocks since the Russian invasion.

Included in that weapons total are cluster munitions that the Biden administration this month announced it would be sending and have now arrived in Ukraine.

Cluster munitions, which can be delivered by planes, artillery, or missiles, open in midair after launch and release bomblets over a wide area to strike several targets simultaneously. More than 100 countries, including two-thirds of NATO allies, have banned such weapons because they can lead to many civilian casualties.

Cluster munitions can be fired using artillery that the United States has been providing to Ukraine, and the Pentagon has a large stockpile that was facing decommissioning.

A man standing next to the remains of a missile that dropped cluster bombs in a residential housing complex in Sloviansk, Ukraine, on June 27, 2022. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)

The Biden administration said the cluster munitions will enable the Ukrainians to continue their war effort with the ordnance they need, while the United States and others who supply Ukraine ramp up their production of artillery shells to further assist Ukraines defense.

We dont see this as a permanent solution but rather a bridge, Colin Kahl, undersecretary of defense for policy, said at a July 7 press briefing.

National security adviser Jake Sullivan said at a separate briefing, We are reaching a point in this conflict, because of the dramatically high expenditure rates of artillery by Ukraine and by Russia, where we need to build a bridge from where we are today to when we have enough monthly production of unitary rounds that unitary rounds alone will suffice to give Ukraine what it needs.

So as a result, this is the moment to begin the construction of that bridge so that there isnt any period over this summer or heading into this fall when Ukraine is short on artillery and, being short on artillery, it is vulnerable to Russian counterattacks that could subjugate more Ukrainian civilians.

Mr. Sullivan stopped short of saying there was a shortage of artillery shells.

Heidi Grant, Boeings director of business development who was a former top official for the Pentagons weapons sales, told the panel in London that in order to start production lines, industry needs a written, on-paper request of whats required, Breaking Defense reported.

Its hard for us to make the investment unless we know that [the demand is] really there, Ms. Grant said.

Michael Clements and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Yellen Visits India Again to Promote Closer Ties and Tackle Global Economic Problems

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen speaks during a press conference at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing on July 9, 2023. (Mark Schiefelbein/AP Photo)

GANDHINAGAR, IndiaOn the heels of a trip to Beijing, U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen is back in India for the third time in nine months, this time to meet finance ministers from the Group of 20 nations about global economic challenges like the increased threat of debt defaults facing low-income countries.

Ms. Yellen told reporters in Gandhinagar, the capital of the western Indian state of Gujarat, on Sunday that she was trying to foster warming relations between the United States and India. She also plans a stop in Hanoi, Vietnam, to address supply chain reliability, clean energy transition, and other matters of economic resilience.

Ms. Yellen said her goals for her time in India were to press for debt restructuring in developing countries in economic distress, push to modernize global development banks to make them more climate-focused and deepen the ever-growing U.S.India relationship.

Ms. Yellens frequent stops in the country signal the importance of that relationship at a time of tension with China.

Indias longstanding relationship with Russia has also loomed as the Kremlins invasion of Ukraine continues despite U.S. and allied countries efforts to sanction and economically bludgeon Russias economy. India has not taken part in the efforts to punish Russia and maintains energy trade with that country despite a Group of Seven (G7) agreed-upon price cap on Russian oil, which has seen some success in slowing Russias economy.

Ms. Yellen said ending the war in Ukraine is first and foremost a moral imperative. But its also the single best thing we can do for the global economy.

She added the United States would continue to cut off Russias access to the military equipment and technologies that it needs to wage war against Ukraine.

One of our core goals this year is to combat Russias efforts to evade our sanctions. Our coalition is building on the actions weve taken in recent months to crack down on these efforts, Ms. Yellen said.

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen speaks during a press conference at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing on July 9, 2023. (Mark Schiefelbein/AP Photo)

The United States increasingly relies on India and has courted its leaders.

She said the United States sees India as an indispensable partner in its friend-shoring strategy for increasing the resilience of supply chains.

She added private U.S. firms sees India as an excellent place for producing goods and exporting to the United States.

She also noted that slowing growth in China has impacted growth in many other countries.

It is something I discussed with my Chinese counterparts. I think the Chinese are anxious to communicate that their business environment is open. There is a desire certainly to see foreign investment, Ms. Yellen said.

President Joe Biden hosted a White House state visit honoring Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in June, designed to highlight and foster ties. The two leaders pronounced the U.S.India relationship never stronger and rolled out new business deals between the nations.

Raymond Vickery Jr., a policy expert on U.S.India relations at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said Ms. Yellens coming to India shortly after visiting China is meaningful in that Indian officials are going to want to know in great detail what happened in the meetings with her Chinese counterparts and see where it fits with their perspective on economic relations with China.

Theyre going to want to know whether or not the United States is serious about moving some of its sourcing activity from China to India.

Sri Lanka and Ghana defaulted on their international debts last year, roughly two years after Zambia defaulted. And more than half of all low-income countries face debt distress, which hurts their long-term ability to function and develop.

Last month, Zambia and its government creditors, including China, reached a deal to restructure $6.3 billion in loans, on the sidelines of a global finance summit in Paris.

The agreement covers loans from countries such as France, the UK, South Africa, Israel, and India as well as ChinaZambias biggest creditor at $4.1 billion of the total. The deal may provide a roadmap for how China will handle restructuring deals with other nations in debt distress.

Ms. Yellens trip comes shortly after she spent a week in China, meeting the nations finance ministry and discussing mutual trade restrictions and national security concerns.

Harold W. Furchtgott-Roth, a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute, said Ms. Yellens trip to India is a reflection of a naturally developing alliance.

India has a great deal of tension with Chinathey have constant border disputes, he said. And India wants to develop and has developed into sort of an Indian Ocean naval power, which is also a region that China wants to develop.

By Ajit Solanki and Fatima Hussein
Levy of tax on MIDC plots as per Ready Reckoner Rate illogical





Business Bureau :

A delegation of COSIA, Vidarbha led by Chairman CA Julfesh Shah recently met the Maharashtra Industries Minister Uday Samant and submitted a memorandum on various issues pertaining to industries.

The memorandum mentioned the issue regarding levy of tax and stamp duty on MIDC plots on Ready Reckoner Rate in transfer of plots on unit to unit basis.

These rates are fixed on earlier commercial transactions of property that has taken place in similar location. This Ready Reckoner Rates are taken as the base to calculate the property tax for local body including Gram Panchayats.

Industry Minister Samant discussed the issues and assured to address them at the earliest. Vaibhav Agrawal, Vice Chairman, COSIA, Nitin Alshi, Treasurer, COSIA and Jasbir Singh Arora were present in the delegation.
HIMACHAL Pradesh has suffered losses of about Rs 8,000 crore as heavy rains wreaked havoc in the hill state, triggering landslides and flash floods and damaging roads and other infrastructure, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said on Saturday. According to the state emergency response centre, t





SHIMLA :

HIMACHAL Pradesh has suffered losses of about Rs 8,000 crore as heavy rains wreaked havoc in the hill state, triggering landslides and flash floods and damaging roads and other infrastructure, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said on Saturday. According to the state emergency response centre, the losses amounted to about Rs 4,000 crore till Friday night and Sukhu had sought an interim relief of Rs 2,000 crore from the Union home ministry. About 70,000 tourists have been evacuated from the state and 15,000 vehicles sent out, while around 500 tourists have voluntarily decided to stay back, Sukhu said in a statement issued here. Some tourists stuck at Kasol, Manikaran and other adjoining areas in Kullu district refused to move out without their vehicles and have decided to stay back for a few more days till the situation normalises and all roads are opened.

Due to a heavy landslide near Dunkhara on the Kasol-Bhuntar road, the vehicles could not be moved and the tourists had to trek to reach the other side. However the state government said these tourists are being taken care of. Electricity, water and mobile phone services have been temporarily restored in 80 per cent of the disaster-affected areas and efforts are being made to restore essential services in the remaining areas at the earliest, the statement said. The bus service of the Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) is suspended on 899 routes and 256 buses are held en route. The HRTC has suffered losses of Rs 5.56 crore, officials said.

Centre standing with States in this time of crisis: Nadda on rain aftermath: ASSERTING that the Centre is standing with States dealing with the aftermath of heavy rains, BJP president J P Nadda has said the Union Government has released a second instalment of Rs 181 crore for Himachal Pradesh. Nadda, who visited the flood-affected areas in Kullu and Mandi districts on Friday, said the Centres grant will help reduce the debt burden of the state that has increased due to the damage caused by the rains. Union Home Minister Amit Shah has approved the advance release of the second instalment of the central share of the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF), amounting to Rs 180.40 crore for 2023-24, as an interim relief to Himachal Pradesh, an official statement said on Friday. The release of funds will help the State Government undertake relief measures for those affected by the rains, the statement said.
India and UAE agree on trade settlement in local currencies, linking Fast Payment Systems





ABU DHABI :

INDIA and the UAE on Saturday agreed to start trade settlement in their currencies and link the Indian Unified Payments Interface with the Gulf countrys Instant Payment Platform (IPP) as Prime Minister Narendra Modi held comprehensive talks with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan here. In his remarks after meeting the UAE President, Modi said India-UAE trade witnessed a 20 per cent increase since the signing of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement last year. PM Modi said the agreement signed on Saturday for trade settlement in the currencies of the two countries shows the strong economic cooperation and mutual trust between the two nations. It is always gladdening to meet HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. His energy and vision for development are admirable. We discussed the full range of India-UAE ties including ways to boost cultural and economic ties, Modi said on Twitter after the meeting. The agreement with the UAE on trade settlement in the currencies of the two countries will boost bilateral trade and investments. PM Modi said he always got the love of a brother from Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

The manner in which ties between our countries have expanded, you have made a big contribution to that. Every person in India views you as a true friend, he told the UAE President. Talking about the MoUs between the central banks of the two countries, Modi said, This is a very important aspect of India-UAE cooperation. It paves the way for enhanced economic collaboration and will make international financial interactions simpler. PM Modi also noted that preparations for COP-28 to be held in the UAE are going on under the UAE Presidents leadership, and added that he has made up his mind to participate in the conference later this year. According to an official statement, the Reserve Bank of India and the Central Bank of the UAE signed two MoUs for  establishing a framework to promote the use of local currencies viz. The Indian rupee (INR) and the UAE Dirham (AED) for cross-border transactions; and for cooperation for interlinking their payment and messaging systems.

The MoUs were signed by RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das and UAE Central Bank Governor Khaled Mohamed Balama, in the presence of Prime Minister Modi and Mohamed Bin Zayed. The MoU on establishing a framework for the use of local currencies for transactions between India and UAE, aims to put in place a Local Currency Settlement System (LCSS) to promote the use of INR and AED bilaterally. The MoU covers all current account transactions and permitted capital account transactions, the statement issued by the RBI said. Under the MOU on Payments and Messaging Systems, the two central banks agreed to cooperate on -- linking their Fast Payment Systems (FPSs)  Unified Payments Interface (UPI) of India with the Instant Payment Platform (IPP) of UAE and linking the respective Card Switches (RuPay switch and UAESWITCH). The Union Ministry of Education and Abu Dhabis Education and Knowledge Department (ADEK) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for setting up an IIT Delhi campus in the Gulf country. PM assures Indias full support for UAEs COP-28 presidency: PRIME Minister Narendra Modi assured Indias full support for UAEs COP28 presidency as he held productive talks with the UN climate conferences President-designate Sultan Al Jaber on ways to further sustainable development and bilateral energy cooperation. PM returns after visits to France, UAE: PRIME Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday returned after successful visits to France and the United Arab Emirates. A visit defined by transformative outcomes. PM @narendramodi emplanes for New Delhi after wrapping up a successful visit to UAE, Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi tweeted.
By Sarah McFarlane and Valerie Volcovici

LONDON/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - When it comes to taking stock of global emissions, there's an elephant in the room: the world's armed forces.

As temperatures hit new highs, scientists and environmental groups are stepping up pressure on the U.N. to force armies to disclose all their emissions and end a long-standing exemption that has kept some of their climate pollution off the books.

Among the world's biggest consumers of fuel, militaries account for 5.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions, according to a 2022 estimate by international experts.

But defence forces are not bound by international climate agreements to report or cut their carbon emissions, and the data that is published by some militaries is unreliable or incomplete at best, scientists and academics say.

That's because military emissions abroad, from flying jets to sailing ships to training exercises, were left out of the 1997 Kyoto Protocol on reducing greenhouse gases - and exempted again from the 2015 Paris accords - on the grounds that data about energy use by armies could undermine national security.

Now, environmental groups Tipping Point North South and The Conflict and Environment Observatory, along with academics from the British universities of Lancaster, Oxford and Queen Mary are among those pushing for more comprehensive and transparent military emissions reporting, using research papers, letter campaigns, and conferences in their lobbying drive.

In the first five months of 2023, for example, at least 17 peer reviewed papers have been published, three times the number for all of 2022 and more than the previous nine years combined, according to one campaigner who tracks the research.

The groups also wrote in February to the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) calling on the United Nation's climate body to include all military emissions given their significance for comprehensive global carbon accounting.

"Our climate emergency can no longer afford to permit the 'business as usual' omission of military and conflict-related emissions within the UNFCCC process," the groups wrote.

Emissions accounting will come into focus in the first global stocktake - an assessment of how far behind countries are from the Paris climate goals - due to take place at the COP28 climate summit in the United Arab Emirates starting on Nov. 30.

"The omission of conflict-related emissions in UNFCCC accounting is a glaring gap," said Axel Michaelowa, founding partner of Perspectives Climate Group, adding that hundreds of millions of tons of carbon emissions may be unaccounted for.

'RECOVERY AND PEACE'

For now, however, there are few signs there will be any tangible response to the lobbying drive this year.

The UNFCCC said in an emailed response to questions that there were no concrete plans to amend guidance on military emissions accounting, but that the issue could be discussed at future summits, including at COP28 in Dubai.

Asked whether military emissions would be discussed at the U.N. summit, the UAE presidency said one of its thematic days during the two-week summit would be "relief, recovery and peace", without giving further details.

There are signs, however, that some militaries are preparing for changes in their reporting requirements in the coming years, while others are making strides to cut their climate impact.

NATO, the 31-country Western security alliance, for example, told Reuters it has created a methodology for its members to report their military emissions.

Countries such as New Zealand are exploring whether to add previously excluded areas, such as emissions from overseas operations, while Britain and Germany are looking to address grey areas in their reporting, defence officials said.

And Washington sent U.S. Army and Navy representatives to the COP27 climate summit in Egypt last year, the first time a Pentagon delegation has attended the global climate summit.

"What I think that signified is that we are part of the conversation, we are certainly emitters when it comes to fossil fuels and energy," Meredith Berger, assistant secretary for energy, installations and environment at the U.S. Navy and one of the Pentagon delegates, told Reuters.

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The U.S. military's oil use and emissions are falling.

The U.S. Defence Logistics Agency, which oversees oil buying, said 84 million barrels were purchased in 2022, down almost 15 million from 2018. Emissions in 2022, meanwhile, fell to 48 million tonnes from 51 million tonnes the previous year.

The U.S. Department of Defense said those figures included all emissions, but that it stripped out international transport and bunker fuels from the numbers reported to the UNFCCC.

MORE DRONES

Neta Crawford, a professor of international relations at Oxford University, said U.S. troop withdrawals from Afghanistan and Iraq, the adoption of renewable energy technologies, more fuel-efficient vehicles, as well as fewer and smaller military exercises, had contributed to the declines in the fuel use.

The wider use of drones may also have helped.

"One of the biggest emissions reduction technologies has been the used of unmanned aerial vehicles - drones," said a senior U.S. defense official, who spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity. "When you take a human out of the aircraft, you get dramatically improved energy performance."

Groups lobbying the U.N. to lift the military exemptions point to a surge in emissions related to the Ukraine conflict as a good reason for the change.

"Ukraine has absolutely brought the spotlight onto this issue in a way that other conflicts have not," said Deborah Burton at environmental group Tipping Point North South.

A report from Dutch carbon accounting expert Lennard de Klerk estimated the first 12 months of the war in Ukraine will trigger a net increase of 120 million tonnes of greenhouse gases, equivalent to the annual output of Singapore, Switzerland and Syria combined.

And academics from Oxford and Queen Mary University of London are holding a conference on military emissions in Oxford on Sept. 26, with the aim of generating new research that could help inform changes to reporting requirements.

Ukraine's environment ministry spokesperson said it supports the efforts and would seek backing from governments at COP28 for more transparent military emissions reporting.

'FREE RIDE'

While the Ukraine war has heightened the focus among climate activists on military emissions, some experts say it is a distraction for governments focused on regional security, and that could slow discussions in the near term.

"It's important to understand the Ukraine crisis has made this a little bit more complicated," said James Appathurai, NATO's deputy assistant secretary general for emerging security challenges.

Some militaries say publishing details on their oil use would be a window into their overseas operations.

"We would not want to let everybody know how much fuel we use in these missions  how far we fly, how far we drive, and what our exercise patterns are," said Markus Ruelke, from the German defence ministry's environmental protection unit.

Some military emissions are recorded under unspecified fuel combustion in the U.N.'s reporting tables, the UNFCCC said.

In the meantime, global military emissions will remain poorly understood, said Stuart Parkinson, executive director of the group Scientists for Global Responsibility.

"It's all very well telling people to stop flying or switch to an electric car, whether that's an expense or inconvenience to them, but it's hard to do that when the military gets a free ride," he said.

(Reporting by Sarah McFarlane and Valerie Volcovici; Additional reporting by Sabine Siebold in Berlin; Editing by Richard Valdmanis and David Clarke)
A Colorado Springs teenager was one of several arrested, including three juveniles, in a January shooting at The Citadel mall, where a teenager was shot in the leg.

Last week, 19-year-old Arturo Rey Garcia was arrested on suspicion of two counts of attempted first-degree murder and other charges in connection to the shooting, according to arrest records obtained by The Gazette.

According to the arrest affidavit, the shooting took place in the evening of Jan. 7 at a car show in the mall parking lot. Police who responded to the shooting stated that they found 35 bullet casings in the parking lot, indicating there were numerous people involved in the shooting.

Two of the victims, a 17-year-old and a 15-year-old whose names are redacted from the document, told police that the shooting began after two groups of people got into a verbal altercation before they heard "a lot" of gunshots and ran to their cars to hide. One of the two teenagers was shot in the leg during the incident.

Police stated in the affidavit that there were 15 bullet holes found on the side of the truck that the two teenagers were in.

Another individual, whose name was redacted, went to the hospital after the shooting to receive treatment for a gunshot wound to the foot, but that person would not cooperate with law enforcement.

In the days after the shooting, law enforcement created a fake social media profile to speak with a 15-year-old boy whom they suspected to be involved in the shooting, according to the affidavit.

The teenager confirmed to the undercover law enforcement agent that he and several of his friends were at the car meet that night, that they were involved in the shooting, and that he and his associates were the "primary aggressors" in the incident, according to the affidavit.

Law enforcement state within the affidavit that the information confirmed by the undercover officer led to the identification of several suspects who may have been involved in the shooting, one of whom included Garcia.

Law enforcement received a warrant for access to Garcia's social media accounts, where they discovered numerous messages between himself and others confirming he was present at the shooting, and that his group of associates were the ones who began the shooting.

In one message, Garcia and the person he is texting with  whose name was redacted from the affidavit  discuss how the shooting was "fun."

"Appreciate y'all steppin w us we lit that s--t up and shut that car meet down," Garcia wrote to his friend, according to the affidavit.

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"Omm (on my mama) that was fun and ofc (of course) ima step w you regardless man," Garcia's friend wrote back in response.

In April, police issued an arrest warrant for Garcia, but he was not apprehended and booked into the El Paso County jail until July 4, according to court records.

The El Paso County Sheriff's Office did not respond to multiple requests for comment regarding Garcia's whereabouts since the arrest warrant was issued or where Garcia was arrested.

Colorado Springs police spokesperson Pamela Castro confirmed that CSPD has made six arrests in the January shooting, including Garcia.

Castro confirmed that Armando Ontiveros, 19, Zaylene Espinoza, 20, and Garcia all face felony charges.

Ontiveros and Garcia face several charges, the most serious among them being two counts of attempted first-degree murder. Espinoza faces four charges, two counts of accessory to a crime, attempting to influence a public servant, and tampering with physical evidence.

Castro stated that three juveniles also were arrested in the mall shooting, and that two of them face two attempted-murder charges, among several other charges, while the other was arrested on suspicion of providing a handgun to a juvenile and possession of handguns by juveniles.

Court records show Ontiveros and Espinoza were arrested in April, and immediately posted bond to be released, Espinoza on bond of $3,000 and Ontiveros $150,000.

Garcia remains in custody at the El Paso County jail on a $75,000 bond.

All three adults arrested will appear in 4th Judicial District Court in the coming weeks. Espinoza will appear for a disposition hearing on Monday, Garcia for a review hearing on July 24 and Ontiveros for a preliminary hearing on Aug. 9.
BlackRock Debt Strategies Fund, Inc. (NYSE:DSU  Get Free Report) was the target of a large growth in short interest during the month of June. As of June 30th, there was short interest totalling 55,200 shares, a growth of 120.8% from the June 15th total of 25,000 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 142,000 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 0.4 days.

BlackRock Debt Strategies Fund Trading Up 0.2 %

Shares of NYSE:DSU traded up $0.02 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $9.95. 119,231 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 124,448. BlackRock Debt Strategies Fund has a twelve month low of $8.77 and a twelve month high of $10.15. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $9.60 and a 200-day moving average price of $9.60.

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BlackRock Debt Strategies Fund Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, July 31st. Stockholders of record on Friday, July 14th will be paid a dividend of $0.0911 per share. This represents a $1.09 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 10.98%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, July 13th.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

About BlackRock Debt Strategies Fund

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Morgan Stanley increased its position in BlackRock Debt Strategies Fund by 13.8% during the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 4,802,317 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $44,181,000 after purchasing an additional 580,744 shares in the last quarter. Guggenheim Capital LLC increased its position in BlackRock Debt Strategies Fund by 65.5% during the 1st quarter. Guggenheim Capital LLC now owns 1,085,218 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $11,308,000 after purchasing an additional 429,486 shares in the last quarter. Advisors Asset Management Inc. increased its position in BlackRock Debt Strategies Fund by 23.9% during the 1st quarter. Advisors Asset Management Inc. now owns 775,931 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $7,379,000 after purchasing an additional 149,904 shares in the last quarter. Invesco Ltd. increased its position in BlackRock Debt Strategies Fund by 9.6% during the 1st quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 684,857 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $7,136,000 after purchasing an additional 59,719 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC increased its position in BlackRock Debt Strategies Fund by 160.4% during the 1st quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 576,984 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $5,487,000 after purchasing an additional 355,374 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 29.48% of the companys stock.

(Get Free Report)

BlackRock Debt Strategies Fund, Inc is a closed ended fixed income mutual fund launched by BlackRock, Inc The fund is managed by BlackRock Advisors, LLC. It invests in fixed income markets of the United States. The fund primarily invests in a diversified portfolio of companies' debt instruments, including corporate loans, which are rated in the lower rating categories of the established rating services (BBB or lower by S&P's or Baa or lower by Moody's) or unrated debt instruments, which are in the judgment of the investment adviser of equivalent quality.

Further Reading

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American Institute for Advanced Investment Management LLP reduced its holdings in Invesco Aerospace & Defense ETF (NYSEARCA:PPA  Free Report) by 15.1% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 4,290 shares of the companys stock after selling 765 shares during the period. American Institute for Advanced Investment Management LLPs holdings in Invesco Aerospace & Defense ETF were worth $269,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Cetera Advisor Networks LLC increased its position in Invesco Aerospace & Defense ETF by 0.4% in the 4th quarter. Cetera Advisor Networks LLC now owns 38,599 shares of the companys stock worth $3,026,000 after buying an additional 135 shares during the period. MinichMacGregor Wealth Management LLC grew its position in Invesco Aerospace & Defense ETF by 3.7% in the 1st quarter. MinichMacGregor Wealth Management LLC now owns 4,006 shares of the companys stock worth $323,000 after purchasing an additional 144 shares during the last quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors grew its position in Invesco Aerospace & Defense ETF by 13.3% in the 2nd quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 1,360 shares of the companys stock worth $95,000 after purchasing an additional 160 shares during the last quarter. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. lifted its position in shares of Invesco Aerospace & Defense ETF by 8.9% in the 4th quarter. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. now owns 2,076 shares of the companys stock worth $163,000 after acquiring an additional 170 shares during the period. Finally, Sargent Bickham Lagudis LLC lifted its position in shares of Invesco Aerospace & Defense ETF by 102.1% in the 4th quarter. Sargent Bickham Lagudis LLC now owns 475 shares of the companys stock worth $37,000 after acquiring an additional 240 shares during the period.

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Invesco Aerospace & Defense ETF Trading Down 0.8 %

Shares of PPA stock opened at $84.37 on Friday. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $81.54 and a two-hundred day moving average of $80.50. Invesco Aerospace & Defense ETF has a 12 month low of $64.48 and a 12 month high of $86.06. The company has a market capitalization of $1.97 billion, a P/E ratio of 24.91 and a beta of 0.98.

About Invesco Aerospace & Defense ETF

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.

Further Reading

Want to see what other hedge funds are holding PPA? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Invesco Aerospace & Defense ETF (NYSEARCA:PPA  Free Report).

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UBS Group started coverage on shares of Canadian Natural Resources (NYSE:CNQ  Free Report) (TSE:CNQ) in a research note issued to investors on Wednesday morning, MarketBeat Ratings reports. The firm issued a buy rating on the oil and gas producers stock.

Separately, StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of Canadian Natural Resources in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a hold rating on the stock. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Canadian Natural Resources presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $90.67.

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Canadian Natural Resources Price Performance

Shares of CNQ opened at $56.61 on Wednesday. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $55.79 and a 200-day moving average price of $56.77. Canadian Natural Resources has a fifty-two week low of $44.45 and a fifty-two week high of $62.57. The stock has a market capitalization of $61.97 billion, a PE ratio of 8.76, a PEG ratio of 0.90 and a beta of 1.57. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29, a quick ratio of 0.57 and a current ratio of 0.83.

Canadian Natural Resources Cuts Dividend

Canadian Natural Resources ( NYSE:CNQ Get Free Report ) (TSE:CNQ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, May 4th. The oil and gas producer reported $1.25 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.20 by $0.05. The firm had revenue of $6.38 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.26 billion. Canadian Natural Resources had a net margin of 20.63% and a return on equity of 29.39%. Equities analysts predict that Canadian Natural Resources will post 5.27 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, July 5th. Investors of record on Friday, June 16th were paid a dividend of $0.664 per share. This represents a $2.66 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.69%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, June 15th. Canadian Natural Resourcess payout ratio is currently 41.02%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Canadian Natural Resources

Several large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in CNQ. Money Concepts Capital Corp purchased a new stake in Canadian Natural Resources during the 4th quarter worth approximately $25,000. Ronald Blue Trust Inc. grew its holdings in Canadian Natural Resources by 198.4% during the 4th quarter. Ronald Blue Trust Inc. now owns 558 shares of the oil and gas producers stock worth $26,000 after acquiring an additional 371 shares in the last quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors grew its holdings in Canadian Natural Resources by 57.6% during the 2nd quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 594 shares of the oil and gas producers stock worth $32,000 after acquiring an additional 217 shares in the last quarter. Delta Asset Management LLC TN acquired a new position in Canadian Natural Resources during the 4th quarter worth approximately $33,000. Finally, Fortis Capital Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of Canadian Natural Resources in the 1st quarter valued at $35,000. 71.24% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About Canadian Natural Resources

(Get Free Report)

Canadian Natural Resources Limited acquires, explores for, develops, produces, markets, and sells crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids (NGLs). The company offers light and medium crude oil, primary heavy crude oil, Pelican Lake heavy crude oil, bitumen (thermal oil), and synthetic crude oil (SCO).

Further Reading

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Edwards Lifesciences Co. (NYSE:EW  Get Free Report) has received a consensus rating of Hold from the seventeen research firms that are currently covering the firm, Marketbeat reports. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell recommendation, nine have assigned a hold recommendation and seven have assigned a buy recommendation to the company. The average 12 month target price among brokers that have covered the stock in the last year is $91.67.

Several brokerages have recently commented on EW. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price objective on Edwards Lifesciences from $78.00 to $90.00 in a research report on Thursday, April 27th. Stifel Nicolaus increased their price objective on Edwards Lifesciences from $75.00 to $87.00 in a research report on Monday, April 24th. TheStreet upgraded Edwards Lifesciences from a c+ rating to a b- rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 19th. UBS Group assumed coverage on Edwards Lifesciences in a report on Tuesday, March 28th. They set a neutral rating and a $84.00 target price for the company. Finally, 58.com restated a reiterates rating on shares of Edwards Lifesciences in a report on Tuesday, June 27th.

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Edwards Lifesciences Stock Up 0.3 %

EW stock opened at $93.38 on Friday. The stocks fifty day simple moving average is $88.51 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $83.17. The company has a current ratio of 3.01, a quick ratio of 2.17 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.10. Edwards Lifesciences has a 1-year low of $67.13 and a 1-year high of $107.92. The stock has a market cap of $56.61 billion, a P/E ratio of 38.75, a P/E/G ratio of 5.29 and a beta of 1.03.

Insider Activity at Edwards Lifesciences

Edwards Lifesciences ( NYSE:EW Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, April 26th. The medical research company reported $0.62 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.61 by $0.01. Edwards Lifesciences had a return on equity of 25.81% and a net margin of 27.07%. The business had revenue of $1.46 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.39 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $0.60 earnings per share. The businesss revenue was up 8.8% on a year-over-year basis. Analysts expect that Edwards Lifesciences will post 2.55 EPS for the current year.

In related news, VP Donald E. Bobo, Jr. sold 5,635 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, May 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $88.62, for a total transaction of $499,373.70. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now owns 56,225 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $4,982,659.50. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. In other Edwards Lifesciences news, VP Jean-Luc M. Lemercier sold 6,640 shares of Edwards Lifesciences stock in a transaction on Tuesday, May 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $88.68, for a total value of $588,835.20. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now owns 172,090 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $15,260,941.20. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, VP Donald E. Bobo, Jr. sold 5,635 shares of Edwards Lifesciences stock in a transaction on Friday, May 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $88.62, for a total value of $499,373.70. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now directly owns 56,225 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $4,982,659.50. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 228,316 shares of company stock valued at $20,215,378 in the last 90 days. Corporate insiders own 1.29% of the companys stock.

Institutional Trading of Edwards Lifesciences

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of EW. Castleview Partners LLC bought a new stake in shares of Edwards Lifesciences in the 1st quarter worth $25,000. Trifecta Capital Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of Edwards Lifesciences in the 4th quarter worth $28,000. Core Alternative Capital boosted its stake in shares of Edwards Lifesciences by 96.1% in the 1st quarter. Core Alternative Capital now owns 353 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $29,000 after buying an additional 173 shares during the last quarter. Addison Advisors LLC boosted its stake in shares of Edwards Lifesciences by 708.0% in the 4th quarter. Addison Advisors LLC now owns 404 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $30,000 after buying an additional 354 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Compass Wealth Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Edwards Lifesciences in the 4th quarter worth $31,000. Institutional investors own 79.78% of the companys stock.

About Edwards Lifesciences

(Get Free Report

Edwards Lifesciences Corporation provides products and technologies for structural heart disease, and critical care and surgical monitoring in the United States, Europe, Japan, and internationally. It offers transcatheter heart valve replacement products for the minimally invasive replacement of heart valves; and transcatheter heart valve repair and replacement products to treat mitral and tricuspid valve diseases.

Further Reading

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A Colorado Springs man died after a ski boat he was riding on sank at Lake Pueblo Saturday evening.

Joey Isaac Tafoya, 25, apparently drowned, according to the Pueblo County coroner, who identified the man on Monday. An autopsy has been scheduled to determine an official cause of death.

According to Colorado Parks and Wildlife, Tafoya was one of three people on the small boat, which began sinking shortly after it was launched just west of the North Shore Marina.

Two boat passengers wearing life jackets resurfaced as the boat went under water and were rescued by park rangers. A third passenger, who was wearing pants and boots but no life jacket, tried to swim to shore but quickly began struggling, according to CPW.

Witnesses on shore tried to swim to the man, but were unable to reach him before he disappeared below the surface of the water.

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CPW called in the Pueblo County Sheriffs volunteer dive team; they quickly recovered the man's body in about 7 feet of water. CPW then pulled the sunken boat to shore.

While we continue to investigate, this appears to be a tragic accident, Daryl Seder, senior park ranger at Lake Pueblo, said. We offer our condolences to the family and friends of this victim.

The incident occurred about 50 yards offshore near the Big Lizard Picnic Pavilion on the lakes north side, Seder said.

He described the boat as an older, low-profile ski boat. The two survivors on the boat told CPW rangers they noticed the boat was taking on water shortly after they left the marinas no wake zone and passed its buoy.

The combination of the weight from the water in the boat and choppy waves on the lake swamped the boat, causing it to quickly sink, Seder said. Its unknown why the boat was taking on water.

This is the first death on Lake Pueblo in 2023. If confirmed by the coroner, this death would be the 24th water-related death in Colorado in 2023. In addition, there are three people still missing and presumed dead in water-related incidents this year. A record 42 people died in water-related incidents in 2022.
Hargreaves Lansdown (LON:HL  Free Report) had its price objective raised by Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft from GBX 850 ($10.94) to GBX 880 ($11.32) in a research note issued to investors on Wednesday, MarketBeat.com reports. They currently have a hold rating on the stock.

A number of other analysts have also recently commented on the stock. Barclays upped their price objective on shares of Hargreaves Lansdown from GBX 1,190 ($15.31) to GBX 1,230 ($15.82) and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Wednesday. Shore Capital restated a buy rating on shares of Hargreaves Lansdown in a research report on Thursday, May 4th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, four have assigned a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of GBX 1,067.11 ($13.73).

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Hargreaves Lansdown Stock Performance

HL stock opened at GBX 839.60 ($10.80) on Wednesday. The company has a 50 day moving average price of GBX 806.82 and a 200 day moving average price of GBX 828.40. The stock has a market capitalization of 3.98 billion, a PE ratio of 1,584.15, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.22 and a beta of 0.59. Hargreaves Lansdown has a fifty-two week low of GBX 735.60 ($9.46) and a fifty-two week high of GBX 1,023.50 ($13.17). The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.42, a current ratio of 2.44 and a quick ratio of 2.04.

About Hargreaves Lansdown

Hargreaves Lansdown plc provides investment services for individuals and corporates in the United Kingdom and Poland. The company offers stocks and shares individual savings accounts (ISAs), fund and share accounts, and junior and lifetime ISAs. It also provides pension services, including self-invested personal pensions (SIPP), junior SIPPs, annuities, and drawdown; share dealing services; and fund dealing services.

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Greggs (OTCMKTS:GGGSF  Get Free Report) is one of 62 publicly-traded companies in the Grocery Stores industry, but how does it compare to its peers? We will compare Greggs to similar companies based on the strength of its analyst recommendations, institutional ownership, profitability, risk, valuation, dividends and earnings.

Dividends

Greggs pays an annual dividend of $0.20 per share and has a dividend yield of 0.6%. Greggs pays out 91.0% of its earnings in the form of a dividend, suggesting it may not have sufficient earnings to cover its dividend payment in the future. As a group, Grocery Stores companies pay a dividend yield of 4.3% and pay out 62.2% of their earnings in the form of a dividend. Greggs lags its peers as a dividend stock, given its lower dividend yield and higher payout ratio.

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Analyst Ratings

This is a breakdown of recent recommendations and price targets for Greggs and its peers, as provided by MarketBeat.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Greggs 0 1 1 0 2.50 Greggs Competitors 1121 2754 3008 115 2.30

Insider and Institutional Ownership

Greggs presently has a consensus target price of $3,140.00, indicating a potential upside of 9,429.59%. As a group, Grocery Stores companies have a potential upside of 28.17%. Given Greggs stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, equities research analysts clearly believe Greggs is more favorable than its peers.

42.1% of Greggs shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 45.3% of shares of all Grocery Stores companies are held by institutional investors. 22.8% of shares of all Grocery Stores companies are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a company is poised for long-term growth.

Profitability

This table compares Greggs and its peers net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Greggs N/A N/A N/A Greggs Competitors 1.92% 15.02% 4.91%

Valuation & Earnings

This table compares Greggs and its peers top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio Greggs N/A N/A 153.72 Greggs Competitors $26.99 billion $611.50 million 205.28

Greggs peers have higher revenue and earnings than Greggs. Greggs 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

Greggs peers beat Greggs on 10 of the 13 factors compared.

Greggs Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Greggs plc operates as a food-on-the-go retailer in the United Kingdom. It offers a range of fresh and frozen bakery products, sandwiches, and drinks. The company sells products to franchise and wholesale partners for sale in their own outlets. It is also involved in the property holding, non-trading, and trustee businesses. The company also operates through its own shops. Greggs plc was founded in 1939 and is headquartered in Newcastle upon Tyne, the United Kingdom.

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Close Brothers Group (OTCMKTS:CBGPY  Get Free Report) is one of 271 publicly-traded companies in the BanksRegional industry, but how does it weigh in compared to its competitors? We will compare Close Brothers Group to similar businesses based on the strength of its profitability, analyst recommendations, valuation, risk, institutional ownership, dividends and earnings.

Profitability

This table compares Close Brothers Group and its competitors net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

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Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Close Brothers Group N/A N/A N/A Close Brothers Group Competitors 35.69% 10.42% 0.92%

Institutional and Insider Ownership

29.9% of shares of all BanksRegional companies are owned by institutional investors. 16.4% of shares of all BanksRegional companies 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.

Dividends

Valuation & Earnings

Close Brothers Group pays an annual dividend of $0.86 per share and has a dividend yield of 3.6%. Close Brothers Group pays out 43.2% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. As a group, BanksRegional companies pay a dividend yield of 13.1% and pay out 18.7% of their earnings in the form of a dividend. Close Brothers Group lags its competitors as a dividend stock, given its lower dividend yield and higher payout ratio.

This table compares Close Brothers Group and its competitors top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio Close Brothers Group N/A N/A 12.15 Close Brothers Group Competitors $3.08 billion $737.78 million 278.00

Close Brothers Groups competitors have higher revenue and earnings than Close Brothers Group. Close Brothers Group 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

This is a breakdown of current recommendations for Close Brothers Group and its competitors, as provided by MarketBeat.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Close Brothers Group 3 0 3 0 2.00 Close Brothers Group Competitors 1054 2969 2953 7 2.27

Close Brothers Group presently has a consensus target price of $1,110.00, suggesting a potential upside of 4,467.90%. As a group, BanksRegional companies have a potential upside of 306.04%. Given Close Brothers Groups higher probable upside, equities analysts plainly believe Close Brothers Group is more favorable than its competitors.

Summary

Close Brothers Group competitors beat Close Brothers Group on 11 of the 13 factors compared.

About Close Brothers Group

(Get Free Report)

Close Brothers Group plc, a merchant banking company, engages in the provision of financial services to small businesses and individuals in the United Kingdom. It operates through five segments: Commercial, Retail, Property, Asset Management, and Securities. The company offers various savings products, including personal and business savings, and pension deposits. It also provides asset finance, asset-based lending, commercial vehicle hire, short-term bridging finance, insurance premium finance, invoice discounting and debt factoring, and property finance products. In addition, the company offers funding services for general aviation aircraft, and various leisure and commercial marine vessels; brewery rentals; finance services to the agriculture, construction, manufacturing, and transport industries; leasing services for the construction, manufacturing, IT equipment, and specialist assets; and loan, hire purchase, leasing, and refinancing services to the professional service sector, including dental, medical, pharmacy, and veterinary sectors. Further, it provides financial education, investment management, and financial planning and advice services; self-directed services that help investors to manage their portfolio online; and services for financial advisers. Additionally, the company offers liquidity and flexible execution services to retail stockbrokers, wealth managers, and institutional investors; market making, sales, research, and corporate broking services; and dealing, custody, and settlement services to the institutional, wealth management, and brokerage clients. Close Brothers Group plc was founded in 1878 and is headquartered in London, the United Kingdom.

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Henderson Far East Income Limited (LON:HFEL  Get Free Report)s stock price crossed below its 50-day moving average during trading on Friday . The stock has a 50-day moving average of GBX 245.99 ($3.16) and traded as low as GBX 238 ($3.06). Henderson Far East Income shares last traded at GBX 240 ($3.09), with a volume of 458,375 shares trading hands.

Henderson Far East Income Stock Up 0.2 %

The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of GBX 245.79 and a 200-day simple moving average of GBX 262.15. The firm has a market cap of 382.94 million, a PE ratio of -4,000.00 and a beta of 0.60. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.95, a current ratio of 0.86 and a quick ratio of 0.69.

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Henderson Far East Income Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a dividend, which will be paid on Friday, August 25th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, July 27th will be paid a dividend of GBX 6.10 ($0.08) per share. This is a boost from Henderson Far East Incomes previous dividend of $6.00. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, July 27th. This represents a yield of 2.49%. Henderson Far East Incomes payout ratio is presently -40,000.00%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Henderson Far East Income

Henderson Far East Income Company Profile

In related news, insider Ronald Gould acquired 4,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, May 24th. The stock was acquired at an average price of GBX 248 ($3.19) per share, for a total transaction of 9,920 ($12,762.13). 0.14% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

(Get Free Report)

Henderson Far East Income Limited is a closed ended balanced mutual fund launched and managed by Henderson Investment Funds Limited. The fund is managed by Henderson Global Investors Limited. It invests in the public equity and fixed income markets of Pacific, Australasia, Japan, and India. The fund invests in stocks of companies operating across diversified sectors.

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Shares of Hersha Hospitality Trust (NYSE:HT  Get Free Report) have been assigned an average recommendation of Hold from the four research firms that are currently covering the company, Marketbeat.com reports. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell recommendation, two have issued a hold recommendation and one has issued a buy recommendation on the company. The average twelve-month target price among analysts that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $8.75.

A number of equities analysts recently issued reports on the stock. StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of Hersha Hospitality Trust in a research report on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a sell rating for the company. Wells Fargo & Company increased their target price on shares of Hersha Hospitality Trust from $6.50 to $7.00 in a research report on Wednesday. Finally, B. Riley upgraded shares of Hersha Hospitality Trust from a neutral rating to a buy rating and decreased their target price for the company from $10.00 to $9.00 in a research report on Thursday, May 4th.

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Hedge Funds Weigh In On Hersha Hospitality Trust

Several large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Alpha Paradigm Partners LLC boosted its position in shares of Hersha Hospitality Trust by 2.4% during the 3rd quarter. Alpha Paradigm Partners LLC now owns 47,952 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $383,000 after purchasing an additional 1,101 shares in the last quarter. Pathstone Family Office LLC boosted its position in shares of Hersha Hospitality Trust by 7.0% during the 3rd quarter. Pathstone Family Office LLC now owns 17,132 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $137,000 after purchasing an additional 1,127 shares in the last quarter. Alliancebernstein L.P. boosted its position in shares of Hersha Hospitality Trust by 5.3% during the 3rd quarter. Alliancebernstein L.P. now owns 23,223 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $185,000 after purchasing an additional 1,166 shares in the last quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp boosted its position in shares of Hersha Hospitality Trust by 0.4% during the 3rd quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 343,720 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $2,743,000 after purchasing an additional 1,346 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Thrivent Financial for Lutherans boosted its position in shares of Hersha Hospitality Trust by 4.6% during the 3rd quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans now owns 33,972 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $271,000 after purchasing an additional 1,493 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 62.56% of the companys stock.

Hersha Hospitality Trust Stock Down 0.5 %

Hersha Hospitality Trust Announces Dividend

Hersha Hospitality Trust stock opened at $6.28 on Friday. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $6.07 and a 200-day simple moving average of $7.12. The firm has a market capitalization of $250.45 million, a P/E ratio of 2.02 and a beta of 1.99. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.50, a quick ratio of 2.15 and a current ratio of 2.15. Hersha Hospitality Trust has a one year low of $5.64 and a one year high of $12.10.

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, July 17th. Stockholders of record on Friday, June 30th will be given a dividend of $0.05 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, June 29th. This represents a $0.20 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.18%. Hersha Hospitality Trusts dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 6.43%.

Hersha Hospitality Trust Company Profile

(Get Free Report

Hersha Hospitality Trust (HT) is a self-advised real estate investment trust in the hospitality sector, which owns and operates luxury and lifestyle hotels in coastal gateway and resort markets. The Company's 25 hotels totaling 3,811 rooms are located in New York, Washington, DC, Boston, Philadelphia, South Florida, and California.

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iShares North American Natural Resources ETF (BATS:IGE  Get Free Report) shares passed above its fifty day moving average during trading on Friday . The stock has a fifty day moving average of $38.15 and traded as high as $39.97. iShares North American Natural Resources ETF shares last traded at $39.26, with a volume of 64,693 shares traded.

iShares North American Natural Resources ETF Stock Performance

The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $38.15 and a 200-day simple moving average of $39.51. The firm has a market cap of $592.83 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.98 and a beta of 1.25.

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Hedge Funds Weigh In On iShares North American Natural Resources ETF

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Fifth Third Securities Inc. increased its holdings in iShares North American Natural Resources ETF by 10.5% in the 4th quarter. Fifth Third Securities Inc. now owns 43,971 shares of the companys stock worth $1,788,000 after purchasing an additional 4,180 shares in the last quarter. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC grew its position in shares of iShares North American Natural Resources ETF by 2.5% in the 4th quarter. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC now owns 12,789 shares of the companys stock valued at $520,000 after buying an additional 315 shares during the last quarter. Rothschild Investment Corp IL grew its position in shares of iShares North American Natural Resources ETF by 17.6% in the 1st quarter. Rothschild Investment Corp IL now owns 33,280 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,304,000 after buying an additional 4,975 shares during the last quarter. DHK Financial Advisors Inc. grew its position in shares of iShares North American Natural Resources ETF by 2.0% in the 4th quarter. DHK Financial Advisors Inc. now owns 19,326 shares of the companys stock valued at $786,000 after buying an additional 378 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Comerica Bank grew its position in shares of iShares North American Natural Resources ETF by 37.2% in the 4th quarter. Comerica Bank now owns 10,482 shares of the companys stock valued at $444,000 after buying an additional 2,842 shares during the last quarter.

About iShares North American Natural Resources ETF

iShares North American Natural Resources ETF, formerly iShares S&P North American Natural Resources Sector Index Fund (the Fund), is an exchange-traded fund. The Fund seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of U.S.-traded natural resource-related stocks as represented by the S&P North American Natural Resources Sector Index (the Index).

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Morgan Stanley upgraded shares of Jefferies Financial Group (NYSE:JEF  Free Report) from an underweight rating to an equal weight rating in a research note issued to investors on Wednesday, Marketbeat.com reports. They currently have $36.00 target price on the financial services providers stock, up from their previous target price of $27.00.

Several other research firms have also recently commented on JEF. StockNews.com assumed coverage on Jefferies Financial Group in a report on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a hold rating for the company. TheStreet cut Jefferies Financial Group from a b rating to a c+ rating in a report on Tuesday, June 20th. Finally, Oppenheimer boosted their target price on Jefferies Financial Group from $40.00 to $45.00 in a report on Tuesday, June 13th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and one has issued a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $39.50.

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Jefferies Financial Group Stock Down 1.1 %

JEF opened at $35.31 on Wednesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.02, a current ratio of 0.95 and a quick ratio of 1.07. The stock has a market capitalization of $7.80 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.20 and a beta of 1.41. The business has a 50-day moving average of $31.79 and a two-hundred day moving average of $33.85. Jefferies Financial Group has a 12 month low of $27.78 and a 12 month high of $40.80.

Jefferies Financial Group Announces Dividend

Jefferies Financial Group ( NYSE:JEF Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, June 27th. The financial services provider reported $0.05 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.27 by ($0.22). The business had revenue of $1.04 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.04 billion. Jefferies Financial Group had a net margin of 9.21% and a return on equity of 6.23%. The firms quarterly revenue was down 22.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $0.46 EPS. On average, research analysts expect that Jefferies Financial Group will post 1.52 earnings per share for the current year.

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, August 25th. Shareholders of record on Monday, August 14th will be issued a $0.30 dividend. This represents a $1.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.40%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, August 11th. Jefferies Financial Groups dividend payout ratio is presently 61.86%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Jefferies Financial Group

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Franklin Resources Inc. boosted its holdings in Jefferies Financial Group by 2,034.4% in the 4th quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 234,037 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $8,023,000 after acquiring an additional 223,072 shares during the period. Harbour Capital Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of Jefferies Financial Group in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $531,000. Moody Aldrich Partners LLC acquired a new position in shares of Jefferies Financial Group in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $985,000. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Jefferies Financial Group in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $228,000. Finally, First Heartland Consultants Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Jefferies Financial Group in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $210,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 63.14% of the companys stock.

About Jefferies Financial Group

(Get Free Report)

Jefferies Financial Group Inc engages in the investment banking and capital markets, and asset management businesses in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. The company operates in two segments, Investment Banking and Capital Markets, and Asset Management. It provides investment banking, advisory services with respect to mergers or acquisitions, restructurings or recapitalizations and private capital advisory transactions; equity and debt underwriting; and corporate lending.

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Shares of Lloyds Banking Group plc (LON:LLOY  Get Free Report) have earned an average rating of Moderate Buy from the nine analysts that are presently covering the firm, Marketbeat Ratings reports. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has issued a hold rating, six have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. The average 12-month price objective among brokers that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is GBX 66.25 ($0.85).

LLOY has been the subject of several recent research reports. Shore Capital reiterated a buy rating on shares of Lloyds Banking Group in a research note on Wednesday, May 3rd. Berenberg Bank reiterated a hold rating and issued a GBX 58 ($0.75) target price on shares of Lloyds Banking Group in a research note on Wednesday, May 3rd. Barclays reiterated an overweight rating and issued a GBX 70 ($0.90) target price on shares of Lloyds Banking Group in a research note on Monday, July 3rd. Royal Bank of Canada reiterated an outperform rating and issued a GBX 70 ($0.90) target price on shares of Lloyds Banking Group in a research note on Wednesday, April 12th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. downgraded shares of Lloyds Banking Group to an underweight rating and reduced their target price for the stock from GBX 56 ($0.72) to GBX 42 ($0.54) in a research note on Monday, June 26th.

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Insider Activity

In other news, insider William Chalmers purchased 151,274 shares of Lloyds Banking Group stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, June 21st. The stock was purchased at an average cost of GBX 44 ($0.57) per share, for a total transaction of 66,560.56 ($85,630.46). Company insiders own 0.31% of the companys stock.

Lloyds Banking Group Stock Performance

About Lloyds Banking Group

Shares of LLOY stock opened at GBX 44.36 ($0.57) on Friday. The firm has a market cap of 28.64 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 554.50, a P/E/G ratio of 0.69 and a beta of 1.22. Lloyds Banking Group has a 52 week low of GBX 38.51 ($0.50) and a 52 week high of GBX 54.33 ($0.70). The firms 50-day simple moving average is GBX 44.82 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is GBX 47.85.

(Get Free Report

Lloyds Banking Group plc, together with its subsidiaries, provides a range of banking and financial services in the United Kingdom. It operates through three segments: Retail; Commercial Banking; and Insurance, Pensions, and Investments. The Retail segment offers a range of financial service products, including current accounts, savings, mortgages, motor finance, unsecured loans, leasing solutions, and credit cards to personal and small business customers.

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New Millennium Group LLC lifted its stake in shares of iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF (BATS:MTUM  Free Report) by 1.2% during the first quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 59,321 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 726 shares during the period. iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF makes up about 8.3% of New Millennium Group LLCs investment portfolio, making the stock its 3rd biggest position. New Millennium Group LLC owned approximately 0.08% of iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF worth $8,248,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A number of other large investors also recently modified their holdings of MTUM. TimeScale Financial Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF during the 1st quarter worth approximately $26,000. WFA of San Diego LLC acquired a new stake in shares of iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF during the 4th quarter worth approximately $27,000. GeoWealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF during the 4th quarter worth approximately $32,000. BNP Paribas Arbitrage SNC boosted its position in shares of iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF by 1,202.4% in the 3rd quarter. BNP Paribas Arbitrage SNC now owns 534 shares of the companys stock worth $70,000 after purchasing an additional 493 shares during the last quarter. Finally, CENTRAL TRUST Co bought a new position in shares of iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF in the 1st quarter worth $72,000.

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iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF Stock Down 0.1 %

BATS:MTUM opened at $145.49 on Friday. iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF has a 12-month low of $81.37 and a 12-month high of $113.60. The firm has a market capitalization of $9.95 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.35 and a beta of 0.91. The stocks fifty day simple moving average is $140.47 and its 200-day simple moving average is $141.29.

About iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF

The iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF (MTUM) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the MSCI USA Momentum SR Variant index. The fund tracks an index of large- and mid-cap US equities, selected and weighted based on price appreciation over 6- and 12-month periods and low volatility over the past 3 years.

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Quinsam Capital Co. (OTCMKTS:QCAAF  Get Free Report) was the recipient of a significant drop in short interest in the month of June. As of June 30th, there was short interest totalling 30,200 shares, a drop of 73.9% from the June 15th total of 115,600 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 1,800 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 16.8 days.

Quinsam Capital Price Performance

OTCMKTS:QCAAF remained flat at $0.05 during midday trading on Friday. The stocks 50 day moving average price is $0.04 and its 200 day moving average price is $0.06. Quinsam Capital has a twelve month low of $0.03 and a twelve month high of $0.05.

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Quinsam Capital Company Profile

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Quinsam Capital Corporation operates as a investment and merchant banking firm in Canada. It primarily focuses on investment in technology, healthcare, mining and exploration, e-sports, and cannabis markets. The company's activities include acquisitions, advisory services, lending activities, and portfolio investments.

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This article is the final in a series of reports on the war in Ukraines effect on Eastern European countries. It is written by two Colorado College students traveling through the region.

BATUMI, Georgia  This seaside port city on the country's western edge is about 100 miles south of Russian-occupied territory. Colloquially dubbed Las Vegas of the Black Sea, Batumi is home to rocky beaches, grand hotels and numerous casinos.

But since the war in Ukraine began, Batumis demographics have shifted. Within the last year, Russian, not Georgian, has become the most commonly heard language as waves of Russians fleeing south have flooded into the city.

Batumis streets reflect this influx. Currency exchange shops, becoming more and more necessary for Russian citizens withdrawing money in the wake of Western financial sanctions, are commonplace throughout the city. All offer transactions for Russian rubles.

Vendors, too, cater to the new market. As a bus from Tbilisi arrived in the city square, taxi drivers, shopkeepers and landlords surrounded its exits, eagerly offering their services in brisk Russian to the disembarking passengers.

While the city is renowned for its tourist appeal, its newer visitors are not necessarily temporary. As Vladimir Putin continues pushing his forces into Ukraine, the city has become a permanent destination for migrant Russians looking to establish a steady life abroad amid chaos at home.

They are finding and creating their economic niche in the country  opening their cafes, their restaurants, especially in Batumi, said David Matsaberidze, professor of international relations at Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University. According to Matsaberidze, this new economic wave is the latest component of a gradual Georgian shift toward overdependence on the Russian economy.

But in addition to a dependency on Russian goods, Matsaberidze says, the economy is now becoming dependent on Russian people.

As for getting jobs, its basically jobs that they are creating for themselves, said Matsaberidze.

But while Russians fill an economic role in the country, it comes at a price. With a relatively small economy, Georgia was not prepared for a significant population influx, and negative impacts of the Russian migration have become more and more apparent as the conflict continues.

I would say that it became a difficult country to live in the moment the Russians arrived, said Daria Polkina, a Russian woman now living in Georgia. Its a country thats difficult to live in mostly for the locals, sadly. And this is also why the Russians encounter negativity. Because the rent went skyrocketing; because the prices in shops skyrocketed.

Even amid rising costs, Polkina has found an indefinite home in Georgia. I am very grateful for the fact that they even allow us to live here.

But while citizens, businesses and government institutions are generally accepting of the incoming population, some experience anti-Russian sentiment, reporting xenophobic comments in bars and at bus stops. Some businesses do not even allow Russians inside. On one occasion, according to Polkina, local police intended to ticket a group for jaywalking until the authorities realized the perpetrators were not, in fact, Russian.

Coming south and renouncing the Kremlin has not necessarily paved an easy path.

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However, inside Georgia and its eastern neighbors, Armenia and Azerbaijan, some residents nostalgia for the Soviet Union manifests in pro-Putin sentiments. In Armenia, one Russian man, who wished to remain anonymous for security reasons, was held at gunpoint until he praised Putins leadership.

Even with economic and social challenges, many of the Russians living here do not consider returning home.

Of course I have dear memories of my childhood there. Of course I have friends there, family there, said Polkina. But when it comes to the government and the politics, and when it comes to what, right now, has become of Russia, I hate it.

I was scared to actually be in Russia, said one Russian man, who now lives in Georgia. Although he had long-ago filed documentation about medical conditions that made him ineligible for military service, Russian authorities claimed to have lost the records and added him to the list of potential draftees.

They can do whatever they want with the documents you have to make you go to war," he said. "They can pull up stuff like that, he said.

But even after fleeing their home country, expatriates find themselves caught in the middle of a distinct political conflict within Georgia, where Russian influence battles Western ideals.

Russian forces occupy 20% of the country. Meanwhile, the Georgian legislature mandates that the European Union flag hangs from every government building despite the fact that Georgia is not a member of the political and economic bloc.

After the nation applied in March 2022, the EU listed political and economic reforms Georgia would need to undergo in order to gain union status. The highlighted areas of improvement included government transparency, judicial accountability and mechanisms to ensure free elections.

As Georgia tries to better understand its place in the international sphere, Russian migrants attempt to do the same amid a fast-growing diaspora. Many Russians raised on pro-Kremlin propaganda are now experiencing the West for the first time. And some, while they have enjoyed the benefits of living outside of Russia, remain underwhelmed by life outside its borders.

Its sad, said the Russian man. Sometimes it is not as safe here as I could have thought it could be.

Even so, Russias continued militarism, both domestically and abroad, has led many expatriates to rethink their national identity. Some are looking to gain their Georgian citizenship and have no intentions of returning to their homeland.

Russia is going to hell, said the Russian man.
Stoneridge Investment Partners LLC decreased its stake in EOG Resources, Inc. (NYSE:EOG  Free Report) by 2.7% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm owned 11,330 shares of the energy exploration companys stock after selling 317 shares during the period. Stoneridge Investment Partners LLCs holdings in EOG Resources were worth $1,299,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Several other hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. CENTRAL TRUST Co increased its stake in shares of EOG Resources by 0.8% in the 3rd quarter. CENTRAL TRUST Co now owns 9,118 shares of the energy exploration companys stock worth $1,019,000 after acquiring an additional 74 shares in the last quarter. Bollard Group LLC grew its position in EOG Resources by 0.7% during the 4th quarter. Bollard Group LLC now owns 10,569 shares of the energy exploration companys stock valued at $1,369,000 after purchasing an additional 77 shares during the last quarter. FSM Wealth Advisors LLC grew its position in EOG Resources by 1.7% during the 4th quarter. FSM Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 5,018 shares of the energy exploration companys stock valued at $650,000 after purchasing an additional 85 shares during the last quarter. White Pine Capital LLC grew its position in EOG Resources by 2.2% during the 4th quarter. White Pine Capital LLC now owns 3,942 shares of the energy exploration companys stock valued at $511,000 after purchasing an additional 85 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Chelsea Counsel Co. grew its position in EOG Resources by 1.4% during the 4th quarter. Chelsea Counsel Co. now owns 6,360 shares of the energy exploration companys stock valued at $824,000 after purchasing an additional 85 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 89.58% of the companys stock.

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Insider Activity

In other news, COO Lloyd W. Helms, Jr. sold 5,000 shares of EOG Resources stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, June 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $115.87, for a total transaction of $579,350.00. Following the sale, the chief operating officer now owns 149,689 shares in the company, valued at $17,344,464.43. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this link. In related news, EVP Jeffrey R. Leitzell sold 2,031 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction 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 sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, COO Lloyd W. Helms, Jr. sold 5,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction 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 completion of the sale, the chief operating officer now owns 149,689 shares in the company, valued at approximately $17,344,464.43. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 0.30% of the companys stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

EOG Resources Price Performance

Several analysts recently commented on the stock. StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of EOG Resources in a research report on Thursday, May 18th. They set a hold rating on the stock. The Goldman Sachs Group downgraded shares of EOG Resources from a buy rating to a neutral rating and dropped their price target for the company from $137.00 to $130.00 in a report on Tuesday, June 13th. Scotiabank raised shares of EOG Resources from a sector perform rating to a sector outperform rating and dropped their price target for the company from $150.00 to $145.00 in a report on Thursday, April 13th. Raymond James raised their price target on shares of EOG Resources from $140.00 to $150.00 and gave the company a strong-buy rating in a report on Friday, April 21st. Finally, Truist Financial raised their price target on shares of EOG Resources from $146.00 to $152.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, April 11th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eighteen have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, EOG Resources has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $146.24.

NYSE EOG opened at $118.93 on Friday. EOG Resources, Inc. has a 12 month low of $95.33 and a 12 month high of $150.88. The stock has a market cap of $69.56 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 7.44, a PEG ratio of 0.38 and a beta of 1.53. The companys 50 day moving average is $112.77 and its two-hundred day moving average is $117.99. 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 data on Friday, May 5th. The energy exploration company reported $2.69 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.42 by $0.27. The firm had revenue of $6.04 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $5.28 billion. EOG Resources had a net margin of 33.83% and a return on equity of 30.34%. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 51.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $4.00 earnings per share. As a group, research analysts anticipate that EOG Resources, Inc. will post 11.17 earnings per share for the current year.

EOG Resources Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, July 31st. Stockholders of record on Monday, July 17th will be given a dividend of $0.825 per share. This represents a $3.30 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.77%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, July 14th. EOG Resourcess payout ratio is currently 20.64%.

About EOG Resources

(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.

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Stoneridge Investment Partners LLC purchased a new stake in Archer-Daniels-Midland Company (NYSE:ADM  Free Report) during the first quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm purchased 26,602 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,119,000. Archer-Daniels-Midland makes up approximately 1.1% of Stoneridge Investment Partners LLCs investment portfolio, making the stock its 29th largest holding.

Other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $574,000. Allworth Financial LP boosted its stake in shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland by 46.3% in the 4th quarter. Allworth Financial LP now owns 1,696 shares of the companys stock valued at $158,000 after purchasing an additional 537 shares in the last quarter. Transform Wealth LLC boosted its stake in shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland by 21.3% in the 1st quarter. Transform Wealth LLC now owns 204,456 shares of the companys stock valued at $16,287,000 after purchasing an additional 35,944 shares in the last quarter. Quadrant Capital Group LLC boosted its position in Archer-Daniels-Midland by 24.1% during the 4th quarter. Quadrant Capital Group LLC now owns 4,345 shares of the companys stock worth $403,000 after buying an additional 844 shares during the period. Finally, Los Angeles Capital Management LLC boosted its position in Archer-Daniels-Midland by 1,066.1% during the 4th quarter. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC now owns 239,910 shares of the companys stock worth $22,276,000 after buying an additional 219,337 shares during the period. 78.13% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

ADM has been the topic of several recent research reports. Barclays cut their target price on shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland from $99.00 to $95.00 in a research report on Thursday, June 1st. BMO Capital Markets initiated coverage on shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland in a research report on Thursday, April 13th. They set an outperform rating and a $100.00 target price on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their target price on shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland from $87.00 to $85.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, April 12th. Roth Mkm began coverage on shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland in a research report on Thursday, June 22nd. They set a buy rating and a $92.00 target price on the stock. Finally, Robert W. Baird dropped their price target on shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland from $98.00 to $90.00 in a research report on Wednesday, April 26th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Archer-Daniels-Midland currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $99.50.

Archer-Daniels-Midland Stock Performance

NYSE:ADM opened at $78.20 on Friday. The company has a fifty day moving average of $74.46 and a 200-day moving average of $79.08. The firm has a market capitalization of $42.59 billion, a P/E ratio of 9.81, a P/E/G ratio of 1.83 and a beta of 0.81. The company has a quick ratio of 0.86, a current ratio of 1.51 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.31. Archer-Daniels-Midland Company has a twelve month low of $69.92 and a twelve month high of $98.28.

Archer-Daniels-Midland (NYSE:ADM  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, April 25th. The company reported $2.09 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.71 by $0.38. The company had revenue of $24.07 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $24.09 billion. Archer-Daniels-Midland had a net margin of 4.36% and a return on equity of 18.39%. Archer-Daniels-Midlands revenue for the quarter was up 1.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $1.90 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Archer-Daniels-Midland Company will post 6.79 EPS for the current year.

Archer-Daniels-Midland Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, June 7th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, May 17th were paid a $0.45 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, May 16th. This represents a $1.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.30%. Archer-Daniels-Midlands dividend payout ratio is currently 22.58%.

About Archer-Daniels-Midland

(Free Report)

Archer-Daniels-Midland Company procures, transports, stores, processes, and merchandises agricultural commodities, products, and ingredients in the United States, Switzerland, the Cayman Islands, Brazil, Mexico, Canada, the United Kingdom, and internationally. The company operates in three segments: Ag Services and Oilseeds, Carbohydrate Solutions, and Nutrition.

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CSFB downgraded shares of TransAlta Renewables (TSE:RNW  Free Report) from an outperform rating to a neutral rating in a research note released on Wednesday morning, BayStreet.CA reports. The firm currently has C$13.00 price objective on the stock, down from their prior price objective of C$14.50.

Several other analysts have also issued reports on the stock. TD Securities upped their price target on shares of TransAlta Renewables from C$12.00 to C$12.50 and gave the company a hold rating in a research report on Monday, May 8th. Atb Cap Markets lowered shares of TransAlta Renewables from an outperform rating to a sector perform rating in a research report on Sunday, May 7th. National Bankshares dropped their target price on shares of TransAlta Renewables from C$13.00 to C$12.50 in a report on Thursday, July 6th. Finally, ATB Capital lowered shares of TransAlta Renewables from a sector perform rating to a tender rating and dropped their target price for the stock from C$14.00 to C$13.00 in a report on Wednesday. Seven investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and one has assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of C$14.50.

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TransAlta Renewables Stock Performance

TSE RNW opened at C$13.24 on Wednesday. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of C$12.14 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of C$12.09. The company has a quick ratio of 0.82, a current ratio of 0.81 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 44.52. TransAlta Renewables has a 12-month low of C$10.63 and a 12-month high of C$18.45. The firm has a market cap of C$3.53 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 44.13, a PEG ratio of 2.71 and a beta of 0.71.

TransAlta Renewables Announces Dividend

TransAlta Renewables ( TSE:RNW Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Friday, May 5th. The company reported C$0.17 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of C$0.15 by C$0.02. TransAlta Renewables had a net margin of 14.55% and a return on equity of 4.12%. The business had revenue of C$119.00 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of C$134.80 million. On average, equities analysts forecast that TransAlta Renewables will post 0.7797409 EPS for the current year.

The business also recently disclosed a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, July 31st. Shareholders of record on Monday, July 31st will be issued a $0.0783 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, July 13th. This represents a $0.94 annualized dividend and a yield of 7.10%. TransAlta Renewabless dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 313.33%.

TransAlta Renewables Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

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.

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John Bean Technologies Co. (NYSE:JBT  Free Report)  Zacks Research upped their FY2023 earnings per share estimates for shares of John Bean Technologies in a report released on Wednesday, July 12th. Zacks Research analyst M. Das now expects that the industrial products company will post earnings per share of $5.37 for the year, up from their previous estimate of $5.31. The consensus estimate for John Bean Technologies current full-year earnings is $5.36 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for John Bean Technologies Q4 2023 earnings at $1.80 EPS, Q2 2024 earnings at $1.50 EPS, Q3 2024 earnings at $1.51 EPS, Q4 2024 earnings at $1.82 EPS, FY2024 earnings at $6.00 EPS, Q1 2025 earnings at $1.64 EPS, Q2 2025 earnings at $1.86 EPS and FY2025 earnings at $7.58 EPS.

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A number of other equities research analysts also recently issued reports on JBT. 58.com restated a reiterates rating on shares of John Bean Technologies in a research note on Friday, June 30th. StockNews.com started coverage on John Bean Technologies in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. They set a hold rating for the company. Robert W. Baird restated an outperform rating and set a $128.00 price target on shares of John Bean Technologies in a research note on Friday, June 30th. TheStreet upgraded John Bean Technologies from a c+ rating to a b- rating in a research note on Monday, July 3rd. Finally, 888 reiterated a reiterates rating on shares of John Bean Technologies in a research note on Friday, June 30th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $116.00.

John Bean Technologies Trading Down 4.2 %

John Bean Technologies stock opened at $116.57 on Friday. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $113.67 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $108.12. The company has a market cap of $3.71 billion, a P/E ratio of 28.57, a P/E/G ratio of 1.41 and a beta of 1.43. John Bean Technologies has a 52-week low of $81.59 and a 52-week high of $125.88. The company has a quick ratio of 0.83, a current ratio of 1.40 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.07.

John Bean Technologies (NYSE:JBT  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, April 26th. The industrial products company reported $0.94 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.72 by $0.22. The company had revenue of $529.50 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $513.54 million. John Bean Technologies had a return on equity of 18.50% and a net margin of 5.87%. John Bean Technologiess revenue for the quarter was up 12.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the company earned $0.87 EPS.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in JBT. Wellington Management Group LLP lifted its holdings in John Bean Technologies by 64.6% in the 1st quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 1,844,737 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $218,546,000 after purchasing an additional 723,720 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank purchased a new stake in shares of John Bean Technologies during the 4th quarter worth approximately $37,359,000. P2 Capital Partners LLC purchased a new stake in shares of John Bean Technologies during the 1st quarter worth approximately $20,355,000. Royal Bank of Canada raised its holdings in shares of John Bean Technologies by 82.0% during the 1st quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 372,539 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $44,134,000 after acquiring an additional 167,866 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Deroy & Devereaux Private Investment Counsel Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of John Bean Technologies during the 1st quarter worth approximately $15,598,000. 97.66% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Insider Activity at John Bean Technologies

In related news, Director Caroline Maury Devine sold 300 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, April 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $107.47, for a total value of $32,241.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 44,949 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $4,830,669.03. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. 0.96% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

John Bean Technologies Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, June 8th. Investors of record on Thursday, May 25th were paid a dividend of $0.10 per share. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, May 24th. This represents a $0.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.34%. John Bean Technologiess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 9.80%.

John Bean Technologies Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

John Bean Technologies Corporation provides technology solutions to food and beverage industry and equipment and services to air transportation industries in North America, Europe, Middle East, Africa, Asia Pacific, and Latin America. The company operates through two segments: FoodTech and AeroTech. It offers value-added processing that includes chilling, mixing/grinding, injecting, blending, marinating, tumbling, flattening, foaming, portioning, coating, cooking, frying, freezing, weighing, and inspection.

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The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has informed airline operators to be at alert over fuel contamination incidents in the aviation industry.

The All Operators Letter (AOL) followed a recent discovery of a huge volume of water in the fuel tank of one of the aircrafts belonging to Max Air, which operation of all Boeing 737 aircraft in its fleet was suspended last week.

After the discovery, which grounded the Max Air aircraft, the NCAA dispatched a team of investigators to Lagos, Kano and Abuja, where the airline had refueled prior to the incident.

Amidst the uproar that greeted the discovery, which averted a major incident in the industry, the NCAA followed up with an AOL to alert operators of the risks and hazards associated with aircraft refueling.

The AOL085, with reference number, NCAA/DAWS/AD.1104/AOL085, dated July 14, 2023, addressed to all airlines, aircraft operators and aviation fuel suppliers, was signed by the Director of Airworthiness Standards of NCAA, Gbolahan Abatan, an engineer.

The AOL reads: One of the most important topics in aviation safety is aircraft refueling safety procedures and precautions. It is the ground handling operation with the highest risk factor as compared to other operations.

There have been many flight accidents in history caused by fuel contamination resulting in abnormal operation of aircraft engines. Water is a major contaminant, amongst others.

In recent times, the NCAA has been receiving mandatory occurrence reports from airlines and other aircraft operators with issues related to water being found in the aircraft fuel tank of the aircraft. Of recent is a report of a significant amount of water drained from the fuel tank of a Boeing 737 aircraft that had a fuel indication and gauge malfunction in-flight, the letter said.

The NCAA, however, advised all airlines and operators to improve their refueling procedures as documented in their maintenance control manual/refueling manual and fuel suppliers operation manual/quality control manual.

The procedures, it stated, include inspection of aircraft refueling equipment by ground staff with a visual inspection of fuel hose, gauges, tires and the overall body of the truck.

The NCAA also called for testing, and checking of jet fuel quality before refueling by ground staff with the primary concern being the presence of water in the fuel.
The Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency, Kashifu Inuwa, disclosed the value of digitisation and that Nigerias economy can profit $53bn from the digitisation of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises.

On Friday, in a statement by the agency, he disclosed this while delivering an opening remark at TechMyBiz Pitch-A-Thon event in Lagos, which was jointly funded by the European Union and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development.

It stated, As SMEs make up a huge percentage of businesses and economic growth, the Director-General, National Information Technology Development Agency, Kashifu Inuwa, has said that digitisation of MSMEs will increase revenue by 26 per cent as well as reduce operating cost by 22 per cent, and contribute $53bn to the Nigerian economy.

The NITDA DG also noted, Firstly, we need to create innovation-friendly conditions in our country in terms of enabling policies and laws, government services, ease of doing business, and so on.

Secondly, we need to have support organisations  platform that will assist to digitise MSMEs for innovation hubs around the country to incubate ideas, because innovation is a process of taking an idea from inception to impact that means you can have an idea, and you can be innovative, but that is not enough, you need to commercialise your ideas.

Then we need the infrastructure, this is important to MSMEs, but Africa is lacking in digital public infrastructure. Digital public infrastructure is beyond having connectivity and access to computers," he said.

Speaking on the Second Industrial Revolution, he noted that it was about massive production which required enabling infrastructure for transportation, but today, in the current fourth Industrial Revolution, which was about digital services, there was a need for required infrastructure to aid digital services.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja stated that its operatives have arrested a 19-year-old student, Benjamin Nnamani Daberechi for attempting to export 7.2 kilograms of methamphetamine concealed in crayfish to Europe where he was going for undergraduate studies.

The anti-drug agency said this via a statement issued on Sunday, adding that the teenage suspect was intercepted on Wednesday 12th July, during an outward clearance of passengers on Turkish Airlines flight TK 0624.

While being interviewed by operatives, Daberechi claimed he was a student on his way to Cyprus for studies, but upon a thorough search of his luggage, he was found in possession of 7.2kg of whitish substance neatly concealed inside a sack of crayfish.

A field test of the substance however proved positive to Methamphetamine.

In the same vein, operatives of the Tincan Port Command of the Agency on Tuesday 11th July intercepted 116.5kg consignment of Colorado, a strong strain of cannabis concealed in bags hidden in a heap of used vehicles parts on the floor of a container marked FCIU 8459700, bearing three units of used vehicles imported from Toronto, Canada.

Based on intelligence, the Agency had requested for a 100 percent examination of the container which arrived the TICT terminal of the port on 14th June.

A joint examination with the Nigeria Customs, DSS and other stakeholders on Tuesday 11th July however led to the discovery of 233 parcels of the illicit substance stashed inside travelling bags on the floor of the container, covered with used vehicles spare parts.

Also attempts to export various quantities of illicit substances through courier companies were equally thwarted by NDLEA operatives of the Directorate of Operation and General Investigations, DOGI in Lagos.

While 336 grams of skunk stuffed inside computer hard drives going to Dubai, UAE, were seized at a courier firm, a suspect, Ibrahim Analu, 28, was arrested at Iddo motor park, Lagos while attempting to send 151,700 pills of opioids to Kaduna.

A total of 4.830kg skunk was also discovered at another courier firm in a shipment from Douala, Cameroon passing through Nigeria to Oman. The drug was concealed in 10 of 12 cans of palm fruits paste, locally called Banga, packed in a carton.

Meanwhile, a Lekki Lagos based female lawyer, Ebikpolade Helen, who specialises in production and distribution of skuchies, a mixture of cannabis, opioids and black currant has been arrested in a follow up operation in Awka, Anambra state following an earlier seizure of 5kg cannabis and 12 bottles of prepared skuchies in her apartment at Lekki.

Abubakar Shuaibu was arrested on Thursday 13th July at Cappa, Mushin/Oshodi road with 86 bottles of codeine-based cough syrup weighing 8.6 litres in his Toyota bus marked FFA 241YB, two other suspects: Razak Ogunbo and Adeola Idowu were nabbed Tuesday 11th July at Ikorodu with 51 litres of skuchies.

This is even as 372kg cannabis sativa and 48 bottles of skuchies measuring 48 litres were recovered from the home of a fleeing drug dealer at Akala, Mushin Lagos on Wednesday 12th July.

In Ondo state, operatives stormed a building at Ehin-Ala, Akure South LGA where they arrested one Abubakar Zayanu Gyambar, 28, with 162 jumbo bags of skunk weighing 1,944 kilograms, while another suspect, Henry Wilson, 50, was nabbed at Ogume town, Ndokwa West LGA, Delta State with same substance weighing 216.5kg.

A total of 45.41kg cannabis was recovered from Adam Hassan, 27, along Inga wa-Mani  Mashi road, Katsina enroute Niger Republic, while 70kg of same substance was seized from Mamman Nur Shettima on Saturday 15th July along Kano  Nguru road, Yobe state.

In Kano, a suspect, Abdulhamid Lawan Bayaro, 48, was on Friday 14th July nabbed at Dan Agundi area, Kano with 114 blocks of cannabis, weighing 71.7kg, just as operatives recovered 50,000 pills of Tamol, a brand of Tramadol at Kofar Waika area of the state.

While a total of 912,600 pills of pharmaceutical opioids including tramadol were recovered from two commercial vehicles; one coming from Lagos to Kano, the other was intercepted along Abuja-Jere-Kaduna expressway, with a suspect, Sahabi Lawal, 25, arrested.

In Borno state, 32-year-old Umar Tijjani Mustapha was arrested at Gangamari, MMC, with 55.25kg skunk on Thursday 13th July.
The Kebbi State Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service, on Sunday, commiserated with the family of one of its officers, Aminu Abdullahi, who reportedly was killed during official duty by an approaching car.

It was learnt that the officer, who was hit by the vehicle in the early hours of Thursday, 13th July, 2023, died this Sunday morning while still receiving medical treatment.

In a statement obtained by The Nigerian Voice, the driver of the car identified as Abdulwasiu Salawudeen, had since been brought to the Kebbi Command Headquarters for further investigation.

This is even coming as the Command held a parade on Monday 10th July to ignite the moral of its operatives.

While speaking at the event, Dr. Ben Oramalugo, said the essence of the parade was to encourage, instil discipline, bond the officers uniformly and to carry out the Nigeria Customs Service core mandates of revenue generation, suppression of smuggling, trade facilitation, provide security and enhance customs civil relationship to the host communities.

The statement added that, He also stressed that the officers should be their brothers keeper and should see each other as brothers in uniform and also help each other with intelligence, reinforcement.

In another development, the Customs Area Controller received the newly appointed Commissioner of Police CP Samuel Titus Musa psc and his management team on Wednesday the 12th day of July 2023.

In his speech, The CP stated that the essence of their visitis to encourage collaboration between the two sister agencies and to solicit support whenever the need arises to fight crimes in the state.

The CAC responded by addressing his coming as extending the hand of friendship not on official ground only but on personal ground. He continued on briefing the new CP on the efforts, the Command is doing which is not only revenue generation, anti smuggling but also providing security to citizens of Kebbi State.

Dr Ben stressed that, Nigeria Customs Service Kebbi Command had been synergizing with Nigeria Police Force Kebbi Command to provide peaceful atmosphere to the entire people of Kebbi state for economic growth and development. He concluded by reassuring the new CP of maximum cooperation and continuous synergy.

In another sad development, the CAC commiserated with the family of one officer, Aminu Abdullahi who was killed in the line of duty by an approaching car. The incident took place in the early hours of Thursday, 13th July, 2023 at about 0400Hrs when a 2015 Toyota Corolla model with chassis no: 2TBURHE3FC456204 rammed into the victim along tamac road, Yauri local government area of the state.

The officer was rushed to General Hospital Yauri for immediate medical attention, after a proper first aid was done; he was transferred to orthopaedic hospital Wammako, in Wammako local government area of Sokoto state.

Unfortunately, he gave up the ghost this morning after responding to treatment during the night. Thankfully, the suspect named Abdulwasiu Salawudeen who was driving the vehicle had since been brought to the Kebbi Command Headquarters for further investigation.
President Bola Tinubu has cautioned judges at the Presidential Election Tribunal against voiding his emergence as the nation's President.

He said that removing him as President could lead to a breakdown of law and order across the country.

Tinubu said this in his final written address to the Presidential Election Petition Court, PEPC, where he admitted his failure to score 25 per cent of votes cast in Nigerias capital Abuja. He, however, said it was insufficient to overturn his victory as declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

In his final defence statement to the court, Tinubu through his lawyers led by Wole Olanipekun, added that, Any other interpretation different from this will lead to absurdity, chaos, anarchy and alteration of the very intention of the legislature.

It was gathered that the lawyers were specifically addressing a section of the Nigerian Constitution that said a presidential candidate must score 25 per cent of votes in two-thirds of Nigerias 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, or Abuja.

Tinubu said he only failed to secure 25% in the FCT by only 6.01%

assuming without conceding that the FCT is independent of the other States of the federation, the percentage of 18.99% of votes scored by the 2nd respondent at FCT, only falls short of 25% by 6.01.

Public commentary has been rife about the intention of the clause after Mr Tinubu won the highest number of votes in a three-way presidential race in February but failed to score 25 per cent in the FCT.

Mr Tinubus team said courts have always been careful about giving extreme interpretation of the Constitution that could spark chaos.

Our courts have always adopted the purposeful approach to the interpretation of our Constitution, as exemplified in a host of decisions, the team said.

They also said Mr Tinubu would still have won the election even if he didnt score anything in Abuja and one other state, although this was not the argument of petitions, Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party and Peter Obi of Labour Party.

Even if there was no election in one State (including the FCT), or even if the election of a State/States (including the FCT) is/are voided, the entire election cannot be voided or canceled.

In concluding our arguments on this issue, we urge the court to hold that any election where the electorate exercise their plebiscite, there is neither a royal ballot nor royal voter; and that residents of the FCT do not have any special voting right over residents of any other State of the federation, in a manner similar to the concepts of preferential shareholding in Company Law.

We urge this court to resolve this issue against the petitioners and in favour of the respondent, the lawyers said.
By Jason Lange

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Joe Biden's re-election campaign ended last month with about $20 million in the bank, just trailing the $22 million plus reported by Republican front-runner Donald Trump, according to financial disclosures released on Saturday.

The disclosures filed to the Federal Election Commission point to a competitive money race ahead of the November 2024 presidential election.

Biden, a Democrat, has amassed a smaller war chest than past presidents at this point in recent re-election campaigns. Democrat Barack Obama had $37 million at this point in 2011, while Trump had over $56 million in June 2019.

The funds detailed in the disclosures represent a significant chunk of the funding behind the campaigns, but do not include money gathered by allied super PACs, which typically raise massive sums from the wealthiest donors and are due to disclose details on their finances later in July.

Biden's campaign announced on Friday that his re-election effort, when including the Democratic Party's accounts, had $77 million in the bank.

The president is not expected to face a serious challenge in the Democratic nomination contest. One challenger, anti-vaccine activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr., reported raising $6 million through June, while another, self-help guru Marianne Williamson, took in less than $1 million.

Trump's campaign, which was launched in November, reported spending about $9 million in the three months through June, more than any other campaign, according to the disclosures filed to election regulators. The spending included more than $2 million paid to Campaign Inbox LLC, a digital fundraising firm.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who ranks second to Trump in most opinion polls for the Republican nomination contest, had about $12 million in his campaign account, considerably less than the $21 million had by fellow Republican Tim Scott, a U.S. senator for South Carolina. DeSantis and Scott launched their campaigns in May.

Long-shot Republican candidates Doug Burgum and Vivek Ramaswamy disclosed putting millions of dollars of their own money into their campaigns. Burgum, the governor of North Dakota, lent about $10 million to his campaign and Ramaswamy, a former biotechnology executive, lent his about $15 million.

(This story has been refiled to fix typographical errors in paragraphs 3 and 7)

(Reporting by Jason Lange; Editing by Michael Perry)
Beyond the Green: is ESG failing?

The ESG movement of environmental, social and corporate governance, originally driven by good intentions, has been co-opted by lobbyists, special interest groups and various NGOs, and recent reviews have revealed its lacklustre performance in creating meaningful environmental change and have highlighted chronic abuse of flawed methodologies.

Environment

By The Phuket News

Sunday 16 July 2023 11:00 AM

Christine Ponce Garcia, Corporate Affairs Executive of Nestle Philippines (centre) receives a demand letter and invoice from the Filipino people outlining the costs of Nestles single-use plastic packaging. Photo: Greenpeace

This reality is painted by a report from Brown University which exposes how energy companies are pouring vast amounts of money and time into reputation-building green advertisements, amounting to an eye-watering US$3.6 billion (B126.511bn) as of the latest data.

This is echoed by a study conducted by Harvard that reveals approximately 72% of social media posts made by oil and gas companies incorporate deceptive greenwashing tactics (a deceptive marketing tactic that seeks to construct an illusion of environmental consciousness). This greenwashing tsunami is designed to mislead consumers about the environmental implications of investing in oil and gas companies, still some of the biggest contributors of greenhouse gases and global warming.

Although many instances of the creative use of statistics or simple deception have been revealed, regulatory bodies lack the resources to act and tend to prioritise other more tangible problems. However, a case in 2021 involving Walmart and other companies highlights the incredible extent of greenwashing as they faced a combined fine of $5.5 million for mislabeling rayon as sustainable bamboo.

Has ESG gone too far? The Kit Kat Standard

ESG investing strategies have traditionally focused on key issues such as sustainability, modern slavery, equality, executive pay, credible reporting and the environment. However, there is a growing movement within ESG activism to include nutrition as an important factor in guiding investment decisions.

A notable milestone in this campaign occurred when a group of institutional investors, managing approximately $3 trillion in assets, attended Nestles annual meeting. Nestle, a prominent player in the food industry with brands such as Kit Kat, became the target of ESG activists demands to promote more nutritious products and reduce its portfolio of chocolates and sweets.

Nestles shareholder mutiny served as a catalyst for the company to develop and release a new set of ranking metrics that specifically measure the nutritional value of its food portfolio in comparison to other food companies. Its well known that ranking metrics are used by the activist community to exert pressure on companies that fall behind in their preferred metrics. These metrics can be expanded once corporate compliance is achieved.

Not surprisingly, such examples of radical activism have raised concerns about the long-term appeal of ESG focused investments, with data showing a decline of approximately $163.2bn in global assets under management by ESG Friendly funds during the first quarter of 2023 compared to the previous year.

Empirically, fund managers are now warning that whilst narrow-focused ESG funds can occasionally deliver successful outcomes, they often struggle in the long-term to outperform broader market indices. This challenge happens because these boutique funds supposedly avoid larger groups of bad companies, sectors, or industries in their investment strategies. It remains to be said that there are really no alternatives for a consistent return  funds have to prioritise bottom-line investing, economic fundamentals, diversified and risk-adjusted returns and only then critical ESG goals.

Greenwashing, Kit Kats and moving goalposts

In the world of greenwashing, a newer form of misinformation known as Greensplaining has emerged that specifically targets environmentally conscious investors. An example of this is the introduction of the Xtrackers MSCI USA Climate Action Equity ETF by DWS, Deutsche Banks asset management arm. The ETF was designed to offer exposure to companies actively engaged in climate transition. However, its strategy, which focuses solely on the top 50% of companies in MSCIs global industry-classification sectors and evaluates performance against an MSCI-designed climate-action index, lacks consistent alignment with ESG goals.

MSCI develops its own customised ESG indices and analytics and then demonstrates to investors that they can outperform their own indexes. This creates a bias as MSCI designs the index, tracks its performance, and then determines whether the companies meet its own index criteria, all while presenting it as a responsible ESG initiative. To cover this obvious issue, MSCI explicitly states that it cannot guarantee that these ESG indices and analytics will outperform broader indices or lead to better global climate outcomes.

We should remember that ESG originated from a December 2004 report commissioned by the United Nations that aimed to create meaningful connections between financial and corporate activities with social policies, with an emphasis on fostering responsible practices rather than coercing corporations into compliance with an activist agenda. This original ESG concept is being compromised, and its agenda is being hijacked.

Cases like those with Nestle and the MSCI serve as an example of the issues in the ESG movement, highlighting how it is veering off course. This diversion from the original agenda is further exacerbated by companies jumping on the sustainability bandwagon as a pure marketing tool, leading to the rampant spread of greenwashing.

Its hard to predict the future of the ESG movement, but in the meantime, lets enjoy our Kit Kats before they become extinct.

By Dr Paul Crosio

Paul Crosio is a Partner at Silk Legal & founding partner of Silk Advisory. He is a practising Australian lawyer with over two decades of corporate experience in turn-around management in Thailand and abroad.

From global corporations to small businesses, organisations worldwide are dedicated to integrating sustainable and socially responsible practices into their operations. Silk Legal, understands the challenges of navigating the complex ESG landscape and maximising opportunities for impact. Thei experienced team can provide tailored solutions to help businesses achieve ESG goals and stand out as an industry leader. Email info@silklegal.com.
Class Act Media bestowed two APAC Insider awards

PHUKET: The Phuket News has been awarded Most Comprehensive Media Outlet 2023 - Southern Thailand and IMAGE asia / Class Act Media has been awarded Most Comprehensive News & Media Company 2023 - Southern Thailand in the 2023 South East Asia Business Awards of United Kingdom- based APAC Insider Magazine.



By The Phuket News

Sunday 16 July 2023 02:20 PM

The awards were publicly announced on Friday (July 14). Entries to the awards opened on Feb 20 this year, and closed on Apr 5.

2023 has been a year of healing. For businesses of all sizes, its acted as an outlet for creativity and innovation that may have otherwise been dampened following the worlds emergence from the pandemic. Its thanks to this worldwide recovery that pre-existing businesses were able to find their feet again, whilst new businesses were granted the opportunity to start making a real impact on the world, the magazine said in its announcement.

South East Asia is occupied by some of the most steadfast companies who have not only persevered through the pandemic, but have also sought to lift themselves, and others, up towards a better tomorrow. Success is born in South East Asia, and its evident through this years selection of winners.

As a result of this steadfast determination to keep going, no matter the odds, APAC Insider launched the 2023 edition of the awards programme, where it celebrates the award-winning companies that continue to make a difference.

Awards Co-ordinator Laura OCarroll commented on this years winners: We are always proud to lend a platform to the businesses that are shaping the future, and this years South East Asia Business Awards programme is no different. I extend my congratulations to all whove been recognised in APAC Insiders 2023 programme, and wish you all the best in the year to come.

Class Act Media and IMAGE asia were bestowed two accolades at last years UK-based annual APAC insider awards.

Image Asia/Class Act Media was bestowed Most Outstanding News & Information Business - Phuket while The Phuket News was awarded Leading Provider of Digital News & Information - Southern Thailand.

The Phuket News, and its sister newspapers Thai-language Khao Phuket and Russian-language Novosti Phuketa, are published by Class Act Media, in print and online.

The Class Act Media house is also home to the popular Live 89.5 radio station broadcasting across the island and JP Mestanzas Phuket News TV Phuket Xtra video reports. The IMAGE asia brand, under the same media ownership, produces the popular Window on Phuket magazine and the Where to Eat in Phuket dining guide.

Class Act Media & IMAGE asia General Manager Jason Beavan commented on receiving the awards, Very honored to be nominated, and overwhelmed with winning. Huge credit to the team, fantastic recognition on all the hard work they do day in day out. Im privileged to work with them.

Phuket was well represented in the awards. Among the Phuket-based businesses that also received awards were:

5 Star Marine Co. Ltd

- Best Private Boat Charter Company 2023 - Southern Thailand

Asia Pacific Superyachts

- Superyacht Care Agency of the Year 2023 - APAC

Hilltop Wellness Resort

- Most Relaxing Wellness Resort 2023 - Phuket

Phuket Elephant Nature Reserve

- Sustainable Elephant Sanctuary of the Year 2023 - Thailand

Phuket Sail Tours

- Best Family-Friendly Island Tours Operator 2023 - Thailand

Villa Zamani

- Most Sophisticated Tropical Holiday Villa 2023 - Phuket

Walu Bowls Karon Phuket

- Most Healthy & Nutritious Breakfast & Brunch Restaurant 2023 - Phuket

VeganReady

- Vegan Food Enterprise of the Year 2023 - Thailand

Charter Dock A

- Best Yacht & Boat Charter Company 2023 - Phuket

Published quarterly by AI Global Media, APAC Insider endeavours to bring you the latest need-to-know business content and updates from across the Asia Pacific Region.

Keeping pace with a vast array of ever-changing sectors thanks to regular contributions from some of the regions foremost corporate professionals, APAC Insider is home to the best news, features and comment from the people and institutions in the know.

Since 2010 AI Global Media has been committed to creating engaging B2B content that informs our readers and allows them to market their business to a global audience and to create content for and about firms across a range of industries.
Drug arrests net 770 meth pills, ya ice

PHUKET: Thalang Police have arrested two men on drugs charges, with one of the men found in possession of more than 700 methamphetamine pills (ya bah). and crystal meth (ya ice). The other man was found with a small amount of heroin.

drugscrimepolice

By Eakkapop Thongtub

Sunday 16 July 2023 09:00 AM

The arrests, both made yesterday (July 15), were part of the ongoing crackdown on drugs by the Thalang Police.

Nikhom Nas Manop, 45, from Phang Nga, was arrested at a rented room in Moo 9, Pa Khlok.

He was found in possession of 770 ya bah pills, 13.61 grammes of ya ice and drug-taking devices. Also seized during his arrest was one Oppo mobile phone, police reported.

Nikhom was arrested for illegal possession of a Category 1 narcotic for unauthorised distribution, which is an action for trade and causing spread in the community.

Also arrested yesterday was Thanawut Plaekrit, 32, registered as a resident of Moo 4, Mai Khao.

Arrested in front of a rented room in the same area also in Moo 9, Pa Khlok, Thanawut was found with 0.08 grammes of heroin, Thalang Police reported.

Thanawut was arrested for possession of a category 1 narcotic (heroin) for unauthorised use.

Both Nikorn and Thanawut were taken to Thalang Police Station for processing.

DNA samples were taken from both suspects to be included in the police database, Thalang Police reported.
Korean woman found dead in bathroom in Rawai

PHUKET: A 43-year-old South Korean woman was found dead in her bathroom in Rawai early this morning (July 16) in what is being investigated as a suicide.

deathsuicidepolice

By Eakkapop Thongtub

Sunday 16 July 2023 01:20 PM

Lt Charat Lempan of the Chalong Police said officers were notified of the incident at 7am.

Officers were called to the scene, a two-storey townhouse in Patak Soi 1. The offices of a dive tour company were on the ground floor of the unit. The woman stayed in the living quarters upstairs.

Rescue workers from the Phuket Kusoldharm Foundation and a medical team from Vachira Phuket Hospital also soon arrived

Officers found the body of the woman on the floor of the bathroom upstairs. Beside her were the bodies of her two cats.

Inside the room, which was filled with smoke, officers found a rice cooker filled with charcoal.

Officers reported no signs of fighting or a struggle in the living quarters or on the womans body.

The womans boyfriend, a 41-year-old South Korean national, told police that he was away in Surat Thani on Business when he received a message from her. She was believed to be home alone at the time of her death.

Police at this stage are continuing their investigation.

The womans body was taken to Vachira Phuket Hospital in Phuket Town for a comprehensive post-mortem examination to confirm the cause of death.

If you or anyone you know is in need of emotional support and counselling, please contact the Samaritans of Thailand at their 24-hour hotline 02-113-6789 (English & Thai) or the Thai Mental Health Hotline at 1323 (Thai).
Navy probes stolen ammo allegations

BANGKOK: The navy has opened an investigation into an ordnance officer believed to be responsible for stealing large quantities of cartridges from its arsenal in Sattahip naval base in Chon Buri, according to navy spokesman Adm Pokkrong Monthatphalin.

militarycrime

By Bangkok Post

Sunday 16 July 2023 09:32 AM

A naval demonstration is carried out near Sattahip Naval Base in Chon Buris Sattahip district. Photo: Bangkok Post / file

He was responding to the popular CSI-LA Facebook page, run by a Thai expatriate in the US, which alleged tens of thousands of M855 and M856 cartridges as well as thousands of 40mm grenade launcher rounds have gone missing from the navys warehouse in Sattahip, reports the Bangkok Post.

The navy chief Adm Choengchai Chomchoengpaet has ordered a probe into the theft which was reported to the Royal Thai Marine Corps (RTMC) on July 5. An inspection of the arsenal is underway at the compound of the Phra Maha Jetsadaratchao naval camp.

Checks found a significant quantity of ammunition missing, Adm Pokkrong said. He did not give a figure.

A separate panel was also launched by the navy chiefs order to look into disciplinary punishment against the ordnance officer who looted the cartridges. Adm Choengchai has insisted that swift action will be taken.

The RTMC also issued an instruction for the closed-circuit television footage at the arsenal to be reviewed and guards on the premises interviewed. It came to the RTMCs attention that an ordnance officer had let himself in to the warehouse using duplicate keys he had made and taken ammunition on several occasions.

The officer, whose name was not given, has been absent from work since July 6 and could not be contacted.

The warehouse guards are not involved in the theft, said Adm Pokkrong.

The guards said they did not stop the officer from taking the ammunition because they thought it was part of his working routine.

The CSI-LA Facebook page said one source estimated that at least 400,000 cartridges were stolen. The page added it was curious to know why the ammunition disappeared in the wake of clashes in a neighbouring country and at a time when Thailands politics was becoming increasingly unstable over the PM vote.
Sergey Lavrov opens Russian consulate in Phuket

PHUKET: Sergey Lavrov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, officially opened the Consulate General of the Russian Federation in Phuket at Royal Phuket Marina yesterday (July 15).

Russiantourismeconomicspolitics

By The Phuket News

Sunday 16 July 2023 12:26 PM

Joined by Evgeny Tomikhin, Ambassador of the Russian Federation to the Kingdom of Thailand, Mr Lavrov was welcomed to the event at 4pm by Phuket Vice Governor Amnuay Pinsuwan.

Leading the welcoming delegation was Foreign Minister of Thailand Don Pramudwinai, joined by Asi Mamanee. Director-General at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Department of European Affairs; Phuket Provincial Police Deputy Commander Col Jirasak Siemsak; and Gulu Lalvani, CEO and founder of Royal Phuket Marina.

Also present for the occasion were a small gathering of important government officials, members of Phukets private sector and members of Phukets Russian community.

Todays event adds a bright page to the 126-year history of diplomatic relations between our countries. It is difficult that at this moment we have managed to create a strong foundation of Russian-Thai relations, allowing us to build our cooperation reliably, in a mutually respectful way, regardless of the fluctuations of the geopolitical environment, Mr Lavrov said.

[To] Develop active political dialogue, trade-economic cooperation, cultural and educational exchanges with our Thai partners. Let us not forget that one of the key tasks of diplomacy is to protect the rights and legitimate interests of Russian citizens abroad, he added.

It is well known that Thailand is one of the favorite vacation destinations of Russians. Even being here for a short time, you realize that Phuket is so popular for a reason - beautiful nature, warm climate (including rainy seasons, gotta love them too), cheerful people. After the resumption of direct airline, there was a distinctive trend in the growth of tourist flow from Russia to Thailand. Since October 2022, Thailand has been visited by more than a million Russian citizens, with half of them spending their vacations in Phuket I am convinced that these numbers will only grow in the future.

Today with my colleague, Foreign Minister of Thailand Don Pramudwinai spoke about steps that must be taken so that the cards of the Russian payment system World can be used here without any problems. This will give an extra momentum to an increase in tourist flow.

Phuket is a famous resort, but Russian diplomats here will have intense work. They will have direct consular functions related to ensuring the interests of Russian citizens in Phuket, as well as business links and promoting cooperation between Thailand and Russian regions. One of the nearest tasks is to establish fraternal links of Phuket with the Kamchatka Krai.

Todays opening ceremony of the permanent office of the Consulate General of Russia in Phuket is an important but not the last step in expanding Russias diplomatic presence in Southeast Asia. There are plans to open additional diplomatic missions in other friendly states of the region, Mr Lavrov concluded.

The Consulate General of the Russian Federation in Phuket is located in the central square of the Royal Phuket Marina complex on Thepkrasattri Rd, Koh Kaew.

The Consulate General in Phuket has been operating since 2020 and is also responsible for the provinces of Phang Nga, Krabi, Ranong, Trang, Satun, Chumphon, Nakhon Sri Thammarat, Narathiwat, Phatthalung, Songkhla and Yala. The post of Consul General is occupied by Vladimir Sosnov.

The Russian consulate in Phuket can be contacted as follows:

Address: 63/501 Moo. 2 Thepkrasattri Rd, Koh Kaew Subdistrict, Mueang District, Phuket Province (Location on Google maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/cShJuJ5RwKvRxgpc6?g_st=it)

Phone: 095-2598081

Email mail: phuketconsul@yandex.ru

Telegram: t.me/PHUKETCONSULATE

Facebook:       (RusConsulatePhuket)

Website: phuket.mid.ru
Vietnamese National Assembly members to tackle dog and cat meat trade

A roundtable discussion aimed at combatting the consumption and trade of dog and cat meat was convened by Soi Dog Foundation International and social and behaviour change science agency Intelligentmedia with the National Assembly of Viet Nam last week. The event brought together nearly 50 parliamentarians, government officials and specialists from across Vietnamese society to tackle the serious and urgent issue.



By Soi Dog Foundation

Sunday 16 July 2023 10:00 AM

An estimated 5 million dogs and 1 million cats are brutally killed for meat per year in Viet Nam. The World Health Organization warns that the trade, slaughter and consumption of these animals pose public health risks, including from trichinellosis, cholera and particularly the deadly rabies virus, which still kills approximately 70 people each year in Viet Nam. Despite the increasing number of citizens fighting to end the practice, some groups still consider dog and cat meat a delicacy, which motivates traders to continue operating.

The discussions encouraged a more comprehensive understanding of the dog and cat meat trade in Viet Nam, the efforts of various authorities and ministries around pet management and associated legal frameworks.

Nguyen Tuan Anh, Vice Chairman of Board of The Deputy Affairs (under Standing Committee of The National Assembly), said, Dog and cat meat trade and consumption are increasingly burning issues. Animal welfare has been [part] of the National Assemblys supervisory sector. Viet Nam has a comprehensive legal framework on the issue, but enforcement is the major loophole. This must be enhanced at all levels in the short term.

In addition, targeted communication campaigns should be amplified so that involved actors realise that strengthening welfare standards not only improves the lives of animals but can also educate the public about the zoonotic disease risks that they might face. More than that, the reputation of the nation in an increasingly greener planet. I support innovative and impactful initiatives to reduce and stop the trade and consumption of dog and cat meat in Viet Nam.

One prominent conversation revolved around the strategy and roadmap for developing Hanoi as a dog and cat meat-free city.

Ta Van Tuong, Vice Director of Hanoi Department of Agriculture, said, Being the cultural heart of Viet Nam, its critical for Hanoi  the countrys capital  to maintain its prestige as a cultural-based, civilised and dynamic city. Phasing out dog and cat meat is key to attracting more tourists who are increasingly caring for environmental tourism services and animal welfare conditions. The risk of rabies is obvious if dog control and vaccination is not properly enforced.

In the short term, Hanoi should adopt anti-rabies measures, establish safety zones for vaccinated dogs and strictly control the trade and consumption of dog and cat meat. Additionally, local authorities should work hard to increase education, public awareness, control of unleashed dogs and enhance animal welfare regulations and settle violations. It contributes to creating the image of the modern and civilised city.

Thailand-based animal welfare organisation Soi Dog Foundation International, who are fighting for an end to the dog and cat meat trade across Asia, led a discussion around evidence-based research on the link between animal-directed violence and its adverse impacts on human beings. The survey investigated how workers in the trade are motivated and what consequences they might have suffered as a result of their involvement, including emotional distress, anxiety, depression and other symptoms akin to post-traumatic stress disorder. Physical injuries and infectious diseases should also be given due consideration.

Rahul Sehgal, Director of International Advocacy at Soi Dog Foundation International, said, The ultimate goal is a ban, initially at the provincial level like with Hanoi Capital, on the trade and slaughter of dogs and cats and their consumption. The partnership with the National Assembly has marked a critical milestone in raising the profile of the issue to the top of government so that laws and regulations to control the dog and cat meat trade will be further improved and enforced.

We are also committed to supporting the authorities, civil society associations and other relevant stakeholders to adopt a thoughtful and multi-faceted approach which will include education, legislation, promoting alternatives, cultural change and collaboration leading to a zero-tolerance attitude against dog and cat meat consumption.

As dog and cat meat consumption is deeply rooted, public education and raising awareness should be at the forefront of tackling the issue. In the long run, an evidenced-based, comprehensive and targeted social and behavioural change initiative should be employed to initiate and sustain a change of practice.

Duyen Bui, Social and Behavior Change Director of Intelligentmedia, said, Apart from legislation improvement and increased enforcement, behavioural science should be utilised to alter the habit, especially of high-frequency dog and cat meat consumers. It necessitates in-depth understanding and proper segmenting of the user groups, the creation of barriers and restrictions, and education on alternatives. Interventions not only involve the target audiences but also their closed network and the whole community so that public scrutiny and the social norm against consumption will be kicked off and maintained. Ultimately, it will put the practice to an end.

Lessons can also be learned from countries where a ban on dog and cat meat already exists, such as Thailand and the Philippines.

The event closed with a strong consensus from parliamentarians and leaders from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of Trade and the Ministry of Culture, Sport and Tourism that ending the consumption and trade of dog and cat meat is necessary for the sake of animal welfare compliance, public health and safety and the countrys image.
(Reuters) -A civilian was killed and another wounded in Russian shelling in Ukraine's Kharkiv region, while seven were injured in a village in Zaporizhzhia, Ukrainian officials said on Sunday.

The Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhia regions in Ukraine's east and southeast have seen fierce combat throughout much of the 17 months since Moscow invaded its neighbour, with Kyiv's forces fighting to liberate areas Russian forces now occupy.

In a move widely condemned as illegal, Russia said last year it was annexing Zaporizhzhia and other parts of Ukraine, and it controls a nuclear power plant there, Europe's largest, but the regional capital, the city of Zaporizhzhia, remains under Kyiv's control.

Ukraine recaptured much of the eastern Kharkiv region in September, with Russian forces occupying now only a small strip of land there.

A 33-year-old man died and a man was wounded in Russian firing at residential buildings in the village of Kolodiazne in the region overnight, Oleh Sinehubov, Kharkiv's governor, said on the Telegram messaging app.

He said Russia had launched four S-400 surface-to-air missiles overnight at the city of Kharkiv, slightly damaging a residential building.

Zaporizhzhia Governor Yuriy Malashko posted on Telegram that three women and four men were injured and a number of houses damaged in heavy Russian shelling from multiple rocket launchers on the village of Stepnohirske on Saturday afternoon.

Over the past day, there had been 48 instances of Russian artillery firing on a number of towns and villages in the region, Malashko said.

Russia shelled the city of Zaporizhzhia, damaging at least 16 buildings, Anatoliy Kurtiev, secretary of the city council, said on Telegram, adding that one district was without electricity on Sunday morning.

A Russian-installed official in parts of Zaporizhzhia controlled by Moscow, Vladimir Rogov, said on Saturday that Ukrainian forces had destroyed a school in the village of Stulneve, while air defence forces intercepted a drone over the city of Tokmak.

Reuters could not independently verify the Russian and Ukrainian accounts. Both sides deny targeting civilians.

Russia's defence ministry said on Saturday it had destroyed a number of Ukrainian weapons depots in Zaporizhzhia region over the past day. Ukraine's top military command said Russia was trying to stop Ukraine's advance there, heavily shelling the area.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy vowed again on Saturday to liberate all the land that Russia occupies.

"We cannot leave any of our people, any towns and villages under Russian occupation," Zelenskiy said in his nightly video address. "Wherever the Russian occupation continues, violence and humiliation of people reign."

(Reporting by Lidia Kelly in Melbourne; Editing by Diane Craft and William Mallard)
Airlines, both domestic and abroad, have canceled more than 1,300 flights coming in and out of the Northeast due to continuing storms.

At least 1,344 flights coming within, in, or out of the United States have been canceled as of Sunday afternoon, according to FlightAware. Among the airlines canceling flights are Republic, JetBlue, United, and American Airlines.

GOP BALANCES ELECTION INTEGRITY AND STATES RIGHTS IN HOUSE VOTING BILL

United Airlines and American Airlines, two of the U.S.'s major airline companies, have canceled 118 and 107 flights, respectively.

Most of the cancellations are out of Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey and John F. Kennedy International Airport, and LaGuardia Airport in New York.

Over 5,930 total flights have been delayed within, in, or out of the U.S., as well.

Severe weather prompted ground stops at the three airports, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.

The National Weather Service shows "excessive rainfall" for several Northeastern states, with New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Maryland "under the highest threat."

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Some of the highest rainfall totals recorded were six inches in Bay Shore, New York, and four inches in Danbury, Connecticut.

The National Weather Service also issued a tornado watch for areas in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, and Rhode Island on Sunday morning through 3 p.m. EDT.

Original Location: Airlines cancel over 1,300 flights due to Northeast storms

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Heraeus, a German technology company, has started constructing a specialty light source project with a total investment of 100 million yuan ($14 million) in Shenyang, capital of northeast China's Liaoning province.

The main products of the project in the China-Germany Equipment Manufacturing Industrial Park (CGIP) include photonics-based solutions from infrared to ultraviolet, which are applied in fields such as environmental protection, electronics, automotive, new energy, and semiconductor.

The project is expected to be put into operation in April 2024, and achieve an annual output value of 300 million yuan after full operation, according to the company.

In October last year, Heraeus invested 500 million yuan in the CGIP to build a quartz semiconductor manufacturing base.

The CGIP became China's first platform for high-end equipment manufacturing cooperation between China and Germany in late 2015.

The park is aimed at developing leading industries such as automobile manufacturing, intelligent manufacturing, biomedicine, new energy, and digital economy. It has facilitated more than 400 projects from industry giants such as BMW Brilliance, FEV, and Heraeus, with a total investment of about 320 billion yuan.
Pennsylvania authorities confirmed the deaths of at least three people following severe flooding as search and rescue efforts remain ongoing.

Authorities said the bodies of two women and one man were recovered in the Washington Crossing area in Upper Makefield Township Saturday.

WHAT UPCOMING MAJOR MOVIES WILL BE AFFECTED BY THE HOLLYWOOD ACTORS AND WRITERS STRIKE?

Officials in Bucks County initiated rescue efforts earlier the same morning after around five inches of rain made landfall in the region.

Local media reports say the county coroner has, so far, confirmed at least three deaths, and said the bodies of those victims were located outside of their vehicles on a road where flood waters may have risen to as high as five feet.

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) has since provided residents impacted by the flooding with information about how to seek out in-person assistance, as he relayed in a tweet Saturday morning.

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Upper Makefield officials said they are continuing search-and-rescue efforts for a family of four consisting of two adults, a two-year-old, and a nine-month-old.

Original Location: At least three dead, four missing after severe Pennsylvania flooding

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The state government has increased the minimum support price (MSP) of common paddy from Rs 2,040 to Rs 2,183 per quintal. In addition to this, an additional Rs 20 per quintal will be given above this MSP if a farmer sells the paddy in the centralised procurement centres (CPCs), district procurement centres (DPCS) and mobile CPCs.

By SNS 21 July, 2023 8 mins read
Union home minister Amit Shah is slated to visit Bengal to assess the situation regarding the violence during the panchayat polls, said Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state president and MP Sukanta Majumder today. Sukanta Majumder stated that the Union home minister is scheduled to visit the state next month. Union home minister is closely monitoring the situation here. He wants to prevent any further loss of lives in the state, said Mr Majumder, who returned to Kolkata after a meeting with Mr Shah yesterday.

He also mentioned that even after the elections, there are central forces present in Bengal. Union home minister Amit Shah wants to ensure that more violence and loss of life could have been prevented. His upcoming visit holds great relevance for the people of Bengal. The BJP has sent a factfinding team to the state to investigate the poll violence, and the report has been submitted to the partys national president, JP Nadda. The BJP is addressing various troubled areas, he added. Sukanta Majumder also highlighted that Union home minister Amit Shah is actively involved in this effort. In a previous tweet, Mr Shah had stated: Even the bloodcurdling violence in Bengal could not stop the BJP from achieving a stellar performance in the panchayat election.

The BJP nearly doubled its seat tally from the previous election, indicating a significant rise in the trust placed by the people. Meanwhile, BJP MP Soumitra Khan wrote a letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, demanding the dismissal of Trinamul Congress MP and national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee from his MP post for criticizing the court. Soumitra Khan alleged that Abhishek had attacked the countrys constitution. Abhisheks comments about the judiciary are highly insulting.

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Therefore, I demand that Abhisheks candidacy be dismissed. According to the constitution, we cannot go against the judiciary. The remarks made by the Diamond Harbour MP are an insult to the judiciary and the constitution. Abhishek Banerjee should be dismissed as an MP, and appropriate action should be taken.
Union minister of state for Minority Affairs John Barla today echoed the Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari and demanded imposition of Article 355 of the Indian Constitution, in West Bengal. Speaking to the reporters, Mr Barla, BJPs MP from Alipurduar, having failed to capture a single seat of Zilla Parishad in his district, today said:  Imposition of Article 355 is a must to conduct a free and fair three tier panchayat elections.

I think rural polls should be conducted again. Free and fair polls is not possible here if Article 355 is imposed. Party sources said the state leadership will hold a review meeting in Kolkata tomorrow to formulate the next course of action based on inputs related to recently ended rural polls, its results and present position of party workers as well party support base following results in all districts.

Though Mr Barla was in favour of Article 355, the BJPs state secretary, Dr Shankar Ghosh, MLA from Siliguri, expressed his views with a difference. Central governments interfere is a must to curb the new trend in West Bengal. We have seen violence and even more violence in previous days during pre-poll and post-poll period. People belonging to different political parties attacked their opponents to keep their political interests.

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But during Trinamul Congress regime we noticed miscreants attacked the people, who belong to oppositions, Dr Ghosh said, adding, Earlier it was people versus people, now it is miscreants versus people.

 He also said : Not only that this time the new trend, which we have noticed this time, is dangerous. Administrative officials from Block Development Officers to Chief Secretary have worked in support of the ruling party. It is unfortunate and dangerous. To curb this trend the Centre should interfere, Siliguri MLA Dr Ghosh said.
If one drives down Gariahat Road, which after a point turns into Raja S.C. Mullick Road, one would pass, to the left, a rather unassuming building. But looks can be deceiving because, Dinabandhu Andrews College also boasts a prominent faculty. One name in particular caused considerable buzz earlier this week, especially in political circles, after West Bengals ruling Trinamool party declared him as one of its six nominees for the Upper House of Parliament, the Rajya Sabha.

That name was that of Professor Samirul Islam, an IITian and chemistry professor, who is also leader of Banglar Sanskriti Mancha or The Forum for the Culture of Bengal. Not among Trinamools most visible public faces, Prof. Islams nomination did come as a surprise to few, who were not privy to discussions taking place within the party for weeks. In the speculations leading up to the announcements, the three names that were declared almost sanguine were those of the very vociferous Trinamool spokespersons, Dola Sen, Derek OBrien and Sukhendu Shekhar Roy.

The role that they played in constantly raising the pitch, demanding clarifications and keeping the issues of importance alive in the Upper House with their regular interjections and questionings made them almost impossible to let go, said political analyst Tarun Ganguly. Their nominations were not the surprises. The new names, other than Professor Islams were those of RTI activist, Saket Gokhale and Trinamools Alipurduar District president, Prakash Chik Baraik.

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The profile of Prof. Islam is an interesting study in understanding the calculated decision to nominate him. The 36-year-old chemistry professors credentials include his tireless work among the minorities, migrant labouers and others from the under privileged group during the Covid-19 pandemic, which has translated into a sizeable support base in several districts, including East and West Bardhaman, Birbhum, Malda and Murshidabad and parts of the North and South 24 Paraganas Districts.

The fielding of the young candidate from the minority community, it is felt, was meant also to counter the growing influence, in southern Bengal, of the Indian Secular Front and its leader Naushad Siddiqui, who was supposed to significantly dip into the nearly 27 percent of the Muslim vote, otherwise considered a Mamata forte. Profs Islams nomination is expected to throw a spanner in the works for Siddiqui. In West Bengal, political parties dont have a chance of a victory unless it has the support of at least a part of that 27 percent minority vote, veteran politician Chandra Kumar Bose told The Statesman. Bose, part of the Bengal BJP, however, is an advocate of communal harmony and he pointed out that political parties who would want to do electorally well in the state would need to adopt it as a principle.

Prof Islams Bengal forum has not only stood for the idea of communal harmony but it has been involved in agitations against the central governments moves to introduce NRC and CAA. Before the Assembly elections of 2021, it had been among the groups to have organized the anti-BJP programs including the No Vote to BJU campaign, which really caught on on social media especially Facebook and Twitter. The other two names nominated by Trinamool which until the announcement was made public were not known, were that of Saket Gokhale and Prakash Chik Baraik. Gokhale, an RTI activist is also extremely active on social media. His criticism of the BJP had report
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday visited the flood relief camp at Mori Gate to assess the situation and ongoing efforts to provide support to the victims of recent floods in low-lying areas around the Yamuna river.

Expressing his concern for those affected by the floods, Kejriwal emphasised the governments commitment to assisting the victims. We have established relief camps in various locations, primarily in schools and Dharmashalas to provide necessary amenities such as toilets and clean water, he said.

The CM acknowledged the challenges faced by the people of Yamuna Bazaar, where the floodwaters caused significant damage and loss of belongings. Many individuals lost important documents, including Aadhaar cards.

The Delhi Chief Minister assured them that special camps would be organised to facilitate the recovery of these essential documents. He also highlighted the plight of children who lost their books and school uniforms due to the flooding.

Additionally, considering the current muddy conditions in the affected areas, Kejriwal mentioned that efforts would be made to fill up keechad with dry soil to expedite the drying process.

The government is exploring various means to provide ad hoc relief to the flood-affected individuals, including compensation for their losses. Specific details and announcements regarding this assistance will be made soon, the CM said.

Addressing a question regarding Yamuna bridge maintenance payments, Kejriwal clarified that the responsibility lies with the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC), which is owned by the Central government.

Regarding the ongoing efforts to control the water levels, the CM informed the press that pumps are being used to reduce the water level in the affected areas. The progress varies across different locations, but the water level of the Yamuna River has gradually decreased to 205.9 metres, with further receding expected in the coming days.

Kejriwal tweeted, I personally visited a relief camp set up at a school located at Mori Gate to oversee the arrangements. Along with providing shelter for the affected people, arrangements for food, water, and toilets have been made. For those whose important documents and childrens books have been washed away in the floods, special camps will be set up later to provide them assistance, and arrangements will be made for books and clothes for the children. The government will soon announce assistance for those who have suffered significant losses. We are reaching out to the flood-affected people with all possible help.

Meanwhile, the CM also tweeted to inform that the Chandrawal Water Treatment Plant has also been started. This will restore water supply to the tune of 105 MGD in assemblies falling in central Delhi namely Rajinder Nagar, Karol Bagh, Ballimaran, Chandni Chowk, Patel Nagar, Palam Vihar, Delhi Cantt and also in NDMC areas. Water supply from this area had got disrupted because its raw water supply pump house, which is in Wazirabad WTP, had got flooded on July 13.
Oppenheimer is the film based on the true story of J. Robert Oppenheimer which is helmed by Christopher Nolan. The movie focuses on Oppenheimers role in developing the atomic bomb.

Oppenheimer was a remarkable physicist who studied, researched and developed the atomic bomb. After teaching in some of the top universities in the world, Oppenheimer was recruited by one of his previous teachers to assist with the Manhattan Project. The goal of this project was to develop an atomic bomb, as approved by President Franklin Roosevelt.

Shortly after being recruited to crunch numbers on the Manhattan Project, Oppenheimer was promoted to take the lead on a secret weapons laboratory.

The story of Oppenheimer is based on the inventions of J. Robert Oppenheimer who is best known for the invention of the atomic bomb. He worked at secret weapons laboratory based in New Mexico. The film will also show Oppenheimer and his team developing an atomic bomb that used a nuclear reaction to cause catastrophic initial damage to a target, as well as lasting effects from radiation that would lead to illness and death over time.

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The lead character of Robert Oppenheimer is played by Cillian Murphy, Oppenheimers wife is played by Emily Blunt other actors are Matt Damon, Robert Downey Jr, Alden Ehrenreich, etc. The film is written by Christopher Nolan, Kai BirdMartin, and Sherwin.

Indian audiences are very excited to watch this film because it is said that upon witnessing a test explosion during the Trinity test, Oppenheimer famously quoted the Bhagavad Gita, a Hindu scripture, saying I have become Death, the destroyer of worlds. And, Indian for sure wants to know his connection to Hinduism and India.

The film will also portray the death of J. Robert Oppenheimer who died on February 18, 1967, after suffering from cancer which was likely caused by his heavy smoking habit. Following a series of unsuccessful treatments, he died at the aged of 62.
Cillian Murphy is getting noted for his role of J. Robert Oppenheimer in the film Oppenheimer and he is looking very promising in the role. He is all geared for the big release and for the promotion of the film.

Murphy was born on 25 May 1976 in Douglas, Cork. His mother taught French while his father, Brendan, worked for the Department of Education. His grandfather, aunts, and uncles were also teachers. He was raised in Ballintemple, Cork he had two sisters and one brother. He started writing and performing songs at the age of 10. He was raised Catholic and attended the fee-paying Catholic secondary school Presentation Brothers College, where he did well academically but often got into trouble, sometimes being suspended; he decided in his fourth year that misbehaving was not worth the hassle. Not keen on sports, which was a major part of the schools curriculum, he found that artistic pursuits were neglected at the school.

Murphy did his first performance in secondary school when he participated in a drama module presented by Corcadorca Theatre Company director Pat Kiernan. Novelist William Wall, who was his English teacher, encouraged him to pursue acting but he was set on becoming a rock star. In his late teens and early 20s, he sang and played the guitar in several bands alongside his brother, Paidi, and the Beatles-obsessed duo named their most successful band The Sons of Mr. Green Genes, which they adopted from the Frank Zappa song of the same name. They were offered a five-album deal by Acid Jazz Records, which they rejected because Paidi was still in school and the duo did not agree with the small amount of money they would get for giving the record label the rights to Murphys compositions.

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Murphy began studying law at University College Cork (UCC) in 1996 but failed his first-year exams because he was busy with his band, but he knew within days after starting at UCC that law was not what he wanted to do. After seeing Corcadorcas stage production of A Clockwork Orange, directed by Kiernan, acting began to garner his interest. His first major role was in the UCC Drama Societys amateur production of Observe the Sons of Ulster Marching Towards the Somme, which starred Irish-American comedian Des Bishop.

He made his professional debut in Enda Walshs 1996 play Disco Pigs and in the 2001 screen adaptation of the same name. His early notable film credits include the horror film 28 Days Later (2002), the dark comedy Intermission (2003), the thriller Red Eye (2005), the Irish war drama The Wind That Shakes the Barley (2006), and the thriller Sunshine (2007). He played a transgender Irish woman in the comedy-drama Breakfast on Pluto (2005), which earned him a nomination for a Golden Globe Award.

Murphy began collaborating with filmmaker Christopher Nolan in 2005, playing Scarecrow in The Dark Knight Trilogy (20052012) as well as appearing in Inception (2010) and Dunkirk (2017). He gained prominence for his role as Tommy Shelby in the BBC period drama series Peaky Blinders (20132022) and for starring in the horror sequel A Quiet Place Part II (2020). In 2023, he starred as J. Robert Oppenheimer in Nolans biopic Oppenheimer.

In 2011, Murphy won the Irish Times Theatre Award for Best Actor and Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Solo Performance for the one-man play Misterman. In 2020, The Irish Times named him one of the greatest Irish film actors.
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Sunday met the president of All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) Maulana Khalid Saifullah Rahmani in Uttar Pradeshs Lucknow.

A meeting against UCC, Akhilesh Yadav tweeted.

After the meeting, the president of AIMPLB Maulana Khalid Saifullah Rahmani said that today he met SP National President Akhilesh Yadav and discussed the issues regarding Uniform Civil Code.

Today we met SP national president Akhilesh Yadav and discussed many issues including Uniform Civil Code (UCC), the AIMPLB chief said.

Earlier today, All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) targeted the Centre over the Uniform Civil Code, saying the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party was raking up a new issue ahead of the assembly elections in five states due later this year and Lok Sabha polls in 2024.

Article 44 of the Constitution of India says that the state shall endeavour to secure a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) throughout the territory of India.

The UCC proposes a common set of laws dealing with marriage, inheritance, adoption and other matters.

Even as Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a strong case for the implementation of the UCC at a recent public meeting, several leaders in the Opposition voiced opposition to the proposed legislation.

With regard to a reference sent by the Ministry of Law and Justice on June 17, 2016, the 22nd Law Commission of India examined the subject matter of the proposed Uniform Civil Code (UCC).

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Writer and chairperson of Forum For Muslim Womens Gender Justice, Dr. Khadeeja Mumthas has come out against the action of the CPI-M in not giving opportunity to Muslim women to speak at the seminar organised by the left party against the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in Kozhikode on Saturday

Speaking to a Malayalam news channel on Sunday, Dr. Mumthas said the action of the CPI-M leaders in not giving opportunity to Muslim women to speak at the seminar against the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) was wrong . Was it to avoid the wrath of the religious leaders that the organisers avoided women on the stage of the UCC seminar, she asked

Dr. Mumthas said that she was approached by the organisers of the event, but they did not extend a formal invite to her as some of her views on the matter were in contrast with that of CPI -M.

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Its Muslim women who are facing the difficulties of Muslim personal law. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has spoken about implementing the UCC. The issues faced by Muslim women are still a reality. In this context, a seminar to discuss the UCC should have included Muslim women as speakers said Dr. Mumthas

Stating that personal law reform is very important for Muslim women, Dr. Mumthas said she has faith in the left and that she hopes they will correct the mistake.

VP Zuhara, the founder of NISA, a movement for reformation in Muslim Personal Law said the CPI-M leaders cant invite Muslim ladies on stage, as they want to appease Samastha Kerala Jamiyyathul Ulama leaders.

Zuhara further said though NISA had been calling for the implementation of UCC under the present political scenario, they are anxious about the Central governments agenda. Now we demand inclusion of Muslims under the Indian Succession Act, Zuhara said

Meanwhile,union minister for external affairs, V Muralidharan asked CPI-M leaders as to why no Muslim women were invited to speak at the seminar against the Uniform Civil Code (UCC). They should be given an opportunity to voice their opinions on UCC as they are facing the difficulties of Muslim personal law.
GOP presidential candidate Chris Christie said he has no plans to join the No Labels's third-party movement, calling it a "fool's errand."

"I'm not in this for showtime. I'm not in this for making a point. I'm in this to get elected president of the United States, and there are only two people who will get elected president of the United States: the Republican nominee for president and the Democratic nominee for president," Christie said in a Sunday interview with George Stephanopoulos on ABC's This Week.

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No Labels has sought to open the door for a third-party candidate in several presidential elections. For the 2024 election specifically, the group hoped to provide alternatives to former President Donald Trump or President Joe Biden for voters who do not want to see a repeat of 2020.

The group has launched a $70 million campaign to secure an independent ticket in the United States, worrying mainly Democrats and their allies that this will give Trump an easy victory in the 2024 election. Polling from center-left groups has shown that a No Labels ticket will be a "spoiler" and a "moderate independent candidate" would deliver Trump a narrow victory.

Speculation is rising over who No Labels could select as their third-party candidate, with most people eyeing Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) or former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan.

However, Christie said he does not "want to participate" in a "scattergun approach" to the election.

"They think they know who they're going to hurt. They want to hurt Donald Trump if he's the nominee. But, you know, when you get into a third-party campaign  we saw this with Ross Perot, we saw this later with Ralph Nader  You never quite know who you're going to hurt in that process," Christie said.

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No Labels has denied that its campaign will aid a Trump victory. Instead, it claimed it is well-positioned to dismantle the two-party system should it launch an alternative bid next year.

The group has said polling shows a substantial amount of voters, approximately 21%, who are undecided  which No Labels says provides an "unprecedented opening" for the third-party candidate to win.

Original Location: Chris Christie calls No Labels third candidate movement a 'fool's errand'

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Union Home Minister Amit Shah will chair a regional conference on Drugs Smuggling and National Security in New Delhi on Monday.

During the conference, over 1,44,000 kg of drugs worth Rs 2,416 crore, will be destroyed in various parts of the country by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) in coordination with Anti-Narcotics Task Forces (ANTFs) of all states.

The drugs to be destroyed will include 6590 kg by the NCBs Hyderabad unit, 822 kg by Indore and 356 kg by Jammu.

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Along with this, various law enforcement agencies of different states will destroy a total of 144,122 kg of drugs, including 1,486 kg drugs in Assam, 229 kg in Chandigarh, 25 kg in Goa, 4,277 kg in Gujarat, 2,458 kg in Haryana, 4,069 kg in Jammu and Kashmir, 103,884 kg in Madhya Pradesh, 159 kg in Maharashtra, 1,803 kg in Tripura and 4,049 kg in Uttar Pradesh.

Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the government has adopted a Zero Tolerance policy against narcotics to create a drugs-free India.

From 1 June 2022 till 15 July 2023, all regional units of the NCB and ANTFs of states have collectively destroyed around 876,554 kg seized drugs worth around Rs 9,580 crore, which is more than 11 times of the target.

With the destruction of drugs on Monday, the total quantity of drugs destroyed in one year will reach around 10 lakh kg, which has a value of around Rs 12,000 crore.

In order to realise the dream of a drugs-free India, this campaign of destruction of drugs will continue actively, with the same zeal, an official release said.
In a shocking case, a college student was kidnapped and set on fire in Bengaluru, officials said on Sunday.

The victim has been admitted to the Victoria Hospital and his condition is said to be serious.

Shashank, the college student, is a resident of R.R. Nagar.

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According to police, Shashank was in love with a girl, a distant relative from Mysuru. The parents from both sides were opposed to this. The victim had taken her to his home on July 3, when she had come to Bengaluru.

The parents and relatives of the girl, who came to know about this, had barged inside the house, attacked Shashank and took away the girl with them last Monday (July 10).

On Saturday, Shashank went to his college and was dropped by his father Ranganath. After finishing the college for the day, when Shahank was waiting for the bus, a gang of miscreants kidnapped him.

Police stated that the kidnappers tied his hands and legs, poured flammable substance and torched him. Somehow Shashank managed to douse the fire and with the help of people contacted his family.

Shashank suffered severe burn injuries all over the body.

The police have taken up the investigation.

More details are yet to emerge regarding the incident.
The Congress on Sunday announced its opposition to the Centres ordinance giving control of services back to Delhis Lieutenant Governor.

Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal said the partys stand on the issue of the ordinance is very clear and it is going to oppose it in Parliament.

The Congress stand on this is very clear. We will oppose it, Venugopal said while talking to a news agency.

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He said: The Congress will oppose all moves by the Centre to disturb the federal structure through Governors and L-Gs, including Delhi Ordinance in Parliament.

Venugopals remarks came a day before the crucial second meeting of 24 opposition parties in Bengaluru on July 17 and 18, which will also be attended by Congress Parliamentary Party chairman Sonia Gandhi.

This would be the second meeting of Opposition leaders after Bihar Chief Minister and Janata Dal-United leader Nitish Kumar initiated such a move after meeting all the senior leaders across the country to unite against the BJP. The first meeting was held in Patna on June 23.

Meanwhile, the AAP said the Congress unequivocal opposition to the Delhi ordinance was a positive development.

AAP MP and national spokesperson Raghav Chadha tweeted: Congress announces its unequivocal opposition to the Delhi Ordinance. This is a positive development.

After the first Opposition meeting in Patna on June 23, the AAP had said that unless the Congress publicly denounced the ordinance it would be very difficult for it to be a part of any coalition that includes the grand old party.

Following the Congress decision to oppose the Centres ordinance related to the control of administrative services in Delhi, the AAP announced that it will attend the second Opposition party meeting that is scheduled to take place in Karnatakas Bengaluru.

The AAP took this decision in its Parliamentary Affairs Committee (PAC) meeting which was held on Sunday. Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann also joined the meeting through the video conference.

AAP MP Raghav Chadha, while speaking to the media after the partys PAC meeting confirmed the same and said: As the Congress has also made its stand clear on the black ordinance, it is decided that the party under the leadership of Arvind Kejriwal will take part in the meeting of like-minded parties in Bengaluru on July 17-18.

The BJP-led Central government brought the ordinance on the transfer and posting of bureaucrats in Delhi in May, virtually negating a Supreme Court verdict giving the elected government in Delhi the control over services matters.

The ordinance seeks to set up a National Capital Civil Service Authority for the transfer of and disciplinary proceedings against Group-A officers from the DANICS cadre.

Transfer and postings of all officers of the Delhi government were under the executive control of the lieutenant governor before the May 11 verdict of the apex court.

The AAP had been counting on the support of the Congress, which has 31 MPs in the Rajya Sabha. The BJP does not have a majority in the Upper House of Parliament.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had even held one-on-one meetings with top Opposition leaders across the country, soliciting their support on the Ordinance issue. The Ordinance is likely to be tabled in Parliament during the Monsoon session.
Initiating a digital platform aimed at aiding the disaster-affected people of Himachal Pradesh, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Sunday launched the Aapda Rahat Kosh-2023 website.

Individuals can donate money in Aapda Rahat Kosh-2023 from anywhere. The system has been integrated with multiple payment gateways to ensure seamless transactions that include Debit Card, Credit Card, Net Banking, QR code and UPI, he said.

During the launch, the Chief Minister said that the magnitude of the tragedy was vast and people from across the country and abroad have expressed their desire to assist.

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He said that to facilitate this support, the Department of Digital Technology and Governance developed a transparent web link where anyone can donate online and receive a receipt on their mobile device.

The Chief Minister said that preparations were underway to enable online donations from overseas donors within the next few days.

Sukhu expressed gratitude towards employee organizations and individuals nationwide who have already contributed to the Aapda Rahat Kosh-2023.

He said that he himself and his cabinet colleagues, all Congress MLAs, have decided to donate their one months salary towards the cause.

Highlighting the severity of the situation, the Chief Minister said that Himachal Pradesh had faced immense losses due to the unprecedented rainfall, marking the worst calamity the state has experienced in 50 years.

He exhorted everyone to extend maximum financial support to help the state to recover from the devastation.
Himachal Pradesh Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi has rebuffed Union Minister Anurag Singh and Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakurs claim regarding the financial assistance of Rs 400 crore by the Central government to the state during the present disaster.

In a statement issued here on Sunday, Negi said that till now no help has been received from the Central Government for the current disaster in Himachal Pradesh.

He said that an amount of Rs 360 crore was released annually by the Central Government to the State Disaster Relief Fund (SDRF), which was the quarterly share received by the state from the Central Budget.

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Every year Himachal Pradesh gets its share of Rs 360 crore in SDRF in the ratio of 90:10 in two installments in the months of June and December. The Central Government has given both these installments to the state government in the month of July this year, he said.

He added that the second installment was released to the state in lieu of the damages caused during snowfall in December, which has been released earlier by the Central government this time.

Himachal Pradeshs outstanding funds of Rs 315 crore under the National Disaster Relief Fund (NDRF) were lying with the Central Government, which should be released at the earliest, he demanded.

No funds have been released by the Central Government to Himachal for the situation arising out of the disaster during this monsoon season, clarified the Minister.

He said that Anurag Thakur as a Union Minister and Jai Ram Thakur as a former Chief Minister must know the facts and should not lie to the people of the state.

Negi said that there has been a huge loss of government and private property in the state during this tragedy.

Along with power and water projects, roads have also suffered heavy damage, which would likely take more than a year to restore.

He said that the state government has written a letter to the Central Government to release an interim relief of Rs. 2000 crore.

The Central Government should have to release this amount as soon as possible, he added.

Himachal has witnessed a terrible tragedy. In such a situation, Union Minister Anurag Thakur and Jai Ram Thakur must leave aside their political motives and should help the state government to get this amount from the Government of India, he said.
Uttar Pradesh ATS has nabbed an ISI agent from Gonda. Special DG Prashant Kumar, while confirming the arrest on Sunday, said Rais, a resident of Gonda, was lured by the ISI to become its agent.

Rais told the police during interrogation by the ATS that he had met a person named Armaan in Mumbai.

Armaan said that injustice is being done to Muslims in India and convinced me into spying against India. Armaan also lured me with a job in Dubai and earning huge money, he said.

Later Rais started talking to a Pakistani man named Hussain and had sent him photographs of military establishments and some important information.

Besides, Rais disclosed that he also connected some of his friends with ISI.

ATS officials said that Rais was provided with a Bangladeshi mobile number by a Pakistani handler through which he used to contact them and send documents.
A voluntary organization working in tribal areas in Kerala and other states has written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Supreme Court Chief Justice DY Chandrachud against Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.

The High Range Rural Development Society (HRDS), the voluntary organization working in tribal areas including Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Tripura, Assam and Jharkhand, in its letter sent the other day, has requested that the SNC Lavlin case should not be postponed further. The HRDSs letter comes in the backdrop of adjournments of the SNC Lavlin case in the Supreme Court

The letter levelling allegations against the Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan claimed that there was an attempt to turn Kerala into a state where Hindus cannot live.

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The CBI has filed an appeal in the apex court against the Kerala High Court judgement that exonerated Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan and former electricity joint secretary A Francis, former chief engineer Kasturi Ranga Iyer and others.

The activities of HRDS, including its politics came under discussion in Kerala , after the organisation provided a job to gold smuggling accused Swapna Suresh in the organization .

Later, the Kerala government banned HRDS from constructing houses for tribals at Attapadi in Palakkad,as it was found that the houses built by them were not compatible with nature

Following this, HRDS secretary Aji Krishna moved the Kerala High court, seeking an inquiry against the Chief Minister in the allegations of gold and dollar smuggling. However, the High Court had dismissed the petition
The ruling NDA and the opposition UPA will hold politically significant meetings on July 18  the UPA in Bangalore and the NDA in Delhi  with the 2024 Lok Sabha elections in mind. Both are trying to strengthen and expand their respective coalitions, looking for new allies and getting back the old ones. The two groups aim to convey their readiness for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections through a plan of action.

The BJP rules in ten states and with its partners in five. The Congress is ruling in four and with its partners in three. Other parties are the Aam Aadmi Party, the All India Trinamool Congress, the Biju Janata Dal, the Communist Party of India (Marxist), the MNF, the BRS and the YSRCP. In about 180 seats, the regional parties are the primary challengers to the BJP. The Congress versus BJP would be in approximately 230+ seats. Bharat Rashtra Samiti, Biju Janata Dal, Andhra Pradeshs YSRCP, Bahujan Samaj Party, and other smaller parties with pockets of influence and vote banks are neutral.

The Opposition is enthused after its successful first meeting in Patna last month in which 16 parties participated. The Bangalore meeting is meant to take it forward. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has invited 24 parties to the second two-day meeting on July 17- 18. Forging ties freshly with the UPA alliance are MDMK, KDMK, VCK, RSP, Forward Bloc, Muslim League, Kerala Congress (Joseph) and Kerala Congress (Mani). MDMK and KDMK were BJP allies earlier. Sonia Gandhi, the leader of the Congress Parliamentary Party, will be present at the meeting.

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Though she has taken a back seat, this will be the first time she will be participating in this round of opposition unity meetings. The Opposition is already united in states like Maharashtra, Bihar, Tamil Nadu, Jharkhand, and Jammu and Kashmir. They send a total of 148 MPs to the Lok Sabha. Other states where the Opposition is strong are West Bengal, where the TMC directly competes with the BJP. In Delhi, the AAP is a rival to the Congress, and in Kerala, the Left. In West Bengal, both the Left and Congress are competitors to TMC. A lot had happened politically since the Oppositions first and second meetings.

The Nationalist Congress Party split this month. Eight NCP rebels, including Sharad Pawars close lieutenants Praful Patel and Chagan Bhujjbal, have also ditched the senior Pawar. Sharad Pawars nephew Ajit Pawar is now the new Deputy chief minister in the Shinde cabinet. Secondly, in West Bengal, Trinamool Congress led by Mamata Banerjee has won a massive victory in the recent Panchayat elections.

The main objective of the UPA is to create a welcoming atmosphere and promote positive relationships among opposing political parties. The motto is hum saath saath hai, meaning We are together. The Patna meeting has kept out irritants among the players, and they had decided to work on a broad plan. The critical question is whether Congress will accept the other players as equals and whether the others will accept the Congress.

After the Patna meeting, AAP declared that it would be difficult to attend the conference unless Congress publicly denounces the recent ordinance clipping the wings of its government in Delhi. The second priority is establishing a Common Minimum Programme.

The third is to agree on a convenor; the prime ministerial candidate will come later. The fourth is to deal with the apprehension that Prime Minister Modi might advance the Lok Sabha polls. Hence Opposition parties want the broadest possible consensus on various issues. BJP is eyeing NDA plus ahead of the 2024 general elections and a hat trick for Modi. A new and expanded BJP-led NDA will meet on July 18 in Delhi to discuss their plans for the 2024 polls. The BJP is eyeing a fifty per cent vote share with the new and old NDA members. The BJP lost four of its oldest allies: the Janata Dal (United), Akali Dal, Shivsena and JD(U).

Today, Telugu Desam and Akali Dal want to come back. Shiv Sena has split, and one faction will join the NDA. NDA has not met for more than a year. The BJP is seeking additional allies, even if they may be considered minor players. The new members that are expected to attend are: The Ajit Pawar faction of the Nationalist Congress Party. The Shinde faction of the Shiv Sena Chirag Paswan, leader of the Lok Jan Shakti Party (RV) The former chief minister and Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) leader Jiten Ram Manjhi and his son. The JD(S) from Karnataka could also join the NDA meeting.

Small minor players. There could be a delay in finalising the return of the TDP and the SAD. The BJP must nurse its alliances in Maharashtra, Haryana, Bihar, the northeastern states and the south, as partners feel neglected. It must also keep channels open with neutral parties like Biju Janata Dal and YSRCP. The purpose of the July 18 meeting is to signal that the NDA is active. It also wants to stop the spotlight being exclusively on the Bangalore meeting. The optics will play out to the fullest for both coalitions.

The challenge for the Opposition is to keep united and for the NDA to keep its members happy.
In what was easily one of the features of Prime Minister Narendra Modis historic visit to France, during he oversaw the countrys National Day celebrations as the Guest of Honour, President Emmanuel Macron hosted a banquet dinner in his honour.

The banquet was organised at Paris iconic Louvre Museum on July 14, the French National Day. Prime Minister Modi was welcomed by French President Macron and French First Lady Brigitte Macron and treated to specially curated all-vegetarian spread.

The Oscar-winning song Jai Ho, from the film Slumdog Millionaire, was played twice at the banquet hosted for PM Modi in Paris.

Set to tune by celebrated music composer AR Rahman, Jai Ho received an Academy Award for Best Original Song at the 81st Academy Awards in 2009, and also won in the category of Best Song Written for a Motion Picture at the 52nd Grammy Awards in 2010.

This lively and upbeat musical number from the British film was an Indo-Hispanic fusion anthem with a global spirit.

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The last time a banquet was held at Louvre was for Queen Elizabeth in 1953. The museum, which generally gets a lot of footfalls on this day, was closed on the French National Day for the hosting of the banquet.

Even the thread for the vegetatian menu had the Tricolour, marking a deviation from the protocol which is to use French colours only.

PM Modi, in his address at the banquet dinner, said the world has faced many ups and downs in the past 25 years but the friendship between India and France continued to grow deeper. He said the two nations have prepared a roadmap for the next 25 years and that their partnership is a force for global good.

Addressing the banquet dinner hosted by Macron, PM Modi said, In the past 25 years, the world faced many ups and downs and challenging times, but the friendship between France and India continued to grow deeper. We have made a long and important journey on the basis of Mutual understanding, trust and respect. Due to the personal efforts of President Macron, our ties are moving forward in every direction.

We have prepared a roadmap for the next 25 years. We are contributing not only to the welfare of both countries but also to world peace and security. Our partnership is a force for global good, PM Modi added.

PM Modi, on his visit to France, participated in the Bastille Day celebrations as the Guest of Honour, on Friday. He visited France at the invitation of French President Macron.

To mark the 25th anniversary of the India-France Strategic Partnership, a 241-member tri-service Indian armed forces contingent led by a military band also participated in the Parade, the PMO said in a statement.

The Indian Army contingent was led by the Punjab Regiment, followed by a complement from the Rajputana Rifles Regiment.

During the parade, the Indian military contingent marched to the patriotic tune of Sare Jahan Se Accha, while a squadron of Indian Air Force (IAF) Rafale fighters participated in a flypast over the Champs-Elysees at the Bastille Day Parade.

Rafale Jets of the Indian Air Force, from the 101 Squadron from Hashimara, formed a part of the flypast during the parade.

A giant in world history, with a decisive role to play in the future, a strategic partner, a friend. We are proud to welcome India as our guest of honour at the 14 July parade, President Macron said.

PM Modi and President Emmanuel Macron met notable dignitaries during the Bastille Day Parade in Paris.

During his two-day visit, PM Modi was aso conferred with Frances highest honour, the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour, by French President Emmanuel Macron.

July 14 marks the anniversary of the storming of the Bastille prison on July 14, 1789, during the French Revolution, which symbolizes the democratic values of Liberty, Equality and Fraternity, the central theme of both the Indian and French constitutions.

PM Modi, during his France visit, also held a meeting with French President Macron, reviewing the full range of ties between the two countries.
UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace has reportedly said that he will step down at the next Cabinet reshuffle after four years in the job.

Wallace, who has played a key role in the UKs response to the Ukraine war, told the Sunday Times he would not stand at the next general election, but ruled out leaving prematurely and triggering a by-election. He has served as Defence Secretary under three Prime Ministers.

Rishi Sunak is reportedly planning to shake up his top team, but no date has been confirmed, the BBC reported.

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His departure is not related to the Conservative partys current challenges, The Guardian reported, citing multiple reports.

I went into politics in the Scottish parliament in 1999. Thats 24 years. Ive spent well over seven years with three phones by my bed, Wallace told the Sunday Times.

Wallace, who has served longer in the role than any Conservative Defence Secretary before him, told the newspaper that he was conscious of the impact the job has had on his family.

He told the newspaper: While I am proud to have worked with so many amazing people and helped contribute to protecting this great country, the cost of putting that ahead of my family is something I am very sad about.

Wallace, a former soldier, is a popular figure in the Conservative Party and was, at times, seen as a frontrunner to become party leader, though never stood in a leadership election.
A left-wing charity that became unable to accept credit card donations following Washington Examiner reports on its Palestinian terrorism ties is now fundraising through a major payment processor, records show.

Alliance for Global Justice in February revealed that the Arizona nonprofit group and the 140 entities it fiscally sponsors could not process credit card transactions, which were handled by a company called Salsa Labs. Now, the Irish-American financial services company Stripe is processing cards on behalf of the alliance, as part of a move raising concerns among legal experts and Congress.

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"We will take action, again, to inform relevant parties and government agencies that AFGJ has apparently resumed funding known terror groups in contravention of terms of service, IRS rules, and federal laws," Marc Greendorfer, an attorney who heads Zachor Legal Institute, a think tank fighting antisemitism that filed an IRS complaint in January against the alliance over its terrorism ties, told the Washington Examiner.

Greendorfer added that the alliance and any payment processors aware of its "terror fundraising" could be held civilly liable for "aiding and abetting foreign terror groups" by victims of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, a U.S.-designated terror group. The alliance has fundraised for Collectif Palestine Vaincra, a member of the Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network, an Israeli-designated terror coalition sponsored by the alliance, according to the Arizona charity's website.

These ties have resulted in Zachor and the National Legal and Policy Center, a conservative watchdog, calling on the federal government to investigate the alliance for possibly supporting groups terrorizing the Jewish state.

A self-identified "progressive" and "anti-capitalist" charity, the alliance is an offshoot of the Nicaragua Network, an entity that supported Nicaragua's socialist Sandinista regime, the Washington Examiner reported.

The Alliance for Global Justice, which reported over $10.6 million during its fiscal year ending in 2022 after a staggering $56 million haul the year prior, was unable to take credit card donations because a Salsa Labs contractor called CardConnect took action in February, according to the Intercept. Camille Landry, the charity's outreach coordinator, told the outlet that the sequence of events "absolutely affected our ability to fundraise and support sponsor organizations  many of which need this money to literally pay rent and keep their lights on."

In announcing the fundraising dilemma, the alliance published a February press release blasting the Washington Examiner for an "attack on AFGJ."

The latest relationship between the charity and Stripe comes after the payment processor faced criticism in 2022 from the Israeli watchdog group NGO Monitor over Collectif Palestine Vaincra using its software.

"Threats of violence against the safety and security of Israel, our most important ally in the Middle East, have no place in America and must be universally condemned," Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) told the Washington Examiner. "Stripe should be completely transparent on why it is choosing to do business with Alliance for Global Justice or any group with suspected ties to Palestinian terror organizations threatening genocide against the Jewish people."

Stripe did not reply to a request for comment.

The company, which according to its annual letter processed $817 billion in transactions in 2022, says in its terms and conditions it doesn't work with any entity that "engages in, encourages, promotes, or celebrates unlawful violence or physical harm to persons or property" or "any group based on race, religion, disability, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, or any other immutable characteristic."

Palestinian protesters hangs a national flag at the border fence during a protest on the beach at the border with Israel near Beit Lahiya, northern Gaza Strip, Monday, Oct. 15, 2018. (Khalil Hamra/AP)

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Stripe's move to work with the Alliance also comes a few years after the likes of PayPal, Plaid, and Discover blocked Samidoun from using their services. CPV does not currently list a donation option on its website. The French group coordinated with the Popular Front in 2021 to fundraise for a child "indoctrination" in the Gaza Strip, according to NGO Monitor.

"American companies should not be providing services to any entity that actively fundraises for Palestinian terrorist organizations or promotes anti-Semitism," House Republican Conference Chair Elise Stefanik (R-NY) told the Washington Examiner.

The alliance has pocketed donations in recent years from influential liberal nonprofit groups, including over $7.9 million combined in 2020 from the Tides Center and Tides Foundation, tax forms show. The center and foundation dish out large sums to support Democratic-linked causes and were founded by businessman Drummond Pike. Planned Parenthood, for instance, gave $160,000 to the alliance in 2021, while George Soros's Open Society Foundations network handed the charity $250,000 in 2020, according to disclosures.

As far as its anti-Israel ties, the alliance has appeared to sponsor the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions against Israel coalition, which previously was unable to fundraise after Salsa Labs stopped working with the Arizona charity, records show. BDS is now accepting credit card donations through the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel, according to a Washington Examiner review.

The Lajee Center, a group located in the Palestinian refugee camp Aida in Bethlehem, Beit Jala, and Jerusalem, is another group the alliance has sponsored in the past, according to its website. The center's director, Mohammed Alazza, has posted videos on Facebook appearing to depict Palestinian civilians and children clashing violently with the Israeli military.

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"The Alliance for Global Justice was rightly stripped of its ability to process credit card donations because of this unholy alliance and credit card companies severed their ties to the organization," Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY), a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, told the Washington Examiner. "For Stripe to give them a lifeline and allow them to again process transactions is deeply concerning."

Alliance for Global Justice did not reply to multiple requests for comment.

Original Location: Major payment processor works with left-wing charity tied to Palestinian terrorism

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The Kerala Police on Sunday arrested six persons for gang-raping a 17-year-old girl.

Police said that the minor was gang-raped in December 2022 at Adoor in Keralas Pathanamthitta district.

The girl, according to police, was silent most of the time at home and when her parents inquired, she did not give a clear reply. School authorities later took the help of Childline and during the counseling it was revealed that she was raped by six people on different dates.

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Police registered a case on July 6 after taking information from Childline.

The girl was lured by her boyfriend, who first raped her, and later asked her to meet his friends. Police said that six of them raped her and all are under police custody now.

Sources in Adoor police told IANS that the men were under custody and being questioned.
Buddhist monks who took part in the Peace Walk in Ladakh lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modis call for peace in the world and also thanked him for the development of Buddhist places in India.

Carrying prayers and peace messages, a large congregation of Buddhist monks from across countries along with other devotees, leaders of other religious communities, and students carried out a peace walk to promote world peace and harmony on Sunday in Ladakh. The Indian Minorities Foundation (IMF) also participated. Spreading Lord Buddhas messages of peace and harmony, they walked from NDS stadium to Shanti Stupa in Leh, Ladakh which is located at an elevation of 11,841 feet above sea level, which culminated the 32-day Padh Yatra, of 150 Buddhist monks and laypersons of Thailand, for world peace.

Bhikkhu Sanghasena, Founder and President of Mahabodhi International Meditation Center (MIMC), Leh, Ladakh, said, The whole world is going through many challenges. It needs a great leader who can bring peace and harmony and friendship to the whole world. And that is our prime minister Narendra Modi who is a Karmyogi himself.

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He said that India is fortunate to have such a great leader who combines spiritual values  like yoga, meditation, and Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam.

Ven Bhikkhu Sanghasena, who is an internationally recognized and respected Buddhist leader, said, India is fortunate to have such a great leader. There are many economical leaders, and technological leaders, political leaders but everyone is missing one quality, the spiritual part. Prime Minister Narendra Modi combines spiritual values  like yoga, meditation, and Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam. He brings it to the general development.

He said that America and European countries are great. they have done wonderful work. They invented a lot of physical comforts, but it was not enough. They failed in leading the world harmoniously.

The whole world is looking at India and PM Modi to lead the world with our ancient wisdom of Mahakaruna, Ahimsa, Yoga, Meditation and Maitri. We all should feel fortunate that India is under the leadership of PM Modi who spreads peace and harmony, said Bhikkhu Sanghasena, adding that PM Modi has emerged as a global peacemaker.

The Indian Minorities Foundation (IMF) was also part of the peace walk led by its convenor Satnam Singh Sandhu.

Dr Pornchai Palawadhammo, President of the World Alliance of Buddhists (WAB), based in Thailand, who was part of the Padh Yatra, said that India is the motherland of Buddhism and it teaches peace.

India and Thailand can work together and create peace for the world. Indian PM Narendra Modi is a powerful and popular man and he understands the teachings of Buddha and he practices them, he said.

Local students participating in the Peace Walk said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, there has been significant development in the field of education in Ladakh.

After the declaration of Ladakh as a Union Territory, a new phase of development has begun. Ladakh has got a Central University, a college, and many schools. As a result of which the level of education in Ladakh has increased, said a student.

The Dhamma Padh Yatra reached Mahabodhi International Meditation Center (MIMC) Ladakh today. It was started for world peace on June 12, 2023, from Dharamshala in Himachal Pradesh.

On their arrival at MIMC on Sunday, they were welcomed by Bhikkhu Sanghasena and the delegation of the Indian Minorities Foundation (IMF) led by its convenor Satnam Singh Sandhu who also participated in the peace walk.

Comprising of Buddhist monks, leaders of other faiths, religious bodies, community leaders, devotees, and students, a congregation of nearly 2500 participated, which included monks from countries like Thailand, Nepal, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, and the US, in the peace walk which aimed to propagate the message of peace and harmony.

They also held prayers for world peace at Shanti Stupa.
The UK police have released a picture of an Indian-origin man in England who stalked and attacked his former girlfriend in 2021 as she boarded a bus in a bid to get away from him.

Dylan Singh, 23, got on the same bus before following the teenage victim into a property where he beat her, leaving her with a black eye and bruises in West Bromwich, the Birmingham Live reported on Friday.

Singh appeared at the Wolverhampton Crown Court recently, where he avoided immediate jail time for his offending.

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The court heard that Singh met the victim on Snapchat and was in a relationship with her for about two months.

The relationship became toxic, with the victim describing how Singh always wanted to know where she was.

The victim was at the West Bromwich town centre with her young nephew when she spotted Singh at the bus station on December 21, 2021.

He followed her throughout the journey, right from the time she boarded the bus to avoid him, till she entered her siblings flat.

He then grabbed her mobile and spotted a message which described the victim as good-looking and flew into a violent rage, slapping, hitting and also biting her, prosecutor Amiee Parkes said.

Singh grabbed the victim, threw her to the floor and kicked her with a shod foot, and when the victim told Singh she felt dizzy, the defendant told her it was her own fault.

He also told her he had learned his lesson not to go out with white girls.

The incident of abuse I suffered at the hands of Singh has caused me to be fearful of meeting new people and starting new relationships, the victim said in a statement.

It took me a very long time to leave the house on my own, I always had somebody with me.

Singh was convicted by jurors of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and criminal damage of the phone.

District Judge Lower said there was an element of control when Singh followed his victim on and off the bus.

This was, in my view, a prolonged assault upon her because there was a break between the beginning and end of the offence.

Singh was handed a two-year sentence, suspended for two years.

He was also subjected to a 30-day rehabilitation activity requirement, 200-hours unpaid work, and a restraining order.
Israels Foreign Minister Eli Cohen met with his Italian counterpart Antonio Tajani Thursday evening in Rome.

Cohen said they discussed the expansion of cooperation between their two countries in the fields of security, economy and energy and the joint fight against the reign of terror in Tehran. Italy is one of the leading countries in Europe, said Cohen, and has a great influence in the international arena. The relationship between the countries will contribute to the interests of both nations, and will strengthen the position of the State of Israel.

Cohen said he thanked the Italian government and Foreign Minister Teyani personally for supporting the State of Israel in international forums and for his efforts to promote and strengthen the relations between the countries.

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Tajani said that he reiterated to Minister Cohen the strong friendship that has always bound Italy to Israel on a political and economic level. Israels security is our priority, sympathy for the vile terrorist attacks in recent weeks.
The Turning Point Action Conference wrapped up this weekend after several more lawmakers and political commentators gave speeches to the nearly 6,000 attendees.

The event featured remarks from several members of Congress, as well as presidential candidates, over the course of two days. An overarching theme in many of the speeches was an opposition to the American involvement in Ukraine's war with Russia.

THREE TAKEAWAYS FROM DAY ONE OF TURNING POINT ACTION CONFERENCE

Here are the top five takeaways from day two of the conservative conference.

Donald Trump wins GOP nominee straw poll

In the straw poll conducted by the Trafalgar Group over the course of the event, former President Donald Trump blew every other candidate out of the water. Receiving 85% of the vote for preferred Republican nominee for president, Trump was overwhelmingly the favorite. This result deviates significantly from his standing in national polls of GOP primary votersshowing him at just under 60%. Businessman Perry Johnson came in second with 7.8%, and Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) followed with 4.3%.

Both Trump and Johnson spoke during the event. DeSantis was not in attendance, which became ammunition for the Trump campaign to attack him for abandoning his home state of Florida.

Speakers tout Trump for president in 2024

Speakers throughout the day included Sen. JD Vance (R-OH), who has endorsed Trump, Donald Trump Jr., Kimberly Guilfoyle, and Steve Bannon. Each made their case in favor of why the former president should return to the oval office again in 2024.

"Donald J. Trump will be the Republican nominee. Donald J. Trump will receive north of 80 million votes, and Donald J. Trump is going to be the 47th President of the United States!" Bannon told the crowd. Trump Jr. further pointed out that his father appointed three conservative justices to the Supreme Court.

Vivek Ramaswamy shows strong numbers

Fellow presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy received relatively strong numbers in the event's straw poll, with 51% listing him as their second choice for the GOP nomination, while two percent said he was their first choice. Ramaswamy spoke during the first day of the conference, and a source involved in the event said he left a good impression on the crowd.

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Further, 22% said Ramaswamy should be vice president, putting him behind only Kari Lake and Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL).

2024 Republican presidential candidate flop

Another presidential candidate, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R), received a cold welcome from the crowd. When Hutchinson took the stage, he was met with booing from attendees, which continued well into his speech. And at one point, a "Trump" chant broke out as he spoke.

Speakers and attendees reject involvement in Ukraine war

The day's speakers, again, honed-in on a significant point of grievance with the federal government: Weapons and funds being sent to Ukraine. Reps. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) and Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), as well as Vance, made special mention of the United States' role in the war.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

Specifically, Greene accused the U.S. of placing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy "above the great American people."

Attendees appeared to agree with the speakers' opposition to supporting Ukraine. In the straw poll, more than 95% said they do not support U.S. involvement in the conflict.

Original Location: Top 5 takeaways from day two of Turning Point Action Conference

Washington Examiner Videos
As we navigate the complex challenges posed by climate change and strive to accelerate progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), one critical issue takes centre stage: water. In 2023, the global discourse surrounding water management has intensified, highlighting its inseparable connection to environmental sustainability, economic growth, and the well-being of communities worldwide. The UN World Water Development Report 2023 warns of an imminent global water crisis that will worsen in the coming decades if international cooperation is not mobilised to address the issue.

As countries grapple with water scarcity, pollution, and unequal access to clean water, it becomes imperative to examine the current state of water resources, explore innovative approaches to conservation, and foster collective action to ensure a water-secure future. In this context, India stands as a vivid example, where the urgency to address water-related issues is paramount. With a mere four per cent share of the worlds fresh water resources and a staggering 17.7 per cent of the global population, India faces an urgent need to address its water crisis.

Indias water scarcity crisis is evident in alarming statistics. As per a recent report, approximately three out of four rural homes do not have piped water, with the situation being exacerbated by climate change, population growth, and inefficient water management practices. With the annual per capita water availability dipping to 1,486 cubic metres, Indias commitment to water conservation remains more steadfast than ever.Already, around 600 million people in the country are facing severe water shortages, leading to dire consequences for livelihoods, agriculture, and overall socio-economic development. Recognising the enormity of the water challenge, community engagement has emerged as a crucial strategy for achieving water security in India. Efforts range from state-led initiatives to grassroots community-driven projects. Throughout my professional career, I have been deeply committed to the cause of water conservation. During my time as CEO of NITI Aayog, I have had the privilege of leading transformative initiatives such as the development of the Composite Water Management Index (CWMI), which evaluates states water management performance based on 28 indicators and highlights the crucial role of civic involvement. I have seen the impact of engaging communities first-hand, with people-led initiatives showing promising results in water conservation, restoration of water bodies, and the adoption of sustainable water practices in the long-term.

While community engagement is pivotal, the corporate sector also holds significant potential for contributing to water management. One notable example is ITCs integrated water management approach, which extends to large-scale river basin regeneration projects across multiple states in India. ITCs initiatives have positively impacted over three lakh people and generated employment opportunities, reducing distress migration.

Innovative policy reforms are necessary to create an enabling environment for sustainable water management practices. One crucial aspect is the regulation of groundwater extraction, as exemplified by Maharashtras legislation controlling well registration and construction. By implementing similar measures nationwide, India can effectively manage its groundwater resources and prevent excessive depletion.

Indias G20 presidency is playing a crucial role in highlighting the pressing need to address environmental degradation and combat climate change. Through multilateral deliberations on integrated water resource management, promoting a sustainable and climate-resilient blue economy, as well as creating sustainable patterns of production and consumption, the presidency is driving international cooperation and fostering collective action towards a greener, bluer, and more sustainable future for all.

India, and the world, stand at a critical juncture in its water management journey. By prioritising community engagement, leveraging corporate social responsibility, boosting international cooperation, and implementing effective water management strategies, we can overcome our water challenges, drive economic growth, and improve the well-being of all citizens. The time to act is now, and success hinges on the synergy of efforts from the state, corporations, and the community. Together, we can secure Indias water resources and pave the way for a water-secure India for generations to come.

Kant is G20 Sherpa and former CEO, NITI Aayog. Views expressed are personal.
Former President Donald Trump attacked Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) on Saturday night, calling on the Florida Republican to return to the Sunshine state and "do the job he was elected to dobe the governor of Florida."

Dismissing DeSantis's 2024 presidential bid as "a hopeless cause," Trump said he ought to make his way home. According to the former president, the money being spent by his campaign should rather be put toward the Republican party's effort against President Joe Biden.

TRUMP'S IOWA MISTAKES COULD PROVE COSTLY, GOP STRATEGISTS WARN

"Instead, DeSanctimonious and his establishment handlers are wasting precious resources to divide our party," Trump told the crowd.

"Get home and take care of insurance," he added, referencing the departure of some insurance companies from Florida as expenses associated with covering damage from natural disasters rises.

He further pointed out his lead over DeSantis in polls of Florida.

In a recent Florida Atlantic University Political Communication and Public Opinion Research Lab/Mainstreet Research poll, 50% of registered Republicans supported Trump for the Republican nomination, while 30% opted for DeSantis.

Earlier this week, Trump took a shot at the popular Gov. Kim Reynolds (R-IA), upset with her commitment to remaining neutral ahead of the Iowa Republican presidential caucuses in January. Afterward, he missed a crucial event among conservatives and evangelicals in the state, where all other prominent candidates were present.

In response, Iowa state Sen. Jeff Reichman (R) switched his endorsement from Trump to DeSantis, specifically citing the attack on Reynolds.

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Seemingly unfazed by the move, Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung called the Iraq war veteran "weak-kneed and lily-livered."

Whether the moves by Trump will have a lasting affect on Republican voters in the pivotal early caucus state remains to be seen. However, several Republican strategists have predicted that other campaigns could leverage the missteps to gain an advantage in Iowa. Others, though, aren't sure whether Trump's behavior in the state will sway GOP voters.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

The Iowa caucuses, which are first in the nation, are currently six months away.

DeSantis's campaign did not respond to the Washington Examiner's request for comment.

Original Location: Trump targets DeSantis in Florida speech: 'Get home' and be governor

Washington Examiner Videos
Mindset of parents must change to see that sports can also be a career, she said

By Riyad Mathew, Pooja Biraia Jaiswal and Dnyanesh Jathar
Capital comes from the Latin capitalis, which means head. The head ought to be on top of the body. But look at the map of Kerala. The head, the states capital, is where the foot ought to be. No wonder, Malayalisthat includes this columnistare at loggerheads with most other Indians on most issues. They still vote the left, and tuck their dhotis to the right. Even the Tamils, their first cousins across the ghats, do neither.

Hibi Eden, the Congress MP from Ernakulam, thought he could try make a change. Not a change of the Malayali heart which still beats for Castro and bleeds for Cuba, but a change of their political head. He has given notice for moving a bill in the Lok Sabha seeking to shift the states capital from Thiruvananthapuram in the south to Kochi, which falls within his constituency in central Kerala.

Capital idea!most non-Malayalis would say. For four reasons. One, Kochi is better air-linked to the rest of the world. Two, Kochi is better road- and rail-linked to the rest of Kerala and to all its gods own and god-forsaken places. Three, Kochi offers more business. Four, Kochi yields easily to any non-Malayali tongue, unlike Thiruvananthapuram.

Illustration: Bhaskaran

Yes, three quarters of a century after the British left, and three decades after the Englishmans Trivandrum became our Thiruvananthapuram again, most Indians find the place name as unpronounceable as floccinaucinihilipilification or quomodocunquize. Dont know what those two words mean, or how to pronounce them? Ask Thiruvananthapurams own MP who gets votes with his vocabulary videos that have been going viral.

All the same, the Eden idea has sent his party into a tizzy. Worried that it would cost them votes in Thiruvananthapuram where the Vamanas from the north have been seeking to get a foothold and send Keralas socialistic asuras into the netherworld, his party bosses have come down on Eden like a tonne of coconuts.

What do Malayalis in Keralas Clapham Common think of Edens idea? Most have dismissed it as Tughlaqian. (Sad, we laugh at Muhammad bin for his disastrous Delhi-to-Daulatabad capital shift, but forget that the illustrious Akbar built a dream city in Fatehpur Sikri and abandoned it after 15 years finding it didnt have enough water.) Malayalis would rather let things remain as they arepolitical power and all its paraphernalia with Thiruvananthapuram, leaving Kochi to mind its business, literally. Kochi is already bursting at its seams, and the people of the city wouldnt want another 140 MLAs and ministers, hundreds of babus, and thousands of hangers-on coming in to claim their few houses, hostels, narrow roads and shrinking parking spaces.

Moreover, they know that Edens is only a private member bill. Though all MPs are law-makers and any MP can move a bill, laws are actually made from bills introduced by governments. (Not so in the American system where the government is not part of the legislature. All bills in the US Congress are presented by private members.) Private member bills in the Westminster system are those which have been introduced by membersruling or oppositionother than ministers. In India they are gracefully taken up for discussion on Fridays, and usually withdrawn over assurances from the government that the principle and purpose contained in them have been noted. Hundreds of such private member bills have been presented in the two houses of Parliament since 1952, but only 14 have finally been made into laws.

What capital assurance is Eden seeking from the regime?

prasannan@theweek.in
In yet another incident of unruly behaviour mid-air, a passenger allegedly abused and assaulted a senior Air India official on board its Sydney-Delhi flight recently, according to a source.

The incident took place when the Air India official, who was downgraded from business class to economy due to the seat malfunctioning, tried to correct his co-passenger about his loud voice, the source said.

Despite the physical assault, Air India cabin crew did not use restraining devices to contain the unruly passenger, the source alleged.

An Air India spokesperson, in a statement, said, "A passenger on board AI-301 operating Sydney-Delhi on July 9, 2023, behaved in an unacceptable manner during flight, despite verbal and written warnings, causing distress to other passengers, which included one of our employees."

"Upon the flight's safe landing at Delhi, the passenger was handed over to the security agency, and the passenger later apologised in writing," the airline said.

It also said that the DGCA was "duly informed" of the incident and added that the airline "will take a firm stand against misbehaviour. We will pursue this to the full extent of the law."

According to the source, the seat allotted to the Air India official was 30-C since there were other passengers he chose to shift.

Later he was reseated in 25 ABC," the source said.

"The AI official began correcting his co-passenger about his loud voice. The passenger seated next to him slapped, twisted his head and abused him," the source alleged.

As the five young cabin crew could not contain the rowdy passenger, the AI official rushed to the rear seats, as per the source.

"This unruly passenger was playing with emergency equipment and walking freely in the galley," the source alleged.

According to the source, the male cabin supervisor was called and the passenger was "issued a verbal warning and a written warning."
Actor R Madhavan, on July 14, attended the banquet dinner French President Emmanuel Macron hosted in honour of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The dinner was hosted at the iconic Louvre Museum. The actor, who looked dapper in a suit, posted a selfie with President Macron and Prime Minister Modi.

The actor wrote on Instagram, I was in complete awe at the dinner hosted by President Emmanuel Macron in honour of our Honorable, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi at the Louvre, of both these world leaders, as they passionately described their vision for the future of these two great friendly nations.

The actor, who received an IIFA for his directorial debut, 'Rocketry: The Nambi Effect' this year, wrote,  President Macron eagerly took a selfie for us while our Honorable Prime Minister very graciously and sweetly stood up to be part of it.. a moment that will be forever etched in my mind for both the uniqueness and impact of that picture. Thank you President Macron and Modi Ji for the incredible lesson on grace and humility.

He also gave a shoutout to the ISRO team for the launch of Chandrayaan 3. Also 14th July 2023 also marked yet another fantastic and successful launch of Chandrayaan 3 with the unfailing Vikas engine built with the help of SEP France by Shri Nambi Narayanan. Praying also for the success of their important and incredible mission, he wrote.

Also present at the dinner was Grammy-winning celebrity Ricky Kej, who also posted a selfie with both leaders. Wow! Our Hon'ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji, you constantly make all of us Indians proud! Attended the official dinner in honour of PM Modiji at the Louvre hosted by the suave & gracious President of France - Emmanuel Macron. The last leader hosted at the Lovre was Queen Elizabeth II in 1957!! A huge honour to be seated with the 2 world leaders and dine with them. The world is indeed in great hands, he wrote.
Hours after the Congress announced its decision to oppose the Centre's ordinance on the control of administrative services in Delhi, the Aam Aadmi Party confirmed on Sunday that it will attend the meeting of opposition parties to be held in Bengaluru on July 17 and 18.

The Arvind Kejriwal's party has claimed that the Congress's "unequivocal opposition" to the Delhi ordinance was "a positive development".

"The AAP's political action committee meeting was held today. Every aspect was discussed in detail and after the meeting was over, I can clearly say this - the ordinance is clearly anti-national," party MP Raghav Chadha said.

Earlier, Congress general secretary K.C. Venugopal said the party will oppose any move by the Centre to intervene in states ruled by opposition parties through the governors and has decided to oppose the Delhi ordinance in Parliament whenever a bill comes up.

"We are consistently opposing the attempts of the Union government to sabotage federalism. We are consistently opposing the attitude of the central government to run the opposition states through the governors. Our stand is very clear, we are not going to support the Delhi ordinance," he told news agency PTI.

The AAP had said that it would join the opposition parties' meeting only if the Congress extended its support in opposing the Delhi ordinance in Parliament.

The BJP-led central government brought the ordinance on the transfer and posting of bureaucrats in Delhi in May, virtually negating a Supreme Court verdict giving the elected government in Delhi the control over services matter.

The ordinance seeks to set up a National Capital Civil Service Authority for the transfer of and disciplinary proceedings against Group-A officers from the DANICS cadre.

Transfer and postings of all officers of the Delhi government were under the executive control of the lieutenant governor before the May 11 verdict of the apex court.

The Congress had so far kept its cards close to its chest with regard to whether it will oppose the ordinance in the monsoon session of parliament or not. The Congress leadership had desisted from spelling out its stand in the backdrop of its leaders in Delhi and Punjab, the two states ruled by the AAP, conveying to it their strong opposition to any kind of support being offered to AAP.

At the first meeting of the opposition parties in Patna, there was a brief altercation between Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal with regard to the ordinance. Kejriwal had demanded that the Congress should on that day itself make a public statement on what its stand on the ordinance was. Kharge had told him that the Congress could not be forced into saying or doing anything and gave an assurance that his party would never support anything that is unconstitutional.

(With inputs from Soni Mishra and PTI)
Ahead of the opposition meet in Bengaluru, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has called for party's Political affairs committee (PAC) meet on Sunday. With the Congress setting the stage for AAP's participation in the meet, now its up to party chief Arvind Kejriwal and others to decide.

Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann will also join the PAC meeting through video conferencing.

The decision to participate in Bengaluru's opposition meeting is likely to be taken after the meeting, reported ANI.

The party will also discuss its strategy for the upcoming Monsoon session of the parliament.

Earlier, AAP had made it clear that they will not be engaging in any conversations on opposition unity till Congress makes its stand clear on the Delhi ordinance by the central government.

However, the Congress during the Parliamentary Strategy Group meeting decided to back AAP in its fight against Delhi ordinance.

Congress on Saturday said that they have always fought against the Modi government's "assaults" on the constitutional rights and and will oppose such attempts to hamper the democratic ways in both inside and outside Parliament.

The Congress Parliamentary Strategy Group meeting was chaired by parliamentary party chief Sonia Gandhi.

AAP had issued a statement saying "Congress's refusal to act as a team player will make it very difficult for the AAP to be a part of any alliance that includes the Congress."

Meanwhile, 24 political parties including TMC, RJD, TMC and Shiv Sena (UBT) and Samajwadi Party is expected to take part in the opposition meet in Karnataka's Bengaluru beginning on Monday.

Decisions to fight unitedly against BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections was taken in the first opposition meet that was held in Patna last month.

"The (June 23) meeting was a great success as we were able to discuss various imnportant issues that threaten our democratic polity and came to a unanimous agreement on unitedly fighting the next General Elections," said Kharge in his letter as he invited the leaders of the top opposition parties.

"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 Congress President added.

The controversial Delhi ordinance by central government on May 19 promulgated the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Ordinance, 2023, to create an authority for transfer and posting of Group-A officers in Delhi.

The AAP government has termed it as a "deception" with the Supreme Court verdict on control of services.
As water levels in Yamuna continue to recede, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, on Sunday, said the Chandrawal Water treatment plant, one of the three plants shut since flooding has started.

"Chandrawal water treatment plant has also started," Kejriwal tweeted.

AAP leader and Delhi Jal Board (DJB) vice-chairman Somnath Bharti said the reopening of the water treatment plant will restore water supply in assemblies falling in central Delhi, namely Rajender Nagar, Karolbagh, Ballimaran, Chandni Chowk, Patel Nagar, Palam Vihar, and Delhi Cantt.

"Work to restore all the three phases of Wazirabad WTP is going on incessantly and in all likelihood, this will also be restored anytime today," Bharti tweeted.

According to officials, Yamuna's water levels declined to 205.98 metres by 9 am on Sunday from its peak of 208.66 metres at 8 pm on Thursday. However, the water levels are still above the danger mark of 205.33 metres.

Meanwhile, the politics over floods and Yamuna waters worsened with Delhi Minister and AAP leader Saurabh Bhardwaj saying when there is a problem with Yamuna, the AAP government is always blamed.

"For the last six months, LG (Lt Governor V.K. Saxena) kept saying that cleaning of Yamuna is underway; now when there is a fault related to this, LG and BJP are pointing fingers at Arvind Kejriwal and saying it is his responsibility. This is the issue of Delhi; LG has all the powers and whatever good works are being done, LG will take credit for it, but when there is some fault, AAP govt is blamed and supposed to answer," news agency ANI quoted Bhardwaj as saying.

Even as the decline in the water levels are in large part attributable to the decreasing flow from the Hathnikund Barrage in Haryana's Yamunanagar over the last two days, Delhi Public Works Department (PWD) Minister Atishi sought to know why even though water levels were crossing the danger mark in Delhi, water from Hathnikund was not diverted to Haryana and Delhi.

"From Hathnikund, water goes to three placesDelhi, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. Even though in Delhi the water level was crossing the danger mark, not a single drop of water was diverted to Haryana and UP, why? Was it because these two states are BJP-ruled? BJP must answer...was this a conspiracy against the people of Delhi," she asked.

BJP national spokesperson accused the AAP of trying to hide its failures in dealing with the floods. He said the AAP is making unfounded allegations against the BJP and the Centre. "They were supposed to clean Yamuna, but they did not. If they had ensured proper cleaning on time, the situation in the national capital wouldn't have come to this. They should talk about the scam that took place in the name of Yamuna cleaning," ANI quoted him as saying.
Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar has reacted to Delhi Minister Atishi's suspicions of 'conspiracy' concerning the release of water from the Hatnikund barrage, stating "they cannot defame Haryana with such allegations."

Khattar lashed out at the AAP minister on Sunday, urging her to avoid such a blame game. "Haryana can do 'sewa' (serve), but can never think of causing harm to anyone else," he said.



Khattar's statement came after Atishi raised questions as to "why the water from Hathnikund was not diverted to Haryana and UP despite it going to Delhi, Haryana and UP."



"Even though in Delhi the water level was crossing the danger mark, not a single drop of water was diverted to Haryana & UP, why? Was it because these 2 states are BJP-ruled? BJP must answer...was this a conspiracy against the people of Delhi?" Atishi asked reporters on Sunday.



#WATCH | From Hathnikund, water goes to 3 places Delhi, Haryana and UP. Even though in Delhi the water level was crossing the danger mark, not a single drop of water was diverted to Haryana & UP, why? Was it because these 2 states are BJP ruled? BJP must answer...was this a pic.twitter.com/cES8HIiTL8  ANI (@ANI) July 16, 2023

Her claim drew the ire of the BJP and Khattar, who said the blame game was not good. "It is neither in the interest of humanity, nor state or the country," he said. "It can never occur to anyone to cause harm to someone to protect himself. Only a mean-minded person can do this," Khattar told reporters on Sunday.



He said that many districts in Haryana were too affected by the water. "It is like hum to dubenge sanam, tumko bhi le dubenge (we will drown, and will take you along)," he said in a lighter vein.



He said his government too had to evacuate many villages. "Our Karnal, Sonipat, Panipat, Faridabad and Palwal were affected (due to the rise in Yamuna waters."



The AAP has also alleged that the gates of the ITO barrage in Delhi maintained by the Haryana government had jammed due to silt accumulation. The party demanded its maintenance should be handed over to the Delhi government for more efficient management.



However, Khattar said that records proved that the money for the maintenance never went from Haryana. "That was given by the Indraprastha power plant till 2018 which is shut now," Khattar said.



"Two years ago, 6.5-7 lakh cusecs of water was released from Hathnikund barrage in a regulated manner," he said. "On July 11 this year, 3.69 lakh cusecs of water was released. And it spread to six or seven Haryana districts before reaching Delhi, yet they (the AAP dispensation) failed to take out the remaining water in Delhi. This means they did not maintain Yamuna. Unauthorised construction on Yamuna blocked water flow," he said.



"We have set up a committee and said check their systems including Okhla, ITO and encroachments on Yamuna," said Khattar.



Union Minister Meenakshi Lekhi too trained her guns on the AAP government, stating that people should not make false statements. She said Atishi was not telling the truth. Lekhi added that no meeting has happened with the flood control department which resulted in the current situation.

"The District Magistrate, who is supposed to be the coordinator for the meeting, wrote to CM Kejriwal to join the meeting. The CM was not present on the dates decided stating that he was busy with election campaigns in Rajasthan. They are experts at blame game," she added.

Assam chief minister and BJP leader Himanta Sarma too hit out AAP. "Water doesn't know any geography. We also receive water from Arunachal Pradesh, China and Bhutan but we do not criticise them as we believe that this is a natural phenomenon and we have to set a scientific response for it, Assam chief minister told reporters.


Five kanwariyas were electrocuted and a few others were injured when their vehicle came in contact with a high-tension overhead wire in Bhawanpur area of Uttar Pradesh's Meerut district on Saturday.



They were returning from Ganges River in Haridwar when their vehicle touched a low-hanging high-tension wire. According to NDTV, one of the pilgrims died at the scene of the accident while others succumbed during treatment.



"The accident occurred when a group of kanwariyas were returning to their village on a vehicle around 8 pm. Some part of the vehicle touched the high-tension wire overhead," District Magistrate Deepak Meena said.



The condition of two of the injured continues to be critical, say media reports.



A team of doctors and officials have been allocated and all assistance is being provided to the victims for treatment, news agency ANI quoted Meena as saying. Further investigation is underway, he added.



Villagers staged a protest over the incident alleging that the accident was a result of negligence by the electricity department. Additional force has been deployed to avoid any untoward incident, the police said.


Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday announced the Delhi government will provide a financial aid of Rs 10,000 each to the flood-affected families.

Taking to Twitter, he said many poor families living along the Yamuna banks have lost their homes in the floods and some have lost all their belongings.

"A financial aid of Rs 10,000 will be provided to each family affected by the floods," Kejriwal said.

The government will set up special camps for those who lost their Aadhaar cards and other important documents, and make arrangements for books and clothes for the affected children, he said.

The chief minister also said the government will soon announce assistance for those who have suffered significant losses due to the floods, and assured the people that life in Delhi will soon return to normalcy.

Regarding the ongoing efforts to control the flood situation, Kejriwal said that pumps are being used to reduce the water level in the affected areas. The progress varies across different locations, but the water level is gradually decreasing, he said.

"We have established relief camps in various locations, primarily in schools and dharmashalas, to provide necessary amenities such as toilets and clean water," he told reporters at the relief camp.

The chief minister acknowledged the challenges faced by the people of Yamuna Bazaar, where the floodwaters caused significant damage.

As many individuals lost their important documents, including Aadhaar cards, the chief minister assured them that special camps would be organised to help them get these essential documents.

He also highlighted the plight of children who lost their books and school uniforms due to the flooding. He assured the affected families that the government is actively working on providing replacements for these items at the earliest.

Considering the muddy conditions in the affected areas, Kejriwal said efforts would be made to fill up 'keechad' with dry soil to expedite the drying process.

"The government is exploring various means to provide ad hoc relief to the flood-affected individuals, including compensation for their losses," he said, adding specific details and announcements regarding this assistance will be made soon.

Addressing a question regarding the Yamuna bridge maintenance payments, he clarified that the responsibility lies with the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC), which is owned by the central government.

The CM again urged all political parties, particularly the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), to refrain from engaging in blame game during this critical time, and emphasised the importance of working together to address the challenges posed by the floods and to restore normalcy in the affected areas.
Democratic Party efforts to use the power of the federal government to silence conservative ideas suffered a resounding and well-deserved defeat on July 4. A federal judge in Louisiana granted an injunction forbidding an array of federal government law enforcement and health officials from coordinating with social media platforms to suppress conservative content.

Good.

The lawsuit, filed by the attorneys general of Louisiana and Missouri and joined by scientists and activists, alleges that federal government officials coordinated with employees at social media companies such as Twitter, Facebook, and Google to identify supposedly harmful content and then either limit its reach or delete it entirely.

Most of the content silenced by the tech companies involved skepticism about the risks and efficacies of coronavirus vaccines, but the censorship did not end there.

Items flagged for suppression included: stories about Hunter Bidens laptop computer, stories suggesting COVID-19 originated in a Wuhan lab, negative stories about the economy, and stories critical or merely unfavorable toward President Joe Biden.

Reacting to the judges decision, former President Barack Obamas senior adviser David Axelrod tweeted, Good news for social media arsonists: A judge says you CAN shout fire in a virtual crowded theater.

However witty Axelrod thought he was, his tweet demonstrates how necessary and right the judges decision was.

When Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes wrote the famous line, The most stringent protection of free speech would not protect a man in falsely shouting fire in a theater and causing a panic, he was upholding the conviction of a man who was charged with violating the Espionage Act for passing out flyers opposing the draft in World War I.

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Do Axelrod and the Democratic Party want to recriminalize protests against our governments foreign policy decisions?

That case, Schenck v. United States, was later overturned in 1969 by Brandenburg v. Ohio.

Where Schenck held that a man could be punished because protesting the draft was a clear and present danger, Brandenburg held that the state of Ohio could not stop the Ku Klux Klan from holding a rally because the event was unlikely to produce imminent lawless action. It is Brandenburgs imminent lawless action test that is still good law today, and it clearly guides the judges injunctive order.

Under the injunction, communications between the federal government and social media companies are allowed  you would not know this from much dishonest reporting  when they involve criminal activities, national security threats, or posts designed to mislead voters about voting procedures, such as when Election Day is scheduled.

These are all examples of imminent lawless action.

But as soon as the federal government starts straying from this narrow list, as soon as it starts policing ideas such as where a virus originated or the efficacy of government policies, it has overstepped its bounds and unnecessarily censored protected speech.

Social media platforms are new and powerful tools that can and do affect human behavior, but the power they possess is all the more reason courts should err on the side of more free speech and not more government censorship.

The Washington Examiner
The Mamata Banerjee government in West Bengal will topple within the next five to six months, two senior BJP MPs from the state predicted on Sunday even as the ruling Trinamool Congress enjoys a huge majority with 216 MLAs in the 294-member assembly.

"I can give a guarantee that the current state government will not exist for more than five to six months," said Union minister of state for ports, shipping and waterways, Shantanu Thakur. Thakur is a member of Lok Sabha from Bangaon constituency in North 24 Parganas district.

Later, BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar made a similar remark where he predicted that a large number of legislators will withdraw their support to the state government at anytime.

"The state government can topple any time within five to six months. How does a state government operate? It is because of the support from the elected legislators. It is possible that anytime a chunk of legislators withdraw their support," said Majumdar, an MP from Balurghat.

"Suppose there is a mass movement and in face of pressure a chunk of legislators resign from those chairs. That is yet another possibility at how the state government can get toppled," Majumdar was quoted as saying by news agency IANS.

BJP, with 75 MLAs, is the main opposition in the state.

In the recently held rural elections, the ruling Trinamool Congress has secured a massive victory by winning at least 6,450 panchayat samiti seats. The BJP has won nearly 1,000 seats, while the CPI(M) and the Congress have won over 180 and 260 seats, respectively.

The final results of the elections are likely to be declared on July 17, as the compilation process is taking a lot of time, a senior official said.
Om Prakash Rajbhar, the president of Suheldev Bhartiya Samaj Party, a former ally of Samajwadi Party, realigned with the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

He was a BJP ally earlier as well but had parted ways with the party ahead of the UP assembly polls.

Home Minister Amit Shah, on Sunday, tweeted that he met Rajbhar in Delhi, and announced the latter's decision to join the NDA.

I welcome him to the NDA family, Shah wrote.

"The arrival of Rajbhar will strengthen the NDA in Uttar Pradesh and the efforts being made by the NDA under the leadership of Modi for the welfare of the poor and downtrodden will get further strength," he said in a tweet.

"The BJP and the SBSP have come together. They will fight together for social justice, national security, good governance, the deprived, exploited, farmers, poor, Dalits, youth and women, and to empower every poor section," Rajbhar said in a tweet.

Rajbhar enjoys considerable influence especially among his Rajbhar community which is present in sizeable numbers in eastern Uttar Pradesh.

He is expected to attend the NDA meeting on July 18 here in what is being seen as a show of strength by the ruling alliance in the run up to the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
The stage is set for the two-day meeting of opposition parties to be held in Bengaluru from Monday, the event, hosted by the Congress, aimed at taking forward the discussions held in the first meeting of the parties in Patna last month.

Around 26 parties are expected to take part in the meeting, with the AAP, on the eve of the event, confirming its attendance following the Congress' public declaration of its opposition to the Centre's ordinance on services in Delhi.



The leaders will have a preliminary, informal discussion on Monday evening as they will gather for a dinner hosted by Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. The dinner meeting will set the agenda for the discussions to take place the following day.



Congress President Sonia Gandhi will attend the meeting, in tune with the party's efforts to maximise the impact of the event and also add heft to its presence as it hosts the gathering in a state that it has recently wrested from the BJP.



In the run-up to the meeting, there was suspense over whether AAP will take part in it or not. The party had laid down as a pre-condition for its presence in the meeting a declaration from the Congress that it will oppose the Centre's ordinance that seeks to give control of the bureaucracy in the capital to the Lieutenant Governor when it comes up in Parliament.



Following the Congress' decision to oppose the ordinance in Parliament, declared on Sunday after the meeting of the party's parliamentary strategy group, the AAP confirmed that it will attend the meeting in Bengaluru.



The AAP's Political Affairs Committee met on Sunday under the chairmanship of National Convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, where it was unanimously decided that the party will attend the Bengaluru meet.



After the AAP's PAC meeting, senior party leader and Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha told reporters that an AAP delegation led by Kejriwal will attend the opposition meeting.



The meeting takes place in the shadow of the recent split in the Nationalist Congress Party in Maharashtra. It also comes on the heels of the Panchayat elections in West Bengal where the Congress and the Left have accused the Trinamool Congress of instigating the violence in the local polls and not allowing free and fair elections. Also, differences have cropped up amongst the parties with regard to Uniform Civil Code.



Opposition leaders have downplayed the differences, saying local-level issues will not impact the discussions that are aimed at drawing up a common agenda at the national level to mount a joint fight against the BJP in the Lok Sabha elections.
Delhi is likely to witness only light intensity/drizzle on Sunday, the India India Meteorological Department said, even as water-logging continues in several parts of the city. The IMD had earlier predicted more rainfall in the early hours of Sunday, and light to moderate showers in the later part of the day.



No significant rainfall was observed over Delhi during the past 3 hours, the IMD said in a tweet. "Delhi Radar suggests, Light intensity rain/drizzle likely to occur over and adjoining areas of isolated places of Delhi ( Jafarpur, Palam, IGI Airport, Ayanagar) during next 2 hours," it said.



Even as the water levels in Yamuna are slowly receding, water logging continues in several parts of the city.

#WATCH | Updated drone visuals show Delhi's ITO continues to remain flooded as the Yamuna water level recedes slowly. pic.twitter.com/KAumxPrjgL  ANI (@ANI) July 16, 2023

The water level in Yamuna River was recorded at 206.14 mtrs at 0600 hours in Delhi, according to news agency ANI.

#WATCH | Delhi: Situation of the road from Majnu Ka Tila to Kashmere Gate improves as the water level of Yamuna recedes slowly



The roads in this area were heavily waterlogged after torrential rain pic.twitter.com/EsiB96Wr95  ANI (@ANI) July 16, 2023

Meanwhile, Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena on Saturday evening said Prime Minister Narendra Modi called up to take stock of the flood situation in the national capital. "Hon'ble Prime Minister Mr. @narendramodi

ji called up as soon as he reached home and took a detailed account of the flood situation in Delhi and took complete information about the related efforts being made. He again instructed to do all possible work in the interest of the people of Delhi with the help and cooperation of the Centre," he said in a tweet.



The city has been grappling with waterlogging and flooding issues for a week now. Initially, a downpour caused intense waterlogging on July 8 and 9, with the city receiving 125 per cent of its monthly rainfall quota in just two days.



Subsequently, heavy rains in the upper catchment areas, including Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Haryana, led to the Yamuna swelling to record levels.
The monsoon session of Maharashtra Assembly will begin on Monday with the NDA claiming that the government will not misuse its current position in the House after the induction of Ajit Pawar-led NCP faction into the ruling alliance.

The NCP rebel faction joined the government earlier this month with Pawar taking oath as the deputy chief minister while eight of his loyal MLAs were also inducted into the cabinet.

"We will answer all the questions which will come from opposition side in this monsoon session. We will solve Maharashtra people's problem, said Pawar while addressing a joint press conference alongside Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis.

Fadnavis said the government will not misuse its position in the assembly even as the induction of the NCP faction into the ruling alliance has reduced the strength of the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi.

Maharashtra legislature monsoon session starts from tomorrow. We will discuss all the issues during the session. Even though our strength has increased we will make sure that we do not misuse it and address all the issues related to the welfare of the people that will be raised by the opposition, he said.

Chief Minister Shinde said in a statement that the opposition should not only raise questions against the state government for the welfare of people, but also praise the government when it does something good.

"As always Opposition boycott Tea program of monsoon session. We will discuss all the issues during the session. More than 210 MLAs are with us (current government). Opposition must question us if we are doing wrong, questions must be raised for the welfare of the people. It is the duty of the opposition to praise the government when the government does something right," he said.

Spanning three weeks, from July 17 to August 4, the assembly session will take place at the Vidhan Bhavan Complex in Nariman Point, Mumbai.
A day before the opposition meet in Bengaluru, Congress on Sunday came out in support of the Aam Aadmi Party's campaign against Delhi ordinance by the central government.

Congress General Secretary K.C. Venugopal said that the party will not support it.

"I think they (AAP) are going to join the meeting tomorrow. As for the ordinance (on control of services in Delhi) our stand is very clear. We are not going to support it,"Congress general secretary K.C Venugopal told PTI.

Welcoming the Congress decision, AAP Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha said "Congress announces its unequivocal opposition to the Delhi Ordinance. This is a positive development."

Congress announces its unequivocal opposition to the Delhi Ordinance. https://t.co/OgTECPJ52M  Raghav Chadha (@raghav_chadha) July 16, 2023

Earlier, AAP had made it clear that they will not be engaging in any conversations on opposition unity till Congress makes its stand clear on the Delhi ordinance by the central government.

However, the reports after the Congress's Parliamentary Strategy Group meeting hinted that they are likely to back AAP in its fight against Delhi ordinance. "Yesterday, we had a meeting and we already made the decision," said Venugopal.

"Not only the Delhi ordinance, any attempt to sabotage the federal system of the country and intervene in the state matters by using the Governor, we are not going to support. The same way, on the Delhi ordinance also, we are not going to support. It is very clear," he added.

With Congress making its stand clear AAP is likely to join the opposition meet. AAP had said that they would join the opposition meet only if Congress declares its stand on the ordinance issue.

The Congress Parliamentary Strategy Group meeting was chaired by parliamentary party chief Sonia Gandhi.

Meanwhile, 24 political parties including TMC, RJD, TMC and Shiv Sena (UBT) and Samajwadi Party is expected to take part in the opposition meet in Karnataka's Bengaluru beginning on Monday.

After the meet in Patna last month, decisions to fight unitedly against BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections was taken.

"The (June 23) meeting was a great success as we were able to discuss various imnportant issues that threaten our democratic polity and came to a unanimous agreement on unitedly fighting the next General Elections," said Kharge in his letter as he invited the leaders of the top opposition parties.

"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 Congress President added.

The controversial Delhi ordinance by central government on May 19 promulgated the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Ordinance, 2023, to create an authority for transfer and posting of Group-A officers in Delhi.

The AAP government has termed it as a "deception" with the Supreme Court verdict on control of services.
Gripped under the threat of global warming, millions are battling intense heatwave across the United States, Japan and Europe. According to the US National Weather Service (NWS), the heatwave from California to Texas is to experience extremely hot and dangerous weekend.

Temperatures had crossed over 40C in Italy, making it extremely difficult for people to cope up. Spain and Greece have also been experiencing high temperatures for several days.

A red alert has been issued for 16 cities including Rome, Bologna and Florence for Sunday.

The temperature is expected to be around 48C in Sardinia by next week, reported Italian media.

The record high of 48.8C was recorded in Sicily in August 2021. With the heatwave intensifying, experts fear that it would set a new record.

Temperatures will reach a peak between 19 and 23 July - not only in Italy but also in Greece, Turkey and the Balkans. Several local heat records within these areas may well be broken during those days, Italian meteorologist and climate expert Giulio Betti told the BBC.

Meanwhile, Italy's government advised people not to get exposed in the direct heat between 11:00 and 18:00.

Greece has hit temperatures of 40C or more in recent days. The soaring temperatures forced the Acropolis in Athens to be closed for tourists during the hottest hours of Friday and Saturday.

Also, wildfires were reported from Spain's Canary Islands. Around 2,000 people were evacuated as a forest fire broke out on La Palma on Saturday morning. Over 4,500 hectares of land was destroyed in the fire.

A view of a burning forest fire close to homes, near Puntagorda on the Canary Island of La Palma | AP

In order to tackle incidents of fires, the Spanish army has deployed 150 of its firefighters.

Countries like Serbia and Hungary are experiencing daily temperatures around 35C as well.

According to the EU's climate monitoring service Copernicus, June (last month) was the hottest month on record.

According to reports, temperatures are likely to touch 38 to 39C on Sunday in parts of eastern Japan.

'Dangerous' heatwave warning

NWS has issued 'Dangerous' warnings of heat level across the south-west for the next week in the US.

Heat advisories were issued in many US states including Florida, California and Washington.

On Saturday, an all-time high 48C was recorded in Phoenix, Arizona.

Hospital admissions due to dehydration and third degree burns have also increased. Mobile clinics were deployed in several areas to treat those including homeless suffering from heat-related issues.

Death Valley in California - one of the hottest places in the world - is forecast to reach a record high of 54C.

The temperatures would "pose a health risk and are potentially deadly to anyone without effective cooling and/or adequate hydration, read an update released by the authorities on Saturday.

According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) around 700 people die each year in the US due to heat-related issues.

Canada also reported forest fires with the temperature going up.

Weather officials warned locals that this was "not your typical desert heat".

"It's the desert, of course it's hot'- This is a DANGEROUS mind set!", the NWS in Las Vegas tweeted.

"This heatwave is NOT typical desert heat due to its long duration, extreme daytime temperatures, & warm nights. Everyone needs to take this heat seriously, including those who live in the desert."

Experts pointed out that the rise in temperatures are due to the climate change and naturally occurring weather patterns called as El Nino.

Temperatures in El Paso, and Texas has been over 100F for the last 27 days.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Sunday met his Myanmar counterpart Than Swe and discussed expediting projects, especially the India-Myanmar-Thailand trilateral highway, and underlined the importance of ensuring peace and stability in the border areas.



Jaishankar, who arrived here from Indonesia on Saturday on an official visit, also met Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai.

"Our discussions focused on connectivity initiatives that have a larger regional significance. These will also be discussed at the MGC meeting this afternoon. Stressed the importance of expediting projects that have faced challenges in the recent past, especially the India-Myanmar-Thailand trilateral highway, Jaishankar said in a tweet after his meeting with Myanmar foreign minister on the sidelines of the Mekong Ganga Cooperation (MGC) meeting.

On Saturday, Jaishankar said that the India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway had been a "very difficult project" because of the situation in Myanmar and that it was the government's priority to find ways to resume it.

India, Thailand and Myanmar are working on about 1,400-km-long highway that would link the country with Southeast Asia by land and give a boost to trade, business, health, education and tourism ties among the three countries.

Around 70 per cent of construction work on the ambitious trilateral highway has been completed.

The strategic highway project, which will connect Moreh in Manipur with Mae Sot in Thailand via Myanmar, has been delayed.

Earlier, the government was aiming to make the highway operational by December 2019.

During his talks with Than Swe, Jaishankar also underlined the importance of ensuring peace and stability in the border areas, saying these have been seriously disturbed recently and any actions that aggravate the situation should be avoided.

Flagged concerns about human and drug trafficking. Urged stronger cooperation among relevant parties for the early return of trafficked victims, he said.

As an immediate neighbour, India is concerned about the humanitarian situation in Myanmar, Jaishankar said.

He proposed people-centric initiatives aimed to address the pressing challenges.

"India supports the democratic transition process in Myanmar and highlights the need for return of peace and stability. We will closely coordinate our policy with ASEAN in this regard, he added.

Jaishankar later met his Thai counterpart Pramudwinai.

"Continuing our conversations from Jakarta. Pleased to meet Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai of Thailand today. Look forward to the Mekong Ganga Cooperation (MGC) meeting this afternoon," he tweeted.

In Bangkok, Jaishankar will participate in the 12th Foreign Ministers' Meeting of the Mekong Ganga Cooperation Mechanism and attend the BIMSTEC Foreign Ministers' Retreat.
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to be discharged from the hospital on Sunday. Netanyahu was admitted to Sheba Hospital in Tel Hashomer on Saturday after suffering from a dizzy spell-- he was kept overnight under observation.



No irregularities were found in the additional tests the Israeli leader underwent. He had spent the day in 40 deg C (104F) heat. According to the doctors, he had suffered from dehydration; his office said that he was feeling very good.

In a video message from the hospital, Netanyahu said it was "not a good idea" to not wear a hat or drink any water whilst out in the sun. He also asked the public to take care during hot weather. Israel is currently reeling under a blistering heat wave.

Netanyahu's cabinet meeting was rescheduled for Monday. Netanyahu is Israel's longest-serving leader. He has served multiple terms stretching over 15 years in office.

His current far-right government, a collection of religious and ultranationalist parties, took office last December. Last year, in October, he was taken to the hospital after complaining about chest pains but was later discharged after the tests were found to be normal.

Tens of thousands of Israelis have protested the Netanyahu-led government's plan to overhaul the power of the Supreme Court. Netanyahu also faces multiple corruption charges, for which he is on trial.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned that Russia will consider using cluster munitions against Ukraine if "they are used against us." His warnings come as Ukraine announced that it received American-made cluster munitions.

In an interview with a pro-Kremlin journalist, Putin said Russia had a sufficient supply of various types of cluster munitions. "I want to note that in the Russian Federation, there is a sufficient stockpile of different kinds of cluster bombs. We have not used them yet. But of course, if they are used against us, we reserve the right to take reciprocal action," Reuters quoted the President.



Ukraine had earlier claimed that cluster munitions were needed to compensate for shell shortages faced by its troops. Though it planned to use cluster bombs to dislodge concentrations of enemy soldiers, Kyiv maintained that it will not use them on Russian territory. The Pentagon too claimed that Ukrainians will only use cluster munitions in "appropriate places" and Kyiv has committed in writing that it would not be used in populated areas.



"We just got them, we havent used them yet, but it can radically change (the battlefield)," Ukrainian general Brig. Gen. Oleksandr Tarnavsky told CNN.



However, the use of cluster munitions, multiple explosives released over a large area, either dropped from a plane or launched from the ground or sea, is banned in over 100 countries due to its indiscriminate killing power. Though they are intended to explode on impact, a lot of them do not and continue to pose huge risks to civilians, especially children.



Russia, Ukraine and the U.S. have not signed up to the Convention on Cluster Munitions that bans the production, stockpiling, use and transfer of weapons.



However, Putin said he agreed with the Biden administration's assessment that the use of cluster munitions is a war crime. Though the President claimed that Russia has not yet used cluster munitions, human rights groups claim both Moscow and Kyiv have used cluster munitions.



Last ship with grains leave Odesa

The last ship carrying Ukrainian grains left the port of Odesa early on Sunday as the U.N.-brokered deal that allows the safe Black Sea export of grain ends on Monday.



Russia is yet to agree to extend the pact as United Nations spokesman said on Friday that Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was waiting for a response from Putin on a proposal to extend the deal.



However, Putin has reportedly told South African President Cyril Ramaphosa in a phone call on Saturday that commitments to remove obstacles to Russian food and fertiliser exports had yet to be fulfilled.



Russia has repeatedly threatened to quit the deal, brokered by the U.N. and Turkey in July 2022 following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
To improve Colorados economy and quality of life, local and state policymakers should focus on crime as their highest priority.

Thats the clear takeaway from a new study released last week by Colorados Common Sense Institute. Titled The Cost of Crime and its Economic Impact on Colorado, the report details the costs of Colorados 2008-2023 crime surge on the economy and households.

From property offenses to violent crimes, every crime leaves a traumatized victim. Whether the wounds are physical, psychological, or financial, it is important to acknowledge the profound effects that a crime can have on its victims, the report says.

The study details tangible costs of crime, including: medical, mental health, lost productivity, property loss, public services related to crime, adjudication and sanctioning, and perpetrators lost work. It also calculates intangible costs related to quality of life losses.

The study was headed by institute economist Steven Byers and former Colorado prosecutors George Brauchler and Mitch Morrissey, using state crime data. They employed a calculation model published in the Journal of Benefit-Cost Analysis titled Incidence and Costs of Personal and Property Crimes in the United States, 2017, and converted numbers to 2020 dollars.

Last years statewide crime rate was 28% higher than in 2008. The study estimates the cost of crime to Colorado was $27.2 billion in 2022, including reported and unreported crimes. Thats equivalent to 76% of the state governments budget.

Other key findings include:

 The cost of crime in 2022 was equivalent to $4,623 for each Colorado resident.

 For every 1% decrease in the number of crimes, the state adds 474 jobs and $56.2 million to the GDP.

 If crime were to decrease to zero, the economic impact of increased quality of life would add $1.8 billion to Colorados GDP and increase employment by 17,335.

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 If insurance premiums were to decrease by 25% because of crime falling to zero, consumers would have $1.71 billion more in their pockets to spend. It would also add 40,445 jobs and increase GDP by $4.97 billion.

 The impact of zero crime would be an increase of 47,319 jobs and a $5.62 billion increase in GDP.

The authors, like everyone else, know they wont live to see zero crime or anything approaching it. Nevertheless, any step toward the goal moves us in the direction of more general prosperity.

High crime rates can discourage businesses and citizens, leading them to relocate to areas that they perceive are safer. This phenomenon has been demonstrated repeatedly here in the United States. Many crime-ridden city centers have deteriorating local economies. St. Louis, San Francisco, Portland (Oregon), and Seattle are prime examples, the report says.

Colorado has spent the past decade embracing criminal justice reforms that have nurtured a deadly fentanyl epidemic and played key roles in spiking nearly all categories of crime. The study suggests we end this practice.

There are massive economic benefits to all Coloradans when crime is low, the study says. Policy, despite its intention to create a more humane criminal justice system, has instead adversely affected the quality of life enjoyed by the states law-abiding majority. Victims should be prioritized, not perpetrators.

We see hope in the recent elections of Colorado Springs Mayor Yemi Mobolade and Denver Mayor Mike Johnston  who each pledge to crack down on crime.

It is a provable and documentable fact that crime has taken an unseemly toll on Colorado. As the Common Sense Institute declares, it is time to reverse trends and punish illegal behavior. It is time to make Colorado the safest state in which to visit or reside.

The Gazette Editorial Board
A day after Governor R.N. Ravi flew to Delhi for a meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin shot off a letter to President Droupadi Murmu, complaining that the governor has violated his oath and has proved to be unfit to continue. Ravi, who left for a one-day visit on July 7, was asked to extend his stay. Meanwhile, the tussle between the governor and the government continues unabated.

From the time he took over as governor on September 18, 2021, Ravi has had an uneasy relationship with the DMK government led by Stalin. In an exclusive interview with THE WEEK, Stalin said the governor was trying to damage Tamil Nadu. He does not like Tamil Nadu developing and remaining peaceful, said Stalin. Abolishing the post of governor is the only solution. Unsurprisingly, abolition of the post has been a longstanding demand of the DMK.

The first major disagreement between Stalin and Ravi came soon after the governor took charge. In September 2021, the Tamil Nadu assembly passed a bill for abolishing the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET), the all-India pre-medical entrance test. Tamil Nadu has always been against the national test, arguing that a common entrance test would harm the prospects of state board students. Ravi kept the bill pending for nearly five months and returned it without signing in February 2022. The assembly unanimously readopted the bill and sent it back to the governor. A few month's later, the governor sent it to the Union home ministry for the president's approval, which led to the accusation that he was stalling the process.

And then came the issue of the National Education Policy (NEP). While the state government opposed the NEP, Ravi batted for it. He even called a meeting of vice chancellors in the state and asked them to follow the new policy. Later, addressing a seminar titled 'Ek Bharat Shreshta Bharat' at the Raj Bhavan for students and faculty of various universities, he said that the word 'Dravidam' referred not only to Tamil Nadu, but also to other southern states. It did not go down well with the DMK.

Things came to a head early this year when Ravi skipped portions of the governors customary address at the start of the new session of the state assembly. Stalin introduced a resolution condemning the governor's conduct, which was unanimously adopted by the assembly, and Ravi walked out in a huff.

The next controversy erupted after Ravi's remark that 'Tamizhagam' would be more appropriate than Tamil Nadu as the state's name, leading to strong reactions from political parties across the state. Ravi later clarified that he made the comments while speaking about the historical and cultural connect between Kashi and Tamil Nadu and that it was erroneous to say that he had suggested a name change for the state.

Ravi stirred yet another controversy while commenting on the Chidambaram Natarajar temple issue. Last year, the Stalin government had registered cases under the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act against a few Dikshitarsan exclusive Saivaite clan of priests who control the famous Natarajar templeallegedly for having organised the marriage of four minor girls. Ravi said two minors were forced to undergo the infamous 'two-finger' virginity test by the police and accused the government of targeting the Dikshitars. The government, however, refuted the charges.

The tussle reached a critical point when Minister V. Senthil Balaji was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate and was later admitted to a private hospital for cardiac surgery. While Stalin retained Balaji in his cabinet as a minister without portfolio, Ravi dismissed Balaji. But he was forced to backtrack within hours, apparently after Shah intervened.

On July 5, Law minister S. Regupathy sought the governors sanction to prosecute former AIADMK ministers B.V. Ramanaa, C. Vijayabaskar, M.R. Vijayabhaskar and K.C. Veeramani on corruption charges. Ravi refused, and listed his reasons for the refusal in a letter dated July 6. He said the case against Ramanaa and C. Vijayabaskar, which was investigated by the CBI, was under legal examination. About the case against Veeramani, the governor said the government was yet to submit a duly authenticated copy of the investigation report. In the case of M.R. Vijayabhaskar, he said the Raj Bhavan did not receive any request. A day later, an acknowledgement signed by the governors office for receiving the letters was leaked to the media.

The feud between the government and the governor has escalated to such a level that the chief minister took the extreme step of writing to the president for Ravi's removal. Sitting in the state capital and looking for an opportunity to overthrow the state government, the governor can only be considered as an agent of the Union and such action of the governor will destroy our federal philosophy and the basic principles of Indian democracy, wrote Stalin in his letter. The governor took the oath under Article 159 to protect the Constitution and the law, and dedicate himself to the service and welfare of the people of Tamil Nadu. It is clear that Ravi had transgressed that and incited communal hatred and is a threat to peace in the state.
Uttar Pradeshs political waters are calm, for now. Or perhaps, that is just how it seems, as no grand alliances have been formed, no active partnerships sought and there has been no getting together of likeminded parties.

The 2024 elections are still months away. That is too long a time in the normally turbulent politics of the state. No party will be the first to announce that it is seeking an alliance and thus appear as a needy, weak partner. Dive in a bit though, and the start of some churn is visible.

The states Congress unit, for instance, is buoyed by the success in the Karnataka elections and hopes to do better in the five upcoming assembly elections. For now, our focus is on preparing to contest all 80 seats (in the Lok Sabha elections), said senior party leader Veerendra Madan. There is a series of meetings on; let us see what comes out of them, but the high commands decision will be binding on us.

Neither Madan nor anyone else is willing to go on record to decode how a win in the state would be possible without an alliance that brings together the anti-BJP vote. Especially as a large chunk of the upper-caste voteonce a given for the Congresshas long since been swept into the BJPs rising tide.

While the BJP polled 48.98 per cent of the votes in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections (a rise of more than 7 per cent from the previous election), the other principal contendersthe Bahujan Samaj Party and the Samajwadi Partyhad a combined vote share of slightly over 37 per cent. For the Congress, that figure was slightly over 6 per cent. So, even all three together could not mop up all the anti-BJP vote. Divided, they stand an even poorer chance.

The rationale that works for the Congress is that for all its failures (and its solitary seat in the 2019 Uttar Pradesh Lok Sabha elections), it remains a national party with its own, or alliance, governments in seven states. Thus, at the national level, it remains the only force that can take on the BJP.

But there are many things that do not work for the Congress in the state. For one, it lacks credible candidates. In 2017, the year that the Congress fought elections in an alliance with the Samajwadi Party and put up candidates in 114 seats, it won just seven. However, the fall in its vote share was lower than what its partner had to face. An irate Akhilesh Yadav would later, in the run-up to the 2022 assembly elections, tell THE WEEK that the Congress should focus on winning the two seats his party had left for it.

The condescension towards the Congress is not lost on anyone. But as one Congress leader said, We are at our worst. We cannot go any lower. The party will still sustain itself if we do poorly in 2024; but what will happen to the Samajwadi Partys identity? It should stop acting like a big brother.

Abdul Hafiz Gandhi, the Samajwadi Party national spokesperson, said the Congress needed to understand that it would have to cede space to regional forces where the latter are stronger. We are in the negotiating stage and will take the best decision for the party, he said. It cannot be denied that we are stronger in the state and so should get a larger chunk of the seat share.

Yadavs recent visit to Patna to attend a meeting of the opposition parties was seen as a mixed signal. The Congress view is that it is only when he attends a meeting in a Congress-ruled state that he will indicate his willingness to go with the party.

For all the goodwill that Rahul Gandhis constant visibility has generated, the state unit seems to be stuck in a dangerous inertia. This was on display in the recent municipal elections (which admittedly are no barometer of state or national politics). Its own candidates had woes that touched upon the lack of the partys seriousness. Candidates were left completely on their own. The party did not even spend on banners or flags, said one defeated contender. Yet, to the partys own surprise, it won 18 seats and also polled an impressive number of votes in a handful of others to come in second. So that sense of the electorate looking at the Congress may be a reality, but without the party nurturing it and being combative, it will die.

The Bahujan Samaj Party, as always, is the quietest of all, with even its spokespersons now avoiding questions. One said, Behenji will open her cards by December. In a recent party meeting in Delhi, Mayawatis focus was on sector committees, which look after a certain number of booths. Some organisational changes are also on so that while the party keeps promoting young talent, the more experienced ones are not left behind.
New Delhi, Jul 16 (PTI) After the recent visit of Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal to Britain, Commerce Secretary Sunil Barthwal is visiting London this week to take stock of the negotiations for a proposed free trade agreement (FTA) with the UK, an official said.

During the visit (July 17-18), the secretary will hold discussions with senior officials of the UK about the proposed trade agreement, which both the countries are negotiating.

The negotiating team of India is already there in London for the eleventh round of talks.

Goyal concluded his Britain visit on July 12.

The official said that both the visits are important as the talks are at a crucial stage.

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 countries.

India and the UK are working to iron out differences on issues like intellectual property rights (IPRs) and rules of origin under the agreement, negotiations for which were started in January 2021.

Out of 26 chapters in the agreement, 14 have been closed. In five chapters there are certain important contentious issues pertaining to environment, labour, and digital trade.

This agreement is the "most complex" one which will be going to be signed by India, Barthwal has said recently.

The 'rules of origin' provision prescribes minimal processing that should happen in the FTA country so that the final manufactured product may be called originating goods in that country.

Under this provision, a country that has inked an FTA with India cannot dump goods from some third country in the Indian market by just putting a label on it. It has to undertake a prescribed value addition in that product to export to India. Rules of origin norms help contain dumping of goods.

The negotiations between the two countries for the agreement cover as many as 26 policy areas/chapters. Investment is being negotiated as a separate agreement (bilateral investment treaty) between India and the UK and it would be concluded simultaneously with the free trade agreement.

The two countries last year missed the deadline due to unprecedented economic and political crises in the UK.

The Indian industry is demanding greater access for its skilled professionals in the UK market and entry of Indian whiskey by removal of conditions pertaining to the three-year minimum maturation period. The UK is also seeking a significant cut in the import duties on Scotch whisky. Britain is also looking for more opportunities for UK services into the Indian markets.

The bilateral trade between the countries has increased to USD 20.36 billion in 2022-23 from USD 17.5 billion in 2021-22.

India's main exports to the UK are ready-made garments and textiles, gems and jewellery, engineering goods, petroleum and petrochemical products, transport equipment, spices, machinery and instruments, pharmaceuticals and marine products.

The main imports include precious and semi-precious stones, ores and metal scraps, engineering goods, professional instruments other than electronics, chemicals and machinery.

In the services sector, the UK is the largest market in Europe for Indian IT services.

In the field of investment, the UK is one of the top investors in India. In 2022-23, India received USD 1.74 billion in foreign direct investment from Britain as against USD one billion in 2021-22. During April 2000 and March 2023, the investments stood at USD 33.9 billion.

Under such pacts, two trading partners significantly reduce or eliminate customs duties on the maximum number of goods traded between them, besides easing norms to promote trade in services and investments.

Britain, which has a USD 3.1 trillion economy according to World Bank data, has long been a service sector powerhouse. The city of London, which is one of the world's biggest financial markets, has also long attracted Indian companies seeking to raise funds from the global market.
New Delhi, Jul 16 (PTI) Revenue Secretary Sanjay Malhotra has asked income tax payers to file their return at the earliest as the finance ministry is not contemplating extension of the July 31 deadline.

"We expect that the filing would be higher than the last year...we are hopeful that it should be more than the last year," he said in an interview to PTI.

About 5.83 crore income tax returns were filed as on July 31 last year, the last day for filing returns for assessment year 2022-23.

"We would like to thank income tax return filers as ITR filing has been at a much faster pace than last year and we would advise them not to wait to the last moment and also not to hope for any extensions.

"So, I would advise them to file their tax return at the earliest because the deadline of July 31 is approaching fast," he said.

With regard to the tax mobilisation target, Malhotra said, it is more or less in line with the target growth rate, which is 10.5 per cent.

The growth rate as far as Goods and Services Tax (GST) is concerned, it is 12 per cent so far, he said.

However, the growth rate is lower than 12 per cent on the excise duties front due to rate reduction.

"It is rather negative as of now. Hopefully going forward, once the impact of the decrease in the tax rates is over, we will see some increase in collection of excise duties. So, overall we feel it's still early days...we feel that we should be able to achieve the target," he said.

As per the Budget 2023-24, the government expects gross tax receipts of Rs 33.61 lakh crore in the current fiscal.

Of this, the government aims to mobilise Rs 18.23 lakh crore, 10.5 per cent higher than collected from corporate and individual income tax, as per the Budget papers.

Collections from customs duty are expected to rise by 11 per cent to Rs 2.33 lakh crore from Rs 2.10 lakh crore in the revised estimates for FY23.

GST collections are projected to grow by 12 per cent in the next fiscal to Rs 9.56 lakh crore.

Taking both direct and indirect taxes, the gross tax collection is expected to grow by 10.45 per cent to Rs 33.61 lakh crore in 2023-24 as compared to Rs 30.43 lakh crore mobilised in the last financial year.
Mumbai, Jul 16 (PTI) As Bengali film star Jisshu Sengupta continues to expand his footprint in Hindi and south cinema, the actor says getting acceptance by another industry gives an artist a "different high".

In a career spanning almost 25 years, the actor has featured in over 60 Bengali films including "Noukadubi", "Jaatishwar", and "Rajkahini" as well as Telugu movies "NTR: Kathanayakudu" and "Sita Ramam" and Hindi titles "Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose: The Forgotten Hero, "Barfi!" and "Shakuntala Devi".

Sengupta, whose most recent work is the Hindi series "The Trial -- Pyaar, Kanoon, Dhokha", said he doesn't want to limit himself to a particular industry.

"I wanted to grow and I got opportunities here (in Hindi). I would not say I have shifted base here in Mumbai. But I am almost living here for 15 to 20 days a month and going back again (to West Bengal). I have done about 12 to 13 Telugu films and Im working on two more south films.

"I want to grow and not be restricted by language, different cultures. I want to make friends, and I want to know the world. Basically, Im networking. It is beautiful to work in a different language and cultural setup. When you go there and they accept you, then it's a different high altogether," the Kolkata-born actor told PTI.

"The Trial", directed by Suparn S Varma, revolves around Noyonika, played by Kajol, who is forced to return as a practising lawyer after her husband Rajeev (Sengupta), a judge, is imprisoned for a sex and corruption scandal.

The series, which is currently streaming on Disney+ Hotstar, is the Indian adaptation of "The Good Wife".

According to Sengupta, "The Trial" is not a scene-by-scene recreation of the acclaimed American legal drama.

"The struggle of Noyonika is different out here. The law, which is the background of the story, is different. When you are doing adaptations, it is not like it is scene-by-scene or shot-by-shot copy, it doesn't happen that way," he added.

The series also features Sheeba Chaddha, Alyy Khan, Kubbra Sait and Gaurav Pandey. It is produced by Banijay Asia and Ajay Devgn FFilms.
Lahore, Jul 16 (PTI) Law enforcement agencies have arrested five terrorists, including the members of the ISIS group, in the Punjab province of Pakistan, the Counter Terrorism Department (CDT) of Punjab police said on Sunday.

The arrests were made on Saturday during intelligence-based operations in Multan and Gujranwala districts of Punjab, it said.

The terrorists belong to the Islamic State (ISIS) terror group, Baloch Liberation Army and Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ). The suspected terrorists wanted to target important installations and religious places in Multan and Gujranwala, it said.

The CTD recovered 555-gram explosives, detonators, safety fuse and banned literature of ISIS and Baloch Liberation Army from the terrorists.

They have been shifted to an undisclosed location for interrogation.

The CTD has arrested hundreds of suspected terrorists of TTP and ISIS in Punjab this year.
Islamabad, Jul 16 (PTI) At least five persons were killed and 13 others injured on Sunday when a tourists vehicle fell into a ravine in the Gilgit Baltistan region in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

The accident occurred on the Karakoram Highway near the Thalichi area in the Diamer district. The tourists were going from Lahore to the snow-clad mountainous region to beat the scorching summer back home.

Local police officer Muhammad Ayaz confirmed that five persons, including three women, a child and a man, were killed and 13 others injured.

The total number of 18 people were in the vehicle, he said.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed deep grief and sorrow over the lives lost in the accident. He also ordered an inquiry to ascertain the facts leading to the fatal accident.

Road accidents are common in Pakistan and most of them are caused due to reckless driving and bad roads. Earlier this month, five tourists were killed and 13 were injured in two traffic accidents in GBs Hunza region.

Last month, eight people were killed and 17 others received injuries when a vehicle going to Chitral in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP) fell into a gorge.
London, Jul 16 (PTI) UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said on Sunday that he will step down from the Cabinet at the next reshuffle, expected in a few months time, after serving four years in the job.

The 53-year-old Conservative Party member of Parliament since 2005 also told The Sunday Times that he will not stand as an MP at the next general election, expected next year.

Wallace has served as defence minister under three British prime ministers  Boris Johnson, Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak  and has played a high-profile role in the UK's response to the Russia-Ukraine war conflict.

"I went into politics in the Scottish parliament in 1999. That's 24 years. I've spent well over seven years with three phones by my bed," Wallace told the newspaper.

"While I am proud to have worked with so many amazing people and helped contribute to protecting this great country, the cost of putting that ahead of my family is something I am very sad about," he said.

The minister is believed to have informed Prime Minister Sunak of his decision to stand down from the Cabinet last month.

The former soldier suggested in the newspaper interview that he would continue to call for higher defence spending, something he has campaigned for throughout his time in the role.

His exit will leave a big vacancy in an important Cabinet role to fill for Sunak. Meanwhile, his parliamentary constituency of Wyre and Preston North is set to disappear at the next general election under upcoming boundary changes.
Hampton (Georgia), Jul 16 (AP) Authorities in Georgia are hunting for a man who remains at large hours after he was suspected of gunning down three men and a woman in a suburban neighbourhood south of Atlanta.

Andre Longmore (40), is believed to be armed and dangerous, Hampton Police Chief James Turner said during a news conference. The shootings happened late Saturday morning in a subdivision in Hampton, a city of roughly 8,500 people.

Officials released few details about the killings. Turner said detectives were investigating at least four crime scenes near one another in the same neighbourhood. He said Longmore is a Hampton resident, but declined to discuss a possible motive.

The suspect remained at large more than five hours after the killings, and authorities vowed to keep searching until he was in custody.

We've done an exhaustive search in the general area and we're now widening that a little bit, Turner told reporters.

Investigators were also on the lookout for a Black GMC Acadia SUV that they believe Longmore might be driving.

Longmore doesn't appear to have a listed phone number and The Associated Press could not immediately find a family member or attorney who could speak on his behalf.

Authorities didn't release the victims' names, saying they were working to notify their families.

Henry County Sheriff Reginald Scandrett said his office is offering a USD 10,000 reward for information that leads to Longmore's arrest and prosecution.

He also addressed Longmore directly, saying: Wherever you are, we will hunt you down in whatever hole you may be residing in and bring you into custody. Period.

Located about 48 km south of Atlanta, Hampton is home to the Atlanta Motor Speedway, Georgia's racetrack for NASCAR events.

Law enforcement agencies throughout the Atlanta area and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation are assisting in the manhunt and investigation.

The shootings marked the 31st mass killing of 2023, taking the lives of at least 153 people this year, according to a database maintained by The Associated Press and USA Today in a partnership with Northeastern University. (AP) RHL
London, Jul 16 (PTI) The UK on Sunday formally signed the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) trade bloc, a move it says will help grow the countrys economy and provide access for British businesses to a market of over 500 million people.

UK Business and Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch, who is also leading the ongoing free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations with India, signed the pact agreed earlier this year during a visit to Auckland and hailed it as a major post-Brexit win for the country.

The UK will now seek to ratify the agreement, which will include parliamentary scrutiny as the CPTPP member countries complete their legislative processes to admit Britain into the trading bloc  of which India is not a member.

Im delighted to be here in New Zealand to sign a deal that will be a big boost for British businesses and deliver billions of pounds in additional trade, as well as open up huge opportunities and unparalleled access to a market of over 500 million people, said Badenoch.

We are using our status as an independent trading nation to join an exciting, growing, forward-looking trade bloc, which will help grow the UK economy and build on the hundreds of thousands of jobs CPTPP-owned businesses already support up and down the country, she said.

The signing comes as a new UK government report reveals one in every 100 UK workers was employed by a business headquartered in a CPTPP member nation in 2019, equating to over 400,000 jobs across the country.

Membership of the trade group is expected to spark further investment in the UK by CPTPP countries, already worth GBP 182 billion in 2021, by guaranteeing protections for investors.

The agreement is a gateway to the wider Indo-Pacific which is set to account for the majority of global growth and around half of the worlds middle-class consumers in the decades to come, bringing new opportunities for British businesses and supporting jobs, the UKs Department for Business and Trade (DBT) said.

The UK will be the first European member and first new member since CPTPP was created, which the government stresses would have been impossible without leaving the European Union (EU) economic bloc.

The UKs formal accession to CPTPP marks a significant milestone for UK trade, enabling ambitious British businesses to connect with the worlds most exciting growth markets for start-ups, innovation and technology, noted Ian Stuart, CEO of HSBC bank in the UK.

With the UK as a member, CPTPP will have a combined GDP of GBP 12 trillion and account for 15 per cent of global GDP, according to the DBT.

The agreement for the UKs membership is expected to come into force by next year after all member nations ratify the deal.

British whisky and cars have been flagged as among 99 per cent of current UK goods exports to the CPTPP countries set to be eligible for zero tariffs as UK businesses gain unparalleled access to the new trans-Pacific free trade market which includes 11 countries around the Pacific rim: Canada, Mexico, Peru, Chile, New Zealand, Australia, Brunei, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam and Japan.
Colorado finally might be coming down from its high. Many  parents, especially  have realized that the legalization of marijuana has not gone as planned. With the industry at perhaps its most vulnerable point yet, we should scrutinize the harm it has done to the Centennial State. The health and well-being of Colorado would be better off with a smaller, weaker, less influential marijuana industry.

Colorados market for marijuana has matured and might have peaked. The Colorado Department of Revenue reported $325.1 million in tax revenue in 2022, down from $423.5 million in 2021 and $387.5 million in 2020. While this might sound like a lot, this is a fraction of 1% of our budgeted tax revenues this year.

The Marijuana Industry Group, a Colorado-based trade group, announced Colorado had the worst 4/20 in five years. Vangst, a marijuana industry jobs platform, reported that Colorados marijuana industry lost 28% of its jobs, or 10,481 lost jobs, this past year. Marijuana sales are declining, causing the industry to lay off its workers. As sales have plummeted, so too have tax revenues.

Given the harm the marijuana industry exacts on public health and public safety, as well as the environment, theres reason to welcome a reduction in influence.

We can only hope the related consequences of use might also begin to subside. Thats an outcome people on both sides of the marijuana debate should agree would be good.

Ill effects

Take the number of marijuana-related calls to poison control centers, for example. In 2011, the year before Colorado voted to legalize recreational marijuana, 86 marijuana-related exposures were reported to Rocky Mountain Poison & Drug Safety. In 2021, it nearly quadrupled to 310. Of these exposures, 56.5% involved edibles (marijuana-infused brownies, candies, and the like) and 48.7% involved children who were 5 or younger. Two-thirds were marijuana-only calls, indicating that no other substance or product contributed.

The Colorado Department of Public Health & Safety reported, The largest percentage increases in reported marijuana exposures to RMPDS occurred when adult-use cannabis retail and medical markets opened to the public in 2014 and 2010, respectively. Just as the expansion of the market for marijuana resulted in more exposures, we can expect a contraction to result in fewer.

We can only hope this trend should follow for marijuana-related hospitalizations and emergency department visits, which can range from a person getting too high to cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome. The track record has not been good. In 2021, in Colorado, a cannabis code was cited in 15,240 hospitalization discharges and 12,248 emergency department discharges. The age groups with the highest rates of related discharges were 1317 and 2125.

Colorado has also experienced an increase in marijuana-impaired driving, causing an increase in fatal crashes due to these drivers. The Rocky Mountain HIDTA, a federal law enforcement partnership, reported, Since recreational marijuana was legalized, traffic deaths involving drivers who tested positive for marijuana more than doubled from 55 in 2013 to 131 people killed in 2020.

The percentage of fatal crashes that involved a driver who tested positive for marijuana nearly doubled from 11% to 20%. A 2022 report from the Colorado Department of Public Safety warned about a growing cultural acceptance of marijuana use and driving. Its time we had a conversation about how to get serious about this.

Colorados dispensaries have also become magnets for crime. Denver reported in 2023 that Marijuana businesses make up less than 1% of all businesses in Denver but account for approximately 6% of all reported business burglaries. And dont let the industry fool you: theyre not stealing the cash  thieves are targeting the much more valuable product. This, combined with the Common Sense Institutes report last year of astronomical statewide increases in crime since the year we legalized marijuana should bring additional concern.

What about the promise of legalization ushering in a new era of racial equity, whereby communities of color could establish generational wealth through ownership in the marijuana industry?

Despite 9% of Denvers residents being Black, the same 2023 report found that only 4.4% of marijuana license owners are Black. 90.2% of license holders are White, though the city is only 69% White. 79.2% of license holders are male. As I predicted several years ago, despite empty promises by the industry and supporters of legalization to the contrary, the marijuana industry is now overwhelmingly run by White males. So much for legalization advancing racial equity.

As the marijuana sales decline in Colorado, the use of other illicit drugs might also decline. The 2020 National Survey on Drug Use and Health reveals that individuals who use stronger drugs often co-use them with marijuana. Compared with those who do not use marijuana, daily users of marijuana were 48 times as likely to have used cocaine in the past year (14.4% vs. 0.3%), 25 times as likely to have used methamphetamine (5.0% vs. 0.2%), and 5 times as likely to have misused opioids (11.9% vs. 2.1%). Daily users were also nearly five times as likely to have had heavy alcohol use in the past month (17.8% vs. 4.8%).

These data indicate a truth we must face: if an individual does not use marijuana, its highly unlikely that theyll jump to the use of more lethal illicit drugs. Our state government should use this years decline in sales as a start of a campaign to reduce use and the associated harms.

Kids undermined

Its also worth noting that the rate of illicit drug use in Colorado is significantly higher than the national average. In 2021, Colorados rate of past-month illicit drug use among those 12 or older  which counts the use of any illicit drug (marijuana, cocaine, meth, fentanyl, etc.)  was 41% higher than the national average, at 20.20% and 14.29%, respectively. Among those between the ages of 12 and 17, Colorados rate was 51% higher than the national average.

Perhaps as youd expect in Colorado, a state that prides itself on its acceptance and use of marijuana, its 1217-year-olds have the second highest rate of youth marijuana use in the nation, at 17.52% and 10.47%, respectively  a rate 67% higher than the national average. For context, Utah is at 6.16%, Kansas is at 8.63%, Nebraska is at 8.69%, and Wyoming is at 9.03%.

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What did Colorado do from a policy perspective that these neighboring states did not?

Between 2015 and 2021, as the national rate of marijuana use among 12 to 17-year-olds decreased from 12.29% to 10.47%, Colorados rate increased from 16.21% to 17.52%. Even the rate of youth use in Alaska, the state that has had the highest rate, declined from 18.86% to 18.29%. Colorado is on track to have the highest rate of youth marijuana use in the nation.

This has coincided with the increasing potency of marijuana. Between 2014 and 2020, the average potency of flower (the type used in joints) in Colorado increased from 14% to 19% THC, while the average potency of concentrates (oils, waxes, and dabs) increased from 46.4% to 67.8%, with several dispensaries advertising products that are 99% THC potent. Between 2019 and 2020 alone, the average potency of vapes in Colorado increased from 69.1% to 79.7%. Following the playbook pioneered by the tobacco industry, Colorados marijuana industry has been making their products more addictive.

This is particularly troubling given the association between the use of high-potency products and mental health issues. Users of high-potency marijuana are four times more likely than users of low-potency products to become addicted, and daily users of marijuana above 10% THC are nearly five times more likely to develop psychosis than non-users. The National Institute on Drug Abuse warned, The risks of physical dependence and addiction increase with exposure to high concentrations of THC, and higher doses of THC are more likely to produce anxiety, agitation, paranoia, and psychosis.

A recent study also found that up to 30% of cases of schizophrenia in young males could have been averted if cannabis use disorder, also known as addiction to marijuana, had been prevented.

The organization I help lead, Smart Approaches to Marijuana, has been warning for more than a decade that marijuana is associated with numerous harms to physical and mental health. Because marijuana is far from a harmless drug, a point that activists for legalization are conceding, these exceptionally high rates of use should concern all Coloradans. They threaten to harm our loved ones and our states next generation.

Moreover, the price of this supercharged marijuana has become much more affordable in Colorado. Between 2014 and 2020, the average price of a gram of flower in a recreational dispensary declined from slightly more than $14 to less than $6. Likewise, the average price of a gram of concentrate fell from more than $45 to less than $20. Coinciding with the recent decline in sales of marijuana, the commercialization of the drug has driven the price down and left many dispensaries struggling to cover their costs.

No bailout

The aforementioned Marijuana Industry Group has begun sounding the alarm, though their solution aims to benefit the industry, not the residents of Colorado. Their executive director said the industry is in dire need of a regulatory overhaul to prevent more cannabis small business owners from closing their doors. He called for a new approach to marijuana policy.

The growth of Colorados marijuana industry wasnt going to last forever. Now, the industry must come to grips with the potential of declining demand for its addictive, supercharged products.

With razor-thin margins, the industry wants to lower taxes, which would undermine one of the most common arguments for legalization. However, the harm done by marijuana vastly exceeds whatever is received in tax revenue. The Centennial Institute estimated that every $1 in tax revenue was associated with $4.50 in costs  due to outcomes like traffic fatalities, hospital visits, and lost productivity. If taxes are further lowered, this ratio will become even wider.

Rather than bailing out the marijuana industry, policymakers should focus on driving usage down even lower. The worst 4/20 in five years should be framed as a win for public health, not as a cause for concern about the health of the marijuana industry. The state must work to ensure access to on-demand treatment, helping those who have developed cannabis use disorder  these individuals are the industrys most profitable customers.

To prevent youths from becoming lifelong users, the state should scale up statewide prevention campaigns about the harms of marijuana. Otherwise, Colorado will soon have the nations highest rate of youth use.

Policymakers should also focus on supply reduction. The struggling marijuana industry would agree with this goal of cracking down on the illicit market. The 2022 HIDTA Report to Congress noted that, Traffickers and [drug trafficking organizations] source the majority of marijuana and THC products from Colorado and West Coast states that have legalized the recreational and/or medical use of marijuana and related products. Though supporters of legalization assured skeptical voters that this policy would eliminate the illicit market, this outcome has failed to occur a decade later  given the maturity of the legal market, its safe to safe itll never happen.

Colorados experience as the first state to legalize recreational marijuana should serve as a cautionary tale to the rest of the nation. Many other states that legalized marijuana will likely soon experience similar contractions and declining tax revenues.

The marijuana industrys honeymoon phase is over. Marijuana tourism has declined because many people have either lost interest or can purchase marijuana in their home states.

At the same time, many residents are waking up to the harms and unintended consequences of legalization, ranging from more traffic fatalities and emergency department visits to higher rates of youth use. For any number of reasons, the hype around legalization isnt what it used to be.

If Colorados marijuana industry is on the brink of contracting, its families, children and public health that will win.

Luke Niforatos is executive vice president of Smart Approaches to Marijuana and the Foundation for Drug Policy Solutions.
Karachi, Jul 16 (PTI) A Hindu temple was attacked with rocket launchers by a gang of dacoits in the Southern Sindh province of Pakistan on Sunday, in the second such incident of vandalism of a place of worship belonging to the minority community in less than two days.

The assailants attacked the small temple built by the local Hindu community and adjoining homes belonging to members of the minority community in the Kashmore area of the Sindh province.

The attack came after the Mari Mata Temple in Karachis Soldier Bazar was razed to the ground by bulldozers in the presence of a heavy contingent of police force late on Friday night.

The temple believed to be nearly 150 years ago was demolished after being declared an old and dangerous structure in Karachi, the provincial capital of Sindh province.

The assailants fired indiscriminately at the temple on Sunday, prompting a police unit led by Kashmore-Kandhkot SSP Irfan Sammo to reach the scene.

They fired rocket launchers at the place of worship, which was closed during the attack, the police official said, adding that the temple opens annually for religious services conducted by the Bagri community.

The attack happened in the early hours of Sunday. They fired indiscriminately and fled when a police party reached the spot. We are conducting a search operation in the area, Samoo said.

The police officer estimated that eight or nine gunmen were involved in the attack. Dr Suresh, a member of the Bagri community, said that the rocket launchers fired by the dacoits failed to explode, resulting in no loss of life.

He called on the police to protect the community, saying the incident had left the residents in a state of panic.

SSP Samoo assured the Hindu community members they would be protected. The Kashmore area has a sizeable Hindu population.

The attack comes days after dacoits in the Kashmore and Ghotki riverine areas had threatened to attack Hindu places of worship and community members in retaliation to Seema Haider Jakhrani's PUBG love story.

Seema, a Pakistani mother of four, left her country and entered India to live with a Hindu man she befriended and fell in love with while playing on online gaming platform PUBG in 2019.

Seema, 30, and Sachin Meena, 22, live in the Rabupura area of Greater Noida, near Delhi, where he runs a provision store, according to Uttar Pradesh Police.

While Seema was arrested on July 4 for illegally entering India without a visa via Nepal with her four children, all aged below seven years, Sachin was put behind bars for sheltering the illegal immigrants. They were released from jail recently.

Meanwhile, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has said it was alarmed by reports of deteriorating law and order in the districts of Kashmore and Ghotki in Sindh, where some 30 members of the Hindu community  including women and children  have allegedly been held hostage by organised criminal gangs.

Moreover, we have received disturbing reports that these gangs have threatened to attack the communitys sites of worship, using high-grade weapons, the Dawn newspaper quoted the commission as saying.

It called on the Sindh Home Department to investigate the matter without delay, the report said.

Karachi is home to many ancient Hindu temples. Hindus form the biggest minority community in Pakistan.

The majority of Pakistan's Hindu population is settled in Sindh province where they share culture, traditions and language with Muslim residents.
Hampton (US), Jul 15 (AP) A county government official in Georgia says at least four people have been killed in a mass shooting in a small community south of Atlanta.

A statement from Henry County officials said police were still investigating an active shooter incident that occurred late Saturday morning at a subdivision in Hampton, a city of about 8,500 people about 40 miles (65 kilometers) south of Atlanta.

I can confirm that four people are deceased," county government spokeswoman Melissa Robinson told The Associated Press by phone. "As of right now, the suspect is still at large.

Police in Hampton, Georgia, planned to release more details at a Saturday afternoon news conference.

Several local law enforcement agencies were assisting, as was the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. GBI spokeswoman Nelly Miles said she had no information other than that GBI agents had been asked to help. (AP)



NSA

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Jabalpur, Jul 16 (PTI) A dog was allegedly beaten to death using sticks and rods by a group of people in Jabalpur district of Madhya Pradesh, following which the police have launched a probe, an official said on Sunday.

The incident occurred on Friday at Kaithla village located within Patan police station limits and a video of the offence has emerged on social media.

Arvind Garg, a resident of Kaithla, alleged in his complaint that a local panchayat office-bearer and around 10 others attacked his pet dog with sticks and rods, in which the animal died, Patan police station in-charge Surendra Singh said.

"The complainant said he had contested the panchayat election against the panchayat office-bearer and had also lodged a complaint about his illegal possession of government land. He claimed that the killing of his dog was a fallout of that," the official said.

Investigation into the complaint has been launched and legal steps will be taken on the outcome of the probe, he said.

"As per the preliminary probe, the attackers were angry as Garg's pet dog had bitten a family member of the panchayat office-bearer last month. They were also annoyed with the continuous barking by the dog," he said.
Datia, Jul 16 (PTI) The Bharatiya Janata Party's Datia district unit head on Sunday said appropriate action will be taken if a 19-year-old victim of gang-rape in her police statement names the son of a local party functionary of being involved in the crime.

The woman was allegedly abducted and raped by four persons in Madhya Pradesh's Datia district on Friday afternoon, after which the victim tried to end her life, police earlier said.

The police have so far arrested one of the accused, an adult, and detained two minors while search is on for one more accused in the case, Unav police station in-charge Yadvendra Singh Gurjar on Sunday.



A reward of Rs 10,000 has been announced on the absconding accused, he said.

Those nabbed so far include a local BJP functionary's minor son, whose name has figured in the First Information Report (FIR) registered in the case.

Asked about it, BJP's district president Surendra Budholia said the incident was unfortunate and the police were yet to record the victim's statement.

If the victim takes the name of the BJP office-bearer's son in her statement to the police, then the party will serve a notice to him (local functionary). The party will then take further action, Budholia said.

After the incident, a police complaint was lodged by the victim's younger sister.

"The complainant said she and her elder sister were abducted by four persons. The accused took them to a house, where they raped her elder sister," Superintendent of Police Pradeep Sharma said on Saturday.

Following the incident, the victim and her younger sister returned home, where the victim tried to commit suicide, he said.

The woman was later admitted to a hospital in Jhansi in neighbouring Uttar Pradesh, Sharma said.

As per the FIR, the accused also sexually abused the complainant, he said.

After the incident, a large number of people staged a protest at the police station, following which the police registered a case.

The people were pacified and a copy of the FIR was given to them, he said.

The accused were booked under Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 376 D (gangrape), 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 342 (wrongful confinement) and sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, Sharma had said.
Mumbai, Jul 16 (PTI) The Opposition camp including Shiv Sena (UBT), Congress, and the NCP (Sharad Pawar group) on Sunday decided to boycott the tea party to be hosted by the Maharashtra government on the eve of the state legislature's monsoon session, starting Monday.

A meeting was organised by the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council Ambadas Danve, who belongs to Shiv Sena (UBT), which was attended by Congress legislative party leader Balasaheb Thorat and Nationalist Congress Party's Jayant Patil.

Notably, the post of the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly is lying vacant after incumbent Ajit Pawar of NCP resigned recently and joined the Shiv Sena-BJP government as Deputy Chief Minister. Eight other MLAs of Ajit Pawar's camp were sworn in as ministers.

We have decided to boycott the high tea invitation of the state government as it has failed to solve the woes of people on several fronts. This government's validity on Constitutional norms is already in question," Danve told reporters.

He alleged the government seems to have deployed a policy of "misusing" probe agencies to pressure the Opposition and force them to either join the government or face false charges and harassment.

We are seeing a gory picture of democracy in Maharashtra as several Constitutional norms are disregarded. The chief minister of Maharashtra himself is facing disqualification, Danve said.

He alleged the state is lagging in industrial growth as some projects that could have been set up only in Maharashtra have gone to other states.

"On the other hand, the refinery project in Ratnagiri district is being pushed without the consent of local people, Danve alleged.

When asked if Congress would stake a claim to the post of the Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly in the wake of a split in the NCP, Balasaheb Thorat said, Congress has 45 MLAs and we can stake a claim to the LoP post.

"However the nomination of the candidate for the post will be decided by senior leaders in Delhi," he added.

As per norms, the post of LoP becomes official only after it is recognised by the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly.
Patna, Jul 16 (PTI) Union minister Pashupati Kumar Paras on Sunday asserted that he will not give up his Hajipur Lok Sabha seat for nephew Chirag Paswan, whose late father Ram Vilas Paswan had nurtured the constituency over decades.

Chirag has recently said that his party will "without any doubt" contest the Lok Sabha polls from Hajipur.

The Union food processing minister claimed that while he was already in the NDA, his nephew was in two minds about joining it despite receiving an invitation from BJP president J P Nadda to attend a meeting of the coalition on July 18.

He (Chirag) has no standing in Hajipur. I wonder why he is spending his time there, Paras told reporters when asked about a public meeting his nephew had held on Saturday in the parliamentary constituency, seeking to galvanise the people in his favour.

Indirectly rejecting Chirag's recent claim in a television interview that the late Paswan had wanted him to contest from Hajipur, Paras said, My elder brother was very much alive during the 2019 Lok Sabha polls when I first contested from the seat.

I entered the fray to obey my elder brother's command. I did not want to move to Delhi. I was happy being a minister in the state. But late Paswan said he saw me as his political successor, though Chirag was his son, claimed Paras.

He also wondered what difficulty Chirag is facing in Jamui which he is representing for the second consecutive time.

The people of his constituency must be upset over his intent to desert them. I, for my part, will not give up Hajipur, asserted Paras who expressed confidence that the BJP will back him, saying: In coalition dharma, nobody expects you to give up your sitting seat.

He added, I am already a part of the NDA while he (Chirag) seems to be making calculations as to how many seats he must demand (from the BJP). He reminds me of my late brother's observation that some politicians are like cattle which cannot decide which way to go on a road and get knocked down.

Notably, Paras was inducted into the Union cabinet after he split the late Paswan's Lok Janshakti Party (LJP), shortly after his demise, leaving Chirag isolated in the organisation of which the latter was the national president.

The Hajipur MP insisted that Chirag had quit the NDA during the 2020 assembly polls, when the then LJP chief had raised a banner of revolt against Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and fielded candidates, many of them BJP rebels, against all those who were contesting on tickets of the JD(U).

Chirag, who makes no secret of his admiration for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, had vowed to ensure the defeat of Kumar and help the latter's ally BJP form its own government. The brinkmanship left a festering sore and the JD(U), which pulled out of the NDA last year, has accused the saffron party of having used Chirag to gain upper hand in the coalition.

Although Chirag seems to have burnt his bridges with the chief minister who is now in the Mahagathbandhan, his estranged uncle underscored that the nephew has not spoken a single word against Deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav whose father Lalu Prasad heads the RJD, the largest constituent of the ruling coalition in Bihar.

The BJP is demanding the resignation of Yadav after the CBI filed a charge sheet against him in the land for jobs scam.

Paras also admitted that Union minister Nityanand Rai, a former state BJP chief who in the past represented Hajipur in the state assembly, has been trying for a rapprochement between the uncle and the nephew.

He recently asked me to patch up with Chirag. But I recited to him the Bihari proverb which states that relationships which go sour are like split milk which cannot produce butter, no matter how much you churn it, said Paras.
Patna, Jul 16 (PTI) At least four inmates and prison officials each were injured in a scuffle which broke out inside Patna's Beur Central Jail on Sunday during a protest by some prisoners led by convicted former MLA Anant Singh over their ward allegedly being "deliberately" kept open the previous night.

The former Mokama MLA claimed that a conspiracy was being hatched to murder him inside the jail premises.

Patna District Magistrate Chandrashekhar Singh has ordered an inquiry into the matter and suspended a prison official following the incident.

He said that local police also lodged an FIR against some inmates for creating a ruckus inside the jail premises.

"The incident took place around 7.30 am on Sunday when around 40 inmates led by Anant Singh started protesting inside the prison, alleging that their ward was deliberately kept open the previous night," the DM told PTI.

"Prison authorities tried to placate the protesting inmates but when they did not budge, additional forces were sent to the prison. The situation was brought under control and most of the protesting inmates were sent back to their cells. However, Anant Singh and 10 other inmates continued protesting. After that, a scuffle broke out with the jail officials and mild force was used. Some inmates were shifted to other cells," he added.

All the injured inmates and jail officials are currently out of danger, he said.

It is, however, not yet clear whether Anant Singh was among those injured.

"I have ordered an inquiry into the incident a sought a report within 24 hours. A prison official has also been suspended," he said.

The DM said that the local police has lodged an FIR against some inmates for creating a ruckus inside the jail premises.

A statement issued by the district administration said that Anant Singh was alleging that a conspiracy was being hatched to kill him inside the prison.

Singh is languishing inside Beur Central Prison after an MP MLA court in Patna last year sentenced the ex-MLA to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment in connection with a case dating back to 2015, when police recovered several incriminating materials including six rifle magazines from his official residence.

His wife Neelam Devi is currently the RJD MLA from Mokama.
Shillong, Jul 16 (PTI) The Meghalaya government has appointed Sherwin May Sungoh, head of the Education department of the North Eastern Hill University, as the chairperson of a four-member State Education Commission, officials said on Sunday.

The commission will recommend reforms and policy changes for promoting quality education in schools, colleges and institutions of higher and technical education, they said.

The other members of the Education commission are former UPSC chairman David Reid Syiemlieh, former MBOSE executive chairman Tony TC Marak and education secretary Ambrose Ch Marak who will be the member secretary, they said.

According to a notification, the commission will also be assisted by 12 co-opted members and its term will be for two years.

"The Education Commission will recommend concrete solutions and strategic intervention and policy decisions for ushering reforms in the school and higher education system from the perspective of NEP 2020 and fulfilling its various principles and articulation," the notification said.

The commission was also tasked with advising the Meghalaya government on matters related to the school and college system, salary and school/college structures, school management functioning and accountability, it added.

Education Minister Rakkam A Sangma said the commission will also examine the major issues that are impacting the education sector in Meghalaya, their performance, finances, and accountability.

He said the commission will also ensure the establishment of effective mechanisms to ensure pay parity of teachers under different aided categories with government teachers.
Rajasthan govt loots people, has broken all records of atrocities against Dalits, tribals, women; it has no right to be in power: J P Nadda.
New Delhi, Jul 16 (PTI) Indian and Mongolian troops will take part in the 15th edition of a bilateral military exercise in Ulaanbaatar from July 17 to 31 aimed at exchanging best practices and developing interoperability, the Ministry of Defence said on Sunday.

An Indian Army contingent comprising 43 personnel reached Ulaanbaatar on Sunday on an Indian Air Force C-17 aircraft to take part in the exercise, 'Nomadic Elephant-23', the ministry said in a statement.

"The aim of this exercise is to build positive military relations, exchange best practices, and develop inter-operability, bonhomie, camaraderie and friendship between the two armies. The primary theme of the exercise will focus on counter-terrorism operations in mountainous terrain under United Nations mandate," the statement said.

'Nomadic Elephant' is an annual training exercise which is conducted alternatively in Mongolia and India. The last edition of the exercise was held at the Special Forces Training School, Bakloh, Himachal Pradesh in October 2019.

Soldiers of the Mongolian Armed Forces Unit 084 and the Indian Army's Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry Regiment will participate in the exercise, the ministry said.

The scope of this exercise involves platoon-level Field Training Exercise (FTX). During the exercise, Indian and Mongolian troops will engage in various training activities designed to enhance their skills and capabilities, it said.

These activities include endurance training, reflex firing, room intervention, small team tactics and rock craft training. Soldiers from both sides will learn from each other's operational experience, it added.

India and Mongolia have a shared commitment to regional security and cooperation. 'Nomadic Elephant-23' will be yet another significant milestone in the defence cooperation between the armies of India and Mongolia that will further foster bilateral relations between the two nations, according to the statement.
The U.S. Federal Trade Commission this week opened an investigation into OpenAI Inc., questioning whether its popular ChatGPT conversational AI bot puts consumers reputations and data at risk, according to a person familiar with the matter.

The probe into the Microsoft Corp.-backed startup marks the first official inquiry into a technology that has the potential to change almost every aspect of peoples lives and has become almost equally as fascinating for its potential to run awry. FTC Chair Lina Khan, who testified before Congress on Thursday, raised concerns about AI before, saying enforcers need to be vigilant early with transformative tools like artificial intelligence.

Microsoft and OpenAI declined to comment. The Washington Post earlier reported on the FTCs probe.

The FTCs investigation opens a potent regulatory salvo at San Francisco-based OpenAI, the leader in generative AI technology whose ChatGPT app sparked a race among companies across nearly every industry to develop their own competing chatbots. ChatGPT is built atop a large language model that is trained on enormous swaths of text from the internet so it can generate responses to questions in a way that sounds humanlike.

The rapid rise of the technology in the past eight months since ChatGPT became widely available prompted calls for regulation and a pause in training of advanced AI systems, even among the heads of some of the leading companies in the field, such as OpenAI, Anthropic and Alphabet Inc.s DeepMind.

OpenAI Chief Executive Officer Sam Altman has been an outspoken proponent of regulation. In a May hearing, he said Congress should create robust safety standards for advanced AI systems. If this technology goes wrong, it can go quite wrong, Altman said. Twitter owner Elon Musk also has been one of the loudest voices warning about the potential consequences of mainstreaming AI.

A prominent tech ethics group filed a complaint in March urging the FTC to halt further commercial deployment of the technology that powers ChatGPT. The complaint from the Center for Artificial Intelligence and Digital Policy, which is led by longtime privacy advocate Marc Rotenberg, called on the FTC to open the investigation and ensure the establishment of necessary guardrails to protect consumers, businesses, and the commercial marketplace.

The FTC, which enforces both antitrust and consumer protection laws, is also taking a close look at how competition is developing in the space, Khan said, to ensure dominant firms arent using their power over key inputs like data to discriminate against rivals. The agency is also monitoring how AI tools are being used by scammers and will enforce the law, not just against fraudsters, but also against companies that enable them, she said.

In a 20-page letter addressed to OpenAI this week, the FTC asked the company to provide detailed descriptions of all complaints it received of its products making false, misleading, disparaging or harmful statements about people, according to the Washington Post. The FTC is looking into whether the company engaged in unfair or deceptive practices that caused reputational harm to consumers, the Post reported.

The FTC also asked the company to provide records related to a security incident the company disclosed in March when a bug in its systems allowed some users to see payment-related information, as well as some data from other users chat history.

Khan faced a grilling Thursday in a hearing before the House Judiciary Committee, where Republican lawmakers attacked her adherence to ethics laws and aggressive antitrust enforcement.

Photos: Amid ChatGPT outcry, some teachers are inviting AI to class
New Delhi, Jul 16 (PTI) OBC leader Om Prakash Rajbhar's entry into the BJP's camp underscores the ruling party's assiduous efforts to bolster its presence among disadvantaged castes in the Hindi heartland at a time when the Opposition has seized on a host of issues, including OBC census, to corner it in the run-up to the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

With the main opposition party Congress joining several regional parties to push for caste census as part of wider efforts to increase the OBC reservation and project the BJP as inimical to their interests, the ruling party has been making sharp

counter-moves.

The central government has so far maintained a studied silence on the demand for a census of Other Backward Classes, who are the largest voting bloc and have shown in polling booths an increasing preference for the ruling party under Prime Minister Narendra Modi since 2014.

A host of leaders representing smaller parties and identified mostly with a particular backward or Dalit caste have gravitated, mostly from the Opposition, to the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance in recent months as the ruling party bolsters a flank where it has appeared to be vulnerable at times.

In Uttar Pradesh, which has been a BJP stronghold since 2014, Rajbhar joins OBC leaders like Sanjay Nishad, who enjoys influence among boatmen and fishermen communities, and Union minister Anupriya Patel of Apna Dal (Soneylal), a party with support mostly among backward Kurmis.

While Nishad had aligned his 'Nishad' party with the BJP ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, Patel has been a BJP ally since 2014.

In neighbouring Bihar, Kushwaha leader Upendra Kushwaha and former chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi, whose Manjhi community is part of Dalits, have left the RJD-JD(U)-Congress-Left alliance.

Manjhi has already joined the NDA while Kushwaha has also had several meetings with senior BJP leaders. The BJP is also making determined efforts to bring Chirag Paswan, whose Lok Janshakti Party (R) enjoys the support of Paswans, the most numerous Dalit community in Bihar, back into its camp.

While the BJP has been a surpassingly dominant political force in UP since Modi led the party to its maiden Lok Sabha majority in 2024, the Samajwadi Party managed to dent it in the 'poorvanchal' region by aligning with the likes of Rajbhar and a rival faction of Apna Dal in the 2022 assembly polls.

Some OBC leaders from the BJP, including Dara Singh Chauhan, had defected to the SP to boost its outreach to non-Yadav backwards and Chauhan's decision to quit as an MLA and likely return to his former party marks yet another setback to the disjointed Opposition in the crucial state.

The SP-RLD alliance in the western UP had succeeded to some extent in dividing the Jat votes in 2022 and the speculation about the BJP wooing Rashtriya Lok Dal leader Jayant Singh to its fold underscores the party's seriousness in hitting the target of winning all 80 Lok Sabha seats in the state.

The BJP had won 62 seats in 2019 while its ally Apna Dal won two. In Bihar, the opposition alliance is seen as more formidable than in Uttar Pradesh.

However, BJP leaders are of the view that by getting leaders of smaller parties linked to various backward and Dalit castes to their side, they can present the NDA as an umbrella alliance more socially representative than their two main rivals, Lalu Prasad Yadav-led RJD and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar-led JD(U).

The same opposition alliance had handed over a drubbing to the BJP-led bloc in the 2015 assembly polls.

While Yadavs, the most populous and dominant backward caste, have been a strong supporter of the SP in UP and the RJD in Bihar, especially in assembly polls, the BJP has succeeded - by weaving together dozens of smaller backward castes - in capturing a large OBC vote bank, especially in Uttar Pradesh.

Political experts are of the view that enthused by the Congress win in Karnataka, where OBC leader Siddharamaiah has taken over as chief minister, the main opposition party and its allies will amp up their campaign among the disadvantaged classes on the back of demand for caste census and promise of heightened welfare measures.

With the BJP determined to maintain and further expand its footprints among these communities, the ruling party is expected to intensify its outreach to them as the campaign for the national elections heats up.

The BJP has put in place a nationwide campaign in its bid to win a majority in the 543-member Lok Sabha under Modi for a third time.
New Delhi, Jul 16 (PTI) The Congress has regularly compromised the interest of its state units and reduced itself to a bunch of people running around Rahul Gandhi to keep him relevant, the BJP on Sunday charged after the opposition party came out in support of AAP on Delhi Ordinance issue.

The BJP's reaction came after the Congress made it clear that it will not support the Centre's ordinance on the control of administrative services in Delhi and will oppose any attempt of the central government to "sabotage federalism" in the country.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which governs Delhi, said the Congress' "unequivocal opposition" to the Delhi ordinance was "a positive development".

However, the BJP's IT department head Amit Malviya lashed out at the Congress' central leadership.

Delhi Congress had opposed support for AAP. Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury is standing up against Mamata Banerjee's murderous regime in West Bengal.

But in both states, the central leadership of the Congress has struck a deal with AAP and the TMC, with no gain in return, he said.

Congress has regularly compromised the interest of its state units and reduced itself to a bunch of people running around Rahul Gandhi, to keep him relevant, the BJP leader alleged.

Targeting the Congress, BJP spokesperson Jaiveer Shergill said, "Disunited Congress holding fractured 'Opposition meeting' in Bengaluru should first explain differences within Congress".

"On issue of Delhi Service Ordinance: Punjab Congress Mr Pratap Bajwa categorically said 'AAP doesn't deserve Congress Support'. Congress leader Mr Maken said 'Congress should not support AAP'. Today, Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal says 'Congress not in favour of Ordinance-support AAP'.

"Political desperation and confusion grips Congress," he said on Twitter.
Lucknow, Jul 16 (PTI) The paucity of funds has forced the Indo-Islamic Cultural Foundation Trust to defer the construction of a hospital in Ayodhya's Dhannipur, the location where the Waqf board was granted land after the historic Ram Mandir Supreme Court verdict in 2019.

The Trust is handling a mega project under which a mosque, a charity hospital, and a community kitchen is supposed to be built.

According to its members, the trust had originally planned to build the hospital first, and a mosque later, but was held back by the lack of money it is required to pay in fees and development charges.

Athar Hussain, the secretary and spokesperson of the trust, said the project will now be taken up in several small phases.

"We have put the project on hold for now due to paucity of funds. Despite the difficulty, we will not shelf the project, but will change the strategy. We will divide the project into several small projects," Hussain told PTI.

"We will submit a new map of the mosque to the Ayodhya Development Authority. The mosque will take less money to build. It will be very easy to arrange it," he said.

According to Hussain, the mosque, to be built over 15,000 square feet, will cost Rs 8-10 crore and will be powered with solar panels.

Hussain said the mosque was supposed to come after the hospital, but the trust could not shore up Rs 300 crore needed to build it.

"Our effort was to build the hospital before the mosque, but it is an ambitious project involving Rs 300 crore. The land where the mosque is proposed to be built already has many mosques, so we had thought of building a charity hospital and community kitchen first," he said.

Zufar Farooqui, the chief trustee of the foundation and also the chairman of the Uttar Pradesh Sunni Central Waqf Board, said the trust members will start seeking donations from the public next month onwards across the country.

He said a meeting of the board will be held at the end of July to prepare a strategy to that end.

On November 9, 2019, the Supreme Court in its verdict in Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid case had ordered to give the disputed site for the construction of the temple and granted five acres of land in Ayodhya to the Muslims for the construction of a mosque.

The district administration had given Uttar Pradesh Sunni Central Waqf Board land in Dhannipur village in Sohawal tehsil, some 25 kilometers from the Ram Temple site, in compliance of the verdict.

The Indo-Islamic Cultural Foundation Trust was formed by the Waqf Board in July 2020 to oversee the construction of the mosque.

The Trust later decided to use the land to build a charity hospital, a community kitchen, a library, and a research institute, in addition to the mosque.

The construction of the mosque in Dhannipur is yet to take off, even as Ram temple is in its final stages and is slated to be open to public by January next year.

The mosque project was earlier hamstrung by a detail in change of land use, which was sorted in March this year.
Chandigarh, Jul 16 (PTI) Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann Sunday said the Indian Space and Research Organisation has evinced interest in setting up a space museum in Punjab and that his government will extend full support.

Mann also congratulated the 30 students of government schools who witnessed the launch of the Chandrayaan III from ISRO's Space Centre in Sriharikota.

The state government had sent 15 boys and as many girls selected from 'Schools of Eminence' to watch the launch of India's third moon mission.

The CM said it is a matter of great pride and satisfaction that ISRO has evinced keen interest in setting up the space museum in the state.

"ISRO has expressed interest in setting up the museum in Punjab and sought a site for it and it will be provided," he said here.

When this museum comes up, he said, the science culture in the state will get a further boost.

Speaking about students who witnessed the launch of the Chandrayaan III on July 14, Mann said most of them travelled in an airplane the first time. The Punjab government bore the entire expense on travelling, boarding and lodging, he said.

These students and their teachers stayed in the same hotel where accompanying Education Minister Harjot Bains stayed, said Mann.

He said the ISRO will be conducting space and missile programmes on around 13 projects in the future and more students will be sent.

Mann said the state government lays major thrust on completely overhauling the education system in Punjab.

On July 23, the state government will send two groups of students to Singapore, he said.

Mann said earlier also some teachers were sent to Singapore for the same training, adding the motive is to ensure teachers are able to learn about the advanced practices prevailing across the globe in the education sector.

Due focus is being laid on infrastructure and human resource development to give a fillip to the education in the state, he said.

Mann further said the state government will soon launch a bus service for girl students studying in government schools to ensure they complete their studies, he said.
Jaipur, Jul 16 (PTI) Fifteen of Rajasthans 33 districts have received abnormal rainfall this Monsoon season so far while there is no district under deficit rainfall category, according to official data.

However, Jaisalmer is falling under scanty rainfall category (-60 per cent or less), according to a report from the water resources department.

At the same time, due to widespread rainfall, water storage in 690 dams in the state is 58.09 per cent of the total capacity of 12580.03 mqm as on July 15, which was 43.67 per cent in the corresponding period last year.

Rajasthan has recorded abnormal rainfall, 80.9 per cent more than the normal till July 15.

Normal rainfall in the state from June 1 to July 15 is 146.39 mm, against which Rajasthan has recorded 264.75 mm rain during the period this year, which is 80.9 per cent more than the normal rains.

Fifteen districts of Ajmer, Barmer, Bhilwara, Chittorgarh, Jaipur, Jalore, Jodhpur, Nagaur, Pali, Rajsamand, Sawai Madhopur, Sikar, Sirohi, Tonk and Udaipur have recorded abnormal rainfall (60 per cent or more) while the rainfall in 11 districts of Alwar, Bharatpur, Bikaner, Churu, Dausa, Dholpur, Ganganagar, Jhunjhunu, Karauli, Kota and Pratapgarh is under 20 per cent to 59 per cent.

Normal rainfall (19 per cent to -19 per cent) is in Banswara, Baran, Bundi, Dungarpur, Hanumangarh and Jhalawar whereas there is no district under deficit rainfall (-20 per cent to -59 per cent).

The MeT department has issued a yellow alert for heavy rainfall in Alwar, Dausa, Jaipur, Jhunjhunu, Sikar and Tonk on Monday, and heavy rainfall in Alwar, Baran, Dausa on Tuesday.
Lucknow, Jul 16 (PTI) The Congress in Uttar Pradesh is consistently working for bringing members of minority and backward communities into its fold, party leaders said and highlighted the several outreach programmes, including tea stall meetings and Dalit-Muslim 'sammelans', being held to win back its "traditional voters".

The campaigns in the politically important Uttar Pradesh come ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. The Congress has been reduced to a marginal player in the state. The party could win only two seats in the assembly election for 403 in Uttar Pradesh in last year's polls, while the BJP won 255 and the Samajwadi Party 111.

The feedback from these campaigns is that a large section among the minorities and backward classes feel that the present (BJP) government should go, senior Congress leader and former chairperson of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes P L Punia claimed.

He also said that this can be achieved only by the Congress, which has a pan-India presence.

Minority department in-charge in the Uttar Pradesh Congress Shahnawaz Alam told PTI, "Special efforts are on to work among minorities and Dalits, and programmes for the same are being organised regularly."

"In May this year, a 10-day special campaign 'aap ki party aap ke gaon' was organised in 3,000 Muslim-dominated villages where small meetings were held and party flags put up at 10 houses in every village," Shahnawaz said. In western Uttar Pradesh, minorities have "already made up their mind in favour of the Congress", he claimed.

"We also reached out to members of the Dalit community by holding meetings at tea shops through a programme 'samvidhan pe charcha' (discussion on the Constitution). We covered 3,000 tea shops, telling Dalits that Muslims are returning back to their original home (the Congress) and since you too are troubled by this government, you should also do the same," Shahnawaz said.

He said such programmes are going on in different parts of the state. There will also be a campaign from August 1-8, Shahnawaz said, adding that on April 14 on the occasion of Ramzan, "Dalit-Muslim ekta iftars" were organised in all districts.

"Every month we are directly reporting about our programmes to Congress' UP in-charge Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and also getting feedback and instructions," he said, adding that similar efforts are being also made by the backward class cell of the party which is holding divisional level programmes.

In-charge of the SC/ST department of the state Congress, Alok Prasad, said, "'Samvidhan rakshaks' are being appointed in gram sabhas to highlight how the government is doing away with special rights like reservation provided to them through the Constitution."

Dalits are the most oppressed under the present government as no one is raising their voice, he alleged and said that whenever cases of atrocities against Dalits have come up, the Congress has been at the forefront to get them justice.

Dalit leaders such as BSP chief Mayawati have remained silent, he alleged and added that 'mahasammelans' of Dalit and backward classes and minority-Dalit sammelans are being held in different districts.

Congress spokesperson Anshu Awasthi said the party is holding direct dialogues with minorities and members of backward classes.

"This time there is a clear change in the trend and people in general are showing an inclination towards the Congress as all other parties, which had claimed to have represented them so far have failed to deliver and people have realised it now," Awasthi said.

"The traditional vote bank of the Congress has come to understand that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is benefitting his favoured few. Not just Muslims, OBCs and Dalits also feel that he should go, and as far as the Parliament is concerned, they think that Congress needs to be supported," Punia claimed.
Tirupati (AP), Jul 16 (PTI) Sri Venkateswara Alayala Nirmanam Trust (SRIVANI Trust), a Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) initiative, has fetched Rs 880 crore from devotees who donated at least Rs 10,000 in the past five years, said an official on Sunday.

For every donation of Rs 10,000, TTD offers a 'VIP Break Darshan', which enables the donors to visit the deity early in the morning, unlike through Sarvadarshanam queue that has a longer waiting time.

"Linking of one-time VIP Break Darshan to the donor who donates Rs 10,000 (one person) to the Trust has fetched nearly Rs 880 crores to the Trust besides curbing middlemen menace," said the temple body's executive officer (EO) A V Dharma Reddy in a press release.

Started in 2018, the SRIVANI Trust aims to construct and maintain Sri Venkateswara Swamy temples across India and provide amenities to perform rituals, functions and festivals. It also fulfils the objective of renovating, protecting, preserving and maintaining gopurams (monumental temple towers) among other such works.

Since 2019, Reddy said nine lakh devotees availed darshan through the SRIVANI Trust.

As part of 'dial your EO' programme, Reddy told a devotee from Karnataka that TTD cannot extend accommodation beyond 24 hours to devotees as there were only 7,000 rooms in Tirumala while one lakh pilgrims descend on the hill town on a daily basis.

Meanwhile, Sudha Murthy, former TTD Trust Board member and former Infosys Foundation chairperson, has donated a golden abhisheka shankam (ritual utensil) to the temple, accompanied by her husband N R Narayana Murthy, founder of Infosys.
New Delhi, Jul 16 (PTI) The Delhi government employed 437 private individuals, mostly AAP workers, as fellows and consultants with hefty salaries, LG House sources said on Sunday, even as the ruling party denied the "arbitrary" allegations.

In the latest flashpoint, Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena recently approved the termination of services of 437 specialists appointed by the Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP dispensation to various departments and agencies of the city government. The LG cited irregularities in their engagements for the move.

Kejriwal had said the termination of the specialists would strangulate the Delhi government and its services, and hoped that the Supreme Court would quash it

"The government brazenly flouted the constitutional provision of reservation for SC/ST/OBC in employing these private individuals. It also rigged the entire selection process, chose favoured individuals with dubious qualifications, and used these so called fellows and consultants as political/party workers for political propaganda," the sources claimed.

"These private individuals/political workers were filled in almost every department, agency, board and PSU under the Delhi government, in many cases in place of senior government officers, essentially to evade any accountability and tweak the rules to their political advantage," they said.

The sources also claimed that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) appointed its own people in the selection panel to secure government jobs for party workers, adding they were given handsome salaries.

In a statement, the Delhi government said it "totally denies the arbitrary and baseless allegations made by the Lt Governor regarding the recruitment of fellows/specialists".

"...which appear nothing less than political vendetta and a desperate attempt to create a media sensation ahead of the hearing in Honble SC on Delhi Ordinance. The Government unequivocally reiterates that the appointment of these fellows/specialists was made in accordance with the prescribed rules and regulations of the departments or institutions they were hired by," it said.


Dehradun, Jul 16 (PTI) Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Sunday ordered the formation of a high-level Special Investigation Team (SIT) for a time-bound, detailed and thorough probe into the alleged forgery of land records in Dehradun.

According to an official statement, Dhami issued directions to include at least three members in the SIT  a senior officer of the Indian Administrative Service, a senior registration department official and a senior police officer or any other qualified official.

Taking cognisance of the complaints of forgery in land records in the state capital, the chief minister conducted a surprise inspection of the Dehradun deputy registrar's office and archives on Saturday.

Dhami gave instructions to ensure strict arrangements for the security of land records in Dehradun and other archives in the state.
OpenAI founder Sam Altman just took another step toward his vision of a future powered by A.I. and widely affordable clean energy, with the announcement that Oklo, a startup specializing in nuclear microreactors of which he is chairman, will go public.

Oklo announced Tuesday that it will go public in 2024 via SPAC with AltC. Acquisition Corp, a company cofounded by Altman and Michael Klein, former CEO of Global Banking at Citigroup. Oklo is attempting to replicate the process of nuclear fission that occurs in nuclear power plants, with much smaller reactors.

The company was founded in 2013 by Caroline Cochran, currently Oklos chief operating officer, and Jacob DeWitte, its CEO. Altman became involved in 2013 when he met DeWitte and Cochran, who would eventually join Y Combinator, the famed startup accelerator of which Altman was president at the time, according to CNBC. So far, the company has raised around $50 million, DeWitte tells Fortune in a phone interview Tuesday. Data from deal tracking website Pitchbook shows Oklo also received roughly $420,000 in grant money from the U.S. Department of Energy. The public offering is set to bring in an additional $500 million, which Oklo says it plans to use to build its first microreactor.

Company executives urge Europe to rethink its world-leading AI rules More than 150 executives are urging the European Union to rethink the world's most comprehen

"Being public is going help us attract the right kind of financing, and at a larger scale given the similarities of what's been done in other power generation technologies with similar [power sales] models," DeWitte says, referencing the business models of emerging renewable energy companies that Oklo is modeling itself after.

Oklo envisions that its microreactor technology would be housed inside of smaller power plants, that according to renderings on its website look something like Northern European mountain lodges, which would generate nuclear power without creating nuclear waste. If their hypothesis proves out, it would allow for these smaller nuclear reactors to operate without constant human supervision, a critical component since Oklos power plants are designed to be built in remote locations.

DeWitte went on to explain that Oklo sees two promising opportunities for potential future customers: The first is in facilities like data centers or military bases that are looking to expand their power capacity but don't have ready access to an existing power grid; and the second is as a new solution to help companies meet their decarbonization goals.

In a promotional video, Dewitte offers a glimpse into the companys ambitions. Building one [plant] is relatively easy, the fun part is thinking about how you build hundreds or thousands, he says.

Oklo has already secured a permit from the Department of Energy to built its first microreactor at the the Idaho National Laboratory, the nations leading center for nuclear research, which the company expects to be active by 2026 or 2027. It will also provide Oklo with used nuclear fuel to power its microreactor.

Sam Altman has long been interested in energy

Altmans vision of the future relies on developments in two main fields of technology: A.I. and energy. In addition to Oklo, Altman also invested $375 millionhis largest ever personal investmentin nuclear energy company Helion. Microsoft recently agreed to purchase energy from Helion starting in 2028. (Microsoft invested a reported $13 billion in Altmans OpenAI).

The multiple investments in nuclear energy are likely an effort to cover the full breadth of cutting-edge nuclear energy research. Helion researches nuclear fusionthe combining of unstable atoms to create energywhile Oklo works on nuclear fission that splits atoms to release energy.

However, nuclear fusion is still in its infancy. In December 2022 scientists in the Department of Energy reached a milestone when they were able to create a nuclear fusion reaction that created more energy than had been input, yielding a net gain.

Nuclear evangelists believe that both will be necessary to create sufficient amounts of clean energy to meet the worlds needs as it weans itself off fossil fuels. In an interview with CNBC, Altman referred to lowering the cost of energy as one of the key enablers of a brighter future for humanity. Altmans vision of a far-reaching utopia, enabled by technology has been reported extensively, especially since ChatGPT vaulted itself into the public consciousness when it was released in November. In an April interview with Insider he opined that "I think we can have a much, much better world."

DeWitte and Oklo seem to welcome Altman's extremely long-term perspective regarding nuclear power. "That kind of thinking is what's really important to provide clarity on what problems to focus on," he says.

However, DeWitte acknowledges that the day-to-day goings-on of running a company keep him grounded on practical things like getting plants built or, say, planning for the announcement that the company will go public. Although, it appears Altman's enthusiasm has rubbed off on DeWitte, who says that if things pan out for Oklo, the company would be able to provide "energy at planetary scales for a billion plus years."

Update, July 11, 2023: This article has been updated with a comment from Oklo CEO Jacob DeWitte.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
FILE  Manchester Mayor Joyce Craig applauds during a canvassing rally at her campaign office, Saturday, July 13, 2019, in Manchester, N.H. Craig is seeking the Democratic nomination for governor of New Hampshire saying she will run on her record of winning tough elections and delivering results.
Authorities say they arrested a 52-year-old New Hampshire man in the beating death of a 79-year-old man in the parking lot of a Walmart in southeastern New Hampshire
Vermonters are working to dry out homes and businesses damaged by this week's historic flooding and keeping a wary eye on the horizon with another round of storms on the horizon




Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis plans to file his 2024 candidacy for South Carolinas Republican presidential primary when hes in the first-in-the-South voting state next week, becoming the first GOP hopeful to do so.

DeSantis will file his paperwork at the state GOP headquarters in Columbia on Tuesday, his campaign told The Associated Press on Friday.

DeSantis will make his candidacy official during his third campaign swing through South Carolina, where Republican hopefuls have been stumping for more than a year already. On Monday, he makes a stop in Tega Cay, an affluent community on Lake Wylie along the state line with North Carolina.

After he signs his candidacy paperwork, DeSantis plans to make a policy rollout in Columbia, the details of which the campaign did not immediately release. It will be DeSantis second policy announcement, following his immigration proposals  which call for ending birthright citizenship and finishing construction of the southern border wall  outlined during a June visit to a Texas border city.

The South Carolina trip comes on the heels of a Friday GOP gathering in Iowa, where DeSantis and other hopefuls  but not former President Donald Trump, the fields current frontrunner  were set to appear at the Family Leadership Summit.

Its one of many events that will be held in Iowa in the coming weeks as voters begin to more seriously consider their options in the remaining six months until the leadoff caucuses, and the sprawling field of Republican presidential candidates works to build bases of support to challenge Trumps early lead in the field.

South Carolina is set to hold its GOP presidential primary Feb. 24. The state, which also boasts two homegrown 2024 candidates of its own  former Gov. Nikki Haley and Sen. Tim Scott  is critical for Republican presidential hopefuls and has been a strong base of support for Trump in his previous campaigns.

(AP)




The U.S. Federal Trade Commission has launched an investigation into ChatGPT creator OpenAI and whether the artificial intelligence company violated consumer protection laws by scraping public data and publishing false information through its chatbot.

The agency sent OpenAI a 20-page letter requesting detailed information on its AI technology, products, customers, privacy safeguards and data security arrangements.

An FTC spokesperson had no comment on the investigation, which was first reported by The Washington Post on Thursday.

The FTC document the Post published told OpenAI that the agency was investigating whether it has engaged in unfair or deceptive privacy or data security practices or practices harming consumers.

OpenAI founder Sam Altman tweeted disappointment that the investigation was disclosed in a leak, noting that would not help build trust, but added that the company will work with the FTC.

Its super important to us that out technology is safe and pro-consumer, and we are confident we follow the law, he wrote. We protect user privacy and design our systems to learn about the world, not private individuals.

OpenAI has faced scrutiny elsewhere. Italian regulators temporarily blocked ChatGPT over privacy concerns, and privacy watchdogs in France, Spain, Ireland and Canada also are paying closer attention, including some that have launched investigations after receiving complaints.

The FTCs move is a serious regulatory threat to the nascent but fast-growing AI industry, although its not the only challenge facing these companies.

Comedian Sarah Silverman and two other authors have sued both OpenAI and Facebook parent Meta for copyright infringement, claiming that the companies AI systems were illegally trained by exposing them to datasets containing illegal copies of their works.

On Thursday, OpenAI and The Associated Press announced a deal under which the AI company will license APs archive of news stories.

Altman has emerged as a global AI ambassador of sorts following his testimony before Congress in May and a subsequent worldwide tour, including to Europe, where officials are putting the final touches on the worlds first comprehensive rules for AI.

The regulations will focus on risky uses such as predictive policing and social scoring and include provisions for generative AI to disclose any copyright material used to train its algorithms.

Altman himself has called for AI regulation, although he has tended to emphasize difficult-to-evaluate existential threats such as the possibility that superintelligent AI systems could one day turn against humanity.

Some argue that focusing on a far-off science fiction trope of superpowerful AI could make it harder to take action against already existing harms that require regulators to dig deep on data transparency, discriminatory behavior and potential for trickery and disinformation.

Its the fear of these systems and our lack of understanding of them that is making everyone have a collective freak-out, Suresh Venkatasubramanian, a Brown University computer scientist and former assistant director for science and justice at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, told the AP in May. This fear, which is very unfounded, is a distraction from all the concerns were dealing with right now.

News of the FTCs OpenAI investigation broke just hours after a combative House Judiciary Committee hearing in which FTC Chair Lina Khan faced off against Republican lawmakers, who said she has been too aggressive in pursuing technology companies over allegations of wrongdoing.

Republicans said she has been harassing Twitter since its acquisition by Elon Musk, arbitrarily suing large tech companies and declining to recuse herself from certain cases. Khan pushed back, arguing that more regulation is necessary as the companies have grown and that tech conglomeration could hurt the economy and consumers.

(AP)




President Joe Biden and the Democratic National Committee raised more than $72 million for his reelection in the 10 weeks since he announced his 2024 candidacy, his campaign announced Friday.

That is all the money raised between April 25, when Biden made his announcement, and the end of June, and includes donations to his campaign and to a network of joint fundraising arrangements with the national and state parties. By comparison, President Barack Obama raised $85.6 million during the April-to-June quarter in 2011 when he launched his campaign for a second term, though he announced his candidacy three weeks earlier that April than did Biden.

Biden, who has cleared the field of any serious rivals for for the Democratic nomination, has nevertheless been confronting persistent concerns from within the party about voter enthusiasm for an 80-year-old candidate.

The campaign did not detail the sum raised directly by Bidens campaign. That figure is set to be reported Saturday to the Federal Election Commission.

While Republicans are burning through resources in a divisive primary focused on who can take the most extreme MAGA positions, we are significantly outraising every single one of them - because our teams strength is our grassroots supporters, Biden campaign manager Julie Chavez Rodriguez in a statement.

The campaign said the total came from nearly 400,000 donors, and that 97% of donations were under $200 and more than 30% of donors had not given to Biden in 2020.

(AP)




A county government official in Georgia says at least four people have been killed in a mass shooting in a small community south of Atlanta.

A statement from Henry County officials said police were still investigating an active shooter incident that occurred late Saturday morning at a subdivision in Hampton, a city of about 8,500 people about 40 miles (65 kilometers) south of Atlanta.

I can confirm that four people are deceased, county government spokeswoman Melissa Robinson told The Associated Press by phone. As of right now, the suspect is still at large.

Police in Hampton, Georgia, planned to release more details at a Saturday afternoon news conference.

Several local law enforcement agencies were assisting, as was the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. GBI spokeswoman Nelly Miles said she had no information other than that GBI agents had been asked to help.

(AP)




Democratic presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. caused a stir this week when he shared an insane conspiracy theory about the supposed targeting of the COVID-19 virus.

Speaking at a press event held at an Upper East Side restaurant, Kennedy made alarming claims, suggesting that the virus was a genetically engineered bioweapon and may have been ethnically targeted to spare certain groups, the NY Post reported.

COVID-19. There is an argument that it is ethnically targeted. COVID-19 attacks certain races disproportionately, Kennedy asserted. COVID-19 is targeted to attack Caucasians and black people. The people who are most immune are Ashkenazi Jews and Chinese.

Kennedys remarks continued with a more cautious tone, acknowledging uncertainty about intentional targeting. We dont know whether it was deliberately targeted or not, but there are papers out there that show the racial or ethnic differential and impact, he added.

Kennedy went on to warn about the potential existence of even more deadly biological weapons. He claimed that these weapons, with a 50% infection fatality rate, would make COVID-19 look like a walk in the park. Kennedy also alleged that China and the United States were investing significant resources in developing ethnic bioweapons by collecting DNA from specific populations such as Russians and Chinese.

Kennedys statements have drawn parallels to anti-Semitic literature that has circulated since the start of the pandemic. The Center for the Study of Contemporary European Jewry at the University of Tel Avivs 2021 Antisemitism Worldwide Report has documented the spread of these unfounded accusations blaming Jews for the emergence and transmission of the coronavirus.

For his part, Kennedy says his comments were taken out of context.



(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
You are here: Business

Cars await for shipment at Yantai port, east China's Shandong province. [Photo/Xinhua]

China's automobile exports soared 75.7% year on year in the first half of this year (H1), sustaining the trend of robust expansion, data from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers showed.

During the period, the country exported 2.14 million automobiles. Among the total, new-energy vehicle exports stood at 534,000 units, surging 160% from the same period last year, according to the association.

China's passenger vehicle exports climbed 88.4% year on year to 1.78 million units in the same period, while its exports of commercial vehicles rose 31.9% to 361,000 units, said the association.

In June alone, China exported 382,000 automobiles, up 53.2% from the same period of 2022.

China's automobile exports exceeded 2 million units in 2021 and topped 3 million units in 2022, data from the association revealed.




The Secret Service announced on Thursday that it has concluded its investigation into the discovery of a small packet of cocaine in the White House, failing to determine who left it there. Stunningly, the agencys spokesman, Anthony Gugliemi, that it had not even conducted any interviews about the matter.

Working in collaboration with the FBI, the Secret Service conducted tests on the packet to confirm its contents as cocaine. Additionally, they examined the item for fingerprints and DNA evidence. However, these efforts yielded no usable forensic evidence, investigators claim. Video footage from the area where the packet was found also provided no significant leads, leaving a list of approximately 500 staff members and visitors who were present during a particular weekend earlier this month as potential suspects.

Gugliemi explained that the decision to forgo interviews was based on several factors. Interviewing all 500 individuals would have placed a strain on the agencys resources, potentially infringing upon civil liberties. Furthermore, without tangible physical evidence linking any person to the drugs, it was deemed unlikely that the interviews would yield fruitful results.

Yes, you could have a consensual interview, Gugliemi stated, emphasizing that participation would be voluntary. But we have no evidence to approach them.

The quantity of cocaine discovered was relatively small, weighing approximately 208 milligrams or roughly .007 ounce. Consequently, the offense would only amount to a misdemeanor charge in the District of Columbia. Considering the resources required to interview the extensive list of individuals, the Secret Service determined that it was not warranted.

The incident gained significant public attention in recent days, prompting criticism from Republicans who accused the Biden administration of not taking sufficient action to identify the culprit. Former President Donald Trump expressed his thoughts on Truth Social, saying, Despite all of the cameras pointing directly at the scene of the crime, and the greatest forensics anywhere in the world, they just cant figure it out? They know the answer, and so does everyone else!

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)




On the background of the governments complaints against the treatment of left-wing protesters with kid gloves in contrast to other protesters, the police data on the protests in the last six months were revealed on Thursday evening.

Kan News revealed that although the police filed 89 cases against protesters to the prosecutors office, not a single indictment was filed.

According to the report, half of the cases are for assaulting police officers and the rest are for charges of prohibited assembly, throwing stones, and violence.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)




A group of about 18 Lebanese nationals, including a member of the Lebanese parliament, crossed the border into Israel on Shabbos morning.

In response, the IDF fired warning shots and used riot dispersal methods to drive the group back into Lebanon.

According to a Hezbollah-affiliated media report, the group was headed by MP Qassem Hashem, who led a number of journalists on a tour of the border area.

The IDF stated that it first ordered the group to leave the area and only engaged in riot dispersal methods after the order was refused.

The incident is the latest in a series of provocations on the Israeli/Lebanese border. On Wednesday, Hezbollah members held a protest near the border during which several operatives approached the border fence, prompting IDF forces to use riot dispersal methods to drive them away.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)




By Rabbi Yair Hoffman for Jewishlink.news

Ben Gvir is certainly a controversial figure. On the one hand he has had some very positive effects that strengthen the idea that the land of Eretz Yisroel is the homeland of the Jews.

On the other hand, as the Sephardic Chief Rabbi of Israel has just pointed out, his actions have had a devastating effect upon Jewish people violating the sanctity of Har haBayis.

According to the Jerusalem Post, this past Motzai Shabbos, the Sephardi Chief Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef condemned National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvirs visits to the Temple Mount.

He said, Theres one minister in the government, I dont want to say his name, hes not worthy of having his name mentioned here.. He enters the Temple Mount publicly, sins and causes others to sin. Because of him people falter and enter the Temple Mount.

Most major poskim forbid walking on Har HaBayit nowadays. Those rabbanim who permit it, have some questionable suppositions. We will point them out later in this article.

But everyone will admit that there are thousands of people now, who are not careful to adhere to the guidelines that the permissive Rabbis give. An analogy might be in order here.

In the early 1970s, the visitors platform above the Grand Canyon had a fence that was slightly elevated above the ground. It began about 8 inches above the ground. A family had brought their short family dog along with them. The dog escaped the grasp of the family member holding it and ran around the platform, oblivious to the fact that the fence did not guard it from falling off the cliff and plummeting to certain death.

That day, virtually every visitor to that Grand Canyon platform made their best effort to catch that dog. Alas, save for the lone voice of Rabbi Yitzchok Yoseph, the majority of our public are not as concerned as those people at the vistors platform over a half century ago.

Those Rabbis who permit going onto Har haBayis, draw a distinction between the current area of the Temple Mount and the dimensions of Har HaBayit discussed in the mishnah in Midos (2:1). the mishnah tells us that Har HaBayit is 500 amos by 500 amos. The current area of Har HaBayit is 1,601 feet by 1,542 feet. On the northsouth side, it is less (1,033 and 919 feet).

THE QUESTIONABLE SUPPOSITIONS

The first supposition that those who permit it make, is that the current state of Har HaBayit is that it is double the size of what is mentioned in the mishnah. There are two problems with this. First, Torah sources sometimes round off or approximate measurements. The number 500 by 500 is very likely an approximation. The second problem is that we do not know the exact dimensions of an amah. Some say it is 18 inches; others say 21.25 inches or 23 inches; and a good argument can be made that it is less than 18 inches as well.

The second supposition made by those who permit entry onto Har HaBayit is that Rashis pshat in the Gemara in Yevamos (7b) is in error. We contend, however, that Rashis pshat is the authoritative understanding of the underlying issue, and has been the normative halachah for many centuries.

But lets give a brief background.

Yehoshafat, the king of Yehudah, was under intense pressure. The powerful armies of Ammon, Moav, and Seir had combined forces to attack Eretz Yisrael (see Divrei HaYamim II 20:5). Frightened, Yehoshafat turned to Hashem, declared a fast, and gathered the people to Yerushalayim to the Beis HaMikdash to daven fervently to Hashem. He davened in the new courtyard.

THREE INTERPRETATIONS

There are three interpretations to the term new courtyard. The RaDak and Metzudas Dovid both suggest that it is possible that some sort of improvement was made in the courtyard. The Gemara in several places, according to Rashi, tells us that there was a new enactment involving the Beis HaMikdash, promulgated at that very time, forbidding a tvul yom from entering into the Camp of the Leviimthe Temple Mount.

This additional enactment endowed the entire Makom HaMikdash with a higher level of sanctity. The term new courtyard refers to this new enactment, and the courtyard that is referenced is the entire area. The third interpretation is that the new courtyard refers to the ezras nashim only.

PROOF FROM A RISHON

The Kaftor Vaferach (a Rishon who tells us the minhagim of the Jews in Eretz Yisrael and the Makom HaMikdash) in chapter six tells us that Jews observe the second definition of new courtyard as being the exact walls of the then current Har HaBayit. Since he lived in the 1300s, the reference is to our contemporary wall dimensions. The Teshuvas Ramoh (#25) cites this ruling as authoritative and, until very recently, it has always been observed. The Sefer HaManhig (s.v. Baal keri), citing the rulings of the Geonim, explains that it was only during the Temple times that a tvul yom could immerse and wait a day. However, nowadays, when it is impossible to rid ourselves of the impurity of the dead, removing the tumah of baal keri is impossible while we still retain the impurity of the dead.

So even though the mishnah in Keilim indicates that the impurity of the dead does not necessarily directly impinge upon going onto Har HaBayit itself, it does do so by not allowing our tumas keri to be completely removed. Those that advocate treading upon Har HaBayit either disagree with this Sefer HaManhig, with the Geonim he cites, or have figured some other reading of this Sefer HaManhig. This position fits the normative practice cited in Rav Ovadiah Bartenuras letter to his father that Jews would not go up to Har HaBayit even if the Muslims would have allowed them (the letter is cited in the responsa by Dayan Weiss).

[It should be noted that Rav Moshe Feinstein I.M. O.C. vol. II #113 does seem to disagree with the Sefer HaManhigs understanding of undoing impurity, but the other issues are still relevant. Also, most of the other poskim seem to abide by the Sefer HaManhig.]

IS THE AL SAKARA TRULY THE EVEN SHESIYA?

Another supposition made by those who advocate going onto Har HaBayit is that their measurements are accurate based upon the idea that the current rock known as the al Sakara is one and the same as the Even Shesiya discussed in the mishnah in Yuma. Many Torah authorities as well as secular archaeologists question this identification.

While some of those who advocate going onto the Temple Mount cite the Radbaz (responsa #691), who does make this identification, there are some very serious discrepancies in the responsa of the Radbaz that have been pointed out by the leading poskim of the generation, including Rav Ovadiah Yoseph, Rav Waldenberg, ztl (Tzitz Eliezer vol. X #1), and Dayan Weiss (vol. V #1).

When dealing with an issue of Kareis the custom in Klal Yisrael has always been to be stringent. Here we have three leading poskim who tell us with very stern warnings, Stay Away! Why ignore them?

THE PHOTOGRAPH

A fourth assumption made by those who advocate treading upon Har HaBayit is based upon a 19th-century photograph that was found of Har HaBayit. The assumption is that the raised platform in the photo is the actual Har HaBayit referred to in the mishnah.

There are further indications from various sources in the Acharonim that the walls extend past the areas pointed to in the picture (Peas HaShulchan by a student of the Vilna Gaon, Rav Yisroel of Shklov, Eretz Yisrael 3; addendum to Kaftor Vaferach).

DISAGREEING WITH THE CHOFETZ CHAIM

Many of those whose opinions promote going onto Har HaBayit do rely to some degree on the opinion of the Raavad, who rules that the sanctity of the Temple Mount is not as in force as it was when the Temple stood. Rambam, of course, disagrees, and the Mishnah Berurah rules fully in accordance with the Rambam.

NOPE, WE AINT ZAVS

There is also the issue of whether everyone in contemporary times has the halachic status of a zav. Both Dayan Weiss and the Tzitz Eliezer rule that everyone does. Those who advocate for treading on Har HaBayit disagree with this contention.

DISRESPECTING RAV KOOK

Finally, Rav Kook (Mishpat HaKohein #96) himself writes that even according to the view of the Raavad, there is still a rabbinic prohibition of entering the Temple Mount. He explains that Chazal felt that the reverence and respect for the Makom HaMikdash is greater in not going there, than in visiting it. Modern advocates of treading on Har HaBayit indicate that Rav Kook would have changed his mind if he had been given their new evidence. But intellectual honesty would yield quite a different theory.

In short, the overwhelming view of poskim, chareidi and otherwise, simply do not agree that Jews may or should go up to Har HaBayit. While the sentiment is certainly understood, and one cannot fault those who genuinely believe that it is halachically permitted, it is still a very serious issue.

The Chief Rabbi of Israel is, therefore, significantly more on the mark than Ben Gvir.

The author can be reached at [email protected].




An Israeli man and his two daughters were injured in a shooting attack near the entrance to the yishuv of Tekoa in Gush Etzion on Sunday morning.

A 36-year-old Israeli driver was shot and seriously wounded. The mans daughters, aged 9 and 14, who were in the car with him, were lightly injured by shattered glass. All three were evacuated to Shaare Tzedek Hospital in Jerusalem.

The terrorists who committed the attack from their passing vehicle fled the scene.

IDF forces arrived at the scene and launched an hours-long manhunt, finally capturing the terrorist responsible for the shooting on Sunday afternoon in a mosque in Beis Lechem after a gun battle. Two additional suspects were also arrested and the terrorists car and M-16 were confiscated.

      ,      ,    .  "          M- 16     pic.twitter.com/u3PiW1pONH    Itay Blumental (@ItayBlumental) July 16, 2023

The victims were later identified as El-Rai Kapach, a father of five and resident of the yishuv of Nokdim, and his daughters Rochel, 9, and Avigayil, 14. Eighteen years ago, Kapachs in-laws, Dov and Rachel Kol, Hyd, were murdered in a similar shooting attack in Gush Katif.

Kapachs condition was stabilized and he underwent emergency surgery for gunshot wounds to his upper body. His family members have requested that the public daven and say Tehillim for the refuah sheleimah of El-Rai ben Batsheva (  -) btoch shaar cholei Yisrael.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)
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In 2005, a group of philanthropists embarked on a profound question: If given $100, what is the most impactful way to utilize it? Should it be a one-time gift or an investment that transcends its initial value, expanding far beyond its core?

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The journey that began with employer-based training has evolved into a multifaceted approach. Temech now offers the Jerusalem Hub, a shared workspace for Charedi women, internship programs, networking groups for freelancers, conferences, professional courses all with a focus on monetizing skills while nurturing spiritual growth.

A Strategic Mission Trip:

This week, American philanthropists R Avi Schron, Chairman of Temech, R Itche Rosenbaum, and R David Simkowitz, representing the American board of Temech, embarked on a strategic mission trip to Eretz Yisroel. Together with Temechs Israel board members, including founder R Shmuel Bloom, board member Mrs. Aviva Weiss, and CEO Mrs. Gvira Milworm, they worked tirelessly to reinforce Temechs goals, ideals, and achievements.

During the mission trip, the delegation engaged in meaningful discussions with government officials, professionals, seminary principals, and revered figures such as Gedolei Yisroel Harabonim Hageonim Rav Dov Landau shlita, Rav Boruch Soloveitchik shlita, Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch shlita, and Rav Shraga Shteinman shlita. These conversations delved into important questions: Should Temech continue its mission? How far does our responsibility extend in guiding Charedi women entering the secular workforce? How can we navigate the technological challenges of today? The Gedolim offered their blessings and reaffirmed their support for Temechs mission.

A Touching Dedication:

A highlight of the mission trip was the touching dedication ceremony of Temech in memory of the esteemed Mrs. Marta Schron, mother of Temechs chair, R Avi Schron. The event gathered friends, family, ministers, and Knesset members, with Rav Yaakov Hillel shlita delivering a poignant speech on the importance of hachzakas haTorah through Temechs work. R Avi Schron expressed his gratitude, emphasizing his mothers commitment to supporting Torah and her pride in Temechs accomplishments.

Continued Commitment to Sustainability:

Temechs pursuit of sustainability extends beyond the mission trip. The organization maintains its focus through:

Lucrative employment opportunities, networking, and conferences that align with Temechs evolving goals and the changing times.

Ongoing guidance and insights from Gedolei Yisroel, who provide invaluable support as new opportunities and challenges arise.

Ensuring that every Charedi woman, whether an employee or an entrepreneur, has the necessary resources and support to succeed and provide for her family within an elevated environment.

The Impact of Temech:

Thanks to Temechs unwavering efforts, thousands of Charedi women across Eretz Yisroel are now utilizing their skills to earn meaningful livelihoods and propel their own businesses to new heights. The organizations work resonates with the timeless wisdom embedded in our prayersthere is nothing more sustainable than providing livelihood opportunities for Bnei Torah and their wives.

Temechs journey, from confronting obstacles to spearheading a revolution, exemplifies the transformative power of empowering Charedi women for sustainable livelihoods. By bridging the cultural divide, leveraging partnerships, and nurturing spiritual growth, Temech has catalyzed a fundamental shift in the landscape of Charedi womens employment and continues to do so. Sustainably.

LEARN MORE ABOUT TEMECHS INCREDIBLE WORK HERE.
EasyJet and British Airways could be forced to pay compensation to millions of passengers whose flights have been cancelled or delayed, The Mail on Sunday and This is Money can reveal.

A legal battle worth at least 100 million is brewing against the airline giants over disruption relating to more than 100,000 flights from 2016 to 2022.

Current regulation grants passengers up to 520 if their flights are delayed by more than three hours, but this is only paid if passengers contact the airlines directly.

Campaigners fear many are unaware of their right for compensation and that few are taking it up.

The class action aims to make airlines automatically contact and offer compensation to customers whose journeys were affected.

EasyJet, BA, Ryanair and rivals may have to contact customers to tell them they can claim for delays and cancellations rather than leaving them to do it themselves

Legal documents seen by the MoS show that fixed compensation is being claimed on behalf of affected passengers.

The case  launched earlier this year and still in its early stages  will pile more pressure on the airline industry after EasyJet scrapped 1,700 flights from July to September, blaming air traffic control delays.

Potential cancellations have caused concern for families preparing to head off on summer holidays, many of whom also grappled with travel chaos last year.

But EasyJet and BA have already hired City law firms to shore up their defences in the legal action, which could take up to three years.

> Your rights if your flight has been cancelled or delayed

Rocio Concha, director of policy and advocacy at consumer group Which?, said: While airlines already have a legal responsibility to inform passengers of their rights to compensation and assistance when things go wrong, too often we hear that this is not taking place.

'That this case needs to be brought at all once again exposes the UKs feeble passenger rights protections.

A BA spokesman said: We comply with our obligations under the regulation and dont believe this claim has a proper legal basis.

Customers can submit compensation requests directly to us online or by writing to our customer relations team to receive full payment for eligible claims.

EasyJet said the case was ill-conceived, adding it already complies with the applicable law and provides an online claim form where passengers can claim 100 per cent of their compensation.
Tony Hetherington is Financial Mail on Sunday's ace investigator, fighting readers corners, revealing the truth that lies behind closed doors and winning victories for those who have been left out-of-pocket. Find out how to contact him below.

B.P. writes: Can you help me get my money back from Wines Premier Cru Limited? They or their agent Rosevelt's Limited cold-called me and convinced me to invest more than 100,000 in wines which they have said they hold in an account for me.

They have sent me lists of wines they say I own, but they refuse to send the wines. After I asked for a refund, Wines Premier Cru returned some of my money but the balance has never been paid.

Our reader invested more than 100,000 in wines, but never received them

Tony Hetherington replies: This is a strange tale of two wine firms, one of which carried on trading after its death and was run by a serious tax offender, while the other handed over your wine without being paid for it and then repaid you thousands of pounds which you had actually forked out to the other company.

Confused? I know I was, so let's start at the beginning. Around 2016, salesmen from Rosevelt's Limited were cold-calling people, offering expensive wines as an investment. Their company was new, but they claimed to be connected to Wines Premier Cru, which had been in business since 2008.

According to Dominic Hall, who runs Wines Premier Cru: 'While we did engage in a limited partnership with Rosevelt's Limited in an effort to offer our fine wine investment services to appropriate clients, this venture turned out to be decidedly unprofitable.'

He told me that Rosevelt's failed to win him a single new client and he scrapped the deal. But if Rosevelt's did not introduce a single new client, what does this make you?

According to Hall, he was selling wine to Rosevelt's, and never received a penny from you. However, I have seen an invoice from Hall to Rosevelt's, issued on April 6, 2018, listing wines in your name at a cost of 82,000.

And now things become even more peculiar. For on April 6, 2018, Rosevelt's Limited was in the hands of liquidators and should not have been trading. The liquidator was appointed more than a year earlier, in February 2017, and the company was formally dissolved ten days after the dodgy invoice was dated.

In a nutshell then, Rosevelt's ordered wines worth 82,000, received them, but failed to pay Wines Premier Cru which handed over the wines on credit. What makes this so strange is that Rosevelt's own records show that when it collapsed in 2017, it already owed Wines Premier Cru 5,000.

So on the face of it, Dominic Hall's business was already owed 5,000 but handed over wines worth a further 82,000. Meanwhile, you were paying Rosevelt's, believing they were acting for Hall, so Rosevelt's ended up with both the wine and the cash.

I asked Hall to comment on this and he told me he believed Rosevelt's only ceased trading in 2021, not 2017 as company records show. He added that, although under no clear obligation, he had decided to pay you almost 68,000, explaining: 'The reason for me taking responsibility was I strongly believed this was the only way Mr P would ever see any funds from Rosevelt's.'

And he emphasised that you had always paid Rosevelt's, and not his company Wines Premier Cru. As things stand, he reckons he has paid you all but 11,000 or so.

Hall could not explain how he was still dealing with Rosevelt's even after it was in liquidation, but he did say that whenever Rosevelt's paid for wine, he was asked to store it in a bonded facility in the name of Mr Jay Lance Stevens. This was the owner of Rosevelt's.

Stevens, 44, from South London, previously ran Watches 7 Fifty Limited. It went into liquidation owing an estimated 27,000. He recently set up a new company, Rocking Horse London Limited, to trade in watches and jewellery. He is well known to the taxman as a bad payer. In 2021, he had notched up 57,859 in unpaid tax bills stretching back as far as 2010.

I contacted Stevens at his new company in Ilford in Essex, but he failed to offer any comment on his dealings with you, the wine he got from Wines Premier Cru with your money, or how his company came to be doing business a year after it failed.

Dominic Hall did offer one final comment though. He told me: 'I do believe the best way to resolve this situation is to contact the police fraud squad'. He is absolutely right.

My 744 pension top-up has failed

Ms L.W. writes: I received a letter from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) seven months ago, advising that if I paid 744 to HM Revenue & Customs, then my state pension would increase by more than 5 a week.

I paid the 744, but I have heard nothing from the DWP. When I call, I am told I will have to wait my turn. I asked about timescales and the DWP speaker said they had been told not to give any.

After our intervention, the pension rise has gone through

Tony Hetherington replies: You are already receiving your state pension, so the offer to top this up should have taken effect immediately.

I asked staff at the DWP headquarters how long you should expect to wait, and they told me they aimed to pay everyone's increased pension as soon as possible after receiving details from HMRC. This was not a precise answer, but the good news is that your pension rise has now gone through.

A spokesman told me: 'We are sorry for the delay in processing Ms W's voluntary National Insurance contributions.'

Immediately after the DWP told me this, your pension rose to over 184 a week and you received more than 200 in arrears.

Am I owed 'wayleave' cash?

M.B. writes: A telecoms company attached a new line to a BT telegraph pole which is on my land. According to the BT website, if an extra line is attached to the pole to benefit a third party, the landowner is entitled to a wayleave payment. However, BT says it is up to the other telecoms firm to pay me, while they say it is up to BT.

Tony Hetherington replies: I suspected a previous owner of your property might have made a deal with BT in return for a lump sum. Sure enough, the BT contract showed the developer who previously owned the site and who built your house had pocketed 150.

The contract gives BT the right to add further cables to the pole without paying any more. However, the contract is dated just five days before you completed your house purchase.

On the face of it, this means that what was delivered to you on completion did not reflect the state of play on the earlier date when you exchanged contracts. This was sneaky behaviour by the developer, and makes it worth going back to your solicitor.

If anyone should get the 150, it should be you.

If you believe you are the victim of financial wrongdoing, write to Tony Hetherington at Financial Mail, 9 Derry Street, London W8 5HY or email tony.hetherington@mailonsunday.co.uk. Because of the high volume of enquiries, personal replies cannot be given. Please send only copies of original documents, which we regret cannot be returned.
Two of Britains biggest water companies face a grilling from shareholders this week  with one accused of retreating to its bunker after banning investors from accessing its annual meeting online.

Bosses at United Utilities, Englands most polluting water company, are in line for tough questioning over their dire record on storm overflow spills into rivers and lakes.

But the company  led by chief executive Louise Beardmore since March  has unexpectedly moved its annual meeting from Manchester to its head office on a business park in Warrington, more than 20 miles away.

More controversially, it has also barred shareholders who cannot attend the meeting in person from logging on to the event remotely.

Water view: Thirlmere Reservoir in Cumbria falls under United Utilities

Also in the firing line this week is Pennon, owner of South West Water, whose chief executive Susan Davy recently gave up her 450,000 bonus after the firm was fined for illegal sewage dumping.

Shareholder advisory group Pirc is urging investors to vote against Pennons pay policy because bonuses are excessive.

The water industry has spent months under scrutiny and was rocked further last month when Thames Water plunged into crisis.

Thames Waters investors were forced to throw it a 750 million lifeline to stay afloat as it struggles with debts of 14 billion. The company, however, has admitted significantly more will be required in future.

United Utilities, meanwhile, was criticised by ShareSoc, which represents individual investors, which said it was disappointed by the decision to deny access.

In light of the well-publicised problems in the water industry, we would expect that shareholders will have many questions for the company, a ShareSoc spokesman added.

Jamie Woodward, water industry expert and professor of physical geography at Manchester University, said: This is a hugely retrograde step for an industry that has promised to be more open and transparent.

Just when United Utilities should be encouraging greater shareholder participation, it retreats to its bunker in Warrington. Is this a strategy to avoid scrutiny from shareholders who are dismayed by their appalling record on sewage dumping and a fall in its environmental performance rating?

United  which is worth 6.5 billion  is the latest company to be caught up in a row over how annual meetings are conducted.

Last month Marks & Spencer was forced to review plans to hold entirely digital AGMs after a backlash from some shareholders.

They called on M&S to hold hybrid meetings where they can attend online or in-person.

United Utilities chairman Sir David Higgins defended the move, saying very few shareholders had used virtual links during the Covid pandemic.

A United Utilities spokesman said there was usually a good turnout at in-person AGMs and the meeting would be open to the media.
Investors are still ploughing cash into Britains burgeoning space sector despite the high-profile failure of Virgin Orbits rocket launch in Cornwall.

The UK welcomed 240 million from investors last year for space-related projects  behind only the United States and China.

London-listed space investment trust Seraphim Capital will disclose the figures in findings tomorrow.

This will reveal a surge in deals across the space sector, including 39 in Britain, 64 in China and 165 in the US.

There has been a surge in deals across the space sector, including 39 in Britain,as the space race continues despite Richard Branson shutting down Virgin Orbit operations

There has been growing excitement about Britains space sector in recent years, but when Virgin Orbits debut space mission from Newquay Airport failed in January, this optimism suffered a blow.

The House of Commons Science, Innovation and Technology Committee said last week that the UK is on the cusp of establishing Europes first small satellite orbital launch capability.

But the committees chairman Greg Clark said Britain must act urgently to apply the lessons of the Cornwall disappointment to the regulatory system for satellite launch.

The latest figures from Seraphim will raise hopes of future success for UK space firms.

Maureen Haverty, Seraphim vice-president, said: Following a fall in investment toward the end of 2022, space investment has returned in the US, with momentum continuing in Europe and deal numbers within the region growing by 60 per cent over the last 12 months.
The sale of another bit of Cobham means its private equity owners will have made more than 5 billion from flogging parts of the defence and aerospace group since its takeover.

Quite the return on investment for US-based Advent International  which later swooped on another mid-capper, Ultra Electronics  after it took Cobham over in 2019 in a 4 billion deal.

But while private equity predators might be popping open the champagne, it rather dragged the issue of foreign takeovers back into the spotlight.

Frenchfirm Thales bought Cobham Aerospace Communications in a 850m deal

This was exactly the type of slice-and-dice management style many in the defence industry and Westminster warned of when the buyout was being examined.

The latest sale  to Frances Thales  will automatically be screened under the National Security & Investment Act, introduced in 2022.

At Whispers most recent count, the Government has used the legislation to intervene in or block just 16 deals. Still, 16 has to be better than nothing.

Government annoys with Great British Nuclear delay

There were more than a few eyerolls when the Government delayed the launch of Great British Nuclear.

A fancy event at Londons Science Museum on Thursday was cancelled due to 11th hour talks between the net zero department and the Treasury, according to reports.

It was expected to set out the plans for the industry body and how it will help the UK reach its climate targets. The launch may only have been delayed for a short time.

But apparently potential international attendees are hoping there is a good online link to watch remotely.

Some who were meant to come last week are livid after struggling to rebook or get refunds for their flights, industry insiders say, and would rather not commit again.

Baillie Gifford axes its British Smaller Companies fund

There was a mixed reaction in the City last week when Baillie Gifford axed its British Smaller Companies fund. But for brokers at SP Angel, it was an opportunity to air a grievance.

While it might be considered rude to comment on the poor performance, Baillie Giffords policy of keeping analysts waiting outside company meetings was also pretty rude, SP Angel said in an email. Ouch.

Oxford Cannabinoid Technologies may move into oncology

Things have gone rather quiet at Oxford Cannabinoid Technologies (OCT) since a boardroom bust-up that pitted a co-founder against current management was resolved and tided over.

The group  backed by rapper Snoop Dogg through his venture capital fund Casa Verde  specialises in designing pain therapies using the non-psychoactive compounds from cannabis plants.

There are a host of treatments in the pipeline.

But Whispers hears that OCT could be about to announce a move into another area  oncology.

Data suggests there is potential to make a cannabinoid-based medicine that could be taken at home as a tablet to treat solid cancer tumours, apparently. A lofty goal.
Support: British Chambers of Commerce boss Shevaun Haviland

The head of Britain's top business group believes 'the door is ajar' for the Government to scrap the tourist tax after she lobbied a key adviser to Rishi Sunak.

Shevaun Haviland, director general of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said she agreed '100 per cent' with the Mail's campaign to reverse the levy and had spoken to the Prime Minister's aide Franck Petitgas over the issue.

More than 320 prominent business figures have called for a return of VAT-free shopping for overseas visitors.

They say net gains to the economy from this would outweigh lost tax revenue. Haviland said of the Mail's campaign: 'We 100 per cent agree with you on that.'

The London Chamber of Commerce, part of the BCC's regional network of groups, has been calling for the tax to be scrapped since last year.

Haviland said: 'I brought it up again a couple of weeks ago with the PM's business adviser Franck when I saw him at an event so it's on their list.

'It seems an easy win for them and it's not clear to me as yet why they're not going down that path. He really, really listens, he's very engaged and he's obviously talked to a lot of stakeholders. I do think that they are thinking about it  the door is ajar.'

Her comments add to the sense a re-think may be going on at the top of the Government. Last week The Mail on Sunday revealed Treasury officials requested new data on the tax's economic impact.

Earlier this year, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt said a U-turn would be too expensive, costing 2billion a year. But the impact on businesses hit by lost custom appeared not to have been considered. That seems to have been acknowledged by officials seeking the new assessment.

A source said while it was known retailers would be hit, 'impact on the broader economy had not been properly factored in'. Opponents say a U-turn would bring in a net gain of 350m. A series of business leaders have backed the Mail's campaign.

In April, Burberry chairman Gerry Murphy confronted Sunak at a business summit, calling the tax a 'spectacular own goal'.
African Rainbow Minerals Limited (OTCMKTS:AFBOF  Get Free Report) was the target of a significant decline in short interest in June. As of June 30th, there was short interest totalling 500 shares, a decline of 95.9% from the June 15th total of 12,200 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 800 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 0.6 days.

African Rainbow Minerals Stock Performance

Shares of OTCMKTS:AFBOF opened at $11.03 on Friday. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $11.52. African Rainbow Minerals has a 1 year low of $10.19 and a 1 year high of $18.00.

Get African Rainbow Minerals alerts:

African Rainbow Minerals Company Profile

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African Rainbow Minerals Limited, through its subsidiaries, operates as a diversified mining and minerals company in South Africa and Malaysia. It explores for platinum group metals, nickel, coal, iron ore, manganese ore, and chrome ore, as well as gold. The company was founded in 1933 and is based in Sandton, South Africa.

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Shares of Aeterna Zentaris Inc. (TSE:AEZS  Get Free Report) dropped 0.8% on Friday . The stock traded as low as C$3.71 and last traded at C$3.77. Approximately 800 shares were traded during trading, a decline of 44% from the average daily volume of 1,430 shares. The stock had previously closed at C$3.80.

Aeterna Zentaris Trading Down 0.8 %

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.67, a quick ratio of 9.37 and a current ratio of 7.88. The firm has a market capitalization of C$18.32 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -0.56 and a beta of 1.70. The company has a 50 day moving average price of C$3.75 and a two-hundred day moving average price of C$4.13.

About Aeterna Zentaris

(Get Free Report)

Aeterna Zentaris Inc, a specialty biopharmaceutical company, engages in developing and commercializing therapeutics and diagnostic tests. Its lead product is Macrilen (macimorelin), an orally available peptidomimetic ghrelin receptor (GHSR-1a) agonist that stimulates the secretion of growth hormone by binding to the GHSR-1a for the diagnosis of adult growth hormone deficiency and childhood-onset growth hormone deficiency, as well as oncology indications; and AEZS-150, a delayed clearance parathyroid hormonefusion polypeptide that is in preclinical trail for the treatment of hypoparathyroidism in adults.

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Janus Henderson U.S. Real Estate ETF (NYSEARCA:JRE  Get Free Report) traded down 0.1% during mid-day trading on Friday . The company traded as low as $22.94 and last traded at $22.94. 5 shares were traded during mid-day trading, a decline of 100% from the average session volume of 1,288 shares. The stock had previously closed at $22.97.

Janus Henderson U.S. Real Estate ETF Price Performance

The companys fifty day moving average is $22.07 and its 200-day moving average is $22.30. The stock has a market cap of $5.73 million, a PE ratio of 31.80 and a beta of 1.00.

Get Janus Henderson U.S. Real Estate ETF alerts:

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. UBS Group AG increased its holdings in Janus Henderson U.S. Real Estate ETF by 666.7% in the third quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 1,495 shares of the companys stock valued at $31,000 after buying an additional 1,300 shares in the last quarter. Citadel Advisors LLC increased its holdings in Janus Henderson U.S. Real Estate ETF by 19.3% in the second quarter. Citadel Advisors LLC now owns 14,236 shares of the companys stock valued at $328,000 after buying an additional 2,300 shares in the last quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. purchased a new position in Janus Henderson U.S. Real Estate ETF in the first quarter valued at $208,000. Finally, Advisory Resource Group purchased a new position in Janus Henderson U.S. Real Estate ETF in the first quarter valued at $2,606,000.

Janus Henderson U.S. Real Estate ETF Company Profile

The Janus Henderson U.S. Real Estate ETF (JRE) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in real estate equity. The fund is an actively managed fund of real-estate and real estate-related companies in the United States. JRE was launched on Jun 22, 2021 and is managed by Janus Henderson.

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Securian Asset Management Inc. increased its holdings in Extra Space Storage Inc. (NYSE:EXR  Free Report) by 1.1% in the first quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 11,201 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock after purchasing an additional 124 shares during the quarter. Securian Asset Management Inc.s holdings in Extra Space Storage were worth $1,825,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of EXR. Private Advisor Group LLC lifted its position in shares of Extra Space Storage by 5.6% during the 1st quarter. Private Advisor Group LLC now owns 1,404 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $289,000 after buying an additional 74 shares in the last quarter. Blair William & Co. IL lifted its holdings in Extra Space Storage by 16.5% during the first quarter. Blair William & Co. IL now owns 1,502 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $309,000 after purchasing an additional 213 shares in the last quarter. Prudential PLC acquired a new stake in shares of Extra Space Storage in the first quarter valued at about $625,000. Cetera Investment Advisers increased its stake in shares of Extra Space Storage by 8.2% during the first quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 2,522 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $519,000 after purchasing an additional 192 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Dakota Wealth Management acquired a new position in shares of Extra Space Storage during the 1st quarter worth about $332,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 96.81% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research firms have commented on EXR. KeyCorp cut their price objective on Extra Space Storage from $190.00 to $172.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, April 5th. Raymond James upgraded Extra Space Storage from an outperform rating to a strong-buy rating and set a $185.00 price objective on the stock in a report on Tuesday, April 4th. Bank of America assumed coverage on shares of Extra Space Storage in a report on Monday, May 8th. They set a buy rating for the company. Evercore ISI upgraded shares of Extra Space Storage from an underperform rating to an outperform rating and set a $164.00 price objective for the company in a report on Monday, June 12th. Finally, StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Extra Space Storage in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a hold rating on the stock. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have issued a hold rating, four have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $169.38.

Extra Space Storage Stock Up 0.8 %

Extra Space Storage Cuts Dividend

EXR stock opened at $155.76 on Friday. Extra Space Storage Inc. has a one year low of $139.97 and a one year high of $216.52. The firm has a market cap of $21.04 billion, a PE ratio of 24.49, a PEG ratio of 4.58 and a beta of 0.54. The firms 50 day moving average price is $148.15 and its 200-day moving average price is $153.40. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.82, a quick ratio of 0.27 and a current ratio of 0.27.

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, July 19th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, July 13th will be given a $1.01 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, July 12th. This represents a $4.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.59%. Extra Space Storages dividend payout ratio is currently 63.52%.

Extra Space Storage Company 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.

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Strs Ohio trimmed its holdings in Boyd Gaming Co. (NYSE:BYD  Free Report) by 1.9% during the first quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 144,718 shares of the companys stock after selling 2,870 shares during the quarter. Strs Ohios holdings in Boyd Gaming were worth $9,279,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in BYD. HighTower Advisors LLC raised its position in shares of Boyd Gaming by 9.3% during the 1st quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC now owns 8,539 shares of the companys stock valued at $560,000 after buying an additional 725 shares during the period. Citigroup Inc. raised its position in shares of Boyd Gaming by 1.4% during the 1st quarter. Citigroup Inc. now owns 42,226 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,778,000 after buying an additional 567 shares during the period. Bank of Montreal Can raised its position in shares of Boyd Gaming by 24.3% during the 1st quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 10,255 shares of the companys stock valued at $689,000 after buying an additional 2,002 shares during the period. MetLife Investment Management LLC raised its position in shares of Boyd Gaming by 35.4% during the 1st quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC now owns 53,822 shares of the companys stock valued at $3,540,000 after buying an additional 14,078 shares during the period. Finally, Rhumbline Advisers raised its position in shares of Boyd Gaming by 2.3% during the 1st quarter. Rhumbline Advisers now owns 221,735 shares of the companys stock valued at $14,586,000 after buying an additional 4,888 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 68.68% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research firms have recently commented on BYD. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price target on shares of Boyd Gaming from $82.00 to $83.00 in a research report on Thursday. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lifted their target price on shares of Boyd Gaming from $76.00 to $78.00 in a report on Wednesday, April 26th. Susquehanna lifted their target price on shares of Boyd Gaming from $80.00 to $84.00 in a report on Wednesday, April 26th. Truist Financial lifted their target price on shares of Boyd Gaming from $83.00 to $85.00 in a report on Wednesday, April 26th. Finally, StockNews.com downgraded shares of Boyd Gaming from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, July 11th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $75.92.

Boyd Gaming Stock Performance

NYSE:BYD opened at $71.85 on Friday. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $67.79 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $64.50. The company has a market cap of $7.26 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.31, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.73 and a beta of 1.77. The company has a quick ratio of 0.74, a current ratio of 0.77 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.76. Boyd Gaming Co. has a 52 week low of $46.10 and a 52 week high of $72.39.

Boyd Gaming (NYSE:BYD  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, April 25th. The company reported $1.71 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.51 by $0.20. The business had revenue of $963.97 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $889.59 million. Boyd Gaming had a net margin of 18.48% and a return on equity of 43.15%. The companys quarterly revenue was up 12.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $1.40 earnings per share. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Boyd Gaming Co. will post 6.3 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Boyd Gaming Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Saturday, July 15th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, June 15th were given a dividend of $0.16 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, June 14th. This represents a $0.64 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.89%. Boyd Gamings dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 10.08%.

Boyd Gaming Company Profile

(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.

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Strs Ohio lessened its holdings in Performance Food Group (NYSE:PFGC  Free Report) by 5.3% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 152,428 shares of the food distribution companys stock after selling 8,575 shares during the quarter. Strs Ohio owned approximately 0.10% of Performance Food Group worth $9,197,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the company. New York State Teachers Retirement System boosted its stake in shares of Performance Food Group by 7.9% in the 4th quarter. New York State Teachers Retirement System now owns 157,648 shares of the food distribution companys stock valued at $9,205,000 after purchasing an additional 11,517 shares during the last quarter. Teacher Retirement System of Texas boosted its stake in shares of Performance Food Group by 20.5% in the 4th quarter. Teacher Retirement System of Texas now owns 59,976 shares of the food distribution companys stock valued at $3,502,000 after purchasing an additional 10,212 shares during the last quarter. Yorktown Management & Research Co Inc bought a new position in shares of Performance Food Group in the 4th quarter valued at about $251,000. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC boosted its stake in Performance Food Group by 29.8% during the 1st quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 118,136 shares of the food distribution companys stock worth $7,128,000 after acquiring an additional 27,157 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Swiss National Bank boosted its stake in Performance Food Group by 2.0% during the 4th quarter. Swiss National Bank now owns 374,960 shares of the food distribution companys stock worth $21,894,000 after acquiring an additional 7,400 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 97.40% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research analysts recently weighed in on the stock. Morgan Stanley lowered shares of Performance Food Group from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating and reduced their price objective for the stock from $74.00 to $66.00 in a research note on Tuesday, June 20th. TheStreet raised shares of Performance Food Group from a c+ rating to a b rating in a research note on Monday, March 20th. Truist Financial lifted their price objective on shares of Performance Food Group from $75.00 to $80.00 in a research note on Friday, May 12th. Finally, StockNews.com lowered shares of Performance Food Group from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Wednesday, June 21st. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $72.20.

Insider Activity

Performance Food Group Price Performance

In other news, insider George L. Holm sold 2,680 shares of Performance Food Group stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, May 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $60.06, for a total value of $160,960.80. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 658,400 shares in the company, valued at $39,543,504. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website . In related news, insider Patrick T. Hagerty sold 2,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Thursday, June 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $59.63, for a total transaction of $119,260.00. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 149,790 shares in the company, valued at $8,931,977.70. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this link . Also, insider George L. Holm sold 2,680 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, May 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $60.06, for a total transaction of $160,960.80. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 658,400 shares in the company, valued at $39,543,504. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Insiders have sold 6,680 shares of company stock worth $392,041 over the last ninety days. Insiders own 2.80% of the companys stock.

NYSE PFGC opened at $60.13 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.75, a current ratio of 1.69 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.10. Performance Food Group has a 12-month low of $42.77 and a 12-month high of $63.22. The company has a market capitalization of $9.39 billion, a PE ratio of 28.91 and a beta of 1.36. The firms 50 day moving average is $58.07 and its 200-day moving average is $58.78.

Performance Food Group (NYSE:PFGC  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, May 10th. The food distribution company reported $0.83 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.71 by $0.12. Performance Food Group had a net margin of 0.57% and a return on equity of 17.20%. The company had revenue of $13.77 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $13.94 billion. Equities research analysts anticipate that Performance Food Group will post 3.88 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Performance Food Group Company Profile

(Free Report)

Performance Food Group Company, through its subsidiaries, markets and distributes food and food-related products in the United States. It operates through three segments: Foodservice, Vistar, and Convenience. The company offers a range of frozen foods, groceries, candy, snacks, beverages, cigarettes, and other tobacco products; beef, pork, poultry, and seafood; and health and beauty care products.

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Strategic Advisors LLC grew its stake in shares of Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE  Free Report) by 3.2% during the first quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 150,697 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock after buying an additional 4,607 shares during the quarter. Pfizer accounts for approximately 1.2% of Strategic Advisors LLCs portfolio, making the stock its 21st largest holding. Strategic Advisors LLCs holdings in Pfizer were worth $6,148,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Front Street Capital Management Inc. lifted its stake in Pfizer by 4.3% in the 1st quarter. Front Street Capital Management Inc. now owns 5,168 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $268,000 after purchasing an additional 215 shares in the last quarter. Synergy Asset Management LLC lifted its stake in Pfizer by 3.3% in the 4th quarter. Synergy Asset Management LLC now owns 7,287 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $373,000 after purchasing an additional 236 shares in the last quarter. Motco lifted its stake in Pfizer by 0.8% in the 4th quarter. Motco now owns 31,376 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $1,608,000 after purchasing an additional 236 shares in the last quarter. Alterity Financial Group LLC lifted its stake in Pfizer by 4.6% in the 4th quarter. Alterity Financial Group LLC now owns 5,474 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $280,000 after purchasing an additional 243 shares in the last quarter. Finally, RKL Wealth Management LLC lifted its stake in Pfizer by 1.7% in the 4th quarter. RKL Wealth Management LLC now owns 14,450 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $740,000 after purchasing an additional 245 shares in the last quarter. 67.80% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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Insider Transactions at Pfizer

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 bought at an average price of $38.58 per share, with a total value of $38,580.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 6,000 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $231,480. The purchase was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 0.05% of the companys stock.

Pfizer Price Performance

Shares of PFE stock opened at $36.32 on Friday. The companys 50-day simple moving average is $37.76 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $41.03. Pfizer Inc. has a one year low of $35.35 and a one year high of $54.93. The company has a market capitalization of $205.04 billion, a P/E ratio of 7.15, a P/E/G ratio of 1.20 and a beta of 0.61. 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 (NYSE:PFE  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, May 2nd. The biopharmaceutical company reported $1.23 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.00 by $0.23. Pfizer had a net margin of 31.25% and a return on equity of 37.53%. The firm had revenue of $18.28 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $16.49 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $1.62 EPS. The companys revenue was down 28.8% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Pfizer Inc. will post 3.35 EPS for the current year.

Pfizer Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 5th. Stockholders of record on Friday, July 28th will be given a $0.41 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, July 27th. This represents a $1.64 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.52%. Pfizers payout ratio is presently 32.28%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several brokerages have commented on PFE. UBS Group decreased their price target on shares of Pfizer from $41.00 to $39.00 in a research note on Friday, May 5th. HSBC initiated coverage on shares of Pfizer in a report on Friday. They issued a buy rating and a $50.00 target price on the stock. Cantor Fitzgerald restated an overweight rating on shares of Pfizer in a report on Wednesday, May 17th. Credit Suisse Group downgraded shares of Pfizer from an outperform rating to a neutral rating and reduced their target price for the stock from $47.00 to $40.00 in a report on Thursday, June 29th. Finally, Bank of America reduced their target price on shares of Pfizer from $50.00 to $45.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a report on Friday, April 21st. Eleven investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $46.75.

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.

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Bay Colony Advisory Group Inc d b a Bay Colony Advisors acquired a new position in Shopify Inc. (NYSE:SHOP  Free Report) (TSE:SHOP) during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor acquired 4,773 shares of the software makers stock, valued at approximately $222,000.

A number of other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in SHOP. Industrial Alliance Investment Management Inc. grew its holdings in Shopify by 292.9% during the first quarter. Industrial Alliance Investment Management Inc. now owns 110 shares of the software makers stock valued at $74,000 after purchasing an additional 82 shares during the last quarter. Turim 21 Investimentos Ltda. acquired a new position in Shopify during the first quarter valued at approximately $148,000. Fairfield Bush & CO. acquired a new position in Shopify during the first quarter valued at approximately $169,000. First Manhattan Co. grew its holdings in Shopify by 317.5% during the first quarter. First Manhattan Co. now owns 263 shares of the software makers stock valued at $177,000 after purchasing an additional 200 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Stonebridge Capital Advisors LLC grew its holdings in Shopify by 508.2% during the first quarter. Stonebridge Capital Advisors LLC now owns 298 shares of the software makers stock valued at $201,000 after purchasing an additional 249 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 58.14% of the companys stock.

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Shopify Stock Performance

Shopify stock opened at $68.45 on Friday. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $62.45 and a 200 day simple moving average of $50.83. The company has a quick ratio of 6.71, a current ratio of 6.71 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.11. Shopify Inc. has a 12-month low of $23.63 and a 12-month high of $71.43. The stock has a market capitalization of $87.38 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -45.33 and a beta of 2.02.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Shopify ( NYSE:SHOP Get Free Report ) (TSE:SHOP) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, May 4th. The software maker reported ($0.08) EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of ($0.16) by $0.08. The firm had revenue of $1.51 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.44 billion. Shopify had a negative return on equity of 6.02% and a negative net margin of 32.49%. On average, research analysts anticipate that Shopify Inc. will post -0.14 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Several equities analysts have commented on the company. Loop Capital reiterated a hold rating on shares of Shopify in a report on Tuesday, May 9th. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Shopify from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research note on Thursday, June 8th. National Bank Financial raised their price objective on shares of Shopify from $60.00 to $80.00 in a research note on Friday, May 5th. National Bankshares raised their price objective on shares of Shopify from $60.00 to $80.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Friday, May 5th. Finally, 888 restated a maintains rating on shares of Shopify in a research note on Tuesday, May 9th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, twenty-three have issued a hold rating and fourteen have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Shopify has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $57.29.

Shopify Company Profile

(Free Report)

Shopify Inc, a commerce company, provides a commerce platform and services in Canada, the United States, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Asia Pacific, and Latin America. The company's platform enables merchants to displays, manages, markets, and sells its products through various sales channels, including web and mobile storefronts, physical retail locations, pop-up shops, social media storefronts, native mobile apps, buy buttons, and marketplaces; and enables to manage products and inventory, process orders and payments, fulfill and ship orders, new buyers and build customer relationships, source products, leverage analytics and reporting, manage cash, payments and transactions, and access financing.

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New York State Teachers Retirement System decreased its stake in Agilent Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:A  Free Report) by 0.6% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 320,146 shares of the medical research companys stock after selling 1,884 shares during the period. New York State Teachers Retirement Systems holdings in Agilent Technologies were worth $44,289,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the stock. Natixis Investment Managers International boosted its position in shares of Agilent Technologies by 2.0% during the 4th quarter. Natixis Investment Managers International now owns 3,245 shares of the medical research companys stock valued at $486,000 after acquiring an additional 65 shares in the last quarter. Pinnacle Associates Ltd. grew its stake in shares of Agilent Technologies by 1.1% in the 4th quarter. Pinnacle Associates Ltd. now owns 5,965 shares of the medical research companys stock valued at $893,000 after purchasing an additional 67 shares during the period. Whittier Trust Co. of Nevada Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Agilent Technologies by 8.8% in the 4th quarter. Whittier Trust Co. of Nevada Inc. now owns 837 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $125,000 after buying an additional 68 shares in the last quarter. First Command Financial Services Inc. raised its stake in Agilent Technologies by 19.4% during the first quarter. First Command Financial Services Inc. now owns 461 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $64,000 after acquiring an additional 75 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Securian Asset Management Inc. increased its position in shares of Agilent Technologies by 0.3% during the 1st quarter. Securian Asset Management Inc. now owns 24,698 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $3,417,000 after purchasing an additional 77 shares in the last quarter.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research analysts have recently issued reports on A shares. Wells Fargo & Company cut their target price on shares of Agilent Technologies from $170.00 to $160.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, May 24th. SVB Securities decreased their target price on Agilent Technologies from $170.00 to $145.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, May 24th. TD Cowen cut their price target on Agilent Technologies from $168.00 to $145.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, May 24th. Robert W. Baird decreased their price objective on shares of Agilent Technologies from $174.00 to $144.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, May 24th. Finally, StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Agilent Technologies in a research report on Thursday, May 18th. They set a buy rating on the stock. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Agilent Technologies has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $151.75.

Agilent Technologies Stock Up 0.3 %

Shares of Agilent Technologies stock opened at $119.75 on Friday. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $120.96 and a 200 day simple moving average of $135.92. The stock has a market cap of $35.37 billion, a PE ratio of 26.38, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.93 and a beta of 1.03. The company has a quick ratio of 1.71, a current ratio of 2.37 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.47. Agilent Technologies, Inc. has a 12 month low of $113.28 and a 12 month high of $160.26.

Agilent Technologies (NYSE:A  Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, May 23rd. The medical research company reported $1.27 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.26 by $0.01. The company had revenue of $1.72 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.67 billion. Agilent Technologies had a return on equity of 30.11% and a net margin of 19.19%. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 6.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $1.13 EPS. Research analysts predict that Agilent Technologies, Inc. will post 5.61 EPS for the current year.

Agilent Technologies Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, July 26th. Shareholders of record on Monday, July 3rd will be issued a $0.225 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, June 30th. This represents a $0.90 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.75%. Agilent Technologiess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 19.82%.

Agilent Technologies Company Profile

(Free Report)

Agilent Technologies, Inc provides application focused solutions to the life sciences, diagnostics, and applied chemical markets worldwide. The Life Sciences and Applied Markets segment offers liquid chromatography systems and components; liquid chromatography mass spectrometry systems; gas chromatography systems and components; gas chromatography mass spectrometry systems; inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry instruments; atomic absorption instruments; microwave plasma-atomic emission spectrometry instruments; inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry instruments; raman spectroscopy; cell analysis plate based assays; flow cytometer; real-time cell analyzer; cell imaging systems; microplate reader; laboratory software; information management and analytics; laboratory automation and robotic systems; dissolution testing; vacuum pumps, and measurement technologies.

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Stratos Wealth Advisors LLC trimmed its stake in shares of PPG Industries, Inc. (NYSE:PPG  Free Report) by 6.7% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 6,403 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock after selling 461 shares during the quarter. Stratos Wealth Advisors LLCs holdings in PPG Industries were worth $855,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. WFA of San Diego LLC acquired a new position in PPG Industries during the 4th quarter worth approximately $25,000. Riverview Trust Co increased its position in PPG Industries by 81.7% during the 4th quarter. Riverview Trust Co now owns 238 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock worth $30,000 after purchasing an additional 107 shares in the last quarter. Clear Street Markets LLC acquired a new position in PPG Industries during the 4th quarter worth approximately $30,000. Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV increased its position in PPG Industries by 90.6% during the 1st quarter. Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV now owns 242 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock worth $32,000 after purchasing an additional 115 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Parkside Financial Bank & Trust grew its holdings in PPG Industries by 45.8% during the 1st quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust now owns 277 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock worth $36,000 after acquiring an additional 87 shares during the last quarter. 78.95% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

PPG has been the topic of a number of research reports. Mizuho boosted their target price on shares of PPG Industries from $142.00 to $151.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, April 19th. KeyCorp upped their price objective on shares of PPG Industries from $169.00 to $171.00 in a research note on Tuesday, July 11th. Robert W. Baird upped their price objective on shares of PPG Industries from $150.00 to $160.00 in a research note on Monday, April 24th. Morgan Stanley raised their price target on shares of PPG Industries from $140.00 to $143.00 in a report on Monday, April 24th. Finally, Credit Suisse Group raised their price target on shares of PPG Industries from $128.00 to $133.00 and gave the stock an underperform rating in a report on Friday, April 21st. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating and ten have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $151.47.

PPG Industries Stock Down 1.2 %

PPG opened at $149.74 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $35.25 billion, a P/E ratio of 27.94, a PEG ratio of 1.18 and a beta of 1.19. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.98, a current ratio of 1.68 and a quick ratio of 1.15. PPG Industries, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $107.40 and a fifty-two week high of $152.50. The companys 50-day moving average is $141.41 and its 200 day moving average is $135.09.

PPG Industries (NYSE:PPG  Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Friday, April 21st. The specialty chemicals company reported $1.82 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.55 by $0.27. The firm had revenue of $4.38 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.39 billion. PPG Industries had a net margin of 7.18% and a return on equity of 23.35%. The companys revenue was up 1.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $1.37 earnings per share. Research analysts expect that PPG Industries, Inc. will post 7.3 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

PPG Industries Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, June 12th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, May 10th were paid a $0.62 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, May 9th. This represents a $2.48 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.66%. PPG Industriess payout ratio is 46.27%.

PPG Industries Company Profile

(Free Report)

PPG Industries, Inc manufactures and distributes paints, coatings, and specialty materials worldwide. The company operates through Performance Coatings and Industrial Coatings. The Performance Coatings segment offers coatings, solvents, adhesives, sealants, sundries, and software for automotive and commercial transport/fleet repair and refurbishing, light industrial coatings, and specialty coatings for signs; and coatings, sealants, transparencies, transparent armor, adhesives, engineered materials, and packaging and chemical management services for commercial, military, regional jet, and general aviation aircraft.

Further Reading

Want to see what other hedge funds are holding PPG? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for PPG Industries, Inc. (NYSE:PPG  Free Report).

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New York State Teachers Retirement System trimmed its position in UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH  Free Report) by 2.1% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 1,061,584 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock after selling 22,870 shares during the quarter. UnitedHealth Group makes up 1.2% of New York State Teachers Retirement Systems holdings, making the stock its 11th largest position. New York State Teachers Retirement System owned about 0.11% of UnitedHealth Group worth $501,694,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Marietta Wealth Management LLC raised its holdings in UnitedHealth Group by 11.5% in the 1st quarter. Marietta Wealth Management LLC now owns 13,906 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock valued at $6,572,000 after acquiring an additional 1,437 shares during the period. North Star Investment Management Corp. boosted its stake in UnitedHealth Group by 25.5% in the 1st quarter. North Star Investment Management Corp. now owns 4,931 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock valued at $2,330,000 after purchasing an additional 1,001 shares during the period. Channel Wealth LLC bought a new position in UnitedHealth Group during the 1st quarter worth $995,000. Sendero Wealth Management LLC boosted its position in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 10.8% in the first quarter. Sendero Wealth Management LLC now owns 6,210 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock valued at $2,935,000 after acquiring an additional 607 shares during the period. Finally, Wedgewood Investors Inc. PA raised its stake in UnitedHealth Group by 1.9% in the 1st quarter. Wedgewood Investors Inc. PA now owns 1,121 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock worth $530,000 after purchasing an additional 21 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 92.61% of the companys stock.

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Insiders Place Their Bets

In other UnitedHealth Group news, CEO Andrew Witty sold 6,160 shares of the firms 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 completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 86,564 shares in the company, valued at $42,199,084.36. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. In other 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 owns 86,564 shares in the company, valued at $42,199,084.36. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, EVP Erin Mcsweeney sold 1,008 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Friday, April 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $484.58, for a total transaction of $488,456.64. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 10,359 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $5,019,764.22. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders have sold 8,852 shares of company stock worth $4,313,962. Corporate insiders own 0.35% of the companys stock.

UnitedHealth Group Stock Performance

NYSE UNH opened at $480.17 on Friday. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $478.86 and a 200 day simple moving average of $485.74. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated has a twelve month low of $445.68 and a twelve month high of $558.10. The company has a market capitalization of $447.05 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.48, a PEG ratio of 1.31 and a beta of 0.66. 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 (NYSE:UNH  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Friday, July 14th. The healthcare conglomerate reported $6.14 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $5.92 by $0.22. UnitedHealth Group had a return on equity of 27.05% and a net margin of 6.16%. The business had revenue of $92.90 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $90.97 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $5.57 earnings per share. The firms revenue was up 15.6% on a year-over-year basis. Sell-side analysts expect that UnitedHealth Group Incorporated will post 24.84 EPS for the current year.

UnitedHealth Group Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, June 27th. Investors of record on Monday, June 19th were paid a dividend of $1.88 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, June 15th. This represents a $7.52 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.57%. This is a boost from UnitedHealth Groups previous quarterly dividend of $1.65. UnitedHealth Groups dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 33.65%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

UNH has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. Loop Capital lifted their price target on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $590.00 to $600.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Monday, April 17th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their target price on UnitedHealth Group from $562.00 to $527.00 in a report on Friday, July 7th. Oppenheimer reaffirmed an outperform rating and set a $610.00 price objective on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a research report on Monday, April 17th. Raymond James restated a strong-buy rating and issued a $630.00 target price on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a research report on Friday, April 14th. Finally, TD Cowen lowered their price objective on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $596.00 to $562.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research report on Monday, April 17th. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, fourteen have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, UnitedHealth Group presently has a consensus rating of Buy and an average target price of $586.80.

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.

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Schwarz Dygos Wheeler Investment Advisors LLC lifted its position in shares of UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH  Free Report) by 2.1% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 14,792 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock after acquiring an additional 308 shares during the quarter. UnitedHealth Group makes up approximately 2.5% of Schwarz Dygos Wheeler Investment Advisors LLCs portfolio, making the stock its 9th biggest position. Schwarz Dygos Wheeler Investment Advisors LLCs holdings in UnitedHealth Group were worth $6,991,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the company. Chelsea Counsel Co. acquired a new position in UnitedHealth Group during the 4th quarter worth about $27,000. Freedom Wealth Alliance LLC acquired a new position in UnitedHealth Group during the 4th quarter worth about $31,000. Investors Research Corp raised its position in shares of 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. Bourgeon Capital Management LLC raised its position in shares of 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. Finally, WFA of San Diego LLC bought a new position in shares of UnitedHealth Group in the 4th quarter worth about $42,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 92.61% of the companys stock.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

UNH has been the subject of a number of research reports. Loop Capital raised their price objective on UnitedHealth Group from $590.00 to $600.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Monday, April 17th. Truist Financial reduced their price objective on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $610.00 to $580.00 in a report on Wednesday, June 14th. Mizuho reduced their price objective on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $600.00 to $549.00 in a report on Tuesday, July 11th. StockNews.com lowered shares of UnitedHealth Group from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, June 14th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their price target on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $562.00 to $527.00 in a research report on Friday, July 7th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, fourteen have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Buy and a consensus target price of $586.80.

UnitedHealth Group Stock Performance

Shares of UNH stock opened at $480.17 on Friday. The firms 50 day moving average is $478.86 and its 200 day moving average is $485.74. The company has a current ratio of 0.81, a quick ratio of 0.81 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.71. The stock has a market capitalization of $447.05 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.48, a PEG ratio of 1.31 and a beta of 0.66. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated has a 12 month low of $445.68 and a 12 month high of $558.10.

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH  Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Friday, July 14th. The healthcare conglomerate reported $6.14 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $5.92 by $0.22. The business had revenue of $92.90 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $90.97 billion. UnitedHealth Group had a net margin of 6.16% and a return on equity of 27.05%. UnitedHealth Groups revenue was up 15.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $5.57 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that UnitedHealth Group Incorporated will post 24.84 earnings per share for the current year.

UnitedHealth Group Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, June 27th. Stockholders of record on Monday, June 19th were issued a $1.88 dividend. This is a positive change from UnitedHealth Groups previous quarterly dividend of $1.65. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, June 15th. This represents a $7.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.57%. UnitedHealth Groups dividend payout ratio is presently 33.65%.

Insider Transactions at UnitedHealth Group

In other news, EVP Erin Mcsweeney sold 1,008 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, April 21st. The shares were 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 approximately $5,019,764.22. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. 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 transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 86,564 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $42,199,084.36. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, EVP Erin Mcsweeney sold 1,008 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, April 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $484.58, for a total transaction of $488,456.64. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 10,359 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $5,019,764.22. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 8,852 shares of company stock valued at $4,313,962 in the last quarter. Insiders own 0.35% of the companys stock.

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.

Read More

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Undocumented sub-Saharan African migrants in Tunisia received three billion dinars (about $1 billion) in remittances from their countries during the first half of 2023, an official from the national security council said in a meeting late on Friday.

President Kais Saied, who chaired the meeting, said, This figure is shocking and indicates that Tunisia is being targeted.

Saied denounced this year undocumented sub-Saharan African immigration to his country, saying in comments criticised by rights groups that it was aimed at changing Tunisias demographic make-up.

The amount of the announced transfers for undocumented migrants is higher than revenues of the vital tourism industry in Tunisia during the first half of the year, which amounted to 2.2 billion dinars.

Thousands of undocumented migrants have flocked to coastal city of Sfax in recent months with the goal of setting off for Europe in boats run by human traffickers, leading to an unprecedented migration crisis for Tunisia.

Tunisia has removed hundreds of the migrants this month to a desolate area along the border, following days of violence in Sfax between residents and migrants.

Under pressure from international and local rights groups that accused the authorities of putting the lives of migrants in danger, the government moved them to sheltersin two towns this week.

SOURCE: REUTERS
Fighters from the Wagner group have arrived in Belarus from Russia, Ukrainian and Polish officials said on Saturday, a day after Minsk said the mercenaries were training the countrys soldiers southeast of the capital.

Wagner is in Belarus, Andriy Demchenko, a spokesman for the Ukrainian border agency, said in a statement on the Telegram messaging app. He said the movement of separate groups from Russia had been observed in Belarus.

Some Wagner fighters have been in Belarus since at least Tuesday, two sources close to the fighters told Reuters.

The Belarusian defence ministry released a video on Friday, showing what it said were Wagner fighters instructing Belarusian soldiers at a military range near the town of Osipovichi.

Wagners move to Belarus was part of a deal that ended the groups mutiny attempt in June  when they took control of a Russian military headquarters, marched on Moscow and threatened to tip Russia into civil war  President Vladimir Putin said.

Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin has not been seen in public since he left the southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don late on June 24.

Polands deputy minister coordinator of special services, Stanislaw Zaryn, said Warsaw also has confirmation of Wagner fighters presence in Belarus.

There may be several hundred of them at the moment, Zaryn said on Twitter.

Poland said this month it was bolstering its border with Belarus to address any potential threats.

While not sending his own troops to Ukraine, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko allowed Moscow to use Belarusian territory to launch its full-scale invasion on Ukraine in February 2022 and has since let his country be used as a base for Russian nuclear weapons.

The Belarusian Hajun project, which monitors military activity in the country and which is viewed as an extremist formation by Belarusian authorities, said a large column of at least 60 vehicles entered Belarus overnight Friday from Russia.

It said the vehicles, including trucks, pickups, vans and buses, had licence plates of the self-styled Donetsk and Luhansk peoples republics in what is internationally recognised as eastern Ukraine. In a move widely condemned as illegal, Moscow moved last year to annex the republics, which have been Russian proxies since 2014.

Hajun said it appeared that a Wagner column was headed to Tsel in central Belarus, where foreign reporters were last week shown a camp with hundreds of empty tents.

SOURCE: REUTERS
[July 16, 2023] GMAC Intelligence Goes Big with BrainChip Partnership Tweet

BrainChip Holdings Ltd (ASX: BRN, OTCQX: BRCHF, ADR: BCHPY), the world's first commercial producer of ultra-low power, fully digital, event-based, neuromorphic AI IP, welcomes AI/ML software company GMAC Intelligence as a partner to its Essential AI ecosystem. The Audience Choice Award Winner at the 2023 Vision Tank Start-Up Competition, GMAC Intelligence is building a drive-through automation solution for quick-service restaurants (QSRs). The application, QSRBot 247, revolutionizes the fast-food ordering experience by delivering a fully automated system using vision and voice that will accurately take orders in a more human and intuitive interface, as well as fulfill, deliver, and manage payment seamlessly and automatically. It enhances the experience by identifying loyal customers, learning their preferences to help personalization and satisfaction. GMAC Intelligence's partnership with BrainChip includes validating the building blocks of efficient facial, vehicular and voice recognition for next-generation quick-service restaurant applications through the implementation of BrainChip's first-to-market, fully digital neuromorphic Akida technology. Akida's fully customizable, event-based AI neural processor provides the scalable architecture and small footprint required to boost efficiency by orders of magnitude. Greater AI performance at the Edge, untethered from the cloud, is a key enabler for the growth of the Artificial Intelligence of Things (AIoT) market that is expected to be over a trillion ollars by 2030.



"With the introduction of QSRBot 247, we are revolutionizing next-generation, quick-service applications," said Amit Mate, Founder & CEO of GMAC Intelligence. "In partnering with BrainChip, we are establishing a pathway to deploying Akida-based solutions that incorporate added device security and privacy while utilizing very low power in a small footprint to expand the capabilities of our technology." "We continue to add next-generation technology companies to our partnership program, building our framework to support the next wave of intelligent computing," said Rob Telson, Vice President of Ecosystems & Partnerships at BrainChip. "GMAC Intelligence has developed an application that will shape the future for efficiency and accuracy at quick-service restaurants. As they evolve their applications, Akida will be positioned to support their growth."

About BrainChip Holdings Ltd (ASX: BRN, OTCQX: BRCHF, ADR: BCHPY) BrainChip is the worldwide leader in edge AI on-chip processing and learning. The company's first-to-market, fully digital, event-based AI processor, AkidaTM, uses neuromorphic principles to mimic the human brain, analyzing only essential sensor inputs at the point of acquisition, processing data with unparalleled efficiency, precision, and economy of energy. Akida uniquely enables edge learning local to the chip, independent of the cloud, dramatically reducing latency while improving privacy and data security. Akida Neural processor IP, which can be integrated into SoCs on any process technology, has shown substantial benefits on today's workloads and networks, and offers a platform for developers to create, tune and run their models using standard AI workflows like Tensorflow/Keras. In enabling effective edge compute to be universally deployable across real world applications such as connected cars, consumer electronics, and industrial IoT, BrainChip is proving that on-chip AI, close to the sensor, is the future, for its customers' products, as well as the planet. Explore the benefits of Essential AI at www.brainchip.com. Follow BrainChip on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/BrainChip_inc

Follow BrainChip on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/7792006 View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230716533335/en/

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Right now we offer tribute to social media star Demi in the dark given that quite a few locals are figuring out what they'll do with so much food that's going to spoil tonight.



Check www.TonysKansasCity.com news gathering . . .

Cowtown Talk Curtailed

Cell phone network seems slow? Friday storms in Kansas City impact cell phone towers Thousands of Kansas Citians who lost power Friday night after a severe line of storms moved through the area might have turned to their cell phone for updated information.

Desperately Seeking Cash Crooks

FBI agents looking for two ATM bank robbery suspects in Belton No one was injured.

Power Precaution Reported

Officials powered down Wolf Creek nuclear plant after storm damaged power lines High winds from Friday's storms knocked out several spans of a transmission line between Wichita and the Wolf Creek Nuclear Generating Station, utility provider Evergy reported Saturday.

Hotness Endures This Summer

Demi Rose In A Very Plunging Swimsuit Offers 'Distractions' Instagram model Demi Rose spills out of her plunging swimsuit while backbending on the grass near the swimming pool!

Nobody Believes Prez Biden White House

Voters know Biden's talking baloney on his economic record President Joe Biden has made it clear: He's running for reelection on his economic record.

MAGA Campaigns On Vengeance

Trump's unprecedented campaign pitch: Elect me to be your revenge on the government Donald Trump declared to his supporters earlier this year that "I am your retribution" and his base's appetite for that promised vengeance hasn't waned

First Son Fights Back

Hunter Biden's Lawyer Sends Trump a Cease-and-Desist Letter: Report An attorney for the first son said Trump's constant attacks have "caused harm" and may lead to "[Hunter Biden's] or his family's injury."

Battleground Tech Escalates

A Hundred Ex-Taiwanese Missile Launchers Could Transform Ukraine's Air-Defenses The American-made HAWK surface-to-air missile system is more than 60 years old. But if reports are true, it's about to become Ukraine's main SAM.

Super Powers Save Planet?!?

John Kerry in Beijing: Can US and China set aside rivalry for climate action? The two biggest economies and polluters need to work together to avert the crisis, experts say.

Old School Rules Described

This is how we do it: 'One of our favourite sex positions is trickier for us now than 50 years ago' Since retiring, Tony and June have sex most mornings - followed by a hearty breakfast How do you do it? Share the story of your sex life, anonymously

Rising Meth Town Support For European War?!?

Independence bakery raises money for victims of the war in Ukraine Eclair's De La Lune, a small bakery near the Independence Square is hosting a fundraiser for victims of the war in Ukraine.

Weekend Forecast For Now

Saturday grants a break from the storms Saturday will have high temperatures around 89 degrees; more thunderstorms are possible Sunday.

And this is the OPEN THREAD for right now.
Tonight's low power danger and police action report . . .



On scene, police contacted a woman outside, who said shed been in the house with the man when a disturbance broke out. During the incident, the man allegedly pulled out a firearm.



The woman managed to exit the home and bring her children to safety, Sgt. Jake Becchina, a spokesman for the Kansas City Police Department, said. The suspect then ran out of the house and into a neighbors residence.



When police attempted to make contact, the man refused to come outside

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com links . . .

KC police initiate standoff after man allegedly threatens woman inside home with kids Kansas City police are negotiating with the suspect to bring about a "peaceful resolution," a spokesman said.

Armed Suspect in standoff with KCPD near 25th & Van Brunt The Kansas City Police Department is in a standoff with a suspect near 27th and Van Brunt.

Update . . .
This Sunday morning we share a warning and a truism that's open to discussion . . .



ROYALS MOVING TO NICE SIDE OF THE BRIDGE WOULD DEVASTATE INVESTOR CONFIDENCE IN DOWNTOWN KANSAS CITY!!!

Online there is chatter & propaganda that claims this won't happen because real estate shell companies connected to the home team have purchased a few buildings near the East Village.

Make no mistake . . . It CAN happens and insiders say it's likely.

We won't go through the whole thing again but for these reasons and several more . . . A potential Royals move to NKC is much more than a bargaining chip . . . It's a viable option we're going to have to confront.

Why the Royals might move:

- Better highway & mass transit access

- Better Public Safety & lower crime stats for fans & families.

- More enthusiasm from state lawmakers & residents.

Those are just a few reasons the move makes sense . . .

Now, we take a moment here at www.TonysKansasCity.com to look at the impact . . .

ROYALS DITCHING DOWNTOWN KANSAS CITY WOULD DESTROY CONFIDENCE IN THE ECONOMIC FUTURE INSIDE THE LOOP!!!

So far taxpayers have plunked down BILLIONS of bucks over a decade but COVID turned the tables on cramped urban life and Downtown is no longer the fastest growing "neighborhood" in the metro.

Momentum has shifted to the Northland.

Without a stadium anchor to lure suckers fans into the downtown area . . . There isn't much hope on the horizon to keep people coming to a district that's now mostly for b-list concerts and overpriced restaurants.

Like it or not . . .

Without the Royals, Downtown might be headed toward yet another downturn.

Now we move beyond opinion and check recent data from June 2023 in the nation's financial paper of record:

Wall Street Sours on Americas Downtowns



Here's the word . . .



Downtowns have been a mother lode for American cities over the years, providing billions of dollars in tax revenue along with their distinctive skylines. In turn, investors who bet on downtown office towers, or on the trains and buses delivering workers to them, could generally trust they held a winning hand.



Now, with white-collar workers spending more time in their home offices, a phenomenon that shows few signs of ending, investments linked to downtowns are trading at falling prices in volatile markets.



You could see this as a slow-motion change or as the beginning of a slow-moving train wreck, said Richard Ciccarone, president emeritus of Merritt Research Services, a municipal credit-analysis firm. I hope its not a train wreck, but it could be.



The big picture . . .

Office buildings are only about 50% as full as before Covid-19 across 10 major metro areas, according to keycard tracking by Kastle Systems, a building-security company. Federal transit data show public-transportation ridership at less than 70% of pre-Covid levels in major metro areas.



President Biden said more than a year ago it was time for America to get back to work and fill our great downtowns again. Yet even in the federal workforce, more than half of employees worked remotely at least one day a week last year, according to one survey.

And so . . .

We're not posting this to share panic but merely to prepare KCMO residents for the tough reality that, if the Royals leave, so much money invested inside the loop was all for naught given that long-term "density" and economic opportunity imagined by politicos never really materialized.



Developing . . .


When my college roommate was laid off from her dream job, we went to Frances stunning Emerald Coast for a wellness reset
One of the nine Independent Senators told the Senate on Thursday that she found it very diff
Ukrainian border guards record the movement of groups of Russian mercenaries from the PMC Wagner to Belarus.

"According to the available information, separate groups of representatives of private military companies moving from the territory of Russia are spotted in Belarus," Andriy Demchenko, the spokesman for the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine, said.

It is noted that border guards continue to monitor the situation in order to understand the location, number, and tasks of militants.

As reported, the Ministry of Defense of Belarus stated that the PMC Wagner fighters instructed local territorial defense units.

On July 6, Lukashenko declared that he was ready to use PMC Wagner in Belarus.

According to Brigadier General Oleksiy Hromov, Deputy Chief of the Main Operational Department of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the Wagner representatives, who may be redeployed to the territory of Belarus, are exhausted remnants who do not pose a threat to the Armed Forces of Ukraine but can carry out provocations in the border areas of Ukraine to restrain Ukrainian troops and divert reserves.
On the night of July 16, 2023, Russian troops attacked the city of Zaporizhzhia, having struck an infrastructure facility.

The relevant statement was made by Zaporizhzhia Acting Mayor Anatolii Kurtiev on Telegram, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

Last night the enemy again attacked Zaporizhzhia. Sadly, one person was injured, Kurtiev wrote.

One of districts in Zaporizhzhia has been left without electricity. Emergency services are working to restore the supply of power.

An infrastructure object was reported damaged. Windows in the neighboring buildings were broken by the blast wave.

A reminder that, on the night of July 15, 2023, sixteen apartment blocks, two educational institutions and a health facility were damaged in Russias attack on the city of Zaporizhzhia.

Photo: Anatolii Kurtiev, Telegram
The Russian security apparatus entered a period of confusion and negotiations after the Wagner Groups mutiny led by Yevgeny Prigozhin on June 23-24, 2023. In recent days, an interim arrangement for the future of the group has started to take shape.

The relevant statement was made by the Ministry of Defence of the United Kingdom on Twitter, referring to the latest Defence Intelligence update, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

On July 12, 2023, Russias defense ministry announced that the Wagner Group had handed over 2000 pieces of military equipment, including tanks. As of July 15, 2023, at least a small contingent of Wagner mercenaries arrived at a camp in Belarus.

Concurrently, some Wagner-associated social media groups have resumed activity, with a focus on highlighting the groups activities in Africa.

Based on recent announcements by Russian officials, the state is likely prepared to accept Wagners aspirations to maintain its extensive presence on the continent, the UK intelligence concluded.

A reminder that earlier the Ministry of Defence of the United Kingdom noted that the statements made by the 58th Combined Arms Armys General-Major Ivan Popov, who had been dismissed for voicing concerns, indicated serious disaffection many Russian officers likely harbour towards the senior military leadership.

Photo: Meduza
Russian troops have opened fire on the Zaporizhzhia regions urban-type settlement of Stepnohirsk with the Grad multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS). Seven civilians were reported injured.

The relevant statement was made by Zaporizhzhia Regional Military Administration Head Yurii Malashko on Telegram, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

Over the past day, Russian troops have launched 52 strikes on 13 settlements in the Zaporizhzhia region. The enemy was shelling frontline villages with artillery: 48 strikes were recorded in Huliaipole, Zaliznychne, Huliapilske, Novodarivka, Olhivske, Charivne, Chervone, Malynivka and Levadne, Malashko wrote.

Additionally, Russians launched a missile strike on the outskirts of Zaporizhzhia and struck Stepnohirsk with the MLRS.

Three women (aged 62, 66 and 68) and four men (aged 37, 60, 61 and 68) were injured in Stepnohirsk.

Local residents filed 33 reports on the damage caused by Russian attacks to residential houses, administrative buildings and social infrastructure objects.

Photo: Yurii Malashko, Telegram
Azov Brigade commander, Lieutenant Colonel Denys "Redis" Prokopenko, who recently returned to Ukraine after being released from Russian captivity, met with the personnel and announced his return to service.

"While in captivity, I said that for me this war will not end until we return our last fighter from captivity and restore the borders of Ukraine to the state of 1991. I am a soldier. I am not interested in any other areas of activity, except military affairs. My heart, my soul, my body belong to Azov," Prokopenko said, the press service of Azov posted on Telegram.

According to him, the main efforts today should be aimed at combat training and replenishing the unit with personnel, equipment and weapons.

It is noted that Lieutenant Colonel is currently undergoing rehabilitation and will soon resume his duties.

Read also: Ukraine returns home five defenders of Azovstal following talks with Turkiye

As reported, on July 8, the commanders who led the defense of Azovstal steelworks in Mariupol returned to Ukraine from Turkiye. Azov Regiment commander Denys "Redis" Prokopenko, Azov Regiment deputy commander Sviatoslav Kalyna Palamar, senior officer Oleh Khomenko, acting commander of the 36th Separate Marine Brigade Serhiy Volyna Volynskyi, and commander of the 12th Brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine Denys Shleha returned home.
The Republic of Korea will increase assistance to Ukraine to $150 million this year.

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol said this in a statement to the media together with President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

Last year, the government of the Republic of Korea allocated $100 million to support Ukraine. This year, this support will amount to 150 million," Yoon said.

He added that Korea would also consider the possibility of the World Bank providing $10 million in support for Ukraine.

The President of Korea added that during the negotiations with Volodymyr Zelensky, they focused on the post-war reconstruction of Ukraine and cooperation in this area. In particular, Korea plans to allocate funds for the restoration of infrastructure, assistance to entrepreneurship, and reconstruction of the education system.

As reported by Ukrinform, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol arrived in Ukraine on an unannounced visit. Together with his wife, he visited Bucha and Irpin in Kyiv region, and honored the memory of Ukrainian fallen soldiers.
The last ship to travel under a UN-brokered deal that allows the safe Black Sea export of Ukrainian grain left the port of Odesa early on Sunday ahead of a deadline to extend the agreement.

That's according to a Reuters witness and MarineTraffic.com, Ukrinform reports.

Russia has not agreed to register any new ships since June 27 and the initiative will expire on Monday, July 17, unless Moscow agrees to extend it.

A United Nations spokesman said on Friday that Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was waiting for a response from Russian President Vladimir Putin on a proposal to extend the deal.

Putin told South African President Cyril Ramaphosa in a phone call on Saturday that commitments to remove obstacles to Russian food and fertilizer exports had yet to be fulfilled.

Russia has repeatedly threatened to quit the deal, brokered by the UN and Turkey in July 2022 following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. It had been previously extended for two months on May 17.
NSDC Secretary wants NATO members to provide Ukraine with information on Ukrainian corruptionists abroad

Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council Oleksiy Danilov wants NATO members to provide Ukraine with information about Ukrainian corrupt officials who hide their wealth in bank accounts in these countries.

Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council Oleksiy Danilov said this on the air of the United News telethon, Ukrinform reports.

"We are periodically accused of corruption. I would very much prefer that NATO members provide us with information about those corrupt officials who are currently hiding money in bank accounts located in the territory of the Alliance members, that they give us information about their estates, about their yachts. Because there is a kind of one-way traffic. We are constantly being told about corruption, but we are not told in which Monte Carlo, Las Vegas, and so on, these corrupt officials spend their wealth. I would really like us to establish this cooperation," Danilov said.

Read also: Presidential Office publishes G7 declaration of support for Ukraine

He emphasized that it is necessary to jointly expose all corrupt officials.

As reported, Ukraine is on the path to membership in the European Union and NATO. In order to fully integrate into these communities, the state must fulfill a number of requirements, including fighting corruption.
On the occasion of the ninth anniversary of the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17, which is marked on July 17, the European Union has called on Russia to accept its responsibility in this terrible crime and to cooperate with the international investigation.

EU High Representative Josep Borrell said this in a statement posted on the website of the European Council.

"On 17 July, we commemorate the ninth anniversary of the tragic downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17, when 298 people of 17 different nationalities lost their lives. The European Union continues to feel deep sympathy for all those who lost their loved ones. The European Union reiterates its full support for all efforts to establish the truth, achieving justice for the 298 victims of the downing of Flight MH17 and their next of kin and holding those responsible to account, in accordance with United Nations Security Council Resolution 2166," the document reads.

According to the statement, on June 23, 2023, the European Union listed two individuals who took an active part in Russia's military aggression against Ukraine from an early stage. In November 2022 these individuals were convicted for the downing of Flight MH17 by the Dutch District Court.

"The European Union emphasizes that the evidence presented by the Joint Investigative Team in the proceedings before the Dutch District Court and the European Court of Human Rights makes it clear the BUK installation used to bring down Flight MH17 belonged beyond doubt to the armed forces of the Russian Federation," the statement said.

Borrell recalled that in its admissibility ruling on January 25, 2023 in the case of Ukraine and the Netherlands v. Russia, the European Court on Human Rights was the first international court to confirm Russia's involvement in the downing of Flight MH17. The decision is final and will be followed by a judgment on the merits, at a later date.

"Recalling its previous statements, the European Union takes note of all legal proceedings that are taking place in this regard and expects Russia to accept its responsibility and to fully cooperate with efforts to establish truth, justice and accountability for the victims and their next of kin," the statement said.

Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17, en route from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur, was shot down over occupied area of Donetsk region on July 17, 2014. There were 283 passengers and 15 crew members on board. All of them died. Last November, the Hague District Court sentenced Russian citizen Sergey Dubinskiy and Ukrainian citizen Leonid Kharchenko to life imprisonment for their participation in the fatal Boeing 777 crash over Ukraine in 2014.
UNODC Country Representative met with the new Head of Anti Narcotic Police of the Islamic Republic of Iran



Tehran, 22 June 2023  Alexander Fedulov, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Iran Country Representative met with Brigadier General Iraj Kakavand, the newly appointed head of the Anti Narcotic Police of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and discussed the progress of current activities and prospect of joint cooperation and the way forward.

General Kakavand in his remarks referred to the different emerging trafficking methods used by drug traffickers, and the need for more support in the field of drug interdiction and supply reduction. He further mentioned requirements of the Anti Narcotic Police, among which the body scanners, drug trace detectors and drug detecting dogs were highlighted.

The significant increase in production of Methamphetamine in Afghanistan as an emerging global threat and position of Iran as a major transit country, neighboring Afghanistan, was also highlighted by Brigadier General Kakavand. He emphasized on the required technical support from UNODC to better tackle this problem.

UNODC Iran Country Representative provided a brief report on history of UNODC Iran cooperation with Anti Narcotics Police of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Through years, UNODC has been assisting the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran in drug supply reduction, through programme-based approach in skills improvement, by in-person and on-line trainings of experts from the Anti-Narcotics Police, Customs, and Airport Police in Iran. These training workshops aimed to enhance professional skills in intelligence analysis, backtracking investigation, air-cargo security and safety, urban field training and surveillance, illicit financial flows, controlled delivery, organized criminal groups and innovative methods for tracking precursor chemicals and precursors incidents investigation and diversion, as well as knowledge on new psychoactive substances. UNODC has also been focusing on continuous assistance in procurement of equipment and trained sniffing dogs for K9 service; procurement and installation of the body scanners and X-ray machines at a number of entry/exit points, which have been instrumental in seizures of remarkable amounts of illicit drugs.

He reiterated that UNODC Iran team, including himself, in the capacity of the Country Representative, are ready to fully support activities of the Iranian Anti Narcotic Police at national and international level. He expressed that he is highly aware of the requirements, though their procurement is dependent on availability of funds and supports from donor countries.

Other subjects, including cooperation under the Triangular Initiative (TI), activities under Joint Planning Cell and visits of international community from the permanent exhibition of the ANP was amongst the other topics discussed.

***

For additional information please contact

Amir Hossein Vaziri (Mr.), Programme Associate.

UNODC Country Office in the Islamic Republic of Iran Tel.: +98 21 88 87 83- 77,

emails: Amirhossein.vaziri@un.org
Visit of the Charge dAffair of the Embassy of Kingdom of Norway to Two NGOs in Tehran



The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in Iran in cooperation and coordination with the Iranian Drug Control Headquarters (DCHQ) has organized the visit of the Charge d'Affair of the Embassy of the Kingdom of Norway, Ms. Ingeborg Grongstad, to two centres in Tehran active in the area of treatment and harm reduction. The visits were in line with the generous donation of the Kingdom of Norway to the activities of the UNODC Iran in the area of treatment, harm reduction, capacity building and empowerment of vulnerable groups, especially women who use drugs. The two centres visited were the Parvin Treatment and Rehabilitation (Mother and Child) Center in Khorasan Square, Tayeb Area and Yas Sewing Workshop in Qom Road.

Nestled in the heart of Khorasan Square in Tehran lies the Parvin Treatment and Rehabilitation (Mother and Child) Center, a beacon of hope for addicted women seeking recovery. The centre, which is part of the Rebirth charity community centres, provides a safe and supportive environment for women drug users, particularly mothers accompanied by children, without children, and pregnant women, to overcome their addiction and regain control of their lives. As the first and only residential centre in the country that caters to pregnant mothers, the Parvin Treatment and Rehabilitation Center fills a crucial gap in support services for vulnerable women. The centre provides a range of rehabilitation services to female drug addicts, including non-drug treatments and accommodation support. For the women who come to the Parvin Treatment and Rehabilitation Center, it is a place of refuge, a place where they can receive the support and care they need to overcome their addiction and start a new chapter in their lives. The centres dedicated staff work tirelessly to create a welcoming and supportive environment that fosters healing and recovery.

The Yas employment workshop supports women heads of households, young women, and men who have recovered from drug use. The workshop provides an opportunity for these individuals to learn new skills and earn a living by producing a line of undergarments using sewing devices. But the Yas employment workshop is more than just a place of work. Its a community that supports and trains individuals who have faced significant challenges in life. By working together and contributing to the production of undergarments, workshop personnel are not only earning a living for themselves and their families, but they are also contributing to the prevention of social harm. The workshops focus on providing training and support to women heads of households married to men who use drugs and young women and men who have recovered from drug use is particularly noteworthy. These individuals often face significant barriers to employment and may struggle to find meaningful work. The Yas employment workshop recognizes these challenges and provides a space for personnel to grow and develop new skills.

In a society where drug use can have a significant impact on individuals and their families, the Yas employment workshop is a shining example of how employment and training opportunities can make a difference. The two centres are testaments to the power of community and the importance of providing technical support, treatment and vocational training to vulnerable groups.

During the visit, Ms. Grongstad, Charge d'Affair of the Embassy of the Kingdom of Norway, received a firsthand look at the services provided to the right holders, particularly women, at both the Parvin Treatment and Rehabilitation (Mother and Child) Center and the Yas Sewing Workshop. Through her conversations with personnel of the centres, Ms. Grongstad gained a deeper understanding of their life stories and the vital role that technical support and rehabilitation services played in their journey towards recovery.

The visit also served to strengthen the cooperation between the UNODC Iran and the DCHQ, providing an opportunity to envision further venues of collaboration that would expand the technical assistance provided to rights holders in other provinces in need of such interventions.
PESHAWAR, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 16th Jul, 2023 ) :Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Economic Zones Development and Management Company (KP-EZDMC), a public sector company of the KP government, has taken the lead by completing the first phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) flag-bearer Rashakai Special Economic Zone (SEZ), at District Nowshera.

Talking to APP here Sunday, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Javed Iqbal Khattak said that the completion of the first phase of the Rashakai SEZ comprising three phases and covering an area of 247 acres, was due in December 2023, but due to better teamwork and coordination with China Road and Bridge Company (CRBC,) it had been completed six months prior of its specified time period.

The Rashakai SEZ is the first completed project initiated under CPEC in Pakistan. This marvelous performance shown by a public sector company of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has given an edge to the province over other provinces of the country.

So far, an investment to the tone of Rs.85 billion has already been made in the zone and besides, Chinese several domestic big industrial groups are also investing in it, he said.

The investors are going to set up units for manufacturing Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) a raw material for the pharmaceutical industrial units while another investor has also shown interest in establishing a vaccine manufacturing unit in the zone while Pakistan Oxygen, a largest oxygen manufacturing unit has already invested in the Zone.

The current innovative management of company has initiated construction work on 9 new economic zones including two special economic zones of Hattar and Rashakai. 90 percent infrastructure development work at Hattar Special Economic Zone has been completed and now colonization is also in progress in the facility.

During the current management, the total assets of the company by the end of the year 2022 have increased to Rs.15.8 billion as compared to Rs.13 billion in 2021.

The company has posted a surplus of Rs. 29 million (Rs 35 million in 2021) with total income of Rs.1025 million in 2022 (Rs 926.5 million in 2021).

Javed Iqbal Khattak said the board of Directors (BoD) has appreciated the financial performance of the company for the period ending June 30, 2022. The company's income and the total assets have also shown a steady increase over the past year, which is a testament to the company's strong management and commitment to excellence.

During 2022, the company had generated funds around Rs 3.1 billion including Rs 541 million received in the shape of the annual development programme (ADP). It has also launched new zones including Special Economic Zone D.I. Khan and Chitral Economic Zones last year, he expressed.

The company has also contributed Rs.93 million to the government treasury in the form of duties and taxes during the year. It has now obtained Pakistan Centre for Philanthropy (PCP) Certification inevitable for NPO status under Income Tax Ordinance, 2001.

During the current financial year, the company is going to launch two sector specific projects including Buner Marble City and Salt and Gypsum City, Karak to make value addition to the mineral sector products of the province.

On completion only, the Rashakai SEZ will generate over 2,50000 direct and indirect employment opportunities for the local population while other ongoing projects will also create over nearly the same number of employment opportunities for industrial workers and the change the socio-economic conditions of the people of the province.
(@FahadShabbir)

Sylhet, Bangladesh, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 16th Jul, 2023 ) :Opener Liton Das top-scored with 35 as Bangladesh defeated Afghanistan by six wickets in the second Twenty20 international to take the two-match series 2-0 on Sunday.

Liton laid the foundation for the win with a 67-run opening stand with Afif Hossain (24) as Bangladesh raced to 119-4 in 16.1 overs after Taskin Ahmed's 3-33 helped the side restrict Afghanistan to 116-7 in a rain-reduced 17 overs.

Bangladesh won the opening match of the series by two wickets on Friday, and Sunday's follow-up -- both of them in the northeastern city of Sylhet -- earned them their third consecutive T20 series win, and their first against Afghanistan in three attempts.

They defeated world champions England 3-0 and Scotland 2-1 earlier this year.

Off-spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman gave Afghanistan a lifeline to save the series by removing Liton and Afif in the space of three balls after their solid stand before Azmatullah Omarzai bowled Najmul Hossain for four.

But skipper Shakib Al Hasan and young Towhid Hridoy forged a 31-run stand for the fourth wicket to prevent further collapse.

"We lost couple of wickets, but given the start we had, we were always ahead," Shakib said at the post-match presentation ceremony.

"Given the ground conditions, I knew their spinners would have it tough.

" Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan refused to make any excuses.

"Weather is not an excuse for a team. T20 should be decided on skills and we were not good enough there, especially in batting," he said.

Omarzai dismissed Towhid for 19 before finishing with 2-17 but Shakib, with his unbeaten 18, took Bangladesh home.

Shakib also played a hand with the ball to claim 2-15, and Mustafizur Rahman claimed 2-30 as Bangladesh, electing to bowl first, made Afghanistan struggle.

Rain halted play for one-and-a-half hours after just seven overs, prompting the match officials to reduce the contest to 17 overs per side.

Afghanistan were already struggling, losing both openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz (eight) and Hazratullah Zazai (four) to Taskin with 16 runs on the board.

Mustafizur removed Mohammad Nabi for 16 after play resumed, and in the next over Shakib dismissed both Ibrahim Zadran (22) and Najibullah Zadran, reducing Afghanistan to 67-5.

But Omarzai and Karim Janat put on 42 runs for the sixth wicket to revive the innings.

Mustafizur ended Omarzai's 21-ball knock of 25 forcing him to give Shamim Hossain a catch at deep third man.

Janat was out to Taskin in the final over for 22.

Bangladesh won the one-off Test match by a record 546 runs while Afghanistan won the three-match one-day international series 2-1.
North Berwick, United Kingdom, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 16th Jul, 2023 ) :Rory McIlroy sank a birdie on the last hole to seal a dramatic victory in the Scottish Open on Sunday for his first tournament win in Scotland.

The four-time major winner had seen his one-shot overnight lead evaporate on a windy day at the Renaissance Club.

But having missed from eight feet for birdie on the par-five 16th, the Northern Irishman made no such mistake from closer range on the par-three 17th to join Scotland's Robert MacIntyre on 14 under.

McIlroy then played a stunning approach shot on the 18th before a successful 10-foot putt snatched victory from MacIntyre.

This win came just days before McIlroy, 34, returns to the scene of his only British Open triumph at Hoylake in 2014 -- the last of his four major triumphs.
Kyiv, Ukraine, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 16th Jul, 2023 ) :Ukraine said Sunday its forces were on the defensive against Russian assaults near the eastern city of Kupiansk while noting gradual progress near the hotspot city of Bakhmut.

"For two days in a row, the enemy has been actively attacking the Kupiansk sector in the Kharkiv region. We are on the defence," Deputy Defence Minister Ganna Malyar said.

"Fierce battles are going on, and positions... change several times a day," she added.

Ukraine last month began its highly anticipated fightback after stockpiling Western weapons and building up its offensive forces.

It has however admitted difficult battles and called on allies to provide more long-range arms and artillery.

But Malyar noted Ukrainian forces were "gradually moving forward" near Bakhmut, seized by Russia in May.

"There is a daily advance on the southern flank around Bakhmut. On the northern flank, we are trying to hold our positions, the enemy is attacking," she said.

The city once home to 70,000 people and known for its sparkling wine and salt mine has been destroyed by the longest and bloodiest battle of the war.

"In Bakhmut itself, we are shelling the enemy, and the enemy is shelling us," Malyar said.
(@ChaudhryMAli88)

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 16th July, 2023) Over the past day, the Russian armed forces have repelled 18 attacks by the Ukrainian army in the Donetsk and Krasniy Lyman directions, with enemy losses amounting to some 370 servicepeople, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Sunday.

In the Donetsk direction, the South group of the Russian armed forces has successfully repulsed 15 enemy attacks near several settlements, the ministry said. Two ammunition depots of the 54th mechanized brigade of the Ukrainian army and the 4th operational brigade of the Ukrainian National Guard were destroyed in Rozdolivka and Ivano-Dar'ivka in the course of the fighting, the ministry added.

"In the course of the hostilities, the losses of the Ukrainian army amounted to 270 Ukrainian servicepeople killed and wounded, two armored combat vehicles and five vehicles destroyed," the ministry said.

In the Krasniy Lyman direction, the Center group of forces repelled three enemy attacks near Nowowodiane and Makeyevka settlements in the Luhansk People's Republic, as well as the Serebryanskyy forestry area.

"Up to 100 Ukrainian servicepeople, two armored combat vehicles, three cars, as well as MSTA-B and D-30 howitzers were destroyed during the day," the ministry said.
Despite not advancing on its goal to join NATO, Ukraine did receive security assurances by the military alliances members during their summit last week in Vilnius. And as VOAs Veronica Balderas Iglesias reports, the Biden administration emphasized this Sunday again, that its support for Kyiv, remains strong.
Britain on Sunday officially joined an Asia-Pacific trade group that includes Japan and 10 other nations during a meeting in New Zealand.

The trade bloc covers more than 500 million people and 15% of the worlds economy. For Britain, it represents the largest trade deal it has struck since leaving the European Union more than three years ago.

Britain first announced in March it had reached an agreement to join the bloc, which was created in 2018, after more than two years of negotiations. It is the first new member to join the bloc, called the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).

It also includes New Zealand, Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Malaysia, Mexico, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam.

SEE ALSO: Britain Claims Post-Brexit Win by Sealing Trans-Pacific Trade Pact Membership We are honored to become the CPTPPs first new member and to join this extraordinary community of now 12 economies spanning Asia, the Pacific and now Europe," said British Trade Minister Kemi Badenoch. This is a modern and ambitious agreement, and our membership of this exciting, growing and forward-looking bloc is proof that the U.K.s doors are open for business.

Badenoch said that more than half a million Britons already work for companies from the bloc's member nations.

Shigeyuki Goto, Japan's economic minister, said adding Britain would strengthen the bloc.

The fact that this was done in a way that maintains the high standards of agreement sets an exemplary precedent for future accessions, Goto said.

The deal comes as Britain pursues greater engagement with the Indo-Pacific. Critics say the deal is insignificant compared to Britains trade with its neighbors in the 27-nation EU.

New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins said the addition of Britain to the bloc was great news for the region.

Trade is not only a priority for this government, but is essential to our economic recovery, and improving the lives and livelihoods of all New Zealanders, Hipkins said.

Since leaving the EU, Britain has also signed separate trade deals with Australia and New Zealand.
Ukrainians have quickly learned how to counter Russian information attacks since Russias invasion in the country, Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar wrote on her official Telegram channel Saturday.

Since last July, the U.K. has trained 18,000 Ukrainian volunteer infantrymen under the Operation Interflex training program, the Defense Ministry said Saturday. Ukrainian soldiers have been trained to "survive and be lethal in their fight against the illegal invasion of their homeland" it said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin could be arrested if he attends the BRICS summit scheduled in South Africa because of an arrest warrant issued against him last March by the International Criminal Court, which accused him of the war crime of deporting Ukrainian children to Russia.

Russias security apparatus experienced a period of confusion and negotiations, following the Wagner Group's mutiny last month, the British Defense Ministry said Sunday in its daily intelligence update about Russians invasion of Ukraine. Now, however, an interim arrangement for the mercenary groups future is shaping up, according to the report posted on Twitter.

Meanwhile, some social media groups associated with Wagner restarted their postings, focusing on Wagners activities in Africa. The ministry said recent announcements from Russian officials indicate that Russia is likely prepared to accept Wagners aspirations to maintain its extensive presence on the continent.

Both Ukraine and Poland Saturday confirmed the arrival of Wagner forces in Belarus, one day after Minsk said the mercenaries were training its troops.

"There may be several hundred of them at the moment," Stanislaw Zaryn, Poland's deputy minister coordinator of special services, said on Twitter.

Yevgeny Prigozhin, the Wagner chief, has not been spotted in Belarus  he has not been seen in public since June 24.

Black Sea Grain Initiative

Russian President Vladimir Putin is remaining silent about a possible extension of the Black Sea Grain Initiative that is set to expire Monday.

In a phone call Saturday with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Putin discussed "the need for a permanent and sustainable solution to the movement of grain from Russia and Ukraine to the international markets," according to the South African presidents office. No further details were provided.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has asked Putin to extend the Black Sea deal in return for connecting a subsidiary of Russia's Agricultural Bank, Rosselkhozbank, to the SWIFT international payment system, but he has not received a reply, according to a U.N. spokesperson Friday.

Discussions are being had, WhatsApp messages are being sent, Signal messages are being sent and exchanged. We're also waiting for a response to the letter," U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric told reporters when asked about the negotiations.

Russia has said it would agree to extend the deal only if its conditions are met regarding implementation.

Ukraine-South Korea

In a display of support for Ukraine, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol made a surprise visit to Saturday to Kyiv, announcing that Seoul will increase aid to Ukraine to $150 million this year, following an $100 million aid package last year. Yoon also said that Seoul will cooperate with Kyiv on infrastructure projects in Ukraine.

In a press conference Saturday with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Yoon said South Korea aims to provide "a larger scale of military supplies" to Ukraine this year, after last year supplying nonlethal military inventory, such as body armor and helmets. He did not provide details. Zelenskyy thanked the South Korean president for his countrys support.

Earlier this month, Yoon told The Associated Press that supplies of de-mining equipment, ambulances, and other nonmilitary materials are in the works after a request from Ukraine, adding that South Korea already provided support to rebuild the Kakhovka Dam, destroyed last month.

South Korea, a key U.S. ally in Asia, has joined in the international sanctions against Russia and has provided Ukraine with humanitarian and financial support. So far, it has not provided weapons, in line with its long-standing policy of not supplying arms to countries actively engaged in conflict.

Yoons visit to Ukraine, his first, comes on the heels of NATOs two-day summit in Lithuania this week.

Yoon and his wife toured Bucha and Irpin, two small cities near Kyiv where mass graves were discovered after Russian troops retreated last year. He laid flowers at a monument to the country's war dead.

In his address Saturday, Zelenskyy called Yoons visit to Ukraine very important and a very important direction of our international work. He also thanked several countries, leaders and organizations for supporting Ukraine against Russian aggression.

Zaporizhzhia shelling

Russia and Ukraine traded blame Saturday for shelling that injured three civilians in a village the Zaporizhzhia region. The region is one of four Moscow said it annexed last year, but it does not control it.

Andriy Yermak, the head of Ukraine's presidential administration, said Russian forces shelled the village of Stepnohirske, where the three people were injured. The city of Zaporizhzhia was also targeted and 16 buildings were damaged, said Anatoliy Kurtiev, secretary of the city council. Both men spoke via the Telegram messaging app.

Meanwhile, the Moscow-installed official who oversees the parts of Zaporizhzhia Russia controls said Ukrainian forces destroyed a school in the village of Stulneve, while air defense intercepted a drone over the city of Tokmak.

Reuters could not independently verify either report.

Some information for this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.
The presence of the morality police had largely ceased following the nationwide anti-government protests sparked by the death last year of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in police custody. Amini had been detained by Irans morality police for allegedly wearing her headscarf too loosely.

Even while street protests have subsided, many women in Iran have publicly opposed the mandatory hijab since Aminis death.

Saeed Montazer al-Mahdi, the spokesperson for the Law Enforcement Force of the Islamic Republic of Iran, or FARAJA, said Sunday the move to bring morality police back was in response to "public demands, the requests of various social groups and institutions, and the emphasis from the president and the judiciary."



He said that individuals who defy social norms and those who exhibit "non-conventional attire" will be handled accordingly.

In May, The U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights called on Iran to decriminalize mandatory veiling laws, warning that the harassment of women, including what they do or do not wear, appears to have intensified as street protests have died down.
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani held talks with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in Damascus on Sunday in the first such visit by an Iraqi premier since the outbreak of the Syrian war in 2011.

Assad and Sudani discussed securing their shared 600-kilometer border from security threats, including Islamic State militants, and agreed to enhance cooperation to reduce drug smuggling, they said during a joint news conference.

Sudani said they also discussed ways to combat drought conditions in both countries caused by a reduction in rainfall, climate change and upstream damming by Turkey.

"We need to cooperate to get our fair share of water," Sudani said.

Sudani said Iraq supported the lifting of sanctions on Syria, put in place and expanded by the United States and European countries since 2011.

Iraq and Syria, which have close economic, military and political ties to regional heavyweight Iran, maintained relations throughout Syria's civil war even as other Arab states withdrew their ambassadors and closed their embassies in Syria.

Baghdad and Damascus, along with Shi'ite armed groups backed by Iran, cooperated in the fight against Islamic State, which spread from Iraq into Syria and at one point controlled more than a third of both countries.

Farhad Alaaldin, foreign affairs adviser to the prime minister, said before the meeting that Sudani was set to discuss combatting the flow of the amphetamine Captagon and possibilities for reopening a Mediterranean oil export pipeline, which could help Iraq diversify its export routes.

Sudani's visit comes as other countries, including Saudi Arabia, rebuild relations with Damascus after years of tensions.

Syria was suspended from the Arab League in 2011 over Assad's brutal crackdown on protests and several Gulf states supported the armed opposition to his rule.

But Assad has regained control of most of Syria with military and economic support from Russia and Iran, Syria was readmitted to the Arab League in May, and regional countries are seeking dialogue with him to end drug smuggling and return millions of refugees.

Syria has agreed to help end drug trafficking across its borders with Jordan and Iraq.

Top Syrian officials and relatives of Assad have been put on sanctions lists in recent months in the United States, United Kingdom and European Union over their alleged ties to the trade.

The Syrian government denies involvement in the drug trade.
The Rev. Jesse Jackson plans to step down from leading the Chicago civil rights organization Rainbow PUSH Coalition he founded in 1971, the organization announced Friday.

"Reverend Jesse Jackson is officially pivoting from his role as president of Rainbow PUSH Coalition. His commitment is unwavering, and he will elevate his life's work by teaching ministers how to fight for social justice and continue the freedom movement," the organization said in a statement. "Rev. Jackson's global impact and civil rights career will be celebrated this weekend at the 57th annual Rainbow PUSH Coalition convention, where his successor will be introduced."

The Rev. Janette Wilson, a senior adviser to Jackson and longtime staff member of the organization, told The Associated Press that the civil rights leader and two-time presidential candidate will address members Saturday about his decision.

Jackson, who will turn 82 in October, has remained active in civil rights in recent years despite health setbacks.

He announced in 2017 that he had begun outpatient care for Parkinson's disease two years earlier. In early 2021, he had gallbladder surgery and later that year was treated for COVID-19 including a stint at a physical therapy-focused facility. He was hospitalized again in November 2021 for a fall that caused a head injury.

Jackson, a protege of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., broke with the Southern Christian Leadership Conference in 1971 to form Operation PUSH  originally named People United to Save Humanity  a sweeping civil rights organization based on Chicago's South Side.

The organization was later renamed the Rainbow PUSH Coalition with a mission ranging from encouraging corporations to hire more minorities to voter registration drives in communities of color. Its annual convention is set for this weekend in Chicago.

Jackson has long been a powerful voice in American politics.

Until Barack Obama's election in 2008, Jackson was the most successful Black candidate for the U.S. presidency, winning 13 primaries and caucuses for the Democratic nomination in 1988.

Jackson has helped guide the modern civil rights movement on a wide variety of issues, including voting rights and education.

He stood with the family of George Floyd at a memorial for the Black man murdered in 2020 by a white police officer, whose death forced a national reckoning with police brutality and racism. Jackson also participated in COVID-19 vaccination drives to battle hesitancy in Black communities.

Santita Jackson, one of his daughters, said in an interview that her father would not be vanishing. "While the flesh may not be willing, the spirit is," she said, adding that she hoped her father would provide a living history. "Dr. King gave him his assignment and he's been faithful to it in every iteration of his life. Many people have said Dr. King was the architect and Rev. Jackson was the builder."

One of his sons, U.S. Rep. Jonathan Jackson, told the Chicago Sun-Times that his father "has forever been on the scene of justice and has never stopped fighting for civil rights" and that will be "his mark upon history."

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson called Jackson "an architect of the soul of Chicago" in a statement Friday.

"Through decades of service, he has led the Rainbow PUSH Coalition at the forefront of the struggle for civil rights and social justice. His faith, his perseverance, his love, and his relentless dedication to people inspire all of us to keep pushing for a better tomorrow," said Johnson, who was endorsed by Jackson when he ran for mayor earlier this year.

Al Sharpton, president and founder of the National Action Network, said in a statement that he had spoken to Jackson on Friday morning and "told him that we will continue to glean from him and learn from him and duplicate him in whatever our organizations and media platforms are. Because he has been an anchor for me and many others."

Sharpton called Jackson his mentor, adding: "The resignation of Rev. Jesse Jackson is the pivoting of one of the most productive, prophetic, and dominant figures in the struggle for social justice in American history."
Russia has a "sufficient stockpile" of cluster bombs and the right to use them if cluster munitions are used against its forces in Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin told Russian TV Sunday. Ukraine has pledged to only deploy the munitions it received from the United States to repel enemy soldiers from Ukrainian territory. Cluster munitions are banned in more than 100 countries.

The Russian state has assumed control of the Russian subsidiaries of French yogurt maker Danone's DANO.PA and Danish beer company Carlsberg's CARLb.CO as a retaliatory move after Western countries froze assets of Russian companies abroad.

The U.N.-brokered grain deal that has allowed Ukrainian exports through the Black Sea  is set to expire late Monday. The deal remains in limbo as Putin has not yet said if he will agree to renew it.

Fighting in eastern Ukraine "somewhat intensified" as Ukrainian and Russian forces clashed in at least three areas on the eastern front, Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar said Sunday on the messaging app Telegram.

Ukrainian forces claim they are making steady progress along the northern and southern flanks of the war-ravaged city of Bakhmut, which Russian forces have occupied since May.

Battles are also raging along the southern front in Zaporizhzhia, where Ukrainian forces are making minimal gains against formidable Russian fortifications.

Maliar recently claimed that Kyiv's forces had destroyed six Russian ammunition depots in the space of 24 hours, a remark that hinted at Ukrainian tactics.

"We inflict effective, painful and precise blows and bleed the occupier, for whom the lack of ammunition and fuel will sooner or later become fatal," she said.

Logistics

British Admiral Tony Radakin, chief of the U.K.s defense staff, said that Ukraines first goal is to starve Russian units of supplies and reinforcements by attacking logistic and command centers in the rear and then storm through when the front lines collapse.

I would describe it as a policy of starve, stretch and strike, Radakin told a British parliamentary committee.

Radakin said that Ukraine lacks vital air cover for its attacks. Kyiv has won pledges from its Western allies of F-16 fighter jets, but they arent expected until next year. Ukraine is also asking for long-range weapons and more ammunition.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Sunday in an interview with state television that Ukraines operation was "not succeeding" and that attempts to break through Russian defenses had failed.

In an interview with ABCs This Week TV program, White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said Ukraines counteroffensive was never expected to be quick and easy. We said before this counteroffensive started that it would be hard going, and its been hard going. Thats the nature of war. But the Ukrainians are continuing to move forward, he said.

Watch related video by Veronica Balderas Iglesias:

One man was killed, and several people were wounded Sunday in Russian shelling of a district of Kharkiv, in eastern Ukraine local officials said.

Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov said on Telegram that seven people were injured in the shelling of the southern Osnovyanskyi district of the city. Reuters could not independently confirm details of the attack and casualty figures.

Vyacheslav Gladkov, the governor of Russia's Belgorod region, said Sunday that Ukrainian forces had shelled the Russian town of Shebekino about 5 kilometers (3 miles) from the Ukrainian border with Grad missiles, killing a woman riding her bike.

Both Russia and Ukraine have denied targeting civilians.

Black Sea grain initiative

The last ship to travel under a U.N.-brokered grain deal that allows the safe Black Sea export of Ukrainian grain left the port of Odesa early Sunday ahead of the initiatives expiration deadline Monday.

Putin is remaining silent about a possible extension of the deal.

In a phone call Saturday with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Putin discussed "the need for a permanent and sustainable solution to the movement of grain from Russia and Ukraine to the international markets, according to the South African presidents office. No further details were provided.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has asked Putin to extend the deal in return for connecting a subsidiary of Russia's agricultural bank, Rosselkhozbank, to the SWIFT international payment system, but he has not received a reply, according to a U.N. spokesperson Friday.

Discussions are being had, WhatsApp messages are being sent, Signal messages are being sent and exchanged. We're also waiting for a response to the letter, U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric told reporters when asked about the negotiations.

Russia has said it would agree to extend the grain deal only if its conditions are met regarding implementation.

Some information for this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.
A Mexican journalist was shot dead in a store parking lot on Saturday in the southern tourist town of Acapulco, regional authorities said, the country's second journalist to be killed in a week.

Prosecutors said they have opened an investigation into the killing of Nelson Matus for homicide with a firearm, days after another journalist was found dead in a country considered one of the most dangerous in the world for members of the press.

Matus, the director of news outlet Lo Real de Guerrero, was shot as he was getting into his car in a thrift shop parking lot.

The Guerrero state prosecutor's office said in a statement that it "reiterates its commitment to exhaust every line of investigation" into his death.

Matus had worked as a journalist for 15 years, specializing in covering violence in the country, Mexico delegate for press freedom organization Reporters Without Borders Balbina Flores told AFP.

More than 150 journalists have been killed in Mexico since 2000, according to the group, in attacks that are often linked to powerful drug cartels.

Guerrero state is facing particularly high levels of violence, making journalists there more vulnerable, Flores said.

"Most of the journalists from that state have been displaced" to other regions or abroad because they have been victims of attacks and death threats, she said.

The body of fellow journalist Luis Martin Sanchez, a correspondent for La Jornada newspaper, was found this week "with signs of violence," officials said, after he had been reported missing.

La Jornada, a leftist newspaper founded in 1985 in Mexico City, has already lost two of its most widely known correspondents: Miroslava Breach, killed in Chihuahua in March 2017, and Javier Valdez, who was also a contributor to AFP, murdered in Sinaloa in May of the same year.

Sanchez was one of three active or former journalists who had been abducted in the western state of Nayarit, the prosecutor's office said in a statement.

His body turned up in a village near the state capital Tepic with two cardboard messages pinned to his chest, the office added, without specifying what the messages said.

Another former journalist, Osiris Maldonado de la Paz, was kidnapped from his home in the town of Xalisco this month, while a third kidnapped journalist was later found alive.

According to the government, there were 13 killings of journalists reported in Mexico in 2022 alone. Most crimes against journalists remain unpunished.

Dozens of journalists held demonstrations in Mexico City and other areas following Sanchez's death, calling for justice.

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights condemned his murder and called for a "prompt, thorough, independent and effective" investigation.
Myanmars armed resistance groups are asking the U.S. government for over half a billion dollars in humanitarian and nonlethal aid to help them oust the countrys military regime, including money for drones, armored vehicles and radar jamming gear.

Using another name for Myanmar, the U.S. Congress passed the Burma Unification through Rigorous Military Accountability Act, or BURMA, Act, in December as part of a sweeping defense budget for the 2023 fiscal year, which runs through September. The act authorizes the U.S. government to help armed groups resisting the junta with nonlethal assistance but did not assign any funding.

Some of those groups are now asking Congress to appropriate $525 million for Myanmar for the next fiscal year, including $200 million for nonlethal aid. The total would be nearly four times the $136 million approved for Myanmar last year for general aid and development.

The request comes from Myanmars National Unity Government, a shadow administration run from hiding and exile vying to oust the junta, and a trio of allied ethnic minority rebel armies. Along with hundreds of smaller, local militias, they are believed to have full or contested control of roughly half Myanmars countryside.

The NUG told VOA it has sent its proposed appropriations language, seen by VOA, to the appropriations committees of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives but would not elaborate on their response. The chairs and senior minority members of the committees either refused VOAs request for comment or did not reply.

Everything but arms

The groups have been asking Western countries for military aid but so far been denied.

That has left them heavily outgunned by a military that has reportedly imported some $1 billion in arms and arms-making material since toppling the countrys elected government in a February 2021 coup. Most of it has come from Russia, China and Singapore.

Still, a big boost in humanitarian and nonlethal aid to the resistance would go far in helping it gain ground, said Sasa, the NUGs minister of international cooperation, who goes by one name.

With the $525 million they are asking for, that means [the] pro-democracy movement will be hugely advanced and that we will weaken the military junta in a very, very big way, he told VOA.

The draft language would allocate most of the $525 million to helping the more than 1.5 million people displaced by the fighting and to setting up a new government on the ground to replace the junta, the State Administration Council.

The drones, vehicles and radar gear would come from the $200 million in proposed nonlethal aid, along with telecommunications hardware, real-time satellite data, engineering and construction equipment, and military medical supplies.

Sasa said the figures were carefully calibrated to be both realistic and strategic in helping them achieve their top three goals of ousting the junta, creating a representative federal democracy and helping displaced people.

Its impossible to divert from those three main priorities because that is the reason why the people of Myanmar are fighting, that is the reason and the main objective that we are giving our life [for], that is to remove the military from power so that we can establish a federal democratic system, he said.

From farm to front

More than 30,000 people are estimated to have died from the fighting since the coup, including over 3,000 civilians.

Marwi, a militia leader in eastern Myanmars Karenni state who uses a nom de guerre for his and his familys safety, is especially keen for military-grade telecommunications and drones.

An organic farmer before the coup, he is now second secretary and deputy chief battalion commander of the Karenni National Defense Force, a volunteer militia fighting the junta.

The commercial-grade telecommunications equipment his units use now is easily jammed by the military during attacks, Marwi said.

When they ... jam, we cannot communicate with each other, so we cannot send our information to our teams who are on the front line or who are in the middle or who are in the back. Sometimes very important information cannot reach them very quickly, he told VOA.

If we have good communication devices and also services, that would be really helpful for this revolution, not only for [armed] forces but also for the community like villages, because SAC, they are striking [with] artillery and air force everywhere, not only the war active zone but also local people residence areas such as village, church, school, marketplace.

He said more and better drones and satellite data would help them detect military troop positions and movements, to avoid attacks on their own positions and to clear civilians out of harms way. Body armor and ballistic helmets, he added, could help save their lives in a firefight.

Sasa also stressed the need for early-warning radar equipment to help them spot and avoid oncoming air strikes, which the junta has been using to increasingly devastating and deadly effect as the fighting grinds on.

Tilting the balance

The U.S. Congress is still in the midst of the appropriations process for fiscal 2024.

Whatever amount it settles on for Myanmar, it is unlikely the final appropriations bill will dedicate a specific dollar amount for the BURMA Act and nonlethal assistance, Michael Martin, an adjunct fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington think tank, told VOA.

He said those details are more likely to be left to the executive branch, mainly the State Department.

While U.S.-supplied body armor, radar gear and military vehicles have gone to Syria and Ukraine as nonlethal aid, Martin said, sources familiar with the State Departments discussions over Myanmar have told him they were still debating how to apply the term to the BURMA Act.

Everything on that list is dual-use, so it really comes down to the willingness of the provider and their risk tolerance and how much theyre hoping to tilt the balance in the battlefield, said Zachary Abuza, a professor at the National War College in Washington.

The same radio gear that helps a village evade a military attack, for instance, could help militias coordinate an attack of their own on the military.

It is unclear how successful the push will be.

Both Abuza and Martin said the groups are unlikely to get most of what they are asking for. Abuza said Myanmars resistance has no powerful champions in the White House, State Department or Congress to push hard for its cause and that the U.S. was anyway preoccupied with the war in Ukraine and competition with China.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was released from the hospital Sunday, after having a heart monitoring device implanted.

A hospital statement said all of the prime ministers medical test results were normal, including the tests on his heart. The monitoring device was installed, the hospital said, to allow Netanyahus medical team to continue regular monitoring.

The 73-year-old politician was admitted to Sheba Medical Center in Ramat Gan on Saturday for apparent dehydration.

Later Saturday, the prime minister issued a video statement from the hospital, saying, I feel really well.

He urged people to spend less time in the sun and drink more water.

Netanyahu was on a vacation at the Sea of Galilee where the temperature reached 38 Celsius or 100.4 Fahrenheit.

The prime minister was reported to have experienced dizziness after several hours in the sun.

Israels weekly Sunday cabinet meeting has been rescheduled for Monday.
Tens of thousands of protesters packed the streets of Tel Aviv on Saturday night, marking the 28th straight week of demonstrations against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's plan to overhaul the country's judiciary. Protest leaders promised further "days of disruption" ahead.

Netanyahu's government gave initial approval to a key portion of the overhaul earlier this week, breathing new life into the grassroots movement. The bill still needs to be approved in two more votes, expected by the end of the month, before it becomes law.

Saturday night protests have become a mainstay of the grassroots movement  but this week's was larger than usual.

In Tel Aviv, protesters unrolled a massive banner reading "SOS." They threw paint powder into the sky, streaking it pink and orange.

"Handmaids"  women dressed in red robes as characters from the dystopian novel and TV series "The Handmaid's Tale"  once again took to the streets. Their jarring appearance is meant to drive home the notion that, if the overhaul passes, women could be stripped of their rights.

On Tuesday, protesters blocked major highways and disrupted operations at the country's main international airport after Netanyahu's parliamentary coalition advanced a bill that is part of the overhaul. Organizers said they would hold another "day of disruption" on Tuesday if he continues to move ahead with the plan.

Saturday's protest in Tel Aviv was joined by others across the country. Protesters brandished lit torches outside Netanyahu's home in Jerusalem and demonstrated in the coastal cities of Herzliya and Netanya.

After more than six months of protests, the movement shows little sign of abating. Israel's national labor union and its medical association have joined a long list of groups speaking out against the bill. Military reservists, fighter pilots and business leaders have all urged the government to halt the plan.

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.

The Israeli Medical Association, which represents 90% of Israeli physicians, joined the Histadrut on Friday, voting to "employ all available means, including significant organizational measures" to oppose the bill.

The overhaul calls for giving Netanyahu's allies control over the appointment of judges and giving parliament power to overturn court decisions. The Netanyahu government 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 fewer than 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.
A rebel group has killed at least 11 people in northeastern Congo, a local official said Sunday.

Isaac Kibira, a deputy to the governor of the Bwito area in North Kivu, said the victims were killed by M23, a rebel group the United Nations says has links to neighboring Rwanda. Rwanda denies the accusation.

M23 rose to prominence 10 years ago when its fighters seized Goma, eastern Congo's largest city on the border with Rwanda. It derives its name from a March 23, 2009, peace deal that it accuses the Congo government of not implementing.

The bodies of 11 civilians were discovered Sunday morning, left in two neat rows in the grass. M23 had occupied the area since Tuesday, according to Paris-based research group Sahel Intelligence, before withdrawing.

M23 is one of more than 120 armed groups fighting in eastern Congo, most of whom are vying for land and control of mines with valuable minerals, while others are trying to protect their communities from rival armed groups.

Last week's armed occupation in the Bwito region forced hundreds of people out of their homes and into neighboring communities, adding to what the U.N. estimates are 5.5 million people displaced within Congo due to violence.
South Korean emergency workers have pulled at least nine bodies from a flooded tunnel in the central city of Cheongju, officials said Sunday.

Authorities said at least 15 vehicles, including a bus, had been trapped in the flooded underpass.

Seo Jeong-il, head of the west Cheongju fire station, said workers are continuing to search the tunnel.

"We are focusing on the search operation as there's likely more people there," Seo said.

Heavy rains in recent days have forced thousands of South Koreans to evacuate their homes and have left thousands more households without electricity.

The heavy downpours have triggered landslides and flash floods.
Syrians who fled President Bashar al-Assad's rule fear he may soon be able to choke off badly needed aid as Damascus acts to establish sway over U.N. assistance into the rebel-held northwest, the last major bastion of the Syrian opposition.

A tussle at the U.N. Security Council over the aid operation has played to Assad's advantage, with his ally Russia vetoing an extension of its mandate this week and paving the way for Damascus to approve one itself - but on its terms.

Aid workers said the outlook for one of the world's biggest humanitarian operations had been thrown into doubt, with Syria's demands for "full cooperation and coordination" raising fears of big complications ahead for their work.

Ever since we heard about the decision, all the families in the camp have been lost, confused, scared," Abu Ahmad Obeid, a father of seven who has lived in a camp in the northwest since fleeing his home in government-controlled territory in 2018, told Reuters by telephone from the region.

"We rely on that aid for everything  medical support, food, everything," he said.

Khalid al-Idlibi, 27, who fled his home in 2019, said by phone that Assad "is the person responsible for the tragedy of these people, so how will he be responsible for the aid?"

People poured into the northwest from all over Syria as Assad, backed by Russia and Iran, seized back rebel enclaves in the latter stages of the civil war that erupted in 2011.

The northwest is home to 4.5 million people, 2.9 million of whom were displaced during a shattering conflict that has killed hundreds of thousands of people since it spiralled out of anti-government protests that were met by deadly force.

Some 2 million live in camps, the U.N. says.

NGOs and individual states have long organised unilateral aid convoys into the northwest. But U.N. agencies will not cross the border without government or Security Council approval, which lapsed on Monday as members struggled to convince Russia to extend the operation for more than six months.

Damascus then gave the nod for the operation to continue via the Bab al-Hawa border crossing from Turkey for six months. Damascus has long rejected the operation as a violation of sovereignty, saying aid should be delivered from within Syria.

For Assad, it marks the latest in a series of developments that have gone his way on the international stage, after fellow Arab states brought him back in from the cold.

The move is seen to offer him a potential source of leverage over Western states that largely finance aid operations, and gives him a way to put pressure on a rebellious region which is held by armed groups that have fought to topple him.

'Worst-case scenario'

"This is a worst-case scenario," said Abdelsalam Daif, senior strategy adviser at Syria Relief & Development, a U.S.-based aid organisation.

"If this is in the regime's hands, then the regime could stop it at any time. It is trying to erase everything that was built over the last 10 years and take it into its own hands."

The Syrian government did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment on the concerns raised.

In a letter to the U.N. secretary general announcing its decision, Syria said it wanted to improve "humanitarian and living conditions of all Syrians" and to smooth aid deliveries.

The letter also stipulated that U.N. staff members would be barred from communicating with "terrorist organizations and groups and their affiliated illegal administrative entities".

This included an opposition government affiliated with the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group, formerly a branch of al Qaeda. The U.N. already designates HTS as a terrorist organisation.

But a lack of clarity in the letter about what constitutes a terrorist organisation is one source of concern for aid workers.

Damascus has broadly described anyone fighting it as a terrorist, while also applying the term to other organisations operating in rebel-held territory, such as rescue workers.

"Based on past examples ... we are concerned about how these will be interpreted," said Sherine Ibrahim, Turkey country director for CARE, who works on cross-border aid deliveries.

"We are deeply concerned by the implications of the non-renewal of the cross-border aid mechanism," she said, adding that the full impact would become known in the coming weeks.

Syria's letter said the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC) would be allowed to distribute aid in the country's northwest.

This also presents complications. The HTS has refused to collaborate with SARC in previous offers of aid, notably following the February earthquake.

ICRC media adviser Jessica Moussan told Reuters the ICRC does not conduct cross-border aid in Syria under U.N. auspices, but stood "ready to support in ways that fall within our capabilities and in coordination with all actors on the ground".
Tourists are waiting more than two hours to visit the Acropolis in Athens. Taxi lines at Romes main train station are running just as long. And so many visitors are concentrating around St. Marks Square in Venice that crowds get backed up crossing bridges  even on weekdays.

After three years of pandemic limitations, tourism is expected to exceed 2019 records in some of Europes most popular destinations this summer, from Barcelona and Rome, Athens and Venice to the scenic islands of Santorini in Greece, Capri in Italy and Mallorca in Spain.

While European tourists edged the industry toward recovery last year, the upswing this summer is led largely by Americans, boosted by a strong dollar and in some cases pandemic savings. Many arrive motivated by revenge tourism  so eager to explore again that they're undaunted by higher airfares and hotel costs.

Lauren Gonzalez, 25, landed in Rome this week with four high school and college friends for a 16-day romp through the Italian capital, Florence and the seaside after three years of U.S. vacations. They arent concerned about the high prices and the crowds.

We kind of saved up, and we know this is a trip that is meaningful," said Gonzalez, who works at a marketing agency. We are all in our mid-20s. Its a (moment of) change in our lives. ... This is something special. The crowds dont deter us. We live in Florida. We have all been to Disney World in the heat. We are all good.

Americans appear equally unperturbed by recent riots in Paris and other French cities. There was a small drop in flight bookings, but it was mainly for domestic travel.



Some of my friends said, Its a little crazy there right now, but we thought summer is really a good time for us to go, so well just take precautions," Joanne Titus, a 38-year-old from Maryland, said while strolling the iconic Champs-Elysees shopping boulevard.

The return of mass tourism is a boon to hotels and restaurants, which suffered under COVID-19 restrictions. But there is a downside, too, as pledges to rethink tourism to make it more sustainable have largely gone unheeded.

The pandemic should have taught us a lesson," said Alessandra Priante, director of the regional department for Europe at the U.N. World Tourism Organization.

Instead, she said, the mindset is about recuperating the cash. Everything is about revenue, about the here and now."

We have to see what is going to happen in two or three years time because the prices at the moment are unsustainable, she said.

The mayor of Florence is stopping new short-term apartment rentals from proliferating in the historic center, which is protected as a UNESCO heritage site, as mayors of Italys other art cities call for a nationwide law to manage the sector.

Elsewhere, the anti-mass tourism movements that were active before the pandemic have not reappeared, but the battle lines are still being drawn: graffiti misdirected tourists in Barcelona away from  instead of toward  the Gaudi-designed Park Guell.

Despite predictable pockets of overtourism, travel to and within Europe overall is still down 10% from 2019, according to the World Tourism Organization. That is partly due to fewer people visiting countries close to the war in Ukraine, including Lithuania, Finland, Moldova and Poland.

In addition, Chinese visitors have not fully returned, with flights from China and other Asia-Pacific countries down 45% from 2019, according to travel data company ForwardKeys.

Tourism-dependent Greece expects 30 million visitors this year, still shy of 2019's 34 million record. Still, the number of flights are up so far, and tourist hotspots are taking the brunt.

The Culture Ministry will introduce a new ticketing system for the Acropolis this month, providing hourly slots for visitors to even out crowds. But no remedy is being discussed for the parking line of cruise ships on the islands of Mykonos and Santorini on busy mornings.

Spains tourism minister, Hector Gomez, called it a historic summer for tourism," with 8.2 million tourists arriving in May alone, breaking records for a second straight month. Still, some hotel groups say reservations slowed in the first weeks of summer, owing to the steep rise in prices for flights and rooms.

Costs are growing as flights from the U.S. to Europe are up 2% from 2019 levels, according to ForwardKeys.



The rising appetite for long-haul travel from America is the continued result of the revenge travel boom caused by the pandemic lockdowns, said Tim Hentschel, CEO of HotelPlanner, a booking site. Big cities within these popular European countries are certainly going to be busy during the summer."

Americans have pushed arrivals in Italian bucket-list destinations like Rome, Florence, Venice and Capri above pre-pandemic levels, according to Italys hotel association, Federalberghi.

They bring a lot of pent-up buying power: U.S. tourists in Italy spent 74% more in tax-free indulgences in the first three months of the year, compared with same period of 2019.

Then there is the rest of Italy that lives from Italian and European tourism, and at the moment, it is still under 2019 levels," Federalberghi president Bernabo Bocca said.

He expects it will take another year for an across-the-board recovery. An economic slowdown discouraged German arrivals, while Italians are less prone to spending this year," he said.

And wallets will be stretched. Lodging costs in Florence rose 53% over last year, while Venice saw a 25% increase and Rome a 21% hike, according to the Italian consumer group Codacons.

Even gelato will cost a premium 21% over last year, due to higher sugar and milk prices.

Perhaps nothing has encouraged the rise in tourism in key spots more than a surge in short-term apartment rentals. With hotel room numbers constant, Bocca of Federalberghi blames the surge for the huge crowds in Rome, inflating taxi lines and crowding crosswalks so that city buses cannot continue their routes.

In Rome and Florence, walking down the street, out of every building door, emerges a tourist with a suitcase, he said.

While Florence's mayor is limiting the number of short-term rentals in the historic center to 8,000, no action has been taken in Venice. The canal-lined city counts 49,432 residents in its historic center and 49,272 tourist beds, nearly half of those being apartments available for short-term rental.

Inconveniences are daily," said Giacomo Salerno, a researcher at Venice's Ca' Foscari University focusing on tourism.

It difficult to walk down streets clogged with visitors or take public water buses saturated with tourists with their suitcases, he said.

Students cannot find affordable housing because owners prefer to cash in with vacation rentals. The dwindling number of residents means a dearth of services, including a lack of family doctors largely due to the high cost of living, driven up by tourist demand.

Venice has delayed plans to charge day-trippers a tax to enter the city, meant to curb arrivals. But activists like Salerno say that will do little to resolve the issue of a declining population and encroaching tourists, instead cementing Venice's fate as an amusement park.

It would be like saying the only use for the city is touristic," Salerno said.
White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan predicted Sunday that the Democratic-controlled Senate would strip out controversial social policies from the countrys annual defense spending measure approved by the Republican-dominated House of Representatives.

The House last week narrowly approved the $886-billion defense package for the fiscal year starting in October, but acceded to demands from hardline conservative lawmakers to add provisions to limit abortion access for some service members while cutting transgender care and diversity training.

SEE ALSO: House Passes Defense Spending Bill That Limits Abortion, Halts Diversity Efforts Normally, there is wide, politically bipartisan support in Washington for the annual defense spending measure, but the social policy amendments cast doubt on quick agreement before sending the bill to President Joe Biden for his signature. The Senate is considering its version of the legislation this week and then lawmakers would have to reach a compromise between the competing pieces of legislation.

Sullivan told CNNs State of the Union show that the House-passed version is never getting to the presidents desk.

This should be an area where politics stops and national security starts, he said. In the end, I believe wisdom will survive.

The U.S. Congress has for six decades reached broad agreement on defense spending, viewing it as a national security issue for the protection of the country. But a small group of House Republican hardliners forced a vote on the social policies they want ended at the Pentagon.

With the Supreme Court a year ago overturning the national right to abortion, some states have enacted virtually total bans on the procedure. As a result, the Defense Department said that when any women stationed at military bases in states where abortion is illegal wanted to have abortion, it would pay for travel and medical expenses for the women to travel to a state where the procedure remains legal.

Republican Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas told Fox News Sunday that if the Pentagon policy is ended, military women stationed in abortion ban states could still get an abortion by paying for it themselves and take part of their annual leave for the procedure.

The House-passed measure, known as the National Defense Authorization Act, sets U.S. defense policies for 2024 and is considered must-pass legislation. It was approved on a nearly party-line vote, 219-210. Aside from the abortion amendment, it would also curb transgender health care access and target diversity and inclusion programs in military recruitment efforts.

The bill includes a 5.2% pay increase for service members. It includes provisions to counter Chinas influence and improve the overall U.S. military readiness and missile defense capabilities.

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy defended passage of the measure, saying Republicans did exactly what we had said we would do, to force the Biden administration to stop using taxpayer money to do their own wokeism.

A military cannot defend themselves if you train them in woke, he added.

Democrats assailed passage of the Republican-backed amendments.

Representative Hakeem Jeffries, the House minority leader, said supporters of former President Donald Trump have hijacked a bipartisan bill that is essential to our national security and taken it over and weaponized it in order to jam their extreme right-wing ideology down the throats of the American people.

On another national security issue, Sullivan said on CBSs Face the Nation show that U.S. officials remain concerned that North Korea will conduct another intercontinental ballistic missile test.

"I have been concerned for some time that North Korea would conduct what would be its seventh nuclear test," Sullivan said.

"I don't see any immediate indications that's going to happen, but it would not come as a surprise if North Korea moves forward with another test with respect to its intercontinental ballistic missile capability," he said.
Teachers and students from five mainland universities arrive at the Taoyuan International Airport, southeast China's Taiwan, July 15, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua]

A group of 37 teachers and students from five mainland universities arrived at the Taoyuan International Airport on Saturday, starting a visit to Taiwan for exchanges.

The group visit, led by the Party chief of Peking University Hao Ping, marks the first one made by mainland universities to the island for exchanges over more than three years.

At the invitation of the Taiwan-based Ma Ying-jeou Foundation, the mainland visitors will have exchanges with their peers from universities on the island, including Taiwan University and Chengchi University.

Hao said this trip will promote friendship between young people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait and will advance cross-Strait exchanges in education and culture.

The group was greeted by Hsiao Hsu-tsen, executive director of the Ma Ying-jeou Foundation, at the airport. Hsiao called for more interactions of young people, as the future across the Strait lies with the young generation.

According to the schedule, the trip will include stops in Taipei, Taichung, New Taipei, Hsinchu, and Hualien. The group will pay a visit to the TSMC Museum of Innovation in Hsinchu on Saturday afternoon.

From late March to early April this year, Ma Ying-jeou led a group of Taiwan students to the mainland and had discussions at three universities, during which Ma repeatedly expressed the hope that teachers and students from mainland universities could also go to Taiwan for exchanges.
As much of the world swelters in record temperatures, spare a thought for Issam Genedi, who ekes out a living washing cars in one of the planet's hottest regions, the Gulf.

Pausing from his work at an outdoor carpark in Dubai, the Egyptian migrant says the United Arab Emirates' furnace-like summer feels even hotter this year.

"This summer is a little more difficult than other years," says Genedi, who shines cars for about 25 dirhams ($6.80) a time in temperatures that pass 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) each day.

"Between noon and 3 p.m. or 3:30 p.m., we simply cannot work."

The oil-rich UAE  host of this year's COP28 United Nations climate talks, where the world will try to sharpen its response to global warming  is no stranger to unbearable summers.

In the blistering summer months, those who can decamp to cooler climes, or stay cocooned inside air-conditioned homes, offices and shopping malls.

The streets are largely deserted, apart from laborers hired cheaply from abroad. Many manual workers have a compulsory rest period in the hottest hours of the day.

It's a similar story all around the energy-rich desert region. In Bahrain, an island nation off Saudi Arabia, July average temperatures threaten to beat the record of 42.1C (107.8F) set in 2017.

Two weeks ago, more than 1.8 million Muslims battled through a days-long hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia in temperatures up to 48C (118F), with thousands treated for heat stress.

And in Kuwait, which regularly records some of the world's highest temperatures, experts warn the mercury could pass a formidable 50C (122F) in the coming weeks.

Where 'real feel' is 60C

Genedi is right that this summer seems unusually hot. Apart from last week being identified as the hottest ever recorded worldwide, a wave of humidity has been suffocating the Gulf.

"People have been left wondering if the temperatures are even higher" than usual, Ahmed Habib of the UAE's National Centre of Meteorology told AFP.

"An increase in relative humidity ... combined with already high temperatures, makes the temperature seem higher than it really is," he said, adding that "real-feel" temperatures have ranged between 55-60C (131-140 F) in some areas.

The Gulf's extreme heat and high humidity are a dangerous mix because, in such conditions, the human body struggles to cool itself by evaporating sweat on the skin.

The combination is measured by a thermometer wrapped in a wet cloth to calculate the "wet bulb temperature"  the lowest possible through evaporative cooling.

The Gulf is one of the few places to have repeatedly measured wet bulb temperatures above 35C (95F), the threshold of human survivability beyond which heat stress can be fatal within hours, regardless of age, health and fitness.

It is for this reason that experts warn accelerated climate change will make parts of the Gulf region unliveable by the end of this century.

In Kuwait, meteorologist Issa Ramadan said "the increase in temperature over the past year has been significant."

"It is expected that from the middle of the month until August 20 there will be a noticeable rise in temperatures that may reach and even exceed 50C (122F) in the shade," he told AFP.

Humidity could top 90% in Bahrain by the end of the week, with maximum temperatures ranging between 42-44C (108-111F), according to official forecasts.

'Our profession is difficult'

Gulf temperatures will rise to disruptive levels if global warming is left unchecked, according to projections by Barrak Alahmad of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and Dominic Roye of the Foundation for Climate Research.

In the UAE's capital Abu Dhabi, the number of 40C-plus (104F-plus) days will rise by 98% by 2100 if global temperatures increase by 3C, according to the findings published in June by Vital Signs, a coalition of rights groups working on migrant laborer deaths in the Gulf.

The same 3C global increase will see Kuwait, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia experiencing 180 days of 40C-plus temperatures a year by the end of the century, it said.

"These conditions could seriously disrupt human societies in ways we are just beginning to understand," Alahmad told the Vital Signs Partnership.

Intense heat and humidity is already a daily reality for many in the Gulf, not least the thousands of mostly South Asian delivery motorcyclists who crisscross its cities carrying food and other packages.
Following the Supreme Court's decision to effectively kill Bidens earlier student debt forgiveness proposal, the White House is trying again to ease the burden on those carrying student loans using a different legal approach.

Biden's original plan would have canceled up to $20,000 in federal student loans for 43 million people. Of those, 20 million would have had their remaining student debt erased completely.

With repayments set to begin in October, many borrowers are wondering if they still have to pay. Here's what to know about where the new Biden plan stands.

What is the new plan and how is it different?

Under the proposed approach, the White House is now planning to use the Higher Education Act of 1965  a sweeping federal law that governs the student loan program  to bring about relief for student borrowers.

Biden said the authority of the act will provide the best path that remains to provide as many borrowers as possible with debt relief.

The law includes a provision giving the education secretary authority to compromise, waive or release student loans.

In its previous attempt to forgive student loans, Biden's White House appealed to a bipartisan 2003 law dealing with national emergencies, known as the HEROES Act, for the authority to cancel the debt. The court's 6-3 decision, with conservative justices in the majority, said the administration needed Congress endorsement before undertaking so costly a program.

Who will be eligible and how much debt will be canceled?

So far, it remains unclear which loan holders will qualify and how much of their debt will be forgiven. To figure it out, the Education Department will go through a process known as negotiated rulemaking.

Should borrowers still make loan payments?

Hours after the Supreme Court decision, President Joe Biden announced a 12-month grace period to help borrowers who struggle after payments restart. Biden said borrowers can and should make payments during the first 12 months after payments resume, but, if they dont, they wont be at risk of default and it wont hurt their credit scores. Interest will resume in September, however, and it will accrue whether borrowers make payments or not. Biden reiterated that it is not the same as the student loan pause, adding that if you can pay your monthly bills, you should.

Experts at the Student Borrower Protection Center and Institute of Student Loan Advisors encourage borrowers not to begin to make payments again until the fall, when interest starts up again and the pause lifts, since there is no penalty for not doing so during the freeze. Instead, any savings that would have gone to payments can earn interest in those remaining few months.

Finally, after the year-long grace period, if youre in a short-term financial bind, you may qualify for deferment or forbearance  allowing you to temporarily suspend payment.

To determine whether deferment or forbearance are good options for you, contact your loan servicer. One thing to note: Interest still accrues during deferment or forbearance. Both can also affect future loan forgiveness options. Depending on the conditions of your deferment or forbearance, it may make sense to continue paying the interest during the payment suspension.

Following the year-long on-ramp offered by the Biden administration, if you dont make student loan payments, youll risk delinquency and default, which will harm your credit score and potentially lock you out of other aid and benefits down the line.

What about declaring bankruptcy?

The Biden administration is also working to make a clearer path for borrowers considering bankruptcy.

In November, the Justice Department announced a process with new guidelines for students with federal loans who are unable to pay. Under the new guidance, debtors will fill out an attestation form, which the government will use to determine whether or not to recommend a discharge of debt. If borrowers expenses exceed their income and other criteria are met, the government will be more likely to recommend a full or partial discharge of loans.

How soon could the new plan happen?

Get ready to wait.

The overall idea is to create a new federal rule by gathering together lots of people with different views and hashing out the details. The goal is to reach a consensus, but the Education Department doesnt need it to move forward.

Its possible the Biden administration will go through the process, fail to reach a consensus but still proceed with whatever it decides is the best cancellation plan.

Still, this could take a long time. The absolute minimum for something like this would be about a year, according to Michael Brickman, who was part of multiple rounds of negotiated rulemaking as an education official for the Trump administration. Theres bureaucratic red tape to navigate, and the process is designed to slow things down and force a deliberate negotiation.

The process of negotiated rulemaking requires a period for written feedback from the public, a public hearing (a virtual hearing is scheduled for July 18) and negotiating sessions.

Given that the administration is just starting the process, Brickman said its possible it could take up to two years.

Asked why the Education Department didnt try this route from the start, Secretary Miguel Cardona acknowledged Friday that it does take longer.

Is this plan on firmer legal ground?

Thats up for debate.

In a 2021 memo, the former top education lawyer for the Obama administration cast doubt on the presidents authority to enact mass student loan cancellation. The memo, from Charlie Rose, first reported by The Wall Street Journal and obtained by the AP, warned that the more persuasive analyses tend to support the conclusion that the Executive Branch likely does not have the unilateral authority to engage in mass student debt cancellation. Instead, it found that the education secretarys authority is limited to case-by-case review and, in some cases, only to nonperforming loans."

Some advocates had been urging Biden go this route all along, and the White House says its confident the plan will work. But its almost certain to face legal challenges. The Education Department has used the Higher Education Act to cancel student loans before, but never at the scale being discussed now. Backers including Sen. Elizabeth Warren have said the legal authority is clear, but lawyers for the Trump administration concluded in 2021 that mass student loan forgiveness was illegal. It could wind up being a gray area that courts need to sort out.

Brickman, who is now an adjunct fellow at AEI, a conservative think tank, predicts a similar fate to Bidens previous plan. The Supreme Court has told them no, and yet theyre undeterred, he said. Im sure theres a population out there that really admires that. But at some point the Constitution is the Constitution, and you have to just kind of accept that.
Amnesty International says the new Criminal Law (Codification and Reform Amendment Act, commonly referred to as the Patriotic Act will violate most freedoms in Zimbabwe.

In a statement posted on its website, Amnesty Internationals deputy director for Southern Africa, Khanyo Farise, is quoted as saying the signing of the Patriotic Bill into an Act by the President is a grave attack on the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association.

The enactment of the Bill is stronger evidence that the Zimbabwean authorities are bent on further shrinking civic space and silencing dissent.

Farise urge President Mnangagwa to reverse his decision and immediately ensure the repeal of the law to demonstrate the commitment of his government to human rights.

He said. His government must fully and effectively respect, protect, promote and fulfil the rights of everyone to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and association.

The Act fails to meet the requirements of legality, proportionality, and necessity. The penalties provided by the Act include loss of citizenship, denial of the right to vote and the death penalty. Imposing these penalties on people simply for peacefully exercising their human rights is patently unconstitutional and incompatible with Zimbabwes international human rights obligations.

Civic society groups, some developed nation and others have expressed their concern over the enactment of the new law, saying Mnangagwas government is degenerating into a pariah state.

Nhlanhla Moses Ncube, secretary general of Freedom Alliance, said Mnangagwa is creating a one-party state in Zimbabwe which should be resisted by all progressive nationals.

Ncube said its strange that the Zimbabwean government does not want to be criticized by anyone.

They criticize other governments but dont want to hear any criticism from locals and foreigners. This is very strange.

But Zanu PF activist say the law will prevent Zimbabweans from calling for sanctions against the ruling elite. The West imposed targeted sanction on Zanu PF officials over alleged election rigging and human rights violations.

Believe Gaule of the ruling party said the new law is good for our country as some locals always call for sanctions against Zimbabwe.

Gaule further said, Some of the so-call progressive countries never helped us during the war of liberation. Now they are calling for laws that suit them. We are a sovereign nation and can do what we think is right for our country. The West has its own problems. Let them address those problems and leave us alone.

The law has stiff provisions for people who willfully in jure the sovereignty and national interest of Zimbabwe and those that participate in meetings which call for the imposition of sanctions on the southern African nation.

Those found guilty may lose citizenship. Plotting to overthrow the government attracts the death penalty.
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If you were expecting a typical Hollywood rollout from Studio Ghiblis Hayao Miyazaki, oops. Maybe only in a world with an enchanted forest and fluffy monsters. How Do You Live?, Miyazakis final feature film, is getting a new name for its upcoming international release, now titled The Boy and the Heron for audiences outside of Japan. Keeping a similar tone to the Japanese release, the film distributed by GKIDS will not have any promotional materials, despite the film premiering in Japan this week. In an interview with the Japanese magazine Bungei Shunji earlier this year, the films producer (and Miyazakis longtime collaborator) Toshio Suzuki revealed that there would be no trailers, no voice cast lists, no nothing for their film. As part of company operations, over the years Ghibli has wanted people to come see the movies weve made. So weve thought about that and done a lot of different things for that purpose  but this time we were like, Eh, we dont need to do that, Suzuki explained. Doing the same thing youve done before, over and over, you get tired of it. So we wanted to do something different.

GKIDS is honored to announce the acquisition of North American rights to THE BOY AND THE HERON, the new film from Hayao Miyazaki & Studio Ghibli.



Debuting in Japan as # (translated as How Do You Live), THE BOY AND THE HERON opens in N. American theatres 2023. pic.twitter.com/L4LFpbU2zP  GKIDS Films (@GKIDSfilms) July 14, 2023

Theres only so much we do know about the film: Its based on the 1937 novel of the same name by Genzaburo Yoshino and described as fantasy on a grand scale. Theres also a theme song to the film by Kenshi Yonezu called Spinning Globe available to stream, giving us a little bit of what the movies vibe might be like. But  thats it. If it is anything like Miyazakis other films, it will be fantastical and make us cry a little too hard. The Boy and the Heron came out on July 14 in Japan, and international release dates are coming soon through GKIDS in North America.
First Amendment experts say Epps has a viable case for defamation, one reminiscent of the lawsuit the network recently settled with Dominion Voting Systems for $US787.5 million ($1.1 billion), a case centred on numerous examples of false statements made on Fox News programs over an extended period. If Epps moves forward, the case would be another legal complication and reputational stain for the conservative network, which faces a growing list of lawsuits related to its airing of false claims about the 2020 election and its aftermath. They include a $US2.7 billion suit from a second voting technology company, Smartmatic, and two separate claims by Fox shareholders. Another lawsuit from a former producer for Carlson, which Fox settled on June 30 for $US12 million, alleged that he condoned and encouraged a toxic workplace. Loading A defamation suit by Epps would be further evidence of how Carlson continues to pose a headache for Fox well after the network relieved him of his anchoring duties. Fox executives took him off the air after his text messages, which became public as part of the Dominion suit, revealed he had expressed hateful and racist sentiments. On the air, his behaviour had begun to grate on senior Fox executives including Lachlan Murdoch, CEO of Fox Corp, who disliked Carlsons continued promotion of conspiracy theories about the January 6 riots, which had drawn rebukes from Republicans including Senator Mitch McConnell. On the day he was informed his show was cancelled, Carlson had been planning to run another segment on Epps, according to a tweet from an authorised biographer of the host, Chadwick Moore.

By design, defamation law tilts heavily in the news medias favour, making it difficult to be found liable for defaming public figures  who are often targets of media reporting  unless there is proof that the defendants either knew what they said was false or acted with a reckless disregard for the truth. Epps would be able to argue that Carlson repeatedly uttered statements about him from October 2021 to March 2023 that were baseless, or easily explained or contradicted by the facts reported in numerous news reports. His challenge is to get a judge, if he files the suit, to say this was so inherently, bizarrely improbable that only a reckless person would put it into circulation, said Rodney Smolla, president of Vermont Law School and a defamation expert who consulted for Dominion during its case against Fox News. Former anchor Tucker Carlson continues to pose a headache for Fox well after the network relieved him of his duties. Credit: AP No case is easy, Smolla added, but this one is certainly, in my view, viable. The attacks against Epps began circulating online after a video was taken on the night before the Capitol attack. It shows Epps at a pro-Trump demonstration on a Washington street shouting that he planned to march to the Capitol and enter. After pausing for a few seconds, he adds, Peacefully. Some in the crowd begin chanting Fed! Fed! Fed! at him, implying he was a government agent trying to goad Trump supporters into committing a crime.

Another video, taken on January 6, also shows Epps encouraging people to march toward the Capitol. Then he bends down to whisper in a mans ear moments before the man and rioters overcome police officers and breach the security perimeter around the Capitol grounds. It is difficult to hear what Epps says in the video. Law enforcement immediately took note of Epps suspicious behaviour and put a picture of him on an online wanted list. Epps has said he called the FBIs National Threat Operations Centre shortly after the alert went up, and his phone records show he spoke to agents there for nearly an hour. When the bureau removed him from the list  a few months after agents formally interviewed him and his son in spring 2021  Carlson and others claimed that Epps disappearance and the lack of criminal charges meant that the government was protecting him. On his programs, Carlson claimed that Epps was a liar and demanded that he be arrested. In one segment that ran shortly before Fox News cancelled Carlsons show in April, he showed viewers an image of the FedEx logo that had been altered to say FedEpps. The fact that Epps has not been charged is largely in keeping with hundreds, if not thousands, of individual decisions that the Justice Department has made in its vast investigation of the Capitol attack.

Only a handful of people who pushed past barriers at the Capitol but never went inside the building have faced charges, and no defendants have been charged with incitement. Incitement charges against Epps would be particularly hard to prove given that he ultimately sought to de-escalate the crowd, and his most vocal encouragement to enter the building took place on the night before the attack, making it almost impossible to show his words had an immediate effect. Loading What Epps whispered to that man on the day of the attack has been answered three separate times: in an interview the FBI conducted with the man Epps had talked to, Ryan Samsel; in Epps own interview with authorities; and in a podcast interview with a co-defendant in Samsels case. All three said Epps had urged Samsel to calm down. He came up to me and he said, Dude  his entire words were Relax, the cops are doing their job, Samsel said, according to a recording of his interview with the FBI. Carlson, in his legal defence, could point to inconsistencies in Samsels account. He could also note that Epps sent a text to a family member, well after the riot ended, saying he helped orchestrate the movements of people toward the Capitol.

(In recent weeks, Samsel has abruptly changed his story. From jail, he has started calling reporters  mostly for right-wing media outlets  to say that he lied to the FBI and that Epps told him to pull at the barricades. Samsel acknowledged to The New York Times, however, that he had not provided this new story under oath to prosecutors.) There are also unresolved legal questions about whether Epps truly suffered reputational harm if the only people he presumably lost esteem with are those who think January 6 was a righteous cause. The question I would raise if I were Tucker Carlsons lawyer, said David Logan, a former dean of Roger Williams School of Law, is should Epps be able to claim defamation when the people who think less well of him are criminals? Courts have struggled with this exact question, he added, pointing to hypotheticals such as a man who sues over false allegations that he is gay, or an anti-abortion activist who claims she was wrongly accused of having an abortion. Carlson could rely on the ambiguous and indirect language he sometimes used in describing Epps. For instance, he said at various points that he couldnt be sure if Epps was really a double agent, acknowledging, We dont know anything about him.
Barbie is no dumb doll. She may stand just 29 centimetres tall, but over the course of six decades shes been everything from a pastry chef, firefighter and zoologist to an architect, news anchor, showgirl and surgeon.

Shes even been a US president, so navigating delicate geopolitics should come pretty easy, right?

Barbies world map incensed Vietnams censors so much that they banned the $150 million blockbuster. Credit: Warner Bros

Well, not if we are to believe the executives from Warner Bros who have attempted  somewhat in vain  to explain how their little doll in the upcoming blockbuster film managed to cause an international diplomatic row between Vietnam and China.

Before the actors strike took over the news cycle, a seemingly harmless and rather unruly world map in the film had been at the centre of a media storm.
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 Red dirt contrasts sharply with green banks of algae along the creek that trickles through the defunct Sunny Corner silver mine. The abandoned area, 37 kilometres from Bathurst, is eerie. There are hardly any animals. The plants closest to the mine are either dead or an off-grey colour. The air is still; nothing moves. And when it gets dark, the only sound you can hear are gunshots as people hunt in the nearby state forest. The Sunny Corner mine closed 100 years ago, but toxic water flows through the site, severely impacting any plants that grow. Credit: Brook Mitchell The mines surroundings are so toxic that if it were windy, wed be wearing masks. If it were raining, the sulphur in the dirt would turn to sulphuric acid, damaging our lungs. While some mining shafts have been fenced off, others havent been marked  in some cases, trail bike riders have fallen down and injured themselves. There is little to deter people from the area. While its not somewhere you would want to spend much time, the site affords an insight into a problem for governments and industry that is only growing bigger  what do you do with a mine once youre finished with it? The question is becoming increasingly important as mines and other fossil fuel-intensive projects across Australia wrap up. In the Hunter Valley alone, some 17 coal mines may close in the next 20 years. The cost of rehabilitation Coal mining has been fundamental to NSW and can be traced back to Newcastle in the 1790s. This industry is the reason that many small towns exist today. Coal quickly became Australias first commodity export, with the first shipment leaving Newcastle for India that decade.

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There is little data on how many abandoned mines exist nationwide, but estimates venture about 60,000 sites, with others putting 573 of those in NSW. Each state approaches a legacy mine differently, but in NSW, the government prioritises remediation of sites that are either a risk to public safety, that pose an environmental risk or that offer no further benefits to the industry. Its expensive work. However, weve moved a long way since the 1790s, and NSW now mines a range of minerals and metals, including gold, copper, silver, nickel, lead, zinc, cobalt, lithium and limestone. The market size of the industry, measured nationally by revenue, was $501.8 billion last year, says market research company IBISWorld. Toxic water runs from an abandoned mine shaft into nearby Daylight Creek at Sunny Corner, near Bathurst. Credit: Brook Mitchell In the centuries since NSW began mining, rehabilitation conditions have also become more onerous. They are now legally enforceable, and companies must take responsibility for all aspects of the work, even after closure. NSW Natural Resources Minister Courtney Houssos says mining rehabilitation requirements were made more robust in 2021. This included ensuring leaseholders undertook rehabilitation to achieve an approved final land use, and ongoing annual reporting of these efforts. We will continue to evaluate if they are fit-for-purpose, Houssos says of the requirements. We must protect local communities after the closure of the mine. I am keen to explore other opportunities for post-mine options for the land, including for alternative energy and as manufacturing and skills hubs. Rehabilitating mines, which in some cases ceased work more than 120 years ago, is challenging.

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Before mining begins, companies work with government authorities to develop comprehensive rehabilitation plans, NSW Minerals Council chief executive Stephen Galilee says. Rehabilitation of land disturbed by mining commences almost as soon as mining itself takes place. Galilee says mining companies must pay a bond that forms part of their legal obligation to rehabilitate the land. This also includes returning the land to the approved land use in line with the rehabilitation plan or development consent set out before mining begins. The sum of bonds held across the state as of November 2022 was $3.5 billion. This figure has risen steadily over the past 12 years. The bond is only returned to the company once rehabilitation has been achieved. But in 2017, the NSW Audit Office warned that the security deposit  which was then $2.2 billion  did not include sufficient contingency given the substantial risks and uncertainties associated with mine rehabilitation and closure of the states 450 mines. The system has been in place for several decades. A NSW government spokesperson said there have been instances where the rehabilitation security bonds have been utilised not, however, for a state-significant development mine site. So deadly Western Sydney University professor Ian Wright and undergraduate student Holly Nettle bend over the creek at Sunny Corner with blue surgical gloves on, taking samples and discussing the highly toxic water. Groundwater flows through the mine, collecting toxic minerals before they pool and trickle through the landscape.

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Previous tests by Wright showed the water contained arsenic that was several hundred times above the recommended guideline, copper that was close to 10,000 times, lead about 100 times and zinc about 3000 times. Its so clear but so deadly, Nettle says, holding up a small jar of the water. You think its suitable for drinking, but its not. It wasnt always like this. More than 100 years ago, Sunny Corner had a population of 5000 and was a wealthy community, mining copper and silver. For a while, the town was one of the most productive in the country. But when the price of silver crashed in 1893, it was no longer viable. For the past few decades, the site has remained untouched, except for trail bikers, hikers and scientists who have been brave enough to walk through the ruins. More than $1.2 million in remediation works were spent on the site in 2010 and 2017, a government spokesperson says. That included earthworks aiming to reduce the generation of acid mine water that discharges from underground workings. But Wright doesnt believe Sunny Corner can ever be rehabilitated. These mines operated when we didnt have planning legislation, and we didnt have that knowledge of geology and environmental science to manage and reduce that pollution, he says. We should learn from this. Ian Wright and Holly Nettle believe Sunny Corner highlights the importance of monitoring pollution and ensuring impacts on the environment are minimised. Credit: Brook Mitchell RMIT environmental engineering expert Dr Gavin Mudd says abandoned mines  those that typically closed before 1970  generally had few rehabilitation requirements. Mines that operated from the 1980s onwards had to adhere to strict regulations, which included security bonds.

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Mudd says rehabilitation is yet to occur at a major modern mine, where effects have been monitored for several decades. All modern mines that have been rehabilitated have been small, he says. Look at the scale of the mines in the Hunter Valley. If we are wrong, the scale of risk is so much bigger. We need to make sure we are funding the liability to match the scale. Otherwise, we are leaving a huge hole for the future  one that is just as big as the open-cut mines in Hunter. Loading Mudd says rehabilitation plans that work at one site may not apply to others  this makes it even more difficult to get right. There is a huge liability there, and we are not funding it properly. We need to do better. Mudd says that rather than relying on companies to fund their rehabilitation works, or relying on security bonds for the clean-up, it would be better to create a future fund established through an extension of the bond system. Australia Institute research director Rod Campbell says that while Australia has entered a new mining boom for critical minerals  which are used in renewable energy  it is yet to learn lessons from the previous boom. I dont think weve learnt from the last boom on how to tax resources, how to do royalty regimes and certainly not [how] to do clean-up, he says. Weve more or less never rehabilitated a modern mine. Campbell says one example of a modern mine undergoing rehabilitation that will prove whether governments and industry are up to the task is the Ranger uranium mine in the Northern Territory. The mine, 250 kilometres from Darwin, shut down production in January 2021, but the rehabilitation costs keep growing and are now expected to be between $1.6 billion and $2.2 billion and to stretch until 2028 due to engineering, technical risks and water treatment. Energy Resources of Australia (ERA)  a subsidiary of mining giant Rio Tinto, which owns the mine  is meant to be finished rehabilitation in 2026 and off the site as required by its legislated conditions.

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Shepparton mother Lauren Whelan told me she was discharged from hospital so swiftly after the birth of her son in 2019 that she wasnt wearing shoes. She was experiencing urinary and bowel incontinence and had to use a public bathroom in the hospitals hallway. Her son had been transferred to the hospitals special care nursery 36 hours earlier following a traumatic birth. I didnt have a choice. I was told to leave. I remember standing in the hallway sobbing, alone, humiliated and separated from my baby boy, Whelan recalled. It was one of the worst experiences of my life. Whelan was barely able to walk but found herself driving to and from the hospital every three hours for the next week to breastfeed her baby.

Another mother who emailed me recounted how she was discharged from a major public hospital in Melbourne 11 hours after the birth of her son earlier this year. It had been a gruelling birth, involving forceps, and the mother-of-three pleaded with midwives to let her stay longer. I was in a lot of pain and my milk hadnt come in, she said. I said, I would feel a lot better if I could stay an extra night and they just said no. I told them Im not going to be comfortable if I have a two and a four-year-old on top of me at home while Im holding a newborn and bleeding on the floor. She ended up back in hospital a few months later to have surgery to repair an internal tear that had been overlooked. They didnt realise or sew me up after the birth because they were in such a rush to kick me out, she said. Disgraceful. Another reader said she was sent home less than 36 hours after an emergency caesarean.I was furious, she wrote, noting that she also had to care for two other young children at home. Something needs to change.

I agree. Women should be given more of a say about when they leave hospital following childbirth. At the very least, hospitals should be considering the World Health Organisations recommendation that women and newborns spend at least 24 hours receiving high-quality care in a health facility following an uncomplicated vaginal birth. Many mothers want to spend more time in hospital to recover from the birth, detect potential health issues impacting the mother and baby, finetune breastfeeding and learn other vital parenting skills. They also want to rest: something that is often hard to achieve when you are going home to care for another child. A quick discharge would be less of an issue if women and babies received good at-home support, such as regular visits from a midwife and follow-ups from maternal child health nurses. But many experts and mothers say these services are patchy in Australia. While one family might receive two visits from a hospital midwife in the week after birth, another might miss out on these services entirely. It can often feel like the focus of these hurried visits is on the baby, rather than the mother. Its not a substitute for the comprehensive, around-the-clock support available in hospital. Another option might be expanding what is routinely offered to women who birth in private hospitals. After being discharged, some private patients move into a hotel for a five-day stay with 24-hour postnatal support from midwives.

This arrangement eases the transition between hospital and home and, most importantly, ensures that women can access immediate support during one of the most vulnerable moments of their life. It also frees up beds in hospital, which are much more expensive to operate and in intense demand. UK research published in 2020 found there was no evidence to support early discharges less than 24 hours after birth, despite this practice being increasingly common across hospitals. It also found that babies who are discharged less than 48 hours after a vaginal birth and less than 96 hours after caesarean birth are more likely to be readmitted to hospital within 28 days. Surely this is a cost that health systems should be considering when setting postnatal discharge policies. Age journalist Henrietta Cook and her mum Felicity in 1987. When I was born at the Royal Womens Hospital  32 years before I gave birth to my eldest son there in 2019  it was common for women to have a lengthy postnatal stay. A five to seven-day stay was standard in Australian hospitals until the mid1990s.

My mum, a single parent who had no family in Melbourne, was able to rest and recover during her five-night stint in hospital. A midwife would bundle me up in a swaddle every night and take me to the nursery so that mum could sleep. When she was discharged, she slipped into her new role as a mother with ease. I felt well looked-after and was taught how to feed and care for my baby, mum recalled. When the midwives decided it was time for me to leave, I was ready to go home. Henrietta Cook is a senior reporter covering health for The Age.
A teenager is in hospital and three people are in custody after a daylight attack in a mall south of Perth.

WA Police were called to Smart Street Mall in Mandurah just before 11.30am after a man allegedly launched an attack with multiple weapons.

The woman who called police told 9News she saw an axe, a knife and a hammer during the incident.

Mostly what I saw was just the guy with the arm, we were trying to get towels around it and get anything to stop it bleeding basically, witness Ellie Broughton said.
Marcab wrote:

Hii Mike.

Thanks for your help. Thanks for your links. But still some doubt remains.

First of all, my direct query is "can prepositional phrases become the subject of the clause"?

NO

never

Marcab wrote:

In [noun][vital noun modifier][modifier #2], you said that "modifier 2" can modify either:

i) [noun]

ii) [vital noun modifer]

If somehow, in both the cases the meaning sounds fine then what?

Just as poor grammar is the sign of an inferior writer, so too is ambiguity in meaning.

Marcab wrote:

Actually the sentence in question is " In an unusual spiritual ceremony for celebrating changes in season such as the emergence of the spring season, as much as 10% of the organization's cash, the most liquid of all the organization's assets, disappears and vanishes ".

Now since " the most liquid of all of the organization's assets " is a non-vital modifier, so we can cross that off.

The sentence now becomes "In an unusual spiritual ceremony for celebrating changes in season such as the emergence of the spring season, as much as 10% of the organization's cash, the most liquid of all the organization's assets , disappears and vanishes.

Here now it becomes clearer that its the " 10% of the organization's cash " that " disappears and vanishes ".



But doubt persists: what is the most liquid of the organisation's assets? Is it the 10% of the cash OR the entire cash. Though meanings resulting from these sentences are different, but they are logically clear. As you said, it depends on the context in order to select the desired meaning and there can be other errors as well but there has to be a subtle difference. Please help me decide over this. Thanks in advance.



Magoosh Test Prep





Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.  William Butler Yeats (1865  1939) Mike McGarryEducation is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.  William Butler Yeats (1865  1939) Signature Read More

. A prepositional phrase can act like an adjective or an adverb, but unlike an infinitive or gerund or substantive clause, it can never act like a noun. Therefore, at no time can a prepositional phrase ever take on any of the noun-roles in a sentence or in a clause. A prepositional phrase canbe the subject of any clause. Is this clear?A sentence in which both meaning were equally valid and in which context does not provide sufficient clues would be, by definition, an ambiguous sentence. Whether a sentence's meaning is ambiguous may depend on grammar, but sentences that are completely grammatically correct can still be ambiguous in meaning. You will NEVER see an ambiguous sentence on the GMAT SC. NEVER. Period.If you ever receive an ambiguous memo in a work environment, you have every right to ask for clarification. if you receive such a memo from someone who is under your charge, you should admonish them to write univocal messages. That's what you do if you receive a poorly written ambiguous sentence.I would say, cash is cash. Cash, almost by definition, is the most liquid form in which you can have your money. Cash usually consists of physical bills you have somewhere at hand, perhaps locked up on the premises, but still quickly accessible to the folks in charge. The only way you could call money in the bank "cash" would be if you could access it more or less instantly on demand. All cash, by definition, is liquid, easily accessible, ready to move. Cash is the most spendable form of money. The most liquid of any organization's assets would be, almost by definition, that organization's cash. Why would only 10% of the cash be liquid? That's almost a contradiction in terms. If the other 90% is not liquid, then in what sense would it be "cash" instead of "money" of some other form?Does all this make sense?Mike_________________
Northampton County Council will interview applicants Wednesday for the office of County Controller.



Interviews of "several" applicants will be held July 19, according to a council official. County Council will meet Thursday, July 20, and may select a successor to Richard "Bucky" Szulborski at that meeting.



The controller is an independently elected fiscal watchdog, overseeing audits and spending. When the post is vacant, County Council must fill it within 30 days. If Council does not pick a new Controller, the court system makes the selection.



Whoever takes the $85,000-per-year job will serve only through the beginning of January, when an elected Controller will take office. If a Controller is named Thursday, the appointee would only hold the job for a little more than five months.



The county's last two Controllers have died in office. Szulborski died June 30. He was a two-time controller, stepping in to fill the vacancy when Antoine "Tony" Bassil died Sept. 24, 2021, and earlier, in 2018, when Stephen J. Barron Jr. resigned to take over as director of finance in County Executive Lamont McClure's administration.



Both of the late controllers had government experience before taking over the county position. Szulborski was a member of Bethlehem City Council from 1984 to 1996, and Bassil was Controller for the City of Easton before being elected to the county job.



Two members of County Council are running for Controller in the Nov. 7 election: Democrat Tara Zrinski and Republican John Cusick. Neither has an accounting background, but both have cited their experience in reviewing county budgets and spending as qualifications.
Campbell Newman Asset Management Inc. lowered its position in Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT  Free Report) by 0.5% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 135,264 shares of the healthcare product makers stock after selling 627 shares during the quarter. Campbell Newman Asset Management Inc.s holdings in Abbott Laboratories were worth $13,697,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Morgan Stanley lifted its stake in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 14.3% during the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 38,966,499 shares of the healthcare product makers stock worth $4,278,132,000 after buying an additional 4,886,954 shares during the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC increased its holdings in Abbott Laboratories by 1.8% in the 4th quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 30,598,624 shares of the healthcare product makers stock valued at $3,352,840,000 after buying an additional 537,808 shares during the period. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC increased its holdings in Abbott Laboratories by 104,649.4% in the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 30,247,436 shares of the healthcare product makers stock valued at $3,320,866,000 after buying an additional 30,218,560 shares during the period. Norges Bank bought a new position in Abbott Laboratories in the 4th quarter valued at about $1,893,715,000. Finally, Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 1.7% during the 4th quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 12,089,085 shares of the healthcare product makers stock valued at $1,312,781,000 after purchasing an additional 197,018 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 73.08% of the companys stock.

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Abbott Laboratories Stock Performance

Shares of ABT stock opened at $107.93 on Friday. Abbott Laboratories has a 12 month low of $93.25 and a 12 month high of $115.69. The company has a current ratio of 1.68, a quick ratio of 1.22 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.39. The firm has a market capitalization of $187.68 billion, a PE ratio of 32.81, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.83 and a beta of 0.68. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $106.22 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $106.29.

Abbott Laboratories Announces Dividend

Abbott Laboratories ( NYSE:ABT Get Free Report ) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, April 19th. The healthcare product maker reported $1.03 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.98 by $0.05. Abbott Laboratories had a net margin of 13.98% and a return on equity of 22.36%. The firm had revenue of $9.75 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $9.64 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $1.73 EPS. The businesss revenue was down 18.1% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts forecast that Abbott Laboratories will post 4.39 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, August 15th. Investors of record on Friday, July 14th will be given a dividend of $0.51 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, July 13th. This represents a $2.04 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.89%. Abbott Laboratoriess payout ratio is currently 62.01%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, Director Daniel J. Starks sold 50,000 shares of the firms 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 completion of the sale, the director now owns 6,825,316 shares in the company, valued at $757,746,582.32. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. In other news, EVP Andrea F. Wainer sold 8,226 shares of Abbott Laboratories stock in a transaction dated 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 owns 70,427 shares in the company, valued at $7,786,409.12. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, Director Daniel J. Starks sold 50,000 shares of Abbott Laboratories stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, May 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $111.02, for a total transaction of $5,551,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 6,825,316 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $757,746,582.32. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 1.10% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several brokerages recently issued reports on ABT. BTIG Research lifted their price target 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. Wells Fargo & Company cut their target price on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $140.00 to $136.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, April 5th. UBS Group lifted their target price on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $117.00 to $130.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, April 20th. Wolfe Research cut their target price on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $107.00 to $103.00 and set an underperform rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, April 20th. Finally, StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Abbott Laboratories in a research report on Thursday, May 18th. They set a buy rating on the stock. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have assigned a hold rating and eleven have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Abbott Laboratories has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $120.24.

About Abbott Laboratories

(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

Want to see what other hedge funds are holding ABT? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT  Free Report).

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General Motors (NYSE:GM  Free Report) (TSE:GMM.U) had its target price upped by Citigroup from $85.00 to $89.00 in a report released on Wednesday, MarketBeat.com reports. The brokerage currently has a buy rating on the auto manufacturers stock.

GM has been the subject of several other reports. Barclays upped their target price on General Motors from $42.00 to $46.00 in a report on Monday, July 10th. StockNews.com assumed coverage on General Motors in a report on Thursday, May 18th. They set a buy rating for the company. Jefferies Financial Group increased their price target on General Motors from $37.00 to $39.00 in a report on Friday, July 7th. Bank of America increased their price target on General Motors from $70.00 to $72.00 in a report on Thursday, July 6th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company increased their price target on General Motors from $30.00 to $32.00 in a report on Monday, July 10th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have given a hold rating, ten have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $50.00.

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General Motors Stock Down 1.2 %

NYSE GM opened at $40.00 on Wednesday. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $35.89 and a 200 day moving average price of $36.39. General Motors has a one year low of $31.10 and a one year high of $43.63. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.05, a quick ratio of 0.90 and a current ratio of 1.10. The company has a market cap of $55.60 billion, a P/E ratio of 6.18, a P/E/G ratio of 0.59 and a beta of 1.36.

General Motors Announces Dividend

General Motors ( NYSE:GM Get Free Report ) (TSE:GMM.U) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, April 25th. The auto manufacturer reported $2.21 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.53 by $0.68. The company had revenue of $39.99 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $39.38 billion. General Motors had a return on equity of 15.74% and a net margin of 5.84%. The firms quarterly revenue was up 11.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $2.09 EPS. Research analysts anticipate that General Motors will post 6.94 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, June 15th. Investors of record on Friday, June 2nd were issued a $0.09 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, June 1st. This represents a $0.36 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.90%. General Motorss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 5.56%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other General Motors news, President Mark L. Reuss sold 9,300 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, July 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $41.00, for a total value of $381,300.00. Following the sale, the president now directly owns 282,973 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $11,601,893. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. In other news, CFO Paul A. Jacobson acquired 31,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Friday, May 19th. The shares were bought at an average cost of $32.60 per share, with a total value of $1,010,600.00. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 186,847 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,091,212.20. The purchase was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, President Mark L. Reuss sold 9,300 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Thursday, July 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $41.00, for a total transaction of $381,300.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the president now owns 282,973 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $11,601,893. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.54% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several large investors have recently modified their holdings of GM. Venturi Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of General Motors in the 1st quarter valued at $25,000. BerganKDV Wealth Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of General Motors by 379.2% in the 1st quarter. BerganKDV Wealth Management LLC now owns 714 shares of the auto manufacturers stock valued at $26,000 after buying an additional 565 shares in the last quarter. Penserra Capital Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of General Motors by 85.8% in the 1st quarter. Penserra Capital Management LLC now owns 613 shares of the auto manufacturers stock valued at $26,000 after buying an additional 283 shares in the last quarter. Carmel Capital Partners LLC acquired a new position in shares of General Motors in the 1st quarter valued at $29,000. Finally, Ahrens Investment Partners LLC acquired a new position in shares of General Motors in the 1st quarter valued at $29,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 78.83% of the companys stock.

General Motors Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

General Motors Company designs, builds, and sells trucks, crossovers, cars, and automobile parts; and provide software-enabled services and subscriptions worldwide. The company operates through GM North America, GM International, Cruise, and GM Financial segments. It markets its vehicles primarily under the Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, Baojun, and Wuling brand names.

Read More

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AB Industrivarden (publ) (OTCMKTS:IDTVF  Get Free Report) is one of 1,204 public companies in the Asset Management industry, but how does it contrast to its peers? We will compare AB Industrivarden (publ) to related businesses based on the strength of its earnings, analyst recommendations, dividends, profitability, institutional ownership, valuation and risk.

Dividends

AB Industrivarden (publ) pays an annual dividend of $5.50 per share and has a dividend yield of 21.6%. AB Industrivarden (publ) pays out 37.0% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. As a group, Asset Management companies pay a dividend yield of 7.9% and pay out 1,496.8% of their earnings in the form of a dividend. AB Industrivarden (publ) is clearly a better dividend stock than its peers, given its higher yield and lower payout ratio.

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Institutional and Insider Ownership

3.0% of AB Industrivarden (publ) shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 32.7% of shares of all Asset Management companies are held by institutional investors. 18.2% of shares of all Asset Management companies are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, hedge funds and large money managers believe a company is poised for long-term growth.

Valuation and Earnings

Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio AB Industrivarden (publ) N/A N/A 1.71 AB Industrivarden (publ) Competitors $257.99 million $2.69 million -29.61

This table compares AB Industrivarden (publ) and its peers top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

AB Industrivarden (publ)s peers have higher revenue and earnings than AB Industrivarden (publ). AB Industrivarden (publ) is trading at a higher price-to-earnings ratio than its peers, indicating that it is currently more expensive than other companies in its industry.

Analyst Recommendations

This is a summary of current recommendations and price targets for AB Industrivarden (publ) and its peers, as reported by MarketBeat.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score AB Industrivarden (publ) 0 0 1 0 3.00 AB Industrivarden (publ) Competitors 1150 5025 6467 96 2.43

As a group, Asset Management companies have a potential upside of 85.06%. Given AB Industrivarden (publ)s peers higher probable upside, analysts plainly believe AB Industrivarden (publ) has less favorable growth aspects than its peers.

Profitability

This table compares AB Industrivarden (publ) and its peers net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets AB Industrivarden (publ) N/A N/A N/A AB Industrivarden (publ) Competitors 367.09% 7.56% 4.89%

Summary

AB Industrivarden (publ) peers beat AB Industrivarden (publ) on 8 of the 13 factors compared.

About AB Industrivarden (publ)

(Get Free Report)

AB Industrivarden is a publicly owned investment manager. The firm invests in the public equity markets of Nordic region. It employs fundamental analysis, with a focus on factors like long term return potential, proven business model, balance between risk and return, and attractive valuation to create its portfolio. AB Industrivarden was founded in 1944 and is based in Stockholm, Sweden.

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Flagship Communities Real Estate Investment Trust (OTCMKTS:MHCUF  Get Free Report) was the target of a large growth in short interest in June. As of June 30th, there was short interest totalling 1,500 shares, a growth of 400.0% from the June 15th total of 300 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 400 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 3.8 days.

Flagship Communities Real Estate Investment Trust Stock Performance

OTCMKTS:MHCUF remained flat at $15.60 on Friday. Flagship Communities Real Estate Investment Trust has a 12 month low of $12.85 and a 12 month high of $18.85.

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Flagship Communities Real Estate Investment Trust Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, July 17th. Investors of record on Friday, June 30th will be paid a $0.0468 dividend. This represents a $0.56 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.60%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, June 29th.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

About Flagship Communities Real Estate Investment Trust

Separately, BMO Capital Markets started coverage on shares of Flagship Communities Real Estate Investment Trust in a research report on Thursday, June 8th. They set an outperform rating on the stock.

(Get Free Report)

Flagship Communities Real Estate Investment Trust is an internally managed, unincorporated, open-ended real estate investment trust established pursuant to a declaration of trust under the laws of the Province of Ontario. The REIT has been formed to own and operate a portfolio of income-producing manufactured housing communities located in Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Tennessee, Arkansas, Missouri, and Illinois, including a fleet of manufactured homes for lease to residents of such housing communities.

Further Reading

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English language scholars generally agree that the modern English language developed from several sources: the Anglo-Saxon language, or Old English, spoken by the Germanic peoples who migrated to the island of Britain in the fifth century; the Old Norse influences of the Vikings and the Danish kings of England in the ninth and tenth centuries; the French influence of the Norman invaders in the eleventh century; and the Latin influences of the earlier Roman inhabitants and the Catholic Church. However, one mystery remains. When the Anglo-Saxons arrived in Britain, there were numerous Celtic inhabitants dwelling alongside what remained of the Roman population. Why, then, did the Anglo-Saxons, and thus the English, not absorb more of the Celtic languages? The English language ultimately adopted very few Celtic words, so few in fact that scholars are at a loss to explain the reason with any certainty. One thing is certain: the Celtic languages are in no way related to Anglo-Saxon, indeed developing from an entirely different family of languages, so there is no question that the Anglo-Saxons did not adopt Celtic words simply because they already had very similar words of their own. So, what happened? Some scholars have suggested that the Anglo-Saxons already had enough words of their own and thus did not need to borrow from the Celts, even upon arriving in a new place. For instance, if the day-to-day elements of life in Britain were similar enough to those in the Anglo-Saxon homeland, the Anglo-Saxons would not feel the need to make use of foreign words to describe their new life. This theory, however, is inconsistent with evidence that the Anglo-Saxons borrowed everyday words from other languages such as Old Norse and French. Other scholars have suggested the theory that the Anglo-Saxons chose to avoid the Celtic words because the Celts were essentially a conquered people - an explanation that is strongly supported by the rapid disappearance of Celts from south and central England and their subsequent movement north and west into what would become Cornwall, Wales, and Scotland.



Leading linguistic scholar David Crystal disagrees with this latter hypothesis, however. He points out that among the Anglo-Saxons it was not uncommon to find children with Welsh names. The great Christian poet Cdmon and Cdwalla, the king of Wessex in the seventh century, were both noteworthy and highly respected Anglo-Saxons who bore Welsh names. From a purely practical perspective, it is unlikely that Anglo-Saxon parents would bestow Celtic names on their children if those names were closely associated with a despised language or a group of people deemed inferior. As a modern example, during World War I people in England began changing their names to avoid sounding too Germanic. Even the royal family, up to that point bearing the name Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, changed the family name to Windsor due to the long connection of that name with a specifically English history. Additionally, the respected Battenburg family in England, closely connected to the monarchy, felt the need to change their name to Mountbatten, as it had a less decidedly German connotation .



Perhaps more significantly, David Crystal raises the possibility that the word cross, steeped in important religious meaning for many English speakers, came from a Celtic background. In Latin, the word is crux, and the Scandinavians rendered it kross. But there is, on the whole, very little linguistic influence on early English religious terminology from the Germanic languages or the Germanic peoples, who were decidedly pagan upon their arrival to England. On the other hand, the Irish Celts were enthusiastic and thorough in their missionary efforts to England and other parts of Europe, and they rendered the Latin crux as cros in Old Irish and as croes in Welsh. It is highly possible that the English word cross and the Old Norse word kross were influenced by the Irish missionary work. It is unlikely that the mystery of the missing Celtic words will ever be solved satisfactorily, but what little evidence remains suggests that the mystery can no longer be written off as a case of a conquered people becoming linguistically obsolete



1. Which of the following best states the main idea of the passage?



A.Although linguistic scholars do not know why the English language has so few Celtic words, it can no longer be assumed that the Anglo-Saxons avoided Celtic words in the belief that the Celts were inferior.

B.The possible Celtic derivation of the word cross suggests that the Anglo-Saxons interacted more closely with the Celts than was previously thought.

C.New evidence suggests that the traditional belief about the Anglo-Saxon, Old Norse, French, and Latin influences on the English language is erroneous and misleading.

D.The actions taken by the English during World War I indicate strongly that their forebears eradicated Celtic words for similar reasons.

E.The appearance of Welsh names among significant Anglo-Saxon figures indicates that of all the Celtic peoples, the Welsh had the greatest linguistic impact on Anglo-Saxon daily life.

Show Spoiler A



2. The use of the word "connotation" ( Highlighted ) most closely suggests which of the following?



A. Clear relationship

B. Linguistic origin

C. Theoretical definition

D. Potential association

E. Emotional correlation

Show Spoiler D



3. The discussion of the word cross in the passage is intended to show which of the following?



A. Although they were previously ignored by scholars, it is clear that many important Celtic words were indeed absorbed into the English language.

B. Scholars now realize that many Celtic words influenced Old Norse words and not the other way around.

C. It is incorrect to assume that there was a very great influence on the English language from Celtic words.

D. Linguistic scholar David Crystal believes that Celtic words make up an important part of the English language.

E. The significance of the few Celtic words within the English language suggests a more important influence than was previously thought.

Show Spoiler E



4. The author provides examples of English behavior toward German last names during World War I in order to do which of the following?



A. Prove definitely that human nature does not change

B. Undermine the theory of the Welsh influence on English names

C. Use a fairly recent event to provide context for a hypothesis

D. Show that the English changed names because they considered Germans inferior

E. Suggest that many of the so-called "English" names are really German

Show Spoiler C



5. Which of the following best describes the author's attitude toward the theory that there are few Celtic words in the English language because the Celts migrated and had no contact with the Anglo-Saxons?



A. Self-righteous insistence

B. Scholarly disagreement

C. Patronizing disapproval

D. Justifiable concern

E. Vitriolic dissent

Show Spoiler B





6. The primary purpose of the passage is to do which of the following?



A. Caution against making an historical judgment without considering further linguistic evidence

B. Introduce a new theory and support it with linguistic evidence

C. Defend a scholarly position by citing leading authorities in the field

D. Dispute a long-held scholarly position by disproving the linguistic evidence in support of it

E. Compare several theories and argue in support of one of them

Show Spoiler A





7. The passage suggests that the author would probably agree with which one of the following?



A. There is less Latin and Old Norse influence on the English language that there is Celtic influence.

B. Although there seem to be few Celtic words within the English language, these words suggest a significant linguistic role.

C. The possible Celtic derivation of the English word cross alone suggests that the English viewed the Celts favorably.

D. The Anglo-Saxons did not adopt many Celtic words because they had enough everyday words in their own language.

E. Because some of the Anglo-Saxons gave their children Welsh names, the Anglo-Saxon people unquestionably had a high opinion of the Celts.

Show Spoiler B A.Although linguistic scholars do not know why the English language has so few Celtic words, it can no longer be assumed that the Anglo-Saxons avoided Celtic words in the belief that the Celts were inferior.B.The possible Celtic derivation of the word cross suggests that the Anglo-Saxons interacted more closely with the Celts than was previously thought.C.New evidence suggests that the traditional belief about the Anglo-Saxon, Old Norse, French, and Latin influences on the English language is erroneous and misleading.D.The actions taken by the English during World War I indicate strongly that their forebears eradicated Celtic words for similar reasons.E.The appearance of Welsh names among significant Anglo-Saxon figures indicates that of all the Celtic peoples, the Welsh had the greatest linguistic impact on Anglo-Saxon daily life.A. Clear relationshipB. Linguistic originC. Theoretical definitionD. Potential associationE. Emotional correlationA. Although they were previously ignored by scholars, it is clear that many important Celtic words were indeed absorbed into the English language.B. Scholars now realize that many Celtic words influenced Old Norse words and not the other way around.C. It is incorrect to assume that there was a very great influence on the English language from Celtic words.D. Linguistic scholar David Crystal believes that Celtic words make up an important part of the English language.E. The significance of the few Celtic words within the English language suggests a more important influence than was previously thought.A. Prove definitely that human nature does not changeB. Undermine the theory of the Welsh influence on English namesC. Use a fairly recent event to provide context for a hypothesisD. Show that the English changed names because they considered Germans inferiorE. Suggest that many of the so-called "English" names are really GermanA. Self-righteous insistenceB. Scholarly disagreementC. Patronizing disapprovalD. Justifiable concernE. Vitriolic dissentA. Caution against making an historical judgment without considering further linguistic evidenceB. Introduce a new theory and support it with linguistic evidenceC. Defend a scholarly position by citing leading authorities in the fieldD. Dispute a long-held scholarly position by disproving the linguistic evidence in support of itE. Compare several theories and argue in support of one of themA. There is less Latin and Old Norse influence on the English language that there is Celtic influence.B. Although there seem to be few Celtic words within the English language, these words suggest a significant linguistic role.C. The possible Celtic derivation of the English word cross alone suggests that the English viewed the Celts favorably.D. The Anglo-Saxons did not adopt many Celtic words because they had enough everyday words in their own language.E. Because some of the Anglo-Saxons gave their children Welsh names, the Anglo-Saxon people unquestionably had a high opinion of the Celts.
Folger Nolan Fleming Douglas Capital Management Inc. lessened its position in shares of F.N.B. Co. (NYSE:FNB  Free Report) by 18.7% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 12,510 shares of the banks stock after selling 2,880 shares during the period. Folger Nolan Fleming Douglas Capital Management Inc.s holdings in F.N.B. were worth $145,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Several other large investors have also made changes to their positions in FNB. Arizona State Retirement System grew its position in F.N.B. by 2.7% in the first quarter. Arizona State Retirement System now owns 101,641 shares of the banks stock valued at $1,179,000 after acquiring an additional 2,672 shares during the last quarter. Oak Thistle LLC acquired a new position in F.N.B. during the 1st quarter worth approximately $371,000. Strs Ohio lifted its stake in F.N.B. by 8.2% in the 1st quarter. Strs Ohio now owns 214,692 shares of the banks stock valued at $2,490,000 after purchasing an additional 16,193 shares during the last quarter. Vestor Capital LLC boosted its position in F.N.B. by 360.9% in the first quarter. Vestor Capital LLC now owns 23,407 shares of the banks stock valued at $3,255,000 after buying an additional 18,329 shares in the last quarter. Finally, D.A. Davidson & CO. grew its stake in shares of F.N.B. by 9.7% during the first quarter. D.A. Davidson & CO. now owns 23,179 shares of the banks stock worth $269,000 after buying an additional 2,049 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 76.78% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

FNB has been the topic of several recent research reports. Stephens assumed coverage on F.N.B. in a report on Monday, April 3rd. They set an overweight rating and a $15.00 price objective on the stock. StockNews.com started coverage on F.N.B. in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. They set a sell rating on the stock. Raymond James lowered their price objective on F.N.B. from $16.00 to $15.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, April 6th. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods cut their target price on shares of F.N.B. from $16.00 to $14.00 and set a market perform rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, April 6th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has assigned a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $15.40.

F.N.B. Price Performance

F.N.B. stock opened at $11.91 on Friday. The stocks 50 day moving average is $11.41 and its 200 day moving average is $12.31. F.N.B. Co. has a one year low of $10.09 and a one year high of $14.71. The firm has a market cap of $4.30 billion, a P/E ratio of 8.16 and a beta of 1.06. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.23, a current ratio of 0.88 and a quick ratio of 0.88.

F.N.B. (NYSE:FNB  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, April 20th. The bank reported $0.40 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, hitting analysts consensus estimates of $0.40. F.N.B. had a net margin of 29.60% and a return on equity of 10.12%. The firm had revenue of $416.10 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $413.52 million. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $0.26 EPS. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 33.2% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, research analysts expect that F.N.B. Co. will post 1.51 EPS for the current year.

F.N.B. Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, June 15th. Shareholders of record on Friday, June 2nd were issued a dividend of $0.12 per share. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, June 1st. This represents a $0.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.03%. F.N.B.s payout ratio is currently 32.88%.

F.N.B. Profile

(Free Report)

F.N.B. Corporation, a bank and financial holding company, provides a range of financial products and services primarily to consumers, corporations, governments, and small- to medium-sized businesses in the United States. The company operates through three segments: Community Banking, Wealth Management, and Insurance.

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Fort Washington Investment Advisors Inc. OH lessened its stake in Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (NYSE:AJG  Free Report) by 20.3% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 172,138 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 43,883 shares during the quarter. Fort Washington Investment Advisors Inc. OHs holdings in Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. were worth $32,932,000 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 AJG. U.S. Capital Wealth Advisors LLC raised its stake in Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. by 7.5% during the first quarter. U.S. Capital Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 1,287 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $225,000 after acquiring an additional 90 shares in the last quarter. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board raised its stake in Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. by 49.0% during the first quarter. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board now owns 5,300 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $925,000 after acquiring an additional 1,744 shares in the last quarter. Prudential PLC acquired a new position in Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. during the first quarter worth about $838,000. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC raised its stake in Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. by 37.7% during the first quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC now owns 2,532 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $442,000 after acquiring an additional 693 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Candriam Luxembourg S.C.A. raised its stake in Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. by 25.0% during the first quarter. Candriam Luxembourg S.C.A. now owns 11,184 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $1,953,000 after acquiring an additional 2,235 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 85.55% of the companys stock.

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Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. Stock Performance

Shares of AJG stock opened at $213.88 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $45.82 billion, a PE ratio of 39.68, a PEG ratio of 2.26 and a beta of 0.71. Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. has a one year low of $161.34 and a one year high of $220.63. The businesss 50 day simple moving average is $211.62 and its 200 day simple moving average is $199.82. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.61, a current ratio of 1.06 and a quick ratio of 1.06.

Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. Announces Dividend

Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. ( NYSE:AJG Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, April 27th. The financial services provider reported $3.03 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $3.00 by $0.03. The firm had revenue of $2.67 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.67 billion. Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. had a return on equity of 18.86% and a net margin of 13.22%. As a group, research analysts forecast that Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. will post 8.71 earnings per share for the current year.

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, June 16th. Shareholders of record on Friday, June 2nd were issued a dividend of $0.55 per share. This represents a $2.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.03%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, June 1st. Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.s payout ratio is 40.82%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, Director David S. Johnson sold 1,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, June 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $216.40, for a total value of $216,400.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 46,538 shares in the company, valued at approximately $10,070,823.20. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. In related news, Director David S. Johnson sold 1,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, June 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $216.40, for a total value of $216,400.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 46,538 shares in the company, valued at approximately $10,070,823.20. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, insider Susan E. Pietrucha sold 57,419 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, May 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $211.21, for a total value of $12,127,466.99. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 5 shares in the company, valued at $1,056.05. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders have sold 101,503 shares of company stock worth $21,433,355. Corporate insiders own 1.60% of the companys stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research analysts have recently issued reports on the company. Argus upped their price objective on Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. from $228.00 to $232.00 in a research note on Monday, May 1st. StockNews.com assumed coverage on Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a hold rating for the company. VNET Group reaffirmed a maintains rating on shares of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. in a research note on Tuesday, May 23rd. Jefferies Financial Group upped their price objective on Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. from $238.00 to $245.00 in a research note on Friday, June 16th. Finally, Evercore ISI upped their price objective on Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. from $231.00 to $233.00 in a research note on Friday, June 16th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, six have issued 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 a consensus price target of $226.62.

Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. Profile

(Free Report)

Arthur J. Gallagher & Co, together with its subsidiaries, provides insurance and reinsurance brokerage, consulting, and third-party property/casualty claims settlement and administration services to businesses and organizations worldwide. It operates in Brokerage and Risk Management segments. The Brokerage segment offers retail and wholesale insurance and reinsurance brokerage services; assists retail brokers and other non-affiliated brokers in the placement of specialized and hard-to-place insurance; and acts as a brokerage wholesaler, managing general agent, and managing general underwriter for distributing specialized insurance coverages to underwriting enterprises.

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The Goldman Sachs Group started coverage on shares of Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA (NYSE:FMS  Free Report) in a research report sent to investors on Wednesday morning, Marketbeat reports. The brokerage issued a buy rating on the stock.

A number of other equities research analysts also recently issued reports on FMS. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised shares of Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research note on Friday, April 28th. Truist Financial upped their price target on shares of Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA from $22.00 to $24.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research note on Thursday, April 13th. Finally, StockNews.com downgraded shares of Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a research note on Monday, July 10th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $28.95.

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Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA Price Performance

FMS stock opened at $26.21 on Wednesday. Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA has a one year low of $12.78 and a one year high of $26.48. The companys fifty day moving average price is $23.30 and its 200-day moving average price is $21.14. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.48, a quick ratio of 0.96 and a current ratio of 1.32. The company has a market capitalization of $15.38 billion, a PE ratio of 24.73 and a beta of 1.04.

Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA Cuts Dividend

Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA ( NYSE:FMS Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, May 9th. The company reported $0.28 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.18 by $0.10. The company had revenue of $5.05 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.98 billion. Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA had a net margin of 3.06% and a return on equity of 5.44%. On average, equities analysts anticipate that Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA will post 1.17 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The company also recently disclosed an annual dividend, which was paid on Thursday, June 1st. Shareholders of record on Thursday, May 18th were given a dividend of $0.7086 per share. This represents a yield of 2.1%. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, May 17th. Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaAs dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 39.62%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of FMS. Raymond James & Associates grew its holdings in shares of Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA by 35.6% in the first quarter. Raymond James & Associates now owns 28,440 shares of the companys stock worth $958,000 after purchasing an additional 7,470 shares during the last quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA by 13.0% in the first quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. now owns 9,490 shares of the companys stock worth $320,000 after purchasing an additional 1,089 shares during the last quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp grew its holdings in shares of Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA by 17.4% in the first quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 28,037 shares of the companys stock worth $945,000 after purchasing an additional 4,162 shares during the last quarter. American Century Companies Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA by 15.0% in the first quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 9,477 shares of the companys stock worth $319,000 after purchasing an additional 1,238 shares during the last quarter. Finally, PNC Financial Services Group Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA by 56.2% in the first quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 29,668 shares of the companys stock worth $1,000,000 after purchasing an additional 10,676 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 6.66% of the companys stock.

About Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA

(Get Free Report)

Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co KGaA provides dialysis and related services for individuals with renal diseases in Germany, North America, and internationally. The company offers dialysis treatment and related laboratory and diagnostic services through a network of outpatient dialysis clinics; materials, training, and patient support services comprising clinical monitoring, follow-up assistance, and arranging for delivery of the supplies to the patient's residence; and dialysis services under contract to hospitals in the United States for the hospitalized end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients and for patients suffering from acute kidney failure.

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Greatmark Investment Partners Inc. lifted its position in shares of Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO  Free Report) by 24.9% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 7,536 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 1,500 shares during the period. Greatmark Investment Partners Inc.s holdings in Altria Group were worth $336,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. Sei Investments Co. boosted its stake in shares of Altria Group by 1.6% during the 1st quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 404,894 shares of the companys stock worth $21,248,000 after buying an additional 6,324 shares during the last quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC raised its holdings in Altria Group by 5.2% during the first quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC now owns 18,647 shares of the companys stock worth $974,000 after acquiring an additional 929 shares in the last quarter. Loomis Sayles & Co. L P acquired a new position in Altria Group during the first quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Mackenzie Financial Corp grew its stake in Altria Group by 3.4% in the first quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp now owns 2,711,773 shares of the companys stock valued at $141,690,000 after purchasing an additional 89,334 shares in the last quarter. Finally, First Western Trust Bank acquired a new position in shares of Altria Group during the 1st quarter worth approximately $498,000. 58.38% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

MO has been the subject of several analyst reports. StockNews.com raised shares of Altria Group from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 4th. Stifel Nicolaus started coverage on shares of Altria Group in a research note on Thursday, April 13th. They set a buy rating and a $52.00 price objective on the stock. Finally, Citigroup cut their target price on shares of Altria Group from $49.50 to $47.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research note on Monday, April 17th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $46.00.

Altria Group Price Performance

NYSE:MO opened at $45.49 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $81.20 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.63, a P/E/G ratio of 2.29 and a beta of 0.59. The firms fifty day moving average price is $45.04 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $45.63. Altria Group, Inc. has a one year low of $40.35 and a one year high of $51.57.

Altria Group (NYSE:MO  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, April 27th. The company reported $1.18 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 analyst estimates of $4.89 billion. Altria Group had a net margin of 22.44% and a negative return on equity of 245.43%. The firms quarterly revenue was down 1.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $1.12 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Altria Group, Inc. will post 4.98 earnings per share for the current year.

Altria Group Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, July 10th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, June 15th were issued a $0.94 dividend. This represents a $3.76 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 8.27%. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, June 14th. Altria Groups dividend payout ratio is 120.90%.

Altria Group 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.

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B&M European Value Retail (OTCMKTS:BMRRY  Get Free Report) and ageas SA/NV (OTCMKTS:AGESY  Get Free Report) are both mid-cap consumer discretionary companies, but which is the better stock? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their institutional ownership, dividends, risk, analyst recommendations, profitability, valuation and earnings.

Earnings and Valuation

This table compares B&M European Value Retail and ageas SA/NVs revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

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Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio B&M European Value Retail $6.38 billion 1.12 $576.37 million N/A N/A ageas SA/NV $16.30 billion 0.48 $999.72 million $6.04 6.90

ageas SA/NV has higher revenue and earnings than B&M European Value Retail.

Institutional and Insider Ownership

Profitability

0.0% of B&M European Value Retail shares are owned by institutional investors. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

This table compares B&M European Value Retail and ageas SA/NVs net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets B&M European Value Retail N/A N/A N/A ageas SA/NV N/A N/A N/A

Analyst Recommendations

This is a breakdown of current ratings and recommmendations for B&M European Value Retail and ageas SA/NV, as reported by MarketBeat.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score B&M European Value Retail 1 0 4 0 2.60 ageas SA/NV 1 3 4 0 2.38

B&M European Value Retail presently has a consensus target price of $615.00, indicating a potential upside of 2,054.12%. ageas SA/NV has a consensus target price of $40.33, indicating a potential downside of 3.28%. Given B&M European Value Retails stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, analysts plainly believe B&M European Value Retail is more favorable than ageas SA/NV.

Dividends

B&M European Value Retail pays an annual dividend of $0.60 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.1%. ageas SA/NV pays an annual dividend of $1.13 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.7%. ageas SA/NV pays out 18.7% of its earnings in the form of a dividend.

Volatility & Risk

B&M European Value Retail has a beta of 1.41, indicating that its share price is 41% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, ageas SA/NV has a beta of 0.71, indicating that its share price is 29% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Summary

B&M European Value Retail beats ageas SA/NV on 6 of the 9 factors compared between the two stocks.

About B&M European Value Retail

(Get Free Report)

B&M European Value Retail S.A. operates general merchandise and grocery stores. The company operates a chain of stores under the B&M, Heron Foods, and B&M Express in the United Kingdom; and stores under the B&M brand in France. It also provides property management services. The company was founded in 1978 and is based in Luxembourg, Luxembourg.

About ageas SA/NV

(Get Free Report)

ageas SA/NV, together with its subsidiaries, engages in insurance business in Europe and Asia. The company operates in five segments: Belgium, Europe, Asia, Reinsurance, and General Account. It primarily offers property, casualty, and life insurance products, as well as pension products; and reinsurance products. Its life insurance products include risks related to the life and death of individuals; and non-life insurance products comprise accident and health, motor, fire, and other insurance products, as well as other damages to property covering the risk of property losses or claims liabilities. The company serves private individuals, as well as small, medium-sized, and large companies through independent brokers and the bank channels. ageas SA/NV was founded in 1824 and is headquartered in Brussels, Belgium.

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Halliburton (NYSE:HAL  Get Free Report) SVP Jill D. Sharp sold 3,686 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, July 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $38.00, for a total value of $140,068.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 52,109 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,980,142. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website.

Halliburton Stock Down 2.3 %

Shares of NYSE:HAL opened at $36.89 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.54, a current ratio of 2.14 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.94. The business has a fifty day moving average of $31.85 and a two-hundred day moving average of $34.55. The stock has a market cap of $33.28 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.08, a PEG ratio of 0.53 and a beta of 2.13. Halliburton has a 52-week low of $23.30 and a 52-week high of $43.42.

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Halliburton (NYSE:HAL  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, April 25th. The oilfield services company reported $0.72 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.67 by $0.05. The company had revenue of $5.68 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $5.49 billion. Halliburton had a return on equity of 29.38% and a net margin of 9.04%. The firms quarterly revenue was up 32.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $0.35 EPS. On average, research analysts expect that Halliburton will post 3.09 earnings per share for the current year.

Halliburton Dividend Announcement

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, June 28th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, June 7th were issued a $0.16 dividend. This represents a $0.64 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.73%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, June 6th. Halliburtons payout ratio is currently 29.63%.

A number of research analysts have issued reports on the company. UBS Group decreased their price target on Halliburton from $49.00 to $46.00 in a report on Monday, July 3rd. Stifel Nicolaus reduced their target price on Halliburton from $49.00 to $48.00 in a research note on Wednesday. Capital One Financial assumed coverage on Halliburton in a research note on Wednesday, June 7th. They set an overweight rating and a $41.00 target price for the company. Benchmark reaffirmed a buy rating and set a $50.00 target price on shares of Halliburton in a research note on Monday, April 3rd. Finally, StockNews.com downgraded Halliburton from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Friday, May 26th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, fourteen have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Buy and a consensus target price of $47.68.

Institutional Trading of Halliburton

Several large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Czech National Bank grew its holdings in shares of Halliburton by 0.3% during the 2nd quarter. Czech National Bank now owns 106,831 shares of the oilfield services companys stock worth $3,524,000 after purchasing an additional 309 shares during the period. Kentucky Retirement Systems grew its holdings in shares of Halliburton by 0.4% during the 4th quarter. Kentucky Retirement Systems now owns 71,305 shares of the oilfield services companys stock worth $2,806,000 after purchasing an additional 311 shares during the period. Clarus Group Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Halliburton by 2.5% during the 4th quarter. Clarus Group Inc. now owns 13,561 shares of the oilfield services companys stock worth $534,000 after purchasing an additional 330 shares during the period. Toroso Investments LLC grew its holdings in shares of Halliburton by 3.3% during the 3rd quarter. Toroso Investments LLC now owns 10,443 shares of the oilfield services companys stock worth $257,000 after purchasing an additional 334 shares during the period. Finally, Birmingham Capital Management Co. Inc. AL grew its holdings in shares of Halliburton by 0.4% during the 4th quarter. Birmingham Capital Management Co. Inc. AL now owns 83,770 shares of the oilfield services companys stock worth $3,296,000 after purchasing an additional 338 shares during the period. 84.79% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Halliburton Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Halliburton Company provides products and services to the energy industry worldwide. It operates in two segments, Completion and Production, and Drilling and Evaluation. The Completion and Production segment offers production enhancement services that include stimulation and sand control services; cementing services, such as well bonding and casing, and casing equipment; completion tools that offer downhole solutions and services, including well completion products and services, intelligent well completions, and service tools, as well as liner hanger, sand control, and multilateral systems; production solutions comprising coiled tubing, hydraulic workover units, downhole tools, and pumping and nitrogen services; and pipeline and process services, such as pre-commissioning, commissioning, maintenance, and decommissioning.

Further Reading

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StockNews.com began coverage on shares of International Tower Hill Mines (NYSEAMERICAN:THM  Free Report) (TSE:ITH) in a report released on Wednesday morning. The brokerage issued a sell rating on the mining companys stock.

International Tower Hill Mines Stock Performance

THM opened at $0.46 on Wednesday. The companys 50 day simple moving average is $0.46 and its 200 day simple moving average is $0.52. International Tower Hill Mines has a 1 year low of $0.37 and a 1 year high of $0.75. The stock has a market capitalization of $89.42 million, a PE ratio of -22.94 and a beta of 0.70.

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Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A hedge fund recently raised its stake in International Tower Hill Mines stock. Renaissance Technologies LLC increased 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 filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 215,462 shares of the mining companys stock after purchasing an additional 140,462 shares during the period. Renaissance Technologies LLC owned 0.11% of International Tower Hill Mines worth $211,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Hedge funds and other institutional investors 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.

Further Reading

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Kasikornbank Public Company Limited (OTCMKTS:KPCPY  Get Free Report) was the recipient of a significant decline in short interest during the month of June. As of June 30th, there was short interest totalling 5,200 shares, a decline of 85.7% from the June 15th total of 36,300 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 136,200 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 0.0 days.

Kasikornbank Public Stock Performance

OTCMKTS KPCPY traded up $0.07 on Friday, reaching $15.63. 13,570 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 24,151. The businesss fifty day moving average price is $15.28 and its 200 day moving average price is $15.89. Kasikornbank Public has a fifty-two week low of $14.14 and a fifty-two week high of $18.92.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

Separately, The Goldman Sachs Group started coverage on Kasikornbank Public in a research note on Tuesday, May 2nd. They set a sell rating on the stock.

About Kasikornbank Public

Kasikornbank Public Company Limited, together with its subsidiaries, provides commercial banking products and services in Thailand and internationally. The company's personal banking products and services include savings, current, fixed deposit, and foreign currency accounts; personal, home, and auto loans; debit and credit cards; life and non-life insurance products; investment products, such as mutual funds, stocks, and derivatives/futures exchange; money transfer and bill payment, cheque and draft, and foreign exchange services; and digital banking services.

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PetroChina Company Limited (OTCMKTS:PCCYF  Get Free Report) was the recipient of a significant growth in short interest during the month of June. As of June 30th, there was short interest totalling 12,986,900 shares, a growth of 98.4% from the June 15th total of 6,546,700 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 443,600 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 29.3 days.

PetroChina Price Performance

PCCYF stock traded up $0.01 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $0.73. 63,500 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 287,719. PetroChina has a 52 week low of $0.37 and a 52 week high of $0.75. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $0.69.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Separately, HSBC raised shares of PetroChina from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, April 11th.

About PetroChina

PetroChina Company Limited, together with its subsidiaries, engages in a range of petroleum related products, services, and activities in Mainland China and internationally. It operates through Oil, Gas and New Energy Resource; Refining, Chemicals and New material; Marketing; and Natural Gas Sales segments.

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Prentiss Smith & Co. Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of The Charles Schwab Co. (NYSE:SCHW  Free Report) during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor purchased 61,926 shares of the financial services providers stock, valued at approximately $3,244,000. Charles Schwab accounts for about 2.4% of Prentiss Smith & Co. Inc.s holdings, making the stock its 19th largest holding.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. SOA Wealth Advisors LLC. increased its stake in Charles Schwab by 152.8% in the first quarter. SOA Wealth Advisors LLC. now owns 2,745 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $144,000 after purchasing an additional 1,659 shares during the period. Strategic Blueprint LLC increased its stake in Charles Schwab by 4.4% in the first quarter. Strategic Blueprint LLC now owns 14,868 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $779,000 after purchasing an additional 621 shares during the period. Keystone Financial Services increased its stake in Charles Schwab by 5.3% in the first quarter. Keystone Financial Services now owns 8,072 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $423,000 after purchasing an additional 409 shares during the period. Fort Washington Investment Advisors Inc. OH increased its stake in Charles Schwab by 4.6% in the first quarter. Fort Washington Investment Advisors Inc. OH now owns 84,238 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $4,412,000 after purchasing an additional 3,743 shares during the period. Finally, Allen Capital Group LLC purchased a new stake in Charles Schwab in the first quarter worth $3,688,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 82.77% of the companys stock.

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Charles Schwab Price Performance

Shares of NYSE SCHW opened at $58.52 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.74, a quick ratio of 0.39 and a current ratio of 0.39. The company has a market cap of $103.53 billion, a PE ratio of 15.99, a P/E/G ratio of 5.59 and a beta of 0.88. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $54.00 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $63.06. The Charles Schwab Co. has a fifty-two week low of $45.00 and a fifty-two week high of $86.63.

Charles Schwab Announces Dividend

Charles Schwab ( NYSE:SCHW Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Monday, April 17th. The financial services provider reported $0.93 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.90 by $0.03. The business had revenue of $5.12 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.13 billion. Charles Schwab had a return on equity of 27.83% and a net margin of 34.82%. The companys quarterly revenue was up 9.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $0.77 earnings per share. As a group, equities analysts expect that The Charles Schwab Co. will post 3.22 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, May 26th. Investors of record on Friday, May 12th were issued a dividend of $0.25 per share. This represents a $1.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.71%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, May 11th. Charles Schwabs dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 27.32%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, Chairman Charles R. Schwab sold 77,640 shares of Charles Schwab stock in a transaction dated Monday, May 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $51.76, for a total transaction of $4,018,646.40. Following the completion of the sale, the chairman now owns 59,771,278 shares of the companys stock, valued at $3,093,761,349.28. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 6.60% of the companys stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of analysts have weighed in on the company. Bank of America increased their target price on Charles Schwab from $46.00 to $53.00 in a research note on Thursday, June 15th. JMP Securities upgraded Charles Schwab from a market perform rating to an outperform rating and set a $73.00 price target on the stock in a research note on Monday, July 10th. Morgan Stanley lowered Charles Schwab from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating and cut their price target for the company from $99.00 to $68.00 in a research note on Thursday, March 30th. Jefferies Financial Group raised their price target on Charles Schwab from $64.00 to $66.00 in a research note on Monday, July 10th. Finally, Redburn Partners lowered Charles Schwab from a neutral rating to a sell rating in a research note on Thursday, April 20th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating and thirteen have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Charles Schwab currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $67.23.

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.

Further Reading

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).

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Bank of Cyprus Holdings Public Limited (OTCMKTS:BKCYF  Get Free Report) was the target of a significant growth in short interest during the month of June. As of June 30th, there was short interest totalling 4,300 shares, a growth of 72.0% from the June 15th total of 2,500 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 3,500 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 1.2 days.

Bank of Cyprus Holdings Public Stock Up 4.7 %

OTCMKTS BKCYF traded up C$0.16 during trading on Friday, reaching C$3.60. 25,221 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 7,647. The stocks 50-day moving average price is C$3.15 and its 200 day moving average price is C$2.68. Bank of Cyprus Holdings Public has a fifty-two week low of C$2.11 and a fifty-two week high of C$3.60.

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About Bank of Cyprus Holdings Public

(Get Free Report)

See Also

Bank of Cyprus Holdings Public Limited Company, through its subsidiaries, engages in the provision of banking, financial, and insurance services. It offers current, demand, savings, time, notice, instant access, and fixed deposits; housing, student, vehicle, mortgage, consumer, business and business premises, term, and home or investment loans; and asset finance, factoring, trade facilities, European financial, project finance, shipping finance, and syndicated and corporate lending services, as well as hire purchase services for car and equipment.

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BNP Paribas SA (OTCMKTS:BNPQY  Get Free Report) was the recipient of a large increase in short interest in June. As of June 30th, there was short interest totalling 58,300 shares, an increase of 460.6% from the June 15th total of 10,400 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 309,600 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 0.2 days.

BNP Paribas Stock Down 1.0 %

Shares of BNP Paribas stock traded down $0.32 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $31.76. The companys stock had a trading volume of 188,474 shares, compared to its average volume of 139,072. The firm has a market capitalization of $78.40 billion, a P/E ratio of 7.10, a PEG ratio of 0.35 and a beta of 1.48. BNP Paribas has a 1-year low of $20.19 and a 1-year high of $35.52. The company has a quick ratio of 0.82, a current ratio of 0.82 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.49. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $30.85 and a 200-day simple moving average of $31.54.

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BNP Paribas (OTCMKTS:BNPQY  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, May 3rd. The financial services provider reported $1.17 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.79 by ($0.62). The firm had revenue of $13.40 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $12.61 billion. BNP Paribas had a return on equity of 8.82% and a net margin of 22.04%. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that BNP Paribas will post 5.29 earnings per share for the current year.

BNP Paribas Increases Dividend

About BNP Paribas

The firm also recently disclosed a dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, June 13th. Investors of record on Friday, May 19th were issued a $1.7982 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, May 18th. This is a boost from BNP Paribass previous dividend of $1.66. This represents a yield of 5.67%. BNP Paribass dividend payout ratio is currently 39.59%.

(Get Free Report)

BNP Paribas SA provides various banking and financial products and services in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Americas, and the Asia Pacific. It operates through three divisions: Corporate & Institutional Banking; Commercial, Personal Banking & Services; and Investment & Protection Services.

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Southwest Airlines (NYSE:LUV  Free Report) had its price objective raised by Barclays from $38.00 to $40.00 in a research report released on Thursday morning, FlyOnTheWall reports.

Other equities research analysts have also issued reports about the company. 22nd Century Group reaffirmed a maintains rating on shares of Southwest Airlines in a research report on Monday, June 26th. Jefferies Financial Group boosted their target price on Southwest Airlines from $32.00 to $40.00 in a research report on Tuesday, July 11th. StockNews.com assumed coverage on Southwest Airlines in a research report on Thursday, May 18th. They set a hold rating on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered Southwest Airlines from an overweight rating to a neutral rating and dropped their price target for the company from $64.00 to $39.00 in a research report on Monday, May 8th. Finally, Bank of America upped their price target on Southwest Airlines from $39.00 to $45.00 in a research report on Monday, June 26th. Nine research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, four have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $44.53.

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Southwest Airlines Trading Down 1.8 %

Shares of Southwest Airlines stock opened at $36.36 on Thursday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.19, a current ratio of 1.26 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.78. The firm has a market cap of $21.64 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 36.36, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.44 and a beta of 1.19. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $32.60 and a 200-day simple moving average of $33.07. Southwest Airlines has a fifty-two week low of $28.40 and a fifty-two week high of $41.76.

Southwest Airlines Dividend Announcement

Southwest Airlines ( NYSE:LUV Get Free Report ) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, April 27th. The airline reported ($0.27) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of ($0.21) by ($0.06). The company had revenue of $5.70 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.73 billion. Southwest Airlines had a return on equity of 6.99% and a net margin of 2.65%. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 21.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the firm earned ($0.32) earnings per share. On average, equities analysts forecast that Southwest Airlines will post 2.62 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, July 12th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, June 21st were paid a dividend of $0.18 per share. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, June 20th. This represents a $0.72 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.98%. Southwest Airliness dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 72.00%.

Insider Transactions at Southwest Airlines

In other news, EVP Ryan C. Green sold 4,936 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, May 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $29.94, for a total transaction of $147,783.84. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 26,361 shares in the company, valued at approximately $789,248.34. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. 0.32% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Trading of Southwest Airlines

Hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. CoreCap Advisors LLC bought a new stake in Southwest Airlines during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $32,000. Samalin Investment Counsel LLC boosted its stake in Southwest Airlines by 247.5% during the 1st quarter. Samalin Investment Counsel LLC now owns 702 shares of the airlines stock valued at $32,000 after purchasing an additional 500 shares during the period. Pacific Center for Financial Services bought a new stake in Southwest Airlines during the 1st quarter valued at approximately $33,000. First Community Trust NA bought a new stake in Southwest Airlines during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $34,000. Finally, New England Capital Financial Advisors LLC bought a new stake in Southwest Airlines during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $38,000. Institutional investors own 75.81% of the companys stock.

About Southwest Airlines

(Get Free Report)

Southwest Airlines Co operates as a passenger airline company that provide scheduled air transportation services in the United States and near-international markets. As of December 31, 2022, the company operated a total fleet of 770 Boeing 737 aircrafts; and served 121 destinations in 42 states, the District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, as well as ten near-international countries, including Mexico, Jamaica, the Bahamas, Aruba, the Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, Belize, Cuba, the Cayman Islands, and Turks and Caicos.

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StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Holly Energy Partners (NYSE:HEP  Free Report) in a report released on Wednesday. The brokerage issued a buy rating on the pipeline companys stock.

Holly Energy Partners Price Performance

HEP stock opened at $18.87 on Wednesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.70, a current ratio of 1.38 and a quick ratio of 1.38. Holly Energy Partners has a one year low of $15.51 and a one year high of $19.85. The stock has a market cap of $2.39 billion, a PE ratio of 10.66 and a beta of 0.91. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $17.81 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $17.94.

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Holly Energy Partners (NYSE:HEP  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, May 4th. The pipeline company reported $0.45 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.42 by $0.03. The firm had revenue of $143.30 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $124.62 million. Holly Energy Partners had a net margin of 39.39% and a return on equity of 24.44%. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 19.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $0.45 EPS. On average, analysts predict that Holly Energy Partners will post 2.06 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Holly Energy Partners Dividend Announcement

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, May 11th. Investors of record on Monday, May 1st were issued a dividend of $0.35 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, April 28th. This represents a $1.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 7.42%. Holly Energy Partnerss dividend payout ratio is currently 79.10%.

Institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. BNP Paribas Arbitrage SNC raised its holdings in Holly Energy Partners by 246.9% in the 3rd quarter. BNP Paribas Arbitrage SNC now owns 1,797 shares of the pipeline companys stock worth $29,000 after purchasing an additional 1,279 shares in the last quarter. Belpointe Asset Management LLC bought a new position in Holly Energy Partners during the 4th quarter valued at about $45,000. Credit Suisse AG bought a new position in shares of Holly Energy Partners in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $77,000. Advisor Group Holdings Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Holly Energy Partners by 13.8% in the 4th quarter. Advisor Group Holdings Inc. now owns 4,787 shares of the pipeline companys stock worth $87,000 after purchasing an additional 579 shares during the period. Finally, Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. bought a new stake in Holly Energy Partners during the 1st quarter worth approximately $186,000. 25.30% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

About Holly Energy Partners

(Get Free Report)

Holly Energy Partners, L.P. provides petroleum product and crude oil transportation, terminalling, storage, and throughput services to the petroleum industry in the United States. It operates through two segments, Pipelines and Terminals; and Refinery Processing Unit. The company operates refined product pipelines that transport conventional gasolines, reformulated gasolines, and low-octane gasolines for oxygenate blending, as well as sulfur diesel and jet fuels, and liquefied petroleum gases; intermediate product pipelines that transport intermediate feedstocks and crude oils; and oil trunk, gathering, and connection pipelines that delivers crude oil.

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HSBC upgraded shares of Watches of Switzerland Group (OTC:WOSGF  Free Report) from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report released on Thursday, FlyOnTheWall reports.

Separately, Royal Bank of Canada initiated coverage on shares of Watches of Switzerland Group in a research report on Monday, May 15th. They issued an outperform rating for the company.

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Watches of Switzerland Group Stock Performance

Shares of OTC WOSGF opened at $8.44 on Thursday. Watches of Switzerland Group has a 52-week low of $7.40 and a 52-week high of $11.34. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $8.61 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $9.51.

Watches of Switzerland Group Company Profile

Watches of Switzerland Group PLC operates as a retailer of luxury watches. The company offers luxury watches and jewelry; fashion and classic watches and jewelry; and gifts, as well as provides servicing, repairs, and insurance services for fashion and classic watches and jewelry. It offers its products through transactional websites under the Goldsmiths, Mappin & Webb, Watches of Switzerland, Mayors Jewelers, and Betteridge brands.

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RLJ Lodging Trust (NYSE:RLJ  Free Report) had its price target upped by Wells Fargo & Company from $10.50 to $11.00 in a research note published on Wednesday, FlyOnTheWall reports.

Separately, StockNews.com began coverage on RLJ Lodging Trust in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. They set a hold rating on the stock. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, RLJ Lodging Trust presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $14.60.

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RLJ Lodging Trust Stock Performance

NYSE:RLJ opened at $10.07 on Wednesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.10, a quick ratio of 3.55 and a current ratio of 3.55. RLJ Lodging Trust has a 52-week low of $9.27 and a 52-week high of $13.48. The firm has a market cap of $1.60 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 38.73, a PEG ratio of 0.89 and a beta of 1.74. The businesss fifty day moving average is $10.44 and its 200 day moving average is $10.77.

RLJ Lodging Trust Dividend Announcement

Hedge Funds Weigh In On RLJ Lodging Trust

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, July 17th. Stockholders of record on Friday, June 30th will be issued a $0.08 dividend. This represents a $0.32 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.18%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, June 29th. RLJ Lodging Trusts payout ratio is currently 123.08%.

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Nordea Investment Management AB purchased a new position in shares of RLJ Lodging Trust in the 4th quarter worth about $3,723,000. GSA Capital Partners LLP boosted its holdings in shares of RLJ Lodging Trust by 219.1% in the 4th quarter. GSA Capital Partners LLP now owns 177,005 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $1,874,000 after purchasing an additional 121,540 shares in the last quarter. LSV Asset Management boosted its holdings in RLJ Lodging Trust by 85.6% during the 4th quarter. LSV Asset Management now owns 1,348,390 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $14,279,000 after acquiring an additional 621,795 shares during the period. Duality Advisers LP purchased a new stake in RLJ Lodging Trust during the 4th quarter valued at about $328,000. Finally, Mitsubishi UFJ Kokusai Asset Management Co. Ltd. boosted its holdings in RLJ Lodging Trust by 9.8% during the 4th quarter. Mitsubishi UFJ Kokusai Asset Management Co. Ltd. now owns 84,112 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $879,000 after acquiring an additional 7,479 shares during the period. 92.98% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

RLJ Lodging Trust Company Profile

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RLJ Lodging Trust is a self-advised, publicly traded real estate investment trust that owns primarily premium-branded, high-margin, focused-service and compact full-service hotels. The Company's portfolio currently consists of 96 hotels with approximately 21,200 rooms, located in 23 states and the District of Columbia and an ownership interest in one unconsolidated hotel with 171 rooms.

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StockNews.com lowered shares of Williams-Sonoma (NYSE:WSM  Free Report) from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report released on Wednesday.

Several other brokerages also recently weighed in on WSM. Citigroup reduced their target price on shares of Williams-Sonoma from $127.00 to $123.00 in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. Robert W. Baird lowered their price target on shares of Williams-Sonoma from $130.00 to $125.00 in a report on Wednesday, May 24th. Telsey Advisory Group lowered their target price on shares of Williams-Sonoma from $155.00 to $142.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, March 14th. Bank of America decreased their price objective on shares of Williams-Sonoma from $114.00 to $108.00 in a research note on Friday, March 17th. Finally, Loop Capital decreased their price objective on shares of Williams-Sonoma from $205.00 to $185.00 in a research note on Friday, March 17th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have given a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $126.00.

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Williams-Sonoma Stock Down 2.3 %

Shares of NYSE:WSM opened at $126.83 on Wednesday. The stock has a market cap of $8.15 billion, a PE ratio of 8.33, a PEG ratio of 0.96 and a beta of 1.61. The companys fifty day moving average is $120.83 and its 200 day moving average is $122.22. Williams-Sonoma has a 52 week low of $109.22 and a 52 week high of $176.89.

Williams-Sonoma Dividend Announcement

Williams-Sonoma ( NYSE:WSM Get Free Report ) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, May 23rd. The specialty retailer reported $2.64 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.41 by $0.23. The firm had revenue of $1.76 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.80 billion. Williams-Sonoma had a net margin of 12.07% and a return on equity of 72.68%. The companys revenue for the quarter was down 7.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $3.50 EPS. Sell-side analysts anticipate that Williams-Sonoma will post 13.49 EPS for the current year.

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, August 25th. Investors of record on Friday, July 21st will be issued a dividend of $0.90 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, July 20th. This represents a $3.60 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.84%. Williams-Sonomas payout ratio is 23.65%.

Insider Activity

In other news, EVP Karalyn Smith sold 1,533 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, July 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $131.64, for a total transaction of $201,804.12. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 9,185 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,209,113.40. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. 1.60% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Institutional Trading of Williams-Sonoma

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of WSM. Lakewood Asset Management LLC grew its stake in shares of Williams-Sonoma by 1.1% during the 2nd quarter. Lakewood Asset Management LLC now owns 14,755 shares of the specialty retailers stock worth $1,846,000 after acquiring an additional 165 shares in the last quarter. Tilia Fiduciary Partners Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Williams-Sonoma during the second quarter worth approximately $788,000. Artemis Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Williams-Sonoma during the second quarter worth $38,000. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. increased its stake in Williams-Sonoma by 18.5% during the 2nd quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. now owns 6,509 shares of the specialty retailers stock worth $814,000 after acquiring an additional 1,015 shares during the period. Finally, Pacer Advisors Inc. increased its position in shares of Williams-Sonoma by 5.4% in the second quarter. Pacer Advisors Inc. now owns 603,086 shares of the specialty retailers stock worth $75,470,000 after purchasing an additional 30,976 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 98.90% of the companys stock.

About Williams-Sonoma

(Get Free Report)

Williams-Sonoma, Inc operates as an omni-channel specialty retailer of various products for home. It offers cooking, dining, and entertaining products, such as cookware, tools, electrics, cutlery, tabletop and bar, outdoor, furniture, and a library of cookbooks under the Williams Sonoma Home brand, as well as home furnishings and decorative accessories under the Williams Sonoma lifestyle brand; and furniture, bedding, lighting, rugs, table essentials, and decorative accessories under the Pottery Barn brand.

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BEIJING, July 15 (Xinhua)  Chinese President Xi Jinping has stressed the need to thoroughly implement the important guidelines of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee on boosting China's strength in cyberspace, and to vigorously advance the high-quality development of the work on cybersecurity and informatization.

Xi, also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks in a recent instruction on the work of cybersecurity and informatization.

Since the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012, China has achieved significant progress in the cybersecurity and informatization work, with the Party's leadership of the work strengthened across the board, Xi said.

He said that China has put in place a system for integrated cyberspace management, and its system and capacity for cybersecurity have been constantly improving.

The country has accelerated its efforts to boost self-reliance and strength in science and technology while strengthening law-based governance of cyberspace, Xi said, adding that new strides have been made in boosting China's strength in cyberspace.

He said the important role of the cybersecurity and informatization work is increasingly prominent in the new era.

Xi stressed adherence to several principles, including the Party exercising leadership over cyberspace affairs, developing cyberspace affairs for the people, and taking a path of internet governance with Chinese characteristics.

He also underscored the need to coordinate development and security, strengthen the capability to ensure cybersecurity of the country, and promote building a community of a shared future in cyberspace.

Vigorous efforts should be made to advance the high-quality development of the cybersecurity and informatization undertakings, and make new achievements in boosting China's strength in cyberspace, thus making new contributions to building a modern socialist country in all respects and advancing national rejuvenation on all fronts, Xi said in the instruction.

A national meeting on work concerning cybersecurity and informatization was held from Friday to Saturday in Beijing.

Cai Qi, 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, attended the meeting and made a speech.

Xi's instruction was conveyed by Ding Xuexiang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and vice premier, who also attended the meeting.

Xi's instruction has charted the course for advancing the cybersecurity and informatization work in the new era, and must be implemented, Cai said.

Cai called for solid efforts to implement the strategic arrangements made at the 20th CPC National Congress regarding the cybersecurity and informatization work.

In his summary speech, Li Shulei, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, called for promoting high-quality development of the cybersecurity and informatization work to provide strong support for building China into a great country and achieving national rejuvenation.

A national meeting on work concerning cybersecurity and informatization is held in Beijing, capital of China, from July 14 to 15, 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, attended the meeting and made a speech. Chinese President Xi Jinping's instruction was conveyed by Ding Xuexiang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and vice premier, who also attended the meeting. [Xinhua/Ding Haitao]

A national meeting on work concerning cybersecurity and informatization is held in Beijing, capital of China, from July 14 to 15, 2023. 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, delivered a summary speech at the meeting. [Xinhua/Zhang Ling]

(Source: Xinhua)
It seems like a thousand years ago that Republicans projected strength, stability and resolve. Today, theyre all about victimhood, weakness and whining.

In the 1980s, toughness was baked into the GOP brand. Democrats were viewed as compassionate and nurturing; Republicans were perceived as sturdy and reliable.

Remember this campaign ad for President Ronald Reagans 1984 reelection bid? Theres a bear in the woods, the narrator warned, in a reference to the Soviet Union. The message: You want protection? Vote Republican.

So its strange that today, there is one subject that makes the right wing tremble with anxiety. The mere mention of the word has been known to give conservatives panic attacks.

As Republicans see it, what Thomas Jefferson really meant to declare in 1776 was that all men have the unalienable right to life, liberty and the freedom to not feel guilty about anything having to do with race  or awkward, or even a tad uncomfortable about it.

The right wing seems to think that were living at the End of Days and that the Four Horsemen are Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Wokeness. The fourth isas far as many conservatives are concernedthe destructive force that unleashed the other three.

Demographers predict that, by 2042, whites will become a statistical minority in the U.S. White people are well aware of this reality  and have been for decades. It makes them fearful, fragile and frustrated. These emotions have, in turn, fueled Republican-led crackdowns on immigration, a war on affirmative action and an attack on critical race theory.

The new target for the GOP is diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives at public institutions of higher education. For these colleges, DEI often means making an effort to increase staff diversity and promote a culture of acceptance, equality and inclusivity among staff and students. Whats wrong with that?

Yet, as with affirmative action and critical race theory, the fact that many of its critics cant properly define DEI doesnt stop them from attacking the concept.

In May, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) signed a bill into law that bans public colleges and universities from spending money on DEI programs, which he described as an experiment that failed.

If you look at the way this has actually been implemented across the country, DEI is better viewed as standing for discrimination, exclusion and indoctrination, DeSantis told reporters at the time. And that has no place in our public institutions.

The law  which fits DeSantiss presidential campaign narrative of being a cultural warrior  also restricts what can be taught in the classroom and bans courses that distort significant historical events or include a curriculum that teaches identity politics.

Meanwhile, in Texas, Gov. Greg Abbott (R) also has jumped on the anti-DEI bandwagon. In June, he signed a bill that closes down DEI offices at public colleges and universities across the Lone Star State and bans mandatory diversity training for students and staff. The legislation dictates that institutions must not endorse an ideology that promotes the differential treatment of an individual or group of individuals based on race, color, or ethnicity or require students and employees to disclose on forms their race, color, ethnicity, or national origin unless that information is necessary for demographic purposes.

The Republican state lawmakers who pushed the bill insisted that DEI creates division and  laughably  promotes racial profiling.

There are now more than a dozen states  most of them controlled by the GOP  where legislators have introduced or passed bills that curtail or eliminate DEI programs at colleges and universities.

We can expect that two things will happen next. First, the number of states banning DEI will grow. And second, the attack on diversity, equity and inclusion will shift to the workplace as DEI initiatives at companies and corporations become the new target.

DEI efforts are a harmless and often halfhearted attempt by well-meaning institutions to improve our society. Theyre meant to sensitize people by giving them knowledge and empathy that might make them more enlightened about issues that touch on race and ethnicity. The hope is that we might all get along better. Ironically, the fact that there is, at least in one of our political parties, so much resistance to DEI programs proves there is a need for them.

And to think, conservatives get upset over the lefts supposed obsession with race. Guess who is obsessing over it now?
Suspect in Georgia mass shooting that killed 4 people is dead, official says
The German federal government, together with the 16 states, has now agreed on key points for the hospital reforms proposed by Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (Social Democratic Party, SPD). These so-called reforms will lead to unprecedented hospital closures and significantly worsen healthcare provisions for working people.

German Health Minister Karl Lauterbach prior to the weekly cabinet meeting at the Chancellery in Berlin, Germany, Wednesday, February 1, 2023. [AP Photo/Michael Sohn]

In December, the expert commission appointed by the Ministry of Health presented its draft proposals. The commission was headed by Professor Boris Augurzky of the Rheinisch-Westfalisches Wirtschaftsinstitut (RWI) and Reinhard Busse, Professor of Health Care Management at Berlins Technical University, both of whom have been calling for the large-scale closure of hospitals for years. This draft has now essentially been passed after some squabbling with the state governments. Only Bavaria voted against, Schleswig-Holstein abstained.

The reform was a kind of revolution, Lauterbach asserted after agreement was reached. In future, hospital financing is to be linked to the quality of services and no longer to the number of treatments carried out. Allegedly, this will make per-case flat rates less important, and hospitals will be paid for providing good services.

Payment based on flat rates per case were introduced in 2004 by the then SPD-Green coalition government as part of its socially regressive Agenda 2010 policies, a process in which Lauterbach was significantly involved. Together with the transformation of hospitals into profit-oriented and partly private companies, these measures contributed to the deterioration of health care and the intolerable working conditions in hospitals and clinics. In the name of the alleged abolition of flat-rate payments per case, Lauterbach is now striking the next blow against public healthcare.

To measure the performance of hospitals, uniform performance groups with minimum requirements are to be defined. As Lauterbach and other advocates of the reforms keep repeating, this is to ensure that complex treatments, such as those for cancer or strokes, are only carried out in clinics that are appropriately equipped and staffed.

Contrary to the protestations, this will in no way lead to better care, because not an additional cent will be made available, as would be urgently needed for the necessary equipment or sufficiently well-paid staff. In fact, it will only lead to the closure of departments or entire hospitals, as the German Hospital Association and numerous other experts have long protested. Only in exceptional cases do exemption rules apply in this matter, and these only for a limited period.

It also remains completely open how long waiting times at specialised high-performance clinics will be and who will have privileged access to them. In the UK, where the Sunak Tory government is in the process of killing off the National Health Service, it is already almost impossible for seriously ill patients without expensive private insurance to get a timely appointment for treatment, leading to unnecessary deaths.

Another central aspect of Lauterbachs reforms are so-called retention fees. Up to now, hospitals have only been paid for cases treated; in future, an average of 60 percent of the costs are to be covered by the retention fees. According to Lauterbach, this would relieve economic pressures and secure the existence of hospitals despite lower case numbers.

This is pure eyewash. The money will still be linked to the number of treatments, because flat rates per case are not being abolished, but at best supplemented. At the same time, the total volume of funds, which is far too low, will not change at all. Lauterbach had stated from the beginning that no additional money would flow into hospital financing.

Moreover, there is still no concrete information on how these flat rates will be calculated. They will not be ring-fenced, which means private hospital groups, for example, can use them to pay dividends to their shareholders.

There was no agreement yet on the classification of hospitals into care levels, as proposed by the expert commission. Lauterbach wants to regulate this centrally and publish the corresponding data in January next year. Materially, the level classification was not important, so the Lander (federal states) did not have to adopt it, Lauterbach said. The Lander are resisting this and insist on their own criteria.

Free Democratic Party (FDP) health politician Lars Lindemann explained what was behind the plans to publish so-called quality data for hospitals. We need a great deal of openness about what certain structures in the hospital sector are capable of, Lindemann said. Hospitals that could not provide certain services at a certain level of quality would have to stop doing so in case of doubt and leave the field. That is painful, but that is the way it is.

The federal and state governments, on the other hand, agreed that hospitals would not receive any financial aid until the reforms came into force on January 1, although this was urgently needed.

Hospitals are confronted with enormous price increases. The coronavirus subsidies have expired and due to the glaring shortage of nursing staff, numerous beds or entire wards have had to remain closed. Never have so many hospitals in Germany been in the red as today.

When asked whether, in view of this situation, the federal government should not provide emergency aid, Lauterbach stated coldly: I cant give any hope there, adding that no funds had been earmarked for this in the federal budget.

In fact, the cuts in the health budget for the coming year are staggering. From 64.4 billion [$US72.1 billion] in 2022 and 24.5 billion in the current year, it will drop to 16.2 billion next year. It will thus be cut to a quarter within two years. The money will be used directly for military rearmament.

The fact that numerous hospitals will slide into insolvency this year due to the refusal to provide aid is a political calculation. This is intended to accelerate the closures demanded by Lauterbach and the expert commission.

The German Hospital Association (DKG) predicts a wave of bankruptcies already for the current year. We run the risk that ten to 20 percent of hospitals will then have to file for insolvency, says the DKG. The deficits burdening hospitals will add up to 15 billion by the end of the year. The Association of Municipal Hospitals is warning of up to one hundred insolvencies this year.

According to a survey by the Baden-Wurttemberg Hospital Association (BWKG), 77 percent of the states hospitals say they expected to incur a deficit this year. That is significantly more than last year, when 62 percent were in the red. The total deficit last year was about 500 million, this year an 800 million minus is expected.

The agreement between the federal and state governments shows that all the establishment parties support the hospital closures and cuts. The Left Partys criticism of the key points is therefore hypocritical and abhorrent.

The hospital reform is so poorly crafted that the entire sector is unsettled, complained Tobias Schulze, health policy spokesman for the Left Party in the Berlin state assembly. In addition to this harmless criticism, the party presented its own health policy concept at the end of last week. But it failed to mention that Thuringia and Bremen, where the Left Party either provides the state prime minister or is involved in the state government, have spoken out in favour of the reforms.

What is known so far about the Left Partys concept does not go beyond empty promises. According to its paper, hospitals should work according to the principle of self-cost recovery, i.e., they would be reimbursed for the costs incurred. The prerequisite for this would have to be that the respective providers signed up to a collective agreement with the unions, the Left Party argues. The experience of recent years shows that this has nothing to do with ensuring adequate working conditions. At the Charite hospital in Berlin, for example, nursing staff fought for months for better working conditionsdespite being covered by collective agreementsand were sold out by the Verdi union and the SPD-Left Party-Green state executive.

The demand for the insourcing of outsourced hospital departments is also hypocritical. Not only did the Left Party in Berlin outsource many areas 20 years ago to save money, but the subsequent insourcing only served the purpose of cementing poor wages in place.

Under the slogan remunicipalisation of private hospitals, the Left Party now pretends that it wants to stop the further privatisation of health facilities. But the question of whether remunicipalisation means the expropriation of the private health corporations was explicitly denied by party leader Janine Wissler.
Numerous pseudo-left and corporate media outlets internationally have published glorifying tributes to Peruvian ex-radical Hugo Blanco since his death on June 25 at the age of 88.

Hugo Blanco talks during a NoExpo protest in front of Eataly food chain in Milan, Italy, Saturday, May 2, 2015. [AP Photo/Luca Bruno]

The Stalinist Communist Party of Peru (Patria Roja) praised his example of simplicity. The Socialist Party (formerly the Unified Mariateguista Party), which belongs to the pseudo-left bourgeois coalition Nuevo Peru, organized his funeral rites. Prensa Latina, the publication of the Cuban Castroite government approvingly cited him saying: I used to fight for the peasants and workers; today I do it for the human species. Jacobin, the magazine associated with the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), praised him as one of the greatest socialist fighters in Latin America during the 20th century.

Most effusively, the International Workers League published a biographical sketch days before his death that begins by citing the IWLs founder and Blancos closest collaborator for decades: Nahuel Moreno used to say that Hugo Blanco was the greatest Trotskyist mass leader after Trotsky. That holds true today.

The obituaries speak to the nationalist political calculations of their authors, who are dedicated today to providing a left cover for the ruling elites attacks on living and working conditions and its turn to war and dictatorship.

Blanco abandoned any pretense of an association with Trotskyism and socialism decades ago. He embraced the post-modernist rejection of the revolutionary role of the working class, advocating instead broad-based social movements founded upon the lowest common denominators of bourgeois environmentalism, indigenous nationalism and identity politics. He glorified the 1994 Zapatista uprising in Chiapas, Mexico, and became a supporter of Evo Morales, Hugo Chavez, Rafael Correa and other bourgeois nationalist governments.

Much of the sympathy of the pseudo-left groups today for Blanco derives from their having themselves discarded any genuine left-wing politics, paying lip service to socialism solely to deceive the working class.

One particularly revealing obituary was published by the Argentine pseudo-left Partido Obrero, which is currently working to form a coalition with a section of the ruling Peronist party. Before claiming that Blanco was always a militant fighter and indicating that the PO collaborated many times with his struggle, the obituary polemicizes that Hugo Blanco should have never been advised against building the Left Revolutionary Alliance (ARI) in 1980, an electoral alliance that brought together 90 percent of the Peruvian left, as described by the PO.

ARI was composed of several Castroite, Maoist, Stalinist and other petty-bourgeois nationalist groups, and Blanco was photographed leading several ARI rallies with images of Trotsky next to Stalin and Mao. Even outside of the ARI, Blanco, who had received the most votes nationally (12 percent) in a Constituent Assembly election in 1978, was working with these forces to divert the working class upsurge that erupted after a general strike in 1977, which brought down the military dictatorship of Gen. Francisco Morales Bermudez.

Blanco, who would soon become a legislator and liquidate the Pabloite Socialist Workers Party (PRT) into the bourgeois Mariateguista Unified Party, spurned the ARI based on opportunist calculations. However, today, as Argentina enters an historic economic and political crisis, the Partido Obrero is promoting the legacy of the ARI to justify its formation of an Argentine version of Greeces Syriza, a thoroughly capitalist and pro-imperialist party. The PO had already called for refounding the Fourth International with Russian Stalinist supporters of the Putin government.

Blanco is mainly known in Peru and internationally for organizing peasant unions and leading land seizures by indigenous peasants against the semi-feudal landowners in the northern valleys of the Cusco department in Peru, between 1959 and 1963. Just two years earlier, as a college student in Argentina in his mid-20s, he had entered politics by joining the tendency led by Argentine opportunist Nahuel Moreno.

While formally belonging to the Trotskyist International Committee of the Fourth International, by the mid-1950s Moreno had turned his group Palabra Obrera into an appendage of the movement led by bourgeois nationalist general Juan Domingo Peron, whose government had been overthrown in September 1955.

As demonstrated by numerous letters and Hugo Blancos own account in his book Tierra o Muerte, Moreno and his associates in the so-called Latin American Secretariat of Orthodox Trotskyism (SLATO) consistently pushed its small group of followers in Peru, including Blanco, to maintain an orientation to the peasantry as the vanguard of the Peruvian revolution and to prepare an insurrection largely modeled after Fidel Castros guerrilla movement in Cuba, which came to power in 1959.

By 1961, SLATO had focused its work and resources in Cusco and sent three experienced Argentine members to support Blancos peasant unions once they had gained a mass following and as land seizures spread.

No systematic work was carried out in the fast-growing Peruvian working class, and work in the cities was limited to building a Revolutionary Front or FIR, which was oriented to the petty-bourgeois activists who had recently broken with the bourgeois APRA party and the Stalinist Communist Party based on Castroite conceptions. As indicated by Blanco, FIR was dedicated to preparing bank robberies to arm a peasant insurrection.

Discussions within SLATO were limited to questions of tactics and timing, on whether to prioritize building peasant unions, launching FIR as a peasant party or technical preparations for a peasant uprising by forming guerrilla groups or militias. The rejection of the basic tenets of Marxism and adaptation to Castroism and the Stalinist bureaucracy in the USSR (friendly states) by Moreno was summarized in a letter to the SLATO members in Peru in March 1963:

All triumphant revolutions in the post-war period have demonstrated that Marxist revolutionary parties are not necessary for the victory of revolutions but they have also unequivocally shown the following: First, armed action can only be launched by parties and leaders of a great power acknowledged by the mass movements of their countries, while being totally disciplined and centralized. Second, armed actions can only be initiated with the support of certain social classes or the distorted expression of those social classes: friendly states.

A second bank robbery in April 1963ultimately signed off on by Morenoled to the arrest of most FIR militants and the pursuit of Blanco, who responded by attempting to establish a guerrilla group before being captured in May. A death sentence by a military tribunal was only overturned thanks to an international campaign and strikes and protests within Peru in his defense.

The following month, in June 1963, the Reunification Congress took place between the US Socialist Workers Party (SWP) and the Pabloites. The Pabloites divergence from Trotskyism had only deepened in the decade since the SWP led the struggle against Pabloism in 1953, leading to the formation of the ICFI. Pablos call for liquidating Trotskyist cadre into Stalinism and other counterrevolutionary and nationalist forces found concrete and even more reactionary expression in reunification documents which concluded that a blunted instrument like Castros guerrillas sufficed to establish a workers state and socialism. Moreno and numerous Latin American groups followed the SWP into the new United Secretariat.

The Socialist Labour League in Britain waged a principled struggle against Pabloism and the betrayal by the SWP, maintaining the continuity of the world Trotskyist movement under the leadership of the ICFI.

In Tierra o Muerte, published in 1972, Blanco defends his political actions in Cusco, his promotion of Indian nationalism and his use of guerrilla warfare as a tactic. The only lesson he draws is that a political party should have been built based on the peasantry to avoid the isolation of our peasant movement.

The politics of the Peruvian Morenoites during 1958-1963 can be summarized as a variant of nationalist opportunism, which took the form of peasant radicalism. This was not different in fundamental aspects from Russian Narodism, which based itself on terrorist tactics, land seizures and peasant self-governance. It was precisely in opposition to Narodism that the Russian Marxist movement was built in the 1880s.

The insistence by Moreno and Blanco that the conditions in the backward countries called for the building of a party based upon the peasantry as a substitute for the working class was addressed by Trotsky in his analysis of the Stalinist bureaucracys betrayal of the Chinese Revolution in 1927. This struggle remains a basic resource in the education of Trotskyist cadre in Latin America.

The Chinese Communist Party was ordered by the Stalinist bureaucracy in Moscow to enter and subordinate itself to the bourgeois Kuomintang party, which proceeded to slaughter the Communists. This was preceded and prepared by Stalins call for establishing worker-peasant parties like Kuomintang across Asia. Trotsky wrote:

Marxism has always taught, and Bolshevism, too, accepted, and taught, that the peasantry and proletariat are two different classes, that it is false to identify their interests in capitalist society in any way, and that a peasant can join the communist party only if, from the property viewpoint, he adopts the views of the proletariat Those organizations which in capitalist countries label themselves peasant parties are in reality one of the varieties of bourgeois parties. Every peasant who has not adopted the proletarian position, abandoning his proprietor psychology, will inevitably follow the bourgeoisie when it comes to fundamental political issues.

While their actions may have accelerated the dissolution of the brutally oppressive landed estates in the northern corner of Cuzco, the politics pursued by Moreno, Blanco and the SLATO undermined the struggle for socialist revolution.

The entire outlook of these tendencies was based upon a thoroughgoing rejection of the ABCs of Trotskys Theory of Permanent Revolution, which takes as its starting point not the national conditions in a given country, but their context within world economy and world political relations. Trotsky insisted that the uncompleted tasks of the bourgeois revolution, and in particular the land question, in countries with a belated capitalist development could be resolved only by the independent revolutionary struggle of the working class, leading the masses of oppressed peasants behind it. Achieving power, the working class would be compelled to carry out measures of a socialist character. Moreover, the social revolution in a given oppressed country could survive only through the extension of the revolution into the advanced capitalist countries and, ultimately, throughout the world.

Instead of fighting for the independent political mobilization and international unification of the working class, Moreno, Blanco and the Pabloite tendency of which they were a part played a key role in sowing political confusion among workers and radicalized youth across Peru and Latin America. They facilitated the growth of suicidal Castroite guerrillas and the influence of bourgeois nationalist movements, which ultimately served to further subjugate Peruvian workers and peasants to imperialism.

Moreover, their policy handed the political influence over the peasantry to the national bourgeoisie against the working class. This culminated in the 1969 agrarian reform under the military dictatorship of Gen. Juan Velasco Alvarado, which dissolved all hacienda estates with compensation, including forcing those already seized by peasants to pay their previous owners. Freed by Velasco, Blanco opposed becoming a poster boy for the reform and its concessions to landowners, which led to Blancos expulsion into exile. However, the Morenoites had already helped block the only alternative: the independent struggle of the working class against the bourgeoisie. This situation was exploited by the Stalinist and Maoist Communist Party factions, which rapidly increased their influence in the sierras and openly backed Velasco.

Rampant inequality and misery still characterize the rural Andean sierras. These are overseen today by an indigenous farmer and commercial bourgeoisie along with the mining corporations. They have the highest poverty rates of any geographical region in Peru, with 86 percent living under or on the verge of official poverty. Meanwhile, the ongoing political disenfranchisement of the rural and urban masses has been confirmed by the repeated military dictatorships and coups as factions of the ruling elite compete to serve the interests of imperialism and its mining and agro-industrial transnational corporations.

Today, all pseudo-left and Stalinist forces that hail Blanco, along with the trade union bureaucracies they control, are hostile to mobilizing the key sections of the working class against the fascistic regime of Dina Boluarte, which has used lethal force to crush widespread protests against the overthrow and arrest last December of elected president Pedro Castillo.

Instead, at a time when 80 percent of Peruvians live in cities, all nominally left forces insist on handing the initiative to Takeovers of Lima by the indigenous population from the sierras, leading to several marches to the capital. Today these indigenous forces are politically controlled by the local bourgeois factions, which were the chief base of the Castillo administration, and are merely attempting to extract greater concessions from the central authorities and the mining transnationals.

Drawing the lessons of the betrayals committed against the working class by Morenoism and other variants of Pabloism in Peru and internationally has never been more urgent. Above all, this means building sections of the International Committee of the Fourth International (ICFI) in Peru and across Latin America to lead the independent and international mobilization of workers for socialist revolution, leading behind it all other oppressed layers of the population.
25 years ago: Yeltsin reburies Tsar Nicholas II with honors

On July 17, 1998, 80 years to the day after their execution by revolutionary forces in the midst of the civil war that followed the Russian Revolution of 1917, the Russian government buried the remains of Tsar Nicholas II and his family in a ceremony at Saint Peter and Paul Cathedral in St. Petersburg.

In a speech at the funeral, Russias President Boris Yeltsin declared, The burial is an act of humane justice, a symbol of unification in Russia and redemption of common guilt. He called for atonement for one of the most shameful pages of our history.

Tomb of Tsar Nicholas II and his family [Photo by Richard Mortel / CC BY 2.0

The Russian population had been inundated in previous weeks with accounts of the glories of tsardom. The Russian president spoke in florid terms at the ceremony about the tsar and his family.

Nicholas II, who reigned from 1894 to 1917, presided in luxurious fashion over a semi-feudal regime that oppressed the masses of ordinary Russian people. The wealth of the aristocracy and the royal family depended on the dire misery of tens of millions of peasants and several million urban workers. Tsarist Russia was synonymous throughout the civilized world with backwardness, repression and ignorance. Nicholas maintained his power through the mobilization of a vast army of policemen and police spies. Every progressive political movement and idea was banned. The regime exiled thousands of political opponents to Siberia; thousands more died in medieval prisons; it executed hundreds more.

In his speech, Yeltsin, the man who ordered his own parliament building bombed and prosecuted a brutal war against Chechen nationalist forces, hypocritically condemned violence in all its forms as doomed and raised the spiritual importance of the end of the millennium.

The fate of the tsar and tsarina was sealed by the outbreak and course of the civil war. Trotsky proposed at a meeting of the Bolsheviks Politburo that Nicholas be placed on trial and that a full portrait of his rule be painted in open court. He suggested that the trial be broadcast on radio. There was some sympathy for the proposal, but the invasion of the Soviet workers state by 14 foreign armies, led by Britain and France, aimed at the crushing of the revolution, made it impracticable.

By July 1918 the military situation for the Red forces in Yekaterinburg had become increasingly precarious. White armies were advancing, and the Bolsheviks feared that if the royal family fell into the hands of the counterrevolution they might become a living symbol to the wavering and more backward layers of the rural population. So, on July 17, 1918, the tsar and his family were executed, sharing the fate of Charles I of England, Louis XVI of France and other victims of the tide of human progress.

50 years ago: Afghanistan coup ends monarchy, establishes dictatorship

King Zahir Shah photographed in 1963

On July 17, 1973, Mohammad Daoud Khan, the leading general of the Afghan military, launched a successful coup against King Mohammad Zahir Shah. At the time, Zahir Shah was out of the country receiving medical treatment in Italy. Upon assuming power Khan abolished the monarchy and established a one-party state with himself at the head.

The coup was relatively bloodless, with only seven police officers killed as the army took control of the major government offices. Once word of the coup reached Shah, he immediately responded by announcing his abdication, admitting that Afghans, with absolute majority welcomed a republican regime.

Khan was Shahs cousin and had previously served as Prime Minister from 1953 to 1963. At the end of this period a political split emerged between the two. At the time, Khan favored a closer alliance with the Soviet Union and had proposed that Shah himself reform the government into a republican system.

Shah preferred to keep Afghanistan officially non-aligned with either the United States or the Soviet Union in the Cold War, hoping to maneuver between the two as it advantaged him. He rejected Khans proposals and in 1963 demanded his resignation as Prime Minister. In 1964 he created a new constitution which banned any member of the royal family from holding ministerial positions, a move specifically designed to keep Khan out of high office.

Khan, however, maintained his position in the army and remained an important figure in politics. In the decade following his ousting as Prime Minister he gradually consolidated around himself a bloc of different political factions who would support his seizure of power in 1973.

Outside of the army, the most important of these factions was the Peoples Democratic Party of Afghanistan (PDPA). The PDPA was Afghanistans Stalinist party, which had held a handful of seats in parliament during the Shah monarchy. Khan pledged to bring PDPA members into his cabinet if they supported and provided assistance to his coup, which the Stalinists agreed to with little hesitation.

In his first years in power Khan pursued policies designed to modernize Afghanistan economically. These included the nationalization of banks and industrialization initiatives. Much of these measures were overseen by the Stalinist PDPA ministers.

In 1977 Khan reformed the constitution, officially enshrining his National Revolutionary Party as the sole legal ruling party. He began a purge of PDPA members from the government, distanced himself from support for the Soviet Union and began closer collaboration with the United States and Egypt, which by that time had also broken from their Soviet alliance.

In 1978 PDPA leader Mir Akbar Khyber was assassinated. After his funeral turned into mass political rallies in support of the PDPA, Khan attempted to suppress the party. The PDPA responded by launching their own coup and organized sections of the army that had been won to their ranks. Khan was killed during the PDPA coup on April 28, 1978.

After the 1973 coup, Zahir Shah remained in Italy for nearly the rest of his life. However, in 2002 he was permitted to return after the United States invasion and occupation of Afghanistan. He obediently played the role demanded of him by the US and supported the regime of the occupation. He died in 2007 as a semi-rehabilitated monarch-like figurehead, although he never officially had his title restored.

75 years ago: American Communist Party leaders indicted for conspiring to overthrow government

On July 20, 1948, twelve leaders of the American Communist Party were indicted under the Smith Act, accused of conspiring to overthrow the US government.

The indictments were the highest stage to that point of an anti-communist witch-hunt, which included sweeping purges in film and other artistic sectors. They were brought down by the Democratic Party administration of President Harry S. Truman, which was implementing Cold War policies directed against the Soviet Union, aimed at establishing the global hegemony of American imperialism.

In a statement shortly after the indictment was announced, Farrell Dobbs, the 1948 presidential candidate of the Trotskyist Socialist Workers Party declared: The indictment of the twelve Communist Party leaders under the notorious Smith Gag Act is a monstrous blow against civil liberties, another step in the direction of establishing a police state and thought-control in this country.

Dobbs statement cited similar comments by civil liberties and human rights organizations, which warned that the prosecution marked a turn to authoritarianism within the United States.

Dobbs had himself been prosecuted under the Smith Act, in 1941, along with 28 other members of the SWP. They were the first to be charged and imprisoned under the legislation, which particularly targeted anti-war organizations.

Farrell Dobbs, left, and James P. Cannon during their 1941 Smith Act trial

The SWP was attacked by the Roosevelt administration because it was the only tendency in the labor movement which opposed American participation in World War II, and the only one that exposed the imperialist motivations underlying the interventions of all the major powers in the conflict. The Stalinist Communist Party, in keeping with its alignment with American imperialism, under conditions of the US-Soviet wartime alliance, cheered on Roosevelts prosecution of the Trotskyists.

In his 1948 statement, Dobbs noted the irony. But unlike the Stalinists, the SWP defended the democratic rights of other tendencies within the workers movement, including those that it had the most fundamental disagreements with.

Dobbs statement noted the ludicrous character of the charge. The Communist Party had been in a protracted alignment with the Democratic Party and was implacably hostile to socialist revolution.

Dobbs explained:

The charge that Stalinist leaders were advocating the doctrines of Marx and Lenin is fantastic and false. The Stalinist leaders long ago abandoned the philosophy of Marxism. Their shift in position in 1945 after the expulsion of Browder, upon which the indictment is hinged, did not indicate a return to Marxism but was merely an adaptation to the new foreign policy of the Kremlin. The present prosecution is likewise the result of a recent reversal in attitude by Washington toward the Communist Party. The Federal Government was more than willing to accept the super-patriotic support of the CP during the war, their strikebreaking and their hounding of union militants.

In concluding, Dobbs stated:

The Department of Justice was also more than willing to accept the support of the CP in railroading us to jail under the same Smith Act during the war. Despite the hypocrisy, deceit and treachery of the Stalinist leaders, we have no intention of imitating their unprincipled abandonment of civil rights and outrageous treachery toward us during the war. We consider it our duty to fight the present prosecution to the limit and to alert the entire labor movement to oppose it. I propose to make the issue of the administration's attack on civil rights a major point in my campaign for the presidency.

100 years ago: Pancho Villa assassinated in Mexico

On July 20, 1923, Pancho Villa, one of the outstanding leaders of the Mexican Revolution of 1911-1920, was shot in his motor car by seven gunmen while he was driving from his ranch near the city of Parral in the northern state of Chihuahua. Villa and his three bodyguards were killed and only one person from his entourage survived. At the time, sources speculated that the murder had been commissioned by Francisco Herrera, a leader of a rival faction of the Mexican revolution whose father and three brothers had been killed by Villa. There, were, however, almost certainly political motives for the killing as well.

Villa, who was born impoverished in the northern state of Durango, had worked as a sharecropper, bricklayer and railway foreman until becoming a bandit by the turn of the century. He developed into a leader of the Mexican revolution after 1910 when he and his band joined the military actions to overthrow President Porfirio Diaz. In 1916, Villa led a raid on Columbus, New Mexico because the United States had been supporting the new Mexican government of Venustiano Carranza, which had come to power on the heels of the revolution. President Wilson sent 5,000 American troops into Mexico, but they proved unable to capture Villa.

Pancho Villa

Villa and his followers had continued to play an insurrectionary role until 1919, when he led an assault on Ciudad Juarez near the American border. Since 1920, Villa had been living on a 25,000-acre estate the government had given to him after peace negotiations with the regime of Adolfo De la Huerta, supposedly in retirement.

Villa was allegedly preparing to re-enter politics for the 1924 elections. Most historians believe that Plutarco Elias Calles, who became president in 1924, commissioned his murder to suppress a potential rival.

The socialist journalist John Reeds first published book, Insurgent Mexico (1914), describes his experience of traveling with Pancho Villas army.
Thousands of people attended the 19th annual Intrepid Credit Union Symphony Under The Stars Saturday at Carroll College.

The free show, which featured a fireworks finale, is a collaboration between the Helena Symphony and Carroll College. Thousands of people sat on blankets for the performance by the Helena Symphony on the colleges Guadalupe Hill.

This years theme was The Great Ladies of Jazz, which paid tribute to Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Billie Holiday, Judy Garland and Ginger Rogers, among others.

Carroll College reported on social media that thousands of attendees donated more than 13,000 pounds of canned food for Helena Food Share.

Helena Symphony Orchestra and Chorale is a 75-member regional professional orchestra and 100-voice symphonic chorus. Allan R. Scott is its music director.
Courtesy of The Othrs

Theres nothing obviously funny about a pandemic. In the early days of 2020, as a new contagious virus began to circulate inside the United States and deaths piled up, there wasnt much to laugh about. Across the country, store shelves were emptied in fits of panic buying before once busy areas fell silent altogether as people were ordered or chose to stay home, in turn leading to countless livelihoods being destroyed and educations disrupted.

In those frightful first weeks, New York City became the epicenter of the crisis in the U.S. Between the beginning of Marchwhen the first case of COVID was confirmed in the cityand early April, thousands died. Soldiers were sent to support the local health-care system that was creaking under the strain of an astonishing influx of extremely sick patients and, in the cases of those who could not be saved, troops collected the bodies of the dead.

Now, a little over three years later, America is still reckoning with the solemn costs of COVID, a scourge that claimed the lives of over 1 million people in this country alone. The serious work of calculating the pandemics consequences will go on for years, perhaps decades, to come. For many, its still impossible to see the funny side.

But for some of those working on the frontline of COVIDnurses, EMTs, delivery driversa sense of humor was an essential part of getting through the brutal daily reality with which they were confronted. This curious grace is captured in Handle With Extreme Care, a documentary film that premiered at the Sheffield Doc Fest in the U.K. following one funeral home in the Elmhurst neighborhood of Queens during the first wave of COVID.

When we got there, it was already very bad, Bowie Alexander, one of the films directors, tells The Daily Beast. It always seemed really bad up until the end. At like three months into it, which was June, was when the first wave in New York was ending. But we got in there April 3, and they had too many bodies. They couldnt take any more. It continued to be that way up until the very end of shooting.

Story continues

Even in such trying circumstances, the staff at the Gerard J. Neufeld, Inc. Funeral Home managed to still find ways to make each other laugh. There seems to be a certain type of person that is attracted to this type of work, Alexander says. And it comes with a certain type of humor.

This Could Be the Only Way to Beat COVID for Good

People die in the most awkward places, Ray Neufeld explains in the movie. They die in the bathtub. They die in the attic. They die stuck between the toilet bowl and the sink and possibly the tub. You gotta get em outta there. But Ive had four hernias repaired from doing this.

Alexanders film begins with a shot inside the funeral homes chapel which, out of grim necessity, had been converted into a storage area filled with rows of cardboard boxesmarked with handle with extreme carecontaining bodies. The staff squabble among themselves about who should have to be tasked with calling up a family and telling them, due to a mix up at a hospital, their relatives body has gone missing.

But the workers manage to remain cheerful even in the midst of such trying situations. As one SUNY Canton professor supporting the funeral home in the documentary puts it: Humor in the funeral industry is a defense mechanism. The mind can only take so much seriousness.

Do you want to use gloves or just raw dog it? Omar Rodriguez, one of the funeral homes staff, asks Ray at another point in the film as they move a body. After I grab it, then you tell me I should have used gloves? Ray replies. Later, as four of the workers carefully load another body into a packed SUV, Ray says: Boy, thats tight. More than one of them replies: Thats what she said.

As well as the seam of gallows humor which runs throughout the documentary, the film also shows the unimaginable pressure placed on those tasked with dealing with the pandemics worst consequences. Joe Neufeld Sr. tells a news camera crew that his funeral home is starting work at seven in the morning, and we go to midnight every night. Were dealing with bodies, were not conducting services, Ray says later. Were not having full funerals. Were just dealing with body disposal. Thats what its come to. He adds: Theres nothing sacred in this anymore.

For the ceremonies that are shown in the film, scant numbers of masked mourners stand safe distances apart. Prayers and condolences are shared via video call. A news segment in the film explains that the home is under pressure to take bodies from morgues to avoid them being sent to Hart Islandwhere mass graves were dug in a potters field to bury unclaimed bodies.

Courtesy of The Othrs

Those heartbroken mourners were a constant reminder to Alexander of the gravity of what the funeral workers were tasked with in contrast to their cheerful personalities. You sort of go from this very sort of mechanical world of these like good old jolly boys to Oh, yes, this is what is actually happening, which was dealing with those families, he says.

The documentary, which is still working on a U.S. distribution deal, further captures the everyday struggles and annoyances that those who worked throughout the pandemic nevertheless had to endure even as they went about their labor. Arguments about food. Rays search for a partner on dating apps. An ice-cream seller completely losing patience with a colleague who keeps interrupting him as he tries to share his philosophy on the importance of life and appreciating your loved ones.

But the most poignant personal issue in the film affects Omar, the funeral home worker, whose personal life overlaps with his daily professional work of responding to the fallout of the pandemic when his father becomes seriously ill with COVID. Like many others, Omar heroically continued going about his job responding to the worst consequences of the virus even as those consequences played out in his own family.

Alexander said he 100 percent believes the funeral industry was somewhat forgotten about throughout the pandemic, which in part motivated him to make his film. You dont hear much about this, right? And they are dealing, actually, with the bodiesjust as much as people are in hospitals. I think its just something that peoplethey dont think about this industry a lot. I think it is overlooked and thats why it felt like a great opportunity to be able to do this and highlight their work.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Marjorie Taylor Greene took aim at Democratic presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Saturday during the Turning Point Action Conference, saying she believes his anti-vaccine stance is a Trojan horse for some of his more far, far left policies.

Theres a lot of Republicans that have been fooled by him, she said, speaking with Right Side Broadcasting at the West Palm Beach, Florida, convention ahead of appearances from Tucker Carlson and former President Donald Trump. Watch the video here.

Asked about Kennedys position in the Democratic Party, as well as some bubbling support in the Republican Party, Greene said, I really agree with his position on the vaccines, its been my position all along. I have been totally against the COVID vaccines from Day 1 So I agree with Bobby Kennedy on a lot of things. But I tell you what, I think theres a lot of Republicans that have been fooled by him. Hes not a Republican, everyone! Hes very much a Democrat.

The Georgia congresswoman continued, saying that some of his policies are far, far left.

Theyre not the policies I want. They should not be the policies that you want. But everyone does like some things about him, like his positions on the COVID-19 vaccines, his position on holding the CIA and other agencies accountable, Greene concluded.

Kennedy has apparently gained some traction from Republicans for his stance on COVID-19 vaccines, as well as some of foreign policy positions, namely opposition to President Bidens military support of Ukraine.

Greene, who is gunning for a Trump reelection in 2024, just this past week called for Biden to pull out of NATO, saying they werent a reliable supporter.

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RFK Jr. Denies Report That He Suggested COVID-19 Was Ethnically Targeted  Despite Video Proof He Did (Video)
This twin flame might cause a forest fire.

On July 15, Megan Fox shared images from a sexy photo shoot in the woods on Instagram. In the pics, the Transformers star poses in a string green bikini while sitting and crawling on the branch of a large tree. She captioned her post, "The forest is my oldest friend."

Her post got her fiance of a year and a half Machine Gun Kelly all fired up. "If this is what a wild animal looks like," he commented, "I'd let it maul me."

The photographer, Cibelle Levi, also shared photos from the shoot on Instagram, writing, "Lost in the forest with a fairy @meganfox / @cibellelevi @jennakristina @hairbyiggy."

The pics were posted months after Megan appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit. She told the magazine in an interview that she has "body dysmorphia," adding, "I don't ever see myself the way other people see me. There's never a point in my life where I loved my body, never, ever."

Megan Fox & Machine Gun Kelly: Romance Rewind

The new photos were also shared months after Megan and MGK sparked breakup rumors when the actress wrote on Instagram, "You can taste the dishonesty / it's all over your breath," quoting from Beyonce's 2016 song "Pray You Catch Me" and deleting pics of her fiance from her grid. She later deleted her account temporarily.

Megan and MGK have since quelled much of the breakup speculation with a number of joint appearances.

They were seen showing PDA during a trip to Hawaii in April and in May, they attended the unveiling of the rocker's The 8th Deadly Sin - GOSSIP ring collection collab with Stephen Webster in London and also hit up the Marc Jacques Burton x Machine Gun Kelly party at the private club Apollo's Muse.

Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for The Recording Academy

Megan has also supported MGK at his concerts over the past few months. She was seen heading to his show at London's Royal Albert Hall, after which the couple headed to an after-party. In June, the actress attended the musician's gig in Berlin, Germany.

For the latest breaking news updates, click here to download the E! News App
An unfinished strand of orange buoys, meant to deter migrants from crossing the river, sits in the Rio Grande near Eagle Pass on July 11, 2023. Credit: REUTERS/Kaylee Greenlee Beal

Mexicos incoming secretary of foreign affairs, Alicia Barcena, said Friday that Texas deployment of buoys on the Texas-Mexico border to prevent migrants from crossing the Rio Grande are a violation of water treaties between the U.S. and Mexico.

Barcena told reporters that the Mexican government sent a diplomatic letter to the U.S. on June 26 stating the barriers are in violation of a 1944 water treaty, Reuters reported. The Associated Press reported Friday that Barcena plans to send an inspection team to the Rio Grande to see if the barrier extends into Mexico's side of the border and if it impedes the flow of water, which would violate the treaty.

Texas has been installing the buoys over the past week, along with razor wire on the Rio Grande river near Eagle Pass.

Those measures are the latest in Gov. Greg Abbotts aggressive border security initiative Operation Lone Star, which launched in March 2021. Abbott has also deployed the Texas National Guard, built new sections of border wall and bused more than 20,000 migrants from Texas to big cities led by Democrats.

Abbotts office didnt immediately respond to an email from The Texas Tribune seeking comment on the diplomatic complaint. But in previous statements he has touted the buoys as an effective way of preventing illegal border crossings.

Were securing the border at the border, he said in June when he announced the approach. What these buoys will allow us to do is prevent people from getting to the border.

The new barriers havent just ruffled diplomatic feathers. Jessie Fuentes, owner of Epis Canoe & Kayak Team, an Eagle Pass-based kayak rental business, filed a lawsuit against Abbott and the Texas Department of Public Safety. The lawsuit alleges the installation of a buoy system had harmed his business and that Abbott did not have the authority to regulate cross-border traffic.

Join us for conversations that matter with newly announced speakers at the 2023 Texas Tribune Festival, in downtown Austin from Sept. 21-23.
This is a rare opportunity to own a 1903 Victorian masterpiece curated to its stately half-acre in the heart of Helenas historic Upper West Side. The main home contains 5 large bedrooms (+1 bonus), 3.5 bathrooms, and features original wood finishes, updated windows, and abundant natural light. With its timeless charm, ample living space, functional floor plan, and convenient amenities, you can showcase this Golden Era mansion as an integral part of your best Helena life. Looking for versatility as well? Housed above the detached garage youll find a cute 1 bedroom 1 bathroom apartment complete with laundry and a full kitchen. Use this space for guests or as an income-producing unit. Or, capitalize on investment potential by seeking a lot line adjustment with the City of Helena to split the seven-lot parcel into two, each with its own paved driveway access into this corner parcel. Call Ryan Stavnes 406-465-3830, Michelle Johnson 406-461-9685, or your real estate professional. As you step through the grand front entryway and pass through the antechamber, you are greeted by a classic Victorian foyer that opens across to a grand staircase. Three sets of French doors line the foyer, each leading to large inviting spaces. Nearest the entrance, the bright front room currently serves as an office. Additional French doors connect it to the expansive living room which walks through a small enclosed porch attached to a much larger sun porch which was added in 2006. Opposite the living room, the formal dining room sets the stage for memorable gatherings. The last door off the foyer discretely holds the main floor half bathroom. Moving further into the main level, youll pass into the back hall which accesses the kitchen, basement, or second entry to the large sun porch. The kitchen continues the functional layout with an adjoining butlers pantry complete with a formal swinging door connecting it to the dining room. From the kitchen, you can also pass through the large laundry room to a back door or ascend the back-of-house stairs to the second landing. The second floor is a haven of comfort and privacy. Four generously sized bedrooms provide ample accommodation for family and guests, while two full bathrooms offer convenience and style. This level lends itself to modern comforts featuring a new ceiling fan, updated windows, and large closets. A versatile bonus room can be customized to suit your needs, and a second sun porch provides a delightful spot to bask in the sunlight and enjoy the fresh air. The attic of this Victorian gem is complete with a wet bar and entertaining space, multiple storage areas, an enclosed porch, a large bedroom, and a full bathroom offering endless possibilities for personalization. With a full basement providing additional storage and utility space, this house caters to all your practical needs. Outside, the property spans half an acre and encompasses an impressive seven city lots. This property already has two access driveways and two separate dwellings making it simple to apply to the City to split this half-acre into two residences each on their own large lot. Mature landscaping includes shade trees, fruit trees, bushes, and flowers. Excellent location - close to shopping, amenities, schools, downtown, trails, and Hwy 12. 801 Stuart St. presents an exceptional opportunity to own a piece of history in one of Helena's most sought-after locations.

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Donald Trump delivered a speech Saturday at the annual conference for the right wing young Republican nonprofit Turning Point USA, and on Sunday morning, MSNBCs Ali Velshi warned that in the speech Trump was basically openly plotting how hes going to weaponize the government.

We are dangerously close to Donald Trump rising to power again, and finishing what he started when he tried to overturn the results of the last presidential election, Velshi said also.

Were not going to show the speech here, but well note just that while speaking, Trump: Lied about the law concerning classified documents; lied about what Washington, D.C. was like when he was president; vowed to expand his travel bans related to ethnicity and religion to include left wing political affiliation; claimed he threatened Vladimir Putin with war; bragged about his criminal indictments; and repeatedly vowed to essentially use the power of the federal government to exact revenge for losing in 2020 and for being indicted.

That last part is what had Velshi worried.

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We do not typically air Donald Trumps speeches live, and on this show we are judicious about even clips from his rallies and always either with, or for, the proper conduct or discussion, Velshi said.

Thats because Donald Trump lies so frequently. We all learned on January 6 that those lies can fuel very real violence. Weve also learned that the sting from the poison of Trumps lies gets duller the more frequently youre exposed to it. But as journalists, we also have a duty to bear witness when our nation is in peril, to shine a light on the dark path that Donald Trump and his allies and enablers take us down, he said.

And that is the moment at which we find ourselves this morning, Velshi continued, turning to the topic of Trumps speech the night before. Ill admit to being a little surprised, late last night, that anything Donald Trump can say can surprise me anymore, but this is some nasty stuff. Last night speech was dangerous for the truths that Donald Trump told as it was for the lies. And there were lies, to be sure.

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But the truth is that we are dangerously close to Donald Trump rising to power again, and finishing what he started when he tried to overturn the results of the last presidential election and take over the government in contravention of the will of the American people. And if you listen closely to his 99 minute speech from last night, he was basically openly plotting how hes going to weaponize the government, by cleaning house and firing anyone that his administration considers an enemy or insufficiently loyal to Trump self serving agenda.

"I'll admit to being surprised that anything Donald Trump can say can surprise me anymore but this is some nasty stuff." @AliVelshi breaks down the dangerous, anti-democratic rhetoric in Trump's latest speech. https://t.co/syjmlnBHdi pic.twitter.com/9JHxzAmJbW  MSNBC (@MSNBC) July 16, 2023

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The Allen Telescope Array in California, where many small radio dishes listen for ET signals.

In 2014, a meteor entered Earths atmosphere and burst apart in the air above the ocean near the Pacific island nation of Papua New Guinea, probably scattering tiny fragments along the seabed. Meteors that burn up in the atmosphere and leave small traces are not unusual NASA estimates nearly 50 tons of space rock falls on the Earth every daybut Harvard astrophysicist Avi Leob recently made headlines when he suggested this particular meteor, dubbed CNEOS 2014-01-08 or IM1, may actually have been a piece of an alien spacecraft.

Many of Loebs colleagues in the fields of astrophysics and the Search for ExtraTerrestrial Life, or SETI, are highly skeptical of his claims. Theyve also cast doubt on the evidence that CNEOS 2014-01-08 is truly an interstellar object. But Loebs claimand the responding criticismraise important questions: Just how do you decide whether youve found evidence of alien life when the data are often so small, far away, or just ambiguous? And how do you share your findings?

It's a big problem, Jason Wright, a professor of astronomy at Penn State. We call these the post-detection protocols in SETI.

Scientists working on SETI in the 1960s and 1970s, including Carl Sagan and Frank Drake in the US, and Nicolai Kardashev and Iosif Shklovsky in the Soviet Union, created a set of protocols for how they would assess potential radio signals of extraterrestrial origin.

The first step was keeping the claims to a small group. When you thought you might have found something, you would be able to share it only with other scientists without making it public, he says. That might sound incredibly naive today, he notes, but it made pre-internet sense. After analyzing the signal and ensuring they were not mistaking Earthly radio signatures for aliens, then you would make a big announcementyou would go to the UN and you would go to the governments.

What the Cold War Era SETI post-detection protocols didnt anticipate, Wright says, were more ambiguous signals or evidence. But those began cropping up as early as the 1970s, with a set of experiments on board the NASA Viking missions to Mars.

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The tests, which were meant to detect the presence of organic compounds and possibly alien life on the Red Planet, had unclear and conflicting results. A biology experiment on the Viking 1 spacecraft showed one positive result for the presence of organic compounds, one negative result, and a third that was undetermined. The lead scientist for the experiment, the late Gilbert Levin, who died in 2021, argued as recently as 2012 that the experiment had, in fact, found signs of life on Mars.

Then, in 1996, a team of scientists led by NASA Johnson Space Centers David McKay began investigating a meteorite of Martian origin, known as Alan Hills 84001. Members of the team became so convinced theyd found evidence of fossilized Martian life in the space rock that it reached President Bill Clinton, who said it speaks of the possibility of life in an address to the nation.

Though the scientific community came to believe McKay and his team were mistaken, they were reasonably responsible [in the first article they published about it], even if they clearly believed they had something, Arizona State University astrophysicist Steven Desch says.

Since the 1996 announcement, scientists have put even more thought into how to gauge the levels of evidence for signs of alien life in different circumstances. The European Space Agencys ExoMars mission Rosalind Franklin, a rover scheduled to launch to the Red Planet in 2028, will use a complex biosignature score rubric, ranking the confidence experiments have found signs of aliens.

Key to any such evaluation of evidence of alien life is understanding what your confounders are, Wright says. Put another way: What might you detect that you would mistake as what you are looking for?

For astronomers looking for signs of alien telecommunications, if youre hoping to eavesdrop on alien radio, you need to rule out radiation signals from Earth. When they do a SETI search these days, millions and millions and millions of hits, they call them, get detected, and they're all from terrestrial transmitters, Wright says. It's extremely challenging to rule those out to get rid of them. It's like being in a crowded room and everyone's talking at once, and you're trying to hear the one voice.

For signs of technological origin, or signs of fossilized life in meteorites, confounders are processes that could produce those objects without an appeal to alien life. Most scientists ultimately concluded that what looked like fossil microbial life in Alan Hills 84001 could be produced by other chemical or geological processes.

[Related: Alien civilizations could send us messages by 2029]

Off the coast of Papua New Guinea, Loeb and his research team used a magnetic sled to drag the sea bed along the expected trajectory of the space rock. They collected small metal spheres. (Authorities from the island nation have suggested the material may have been illegally acquired.) The astronomer announced on his blog that his team had recovered unusual magnetic material consisting of an alloy of iron, titanium and magnesium that does not resemble known human-made alloys or familiar asteroids. He asked whether the asteroid might have been manufactured by some alien technology.

But he will also need to rule out that these spherules didnt originate from the many other sources that create tiny metallic bits on the ocean floor, SETI experts say.

You'd have to match them against what are the more mundane possibilities including spherules from [non-intersterstellar] asteroid material hitting the Earth, Desch says, noting that the seabed is covered in tiny pieces of ordinary meteorites. Then there is volcanic ash and artificial spherulesstuff comes out of coal fired plants and lands on the seafloor too.

And while comparing a possible sign of life to more mundane alternatives, its also important to acquire that most essential form of comparison in sciencea control sample. Since it landed on Mars in 2021, for example, NASAs Perseverance rover has been collecting tubes of rock and soil that will be returned to Earth for analysis in the early 2030s.

To help ensure any signs of life are not actually contamination brought to Mars from Earth, the rover carries five witness tubes containing Earth materials that could, in theory, contaminate the rover samples. Briefly opening the witness tubes on Mars will give scientists a pattern of what terrestrial contamination of a Mars sample would look like.

The same type of measurement is even easier to make when trolling the seabed for signs of interstellar meteorites, according to Desch. Go 100 miles away and collect the stuff from there and see if it's any different, he says. If you find the same mix of stuff everywhere, it's not all aliens, it's just natural.

For his part, Loeb says his team believes the spheres they found are in fact from the meteor, and not other sources. The composition of the spherules along the meteor path is different from that of volcanic ash, he writes in an email to Popular Science. Our control samples were obtained tens of kilometers away from the meteor path, and revealed an abundance of spherules lower by a factor of 10 from the meteor path.

Loeb plans to do further laboratory analysis of the recovered materials at the Harvard College Observatory. If history is any guide, that analysis will need to be extremely thorough, as confirming ambiguous signs of alien life has so far proven to be a big and incomplete task.

[Related: Astronomers want to wield a tiny laser to look for life on neighboring worlds]

But thats not to say there are no conditions that would point indisputably to the existence of extraterrestrial life. If intelligent, space-faring aliens really are capable of visiting Earth, they could, of course, fulfill a 1950s sci-fi stereotype and land on the White House lawn to ask to see the president.

Another example is finding a technological gadget as the relic of an interstellar meteor, Leob writes. Such an object could have components that are unfamiliar, including a label: Made on an exo-planet.

More convincing than that, however, might be the detection of a radio signal that could not be produced by natural means, according to Wright. Only technology can produce narrowband radio emission, Wright says, referring to radio transmissions encoded in a narrow range of frequencies that efficiently use bandwidth to communicate data. He envisions plenty of scenarios where we're sure it's technology and space, and we're sure it's not ours, because it's not local. The SETI Institutes Allen Telescope Array, several dishes in California, are designed to hunt for such a signal.

But even a detection of an alien radio transmitter might set up a whole new level of analysis. Just because you receive the signal, it doesnt mean its for you, that you can decipher it, or that the sender would respond if you tried to talk to them. We say, Well, that star's got radio transmissions.' Sometimes you see them, sometimes you don't. They're definitely technological, Wright says. Yes, they have radio transmitters. And that's all we know.
Elana Koenig and the Koenig Childhood Cancer Foundation she started helped save the life of a 2-year-old Ukrainian boy who was diagnosed with cancer as missiles rained down

Koenig Childhood Cancer foundation Elana Koenig and Mark Negodiuk

Standing near home plate at New York Citys Citi Field last August, when the New York Mets were playing the Atlanta Braves, Elana Koenig took a deep breath and began her beautiful rendition of the National Anthem.

Singing was very exciting, but I was nervous, says Elana, now 14, who lives in Manhattan. The stadium was huge. But I knew what I was doing was going to help a lot of people.

Elana was happy to put her nerves aside because she was there representing the Koenig Childhood Cancer Foundation, which she founded in 2020.

The foundation has raised nearly $1.5 million and helped hundreds of children and their families with financial assistance, medical care and emotional support.

Singing the National Anthem in front of so many was going to gain us so much publicity, she says. "I wanted to help other kids who went through what I went through."

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In February 2016, Elanas mother Rena noticed that her daughter was limping because she said her hip hurt. That July, Elana was diagnosed with Ewing Sarcoma, a rare, aggressive cancer she developed at the top of her femur and was treated for nearly a year at New York Citys Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.

I thought it was a death sentence, says Rena, who made it through the ordeal with the help of top-rated doctors and nurses and other families who shared their experiences with the Koenigs.

Knowing how difficult intensive chemotherapy and numerous surgeries could be  Elana had 15  she wanted to help other kids when she left MSK in May 2017. Her goal was to help pay for things they needed and to be there for them when they were scared.

Koenig Childhood Cancer foundation Elana Koenig with a child she has helped

My Extraordinary Family is PEOPLE's new series that explores fascinating families in all their forms. If you have a sweet story the world needs to know, send the details to love@people.com.

That's such a horrible thing to go through as a kid, she says.

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The first child she helped was a friend from camp who was battling cancer and being made fun of because of the hair she lost.

Her hair was permanently affected because of chemo and she was getting bullied in school for it, says Elana. So we got her a $5,000 laser cap that helped grow her hair back out.

Koenig Childhood Cancer foundation Sabrina Koenig, Elana Koenig, Daniz Taghizada and Zariah Robinson

The foundation helps children and their families deal with unforeseen issues, says Rena, who uses the MBA she earned at NYUs Stern School of Business to help run the foundation.

When families come to us, we pick at least one problem and resolve it for the family so they can focus on their child, says Rena. We customize what we help with for each individual family.

The foundation helped one family pay the mortgage for several months. It helped another family buy a wheelchair lift for their car.

Related: 'Superhero' Big Brother, 6, Saves 2-Year-Old from Drowning in South Carolina Pool

The kid is 16 years old and he's going to be in a wheelchair for the rest of his life, and dad is not able to carry him any longer, so we helped with the lift for the car," Rena says.

One of the most challenging situations for the foundation came in March 2022 when a father in Ukraine reached out to Elana on social media, asking for help after his then-2-year-old son was diagnosed with an aggressive cancer, like Elana was.

Mark Negodiuk was scheduled to have a three-inch brain tumor removed on Feb. 25, 2022. But on Feb. 24, 2022, Russian invaded Kyiv, the Ukrainian capital where Mark was going to have the life-saving surgery, forcing his family to flee 500 miles away to Uzhhorod at the Hungarian border.

Koenig Childhood Cancer foundation Mark Negodiuk in the hospital

A doctor there performed the surgery, but was unable to give Mark further treatment.

After the surgery, while Mark recovered, he and his parents, Dmytro Negodiuk, 33, and Iryna Razhyk, 31, huddled in the basement of a building while missiles were reigning down on them.

Being in the basement of a building under bombardment was extremely stressful and frightening, particularly while trying to care for a Mark, Dmytro tells PEOPLE. It's a situation of extreme tension, filled with concern not only for one's own safety but also for the well-being of the Mark.

Desperate to save his son, Dmytro contacted Elana and the foundation, asking for help.

The most terrifying thing was we do not know what to do, where to go, and how to help our son with treatment, as all Ukrainian hospitals were closed, he says.

Related: Woman Loses Home, Wrecks Motorcycle and Learns She Has Cancer in 24 Hours: 'My Head Was Spinning' (Exclusive)

The second Elana read Dmytros heartbreaking message, she and her mother jumped into action to help them.

We met the boy on a live video call and we fell in love with him, says Rena. When you talk to them, that's it. You can't say no. You want to make it happen. And we were like, We are not going to stand back. We are not going to back off. We are going to fight for them.

They helped the family leave Ukraine and come to the U.S., greeting them at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey when they got off the plane.

Arriving at the airport and seeing Elana and her family gave [us] a wave of relief, gratitude and hope, he says. Their presence symbolized safety and hope for better future for Mark.

Through the foundation, Elana and Rena found the family a place to stay and arranged for Mark to be treated at MSK.

Going through treatment in NY was an emotional roller coaster, says Dmytro. The Koenigs were there with us in every step of it and we knew that we were in medically good hands.

Today we are thrilled to say that Mark has been cancer free for more than a year! He is a happy boy. We are grateful for every moment that Mark is with us.

Koenig Childhood Cancer foundation Elana (top right in 2022) is bonded with the kids she helps, including (from left) Mikhail Ivanchenko, Mark Negodiuk and Daniz Taghizada

The Koenigs feel the same way.

Theyre like our extended family, says Rena, who has invited the Negodiuks to their Manhattan apartment to celebrate holidays, their wedding anniversary and Marks third birthday.

Hes the little brother I never had, says Elana.

Related: Md. Teen Began Helping Sick Kids After Her Own Cancer Diagnosis at Age 7: 'I Like Making People Happy'

Elana is far from finished helping kids with cancer. Besides continuing to raise money for the foundation, her dream is to raise money for an apartment in New York City where they can house families whose children are being treated for cancer.

We want to have a KCCF house that's near the hospital so that the kids we're helping have a place to stay, says Elana. As long as kids need the help, we have to be there for them.

To donate to the Koenig Childhood Cancer Foundation, visit thekccf.org/donate.

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Read the original article on People.
Temuera Morrison Wants to Bring Captain Rex into Live-Action Star Wars

Temuera Morrison is no stranger to the world of Star Wars, having appeared as a handful of characters now. However, he recently said he would love to bring an iconic animated character into the world of live-action.

Morrison is eager to bring Captain Rex alive

During a recent appearance at the London Film and Comic Con last weekend, Morrison appeared on the Whatnot UK podcast, where he signed items and spoke about the future. When rumors of Morrison playing Captain Rex were brought up, Morrison quickly mentioned that he would love to bring the character into the live-action world.

Id actually love to bring Captain Rex alive, said Morrison. I would love to, I would love to do that.

Captain Rex has appeared in a handful of animated Star Wars projects, most notably the hit series Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Star Wars: The Bad Batch, and Star Wars Rebels. Rumors that Rex would be appearing in the upcoming Disney+ series Ahsoka have been around for months, as have various reports that Morrison would be playing the live-action version of the character.

Most recently, an image of a real-world looking Rex appeared in the Star Wars mobile game Star Wars: Galaxy of Heroes, with many fans quickly noting the resemblance between Morrison and Rex. However, no official confirmation has been made as to whether or not Morrison will play Rex, or if Rex will even appear in Ahsoka.

Morrisons history with Star Wars is a long one, with the New Zealand actor having played Jango Fett, as well as many of his genetic clones, in the 2002 prequel film Star Wars: Attack of the Clones. Since then, Morrison also voiced the role of Boba Fett in the 2004 re-release of Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, and would also star as Boba in the second season of the Disney+ series The Mandalorian, before getting his own show, The Book of Boba Fett, which premiered in 2021.

Elsewhere in the podcast, Morrison did go on to say that he was actually set to fly to Los Angeles shortly after the convention, and was going to see whats happening in the galaxy, saying that he wants to make sure they dont put him on a shelf.

Theres a few things happening in L.A., Morrison said. Im looking to pop into L.A. on the way home to New Zealand, just to sit and have a catch up, and see whats happening in the galaxyThis is why I was gonna pop in and see whats going on, and make sure theyre not gonna put me on a shelf.
When Alex Drueke was captured and later released by Russian forces in Ukraine last year, he told ABC News he was convinced he was going to die.

After surviving two months of captivity in one of the most dangerous places on earth, some might forgive him for never wanting to see it again.

But now he's back in Ukraine to help with the war effort. Speaking exclusively to ABC News, he explained why he decided to leave Alabama, and head east again.

"I feel pretty good," he says at the community center where he's helping with humanitarian relief. "You know. Ukraine is like a second home to me, so it's nice to be home again."

Drueke says he's not back to fight. He doesn't want to get too close to Russian lines, he says. "I'm a marked man and I think I got my one second chance at life," he says. "So, yeah, if I get captured again. I'll disappear."

PHOTO: Andy Drueke, who was captured by Russian forces and rescued last year, is back in Ukraine to help with the war effort. (Kuba Kaminski/ABC News)

He added, "The first time I came, I felt like I had a lot to contribute to the Ukrainian people, to their military. And now I feel like I have even more. Now, I can talk about conduct after capture and how they can stay alive if they happen to get captured. So I feel like I have a lot to give them."

A veteran of the Iraq war, Drueke joined a unit in the foreign legion last summer, but was captured by Russian soldiers along with another U.S. military veteran, Andy Huynh. They spent 105 days in captivity until they were released in a prisoner swap with the help of Saudi Arabia and Turkey.

MORE: 'Prayed for death': Americans freed from Russia claim torture at 'black site'

"It was pretty rough," he recalls. "I mean, they tortured us in ways that I thought only happened in movies, but no, it was for real."

PHOTO: Andy Drueke, who was captured by Russian forces and rescued last year, is back in Ukraine to help with the war effort. (Kuba Kaminski/ABC News)

"It has deeply affected me," he says. "It seems funny to say it, but in a lot of ways, I was lucky that I already had PTSD from Iraq. I came into this situation with some tools in my toolbox and some knowledge of what trauma can be like and how you can deal with it."

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He added, "I came into the situation a little bit more prepared, but being in solitary confinement for a month and being on death row in a Russian prison for two, two and a half months gives you a lot of time to think. A lot of time to be introspective. I learned a lot about myself. And I realized that I legitimately have a second chance on life. There were countless times that I was less than a second away from death. And so I'm trying to do positive things which is one of the reasons I'm back here in Ukraine. I want to do good things with my life."

MORE: Foreign fighters in Ukraine speak out on their willingness to serve: 'I had to go'

When asked what his family thinks about his decision to return to Ukraine, he says, "A lot of my friends and family were very concerned and very worried that I was coming back. But it's something I was compelled to come here the first time."

He added, "I'm compelled to come back this time because I want this war to end."

American fighter who was captured by Russia last year is back in Ukraine originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
WASHINGTON  National security adviser Jake Sullivan said the Republican-controlled Houses version of the annual defense policy bill has zero chance of making it to President Joe Bidens desk after Republicans added a litany of culture war amendments to the bill that mix domestic social debates with the security needs of our nation.

Sullivan on CNNs State of the Union criticized what he called an extreme group of Republicans for pushing through several amendments to the National Defense Authorization Act, nixing multiple Pentagon policies House conservatives claim is "wokeism" in the armed services.

Sullivan said the NDAA should be an area where politics stops and national security starts.

House Republicans last week passed on a mostly party-line vote the annual defense bill, which sets the Pentagons policy agenda and authorizes how federal funding can be used. The bill is traditionally a bipartisan endeavor, but members from the House Freedom Caucus, a group of the chambers most conservative lawmakers, pressured House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., into allowing votes on amendments to the bill that ranged from undoing an abortion policy to restricting gender-affirming care for transgender service members.

White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan speaks during the daily press briefing at the White House July 7, 2023 in Washington, DC.

McCarthy defended the legislation in a news conference last week hailing the bills passage.

A military cannot defend themselves if you train them in woke, McCarthy told reporters. We want our men and women in the military to have every defense possible, and thats what our bill does.

The Senate is expected to soon pass its own version of the annual defense bill. Sullivan said he expects the House and Senate to be able to consolidate its differences and produce a bipartisan bill.

After the Senate has come back together with the House, we will end up in a place where there is a broad bipartisan bill that can go to the presidents desk that he can sign, Sullivan said.

Sullivan added that he believed most House GOP lawmakers were not interested in the partisan affairs that took up much of the oxygen in the NDAA debate and accused a small group of Republicans of forcing their more moderate colleagues to support the bill.

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Thats what a certain group of Republicans are trying to do now. In the end I dont believe it will succeed because I believe wisdom will prevail, Sullivan said.

Opinion: Republicans continue to spread hate and fear with defense bill attacking DEI, abortion

U.S. Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., speaks to reporters during a news conference after the passage of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) at the U.S. Capitol Building on July 14, 2023 in Washington, DC.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Defense bill won't get to Biden's desk, national security adviser says
I was travelling in Italy and I didnt have a ticket for my bus but this Italian family got me onto the bus for free and I sat beside the dad and we had to communicate via google translate and he passed me his phone and he had just typed I was in London when Princess Diana died

 niamh (@arealglitterbae) July 7, 2023
A California woman who was kidnapped while walking her dog in Mexico and held captive for eight months has been released by her abductors and reunited with her family, according to the FBI.

U.S. citizen Monica de Leon Barba's family released photos of her reunion with relatives and the German shepherd she was walking when she was snatched off a street on while headed to a gym in November 2022, in Tepatitlan, Jalisco, Mexico.

"For the first time in a very long time we have good news! I need to thank every single person that helped my family and I through this entire ordeal. We can all finally close this chapter in our lives and work on the long road of healing we have ahead," de Leon's brother, Gustavo de Leon, said in a statement posted on Facebook along with an image of him posing over the weekend with his sister, who flashed a peace sign.

De Leon's cousin, Gael De Leon, who was kidnapped in a separate incident, was also released and reunited with her family in Mexico, according to the FBI.

PHOTO: FBI San Francisco released this surveillance video in the case of kidnapped victim Monica de Leon Barba, a United States citizen, who was kidnapped in Tepatitlan, Jalisco, Mexico, while walking home from work with her dog, Nov. 29, 2022. (FBI)

Both women were released on Friday in Mexico, according to the FBI.

"For the past eight months, FBI personnel in California and Mexico have worked tirelessly with the family and with partners in Mexico. Our relief and joy at the safe return of Monica is profound," Special Agent Robert Tripp of the FBI San Francisco Field Office said in a statement.

Tripp said no arrests have been made and the investigation into the abductions of de Leon and her cousin is ongoing.

"The FBI investigation is far from over, but we can now work this case knowing an innocent victim is reunited with her family," Tripp said of de Leon.

Details of how and where de Leon was freed were not immediately released.

MORE: 5 alleged Mexican cartel members charged in kidnapping of 4 Americans

In the aftermath of de Leon's abduction, FBI officials said they suspected de Leon was the victim of a "targeted kidnapping."

At the time, Tripp said the hostage-takers contacted de Leon's family.

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A $40,000 reward leading to de Leon's recovery was announced shortly after the kidnapping. The FBI also released surveillance video showing de Leon walking her down a street with her dog in the central Mexico town of Tepatitlan when she was abducted.

"Monica was confronted by several suspects and forced into a gray Volkswagen Jetta. The suspects then drive away in three different vehicles, including the Jetta," the FBI said at the time of the kidnapping.

The videos showed at least five suspects were involved in the kidnapping, the FBI said.

The victim's dog was later found wandering loose in the street and returned to de Leon's family.

In several photos shared over the weekend with the public by de Leon's family, Monica de Leon is seen hugging and petting her dog.

American woman kidnapped in Mexico freed after 8 months in captivity: FBI originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Milk splash Getty Images/HUIZENG HU

Following Iowa's decision to allow the state's farmers up to ten animals for raw milk production starting on July 1, Mary McGonigle-Martin  who is the member of a working group that is "dedicated to the dissemination of accurate information regarding raw milk consumption"  told Food Safety News that "public health has lost the war on raw milk."

The publication frames the countrywide proliferation of raw milk this way, as well; over the last decade, advocates of unpasteurized milk have pushed state legislators for its legalization all across the country with an uneven effect.

Across the western United States, customers can purchase raw milk from retailers. In Colorado, Michigan, Ohio, Tennessee, West Virginia and North Carolina, raw milk is legal through herdshare programs. Throughout much of the Midwest  as well as New York, Georgia and Vermont  farmers can sell raw milk directly to customers.

Currently, only Rhode Island, Washington D.C., and Louisiana have laws on the books making raw milk illegal.

"A basic coalition has often been successful in beating raw milk back in legislative chambers, but bills to loosen raw milk regulation are often repeated in the next legislative session," writes Food Safety News' Dan Flynn. "That's what happened in Iowa, where raw milk was kept more illegal than legal for years."

He continued: "Iowa's push-back in 2023 to allow up to ten animals for raw milk production is typical of how little openings are made for raw milk producers."

These rulings don't come out of particularly splashy legislative sessions, but they're worth paying attention to simply for the unique bipartisan collaboration they've inspired. Leading the fight to mainstream raw milk are both libertarians, who are concerned about government overreach and personal autonomy, and health-conscious liberals.

Standing opposed? The FDA and work groups like McGonigle-Martin's.

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But why does the government care about raw milk?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the state of Michigan instituted the first statewide milk pasteurization requirement in 1947 after researchers found that the consumption of raw milk is linked to a "significant number of foodborne illnesses, some of which can result in serious complications and death." The consumption and distribution of raw milk then became a public health concern.

Per the organization, these illnesses are attributed to a variety of pathogens, including: Escherichia coli, Campylobacter jejuni, Salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes, and Brucella abortus.

Then, in 1987, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued its final regulation on the mandatory pasteurization of all milk or milk products  with the exception of some cheeses  for sale or distribution in interstate commerce. Anything that is labeled as "milk" that is sold in interstate commerce must be pasteurized as well under FDA guidelines.

However, as Bill Marler, a products liability attorney who has been litigating foodborne illness cases in 1993, writes, the distinctions between "applicable state laws and individual states are bewildering," which meant that by the mid-2000s, the legality of unpasteurized milk in the United States was pretty scattershot.

"In 2006, 25 states had laws making the sale of raw milk for human consumption illegal. In the remaining states, dairy operations may sell raw milk to local retail food stores or to consumers directly from the farm, or at agricultural fairs or other community events, depending on the state law," Marler wrote in "A Legal History of Raw Milk in The United States."

He continued: "Restrictions vary from specific labeling requirements, to requirements that milk only be bought with personal bottles, to purchase of raw milk through cow shares exclusively, to permitting a sale only with a written prescription from a doctor, to sales of raw goat milk only, and to sales of a limited daily quantity only if made without advertising. Even in states that prohibit intrastate sales of raw milk, some people have tried to circumvent the law by 'cow sharing' or 'cow leasing.'"

Why do people  both libertarians and liberals  want to drink raw milk?

In 2015, "Portlandia"  a sketch comedy series that spoofed the lives of various hipster characters in the city of Portland, Oregon  released an episode about raw milk. In it, a husband and wife duo (played by Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein) are feeling a little listless. Their energy levels are low and they are plagued by various aches and pains.

While a battery of doctor visits reveal that they probably just need to eat well and exercise, the duo decides that the way forward is getting a cow of their own after a back-alley seller tells them that "raw milk is the future." The two become convinced that the FDA is conspiring against the American public by keeping "vitamin-rich" raw milk under lock and key and finally decide to protest, cow in tow, in front of their local doctor's office.

This sketch mimics reality in the sense that The Campaign for Real Milk  which was founded by raw milk activists in 1998 and launched as a website in 1999  is packed with members who argue that "real milk that is clean, fresh, full fat, and unprocessed is a complete food and a source of a wide variety of vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids and other important compounds."

"After all, raw milk is Nature's exclusive food for infants, so it must supply every single nutrient that the infant needs," they write. "Milk is an important source for nutrients like fat-soluble vitamin A, D, E and K2; vitamin C; all the B vitamins, especially vitamins B2, B6 and B12; and minerals like calcium, phosphorus and zinc as well as essential trace minerals. Levels of these vitamins will be higher if the cow is on pasture eating green grass."

The contentious belief that raw milk may be healthier than pasteurized is a bipartisan one, however, it has captured the imagination of, as the Atlantic put it in a 2014 story, "urbanite foodies (read: progressives)." That same year, Joel Salatin, which the publication referred to as a "food and farm freedom celebrity," told Politico that it was nice to have some liberals join the fight for the mainstreaming of raw milk.

"When I give speeches now," he said. "The room is half full of libertarians and half full of very liberal Democrats. The bridge is food."

For libertarians, as one may imagine, their central argument for the legalization of raw milk hinges on concerns about personal liberty and government overreach. In 2016, when West Virginia decriminalized the consumption of raw milk, Modern Farmer categorized their motivation as distinct from those who believe raw milk can improve one's gut flora or decrease one's risk of cancer, statements government health departments dispute.

"The West Virginia lawmakers involved here are a slightly different breed," the publication wrote. "They mostly push for legal raw milk out of a libertarian instinct that citizens should be able to decide what they eat and drink."

At the time, Pat McGeehan, a Republican representative from the state's first district, told reporters that "there definitely shouldn't be a law against allowing people to do what they want within the framework of the rule of law. Just be careful."

He, however, was not. As Modern Farmer also reported, legislators celebrated the passage of the new raw milk law by taking shots of raw milk. All those who participated, including McGeehan, became "severely sick to their stomachs."

While correlation doesn't equal causation, the spread of foodborne illness in this manner is what concerns exactly what the FDA and food safety experts amid the increased push for the mainstreaming of raw milk. There are more recorded outbreaks of milk-borne illness in states where raw milk is legalized than in states where it is not. As the CDC puts it, "the presence of germs in raw milk is unpredictable. People can drink it for a long time without getting sick, and then get sick if their milk is contaminated."

Read more

from Salon Food
Leyna Bloom was photographed by Amanda Pratt in Dominica. Amanda Pratt/Sports Illustrated

The Arena Media Brands, LLC and respective content providers may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website.

Leyna Bloom is out of this world. The actress, activist, dancer and professionally trained hairstylist made history when she landed the 2021 SI Swimsuit Issue cover as a rookie after her photoshoot with Yu Tsai in Tampa, Fla. She became the first transgender woman to be featured on the front of the magazine.

The Chicago native returned to the fold the following year and was photographed by Yu Tsai in Belize. Bloom traveled to Dominica and worked with Amanda Pratt for her appearance in the 2023 issue.

I felt so connected to Amanda. She is literally God-sentthe most amazing energy, we just vibed right away, Bloom recalled. It wasnt a [typical] shoot. It felt like a bunch of girls taking beautiful photos together.

The photoshoot was inspired by extraterrestrial aesthetics and each of the Port Authority stars looks featured unique materials and flattering cuts to create a playful, eclectic and glamorous energy. Shop four of our favorite Spacecore looks from Blooms most recent SI Swimsuit feature below.

Leyna Bloom was photographed by Amanda Pratt in Dominica. Swimsuit by isabella rose. Necklace by Viktoria Hayman Jewelry. Amanda Pratt/Sports Illustrated

This strappy one-piece includes the most flattering plunging neckline and carefully placed cut-outs.

Leyna Bloom was photographed by Amanda Pratt in Dominica. Swimsuit by Now_Then Label. Necklace by Alexis Bittar. Amanda Pratt/Sports Illustrated

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Leyna Bloom was photographed by Amanda Pratt in Dominica. Swimsuit by Norma Kamali. Amanda Pratt/Sports Illustrated

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Leyna Bloom was photographed by Amanda Pratt in Dominica. Swimsuit by OCEANUS. Bracelet by Karine Sultan. Amanda Pratt/Sports Illustrated

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RONAN  Plans for a tribally owned meat processing plant advanced Wednesday night with Ronan City Council approving an annexation for a 31-acre plot of land.

The plants tribal ownership would be the first of its kind in Montana with the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes having evaluated sites and developed plans for the plant over the past four years.

CSKT is applying for a $7.1 million U.S. Department of Agriculture grant for the meat plant. The grant focuses on supporting the meat processing capacity of indigenous animals in Indian Country. The tribes plan to contribute $2.16 million of their own funding if the application is fulfilled.

We want to go after this opportunity because it might never come again, CSKT Land Use Planning Director Janet Camel said at a public hearing on the annexation Wednesday. This is a desperately needed facility for the Valley.

The state- and federally certified plant would focus on wild game and bison, in addition to processing beef and pork. The facility itself is planned to be on three acres with the ability to process 18-25 animals a week.

According to Camel, the plant would improve food security on the Flathead Reservation and allow for culturally appropriate ways of preparing meat. Additionally, it would plug economic leakage in an area where locally raised livestock is often shipped out-of-state to be processed and then returned to Montana.

Were losing a lot of money in the ranching business, because ranchers sell their calves and cows at a reduced price, Camel said. They sell to brokers who in turn sell to the big packing plants with the middleman making all this additional profit. And thats why you often pay much higher prices for meat that you buy in a store than you would if we processed it locally, and didnt have all those transportation costs from here to Nebraska.

There are currently three meat processing plants in Lake County. A recent study examining demand for another facility in the county noted a year-long wait time for processing at some plants.

CSKT currently owns the 31 acres used for hay and crop production at the intersection of Mink Lane and Main Street in Ronan where the plant would be built.

The approved annexation allows connection to the citys water and sewer systems, instead of constructing a separate well system for the plant.

Given the sites proximity to town and housing, the facility would use a composting method that has very little smell. It is modeled after School House Meats in Missoula, which has been in operation near Big Sky High School in Missoula since 2019.

Additionally, Camel said there are no plans to slaughter animals at the plant, except potentially for cattle.

Were looking at processing indigenous animals that are killed in the field because thats more humane for them, Camel said. They get stressed out if you try to transport them and then try to bring them to a facility.

Plans for the meat plant would be contingent on the success of the grant. Camel said while its a competitive grant, the tribes feel confident about the chances of receiving the grant given the years of planning already invested. Award announcements come in November. A successful grant would then initiate an expected two-and-a-half-year-long construction process that spring.

The Ronan council ultimately approved the plans for the annexation 4-2 after a standing- room-only public hearing. Some residents questioned the potential of noise or smell that could arise by the processing facility.

Plans to enter into a cooperative agreement with the CSKT to address any problems from the space were approved. CSKT Tribal Council President Tom McDonald owns land near the property and said he would be willing to work with the city to attend to their concerns.

As a tribal council representative, I can certainly say we would modify whatever is built and operated to make sure that the odors are taken care of, because I would want that for me and really for anybody, McDonald said. But its a good project. Anytime you have a small plant like this that helps keep our ag community going and provide local jobs for the community, its a win-win for me.
Dotdash Meredith and Yahoo Inc. may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below.

From the trails of Maines Acadia National Park to sightseeing in Thailand, this mighty sling backpack carries all of my essentials and keeps me hydrated.

Travel + Leisure / Susan Brickell

Ive been a gear editor for more than a decade, meaning Ive had my hands on hundreds (and perhaps thousands) of travel, activewear, and outdoor items  putting them to the test at home and on the go everywhere from Americas national parks to the coastlines of the Balearic Islands to the peaks of Nepal.

One of my favorite perks of my job is attending annual outdoor showrooms where I get to view all of the newest products launching to market in the next season. It was at a 2022 showroom that I set my sights on trying out the Hydro Flask Slingback Bottle Pack, and now that Ive spent a year testing it, I just cant help wanting to sing its praises to my friends, family, and the Internet. It may only have 85 ratings at Amazon, but it is a seriously underrated travel bag, in my opinion.

I took it on a five-day trip to Maine with my mom, where I wore it on some shorter hikes in Acadia National Park, as well as bopping around Bar Harbor. I used it for a week-long vacation in Thailand on urban adventures in Bangkok and for exploring Koh Phi Phi by foot and Thai longtail boat. It's been my travel companion on trips to the Blue Ridge Mountains outside of Atlanta, where I take my dog on day outings to nearby towns and woodsy walks. I pack it on almost any trip that I take.

Amazon

$60

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So what makes it so great? The Hydro Flask sling bag is made of 100 percent recycled polyester air mesh and features a durable ripstop lining, which makes it as tough as any of my hiking packs. Its compact frame measures 15.25 inches by 9 inches by 2 inches and weighs less than a pound, so not only is it incredibly lightweight to carry, but it also hardly adds any weight to my suitcase when I take it traveling.

Story continues

The single sling strap lies securely and comfortably against my body when Im leisurely exploring a city, and I can enlist the help of the stability strap if I'm moving quickly on a hike to ensure the backpack doesnt bounce or slide around. I also find that the adjustable and stowable stability strap helps to more evenly distribute the weight of the bag when Ive stuffed it to the brim  and it doesnt feel awkward or rub my chest in an irritating way.

Susan Brickell / Hydro Flask

It has plenty of organizational features, with two exterior pockets, an interior padded tablet sleeve, and two internal stash pockets. In the larger pocket with the tablet sleeve, if Im not storing my iPad to use on planes or train rides, Ill stick other items that I want to protect in it, such as my journal, phone, or even my sunglasses, since the sleeve is lined with a super soft material. In the slightly smaller pocket on the front, Ill stash my keys, wallet, sunscreen, snacks, and other small essentials.

My favorite feature, by far, is the pouch at the front that can hold up to a 32-ounce, wide-mouth water bottle  so I can bring my favorite Hydro Flask with me while I commute, cruise a new city, walk my dog, or tackle a short day hike. You can see in the below photo how it easily fits the water bottle, and then you just pull the flap with the brands label on top of the cap of the bottle to conceal it  you wouldn't even know I had a water bottle in there!

This sling bag is the perfect size  larger than a fanny pack or purse when Im going to be out of the house or hotel for the day but small enough that I dont have to carry a cumbersome hiking backpack with a multi-liter reservoir with me if Im only walking a couple of hours. This one holds the perfect amount of water so I stay hydrated and prepared with all of my essentials for an afternoon.

Susan Brickell / Hydro Flask

But Im not the only fan  this small but mighty sling backpack has earned a 4.6-rating from lots of happy buyers. One shopper that called it the best sling ever wrote, Ive had the Patagonia 8-liter and the Kavu, and this Hydro Flask sling beats them both. It has a place to hold a water bottle, an additional strap to keep the bag from moving (that can be tucked away when you dont want to use it), and a much better pocket set up.

A traveler echoed the same sentiment, hailing it as the best daily bag. They said, I purchased this for a trip, but it quickly became my daily purse. I keep my 22-ounce trail series in the front pocket, and I have a fairly large wallet inside with car keys and [a] small pouch of mom supplies. They also pointed out that the second strap is fantastic when getting in a face paced walk and for short hikes when I don't need much.

Another customer expressed that its much roomier than you think, sharing that they used this as my day bag in Costa Rica, as well as a trip to Disneyland. They complimented it as being fantastic since it honestly fits so much, plus my 25-ounce Hydro Flask.

Susan Brickell / Hydro Flask

The bottom line: If youre searching for a lightweight and comfortable sling bag thats perfect for travel days, vacation outings, short hikes, and daily errands, look no further than the Hydro Flask Slingback Bottle Pack. I am so happy that I stumbled across this compact backpack as its become a travel bag I find myself constantly reaching for, whether Im getting to know a new city or getting some steps in on an easy hike.

And thanks to its small size and being featherlight, I can conveniently slip it inside of my carry-on, personal item, or checked bag for longer trips when flying without it taking up precious packing space or triggering an overweight fee at check-in. While the $60 price tag may not make it the most affordable sling bag on the market, its durability, comfort, plethora of pockets, and water bottle pouch make it well worth it.

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At the time of publishing, the price started at $60.

Love a great deal? Sign up for our T+L Recommends newsletter and well send you our favorite travel products each week.



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Read the original article on Travel & Leisure.
Under Canvas Bryce Canyon has no shortage of outdoor thrills  or creature comforts.

BAILEY MADE/COURTESY OF UNDER CANVAS The firepit beckons at Under Canvas Bryce Canyon.

Thisll be a chance for you to really cowboy, said Joseph Steed. Were going off-road.

I was sitting horseback on a ridgetop outside Tropic, a dusty Utah town 10 miles from Bryce Canyon National Park. Before me was a vista straight out of a Pixar film: miles of silver-green sagebrush extending to distant plateaus, chalked pale pink and white by minerals in the rock. Beyond them was Bryce Amphitheater, a massive chasm where spindly sandstone rocks called hoodoos rose up like church spires. There was no road or path, or even a line of footsteps, in sight.

I had gone to Utah in September with hopes of leaving my New York City life behind  if only for a long weekend. A new glamping site, Under Canvas Bryce Canyon, had opened a month earlier, promising travelers access to the areas biking, climbing, and hiking, along with luxuries like king-size beds and a gift shop stocked with Lululemon. After checking in, Id asked for horseback-riding recommendations, and soon after, I swung into a saddle next to Steed, who runs Western Canyons Trailrides.

Courtesy of Samantha Falewee Saddling up with Western Canyons Trailrides; riding through a canyon.

Over the next eight hours, we rode through undulating slot canyons so narrow the sandstone brushed my knees, navigated wet creek beds, and climbed dusty hills to views that again and again defied description. I chewed on lemon-pepper jerky as Steed (I asked if that was his real last name; he assured me it was) relayed exploits from his life: breaking mustangs, running cattle drives, guiding mules up and down the Grand Canyon.

One thing to remember, Steed said, peering out from under the brim of his cowboy hat. You cant do this lifestyle if you dont love it. It has to be a choice. Otherwise its too tough. My knees throbbed in agreement, a sure sign Id be sore tomorrow.







"Over the next eight hours, we rode through undulating slot canyons so narrow the sandstone brushed my knees, navigated wet creek beds, and climbed dusty hills to views that again and again defied description."

Story continues







But thankfully for my legs, the comfort waiting for me back at Under Canvas swept every ache aside. After my ride, I met guest experience supervisor Matt Norton outside the lobby tent for a tour of the solar-powered, 700-acre property. Around us, three firepits and ample seating filled the outdoor rec area, which was bathed in cool pink-blue as the sun set behind the Dutton Range. That night the restaurant was serving roasted trout with farro and slow-cooked greens and braised chicken thighs with polenta, mushrooms, and basil.

Norton showed me to my tent, a sprawling Hoodoo Suite, which sleeps six. It had a private porch, firepit, and a cooler stocked with kombucha and nonalcoholic spritzers (the site now also offers beer and wine). Inside was a king-size bed, along with a sofa bed and chairs, lanterns, a wood-burning stove, and charging ports. (Wi-Fi is intentionally not available at any Under Canvas property.) There was also a full en suite bathroom, with a pull-chain shower to reduce water waste.

Bailey Made/Courtesy of Under Canvas The Hoodoo Suite at Bryce Canyon Under Canvas

The tent had screened windows with canvas covers. I immediately unzipped them. Norton pointed to a ponderosa pine that stood next to my porch. The bark smells like butterscotch, he said. I leaned in close to the flaky tree trunk and inhaled. He was right.

The next day, after an almond-milk latte at the coffee bar, I went canyoneering in nearby Kane County. Mike Dunn from Zion Guide Hub had agreed to teach me how to clip into a harness and scale down 70-foot sandstone cliffs. I had not, however, revealed that I was afraid of heights.

If you need them, remember my car keys are under the bumper by the left headlight, Dunn said, minutes after wed met.

I blinked at his words as I hefted my helmet and a backpack full of gear. We were in a scrubby forest of juniper trees and sage brush, red sand clinging to our boots. It was just the two of us. Was this in case something happened to him? I asked. Dunn laughed, but didnt deny it.







"I saw two shooting stars, each a quiet thrill. But my gaze kept returning to the Milky Way. It stretched over the entire sky, almost reaching both ends of the horizon. How many years had it been since Id looked at it?"







We hiked to the top of our first canyon, the Huntress, while Dunn told me about the sport. Technical climbing, with the use of harnesses and anchors bolted into the stone, became popular in the U.S. during the 1970s, particularly in this part of Utah, which has some of the tallest sandstone walls in the world. Dunn himself has scaled several of them  in 2021, he and his climbing partner, Ky Hart, completed the debut ascent of the eastern face of a mountain known as the Altar of Sacrifice. The 2,200-foot climb took seven days to finish. As the first recorded climbers to reach the top, Dunn and Hart had the honor of naming their route. They called it Cowboy Killer.

To my great surprise, I enjoyed canyoneering so much that the palm-sweating terror I normally associate with heights never set in. Dunn taught me to lean back into my harness and position my legs perpendicular to the cliff so my feet could rest firmly on the rock face. Because of recent rains, sometimes our descents ended in water. As I squished my toes around in my sopping wet shoes and looked down at the mud covering my legs, I began to feel a childlike sense of elation.

Related: 5 Expert Tips for Visiting Utah's 'Mighty Five' National Parks

That evening, I was happy to loll around the communal area, inhaling the smell of campfire smoke. As daylight faded, I thought longingly of the bed in my tent. But there was one more thing I wanted to try. I walked up a hill to join a small group clustered around a telescope trained on Jupiter, which burned white-orange over the tree line. Someone pointed out Arcturus, the third-brightest star in the galaxy, then Saturn.

Yep, you can see the rings, said a man, looking up from the telescope.

You cannot! said his companion, walking forward eagerly.

I saw two shooting stars, each a quiet thrill. But my gaze kept returning to the Milky Way. It stretched over the entire sky, almost reaching both ends of the horizon. How many years had it been since Id looked at it? The Milky Way was almost commonplace when Id played outside as a child. Now, as I stood in the Utah air, seeing it again felt like a gift.

A version of this story first appeared in the July 2023 issue of Travel + Leisure under the headline "Wide Open Spaces"





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Read the original article on Travel & Leisure.
For thousands of years, celestial navigation was only practiced by men in Polynesia. Now women are reclaiming traditions that are rightly theirs.

A 2017 POLYNESIAN VOXAGIN SOCIETY/NAVALERYANTHONY/GIMI TV

On an overcast day in April 2022, as misty clouds shrouded the mountain towering behind Tahiti's Papeete Harbor, hundreds gathered along the palm-fringed beach in Paofai Park. With their eyes fixated on an approaching double-hulled canoe with scarlet sails, the spectators cheered as the vessel gracefully glided toward the shore.

This was Hokule'a, the legendary replica of a traditional Polynesian canoe completing the "Kealaikahiki," or the voyage from Hawaii to Tahiti. One thing made this journey unlike any other in its almost 50-year history, though: it was captained by a woman. Lehua Kamalu would go down in history as the first woman to have navigated and led Hokule'a in its 2,400-mile journey, completed in just 17 days.

Kamalu is part of a growing number of women taking part in the ancient Polynesian tradition of navigating the ocean using nature as a guide  a sacred practice that was only available to men for thousands of years. Now, a new generation of female voyagers is connecting with their past and honoring their ancestors, and in the process, claiming their place on voyaging canoes.

Courtesy of Lehua Kamalu; A 2017 POLYNESIAN VOXAGIN SOCIETY/NAVALERYANTHONY/GIMI TV

Raised in Hawaii, Kamalu was well-versed in the culture and history of her ancestors, including their voyaging legends. She was fascinated with Hokule'a, as its first voyage from Hawaii to Tahiti in 1976 brought wayfinding back from the brink of extinction. Last year, the vessel completed its eighth journey.

"I think we always were enthralled by voyaging. I did not think it was something that was remotely attainable to the average human. We really just thought of navigators as almost supernatural heroes," Kamalu told Travel + Leisure.

So, 14 years ago, as a mechanical engineering student at the University of Hawaii Manoa, she volunteered with the Polynesian Voyaging Society, an Oahu-based non-governmental organization tasked with preserving the tradition of Polynesian voyaging. Her first job in this world, sanding the canoe, led her to become an apprentice navigator and, eventually, a captain.

Story continues

Kamalu explained that the voyaging community in Hawaii is a welcoming place and that, as long as you have a passion for navigating and the stamina to do it, gender doesn't matter. However, she recounted that early on in her career, she emulated the type of leadership she saw in her teachers, who were men. As she felt more confident in her skills and knowledge as a captain and navigator, she started carving out space for herself by tapping into her own leadership style.

Courtesy of Lehua Kamalu

"We are our own worst critics," Kamalu said. "There's a very high standard placed on the work we do. There's no room for error or failure. When you're on the brink of losing something like navigation, there's not a lot of room to mess up."

Polynesians are part of the Austronesian peoples, who originated from the islands that are now the Philippines, Indonesia, the Salomon Islands, and the region north of Papua New Guinea. After developing elaborate techniques for building two-hulled canoes that could withstand long journeys in the open ocean  as well as new ways to store the fresh water, food, and plants needed to survive those voyages  they ventured out into the Pacific, colonizing Fiji, Samoa, and Tonga around 500 B.C.E. After approximately 1,000 to 1,500 years, they continued on toward Tahiti and Hawaii, navigating thousands of nautical miles using their knowledge of the stars, the sun, and ocean swells to guide them.

"The history of these people is the history of their migration out of the Western Pacific," Christina Thompson, the author of "Sea People: The Puzzle of Polynesia," told T+L. "It is the core, the root of the Polynesian diaspora."

Then, the knowledge and practice of Polynesian wayfinding, nearly disappeared. In the 17th and 18th centuries, when the Europeans reached the Polynesian Triangle  Hawaii to the north, Easter Island to the east, New Zealand to the south, and Tahiti in the center  there were few expeditions to be found. History remains silent about what caused ancient Polynesians to stop long-distance voyaging.

In the 1950s, Andrew Sharp, a New Zealand historian, suggested Polynesians had stumbled on the Pacific islands by chance. Some 20 years later, in an attempt to prove Sharp's theory wrong, anthropologist Ben Finney built a 61-foot replica of a traditional Polynesian canoe with help from a local surfer and an artist in Honolulu. The vessel  named Hokule'a after Arcturus, the zenith star of the Hawaiian Islands  was to sail to Tahiti and back, using traditional navigation techniques, to prove that ancient navigation was calculated, rather than a game of chance.

With the knowledge of wayfinding lost in Hawaii and much of Polynesia, finding someone who could navigate Hokule'a proved challenging. It fell to Pius "Mau" Piailug, who lived on Satawal in the remote Caroline Islands of Micronesia.



A 2017 POLYNESIAN VOXAGIN SOCIETY/NAVALERYANTHONY/GIMI TV

On May 1, 1976, Hokule'a left Maui with an all-male crew, including Piailug, for the 2,400-mile journey from Hawaii to Tahiti. In 34 days, the double-hulled canoe arrived in Papeete Harbor, where some 17,000 people had lined up along the shoreline to celebrate the revival of this ancient tradition. On its way back, a different crew of 11 men and two women  Keani Reiner and Penny Martin  guided Hokule'a back to Hawaii. Reiner and Martin became the first two women to be part of a crew on a Polynesian voyaging canoe in more than two centuries, paving the way for others.

"The reinvention and rediscovery of voyaging in the modern era are interesting," Christina Thompson said. "On the one hand, it's going back to something old, but in many ways, it's actually been going forward to something new. It's syncretic."

One of Hokule'a's original crew members was Nainoa Thompson. As the president of the Polynesian Voyaging Society and a master navigator initiated in the sacred pwo ceremony, he continues to be instrumental in steering celestial navigation in a more inclusive direction. After the success of Hokule'a's maiden voyage and under his guidance, more women have become involved with navigating and taken on leadership roles in the field. He got permission from his teacher and mentor, Piailug, to initiate women as master navigators via the pwo ceremony, once only celebrated for men.



"Women learn better than men. They are more disciplined. They are more focused. They are more committed long-term. They don't let stuff get in the way of their learning," Nainoa Thompson told T+L.

Courtesy of Four Seasons Resort Maui

One of the women who has since become an essential member of the Hawaiian voyaging community is Kala Baybayan Tanaka. For her, voyaging is a true family affair. She remembers seeing off her late father, Chad Kalepa Baybayan, a pwo navigator and a captain, on many of his voyages. However, she didn't sail with him until her college years.

One day, she joined her father and crew on a sail from Oahu to Maui, and she remembered being struck that the entire crew was male. "I was the only female. And I asked my dad, 'Do women belong in a canoe?' And he was really firm and said, 'It doesn't matter your gender. What matters is that you want to be here, your desire to learn,'" she told T+L.

She would go on to sail several legs on Hokule'a. Tanaka loves long-distance voyages as they bring her closer to her ancestors. "The ocean was their road. They were all over the place," she said.

And while she still sails, she has focused her efforts on educating the next generation of voyagers. She is involved with the Hui o Wa'a Kaulua, Maui's Voyaging Society, teaching children and visitors the history and techniques of voyaging. "If I can help get others on a canoe, then that means the tradition of voyaging will continue on," she added.

Courtesy of Four Seasons Resort Maui

Tanaka and Kamalu now have important roles, not just on the canoes but also as leaders and role models for younger women picking up their ancestors' wayfinding traditions.

For Kai Hoshijo, watching the likes of Tanaka and Kamalu made her want to pursue navigating three years ago. "It's very, very important to have female role models," Hoshijo told T+L, adding that seeing female navigators and captains was "something my mom and my grandmother weren't able to access, so it's pretty inspiring."

The 25-year-old also admitted that being a woman on the canoe, especially in a leadership role, is difficult. "I do think that women, and especially in maritime roles, have to be not just good, but excellent," she said. "It's difficult to get to those places and maintain that space, for not only yourself but for others."

Hoshijo said a huge part of long-distance voyaging is establishing relationships and partnerships across the Pacific and the world, as it strengthens the tradition of voyaging. And she is preparing to do exactly that as part of Hokule'a 15th major voyage.

On June 15, the legendary canoe began an epic 47,000-mile journey, Moananuiakea, circumnavigating the Pacific. It will take four years to complete, reaching nearly 100 Indigenous territories in 36 countries, it's the longest voyage to date. The goal is to encourage young leaders and educate and engage a new generation of voyagers "while amplifying the vital importance of our oceans, nature, science, and Indigenous wisdom."

This time, unlike its first voyage almost 50 years ago, a rotating crew of 400 members, men and women, from around the globe will work together to ensure the practice of wayfinding endures.

"Tradition is just a history of change. Culture evolves, culture shifts," Nainoa Thompson said. "That's how we survive."

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Read the original article on Travel & Leisure.
An abandoned airplane on the tarmac at Nicosia International Airport. MARIO GOLDMAN/AFP/Getty Images

Nicosia International Airport was abandoned in 1974 due to conflict in Cyprus.

It was once the Mediterranean island's main airport, but it's been untouched for almost 50 years.

Nature has overtaken the airport's baggage claim, tarmac, and terminals.

A decaying Cyprus Airways Trident 2E aircraft sits on the tarmac of Nicosia International Airport on the Mediterranean island of Cyprus.

But that's not where the ruins end. Decay continues inside the airport, which once served as the welcoming point for visitors to Cyprus.

An empty baggage claim fills one wing. In another area, travel posters unfurl from the wall.

Today, the abandoned airport serves as a reminder of Cyprus' tumultuous past.

For a tiny island, Cyprus  located in the Mediterranean to the south of Turkey and west of Lebanon and Syria  has been riddled with conflict.

An arrow points to Cyprus on a map. Screenshot via Google Maps

In the European island's capital, Nicosia International Airport was at the heart of a major conflict between Greek and Turkish-Cypriots in 1974.

The exterior of the abandoned Nicosia International Airport in Cyprus. MARIO GOLDMAN/AFP/Getty Images

The airport, which was originally built in the 1930s as a military airfield, slowly grew to be a hub for travelers in Cyprus, as Atlas Obscura reported.

A passenger departure area at the abandoned Nicosia International Airport. Athanasios Gioumpasis/Getty Images

Source: Atlas Obscura

But in 1974, Greek nationalists staged a military coup against the Cypriot government. In response, Turkey invaded Cyprus from the north, Slate reported.

The former control tower at Nicosia International Airport. Sean Gallup/Getty Images

Source: Slate

Nicosia International Airport became a battleground and in 1974, the United Nations established a buffer zone dividing the island, Slate reported.

The departure hall at the abandoned Nicosia International Airport. ROY ISSA/AFP/Getty Images

Source: Slate

In the center of that zone was the Nicosia airport. The buffer zone is still visible on a map today.

Nicosia, Cyprus' capital, sits in the UN buffer zone that's been on the island since 1974. Screenshot via Google Maps

With the creation of the demilitarized zone came the "immediate closure and sudden abandonment" of the airport, Atlas Obscura reported.

The former baggage-claim hall at Nicosia International Airport. Sean Gallup/Getty Images

Source: Atlas Obscura

Today, Cyprus is split in two. The north  or the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus as it's recognized by Turkey  is under Turkish-Cypriot rule. And the south  recognized internationally as Cyprus  is under Greek-Cypriot rule.

Story continues

Cape Greco in Ayia Napa, Cyprus, is on the country's southeastern coast. Getty Images

And for the last 50 years, the airport has remained abandoned in what is still a demilitarized zone.

The exterior of the abandoned Nicosia International Airport in Cyprus. MARIO GOLDMAN/AFP/Getty Images

For decades, photographers and urban explorers have explored the site.

A dilapidated Cyprus Airways Trident 2E aircraft sits on the tarmac of the abandoned Nicosia International Airport. MARIO GOLDMAN/AFP/Getty Images

Their photos depict an airport that, for close to half a century, has only been touched by nature's elements.

An abandoned room in the Nicosia International Airport in Cyprus. MARIO GOLDMAN/AFP/Getty Images

Baggage carousels have been destroyed by the elements. The airport's halls have peeling paint on the ceilings and vines growing on the floors.

An abandoned hall in the Nicosia International Airport in Cyprus. MARIO GOLDMAN/AFP/Getty Images

In other areas of the airport, dust and dirt cover crumbling chairs.

The passenger departure area at the abandoned Nicosia International Airport. Athanasios Gioumpasis/Getty Images

But in 2022, the public could tour the airport  virtually. A team of researchers with The Cyprus Institute documented and digitized the abandoned airport. The result was a virtual walkthrough of the crumbling site that anyone can explore, as the Cyprus Mail reported.

An airplane sits on the tarmac at Nicosia International Airport. MARIO GOLDMAN/AFP/Getty Images

Source: The Cyprus Institute, Cyprus Mail

They, too, can now see inside an airport that has spent close to 50 years slowly decaying.

A peeling advertisement on a wall at the abandoned Nicosia International Airport. Athanasios Gioumpasis/Getty Images

Read the original article on Insider
Your letters to the editor for July 16, 2023:

'A Decade of hate' unbecoming of loving community

Shaming. On the front page of the Sunday Sioux Falls Argus of July 9th,in BOLD letters was printed A DECADE OF HATE. That message is very unbecoming of a community of LOVE and RESPECT of all. This is absolutely unnecessary to attempt to desecrate our community. Your message is a disgrace to all citizens.

 Rick Althoff, Sioux Falls

More: A decade of hate: How South Dakota's anti-LGBTQ+ bills have grown in the last 10 years

Racial disparities still exist. Supreme Court decision doesn't change that.

Comments on two recent circumstances of political significance  Supreme Court decision on Affirmative Action and South Dakota congressional Republican endorsements of Tim Scott for President:

I support the Supreme Court recent decision on Affirmative Action BUT not the all-inclusive rejection that many attribute to it of reparation-like policies to address racial disparities in our country. Racial disparities still exist and in terms of national metrics, no more so than with black and native American populations. Racial disparities still exist  in education, housing, health metrics, economic mobility, you name it  and even if we dismiss affirmative action programs in colleges as the cure, the underlying issue remains.yet to be addressed. Surprisingly, the Courts decision didnt rest solely along white/black demographics but with how Asian Americans were disparagingly impacted. But what really caught my attention was Justice Clarence Thomass declaration (by self-admission, a beneficiary of affirmative action) that the Constitution is color-blind and thus, his concurring opinion. That same Constitution included when written what came to be called the 3/5 Compromise, that every non-free (i.e. slave) person counted as 3/5 a person for purposes of calculating congressional representation and taxation. That was in the Constitution: Article One, Section Two until it was repealed in 1868 with the 14th Amendment. What that tells me is that neither the Constitution nor the Declaration of Independence were color-blind because the authors of both documents surely were not!

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As for Presidential candidacy endorsements, both Senators Thune and Rounds have endorsed Tim Scott of South Carolina for President in 2024. Interesting! What strikes me is, given that everything Ive seen indicates former President Trump is the, by far, front runner, that their endorsement ignores the current reality of where the Republican Party stands. My sense is that in the modern MAGA Republican era of Donald Trump, the moderate Republican Party that Tim Scott and his supporters try to appeal to doesnt exist anymore. Not since 2016 for sure, and probably more like 2012. The real competition in the Republican Party is between Trump and those who appeal to his base but try to do so without his baggage. Baggage? What baggage? Think Jan 6, think classified documents, think Character Counts, or the lack thereof that doesnt seem to matter to the Trump faithful. The only candidate in the Republican field willing to explicitly call out Trump for what he is  Chris Christie, and he doesnt stand a chance because of it. Mike Rounds and John Thune are good men but they demonstrate little political willingness to explicitly critique in detail anyone, on a national scale, other than Joe Biden.

 Bill Kubat, Sioux Falls

Just because I oppose you, doesn't mean I hate you

When I saw the title of an article called A Decade of Hate: A History of Anti LGBT Legislation, I was deeply offended. Just because I believe the Bible says that kind of life style is wrong, I am seen as unloving. I would never condone being mean or nasty to anyone. Sometimes confronting someone about their choices is the most loving thing you can do if done in a respectful way. Just because we have opposing views does not mean I hate you. I feel we can have opposite views and still respect each other's view point and not try to force the other person to change his or her mind.

 Cherie Zehendner, Harrisburg

More: A decade of hate: How trans activists pressured Gov. Dennis Daugaard to veto HB 1008 in 2016

Telehealth access should be permanently protected

As a mental health therapist in South Dakota, I see the benefits of telehealth every day and am a staunch advocate for resources that expand access to care. According to a study from the University of California Davis, telehealth has increased access to care for rural families by allowing them to save money and time by not having to drive the hours it would take to get to a provider location, like a clinic. It has allowed me to support minors and low-income families who can't reach my clinic due to transportation, but can instead access critical care from a laptop, phone, or tablet at home. During long, snowy winters, the travel-based alternative can become massively challenging, especially for patients coming longer distances from rural areas. Telehealth is a service needed, not wanted, in saving lives and providing interventions in the treatment of mental health and eating disorders. Without access to telehealth, more than 50 percent of my clients would be left without support. Senators Rounds and Thune showed support for telehealth by co-sponsoring the CONNECT for Health Act. I encourage them to finish the job and ensure permanent protection for telehealth access is passed in Washington. Faith Carlson, Sioux Falls

More: Concerns for taxpayer money going out of state; Congressional support needed against animal fights: Your letters

A Hillsdale IMPRIMIS speech summary

Gov.Noem unilaterally chose Hillsdale Colleges curriculum materials. That show of power is enormously consequential. Tens of thousands of youngsters are now to learn what Gov. Noem alone wanted and decided for them to learn.

Hillsdale College is a small conservative college in Michigan that draws financial and political support from wealthy conservative sources. Hillsdale will likely be pleased to know that I read their IMPRIMIS periodical. The April/May 2023 message publishes a recent speech entitled, Thinking Smartly About Climate Change. The length of the full speech is about 3,000 words, so my written critique is quite selective in what I choose to report.

The speaker identifies himself to be a social scientist focused on the economics of climate change, rather than science. As such, he studies the global economic effects of climate change. He insists we can reduce climate harm without breaking the bank. Rather than throwing so much money at it, his solution is to be more innovative. One example he offers was when invention of the catalytic converter that reduced most smog from automobile exhaust.

Thus, he asserts, we simply need to develop new technologies. The emphasis should be on innovation that will produce affordable and dependable green energy. We can do this, he insists, without sacrificing amazing opportunities that currently abundant energy will deliver.

As a signal that this Hillsdale speaker is a true conservative speaking to other conservatives, his speech deliberately misquotes Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) with words that jumble what she actually said. The quote as he revised it: the world will end in 12 years if we dont address climate change. He should have provided context and a correct string of her words. The 2018-UN-Climate-Agreement specifically stated that climate-change effects would become unavoidable and irreversible unless carbon emissions were to be reined in within the next 12 years. When AOC was asked by someone to explain that UN assertion, she did so. She then added that she herself supported more spending towards reduction of carbon emissions.

 Dave Wegner, Sioux Falls

More: Minnehaha County state's attorney declines prosecuting 2022 Gateway Lounge homicide

Where is the salvation for a closed homicide?

WOW, I can't help from not responding to the Argus story, 07/23, "2022 Homicide at Gateway Lounge now considered closed".What?The case was "closed" by the Minnehaha State's Attorney's Office.Sheriff Sam Clemens said, " We didn't know if there had been some fight, if he fell, if there was some type of medical event". "The following autopsy determined the death was by homicide."How can you "close" a homicide case without identifying the cause of the "homicide?"The Argus or someone needs to explain this a little more than the information we have been given.This looks a lot like a recent rather famous legal case in South Dakota being dismissed and "closed" by the State' s Attorney General's office when the evidence presented showed that this person was obviously guilty.Thank you to the lawyers and the legal system to be able to turn justice into salvation.Douglas Geise, Sioux Falls

EDITOR'S NOTE: Sam Clemens is the spokesperson for the Sioux Falls Police Department. He is not tied to the Minnehaha County Sheriff's Office.

How to submit a letter to the editor:

Letters need to be roughly 300 to 500 words, and will need to include first and last name, address, city and title. Addresses wont be publicized, of course, but its a way for us to make sure those who submit a letter are who they say they are.

Letters will run on Sundays in print and online as we receive them. There may be moments, however, when we don't have any as we work to solicit interest and actively rebuild this part of our coverage for readers.

You can submit those to News Director Shelly Conlon by emailing sconlon@argusleader.com or submit them through our online form here, which also is sent directly to the news director.

This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: Affirmative action decision doesn't erase racial disparities; it's time to protect telehealth: Your letters
A city of Detroit policy intended to increase opportunities for prospective employees resulted in the hiring of a lawyer awaiting trial on drug trafficking and gun charges.

Danasia Neal was considered an exemplary employee  until I contacted the mayor's office and asked if they knew she had been arrested in 2021 after police searched her SUV and found guns and fentanyl.

City officials said that was news to them. And within 24 hours of my call, Neal was a former employee of the city of Detroit.

Neal was not required to disclose the charges against her when she was hired in April 2022 because Detroit is a "ban the box" employer. For those unfamiliar with the term, the National Conference of State Legislatures says: "'Ban the box' policies arose from a belief that employers should consider a job candidates qualifications first  without the stigma of a conviction or arrest record. Many ban the box policies provide applicants a fair chance at employment by removing conviction and arrest history questions from job applications and delaying background checks until later in the hiring process."

In this frame capture from body camera video, Danasia Neal gets out of her car after stalling and telling officers she did not know what she was bring stopped. Detroit police arrested her after a search during a traffic stop discovered 352 grams of fentanyl and a couple guns in her Range Rover. Neal is trying to get the charges against her thrown out by challenging the officers' authority to pull her over and search her car. Greene and both of the back-seat passengers convinced a Wayne County circuit court judge to throw out the charges against them. Michigan Court of Appeals judges reinstated the charges against the back-seat passengers.

The unenviable task of explaining how the city hired someone accused of contributing to the fentanyl crisis that plagues our city and our nation fell to Conrad Mallett Jr., a former chief justice of the Michigan Supreme Court who now runs the city's law department.

"Detroit is a ban the box employer and committed to providing opportunity to people who have made mistakes, so employees are not required to disclose past criminal convictions or current legal issues," Mallett said in a statement sent to me Thursday. As more questions arose about Neal's hiring, Mallett followed up with a subsequent statement that said: "While the city is a ban the box employer, it does conduct background checks on new hires. At the time Ms. Neal was hired by the city in April 2022, the check revealed no offenses and to date she has no convictions. When background checks reveal a prior offense for a new hire, a determination is made as to whether the nature of the offense would conflict with the nature of the work, and the city does have the discretion to not put people with certain criminal offenses into certain positions."

Story continues

Conrad Mallett Jr.

City officials told me they use the Michigan State Police's Internet Criminal History Access Tool, known as ICHAT, to do background checks on employees. They said there was no record of Neal's arrest on ICHAT. I also checked Neal on ICHAT, and it still makes no mention of the charges against her.

Neal caught her case nine months before the city hired her. Detroit police arrested her after a search during a traffic stop discovered 352 grams of fentanyl and a couple guns in her Range Rover. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration says 2 milligrams of fentanyl is a potentially deadly dose. That means Neal could have been hauling enough fentanyl to produce 352,000 deadly doses. And here's a not-so-fun fact: The DEA says a kilogram of fentanyl  which is three times the amount Neal is accused of possessing  "has the potential to kill 500,000 people."

Neal has held a few midlevel positions since the city hired her 15 months ago. Most recently, she had been working in the law department on blight issues. Mallett says she was doing a helluva job despite some, er, distractions.

"Ms. Neal performed at an exceptionally high level  even during the time she has been embroiled in this alleged criminal matter without our awareness," he wrote.

Despite Mallett's quite right assertion that law provides Neal "a presumption of innocence," he said he believes her ability to do her job will be undermined by news reports like this one.

"The revelation of her legal issues, which is now being broadly disseminated, compromises her ability to perform a very sensitive legal function that must be beyond reproach, lest it compromise the city's position in these cases," Mallett wrote.

Neal didn't want to discuss her legal or employment predicament when I reached her Thursday, or at least that was the impression I got after she clammed up and handed her phone to her attorney Adam Clements.

Clements said he and Neal were not happy about her dismissal and later added: "My client is a great person and has always done things the right way."

He said Neal "looks forward to being exonerated at trial."

From "kid with a dream" to pistol-packin' lawyer

Neal grew up on the east side, a Detroit kid with dreams of practicing law.

"Her goal was to give back to her community.  Danasia is very down to earth with a pure heart. With her tenacity and love for challenges, she is determined to provide effective and efficient results."

Or so says the biography on the website of her law firm, which Neal was apparently operating at the same time she was working for the city. Moonlighting as an attorney while working for the city law department could also prove hazardous to Neal's ability to regain her city gig, but for now let's focus on the matter that could cost her something more precious than a job  her freedom.

According to court records, the prosecutor's version of events and police body camera video I reviewed, officers stopped Neal's luxury SUV about 5:30 p.m. on July 22, 2021, for failing to use her turn signal and having tinted windows. After she turned into the parking lot of an apartment complex on Greenfield near Puritan on Detroit's west side, police blocked her SUV and asked for her license and registration.

Prosecutors don't say in their appellate brief why officers decided to pursue Neal for such minor infractions in a city filled with cars that have illegally tinted front windows and where too many drivers view a red light as a signal to proceed through an intersection at warp speed. Instead, they focused on what happened after Neal stopped.

First, Darrius Greene, an interesting gent we'll learn more about in a minute, got out of the passenger seat, made eye contact with the fuzz, and tried to walk away  "appearing to be trying to distance himself from something in the vehicle," prosecutors wrote. They say Greene ignored commands to stop until an officer "un-holstered his taser and threatened to taser him."

In this frame capture from body camera video, Danasia Neal gets out of her car after stalling and telling officers she did not know what she was bring stopped. Detroit police arrested her after a search during a traffic stop discovered 352 grams of fentanyl and a couple guns in her Range Rover. Neal is trying to get the charges against her thrown out by challenging the officers' authority to pull her over and search her car. Greene and both of the back-seat passengers convinced a Wayne County circuit court judge to throw out the charges against them. Michigan Court of Appeals judges reinstated the charges against the back-seat passengers.

While officers had a little chat with Greene, Neal's "love for challenges" apparently included challenging authority. Neal refused to fully roll down her tinted window, refused to roll down tinted back windows, refused to answer an officer's questions and failed to mention there were weapons in the Rover.

"At this time, I believe she's really acting nervous," one officer reported. Other officers on the scene described Neal as in a "debate" or "stand-off" with the officer.

Body camera video shows an officer using a flashlight to peer into the darkly-tinted rear windows. Police spotted two men and an opened bottle of alcohol while, in the front seat, Neal continued to refuse to cooperate.

In less than 10 minutes, what started as a minor traffic stop had entered felony territory.

Police found a semi-automatic handgun on the passenger seat. After Neal was out of the SUV and handcuffed, she told police: "Can I just say that I'm an attorney?"

An officer responded: "That's means you understand what's going on."

Less than a minute later, the officer found a loaded handgun in Neal's purse and admonished her for not telling him earlier she was packing. Under Michigan law, concealed pistol license (CPL) holders are required to immediately tell police that they are carrying a firearm.

Other officers were even more, shall we say, excited by the discovery.

"She had her f***ing hand on a pistol the whole time in her purse!" one officer hollered to another, later adding: "Man, I'm shaking right now. I thought she was going to shoot you, dawg!"

In this frame capture from body camera video, police search the purse of Danasia Neal after she was detained by officers during a traffic stop. Detroit police arrested her after a search during a traffic stop discovered 352 grams of fentanyl and a couple guns in her Range Rover. Neal is trying to get the charges against her thrown out by challenging the officers' authority to pull her over and search her car. Greene and both of the back-seat passengers convinced a Wayne County circuit court judge to throw out the charges against them. Michigan Court of Appeals judges reinstated the charges against the back-seat passengers.

Body camera video shows officers making more startling discoveries, starting with a brick of what appeared to be heroin stashed in the Rover.

"Omigod, bro, another brick underneath the seat," an officer says after finding a second package under Neal's seat.

Minutes later he adds: "We got two bricks, two pistols."

A search of the back-seat passengers turns up wads of cash. Police also say they found a nearly empty bottle of tequila.

Lab tests later identify the drugs as fentanyl.

Neal and her three passengers were arrested and bound over for trial on felony drug and gun charges.

Which brings us back to Greene  the cat in the front seat who tried to scat after police pulled Neal over.

Greene, 38, has been in trouble with the law since he was 20. His criminal record includes theft, drug, weapon and assault charges, along with fleeing from police. He took his first trip to prison in 2009. He had been free for seven months when Neal got pulled over. That incident got him sent back to prison on a parole violation.

When I asked Neal's lawyer to comment on how Neal and Greene knew each other, he declined to comment on the nature of their relationship.

So, for now, all I can say is that they have been codefendants.

Benefit of the doubt

Neal is trying to get the charges against her thrown out by challenging the officers' authority to pull her over and search her car. Greene and both of the back-seat passengers convinced a Wayne County circuit court judge to throw out the charges against them. Michigan Court of Appeals judges reinstated the charges against the back-seat passengers. Prosecutors are hoping the appellate judges will reinstate charges against Greene, too.

I asked Clements whether Neal denies having the drugs and guns in her car, or just believes the cops didn't have the right to look for them.

He replied: "The case should be dismissed for an illegal search, and as it relates to anything else, we have no comment."

In this frame capture from body camera video, Danasia Neal asks officers if she can have the laptop out of her vehicle while she is detained in the back of a patrol car. Detroit police arrested her after a search during a traffic stop discovered 352 grams of fentanyl and a couple guns in her Range Rover. Neal is trying to get the charges against her thrown out by challenging the officers' authority to pull her over and search her car. Greene and both of the back-seat passengers convinced a Wayne County circuit court judge to throw out the charges against them. Michigan Court of Appeals judges reinstated the charges against the back-seat passengers.

My practice is to encourage defense attorneys who believe their clients are innocent to say so, since they're going to argue that before a judge and jury later anyway. Clements told me he'll do his talking in court. Of course, he's hoping that won't be necessary, because he believes the charges should be thrown out. If the case proceeds, he said "we plan to win at trial," and added that his statement is essentially a declaration that his client did nothing wrong.

Which brings us back to the city's "Ban the box" policy. If Neal prevails in court, she could argue Detroit officials violated their own policy by firing her before she got her day in court. If her day in court ends with a conviction, I think it's safe to say the city doesn't have to worry about a lawsuit for wrongful termination.

In the meantime, I reckon Neal can concentrate on running her law firm that the city apparently didn't know about.

Of course, prospective clients who do their own background check may be less than impressed when they learn that she was driving around with drugs and guns and an ex-con in her ride.

As one of the officers on the scene during the traffic stop says to his partners: "Wow! So this is what lawyers are doing these days?"

M.L. Elrick is a Pulitzer Prize- and Emmy Award-winning investigative reporter and host of the ML's Soul of Detroit podcast. Contact him at mlelrick@freepress.com or follow him on Twitter at @elrick, Facebook at ML Elrick and Instagram at ml_elrick. Support investigative reporting and use this link to invite a friend to become a subscriber.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit policy failed to keep lawyer facing felonies from city job
Stolen 1970 Pontiac GTO

A family's treasured 1970 Pontiac GTO was stolen from a trailer on the way to a national GTO meet. The family is understandably distraught and has asked the public to keep its eyes open in the hope of having the car returned. That's where we all come in.

The Bennett family of upstate New York has owned the green Pontiac for 27 years, as they explained to WRTV Indianapolis. The mother of the family, Jill, recalled how the car had been present for major milestones in the family's life, from transporting them as newlyweds to bringing home their children from the hospital for the first time.

"It's just part of the family. We feel like we've lost a child," Jill Campbell-Bennett told the outlet. "Both of my kids came home in the hospital in it. It was in our wedding."

Stolen 1970 Pontiac GTO. via WRTV Indianapolis

The family was traveling to the 44th annual GTO Association of America National Convention in Springfield, Illinois, on June 26 when they stopped for the night at a La Quinta in Indianapolis. The car was being transported in an unmarked trailer, which security footage shows attracting attention from a suspect in a black shirt and khaki shorts. The suspect reportedly cut open the trailer and undid the ratchet straps, making off with the car in the company of white and black trucks.

"I had to tell my husband to breathe. It was quite emotional," Campbell-Bennet said. "We've had a lot of memories in it for sure. If anybody sees it we'd love to get it back."

The Bennetts said the GTO could be recognized by the tiger tail hanging out the trunk, as well as a sticker on its back window. It's possible that the thieves might attempt to disguise the car by removing those identifiers. There's hope that it's still around, and if you happen to spot it, police are asking that you contact Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana at 317-262-8477.

Got a tip or question for the author? You can reach them here: james@thedrive.com
Relatives of those found at Gilgo Beach, including Mari Gilbert, mother of Shannan Gilbert; Melissa Cann, sister of Maureen Brainard-Barnes; and Lorraine Ela, mother of Megan Waterman, at a vigil in Oak Beach, N.Y. on Dec. 13, 2011. (Uli Seit/The New York Times)

NEW YORK  Twelve years ago, on the Monday after Easter in 2011, on a gray afternoon in New London, Connecticut, Melissa Cann sat at a picnic table on a pier, talking about her big sister, Maureen Brainard-Barnes, who disappeared on a trip to Manhattan four years earlier. While Cann described herself as a homebody, she said her older sister was a free spirit, artistic, daring and often clashed with their mother. Brainard-Barnes had worked as a blackjack dealer, as a clerk at a ShopRite and, in the six months or so before she vanished, as an escort.

Cann spoke in a broken voice about the police who brushed off any claim that her sister was actually missing; the fruitless trips Canns husband and brother took to New York to search for her; the difficulty, because she was an escort, of even getting Brainard-Barnes name onto an official list of missing persons. She talked about the children her sister left behind  an 11-year-old girl and a 5-year-old boy  and she admitted that she was surprised by her sisters escort work. She was afraid to question her sisters choices, but she also regretted that she couldnt protect her.

For three years, Cann did practically nothing but think about her sister.

Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times

Then, in December 2010, everything changed: Brainard-Barnes remains were found along Gilgo Beach on Long Island. The remains of three other women were close by. Melissa Barthelemy disappeared from her apartment in the Bronx in 2009. Megan Waterman vanished in May 2010, and was last seen leaving a hotel on Long Island. Amber Costello had left her home in the town of Babylon, New York, that September, never to be seen again. All four women were petite, and all four came from out of town to work as escorts.

Now that there was a crime attached, police were interested, but these women were soon reduced to a single dimension. Their profession turned them into plot devices in an established true-crime story line. Who they were mattered less than the mystery surrounding their deaths.

Story continues

As police scoured the beach for more bodies in spring 2010 (and found several), Cann and family members of the other women were caught in a peculiar bind. On one hand, they were energized. Now that they were part of a serial-killer case, the world was beating a path to their doors; perhaps there might even be a break in the case. Then came the horrible hangover of seeing their daughters and sisters in the news, constantly being referred to as prostitutes. The point Cann made to me on that pier was similar to what all the family members eventually said to me: These women were more than this.

I dont like how theyre talking about her, Cann told me. I understand they only know what she was down there doing, and thats what they look at her as. But it doesnt matter what she did. She was still a mother. She still meant the world to her daughter, she meant the world to me.

Police seemed to resist taking the case seriously at first, and in reality, they had not even been looking for these women. They were found by happenstance, after a fifth woman, Shannan Gilbert, disappeared in 2010 during an escort appointment in Oak Beach, 3 miles from where the first four women were discovered.

At a public-safety hearing on Long Island in May 2011, while teams of rescue workers and police officers were still searching the bramble of Gilgo Beach, Dominick Varrone, chief of detectives of the Suffolk County Police Department, suggested that the public could be at ease because the killer was selecting only a certain sort of victim. The subtext was clear: If the victims had been successful and well-educated  like the victims of David Berkowitz, the serial killer known as Son of Sam  all of Long Island might need to be in a panic. But everyone could relax. Sex workers didnt seem to deserve the same consideration.

Flash forward a decade, to July 14, 2023. Cann was on Long Island, standing with her husband at a news conference and announcing an arrest in the case that had haunted her for 16 years. Next to them were the relatives of two other victims: Barthelemys sister, Amanda, and Watermans daughter, Lili.

District Attorney Raymond Tierney said that while the suspect in custody for the killings represented the worst of humanity, the families of the victims seemed to him to embody the best of all of us. Police Commissioner Rodney Harrison gave Cann and each of the family members a long hug. Its a big difference, 12 years: The victims seem to matter.

To Canns point, the news media does not frequently identify victims as prostitutes anymore, but as people who earn money with sex work. Earlier that morning, Gov. Kathy Hochul led an impromptu moment of silence in honor of the victims. It was a far cry from what Shannan Gilberts mother, Mari, once said: I think they look at them like theyre throwaway. They dont care.

Just as there is no single form of poverty, there also is no distinct set of family patterns or life circumstances that leads to the choices these women made. No formula exists to explain what brought them to Gilgo Beach. Human trafficking was a factor for one of them, addiction for another.

But if they shared something, it was that they never fell off the grid or lived on the streets the way the TV procedural stereotype dictates. They all remained close to their families. They all came from towns with narrowing options and were seeking a way out. Thats one way of looking at Lost Girls, the title of my book about this case, later adapted into a movie: They were only lost insofar as we  the police, the media, the social safety net  elected to lose them, by deciding they were worth discarding.

Serial killers understand this, of course. Jack the Ripper targeted the women he did for presumably the same reason that the Green River Killer and Joel Rifkin said they did: These were women they believed no one would ever go looking for. And more often than not, sadly, they were right.

Now, 16 years after Brainard-Barnes went missing, we have an arrest, a suspect: Rex Heuermann was, it seems, living in plain sight, in a Long Island town a short drive from where the bodies were found. He has a spouse and children, and a job with a relatively high profile. In a place as densely populated as New York, he stands accused of a double life that seems hard to contemplate.

His advantage, it would seem, was that no one was looking for him, either. In cases involving escort work, men who are customers often seem like footnotes, at least to the public. Police locked in on Heuermann only last year, more than a decade after the four bodies were found on Gilgo Beach.

For Cann and the other family members, thats an eternity of wondering and waiting, and feeling every bit as discarded as the loved ones they lost.

c.2023 The New York Times Company
Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina. AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana

GOP Sen. Tim Scott said the 2020 election wasn't "stolen," but feels that "there was cheating."

Scott made the comments while stumping in Iowa as he seeks the GOP presidential nomination.

Some Republicans have urged the party to move on from Trump's election claims ahead of 2024.

Republican presidential candidate Tim Scott on Friday said he didn't believe that the 2020 presidential election was "stolen," but argued that "there was cheating" in the contest that saw now-President Joe Biden defeat then-President Donald Trump, according to NBC News.

Since launching his 2024 White House bid in May, the South Carolina senator has sought to offer GOP voters a conservative candidacy rooted in unity and optimism. And Trump's election claims have proven to be highly divisive, with the former president continuing to claim  without any evidence  that he was the true victor in the 2020 contest.

"I do not believe the election was stolen," Scott said during a town hall meeting in Davenport, Iowa. "There was cheating, but was the election stolen? There's a difference. I think [in] every election there's cheating."

On Jan. 5, 2021, a day before the certification of the 2020 results was disrupted by rioting at the US Capitol, Scott expressed gratitude toward Trump for his term in office while also speaking out against voting irregularities.

"In nearly every election across this great country, there is some modicum of error. Some errors are merely mistakes, while some are intentional, and therefore fraud. Some mistakes are inconsequential, while some could in fact change the outcome of elections," the senator said in a statement at the time.



"We must work to end these errors  be they intentional, negligent, or otherwise," he continued. "Simply put, there is no acceptable error rate when it comes to something as foundational and sacred as our vote. We must be vigilant in ensuring every lawfully cast vote is counted and no unlawfully cast vote is counted."

Story continues

Scott then spoke of his support of Trump as the then-president sought legal remedies to further probe the 2020 election, but acknowledged that several Trump-nominated judges did not allow certain lawsuits to proceed due to insufficient evidence.

"I have been adamant in supporting the President's legal right to pursue any and every lawful avenue to investigate, litigate and adjudicate allegations of error, fraud, or misconduct," he said at the time.

"The President's legal team exercised its right to access the courts by initiating suits in state and federal courts in numerous states. Some of these lawsuits have even been presided over and adjudicated by conservative judges nominated by President Trump. Thus far, no justice, judge, or fact finder has found evidence indicating the election results in those states should be overturned," he added.

Trump has often needled Republicans who have rejected his claims about the 2020 election.

Some Republicans  frustrated by candidates who lost competitive races in last year's midterms after embracing Trump's election claims  have urged the party to move on from the former president's 2020-related messaging.

While Scott is directly challenging Trump for the GOP presidential nomination, both men have long had a friendly relationship.

Last year, before Scott entered the presidential contest, he expressed an openness to potentially becoming Trump's vice presidential running mate. And in May, The New York Times reported that Trump privately said he was "just going to say nice things about Tim" if the senator entered the Republican presidential primary.

Trump publicly wished Scott luck on the day that the senator announced his presidential campaign and at the same time criticized Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' candidacy.

Read the original article on Business Insider
The Apollo 11 moon landing was a seminal event in American history, one etched deeply into our nation's collective psyche. The event ushered in an era of unbridled possibilities  the stars were finally coming into reach  and its effects were felt across the culture, from art and fashion to politics and culture. In After Apollo: Cultural Legacies of the Race to the Moon, a multidisciplinary collection of historians, researchers and academics explore the myriad ways that putting a man on the moon impacted the American Experience.

the moon landing but the spacesuit is pink

Excerpted from Scientists Without Borders: Immigrants in NASA and the Apollo Program by Rosanna Perotti from After Apollo: Cultural Legacies of the Race to the Moon, edited by J Bret Bennington and Rodney F. Hill. Gainesville: University of Florida Press, 2023. Reprinted with permission of the University of Florida Press.

Space Travel and the Immigrant Experience

From NASAs very beginnings, immigrant engineers, scientists, and technicians lent their talent, labor, and technical skills to the space program. But space travel itself always represented more than a scientific endeavor. Human spaceflight was one of the great dreams of the 1960s, as space historian Valerie Neal reminds us, and as a big idea, spaceflight relied heavily on American cultural narratives. The Apollo program (19631972) conjured the image of pioneering the frontier in the 1960sexploration and discovery were indispensable to Americas history and continuing redefinition, and Americans welcomed the frontier as a metaphor for space exploration (Neal 15). The shuttle program (19722011) echoed the narrative of Americans going to work. As the Apollo missions were replaced by the space shuttle, NASA supporters and commentators depicted the shuttle crews with imagery associated with blue-collar labor: astronaut repairmen made service calls in a vehicle often called a space truck."

Both of these narratives  pioneering the frontier and getting the job done  are closely associated with a third narrative that was becoming deeply ingrained in American national identity in the 1960s: the myth of the United States as a nation of immigrants and of the immigrant as the backbone of Americas egalitarian democracy. This American immigrant myth was not born in the nineteenth or even in the early twentieth century, when immigration was peaking and Congress struggled to impose limitations and quotas. The myth reached wide acceptance only in the early 1960s. It is no coincidence that John F. Kennedy presented the immigrant myth most succinctly in his pamphlet, A Nation of Immigrants, in 1963, as Kennedy was preparing to ask Congress to overhaul the nations immigration laws. At the same time, his administration was pressing furiously to put a man on the Moon by the end of the decade, a central goal of the New Frontier. Interestingly, Kennedys space proposals were a far more important policy priority for the administration than immigration reform (the latter was not accomplished until 1965, as we shall see later). But his articulation of the nation of immigrants narrative provided powerful imagery in support of the space program he championed from the start of his administration.

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Kennedys articulation of the complex immigration myth featured not just a welcoming America, but an idealized immigrant, united with others by little other than a common love of freedom. Ours was a nation of people with the fresh memory of old traditions who dared to explore new frontiers, people eager to build lives for themselves in a spacious society that did not restrict their freedom of choice and action." Citing Tocqueville, Kennedy noted that immigrants very poverty made them more inclined toward egalitarian democracy. No arena of American life was untouched by the influence of immigrants, and immigrants themselves were paragons of self-reliance, ingenuity, entrepreneurship, and pioneer spirit. It was the future and not the past to which he was compelled to address himself, Kennedy wrote, describing the motivations of the nineteenth-century immigrant.

Except for the Negro slave, he could go anywhere and do anything his talents permitted. A sprawling continent lay before him, and he had only to weld it together by canals, by railroads and by roads . . . This has been the foundation of American inventiveness and ingenuity, of the multiplicity of new enterprises, and of the success in achieving the highest standard of living anywhere in the world.

The space program was the next frontier in the natural progression toward excellence. It evoked not only the immigrants capacity for adventure and discovery but also his practicality and capacity to work hard and tame his surroundings. From the time of the English settlers, who fought a rugged land in the words of Kennedy, immigrants had to overcome adversity to earn their fortunes and shape their environment. They had worked as artisans, provided cheap labor for American farms, factories, mills, and mines, and climbed the economic ladder to provide succeeding generations with educational opportunities. They had moved forward to get the job done. Launched under the motto Going to Work in Space, the space shuttle was a vehicle that could deliver satellites and repair them in orbit, carry commercial payloads, and support a research laboratory. Astronauts would carry out their work all but rolling up their sleeves as builders and repair technicians, wielding robotic arms and power hand tools. Businesses could use the shuttle as a workhorse to launch satellites or develop manufacturing capabilities. All of this economic productivity in space could be expected to resonate with a nation whose increasingly diverse immigrant workforce was transitioning to a new economy. American society was reflected not only symbolically but practically in NASAs missions. They produced results that appeared almost impossibly ambitious. NASA represented excellence: the best work in the world. Space travel also mirrored some of the risks and hardships of the immigrant experience. As the American public began questioning the nations investment in space travel through the 1980s, advocates harked back to this part of the immigrant narrative. In the aftermath of the 1986 Challenger tragedy, the Report of the Advisory Committee on the Future of the US Space Program (1990) reminded Americans that acceptance and resilience in the face of failure were a part of Americas pioneer and immigrant legacies:
A delegation of the Legislative Council (LegCo) of China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) began a five-day visit to east China's Fujian province on Saturday to learn about the latest development of the coastal region's high-quality industries.

President of the HKSAR LegCo Andrew Leung, who is leading the delegation, told the press that the LegCo is once again conducting a visit to the Chinese mainland after a trip by all LegCo members to mainland cities of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area in April, fully demonstrating the LegCo's emphasis on promoting communication and cooperation with various provincial-level regions and cities in the mainland.

Hong Kong is the largest source of foreign investment and a major export market for Fujian, which perfectly reflects Hong Kong's unique advantages of enjoying the strong support of the motherland and being closely connected to the world under "one country, two systems," Leung said.

The delegation will tour two cities of Fuzhou and Xiamen, and also visit key facilities and projects related to local history and culture, finance and trade, shipping and logistics, innovation and technology, as well as communications, to understand the latest developments of high-quality industries in the region and explore ways to deepen cooperation between Hong Kong and Fujian in various fields.
DECATUR  Firefighters are blaming arson for a blaze that engulfed a boarded up and vacant Decatur home early Sunday.

A news release from Battalion Chief Timothy May with the Decatur Fire Department said crews were called to the house at 116 Colorado Drive at 2:25 a.m.

The first arriving units found a vacant and boarded up house with heavy fire showing through the roof, said May. ...The first arriving ladder truck pulled boards off the windows and doors for access and fire control.

Four engine companies and 18 firefighters assisted in dealing with the blaze with a control time for the incident listed as 5:08 a.m.

May said the house had no utilities connected and the cause of the fire was arson. He said the State Fire Marshals Office is investigating.
Jubilee and her twin, Eric. Courtesy of Shanie Lewison

Jubilee Alexander was assigned male at birth and transitioned in 2019.

Despite the two having different genders, she still feels identical to her twin.

This is Jubilee's story, as told to Kelly Burch.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Jubilee Alexander. The following has been edited for length and clarity.

My identical twin brother, two sisters, and I were homeschooled and raised in a religious household in Indiana, Idaho, and later Washington. Our parents had a specific idea of what masculinity was and wasn't.

My twin, Eric, and I were scrawny, nerdy kids. We felt we weren't living up to the messaging we were receiving, so we tried to bulk up to look more like the expectations for boys and men. That didn't work. We also heard all the time that men couldn't be feminine because it supposedly meant you were gay, but we knew we were attracted to girls and received attention from them, though neither of us dated much until college.

Luckily, for every way I "failed" to meet the patriarchal ideals that I was raised with, I had another person there with me. Eric and I went through it all together, and we knew we were doing all right.

After college, I lived abroad in Japan, where I started distancing myself from my religion. When I returned to the US, I lived in Chicago, where I found a much-more diverse crowd than I'd been raised with.

One day, I met a trans man and commented how he had bigger muscles than I did. A friend pointed out that it wasn't unusual  most people were more jacked than I was. That's when I realized I had some internalized ideas about gender that I had to unpack.

First I was an ally. Then I realized I was more.

When I started following a lot of trans people on social media and learning more about gender, I thought I was just becoming a good ally to LGBTQ+ communities. Then I realized, "Uh oh, this is something more." These days, I joke that if someone suddenly becomes a very outspoken ally, I plan to check in on them in a year or so.

Story continues

Other trans people also played a big role in my gender journey. I listened to a podcast with the artist Vivek Shraya in which she was talking about her gender identity. She said you didn't have to know with 100% certainty how you identified to know that you're not  and maybe never were  cisgender. Then I watched a video in which a YouTuber, Natalie Wynn, talked about how she lived for decades as a cis man until she realized that wasn't working for her anymore.

That's when it hit me. I realized that though I had never felt strongly that something was wrong in my gender identity, I wasn't entirely sure how I identified by my late 20s  but I knew I wasn't a cis man. After a lot of reflecting and talking to people in my community, I decided that transitioning was right for me. I started taking female hormones at 31.

Despite these changes, Eric and I are still identical

Transitioning at an older age saved me a lot of trauma. I wasn't living with unsupportive parents. At the time, I was surrounded by loving friends and my partner. Because most of my transition happened during the pandemic, it was behind closed doors, which gave me time to process what I was going through away from judgment.

I came out to all my siblings at the same time. My two sisters were slightly surprised, but Eric wasn't shocked at all. He pointed out that I'd been posting memes about deconstructing gender for months. He said that he had seen this coming, and he was supportive. However, my mom and grandmother are still trying to accept my gender identity, and my dad doesn't make much effort. My family slips up sometimes and will call me and Eric "the boys." I understand, though  I make those mistakes myself sometimes.

Growing up, Eric and I always tried to be different from each other. Now we joke that I took being different so far that I transitioned my entire gender; I also sometimes say on TikTok that Eric and I are identical  even if we may not appear that way to others anymore.

There are a lot of factors that contribute to something as complex as gender identity, and transitioning ended up being right for me. It doesn't change what the two of us share. But I wanted to make sure he knew that if one day, he decided to transition, I would support him, too. Being trans isn't something that's just for me. I told him that, and Eric said he'd spent some time thinking about his own gender identity after I came out. He knew he was firmly cis.

Today, I use "she/they" pronouns, and my brother uses "he/him." Eric's a dad, while I'm Auntie Jubilee. He has a beard, and I wear dresses. But we still have our identical voices (even we can't tell them apart), our unbreakable bond, and the unique experience of having an identical twin that doesn't share the other's gender.

Read the original article on Insider
James W. Pfister

On June 29, the Supreme Court handed down a seminal decision on the role of race in our society: Students for Fair Admissions Inc. (SFFA) v. President and Fellows of Harvard College. The ruling was 6-3, with Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan, and Ketanji Brown Jackson dissenting. Chief Justice John Roberts wrote the majority opinion. The court held that race cannot be a separate factor in college admissions because such use violates the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment. Justice Neil Gorsuch emphasized that it also violates the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Justice Antonin Scalia once said that big cases are not necessarily hard ones. I believe this to be an easy case using the precedent of Grutter v. Bollinger (2003) and the strict scrutiny test (described below). The majoritys decision was based on law and social psychology; the dissenters approach was largely social psychology. Roberts wrote that the student must be treated based on his or her experiences as an individual  not on the basis of race. Experiences would include challenges bested, skills built, or lessons learned.

The strict scrutiny test is used with race. The rule is that race cannot be used unless to further a compelling governmental interest and is narrowly tailored, that is, necessary for the achievement of that interest. To use race, there must not be another race-neutral alternative to achieve that interest. The compelling interest here is obtaining the educational benefits that flow from a racially diverse student body. (Roberts citing Justice Lewis Powell in Regents of University of California v. Bakke, 1978). In Bakke, [t]he role of race had to be cabined. It could operate only as a plus in a particular applicants file. (Roberts).

In Grutter, the Court continued with Bakke, but expressed marked discomfort with the use of race in college admissions (requiring that it remain) subject to continuing oversight to assure that it will work the least harm possible to other innocent persons competing for the benefit. (Ibid.). Roberts pointed out that Grutter imposed one final limit on race-based admissions programs. At some point, the Court held, they must end, and Grutter emphasized it repeatedly. Twenty-five years, or a generation, was the expected time. This is the key difference with the dissenters.

Story continues

The dissenters believed that Grutter was not being followed by the majority because they thought Grutter would allow the use of race to continue as long as needed. Sotomayor wrote that the Courts holding is based on the fiction that racial inequality has a predictable cutoff date. Equality is an ongoing project  the fantasy that racial inequality will end at a predictable hour is illogical and unworkable. Jackson stressed the gap between the races in health, wealth, and well-being. Sotomayor wrote against the concept of colorblindness: race has always mattered and continues to matter. Regarding colorblindness, Sotomayor was concerned with its consequences for the self-identification of the students of color. She said race per se is significant: without it they would not be able to present a full version of themselves.

Roberts was also sensitive to this social psychological variable: nothing in this opinion should be construed as prohibiting universities from considering an applicants discussion of how race affected his or her life. Thus, we have an area of consensus between the majority and the dissent. It is just that race per se cannot be a separate weight on the scale, but socioeconomic background, race as an experience, and other factors can be considered to get diversity.

In a fixed-seat entrance class, admission is a zero-sum game. It simply is not fair that the mere color of ones skin deserves a weight. That it does not is the law of both the Equal Protection Clause and the 1964 Civil Rights Act. In a multiracial society, race matters, as Sotomayor says, but in the sense that we are conscious of it; but this consciousness should be distinguished from the law which is colorblind  to be applied to all equally.

This is an easy case: There are alternatives to getting diversity; therefore, strict scrutiny is not satisfied to justify race per se as a weight. Whether racial diversity is a compelling interest is, perhaps, a future question.

James W. Pfister, J.D. University of Toledo, Ph.D. University of Michigan (political science), retired after 46 years in the Political Science Department at Eastern Michigan University. He lives at Devils Lake and can be reached at jpfister@emich.edu.

This article originally appeared on The Daily Telegram: James Pfister: Affirmative action: social psychology and law
When Instagram launched Threads on July 5th , Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg took to Twitter for the first time in 11 years. The tweet, which did not include any text, saw Zuckerberg reference the Spider-Man pointing meme to take a jab at Elon Musk. It turns out the use of that meme was more apt than the Facebook founder could have imagined.

As highlighted by TechCrunch , the release of Instagrams Threads translated into a boon for another app of the same name. Threads, a Slack alternative that has been around since 2019, saw more than 880,000 downloads on iOS between July 6th and July 12th, according to an estimate Data.ai shared with the outlet. Where previously it had few downloads before that period, Threads became the 52nd most downloaded App Store program globally. In a handful of European Union countries, including Germany, Spain and Italy, it even managed to crack the top 10. That might have something to do with the fact Instagrams Threads isnt available in the EU, and Meta has since started blocking people who try to access the service through a VPN .

In addition, owing to the fact it owns threads.com, Threads (the Slack alternative) has enjoyed a significant increase in traffic to its website. In fact, the company has since added a badge to its frontpage that declares its not associated with Instagram. Over on Twitter, youll find a similar disclaimer. We have no affiliation with Meta. But youre welcome to stick around! the companys profile states.
The Illinois Capitol Building surrounded by a light haze Tuesday, June 27, 2023.

The air quality around central Illinois this weekend is again expected to degrade because of smoke from Canadian wildfires, said officials with the National Weather Service in Lincoln.

As of 4 p.m. Sunday, the air quality index (AQI) calculated by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency was at 138 in Springfield, meaning the level is "unhealthy for sensitive groups."

An air quality alert for the entire state goes through midnight Monday.

Bailey's back. Who else is running for Congress in Illinois?

Air quality alerts are indicators the air is unsafe to breathe for certain people. Alerts are triggered by a number of factors, including fine pollutants in the smoke known as particle matter, or PM 2.5," which can irritate the lungs.

Because of the alert, active children and adults, especially those with pulmonary or respiratory problems such as asthma, should limit their outdoor activities, said NWS meteorologist Daryl Onton. Any prolonged exposure could be a problem for sensitive individuals, Onton added.

It could impact the area over the next several days.

"It certainly looks like it's going to keep streaming in through Monday," Onton said. "There could be some breaks in it as flow patterns waiver a little bit, but our pattern looks to continue with a fairly constant north westerly flow for several days."

An Air Quality Alert is in effect Sat. 7/15-Sun. 7/16 for all of Illinois. Smoke from Canadian wildfires will move into the region later today. Residents should take precautions and follow doctor-prescribed regiments. For additional information, visit https://t.co/J38s93JemS.  Illinois EPA (@ILEPA) July 15, 2023

Late in June, AQI readings in Springfield were in the "very unhealthy" category and were some of the highest in the state.

Story continues

Visibility in the area could be reduced because of the haze, Onton said.

On top of it, the Springfield area could experience some severe weather Sunday with high winds and isolated hail threats, Onton said.

The risk looked "fairly disorganized," he added, though the most likely time for severe storms would be from 3 to 9 p.m. Sunday.

In mid-June, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation forest rangers traveled to Quebec as part of mutual aid between the U.S. and Canada to fight historic wildfires that sent plumes of toxic smoke across the East Coast and Midwest in late June.

A heavy rain would filter a lot of that smoke out and wash it down to the surface, but that would be just temporary if flow patterns keep bringing smoke in.

"The best way to clear it out is to change the flow pattern to some direction that gives us some cleaner air," Onton said.

Disaster proclamation sends city workers scurrying to submit report

Ongoing wildfires in the Canadian provinces of Alberta and British Columbia are producing the thick blankets of smoke. Last month, smoke made its way into the area from fires burning in Quebec and Ontario.

According to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre, nearly 900 fires have burned as of Saturday.

Two more tornadoes confirmed

The NWS has confirmed that two additional EF1 tornadoes hit Christian County on June 29.

All told, seven tornadoes were confirmed in three different counties in the area, including four in Christian County. Sangamon and Logan were the other counties in the area where NWS confirmed tornadoes.

Satellite analysis showed a tornado touched down 1.2 miles south-southwest of Mt. Auburn and moved southeast.

Numerous trees and a farm building were damaged along N. 1500 East Rd. just north of the intersection with E. 2700 North Rd., where a car door was impaled by a piece of wooden debris.

More: Sentencing set for woman who pleaded guilty to charge in connection to death of Hunter Drew

The Mt. Auburn tornado packed winds estimated at about 100 mph with a path nearly a mile long.

Minutes later, satellite imagery showed that a tornado touched down 6.2 miles northwest of Palmer, about a half mile north of the intersection of N. 200 East Rd. and E. 1100 North Rd.

That tornado had a shorter path but was wider and generally traveled east-southeast through farm fields, lifting before reaching N. 300 East Rd.

According to the NWS, damage appeared limited to crops. Less than a mile beyond the track, evidence of a microburst was seen just north of 1100 North Rd. between 300 East and 420 East roads.

The damage from the derecho led Gov. JB Pritzker to issue a disaster declaration on Tuesday for Sangamon and Morgan counties.

Illinois @GovPritzker has issued a Disaster Proclamation based on the severe weather, tornadoes, and derecho that affected Sangamon and Morgan counties, along with six other counties, on June 29.#SJRBreaking pic.twitter.com/wAMLHSA896  Steven Spearie (@StevenSpearie) July 11, 2023

Contact Steven Spearie: 217-622-1788, sspearie@sj-r.com, twitter.com/@StevenSpearie.

This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Air quality in central Illinois will degrade due to Canadian wildfires
From the first documented Chinese woman to come to America to an early astronomer who changed humanity's understanding of the universe, Southern Plains Productions is uncovering hidden history this summer.

"This year has been really exciting, because I knew I wanted to spotlight two women of such strong character who were vital parts of our ongoing American story," said Jackson Gifford, founding artistic director of the fledgling Oklahoma City theater company.

Launched in 2021, the nonprofit professional production company is putting on two shows for its 2023 summer season: a July production of "The Chinese Lady," by Pulitzer Prize finalist Lloyd Suh, at Plenty Mercantile, and an August presentation of "Silent Sky," by popular and prolific playwright Lauren Gunderson, inside Science Museum Oklahoma's Kirkpatrick Planetarium.

Here's what you need to know about Southern Plains Productions' upcoming shows:

Cindy Tsai, left, and Yuchi Chiu star in Southern Plains Productions' Oklahoma premiere presentation of "The Chinese Lady." Performances are July 20-22 at Plenty Mercantile in downtown Oklahoma City's historic Automobile Alley district.

What kinds of shows does Southern Plains Productions put on in OKC?

In its third season, Southern Plains Productions works to reimagine live theater with inventive artistic experiences to spark conversations and bring the community together.

By focusing on staging shows in the summer, the arts production company also brings together collegiate and early-career artists to present innovative plays.

"We exist to reimagine live theater in a way that feels equitable and inclusive," Gifford told The Oklahoman. "With that, we also operate in a site-specific model, so every performance happens in ... a new space."

Working in different venues not only helps the company tailor its shows to the stories' specific narratives but also allows Southern Plains Productions to present plays in spaces outside traditional theaters.

"With that, we've really been able to reach new audiences. After our production of 'Lizzie' at the Tower (Theatre last year), we found this new rock 'n' roll audience who also is now a fan of theater," Gifford said.

Story continues

Lead carpenter Monica Tran works on set pieces for Southern Plains Productions' July 20-22 production of "The Chinese Lady."

Who is 'The Chinese Lady' and how is Southern Plains telling her story?

Southern Plains Productions is collaborating with the Oklahoma City Asian District Cultural Association and Plenty Mercantile to present the Oklahoma premiere of Suh's "The Chinese Lady." Performances are July 20-22 at The Venue at Plenty, 807 N Broadway in downtown OKC's historic Automobile Alley district.

Along with hosting the play, Plenty Mercantile will showcase works by local Asian American and Pacific Islander artists during the show's run.

"The Chinese Lady" is based the true story of Afong Moy (portrayed by Cindy Tsai), the first documented Chinese woman in America. For nearly half a century, she was towed across the country as a curiosity and marketing tool.

"She was bought by these two merchants from her family in the 1800s to be toured around the United States as a 'living museum piece.' She was also brought to market and sell Chinese imports in order for these merchants and museums to make profit off of her," said New York City-based theater artist Samantha Toy Ozeas, who is directing the show for Southern Plains Productions.

"She was supposed to only be kept as an exhibit for two years and ended up being toured around for about 20 years of her life  and her history is completely forgotten."

The term "living museum piece" sounds nice and civilized, but the director pointed out that Moy had no agency or autonomy and was basically treated as a sideshow attraction.

"In her later years, she was toured around and owned by P.T. Barnum. ... As her story progresses, her costume changes, her face and makeup, become a little bit more akin to something that would be in a circus," said Ozeas, who is Chinese American.

"If the first Chinese woman in America was brought here with the understanding that she could be in some way purchased or bought, and that was only 200 years ago, the reality is we haven't moved very far away from that sort of mentality."

Although 90% of the OKC's production's creative team is Chinese or Chinese American, Ozeas said only one of them had heard of Moy before.

After partnering with Oklahoma City Repertory Theatre last year on the play "The Great Leap," OKC's Asian District Cultural Association is collaborating with Southern Plains Productions on "The Chinese Lady."

"Asian and Asian-American experiences are often left out in media, especially theater ... so this is giving our community one of the first examples to really see a relatable story - unfortunately relatable - told in theater art," said Andrea Schultz, executive director of the Asian District Cultural Association.

She said the show gives a better glimpse into the history of Asians coming to North America.

"Now, we call this our home, but still are not always treated that way. And it's sad that we're still sometimes exoticized or exploited."

The night sky is shown in the Kirkpatrick Planetarium at Science Museum Oklahoma. Southern Plains Productions will present Lauren Gunderson's fact-based play "Silent Sky," based on the life and accomplishments of early astronomer Henrietta Leavitt, Aug. 11-13 inside the planetarium.

How is Science Museum Oklahoma helping tell the story of 'Silent Sky?'

Southern Plains Productions will stage Gunderson's "Silent Sky" Aug. 11-13 inside Science Museum Oklahoma's planetarium.

"Especially because of the content of the story ... this was one of those opportunities where we really didn't want to pass it up because it was so new for us," said Waylon Troyer, Science Museum Oklahoma's planetarium director.

"If you look back to some of the older programming from our planetarium, we used to do laser light shows with Pink Floyd music. And I think this is just an extension of combining the planetarium, a place that's traditionally used for education and discussing science ... with art. It is a theater space, after all; it's just a very unconventional theater."

Penned by one of America's most-produced playwrights, "Silent Sky" centers on early astronomer Henrietta Swan Leavitt (1868-1921), who worked in Harvard Universitys Observatory as a human computer." She not only discovered about 2,400 variable stars between 1907 and her death in 1921, but she also figured out a method for measuring stellar distances.

Although her work helped forever alter the way humans view the universe, Leavitt received little credit during her lifetime, and her contributions have largely been forgotten.

"When she took a job at Harvard's observatory, she wasn't allowed to look through their telescope ... but her work in the late 1800s and early 1900s is quite amazing and we're still using the method that she came up with," Gifford said.

Along with dealing with the restrictive gender norms of the time, Leavitt began experiencing hearing loss as a teenager, and her hearing continued to deteriorate throughout her life.

"We've been working with Hearts for Hearing to figure out how we can best tell the story," Gifford said. "We've hired a hard-of-hearing actor from Minnesota; she also does ASL (American Sign Language) and signs. So, we're incorporating elements of ASL, as well as elements of the cochlear implants and the hearing aids and what that would have looked like back in the time that she lived. ... We've 3-D printed this hearing aid to look as authentic as possible."

Staging "Silent Sky" inside the planetarium also will help make the show more authentic and immersive.

"Working with the science museum's planetarium, we have the opportunity to go to a database that essentially has every night sky dating back far, far, far into history. So, as we watch this play that takes place in the 1800s (and 1900s), we will literally be sitting under the 1800s (and 1900s) sky that Henrietta would have been under as she looked at the stars," Gifford said. "It's giving me chills right now to think about."

Gifford said Southern Plains Productions also is planning a special private Aug. 10 benefit performance of "Silent Sky" that will help raise funds for Science Museum Oklahoma's efforts to build a new, larger, state-of-the-art planetarium inside its former OmniDome Theatre space. The new planetarium is projected to open in fall 2024, Troyer said.

SOUTHERN PLAINS PRODUCTIONS' 2023 SHOWS

'The Chinese Lady'

When: July 20-22.

Where: The Venue at Plenty, 807 N Broadway.

'Silent Sky'

When: Aug. 11-13.

Where: Science Museum Oklahoma's Kirkpatrick Planetarium, 2020 Remington Place.

Tickets and information: https://www.southernplainsproductions.org.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OKC theater's fact-based shows to spotlight women's hidden history
Russian authorities have begun to ban government employees from using Apple devices for official state use, according to the Financial Times . As of Monday, the countrys trade ministry will prohibit the use of iPhones for all work purposes. Other agencies, including Russias telecommunications and mass media ministry, either have similar mandates already in place or plan to begin enforcing ones soon. The Times reports the ban covers all Apple products. In some cases, however, officials can continue using those devices for personal use, provided they dont open work correspondence on them.

Apple did not immediately respond to Engadgets comment request. Following Russias invasion of Ukraine last February, the company cut off access to Apple Pay . It later halted all product sales in Russia . At the time, Apple made clear the decision was in response to the invasion, noting it stood with all of the people hurt by the incursion.

The ban comes after Russias Federal Security Service (FSB) claimed at the start of June that it had uncovered a spying operation by US intelligence agencies involving Apple devices. The FSB said thousands of iPhones, including those in use by the countrys diplomatic missions in NATO countries, had been infected with monitoring software. The FSB went on to claim  without showing evidence  that Apple had worked closely with US signal intelligence to provide agents with a wide range of control tools. The tech giant denied those allegations, stating it had never worked with any government to build a backdoor into any Apple product, and never will.

More broadly, the move is reflective of a desire by Russias government to lessen its dependence on foreign-made technology. As The Times notes, President Vladimir Putin signed a decree last year ordering institutions involved in critical information infrastructure to migrate to domestically developed software by 2025.
J&S Digital Photography - Getty Images

Researchers are looking for evidence of extraterrestrial life deep under the sea.

A team led by controversial physicist Avi Loeb is combing the ocean floor off the coast of Papua New Guinea for remnants of two meteors that they believe could actually be alien tech.

The government of Papua New Guinea claims that the artifacts recovered by Loebs team are stollen, and is under pressure to abandon a new security agreement with the U.S. as a result.

Researchers are scouring the deep for signs of alien lifeand it might be illegal.

The teamled by Avi Loeb, a controversial theoretical physicist known for his strong belief that we have been visited by intelligent extraterrestrial life and specific focus, in this context, on Oumuamuahas been searching the ocean floor for remnants of Interstellar Meteor 1 (IM1), which crashed into Earth in 2014.

The meteor was a bit of an anomaly, largely due to its robust nature and speed. It and its spiritual successor Interstellar Meteor 2 (IM2), which crashed to Earth in 2017, flew in at about 110,000 miles per hour. Thats at the higher end of meteor speeds, as they typically hit Earths atmosphere traveling between 25,000 and 160,000 miles per hour.

That speed is what eventually led Loeb and one of his grad students to conclude that the meteors came from outside our solar system, a conclusion that has since been backed by the United States Space Command, according to Vice. But Loeb and his team took it one step further, putting forth the idea that the meteors are remnants of alien tech.

It should be said that most scientists do not believe that IM1 and IM2 were alien tech of any kind. And its important to remember thatwhile Loebs writings indicate that his hopes are high for these finds to be evidence of extraterrestrial societies (He has even reportedly rented out a video screen in Times Square to announce the results of his work.)the origins of all artifacts found on this mission are still very much unconfirmed.

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In order to gather as much data on the meteors as possible, the team has been scraping the sea floor where IM1 splashed down and gather whatever remnants they can find. And most recently, they found something particularly excitingmetallic spherules.



According to Loeb, these particular spherules are made predominantly of iron, with trace amounts of titanium and magnesium. Notably, there was no nickel detected in early compositional analyses. This composition is anomalous compared to human-made alloys, known asteroids and familiar astrophysical sources, Loeb wrote in a Medium post. The team has also been able to find steel shards and wire made of manganese and platinum.



While the origin of these specific spherules is still unknown (it takes time and tests to confirm the origin of pretty much anything found at the bottom of the ocean), spherules are a good sign of a meteor. They form from the impact debris of the object, and usually measure only micrometers to millimeters in size.

It turns out, however, that all of this research may not have been legal in the first place.

According to the UK outlet The Times, the government of Papua New Guinea is accusing Loebs team of stealing the artifacts they have collected on their mission. The countrys National Research Agency claimed that the team never received a Marine Science Research permit (though they did apply for one), and that they entered the country on business visas instead of visas meant for scientific researchers. Stanis Hulahau, Papua New Guineas chief migration officer, even said that the team could face criminal charges for removing rare objects without notifying the state authorities.

Rob McCallum, the leader of the expedition (Loeb leads the research team), claims that approval for their mission was given by the Papua New Guinea cabinet, but The Times reports that two cabinet members say they have heard nothing of this approval.

As a result of this mission, pressure is now reportedly being put on the government of Papua New Guinea to abandon a security agreement recently made with the United States. According to The Times, member of parliament and Leader of the Opposition Joseph Lelang called the country to abandon the newly-signed Defense Co-operation Agreement if the US fail to heed our call and protests.

What the US citizens were doing was illegal from the start, including stealing the artifacts from our shores, Lelang said in a statement. The ink has not yet dried and already the US citizens are disrespecting our people, our country and constitution.. We expect nothing less than the return of what was stolen from us and for those thieves to be held accountable.



What will come of these accusations is still to be seen. But even if we dont have proof of extraterrestrial visitors, we do have proof that pursuing alien life doesnt make everyday Earth life just go away.

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National security adviser Jake Sullivan said the Biden administration is willing to negotiate with North Korea "without preconditions" about its nuclear program. His comments come days after North Korea launched an intercontinental ballistic missile.

"We have indicated to North Korea that we're prepared to sit down and talk without preconditions about their nuclear program," Sullivan told "Face the Nation" on Sunday.

Sullivan said the U.S. is concerned North Korea could conduct its seventh nuclear test, but he has not seen "any immediate indications" of such a test happening.

"But it would not come as a surprise that North Korea moved forward with another nuclear test," he said. "With respect to its intercontinental ballistic missile capability, this is a capability they began testing several years ago. They have continued to test it. We watch all of those tests very closely to see how it is developing and we could coordinate extremely closely with our allies  with Japan and Korea  to make sure that we are responding in lockstep to this threat."

In a joint statement last week, the U.S., Japan and South Korea condemned the July 12 launch, saying it posed "a grave threat to peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and beyond." The countries also called on North Korea to "cease its unlawful and escalatory actions and promptly return to dialogue."

Sullivan said China must do more to prevent the situation from escalating.

"We've also made clear to China that it is the United States who is ready for diplomacy and North Korea who was not," Sullivan said. "So from our perspective, China has a role to play here too, given its relationship with North Korea, to indicate to the North Koreans that its continued testing is destabilizing, and, frankly, is in fact only creating circumstances in which the United States our allies and partners have to step up our activities and posture to respond to the threat."

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The U.S. has vowed to defend South Korea and Japan, including with nuclear capabilities, if North Korea were to launch an attack.

Meanwhile, Sullivan said the U.S.-China relationship has to be "managed carefully" and that "can only really be done effectively from the very top," though he did not have specifics about when President Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping would talk as the two countries try to ease rising tensions.

Several Biden administration officials, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, have recently traveled to China for high-level talks.

Yellen told "Face the Nation" last week that China's decision to limit exports on metals used in making semiconductors was "potentially" in retaliation for the U.S. limiting Chinese access to processor chips and other technology.

Sullivan called China's decision "a self-defeating move."

"It will only reinforce the determination of many other countries in the world to de-risk, to find ways to reduce dependencies and increase the resilience of their own supply chains, including for the kinds of critical minerals that are at issue in this particular decision," he said.

The U.S. is not seeking to end trade with China, he said.

"What we're looking to do is have a small yard of restrictions on technology with national security implications," he said, "And a high fence around that yard."

Jake Sullivan says U.S. willing to talk to North Korea "without preconditions" about nuclear program

GOP Rep. Michael McCaul says he thinks the NDAA will ultimately be a "bipartisan bill"

Kara Swisher says Hollywood's shift to streaming is "necessary" and "important," but "expensive"
Ben Wallace said he is standing down as defence secretary. (Getty Images)

The UK will be "in a conflict" by the end of the decade, outgoing defence secretary Ben Wallace has suggested.

Wallace has also expressed concern about what a "deeply wounded" Vladimir Putin will do if Russia is defeated in the war he started in Ukraine.

In an interview with The Sunday Times, Wallace announced he will quit the government when Rishi Sunak announces a ministerial reshuffle. This is expected in September. He will also stand down as an MP at next years general election.

Reflecting on his four years as defence secretary, Wallace, who has been one of the faces of the UK's support for Ukraine, said the government needs to spend more on defence in the face of threats such as Putin, China and still-prominent terrorist groups like al-Qaeda and Isis.

Watch: Ben Wallace to 'quit government at next reshuffle and not stand again as MP'

Noting this global instability, he told the paper: "Towards the end of the decade, the world is going to be much more unsafe, more insecure. I think we will find ourselves in a conflict. Whether it is a cold or a warm conflict, I think we'll be in a difficult position."

But he said his biggest concern is Russia: "If Putin loses in Ukraine, he will be deeply wounded.

He's still got an air force and he's still got a navy  and we see his navy do quite aggressive manoeuvres. Putin is not done with us yet.

"There is an ability for him, in the next three or four years, to lash out. He's not finished. He will look for people to blame."

'There is an ability for Vladimir Putin to lash out,' Wallace said. (AFP via Getty Images)

However, Wallaces warning on defence spending  Sunak committed earlier this year to increasing it to 2.5% of GDP  came at the same time as it was reported former soldiers could be called on to join a reserve force in future crises.

This is part of a planned overhaul of the military which would cut the number of UK troops.

The Sunday Telegraph reported the long-awaited defence command paper will reduce the British Army to its smallest size since the Napoleonic wars.

Story continues

Read more: 'No point climbing the greasy pole': Tory ministers want out in reshuffle

Ministers are expected to defend the proposals, insisting the war in Ukraine shows how UK forces can become "fleeter of foot", according to the paper.

Former regular soldiers, including those no longer serving as reservists, will reportedly be sought to help "revitalise" a strategic "surge" force.

The Army currently has more than 75,000 personnel and there has been speculation that the paper will announce a reduction to the size, with a potential boost for research into drone technology.
The death toll in this weekend's flash flooding along the Delaware River now stands at five. Two children whose mother died in the flooding remain missing.

Skies opened around dinnertime Saturday evening along an 11-mile corridor stretching from Newtown to New Hope in Bucks County.

For two hours rain fell like a waterfall, turning a normally peaceful, barely noticed creek into a deadly raging rapid that swept away nearly a dozen cars and dozens of people in what officials described as a "new benchmark" for flash flooding in Upper Makefield.

Upper Makefield resident Peter Apuzzo lives about a mile from the command center and witnessed the storm.

"We had nothing short of a monsoon for an hour," he said. "It was the heaviest rain storm I have seen in a very, very long time."

Rescue crews search along the Delaware canal path running parallel to Taylorsville Road in Upper Makefield on Sunday July 16, 2023

Waterways remain swollen sunday July 16, 2023 after torrential rains dumped up to six inches of water in parts of Bucks County including Upper Makefield on Saturday July 15, 2023.

What we know so far: Three dead, four missing in Bucks County. Here's what we know about the Delaware River flooding

Sgt. Charles Golder, of the Bucks County Sheriffs Department, mans a roadblock on Washington Crossing Road at the intersection of Wrightstown Road in Upper Makefield on Sunday, July 16, 2023.

Search and rescue efforts are now focused on the missing 9-month-old boy and his 2-year-old sister, whose mother is among the now five confirmed dead, Bucks County officials said Sunday evening.

"We are all grieving, however, our commitment to find the two children is unwavering as we do all we can to bring them home to their loved ones," Bucks County Fire Chief Tim Brewer said at a news update Sunday evening. "Our hearts do go out to the families. We are not going to give up regardless."

Brewer also announced Sunday afternoon that a second woman was found dead Sunday about 100 yards from the first found on Sunday morning one mile south of Taylorsville Road in Houghs Creek.

The mother and her two missing children live in Charlestown, South Carolina, but they were in the area visiting family and friends. They were on their way to a family cookout when they encountered the floodwaters along Route 532, which includes Taylorsville and Washington Crossing roads.

The woman's husband and her 4-year-old son were able to safely escape, but the mother grabbed the 9-month-old and her mother, the children's grandmother, grabbed the 2-year-old as they were swept into the creek, Brewer said.

Story continues

The grandmother is alive, but she lost her grip on her granddaughter while trying to help her daughter, Bucks County Coroner Meredith Buck confirmed.

At the request of the family, Brewer said authorities will not be releasing the names of the victims and missing children. He added the family is "overwhelmed" with support from the community at this time.

Flood waters as seen in the yard of a home on Oakdale Avenue in Upper Makefield on Sunday July 16, 2023.

Flash floods damaged, even washed away, roads in Upper Makefield during heavy downpours on July 15, 2023. At least three people were confirmed dead in the floodings and dozens were forced to abandoned their vehicles.

A section of Houghs Creek near Aqueduct Road in Upper Makefield is swollen with rainwater Sunday, July 16, 2023.

Upper Makefield police Chief Mark Schmidt (left) and fire Chief Tim Brewer at press conference in the township building to say a fourth victim was found in Houghs Creek raising the death toll from Saturdays flooding to four.

Bucks County Major Incident Response Team vehicles are parked along Taylorsville Road in Upper Makefield on Sunday July 16, 2023, as crews continue to comb the area hit by flooding

Police were able to contact family of the missing by tracking them down through license plates of cars that were swept away, Brewer said at a media update Sunday morning at the Upper Makefield Township Building.

Two dozen PEMA rescuers participated Sunday in a search zone that spanned about 2-1/2 miles from the Delaware River back up to Houghs Creek.

At least two of the confirmed dead were swept away after they got out of their vehicles, Brewer said. Another victim was in the vehicle. Brewer believes that the drivers were caught by surprise.

"We do not think anybody drove into it," he said. "Within minutes the road went from passiable to having four to five feet of raging water."

Fire crews responding to a utility pole that was struck by lightning happened to be in the area as the heavy rains started and were able to start rescuing trapped vehicles, three of which firefighters saw swept away in the fast moving water, Brewer said.

Eleven vehicles were trapped in the creek, he added.

Flash floods damaged, even washed away, roads in Upper Makefield during heavy downpours on July 15, 2023. At least three people were confirmed dead in the floodings and dozens were forced to abandoned their vehicles.

Flash floods damaged, even washed away, roads in Upper Makefield during heavy downpours on July 15, 2023. At least three people were confirmed dead in the floodings and dozens were forced to abandoned their vehicles.

"As a witness to that, in my 44 years, I've never seen anything like it. When the water came up, it came up pretty quickly," Brewer said. "We want the families of those who are lost to know they are in our hearts and we will work tirelessly until we locate the loved ones. We cannot imagine how difficult it has been at this time."

More than 150 rescuers searched for people from the Delaware River to the flood site along Washington Crossing Road Saturday night. Eight people were rescued from cars and two from Houghs Creek, Brewer said. Sunday 100 rescuers were in the field, Brewer said.

Dozens of first responders from Bucks County and surrounding counties descended on Upper Makefield July 15, 2023 to assist in search and rescue missions after flash floods devastated the area

Dozens of first responders from Bucks County and surrounding counties descended on Upper Makefield July 15, 2023 to assist in search and rescue missions after flash floods devastated the area

Crews from Upper Makefield Fire Department, along with public works employees certified in water rescue, were seen searching the area surrounding a section of Houghs Creek near Gilbert Street and River Road.

Search and rescue are physically walking the creek banks where accessible, Brewer said. This is a very inaccessible area to the township. There are steep cliffs on both sides and in some areas there is no direct access to the creek  so we are physically walking. We are treating this as a rescue, but we are fairly certain we are in a recovery mode at this time, he said.

Also hampering recovery efforts is the location of Houghs Creek, which runs along the 1000 block of Washington Crossing Road (Route 532) between Stonebridge Crossing and Wrightstown Roads, a short distance from Washington Crossing United Methodist Church, where the county emergency command station was set up.

More: Family 'severely impacted.' Who are the victims in the Delaware River flooding?

This creek is in a very awkward area, its a very remote, hard to access area, Brewer said, adding that it made difficult removing the deceased and injured, he said. Two people rescued from the creek had to be hauled out with rope systems.

The vehicles of the three confirmed dead were located in the creek, Brewer said. One victim's vehicle was found approximately one-and-half miles from where it went into the creek.

The swollen creek swallowed vehicles along that stretch of Route 532 after about six inches of rain dropped within less than an hour, Brewer said. As the recovery phase continues, crews have been dedicated to monitoring rainfall and water level.

Some of the search teams are going to be in a very peculiar area where theyre going to be trapped if theyre not careful, Brewer said. It is dangerous down there. There is debris we have to catalogue. But at this point, we have to wait and see what the rescue teams can find.

More heavy rain and flash flooding in the Philadelphia region is possible Sunday, according to the National Weather Service in Mount Holly, New Jersey. Flooding had already been reported early Sunday in northern New Jersey and Northampton County, meteorologist Eric Hoeflich said Sunday morning.

Roads throughout Upper Makefield remain unpassable and closed with Bucks County park rangers and Bucks County sheriff deputies standing guard to keep drivers away.

Roads closed in Upper Makefield, Lower Makefield and Solebury due to storm

As of Sunday morning, Taylorsville Road from Route 532 to Route 295 is closed, River Road by Franciscos restaurant was closed, and River Road between Route 532 and Mt. Eyre Road is closed.

"If you are driving in and around the township, please be careful as there is a lot of debris on the roadways," Newtown Township Police said.

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation announced these roads remain closed as a result of storm damage as of Sunday evening:

Route 32 (River Road) Woodside Road to Route 532 (General Washington Memorial Boulevard) in Upper Makefield and Lower Makefield;

Route 532 (Washington Crossing Road) between Dolington Road and Taylorsville Road in Upper Makefield; and

Taylorsville Road between Woodside Road and Route 532 (Washington Crossing Road) in Lower Makefield and Upper Makefield.

The road closures will remain in place until PennDOT and its contractor can repair and safely reopen the roads, the agency said in a press release.

More: Are roads closed because of the Delaware River flooding in Bucks County? Here's the latest

An incident command center remains in operation at Washington Crossing United Methodist Church on Wrightstown Road, near the site the worst flooding. The American Red Cross has set up an assistance station at the Yardley-Makefield Fire Co. for flooding victims.

One of the roadways washed out as a result of flash floods in Upper Makefield on July 15, 2023.

Flash floods damaged, even washed away, roads in Upper Makefield during heavy downpours on July 15, 2023. At least three people were confirmed dead in the floodings and dozens were forced to abandoned their vehicles.

Summer storm slams Washington Crossing, Bucks County

A heavy burst of rain slammed into Bucks County around 5 p.m. Saturday, flooding roads and swelling river banks along the Delaware River and small creeks.

Meteorologist Joe DeSilva of the National Weather Service said upward of six inches of rain fell over about two hours Saturday evening. He called the event "training"  when an area gets repeated rain over a short time.

Saturday's torrential downpours focused tightly on the corridor between Newtown and New Hope and as far west as Jamison and continued into Mercer County, New Jersey, Hoeflich said. The ground, already saturated from recent rains, could not take the deluge leading to overrunning of normally small creeks, Hoeflich said.

Dozens of first responders from Bucks County and surrounding counties descended on Upper Makefield July 15, 2023 to assist in search and rescue missions after flash floods devastated the area

As the rain fell, creeks and inlets flooded onto nearby roads, pushing cars off the roadway.

Yardley resident Nick Primola said he was in the area just prior to the storm.

"I think a lot of people were just going about their day. No one was expecting the little creeks to be so violent.

He said along Taylorsville Road both sides of the road collapsed where the creek runs.

Usually its a nice little serene creek, and now it is a violent waterway coming down.He said he saw a car flipped upside down and five or six cars just strewn across the road.

"It turned into an absolute muddy river"

The water reached about 3 to 4 inches high on the roads in front of his home on Taylorsville Road just off Washington Crossing Road on Saturday night, Tim King said on Sunday. His house backups to the Delaware Canal.

It turned into an absolute muddy river, King said. It just kept rising and rising. It was really frightening."

Barry Bogarde, a highway foreman for Bucks County, said he was taking pictures Sunday for Harrisburg to assess road damage in order to decide on needed repairs and corrections.

Bogarde said the damage was the worst along Taylorsville Road and Washington Crossing Road, which experienced structural damage along with stone and mudslides impacting the roadway.

More: Bucks County flooding: What to expect as storms continue to batter region

The rain came down at such a heavy rate that itll just sweep anything thats in the way out of the way, Bogarde said. The power of this stuffs just amazing.

Bucks County Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick said his office was in contact with the rescue teams and urged anyone seeking assistance to contact his office at 215-579-8102.

We pray for those weve lost, and we remain in vigorous search mode for those who are missing, Fitzpatrick added.

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro attended the Sunday evening press conference in Upper Makefield and he pledged his administration's support.

"On behalf of 13 million Pennsylvanians, I want Bucks County to know that we are here with you. We are praying with you, and we will do everything within our power to lift you up," Shapiro said.

At Washington Crossing United Methodist Church volunteers were caring for victims and providing shelter.

Family pastor Shari Bonet described a scene Saturday night that she called heartbreaking, where people sat waiting for word on their missing family members  missing wives, missing children.

This one guy I was praying with had been on the phone with his wife when her car got stuck, and she said the water was getting too high and she needed to get out. That was the last he heard from her. They found her phone with the car, but she was still missing, Bonet said.

Others, she said, were flood survivors seeking refuge after abandoning their cars and wading through the high waters to safety.

They came in and were soaked. We gave them coffee, dry clothes and blankets, Bonet said.

This is a developing story and will be updated.

More: Fatal floods: Who does water rescues in Bucks County?

This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Water rescues continue in Bucks County as officials confirm fatalities
DECATUR  Michelle and Tim Wright saw Hercules, an American bulldog and boxer mix, on Petfinder and knew he was the next addition to their family.

The couple visited the Macon County Animal Control and Care Center on Saturday to meet Hercules.

Michelle Wright, who said shes named for the Beatles song Michelle, also named her American bulldog, Prudence, after a Beatles song, and they drove all the way from Paxton with Prudence to make sure the two dogs would get along. After a bit of sniffing and looking each other over, Prudence crouched in dog body language for lets play, and the match seemed to be a success. Prudence needs a playmate and Wright said theyre ready to be a multi-dog household again.

We both work, Michelle Wright said. So Prudence is alone eight hours a day. When we get home, were too tired to play.

Both dogs are good-sized, and shelter staff member Emmali Boliard joked to the Wrights, These two are going to destroy your couch.

The shelter celebrated its 17th birthday on Saturday with an open house and a special $25 adoption fee. Traffic was steady, said Decatur & Macon County Animal Shelter Foundation Board Member Shirley Stanley, and several of 54 dogs and 70 cats went home with a new family, though there are plenty left.

Cats, especially, are in abundance, Stanley said.

We have any age, any color, whatever you want, she said.

Adoptions will be $50 through the end of July, she said.

The open house was held in the hope of sending animals home with new families, but its also a way to celebrate the shelters existence, Stanley said. The old shelter was dark and crowded, and it was thanks to the communitys efforts that the current shelter exists. Its spacious and bright, with outdoor runs for dogs and a cat colony where cats can meet potential adopters, learn to get along with each other, and play.

One pair of potential adopters told Stanley they wanted to just sit in the cat colony and let a cat choose them, instead of them choosing a cat, which made Stanley smile.

They came out with a cat and said, This isnt the one wed have chosen, but he was determined to come home with us, she said.

Theres also a great need for volunteers who can walk dogs and pet cats, learn their personalities and socialize them so theyre ready for the perfect home, Stanley said.

Hercules, for example, was previously adopted from the shelter but returned as a stray and the family never reclaimed him, Boliard told the Wrights.

Thats so sad, Michelle Wright said, and when the Wrights left, Hercules went with them.
Candidates running for election to represent District 4 on the Sunnyside School Board, from left: Jory Anderson and Anna M. Saenz.
Santiago Ochoa's reporting for the Yakima Herald-Republic is possible with support from Report for America and community members through the Yakima Valley Community Fund. For information on republishing, email news@yakimaherald.com.
FILE - The overdose-reversal drug Narcan is displayed during training for employees of the Public Health Management Corporation, Dec. 4, 2018, in Philadelphia. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved selling overdose antidote naloxone over-the-counter, Wednesday, March 29, 2023, marking the first time a opioid treatment drug will be available without a prescription.
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Boxes of signatures are set to be unloaded and delivered to Republican Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose's office in downtown Columbus, Ohio, Wednesday, July 5, 2023. Advocates of enshrining abortion rights in Ohio's constitution delivered nearly double the number of signatures needed to place an amendment on fall statewide ballots.
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SHELBYVILLE  The troubled waters engulfing the Shelby County Dive Team grew even more turbulent over the weekend.

Tempers flared when the Moultrie County Dive Team had to step in on a Kaskaskia River rescue call  understood to involve a person who got into trouble while floating on an innertube  which normally would have been handled by the Shelby team.

The dive team, which numbers more than 13 volunteer members, has been told to stand down over concerns they did not have proper insurance coverage under county policies.

Team members have accused some members of the Shelby County Board of using the insurance issue as a cover to sink the dive crew in retaliation over a previous dispute involving a mutual aid request from the Illinois State Police.

A public Facebook post Saturday from Nicholas Quick, one of the dive teams administrative commanders, said he stepped forward to assist the Moultrie County divers as a private citizen but was left feeling frustrated and concerned.

He said the Moultrie County divers were dedicated and professional, but precious time was lost because that team is not familiar with local terrain and landmarks.

I voiced my concerns to the County Board members that the delay to reestablish the team was too long and would cause serious delays but these pleas fell on deaf ears, said a Facebook post attributed to Quick, who could not be reached for this story.

This boards lack of urgency puts lives at risk! Thankfully both the calls (the tube rider rescue and a second emergency call) turned out well for the parties involved, but anyone in emergency services knows thats not always the outcome.

Quick said he is begging this community to come to the Shelby County Courthouse Tuesday evening, when a special board meeting at 7 p.m. is scheduled to discuss the future of the dive team.

Much of the criticism for the decision to stand down the dive team while the insurance issue is resolved has been directed at board member Sonny Ross, R-Windsor, who chairs a committee that oversees the divers.

Ross said he and other board members have been working feverishly behind the scenes to get the insurance problem fixed. And it is my whole-hearted expectation that we will resolve this issue on Tuesday, said Ross.

He insists standing down the team had nothing to do with the controversy over the State Police mutual aid call. That centered on Dive Team Commander Austin Pritchard asking the state cops for payment to use dive team equipment because they had no mutual aid agreement.

Ross had thought that was the wrong call, but told the Herald & Review Sunday its just unfortunate timing that he then discovered the team appeared to be operating with no insurance coverage at all.

And he said having them cease operations until that issue is resolved was the right thing to do.

Asked what might have happened if a dive team member had been injured, he replied: That is a great question. And its the same question you would have if you were to drive your automobile without insurance and have an accident. Once you realize you are culpable, that becomes incredibly problematic and you have to do something about it.

Ross, 49, was once a dive team member himself and said he had great respect for the job they do and the risks they run. And to ask them to do that task without any insurance is just incomprehensible, he added.

The county board has been riven recently by several other unrelated controversies, and Ross said he believed this fraught atmosphere was fueling anger over the dive team issue as people looked for someone to blame, and had selected him.

But the board member elected just last November said he had no regrets about serving or having to take the heat.

Sometimes the best things are the hard things, he added. And if I had not joined the county board and I had not asked the questions that I asked, where would we be today? We would be sending our men and women into harms way exposed, uncovered and unprotected.

PHOTOS: Balloons soar above Shelbyville during the 20th annual Touchstone Balloon Festival
RANCHI: As the leader of opposition in the state Assembly, Babulal Marandi took charge as Jharkhand BJP President on Saturday, and it looks like the saffron party is all set to storm Chief Minister Hemant Soren's tribal citadel. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP and its ally All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU) won 12 out of the 14 seats in Jharkhand, but in the Assembly elections held just five months later, the JMM-Congress-RJD alliance trounced the BJP.

Hence, in 2024, there are two big challenges before the BJP here -- first, to repeat the 2019 Lok Sabha election results, and second, to regain the lost power of the state in the Assembly elections scheduled next year. The BJP has chosen Marandi to lead in both the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in 2024.

Presently, Soren, the leader of the current ruling coalition in Jharkhand, is undoubtedly considered to be the biggest tribal leader. In such a situation, the reason for handing over the command of the BJP leadership to Marandi is quite natural. The BJP could not take the risk of handing over the command to a non-tribal leader to take on Soren.



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Marandi was the first Chief Minister of the state and at present, the BJP does not have any bigger tribal leader than him. Arjun Munda is also a tall tribal leader, but he is handling the responsibility of Union minister at the Centre, thus he has been staying away from the day-to-day political activities in Jharkhand for the past four years.

Before understanding what will be the BJP's strategy in the 2024 Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in Jharkhand, it is necessary to understand the personality of the party's new chief. When Jharkhand was formed on November 15, 2000, the Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led BJP made Marandi the first CM of the state. Prior to this, he was the Union Minister of State in the Vajpayee government.

Before the formation of the state, Marandi had played an important role in expanding the base of the BJP in this region. As the President of the Vananchal Pradesh unit of the party, he had demonstrated organisational ability and skill. The central leadership rewarded him by making him the CM. Marandi's tenure as CM lasted for about two-and-a-half years. During this period, his performance on the front of development and administration was considered commendable, but a decision taken on the sensitive issue of domicile overshadowed him and the party replaced him with Arjun Munda as the CM before he could complete his tenure.

After this, Arjun Munda remained the main face of the BJP in the 2005 Assembly elections as well when the BJP again formed the government in Jharkhand. Then, Marandi started distancing himself from the party and finally in 2006, he broke away from the BJP and formed the Jharkhand Vikas Morcha. His party performed well in the 2009 and 2014 elections, but by the time the 2019 elections approached, the political strength of the party had weakened. Finally in 2020, he merged his party with the BJP.

The BJP lost power in the 2019 elections. The main reason for this was its defeat in 26 out of the 28 tribal seats in the state. In such a situation, while the BJP felt the need for a strong tribal leadership for damage control, Marandi also needed the support of a strong political organisation like the BJP.

Home Minister Amit Shah himself came to Ranchi to induct Marandi into the party. After this, the party also made Marandi the leader of BJP's Legislature Party in the Jharkhand Assembly. Now, the BJP will have to prepare the ground as it will not be easy for it to repeat the results of 2019 in next year's Lok Sabha elections.

The state had a BJP-led government during the last Lok Sabha polls. At present, there is a JMM-led coalition government in the state. If there is no unforeseen situation, this government will continue till 2024. If this alliance fights elections with better resources while in power, the BJP will also have to exert more power than 2019.

Two of the 14 seats in the state that the BJP lost in 2019, Rajmahal and Singhbhum, are reserved for STs. However, it won three of the total five ST seats in the state -- Lohardaga, Khunti and Dumka. But a few months later, when the Assembly elections were held in the state, the party lost 26 out of the 28 tribal seats.

On the other hand, the Hemant Soren-led UPA alliance was successful in wooing the tribal vote bank. Soren has kept the issues related to tribals and natives of Jharkhand at the centre of his politics in the last three-and-a-half years. He has taken important decisions one after the other, especially concerning those related to tribals and natives.

By bringing the domicile and recruitment policy based on Khatian of 1932, he played the biggest trump card to mobilise the tribals and natives of Jharkhand. However, the high court rejected this policy. Regarding this, the BJP continuously tried to corner the state government.

On this, Soren said that the BJP tried to block the Khatian policy of 1932 by taking it to the court, but we have not left this issue. We will find a way for this".

Soren said, We are lion's children, we cannot give up the policy of Khatian of 1932. We have definitely taken two steps back, but in the coming days, we will fight by moving four steps forward. The BJP knows that to repeat the 2019 Lok Sabha results in Jharkhand in 2024, it is necessary to first gain the largest share of the tribal vote bank.

That's why it is raising the issue of threat to the existence of tribals due to Bangladeshi intrusion in the Santhal Pargana. Apart from this, the party is vigorously raising the issues related to atrocities against tribals and their rights. The BJP is also trying to give the message that Narendra Modi's government is in the best interest of the tribals.

Addressing the ceremony while taking charge as the state BJP President, Marandi said, It is Narendra Bhai Modi's government which has taken the biggest steps for the upliftment and development of tribals. There is not one, but eight tribal ministers in Modi ji's cabinet. This government showed the courage to elect Droupadi Murmu, a tribal leader, as the country's President.

"It was the BJP that created a separate Jharkhand for tribals and for the first time a separate ministry for tribals at the Centre has been created by the Narendra Modi government. The BJP will make all-out efforts to capitalise on the issues of corruption in the Hemant Soren government and also on the issues of dynasty politics of Congress-JMM and RJD.

Marandi said, Our biggest mantra is 'win the booth - win the election'. We will focus on one booth at a time. Booth-wise tasks are being assigned to all MPs, MLAs, district heads and office-bearers of the party.
BENGALURU: Even the police were shocked at the brutality with which 35-year-old T. Siddalingappa and his paramour Chandrakala committed the murders. The two are currently lodged in the state prison. It took a dedicated investigation to crack the mystery of half cut, headless women's bodies found 24 kms away from each other. Siddalingappa and Chandrakala had planned to kill more known women, at least five, in the most brutal manner.

The truth came out in the investigation that this was done by Siddalingappa to please his lover. He told the police that these women met their gory end as they had forced his lover into prostitution. Outraged by this Siddalingappa hatched a conspiracy to kill them in the most brutal manner.

The case:



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The severed bodies of two women were found near a water canal in Mandya district of Karnataka on June 8. They were found at separate locations. The upper part of the bodies had been chopped off and the body parts from the hip were found in a semi-decomposed state. The killers had severed the upper part of the bodies of both the women and stuffed the lower parts in gunny bags and threw them into water canals in two different places. One severed body was recovered in the Baby Lake canal near K. Bettanahalli. The second was found at the CDS Canal near Arakere village which come under Pandavapura town and Arakere police stations in Mandya district respectively.

The killers had tied the legs of the mutilated bodies. The barbarity of the killers had shocked the local people and it created a tense situation in the region. Superintendent of Police of Mandya district Yathish , who monitored the investigation, told IANS that the police department took up the case as a challenge. Not just human but elaborate technical efforts were also put in. It took almost 50 days to solve the case.

A team of 40 to 50 cops travelled to three to four states and gathered information. It was a horrifying incident. We didn't expect a woman to be involved with him, it was a shock to us. We didn't get why and who carried out these murders. He was in fact planning to kill a few more women, he said. This was not a matter of money. The woman was his paramour. Though he had a family, he lived with her.

The victims had forced her into prostitution. Siddalingappa was possessive about his lover and carried out the brutal murders, Yathish explained. We have to be careful to prevent such incidents in the future. It was very difficult to identify the bodies. After the identification, within four-five days the murderers were caught. The murders were most brutal, we can't comment more on it, he added.

The investigation:

Not able to make any headway in the investigation, the Mandya police announced a Rs 1 lakh reward for anyone who could give any clues about the murders. The police team circulated 10,000 handbills in the surrounding areas about the mutilated bodies and traced the identity of the murdered women. They formed 9 special teams and 2 technical teams to crack the case. The police verified 1,116 cases of missing women in the state and neighbouring states.

The police stumbled upon the double murders when they came across the case of missing Geetha in Chamarajanagar police station. Geetha was one of the victims whose body was cut into half. The police followed the case as there were similarities between Geetha and the recovered half severed body. The police tracked the phone calls made by Geetha and managed to nab the killers.

The accused confessed during interrogation that they had killed another woman named Kumuda in Bengaluru. They stated that they carried the body of Kumuda on a bike and threw it somewhere. The police arrested Siddalingappa, a resident of Kodihalli colony near Kudur town in Ramnagar district and his lover Chandrakala, a resident of Haravu village near Pandavapura town in Mandya district.

The women whose bodies were cut in half were identified as Parvathi, a resident of Hosadurga in Chitradurga district and Geetha a.k.a Putti, a resident of Chamarajanagar. The killer duo had killed Parvathi on May 30 and Geetha on June 3. The bodies of the victims were cut into two pieces as the killers found it difficult to transport their bodies on a bike from their home. Later, the bodies were thrown at different places.
New Delhi: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has called a special Parliamentary Affairs Committee (PAC) meeting to discuss the Opposition meeting scheduled to be held in Bengaluru. This meeting will be held at 4 p.m on Sunday. "Before the Bengaluru meet, we have called a special PAC meeting," a party source told IANS.

According to the sources, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann will also participate in the PAC meeting through video conferencing. The Congress has indicated that they would oppose the Central government Ordinance, prompting AAP Chief and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to call this meeting.

Earlier, the AAP had stated that they would only attend the Bengaluru opposition meet once the Congress party clarified its stance on the Central government ordinance. The second meeting of the opposition parties will take place on July 17-18 in Bengaluru, two days ahead of the Parliament's Monsoon Session, which begins on July 20.



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NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday concluded his "productive visit" to France and United Arab Emirates (UAE), one which is defined by "transformative outcomes". He landed in India after concluding two short but very important two-nation tours which begun on July 13. "A visit defined by transformative outcomes. PM @narendramodi emplanes for New Delhi after wrapping up a successful visit to UAE," tweeted official spokesperson of Ministry of External Affairs Arindam Bagchi.

PM Modi arrived in Abu Dhabi on Saturday morning and held talks with President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. PM Modis UAE visit was marked by key agreements including opening a new IIT Delhi campus in Abu Dhabi. The two countries also pledged to promote using local currencies (Rupee and Dirham) for cross-border transactions and to interlink payment systems.

During the visit, the PM Modi and UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan witnessed the exchange of three historic Memoranda of Understanding (MoU). An MoU on Local Currency Settlement (LCS) System was signed between the Reserve Bank of India and the Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates enabling the use of Indian Rupee (INR) and UAE Dirham (AED) for Cross-border Transactions.



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"This is a very important aspect of India-UAE cooperation. It paves the way for enhanced economic collaboration and will make international financial interactions simpler," tweeted PM Modi. Another MoU was exchanged for the establishment of a campus of IIT Delhi in Abu Dhabi between the Indian Ministry of Education, UAEs Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge and the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi (IIT).

This is the first ever IIT to be set up in the Middle East/North Africa (MENA) region. This is a landmark project which reflects the vision of the leaders and it will be a tribute to the people of India and the UAE who are the backbone of the historic relationship. "This marks a significant stride in our educational internationalisation and is testament to Indias innovation prowess. Education is the bond that unites us, it's the spark that ignites innovation. Together, we will leverage this power for mutual prosperity and global betterment," Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted.

A third MoU was exchanged on bilateral cooperation on interlinking the payment and messaging systems between the Reserve Bank of India and the Central Bank of the UAE. The MoU will facilitate the integration Unified Payments Interface (UPI) of India and the Instant Payments Platform (IPP) of the UAE. It will also facilitate interlinking card switches of the two countries - RuPay switch and UAESWITCH to facilitate the mutual acceptance of their domestic cards and processing of card transactions directly without relying on any other network.

Prior to visiting UAE, PM Modi was in Paris, where, in a historic moment, French President Emmanuel Macron bestowed the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It is the highest French honour in military or civilian orders. With this, PM Modi becomes the first Indian PM to receive this honour.

PM Modi was hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron and Frances first lady Brigitte Macron at the Elysee Palace. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also attended Bastille Day Parade as Guest of Honour at the invitation of French President Macron on the Champs-Elysees. The key highlights of PM Modis France visit were the MoUs signed to enhance further cooperation in defence sector which included the first Scorpene submarine construction programme (P75  Kalvari), a model of 'Make-in- India' and the sharing of naval expertise between companies in the two countries.

In A joint statement issued following the PM Modis delegation level talks with President Macron, both leaders applauded the collaboration between naval companies from both countries in sharing their expertise. The leaders also expressed their satisfaction with the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between [TT3] [P4] Mazgon Dockyard Ltd and Naval Group, which outlines the construction of three additional submarines as part of the P75 program.

The Scorpene Submarines are extremely potent platforms, they have advanced stealth features and are also equipped with both long-range guided torpedoes as well as anti-ship missiles. These submarines have a state-of-the-art SONAR suite and sensor suite permitting outstanding operational capabilities. With a view to adopting a Roadmap on Defence Industrial Cooperation between the two countries, India is setting up a Technical Office of the DRDO at its Embassy in Paris.

Highlighting the French commitment to the "Make-in-India" initiative, PM Modi and President Macron also commended the defense industrial partnerships rooted in mutual trust, including the contract between Safran Helicopter Engine and HAL for the Transfer of Technology of Forging and Castings for the Shakti Engine.

In line with their outstanding cooperation in military aviation spanning over five decades, India and France welcome the timely delivery of the 36 Rafale ordered by India. In a significant decision, India and France on Friday decided to extend their ground-breaking defence cooperation in advanced aeronautical technologies by supporting the joint development of a combat aircraft engine.

A roadmap on this project will be prepared between French company Safran and Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) before the end of this year. They also decided to support industrial cooperation for motorization of heavy-lift helicopters under the Indian Multi Role Helicopter [IMRH] programme with Safran Helicopter Engine.
CHICAGO  The Rev. Jesse Jackson announced Saturday that he will step down as president of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, the Chicago-based civil rights group he founded more than 50 years ago.

Jackson, 81, announced his resignation during a quiet farewell speech at the organization's annual convention, where the group paid tribute to him with songs, kind words from other Black activists and politicians, and a video montage of Jackson's 1984 and 1988 presidential campaigns.

Jackson, who has dealt with several health problems in recent years and uses a wheelchair, capped the proceedings with muted remarks. Flanked by his daughter, Santita Jackson, and his son, U.S. Rep. Jonathan Jackson, the once-fiery orator spoke so softly it was difficult to hear him.

"I am somebody," he said. "Green or yellow, brown, Black or white, we're all perfect in God's eyes. Everybody is somebody. Stop the violence. Save the children. Keep hope alive."

The Rev. Frederick Douglass Haynes, "a long-time student of Rev. Jackson and supporter" of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, will take over as the group's leader, the coalition said in a statement. Haynes is the pastor at Friendship-West Baptist Church in Dallas, according to the church's website.

Jesse Jackson was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease eight years ago. He suffered a host of health setbacks in 2021, beginning with gallbladder surgery, a COVID-19 infection that landed him in a physical therapy-focused facility and a fall at Howard University that caused a head injury.

Jackson has been a powerful advocate for civil rights and a strong voice in American politics for decades.

A protege of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., he broke with the Southern Christian Leadership Conference in 1971 to form Operation PUSH, initially named People United to Save Humanity, on Chicago's South Side. The organization was later renamed the Rainbow PUSH Coalition. The group's mission ranges from promoting minority hiring in the corporate world to voter registration drives in communities of color.

Jackson has been a driving force in the modern civil rights movement, pushing for voting rights and education. Among other things, he joined George Floyd's family at a memorial for the slain Black man and has participated in COVID-19 vaccination drives to counter Black hesitancy about the drugs.

Before Barack Obama was elected president in 2008, Jackson had been the most successful Black presidential candidate. He won 13 primaries and caucuses in his push for the 1988 Democratic nomination, which went to Massachusetts Gov. Michael Dukakis.

Jackson said in his remarks that he plans to continue working on social justice issues, including advocating for three survivors of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre who this week saw a judge dismiss their lawsuit seeking reparations.

"We're resigning, we're not retiring," Jackson said.

Ron Daniels, who works with the National African-American Reparations Commission, a panel working for financial payments to Black people as compensation for slavery, told convention-goers that Jackson is a "synthesis" of King and another 1960s civil rights leader, Malcolm X.

"He is an authentic genius," Daniel said. "(Jackson) had the unparalleled capacity to frame and articulate ... political strategy in a way common, ordinary people could understand it."

Marcia Fudge, secretary of the U.S. Department Housing and Urban Development, thanked Jackson for paving the way for Black politicians like herself.

"Most people talk a good game but they have no courage," she said. "But you never left us, no matter how hard (things became)."

Santita Jackson implored convention-goers to follow her father's lead and continue to fight for equality.

"Rev. Jackson has run his leg," she said. "What are you going to do?"

___

Richmond reported from Madison, Wisconsin. Associated Press reporter Gary Fields in Washington contributed to this report.

Photos: Chicago Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson Election 2023 Chicago Mayor Election 2023 Chicago Mayor Election 2023 Chicago Mayor Election 2023 Chicago Mayor Election 2023 Chicago Mayor Election 2023 Chicago Mayor Election 2023 Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson - 2022 Brandon Johnson - 2023 Brandon Johnson - 2023 Brandon Johnson - File Brandon Johnson - 2022 Brandon Johnson - 2022 Brandon Johnson - 2022 Brandon Johnson - 2022 Brandon Johnson - 2022 Brandon Johnson - 2022
New Delhi: An Apple AirTag has helped to track stolen possessions, resulting in the burglar's arrest. The victim's handbag and the car keys, which contained an electronic device linked to the fob, were taken by the burglar Dylan Balmer when he broke into her home through an unlocked door.

"Although he unlocked the car using the keys, he refrained from stealing any of its contents during the early morning break-in at the Hartlepool property," reports AppleInsider.

According to the proceedings at Teesside Crown Court, after being located, Balmer was confronted by the victim at a Premier Inn nearby for having her keys. CCTV footage from a nearby hotel helped identify him. Balmer, who pleaded guilty, received a 15-month imprisonment term.



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Meanwhile, last month, an AirTag had helped to bust robbers who stole more than $62,000 in thefts.

A Texas family became fed up with gravesite robbers and installed a hidden AirTag to capture them in the act. The family didn't anticipate that their smart use of AirTag would help authorities find stolen bronze memorial vases valued at more than $62,000.
In a scene straight out of a Hollywood movie, a passenger crash landed a small plane in the United States, keeping all the occupants safe after the pilot suffered a medical emergency mid-air. As per a report on the AP, the 79-year-old male pilot of a small plane suffered an emergency during the plane's final approach. One of the passengers of the plane took the controls of the airplane and crash landed on a Massachusetts island on Saturday, police said. The 2006 Piper Meridian airplane departed from Westchester County, New York, earlier Saturday afternoon.

The crash happened on Saturday afternoon near Martha's Vineyard Airport in West Tisbury, Massachusetts, said Massachusetts State Police. State police said the crash resulted in a hard landing outside the runway that caused the aircrafts left wing to break in half.

Authorities did not name either person on the plane and said both were transported to a hospital. The pilot was then flown to a Boston hospital in life-threatening condition. The female passenger was uninjured and released from a local hospital, police said.



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The pilot and passenger are Connecticut residents, police said. The crash is being investigated by state police and the Federal Aviation Administration. The aircraft was removed and taken to a secure location at the airport and the crash scene was cleared, state police said.

The crash happened almost 24 years to the day after a Piper crash killed John F. Kennedy Jr., his wife Carolyn Bessette and her sister Lauren Bessette off Martha's Vineyard.
Jaipur: BJP president J P Nadda charged on Sunday that the UPA of Congress stands for "utpidan, pakshpat and atyachar" - oppression, favouritism and atrocities - and that the party has no right to be in power in Rajasthan even for a minute. Addressing a rally after launching the BJP's "Nahi Sahega Rajasthan" campaign against the Congress government, he charged that the Ashok Gehlot government is setting new records of corruption.

He targeted the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) led by the Congress and said, "UPA of Congress stands for 'utpidan, pakshpat and atyachar'."

"Whereas the NDA (National Democratic Alliance) government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is working with the mantra of 'sabka saath, sabka vikas, sabka vishwas and sabka prayas'," he said.



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Nadda launched the party's poll campaign -- 'Nahi Sahega Rajasthan' -- to oust the Congress from power. Assembly elections are due in the state by the year-end.

This campaign will be run in the entire state.

Nadda launched the campaign and a theme video that highlights crime against women, the murder of Kanhaiya Lal in Udaipur, communal riots and other issues.

He also released a "Fail Card" of the Congress-led state government.

He targeted the state government saying that it loots and tortures people and has broken all records of atrocities against Dalits, tribals, women, children and the poor.

"It has no right to be in power even for a minute," he said.

He said that encouraging corruption and creating new records of corruption is the character of the Ashok Gehlot government in Rajasthan.

He charged that the Congress government in the state has worked towards the demolition of houses of refugees from Pakistan with bulldozers for its vote-bank politics.
Congress appears in no mood of taking any chance and giving the BJP any slightest opportunity in the run-up to the 2024 Loik Sabha polls. The Aam Aadmi Party has called a special Parliamentary Affairs Committee (PAC) meeting at 4 pm to discuss the Opposition meeting scheduled to be held in Bengaluru. It was speculated that the AAP will decide whether to join the opposition bloc or not as the Congress was indecisive on supporting AAP on the issue of the Central ordinance brought by the Modi government. Sensing that any anti-statement by AAP may prove harmful to opposition unity, the Congress today decided to oppose the Central ordinance in the Rajya Sabha.

"I think they (AAP) are going to join the meeting tomorrow. As for the ordinance (on control of services in Delhi), our stand is very clear. We are not going to support it. We have been continuously opposing the attempt by the Union Government to sabotage federalism. We are consistently opposing the attitude of the central government to run the state through the governors. Our stand is very clear," said Congress general secretary KC Venugopal.

Reacting to the Congress party's decision, AAP leader Raghav Chadha termed it positive development. While the AAP leader and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal met several opposition leaders and state chief ministers including Mamata Banerjee, MK Stalin and K Chandrashekar Rao and secured their support against the Central ordinance, the Congress was not clearing its stand on the issue due to which the AAP has been critical of the grand old party.



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The central government on May 19 had issued an ordinance to bypass a Supreme Court verdict which gave AAP government the control of the capital's bureaucrats.

The opposition parties are expected to meet in Bengaluru tomorrow to bring together 24 non-BJP parties and provide a common platform against the BJP for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Sonia Gandhi is also expected to join the meeting this time.
New Delhi: The Centre on Sunday said that five out of the 20 adult cheetahs brought from Namibia and South Africa to the Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh died due to 'natural causes' and rejected media reports attributing the deaths to factors like radio collars.

"As per the preliminary analysis by National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), the apex body entrusted with the implementation of Project Cheetah, all mortalities are due to natural causes," the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change said in an official statement.

"There are reports in the media attributing these cheetah deaths to other reasons including their radio collars etc. Such reports are not based on any scientific evidence but are speculation and hearsay," the statement added.



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Male cheetah Suraj, translocated from South Africa, died at the Kuno National Park on Friday, while another translocated male cheetah Tejas died on Tuesday.

The ministry also said that the Project Cheetah is yet to complete a year and it will be 'premature' to conclude the outcome in terms of success and failure since cheetah reintroduction is a long-term project.

"In the last 10 months, all stakeholders involved in this project have gained valuable insights into cheetah management, monitoring, and protection. There is optimism that the project will succeed in the long run and there is no reason to speculate at this juncture," the ministry stated.

It said that for investigating the cause of cheetah deaths, consultation with international cheetah experts and veterinary doctors from South Africa and Namibia is being done on a regular basis.

"The Cheetah Project Steering Committee is closely monitoring the project and has expressed satisfaction over its implementation so far," the statement read.

Further, the ministry informed that steps like the establishment of a Cheetah Research Center with facilities for rescue, rehabilitation, capacity building, and interpretation; bringing additional forest area under the administrative control of Kuno National Park for landscape level management; providing additional frontline staff; establishing Cheetah Protection Force; and creation of a second home for cheetahs in Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary, Madhya Pradesh have been envisaged.

Project Cheetah 'bound to undergo ups and downs'

The ministry said that cheetah has been brought back to India after seven decades and a project of such a stature is 'bound to undergo ups and downs'.

"Global experience particularly from South Africa suggests that in the initial phase of reintroduction of cheetah in African countries has resulted in more than 50% mortality of introduced cheetahs," it said.

The mortality of cheetah may happen due to intra-species fights, diseases, and accidents before release and post-release, the ministry said and added that mortalities might also result from injury caused during the hunting of prey, poaching, road hits, poisoning, and predatory attack by other predators, etc.

All about Modi govt's Project Cheetah

The Narendra Modi-led Government at the Centre has launched the ambitious project of bringing back cheetahs to India. The Project Cheetah is being implemented by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), a statutory body under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) in collaboration with the Madhya Pradesh Forest Department, Wildlife Institute of India (WII) and cheetah experts from Namibia and South Africa.

The project implementation is being done as per the 'Action Plan for Introduction in India' and a Steering Committee comprising eminent experts and officials involved in the first-ever successful tiger reintroduction in Sariska and Panna Tiger Reserve, to oversee the project has also been constituted.

Under the project, a total of 20 radio-collared cheetahs were brought from Namibia and South Africa to Kuno National Park, in a first-ever transcontinental wild to wild translocation. After the mandatory quarantine period, all cheetahs were shifted to larger acclimatization enclosures.

Currently, 11 cheetahs are under free-ranging conditions, while five animals, including a cub born on Indian soil, are within quarantine enclosures.
Former Uttar Pradesh Minister and Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party chief Om Prakash Rajbhar today rejoined the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), giving a boost to the alliance ahead of crucial 2024 Lok Sabha polls. Rajbhar today said that he will attend the NDA meeting on July 18. Rajbhar said that coming together of the BJP and the SBSP will create a big force in the state that will work for the upliftment of weaker sections.

Talking to media, Rajbhar said, "The SBSP and the BJP have decided to fight the election unitedly. We had a meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah on July 14 and had a detailed discussion on several topics including the welfare of poor and underprivileged people of the society....He agreed with our concerns. Coming together of the two parties will create a big force in the state and will help in taking forward the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi that the lives of poor and weak sections should be improved."

When asked about his earlier statement that he would support the opposition alliance, Rajbhar asked how long he is expected to wait for confirmation from the opposition parties. "How long shall I wait? I talked to them many times but I did not get any response from their side," he said. Rajbhar further said, "We will attend the NDA meeting in Delhi on 18th July. The post of minister is not important to me. Now there is no competition in Uttar Pradesh," said Rajbhar.



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Union Home Minister Amit Shah welcomed him to the NDA fold. "Met Shri Om Prakash Rajbhar ji in Delhi and he decided to join the NDA alliance led by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji. I welcome him to the NDA family. The arrival of Rajbhar ji will strengthen the NDA in Uttar Pradesh and the efforts being made by the NDA under the leadership of Modi ji for the welfare of the poor and downtrodden will get further strength," said Shah.

Rajbhar, a former minister (2017-2019) in the Uttar Pradesh BJP government, was sacked for "anti-alliance activities". He then contested the 2022 Assembly election in alliance with the Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party. That alliance also came to an end in July last year. Before joining the SP alliance, Rajbhar had joined hands with AIMIM led by Asaduddin Owaisi.

Given the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, the alliance is important for the BJP specially given the SBSP's presence in the Poorvanchal region.
Former Gujarat Minister and ex-chairman of Dudhsagar Dairy, Vipul Chaudhary, has been sentenced to seven years imprisonment by a court in Mehsana. The verdict comes in a case where Chaudhary and 14 others were found guilty of cheating and causing a loss of Rs 22.5 crore to the dairy in 2014. They had supplied cattle feed to Maharashtra without following proper procedures.

Chaudhary, who is also the former chairman of the Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF), which owns the Amul brand, has been a prominent figure in Gujarats cooperative sector. He held a ministerial position in the Shankarsinh Vaghela government in 1996.

The Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate of Mehsana, Y R Agrawal, convicted Chaudhary and the other accused under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) including cheating, breach of trust, and forgery. Jail terms ranging from one to four years were awarded to the accused.



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The case was registered in 2014 when Chaudhary was serving as the chairman of Dudhsagar Dairy and the GCMMF. He was subsequently removed from both positions over allegations of corruption in cattle fodder procurement.

According to the FIR, Chaudhary took the decision to send cattle feed to drought-hit Maharashtra without proper authorization. The state government alleged that this decision was made without bringing it up in the dairys board meeting or issuing any tender.

Other individuals who have also been sentenced to seven years imprisonment include former board members of Dudhsagar Dairy, Jalaben Thakor, the former vice chairperson, and Nishith Baxi, the former managing director.
High-density housing developments could be on the horizon for parts of Washington County, Virginia.

The Washington County Board of Supervisors has approved a new R-3 residential zone designation for areas with water and sewer service.

The new designation could squeeze as many as five 2,500-square-foot homes on one acre of land, said Stephen Richardson, the countys zoning administrator.

Theres clearly a shortage of housing in Washington County, Richardson said. The key for hits to work is that theres adequate public sewer and adequate public water.

Each home would need a minimum of 7,500 square feet of land and a 70-foot road frontage, Richardson said.

The small lots, if you had to build septic systems, theres no way you could really build, Richardson said.

The idea to establish this type of housing comes from suggestions by the county Planning Commission and a study authored by a consultant hired through the Mount Rogers Planning District Commission.

Mount Rogers has been on a study with this for about two years, said Supervisor Randy Pennington.

For years, industries and developers have asked for more affordable housing in the county, the superiors said.

I think this is going to be a good thing, Supervisor Charlie Hargis said during the discussion.

Like many areas, adequate housing remains in short supply.

We have lost industry because we dont have housing for the people, said Supervisor Wayne Stevens. In order to get industry in here, weve got to have places for the people to live.

Another key could be the smaller lots, Richardson said.

Downsizing these lots will allow developers to sell more property, thereby bringing down the price of the property itself, said Pennington. If we dont start developing some properties that people can afford, then were not going to get development.

Pennington made a motion to establish the zone, seconded by Vice Chairman Mike Rush. The move passed unanimously.

Still, Stevens expressed reservations.

Were going to have to watch how we go with this, Stevens said. I have driven through Johnson City, Washington County, Tennessee, and Jonesborough to look at these houses. You cant take a riding mower between them.

More dense housing developments could put a lot of pressure on our utilities across the board, Stevens said. This is a big deal to look at because the utilities will be in demand  not just the water and the sewer but the power, cable, internet  To me, this is a big hurdle that this county is looking at.

Likely, the new R3 zoning could be developed within five miles of I-81s Exit 7 at Bristol and along King Mill Pike, Richardson predicted.

If you dont have housing, you cant draw in the workers, Richardson said. Its something that we definitely need, and it goes back to that pressure on sewer and water.

For now, this is all preliminary  as no actual developments are in the works.

All were doing today is setting up the district, Board Chairman Saul Hernandez said. Were not taking an action today that would blanket allow this. This is to set up that particular zoning district.
New Delhi: Popular television and film actor Atul Parchure recently opened up about his battle with cancer in a recent interview with YouTube channel Mitramhane. Parchure, who started his journey on television with the show 'RK Laxman Ki Duniya', revealed how he came to know about his illness. The actor said that when he faced the initial symptoms, he reached out to a doctor for his advice. He shared that the doctors could not detect the illness and he was 'misdiagnosed' and the treatment backfired instead of improving his health condition. He said that due to the wrong treatment, his health started deteriorating.

Parchure, who started his journey on television with the show R. K. Laxman Ki Duniya, shared that he came to know about suffering from cancer after returning from his family vacation to Australia and New Zealand. He said that he was unable to eat anything. It was then that the doctors suggested that he undergo ultrasonography.

Also Read: Hindu Gods and Their Vaahanas

The actor had gone on a family tour to Australia and New Zealand when he realised that he was not able to eat anything and felt nauseated. He further revealed that when his treatment started, it didn't help him much, due to an initial 'misdiagnosis', and his pancreas got affected. As per Parchure, he then changed doctors and took proper medication and chemotherapy.

Also Read: Vitamin D3: These Food Are Best Source Of This Vitamin

Atul Parchure is known primarily for his comic roles. He has starred in 'Comedy Nights With Kapil' and 'Comedy Circus'. He was also seen in the SAB TV show 'Yam Hain Hum'. Parchure was also a part of Rohit Shettys 2009 film 'All The Best' wherein he played the role of 'Dhondu'. His filmography also includes 'Khatta Meetha' and 'Bbuddah Hoga Terra Baap'.
The historic Yamuna Bridge here whose construction over 150 years ago was considered an extraordinary engineering feat, was first opened for traffic in 1866, connecting Calcutta and Delhi on a continuous rail network for the very first time. The old bridge, popularly referred to as 'lohey ka pul' (iron bridge) has witnessed many floods in its over a century-and-a-half journey, so much so that it is also a reference point for measuring danger level for Yamuna water levels. The mighty river has been in spate for the last week, swelling to 207.71 metres on Wednesday, breaching its all-time record of 207.49 metres set in 1978, inundating several key areas in Delhi, after submerging the floodplains.

With the raging river waters lapping close to its base, the landmark bridge -- a major lifeline of the Indian Railways -- has been temporarily closed for traffic movement as the river exceeded the evacuation mark earlier in the week. After breaching the 45-year record, water levels in the Yamuna in Delhi came down to 207.98 metres at 11 pm on Friday, from 208.66 metres at 7 pm on Thursday, three metres above the danger mark of 205.33 metres.

Indian Railways officials and experts who have done extensive research on bridges, buildings and network expansion of the railways, term the old Yamuna Bridge as a "priceless heritage of India". It is an old iron horse that has been galloping across the Yamuna River since the 1860s. It has witnessed the steam era, diesel period and the electric locomotives," P K Mishra, a senior official of the Indian Railways told PTI.



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Mishra, a former additional general manager of South Western Railway (SWR) and an ex-divisional railway manager of Asansol Division is an ardent railway heritage enthusiast and has authored several articles on the monumental landmarks in the eventful journey of the railways in India that began with the inaugural run from Bombay (now Mumbai) to Thana (now Thane) on April 16, 1853.

The Delhi-Howrah line was built by the erstwhile East Indian Railway (EIR), "one of the most successful British-era railway companies with very high professional standards", according to the book "Bridges, Buildings & Black Beauties of Northern Railway. The book, authored by Vinoo N Mathur, a former general manager of the Northern Railway, also charts the history of the construction of many railway bridges in undivided India, including the "great bridges" over Yamuna at Allahabad and Delhi.

The old Yamuna Bridge, identified as 'Bridge No. 249' in railway parlance is situated on the Delhi-Ghaziabad section, and was constructed initially as a single line, at a cost of 16,16,335 pounds, says the over 450-page book which also features some of the rare images of the bridge. The site for construction was earmarked in 1859. It had a total length of 2,640 ft and consisted of 12 spans of 202 ft each. The superstructure consisted of steel lattice girders, it says.

In 1913, the bridge was converted into a double line and later in the 1930s some of the spans were re-girdered and the roadway below was widened. The bridge was taken over by the North Western Railway in 1925 and is currently under the Northern Railway. According to the book, "History of the East Indian Railway" by G Huddleston, published in 1906, the Yamuna bridge at Delhi was opened for traffic in 1866.

This was the first time Howrah and Delhi were connected in one continuous rail network, as the gap at Allahabad had already been plugged a year before with the opening of the "Jumna Bridge" at Allahabad for traffic on August 15, 1865, after nearly eight years of construction.

Passengers could take the company's ferry boats from Calcutta (now Kolkata), the then capital of British India, and travel to Howrah terminus to catch a direct train to Delhi, says Mishra.

"This was the first direct rail link between the then capital of India (Calcutta) and what would later become the new capital (Delhi), nearly half a century later," he said As the Yamuna bridge in Delhi is temporarily shut for road and rail traffic, many passengers must be missing the rattling sound produced by trains passing over it and the picturesque sight of the Yamuna on both sides of this old warhorse of the Indian Railways.

Even today, some passengers throw coins into the river while passing over, believing it will bring good luck and a safe journey. "Life of Indian passengers, travelling in the northern part of India, is inseparably linked to these majestic bridges built over Ganga and Yamuna, and stories have been passed on through generations as they have stood for over 150 years now," said Subodh Jain, a former member of the Indian Railway Board.

Mishra says, before the completion of Yamuna bridges at Allahabad and Delhi, the East Indian Railway had "conquered the mighty Sone river" in Bihar, with an iron bridge over it that was opened to traffic in 1863, adding, the bridge was considered, "one of the greatest railway engineering feats" in that era.

The lessons learnt in the construction of Sone Bridge must have come in handy in building bridges at Allahabad and Delhi, he said. "From its humble beginning in 1854 with a small line connecting Howrah and Hooghly spanning 24 miles, EIR grew both in size and popularity, as it reduced days into hours for people's journey and proved a much cheaper and safer mode of transport than via road or river," Mishra added.

While a new Yamuna bridge in Delhi is under construction since 2004, parallel to the old one, the nostalgia and colonial-era charm associated with the city's 'lohey ka pul' will linger on.
New Delhi: Sitara Ghattamaneni, daughter of Telugu superstar Mahesh Babu and Namrata, said she gave away her first salary from a commercial to a charity.

Along with the preview of a short film titled 'Princess' for a jewellery brand in which she had acted, Sitara also launched the look book for a collection named after her at a five-star hotel in Hyderabad, along with her mother Namrata Ghattamaneni.

Sitara also interacted with the media on this occasion. She said she liked to see movies and was very interested in acting in them, and that she had acquired her confidence from her mother.



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She said her father was very happy to see the signature jewellery collection being launched at Times Square, New York, and got emotional when he saw the advertising video.

Namrata, meanwhile, added that their son Gautham might enter films, but is at present engaged in his higher studies.
The character that made her famous also foreshadowed Fran Dreschers biggest role yet.

In Season 2 of her sitcom The Nanny, which ran from 1993 to 1999, Dreschers character Fran Fine refuses to cross a picket line in an episode titled, The Strike.

Fine tells her Broadway producer boss Maxwell Sheffield that she cant return to work at one of his productions due to her mothers three rules.

Never make contact with a public toilet, never ever, ever cross a picket line, she says. What was the third one? Oh yeah, never wear musk oil to the zoo.

Fast forward to 2023 and Drescher is standing at the center of a strike that has brought Hollywood to a standstill.

She is the current president of SAG-AFTRA, whose 160,000 union members are on strike against major film and television studios, joining the more than 11,000 members of the Writers Guild of America who have been on strike since May.

Both groups are seeking better base pay, audience data transparency and protection from artificial intelligence.

We are being victimized by a very greedy entity, Drescher said in a fiery speech on Thursday. I am shocked by the way the people that we have been in business with are treating us. I cannot believe it, quite frankly, how far apart we are on so many things.

How they plead poverty, that theyre losing money left and right, when giving hundreds of millions of dollars to their CEOs. It is disgusting, she added. Shame on them. They stand on the wrong side of history at this very moment.

Dreschers commanding remarks may have surprised some who know her best for her distinctly Queens accent in The Nanny and her other comedic performances, but Dreschers personal life led to advocacy roles years ago.

As a rape and later a uterine cancer survivor, Drescher has long been a leader in advancing womens health initiatives, helping to secure the passage of the Gynecologic Cancer Education and Awareness Act.

She was named a State Department Public Diplomacy Envoy in 2008 and is the founder of Cancer Schmancer, a nonprofit organization that works to ensure womens cancers are diagnosed as early as possible.

Drescher is also the author of the book Enter Whining and the more recent N is for The Nanny, which explored her personal triumphs over trauma and paid homage to her show.

It is the breadth of her personal and professional experiences that led to her decision to run for the SAG-AFTRA presidency in 2021.

It came to me that everything that I have done in my life has led me to this one defining moment, she told Deadline ahead of the election she won on a platform of unity.

I have learned in my life that when you enter a situation with a lot of hope, optimism and fresh ideas, its easier to get the job done than if youve been beaten down, already anticipating negativity, or wallowing in past feud, Drescher said. I am a person who turns hard-lived life experiences into wisdom, and its those life lessons I will bring to the table.

Drescher will likely need to draw on all of that in her current seat at the head of Hollywoods negotiating table.

___

Photos: Hollywood writers strike
Carson Lester, 22, owner and creator of Tasty Pickles, started his own business as a high school project and it now has grown to include a presence in Food Lion grocery stores in Iredell County.

Tasty Pickles started in 2018 because of an agriculture project that was assigned. I chose entrepreneurship, Lester said.

Lester started a greenhouse in which he would sell plants but plans changed when it came to the production of his pickles.

I enjoy pickles, Lester said. It is one of my favorite foods, and I wanted to share it with everyone else.

With his small start, Lester did not stop creating and working on Tasty Pickles and explains how his partnership with Food Lion began.

During COVID-19, a Charlotte news station broadcast his story. The vice president of Coca-Cola saw his story and changed Lesters life.

With the connections from the vice president of Coca-Cola and Food Lion executives, Tasty Pickles was allowed to be on the shelves in local stores. I never thought it would get into a big grocery store chain, said Lester.

To be in nine Food Lions in Iredell County, Im proud of what I have accomplished. Lester explained that working with Food Lion has been a positive experience and said he is really appreciative to be working with Food Lion.

Lester said creating a business at such a young age has been a learning experience but a good one. He advised those wanting to start a business or improve their entrepreneurship skills to find something that you really like and plan ahead. Lester explained that failure is OK to experience but keep trying and never give up.

Eric Bell, store manager of the Troutman Food Lion store in Iredell, explained how incorporating local products has meant a change for the store as well as the customers too. Bell explained how Tasty Pickles was the first product that was pushed to sell local items for the public. Food Lion has been trying to incorporate local business for the last few years and Carson happens to be a part of it, said Bell.

Tasty Pickles can be found in the following Food Lions in Iredell County  Mooresville: Shearers Road, East Plaza Drive and Brawley School Road; Troutman  Main Street; Statesville  Old Mountain Road, Turnersburg Highway, and both locations on East Broad Street.
NEWTON  To accommodate growth in its senior care program and to expand opportunities for clinical-based care, Iredell Adult Day Services (IADS) formalized a management agreement with Newton-based EveryAge on July 1.

EveryAge is an industry leader among not-for-profit senior living organizations and is comprised of 12 locations that serve more than 2,000 older adults in North Carolina and Virginia.

The management agreement leverages EveryAges administrative, operational, and health care expertise to help IADS bolster its excellence in senior day care and to help IADS achieve Adult Day Health certification. This additional certification will permit the center to offer health care monitoring, education, assistance, and counseling to participants and caregivers. It will also allow the center to provide services to a greater number of frail seniors who need support during the day, granting their caregivers respite and the opportunity to live and work more freely.

Tammie Money, executive director of Iredell Adult Day Services, said, Establishing a relationship with EveryAge allows us to bring a wealth of new resources to support our participants and our staff. Were already regarded as Iredell Countys leading provider of affordable adult day care services, and now, well be even better positioned to enhance our program with added benefits. Its just what we need for the next chapter of IADS sustainability.

EveryAges management agreement with Iredell Adult Day Services further expands the organizations support of older adults in the Statesville area. Since 2002, EveryAge has owned and operated Emmanuels Place, an affordable housing apartment community. Emmanuels Place is designed as a supportive environment for adults aged 62 and up, and its neighborhood setting includes five single-story buildings connected by paved walkways.

Originally founded as ElderCenter, Iredell Adult Day Services was created more than 35 years ago.

To learn more about Iredell Adult Day Services, call 704-873-0720, email IADS@everyage.org, or visit www.IredellAdultDayServices.org.

EveryAge, formerly United Church Homes and Services, is an industry leader among not-for-profit senior living organizations, with 12 locations that serve more than 2,000 older adults in North Carolina and Virginia. Programs include continuing care retirement communities like Abernethy Laurels, Piedmont Crossing, and Lake Prince Woods; affordable housing communities; and PACE (Programs of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly). As a faith-based organization incorporated in 1961, EveryAge maintains a commitment to seniors by offering lifestyle options that allow individuals to focus on whats truly important and what matters most to them. For the fourth year in a row, EveryAge has been certified as a Great Place to Work Company. For details, visit www.EveryAge.org.
Because Gov. Roy Coopers former secretary of health and human services, Mandy Cohen, just got the nod from President Joe Biden to be the next director of the Centers for Disease Control, politicians and analysts are again debating how North Carolinians fared during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Defenders of Cooper and Cohen argue that their comparatively stringent regulations saved many lives when compared to states such as Florida where lockdowns were shorter and mandates less severe. Detractors argue that North Carolinians suffered greater economic pain, including lost jobs and incomes, than was necessary to combat the virus, and that the states decision to keep public schools closed longer than neighboring states was particularly indefensible.

I opined frequently about these issues during the pandemic, criticizing Coopers school closures and violations of the separation of powers. But I also urged everyone to try to keep a cool head, to recognize the unprecedented nature of the crisis and the difficult decisions our governor and other officials were compelled to make.

That being said, we have more data now than we did in 2020, 2021, or even 2022 to assess the effectiveness of policy responses to the pandemic. The clearest finding, in my view, is that closing public schools for more than a brief period in the spring of 2020 was a wrongheaded and counterproductive policy. Schoolchildren were at extremely low risk and didnt prove to be major vectors of transmission to vulnerable populations.

What about lockdowns, business closures, mask mandates, and other non-medical interventions? Some studies suggest the stringency of such regulations exhibited little correlation with the spread of the virus. Others, such as a major paper published in the British journal The Lancet this March, found that while regulatory stringency had some relationship to infection rates, it wasnt associated with death rates.

That latter COVID outcome measure was always the better one. Infection rates have more of a reporting bias. Places that test more will detect more infections, all other things being equal, while a death is a death, although some ambiguity about its cause may persist.

As for comparing the pandemic experience of North Carolinians to, say, Floridians, Im afraid that far too many politicians and activists continue to hurl accusations based on the wrong statistic. They use COVID deaths per capita without adjusting for preexisting risk factors such as age. Thats silly. Many of the same people would (properly) insist on adjusting for student characteristics when assessing school performance, for example.

When adjusted for age and comorbidities, Floridas COVID death rate from 2020 to mid-2022 was lower, not higher, than North Carolinas. The Lancet study ranked Florida as having the 12th lowest rate in the country. North Carolina was 27th.

On the other hand, many other states in the Southeast had worse death-rate rankings than we did, including South Carolina (35th), Tennessee (38th) and Georgia (43rd).

Still, the Lancet authors found no statistical association between the party affiliation of a state governor and cumulative death rates from COVID-19. To the extent there was a political explanation for differences in mortality, it had less to do with lockdowns and masks than with the uptake of vaccines. Republican-leaning places tended to have lower vaccination rates  and that translated into higher mortality for vulnerable populations.

Now, heres what I got wrong in 2020: I thought the economic damage from Coopers lockdowns would last longer than it did. While North Carolina did experience a worse-than-average drop in economic activity, we also bounced back faster. Big losses in employment, especially in restaurants and other service sectors, were very painful in the short run. Then loose eligibility standards for unemployment insurance induced some North Carolinians to stay out of the workforce for a while. When those standards tightened back up, most went back to work. (Many of those who didnt appear to have severe drug addictions or mental illnesses).

In most ways, North Carolinas experience with COVID was close to the national average. Unexciting, but true.
" " John Quincy Adams (left) followed his father John Adams (right) into politics. Both men were president of the United States. Adams senior was second president; Quincy Adams was the nation's sixth. Library of Congress/HowStuffWorks

Family dynasties in U.S. politics are not uncommon. Do the names Roosevelt, Kennedy and Bush ring any bells? But the original family dynasty was unquestionably the Adams family.

Founding Father John Adams served in the Continental Congress, as President George Washington's vice president, then as nation's second president (1797-1801). His eldest son John Quincy Adams was the country's sixth president (1825-1829).

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But Adams and his son shared more than a career path.

"They both had a deep abiding duty to country and in the fundamental principles of American democracy," says Sara Martin, editor-in-chief of The Adams Family Papers, an extensive collection of Adams family writings owned by the Massachusetts Historical Society. "And they both spent the majority of their professional lives in service to the country."

Both men attended Harvard and studied law, though John Quincy also had the benefit of growing up as the son of "John Adams, Founding Father," and enjoyed some impressive experiences as a result. When he was just 10, he traveled to France with his father as John sought recognition and funds from the French government to support the American Revolution. When the support wasn't forthcoming, the father and son traveled to the Netherlands, where the Dutch came through with both recognition and financial assistance. When John Quincy was 14, he traveled to St. Petersburg to serve as a French-language interpreter and private secretary to Francis Dana, the U.S. Minister to Russia.

John served as America's first Minister to Great Britain. He negotiated the terms of the peace treaty to end the Revolutionary War and went to Paris for the signing in September 1783.
This is Peter Hitchens's Mail on Sunday Column

It may just be in time, but I sense the 50-year campaign to legalise drugs is at last running into the trouble it has deserved from the start.

The supposed Portuguese drugs miracle in which giving up enforcing the law was supposedly followed by peace, love and joy - has ended, as it was bound to do, in squalor, crime and fear. And the endlessly-praised Amsterdam dope experiment, in letting rip despite the law, has been rejected with disgust and regret by many of the people who live there.

Even the wildly liberal Washington Post has finally seen through all the bilge about Portugal. Thanks to them, I doubt I will again be asked by a drug legaliser or a BBC presenter (often the same thing) What about Portugal? Or at least, not if they have any sense. For on July 7 the Post explored modern-day Porto, Portugals second city. It described a dismal scene  exactly what drug opponents would have predicted after the abandonment of legal penalties for drug possession.

Addiction haunts the recesses of this ancient port city, as people with gaunt, clumsy hands lift crack pipes to lips, syringes to veins it noted. In a long article illustrated with dispiriting pictures of drug-related squalor on the streets, it described how authorities are sealing off warren-like alleyways with iron bars and fencing in parks to halt the spread of encampments. The neighbours are scared. And the police (always the last to grasp what is going on) are blaming a spike in the number of people who use drugs for a rise in crime. Well done, officer.

Supposedly liberal Amsterdam has also had enough. Europes semi-official marijuana capital has banned the smoking of dope on the streets of its red-light district. Citizens have had enough of the zombie world which decriminalisation brings: Finally, smoking cannabis is banned in public spaces, says Diederik Boomsma, an Amsterdam city councillor.This will send an important message to the gormless and feckless who think they can come here on a holiday from morality. Newsflash to all potheads: go giggle elsewhere!

Meanwhile, evidence piles up (unnoticed by the BBC or indeed most journalists of any kind) of the growing correlation between marijuana use and serious lifelong mental illness. And media largely captured by the Pothead campaign somehow never notice that free democratic Japan and South Korea successfully deter drug abuse by prosecuting possession, just as we once did.

Actual experiments in legal marijuana in North America have been pathetic, embarrassing flops. Drug propagandists always claimed that this move would take drugs out of the hands of criminal gangs. But that simply has not happened. The gangs still flourish, but now do so alongside legal outlets for the timid drug user. Meanwhile greedy, cynical businessmen, much like the human sharks who drove Big Tobacco for decades, are making fat profits from human misery. Immoral politicians are raking in tax revenue from products whose terrible dangers are increasingly obvious.

Politicians, it is true, hardly help the causes they embrace, at least in the public eye. I rejoiced the other day when the Scottish government tried to demand that the UK abolished its drug laws. The Edinburgh statelet is perhaps the worst-governed portion of Europe west of the River Bug (it really exists, look it up). If they think something is a good idea, it is pretty sure to be bad. Surely, if the Washington Post can wake up to the truth, we can do the same here? There is not much time.

********

I think the nations of the West, especially the USA, are tiring of the war in Ukraine. What can it now achieve that has not already been achieved? Russia has been stopped in its tracks. It will be incredibly costly in men and money to do any more. Even here, where amazingly ill-informed gung-ho politics still dominate the debate, there is a cooling. I think Defence Secretary Ben Wallaces tetchy remarks, suggesting that Kiev has responded to our generosity with weapons and other aid by treating us like an Amazon delivery driver, are a sign of a big change of mood. I doubt Mr Wallace would have spoken about this if everyone in London was happy about the way the war is going. About time too. The Wests Ukraine policy has filled cemeteries with thousands of Ukraines best young men and will continue to do so until we recognise the need for a negotiated peace.

I think all responsible people, in this country, whatever their positions have been so far, must begin to accept that this is not some game that we are cheering on, but a profoundly serious combat in which others are dying, losing their homes or suffering terrible injuries. Of course, in all wars, the young (in my view often too willingly) respond to their leaders calls for sacrifice. Their families struggle to prevent them doing so.

But in later years, we all tend to recognise that much of the death and maiming was unnecessary, could have been avoided and could certainly have been ended earlier with no significant disadvantage. I promise you this will be the case in Ukraine as well, unless we reject the all-or-nothing factions calls for endless war. Can we please skip this stage and so save a great deal of needless mourning and pain?

***

Why do people join a particular church, even become priests and ministers and bishops, and then start moaning that they dont like what the church stands for? Why not just join something else in the first place? Or leave?

I think especially here of the Archbishop of York, the Most Reverend Stephen Cottrell, who used his powerful position to state that referring to God as Father in prayers is problematic for those whose experience of earthly fathers has been destructive and abusive. Maybe. Maybe not. But the Archbishop has a degree in Media Studies so he cant have been surprised by the attention he then got. Look, Stephen, the C of E is a traditional church based firmly on scripture, and believes that Christ himself told us to use the words Our Father. So we must. There are other churches (I attended one in San Francisco - once) which are more funky and flexible. But they do not have Archbishops, or palaces for them to live in, or Cathedrals for them to preach in, or seats in the House of Lords. I think you must choose which is the one for you. But in any case stop messing around with mine. Modernisers have already driven away many thousands of C of E worshippers by their ceaseless meddling, causing much individual grief. Thats enough.

*********

Curious to see the far from pro-British President Joe Biden greeted by what he presumably refers to in private as Redcoats during his visit to the King at Windsor Castle. Now that (thanks to US pressure) Sinn Fein/IRA are now wholly integrated into the UK, couldnt we have arranged for a guard of honour of IRA veterans, their traditional berets and balaclavas, and weapons supplied by the late Colonel Gaddafi of Libya? Id also be curious to see what an IRA marching band looks and sounds like.
The divisive creep of culture war politics into societal and economic initiatives in North Carolina has advanced to take away some of the shine from another No. 1 business climate ranking.

CNBC announced last week North Carolinas selection as its top state for business for a second consecutive year  perhaps the highest profile of the annual recognitions.

Yet, CNBC said in a video presentation that North Carolina has trouble spots and the political harmony that has helped make the state so competitive is fading ... as the Republicans are flexing their new super-majority in Raleigh. Just where the shifting political winds will take this state is yet to be seen.

But, for now, no other state stands stronger; a land of innovation and opportunity.

Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper and Senate leader Phil Berger, a Rockingham County Republican, responded by unleashing the latest round of their oft-rancorous rhetoric as they vie to set the course on the states socioeconomic initiatives.

Coopers ability to use the governors position in the CNBC interview at Ashevilles Biltmore House gave him the public presentation advantage over Berger.

Thanks to our well-trained, dedicated and diverse workforce, North Carolina has been named the top state for business for the second year in a row, Cooper said. Its important for us to invest in the education and well-being of our people to continue our amazing success.

Berger said securing the top spot two years in a row is evidence that the pro-business and pro-growth reforms created and enacted by the Republican-led state legislature are working.

What makes the Cooper and Berger exchanges particularly noteworthy was how CNBC praised their socioeconomic collaborations as key components for the top ranking.

CNBC cited in particular the ability of North Carolinas top elected officials to find bipartisan common ground on economic recruitment efforts that help to generate the nations strongest economy.

CNBC said the cooperation between Cooper, Berger and House Speaker Tim Moore produced transformative economic recruitment deals that included Vietnamese electric vehicle startup VinFast announcing plans for a $4 billion campus near Sanford and Apples plans for a $1 billion-plus East Coast hub in the Research Triangle.

****

A primary source of irritation: Coopers May declaration of a state of emergency for public education and his subsequent statewide tour pressing the subject. Cooper said at the time that its clear that the Republican legislature is aiming to choke the life out of public education.

In the CNBC rankings, North Carolina was seventh in education.

Special CNBC special correspondent Scott Cohn asked Cooper whether Republican-sponsored bills to expand taxpayer funding of non-public school vouchers could jeopardize North Carolinas traditional education prowess.

Although Cooper acknowledged the overall top ranking and education status are at risk, when we invest in our people, we invest in the foundation of our success.

Cooper cited he has made investments in education a priority, such as proposing in his 2023 state budget an 18% pay raise over two years for teachers, which would make North Carolina first in the Southeast in teacher pay.

Cooper said he hopes that this state of emergency had made people tell their legislators how much public education means.

However, Berger said the state should be celebrating that North Carolinas business climate continues to be the best in the nation, notwithstanding the governors obstructionism and vetoes of business-friendly legislation. His actions have done nothing to slow our momentum.

In the CNBC interview, Cohn pointed out how North Carolina is facing several socioeconomic challenges. Foremost, Cohn said 2023 has become the ending of a truce between Cooper and Republican legislative leaders following the GOP gaining super-majorities in both chambers.

Cooper said the heated rhetoric is part of the national Republican playbook. As such, Cooper said its bad for business.

We had been able to hold the culture wars at bay, he explained, but now, we have entered the process that has enveloped most conservative-leaning Southeast states.

Were not here to fight Mickey Mouse, Cooper said. Were here to fight for jobs in North Carolina.

In response, Berger said efforts by partisan voices to highlight policy disagreements to score cheap political points and create negative impressions have failed. The good work put in by the people and businesses here in North Carolina overcame those efforts.

****

In explaining North Carolinas retention of its top ranking, CNBC touted the states workforce quality.

Educated workers are flocking to the Tar Heel state, and worker training programs are among the best in the country, CNBC said. North Carolina also boasts the third-best economy with solid growth, stable state finances and a healthy housing market.

CNBC also praised the ability of Cooper and Republican legislative leaders to reach a compromise on Medicaid expansion legislation that is projected to benefit between 450,000 and 650,000 residents.

Yet, CNBC also said North Carolina is facing some trouble spots.

North Carolina is one of the only states with no statewide antidiscrimination protections, and it recently enacted a 12-week abortion ban, both hurting its score for life, health and inclusion.

The state was ranked 34th in CNBCs life, health and inclusion category  down from 28th in the 2022 rankings and by far the lowest score among the 10 individual categories measured by the network.

Cohn asked Cooper what impact he expects from the 12-week abortion ban, noting no business has left the state even though we know its early.

Should we plan on being somewhere else next year? Cohn asked in terms of North Carolina attaining the top ranking for 2024.

Cooper responded by saying the abortion ban is part of the long-term culture war that could lead to an erosion of interest in North Carolina.

Site selectors will tell you these issues matter when businesses make tough (relocation) decisions, Cooper said. It matters in the development of new businesses, in innovations, that North Carolina wants to attract.

Youre going to limit your workforce long term by telling the country we dont want certain people. Thats bad for business.

Legislative analysts said they believe the latest CNBC-stirred back and forth between Cooper and Berger may be their way of demonstrating their irritations with yet-to-be-fulfilled legislative goals.

Once the governor used CNBCs new signal of good economic news as an excuse to engage in nationally publicized partisan sniping, it should surprise no one that legislative leaders responded in kind, said Mitch Kokai, senior policy analyst with the conservative think tank John Locke Foundation. The legislatures formula of lower taxes, restrained government growth and fewer regulatory burdens has done far more for the states economy than any policy emanating from the governors office.

Lawmakers took the opportunity to remind him of that fact.

Its still appropriate to celebrate the states highly-regarded business climate while recognizing the differing political perspectives, said Mark Vitner, founder of Piedmont Crescent Capital, which provides economic consulting services to businesses, trade groups and municipalities across the country.

The governor has helped moderate some of the moves made by the legislature, Vitner said.
Margot Robbie 'bribed' Ryan Gosling into Barbie role

Margot Robbie "bribed" Ryan Gosling into playing Ken.

The 33-year-old actress produced the 'Barbie' movie as well as taking on the lead role, and she promised the 42-year-old actor she would bring him a present every day if he agreed to sign up for the film - and Ryan was stunned by the deluge of pink gifts he received.

Margot told the New York Times newspaper: "I just bribed him really. That's the basis of our relationship. 'Just come do the 'Barbie' movie, I'll buy you a present every day.' "

Ryan added: "There was suddenly this pink present from Barbie to Ken, every day, for a very long shoot.

"It felt unsustainable. I thought this has to stop at some point.

Read more here:

Prince George will not be expected to serve in the armed forces

Prince George will not be expected to serve in the armed forces before becoming King.

The nine-year-old royal, who is second in line to the throne, will reportedly not be required to serve in the military before acceding to the throne in what is set to mark a significant break from royal tradition.

The monarch is Commander-in-Chief of Britain's armed forces and George's father Prince William, uncle Prince Harry, grandfather King Charles and late great-grandmother Queen Elizabeth all followed tradition by serving in the military but a friend of William's says that "the rules are different now".

They told the Mail on Sunday newspaper: "In theory, there is nothing to stop George from pursuing a career as an astronaut, for example, if that's what he wants, and then becoming King later.

Read more here:

Michael Cera reveals why he couldn't join "Barbie" groupchat

Michael Cera wasn't part of his fellow 'Barbie' stars' WhatsApp group chat as he has a retro flip phone.

The 35-year-old 'Superbad' actor plays doll Allan in Greta Gerwig's new film about the Mattell creations, alongside Margot Robbie, 33, and Ryan Gosling, 42, as Barbie and Ken.

But he told People about not being able to join in their off-set chat: "I don't have an iPhone myself. I have a flip phone."

He added even if he did have a smart phone, he might not be in the chat anyway, because his character Allan "is sort of in his own little world".

Allan is a real doll in the Barbie line-up and was first introduced by Mattel in 1964.

Read more here:

***

Get more recent celeb news here:
Pinpointing that moment when Ben Losekes hobby became a business  a family-owned company with a current valuation of about $8 million  is up for debate.

There are plenty of possibilities for when the seeds to Midwest Barrel Co.  with offices in Lincoln and Louisville, Kentucky  were planted.

It could have been a decade ago when, as a graduate student at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Loseke bought a broken power washer at a garage sale for $20, fixed it and decided he didnt need it.

So he sold it online for $150, which spurred both his entrepreneurial side and his thrill-of-the-hunt mentality.

Up to that point, his career track was pretty straight forward. He says he planned to be a college professor.

However, his best friend from grade school and high school and college roommate  the man who has since become Midwest Barrels chief financial officer  always remembers that entrepreneurial side.

He was always coming up with his next business idea when we were rooming together, Josh Hoefler said.

This was just a side hustle that took off and became too big to stay on the side.

It started off with dozens of auctions, garage sales and flea markets. Loseke bought everything he thought he could fix and resell. Lawnmowers, he says, were his specialty.

The 2006 Norris High School graduate just sort of happened upon the barrel business, which at that time was not really a thing. But he immediately saw two things every entrepreneur craves: supply and demand.

After buying his first batch of barrels  a modest 25 of them from a winery in Napa  he struggled to resell them.

They were selling, but not very quickly, he said. And then somebody told me craft breweries were barrel-aging their beer. I had no idea that was a thing.

It turned out to be a game-changer. He researched the subject and then loaded one of the barrels into the back of his Chevy pickup. He made the rounds through Lincoln, from brewery to brewery, asking beermakers to smell the inside of the barrel.

They thought I was crazy, he says.

But somehow it worked. The local breweries  places like Blue Blood and Zipline  began buying them, aging their beers in them to extract the oak and Chardonnay notes.

Loseke did that for a couple of years, slowly growing what he was reluctant to call a business.

In actuality, he didnt know what to call it.

It got to the point where he said, This is either a hobby thats gotten too big or a business thats too small, said Jessica Loseke, Bens wife who now is Midwest Barrels CEO. Its one or the other.

They chose the latter. They had a small business on their hands. They also had the good fortune of a perfectly timed market that placed them on the ground floor of a venture that was ready to take off.

Not long after, he fully committed to the business by buying a truckload  270 of them in all at a cost of $25,000  of barrels, all kinds from Ports to blushes to Cabernets and crammed them into six storage units on South Street.

Today, its so surprising to me that people took me seriously, Ben Loseke says. They bought barrels from this random guy that was selling them out of a storage unit.

Eventually, Midwest Barrel abandoned the storage units and moved into office space big enough to warehouse thousands of barrels.

When Jim Ballard wanted to experiment with aging his James Arthur Vineyards wines in spirits barrels, he knew who to call.

Losekes father, Tim, was a contract grower of grapes for the Raymond winery and the two have known each other for years.

I buy all my barrels from him, Ballard said. You walk into his warehouse, this huge place, and theres this incredible smell because theres all these used barrels. Hes grown that business in a very short time.

Thats a pretty good hobby.

Its a hobby no more, remember?

Ben Loseke is quick to give most of the credit for that to Jessica, who would eventually join the company, but not without reservation from her husband.

In 2017, Jessica had a good job in human resources. Shed just given birth to their second child and pitched the idea of working at the barrel company.

Ben Loseke wasnt sure the company could survive so he was reluctant to have his wife give up her paycheck.

I was like, No way. Its not a real business, he said. It was way too risky for us to be doing that. She had a good job, why would she leave that?

Eventually, she just did it. She left her job and showed up for work at Midwest Barrel.

She also hired Hoefler, who said Ben Loseke was reluctant to do so because he didnt want to lose his best friend if the business failed.

She makes all the big decisions, Ben Loseke said. Shes the visionary of the company and has big audacious goals for it and wants to push us to new levels.

And in January, Midwest Barrel, with more than 1,000 American and foreign clients, made its biggest move by relocating a huge portion of the company  and the Loseke family  to Louisville, Kentucky, so they could be closer to the bourbon barrels and their distillers.

If we would not have made that decision, it certainly would significantly have constrained our growth potential, said Jessica Loseke, pointing to two key factors: shipping and barrel availability.

Midwest Barrel now has a significant portion of its barrels going overseas. In the past, the barrels were bought from distillers in Kentucky and shipped back to Lincoln, where they were put back onto containers and transported to the East Coast to be delivered to other continents.

Opening a facility in Louisville allowed them to save time  and shipping costs  on what was a needless trip back to Lincoln.

Now were able to buy and transport them 30 miles away and get a container from a quarter of a mile away with their shipping hub, she said. Operationally, that was one big focus for us.

Consider that a single barrel is nearly 3 feet high and weighs about 120 pounds. The cost to ship one is about $185. Its more cost efficient to ship more than one on pallets, Ben Loseke said, but its never been inexpensive.

Another change in the industry has been the availability of barrels. With more demand has come a scarcity of the product and a reluctance for distillers to part with their used barrels, which are suddenly considered a commodity.

Being based in Kentucky is key because, the bourbon industry is still very much a handshake type of industry where they like doing business with the same people and getting in relationships with people that they can trust, Jessica Loseke said.

Being closer to the source and developing relationships here in Kentucky has been really key for us.

The warehouse in Kentucky currently has 10,000 barrels in stock, she said.

Dont get the wrong idea. Midwest Barrel started in Lincoln and will continue to have a Lincoln presence, both Ben and Jessica Loseke say.

Is it going to look different than what it has been? Absolutely, Jessica Loseke said. Its not going to be the same.

But when three of the original hires  Hoefler, art director Gina Nathan and Ethan Schulenberg, the director of business development  are based in Lincoln and plan on staying here, its fair to assume that the company will never leave its Nebraska roots.

We will continue to have an office in Lincoln, Ben Loseke said. This is where we started the business. This is where our families are.

9 Lincoln breweries to try White Elm Brewing Co. Code Beer Company Backswing Brewing Co. Boiler Brewing Co. Zipline brews Empyrean Brewing Co. Cosmic Eye Brewing Catalyst Brewing Corn Coast Brewing
In a move that breaks with more than 100 years of precedent, the Lincoln Police Department will end its daily media briefing this week, opting for a three-day-per-week gathering to inform the citys reporters  and, through them, the public  on crimes and arrests in Lincoln.

Police Chief Teresa Ewins said the shift to a Monday-Wednesday-Friday schedule for the formerly once-daily gatherings is the result of an internal department evaluation of the usefulness of the briefings.

A lot of times, you guys will come in here and theres really nothing to report, Ewins told reporters at the departments media briefing Friday morning at the Police Departments downtown headquarters, where she announced the shift to the new schedule, which will start Monday.

You have everything you need on the (citys) website, and it feeds you all the information that (the departments public information office) gives you, the police chief said at the start of a mostly-cordial meeting with reporters from the Journal Star, TV stations KOLN/KGIN, KLKN and KETV, and radio stations KFOR and KLIN.

The daily media briefings, which a 1909 Lincoln newspaper article described as a time honored routine dating back even further, serve as an access point to the Police Department for Lincolns media outlets.

Each weekday morning at 9:30 a.m.  the start time has fluctuated over the years  the department has briefed reporters on crimes and arrests that happened overnight or the previous day and fielded questions on crimes or crashes that go unmentioned.

The Lancaster County Sheriffs Office, which shares a headquarters with LPD, often sends a representative to the briefings, if not Sheriff Terry Wagner himself. Lincoln Fire and Rescue also sends its public information officer to the gatherings regularly, giving Lincolns press corps access to the areas three primary public safety agencies at once.

Both Chief Sheriffs Deputy Ben Houchin and MJ Lierman, the fire departments spokeswoman, said Friday they would continue to be available on Tuesdays and Thursdays in the event they need to brief the media.

Ewins, who said the department had been mulling and assessing the move for more than a year, promised Friday that department officials would continue to be available to reporters on Tuesdays and Thursdays as needed.

You can call in  all of you can call in or send an email, she said. I mean, we are not cutting you off. I just want to be really clear.

The police chief also said that LPD would host a news conference on a Tuesday or Thursday in the event of a homicide or another high-profile crime or crash.

And even as she reduced the medias face-to-face access to the departments personnel, she insisted she was not whittling it down.

You guys get an incredible amount of access, an incredible amount of information, she said. More than any other city in this country, practically.

So were doing our best to continue that, Ewins added. We want to improve it. We want you to have access. Because we do feel theres a responsibility  on your side as well as mine.

The move marks the most significant shift in the departments media briefing procedure since the 1990s, when TV stations began covering the daily briefing that had once only been covered by newspaper reporters at the Lincoln Journal and Lincoln Star, former Police Chief Tom Casady said.

Casady, who started at the Police Department in 1974 and became chief in 1994, said the two newspaper reporters who covered LPD were allowed to sit in on an internal daily police briefing for most of his career at the department.

The reporters would gather in a conference room along with the departments command staff as an overnight lieutenant briefed captains and the chief on what happened the night before, said Casady, who wrote a blog post on the topic in 2009 in which he noted the practice was more than 100 years old.

In a phone interview Friday, Casady said the department shifted away from inviting reporters to the internal briefing in the mid-1990s after KLKN set up shop as the citys second TV station.

You could just sense that there was a lot more competition and a lot more interest in the news and more reporters, he said. And of course it just grew from there.

Soon, he said, TV stations from Omaha began attending the briefings, along with reporters from the local radio stations, the Omaha World-Herald and the Daily Nebraskan.

The department, then, decided to hold a separate briefing specifically for media five days a week  a set-up that remained fundamentally unchanged until this past week.

By the early 2000s, Casady said, the briefing had largely outlived its original purpose. The advent of the 24-hour news cycle meant that most news outlets, at their peak, had reporters calling around the clock for the most up-to-date news on public safety.

Although that wasnt the only purpose of the briefing, Casady said. The other purpose that I thought was important is for the press to be able to ask questions, and for me, as chief, to either be able to answer those or dodge them. And if I was dodging them, to explain why.

I always thought that was our obligation. If youre asked a legitimate question by a reporter, you either answer the question to the best of your ability or you explain why you cant.

Casady, who worked in local law enforcement for 45 years and retired as the citys public safety director in 2019, said Friday he didnt know what to make of LPDs decision to end the daily tradition, but he said hes long been an advocate for trying to break down the suspicion that some police officials have of the media.

The press, basically, is the way by which we keep the public informed and we maintain our transparency, he said. So its very, very important. I mean, police officers and police agencies have an incredible amount of power. And there has to be checks on that power in a free society.

And being as open and transparent as you practically can is an important way of ensuring that check on the vast powers police are entrusted with by citizens.

Casady attended the briefings nearly every day, he said, in a tradition that none of his successors have taken to with the same regularity, including Ewins, who once pledged to make weekly appearances at briefings but more often appears on a monthly or twice-monthly basis.

Her decision to reduce the frequency of the briefings comes months after the department performed a year-long search for a new public information officer  a position long held by a sworn officer but now filled by a civilian, Erika Thomas, who started at LPD in March after a career in broadcast journalism.

Thomas, who was hired in part to anchor the briefings while producing social media content for the department, is paid $109,487 annually, according to the city.

Even after hiring Thomas to help run the once-daily briefings, Ewins pointed to the departments continued staffing crisis as part of the rationale for reducing access to reporters.

Theres tons of projects that we have put on the back burner because we dont have enough people, Ewins said.

The department, which has the budget for 366 sworn officers, currently employs 339 officers  a figure that includes 10 recruits who havent yet started LPDs academy training and will not police Lincolns streets without supervision until next summer.

The reduction of briefings marks the latest step in the Police Departments slow shift away from transparency. In 2021, before Ewins arrived in Lincoln, LPD removed copies of public incident reports that had been viewable on the citys website.

When the department made the move, officials pointed to the further victimization of crime victims, noting that some victims of car thefts were fielding messages or phone calls from scammers claiming to have information about the thefts that they would only turn over for cash.

Reporters, who once had around-the-clock access to such reports, now have to individually request copies of an incident report from the departments public information office  a process that, at times, has taken longer than 24 hours.

The Police Department has also grown increasingly hesitant to identify officers involved in shootings since the city hired Ewins to lead the department in September 2021, according to a Journal Star review of 10 years worth of media reports.

In four Lincoln police-involved shootings from 2015 to February 2021, the department identified its involved officers at news conferences long before grand juries were convened to review the actions of law enforcement.

But in the two police shootings since Ewins was hired, department officials have declined to publicly identify the investigators who witnessed or participated in the incidents, deferring instead to the grand jury process.

Ewins herself has been inconsistently accessible to media outlets, despite her promised commitment to public discourse that she made in June 2021 as a candidate for the job she holds now.

The police chief declined to be interviewed and did not respond to emailed questions for a pair of Journal Star stories in June covering the departments use of bodycams, particularly on its plainclothes Lincoln-Lancaster County Narcotics Task Force. Investigators on the task force have killed two men in the last three years but do not wear bodycams.

And earlier this month, Ewins initially declined an interview request from KOLN/KGIN as the outlet covered the departments plan to purchase an armored vehicle  a plan that Ewins pitched directly to the public in a series of townhalls that reporters werent invited to.

Ewins ultimately granted the TV station an interview after the story published.

Review of police shootings in Lincoln since 2013 1. Douglas DaMoude, May 30, 2014 2. Tyson Hubbard, March 5, 2015 3. Tareik Artis, Sept. 22, 2015 4. Zachary Grigsby, Nov. 29, 2015 5. Germichael Kennedy, June 26, 2016 6. Thomas Sailors, Jan. 5, 2018 7. Christopher Brennauer, Dec. 29, 2018 8. Joseph Francis Cimino, Oct. 8, 2019 9. Hailey Stainbrook and Christian Alexander, Feb. 20, 2021 10. German Pedraza, Nov. 24, 2021 11. Chace Abney, May 1, 2023
(For the next several weeks, columnist Jim McKee will be contributing new columns on alternating weeks. On other weeks, the Journal Star will publish some of McKee's past columns. This one ran on Sept. 29, 2013.)

Evelyn Genevieve Sharpie Sharp attended high school in Ord and though her entire career as a pilot lasted less than a decade, she became one of the most famous aviators in the state and was well-known over the entire country.

Although Mrs. Jack Atkinson or Harriet Long Stotts probably were the first female pilots in Nebraska, Sharpie was one of the earliest female pilots in Nebraska and the entire country.

Lois Genevieve Crounse was born Oct. 1, 1919, in Melstone, Mont., but two months later her then-unmarried mother gave her up for adoption to John E. and Mary Sharp of Kinsey, Mont., who then changed her name to Evelyn Genevieve Sharp. It was not until Evelyn was nearly an adult that she was told that the woman she knew as Aunt Elsie was indeed her biological mother.

Evelyns interest in flying began as a child and when her mother realized the fascination, she gave her a copy of Amelia Earharts biography.

Evelyns father seemed always to have two or three different businesses in operation, but after his primary interest burned to the ground, the family moved to Hastings. In 1924, Sharp acquired a ranch homestead under the expansion of acreage allowed by the Kinkaid Act, and the family moved north but still in Nebraska. With the Great Depression, the Sharps sold the farm and moved into Ord, where John started a restaurant and operated a rooming/boarding house.

One of the Sharps boarders was Jack Jeffords, who was a barnstorming pilot and Certified Flight Instructor in Ord and Broken Bow. In 1934 or 1935, Jeffords gave Evelyn a ride, and she was hooked. When Jeffords fell behind in his rent he agreed to give Evelyn flying lessons in partial payment. The first lesson was Feb. 4, 1935, when Evelyn was only 16, but she managed to solo only a few days later on March 4 in an Aeronca C-3 though some records show the solo was not until 1936, a more probable scenario.

While still in her senior year of high school, Evelyn received her private pilots license and became one of the five charter members of the Nebraska 99, whose members were all female aviators. Evelyn graduated from Ord High School in 1937, where she was in the school band, taught swimming and received the title best girl athlete.

At 18 Evelyn earned her commercial license, which enabled her to take passengers; her mother was first in line. Although she wanted to continue lessons, Jeffords moved away, leaving her without a teacher or an airplane. John Sharp began lobbying his fellow Ord businessmen and with the help of Glen Auble, $600 was raised as a down payment on a Taylor Cub, with the promise of repayment from proceeds of taking people for rides and generally aiding the community as needed. The plane was picked up in Omaha in August and flown back to Ord by Evelyn, with her father as passenger. When the Grand Island airport opened in 1937, Evelyn was the pilot of the first plane to land.

In 1938, Evelyn headed to Lincoln to attend the Lincoln Airplane & Flying School in order to get her Transport License. She may have flown from other fields as well, but primarily she was said to have used the field that ran north and south from Van Dorn to Calvert streets, roughly along what is now 19th Street.

In 1938, Evelyn earned commercial license No. 34711, becoming the worlds youngest commercial pilot and obtained a Curtis Robin OX-5 airplane that originally was owned by the infamous Wrong Way Corrigan. In May of that year, Evelyn flew the first airmail into Ord and became the first female airmail pilot in the United States.

As part of the Civilian Pilot Training Program, Evelyn began teaching flying in Spearfish, S.D., and later at Bakersfield, Calif. As one of only 10 female pilot instructors, she taught more than 350 men to fly in just more than a year.

When General H. Hap Arnold formed the WAFS or Womens Auxiliary Ferrying Squadron, Sharpie was assigned as the 17th member of the 2nd Flying Group at the New Castle Army Air Base in Wilmington, Del., in October of 1942. The WAFS were charged with flying planes from their manufacturer or rebuilder, mostly on the West Coast, to shipping points, mostly on the East Coast but never to combat zones. The WAFS were merged into the WASPs in 1943.

On April 3, 1944, Squadron Commander Sharp, one of the most experienced women pilots in the country had, had only three flights remaining to achieve the highest rating level available to women. She took off in a Lockheed twin engine P-38 from New Cumberland, Pa., on a delivery flight to California. Almost at once black smoke erupted from one of the engines that failed, causing a forced crash landing that killed Sharpie instantly.

Evelyn Sharpie Sharp was buried at Ord Cemetery, not far from the Ord Airport, now named Sharp Field on Nebraska 11, now renamed Evelyn Sharp Road. Every June the community remembers its most famous daughter as Evelyn Sharp Days and who, in 1992, was inducted into the Nebraska Aviation Hall of Fame.

Top Journal Star photos for July 2023
1873: A new distillery was started at Nebraska City, and the proprietors already had purchased 2,000 bushels of corn for the enterprise.

1883: Bids were received by the Board of Public Lands and Buildings for erection of the central part of the Capitol, a building destined to serve the state for 50 years.

1893: Classes began at the Crete Chautauqua. Three other assemblies were in operation in Nebraska at the same time.

1903: The independent Lincoln Telephone Co. (forerunner of Lincoln Telephone and Telegraph Co.) announced it would install dial telephones here.

1913: Lincoln was the hottest place on the weather map, with a temperature of 106 degrees.

1923: University Place was having a typhoid fever epidemic and one victim had died. One well serving the suburb was ordered closed.

1933: The price of a 12-ounce loaf of bread was expected to go from 5 cents to 6 cents in Lincoln.

1943: Harvesters reported high yields of wheat, oats and barley. The Lincoln Air Force Base continued to send men to help with the harvest in Lancaster, Saline and Johnson counties.

1953: A group of 20 citizens from the Valparaiso area met with Gov. Robert Crosby to protest relocation of Nebraska 79 in that area.

1963: A Lincoln Air Force Base B-47 crashed in Spain, killing a navigator. It was the eighth fatality in 1963 and the 36th since 1956 for B-47 crew members stationed in Lincoln.

1973: Nebraskans in 1972 smoked some 3 billion cigarettes (162 million packs), pumping more than $20 million in taxes into the state treasury.

1983: Willow Creek Reservoir near Pierce began filling. The dam created a 700-acre lake.

1993: A four-alarm fire at the Gooch Foods building on South Street caused $1.2 million in damage. None of the 55 firefighters who worked to control the blaze was injured. A faulty exhaust fan was believed to have started the fire.

2003: Stransky Park improvements to be completed in August include a "romantic" gazebo, simulated waterfall, playground, brick-columned fencing, lighting posts and new parking places for the new park at South 17th Street and Harrison Avenue.
RACINE  Three Racine County Jail inmates have been charged with assaulting another prisoner and breaking his nose.

Dontrel M. Hunter, 19, of the 1400 block of Douglas Avenue was charged with six felony counts of bail jumping, felony counts of battery by prisoners and substantial battery, and a misdemeanor count of disorderly conduct.

Mannie M. Willis, 23, of Houston, Texas, was charged with three felony counts of bail jumping, felony counts of battery by prisoners and substantial battery, and a misdemeanor count of disorderly conduct.

Broderick M. Summerville, 20, of the 3100 block of North 52nd Street, Milwaukee, was charged with felony counts of battery by prisoners and substantial battery, and a misdemeanor count of disorderly conduct.

According to a criminal complaint, at 7:29 a.m. Monday an officer with the Racine County Sheriffs Office learned about an alleged assault by prisoners in the jail, 717 Wisconsin Ave.

The officer reportedly saw a man with a bloodshot right eye, a cut across his nose, chipped front teeth and a missing tooth. The man was taken to the hospital and treated for a broken nose, facial fractures, a broken upper maxilla and two chipped teeth.

Dayroom video reportedly shows the man being punched and kicked by several inmates.

Both Hunter and Willis were given $5,000 cash bonds in Racine County Circuit Court on Tuesday, and Summerville was given a $5,000 cash bond on Thursday. All three have a preliminary hearing scheduled for July 19 at the Racine County Law Enforcement Center, online court records show.
MOUNT PLEASANT  A Milwaukee man has been accused of stealing more than $5,000 worth of perfume and fragrances from Ulta Beauty.

Michael D. Jefferson, 45, of the 3300 block of North 2nd Street, was charged with felony counts of retail theft intentionally taking between $5,000-$10,000 and bail jumping.

According to a criminal complaint, on April 24 an officer was sent to Ulta Beauty at 5640 Washington Ave. after a report of a retail theft.

An employee reportedly told the officer that two men left without paying for $5,111 worth of perfume and fragrances.

A detective reviewed video from the alleged theft and information about alleged thefts that happened in Lake Geneva and Waukesha County, and reportedly identified Jefferson as a suspect.

The complaint said that Jefferson initially denied committing the thefts, but after being told there was video evidence, made an admission.

Jefferson was given a $1,000 cash bond in Racine County Circuit Court on Friday. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for July 19 at the Racine County Law Enforcement Center, online court records show.

Mugshots: Racine County criminal complaints, July 14, 2023 Today's mugshots: July 14 These are images of people charged with a crime in Racine County. Booking photos are provided by Racine County law enforcement officials. A defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty and convicted. Michael D. Jefferson Michael D. Jefferson, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, felony retail theft (intentionally take between $5,000-$10,000), felony bail jumping. Camron D. Kindred Camron D. Kindred, 1600 block of Deane Boulevard, Racine, carrying a concealed weapon, obstructing an officer, strangulation and suffocation (domestic abuse assessments), misdemeanor battery (domestic abuse assessments), disorderly conduct (domestic abuse assessments). Tracy S. Scott Tracy S. Scott, 1100 block of Melvin Avenue, Racine, possession of a firearm by a felon, first degree intentional homicide (use of a dangerous weapon). Octavis T. Leverson Octavis (aka James Smith) T. Leverson, 2800 block of Crossridge Drive, Racine, stalking, attempting to flee or elude an officer, second degree recklessly endangering safety, obstructing an officer, felony bail jumping. Angel G. Paulino-Gonzalez Angel G. Paulino-Gonzalez, 400 block of Lake Avenue, Racine, misdemeanor battery, disorderly conduct, misdemeanor bail jumping (domestic abuse assessments). Cameron L. Scharnakau Cameron L. Scharnakau, 1100 block of Oakes Road, Mount Pleasant, misdemeanor battery (domestic abuse assessments), disorderly conduct (domestic abuse assessments). Kijuan M. Woodley NO PHOTO AVAILABLE Kijuan M. Woodley, 2900 block of Bate Street, Racine, possession of a firearm by adjudicated delinquent, carrying a concealed weapon, possession of a dangerous weapon by a person under 18, possession of THC, possession of drug paraphernalia.
RACINE  When Veterans Outreach of Wisconsin Executive Director Zach Zdroik met with members of the closing Messiah Lutheran Church several months ago, he was told that some of the proceeds from the sale of the property would be going to VOW.

But he didnt know how much.

So, when members of the church showed up Friday with a $40,000 check, it was a humongous surprise.

This is very exciting, Zdroik said. This is coming at a good time for us.

This is the second $40,000 donation to VOW this year. In March, Sons of the American Legion Squadron 294 also contributed that amount after a cardboard village sleepout event.

The money will allow VOW, 1624 Yout St., to expand its services to more veterans, Zdroik said.

This year, its up there for groups donating, as the biggest, Zdroik said.

Pleased to support

Messiah Lutheran Church, 3015 Pritchard Drive, Mount Pleasant, didnt have enough members to keep the church going.

With Sunday service attendance dwindling to about 10, members decided to sell the church property.

It was purchased by RADDCerebral Palsy Agency Racine for $400,000.

RADD is a nonprofit organization that provides services to people with cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, autism spectrum disorders, visual and hearing impairments, and other disabilities.

RADD plans to move from its Uptown Racine location and remodel the building, including installing air-conditioning.

RADD also has plans to offer programming and training at its new location.

Church members are dispersing throughout the community and going to other Lutheran churches, said Legacy Committee member Bette Lasch.

She said the committee selected VOW because several members are veterans and have contributed to VOW fundraisers.

They felt it was important to have veterans that were not homeless and were able to find marketable employment, Lasch said. We thought it was good support of the veterans community of Racine.

Lee Holm, president of Messiah Lutheran Church Council and chairman of the Legacy Committee, said the church likes to support things that go on in the community.

We hope (VOW) can continue to meet the needs of the vets, Holm said. We are very pleased to support the tiny houses.

The churchs Legacy Committee also plans to distribute proceeds from the sale to other community groups, including Racine Habitat for Humanity, and to set up a scholarship fund at Carthage College.

In photos and video: Riley Construction renovating tiny Veterans Outreach of Wisconsin home Watch now: Riley Construction renovates tiny home at Veterans Outreach of Wisconsin Riley Construction renovates Wheelchair ramps Riley Construction renovates Riley Construction renovates Riley Construction renovates Riley Construction renovates Riley Construction renovates Riley Construction renovates
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

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We cant fault Gov. Tony Evers for wanting to have a lasting impact on Wisconsin, especially when it comes to supporting public schools.

But 400 years? Thats more than twice as long as Wisconsin has been a state.

The Democratic governor signed a two-year, $99 billion state budget last week after issuing 51 partial vetoes  one of which was clever and aggressive if not fantastical. He crossed out a hyphen, several words and 20 in the text of the budget to change the expiration of a $325-per-student annual spending increase from 2025 to 2425.

Thats more than symbolic or aspiration. It means future state budgets, starting two years from now, will default to a $325-per-student increase for schools if the governor and Legislature cant agree on a different amount.

Assuming Evers veto survives a court challenge, hell now have more leverage in future budgets to insist on higher spending for schools. Our public schools definitely need more money, given tight limits on spending in the past, rising prices, a teacher shortage and record numbers of local referendums seeking voter permission to cover operating expenses.

Yet on principle, governors  no matter which party they represent  shouldnt be able to unilaterally increase spending using the veto pen. Vetoes are supposed to stop or limit action by the Legislature.

Another governor could quickly get rid of the $325-per-student mandate once Evers leaves office. Thats likely to occur the next time a Republican governor is elected.

Still, Evers dramatic change to school funding suggests Wisconsins powerful veto pen needs further limits. Voters in 1990 wisely got rid of the Vanna White veto, named after the celebrity on Wheel of Fortune who flips letters. Former Gov. Tommy Thompson, a Republican, partially vetoed individual letters from the budget to spell new words.

Voters in 2008 eliminated the Frankenstein vote, in which former Gov. Jim Doyle, a Democrat, stitched together individual words from across pages of the state budget to unilaterally bring new law to life. He did so by vetoing around the words he wanted to keep.

In fairness to Evers, his predecessor, Gov. Scott Walker, a Republican, used his veto pen in 2017 to push back the deadline for a state program 1,000 years  from 2018 to 3018. Walkers Republican colleagues didnt try to limit the states veto powers after that, though we suspect some will revisit the governors authority now that a Democrat is in charge.

The solution to further veto abuse would be a constitutional amendment creating a true line-item veto, in which a single sentence could be struck in its entirety or not at all. Previously, lawmakers from both political parties have resisted going that far, usually because their guy sat in the governors office.

Even if you support more money for public schools  which we definitely do  its important to consider how a governor with different priorities could play similar veto games. What if a future governor with her veto pen extended an annual increase in private school choice enrollment indefinitely for centuries? Democrats wouldnt like that. Nor would we.

The budget signed into law last week includes a $1 billion increase in spending authority for public schools. Thats about a 4% increase the first year of the budget, and a 7% increase the second year. The $325-per-student annual increase also is the highest in modern state history.

Yet private and religious schools in Wisconsins choice program are getting even higher per-pupil increases than public schools (though public schools still get more per student overall).

Evers called that a compromise, which we appreciate. Evers was right to negotiate what he could with Republicans, rather than vetoing the entire budget, which would have triggered months of delays in state programming and left local governments struggling to pass their own budgets.

The two partisan sides at the state Capitol agreed to send more money to local governments for basic services such as police and fire protection. That was encouraging. The city and county of Milwaukee also got permission for a higher local sales tax to help balance their budgets.

A big win for Wisconsins justice system were raises to keep assistant district attorneys and public defenders staffing our courts. In addition, prison guards and other state employees are getting raises to hopefully stem attrition and shortages.

The governor and Legislature agreed to $125 million for fighting the forever chemicals known as PFAS. We like that.

The worst decision in the state budget was the Republican-driven cut to the University of Wisconsin System. Evers is right that cutting higher education when the state is sitting on a $7 billion surplus makes no sense. The GOPs nixing of an engineering building at UW-Madison is particularly galling, given that private funds were contributing to the project and it was the Systems top priority.

Because the pandemic is over, the federal government is ending emergency dollars for child care facilities. The Republican-run Legislature failed to step up in this budget with significant state dollars to help ensure more child care centers dont close. Quality child care is key to keeping parents in the workforce and making sure young children get off to strong starts in life.

Evers vetoed most of the GOPs planned tax cut. Thats how a veto is supposed to work by limiting things. Yet even if the rich dont need a tax cut, Evers should have allowed more relief for the middle class, given the state surplus.

Four-hundred years from now, this state budget will be long forgotten, as will Evers veto.

Whats important today is that public schools, local governments, public health and our courts are being strengthened. Unfortunately, our universities and the child care industry are not.
MADISON  Gov. Tony Evers, together with the state Department of Transportation, announced the new 2023 Rustic Roads Guide is available in print and online and offers 124 backroad trips, including the states latest Rustic Road, Rustic Road 124. Rustic Road 124 passes rock outcroppings and a trout stream in western Dane County.

Also new for 2023, the Rustic Roads Guide devotes 14 pages to Wisconsins Scenic Byways, composed of five non-interstate highway routes that explore Door County, the Mississippi River, the lower Wisconsin River, the Wolf River and Lake Superior.

These roadways offer visitors and locals alike the opportunity to explore all our state has to offer, from the natural beauty along the roads to the communities they pass through, Evers said in a press release. Were proud of our commitment to invest in our local roads, bridges, and infrastructure and to continue supporting these programs that bolster our states travel and tourism industry, which continues to be a major economic driver for our state. Wisconsin has countless hidden gems to explore and enjoy, and this guide will help you find the next one.

The Rustic Road program began in Taylor County in 1975. With the addition of Rustic Road 124, the program now highlights about 750 miles of scenic, lightly traveled country roads through 61 counties. Brown and yellow signs mark the routes of all officially designated Rustic Roads. The Scenic Byways Program began in 2005 to highlight non-interstate highways that offer outstanding scenic views, recreation and cultural or historic amenities.

Both the Rustic Roads program and Wisconsins Scenic Byways are the result of local collaboration, and we are thankful for the ongoing efforts that make these programs so strong, said WisDOT Secretary Craig Thompson. We are ready to work with community leaders anywhere in the state to show there is always one more great destination in Wisconsin.

Wisconsins Rustic Roads and Scenic Byways are the perfect routes for making road trip memories, said Anne Sayers, state Department of Tourism secretary. This guide is sure to help inspire people to explore the friendly communities and natural beauty Wisconsin is known for throughout the state.

For a free copy of the new edition of Wisconsin Rustic Roads, visit the Travel Wisconsin website or call the state Department of Tourism at 1-800-432-8747.

Rustic Roads range from two miles to 37 miles in length and have a maximum speed limit of 45 miles per hour. WisDOT oversees the Rustic Roads program; however, the roads remain under local government authority. Learn more about nominating a Rustic Road by visiting the WisDOT website.
Northside Elementary School, a year-round elementary school, is ready to welcome students back Monday for the start of another school year. This year brings a fresh beginning and a new leader, Principal Sarah Bradle.

According to its press release, Northside Elementary School prides itself on its commitment to educating the whole child, encompassing their social, emotional, physical, and intellectual needs. As students step into their classrooms, they will be met with an educational environment that nurtures their individuality and provides them with the tools to thrive.

I am most excited about getting reacquainted with all of the students and their families, said Bradle. We also had many new faces come through our doors at our open house, and I am really looking forward to getting to know our new students and welcoming them into our school family. The building was buzzing with students and they are excited to be back at school and see their classmates.

Bradle's vision for the school year revolves around offering students an inclusive, nurturing, and intellectually stimulating environment. With an emphasis on individualized attention and personalized learning, she aims to empower students to discover their passions, foster their curiosity, and develop critical thinking skills.

"I hope to offer students a strong sense of community in our school and ensure that every single student knows they are an important part of our school family, added Bradle. We will have a fun year with many different space-themed activities and we are ready to provide students with a strong education while making sure they feel safe and loved at school.

Northside Elementary School's year-round educational model ensures continuity of learning and minimizes potential learning loss over extended breaks. This approach allows students to maintain their momentum throughout the year, fostering a deeper understanding of concepts and promoting continuous growth.
WASHINGTON  President Joe Biden has made it a major policy goal to improve long-term care options for older adults and people with disabilities by improving the working conditions of the people who care for them.

Two separate but interconnected proposals would require minimum staffing requirements in nursing homes and require that 80% of Medicaid payments for home and community-based services go toward compensating direct care workers.

But the problem with those proposals, some lawmakers, state officials and those in the industry say, is that theyre not realistic as long as workforce shortages continue and low Medicaid reimbursement rates remain in place.

Meanwhile, advocates for the people who use those services say the money is available, but staffing is kept low and workers are underpaid to boost profits.

The truth, said David Grabowski, a long-term care expert and health care policy professor at Harvard Medical School, is probably somewhere in between.

Both sides are right, he said. There is a shortfall in Medicaid, and providers play a lot of games.

Research has consistently demonstrated that low staffing levels lead to worse outcomes for patients, and workforce shortages in both home and community-based settings are leading to delays in care, with people being turned away from badly needed services.

These are the frontline workers who we call heroes. Until we address those inadequacies in benefits and pay and treatment, were going to continue to have understaffing, said Sam Brooks, director of public policy for The National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care.

Nursing homes

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is expected to soon release its long-awaited proposed rule setting minimum staffing levels in the nations 15,500 nursing homes after Biden previewed the regulations in last years State of the Union address.

The proposed rule is currently being reviewed by the Office of Management and Budget and is expected to be released this summer. The agency is meeting this week with the American Hospital Association and National Rural Health Association.

The nursing home industry, led by the American Health Care Association, is lobbying extensively against a minimum standard, calling it an unfunded mandate and noting low Medicaid rates, a historic departure of workers during the COVID-19 pandemic who left for higher-paying jobs in other industries and nursing home closures.

A staffing mandate will not create applicants. And when nursing homes cannot meet this impossible standard, they will have to reduce the number of residents they serve or close entirely, exacerbating the current access-to-care crisis were already seeing unfold, an AHCA spokesperson said.

A minimum staffing standard has long been recommended by experts including the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine, which found in its 2022 report that low pay and poor benefits have made the nursing home a highly undesirable place of employment.

The report recognized current staffing shortages but argued that enhanced staffing and training opportunities would make nursing homes more desirable workplaces, attracting more workers.

This is a decades-old problem, and its not just about post-pandemic nursing home care, said Lee Goldberg, health policy specialist for the AFL-CIO. These are really difficult jobs, and they dont pay well. The problem is not nursing homes not being able to hire people, but they cant retain people. People shouldnt get bad care or bad working conditions because nursing homes cant hold on to workers.

Home and community-based services

The Biden administration also recently proposed a rule that would require that 80% of Medicaid payments for homemaker, personal care services and home health aide services go toward paying direct care workers, aiming to improve wages and attract more people to the field.

Those efforts come after Congress rejected Bidens request for $400 billion in additional funding for home and community-based services  services that help older adults and people with disabilities stay in their homes  in his domestic policy package that passed last year.

Now that Democrats no longer have control of Congress and Republicans are calling for budget cuts, its even less likely that Congress will increase funding for such programs. That leaves Biden to pursue regulation, which doesnt typically come with new money.

The goal, the administration said, is to address the inextricable link between sufficient payments being received by the direct care workforce and access to and, ultimately, the quality of home and community-based services.

Nationally, home health workers, including workers who do clinical work, make about $14.87 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The average reimbursement for personal care services is $23.09 per hour in the 22 states that report that data, and $119 per hour for home health agency services in the 20 states that report that data, according to KFF.

Supporters of the rule said 80% should be doable for providers since the vast majority of the service they provide is through direct care workers.

But providers say Medicaid rates dont support higher wages. Requiring 80% of funding to go to direct care worker compensation would mean cuts in other areas like worker training, clinical supervisors, transportation and other services for patients, said Shannon McCracken, vice president for government relations for ANCOR, which represents providers caring for people with disabilities.

Healthiest states for seniors Which states are the most and least healthy for senior populations? #50. Mississippi #49. Louisiana #48. Kentucky #47. West Virginia #46. Oklahoma #45. Alabama #44. Arkansas #43. Nevada #42. Missouri #41. New Mexico #40. Georgia #39. Tennessee #38. Texas #37. Ohio #36. South Carolina #35. Indiana #34. North Carolina #33. Illinois #32. New York #31. Michigan #30. Pennsylvania #29. New Jersey #28. Florida #27. Kansas #26. California #25. Wyoming #24. Alaska #23. Arizona #22. North Dakota #21. Iowa #20. Montana #19. Delaware #18. Rhode Island #17. South Dakota #16. Virginia #15. Idaho #14. Wisconsin #13. Maine #12. Oregon #11. Nebraska #10. Massachusetts #9. Maryland #8. Washington #7. Hawaii #6. New Hampshire #5. Colorado #4. Connecticut #3. Minnesota #2. Vermont #1. Utah
Hes been indicted twice. Found liable for sexual abuse. And is viewed unfavorably by more than a third of his party. But six months before Republican voters begin to cast their ballots in the 2024 primary, former President Donald Trump remains the GOP races dominant front-runner. The growing sense of Trumps inevitability is raising alarms among some Republicans desperate for the party to move on as they wonder what might need to happen to change the trajectory of the race. Some described a sense of panic as they scramble to try to find something that might derail Trumps train without a clear plan, strategy or alternative candidate.
Arrested Neo-Nazis Confess To Getting Pay from Kiev To Assassinate Journalists

July 15, 2023, 2022 (EIRNS)Russias Federal Security Service (FSB) today stated that, along with the Interior Ministry and Investigative Committee, yesterday they had arrested neo-Nazis from the Paragraph 88 group who were gathering information at the work and home addresses of Simonyan and Sobchak, referring to Margarita Simonyan, the editor-in-chief of RT news agency and Ksenia Sobchak is a former Russian presidential candidate, a well-known journalist, a close associate of Vladimir Putin, and the daughter of a former St. Petersburg mayor. And 88 is a standard symbol for neo-Nazis, referring to the 8th letter of the alphabet, hence HH, for Heil Hitler. FSB said some half-dozen individuals were detained.

The FSB statement explained: The detainees confirmed that they were preparing assassinations on the instructions of the Security Service of Ukraine for a reward of 1.5 million rubles ($16,600) for each murder. They were detained as they were carrying out reconnaissance at the home and work locations of their victims, Simonyan and Sobchak. According to RT, the statement went on to describe that, during the operation, law enforcement seized a Kalashnikov assault rifle with 90 cartridges, rubber hoses, knives, brass knuckles and handcuffs, along with computers with information confirming criminal intentions. Further, Russian law enforcement confiscated chevrons, flags, Nazi paraphernalia, Nazi literature, and communications equipment.

Today, RT Editor-in-Chief Simonyan commented: The most important thing I want to say is that there are things worse than death. Dishonor is worse than death; treason is worse than death ... living with a feeling that you had done something irredeemable is worse than death. She added that she would like those arrested to understand that and have enough time to rectify their mistakes and start their life anew. Commenting on video footage released by the FSB of an 18-year-old suspect who confessed to organizing a neo-Nazi group and getting paid by Ukrainian intelligence, she said: I am very sorry that an 18-year-old boy ... got brainwashed in such a way ... that he decided that caring for his people is compatible to taking money for the Ukrainian intelligence to kill opinion leaders in his own country.

The arrests are the latest in a pattern of cases that point to Kiev authorities, particularly the SBU and the GUR military intelligence. In April, it was reported that six alleged members of the banned terrorist group National Socialism/White Power were arrested on suspicion of preparing an assassination attempt on the prominent Russian journalist Vladimir Solovyov. The investigation reported that the assassins were also acting on behalf of the SBU. Earlier in April, Ukrainian operatives murdered Russian military blogger Maxim Fomin (aka Vladen Tatarsky) in St. Petersburg in a bomb attack and in August 2022, Ukrainians planted a bomb in the car of journalist Darya Dugina, killing her in Moscow.

When Kievs authorities, including the Center for Countering Disinformation working under the Office of the President, declared that publicly disagreeing with Kiev makes that person an information terrorist, to be treated as an enemy combatant, those who believe in freedom of speech should take them seriously.
Across Europe, churches and other Christian religious buildings stand increasingly empty.

These empty churches are being repurposed. That means they are being changed into other things like hotels, sport climbing businesses, and even dance places.

Supporters say the changes remove the need for costly repairs and care of the buildings. But critics say such changes raise ethical concerns.

Empty churches

Empty churches can be seen over much of Europe - from Germany to Italy and many nations in between.

But the empty churches really stand out in Flanders, in the northern part of Belgium. The area has some of the greatest cathedrals in Europe.

Yet there are not enough people attending the churches. In 2018, the PEW research group released an opinion study of religion in Belgium. The study found that 83 percent of people said they had been raised as Christians. But only 55 percent still consider themselves to be Christians. And only 10 percent of Belgians still attend church regularly.

Johan Bonny is the bishop of Antwerp. He is a top Church leader in the city. He told the Associated Press about the issue: That is painful. I will not hide it. On the other hand, there is no return to the past possible.

Mechelen is a town of 85,000 people just north of Brussels. It is the Roman Catholic center of Belgium. It has more than 20 churches. Mayor Bart Somers has been working for years to give many of the buildings a different purpose.

In my city, we have a brewery in a church, we have a hotel in a church, we have a cultural center in a church, we have a library in a church. So, we have a lot of new destinations for the churches, said Somers.

Somers, a Flemish regional minister, is also involved in repurposing about 350 churches spread across the densely populated area of 6.7 million people.

Hotel and rock climbing gym

A famous repurposing project in Belgium was Martins Patershof hotel in Mechelen. The inside of the church was cleaned out to create rooms. We often hear that people come here to relax and enjoy the silence of its former identity, said hotel manager Emilie De Preter.

With its simple luxury, it offers time for thought, and more. Since it is now a hotel, people might do many things in the former church.

So, you could say: ethically, is it a good idea to have a hotel in a church? I dont have so many hesitations, said Somers. I am more concerned about the actual architectural value.

The design value is especially clear at St. Anthony of Padua church in Brussels. These days, it is also known as Maniak Padoue climbing club. The rock climbing wall is located near large, special colored windows known as stained-glass windows.

The stained glass brings a...warm light to the venue when the sun goes through it, so we can really feel the presence of the remains of the church, said Kyril Wittouck, the co-founder of the club. The altar is still in place, so we are surrounded by remains and it reminds us where we actually are.

Also in Brussels, the Spirito night club has taken over a former Anglican church and has an image of a priest kissing a nun as its logo.

It is not exactly what Bishop Bonny had in mind.

Even if the Roman Catholic religion is declining, a sense of the sacred and a need for thought still exists in society, whether one is religious or not. The sense of peace coming from a church is hard to match. So, for Bonny, there is no reason to turn churches into supermarkets or dance places.

History and future

Bonny thinks the most successful repurposing has been the handing over of churches to other Christian groups, such as Coptic or Eastern European churches.

At his office, though, he can get tired just looking at the number of people coming to make deals for empty Roman Catholic buildings. His heart is heavy when a real estate agent shows up. They see possibilities. And you cannot believe, suddenly, how pious they can become when a financial opportunity presents itself. Suddenly they are more devout than a nun, he said.

Knowing the history of Christianity over hundreds of years, Bonny considers the effects of time since the near future does not look bright. Every 300 years we nearly had to start again, he said. Something new, Im sure, will happen. But it takes time.

At the hotel Martins Patershof, there is even a condition that the church can reclaim the building if it is needed again, said De Preter. The hotel elements were built on steel beams and could be taken out. If the church, at a certain point, wants the building back  which holds a very small chance, probably  it is possible, De Preter said.

Im Ashley Thompson.

And I'm John Russell.

Raf Casert reported on this story for the Associated Press. John Russell adapted it for VOA Learning English.

__________________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

cathedral  n. the main church of an area

breweryn. a place where beer is made

destination n. a place that a person goes to or is sent to

relax  v. to spend time resting or doing something enjoyable

luxury n. something that is very costly and attractive but not necessary

hesitation  n. to stop briefly before you do something especially because you are nervous or unsure about what to do

architectural  adj. relating to the art or science of designing and creating buildings

venue  n. the place where an event takes place

altar  n. an area used as a center of worship in Christian ceremonies
Scientists say they have found new evidence of organic matter on Mars that could be linked to past life on the planet.

The Perseverance explorer, which is operated by the American space agency NASA, discovered the organic materials. The explorer, or rover, has been collecting data on Mars since landing on the Red Planet in February 2021.

The goal, or mission, of Perseverance is to collect Martian soil and rock material as part of a search for signs of ancient life. Scientists on Earth using the equipment on the rover examine this material as closely as possible. The collected soil and rocks are to be picked up in future missions and returned to Earth for examination.

Researchers said the latest findings suggest the presence on the Martian surface of the same kinds of carbon signals that are linked to living organisms on Earth. The presence of carbon may suggest that biological life once existed on Mars. But the carbon material could also be related to nonbiological processes.

In the past, data from two other NASA explorers  the Phoenix lander and the Curiosity rover  found evidence of organic carbon on the surface of Mars. But both of those discoveries were made with gas-based methods used for examining organic matter. The latest findings were made through a different method.

This time, the research team used an instrument attached to Perseverances robotic arm known as SHERLOC. It uses cameras, spectrometers and a laser to search for organic matter and minerals, NASA said. The instrument centers on materials that might have been changed by watery environments and could provide biological evidence of past life.

One of the leaders of the latest research was Amy Williams, an astrobiologist and assistant professor at the University of Florida. She was one of the writers of a study that describes the latest findings in the publication Nature. The study suggests the new research method provided evidence of a more intricate organic geochemical cycle on Mars than previously understood.

Williams works on the Perseverance mission team. She said in a statement that the SHERLOC instrument appears to have observed several kinds of organic carbon matter. She added that the discovery has implications for understanding the carbon cycle on Mars, as well as the possibility that the planet once supported life.

Williams said SHERLOC was very effective at mapping the positions of organic molecules and minerals on rock surfaces around an area of Mars called Jezero Crater.

Ashley Murphy was another writer of the study. She is a research scientist at the Planetary Science Institute in Arizona. Murphy said the SHERLOC instrument produces the spatial resolution needed to observe important mineral-organic relationships to study possible biological signals.

The big takeaway here is, with SHERLOC's grain-by-grain resolution we can finally observe variation in organic preservation within the rocks on Mars, Murphy said. She added, This is also one of the first reports of (possible) organics in Jezero Crater.

Scientists believe Jezero Crater contains the remains of an ancient river system. NASA considers the area a good place to look for possible signs of past life. Scientists believe if life ever existed on Mars, it would have been present 3 to 4 billion years ago, when water flowed freely on the planet.

Williams suggested the latest findings mark important progress in the search for signs of ancient life forms on Mars. We are just now scratching the surface of the organic carbon story on Mars, and it is an exciting time for planetary science.

Im Bryan Lynn.

Bryan Lynn wrote this story for VOA Learning English, based on reports from the University of Florida, Nature, the Planetary Science Institute and NASA.

Quiz - NASA Rover Finds New Evidence of Organic Matter on Mars Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz

___________________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

spectrometer  n. an instrument that measures levels of chemical elements and gases in the Martian atmosphere

intricate adj. having fine detail or made of many parts

imply  v. to suggest or show something, without saying it directly

spatial  adj. relating to the position, area and size for things

resolution  n. a measure of the sharpness of an image or the fineness a device operates at

takeaway n. a fact or idea that comes from a discussion or meeting

variation  n. a difference in amount or quality

scratch the surface  idiom. to deal with only a small part of a problem or subject

_______________________________________________________________________

What do you think of this story? We want to hear from you. We have a new comment system. Here is how it works:

Write your comment in the box. Under the box, you can see four images for social media accounts. They are for Disqus, Facebook, Twitter and Google. Click on one image and a box appears. Enter the login for your social media account. Or you may create one on the Disqus system. It is the blue circle with D on it. It is free.

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Astronomers say they have identified the most distant, active supermassive black hole ever observed.

The observation came from data collected by the James Webb Space Telescope, which the American space agency NASA operates.

Researchers said the newly discovered black hole is at the center of a galaxy called CEERS 1019. The galaxy is estimated to have existed about 570 million years after the Big Bang. The Big Bang is the explosion many scientists believe created the universe. Scientists estimate the Big Bang happened around 14 billion years ago and was followed by a period of intense development across the universe.

Steven Finkelstein is an astronomer at the University of Texas at Austin who helped lead the research. He told The Associated Press that Webb has already observed other black holes that appear to be even closer to the Big Bang. But those findings are still being studied. The latest study results have been accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journal Letters.

The black hole was observed in February by imaging and data instruments built into the Webb. Researchers say it is on the smaller side, about 9 million times the mass of our sun. That is smaller than any black hole yet identified in the early universe, the team said.

Researchers say signals from the observed black hole are weak so more observations will be needed to confirm the findings.

Finkelstein said there are numerous non-active black holes, some of which are even more distant than the one observed. But without any observable gas, they cannot be identified.

The team also used the Webb to study two other small black holes from the early universe. These objects dated back to around 1 billion years after the Big Bang. The observations suggest these smaller black holes may have been more common as the universe began to develop.

There are probably many more hidden little monsters out there waiting to be found, said Dale Kocevski. He was part of the research team, representing Colby College in Maine.

Launched in late 2021, NASAs Webb is the largest, most powerful telescope ever sent into space. Its first images and science results were released by NASA about one year ago.

The Webb is a large infrared telescope designed to gather more in-depth data and explore parts of space never observed before. The device collects infrared waves --electromagnetic energy that cannot be seen with the human eye. Infrared waves pass through gas and dust that can hide objects in space. The infrared system can also show light from more distant parts of the universe.

NASA recently celebrated the Webbs one-year anniversary by releasing a new image observed by the telescope. The image shows 50 baby stars in a cloud collection about 390 light-years from Earth. A light-year is 9.7 trillion kilometers.

The image shows an area of space that is full of bright hydrogen gases and dense collections of dust. All the young stars appear to be no bigger than our sun. Scientists said it is a good image of this brief period in a stars life.

NASA program scientist Eric Smith told the AP about the image: Its like a glimpse of what our own system would have looked like billions of years ago when it was forming.

Im Bryan Lynn.

The Associated Press, the University of Texas at Austin and NASA reported on this story. Bryan Lynn adapted the reports for VOA Learning English.

__________________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

supermassive  adj. used to describe something that has an extremely large mass

monster n. a horrible imaginary creature

glimpse  n. to see something or someone for a very brief moment

______________________________________________________________________

What do you think of this story? We want to hear from you. We have a new comment system. Here is how it works:

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Each time you return to comment on the Learning English site, you can use your account and see your comments and replies to them. Our comment policy is here.
Bravo's "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 West man 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 doesn't know yet where or what they plan to film.

"We're just happy that they found a compelling culinary story here in Madison. And we are excited to find out what they're going to feature when they do film here," Gard said.

A representative from NBCUniversal, which runs Bravo, said information about exact locations won't 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 haven't 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 AllStars," 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.
Dear Car Talk: I have an Em-ily Post question that falls into the category of appropriate customer behavior when visiting your mechanic's place of business. I've been going to this particular shop around where I live for several years and have given them quite a lot of business because I drive a very old car that I have been rehabilitating part by part.

The day after an expensive set of belt and pulley related repairs recently, I noticed there was still a squeaking noise coming from the area.

Since I needed to drive over to the shop anyway because I left my credit card there the day before, I parked the car out front and opened the hood as a courtesy to whomever might come out to listen to the noise it was making. I was not expecting an immediate repair, but I did want to know if the vehicle was unsafe to drive.

In less than a minute, the manager of the shop comes running out and says, "If you want to royally tick off my guys working the bays, drive in and open your hood as you just did." He was polite about it, but nonetheless did a really good job of making me feel like I had committed a mortal sin, so I closed the hood and apologized to him and to his crew, who eventually did fix the car (crankshaft pulley) on another day.

Did I commit a major faux pas? And did I miss a lesson in garage etiquette in all my years of driving?  Tom

Answer: I think the manager of the shop was having a bad day, Tom.

He may have overbooked the shop, had two guys call out sick with hemorrhoidal flare-ups, dropped a car off the lift, and taken a sip of transmission fluid instead of orange soda with his burrito at lunch.

A manager not having a bad day (or with better people skills), would have said, "Hi Tom, we're pretty slammed today, are you able to wait a while, or make an appointment and come back?"

You sound like a considerate guy, Tom. I mean, you even left your credit card there. That's a sure sign of goodwill. They could have outfitted the shop with an array of wide-screen TVs on your dime. So, I think the manager overreacted.

To be fair, I've had customers who are not considerate. And sometimes it's a matter of body language. I've had the rare customer drive right onto the shop floor, open the hood and stand there with hands on hips, making eye contact with every mechanic, waiting for people to drop what they're doing and provide immediate service. That's a faux pas. But that doesn't sound like you.

My hope is that the manager of the shop regrets his overreaction. But now that you know this guy is particularly sensitive, leave the hood closed and end every sentence with "if it may please you, my liege."

Write to ray in care of King Features, 628 Virginia drive, Orlando, FL 32803, or email by visiting www.cartalk.com.
You may have noticed the Salvation Armys red kettles  often associated with the holiday season  at your local supermarket or department store this summer.

Thats because 20 store locations across Dane County  including Pick n Save, Metro Market and Woodmans  are participating in the Salvation Armys Christmas in July red kettle campaign through Saturday, July 22, the Salvation Army of Dane County said.

The campaign started July 8.

Money raised in the red kettles is used for social services assistance, homeless shelters, disaster relief, childrens programs, rehabilitation services, anti-human trafficking efforts and other causes, the Salvation Army says.

Despite the challenges we faced last kettle season, including the impact of COVID, severe flu cases, and extreme weather, the Salvation Army Capital Area Command came just shy of our financial goal of $500,000 in 2022, the organization said in a statement. From July 8th to 22nd, lets come together and show unwavering support for the Salvation Army in your community.

PenFed Credit Union will match all kettle donations received July 15 at participating locations in Dane County, according to the Salvation Army of Dane County.

Participating store locations in Dane County include: Fleet Farm on Dalmore Road in DeForest; Hy-Vee on East Washington Avenue and on Whitney Way in Madison and on Main Street in Oregon; Metcalfes on Midvale Boulevard in Hilldale and on Mineral Point Road near West Towne in Madison; Metro Market on Highway 51 in McFarland, on Century Avenue in Middleton, on Ironwood Drive in Sun Prairie and on Cottage Grove Road in Madison; Miller & Sons in Mount Horeb and in Verona; Pick n Save on Shopko Drive and on Junction Road in Madison, on Main Street in DeForest, and on Highway 51 in Stoughton; Piggly Wiggly on North Holiday Drive in Waunakee; and Woodmans on Milwaukee Street and on Gammon Road in Madison and on South Grand Avenue in Sun Prairie.

People can sign up to be a bell ringer at go.madison.com/salvation-army and call 608-250-2255 with questions.

Photos: New emergency homeless shelter for families
A new workforce development center will target an unconventional demographic  future workers  as the need to bridge worker shortage gaps becomes increasingly urgent.

The Boys and Girls Clubs of Dane County, in partnership with the Madison Area Builders Association (MABA), opened its McKenzie Regional Workforce Center Saturday. Named for John McKenzie, owner of McKenzie Apartment Co., the center targets a critical aspect of workforce development: youth as young as fifth grade through high school who may lack exposure to a career in the skilled trades and may not even consider.

With Wisconsin projected to be 130,000 workers short by the end of the decade, workforce development programs and centers are becoming increasingly important to find and train potential workers, especially in the skilled trades.

Madison (Area Technical) College cant do it by themselves, Boys and Girls Club cant do it by themselves. When you hear that theres 10,000 job vacancies  thats just one service organization like MABA  there needs to be 10 other workforce centers like this in Dane County, Boys and Girls Clubs president and CEO Michael Johnson said.

The McKenzie center, which has been nearly eight years in the making, is the brainchild of Johnson and McKenzie, who purchased the building. From there, the concept transformed from renovating the building to include a couple of classrooms to expanding the footprint by 3,000 square feet to include a workshop and job exploration simulators, said Alan Branch, Boys and Girls Clubs vice president of workforce development.

The organization is partnering with other area workforce development organizations, MATC and the Madison School District to provide youths with both the technical skills and an understanding of a work site that employers expect them to bring to the job site on day one.

With the trades, workers often learn on the job for months or years before they set foot in a technical college classroom. Technical college programs are for experienced apprentices looking to become journeymen, with sponsorship coming from their employer or their union.

Partly driving the shortages in the trades is fewer high school students showing interest in the trades through shop classes, a problem thats persisted since the 1990s, Madison Area Builders Association executive director Chad Lawler, said. A 2020 study of trades education in the U.S. found high schools often lack resources to teach the trades and there are negative perceptions about the industry.

I think there was a realization after 10 to 15 years: Wow, maybe we went too far. And now we dont have this pipeline of workers, Lawler said.

Meanwhile, the people in the skilled trades are rapidly approaching retirement age. A quarter of manufacturing and construction workers were over the age of 55 at the end of 2021, and the current construction worker shortage sits at 546,000 workers in the United States.

While women and other underrepresented groups such as people of color or those who are LGBTQ are increasingly choosing the trades, current enrollments in skilled trade programs are not enough to make up projected shortages.

I notice it on our job sites, primarily its all men, theyre all white, getting older, McKenzie said. The beauty of the Boys and Girls Club is theyve got a resource of kids who never thought about the trades. They dont have anybody in the neighborhood that did it, and theyre not thinking about it.

Reaching niche populations

Part of whats driving an increase of workforce development centers in the greater Dane County area is how each organization targets the needs of a specific population.

Lawler said the need is so great that Dane County-area workforce development groups need to work in tandem with one another.

The Latino Academy of Workforce Development, one of Boys and Girls Clubs partners, has specialized in bilingual programming, English-language learning and commercial drivers licenses for more than a decade. The Urban League of Greater Madison offers free accelerated career academies tailored to the trades and area companies for adults, and will support further workforce development with its Black Business Hub.

Others have been in the workforce development space for decades. For Operation Fresh Start, which started in 1970, its all about young adults who are no longer in school but need guidance in finding their way. Wisconsin Regional Training Partnership has trained workers across southern Wisconsin since 1967.

I think that there is a growing trend to recognize the need for preparation and training and understanding about places in the workforce, said Gregory Markle, Operation Fresh Start executive director. Thats a growing trend in our community.

Inspiring young minds

As you walk in the front doors of the McKenzie Regional Workforce Center, its hard not to imagine what a future career might hold.

Opposite the front doors is a wall of mannequins outfitted in steel-toed boots, hard hats and neon orange and yellow representing different trades. But even more compelling are the signs tucked next to them: Big, bold fonts draw your eye right to average salaries for those jobs. Many of them start closer to $50,000; some jump right into six figures.

Located along the Verona Road corridor, the workforce center is walking distance from the Belmar/Renaissance on the Park and Jamestown neighborhoods, two areas the city of Fitchburg has long designated as areas where issues such as poverty, unemployment and need for government assistance are more prevalent.

The location was intentional. The goal of the Boys and Girls Clubs with its workforce center is to lift people out of poverty, especially those who live nearby, by placing them in well-paying, family-sustaining jobs.

But in order to get those workers into jobs, they have to see themselves in it first, and at a young age, Lawler said.

In the fifth grade, students start eliminating careers, and so we need to get to them well before that, Lawler said. This is an area where we need to think more long-term instead of the short-term thinking of weve got to get the next 15 people, the next 20. Now we need to encourage and enlighten the next 200 or 2,000 kids about the opportunities in this career, other careers in the trades.

Parts of the finished building are intentionally left exposed. In a first-floor classroom, a window showcases the buildings geothermal HVAC system. In the shop, utilities and wiring arent masked behind drywall and ceiling tiles to demystify the construction process, McKenzie said. Heavy machinery and semi-truck simulators allow youths to get a feel for the machines before getting behind the real wheel.

Upstairs, the focus shifts to teaching youths financial literacy, entrepreneurship and building generational wealth. A classroom leads out to a spacious patio where instruction can move outside or students can eat under a pergola covered in solar panels.

Starting Monday, the Boys and Girls Clubs will transition its workforce development programs started nearly a year ago into the new facility. Most of the youths enrolled in those programs have yet to see the building.

I cant wait until they get here, Branch said.
Phil Hands | Wisconsin State Journal Follow Phil Hands | Wisconsin State Journal 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

Wisconsin will likely overhaul its prohibition-era liquor rules soon.

The Tavern League, one of the more powerful lobbies in the state, has worked extensively with the Legislature to craft the new rules. One of of losers of the new legislation would be the wedding barn industry, which could be required to obtain liquor licenses.

Wedding barn operators argue that they don't sell booze, but they allow people to bring and consume alcohol at their facilities. The Tavern League has been after the industry for a while, arguing that wedding barns steal business from supper clubs and other venues that are required to have a liquor license.

Close Hands on Wisconsin archive Get caught up with latest cartoons from State Journal cartoonist Phil Hands.
My grandma calls him the seed man.

He used to come by our farm outside of Fond du Lac every year, trying to persuade us to buy the latest variety of corn and wheat seeds. If the seed man didnt have something we liked, then more options were at the local grain elevator where we milled our corn. We also grew and saved seeds, especially for sunflowers, pumpkins and tomatoes.

My family, like others in our community, recognized the power of seeds.

As important as rain and healthy soil is for farming, we also need access to diverse seed varieties so we can experiment to see what works and control our production.

A new bill, The Seeds and Breeds for the Future Act, would help lower seed prices and make genetic diversity more of a priority. The act was introduced by U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin of Madison and several other Democrats, with support from dozens of farmer groups and their allies.

The bill dedicates $75 million in U.S. Department of Agriculture research grants for the development of new public seeds and animal breeds, focusing especially on those that are regionally adapted and bred for environmental resilience. It also would create a special coordinator position that would strategize with farmers and other public stakeholders on what to research and how to increase genetic diversity.

Given the negative impact that corporate consolidation has had on our food and farm system, this legislation is critical. Researchers, for example, have found that increasing consolidation makes supply chains susceptible to breakdown, while also allowing corporations the power to manipulate prices and collude with competitors.

The Action Group on Erosion, Technology and Concentration has highlighted that four firms  Bayer (including Monsanto), BASF, Corteva Agriscience and ChemChina-Syngenta  control more than two-thirds of commercial seed and pesticide sales worldwide.

So it shouldnt come as a surprise that the USDA reports seed costs rose more than 700% between 2000 and 2015 for genetically modified seeds, and more than 200% for non-genetically modified seeds. This, in part, also explains the persistently high food prices weve seen this year, as rising input costs  of which seeds are a part  are passed from farmers to consumers.

Corporations take more than their fair share at both ends of the food supply chain, while consumers and farmers struggle.

The Biden administration has taken these concerns seriously by creating a task force in March with members from the USDA, Patent and Trademark Office, Department of Justice and Federal Trade Commission to research intellectual property rights and monopolization in the seed and agricultural input sector.

As we wait for the task forces recommendations, our legislators could place The Seeds and Breeds for the Future Act into the Farm Bill, which is slated to expire later this year. Concretely, the act could be included into the lesser known yet critically important research title of the Farm Bill that is moving its way through the U.S. House and Senate.

While the seed man who used to come by our farm is gone, what he represents remains: the importance of competition and local control in our food system. Farmers must regain some of the power to grow what they want, as they also struggle to face what climate change and the market throws their way. Lets hope that our legislators pay heed before its too late.
French philosopher Auguste Comte coined the phrase, Demography is destiny. While this might be an overstatement, demographic trends can certainly tell us some helpful things about the future of Wisconsins colleges and universities.

Our state has an aging population, declining birth rates and is facing, at best, neutral immigration  all of which will impact higher education and our workforce.

According to Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce, Wisconsin is one of just 14 states with a median age over 40. Over the last decade, the number of people 65 and older expanded nearly 42%. Meanwhile, the number of children under age 5 shrank by 10%.

Ominously, Wisconsins population growth from 2010 to 2020 was less than half the national average, total births dropped to their lowest level since 1979, and the fertility rate dropped to a record low.

Our state is getting older quickly without enough young people being born or moving in to fill the void. Compounding this are birth rates that have been dropping markedly since around 2008, when the Great Recession hit. Starting in 2026, children born during that recession will begin turning 18, and our institutions of higher education will see enrollment declines.

Combine the birthing gap with trends in online learning, vocational alternatives and the rising expense of secondary education, and its clear Wisconsin needs to be thinking ahead about the best ways to deliver a world-class education and prepare the next generation of workers and producers.

The closure of Cardinal Stritch University and the headlines about UW-Platteville at Richland Center and UW-Milwaukee at Washington County are, unfortunately, just leading indicators of whats to come for both public and private institutions.

Today, the University of Wisconsin System alone operates 13 main campuses and 13 branch campuses. With enrollment trends declining at many of them, sustaining those footprints looks ominous, unaffordable and unnecessary.

Quote Wisconsin is one of just 14 states with a median age over 40. Over the last decade, the number of people 65 and older expanded nearly 42%. Meanwhile, the number of children under age 5 shrank by 10%.

As an industrial business owner, I know the state of our workforce is a top concern for employers across Wisconsin. At the same time, they are eyeing a future of rapid-fire disruptions resulting from rising costs, new technologies, uncertain supply chains and growing global competition.

Thankfully, Wisconsins employers are the most resilient in the nation and are facing those challenges head on. Those Ive had the pleasure to meet are eager to work with educators and policymakers to overcome those challenges and develop solutions for how we can meet tomorrows workforce needs.

As chair of the Senate Committee on Universities and Revenue, our top priority is to think long-term about our states economic future and identify those challenges that lie ahead. One key challenge is ensuring higher education in our state is best positioned to prepare tomorrows workers for the careers of the future.

We will be investing significant time this year meeting with key leaders in business, government and higher education to discuss and develop policy recommendations. Wisconsin has always been known for its robust, world-class higher education systems, as well as our Forward thinking about how that drives our states economy.

We can and should lead the nation in innovating and streamlining our education pipeline to prepare our workforce for tomorrows economy.

While we do have divided government, I believe Wisconsin can and must unite to face these challenges in a significant way. When we do, the result will be a growing state that is more prosperous for all current and future Wisconsinites.
The chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, responding to investigative reporting on the Supreme Court, says it's time for the justices to bring their conduct in line with the ethical standards of other branches of government.

"If they just establish the basic standards of every other branch of government, it would give us much more confidence in their integrity," said Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill.

The Associated Press stories show that Justice Sonia Sotomayor, aided by her staff, has advanced sales of her books through college visits over the past decade; that universities have used trips by justices as a lure for financial contributions by placing them in event rooms with wealthy donors; and that justices have taken expenses-paid teaching trips to attractive locations that are light on actual classroom instruction.

The series comes after stories over the past six months that have raised ethical concerns about the activities of the justices. Durbin and other lawmakers in Washington have announced a vote next week on legislation that would require the court to adopt an ethics code. While the measure is unlikely to pass, it sends a signal of discontent about the court.

The nation's highest court operates without an ethics code, instead following what Chief Justice John Roberts has referred to as a set of foundational "ethics principles and practices."

Asked about the stories, Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., who also sits on the Judiciary Committee, called them "powerful reports" that amount to a "drip-by-drip-by-drip indictment of a Supreme Court that seems answerable to no one for ethical breaches.

"The chief justice really ought to be taking these into account for the sake the court and the country because the Supreme Court will no longer exist as a truly viable institution if it continues the failure to face the need for a code of ethics," he said.

In contrast, Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, another member of the Judiciary Committee, said he believes Congress should leave the ethics issue to the court and that the Democrats' pursuit of ethics reform "is part of a long-standing assault against the court that the left feels is undermining a lot of things they've accomplished over the years by judicial action. To me, that's the motivating factor."

Kathleen Clark, a law professor at Washington University in St. Louis and an expert in legal ethics, said the latest reporting reveals the extent to which "ethics problems at the Supreme Court is an equal opportunity scandal.

"It's not just about Clarence Thomas and (Samuel) Alito," Clark said, referring to earlier media reporting about the two conservative justices. "It's an institutional rather than individual problem."
WASHINGTON  For decades, the University of Hawaii law school marketed its jurist-in-residence program to the Supreme Court as an all-expenses-paid getaway with considerable "down time" in paradise.

Justices enthusiastically participated.

"Your colleagues who were here most recently were Justices (Ruth Bader) Ginsburg, (Anthony) Kennedy, and (Stephen) Breyer, and I believe they all would recommend the experience highly," the law school's then-Dean Aviam Soifer wrote in a 2010 email trying to draw Justice Sonia Sotomayor to the school in Honolulu. "We will, of course, cover first-class airfare, excellent hotel accommodations, and all other travel expenses."

Teaching is encouraged as a way to demystify the nation's highest court while exposing the justices to a cross-section of the public. For decades, they traveled the globe during court recesses to lecture. It is a permissible practice so long as their earning are less than the court's roughly $30,000 cap on outside income.

Responding to questions, the Supreme Court noted that cap and added "teaching must be at an accredited educational institution or continuing legal educational program and must be approved in advance by the Chief Justice (or by the Associate Justices if it involves teaching by the Chief Justice)."

Documents The Associated Press obtained through public records requests reveal that some all-expenses-paid trips are light on classroom instruction, with ample time for the justices' leisure.

"This is a level of luxury that most Americans will never see. And the fact that the justices are receiving it by virtue of their positions seems to be outside ethical bounds," said Gabe Roth, the executive director of Fix the Court, a nonpartisan watchdog group.

These trips, which would cost the justices thousands of dollars if paid out of pocket, are in some cases subsidized by anonymous donors to the schools whose motivations can be difficult to assess.

While locking in details before Justice Samuel Alito's 2011 visit to Honolulu, University of Hawaii law school official Cyndi Quinn promoted the program's flexibility.

"We would like to propose a schedule that suits his preference," she wrote to Alito's staff.

Besides Ginsburg, Kennedy, Alito and Breyer, Antonin Scalia and Sotomayor are the other justices who served on the court in the last decade and who participated in the program, which the law firm Case Lombardi helps sponsor.

Emails and other records provided by the school show the justices often taught a handful of classes, then  except for Sotomayor  met with local dignitaries and frequently dined at private clubs or the private residences of prominent school donors. Sotomayor's staff was adamant that she thought it inappropriate to be mingling with donors.

After being seated on the Supreme Court, Justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh joined the faculty of the Antonin Scalia School of Law at George Mason University in Virginia.

They were not a regular presence at the school's Arlington campus. Instead, they were sent to Italy, Iceland and England, according to emails and other documents, which show the public university also paid the justices' travel and living expenses there.
The first 2024 Republican presidential debate is about a month away.

Were not sure how to feel about that  and we suspect many of you arent, either. Well watch. Well take mental notes. Well talk about it with our friends and family.

We may, after all, vote for one of them. Well, possibly  if the Idaho Legislature does its job and restores the states primary next spring.

Then again, we cant help but wonder if any of whats said on Aug. 23 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, will matter in the end  especially if Donald Trump isnt on the stage? The former president will almost certainly be the partys nominee, setting up the rematch nobody wants to see against Joe Biden, whose underwhelming presidency hasnt seemed to deter Democrats who, understandably, but foolishly, dont appear interested in trying anything new.

Its a distinct possibility Trump wont show up. In addition to having little to gain, Trump has expressed an unwillingness to sign the Republican National Committees pledge to support the eventual nominee, a prerequisite to qualify for the opening debate.

Trumps stance, so far, is that his support would depend on the nominee. We cant imagine any scenario in which Trump would support anybody but himself. Can you?

As we embark on the long haul to Nov. 5, 2024, our hope is for a deeper, more civil dialogue. From Republicans and from Democrats. We want to know why we should vote for you, not why we shouldnt vote for somebody else. We want to be inspired. We want to see respect for the process.

Who is the right choice to be our countrys next president? Thats up to you to vote your conscience.

While the fate of Idahos 2024 presidential primary remains unclear  and only the Legislatures action can spare us from the Idaho Republican Partys participation-limiting, power-grab-of-a-caucus  we want to be clear that we will not endorse any candidate or tell you how to vote and why.

We are not blind to Trumps faults, of which there are many  and then there are the two historic indictments against him. Yet, still, we know some voters will best identify with him and support his bid to reclaim the White House.

We are also not blind to Bidens shortcomings, again, of which there are many  not to mention the cloud of corruption that hangs over his presidency. Yet, still, we know some voters will best identify with him and support his campaign to keep the Oval Office.

Still others will side with former Vice President Mike Pence, or Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, or Nikki Haley, or Chris Christie, or another of the candidates in an already too-crowded field of Republicans. Some hard-left Democrats may even break from Biden in favor of Marianne Williamson or Robert Kennedy, Jr. Those people should vote their conscience.

We wont tell you who to vote for, nor should anybody else. Its your right as an American, and your choice.

Quote We deserve more of the statesmanship of our past and less of the hostility of our today.

We will, however, tell you that you should expect more from the people asking you to give them the highest power in this greatest nation in the world. We also encourage you to avoid knee-jerk choices, to consider the full body of work, and to pay attention through the news sources you trust for the truth.

Name-calling is childish. Expect more. Fear-mongering is a sign of immaturity. Expect more. Bullying is wrong. Expect more.

We do, indeed, deserve more. We deserve a persuasive dialogue, an open exchange of ideas without ridicule, and civility and respect for our fellow man and woman. We deserve more of the statesmanship of our past and less of the hostility of our today.

Thats sadly become a lot to ask for in a fractured country where politics have overwhelmed principles and, in some cases, become more important than the character of the person seeking office. But if you expect more, someone else will, too. Change begins with a single person.

If we want change, we have to vote for it. We know the road were on now. Do you still want to go where its taking you?

Your news on your smartphone Your story lives in the Magic Valley, 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 Times-News app is built for you and your life. Dont have the app? Download it today from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son to visit Singapore next week

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam Bui Thanh Son is scheduled to pay an official visit to Singapore from July 17  19 at the invitation of his Singaporean counterpart Vivian Balakrishnan.













Minister of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam Bui Thanh Son.




Redoubling support for war-stricken Ukraine is the single best way to aid the global economy, US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said Sunday, along with boosting emerging economies and tackling debt distress.

Yellen, speaking on the sidelines of a G20 finance minister summit in India, said a key priority was to redouble our support for Ukraine in its defence against Russia.

After visiting Kyiv in February, Yellen said she had seen first-hand the massive difference that foreign assistance was making, both to civilians and the Ukrainian military.

Ending this war is first and foremost a moral imperative, Yellen told reporters in Gandhinagar. But its also the single best thing we can do for the global economy.

Russias invasion of Ukraine  both global breadbaskets that together exported almost a quarter of the worlds wheat supply  triggered shockwaves in global economies by sending prices for food and fuel shooting up.

A deal that allowed Ukrainian grain exports to resume is due to expire on Monday, unless Russia agrees to renew it.

On Wednesday, the leaders of the G7 powers promised to support Ukraine for as long as it takes to defeat Russias invasion.

The G7 plan provides a framework under which individual nations will agree bilateral deals with Kyiv detailing the weapons they will give and response they will make if Russia ups the ante.

Budgetary support is critical to Ukraines resistance, Yellen said.

By helping keep the economy and the government running, we are giving Ukraine the support it needs so it can fight for freedom and its sovereignty.

She added that one of Washingtons core goals was to combat Russias efforts to evade our sanctions.

 Debt vulnerabilities 

Yellen also said she would push back on the idea that there is a trade-off between support for Ukraine and support for the Global South.

She pointed to other work tackling debt distress and the reform of multilateral development banks  including the World Bank and other regional lenders  in efforts she said could unlock $200 billion over the next decade.

Over the past few years, we have seen debt vulnerabilities mount for many countries as a result of the pandemic and Russias illegal war against Ukraine, Yellen said.

Over half of all low-income countries are near or in debt distress, double the share of countries that were in this situation in 2015, she said.

On debt, she cited restructuring progress in Zambia  which she discussed with Chinese officials last week on a visit to Beijing  and said she expected Ghana and Sri Lanka debt treatments would soon be finalised.

She also spoke about efforts to strike a global tax deal.

Yellen said work was focused on creating a system in a world of online and global business that was fairer and fit for purpose, and to end the race to the bottom on corporate tax rates.

Multinationals, especially tech firms, are currently able to shift profits easily to countries with low tax rates even though they carry out only a small part of their activities there.

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Sudanese army representatives have returned to Jeddah in Saudi Arabia for talks with their paramilitary foes, a government source said Saturday as the war between rival generals entered its fourth month.

A delegation of the armed forces has returned to Jeddah to resume negotiations with Rapid Support Forces (RSF) rebels, the source told AFP on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to speak to media.

The RSF has made no comment on returning to the talks in Jeddah, which Saudi and US mediators adjourned last month after a series of repeatedly violated ceasefires.

On April 15, a power struggle between army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and his former deputy, RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, burst into all-out war, claiming at least 3,000 lives and displacing more than three million people.

The delegation in Saudi Arabia signals a return to diplomatic efforts by the army, after it boycotted talks last week in Ethiopia hosted by east African regional bloc IGAD.

Khartoums foreign ministry had objected to Kenyan President William Rutos leadership of the IGAD quartet, accusing Nairobi of siding with the RSF.

Before the Jeddah talks were suspended, US mediators had grown increasingly frustrated with both sides reluctance to work towards a sustained truce.

Experts believe that both Burhan and Daglo have opted for a war of attrition instead, hoping to extract greater concessions at the negotiating table later.

 No respite 

For three months, barely a day has passed for residents of the capital Khartoum without their homes shaking from constant air strikes, artillery blasts and gun battles.

To escape the brutal urban warfare and rampant looting, 1.7 million people have fled the capital, according to the United Nations.

Millions remain in the city, sheltering at home as the violence shows no signs of abating.

Witnesses again reported clashes using various types of weapons in the capitals northwest on Saturday as well as air strikes from army fighter jets in the south.

Others said RSF drones had targeted Khartoums largest military hospital, in an attack the army said killed five patients and injured 22 others, mostly civilians.

The UN has said that most hospitals in combat zones were out of service.

Outside Khartoum, the worst fighting has taken place in the western region of Darfur, where a quarter of Sudans 48 million people live.

Entire villages and neighbourhoods there have been destroyed, with reports of mass civilian deaths and assassinations of officials for their ethnic background, blamed on the RSF and allied Arab militias.

The International Criminal Court has launched a probe into suspected war crimes, including sexual violence and civilians being targeted for their ethnicity, its chief prosecutor announced Thursday.

Though most of the fighting has been concentrated in Khartoum and Darfur, new fronts have sporadically opened up, particularly in the south where witnesses said a rebel group took an army base in South Kordofan state on Friday.

 Compounding disasters 

Those who successfully flee combat zones are not out of harms way.

More than 2.4 million people have been displaced to other parts of Sudan, where roadblocks, the breakdown of the banking system and fragile health services mean responders are ill-equipped to meet soaring demand.

Three months in, the battle lines are hardening, making it ever more difficult to reach the millions of people who need urgent humanitarian assistance, UN humanitarian affairs chief Martin Griffiths said on Saturday.

Aid groups and health workers repeatedly warn that without humanitarian corridors  which the army and RSF both had pledged but which failed to materialise  disease outbreaks and overwhelmed care facilities could spell disaster.

Griffiths, the UN under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs, renewed appeals for safe passage of aid Saturday, after fighters have repeatedly confiscated relief supplies and prevented convoys from passing through checkpoints.

We cannot replenish stores of food, water and medicine if brazen looting of these stocks continues. We cannot deliver if our staff are prevented from reaching people in need, he said.

The UN says 740,000 people have fled across borders to Sudans neighbours, some of which face economic crises or political instability themselves.

In impoverished South Sudan, the closure of trade with its northern neighbour, combined with the influx of returnees and refugees, is jeopardising an already fragile humanitarian situation, according to the International Committee of the Red Cross.

And in the Central African Republic, small arms smuggling across the border is booming, while severe shortages in food and fuel threaten livelihoods, President Faustin Archange Touadera warned at a summit of Sudans neighbours in Cairo on Thursday.

At that meeting, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi urged international donors to honour their commitments, referring to $1.5 billion in aid pledged at a Geneva conference in June  less than half the estimated needs of Sudan and its immediate neighbours.

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The government should not stop citing the 2016 ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) but tell the world how China is violating the decision that invalidated its expansive claims in the South China Sea, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri said Sunday.

In blatantly defying the arbitral ruling, China has been bullying the Philippines and other countries involved in territorial disputes over WPS, Zubiri said.

Because of this, Zubiri said he strongly supports the move to present to the UN General Assembly (UNGA) the repeated incursions and violations of China of the Hague arbitral ruling.

Zubiri also said most senators supported this stand, although only he and opposition Senators Risa Hontiveros and Koko Pimentel have publicly stated so.

In an informal poll conducted by the Standard of the senators chiefs of staff, at least 20 said their bosses approved of the measure and would come out with their own statements this week.

We should show the video and photographic evidence of their creeping invasion towards our country and our neighbors with their continuous reclamation of territory within our EEZ (exclusive economic zone) and areas that are considered international waters, hampering freedom of navigation, he said.

Earlier, Hontiveros filed Senate Resolution 659, calling on the government, through the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), to sponsor before the UNGA a resolution that calls on China to stop its harassment of Filipino vessels in the WPS.

As far back as 2016, through the landmark arbitral ruling, it hasbeen established that there was no legal basis for China to claim historic rights over Filipino resources. It has also been proven that

China breached its obligations under international law when it violated our sovereign rights over our continental shelf and exclusive economic zone. This is a clear and unequivocal decision, Hontiveros said.

She added that the Hague ruling will never be diminished by Chinas antagonistic and perpetual non-compliance.

Also, she said that although a UN General Assembly Resolution is not legally binding, it carries significant political weight and serves as an expression of the will and consensus of the international community, with the potential to shape international norms, influence national policies, and provide guidance for the work of other UN organs, specialized agencies, and regional organizations.

Gabriela Womens party-list Rep. Arlene Brosas on Sunday joined Zubiris call for the Philippines to present Chinas repeated violations of the 2016 Permanent Court of Arbitration ruling on the West Philippine Sea to the United Nations.

She said President Marcos Jr. should openly condemn Chinas military aggression and the United States intervention which has put the Philippines in the middle of Washington and Beijings increased jostling for global superiority.

We fully support the call to bring the issue to the UN and provide evidence of Chinas incursions and violations of the Hague Arbitral ruling, she said.

It is crucial that the international community is made aware of Chinas continuous reclamation of territory within our exclusive economic zone and its impact on the freedom of navigation in the region, she added.

The ruling in 2016 affirmed the Philippines sovereign rights over its exclusive economic zone and invalidated Chinas claims over almost the entire South China Sea.

China has consistently disregarded the ruling, displaying a blatant disregard for international law and the rights of neighboring countries, Brosas said.

We believe that every avenue should be explored to hold China accountable for its actions and to seek justice for the Philippines. The United States must also be held accountable for its aggressive military expansion in the key areas in the Philippines, which are strategically located near the West Philippine Sea, the party-list lawmaker said.

We must exhaust all possible legal and diplomatic avenues to assert our rights and protect our sovereignty. Gabriela Womens Party calls on the international community to support the Philippines and stand against Chinas aggressive actions in the West Philippine Sea, she said.

Negotiations among Southeast Asian countries and China on a code of conduct (COC) in the South China Sea are expected to resume in Manila next month.

In an Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) conference in Indonesia on Thursday, Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo welcomed the completion of the second reading of the COC Single Draft Negotiating Text and said the Philippines looks forward to continuing talks on the document in August.

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The Philippines will pursue the modernization of its armed forces to address present dangers.

That was the latest pronouncement of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on the matter of procuring equipment and supplies, apart from enhancing training, to bring the AFP closer to the goal of securing national sovereignty and territorial integrity, as mandated by our Constitution.

For far too long, the country depended on the protection provided by American military basesmainly Clark Air Base and Subic Naval Baseuntil the Philippine Senate decided to terminate the RP-US Military Bases Agreement in 1991.

We relied as well on hand-me-downs from the US military arsenal, from jet fighters to naval ships and firearms.

That served us well in the post-WWII era, and later, when we had to fight two armed insurgencies from the 1970s onwards.

But current geo-political realities in the region compel us now to strengthen our military capability even as we have been given no less than an ironclad guarantee by the United Sates that they will honor the Mutual Defense Treaty we signed back in 1951.

This is not the first time, of course, that the President stressed the importance of modernizing the Philippine military.

Last year, upon assuming office, he promised to support the AFP modernization program, citing geopolitical tensions and challenges facing the country brought about by terrorism and natural calamities.

He even described the AFP modernization program as crucial to make the military ready for all eventualities.

The AFPs modernization program began in the mid-1990s during the Ramos administration.

In fact, part of Fort Bonifacio, the headquarters of the army, was even sold to the private sector to jump-start the modernization effort.

Since then, as the economy improved and the government managed to save funds, we began to gradually purchase military equipment from other countries to upgrade the capability of our Air Force, Navy, Army and Coast Guard.

But the first horizon of AFP modernization from 2013 to 2017 was for the acquisition of equipment mostly for internal security operations.

What is now known as Horizon 2 of the modernization program is aimed at making the AFP mission capable for territorial defense in the West Philippine Sea by the end in this year, but COVID-19 delayed its completion.

Its third and final phase, or Horizon 3, was supposed to start next year and last until 2028.

But the lack of adequate funds could further delay the acquisition corvettes, offshore patrol vessels and combat utility helicopters to achieve what is called a minimum credible defense posture.

The acquisition of game changer projects such as missile systems, and multirole jet fighters and advanced C4ISTAR (command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance, targeting acquisition and reconnaissance) would definitely be a huge leap to enhance the countrys external defense capabilities in the years ahead.

The question is: Can we afford all this while our resources are focused on economic and social priorities?

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The Senate has calendared Senate Bill 605, or Bamboo Bill, on July 19 for public hearing amid the governments plan to speed up economic development, create livelihood and cushion the vulnerable poor population from climate disasters.

Authored by Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri, SB 605 or an Act Institutionalizing the Philippine Bamboo Industry Development Program will create among the biggest agriculture industries in the country. Up to 55,000 hectares are currently planted with bamboo across the islands, Zubiri said.

Six other bamboo development-related bills will be deliberated in the Senate on July 19. The bills, which aim to strengthen functions of the Philippine Bamboo Industry Development Council, are expected to be consolidated with SB 605.

The bills are SB 615 (Senator Cynthia Villar), SB 1044 (Sen. Joel Villanueva), SB 1145 and SB 1552 (Senator Lito Lapid), SB 1118 (Senator Loren Legarda), SB 1145 (Win Gatchalian) and SB 2172 (Senator Jinggoy Estrada).

The bamboo is a unique Filipino cultural symbol because of the bahay kubo and the innovative industrial design works of Bobby Manosa and Kenneth Cobonpue.

The Philippines has the worlds fifth biggest bamboo industry. Yet, it has to keep up with the huge bamboo industries of China and Vietnam, said Zubiri. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) estimated the local market at $17 billion.

SB 605 fortifies PBIDCs policy-making role in creating community-based enterprises that will have sufficient supply of quality materials and produce new products from research and development-inspired technologies.

Manufacturers under the bill are mandated to use bamboo on at least 25 percent of their raw materials inputs for furniture, lumber (wood processed into uniform sizes such as beams and planks), and manufactured products that can use bamboo as an alternative to wood.

Plantations will be accepted as loan collateral in government-owned-and-controlled financial institutions. Plantation developers and bamboo processors will have priority access to credit and guarantee.

Bamboo plantations will be exempted from security cutting, harvesting and transporting permits.

Markets will be created through aggressive trade promotion while the supply of trained and skilled labor will be stabilized.

The bill will promote a comprehensive program on bamboo nursery expansion, propagation, breeding, site-specific species development and sustainable planting, harvesting, soil and water conservation protocols.

Bamboo advocate and former House Deputy Speaker Deogracias Victor Savellano, currently vice chairman of PBIDC, said he hopes SB 605 will be ratified on or before the year ends.

It is imperative that the industry that is so natural to us Filipinos can be developed sooner. It has been waiting for a long time now to help our poorest population. With bamboo, you dont need big budget for infrastructure to address our climate-related illssoil erosion and environmental degradation that are causes of natural disasters, Savellano said.

Bamboo will substantially support our farmers and fisherfolks. It supplies their need for simple devices like banana trees support pole or the katig (outrigger) in boats, he said.

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As grocery stores suffer regular product and labor shortages, and customers watch prices continue to go up, the local farmers market has become more popular than ever.

Several hundred people were out early Saturday at the Uptown Martinsville Farmers Market at 65 West Main St.

I wish you had come earlier to get pictures, said Marcus Gravely with Abundant Harvest. When we opened up everything was full, but now its almost gone.

And the Martinsville Farmers Market had barely been open an hour.

Over 2,200 people have already visited the market this season, said Martinsville Chamber President Brenell Thomas to council members last week. Over 400 came this past Saturday.

Councilwoman Kathy Lawson said she has heard people complain that if you didnt get to the market before 10 a.m., there was hardly anything left to buy.

The Farmers Market is open on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 7 a.m. until noon, or until everything is sold. After Sept. 27 the market will continue operating on Saturdays through Nov. 18.

Empty tomato boxes occupied the backend of a truck next to an almost empty produce stand Saturday morning while people anxiously looked among the produce items left. Others were making their way with bags in hand toward the parking lot.

Thomas said the market has 29 vendors this season and eight of them are new this year.

WJP Farm in Henry came on Saturday with pickling cucumbers, squash, zucchini, green bell peppers, tomatoes, cantaloupe and watermelons and sales were brisk.

There will be a variety of vendors and farmers at the market this Saturday and this season with a variety of jams, jellies, apple butter, nut butters, homemade breads, sweet breads, sweet rolls, cakes, pies, muffins, specialty coffee, homemade candy, fresh eggs, spices, fresh cut flowers, plants starts, herbs, vegetable plants, a variety of meats, cupcakes, cookies, edible flowers, lavender lemonade, craft, fresh produce and more, an Uptown Martinsville Farmers Market notice stated.

In addition to Martins Ponderosa Farm and WJP Farm, other vendors seen this past Saturday included Athey Family Farms, Wade Farms, Henrys Fresh Roast, Laurel Ridge Farms, QT Cupcakes, Piedmont Farmacy, Sundancers Farm, Nanas Special Treats & More, MJ Farm, Naked Farms, Taras Nut Butter, Kettle Hollow Farms, Mee Maws Farm, Deep Creek Farms, Calcutts Produce, K&W Produce, Abundant Harvest, Trents Farm, and Three Hearts Homestead.

The Martinsville Henry County Coalition for Health and Wellness sponsors the SNAP/EBT program at the Martinsville Farmers Market, allowing the farmers to participate in Virginia Fresh Match, a statewide matching program for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) shoppers.

Through the U.S. Department of Agriculture, a food insecurity grant funds the Virginia Fresh Match program, doubling the value of federal nutrition benefits like SNAP.

The number of farmers markets in Virginia is growing, with more than 250 locations selling everything from peas to peaches and over half of them, like the Martinsville Farmers Market, participate in the statewide network to help farmers markets serve low-income shoppers, according to Virginia Fresh Match.
I originally wrote this weeks column about my birding experiences in the Big Apple for the Herald & Tribune of Jonesborough, Tennessee, in July 2002. The column won a second-place Tennessee Press Association award for Best Personal Column the following year.

Has it really been 21 years? Wow! Time flies.

While the column is about birds I saw during my brief New York stay in July 2002, the trip didnt allow for the time to dedicate to serious birding. The birds I saw were all incidental to the other activities I crowded into the narrow window of time I had for experiencing New York City.

Heres the original column:

During a recent trip to New York City, mainly for the purpose of visiting friends and seeing the sights, I also availed myself of the opportunity of trying to see a few birds in the Big Apple.

At first glance, New York City doesnt seem a haven for birds or any other sort of wildlife. Without any serious effort on my part, however, I managed to see 15 different species of birds. My tour guide and friend, David, remained courteous enough to indulge my occasional lapses into birding. David, perhaps like many New Yorkers, is familiar on a daily basis with the Big Apples three most prominent members of the bird family  the house sparrow, the European starling and the rock dove, or pigeon.

Everyone who has visited a city park, whether in Jonesborough or New York City, is probably familiar with the rock dove. Commonly called pigeon, the rock dove is not a native American bird. But their introduction to this continent paralleled the arrival of European colonists. Pigeons came to this country along with other farmyard animals, such as cattle and sheep. But, once here, the rock dove, which is a wild bird in Africa and in the Mediterranean, also managed to establish itself outside the farmyard.

Nevertheless, more than most other birds, the rock dove still only thrives in the company of humans. In New York City, pigeons are a part of the landscape. They are everywhere! As a result, these birds can cause some problems. Their droppings can damage buildings and statues. They can also spread various diseases to humans. Efforts have been made to curb their numbers, but the pigeon looks to be a permanent part of the New York City landscape.

Its no longer a paradise for pigeons in the Big Apple, however. The peregrine falcon, once endangered, has rebounded with protection from the government. The skyscrapers of New York City have replaced cliff faces as nesting sites for these sleek, aerodynamic predators. While I wasnt fortunate enough to see a peregrine falcon while in New York City, they are there. Their presence has put some balance back into the food chain. The pigeons now have a natural predator.

Earlier this summer, David called me looking for advice about a problem with birds. Seems that a pair of house sparrows had built a nest beneath his air conditioning unit at his apartment. The problem involved timing. David recently moved to a new apartment and he needed to take the air conditioner with him. In the end, Davids need for the air conditioner outpaced the nesting progress of the sparrows. Now, hes convinced that the sparrows, like the gulls, are out to get him. More about the gulls later.

The house sparrow is a non-native species introduced to the United States. The house sparrow was released intentionally in the United States in the 1850s at different points between New York and New England. Other introductions of this species occurred at other points in the United States. The introductions were huge mistakes. By 1910, the house sparrow had invaded the entire continent. The house sparrow is also an aggressive bird. Soon, the house sparrow came into conflict with a beloved American favorite, the Eastern bluebird. The major competition between Eastern bluebirds and house sparrows is for nesting cavities. House sparrows have the tenacity to evict even the larger Easter bluebirds from occupied nests. Occasionally, the sparrows even kill nestlings or adult bluebirds. I found the house sparrow almost as numerous as rock doves in most areas of New York City.

But, there was still a third common bird  the European starling. I encountered the first starlings of my trip in New York Citys famous Central Park. Ironically, Central Park is where the European starling, now considered the most numerous bird in North America, got its start. The rock dove and house sparrow got here first, but the European starling didnt waste any time once the first starlings were released in 1890. The first European starlings were released at that time in Central Park because some fans of William Shakespeare wanted to release all the birds mentioned in The Bards plays. Apparently, only the release of the European starling from that list of birds had any lasting consequence. Even today, starlings and Shakespeare are very much associated with Central Park. During the summer there is a popular Shakespeare festival held in Central Park. And, on any summer day, there will always be plenty of starlings in the park.

Those were three of the 15 birds I managed to observe on my trip. The remaining 12 species comprised a diverse and at times surprising list. I found American robin, American crow, blue jay, chimney swift, Carolina wren and downy woodpecker within Central Park. In addition, at a large pond within the park I also observed a green heron and mallards. The robins, in particular, appeared as they would in any park setting. They hopped about on grassy lawns while foraging for food. David told me he recently saw a roadrunner in the park. I told him that would be an extraordinary discovery since that bird is native to the western United States.

Theres a lot of water in and around New York City. Perhaps it isnt a surprise to discover birds such as double-crested cormorants swimming in the East River. I also saw plenty of gulls. In fact, I saw three different species of gulls  herring gulls, ring-billed gulls and laughing gulls.

Surprisingly, gulls havent always been common in the vicinity of New York City. According to the book Wild New York: A Guide to the Wildlife, Wild Places and Natural Phenomena of New York City by Margaret Mittelbach and Michael Crewdon, gulls did not frequent New York City 100 years ago. Now, there are as many as 1 million gulls in New York City. The book also mentions one of the attractions: Staten Islands Fresh Kills Landfill, the largest garbage dump in the world.

My friend David considers gulls evil omens. I tried to do some research into the role of gulls in folklore. I turned to the book by Laura C. Martin titled The Folklore of Birds. Her entry on gulls proved sketchy. Heres some of what I learned. The word gull comes from a Welsh word, gwylan, which can be translated as wailing. The term gull apparently derived from the birds wailing or plaintive call. The Latin genus name, Larus, for gull is translated as ravenous seabird. So, that leaves us with a ravenous, wailing seabird. Apt descriptions, but not exactly a rich folklore. Birds such as crows and the various species of owls have much more ominous superstitions surrounding them.

New York City has a New York Rare Bird Alert. If you would like to know what rare birds are being seen in New York City, dial 212-979-3070. I dialed the number during my visit and received information about excitement regarding large flocks of migrating shorebirds, a common raven and nesting blue grosbeaks.

(Note: The number is still in use. So, if youre planning any New York visits and would like to bird, the phone number is still valid.)

My friend David now lives in Baltimore. I havent visited him there, but he has visited me in the mountains near Asheville, North Carolina. Id like to thank him again for my taste of the Big Apple.
Virginia man arrested in deadly hit and run in Myrtle Beach area. Victim is still unknown

A Virginia man has been arrested in an Horry County hit-and-run accident that left a pedestrian dead in May, according to Lance Cpl. Lena Butler with the South Carolina Highway Patrol.

The pedestrian, who was struck and killed near 9440 North Kings Highway on May 27, is still unidentified. The Horry County Coroners Office released Wednesday a computer-generated composite of the pedestrian, as well as a photo of his tattoo, in the hopes that someone will recognize him.

James Samuel Thomas, 47, of Richmond, was arrested June 9 by the South Carolina Highway Patrol on a charge of a hit and run accident that involved death or personal injury. He was booked into the J. Reuben Long Detention Center and was released June 10 on a $10,000 bond.

Chief Deputy Coroner Tamara Willard said in a statement that the pedestrian was not found in any local or federal database. A DNA profile is about five months away from being complete, Willard said.

The man is identified as in his late 40s, white, weighing 170 pounds and is between 5 foot, 9 inches and 5 feet, 11 inches tall, according to Willard. The man has light brown or sandy blonde hair and his mustache and goatee are graying.

Anyone with information on his identification should call the Horry County Coroners Office at 843-915-5110.
PHOENIX  A dangerous heat wave threatened a wide swath of the Southwest with potentially deadly temperatures in the triple digits on Saturday as some cooling centers extended their hours and emergency rooms prepared to treat more people with heat-related illnesses.

"Near record temperatures are expected this weekend!" the National Weather Service in Phoenix warned in a tweet, advising people to follow its safety tips such as drinking plenty of water and checking on relatives and neighbors.

"Don't be a statistic!" the weather service in Tucson advised, noting extreme heat can be deadly. "It CAN happen to YOU!"

Over 110 million people, or about a third of Americans, were under extreme heat advisories, watches and warnings Saturday as the blistering heat wave was forecast to get worse this weekend for Nevada, Arizona and California. Temperatures in some desert areas were predicted to soar past 120 degrees Fahrenheit during the day, and remain in the 90s overnight.

Around 200 hydration stations distributing bottles of water and cooling centers where potentially thousands of people can rest in air-conditioned spaces opened Saturday in public spaces like libraries, churches and businesses around the Phoenix area.

Charles Sanders spent Friday afternoon with his Chihuahua mix Babygirl at the air-conditioned Justa Center, which offers daytime services to older homeless people in downtown Phoenix. It's also serving as a hydration station, distributing free bottles of water.

Because of funding and staffing limitations, the center can only stay open until 5:30 p.m., so Sanders, a 59-year-old who uses a wheelchair, has spent the sweltering nights with his pet in a tattered tent behind the building.

"I've been here for four summers now and it's the worst so far," said Sanders, a former welder originally from Denver.

David Hondula, chief heat officer for the City of Phoenix, said Friday that because of the health risks some centers were extending hours that are sometimes abbreviated because of limited volunteers and money.

"This weekend there will be some of the most serious and hot conditions we've ever seen," he said.

He said just one location, the Brian Garcia Welcome Center for homeless people in downtown Phoenix, planned to be open 24 hours and direct people to shelters and other air-conditioned spaces for the night.

In Las Vegas, casinos offered respite from the heat for many. Air-conditioned libraries, police station lobbies and other places from Texas to California planned to be open to the public to offer relief for at least part of the day.

Emergency room doctors in Las Vegas treated more people for heat illness as the heat wave threatened to break the city's all-time record high of 117 degrees Fahrenheit this weekend.

Dr. Ashkan Morim, who works in the ER at Dignity Health Siena Hospital in suburban Henderson, Nevada, spoke Friday of treating tourists this week who spent too long drinking by pools and became severely dehydrated, and a stranded hiker who needed liters of fluids to regain his strength.

In New Mexico's largest city, Albuquerque, splash pads will be open for extended hours and many public pools were offering free admission. In Boise, Idaho, churches and other nonprofit groups were offering water, sunscreen and shelter.

In Southern California, temperatures soared into the triple digits in inland areas, and a ridge of high pressure was expected to keep its hold on the region for a couple of weeks.

By mid Saturday afternoon, it was 122 degrees Fahrenheit in Death Valley, California, where forecasters said the temperature could hit 130 degrees Fahrenheit this weekend. The hottest temperature recorded there was 134 F in July 1913, according to the National Park Service.

In Lancaster and Palmdale, north of Los Angeles, temperatures hit 108 degrees Fahrenheit, National Weather Service meteorologist Mike Wofford said . In Los Angeles' San Fernando Valley, the thermometer cleared triple digits in some areas.

In Los Angeles, Mayor Karen Bass announced the city opened cooling centers where residents can escape the heat.

The hot, dry conditions sparked a series of blazes in Southern California southeast of Los Angeles, where firefighters Saturday battled three brush fires amid blistering heat and low humidity in sparsely populated, hilly areas.

Phoenix on Saturday saw the city's 16th consecutive day of 110 F or higher temperatures, hitting that mark before noon and putting it on track to beat the longest measured stretch of such heat. The record was 18 days in 1974.

By late afternoon, the temperature in Phoenix hit 118 F, breaking the daily record set on July 15, 1998, of 117 F, the National Weather Service in Phoenix tweeted. The normal high for the date is 107 F.

The heat is expected to continue into this coming week.

The Southern Nevada Health District said seven people died related to heat since April 11.

Arizona's Maricopa County, home to Phoenix, reported this week that so far this year there have been 12 confirmed heat-associated deaths going back to April, half of them people who were homeless. Another 55 deaths are under investigation.

Pet owners in the Southwest were urged to keep their animals mostly inside.

On the other side of the Atlantic, scorching temperatures across Europe forced the closure of the Acropolis in Athens for a second day as officials warned of even hotter weather ahead, when the mercury is forecast to top 104 degrees Fahrenheit in several popular Mediterranean tourist destinations.

Czech temperatures soared to a new record high for any July 15. The thermometer hit 101.5 F at Plzen-Bolevec in western Czechia. European countries farther north also sweltered on Saturday.

Extreme weather is disrupting Amtrak's trains  and its climate benefits Extreme weather is disrupting Amtrak's trains  and its climate benefits
With state funding ready to arrive in Napa, the City Council on Tuesday night will decide whether to use that money to use a motel to help unsheltered people find their way to housing.

Download Napa Valley Register news app today! Your story lives in the Napa Valley. Get in-depth stories from the Napa region and beyond  including news, sports, features and politics.

Council members will vote on a plan to temporarily shelter 120 homeless Napans at the Motel 6 at 3380 Solano Ave. over nearly three years, as part of a plan to close several homeless encampments around the city.

Napa would pay for the project with a $15 million grant awarded by California last month  one of the largest such grants in the states Encampment Resolution Funding Program, which aims to provide not only rooms but social services to help people go on to permanent housing.

Some of the state funding would help pay for a 35-month lease of the Motel 6 for about $6 million, ending in June 2026.

A maximum of 65 people at a time would stay at the motel in 57 rooms. The plan calls for at least two staff members to be on site at all times, similar to staffing at the citys main shelter in south Napa.

City of Napa awarded $15 million to address encampments, potentially lease Motel 6 for homeless housing A now-funded plan for the city of Napa to lease Napa's Motel 6 property to help transition 120 of Napas homeless residents out of encampments might soon move forward.

Three case management workers  likely staff from Abode Services, Napa Countys homeless services provider  would work with clients to provide support to help them find stable housing of their own, Deputy City Manager Molly Rattigan said in a memo to the council.

Temporary motel housing is meant to enable Napa to dismantle homeless encampments on state property, the city said in its grant application. Areas to be cleared include sites near Highway 29, under the Maxwell Bridge, along the Napa River and local creeks, and at Kennedy Park.

Rattigan has said Napa will need more supportive housing to comply with a federal court ruling limiting cities ability to remove encampments. The 2018 Martin v. Boise case bars local governments in nine Western states from banning outdoor camping if they lack enough beds for their unsheltered population.

Motel 6 previously hosted unsheltered people for more than two years during the COVID-19 pandemic, when California created Project Roomkey to turn motels emptied out by the shutdown of tourism into shelter for the unhoused.

Earlier Tuesday, the City Council will vote on the second block of 124 homes planned at the Napa Pipe development slated for the long-vacant Kaiser Steel site in south Napa. The housing mix would include 66 single-family homes and 58 townhouses, with three or four per lot.

The council approved Napa Pipes first, 79-unit housing subdivision in March. When fully built out, the 154-acre community is expected to include 945 dwellings as well as a hotel, retail stores, parks, trails and Napa Countys first Costco store.

PHOTOS: Napa County conducts point-in-time count of homeless population Point in Time Count 10 Point in Time Count 1 Point in Time Count 4 Point in Time Count 3 Point in Time Count 2 Point in Time Count 5 Point in Time Count 6 Point in Time Count 9 Point in Time Count 7 Point in Time Count 8 Point in Time Count 11 Point in Time Count 12 Point in Time Count 13 Point in Time Count 14
Ardshinbank became a partner of Sevan Startup Summit 2023

Zelenskyy indirectly blamed West for failed counter-offensive

UK Foreign Secretary postpones China visit

Fatal accident on Yerevan-Artashat road

Russia, not West, seeks stable settlement between Yerevan, Baku

Armenian PM Nikol Pashinyan's interview with France Presse

Pashinyan: We cooperate with EU, US reps regarding sanctions

Pashinyan: Russia left in 1915, resulting in Armenian Genocide

PM: Complementarity is a catastrophic mistake for Armenia

AFP to Pashinyan: How do you justify trust towards Russia?

AFP: How do you justify staying in power after November 9?

Pashinyan: Faith in lasting peace with Azerbaijan doesn't warrant results

Armenian PM: War is likely, unless peace treaty is signed

Journalists from all over the world, people are dying a few kilometers away from you! UJA

China supports sovereignty and territorial integrity of Armenia: Deputy Foreign Minister

Russia says new grain deal with Turkey is possible

Aliyev threatens Armenia

Prime Minister Pashinyan receives Igor Khovaev

Aliyev hurries to sign peace treaty with Armenia

Aliyev announces mass settlement of occupied part of Artsakh

Supply of dairy products to Artsakh no longer possible

Armenia agrees to meeting of FMs in Moscow

Aliyev once again rattles with arms

Lavrov, Bayramov discuss normalization of Azerbaijani-Armenian relations

Aliyev confirms upcoming Moscow meeting of Azerbaijan, Armenia FMs

Erdogan hopes for continued grain deal with Russia

A legal solution acceptable for Armenia and Russia will be found: Arshakyan on Armenias joining Rome Statute

38th sitting of Inter-Parliamentary Committee on Armenian-Russian Cooperation will be held in Dilijan

Ardshinbank terminates operations with the Unistream money transfer system

Immediate measures should be taken to unblock the Lachin corridor - Lukashevich

Aliyev's latest visit to occupied Armenian Shushi

Azerbaijan is holding a media forum in occupied Armenian Shushi

The Lachin Corridor should be opened immediately - Matthew Miller

Artsakh parliament calls on Armenia to ask UN to grant international mandate to peacekeepers

Russias Federal Council urges Armenian MPs to consider risks of Armenias joining the Rome Statute

Armenian and Azerbaijani deputy PMs will meet in different parts of border each time. Sputnik Armenia

I still don't know how to shout to make them realize the situation is grave. Ombudsman of Artsakh

We are ready to recognize Azerbaijans 86,600 square km, which includes Nagorno-Karabakh. Minister of Foreign Affairs

The Russian Federation reaffirms its intention to contribute to the restoration of normal life in Nagorno-Karabakh

Artsakh President assures: All decisions will be made jointly

A handcuffed man threw himself from the 5th floor of the Investigation Department of SRC and died

Ambassador of Poland was presented with the current situation in Nagorno-Karabakh

EU Council extends Toivo Klaar's mandate for one year

Turkey slows pace of rate hikes, jeopardizing the lira

EU Mission at the OSCE Council meeting: Brussels calls on Baku to ensure movement along the Lachin corridor

Zakharova evades question on sending Arstakh aid by Russian planes

Stores in Artsakh no longer sell bread

Russian MFA Spox: Artsakh is not in area of CSTO responsibility

State Revenue Committee head: Armenia cooperates with partners transparently

Armenia requests OSCE Permanent Council speacial meeting: Mirzoyan made a speech

Armenian Health Minister: Transport of medicine to Artsakh is disrupted

Russia MFA spox on organizing Mirzoyan, Bayramov meeting in Moscow: Chances are good

Russian MFA: Stability in South Caucasus should be in Turkey's interests

We should specify the cartographic basis of demarcation activities in the near future. Pashinyan

Brussels meeting brought no concrete results in opening Lachin Corridor, resolving humanitarian crisis in NK.Pashinyan

Armenian Foreign Ministry welcomes Canadas initiative to join European monitoring mission

Artsakh residents hold a protest near the UN office in Yerevan

EU foreign ministers to discuss Armenian-Azerbaijani settlement in Brussels

Armenian-French cooperation will continue to strengthen. Nikol Pashinyan received French Ambassador

The process of the program of formation of Digital Society and Economy discussed at Government

State minister: We may have situation when we cant wait for the 7 days noted by Karabakh President

The Prime Minister hosts Aram Arzumanyan, disabled as a result of the 44-day war

Nikol Pashinyan, Mikhail Mishustin hold phone talk

Nersisyan. The more Armenia lowers bar on Karabakh issue, the harder it will be for people of Artsakh to raise it

Karabakh official: Armenia has only one thing to do in discussions with Azerbaijan

Artsakh state minister: Many illogical things are happening on European platform; is it serious conversation?

Karabakh minister of state: We managed to make our voice heard by all to which nationwide movement was directed

Lachin corridor has no alternative: Several Armenia NGOs issue joint statement on Charles Michel statement

Karabakh state minister: We are in disaster but we will never surrender

Karabakh ex-official Vitaly Balasanyan is charged on 4 counts

Analyst: Armenia has not recognized Azerbaijan territorial integrity with Karabakhs inclusion

Armenia PM is briefed on plan to establish EHL Hospitality Business School branch in Gyumri

Our link should be with Armenia only: Karabakh residents comment on their blocking of Askeran-Aghdam road

Missing servicemens parents reopen Yerevan major intersection, but on condition

Armenia army General Staff chief meets with US Air Force chief of staff (PHOTOS)

Parents of missing soldiers close off major avenue in Yerevan

Edmon Marukyan: Azerbaijan has no plan to integrate Christian Armenians

Azerbaijan MFA responds to Armenia FM with series of absurd accusations

Livestock sector is in much worse situation in besieged Karabakh, agriculture minister says

Agriculture minister: Scheduled power outages, lack of diesel fuel also cause problems in Karabakh irrigation system

Karabakh MoD: Defense Army did not carry out fortification work in Askeran Region

Newspaper: What 'tougher actions' Karabakh will take?

MoD: Armenia army did not fire at Azerbaijan positions

Worlds most expensive iPhone is sold in US

US returns 105 antiquities illegally exported from India to latter

David Babayan: Karabakh grandpa who fought at Stalingrad, took Berlin never imagined he could die of hunger

Russia, Iran FMs interested in consultations with participation of Armenia, Azerbaijan

Austria FM: Lachin corridor blockade must be stopped immediately

Deputy PM Grigoryan's office: Armenia, Azerbaijan have not made decision on any map

Armenia FM briefs OSCE Secretary General on situation in Karabakh

Armenian Foreign Minister expresses Yerevan's readiness to hold talks with Turkey in Vienna

Armenia is not going to become a space where sanctions could be bypassed: Ararat Mirzoyan

Dollar, euro increase in Armenia

Armenia FM: Regrettable that instead of engaging in dialogue, Azerbaijan pursues policy of ethnic cleansing in Karabakh

FMs sign protocol on implementation of Armenia-EU readmission agreement between Armenia, Austria (PHOTOS)

Karabakh residents block Askeran-Aghdam motorway, with concrete barriers (PHOTOS)

Armenias Pashinyan receives ex-MP Francois Rochebloine of France

Yerevan municipal election events schedule announced

Karabakh NGOs: Support being provided to Artsakh people cannot be at cost of trampling on their dignity

American University of Armenia has new president
21:32

Senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader and former Karnataka chief minister Basavaraj Bommai on Sunday hinted at talks regarding the Janata Dal-Secular joining the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) ahead of 2024 Lok Sabha elections.





Bommai said the results of the discussion would determine the future political developments.





Claiming that their allegations over JD-S being the 'B-team' of BJP is now proven, the ruling Congress in the state took a dig at the developments calling the regional outfit an 'opportunistic party', which is ready to join hands with anyone for the sake of power.





In response to a question on the possibility of JD-S joining the NDA, Bommai said, "That is for the discussion between our leadership and JD-S president H D Deve Gowda."





Speaking to reporters in Hubballi, he said JD-S leader H D Kumaraswamy has expressed certain feelings and the discussions will continue in that direction.





"The future political developments will be based on the result of those discussions," he added.





Recently, there have been enough indications from leaders of BJP and JD-S about both parties coming to an understanding ahead of Lok Sabha polls.BJP veteran B S Yediyurappa had said his party and the JD-S would fight the Congress government in the state together.





Kumaraswamy, on his part, had said a decision on an electoral understanding for the Lok Sabha polls will be taken when the situation arises.





It was also stated that Kumaraswamy during his recent visit to New Delhi had met some senior BJP leaders.





The BJP swept the 2019 Lok Sabha polls in Karnataka by winning 25 of the total 28 seats in the state, while an independent backed by it won in one constituency.





The Congress and JD-S secured one seat each.





BJP national general secretary C T Ravi said politics is a 'flowing water, not stagnant', and there are no permanent friends or enemies in politics.





Stating that anyone can join NDA or BJP keeping in mind the national interest and development work that is taking place under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, he said: "No discussions have taken place in our level regarding alliance with JD-S. If it has happened at higher level, I'm not aware."





Noting that several parties have come to the front to support PM Modi, senior BJP leader and MLC N Ravi Kumar said the JD-S has also come forward.





"I complement Deve Gowda for deciding to go with BJP keeping the country's interest in mind, instead of going with UPA, who are only dreaming of coming to power, leaving aside all the principles. Deve Gowda and Kumaraswamy are in favour of NDA in the interest of the country," he said, adding that the party's leadership will take the decision on alliance. -- PTI


Azerbaijan hits out at Russia over Nagorno-Karabakh

An Azerbaijani checkpoint recently set up at the entry of the Lachin corridor. Photo: AFP

Azerbaijan accused Russia on Sunday of failing to fulfil its obligations under a 2020 Moscow-brokered ceasefire agreement to end fighting with Armenia for control of the Nagorno-Karabakh region.



"The Russian side did not ensure full implementation of the agreement within the framework of its obligations," Baku's foreign ministry said, adding that Moscow "did nothing to prevent" Armenia's military supplies from reaching separatist forces in the restive enclave.



In autumn 2020, Russia sponsored a ceasefire agreement that ended six weeks of fighting over the mountainous breakaway region.



The deal saw Armenia cede swathes of territory, while Russia deployed peacekeepers to the five-kilometre-wide Lachin Corridor, the sole land link between the enclave and Armenia.



Baku recently closed the corridor, sparking protests and fears of a humanitarian crisis.



On Saturday, Russia's foreign ministry urged Azerbaijan to reopen the passageway.



It also said Armenia's recent recognition of Karabakh as part of Azerbaijan "has radically changed the standing of the Russian peacekeeping contingent".



"Under such conditions, the responsibility for the destiny of Karabakh's Armenian population should not be shifted onto third countries," it said, a possible reference to the Armenian separatists' calls for Moscow to ensure the reopening of the land link.



On Saturday, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan met in Brussels for EU-mediated talks aimed at resolving their decades-long conflict for control of Karabakh.



Baku and Yerevan have been trying to negotiate a peace deal with the help of the European Union and United States, whose growing diplomatic engagement in the Caucasus has irked Russia.



In a bid to reassert its power-broking role, Moscow on Saturday offered to host the two countries' foreign ministers and suggested their future peace treaty could be signed in Moscow. (AFP)
Dangerous heatwaves strike globe as wildfires rage

Powerless local residents watch a forest fire edge ever closer near Puntagorda on the Canary Island of La Palma. Photo: AP

Scorching weather gripped three continents on Sunday, whipping up wildfires and threatening to topple temperature records as the dire consequences of global warming take shape.



Predictions of historic heat hung over swathes of Asia, Europe and the United States.



In the Vatican, 15,000 people braved sweltering temperatures to hear Pope Francis lead prayer, using parasols and fans to keep cool.



But in their black robes, priests like Francois Mbemba said they were "sweating like hell".



The 29-year-old said it felt hotter in St Peter's Square than in his Democratic Republic of Congo diocese.



In Japan, authorities issued heatstroke alerts to tens of millions of people in 20 of its 47 prefectures as near-record high temperatures scorched large areas and torrential rain pummelled other regions.



National broadcaster NHK warned the heat was life-threatening, with the capital and other places recording nearly 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit).



Japan's highest temperature ever  41.1C first recorded in Kumagaya city, Saitama, in 2018  could be beaten, according to the meteorological agency.



Some places experienced their highest temperatures in more than four decades on Sunday, including Hirono town in Fukushima prefecture with 37.3C.



The United States National Weather Service reported that a powerful heatwave stretching from California to Texas was expected to peak during an "extremely hot and dangerous weekend."



California's Death Valley, often among the hottest places on Earth, is also likely to register new peaks on Sunday, with the mercury possibly surpassing 54C.



At a Texas construction site outside Houston, a 28-year-old worker who gave his name only as Juan struggled in the blazing heat.



"Just when I take a drink of water, I get dizzy, I want to vomit because of the heat," he said.



Southern California is fighting numerous wildfires, including one in Riverside County that has burned more than 7,500 acres (3,000 hectares) and prompted evacuation orders.



Further north, the Canadian government said wildfires had burned a record-breaking 10 million hectares this year, with more damage expected as the summer drags on.



In Europe, Italians were warned to prepare for "the most intense heatwave of the summer and also one of the most intense of all time."



Predictions of historic highs in the coming days led the health ministry to sound a red alert for 16 cities including Rome, Bologna and Florence.



Temperatures are likely to hit 40C in Rome by Monday and 42C-43C on Tuesday, smashing the record of 40.5C set in August 2007.



Sicily and Sardinia could wilt under temperatures as high as 48C, the European Space Agency warned  "potentially the hottest temperatures ever recorded in Europe."



The Acropolis in Athens, one of Greece's top tourist attractions, closed for a third day running on Sunday during the hottest hours.



In Romania, temperatures are expected to reach 39C on Monday across most of the country.



Little reprieve is forecast for Spain, where the met agency warned of a new heatwave from Monday through Wednesday taking temperatures above 40C in the Canary Islands and the southern Andalusia region.



On La Palma island, which endured a volcanic eruption in 2021, a fire burned 5,000 hectares this weekend forcing the evacuation of 4,000 people.



"I feel powerless to see how everything is burning," said Patricia Sanchez, a Spanish Red Cross worker.



"To see two entire villages evacuated, to know that there are people who lost everything because of the volcano and have rebuilt their lives in the north, and now they are evacuated again and at risk of losing everything again," the 37-year-old said.



Despite the heat, parts of Asia have also been battered by torrential rain.



In South Korea, rescuers on Sunday battled to reach people trapped in a flooded tunnel, after heavy rains for the last four days triggered floods and landslides that killed at least 37 people and left nine missing.



The country is at the peak of its summer monsoon season, with more rain forecast through Wednesday.



In northern Japan on Sunday, a man was found dead in a flooded car, a week after seven people were killed in similar weather in the country's southwest.



In northern India, relentless monsoon rains have reportedly killed at least 90 people, following burning heat.



Major flooding and landslides are common during India's monsoons, but experts say climate change is increasing their frequency and severity.



The EU's climate monitoring service said the world saw its hottest June on record last month. (AFP)
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman alongside Indonesian counterpart Mulyani Indrawati announced the launch of the Economic and Financial Dialogue between the two nations at the ministerial level. This dialogue aims to foster collaboration, promote trade and investment, and enhance economic cooperation between India and Indonesia, two of the fastest-growing economies in the world. The platform, unveiled during the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors (FMCBG) meeting, seeks to strengthen cooperation between the two nations and foster a shared understanding on global issues. We are growing under regional and global circumstances. We actually have a lot of potential, said Mulyani Indrawati. Since the adoption of India's "Look East Policy" in 1991 and the subsequent "Act East Policy," bilateral relations between India and Indonesia have witnessed significant growth in both commercial and cultural domains. Indonesia has emerged as India's largest trading partner in the ASEAN region, with trade between the two countries increasing eightfold since 2005, reaching a remarkable USD 38 billion last year. The areas of cooperation include bilateral investment, financial services and infrastructure development, among others. For instance, India has developed expertise in digital public infrastructure. It can provide time-tested solutions for convenient and affordable digital payments, which can assist Indonesia in achieving its financial inclusion goals, said Nirmala Sitharaman The Finance Minister emphasized that it would serve as a platform for discussing common interests and mutually beneficial issues. Sitharaman stated, India and Indonesia are active members of multilateral organisations such as G-20, WTO, and East Asia Summit. India has taken over G20 Presidency from Indonesia, and there are several legacy issues that we are continuing to take forward during our Presidency. In this context, this dialogue can play an instrumental role in reaching a common understanding on issues, and take forward the global agenda from the perspective of EMDEs. India's assumption of the G20 Presidency from Indonesia creates an opportunity to carry forward legacy issues and work collaboratively on the global agenda, particularly from the perspective of emerging markets and developing economies (EMDEs). "The Economic and Financial Dialogue (EFD) Dialogue is poised to enhance collaboration on bilateral and international economic and financial matters by bringing together economic policymakers and financial regulators from both countries. Areas of cooperation inter-alia, include macroeconomic challenges and global economic prospects, bilateral investment relations, and cooperation in G20 and ASEAN matters. Recognising the potential of the digital economy, the two Finance Ministers also noted the potential of collaboration in the field of fintech for financial inclusion," the official release said. This dialogue can play an instrumental role in reaching a common understanding and contributing to global economic and financial stability. I believe that this dialogue will facilitate better cooperation between India and South East Asia, while contributing to global economic and financial stability, said Nirmala Sitharaman in the conclusion. The Finance Minister expressed confidence that the Economic and Financial Dialogue would facilitate better cooperation between India and Southeast Asia, while also strengthening their global standing. "With the launch of this dialogue, India and Indonesia are set to embark on a journey of closer economic ties and enhanced collaboration, solidifying their position as key players in the global economic landscape," she added. (ANI)
Actor R Madhavan was in awe after attending the banquet dinner hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron in honour of Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Louvre Museum in Paris. The actor in his long post on his Instagram handle expressed his gratitude to PM Modi and President Macron for sharing their vision on grace and humility. He shared several pictures and the video from the dinner in a post that read, The passion and dedication to do good for the Indo French relationship, as well as for the people of both countries was palpable and intense during the Bastille day celebration in Paris on the 14th of July 2023. I was in complete awe at the dinner hosted by the President Emmanuel Macron in honor of our Honorable, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi at the Louvre, of both these world leaders, as they passionately described their vision for the future of these two great friendly nations. Rocketry: The Nambi Effect actor also shared about the French President taking selfie and how PM Modi very graciously and sweetly stood up to be part of it. The positivity and mutual respect in the air was like a loving embrace. I sincerely pray that their vison and dreams bear fruit for all of us at the desired and appropriate time. President Macron eagerly took a selfie for us while our Honorable Prime Minister very graciously and sweetly stood up to be part of it.. a moment that will be forever etched in my mind for both the uniqueness and impact of that picture, he added. Conveying his gratitude to PM Modi and the French President for their valuable lessons, he stated, Thank you President Macron and Modi Ji for the incredible lesson on grace and humility. May France and India forever prosper together." Talking about the successful launch of Chandrayaan-3 in his post, the actor wrote, "14th July 2023 also marked yet another fantastic and successful launch of Chandrayaan 3 with the unfailing Vikas engine built with the help of SEP France by Shri Nambi Narayanan. Praying also for the succes of their important and incredible mission. @narendramodi @emmanuelmacron #bastilleday2023 #rocketrythenambieffect. https://www.instagram.com/actormaddy/ Actor Shilpa Shetty commented on his post, "Sooo proud of all your accomplishments, well deserved @actormaddy" Anupam Kher commentd, "Jai ho and jai hind!" Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron shared a video on his Twitter handle showing glimpses of the two-day visit of PM Modi. In the video, Madhavan was also spotted shaking hands with the French President. The French President tweeted, "To the people of India, trust and friendship." https://twitter.com/EmmanuelMacron/status/1680263558154661889 Earlier, Madhavan had dropped two pictures on his Instagram handle sharing his look for the dinner. In the pictures, he was seen wearing grey-toned blazer and trousers and completed his look with a pair of glasses. He wrote in the caption, Thank you soooo much for making me feel so right for the occasion . For all the relentless styling options and the love .. @radhikamehra . I feel so comfortable and myself..#bastilleday at the #louvre #presidentsdinner2023 https://www.instagram.com/p/Cutva3mIn__/?img_index=1 On the work front, R Madhavan is all set for his next project, a supernatural thriller also starring Ajay Devgn and Jyotika. (ANI))
Veteran filmmaker James Cameron has denied rumours of him working on OceanGate film, reported People. He broke his silence on the rumours about him and wrote in his post on Instagram, "I don't respond to offensive rumours in the media usually, but I need to now. I'm NOT in talks about an OceanGate film, nor will I ever be." As reported by People, his Twitter post also conveyed his thoughts. His statement follows reports from the Daily Mail and The Sun about Cameron allegedly being approached for a series about the Titan submersible disaster. On June 22, a search for the missing submersible that was travelling to the site of the Titanic wreckage ended when debris was found on the ocean floor that likely was caused by a "catastrophic implosion, assumed to be that of Titan. OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush, 61, British Pakistani billionaire Shahzada Dawood, 48, and his son Suleman Dawood, 19, British billionaire Hamish Harding, 58, and Titanic expert Paul-Henri Nargeolet, 77, these five people were aboard the Titan when it disappeared and imploded on Father's Day As per People, days later, the U.S. Coast Guard revealed that "presumed human remains" were recovered while searching through the wreckage. What was believed to remain "were carefully recovered" within the wreckage, and the Marine Board of Investigation (MBI) transported them for further analysis and testing. (ANI)
Border Security Forces (BSF) Meghalaya seized 7 country boats packed with about 29,000 kilograms of sugar worth more than rupees 11 lahks, meant for smuggling to Bangladesh, an official release of BSF said on Saturday. According to the official statement, BSF Meghalaya on Friday intercepted seven boats with country-built engines that were packed with a massive amount of sugar and were headed for Bangladesh. The release said, "On 14 July 2023, vigilant troops of BSF Meghalaya seized 7 country-made engine-fitted boats loaded with huge quantities of sugar meant for smuggling to Bangladesh through the international border of West Jaintia Hills." Acting on a specific tip-off, alert BSF troops observed some suspicious movement of boats in the Harai River near BOP Jaliakhola. On being challenged by BSF, the Bangladeshi miscreants jumped into the river and swam across to Bangladesh, abandoning their boats in the river, added the statement. The release further stated that BSF recovered massive amounts of sugar worth more than Rs 11 lakhs that were handed over to the Dawki Customs Office. "During the operation, BSF seized seven country-made engine-fitted boats loaded with approximately 29,000 kilograms of sugar worth more than Rs 11 lakh. The seized items were handed over to the customs office of Dawki for further action." Earlier in July, BSF Meghalaya seized huge quantities of clothing items worth more than Rs 13 lakhs on the international border. 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. (ANI)
People protest against the Japanese government's plan to discharge nuclear-contaminated water into the sea in Fukushima, Japan, June 20, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua]

Recently, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) delivered a safety review report on Japan's plan to release nuclear-contaminated water from the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant into the Pacific Ocean, saying that its discharge meets international safety standards.



Despite the endorsement from the UN watchdog, experts are divided regarding the final conclusions of the review, which therefore has dented the credibility of Japan being given a free pass to discharge the wastewater into the ocean.

Since it was announced two years ago, the plan has been controversial in Japan, with local communities expressing concerns about contamination. As Japan recently announced that it would begin to implement its plan as early as August, it sparked outrage and anxiety at home and abroad once again.

In Japan, despite the government's promise to adhere to the highest national safety and cleanliness standards, local fishermen have expressed their outrage over the impending contamination of their livelihoods, as releasing wastewater will impact seafood and fishing industries, as well as negatively impact revenue needed to sustain local economies.

UN-appointed human rights experts also voiced their opposition as they believed that the release of over 1.3 million tonnes of contaminated water into the marine environment "imposes considerable risks to the full enjoyment of human rights of concerned populations in and beyond the borders of Japan."

Radioactive wastewater contains dangerous elements, some of which can be removed from the water, while others cannot, such as radioactive tritium, which increases the risk of cancer if it is consumed in large quantities. According to scientists, there is currently no technology available to extract it from the water. The accumulation of such elements therefore poses potential risks to the entire marine ecosystem in the Asia Pacific region and marine areas at large.

There are other options available to deal with nuclear-contaminated water. However, the Japanese government has decided to dump it directly into the Pacific Ocean, which is the easiest and, of course, the most irresponsible way they could have handled the situation.

The plan to discharge nuclear-contaminated water into the sea is not Japan's private matter. Rather, it is an important issue concerning human health across the globe.

It is reckless and unreasonable to discharge nuclear-contaminated water into the ocean unilaterally without considering the long-term environmental and health impacts.

Hamzah Rifaat Hussain, a former visiting fellow at the Stimson Center in Washington and former assistant researcher at the Islamabad Policy Research Institute, is an anchor at ThinkTech Hawaii.

Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors, not necessarily those of China.org.cn.
Five Kanwariya were electrocuted to death while five others were injured after the vehicle they were travelling in came in contact with an 11kv power live near a village in Uttar Pradesh's Meerut district on Saturday evening, officials said. According to officials, the incident took place in Bhawanpur's Rali Chauhan village in Meerut district when the vehicle of Kanwariyas came in contact with a low-hanging high-tension power line. Following the incident, locals of the area reached the spot and rushed the Kanwariyas to a nearby hospital, where doctors declared five Kanwariyas dead.The condition of two of the five others who suffered the electric shock in the incident was said to be critical. Following the incident, a group of locals gathered in the area and held a demonstration demanding action into the incident. Meerut DM Deepak Meena said, "Five Kanwariya pilgrims were electrocuted to death and five others were admitted to a hospital after their DJ vehicle brushed against an 11KV power line." "A team of doctors and officials have been allocated and all assistance is being provided to the victims for treatment," DM Meena told ANI. "Further investigation is underway," he added. Earlier, a 38-year-old Kanwariya was injured after a taxi hit him on a flyover in Vasant Vihar, police said on Sunday. Police said that the accused driver, identified as Dalip Kumar (57), has been arrested in the incident. On July 15 at 12:38 AM, a PCR call regarding the accident of Kanwariya on the flyover from Vasant Vihar to Mahipalpur was received at Police Station Delhi Cantt. On receipt of the call, Addl. DCP-l, ACP, and SHO/ PS Delhi Cantt along with staff rushed to the spot, the police said. According to police, the injured victim was shifted to AIIMS Delhi after receiving a minor injury to his head. One injured person, namely Dharmender, a resident of Mewat, Haryana, was shifted to the hospital and is under treatment in AIIMS Trauma. There was a minor injury on his head and he was discharged after treatment, they said. (ANI)
BJP national spokesperson RP Singh on Sunday came down heavily on the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) over the prevailing flood situation in the national capital, accusing the ruling party of tryng to hide its failure in dealing with the water woes. This after the AAP accused the NDA regime at the Centre and the BJP-ruled Haryana of hatching a conspiracy to pluge the national capital into a flood crisis by releasing water from the Hathnikund Barrage. Speaking to ANI on Sunday, Singh said the AAP, instead of pointing fingers at the BJP over the ongoing flood situation in the Capital, should come clean on the 'scam' that happened in the name ofYamuna cleaning. "They(AAP) are making such unfounded allegations against us in a desperate bid to hide their failure. They were supposed to clean the Yamuna but they did not. If they had ensured proper cleaning of the Yamuna on time, the situation in the national capital wouldn't have come to this. They should talk about the scam that took place in the name of Yamuna cleaning," the BJP leader said. Singh was respondng to Delhi Public Works Department (PWD) Minister Atishi accusing the Haryana government ofdeliberately releasing water from the Hathinikund barrage to flood the national capital. "From Hathnikund barrage, water is release to three states Delhi, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. The big question that is on eveyone's lips is why was all the water from the Hathnikund barrage released only towards Delhi. Even as the release of water from Haryana saw the Yamuna cross the danger mark and inundate several parts of the national capital, not a single drop of water was diverted to UP. Why? Is it because Haryana government did not want to cause flooding in UP, as it is also a BJP-ruled state? The BJP must answer. Was this a conspiracy against the people of Delhi?" Atishi, also the Delhi Revenue Minister, said. Delhi Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj, who, too, had levelled similar accusations at the BJP earlier, on Saturday questioned the Haryana government over the water not being released to the other states, especially the eastern canal which goes to UP. The Hathnikund barrage diverts water to three different canals eastern canal, western canal and to the Yamuna. The water of the western canal comes to Delhi so they keep releasing water into it and the same with Yamuna. But they are not releasing water into the eastern canal which goes to UP. What is the reason for this? This is a conspiracy against Delhi. The BJP-led central government is conspiring to flood Delhi, he told ANI. It hasnt rained in Delhi since July 10, but the national capital is still flooded. Water is deliberately being diverted to Delhi, Bharadwaj added. Hitting back at the Delhi government, Haryana Home Minister Anil Vij said that his government is not blaming anyone though, it, too, was receiving water from other states. "We are also receiving water fromPunjab and Himachal Pradesh but are not blaming anyone. We are trying to make arrangements (to prevent flooding), Vij told ANI. He added that since several districts of Haryana, bordering Delhi, was also grappling with a flood-like situation, after receiving excess water from other states, there was no reason why it would deliberately release water to Delhi. Meanwhile, the blame game between Delhi and Haryana governments continued over the situation in the national capital, with Haryana Agriculture Minister Jai Parkash Dalal claiming that encroachments and illegal establishments in the National Capital were responsible for the inundation. We don't have any dam. The water that comes here automatically flows down to Delhi, Agra, Allahabad, before dropping into the Indian Ocean. The AAP is trying to shirk blame. There was similar increase in the water levels of the Yamuna earlier as well. However, the Yamuna basin was broader then and could hold excess water from other states. However, encroachments and unauthorised construcdtion activity along the banks of the Yamuna led to shrinkage of the basin," the minister told ANI. The root cause behind the inundation in Delhi is encroachments, Dalal added. Meanwhile, as per Delhi Flood Control Department, the water level in Yamuna was recorded at 206.02 metres at 8 am on Sunday against 207.58 metres on Saturday morning. The situation of waterlogging in several low lying areas of Delhi, including on roads from Kashmere Gate to Majnu Ka Tila, has improved on Sunday as the water level slowly recedes, it said. (ANI)
Regional Director for the northern region of the Union Corporate Affairs Ministry, Sanjay Shorey, paid a visit to the Registrar of Companies office in Srinagar as part of a comprehensive field inspection. During his visit, Shorey gained valuable insights into the office's operations in the Kashmir valley, where it has been operational since September 2019 and holds jurisdiction over all districts within the region. Notably, the office also serves as the official liquidator attached to the High Court of J&K and Ladakh. Incharge officer for the station, Haamid Bukhari, took the opportunity to present a comprehensive overview to Shorey, highlighting the status of pending inquiries, inspections, and investigations concerning corporates and companies. Bukhari provided an in-depth account of the office's overall functioning and shared details about the prosecutions filed against defaulting companies and corporates in lower courts. Expressing his appreciation for the office's operations, the Regional Director commended the Registrar of Companies for their efforts and offered valuable advice for improvement. He emphasized the importance of being more responsive to stakeholders and urged the office to enhance compliance in the region. Sanjay Shorey remarked, "I am impressed by the efficient functioning of the office in Srinagar. It is commendable to witness the progress made since its establishment in 2019. However, it is essential to ensure a high level of responsiveness to stakeholders and further improve compliances in order to foster a conducive business environment in the region." Hamid Bukhari said, "The visit by the Regional Director signifies the Union Corporate Affairs Ministry's commitment to overseeing the proper functioning of corporate entities and companies within the Kashmir valley. This approach aims to enhance transparency, accountability, and compliance among businesses operating in the region." (ANI)
According to the police, the person who made the call said he overheard another person saying that aflight from Delhi to Tel Aviv will be hijacked.

Further, according to the FIR filed Delhi Police, at 6.05am on July 13, a call was received at the Air India call centre in Pune. The caller, who introduced himself as Anurag from Assam, said her overheard a person talking about the hijacking of the Delhi-Tel Aviv flight.

"Following the call thrtening the hijacking of an Air India Delhi-Tel Avivi flight, a meeting of the BTAC (Bomb Threat Assessment Committee) was convened at Guwahati airport and a special security committee also met over it from 9.16 am to 11.15 am, on 13 July," the FIR copy mentioned.

Further, nothing suspicious has come up in the investigation into the threat call so far, Delhi Police said, adding that probe was still ongoing.

The case was registered at IGI Airport Police station under sections 82,341,505(1)(b),507 of the IPC, police said. (ANI)

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Four persons, allegedly associated with the Goldy Brar-Lawrence Bishnoi gang, were arrested in Bathinda, police said here on Sunday. The police also recovered from 270 grams of heroin and a weapon from the accused on Saturday. "Four members associated with the Goldy Brar-Lawrence Bishnoi gang were arrested by Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) and Bathinda Police yesterday. 270 grams of heroin, 1 weapon were recovered from them," Bathinda Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Gulneet Khurana said. The police officer said that the accused used to bring drugs from Pakistan with the help of a drone. "During the probe, the accused revealed that they used to bring drugs from Pakistan with the help of a drone," the SSP added. Earlier on Friday, the AGTF, in a similar joint operation with Bathinda Police, arrested one of the aides of gangsters Lawrence Bishnoi and Goldy Brar with his three operatives. "In a major breakthrough against trans-border illegal arms smuggling networks, AGTF, in a joint operation with Bathinda Police, arrested Baljinder Singh alias Bindri, a member of the Lawrence Bishnoi and Goldy Brar gangs, along with his three operatives," Director General of Police, Punjab, Gaurav Yadav had said in a tweet. DGP Yadav also informed that there are a number of cases related to extortion, kidnapping, and the arms and NDPS Act registered against the accused. "They have a criminal history with a number of cases registered against them, related to extortion, kidnapping, arms, and the NDPS Act. During the preliminary investigation, Bindri revealed that he used drones to smuggle arms and narcotics via the Indo-Pak border," he said. Informing about the recoveries, the DGP said that one Chinese pistol and five live cartridges, along with 270 gm of heroin and one car, had been recovered. "Punjab Police India is fully committed to destroying narcotics and illegal arms networks as per the directions of CM Bhagwant Mann," DGP Yadav added. (ANI)
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal headed Apex Committee, meant for Flood Control and Preparedness in Delhi, never held any meetings for the last 2 years, alleged Lieutenant Governor's office in a statement on Sunday, amid flood in low lying areas of the national capital. However, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government refuted the claims and said that Minister Atishi chaired the meeting on July 6 as Revenue Minister. According to the statement issued by the LG's office, a compulsory meeting of the Apex Committee "should have taken place by the end of June and issued Flood Control Order." "The Apex Committee meeting ensures seamless coordination between various agencies including GNCTD, GOI, Army and Central Water Commission (CWC). A compulsory meeting of the Apex Committee should have taken place by the end of June and issued Flood Control Order. Flood Control Order was issued without the Apex Committee meeting and without preceding preparations", the statement read. Kejriwal has "none other but to blame himself" for the flooding and resultant "pathetic situation" of the capital, it said "Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, who is making his ministers and AAP leaders do overtime in blaming everyone and everything under the sun, for the flooding and resultant pathetic situation of the National Capital, has none other but to blame himself. All statements being made by AAP Ministers and spokespersons are blatantly false", the statement stated. It also alleged that though a file was submitted to the CM for convening the mandatory meeting, "Kejriwal chose not to even look at this critical file related to flood control." "On a file moved by the DM of East District, who is the nodal officer of this Apex Committee, on 19.06.23, the Divisional Commissioner- who is also the Convenor of the Committee, requested CM Kejriwal on 21.6.23, to suggest a suitable date & time for convening the mandatory meeting of the Apex Committee in the last week of June. The file was submitted to the CM through the Revenue Minister, Atishi Marlena. However, CM Arvind Kejriwal chose to not even look at this critical file related to flood control, leave apart from convening a meeting. His Additional Secretary, a relatively junior functionary, returned the file after 04 days, i.e. on 26.06.23 to Atishi with the noting that, "Hon'ble CM has desired that the Hon'ble Minister (Revenue) may convene the meeting", of the Apex Committee, that is Chaired by CM," the statement said.Even when the DM office issued a notice to hold a 'short meeting', it was not taken into consideration rather Minister Atishi took a false sick leave, the statement claimed. "The meeting chaired by Atishi did not have the presence of the Chief Secretary, Police Commissioner, MCD Commissioner, CEO DJB and various other important stakeholders, leave apart the representatives from the CWC. This happened because Atishi DID NOT ask for them to be present in the meeting. Kejriwal or Atishi did not even bother to take their boisterous, more loyal than the king, Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj, incharge of I&FC and DJB, in confidence. "The DM office accordingly issued a notice on 27.06.23, for this SHORT MEETING to be held on 30.06.23, but even this short meeting did not happen then. It did not happen because Minister Atishi was busy avoiding the oath of the new DERC Chairman and had taken a false sick leave. So, the DM office again issued a meeting notice on 05.07.23 for a SHORT MEETING on 06.07.23, after which a perfunctory half-baked flood control order was issued without taking the main stakeholders into confidence", the statement stated. The meeting of the Apex Committee was never held, it said. "The Meeting of the Apex Committee Chaired by Arvind Kejriwal, responsible for handling floods in NCT of Delhi was NEVER held. And today they are blaming everyone else, while the people of Delhi are forced to undergo misery because of their criminal inaction", it added. (ANI)
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Gautam Gambhir on Sunday said that Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will have to tell the people how much money the government has spent on infrastructure and advertisements in the last nine years under his tenure amid floodings, water loggings in several parts of the city. The East Delhi MP alleged that CM Kejriwal runs away from issues whenever Delhi is in a problem. While speaking to ANI, Gautam Gambhir said," Delhi CM will have to tell the people of Delhi how much money has been spent on infrastructure in the city and how much on advertisement. Delhi CM runs away from every issue be it calamity or any other problem. It is our responsibility to save Delhi." The blame game over the Yamuna spill and flooding in the national capital took centrestage yet again, with the BJP's Delhi chiefVirendraa Sachdevaclaiming that Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal did not plan or prepare for the prevailing situation. The BJP leader's remark came in response to Delhi Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj's statement on Saturday that the BJP at the Centre and in neighbouring Haryana had hatched a conspiracy to push the national capital into a flood-like situation. "The rainfall had been predicted in advance. What preparations did CM Kejriwal make? People displaced from the flooded low-lying areas of the Yamuna are being made to sleep under an open sky, on roads. What preparations did the Delhi government make for them?," CM Kejriwal said. Meanwhile the BJP national spokesperson RP Singh on Sunday came down heavily on the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) over the prevailing flood situation in the national capital, accusing the ruling party of trying to hide its failure in dealing with the water woes. "They(AAP) are making such unfounded allegations against us in a desperate bid to hide their failure. They were supposed to clean the Yamuna but they did not. If they had ensured proper cleaning of the Yamuna on time, the situation in the national capital wouldn't have come to this. They should talk about the scam that took place in the name of Yamuna cleaning," theBJPleader said. Singh was responding to Delhi Public Works Department (PWD) Minister Atishi accusing the Haryana government of deliberately releasing water from the Hathinikund barrage to flood the national capital. (ANI)
Aam Aadmi Party leader Raghav Chaddha on Sunday said that the decision on whether the party would attend the second opposition meeting in Bengaluru would be announced after its Political Affairs Committee meeting. "I have put my point through tweet. Whatever decision will be taken in the PAC meeting, you will be informed," he told ANI, when asked on AAP's decision on joining the opposition meeting in Bengaluru, scheduled to be held on July 17-18. AAP has called a meeting of its Political Affairs Committee (PAC) in the national capital on Sunday to decide whether to participate in the second opposition meeting. Notably, it is expected that AAP will attend the meeting as the Congress broke its silence and openly declared that they will oppose the Centre's Ordinance in the upcoming Monsoon session of Parliament, which begins on July 20. Earlier in the day, AAP Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chaddha labelled the grand old party's clear stance on the Ordinance issue as a "positive development". Taking to Twitter, Chaddha said, "Congress announces its unequivocal opposition to the Delhi Ordinance. This is a positive development." The meet in Bengaluru is scheduled with the purpose of uniting the opposition to take on the Bharatiya Janata Party in the upcoming general assembly polls in 2024. Top leaders of at least 24 political parties would attend the second Opposition unity meeting being convened by Congress in Karnataka's Bengaluru from July 17 to 18. According to sources, eight new parties have extended their support to the Opposition parties' efforts to present a united front against the BJP ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. Earlier on Saturday, Congress communications department head, Jairam Ramesh indicated to oppose the Bill on Centre's Ordinance in the upcoming Monsoon session of Parliament, which begins on July 20. Jairam Ramesh said that the country's federal structure is under attack and "we will seek a debate on this in the upcoming session of Parliament." "We have 5-6 big issues on which we would definitely seek a debate in both the houses of Parliament...including the attack on the federal structure," he said. "The issue of attack on (country's) federal structure is being done directly by the Central government itself. There are some examples where this attack is happening on behalf of the persons appointed by them (Centre). This is a direct attack on the elected government," Jairam Ramesh said, adding that the Congress has always been fighting against it, and will continue to fight, inside or outside the Parliament. (ANI)
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday stated that several people have been affected, properties damaged and roads "disrupted" due to the recent heavy rainfall in North Bengal. "Sending a high-level disaster management team tomorrow to flood-hit North Bengal under my Irrigation Minister and including Secretaries of Disaster Management, Irrigation and Agriculture. North Bengal districts have received heavy rainfall, rivers have swollen, roads have been disrupted, properties have been damaged, people have been marooned," West Bengal CM tweeted. "DMs and SPs are doing relief and rescue works on war footing with help of NDRF and SDRF. I have been monitoring personally and instructed my CS to supervise the field situation round the clock. No stone will be left unturned," he said in a tweet. Responding promptly to a requisition by the civil administration, troops of the Indian Army rescued 72 villagers, including 24 children from Mechpara village near Hashimara in Jalpaiguri, who were stuck due to floods, according to the press release of the Indian Army. The rapid flow of the Kaljani River led to the flooding of Mechpara village and the washing of the only bridge connecting Mechpara with the main highway. Responding promptly to a requisition by the civil administration, troops of the Kripan Division of Trishakti Corps acted promptly and rushed to the site. Although the fast-flowing waters posed a huge threat to life, army personnel crossed the river and established a rope crossing to facilitate the movement of villagers to a safe location. With continuous efforts under the heavy rains, the troops evacuated 72 villagers, including 24 children, it said. Heavy rainfall was witnessed all along North Bengal on the nights of July 12 and 13, which led to the Torsa and Kaljani rivers of Alipur Duar district crossing danger levels. (ANI)
The decision taken by top Congress leaders on Centres ordinance is well thought out, said Delhi party leader JP Aggarwal on Sunday. Talking to ANI, Aggarwal said, "Everyone has to agree to the party high command's decision. The decision taken by the party's top leaders is very well thought. It is right if the high command says to oppose the ordinance." Hitting out the Bharatiya Janata Party, Aggarwal said, "The present government in the centre tries to irk other parties". Meanwhile, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) said the Congress' "unequivocal opposition" to the Delhi ordinance was "a positive development". AAP MP and national spokesperson Raghav Chadha tweeted, "Congress announces its unequivocal opposition to the Delhi Ordinance. This is a positive development." After the first Opposition meeting in Patna on July 23, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) had said that unless the Congress publicly denounced the ordinance it would be very difficult for it to be a part of any coalition that includes the grand old party. With the Congress making its stand clear on the Delhi ordinance issue, the AAP will now participate in the upcoming meeting of the opposition parties in Bengaluru. The party under Arvind Kejriwal will participate in the meeting of the like-minded parties in Bengaluru on July 17-18, Raghav Chaddha said. The BJP-led central government brought the ordinance on the transfer and posting of bureaucrats in Delhi in May, virtually negating a Supreme Court verdict giving the elected government in Delhi control over services matters. The ordinance seeks to set up a National Capital Civil Service Authority for the transfer of and disciplinary proceedings against Group-A officers from the DANICS cadre. Transfer and postings of all officers of the Delhi government were under the executive control of the lieutenant governor before the May 11 verdict of the apex court. The AAP had been counting on the support of the Congress, which has 31 MPs in the Rajya Sabha. The BJP does not have a majority in the Upper House of Parliament.CM Kejriwal had even held one-on-one meetings with top Opposition leaders across the country, soliciting their support on the Ordinance issue. The Ordinance is likely to be tabled in Parliament during the Monsoon session. Earlier, at the inaugural meeting of Opposition parties in Patna, last month, the Congress had kept its stance "unclear" on the Ordinance issue and had repeatedly stressed that the meeting to flesh out the contours for Opposition unity, with an eye on the next year's Lok Sabha elections, wasn't the appropriate forum to clear its stand on the issue. (ANI)
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Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai held a meeting with visiting Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in the southern island of Phuket on Saturday, said the Thai Foreign Ministry.

Lavrov is in Phuket to preside over the opening of the Consulate-General of Russia in the resort island of Thailand.

The ministry said the two sides had a fruitful discussion on issues of mutual interest, including ways to increase trade, enhance cooperation in science, technology and innovation (STI), culture, sports, and tourism, as well as expressing support for the commencement of negotiations on a free trade agreement (FTA) between Thailand and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) at the earliest opportunity.

The two senior diplomats also exchanged views on regional and global issues, such as the situations in the Asia-Pacific region, Ukraine, and Myanmar, said the ministry.
Hitting out at Aam Aadmi Party over the Yamuna spill and flooding in the national capital, BJP's Delhi chief Virendraa Sachdeva on Saturday said that the root cause of the flood in Delhi is not because of the water of Hathni Kund, it is the corruption of Arvind Kejriwal-led government, which needs a judicial inquiry. While attending a press conference with Co-convenor Delhi BJP Legal Cell Bansuri Swaraj, Virendraa Sachdeva said, "The root cause of flood in Delhi is not the water of Hathni Kund, it is the corruption of Kejriwal government, which needs a judicial inquiry." Sachdeva alleged that the government has not spent on the cleanliness of the Yamuna River due to which the flood water has come in urban areas. He said, "If money had been spent on cleaning Yamuna then the river have had the depth to flow and its submergence area would have been clean, preventing the flood water to come into urban areas." Highlighting the Apex Committee meeting meant for flood control and preparedness in Delhi which has not been held for the last two years, the BJP chief said that Kejriwal must answer people regarding this. "I demand Kejriwal tell the people of Delhi why the meeting of the Apex Committee, which is mandatory to be held by June under the Flood Control Order, has not been held for the last 2 years," he said. Meanwhile, Bansuri Swaraj claimed that the major part of the city is drowned due to the breakdown of the reverse flow wall built in the drain around 2010. "The reverse flow wall built in the drain around 2010 which prevents the backflow was never repaired by the Kejriwal-led government and due to its breakdown the water went reversed back, drowning the major part of the city," she said. Earlier in the day, Sachdeva claimed that Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal did not plan or prepare for the prevailing situation. The BJP leader's remark came in response to Delhi Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj's statement on Saturday that the BJP at the Centre and in neighbouring Haryana had hatched a conspiracy to push the national capital into a flood-like situation. Sachdeva said, "The rainfall had been predicted in advance. What preparations did CM Kejriwal make? People displaced from the flooded low-lying areas of the Yamuna are being made to sleep under an open sky, on roads. What preparations did the Delhi government make for them?" (ANI)
Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Sunday said that people in Haryana are not narrow-minded that they can think of submerging Delhi to save themselves, adding that the people of his state are compassionate enough even willing to sacrifice their own lives to save others. As the blame game between Delhi and Haryana governments continued over the floods in Delhi, CM Khattar took to Twitter and said, "To solve the drinking water problem of Delhi in summers, we had given our share of water to them as well and today when disaster has struck, they are indulging in politics. I do not engage in such cheap politics and no one from Haryana is so narrow-minded they can think of submerging Delhi to save themselves. The people of his state are compassionate enough even willing to sacrifice their own lives to save others." He further expressed his condolences to the people affected by the floods in Delhi and said politics should be avoided on the flood issue in Delhi. "We will do whatever help we can, but we will not sprinkle salt on their suffering by doing politics on this issue," CM Khattar said. As some parts of Delhi still continued to be immersed in flood water causing waterlogging and traffic snarls, the Aam Adami Party (AAP) had accused the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Central Government of orchestrating a conspiracy to flood the city with the water of Haryanas Hathnikund Barrage. Delhi Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj on Saturday questioned the Haryana government over the water not being released to the other states especially the eastern canal which goes to UP. "Hathni Kund barrage diverts water to three different canals- eastern canal, western canal and Yamuna. The water of the western canal comes to Delhi so they keep releasing water into it and the same with Yamuna. But they are not releasing water into the eastern canal which goes to UP. What is the reason for this? This is a conspiracy against Delhi. The BJP-led central government is conspiring to flood Delhi, he said. Earlier, Delhi Public Works Department (PWD) Minister Atishi accused the Haryana government of deliberately releasing water from Hathini Kund Barrage to Delhi. "There is good news for Delhis people that the water level of River Yamuna is decreasing...It is a big question why all the water was being released only for Delhi. Not a single drop of water was released for the water that goes to UP and Haryana from Hathini Kund Barrage... Haryana will have to answer for this," Atishi said. Reacting to Delhi Government allegations Haryana Home Minister Anil Vij said that his government is not blaming anyone though it too is receiving water from other states. "In our state also water came from Punjab, Himachal Pradesh but we are not blaming anyone. We are trying to make arrangements, Anil Vij said. (ANI)
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Sunday said that all questions raised by the opposition will be answered by the government in the Monsoon session of the State assembly. While addressing the joint press conference alongside Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis, Ajit Pawar said,"We will answer all the questions which will come from opposition side in this monsoon session. We will solve Maharashtra people's problem." He further stated that issues of farmers will be important in the Monsoon session which is set to begin from tomorrow. "As like Deputy CM Fadnavis said monsoon not came like we were expecting. We will work on it. Farmer's issues will be important in Monsoon session," he said. As Monsoon Session of the Maharashtra legislature will begin from Monday, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday said that government will not misuse its current position in the State Assembly even though the numbers of the alliance have increased in the House. His statement comes after the political dynamics of the state has changed dramatically in wake of the reduced strength of the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi following rebellion by Ajit Pawar along with 8 MLAs who joined the BJP-Shiv Sena government. Spanning three weeks, from July 17 to August 4, the session will take place at the Vidhan Bhavan Complex in Nariman Point, Mumbai. Devendra Fadnavis said that the Eknath Shinde government will address all issues related to the welfare of the people which will be raised by the opposition. Earlier today a tea party was organized at the Sahyadri State Guest House in Mumbai on the eve of the Monsoon Session of the Maharashtra Assembly on Sunday. The tea party was attended by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar alongside other party leaders. In a major Cabinet expansion in the Eknath Shinde-led government soon after the inclusion of nine MLAs of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), new Deputy CM Ajit Pawar has been entrusted with finance and planning ministries. Earlier on July 2, Ajit Pawar split the NCP down the middle as he joined the Shiv Sena-BJP alliance in Maharashtra along with 8 senior MLAs and took oath as the state's deputy chief minister for the fifth time. (ANI)
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Sunday issued a 'moderate to high risk' alert predicting flash floods occurrence in five districts of Himachal Pradesh till July 17. "Moderate to high risk" of flash food over a few watersheds and neighbourhoods of Chamba, Kangra, Sirmaour, Shimla and Kullu districts till July 17," a bulletin issued by IMD said. Earlier today, IMD issued an orange alert for rain in four states, including Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. "OrangeAlert: HimachalPradesh and Uttarakhand likely to get heavy to very heavy rainfall (115.6 to 204.4 mm) during 16th to 17th July", it said. Earlier Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu expressed concerns over the possibility of nearly Rs 5,000 crore in losses due to floods in the state. The Chief Minister stated that compensation of Rs 1,45,000 has been provided to those whose houses were completely damaged and Rs 1 lakh to those with partially damaged houses. Meanwhile Himachal Leader of Opposition Jairam Thakur visited the flood-affected Sainj Valley in Kullu and said that the state government should speed up relief and rehabilitation works in the area. Former Himachal CM Jairam Thakur said that that the condition of this area is very bad and said that almost no work has been done in the name of relief. "The disaster ruined people's lifetime's earnings. People have become homeless. Many such families were also found who are still living in the same clothes in which they came out of the house on the day of the disaster. There is a need to speed up the relief and rescue operations. Those who do not have a home to live in, where will they go?," Jairam Thakur said. Also, IMD Shimla Director Surender Paul said that heavy to very heavy rain very is likely to occur during the next four to five days in the seven districts of Shimla, Solan, Sirmaur, Bilaspur, Mandi, Kangra and Hamirpur districts of the state. (ANI)
As Monsoon Session of the Maharashtra legislature will begin from Monday, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday said that government will not misuse its current position in the State Assembly even though the numbers of the alliance have increased in the House. His statement comes after the political dynamics of the state has changed dramatically in wake of the reduced strength of the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi following rebellion by Ajit Pawar along with 8 MLAs who joined the BJP-Shiv Sena government. Spanning three weeks, from July 17 to August 4, the session will take place at the Vidhan Bhavan Complex in Nariman Point, Mumbai. Devendra Fadnavis said that the Eknath Shinde government will address all issues related to the welfare of the people which will be raised by the opposition. While addressing a joint press conference, Devendra Fadnavis said," Maharashtra legislature monsoon session starts from tomorrow. We will discuss all the issues during the session. Even though our strength has increased we will make sure that we do not misuse it and address all the issues related to the welfare of the people that will be raised by the opposition. "The situation today is such that due to our governments one-year performance Maharashtra is on number one position in FDI," he added. In the joint conference, Chief Minister Shinde said that opposition should raise the questions against the state government for the welfare of people but also praise when government does something right. "As always Opposition boycott Tea program of monsoon session. We will discuss all the issues during the session. More than 210 MLAs are with us (current government). Opposition must question us if we are doing wrong, questions must be raised for the welfare of the people. It is the duty of the opposition to praise the government when the government does something right," CM Shinde said. A tea party was organized at the Sahyadri State Guest House in Mumbai on the eve of the Monsoon Session of the state legislature on Sunday, an official statement issued by Maharashtra Chief Minister office (CMO) said. The tea party was attended by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar "Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar along with the cabinet members were present in the meeting," Maharashtra CMO said. Earlier today, the MLAs of the NCP Ajit Pawar faction reached the YB Chavan Centre to meet NCP President Sharad Pawar. Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, and Praful Patel along with their MLAs reach YB Chavan Centre in Mumbai to meet NCP President Sharad Pawar Chhagan Bhujbal, Aditi Tatkare, and Hasan Mashrif were among those who arrived at the center. Reacting to the meeting between the two factions, Maharashtra Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis said," For years Sharad Pawar was their leader, so they must have gone to meet him, no big deal in it." In a major Cabinet expansion in the Eknath Shinde-led government soon after the inclusion of nine MLAs of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), new Deputy CM Ajit Pawar has been entrusted with finance and planning ministries. Earlier on July 2,Ajit Pawarsplit theNCPdown the middle as he joined the Shiv Sena-BJP alliance in Maharashtra along with 8 senior MLAs and took oath as the state's deputy chief minister for the fifth time. (ANI)
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national chief JP Nadda on Sunday held a meeting with BJP state office bearers and legislative party in Rajasthan's Jaipur ahead of assembly polls slated at the end of year. Earlier today, Nadda launched a state-wide campaign 'Nahi Sahega Rajasthan' against the Ashok Gehlot-led Government in Jaipur. Addressing a rally after launching the BJP's "Nahi Sahega Rajasthan" campaign against the Congress government, Nadda called the Ashok Gehlot government a rule of loot. While addressing a rally Nadda took a swipe at Congress saying that UPA stands for "utpidan, pakshpat and atyachar" (oppression, biasedness and atrocity) while his party is trying to protect the culture. We are trying to protect the culture and do development work, but there is an obstacle in that development, that is oppression, tyranny, favouritism and corruption within the Rajasthan government by CM Ashok Gehlot. In UPA - U stands for oppressive government. P - partisan government. A-tyrannical government, Nadda said while addressing a public gathering in Jaipur. This government loots and tortures people and has broken all records of atrocities against Dalits, tribals, women, children and the poor. This is a government of looters, atrocities and misrule, he added. He further claimed that more than 8,000 cases have been registered against Dalits here in 2022. In 2022 alone, more than 8,000 cases have been registered against Dalits here. The Rajasthan government has done the work of demolishing the houses of refugees from Pakistan with bulldozers in furtherance of favouritism and vote bank politics. The Gehlot government is also doing the work of settling Rohingyas here, the BJP President said. Nadda further said that his party will come to power in the state when the assembly polls which are scheduled to take place at the end of the year will be conducted. (ANI)
According to an official statement, a search operation was launched by BSF on the outskirts of Hasimpura village in Amritsar district following a specific information.

During the search at about 5:10 pm on July 16, BSF troops recovered a drone (Hexacopter) from the farming field adjacent Hasimpura, it said.

The force further added that vigilant BSF troops once again thwarted the nefarious attempts of smugglers to smuggle contraband through drone.

Earlier on July 9, a joint team of BSF and Punjab Police, on Sunday morning recovered anotherPakistani dronenear India-Pakistan International Border inAmritsardistrict.

The drone was recovered from the outskirts of Kakkar village inAmritsarfollowing a search operation launched by theBSFand Punjab Police on specific information. (ANI)
Pitching for harmony among political parties, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday said that every Bharatiya Janata Party leader should build relations across party lines. Singh was addressing the newly elected councillors here who won in the recently concluded Uttar Pradesh municipal polls. "It is every BJP worker's hard work that has resulted in winning the municipal elections. We have to make sure that we maintain healthy relations with other political parties as well. There should not be any bitterness. Our party is different from other political parties...If people have the same view for BJP as that of the opposition, we will no longer be known as the party with a difference," the Defence Minister said. He said that the event was organised as he was due to congratulate the newly elected Councillors. "I have not invited you to know how many votes you received or by how much of a margin you won the election. Instead, I have invited you so that I can congratulate you as an MP from this Parliamentary constituency," he said. Singh said that this victory should be dedicated to the lakhs and crores of 'BJP Karyakartas', who worked day and night for the party. Earlier in May, this year, the BJP registered a landslide victory in the Uttar Pradesh urban local body polls by winning the Mayoral seats of all 17 municipal corporations besides 90 posts of municipality chairman and over 600 wards. Like the previous civic elections held in 2017, this time also the main opposition Samajwadi Party's account could not be opened in the municipal corporations. Last time BJP won 14 out of 16 seats and BSP won two seats, while this time BJP registered victory in all 17 mayoral seats in Municipal Corporations. While the BJP has captured all the municipal corporations in the state, the SP was not even remotely in the fray except for one seat, quashing all speculations of a close contest between the two parties. The results of the civic polls indicated that the BJP under the leadership of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath enjoys huge support in the state due to the development works of his government. In 2017 also the Samajwadi Party fielded its candidates on all the 16 municipal corporations' seats but failed to open its account. BJP also won the two seats of Meerut and Aligarh which the party had lost to the BSP in the previous elections. (ANI)
Members of the Indian-American community holding the Tricolour on Friday (local time) gathered outside the Indian Consulate in San Francisco to express support for India and its diplomats there following a recent attempted arson at the diplomatic facility by pro-Khalistan supporters. Indian Americans gathered outside the Indian Consulate in San Francisco were seen raising slogans like "Vande Mataram", "Bharat Mata ki Jai" and "Akhand Bharat Zindabad". They were carrying banners carrying messages like "We stand with our diplomats" and "Khalistani Attack on the Consulate is an act of terrorism". A group of pro-Khalistan supporters allegedly attempted to set fire to the Consulate on July 2. There was no major damage nor any injuries and police were carrying out an investigation into the incident. A video of the incident was verified by sources who told ANI the fire was suppressed quickly by the San Francisco Fire Department. Calling the attack nothing less than a "terror act" an official told ANI that no major damages or staffers were harmed. The Local San Francisco police department, special diplomatic security personnel, and state and federal authorities were notified and immediately began investigating the incident. Following the incident, the US strongly condemned the reported vandalism and attempted arson by pro-Khalistan supporters against the Indian Consulate in San Francisco. "The US strongly condemns the reported vandalism and attempted arson against the Indian Consulate in San Francisco on Saturday. Vandalism or violence against diplomatic facilities or foreign diplomats in the US is a criminal offense," US state department spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a tweet on Monday (local time). Meanwhile, the co-chairs of the India Caucus condemned such elements, saying free speech is not a license to provoke violence. The remarks were made by the co-chairs of the Congressional Caucus on India, Ro Khanna, and Michael Waltz. The two US Congressmen in a press release said, "As the co-chairs of the India Caucus, we strongly condemn the attempted arson and vandalism at the Indian Consulate in San Francisco and the posters circulating on social media with violent rhetoric aimed at Indian diplomats, including Ambassador Sandhu." They also appealed to the US State Department to investigate the damage and take necessary action. Meanwhile, Congressmen Khanna said that he knows the Ambassador of India to the United States, Taranjit Singh Sandhu, and respects him. "We support the right to free speech and freedom of expression for every American, but that is not a license to vandalize property or incite violence. Violence against diplomatic facilities is a criminal offence and will not be tolerated. We urge the State Department to coordinate with law enforcement in their investigation of the damage at the Indian Consulate expeditiously and hold those involved accountable," the release added. (ANI)
With only four weeks left in the completion of the National Assemblys term, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday held a meeting with Pakistan People's Party co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari and Pakistan Party (IPP) patron-in-chief Jahangir Khan, Pakistan-based The Express Tribune reported. Sharif and Zardari held a discussion on the political situation of Pakistan. In a statement released on Twitter, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) stated, "Former President and President of Pakistan People's Party Parliamentarians Asif Ali Zardari arrived at the residence of Prime Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif in Lahore. The two leaders held a detailed consultation on the country's political situation." According to well-placed sources, the leaders agreed to hold the next general elections on time, The Express Tribune reported. The leaders took a fire stance that the elections should not be delayed under any circumstance. As per the news report, the leaders have decided to choose "a senior politician" as the caretaker Prime Minister instead of a bureaucrat. Earlier this week, Shehbaz Sharif said that he will be handing over the government to a caretaker set-up in August, once the term of the assembly ends, Dawn reported. Notably, the caretaker PM of Pakistan is selected by the outgoing PM in consultation with the leader of the opposition. If the Pakistan PM and the leader of the opposition do not agree on any person to be appointed as the caretaker PM within three days of the dissolution of the National Assembly, they shall forward two nominees each to a committee to be immediately set up by the speaker, according to The Express Tribune. The committee should include eight members of the outgoing National Assembly, or the Senate, or both, having equal representation from the treasury and the opposition. Pakistan PM and the leader of the opposition nominate the committee members, the report said. In another tweet, PML-N stated that Pakistan PM visited Istehkam-i-Pakistan Party (IPP) patron-in-chief Jahangir Khan Tareen's house to offer condolences on the death of his brother Alamgir Tareen. He prayed for strength and patience for the mourning family, The Express Tribune reported citing a press release by Pakistan Prime Minister's office. The meetings came after PML-N hinted that the party will be contesting the elections solo in Punjab, indicating a reluctance to go for a seat adjustment. While addressing a press conference on Friday, Pakistan's Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah announced that there was a possibility that there could be talks with other parties regarding seat adjustment for constituencies where the party would need help. Sanaullah said, "If a party talks about seat adjustment, our criteria would be that we would not compromise on our winning and dedicated candidates." Meanwhile, PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif and JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman had a telephonic conversation to allay the latter's reservations regarding key political decisions and Pakistan PM's meeting with PPP co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari to discuss elections. The assurance came in the wake of the meeting held between PPP and PML-N leadership without Maulana Fazlur Rehman in Dubai. Nawaz Sharif has assured Maulana Falzur Rehman that no political decision would be taken without taking him on board. According to the sources, the two leaders held a conversation on the interim setup as the 15th National Assemblys tenure is scheduled to end on August 12. PML-N supremo assured Maulana of his commitment to keeping him informed and involved in key political decisions. (ANI)
The poppy eradication campaign started three months ago, and so far, we have destroyed 40,000 acres of poppy, and the process will continue until the poppy fields are completely demolished in the province, Hafizi said.

The official predicted further that the anti-poppy campaign would end soon.

Earlier, on Wednesday, a drug processing lab was destroyed by police in the Jawzjan province of northern Afghanistan, and the owner was taken into custody, Khaama Press reported.

In the eastern province of Ghazni, authorities destroyed 20 acres of poppies last week.

Saeed Iravani, the permanent representative of Iran to the UN, said earlier that the UNSC had expressed concern about the growth of drug production in Afghanistan.

The UN representative for Iran stated that although drug trafficking has decreased somewhat in Afghanistan, it is still a thriving industry, according to Khaama Press.

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), in a report earlier, said Afghanistan continued to account for the "majority (80 per cent) of global illicit opium production in 2022."

In a separate report, UNODC said Afghanistan is home to an estimated 3.5 million drug users, accounting for nearly 10 per cent of the total population.

"Since the political change in August 2021, most drug treatment and rehabilitation centres in the country are struggling to remain operational due to resource limitation," the report said. (ANI)
Taking to Twitter, the French President posted a video which showed PM Modi receiving Frances highest decoration, the Grand Cross of Legion of Honour, and several glimpses from the Bastille Day Parade.

"To the people of India, trust and friendship," Macron tweeted along with the video shared.

https://twitter.com/EmmanuelMacron/status/1680263558154661889?s=20

The video also showed French President Macron meeting Bollywood actor, R Madhavan, who was also invited at the banquet dinner in Paris which was hosted in honour of Prime Minister Modi.

The video also highlighted several moments of friendship between the two leaders in France.

PM Modi, on his visit toFrance, participated in theBastille Daycelebrations as the Guest of Honour, on Friday. He visitedFranceat the invitation of French President Macron.

"To mark the 25th anniversary of the India-FranceStrategic Partnership, a 241-member tri-service Indian armed forces contingent led by a military band also participated in the Parade," the PMO said in a statement.

The Indian Army contingent was led by the Punjab Regiment, followed by a complement from the Rajputana Rifles Regiment.

During the parade, the Indian military contingent marched to the patriotic tune of 'Sare Jahan Se Accha,' while a squadron ofIndian Air Force(IAF) Rafale fighters participated in a flypast over theChamps-Elyseesat theBastille DayParade.

Rafale Jets of the Indian Air Force, from the 101 Squadron from Hashimara, formed a part of the flypast during the parade.

"A giant in world history, with a decisive role to play in the future, a strategic partner, a friend. We are proud to welcome India as our guest of honour at the 14 July parade," President Macron said.

PM Modiand PresidentEmmanuel Macronmet notable dignitaries during theBastille DayParadein Paris.

July 14 marks the anniversary of the storming of the Bastille prison on July 14, 1789, during the French Revolution, which symbolizes the democratic values of Liberty, Equality and Fraternity, the central theme of both the Indian and French constitutions. (ANI)
Hong Kong authorities have intensified its new campaign against overseas activists this month, which could give a chilling effect, Voice of America reported citing exiled democracy activists and adding that they are also forcing the in-exiled people to consider additional precautions. A week ago, the Hong Kong authorities issued an arrest warrant and a bounty of 1 million Hong Kong dollars against eight prominent activists overseas. Days later, four men in Hong Kong were arrested and accused of providing those in exile with support, the report noted. Earlier, on Tuesday, the national security police raided activist Nathan Laws family home in Hong Kong and took away his parents and older brother for questioning. They were later released. Under this new campaign, Hong Kong seems to leave no rebellion. All the eight people, against whom the arrest warrant was issued are residing either in the United States, Australia, and Britain, which do not have extradition treaties with Hong Kong, the moves have clearly raised the stakes, VOA reported. Alex Chow, a prominent Hong Kong activist and board chair of the Washington-based nonprofit organisation, Hong Kong Democracy Council, told VOA that the new approach could extend intimidation to people who have nothing to do with the advocacy work done by overseas activists. Chow added that Hong Kongers now need to consider some precautions to try to protect loved ones who are still in Hong Kong. This is a tough situation for activists abroad because their family members could be used by Hong Kong authorities to pressure them, he said. Given the bounties and arrest warrants, some overseas Hong Kongers have even begun to contemplate whether it is still safe for them to engage in activism. The diaspora community may feel some pressure and choose not to attend pro-democracy protests abroad, said Michael Mo, a former district councillor in Hong Kong who now resides in the UK, as per VOA. Others are already looking for ways to continue to be a part of Hong Kongs pro-democracy movement and make sure that their participation in activism is more secure. I know a lot of groups are exploring different ways by adopting secure precautions, both digital and physical, said Maya Wang, the associate Asia director for Human Rights Watch. She added that compared to other diaspora communities, Hong Kong people are already more adept at taking precautions to ensure their security. Chung Ching Kwong, the Hong Kong campaigns coordinator for the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China, said that since a lot of threats that overseas Hong Kongers may face are connected to their technology, they should use different tools, including end-to-end encryption and password security to protect themselves and those they are in contact with. I see efforts from the diaspora community to educate each other about the importance of digital security, but not enough works have been done and there arent enough resources and people with enough know-how to share their knowledge, Kwong added. Some experts felt that the foreign government is not helping diaspora communities to maintain the freedom of speech and freedom of assembly, reported VOA. If the host governments cant assure protection of these basic rights, the diaspora community may still think they can be intimidated by Hong Kong authorities, especially if they still have family members back there, said Eric Lai, a visiting researcher at the Dickson Poon School of Law at Kings College in London. Over the past year, there have been several cases of Chinese nationals assaulting Hong Kong activists that live in the UK. In June, British police began an investigation after video footage showing pro-Hong Kong demonstrators attacked by a group of Chinese nationals in Southampton. Last October, a Hong Kong protester was attacked on the grounds of the Chinese Consulate in Manchester. The incident pushed British police to launch an investigation and resulted in Bejing removing six Chinese diplomats who were allegedly involved in the assault from the UK, according to the VOA. (ANI)
Chinese Communist Party is using coercive economic practices to achieve worldwide dominance over America, US lawmakers accused, Voice of America (VOA) reported. The accusations came at a hearing of the House Select Committee on Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party days after Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen met with Chinese officials in Beijing to discuss the nations economic relationship. The diplomatic relations between China and US have been downgraded since the Chinese spy balloon incident. The witnesses told the House panel that the US companies in China are facing threats in operating. There's no such thing as a private company in China, a raft of legislation like the updated counterespionage law, the data security law, the anti-foreign sanctions law has codified what was always true. China reserves the right to swipe any data, to seize any assets and take IP that it wishes, committee Chairman Mike Gallagher said. According to committee members, Chinas restrictive environment is resulting in a so-called brain-drain of its own business people, turning China into the top country in the world for the departure of wealthy individuals, fleeing what they fear is the Communist Partys ability to arbitrarily seize assets. Witnesses testified the environment in China is becoming increasingly restrictive for American companies and individuals.Meanwhile, Yellen said that the decoupling of the world's two largest economies would be disastrous for the interests of both countries and destabilize the world, and it would be virtually impossible to undertake. We want a dynamic and healthy global economy that is open, free, and fair, she added. European companies have also complained about a worsening climate for business. In June, a survey by the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China reported a record-high 64 per cent of surveyed China-based European companies reported that doing business in China became more difficult in 2022, reported VOA. The crackdown on consulting businesses, the enhanced data, secrecy laws and the flow of PRC information just highlight the negative symmetry that we have with China. This means that even companies now can't even do due diligence in advance of any sort of business transaction, Lounsbury, said. The Chinese Foreign Affairs Ministry pushed back against criticism of its business practices Monday in response to a U.S. State Department travel advisory issued this month warning American citizens of the risk of wrongful detention.China is a country committed to the rule of law. The decisions to conduct security reviews over foreign companies by competent Chinese departments are made in accordance with the laws and the facts. China welcomes the people and businesses of all countries to come to China and do business here, and we are committed to protecting their safety and lawful rights and interests in China in accordance with the law, including their freedom of entry and exit, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning said on July 10. Speaking of entry and exit review and wrongful detentions, in recent years, the US has put up hurdles and even harassed and interrogated under various excuses Chinese nationals entering the US. From time to time, Chinese students bound for the US have been refused entry and sent back. In 2021, the US refused to issue visas for at least 2,000 Chinese students majoring in science, technology, engineering or mathematics, she added. She further stated that from January to October 2022, the number of visas issued for Chinese students bound for the US dropped by 38 per cent year-on-year. Recently, the US has smeared Chinas efforts to repatriate corrupt fugitives and recover criminals illegal proceeds, and even prosecuted and detained Chinese nationals and people of Chinese descent in the US. The US has scapegoated China on fentanyl-related issues, resorting to sting operations and extra-territorial abduction against Chinese nationals, and prosecution against Chinese entities and individuals. China urged the US to stop its wrongdoing at once, stop disrupting practical cooperation between the two countries, stop arbitrary detentions and abuse of process against Chinese businesses and individuals, and earnestly protect the legitimate and lawful rights and interests of Chinese businesses and nationals in the US, Mao Ning said. Witnesses told the committee that American businesses face a restrictive environment led from the top down by President Xi Jinping, potential intellectual property theft and the constant threat of seized assets, as per VOA. (ANI)
India on Sunday gifted 43 ambulances and 50 school buses to Nepal under the Nepal-India Development Partnership Programme. At a ceremony held in the embassy premises, Nepals Minister for Science, Education and Technology handed over the keys to beneficiary organizations in the presence of the Indian Ambassador to Nepal, Naveen Srivastava. Addressing the event, the Minister for Science, Education and Technology, Ashok Rai, thanked the Indian government for vehicular support stating it would facilitate students during their studies. Currently, the schools are unevenly distributed. Previously there was no mapping of the schools but now we are planning to merge them. The merger of two-three schools into one would obviously make the students travel more. This is precisely why our schools need more means of transport. There is an increased demand for buses. In the coming days, such support from the Indian government would help us cater for those needs and we will continue to receive this support from the Indian Embassy and the government. I am confident that the assistance from India would certainly help our children avail good education,"Rai said. Under the Nepal-India Development Partnership Programme, which has been in vogue since 1994,a total of 974 ambulances and 234 school buses have been gifted by the Indian government till date. Announcing continued support in the health and education sector, the Indian Ambassador to Nepal, Naveen Srivastava, promised to raise the number of school buses in the days to come. As the mapping of schools is going on, we also have noted that the demand and desire for school buses has gone up significantly in the recent past. Catering to the need and demand, last year, this year and in the coming years as well, the number of school buses would go up in comparison to ambulances, Ambassador Srivastava said The Indian Embassy as well as the government will work with neighbouring and supporting Nepalese citizen for their development, the Ambassador added. (ANI)
As a part of its totalitarian regime, a colonial boarding school system was established by the Chinese government in Tibet, which over a period of time, resulted in four generations of inexpensive labourers who could easily find work in Chinese cities, Bitter Winter reported. It is the 40 years of colonial boarding schools in Tibet that are held accountable for Tibet's overall capacity and generation of labourers. Bitter Winter is an online magazine on religious liberty and human rights in China published by CESNUR, the Center for Studies on New Religions, headquartered in Torino, Italy. Expressing his views on education as the key to controlling societies and exerting full political power in a country, Dr. Gyal Lo, a renowned Tibetan scholar, and an educational sociologist turned activist said that the Chinese government established a colonial boarding school system in Tibet as a major tool to fundamentally to weaken it as a nation. Since 2016, China has started keeping age 4 to 6 Tibetan kids in boarding preschools by teaching them only Chinese language and culture. Also, the contents of reading materials kids are exposed to are extremely violent. The Chinese boarding preschools in Tibet have been carrying out a psychological revolution toward a complete eradication of Tibetan culture and identity," the Tibetan Scholar said, according to Bitter Winter. The Tibetan scholar further said that it is high time for stronger alliances between international institutions to put more pressure on China and punish its genocidal policy-makers. "This is urgently needed if we want to completely stop the cultural and racial genocidal policy of the CCP. Otherwise, it will spread to other communities, if international institutions let China continue doing what it has been doing to ethnicities, Bitter Winter quoted Scholar Gyal Lo as saying. CCP's crackdown is not only subjected to older people but children too under the pretext of education. The Chinese government is taking children as young as four away from theirTibetan parents in order towipe outTibetan identity and replace it with a Chinese identity so that there is no resistance to the Chinese occupation ofTibet in future. Tibet under Chinese occupation has been repressed since 1949 when the People's Republic of China (PRC) was established. (ANI)
Diamer Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Muhammad Ayaz verified the death toll and the number of injuries to Dawn, saying that the deceased included three women, a child, and a man.

He went on to say that the bus was on its way to Gilgit from Lahore, as per Dawn.

Dawn is a Pakistani English-language newspaper that was launched in 1941.

Local residents assisted with rescue operations, and the injured were sent to a nearby hospital, according to the SSP. He added that there were a total of 18 passengers in the bus.

Five tourists were killed and 13 were injured earlier this month in two accidents in Gilgit Baltistans Hunza when a van slid into a gorge and another crashed into a mountain.

Last month, eight people were killed and 17 others were injured when a vehicle travelling from Upper Dir to Chitral crashed into a ravine.

In the same month, nine people were murdered and 18 were injured when a roller coaster crashed into a ravine in PoK.

Roads in poor condition, insufficient safety measures, and irresponsible driving all contribute to PoKs poor road safety record.

Passenger buses are usually overcrowded, and seatbelts are either rarely or never worn, resulting in high fatality rates from single-vehicle accidents.

As per the World Health Organisations estimates, over 27,000 people have died in Pakistans roads in 2018, Dawn reported. (ANI)
Another Mexican journalist was shot to death in a store parking lot on Saturday in Acapulco, the State Attorney General's Office said. This is the second attack in a week where the media person has been killed, El Universal reported. El Universal is a Mexican newspaper based in Mexico City. According to the report of the State Attorney General's Office, the director of the news portal Lo Real de Guerrero, Nelson Matus Pea, was shot at around 3:30 pm when he was about to board his vehicle in the parking lot of the Coppel store, located on Vicente Guerrero boulevard. As per the medical reports, the victim was shot in the head, which killed him on the spot.Matus Pea founded and directed the news portal Lo Real de Guerrero, which for years stood out for offering information on the violence that is experienced in Acapulco. Lo Real de Guerrero became a reference portal on issues of violence and insecurity since it had reports of almost all the murders that occurred in the port, reported El Universal. This was not the first time when Pea was attacked, earlier, on August 29, 2017, he suffered an armed attack in Acapulco from which he was unharmed. That same year, in March, the mother of the portal's administrator, Reina Balbuena, was murdered in an armed attack. In recent weeks, attacks on reporters in Acapulco have not stopped. This week only the body of fellow journalist Luis Martin Sanchez, a correspondent for La Jornada newspaper, was found in the state of Nayarit, according to the state public prosecutors office, reported Al Jazeera. Luis Martn Sanchez Iniguez worked for the newspaper La Jornada. He had been missing since Wednesday and his wife filed a missing persons report with the authorities on Friday. Armed men attacked the administrator of two Facebook news pages, Alan Castro Abarca, with bullets, early this Monday morning in the Morelos neighborhood, in Acapulco. According to the police report, around 5 in the morning, two men shot Castro Abarca when he was on the neighbourhood field, as per El Universal. Castro Abarca manages the Facebook pages Contactotv Guerrero and ltima Lnea Noticias and is the son of reporter Celso Castro Castro. On June 16, Jos Carlos Gonzlez Herrera, administrator of the Guerrero citizen opinion news Facebook page, was attacked with bullets. In the two years of the government of the Morenista, Evelyn Salgado Pineda, four reporters have been murdered in Guerrero, El Universal reported. (ANI)
Amid Chinas increasing influence in the South China Sea and off the coast of Taiwan, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with his Southeast Asian counterparts in Indonesia to warn them against Chinese coercion, The Washington Post reported. On the sidelines of the ASEAN (Association of South East Nations), Blinken met his Southeast Asian counterparts and encouraged them to stand for openness, even though the Indonesian leaders and others had vowed that their region would not align itself in the heating competition between Washington and Beijing.It is pertinent to mention that Blinken had visited the twelfth time to Indo-Pacific region, and his fourth to Indonesia. Chinas influence in the South China Sea triggered the US and it's constant effort to increase its diplomatic relationship with the countries. Blinkens visit was a measure of the Biden administrations broadening effort to woo Southeast Asian countries amid an aggressive Chinese diplomatic push, earlier neglected by WashingtonIt was also a foray into the world of intense regional challenges, including North Korea, which tested an intercontinental ballistic missile on Wednesday, and Myanmar, whose repressive military dictatorship continues to imprison former leader Aung San Suu Kyi and other senior officials, as per The Washington Post.After his meetings, Blinken told reporters that he had advocated for a region where countries are free to choose their path and their partners, where problems are dealt with openly. Meanwhile, China and Russia also sent their top diplomats, a measure of the 10-nation regional groups importance as a fast-growing bloc that is facing rapid population growth, increasing climate vulnerability and tension over global food prices that have swung wildly over the war in Ukraine.Foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, were cautious about Blinkens entreaties, open to the United States but made no commitments to turning their back on Washingtons rivals. Still, many have been frustrated by Chinas expansive claims over the South China Sea, and they have pushed back against its effort to do so.We are not choosing sides. We do not want to be proxies, we do not want to be vassal states, we do not want to be divided, Singaporean Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan told reporters ahead of the meetings on Friday. We are trying to avoid the bad old days of the Cold War, of proxy wars, when Southeast Asia was divided, or worse, an arena for proxy wars, he added. But some choices may be unavoidable, as China, the United States and others increasingly erect trade barriers against each other that affect other economic partners as well, according to The Washington Post.If the U.S. and China are de-risking, decoupling however you want to call it, its happening as international rules get more and more fragmented, these middle countries have to figure out how they navigate that space, said Satu Limaye, vice president of the East-West Center, a think tank. Blinken was capping a week that began in London with President Biden, then moved on to Vilnius, Lithuania, where NATO leaders bolstered their defences against Russia, and met for more than 90 minutes on Thursday with Chinas top diplomat, Wang Yi. One of the most immediate hot-button issues facing the region is the military government in Myanmar, which removed the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi two years ago and imprisoned her. Myanmar, a member of ASEAN, has been disinvited from gatherings as regional nations seek to restore the government, reported The Washington Post. (ANI)
The Foreign Ministry now believes that Francis Adbabayi, 79, from Rishon Lezion, who traveled to his native country of Ethiopia a few weeks ago, faked his own abduction in order to keep the ransom.

Adbabayis relatives said last week that his alleged abductors hadsent them a recorded message, pictures and a short video clip of him bound at the hands and feet and guarded by an armed man.

The kidnappers were demanding 2.5 million Ethiopian birr, about 164,000 shekels (USD 45,000), for his release.

Help me. Im in the middle of the jungle. Its raining hard. Help me This trouble I wouldnt wish upon my enemies, Adbabayi reportedly said in the recording.

Israeli officials were working with Interpol on the matter.

Authorities reportedly dropped the case after discovering that Adebabayi had answered incoming phone calls from Israeli numbers.

His relative disputed the findings and insisted that Adebabayi remains a captive. (ANI/TPS)
Amid the continuously depleting forex reserves, the Government of Pakistan has been pushing for outsourcing the operations of major airports. The finance minister has already convened multiple meetings of the committee formed to engage foreign operators for outsourcing, Dawn reported. Finance Minister Ishaq Dar told the stakeholders to finalise formalities to outsource the operations of Islamabad International Airport (IIA) by August 12, the final day of the incumbent governments term, Dawn reported quoting sources. Dawn is a national daily of Pakistan that reports on politics and current affairs of Pakistan. The minister chaired a meeting of the steering committee for assessing the progress of airport operations outsourcing on Saturday. A source privy to the meeting told Dawn that the committee had given explicit instructions to complete the necessary procedures for IIA outsourcing as a priority, Dawn reported. An official announcement issued after the meeting said World Banks International Finance Corporation (IFC), the transaction adviser for the outsourcing, briefed the meeting on the progress. Dar wants changes to aviation laws approved before month-end. The meeting agreed to fast-track IIAs outsourcing to improve service delivery in line with best industry practices, Dawn reported. The IFC also gave a presentation to the committee which also took decisions on the future roadmap of outsourcing IIA operations. On March 31, the Economic Coordination Committee decided to kick off the 25-year outsourcing of operations and land assets at Islamabad, Lahore, and Karachi airports. Their functions will be run through a public-private partnership to generate foreign exchange. In the meeting on Saturday, Dar also gave a deadline to departments concerned for finalising amendments to civil aviation laws and a plan for Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) restructuring, Dawn reported. The amendments are being made to segregate the functions of the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority, PIA and Airports Security Force. The objective is to eliminate overlapping responsibilities of these organisations by enacting ordinances. The minister emphasised getting amendments approved by the parliament before the end of July. This timeline is crucial as it would allow global aviation regulators to dispatch inspectors in August for an on-ground assessment of operational systems and standards necessary to restore PIAs flights to the US, UK and Europe. Failure to meet this deadline would result in a year-long delay before the inspections occur, Dawn reported. PIAs flights to these destinations have been suspended since 2020 following a controversy surrounding pilots professional degrees and other aircraft safety standards. The meeting chaired by the finance minister was also attended by Federal Minister for Aviation and Railways Saad Rafique, Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Finance Tariq Bajwa, the Aviation Division secretary, Public Private Partnership Authority CEO, PCAA director general, IFC representatives and other government officials. (ANI)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was discharged on Sunday afternoon following an overnight hospital stay with a heart monitor implanted on his chest, Al Jazeera reported. The 72-year-old Israeli Prime Minister was rushed to Sheba Medical Center on Saturday following a dizzy spell. His office said that he was discharged from the hospital on Sunday after stating earlier that his test results were normal and that he was feeling very good. PM Netanyahu had completed a series of tests and is in excellent condition, said Dr Amit Segev, Shebas head of cardiology. Our diagnosis, at the end of all the tests performed, including the laboratory tests, is that the reason for the hospitalization was dehydration, Dr Segev said in a video statement, as per Al Jazeera. As part of the cardiological tests, Sheba opted for a subcutaneous (implanted) Holter on PM Netanyahu to continue regular monitoring of his heart, Dr Segev added. According to Netanyahus office, he spent the previous day at the Sea of Galilee, a popular vacation destination in northern Israel where temperatures spiked to near 40 degrees Celsius amid a heatwave. The veteran Israeli leader was dehydrated following a series of tests. Last night, after Netanyahu was hospitalised, he released a video message on social media. With a smile on his face, he said he had been out in the sun on Friday without wearing a hat and without water. Not a good idea, he said, reported Al Jazeera. Doctors told him he needed to stay in the hospital overnight for further evaluation. Israel's weekly cabinet meeting, which is traditionally conducted on Sundays, has been moved to Monday, according to his office. Netanyahu is thought to be in good health overall, however, he was temporarily hospitalised last October after feeling ill during Yom Kippur rituals, a day when devout Jews fast. Furthermore, he is on trial for several corruption charges in a case that has polarised the country. His government's harsh tactics towards Palestinians have sparked international condemnation and strained relations with the US, Israel's closest and most crucial partner. Doctors told the Prime Minister that he needed to stay in the hospital overnight for further evaluation. Israel's weekly cabinet meeting, which is traditionally conducted on Sundays, has been moved to Monday, according to the Israeli PMs office. Netanyahu is thought to be in good health overall, however, he was temporarily hospitalised last October after feeling ill during Yom Kippur rituals, a day when observant Jews fast. (ANI)
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has raised alarm over thirty Hindus including both women and children reportedly being taken hostage by organised criminal gangs in Pakistans Sindh. "HRCP is alarmed by reports of deteriorating law and order in the districts of Kashmore and Ghotki in Sindh, where some 30 members of the Hindu community - including women and children - have allegedly been held hostage by organised criminal gangs," tweeted Human Rights Commission of Pakistan. https://twitter.com/HRCP87/status/1680499499943227393 The incident has been reported from the districts of Kashmore and Ghotki in Sindh, where law and order is continuing to deteriorate. Moreover, the HRCP has received disturbing reports that these gangs have threatened to attack the community's sites of worship, using high-grade weapons. "Moreover, we have received disturbing reports that these gangs have threatened to attack the community's sites of worship, using high-grade weapons. The Sindh Home Department must investigate this matter immediately and take steps to protect all vulnerable citizens in these areas," tweeted HECP. https://twitter.com/HRCP87/status/1680499504083087360 Notably, a report, based on data collected from National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA), says that minorities constituted less than five per cent of the total population of Pakistan, with Hindus being the largest minority community. Attacks on the Hindu minority is not an uncommon practice in Pakistans Sindh. In the last few months, several incidents targeting the Hindu minority in the Sindh village of Shaikh Bhirkio and the Tando Allahyar district have surfaced, Bitter Winter reported. Similarly, incidents of attacks on Hindu temples in Pakistan have seen a significant increase in the last decades. In a more recent incident, a gang of dacoits attacked a place of worship reportedly with rocket launchers belonging to members of the Hindu community in Sindhs Kashmore during the early hours of Sunday. In another incident reported a couple of days ago, a 150-year-old Hindu temple was demolished in Karachi. The Hindu community in Karachi woke up on Saturday morning only to find Mari Mata Temple demolished in Karachi's Soldier Bazaar, reported Dawn. According to locals, the operation took place late Friday night while there was no electricity in the area. That's when the diggers and bulldozers arrived to finish the job. They razed the entire inside structure while leaving the outer walls and the main gate intact. Residents reportedly claimed to see a police vehicle present to give 'cover' for the individuals operating the bulldozers and other equipment, as per Dawn. The HRCP has appealed to the Sindh Home Department to investigate this matter immediately and take steps to protect all vulnerable citizens in these areas. (ANI)
Dubai [UAE], July 16 (ANI/WAM): Mattar Al Tayer, Director-General, Chairman of the Board of Executives Directors of Dubais Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), revealed that AED16.1 billion was contributed to Dubais Economy in 2022 by the commercial transport sector, which is regulated by RTA. The sector employs around 242,000 jobs by more than 7000 companies. Al Tayer expressed the significance of the commercial transport activities sector, which forms the backbone of Dubai's thriving economic and commercial landscape. The sector is critical in achieving the goals of the Dubai Economic Agenda (D33) which aims to position Dubai among the Top 3 economic cities globally. It also contributes to accelerating the emirates growth by assuring the uninterrupted flow of goods and global supply chains, and enhancing Dubai's reputation and competitiveness besides bringing about positive social impacts across several other sectors, Al Tayer noted. Logistical Hub The commercial transport activities sector has experienced consistent economic growth over the last two years fuelled by e-commerce. Dubai is a significant logistical hub for shipping and distribution in the region. Over 7,000 companies operate in the sector, which is a remarkable 26% growth in 2022 compared to the previous year. The number of registered commercial vehicles operated by these companies exceeds 300,000, reflecting a 16 per cent growth rate compared to 2021. The commercial and logistical transport sector contributes about AED16.1 billion to Dubai's economy, with AED8.5 billion constituting direct contributions and AED7.6 billion accounting for indirect contributions, Al Tayer explained. 83 Activities RTA is heavily focused on enabling the commercial transport activities sector to develop new solutions and implement flexible regulatory structures to govern and streamline the operations of the transport and leasing sectors. These efforts aimed at achieving RTAs objectives of enhancing traffic safety, reducing incidents associated with the movement of trucks, streamlining the traffic flow during the truck ban periods, and providing infrastructure and services that contribute to the enhancement of commercial transport activities, Al Tayer said. In collaboration with the private sector, RTA is currently developing seven projects and initiatives which include implementing the digital adoption project to enhance the efficiency of transport and leasing activities by promoting digital transformation, updating the requirements for conducting business to align them with government directives to facilitate the ease of doing business, and implementing best practices in regulating and governing transportation and leasing sectors. The projects also include fostering collaboration with partners to support the collective efforts of engaging transport and leasing companies as well as stakeholders in government agencies in advancing the services provided and revamping the regulation and governance of the transportation and leasing activity sectors to boost the sustainability and competitiveness on a global scale. The measures also include implementing regulations governing the activities of 83 transportation and leasing activities, with special emphasis on crucial areas such as transport, leasing services, and the management of transport services activities, Al Tayer concluded. Rest Stops for Trucks RTA is presently constructing three all-inclusive rest areas for trucks in partnership with the private sector. These lay-by areas span over 226,000 square metres and can accommodate about 500 trucks and heavy vehicles. There are 16 additional rest stops for trucks on several main roads across Dubai. These facilities contribute to improving traffic safety by reducing accidents caused by driver fatigue resulting from extended periods of driving. Furthermore, they facilitate the smooth flow of traffic during the truck ban periods and address the issue of parking trucks on main roads and residential areas. (ANI/WAM)
Tel Aviv [Israel], July 16 (ANI/TPS): Last week a Jewish Agency delegation visited Ethiopia, which was accompanied by the director general of the Ministry for Regional Cooperation, Gilad Shadmon. The delegations visit in cooperation with the Ministry of Immigration and Absorption, Education and other bodies came against the backdrop of the latest and exciting Aliya operation, with the arrival in Israel of 130 Ethiopian Jews, who received a festive welcome at Ben Gurion Airport last Thursday. During the visit which was spread over five days the director general of the ministry met with Israels ambassador to Ethiopia, Elli Adamso, and discussed with him initiatives to strengthen the relationship between the countries and communities in Israel and Ethiopia. Among other things, they agreed on several directions of action in the fields of agriculture and nutrition, as well as promoting delegations that will come from Israel to Ethiopia, with the aim of preserving the heritage of the immigrants and promoting cultural relations. In the past year, the ministry worked together with the Ethiopian Jewish Research Center, the Yemen Jewish Heritage Center and the Israeli communities, as well as other bodies, to strengthen the historical-cultural connection, and to promote knowledge and research about Ethiopian Jewry. Strengthening the cultural ties in the area helps to anchor Israels position as a leading factor in the region for cooperation, which encourages the promotion of activities and ventures at all levels of life. (ANI/TPS)
Tel Aviv [Israel], July 16 (ANI/TPS): Israeli President Isaac Herzog will be leaving for an official diplomatic visit to the US on Sunday night. Herzogs visit will culminate in an address to a joint session of Congress on July 19. This address follows the invitation of the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi and the current Speaker, Kevin McCarthy. The joint session is meant to mark the 75th anniversary of Israels founding. The only other Israeli president to address both chambers of Congress was Herzogs father, Chaim, in November 1987. McCarthy travelled to Israel in May and addressed the Knesset, becoming only the second-ever person in his post to address the legislature in Jerusalem. The July 18-22 visit also includes a meeting with President Joe Biden at the White House. According to a statement issued by Herzogs office, Biden and Herzog are expected to discuss a series of political, security and economic issues. It is widely believed that Irans nuclear program and the Israeli governments judicial overhaul initiative will be the major focus of their talks. US lawmakers have told the Tazpit Press Service Biden is snubbing Netanyahu over a disagreement about the Iran nuclear deal. The U.S. president said in March that he has no plans to invite Netanyahu in the near term. I believe that at the core of this tension is President Biden and his administrations refusal to support one of our greatest allies. In the past, the United States' steadfast support for Israel was unquestioned. However, the Biden administration continually failed to live up to this standard, Rep. Claudia Tenney (R-N.Y.) told TPS. Returning the US to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or Iranian nuclear agreement, has been a key foreign policy goal of the Biden administration, which is opposed by Israel and the Gulf states. While uranium needs to be only 3.67 per cent pure to generate nuclear power, Iran has enriched its uranium stockpile to 60 per cent, a degree of purity that no country without an atomic weapon has pursued. A nuclear bomb requires uranium to be enriched to 90 per cent purity. Israel and the Gulf states also fear that a premature lifting of sanctions will enable Tehran to boost its support for terror proxies across the Middle East. Removing sanctions would give Tehran access to around USD 100 billion in frozen assets. The lifting of sanctions would also give Iran fresh revenue from oil sales. Iran stands to make an estimated USD 55 billion from selling oil, and that profit will likely be higher with the war in Ukraine triggering higher energy prices. Herzog is also scheduled to meet with American Jewish leaders in New York. (ANI/TPS)
The incident occurred at around 8:15 pm on Sunday after the waterbus which was heading towards Telghat from Dhakas Sadarghat, collided with a sand-laden bulkhead.

Three units from the fire service and a rescue team from the Coast Guard rushed to the site and started the rescue operations.

The rescue efforts are still on, officials said.

Other than the four confirmed deaths, eight people who were onboard at the time of the incident were rescued, Dhaka Tribune reported citing fire service officials.

However, several on board are still missing, Dhaka Tribune reported citing sources from the Sadarghat River police station.

According to Fire Service and Civil Defence Acting Officer (Media) Shahjahan Sardar, the eight rescued include four men, three women, and a child.

Sir Salimullah Medical College Hospital Director Brigadier General Rashid Un Nabi said the bodies of the deceased are in the process of being transferred.

Further details are awaited in the case. (ANI)
$1.85 million settlement with LOFS woman the largest of those being paid out by Lake County

A Lakes of the Four Seasons woman who filed a federal suit saying police in 2016 violated her Fourth Amendment rights when they improperly detained her, broke her arm and destroyed her property will receive $1.85 million after Lake County officials agreed to settle the case.

The Lake County Council Tuesday approved going out for up to a $5.5 million judgment bond measure to settle the case with Geralyn Klein, who was 60 at the time of the incident, and her son Brandon Klein, and those of about 30 other complainants against the county and its various departments. A settlement was reached in the case April 24.

The bond will settle 31 claims, so far totaling about $4.1 million. Eight of the claims remain under negotiation and will be added to the bond issue if settled before it is finalized.

The settlement with Klein stems from an incident at her home in the 2300 block of Four Seasons Parkway in Crown Point in September 2016. According to court records, at about 2:45 p.m. that day, her son Brandon came sprinting through their home and out of the back door. Geralyn Klein then proceeded to lock the back sliding door. She filed the in 2018 suit against the Lake County Sheriffs Department, a deputy and four LOFS officers.

When Klein went outside to see what was happening, Lake County Sheriffs Deputy Nicholas Pedrano told her she was under arrest for interfering with police business. According to court documents, Klein received no response when asked what she did wrong.

Medrano kept asking where her son was and Klein kept responding he had run out of the house and she did not know. She was instructed to go by her vehicle with her hands behind her back and was placed in handcuffs by Medrano.

Immediately after, Defendant Medrano slammed Geralyn on top of her vehicle, then picked her up and slammed her on top of her vehicle again, according to court records. Medrano then pulled her up, grabbed her arm, walked her briskly down the driveway and slammed her into her sons car. Court records show Klein felt her arm pop as she fell to the ground.

Kleins arm was broken in the interaction. She was also slammed into her sons car hard enough to make a dent. Throughout the entire incident, Kleins hands were handcuffed behind her back, according to the records. Police then proceeded to search her home for her son, breaking in the door despite having the key. They destroyed property he could not be hiding in including an armoire and further damaged a car in the garage, according to the complaint.

Ten of the claims relate to various workers compensation matters. Eight of those 10 claims are under negotiation. Of the remaining complaints settled through the bond issue, another nine of the claims deal with the Lake County Sheriffs Department of the Lake County Jail.

Along with the judgment in favor of Klein, the county has agreed to pay out another approximately $1.2 million in claims against the sheriffs department or jail.

Payments include $175,000 in a wrongful-death suit filed on behalf of Daniel Skonieczny; $45,000 to Lee Charles Grisby for a civil rights violation; $145,000 to Rubin Ketchum Jr. for negligence; $285,000 to John Klisurich for Fourth Amendment rights violations; $125,000 to the family of the late Matthew Shank in a wrongful-death suit, $59,000 to Paige Sickles for a dog bite; $350,000 to Sydney Stone for negligence and personal injury relating to a K-9 officer; $15,000 for a personal injury claim, and $18,000 for a damages claim.

Sheriff Oscar Martinez declined to comment on the settlements referring questions to his legal adviser John Kopack.

No one commented during the public hearing Tuesday for the bond measure. Councilman Pete Lindemulder, R-Schererville, questioned whether the county should use some of its $20 million in cash reserves to pay the judgments instead taking out a bond. He also questioned whether some of the cases would have been winnable if they went to court.

Fees for the bond and interest will be about $900,000 to $1 million, he said.

I dont ever want to be in a position where we overspent and cant pay our bills. I do think in this instance we have the money to pay our bills with a cushion left over, Lindemulder said.

Councilman Ted Bilski, D-Hobart, said while he agrees its better not to take out loans if unnecessary, a $20 million cushion is not as much as it seems. Since the county is self-insured, one individual needing a service such as a transplant could have a significant impact on the reserve.

All it takes is one catastrophic injury and that scares me, he said.

The county has to pay an additional $4 million for payroll in 2024 due to an extra pay period that occurs every nine years. Officials also are in the midst of contract negotiations with the sheriffs department, Bilski said.

When we can borrow and not tap into our resources and still be able to manage, Im in favor of the bond, Bilski said.

The bond measure passed 4-2-1 with the panels two Republicans voting against the bond and Council President Charlie Brown, D-Gary, absent.

Matthew Fech, attorney for the Lake County Commissioners, said the last time the county went out for a judgment bond was a $4.4 million bond in 2019.

Most studies show that less than 5% of all civil cases that get filed in the U.S. actually go to trial. Most cases settle, Fech said.

The team of attorneys that defend the county against lawsuits are all seasoned litigation attorneys who evaluate each case and make recommendations to the Board of Commissioners on whether a case should be settled or should go to trial, he said. The county does not have a set policy on when to take a case to trial because each one is different.

Fech said commissioners attorneys often get cases dismissed outright without ever having to go through the discovery process or obtain dismissals as a matter of law.

The cases being settled are a small percentage of the number of cases that get filed against the county during that same time period, Fech said.

Fech said that with the number of contacts sheriffs officers have with members of the public on a daily basis, the number of lawsuits that actually get filed as a result of their contacts is extraordinarily small.

The deputies by and large do a very good job and take pride in their work when dealing with the members of the public, Fech said.

cnapoleon@chicagotribune.com
A 16-year-old died after being shot in an apparent drive-by shooting in the middle of the night on Sunday in Fort Lauderdale, police said.

Officers first received an alert through SoundThinking  a network of acoustic sensors formerly known as Shotspotter and built to pick up gunfire to report its location to police  at about 2:15 a.m. that took them to the 700 and the 900 blocks of Northwest Ninth Avenue, Fort Lauderdale Police Spokeswoman Casey Liening said.

While on their way, officers received an additional call alerting of victims in the area. There they found the wounded boy, whom they didnt identify.

Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue took him to Broward Health Medical Center but he later died from his injuries, Liening said.

A preliminary investigation indicated the boy was inside a car with other people when he was shot, while the shooter may have been in a different vehicle, Liening said.

At this time, we are unaware of any additional victims injured in this shooting, she added. This is an ongoing homicide investigation as we work to determine the circumstances leading up to this incident.

Police are asking anyone with information to contact them immediately.
Bad move

Low-income Californians could get $27K to buy an EV. But its not easy money, (modbee.com, Feb. 27)

Beginning in 2030, you will no longer be able to purchase natural gas appliances. No more gas stoves, gas driers, propane-powered generators, barbecues, forklifts, water heaters, air conditioners and home-heating systems. Cant you see the upper crust of PG&E rubbing their hands together? Imagining the wealth headed their way, big smiles on their greedy little beaks. Thank you, Gov. Newsom.

Beginning in 2030, you will no longer be able to purchase gasoline-powered vehicles and toys. This includes lawn mowers, chainsaws, passenger cars and trucks, big rigs, ships, planes and trains. Seven years to fix and improve our antiquated power grid. Twelve million new California electric vehicle customers burdening the grid, all of us forced to drop natural gas-powered appliances. More smiles from PG&E and the 1%.

The Titanic is sinking. China and India are still playing shuffleboard on deck, and California is in the hold with a teaspoon, bailing like crazy.

Rick Kimble

Riverbank

Urban sprawl





Riverbank proposes to add 2400 homes out to McHenry Ave, (modbee.com, June 21)

Like many other residents, I have concerns regarding Riverbanks proposal for 2,400 homes, along with businesses and parks, on farmland to the west of town. Those concerned with this project, called River Walk, point out that the land proposed for urbanization is at the top tier of quality of soils in the world and has available water. Does it make sense to pave over one of the best soils and water recharge areas when there is other land available?

This project is the definition of urban sprawl.

In addition, River Walk looks to be designed to attract wealthy, older individuals, many from the Bay Area. Is this really the type of housing Stanislaus County needs? Both the Farmland Working Group and Sierra Club oppose this project. To this end, a group of concerned citizens will be canvassing Riverbank residents with an urban limits initiative.

This measure would require voter approval of River Walk and most other future development west of the current Riverbank city limit. With 1,280 signatures, we can put it on the 2024 ballot.

Citizens can also attend Riverbank City Council meetings the second Tuesday of each month, and contact Donna Kenney, the Riverbank planning manager, at dkenney@riverbank.org to voice their concerns.





Kent Mitchell

Riverbank

Opinion

Good move by Biden

The US will provide cluster munitions to Ukraine, (modbee.com, July 7)

President Biden has made the right call sending cluster munitions to Ukraine.

The invading Russians have had as long as six months to prepare for the anticipated offensive by Ukraine. Russia has laid down mine fields, built vehicle barricades, including anti-tank blocking fields. Even destruction of the dam to channel the coming attack is part of the Russian plan. The most important part of defensive construction is massive trenches. All of the blocking construction has to be covered by infantry firing at Ukrainians attempting to breach the blocking mines and traps.

However, when Ukraine has cluster bombs to drop into the trenches Russia has created, it will do a lot to level the battlefield. Laying down a pattern of cluster bombs on the trenches will be devastating. Even the ones that do not detonate upon impact will have an effect. After taking cover from an attack in a bunker then coming out only to set off a dud is a morale crusher.

Ukraine has been slow to gain ground back. The arrival of cluster bombs will do a lot to help defeat formidable defensive construction by Russia.

Bill Wood

Oakdale

Why would Dems do this?

Californias Democrat leaders should be embarrassed with vote on minor sex trafficking | Opinion, (modbee.com, July 13)

In April, the California State Senate passed Senate Bill 14 on a bipartisan vote. The bill called for human trafficking of a minor child to be classified as a major felony.

On July 11, the Assembly Public Safety Committee voted 6-1 against passing this bill out of committee to the full Assembly. All six Democrats on the committee voted against passage, while the one Republican in attendance voted yes. They did agree that the bill could be brought up again next year.

Wow!

So minor children can continue to be trafficked here in California for at least one more year with no major consequence. How sick can is that? There were victims in the audience who screamed to the committee and broke into sobs. How can those six Democrats sleep at night? Its absolutely stunning.

Ray Walker

Turlock

Support your local school

Modesto JC announces dramatic progress to bring college classes to local high schools, (modbee.com, Feb. 15)

I have been reading with interest the stories, opinions and letters about school choice. As a former teacher, I would like to share my opinion about expanding school choice. First, it takes money away from the public school system, which is the foundation of our democracy. We need teachers, supplies and services for a wider range of students, and this requires funding.

Second, parents can choose a school, but the schools can also choose their students. They can select students without any learning or behavior difficulties; choose curriculum that wont help your child survive advanced training; and choose to hire unqualified teachers and pay them less.

As Americans, we compare ourselves to schools around the world. In many of the places Ive visited, schools are free through college, students are required to attend school and teachers are paid well and given individual teaching autonomy. Yes, we lost a year of school with COVID, but everyone lost a year. Move on. Choose your local school and support it!

Marsha Memmott

Turlock

Loan forgiveness is fair

Biden offers new student debt relief plan, (modbee.com, July 1)

I can understand the anger of some who object to forgiving loans for college students. But I look at it this way: During Trumps reign, Republicans cut taxes on corporations and the extremely wealthy. These large corporations did not pass their savings onto us, nor were these savings donated to charity to help the needy.

Instead, large corporations took their excess profits and and used the money for stock buybacks, a use of the money that only helped stockholders, not the economy. Do you like subsidizing the wealthy?

Additionally, think about people who have no children. They pay taxes which are used for schools and state colleges. Some of these students with loans come from Modesto families. A small loam forgiveness may get them closer to more completely participating in the economy, which I think is a much better use of money than putting it in Trumps bank account.

James Peck

Modesto
Two men from Fort Bliss are accused in a mass shooting that killed two people and wounded four others after allegedly firing into crowd in a parking lot outside a bar in Airway Plaza in East-Central El Paso.

Aaron John, 22, and Andrew James Williams, 20, were each booked on a charge of capital murder on Friday and remain at the El Paso County Jail in Downtown held on bonds of $2.5 million each, police officials said.

Detention hearings for both men that were to take place on Sunday morning were reset for later this week.

Aaron John is accused of capital murder in connection with a shooting that killed two people and wounded four others in the Airway Plaza parking lot on July 13 in El Paso.

The deadly shooting occurred at 12:16 a.m. Thursday in the parking lot outside the Ditzy Duck bar at the Airway Plaza bar and restaurant area at 1160 Airway Blvd.

Homicide detectives with the Crimes Against Persons Unit obtained security camera footage showing an assault had taken place before "Williams and John both produced handguns and began firing into the crowd," police said in news release.

John appears to have a bruise under one eye in his jail booking photo.

El Paso crime: Road rage on border bridge, package theft and more local crime

A description of the vehicle used by Williams and John was obtained by law enforcement and Military Police assisted in stopping the vehicle at the Constitution Gate to Fort Bliss, near the new William Beaumont Army Medical Center, police said.

A police news release listed the men as residing in Fort Bliss but officials have not said if they are members of the U.S. military.

Andrew James Williams is accused of capital murder in connection with a shooting that killed two people and wounded four others in the Airway Plaza parking lot on July 13 in El Paso.

An investigation by detectives resulted in the issuance of arrest warrants for Williams and John on capital murder charges.

Under Texas law, capital murder is punishable by life in prison without parole or the death penalty.

2 killed, 4 wounded in shooting outside El Paso bar

James Nicholson, 26, and Alexa Retana, 27, were killed in the shooting, police officials said. Nicholson died at the scene and Retana died at a hospital.

Police officials identified the other victims wounded in the shooting as: Jason Webb, 25, Sebastian Alexander Benecke, 30, Samuel Munoz, 27, and John Retana, 28. All the victims are from El Paso. They were hospitalized in undisclosed condition.

Criminal justice system: El Paso District Attorney Bill Hicks making progress on Walmart case, but case backlog lingers

"Our thoughts are with the families of the deceased and those who were injured. I understand multiple individuals were involved, including civilians and Fort Bliss soldiers," El Paso County Judge Ricardo Samaniego said in a statement last week.

Samaniego, who is the top executive in county government, said that he discussed the situation with Maj. Gen. James P. Isenhower III, the commanding general of the 1st Armored Division and Fort Bliss.

El Paso police investigate the scene of a shooting that killed two people and wounded four others on Thursday at Airway Plaza, 1160 Airway Blvd., an area of bars and restaurants in East-Central El Paso.

There have been numerous cases over the years of Fort Bliss soldiers involved in gun violence while out at bars and night spots in El Paso.

Last October, U.S. Army Pvt. Craig Trevion Gooding, who was 19 at the time, allegedly killed Army Staff Sgt. Jewllian Maurer, 29, in a shooting that wounded three other people after a person was kicked out of the EP Clubhouse nightclub in the parking lot of Sunrise Village shopping center, 8500 Dyer St. in the Northeast.

According to El Paso County Jail records, Gooding was released from jail on a $250,000 surety bond in late October and is awaiting trial on a murder charge. No trial date has been set.

The El Paso Police Department continues its investigation into the Airway mass shooting. Anyone with information may call the police nonemergency line at 915-832-4400 or may anonymously call Crime Stoppers of El Paso at 915-566-8477 (TIPS).

This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: 2 Fort Bliss men allegedly fired into crowd in El Paso shooting
FILE - The Republican National Committee logo is shown on the stage as crew members work at the North Charleston Coliseum, Jan. 13, 2016, in North Charleston, S.C. With six weeks until the first 2024 Republican presidential debate, some hopefuls are finding creative ways to boost their donor numbers and ensure they make it on stage. (AP Photo/Rainier Ehrhardt, File)

With six weeks until the first 2024 Republican presidential debate, some hopefuls are finding creative ways to boost their donor numbers and ensure they make it on stage.

Biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy rolled out a plan to let people who raise money for his campaign keep 10% of what they take in from other donors. North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum is offering $20 Mastercard or Visa gift cards in return for campaign donations of as little as $1. Miami Mayor Francis Suarez is putting up a chance to see Argentine soccer legend Lionel Messis Miami debut.

The unusual efforts are in response to a Republican National Committee requirement that participants in the Aug. 23 debate in Milwaukee raise money from at least 40,000 donors across the country. That's a tall task for some of the hopefuls who aren't as well known as former President Donald Trump or Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

It's a recognition of the make-it-or-break-it opportunity that the debate stage provides for lower-tier candidates in a large field who need media exposure to share their message and reach voters.

Dan Weiner, an attorney who directs the Brennan Center for Justices Elections and Government Program, said unorthodox fundraising tactics are becoming more common, noting that candidates are trying new things with the knowledge that the Federal Election Commission could take action if legal or ethical concerns were raised.

More often than not, these do at least sometimes raise questions about whether theyre skirting at the edge of the law, Weiner said, speaking of Ramaswamy and Burgum's proposals. In both instances, do I necessarily think that the FEC is going to do anything about it? Maybe, but Id be a little bit skeptical.

On Monday, Ramaswamy  who launched his campaign with a $10 million infusion of his own cash and said he surpassed the unique donor threshold in June  introduced the Vivek Kitchen Cabinet, a plan that he said would democratize the fundraising process by letting fundraisers keep 10% of what they bring in for him.

Why should it be some member of some managerial class thats a secreted, closeted group of fundraisers, in the cloistered world of politics? Ramaswamy asked in a video posted on Twitter. It shouldnt be.

As of Tuesday, Ramaswamys campaign said more than 1,000 people had signed up for the program, which hires people as independent contractors subject to compliance with FEC regulations, according to the campaigns website.

Burgum, a wealthy former software entrepreneur now in his second term as North Dakota's governor, announced a program Monday to give away gift cards  Biden Relief Cards, as a critique of President Joe Biden's handling of the economy  to as many as 50,000 people, just over the minimum donor threshold.

Campaign spokesperson Lance Trover said the effort allows us to secure a spot on the debate stage while avoiding paying more advertising fees to social media platforms who have owners that are hostile to conservatives. The campaign said it could reach its 50,000-card maximum by the end of the weekend.

Paul S. Ryan, a campaign finance attorney who has worked for nonprofit watchdog groups like Common Cause, said Burgums reimbursement framework seems to be a clear violation of campaign finance law.

Burgums contributing to his own campaign using the names of the people who opt into his gift card scheme, Ryan said. All of these gift card recipients are straw donors.

Burgums campaign said its legal advisers had reviewed and approved the fundraising mechanism. The FEC said in a statement Friday that it wouldn't comment on the legality of Burgum's plan.

Businessman Perry Johnson, a wealthy but largely unknown businessman from Michigan, announced last month that he would be giving copies of his book Two Cents to Save America  which retails for $20  to anyone who donated to his campaign.

During a Sunday speech at Turning Point Actions annual gathering in West Palm Beach, Florida, Suarez asked attendees to consider making a $1 donation to get him on the debate stage, saying all such donors would be entered in a chance to be in the front row for Messi's first game Friday as a player for Inter Miami.

Im not asking you to endorse me, Im not asking you to vote for me, even at this point," Suarez said, reading out his campaigns Venmo donation handle for the Messi drawing. "Im not gonna get on the debate stage ... unless I have your support in the form of that contribution.

Gift cards and other giveaways have been used by campaigns before, both in presidential races and other contests.

In 2014, Republican Bruce Rauners campaign handed out thousands of prepaid Visa gift cards to volunteers helping to round up support for his successful Illinois gubernatorial campaign. According to the Chicago Tribune, the expense wasnt revealed until months after the election, when Rauners political committee recouped nearly $55,000 after the liquidation of previously purchased asset  redemption of gift cards, according to finance filings.

Many of Rauners advisers are now running Burgums campaign.

In the 2020 presidential election cycle, when Democratic campaigns were complaining about the high threshold to make the debate stage, tech entrepreneur Andrew Yang said he would give a freedom dividend of $1,000 a month for a year to 10 American families, a key tenet of his universal basic income proposal. The offer prompted questions about whether he was trying to buy votes but also generated a buzz online and helped the campaign build a list of possible supporters.

Within days, nearly half a million people had reportedly signed up for the chance to get the payout. In that same fundraising quarter, Yangs campaign brought in more than $16 million, his best quarterly posting to date. His campaign later fizzled, and he ended his run as New Hampshire was counting its first-in-the-nation primary results that February.

In addition to the donor threshold, Republican candidates must meet other requirements to quality for the party's first 2024 debate. They must earn at least 1% in three high-quality national polls, or a mix of national and early-state polls, between July 1 and Aug. 21. They must sign a pledge backing the eventual 2024 Republican nominee.

And they must agree not to participate in any non-RNC sanctioned debate for the remainder of the election cycle, which includes the traditional general election debates hosted by the Commission on Presidential Debates for the last three decades.

Weiner predicted that campaign tactics would only become more innovative as the 2024 election grows closer and the debate thresholds become steeper.

The campaigns are just sort of heating up right now, and you tend to see more of this with the insurgent candidacies, he said. Campaigns should be given some sort of leeway to be creative.

___

Meg Kinnard can be reached at http://twitter.com/MegKinnardAP

___

Jill Colvin in West Palm Beach, Florida, contributed to this report.
3 Gen Zers share their thoughts on Threads, the buzzy new social media app from Meta

3 Gen Zers share their thoughts on Threads, the buzzy new social media app from Meta

Meta's Twitter competitor app, Threads, surpassed 100 million users on July 10.

It's still unclear how the platform will be used or who's likely to gravitate toward it.

We asked three Gen Zers what they thought of Threads, and whether they plan to use it.

On July 6, Meta launched its new social-media app Threads  a text-based platform that functions a lot like Twitter. By July 10, Threads had already reached 100 million users, according to the head of Instagram Adam Mosseri.

Gen Z was referred to as the "first generation of true digital natives" in a 2018 report by McKinsey & Company. They have been exposed to the internet, social networks, and cell phone apps from a young age, so may seem like the most likely demographic to get excited about a new one.

But Gen Z's most used platform is YouTube, followed by Instagram and TikTok, according to a Morning Consult survey published in November 2022. Lagging behind Facebook and Snapchat, Twitter is sixth on the list of Gen Z's most-used platforms. This suggests that video is the most popular form of media consumption for many young people  so how will a text-based app fare with them?

To begin to find out, we asked three Gen Zers.

One 21-year-old is beyond excited about Threads

Clifford B. Arellano, 21, is a communications student from the Philippines and a content creator with over 19,000 followers on Instagram, where they go by the username @candii_bxh.

"When I first heard that Meta was launching this platform, I couldn't contain my excitement," they told Insider. "I immediately headed to the App Store and pre-registered so that it would automatically download once available. As my Instagram following grows, I'm eager to use Threads to connect with my followers, strengthen our bond, and even make new friends."

On July 6, they posted an Instagram reel showing themselves scrolling through their phone alongside the caption, "Me just spending almost 5 hours on Threads bec I just can't stop posting and reading threads."

Arellano told Insider they think Threads has the potential to become the next "go-to social media platform for venting and sharing among Gen Z."

"On its first day, my feed was flooded with hilarious and relatable memes," they said.

A teen user finds Threads very appealing

18-year-old Emily Kissa, a content creator with over 23,000 followers on Instagram, downloaded Threads for fun just to see what it was like. She told Insider that Threads feels "much more appealing than other platforms" because it is very new and she thinks it has a much younger audience.

She said, "I downloaded it for fun just to see what it was like. I personally don't see much of a difference from different platforms other than the fact that it's a much younger generation using it."

Given that there is currently very little data available regarding the demographics of Threads users, it is difficult to tell whether Kissa's right in a broad sense. There is a chance that perspectives could be skewed, as the site is set up to encourage people to follow the same people they follow on Instagram.

Still, Kissa plans to stick with the app. She said that she will likely just use it for "posting random thoughts."

One older Gen Zer is more cautious about the platform

Nicole Delabrer is 26, on the cusp of Gen Z and millennial, a group sometimes known as "zillennials."

Delabrer lives in Minneapolis where she works as a social strategist. She said that she has downloaded Threads, but thinks it's probably still too early to tell how she will use the platform.

On July 7, Delabrer posted a TikTok video joking about how she was going to work to fulfill her "duties" as a "token Gen Zer" to explain what Threads is.

Delabrer told Insider she's broadly hopeful about the future of Threads as a space where she can create content

"I love going on Twitter and laughing," she said. "I'm hoping that Threads can get to a place where the feed is more curated and the quality of content is as high as Twitter."

Only time will tell.

Read the original article on Insider
A mass shooting in Hampton, Ga., on Saturday morning left four dead, Police Chief James Turner confirmed at a press conference.

The shooting occurred around 10:45 a.m. in a residential neighborhood of Hampton, a city roughly 35 miles south of Atlanta, and the suspect had no known motive, according to Turner.

Authorities said four arrest warrants were issued for the suspect, identified as Andre Longmore, 40, a Hampton resident. It is unclear if he was connected to any of the victims, who have not been publicly identified.

Turner explained during the press conference that there are at least four crime scenes, and law enforcement personnel are still searching for Longmore, who was last seen driving a black GMC Acadia SUV  a car that the police chief said did not belong to the suspect.

The Hampton Police Department is leading the investigation with the assistance of the Henry County Police Department, Henry County Sheriffs Department, Henry County Homeland Security and Henry County Crime Scene Unit.

Henry County Sheriff Reginald B. Scandrett addressed Longmore directly at the news conference.

We will hunt you down in any hole that you may be residing in and bring you into custody, Scandrett said.

A $10,000 dollar reward is also being offered for information that results in the arrest and prosecution of the suspect, according to the sheriff.

Hampton mayor Ann Tarpley during the press conference called the shooting a tragedy.

We ask that you lift up the families and victims in your prayers and your thoughts and you give them the privacy they need, she continued.

The investigation is active and ongoing.

Updated at 6:29 p.m.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
500 Russians killed in Ukraine and dozens of vehicles destroyed

Over the past 24 hours, the Armed Forces of Ukraine killed 500 Russian occupiers and destroyed 5 tanks and 18 artillery systems.

Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine

Details: The total combat losses of the Russian forces from 24 February 2022 to 16 July 2023 are estimated to be as follows [figures in parentheses represent the latest losses  ed.]:

approximately 237,680 (+500) military personnel;

4,107 (+5) tanks;

8,026 (+7) armoured combat vehicles;

4,481 (+18) artillery systems;

681 (+1) multiple-launch rocket systems;

425 (+0) air defence systems;

315 (+0) fixed-wing aircraft;

310 (+0) helicopters;

3,820 (+13) operational-tactical UAVs;

1,273 (+0) cruise missiles;

18 (+0) ships/boats;

7,044 (+8) vehicles and tankers;

666 (+2) special vehicles.

The information is currently being confirmed.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
Neckarwestheim Nuclear Power Plant Getty Images/fhm

A little over a decade ago I was living in Charlottenburg, a Berlin neighbourhood just a few kilometres to the west of the Brandenburg Gate, on the other side of the lush, tree-lined paths and bathing lawns of Tiergarten. One of things I admire so much about Germany is its particular brand of pragmatic long-termism, which sets it apart from its Anglo-Saxon peers. But when it comes to energy, Germany has uncharacteristically abandoned pragmatism and championed renewables under its Energiewende strategy. It's a failing energy policy that has been decades in the making.

Shortly after the reunification of Germany in the late 20th Century, British architect Norman Foster was commissioned to transform the neglected old Reichstag building. The structure he found had been cast adrift following the inferno of brutal war, and left largely abandoned during four decades of cold division. Whereas we rarely discover the secrets contained deep within most great offices of state, the Reichstag was opened up to reveal its soul. Foster uncovered a story of conflict, told in part through small details, including the Russian graffiti on crumbling walls marked by the scars of human misjudgement.

In setting about designing the physical embodiment of a new nation, united and reborn in the early 1990s, Foster and his team prioritised four related considerations: the new Reichstag's significance as a democratic forum; an understanding of history; a commitment to accessibility; and a vigorous environmental agenda. By the end of the decade his vision for the Reichstag was realised and it became the seat of the Bundestag (German Parliament) which, in 1999, convened in its rejuvenated home for the first time. It marked a moment in history: a reinvigorated young nation ready to reintroduce itself to the world, stepping boldly and confidently into the 21st Century. The old building together with its new occupants  and the people they represented  were united. They were looking to the future, just as the architect had intended that they might.

Foster's design for the Reichstag was a model of sustainability and ahead of its time, using an on-site bio-fuel cogenerator to produce the building's electricity. This machine works by storing surplus heat in an underground aquifer, the hot water from which is pumped up to heat the building and to drive an absorption cooling plant to produce chilled water. The result was a dramatic reduction in CO2 emissions. Theoretically, the Reichstag has the ability to produce more energy than it consumes, allowing it to serve as a mini power station for the surrounding government quarter.

Nearly a quarter of a century on from the unveiling of the new Reichstag, most of us  from Germany's politicians to Norman Foster himself  want to see a more equitable world that operates sustainably, to ensure that future generations can inherit viable societies in a liveable planet. It may sound idealistic, but it's really a modest ambition. Yet with a climate emergency so real, so immediate and so pressing, it feels as though that simple vision for the future could be fading from view.

The fear-inducing warnings from those with good climate intentions don't seem to be working  they risk creating a sense of fatalism, especially if we keep being told that this is our last chance each time there is a Conference of the Parties summit on climate. Humanity must find a way to act with urgency to avert a climate catastrophe, and we can do so with a sense of optimism at the new possibilities and opportunities available to us if we seize this moment. We can look to the future.

But we aren't seizing the moment.

We need to change course on the issue underpinning so many others we face today, which is also the overriding driver for climate change: how we produce, distribute and consume energy. A famous German, Albert Einstein, is widely  perhaps falsely  credited as once saying, "the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." In the context of the current economic crisis accompanied by the climate emergency, the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and striving for the same results.

When it comes to energy, there are two forms of insanity we are witnessing today. The first is sticking with CO2-emitting fossil fuels, which account for 82 percent of global energy, according to BP's Statistical Review of World Energy 2022. The second insanity is believing, as the prevailing forces within today's Reichstag do, that renewables alone are the best alternative.

***

Energiewende isn't working. The plan was to phase out nuclear energy, expand renewable sources and make its economy virtually carbon-neutral by the middle of the century. The only part of the plan that has had any clear "success" is regarding nuclear, which it recently discarded altogether, closing its final three nuclear plants in April this year.

Those closures were a purely political move and make no economic or climate sense. No clear path to replacing them has been set out, other than to introduce a new set of gas plants which would only increase greenhouse gas emissions. The hope is that these would one day be converted to hydrogen, but it all amounts to a needlessly convoluted set of arrangements necessitated by abandoning nuclear power. Unsurprisingly, investors are not exactly champing at the bit to back costly transitional infrastructure and aspirations which are so clearly flawed.

Germany's emissions aren't reducing significantly, because the country remains dependent on fossil fuels for a more than half of its electricity, with coal  including dirty, heavily CO2-emitting lignite  the largest single source, providing almost one-third of all electricity. The problem is a refusal to acknowledge reality: renewables are variable and cannot continuously provide energy at all the times we need it.

Whatever its political aspirations, Germany's energy networks are no different to any other country in the most basic sense: energy supply must at all times be equal to energy demand. Germany's grid needs to meet the demands of consumers around the clock, including during peak times such as the coldest winter nights when solar is not producing.

Want more health and science stories in your inbox? Subscribe to Salon's weekly newsletter The Vulgar Scientist.

Germany is generating 43 percent of its electricity from renewables, but it is paying a heavy price for this. The cost is felt through the volatility that intermittent renewables introduce to the network. Renewables may appear cost-effective when viewed in isolation on sunny or windy days when they produce a lot of energy.

However, when the sun or wind disappears, there is no affordable battery technology system that can store unused surplus energy at the scale required to supply an entire grid, covering unproductive periods. Therefore, to plug the gaps at night, Germany  with its grid interconnected with the rest of continental Europe  either draws from neighbouring countries, or turns to its natural gas or coal-fired power plants to kick in. Firing those up adds considerable cost, in more ways than one, which ought to be added to any calculation of the true cost of renewables.

So, the inevitable shortfall from renewables needs to come from a reliable source. If that reliable source is not clean nuclear, it will be a dirty fossil fuel. Bafflingly, Germany is choosing the dirty option.

This is because Germany's political landscape is shaped by an electoral system of proportional representation. Federal elections consistently produce indecisive outcomes, which in turn require the establishment of cross-party coalitions to form a government. One of the main beneficiaries of this, down the years, has been Germany's Green Party, which grew out of the 1970s anti-nuclear movement. The Greens have unswervingly made scrapping nuclear energy a key demand in coalition negotiations, resulting in them holding sway on German energy policy.

The net effect is that anti-nuclear propaganda has persuaded Germany's politicians to oppose the safest, most reliable, concentrated, efficient and carbon-free energy source available to us. But already the plan is failing. In recent recognition that the Energiewende ambitions would not be met, Germany's Bundestag  today's occupants of the Reichstag  removed a target for 100 percent renewable electricity by 2035, instead requiring that electricity supply be 'nearly' climate neutral by 2035 and that 80 percent of electricity must come from renewables by 2030.

This rowing back of climate targets is the price for abandoning nuclear energy  for abandoning the carbon-free solution already staring us in the face, available and ready to be scaled-up now.

As with any parliamentary building, Norman Foster must have known that the competing ideas that would be contested underneath his iconic glass cupola redesign might not always lead to effective legislative instruments, delivering sensible policy outcomes. Perhaps nobody could have anticipated the extent to which Foster's fourth consideration in renovating the Reichstag  the vigorous environmental agenda  might one day go so badly awry that it risks echoing the past misjudgements that reverberate inside that building without secrets. As was the case before, the wider consequences for humanity are huge.

An almost unquestioning support for renewables has become the new orthodoxy in mainstream thinking. However, whether we look at safety, measured as deaths per unit (terawatt-hour) of electricity created, or look at emissions, measured as CO2 per gigawatt-hour of electricity over the cycle of a power plant, nuclear is as clean and safe an energy source as any alternative. The unit of one gigawatt-hour is equivalent to the annual electricity consumption of one hundred and fifty people in the European Union.

Nuclear's three tonnes per gigawatt-hour is cleaner than solar's five tonnes. In a head-to-head comparison, including greenhouse gas emissions from the full lifecycle of the power plant (construction, operation, maintenance, fuel, decommissioning), nuclear is as low carbon as wind and much lower than solar, hydro, geothermal and bio renewables. A 2014 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change working group paper had nuclear on 13 tonnes per gigawatt-hour and solar on 53 tonnes per gigawatt-hour, measured on a life-cycle basis.

The five European countries with the lowest greenhouse gas emissions per unit of electricity generation are Norway, France, Sweden, Switzerland and Finland. They have all achieved this through nuclear, hydro or both. By contrast, the five countries which have invested most in solar and wind  Germany, Denmark, Portugal, Spain and Ireland  all have much higher emissions.

Sweden looked to the future when it embraced nuclear energy in the early 1970s and within twenty years, according to World Bank data for the period 1970 to 1990, saw CO2 per capita reduce by fifty percent whilst GDP per capita increased by fifty percent. Fifty years on from that policy decision, Sweden has clean, secure and affordable energy and is emitting less greenhouse gas than any comparator nation.

In fact, Sweden is the least polluting country in Europe and of any major industrialised nation, emitting carbon dioxide at under four tonnes per capita. By contrast, Germany is emitting more than double that, at just over eight tonnes per capita. Sweden's use of nuclear as its reliable linchpin has enabled it to increase the share of renewables within its energy mix. Germany can only look on with envy.

Across the Atlantic, the United States emits almost 15 tonnes per capita  in large part because it chose to head in the opposite direction to Sweden over the same time period. Whereas the US had previously been intent on vigorously pursuing nuclear energy, and on course to a low carbon clean energy future, it changed track with disastrous consequences. President Eisenhower's "Atoms for Peace" vision descended back down to fossil fuels.

The United States turned back from the future by curtailing nuclear expansion and that one policy decision, above all others in living memory, almost certainly precipitated the climate crisis we now face. Reversing it is humanity's best hope of securing the simple ambition of gifting our children a future worth inheriting.

As we look ahead to that future, we must look to the past for guidance. The clues are always there for us, if we pay attention to them. Norman Foster's work is currently being showcased at the Centre Pompidou in Paris. The 2,200 square-metre exhibition  which includes Foster's drawings and original models for more than one hundred projects  spans six decades of his achievements in reconceptualising the functions of architectural design and physical form, and runs until early August. The Retrospective provides an opportunity not only to celebrate his work, but to learn from past progress to inform how we look forward  something Foster's life has been dedicated to doing. Indeed, 'future' is one of seven themes explored in the Pompidou exhibition.

Humanity's future hangs in the balance, and much depends on the energy technologies we decide to prioritise in facing a climate emergency against the backdrop of increasing global demand for energy. Beyond European borders, the world requires an abundance of clean energy as billions of people rightly demand a rise in their living standards. This requires supposedly "climate conscious" Europeans to revisit our preferences for particular energy technologies. Indeed, it requires us to focus on achieving a carbon free future, rather than promoting one energy source at the expense of others.

The German Government has committed to phasing out fossil fuels, and pledged for Germany to become greenhouse gas-neutral across all sectors, by 2045. However, there is no combination of renewable energy technologies currently known to mankind that is capable of delivering this. So, in order to meet the climate change challenge, Germany should focus on maximising low-carbon electricity supply rather than slavishly aiming to increase the share of renewables. Wind and solar energy cannot fully cover demand, so it's difficult to see how Germany will avoid returning to nuclear eventually if it wants to decarbonise. Sooner or later, Germany and its glorious Reichstag will, once again, have to go back to the future. The best time to do that is now.

Read more

about energy
Rep. Adam B. Schiff, center, has raised millions more than Reps. Barbara Lee, left, and Katie Porter, his Democratic rivals in California's 2024 U.S. Senate race. (Associated Press, Los Angeles Times)

Rep. Adam B. Schiff swamped his rivals in the financial race to replace retiring Sen. Dianne Feinstein, raising $8.2 million in recent months, according to federal fundraising reports released Saturday.

Schiff collected roughly double the combined total raised by his top Democratic opponents  Reps. Katie Porter and Barbara Lee  in the same period.

Schiffs windfall was fueled by his June censure by congressional Republicans over his role in investigating former GOP President Trumps ties to Russia  a reprimand the Burbank Democrat repeatedly highlighted in his fundraising appeals.

"Schiff might as well have paid for this censure, in the sense that it has gotten him exactly what he wants, which is, 'I'm the person Republicans don't want to win, and that's for a reason,'" said Jessica Levinson, an election law professor at Loyola Law School. "Even though he's such an eloquent and well-spoken lawyer, I don't know that he could have made the case for himself in the way Republicans did."

Schiff's haul far outpaced Porter, an Irvine Democrat who raised $3.1 million in the second quarter of 2023. But she led Schiff 19% to 16% in a poll of likely voters released last week by the Public Policy Institute of California. Lee had the support of 13%.

In recent years, Schiff and Porter have been among the most prodigious fundraisers in the House. But Porter had to spend nearly $29 million on her tight Orange County reelection bid last year, while Schiff coasted to another term in office and banked his donations.

Lee, an Oakland Democrat, received $1.1 million between April 1 and June 30, according to disclosure documents filed with the Federal Election Commission, which were made public on Saturday. That's the same amount raised by Democrat Lexi Reese, a Silicon Valley executive seeking the seat in her first run for public office, though Reese contributed about $284,000 of her own money to her campaign.

Though the general election is more than a year away, these figures are crucial in early assessments of the candidates' prospects as they vie for a rare open Senate seat representing California, home to some of the most expensive media markets in the nation. Television advertising is a requisite in any statewide campaign courting Californias 22 million voters.

Read more: Senate candidates who hope to replace Feinstein are wooing Democratic activists

Feinstein, 90, was known for breaking gender barriers even before she was first elected to the Senate in 1992s Year of the Woman, when a record number of female candidates won seats in Congress.

The San Francisco Democrat has been lauded by colleagues of both parties for her intelligence and devotion to her work. But concerns about Feinsteins declining mental and physical capabilities reached a crescendo in recent months, and she announced in February that she would not seek another term next year.

Several Republicans are also running for Feinsteins Senate seat, but their prospects are dim due to Californias progressive tilt. Californians last elected a GOP politician to a statewide office in 2006, and have grown more liberal since then. Democrats accounted for 47% of registered voters, Republicans for 24% and voters who do not express a party preference for 22% as of Feb. 10, according to the secretary of states office.

Eric Early, a GOP attorney running for the Senate seat, reported raising $201,176 through June 30. Republican James Bradley, a Coast Guard veteran and former healthcare executive, had not filed a fundraising report as of Saturday afternoon.

Read more: Who will replace Sen. Dianne Feinstein? Meet the potential candidates

The race to replace Feinstein is further complicated by Californias jungle primary system, in which the two candidates who receive the most votes advance to the November general election, regardless of their party. The primary is scheduled to take place in March.

If two Democrats emerge as the winners of the primary, their battle will continue until November, and tens of millions of dollars will be spent on the contest. If a Republican claims one of the top two spots, the Democrat they face will have a seemingly insurmountable advantage.

But one notable uncertainty is whether former Dodgers star Steve Garvey, a Republican, will enter the contest; he is expected to announce a decision this month. As of Saturday, 23 candidates had filed to run for the seat.

Schiff and Porter, frequent cable news guests who are popular among liberal voters for their respective opposition to Trump and to corporate chiefs, have been among the top fundraisers in Congress in recent years.

But since they started running against one another for Feinsteins seat, Schiff has outpaced Porter. In the first three months of 2023, he raised $6.5 million and spent $2.8 million, while Porter raised $4.5 million and spent $2.5 million, according to federal election records.

Their financial disparity grew in the second quarter of this year, with Schiff raising $8.2 million and spending $3.3 million, and Porter raising $3.1 million and spending $2.2 million, according to the FEC. As of June 30, Schiff had $29.8 million in cash on hand, while Porter had $10.4 million. They have more money in their bank accounts than they have raised due to transfers from their congressional campaign committees.

Lees campaign finances continue to lag behind those of her congressional colleagues in the race; she reported raising $1.1 million in the second quarter and spending $817,000. She had $1.4 million in the bank as of June 30.

As Schiff highlights his fight with Trump in fundraising appeals, and Porter points to her experience as a single mom serving in Congress and offers meal-planning tips, Lee  a Black woman who has served in the House of Representatives since 1998  emphasizes the racial disparities in the nations Capitol. Only two African American women have ever been elected to the Senate.

We love you, Barbara. We think you would make a great senator. But Adam Schiff, he just looks like a senator, Lee wrote in an email to supporters, paraphrasing comments she has received. I cant tell you the number of times Ive heard this on the campaign trail. And Ill be honest, it breaks my heart.

Get the best of the Los Angeles Times politics coverage with the Essential Politics newsletter.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
On the night of 15-16 July, the Ukrainian Air Force reported that there was a threat of use of ballistic weapons and attack drones by the Russians.

Source: Air Force of Ukraine on Telegram

Quote: "There is a threat of ballistic missile use in areas where an air-raid warning has been issued! Do not ignore the air-raid warnings!"

Details: The Air Force has also warned civilians of the threat of Russian attack UAVs in Poltava and Sumy oblasts.

At the moment, air-raid warnings have been issued in six regions of Ukraine's east and centre.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
An Alabama woman missing for 2 days after reporting toddler walking on the side of the road returned home

Carlee Russell went missing after reporting a toddler walking on the side of the road in Hoover, Alabama. Hoover Police Department

Carlee Russell went missing Thursday night after police say she called 911 about a child walking along the road.

The Hoover Police Department said Russell returned to her home on Saturday night.

Police say they plan to question Russell after she has time to reunite with her family.

An Alabama woman who was missing for two days after police say she called 911 to report a toddler walking along the interstate has returned to her family's home.

Carlethia "Carlee" Nicole Russell had been missing since Thursday after she got off from work in Birmingham, Alabama, at around 8:20 p.m., according to a statement from the Hoover Police Department.

Police said in a statement Sunday that they received a call at 10:45 p.m. on Saturday that Carlee had returned to her home.

Hoover Police Dept (@HooverPD) July 16, 2023

According to police, firefighters responded to Russell's home with police to assess her and transport her to a hospital to be evaluated.

Hoover Police Chief Nicholas Derzis told WBRC that police are not sure how Russell got home.

"She walked up, banged on the door, and that was her," Derzis told the outlet.

Derzis said the police department wants to give Russell some time to reunite with her family but that they do plan to eventually question her, WBRC reported.

"I know it's been a tough experience for them," Derzis said. "When we think it's time to sit down and have a conversation with Carlee and try to get some facts, we'll do that."

Russell first went missing after she called to report a toddler walking along I-459 South near mile marker 11, police said. After she called police, Russell stopped her car "to check on the child," then called a family member, who lost contact with her during the call, Hoover police said in a statement.

Police found Russell's wig, hat, and cell phone near her her car, WBRC reported.

Police did not find a child near Russell's car and no calls came in to the police department to report a missing child, according to the statement.

When reached for comment on Sunday, a Hoover Police Department spokesperson declined to comment further, other than noting more information would be released later Sunday.

Read the original article on Insider
American released after she was abducted and held for 8 months in Mexico

An American abducted in Mexico and held by captors for eight months was released Friday night and is safe, FBI officials said Saturday.

Monica De Leon Barba, of San Mateo County, California, just south of San Francisco, was abducted while she as walking home from work with her dog in Tepatitlan, Mexico, on Nov. 29, the FBI said Saturday.

Though it wasn't clear what precipitated her release, work for her freedom was constant during De Leon Barba's ordeal, the bureau said.

"For the past eight months, FBI personnel in California and Mexico have worked tirelessly with the family and with partners here and in Mexico," Robert Tripp, the special agent in charge of the FBI's San Francisco office, said in a statement. "Our relief and joy at the safe return of Monica is profound."

Monica De Leon Barba. (FBI San Francisco)

No information about her abductors was available, and the FBI has not mentioned drug cartels in communicating about the case. Cartels have been connected to the rise of kidnapping as a criminal enterprise in Mexico.

De Leon Barba's brother told NBC Bay Area that the FBI said demands were made in her abduction. The FBI has not previously commented on any demands.

In April, the FBI posted two security camera videos of De Leon Barbas abduction by people using multiple vehicles. It said it hoped the videos would prompt witnesses to come forward with details of what they saw when she was snatched from a street, leaving her dog behind. Relatives recovered the dog.

"No arrests have been made, and an investigation into the identity of her captors remains ongoing," the FBI San Francisco office said in its statement Saturday.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
The end of affirmative action, which followed a lawsuit brought by an organization that said Asian American and white students were being discriminated against, has highlighted the starkly differing viewpoints of Asian American lawmakers.

While some are warning Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) students will face additional challenges in applying to elite institutions, others are celebrating the end of what they say were discriminatory practices.

The Supreme Courts rulings last month against Harvard University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, backed by six conservative justices, are expected to dramatically change how college admissions work, effectively ending race-conscious considerations.

Rep. Judy Chu (D-Calif.) expressed discomfort with how the cases essentially pitted different Americans of color against one another, with advocates for ending race-conscious admissions arguing the policies benefited Black, Latino and Native Americans at the expense of Asian Americans.

Chu said she was deeply distressed by the courts decision, noting Asian Americans are not a monolithic group, and the decision would hurt certain Asian Americans and other minority Americans systematically denied equal opportunity in education.

As a community college professor for 20 years, I know that students learn best when they encounter diversity in the classroom, Chu, chairwoman of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, told The Hill.

Chu added it was extremely upsetting that Students for Fair Admissions (SFFA) founder Ed Blum shopped around for Asian Pacific Islanders after his previous attempt to overturn affirmative action using white women failed. In 2015, Blum told a group gathered by the Houston Chinese Alliance that he needed Asian plaintiffs.

He used AAPIs as the victims in his subsequent lawsuit, Chu said, pointing out he did not name an Asian American or Pacific Islander plaintiff in the case or put such a student on the stand.

Still, polls suggest Asian Americans have varied views about affirmative action.

A June poll conducted by Pew Research Center found that 53 percent of Asian American adults who had heard of affirmative action said the policy was a good thing; 19 percent said it was a bad thing.

Seventy-six percent, however, said race or ethnicity should not factor into college admissions decisions.

More on the affirmative action ruling

Proponents of affirmative action argue it helps to create a diverse campus environment, or that the policy helps ensure disadvantaged students have access to elite instructions like Harvard.

I especially am cognizant of the fact that there are AAPIs that can definitely benefit from affirmative action because we know that if you look at the great diversity amongst us, that Southeast Asians and Pacific Islanders are very much disadvantaged in terms of being able to get a college degree, said Chu.

For Thang Diep, a 2019 graduate of Harvard, affirmative action meant his background as a Vietnamese immigrant  which prevented him from accessing certain resources  was considered.

In my [college application] essay, I wrote about learning English and being an immigrant and navigating this new strange world, Diep told The Hill. But in high school, I didnt have the necessary private college counselors. I had to look up resources online about college applications and how to write my personal statements.

After graduating from Harvard, Diep learned many Southeast Asian American students struggled with the same challenges he faced. Affirmative action, he said, helped schools take these challenges into consideration when looking at applicants.

In the comments from his application, Diep was praised for characteristics including his modesty, his personal standards and his friendliness  even as the application noted his SAT score fell on the lower end of the Harvard average.

Harvards application system places emphasis on personal scores meant to gauge qualities such as maturity, leadership and kindness.

This, the SFFA argued in its case, is why Asian Americans were admitted in much lower numbers: Asian American applicants had high test scores, but stereotypes that label Asian Americans as emotionless or robotic counted against them. Removing these soft criteria to focus only on merit would end that discrimination.

Rep. Young Kim (R-Calif.) wrote in an op-ed for The Hill that the Supreme Court case was about empowering Americans of all backgrounds.

Telling students that their race matters more than their merit is a dangerous message that encourages racial discrimination, Kim wrote. These out-of-touch policies keep the American dream out of reach for hardworking Americans, including many in the AAPI community.

She added that she is a proud Korean American whose story reflects that of many other immigrants. But, she said, she did not get where she is because of her race.

I am here because I worked my butt off to achieve the American dream and am fighting every day to keep that dream alive for future generations, Kim said. College boards determining whose family story they deem more appealing than another is not reflective of the country that welcomed my family and me.

Rep. Michelle Steel (R-Calif.) issued a statement lauding the courts decision as a new chapter in the fight for equality in education.

I immigrated to this country from Korea when I was 19 years old to pursue an education, said Steel. I am living my American Dream because, in this country, your actions determine your success  not your race and ethnicity.

For 40 years, American colleges and universities have stacked the deck against Asian Americans in the name of diversity, Steel continued. As a nation, we believe, as taught by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., that every human should be judged not by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.

But Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.) said the courts ruling willfully ignores the way race has historically played a part in American society.

Rather than achieving what they conceive that somehow they were establishing some sort of colorblind justice, theyre willfully ignoring the way race consciousness has been a part of American history since before the Republic was founded, Takano, who graduated from Harvard in 1983, told The Hill.

They used Asian Americans as a tool, as a fig leaf, for this and I did not appreciate being used that way as an Asian American, Takano added.

In filings, the SFFA specifically called out Black and Latino students, stating Harvard engaged in unlawful racial balancing by holding Asian American applicants to higher standards than Black and Latino students.

Diep said he does not believe other nonwhite students have taken spots away from any Asian American student.

I think its very strategic for  Edward Blum and his organization to use Asian Americans, specifically using Asian Americans who fit into the model minority myth, or the stereotype that Asian Americans get good grades, and use them as a wedge to divide our communities of color, he said.

I think its very strategic that they dont highlight the Southeast Asian experience, that Southeast Asians dont have access to these resources, Diep added. I think its very strategic to highlight only a subset of Asian Americans to then pit against other communities of color.

Affirmative action opponents say the practice places Asian American applicants at a disadvantage because it requires them to score extremely high on tests.

In 2009, a study by Princeton University reported that those who identify as Asian had to score 140 points higher on the SAT than white students and 450 points higher than Black students to have the same chance of admission to private colleges.

But in a 2021 report by Georgetown Universitys Center on Higher Education and the Workforce, Asian Americans accounted for 65 percent of students who scored 1300 or above on the SAT and applied to one of the most selective colleges in the country. Twelve percent of Asian American students who scored below 1300 on their SAT still applied to one of the most selective colleges, compared to only 5 percent of non-Asian American students.

The results, according to the report, indicate that because of the rate in which Asian American students apply to selective colleges they are more likely to be denied admission at higher rates, too, which is not indicative of bias on the schools part.

The report also found that if schools revert to a test scores-only admissions system, 21 percent of Asian American students would lose their admissions to the nations most selective colleges to students with higher test scores  compared to 39 percent of non-Asian American students.

We see newer immigrant groups, certain segments of the AAPI community, who come from countries that may be attuned to the idea that admissions tests or tests associated with admissions somehow are connected to merit, Takano said. Youll see in South Korea, Japan, China have very test-centric admissions processes. Holistic admissions is just not part of how admissions is determined in many of these countries of national origin and there is that sort of bias. A lot of investment goes into test preparation.

Critics of the Supreme Courts ruling argue that ending affirmative action will make college campuses less racially diverse.

In an amicus brief filed last year, California acknowledged that the effects of ending race-conscious admissions saw a drastic decline in minority student admissions.

The state  which ended race-conscious admissions in public schools, governmental bodies and public systems after voters approved Proposition 209 in 1996  reported in 2021 the University of California, Berkeleys freshman class included only 258 Black students and 27 Native American students out of a class of 6,931.

The brief also emphasized enrollment in the entire UC system declined has among minority students, and Black, Latino and Native American students widely report struggling with feelings of racial isolation.

Chu told The Hill she is very concerned these trends will expand across the nation now.

I want to make sure that we have rigorous oversight of the federal agencies that combat discrimination in education, Chu said. We have to give guidance to all these institutions on how they can promote diversity in higher education. I also am pledging along with our Tri-Caucus partners, to persist in securing federal funding for the minority-serving institutions, including Asian American Minority Serving Institutions. We must continue to do outreach to communities of color.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
A 21-year-old man from Elk Grove who got lost hiking in Amador County for about 18 hours was found Saturday by a search and rescue helicopter.

About 6:50 p.m. on Friday, the Amador County Sheriffs Office received a report south of Silver Lake of a missing man last seen around noon, according to a news release from deputies. Personnel, including search and rescue volunteers, were immediately dispatched to begin a search around a campsite at Plasses Resort.

Search efforts continued overnight and were joined by aircraft from the California Highway Patrol and the Governors Office of Emergency Services, as well as search-and-rescue dogs from the California Rescue Dog Association.

The missing person, who was identified by name, was found by the CHP helicopter just after 11 a.m. Saturday morning about a mile from his campsite.

Aside from a little sunburn and some mild dehydration, the subject was uninjured, the Sheriffs Office said.

The man told authorities that he went on a hike by himself when he got turned around and became lost, Sheriffs Office spokesman Sgt. Kyle Wilson said. The man said he had attempted to find his way back to the camp but eventually decided to stay put and wait for rescue.

He was flown back to Plasses Resort to be reunited with his party.
Autopsy results released in death of man at Walmart in New Hampshire

The autopsy of a man killed at a Walmart in New Hampshires shows he died of asphyxiation while allegedly being beaten, Attorney General John M. Formella said Sunday.

The death of 79-year-old Jan VanTassel, of Center Ossipee was declared a homicide Saturday. Brian Roberge, 52, of Somersworth was arrested for the murder.

According to authorities, on July 14 around 11:19 p.m., police officers responded to the Walmart at Waltons Way in Somersworth, in response to a report of one man assaulting another man.

Roberge allegedly straddled VanTassels chest while striking him in the head and face, leading to his death by compressional asphyxia.

Roberge is facing one count of second-degree murder.

As a result of the autopsy results, the factual charge against Mr. Roberge has been amended to an allegation that he recklessly caused the death of Mr. VanTassel under circumstances manifesting an extreme indifference to the value of human life by means of homicidal violence, stated the AGs office.

Roberge is expected to be arraigned in the Strafford County Superior Court on Monday, July 17, 2023

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact New Hampshire State Police Communications at (603) 223-4381.

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Heavy rain and flash flooding again turned deadly in parts of the Northeastern United States over the weekend. Multiple people were confirmed dead in flash flooding that hit suburban Pennsylvania on Saturday night, just six days after a woman died while trying to evacuate her upstate New York home amid mass flooding that swept through the region  and devastated parts of Vermont.

Five people died on a flooded roadway in eastern Pennsylvania on Saturday evening, when the area saw between six and seven inches of rainfall in less than an hour, officials said during a Sunday afternoon press conference.

The victims included two adult women and one adult man, all of whom authorities found outside of their cars in an area where the water level was about five feet above ground, the coroner's office confirmed to CBS News. The flash flooding occurred about 30 minutes north of Philadelphia by car and just under a mile from Houghs Creek, a tributary in the Delaware River.

Eleven vehicles were estimated to be on the road when the flash flooding occurred, said Tim Brewer, Chief of the Upper Makefield Fire Company, at a news conference on Sunday morning. Authorities confirmed that three of those cars were swept away in the flood, with eight people rescued from their vehicles and another two rescued from the creek nearby.

As of Sunday afternoon, two people were still missing: a 9-month-old baby and his 2-year-old sister. Their mother is among the dead, officials said. The family is from Charleston, South Carolina. They were driving and got caught in flash flooding.

Search teams resumed operations in the area after stopping at dark on Saturday night.

A portion of Washington Crossing Road in eastern Pennsylvania is pictured after excessive rain and flash flooding left three dead and four missing. / Credit: Tyler McCauley

Authorities said three cars belonging to the deceased were found in the creek and recovered, with one car found roughly 1 1/2 miles downstream from where it entered the water. They were treating the search for those four missing people as a rescue, although Brewer said they are fairly sure it will be a recovery effort. Initially, Brewer said four people were missing. He did not provide details about the three victims who were confirmed dead.

Across the northeastern U.S., forecasters warned of potential flash floods and tornadoes on Sunday linked to the latest bout of severe weather.

The National Weather Service issued a flash flood warning for parts of Connecticut, including Danbury, Shelton and Waterbury, that was set to remain active until at least 11 a.m. ET. Officials at the Storm Prediction Center also warned that the "potential for a few brief tornadoes may gradually increase through 10 AM-Noon EDT," in portions of Connecticut, New York, New Hampshire, Vermont and Massachusetts, NWS New York tweeted.

Here is the latest Mesoscale Discussion from the Storm Prediction Center (SPC) which highlights portions of our area. Click the link for the latest! https://t.co/CZixxwdUHX pic.twitter.com/V3wnbjDlM2  NWS New York NY (@NWSNewYorkNY) July 16, 2023

The weather service enacted a formal tornado watch for nine New Hampshire counties, which was scheduled to expire on Sunday afternoon, while New York City Emergency Management officials urged residents to prepare for potential flash flooding as showers and thunderstorms were expected to continue throughout the day, potentially bringing as much as five inches of rain to some areas.

"A reminder that the flash flood risk is elevated for today, especially throughout this morning! Exercise good safety practices! Much of the area is in a Moderate risk of excessive rainfall, not often seen in our area!" NWS New York said in another tweet shared early on Sunday. An accompanying graphic from the weather service showed that the probability of excessive rainfall leading to "rapid onset flooding" was at 40% for a vast stretch of coastal areas, including portions of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Vermont and New Hampshire.

A reminder that the flash flood risk is elevated for today, especially throughout this morning ! Exercise good safety practices! Much of the area is in a Moderate risk of excessive rainfall, not often seen in our area! #nycwx #nywx #hvwx #ctwx #liwx #njwx pic.twitter.com/Y7rwPBUBdk  NWS New York NY (@NWSNewYorkNY) July 16, 2023

Various flood watches and tornado watches were also in effect for most of the day on Sunday for parts of Maine, according to a National Weather Service bulletin.

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National security adviser Jake Sullivan said Sunday the House-passed version of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) is never getting to the presidents desk.

What youve seen from an extreme group of Republicans is to put forward a set of amendments that try to mix domestic social debates with  the security needs of our nation, Sullivan told CNNs Jake Tapper on State of The Union.

The House on Friday approved the annual defense policy, which included several conservative amendments, in a largely party-line 219-210 vote with four Republicans opposing the measure and four Democrats supporting it. This was a change from the usual bipartisan support this bill receives.

This Defense Authorization Act, Jake, from my perspective is really about a bipartisan exercise in defending America, defending Americans national security, Sullivan said on Sunday.

Questions were raised last week whether the House would approve the must-pass legislation after conservative lawmakers stuffed the bill with culture war amendments centered around transgender care and diversity and inclusion initiatives.

The House Armed Services Committee passed the measure in a 58-1 vote in June, but support from Democrats dropped after the GOP-sponsored amendments were put in the bill.

Sullivan told Tapper that a huge number, of House Republicans, in his view, arent interested in having politics come in the middle of the legislation.

So it was a small group of Republicans who essentially created a trap, Sullivan said.

And historically, year after year, you have seen the Defense Authorization Act pass with overwhelming bipartisan majorities. We should not walk away from that, this should be an area where politics stops and national security starts, Sullivan added.

The bill now heads to the Democratic-led Senate, where Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and members of his party are likely to strike down the controversial amendments.

We believe at the end of the day, after the Senate has done its work, after the Senate has come back together with the House, we will end up in a place where there is a broad bipartisan bill that can go to the presidents desk that he can sign; that is what is necessary for our men and women in uniform, Sullivan said.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
President Biden honored retiring Rev. Jesse Jackson in a statement Sunday, thanking him for his lifetime of dedicated service and calling him a man of God and of the people.

Jackson announced Saturday that he is resigning from his post as president of the Chicago-based civil rights group the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, which he founded more than 50 years ago.

The promise of America is that we are all created equal in the image of God and deserve to be treated equally throughout our lives. While weve never fully lived up to that promise, weve never fully walked away from it because of extraordinary leaders like Reverend Jesse Jackson, Sr., Biden wrote in the statement.

Throughout our decades of friendship and partnership, Ive seen how Reverend Jackson has helped lead our nation forward through tumult and triumph. Whether on the campaign trail, on the march for equality, or in the room advocating for what is right and just, Ive seen him as history will remember him: a man of God and of the people; determined, strategic, and unafraid of the work to redeem the soul of our nation, Biden continued.

Jackson was a protege of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and was a strong advocate for civil rights. He ran for president twice, in 1984 and 1988, when he won 13 primaries and caucuses, making him the most successful Black candidate to run for the countrys top office until former President Obamas ascendancy to the White House.

Jackson has suffered health setbacks in recent years. In 2017, he announced he had begun treatment for Parkinsons disease two years earlier. Rev. Frederick Douglass Haynes, a student of Jacksons and supporter of the Rainbow PUSH coalition, will become the new president, according to the coalition.

Jill and I are grateful to Reverend Jackson for his lifetime of dedicated service and extend our appreciation to the entire Jackson family. We look forward to working with the Rainbow PUSH Coalition as he hands the torch to the next generation of leadership, just as we will continue to cherish the counsel and wisdom that we draw from him, Biden wrote.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
President Joe Biden speaks about supply chain issues during the holiday season during an event in the South Court Auditorium on the White House campus, Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021, in Washington. On Friday the Biden-Harris administration unveiled new plans for student loan forgiveness. | Evan Vucci, Associated Press

On Friday, the Biden-Harris administration announced that it will provide more than 804,000 Americans with student loans up to $39 billion in student loan forgiveness. In total, more than $116.6 billion has been approved for loan forgiveness, the administration said in a press release.

Here is whats detailed in the new plan, and who now qualifies for forgiveness or lowered monthly repayment plans.

Who qualifies? The new plan allows forgiveness for those who have already made 20 or 25 years worth of monthly payments, varying based upon when a borrower first took out the loans, the type of loans they borrowed, and the IDR payment plan in which the borrower is enrolled, the statement says.

A statement from the White House says that those who have a balance of $12,000 or less will qualify for forgiveness after 10 years of payments under an income-driven payment plan instead of 20.

Related

Details: The move is an attempt to correct previous mistakes made by the federal student loan program in calculating the number of payments borrowers had made under an IDR plan to eventually qualify them for forgiveness.

Even though IDR rules had already promised loan forgiveness after 20 years of payments, NPR stated that out of 4.4 million people who had been repaying loans on an IDR plan for the past 20 years, only 32 had their debt canceled.

For far too long, borrowers fell through the cracks of a broken system that failed to keep accurate track of their progress towards forgiveness, said U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona. Today, the Biden-Harris Administration is taking another historic step to right these wrongs and announcing $39 billion in debt relief for another 804,000 borrowers. By fixing past administrative failures, we are ensuring everyone gets the forgiveness they deserve, just as we have done for public servants, students who were cheated by their colleges, and borrowers with permanent disabilities, including veterans. This Administration will not stop fighting to level the playing field in higher education.

SAVE plan: On June 30, the Biden-Harris administration announced an income-based repayment plan called the Saving on a Valuable Education, or SAVE, plan.

Individuals earning under $32,805 annually  and families of four earning under $67,500  will qualify for a $0 monthly payment plan. Those who make more than these amounts will save at least $1,000 a year compared to the current REPAYE plan, saving single borrowers $90 monthly on repayments, and families of four $187 monthly, according to the Department of Education.

Additionally, the SAVE plan will include an on-ramp period, where borrowers will not be penalized or reported to credit bureaus for late or missing payment for up to 12 months, the White House said. However, interest will still accrue during this time.

Can these plans be blocked by other branches of the government? According to The Washington Post, some experts say that both the Biden-Harris administrations new forgiveness plan and the SAVE plan lie within congressional powers over income-driven repayment.
New book claims to reveal identity of 'Jack the Ripper'

The 'Jack the Ripper' murders in the East End of London in 1888 remain one of Britain's most notorious unsolved crimes (ADRIAN DENNIS)

The great-great-granddaughter of a police officer who investigated the "Jack the Ripper" murders in 19th century London believes she has uncovered the killer's true identity, the Sunday Telegraph reported.

Sarah Bax Horton has written a book on her research into local cigar-maker Hyam Hyams, who she said closely matches witness descriptions from the time of a suspect seen with the victims.

The "Jack the Ripper" murders, which saw at least six women killed in the East End of London in 1888, remain one of Britain's most notorious unsolved cases.

A whole industry has sprung up around the case, including books, exhibitions and tours around the streets of the Whitechapel district where the women were killed.

Bax Horton said she had identified Hyams, an epileptic and alcoholic who was in an out of mental asylums, as the likely culprit.

Witnesses at the time described a man seen with the victims who was in his mid-30s, with a stiff arm, irregular gait and bent knees.

The author, whose book "One-Armed Jack: Uncovering the Real Jack the Ripper" comes out next month, unearthed medical records for Hyams, who was aged 35 in 1888.

They showed he had an injury that left him unable to bend or extend his left arm, and also dragged his foot and could not straighten his knees.

There were also close similarities in his height and build to the witness descriptions.

Hyams had regular seizures due to epilepsy, the notes, taken from hospitals and asylums, indicated.

He was permanently committed to a mental asylum in September 1889, and died in 1913.

Bax Horton, whose great-great-grandfather was posted at the headquarters of the investigation, concluded that Hyams, who had previously attacked his wife with a "chopper", killed because of his physical and mental decline, worsened by alcoholism.

Hyams' name had been on a "long list" of potential suspects but she said he had "never before been fully explored as a Ripper suspect".

Ripper expert Paul Begg called Bax Horton's findings a "well-researched, well-written, and long-needed book-length examination of a likely suspect".

phz/lcm
Boston Police investigating after one suffers life-threatening stab wounds, 2 others hospitalized

Boston Police are investigating after a stabbing Saturday morning left one person with life-threatening injuries and caused two others to be hospitalized.

Officers responded to 112 Southampton Street around 11:38 a.m. for a report of a person stabbed.

Two victims were transported to local hospitals and a third walked themselves to a hospital.

One of the victims suffered life-threatening injuries, according to Boston Police. The two other victims have non-life-threatening injuries.

Homicide detectives are investigating the incident, according to BPD.

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Sex offender Danny Patrick made the police's job a lot easier after he put his mobile number on creepy letters he sent to 'sexy' women - West Midlands Police

Britains doziest criminals have been revealed by police after they left simple clues or made foolish blunders that landed them with jail sentences.

Among those who made police officers life easy were a woman who googled can you get away with a hit and run, a sex offender who put his mobile number on creepy letters he sent to victims, and a burglar who forgot he was wearing an electronic tag when he was called up by a gang of thieves to help in a break-in.

David Wilson, professor of criminology who has investigated and advised police on dozens of high-profile crimes, said the dumbest half dozen were merely exaggerated examples of how even the most sophisticated criminals made mistakes and left clues that helped detectives lock them up.

It does reveal that people who commit crime are not necessarily masterminds. They may think they are criminal masterminds but all too often they are all too human and leave clues. We should be grateful for the fact they are human and they do make errors, said Professor Wilson.

Danny Patrick, a paedophile and sex offender, wrote to sexy women claiming to be their secret admirer. He watched and tracked his four unsuspecting victims to find out where they lived before delivering the creepy handwritten letters to their doorsteps.

He gave the women his mobile number and urged them to text him with their name and age to find out who he was and what he wanted. But his clumsy mistake meant police were able to trace him and pin him to the crime.

The 36-year-old from Wolverhampton admitted four counts of sending a communication conveying indecent or offensive messages and was jailed for 20 months and handed a 10-year restraining order.

Nishaben Mistry, 37, googled can you get away with a hit and run after striking and killing a 69 year-old pensioner while driving her BMW.

Nishaben Mistry

Her phone was later examined, uncovering internet searches including: How long does an arrest take on a hit and run, Do most hit and run drivers get caught?, and Do the police usually find the people behind hit and run accidents?

Police revealed she only had one second to react to the pedestrian as he was masked from view and there was no evidence to support any careless or dangerous driving, excess speed or distraction. She pleaded guilty to a charge of failing to stop and was jailed for 17 weeks, suspended for two years.

Lewis Tracey, 29, was drafted in at the last minute to take part in a five-man armed raid on a Birmingham home where he was required to snap the lock while the others wearing balaclavas and wielding knives and swords, went inside.

Lewis Tracey

Surprised to find the occupants at home, they fled. Four of the five remained unidentified but Tracey was caught because had forgotten one crucial clue: he was on an electronic tag at the time. He was jailed for six years and 11 months.

The downfall of Brandon Hayden, 24, was his distinctive woolly hat which he wore when he mounted a violent robbery on a woman in her 60s in her home after climbing through the front window.

Brandon Hayden

He ran off when he saw the victims daughter on the phone to the police but left his hat with his DNA which, along with his mobile phone, linked him to the scene. He was jailed for nine years.

Halfords worker Scott Anderson, 40, had been signing off dozens of MoT tests for cars, which never appeared at the garage. He was caught after logging on to the firms computer system to carry out an MoT while off sick at home. He was spotted by a manager, leading to him being jailed for a suspended 10-month jail sentence.

Prof Wilson said he was pleased that during his career dealing with criminals that they had made mistakes, rather than continuing to commit some awful offences.

One of the first young offenders I remember working with got released but was back inside after only a few months. He said he stole a car. But what was even more stupid was that it turned out to be an unmarked police car, he said.

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British backpacker knifed in the back at tourist resort

Bus stop where the tourist was attacked - Google

A British backpacker is in hospital with serious injuries after being stabbed during an altercation at a beach resort in Australia.

The 25-year-old tourist, who has not been named, was knifed in the back and on the wrist by a boy, 15, at a bus stop in Noosa, a town on the Sunshine Coast of Queensland.

It is part of a well-worn backpacker trail that leads from Melbourne and Sydney along the east coast and up into the tropical north of Queensland.

The attack happened after an altercation broke out between the two at 4am on Sunday, police said.

Bystanders intervened in the argument. They helped the British tourist and detained the teenager, who was armed with a knife and a bottle, until officers arrived.

People want to help

Police commended the passersby for coming to the tourists aid but warned of the risks involved.

Det Insp Jason Overland of Queensland police: Its perfectly normal behaviour when something bad happens  people want to help.

Its very hard to say this is the wrong thing to do, but I would urge caution in those situations, especially when there are weapons involved.

He said the attack was an unusual event and not typical for the area.

The Sunshine Coast is a very safe location  These sorts of events are rare.

The Briton, who has non-life-threatening injuries, is being treated at Sunshine Coast University Hospital and is expected to be released on Monday.

The teenager has been charged with assault causing bodily harm and is to appear in court on Monday.

Police are appealing for witnesses to try to piece together what happened.

Det Insp Overland: Were looking for anyone who has footage, any evidence at all, that could assist the inquiry.

Noosa lies to the south of Fraser Island, a popular backpacker destination, which was in the news recently when a dingo bit a young French tourist as she sunbathed on a beach.

The attack was one of several which have recently raised concerns about the behaviour of the wild dogs.

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Bulgarian President Rumen Radev has claimed that Ukraine "insists on waging war" against Russia and that Europe is allegedly paying for all of this.

Source: European Pravda, citing Bulgarian Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

Quote from Radev: "Ukraine insists on carrying on with this war, but the whole of Europe is paying the bills."

Details: This is a new statement made by the head of state regarding the war. Up until now, Radev has urged Bulgaria to maintain a position of "neutrality".

Radev has been advocating positions close to those of the Kremlin since the beginning of the Russian invasion. He often uses the word "conflict" instead of "war", saying he opposes providing weapons to defend Kyiv. The official also opposes economic sanctions against Russia.

Radev has been advocating for talks between Kyiv and Moscow and a peaceful resolution to the war. The last time this happened was during Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's visit to Sofia earlier this month. Then Zelenskyy stood by Kyiv's position that the war had no peaceful solution. One of Ukraine's main demands for peace is the complete withdrawal of Russian troops from all occupied Ukrainian territories, which Russia refuses to do.

"Our leaders are frantically trying to convince us that by sending military aid, they are, on the contrary, increasing our security. This conflict is growing worse, with more and more victims," Radev said.

Bulgaria, a member of NATO and the European Union, has sent military aid to Ukraine twice. The first batch was sent by the Radev-appointed interim government, obliged to do so by a decision of the National Assembly [Bulgarian parliament].

Bulgaria's Prime Minister Nikolai Denkov commented on Radev's latest allegations, stating that "the Russian Federation is the most significant and direct threat to the security of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation member states, as well as to peace and stability in the Euro-Atlantic area."

Quote from Denkov: "My question is when did our president have his opinion  when he signed these quotes, or when today he repeats some Russian claims that have nothing to do with what the EU and NATO members present as a position.

Bulgaria's national interest is to end the war, for Russia to withdraw its troops from Ukraine, for Ukraine to become a NATO member and for us to build up our defence capabilities in full compliance with the regional plans that NATO adopted in Vilnius."

More details: The Ukrainian embassy in Sofia also rejected Radev's allegations. The diplomats stressed that Ukraine wants peace and is making every effort to achieve it.

"Accusing Ukraine, which has been treacherously attacked by its northern neighbour, of the ongoing war is one of the most common theses supporting Russian propaganda and hybrid warfare in Europe," the statement said.

The embassy stressed that providing Ukraine with defence assets does not increase the number of casualties and destruction but rather saves more lives of ordinary citizens.

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Businessman crafts genius solution to one of the biggest problems with Americas landfills: Its up to all of us

Damon Carson founded repurposedMATERIALS with a specific goal in mind: to give materials headed to landfills a second life.

Before Carson started the company in 2010, he worked in solid waste and saw first-hand the obscene amount of trash that was being thrown away that could still be useful.

According to an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) report in 2018, Americans were responsible that year for almost 300 million tons of trash, with 50% ending up in landfills. As organic material decomposes in a landfill, it releases carbon dioxide and methane  the two leading culprits heating our planet unnaturally.

RepurposedMATERIALS claims to be Americas largest industrial thrift store. The company takes materials that are used but not worthless. Its inventory  that would otherwise be headed to the landfill  mostly comes from companies, schools, and the government. Much of that inventory goes on to live its best second life.

Street sweeper brushes have become back scratchers for livestock and zoo animals. Old bowling alley lanes are now countertops, butcher blocks, and shuffleboard tables. Even propane tanks have turned into BBQ grills, feed troughs, and cool-looking benches.

Go to the repurposedMATERIALS Instagram page to find all sorts of creative uses its customers are finding for these discarded items. There are six physical locations across the country, and you can head to the companys website to find your own trash treasures.

Thrifting is a great way to save money, and repurposedMATERIALS is one of the more unique thrifting companies weve seen. There arent many thrift stores where you could find a 25,000-pound roll of cleated rubber conveyor belt.

Everyone wins with companies like repurposedMATERIALS. Consumers find inexpensive materials to fit their needs. The company is profitable in large part because of the low inventory costs  not to mention its also creating jobs.

That stuff is great and all, but Damon Carson started this company with the goal of diverting usable trash from being discarded  and he is crushing that goal. Last year, the company kept 16.7 million pounds of waste from landfills! The goal for 2023 is 21 million pounds  hopefully, Carsons company will continue to surpass its goals.

As Carson says at the end of the repurposedMATERIALS promo, With only one Earth, it is up to all of us to make a difference in taking care of our environment.

Join our free newsletter for cool news and actionable info that makes it easy to help yourself while helping the planet.
People walk along a boardwalk to salt flats at Badwater Basin, Sunday, July 16, 2023, in Death Valley National Park, Calif. Death Valley's brutal temperatures come amid a blistering stretch of hot weather that has put roughly one-third of Americans under some type of heat advisory, watch or warning. (AP Photo/John Locher)

DEATH VALLEY, Calif. (AP)  Long the hottest place on Earth, Death Valley put a sizzling exclamation point Sunday on a record warm summer that is baking nearly the entire globe by flirting with some of the hottest temperatures ever recorded, meteorologists said.

Temperatures in Death Valley, which runs along part of central California's border with Nevada, reached 128 degrees Fahrenheit (53.33 degrees Celsius) on Sunday at the aptly named Furnace Creek, the National Weather Service said.

The hottest temperature ever recorded on Earth was 134 F (56.67 C) in July 1913 at Furnace Creek, said Randy Ceverny of the World Meteorological Organization, the body recognized as keeper of world records. Temperatures at or above 130 F (54.44 C) have only been recorded on Earth a handful of times, mostly in Death Valley.

With global warming, such temperatures are becoming more and more likely to occur, Ceverny, the World Meteorological Organizations records coordinator, said in an email. Long-term: Global warming is causing higher and more frequent temperature extremes. Short-term: This particular weekend is being driven by a very very strong upper-level ridge of high pressure over the Western U.S.

Furnace Creek is an unincorporated community within Death Valley National Park. It's home to the park's visitor center, which includes a digital thermometer popular with tourists. On Sunday afternoon, dozens of people gathered at the thermometer  some wearing fur coats as a joke  hoping to snap a picture with a temperature reading that would shock their friends and family.

That digital thermometer hit 130 degrees at one point on Sunday, but it's not an official reading. The National Weather Service said the highest temperature recorded on Sunday was 128 F (53.3 C)  a high that was unlikely to be surpassed as the sun went down.

A few miles away at Badwater Basin  the lowest point in North America at 282 feet (85.95 meters) below sea level  tourists took selfies and briefly walked along the white salt flats ringed by sandy-colored mountains as wisps of clouds crawled overhead. Meteorologists say that thin cloud cover most likely kept temperatures from reaching potential record highs.

William Cadwallader lives in Las Vegas, where temperatures reached 116 F (46.67 C) on Sunday, nearing the all-time high of 117 degrees. But Cadwallader said he's been visiting Death Valley during the summer for years just to say he's been to the hottest place on Earth.

I just want to go to a place, sort of like Mount Everest, to say, you know, you did it, he said.

The heat wave is just one part of the extreme weather hitting the U.S. over the weekend. Five people died in Pennsylvania on Saturday when heavy rains caused a sudden flash flood that swept away multiple cars. A 9-month-old boy and a 2-year-old girl remained missing. In Vermont, authorities were concerned about landslides as rain continued after days of flooding.

Death Valleys brutal temperatures come amid a blistering stretch of hot weather that has put roughly one-third of Americans under some type of heat advisory, watch or warning. Heat waves are not as visually dramatic as other natural disasters, but experts say they are more deadly. A heat wave in parts of the South and Midwest killed more than a dozen people last month.

Residents in the western U.S. have long been accustomed to extreme temperatures, and the heat appeared to prompt minimal disruptions in California over the weekend. Local governments opened cooling centers for people without access to air conditioning to stay cool. The heat forced officials to cancel horse racing at the opening weekend of the California State Fair as officials urged fair-goers to stay hydrated and seek refuge inside one of the seven air-conditioned buildings.

Temperatures in Phoenix hit 114 F (45.56 C) on Sunday, the 17th consecutive day of 110 degrees or higher. The record is 18 days, set in June 1974. Phoenix is on track to break that record on Tuesday, said Gabriel Lojero, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service.

Heat records are being shattered all over the U.S. South, from California to Florida. But its far more than that. Its worldwide, with devastating heat hitting Europe along with dramatic floods in the U.S. Northeast, India, Japan and China.

For nearly all of July, the world has been in uncharted hot territory, according to the University of Maines Climate Reanalyzer.

June was also the hottest June on record, according to several weather agencies. Scientists say there is a decent chance that 2023 will go down as the hottest year on record, with measurements going back to the middle of the 19th century.

Death Valley dominates global heat records. In the valley, its not only hot, it stays brutally warm.

Some meteorologists have disputed how accurate Death Valleys 110-year-old hot-temperature record is, with weather historian Christopher Burt disputing it for several reasons, which he laid out in a blog post a few years ago.

The two hottest temperatures on record are the 134 F in 1913 in Death Valley and 131 F (55 C) in Tunisia in July 1931. Burt, a weather historian for The Weather Company, finds fault with both of those measurements and lists 130 F (54.4 C) in July 2021 in Death Valley as his hottest recorded temperature on Earth.

130 degrees is very rare if not unique, Burt said.

In July 2021 and August 2020, Death Valley recorded a reading of 130 F (54.4 C), but both are still awaiting confirmation. Scientists have found no problems so far, but they havent finished the analysis, NOAA climate analysis chief Russ Vose said.

There are other places similar to Death Valley that may be as hot, such as Irans Lut Desert, but like Death Valley are uninhabited so no one measures there, Burt said. The difference was someone decided to put an official weather station in Death Valley in 1911, he said.

A combination of long-term human-caused climate change from the burning of coal, oil and natural gas is making the world hotter by the decade, with ups and downs year by year. Many of those ups and downs are caused by the natural El Nino and La Nina cycle. An El Nino cycle, the warming of part of the Pacific that changes the worlds weather, adds even more heat to the already rising temperatures.

Scientists such as Vose say that most of the record warming the Earth is now seeing is from human-caused climate change, partly because this El Nino only started a few months ago and is still weak to moderate. It isnt expected to peak until winter, so scientists predict next year will be even hotter than this year.

___

Borenstein reported from Washington and Beam reported from Sacramento, California.

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Follow APs climate and environment coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/climate-and-environment

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Associated Press climate and environmental coverage receives support from several private foundations. See more about APs climate initiative here. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
Press Release

July 15, 2023 'Give Filipinos the service they deserve' -- Bong Go lauds state-of-the-art new MMDA Communications and Command Center Senator Christopher "Bong" Go, during the ribbon-cutting ceremony of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority's (MMDA) new Communication and Command Center (CCC) in Pasig City on Wednesday, July 12, expressed his enthusiastic support for the project. As vice chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, Go has played a significant role in initiating the P300 million funding for the first phase of the state-of-the-art facility. In a video message, Go said that the establishment of the National Capital Region's CCC manifests the MMDA's dedication to enhancing disaster response, traffic management, and overall public safety within the NCR. "I commend the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority for their unwavering commitment to the welfare of our citizens," he said. The senator noted that the new CCC is set to function as the nerve center for the MMDA, "harnessing cutting-edge technology and highly skilled personnel to streamline communication, coordination, and decision-making during critical situations." As part of the inauguration ceremony, several key figures were present, including Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, Senior Deputy Executive Secretary Hubert Guevara, Secretary of the Interior and Local Government Benjamin Abalos, Jr., Presidential Adviser for Investment and Economic Affairs Frederick Go, former MMDA Chair Bayani Fernando, Acting Chair of MMDA Don Artes, and MMDA General Manager Procopio Lipana. Some Metro Manila mayors and their representatives were also present. Artes took the opportunity to acknowledge the contributions of Go during the event, saying, "Ang command center po na ito ay napondohan through the initiative of Senator Bong Go." He also expressed gratitude towards Senator Sonny Angara, whose initiative enabled the necessary funding for the expansion of the center. The CCC is equipped with a host of features including a technologically advanced operations center, a comprehensive data center, a situation room for crisis management, a viewing gallery, and a dedicated power room. The center allows the MMDA to maintain vigilant oversight of Metro Manila by managing 403 cutting-edge CCTV cameras installed at key points along the metropolis' roads and major infrastructure projects. Further enhancing its surveillance capabilities, the center is in the process of integrating an additional 638 CCTV cameras dispersed across various Metro Manila cities. Notably, the EDSA Bus Carousel is set to have an exclusive set of 166 cameras to ensure its effective monitoring. Go then took the opportunity to express his heartfelt gratitude to the committed men and women of the MMDA and its partners who tirelessly worked to realize this project. "Your commitment to public service is truly commendable, and I have no doubt that this center will become a symbol of progress and unity for our nation," he concluded.
Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) slammed Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) on Sunday, calling his controversial blockade of more than 270 military promotions a threat to national security.

"It is bizarre for Senator Tuberville to say that he's not jeopardizing national security when he injects politics into the defense process. And frankly this is not the time to do it, not when there is a war going on in Europe, not when American leadership is vital to the international global order," Duckworth, an Army veteran helicopter pilot who lost both legs while serving in Iraq, said during an interview on NBCs "Meet the Press."

"It's beyond distressing. It is just that. It is a jeopardization to our national security."

The Republican senators monthslong hold on military confirmations over the Pentagons policy of paying for service members to travel to seek abortions has left the Marine Corps without a Senate-confirmed leader for the first time in 100 years. If his blockade continues in the coming weeks, it could mean the same for the leaders of the Army, Navy and the Joint Chiefs nominee.

More than 200 other military promotions (and accompanying pay raises) have also been blocked.

Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-Va.), a former CIA officer, warned that foreign adversaries are likely watching as U.S. military linger in limbo awaiting confirmation.

"I think that it is real that foreign countries are recognizing that one person can absolutely put to a screeching halt the progression of military careers, and importantly, can stop vital positions to our national security from being filled," she said Sunday on MSNBC's "Inside with Jen Psaki."

Tuberville has said he would be willing to vote on nominees one by one, but it would require much more time to confirm the hundreds of promotions that are usually approved by the Senate in large blocks.

"We've given him many options for a vote, and he's turned them all down. [Iowa Republican Sen.] Joni Ernst has a bill that goes even further than where Senator Tuberville is, and he declined that vote. And Republican leadership has offered him multiple off-ramps to this, and he's backed himself into a corner," Duckworth said Sunday.

But Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) defended Tuberville's blockade Sunday, noting that "every senator has the right to place holds on nominees on an issue of policy importance."

"Senator Duckworth has had the exact same hold that Tommy Tuberville does a couple years ago on generals to be promoted," Sullivan said on "Meet the Press." In 2020, Duckworth announced plans to place a hold on 1,000 military promotions until then-Defense Secretary Mark Esper confirmed that the promotion of impeachment witness Army Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman would not be blocked. Duckworth's holds lasted less than two weeks.

"Every single one of these kind of holds, 99% of them get resolved through compromise. And what needs to happen, the secretary of Defense, Senator Tuberville, Chuck Schumer need to sit down and have that pass," Sullivan said.
A wildfire raging earlier this month in British Columbia - where another firefighter lost her life in recent days

A second firefighter has been killed in Canada as the country battles its worst season of wildfires on record.

The person, who has not yet been named, died from injuries sustained while fighting a fire near Fort Liard in the Northwest Territories on Saturday.

It comes just days after 19-year-old Devyn Gale was killed while working in neighbouring British Columbia.

Nearly 900 wildfires are currently burning across Canada, about 580 of which remain out of control.

So far this season, the fires have burned more than 10m hectares (24.7m acres) of land, according to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre.

The figure is higher than for any previous year on record and more than three times the average for the previous 10 years.

On Sunday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he was "incredibly saddened" by the news that a second firefighter had lost their life, and sent his condolences to their family.

Caroline Cochrane, premier of the Northwest Territories, said the death was a "tragic loss for the entire territory".

"I extend my heartfelt condolences to their family, friends and colleagues," she said.

"The bravery and selflessness of our firefighters is an incredible gift to us all. Thank you for your service to our territory and to our country."

Ms Gale's death was the first death on the ground since the start of Canada's wildfire season - and reportedly the first in British Columbia since 2015.

Afterwards, Mr Trudeau said Canadians "must never forget the risks these heroes take every time they run toward the danger".

"To firefighters... across the country who are doing just that to keep us safe: Thank you. We are inspired by your courage, and grateful for your service," he said.

Climate change increases the risk of the hot, dry weather that is likely to fuel wildfires. 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.

Canada is estimated to be warming twice as fast as the rest of the world and in recent years has seen extreme weather events of increasing frequency and intensity.

The wildfires have also sparked pollution alerts across North America as smoke is blown south along the continent's eastern coast.
Central Coast woman found dead in San Diego had 2 daughters. Heres how you can help them

Through a GoFundMe page and a tri-tip sandwich fundraiser, the community is rallying around the Guadalupe family of a homicide victim found in San Diego earlier this month.

Leyva Oregel Garcia, a 32-year-old mother of two girls, was last seen leaving her Guadalupe home with her estranged husband on July 1.

The family reported her missing July 2, and her body was found July 4 in a vehicle in the San Ysidro parking lot, according to San Diego Police Department detectives.

Leyva was a hardworking, independent woman who was eager to learn and grow, the GoFundMe page said. She worked tirelessly to build her janitorial business, and learned the business side by attending courses through Womens Economic Ventures of Santa Barbara.

She was a loving and caring mother to her two daughters, and always wanted to provide the best to them. Her spirit and cheerful personality will forever be with us.

The GoFundMe fundraising campaign had raised $10,650 as of Sunday toward a $20,000 goal.

The family is devastated by this hurtful, unexpected loss, and is not financially prepared for expenses such as maintaining a home, food, and meeting other essential needs for her daughters, who were left without a mother and father and now in the care of Leyvas mother.

On Thursday, the Guadalupe Kiwanis Club and Guadalupe Union School District will join forces to hold a tri-tip sandwich fundraiser for the family from 4 p.m. until sold out.

Tickets cost $10 and include a tri-tip sandwich, chips and drink at the Kermit McKenzie Intermediate School parking lot, 4710 W. Main St. in Guadalupe.

Noting the wide assistance to the family, Guadalupe Police Chief Michael Cash called it a real proud aspect of Guadalupe.

San Diego police have identified Garcias husband  German Armando Luna Salazar, 44  as a suspect sought in connection with the death.

Detectives believe he fled to Mexico.

San Diego homicide detectives are working with investigators from the Guadalupe Police Department and the Santa Barbara County Sheriffs Office to determine the circumstances surrounding her disappearance from Guadalupe, and how she ended up in San Diego.

The whole team worked on this, Cash said Tuesday night during the City Council meeting. The information they put into the system allowed (the) San Diego Police Department to quickly identify the person and what had happened.
Chicago cheered as Italo Balbo led a squadron of 24 Italian aircraft that splashed down in Lake Michigan 90 years ago

Italian Gen. Italo Balbos arrival in Chicago was a spectacular performance freighted with future history. Early on the evening of July 15, 1933, his air fleet could be glimpsed amid the enveloping mists of the citys heavily industrialized South Side.

The sight broke the palpable tension rippling through an immense crowd lining the citys lakefront. Balbo and the 24 airplanes under his command were late, having had to improvise a route from Montreal for the last leg in their 6,100-mile journey from Rome.

We had to modify the course passing to the north of Lake Ontario because thunderstorms were forming there, Balbo explained after landing. Throughout the day we found turbulent air, which taxed our nerves.

Only 30 years before, Wilber Wright had flown 120 feet in a bare-bones airplane. The Wright brothers had received design advice from Octave Chanute, who in 1896 got aloft in a nonmotorized glider in Miller Beach, Indiana  over which Balbos squadron likely passed shortly before arriving in Chicago.

But while the Wrights first aircraft looked like a glider with a motor, Balbos planes were heavyweights: multiton metal monsters equipped with pontoons enabling them to take off and land on water.

They flew in a tight 24-craft formation with Balbos plane above and behind the others.

Seagulls flew ahead of the planes as if to show them how to do it, wrote a Tribune reporter who watched them pass over the site of Chicagos 1933 Worlds Fair and the Loop. One large gull circled and banked and soared near the planes as they came down lower and lower, facing North and heading for the shelter of the breakwater.

Awaiting the rest of his squadron, Balbo strolled on his airplanes wing, a swagger stick in one hand. He lit a cigaret, surveyed the scene and smiled happily, reported the Tribune, which also opined that he looked like a gentleman headed to an afternoon tea.

When he did come ashore on Navy Pier, Balbo pronounced: Chicago  grande metropoli.

He and his squadron were driven to Soldier Field where 60,000 people had waited for them all afternoon. Their appetites had been whetted ahead of their arrival by Tribune headlines like:

Italian Flyers Board Planes, But Snow in Alps Halts Takeoff

Italian Airmen Held in Ireland by Bad Weather

Flying Italians in Iceland: Pierce Fog in 7-Hour Flight from Ireland

Gen. Balbo and 24 Planes Span North Atlantic

Chicago recognizes the honor bestowed upon it by this great flight, Mayor Ed Kelly announced when Balbos flyers appeared in Soldier Field.

The City Council has decreed that a thoroughfare (7th Street) leading to the fairgrounds from downtown streets shall be known as Balbo Avenue.

Balbo gave a speech in Italian, which much of the audience could only grasp a few words, like: Duce ... Italia  Fascist ... Mussolini. He finished by swinging his arm overhead in a military salute and shouting: Viva Chicago!

When the cheering finally died down, the Italian ambassador translated Balbos speech: We have today accomplished the mission entrusted to us by our chiefs. It was to bring a message of friendship from the new Italy to the United States.

Balbos voyage also bore a message for the Italian people. A decade earlier, fascist leader Benito Mussolini had seized power by promising to make Italy great again. The glory of Roman times would be restored by the new Italy.

The redemption of that promise would be demonstrated by exhibiting state-of-the-art Italian airplanes at a worlds fair with the theme A Century of Progress. There, Italys consul general in Chicago broadcast a real-time narrative of the days events to listeners in Italy.

By 1933, it was clear that the next war would be fought with huge airplanes carrying bombs to distant targets, and would fly in formation for mutual protection. Balbos flight would show that Italy was ready to meet the challenge.

The Italian aviators first day in Chicago ended at the tony Saddle and Cycle Club on Foster Avenue. The plan was to introduce Balbo to Chicagos elite and vice versa at teatime. But it was nearing midnight when the Italians arrived.

Pretty young sub debs in their frilliest and most becoming organdies, and dowagers in their Queen Mary hats greeted them and stopped them to ask for their autographs as they tried to go upstairs, the Tribunes society columnist wrote.

A few flyers eyed the finger sandwiches the Dante Alighieri Society laid out for them before joining their comrades who were chomping on huge steaks, the Tribune reported. At midnight, Gen. Balbo appeared at the reception, attired in a handsome white uniform.

The next day, there was a Michigan Avenue parade in the Italians honor. At the fairs Indian Village, Sioux dancers encircled Balbo as he was dubbed Chief Flying Eagle.

The Tribunes James ODonnell Bennett reached for poetry to convey the emotional outpouring at the Italian generals farewell parade.

Up the sunlit avenue that fronts the lake they ride, and closed rank thousands give them hale and farewell, he wrote. From Eighth street on the south to the river on the north the people are standing 10 to 15 feet deep on the west side of Michigan Avenue.

Seeing women waving handkerchiefs and parasols, Bennett added:

To them all  to women of every race and station  this bearded man who thinks so cautiously and acts so audaciously is Penelopes Ulysses come true.

By then, Mussolini had had it with the adulation Balbo was getting. Someone else being compared to ancient heroes? His response was to write Balbo out of the story.

Balbos reception in the United States has been converted into acclaim for Mussolini and a eulogy of his work, with Balbo hardly getting into the picture as it has been presented to the Italian public, the Tribunes Rome correspondent reported on July 23.

The retelling claimed that: Italian mothers in America held up their babes as Balbo passed and said: These are for Mussolini.

The following month, Balbo was stripped of his air force command and made governor of Libya, a North African colony. It was a stunning demotion for the famous aviator that the government awkwardly tried to spin:

His knowledge of aviation, air officers said, would help him in a colony where air travel plays a large part in keeping tribesmen in the interior under control, the Tribune reported.

The scuttlebutt was that Balbos banishment was designed to keep his political shadow from darkening the Piazza Venezia, the site of Mussolinis palace. Balbo had long been considered a logical successor to Il Duce, but he made the best of his North Africa posting.

He rode a white horse with the air of a desert chieftain before Libyan natives, the Tribune recalled when Balbo was killed in 1940.

His airplane was shot down over an airfield that had just been attacked by the British. By most accounts, Balbos plane was mistaken as an enemy aircraft, and shot down by Italian fire. World War II began the previous year, with Britain and Italy on opposite sides.

Balbos association with fascism has engendered ongoing controversy over whether Chicago should have a street named in his honor.

But in the immediate aftermath of Balbos death, a wave of sorrow passed over political and ideological borders. Rome was draped in mourning black. A memorial Mass would be celebrated in Chicago.

And upon being informed of Balbos death, the commander of the British air force in the Middle East ordered a wreath be dropped over Tobruk, Libya, where he was killed. It carried a note that read:

The British Royal Air Force expresses its sympathy in the death of General Balbo  a great leader and gallant aviator, personally known to me, whom fate has placed on the other side.

Have an idea for Vintage Chicago Tribune? Share it with Ron Grossman and Marianne Mather at rgrossman@chicagotribune.com and mmather@chicagotribune.com.
(Bloomberg) -- President Xi Jinping has resisted crossing Washingtons red lines over arming Russias war machine in Ukraine. But that hasnt stopped China edging closer to Moscows military in another way: direct engagement.

Most Read from Bloomberg

China and the armed forces of Vladimir Putin conducted six joint military exercises together last year, the most in data going back two decades.

That accounted for two-thirds of all Chinas drills with foreign militaries in 2022, according to data compiled by the US National Defense Universitys Center for the Study of Chinese Military Affairs.

Five of the exercises took place after Putin launched his invasion of Ukraine, the data shows. Four of them were bilateral, while two were held with US adversaries including Iran and Syria.

Xi has every reason to preserve and enhance Chinas strategic alignment with Russia, said Alexander Korolev, a senior lecturer in politics and international relations at the University of New South Wales in Australia. Its the most effective way to counterbalance against US power.

As China ramps up pressure on Taiwan, the self-ruled island Xi has vowed to claim someday, the US has expanded its military presence in Asia. It recently signed a defense pact with the Philippines and opened another base on Guam. Chinas concerns over US military encirclement come as Russia protests North Atlantic Treaty Organization forces inching up to its borders.

Against that backdrop, Xi has refused to condemn Putins war. Instead, China has provided economic and diplomatic shelter to Moscow by buying its cheap commodities and via political engagement. The Chinese leaders sole trip abroad this year so far was to Moscow.

At the same time, China has frozen high-level military dialogue with the US over sanctions it imposed on Defense Minister Li Shangfu for a 2018 Russian arms purchase. The US and China havent held joint drills since 2020, and those involved disaster response. Risky interactions between their militaries have raised fears an accident could spill into a confrontation.

China and Russia have a tumultuous defense history thats marred by suspicion and includes a months-long conflict along their lengthy border in the 1960s. The recent upgrade in trust came in 2015, after the US and Europe imposed sanctions on Russia for seizing Crimea the year before.

Those measures, along with US criticism of Beijings military expansionism in the South China Sea, spurred both sides to look for alternative defense partners. Thats caused some US policymakers to express concern China and Russia now have a de facto alliance, according to a February report to Congress.

Russia and China have conducted at least 36 drills together in the wake of Putins annexation of Crimea, according to the NDU and a Bloomberg News tally. That compares to just ten drills over the decade preceding 2014.

Putins announcement in 2019 that Russia would help China build a system to warn of ballistic missile launches was unprecedented, according to Korolev, and signaled a new degree of defense cooperation. Such systems require both ground-based radars as well as space satellites.

Putin and Xi have managed to mitigate, if not eliminate, the existing psychological and political barriers to closer cooperation, he added.

Political Message

The drills between Russia and China are generally smaller than those between the US and its allies. The US and the Philippines recently held their largest-ever drills featuring more than 17,000 troops.

But Chinas exercises with Russia are often loaded with political significance.

Their annual drills around Japan, for example, aggravate a democracy with whom both countries have a territorial dispute. In 2019, the two nations air forces held their first long-range bomber flight patrols in the Indo-Pacific. Japan scrambled planes in response, while South Korea said the drills entered its air-defense identification zone. Both countries are key US security partners.

On Saturday, China said Russia will soon send its naval and air forces to participate in an annual joint exercise taking place in middle of the Sea of Japan. The Peoples Liberation Army said the drill aims to enhance strategic coordination between the two militaries.

It sends a signal to all observing, including the US, that this is a relationship that is significant and is growing, said Andrew Taffer, a research fellow at the NDUs Center for the Study of Chinese Military Affairs. It suggests the possibility that they might work together militarily in ways that undermine US and allied interests.

Russian nuclear fuel deliveries to a new Chinese reactor are already raising US concerns about Beijings potential to produce weapons-grade plutonium.

While Russia and China havent performed joint drills around Taiwan, last month two Russian war ships sailed along the islands east coast in a rare transit, before passing Japans Okinawa island where theres a large US base. The ships were en route to a port call in Shanghai.

Still, Putins war in Ukraine has exposed the limitations of Moscow as a potential military partner. Thats unlikely to deter ties in the long run because Xi doesnt have a good substitute, according to Elizabeth Wishnick, a professor of political science at Montclair State University.

Were there to be a crisis or a conflict in Asia, she said, theres a chance that China and Russia may may help each other.

(Updates with expert quote in the 18th paragraph)

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National security adviser Jake Sullivan said Sunday that China should be pressured to take significant, substantial action in reducing emissions and fight climate change.

Speaking on CNN's State of the Union, Sullivan said of China: They should not able to hide behind any kind of claim that they're a developing nation, to step up to their responsibility. And their responsibility under the Paris climate accord is to take significant, substantial action to reduce emissions on a defined time frame in the near-term.

John Kerry, the former secretary of State who is President Joe Biden's climate envoy, is due in Beijing to attempt to revive U.S.-China climate negotiations.



CNN host Jake Tapper noted that the United States is facing a number of weather-related crises at the moment, including intense heat waves and major flooding, which have been attributed to climate change. Those seeking to combat climate change have focused on China and India, as developing nations whose policy decisions will be crucial in coming years.

The world, I do believe, should step up and encourage, indeed, pressure China to take far more dramatic action to reduce emissions, Sullivan told Tapper.
EXCLUSIVE: A top Republican on the House Homeland Security Committee is warning of a growing Chinese Communist Party influence in Latin America  as he returns from a trip to the region, where he spoke to officials about the dangers of the geopolitical foe.

Rep. August Pfluger, R-Texas, led a congressional delegation to the region, which included Brazil, Colombia and Panama. Lawmakers spoke with government officials and representatives from the private sector. They also toured the Darien Gap region and had briefings from law enforcement officials in multiple countries.

Much attention has been focused on the flow of migrants to the U.S. through the gap, as migrants from countries such as Venezuela make their way north to try and enter the U.S. amid an ongoing border crisis at the U.S.-Mexico border.

GOP REP. GIMENEZ SHOWS MIGRANT TRAFFIC MOVING THROUGH PANAMA, HEADING TO US BORDER

But Pfluger is alert to a different threat that the U.S. needs to tackle  telling Fox News Digital in an interview that the Chinese Communist Party is "present in this region, theyre present in the trade relationships, theyre present with telecommunications, theyre present with a desire to build ports and use their own tactics."

"And so we have to be working in this area because it's not just about the issues that we see on our border. The homeland security of the United States depends on us engaging, and quite frankly, I think that we have ignored this region," he said.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

Last month, it was revealed that China has been seeking to build a listening post in Cuba, something the U.S. government has called an "ongoing issue."

Meanwhile, other lawmakers have also highlighted the threat. Sen Bill Hagerty, R-Tenn., has warned about the threat of Chinese influence where he said there was a "vacuum" left due to a lack of U.S. leadership.

In conversations with government officials, Pfluger, who is chairman of the Counterterrorism, Law Enforcement, and Intelligence Subcommittee, said he brought the threat up repeatedly.

SEN HAGERTY, AFTER SOUTH AMERICA TRIP, WARNS CHINA MOVING TO STEP INTO VACUUM LEFT BY US

Rep. August Pfluger speaks during a House Foreign Affairs Committee meeting on March 10, 2021, in Washington, D.C.

"My message to the foreign ministers in these countries was very simple. I basically said You and your countries have to push back, and you have to be clear-eyed about what the objectives of the Chinese Communist Party are. And I think that they were somewhat surprised to hear such a strong message."

Pfluger noted that Panama signed onto aspects of the Chinese Belt & Road Initiative in recent years and is trading with the regime. Pfluger said it was a key area where China is seeking greater control.

"The Panama Canal is a very strategic point and the Chinese have been desiring control of both the Pacific and the Atlantic side to build ports, to build projects that would give them a greater degree of control over the Panama Canal. So when you talk about the shipping  of course, if you control the shipping line that goes through there, then you can really move the needle and influence the region," he said.

"I did not mince my words to the foreign minister of Colombia and the foreign minister of Panama, when I said, We need you as a partner to push back against the Chinese Communist Party, especially in the area of ports and telecommunications, because they desire to undermine the Western world and freedom," he said.

Pfluger says the ongoing crisis of migrants and drugs up through the continent and into the U.S. is related to Chinese influence in the region.

BIDEN ADMIN AGAIN INCREASES NUMBER OF MIGRANTS ALLOWED INTO US VIA CBP ONE APP

"If the Chinese Communist Party can get a foothold in those countries, then think about the increases in narcotic trafficking and human trafficking that would exist," he said.

He also said there are signs of an increase in specific routes set up by trafficking organizations to fly from China into South America and move north.

"We have seen Chinese high-value targets in my district that have been arrested and apprehended in the last couple of years, and the uptick has increased sharply. And so the malign activity, if they get influence in these countries, will continue to increase in a lot of other areas," he said.

"We know that the Chinese Communist Party wants to undermine the United States in any and all areas that they possibly can. And it starts by gaining a foothold with partners. And, you know, maybe it starts economically and it doesn't look like it's that serious. But we know it's serious because we've seen it all throughout the world."
U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska

The week-long, two-person bear hunt cost $60,000. But if the clients wanted to hire prostitutes to keep them company as they waited out their prey, they could shell out another $1,800 each, per eveningor $500 per sex act.

The bizarre pitch was part of what prosecutors say was an illicit years-long scheme to get rich off of illegal big-game hunts advertised on a Chinese-language social media platform. The alleged mastermind is now facing a slew of felony charges.

Jun Harry Liang told clients that if they managed to net a bear, hed purchase the gall bladder, which is used in traditional Chinese medicine but illegal to buy or sell under Alaska law, according to a newly unsealed criminal complaint obtained by The Daily Beast. If not, the feds say Liang told the men he had bear gall bladders for sale at $5,000 apiecea relative bargain on todays black market.

What Liang didnt know, the complaint states, was that his customers were actually undercover federal agents wrapping up a year-long probe into his business. The effort by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) deployed an elaborate sting operation to get Liang, culminating in a long list of charges against the 40-year-old Fairbanks resident, including multiple counts of wire fraud and money laundering, in addition to a trio of wildlife trafficking offenses.

Liang advertised his services on the social media platform xiaohongshu.com, which means Little Red Book in Mandarin, and communicated with clients on the Chinese messaging app WeChat. In March, Liang, a Chinese national who the feds say is in the U.S. illegally on a tourist visa that expired in 2016, pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor count of leading tours on federally managed land without a permit, and paid a $400 fine.

He bought himself a Mercedes with a portion of the proceeds of the ultimately unsuccessful expedition, according to the complaint, which also names his neighbor and occasional business partner Brian Phelan as a defendant. The complaint says Phelan worked alongside Liang for the first four days of the hunt, but took off two days early due to a conflict with his regular work schedule.

Reached by phone on Saturday, Phelan, 51, told The Daily Beast, At this point, I dont have a whole lot of clue as to what the hell is going on. I know that I am involved in something.

Phelan said his lawyer told him that the papers would be calling, but advised him not to say a lot to anybody.

All I can say is, things are not what they appear, Phelan said, adding, I dont speak Mandarin, I dont read Mandarin, I dont read Mandarin.

An undercover HSI agent with Phelan at a shooting range in Alaska. U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska

He also said he made up the story he told Liang and the two undercover agents about having to get back to work.

I left for what I thought was a just reason, but it was not a conflict at work, Phelan explained, declining to provide further details. I just told them that to avoid any issues.

In an email, Liangs attorney Gary Colbath said, Sorry, no comment on pending matters.

The criminal inquiry into Liang began in October 2021, with a tip from a confidential source.

The source told investigators with the Alaska State Wildlife Troopers Wildlife Investigative Unit (WIU) about a trip the previous August that a group of Chinese immigrants conducting unlicensed big game guided hunts had led, and pointed them to an itinerary being advertised by Liangs outfit, AK Aurora Travel, Inc., on xiaohongshu.com. Liang also offers glacier tours and Aurora Borealis viewing, and appears to solely market his services to Chinese nationals or Chinese national[s] living in the United States, according to the complaint.

The WIU investigator contacted FWS agents, and they together reviewed AK Aurora Travels activity on xiaohongshu.com (which is misspelled as xiahongshu throughout the complaint).

Investigators said they were able to trace the company back to Liang thanks to a hunting license purchased with his credit card.

Monitoring Liangs social media activity, investigators took note of a guided caribou hunt he appeared to have overseen, with additional references to old American hunter Brian, the complaint goes on. Using investigative techniques not explained in the complaint, FWS agents in Fairbanks then identified Phelan as the Jeeps owner. Liang, the document says, turned out to live just a few doors down from Phelan.

A photo of Phelan, posted to Liangs social media. U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska

On Feb. 4, 2022, a Mandarin-speaking undercover agent with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), an agency under the umbrella of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, covertly contacted Liang on xiaohongshu.com and WeChat. Posing as a potential client, the agent said he was interested in a hunting trip for two people, the complaint states. It says Liang responded with an offer of a nine-day, eight-night caribou hunt for $24,300 per person, and a required hunting lesson costing between $1,100 and $1,300 per person.

A few days later, the undercover HSI agent followed up to ask about the possibility of a guided bear hunt in the fall. Liang said hed have to check with his guide about availability, but that the price would be $60,000. He told the undercover agent to get back to him with a confirmed date, and pay a deposit, after which he would provide gear, guides, and lodging, according to the complaint. The undercover agent could have his kill butchered and shipped back home to eat, Liang reportedly told him.

In late June, the undercover agent sent Liang a $15,000 deposit for the bear hunt. About a month later, the undercover HSI agent, along with a second undercover agent, were in Fairbanks.

The two of them met with Liang and Phelan on Aug. 21 at Lins Asian Bistro, a Chinese restaurant not far from the Fairbanks International Airport, according to the complaint. There, the four discussed their itinerary, shooting lessons at a nearby range, and getting hunting licenses for the undercover agents. In the morning, Liang brought his two clients to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADFG) office and helped them purchase black and brown bear tags and harvest tickets.

The state has strict guidelines about who can legally bag bears, and nonresidents must be accompanied by varying combinations of Alaska residents and officially licensed guides. Neither Liang nor Phelan is a licensed guide. Instead, the feds say Phelan, who spoke to the licensing official by phone, claimed to be the brother-in-law of one of the two undercover agents, misusing a loophole that allows Alaska residents to accompany nonresident relatives on hunts in lieu of licensed guides.

Permits in hand, the undercover agents gave Liang the $45,000 balance to complete payment for the hunt. That same day, Liang paid Genes Chrysler in Fairbanks, AK, $20,000 for the purchase of a 2016 Mercedes SUV, the complaint states. The group then drove to a shooting range, where the undercover agents could get their mandatory lesson.

During the drive Liang offered to buy a bear gall bladder from [one of the undercover agents] if their hunt was successful, according to the complaint. State of Alaska law prohibits the sale of bear parts. Liang also offered to provide prostitutes to the [undercover agents] during their hunt.

A hunting blind Liang and Phelan allegedly set up for two undercover agents posing as customers. U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska

After they were done at the range, Phelan drove Liang and the undercover agents in his Jeep to the Quartz Lake Campground, about 14 miles northwest of their hunting camp at Delta Junction. They spent the next three days waiting for a bear, without success, the complaint states.

Liang again offered prostitutes to the [undercover agents] for approximately $1,800 per night or $500 per sex act, the complaint continues. Liang also offered to sell the [undercover agents] bear gall bladder for $5,000 each.

On Aug. 27, Phelan begged off from the remainder of the expedition.

Phelan told the [undercover agents] that he could not continue with the hunt as he made a mistake on his work schedule and had to go back to work, the complaint says. Phelan stated that Harry (aka Liang) would take care of everything.

Liang left a Savage Axis rifle behind with the two undercover agents at the campsite as he drove back to Fairbanks with Phelan, according to the complaint, which says Liang claimed to have paid Phelan approximately $15,000 for his guide services. Liang drove back that evening and the hunt allegedly resumed with him as guide.

On Aug. 28, 2022 without having successfully bagged a bear, the undercover agents said they needed to end the expedition, claiming there was an illness in the family. They tipped Liang $1,500 and parted ways with him on Aug. 29. On xiaohongshu.com, Liang posted a photo of $1,500 in cash and referred to a large tip from a client, according to the complaint.

Liang was arrested Thursday, and remains detained at the Fairbanks Correctional Center.

Phelan told The Daily Beast that he has plenty to say, but needs to wait until the case winds its way further through the system, per his lawyers advice.

He is due back in court on Aug. 10. Liang has a detention hearing scheduled for July 21.

I dont have anything to hide, Phelan said. If you want the full scoop, when this whole things over, Ill tell you everything Because theres a lot more to this than what they filed in court.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Chris Christie says Trump deserved to be indicted and is misleading his supporters: 'He's a liar and a coward'

Former Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey had a falling out with Trump after the 2020 election. AP Photo/Charles Krupa

Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie told CNN Trump is lying to supporters about his indictment.

Christie, who is running for president, had a falling out with Trump after the 2020 election.

On Sunday, he accused his former ally of being a "liar and a coward."

Former Trump ally Chris Christie blasted his one-time boss on Sunday, telling CNN that the frontrunner for the Republican presidential nomination is a "liar and a coward" who stole classified national security information.

At a rally last month, former President Donald Trump claimed that his indictment for illegally retaining classified information was a "great badge of honor." The charges, he assured supporters, are "fake" and just an excuse to take him down: "Essentially, I'm being indicted for you."

Christie, former New Jersey governor who is challenging Trump for the 2024 nomination, said the ex-president's claim is absurd and that he has, in fact, been indicted "because of his outrageous conduct."

Speaking to CNN's Jake Tapper, Christie argued that no other American had "illegally retained classified national secrets after being asked  politely, quietly, and professionally for 18 months  to voluntarily turn them back over after he left the White House."

And no other American, he continued, "lied to their own lawyers about where those documents were" or who "flashed around documents regarding an Iranian war plan to people who didn't have clearance to see them."

In last month's indictment, prosecutor Jack Smith accused Trump of not only illegally retaining dozens of national security documents, but also obstructing the federal government's efforts to get them back. It accuses Trump, in particular, of misleading his own counsel by falsely representing to them that he was returning any classified information.

The indictment also states that Trump showed off a classified US contingency plan for a war with Iran to people working on a book for Mark Meadows, his former chief of staff. Trump, who previously denied sharing any such document, can be heard in an audio recording obtained by prosecutors  and later published by CNN  explicitly referring to the document, saying: "This was done by the military and given to me.... as president I could have declassified it. Now I can't, you know, but this is still secret."

Christie noted that Trump is now seeking to delay his trial over the matter until after the 2024 election.

"I don't think he's doing that for us, either," Christie said. "He should resolve this thing before people vote so that we know exactly who we're voting for to put behind the desk in the Oval Office."

Have a news tip? Email this reporter: cdavis@insider.com

Read the original article on Business Insider
Republican presidential candidate Chris Christie said in an interview Sunday that he would not join the No Labels third-party movement, saying, I think its a fools errand.

Im not in this for showtime. Im not in this for making a point. Im in this to get elected president of the United States, and there are only two people who will get elected president of the United States: the Republican nominee for president and the Democratic nominee for president, Christie said in an interview with George Stephanopoulos on ABCs This Week.

I dont want to participate in something, which also, by the way, is also a scattergun approach to this, the former New Jersey governor added.

The No Labels movement has garnered attention in the last several months, as it claims to represent the commonsense majority, and describes itself as a national movement of people who believe in America and in bringing our leaders together to solve our toughest problems.

No Labels has toyed with the idea of creating a separate unity ticket to enter the 2024 presidential race, and speculation has surfaced that Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) might be favored at the top of the ticket. Manchin is up for reelection in 2024, but he has not announced his reelection campaign.

While No Labels frequently attracts politicians who describe themselves as centrist, and who frequently criticize their respective partys leaders, Christie on Sunday sharply criticized the groups mission, noting third-party attempts at the White House historically have backfired or, at least, been unsuccessful.

They think they know who theyre going to hurt. They want to hurt Donald Trump if hes the nominee. But, you know, when you get into a third-party campaign  we saw this with Ross Perot, we saw this later with Ralph Nader  You never quite know who youre going to hurt in that process, Christie said.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
The city of Des Moines is suing Zora Bar & Rooftop and its owner Edwin Allen, claiming the multilevel bar, restaurant and nightclub on Ingersoll Avenue downtown has caused a "public nuisance."

The city filed the lawsuit Tuesday, two days after police officers responded to calls of shots fired outside the bar. The lawsuit says officers found shell casings and witnessed riots in Zora's parking lot in the early hours of the morning on July 9.

The lawsuit also cites previous incidents, including alleged riots in April and February, a reported assault in May and a witness report that the person's vehicle was shot at in the parking lot in early July. A man also died after being shot in the parking lot last November.

The parking lot of Zora Bar and Rooftop is shown on Ingersoll Ave in Des Moines on Sunday, Nov. 27, 2022. A shooting occur in the early hours of Sunday morning in the parking lot of Zora.

"The Des Moines Police Department has responded to approximately 54 calls for service related to Zora disturbing the peace and quiet. On several of those calls, sound-meter readings found Zora to be over the lawful limit and officers smelled marijuana," the lawsuit states.

The suit is being filed under a new public nuisance law the Iowa Legislature passed in June that gives district courts and local city councils greater ability to control establishments with liquor licenses. The law allows district courts to take remedial action to combat potential public nuisances, described as when anyone connected to a business with an alcohol license discharges a firearm or is involved in an assault or riot.

Businesses targeted by the public nuisance law could have their alcohol licenses temporarily revoked, or the entire business could be temporarily shut down.

"The city filed to abate the nuisance and has asked for such remedial action as the court deems reasonable to abate the nuisance," Des Moines City Manager Scott Sanders said in a statement about the lawsuit.

Allen, the bar's owner, requested a jury trial in a response filed Thursday. In an interview with the Des Moines Register, he said he planned to file a request for an injunction Monday to challenge the new law, which he claims subverts "due process."

He said the city's allegations against the bar are unfair because bar owners should not be held liable for public safety issues out of their control.

"(The city)'s blaming everybody but themselves and their lack of policing," Allen said.

Sgt. Paul Parizek, spokesman for the Des Moines Police Department, said the department has devoted many resources to the location because of continuing issues.

Our awareness of the ongoing issues at Zora has prompted a considerable amount of focused patrols in the Woodland Heights neighborhood," he said in a statement. "In addition to assigning officers to monitor large crowds during concerts and other events, our officers have recovered multiple firearms and a variety of drugs during traffic stops of vehicles leaving the Zora property. The work done by our officers here is impressive, particularly as they balance the public safety needs of the rest of the residents that we serve."

Allen has faced a plethora of other legal troubles in the last year. In March, Allen was charged with allowing a minor into Zora, an allegation that the city repeated in its lawsuit.

Allen also faces a race-based employment discrimination lawsuit from a former employee who claims Allen reduced her hours because she was Black, and a lawsuit from a tenant who claims Allen sought to evict her when she refused to have sex with him.

Allen previously pleaded guilty in April to stalking in a case involving fellow bar owner Steve McFadden. According to court filings, Allen also pleaded guilty in February to disorderly conduct in an unrelated harassment case for using abusive and threatening language with family members of tenants in rental properties he owns.

Allen put Zora up for sale in March, asking $4 million for the 5,500-square-foot building at 2120 Ingersoll Ave., which is assessed at $1.5 million. County records at the time showed he had fallen more than $16,700 behind on its property taxes, which were due in September and in March. He also has twice increased the amount of a $2.9 million, 20-year loan from Community First Credit Union in Ottumwa on the Zora building, county records show.

Allen brought up the sale of the property in an interview with the Register, stating "I've got $4 million on the line. How much do police have on it? Nothing."

Francesca Block is a breaking news reporter at the Des Moines Register. Reach her at FBlock@registermedia.com or on Twitter at@francescablock3.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Des Moines files 'public nuisance' suit against Zora Bar & Rooftop
Twitter/@FuturoVegetal

A group of climate activists vandalized the $300 million superyacht of Walmart heiress Nancy Walton Laurie in Ibiza on Sunday, drenching the crafts stern in black and red paint shot from fire extinguishers.

Two demonstratorsfrom the Spain-based Futuro Vegetal environmental groupthen displayed a sign that read You Consume Others Suffer, which they proudly posted to their Twitter account.

Police said that those two demonstrators have been arrested.

The only reason we continue to maintain an economic system that leads us to eco-social collapse is to sustain the privileges of this small privileged class, Futuro Vegetal said of the stunt in an Instagram post. The mega-rich live off the suffering of others.

The group performed a similar act just two days prior, soaking a private jet in yellow and black paint before donning a sign with a similar message.

Laurie, their latest target, inherited a stake in Walmart in 1995 from her father Bud Walton, who built the brand into retail royalty alongside his brother. She is reportedly worth more than $8 billion, making her one of the richest 300 people in the world, according to Forbes.

Her yacht, named Kaos, is a whopping 361 feet long, features four decks, and has room for 31 guests and a 45-person crew.

The boats amenities include an on-board aquarium, full spa facilities, and a large cinema. Theres even a separate gym for the ships crew and a small hospital for at-sea medical crises.

Laurie did not respond to The Daily Beasts requests for comment.

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As climate changes, farms in US 'Peach State' Georgia suffer

New, more resistant varieties of peaches are being grown on the campus of the University of Georgia, in Griffin (Agnes BUN)

From a distance, everything looks normal: neat rows of peach trees, their green leaves fluttering in the wind, near a pretty little American farmhouse.

But Georgia farmer Stuart Gregg searched in vain among the branches, unable to find a single piece of fruit.

"We have no harvest this year," he said.

Gregg's prized peaches, like those on farms across Georgia, have been decimated, a rare event for the southern state that is so closely associated with the fruit that it is nicknamed the "Peach State."

Last winter was unusually mild, causing peach blossoms to bloom early. But then in March, temperatures dropped below freezing, far too cold for the delicate buds.

"When we started checking that, one peach blossom open, dead, one peach blossom open, dead. We hate to see that," Gregg told AFP.

Just three days of frost was enough to kill off the entire crop.

Of the approximately 70 acres (28 hectares) cultivated by Gregg Farms, a family operation in Concord, a handful of fallen pits are all Gregg has to show for this season's harvest.

Unprecedented in 20 years, it is a "six-figure" loss, he said.

Reluctantly, the family decided not to open their fields this summer to customers, who usually come to pick peaches or enjoy ice cream. At the farm's entrance, a large red sign invites them to come back "in 2024."

- Ninety percent loss -

This year, around 90 percent of the peach harvest in the state has been lost, experts say. They warn that this will happen more often due to climate change.

Eventually, some types of peaches that need a cold winter "will not be able to be grown in Georgia at all," said Pam Knox, an agricultural climatologist at the University of Georgia.

The sweet and juicy fruit has long been an institution in the state.

"Nothing beats a Georgia peach," Gregg said proudly. The peach appears on license plates, on restaurant menus, just about everywhere -- except, this year, on peach trees.

To help local producers, Dario Chavez, a horticulture professor specializing in peaches, is developing new hybrid varieties better adapted to mild winters.

"You basically do matchmaking," said the scientist who lives, appropriately enough, in Peachtree City.

In his laboratory and in the University of Georgia's orchard, he can cross species chosen for their delicious taste, their good yield or their adaptation to warmer climates.

Chavez, 39, works with farmers who are "not afraid of change," he said.

But the process is slow. "The things that we do today, it may take them 15 years to see the light."

In the meantime, some farmers have begun growing fruits that were previously grown only further south, such as citrus fruits.

"As time goes on, and we get warmer in Georgia, they're experimenting with more varieties, like grapefruits and even some oranges," said Knox.

- Blueberries at risk, too -

But climate change isn't just a threat to peaches.

Blueberries are also important in Georgia, and they, too, are suffering.

Gregg and his family, who grow them alongside their peach trees, have lost around 75 percent of their blueberries this year.

"Before, we always had a lot of blueberries. And in the last two or three years, not really," he said, sweeping the few small purple berries still on the shrubs with his hand.

The young farmer, whose grandparents established the farm in the 1970s, prefers not to comment on the reasons the 2023 season has been so disastrous.

"We are not really scientists," he said. "I can't really worry about climate change, whether it's going to happen or not. We're doing what we can."

If a more resistant fruit is developed, he would be happy to try growing it.

In the meantime, his thoughts turn to next summer, which he imagines as rich in ripe peaches and delighted customers, and the smile returns to his lips.

Bad harvests are part of a farmer's life, Gregg reminded himself.

"You know, gambling and farming are about the same thing," he said. "It's just a crapshoot every year."

led/rle/jh/bbk
Jon duSaint, a retired software engineer, recently bought property near Bishop, Calif., in a rugged valley east of the Sierra Nevada. The area is at risk for wildfires, severe daytime heat and high winds  and also heavy winter snowfall.

But duSaint isnt worried. Hes planning to live in a dome.

The 29-foot structure will be coated with aluminum shingles that reflect heat and are also fire-resistant. Because the dome has less surface area than a rectangular house, its easier to insulate against heat or cold. And it can withstand high winds and heavy snowpack.

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The dome shell itself is basically impervious, duSaint said.

As weather grows more extreme, geodesic domes and other resilient home designs are gaining new attention from more climate-conscious homebuyers  and the architects and builders who cater to them.

The trend could begin to dislodge the inertia that underlies Americas struggle to adapt to climate change: Technologies exist to protect homes against severe weather  but those innovations have been slow to seep into mainstream homebuilding, leaving Americans increasingly exposed to climate shocks, experts say.

The result isnt just greater risk of death or injury, but also financial calamity, as homeowners struggle with declining property values, an inability to get insurance, or the loss of what is often their most valuable asset. And the emotional and social toll of losing homes to disasters is only beginning to be understood.

Weather-related disasters pushed more than 3.3 million American adults out of their homes in 2022, census data shows. Of those, at least 1.2 million people were out of their homes for a month or longer; more than 500,000 of them never returned, fueling a growing diaspora of domestic climate refugees.

Riding Out the Storm

In the atrium of the Smithsonians National Museum of American History, students from the Catholic University of America recently finished reassembling Weatherbreak, a geodesic dome built more than 70 years ago and briefly used as a home in the Hollywood Hills. It was avant-garde at the time: roughly 1,000 aluminum struts bolted together into a hemisphere, 25 feet high and 50 feet wide, evoking an oversize metal igloo.

The structure, designed by Jeffrey Lindsay and inspired by the work of Buckminster Fuller, has gained new relevance as the Earth warms.

We started thinking about how our museum can respond to climate change, said Abeer Saha, the curator who oversaw the domes reconstruction. Geodesic domes popped out as a way that the past can offer a solution for our housing crisis, in a way that hasnt really been given enough attention.

Domes are just one example of the innovation underway. Houses made from steel and concrete can be more resilient to heat, wildfire and storms. Even traditional wood-framed homes can be constructed in ways that greatly reduce the odds of severe damage from hurricanes or flooding.

But the costs of added resiliency can be about 10% higher than conventional construction. That premium, which often pays for itself through reduced repair costs after a disaster, nonetheless poses a problem: Most homebuyers dont know enough about construction to demand tougher standards. Builders, in turn, are reluctant to add resilience, for fear that consumers wont be willing to pay extra for features they dont understand.

One way to bridge that gap would be to tighten building codes, which are set at the state and local level. But most places dont use the latest code, if they have any mandatory building standards at all.

Some architects and designers are responding on their own to growing concerns about disasters.

On a piece of land that juts out in the Wareham River, near Cape Cod, Massachusetts, Dana Levy is watching his new fortress of a house go up. The structure will be built with insulated concrete forms, or ICF, creating walls that can withstand high winds and flying debris, and also maintain stable temperatures if the power goes out  which is unlikely to happen, thanks to the solar panels, backup batteries and emergency generator. The roof, windows and doors will be hurricane-resistant.

The whole point, according to Levy, a 60-year-old retiree who worked in renewable energy, is to ensure he and his wife wont have to leave the next time a big storm hits.

Theres going to be a lot of people spilling out into the street seeking sparse government resources, Levy said. His goal is to ride out the storm and, in fact, invite my neighbors over.

Levys new home was designed by Illya Azaroff, a New York architect who specializes in resilient designs, with projects in Hawaii, Florida and the Bahamas. Azaroff said using that type of concrete frame adds 10% to 12% to the cost of a home. To offset that extra cost, some of his clients, including Levy, opt to make their new home smaller than planned  sacrificing an extra bedroom, say, for a greater chance of surviving a disaster.

Building With Steel

Where wildfire risk is great, some architects are turning to steel. In Boulder, Colorado, Renee del Gaudio designed a house that uses a steel structure and siding for what she calls an ignition-resistant shell. The decks are made from ironwood, a fire-resistant lumber. Beneath the decks and surrounding the house is a weed barrier topped by crushed rock to prevent the growth of plants that could fuel a fire. A 2,500-gallon cistern could supply water for hoses in case a fire gets too close.

Those features increased the construction costs as much as 10%, according to del Gaudio. That premium could be cut in half by using cheaper materials, like stucco, which would provide a similar degree of protection, she said.

Del Gaudio had reason to use the best materials. She designed the house for her father.

But perhaps no type of resilient home design inspires devotion quite like geodesic domes. In 2005, Hurricane Rita devastated Pecan Island, a small community in southwest Louisiana, destroying most of the areas few hundred houses.

Joel Veazeys 2,300-square-foot dome was not one of them. He only lost a few shingles.

People came to my house and apologized to me and said, We made fun of you because of the way your house looks. We should never have done that. This place is still here when our homes are gone, said Veazey, a retired oil worker.

Dr. Max Begue lost his house near New Orleans to Hurricane Katrina. In 2008, he built and moved into a dome on the same property, which has survived every storm since, including Hurricane Ida.

Two features give domes their ability to withstand wind. First, the domes are composed of many small triangles, which can carry more load than other shapes. Second, the shape of the dome channels wind around it, depriving that wind of a flat surface to exert force on.

It doesnt blink in the wind, said Begue, a racehorse veterinarian. It sways a little bit  more than I want it to. But I think thats part of its strength.

Something Different

Veazey and Begue got their homes from Natural Spaces Domes, a Minnesota company that has seen demand jump the past two years, according to Dennis Odin Johnson, who owns the company with his wife, Tessa Hill. He said he expected to sell 30 or 40 domes this year, up from 20 last year, and has had to double his staff.

The typical dome is about 10% to 20% less than expensive to build than a standard wood-frame house, Johnson said, with total construction costs in the range of $350,000 to $450,000 in rural areas, and about 50% higher in and around cities.

Most customers arent particularly wealthy, Johnson said, but have two things in common: an awareness of climate threats, and an adventurous streak.

They want something thats going to last, he said. But they are looking for something different.

One of Johnsons newer clients is Katelyn Horowitz, a 34-year-old accounting consultant who is building a dome in Como, Colorado. She said she was drawn by the ability to heat and cool the domes interior more efficiently than other structures and the fact that they require less material than traditional homes.

I like quirky, Horowitz said, but I love sustainable.

A correction was made on July 16, 2023: An earlier version of this article misspelled the given name of a retired software engineer who recently bought property near Bishop, Calif. He is Jon duSaint, not John.

c.2023 The New York Times Company
ST. JOHNS  A domestic violence victim who doesnt think local prosecutors care about her case.

A widow who said it's "absolutely horrible" that the man responsible for her husband's death avoided jail.

A man subjected to false accusations of sexual assault who was "blindsided" when prosecutors reached a plea deal with his accuser.

Taken together, these stories and additional court records paint a picture of the Clinton County Prosecuting Attorney's Office in disarray.

Two and a half years into his first term as the elected prosecutor, Tony Spagnuolo has been fined twice by a county judge for withholding evidence, contracted with a Lansing defense attorney to handle his county's sexual assault prosecutions and faced public criticisms from local advocacy groups.

Clinton County Prosecuting Attorney Tony Spagnuolo, left, addresses county commissioners during a county Ways and Means Committee meeting, Thursday, July 13, 2023, at the Clinton County Courthouse in St. Johns after a consulting firm reported its findings and recommendations regarding his office's operations.

Spagnuolo has said that low staffing levels, which he believes comes from a difficulty filling open positions and low salary ranges, are chiefly to blame. But interviews and a consultant's report show it's not that simple. A significant structural change Spagnuolo made amid a "spiral" of staff turnover has been a driver of the dysfunction, which has led increased distrust in the office and frayed external relationships with groups like The SafeCenter.

The Clinton County-based victim advocacy organization took the rare step of publicly criticizing Spagnuolo in June, saying he'd treated victims with disrespect and a lack of empathy, and questioned his plea deals in sexual assault cases.

"We can no longer remain silent on this issue," board members wrote. "It is time to take a stand and speak out for the victims/survivors who will be in contact with the Prosecutors' Office in Clinton County."

Responding to written questions from the State Journal, Spagnuolo did not dismiss the concerns or criticism from victims or advocacy organizations.

"We recognize the importance of the wishes of the victim and must balance that with the ethical obligations and necessary standards of proof based on the available evidence," he wrote. "We will always look and re-evaluate how we can do better with communication."

'Unprepared for court'

Spagnuolo was elected as prosecuting attorney in 2020 and took office the following year, succeeding longtime prosecutor Chuck Sherman, who had served for more than two decades.

Two assistant prosecutors who ran against Spagnuolo in 2020  one in the primary and the other in the general election  left the office early on, and he's struggled to steer the office out of constant staff churn.

Conditions in the office and the concerns from local advocates are known among the County Board of Commissioners and administrators who handle day-to-day operations. Earlier this year, the county hired the Virginia-based consulting firm Guidehouse to evaluate Spagnuolo's budget and operations.

On Thursday, the countys Ways and Means Committee discussed the firms findings and voted unanimously to bring its recommendations to the full County Commission. The recommendations include two new positions, increased pay and one-time bonuses  investments estimated at $300,000 a year.

Clinton County Prosecuting Attorney Tony Spagnuolo, left, addresses commissioner's questions during a county Ways and Means Committee meeting, Thursday, July 13, 2023, at the Clinton County Courthouse in St. Johns.

The report also recommends leadership training for Spagnuolo, who thanked the committee for moving the matter along.

Guidehouse consultants noted Spagnuolo's decision to change how caseloads are handled created problems in the office.

Sherman had prosecutors handle a case from start to finish and that method, the consultants wrote, "is often the preferred method for smaller offices."

Spagnuolo's switch to system better fitting large offices, one that has different prosecutors involved in cases at different points, caused his staff "to feel overwhelmed, miss key details, and show up unprepared for court," the consultants wrote.

The clearest and most public example of the dysfunction the new system created came last year, when a judge twice fined Spagnuolo for failing to turn over evidence to defense attorneys in a timely manner.

Spagnuolo said on Thursday that he's sticking with the new model, which he believes will work once the office is fully staffed. The consultants' recommendations included hiring someone to handle evidence matters.

Ken Mitchell and Bruce DeLong are county commissioners who sit on the Public Safety and Ways and Means committees. DeLong acknowledged he's aware of concerns about Spagnuolo. Mitchell declined to say whether he's heard about the concerns. Neither would say what they think of Spagnuolo's job performance. Both voted in favor of the recommendations on Thursday.

'Victims need to lower their expectations'

The main entrance of the Clinton County Courthouse in St. Johns, pictured Thursday, July 13, 2023.

The office dysfunction and staff churn eventually impacted how victims  particularly sexual assault and domestic violence victims  felt they were treated.

The SafeCenter, a Clinton County nonprofit that works with many of those victims, was already concerned about Spagnuolo when a meeting earlier this year between his staff and the nonprofit made the matter "more intense and serious," board member Dave Hunt said.

Spagnuolo's staff said that victims needed to "lower their expectations," Hunt said, adding that he wasn't at the meeting but board members were shocked when staff relayed the conversation.

Spagnuolo confirmed the comment.

"A staff member was trying to express concern for how timely our office would review cases due to having only two attorneys present in the office over an extended period of time due to staffing," he wrote to the State Journal.

To address this, Spagnuolo earlier this year hired Debra Martinez, a former Ingham County prosecutor who currently works at a Lansing law firm, to handle sexual assault cases on a contract basis.

Spagnuolo called Martinez "a valuable asset to our office" and said she "has helped us a lot with her trauma-informed training and litigation experience."

On Wednesday, Martinez's law firm sent a letter to Spagnuolo's office saying it would not renew the current agreement that ends on Aug. 31.

In an interview, Martinez said what matters is that victims have a voice.

"We support survivors," she said. "And that's why, when we saw a void, we offered to help. ... So I hope if anything comes out of this story, I hope it is that the advocates, attorneys, prosecutors, law enforcement can all work together to solve problems to make it a better space for survivors in the justice system."

Delayed justice, delayed healing

A woman reads a special report issued by an independent evaluation team regarding the staffing budget and management practices within the Clinton County Prosecutor's Office, Thursday, July 13, 2023, during a county Ways and Means Committee meeting at the Clinton County Courthouse in St. Johns.

A victim's complaints about the criminal justice system and its drawn-out process are not uncommon.

But when there's no communication and victims feel left in the dark, the trauma can compound, especially with domestic violence or sexual assault victims.

A woman the State Journal interviewed, but whom the newspaper is not identifying because she is the reported victim of a crime, lauded local law enforcement for the way they responded to her domestic violence report last winter. But the criminal case has dragged on, she said, with one delayed hearing after another.

"What should I wait for?" she said. "Should I be dead?"

Her efforts for some clarity have not been successful, making her feel Spagnuolo's office doesn't care about her case. She described the process as "exhausting" and that it was delaying her healing.

Widow Amy Marchek spoke about how Spagnuolo's office also made her healing and grieving more difficult.

Her husband, Jeremy Marchek, died in April 2022 in a crash in Olive Township north of DeWitt. The Clinton County Sheriff's Office said a man pulled out onto the road from a farm field and didn't see the 42-year-old Marchek on his motorcycle.

Prosecutors charged the man with a moving violation causing death.

Amy Marchek was getting herself ready for a trial.

But just days before the one-year anniversary of the crash, Spagnuolo's office emailed her to say there'd be no trial, or even any criminal conviction. Spagnuolo had reviewed the case again, gone back to the scene and decided his office couldn't prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt.

"It's disappointing that theres been no justice for Jeremy," Amy Marchek said. "The prosecuting attorney didnt seem to care.

And then there's Nicholas Good, who said his ex-wife repeatedly made false allegations to police and others that he sexually abused their daughter.

Hes been cleared each time, Good said, including last year when police and Children's Protective Services investigated, leading prosecutors to charge his ex-wife with making a false report of a felony.

She faced up to four years in prison and Good was confident in the case, calling it a "walkoff home run" because so many agencies backed up his story.

But when he showed up to testify, Spagnuolo's office told him there'd been a mistake with a subpoena for a police witness. And that prosecutors had prepared a plea offer.

Good didn't like the offer  his ex-wife pleaded to a misdemeanor charge of disturbing the peace  but didn't know what to do.

"This will never be over. And I know it," he said. "The people that can protect me have proven that they will not."

Contact reporter Matt Mencarini at 517-377-1026 or mjmencarini@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @MattMencarini.

This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Clinton County Prosecutor Tony Spagnuolo criticized by victims
Joe Biden cluster munitions Photo illustration by Salon/Getty Images

President Biden may have crossed a new red line for the Democratic Party when he announced he would send banned cluster munitions to shore up Ukraine's slow counter-offensive against Russian troops.

Last week, 19 House Democrats, led by Congressional Progressive Caucus chair Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., signed a letter to Biden warning that his decision to send cluster munitions to Ukraine "severely undermines our moral leadership."

This time it's not just left-leaning activists in CODEPINK and the Peace in Ukraine Coalition who recoil at Biden's escalation in Ukraine, but congressional Democrats who previously stood by their president. These are the same Democrats who voted to approve more than $100 billion in Ukraine spending, approximately half of which went for weapons and military assistance with no accountability.

Rep. Betty McCollum, D-Minn., ranking member of the House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, told Politico, "The decision by the Biden administration to transfer cluster munitions to Ukraine is unnecessary and a terrible mistake. The legacy of cluster bombs is misery, death and expensive cleanup generations after their use."

Last weekend, other prominent Democrats took to the airwaves, with Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., the party's 2016 vice-presidential nominee, telling Fox News he had "real qualms" about the president's decision. Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Calif., chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Foreign Operations  and now a U.S. Senate candidate  told CNN, "Cluster bombs should never be used. That's crossing a line." Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., and former Sen. Patrick Leahy of Vermont, who visited Vietnam following the U.S. withdrawal, joined the chorus with a Washington Post op-ed explaining that they had witnessed first-hand the "devastating and long-lasting effects these weapons have had on civilians."

Even before the official White House cluster bomb announcement, Reps. Sara Jacobs, D-Calif., and Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., introduced an amendment to the 2024 military budget to ban the issuance of export licenses for cluster munitions.

Rep. Jim McGovern of Massachusetts, who is ranking member of the House Rules Committee, was one of the first to co-sponsor the bill. McGovern told the New York Times that cluster munitions "disperse hundreds of bomblets, which can travel far beyond military targets and injure, maim and kill civilians  often long after a conflict is over."

That amendment, however, will need overwhelming bipartisan support to pass  as well as a President who will obey the law should the ayes have it.

In greenlighting the provision of cluster munitions to Ukraine, Biden thumbed his nose at 18 NATO partners who had joined with more than 100 other state parties to sign the 2008 UN Convention on Cluster Munitions. As Biden headed to Vilnius, Lithuania, for the NATO summit last week, Newsweek reported that officials in Britain, Canada, New Zealand and Spain were not on board with sending cluster bombs to Kyiv.

Want a daily wrap-up of all the news and commentary Salon has to offer? Subscribe to our morning newsletter, Crash Course.

Biden has also chosen to bypass current U.S. law that prohibits the use of cluster munitions with a failure-to-detonate rate of 1 percent or more. In its last publicly available estimate, the Pentagon estimated a "dud rate" of 6% for its cluster bombs, meaning that roughly four of the 72 submunitions (or "bomblets") within each shell failed to explode when unleashed.

With a bow to hawkish Republicans such as Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas, who sits on the Senate Armed Services Committee, Biden has invoked an exception to the "dud rate" rule embedded in the statute, which allows for shipment of cluster munitions in the interest of vital national security.

The balance of power between Russian and Ukrainian forces in eastern Ukraine's Donbas region hardly ranks as an issue of U.S. national security on the same level with mitigating the threat of climate catastrophe, providing clean water to those with lead in their pipes or investing in housing for unsheltered people who live under freeway overpasses.

Nonetheless, the same Joe Biden who a year ago warned the world of the risk of nuclear Armageddon has reversed himself yet again and agreed to up the ante in Ukraine. Biden first said no to a host of weapons and then flip-flopped: Stinger missiles, HIMARS rocket launchers, advanced missile defense systems, M1 Abrams tanks, F-16 fighter jets. Each one of these has been a mini-round of Russian roulette, in an almost literal sense, an attempt to test Vladimir Putin's "red lines."

With Biden's latest decision to send cluster bombs to Ukraine, anti-nuclear activists wonder whether the president  whose nuclear posture review does not rule out the possibility of "first use" might also cross the nuclear red line, even though it's Putin who has repeatedly issued veiled nuclear threats. In June of 2021, both presidents signed a statement that said, "Nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought."

The impetus for the 2008 landmark UN Convention on Cluster Munitions came precisely from the indiscriminate U.S. use of these weapons in Southeast Asia in the 1960s and 1970s. In Laos, the U.S. military blanketed the country with almost 300 million bomblets, many of which failed to detonate immediately  but did so later, after the U.S. withdrawal, sometimes maiming adults and children who stepped on them accidentally or picked up the shiny balls thinking they were toys.

Both Ukraine and Russia have already used cluster bombs in Ukraine, a development roundly condemned by human rights groups who have documented the resulting deaths and serious injuries of civilians. The hundreds of thousands of rounds Biden now plans to send would significantly increase the use of these banned weapons.

Biden's decision is a likely sign of desperation in the face of Ukraine's counteroffensive in the south and east, which has so far failed to gain much ground. Biden told CNN it was a "difficult decision" but said Ukraine was "running out of ammunition." The truth is that adding this dangerous new weapon will not miraculously break the stalemate and achieve a glorious military victory. But we can virtually guarantee that unexploded bombs will kill and wound Ukrainian civilians for years to come, and their use now may encourage other countries to violate the cluster munitions ban.

Rather than escalating an arms race to risk nuclear war, the Biden administration should consider promoting a ceasefire that will bring all parties in this conflict to the negotiating table without preconditions. Instead of breaking international law, the U.S. should break the military stalemate by joining the global call for a diplomatic resolution in Ukraine.

Read more

commentary and debate on Ukraine
A Cocoa Beach man who twice had sex with a 12-year-old girl and returned for a third encounter instead ran into undercover Volusia sheriff's detectives who arrested him, officials said.

Volusia sheriffs deputies, detectives and other staff intercepted Brandon Keith Donato, 29, on Saturday at 10:15 p.m. when he arrived in Deltona to meet the 12-year-old, said sheriff's spokesman Andrew Gant.

Donato was charged with two counts of lewd or lascivious battery on a child; showing obscene material to a minor; promoting the sexual performance of a child; using a computer to solicit a child; traveling to meet after using a computer to solicit a child; and unlawful use of a two-way communication device to facilitate a felony. He was being held Sunday in the Volusia County Branch Jail on $350,000 bail.

On Friday, the 12-year-old girl's family contacted the sheriff's office after discovering the child shared videos of herself having sex with an unknown man, detectives said.

Ex-teacher arrested: Former Port Orange High School teacher re-arrested for sexual conduct with a minor

When detectives spoke to the girl, she said she met Donato on the Wink Mobile app and started communicating with him on Instagram, Gant said.

Donato told the girl he was a 17-year-old named Brandon Smith, detectives said.

Sex and sexually explicit messages

Crime analysts at the Volusia County Crime Center identified the man as Donato, investigators said.

Crime analysts also discovered that Donato's vehicle tag was caught by license plate readers in the early morning hours of Monday and Wednesday, the two occasions the girl said he traveled to meet her for sex, officials said.

A review of the child's phone also showed an ongoing series of sexually explicit messages and descriptions of what theyd done, with Donato indicating he was still interested in meeting up with her again, Gant said.

So detectives took over the chat on Saturday and arranged to have Donato meet with the child in Deltona. When Donato showed up, detectives and deputies were waiting to arrest him.

Check children's devices, sheriff says

According to the Volusia County Sheriff's Office, Wink is a social networking and friendship app for kids 13 and up that has been described as Tinder for teens.

What is Wink: Kids are making friends through Wink, an app geared for teens and older. But is it safe?

Sheriff Mike Chitwood encouraged parents and guardians of kids with access to mobile devices and apps to closely monitor their activity.

Today, thanks to the quick work of everyone involved in this case, theres one less predator out there exploiting the same apps our kids use, Chitwood said. Unfortunately there are many more waiting for their own opportunity. Everyone should take the time and make the effort to protect our kids from predators who want to steal their childhood.

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Florida man accused of having sex with 12-year-old Deltona girl
Column: After 10 years, is this the beginning of the end for Black Lives Matter?

An unexpectedly sparse crowd gathers early Saturday afternoon for the 10th anniversary Black Lives Matter Festival in Leimert Park. More people began arriving later to hear keynote speaker, philosopher Cornel West. (Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times)

The afternoon sun beat down on Leimert Park as Sybrina Fulton, brown-skinned, regal and defiant, took the stage to talk about her son, but mostly about the movement that made sure we'll never forget his name.

Trayvon Martin.

It was 10 years ago this month that a Florida jury acquitted the man who racially profiled and killed Fulton's unarmed, baby-faced Black teenager as he walked home from the store wearing a hoodie.

"I definitely had to be here today to celebrate with Black Lives Matter Grassroots ... to make sure that we are still standing with them and they're still standing with us," Fulton told dozens of people, hanging on her every word a few feet from the stage. "Our children have the right to walk in peace without being followed, chased, profiled or murdered."

Read more: Column: In this Black Lives Matter family feud, we'll get transparency. But at what cost?

The case that failed to provide justice for her son served as a racial awakening for a new generation of activists, in no small part because it prompted a budding racial justice activist in L.A. named Patrisse Cullors to go to Facebook (I swear it was popular then) and post "#BlackLivesMatter" as a call-to-action "declaration" for Black people. It worked  unexpectedly well.

"Never, ever would I have imagined that we would change the world the way we have," Cullors told me recently, reflecting on the past 10 years of a movement that has become so ubiquitous that it's often reduced to its initials, BLM.

Fulton, like so many other speakers at the People's Justice Festival in Leimert Park on Saturday, commemorated this history and celebrated a "recommitment" to Black Lives Matter's future.

But for others, its not quite that simple.

Sybrina Fulton, mother of Trayvon Martin  who was racially profiled and killed a decade ago in Florida  speaks at the 10th anniversary Black Lives Matter Festival in L.A.'s Leimert Park. (Jason Armond/Los Angeles Times)

There are nagging worries about the controversies and dysfunction that have rocked the movement in recent years  and now new ramifications over a legal battle that has essentially turned the fundraising arm of BLM and the chapters of activists who spend that funding into direct competitors. More on that later.

There also are fears that the best years could be behind Black Lives Matter at a time when racism is being normalized by far-right Republicans at a rapid pace. There are questions about whether this anniversary could be the beginning of the end.

Few seem willing to say such things publicly. But I've certainly heard them whispered in private. For example, one L.A. activist involved in the earliest years of the movement told me the hoopla around BLM's 10th anniversary feels "more like a memorial than a celebration."

I wouldn't go that far. Not after attending the Peoples Justice Festival, where hundreds of people braved the heat to show solidarity, even though the initial turnout was far less than organizers anticipated.

Still, it's not hard to understand why someone would say such a thing.

Polls continue to show a slow decline in various forms of support for Black Lives Matter. A recent poll from Pew Research Center found that backing for the movement is now at its lowest point in three years  down to 51% from 67% in 2020, the year George Floyd was killed by Minneapolis police.

Michael Williams, an organizer with Black Lives Matter L.A., views a memorial to Black people who have been killed by police at the 10th anniversary Black Lives Matter Festival in Leimert Park. (Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times)

The disproportionate killing and maiming of Black people by police barely grabs people's attention anymore. The exceptions tend to be cases that are especially brutal  like Tyre Nichols getting chased down and beaten to death by a gang of cops in Memphis or a Los Angeles County sheriff's deputy punching a woman holding a baby.

And so it tracks that the killing and maiming of Black people also no longer inspires as many Americans (or deep-pocketed corporations) to donate money to racial justice organizations.

Of course, it hasn't helped that a series of widely publicized scandals  some real, some exaggerated and some completely imagined  have eroded public trust in several of these organizations, including, but not limited to, BLM. It all just feels messy.

Cullors, who stepped down two years ago after a rocky stint as executive director of the Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation, has admitted that she made mistakes and that she was ill-prepared for the sudden crush of demands and donations after Floyd was killed.

But when you're living in a white supremacist, capitalist country, she told me recently, movements that are for Black liberation are really difficult to sustain. Indeed, history is full of examples.

Nevertheless, Black Lives Matter remains powerful, particularly as a brand. It's on T-shirts and murals. Type the three words into your iPhone, and it will automatically capitalize them.

The rise of the movement is taught in classrooms. Parents discuss it with their children. And now, previously wonky concepts, such as systemic racism, white privilege and equity (rather than equality), are part of the everyday lexicon of millions of Americans.

And so when I ask Cullors what she thinks will happen to the movement she helped create with friends Alicia Garza and Ayo Tometi, and her response is "it's too soon to tell," I get it.

"I'm surprised," she admitted ruefully, "we lasted 10 years."

::

Melina Abdullah, founder of Black Lives Matter-Los Angeles, attends the 10th anniversary Black Lives Matter Festival in Leimert Park. She sees a future largely based on community organizing, much as it has been for the past 10 years. (Jason Armond/Los Angeles Times)

To truly understand the challenges facing Black Lives Matter, one must first understand what Black Lives Matter truly is.

Yes, it's a decentralized movement of activists, primarily pushing for racial justice and an end to police brutality. But it's also a collection of individual organizations.

One is the Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation, a nonprofit registered with the Internal Revenue Service. Until recently, it served as the main fundraising arm of BLM and, as such, accepted the vast majority of donations to the movement and distributed that money to activists working in dozens of official chapters, of which L.A.s is the first in existence.

Then things changed.

Cullors stepped down from her leadership role with the foundation, and a new board of directors, most of them unknown to the activist class but more experienced in running large nonprofits, stepped in. They had a different vision for Black Lives Matter and went about implementing it.

"We all agreed to formally end our affiliations with the chapters in order to allow them autonomy to work in a way that they saw fit," foundation board member Shalomyah Bowers told me. "But also in order for them to do direct fundraising because, for many of them, they were solely reliant on the Global Network Foundation."

Read more: Column: MLK had a dream about ending police brutality. In L.A., we're clearly still dreaming

Not everyone within BLM agreed with this vision. Melina Abdullah, founder of Black Lives Matter-L.A., took particular issue with it, accusing Bowers of not being a real activist because he hasn't been involved with protests. She also objected to the foundation's continued use of the movement's main social media accounts.

So she pulled together more than 30 BLM chapters to form a separate organization, Black Lives Matter Grassroots. More bickering ensued. Then, last September, a family-feud-style legal battle broke out.

BLM Grassroots sued the BLM foundation in Los Angeles County Superior Court, singling out Bowers, and alleging misrepresentation, mismanagement and financial malfeasance. But in late June, a judge dismissed the lawsuit based on a broader legal tenet, resolving nothing and leaving BLM Grassroots and the BLM foundation more or less permanently at odds, as an appeal could take years.

Now BLM Grassroots has registered with the IRS as a nonprofit, too  and has started accepting donations. Both organizations stake a claim to being the real Black Lives Matter.

"If we don't get anything back but our name, in my view, that's one of the most important things," Abdullah explained recently. "Because we want to make sure that we represent Black Lives Matter in the way that we intended."

A man holds his fist in the air at the 10th anniversary Black Lives Matter Festival in Leimert Park on Saturday. (Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times)

Why am I telling you all of this?

Because whether this movement lasts for another 10 years may very well depend on whether the two largest and most important organizations within it can agree to stop competing with each other, and instead find a more cooperative way forward that rebuilds public trust.

For starters, there's only so much money to go around. In its latest filing with the IRS, the Black Lives Matter foundation raised only about $9 million in its last fiscal year, as the stream of donations tied to the nation's short-lived racial reckoning continued to dry up. Compare that to 2020, when the haul was roughly $90 million.

But even if the BLM foundation and BLM Grassroots could come together on fundraising, they still have different visions for the movement.

Abdullah sees a future largely based on community organizing, much as it has been for the past 10 years. Of course, there's been an evolution from the early days of shutting down freeways and, occasionally, the commercial core of Beverly Hills.

"Black Lives Matter Grassroots has committed to using every tool," she told me. One example is the policy-focused People's Budget, which provides an alternative, community-driven list of economic priorities to the mayor and L.A. City Council every budget cycle.

But protests remain important.

Read more: Column: Theres a fight over the direction of Black Lives Matter. The timing couldnt be worse

Bowers and Cicley Gay, who recently became chair of the board of directors of the BLM foundation, see themselves as more aspirational. They want to "disrupt philanthropy" by being a Black-led nonprofit that supports "radical change makers" with money and resources for practical things, such as building a communications strategy.

They also want BLM to consistently focus on more than just police brutality.

"We will never abandon that. But this is a moment where if our real goal is to end white supremacy, that can't just be relegated to the criminal punishment systems," Bowers told me.

"It's how do we expand the vision that we, as Black people, care about breathable air and clean water," he added. "We care about housing affordability. We care about economic opportunity and transforming the way that our economy works. That requires a shift in how society relates to this organization."

::

Patrisse Cullors, co-founder of the Black Lives Matter movement, speaks at a news conference outside L.A. City Hall in January after her cousin, Keenan Anderson, died following a violent encounter with the LAPD. (Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times)

So after 10 years, is this the beginning of the end for Black Lives Matter? Or just a new beginning?

"Every generation has an opportunity to advance, and involve the conditions for Black people. And we did," said Cullors, now on the outside of the movement looking in. "It's not over. Black liberation never dies. It has lulls and this is a lull."

Surely, there will be more protests, more pushes for legislative change, more community organizing and more calls for reparations and economic development.

"At the end of the day," she added, "Black people need power, we need autonomy and we need self-determination."

Fulton would call that "persistence." Pushing forward, she told the crowd in Leimert Park on Saturday, is how she survived the killing of her son and thrived by building the Trayvon Martin Foundation to prevent other young Black men from suffering the same fate.

"Black Lives Matter," she said, matter-of-factly. "Regardless of what's going on, Black Lives Matter. I lost my 17-year-old son. I'm not gonna let you give up."

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Cancer has been a factor in our lives for so many generations that we have a tendency to just accept its presence as a dark cloud. We have all lost, or knew someone who has lost, a family member, friend or neighbor to this disease.

According to American Cancer Society projections, more than 3,000 Idahoans will become cancer victims over the course of this year alone. Too many of those 3,000 will have their cancer diagnosed after symptoms appear, often in late stages of the disease.

But what if it didnt have to be this way? What if medical science could reduce the number of cancer deaths by making it increasingly possible for the disease to be detected in its earliest stages when its much easier to treat?

Recently, the Idaho Senior Living Council joined leading Idaho cancer advocacy organizations to recognize U.S. Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, for his sponsorship of a bill that would make it possible for Medicare to cover a groundbreaking new cancer detection tool that has the potential to save countless lives. It is critical to Idaho seniors that Sen. Crapo and his partners succeed in getting this vital legislation  the Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage Act (S. 2085)  passed into law.

Heres why. Right now, one of the reasons cancers burden is so persistently high is because so many cases are detected too late for treatment to be most effective. Today, screenings are available for just five types of cancer  breast, cervical, colorectal, lung and prostate. But the sad truth is that 70% of cancer deaths in this country are from types of the disease for which there are no recommended screening tools. Until now.

Researchers have developed a blood test that can detect dozens of types of cancer from a blood draw. This is a game-changer in so many ways. It will allow doctors to supplement existing screening methods with these tests, known as multi-cancer early detection tests that can screen for multiple cancers at a time. These tests are easily administered and can be brought to rural areas that dont have easy access to advanced health care facilities. Idaho, in fact, ranks very poorly nationally in terms of the number of our citizens who receive recommended screenings, likely due to challenges of people accessing them in rural areas. Widespread availability of MCED tests would make a profound difference for the people of our state.

Crapos legislation is so important because Medicare is handcuffed by a process that could take a decade or more before breakthrough innovations like MCEDs can be made accessible to Medicare beneficiaries, the age group most prone to receive a cancer diagnosis. Sen. Crapos bill would cut through that red tape and create a pathway for swift coverage, aligning Medicare with how the private market can cover proven cancer detection tools.

We dont have to accept cancer as a permanent fixture in our communities. Science is making it possible to tilt the scales toward greater health and longer lives. We hope Congress will follow Sen. Crapos lead, follow the science, and ensure that this technology helps those who need it most.
President of the Czech Republic Petr Pavel at the NATO summit in Vilnius

Czech President Petr Pavels recent statement during the NATO summit in Vilnius has revealed Western secrets, Ruslan Osypenko, a Ukrainian diplomat and international expert, said in an interview with Radio NV on July 12.

During the summit on July 11, Pavel suggested that Ukraines window of opportunity for military progress would likely close by the end of the year, linking it to the upcoming presidential elections in the United States and other allied countries supporting Ukraine.

Read also: West seeks to contain Russian influence as tensions rise over Ukraine  diplomat on NATO Summit

Osypenko expressed concern over Pavels remarks, stating, President Pavel is revealing sensitive information about Western internal affairs. He should have refrained from disclosing such plans.

The diplomat went on to state that Ukraine has been receiving substantial military support to undermine Russia and bring it to the negotiation table.

Read also: Czech President Pavel urges expedited transfer of weapons to Ukraine

According to Osypenko, the West aims to exert positive influence on Russia and prevent its further alignment with China. Keeping Ukraine outside NATO is seen as a strategy to achieve this goal.

We would weaken Russia by exhausting its resources in a challenging counteroffensive, providing it with ammunition, long-range weapons, and rear support. This strategy forces Russia into a position where it has no choice but to negotiate. In doing so, we can liberate part of the territory. In other words, Czech President Pavel has somewhat revealed Western plans for the second half of 2023, Osypenko summed up.

In spring 2023, Pavel had previously stated that the Armed Forces of Ukraine would have only one opportunity for counteroffensive actions against the Russian occupation forces.

Read also: Czech president supports creation of war crimes tribunal for Russia

On July 7, Pavel clarified his statement, specifying that Ukraine would have a single chance for a counteroffensive in 2023.

Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron!

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Its easy to miss the entrance to manufactured home communities if you dont live there. Tucked away from view, these enclaves, sometimes called trailer parks, offer housing for very low-income folks, with monthly costs averaging $564, half the $1,046 for apartments, according to City Lab.

There are more than 13,000 of these homes in Thurston County, about 11% of our housing stock, according to Thurston Regional Planning Council data. Nationwide, an estimated 17.7 million people live in manufactured homes. Thats a lot of folks, of whom 70% are very low-income senior citizens. And many of these homes are at risk.

The vulnerability of manufactured housing stems from the fact that many residents may own their actual dwelling, but they must pay land rent to the parks owner. If these land rents spike upwards or the park is sold, residents must either relocate their manufactured home, try to sell it in place or simply leave it behind.

Unfortunately, moving these homes is difficult, especially if the dwelling doesnt meet the standards of other nearby parks. While theres no clear data on manufactured housing conditions, many of these homes are in deteriorated shape because banks wont offer home improvement loans because they are considered motor vehicles, not real estate that could sustain the lenders lien. The vast majority of public housing rehabilitation programs wont offer home repair assistance for similar reasons.

This lack of conventional and public funding echoes the red-lining practices that historically deprived inner-city residents from mortgage and home improvement funding. As a result, mobile home residents are left to fund minor repairs out of pocket, ignore major repairs and hope they dont ever have to move.

In early July, residents of the Western Plaza manufactured home park on Trosper Road in Tumwater held a town hall to express concerns to their legislators. Their park was sold to an out-of-state investor that immediately raised the land rents by an average of $100 per month. One elderly resident tearfully described her fears of becoming homeless. Another spoke of how she had used her retirement income to buy her forever home in this manufactured home park and now fears shell end up living with her children.

The legislators listened hard and shared their best efforts to slow rent increases, but everyone there realized much more is needed.

Town Hall organizer Kyle Taylor Lucas noted that the new owner had used federal loan funds to acquire the park. As detailed in a December 2021 National Public Radio story, the two government-backed funders known euphemistically as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are often used in these transactions. Created in 1938 as part of the New Deal, Fannie Mae was first chartered by the U.S. government to help ensure a reliable and affordable supply of mortgage funds throughout the country. Essentially, funding created to help average people buy affordable homes is now being used to price out the very low-income residents of the most affordable housing in our nation.

A March 2021 New Yorker magazine article by Sheelah Kolhatkar examines the threat to manufactured housing communities, with a tagline that says it all: The financial industrys pursuit of profits from mobile-home communities is undermining one of the countrys largest sources of affordable housing.

Kolhatkar notes that many investors look at mobile parks as ripe for redevelopment, an easy scrape off-rebuild. Historically, most mobile home parks were owned by local people who often lived near their residents and maintained a more neighborly regard for their cost of living. Now, these parks are rapidly being acquired by investment groups with no such proximity or regard for existing residents.

Do we care when our lowest-income neighbors come up against out-of-state investors, especially when financed by federal programs originally intended to help lower-income homebuyers? In the biblical battle between David and Goliath, an underdogs well-aimed rock defeats an overbearing giant, inspiring people everywhere to fight injustice.

In lieu of rocks, manufactured home residents need better access to repair funds and safeguards against displacement from either redevelopment or drastic rent increases. This would be a worthy epic battle for our times.

Anna Schlecht is retired from the City of Olympia where she worked on housing and homeless issues for several decades. This column is part of her year-long exploration of housing issues in our region.
Rex Heuermann left his office near the Empire State Building and strolled down a still-bustling Fifth Avenue as the sun set on a hot Thursday evening in Manhattan.

The 59-year-old architect, whose customers included Catholic Charities, American Airlines and other tenants at John F. Kennedy International Airport, is seen in video obtained by CNN affiliate WABC walking calmly at the end of a work day. A bag was slung over his shoulder, his left hand in his pocket, when hes approached July 13 by several men in dark suits and ties.

Tall and heavyset, Heuermann towered over the law enforcement officers who now surrounded him. As passersby strolled leisurely along the avenue, he was taken into custody without incident in connection with a 13-year homicide investigation involving young female victims on the South Shore of Long Island.

Yes, the day has finally come when someone so  depraved of heart who would kill individuals, innocent individuals in the prime of their lives, their young lives, is finally brought to justice, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said. We are hoping that this will bring justice to this individual but also peace to the families.

That day came  finally  years after a bestselling nonfiction book, a Netflix drama, and a podcast about a long-running murder mystery that made national headlines and become known as the Gilgo Beach killings.

Rex Heuermann in booking image from the Suffolk County Sheriff's Office. - Suffolk County Sheriff's Office/AP

Heuermann is charged with three counts of first-degree murder for the killings of Melissa Barthelemy in 2009, and Megan Waterman and Amber Costello the following year, according to the Suffolk County District Attorney.

The alleged killer had been living a double life in a Long Island village a short drive from where their remains were found, prosecutors said.

Heuermann, who told his attorney hes not the killer, is also the prime suspect in the 2007 disappearance and death of a fourth woman, Maureen Brainard-Barnes, according to a bail application from Suffolk County prosecutors. He has yet to be charged in the case.

Melissa Barthelemy, Maureen Brainard-Barnes, Amber Lynn Costello and Megan Waterman - Suffolk County Police Department

The victims, who worked as escorts, became known as the Gilgo Four.

The day after his arrest, July 14, Heuermann was ordered held without bail after pleading not guilty during a first court appearance.

Heuermann was in tears following his arrest.

I did not do this, his court appointed attorney, Michael Brown, said his client told him.

A crucial break in the case came in January when investigators took a swab from leftover pizza crust Heuermann discarded in the trash outside his Manhattan office, according to the bail application.

DNA evidence linked him to a hair found on the burlap sack where Watermans remains were found.

Living a double life

The son of an aerospace engineer, Heuermann lived with his spouse and children in the homey village of Massapequa Park, across the bay from where the remains were found, on the southeastern edge of Nassau County.

In a video interview posted online by Bonjour Realty last year, as police in Suffolk County formed a multiagency task force to investigate the long-dormant cases, Heuermann said he was born and raised on Long Island. He had been working as an architectural consultant in Manhattan since 1987.

I do troubleshooting, architectural troubleshooting, and negotiations with the building department, Heuermann said.

Rex Heuermann in a 2022 interview with the YouTube channel Bonjour Realty. - From Bonjour Realty

When a job that should have been routine suddenly becomes not routine, I get the phone call, he added.

His father had built satellites for a living, Heuermann told the interviewer. His dad also built furniture in a workshop in the house Heuermann grew up in and still lived with his family.

Asked what his job taught him about himself, Heuermann said: I think its taught me more about how to understand people. Dealing with the technical aspects is something a person can learn  But its the people, how theyre all so different and how you deal with the people, I think, is one of the more interesting aspects that has come out of this.

RH Consultants & Associates was founded by Heuermann and incorporated in 1994, according to the company website.

At the end of his online video, Heuermann put on a pair of sunglasses and posed for a selfie with his interviewer.

Can you smile? Heuermann was asked.

That is, he replied, indicating he was smiling.

Piecing together a complex puzzle

It took investigators nearly 15 years to track down Heuermann.

They first connected him to the killings last year while conducting a review of evidence under a newly formed task force, which included the Suffolk County Police Department, the Suffolk County Sheriffs Office, the New York State Police and the FBI.

In March 2022, investigators found a first-generation Chevrolet Avalanche  the same type of truck a witness believed to have been driven by Costellos killer  registered to Heuermann at the time of the murders, according to the bail application.

Armed with more than 300 subpoenas and search warrants, investigators began to close in on Heuermann.

Evidence revealed the killer had used burner phones to contact victims. Investigators found calls to the victims originated from locations connected to Heuermann.

Investigators said they narrowed cell tower records from thousands of possible individuals down to hundreds and then to a handful of people. They focused on residents who matched a physical description provided by a witness who had seen the killer.

Task force members also learned Heuermann lived close to one Long Island cell site and worked near New York City cell sites where other calls originated.

A series of taunting calls in which a male caller admitted killing and sexually assaulting Barthelemy were made from her phone to her family members from the vicinity of Heuermanns midtown Manhattan office during the summer of 2009, according to the bail application.

Heuermann also used burner phones to contact sex workers or massage parlors, the bail application said. And he created false names for an email account used to search for sex workers, sadistic, torture-related pornography and child pornography, the bail application said.

One fictitious email account was used to send selfies to solicit and arrange for sexual activity. Another was used to search for podcasts and documentaries about the investigation, as well as images depicting the murdered victims and members of their immediate families, according to the bail application.

Between March 2022 and June 23, Heuermann used the same account to conduct more than 200 searches about serial killers and articles about the task force investigating the Gilgo Beach killings, the bail application said.

A rag a bone and a hank of hair

A key break in the case came when investigators recovered Heuermanns DNA from pizza crust in a crumpled box he discarded in a Manhattan trash can in January.

The initial examination of Watermans skeletal remains turned up a male hair from the bottom of the burlap the killer used to wrap her body, according to prosecutors. Analysis of DNA found on the victim and the pizza showed the samples matched.

Additionally, hair believed to be from Heuermanns wife was found on or near three of the murder victims, according to the bail application. The DNA was collected from bottles inside a garbage can outside the Heuermann home.

The hairs were found in 2010 and had degraded. DNA testing at the time yielded no results but recent mitochondrial DNA testing allowed investigators to make the connection, according to Tierney.

Heuermanns wife and children were out of the state when the three women are believed to have been killed, Tierney said. Investigators said his wifes hair may have been transferred to the victims from his clothing.

His wife, Asa Ellerup, likely did not know about his life as an alleged killer, said Suffolk County police commissioner Rodney Harrison.

If you ask me, I dont believe that they knew about this double life that Mr. Heuermann was living, Harrison said of the suspects family.

But authorities are not ruling anything out and are continuing to collect information on what the family might have known, Harrison said.

Ellerup has filed for divorce from her husband of 27 years, her attorney Robert Macedonio told CNN.

Authorities, fearing the Heuermann might be tipped off they were closing in, moved to arrest him.

We were playing before a party of one, Tierney told reporters. We knew the person responsible for these murders would be looking at us.

Seeking closure

The case started with the search for a missing woman in 2010, leading to the discovery of multiple sets of human remains at Gilgo Beach.

By the time the remains of the missing woman, Shannan Gilbert, were found one year later, at least 10 sets of human remains had been recovered across two Long Island counties.

Tierney said Saturday the work of the task force is not over.

There are a lot of other victims, you know, in that area, he told CNN. There are a lot of victims families that want closure. So thats what you work towards.

Authorities believe the death of Gilbert, whose disappearance sparked discovery of the other victims, may have been accidental and not related to the other killings.

The remains of the Gilgo Four were found in bushes along a quarter-mile stretch of Ocean Parkway over a two-day period in 2010.

The skeletal remains of Barthelemy were discovered near Gilgo Beach on December 11. Barthelemy, who was a sex worker, was last seen July 12, 2009, at her apartment when she told a friend she was going to see a man, according to a Suffolk County website about the killings.

The remains of three other women were found on December 13, 2010: Brainard-Barnes, who advertised escort services on Craigslist and was last seen in early June 2007 in New York City; Amber Lynn Costello, who also advertised escort services and was last seen leaving her North Babylon home in early September 2010; and Waterman, who also advertised as an escort and was last seen in early June 2010 at a Holiday Inn Express in Hauppauge.

Heuermann was surprised when he was surrounded by officers and taken into custody near his office on the evening of July 13, according to Tierney.

When Heuermann was being processed at the jail, he had just one question about his arrest. According to a source, he said, Is it in the news?

Speaking of the arrest, Suffolk County Police Commissioner Rodney Harrison said Friday: Rex Heuermann is a demon that walks among us. A predator that ruined families. If not for the members of this task force, he would still be on the streets today.

CNNs Kristina Sgueglia, Brynn Gingras, John Miller, Polo Sandoval, Samantha Beech, Steve Almasy, Laura Dolan, Aya Elamroussi, Caroll Alvarado and Emma Tucker contributed to this report.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
WASHINGTON  Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., called Republican Sen. Tommy Tubervilles hold on military promotions bizarre and slammed her fellow senators actions as a jeopardization of national security.

Tuberville has been holding up over 200 military promotions over the Pentagons policy reimbursing travel expenses for service members who travel out-of-state for an abortion. Tuberville has argued the policy is a violation of the Hyde amendment, which bars federal funding for most abortions even though the policy only reimburses travel expenses and not the procedure.

Duckworth, a military veteran, said on NBCs Meet the Press on Sunday that Tuberville has been offered by both Senate Democrats and Republicans multiple options to proceed forward with the promotions, but he has refused. She added that she thinks he has backed himself into a corner,

When asked whether he thought his actions could endanger national security, Tuberville told CNN last week that if he thought there was a risk, I wouldnt be doing this and his holdout is not gonna hold up readiness for the military.

US Democratic Senator from Illinois Tammy Duckworth speaks before US President Joe Biden delivers remarks about the economy at the Old Post Office in Chicago, Illinois, on June 28, 2023.

Tubervilles actions have drawn condemnation from Democrats including President Joe Biden, who accused Tuberville of jeopardizing U.S. security.

Duckworth on Sunday echoed the presidents comments and dismissed Tubervilles claims his position is not a threat to national security.

It is bizarre for Senator Tuberville to say that he's not jeopardizing national security when he injects politics into the defense process. And frankly this is not the time to do it, not when there is a war going on in Europe, not when American leadership is vital to the international global order, Duckworth said, adding that the holds are beyond distressing to her.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said on the Senate floor last week the onus is on Republican senators to get Tuberville to back off his reckless pursuit.

Even then, Senate Republicans have shown no appetite to pressure Tuberville to allow the promotions to proceed on the Senate floor. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., told reporters last month he disagreed with Tubervilles methods, but did not publicly indicate whether he would attempt to hash out an agreement with Tuberville.

Opinion: Tommy Tuberville is no longer just a football coach. Now, he's a danger to the country.

Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., listens during the Senate Armed Services Committee hearing to examine the nomination of Army Lt. Gen. Randy George to be reappointment to the grade of general and to be Chief of Staff of the Army, July 12, 2023, on Capitol Hill in Washington.

I think holding the military personnel who have nothing to do with policy in order to try to dictate a policy change that I personally support is not the best way to go about it, McConnell said. But as you can see  he has a different point of view.

Other Republicans, such as Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, defended Tubervilles hold and said the senator from Alabama has the right to stall military promotions.

Every senator has the right to place holds on nominees on an issue of policy importance, Sullivan said on NBCs Meet the Press on Sunday, also accusing Duckworth of hypocrisy, pointing to when she blocked over 1,100 military promotions in 2020.

But Duckworth defended herself against Sullivans claims. She noted her blockade lasted only two weeks compared to Tubervilles hold which has dragged on since February.

This is something that is done often in the Senate, but not to the extent that Senator Tuberville is doing it, Duckworth said. And right now, Senator Tuberville is jeopardizing our nation's ability to lead the free world at a time when there's a war in Europe because he wants to inject politics into this.

Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, talks to reporters as head heads for the offices of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., before a meeting at the U.S. Capitol on June 01, 2023 in Washington, DC.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Democratic lawmaker calls out Tuberville's hold on military promotions
Democrats are blasting Sen. Tommy Tuberville as the Alabama Republican is single-handedly blocking hundreds of military promotions over a Pentagon abortion policy.

For months, Tuberville has blocked the confirmations of over 250 general and flag officers for the Pentagon that have come before the Senate. The unprecedented hold has left the Marine Corps without a confirmed leader for the first time in 164 years.

We are very soon not going to have a chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff or a chief of Naval Operations, national security adviser Jake Sullivan told ABCs This Week on Sunday. This is making America less safe. And why? Because of the attempt to score domestic political points. Its just got to stop.

National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan says Republican Sen. Tommy Tuberville is "making America less safe" by blocking military promotions.



"And why? Because of the attempt to score domestic, political points. Its just got to stop." https://t.co/jU42HJgtCopic.twitter.com/MEno2sKEvR  This Week (@ThisWeekABC) July 16, 2023

Tuberville said his blockade is in response to a Pentagon policy that provides paid leave and travel reimbursement for service members who need to cross state lines to receive reproductive health care, including abortions. The Defense Department enacted the policy after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.

Tubervilles blockade is more than a political stunt, Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) said on MSNBCs The Sunday Show. The senator, who serves on the Armed Services and Veterans Affairs committees, said the Republicans move is jeopardizing national security.

Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), a veteran, wrote on Friday for MSNBC.com that the Senate has been failing our troops and military families thanks to one man who has never served in uniform a day in his life.

This ploy is shameful and disgraceful; misogynistic and sadistic; self-interested yet self-defeating, she continued. In other words, its a perfect snapshot of todays GOP.

Tuberville said he would allow the promotions to advance if the Pentagon drops the policy, or if Democrats hold a vote on legislation to end the policy. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said he does not support blocking military promotions as leverage. But Tuberville, who wrongly claims the Pentagon funds abortions, said he has not felt any pressure from GOP leadership to change his behavior.

I served in the Army, so I know firsthand that Republicans were just fine with me using my body as I saw fit  when I chose to use it to fight wars on our countrys behalf, said Duckworth, who lost both legs in 2004 while serving overseas. They were even OK with me leaving parts of it strewn across a battlefield in Iraq in defense of this great nation. The senator also stressed that rescinding the Pentagon policy would disproportionately impact younger, lower-ranked service members and their families.

With this stance, Sen. Tuberville is saying loud and clear that he either doesnt understand or doesnt care about the very real effects that service members could face if they cant access reproductive care; that he doesnt believe that the readiness of female troops affects our militarys readiness, she continued. That at a time when the military already faces a massive recruiting challenge, he cares more about currying favor with the most fringe parts of his base than promoting the message the Armed Forces takes care of those who sign up.

In addition to blocking military promotions, Tuberville drew bipartisan heat last week for repeatedly defending white nationalism. The senator claimed that those who believe white people are inherently superior to other racial and ethnic groups are not necessarily racist, but instead simply Americans.

For a member of the United States Senate to speculate about what white nationalism means as if its some benign little thought experiment is deeply and terribly disturbing, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said on the Senate floor last week. I urge my Republican colleagues to impress upon the senator from Alabama the destructive impact of his words and urge him to apologize.
Republican presidential candidate Ron DeSantis Sunday attributed former President Trumps growing lead in polls to the public sympathy he received after being indicted in New York.

DeSantis said he shared the view with a lot of people that Trumps indictment over alleged hush money payments leading up to the 2016 election was a miscarriage of justice in an interview on Fox Newss MediaBuzz with Howard Kurtz. That sympathy, along with more media coverage, DeSantis claimed, explained the widening gap between Trump and DeSantis in polls.

At the end of the day, the [Manhattan District Attorney Alvin] Bragg indictment just elevated him, DeSantis said of Trump. And it wasnt so much that people were doing it because he was indicted. I think a lot of people, including me, believe that it was a miscarriage of justice.

I think there was a lot of sympathy. But then, I think just dominating the media coverage, DeSantis added.

Trump has been dominating recent polls. A Morning Consult poll showed recently that, among GOP voters surveyed, 56 percent favored Trump in a hypothetical primary. DeSantis came in second at a distant 17 percent.

An April poll from Morning Consult had Trumps support still at 56 percent among GOP voters surveyed, but DeSantis came in second at 23 percent. In January, the gap was even closer between the two leading candidates: A Morning Consult poll had Trump at 48 percent support among hypothetical GOP primary voters, while DeSantis had 31 percent.

DeSantis said he was not concerned about national polls, noting he was spending significant time in some early primary states.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Ron DeSantis is the king of Florida fundraising  at least for now.

Although polls show the states voters prefer former President Donald Trump at the ballot box over his two in-state rivals in DeSantis and Miami Mayor Francis Suarez, its the states governor who raised the most money from Sunshine State residents during the last fundraising quarter, according to analysis of documents filed over the weekend with the Federal Election Commission.

DeSantis easily bested Trump and Suarez, collecting $6.8 million from Florida residents since entering the GOP presidential primary May 24th. Trump, whose Mar-a-Lago residence is in Palm Beach, raised $1.5 million from within the state since the start of April, the analysis showed. Suarez collected about $700,000 since becoming a presidential candidate on June 14th.

For now, support in the Sunshine State is more about bragging rights than a central part of any candidates electoral strategy, although Floridas March 19 primary could emerge as pivotal if the GOP primary remains competitive until then.

The fundraising data analysis includes only larger contributions of $200 or more, which requires donors to identify themselves to the FEC. The analysis encompasses reports filed by the candidates campaign committees, which serve as their primary accounts. Most candidates employ a multi-pronged fundraising approach  including receiving support from groups that have unlimited raising and spending abilities, like super PACs, which dont have to file financial reports until the end of the month.

Overall, of Desantis nearly $17 million in itemized donations, more than 40% came from Florida residents, an indication of how much his campaign relies on his popularity and influence within his home state.

Suarez actually had a higher share of his itemized contributions, 76%, come from Florida residents. The mayor raised $694,000 from within the state out of the $916,000 he raised overall.

Of the three Florida candidates, Suarez has by far the smallest national profile and even in Florida is lesser-known than either DeSantis or Trump. The vast bulk of Suarezs fundraising, FEC documents show, came from South Florida.

DeSantis dominance within the Florida fundraising circuit isnt a surprise: Veteran political strategists say a sitting governor has an inherent advantage when raising money within their own state, aided by lobbyists and other top donors who are wary of angering the incumbent while he still runs state government. The former congressman is also immensely popular within the states conservative community, which hails his record as governor.

But DeSantis edge in Florida hasnt quelled larger concerns about the state of his campaigns finances, which came under scrutiny after he filed documents with the FEC on Saturday that showed him spending nearly half  $8 million  of the $20 million he raised during the first five weeks of his campaign.

A campaign aide confirmed Sunday that it had laid off nearly 10 staffers last week as it sought to reduce expenses. (The staff reductions were first reported by Politico.) Staff reductions are a worrying sign for any candidate, particularly this early in the race and for a campaign once expected to be a financial juggernaut.

DeSantis officials maintain the campaign is focused on building an effort that can build support for the governor from now until the start of next years primary.

Americans are rallying behind Ron DeSantis and his plan to reverse Joe Bidens failures and restore sanity to our nation, and his momentum will only continue as voters see more of him in-person, especially in Iowa, said campaign spokesman Andrew Romeo. Defeating Joe Biden and the $72 million behind him will require a nimble and candidate driven campaign, and we are building a movement to go the distance.

DeSantis did manage to outraise even Suarez in Miami-Dade county, according to the analysis of FEC data, collecting nearly $760,000 from the area compared to the $625,000 Suarez raised from his home turf.

Trump raised $120,000 from Miami-Dade county residents.
DeSantis says of course he would consider Iowa governor for 2024 running mate

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) said on Saturday during a campaign event that he would consider Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds (R) for his running mate in the 2024 presidential election if he were to win the GOP nomination.

Of course, he said, when asked if Reynolds would be on the shortlist. I mean, shes one of the top public servants in America.

During his two-day campaign sweep through the early caucus state, DeSantis also made several comparisons between Iowa and Florida  including the 6-week abortion ban signed into law by Reynolds on Friday. DeSantis signed a similar bill in April, though it is being held up amid legal challenges.

He also made reference to recent attacks on the Iowa governor from the current GOP frontrunner, former President Trump.

The Hill Elections 2024 coverage

Trump earlier this week took a swipe at Reynolds about her decision to remain neutral in the 2024 GOP primary process.

I opened up the Governor position for Kim Reynolds, & when she fell behind, I ENDORSED her, did big Rallies, & she won, Trump wrote on Truth Social on Monday. Now, she wants to remain NEUTRAL. I dont invite her to events! DeSanctus down 45 points!

The comments come amid reported frustrations from his campaign that she had been too cozy with DeSantis. The Florida governor, along with other Republicans, called the remarks totally unnecessary on Saturday.

I thought the attacks on her were totally, totally out of hand and totally unnecessary, he said during the event in Ankeny, Iowa.

An ad launched on Friday by a Republican PAC also criticized Trump for his attacks on Reynolds.

But despite his consideration, the Iowa governor told the Des Moines Register earlier this year that she wasnt interested in joining any 2024 presidential ticket.

I love what were doing here in Iowa, and hopefully, I continue to make it pretty clear were not done, Reynolds told the outlet. So Im going to continue to ask and encourage candidates to come to Iowa, highlight what were doing here in the state and look for ways that we can continue to keep our national profile rising.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
DeSantis says Trump not only didnt fulfill major promise, it got worse

Republican presidential candidate Gov. Ron DeSantis rattled off a list of what he deemed to be broken 2016 campaign promises by former President Donald Trump, saying hed rather attack the GOP front-runner on the issues than personality.

"Substantively, we've been very frank about our differences with respect to the former president," the Florida governor said. "I mean, for example, he promised to drain the swamp  it got worse. He did not drain the swamp.

"He promised to have Mexico pay for a border wall. They did like 50 miles of wall. There's massive expanses still there," he continued. "He said he was going to eliminate the national debt. They added almost $8 trillion to the debt in four years.

"And of course, in 2020, he turned the country over to Dr. [Anthony] Fauci, and those lockdowns and the borrowing and printing really set us on a bad course," he added. "I've been very, very frank at that."

Republican presidential candidates Gov. Ron DeSantis and former President Donald Trump

TRUMP ATTACKS DESANTIS 4 TIMES MORE THAN BIDEN AS 2024 RACE HEATS UP

DeSantis made the comments Sunday on Fox News Channels "Media Buzz" after anchor Howard Kurtz referred to recent criticism by fellow GOP candidate Chris Christie.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis arrives at a campaign event in Eagle Pass, Texas, on June 26, 2023.

Christie, the former governor of New Jersey, has accused other Republican candidates of "playing footsie" with Trump and credited himself as the only one willing to insult the former president.

"I don't do insults, so that is true," DeSantis responded Sunday. "I think just getting in this insult game turns voters off. It's not something I want to do."

Former President Donald Trump speaks at a Nevada Republican volunteer recruiting event on July 8, 2023, in Las Vegas.

"I have no interest in attacking Donald Trump or any of these other candidates personally. I think weve got to rise above that and let's focus on the issues," he added.

The Trump campaign responded to DeSantis' remarks by calling him a loser.

"Ron DeSantis is a loser and has clearly mismanaged his supporters' donations and that's why he's forced to cut staff and roll back his flailing campaign," a campaign spokesperson told Fox News Digital Sunday afternoon. "If he can't even run his own campaign correctly, how can he run a country?"
Media titan Barry Diller confirmed Sunday he and a group of leading publishers plan to take legal action regarding the use of published works in training artificial intelligence (AI) systems.

Diller, the chairman and senior executive of internet and media conglomerate IAC, said he thinks generative AI is overhyped, as all revolutions that are in the very beginning, in an interview Sunday morning with CBSs Margaret Brennan on Face the Nation.

AI systems are trained and improved using large language models, which ingest compilations of written works like books, news stories and social media posts.

Diller said he and others in the publishing industry dont agree with how AI systems take in publishers content.

Its not that either Google or Microsoft, who are the two real leaders of this in terms of, certainly Google with having a monopoly on advertising. They, too, want to find a solution for publishers, Diller told Brennan. The problem is they also say that the fair use doctrine of copyright law allows them to suck up all this stuff.

It is, it will be, long-term catastrophic if there is not a business model that allows people professionally to produce content, Diller continued. That would be, I think everybody agrees is catastrophic.

Diller claimed legislation or litigation is needed to protect the copyright of publishers.

Of course, say were open to commercial agreements. But on the side of those people who are depending upon advertising, Google, for instance, they say, Yes, well give you a revenue share, Diller said. Right now, the revenue share is zero. So, what percent of zero would you like today? I mean thats rational, but its not the point. The only way you get to the point is protect fair use. In other words, protect the copyright.

Diller would not disclose or confirm who is he planning to launch litigation with, only calling them leading publishers.

It took 15 years to get back paywalls that protected publishers, I dont think that same thing is going to happen, Diller said.

When asked if generative AI poses a threat to Hollywood studio workers jobs, Diller said, In this case, I think the one-to-three-year period, not much is going to happen. But post that, there are, of course, all these issues.

Diller is not the first to consider legal action over AI publishing. Comedian Sarah Silverman and two other authors are currently suing Meta and OpenAI for alleged copyright infringement, claiming the platforms AI systems were knowingly and secretly trained with unauthorized copies of their books.

The Associated Press announced last week it would license its archive of news stories to ChatGPT maker OpenAI to help train the AI companys system.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Disney lists its iconic Haunted Mansion for sale. The asking price? Your soul

A famous mansion has landed on the fake real estate market in New Orleans, Louisiana, for an extremely high price:

Interior

One  or more  human souls.

Interior

Disneys famous Haunted Mansion is listed on Zillow just in time for its newest adaptation thats ready to hit the theaters on July 28. But, unfortunately, the 13,195-square-foot undead-filled estate isnt really for sale. And if it really was, the listing would be downright terrifying.

Interior

It is important to disclose that this property is indeed haunted, and its inhabitants inflict terror and promise eternal entrapment to all who enter, the listing says. We are certain that you will find this place irresistible and promise that once you see it in person, you will find it impossible to leave it behind.

Interior

Features of the estate include:

Foyer: A grand entryway with statues that threaten your life

Great Hall: Ideal for entertaining invited and uninvited guests.

Library: A collection that inspires unforgettable nightmares.

Ballroom: Lovely space where ghostly souls celebrate and imprison.

Seance Room: Perfect for summoning the dead and human possession.

Hallway: Didnt get your steps in? Keep walking. Forever.

Interior

And more.

Interior

The movie is based on the famous Disney ride with the same name and stars LaKeith Stanfield, Tiffany Haddish, Rosario Dawson, Jared Leto, Dan Levy and Owen Wilson.

Interior

Ahead of the films premiere, which was held at Disneyland on July 15, SAG-AFTRA announced that actors in the Hollywood industry would be joining film and TV writers on the picket line after negotiations with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers failed on the evening of July 12, The Hollywood Reporter said.

Interior

None of the actors attended the movies red carpet premiere, so instead, the studio sent out famous Disney characters like Mickey and Minnie Mouse to engage with fans during the two-hour event, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Interior

Affordable private island lists in Vermont  several everyday essentials not included

Enchanting California mansion for sale looks like fairytale cottage, but bigger. See it
Phoenix police car

A man and a Phoenix police officer were attacked by a dog on Saturday morning, resulting in the officer and men being taken to the hospital. The dog was shot and killed by an officer, according to the Phoenix Police Department.

Around 7:45 a.m., officers responded to a house in the area of 7th Avenue and Atlanta Avenue regarding a loose animal call. Police said that the call indicated that a dog had attacked a man inside of the house and that the dog was still not under control, according to a news release.

When an officer arrived, the dog attacked the officer, police said. The officer then shot and killed the dog. The dog's breed has not been confirmed by police. Both the man and the officer were taken to the hospital with serious, but non-life threatening injuries. Police said that both the man and the officer have since been released from the hospital, according to the news release.

The investigation of the incident is ongoing, according to police.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Dog attack sends officer and man to hospital; dog shot, killed
If youve followed politics for any amount of time, you know the mantra: All politics is local. That couldnt be more true, but when I talk to folks, I hear Trump and Biden a lot. Let me tell you why Jefferson City is more important to Missourians than Washington, D.C.

When I have knocked on doors for local candidates, myself included, I have often talked about the horrible state of our roads in northwest Missouri, and how many of our schools have gone to four-day week schedules. I had several folks answer these facts with, Well, Biden 

Friends, Joe Biden has no idea where Maryville is. Your state representative does, and he is the one defunding schools (causing those four-day weeks) and starving the Missouri Department of Transportation of funds (causing all those cracked and crumbling roads ) even while the state has a $8 billion surplus.

The Missouri GOP has held legislative control of the state for two decades. Yes, 20 years. There is a disconnect between what I hear folks say when we are standing on their porch and what is actually going on in Missouri. I hear a lot of my neighbors complain about Democrats and the way theyve shaped things in the state. Wait  what?

There is not one Democrat holding a statewide office in Missouri. The last one was Auditor Nicole Galloway and she left office more than a year ago. If there is any one party to blame for the way our state is functioning, there is only the GOP to answer. Its members occupy the governors office and they have supermajorities in both the state House and Senate.

Democratic cities local control overruled

Sometimes critics will say, Oh, yeah? Now do the cities where Democrats are in charge.

OK. Did you know that Republican state legislators have passed laws that prohibit local control, tying the hands of blue city mayors and overriding what the people who live there want? When confronted with local legislation they disagree with, Republicans in the state legislature have weighed in and banned it. Theyve overruled local minimum wage requirements, denied Kansas Citys Democratic mayor any local control over the police department and forced the biggest cities to work with gun legislation that harms their residents. Last year, they even tried to overturn a ban on cat declawing that had been adopted in St. Louis.

The Republicans own this state and the problems theyve created  even in the cities.

What does the Missouri GOP have to show for 20 years of legislative dominance in our state? We are now ranked 50th in teacher pay and 49th in educational funding. Missouri funds only about 32% of a local schools budget, which means 68% of that schools needs come from local property taxes. In my rural town of 480 people, thats tough.

High gun homicides, rural hospitals at risk

What other metrics can we thank our local GOP reps for attaining? We rank ninth highest in gun deaths and in the top 10 states with the highest gun-related homicide rates. in 2007, the Republicans repealed a permit-to-purchase law that had been on the books for 80 years. Afterward, there was an increase in the gun homicide rate of 47%. And while were second in the nation in men killing their intimate partners with guns, some GOP lawmakers want domestic violent offenders to keep their guns.

Children who cant legally drive a car yet can openly carry guns down Missouri streets. Have I mentioned that guns are the leading cause of death among children and teens in Missouri?

Another 35% of Missouris rural hospitals are currently at risk of closing because they arent bringing in enough revenue, and dont have enough reserves. This is a complication of not expanding Medicaid years ago.

Please, pay attention to state politics. Medicaid was expanded by the people, not by politicians. Right-to-work (for less) was beaten back by the people. Medical and recreational marijuana were approved by the people. We had to fight for these things using the ballot initiative process, which is currently under attack by GOP lawmakers. They dont want us to have a way to get around their awful policies.

Our lives are most impacted by state politics. Your local rep voted for an abortion ban that would force your niece to deliver a pregnancy resulting from rape, or your wife to die because shes septic with an nonviable pregnancy. Your local rep let rural hospitals close by refusing to accept federal dollars to expand Medicaid. Your local rep voted against union wages.

Your local Republican representative is playing footsie with donors from inside and outside Missouri, rather than passing meaningful legislation to make your life better.

Jessica Piper is the executive director of the continuing committee Blue Missouri, a former Democratic nominee for Missouri House District 1, a former teacher and a rural mom fighting for public schools.
Donald Trump has a big lead for the GOP nomination. Can DeSantis, Pence or anyone else catch him?

WASHINGTON  A half-year before anyone actually votes, and one year before the Republican nominating convention, the GOP presidential race is in the same place it has been for months: A bunch of challengers chasing former President Donald Trump.

Trump has built a huge lead in polls despite  or because of  two indictments and two other ongoing investigations, while Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and other GOP candidates are scrambling for ways to close the gap on the former president.

"We're up very big in the polls - very, very big," Trump told a convention of young supporters Saturday night in West Palm Beach, Fla., questioning why DeSantis or any other Republicans would bother running against him.

Meanwhile, DeSantis, former Vice President Mike Pence, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, Sen. Tim Scott, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and others are fanning out across the country looking for supporters, particularly in Iowa, which begins the nomination process with caucuses on Jan. 15.

Challengers are also aiming at an Aug. 23 debate, though Trump has strongly suggested he will not attend due to his lead in polls over his Republican rivals.

"When you have a big lead, you don't do it," Trump told Fox News Channels "Sunday Morning Futures."

When a reporter in Iowa asked DeSantis how he hopes to cut into Trump's lead, the Florida governor responded: "Watch and learn."

Among the Trump challengers' strategies:

Donald Trump and his challengers

Ron DeSantis: It's Trump or me

DeSantis and his allies are pushing the idea that only he and Trump have the money, organization and supporters needed to win the GOP nomination. They're also suggesting DeSantis is a better bet in the general election against President Joe Biden, given Trump's struggles with independent voters in the wake of his legal problems.

While DeSantis has said little about Trump's indictments, he is trying to draw differences on issues important to conservative voters.

In a memo to donors, the DeSantis team said "soft Trump voters and America First conservatives do not look kindly on Trump's record on guns, the deficit and spending, Transgenderism, and his family's ... cozy relationship with the Saudi Royal Family."

DeSantis is Trump's closest challenger, but he is also struggling with stagnant poll numbers, nervous supporters and staff shake-ups. He is also embarking on a new media strategy, including scheduling an interview with CNN on Tuesday.

The Real Clear Politics website average of recent polls as of Sunday puts DeSantis at 20.6%, more than 30 percentage points behind Trump at 53%.

Pence contrasts with Trump

The former vice president, who is in third place in many polls, is stressing the more conservative aspects of the Trump-Pence administration, while drawing distinctions with his former president on issues such as Ukraine and the rising costs of entitlement programs.

Pence has also criticized Trump for pressuring him in early 2021 to throw out the electoral votes that elected Biden. Trump-inspired efforts to overturn the election are the subject of investigations in Atlanta and Washington, D.C., the latter of which featured grand jury testimony by Pence.

Like DeSantis and other candidates, Pence is putting a big emphasis in Iowa, where evangelical voters hold sway.

During a Friday appearance at the Family Leadership Summit in Iowa, Pence said "we will secure our border., We will support our military. We will revive our economy and stand by our values, and we will also lead the world for freedom."

Ramaswamy rising?

Vivek Ramaswamy, the 37-year-old businessman and first-time candidate who made his political name by attacking "woke" corporate culture is hoping to catch a wave of buzz about his status as an outsider.

He's also been supportive of Trump, suggesting he would pardon the former president over his legal troubles.

Trump has also been complimentary of Ramaswamy. The former president invokes his name during campaign riffs in which he predicts that DeSantis will soon be overtaken for second place by another candidate.

"Maybe it's Vivek," Trump said in his Florida speech. "Could be ... He's doing well."

Nikki Haley: The 'new generation?'

The former governor of South Carolina and United Nations ambassador is trying to move up in the race for the White House by casting herself as the leader of a "new generation" of Republicans, while portraying Trump as a figure of the past.

"We're 5 months into our campaign and 6 months to the Iowa caucuses," Haley tweeted Saturday. "Join @TeamHaley and let's make America strong and proud again!"

The only woman in the race, Haley is generally polling at less than 5%. Her main goal is to survive the Iowa caucuses and New Hampshire and make it to the South Carolina primary in late February.

Tim Scott: Another South Carolinian

A U.S. senator from South Carolina, and the only Black Republican in that chamber, Scott is also trying to portray himself as a candidate of the future.

"I think minority voters are trending toward the Republican Party. That's great news," Scott previously told USA TODAY.

And like Haley, Scott is mired far down in the polls and hoping to hang in until South Carolina.

Chris Christie, Trump attack dog

The former New Jersey governor is already using a tactic that other candidates may have to adopt: Attack Trump directly.

Christie, a former federal prosecutor, has been particularly critical of Trump's handing of classified documents, the subject of a June federal indictment. Trump also faces a trial in New York state over hush money payments.

"In this Republican primary there is one lane to the nomination, and that lane is right through Donald Trump," Christie said Sunday on ABC's "This Week."

On CNN's "State of the Union," Christie denounced Trump's frequent claim that he is being indicted because of his presidential campaign.

"He's a liar and a coward," Christie said, downplaying Trump's lead in the polls by saying "there's a lot of campaign to go here."

Christie is focused on New Hampshire, site of the first primary. He hopes that success there will rocket him through the rest of the primaries, which happened for John McCain when he took the Republican presidential nomination in 2008.

Trump, challengers, and debates

Christie and all the other challengers are banking on specific events to help them catch up to Trump: Debates, though there's no guarantee that the front-runner will be there.

Trump has repeatedly said he will probably skip the first debate scheduled for Aug. 23 in Milwaukee. He said he doesn't want to give rivals shots at him when he is so far ahead in the polls.

Some of those challengers may not make it either: The Republican National Committee has said candidates need at least 40,000 donors before they can ascend the stage.

Asa Hutchinson, Doug Burgum and Will Hurd

Burgum, the little-known North Dakota governor is trying to attract donors by offering them gift cards for contributions.

Former U.S. Rep. Will Hurd, R-Tex., may not make the debate stage because he is refusing to sign a pledge to support the eventual Republican nominee  because it might be Trump.

Hutchinson, the former governor of Arkansas, closed his appearance at the Family Leadership Summit in Iowa with a direct appeal to contributors.

"Help us get on the debate stage," he said.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Donald Trump has big GOP lead. Can DeSantis, Pence, others catch him?
Donald Trump branded the US a third-world hellhole run by perverts and thugs in his latest 2024 campaign speech.

The one-term president told the Turning Point Action Conference in Florida that the American dream was dead under Joe Biden as he relentlessly mocked his predecessor

The election will decide whether your generation will inherit a fascist country or a free country,  Mr Trump told the conference of younger conservative activists on Saturday.

Former US President Donald Trump arrives on stage to speak at the Turning Point Action conference as he continues his 2024 presidential campaign on July 15, 2023 in West Palm Beach, Florida. (Getty Images)

Millions of illegal aliens have stormed across our borders, it is an invasion, like a military invasion. Our rights and liberties are being torn to shreds.

Your country is being turned into a third-world hellhole, run by censors, perverts criminals and thugs.

And Mr Trump continued to paint a bleak picture of America in the year before the next presidential election.

We are in big trouble, today the greatest threat is not for the outside the greatest threat. It is the sick, sinister and evil forces are trying to destroy our country from within, he claimed.

Former US President Donald Trump speaks at the Turning Point Action conference as he continues his 2024 presidential campaign on July 15, 2023 in West Palm Beach, Florida. (Getty Images)

If you have the right leadership China is not a problem, if you have the right leadership Russia would not be a problem. They would not have done what they did, believe me, they would never have done it.

And he added: Your task, your calling, your historic mission is to liberate America from these communists, racists, Marxists, globalists and warmongers who want to plunder the future of our country.

Former US President Donald Trump speaks at the Turning Point Action conference as he continues his 2024 presidential campaign on July 15, 2023 in West Palm Beach, Florida. (Getty Images)

And Mr Trump also claimed that he intended to reclaim colleges and choke off the money to universities that are leading a Marxist assault on Western civilization itself.

After 50 years of leftist domination in the universities, I will take bold action to reclaim our colleges from the Communist leftanti-American radicals will no longer be given a free hand to dominate our institutions of higher learning.

And he added: The days of subsidizing communist indoctrination  are over.

Mr Trump also told the crowd at the event that he viewed his indictments as a great badge of honour.

Every time the radical left Democrats indict me, I consider it to be a great badge of honour and courage. I am doing it for you. I am being indicted for you. Better me than you and I believe the you is more than 200 million people, he said.
We don't need them  President's Office on assassination attempt on propagandist Simonyan and TV presenter Sobchak

Mykhailo Podoliak, an advisor to the head of the Presidential Office of Ukraine, has said that Russian propagandist Margarita Simonyan and TV host Ksenia Sobchak "do not have impact on anything", and therefore Ukrainian security services could not have planned an assassination attempt on them.

Source: Podoliak on air during the 24/7 national joint newscast

Quote: "We definitely do not need them. They have no impact on anything. They do not play an important role in what is happening today, neither within the framework of the war as a whole nor within the framework of Russia's loss of positions in the global sense. They are meaningless."

Background:

On 15 July, the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) stated that it had supposedly prevented the assassination of Margarita Simonyan and Ksenia Sobchak by the "Ukrainian security services".

The detained Russians told the FSB that they had supposedly prepared the assassination attempts "on the instructions of the Security Service of Ukraine" for a reward of 1.5 million roubles [approximately US$16,500  ed.] for each murder.

Moscow's Basmanny Court has ordered the arrest of seven members of nationalist organisations who are allegedly suspected of attempting to assassinate Margarita Simonyan and Ksenia Sobchak. Supporters of the detainees are saying they have been tortured.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
Sens. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) and Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) both said in interviews on Sunday that they think NATO expansion into Asia is inevitable and touted the strength of the alliance.

I think it is, and I think it was a positive summit, Sullivan told Chuck Todd, when he asked on NBCs Meet the Press whether he thought NATO expansion was inevitable. Sullivan was part of the Senate delegation attending the NATO gathering in Vilnius, Lithuania last week.

I think there was a lot of progress. It wasnt just the mention of China several times  almost 20 times in my count  but Chuck, you probably saw the leaders who were there the prime minister of Japan, prime minister of Australia, the president of Korea, Sullivan added. Our Senate delegation had the opportunity to meet with those leaders, and I think that was a really strong signal with regard to NATO.

Duckworth, who sits on the Senate Foreign Relations and Senate Armed Services committees, said she agreed with Sullivans assessment when asked in a subsequent interview on Meet the Press whether she thinks NATO expansion is inevitable.

I think it is. I agree with my friend and frankly, it already has started to do that with our successful AUKUS agreement between the UK, Australia and the United States, Duckworth said. I travel extensively throughout the Indo-Pacific, and I will tell you, our Asian allies are looking very closely to what has happened with Ukraine and realize that there is a greater need to participate themselves in NATO as well as NATO ally allies coming back into the Indo-Pacific region.

I think what Vladimir Putin has done is not only has he expanded NATO, hes actually strengthened the resolve of countries like Japan and Korea and Taiwan, and other nations, Duckworth said, referring to the Russian president, noting Asian countries statements released in support of Ukraine. So, hes in fact united the world in a way against what hes doing there.

Updated Monday at 10:02 a.m.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Duckworth not opposed to Supreme Court expansion, but not supporting it now

Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) said on Sunday she is not ready to support the effort to expand the U.S. Supreme Court, but did not rule out the possibility of backing expansion in the future.

I think Im not opposed to court expansion, but Im not certainly there where I would support it at this point in time, Duckworth told NBCs Chuck Todd on Meet the Press.

Duckworth praised the senior senator from her state, Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Dick Durbin, who Duckworth said is rightly focused on confirming judges at all levels to ensure we have folks in place who can be elevated to the Supreme Court when openings occur.

I think what we need to do is what were continuing to do, and my senior senator from Illinois, Sen. Durbin, is doing a great job of confirming justices to all of the various levels of federal benches so that we have folks in place who can be elevated to the Supreme Court who are not going to be the activist judges like Neil Gorsuch, Duckworth said, referring to the Supreme Court justice who was nominated by former President Trump.

We need to take a look at where were going in terms of confirming judiciary appointments all across the country, Duckworth added later.

Efforts to expand the U.S. Supreme Court have increased in the past year, especially since the overturning of Roe v. Wade, which took away the federal right to an abortion. Many have begun to see the court as increasingly political, and public confidence in the court is at historic lows.

While some progressive Democrats are pushing for court expansion, many in the party still remain hesitant to endorse the idea.

President Biden appointed a commission to examine the merits of expanding the Supreme Court at the beginning of his term. The presidential commission endorsed no specific solution, but many members of the team have since pushed for court expansion.

Biden has made clear he does not back court expansion, saying in a recent interview that he thinks the young and conservative justices may do too much harm.

But I think if we start the process of trying to expand the court, were going to politicize it maybe forever in a way thats not healthy, he added in the interview.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Los Angeles City Council members wait to start their meeting on Oct. 12, 2022. (Ringo H.W. Chiu / Associated Press)

Los Angeles needs a bigger City Council. Fifteen council members are not enough to adequately represent the ethnic, geographic and socioeconomic diversity of 4 million residents. Too many Angelenos feel detached from their city government, ignored or unheard, and that weakens public trust, civic participation and, ultimately, democracy.

Proposals to expand the council have gotten little traction since 1999 when voters rejected two competing ballot measures to increase the council to 21 or 25 members. But now, after a cavalcade of scandal, there is new momentum for reforming City Hall that may convince voters to finally embrace the idea that bigger is better.

Next month, the City Councils Ad Hoc Committee on City Governance Reform will begin debating whether to put a measure on the ballot in 2024 to expand the City Council, and if so, how big and how bold that expansion should be. Let's be clear: Los Angeles voters should absolutely be asked to expand the council. This is an essential and overdue reform.

Read more: Fixing City Hall

The editorial board looked at three possible changes that have been floated in recent months, ranging from moderate, major and radical. All of these ideas have their pluses and minuses  as we spell out below. They are all better than the status quo and worthy of consideration.

A simple City Council expansion

Its a sign of how far the reform movement has come that this moderate change would have been considered radical a year ago, when almost no one in City Hall was seriously considering expanding the council.

Nevertheless, we call it moderate because the most straightforward expansion would just add more districts. Los Angeles' 15 districts each include roughly 260,000 residents  the largest by population in the country. More districts means adding council members who would represent fewer people, providing constituents more localized attention and likely increase ethnic, religious and socioeconomic representation on the council.

How many districts is the harder question.

Read more: Fixing City Hall survey: Who supports a larger City Council?

Some groups argue L.A. shouldnt pick a number, but rather set the ideal level of representation. California Common Cause, a good-government advocacy organization, has urged the city to create 150,000-resident districts  the equivalent of 27 districts based on current population  and allow the number of districts to rise or fall every 10 years with population changes. This idea has caused some heartburn in City Hall because it would create political upheaval every decade.

Instead, most City Hall insiders and observers are debating a set number of seats. One such proposal would add four new districts, with the 19 council members each representing about 209,000 residents, which would still leave L.A. with the largest districts in the nation. Such a small adjustment would hardly be noticeable and wouldnt change much about how the council operates; perhaps thats why some council members seem most amenable to this kind of modest change. But it's not worth the trouble. L.A. should go bigger.

Given the citys population, it would take 23 districts to be on par with New York Citys 173,000 residents-to-representative ratio. At 25, L.A. would be close to San Diegos 154,000 residents per district. And 31 (an odd number is needed to avoid tie votes) would put L.A. among the average of large cities with 128,000 residents per district, according to Fair Rep LA , a reform coalition formed after L.A.'s flawed 2021 redistricting.

Doubling or even tripling the number of districts to a Chicago-size council of 50 members, as some have suggested, would change the nature of the City Council, which now operates like 15 mini mayors, each running their own district. Individual members on a very large council would have less power and would likely be led by a strong council president because somebody has to run that large, inefficient, herding-of-the-cats operation, current Council President Paul Krekorian observed, not fondly .

Read more: Editorial: Why L.A. needs a larger City Council

Expanding the council wont end political corruption if members are still allowed to treat their districts as fiefdoms in which they control development and real estate approvals. So any meaningful reform package would also curtail council members' power to make land-use decisions in their districts.

A hybrid system, with at-large and district council members

Another idea comes from a group of political science scholars who argue a hybrid system  a major change in the council's composition  could address concerns that the current setup is too provincial and doesnt adequately represent the broad and varied interests of residents.

The LA Governance Reform Project proposes expanding the City Council to 25 members but with a twist. It would include 21 districts, each with an elected council member, and four at-large members elected citywide. The scholars argue a hybrid system is the best compromise; it addresses the need for smaller districts with localized representation and it includes voting members to balance the provincialism with a citywide perspective.

One of the complaints about L.A. government is that everything, whether budget, services or public policy, is divided by 15. Lacking is a citywide approach to issues such as housing, homelessness and transportation, instead allowing council members to decide whether bus-only lanes or homeless shelters are built in their districts. At-large council members would have a mandate to think beyond localized interests and might campaign on broader issues such renters' rights, bike lanes or reforming the business climate. The change could also be a check on corruption; at-large candidates might be less inclined to support the culture of deference to council members on land-use and development decisions in their districts.

Read more: Editorial: Los Angeles must take politics out of development decisions

A hybrid system has some potential pitfalls, warned Kathay Feng with Common Cause. The California Voting Rights Act forced many cities to switch from at-large to district elections so minority or underrepresented groups would have a chance to elect a representative of their choice. Running for citywide office is so expensive that at-large seats could be dominated by well-funded, politically connected candidates. Some cities have adopted hybrid systems knowing the at-large seats could protect the power of incumbents and their allies and dilute the influence of communities of color.

I do think you can have a mixed system if the at-large seats are coupled with methods of casting ballots that give minority communities an ability to vote with greater voter representation, such as ranked-choice voting, Feng added.

A radical overhaul of the district system

Some advocates want L.A. to consider a more radical change such as the recent voter-approved change in Portland, Ore., to elect three council members per district using ranked-choice voting.

While several states, including Arizona, New Jersey, South Dakota and Washington, elect more than one representative per district to their legislature, multi-member districts are rare in American cities. Which is why Portlands decision is so unusual.

Portland is phasing out its system of five council members elected at-large to manage city departments, including parks, police and sanitation, in which they may have no expertise. Critics said the system was ineffective and failing residents. Plus, most of the elected officials came from the wealthy westside of the city.

But simply switching to a district system that elects a single council member would have disenfranchised communities of color, which make up one-quarter of Portlands population and are dispersed throughout the city. There was no way to draw districts that would allow the citys Black, Asian or Latino voters to elect a representative of their choice.

The expectation is that this system will give traditionally marginalized groups  renters, young people, the working class  a better shot at gaining a seat than in a winner-take-all election. Advocates also hope it will improve service because constituents can call three representatives in City Hall when they need a response, not just one.

But this is still an untested system for Portland, and there are concerns that multi-member districts may create a lack of accountability where nobody is in charge.

That hasnt stopped advocates from urging the L.A. City Council to look at the Portland model as an answer to the zero-sum politics of redistricting and elections in Los Angeles, when Black, Latino and Asian are seen in competition against one another in a winner-take-all council race.

And it wouldnt be the first time Californias neighbor to the north led the way on election reform. Oregon instituted vote-by-mail. We were the first ones to do it and people said it would be a disaster. Its worked beautifully, said Melanie Billings-Yun, who co-chaired Portlands Charter Commission. We were the first to institute automatic voter registration. We have never shied from being innovators and weve rarely regretted it.

This is an exciting moment for Los Angeles, with new ideas and real potential for change. We hope city leaders consider all these council expansion options and others, with open minds and a willingness to be bold in fixing City Hall.

If its in the news right now, the L.A. Times Opinion section covers it. Sign up for our weekly opinion newsletter.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
It's a good idea to remember that your email can provide the keys to your online accounts for would-be scammers.

A Richfield woman's recent experience losing access to her email to hackers is a good example of the importance of email security. Its also a reminder that your email provides the keys to your online accounts.

Anita Gantner thankfully hasn't lost any money at this point, but the hackers moved nearly $35,000 from her retirement IRA to a different company and also tried to move $350 from her bank. Shes spent countless hours trying to regain access to accounts and cleaning up the identity theft mess.

In early June, Gantner stopped getting new mail to her Windstream email account, which she accesses on her phone and computer. She thought that was odd. It wasnt prompting her by saying her password was wrong or asking for a new password. She just wasnt getting new email.

She waited a day and tried again. Still nothing.

She searched online to see if there were any reports of a Windstream hack. She didnt see anything. She phoned Windstream. After waiting on the phone for about an hour  and getting disconnected four times  Gantner got a representative who said she wasnt alone and there had been an email hack of the system and someone would get back to her when the problem was resolved.

About a week later, Gantner called Windstream and asked to disable her account. But a week later when her husband sent a test email, it went through. She called Windstream again and was told the account wasnt disabled, but would be now.

In the meantime, Gantner started getting letters thanking her for opening new accounts. She also got locked out of her Amazon account and still hasnt been able to get into her Facebook account.

Betty Lin-Fisher

Why? Because when you forget your password or need to reset it  it goes to your email address on file.

She notified her financial adviser to watch for fraud. About 2 weeks after she lost email access, the adviser called to say someone had moved nearly $35,000 from her retirement account with one company to another company.

The hackers got her Social Security number to open the new account.

Between calls the financial adviser and Gantner made, they were able to stop the transfer.

She also turned off online access and transfers on her account to anyone  including herself and her financial adviser.

Gantner has been annoyed by all of the trouble, but she is most annoyed with Windstream, which she said isnt taking responsibility.

What really just got under my skin about this is Windstream never reaching out to me or and I assume anybody and this is going on and it's just outrageous, she said. I've gotten a dozen things in the mail from banks and whatnot about credit card or credit that they tried to open."

Gantner froze her credit after the breach.

ID Theft: State officials issue warning about identity theft scheme targeting Ohio BMV accounts

Windstream responds to allegations of a breach

In several email correspondences, Windstream spokesman Scott Morris said there has been no hack of Windstreams network or systems.

Windstream is aware of an email that customers received claiming to have access to their personal devices and Windstream email accounts. We immediately launched an investigation, and there is no evidence of a compromise or breach of Windstreams network or systems that would allow access to customer email accounts. However, we did identify a phishing campaign against some of our customers. As you know, phishing uses authentic looking but bogus emails to request information or send users to fake websites that request information, Morris said.

We took immediate steps to protect any potentially impacted email accounts to include proactively notifying customers via email and text messages to change their passwords and update their security questions.

To help customers protect their email accounts, Windstream recommends the use of strong passwords, regular password changes and the addition of security questions. Also, customers should use different passwords for each of their password-protected accounts. We recommend email users also protect their passwords by installing anti-malware and anti-virus software on personal devices and keeping personal devices up to date.

Gantner bristled at Windstreams response. She knows about phishing emails and says she did not click one. She also said numerous Windstream representatives have told her there was a hack and there are many other frustrated consumers online with similar issues.

Learn from her mistake: Grandma got ripped off buying concert tickets from a reseller

Email can be key to access to other online accounts

When Gantner originally lost access to her email, she started alerting her various accounts of a potential problem. She was met with a variety of responses. One bank immediately shut down online access to a CD account and said she couldnt have online access again until she showed that her computer had been scrubbed by computer specialists.

When the hackers tried to move $350 from a checking account to a new account at one of her banks, Gantner was told by people at the bank that when you set up automatic payments for your utilities or other accounts, you are also giving potential hackers other ways into your account, if those companies have a breach.

Gantner acknowledged that she had some pretty weak passwords on some of her accounts.

Eva Velasquez, the president and CEO of the San-Diego based Identity Theft Resource Center, a nonprofit that offers free consumer assistance for ID theft victims, said email access is just as important to protect as other information.

Unemployment fraud: Ohio sees increase in fraudsters using fake credentials to access unemployment accounts

The message here is your email is not innocuous, she said. It is the keys to the kingdom because of that password reset function. And because of multifactor authentication, a lot of folks choose the email version rather than having a text sent to their phone.

Think about it. Look at somebody's inbox, you've got a pretty good blueprint of their life, she said.

It can be unclear where a hacker got email account information or other account access.

There are so many different ways to compromise an email account, she said. It could be from phishing, or smishing (a fake text message). It could be a breach or a vulnerability within the system or unrelated a breach in another system.

Tips to protect your email

Heres some tips from Velasquez:

Email passwords should be unique and should not be used on any other accounts. It should be complex and 12 characters or longer or a combination of uppercase lowercase and characters, Velasquez said. It doesn't have to be gobbledygook that you're never going to remember... it can be kind of a passphrase, which is a unique series of words strung together.

Dont use the same password or passphrase and your email address for all accounts. Oftentimes, hackers will make brute-force attacks and try to compromise systems to get usernames and passwords on accounts that people think are throwaway accounts, like an online exercise account or a subscription account, Velasquez said. Make sure you take similar password precautions on all accounts.

Restore access to your email as soon as possible. Contact the provider directly at a number you know is correct. You will likely have to go through a robust authentication process because you don't want the hackers to be able to just call customer service and say I lost access. As much as you might want to disable the account, it will make it easier to get access to your other accounts if you get access back to your email, she said.

Reader is worried about other accounts

Gantner said she doesnt re-use passwords on other online accounts.

I change up my passwords on different accounts  especially ones I don't care about as I'm suspicious that they are more likely to get hacked, she said.

But the recent experience has been a wake-up call.

Shes has now created multiple emails (with different passwords) for various accounts  just in case theres another breach.

Everything now has a really strong password, she said.

"Even simple stuff, like airlines, and wherever I can, I set up two-step authentication, she said.

"It makes me take this security thing much more seriously," she said. I never thought someone could get that far into our accounts.

Does it make me paranoid going further? No, it makes me cautious. It makes me more careful. Im putting into place practices that I think will make me safe going forward.

Consumer columnist Betty Lin-Fisher can be reached at 330-996-3724 or blinfisher@thebeaconjournal.com

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Email security is important; hackers can get access to other accounts
Two firefighters were seriously injured in an accident where a fire engine overturned.

Firefighters Logan Gordy and Trista Cheeks were ejected from the fire engine during the crash.

The pair are engaged to be married in October and are members of the Rock Hill Volunteer Fire Department.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Gordy is also a full-time jail officer at the Upson County Sheriffs Office.

According to the sheriffs office, the fire engine overturned while they were responding to a vehicle accident on Rocky Bottom Road at about 3:40 p.m. on Saturday, July 15, 2023.

Both Gordy and Cheeks were taken by Life Flight to Grady Memorial Hospital.

According to the Taylor County Volunteer Fire Department, Gordy has an inoperable brain bleed and swelling on his brain.

TRENDING STORIES:

Cheeks underwent surgery Saturday night for a brain bleed.

Both are currently in the Intensive Care Unit at Grady.

According to an update from Gordys father that was posted by the Taylor County Volunteer Fire Department, as of Sunday morning, Gordy had not shown any improvement in his condition but his swelling is going down and Cheeks is improving after surgery.

Georgia State Patrol are investigating the accident involving the overturned fire engine.

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IN OTHER NEWS:
The periodic table you may remember from chemistry class had two additional rows of elements below the main table. In the top added row are rare earth elements, metals critical in everyday technologies like cell phones and flat-screen TVs. Their global demand has skyrocketed for use in renewable energy technologies like solar panels and electric vehicles.

So-called rare earths, metals with names like Yttrium and Scandium, are not really all that rare. Most are more abundant than silver, gold and platinum. They are found in small concentrations, rather than in large, natural stores.

The United States currently imports more than 80% of its rare earth elements from offshore suppliers. A recent federal supply-chain assessment found an over-reliance on foreign sources and adversarial nations. Through policy and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the Biden Administration has pushed to build the U.S. supply of critical minerals needed for the clean energy transition, including rare earths.

Amid this effort to expand domestic sources, some researchers assert that Floridas phosphate deposits, mined by the fertilizer industry for over a century, could have a second life as a major supplier of rare-earth minerals.

We could satisfy nearly 50% of the U.S. demand for many of the critical rare earth elements from Florida, said Chunhong Patrick Zhang, director of mining and beneficiation research at the Florida Industrial and Phosphate Research Institute (FIPR) in Lakeland.

But big questions remain about who would fund the significant start-up costs and whether the Florida communities that have hosted the industry for a century would benefit from a mineral rush, too. Or if they would be harmed.

Turning sludge into profits?

The 15 rare earth elements are split into two categories, lights and heavies, based on their atomic weights. While other deposits in the U.S. have high concentrations of lights, Florida has a high concentration of heavies, owing to its coastal geologic history.

So-called REEs are better conductors and more magnetic than other metals, making them particularly valuable for electronics, clean-tech, defense and other technologies.

Who controls them is an increasing geopolitical concern. U.S. imports come mainly from China, which currently produces roughly 70% of the worlds supply.

Fertilizer use by Florida farmers appears to be leveling off. But will it be enough?

Phosphate ore is relatively soft and dissolves with water, making it easy to separate from surrounding metals. In a national evaluation of U.S. phosphate deposits, research geologist Poul Emsbo of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and his team found rare earth concentrations in the U.S. that are equal to or greater than any known resource. The team also found that the rare earths in domestic phosphate deposits are readily extractable, Emsbo said, and pose fewer environmental concerns than conventional REE mines.

Researchers and industry professionals said U.S. phosphate reserves could be part of a new domestic supply chain. Significant levels of REEs are found in not only phosphate deposits but also phosphogypsum, a radioactive byproduct of phosphoric acid processing. Every ton of phosphate produced leaves five tons of phosphogypsum waste, according to the Phosphate Innovation Initiative, an industry group. The waste is stacked into landfill-like mountains that pose environmental hazards. The industry is on the hunt for alternative uses, such as recycling the material for road-building, a controversial measure approved for study by the Florida Legislature this year.

Dr. Patrick Zhang, research director of phosphate beneficiation and mining at the Florida Industrial and Phosphate Research Institute, part of Florida Polytechnic University, shows a solution containing rare earth minerals in the institutes lab.

In Central Floridas Bone Valley, Zhang has spent the past decade researching the potential for extracting rare earth elements from phosphate and phosphogypsum at the FIPR institute, now based at Florida Polytechnic University. Zhang said that his work on the economic and technical feasibility of REE recovery from phosphate sludge, funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, proved that mining wastes and byproducts are viable resources for critical elements.

As a next step, Zhang, a national research team and The Mosaic Co., the largest phosphate mining company in Florida, have proposed a commercial demonstration plant on mining lands that would process rare earth elements from phosphoric acid sludge.

Extraction without mining

With scientific advances, additional mining is not necessary to extract rare earth elements. Special polymers, repeating chains of molecules that help minerals bond, can be added to phosphates to boost their ability to pull out metals.

Joseph Laurino is the founder and owner of Sarasota-based Periodic Products, an acid and chemical company that has developed polymers for REE extraction. His background in organic chemistry inspired him to patent the technology. The biggest source for rare earth elements, he said, is not in the ground, but in phosphate industry byproducts like phosphogypsum.

There are enough rare earths in the phosphate waste in the U.S. to meet the U.S. demand for rare earth metal annually, he said. We dont have to mine anything, we just have to recover it from the waste products.

How Floridas fertilizer industry funds research that prompts phosphorus-friendly laws

A concentration of 4% of rare earth elements is needed in the waste wash solution for the REEs to be successfully separated, Laurino said. The polymers can further concentrate REE levels, making them easier to extract. The most economically efficient way to extract them from phosphate sludge, Laurino said, would be to co-locate REE sites at current phosphate operations.

This process has to be done at the site where the material is generated, which is really good for the phosphate industry, Laurino said.

Mining companies like Mosaic would have a lot to gain financially from housing the processing, he said. New polymer technologies for extracting rare earths could also reduce the amount of waste going into phosphogypsum stacks, lowering both costs and radiation risks. Still unclear, Laurino said, is just how much of the material could be processed. It will depend on the size and capacity of the plant.

So far, Mosaic officials have deemed the steep capital and operating costs too high to justify beyond the lab and pilot scale. In a presentation to the U.S. Energy Association, the company reported the process is not yet economically viable without significant government financial support, cooperative arrangement or other business incentives.

A benefit instead of a burden?

Zhangs latest progress report to the Department of Energy makes the case that REEs could be an important source of revenue for Floridas Polk County, which the report describes as a disadvantaged community bearing a century-long environmental impact by phosphate mining. The county is home to the greatest concentration of phosphate mines, plants and gypstacks in Florida, carrying the industrial burden for much of the nations phosphorus demand.

In the early decades of the industry, that burden was labor. Then it was water, and even community. Mines have wiped out natural streams and springs and displaced neighborhoods. The industry rips up thousands of acres of soils and vegetation before restoring it to habitat or other uses, a decades-long process. It stacks radioactive waste in small mountains that neighbors and environmental advocates worry pose contamination threats.

These sites store some of Floridas most toxic waste. Can they hold up to storms?

Zhang said he believes REEs could bring a significant benefit to local communities. But questions include how and how much. A data analysis for this project showed that the industry tends to be concentrated in areas with more poverty than the state average.

Omanjana Goswami, an interdisciplinary scientist with the food and environment program at the Union of Concerned Scientists, said the communities disproportionately burdened by the fertilizer industry need models for how that can change.

Also important are innovations to move society away from mining altogether, she said, and toward more sustainable sources for phosphorus and other elements. At the end of the day, deposits are finite, she said. What is and should be the solution is how to extract more efficiently and ensure the environment, people, especially, and communities around these mines are not being harmed.

Omanjana Goswami of the Union of Concerned Scientists said the world must find ways to turn the vicious cycle of mineral extraction through mining into a virtuous cycle that doesnt cause problems for people and the environment.

New uses for phosphogypsum include the recapture of struvite, a fertilizer containing magnesium, ammonium and phosphate, from sludge and wastewater.

In addition to roughly $500,000 in in-kind support for Zhangs demonstration plant, Mosaic has awarded about $500,000 to the University of Florida over the past three years for other research projects to find plausible uses for phosphogypsum and paths toward a cyclical economy for phosphate.

Environmental engineering professor Timothy Townsend in UFs Sustainable Materials Management Research Laboratory has been working on the potential for using phosphogypsum waste as a road-building material to reduce the size of gypstacks.

Townsend said his research suggests a path for phosphogypsum innovation in the industry. His next steps are sample road base projects that will test the viability and structural capacity of roads that contain phosphogypsum compared to traditional road material. Hell also test radiation leaching.

Environmentalists charge that the process could release radioactive materials into the air and waterways and expose construction workers to cancer risks; they have urged Gov. Ron DeSantis to veto this years bill approving the demonstration project.

An MRI for the Earth

Over the next decade, the U.S. Geological Survey, working in partnership with state geological offices, will map the nation to identify areas that contain critical mineral supplies, said research geologist Warren Day, Science Coordinator for the Earth Mapping Resources Initiative.

Thats never been done, said Day of the mapping project, nicknamed Earth MRI. Its a huge mission, its a great challenge.

Day said the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law appropriated $320 million for the first five years of mapping.

Geologists with the Florida Geological Survey are currently working with USGS to investigate the potential for REEs from Florida phosphate mining waste. The state Department of Environmental Protection did not respond to interview requests to discuss the work.

Phosphate sludge sits in a spillway on the property of The Mosaic Co. in Bone Valley where phosphate is separated from other minerals.

On top of domestic security and supply chain issues, Day said, reliance on minerals from countries with lax human rights and environmental protections means were exporting our problems to those countries.

Goswami of the Union of Concerned Scientists said the way forward is to turn the vicious cycle of mineral extraction through mining into a virtuous cycle that doesnt cause problems for people here or elsewhere.

Its a matter of policy, of course, money, as well as community push too, she said. For short-term gains, we are doing long-term damages that would be so hard to repair. It is almost irreparable and irreversible.

This story is part of The Price of Plenty, a special project investigating fertilizer from the University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications and the University of Missouri School of Journalism, supported by the Pulitzer Centers nationwide Connected Coastlines reporting initiative.

This story was produced in partnership with the Florida Climate Reporting Network, a multi-newsroom initiative founded by the Miami Herald, the South Florida Sun Sentinel, The Palm Beach Post, the Orlando Sentinel, WLRN Public Media and the Tampa Bay Times.
As the intense search continues for an escaped inmate with survivalist skills who is suspected of murder, police revealed he was recently spotted on a doorbell camera in Pennsylvania.

Michael Charles Burham, 34, was in a location south of Warren when he appeared on a residents doorbell camera at around 5 a.m., said Pennsylvania State Police Lt. Col. George Bivens at a news conference Friday. Burham was seen walking toward the woods.

Bivens wouldnt share exactly when the surveillance video was taken but said it was just within the last couple of days.

Burham was a self-taught survivalist with Military Reserve experience, said Bivens. We believe he has prepared to survive in the woods, as previously reported. Our searches have revealed small stockpiles or campsites in wooded areas.

Bivens encouraged residents of northwestern Pennsylvania and western New York to regularly review their doorbell and surveillance camera footage for anything they think might be helpful to the search.

I reiterate that Burham has to be considered armed and dangerous and we asked the public not to approach, Bivens said

Michael Charles Burham. (City of Warren Police via Facebook)

Burham escaped from Warren County Jail on the night of July 6 using tied together bed sheets, triggering a massive multi-agency search and warnings from officials that he is very dangerous and should not be approached.

Burham was found missing from the recreation area of the jail early the next morning. He elevated himself onto a piece of exercise equipment and left the yard through a metal gated roof, said Cecile Stelter, a spokesperson for Warren County, at a news conference last week. He then used bed sheets that he had tied together to climb down to the ground.

He was last seen wearing an orange and white striped jumpsuit, a denim jacket and orange Croc shoes, according to authorities.

Staff realized Burham was missing minutes after his escape, Stelter said, noting that he was under video surveillance while in the recreation area.

He is considered dangerous by his past actions, she said. And the public is asked not to approach him, but if they see anything unusual to call 911.

A reward of up to $22,000 is being offered for any information leading to Burhams arrest.

Burham was being held at the jail in connection with a burglary and arson, according to Stelter. He is also accused of kidnapping a Warren County couple and is a suspect in the May 11 murder of Kala Hodgkin, of Jamestown, New York.

This story originally appeared on NBCNews.com.

This article was originally published on TODAY.com
WARREN, Pa.  Escaped homicide suspect Michael C. Burham has been taken into custody, the Pennsylvania State Police confirmed Saturday evening, ending a nine-day manhunt that began July 6 when Burham escaped the Warren County Prison using a rope made of bedsheets tied together.

"At 3:57 p.m., our tip line received a call from some residents on Jackson Run Road in Conewango Township, Warren County, about a suspicious individual," said Lt. Col. George Bivens, the state police's deputy commissioner of operations, at a Saturday news conference, according to the Erie Times-News, part of the USA TODAY Network.

Bivens said authorities mobilized resources, including a significant number of personnel on the ground, aviation assets and K-9s, and formed a large perimeter around that area.

Bivens said Burham was tracked through the woods and attempted to hide when he approached perimeter troopers near Logan Road. Burham was approached from behind by members of the U.S. Marshals Office, the Border Patrol and State Police.

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.

By 5:50 p.m., Burham was in custody, police said.

Bivens said Burham was not armed when he was apprehended. He characterized Burham as looking "tired and worn out," and wearing his prison pants inside-out.

Burham, 34, was taken to the Pennsylvania State Police station in Warren where he will be processed. Bivens said Burham will not be housed in the Warren County Prison and that a determination will be made on where he will be housed following his arraignment.

Who is Michael Burham?: Search underway for Pennsylvania inmate who escaped prison using bed sheets

Further investigation on potential accomplices, firearms

Bivens said investigators will continue to see whether Burham received any assistance during the past nine days and that discussions will occur with the Warren County District Attorney's Office on whether there is sufficient evidence to prosecute anyone else.

Bivens added Burham potentially accessed some survival equipment and that during the manhunt, police recovered bags that were ultimately linked to Burham using DNA tests. Some of those bags contained ammunition, which led to concerns that Burham was armed.

Tip came from resident responding to his barking dog

The tip came from a Warren County resident, who, while checking to see why his dog was barking at the rear of his property, encountered Burham. Bivens said a brief conversation ensued, in which Burham said "something about camping." The property owner recognized Burham and contacted authorities as Burham fled into the woods.

Bivens said Burham's mistake was that he "came out into the open and was spotted by an individual."

"That's been our strategy all along is to push him hard, to have him make a mistake," Bivens said. "He finally did and it was spotted by an individual."

Who is Michael Burham?

Burham is considered a suspect in the murder case of Kala Hodgkin, according to court records. Hodgkin, 34, was found shot to death on May 11 in Jamestown, New York, according to a criminal complaint the FBI in Buffalo filed against Burham in the kidnapping case.

At the time Hodgkin was killed, Burham was facing a charge that he raped her, and the arrest warrant in that case was still active, according to the FBI.

On May 20, Pennsylvania State Police received a report that an elderly couple from Sheffield, near Warren, was missing, and their Honda SUV was gone from their residence, according to the FBI.

On May 21, the couple was found unhurt in a cemetery in North Charleston, South Carolina. The FBI said the couple identified Burham as their kidnapper and said he had abducted them at gunpoint at their home.

In a news conference last week, Bivens said Burham is a self-taught survivalist with military experience and could be potentially holed up in a wooded area, The Associated Press reported.

Burham was placed in the Warren County Prison on $1 million bond on June 19.

Contributing: The Associated Press; Francisco Guzman, USA TODAY; Ed Palattella, Erie (Pa.) Times-News

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Pennsylvania manhunt: Michael Burham captured after escaping prison
Ex-PoW commander meets with personnel and will soon return to action  Azov Regiment

Lieutenant Colonel Denys "Redis" Prokopenko, Commander of the Azov Brigade of the National Guard, has met with personnel after returning from Turkiye and intends to take up his duties in the near future.

Source: Azov Regiment on Facebook

REDIS MEETING WITH THE BRIGADE'S PERSONNEL. PHOTO: AZOV REGIMENT

Quote from Prokopenko: "While I was in captivity, I said that for me, this war would not end until we got our last soldier back from captivity and restored Ukraine's borders to the borders of 1991.

I am a soldier. I am not interested in any areas of activity other than military affairs. My heart, my soul and my body belong to the Azov Regiment."

Details: Prokopenko is reported to be currently undergoing rehabilitation and "will resume his duties shortly".

During the meeting with personnel, he stressed that the main efforts today should be focused on combat training and replenishing the unit with personnel, equipment and weapons.

Background:

On 8 July, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported that the military commanders who defended the Azovstal Iron and Steel Works and then stayed in Turkiye after being released from Russian captivity as part of an exchange would be returning to Ukraine.

That evening, the president arrived in Lviv together with the commanders.

While in Lviv, Prokopenko stated that he would return to the front.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!






Ihor Terekhov, Mayor of Kharkiv, has reported that there were explosions in the city.

Source: Terekhov on Telegram

Quote: "Explosions are heard in Kharkiv".

Details: At around 01:35, Terekhov reported that explosions rocked the city.

An air-raid warning is currently issued in Kharkiv Oblast.

The Ukrainian Air Force has warned citizens of the threat of Russian use of ballistic weapons in the region.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
Explosions also rang out in Mariupol and Berdyansk this morning (archive photo)

Explosions were reported in the Russia-occupied cities of Mariupol and Berdyansk on the morning of July 16, the city mayors advisor, Petro Andriushchenko, confirmed on his Telegram channel on July 16.

Read also: Could Ukrainian forces cut off Russian supply lines in the south?

Earlier in the morning, he also reported explosions in the occupied cities of Luhansk and Sevastopol.

Andriushchenko said that it could be the result of enemy air defense systems being activated.

There has been an extremely high level of enemy air defense system activity along the Rozivka (Zaporizhzhya Oblast)  Nikolske  Manhush  Mariupol line (all three in Donetsk Oblast), said the mayors advisor.

Read also: Several explosions heard in Crimea  social media

Andriushchenko had reported explosions in Berdyansk earlier, stating, Has the Bavovna Sunday begun?... We need to be patient. Something is happening, and its something quite pleasant.

The Ukrainian word bavovna (translated as cotton in English) is a war-related meme used to describe a loud explosion occurring far behind the frontline. It originated from a pun on two Russian words khlopOk (the last syllable is stressed,meaning an explosion) and khlOpok (the first syllable is stressed, meaning cotton) wrongly translated by Russians into Ukrainian.

Earlier, it was revealed that a series of explosions occurred in the occupied city of Luhansk, believed to be the result of incoming fire on enemy targets.

Ukraines defense forces confirmed on Facebook on July 16 they had struck a missile weapons depot in the temporarily occupied town of Katerinivka (former Yuvileine, renamed in 2016) in Luhansk Oblast. No other details were disclosed. Journalists from Donbas.Realii, also known as Donbas. Realities (a regional news outlet of RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service) geolocated the place of the strike. This is a plot outside the city, to the southwest of the Pivdenny Quarter. Presumably, the target is a warehouse  a former workshop of a coal mine used by the Russian army as a hangar for the repair and storage of heavy equipment.

Probable place of impact Google Maps screenshot

During the early morning hours on July 16, explosions were also heard in the occupied city of Sevastopol. The occupying authorities claimed that the city had been attacked by nine drones of various types, including two underwater drones.

The Russian Ministry of Defense asserted that all the drones had been downed successfully.

Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron!

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Two explosions could be heard in the city of Sumy after 11:00 on Sunday, 16 July, media reports said.

Source: Ukraines public broadcaster Suspilne; Ukrainian Air Force; Sumy Oblast Military Administration

Details: Journalists reported that two explosions were heard in Sumy. No details are currently available.

Prior to the explosion, the Ukrainian Air Force issued a warning that anti-aircraft defence could be operating in Sumy Oblast, targeting Russian drones.

The authorities also reported that a Russian UAV was shot down by air defence forces near the village of Verkhnia Syrovatka, Sumy district at 09:15.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
Family photo of Amina Alhaj-Omar, a 26-year-old Ohio State University Graduate Student went missing June 10. Her family reported finding her body recently in a quarry.

In an obituary, the family of the 26-year-old Ohio State University graduate who went missing on June 10 disclosed that her body was found near a quarry.

The obituary of Amina Alhaj-Omar at Cook & Son-Pallay Funeral Home disclosed that after an extensive search her body was found on Wednesday in a nearby quarry.

"We are devastated by our immense loss, but we also thank God every single day for blessing us with the privilege of knowing and loving her beautiful soul for the last twenty-five years," the obituary read.

Amina, whose 26th birthday was in late June, had been missing since June 10, when she was last confirmed seen at a stone quarry on the citys South Side near Interstate 270 and State Route 23. Her sister, Miriam Alhaj-Omar previously said police found her jacket, shoes and cellphone on the property.

Amina's sisters said police think she could've gone in the quarry pond, believed to be very deep. Miriam said Amina loves to swim.

Police ended their weeks-long active search for her on June 29.

Before she disappeared, Amina was studying social work at Ohio State University, worked as a server at a local restaurant and had interned with the victims of crime program at Community Refugee and Immigration Services (CRIS) in the spring.

"Most people who truly knew Amina immediately remember her laugh - it was contagious and brought happiness to everyone in the room," according to the obituary. "She had a way of making people feel comfortable and welcomed in any situation. Her personality was simply beautiful - a bubbly, shy, caring, funny, and loving human being inside and out."

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Body of missing Ohio State graduate Amina Alhaj-Omar found
Federal authorities are investigating the killing of five wild burros who were found shot to death near life-giving springs on the western edge of Death Valley National Park, where 20-mule teams once pulled wagons of borax.

The National Park Service said it was one of the largest illegal killings of its kind in Death Valley, which is home to roughly 4,000 burros  descendants of the pack animals that miners and prospectors used more than a century ago.

Details about the investigation were scarce. The burros were killed with a low-caliber firearm not typically used to hunt big game, park Ranger Nichole Andler said Friday. They were all together in one area of lower Wildrose Canyon.

Officials did not say when the carcasses were discovered. However, they did say the killings were not part of ongoing federal efforts to reduce burro populations that have come to dominate the parks badlands.

While these animals have a negative impact on the natural and cultural desert environment, these irresponsible actions are not warranted, Andler said.

Read more: Risk of tap water exposure to toxic PFAS chemicals higher in Southern California

The National Park Service does have the authority to shoot burros, which are not native to western deserts, provided the killing is necessary for the restoration of Death Valley's natural habitat.

People walk in Badwater in California's Death Valley National Park. (Christopher Reynolds/Los Angeles Times)

Burros, officials say, are known to trample and foul sensitive desert springs and damage historic sites. They can also out-compete such native vegetarians as stately bighorn sheep, tiny kangaroo rats and bulky chuckawalla lizards by devouring available greenery.

The incident at Wildrose Canyon, however, involved the unauthorized discharge of a firearm that posed a threat to public safety, Andler said.

The abandoned carcasses also endanger native wildlife, who inadvertently ingest toxic lead shot when feeding on the dead animals, she said.

Information from park visitors could be very helpful for this investigation, she added. Those who submit a tip may do so anonymously.

In the meantime, federal authorities continue to investigate other incidents in which wild burros were illegally killed in sparsely populated desert regions. Those include the shooting of 13 in 2018 on U.S. Bureau of Land Management land near Beatty, Nev.

A year later, 42 wild burro carcasses with gunshot wounds were found along Interstate 15 between Halloran Springs, Calif., and Primm, Nev.

Some were shot in the neck while drinking water in the Halloran Springs area, officials said.

Animal protection organizations were outraged by that slaughter and contributed thousands of dollars toward a reward of up to $18,000 for information leading to the arrest of those responsible.

They also take exception, however, to the National Park Services ongoing efforts to transform Death Valley into a no-burro zone.

Burros remain a popular specimen of regional wildlife in the California desert: sure-footed in rugged terrain and capable of carrying heavy loads long distances and withstanding temperature extremes.

Read more: A renegade sea otter is terrorizing California surfers: 'It's a little scary'

In Death Valley, the largest concentrations are in Butte Valley in the southwest corner of the park; Saline Valley in the northwestern section; and Wildrose Canyon on the western border, about five miles south of California Highway 190, a main route into the park.

Wild burros living near a dry lake bed in front of the Silurian Hills in October 2014 in Silurian Valley, Calif. (Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times)

They are the descendants of animals turned loose by miners and prospectors in the 1920s and '30s and replaced by Model A Fords and other vehicles. Since then, they have multiplied without restraint, with few predators to check their numbers.

By the 1950s, wanton slaughter of wild burros in Californias desert and mountains had reached such proportions that the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals pressed for legislation to protect the creatures from trigger-happy hunters.

One killing ground was Homewood Canyon, near Trona, about 240 miles northeast of Los Angeles, where SPCA officials in 1953 reported a shocking scene: Over an area of 50 acres, they found 50 burro carcasses. Only a few had bullet holes in the head, indicating that most had been left wounded where they fell.

What I find so incredible about wild burros is that the National Park Service believes they are scourges of the desert and shouldnt be there, said Grace Kuhn, spokeswoman for the nonprofit American Wild Horse Campaign. Yet, many Americans admire their astonishing resilience and strong sense of preservation.

Theyve helped build this country and deserve to be treated with respect.





This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
A former Afghan interpreter for the US military escaped Taliban rule only to be shot and killed in Washington, DC

Nasrat Ahmad Yar, a former Afghan interpreter for the US military who escaped Taliban rule, was shot and killed in Washington, DC earlier this month. Associated Press

Nasrat Ahmad Yar, 31, was shot and killed in Washington, DC while working as a Lyft driver.

He had served as an interpreter for the US military since he was a teenager, a close friend said.

His loved ones say he was exceptionally selfless, helping others even as his family fled Taliban rule.

Nasrat Ahmad Yar spent almost his entire life navigating the conflict in Afghanistan.

As a young teenager, he began working as an interpreter for the US military. He later met his wife and they had three of their four children.

When the Afghanistan government fell in 2021, the United States fled, and the Taliban re-captured Kabul, he and his family had no choice but to flee. After several frantic months, they made it out of Taliban-controlled Afghanistan and eventually  to the United States.

Then, on July 3, Ahmad Yar was fatally shot in Washington, DC while driving for Lyft.

It's a uniquely tragic American story.

Ahmad Yar selflessly dedicated himself to helping others, his loved ones told Insider. Matthew Butler  an Army Special Forces veteran who served two tours in Afghanistan with Ahmad Yar as his interpreter  said he first showed up at a US camp in Afghanistan as a young kid.

"He'd been hanging out at this camp since he was 10 years old," Butler told Insider. "At first, they just paid him to empty the trash or rake rocks. Ultimately, he taught himself English through association."

Ahmad Yar and his family first set their eyes on coming to the United States in 2020. However, Ahmad Yar's plans were immediately derailed after the Afghanistan government fell in 2021 and the Taliban captured the city of Kabul.

That's when Butler  now Ahmad Yar's close friend  immediately began mobilizing resources within the veteran community to make sure he could leave the country.

"We probably exchanged a couple hundred text messages a day for months," Butler said. "It was my full-time job, keeping him alive."

Ahmad Yar was just one of hundreds of Afghan interpreters scrambling to flee the country after the Taliban takeover. Their work for the US military put them in significant danger of being targeted by Taliban forces.

The US requires interpreters like Ahmad Yar to apply for Special Immigrant Visas, which allow foreign nationals who have worked for the US government to immigrate. Throughout 2022, many investigations  including those from the LA Times and CNN  revealed that the US State Department denied the applicants of dozens of Afghan interpreters who served for years and had positive performance reviews, leaving them in significant danger.

"Because of the length and type of his service, he was in a lot of danger," Jeramie Malone, a volunteer who helped coordinate Ahmad Yar's escape and started a GoFundMe for his family after his death, told Insider.

Even amid his own efforts to escape with his family, Malone said Ahmad Yar fought to help other families escape Taliban rule too.

"He worked really hard to get out, and he worked really hard to help other Afghans trying to get out," Malone said. "Even when he was on the run, he was extremely helpful, and there was no competition  he wanted to do everything he could to help get people to safety."

Butler said the process took months as Ahmad Yar and his family moved between dozens of safe houses as they awaited evacuation. Amid the chaos, Ahmad Yar's wife was also pregnant with their fourth child.

Ahmad Yar and his family were not on the infamous final US military flight out of Kabul on Aug. 30, 2021. Rather, Butler secured seats on an evacuation plane organized by a nonprofit in October 2021.

Butler said it was one of the last aid planes evacuating people from Afghanistan.

From there, the family went to Abu Dhabi, where Ahmad Yar's wife gave birth to their youngest child, according to Butler.

After several months, Ahmad Yar and his family finally received their visas and first relocated to Pennsylvania. They later moved to Washington, DC in early 2023 to be closer to family and find connections in the wider Afghan community.

Ahmad Yar worked for a towing company and as a rideshare driver. Before he was murdered, he was working to start his own tow truck company to better support his wife and four children, as well as those still in Afghanistan.

"Whenever he learned about other people in his community back home, especially those with hungry or sick kids, he felt compelled to offer them money," Malone said. "He shared everything he had."

The investigation into Ahmad Yar's death is ongoing. Surveillance footage from a nearby home shows four people running away from the scene of Admad Yar's murder, just after a gunshot rang out. Investigators are offering a $25,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest or conviction.

For Butler, there may never be true justice for the killing of Ahmad Yar  but he hopes those responsible for his death model their lives after the selfless man he was.

"I hope they turn their lives around and live their lives as a memorial to the type of man Nasrat was: sacrificing, loving, caring, happy," Butler said.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Fort Worth police officers shouldnt have to be softer or gentler. Just thank them | Opinion

Say thank you to police officers

The men and women of the Fort Worth Police Department must be allowed to do their jobs and enforce the law. It doesnt take a criminologist to see that the citys crime problem is becoming increasingly worse and widespread. The trend toward reallocating police resources away from strict enforcement and targeted policing has led us to where we are.

Someone had better realize that we dont need a softer or gentler police force. We need to let officers address crime without worrying about being made political scapegoats or risking imprisonment for what many people would call split-second judgment calls.

The next time you cross paths with an officer, consider saying thank you for what they do.

- Ray Mattix, Fort Worth

Jail deaths are unacceptable

Yet another death reported in the Tarrant County Jail. (July 2, 4C, How many jail deaths until Tarrant acts?) We must put an end to these atrocities.

I ask every person involved in the justice system, from the sheriff to the guards, to consider how you would want to be treated should you develop mental illness, or how you would wish your loved ones with such afflictions to be treated.

The county must continue to collaborate with MHMR of Tarrant County to change policies so that vulnerable people are treated with decency, no matter why they are in jail.

- Charme Robarts, Fort Worth

Humane care of most in need

We need an independent outside investigation of the Tarrant County Jail. There is no excuse for the mortality rate to be 3.5 times that of the Dallas County Jail. Such an investigation would ensure objective evaluation of jail conditions and any needed improvements.

We especially need a new solution for nonviolent offenders with mental illness. They dont need to be in jail  they need to be in treatment. All jail inmates should be assured of humane, timely, appropriate care, regardless of their offense. This is a basic human rights issue.

Thank you to the Star-Telegram for spotlighting the urgent need for an independent review.

- Anne Morton, Arlington

Air conditioning in prisons crucial

Although I was already aware of bad conditions in our states prisons from participating in our churchs involvement in prison ministry, I was disturbed after reading the July 9 editorial about the failure of state officials to provide air conditioning. (4C, Texas failed to protect inmates, prison workers) My experience of sitting in a sweltering gymnasium for three hours, along with inmates and guards, makes it hard to imagine tolerating those conditions 24/7.

Our state officials need to be held accountable for failing to act in a compassionate and timely manner. Prisoners are our fellow Texans, and the state can afford to spend what it takes to provide humane living conditions for these men and women.

- Emily Fairbanks, Arlington

Texas can lead on climate change

Cities such as Dallas and Fort Worth are no strangers to extreme weather, yet even Texas cities are feeling the immense strain of the blistering heat. (July 13, 1A, Why Texas summer heat feels hotter than the temperature)

No one feels this stress more than low-income laborers. Even with the awareness around heat safety, many people have died or become seriously ill because of the high temperatures.

The Star-Telegram has done a great job writing about this issue, but I would love to also see articles about climate change, the root cause of these frequent and deadly heat waves. Tackling an issue such as global warming can seem daunting for regular folks, but Texas is one of the states best positioned to take advantage of renewable energy.

People need to know the impact their voices can have in pushing their local, state and federal governments to pass legislation that addresses climate change once and for all.

- Joshua Lando, Dallas

Better education, better workers

Education has always been the answer.

The United States has provided its citizens 12 years of free education for at least 70 years. Why? One could secure a good-paying job and live a good life after graduating. High schools also had several options such as training for mechanics, welding, woodworking, music, cooking and many other skills that can help one secure a good job after high school.

Today, it takes a two-year associate degree to secure a well-paying occupation. About 75% of jobs today require at least a two-year degree. The associate degree should be free for everyone, including tuition and books. Texas and the nation would benefit.

- Richard G. Hatfield, Austin
French President Emmanuel Macron and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi discussed the issue of a peace agreement for Ukraine

India and France are planning to develop a peace plan to find a negotiated solution to the war waged by Russia in Ukraine, which they claim will differ from previously known initiatives, French newspaper Le Monde wrote on July 15.

Read also: Macron says NATO should give shape to Ukraine's accession prospects

The article says that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Paris for a two-day visit on July 13-14 at the invitation of French President Emmanuel Macron. The two leaders wanted to discuss the issue of military and financial cooperation between the countries.

Le Monde reports that the supply of fighter jets and submarines was discussed during the meeting between the two leaders. They also expressed their opinion about the war waged by Russia in Ukraine. The Indian prime minister said that his country wants to achieve the settlement of the conflict by diplomatic means.

Read also: For some reason, everyone is talking about peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine  opinion

The media adds that Macron called on his counterpart to present his proposals on the international stage. Modi instructed his subordinates to create a peace plan to find a negotiated solution to Russias war in Ukraine.

However, the publication emphasizes that although the Indian prime minister and his country are in favor of a diplomatic path to resolving the war, they are unlikely to agree to act as a mediator between Russia and Ukraine.

Le Monde said that the proposal to be put forth by the Indian authorities may differ from the previously proposed ideas of the Chinese government, African countries, and the proposals of Latin American countries.

Read also: Chinese and Indonesian peace plans really just Russia proxies, says DM Reznikov at NV event

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China published a "peace plan" for the settlement of the war in Ukraine on Feb. 24. Later, African countries came forward with peace initiatives, but these came to nothing.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that the best option for resolving the war waged by Russia against his nation would be the peace formula that he proposed at the G20 Summit in Indonesia in November 2022.

Josep Borrell, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy / Vice-President of the European Commission, said that the peace formula from Ukraine is the best option for ending the war.

Read also: China cant decide  Strategic partnership with Russia or working with international partners toward peace

Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron!

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Georgia mass shooting suspect at-large after killing at least 4 people

Georgia authorities say that at least four people were killed in a mass shooting in Hampton on Saturday morning.

The shooting rampage reportedly began at approximately 10:45 a.m. in the Dogwood Lakes area of Hampton, a small city south of Atlanta.

Authorities identified the suspect as 40-year-old Andre Longmore. Police believe Longmore killed three men and one woman.

"We're not releasing the name of the victims at this time to ensure that the family has time to be notified and to for them to grieve in private before it becomes public," police chief James Turner explained at a Saturday afternoon press conference.

US EXPERIENCES DEADLIEST 6 MONTHS OF MASS KILLINGS RECORDED IN OVER 15 YEARS

Authorities identified the suspect as Andre Longmore, 40.

"We had at least four crime scenes that we were still actively investigating," Turner added.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

The suspect was reportedly last seen in a black 2017 GMC Acadia SUV.

Authorities obtained four warrants for Longmore's arrest. Henry County Sheriff's Office is offering a $10,000 reward for anyone with information about the suspect.

PITTSBURGH SYNAGOGUE SHOOTER FOUND GUILTY OF KILLING 11 IN FEDERAL DEATH PENALTY TRIAL

Georgia officials said the suspect was reportedly last seen in a black 2017 GMC Acadia SUV.

Authorities say that Longmore is still armed and dangerous in possession of a black handgun, and urged anyone who sees him to contact 911 immediately.

FLORIDA JURY FINDS FORMER PARKLAND SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER SCOT PETERSON NOT GUILTY ON ALL COUNTS

"This is a sad day in Hampton. It's just not normal for us. And as a community, we will grieve together as a Police Department." Turner said. "We will do everything in our power to ensure that the person is brought to justice."

Georgia authorities, including Hampton Police Department and Henry County Sheriff's office, are investigating the incident.

Georgia authorities, including Hampton Police Department and Henry County Sheriff's Office, are actively investigating the incident. No other details are available at this time.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
The Gilgo Beach serial killer suspect owed hundreds of thousands of dollars in taxes and was litigious, filing numerous lawsuits against motorists

Crime scene investigators bring out evidence from the home of Rex Heuermann who was arrested as a suspect in the Gilgo Beach serial killings In Massapequa Park, Long Island, New York on July 14, 2023. Kyle Mazza/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

The man suspected in four of the Gilgo Beach murders in Long Island had a history of tax debts and lawsuits.

Rex Heuermann at one point owed nearly half a million dollars to the IRS, according to county records.

Heuermann was also litigious  he filed four lawsuits against motorists within eight years.

The Long Island architect charged with killing three women who went missing in 2009 and 2010 has a colorful history of tax debts and lawsuits, according to county and court records.

Rex Heuermann, 59, was arrested Thursday evening and pleaded not guilty at an arraignment on Friday. Prosecutors said they have linked Heuermann to three of the 11 Gilgo Beach murders through DNA evidence found on the victims' bodies.

A fuller picture is rapidly emerging of Heuermann, who presented himself as an amiable policy wonk eager to explain the nuances of New York City building codes. As Insider's Laura Italiano reported, Heuermann excitedly described his work and his skillset during an interview with a French YouTuber last year, which included his ability to persuade others.

Yet at the same time, Heuermann was known to his neighbors largely for keeping to himself and barely maintaining his dilapidated house.

Public records show Heuermann had a troubled financial history. Heuermann had at one point owed more than $425,000 in taxes to the IRS, according to Nassau County documents. CNN was the first to report the tax liens, which date back to 2005.

Federal tax lien release certificates showed that the IRS ultimately relieved Heuermann of $215,080 of that debt. He still owes just over $210,000.

This booking image provided by Suffolk The mugshot of Rex Heuermann, the Long Island charged with murder in the deaths of three of the 11 victims in a long-unsolved string of killings known as the Gilgo Beach murders. Suffolk County Sheriff's Office

Heuermann was also highly litigious. Court records show that he filed four lawsuits within eight years against motorists whom he accused of causing "serious injuries," including "great pain and physical and mental anguish."

In one case, Heuermann accused a woman of striking him in the middle of a crosswalk without braking. The woman argued back that Heuerman had "walked right out in front of [her]" while she was taking a turn at a speed of five miles per hour.

All of the lawsuits, except one that is still open, have since been dismissed or settled.

Heuermann is accused of killing 24-year-old Melissa Barthelemy, 22-year-old Megan Waterman, and 27-year-old Amber Costello. Authorities also consider him the "prime suspect" in the murder of a fourth woman, 25-year-old Maureen Brainard-Barnes.

Prosecutors said Heuermann "compulsively" searched for pictures of his victims, their relatives, and even their children. They said they found more than 200 internet searches on Heuermann's devices looking up information about the police investigation into the Gilgo Beach murders and how they might try to identify the killer.

Read the original article on Insider
A playground scuffle in Detroit ended with acid burns and felony charges.

The incident, the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office said Saturday, unfolded last week, between two girls, a 12-year-old and an 11-year-old. The older girl, who was not named, is accused of attacking the younger one with a caustic chemical, and is now facing two assault felonies.

"This is an extremely troubling set of allegations," Worthy said in a news release, calling the July 9 actions of the girl who is charged a "horrible decision" for which there is "no excuse."

In the 12-year-old suspect's preliminary hearing, the prosecutor said her bond was set at $10,000 and ordered to have no contact with the younger girl  or any witnesses. She also is ordered to return to court at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday.

The prosecutor did not say where the playground is or explain where the acid came from. But TV news stations interviewed 11-year-old victim, Deaira Summers, about what happened and showed viewers her injuries, second- and third-degree burns acid burns.

More: Pontiac shuts down Battle of I-75 basketball tournament, says it had 'no choice'

"I hope she gets everything she deserves," Deaira told WJBK-TV (Fox 2), while wrapped with white gauze. WJBK said the incident happened on the Vernor Elementary-Middle School playground and is under investigation by the Detroit Public Schools Community District. "I just saw a shadow, and I was, like, I know when someone's coming up behind me."

Deaira said she looked back and someone was "right there."

Seconds later, she added, whatever was on her started burning her skin.

Neither child attended that elementary school, WJBK reported Verner Elementary said.

The acid, which WDIV-TV (Channel 4) reported ate through Deaira's shirt and apparently came from a parent.

WDIV said after Deaira was doused with the acid, she started to run home, but first doubled back to the playground to fetch her purse. When finally she got home, the news station reported, she showered off whatever chemical was thrown at her and went to the hospital, where she was treated for a few days.

Contact Frank Witsil: 313-222-5022 or fwitsil@freepress.com

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Girl accused of acid attack on child on Detroit playground
Democratic US Senator Tammy Duckworth has warned that Republican Senator Tommy Tubervilles ongoing and distressing blockade against the promotions of hundreds of military officials risks jeopardising national security.

Ms Duckworth, a US Army veteran of the Iraq War, has joined Democratic criticism against the Alabama senator and member of the Armed Services Committee who is holding up promotions in protest of US Department of Defense policy to reimburse travel costs for service members seeking abortion care.

President Joe Biden recently condemned the senators efforts as totally irresponsible, while critical posts remain unfilled, senior officials near the end of their terms, and service members threaten to resign.

Im going to just say what President Biden has said: it is bizarre for Senator Tuberville to say that hes not jeopardising national security when he injects politics into the defense process, Ms Duckworth said on NBCs Meet the Press on 16 July.

And frankly, this is not the time to do it, she added. Right now, Senator Tuberville is jeopardising our nations ability to lead the free world at a time when theres a war in Europe because he wants to inject politics into this.

A recent White House memo has also accused Republican officials of enabling Mr Tubervilles efforts with barely a word of protest as the Alabama senator risks threatening to erode military readiness and abuse military families in the pursuit of an unrelated and extreme anti-freedom agenda with his blanket hold on promotions and reassignments.

Hes even subjecting the families who serve with members to excruciating uncertainty, like not knowing where children will go to school or where spouses can work, according to the memo.

Mr Tuberville  who is also facing criticism for a series of fumbling statements defending white nationalism  continues to defend his blockade until the Pentagon reverses its policy.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell does not support his efforts, and a letter signed by seven former secretaries of defence has warned that nearly 80 three- and four-star commanders who are ending their terms in the coming months will not be able to be replaced.

Meanwhile, House Republicans have advanced a draft of a critical national defence spending bill that would prohibit spending on travel expenses for abortion care, regardless of whether service members are stationed  even in states where care is effectively illegal.

On Fox News on Sunday, Republican Senator Tom Cotton said that service members who seek abortion care are participating in abortion tourism. He said pregnant service members should use their 30 paid leave days to seek that care.

Asked whether he believes all service members, regardless of where they are stationed, should have access to the same level of care, Republican US Rep Michael McCaul told CBS Face the Nation on Sunday that they are free to travel to another state instead.

In the year after the US Supreme Court reversed the half-century precedent from Roe v Wade, more than a dozen states across the country, mostly in the US South, have effectively banned abortions for most pregnancies, and Republican members of Congress  and several GOP presidential candidates  have mulled national restrictions on abortion access.

A series of House GOP amendments to the must-pass National Defense Authorization Act include a ban on transition healthcare for transgender service members and a measure that eliminates diversity, equity and inclusion programs and staff members from the Defense Department  provisions that echo Republican legislation-led legislation across the country.

This legislation is never getting to the presidents desk, national security adviser Jake Sullivan told CNNs State of the Union on 16 July.

An extreme group of Republicans have sought to mix domestic social debates with the needs, the security needs of our nation, he said.

"This legislation is never getting to the president's desk."



National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan says a sweeping defense spending bill might not reach President Biden after Republicans added amendments addressing controversial social issues. @CNNSotu #CNNSOTU pic.twitter.com/DKpYSLqXmw  CNN (@CNN) July 16, 2023

Holding Americas military readiness  as well as service members and their families  hostage to an extreme, divisive political agenda undermines our national security and disrespects the sacrifices that those who wear the uniform, White House press secretary Andrew Bates said in a statement last week.

Thats what House Republicans, Senator Tuberville, and Senate Republicans who refuse to challenge him are doing by hijacking a bipartisan bill and devolving it into a hardcore rightwing wishlist, he added.
A Greek priest was arrested for anointing the genitals of a tourist with holy oil and claims he did it because the man had a rash: report

Orthodox priest with crosses hanging from their neck. Getty Images

A priest was arrested in Rhodes after an Estonian tourist said he touched him inappropriately.

Local media reported the tourist told police the Greek priest said he was "anointing" his genitals.

Dimokrati News reported the priest, 49, claimed he anointed the tourist because he had a "rash."

A priest was arrested on the Greek island of Rhodes earlier this week after a tourist claimed he anointed his genitals, a local outlet reports.

On Friday, Dimokrati News reported that a 49-year-old priest from Orthodox Church in Rhodes was arrested after a 30-year-old Estonian tourist filed a complaint alleging he was molested by the priest who used holy oil to anoint his genitals.

The Hellenic Police, Greece's national police service, and representatives for Rhodes District Court did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.

According to the outlet, the tourist said the incident occurred Thursday morning after he returned to the monastery a day prior with his girlfriend to collect a crucifix he'd forgotten. Upon his return, the tourist said the priest told him he had a "special gift" for him in another room, per the outlet.

Once in the room, the tourist  who initially believed the interaction was routine procedure  said the priest asked him to remove his clothes to "anoint" him with holy oil, Dimokrati News reports.

People visiting a monastery in Rhodes, Greece. Maremagnum/Getty Images

Confused by the situation, the tourist did not ask the priest to stop when he began massaging the oil onto his body. However, later that day, he filed a complaint at a police station on the island, per the outlet.

Defending his actions, the priest told police officers he anointed the tourist because he had a "rash," the outlet reported. It added that the case was subsequently handed to the prosecutor's office of the Rhodes District Court for further review and investigation.

Read the original article on Insider
Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Shane Bieber delivers during the first inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals, Sunday, July 9, 2023, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Nick Cammett) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP)  Cleveland Guardians right-hander Shane Bieber wont be able to throw for two weeks because of an inflamed right elbow but apparently wont require surgery.

It definitely looks like its a non-surgical way to go, which is really good, manager Terry Francona said Sunday. Any time you go into somebodys arm, and have thrown as much as he has, you get nervous.

Hes going to be approximately two weeks no throw. Hell be rechecked every week," Francona added. "Theres no timetable beyond that.

The 2020 AL Cy Young Award winner was placed on the 15-day injured list Saturday, retroactive to Wednesday. He was examined on Sunday by Texas Rangers physician Dr. Keith Meister. Bieber took a commercial flight back to Cleveland as the team traveled to Pittsburgh.

Ive been trying to manage it, pitch through it and develop a plan, Bieber said before the game. Ultimately it wasnt really going away, so I decided it was best to get it checked out and all agreed.

Bieber is 5-6 with a 3.77 ERA, including 0-3 with a 5.22 ERA in his last five outings. He said the forearm began bothering him a few weeks ago and became less manageable during his last start on July 9. He pitched 6 1/3 innings against Kansas City and allowed four runs on nine hits in a 4-1 loss.

Bieber said he hasnt experienced a similar problem in that area of his arm since he was at UC Santa Barbara from 2014-16.

As a pitcher, things come up all the time, he said. You dont know what exactly what you can go through and what you cant. Option one is always to work through something. Probably the smartest thing for myself and everybody is just to get it checked out.

The 28-year-old right-hander is a two-time All-Star. He has a $10.01 million salary and is eligible for free agency after the 2024 season.

Bieber joined two other Cleveland starters on the injured list. Cal Quantrill is on the list with right shoulder inflammation and Triston McKenzie is on the 60-day IL with a right elbow sprain. McKenzie has made only two starts this season.

___

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
Gun violence erupted in the South Sound overnight. Two people died and one was shot in the face after three separate shootings in Renton, near Federal Way. All three shootings happened within hours and a few miles of each other.

The first happened just before 10:20 p.m. on Morris Ave South and South 4th Street. It was just hours after Terry Horne arrived on the block to visit a friend for the weekend.

Hello, South Renton. Talk about a greeting, she said.

Horne said she and her friend heard one shot around 9 p.m., then two back-to-back shots just after 10 p.m.

He goes, Oh Terry, raspberries and blueberries, because we can see the reflection coming through the windows, said Horne.

She went outside to see a swarm of Renton Police on Morris Avenue South.

It was a straight-up scene they had caution tape, no cross tape all over going around peoples cars and trees, Horne explained.

Inside the taped-off area, was a 26-year-old man who was shot and killed. Its the first of two times the Renton Police Department would tape off a shooting scene that night.

That second shooting happened less than two hours later and about two miles away on Northeast 4th Street and Queen Avenue Northeast. Police said just after midnight, a man called them after being shot in the face. Investigators said a car sped off from that scene. The department had to call in extra detectives to help with the two investigations.

Then around 2:45 a.m., the King County Sheriffs Office said they got a call to a gas station on South 320 Street and Military Road South near Federal Way. The call was to check on someone behind the building. The officer responding heard two cars peel out and two gunshots. They found the victim who died at the scene.

Neither Renton PD nor the King County Sheriffs Office have released any suspect or suspect car information. Theyre asking anyone with information to give them a call.
Gwyneth Paltrow opens up about really rough pregnancy: It is so worth it

Gwyneth Paltrow is getting candid about the rough first trimester when she was pregnant with both of her children.

The Shakespeare in Love star hosted a Q&A on her Instagram story July 14, addressing a variety of questions. During the Q&A, the 50-year-old shared a video answering a question from a fan about how she handled the first trimester of her pregnancies, as they were having a hard time themselves.

I had a really rough first trimesters as well and I wish more people had told me how hard it can be, Paltrow said. I had a lot of people in my life who were like, 'I feel amazing pregnant! and I felt so terrible.

Gwyneth Paltrow answer's a fan's question about pregnancy on her Instagram story. (Instagram @gwynethpaltrow)

Paltrow shares two children with her ex-husband, Chris Martin: daughter Apple, 19, and son Moses, 17.

However, Paltrow shared the silver lining of having a rough first trimester.

The best thing is, its worth it, she said. It is so worth it, I cant even tell you, but I hope it passes in the second trimester.

Earlier in the Q&A, one fan asked the actor how she has been able to deal with menopause. In all capital letters, Paltrow wrote in her response, I cant deal someone help me and all us ladies good lord.

Gwyneth Paltrow gets candid about menopause on her Instagram story. (Instagram @gwynethpaltrow)

Over the years, Paltrow has participated in transparent conversations about menopause and hormonal changes.

In November 2018 when she was 46, the Goop founder opened up about mid-forties self-care in a video on her brand's YouTube channel. At the time, Paltrow said that when a person experiences perimenopause  which the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists defines as the years leading up to menopause  they tend to notice a lot of changes.

I can feel the hormonal shifts happening, the sweating, the moods  you know, youre just all of a sudden furious for no reason, she added.

In the video, Paltrow said menopause gets a really bad rap, adding that it needs a bit of rebranding.

I remember when my mother went through menopause and it was such a big deal, Paltrow explained, referring to her mother, actor Blythe Danner. I think there was grief around it for her and all of these emotions. I dont think we have in our society a great example of an aspirational menopausal woman.

Paltrow has also not shied away from talking about taboo topics in interviews, including sex.

In a May appearance on the Call Her Daddy podcast, the Goop founder opened up about how she handled the topic of sex education with her children, telling host Alex Cooper it was best to tread lightly and let them come to you.

During the episode, Paltrow also shared intimate details about her relationships with exes Brad Pitt and Ben Affleck, including who was better in bed.

This article was originally published on TODAY.com
Photo Illustration by Erin OFlynn/The Daily Beast/Max

Its at this point in the summer, when the heat becomes unrelenting and our electric bills are through the roof due to excessive AC usage, that we start daydreaming about fall. The leaves turning colors, hot cider (warmed in your own microwave, like a heathen), and turning the AC up a few degreesyou know, because climate change has made autumns more balmy than crisp.

But those are just fantasies, little joyful reveries that we keep tucked in our pocket while we try to forget the fact that our shirts are hermetically stuck to our backs. When the autumn were yearning finally arrives, well probably think, Wow, it seems like just last week that I was dripping with sweat, wishing it could be October.

Well, in the And Just Like That universe, they take that literally.

This weeks episode of the divisive Sex and the City spinoff series started off with a mind-boggling time jump. When we left Carrie Bradshaw and company, only last week, Charlotte York and Lisa Todd Wexley had just shipped their children off to summer camp. It was one of the major plots of the second seasons fourth episode: With the kids out of school and away at camp, Lisa and Charlotte could get it on with their equally bald husbands.

Out of nowhere, Episode 5 opened with Miranda returning home to her Brooklyn townhouse, decorated with paper ghosts on the windows. Well that makes sense, because until recently, Miranda was shacked up with Che Diaz in Los Angeles, I thought to myself. Thats actually a funny way of illustrating how long shes been away, since last Halloween. But no, we have hopped from what was conceivably June in the last episode all the way to the end of October. Not only is Miranda carving up a damn pumpkin, but all of the girls meet up at a Halloween costume fundraiser event in the second scene of the episode. By that measure, its basically already November!

HBO

Skipping ahead five months is a jarring choice, but less surprising given that And Just Like That was built on jarring choices. The decision to kill off Carries will-they-wont-they love of two decades was the first of those shockers, and it eventually triggered what the show found to be its modus operandi: the time jump. Season 1, Episode 7 kicks off with a Bella Swan-esque montage of Carrie writing her latest book, as time passes outside of her window. We see all four seasons come and go, until an entire year has flown by, and the bookabout her grief in the wake of Bigs deathis finished.

That episode is also where the first season of And Just Like That finally found some stable ground. Prior to Episode 7, the show had been relying on cameos, easter eggs, and fan service, with very little in the way of moving the actual story forward. (Unless you count Miranda bizarrely becoming not only kind of racist but also an alcoholic, which I do not.) The show was floundering, as lost trying to traverse Carries grief as the character was. With the jump forward in time, the series could shake itself out of a rut and refresh its characters, as well as set a precedent for what to do whenever the well of ideas in the writers room starts to dry up.

Some might consider a time jump to be a copout. And granted, it is a very easy way to arrive somewhere new in the story without having to do any of the narrative footwork to get there. But on And Just Like That, a time jump is actually a welcome tool. Sex and the City existed outside of time. Think about it: Do you recall a lot of season-specific or holiday episodes of Sex and the City? Sure, theres that episode where Carrie goes out to Aidens farm house in the summer (where Samantha wears one of the greatest hats ever put in front of a camera), and plenty of Hamptons parties. But for the most part, Sex and the City was timeless. Its part of why the original series holds up so well todayagain, within reason.

Craig Blankenhorn/HBO

But as Miranda, Carrie, Charlotte, and our now dearly departed Samantha grew older, we became more attached to themnot just their sexcapades. It was gratifying to see them navigate their dating lives in the same exhausting cycles that we all go through. Then, in the first Sex and the City movie, audiences watched the beloved foursome navigate their marriages, relationships, and friendships through a single calendar year. For the first time, we saw how these characters spent their holidays, including Valentines Day. It seems shocking now that, in the six original seasons of a show all about love and sex, we never saw the characters deal with planning activities for the much-dreaded V-Day, but its true.

And thats precisely what separates the old from the new. Sex and the City, the series, was a respite for the modern, lovesick woman. Viewers watched it and saw versions of themselves, in four different archetypes. The plotlines all eventually became cohesive, yes, but there are plenty of standalone episodeseven later on as the series was winding down and was tying its loose ends together. However, the Sex and the City filmsand now And Just Like Thatdont subscribe to this same concept. They are far more plot-driven, with characters push and pull on each other affecting real change for more than the length of one episode.

The time jumps keep And Just Like That chugging along at a consistent pace. Its far more difficult to pinpoint the cracks in a foundation when something is in perpetual motion. The hop from summer to fall might be a bit discordant, but it only takes a moment to accept. Its what we get out of it as viewers that really makes it completely worth it.

These forward leaps make the shows version of New York feel fuller; the characters seem busier, and their lives are all the more rich. Why stay stuck in one season for a shows whole season? Carrie Bradshaw feels so much more real when shes swaying with joy in the brisk autumn wind, like any true lover of layering would be. If a split-second instant of confusion at the top of an episode is enough to keep this show from caving in, by all means, keep time jumping. Lets see how Miranda and Che spend Arbor Day.

Keep obsessing! Sign up for the Daily Beasts Obsessed newsletter and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and TikTok.

Read more of our And Just Like That coverage HERE.

The Real Sex and the City Love Story Is Charlotte and Harry

And Just Like That Episode 5 Finally Gave Carrie Bradshaw Back Her Joy

Everything We Know About Che Diazs Comedy Pilot

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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New Hampshire GOP Gov. Chris Sununu says the 'No Labels' political movement is 'tapping into what America is looking for right now'

Gov. Chris Sununu of New Hampshire. Jemal Countess/Getty Images for TIME

The No Labels group on Monday will release a policy document which could be a blueprint for a White House bid.

Sen. Joe Manchin and former Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. will speak at the group's event in New Hampshire.

Many Democrats have blasted No Labels' recent activities, saying they could hurt Biden's reelection bid.

The bipartisan political movement No Labels is about to make one of its biggest splashes as the 2024 presidential race heats up.

While it is unclear whether or not No Labels will actually run a unity presidential ticket next year, the group is set to release a 67-page "common sense" platform on Monday outlining their vision of a White House free from the pressures of political extremes, according to The New York Times.

No Labels is rooted in a desire for real compromise and middle-of-the-road governance in US politics. The group strongly backs the Second Amendment, but also believes in universal background checks and restrictions on semiautomatic rifles. And while the group wants stronger border regulations, they also support a pathway to citizenship for Americans who were brought to the country illegally as children.

The group will hold its event at Saint Anselm College in Manchester, N.H., featuring expected remarks from Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia  who has been both an ally and a thorn in President Joe Biden's side on everything from domestic policy to judicial nominees  and former Republican Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. of Utah.

Huntsman ran unsuccessfully for president in 2012. He also served as the US ambassador to China and Russia under Presidents Barack Obama and Donald Trump, respectively.

While some current lawmakers have had kind words for the group in the past, many of them are also antsy over the movement potentially splitting the vote and damaging Biden's reelection bid  especially as the president has sought to claim the mantle of bipartisanship in working with a Congress that remains sharply divided.

Some Democrats, frustrated that the group could make former President Donald Trump's pathway back to the White House easier should he secure the GOP presidential nomination next year, have criticized the group's 2024 efforts.

But no matter what happens next year, the movement could play a larger role in the country's political system as voters have increasingly began to self-identify as independents.

New Hampshire Republican Gov. Chris Sununu, who floated a potential 2024 presidential bid but opted out of a campaign, told The Times that No Labels has found a political lane that is appealing to many Americans.

"I'll give them credit in that No Labels seems to be tapping into what America is looking for right now," he told the newspaper. "Whether it's viable and where it goes, we'll see."

Read the original article on Business Insider
Boston Red Sox's Tayler Scott delivers a pitch to an Oakland Athletics batter in the first inning of a baseball game, Sunday, July 9, 2023, in Boston. (AP Photo/Steven Senne) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

CHICAGO (AP)  The Boston Red Sox selected the contract of right-hander Jake Faria from Triple-A Worcester on Sunday and designated right-hander Tayler Scott for assignment.

A right-hander who turns 30 on July 30, Faria was 3-2 with a 6.47 ERA in nine starts and 10 relief appearances for Worcester.

Faria last pitched in the majors in 2021, making 23 appearances with a 5.51 ERA for Arizona. Boston brought up Faria up April 16 but he did not appear in a game and was designated for assignment the following day.

Boston is expected to have a bullpen day Monday or Tuesday at Oakland. Starters Chris Sale, Tanner Houck and Garrett Whitlock remain on the injured list.

We need innings just in case, Boston manager Alex Cora said. Hes a guy, we trust his stuff. If needed, hell go multiple innings.

Faria has a 4.70 ERA in 72 appearances with Tampa Bay, Milwaukee and Arizona. Minnesota released the 29-year-old on June 23 last year and he signed a minor league contract with Boston.

Especially after how last season went, just sitting at home watching guys play and how much I hated that feeling, its been great this year, Faria said.

Scott has a 7.45 ERA after giving up two runs in an inning Saturday in a 10-4 loss to the Chicago Cubs. He is 0-1 with a 10.18 ERA in 31 career appearances with Seattle, Baltimore, San Diego, the Los Angeles Dodgers and Boston.

___

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
Hardin-Simmons acceptance rate is up; goal now is student success

The U.S. Supreme Court decision to strike affirmative action set off the expected chorus of reaction - support and protest.

And some confusion.

The focus was on colleges.

The court in a 6-3 vote struck down the affirmative action program at the University of North Carolina and in a 6-2 vote, at Harvard. In summary, considering race in the admission process is a violation of the Equal Protection Clause of the U.S. Constitution, the court ruled. Thus, affirmative action programs are unlawful.

Wrote Chief Justice John Roberts for the majority, "The student must be treated based on his or her experiences as an individual, not on the basis of race."

The decisions reversed a ruling 20 years ago that said race could be considered a factor in admissions, to get past discrimination.

More: No quotas: Abilene universities have still become more diverse

More: McMurry has gained Hispanic serving status, cut student expenses

First, what is affirmative action?

Encyclopedia Britannica defines affirmative action in the United States as "the active effort to improve employment, educational and other opportunities for members of groups that have been subjected to discrimination. Criteria for affirmative action include race, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, ethnic origin and age."

Those cheering the ruling say it will make considerations more "colorblind." It was a word Justice Clarence Thomas used in his opinion.

Opponents say its a big step backward in fixing discrimination. Justice Sonia Sotomayor, said the ruling "stands in the way and rolls back decades of precedent and momentous progress."

In Abilene, home of three private four-year colleges, the ruling has little if any effect. Abilene Christian, Hardin-Simmons and McMurry have not used race consideration to enroll students, representatives at each institution say.

"The ruling does not affect us in any way," said Anthony Williams, who heads the office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at ACU. He doesn't believe it affects the other two colleges, either.

He offered that local campus demographics are changing anyway, and the result of intentional efforts over the years.

"We want to provide an opportunity that doors are open to all," Williams said.

Colleges are focusing on better ensuring that the collegiate experience is meaningful, and encouraging a student to stick with it through graduation. That includes making sure that a minority student feels welcome, is plugged in and is comfortable on campus, as well as helping with financial and emotions needs that many students face.

College costs a lot of money, even with scholarships. While Abilene college representatives believe a college education will make a difference in future employment, they also realize that debt may negate that aspiration. The cost could force a student to drop out or spend years getting out of debt.

All believe the student experience at their respective campus has improved greatly. ACU, HSU and McMurry were historically white campuses until Black students were accepted 60 or so years ago. Today's demographics reflect change.

Hardin-Simmons, in fact, showed its student population largely mirrored that of Abilene at roughly 55% white, 25% Hispanic and 10% Black.

White students at McMurry are a minority (44%) when Hispanic (34%) and Black students (17%) are combined.

ACU's main campus is 64% white, 18% Hispanic and 7% Black. Including its Dallas campus, ACU is 59% white, 21% Hispanic and 7% Black.

Abilene Christian over 10 years has shown a 196% increase in students of color, Williams noted.

All three also note that religious affiliations have changed.

ACU now is 29% Church of Christ

Hardin-Simmons now is 34% Baptist

McMurry now is 6% Methodist.

The Reporter-News talked to representatives of each university - Williams at ACU, Travis Seekins at HSU and Matt Draud at McMurry. Here is how they assess diversity efforts at their schools.

HSU: Access is good but collegiate success is even better

Cameron Flores dumps a pitcher of water over the head of fellow theater student Cody Free as Cameron Wisener jumps in the air at Hardin-Simmons University during a performance for school children at Western Heritage Day in April 2019. HSU has achieved its goal to become a Hispanic Serving Institution at 25% of enrollment.

Hardin-Simmons has been working toward becoming a Hispanic Serving Institution. Spring enrollment pushed HSU over the top.

The north Abilene campus is at 25.2% said Travis Seekins, the university's new vice president for enrollment management. The percentage to achieve is 25%.

Now, he said, HSU has to go through the accreditation process.

Seekins said meeting this goal falls into what other institutions are striving to do - remove all barriers to higher education. HSU, for example, no longer requires ACT or SAT tests for enrollment. Becoming "test optional" gained traction before COVID and has stuck, he said, for many universities.

Seekins said studies have shown these tests produce "cultural biases" that would put a minority population at a disadvantage.

For many first-generation Hispanic students, encouragement is needed. They often are far from a close home environment. They need to see the benefit of sticking it out at HSU, Seekins said.

"You know you can do big things," Seekins quotes counselor Aaron Martinez telling these students.

Former staff member Travis Craver was able to do that with Black students. Kisemei Kupe, who works with international students, and Kelvin Kelley, an associate professor of theology, remain Black role models at HSU.

Like McMurry, HSU is not turning away many students. Seekins said Hardin-Simmons today accepts 94% to 95% of applicants.

"The bottom line is, and I think this applies to all three universities in town, we need them all," Seekins said.

It comes down, then, to offering a message to prospective students that resonates, and being affordable, he said.

That message today is going out to more non-white, non-Baptist students. Over the years, the percentages have fallen as diverse and non-denominational students increase.

Bringing students to HSU is just one victory.

"I would say then that access without success is not helpful," Seekins said.

In private higher education, there's a good chance "student loans are involved," he said. "We're not doing anyone any favors if a student doesn't succeed."

If a student attends for a year, then drops out now thousands of dollars in debt, "How have we served them?" Seekins asked. "How is that better for them? I think it's very crippling.

"If we can't make it affordable and a good value proposition and lead them to success, we haven't done anyone a favor."

Belinda Kalyango, from Rwanda, graduated in May from HSU. Hardin-Simmons adds diversity to its campus population by recruiting international students.

More: HSU grad from Rwanda envisions return home to lead

After more than 20 years in IT and in this job for only 10 months, Seekins said that while having a strong recruiting class remains a goal, he must consider if an education at HSU will be life-changing for a student.

HSU last academic year launched what is called its Strategic Learning Initiative. The one-credit course is open to all students but targets students who need help to be successful in college.

"Without assistance, their college GPA could be a point lower than it was in high school," Seekins said.

HSU doesn't not want to lower standards but bring students to the bar.

"Very quickly, we want to raise people up," he said. Minority populations benefit the most, he said.

"It's not just a study skills course. It is a college success course," Seekins said. Maybe that student is not used to homework or comprehensive exams.

"You layer that on top of 'I have to get food now' and 'I have to clean my room now,' and the way I do school is flipped on its head," he said.

Students meet a couple of times a week to talk about classroom tactics such as taking notes, prepping for an exam and even how to figure out their instructors.

Izaiha Bush (center) and Jailyn Woods-McGarthy (right) lead a group of Hardin-Simmons University students in a line dance during a campus event kicking off Black History Month in February 2021.

"What is most important to them, what are they going to focus on and how can I meet that so I am efficient with my time and still achieve what I want to achieve?" he said. "A lot of students don't have that skill set."

Students are introduced to tools for their tool box, then taught how to use them in their classes.

Students also meet individually with the SLI adviser. That faculty member becomes their advocate, and someone they can trust to talk to about anything that could affect college experience.

While HSU does not have a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion office, there are student groups such as Proven for Black students and Sangre for those who are Hispanic. There is an organization for international students, too.

It's important to gather with those who are similar to you, where you are clearly understood, Seekins said. But it's important to also navigate more open spaces where you are different than others, he added.

"And knowing I'm going to be OK," he said. "That is where the Christian underpinnings come in."

Overall, Seekins believes HSU has been successful in its effort to be both a diverse campus and a university that helps students complete their education journeys.

Seekins said that absent of quotas, HSU is doing the right things to broaden its student snapshot.

"We are seeing the populations change," he said. "And there is more that we can do."

This article originally appeared on Abilene Reporter-News: Hardin-Simmons acceptance rate is up; goal now is student success
Main poster for Disney's 2023 Haunted Mansion movie, featuring the main cast.

With Hollywood actors now striking, it doesnt just mean that various big budget productions now have to cease. It also means that until the strike is actually done, actors cant promote any of their upcoming work (those that fall under SAG-AFTRA rules) in any capacity.

As a result, it means that Disneyland premiere of the upcoming Haunted Mansion reboot was without its top-billed cast, which includes the likes of Rosario Dawson, Lakeith Stanfield, and Danny DeVito. At Saturdays premiere, Disney (which previously confirmed it wouldnt cancel) chose to get creative to make up for its lack of stars, and the apparent solution was to have characters already at Disneyland walk on the red carpet. In what Disney called a spirited celebration, and as reported by the likes of Deadline and Variety, classic Disney characters like Maleficent, Cruella de Vil, and Mickey and Minnie Mouse showed up to take pictures. (They probably werent at the screening itself, but it wouldve been funny if they committed to the bit that hard.)

Read more

Cruella de Vil makes her fashionably late appearance on the #Hauntedmansion carpet pic.twitter.com/T04lBTxSk6  Deadline Hollywood (@DEADLINE) July 15, 2023

During the red carpet, Mansion director Justin Simien voiced his support and understanding for the strike, while admitting to Variety that he was sad his cast couldnt be here to attend. He also spoke his mind regarding pre-strike statements made by Disney CEO Bob Iger, who currently has a $27 million salary and said actors werent being realistic with their demands and was noticeably absent from the premiere. Simien said he would love to talk to [Iger] about the reality that we all face as artists to make the impossible happen every day. I dont know if how he meant it is how it felt to me.

Haunted Mansions premiere marks the first Hollywood event to follow the SAG-AFTRA strike. And similar to Mays MTV Movie Awards when the WGA strike was in its early days, this event paints a clear picture of how the next few weeks (or months) could fare for studios if they dont agree to a deal sooner rather than later. Its already hard enough that various shows and movies have had to cancel their conferences or showings at next weekends San Diego Comic-Con. But for a studio like Disney, whose movies thrive on star-studded marketing and has other blockbusters releasing this year in The Marvels (November 10) and Wish (November 22), the strike will be especially damaging. Having theme park actors stand in for the actual actors who are otherwise striking doesnt feel especially sustainable, and may only go to further highlight how bad studios shot themselves in the foot by not agreeing to SAG-AFTRA and WGAs terms.

Haunted Mansion arrives in theaters on July 28.







Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, whats next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.

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MUNCIE, Ind. -- Business news is filled with new job creation numbers. Every new business with more than a few employees will get coverage in local papers, and larger firms will make statewide news. Typically, reporters will write about the industry growth patterns, why the firm says it chose its new location and often a quote from a local elected leader or economic development official. If it is a really big announcement or unusual industry, the thoughts of an economist might even make the news.

Michael Hicks

These are important and popular news stories. It is natural that we would want to hear about the businesses coming to our state. Some of it is just passing interest; for others these new firms might represent new customers, competitors or potential members of a trade association or Chamber of Commerce.

More: June jobs report live updates: 209,000 jobs added as unemployment falls to 3.6%

Some new firms will have worked with economic development officials. So, a local economic developer or the states Indiana Economic Development Corporation might be involved with the new relocation. Sometimes these organizations provide technical services, like finding the right regulatory agencies or helping with a new site. Other times they help usher through state and local tax incentives.

At the end of the year, each of these economic development groups will add up all the companies theyve worked with, count the jobs these firms say they are creating and tally up the investment in businesses and property these firms have made. Theyll write annual reports of these data and post them on their websites.

Political leaders from governor to town council will use these jobs numbers to claim success at job creation. All of this presets the question: What do these job creation numbers tell us? The short answer is mostly not a darned thing. A few examples make that clear.

In the last full year for which we have data, 2021, the IEDC claimed a record 31,710 jobs created in the state. That represents a great deal of work from a small number of employees, who deal with more than one new business every day throughout the year. It was also their record year to that date, but theres a catch.

That number represents only about 1.3 percent of the jobs created in Indiana in 2021. As it turns out, the U.S. Department of Labor and the Census do a good job counting job flows. In each year examined, the amount of new workers in each quarter alone runs around 600,000 jobs. At the same time, the state lost about 575,000 jobs in each quarter.

So, in 2022, the state actually had 101,299 new jobs created. That isnt the number from IEDC, it is the difference between the jobs created and the jobs destroyed that year. Of course, a good share of those jobs lost were from turnover. Some industries turn over one-third of their workers each quarter.

If we eliminate all the individual turnover, and focus only on business expansions and contractions, along with openings and closings, we get somewhere between 500,000 and 600,000 new jobs created each year. In a good year, we have more jobs created than destroyed. In a bad year, we have more jobs destroyed than created. But, in a great year, state and local economic developers will actually work with 4 percent or 5 percent of all the new jobs created in the state.

One way to dispel any notion about the usefulness of these data is to compare two recent years. Year 2021 was the best year for job creation in Indiana since weve been keeping records, with over 100,000 jobs created. That year, IEDC reported that they aided employers who promised 31,710 of those jobs. In contrast, 2020 was the worst job creation year in Indiana history. We lost more than 130,000 jobs that year, yet the IEDC claimed 31,300 new jobs created that year.

So, the difference in the number of jobs claimed by IEDC in the best year and worst year on file was 410 jobs, or 0.16 percent of the actual difference in job creation between those two years. The one certain lesson for this is that the job creation numbers reported by IEDC tell us absolutely nothing about the states economy.

In fact, the job creation numbers from economic development groups are worse than no information at all. One couldve learned more about the difference in economic conditions between 2020 and 2021 from a random hermit or second grader than you could derive from the economic development data.

One way to think about this is that the Indiana economy is a huge bathtub, with thousands of spigots and thousands of drains. The job creation data from economic developers is simply one of the spigots spilling jobs into the state. The real measure of the growth of the economy is if the water level in the bathtub is rising or falling.

To be clear, the misunderstanding about these numbers is not the fault of IEDC. They are ruthlessly honest about these numbers, which are promised jobs at some future date. Their annual reports are very clear about what these data are and are not. Moreover, in recent years, they have begun to focus on reporting investment dollars rather than job creation. This has its own limitations, but is at least different than counting promised jobs.

The problem with these data is not that they are nuanced or that they require a deeper understanding of the data. That is true with all data. We would be better off if reporting about end of year job creation numbers included more insight and explanation, but local media are increasingly scarce. Moreover, readers seem more interested in sensational stories, not workmanlike efforts to explain complex ideas.

As a consequence of little scrutiny, elected leaders use these numbers to explain economic conditions. Whether it is a state of the city or a state of the state address, these job creation numbers are rolled out by elected leaders of both parties. Perhaps this is an intent to deceive voters. It is surely misleading. A more likely explanation is that they and their staffs dont understand the data either.

Still, I dont hold political leaders responsible for this misuse of data. Sure, better, more transparent leadership would help keep this problem in check. In writing this column, I reread many of Governor Daniels speeches and found no examples of him using these data. I suspect he did at some point, but it is fruitless to criticize an elected official telling voters what they want to hear.

The conclusion here is that the real problem is not IEDC or elected officials. The problem is us, the voters. We seem to have lost the power of simple discernment on matters relating to the economy. We hear elected officials spouting meaningless data about the economy, and we ask no questions. So, no matter how good or bad the economy, theres no pressure to alter state or local policy. If we are going to have real change, we are going to have to be better citizens.

Michael J. Hicks, PhD, is the director of the Center for Business and Economic Research and the George and Frances Ball distinguished professor of economics in the Miller College of Business at Ball State University.

This article originally appeared on Muncie Star Press: Hicks: Job creation numbers are deceptive
A pedestrian was killed Saturday night near the intersection of Folsom and Sunrise boulevards, according to the Rancho Cordova Police Department.

Just before 10 p.m. Saturday, officers and Sacramento County sheriffs deputies responded to a report that an adult male may have been struck by a vehicle, according to the Sheriffs Office.

When authorities arrived, they found an unresponsive man. Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District personnel pronounced the man dead. He was identified Monday by coroners officials as 39-year-old Anthony Bustamante of Rancho Cordova.

A few minutes later, officers from the California Highway Patrol found a second injured victim nearby, according to deputies. That victim was expected to survive.

Detectives said that the first man appeared as if he was struck by a vehicle but the nature of the incident, as well as a connection to the second victim, remained unknown. The Sheriffs Office, which contracts police services for the city, said in a news release it was continuing to investigate but had no suspect information.

The identity of the fatal victim is expected to be released by the Coroners Office once family is notified.
A 16-year-old girl from Revere was arraigned in Boston Juvenile Court on charges in connection with a brutal attack on a woman riding a Silver Line bus toward Nubian Square on July 2, District Attorney Kevin Hayden said.

The juvenile was charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, shod foot, and unarmed robbery. Judge Peter Coyne on Tuesday revoked the girls bail for 60 days on a pending assault case and set $300 bail on the new case, along with orders to stay away from the victim and to stay away from all MBTA property, Hayden said.

The girl was one of eight apparent juveniles who participated in the attack, said Hayden, who added that investigators are confident they will identify additional perpetrators in connection with the assault.

At about 11:13 p.m. on July 2 the victim, a 35-year-old woman, was seen on video entering a Nubian Square-bound Silver Line car and standing near the back door, Hayden said. Minutes later, a juvenile male was seen walking toward the victim and throwing what appeared to be potato chips at her head. The victim was seen turning around to see who threw the chips, and then turned back in an apparent attempt to ignore the juveniles.

Another juvenile was then seen squeezing a bottle of lotion onto the victims hair, face and body. The victim moved toward the juvenile in an apparent attempt to stop him from squirting more lotion. At that point, another juvenile pushed the victim down to the floor, and the other juveniles, girls and boys, joined the attack, punching and kicking the victim as she lay in a self-protective position on the floor.

The Revere juvenile, who was not identified because she is a juvenile, was caught on video striking the victim in the head with a closed fist about seven times, Hayden said. She was also seen kicking the victim in the head and face about three times.

During the attack, some of the juveniles were seen opening and rummaging through the victims handbag. One of the juveniles took the victims phone and placed it in his pocket.

All of the juveniles exited the bus after it arrived at Nubian Station. The victim sustained a bloody nose and other facial bruising but did not require hospitalization.

MBTA police identified the Revere teenager through video surveillance footage and are attempting to identify the other juveniles involved in the attack. Surveillance shows that the group was at the AMC South Bay Center cinema complex before boarding the Silver Line car. Theater personnel that evening had reported a large group of juveniles causing several disturbances.

This was a shocking, brutal attack on a female MBTA passengerutterly unprovokedand an intolerable assault on the security and safety of our transit system itself, Hayden said in a statement on Sunday. While our goal is to provide options and services to young offenders so their early mistakes dont short circuit their future lives, our overlying responsibility is to protect the public and to secure justice for victims. Im grateful for the work by transit police to identify this defendant and Im confident they will make further identifications of those who participated in this horrendous assault.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.

Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
(Photo: Darren Thompson for Native News Online)

A House subcommittee this week considered the third attempt at a bill that would block future efforts to remove or rename Mount Rushmore, which Native Americans have long said is built on stolen, sacred Indigenous land.

The House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Federal Lands hosted a legislative hearing Thursday to hear testimony on the Mount Rushmore Protection Act. The bill, H.R. 386, was introduced by U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) and is his third effort to pass the bill in the halls of Capitol Hill. The bill aims to prohibit the use of federal funds in any efforts to alter, change, destroy or remove the monument

The legislation drew rebukes from a Native American advocacy group with ties to Mount Rushmore, as well as the National Park Service (NPS), which called the bill unnecessary.

Mt. Rushmore is, and will always be, a symbol of white supremacy and American hypocrisy, NDN Collective CEO Nick Tilsen said in an interview with Native News Online. Its literally built on stolen Lakota lands carved by a member of the Klu Klux Klan. These faces are responsible for the murdering of Indigenous people, and are literally the founding fathers of American Genocide.

During the hearing, NPS Deputy Director Michael Reynolds testified that the bills language could create unintended consequences that would threaten the agencys ability to care for the memorial.

We share the goals of whats happening with the protection of Mount Rushmore in perpetuity, Reynolds said.

In his support of the bill, Rep. Johnson cited a previous experience where he was mentoring a group of 14-year-old boys in the Black Hills of South Dakota, where the Mount Rushmore National Memorial is located, and they were impressed.

George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Rooseveltthese are imperfect men, Johnson said during the hearing. They're not up there because of their imperfections, theyre on the monument because of their strengths, because of the values they have brought to our country.

The Mount Rushmore Act is very clear, we are not going to use one nickel of taxpayer dollars to try to tear down that monument or to change its name, Johnson said. That doesn't come without threat.

Johnson cited the changing of the name of the tallest peak in the Black Hills to Black Elks Peak as a reason why legislation was needed.

It wasnt all that long ago that South Dakota's tallest peak was renamed without a vote of the people, without any acquiescence of the governor or the state legislature or people from the area, he said. They just decided your tallest mountain will be renamed if you like it or not.'

During his remarks, Johnson failed to mention the history behind the moniker of the former Harney Peak, which was named for an army officer accused of massacring Native people, or the fact that the name was changed by the 133-year old federal body responsible by law for establishing and maintaining uniform name usage throughout the federal government.

In 2016, the U.S. Board on Geological Names,changed the name of the 7,242-foot peak to honor one of the most revered Lakota cultural leaders, Nicholas Black Elk. Currently, there is an effort led by the Rapid City Catholic Diocese to canonize Black Elk. If the local diocese is successful, Nicholas Black Elk would be just the second Indigenous person from the Western Hemisphere, or the New World, to be recognized as a saint by the Catholic Church.

Johnson also cited various elected officials, and their comments to specifically remove, or change, the Mount Rushmore National Memorial. Their comments to remove, or change, the monument comes from Johnsons observations of many other statues that have been recently removed. Not long ago, the statue of Theodore Roosevelt was removed from the Museum of Natural History in New York City.

Johnson introduced South Dakota State Senator Helene Duhamel as the witness for his bill. I join you today in support of H.R. 386, the Mount Rushmore Protection Act, as introduced by Representative Johnson, she said at Thursday's hearing. Deep in the heart of the Black Hills National Forest of South Dakota rises a colossal sculpture carved from granite that stands as a tribute to democracy.

For Dusty Johnson to push forward H.R. 386 clearly shows his racially and politically motivated stance to not tell the true history of this nation and attempt to erase the original peoples of this land, NDN Collective CEO Tilsen told Native News Online. Dusty Johnsons name will be right next to many other racist in the history books, where it belongs.

In 2020, NDN Collective organized a demonstration near the Mount Rushmore National Memorial during former President Donald Trumps participation in a firework display at the national park in South Dakotas Black Hills on July 3. The demonstration came in the midst of the former president superseding a decade-long ban on pyrotechnics issued by the National Park Service because of safety and environmental concerns. The nudge to host the firework display also came despite federal officials warning the public against large gatherings, because of Covid-19 precautions.

Native News Online reported that the July 3 demonstration led to the arrests of twenty adults and one juvenile by the Pennington County Sheriffs Office. Tilsen was arrested and charged with second-degree robbery and grand theft in the alternative, as well as two counts of simple assault against law enforcement officers and three other misdemeanor crimes: standing on a highway with intense to impede-stop traffic, failure to vacate/ordered to leave, and disorderly conduct-unlawful assembly. Tilsens felony charges stem from allegedly stealing a shield from a female Air National Guardsman and assaulting her, all felony crimes in South Dakota.

In March 2021, Pennington County offered to drop charges against all other individuals arrested for the demonstration near Mount Rushmore if Tilsen pled guilty and participated in a prison diversion program. If he completed the program, his charges would also be dropped. On December 13, 2022, Pennington County announced in an email to Tilsens attorneys that all charges against Tilsen have been dismissed by the state.

More than 8,000 bills are introduced each Congress, and only a few hundred receive a committee hearing.

About the Author: "Darren Thompson (Lac du Flambeau Ojibwe) is a staff reporter for Native News Online who is based in the Twin Cities of Minnesota. Thompson has reported on political unrest, tribal sovereignty, and Indigenous issues for the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network, Indian Country Today, Native News Online, Powwows.com and Unicorn Riot. He has contributed to the New York Times, the Washington Post, and Voice of America on various Indigenous issues in international conversation. He has a bachelor\u2019s degree in Criminology & Law Studies from Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. "

Contact: dthompson@nativenewsonline.net
A Houston-area man was arrested Thursday and federally charged with the sexual exploitation of children for obtaining explicit images and videos of women throughout the United States, many of whom were minors, and using them for extortion, according to a criminal complaint.

The man, identified as 23-year-old Andrew Venegas, had advertised his content to others online at least since the summer of 2022 and specifically offered content depicting minors under the age of 18, according to the affidavit.

Law enforcement believe Venegas was posting sexually explicit material on a website that mentions the unlawful intrusion into Snapchat accounts as a service offered on the site, according to the affidavit.

Numerous victims throughout the country reported to law enforcement their images or videos were posted to the same website without their permission, including some who said they thought the material had been taken from their Snapchat accounts without their permission, the affidavit says.

Law enforcement officials believe over 1000 different females had their images posted on the website, often accompanied by their true names, the affidavit said.

Venegas, whose uploaded content often appeared to bear a watermark reading TELEGRAM Starkylol, according to the affidavit, also allegedly used a Telegram account to post and sell pictures and videos obtained by knowingly forcing women to create and/or provide images against their will through blackmail.

Several victims first found out that their images or videos were posted after individuals contacted them and threatened to share the images/videos with friends or family if they did not provide additional explicit images and videos, the affidavit said.

Venegas eventually sold content to undercover law enforcement agents, leading to his arrest in Houston Thursday, the affidavit says.

He remains in custody pending a preliminary examination and detention hearing set for July 18 before Magistrate Judge Christina Bryan, the court docket shows. Venegas does not currently have an attorney listed.

The FBI and US Justice Department had been warning of a dramatic increase of financial sextortion schemes targeting minors, with at least 3,000 minors, primarily boys, targeted in 2022, according to safety alerts shared by the agencies.

Using social media platforms, predators will, in some cases, start communicating with the targeted minor before moving the conversation to a different platform that primarily uses direct messaging, according to the department. Victims are tricked into providing explicit material, and then the perpetrators will demand money  sometimes thousands of dollars  threatening to release the images to family members and friends of the victim, the Justice Department said in a safety alert.

The FBI advised those who believe they have become victims of sextortion to report it to their local FBI field office.

The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children offers a service called Take It Down, which helps remove explicit photos and videos of underage people from certain online platforms.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
Hungarian President Katalin Novak has accepted the invitation of the Ukrainian government and will attend the Crimean Platform session on 23 August in Kyiv, but beforehand she will visit Zakarpattia.

Source: Telex.hu news agency, citing the press service of the Hungarian president, as reported by European Pravda

Details: This also means that the Hungarian head of state might meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in person again.

The president's palace added that prior to traveling to Kyiv, Katalin Novak would visit Zakarpattia to celebrate the holiday of King Stephen (20 August) together with local Hungarians.

The last time Novak met Zelensky in person was on 26 November 2022, when she arrived in Ukraine via Poland, accompanied by Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki and Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo. It was the highest-level visit of the Hungarian head of the state to the Ukrainian capital since the beginning of the full-scale war.

For reference: The Crimean Platform is an international framework established in 2021 to advocate for Crimeas liberation. The first summit was held in 2021 in Kyiv. The event was attended by the then President of Hungary, Janos Ader, who noted that the memory of both the aggression by a great power and the trauma of Trianon is deeply embedded in the minds of Hungarians, so they know precisely why the annexation of Crimea is such a sensitive wound for the people of Ukraine (the 1920 Trianon peace treaty, signed between the Entente and Hungary after the WWI, stripped the latter of much of its territory that it had owned as part of Austro-Hungary  ed.).

Hungary was represented at the 2022 Crimean Platform by Peter Sztaray, State Secretary for Energy and Security Policy at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. At the time, Sztaray emphasised Hungary's unwavering support for Ukraine and that Hungary's primary goal was to establish peace.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
A tourist takes a picture of Mount Fagradalsfjall after its eruption Marco Di Marco / AP Photo

Officials in Iceland closed the Mount Fagradalsfjall volcano on Sunday following its eruption in an effort to keep tourists away.

Hundreds of Icelandic police "have closed off all major paths and parking lots near the volcano to prevent people from visiting," Hjordis Gumundsdottir, an official with the Icelandic Department of Civil Protection and Emergency Management, told ABC News. Gumundsdottir added that search-and-rescue teams were on standby because it was difficult to close off all routes on the volcano.

Mount Fagradalsfjall erupted this past Monday after a series of earthquakes. It is one of Iceland's most active volcanoes, having erupted in both 2021 and 2022. Though it is in an uninhabited valley, it lies just 19 miles from the Icelandic capital of Reykjavik, making it a prime tourist destination.

Despite the potential danger, thousands of tourists flocked to see the eruption, with more than 3,000 visitors to the volcano in the last seven days, according to the Icelandic Tourist Board. However, this number began dropping dramatically as just 143 people were counted at the volcano on Saturday.

The Icelandic Meteorological Office (IMO) also released a new warning in conjunction with the volcano's closure. "Keep in mind that the eruption site is not a safe area," the IMO said in a press release, adding that "new erupting fissures/craters can open up anywhere without much notice."

The IMO warned of dangerously high levels of volcanic gases, which can "disperse from the smoke cloud and pollution can increase rapidly in an area." People were also urged not to walk on the hardened lava flows, because the surface crust "is very thin and underneath the temperature is [2100 degrees Fahrenheit]...no one is risking his/her life to save you  keep that in mind."

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More than 50 years later, Dr. Frank Boehm still remembers the desperate faces.

The mother in Wichita, Kansas, when Boehm confirmed her teenagers pregnancy. Unmarried teen motherhood shamed the family. A week later, the mother brought her daughter back, bleeding from an incomplete abortion.

The Navy wives in Maryland, pregnant while their husbands were in Vietnam, and not with the husbands' babies.

Newly postpartum teenage girls from Nashville, Tennessees Florence Crittenden House for unwed mothers, sobbing. When he came for prenatal visits, they baked him cookies. When they gave birth, unconscious, he handed their babies to adoption coordinators without the young mothers ever holding them.

And a face beyond desperation: a Connecticut college student, comatose. She was dying of sepsis, a wire rod stuck so deep inside her it pierced her lung. Her parents faces were not desperate, but stunned. Even after his shift ended, Boehm sat and held her limp hand.

It was a very traumatic experience for me, Boehm said. This was something that had to change in America. We couldnt let women keep having these unsafe abortions.

He is just one doctor whose experience of illegal abortion before Roe v. Wade shaped his career and ethics. For some, it led them to put their own lives at risk.

Now Roe v. Wade has been overturned. Tennessees abortion law is one of the strictest in the country. The doctors we spoke to saw parallels between January 1973 and July 2023.

To be sure, there are important differences. A woman can have a baby on her own without being shunned, fired or expelled.

Illegal abortion now often means buying a pill off the internet, much safer than the old days. In 2020, 81% percent of abortions happened at 9 weeks or earlier, and 93% at or before 13 weeks, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Medication abortions are appropriate before 12 weeks, according to the World Health Organization.

Some things havent changed.

In the Tennessee General Assembly, a doctor-lawmaker argues to expand abortion access. Then it was state Rep. Dorothy L. Brown, first Black woman to serve in Tennessees legislature or work as a surgeon in the South. Now its state Sen. Richard Briggs, R-Knoxville, a heart and lung surgeon.

Women with money or savvy travel to other states to get legal abortions. There are networks in states like Tennessee to help women do that, or procure abortion pills. Low-income women are often stuck.

And these doctors are concerned now, as they were then.

Pre-Roe v. Wade was not easy. And I fear that this new stage, even though its going to be safer maybe, not quite as traumatic, is causing a huge number of problems for patients, for doctors and for law enforcement, Boehm said.

A brief doctors history of abortion

When Boehm started medical school at Vanderbilt in 1961, abortion was never mentioned, he said. We were never trained in any of that.

Still, there was wiggle room. Many hospitals, including some in Tennessee, would perform therapeutic abortions if a committee OKd it. Some doctors stretched the law on their own. You could have an abortion if your life was threatened  at least, nobody prosecuted you, Boehm said. Some doctors would say their client had started miscarrying, and thus needed a dilation and curettage to empty the uterus, when maybe they really hadn't.

In 1967, the American Medical Association OKd abortion if the mental health of the mother was in danger, if the child would be born deformed, if the conception took place through rape or incest, according to The New York Times.

State Rep. Browns 1968 bill echoed that language. The Tennessee Medical Associations legislative chairman spoke in favor before the Tennessee House, saying that as things stood, We, as doctors, are compelled to perform an act (abortion) that is contrary to the laws of this state, according to The Tennessean, part of the USA TODAY Network.

The bill failed in the House by two votes and was scheduled for a revote when Brown announced it was fatally stuck in a Senate committee.

Still, the wheels were turning. In 1970, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists OKd abortion at a patients request, according to an article by Nancy Arles.

You have a right to make a decision on which way you want to go. I have no right to get involved in your morals, Nashville General Hospital director John Zelenik told The Tennessean in 1972.

There were also doctors on the other side. Its murder, thats the only way to look at it, a Dickson doctor told UPI in 1973.

Then Roe v. Wade came down, making first-trimester abortions solely the mothers decision.

State Sen. Richard Briggs, a surgeon, sponsored a bill to allow some exceptions to Tennessee's strict abortion law. He thinks there need to be additional exceptions, such as allowing abortion in the cases of rape or incest.

A personal story: Dr. Susan Dodd

Susan Dodd was 16 in 1972 and knew nothing about pregnancy  when she got her period, she thought she was dying. Her boyfriend, a Gatlinburg, Tennessee, police officer, always used a condom. So her older sister had to tell her, when Dodd complained that her period had stopped and she felt unwell, that she was pregnant.

Dodd, her boyfriend and her sister went to Knoxville, Tennessee, to an ob/gyn who performed abortions after hours. It cost $500  about $3,700 in todays dollars. Her boyfriend paid.

The abortion changed her life. For the better. The teenager who knew nothing about pregnancy decided to become an ob/gyn.

Decades later, when the Knoxville abortion clinics only doctor died, Dodd took up the job. No one else would do it, she said. Her husband bought her a bulletproof vest.

I really felt like this is a service that women in my community, around here, need to have, she said. I became an ob/gyn who performs abortion because I had one.

Abortion in Tennessee after Roe

For the first 15 or 20 years, abortion was not controversial, doctors said.

Briggs did his ob/gyn rotation in the late 1970s. When someone wanted an abortion, There wasnt a whole lot of judgmental stuff or people counseling for or against, he said. Even though it had been totally banned, there didnt seem to be as much of a stigma.

Dr. Wesley Adams remembers, in 1973, surgery residents joking that theyd chosen the wrong specialty  given the demand they expected for abortions.

Practicing in Bristol, Tennessee, we just kind of did them, Adams said. Abortion was part of ordinary care for local patients, along with delivering babies, performing annual gynecological exams and arranging the occasional adoption. He eventually ran abortion clinics in Bristol, Nashville and Charleston, South Carolina.

But sentiment was changing again. In 1993, Dr. David Gunn was killed by an anti-abortion activist when walking into the abortion clinic he ran in Florida.

He was my resident, Boehm said. He was one of the sweetest guys youll ever meet.

A doctors story: Dr. Mary Jane Brown

Even doctors who only brushed the pre-Roe era are troubled by memories. Dr. Mary Jane Brown, a Murfreesboro, Tennessee, emergency physician, did her ob/gyn rotation in the late 1970s. She was pregnant herself, caring for women with complications from pre-Roe abortions.

Women that were infertile. Women that had to have surgery and had complications from that surgery, like small bowel obstruction, Brown said. Horrible abdominal scars. Ugly-looking cervixes that should have been a pearly pink.

All last summer I had flashbacks, Brown said. I can no longer be silent. To be silent is to be complicit.

Abortion ethics through doctors eyes

All the doctors we spoke to said they supported life. Had delivered thousands of babies, if not tens of thousands.

Theres not a doctor or nurse I know who wants to do an abortion, said Boehm, now a Vanderbilt professor emeritus.

I believe in life  how can a physician not believe in a right to life  but I believe in life for everybody, including the mother, Briggs said.

Some were comfortable with elective abortions. Briggs isnt. Dodd challenged the distinction: If youre financially desperate, What makes that less necessary than a fetal anomaly? she said.

All had wrestled with the question of when a fetus becomes a person. For most, that was when it can survive outside the womb. Abortions after that point are extremely rare.

They also considered the ethics of their profession. A physicians job is to provide the best care possible to the patient, they said. The patient should be in the drivers seat.

Im not a woman, said Briggs, who considers himself pro-life. We dont like imposing our values on people.

More: How one quiet Illinois college town became the symbol of abortion rights in America

Abortion in Tennessee: What now?

Briggs regrets voting for Tennessee's 2019 abortion trigger law. I didnt understand it when I voted on it, he said. This spring, he successfully sponsored a bill to make abortion legal for an ectopic or molar pregnancy, or to prevent the death or serious risk of substantial and irreversible impairment of a major bodily function of the pregnant woman.

It still leaves too much out, he said, like rape or incest, and when a fetus wont survive.

In the late 1960s, the physician establishment began speaking up for abortion access. Now, national groups such as the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists are, too.

Not all Southern doctors feel comfortable joining them. There are consequences. Tennessee Right to Life excoriated Briggs when he began criticizing Tennessee's law.

One retired ob/gyn talked about abortion for an hour, but only on the agreement that his name not be used. He wanted the facts out there, he said. But not at the risk of someone harming his family.

For these doctors, a Tennessee without legal abortion isn't new. It's history repeating itself. First there was no Roe v. Wade, then there was, now there isnt.

Thats the big lesson  that nothing is forever, Boehm said.

Except, perhaps, women seeking abortions when they feel desperate.

Theyll find a way to do it, Boehm said. And hopefully it will always be legal.

Red flag for Republicans: Independent women at odds with GOP on abortion, LGBTQ rights

Danielle Dreilinger is an American South storytelling reporter and the author of the book The Secret History of Home Economics. You can reach her at ddreilinger@gannett.com or 919-236-3141.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY NETWORK: Illegal abortions before Roe shaped these Tennessee doctors' careers
Illinois faces a deadline next month to either change the way it enforces air pollution emission limits on heavy industries or face federal sanctions that could eventually result in restricted access to billions of dollars in federal highway funding.

But state agencies are working to avoid that as they rush to meet an Aug. 12 deadline imposed by the federal government to put a new regulatory framework in place that will comply with the federal governments current interpretation of the Clean Air Act.

Those rule changes, which come from the Illinois Pollution Control Board, are up for review on Tuesday before the General Assemblys Joint Committee on Administrative Rules, a 12-member group that exercises oversight over the states administrative rulemaking process.

At this point, any future course for this rulemaking depends entirely on JCARs review and decision-making on this proposal, IPCB staff attorney Tim Fox said in a phone message. The board awaits that review and decision-making at its meeting on Tuesday.

At issue is a policy Illinois has had since the 1970s that allows factories, power plants, and other industries with air pollution emission permits to exceed their emission limits during startups, shutdowns, or malfunctions, or SSM events.

The so-called SSM exemption is written into a facilitys emission permit and provides the facilitys owners a level of immunity from civil lawsuits if they are sued for violating their emission limits.

The policy is based on the idea that no machine works perfectly all the time and there are occasionally unforeseeable events such as power outages or floods that will force a facility to shut down for a period of time and then restart, which can result in short-term excess emissions.

But its a policy that courts have said since 2008 violates the federal Clean Air Act, and its one that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has been telling Illinois and other jurisdictions since 2015 that they need to repeal.

Now, Illinois faces an Aug. 12 deadline to repeal the regulations that allow SSM exemptions and submit to the EPA a new state implementation plan, or SIP  a document that spells out the policies and regulations the state will use to implement the Clean Air Act. Otherwise, failure to comply will trigger federal sanctions against the state.

Jack Darin, executive director of the Illinois chapter of the Sierra Club, an environmental group that has been pushing for regulatory changes at both the state and federal level, said in a phone interview that the change is needed to protect public health.

The public health can be subjected to a lot more significant pollution during these events, and thats why the Clean Air Act requires that facilities have plans in place to deal with that, he said. It could be additional pollution controls or other steps to make sure that were not putting even more pollution into the air we breathe during these startup, shutdown, and malfunction events. And Illinois rules have been lacking these requirements for over a decade.

But Donovan Griffith, vice president of government affairs for the Illinois Manufacturers Association, said the issue is not that simple, and that removing legal protections against SSM events could dramatically increase the risk of doing business.

Youre going to have companies that are going to have to make a decision, he said in a separate interview. I mean, you cant plan for a storm to knock out your power. You cant plan for certain things that happen. Theyll have to make the decision whether or not theyre going to restart their operations and just be out of compliance or not operate at all.

Years of controversy

Controversy over SSM exemptions goes back as far as the 1970s. But for Illinois, the issue has been percolating for about the last dozen years, spanning the course of three presidential administrations.

In 2011, the national Sierra Club filed a petition with the U.S. EPA asking that it take stronger action to disallow SSM exemptions and affirmative defense provisions. In 2013, the agency announced that it was considering taking action on that petition. In 2015, during the Obama administration, EPA issued an SIP call for 36 states and nine additional local jurisdictions, including Illinois, to submit new state implementation plans.

That occurred during the early months of Republican Gov. Bruce Rauners administration, which did not immediately respond to the SIP call. According to testimony filed at a public hearing earlier this year, IPCB officials said the agency sought additional guidance from U.S. EPA about how to establish alternative limits for SSM events, but it did not receive a response before the Obama administration ended in January 2017.

In April 2017, the then-new Trump administration put the SIP call on hold so it could reevaluate the issue. Three years later, in October 2020, EPA issued what it called a nonbinding guidance memorandum suggesting that policies such as those in place in Illinois and elsewhere would be permissible in some circumstances.

One month later, however, Democrat Joe Biden defeated Donald Trump for reelection. Soon after he took office, EPA issued a new memorandum withdrawing the Trump administrations memo and reasserting the policy that SSM exemptions were no longer acceptable.

Looming sanctions

Finally, in January 2022, EPA issued a new SIP call, starting a clock for Illinois and several other state and local jurisdictions to come into compliance or face mandatory sanctions.

If the state does not come into compliance by Aug. 12, EPA will impose what are called offset sanctions, meaning any new or significantly modified sources of pollution for which a permit is required will come under significantly stricter emission limits.

And if the state does not comply by Feb. 11, 2024, its access to federal highway funds will be restricted to safety projects, capital programs for public transit and a select few other categories of funding.

Those sanctions would be lifted once the U.S. EPA determines the state has submitted an acceptable new SIP.

Because of the looming deadline, the rule change has been put on a fast track schedule, but that has irritated industry officials who say they havent had enough time to submit comments or try to negotiate an agreement.

I think weve known since January 2022 that this was coming, which is why there was a lot of communications from the regulated community to the agency about discussing this issue, Griffith, of the Illinois Manufacturers Association, said. We didnt hear much from them until November of 2022, when they basically said, heres our proposal that we plan on filing.

The compressed timeline also upset some members of JCAR, which previously discussed the proposed rule change at its June 13 meeting.

It was Nov. 17 that you reached out and asked for comments. Thats a week before Thanksgiving, Rep. Curtis Tarver, D-Chicago, told IPCB and IEPA officials during that meeting. You allowed 10 business days. The 11th, it was due. Thats absolutely  I hope thats uncommon.

Jack Jennings, deputy director of the IEPA, explained that the agencies at first tried to get clarification from the U.S. EPA about what would be acceptable, and it wasnt until later in the year that the agencies learned that they needed to completely repeal the language allowing SSM exemptions.

JCAR and the agencies agreed at the June meeting to extend the rulemaking period for 45 days, during which time they hoped to work with U.S. EPA and industry groups to reach an agreement.
United States Supreme Court

Credit - Getty Images

Days after the Supreme Court handed down their decision in 303 Creative LLC v. Elenis and ruled in favor of a web designer who did not want to service same-sex couples because she says it infringes on her first amendment rights, a hairdresser in the small town of Traverse City, Michigan publicly posted about refusing service to clients who may have different pronouns than what they were assigned at birth.

If a human identifies as anything other than a man/woman, please seek services at a local pet groomer, Christine Geiger, the hair salon owner, said in a since-deleted Facebook post. You are not welcome at this salon. Period.

The Facebook page for the salon has also been deleted, but critics claim Geigers messaging is evidence of the troubling precedent set by 303 Creative.

[This case is] a green light for people to engage in what was previously understood as discrimination, said Katherine Franke, Professor of Law and Director of the Center for Gender & Sexuality Law at Columbia University. People feel that they now are immune from any kind of consequences for engaging in that kind of violent bigoted speech.

More from TIME

The ruling comes during a moment rife with uncertainty for LGBTQ+ rights. A May Department of Homeland Security briefing revealed that threats of violence against the queer community have increased within the last year, and nearly 500 anti-LGBTQ bills targeting gender-affirming care and drag have been introduced this legislative session. While many have been faced with temporary injunctions or found unconstitutional, and experts say that 303 Creative does not allow for explicit discrimination, changing attitudes about the LGBTQ+ community over the past year have been troubling.

Its not reasonable to interpret 303 Creative to allow that salon to engage in discrimination, said Sarah Warbelow, the Human Rights Campaigns Legal Director, but these are exactly our long founded concerns. Not only for the real discrimination that will be permissible as a result of 303 Creative, but that it will inspire, discriminatory behavior, and really disgusting public discourse about LGBTQ people.

In throwing out decades of legal precedent that have upheld anti-discrimination policies, legal experts say the case could open the door to more worrisome implications for the future. It doesnt eliminate [LGBTQ protections], Warbelow says, but it certainly created a crack.

What was 303 Creative about?

The case was brought forward by Lorie Smith, a web designer who sought a pre enforcement challenge (a legal action filed before a plaintiff engages in conduct that they believe may go against a specific law) saying she was deterred from expanding her graphic design business to offer wedding websites because Colorados anti-discrimination law would require her to service queer couples. Smith says she does not condone gay marriages due to Christian beliefs, and she believed the law infringed on her rights.

By a 6-to-3 vote, the Supreme Court agreed, though not based on religious freedom protections, but rather free speech. The majority opinion found that because Smiths website included text that would be customized to tell her clients love story, it fell under the creators expression and therefore under the definition of pure speech.

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. The First Amendment envisions the United States as a rich and complex place where all persons are free to think and speak as they wish, not as the government demands, Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote.

What are the implications of this case?

Legal experts like Rutgers law professor Katie Eyer says that the case was decided on relatively narrow grounds and has emboldened much broader claims in the lower courts and among others who might wish to discriminate.

In other words, the Court found that Smith had a broad free speech right that did not require her to follow Colorado anti-discrimination law, but they also provided no limiting provisions on that right, Franke says. That means that lower courts do not have a precise definition of expressive activity that would help decipher the types of businesses that are exempt from adhering to anti-discrimination standards. Experts expect increased litigation seeking to expand the category of expressive speech from websites to other creative activities, like baking a cake, though the exact way this plays out is yet to be seen.

Theres also nothing in the opinion, that limits this right only to people who object to same sex marriage, Franke adds. To be clear, the precedent set by 303 Creative would not allow the Michigan hairdresser to deny service to someone solely based on their gender or sexuality as cutting hair does not constitute speech.

But experts do question whether the ruling would expand to allow a web designer like Smith to deny servicing an interfaith couple, or one of a different religion.

What is even more troubling, Eyer adds, is that much of the clarification surrounding what qualifies as speech exempt from anti-discrimination laws will be decided in the lower courts. This trajectory has really emboldened would-be discriminators to make even broader arguments about where they are entitled to discriminate, she says. But that wont change the lived realities of Americans who belong to protected groups. Fundamentally, what any group thats protected by anti-discrimination law wants, even if they win a lawsuit, is not to experience discrimination.

Looking ahead

Attorneys are already looking to decipher whether 303 Creative allows other businesses or entities to refuse services to people based on the decision.

The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, for instance, is challenging two court cases: Billard v. Diocese of Charlottein which a gay substitute teacher who was fired after revealing his sexuality online successfully sued the school for discriminationand the similar Fitzgerald v. Roncalli High School and Archdiocese of Indianapolis, per the Washington Post.

Attorneys representing the dioceses argue that hiring decisions should qualify as protected free speech. If a for-profit business gets constitutional protection when deciding what services to sell [to] the general public, then, of course, a non-profit religious school gets constitutional protection when deciding who is religiously qualified to teach and embody the faith at a religious school, Luke Goodrich, Vice President and Senior Counsel at The Becket Fund, told TIME in an email statement.

Experts TIME spoke to say that these cases do not have strong legal backing because the Court explicitly said the ruling did not apply to employment discrimination, but other cases like Braidwood Management Inc. v. Becerra could set a new precedent. In June, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in favor of Braidwood Management Inc, a Houston company that said that federal anti-discrimination laws do not apply to them because their religion dictates that people should be cisgender and heterosexual. Franke says that this case relates more to religious freedom than free speech, but the potential implications of this ruling could be troubling. That case may reach the Supreme Court in 2024, according to a case briefing from Columbia Law School.

The Texas Supreme Court also agreed to hear oral arguments related to a lawsuit by a Texas judge who first made headlines in 2019 when she filed a suit claiming that giving out marriage licenses to queer couples infringed on her religious freedom. Attorneys argue that 303 Creative is now applicable in the suit.

Other cases like Klein v. Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industrieswhere a bakery refused to sell a wedding cake to a same-sex couplewill also be remanded for further consideration given the recent Supreme Court ruling to see if the creation of wedding cakes constitutes commercial speech in the same way Smiths website does.

Those decisions could continue to pushback against previous legal understandings of equal protections.

You would think that this would be a time when we express a strong American value of either tolerance or inclusion for all people in our societybut theyre doing just the opposite, Franke says. This is a brand new way of understanding the Constitution. Some rights are first tier religious liberty, free speech, gun rights. And other rights, yes, you have them, but theyre second tier rights: LGBT equality, sex based equality, reproductive rights, and public health and safety. And when those rights come into conflict with first tier rights, they have to yield.
Inside the school teaching North Korean defectors how to live in the outside world

Before she left North Korea, the woman known as C had caught glimpses of life across the border through smuggled television shows.

People caught with foreign materials like books and movies, which are banned in the hermit nation, can face severe punishment. But C secretly watched the South Korean shows anyway, fascinated by what she called a different reality than the one she lived in.

I learned that South Korea is a rich country where human rights are guaranteed, said the woman, who is in her 20s.

With North Koreas borders tightening and life getting harder, she fled in 2019, spending the next few years in neighboring China before heading to South Korea  where she is now receiving training at a government-run facility called Hanawon.

All defectors arriving into South Korea are required to spend three months at Hanawon, essentially a school that teaches them to assimilate, before they are allowed to enter society. Officials say the facility trains defectors in everything from history and culture to vocational skills and everyday tasks such as buying groceries  things that might look very different inside their highly isolated and impoverished home country.

C spoke to journalists Monday during a rare media tour of Hanawon, organized by the Unification Ministry. None of the defectors present provided their real names. And while C has some concerns about life in South Korea  its so different from the North; what if people find her strange?  she sounded optimistic and determined.

Ive been learning hard  I try to manage my life believing that things will work out if I try hard enough, she said. Im getting to know how to live in South Korea at Hanawon.

A Hanawon instructor in an IT education center for North Korean defectors on July 10, 2023. - Jeon Heon-Kyun/Pool/AFP/Getty Images

But not everybody leaves the facility feeling empowered or sufficiently prepared, and some activists believe the system needs an overhaul.

Upon arrival in South Korea, defectors must spend up to three months undergoing security checks by the National Intelligence Service (NIS), a process meant to sniff out North Korean spies. After clearance, they head to Hanawon for another mandatory three months  meaning they spend roughly half a year in government facilities before being released.

This approach is outdated, ineffective and overly restrictive, said Sokeel Park, South Korea country director for international nonprofit Liberty in North Korea (LINK), which helps North Koreans resettle in the South.

Its ironic that North Korean refugees risk their lives to escape extreme government control but have to spend their first few months in South Korea living under overbearing government control that doesnt serve their interests or respect their agency, he told CNN.

A security guard stands outside Hanawon in Anseong, South Korea, on May 28, 2009. - Seokyong Lee/Bloomberg/Getty Images

Inside Hanawon

The main Hanawon facility lies about 80 kilometers (50 miles) south of the capital Seoul.

At the facilitys vocational education and training center, defectors can choose between 22 types of job training thats mostly blue-collar work.

Hanawon also attempts to familiarize defectors with parts of South Korean life. For example, they are encouraged listen to popular 90s music and current hits to better connect with peers and understand cultural references.

In another instance, an IT instructor teaches students to use the copy-paste function and practice typing the lyrics to South Koreas national anthem.

When CNN visited, most classrooms were empty, with only a few students in the computer and nail care rooms. Though defectors had once numbered nearly 3,000 a year, they fell to just a few dozen in 2021 and 2022, due to pandemic restrictions and tighter border security in North Korea and China.

The Hanawon training covers other basic life skills like how to open a bank account. After finishing the program, defectors receive government benefits, such as an initial subsidy and housing support, as they begin their new lives.

A Hanawon instructor (left) teaches defectors in a bakery class on July 10, 2023. - SeongJoon Cho/Bloomberg/Getty Images

They only taught me nonsensical things

But some defectors walk away from Hanawon feeling frustrated and ill-equipped for the real world.

Hanawon was supposed to teach me things I could actually use, but they only taught me nonsensical things, said Kim, a defector who escaped in 2017 and finished his Hanawon training in 2018.

Some lessons, like how to use modern technology, were helpful. But other theoretical classes were baffling  like when they read a book explaining how to plate a ring with gold, he said. CNN is only identifying Kim by his surname to protect his privacy.

During the Monday visit, Hanawon officials said they now teach mainly vocational lessons.

Theres a saying, Teach someone how to fish rather than give them fish. Rather than giving financial aid, it is necessary to provide job training which is actually needed to survive in South Korea, and the training that helps them adjust to the South Korean system, said Unification Minister Kwon Young-se during the tour.

Two other women defectors currently at Hanawon, identified only as A and B, also shared their experiences, saying the training was beneficial. Hanawon has been a great help  The resettlement funds are enough, too, B said Monday, adding she had spent a lot of time on the computer.

But other defectors share Kims skepticism, according to Park, the LINK country director. Various experts and advocates have made similar criticisms in past years, pointing out that defectors need more mental health care and long-term assistance.

North Korean defectors attend a computer class at the Hanawon facility on July 10, 2023. - Jeon Heon-Kyun/Pool/AFP/Getty Images

One problem is that not all life in North Korea is the same. A resident in the capital Pyongyang, home to favored citizens like government officials and their families, may be more familiar with modern luxuries like a school education, coffee, even cell phones (limited to North Koreas censored intranet) than residents in poorer parts of the country.

And some defectors like C live for years in China before arriving in South Korea  giving them more time to adjust and get work experience.

The Hanawon approach needs to offer tailored assistance based on individual needs instead of imposing the same requirements and training on all defectors, Park said.

Many defectors also end up doing jobs in different fields than what theyd learned at Hanawon, rendering those classes ineffective, Park added. For example, younger North Koreans may have broader ambitions such as pursuing internships, attending college and entering white-collar careers.

Then theres the psychological toll of spending six months at the vetting facility run by NIS and Hanawon.

They arrive in South Korea with so much hope and expectations, said Park  but this excitement is often drained by the time they finally emerge from Hanawon.

CNN has reached out to Hanawon officials for comment.

Community-based approach

Many defectors and activists say the Hanawon process should be streamlined. I think its better to settle down quickly, earn money sooner, and live while adapting by making breakthroughs, said Kim, the defector who fled in 2017.

When asked about Hanawons remote location on Monday, Kwon, the minister, said it was because defectors can be nervous around new people. Authorities figured it would be better to start in an isolated facility and gradually expand their exposure, he said.

Kim acknowledged the challenges of adjusting to South Korea. He often felt embarrassed when people asked, incredulous, how he could not know the words for common items bought in stores.

Work was tough, too, and made worse by South Korean coworkers who seemed to look down on him, he said. And there were cultural differences he found puzzling, like greeting coworkers each morning  which hed never done in the North.

The difficulty of post-defection life is well documented, with some cases ending in tragedy. In 2019, a North Korean mother and son were found dead in their South Korean apartment from suspected starvation, prompting mass vigils and protests, and promises from the government to boost welfare measures.

In 2022, the remains of a North Korean woman wrapped in winter coats found in her Seoul home. Authorities estimated shed been dead for a year.

Many defectors struggle financially, even years after arriving in South Korea. Some 6.1% of defectors were unemployed in 2022, more than double the national rate, according to government figures.

But many of these challenges can be better addressed through community-based support like local centers that offer continuous assistance and camaraderie, Park said.

These centers do exist to some extent, but could be further expanded, with some of the Hanawon offerings turned into optional local classes, he said. That could also alleviate another major problem for defectors: isolation after being completely cut off from loved ones back in North Korea.

After their arduous journey, he said, North Korean defectors should have the chance to begin this new chapter on their own terms  with the freedom they risked their lives to seek.

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Iowa clinics rushed to squeeze in abortions before a new 6-week ban. How they managed it:

As the implementation of Iowa's new "fetal heartbeat" bill loomed, staff at abortion clinics across the state scrambled to get as many patients seen as possible.

Earlier in the week, Paige Bergholtz, a patient services navigator for Planned Parenthood North Central States, called patients to get as many appointments as possible scheduled before Friday, when Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds signed the six-week abortion ban into law.

One woman Bergholtz spoke to lived a couple of hours away from the nearest health center. She had two hours to get to a clinic if she wanted to receive an abortion before Iowa outlawed it, Bergholtz told her.

Could she be there?

She made it in time, Bergholtz said.

"I can't imagine what that would be like to get a call that says, 'We can't see you in the state of Iowa for abortion care unless you come in today, within a couple of hours,'" she said.

That scene played out at abortion clinics throughout the state last week as the Iowa Legislature debated, and then approved, one of the strictest abortion bans in the country late Tuesday.

Now signed into law by Reynolds, the "fetal heartbeat" bill bans abortion when cardiac activity is detected during an abdominal ultrasound, which medical providers say occurs around six weeks of pregnancy.

The ban includes limited exceptions, such as to preserve the life of the mother or for pregnancies that result from rape or incest.

During the uncertainty of the week, some of Iowa's abortion clinics paused patient appointments, then rescheduled them. Others placed holds on appointments, anticipating that they could be banned from providing abortion care.

Meanwhile, clinic officials discussed contingency plans as they waited to find out whether a judge would block the new law from going into effect. The judge expects to rule on Monday.

Physicians who provide abortions in Iowa say they are used to the uncertainty, especially while working in a state whose elected leaders have worked for years to restrict the procedure.

But with this new ban, which comes a year after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, Iowa's current situation feels more desperate, they say.

Without the protection of Roe and with the Iowa Supreme Court decision last summer about the 24-hour rule, we are much less optimistic that the protections we thought would be there for us will continue to help keep abortion accessible," said Dr. Abbey Hardy-Fairbanks, the medical director of the Emma Goldman Clinic in Iowa City.

Abortion-rights supporters counter-protest in front of anti-abortion activists picketing, Thursday, June 23, 2022, at the Emma Goldman Clinic in Iowa City, Iowa.

Abortion advocates have filed a lawsuit in an attempt to block the law. As providers waited Friday to find out if a temporary injunction would be issued, their efforts to provide care while they still could emotionally drained providers and other staff, Bergholtz said.

"It has just been breaking my heart the past couple of days to hear all of these patients, all of their stories, and just to be the bearer of bad news that we can't see you 30 minutes from your home anymore. You have to travel six hours," she said.

"No, it's not an easy time or an easy conversation."

As lawmakers debated, hundreds of Iowa patients were thrown into flux

Early in the week, word came that the ban could go into effect as soon as Wednesday morning.

Since the bill prohibited most abortions at about six weeks of gestation, or about six weeks from the first day of the pregnant person's last menstrual period, it essentially amounts to a total ban on abortion in Iowa, because many women don't realize they're pregnant that soon, said Dr. Emily Boevers, an OB-GYN that provides abortion services with Planned Parenthood North Central States.

"Theres no way for people to actually get the care they need before six weeks on a regular basis for a majority of patients," she said.

Dr. Emily Boevers, an obstetrician-gynecologist based in Waverly, IA.

The 200 patients who were scheduled for abortions across the state last week and into this week were thrown into flux, according to the lawsuit challenging the new ban. Most of these patients, who were set to be seen at Planned Parenthood clinics or the Emma Goldman Clinic, had pregnancies past the six-week cutoff.

Iowa law had allowed abortion up to 20 weeks of pregnancy.

As the Legislature worked to push through the new 6-week ban, doctors who spoke to the Des Moines Register said their clinics worked to see as many patients as possible early in the week. But Iowa's law requiring a 24-hour waiting period before an abortion made that difficult.

We had to refer some patients out of state because we didn't think we could get them in before both the gestational age cutoff and the 24-hour waiting period. We didnt know what was going to happen with the ban," Hardy-Fairbanks said.

It was a heart-wrenching moment for clinic providers and other staff, who felt powerless to help their patients, Hardy-Fairbanks said.

Patients were really understanding, but that was actually harder than them being upset," she added. "I think the removal of access and the removal of rights has become something that has become expected  not accepted but expected.

Governor's announcement prompts a scramble to reschedule appointments

When Iowans awoke Wednesday, the Legislature had passed the new ban, but abortion remained legal for up to 20 weeks  for the moment.

Reynolds promised to wait until Friday to sign the bill, during a conservative event, opening a brief window for clinics to continue to provide abortion services.

Clinics across the state moved quickly to reschedule patients' appointments for Wednesday and Thursday, said a Central Iowa-based abortion provider for Planned Parenthood, who asked to remain anonymous for safety reasons.

Abortion providers at Emma Goldman and Planned Parenthood worked into the evening Thursday to see a full roster of patients seeking care, they said. With that extra time, Planned Parenthood clinics saw nearly two-dozen patients for both surgical and medication abortions, one physician said.

"So it was kind of all hands on deck, and people were willing to jump in and come in on short notice to help out," the physician said. "Everyone was just so focused on getting as much access as we can before Friday."

"It's only one more day, and we still don't know what's going to happen with the injunction on Friday, but for each patient that we're able to see, it's a really huge deal for them," the central Iowa OB-GYN said. "So I'm really grateful to be able to be there for them."

Iowa's six-week ban has been felt outside abortion clinics, said Dr. Amy Bingaman, a Des Moines-based OB-GYN. More of her patients asked about long-acting birth control options last week.

One young patient inquired about getting her tubes tied, she said.

"I've had a lot of patients that are really angry," Bingaman said. "I think there's a fair amount of anger out of it, for losing our bodily autonomy, which is frankly what it feels like."

Are Iowa patients able to find abortion care out of state?

For those who couldn't be seen in Iowa last week, Bergholtz said she and other Planned Parenthood staff worked to schedule appointments in other states.

That includes Minnesota and Nebraska, where laws make the procedure more accessible.

However, providers in Iowa say the growing list of states enacting strict abortion bans has put a severe strain on the health care providers in states where abortion remains legal as more patients travel for procedures from other parts of the country, Hardy-Fairbanks said.

Even if patients can find an appointment, they have to wait weeks before they're seen by a physician.

"It's going to be a hot mess," Bingaman said. "The problem is that people who have money will probably still be able to access abortion, but the poor and the marginalized are not going to have that availability and those economic resources. So I think it's going to be very limited in what we can do to help people."

Still, those that work at abortion clinics across the state say they are committed to continuing to provide services for patients, including those who are eligible for abortions under the six-week ban.

"There are people in the world that believe and that will fight to keep access to this care open and accessible," Bergholtz said.

Michaela Ramm covers health care for the Des Moines Register. She can be reached at mramm@registermedia.com, at (319) 339-7354 or on Twitter at @Michaela_Ramm.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa doctors feared they had a day to do abortions. How they did it
Iran's morality police return, with new punishments for women who refuse to wear a headscarf

Iran has redeployed its morality police to force women to wear the hijab - Vahid Salemi/AP

Iran has redeployed its morality police, who force women to wear the hijab, nearly a year after the death of a woman in police custody sparked nationwide protests.

The morality police had largely stopped patrols following the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini last September, as authorities struggled to contain mass demonstrations that posed one of the boldest challenges to Irans theocracy since the 1979 Islamic revolution.

Their reintroduction comes as many women have continued to violate the countrys strict dress laws, despite a heavy crackdown on the protests.

In Tehran on Sunday, morality police officers could be seen patrolling the streets in marked vans.

Footage circulating on social media meanwhile showed female police officers, clad in all-black chadors, berating and arresting women whose heads were uncovered.

As part of their bid to deter Iranian women and girls from removing their hijab, Irans Islamic rulers have also resorted to a series of new draconian measures in recent weeks.

Mahsa Amini became a symbol for protesters last year - NurPhoto/NurPhoto

Local media reported on Friday that a woman who had been arrested for defying the law had been imprisoned for two months and forced to wash the bodies of dead women in the central city of Varamin.

Other women detained by the police have reportedly been told they must see a psychiatrist every fortnight for at least three months in order to be examined.

They must be declared free of anti-social behaviour before the sessions can end, the Etemad newspaper reported.

While the morality police withdrew, authorities took other measures to enforce the law. These included the closure of businesses whose staff do not conform to the rules, and installing cameras in public places to identify and penalise unveiled women

In what was reported to be the first sentencing that relied on evidence from CCTV cameras, one woman was sentenced to two months in prison and a two-year travel ban last week.

She was also ordered to undertake mandatory health checks after the judge ruling on her case said her behaviour to flout the dress laws was a symptom of a disease that must be treated, the Human Rights Activists in Iran non-governmental organisation reported.

General Saeed Montazer al-Mahdi, a police spokesman, said on Sunday that the morality police would resume detaining women seen without the hijab in public.

Heavy crackdown on protesters

Mr Al-Mahdi said President Ebrahim Raisi and religious groups had demanded the force return after protests largely subsided earlier this year due to a heavy crackdown by security forces that saw more than 500 people killed and nearly 20,000 detained.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Irans supreme leader, has previously claimed that the number of women who oppose the mandatory hijab in Iran is very few and a handful.

However, an official survey in 2021 found that more than 70 per cent of Iranian women are against being forced to wear the item of clothing.

The battle over the hijab last year quickly escalated into calls for the overthrow of Irans clerical rulers, accused by many young protesters of being corrupt, repressive and out of touch.

Irans government blamed the protests on a foreign conspiracy, without providing evidence.

Ms Amini had been detained for allegedly violating the hijab rule, which applies to all women and girls over the age of nine.

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Iran's morality police return after protests in a new campaign to impose Islamic dress on women

FILE - Iranian women make their way along a sidewalk in downtown Tehran, Iran, Tuesday, April 26, 2016. Iranian police have announced a new campaign to force women to wear the Islamic headscarf. Morality police returned to the streets on Sunday, 10 months after the death of a woman in their custody sparked nationwide protests. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi, File)

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP)  Iranian authorities on Sunday announced a new campaign to force women to wear the Islamic headscarf and morality police returned to the streets 10 months after the death of a woman in their custody sparked nationwide protests.

The morality police had largely pulled back following the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini last September, as authorities struggled to contain mass protests calling for the overthrow of the theocracy that has ruled Iran for over four decades.

The protests largely died down earlier this year following a heavy crackdown in which over 500 protesters were killed and nearly 20,000 detained. But many women continued to flout the official dress code, especially in the capital, Tehran, and other cities.

The morality police were only rarely seen patrolling the streets, and in December, there were even some reports  later denied  that they had been disbanded.

Authorities insisted throughout the crisis that the rules had not changed. Iran's clerical rulers view the hijab as a key pillar of the Islamic revolution that brought them to power, and consider more casual dress a sign of Western decadence.

On Sunday, Gen. Saeed Montazerolmahdi, a police spokesman, said the morality police would resume notifying and then detaining women not wearing hijab in public. In Tehran, the men and women of the morality police could be seen patrolling the streets in marked vans.

Late Saturday, police arrested Mohammed Sadeghi, a young and relatively unknown actor, in a raid on his home that he appears to have broadcast on social media. Earlier, he had posted a video in response to another online video showing a woman being detained by the morality police. Believe me, if I see such a scene, I might commit murder, he said.

The website of the semi-official Hamshahri daily, which is affiliated with the Tehran municipality, said he was arrested for encouraging people to use weapons against the police.

The battle over the hijab became a powerful rallying cry last fall, with women playing a leading role in the protests. The demonstrations quickly escalated into calls for the overthrow of Iran's clerical rulers, whom the mostly young protesters accuse of being corrupt, repressive and out of touch. Iran's government blamed the protests on a foreign conspiracy, without providing evidence.

Several Iranian celebrities joined the protests, including prominent directors and actors from the country's celebrated film industry. Several Iranian actresses were detained after appearing in public without the hijab or expressing support for the protests.

In a recent case, actress Azadeh Samadi was barred from social media and ordered by a court to seek psychological treatment for "antisocial personality disorder" after appearing at a funeral two months ago wearing a cap on her head.
Iraqi PM Sudani, Syria's Assad hold talks on security, water in Damascus Syria's President Bashar al-Assad and Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani review an honor guard in Damascus

By Timour Azhari

BAGHDAD (Reuters) -Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani held talks with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in Damascus on Sunday in the first such visit by an Iraqi premier since the outbreak of the Syrian war in 2011.

Assad and Sudani discussed securing their shared 600km border from security threats, including Islamic State militants, and agreed to enhance cooperation to reduce drug smuggling, they said during a joint news conference.

Sudani said they also discussed ways to combat drought conditions in both countries caused by a reduction in rainfall, climate change and upstream damming by Turkey.

"We need to cooperate to get our fair share of water," Sudani said.

Sudani said Iraq supported the lifting of sanctions on Syria, put in place and expanded by the U.S. and European countries since 2011.

Iraq and Syria, which have close economic, military and political ties to regional heavyweight Iran, maintained relations throughout Syria's civil war even as other Arab states withdrew their ambassadors and closed their embassies in Syria.

Baghdad and Damascus, along with Shi'ite armed groups backed by Iran, cooperated in the fight against Islamic State, which spread from Iraq into Syria and at one point controlled more than a third of both countries.

Farhad Alaaldin, foreign affairs adviser to the prime minister, said before the meeting that Sudani was set to discuss combatting the flow of the amphetamine Captagon and possibilities for reopening a Mediterranean oil export pipeline, which could help Iraq diversify its export routes.

Sudani's visit comes as other countries, including Saudi Arabia, rebuild relations with Damascus after years of tensions.

Syria was suspended from the Arab League in 2011 over Assad's brutal crackdown on protests and several Gulf states supported the armed opposition to his rule.

But Assad has regained control of most of Syria with military and economic support from Russia and Iran, Syria was readmitted to the Arab League in May, and regional countries are seeking dialogue with him to end drug smuggling and return millions of refugees.

Syria has agreed to help end drug trafficking across its borders with Jordan and Iraq.

Top Syrian officials and relatives of Assad have been put on sanctions lists in recent months in the United States, United Kingdom and European Union over their alleged ties to the trade.

The Syrian government denies involvement in the drug trade.

(Reporting by Timour Azhari; Editing by Alexandra Hudson)
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Isle of Man sends digital stamps on data storing mission to the Moon

Digital Manx stamps are to be sent to the Moon on a mission to discover how data centres work in space.

Digital Isle of Man and space data storage company Lonestar are taking part in NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services programme.

It aims to explore how data could be stored on the Moon and retrieved should a catastrophe take place on earth.

Enterprise Minister Tim Johnston said the island was building on its "history of innovation in the space sector".

The possibilities this technology could bring were "hugely exciting", and the project was an example of the island participating in "pioneering new developments for businesses", he said.

'A novel mission'

A government spokeswoman said the initiative was using expertise in the island's blockchain industry to "digitise exclusive stamps that will be posted to the Moon and back" via Lonestar's lunar data centre.

Lonestar CEO Chris Stott said he felt "enormously privileged to be able to run such a novel mission from my home".

He said: "We could not do this without the island and its unique commitment to disaster recovery, space, and the global digital economy."

The government spokeswoman said the digital stamps, which each feature a different version of the triskelion flag, would be verified and tracked on the return trip to the Moon, and the trail would become part of a digital footprint.

They would then be transmitted back to the Earth as part of the larger Artemis lunar exploration programme mission, she said.

Why not follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and Twitter? You can also send story ideas to IsleofMan@bbc.co.uk
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu released from hospital with heart monitor after dehydration scare

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was released from the hospital with a heart monitor in his chest Sunday following a severe bout with dehydration this weekend, Israeli officials announced.

The Sheba Medical Center where Netanyahu was examined says the prime minister completed tests and is now in "excellent condition," adding that "his heart is operating well." The leader stayed in the medical center overnight after being rushed there on Saturday.

"Yesterday, I spent the day with my wife in the Sea of Galilee, in the sun, without a hat, with no water," a smiling Netanyahu shared from the hospital. "It's not a good idea."

The Prime Minister said that he had taken a holiday Friday with his family and temperatures were hitting 38 Celsius (100.4 Fahrenheit).

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told his constituents that he had been admitted to a local hospital after experiencing mild dizziness. Initial assessments were dehydration.

The prime minister's office said in a press release that the 73-year-old Netanyahu complained of mild dizziness and was admitted to the Sheba Medical Center emergency room on the recommendation of his personal doctor, Dr. Zvi Berkowitz.

The prime minister's office said that Netanyahu's wife Sara and his son Avner were with him.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

ISRAELI PROTESTORS BLOCK HIGHWAYS AS PART OF COUNTRYWIDE DEMONSTRATION AGAINST JUDICIAL OVERHAUL

The office said that initial tests came out as "normal, and no findings were found," adding that the initial assessment was dehydration.

"On the recommendation of the doctors, the prime minister continues to undergo additional routine tests," the prime minister's office said in a statement

His office later said Netanyahu would stay at the hospital overnight for observation.

Israel is currently in the midst of a fierce heat wave, with temperatures in the mid-30s degrees Celsius, mid-90s in Fahrenheit.

"I have only one request for you - we're in the midst of a heat wave here in Israel; spend less time in the sun, drink more water, and may we all have a good week," the Prime Minister recommended.

ISRAELI FORCES REVEAL WEAPONS CACHES HIDDEN UNDER PALESTINIAN MOSQUE AFTER RAID

Israel's longest-serving leader thanked the "fantastic" medical team caring for him as he recovers, assuring his constituents that he feels "very good."

"Praise the Lord, I feel very good," Netanyahu added in his video message.

Israel's head of the opposition and former Prime Minister Yair Lapid wished Netanyahu well in a translated Twitter post.

"I wish Prime Minister Netanyahu a complete recovery and good health," Lapid wrote in Hebrew. "Feel better."

Fox News' Yonat Friling and Anders Hagstrom contributed to this report.
James Cameron is not directing a film about the OceanGate submarine that was on a journey to the wreckage of Titanic wreck when it tragically imploded last month, killing all five onboard.

The Titanic director, 68, took to his Instagram Story this weekend to dispel the offensive chatter that speculated he would be helming such a project.

I dont respond to offensive rumors in the media usually, but I need to now, wrote the three-time Oscar winner. I am NOT in talks about an OceanGate film, nor will I ever be.

In addition to bringing 1997s Academy Award-winning Titanic to the big screen, Cameron has himself visited the wreckage of the 1912 ship dozens of times.

In the wake of the OceanGate sub disaster, Cameron said he had no doubt what had happened when news circulated that the vessel had gone missing.

Im struck by the similarity of the Titanic disaster itself, where the captain was repeatedly warned about ice ahead of his ship, and yet he steamed at full speed into an ice field on a moonless night and many people died as a result, Cameron said in an interview with ABC News. Its a very similar tragedy where warnings went unheeded.

The excursion was meant to begin and end on Fathers Day, June 18, until the sub lost contact with the surface about one hour and 45 minutes into its journey.

The victims included OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush, British billionaire Hamish Harding, Titanic explorer Paul-Henri Nargeolet, Pakistani businessman Shahzada Dawood, and his 19-year-old Suleman Dawood, who had reportedly been terrified to go on the trip.

Following reports that OceanGate had continued to advertise its upcoming excursions both during and after the search-and-rescue efforts, the company finally suspended operations last week.
A vehicle crash in Lumpkin County near Whitewater Trail ended in tragedy Thursday.

According to the Georgia State Patrol, troopers responded to a fatal wreck near Whitewater Trail, where a Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk carrying an adult and three children went over an embankment and into the Chestatee River.

Troopers told Channel 2 Action News that the driver was turning into a driveway when the tires traveled off, causing the vehicle to go down a steep embankment.

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The Jeep hit the roadway of Whitewater Trail, according to GSP, then went down a second embankment, where it overturned.

The adult driver and three children were trapped inside.

Troopers said the driver suffered minor injuries, and one of the children, a 3-year-old, died from their injuries on the scene.

No charges are being filed at this time, according to GSP.

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A shooting at a nursing home in Hackensack, New Jersey, left two elderly people dead Saturday morning, police said.

A 73-year-old woman and a 76-year-old man were found dead of apparent gunshot wounds after officers responded to the scene following a 911 call before 9 a.m., the Hackensack Police Department said in a statement posted to Facebook.

No other details were released about the cause of the shooting or the victims.

SHOOTING UNFOLDS AT BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA FIRE STATION; 2 FIREFIGHTERS SHOT

A shooting at a Hackensack, New Jersey, nursing home left two people dead Saturday, police said.

MULTIPLE PEOPLE SHOT IN BLADENSBURG, MARYLAND, POLICE SAY

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The Hackensack Police Department and the Bergen County Prosecutors Office Major Crimes Unit are investigating.
John Kerry steps into searing China heat as worlds two biggest polluters try to fix fractured ties

As John Kerry arrived in Beijing Sunday for a long-awaited trip to restart climate negotiations, the US climate envoy stepped off the plane into one of the hottest summers ever recorded in the Chinese capital.

Since 1951, Beijing has seen temperatures breaching 104 degrees Fahrenheit (40 degrees Celsius) on 11 days  with almost half of them occurring in the past few weeks, including a new record for the citys hottest day in June.

In the United States, an extreme heat wave is also swelling, with temperatures in the Southwest soaring as high as 120F (49C).

Its a global problem: the planets hottest day ever was recorded for four straight days earlier this month.

If anything, this is the situation that should most bring China and the US back on the same page, said Li Shuo, senior global policy adviser at Greenpeace China.

Regardless of their political differences, the impacts of climate change have now become a common experience for both countries  its no longer a hypothetical crisis or analytical challenge, but a living reality that can be felt through the skin.

As the worlds two biggest polluters  with Chinas emissions of planet-heating pollution more than double those of the US  the two countries account for nearly 40% of global emissions.

This means attempts to stave off the worst impacts of the climate crisis will need to involve these two powerhouse nations drastically cutting fossil fuel production  yet climate cooperation between them has been largely frozen for nearly a year amid heightened geopolitical tensions.

Last August, Beijing cut off climate talks with Washington in protest at then-US House Speaker Nancy Pelosis visit to Taiwan  in the middle of the worst heat wave China had seen in six decades.

More than two months of scorching heat dried up reservoirs, killed crops and livestock, crippled power supplies and led to rolling blackouts in some of the largest and most prosperous Chinese metropolises.

This year, sweltering temperatures have arrived even earlier, impacting hundreds of millions of residents and again putting huge strains on the countrys electricity grid. China Energy Investment Corporation, the worlds largest generator of coal-fired power, said its production of electricity reached a historic high on Monday.

The unrelenting heat waves highlight the urgency for the US and China to resume cooperation, as the unfolding climate crisis will not wait for the two countries to fix their relations first, experts say.

The suspension of climate talks set a very bad precedent, Li said. Tensions in bilateral relations shouldnt stand in the way of climate discussions. There needs to be more resilience.

Visitors wear sun hats and carry umbrellas as at the Forbidden City on a hot day in Beijing, on June 29. - Andy Wong/AP

A symbolic trip

Kerry is the third US cabinet member to visit China in recent weeks, as the Biden administration steps up efforts to mend fractured communications and stabilize tense relations with Beijing.

Last month, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Beijing, and US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen met with Chinas Premier Li Qiang last week. On Thursday, Blinken met with Chinas top diplomat Wang Yi on the sidelines of a summit in Jakarta.

In the wake of Covid and ever-worsening US-China relations, climate change promises to be an area where productive collaboration can benefit our two countries and the rest of the world, said Alex Wang, a professor of Law at the University of California, Los Angeles and an expert on Chinese climate policy.

Each country now has major programs in place to invest in and promote decarbonization, but neither side is moving quickly enough, he added.

Kerry, 79, has traveled to China twice since being appointed as US President Joe Bidens special climate envoy. He visited Shanghai in April 2021 and Tianjin five months later, amid Chinas rigid zero-Covid restrictions.

This time, Kerry will spend four days in Beijing to meet senior Chinese officials.

Secretary Kerry aims to engage with the PRC on addressing the climate crisis, including with respect to increasing implementation and ambition and promoting a successful COP28, the US State Department said in a statement Wednesday, referring to China by its formal title, the Peoples Republic of China.

Chinas Ministry of Ecology and Environment said the two sides will have an in-depth exchange of views on cooperation to address climate change.

US climate envoy John Kerry and China's chief climate negotiator Xie Zhenhua take part a panel discussion at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland in May 2022. - Arnd Wiegmann/Reuters

No breakthroughs expected

Like the visits by Blinken and Yellen, experts dont expect any major announcements from Kerrys trip, but they say the optics are significant.

Li, the Greenpeace analyst, said he would be closely watching who will meet with Kerry in Beijing. The default lineup, he said, includes Kerrys Chinese counterpart Xie zhenhua, Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang and a vice minister of ecology and environment.

If Kerry was granted an audience with Chinese leader Xi, it would send an important signal on Beijings commitment for future engagement, Li said.

Kerry has previously met with Xi in Beijing and Washington as then-Secretary of state during the Obama administration.

He has also worked closely with Xie, Chinas special climate envoy, on a groundbreaking US-China climate deal that paved the way for the 2015 Paris climate agreement. The pair also inked the US-China Glasgow joint declaration at the COP26 climate summit in 2021.

Kerry told CNN in a recent interview that US officials were planning to press China on commitments to cut back on burning coal and to slash its emissions of methane, a potent greenhouse gas.

What were trying to achieve now is really to establish some stability, if we can in the relationship, without conceding anything, Kerry said. Im not going over with any concessions.

Beijing, meanwhile, is likely to ask Washington to remove tariffs on Chinese solar panels, according to Li. But chances of breakthroughs are slim because these issues are highly political, he said.

A more realistic goal, according to Li, would be for the two sides to resume their joint working group on climate cooperation and pledge to continue communication before COP28 in Dubai, which begins November 30.

Both sides face pressure from their own domestic politics to walk a tightrope.

On Thursday, Republicans grilled Kerry in front of a House panel, attacking him for not doing enough to push China to cut emissions. Some criticized him for even engaging in climate negotiations with China, citing its human rights records and strategic rivalry with the US.

Kerry defended his trip, arguing it would be malpractice of the worst order, diplomatic and political and common sense for the US not to talk to China.

What were trying to do is find ways we can cooperate to actually address the crisis, because China as the worlds second largest economy and as the worlds largest emitter is critical to our being able to solve this problem, he said.

Coal is loaded onto trucks for delivery to power generation plants, after being unloaded from ships at the port in Lianyungang, in China's eastern Jiangsu province on July 12, 2023. - Stringer/AFP/Getty Images

Phasing out coal

Wang, the expert at UCLA, said the speed of Chinas transition from coal would be a major topic of conversation for Kerry.

Its almost the number one question that any outsider will have of Chinese officials, he said.

Its important because its such an enormous source of emissions and if China doesnt resolve it, all of their success on electric vehicles will not be as meaningful because youre just using electricity generated from coal.

Xi has pledged that China will reach peak carbon emissions by 2030 and become carbon neutral by 2060. That would require the country to phase out coal power, which accounts for about 60% of its total electricity generation.

To achieve that goal, China has massively ramped up installation of clean energy. Its solar capacity is now greater than the rest of the world combined, and its wind capacity is roughly equal to the combined total of the other top seven countries, according to a study from the non-profit Global Energy Monitor.

But at the same time, China has also been building a large number of new coal-fired power plants due to renewed concerns over energy security following months of power shortages in 2021 and 2022.

To many local governments, coal is still seen as the easiest and cheapest solution to power disruptions. The idea of security and the idea of having sufficient backup for renewable energy are all part of the story of why coal is still being relied on to the degree that it is, Wang said.

In the first quarter of this year, provincial governments approved more new coal-fired electricity generation than they did in all of 2021, according a study of official documents by Greenpeace.

The expansion of coal is a grave challenge for Chinas climate policy, Li said. If coal consumption does not decrease in proportion and in absolute amount, it will be very difficult for China to achieve long-term and meaningful emission reductions.

CNNs Helen Regan and Ella Nilsen contributed reporting.

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Parimatch is under sanctions

The Parimatch online casino, which is outlawed in Ukraine, has its clone, BuddyBet, Yevhen Plinskiy, a journalist renowned for his activism against illicit online casinos, said on Facebook on July 12.

Read also: Gambling companies have already quadrupled tax payments this year

Is Parimatch back?  No, as no one has removed the sanctions from them yet, but lately the so-called BuddyBet, which openly links itself with Parimatch and even promises to release the funds stuck on PMs accounts, has been actively advertised online, he wrote.

Plinskiy said he had been alerted by one of his subscribers, who informed about suspicious activities related to BuddyBet. He informed Plinskiy that BuddyBet operates smoothly and functions as an exact replica of Parimatch, operating without any issues.

In the case of this actual clone of Parimatch, everything works smoothly. The website, buddy1.bet, is active, and the account refills without any problems, Plinskiy said.

To verify this claim, the journalist personally visited the BuddyBet website, underwent the registration process using his Monobank card, and deposited 150 hryvnias into the account. Upon receiving a receipt for the transaction, it was revealed that the funds were transferred to the account of Hadley Point Ltd., situated in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi.

Read also: Postal worker embezzles nearly 200,000 hryvnias to fuel gambling habit

Upon investigation with the bank, Plinskiy discovered that the funds had been processed under the code 8299, classified as Childcare Services.

Its nothing else but criminal miscoding. By altering the payment code upon depositing funds into the casino, they manipulate the classification of the money as services or goods, thereby evading taxes, the journalist explained.

Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron!

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
If Kansas City cant trust its 911 system will help in an emergency, what can we trust? | Opinion

Perhaps clock-wearing, grill-baring Flavor Flav said it best in the 1990 song by Public Enemy:

911 is a Joke.

Too harsh? Well, lets see 

In May, Mario Williams, the owner of the Klymax Lounge on Kansas Citys East Side says he called Kansas City 911 at least five times before police responded. But when they finally came, it was too late. Suspects had killed three people and critically injured two.

In June, Mayor Quinton Lucas posted on LinkedIn about delayed response times when his sister called 911 about their ailing mother.

This month in St. Louis, officials said the 911 system there was overwhelmed and had long-standing problems, which led to deadly delays during a storm.

And this month in Philadelphia, critics said police could have done more to investigate a 911 call that ended in a mass shooting. Police blamed it on a dispatch error.

Local officials acknowledge the 911 program, which launched 55 years ago in 1968, may need changes. But meanwhile, here in Kansas City, we have longer and longer waiting times. The Mid-America Regional Council, the coordinating agency for Kansas Citys regional 911 system, announced plans to test the system in July. Were still waiting.

MARC also tracks data on 911 calls and as of Saturday, the average Kansas City Police Department wait time on 911 was 42 seconds, down from Fridays 1 minute, 40 seconds. Perhaps the attention since the Klymax shootings has made a difference. How does that compare to our neighbors? Kansas City, Kansas wait time was 8 seconds, and Overland Parks was 4 seconds.

When Mayor Lucas posted on LinkedIn, he cited a five-minute wait: Yesterday when calling 911 for my mother, my sister waited on hold for five minutes. While we were fortunate yesterday, the all-too-regular delay for people when calling for an emergency in our city for police, EMS, or fire response remains terrifying and unacceptable.

If the mayors mother cant get an immediate response, what about yours?

Men with guns at Klymax Lounge not a priority?

Another reason for slow police response to the Klymax Lounge is because it was classified as a priority level 4, which is not considered immediate  despite the fact that a report of men with guns outside the club was made in one of the earlier calls. If thats not immediate, what is?

Kansas City Star reporter Matti Gellman explained the system.

There simply is no defense for assigning this series of calls such a low priority. Could it be the increased summer load, or a lack of personnel?

But we cant help wondering whether, if such a call was made from a tony spot on the Plaza or a James Beard award-winning place in the suburbs, would it ever be classified a level 4?

And what about the so-called abandoned calls? If a 911 caller hangs up, thats how police label the call. That is one possible reason why, police say, the Klymax call was downgraded. But we can think of many reasons a caller might need to hang up the phone. MARC says as much in its document, Important Tips for Calling 911, available on its website at marc.org

What if the attacker enters the room and your safety would be compromised if you spoke out loud? What about simple, crippling fear? Will police call back to check, or send out a cruiser?

In those circumstances, MARC suggests using text messaging. There is a text to 911 service available in the Greater Kansas City metro, which includes Cass, Clay, Douglas, Jackson, Platte and Ray counties in Missouri, and Johnson, Leavenworth, Miami and Wyandotte counties in Kansas. Atchison County does not presently have text to 911 service.

(Other reasons to use the text to 911 service are if you are deaf or hard of hearing; if you are unable, for medical reasons, to speak into the phone; or if your cell signal isnt strong enough for a voice call to go through.)

What you need to know before making an emergency call

When you do get through, the dispatcher will ask you basic questions:

Where is this happening?

When did this happen?

What is happening now?

Why?

Is anyone injured?

Who is involved?

Descriptions?

Be ready to answer the questions calmly and completely.

But in the meantime if you have lost hope in the system, ask yourselves: Whats the alternative? Even people who have lost faith in the police still call 911 in an emergency. What else can you do? If you cant trust 911, whats left?

We demand better service to every 911 caller in Kansas City.

We certainly dont want to leave the last words to Flavor Flav, who rapped: 911s a joke in yo town.

Not our town, Flav. Not our town.
Hundreds of homes have been destroyed by a fire in a poor neighbourhood of the South African port city of Durban.

One person is known to have died in the blaze that tore through the Kennedy Road informal settlement early on Sunday morning, but there are fears that more bodies could be found.

Video footage shows the twisted remains of corrugated iron sheets used to build the shacks amid the smouldering debris.

People can be seen trying to salvage their belongings.

The cause of the fire is not yet known. However, some eyewitnesses say it started when two people, who had been drinking, got into an argument.

A South African Red Cross spokesman described it as a disaster and estimated that about 1,000 shacks may have been destroyed, leaving some 3,000 people homeless.

Siyabonga Hlatshwayo told the eNCA news site that the Red Cross had been distributing hot meals, mattresses and blankets to those affected and he appealed to the public for more donations.

More BBC stories about South Africa:
A Kentucky man busted by the FBI with 40 skulls, spinal cords, and other bones in his home may be linked to the Harvard morgue human remains trafficking scheme, FBI alleges

Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images

FBI agents found human skulls, spinal cords, femurs, and hip bones in a Kentucky man's home, a criminal complaint says.

The FBI said they also found a link to the Harvard morgue's human remains trafficking scheme.

The morgue manager was indicted last month on charges of selling human remains on the black market.

FBI agents searched the home of a Kentucky man as part of an investigation into human remains trafficking, and found "approximately 40 human skulls, spinal cords, femurs, and hip bones," according to court documents.

James Nott was arrested on July 11, after the FBI located the human remains in his home, along with firearms, inert grenades, and body armor. A criminal complaint alleged that Nott was part of a broader network involved in "the sale and transportation of fraudulently obtained human remains."

When FBI agents arrived at Nott's home to search it, they asked him if any other people were home. Nott replied, "Only my dead friends," according to the criminal complaints.

The agents then searched Nott's home and found a number of the human skulls "decorated around the furniture," including one skull with a head scarf wrapped around it and another skull on top of Nott's mattress. They also found a Harvard Medical School bag, the criminal complaint said.

Federal prosecutors indicted the Harvard Medical School's morgue manager last month, alleging that he and several co-conspirators stole the remains of people who'd donated their bodies to Harvard's anatomical gifts program and sold them on the black market.

That network of people trafficked in "heads, brains, skin, bones, and other human remains," according to an indictment filed against Harvard's morgue manager, Cedric Lodge. Lodge even sold dissected faces and hired a man to tan human skin "to create leather"  and other remains even ended up being sold in a doll shop in Salem, Massachusetts, named "Kat's Creepy Creations," according to court documents.

The FBI said Nott was using a public Facebook page with the name "William Burke" to post pictures of human remains for sale. The FBI recovered messages between Nott and another person discussing a transaction  the person sent Nott messages like, "How much total for the couple and the last video you sent plus the spines?"

The FBI said that person Nott was communicating with ultimately got busted by local police, and tipped them off to a broader network of people involved in human remains trafficking. One of those people was Lodge, the Harvard morgue manager, the FBI said.

Nott has since been charged with possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, and told FBI agents during a Mirandized interview that he owned an AK-47 rifle and a revolver he bought in a garage sale. Nott pleaded guilty to multiple felony weapons charges in 2011 and is not permitted to own firearms, according to court records.

Nott is currently in the custody of the United States Marshals Service and has not yet issued a plea. His public defender did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.

Read the original article on Insider
This story originally aired on Oct. 22, 2022.

Schanda Handley was at her home in the suburban neighborhood of Lafayette, Louisiana, with her daughter, Isabella, when the doorbell rang around 2:30 p.m. on Aug. 6, 2017.

Two men, posing as deliverymen, forced themselves in with guns. "They started to scream  to 'get the F on the floor,' and 'don't move,'" Handley told "48 Hours" contributor David Begnaud in her first television interview.

The two men handcuffed Handley and threw her into the back of a van.

"I'm hooded. They hooded me as soon as I went into the van. It was a van that didn't have the windows in the back. And it was just a rubber mat without seats back there, and -- laid me on the floor," she said.

Handley said one of the abductors was straddling her in the back of the vehicle, forcing pills into her mouth, and holding a gun to her head, while the other erratically drove them out of town. She recounted beginning to lose consciousness, as she says the men threatened to sexually assault and then kill her.

"And I started praying," said Handley.

Then she heard the sirens.

RESCUE OF A LIFETIME

Isabella Cumberland: I didn't know what was going on with my mom. There was no one really telling me what was happening.

KLFY REPORT: "Police say the woman was forcefully removed from her home in Lafayette "

With her childhood home now a crime scene and her mother Schanda Handley just abducted by armed intruders, Isabella Cumberland found herself confused amidst a crowd of investigators and forensic analysts.

Isabella Cumberland: They wanted to go over the fingerprints on the doors, upstairs, my phone. And it just kinda felt like I was another piece of evidence.

Isabella, then just 14 years old, was trying to process the sight of the violent kidnapping she had just witnessed at her family's home.

David Begnaud: As they're driving away with her, did you think that was the last time you'd ever see her?

Isabella Cumberland: I thought there was a chance.

Lafayette investigators and Isabella had no idea that about an hour after the kidnapping, just across the state near Baton Rouge, Chad Martin, an Iberville Parish sheriff's deputy, had pulled over a suspicious white van after a brief pursuit. There were two men inside.

They got stuck in the mud. So, the men jumped out and took off running. They jumped into the Intercoastal Waterway and disappeared.

And when Martin went to investigate that vehicle, he discovered Schanda Handley, handcuffed and naked in the back.

Deputy Chad Martin: She looked at me and I'll never forget this, she said, "Are you the real police? Are you the one that's gonna kill me?"

Schanda Handley: And he was like, "You're safe. You're safe."

Just minutes before, Martin was rushing home for Sunday dinner in his squad car after clocking out, unaware of Schanda's kidnapping nearly 60 miles away. His biggest worry at that time? His wife's wrath.

David Begnaud: I heard you were habitually late for dinners.

Deputy Chad Martin: I had a tendency  to be late for everything.

Now, he had unwittingly made the rescue of a lifetime.

Iberville Parish Deputy Chad Martin approached the van and found Schanda Handley naked and handcuffed in the back.

David Begnaud: What's going through your head? I mean, you were just tryin' to pull over a couple of guys who looked a little suspicious.

Deputy Chad Martin: I can't really tell you what was goin' through my head. Almost like I went into, like, robot mode.  I was just tryin' to get this woman help.

Schanda told him a harrowing story: that the kidnappers had drugged her and threatened to rape her and kill her.

David Begnaud: If not for Chad Martin 

Schanda Handley: Oh. I would be dead.  I can't even imagine, but I know it wasn't gonna be quick and swift.

Martin relayed the news of Schanda's rescue to dispatch, and it soon reached Isabella.

Isabella Cumberland: Whenever they told me that she was safe  I felt this relief.

Deputy Chad Martin: She had said that  she believed that her husband is the one that had paid them to kill her.

Her estranged husband, Michael Handley. Schanda says that before the difficult months leading up to the kidnapping, Michael would have been the last person she could've imagined would harm her. They had met in 2005 through friends in Lafayette, at a time when both were single parents and emerging from failed marriages.

Schanda Handley: He  was  really catering and just sweet and compassionate.

Another thing they had in common  both were in recovery for addiction.

Schanda Handley: At that time, I had been sober for about  18 years.

David Begnaud: Oh. Wow.

Schanda Handley: Michael was newly clean and sober.  He had about a year.

Isabella Cumberland, center, with Schanda and Michael Handley. / Credit: Schanda Handley

The new couple hit it off, and a year later they were married in Hawaii. Isabella took an immediate liking to Michael.

Isabella Cumberland: He  well, was my dad from when I was 2 years old  And so that's how I saw him, was really as my dad.

In 2007, Michael and Schanda found success channeling their experience in recovery into a new business, partnering with a doctor to start a chain of addiction treatment centers.

Schanda Handley: So, we wound up  opening at one point, I think, there were 14 centers throughout the south.

Eight years later, they made a decision.

Schanda Handley: We sold the company.

David Begnaud: How much did y'all make on the sale?

Schanda Handley: The two of them, Michael and his partner, we sold the company for $21.5 million.

David Begnaud: Wow.

Schanda Handley: Yeah.

But their life as happy millionaires didn't last long say prosecutors Donald Knecht and Kenny Hebert.

Kenny Hebert: You know, money and free time with someone with  an addictive personality isn't a great combination.

Schanda was seeing that firsthand with Michael in 2017, less than two years after the sale of their company, when she found a bottle of Adderall with Michael Handley's name on it.

Schanda Handley: So, what we believed at our treatment center was that use of something like that amphetamine could open the doors to a world of trouble. So, when I found the bottle,  it terrified me.  And I can remember telling him, "This could lead to death. This could lead to something devastating."

And soon things got even worse when Schanda discovered that Michael was seeing another woman.

Schanda Handley: He was having an affair.  And all I could think was, like, "I don't even know who this man is."

Michael and Schanda Handley / Credit: Schanda Handley

Schanda issued an ultimatum: Michael had to go into treatment, but when he refused to get help, she made a difficult decision.

Schanda Handley: I change the locks, and Michael was locked outta the house. And he started to lose his mind at that point  and so after a coupla weeks, he said, "You're gonna regret this." And then that turned into, "I'm telling you, it's gonna get bad."

The Handleys' life together was falling apart fast. Michael accused Schanda of assaulting him; she was charged, but later acquitted by a judge. All while Schanda was begging the authorities to see that she was the one in danger.

Schanda Handley: If Michael wasn't apprehended, he was going to kill me.

LIVING IN FEAR

As Schanda Handley was recovering in the hospital, investigators were learning the details of her tumultuous past with Michael Handley. They knew they had to find him and the kidnappers fast. They started scouring the canal  the last place her abductors had been seen.

Kenny Hebert: There was a fisherman  And  he reported these two individuals wading by him in the water  And one of 'em pointed a gun at him and said, "Be cool."

But as the kidnappers had been swimming towards freedom, the canal's unforgiving current had other plans.

Kenny Hebert: They found them floating in the Intracoastal Canal, drowned.

David Begnaud: Dead?

Kenny Hebert: Dead.

They were later identified as Sylvester Bracey and Arsenio Haynes.

David Begnaud: What did you think when you found out they were dead?

Schanda Handley: I thought  "I'm not gonna have to worry about them hurting me," as sad as that is.

While investigators suspected Michael Handley was responsible for the abduction, proving it might have been difficult with their main witnesses  the kidnappers  dead. But, Handley, it seemed, had made it kind of easy for them.

Kenny Hebert: Detectives were running the VIN number on the white van  That VIN number leads them to an Enterprise dealership in Baton Rouge.  They said, "Well, a few days ago, an individual named Lawrence Michael Handley came in a rented the van."

Kenny Hebert: And then a couple days before that, he went to Barney's Police Depot, which was a store  that carries specifically police-issue merchandise.

While investigating the case, authorities found evidence that they say pointed to Michael Handley as the mastermind behind the kidnapping. In this surveillance footage, he is seen purchasing handcuffs from a police supply store three days before Schanda's kidnapping. / Credit: 15th Judicial District Attorney's Office

Handley was seen on store surveillance cameras as he pulls up, and purchases handcuffs. Finding evidence allegedly connecting Handley to the kidnapping wasn't difficult but finding him turned out to be the challenge.

Schanda Handley: I'm asking if Michael's been apprehended. And they said, "No." And so, they said, "We need to, like, lay low for a little while."

With a fortune at his fingertips, investigators feared he could be anywhere and a danger to Schanda once she was released from the hospital. So, they came up with a plan of action.

Sid Hebert: We decided on a safe house outside of Lafayette

Sid Hebert, a former Louisiana sheriff, was part of the security detail watching Schanda 24/7.

Sid Hebert: We had a Lafayette Sheriff's deputy in a marked unit on premises.  No visitors, no  package deliveries, nothing until further notice.

Even in hiding, Schanda was feeling relief that Michael was finally being recognized as a threat after living in constant fear prior to the kidnapping.

Schanda Handley: The terror that I was in for those three months the kidnapping was nothing in comparison  The kidnapping was a blessing.

David Begnaud: What?

Schanda Handley: The kidnapping is what allowed me to get to a place where people were willing to support me.

David Begnaud: In the beginning, how many people believed Schanda?

Christine Mire: Not many.

But Schanda had found a fierce ally in Christine Mire, her divorce attorney. Mire knew all too well what Schanda had experienced.

Christine Mire: The most dangerous case I have ever heard about, let alone been a part of.

David Begnaud: What made it so dangerous?

Christine Mire: Michael Handley.  He was constantly stalking her, telling her that he knew where she was, threatening her, threatening her daughter with harm.

Schanda called the police several times, but felt she wasn't taken seriously. Mire helped Shanda secure a restraining order, but says Michael found creative ways to make it effectively worthless.

Christine Mire: He disguised his voice, he also used an app that picked up dummy numbers that he used to contact her.  So, there was no proof that it was him that was actually violating the protective order.

And he seemed to be tracking Schanda's every move.

Sid Hebert: He was able to spy on her through her own laptop computers.  her alarm system.  he compromised all of that.  nothing was out of bounds.

Michael's behavior was growing increasingly erratic. Even though he was the one to initially file for divorce in the spring of 2017, he soon changed his mind and Schanda says now he was demanding they reconcile, or she'd pay a humiliating price.

Schanda Handley: He says, "Some of our private videos are gonna go out to people in the community."

David Begnaud: Intimate videos?

Schanda Handley: Intimate videos.

Schanda struggled over this but knew she couldn't take him back.

Schanda Handley: So, videos went out to hundreds of people in the community.  My cousins, uncles  administration at the school, political friends, neighbors.  I sat and cried and was sick to my stomach  I almost didn't stand up.

Just when Schanda thought she couldn't take any more, on June 8, 2017  almost two months to the day before the kidnapping  Michael Handley slipped into her house through the garage.

Schanda Handley: He was enraged. He reeked of alcohol. He was  he was furious  And he had me pinned up against the wall. And  I screamed, "Isabella." Well, he put his hand over my mouth, and he pulled out a gun, a 9mm.

David Begnaud: A gun?

Schanda Handley: He pulls out a handgun.  And  and he said, "If you scream or anybody comes to interfere, I will shoot you both. I will kill you both. Do you understand me?"

Schanda says that after hours saying anything she could think of to calm him down, she finally convinced Michael to leave.

Schanda Handley: As soon as he walked out of that gate, I ran in the house, bolted the door  And I started screaming and crying.

Schanda Handley: When Michael left that day after he had attacked me, I was 100% positive he was going to kill me.

Police were called once again, but they didn't arrest Michael Handley.

David Begnaud: I can see in your eyes that you're getting emotional.

Schanda Handley: Oh  I felt as though I was being told  that I was lying and that I was making it up.

Christine Mire: This is why women don't report abuse. Because they fear they will not be believed

David Begnaud: How many times had Schanda filed a report against Michael?

Kenny Hebert: I believe that the  actual reports filed were a couple dozen, if not more. As far as how many times was there an arrest made, there wasn't.

David Begnaud: Why?

Kenny Hebert: A lotta times he was out of state. Sometimes the investigators felt like they didn't have enough evidence to actually go forward and get a warrant for the arrest.

After the kidnapping, investigators were confident that this time they had more than enough evidence to make an arrest. But could they find him in time?

Kenny Hebert: So, somehow, Michael is able to track Schanda down to the place that she's seeking refuge.

A DAMNING DISCOVERY

David Begnaud: Does Michael Handley know that the cops are onto him?

Kenny Hebert: Yes.  because at some point he tried to  charter a private plane  And so, the pilot essentially said, "I am not going to be taking you anywhereum, because you're a wanted man."

The pilot reported it to police, but Michael was long gone. And as he continued to evade authorities, Schanda got a text message from a strange number, claiming that Michael had also been kidnapped, saying in part "pay the ransom for your husband" and "pay us 500 large or we will send him home in pieces." A day later, friends received a shocking photo of Michael  he was nude, handcuffed, and seemingly injured.

David Begnaud: And he's got blood on him?

Kenny Hebert: Right.

It appeared to be from Schanda's kidnappers, but investigators knew that couldn't be true.

Kenny Hebert: We know that, obviously, it wasn't from them because they're dead at this point. So, Michael, is behind these messages.

On Aug. 11, 2017, after a four-day manhunt, detectives finally cornered the multimillionaire, once accustomed to private jets and five-star hotelshe was in an off-ramp motel in Slidell, Louisiana.

After a four-day manhunt, detectives found and arrested an oddly smiling Michael Handley at a Super 8 motel in Slidell, Louisiana. / Credit: 15th Judicial District Attorney's Office

As they took an oddly smiling Michael Handley into custody, investigators began sifting through the nearly $10,000 in cash, pizza boxes, and illicit drugs, finding a "to-do" list. On it were things like "burner phone, hair dye, cash"  but its final task was even more ominous, says prosecutor, Kenny Hebert, since Schanda's safehouse was just 35 miles away.

Kenny Hebert: But on the bottom of that list were the words, "Finish the job."

David Begnaud: And finish the job would mean?

Kenny Hebert: In our opinion, he was gonna kill her.

With Michael Handley now in a jail, Schanda and her security team decided it was finally safe to come out of hiding.

Sid Hebert: It was time to go home. And that's what she said, "I just wanna go home  and rebuild my life."

But with his track record of evading justice, Isabella was skeptical that the worst was behind them.

Isabella Cumberland: I remember thinking that  it was almost pointless that he was being arrested.  It felt like he had all the power, and he was gonna keep all of the power.

Michael Handley pleaded not guilty to a litany of charges, including conspiracy to commit second-degree murder, and prosecutors got to work building their case against him.

Kenny Hebert: Anytime you're on our side of the table, you start thinking, "What's the defense gonna be?" We could not figure out what (laughs) his defense was gonna be.

Kevin Stockstill: There was no question that she was a victim of a kidnapping.

But, says Kevin Stockstill, the man who Michael Handley hired to defend him, the physical evidence doesn't prove his client played a part in any of it.

David Begnaud: Were the van and handcuffs enough to convict him?

Kevin Stockstill: I don't think so.

That is because, Stockstill says, there is an explanation for everything. It started when Michael hired Sylvester Bracey  not to kidnap his wife  but instead, he claims, to move some furniture. That was the reason Michael rented the van, he says, and made no effort to hide it.

Kevin Stockstill: Mr. Handley, you know, goes into the Enterprise Rent-A-Car location with his  credit card in one hand and driver's license in the other.

David Begnaud: So, you thought you could explain to the jury, "Hey, listen. Nobody who's actually gonna commit this crime's gonna go in with their license and ID and buy it themselves."

Kevin Stockstill: Correct.

It was all innocent enough, Stockstill says, until the would-be "mover" went rogue. Stockstill theorizes Sylvester Bracey saw Michael's desperation to get his wife back and decided to use it to his advantage. That's when he enlisted Arsenio Haynes to help him kidnap Schanda and hold her for ransom.

David Begnaud: So, you're thinking the kidnappers could have wanted to extort Michael to get money from him, so they would have kidnapped his wife.

Kevin Stockstill: Potentially.

And of course, he did buy the handcuffs, but Stockstill says he only used them to stage that fake kidnapping photo.

Kevin Stockstill: So, as he's bound and gagged, he's bound with handcuffs.

It was just the latest example, according to Stockstill, of photos and videos that Michael had been sending to Schanda for months showing him in emotional distress, and, in one case, apparently beaten up in a misguided attempt to try to win her back.

MICHAEL HANDLEY (crying in video): I love you. I love you.

Kevin Stockstill: Because Michael had  he had a proclivity to try  and stage these things  to get, you know, sympathy from Schanda.

But as the defense prepared to argue that the kidnappers acted on their own, Schanda Handley made a damning discovery while cleaning out a remote Mississippi property they owned.

Kenny Hebert: Schanda starts gettin' some of her personal belongings. Well, one of the things that they found was this camera.

It was a type of camera called Arlo and Michael Handley used it for security.

David Begnaud: When Arlo detects sound and video, Arlo starts recording.

Schanda Handley: That's right, that's right.

Well, it turns out he accidently turned the camera on himself.

David Begnaud: All put together, what did the camera record?

Schanda Handley: I mean, hundreds of hours, hundreds of hours.

One of the first videos is from two months before the kidnapping. Michael is by himself in a hotel room and is apparently talking to himself.

Kenny Hebert: You see him movin' around. And at some point, he picks the camera up and he puts it in a bag. And you hear him say the words, "I'm gonna kill her. I'm gonna kill her."

MICHAEL HANDLEY (video): Kill her  kill her.

Prosecutors believe the "her" he intended to kill was Schanda, and that Michael was even more explicit just days later in a conversation with a friend in the living room of the Mississippi house.

Kenny Hebert: They're havin' beers and they're discussing the issues that he's having with Schanda.

FRIEND (video): Y'all are both pretty stubborn  MICHAEL HANDLEY: Neither one of us is going to surrender to the other. FRIEND: Right. Yeah, she's not going to and you're not going to.

The friend later said he didn't recall hearing what Michael said next.

MICHAEL HANDLEY (video): And that's why she'll die.

Schanda Handley: Michael says  "That's why she's gonna have to die." Just so matter of fact.

Michael Handley, right, is caught on camera with one of the kidnappers, Sylvester Bracey, prosecutors say, planning Schanda's abduction. / Credit: 15th Judicial Court

In yet another clip from just two weeks before the kidnapping Michael Handley is caught with Sylvester Bracey at that property planning how it was the perfect place, prosecutors say, to bring Schanda to torture her  and possibly worse.

Kenny Hebert: He specifically says, "It's almost impossible for anyone to get in here."  to which Bracey responds, "And it'll be impossible for her to get out."

MICHAEL HANDLEY (video): Thing is, you can't break in this place. You can't break in here  SYLVESTER BRACEY: And she can't break out.

David Begnaud: I mean, did you think you had a rock-solid case before that?

Kenny Hebert: Yes.

David Begnaud: But what'd you think after it.

Kenny Hebert: I thought, "I must have done somethin' right in the world."

Then, in a move no one saw coming, Michael Handley agreed to tell his side of things.

QUESTIONS FOR MICHAEL HANDLEY

While awaiting trial for the kidnapping of his estranged wife, Schanda, Michael Handley was held in the Lafayette Parish Correctional Center. But Schanda says even though Michael was behind bars, he continued to harass her.

Schanda Handley: I've received a lot of mail, letters  while he's been incarcerated.  I got numerous calls.

David Begnaud: Can't they stop him from calling you?

Schanda Handley: I guess not.

Schanda Handley said Michael continued to harass her from behind bars. / Credit: 15th Judicial District Attorney's Office

On top of that, Schanda lived in fear that Michael just might get out. That's because, at one point, the defense argued that Michael was suffering from mental illness and was not guilty by reason of insanity.

Kevin Stockstill: When Michael was  was sober  he was a fantastic individual, you know  Very talented  willing to help people.  when he was found at the hotel in Slidell, I mean, there were drugs there. You know. There's no question that he was using again.  I don't know the level of his responsibility, but  I think it's a combination of  substance abuse and  some mental illness.

For prosecutor Kenny Hebert, however, it was a desperate attempt to get Michael released.

Kenny Hebert: They did it so that they could get some psychological  professionals on the stand to say, "He needs to be out of jail, and he needs to go to these mental health facilities."  Well, we're talkin' about mental health facilities that don't have nearly the security that a jail has.

Michael's defense team submitted mental health records showing that he suffered from bipolar disorder complicated by drug addiction, which they say rendered him legally insane during the time leading up to the kidnapping. Two court-appointed doctors agreed. But the judge ruled Michael was competent to stand trial and must remain behind bars.

Kenny Hebert: Once they initially failed to get him out  they withdrew that plea.

David Begnaud: And what did they change it to?

Kenny Hebert: They just changed it to regular not guilty.

While Michael Handley's criminal battle was heating up, in March of 2018, his divorce from Schanda became finalized. Schanda was awarded all of the assets. There was only one problem.

Schanda Handley: There is no money. There's no money. You know, millions of dollars vanished.

Christine Mire: Michael was a very eccentric person.  he was obsessed with the collapse of the American dollar. So much of their money was in gold bars.

Kenny Hebert: Schanda said she had seen gold before and knew that there was gold somewhere on that  property.  I believe people actually went out with metal detectors to try to figure out if he stashed it somewhere.  No gold was ever recovered  So, there's all of this money that's unaccounted for  But we know it's gotta be out there somewhere.

On top of being left with nothing, Schanda says she suddenly found herself responsible for repaying her now ex-husband's massive debts.

David Begnaud: How much of a hole did he leave you in?

Schanda Handley: $750,000.  I can't comprehend how I'm now in a position where I owe this sort of money.

Schanda felt like it was a slap in the face after enduring so much. But it wasn't all for naught. During the settlement negotiations Schanda's divorce attorney Christine Mire had subpoenaed Michael for a deposition. And surprisingly he agreed.

David Begnaud: I mean, that's wild.

Christine Mire: It is.

Kenny Hebert: I can imagine that someone with the arrogance that Michael Handley had, insisted that he was gonna testify and it was gonna be fine, 'cause he is the smartest person in the room.

Schanda's divorce attorney and the prosecutors had agreed to cooperate with each other. And everyone was interested in hearing what Michael Handley had to say.

Kevin Stockstill: It was a risk.

David Begnaud: Because he might go into that deposition and say stuff that really jeopardizes his criminal case.

Kevin Stockstill: I've never been more nervous in a deposition than that one.

Dressed in a striped prison uniform, Michael answered questions for 10 hours over three days.

Kevin Stockstill: I was hanging on every question.

David Begnaud: I bet you were.

Kevin Stockstill: Yeah.

MICHAEL HANDLEY: It was a chaotic and hectic time. I was living out of hotels. I'd been moving from hotel to hotel for several months.

Michael was asked about his relationship with Sylvester Bracey, and the reason he rented that van.

MICHAEL HANDLEY: Sylvester Bracey, I had hired him to move furniture.  I rented the van to make a move, to move the furniture.

He stuck with his original story.

Christine Mire: He said that he had hired movers in order to move furniture, and they went rogue, because they thought he had money.

MICHAEL HANDLEY: I got a phone call.  As soon as I answered the phone and I said "Hello," they screamed  they screamed, "We've got your mother******* wife." And  I just remember 'cause it was like I got punched in the gut  It was like one of those moments when you go into  not real.

Michael Handley answered questions for 10 hours over three days. / Credit: 15th Judicial District Attorney's Office

But when pressed about the details of how he first met Bracey, Michael claimed he couldn't remember much about the weeks leading up to the kidnapping.

MICHAEL HANDLEY: I don't recall.

MICHAEL HANDLEY: The reason that I don't recall is because I was high. I was living like a rock star. I was on and off medications during this period of time  and I was under the influence of substances.

MICHAEL HANDLEY: Mental illness is tough, you know.

But, he insisted, despite the gaps in memory, there was one thing he knew for certain.

MICHAEL HANDLEY: I would not kidnap my wife.

Christine Mire: He would cry, and say that he loved her so much, that he was so sorry. It was that type of manipulation.

MICHAEL HANDLEY: I have tremendous regret.

During the deposition, Mire pulled that Arlo camera recording in which prosecutors believe Bracey and Michael Handley were caught talking about the plot to kidnap Schanda  the wife Handley claimed he loved so much.

Christine Mire: I queued up where one of the kidnappers was telling Michael, "And, you know, if she gets outta line, I won't hesitate to kill her."

SYLVESTER BRACEY TO MICHAEL HANDLEY (camera recording): I'll kill that mother f*****.

Christine Mire: And I said, "What kind of movers tell that to you?" And his fear was palpable, and he said, "Oh, I don't know Christine, people tell me all sorts of things."

Michael Handley withered under questioning, poking holes in his own defense with his own words.

Kenny Hebert: The civil attorneys provided us with those deposition transcripts shortly after receiving 'em.

And with the trial date fast approaching, Michael's defense attorney feared the worst.

Kevin Stockstill: We were of the opinion that he ran a significant risk of  of a conviction.

With the walls closing in, and hours before the trial was to start, Michael Handley indicated he was open to a deal.

Kevin Stockstill: He would plead, you know, second-degree kidnapping. The minimum sentence would be 15 years. The maximum sentence would be 35 years.

Prosecutors Donny Knecht and Kenny Hebert say there was a lot to take into consideration.

Donny Knecht: The problem with a jury trial is you  you almost never know.

Kenny Hebert: But also knew that there's Schanda Handley.  there's Isabella.  You've got victims that have to relive that moment if you go to trial.

Ultimately, the decision to take the deal or go to trial was Schanda's.

Schanda Handley: I was so scared that if we went to trial that it could work out beautifully for him.  because Michael always lands on his feet.  once Michael's out, I'm no longer free.

SCHANDA'S DECISION

In July 2021, all Schanda Handley wanted was for her ex-husband Michael Handley to stay behind bars. So, she agreed to accept his plea of guilty to second degree kidnapping.

Schanda Handley: I didn't want to take any risks  I would rather the plea deal than to take the chance and go to trial.

Less than a year later, on March 24, 2022, Schanda was in the courtroom to find out what Michael's sentence would be. Isabella was there, too, as was Michael.

David Begnaud: What was it like to come face-to-face with him in court?

Isabella Cumberland: It was so surreal, you know?  And I think honestly for both of us, it was this really strong, powerful emotion that we both felt, but mine was hatred.

Hoping to help convince the judge to give Michael the maximum sentence, Isabella chose to give a victim impact statement.

David Begnaud: What did you say at the hearing?

Hoping to help convince the judge to give Michael the maximum sentence, Isabella Cumberland chose to give a victim impact statement. / Credit: CBS News

Isabella Cumberland: I really kind of told a story about  how difficult it really made my life, and how difficult it still makes my life.  because I didn't think he knew that it affected me as well as it affected her.

Schanda also had something she wanted to say to Michael.

Schanda Handley: I told him that he wrecked everything, and that he destroyed everything,  and how could you  like, we had, like, a really  we had a good life. We  had a good family. And we  we adored each other.  He was the person I most admired in this world until then.

David Begnaud: Do you think Michael understands his actions have had an effect on his former wife and stepchild?

Kevin Stockstill: I think that he does.

David Begnaud: You get the sense the guy is sorry?

Kevin Stockstill: I think so.  I think he's capable of remorse.

Yet, when it was Michael's turn to speak, instead of a tearful apology, he gave yet another new story. This time he admitted he did, in fact, hire the two men to kidnap Schanda. But he claimed it was all fake, and staged so that he could swoop in, save her, and be the hero.

Donny Knecht: What he really wanted to do was emerge as the white knight  who came in and rescued her.  It was a way for him to try to win her back, but he never really intended to hurt her.  it was all a big game.

In the end, the judge sided with the prosecution and gave Michael Handley the maximum penalty.

NEWS REPORT: A Lafayette man was sentenced today in the 2017 kidnapping case of his estranged wife. Lawrence Michael Handley received 35-years in prison for the crime.

Schanda Handley: Thirty-five years, minus five for time served  puts him out when he's 79.

David Begnaud: Seventy-nine.  Are you OK with that?

Schanda Handley: I'd rather he never get out.

David Begnaud: Are you still afraid, even with him behind bars?

Schanda Handley: Oh, yeah.

That concern is something Isabella shares.

David Begnaud: Do you fear for your safety from Michael Handley?

Isabella Cumberland: Yeah. I do.  Nothing could stop him.

Isabella Cumberland: I just see him as a villain, not a good person. And  I'm not sad about it. In my mind, he's changed to a completely different person. So, it doesn't feel like I've lost my dad. It feels like I've lost a stranger.

The now 20-year-old college junior chooses to focus on the valuable lesson that she learned from her mother.

Isabella Cumberland: It's so powerful to see how my mom handled this situation,  She's shown me how she can overcome something so horrible, and turn it into something great, and become an even better person out of it.

Schanda has found renewed purpose working with others like her. She sold property, took out a loan, and opened two sober living homes dedicated to helping women get back on their feet.

Schanda Handley (outside of sober living home): It's been really, really rewarding.  And you know, from my experiences that I've had  the challenges that I've had  I'm  able to  show them firsthand that  We get up, we keep goin'. We put one foot in front of the other and we will persevere.

An important part of moving forward for Schanda has been recognizing those who stood by her. And while she did speak on the phone with Chad Martin, the officer who saved her, she never got the chance to thank him in person until now. "48 Hours" arranged for them to meet.

SCHANDA HANDLEY: It's so good to meet you.

DEPUTY CHAD MARTIN: It's good to see you again. (They hug)

SCHANDA: Yeah, I'm looking at you to see if I can remember.

DEPUTY CHAD MARTIN: I remember.  I'm really glad that  I was in the right place at the right time to help you. Really glad.

SCHANDA HANDLEY: Thank you.  I feel like I owe you everything.  I guess my greatest gratitude in you saving my life is that my daughter gets to have her mom and have a good life.  Thank you. Give you another hug.

Handley is appealing, saying he was not properly informed of his rights when he pleaded guilty. He is also arguing his sentence of 35 year was too harsh.

Produced by Chris O'Connell, Betsy Shuller and Rich Fetzer. David Dow is the development producer. Marlon Disla, Michelle Harris and George Baluzy are the editors. Morgan Canty is the associate producer. Lourdes Aguiar is the senior broadcast producer. Nancy Kramer is the executive story editor. Judy Tygard is the executive producer



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On Saturday, the community honored a Colorado man's distinguished service to our country and also his 100th birthday.

Lt. Col. Harvey served in the United States Air Force as a fighter pilot with the 332nd Fighter Group's 99th Fighter Squadron or best known as the Tuskegee Airmen. A Congressional Gold Member awardee, Lt. Col. Harvey and his 332nd Fighter Group Weapons pilot team won the USAF's inaugural "Top Gun" team competition in 1949.

At 100 years old Lt. Col. Harvey is one of the last living members of the Tuskegee Airmen.

The bash was at the Wings Over the Rockies Museum. The community met up at Coyote Gulch Park near Yale Avenue and Bear Creek Boulevard around 11:30 a.m. to help "sendoff" Lt. Col. Harvey.

As part of his birthday celebration, the Lakewood Police Department escorted him from his home in Lakewood to the Wings Over the Rockies Museum for the festivities.

Nature: Puffins in Maine

Yuval Noah Harari on the threat to democracy in Israel

Zoe Saldana on "Special Ops: Lioness"
New laws remove obstacles for DACA recipients who want to become police officers

As police departments struggle to recruit and retain officers, some look to a previously untapped pool of applicants to fill job vacancies.

States, including California and Colorado, have begun to pass laws that would permit noncitizens who are authorized to work in the U.S. to become police officers, while others, such as New Jersey, mull similar legislation. The measures make recipients of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, program eligible for law enforcement work.

Beneficiaries of the DACA program have historically been barred from holding jobs in law enforcement because of various provisions in state laws.

The DACA program, which provides protections against deportation for people who arrived in the United States without legal status before turning 16 and who have lived in the country continuously since at least 2007, has about 580,000 active recipients in the United States.

Christian Alberto Mendoza-Almendarez, 30, is among them. He was brought to the U.S. at age 7 after his family fled Mexicos drug cartels.

He has wanted to be a police officer since he was a boy watching his father patrol the streets of San Luis Potosi, Mexico. But his immigration status makes him ineligible in Texas, where he serves as a neighborhood liaison with the Austin Police Department.

Christian Mendoza at his home in Austin, Texas. (Jordan Vonderhaar for NBC News)

He's thinking about moving to California or Colorado to fulfill his dream.

Were not here to change the requirements, he said. These people have what it takes to become a police officer.

Before changing its law last year, California required that police officers, or peace officers, be U.S. citizens or permanent residents who were eligible for and applied for citizenship.

In Colorado, DACA recipients previously could not legally carry firearms. Colorados new measure, which was signed into law by Gov. Jared Polis in April, does away with that prohibition.

"It's a smart policy, especially with fewer and fewer people wanting to go into law enforcement," said Art Acevedo, the interim chief of police for the Aurora Police Department in Colorado, which has 71 open positions.

Acevedo, who immigrated to the U.S. from Cuba with his family as a young child and headed police departments in Houston, Austin and briefly in Miami, said a persons nation of origin should have no bearing on their suitability for a career in law enforcement.

Supporters of similar measures have noted that noncitizens who are authorized to work in the U.S. can already serve in the military, making law enforcement work a natural extension.

Critics of such legislation, however, say careers in law enforcement should be reserved for U.S. citizens and that noncitizens should not be able to carry firearms or possess the power to arrest citizens.

Chapin Rose, a Republican member of the Illinois Senate, blasted the legislation that passed the state House and Senate but has not been signed into law, saying during a recent hearing that there is a greater principle at stake.

Its just a fundamentally bad idea, he said during the hearing in May. I dont care where this individual is from. Australia  they should not be able to arrest a United States citizen on United States soil.

Christian Mendoza shows off some his police memorabilia. (Jordan Vonderhaar for NBC News)

Police departments across the country have been struggling to recruit and retain officers over the past several years.

The Police Executive Research Forum, a law enforcement policy group, has attributed the decrease in staffing to extreme stresses caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and a decline in police officers morale, as well as protests and demonstrations following the murder of George Floyd in 2020 by Minneapolis police, among other issues. But others have attributed the decrease to calls for accountability and police reform spurred by Floyds murder, and to officers leaving for higher paying jobs in the private sector.

Joseph Farrow, chief of police for the University of California, Davis, led the effort that prompted the University of Californias development of the law in partnership with the state Legislature.

Californias bill, SB 960, which was introduced in February 2022 and signed into law in September 2022, removed a provision in state law that said a person had to be a citizen to be a peace officer and replaced it with a requirement that peace officers be legally authorized to work in the U.S. It took effect on Jan. 1.

Year after year, Farrow said he has encountered students through his work with the UC Davis Cadet Academy  a popular nonaccredited course offered once a year to those interested in a law enforcement career  who excelled in the program and wanted to be peace officers but were "prohibited because of a law in California that was enacted, some 50, 60 years ago."

He petitioned his bosses at the university to take up the issue and to bring it to the attention of state Sen. Nancy Skinner, a Democrat who sponsored the bill. Farrow said he testified in support of the bill before the state Senate and Assembly.

Skinner and Farrow both said that most lawmakers had been unaware of the decades-old provision before its removal. One of the biggest hesitations expressed by those who opposed the measure was over vetting the backgrounds of noncitizens, Farrow said, which he believed was a reasonable concern.

We responded, basically, 'Yeah, thats an issue, Farrow said. And if we cant prove identity and we cant prove background and we dont have enough information to make sure that the people that were hiring are people that would be good representatives of law enforcement, then they dont get hired, just like anybody else.

Like Farrow and others who publicly supported these laws, Staci Shaffer, a lieutenant with the Larimer County Sheriffs Office in Colorado, said these measures didn't water down the requirements or lower the standards for employment. Qualified applicants must still undergo medical and psychological exams, pass fitness tests and attend the academy, in addition to satisfying other criteria.

Shaffer, who testified before Colorado lawmakers, said that she believed it was "draconian" to turn away a noncitizen authorized to work in the country who was otherwise qualified.

"Law enforcement, in my mind, we have a reputation problem," she said. "There's a reputation because of the actions of some officers." Shaffer said she would tell critics of these laws to "get over it." She said she suspected many law enforcement departments, including the Larimer County Sheriff's Office, which is majority white and majority male and has 68 open positions over several departments, could stand to diversify its ranks to better serve its communities.

DeLacy Davis, a retired police officer in New Jersey and a community policing expert, said he believes some of the opposition to these measures "is grounded in straight racism, no chaser. Period."

"I dont think that we can draw clear lines in the sand and determine, 'Oh, youre not a citizen, you cant be qualified. You are a citizen, you must be a good person,'" he said. "The people who killed Breonna Taylor, the people who killed Tyre Nichols, the people who killed George Floyd, all of those were American citizens. I believe, in and of itself, that is a flawed argument  when we talk about citizenship as a basis for determining whether or not you can or cannot effectively police."

Laurence Benenson, vice president of policy and advocacy at the National Immigration Forum, said the organization had fought for the passage of such laws for years. Benenson said staffing issues predate the pandemic, and that police departments across the country have faced difficulties in hiring qualified candidates for at least a decade, and, in some cases, in recruiting younger officers.

We believe that hiring lawful permanent residents and Dreamers who work in law enforcement jobs is a common sense idea," and that offering these opportunities to people who "already are contributing in a number of other areas" will expand the pool of qualified applicants for law enforcement jobs, he said. "And then well also have an additional benefit of helping those law enforcement agencies better reach communities that they work with, particularly in jurisdictions that have significant immigrant populations."

Mendoza-Almendarez agreed, saying that hiring DACA beneficiaries is a way for law enforcement agencies to put more well rounded officers on the force and to make inroads with immigrants.

I think thats one step in helping to increase trust with our undocumented community, he said.

Farrow said his department is fully staffed and that he has recruited one DACA recipient under the new law.

I think as time goes on, and more and more chiefs and communities understand that this law is there, and heres the process to do it, I think its going to grow, he said.

Acevedo said the Aurora Police Department was actively recruiting those now eligible for employment under the new law and that the first thing he did when the legislation passed was promote it on a local Spanish-language news station.

We have started educating the community and were hopeful that we will end up getting good candidates, he said.

Christian Mendoza holds a picture of his father in Mexico and a picture of himself wearing his fathers police uniform. (Jordan Vonderhaar for NBC News)

Mendoza-Almendarez is among the first people Acevedo hopes to recruit. The two met when Mendoza-Almendarez was a teenager in the Austin Police Department's explorer program and remained friends.

The new opportunity is one he and other DACA recipients welcome, Mendoza-Almendarez said.

If these people are willing to do so, why are we not allowing people to do that?

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
LCU graduates, Kristin Bruton and Janay Settles, spent two weeks in Spain earlier this summer helping rescued horses, donkeys, and ponies and learning about equine veterinary medicine while working hands-on at the rescue center.

LCU graduates, Kristin Bruton and Janay Settles, spent two weeks in Spain earlier this summer helping rescued horses, donkeys, and ponies and learning about equine veterinary medicine while working hands-on at the rescue center.

After their graduation from LCU in May, Bruton and Settles were selected to participate in Loop Abroad as part of a small team that volunteered as interns at the Easy Horse Rescue Center in Rojales, Spain, according to a news release. They each participated in the care of rescued horses, learning about the anatomy and physiology of the animals, as well as their upkeep, physical exams, dentistry, welfare, and assisting in their preventative health care.

The Equine Medicine program brings students to Spain for two weeks to volunteer alongside equine veterinarian and animal experts. Bruton, Settles, and their team participated in a hands-on course in equine handling, physical and musculoskeletal exams, bandaging, nutrition, preventative medicine, diagnostics, and therapeutics to help support the horses at the Easy Horse Rescue Center.

Bruton, Settles and their team provided care for the horses at the rescue center, including husbandry, grooming, and stall and field clearing. They were also able to travel to an Equine Hospital on the coast of Spain. Admission to veterinary programs with Loop Aboard is very selective, and Bruton, Settles were chosen to participate based on their college transcripts, admissions essay, and professional references.

By following a study abroad model instead of a voluntourism model, the Loop Abroad organization focuses on educating its students so that they can contribute and serve in meaningful ways. It also works with locally run animal welfare and conservation organizations so that students contribute to long-term improvement on the ground in the countries they visit.

Kristin Bruton and Janay Settles participated in the care of rescued horses, learning about the anatomy and physiology of the animals, as well as their upkeep, physical exams, dentistry, welfare, and assisting in their preventative health care.

With programs in Thailand, South Africa, Australia, Costa Rica, Belize, Panama, and Spain, Loop Abroad supports animal welfare and conservation around the world because of its students and their dedication to helping animals in need.

Our students are some of the most amazing people I have ever met. They are kind, compassionate, dedicated, hard-working individuals who have big goals and want to make a big impact," said Jane Stine, the program's managing director. "Its amazing to see how eager they are to learn and challenge themselves. Over the last 14 years, weve seen them go on to do some wonderful things.

The trip was an amazing way to meet new people and get hands on practical experience," Bruton said in the release. "Learning specific equine medicine techniques was a different aspect than sitting in lecture. This trip was a great way to apply lecture material in real life clinical situations.

Volunteering and shadowing Anna at the Easy Horse Care Rescue Center has been an absolute blessing, and I am grateful for all the support I have received that got me here," Settles said. "Learning the overall anatomy, how to do various procedures  including a SubQ and IM injection  and various other information about equids as well as the history of the horses at the center will forever be instilled in my memories!

Bruton and Settles both hold bachelor of science degrees in animal science with a pre-veterinary emphasis from LCU.

This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: LCU graduates get hands-on experience at equine rescue center in Spain
At least 4 killed in mass shooting in small Georgia city; suspect still at large

At least four people have been killed in a mass shooting in Hampton, a small city just south of Atlanta, on Saturday morning.

Law enforcement identified Andre Longmore of Hampton as a suspect in the killings in a news conference Saturday evening.

At around 10:45 am, Longmore shot and killed four people, three men and one woman, officials said. The victims were not identified pending notification of next of kin.

This is a sad day in Hampton. Its not normal for us and as a community we will grieve together," said Hampton Police Department Chief James Turner of the shootings. "As a police department we will do everything in our power to make ensure that the person is brought to justice.

Officials are investigating if Longmore is related to any of the victims. A motive for the shootings was not immediately clear Saturday.

Mayor Ann tarpley speaks at the police department in Hampton, Ga. (WXIA)

A reward of $10,000 is being offered for any information leading to Longmores arrest.

Henry County Sheriff Reginald B. Scandrett urged residents not to approach Longmore as hes known to be armed.

"Wherever you are, we will hunt you down in any hole that you may be residing in and bring you to custody, period," Scandrett said at Saturday's briefing.

The shootings are still under investigation, with at least four active crime scenes, said Turner.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Idahos unique fireworks law: you can sell anybody illegal fireworks as long as they certify that they wont shoot it off where its illegal. We should use this approach to marijuana, sell it to all adults as long as they certify not to smoke it where its illegal.

Allen L Wenger, Boise

Tired of verbal abuse

For the second time in three weeks, I was verbally accosted by boys driving through my neighborhood. This evening the language was aggressively and crudely sexual. In both instances, these roving boys felt no compunction about verbally attacking a woman. They were all comfortable that they will escape accountability. I know this because in both instances the driver stopped the car so that the posse could escalate their language and posturing.

If these boys are comfortable with verbally assaulting a woman old enough to be their grandmother, how are they treating the girls in their lives? What crude remarks do they make in the halls of their schools? Or at the mall? Their taunts are the hallmark of deep insecurities. Where did they learn to address their shortcomings by degrading others - a random woman walking down the street?

Initially appalled, I felt a growing sense of sadness. These boys are going to have difficult emotional lives. I feel less safe in my neighborhood of 30+ years. Taking a walk is now risking abuse that I have fought against my entire life. I dont know what has happened or why. I just know that Boise isnt quite Boise anymore.

Maria Minicucci, Boise

Scrapping maternal mortality data

Florida governor Ron DeSantis likes to say that his state is where woke goes to die, though more accurately its where old people go to die. By contrast, Idaho can credibly make the claim that Idaho is where women go to die. This is the next  but not the last  step in the Idaho Freedom Foundation and extremist state legislators campaign to shred our basic rights of citizenship.

Idahos censorship of public health data about maternal mortality follows recent and ongoing censoring of history, art, and literature, all in service of a broadly bigoted, anti-democratic, and un-American religious agenda that strips women of ownership of their most basic property right, namely ownership and control of their own bodies.

Idaho is the only state in the nation that refuses to compile and study data about maternal mortality. Any state government that takes away established rights and forces American citizens to give birth against their will qualifies as a tyrannical Big Government in my book. Doubly so if it callously disregards and ignores information that affects how many women will actually die before, during, and after the state government forces them to give birth against their will. And this is Christianity, really?

Chris Norden, Boise

Worried about Durst

I am concerned about the appointment of Branden Durst as the superintendent of the West Bonner County School District (WBCSD). Currently Durst does not have the four years of full-time experience working with students needed to be a school superintendent.This is a huge concern for all of us in Idaho who care about the education of our youth.

Superintendents are managers who oversee the day-to-day operations of a school district but they are also leaders who know how to inspire students and staff. Durst does not have the background knowledge to be an effective leader of WBCSD. If this is a job he hopes to achieve, he should spend the next few years obtaining teaching experience in our Idaho schools. Governor Little and Members of the State Board of Education, please do not grant him a provisional certificate. Branden Durst does not have the credentials to serve as an Idaho public school superintendent.

Kayla Dodson, Boise

Solar billing change doesnt make sense

Idaho Powers billing change doesnt pass the smell test.

First, nearly everyone agrees that consumers should be encouraged to use less energy, but somehow using less by investing in solar is cheating? If thats true then setting your thermostats higher in the summer and lower in the winter, or investing in better insulation or windows is cheating.

And how is it that solar is a solution when Idaho Power pursues it, but a problem when customers do the same? And why are solar users accused of not paying their fair share of using the grid? After all, they pay to purchase, install and maintain rooftop systems that produce power for IP and all of its customers.

And by the way, usage peak is 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. not 3 to 11 as Idaho Power says. Its tied to temperature and air conditioning, you can look up your own usage online, or check national averages from the U.S. Energy Association.

But these are inconvenient facts easily ignored by Idaho Power. Our only hope is that the Idaho Public Utility Commission acts on the consumers behalf and not Idaho Power, whose lobby provides tens of thousands of dollars annually and lucrative jobs to state officials who see it their way.

Thomas Buchta, Boise

Time for dam breaching has come

The need to breach the dams is more imminent. With increases in temperatures, the seething cauldrons they call reservoirs behind the dams are getting more dried out and putrid. Go down and take a look at lower granite reservoir now there is something that looks like an algae bloom. Terrible for fish and humans

Julian Matthews, Lapwai
WASHINGTON  Former New Jersey Governor and 2024 Republican presidential hopeful Chris Christie, who has shown no reluctance to attack Donald Trump, went after the former president for parading his criminal indictments to supporters at a conservative political conference.

Hes a liar and a coward. Hes not getting indicted for anyone other than because of his own conduct, Christie said Sunday on CNNs State of the Union.

Speaking at the Turning Point Action conference, Trump told attendees Saturday he considers his indictments to be a great badge of honor and courage.

I am doing it for you. I am being indicted for you. Better me than you right? Trump said, adding he believes he was indicted on behalf of more than 200 million people that love our country, far more than 200 million.

Trump was first indicted in March by a grand jury in New York City over his alleged role in a hush money payment scheme to two women who claimed to have had sex with Trump before the 2016 election. Trump was indicted again by a federal grand jury over his alleged mishandling of classified documents after he left the Oval Office.

The 2024 Republican presidential race: Donald Trump has a big lead for the GOP nomination. Can DeSantis, Pence or anyone else catch him?

Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie speaks at a town-hall-style event at the New Hampshire Institute of Politics at Saint Anselm College on June 06, 2023 in Manchester, New Hampshire.

Christie scoffed at Trumps statements and took aim at the former presidents documents case on Sunday, saying there is no other of the 200 million Americans he spoke about who illegally retained classified national secrets after being asked politely, quietly and professionally for 18 months to voluntarily turn them over.

Theres no other of those 200 million Americans who lied to their own lawyers about where those documents were and theres none of those other 200 million Americans who lied to the prosecutors about it and flashed around documents regarding an Iranian war plane to anyone who didnt have the clearance to see them, he added.

Christie referenced an audio recording from 2021 of Trump discussing what he apparently knew was a classified document from the Pentagon related to a potential attack on Iran, among other allegations from the indictment against the former president.

Hes indicted because of his outrageous conduct, Christie said. When he says hes doing it for us, thats a lie. And when he was doing all the things that he said he was doing with those documents, it shows exactly what a coward he is.

Republican presidential candidate former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie addresses a gathering, Tuesday, June 6, 2023, in Manchester, N.H.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Chris Christie says Donald Trump was indicted for 'outrageous conduct'
After the liberation of Crimea, Ukraine expects to bring to justice around 10,000 individuals who collaborated with the Russian authorities, but will not punish those whom it considers "victims" of the occupation.

Source: Tamila Tasheva, Permanent Representative of the President of Ukraine in the Crimean Autonomous Republic, in an interview with Newsweek

Details: Tasheva suggested that many collaborators would flee Crimea before Ukraines Armed Forces enter the peninsula.

At the same time, she says, Ukraine is already communicating with various departments and its citizens in Crimea, urging them to leave the peninsula if possible so as not to cooperate with the invaders.

Quote: "But if you stay and participate in the illegal occupation and the war crimes committed by the Russians, you will be held to account. This won't be an easy process, which is why we are already developing the legal framework for future proceedings, including the lustration of former officials who are Ukrainian citizens that collaborated with the occupying administrations...

They will be banned from holding government or official roles for a number of years, at least.

Many will be held to account, but it won't be millions or even hundreds of thousands. It will be maybe 10,000."

Details: At the same time, Tasheva noted that citizens of Ukraine who were under occupation and did not cooperate with the Russians would be considered victims of the occupation, and Ukraine will do everything to protect their rights.

"And there can be extenuating circumstancesmany of them were victims of Russian propaganda, of intimidation and threats, of the Russian legal system, and even the Russian culture and language. All of that needs to be taken into consideration," she added.

At the same time, according to Tasheva, the issue of amnesty cannot be seriously discussed while the "hot phase" of the war continues.

"There is a huge demand for justice against those who led or took part in persecution of civilians, who killed and pillaged our cities, who attacked the minorities like the Crimean Tatars, and we need to satisfy that demand," she said.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
A Libyan border guard gives water to a migrant during a rescue operation in an uninhabited area near the town of Al-Assah on the border with Tunisia (Mahmud Turkia)

Libyan border guards have rescued dozens of migrants they say had been left in the desert by Tunisian authorities without water, food or shelter, AFP correspondents reported Sunday.

Hundreds of migrants from sub-Saharan African countries were forcibly taken to desert and hostile areas bordering Libya and Algeria after racial unrest in early July in Sfax, Tunisia's second-largest city.

The migrants were visibly exhausted and dehydrated, sitting or lying on the sand and using shrubs to try and shield themselves from the scorching summer heat that topped 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit), the correspondents said.

The group of at least 80 migrants was found in an uninhabited area close to Al-Assah, a town near the Tunisia-Libya border, nearly 150 kilometres (93 miles) west of Tripoli.

The Libyan border agents gave them water and took the migrants -- women and children first -- to a shelter, the correspondents said.

In a video shared on the Facebook page of the Libyan unit patrolling the border, one officer can be heard saying: "Do you see them? It's sad. They are being expelled from Tunisia to Libya."

"We found another group with children and women," added the officer, pointing towards the Tunisian border several hundred metres (yards) away.

The video also shows a migrant rescued from the border area on Saturday, saying that "Tunisian police deported us to Libya".

Without help from the Libyan border guards, "we would die in the desert," the man said, adding he would like to return to Tunisia where his wife and children remain.

Hundreds of migrants fled or were forced out of Tunisia's Sfax after racial tensions flared following the July 3 killing of a Tunisian man in an altercation between locals and migrants.

The port of Sfax is a departure point for many migrants from impoverished and violence-torn countries seeking a better life in Europe by making a perilous Mediterranean crossing, often in makeshift boats.

Tunisian rights groups said on Friday that between 100 and 150 migrants, including women and children, were still stuck on the border with Libya.

The Tunisian Red Crescent said it has provided shelter to more than 600 migrants who had been taken after July 3 to the militarised zone of Ras Jedir north of Al-Assah on the Mediterranean coast.

In Tunisia's west, near the Algerian border, about 165 migrants abandoned near the border with Algeria had been picked up, the Tunisian Forum for Economic and Social Rights (FTDES) said on Friday, without specifying by whom or where they were taken.

FTDES spokesman Romdane Ben Amor said migrants on Algeria's border could die if they are not immediately given aid and shelter, noting that the bodies of two had already been found.

str-rb/fka/ami/hkb
Press Release

July 15, 2023 'Give health workers what is due to them' -- Bong Go appeals for immediate release of COVID-19 allowances while pushing for salary increase for gov't workers Senator Christopher "Bong" Go has called upon the Department of Health (DOH) and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to expedite the release of COVID-19 allowances for healthcare workers who have been at the forefront of the battle against the ongoing pandemic and other health threats. Recognizing the dedication and sacrifices of healthcare workers, Senator Go, chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, said in an interview after his visit to Quezon City on Monday, July 10, the urgent need to provide them with their well-deserved benefits in accordance with the law. "Sa ngayon po, hindi pa naman po officially lifted ang declaration of state of public health emergency. Habang nandyan po ito, kung anuman po ang allocated natin sa ilalim ng national budget katulad nu'ng 2023, bilang chairman po ng Committee on Health at Vice Chairman po ng Committee on Finance, mayroon po tayong na-allocate na P19.962 billion allocated sa public health emergency benefits and allowances for healthcare and non-healthcare workers under the national budget 2023. Mayroon pong P52.962 billion na unprogrammed po, pwede pong gamitin ito ng ating gobyerno na ibayad sa ating mga health workers, nasa batas naman po ito," Go explained. Go underscored that even if the State of Public Health Emergency due to COVID-19 is eventually lifted, the government must ensure that allowances due to healthcare workers are provided to them since the budget has been allocated in this year's appropriations. "Kaya umaapela po ako sa ating DBM, sa DOH, bilisan po ang pagbibigay ng allowances sa kanila dahil napakaliit po ito na halaga sa sakripisyo at buhay na ibinigay ng mga health workers. Dapat po ibigay sa kanila," he added. Former president Rodrigo Duterte announced on March 8, 2020, a state of public health emergency in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. The declaration requires mandatory reporting, quarantine measures, and disease control prevention efforts. According to DOH Secretary Teodoro Herbosa, President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. has expressed his intention to lift the state of public health emergency related to COVID-19. Herbosa said they are awaiting a formal order regarding this decision. If the declaration is revoked, it will also mean the discontinuation of the special allowance provided to healthcare workers who are taking care of COVID-19 patients. Go, for his part, expressed reservations on the lifting of the state of public emergency since the threat of COVID-19 still exists. He, however, stated that he leaves it to the health officials and experts to determine the best way forward towards pandemic recovery. "Ngunit kapag na-lift po ito kaya nga sabi ko sana naman po ay pag-aralan nang mabuti dahil para sa akin habang nandyan pa si COVID-19, delikado pa rin po ang panahon," Go said. "Ngunit kailangan po nating mag-adjust, maaaring pinag-aaralan po ito ng ating Department of Health officials, ng ating Executive, ito pong lifting ng public health emergency. Sa ngayon, para sa akin, dapat po manatili muna dahil habang nandiyan si COVID at para po makatulong pa sa ating mga health workers, mabigyan sila ng allowance," he continued. Meanwhile, Go maintained his plans to champion another round of salary increase for government workers. With a deep understanding of the invaluable contributions made by public servants across various sectors, the lawmaker believes it is imperative to continuously improve their working conditions and ensure fair compensation. Go was instrumental in the passage of several laws that benefited health workers, including Republic Act No. 11466 or the Salary Standardization Law 5 that he authored and co-sponsored in the Senate in 2019, which provided salary increases for government workers. He also authored and co-sponsored RA 11712, which grants continuing benefits and allowances to public and private healthcare workers during public health emergencies like COVID-19. "Alam nyo, hindi po natin mapigilan ang ating mga kababayan na mangibang-bansa. Napakalaki talaga ng diperensya ng sahod sa ibang bansa kumpara sa ating bansa. Kaya isa po sa plano kong isulong 'yung Salary Standardization (Law) 6 (SSL6). Sana pag-aralan po ng ating executive department na magkaroon po ng bagong SSL o itong SSL 6 para mabigyan po ng increase ng sweldo kasama na po ang mga nurses to encourage them na dito na lang po magtrabaho sa ating bansa," Go noted. "Nananawagan din po ako sa ating mga private hospitals kung sobra naman po ang inyong kita baka naman pwede ninyong i-increase naman ang sweldo ng ating mga private nurses po sa mga private hospitals. Kawawa naman po sila. Iba diyan sa kanila nagrerender po extra hours po para magserbisyo sa private hospitals. Napakaliit po ito na halaga na pwede n'yo naman pong itulong sa mga nurses natin na huwag na pong mangibang-bansa," he continued. In his commitment to advancing the nursing profession, Senator Go likewise proposed the Advanced Nursing Education bill. This bill, designed to improve the quality and capabilities of nurses, seeks to provide further educational opportunities and support for aspiring and current nursing professionals. Through Senate Bill No. 191, Senator Go aims to strengthen the healthcare system by ensuring that nurses are equipped with the latest knowledge and skills necessary to deliver high-quality patient care.
A Libyan border guard gives water to a migrant during a rescue operation in an uninhabited area near the town of Al-Assah on the border with Tunisia (Mahmud Turkia)

Libyan border guards have rescued dozens of migrants who have been left in the desert by Tunisian authorities without water and food, and their numbers are "rising", an officer said Sunday.

Hundreds of migrants from sub-Saharan African countries were forcibly taken to desert and hostile areas bordering Libya and Algeria after racial unrest in early July in Sfax, Tunisia's second-largest city.

An AFP team at the Libyan-Tunisian border saw migrants who were visibly exhausted and dehydrated, sitting or lying on the sand and using shrubs to try and shield themselves from the scorching summer heat that topped 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit).

The group were in an uninhabited area close to Al-Assah, a town near the Tunisia-Libya border, nearly 150 kilometres (93 miles) west of Tripoli.

"The number of migrants keep rising every day," said Mohamad Abou Snenah of the border patrol unit, telling AFP they have rescued "50 to 70 migrants".

"We offer them medical attention, first aid, considering the journey they have made through the desert."

At a reception centre, AFP correspondents saw a group of women and children, including toddlers, lying on mattresses and eating yogurt.

Ivorian migrant Abou Kouni, who arrived in Tunisia seven years ago, said he was apprehended on the street last week and put on a truck along with his wife.

He told AFP he was "hit" in the torso and back and that policemen had threatened to kill him.

Tunisia police, according to Abou Kouni, "said they are going to throw us in Libya" and told him: "We don't need you in Tunisia."

- 'Deported' -

In a video posted online, one officer can be heard saying: "Do you see them? It's sad. They are being expelled from Tunisia to Libya."

The video also shows a migrant rescued from the border area on Saturday, saying that "Tunisian police deported us to Libya".

Ibrahim, a Congolese migrant who used to live in the Tunisian city of Zarzis, told AFP he was stopped on the street on his way back from work.

"They dropped us in the desert," he said. "We've been in the desert for many days. We saw a shepherd who gave us bread and water."

Hundreds of migrants fled or were forced out of Tunisia's Sfax after racial tensions flared following the July 3 killing of a Tunisian man in an altercation between locals and migrants.

The port of Sfax is a departure point for many migrants from impoverished and violence-torn countries seeking a better life in Europe by making a perilous Mediterranean crossing, often in makeshift boats.

In Libya, human traffickers have long profited from the chaos since the 2011 overthrow of strongman Moamer Kadhafi, and the country has faced accusations over migrant abuse.

Tunisian rights groups said on Friday that between 100 and 150 migrants, including women and children, were still stuck on the border with Libya.

The Tunisian Red Crescent said it has provided shelter to more than 600 migrants who had been taken after July 3 to the militarised zone of Ras Jedir north of Al-Assah on the Mediterranean coast.

In Tunisia's west, near the Algerian border, about 165 migrants abandoned near the border with Algeria had been picked up, the Tunisian Forum for Economic and Social Rights (FTDES) said on Friday, without specifying by whom or where they were taken.

str-rb/fka/ami/hkb
Lithuania watches Wagnerites in Belarus: no reason to react yet

The Lithuanian State Border Guard Service is monitoring the situation around the movement of Wagner Group mercenaries to Belarus, but currently sees no reason to take additional measures to protect the border.

Source: Giedrius Misutis, spokesperson for the Lithuanian State Border Guard Service, reported by European Pravda with a reference to Delfi

Quote: "The protection of the border with Belarus is now further strengthened due to illegal migration and the NATO summit, so the level of surveillance and vigilance is high."

Details: According to Misutis, the State Border Guard Service will continue to monitor the situation.

"But so far there are no signs that anything needs to be done," Misutis added.

Background:

The leader of the Wagner Group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, was exiled to Belarus after he ended his failed rebellion in June.

On 6 July, Lukashenko claimed that neither Wagner Group mercenaries nor Prigozhin were present in the country at the time.

On 14 July, the Ministry of Defence of Belarus reported the presence of Wagner Group fighters in the country, saying that they were training territorial defence troops.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
Local organizations hope to use career training to curb violence

A local partnership is hoping career training can curb violence in the community.

Rising Stars Charlotte wants to build a better future in the city by encouraging young adults to get involved in construction.

The organization held an event on Saturday morning.

Representatives from several organizations gathered in east Charlotte to soft-launch the program.

ALSO READ: Violence prevention group hopes to heal Charlotte through change

Were thinking about coming at violence in a different way. If we can get young people between 16 and 24, those vulnerable ages, get them thinking about other things like this vocational training, then maybe we can start to stem the violence, James Leem with Project 70Foward said.

Organizers said the partnership hopes to provide direction by providing young people with their first chance to enter the industry.

VIDEO: Violence prevention group hopes to heal Charlotte through change
Lorraine Kelly repeatedly misgendered Sam Smith while discussing the singers look for the Barbie premiere.

Hosting her ITV daytime show Lorraine on Thursday (13 July), Kelly talked to guest Vogue Williams about the pink carpet hits and misses from Wednesday nights (12 July) European premiere for Greta Gerwigs movie.

While the majority of the guests opted for Barbie-inspired all-pink outfits, Smith  who has written a song titled Man I Am from the perspective of Ken for the Barbie soundtrack  went for a far more casual look.

Smith, who is non-binary and uses they/them pronouns, wore an oversized navy sweatshirt with the words 16 XL emblazoned on the front and baggy jeans to the London event.

Discussing the outfit on Lorraine, Williams joked that Smith looked like they were dressed for an airport rather than a red carpet event.

However, while Williams referred to Smith using they/them pronouns, Kelly referred to the singer repeatedly as he and him.

Its a bit big for him, Smith said. If he was my son, Id be saying, Son, thats too big for you... Hes going to stand out. He knows what hes doing, does that fella.

On Twitter, viewers branded the moment awkward and pointed out that Williams had looked uncomfortable during the segment.

@reallorraine VERY lazy journalism not addressing Sam Smith with they/them pronouns come on - seriously!! #Lorraine  Ollie  (@ollieollieGA) July 13, 2023

I guess Lorraine didnt get the memo about Sam Smith and their chosen pronouns, awkward, one commenter wrote.

Not Lorraine misgendering Sam Smith over and over!! another wrote. Shes normally pretty good with this stuff. Vogue looked visibly uncomfortable!!! And she seemed to be emphasising THEY too for Lorraine to pick up on it but it didnt work!! Im sure shell be upset she got it wrong.

Another commenter tweeted Kelly: @lorraine Im not sure if you are aware but Sam Smith uses the pronouns They/Them.

@lorraine consistently misgendering Sam Smith one tweet read.

@reallorraine VERY lazy journalism not addressing Sam Smith with they/them pronouns come on - seriously!! another viewer wrote.

In response to one critic on Twitter, Kelly insisted that her wording had been unintentional, writing: Fair comment. Not in the least intentional but will take on board  thanks for bringing to my attention.

Smiths look on the red carpet (Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)

The Independent has contacted Smiths representatives, as well as ITV, for comment.

In 2019, Smith came out as non-binary and gender-queer, saying that they would be using they/them pronouns going forward.

Today is a good day so here goes, they shared on Twitter. Ive decided I am changing my pronouns to THEY/THEM. After a lifetime of being at war with my gender Ive decided to embrace myself for who I am, inside and out

However, Smith said in 2022 that they understood people were learning when it came to pronouns, adding that mistakes happen.

I just want to create a safe space for everyone. But also, were all learning together, they told Zane Lowe.

The pronoun thing is interesting, because mistakes happen. Even me, I make mistakes quite a lot, and its an uncomfortable feeling making a mistake.

Editing yourself is great, but I think its really good for people to see you mess up and then correct yourself, Smith continued. We need to lean into the uncomfortable feeling of being wrong sometimes, because its OK Were all in it together.
Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko, June 27, 2023

Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko has found himself in a plight after involvement in the coup led by Yevgeny Prigozhin with his Private Military Company (PMC) Wagner Group, Pavel Latushko, a member of the Belarusian opposition and deputy head of the United Transitional Cabinet of President-elect Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, said in an interview with Radio NV on July 13.

Lukashenko has overplayed his hand, and he now finds himself in a predicament that he cannot publicly admit because he lacks the necessary resources to host Wagner fighters on Belarusian territory, said Latushko.

He further emphasized that since Lukashenko managed to successfully promote himself within Russian society, leading to international media coverage, Putin is highly unhappy with him, to say the least.

According to Latushko, Putin will never forgive his subordinate for exploiting the situation with Prigozhin and engaging in self-promotion.

Read also: Ukrainian intelligence confirms Lukashenko has health problems

Lukashenko gained significant popularity in Russian society, with up to 70% support, according to Levada Center, Latushko noted.

Lukashenko is currently attempting to restore communication with Putin, but without success. Putin did not call him on July 3, the Independence Day that Lukashenko invented.

Usually, Putin always calls Lukashenko, but this time he didnt. Lukashenko is making every effort to arrange a phone call. He even announced during a press conference that a meeting would soon take place, which Peskov did not confirm.

Based on our information, Lukashenkos ambassador in Moscow was assigned this task, but so far it hasnt yielded any results, said the Belarusian opposition member.

Latushko stated that Lukashenko seeks a meeting with Putin because although he invited Wagner fighters to Belarus, he lacks the necessary funding and final approval from the Russian dictator.

Read also: Russia withdraws almost all its military from Belarus, border guards report

On the other hand, he understands that having Wagner fighters in Belarus is also a risk and a problem for him, he added.

Following a one-day uprising by PMC Wagner militants, Putin presented them with three options, one of which was exile to Belarus.

At a military headquarters meeting on June 30, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy ordered the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Valerii Zaluzhnyi, and the Commander of the Northern Operational Command, Serhiy Nayev, to reinforce the border with Belarus.

On the same day, media reports indicated activity near the abandoned military base in the Belarusian town of Asipovichy. According to the media, a field camp for Wagner fighters could be established there. Satellite photos of the potential field camp for PMC Wagner militants were also shared online.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on July 5 that a small number of Wagner fighters had arrived in Belarus.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
The making of a fake war hero: An American who reinvented himself as a social-media soldier in Ukraine is accused of 'stolen valor'

James Vasquez, a social-media war hero, has been accused of "stolen valor." Getty Images, Ricki-Lee Abrams/Insider

A US veteran named James Vasquez went to fight in Ukraine and gained a large social-media following.

But it turned out Vasquez was lying about his military background and his experiences in Ukraine.

Four sources told Insider how Vasquez was able to trick the world.

When Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, a 48-year-old American veteran and building contractor from Connecticut named James Vasquez was one of thousands of volunteers who went to join the fight.

He quickly became one of the most recognizable faces of the foreign fighters in Ukraine, often going viral with his battlefield updates and dramatic social-media posts purportedly from the front lines.

In his videos and posts, he bragged about capturing Russians and taking out tanks, was regularly interviewed by the news media, and made catchy claims including that he imagined the "punchable" Tucker Carlson when preparing for battle.

He gained more than 400,000 followers on Twitter and even got a shout-out from Rep. Adam Kinzinger, who called for his account to be verified.

But on the ground in Ukraine, it was an open secret that Vasquez was not the war hero his social-media profiles projected him to be.

Four foreign fighters and volunteers in Ukraine who knew Vasquez told Insider it was widely known he wasn't actually taking part in front-line fighting.

Instead, they allege that Vasquez would enter areas where battles had taken place, take videos with destroyed equipment, and claim battlefield achievements as his own.

April Huggett, a Canadian volunteer who knew Vasquez, told Insider in a text message that he would exaggerate how close to the action he was, often going to areas near where there was heavy fighting and pretending he was in the thick of it.

In one instance in January, Vasquez claimed on Twitter that he was heading to Soledar, where intense fighting was reported to be raging.

But it was later revealed that the Ukrainian army had quietly withdrawn days before Vasquez said he was heading there  suggesting that there would have been no fight for him to join when he arrived.

Along with appearing to exaggerate his activities on the ground, there were also occasions where he appeared to behave outright irresponsibly.

He, at one point, posted a battlefield update that gave away the exact location of the unit he was with, possibly jeopardizing its safety.

'I had to tell a million lies to get ahead'

Vasquez often spoke about his military background, claiming that he was a sergeant and that he had been in Kuwait during Operation Desert Storm and in Iraq after 9/11.

A Pentagon representative, however, told Insider that Vasquez was never deployed to either of those places  or anywhere else.

Vasquez was a fuel and electrical systems repairer in the New York National Guard from July 1992 to July 1993 and in the Army Reserve from July 1993 to August 2003, the Pentagon said. He left the Army Reserve as a private first class, which is one of the Army's lowest ranks.

When confronted by The New York Times in March, Vasquez acknowledged misrepresenting his military record and said he'd been kicked out of the Army, but he would not reveal the circumstances of his discharge.

"I had to tell a million lies to get ahead," Vasquez told the Times. "I didn't realize it was going to come to this."

Insider was unable to reach Vasquez for comment, as his social-media profiles have been deactivated and calls to two phone numbers for him provided by sources went unanswered.

In the days before the Times article came out, Vasquez posted a series of cryptic tweets about "negative people" winning and called himself "a ghost." He then deleted his Twitter page and went quiet for several months before resurfacing online briefly in June.

Vasquez posted a series of cryptic tweets in March before disappearing for several months. Twitter

Not only did he apparently lie about his military background to join the fight in Ukraine, but it turned out he had lied about his service for much of his life to even those closest to him.

Tina Vasquez, his ex-wife, who had supported his decision to go to Ukraine while they were still married, told The New York Post in April that he had also lied to her about his past.

She told the paper that she "was just as shocked as anybody else'' to learn that her former partner had exaggerated his military experience.

"I believed him," she said. "The war stories that had supposedly happened brought tears to his eyes. I felt terrible for what he had to go through and endure  and then come to find out it was all just a lie.

"Here I am, I'm with him for 11 years and I don't even know the man I married."

The undoing of a war hero

Ukrainian soldiers ride atop an APC on the frontline in Bakhmut, Donetsk region, Ukraine, Sunday, March 26, 2023.

Ukrainian soldiers ride atop an APC on the frontline in Bakhmut, Donetsk region, Ukraine, Sunday, March 26, 2023.AP Photo/Libkos

Vasquez spent about a year posting updates  purportedly from the front lines in Ukraine  about fighting with various units.

Sarah Ashton-Cirillo, American who is a junior sergeant with the Ukrainian army and works with the media department of the Territorial Defense Forces, was one of the first people with a social-media following to publicly accuse Vasquez of being a fraud in a tweet in March.

She wrote that Vasquez "is not and has not been" in Ukraine's armed forces and that he could not legally go on missions since he did not have a contract.

"I met James Vasquez three times for a total of about four hours," she told Insider. "During our last meeting, in the presence of another person, he gave himself up and confirmed what I had known since last summer, that he was never a member of the AFU," referring to the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

"That night he stated clearly he never had a contract nor had he ever been paid. This was in January. It was the last time I saw him."

April Huggett, 35, a Canadian volunteer who came to Ukraine in December, told Insider that she soon met Vasquez and the two formed a relationship.

Huggett said that she came to Ukraine alone, having broken up with her boyfriend over her decision to go, and found comfort in having Vasquez as someone to talk to.

"I did realize very quickly he was sitting comfy right in Maidan and he was not leaving Kyiv very often," she told Insider over text, referring to the capital city's central district.

"He also drank so much," she said.

Huggett said she began to have suspicions about his claims about his military background, and after doing some digging, discovered that he had wildly exaggerated his experience.

"One time he was really drunk and he was crying really hard about this friend of his that had his head blown off by a sniper in front of him in Iraq and how that really messed him up," she said. "I realized that story never could have happened."

She and other sources told Insider that Vasquez openly bragged about his plans to cash in on his newfound fame.

"James just kept talking about becoming a millionaire after this," Huggett said.

Tim, an American man working with the Ukrainian army and speaking to Insider on the condition of withholding his last name, said that Vasquez had made similar comments to him.

"James said, and I quote, 'I'm never gonna go back to work as a handyman. I'm probably never gonna have to work again after this war. I'm gonna be famous,'" he told Insider.

Among all the falsehoods, Huggett said that what was most upsetting to her was how Vasquez leveraged the combat death of the Ukrainian-born British fighter Viktor Yatsunyk for personal gain, speaking extensively online and to the media about how the loss of his "friend" had affected him.

"He used Viktor's death as another stepping stone to legitimize his own actions in Ukraine. That bothers me more than anything else," she said. "His stolen valor knows no end."

Eventually, Huggett decided to distance herself from Vasquez  as she explained to Insider, she doesn't like "liars."

When Ashton-Cirillo took to Twitter to expose Vasquez, Huggett said she felt compelled to make a video to back her up.

Huggett said she was worried about angering Vasquez and began to fear for her safety.

"I got a phone call from a friend of James' that was concerned. He told me to watch my back and that James was drinking a lot and talking crazy. That he was [going] to kill me and another friend of mine," she said.

"James messaged me saying I didn't have to leave my kids, I abandoned him, and he was going to do the same thing to me that I did to him and to 'get ready,'" she said, adding that she has since been laying low in Ukraine and trying to keep him from knowing her whereabouts.

After his social-media accounts were deactivated, Vasquez briefly resurfaced on Twitter in June to attack Huggett and preemptively discredit anything she might say about him.

"I've received a lot of messages @DefactoHumanity, or as I know her, April has gone on a campaign accusing me of going to kill her and other nonsense," he wrote.

Vasquez briefly resurfaced on Twitter in June to attack April Huggett. Twitter

He went on to claim that Huggett was simply "scorned" because she had learned he was with another woman in Ukraine and denied ever threatening her life.

Huggett told Insider: "I'm tired, but I'm not sorry I exposed the lying scammer. I'm also not sorry that I made the video. Now at least if I am murdered or have a suspicious death, someone will know where to look."

"We took away his fame and fortune, we made people see him for the disgrace he is. Ukrainians will be better off because of it, and to me, that is the only thing that matters," she said.

On an "awesome very dangerous vacation"

Ukrainian soldiers walk to the frontline in Bakhmut, Ukraine on December 16, 2022.

Ukrainian soldiers walk to the frontline in Bakhmut, Ukraine on December 16, 2022.Diego Herrera Carcedo/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

At the beginning of the war, the vetting process for foreign fighters coming to Ukraine was extremely lax. Vasquez, as part of the first wave of arrivals, was able to take advantage of the system and slip through the cracks.

Although many foreign volunteers in Ukraine have made a significant contribution to its war effort, many outlets have reported on underqualified and overzealous foreigners who have wreaked havoc, including an American who defected to Russia.

Some of them have been called war tourists, a term to describe thrill seekers in a war zone.

In one tweet from March of last year, Vasquez compared his time in Ukraine to being an "awesome very dangerous vacation."

He also repeatedly suggested that he did not understand the rules of warfare, or at least that he thought they did not apply to him.

On one occasion, he claimed to have taken part in capturing a soldier from the mercenary Wagner Group and shared a photo of him.

"This is a non UN country," he wrote in a tweet in response. "I don't think I have to worry about the Geneva convention here."

Vasquez claimed to have taken part in capturing a soldier from the mercenary Wagner Group. Twitter

But Vasquez's claims were not accurate  Ukraine is part of the United Nations, and the Geneva Conventions, which protect prisoners of war, apply to all conflicts.

He 'had a plan, a scheme, and a design'

Tim, an American known online as Captain Peg Leg, told Insider that he came across Vasquez while working in Ukraine as a general advisor to the armed forces.

He said that the pair communicated via text for several weeks in April and May of last year until Vasquez blocked him.

Tim said that he was working with Ukraine's Territorial Defense Forces at the time and had been tasked with recruiting capable foreign fighters to help train them. He reached out to Vasquez, who had developed quite a large online following.

As they corresponded, Tim said he started to notice several red flags.

He claims that Vasquez boasted about his online fame and having Ukrainian soldiers follow him and said that he was building his own "private army."

Tim also claims Vasquez admitted that he had exaggerated his army credentials and said he planned to cash in on his wartime fame.

He was unable to provide screenshots of the conversations with Vasquez as he said the chat history on his phone had been deleted. However, another source showed Insider screenshots of a conversation with Tim in June 2022 in which the two discussed Vasquez being a fraud.

Tim said he was also alarmed by the videos Vasquez was posting, which he said were "dubious" and reckless.

He said that he tried to sound the alarm about Vasquez on Twitter but was met with death threats from Vasquez's followers, who told Tim he was just "jealous."

He said that a lot of the aggression was led by Vasquez himself.

"James routinely went scorched earth on anyone that questioned anything he was doing, blocked them, encouraged his followers to block them. And nobody wanted to believe that James would take advantage of the war and take advantage of people," Tim said.

"You will hear people say that James is a good man, James had good intentions, and things got a bit out of control. And that's categorically false. James, from the start of that conflict, had a plan, a scheme, and a design. It was premeditated," he said.

Despite a growing mountain of falsehoods, Vasquez was able to become a celebrated social-media hero and was covered breathlessly by various media outlets  including Insider  that touted him as a hero.

He was framed as a fearless fighter who had selflessly left his life behind and sold his Connecticut home to focus on the war.

Ashton-Cirillo told Insider: "As someone who notified a large media outlet about James Vasquez in June of 2022 and stated to them clearly that Vasquez had no combat experience and was filming fake fight scenes, it is disgraceful that they and so many other journalists advanced his lies for so long."

"These acts of media malpractice not only gaslit me and many others, they helped feed the Russian propaganda machine," she continued. "Luckily, fundraising for charities focused on the Armed Forces of Ukraine has been able to emerge unscathed from this debacle as have the reputations of every real foreign soldier."

Guns, money, and battalions

Vasquez frequently posted images of weapons, including American guns, that he said he had been given, but it is unclear where he obtained them.

He did not have a contract with the Ukrainian army or the International Legion so he wouldn't have been provided with weapons from any official authorities.

When asked by The New York Times in March where he got the guns, he responded: "I'm not exactly sure," and added that they were "brand-new, out of the box, and we have plenty."

Two sources told Insider that Vasquez had boasted about getting weapons on the black market. Insider was unable to verify those claims.

(He once told a local Connecticut newspaper, The Hour: "If you want anything in Ukraine, and you got money and you know a couple of people, you can get it.")

It's unclear where Vasquez obtained weapons. Twitter

Another source of contention is how Vasquez used his platform to solicit donations from his followers to buy equipment for soldiers. Some of this money was raised for Ripley's Heroes, a US-based charity organization for which he was a prominent representative.

Ripley's Heroes said it had raised over $1 million over the past year, but the organization has faced questions about its spending, as The New York Times previously reported. As of March, some of the money appeared to have been spent on equipment that hadn't reached its intended destination.

Vasquez often talked about fighting with various units  at one point, he said he was with a "special forces unit" and later said he was fighting with the Da Vinci Wolves battalion.

John, not his real name, an American man who's part of a group fighting in Ukraine called the 13th group Wolverines, told Insider under the condition of anonymity that Vasquez likely overstated his relationship with the battalion.

Vasquez claimed he was part of the Da Vinci Wolves battalion. Twitter

John, who has been in Ukraine since the wider conflict with Russia began in 2014, said that he had been friendly with Da Vinci for some time. He told Insider that he saw Vasquez at the young battalion commander's funeral, which was attended by many, including President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

John said that Vasquez, who was wearing a Da Vinci Wolves patch on his uniform, stuck out like a sore thumb: He didn't mingle with the other attendees but instead filmed himself for a video that was later posted on social media.

"Everybody's kneeling, their hands over their hearts, you know, to show respect and solidarity with each other in grief ... and James is up there just filming," John said. "All these guys from Da Vinci's team are around and they're wearing the same patch right, but nobody recognizes him. Nobody comes up and says hi."

The Wolves did not respond to Insider's request for comment.

A source linked to the Ukrainian army, speaking on the condition of anonymity, told Insider that Vasquez had returned to Ukraine as of early June.

"The National Police in conjunction with the SBU"  the Security Service of Ukraine  "has launched an investigation into both his possession of illegal weapons and his illicit fundraising," the source said.

'James' visibility was great, until it wasn't anymore'

For many foreign fighters, joining the war can be a chance to reinvent, redeem, or prove themselves.

"You see, over and over again, these broken people that showed up at the war. And they saw it from day one as an opportunity to have a new life to become a social-media hero, whatever you want to call it," Tim said.

"I had my own things to gain by going to Ukraine," he added. "I'm not blameless. I have one leg; it's a recent amputation. And one of the reasons that I went was to feel like a whole human being again by helping other people."

Malcolm Nance, a former MSNBC analyst who is now part of Ukraine's International Legion, was the only prominent foreign fighter to defend Vasquez after his falsehoods were revealed.

"James was NOT fake, he was troubled. He did a lot for Ukraine but has challenges to face. Respect what he did do," he wrote on Twitter.

He described Vasquez as "a soldier in need of care on several levels" and criticized those who spoke out against him. Nance declined to speak with Insider on the record.

Part of the debate is whether Vasquez did any good in Ukraine despite his lies.

While sources told Insider that Vasquez did not help in terms of front-line fighting, his social-media presence did have a positive effect  at least for a time.

"James certainly helped with morale," Tim said. "James certainly helped with public relations. He did, inadvertently, a lot of good. James' visibility was great, until it wasn't anymore."

Read the original article on Business Insider
Man killed after walking on highway in Orange County, troopers say

The Florida Highway Patrol said a pedestrian has died after an Orange County crash Sunday morning.

Troopers said the crash happened around 1:57 a.m.

According to a news release, a Honda Accord was traveling on State Road 429, north of Plant Street in Ocoee.

Investigators said the pedestrian was walking west from the east shoulder of SR 429 and was not in a marked crosswalk.

Read: Orlando Police continue to search for missing 64-year-old man

Because the man was in the path of the Honda, the car hit the adult man, and he was pronounced dead at the scene.

The driver, a 19-year-old man, was taken to Orlando Health Central with minor injuries.

FHP said it is waiting to identify the victim and the crash is under investigation.

Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) is causing a stir among Democrats as his extended flirtation with a third-party presidential run is set to resurface when he headlines an event for No Labels  despite concerns that a possible run would boost former President Trump.

Manchin will headline an event for the middle-of-the-road group  which has been pushing a potential unity ticket as a third option in the presidential race  in New Hampshire on Monday.

The possibility of third-party candidates drawing votes has Democrats worried, but they are especially concerned Manchin, who is up for reelection in 2024, could deliver a double blow to the party: a presidential bid that harms President Biden next year and virtually hands a key Senate seat and potential majority in the chamber to the GOP.

Joe is Americas biggest political tease, Sen. Dick Durbin (Ill.), the No. 2 Senate Democrat, told The Hill. And I trust that hell make a judgment to run for reelection in West Virginia. I hope he will.

For much of the first two years of Bidens presidency, Manchin held the keys to unlocking his agenda in the upper chamber, to the chagrin of many of his colleagues. Now, he could hold the keys to Democrats attempts to keep a Senate majority.

Manchin will appear alongside former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman (R) at St. Anselm College in the first of a series of Common Sense town halls No Labels is hosting. The incumbent senator said in a statement that most Americans are exceedingly frustrated by the growing divide in our political parties and toxic political rhetoric from our elected leaders, adding that he hopes discussions of this kind can be a model for voters.

Our political discourse is lacking engaged debates around common sense solutions to solve the pressing issues facing our nation, he said. I am looking forward to modeling this type of conversation with my good friend, Gov. Huntsman, and the No Labels community.

Polls show a third-party bid by a No Labels candidate could create a real headache for Biden, particularly if Trump is the GOP nominee. According to a survey of swing states released by a group of operatives from both parties who are seeking to derail a No Labels candidacy, Biden leads 52 percent to 48 percent in a head-to-head matchup.

More from The Hill

 The Memo: Democrat suspicions grow about RFK Jr., Cornel West, No Labels

 Mark Kelly concerned about third-party movement No Labels

 Christie says he wouldnt join No Labels third-party movement: I think its a fools errand

However, Trump jumps into the lead over the president by a point (40 percent to 39 percent) when a No Labels candidate is factored in. The hypothetical third-party candidate would receive 21 percent, with 13 percent being drawn from Biden and 8 percent coming from Trump.

Its pretty clear that a No Labels candidate would help reelect Donald Trump, and I hope anybody who considers it recognizes that thats a very possible outcome, said Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), declining to specifically discuss Manchin. That path is not a path to winning. Its a path to spoiling the election for Joe Biden and electing Donald Trump.

Manchin, for his part, has done little to staunch the speculation.

He said last month he was not ruling anything in, not ruling anything out.

Manchin has also ratcheted up his battle with Biden, who was soundly defeated in West Virginia in 2020. The West Virginia moderate has voted against a string of Biden nominees in recent months, including Jared Bernstein to become Bidens top economic adviser and several judicial nominees.

The Hill Elections 2024 coverage

That continued Thursday as Manchin made official what much of Washington assumed and announced his opposition to Julie Sus nomination to run the Department of Labor.

The third-party speculation, coupled with the questions surrounding a reelection effort and the uptick in opposition to nominees on Capitol Hill has pushed him even further into the spotlight, a position Manchin has grown used to.

Remember the old adage that the most dangerous place is between Chuck Schumer and a camera? Joe Manchin has pushed Chuck Schumer aside, one Democratic operative quipped. For him, I think he will seriously consider running for president, and hell consider reelection and consider retiring.

Hes keeping his options open, the operative noted.

Although a decision on a potential reelection bid isnt likely to come until December or January, Manchin gave Democrats good news on the financial side Thursday in case he chooses that door. He reported that he raised nearly $1.3 million in the second quarter and an additional $400,000 for his Country Roads PAC.

That gives Manchin roughly $10.7 million in the bank toward a potential campaign against West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice (R), who could self-fund his operation and announced he raised nearly $1 million in two months after rolling out his campaign.

Manchin spent $9 million on his 2018 campaign, with money going further in the state than it will in other key Senate contests on the 2024 map. Nevertheless, theres a reason Manchin is a top target of the National Republican Senatorial Committee and outside groups, which are likely to go all out to boot him from office.

I dearly hope and pray that he will run for reelection to the Senate. He is a very talented West Virginia politician. Probably the only Democrat who could hold that seat in the Senate, Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.) told CBS News.

He will not ultimately be successful if he runs for president, he continued. I hope he chooses the path where he will most be successful, which is reelection to his seat in the United States Senate.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Manitowoc County vote on $30M courthouse dome renovations calls for revisiting 0.5% sales tax, in this week's letter to the editor

The top of the Manitowoc County Courthouse as seen, Friday, April 15, 2022, in Manitowoc, Wis.

Here is this weeks letter to the editor of the Herald Times Reporter. See our letters policy below for details about how to share your views.

As Manitowoc County Board preps to vote on $30M courthouse dome renovations, time to revisit 0.5% sales tax

The Manitowoc County Board will vote July 18 on whether to proceed with renovation of the 116-year-old courthouse dome, window replacements, and HVAC at a cost not to exceed $30 million in principal.

70% of the cost, $21 million, is for the dome renovation.

With interest and fees, the total debt for our countys 36,000-plus taxpayers will be approximately $45 million.

The funds would be borrowed in three $10 million bond issues over the next three years. Property taxpayers would pay it over 20-25 years.

As of the end of 2021  the last year financial records are available - the amount of debt our county records report from 2006 to 2021 is $74 million.

Despite that, County Executive Bob Ziegelbauer opposes a half cent on a dollar spent sales tax, claiming it is oppressive and cruel.

Estimates of sales tax revenue are $7-$9 million per year.

Manitowoc County is one of four Wisconsin counties that doesnt receive revenue from a sales tax.

Over Ziegelbauers tenure since 2006, the amounts of debt in his adopted budgets was $44 million.

Thats 68% more debt than Ziegelbauers adopted budgets debt service amounts.

We know a budget is only a plan but missing the mark by almost 70% is a big miss.

Interested citizens wishing to express their opinions should contact their board supervisor.

The county board meeting will be at 6 p.m. July 18 at the Heritage Center, 1701 Michigan Ave.

Maura Chip Yost

Centerville

Letter on Pride Month: Manitowoc pastor shares response on Pride Month in letter to the editor

Our letters policy

Letters to the editor are published in the order in which they are received and letter-writers are limited to having one letter published per month. Letters can be emailed to htrnews@htrnews.com and Editor Brandon Reid at breid@gannett.com. Letters must meet specific guidelines, including being no more than 250 words and be from local authors or on topics of local interest. All submissions must include the name of the person who wrote the letter, their city of residence and a contact phone number. Letters are edited as needed for style, grammar, length, fairness, accuracy and libel.

This article originally appeared on Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter: Manitowoc courthouse renovations cost taxpayers, sales tax needed
A marine scientist who worked on a submarine in Hawaii shares 3 things people interested in submarine tours should be wary of before booking one

Mckenzie Margarethe on board an Atlantis submarine in Hawaii. Courtesy of Mckenzie Margarethe

Mckenzie Margarethe is a marine scientist who spent two years working on a touring submarine.

In light of the Titan tragedy, she shared 3 things people should look out for on submarine tours.

First and foremost, Margarethe said you should always "know the history" of the company.

The world ground to a halt in late June when five people died onboard OceanGate's Titan submersible during a visit to the Titanic wreckage. The passengers had paid upwards of $250,000 for their places on the ill-fated vessel, which suffered a catastrophic implosion, killing all onboard.

In the aftermath, columnists and industry experts have seemingly come to the same conclusion: the Titan tragedy will not stop the super-rich from embarking on extreme travel.

With that in mind, Insider spoke to Mckenzie Margarethe, a former copilot and naturalist for Hawaii's Atlantis Adventure submarines, about the recommendations she has for people who are still interested in booking recreational submarine tours.

Margarethe, 31, told Insider she's also a marine scientist who is keen to return to working on a submarine for research purposes in the future  she regularly shares insights about the submersible industry, the ocean, and marine life on her TikTok page, which has over 368,000 followers.

A detailed waver outlining the worst-case scenarios isn't a bad sign

After the Titan tragedy, a lot was made about the fact that the passengers signed a waiver mentioning death three times on the first page.

According to Margarethe, however, a detailed waiver isn't so much of a red flag as it should be a standard document that passengers receive from companies that offer submarine tours before they board.

"People always talk about the waiver that they had to sign for the Titan. We also have a waiver that you have to sign that does say that you could die," she said. The caveat, she said, is that the risks of death were smaller on the Atlantic Adventure submarines when compared to the Titan.

An individual navigates a submarine. Getty Images

The Atlantis Adventures submarines she worked on, which can carry up to 48 passengers, only descended to around 110 feet, she said. Meanwhile, OceanGate said the Titan could travel to 13,123 feet below the ocean's surface.

Nevertheless, the risk of death at either depth on a submarine is always "a possibility," she said.

Though Margarethe called some of the stipulations OceanGate outlined in its waiver "odd" (when Insider reviewed a copy of OceanGate's Titan submersible waiver on July 8, it mentioned the vessel was not certified by any regulatory bodies and built with materials that have "not been widely used" for other subs), anyone interested in booking a submarine tour should be prepared to see, read, and sign a detailed waiver.

Don't be afraid to ask about the history of the submarine you are boarding

Plain and simple, Margarethe said: "If you're on a touring submarine, you should be able to know the history of that company."

Finding out about the history of the submarine and the company isn't difficult to do, she added. She'd recommend simply researching the company and seeing if results come through listing anything related to "malfunctions" or "casualties."

Reflecting on the Titan tragedy, Margarethe pointed out that OceanGate had more failed dives than it did successful ones. In fact, the waiver states the company successfully completed "as few as 13" dives of 3,800 meters to the depth of the Titanic, making the success rate a mere 14%.

Again, Margarethe said there's always a risk when it comes to submarines and submersibles but that anyone who plans to board one in the future should want that risk to be "the outlier."

Be wary of the design of the submarine and the quality of its oxygen supply system

Margarethe said that one of the first things she would've done if she had been a passenger on the Titan was to ask the company to walk her through the oxygen supply system.

"If I were getting in something like the Titan, I would've been asking about the design so much," she said. "From the beginning, my concern would've been the CO2 scrubbers."

A CO2 scrubber is a piece of equipment that uses chemicals to extract the CO2 from the air passengers breathe while onboard a submarine. According to The Independent, the capacity of these scrubbers is limited, especially in smaller vessels like the Titan.

Margarethe went into further detail about the importance of scrubbers in a TikTok shared on June 20, which has over 728,300 views.

Before the deaths of the Titan passengers were confirmed, some of the biggest concerns industry experts had were about the vessel's scrubber system failing due to issues with electrical power loss or partial flooding in the pressure hull.

The result would mean everyone onboard would've died from CO2 poisoning way before the oxygen ran out, Margarethe said.

"That would've been a big concern of mine," she added. "It's not just how much air you have, it's like, 'OK, how are all of the other systems working?'"

Read the original article on Insider
PHNOM PENH, July 16 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia had attracted 45.8 billion U.S. dollars in foreign direct investment (FDI) from 1994 to the first quarter of 2023, according to a National Bank of Cambodia's report on Sunday.

The main sources of capital were China, South Korea, Singapore, Japan, Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand, and Britain, the central bank report said.

"The inflow of investment was injected into the major sectors of the economy, including financial activities, manufacturing, real estate, accommodation, agriculture, hydropower and construction," said the report.

Heng Sokkung, secretary of state and spokesman for the Ministry of Industry, Science, Technology and Innovation, said excellent ties, the Cambodia-China Free Trade Agreement (CCFTA) and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Agreement are the key factors encouraging more Chinese investors to Cambodia.

"These free trade agreements, together with Cambodia's favorable investment law, peace and political stability, have provided a great opportunity for foreign investors, particularly Chinese ones, to invest in the Southeast Asian country," he told Xinhua.

"Chinese investment has not only brought about new capital and technologies, but also created new jobs for Cambodian people," he said. 
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) embraced her status as MAGA queen in a new music video for Donald Trump-loving rapper Forgiato Blow on Sunday.

She stars as MAGAs MVP in the video, which blends recordings of Greenes conspiratorial rants with conservative-centric bars from Blow, AKA Mayor of Magaville, whose real name Kurt Jantz.

In the video, Greene starts in a gilded, winged throne before perching on the back of a red convertible as Blow calls her Southern belle, a little hood.

Marjorie, I really love what you do, Blow raps. You calling RINOs out, no one does it better than you.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) answers questions during a panel discussion at the Conservative Political Action Conference on Feb. 26, 2022, in Orlando, Florida.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) answers questions during a panel discussion at the Conservative Political Action Conference on Feb. 26, 2022, in Orlando, Florida.

Blow, who has also featured Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) in his music, goes on to claim, Shes fighting for our children. Shes fighting for our freedom. Shes fighting for the Jan Six-ers. Shes fighting good versus evil.

Greene frequently derides Democrats as groomers for the partys support of LGBTQ youth and transgender rights. She has repeatedly downplayed the violence at the Jan. 6, 2021, riots at the Capitol, claiming defendants are being persecuted for their political views.

Greene seemed pumped about MTG MAGAs MVP on Twitter, where she reposted the video. I never thought Id be featured in a rap video but then again I never thought the left would be grooming our children! she tweeted.

While shes still being heralded as a major figure in the MAGA world, Greene has found herself on the outs with some of her fellow Republicans.

Last month, she was voted out of the ultra-conservative Freedom Caucus for butting heads with fellow member Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) as well as for her support of House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) and his bipartisan debt ceiling deal in June.

She responded to news of her ouster from the Freedom Caucus on Twitter earlier this month, telling voters, My America First credentials, guided by my Christian faith, are forged in steel, seared into my character, and will never change.

The GOP has less than two years to show America what a strong, unified Republican-led congress will do when President Trump wins the White House in 2024, she went on. This is my focus, nothing else.

H/T Mediaite
Mashpee Middle-High School principal resigned with little explanation. Here's what we know

When Stacy Monette was hired as principal of Mashpee Middle-High School in April 2022, she said her motto was to be inspired 365 days a year.

What teachers, staff, students and parents couldn't know at the time was that the motto would literally last one year. Monette, who didn't return calls from the Times, began the job July 1, 2022 and resigned at the end of the 2022-2023 school year.

Superintendent Patricia DeBoer said Monette indicated to her in late spring that she was exploring employment options in central Massachusetts.

"We are posting her position externally and also exploring other in-house possibilities," said DeBoer in an email. Monette's resignation, said DeBoer, was effective July 7.Asked if an interim principal would serve during the search, DeBoer declined comment. "I have no further comments in regards to Dr. Monette," said DeBoer. "Im happy to connect and share with you when a new MMHS principal has been selected."

Cathy Lewis, chair of Mashpee School Committee, didn't return calls or emails from the Times for comment.

Mashpee principal Stacy Monette, who resigned at the end of the 2022-2023 school year.

Mashpee Middle-High School hasn't had a long-term principal since 2021

Before she became principal at Mashpee Middle-High School, which serves students in grade 8 to grade 12, Monette was principal at Paul R. Baird Middle School in Ludlow for six years and was named Massachusetts Middle School Principal of the Year in 2020.

Before Monette was hired, Josh Tarsky served as interim principal from February 2022 to July 2022. Tarsky, formerly assistant principal at Sandwich High School, would eventually move on to become principal at Holbrook Middle-High School.

Tarsky replaced former principal Mark L. Balestracci, who left Mashpee Middle-High School in November 2021 to take a new post as assistant superintendent for Fairhaven Public Schools, according to a statement Balestracci made to the school's news outlet. Balestracci was a teacher and an administrator since 2007.

Following Balestracci's departure, DeBoer and Assistant Superintendent Hope P. Hanscom jointly handled principal responsibilities until Tarsky joined the team.

Accusations of racially charged bullying during Monette's first year

In December 2022, two photos, each one featuring a white student kneeling on the neck of a Black student, were taken on Mashpee Middle-High School grounds and circulated virtually through the student population and on social media.

After seeing the photos, a group of students, including Skyler Hickey, who identifies as Black, met with Monette and the school dean of students to complain of racially charged incidents and bullying that Skyler Hickey said was ongoing at the school. Skyler Hickey and other students also wrote to a school counseling intern asking for change.

As events unfolded in December, ninth grade students were required on Dec. 9 to attend a microaggression assembly at the school, said Hickey, in response to racial incidents.On Friday, Superintendent DeBoer wasn't immediately available for comment about the status of the issue.

A court case surrounded Monette before her hire in Mashpee

Controversy also surrounded Monette before she started at Mashpee Middle-High School, when she was named as a defendant in a lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in April 2022. The case surrounded hot button topics of students' gender identity and a parent's right to know.

The 58-page complaint was about the privacy concerns and parental notification of two students within the Ludlow school system, who revealed their gender identity to school administration and staff.

At the time, Monette told Times reporters that she couldn't talked about the case.

In December 2022, U.S. District Judge Mark G. Mastroianni dismissed the case, according to court documents. In his written conclusion, Mastroianni found that the plaintiffs didn't meet multiple burdens throughout their testimony. The judge also said the court observes that legal protections for gender identity are a recent development.

"A broad awareness of issues surrounding the topic of gender identity is still growing," said Mastroianni in his conclusion.

Editor's note: This article has been corrected. Stacy Monette was hired in April 2022 and began her job as principal at Mashpee Middle-High School in July 2022.

Rachael Devaney writes about community and culture. Reach her at rdevaney@capecodonline.com. Follow her on Twitter: @RachaelDevaney.

Thanks to our subscribers, who help make this coverage possible. If you are not a subscriber, please consider supporting quality local journalism with a Cape Cod Times subscription. Here are our subscription plans.

This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Mashpee Middle-High School principal Stacy Monette resigns
When theres an emergency in Kansas Citys Oak Park  an area long plagued by gun violence  some residents choose not to contact police, according to the neighborhood association President Pat Clarke.

Instead, he said, they call him.

A lot of folks feel safer or feel comforted calling me, he said.

According to Clarke, community members are frustrated with the repeated neighborhood shootings and lack of officers readily available to respond. They also feel more work needs to be done to repair relations between citizens and law enforcement.

In the months following the May 21 fatal shooting at an East Side nightclub that left three dead and another two injured, Clarke said, theres been a noted need for more officers in Oak Park.

Police records obtained by The Star showed Klymax Lounge owner Mario Williams called police for help 20 minutes before the shooting broke out.

The nightclub owner told The Star he thought the shooting could have been prevented if police responded quicker. Allegedly, a dispatcher said there was a black out, meaning no police cars were available to respond until an emergency had already occurred.

I told the police the guys were here with guns and that our security guard was not going to be able to hold them back I said we needed help, Williams said in a previous interview.

Clarke explained other Oak Park residents have shared Williams concerns about police response times.

The image shows a portion looking south down South Benton Boulevard.

When you look at this neighborhood, this community, on the weekends. I dont think they have enough police officers available. Someone needs to put the biggest help wanted sign that you can put out, he said.

Kansas City officials have grappled with the challenges of recruiting and retaining officers during Board of Police Commissioners meetings. Third District Councilwoman Melissa Robinson believes the issue, in part, stems from police having to cover Kansas Citys large landmass.

I dont think weve ever gotten up to a level of officers able to meet the demand, Robinson said.

Staffing records for the departments East Patrol Bureau, whose jurisdiction includes the Oak Park neighborhood, revealed a dip in employed officers. While on Jan. 1, 2021, there were 154 positions and 151 officers, by 2023 the amount of police serving the division fell to 128, leaving 22 slots open.

Clarke said he does not blame police and recognizes the challenge of covering such a wide swath of area. But, he also said, its unacceptable for residents in his neighborhood to be waiting up to 15 or 20 minutes for a police response, which he said some have alleged.

You got three cops, four cops, five cops already on the crime scene and theyre on the other side of town, and then the one thats supposed to be available to us is at another crime scene Thats where were at right now, he said.

I will say, some communities get a faster response than what I do around here.

Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas and other community activists were not immediately available to respond to requests for comment.

Its called relationship building

Oak Park Neighborhood Association Community Developer, President Pat Clarke and Jackson County Sheriff Darryl Forte met Wednesday to find ways of deterring gun violence.

Only a few hours later they were alerted of another homicide in their neighborhood.

This is poor conflict resolution skills, Forte said of the driving force behind the escalating violence.

He explained a need for young residents to find alternatives to violence when coping with distress. He also said the relationship between law enforcement and residents needs to change.

Its called relationship building, Clarke said.

The pair said they were not ready to disclose the programs or solutions that they met to discuss, but they each agreed the burden to repair trust falls on both the officer and individual community members.

According to a prior report by the Star, residents facing record levels of gun violence said law enforcement was there to police them  not to protect them.

Founder and director of Kansas City Mothers in Charge, Rosilyn Temple, middle, looks over the scene of a fatal shooting that left one person dead on the 4500 block of South Benton Avenue on Wednesday, July 12, 2023, in Kansas City. Police have taken one person of interest into custody.

Missouri has led the nation in the rate at which Black people are killed in shootings for most of the past decade. In Kansas City, 75% of homicide victims are Black, even though less than 30% of residents are Black, the report said.

The report also showed that the less people saw gun violence in their neighborhoods, the more they trusted police. And the more often people had to call the police, the less they trusted them.

Both Black and white Kansas Citians reported that they knew they had different experiences, the report said.

Research cited in the report by the Giffords Law Center, a nonprofit concerned with gun violence and police safety, explored how disparate treatment by police can increase gun violence in Black communities.

Inequalities are all interconnected and unfortunately gun violence is both one of the leading markers of inequality and one of the most deadly, said Ari Freilich, state policy director for the Giffords Center in a previous statement.

When residents did reach out to law enforcement, or police arrived in the wake of another homicide, many found their work unsatisfactory: they cited slow response times, poorly conducted investigations, and lack of communication with families, according to the report.

A late June report by the Star determined community building and establishing trust are critical steps to fix the Kansas City polices low homicide clearance rate. Police have only cleared one third of the more than 100 metro area homicides reported this year.

In response to the report, Mayor Quinton Lucas listed community trust as a key element of remedying challenges with law enforcement.

Some of that relates to building more community trust. I think this police chief is working hard to do that. I think that we will continue to try to see ways that we can enhance that long term, he said.

They just didnt show up in time

Kansas City police told the Star they responded to a shooting call at 1:25 a.m. on May 21 and arrived at the Klymax Lounge on 4242 Indiana Avenue one minute later.

But club owner Mario Williams disagreed.

Williams said people fleeing the club were ready to riot over the delayed response.

If the people looking to cause trouble see the police... theyre running, Williams said.

These guys were able to have at least twenty minutes outside my establishment with guns hanging out of their pocket, he said.

Records provided by Williams and police showed the club owner called officers at least five times that night.

The Klymax Lounge reopened Saturday following over a month closed down out of respect to the victims of a May shooting that killed three, including a security guard at the East Side Kansas City night club.

The first time was a 1:04 a.m phone call in which Williams allegedly hung up after eight seconds, although he told The Star he was disconnected after briefly relaying the situation. The second phone call, also at 1:04 a.m., was answered by a dispatcher in three seconds and led to an almost two minute conversation.

The call picked up by the dispatcher was assigned a priority number of four, meaning there was no immediate danger to human life, according to Sgt. Jacob Becchina, a spokesman for the department. Examples of other priority four calls are burglaries, prowlers, non-injury car crashes and other suspicious activities.

He explained the calls priority is assigned by the call taker, with priority one calls indicating there is an extreme, known, or potential danger to human life, such as a rape, shooting or armed robbery.

Calls are designated priority two if the potential for danger or injury exists, such as bomb threats or other disturbances. Priority three calls, like welfare checks, are not life threatening. Priority five calls, such as noise disturbances and non-domestic assaults with no injuries present, signify that a delayed response will not detract from the quality of service offered to the person in need.

Williams made two more calls  at 1:26 a.m. and 1:27 a.m. respectively  which were abandoned.

Mario Williams could be seen Saturday running around the Klymax Lounge preparing for the reopening event following the May shooting that left three dead.

The first call disconnected after 29 seconds and the second after 53 seconds of waiting to speak to a dispatcher. Williams alleged each of the calls were disconnected.

There were bodies all around me, he said of the time.

About 11 other calls from the lounge were waiting to speak to a dispatcher during the same time frame, according to Capt. Corey Carlisle, a spokesman for the Kansas City police. These calls, he said, prompted the initial dispatched shooting call.

Williams final call at 1:29 a.m. was picked up by a dispatcher after over four minutes of waiting in a queue.

At that time, police were already on the scene, Carlisle said.

People are walking around saying this shooting happened inside our club and that nothing could have been done to stop it. But we called the police to say they were going to be shooting. They just didnt show up in time, Williams said.
Joe Pileggi is the new corporate executive chef at Gervasi Resort & Spa in Canton. The GlenOak graduate was educated at the Culinary Institute of America in New York.

Joe Pileggi is the new corporate executive chef at Gervasi Resort & Spa.

Pileggi said he expresses his artistic side when creating an exquisite meal with the best of ingredients and an amazing presentation.

A plain white dinner plate is the canvas on which creative food is displayed, he said.

More: Meet Christina Schnyders: The first female provost at Malone University

Pileggi said he's thrilled after joining Gervasi in early April. The GlenOak High School graduate said he's right at home living and working in Canton. Pileggi also graduated from the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York.

After graduating from CIA, he worked in Palm Beach County, Florida, for six years at a prestigious country club.

Working as a chef at country clubs was one of the highlights in my career, he said. The cherry on top was owning and operating my catering company for 18 years, Joe Pileggis Food and Catering, and providing service in Stark and Summit counties.

Pileggi is excited to be able to continue to make upscale dishes in his new position, and added that many of his favorite recipes have been passed on to him by friends and family.

Pileggi and his wife, Lucia, have two children. Their daughter, Sofia, is married to Valentino; and son Andrew is married to Amber.

More: Meet Stacey Surnear, owner of Polar Bear Physical Therapy and Performance

What are the most difficult types of food to prepare?

Seafood preparation needs an elevated skill set for sure. Another is baking, because of the scientific nature of the precise measurement of ingredients.

Would you share three tips for pairing meals with wine and desserts?

Write out every course you would like to serve at the party or event.

Balance the menu items so none are too light or too heavy in size or weight. For example, Beef Wellington is substantial, therefore dessert should be light. The soup should be brothy or consomme. Another example is, if serving a cold strawberry soup, make sure the dessert doesnt have strawberries.

Wine service: Truly choose a wine for its distinct notes and play on the flavor profile of the menu.

How do you ensure the meals you prepare are healthy as well as delicious?

Healthy cuisine starts with totally fresh ingredients! Creating flavors and ingredients that do well together are key components.

Who is your favorite chef?

I have two! Wolfgang Puck and Jacques Pepin because they are classic, creative and consistent when it comes to the passion they have for food.

Like some of the world-famous chefs, do you have a favorite saying you like to repeat when working with your team?

Motivation is very important in the hospitality industry. When we are typically working, folks are relaxing and enjoying their weekends. 'Lets Go' is a favorite saying I use to help motivate the team.

Joe Pileggi is the new corporate executive chef at Gervasi Resort & Spa in Canton. The GlenOak graduate was educated at the Culinary Institute of America in New York.

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Meet Joe Pileggi: The new executive chef at Gervasi Resort & Spa
Photograph: Eduardo Verdugo/AP

More than 150,000 people have been murdered since Mexicos current president took power and Hipolito Mora suspected he would join them.

I knew this day would come, the lime farmer turned vigilante rebel wrote in a farewell message to be published in the event that it did.

Moras premonition was proved right on a recent afternoon, when he was killed in a blizzard of nearly 1,000 bullets in one of Mexicos most violence-stricken states.

Related: Hipolito Mora, vigilante crusader against Mexicos drug cartels, killed in ambush

Hours after Moras incinerated truck was towed from the crime scene, the 67-year-olds trademark hat was placed on his coffin at a wake most people were too afraid to attend.

We want justice. This cannot go unpunished, his brother, Guadalupe Mora, said as he digested his siblings death foretold.

The murder of Mora  whose campaign against the cartels made him a national celebrity  has put the spotlight back on Mexicos unfathomably brutal crime conflict, which claimed more than 30,000 lives last year.

President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador won power in 2018 vowing to pacify his country with a dramatic, socially focused change in security policy he called abrazos no balazos  hugs not bullets.

In three years time there will be no more war, he told voters on the campaign trail.

But as Lopez Obradors six-year term draws to a close and would-be successors jostle for position ahead of next Junes presidential election with Panglossian promises of their own, there is scant sign of peace.

Barely a day goes by without reports of bloodshed and ultra-violence in one of Mexicos 31 states: a newspaper correspondent killed in Nayarit, eight call centre workers dismembered and six people killed in an IED attack on the police in Jalisco, a car bomb in Guanajuato, or the besieging of the state capital of Guerrero by thousands of protesters after two alleged gangsters were detained.

On 29 June, it was the shooting of Mora, one of the leaders of a 2013 civilian uprising against the Knights Templar cartel, that grabbed Mexican headlines.

Related: Mexico: IEDs kill four police officers and two civilians in brutal cartel ambush

As the outspoken former vigilante travelled through the once tranquil rural community where he was born and raised, he was ambushed by two dozen gunmen and killed alongside three bodyguards.

Security expert Romain Le Cour said Moras assassination was partly a local story of a region plunged into bloodshed by collaboration between corrupt politicians and narco-traffickers who have long dominated the strategically positioned western state of Michoacan. The municipality where Mora died is reputedly Mexicos most deadly for political and social activists.

But Le Cour said the murder also underlined how Lopez Obradors fairytale campaign promises had failed to bear fruits.

The president took office promising a major rupture with the calamitous militarized war on drugs which began in Michoacan in 2006 under then president Felipe Calderon.

Calderon sends in the army

Mexicos war on drugs began in late 2006 when the president at the time, Felipe Calderon, ordered thousands of troops on to the streets in response to an explosion of horrific violence in his native state of Michoacan.

Calderon hoped to smash the drug cartels with his heavily militarized onslaught but the approach was counter-productive and exacted a catastrophic human toll. As Mexicos military went on the offensive, the body count skyrocketed to new heights and tens of thousands were forced from their homes, disappeared or killed.

Kingpin strategy

Simultaneously, Calderon also began pursuing the so-called kingpin strategy by which authorities sought to decapitate the cartels by targeting their leaders.

That policy resulted in some high-profile scalps  notably Arturo Beltran Leyva, who was gunned down by Mexican marines in 2009  but also did little to bring peace. In fact, many believe such tactics served only to pulverize the world of organized crime, creating even more violence as new, less predictable factions squabbled for their piece of the pie.

Under Calderons successor, Enrique Pena Nieto, the governments rhetoric on crime softened as Mexico sought to shed its reputation as the headquarters of some the worlds most murderous mafia groups.

But Calderons policies largely survived, with authorities targeting prominent cartel leaders such as Sinaloas Joaquin El Chapo Guzman.

When El Chapo was arrested in early 2016, Mexicos president bragged: Mission accomplished. But the violence went on. By the time Pena Nieto left office in 2018, Mexico had suffered another record year of murders, with nearly 36,000 people slain.

"Hugs not bullets"

The leftwing populist Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador took power in December, promising a dramatic change in tactics. Lopez Obrador, or Amlo, as most call him, vowed to attack the social roots of crime, offering vocational training to more than 2.3 million disadvantaged young people at risk of being ensnared by the cartels.



It will be virtually impossible to achieve peace without justice and [social] welfare, Amlo said, promising to slash the murder rate from an average of 89 killings per day with his hugs not bullets doctrine.

Amlo also pledged to chair daily 6am security meetings and create a 60,000 strong "National Guard". But those measures have yet to pay off, with the new security force is used mostly to hunt Central American migrants.

Mexico now suffers an average of about 96 murders a day.

As Lopez Obrador, who most call Amlo, closed in on power there was talk of an ambitious overhaul of drug policy and even an amnesty for criminals designed to weaken the cartels fighting over smuggling routes to the US, as well as the local drug market and other money-spinners such as illegal mining and extortion.

Tackling root causes of crime such as poverty and unemployment was to be given priority over deadly crackdowns by security forces.

Le Cour said Amlo had fulfilled part of his promise with massive public spending on social programs  although a lack of government transparency made it impossible to gauge their effectiveness. But most pledges had fallen by the wayside, as the military was empowered rather than extracted from the fight against crime, and pledges of reform were forgotten.

We were supposed to see a total strategic change that would go against the idea of a war against criminal groups and against militarization. What we have today is the status quo, Le Cour said.

Related: Amlo promised to take Mexicos army off the streets  but he made it more powerful

Every day you have Amlo telling you: The situation is improving. Were not the same as previous governments  [But] I dont think anyone really pays attention  because the situation is not improving.

[Hugs not bullets] was a very clever campaign slogan, Le Cour added. But the constant flow of incredible, insane, dramatic outbreaks of violence made it clear it had not worked.

I dont want to sound too pessimistic but its hard today to find a glimpse of hope, he said.

In so many parts of Michoacan  and so many parts of Mexico  if you are a candidate, or a mayor, or an activist or a journalist, if you somehow touch or disrupt the equilibrium of the system, you are at risk of dying.

Organized crime expert Guadalupe Correa-Cabrera agreed that Mexico found itself in a very delicate position as Amlo approached the final year of his term and it became obvious that bringing peace had been an impossible mission.

Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, right, campaigns for the presidency in Michoacan state in May 2018 with a slogan of hugs, not bullets. Mexico has recorded 150,000 murders since his election. Photograph: Alfredo Estrella/AFP/Getty Images

The problem he inherited could never be resolved in so few years  I still cant tell if its been worse than previous administrations  but it definitely hasnt been any better, she said.

Correa-Cabrera described Moras murder as symptomatic of a broader truth. It appears organized crime has the ability to ... decide who lives and who doesnt, she said.

Last month, those groups decided Moras time had come, although quite why remains a mystery. The victims brother pointed the finger at two notorious local cartel bosses who have yet to be detained.

If theres no justice  we will have to get it ourselves [and] we, the people, will have to rise up in arms once again, Guadalupe Mora vowed.

Related: Battle-scarred ghost town bears mute witness to Mexicos drug wars

When the Guardian met Hipolito Mora in Michoacan last year he had just come back from lobbying top government officials in Mexico City over the security crisis. We can no longer bear so much violence, Mora remembered telling Mexicos security chief, Rosa Icela Velazquez.

But he had no illusions the president would turn things around. Its incredible. Not even the beach is safe these days, he said.

In his final WhatsApp message to the Guardian, a few months before his death, Mora forwarded a series of images picturing masked cartel gunmen who had commandeered a town in the mountains near his home.

Just look at what they are doing in Mexico, Mora wrote before signing off: Saludos y abrazos  greetings and hugs.

At 2.31pm on 29 June, his mobile phone went dead.
The Black Lives Matter street mural was painted along Martin Luther King Avenue. City of Flint, Michigan.

Volunteers can't repaint a Black Lives Matter mural on a main street in Flint, city officials said.

City officials said the mural poses "traffic safety concerns," blaming the decision on state officials.

But the state's transportation department said they aren't preventing the project.

The city of Flint, Michigan prevented volunteers from repainting a Black Lives Matter street mural just days ahead of the city's Juneteenth celebration last month.

Now, a month later, local and state administrators are pointing fingers at each other over who was behind the decision to halt the public art project.

The street mural first appeared on Martin Luther King Avenue in 2020, and supporters of the public art project wanted to spruce it up and rededicate it for the city's Juneteenth celebration last month, according to The Flint Journal.

City Administrator Clyde Edwards said in a statement to the outlet on July 11 that the city never granted a permit for the street mural and has turned down others who have wanted to create similar murals.

Edwards did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment, nor did the Flint chapter of Black Lives Matter.

"The city of Flint understands street murals to pose a variety of traffic safety concerns, and we will not allow them," Edwards told the outlet. "While the city of Flint supports many other Juneteenth activities in the community, the Michigan Department of Transportation has informed us that they will begin enforcing regulations that prohibit street murals and will shut down Martin Luther King (Boulevard) if it is repainted."

However, a spokesperson from the Michigan Department of Transportation denied Edwards' claim that the department would shut down the street, The Flint Journal reported.

Jocelyn Garza, a Michigan Department of Transportation spokesperson, told the outlet that the street "is a locally owned road, and does not require an MDOT permit." Garza added that the department would work "to ensure a streetscape mural does not interfere with federal aid qualifications."

"That said, in this case, it is not our place to issue a permit for the work requested," Garza said. "Nor would we ever intend to shut down MLK Boulevard."

Garza did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.

It's not the first time such a mural has faced pushback. Black Lives Matter murals across the state have previously been vandalized.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Microsoft agrees to keep Call of Duty on Sony Playstation after it buys Activision Blizzard

FILE - Visitors passing an advertisement for the video game 'Call of Duty' at the Gamescom fair for computer games in Cologne, Germany, Aug. 22, 2017. Microsoft has signed an agreement with Sony to keep the Call of Duty video game series on PlayStation following the tech giants acquisition of the video game maker Activision Blizzard. The announcement was made Sunday, July 16, 2023 in a Twitter post by Phil Spencer, who heads up Microsofts Xbox. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner, File) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

NEW YORK (AP)  Microsoft has signed an agreement with Sony to keep the Call of Duty video game series on the PlayStation console after the tech giant acquires video game maker Activision Blizzard.

The announcement was made Sunday in a Twitter post by Phil Spencer, who heads up Microsofts Xbox division.

We look forward to a future where players globally have more choice to play their favorite games, Spencer said in the post.

Call of Duty has been at the center of a corporate tug-of-war between Microsofts Xbox and Sonys PlayStation over Microsofts planned $69 billion purchase of Activision Blizzard, which makes the best-selling Call of Duty lineup.

As it tried to persuade regulators around the world to approve the deal, Microsoft struck deals with Nintendo and some cloud gaming providers to license Activision titles like Call of Duty for 10 years and offered the same to Sony. Until now, Sony hadnt signed on. It has now, as Microsoft inches closer to completing the buyout.

On Friday, a U.S. appeals court rejected a bid by federal regulators to block Microsoft's acquisition.

Microsoft struck the deal for Activision in January of 2022 to expand its video game imprint beyond Xbox, which has less market share than longtime industry leader Sony and its PlayStation device. The company has been seeking regulatory approval in the U.S. and abroad over the past few months, trailed by objections from Sony, which feared losing access to what it describes as a must-have game title.

In testimony given during the U.S. Federal Trade Commissions legal dispute over the acquisition, Sony executive Jim Ryan said he initially expressed little worry about the deal after private conversations with Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick and Spencer.

Ryan said he later came to believe Microsoft would leverage Call of Dutys popularity to disadvantage PlayStation, whose players might get a more degraded experience.

Sony did not immediately reply to a request for comment Sunday. Microsoft confirmed the agreement will run for 10 years.

From Day One of this acquisition, weve been committed to addressing the concerns of regulators, platform and game developers, and consumers, Microsoft President Brad Smith said in a tweet. Even after we cross the finish line for this deals approval, we will remain focused on ensuring that Call of Duty remains available on more platforms and for more consumers than ever before.

The tech giant must close the acquisition by Tuesday to avoid a potential $3 billion termination fee.
Following a bitter, months-long feud over the company's proposed acquisition of Activision Blizzard, Microsoft and Sony have signed a deal to keep the multi-billion dollar Call of Duty franchise on PlayStation consoles. "We are pleased to announce that Microsoft and PlayStation have signed a binding agreement to keep Call of Duty on PlayStation following the acquisition of Activision Blizzard," Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer tweeted Sunday morning. "We look forward to a future where players globally have more choice to play their favorite games."

The announcement comes after Microsoft on Friday defeated a last-ditch effort by the US Federal Trade Commission to scuttle the company's $68.7 billion purchase of Activision Blizzard. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals declined to grant the regulator an emergency stay of a ruling that allows the deal to proceed in the US. The United Kingdom's Markets and Competition Authority (CMA) is the last remaining regulator of note opposed to the purchase, but the watchdog and Microsoft recently agreed to put their legal battle over the deal on hold and negotiate a compromise.

We are pleased to announce that Microsoft and @PlayStation have signed a binding agreement to keep Call of Duty on PlayStation following the acquisition of Activision Blizzard. We look forward to a future where players globally have more choice to play their favorite games.  Phil Spencer (@XboxP3) July 16, 2023

"From Day One of this acquisition, weve been committed to addressing the concerns of regulators, platform and game developers, and consumers," Microsoft President and Vice Chair Brad Smith tweeted in response to Spencer's post. "Even after we cross the finish line for this deals approval, we will remain focused on ensuring that Call of Duty remains available on more platforms and for more consumers than ever before."

Spencer did not disclose the terms of Microsoft's deal with Sony, though Stephen Totilo of Axios later confirmed that it is 10 years in duration. Microsoft first offered Sony a 10-year deal to keep Call of Duty on current and future PlayStation consoles at the end of last year, though the Japanese electronics giant turned down the olive branch at the time. In an effort to secure approval from regulators, including the FTC and CMA, Microsoft went on to sign an agreement with Nintendo to bring the series to the company's future consoles. It also came to terms with cloud gaming providers like NVIDIA.

Before today, Jim Ryan, the president and CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment, made clear he was strongly opposed to Microsoft's Activision bid. I dont want a new Call of Duty deal. I just want to block your merger, Ryan told Activision CEO Bobby Kotick. I told him [Kotick] that I thought the transaction was anti-competitive, I hoped that the regulators would do their job and block it, Ryan later said during his testimony at the FTC v. Microsoft hearing. But with the purchase all but set to move forward, Sony likely had no choice but to come to terms with its rival.

Update 2:57PM ET: Added more information about the length of the agreement.
The United States Attorneys Office for the Middle District of Florida has announced the successful results of the third quarter of the fiscal year 2023 Project Safe Neighborhoods strategy.

In the three-month period ending on June 30, 2023, a total of 107 defendants have been prosecuted for federal firearms and violent crime offenses. As a result of these prosecutions, 147 illegal firearms have been removed from the streets of the Middle District of Florida. The cases include defendants who have been indicted, pleaded guilty, convicted at trial, or sentenced.

>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<

The U.S. Attorneys Office has also been actively engaged in community outreach efforts throughout the year, with approximately 200 individuals participating in these initiatives during the third quarter. Community outreach activities included presentations to students in elementary, middle, and high schools, meetings with community leaders, and re-entry programs. As part of the re-entry programs, federal prosecutors visited state prisons to speak with inmates nearing their release dates.

U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg expressed his offices commitment to reducing violent crime in the Middle District of Florida and highlighted the importance of collaboration with law enforcement partners and community stakeholders to create safer communities.

The following are highlights of some significant cases from the third quarter:

In United States v. Alex Winters (Ft. Myers), a traffic stop led to the discovery of a loaded firearm, drugs, and ammunition, resulting in Winters being convicted at trial and sentenced to 40 years in federal prison.

In United States v. Kristopher Ervin and Matthew Hoover (Jacksonville), two individuals were found guilty of transferring unregistered machinegun conversion devices, commonly known as Auto Key Cards. The investigation revealed a substantial increase in sales due to advertisements on a YouTube channel operated by Hoover. Sentencing hearings are scheduled for September 2023.

In United States v. Christopher Munroe (Ocala), Munroe, a convicted felon, was sentenced to 4 years and 9 months in federal prison for possessing stolen firearms.

In United States v. Joel Fonseca Flores (Orlando), Flores was charged with conspiracy to distribute fentanyl causing death, possession of fentanyl and cocaine with intent to distribute, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.

The Robles Park RICO (Tampa) case resulted in the sentencing of Keaujay Hornsby to 16 years and 6 months in federal prison and Kareem Spann to 10 years and 10 months. This Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organization (RICO) group was involved in a range of criminal activities, including shootings, drug trafficking, fraud, and identity theft.

[DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks]

These cases are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys in all five divisions across the Middle District of Florida. More information on Project Safe Neighborhoods can be found on the U.S. Attorneys Office website HERE.

[SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter]

Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
Yin Mingyan shows samples of crystal meth in Mangshi City, southwest China's Yunnan Province, July 13, 2023. Yin Mingyan is the deputy head of a law-enforcing team under a border management bureau in Dehong Dai and Jingpo Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan Province.

Back in 1997 when she was still in high school, she lost her brother Yin Mingzhi, a counter-narcotics officer who was seriously wouded and killed while arresting drug traffickers.

She joined the military upon graduation in 1998, and soon decided to fit in her brother's shoes and became a counter-narcotics officer.

She has been involved in more than 100 drug-related cases since then, resulting in the arrest of at least 230 suspects and the seizure of over 400 kilograms of drugs. (Xinhua/Hu Chao)

Yin Mingyan works with her colleague at a logistics center in Mangshi City, southwest China's Yunnan Province, July 12, 2023. Yin Mingyan is the deputy head of a law-enforcing team under a border management bureau in Dehong Dai and Jingpo Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan Province.

Back in 1997 when she was still in high school, she lost her brother Yin Mingzhi, a counter-narcotics officer who was seriously wouded and killed while arresting drug traffickers.

She joined the military upon graduation in 1998, and soon decided to fit in her brother's shoes and became a counter-narcotics officer.

She has been involved in more than 100 drug-related cases since then, resulting in the arrest of at least 230 suspects and the seizure of over 400 kilograms of drugs. (Xinhua/Hu Chao)

Yin Mingyan works with her colleague at a logistics center in Mangshi City, southwest China's Yunnan Province, July 12, 2023. Yin Mingyan is the deputy head of a law-enforcing team under a border management bureau in Dehong Dai and Jingpo Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan Province.

Back in 1997 when she was still in high school, she lost her brother Yin Mingzhi, a counter-narcotics officer who was seriously wouded and killed while arresting drug traffickers.

She joined the military upon graduation in 1998, and soon decided to fit in her brother's shoes and became a counter-narcotics officer.

She has been involved in more than 100 drug-related cases since then, resulting in the arrest of at least 230 suspects and the seizure of over 400 kilograms of drugs. (Xinhua/Fei Maohua)

Yin Mingyan mourns her older brother Yin Mingzhi at a martyrs cemetery in Longchuan County, southwest China's Yunnan Province, July 12, 2023. Yin Mingyan is the deputy head of a law-enforcing team under a border management bureau in Dehong Dai and Jingpo Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan Province.

Back in 1997 when she was still in high school, she lost her brother Yin Mingzhi, a counter-narcotics officer who was seriously wouded and killed while arresting drug traffickers.

She joined the military upon graduation in 1998, and soon decided to fit in her brother's shoes and became a counter-narcotics officer.

She has been involved in more than 100 drug-related cases since then, resulting in the arrest of at least 230 suspects and the seizure of over 400 kilograms of drugs. (Xinhua/Hu Chao)

Yin Mingyan attends a training session in Mangshi City, southwest China's Yunnan Province, July 13, 2023. Yin Mingyan is the deputy head of a law-enforcing team under a border management bureau in Dehong Dai and Jingpo Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan Province.

Back in 1997 when she was still in high school, she lost her brother Yin Mingzhi, a counter-narcotics officer who was seriously wouded and killed while arresting drug traffickers.

She joined the military upon graduation in 1998, and soon decided to fit in her brother's shoes and became a counter-narcotics officer.

She has been involved in more than 100 drug-related cases since then, resulting in the arrest of at least 230 suspects and the seizure of over 400 kilograms of drugs. (Xinhua/Fei Maohua)

Yin Mingyan attends a training session in Mangshi City, southwest China's Yunnan Province, July 13, 2023. Yin Mingyan is the deputy head of a law-enforcing team under a border management bureau in Dehong Dai and Jingpo Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan Province.

Back in 1997 when she was still in high school, she lost her brother Yin Mingzhi, a counter-narcotics officer who was seriously wouded and killed while arresting drug traffickers.

She joined the military upon graduation in 1998, and soon decided to fit in her brother's shoes and became a counter-narcotics officer.

She has been involved in more than 100 drug-related cases since then, resulting in the arrest of at least 230 suspects and the seizure of over 400 kilograms of drugs. (Xinhua/Fei Maohua)

Yin Mingyan mourns her older brother Yin Mingzhi at a martyrs cemetery in Longchuan County, southwest China's Yunnan Province, July 12, 2023. Yin Mingyan is the deputy head of a law-enforcing team under a border management bureau in Dehong Dai and Jingpo Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan Province.

Back in 1997 when she was still in high school, she lost her brother Yin Mingzhi, a counter-narcotics officer who was seriously wouded and killed while arresting drug traffickers.

She joined the military upon graduation in 1998, and soon decided to fit in her brother's shoes and became a counter-narcotics officer.

She has been involved in more than 100 drug-related cases since then, resulting in the arrest of at least 230 suspects and the seizure of over 400 kilograms of drugs. (Xinhua/Fei Maohua)

Yin Mingyan attends a training session in Mangshi City, southwest China's Yunnan Province, July 13, 2023. Yin Mingyan is the deputy head of a law-enforcing team under a border management bureau in Dehong Dai and Jingpo Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan Province.

Back in 1997 when she was still in high school, she lost her brother Yin Mingzhi, a counter-narcotics officer who was seriously wouded and killed while arresting drug traffickers.

She joined the military upon graduation in 1998, and soon decided to fit in her brother's shoes and became a counter-narcotics officer.

She has been involved in more than 100 drug-related cases since then, resulting in the arrest of at least 230 suspects and the seizure of over 400 kilograms of drugs. (Xinhua/Hu Chao)

Yin Mingyan mourns her older brother Yin Mingzhi at a martyrs cemetery in Longchuan County, southwest China's Yunnan Province, July 12, 2023. Yin Mingyan is the deputy head of a law-enforcing team under a border management bureau in Dehong Dai and Jingpo Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan Province.

Back in 1997 when she was still in high school, she lost her brother Yin Mingzhi, a counter-narcotics officer who was seriously wouded and killed while arresting drug traffickers.

She joined the military upon graduation in 1998, and soon decided to fit in her brother's shoes and became a counter-narcotics officer.

She has been involved in more than 100 drug-related cases since then, resulting in the arrest of at least 230 suspects and the seizure of over 400 kilograms of drugs. (Xinhua/Hu Chao)

Yin Mingyan attends a training session in Mangshi City, southwest China's Yunnan Province, July 13, 2023. Yin Mingyan is the deputy head of a law-enforcing team under a border management bureau in Dehong Dai and Jingpo Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan Province.

Back in 1997 when she was still in high school, she lost her brother Yin Mingzhi, a counter-narcotics officer who was seriously wouded and killed while arresting drug traffickers.

She joined the military upon graduation in 1998, and soon decided to fit in her brother's shoes and became a counter-narcotics officer.

She has been involved in more than 100 drug-related cases since then, resulting in the arrest of at least 230 suspects and the seizure of over 400 kilograms of drugs. (Xinhua/Hu Chao)
Ukraine's counter-offensive is progressing slowly, as the areas in front of Russian defensive fortifications are densely mined. On the eve of the counter-offensive, Ukraine received less than 15% of the bomb disposal and engineering equipment it had requested from its Western partners.

Source: The Washington Post

Quote: "The long buildup to the counteroffensive, which began about a month ago across multiple segments of the battlefield in the countrys east and south, gave the Russians time to prepare, soldiers said. Areas between 3 and 10 miles deep in front of the Russians main strongholds have been densely mined with antitank and antipersonnel mines and trip wires. These defenses have been successful in stalling the Ukrainian advance, they said.

As a result, Kyivs forces have changed strategy, Ukrainian military personnel said. Rather than try to break through with the infantry fighting vehicles and battle tanks that Western allies provided to aid Ukraine in this counteroffensive, units are moving forward, slowly, on foot."

Details: The WP goes on, saying that Ukraine's struggle in the minefields has exposed the vulnerability of armoured vehicles and tanks, especially the newly arrived American-made Bradley fighting vehicles and German-made Leopard battle tanks, which officials considered the key for Ukraine to retake Russian-occupied territory.

"The vehicles have won praise from soldiers  even after theyve hit mines, most people inside survive with just minor injuries  but they have not been able to breach Russias defences alone," WP added.

Valerii Zaluzhnyi, the Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, has said that Ukraine needs special remote demining equipment. In an interview with WP, he said that Ukraine uses US-supplied M58 Mine Clearing Line Charge (MICLIC) systems, but "they are also being destroyed" and therefore "we need a lot of them".

A senior Ukrainian official who spoke to WP on condition of anonymity has said that Kyiv received less than 15% of the amount of demining and engineering equipment, including MICLICs, it had requested from its Western partners before the counter-offensive. Some of this equipment arrived only last week, as the official said.

Ukraine's Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov and Zaluzhnyi told WP that they have informed their Western counterparts that they urgently need more demining systems, such as Bangalore torpedo explosive charges.

"Minefields are one of the problems that certainly affects the pace of the offensive. This is a problem we see. Could it have been resolved more quickly? It could have been. How could it be solved? At least General Milley knows. The other question is, can he help with that? I dont know," Zaluzhnyi said.

US officials have told WP that they provided Ukraine with almost all of the equipment it had requested prior to the counteroffensive. The officials have noted that it is not always possible to provide the quantity requested by Ukraine, but said that, particularly with regard to MICLIC systems, Washington is working to provide more soon, not only of the system itself but also of the charges it uses to detonate long rows of mines.

The officials have also revealed to WP that the US decision to provide Ukraine with the controversial cluster munitions would give Kyiv a firepower advantage, allowing the Ukrainian military enough time and space to use its existing engineering equipment.

Ukrainian soldiers involved in the counter-offensive have shared with WP that, as there are very few demining systems, they have become easy targets for Russian troops, who are prioritising them.

WP has noted that the depth and density of minefields is a significant problem along the southern front line in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, where Russians expected Ukrainians to attack and try to cut the land corridor through the occupied region that connects the Russian border with Crimea.

"The areas terrain is largely sprawling, open fields with few places for the Ukrainians to camouflage their larger equipment and vehicles. And the Russians chose the high ground for their positions, soldiers said," WP said.

Oskar, an engineer unit commander of the 47th Mechanised Brigade, has said to WP that his group received a German-made Wisent demining tank, which it used before launching a counter-offensive in Zaporizhzhia Oblast. This tank and similar Soviet-produced models successfully cleared some of the paths for the brigade's first offensive.

"But now their use is already ineffective, because the enemy expects the appearance of such equipment, which is massive, which is noisy, which is easy to see and, accordingly, to strike," Oskar said.

Another officer of the 47th Brigade has stated that on the first day of the counter-offensive, some units of the brigade mistakenly chose the wrong route on Bradley combat vehicles and Leopard battle tanks, entering a minefield instead of the route prepared by the engineers.

The WP wrote there were demining vehicles ahead of the convoy, but the group was forced to stop when the vehicles behind suddenly hit mines and became trapped. The chaos created a cluster of vehicles in one place. The Russians then began to attack the Ukrainians with helicopters and anti-tank missiles, seriously damaging and destroying several armoured vehicles and tanks. According to a Ukrainian officer, some units that had abandoned their equipment still managed to capture Russian trench positions.

"When the enemy sees even a Leopard tank in front of him and special engineering equipment, he will destroy the special equipment first. Because without it, all the others will not pass. And in just a couple of days of the offensive, several such vehicles were destroyed along with their crews," the officer said.

As the Russians are using drones to search for demining systems to hit them with artillery and missiles, the Ukrainians are trying to manually clear them.

"Sapper units  sometimes a group of just four people  will often wait for twilight to clear paths, as they are too visible in the daylight and can be seen through night-vision devices in the dark," WP stated.

The bomb disposal experts have told WP that walking around with a metal detector is unrealistic because they are too visible, so they crawl around looking for mines.

"It slows us down a lot, because the work of a sapper, it needs time and tranquility. Its not possible to do our work in these circumstances," said Lieutenant Colonel Mykola Moroz, the commander of the 128th Mountain Assault Brigades engineering and sapper battalion.

In addition, WP has noted that the Russians are dropping bombs from drones on areas cleared by Ukrainian bomb disposal experts, and the positions reached by Ukrainians may be mined already.

Since Ukrainian soldiers are moving on foot rather than using new Western equipment, it has become more difficult to replenish ammunition and evacuate the wounded.

"We were preparing, but the Russians were also preparing. They understand that engineering equipment right now is solving a key problem and is a game changer, so they want to destroy all of that first. I sent another letter to all of our partners to focus on this right now," Ukraines Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov said.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
Hoover Police Department

A 25-year-old woman who vanished two days ago after calling 911 from a highway in Hoover, Alabama, has been found alive.

Carlethia Carlee Nichole Russell returned home late Saturday and was taken to a hospital for evaluation, the Hoover Police Department announced. Hoover Police Chief Nick Derzis said she was alone when she returned.

She walked up, banged on the door, and that was her, Derzis told WBRC.

No further details were immediately available on what happened to Russell, who was feared abducted due to the strange circumstances of her disappearance. It was also not clear where she had spent the past two days.

The first thing is to give Carlee and family a little time to get themselves back together, he added. I know its been a tough experience for them. When we think its time to sit down and have a conversation with Carlee and try to get some facts, well do that.

Russell was driving home from work on I-459 South on Thursday night when she phoned dispatchers at around 9:34 p.m. to report a toddler walking on the side of the interstate, according to the Hoover Police Department. Police said she checked on the child and called a family memberbut her voice suddenly stopped.

Her mother, Talitha Russell, confirmed to reporters that Carlee was on the phone with her brothers girlfriend at the time that all contact was lost. Upon arrival, officers found no sign of Carlee Russell or a child, although they located her vehicle and some of her belongings nearby.

WVTM-13 reported that family heard Carlee Russell scream and drop her phone while still on the line, and her parents have said they fear the toddler was used as bait to lure their daughter out of her car.

My sons girlfriend heard her asking the child, Are you OK? She never heard the child say anything but then she heard our daughter scream, Talitha Russell was quoted telling local media. All you hear on her phone is background noise from the interstate.

Talitha Russell said officials discovered that Carlee Russells car door was open and her phone, wig, and hat were on the ground. Her Apple Watch and AirPods were also in her purse, she shared.

Her family had told The Daily Beast they were worried that her big heart played a part in her disappearance.

Shes our baby girl. Shes full of life. Shes a hard worker. Shes thoughtful. She has a big heart, which is kind of why were in this situation right nowbecause of her big heart, Carlethia Carlee Nichole Russells father, Carlos Russell, told The Daily Beast on Saturday evening. Shes smart. Shes a fighter. She means the world to us.

Hoover Police Lieutenant Daniel Lowe told reporters at a press conference on Friday that police were investigating every possibility and certainly leaving nothing off the table.

We want to thank the public, our community, and everyone and every organization that has reached out to us to provide us that support. Its been absolutely phenomenal, Carlos Russell said. We cant give enough praises to the volunteers who have came out to deal with the weather to pound the pavement, to knock on doors, to show flyers, and try to keep the word out with Carlee.

Derzis said he is just relieved Russell is alive.

Just know that the police department is very happy, he said. We wanted her to come home safe and soundand well hope thats what happened here. The investigation portion... well get to, but to me the main deal is making sure that she got home safe with her family. And I couldnt be more excited, and I hope the community feels the same way.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Eight years ago, South Beach small hotel operator Mitch Novick managed to persuade a reluctant real estate developer to salvage a monumental mosaic mural that for 55 years had adorned the front of a Collins Avenue hotel wing facing demolition.

But saving the work, by prominent American Modernist artist Jack Stewart, proved to be a far harder and lengthier task than Novick ever expected.

The mythological mural, which depicts the Greek god Apollo pulling a golden sun-chariot across the sky, was stripped off hurriedly just before the demolition and unceremoniously deposited outside a Little River warehouse.

There it sat in pieces for years, damaged from careless removal and exposed to the elements, as Novick persisted on a lone crusade to find someone willing to adopt the mural, restore it and provide a new home big and prominent enough to accommodate the sprawling artwork. It was no small ask: the mural consists of some 30 sections of reinforced concrete, tile and aluminum. When installed, its 90 feet long and 17 feet tall.

An architectural rendering shows a 1950s monumental mosaic mural that was saved from destruction in 2015 by Miami Beach preservationists at its planned new home at a South Beach fire station that will start construction in 2024. The mural, by artist Jack Stewart, depicts the Greek god Apollo flying his sun chariot across the sky. City of Miami Beach

This week, Novick finally hit pay dirt. Apollo soon will fly again.

Miami Beachs historic preservation board on Tuesday unanimously endorsed the reinstallation of the mural on the facade of a planned new South Beach fire station, the last stamp of approval needed under a city plan that has taken three years of negotiation and review  including several stabs at identifying a suitable location for the artwork.

I am so excited, Novick said, as he viewed the dismantled mural at Wynwoods Bakehouse Art Complex, where it is undergoing a painstaking restoration by a specialized team of art conservators. Its a wonderful project.

The all-but-ensured rescue of the Stewart mural is being touted as a model project at a time when development pressure threatens cherished and historic public art and architecture across Miami.

The costly restoration is being funded in full by Aman Resorts, the luxury hotel chain that has taken over the renovation and redevelopment of the historic 1941 Versailles Hotel, where Stewart had installed his specially commissioned two-part mural  Apollo Driving His Sun Chariot Across the Sky and Latona and Her Twins  on the front of an annex wing built in 1955.

The main section depicts the Greek god of the sun and light driving a star-like, horse-pulled chariot. At either end are figures representing Apollo and his twin sister, Artemis, as children, and their mother. (Stewart used her later Roman name of Latona instead of the Greek Leto.)

Aman representatives offered to cover the still-to-be-determined cost of rescuing the mural in 2021, when they secured city authorization for a planned gut-rehabilitation of the Art Deco hotel and construction of a standalone luxury condo tower next to it, where the annex that was home to the Apollo mural once stood.

Technicians Sammi Sassi, left, and Emily Rojas of RLA Conservation work on the back of a section of a 1950s mosaic mural depicting the Greek god Apollo that is undergoing restoration at the Bakehouse Art Complex in Wynwood. The Miami Beach mural, removed and saved by preservationists in 2015 from impending destruction, will be reinstalled at a new South Beach fire station. Jose A. Iglesias/jiglesias@elnuevoherald.com

Redevelopment takes down other murals

But the Stewart mural was almost lost to the resort citys intensive, ongoing wave of redevelopment, which has claimed a handful of buildings that while not historic themselves, bore cherished exterior public artworks or architectural features. Just last year, the Miami Design Preservation League got another developer planning to tear down a building to donate to the city another monumental mosaic mural, this one depicting American flags and figures from U.S. history by artist Enzo Gallo.

Hotel developer CitizenM paid the $170,000 cost of carefully cutting the 50-year-old mural out of the Alton Road buildings facade in sections, which are being stored nearby until a new home for the artwork can be found.

In Miami, meanwhile, a familiar mosaic mural of Cuban independence hero and poet Jose Marti on a demolished building that long overlooked Interstate 95 in downtown Miami is in storage following its removal and also awaits a plan for reinstallation, said Rosa Lowinger, the prominent conservator who is supervising work on Stewarts Apollo mural.

In an earlier version, the Versailles project was led by developer Alan Faena, who planned to make the hotel part of his larger, abutting Faena District, in partnership with billionaire investor Len Blavatnik. Faena got city authorization to tear down the Versailles annex, which was not judged to be historically or architecturally significant.

But Faena and the city somehow both overlooked the mural  until Novick, who had been intrigued by the artwork since childhood, piped up publicly, providing research that showed the mural was a valuable work and that Stewart was a significant artist. As an art historian, Stewart also played a leading role in the recognition and acceptance of graffiti as art.

A detail of a damaged section of a 1950s mosaic mural that was rescued from destruction by Miami Beach preservationists in 2015. The mural by artist Jack Stewart depicting the Greek god Apollo, is undergoing restoration by RLA Conservation at Wynwoods Bakehouse Art Complex and will be reinstalled at a new South Beach fire station. Jose A. Iglesias/jiglesias@elnuevoherald.com

Novick, who operates the Sherbrooke Hotel and is former chairman of the historic preservation boards at both Miami Beach and Miami-Dade County, rallied support from preservationists on the Beach. Faena then had the mural taken off the wall and sent to Little River, but he was unable to follow through on his redevelopment plan. Blavatnik is now backing Aman founder and fellow billionaire Vladislav Doronin on the project.

Because the city had already authorized Faena to demolish the Versailles annex, though, officials said they were legally powerless to require preservation of the mural. Novick persisted, however, reminding public officials of the murals value at every opportunity. Once Aman attorney Neisen Kasdin offered to donate the mural to the city, with all associated costs to be borne by the developer, the city was able to take formal ownership of the artwork, Miami Beach preservation chief Deborah Tackett said.

Mitch was really the impetus and the champion for this, Tackett said. He really stuck with it, and has been extremely successful.

The perfect fit

The question then was, where could the massive mural go?

Where do you find space for a monumental piece like this? noted Daniel Ciraldo, executive director of the Miami Design Preservation League, a Beach organization that supported Novicks quest.

The city considered several options, and drew up renderings showing the mural installed at, among other prominent spots, the Miami Beach Convention Center and the nearby Seventeenth Street Garage, but for various reasons rejected those.

An architectural rendering shows a 1950s monumental mosaic mural that was saved from destruction in 2015 by Miami Beach preservationists at its new home at a South Beach fire station that will start construction in 2024. The mural, by artist Jack Stewart, depicts the Greek god Apollo flying his sun chariot across the sky. City of Miami Beach

Officials finally settled on the new Fire Station 1, which by chance will be wide enough to accept the mural on its west facade, on the second story over the firetruck entrance ramp. And because it isnt yet built, its designers at the St. Petersburg firm of Wannemacher Jensen Architects could tweak their plan to add structural columns needed to support and properly display the heavy mural pieces.

We looked at many different city facilities, and this is actually the perfect fit, Tackett told the Beach preservation board on Tuesday.

In a twist, the location on Sixth Street and Jefferson Avenue in a city historic district has not been without controversy. Construction of the new $18 million firehouse will require demolition of the South Shore Community Center, a building by legendary architect Morris Lapidus, designer of the Fontainebleau Hotel.

But preservationists and city officials say the firehouse will give new life and prominence to the mural in the Flamingo Park Historic District, and the work fits thematically because of the racing chariot and the flaming sun.

The firefighters love it, because it does speak to what they do, Tackett said in an interview.

Under the approved installation plan, the mural will be backed by a metallic screen to separate it visually from the building and camouflage the metal supports that will anchor the artwork. The plan also calls a subtle, glowing illumination at night. Like the fire station building, the mural installation is designed to resist Category 5 hurricanes.

Artist Jack Stewarts mosaic mural depicting the Greek god Apollo pulling his sun chariot is seen here on the facade of an addition to the historic Versailles Hotel (at extreme left) in 2015, just before the artwork was removed and the annex demolished. WALTER MICHOT/MIAMI HERALD STAFF

Amans commitment on the mural doesnt cite a dollar figure, Tackett said. But everyone involved says the developer has been unstinting in meeting expenses. An Aman spokesman said the company does not yet want to disclose how much it has spent. Novick said he understands Aman has so far spent several hundred thousand dollars, and fully expects to pay more by the time the reinstallation is done.

The restoration of the iconic Versailles Hotel is a centerpiece of the plan for Aman Miami Beach, and the development team has long been committed to preserving and restoring Jack Stewarts historic mural, which previously fronted Collins Avenue, Aman development director Mark Witte said in an emailed statement to the Miami Herald. We applaud the Historic Preservation Boards decision to locate the mural on the facade of the Citys new fire station, where it will once again be on public view for all to enjoy.

The murals restoration is nearing completion at the Bakehouse Art Complex, and we will soon be working with the City to facilitate its installation.

Thats still a ways off. Construction on the fire station is scheduled to start in spring of 2024, with completion expected in summer 2025, according to city officials.

Apollo artwork getting overhaul

In the meantime, there is considerable repair work still to be done on the mural, said Lowinger, CEO of RLA Conservation, a company based in Miami and Los Angeles that specializes in restoring large outdoor art and architectural works.

Lowinger said the murals hasty removal added new damage to the deterioration from decades of exposure, but added: Its totally fixable.

A technician from RLA Conservation carefully digs into the concrete and rusted steel rebar in the back of a section of a 1950s Miami Beach mosaic mural that is undergoing restoration at Wynwoods Bakehouse Art Complex. The mural, which depicts the Greek god Apollo, was rescued from destruction by preservationists in 2015. Jose A. Iglesias/jiglesias@elnuevoherald.com

She called the mural an exuberant work well worth the cost and effort of restoration. That has meant chipping carefully away by hand at the concrete backing to expose and replace corroded steel rebar that was expanding and damaging the mural surfaces, replacing and rewelding aluminum framing, and judiciously applying anti-corrosion coatings to make the mural better able to repel water in the future.

The firm also hired an engineer to evaluate the repairs and ensure the mural would be structurally strong enough when restored for reinstallation, Lowinger said.

Next comes replacing missing glass tiles, which required finding identically matching samples, RLA assistant conservator Elena Bowen said.

Aman and conservators are now working on securing a bid from contractors for the murals installation at the firehouse, Lowinger said. The conservator, a Cuban-American who has also worked on the long-delayed project to renovate the shuttered Miami Marine Stadium, said the public support for saving the Stewart mural has been especially gratifying.

The style of Modernist outdoor mosaic mural the artist adopted was often featured in Mid-Century architecture in Cuba, the rest of Latin America and Miami, Lowinger noted.

Sections of a monumental 1950s mosaic mural that was rescued from destruction in 2015 by Miami Beach preservationists sit under a tarp at Wynwoods Bakehouse Art Complex, where the artwork is undergoing restoration. The mural by artist Jack Stewart depicts the Greek god Apollo and his mother and sister. It will be reinstalled at a new South Beach fire station. Jose A. Iglesias/jiglesias@elnuevoherald.com

Aman has been great. The citys been great. The thing too for us, which is particularly meaningful for me, is Miami and Miami Beach, in particular, has been very welcoming of the work that we do, and to find that level of appreciation is wonderful.

People rallied and understood its importance and value, Lowinger said of Stewarts Apollo mural. This is going to be a really happy story for everybody.
An entire pod of 55 pilot whales has died after a mass stranding on a Western Isles beach.

Only 15 were alive after they washed onto Traigh Mhor beach at North Tolsta on the Isle of Lewis at about 07:00 on Sunday morning.

Marine charity British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) attempted to refloat one of the more active whales but it was then restranded.

The decision was taken to euthanise the remaining whales on welfare grounds.

Western Isles Council - Comhairle nan Eilean Siar - has asked people to avoid the area as a clean-up operation began.

The BDMLR released an update on Sunday evening which said that one of the dead whales appeared to have had a vaginal prolapse.

This led them to suspect that the whole pod stranded due to one female giving birth.

Pilot whales are known for their strong social bonds, so often when one whale gets into difficulty and strands, the rest follow.

Attempts continued throughout the day to give the surviving whales first aid.

But after the attempt to refloat one of the whales, it was found further down the beach.

A further three whales then died, leaving 12 still alive - eight adults and four calves.

A statement said: "At about 15:30, the local vet along with the Coastguard, Fire and Rescue, and a forensics vet came to the conclusion that the shallow beach and rough wave conditions made it too unsafe to refloat the remaining animals.

"Considering how long the pilot whales had been out of the water in addition to the poor conditions, it was decided that they should be euthanised on welfare grounds."

Members of the Lewis community, Stornoway Coastguard, Stornoway and Shawbost Fire and Rescue, the Scottish Marine Animal Stranding Scheme (SMASS), the Scottish SPCA, and Civil Air Support were all involved in the rescue effort, with vets and marine experts being flown in to help.

SMASS will now carry out post mortem examinations of the bodies to conclude the cause of the stranding.

Pilot whales are small whales characterised as part of the dolphin family.

Pilot whales are social and therefore more likely to stick together when one gets into difficulty

Earlier BDMLR's Welfare and Conservation Director Dan Jarvis told BBC Scotland that the longer the whales were on the beach, the less likely it was that they would survive.

He said: "They have evolved to not have the ability to support their own weight on land. So when they are stranded they can crush themselves to death.

"Pilot whales don't usually come in to shore. They would be potentially disoriented, distressed from what has led to the stranding, and distressed from the stranding itself and being surrounded by family members who have died around them.

"This is one of the biggest incidents we've had in the last couple of decades."

A Comhairle spokesperson said: "Comhairle nan Eilean Siar asks that the public follow police advice and avoid Traigh Mhor.

"The Comhairle has engaged with professionals and is now working with partner organisations to clear the beach."
More road closures are coming to Sacramentos Broadway district. Heres where and why

Driving through Broadway street will be tricky for at least another two weeks with more road closures set to begin.

The closures are part of PG&Es ongoing work to update gas pipelines on Broadway. This latest project will close both eastbound lanes between 16th and 20th streets from Monday to July 30.

Drivers are expected to exercise caution, follow detours and expect traffic delays.

PG&E has developed a traffic control plan that allows traffic to flow in all directions, at all times, throughout the project, spokeswoman Karly Hernandez said.

But some businesses on Broadway are frustrated about the lack of notice regarding road closures, particularly in an area with already limited parking.

Its already hard enough to park here as it is, said Joe Chavarria, owner of Sacred Skin Tattoos. And when they do this, it makes it literally impossible.

Chavarria said he only heard about pending construction through a media inquiry on Friday.

On Saturday, The Sacramento Bee reached out to seven businesses: Noahs NY Bagels, Queen Sheba Ethiopian Cuisine, Kyoto Sushi Bar Grill & Ramen, New Station Seafood, Lolas Lounge, Broadway Veterinary Hospital and New Helvetia Brewing Company.

Four of the businesses said they were unaware of the road closures.

This is my first time hearing about it  you would think that the city would at least let all these small businesses know, said Lola Serrano, co-owner of Lolas Lounge.

Chavarria and Serrano expressed concerns about losing customers because of the closures.

If theyre going to be doing roadwork on Broadway, I feel like they should be doing that at a time when businesses arent open, Chavarria said. They should be doing it late at night like they do on the freeways instead of doing it while its our prime time to make money.

The city recommends using detours set up along X Street and Second Avenue during the two weeks.
Ive written before on the unfortunate selective hypocrisy in US foreign policy - perhaps no US international relationship better illustrates this than how the Biden administration treats Hungary under Prime Minister Viktor Orban.

This Summer my family and I arrived in Budapest just days after US Ambassador David Pressman caused a local media storm by giving a blistering Pride Month speech lambasting Hungarys alleged anti LGBTQ+ policies. Even as Ambassador Pressman was speaking a number of Pride related events were going on in Budapest totally unhindered.

The US also routinely criticizes Hungarys overall conservative oriented policy framework. The nation has the toughest anti-immigrant policies in the European Union and declares openly that it has no intention of integrating large numbers of migrants into the national fabric; Hungary unashamedly embraces its Christian heritage; it promotes the values of the nuclear family through pro-family economic policies; and, despite its NATO membership, Hungary maintains close economic ties to Russia  while taking in around 10,000 Ukrainian refugees daily. It is also doing more and more business with China, including the building of one of the largest battery factories in Europe.

So, lets put these factors into perspective. While the US with its large, multi-ethnic population has chosen a path of secularism, diversity and inclusion  and lets not forget our own debates over social issues  Hungary, a small mono-ethnic nation, is choosing another path by preserving its Hungarian-ness. Sovereignty means that nations have a right to safeguard their borders and determine who does, or does not, get in. Just because America is unwilling or incapable of protecting our own borders and having a clear immigration policy does not mean that others must copy our folly. Of all the Orban Governments policies, its strict border controls are highly popular across the national political spectrum. And Hungarys history is a major factor affecting this immigration policy - the nation served as Europes gatekeeper for centuries, standing in the way of conquering waves from the East. It was overrun by Mongol invaders in the 13th century who killed about 40% of the population and endured being a Turkish colony for 150 years.

Sovereignty also means that nations can determine their cultural and social values. There are certainly core human rights applicable universally  but our Administrations approach is that anything we deem a human right must be accepted by every other nation, immaterial of their own history or culture. And lets remember  the American people are also split on these fast-evolving topics. Its also strange that US and other Western critics have problems with Hungarys close association with Christianity, while we have positive relations with most nations that have Islamic in their name, and we strongly support Israel with its obvious Jewishness. While mosques operate freely in Hungary, and the nation takes pride in supporting its synagogues, try holding a Christian service in much of the Middle East without severe penalties. As for the points raised by Ambassador Pressman against Hungarys LGBTQ+ record, Hungarys environment is more restrictive than ours, but consider the ongoing debate in the US concerning this issue. Were certainly not the United States on this!

Hungarys continuing cordial ties to Russia and openness to China are problematic, but here again history and geography matter. Instead of using a megaphone to criticize how about offering alternatives? I ran into the same situation with multiple African countries while serving as US Assistant Secretary of State  we would tell them to not buy Chinese communications equipment or Russian weapons, and when they said what is the US offering we had no good answer.

Hungarys domestic politics are also harshly criticized by our Administration and the European Union. Charges include an abuse of power by the Orban Government, high level corruption, using the States resources and gerrymandering to win elections, a biased media, etc. These are certainly concerning issues, but lets also look in the mirror. How about our former and current Presidents and Supreme Court justices ethical problems? How about Marylands bizarre congressional districts which guarantee that no Republican can be elected to Congress, and some other states where Democrats are disadvantaged? Is there any serving politician anywhere who doesnt maximize incumbency to assure continued election wins? And look at the just released Gallup survey showing how negatively Americans view our major institutions, especially the Media and Congress! And is it the Orban governments fault that the opposition  which does rule most cities - is fractured among small and narrow parties, and its leaders are less than stellar?

Our relationship with Hungary should be one of our strongest anywhere. The country is strategically located, and its highly educated and industrious people have a long history of supporting and appreciating America. But our schizoid policy of jumping from Republican administrations which admire the Orban Government, to Democratic ones blacklisting it, means that we are driving the Hungarians further into the arms of Russia and China. Hungarians and Americans have different histories, values, and perspectives on the World, and it will remain so, but isnt that what diversity and inclusion are? As Mathew 7 states: Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brothers eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, Let me take the speck out of your eye, when all the time there is a plank in your own eye?

Ambassador Tibor Nagy was most recently Assistant Secretary of State for Africa after serving as Texas Techs Vice Provost for International Affairs and a 30-year career as a US Diplomat. Follow him on Twitter @TiborPNagyJr

This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Nagy: U.S. should strengthen relationship with Hungary
National security adviser: It wouldnt be a surprise if North Korea conducts another nuclear test

National security adviser Jake Sullivan said on Sunday that he wouldnt be surprised if North Korea moves forward with another nuclear test after the country test-fired its first intercontinental ballistic missile in months.

I have been concerned for some time that North Korea would conduct what would be its seventh nuclear test going back multiple administrations, Sullivan told CBSs Margaret Brennan on Face the Nation. I dont see any immediate indications that thats going to happen.

But it would not come as a surprise if North Korea moved forward with another nuclear test with respect to its intercontinental ballistic missile capability

The North Korea missile was fired around 10 a.m. last Wednesday and flew about 1,000 kilometers at a maximum altitude of 6,000 kilometers before landing in waters between the Korean Peninsula and Japan.

Sullivan on Sunday noted North Korea began testing missiles with similar capabilities years ago, and the United States continues to work with allies Japan and Korea to ensure theyre responding in lockstep to the threat.

Over the course of the Biden administration, we have indicated to North Korea that were prepared to sit down and talk without preconditions about their nuclear program, Sullivan said.

Sullivan also noted China has a role to play in these conversations, given its relationship with North Korea.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
WASHINGTON  In addition to articles already covered by Native News Online, here is a roundup of other news released from Washington, D.C. that impacts Indian Country recently.

Interior Department & University of Alaska Anchorage Partner to Provide STEM Employment to Alaska Native Students

The U.S. Department of the Interior and the University of Alaska Anchorages Alaska Native Science and Engineering Program (ANSEP) on Thursday announced a new partnership that will increase employment opportunities for Alaska Native youth across the Departments offices and bureaus.

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The agreement will allow the Interior Department to exercise direct hire authority -- authorized by the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act -- for ANSEP students and recent graduates, allowing for placement for positions in any bureau or office and significantly streamlining the often-cumbersome process required to get federal work or internship experience.

This new partnership exemplifies the Biden-Harris administrations commitment to removing barriers and advancing equity across the federal government, Interior Secretary Deb Haaland said. Earlier in the she met with ANSEP scholars interning in Washington this week. We must continue to mobilize an all-of-government approach to ensure that historically underrepresented communities are brought into federal service.

Senate Committee on Indian Affairs Held a Legislative Hearing on Water Issues

On Wednesday, July 12, the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs held a legislative hearing on 

Assistant Secretary - Indian Affairs Bryan Newland from the U.S. Department of the Interior, Associate Deputy Chief for State, Private, and Tribal Forestry John Crockett from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Secretary-Treasurer for the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe Indians Lenny Fineday, Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren, Fort Belknap Indian Community President Jeffrey Stiffarm, and Lieutenant Governor of the State of Montana Kristen Juras testified at the hearing.

The full video of the legislative hearing is available here.

Legislation to Support Tribal Law Enforcement, Protect Native Communities Reintroduced

Representatives Sharice Davids (D-KS), Derek Kilmer (D-WA), and Dan Newhouse (R-WA) announced the reintroduction of the Parity for Tribal Law Enforcement Act, legislation to improve hiring and increase retention for tribal law enforcement officers to better protect native communities and help address the crisis of missing and murdered indigenous women and girls.

Improving the recruitment and retention of tribal law enforcement officers is vital to increasing public safety in Tribal communities, Rep. Davids, a tribal citizen of the Ho-Chunk Nation said. I am proud to join my colleagues in leading this important legislation, which removes administrative barriers and gives tribal law enforcement officers increased access to the same federal benefits, including retirement benefits, as other federal law enforcement officers.

Its important for the federal government to respect tribal sovereignty and strengthen public safety, Rep. Kilmer said. Im proud to help introduce the bipartisan Parity for Tribal Law Enforcement Act with Representatives Newhouse and Davids so that we can take steps to improve the prevention, investigation, and prosecution of crimes in Indian Country  and ensure that Tribes across the region can recruit and retain the law enforcement officers they need to serve their communities.

Native tribes in Central Washington and across the nation are encountering significant barriers in recruiting and retaining law enforcement officers for their reservation lands, Rep. Newhouse said. While their communities are combatting the crisis of missing and murdered indigenous women and high crime rates, they need to be well-equipped to protect families and local businesses. The Parity for Tribal Law Enforcement Act will empower our law enforcement officers with the necessary resources to ensure the safety of both tribal and non-tribal communities.

About the Author: "Native News Online is one of the most-read publications covering Indian Country and the news that matters to American Indians, Alaska Natives and other Indigenous people. Reach out to us at editor@nativenewsonline.net. "

Contact: news@nativenewsonline.net
Tommy Rock never thought he would attend Princeton University, especially as a postdoctoral research fellow, and as he completes his time at the Ivy League institution, he believes he wouldn't have made it there if it were not for affirmative action.

Princeton University is the last place I thought Id end up, said Rock, who is one of 10 recipients of Princetons Postdoctoral Research Associate and Presidential Postdoctoral Research Fellowship. I learned a lot. I dont think it wouldve been possible without affirmative action.

One of the main elements of this fellowship is its focus on diversifying the university, but last month the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6-3 against the use of affirmative action in college admissions. In his majority opinion, Chief Justice John Roberts wrote that admissions programs used by the University of North Carolina and Harvard College violate the Constitutions equal protection clause, which bars racial discrimination by government entities.

Whether the decision in Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. vs. President and Fellows of Harvard College could impact prestigious programs such as the one Rock spent the last two years in isnt clear. Rock, who is a member of the Navajo Nation and originally from Monument Valley, Utah, was the only Native American recipient of the fellowship in his cohort.

After the Supreme Court ruling, the Princeton University President Christopher L. Eisgruber sent a letter expressing his disappointment.

Diversity benefits learning and scholarship by broadening the range of questions, perspectives, and experiences brought to bear on important topics throughout the university, he said. Our multicultural society requires that, in the words of Justice Sandra Day OConnor, 'the path to leadership (must) be visibly open to talented and qualified individuals of every race and ethnicity.'

A 2022 study by Quad Education Group reported that fewer than 1% of the school's incoming class at Princeton were Indigenous students. That year, Princeton University received 37,601 applications and accepted 1,647 students, for an acceptance rate of 4.4%.

Princeton is predominately white, said Rock. There are very few Natives.

'We do not live in a color-blind world'

Rock's road to higher education didnt start smoothly or in what many would consider a traditional way. After dropping out of high school, then going back, he attended junior colleges not knowing exactly what he wanted to do. He even enlisted in the Marines, but bad hearing prevented him from joining. He started to work odd jobs and hang out with the wrong crowd, eventually growing tired of that scene.

I got fed up with it, said Rock. I hitchhiked back home, gathered my stuff, and I started to hitchhike out of there. A friend of mine from Kayenta picked me up. Telling him what I was doing, I told him Im going to school.

And from that point on, Rock has been in school. He holds a Ph.D. in Earth science and environmental sustainability, and an M.A. in sustainable community from Northern Arizona University, and a B.A. in interdisciplinary studies from Arizona State University.

Tommy Rock fills water barrels at his family's home in Oljato, Utah, on the Navajo Nation. He has heard talk about plans to lay water pipes in the area but says these plans have been discussed for so long that he has grown skeptical about the prospects of construction getting underway.

While at Princeton, Rock was a postdoctoral research fellow in the Department of Geosciences, where he initiated a program to expand the identification, monitoring, and communication of environmental hazards related to legacy uranium mining and ongoing oil and gas exploration in the Navajo Nation.

I was really surprised I got in, said Rock about his fellowship. It's very competitive.

The American Indian College Fund said it was disheartened by the Supreme Court ruling and concerned because it would affect the equitable access to affordable higher education for American Indian and Alaska Natives and other diverse student groups.

American Indian College Fund is a nonprofit organization that helps Native American students, supporting them with scholarships and funding toward higher education, because, despite common beliefs, Indigenous students don't all receive free higher education.

Rep. Eli Crane: Arizona Republican steps in it with his 'colored people' gaffe

Responding to a majority opinion that claimed affirmative action policies are unconstitutional because they unavoidably employ race in a negative manner and use racial stereotyping, the nonprofit argued that the color-blind society the court tried to perceive in its ruling is farfetched.

With regard to the facts of our lives lived in the real world that show us that, in fact, we do not live in a color-blind world: Our histories and cultures are still being removed from curricula across the country, the group said. Students continue to face prohibitions from wearing regalia at graduation ceremonies. Native students are frequently excluded from accessing campus resources and rarely see themselves represented on college campuses.

Educational success and tribal sovereignty are 'intertwined'

Wendy Shelly Greyeyes., a member of the Navajo Nation, an associate professor of Native American studies at the University of New Mexico and author of "A History of Navajo Nation Education: Disentangling Our Sovereign Body," said the decision is frightening for Native people because it means Indigenous students' opportunities to access education have shrunk.

Highly competitive schools will not be permitted to factor race into their decision making, which reduces our access to these schools, said Greyeyes. Obtaining a college education is sometimes the only pathway for economic survival. It is disappointing that the majority of supreme court justices dont recognize that race is still a reality for our country.

Opinion: Affirmative action didn't give me a handout. It gave me an opportunity

Indigenous young people carry the burden of generational poverty and low educational outcomes in their families, she said. To succeed in American society, a college education is necessary to be competitive in the job market.

Our sovereignty as the Navajo people is intertwined into the success of our Navajo students, said Greyeyes. Because if our students arent going to college or in a career, they become dependent on our tribal governments resources.

Its a vicious cycle, she said, and advocates must find a way to change the Supreme Court justices' effort to play politics and insert their racist ideology into our American democracy.

If this is a country that is established on equal rights and equity then that should be the guiding principles for higher education, said LeManuel Lee Bitsoi, a member of the Navajo Nation who is currently the vice president of diversity, equity and inclusion at Brandeis University in Waltham, Mass.

Bringing it all to the present day, in terms of affirmative action, because of this historical and systemic racism and discrimination, the playing fields are never going to be leveled until every community has equal access, he said. When we have that, then we can talk about eliminating affirmative action.

He said colleges and universities should do away with the elitist legacy and donor admission policies and the preferential treatment of athletes in admissions.

Supporters of affirmative action protest outside the Supreme Court in Washington on Thursday, June 29, 2023. The Supreme Courts ruling on affirmative action was largely silent on employment-related questions. (Kenny Holston/The New York Times)

How higher education can help preserve traditions

Bitsoi earned a bachelor of science degree from the University of New Mexico, holds a master of education degree from Harvard University and a doctorate degree in higher education administration from the University of Pennsylvania.

I'm the first generation college-goer and graduate so education was instilled in me at a very young age by my mother, said Bitsoi. She is a boarding school survivor, even though she had not so good of an experience with boarding school she understood education as a way to become more socially and economically mobile.

In 2022, Harvard University accepted only 2,320 applicants out of 57,786, an acceptance rate of 4%, the lowest in the Ivy League. According to the Quad Education Group study, about 1.1% of its incoming students were Native American students.

Bitsoi said he recommends that higher education in the country take a look at American Indian and Alaskan Native people through the tribal sovereignty lens.

When they are reaching out and recruiting American Indian and Alaskan Native people it should be done under the framework of tribal sovereignty, said Bitsoi. Because as Indigenous people, American Indian and Alaskan Native people, we have tribal sovereignty, so we are dual citizens.

American Indians and Alaskan Natives have enrolled tribal numbers as well as social security numbers, he said, so higher education should consider recruitment based on that dual citizenship.

As Indigenous people we don't only have racial identity, we also have a political identity, said Bitsoi. Thats all rooted back to tribal sovereignty, treaties and agreements that were drawn up that guarantee education, natural resources, health care, social services etc.

Peoria schools: Board rejects free computer science program that has commitment to diversity

Bitsoi mused about whether he believed he benefited from affirmative action, and said he probably did in some ways, but he was already academically proficient.

At the graduate level, I believe I was a competitive candidate because I had the academic ability and GPA, I did have the GRE scores, letter of recommendations, said Bitosi. Its a whole process of where you submit a personal statement and that allowed me to share who I was. My academic ability was already demonstrated, and I also brought another diverse perspective because there were very few American Indian and Alaska Native students at Harvard.

Greyeyes and Rock both believe the ruling against affirmative action is a step back.

Although a Western education is of value for Native students, so is the learning and the retention of their tribe's culture and language, said Bitsoi.

"The future of Native America is the retention and renaissance of Native languages and culture because that's what makes us different from everyone else," said Bitsoi. "If there comes a time we aren't speaking our languages, we are going to lose our culture, and if that comes to pass, we will be the same as everybody else. If that happens, they will say we are like everybody else and we don't need tribal sovereignty, or land bases, or reservations, all these federal statute and statuses will be taken away and that's why we need to maintain our language and culture."

Arlyssa Becenti covers Indigenous affairs for The Arizona Republic and azcentral. Send ideas and tips to arlyssa.becenti@arizonarepublic.com.

Support local journalism. Subscribe to azcentral.com today.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Native students say affirmative action ruling could block admissions
A Capitol riot suspect who had guns and hundreds of rounds of ammunition in his van when he was arrested near former President Barack Obamas Washington home has been indicted on federal firearms charges, authorities said Friday.

Taylor Taranto, 37, was already facing misdemeanor charges stemming from his alleged involvement in the Jan. 6, 2021, riot, and a grand jury indicted him on additional felony charges alleging he illegally carried a firearm without a license and unlawfully possessed a large-capacity ammunition feeding device, prosecutors said.

A magistrate judge earlier this week ruled that Taranto, of Pasco, Washington, must remain behind bars while he awaits trial because he would pose a danger to the community if released. Tarantos attorney has said she will appeal that decision.

Tarantos attorney, Kathryn Guevara, didnt immediately respond to an email seeking comment Friday on the indictment.

Guevara has said that her client had been receiving mental health treatment to overcome trauma that he experienced during military service. He deployed to Iraq while serving in the Navy and was driving a combat vehicle in a convoy that was hit by enemy missiles, she said.

Jan. 6 rioter arrested near Obamas home is Navy veteran

Taranto was arrested June 29 after prosecutors say he showed up in Obamas neighborhood on the same day that former President Donald Trump posted on his social media platform what he claimed was Obamas home address.

While livestreaming on YouTube in the neighborhood, Taranto told followers that he was looking for entrance points, was going to find a way to the tunnels underneath their houses and wanted to get a good angle on a shot, according to court papers. Officials said he was spotted by law enforcement a few blocks from Obamas home and fled, though he was chased by Secret Service officers.

In his van  which investigators say he appeared to be living in  Taranto had two guns, 400 rounds of ammunition as well as a machete, prosecutors have said. Tarantos wife told investigators that he had come to D.C. because of House Speaker Kevin McCarthys offer earlier this year to produce unseen video of the Jan. 6 attack.

Tarantos arrest came the day after investigators say he asserted on his YouTube livestream that he was in Gaithersburg, Maryland, on a one-way mission and suggested that he intended to blow up his van at the National Institute of Standards and Technology.

On the day of the riot, authorities say Taranto joined the crush of people who broke into the Capitol. He was captured on video at the entrance of the Speakers Lobby around the time that Ashli Babbitt was fatally shot by an officer while attempting to climb through the broken window of a barricaded door.

Tarantos lawyer told the judge earlier this week that her client was talking about tunnels near Obamas home in a joking manner because the subject has been fodder for conspiracy theories. She said in court papers that comments he made about getting the the shot or angle while near Obamas house were only in reference to the livestream video he was taking at the time.
A man holds up a sign denouncing gun violence during a memorial for victims of a mass shooting at Monterey Park City Hall, California, the United States, on Jan. 23, 2023. Hundreds of people gathered at the Monterey Park City Hall Monday evening for a memorial for the loss of the shooting which killed 11 and wounded nine. (Photo by Zeng Hui/Xinhua)

TEHRAN, July 15 (Xinhua) -- The United States has set a grim record for mass killings in the first half of 2023, with 28 incidents and 140 victims, according to a report by Iran's Fars News Agency.

The report, published on Saturday, said the number marks the deadliest six months of mass killings recorded in the United States since 2006, adding 27 of the 28 incidents involved guns.

It points to the political paralysis surrounding gun policy in the United States, which has prevented the government from taking meaningful steps to address the problem.

The report comes as the United States is still reeling from the three mass shootings that killed 10 people and wounded nearly 40 others around U.S. Independence Day, which falls on July 4.

The United States remains one of the few developed countries where mass shootings are a regular occurrence.

Students from Francis Polytechnic High School protest against gun violence in Los Angeles, the United States, on March 14, 2018. Students participated in a nationwide demonstration against gun violence "National School Walkout" in the United States on Wednesday, one month after a high school shooting in Florida in which 17 people were killed. (Xinhua/Zhao Hanrong)
NC may be best for business, but we sure arent for something else | Opinion

NC rankings

I read with pride that CNBC for the second year says North Carolina is the best state for business in our country. Pretty good. Then I remember that North Carolina is near the bottom in our country for education funding and teacher pay. These two things dont seem to go together, do they? One is a great source of pride, the other a complete embarrassment  with a bad ending if we dont fix it.

Joe Mooney, Charlotte

Best for business

Regarding A best for business ranking obscures NCs growing needs, (July 13 Opinion):

In his latest hit job on the Republican-led majority in our state legislature, Associate Opinion Editor Ned Barnett briefly comments upon North Carolinas recent designation as the best state for business for the second year in a row  because state legislators reduced taxes. Then, he launches into all of the tax-raising things he believes they should have done instead  which likely would have resulted in our states non-selection for this honor.

Richard Vinroot, Charlotte

Fully fund schools

The writer is a retired N.C. teacher.

A strong democracy requires fully funded public schools.

Teachers salaries in North Carolina have been stagnant for years and many teachers are leaving the profession for better paying jobs. While legislators claim the state does not have the funds to provide teachers a 10% salary increase, they ignore the surplus in the state budget, funnel funds into school vouchers, and refuse to honor the state Constitution which promises our children a right to a free and fair public education.

North Carolinas leaders have shirked their responsibility to support the states students and educators far too long, and the potential cost of their inaction is daunting. For the second year in a row, CNBC identified North Carolina as Americas Top State for Business, citing North Carolinas educated workforce as one of the states winning data points. Strong and vibrant public schools ensure the Old North State remains business-friendly and competitive on the world stage.

The time for fully funded public schools is now!

Karen Puckett, Salisbury

A real life story

Regarding This 12-year-old wants to continue gender-affirming care. NC lawmakers are trying to stop it, (July 9):

Thank you for making this wonderfully written story the headline for the July 9 edition. Jodie Valade told us this story in a perfect manner. It told the reader something completely new by delivering this familys real life story  something not many can either relate to or understand.

Bravo Jodie. Cheers to the Dumas family for having the courage to tell their story.

Mark Smets, Fort Mill

Transgender bills

In his July 9 op-ed, N.C. Rep. John Autry refers to the cruel bills regarding transgender youth currently going through the North Carolina legislature.

In my opinion, the definition of the word cruel has really changed in the 21st century. To me, its cruel for doctors to prescribe puberty blockers to preteens and young teens. Its also cruel for biological girl athletes to be forced to play with or against boys who identify as girls.

I applaud the North Carolina legislature for pushing these bills.

Tom Creech, Charlotte

Affirmative action

Regarding What the Supreme Courts UNC ruling means to me, a student at Chapel Hill, (July 12 Opinion):

I wholeheartedly disagree with Julian Taylors statement that higher education is the backbone to success in America. K-12 education is the foundation to prosperity and where we, as a society, are failing our kids.

We need to focus less on affirmative action in college admittance standards and spend more energy and resources making sure that our children have equal opportunities in the formative years.

Mike Howard, Waxhaw

Not there yet

Affirmative actions purpose is to insure that every race is represented equitably. Since race can no longer be considered in college admissions, the percentage of white admissions will likely go up and Black admissions go down.

When a race is enslaved for hundreds of years, not able to read or write, and then treated inhumanely after being set free  even during my lifetime  it will take many, many more years before all races are on equal ground.

Buddy Lemmons, Charlotte

Poverty in CLT

Though we have made great strides in the last century, poverty continues to be a thorn in our side. This is especially true for Charlotte, considering its poverty rate of 10-15%. Thats around 120,000 people living below the poverty line, a disproportionate number of whom are Black. This is an injustice that should not be allowed to stand in the rapidly growing Queen City  or anywhere else, for that matter.

Interning for The Borgen Project, a nonprofit that focuses on poverty, has helped me understand that my voice matters. All of us must demand more from our elected officials, for the betterment of all.

James Cooper, Mooresville
FILE PHOTO: People demonstrate on 'Day of Disruption' in protest against Israel's judicial overhaul, in Jerusalem

By Dan Williams

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the ejection on Sunday of an activist from his Likud party who mocked the Holocaust while heckling anti-government protesters, in remarks that suggested ethnic tensions beneath a constitutional crisis.

Video circulated on social media showed Itzik Zarka cursing and spitting at demonstrators at a traffic junction near the working-class town of Beit Shean on Saturday.

"It's not for nothing that six million were killed," he shouts. "I'm proud that six million of you were burned!"

"We will not tolerate such disgraceful behaviour in the Likud movement," Netanyahu said in a statement on the ouster of Zarka, for years a towering figure at party campaign events.

By framing the mostly European Jewish victims of the Nazi genocide as adversaries, Zarka appeared to be distinguishing between them and Mizrahi Jews of Middle Eastern descent who have been a traditional core of support for the conservative Likud.

Some members of Netanyahu's religious-nationalist coalition have cast the prime minister's push to overhaul the judiciary as redressing elitist overreach by the Askenazi, or European-descended, Jews who dominated the country's founding generation.

The Mizrahim who make up around half of Israel's Jewish majority - a figure hard to pin down due to widespread intermarriage with Ashkenazim - have at times complained of discrimination and socio-economic disadvantage.

Denying the Holocaust, questioning its scale or celebrating it is punishable by five years' in jail under Israeli law. The historical catastrophe is an issue that generally unites Jews, and Zarka's remarks were condemned across the political spectrum.

Zarka, who is Jewish, said in a statement circulated on social media that his comments had been "taken out of context" and described himself as the grandson of a Holocaust survivor.

Critics of the proposed judicial reforms argue that Netanyahu seeks to curb court independence even as he argues his innocence in a long-running corruption trial. The veteran premier says the overhaul would balance branches of government.

Some anti-government demonstrators have drawn comparisons to the march to tyranny in 1930s Germany - prompting Galit Distal Atbaryan, a Likud lawmaker and Israel's minister for information, to accuse them of trivialising the Holocaust.

"It was your families who were burned there," Distal Atbaryan, who is of Persian Jewish descent, told opposition politicians in parliament in March. "How is this possible?"

(Writing by Dan Williams; Editing by Frances Kerry)
NEWPORT  The elections administrator for the City of Newport announced Sunday he would be stepping down amid revelations about sexist, racist and homophobic communications he shared with a colleague during his decade tenure at state District Court.

Earlier today, I decided that in the best interest of the City of Newport I would leave my position as Election Administrator effective Friday, July 21, and informed the City Manager of my intent, Stephen C. Waluk said in an email statement. The last couple of weeks have proven challenging as a result of media coverage surrounding my earlier departure from the Rhode Island District Court in December 2022. I willingly accept the personal price for the poor choices and mistakes I made.

Waluk was hired in April by Newport City Manager Joseph J. Nicholson Jr. to a $64,000-a-year post as canvassing clerk for the City by the Sea. In that role, Waluk handled day-to-day elections oversight, including helping to register voters, updating the voter rolls and working closely with the Canvassing Authority to ensure elections run smoothly and remain in compliance with state law.

His hiring came months after he resigned as District Court administrator for reasons that "will remain an internal personnel matter," a courts spokeswoman said in an email.

Waluk was hired by District Court Chief Judge Jeanne E. LaFazia as chief clerk of the court in 2012 and was promoted to court administrator in 2015. His ending total salary was $174,143, including longevity earned from previous state service, according to the courts.

The Journal recently reviewed screenshots of text messages another former top District Court clerk received from Waluk. They feature him saying a young Black student looked like a monkey, referring to staff members as homos, commenting on a female clerks rack and even making derogatory statements about an openly gay judge being likely to die from AIDS in a few years.

The law clerk is amazing, Waluk wrote. Have you seen her rack?  HUGE rack  Need a reason to get her in my office. He suggested another clerk should go into porn.

Waluk acknowledged using offensive language in his communications with Cote through the years.

These were years ago. I used offensive and inappropriate language. I regret anything I said that was offensive and inappropriate. ... I used bad words. I admitted it and left, Waluk said. Some of the offensive messages viewed by The Journal were time-stamped as recently as 2020.

Waluk stands by his job performance

Waluk, a Republican, defended his time with the judiciary and in his hometown of Newport, where he served as mayor from January 2007 to July 2012 and was elected five times to the City Council. He is the immediate past president of the Newport Public Library and previously served on the Zoning Board.

As I have stated previously, I always treated staff with dignity and respect in my role within the court system. The careless and harmful words in personal text messages to a friend were not reflected in the work I did or who I am as a person, Waluk said Sunday.

My commitment to the City of Newport is evident. So, when the position of canvassing clerk became available, I thought I would be a natural fit for that role. Since assuming the position on April 18 of this year and quickly getting up to speed in the role, I have made it a personal priority to conduct community outreach among the underserved with a focus on equity and inclusion, among other important duties, he continued.

Waluk: Canvassing Authority marred by partisan politics

He described his elections work as rewarding and productive in the lead up to the special election to replace former U.S. Rep. David Cicilline.

However, through actions and public statements by certain members of the Canvassing Authority, it has become abundantly clear that I could not succeed in my role as Election Administrator, hence my decision today, he said.

He faulted the Canvassing Authority chair for publicly interfering with his role in the city every step of the way.

'Dark cloud' over District Court: Ex admin alleges coverups, dysfunction and retaliation

In addition, the recent appointment of a new member to the Authority has precipitated a highly partisan environment in a department that should be a non-partisan body, he said.

Sharon Connors, chairwoman for the bipartisan Canvassing Authority, did not respond to a phone call Sunday.

This position provided me with an opportunity to serve the City I love and to begin to move forward. I had hoped to be judged by the work Im doing, not the mistakes I have made in the past. I thank the City administration and staff at City Hall for their professionalism and the support they provided me in my job, Waluk continued.

City leaders express support; critics call for change

Waluks announcement came days after Newport Mayor Xay Khamsyvoravong and Nicholson expressed support for Waluk, despite being dismayed at the alleged tenor of his communications.

Ryan Patrick Kelley, chair of the local watchdog group ChangeTheCharter.org, meanwhile is pushing for changes to the City Charter based on Waluks hiring.

In Newport: Eviction of Touro Synagogue congregation heads to trial. These are the arguments.

He emphasized that canvassing authorities are bipartisan entities by state law and that many cities and towns have independent canvassing authorities that do not answer directly to city managers or mayors given their role in conducting free and fair elections.

That's a model Newport needs to embrace and it's my opinion Joe Nicholson should've never been in a position to hire Mr. Waluk in the first place. From what I've read about Mr. Waluk, it's not at all surprising he's not resigning gracefully and taking a shot at a woman on his way out, Kelley said in a statement. Change The Charter is hoping the departure of Mr. Waluk and, later this year, Mr. Nicholson will mark a new beginning of trust, transparency, and respect between Newporters and their local government."

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Newport elections administrator Stephen Waluk to resign after texts
A Newton man is being held without bail, facing charges in connection with a deadly assault on his wife in their home on Saturday night, two days after a restraining order was taken out against him, authorities said Sunday.

Richard Hanson, 64, has been charged with assault with intent to murder and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon causing serious bodily injury in connection with the death of his wife, 54-year-old Nancy Hanson, Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan and Newton Chief of Police John Carmichael said in a statement.

Nancy Hanson died two days after a restraining order was issued against her husband on Thursday in Newton District Court, which Newton Police had been attempting to serve, Ryan said.

According to sources, officers hadnt been able to locate Hanson to serve that restraining order despite trying to find them several times.

At approximately 8:21 p.m. Saturday, a juvenile inside the couples Brookline Street home called 911 to report the ongoing assault, Ryan said. When police arrived, they found Nancy Hanson suffering from apparent blunt force injuries, Ryan said. She was taken by ambulance to Brigham and Womens Hospital, where she died.

A preliminary investigation found that during a physical altercation, Richard Hanson allegedly struck his wife with one or more objects multiple times, Ryan said.

The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner has ruled the death a homicide and the cause of death was blunt force trauma, Ryan said.

Investigators said they anticipate additional charges.

The murder of his next-door neighbor Nancy Hanson brought an overwhelming sadness to Mark Staz and his family who recall her making an instant impression when they moved to Newtons Oak Hill neighborhood.

She was a really nice person and was the first one to welcome us to the community when we moved here a year ago, said Staz. The first thing we did, my wife went outside to the police officer and said if the kids need a place to come, bring them by.

Staz told Boston 25 News that the Hansons have three boys, the youngest of which just finished 5th grade at Memorial Spaulding Elementary.

We have three kids of our own just to think about what that trauma would be for a child is devastating, said Staz. You would just hear kids playing. Their kids play basketball, they play baseball in the backyard. They skateboard back there so we hear that but not fighting.

In a statement Sunday, Newton Mayor Ruthanne Fuller called Saturdays incident another horrific tragedy in Newton.

I know I speak for everyone in Newton when I say my heart goes out to the womans family and friends, Fuller said. The woman who was murdered appears to be the victim of domestic violence. The victims husband was arrested at the scene by Newton police officers after responding to a 911 call and he remains in the custody of the Newton Police Department.

Relationship violence is all too prevalent in our country and Newton is no exception, Fuller said. If you or anyone you care about is being mistreated or feels that their choices are being taken away by a partner, click here for a list of area resources.

Nancy Hansons death follows the killings of three people in their Newton home last month. Jill and Bruno DAmore and Jills mother, Lucia Arpino, were found stabbed and bludgeoned to death in their Broadway Street home on June 25. Christopher Ferguson, 41, of Newton, is facing murder charges in that case.

The mayor said the community is still reeling over those killings.

I am writing this just three weeks after the tragic murders of Jill and Bruno DAmore and Jills mother, Lucia Arpino, Fuller said. Our community is reeling, and I know so many of us are feeling unsettled. This is the time to reach out to family, friends, faith leaders, and mental health professionals rather than hunkering down and going it alone.

The couples children have been taken into the custody of the Department of Children and Families, a DCF spokesperson told Boston 25 News.

An investigation is ongoing by the Middlesex District Attorneys Office, Massachusetts State Police detectives assigned to Ryans office and Newton Police.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.

Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J.  There are 26 Republican governors. Three of them showed up here this week at the annual summer meeting of the National Governors Association.

And of those three, one left after the first night, and another had little choice but to attend  his chairship of the group began at the conclusion of this years gathering.

Striding the Hard Rock Cafe casino stage like a megachurch pastor, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox used his maiden speech as NGA chair to implore his fellow governors to make the organization a model of robust yet civil debate.

If were ever going to find our better angels again, it has to start with us setting the example of how to disagree better, Cox said.

But its hard to do much disagreeing, or have a conversation at all, when nobody is listening: Fewer than a half-dozen governors were still in attendance for his remarks Friday, the sessions closing day, and they were all Democrats.

After more than a century of bringing together the nations governors, the NGA  long a wellspring of ideas, forum for best practices and platform for innovating policymaking  is at grave risk of falling victim to the silos plaguing most every other element of American politics.

Thats the bad news. The good news is if any governor can reverse or at least slow this trend, its Cox.

A bipartisan organization in a partisan world is always going to struggle, theres no question about that, the earnest Utahan acknowledged in an interview before vowing to round up more Republicans for next summers meeting. Ill definitely be cajoling them next time.

It wont be easy.

Republicans and Democrats increasingly prefer to exist in separate political spheres rather than debate one another, let alone try to find consensus.

This sorting plays out on television, where right and left have their preferred cable networks and joint appearances between lawmakers or candidates on network shows are increasingly rare; its a way of life in Congress, where the parties have separate lunches and spend much of their free time raising money with their co-partisans; and of course, division is the mothers milk of politics online, where algorithms push users toward the reinforcing content they crave.



Then theres the fact that one of our two political parties has for seven years been in the grip of a demagogue who simultaneously benefits from and accelerates this polarization while driving Republicans further away from mainstream institutions.

Despite this descent, the NGA remained a vibrant if overshadowed bipartisan institution. I can recall attending the groups summer meeting in 2017 and finding a robust turnout of governors from both parties.

At least for the chief executives, it was a storied association.

Besides the opportunities to learn from one another, and often poach a bit, the groups meetings offered the governors attention from the media, business community and lobbyists that they couldnt easily attract to Jefferson City or Montpelier. (Former Washington Gov. Gary Locke was thrilled to attend the meetings, he told people, because he knew the late Washington Post columnist David S. Broder would be in attendance.)

Theres the annual winter meeting in Washington, D.C., always paired with a White House dinner with the president, and the more casual and rotating summer conclave. Particularly for new governors or those with little national profile, these were must-attend events  a way to sell their state, their story and themselves.

Chairing the NGA offered even more visibility, luring ambitious governors like Tennessees Lamar Alexander, Arkansass Bill Clinton and Minnesotas Tim Pawlenty to take control of the group and bolster their profile ahead of future presidential bids.

Governors were the White House farm team, and the NGA had convening power. Every president from Jimmy Carter up until Barack Obama ran a state except for George H. W. Bush, who grasped their significance enough to organize a historic education summit with the governors in his first year in office.

There was occasional partisanship at the meetings, but the preferred pastime of the governors was to gang up on Washington, critiques which would invariably include references to how they, unlike the Congress, had to balance their state budgets and just as inevitable paeans to the states as laboratories of democracy (hat tip: Louis Brandeis).

Republican participation has slowly tailed off, though. A few conservative states, like Florida and Texas, stopped participating in the association at all, no matter their governor.

Then, in the Trump years, some Republican governors stopped coming or sequestered themselves while in attendance because they didnt want to face questions from the press about the presidents latest eruption. (The GOP executives neednt have much worried this year  I didnt see another national journalist, and there were few cameras besides C-SPAN.)

Since 2018, theres been a turnover in states that has left both fewer Republican governors and fewer Republican governors of the sort who want to discuss best practices or share a soft-serve cone or bumper car on the boardwalk with their Democratic counterparts.

Blue-state Republicans such as Marylands Larry Hogan and Massachusettss Charlie Baker have been replaced by Democrats, and many purple states have elected or reelected Democrats.

In some states, where new Republicans have taken office, governors like Nevadas Joe Lombardo have appeared reluctant to participate in the NGA. At last months Western Governors Association conference in Colorado, Lombardo told people he thought the NGA was a Democratic-leaning group, according to a source familiar with the conversation.

A Lombardo representative said he didnt come to the NGA because of scheduling issues, but he and other Republican governors almost always find time to attend events hosted by the Republican Governors Association, which is dedicated to electing the partys governors.



Fittingly for this polarized moment, its the RGA that has become the preferred organization for most GOP governors. Thats why the winter gathering of governors is usually well-attended across party lines: In addition to the White House invite, there are always ancillary fundraising events in Washington that ensure donors and therefore a good turnout.

Now, to be sure: Natural disasters kept some governors away this year. Others found the Eastern Seaboard location (with no major airport nearby) forbidding, and there was also a dip in turnout from some Democratic governors, if not nearly as significant as with Republicans.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, a Democrat, told me he thought some Republicans stayed away for the same reason they did during Trumps administration: I dont think they want you to ask them about the former president.

Walz pointed out that the two governors staying for the conference didnt need to worry about that: Cox has been clear about his distaste for Trump, and Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt is already supporting Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

But what I found alarming was the talk racing through the hallways of the Hard Rock (which, in a reminder that Trump can never be fully escaped, was formerly his Taj Mahal): The NGAs summer meeting may come to an end, replaced by only regional meetings that would likely reflect the partisanship of the region. That may be a safer space, to borrow a phrase, but it would be tantamount to surrender, a concession that even with governors the partisan chasm is just too deep to sustain a national organization.

This all may sound like so much nostalgia for a bygone day. Yet many of the governors do stand apart from their counterparts in Congress for their seriousness of purpose, their executive leadership in the face of crisis and, yes, their willingness to forge coalitions across party lines.

Its one of the more unique organizations where folks across the aisle can find common ground, as New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, the outgoing NGA chair, put it.

The Democrat Murphy and Republican Cox, who spent the last year as vice chair, offered an example of the productive work that can be done by the group, as they and their wives spent much of their time together addressing the countrys youth mental health crisis.

The paltry turnout here may prove ominous, or it may be altogether fitting for the Disagree Better initiative of Cox, who in the days before the conference toured Gettysburg, Independence Hall and Valley Forge.

He wants to use his chairship to address precisely what the NGA has fallen victim to, the polarization fracturing the country. Cox is quick to say hes not interested in one more call for civility  he wants to encourage debate and even argument if its substantive and means bringing people with opposing views out of their silos.

Yes, he knows hell be making this push into the headwinds of a presidential year  thats the point.

Over the next year my goal is to create counter-programming to the 24 election, Cox told me.

A 48-year-old attorney who fended off former Gov. Jon Huntsman, Utah royalty, and a conservative former House speaker on his way to the governorship in 2020, Cox has embraced an optimistic, center-right brand of politics that has little currency in todays GOP.

Thats made him one of the most interesting if least known political figures in the country. Hes not railing against Bud Light, hes trying to forge consensus for a new state flag.



Coxs approach has already caught the eye of the new roster of governors elected last year. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, a Democrat, called him one of the most thoughtful governors, who I routinely look to for new ideas and new approaches.

It helps that Cox is staying out of the presidential fray and seeking reelection next year.

Hes all too aware the White House race will consume attention and, fittingly, when he delivered his Friday remarks much of the political press was fixated on a presidential candidate forum taking place at the same time in Iowa.

Yet Cox said he thinks the focus on Trump also gives us an opportunity because theres a lot of people out there, looking, searching for anything and asking: Is there something else out there?

His opening gambit: a dining room table video with his NGA vice chair, Democratic Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, which promises to share tips about how to confront your MAGA uncle or your woke niece. Cox and Polis are eager to set off on an odd couple roadshow, the former Mormon missionary from rural Utah and gay multimillionaire from Boulder. PR tactics aside, they also want to tip into research on depolarization so their effort is not just touchy-feely, but behavioral science driven, as Cox put it.

He doesnt seem terribly concerned about a primary threat from the right at home, but then again hes uniquely positioned to lead this effort hailing from a state thats both reliably Republican and inherently uneasy with grievance politics (Mormons know from scapegoating and persecution).

Still, I couldnt help but ask Cox if he ever feels he was born 20 years too late, if he would have been more at home politically in the era of one his predecessors as governor, and another NGA chair, the consensus-oriented Michael Leavitt.

Just the opposite, he said.

Polarization and the risk it poses are the challenge of our day, said Cox.

Recalling his recent tour of Pennsylvanias historic sites, he invoked George Washingtons prescience.

Holding the republic together is the key for us right now, he told me. This is the stuff he warned against, factions and partisanship.

He knows, he conceded, it sounds like hyperbole. But I really think were talking the 1850s all over again, and we need statesmen and women who are willing to do something different.


Man walks past sign showing the time and the temperature. Ralph Freso / Getty Images

It hit 97 degrees this week in the ocean off South Florida. Not the air temperature  the ocean itself. In steam-bath Miami, the heat index has surpassed 100 degrees for more than 30 straight days. Large swaths of Texas, Nevada and Arizona have been broiling in 110-plus degrees for a week (Phoenix: 118 degrees), with no end to the inferno in sight. In Canada's Northwest Territories  just a few miles south of the Arctic Circle  temperatures climbed to 99.3 degrees. In China, officials are opening underground air-raid shelters so people can hide from life-endangering heat. Climate change's effects are becoming surreal: Last week was the hottest week ever recorded in terms of the average global temperature. July 4 was the hottest day ever recorded  warmer, say scientists, than any other day over the last 125,000 years. With the El Nino climate pattern releasing even more heat in coming months, said climatologist Christopher Hewitt of the World Meteorological Organization, "we are in uncharted territory."

So what do we do? Like the proverbial frog that does not jump out of the slowly heated pot, people really do get used to almost anything, no matter how unpleasant. Just 8% of Americans identify climate change as the most important issue facing the country, a recent poll found. Yet extreme weather events like floods and wildfires that cause more than $1 billion in damage are becoming commonplace, occurring every 18 days now  compared with every 82 days in 1980. The world is finally moving toward solar, wind and renewable energy, but at too slow a pace. This summer's extremes already are exceeding the most pessimistic climate scenarios. As we continue to burn fossil fuels, climatologists warn, the heat will grow even more punishing in coming years, and disasters more frequent. My fellow frogs, have you noticed that the water in this pot is getting awfully warm?

This is the editor's letter in the current issue of The Week magazine.

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Oil worker says he was fired for saving a moose calf from being eaten by a black bear, report says

michaelschober/Getty Images

A Canadian man claims he was fired from his job after saving a moose calf from a bear.

The man put the calf, who he named Misty, in the passenger seat of his truck and took her to safety.

His employer said that his actions breached company protocols around interactions with wildlife.

A Canadian man claims he was fired from his job after saving a moose calf from a black bear.

Mark Skage, who worked as a fuel supplier for AFD Petroleum Inc., said in a Facebook post that he was on his way back from a job when he saw the calf alone on the highway in British Columbia.

He said he spotted a black bear waiting for the moose about 50 yards away and made the decision to put the animal, who he named Misty, into the passenger seat of his truck.

"I made a decision at the time after she kept trying to climb into the work truck that I couldn't just leave her there," he wrote.

He said he communicated with his supervisor and the Conservation Officer Service and managed to get the moose to safety.

The animal is now at a wildlife rehabilitation rehab center, where she will remain until she is ready to be released back into the wild.

But that was not the end of the story, according to Skage.

He said that his employer felt that his behavior was "in grievous conflict with their wildlife policies" and decided to fire him.

"The lesson I learned was AFD is ok spilling fuel on the ground but not helping wildlife," he wrote.

Skage said that he was compelled to help the moose because he said they are often preyed on by bears.

"I just couldn't do it, in my heart. People can say all they want. I know as outdoorsmen, we talk about predator control. Black bears are the number one predator for those calves. So I just thought, 'Well, I can't take care of the predator, but I guess maybe I can try and help out this little calf,'" he told CBC News.

"It wasn't just one moose calf that God saved. It was a whole bunch. She's gonna grow up and have lots of babies, and her babies will have babies. I think it's a positive. I believe that in my heart," he added.

Black bears are the biggest predators of moose calves in northern areas where grizzly bears are uncommon, with the animals killing about 40% of all moose calves that were born, according to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.

AFD Petroleum Inc. defended its decision to let Skage go and said in a statement that his actions breached the company's protocols.

"Instead of reporting the situation to a conservation officer and allowing the authorities to handle the rescue and relocation of the moose, the individual made the independent decision to transport an uninjured moose calf, a wild animal, in the front seat of his company vehicle for many hours," AFD Petroleum president Dale Reimer said in a statement to CBC.

"This not only puts the employee and other road users at risk but also potentially caused distress and harm to the moose," said Reimer.

Read the original article on Business Insider
One dead, one injured after police shooting near Del Rey and Settlers Pass.

One man is dead, while a woman remains hospitalized following a police shooting Sunday morning.

In news releases from two departments, the Dona Ana County Sherriffs Office and Las Cruces Police Department said police shot and killed a 43-year-old man and injured a 30-year-old woman around 1:30 a.m. after a pursuit and shootout on Del Rey Boulevard near Settlers Pass. No police were physically injured in the shooting, the releases said.

DASO said the incident began when deputies at the Circle K on Thorpe Road noticed a truck pulling a utility trailer exiting Interstate 25. The release said the trailer had a blown tire but did not say how or if deputies attempted to stop the vehicle. The release did say that deputies pursued the truck to the Del Rey and Settlers Pass intersection, about five miles away.

"Preliminary information indicates there were people being transported in the open trailer," the Las Cruces Police Department said in a news release.

During the pursuit, the news release said New Mexico State Police officers and border patrol agents joined the chase. LCPD officers were not involved in the pursuit but would be present for the final confrontation at Del Rey and Settler's Pass.

Its unclear from either news release how or why those officers joined. But as the cadre of officers pursuing the truck arrived at Del Rey and Settlers Pass, DASO said the man driving the truck pulled out a gun and shot at officers.

The news release said that deputies, NMSP officers, and border patrol agents all returned fire. Kim Stewart, sheriff of Dona Ana County, told the Sun-News it wasnt clear which officer shot the man or the woman as of the publication of this article.

At the outset of the shooting, the man and woman were taken to an El Paso hospital. The man died, and the womans condition was unknown.

As of the publication of this article, DASO said they did not know the identity of the man or the woman. The release did confirm that the police shooting would be investigated by a task force made up of local police departments.

As its officially known, the Officer-involved Incident Task Force includes detectives from NMSP, Las Cruces Police Department, Dona Ana County Sheriffs Office, and New Mexico State University Police. Stewart also said that DASO would host a news conference on Tuesday to provide further information.

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: One dead, one injured after police shooting near Del Rey
One strike on Sevastopol by Ukrainian army can devastate half of the city, military expert says

Russian sailors in occupied Sevastopol, Crimea, on July 6, 2023

There are many potential targets near the Russia-occupied city of Sevastopol, aside from the Russian Black Sea Fleet, that could be targeted by the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Taras Berezovets, a political analyst and officer from the Ivan Bohun Brigadeof the Ukrainian Armed Forces, said in an interview on Radio NV on July 16.

There are numerous military facilities that can become targets. This includes Strelka Bay, where the remnants (or debris, to be precise) of the Russian Federations Black Sea Fleet are located.

This is due to a significant portion of combat ships being either at sea, well beyond the reach of Ukrainian anti-ship missiles, or having been transferred to Russian territory, said Berezovets.

Read also: Explosions rock Russia-occupied Mariupol and Berdyansk

Moreover, he mentioned that Sevastopol houses the most powerful air defense systems in Crimea, which serve to protect the Black Sea Fleet.

In addition, Sevastopol contains a significant number of fleet-related facilities. Primarily, these are ammunition depots that Russia has failed to evacuate. There are also numerous support bases where ammunition and petroleum products are stored, he added.

Berezovets said he believes that a single explosion in the city could cause significant damage, especially to civilians. However, he quickly emphasizes that the responsibility for this lies with the occupying country, Russia.

Read also: Morning explosions heard in Russia-occupied Sevastopol, occupying authorities report drone attacks

Sevastopol can be described as a massive powder keg within Crimea. And a serious strike could trigger a massive explosion that might easily devastate half of the city.

Placing military ammunition depots in a civilian area is solely the responsibility of the occupying authorities, who will be fully liable for any consequences, he said.

In occupied Sevastopol, two explosions were reported on the morning of July 16. The occupying authorities claim that the city was attacked by nine unmanned aerial vehicles of various types, including two underwater drones. The Russian Ministry of Defense asserts that all drones were eliminated.

Subsequently, a video surfaced on social media showing chaotic exchanges of gunfire by the Russian forces.

Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron!

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
To mark the 10-year anniversary of Detroit's historic July 18, 2013 municipal bankruptcy filing, the Free Press is examining what has changed, what hasn't, and why. Find more coverage at freep.com.

Mayoral candidate Benny Napoleon and then-candidate Mike Duggan addressed during a 2013 Detroit mayoral debate at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History in Detroit on July 30, 2013.

The 2013 mayoral primary was shaping up to be a horse race: Mike Duggan's move to Detroit hadn't satisfied the statutory timeline; he had failed to qualify for the ballot, and was mounting a longshot write-in primary campaign. Duggan and Wayne County Sheriff Benny Napoleon, a former chief of the Detroit Police Department and a widely respected native Detroiter had traded the front-runner spot throughout the spring and summer.

The mayoral race was complicated, largely defined by what was happening in Lansing. Gov. Rick Snyder had appointed an emergency manager for the financially struggling city on March 14, and Detroit had filed for bankruptcy on July 18, the shoe that had been dangling overhead for almost a decade finally dropping. Emergency manager Kevyn Orr would hold the reins of city government until late the following year.

That summer, the Detroit Free Press editorial board was interviewing candidates in advance of our primary endorsements. When it came to Orr's appointment, Duggan's posture was pragmatic; rejecting the need for an emergency manager, he wasn't mounting strident public opposition.

Detroit Emergency Manager Kevyn Orr and Gov. Rick Snyder held a press conference on July 19, 2013, at the Maccabees Building on Woodward Avenue in Detroit, the day after Detroit's July 18, 2013, Chapter 9 bankruptcy filing.

Not so Napoleon. The sheriff, who died of COVID-19 in 2020 and whose loss is still deeply felt, rejected the state's rationale for appointing an emergency manager, whom he believed had been installed only to lead the city into bankruptcy.

Maybe local elected leadership had failed, Napoleon reasoned, but that was an argument for new leaders, not  as many Detroiters viewed Orr's appointment  a state takeover.

The conversation grew heated, as endorsement interviews sometimes do. Napoleon had been defensive, at times outright angry, about what he saw happening to his beloved city.

"I don't believe that as the leader of this city, I should roll over and let them treat us any kind of way they want to," he said, of a Detroit mayor's relationship to state government. "I think there's a respect level here that has to go up with the City of Detroit."

Mayoral candidate Benny Napoleon sat for an endorsement interview with the Detroit Free Press editorial board Oct. 15, 2013, for a candidate interview before the November general election.

What about police protection, we asked, or functioning ambulances? What about the city's promises to retirees or its obligations to current residents, none of which it could afford?

Napoleon had spent his entire career in law enforcement, he told us. He'd worked his way up the ranks of the Detroit Police Department. He'd cut the grass of abandoned homes in his neighborhood. His grandfather had been a sharecropper in Tennessee. The state takeover was intolerable.

"It's wrong," Napoleon told us, finding the words that would convey the intensity of his feeling. "It's un-American. And the only reason someone would approve of it is because it hasn't happened to them."

That exchange has stuck with me for a decade for two reasons. In that moment, I saw the depth of his feeling, the anger and shame and frustration that this had happened to Detroit. Power had once again been taken from those who had fought so hard to obtain it.

I understood what Napoleon meant to tell us. But I also understood what he didn't say.

2 Michigans

I'd lived in Detroit's suburbs, Hamtramck and Dearborn and Royal Oak and Clawson, since I'd moved to Michigan in 2000. In July of 2013, I owned a home in Ferndale. (I moved to Detroit later that year, and I'm never leaving.)

A section of the Detroit skyline is seen from The Monarch Club in downtown Detroit on Tuesday, July 11, 2023.

If the cities of Birmingham or Grosse Pointe or Ferndale, were unable to provide essential services like streetlights or police and fire protection or timely EMS service, the state wouldn't have to force a takeover, because residents of those communities would march on Lansing, demanding state government fix it and fix it now.

I'm a voter and a taxpayer, and Lansing, the way I view it, has an obligation to care for my health and welfare. I am entitled to such services, and I expect them to be provided  that's the whole point of government  thanks, in part, to a lifetime of institutions nearly always working to my advantage.

I felt no affinity for the GOP-controlled Legislature of 2013, or Snyder, a Republican. But I can't imagine feeling disenfranchised if the elected officials in Ferndale had been temporarily supplanted by those Lansing Republicans, if the stakes had been as high as they were in Detroit.

What Napoleon had deftly articulated was the vast divide between Black Detroiters and white suburbanites.

On Sept. 2, 2013, Detroit mayoral candidate Benny Napoleon marched in the annual Labor Day Parade along Michigan Avenue.

Women had to fight for the right to vote. But that battle, at least for white women, was won in 1919, and for more than a century, we've largely enjoyed access to the ballot box. My grandmother, who was born in 1900 and died in 1997, was one of the few Americans I knew who'd lived through that time.

Benny Napoleon was 10 in 1965 when the Voting Rights Act passed, finally abolishing discriminatory practices intended to bar Black votes that endured for nearly a century after the Fifteenth Amendment passed. My Black peers can speak of great-grandparents who were enslaved, or tell vivid family stories just a generation back of blatant bigotry and racial animus from institutions and from their fellow Americans. Too often, I've heard stories from Black friends of their own toxic experiences with implicit or explicit bias, of their fears that their children will be hurt or killed by police for whom "Black" and "criminal" can run together, who share with me that they've experienced interactions with white people who reacted as though these accomplished Black professionals must be minimum wage workers at the businesses they were patronizing. And the Black vote is still under attack.

The victories are more recent. More tenuous. So the loss, here, of hard-won Black political power and authority, at the hands of outsiders  Napoleon felt it, in a way it is difficult for white Americans to imagine.

The point of it all

When I started covering Detroit in 2005, bankruptcy was already being whispered in city hall.

Detroit's population decline, coupled with state cuts to taxes distributed through statutory revenue sharing, put the city on impossible financial footing. Detroit had stopped filing the standard year-end audits required by the State of Michigan, the ones that reconcile the projected budget with its actual revenues and expenses, on time. The city had logged years of deficits, engaging in a variety of risky financial maneuvers to restructure its impossible debt burden. It wasn't clear how long Detroit would be able to pay its bills.

Detroit retiree Cordell Lovelady, 66, protested comment by Detroit Emergency Financial Manager Kevyn Orr at the Coleman A. Young Municipal Center on Aug. 5, 2013.

But the city's most significant costs were its obligations to pensioners, and those couldn't be solved by re-financing, even the notorious credit swaps that brought the city a few years of breathing room, and became disastrous later. It had repeatedly short-changed the pension system, rolling missed payments into its future obligations, doing the same thing the next year and the next. Cuts to retiree pensions and health care were the most unconscionable part of Detroit's bankruptcy, but an even worse fate loomed: Deficits in the city's retirement funds could have caused Detroit to default on its pension payouts, leaving the retirees it had promised to support with nothing.

The conditions for a state takeover, and likely for bankruptcy, had existed since at least 2005. But sending an emergency manager  a necessary precursor to bankruptcy  to Michigan's most staunchly Democratic city was a decision a Democratic governor simply could not make. Enter accountant Snyder, who saw Detroit's fiscal crisis as a balance sheet problem to be solved, not a political minefield to navigate.

The promise of the bankruptcy was that things would get better. The extreme step of emergency management is only justifiable if it results in an improved city. And in a lot of ways, Detroit is better. City government has a surplus, not a deficit, forward-looking budgets and sound financial projections. The retirement funds, supported by the bankruptcy's grand bargain, are on solid footing. But it seems to me that in the last decade, Detroit and Lansing have come no closer.

What happens next?

There's a Democratic majority in Lansing, now, for the first time in 40 years, and a Democratic governor. But a quirk of the state's bipartisan redistricting process has left Detroiters with less direct representation in the Legislature than under the old gerrymandered maps that reliably delivered a Republican majority in a state split just about evenly between blue and red. No Black Detroiter serves in the U.S. Congress.

I do not believe that any of this has caused Detroiters to feel more kinship with our government institutions.

A person stands behind a voting booth as they cast their vote inside the Central United Methodist Church polling place in Detroit on Nov. 8, 2022.

About 34% of the Detroit's registered voters cast ballots in the 2022 gubernatorial and legislative elections; in 2021, just 18% of the city's voters turned out for that year's mayoral contest. There's not just one reason why folks don't vote; the continued drain of middle-class, better educated residents from the city  those most likely to vote  certainly plays a role, along with infrastructural hurdles. But it's hard to argue that disconnection from political institutions doesn't have something to do with that.

Over the summer of 2013, emails had emerged showing Duggan had communicated with state officials before Orr's appointment. (Duggan maintains that his intent had only been to deny the need for an emergency manager.)

In the endorsement interview, Napoleon spoke plainly, "I don't have a relationship with Lansing."

Detroiters are Michiganders, entitled to the same support and deference from Lansing as any resident of this state. What is Lansing going to do to ensure that residents of Michigan's largest city believe their state government views them as constituents?

Nancy Kaffer is the editorial page editor of the Detroit Free Press. Contact: nkaffer@freepress.com. Submit a letter to the editor at freep.com/letters. Become a subscriber at Freep.com.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Opinion: What Benny Napoleon taught me about Detroit's bankruptcy
Debra Smith of Spring Hill, Tenn., racked up more bills from medical providers and hospitals than she could pay, landing about $10,000 in debt. (Mark Zaleski / Associated Press)

For Emily Boller, it was a $5,000 hospital bill for a simple case of pink eye that took four years to pay off. For Mary Curley, it was the threatening collection letters from a lab that arrived more than two years later, just as her husband lost his job and the family was fighting to save their home.

For Cory Day, it was a $1,000 fee he was charged at an emergency room outside Los Angeles, even though he only checked in and then left before being seen. I feel like the hospital is a predator, Day said. This is a place thats supposed to be looking after you.

The experience offered a stark lesson, he said: Dont trust the system.

Read more: Column: A new law aims to protect you from surprise (read: bonkers) medical bills

Reporting on medical debt over the past two years, Ive spent hundreds of hours on the telephone, in the living rooms and at the kitchen tables of patients like Boller, Curley and Day. They are among the 100 million people in America who have been driven into debt by medical and dental bills.

Many of my conversations with patients have revealed a deep and disturbing disillusionment with our healthcare system.

Medical providers ignore this at their peril  and at a high risk to Americans health.

Read more: Op-Ed: The debt crisis that sick Americans can't avoid

Doctors and hospitals have long held an exalted position in American life, retaining public confidence even as the public has steadily lost trust in other institutions such as government, law enforcement and the media. Growing up, I shared this faith. My father was a physician who never hesitated to get up in the middle of the night and drive to the hospital to operate on a sick child in his care. But as a journalist covering healthcare the past 15 years, Ive seen patients faith shaken.

Theyre tired of shocking medical bills they didnt expect and cant afford. And theyre disgusted by the collection notices, the threatening phone calls and appointments they cant get because they owe money.

Read more: 'Now we have nothing.' Soaring medical debt causes gut-wrenching sacrifices for patients

Many Americans say they simply no longer trust their medical providers. This is borne out by a nationwide poll conducted by KFF, a nonprofit health policy research organizaton, as part of an investigation of medical debt . Just 15% of people with healthcare debt said they have a lot of trust that providers have patients best interests in mind. Thats about half the rate as among people without such debt.

Many caring people who work in healthcare understand this. Ive met countless compassionate physicians, nurses and others who see firsthand the toll that debt is taking on their patients.

Read more: Medical credit cards scrutinized by feds for possible predatory practices

But Ive seen a lot more denial and finger-pointing by healthcare leaders. Hospitals and doctors blame the government for underpaying them and blame insurers for selling plans with unaffordable deductibles. Insurers blame providers for obscene prices. Everyone blames drug companies.

And so, the suffering of patients deepens.

In a project on medical debt with NPR, KFF Health News documented cancer patients forced to hold off debt collectors while fighting off nausea and other toxic side effects of chemotherapy; older workers whose retirement savings were obliterated; 30-somethings unable to buy a home because their credit was ruined by healthcare debt; new mothers forced to take on extra work; parents unable to buy Christmas gifts for their children; and seniors who cut back on food because of medical debt.

Read more: What you need to know about medical debt and your credit scores

That our healthcare system would do this to people should be reason enough for hospital executives, insurance CEOs and senior physicians to stop the blame game and look in the mirror.

If nothing else, this should be a flashing red light: the simmering resentment of growing numbers of patients who feel victimized by this system.

We got a hint of the dangers of this during the COVID-19 pandemic, as Americans who distrusted the medical system proved easy prey for misinformation about vaccines and other public health measures, with sometimes fatal consequences.

Other systemic risks are lurking. I was once a political reporter and saw up close what an erosion of trust can do to a system, and how much more difficult it becomes to get things done when the public loses faith in its institutions.

Read more: Medical bills pushed a Santa Monica family into poverty. They're not alone

And as the political turmoil of recent years shows, public anger and disillusionment can produce unpredictable, even dangerous results.

Healthcare leaders  and physician leaders in particular  could alleviate patients financial suffering.

Physician groups and hospital systems, many of which are led by doctors, could look more closely at the bills they send patients and the collection tactics they use. Health insurers, whose leadership ranks also often include physicians, could reconsider the high-deductible plans they sell and ask whether they truly protect their customers. And physicians everywhere could speak up about the financial travails of patients in their care.

Absent action, patients trust is sure to erode further. And without the trust of the people it serves, this American healthcare system cannot long endure.

Noam N. Levey is a senior correspondent at KFF Health News.

If its in the news right now, the L.A. Times Opinion section covers it. Sign up for our weekly opinion newsletter.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
One of the most troubling bills passed by the Texas Legislature in the 88th Regular Session is House Bill 900, dubbed the READER Act. Signed into law by Gov. Abbott on June 13, HB 900 will undoubtedly result in the exclusion of thousands of books from school libraries.

The bill should be challenged in court on First Amendment grounds. Who has standing to do so? Parents, students, and, especially, anyone who sells books to schools in Texas, including publishers, book distributors, and bookstores.

This law requires that any vendor, publisher, or bookstore that sells books to Texas schools apply labels warning of sexual content. Schools will be prohibited from purchasing any book labeled sexually explicit, a new category of harmful material created by this bill. If HB 900 only limited student access to harmful material, it would be less problematic. However, the new law casts a much wider net.

Librarians and other opponents of HB 900 read books that were banned or considered for banning from school libraries, April 26 at the Texas State Capitol.

HB 900 stipulates that if the state finds that booksellers get the self-rating of even a single book wrong, they could be barred from doing business in Texas for a year. Therefore, the incentive is powerful to err on the side of caution and overrate books as to sexual content. This will result in many books being eliminated from school collections that are entirely appropriate for student use.

HB 900 is part of a national campaign of book banning. These efforts claim to address pornography in libraries, however, PEN America, which tracks book bans, has documented that over 26 percent of challenged titles in 2022 feature LGBTQ themes and 30 percent are about race, racism or feature characters of color.

Consider one example of many: the critically acclaimed middle-grade novel Out of Darkness by Ashley Hope Perez. Often cited by censors as pornographic, sexual content in this book consists of two or three paragraphs out of 400 pages. The book would not meet established obscenity tests. Nevertheless, a book vendor, considering the risk, may well label this book as sexually explicit. Once that label is attached, no student in any school in Texas will find that book in his or her school library. (For the record, the real subject of Out of Darkness is not sex, but systemic racism in East Texas in the 1930s, suggesting the real motive behind the push to censor this and many other titles.)

To restrict such books from school libraries is a violation of students First Amendment Rights. Rulings from the Supreme Court on cases such as Tinker v. Des Moines School District and Island Trees School District v. Pico have yielded protections for students constitutional rights and affirmed that they do not shed their constitutional rights to freedom of speech or expression at the schoolhouse gate. In the 1982 Pico case, the Supreme Court affirmed that Our Constitution does not permit the official expression of ideas, and that a school board acted unconstitutionally when books were removed from the public school library based upon their personal values, morals and tastes. We are not attorneys, but it seems that HB 900 will result in just this kind of unconstitutional limitation on public school library books. Two recent lawsuits have emerged against similar legislation in Arkansas and Florida in the cases of Fayetteville Public Library, et al. v. Crawford County, Arkansas, et al. and Pen American Center, Inc., et al. v. Escambia County School District and the Escambia County School Board, respectively.

Students have a right to read. Reading has been demonstrated to be a key factor in student success. This legislation will lead to content-based restrictions on constitutionally protected speech in school libraries. HB 900 is a bad law and should be opposedand challenged in courtvigorously.

Leila Green Little lives in Llano and is a plaintiff in a suit challenging the removal of books from the Llano County Library System. Smith is the former State Librarian of Texas.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Opinion: Students have a right to read  why new law should be challenged
Over 30,000 Evergy customers in KC region still without power Sunday after summer storm

More than 30,000 customers remain without power Sunday morning following Fridays storm that swept across the Kansas City area, causing downed trees and power lines.

The storm late Friday afternoon knocked out power to about 186,000 customers in the region.

This is the largest restoration effort weve had since about 2002, Evergys chief customer officer Chuck Caisley said in a video posted to social media Sunday morning.

Over 500 poles were snapped or uprooted. South KC, Leawood, Prairie Village and Leawood were the hardest hit areas, Caisley said.

The damage is fairly spread out, he said, noting that it stretched across several parts of northeast Kansas including Topeka and Lawrence.

By 10 p.m. Saturday, energy had been restored to 75% of their customers, the utility company said. Crews continued to work around the clock.

Power was expected to be restored to residents in Topeka and Lawrence by Sunday night. Outages in parts of the Kansas City metro were going to continue into the week.

More than 2,000 Evergy crew members were working in the field and 1,000 employees from utility companies in Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois, Nebraska and Oklahoma arrived Saturday to help the effort.

Crews in about 2,000 vehicles are working 16-hour shifts, Caisley said.

The company said restoration was taking longer in areas where there were downed trees in backyards and easements that had to be cleared before repairs could take place.

The summer storm brought strong winds, heavy rains and lightning.

Several cities in the metro are offering debris drop off on Sunday. Wyandotte Countys Recyclying and Yard Waste Center is open to residents from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday at 3214 Park Drive. Leawood residents can bring storm debris from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. to a maintenance facility at 2008 W. 104th Street from July 16-23. Overland Park will have a site open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 11921 Hardy on July 16-17 and July 22-23. Proof of residency is required.

Kansas City residents will be allowed to set out up to 10 bags of trash from July 17-21 on their regular pickup day. Debris can be dropped off at 11660 N. Main Street, 1815 N. Chouteau Trafficway or 10301 Raytown Road. Residents can also schedule curbside leaf and brush collection that will start July 24. To schedule the appointment, call 311 or use the myKCMO app.

Power outage map

Open
Pa. couple who helped nab survivalist inmate said they knew him immediately when they spotted him 'camping' near their property

The couple who called in the tip that led to the capture of an escaped Pennsylvania inmate suspected in several crimes said they recognized him from the news after their dog tipped them off that someone was nearby their home.

Michael Charles Burham, 34, was taken into custody by 5:50 p.m. Saturday in Warren County after a weeklong manhunt, Lt. Col. George Bivens of the Pennsylvania State Police said. Cindy and Ron Ecklund led authorities to Burham after their dog's barking alerted them to his presence.

Ron Ecklund said he got into a golf cart and drove down to the creek near their property to investigate.

"Gentleman stands up and I asked him, 'So, what are you doing?'" Ecklund told NBC News correspondent George Solis. "He said, 'I'm camping.'"

Ecklund told his wife, who was outside the golf cart, to get back in the cart so they could return to the house.

Police arrest Michael Burham in Warren, Pa., on July 15, 2023. (David Vermilyea)

"We weren't halfway up the yard and I'm like: 'Dial 911. I know exactly who that is,'" he said. "I've seen his picture enough. He's been all over the news."

The couple believe they might be eligible for the reward authorities offered for information about Burham's whereabouts, which had increased to $22,000 by Friday.

Burham escaped from the Warren County Jail on July 7 by climbing through the metal grates of the jail yards roof. He then climbed down using tied-together bedsheets, authorities said.

Authorities described him as someone with "survivalist skills" who was comfortable in woods for long periods of time. At least 15 federal and local departments had been searching the area for him for eight days.

He was taken into custody at gunpoint and will be arraigned on an escape charge, Bivens said.

Burham was being held in the county on kidnapping and other related charges. He is accused of having kidnapped a Warren County couple while on the run from authorities in New York, where he is a suspect in the May 11 murder of Kala Hodgkin.

Chautauqua County District Attorney Jason Schmidt said last month that there were no state charges against Burham in the murder case.

He was charged with flight to avoid prosecution in U.S. District Court for Western New York in May. The case was dismissed without prejudice on June 16, according to court records.

A federal criminal complaint says Hodgkin was found fatally shot at her home. At the time of the killing, there was an active arrest warrant charging Burham with raping her, according to the complaint.

While police were on their way to Hodgkins home, a separate call came in that Burham had allegedly tried to break into an ex-girlfriends home and then set her car on fire, the complaint says.

Burham went on the run, leading authorities on a multistate manhunt before he was captured May 24 in South Carolina, the Jamestown Police Department in New York said.

The complaint said Burham kidnapped a couple at gunpoint at their Sheffield, Pennsylvania, home while on the run. They were found alive in a cemetery in North Charleston, South Carolina.

A note in their vehicle allegedly written by Burham told his father he was safe for now and apologized for all the problems I caused the family, the complaint says.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Israeli security forces inspect the scene of a shooting attack near the West Bank Jewish settlement of Tekoa, Sunday, July 16, 2023. Israeli authorities say a Palestinian gunman opened fire on a car in the occupied West Bank wounding three including two girls and sparking a manhunt. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP)  A Palestinian gunman opened fire on a car in the occupied West Bank on Sunday, wounding three Israelis, including two girls, Israeli authorities said. The suspect fled the scene of the shooting, but he was later captured.

The bloodshed was the latest in a relentless cycle of violence that has gripped the region, driving up the death toll and sparking the worst fighting between Israel and the Palestinians in the West Bank in nearly two decades.

The Israeli military said the gunman opened fire on a car from a passing vehicle. Israel's rescue service MDA said three Israelis were wounded, including a 35-year-old with gunshot wounds who is in serious but stable condition. Two girls, ages 9 and 14, were slightly wounded by flying debris.

The military said that forces apprehended the suspected gunman in the city of Bethlehem and seized his car and an assault rifle found inside. Troops arrested two other suspects, the army said.

The Palestinian militant group Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip, praised the attack, but stopped short of claiming responsibility for it.

Fighting between Israel and the Palestinians in the West Bank intensified early last year when Israel launched near-nightly raids into Palestinian areas in the West Bank in response to a spate of Palestinian attacks against Israelis.

The violence has spiked this year, with more than 150 Palestinians killed by Israeli fire since the start of 2023 in the West Bank and east Jerusalem, according to a tally by The Associated Press.

Israeli says most of those killed have been militants, but stone-throwing youths protesting the raids and others not involved in the confrontations have also been killed.

At least 26 people have been killed in Palestinian attacks against Israelis during that time.

Israel says the raids are essential to dismantle militant networks and thwart future attacks. The Palestinians see the violence as a natural response to 56 years of occupation, including stepped-up settlement construction by Israels government and increased violence by Jewish settlers.

Israel captured the West Bank in the 1967 Mideast war, along with the Gaza Strip and east Jerusalem. Palestinians seek those territories for their hoped-for independent state.
A 34-year-old homicide suspect who escaped from a northwestern Pennsylvania jail earlier this month has been caught after he was discovered by a homeowner in his backyard, officials said.

Michael Charles Burham, who escaped from the Warren County Jail on July 6, was captured Saturday evening in Warren County, Pennsylvania State Police Lt. Col. George Bivens said in an evening news conference.

According to Bivens, just before 4 p.m. Eastern time, a homeowner in Conewango Township called authorities to report that he had "encountered Burham" camping in his backyard after his dog began barking, and he and his wife went to investigate.

"They went out to check on why the dog was barking, went to the rear of their property, they encountered Burham," Bivens said. "I'm told that a conversation occurred, brief conversation, asking what was he doing there. He said something about camping. And the owner of the property recognized him, got his wife back into, they were in a golf cart...drove away from there so he could immediately contact us as Burham fled into the woods."

A search ensued involving a "significant number of personnel on the ground," along "aviation assets" and K9s, Bivens said.

An undated photo of Michael Charles Burham, who escaped from the Warren County Jail in Warren, Pennsylvania, on July 6, 2023. / Credit: Warren City Police Department

Burham was "tracked through the woods" and captured by multiple officers  including U.S. Marshals, U.S. Border Patrol agents and state police  a little before 6 p.m., about two hours after he was spotted, according to Bivens.

Bivens said that Burham would not be returned to the Warren County Jail. He was being processed at the state police's Warren County station.

"A determination will be made where he will ultimately be housed following his arraignment," Bivens said.

At the time of his escape, Burham was being held on arson and burglary charges, and is a suspect in a homicide investigation, police said. He was also "associated" with the carjacking and kidnapping of a local couple that occurred in May.

Warren County spokesperson Cecile Stelter told reporters the day after his escape that Burham "elevated himself" onto "a piece of exercise equipment," and then used "bedsheets that he tied together" to climb down from the roof and escape.

Bivens had previously described Burham as a "self-taught survivalist with military experience."

Warren is located about 10 miles south of the New York state line, and about 20 miles south of Jamestown, New York.

Local, state and federal agencies are involved in the manhunt, including the U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Border Patrol and the Jamestown Police Department.

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"CBS Weekend News" headlines for Sunday, July 16, 2023
The Philippines Supreme Court has ordered the re-arrest of a former politician accused of killing a prominent environmentalist more than a decade ago (ROMEO GACAD)

The Philippines' top court has ordered the re-arrest of a former politician accused of killing a prominent environmentalist more than a decade ago, court documents published Sunday showed.

Joel Reyes, the former governor of the western island of Palawan, has been accused of masterminding the 2011 killing of Gerry Ortega, who used a radio show he hosted to frequently accuse Reyes of massive corruption.

Ortega was shot dead while shopping in the capital of Palawan, one of the country's biggest islands and a popular tourist destination, famed for its lush forests and pristine landscapes.

But it has also suffered from illegal logging, mining and fishing. Ortega had accused Reyes of corruption linked to alleged environmental crimes on the island.

The Supreme Court's ruling -- dated March 29 but only published on Sunday -- was the latest development in the long-running case.

Reyes and his brother Mario, who was also implicated in Ortega's murder, went missing in 2012 after an arrest warrant was issued against them.

They were caught in Thailand in 2015.

Reyes was released from jail in 2018 after a court dismissed criminal charges against him.

Government lawyers, however, appealed the decision and the charges were reinstated nearly two years later.

The Supreme Court then issued a stay on the order for Reyes' re-arrest and the resumption of his trial while it heard his plea for reconsideration.

In the ruling released Sunday, the Supreme Court rejected the appeal and ordered a Palawan court to arrest him and resume the trial.

Ortega's widow Patty told AFP that the family welcomed the decision, saying it "restores our faith that, one day, we will find justice".

Reyes' lawyer could not be reached.

While there have been many cases of environmental activists and journalists being murdered, the brazen killing of Ortega shocked the Philippines.

Reyes ran for his old job in last year's elections but lost. His brother Mario, a former mayor, also failed in his re-election bid.

The Palawan trial court hearing the case could not be reached for comment on Sunday.

mff/amj/qan
Pennsylvania authorities have released photos of murder suspect Michael Burham during his arrest, which followed a more than week-long manhunt.

Burham, 34, was arrested "at gunpoint" Saturday after evading authorities for nine days. Burham reportedly used gym equipment at the Warren County jail this month to climb though the jail's gym to the rooftop, where he allegedly used bedsheets to climb down and escape, according to Pennsylvania authorities.

Photos of his arrest show Burham wearing a graying T-shirt and orange prison pants turned inside out while surrounded by armed law enforcement personnel.

Police said the suspect appeared "tired" and "worn out" at the time of his arrest.

PENNSYLVANIA ESCAPED INMATE MICHAEL BURHAM CAPTURED FOLLOWING 9-DAY MANHUNT: POLICE

Burham is the main suspect in the May 11 shooting of Kala Hodgkin in Jamestown, New York . Burham allegedly set a parked car on fire and kidnapped a Pennsylvania couple after the shooting.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

MANHUNT LAUNCHED AFTER MURDER SUSPECT WHO WROTE HE'S 'NOT SORRY' ESCAPES PENNSYLVANIA JAIL

He fled authorities following those incidents and was captured in South Carolina on May 24. He was then moved to the Warren County Jail in Pennsylvania, where he made his escape.

MICHAEL BURHAM MANHUNT: TIMELINE THAT LED TO ROOFTOP ESCAPE FROM PENNSYLVANIA JAIL

Burham was described as a "survivalist" by state police during the manhunt, who also called the suspect "extremely dangerous."

Michael Burham, who is the main suspect in the fatal shooting of Kala Hodgkin in New York, set a woman's care on fire and then kidnapped a Pennsylvania couple, according to police.

He was arrested in Conewango Township, located in Warren County, after a resident notified authorities of a "suspicious individual" in the area. The homeowner heard his dog barking in the backyard and went outside to investigate. The homeowner found Burham outside and the two had a short conversation, which included the suspect saying he was on a "camping trip," police said.

ESCAPED 'SURVIVALIST' MURDER SUSPECT DRAWS PARALLELS TO 48-DAY MANHUNT FOR PENNSYLVANIA COP KILLER ERIC FREIN

Law enforcement officers, air support and search dogs formed a "very large perimeter" and tracked the suspect through the woods, arresting him just before 6 p.m. Saturday.

He was not armed at the time of the arrest and no law enforcement members were injured.

"The investigation continues into whether anyone helped Burham to escape the prison or provided any assistance to him while he was on the run. Anyone found to have aided Burham will be charged accordingly," Pennsylvania State Police said in a press release.

Fox News Digital's Michael Ruiz and Sarah Rumpf-Whitten contributed to this report.
Images show parts of medieval Coventry were revealed during the construction of the modern cathedral

Rare glimpses of a city's medieval past and long-gone street scenes have been revealed in a collection of photographs that were saved from destruction.

About 800 more negatives, handed to a city archive by a cameraman who saved them from being dumped, also show early excavations for the building of Coventry's modern cathedral.

They have added to a collection of over 8,000 images taken by Arthur Cooper from the 1930s to the 1960s, and made available to the public as part of the Coventry Digital project.

After the photographer's death his glass plate negatives, destined for the tip, were rescued by Ian Hollands before the majority were sent to publishing company Mirrorpix.

Hundreds of concrete piles were driven to form part of the cathedral's foundations

Archaeologist John Shelton is pictured carrying out his own exploration

As well as the city streets, weddings, parades and visiting celebrities are among the collection from the photographer who captured everyday life in the city.

The new collection contained "significant" images that would "greatly enhance" Coventry Cathedral's archive, said Martin Williams.

The chairman of the Friends of Coventry Cathedral has helped digitize the latest collection as well as identify people and events depicted.

"It's been quite exciting working through them but some of them were really badly damaged, which is a shame because they are moments in history that have gone," he said.

Some of the latest collection shows parts of the city's cathedral and priory site, St Mary's, dating back to the time of Leofric, the Earl of Mercia and Lady Godiva.

The walls were uncovered during construction of the new cathedral in the mid-1950s.

Photographer Arthur Cooper captured everyday life in Coventry

Hollywood actor Edward G Robinson visiting Coventry Cathedral in the early 1960s

The photographs "show the scale of the priory complex," destroyed following the dissolution of the monasteries, said Mr Williams.

City archaeologist at the time, John Shelton, can be seen pictured at the site, he explained.

"He tried to preserve the history of the city before we did archaeology in a big official way, before it became as important as we regard it today," he added.

There was little organisation in the city at the time "that could bring pressure to bear to make sure our archaeological sites were properly examined," added Dr Ben Kyneswood, director of the Coventry University initiative.

"What I like about these photographs is they give you a real sense that there is archaeology there, going back a thousand years, nearly, and I'd never seen that before."

"If it were today there would have been some significant research involved," he added.

More than 100 members of the Mothers Union attend a 1947 cathedral service

A picture from the mid-1930s shows the construction of Trinity Street in the city

Other pictures show hundreds of concrete piles being driven to form the cathedral's foundations, and pre-war streets already being cleared under plans to modernise the city, before German bombing accelerated the process.

A mid-1930s view of the city centre shows how planners had "completely changed the road system," added Dr Kyneswood.

"This whole area was a very narrow medieval street pattern that was all cleared to make way for this brand new Trinity Street which allowed the traffic - increasingly larger vehicles and buses - to travel through through the city centre."

"Unfortunately, Coventry had a council at the time that was only looking in one direction," he added, leading to the "tragic" destruction of many mediaeval buildings.

Images show the scale of the Coventry Cathedral construction site

Pearl Hyde pictured with the Kazan Cathedral icon

Another picture shows a visit to the city by actor Edward G Robinson, who had been identified by members of the Friends of Coventry Cathedral, said Mr Williams.

"My guess is that he visited Coventry in the summer of 1962 and contrary to the gangster image that he portrayed in many of his roles, he was in person a gentle man with a serious interest in art."

An image of Pearl Hyde, the first female Lord Mayor of the city, pictured with a Russian icon, was another favourite, he said.

"[The icon] arrived in a parcel with no information so she took it over to the cathedral because she thought it was perhaps a place that should have it," he explained.

"And then about six weeks later a letter arrived saying it was a gift from Kazan Cathedral in Stalingrad."

Arthur Cooper photographed hundreds weddings in the city

The hundreds of new images have been put online as part of the Coventry Digital project

Dr Kyneswood said he would again be working with volunteers around the city to crowdsource information about the photographs.

"The pictures are brilliant, but the main thing is people like Martin and the Historic Coventry Forum and other groups have logged in and said 'this is what you're looking at,' and they've told the story, and it's their version of history.

"And suddenly we get a biography of the photo, which is way more than you would ordinarily get if you go on any website," he said.

The work with Mirrorpix and owner Reach PLC on the Arthur Cooper collection was "really important, because it is telling that kind of street-level working class stories," he added.

Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: newsonline.westmidlands@bbc.co.uk
One person is dead and four others were injured following a drive-by shooting Sunday morning in Garfield Park.

Chicago police said the shooting happened at 2:07 a.m. in the 4000 block of West Washington Boulevard. Police said they responded to reports of a person shot but found multiple gunshot victims at the scene.

A 40-year-old woman sustained multiple gunshot wounds to her body. Police said she was transported to Mt. Sinai Hospital where she was pronounced dead.

A 38-year-old woman was shot in the buttocks and was transported to Stroger Hospital, where she was listed in fair condition. A 39-year-old man was shot in his arm and was also taken to Stroger in fair condition.

The fourth victim, a 38-year-old man, sustained a gunshot wound to his thigh and was transported to Stroger in fair condition. A 42-year-old man was shot in his leg and foot and was taken to Mt. Sinai in fair condition.

One of the victims told officers that the person who fired shots traveled in a vehicle during the shooting, according to police.

Police said no one is in custody, and that they are investigating the shooting.








JINAN, July 16 (Xinhua) -- With fireworks and light shows illuminating the sky, the 33rd Qingdao International Beer Festival kicked off Friday evening in the coastal city of Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province.

According to the organizers, more than 2,000 beers from over 40 countries and regions are available to the attendees at the festival.

Qingdao is home to the Tsingtao Brewery, the base of a time-honored beer brand in China. Inaugurated in 1991, the Qingdao International Beer Festival has grown into one of the world's most famous beer festivals.





Produced by Xinhua Global Service




Police presence continues in Five Points weeks after Cinco de Mayo chaos, double-edge sword for many

Police presence continues in Five Points weeks after Cinco de Mayo chaos, double-edge sword for many

Police presence on weekends remains consistent in Five Points, weeks after chaos erupted from Cinco de Mayo celebrations. Some businesses have mixed feelings about it because they say its impacting their bottom line.

>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<

Employees spoke both on and off camera with Action News Jax, saying its a double-edged sword.

Employees and business owners say on the one hand, its helped with safety, and says things have calmed down in recent weekends but on the other, business is much slower.

After Cinco de Mayo, people got crazy they were out there on streets, loud music, barbecues, Sylbester Bajaras said.

The police presence isnt going away, according to JSO. Bajaras is the manager and part owner of 904 Tacos on Park Street and said there are pros and cons.

Im kind of on a 50/50 frame, he said. It has its perks and benefits, and some, not benefits.

Bajaras says the pros are the safety of workers and customers, but the cons are impacting business.

The numbers dropped down 35 percent since May, he said. It kind of slowed down the business a bit, we havent had as many people. I remember it was past 11, 11:30 p.m. and we were still packed doing to-gos, drinks to-gos but now its completely empty by 10 or 10:30 p.m.

JSO told Action News Jax that officers will remain present for safety, which is of utmost importance. Having visible and active police presence we aim to deter any potential issues that may arise, and address concerns promptly, a spokesperson said.

JSOs crime-mapping tool shows there have been 48 reported incidents since Cinco de Mayo and 11 incidents in the last month.

Its not as rowdy as it was, Jacob Matuska said.

[DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks]

Most workers say the presence was needed at first but told us now, its a double-edged sword.

Jacob Matuska is the assistant general manager of Corner Taco just off Park Street, he emphasized that safety should be the priority.

That safety, it gives me peace of mind, he said. Its a small price to pay for safety,

Some say maybe dialing down the presence could be good but ultimately think its needed in some capacity. They also want people to know that Five Points is still a thriving area and a great spot to come out.

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Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
Heres a Christmas in July present for all the sweet tooth fans out there  confirmation that CRUMBL COOKIES is on track to open in Parkway Pointe by the holiday season.

Matt Hanzel  franchisee for the Utah-based bakery known for its signature pink boxes and sizable TikTok following  said Crumbl Cookies aims to be in its new home at 3429 Freedom Drive for the holidays.

The site formerly housed THREE TWIGS BAKERY & BISTRO.

When looking (at) where in central Illinois, Springfield was always a given, said Hanzel, a Utah transplant who with his wife Angie came to Illinois two years ago to open their first Crumbl Cookies in East Peoria. Last December, the couple opened a second site in Sterling. (Springfield) was in the conversation on day one. When we opened in Peoria there wasnt a lot of name recognition. Here its been different.

Natalie Morris

Were thrilled with the brand recognition. I walked into the (Springfield) municipal building with my Crumbl shirt (on) and people behind the counters got excited.

Crumbl Cookies holds the titles as the fastest growing dessert shop chain and the fourth fastest growing food chain of any category in the country for 2022, according to the food and beverage analytics company Datassential.

The chain is only five years old but already touts a cookie kingdom of more than 800 bakeries throughout North America.

The Springfield store will be the fourth Crumbl Cookie to open in the central Illinois market, although the brand can be found throughout the state with dozens of locations in the Chicago metro market and one recently opening in the southern Illinois town of Shiloh.

That rapid growth and name recognition is due in large part to its founders social media savvy.

Cousins Jason McGowan and Sawyer Hemsley opened their first store in Logan, Utah in 2017 serving hot chocolate chip cookies  the recipe more the result from crowdsourcing than a treasured family heirloom.

The brand is known for its open-concept kitchens that invite customers to watch the process and the constant introduction of new flavors unveiled online every Sunday.

Crumbl Cookie touts 6 million TikTok followers. Fans are encouraged to keep an online cookie journal to track their favorite flavors, as well as rate and review new offerings.

The signature chocolate chip cookies served hot and a pink-iced sugar cookie served chilled are permanent menu offerings.

Beyond that four new flavors are introduced weekly. Current offerings range from honey bun to lemon cream pie, peanut butter crisp featuring Butterfinger candy to cookie butter-white chocolate chip featuring Biscoff.

A cafe and market were always part of the plan when Fathers House International Church opened on Springfields east side this spring.

FATHERS HOUSE MARKET CAFE is now poised to open, operating from the church at 1221 S. 15th St.

The community, our community needs this, said Lavasha Hemingway, who co-owns the business, as well as co-pastors the congregation with her husband James Hemingway. We want  as the body of Christ  to be out there meeting the needs of our community. The nearest grocery store is farther than a lot of people who dont have transportation can get to or theyd have to cross a busy highway.

Well be able to cover 10 blocks so you dont have to put yourself in danger to get a loaf of bread.

The cafes lunch and dinner menu will feature hot specials throughout the week, as well as grab-and-go salads and sandwiches available daily. The line-up also includes soul food on Saturdays and a coffee and smoothie bar.

Hemingway compared the market to the neighborhood stores she grew up with that were stocked with non-perishable staples, as well as fresh produce, dairy, meats and frozen items.

The Hemingways  Springfield natives  recently returned to the Capitol City to open Fathers House International Church after starting up congregations in Georgia and California.

A summer opening is planned for Fathers House Market Cafe.

PROUD RICHARDS RESTAURANT and MUELLER FAMILY FARM work hand in hand to create the Jacksonville establishments farm-to-fork menu so it only seemed fitting the two businesses be awarded the Snail of Approval Award together.

SLOW FOOD SPRINGFIELD will add both to its list in a ceremony July 23 at Proud Richards. The event includes a three-course dinner prepared by Proud Richards chef and co-owner Joe Standley, using produce from the Bluff-based farm.

Cost is $55 a person. The meal begins at 5 p.m. and is open to the public.

The menu features pork rillettes and pickled chicken wings for the carnivores or choose the vegetarian option  beet tartare and spaghetti alla Nerano. Strawberry shortcake will be served for dessert.

In addition to produce from Mueller Family Farm, the meal also features proteins from OAK TREE FARM and 4 LEES FARM, as well as strawberry compote from MOON GIRL FARM.

Tickets can be purchased by calling Proud Richards at 217/243-7151.

The Snail of Approval is given to restaurants that demonstrate dedication to using fresh ingredients from local growers and to farms that adopt environmentally sustainable practices while providing their community local foods.

Several Springfield restaurants bear the Snail of Approval recognition including: CAFE MOXO, ENGRAINED BREWERY & RESTAURANT, INCREDIBLY DELICIOUS, MALDANERS RESTAURANT, TACOLOGY 201 and THREE TWIGS & CO.

Standley and his mother Linda Standley opened Proud Richards in the repurposed Chicago-Alton Railroad Station depot in Jacksonville in 2021. The 600 E. State St. address was formerly home to LONZEROTTIS ITALIA RESTAURANT.

Mueller Family Farms is a second-generation farm operating on 13 acres in the Jacksonville suburb of Bluffs. Lari and Linda Mueller started the farm in the 1990s raising lettuce that was sold at local farmers markets. Today, Muellers grandson Michael Meyer runs the produce farm raising everything from fruit to cut flowers, herb to vegetables that are sold at local markets, restaurants, cooperative community groceries and as a community supported agriculture.

Tickets are on sale for the July brunch buffet at AD ASTRA WINE BAR AND MARKET, featuring guest chef Alli Donaldson of GOLDEN HOUR BAKE HOUSE.

The all-you-can-eat buffet will be held Sunday, July 23 with seatings available at 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. The wine bar is located at 308 E. Adams St.

The menu features lemon-blueberry ricotta pancakes, eggs Benedict, garlic and herbs potatoes, fruit and yogurt parfaits and dessert pastries. Tickets cost $25 a person and include coffee, tea and orange juice. Bottomless mimosas and sangria can be purchased for an additional price.

Donaldson is the third guest chef hosted by Ad Astra, which invites a different woman-owned business each month to prepare brunch. Previous guest chefs included HOMEMADE PASSIONS BY BRYCE and EMERALDS EATS.

Check out Ad Astras Facebook page for additional dates and guest chefs, as well as for a link to purchase tickets.

The A La Carte column highlights restaurant openings, closing, renovations and relocations, as well as personnel changes and business news. Natalie Morris can be reached at 737-7254 or by email at natalie.sjr@gmail.com.

This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Popular Crumbl Cookies comes to town
One person has been killed and three more injured in a Russian missile strike on the city of Kharkiv on Sunday evening, all of them employees of an industrial enterprise.

Source: Prosecutor General's Office

Quote: "The investigation shows that on 16 July, at about 18:50, the enemy launched a missile strike on the territory of an industrial enterprise in the Osnovianskyi district of Kharkiv.

Early reports indicate that two S-300 missiles were launched from the territory of Belgorod Oblast of the Russian Federation.

So far, one person is known to have been killed, and three more were wounded. All of them are employees of an industrial enterprise. The data is being clarified."

Background: On Sunday evening, Russian troops struck the city of Kharkiv for the second time in a day, hitting the Osnovianskyi district. Oleh Syniehubov, Head of Kharkiv Oblast Military Administration, reported that four people were injured in the attack. Ihor Terekhov, Mayor of Kharkiv, reported about seven victims.

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Friends say Colin Smith, who was fatally stabbed in Portland, Oregon, on July 2, died protecting a friend who was facing anti-LGBTQ harassment.

Paulina Solis, a friend of Smiths, said he had gotten off work on the evening of July 1 and went to a bar with friends, according to KGW-TV, the NBC Portland affiliate. Solis wasnt there but said people who were told her a man began harassing one of Smiths friends and tossed homophobic slurs, according to The Oregonian.

Colin Smith. (Portland Police Bureau)

Smith, 32, started to defend his friend and the man stabbed him several times around 1:49 a.m. local time on July 2, KGW-TV reported. Smith had already died of his wounds by the time officers arrived, according to the Portland Police Bureau.

He was a protector, Solis told The Oregonian. He died being the person that we all knew him to be.

The suspect fled the scene but was arrested July 7 by the U.S. Marshals Service, according to officials.

Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt announced Thursday that a grand jury had indicted Rahnique Usef Jackson, 24, on three charges relating to Smiths death: murder in the second degree, unlawful use of a weapon and bias crime in the second degree.

NBC News could not reach Jackson for comment, and it was unclear if he had an attorney.

In the days since Smiths death, many friends and family members have shared stories about him, describing him as a loving friend and relative, and a dedicated employee of the Ox Restaurant in Portland, where he worked as a server.

When asked to describe her brother, Dani Smith said one word: Hero.

Everyone loved him, and it showed at his memorial, Dani Smith told NBC News in a phone interview. Its one thing when its your friends and family, but all of his employers loved him. It just was like a big eye opener that, gosh, he really was loved, and that was because he was kind, he was patient, he was understanding, accepting of everyone, funny, good-looking.

Colin Smith with his sister, Dani Smith. (Courtesy Dani Smith)

Her brother, she said, wanted to open a restaurant, and the two had talked about him opening one in Cornwall, England, where she lives. She also said he also always wanted to have a food truck that served Mexican-inspired food, because their family recipe was chile relleno.

Dani Smith said her family doesnt want her brothers story to create fear. Rather, the family is asking people to extend love and kindness to those around them.

Call a friend whos in need, donate to the Humane Society, simply smile at a neighbor, she said. Thats where change really starts to happen  and sticking up for people.

Devin Lee, a friend of Colins who was also a server at the Ox Restaurant, told Eater that Smith would often check in with co-workers to see if they needed help.

He was quick to tell you he loved you, all the time, Lee told Eater. He said it to all the guys at Ox. It would catch them off-guard. That was just Colin; he just loved.

Colin Smith with his sister, Dani, and mom, Julie. (Courtesy Dani Smith)

Greg Denton, the co-owner of the Ox Restaurant, told Eater that Smith applied initially to be a cook, but that when Denton met him, he was so easy to talk to and nice that Denton decided hed be a better fit for the front of the restaurant.

He made sure that everything that he did during the night was thinking of others, Denton told Eater. I have a post in the kitchen, where I sort of scrape the plates. Every time he was there, hed say, Appreciate you, chef.

Smiths mom, Julie Smith, said in a statement shared with NBC News that her son was my friend, my confidant, my reality check, and my miracle. She said he loved hosting dinner parties, his cat, Smokey, and that she would miss his daily phone calls to her.

Colin Smith with his sister, Dani Smith. (Courtesy Dani Smith)

I will never mourn the selfless soul of my beautiful boy, which cannot be extinguished by death and will live on forever, she said in the statement.

She said that she used to ask him and his sister what they wanted to be when they grew up, and Smith would tell her he wanted to be a rainbow.

We will meet again; I will find you over the rainbow, she said.

This story originally appeared on NBCNews.com.

This article was originally published on TODAY.com
Lynn Reilly, right, pumps water from her basement to clean mud from her front path, a lesson she said she learned from Hurricane Irene, in Ludlow, Vt., on Wednesday, July 12, 2023. (Richard Beaven/The New York Times)

LUDLOW, Vt.  For nearly a year, Bex Prasse and Craig Kovalsky had labored to restore every inch of the rundown building where they envisioned their future business, on an up-and-coming Main Street in the small Vermont ski town of Ludlow.

The couple were newcomers to the rural state, part of a pandemic-driven influx of younger transplants that has thrilled planners after decades of concern about an aging, stagnant population.

Its a quaint, quintessential, amazing little New England town  it has that vibe  and it has great potential, too, said Prasse, 33, a Virginia native who spent the last decade working as a scuba instructor and yacht captain in Fiji and the Caribbean.

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By early this month, their work was almost finished. Wall tiles and countertops gleamed. A new industrial kitchen stood ready. They ordered pots and pans, sketched out a menu of gourmet sandwiches made from ingredients grown on local farms, and prepared to carve a wooden sign to replace the paper one in the front window: Coming Soon Blue Duck Deli.

The Black River, tumbling serenely over rocks just behind the building, had other plans.

Last Sunday, as rain began to fall, Kovalsky, a chef who has cooked at restaurants in New York City, and most recently on superyachts cruising the globe, gazed at the calm water and felt little fear. He knew about Tropical Storm Irene, which had ravaged the state in 2011, but had always heard it called a 100-year storm.

We thought we wouldnt be here by the time it happened again, Kovalsky, 37, said. We thought by then we would be retired somewhere.

Around 3 a.m. Monday, flood warnings blared from their cellphones. Prasse and Kovalsky rushed to empty tools and equipment from the attached garage behind the house, but shortly after 5 a.m., they said, the river overflowed its banks and invaded the structure. Fast-moving floodwater sheared off one wall and filled the basement to the ceiling, destroying their brand-new electrical system and two industrial freezers, and knocking the entire garage sideways.

When it was over, the couple stood stunned in the wreckage, then began to salvage what they could  a screwdriver here, a hammer there, amid the boards and branches and shattered chunks of pavement. They felt lucky in one sense. The renovated deli space, closer to the street, was not badly damaged, nor were their living quarters above it. But because the flooded garage, once a barn, was attached, it put the entire structure at risk.

They were not alone. Their town of 2,100 people had suffered some of the worst flooding in the state amid more than 7 inches of rain. It was part of a broad corridor of destruction that also included the capital, Montpelier, 80 miles to the north, and Barre, where the states first death from the storm was reported on Wednesday after a 63-year-old man drowned in his home.

It was a painful setback for Vermont at the height of its summer tourist season. Tourism pumps $3 billion into its economy each year and employs at least 30,000 people, as 13 million visitors flock to take in the sweeping mountain views and covered bridges. While much of the state was untouched by the flooding  even in Ludlow, which is in south-central Vermont, some businesses were unscathed  national news coverage of disasters typically leads to a wave of cancellations.

In Ludlow  first settled by farmers in 1783, later home to woolen mills powered by the river, and now best known as the home of Okemo Mountain Resort  momentum had been building. Since Vail Resorts bought the ski area in 2018, upgrading lifts and boosting marketing and year-round recreation, new businesses had sprung up to serve new visitors.

The success of other young entrepreneurs, whose cocktail bars and freshly styled motels enlivened Main Street, had emboldened Prasse and Kovalsky, who had both snowboarded in Vermont as children and had roamed its back roads for months in search of the perfect place to put down roots.

Demographic shifts since the pandemic have brought a new, if tenuous, stability: Ludlow, like other resort towns across Vermont and northern New England, became a haven for remote workers when offices shut down in early 2020. Since then, some of its so-called COVID refugees have moved there permanently, while others now stay for longer stretches in the ski houses and condos perched high above downtown on steep mountain roads.

That phenomenon has helped to nudge the states population upward, to 645,000 in 2021 from 624,000 in 2019, according to census data. That small increase was nonetheless gigantic for Vermont, which has offered incentive grants of up to $10,000 to people willing to move there in recent years, said Joan Goldstein, the states commissioner of economic development.

It has been enough to spark new confidence in Ludlow. Last year, after seeing more customers even during Vermonts less scenic mud season (early spring) and stick season (late fall), Patty Greenwood and her husband decided they could safely give up the second jobs that had long helped them make ends meet while they ran a bookstore on Main Street.

Before COVID, this was a two-season town, summer and winter, said Greenwood, whose store across the street from the river suffered minimal damage. We thought, if theres ever a time to go for it, this is it.

The state has also become a haven for another kind of newcomer  one likely paying close attention to the floods. People seeking a more stable, safer climate are among those moving in, according to recent research at the University of Vermont.

Richard Watts, director of the universitys Center for Research on Vermont, doubts those transplants will be deterred by the record rainfall and what it wrought. These are people who are studying flood maps and making very careful, conscious choices, he said. They can choose to live above the flood line.

On Wednesday, as clouds of dust swirled over sidewalks covered with sand and gravel on Ludlows Main Street, and basement pumps and power washers droned, Prasse and Mr. Kovalsky toiled in mud-caked boots to shore up their battered property. They tried not to dwell on countless unknowns: Would they have to tear down and reconstruct the 200-year-old back building? How much help would come from their bare-bones insurance policy or FEMA? How long would tourists stay away? And most important, how long now until they could open?

The rear building by the river had been red-noticed, or labeled uninhabitable, by inspectors, and the power might soon be cut off, forcing them to vacate their second-floor apartment. With a crew of friends and neighbors who had shown up to help as soon as the waters receded, they raised new support beams to hold up the sagging garage, anchoring the supports more than 2 feet in the ground, and hoping that the rains forecast through the weekend would not result in another flood.

Around them, kindnesses multiplied. A neighbor offered them a place to stay. With the local grocery store shut down, several restaurants gave away free food. The liquor store  its hours described on a sign outside as Open-ish  handed out free water, and the American Legion post organized a pork chop dinner Friday night to benefit hard-hit residents.

Because they had sunk all their savings into the deli, abandoning the project wasnt an option, the couple said. But even if they could have cut their losses and moved on, the care the town had shown them since the flood had cemented their commitment to stay.

Im kind of like, we dont deserve all this; were new here, said Kovalsky.

Prasse said she hadnt cried once about the damage. But her eyes filled with tears when she talked about her neighbors.

We havent even had a chance to make them a sandwich yet, she said.

c.2023 The New York Times Company
Putin issues new batch of threats and lies in response to Ukraines receipt of cluster munitions

Putin cynically lied that Russia does not use cluster munitions

Russia does not use cluster munitions and will take mirror action if the Ukrainian Armed Forces employ such projectiles, Russian dictator Vladimir Putin voiced this latest set of misleading statements during the Russian state television show Moscow. Kremlin. Putin on July 16.

I want to emphasize that Russia has a plentiful supply of various types of cluster munitions. We have refrained from using them thus far, despite a well-known shortage at one point in time, but if they are used against us, we reserve the right to respond in kind, Putin said.

Furthermore, Putin alleged that the assessment of these munitions was provided by the US administration through its employees statements.

Read also:

He cynically remarked, The US administration itself labeled the use of cluster munitions as a crime at one time. Well, I believe thats how it should be viewed. This comes despite Russias repeated use of such munitions in Ukraine, including attacks on civilians.

The Pentagon officially announced the transfer of cluster munitions to Ukraine on July 7, as part of a new military assistance package.

On July 13, the Ukrainian Armed Forces confirmed the arrival of the cluster munitions from the United States.T

he decision to supply cluster munitions to Ukraine has sparked disagreements among allies. Germany, Spain, the United Kingdom, and other countries have opposed the use of this weaponry due to the risks it poses to civilians.

The White House explained that despite the risks, they made the decision to provide these weapons to Ukraine as they are crucial for effective counteroffensive operations. They clarified that the United States was facing a shortage of artillery shells to transfer to Kyiv.

Read also:

The Ukrainian Defense Ministry stated that they would only use cluster munitions in areas where Russian forces are concentrated, away from urban areas, in order to minimize risks to civilians.

Meanwhile, Russian officials declared that the supply of cluster projectiles to Ukraine will change nothing.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Russian dictator Vladimir Putin has cynically lied that Russia does not use cluster munitions in war and that the counteroffensive of the Armed Forces of Ukraine is failing.

Source: Putin, quoted by Russian propaganda

Details: The Russian leader lied that his country did not use cluster munitions  military and Western analysts have repeatedly proven that the Russians shelled Ukrainian territories with such munitions, using these, in particular on cities and civilians.

The most egregious case of Russia's use of cluster munitions was the attack on the Kramatorsk train station in April 2022, when more than 60 people died, and 121 were injured.

Quote from Putin: "I want to say that Russia has a sufficient supply of various types of cluster munitions.

Until now, we have not done it, we have not used it, and we have not had such a need.

But, of course, if they are used against us, we reserve the right to mirror actions."

More details: Putin is also lying about the counteroffensive; allegedly, the Armed Forces of Ukraine "couldn't break through the Russians' defence during the entire offensive."

The dictator also stated his desire to "look into the Western equipment" used by Ukrainians.

Background:

On 7 April, the Russian army carried out an airstrike on the tracks near the Barvinkove station on the Donetsk railway, which temporarily blocked three evacuation trains to Sloviansk and Kramatorsk.

On 8 April, Russian troops attacked the railway station in Kramatorsk with rockets, killing 61 people and injuring 121 others.

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KYIV, Ukraine  Russian President Vladimir Putin said in an interview published Sunday that Russia has a sufficient stockpile of cluster munitions, and warned that Russia reserves the right to take reciprocal action if Ukraine uses the controversial weapons.

In his first comments on the delivery of cluster munitions to Ukraine from the U.S., Putin said that Russia has not used cluster bombs in its war in Ukraine so far. The use of cluster bombs by both Russia and Ukraine has been widely documented, including by The Associated Press and international humanitarian organizations, and cluster rounds have been found in the aftermath of Russian strikes.

Until now, we have not done this, we have not used it, and we have not had such a need, he said,

Rossiya TV reporter Pavel Zarubin published excerpts of the interview to his Telegram channel Sunday ahead of a scheduled broadcast Sunday night.

The Pentagon said Thursday that cluster munitions provided by the United States had arrived in Ukraine.

Why the US is willing to send Ukraine cluster munitions now

The munitions, which are bombs that open in the air and release scores of smaller bomblets, are seen by the U.S. as a way to get Kyiv critically needed ammunition to help bolster its offensive and push through Russian front lines. U.S. leaders debated the thorny issue for months, before President Joe Biden made the final decision last week.

Cluster bombs have long been criticized by humanitarian groups, and some U.S. allies, because those used in previous conflicts have had a high dud rate, meaning that they often leave behind unexploded bomblets that can harm civilians long after a battle has ended.

Proponents argue that Russia has already been using cluster munitions in Ukraine and that the weapons the U.S. is providing have been improved to leave behind far fewer unexploded rounds. Ukraine has promised to use them only away from densely populated areas.

The Ukrainian military said in a regular update Sunday morning that over the previous 24 hours Russia had launched two Iranian-made Shahed exploding drones, two cruise missiles and two anti-aircraft guided missiles, in addition to 40 airstrikes and 46 attacks from multiple rocket launchers.

The Ukrainian General Staff wrote that Russia continues to concentrate on offensive operations in Ukraines industrial east. Donetsk regional Gov. Pavlo Kyrylenko said Sunday that two residents of the region were killed on Saturday, and one other person was wounded.

FILE - A cluster ammunition rocket lies on a sunflower field at sunset, in the recently retaken area of Kharkiv region, Ukraine, Friday, Sept. 23, 2022. (Evgeniy Maloletka/AP, File)

Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar said Sunday that fighting in eastern Ukraine had somewhat intensified, amid a slow counteroffensive in which Ukraine has made small territorial gains.

Writing on Telegram, she said that Russia had been actively attacking in the direction of Kupiansk in the northeastern Kharkiv region for two consecutive days, and that Ukrainian forces were on the defensive in the area.

There are fierce battles, the positions of both sides change dynamically several times a day, she wrote.

Maliar wrote that Ukrainian troops were trying to hold on to their positions on the northern flank around the destroyed city of Bakhmut, but reported that Ukrainian forces were advancing daily on the southern flank. Ukraine has been trying to encircle the city since losing control of it to Russia in May.

Putin claimed that the Ukrainian counteroffensive had been futile, in another excerpt published by Zarubin.

All attempts by the enemy to break through our defenses (...) they were unsuccessful during the entire offensive. The enemy is having no success! Putin said.

Elsewhere in the country, two boys, aged eight and 10, were wounded when an explosive device left by Russian forces detonated in the southern region of Kherson on Sunday, according to the Ukrainian Prosecutor Generals Office.

Regional Gov. Oleksandr Prokudin said that Russia had launched 69 shelling attacks against Kherson region. A 59-year-old man died on Saturday when attempting to disarm a round in the regional capital, also called Kherson.

Yurii Malashko, governor of the neighboring, partly occupied, Zaporizhzhia region, said Russia had attacked 13 populated areas in the region, wounding seven people in the town of Stepnohirsk.

Moscow-installed authorities in Russian-occupied Crimea on Sunday reported a massive and prolonged drone attack overnight targeting Sevastopol, the peninsulas largest port, which hosts Russias Black Sea Fleet. According to Moscow-installed Sevastopol governor Mikhail Razvozhaev, air defense shot down all of the drones and there was no damage.

Vyacheslav Gladkov, the governor of Russias Belgorod region, said that a woman was killed Sunday by shelling in the town of Shebekino near the border with Ukraine.

Morton reported from London. AP Journalist Felipe Dana contributed to this report.
Republican presidential candidate and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy donated $5 million to his own campaign in the second quarter, bringing in a total of $7.7 million before Saturdays deadline, according to his Federal Election Commission (FEC) filing.

The conservative entrepreneur ended the quarter with about $9 million in cash on hand. His total haul for the second quarter places him well behind the two frontrunners of the Republican primary race  former President Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis  but ahead of most of the remaining candidates.

However, only about $2.7 million of Ramaswamys second quarter haul came from donor contributions. Since launching his bid for the Republican nomination in February, Ramaswamy has loaned his campaign more than $15 million.

The only Republican beyond Trump and DeSantis to surpass Ramaswamy in the second quarter was North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum. He raised $11.7 million in the first 23 days of his campaign, nearly $10.2 million of which came from a personal loan.

According to Ramaswamys campaign, 40 percent of his 65,000 donors were either making their first donation to the Republican Party or their first political donation of any kind.

Candidates are required to bring in contributions from at least 40,000 unique donors, including at least 200 donors from 20 or more states and territories, in order to qualify for the first GOP primary debate. They also have to reach a minimum level of polling and pledge to support the eventual Republican nominee.

Ramaswamy is one of several candidates in the crowded Republican field who has turned to unique tactics to bring in donors. He announced on Monday that he would offer a 10 percent commission to supporters who fundraise for his campaign.

If someone else is getting rich on this, it might as well be you. Lets go, he said on Twitter.

A recent Morning Consult poll showed the conservative entrepreneur pulling ahead of former Vice President Mike Pence and into third place in the Republican primary race. While Trump remained the clear frontrunner with 56 percent support among GOP primary voters and DeSantis sat in second with 17 percent, Ramaswamy garnered 8 percent, the poll found.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Rapper JT, who spent two years in a Florida prison, launches initiative for formerly incarcerated women

The Miami rapper on July 13 also released the single No Bars, her first solo song since 2019.

Rapper JT of the City Girls is helping formerly incarcerated women access a network of support resources including therapy, housing and employment assistance, substance abuse treatment and more.

No Bars Reform is JTs newly-launched non-profit initiative, created as a vehicle to use her voice and platform to help other incarcerated women rehabilitate into society, according to the official website.

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA  JUNE 27: JT of City Girls performs onstage at the BET Awards 2021 at Microsoft Theater on June 27, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for BET)

The site links users to resources such as the Felony Record Hub, a digital directory of reentry services including legal support and job listings.

Also featured on No Bars Reform is a link to the Time for Change Foundation, which offers emergency shelter housing, permanent supportive housing, and affordable housing for families and individuals, among other resources, according to its website.

JT, 30, served 24 months in a Florida prison on fraudulent credit card charges before her release in late 2019, and has since been vocal about some of the challenges she has faced while navigating life after incarceration, as previously reported by theGrio.

Accompanying the website, the rapper on July 13 released the single No Bars, her first solo song since JT First Day Out, which she dropped in 2019 after completing her prison sentence.

The official video for No Bars shows clips of JT rapping from what appears to be a jail cell, interlaced with clips of her gallivanting throughout Europe and enjoying herself.

No bars is a freestyle I made in the studio when I was having one of those days, JT said in a statement shared via the nonprofit website, adding that she recorded it during a time when people were doubting and questioning her.

Id read the craziest things about myself and would want to scream but instead I went to the studio and popped my s***! JT added. I hope this freestyle finds you in a great place and is a start of the respect I deserve in music!

theGrios Ny Magee contributed to this report.

TheGrio is FREE on your TV via Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Roku, and Android TV. Please download theGrio mobile apps today!

The post Rapper JT, who spent two years in a Florida prison, launches initiative for formerly incarcerated women appeared first on TheGrio.
Israeli soldiers are seen near the scene of a shooting attack at Tekoa Junction, south of the West Bank city of Bethlehem, July 16, 2023. A Palestinian gunman opened fire from a passing vehicle at an Israeli family outside a settlement in the occupied southern West Bank on Sunday, injuring a man and his two daughters. (Photo by Mamoun Wazwaz/Xinhua)

JERUSALEM, July 16 (Xinhua) -- A Palestinian gunman opened fire from a passing vehicle at an Israeli family outside a settlement in the occupied southern West Bank on Sunday, injuring a man and his two daughters.

The 35-year-old man sustained critical injuries and the two girls, aged 14 and 9, were lightly wounded by shrapnel, Israel's Magen David Adom emergency medical service said in a statement.

The incident occurred at the Tekoa Junction, south of the West Bank city of Bethlehem, according to an Israeli military statement.

The troops launched a manhunt after the assailant fled the scene, said the statement.

The incident was the latest in a relentless cycle of violence that has gripped the region. The Israeli army has been carrying out daily raids in the West Bank towns and villages, triggering clashes with the Palestinians. The army said they were there to arrest militants involved in carrying out attacks against Israel.

Since January, 26 people, most of them Israelis, have been killed in a series of attacks carried out by Palestinians, while more than 190 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli soldiers and settlers, according to official figures. 

Israeli soldiers are seen near the scene of a shooting attack at Tekoa Junction, south of the West Bank city of Bethlehem, July 16, 2023. A Palestinian gunman opened fire from a passing vehicle at an Israeli family outside a settlement in the occupied southern West Bank on Sunday, injuring a man and his two daughters. (Photo by Mamoun Wazwaz/Xinhua)

Israeli soldiers are seen near the scene of a shooting attack at Tekoa Junction, south of the West Bank city of Bethlehem, July 16, 2023. A Palestinian gunman opened fire from a passing vehicle at an Israeli family outside a settlement in the occupied southern West Bank on Sunday, injuring a man and his two daughters. (Photo by Mamoun Wazwaz/Xinhua)

Israeli soldiers are seen near the scene of a shooting attack at Tekoa Junction, south of the West Bank city of Bethlehem, July 16, 2023. A Palestinian gunman opened fire from a passing vehicle at an Israeli family outside a settlement in the occupied southern West Bank on Sunday, injuring a man and his two daughters. (Photo by Mamoun Wazwaz/Xinhua)
All residents of liberated villages in Velyka Novosilka hromada were evacuated

All residents from the settlements in Velyka Novosilka hromada [an administrative unit designating a town, village or several villages and their adjacent territories  ed.], liberated in June 2023, were evacuated to safer regions.

Source: Serhii Yashchenko, Head of the Velyka Novosilka Military Administration, in a comment to Suspilne

Quote: "The security situation is now extremely difficult in the liberated villages of Blahodatne, Neskuchne, Storozheve and Makarivka. There is daily shelling. This does not allow [us] to carry out stabilisation measures.

Today in these villages there is not a single person left, everyone has been evacuated."

Details: At the same time, Yashchenko reports that 14 people remain in the village of Vremivka, which is located between the liberated Neskuchne and Velyka Novosilka.

Earlier: On 11 June, the Ukrainian army liberated Blahodatne, Neskuchne, Storozheve and Makarivka.

On 14 June, 30 civilians were evacuated from four villages in Donetsk Oblast that were recently liberated by the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

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AUSTIN  Before Le Roy and Rosie Torres were befriended by celebrities like Jon Stewart and before they were nominated for the Presidential Medal of Freedom, few elected officials paid much attention to the otherwise modest South Texas couple.

Le Roy Torres, a former trooper with the Texas Department of Public Safety, returned home from his 2007-08 Army Reserve deployment to Iraq with a worsening respiratory illness that ended his civilian career. He and Rosie were convinced that the cause was exposure to giant war zone toxic burn pits because so many other deployed veterans were suffering similar health-shattering illnesses.

It would not be untiI 2017 that anyone with political influence would take up their cause. That's when their state representative, Democrat Abel Herrero, offered legislation that would set up a Texas burn pit registry. In that registry Texas veterans with symptoms like those afflicting Le Roy Torres could add their names so that, if and when the federal government accepted its responsibility, those veterans or their surviving family members could be easily found and offered the benefits they earned.

Long fight for Robstown residents seeking legislation

Le Roy and Rosie Torres live in the Coastal Bend community of Robstown. They tried to bring the issue to the attention of the Department of Veterans Affairs so the federal government would recognize such ailments as a service-related disability.

They were stonewalled. The same happened when they sought help from Congress.

There were a lot of doors shut in our face, Rosie Torres would later tell national media outlets.

But that was not the case with Herrero. Even though caring for the soldiers who volunteer to fight the nation's wars is a federal responsibility, Herrero saw an opportunity for the state to help in a comparatively small way.

Texas Rep. Abel Herrero talks to other representatives near his desk in the House Chamber at the Texas Capitol on Thursday, July 13, 2023.

And when Herrero's 2017 bill sputtered and died, he revived it two years later and pushed it over the finish line. It would be one of the few victories in the fight Rosie and Le Roy Torres began more than a decade earlier until last year  when Congress finally acted.

The burn pits issue finally found its way into the wider national conscience in part because President Joe Biden's son, Beau, was exposed to them during his own wartime deployment.

The president has said he believes that the brain cancer that claimed Beau Biden's life at age 46 in 2015 was linked to the massive black-smoke belching from open-air incinerators that turned spent munitions, human waste, medical waste, broken-down equipment and other material to ashes.

More: Registry would help GIs exposed to toxic burn pits

Big names brought more attention to the issue

Celebrities such as Stewart joined the cause, when Congress was delaying action on what would become known as the PACT Act. Their public activism helped bring national attention to the cause of the moral imperative of formally recognizing burn pit-related ailments as service-related conditions that require federal benefits.

But not all of the people who pitched in to the fight were household names, and Herrero has his share of admirers.

Ware Wendell, who heads the government accountability nonprofit Texas Watch called Herrero one of the unsung heroes in the effort to push the issue onto the nation's front burner. Texas Watch works with the nonprofit established by Rosie and Le Roy Torres, Burn Pits 360.

"He was early in this fight and he stayed with the fight and saw through to the end," Ware said. "Representative Herrero is workhorse He puts his head down and he gets the job done. He doesn't seek credit for himself."

More: Amid anger over unexpected stall of burn pits measure, a Texas couple is not giving up

Herrero last week announced his retirement from the Legislature. After he announced that he would not seek a ninth term, Rosie Torres praised the longtime lawmaker for both his willingness to listen and to follow up the conversation with action.

"The odds were like zero to none that the (2017 bill) would pass, but he still made the effort to listen to our concerns and to work with us, and just really lending himself in his position to the issue," said Rosie Torres, who with her husband attended the White House bill-signing ceremony.

"Just the fact that you have someone in a position as an elected official who doesn't make excuses, and makes time for people, to me that's the definition of true leadership."

That description might help explain why when many national political figures were eager to be photographed with the burn pit advocates who held a sit-in on the steps of the nation's Capitol 11 months ago, Herrero was not among them.

And why when this year, as he was explaining a second burn pits bill that will establish a specialty license plate for the Burn Pits 360 organization to raise money to manage the state registry he created, he scarcely mentioned that he was responsible for that landmark legislation.

Instead, he named it the Le Roy and Rosie Torres Act, and he gave them much of the credit.

"With the relentless efforts of veterans and their families, such as Le Roy and Rosie Torres, the founders of Burn Pits 360, Texas can help lead the mission to ensure veterans receive the medical resources and care they deserve," he said in a statement.

John C. Moritz covers Texas government and politics for the USA Today Network in Austin. Contact him at jmoritz@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter @JohnnieMo and at JohnnieMo217 on Threads.

This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: Herrero leaves legacy of helping veterans harmed by toxic burn pits
The Rev. Frederick Douglass Haynes III is expected to become the president of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition on Sunday, taking the helm from outgoing civil rights leader the Rev. Jesse Jackson.

The official transfer of leadership is set to take place Sunday, with Vice President Kamala Harris in attendance, at 2 p.m. CT during an event at the organizations 57th annual conference, a release from Rainbow PUSH Coalition said.

Haynes, 62, has served as the senior pastor of Friendship-West Baptist Church in Dallas since 1983, growing the membership from 100 members to over 13,000, according to the churchs website. Under his leadership, the church founded the THR!VE Intern and Leadership Program, which employs young Black people with local businesses and the church  an effort that earned praise from then-President Barack Obama in a 2014 speech.

Haynes is honored to take on Jacksons legacy, he said in a news release.

As a student of Rev. Jacksons, I am honored to be selected for this prestigious and important position, Haynes said.

The role Rainbow PUSH Coalition plays today is just as critical as it was in 1963, when the organization was founded. Our communities need organizations like Rainbow PUSH to not only continue the fight for justice and equality, but to shepherd the next generation of advocates into the movement.

Jackson, the 81-year-old founder and longtime head of the civil rights organization, announced plans to step down last week. In a Rainbow PUSH broadcast streamed on YouTube on July 8, Jackson said he will get a new president for the organization.

We had a board meeting last week. Im going to make a transition pretty soon. Ive been doing this stuff for 64 years. I was 18 years old. Im going to get a new president for Rainbow PUSH Coalition, Jackson said.

CNN has reached out to Rainbow PUSH Coalition for comment.

President Joe Biden praised Jackson in a Sunday statement, thanking the civil rights giant.

The promise of America is that we are all created equal in the image of God and deserve to be treated equally throughout our lives. While weve never fully lived up to that promise, weve never fully walked away from it because of extraordinary leaders like Reverend Jesse Jackson, Sr, Biden wrote.

Whether on the campaign trail, on the march for equality, or in the room advocating for what is right and just, Ive seen him as history will remember him: a man of God and of the people; determined, strategic, and unafraid of the work to redeem the soul of our nation, the president added, invoking his signature saying.

Jill and I are grateful to Reverend Jackson for his lifetime of dedicated service and extend our appreciation to the entire Jackson family. We look forward to working with the Rainbow PUSH Coalition as he hands the torch to the next generation of leadership, just as we will continue to cherish the counsel and wisdom that we draw from him, Biden wrote.

A protege of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., Jackson in 1966 was chosen to head the Chicago branch of Operation Breadbasket, an organization that worked to improve the economic conditions of Black communities across the nation. A year later he was appointed national director.

In 1971, he formed Operation People United to Save Humanity (PUSH) in Chicago as another way to improve the economic conditions of Black communities. He founded the National Rainbow Coalition in 1986 with the goal of obtaining equal rights for all Americans.

The organizations merged in 1996. The coalition has provided more than $6.1 million in student scholarships and helped more than 4,000 families avoid foreclosure throughout its history, according to the organizations website.

Jackson twice ran for president unsuccessfully in  1984 and 1988  and hosted the CNN show Both Sides with Jesse Jackson from 1992 to 2000.

The civil rights leader has had a series of health issues in recent years. He announced in 2017 he was diagnosed with Parkinsons Disease, and he was hospitalized several times in 2021.

CNNs Jasmine Wright contributed to this report.

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Rex Heuermann's arrest in Long Island's infamous cold case is a "good first step," but it's "just the tip of the iceberg," a documentary filmmaker and lawyer told Fox News Digital in separate interviews.

Heuermann, a 59-year-old married father of two and an architect working in Manhattan, allegedly killed three of the four women known as the "Gilgo Beach 4," and he's the prime suspect in the fourth woman's death.

But there were at least six more bodies found in the same area of Gilgo Beach that can't be forgotten, said John Ray, a lawyer who represents the families of Shannon Gilbert and Jessica Taylor.

Heuerman's arrest "is just the tip of the iceberg." Ray said. "What's below the surface are more murders which aren't accounted for yet, including Shannon and Jessica, and we can't forget them."

SUSPECTED GILGO BEACH KILLER PUT LOVE NOTES IN MY LOCKER: HIGH SCHOOL CLASSMATE

Maureen Brainard-Barnes, Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman and Amber Costello were known as the "Gilgo 4." The discovery of their bodies led to other gruesome discoveries victims in the area.

Gilbert's May 2010 missing person case and subsequent search along Ocean Parkway on Long Island led law enforcement to find the remains of the "Gilgo 4" within a quarter mile of each other in December 2010.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

Josh Zeman, a director and producer who created the eight-part documentary "The Killing Season" in 2017, told Fox News Digital that he "never thought he would get to this day."

LIVE BLOG: GILGO BEACH MURDER SUSPECT REX HEUERMANN CHARGED WITH 3 COUNTS OF FIRST-DEGREE MURDER

"This is at least a first step, but there are so many more victims out there," said Zeman, who attended Friday's press conference. "There were a number of bodies found along Gilgo Beach. There's the GB 4 and then there are other victims that were dismembered.

"So the arrest brings up this big question. Is it just the GB4,' the Gilgo Beach 4,' or does it go beyond the other killings? And that, I think, is really the big question."

WATCH INTERVIEW WITH JOSH ZEMAN

There's been speculation and rumors around this case, Zeman said. "People have always wondered whether it was one killer or two. Obviously, the idea that there are two killers roaming around and using the same dump site is really disturbing."

The question was posed to Ray, who said he doesn't know if Heuermann is involved in his clients' cases or if there's someone else, at this point. Heuermann was someone not on his radar before the arrest, he said.

WATCH: GRIM TIDE ON FOX NATION

Jasmine Robinson, a family representative for Taylor, said in a statement that shes "hopeful for the future and hopeful that a connection is made" to resolve the other cases.

As it stands now, on Saturday evening, Heuermann is accused of killing three of the four "GB4" victims - Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman and Amber Costello - although he's the prime suspect in Maureen Brainard's death as well.

Rex Heuermann is led into Arthur M. Cromarty Criminal Complex in Riverhead, NY on Friday, July 14, 2023. The 59 year old is being charged with three counts of murder in relation to the deaths of victims found on Gilgo Beach.

More charges could be added, according to authorities.

Heuermann was officially arrested and booked Friday on six counts of murder (first- and second-degree murder for each of his alleged victims), and he pleaded not guilty to all charges.

READ: CASE AGAINST REX HEUERMANN

His lawyer, Michael Brown, said the evidence against his client is "extremely circumstantial" and told reporters that Heuermann repeatedly said, "I didn't do this," through tears.

Brown was given the case Friday, so he's reviewing the evidence and couldn't comment on specific allegations.

Since Heuermann's arrest, Ray has been interviewed by several news outlets, and pushed Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney to continue the investigation to get justice for the other victims.

"We're hoping that the police don't rush to be content with their victory, but instead that they move ahead, and with the same enthusiasm," Ray said.

A 2011 PROFILE OF THE GILGO BEACH KILLER IS EERIE MATCH FOR MURDER SUSPECT REX HEUERMANN

Both Ray and Zeman praised Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney, who put together a multi-agency taskforce "with each agency's top personnel" when he took office in 2022.

They zeroed in on Heuermann in March 2022 because of his truck and built the case from there without tipping him off, DA Tierney said on Friday.

"Seeing the evidence that the Suffolk County Police Department, Rodney Harrison had put together, I was extremely impressed with the work that they had done," Zeman said.

WATCH POLICE IN HEUERMANN'S BACKYARD

The Gilgo Beach murders have remained unsolved more than a decade after the search for missing escort Shannan Gilbert, 24, first led police to the bodies of multiple sex workers and other victims east of New York City.

Separate from the "Gilgo 4" include the partial remains of 20-year-old Jessica Taylor, which were found in March 2011 Near Gilgo Beach. Authorities said part of Taylors body was discovered eight years earlier and 40 miles away in Manorville, New York.

The locations where eight of 10 bodies were found near Gilgo Beach since December 2010 are seen in this Suffolk County Police handout image.

Days later, three more sets of human remains were discovered alongside Ocean Parkway. The first was 24-year-old Valerie Mack, whose partial remains had also been found in Manorville years earlier.

An unidentified toddler was found near Mack, according to the official website dedicated to the case.

Two miles west, police discovered the skeletal remains of an unidentified Asian man  or transgender woman  believed to be 17 to 23 years old.

A week later, in April 2011, two more sets of partial remains were found along Ocean Parkway. The first were those of the woman known as "Peaches," believed to be the mother of the toddler found the week before.

Part of her body had been previously discovered in Hempstead Lake State Park in 1997. The second was the skull of a woman who was linked to remains found on Fire Island in 1996.
Photo Illustration by Luis G. Rendon/The Daily Beast/Getty

Aside from being the scion of a famed American political dynasty, Democratic presidential contender Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is perhaps best known for what might generously be called a history of outspoken vaccine skepticism. (And more recently, I guess, also for being a Do you even lift, bro? type bro.)

To be clear, Kennedy has repeatedly insisted hes not anti-vaccine; hes in fact pro-vaccineeven fiercely pro-vaccine. Its just that hes also a vaccine safety advocate, which Kennedy apparently defines as a person who, lacking either medical or scientific credentials, spends two decades rejecting peer-reviewed scientific consensus in favor of his own research, from which he draws his own conclusions, which are then disseminated by his own multi-million dollar revenue-generating anti-vaccination nonprofit, Childrens Health Defense.

Contrarian Defenses of RFK Jr. Are Not BraveTheyre Boring

All too often, Kennedydesignated one of the Center for Countering Digital Hates Disinformation Dozen, to whom 65 percent of online vaccine pseudoscience is attributedhas made a concerted effort to spread his misinformation among Black people. Doing so has meant exploiting a mistrust of the American medical system engendered by a history of racist medical mistreatment and brutal experimentation.

PREACHING A GOSPEL OF LIES

The apex of Kennedys propagandizing to Black folks can be seen, literally, in the 2021 movie, Medical Racism: The New Apartheid.

The film rolled out just as the COVID-19 vaccine was becoming available, making it an opportune moment for Kennedy to spread yet more vaccine hesitancy among a population which, at least up until that point, was being disproportionately hit and hurt by the virus. Billing itself as a documentary, the movie includes a predominately Black roster of expert talking headsdoctors, historians, academics, public health advocatesand juxtaposes their interviews against accounts of inhumane abuses against Black folks committed by the American medical establishment.

RFKs documentary is full of debunked vaccine pseudoscience, conspiracy theories, deliberate omissions, and selective inclusions. Photo Illustration by Luis G. Rendon/The Daily Beast/Getty/YouTube

The Tuskegee experiments, under which the U.S. government withheld syphilis treatment from Black men, the theft of Henrietta Lacks cells and legacy, the tortuous gynecological experiments on Black enslaved women by J. Marion Simseach of these notorious injustices is touched upon, alongside quotidian modern-day examples of how doctors continue to neglect, ignore, and undertreat Black patients.

But theres also plenty of debunked vaccine pseudoscience, conspiracy theories, deliberate omissions, and selective inclusions that muddy the informational waters.

In one instance, referencing a small-sample 2014 Mayo Clinic study that found Somali immigrants, Somali Americans, and other Black Americans (basically, folks of direct and diasporic African descent) had more vigorous antibody responses to the rubella vaccine than white study participants. After citing the study, physician Charles Penick, a noted vaccine skeptic, states that Black children need probably about half the dose that kids are given, lest they risk vaccine overdose.

RFK Jr. Would Be the Worst Possible President Kennedy

James Neuenschwander, a Michigan doctor who has claimed the COVID-19 vaccine doesnt work, subsequently appears onscreen to opine that because of their kick ass kind of immune system, vaccines put Black children at increased risk of autoimmune diseases, autism, and developmental delays, as well as illnesses including asthma, eczema, and ear infections.

The lead researcher on the Mayo study, Gregory Poland, has repeatedly refuted those extrapolations, telling FactCheck.org that the analysis was ahypothesis generating study, with too few sample subjects to yield any meaningful result. Poland says it needs to be repeated with a much larger pool of participants, but also that the film just gets the findings wrong in general.

We do not have a study that shows African Americans need half the [rubella vaccine] dose. We do not have a study that shows African American children are being overdosed, Poland told the website, calling the films assertions like a good conspiracy theoryit contains a grain of truth with a lot of speculations around it.

There are many more discrepancies in the movieVaxopedia actually takes the time to challenge them point-by-pointbut the most obvious is that vaccines dont cause autism, and the 1998 study by Andrew Wakefield initially positing the link has been not only refuted and retracted, but at least a dozen follow-up studies have conclusively established that no such link exists.

And yet, Kennedys film continues to circulate, even as some who appeared in it have denounced the project after seeing how their contributions were misapplied. (Stephen Karanja, a Kenyan OB/GYN, states in the film, Africa has been protected by our interactions with the environment, and we are actually quite immune to some of these things. And I say this as a doctor, COVID does not belong to Africa. And therefore must not, there is no vaccine which should be tested in Africa. Dr. Karanja died of COVID in April 2021.)

Yale historian Naomi Rogers told NPR that she had been misled about the movies message ahead of filming, and felt used. Oliver Waters, a prominent Black physician who testified before Congress in 2020 about racial disparities in COVID-19 morbidity, also later expressed regret over his appearance in the movie to the outlet. Waters had hoped to serve as a counter to the relentless misinformation dispensed by the film.

The crux of the documentary is generally dont get vaccinated, the doctor told NPR after the films release. There is an understandable concern in the African American community regarding vaccines. However, in the end, my position is you look past those, have an understanding of those and still get vaccinated That nuance was not felt or presented in the documentary.

Medical Racism represents the culmination of Kennedys efforts to make inroads among Black folks, which started years before he got into the movie business.

Harriet Washington is the author of Medical Apartheid, a lengthy book chronicling the many cruel and immoral medical atrocities (that we know of thus far) committed against Black people by white physicians and other medical practitioners between the mid-19th century and today. Washington told ABC News that Kennedy, a stranger to her, telephoned her out of the blue in 2014, claiming African American boys were being used in secret vaccine experiments, which he compared to the Tuskegee syphilis trials. When she questioned the veracity of his claims, Washington told ABC News, Kennedy became very angry and began shouting at me," ultimately accusing her of somehow being disloyal to African Americans. (Kennedy has called Washingtons version of events invented, crazy and just wrong.)

In any case, there is a striking resemblance between the title of Washingtons oft-cited book and the aforementioned Kennedy documentary.

One year after his failure to enlist Washington, Kennedy forged forward, undeterred.

The Nation of Islam, under the leadership of Minister Louis Farrakhan, has teamed up with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in anti-vaccine campaigns multiple times. Photo Illustration by Luis G. Rendon/The Daily Beast/Getty/Reuters

He requested a meeting with Nation of Islam (NOI) head Minister Louis Farrakhan, according to the Wisconsin Medical Journal. In a June 2015 Breakfast Club interview, the NOI leader confirmed hosting Kennedy for dinner at his Chicago home, at which time Farrakhan says his guest informed him of a CDC-developed vaccine that is genetically prepared, or concocted, to affect Black males, and told him of research indicating scientists are injecting [Black boys] with vaccines that are high in mercury. And this mercury starts eating at the cells of the brain. (A Final Call article from a month later notes that Mr. Kennedy had tried to sound the alarm throughout the Black community to no avail, and quotes Minister Farrakhan as stating, Some of us are afraid, but Mr. Kennedy found his way to our door.)

Vaccine wariness was not new to the NOI. The Hon. Elijah Muhammad, who led the NOI for four decades until his death in 1975, prohibited followers from taking the polio vaccine, per the Final Call, and Farrakhan has previously suggested that U.S. and European vaccines distributed in Africa might be tainted with poison.

In any case, after forming a partnership, the NOI and Kennedy united forces (along with the Church of Scientology, but lets not get too in the weeds here) in an ultimately losing battle against a California bill aimed at tightening vaccination rules for school children.

The next year, the NOI held a series of vaccine alarmist events in predominantly Black areas in Compton, Atlanta, Chicago, and Minnesota. These gatherings often included screenings of Vaxxed, a movie by disgraced researcher Andrew Wakefieldwho, again, led the discredited 1998 study that kicked off all this anti-vaxx stuffand various other key players in the vaccine denialism movement. Kennedy often appeared via Skype during post-film discussions.

Fast forward five years to the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, and it seems NOI and Kennedy continued their partnership. In fact, for the world debut of Medical Racismwhich was co-produced by NOIs Rev. Tony MuhammadKennedy chose a 2021 NOI conference in Chicago. In a speech at the event, Farrakhan praised the film and told the audience, You need to follow Robert Kennedy.

Jim Crow Is Resurrected in Mississippi

The National Action Network, led by Al Sharpton, announced a 2019 event featuring Kennedy to be held in New York Citys Harlem neighborhood. The forum was called off at the 11th hourlikely because of outrage expressed by Black public health officials familiar with Kennedys messaging.

CULTURE VULTURISM

Kennedy may have been early (among the predominantly white anti-vaxx field) to focus on proselytizing the gospel of vaccine denialism to Black folksspecifically by leaning into vaccine skepticism as a form of racial liberation activismbut his followers were quick to pick up the script.

It has sometimes taken the form of blatant culture vulturism, treating vaccine resistance as a new frontier for civil rights. A 2019 Newsweek article describes a scene in which mostly white anti-vaccination protesters opposed to a proposed California Senate bill on vaccinations sang the Black civil rights anthem We Shall Overcome, chanted no segregation, no discrimination, yes on education for all and many wore shirts that read Freedom Keepers.

Richard Allen Williams, founder of the Association of Black Cardiologists and former president of the National Medical Association, was unsparing in his criticisms of Kennedy during a 2021 AP interview, calling him the ringleader of the misinformation campaign and a propaganda movement. Williams also called out Kennedys Childrens Health Defense as absolutely a racist operation.

Its hard to argue with that when you consider the devastating impact the organization has had.

A Somali-American mother comforts her two children after they were diagnosed with measles during an outbreak in 2017. The mother refused the vaccine because of rumors that it caused autism. Photo Illustration by Luis G. Rendon/The Daily Beast/Getty/Reuters

In May 2017, Minnesota experienced its largest measles outbreak in three decades, primarily affecting the states Somali community, which is the largest in the country. Just over a decade prior, vaccination rates for Somali children topped 90 percent, more than any other children in the state. But in 2008, Somali parents grew concerned over the growth of autism diagnoses among children in their community.

A 2013 University of Minnesota study indicated that Somali American children had autism rates on par with white kids in the state, but their cases seemed more severe.

Was the racial severity disparity related to racial bias, maybe? Somalis dont even have a word for autism, so why were they seeing the emergence of the disease in the West? We dont know, because there was little to no follow-up to investigate those questions. What we do know is that the space which shouldve been filled by proper medical inquiry was quickly occupied by anti-vaccination misinformation.

Why Do Anti-Woke Free Thinkers All Have the Same Opinions?

Wakefield, who visited the community multiple times, and others found a hyper-receptive crowd for their propaganda among concerned Somali parents, which helped fuel vaccine skepticism. By the time of the outbreak, MMR vaccine rates among young Somali-American children had plummeted to 42 percent. In the months after the outbreak, Kennedy wrote that while the press had pinned the crisis on low vaccination rates, they had overlooked the story behind the story.

Both science and anecdotal evidence suggest that Africans and African Americans may be particularly vulnerable to vaccine injuries including autism, Kennedy repeated. (But, again, he doesnt know that.)

Lets revisit the aforementioned 2014 study once morethe one Kennedys film cites as proof that Black immune systems are so hardy they may not even require vaccinations.

Head scientist Gregory Poland told Fact.org that there are myriad other possibilities than those posed by Kennedys film, including that vaccine doses might need to be increased for white kids, or that the increased antibody responses observed in Somali immigrant subjects might have resulted from being exposed to rubella in refugee camps before arriving in the U.S., so the antibodies from the vaccine would have added to what was already in their systems. In the end, only further trials can tell.

And thats the thing. The half-baked theories offered by Kennedy arent rooted in sciencetheyre rooted in half-truths, incomplete data, and speculation. Kennedy repeats those conclusionsin films, speeches, and whenever hes given the air towith an unearned confidence that has actual consequences.

Weve known for a long time, there has been abundant evidence beyond any dispute that Blacks are disproportionately harmed by vaccine injury, Kennedy said in 2021 webinar, later adding, Blacks react completely differently to vaccines we now know its just one huge experiment on Black Americans, and they know what is happening and they are doing nothing. In a 2020 interview, Kennedy asserted, People with African blood react differently to vaccines than people with Caucasian blood. Theyre much more sensitive.

I dont doubt that perhaps the fact that this study has never been repeated to shore up its findings might be the result of medical racism and indifference to Black well-being. Medical science and literature has traditionally overlooked or ignored Black folks, omitting them from studies when developing live-saving treatmentsor worse, callously using them as guinea pigs without their consent or knowledge for the benefit of white lives. Thats no conspiracy thinking, thats just the truth, one that every Black person is aware of.

But all that said, Im no doctor, and so I cant authoritatively say much about racial differences in vaccine responseexcept that we should keep looking into it. And Kennedy, who is also not a doctor, doesnt have the answer either.

What I can say is that its irresponsible to pretend the science is settled. When you dont know what youre talking about, but you spout pseudoscience rooted in ideas of racial difference, it certainly starts to sound an awful lot like race science.

Historically, racial pseudoscience is precisely what was used to harm Black folks at every turn, and those ideas are still pervasive in medical realms.

Hearing so-called experts talk about how Black folks immune systems are so robust that they might not even need vaccines, I couldnt help but recall studies showing white people think Black folks are superhuman and impervious to pain. That bias showed up in a University of Virginia study which found white medical school students believedin 2016, no lessthat Black folks nerve endings are less sensitive than whites; their blood coagulates more quickly than whites; [and] their skin is thicker than whites.

Its this kind of thinking that explains why Black folks are routinely undertreated for pain, across socioeconomic levels.

Beware the Racism in the Machine of A.I.

The future of the medical establishment looks a lot like its past, frankly. And ironically, in his mission to connect todays administration of vaccines to Black folks to the medical racism of the past, Kennedy fuels the same kind of racially specious thinking.

Last month, speaking with the Black Press of America, a coalition of African-American news outlets, Kennedy said that Black Americans are going to be a principal priority for his administration. He went on to emphasize the crisis in Black maternal mortality, said the health-care system is predatory toward Black Americans, and talked about the need for good treatment.

If youre Black in this country, youre getting third-world style medical care, Kennedy stated, noting that was true even when controlling for economics and other variables. The medical system is not attuned to taking care of Black patients. Being a Black patient in this country is almost as dangerous as being a Black prisoner. You wont get good medical care, which will be one of my priorities.

When I reached out to Kennedys communications team with questions, they emailed this statement in response:

Mr. Kennedy's position is that minorities, especially African Americans, have long been especially susceptible to exploitation for profit. Historically, they were also subjected to medical procedures without proper informed consent. Therefore, he believes that the corruption and lack of transparency in public health during the pandemic are of particular concern for these communities.

Thats all real and its good to hear a candidate admit. But it should be stated that if Kennedy really wants to commit to Black health and well-being, he should start, at the very least, by sticking to the facts.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Robinson has raised $2.2M this year for North Carolina governors race, but still trails Stein

Republican Lt. Gov. Mark Robinsons campaign has raised a substantial amount so far this year in his bid for governor in 2024. But hes behind Democratic candidate and current Attorney General Josh Stein in the early search for electoral dollars.

Campaign finance reports for the first six months of the year are due July 28 to state elections officials. Announced candidates this week provided previews of their fundraising.

A Robinson campaign email said that it would report raising $2.2 million during the first half of the year and holding $3.2 million in cash on hand as of June 30.

Steins campaign, which kicked off formally in January, said that it would report raising almost $6 million for the same period holding more than $8.2 million in cash.

Robinson, who held his kickoff rally for governor in April, already signaled back in late 2021 that he would run. Gubernatorial primaries happen in less than eight months, and so far Stein faces no high-profile party rival.

ALSO READ: NC Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson officially announces bid for governor, second Republican candidate

Robinson already has GOP primary competitors in State Treasurer Dale Folwell and former U.S. Rep. Mark Walker.

The Walker 4 NC campaign raised $550,000 through June 30, a spokesperson said. Walker created the campaign committee in mid-May, when he announced his bid. At that candidate kickoff, Walker said his committee would aim to raise $500,000 by the end of June.

Folwell, who announced his gubernatorial bid in March, didnt immediately provide a 2023 first-half fundraising number Friday but said he expected his campaign would report having close to $1.2 million in cash on hand.

Steins campaign said its haul in the first six months was the most ever by any gubernatorial candidate in the state at this point in the election cycle. And Robinsons campaign said his total was the most raised by any other Republican candidate for governor for a similar reporting period.

VIDEO: NC Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson officially announces bid for governor, second republican candidate




WASHINGTON  Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis tapped out top donors and burned through $7.9 million in his first six weeks as a presidential candidate, according to an NBC News analysis of his new campaign finance disclosure.

The numbers suggest, for the first time, that solvency could be a threat to DeSantis campaign, which has touted its fundraising ability as a key measure of viability. They reflect the broader reality that DeSantis stalled after his launch: polling ahead of the Republican primary pack but far behind former President Donald Trump.

In another sign of the financial strain on the campaign, DeSantis has fired a dozen staffers in what a source familiar with the move described as a cost-cutting measure, NBC News reported Saturday evening.

The irony for DeSantis is that he raised a total of $20.1 million between mid-May and the end of June, easily ahead of other Republican candidates  even Trump, whose campaign raised $17.7 million from April through June, though Trump's campaign committee did end the quarter with twice as much money to spend as DeSantis.

But more than two-thirds of DeSantis money  nearly $14 million  came from donors who gave the legal maximum and cannot donate again, NBCs analysis shows. Some of those donors gave the $3,300 limit for both the primary and general election, boosting DeSantis totals with cash that cant be used to try to defeat Trump.

DeSantis finished June with more than $12.2 million in the bank, but his filing indicates that $3 million of that can only be used in the general election. Trumps campaign ended the quarter with $22.5 million on hand.

At the same time, DeSantis spent about 40% of what he raised, in part by paying salaries to 92 people (before the staff firings). That gave him by far the biggest staff footprint of the GOP presidential candidates but also left him with the question of how he can sustain his payroll  or anything close to it  without finding new sources of revenue. Already, he is struggling to keep high-profile supporters on board.

DeSantis does have a financial edge no one else can match in the form of his super PAC, which can accept donations of unlimited size and has already taken in $130 million. But keeping a campaign humming on smaller donations can be a different matter entirely.

More broadly, Saturdays second-quarter campaign finance filing deadline showed the challenge that each of Trumps rivals has in trying to wrest the nomination from him at a time when about half of GOP primary voters say he is their top choice.

No other Republicans raised more than $6 million from donors into their campaign accounts, with North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy exceeding that number only by tapping their own personal wealth.

South Carolina Sen. Tim Scotts campaign raised almost $5.9 million, while former Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haleys campaign raised $5.3 million. And two candidates who waited until June to jump in posted lower numbers: Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie raised $1.7 million and former Vice President Mike Pence raised $1.2 million.

Their reports show a presidential field largely reluctant to invest in staffing and other major campaign expenditures, candidates having difficulty tapping small-dollar donors for big returns, and a handful of candidates already in danger of missing the Republican National Committees first debate. Heres what else we saw in the second-quarter finances.

Small campaign staffs stand out in the early going

DeSantis stands out among those who have filed their reports in having the largest campaign staff  by a mile. His 92 staffers on payroll are well above the next-largest campaign so far.

Scott reported 54 campaign staffers while Trump reported 40. Ramaswamy listed 27 people on his payroll, and Haley had 22. Former Arkasnas Gov. Asa Hutchinson had six people on staff.

Other campaigns were operating on a shoestring budget. Conservative talk radio host Larry Elder had one campaign staffer, while former Vice President Mike Pence, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, former Texas GOP Rep. Will Hurd and Miami Mayor Francis Suarez did not list anyone on their payrolls as of June 30.

Debate qualification already looking tricky for some

The reports also show how difficult it may be for many of the lower-polling candidates to hit the Republican National Committees 40,000-donor threshold to qualify for the partys first debate in August  let alone the polling threshold too.

Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, who raised just $580,000, said in a statement that his campaign had only 3,928 unique donors in the second quarter, as well as another 2,516 in the first 13 days of July. He needs six times that many to hit the threshold.

Miami Mayor Francis Suarezs reports names only 352 unique donors, and he raised less than $29,000 from unitemized donors who gave less than $200. Even if every single unitemized dollar was raised from a different unique donor (which is unlikely), Suarez still wouldnt have hit the debate threshold through June.

And former Texas Rep. Will Hurds report names only 193 unique donors, along with another $54,000 from unitemized donations.

Small dollar donor struggles

One of Trumps campaign strengths has long been his appeal to small-dollar donors. The flip side of that: His challengers are not getting much small-donor help themselves right now.

DeSantis, who raised the most of Trumps challengers in the second quarter, only saw about 14% of his total fundraising haul coming from small-dollar donors, for about $2.9 million.

Haley and Scott, who spent millions building up small-donor fundraising infrastructure before launching presidential campaigns, raised only 16% ($870,000) and 21% ($1.2 million) of their second-quarter totals from small donors, too.

Among the field of Trump challengers, former Gov. Chris Christie took in the biggest share of his total from small donors: slightly below 35%. But that still worked out to only about $571,000 of his $1.6 million haul.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Ron DeSantis campaign is facing a number of obstacles just months into the Florida governors efforts to make himself stand out among the crowded 2024 GOP field.

Over the last week, Mr DeSantis campaign has dismissed a number of staffers in an effort to trim costs just as a canvasser, working on behalf of a super PAC, has come under fire.

On Friday, a canvasser advocating for Mr DeSantis campaign through Never Back Down was captured on a Ring doorbell using vulgar language while claiming they were under the influence of drugs.

While knocking on someones door, the canvasser said if the homeowner did not respond well to his pitch for DeSantis he would tell them to eat my balls and then added he was a little stoned.

The Independent has reached out to Never Back Down for comment.

The canvasser was dismissed from the $100m field effort, Never Back Down told The Washington Post.

But the incident comes just as Mr DeSantis campaign also had to let approximately 10 staffers go in recent days, Politico first reported.

Despite cruising to re-election in Florida on a hardline conservative agenda, Mr DeSantis has struggled to gain traction in the GOP primary. He consistently trails Donald Trump in polls as the former president has increased his attacks on Mr DeSantis.

Some of the staffers may join an outside group affiliated with the DeSantis campaign, according to the report.

Campaign manager Generra Peck is under scrutiny for early staffing decisions, according to NBC News.

They never should have brought so many people on, the burn rate was way too high, a GOP source told the network. People warned the campaign manager but she wanted to hear none of it.

A DeSantis staffer has reportedly been caught on camera saying he is telling voters eat my balls if they are upset by being asked to support DeSantis. Im a little stoned, so I dont even care.



https://t.co/2lrXnVg8qZpic.twitter.com/o6l2DdYEzG  No Lie with Brian Tyler Cohen (@NoLieWithBTC) July 14, 2023

The DeSantis campaign said the moves will allow the campaign to be more nimble.

Americans are rallying behind Ron DeSantis and his plan to reverse Joe Bidens failures and restore sanity to our nation, and his momentum will only continue as voters see more of him in person, especially in Iowa, Andrew Romeo, an aide to Mr DeSantis campaign, said in a statement to The New York Times.

Defeating Joe Biden and the $72 million behind him will require a nimble and candidate-driven campaign, and we are building a movement to go the distance.

Mr DeSantis has focused his attention on Iowa in recent weeks as the crucial first-in-the-nation Iowa caucuses are less than six months away.

Paid canvassers, like the one seen in the Ring doorbell footage, went through an eight-day training course in Iowa to then begin knocking on doors.

According to The Washington Post, more than 700,000 doors have been knocked on in Iowa alone as of Thursday and canvassers have gathered 7,246 Commit to Caucus cards.

The Florida governor has even told reporters that he would consider Iowa governor Kim Reynolds as a running mate.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis 2024 presidential campaign appears to be on shaky ground amid reports hes dropping staff and switching up his media strategy.

On Saturday, Politico reported that DeSantis laid off fewer than 10 campaign employees in the events organizing department amid a noted slump in fundraising.

In the same weekend, Deadline announced the governors plans to appear on CNN, signaling a move to broaden his reach beyond conservative media outlets like Fox News, Newsmax and OAN.

DeSantis campaign was able to raise $20 million in the second quarter of this year but the pace of donations has slowed drastically since its official launch in late May, leading insiders to tell NBC News the campaign hired too many staffers too early. Further fueling worries are his weak numbers in low-dollar donors, a grassroots demographic Donald Trump has come to rely on.

Ron DeSantis' presidential campaign appears to be cutting some staff and shifting its media strategy.

Ron DeSantis' presidential campaign appears to be cutting some staff and shifting its media strategy.

The site reported DeSantis had 92 people on payroll during the reporting period, a significant amount more than the staff of his fellow campaigns. In addition to the handful of laid-off staffers, two senior campaign employees left for positions at a pro-DeSantis nonprofit organization.

The governor has struggled to compete with Trumps popularity and war chest, which reportedly stands around $22 million, according to filings with the Federal Election Commission. A survey last week from pollster Morning Consult showed 56% of Republican voters favoring Trump compared with 17% favoring DeSantis.

DeSantis evolving media strategy was first laid out by insiders who spoke to The Wall Street Journal, claiming the candidate will better connect with voters when they learn more about his policies, as well as his modest upbringing, service in the Navy and family life.

DeSantis, who has repeatedly accused corporate press of pursuing a political agenda, will appear for an interview on CNNs The Lead With Jake Tapper on Tuesday, following a campaign event in Columbia, South Carolina.

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KUALA LUMPUR, July 16 (Xinhua) -- NATO's existence and expansion after the Cold War has put world peace and stability at risk, said a leading Malaysian analyst.

Having outlasted its original purpose, the continuation of NATO is having a destabilizing effect on global affairs as the bloc seeks to remain relevant in the emerging multipolar world, Lee Pei May, a political expert at the International Islamic University Malaysia, told Xinhua in a recent interview.

The military alliance, though formed with European partners, has fully become subservient to the will of the United States, which acts unilaterally while expecting the quiet compliance of other member states, she said.

"We are increasingly seeing how NATO has evolved to serve the interests not of all the members but specific members, such as the United States. Therefore, NATO can no longer provide the kind of stability through collective defense that other members desire, but has instead become a tool used by the United States to maintain its preeminent position," she said following the NATO Summit in Vilnius, the Lithuanian capital, which framed China as a "systemic challenge to Euro-Atlantic security."

Lee said NATO's continued confrontational rhetoric has not only been directed against its perceived enemies in Europe but has now spilled over into Asia, with the U.S.-led alliance posturing itself against China, putting international trade and economic cooperation in jeopardy.

Moves to pressure members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) would also have detrimental effects on the region should member states cave in and begin to take sides against China, a key trading partner, Lee added.

NATO's singling out of China as an adversary has drawn backlash. Critics described NATO's latest divisive rhetoric as a product of Cold War mentality and ideological bias, and cautioned that NATO's expansion and responses to the Ukraine crisis could potentially jeopardize global security, and may undermine the non-aligned and neutral status of certain countries.

Urging ASEAN to instead maintain its centrality and neutrality and focus on economic and trade development, Lee said ASEAN members are eligible to voice their concerns and maintain their position by rejecting attempts to draw them into any alliance.

Painting China as an aggressive power is sheer fearmongering, which "gives a false sense of insecurity to Asian countries and its citizens," she said, adding that NATO's senseless warmongering may prompt countries to "prioritize increasing their military expenditure and engage in arms race when there is no actual threat."

"Countries also became skeptical of each other's intentions and became less likely to explore new areas of cooperation except for security reasons. We can see the impact of this uncertainty on global growth as investors and businesses are reluctant to invest and expand," she said. 
Ron DeSantis presidential campaign has fired roughly a dozen staffers  and more dismissals are expected in the coming weeks as he shakes up his big-money political operations after less than two months on the campaign trail.

A source familiar with the firings described those who were let go as mid-level staffers across several departments whose departures were related to cutting costs. The exits come after the departures of David Abrams and Tucker Obenshain, veterans of DeSantis political orbit, which were first reported by Politico.

Sources involved with the DeSantis campaign say there is an internal assessment among some that it hired too many staffers too early and that despite having brought in $20 million during its first six weeks, it was becoming clear that costs needed to be brought down.

Some in DeSantis political orbit lay the early blame at the feet of campaign manager Generra Peck, who also led DeSantis 2022 midterm re-election bid and is in the hot seat right now.

She should be, a DeSantis donor said.

A Republican source familiar with the campaigns thought process said: They never should have brought so many people on. The burn rate was way too high. People warned the campaign manager, but she wanted to hear none of it.

The donor said: DeSantis stock isnt rising. Twenty percent is not what people signed up for.

The person noted that DeSantis has a penchant for switching out staffers, which means he has no core team that has worked together before. DeSantis had three different campaign teams for each of his three runs for Congress, and he notably had a huge campaign shakeup during his first run for governor in 2018.

"Americans are rallying behind Ron DeSantis and his plan to reverse Joe Bidens failures and restore sanity to our nation, and his momentum will only continue as voters see more of him in-person, especially in Iowa. Defeating Joe Biden and the $72 million behind him will require a nimble and candidate driven campaign, and we are building a movement to go the distance," DeSantis campaign spokesman Andrew Romeo said in a statement.

DeSantis campaign listed 92 people as being on the payroll for at least some period during its first fundraising period, according to campaign finance reports filed Saturday with the Federal Election Commission. It is by far the most of any Republican presidential candidate, and it has left his campaign with huge payroll expenses and, the new filings show, fewer resources than originally thought.

DeSantis has $12 million in the bank, but $3 million of that can be used only during the general election. And about $14 million of his second-quarter haul came from donors who gave the maximum legal amount. In other words, about two-thirds of his early donors will not be able to give directly to his campaign for the rest of the race.

Never Back Down, the pro-DeSantis super PAC, which has a significantly larger staff than the official campaign, has said it will spend up to $200 million to boost his White House bid.

A national finance committee meeting Sunday in Tallahassee will bring the campaigns brain trust together as they try to figure out how to chip into former President Donald Trumps massive GOP primary lead.

The event will include a briefing at the campaigns Tallahassee headquarters, followed by a barbecue at the Governors Mansion, according to an invitation reviewed by NBC News.

DeSantis has been unable to make up ground against Trump after nearly two months as an official candidate. The stagnation is starting to frustrate some supporters, who want a shakeup of the campaign, which is led day to day by Peck and Ryan Tyson, a longtime Republican Florida pollster.

Yeah, there are people grumbling about it, no doubt, a DeSantis donor said. There is an overall sense, including with me, that he just has not ignited the way we thought he would.

The person said DeSantis inner circle underestimated just how hard  and expensive  it would be to break the grip on the Republican base held by Trump, who has a commanding lead and is seen as the overwhelming front-runner. Even in Florida, which re-elected DeSantis by nearly 20 percentage points just seven months ago, Trump now has a 20-point lead over him, according to a Florida Atlantic University poll released last week.

The shake-up could include the re-emergence of Phil Cox, the veteran Republican operative who helped run DeSantis' 2022 re-election campaign and was an adviser to Never Back Down before he stepped away from the role in late May.

Cox is in Tallahassee for the national finance meeting, but he does not have a formal role with the campaign, a source said.

DeSantis has signaled that he is aware his campaign did not start the way he wanted, and he has largely blamed media coverage and other outside factors.

To try to re-center, his campaign is doubling down on the early states, especially Iowa, whose first-in-the-nation nominating contest is now seen as a crucial marker. If DeSantis wins, the field will get smaller and he will get closer to the one-on-one matchup with Trump that he wants. But losing the key state would most likely cement Trump's status as the unbeatable front-runner even further.

That assessment was outlined in a confidential internal memo NBC News obtained Friday describing the campaigns strategy to regain its footing. The memo indicated that there would be a heavy focus on early states where, DeSantis advisers think, Trumps supporters can be won over.

Early state voters are only softly committed to the candidates they select on a ballot question this far out -- including many Trump supporters, read the memo. Our focus group participants in the early states even say they do not plan on making up their mind until they meet the candidates or watch them debate.

Never Back Down is bolstering those efforts, focusing on both early states and a handful of Super Tuesday states  most notably California  where it is expected to hire about 80 organizers in the near future.

For some supporters, though, there are now three keys to DeSantis remaining viable: Iowa, Iowa, Iowa.

They need to treat it like its all that matters right now, the DeSantis donor said. If Trump wins it, it is over. It means he needs to be there a lot. He needs to do all the retail politics he can.

The person said that DeSantis wife, Casey, is a great asset in the sort of retail politicking needed to win Iowa but that DeSantis himself needs to improve.

He needs to find that gear, the person said. He needs to find it fast.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Ron DeSantis campaign has let go of several staff members just two months into it hitting the campaign trail while it deals with bleeding cash in its effort to stave off Donald Trumps lead for a Republican presidential nomination bid.

According to NBC News, in the campaigns first six weeks, he had already hit all the top donors and bled through $7.9 million as a presidential candidate, according to the data the network analyzed from his campaign finance disclosure.

Beyond the cash woes, the staff shakeup included about a dozen mid-level staffers from several departments who were fired amid the campaigns cashflow issues. The firings come as DeSantis has struggled in meeting its fundraising goals. DeSantis had raised $20 million, with $3 million dedicated to the general election. However, two-thirds of the funds came from donors who gave the maximum amount allowed legally, meaning they cannot donate more to him. Only 15 percent of DeSantis donations came from small donors, an area where Trump has succeeded in shoring up his donations.

Sources told NBC News that despite the $20 million, the campaign had taken on too many staffers early in the process, and costs needed to be cut down.

They never should have brought so many people on, the burn rate was way too high, one Republican source familiar with the campaigns thought process told the network. People warned the campaign manager [Generra Peck] but she wanted to hear none of it.

In the second quarter, DeSantis had already spent $1 million on payroll, payroll taxes, and associated fees with 90 staffers on board. It is the largest staff of any of the Republican candidates, and left the campaign with less resources than it anticipated.

Despite the shakeup, DeSantis spokesman Andrew Romeo told NBC News, Americans are rallying behind Ron DeSantis and his plan to reverse Joe Bidens failures and restore sanity to our nation, and his momentum will only continue as voters see more of him in-person, especially in Iowa. Defeating Joe Biden and the $72 million behind him will require a nimble and candidate driven campaign, and we are building a movement to go the distance.

Pro-DeSantis super PAC Never Back Down said it would spend up to $200 million on the governors presidential campaign; it has already raised more than $100 million, as Politico notes. And DeSantis is still in second place behind Trump in the GOP Primary.

Iowa is now the focus, according to some supporters, and DeSantis is expected to campaign heavily in the state. Though he is trailing in polls in Iowa, his advisers told Politico that he may have a bit of an advantage right now after Trump attacked the states popular Republican governor, Kim Reynolds, for remaining neutral about the candidates.

Donald Trump gave us an opening in Iowa this week, and were taking it, Romeo told Politico.

The news comes on the heels of the Murdoch family, conservative-media kingmakers who were originally in DeSantis corner, growing increasingly displeased with DeSantis campaigns perceived stumbles, lackluster polling, and inability to swiftly dethrone Trump, multiple sources told Rolling Stone.

[Ruperts] understandable worry is that we may end up being stuck with Trump anyway, a senior Fox source said. And DeSantis is underperforming. Anybody can see that  [and the Murdochs], theyre seeing it, too.

More from Rolling Stone

Best of Rolling Stone

Click here to read the full article.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis John Tully for The Washington Post via Getty Images

Veterans say they quit Ron DeSantis's State Guard because training became too militaristic.

One recruit accused the guard of becoming "a militia," per the Miami Herald and Tampa Bay Times.

Democrats have previously questioned the Florida governor's motives for the organization.

Veterans who were part of Ron DeSantis's new State Guard say they quit the program when training became too militaristic, according to an investigation by the Miami Herald and Tampa Bay Times.

DeSantis reestablished the Florida state guard in June 2022, promoting it as a civilian disaster relief force in a "natural disaster-prone state." However, volunteers say when they showed up at camp, they were trained for combat, per the report.

Brian Newhouse, a 20-year retired Navy veteran who was chosen as a lead for one of the guard's divisions, accused the program of being "hijacked" and turned into "a militia." He told the news outlet he was escorted off the base on the first day of training after raising complaints.

Two other veterans, who asked not to be named in the report, said they quit after having similar concerns the organization was deviating from its earlier mission.

Florida's State Guard was originally created in 1941 to support the Florida National Guard during World War II, but the unit was disbanded in 1947.

Unlike the National Guard, which takes orders from the federal government, the State Guard is under the direct control of the governor.

The budget for the State Guard has spiraled to $89 million

Democrats have previously questioned the Florida governor's motives for reestablishing an organization that only answers to him. Former governor and political rival, Charlie Crist, once called the organization DeSantis's "handpicked secret police."

Representatives for DeSantis did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment, made outside normal working hours.

In a statement shared with the Miami Herald and Tampa Bay Times, major general John D. Haas, who oversees the Florida National Guard, called the state guard a "military organization" that would also be used for "aiding law enforcement with riots and illegal immigration."

"We are aware that some trainees who were removed are dissatisfied," Haas said in the statement shared with the outlet. "This is to be expected with any course that demands rigor and discipline."

The program has also faced an abuse allegation reported to the local sheriff's office by a disabled retired marine captain. The former captain accused Florida national guard instructors of forcing him into a van after he expressed concerns over the program and its leadership, according to the Miami Herald and Tampa Bay Times.

Newhouse told the news outlet that he didn't think the governor was aware of exactly what was going on within the camp. He told the outlet DeSantis "would be appalled that a disabled veteran would be abused by other military members."

Meanwhile, the budget for the State Guard has spiraled from $10 million to $89 million, to help boost its size to 1,500 members In March, state lawmakers and the governor revealed they wanted a specialized unit within the guard to have police powers and the ability to carry weapons. Its emergency response remit was also expanded to "protect and defend the people of Florida from threats to public safety," per the Miami Herald.

DeSantis is currently in the midst of a presidential campaign with hopes to beat out former US president Donald Trump. However, the Florida governor has been struggling to make up ground against Trump after nearly two months of campaigning.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Rudy Giuliani made a bizarre appearance at the suspected Gilgo Beach serial killers home as investigators searched it following his arrest.

The former New York mayor was driven up to the property of suspect Rex Heuermann on Long Island as investigators continued to comb through it and remove items on Saturday.

Donald Trumps former personal lawyer sat in his car and chatted with police officers outside the property in the Massapequa Park neighbourhood before driving away.

Rudy Giuliani speaks with reporters as he departs the federal courthouse, May 19, 2023, in Washington. (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

A spokesperson for Mr Giuliani told The New York Post that he was there to cover the case as part of a new livestream show.

Mayor Rudy Giulianione of the most effective federal prosecutors in American history  was on scene to cover this heinous crime as part of his hit new livestream show, Americas Mayor Live, said Ted Goodman, Giulianis political advisor.

The mayor commends all involved in the case, but knows there is still work to be done in order to deliver justice.

Mr Heuermann, 59, has pleaded not guilty to three counts of murder in the first degree and three in the second degree over the deaths of Megan Waterman, Melissa Barthelemy and Amber Costello.

New York State police officers carry out a large item as law enforcement searches the home of Rex Heuermann, Saturday, July 15, 2023, in Massapequa Park, N.Y. (AP)

The women are among the Gilgo Four whose bodies were found along a stretch of Ocean Parkway in Long Island in 2010.

Court documents state that Mr Heuermann is also the prime suspect in the murder of the fourth woman in that group, Maureen Brainard-Barnes, though he is not facing charges related to her death.

This booking image provided by Suffolk County Sheriffas Office, shows Rex Heuermann, a Long Island architect who was charged Friday, July 14, 2023, with murder in the deaths of three of the 11 victims in a long-unsolved string of killings known as the Gilgo Beach murders. (AP)

Mr Heuermann, a Manhattan architect who lives in Long Islands Nassau County, just across the bay from the location the bodies were discovered, was arrested on Friday.

He was taken into custody more than a decade after the first set of remains was discovered on Gilgo Beach in Suffolk County.

The remains of 11 victims have so far been discovered, and investigations into the other deaths are ongoing.
Russia claims it destroyed a fleet of Ukrainian air and sea attack drones in a double-punch attack on a key navy base in Crimea

Russia claims it destroyed a fleet of Ukrainian air and sea attack drones in a double-punch attack on a key navy base in Crimea

Naval drones targeted the port of Sevastopol, where Russia's Black Sea Fleet is based, according to Russian officials.. Ulf Mauder/Getty Images

Russia destroyed a fleet of Ukrainian attack drones near Sevastopol, its defense ministry said.

Russian authorities said the attack consisted of seven aerial and two underwater drones on Sunday.

There were no casualties or damages as a result of the strike, according to the ministry.

Russia has destroyed a fleet of Ukrainian drones that attacked from air and sea, near Sevastopol, the location of a key naval base, according to Russia's defense ministry.

The Sunday morning attack near the Black Sea port resulted in no casualties or damage, the ministry said via the Telegram messaging app. Russian authorities called the strike a "terrorist attack" consisting of seven aerial and two underwater drones.

The ministry said in the Telegram post: "This morning, an attempt by the Kyiv regime to carry out a terrorist attack by seven unmanned aerial vehicles and two unmanned underwater vehicles on objects on the territory of the Crimean Peninsula near the city of Sevastopol was thwarted."

The ministry added that two aerial drones were destroyed over the Black Sea a "great distance from the coastline," and five others were intercepted by electronic warfare equipment. Two more underwater drones were detected and destroyed in the northern part of the Black Sea, according to Russian authorities.

There was no immediate comment from Ukraine. However, the country rarely claims responsibility for attacks inside Russia or Russia-controlled territories, per Reuters.

In an earlier post, Mikhail Razvozhayev, the Russian-installed governor of Sevastopol, said the attacks occurred over the sea in the area of Cape Khersones as well as in Sevastopol Bay and Balaklava.

"No objects, either in the city or in the water area, were damaged," he said in a Telegram message, adding: "All is calm in the city now."

Some transport in the area, such as passenger ferries, were suspended in the early hours of Sunday morning, authorities said.

Since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, Russian officials have accused the country of carrying out multiple attacks on Sevastopol. The city is located in the Crimean Peninsula, which was annexed by Russia in 2014.

In April, Razvozhayev said via a Telegram message that Russia's naval base in Sevastopol was attacked by exploding sea drones. The minister said at the time, no one was injured during the strike, and Russian forces destroyed one sea drone while a second exploded on its own.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Russia launches four S-300 missiles at Kharkiv at night

Russia launches four S-300 missiles at Kharkiv at night

Russia launched four S-300 missiles from its Belgorod Oblast during the night, targeting Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city in the northeast, Kharkiv Oblast Governor Oleh Synegubov said on Telegram on July 16.

According to the Military Administration of the Oblast, two missiles exploded in the air, while the remaining two hit the ground. One missile struck a stadium, while the other landed on a road in Kharkiv's Shevchenkivskyi district.

Read also: Russians destroy railway station in Kharkiv Oblast with artillery  photo

The consequences of the attack included shattered windows in a four-story building and damage to vehicles. Fortunately, no casualties were reported.

The National Police and the Prosecutor's Office in Kharkiv Oblast shared photos of craters and damages after the attack.



Kharkiv Regional Prosecutor's Office

Kharkiv Regional Prosecutor's Office

Kharkiv Regional Prosecutor's Office

Kharkiv Regional Prosecutor's Office

Kharkiv Regional Prosecutor's Office

The local authorities also reported that the enemy continued to shell several districts of Kharkiv Oblast, including Bohodukhiv, Chuhuyiv, Kupyansk, and Kharkivsky. Mortar fire and artillery were used to target border and frontline settlements.

Regrettably, a tragic incident occurred in the village of Kolodyazne in the Kupyansk district, where shelling killed a 33-year-old civilian man and another man was injured.

Read also:

Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron!

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Russia loses two companies on Tavriia front over past 24 hours  Commander of Tavriia Group of Forces

Russian forces lost 2 companies of troops, 6 pieces of equipment and 3 ammunition storage points on the Tavriia front (Ukraine's south) on 15 July.

Source: Brigadier General Oleksandr Tarnavskyi, Commander of the Tavriia Operational and Strategic Group of Forces, on Telegram

Quote: "The enemy's losses in killed and wounded over the past 24 hours amounted to more than two companies.

Six units of enemys military equipment have been destroyed. In particular, two armoured combat vehicles, a Murom-M long-range visual surveillance system, a Pole-21 electronic warfare system, and motor vehicles.

Three enemy ammunition storage points were also destroyed."

Details: Furthermore, Tarnavskyi said that over the past day [14 July  ed.] on the Tavriia front, the Russian forces attacked Ukrainian positions 16 times and carried out 536 strikes, while artillery units of the Ukrainian Defence Forces conducted 1296 fire missions.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
Russia moves to ban iPhones for government officials after claiming they were hacked by the US

A woman walks past a store advertising a new Apple iPhone 14 Pro at a shopping mall in Moscow, Russia. Getty Images

Russian government ministries are beginning to ban officials from using Apple iPhones.

Russia's trade ministry will impose a ban starting Monday, the Financial Times reported.

The move comes after Russia accused Apple of collaborating with US intelligence agencies.

Russian officials are being told to quit using iPhones after the country's intelligence service, without proof, accused Apple of helping the US government conduct espionage operations.

Beginning July 17, employees at Russia's trade ministry will no longer be allowed to use iPhones on the job, the Financial Times reported. At least one other ministry plans to follow suit, the outlet reported, as does the state oil company, Rostec.

In March, the Kremlin told officials to stop using Apple products, citing fears they were vulnerable to US hacking. Then, in June, the Russian government accused Apple of working with US intelligence agencies  a claim the company flatly denies  after a cybersecurity firm said iPhones running older versions of iOS had been infected with malware, The Washington Post reported, making them vulnerable to eavesdropping.

However, Russia's Federal Security Service, or FSB, has provided no evidence to support the claim and independent security experts have found no signs Apple has built in a "backdoor" exception to the device's encryption.

That's not to say there were no real security flaws. Following the Russian claims, Apple announced patches to its iOS software, crediting researchers at the Moscow-based Kaspersky Lab with identifying vulnerabilities.

The bans on official use will not impact regular consumers. Apple pulled out of the Russian market following last year's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. But the company's products continue to be imported from other countries. Russia's largest cellphone provider, MTS, lists the iPhone 14 as available for just over $1,200; a similar model, in the US, retails for $999.

Have a news tip? Email this reporter: cdavis@insider.com

Read the original article on Business Insider
Second fire at Russian Defence Ministry facility in Bryansk in a month

A fire has broken out at a hospital for veterans under construction in Bryansk, Russia, for the second time in a month. Thick black smoke was visible above it.

Source: Kremlin-aligned news agency RIA Novosti with reference to the authorities of the region; Mash and ASTRA Telegram channels

Details: Russian Telegram channels have reported another fire at a Russian Defence Ministry facility  a hospital for veterans under construction in Bryansk.

They posted videos showing thick black smoke rising above it.

According to the Mash channel, one possible reason for the fire is a UAV attack.

However, RIA Novosti, citing the regional authorities, said that construction waste had caught fire at the hospital construction site and claimed the fire was extinguished before firefighters arrived.

Background: The previous fire at this facility occurred on 18 June.

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The Russian troops attacked the city of Kharkiv with S-300 missiles on the night of 16 July, causing minor damage but no casualties, said Oleh Syniehubov, Head of the Kharkiv Oblast Military Administration.

Source: Syniehubov on Telegram

Details: The Russian invaders fired four S-300 missiles on Kharkiv from the territory of Russias Belgorod Oblast at about 01:30.

Two missiles exploded mid-air, while two other missiles hit the ground at a stadium and the road surface in the Shevchenkivskyi district.

Windows have been smashed in a four-storey building.

Preliminary reports indicate no people have been injured.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
ISLAMABAD, July 16 (Xinhua) -- The Special Economic Zone (SEZ) under the framework of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) in Pakistan's southern Sindh province is to ensure the socio-economic development of Pakistan, Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said.

The SEZ will pave the way for industrialization in Pakistan by enhancing public-private collaboration and business-to-business cooperation between Chinese and Pakistani businessmen, Zardari said while speaking at a ceremony held in the Dhabeji SEZ in Sindh on Saturday.

He said that in the past public-private partnership including the Thar coal power project of CPEC showed good results, and the SEZ will also be a good addition to the partnership.

Zardari added that the project will generate over 100,000 jobs for locals by creating a network of industries in Sindh province.

Speaking at the event, Chief Minister of Sindh Syed Murad Ali Shah said that the SEZ covers an area of 700 acres, providing ample space for national and foreign investors to establish business units.

The investors who choose to set up their businesses in the SEZ will qualify for a tax exemption spanning 10 years and will be able to import machinery for their business needs without any duty, he added.

He emphasized that being 46 km from the Karachi airport, the SEZ will guarantee secure travel for foreign businessmen and administration.

Launched in 2013, CPEC is a corridor linking the Gwadar port in southwestern Pakistan with Kashgar in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, which highlights energy, transport and industrial cooperation. 
Russian troops are striking the city of Kharkiv for the third time in a day.

Source: Oleh Syniehubov, Head of Kharkiv Oblast Military Administration, Ihor Terekhov, Mayor of Kharkiv on Telegram

Quote from Syniehubov: "The invaders are again attacking Kharkiv Oblast. Stay in shelters!"

Quote from Terekhov: "The city is under attack According to preliminary information, another shelling of the Osnovianskyi district."

Details: An air-raid warning has been issued in Kharkiv Oblast, as well as in a number of other oblasts.

Later, the air-raid alarm ceased. The consequences of the strike have not yet been reported.

Background: On Sunday evening, Russian troops struck the city of Kharkiv for the second time in a day, hitting the Osnovianskyi district. Oleh Syniehubov, Head of Kharkiv Oblast Military Administration, reported that four people were injured in the attack. Ihor Terekhov, Mayor of Kharkiv, reported about seven victims.

Later, the Prosecutor General's Office clarified that one person was killed and three more injured in the Russian missile strike on the city of Kharkiv on Sunday evening, all of them employees of an industrial enterprise.

Before that, the Russian troops attacked the city of Kharkiv with S-300 missiles on the night of 15-16 July, causing minor damage but no casualties.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!






Russians attack Kharkiv second time in one day, 7 injured

On Sunday evening, Russian troops have struck the city of Kharkiv again, seven people are known to have been injured.

Source: Oleh Syniehubov, Head of Kharkiv Oblast Military Administration, Ihor Terekhov, Mayor of Kharkiv, on Telegram

Quote from Syniehubov: "The invaders attacked Kharkiv.

Necessary services have arrived at the scene. Information about the damage and victims is being established."

Details: Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov stated that early reports indicate that the Osnovianskyi district was hit.

Later, Syniehubov confirmed that the invaders had struck the Osnovianskyi district of Kharkiv. Early reports show that there are four casualties.

A fire broke out at the site of the hit.

At 19:50, Terekhov reported that there are already seven injured, and there is also unconfirmed information about one dead person.

In turn, Synegubov reported at 20:08 that medics hospitalised three men with shrapnel wounds, and one person was treated on the spot. There are no fatalities.

Background: The Russian troops attacked the city of Kharkiv with S-300 missiles on the night of 16 July, causing minor damage but no casualties.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!






During the day, Russian troops have launched 6 missile- and 38 airstrikes on the territory of Ukraine, and carried out about 30 attacks from multiple-launch missile systems on the positions of Ukrainian troops and settlements.

Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Facebook, information as of 18:00 on 16 July

Details: During the day, the Russians inflicted 6 missile- and 38 airstrikes and carried out about 30 attacks from multiple-launch missile systems on the positions of Ukrainian forces and settlements. As a result of Russian terrorist attacks, civilians were injured, residential, commercial and administrative buildings damaged, and private road transport was damaged as well. The probability of missile and air strikes throughout Ukraine remains high.

Russian forces continue focusing their main efforts on the Kupiansk, Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka and Marinka fronts, with heavy battles continuing. Over 20 combat clashes took place on these fronts over the past day.

On the Volyn and Polissia fronts, the operational situation is without significant changes. There are no signs of formation of offensive groups.

On the Sivershchyna and Slobozhanshchyna fronts, the Russians maintained a military presence. During the day, they inflicted an airstrike in the area of the village of Shpyl, Sumy Oblast. Mortar and artillery attacks were recorded in over 20 settlements, in particular, Stepne, Popivka, Kozache in Sumy Oblast, as well as Basove, Vysoka Yaruha, Ternova, Vovchansk in Kharkiv Oblast.

On the Kupiansk front, Ukrainian forces steadfastly hold the defence. During the day, the Russians conducted unsuccessful offensive operations south of Masiutivka and launched an airstrike in the area of Kyslivka in Kharkiv Oblast. Kamianka, Novomlynsk, Dvorichna, Kupiansk, Kyslivka of Kharkiv Oblast were subjected to artillery and mortar attacks.

On the Lyman front, the Russian forces conducted unsuccessful offensive operations east of the settlement of Vesele in Donetsk Oblast. They inflicted air strikes in the areas of Bilohorivka, Luhansk Oblast, and Siversk in Donetsk Oblast. The settlements of Nevske, Bilohorivka in Luhansk Oblast and Torske, Spirne, Rozdolivka in Donetsk Oblast were subjected to artillery shelling.

On the Bakhmut front, Ukrainian defenders successfully repelled all attacks in the areas of Orikhovo-Vasylivka, Hryhorivka and Ivanivske in Donetsk Oblast. In addition, the Russians made attempts to restore lost positions northwest of Kurdiumivka, Donetsk Oblast, but were unsuccessful. An airstrike was recorded near Pivnichne. Over 10 settlements were affected by artillery shelling, including Vasiukivka, Bohdanivka, Chasiv Yar, Bila Hora, Druzhba in Donetsk Oblast.

On the Avdiivka front, the Russians launched an airstrike near Avdiivka. At the same time, they shelled more than 10 settlements, including Avdiivka, Pervomaiske and Nevelske in Donetsk Oblast.

On the Marinka front, the Ukrainian forces continue to hold back the offensive of Russian troops in the vicinity of Marinka. The Russians fired at more than 10 settlements, including Krasnohorivka, Marinka and Heorhiivka in Donetsk Oblast.

On the Shakhtarsk front, the Russians made an unsuccessful attempt to recapture lost positions in the northern part of Staromaiorske, Donetsk Oblast. They inflicted airstrikes in the areas of Vremivka, Blahodatne and Makarivka, Donetsk Oblast. The settlements of Paraskoviivka, Novomykhailivka, Vuhledar, Zolota Nyva, Velyka Novosilka and Blahodatne were subjected to Russian attacks.

On the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson fronts, the Russians are concentrating their main efforts on preventing the further advance of Ukrainian troops. An airstrike was carried out in the area of Stepove, Zaporizhzhia Oblast. Artillery shelling was recorded in over 15 settlements, including Malynivka, Huliaipole, Charivne in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, as well as Dudchany, Kozatske, Ivanivka, Antonivka, Berehove, Kizomys in Kherson Oblast and the city of Kherson.

The Armed Forces of Ukraine continue to conduct an offensive operation on the Melitopol and Berdiansk fronts, are gaining a foothold on the achieved borders, and carry out counter-battery measures.

The Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine inflicted 15 strikes on areas of concentration of Russian personnel, weapons and military equipment, one of which targeted a Russian anti-aircraft missile system.

Units of Rocket Forces and Artillery struck a cluster of Russian personnel, weapons and military equipment, 9 artillery in firing positions and 2 air defence systems.

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On the night of 15-16 July, explosions occurred in Russian-occupied Sevastopol, and the occupiers have claimed that the city's air defence was activated.

Source: Vladimir Rogov, an occupation administration representative in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, on Telegram; Mikhail Razvozhayev, the so-called governor of Sevastopol, on Telegram; Shot, a Russian Telegram channel

Quote grom Rogov: "It's loud in Sevastopol!

Sevastopol is reporting on the work of the air defence of the Russian Armed Forces. This has occurred at least twice."

Details: The Shot Telegram channel has also reported loud explosions in the city.

"Residents of Sevastopol are reporting loud explosions over the city. The air defence system was preliminarily activated," they added.

According to Shot, at least two strong explosions were heard in the area of Sevastopol Bay.

Later, the information about the explosions in Sevastopol was confirmed by the occupation authorities of the city.

"Air defence forces and the navy are repelling an attack by enemy UAVs on Sevastopol over the sea near the town of Khersones, in the area of Sevastopol Bay and Balaklava," Razvozhayev said.

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A local resident has been killed in a Russian attack on Beryslav hromada [an administrative unit designating a town, village or several villages and their adjacent territories  ed.] in Kherson Oblast on Sunday, 16 July.

Source: Office of the Prosecutor General on Telegram

Quote: "On 16 July 2023, at about 20:00, the invaders fired on a settlement in the Beryslav territorial hromada.

During the enemy attack, a local resident received injuries incompatible with life. Information on the casualties is being established.

Early reports indicate that the Russian military launched two air strikes with guided missiles."

Details: It is reported that five other civilians were injured in Russian attacks on Kherson Oblast during the day, including two children.

Later, Oleksandr Prokudin, Head of the Kherson Oblast Military Administration, clarified that the Russians fired guided missiles on Zmiivka in the evening. As a result of the attack, a 70-year-old woman received injuries incompatible with life. She died on the spot.

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SAN DIEGO  Southern California lifeguards said they spotted at least three juvenile great white sharks off the coast Black's Beach on Friday and are warning beachgoers to exercise caution in the area.

The San Diego-Fire-Rescue Department posted a photo to the agencys Facebook page of a sign that was to be temporarily installed on the beach warning of the marine life.

According to the agency, the sharks were feeding on the carcass of a sea lion and were not exhibiting aggressive behavior.

There have been no other reported sightings of the sharks that were thought to the 6, 8 and 9 feet long.

THESE ARE THE MOST DANGEROUS BEACHES IN AMERICA

Shark warning sign along Blacks Beach in California

According to the San Diego Tourism Authority, the area is famous for being one of the largest nude beaches in North America and is known for its giant swells.

Swimming is not generally recommended year-round due to rough surf conditions created by cliffs.

Locals said the powerful waves make the beach a destination for experienced surfers, especially during the winter.

The beach is less than five miles away from the site of Californias most recent shark attack, which happened in 2022.

In November, Lyn Jutronich told San Diego's FOX5 she was finishing her weekly swim at Del Mar Beach when she was rammed by a shark that clamped down on her thigh. At the time, lifeguards believed the marine animal was also a juvenile great white.

According to experts at Cal State Long Beach, sightings of great white sharks off of California are common as the coast provides an ideal nursery habitat, especially during the summer and fall months.

NEW YORK INCREASES SHARK SURVEILLANCE AT BEACHES THIS SUMMER
Safe Street Rebel, a group of anonymous anti-car activists, protests the spread of driverless taxis (Josh Edelson)

A driverless taxi slows down on a dark San Francisco street and is quickly surrounded by a group of masked figures.

One of them places a traffic cone on the hood of the car. Its hazard lights flick on, and the car stops in the middle of the road, disabled.

This bizarre scene has been repeated dozens of times across the US tech capital this past week -- the work of activists protesting against the proliferation of robot cars, which they consider unsafe.

"We believe that all cars are bad, no matter who or what is driving," said the activist, who asked to be referred to by the pseudonym Alex to protect his identity.

His anti-car activist group, "Safe Street Rebel," is radically pro-pedestrian and pro-bike, and not impressed by widespread claims that driverless cars are a "new revolutionary mode of transportation."

Alex sees their arrival "just as another way to entrench car dominance."

Using traffic cones stolen from the streets, the activists have been disabling driverless taxis operated by Waymo and Cruise -- the only two companies currently authorized in San Francisco.

Their resistance has gone viral online, racking up millions of views on social networks at a time when state authorities are mulling the expansion of driverless taxi operations in the city to a full 24-hour paid service.

The proposal by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), which oversees autonomous taxis in the state, would allow Waymo and Cruise to directly compete with ride-sharing apps such as Uber or Lyft -- but without drivers.

- 'Hasty decision' -

But the issue has caused friction between state and city officials.

Driverless cars were first introduced in San Francisco in 2014 with a mandatory human "safety driver" on board.

Four years later, California scrapped its requirement for a human driver to be in the car, meaning it is no longer the stuff of sci-fi to cruise past a Jaguar without a driver on the streets.

But lately, San Francisco officials are worried by an increasing number of incidents involving autonomous cars.

Allowing robots to take the wheel has led to cars getting stuck in the middle of roads, blocking bus lanes or even interfering in a police crime scene.

No fatal accidents involving humans and Cruise or Waymo vehicles have been recorded, though a Waymo taxi was reported in June to have killed a dog that ran into the street.

City supervisor Aaron Peskin condemned the CPUC's "hasty decision" to allow a "massive ramp-up" of driverless taxis on San Francisco's streets.

The San Francisco County Transportation Authority sent a letter to the CPUC, detailing 92 incidents involving autonomous taxis last year.

And the mounting controversy seems to be having some effect.

A critical decision by the CPUC on whether to further expand Waymo and Cruise's services was due by the end of June, but has been postponed twice, now to August 10.

For now, Cruise is only authorized to charge customers for routes driven between 10 pm and 6 am. Waymo cannot charge for rides without a human driver on board.

Still, even with these experimental schemes, the two companies have built up loyal customer bases.

- Safety concerns -

Jaeden Sterling rides in a robo-taxi every day.

"I use them mostly for convenience and safety," the 18-year-old, who uses they/them pronouns, explained.

From the backseat of the Waymo, they watch the car's software detect other vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists in real time.

They said they feel more secure riding with a self-driving car than with other services such as Uber or Lyft.

"A lot of the time, (those) drivers feel rushed because their pay is based on the number of rides they're taking, so they may drive unsafe," Sterling said, adding that they see self-driving cars' frequent stops as a sign of the vehicles' caution.

Driverless cars' safety records are the main marketing argument for their manufactuers.

Waymo has had "no collisions involving pedestrians or cyclists" in "over a million miles of fully autonomous operations," the company told AFP, while "every vehicle-to-vehicle collision involved rule violations or dangerous behavior on the part of the human drivers."

But some local residents remain wary.

Cyrus Hall, a 43-year-old software engineer, worries about what could happen if a glitch shows up in a car's computer system.

He sees the vehicles' previous incidents as foreboding warnings that shouldn't be ignored.

"If they go to full service, and they scale (glitchy software) up, that's a much harder battle than making sure that we have a good regulatory framework in place now," he said.

str-rfo/amz/caw/acb
Oleksandr Kubrakov during the event

Ukraine will first rebuild facilities of the educational and healthcare sectors in its liberated territories, Deputy Prime Minister for the Restoration of Ukraine Oleksandr Kubrakov said in an interview with Radio NV on July 14.

Kubrakov was commenting on the most urgent problems faced by his agency.

Read also: US reconstruction expert on rebuilding Ukraine, and how to avoid corruption  interview

"We are starting to (restore) schools  already hundreds this year, (and) healthcare facilities, Kubrakov said.

That is, these things are happening, its important. What is missing and what we will now fully focus on  both as a team and as a government  is the creation of jobs in those territories that were occupied.

He said that this is important "because we can rebuild anything, but if there are no jobs for people...  that is, there will be hospitals, there will be schools, there will be housing, but if people there are unable to work and receive wages, then there will be no (benefit from) it."

Read also: Problem not money for reconstruction, but its effective use, says ex-MP

"There is business that was there and production that was there (in the de-occupied territories). And I believe that this will be the main focus of our team. As a representative of Ukraine in the G7 Donor Coordination Platform, I will focus on the fact that this is our most important direction, namely, to restore those enterprises, the production that was there, or to build new ones on those de-occupied territories that appeared in our country in last year, this year."

Kubrakov said he envisions two financing programs for the realization of such opportunities. The first is "grants with conditions for job creation and for taxation."

"And this is what we have communicated with the European Commission and our international financial organizations, so that it would be so," he said.

The second, he said, was affordable loans.

"Because loans at 30% per annum do not work either in wartime or in normal time  not at any time. That is, we say that this is a project that doesnt work. Therefore, affordable loans are needed. Someone will need grants. It depends on the situation. This needs to be analyzed and examined. And for some, usual, affordable loans will be enough.

Kubrakov said he was convinced that people will return to the de-occupied territories only if there is an opportunity to find a job there. There are such examples in Kyiv and Chernihiv oblasts, where "we can see that there are enterprises that were lucky (to survive)."

Read also: Poland, South Korea sign memorandum on restoration of Ukraine

"As a rule, these are parts of some multinational companies or large groups. Theyve made an investment. The confectionery factory in Trostyanets is now working because it is part of a large international group. Theyve made such a decision at the headquarters level. They have been recovering. Awesome! Theyve undertaken all the risks and are working."

"And there are many local Ukrainian companies that are not part of (international) companies that can go and ask for a loan at 30%. Of course, they will not be given it, because they do not have a business plan that can cope with such a burden. No business can cope with this. And I think this is important. And we will all work together on this now to make these programs work.

Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron!

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
A scuba diver found a woman's $9,500 wedding ring after she lost it in a 45-foot-deep California lake

Merman Mike helps people find items they've lost underwater. Michael Pelley/Merman Mike

A woman lost her $9,500 wedding ring in Bass Lake in Madera County, California.

Michael Pelley, also known as "Merman Mike," retrieved the ring on a scuba diving mission.

Pelley shared pictures of the recovered ring on his Instagram page.

A scuba diver recovered a woman's $9,500 wedding ring after she lost it in a California lake.

Michael Pelley  also known as "Merman Mike" on social media  shared footage of the rescue mission on Youtube, where he often posts videos retrieving people's lost items underwater.

In the July 10 video, Jennie of Bakersfield, California, explained that she was swimming with her family at Bass Lake when her wedding ring went missing. A friend of Jennie's mentioned that there were lots of scuba divers who could search for the ring, leading her to discover Pelley.

In the video's caption, Pelley said Bass Lake, located near Yosemite National Park, is 45 feet deep and man-made, meaning his search would be "difficult."

"Almost immediately after I reached the bottom of the lake, I realized how difficult the search was going to be. The silt had immediately clouded out the area and I was in almost zero visibility," Pelley wrote, adding that he also had to take additional safety precautions this time due to the lake's depth.

Pelley said he used an underwater metal detector, a flashlight, and removed his gloves to help him search the bottom of the lake.

"After pulling a couple of sticks and cans out of the thick silt, I finally pulled out what I thought was going to be another bottle top or pull tab, but instead I was looking at a giant diamond! It was the wedding ring! I was beyond excited, especially because I knew how slim the odds of me actually finding it were," he wrote.

Jennie and her family cheered in the video as Pelley resurfaced with the ring.

"It's almost an indescribable kind of like adrenaline rush," Pelley told KMPH. He added that he works on a volunteer basis.

"I find people are beyond kind with their tips, and it all makes it worthwhile," Pelley said. "This is also why I love doing this and why I have absolutely no problem not charging people for it. I feel like I have this huge book of just awesome stories."

Pelley did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.

Pelley isn't the only person helping couples find lost rings. This month, a South Carolina man planned on proposing to his girlfriend when he dropped the engagement ring in the sand. Luckily, a local teen with a metal detector saved the day.

Read the original article on Insider
New York (CNN)  Elon Musk disclosed on Twitter Saturday that, due to a 50% drop in advertising revenue and a heavy debt load, the platform still has a negative cash flow.

The billionaire owner tweeted Saturday, in response to business advice from a follower, Need to reach positive cash flow before we have the luxury of anything else.

The tweet is in stark contrast to his tone in April, when Musk told the BBC the platform is now roughly breaking even and that most of its advertisers have returned.

Ad revenue has been a contentious issue and an uphill battle for the site, after hordes of advertisers fled after Musk took over. Advertisers were concerned about content moderation, mass layoffs and general uncertainty about Twitters future.

Linda Yaccarino, a former NBCUniversal marketing executive, recently took over the CEO position from Musk  hes likely betting on her advertising experience to bring them back.

The New York Times reported that Twitters US advertising revenue from the five weeks from April 1 to the first week of May was down 59% year-over-year, citing an internal presentation. (CNN has not viewed the presentation.)

Just 43% of Twitters top 1,000 advertisers as of September, the month before Musks takeover, were still advertising on the platform as of April, according to data provided to CNN by market intelligence firm Sensor Tower last month.

Its definitely been extremely difficult, Musk said in Twitter Spaces livestream event Musk hosted with Robert F. Kennedy, Jr last month. Basically, our revenue is cut in half because we didnt toe the line. He added its been a huge struggle for Twitter to break even.

And, after its rival app, Metas Threads, surpassed 100 million downloads less than a week after it launched, Twitter is under increased pressure.

Musk has added a variety of cost-cutting or cash-seeking measures to the site, from giving blue checkmarks with a Twitter Blue membership to putting Tweetdeck behind a paywall.

On Thursday, Twitter announced content creators would be able to get a slice of the sites ad revenue, seemingly to encourage more creators to join the site. To be eligible, the creators must have Twitter Blue and have at least 5 million impressions on their posts in each of the last three months.

Among the creators who now get monetized off Twitter: Andrew Tate, the self-proclaimed misogynist online influencer, who was indicted in Romania on charges of human trafficking, rape and setting up a criminal gang.

CNN did not receive comment from Twitter.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "Elon Musk says Twitters ad revenue is down 50% and cash flow is negative"
Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., a member of the Armed Services Committee, on Sunday decried Sen. Tommy Tubervilles blockade of hundreds of military nominations as a political move that will jeopardize the U.S.' "ability to lead the free world."

Tuberville, an Alabama Republican who is a member of the Armed Services Committee, has blocked hundreds of military appointments, citing his objection to a Defense Department policy that provides paid time off and reimburses travel costs for service members and dependents seeking abortions. President Joe Biden recently denounced the blockade as a totally irresponsible move."

Im going to just say what President Biden has said: It is bizarre for Sen. Tuberville to say that hes not jeopardizing national security when he injects politics into the defense process, Duckworth said in an interview on NBC News' Meet the Press.

And frankly, this is not the time to do it, she said. For him to really jeopardize our national security by injecting politics and preventing our military leaders to be able to take their positions and do their jobs is really, you know, its beyond distressing.

Duckworth added: Right now, Sen. Tuberville is jeopardizing our nations ability to lead the free world at a time when theres a war in Europe because he wants to inject politics into this.

Biden said he would be willing to talk to Tuberville if he believes "theres any possibility of him changing his ridiculous position. The president has also urged Republicans to "stand up and do something about it."

In a memo first obtained addressed to "Interested parties" by NBC News last week, the White house ramped up pressure on the GOP, painting the party as enablers of Tuberville's effort and accusing it of mounting barely a word of protest.

Right now, a Republican Senator is choosing to erode military readiness and abuse military families in the pursuit of an unrelated and extreme anti-freedom agenda  with barely a sound from his GOP colleagues, White House communications adviser Andrew Bates wrote in the memo.

The blockade is exploiting service members as pawns, hurting military readiness and risking a brain-drain from the Defense Department," he added. Hes even subjecting the families who serve with members to excruciating uncertainty, like not knowing where children will go to school or where spouses can work.

Tuberville has remained unmoved by the blowback from Democrats, telling NBC News that he wont back down until the Pentagon promises to rescind its policy of covering the travel costs for service members who leave their states to get abortions.

If Id have been president, Id call me a long time ago, Tuberville said. I understand weve got a lot of problems in this country. We got a lot of foreign problems, and, and he got  thats a hard job. I cant imagine doing that. So, you know, he got pretty, pretty fired up about me and on foreign soil. I wish he hadnt done that.

Even some congressional Republicans have objected to Tubervilles blockade, despite agreeing with his opposition to the Defense Departments policy on abortion access.

Alaska Sen. Dan Sullivan, a Republican member of the Armed Services Committee, defended his GOP colleague on Meet the Press" Sunday.

Every senator has the right to place holds on nominees on an issue of policy importance, he said. I certainly have done this myself. Im here in Alaska right now. I had a hold a couple years ago on the secretary of the Army, the chief of staff of the Army to get them to change the position when they were going to remove a brigade combat team  Airborne Brigade Combat Team from Alaska.

Sullivan expressed his belief that the impasse on military nominations needs to be resolved through compromise.

Every single one of these kind of holds 99% of them get resolved through compromise, he said. And what needs to happen, the secretary of defense, Sen. Tuberville, [Senate Majority Leader] Chuck Schumer, need to sit down and have that.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Opposition leader Ousmane Sonko has a passionate following among Senegal's poor and unemployed youth (JOHN WESSELS)

Senegalese opposition leader Ousmane Sonko led a peaceful protest banging pots and pans after authorities blocked a rally to publicly confirm he would run in next year's presidential elections.

Sonko, dressed in red in a sign of anger, appeared outside his home Saturday evening to kick off the protest, "symbolically" banging pots for several minutes.

The 49-year-old had on Thursday been "unanimously voted in as the PASTEF-Patriots' candidate for the February 25, 2024 presidential elections," a party statement said.

Sonko has been confined by security forces at his home in Dakar since May 28 and his nomination comes despite lingering questions over his eligibility due to criminal convictions and prison sentences.

Plenty of people joined the noisy protest in several districts of the capital Dakar and major towns such as Ziguinchor in the south and Mbacke in the centre, local media reported.

In Dakar's Parcelles Assainies area, Sonko supporter Malick Diedhiou took part "to send a message of peace... to show unhappiness at what the state is doing against Sonko because it's illegal," he said.

- Concert of saucepans -

The governor of Dakar had banned the party's nomination rally, which was set for Saturday afternoon, due to the "risk of disturbing public order".

Sonko told supporters "another date" would be chosen. He called for the "concert of saucepans, horns and firecrackers" on Saturday from 8:30 to 9:00 pm (2030 to 2100 GMT) to peacefully express disapproval and call for President Macky Sall "to leave office in peace".

"Macky Sall is trying to eradicate PASTEF and prevent me from being a presidential candidate," Sonko said Friday night, urging his supporters to wear red in protest.

The firebrand figurehead has generated a passionate following among Senegal's disaffected youth, mounting a fiery campaign against Sall, who he paints as a corrupt, would-be dictator.

Sonko has warned of "indescribable chaos" if he is prevented from running for the top office.

His convictions in May and June sparked deadly clashes between supporters and security forces, spawning the worst unrest Senegal has seen in years.

On May 8, an appeals court gave Sonko a six-month suspended term for slander, although it is unclear whether this sentence, which can also be appealed to the Supreme Court, makes him ineligible.

On June 1, Sonko was also handed a two-year term following a trial on charges of sexual abuse of a beauty salon worker.

Legal analysts and Sonko's own lawyers say this conviction rules him out from being a candidate.

But Sonko insisted Friday that despite the legal proceedings he remains eligible for the election.

mrb/blb/bp/lcm
Augusta authorities are investigating the murder of a young man near south Augusta.

Richmond County sheriff's deputies responded to the 2100 block of Lumpkin Road on Saturday at about 5 p.m. in reference to a suspicious situation, according to Richmond County sheriff's Sgt. John Perry. Upon arrival, they found the body of someone who had been shot.

Richmond County Coroner Mark Bowen confirmed that the victim is Walter Smith, 28, who lived in the area.

An autopsy has been scheduled and the investigation is in its early stages.

Helping Homelessness: Partnership with property owners key to halting crime by the homeless, says sheriff

Cyberattack Aftermath: Augusta has restored all functions after network disruption

This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: South Augusta man, 28, was murdered in shooting on Lumpkin Road
Ukraines Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Maliar has said that the situation on the eastern front has escalated.

Source: Maliar on Telegram

Quote from Maliar: "For two days in a row, the enemy has been actively advancing on the Kupiansk front in Kharkiv Oblast. We are on the defensive. There are fierce battles going on, and the positions of the parties are changing dynamically several times a day.

We are gradually moving forward on the Bakhmut front. There is a daily advance on the southern flank around Bakhmut.

On the northern flank there, we are trying to hold our positions, but the enemy is attacking.

In Bakhmut itself, we are attacking the enemy, the enemy is attacking us."

Details: Maliar has added that on the Avdiivka and Marinka fronts, the Russians continue to carry out offensive operations, but the frontline is not moving.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
South Korea to increase military and financial aid to Ukraine in 2023

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol spoke about Seoul's plans to provide significant financial and military aid to Ukraine

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol announced during his visit to Ukraine that his country plans to increase financial and military cooperation with Ukraine in 2023.

The statement was made on July 12, during a joint press conference in Kyiv with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, according to Interfax-Ukraine, reporting on July 15.

Read also: Zelenskyy sets condition for China's mediation in Russia's war against Ukraine

We provided body armor, helmets, and other necessary ammunition last year. We hope to significantly increase our assistance this year, said President Yoon.

He also revealed that in May of this year he discussed with President Zelenskyy the supply of equipment necessary for demining territories. The South Korean government allocated $100 million in 2022, and plans to provide an additional $150 million in aid for 2023.

The South Korean leader also discussed a targeted assistance program for the education sector, which has suffered from the shelling by the Russian army, as well as the creation of a scholarship program to support talented youth.

Read also: Poland, South Korea sign memorandum on restoration of Ukraine

We also plan to increase assistance to Ukraine in restoring the education system, said President Yoon.

Last year, we decided to help restore destroyed schools. We would also like to support Ukraines future generations through a scholarship jointly established by the two presidents.

He also drew a parallel between the current situation in Ukraine and events 70 years ago when North Korean occupation forces occupied nearly 90% of South Korean territory, and the young South Korean state faced the threat of being destroyed.

However, according to the South Korean leader, thanks to the military and civilians who helped them, we were able to stop the occupiers and drive them out of our land.

Yoon mentioned the proposed Peace Formula from his Ukrainian counterpart and added that it needs to be implemented.

Read also: Peter Pomerantsev on trying to comprehend Russian war crimes  interview

We have reviewed the Peace Formula provided to us, and we believe it needs to be implemented, especially considering Koreas aspiration to play a mediator role in peaceful summits and meetings of countries belonging to the so-called Global South, said the South Korean president.

It became known on July 15 that President Yoon and with his wife had arrived in Kyiv on an unannounced visit. The South Korean leader has already visited the Kyiv Oblast town of Bucha, the scene of atrocities against civilians committed by the Russian army, and held a meeting with President Zelenskyy, where they discussed military supplies and funding for Ukraine.

On July 12, Matthew Miller, a representative of the U.S. Department of State, stated that the United States does not oppose military assistance to Ukraine from South Korea.

Later on July 13, it was announced that Poland and South Korea had signed a memorandum regarding the reconstruction of Ukraine.

Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron!

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
South Modesto gets $5M in state funding for neighborhood improvements in disadvantaged areas

The effort to build neighborhood improvements and safe walkways to school in south Modesto is getting an additional $5 million from the state.

Sen. Marie Alvarado-Gil, D-Jackson, said the funding allocation was in a state budget bill supported by local community leaders and more than 1,000 signatures from residents.

The senator said she fought for the bill because of promises made to disadvantaged areas of south Modesto decades ago that never were fulfilled.

Alvarado-Gil and Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors Chairman Channce Condit gathered with their constituents Friday on Eureka Street, west of Crows Landing Road, to celebrate the funding and what it can purchase.

The one-time state funding will pay for sidewalks, wastewater improvements, curbs and street lighting.

Alvarado-Gill said the funding marks a milestone in ongoing efforts to address longstanding disparities in communities like south Modesto. Latinos and low-income families make up more than 85% of the residents in the neighborhoods targeted for the street improvements.

A School bus drives along Dallas Street in Modesto, Calif., Thursday, Dec. 8, 2022.

Stanislaus County has put tens of millions of dollars from the American Rescue Plan Act into upgrades for unincorporated islands. The county committed $16 million in ARPA funds to Condits supervisorial district because it has the greatest need.

Condit told residents Friday that through a combination of funding sources, $19 million was available for the disadvantaged neighborhoods before the funds were approved in the Legislature. The state funding increases the total to $24 million.

Luis Gomez, a resident on Eureka Street, said sidewalks are the biggest need. When it rains, it gets flooded everywhere, he said. When they fix all that, it will look much better. He said the value of the homes should increase, too.

Maria Madrigal, a member of the South Modesto Municipal Advisory Council, helped to gather signatures for the state bill. Over the years, she said, the county would tell residents that funding was available for neighborhood improvements. But when the time came, it wasnt delivered.

Madrigal said storms in the winter virtually create a lake on Dallas Street in front of her home.

Sometimes the water goes into the homes when it rains really bad, said Martha Villasenor, also an advisory council member. The kids get wet walking to school.

Dallas Street flooding in Modesto, Calif., Thursday, Jan. 5, 2023.

Officials said street improvements serve to improve health, safety and quality of life for residents. The improvements in south Modesto also will make it easier for older people to walk to stores and access public services.

The Bret Harte area, Parklawn and other neighborhoods near Crows Landing Road have been designated for the upgrades.
Space photos show over 1 trillion gallons of water flooding crop fields in California, and it could mean higher food prices

Flooded farm crops in Tulare Lake on June 6, 2023. Citizens of the Planet / Contributor

Tulare Lake used to be the largest lake west of the Mississippi River.

Farmers diverted the lake's water in the 1920s and replaced it with farmland.

This year's rain and snowmelt have replenished the lake, flooding many of the region's farms.

California's heavy rainfall this past winter may have ended the years-long drought, but it also brought back the long-dormant Tulare Lake.

This phantom lake  which occasionally resurfaces during years of unusually high precipitation  is larger than it's been in 150 years.

The basin began rapidly flooding around March 12-14, when two major storms hit California.

The flooding was so massive that NASA satellite images captured it from space. Here's what the lakebed looked like on February 1, before the flooding:

This is how the historic lakebed appeared on February 1, prior to any significant flooding. Small areas of water are shown in dark blue. NASA Earth Observatory images by Lauren Dauphin, using Landsat data from the U.S. Geological Survey and MODIS data from NASA EOSDIS LANCE and GIBS/Worldview.

And here's what it looked like on April 30:

This is how the area looked on April 30, after Tulare Lake flooded. NASA Earth Observatory images by Lauren Dauphin, using Landsat data from the U.S. Geological Survey and MODIS data from NASA EOSDIS LANCE and GIBS/Worldview.

Tulare lake flooding threatens California farms

The Tulare lakebed, which is located in the southern San Joaquin Valley, happens to be set on the largest agricultural region in the entire state of California.

NASA said the devastating flooding will likely continue into 2024. That means local farmers may not be able to plant new crops until 2025.

That likely drop in supply has the potential to drive up food prices, particularly for produce.

This series of images shows the rapid progression of the flooding between March 2 and April 28. NASA Earth Observatory images by Lauren Dauphin, using Landsat data from the U.S. Geological Survey and MODIS data from NASA EOSDIS LANCE and GIBS/Worldview.

As of June, the flooded parts of Tulare Lake spanned about 178 square miles, or 113,920 acres  almost the size of Lake Tahoe.

One acre-foot, the amount of water it takes to cover an acre of land to a depth of one foot, is equal to 325,851 gallons of water, United States Department of Agriculture meteorologist Brad Rippey told Insider in July.

While it's unclear how deep Tulare Lake is now, if it's similar to its former average depth of about 30 feet, that would translate to more than one trillion gallons of water that have flooded the region so far this year, Rippey said. That's enough to fill over 1.5 million Olympic-sized swimming pools.

Many of the state's top agricultural commodities are grown in Tulare County, which is the third largest agricultural producing-county in the state. In 2019, Tulare County churned out more than $7.5 billion worth of commodities, including dairy products, table grapes, navel oranges, and cattle.

Tulare Lake has flooded many farms in California. Citizens of the Planet / Contributor / Getty Images

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration estimated the damage from flooding across central California between December 2022 and March 2023 will cost roughly $4.6 billion.

Rippey said crops in the vineyards and orchards, like nuts and berries, will likely sustain more damage than row crops since entire trees and vines will need to be replanted.

TAC Farm sits right at the southeast shoreline of the lakebed. Fortunately for owner Dennis Hutson, the water hasn't flooded his farmland yet.

Hutson said he witnessed the flooding of Tulare Lake in 1983 and 1997. This time around, he noticed one key difference: the flooding of Highway 43 along the southern San Joaquin Valley.

"You saw water on both sides of it, but I don't recall the actual roads flooding at that time," he told Insider, adding that this unusual flooding may be due to local farmers possibly vandalizing the levies in order to drain the water from their land and redirect it elsewhere.

Road flooded that goes through Tulare Lake. Citizens of the Planet / Contributor / Getty Images

Rainfall and a melting snowpack: the perfect storm

Tulare Lake was once the largest freshwater lake west of the Mississippi River  until the 1920s when local farmers began diverting the water from the rivers feeding the lake.

As for why the lake returned with a vengeance this spring, blame it on the 78 trillion gallons of water and counting that have fallen on California between October 1, 2022 and March 20 of this year.

By the end of February 2023, Tulare County had its fourth wettest season on record.

Nicholas Pinter, professor of applied geosciences and associate director of the Center for Watershed Sciences at the University of California Davis, described Tulare Lake to Insider as "a bathtub without a drain."

"Statewide, most flooding was concentrated in low spots in the topography, like Tulare Lake," he said during his May 23 testimony at the California Committee on Agriculture Assembly, which he shared with Insider. "After weeks of rain, the water had basically nowhere else to go."

Meanwhile, the Southern Sierra Nevada snowpack reached about 300% of the typical season peak in early April  a record high.

Here's what the snowpack looked like in March 2022:

This satellite image shows the San Joaquin Valley on March 16, 2022  about a year before Tulare Lake returned. The light blue on the right represents snow. NASA Earth Observatory images by Lauren Dauphin, using MODIS data from NASA EOSDIS LANCE and GIBS/Worldview.

Compared to March 2023:

The above image shows San Joaquin Valley on March 16, 2023  after two massive storms hit California  with significantly more snow to the east and north. NASA Earth Observatory images by Lauren Dauphin, using MODIS data from NASA EOSDIS LANCE and GIBS/Worldview.

Tulare Lake began to reappear this March, before the Sierra Nevada snowpack started meltin. But as temperatures rise into summer and the snowpack begins to melt, that water flows into the Southern Central Valley, Rippey said.

"If the snow melts too quickly, then the valley cannot drain it and Tulare Lake fills," he told Insider. "That's what is happening now. The lake has been sustained  and even further enlarged  during the snow-melt season."

It's hard to predict how long the lake will remain, but given the recent development of El Nino, Rippey said climatological odds are tilted toward another wet winter  which could sustain Tulare Lake into 2024 or beyond.

Read the original article on Business Insider
A member of the "Squad" of far-left House Democrats received backlash over the weekend on social media after she accused Israel of being a "racist state."

The condemnation of Israel from Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., who heads the Congressional Progressive Caucus, came in response to outbursts from pro-Palestinian protesters who interrupted a panel she spoke on.

"As somebody whos been in the streets and participated in a lot of demonstrations, I want you to know that we have been fighting to make it clear that Israel is a racist state, that the Palestinian people deserve self-determination and autonomy, that the dream of a two-state solution is slipping away from us, that it does not even feel possible," Jayapal said at the far-left Netroots Nation Conference in Chicago.

"It is people that are literally trying to make sure that we do not take the positions we take, that the rest of the progressive caucus has been pushing and pushing," she added.

HOUSE DEM JAYAPAL GRILLS FBI'S WRAY ON COLLECTING AMERICANS' DATA, WARNS OF 'DIFFICULT' FISA REAUTHORIZATION

The video of the exchange quickly went viral, with a wide variety of criticism toward Jayapal.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

"A disgraceful statement that's particularly tone deaf when thousands of Israelis are in the streets protesting to protect their democracy," Jason Brodsky, the policy director at United Against Nuclear Iran, tweeted. "#Israel's previous government included Ra'am in the coalition. That's not what a racist state does."

"You can never be extreme enough for these people," Miranda Devine, a New York Post columnist and Fox News contributor, tweeted.

"[Rep. Jayapal], you are despicable," Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., tweeted. "This is truly disgusting, especially coming from a member of Congress."

Several members of the "Squad" have announced they will boycott Israeli President Isaac Herzogs address to Congress this week. Jayapal has repeatedly called for a two-state solution in the region.

"There is no way in hell I am attending the joint session address from a President whose country has banned me and denied [U.S. Rep. from Michigan] Rashida Tlaib the ability to see her grandma," Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., said in a series of tweets. She also said the U.S. government should not have invited him to speak in the first place.

"Pramila Jayapal is on stage, slandering Israel, and by extension the Jewish people's right to freedom and self-determination as 'racist.' This is anti-Semitism," tweeted Caroline Glick, a senior contributing editor at the Jewish News Syndicate.

REP JAYAPAL CLASHES WITH CNN HOST OVER AMERICANS SUPPORTING SPENDING CUTS AS PART OF DEBT LIMIT DEAL

Several members of the "Squad" have announced they will boycott Israeli President Isaac Herzogs address to Congress this week.

"Calling the only nation state of the Jews racists when offers all its citizens, including Arabs & Muslims equality rights, is something I would expect to hear from the Ayatollahs in Iran or members of the mullah regime "parliament", NOT a member of Congress! FOR SHAME JAYAPAL!" Karmel Melamed, a journalist, tweeted.

ILHAN OMAR SAYS 'NO WAY IN HELL' SHE'S ATTENDING ISRAELI PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS TO CONGRESS NEXT WEEK

Jayapal released a long statement on Twitter and on her office's website Sunday afternoon in an attempt to clarify her comments on Israel, saying she does not "believe the idea of Israel as a nation is racist." However, she accused the "extreme right-wing government" of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of pushing "outright racist policies."

"I have always worked toward a two-state solution that allows both Israelis and Palestinians to live freely, safely, and with self-determination alongside each other and that is still what I am absolutely committed to," Jayapal said. "I also know that the many policies of the current Israeli government, including rampant settlement expansion, make it extremely difficult for Palestinians who simply want the same rights as their Israeli neighbors to believe such a solution is possible."
WARREN, Pa.  Escaped homicide suspect Michael C. Burham has been taken into custody, the Pennsylvania State Police confirmed Saturday evening, ending a nine-day manhunt that began July 6, when Burham escaped the Warren County Prison using a rope made of bedsheets tied together.

"At 3:57 p.m., our tip line received a call from some residents on Jackson Run Road in Conewango Township, Warren County, about a suspicious individual," said Lt. Col. George Bivens, the state police's deputy commissioner of operations, at a Saturday news conference.

Michael C. Burham, 34, escaped from the Warren County Prison on July 6, 2023. He is pictured here in police custody on July 15.

Bivens said authorities mobilized resources, including a significant number of personnel on the ground, aviation assets and K9s, and formed a large perimeter around that area.

Bivens said Burham was tracked through the woods and attempted to hide when he approached perimeter troopers near Logan Road. Burham was approached from behind by members of the U.S. Marshals Service, the Border Patrol and state police.

By 5:50 p.m., Burham was in custody, police said.

Bivens said Burham was not armed when he was apprehended and characterized him as looking "tired and worn out," and wearing his prison pants inside-out.

Burham, 34, was taken to the Pennsylvania State Police station in Warren where he will be processed. Bivens said Burham will not be housed in the Warren County Prison. He is at the Erie County Prison, state police said on Sunday.

Further investigation on potential accomplices, firearms

Bivens said the investigators will continue to see if Burham received any assistance during the past nine days and that discussions will occur in the future with the Warren County District Attorney's Office on whether there is sufficient evidence to prosecute anyone.

Bivens added that Burham potentially accessed some survival equipment and that police recovered bags during the manhunt that were ultimately linked to Burham using DNA tests. Some of those bags contained ammunition which led to concerns that Burham was armed.

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.

Tip came from resident responding to his barking dog

The tip came from a Warren County resident, who, while checking to see why his dog was barking at the rear of his property, encountered Burham. Bivens said a brief conversation ensued, in which Burham said "something about camping." The property owner recognized Burham and contacted authorities as Burham fled into the woods.

Bivens said Burham's mistake was that he "came out into the open and was spotted by an individual."

"That's been our strategy all along is to push him hard, to have him make a mistake," Bivens said. "He finally did and it was spotted by an individual."

Why was Michael Burham wanted?

Burham was wanted in connection with the May 11 fatal shooting of Kala Hodgkin, 34, of Jamestown, in Chautauqua County, New York, north of Warren. Though he has yet to be charged in that case, Burham is a "prime suspect" in the killing, the U.S. Marshals Service said. At the time of Hodgkin's death, Burham was wanted on a charge that he had raped her, according to court records.

Burham fled the area after Hodgkin's death. He is accused of kidnapping an elderly couple in Sheffield, in Warren County, on May 20, and stealing their SUV, which he used to drive to South Carolina. He was captured there on May 24 after a multi-agency manhunt. The couple was found unharmed in a cemetery in South Carolina.

Burham was eventually returned to Warren. He was placed in the Warren County Prison on $1 million bond on June 19.

A.J. Rao can be reached at arao@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @ETNRao.

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Escaped homicide suspect Michael C. Burham in custody in Warren County
Weve made it into the second half of 2023, and while theres no way of knowing for sure what that means in terms of significant weather events moving forward, we can go back and look at what dominated the headlines in the first part of the year.

From atmospheric rivers to an Omega block and a deadly heat wave, the first six months of 2023 were certainly active.

Parade of atmospheric rivers into California

The end of 2022 and the first part of 2023 was a destructive and deadly time for the West, with California being especially hard-hit by a series of atmospheric river storms that brought relentless rain and flooding to lower elevations while mountain communities saw record-breaking snowfall totals that yanked the state out of historic drought levels.

More than 20 people were killed during the storms, prompting President Joe Biden to approve both a major disaster declaration and an emergency declaration for the Golden State.

Most of California saw several feet of rainfall over a period of several weeks earlier this year. This led to numerous reports of flooding and mudslides that washed away roads and vehicles and forced thousands of residents to flee while the region was battered.

Countless rescues needed to be made as rapidly rising floodwaters trapped people in their vehicles while they were attempting to reach safety.

A helicopter had to pull a man from his stranded car in Ojai, California, about 80 miles northwest of Los Angeles. The man waited for rescuers in the dark as the wind tore at the top of his car and swift floodwaters pushed from below.

A rescue swimmer was dropped from a helicopter to the roof of the car. He had to pull the driver from the window before securing him and flying to solid ground.

Neil Lareau shows the view from the kitchen sink in Truckee, California, on Monday, Feb. 27, 2022.

Some parts of California's Sierra Nevada, like Mammoth Mountain, were buried under nearly 60 feet of snow during the barrage of atmospheric river storms that slammed the state during the first few months of 2023.

Residents living in the higher elevations of the Sierra Nevada in San Bernardino County were trapped for weeks when storm after storm dropped feet of snow across the region.

So much snow fell that the California National Guard was called in to go door-to-door to check in on trapped residents in Lake Arrowhead.

"People are trapped in their homes and have been for now more than five days because the streets are not plowed," San Bernardino Mountains resident Michelle Calkins said in March.

"Please, we beg you," she continued. "We need help from the state. Are you listening?"

Only a few years ago, California's reservoirs looked like they were on their last legs, with water levels so low that many appeared to be running dry. After dozens of atmospheric river storms slammed the state, they made a dramatic turnaround.

In only three weeks, the storms dropped more than 32 trillion gallons of water across the Golden State.

San Francisco reported measurable rain on 17 of the 23 days between Dec. 26 and Jan. 17, including 12 days that featured at least a half-inch and four days with an inch or more. Los Angeles reported rain on 14 of those 23 dates. A dry Jan. 1 was the only day stopping Arcata from experiencing 25 consecutive days with measurable precipitation.

That 32 trillion gallons of water would be enough to fill more than 210,000 Rose Bowl-sized stadiums with water, according to rough estimates by the FOX Forecast Center. Put another way, you could place a Rose Bowl stadium on every square mile in California and have enough rainwater to fill each to the brim but still have enough water leftover to fill another 50,000 of the iconic stadiums.

An Omega block weather pattern dominated the headlines back in May.

The name comes from a resemblance to the Greek letter  on a weather map. Its created when two low-pressure systems become cut off from the main flow of the jet stream, and a high-pressure system is sandwiched in between them.

The Omega block brought the snowiest May day on record for parts of Michigan's Upper Peninsula. The storm walloped the region with heavy snow, leading to treacherous driving conditions and widespread power outages. On May 1, Marquette, Michigan, recorded its snowiest May day on record when 19.8 inches fell. That rivaled the previous record of 14.2 inches on May 9-10, 1990.

The Omega block also brought unseasonably cold temperatures to the East Coast. For example, Pittsburgh typically sees highs in the 60s to 70 degrees in early May, but the unsettled weather pattern kept high temperatures in the upper 40s.

The West Coast also experienced cool, damp conditions while the Omega block dominated the weather. However, the intensity of precipitation was nowhere near what the West experienced during the relentless atmospheric river storms.

Higher elevations, like California's Sierra Nevada, saw accumulating snow, while the lower elevations saw rain.

The weather was historic in Los Angeles, too.

The National Weather Service said two EF-0 tornadoes touched down in the Carson-Compton area of Los Angeles County on May 4. The two tornadoes touched down within three miles and 10-15 minutes of each other as thunderstorms raced across Southern California. There were no injuries with either tornado.

The South was gripped by a historic heat wave that scorched the region for about three weeks, and the deaths of more than 10 people in Texas have been attributed to the excessive heat that baked the southern U.S. since the middle of June.

7 FACTS ABOUT HEAT WAVES

Among the deaths were a father and son from Florida who died on June 23 during a hiking trip in Texas  Big Bend National Park . In addition, a police K9 in Shreveport, Louisiana , died of a heat-related injury on June 24 while chasing down suspects.

THESE ARE THE ALL-TIME HOTTEST TEMPERATURES EVER RECORDED IN EACH STATE

The heat was so extreme that it put a huge strain on the power grid in Texas. The Electric Reliability Council of Texas, which manages about 90% of the state's power grid , said the previous June record for power demand was set in 2022, when 76,681 megawatts were used on June 23. On June 27 this year, 80,828 megawatts were used in one day. That also breaks the all-time peak demand record on the ERCOT-managed grid. That record was set on June 20, 2022, when 80,148 megawatts were used in one day.

The top 5 hottest days on record in San Angelo, Texas.

San Angelo, Texas, also set some temperature records. All of the city's top five hottest days on record were set after June 19.
"Chinese education has so many advantages," said TEP CHANPANHA, a Cambodian student from China University of Geosciences (Beijing) in an interview with China News Network. Four years of studying in China gave him a deeper understanding of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and China's education system. China's rapid development also made him realize that "the CPC pays close attention to the needs, voices and aspirations of the people."


Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 16)  President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered the adoption of the new governance brand "Bagong Pilipinas" (new Philippines), which was decried by a lawmaker as an attempt to rewrite the country's history.

According to Memorandum Circular No. 24, which was signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin on July 3 and published on the Official Gazette website on Sunday, "all national government agencies (NGAs) and instrumentalities, including government-owned or -controlled corporations (GOCCs), and state universities and colleges (SUCs), shall be guided by the principles, strategies and objectives of the Bagong Pilipinas brand of governance and leadership in planning their programs, activities and projects."

The new governance brand is characterized by a "principled, accountable and dependable government reinforced by unified institutions of society, whose common objective is to realize the goals and aspirations of every Filipino," according to the document.

"Bagong Pilipinas is the overarching theme of the administration's brand of governance and leadership, which calls for deep and fundamental transformations in all sectors of society and government, and fosters the state's commitment towards the attainment of comprehensive policy reforms and full economic recovery," it added.

Marcos also ordered that the campaign logo must be on the letterheads, websites, official social media accounts, and other documents and instruments pertaining to flagship programs of the government.

According to the Presidential Communications Office, the new logo was produced internally and did not utilize public funds.

[It] underwent complete staff work to ensure adherence to the heraldic code. This was accomplished without any cost to the government, the PCO explained.

The logo features blue and red semi-circles that form a sphere cradling the sun and the three stars of the Philippine flag. It also features lines resembling buildings and facilities, including the Bangui Windmills in his home province Ilocos Norte.

"Bagong Pilipinas" is reminiscent of the "Bagong Lipunan" (new society) campaign of the president's late father, dictator Ferdinand E. Marcos.

Bagong Lipunan was part of the justification for the declaration of martial law, according to the Martial Law Museum.

For ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro, the current administration is "trying to deodorize the infamous Marcos dictatorship using the resources of the Filipino people."

Castro, House deputy minority leader, said lawmakers will closely scrutinize the "Bagong Pilipinas" rebranding in the upcoming budget hearings to "ensure the responsible use of public funds and to safeguard against the rewriting of history."

"They are trying to write over what has already been written, reviving defunct projects of the old dictator like the Kadiwa stores, Masagana 99, and now the Bagong Pilipinas," Castro said.

"Rather than being fixated on the form and other superficialities, Pres. Marcos Jr. should focus on the substance," she added.

"We must not forget the human rights abuses, corruption, and repression that characterized the Marcos regime. Any attempt to glorify or revise this dark period in our history must be met with vigilance and opposition," she also said.

Gabriela Rep. Arlene Brosas also urged the government to act on the demands of ordinary Filipinos for lower prices of basic goods and higher wages instead of "wasting government resources on rebranding projects."

"What's next? A logo for Maharlika Investment Corporation? The administration must cut its obsession for rebranding projects and buckle down to work to address mounting calls for decent jobs, higher wages and lower prices," she said.

Some of the slogans of past administrations were Rodrigo Duterte's "Change is Coming" and Benigno Aquino III's "Daang Matuwid" (straight path).
New study suggests radical change to driving habits that could save nearly 90,000 lives: There are very clear benefits

Switching to all-electric vehicles (EVs) by the year 2035 could save nearly 90,000 lives in the U.S., according to a report by the American Lung Association.

As the new research showed, a switch from gas-reliant vehicles to EVs would see 89,300 fewer premature deaths by the year 2050. This change would only be part of the solution, though.

In order to see the fullest health benefits possible, wed also need to move further toward energy sources that dont rely on combustion  like coal and gas do. Examples of non-combustion energy sources include solar panels that capture the suns rays and wind turbines that turn the energy of the wind into power.

The pollution caused by gas vehicles and other dirty energy sources increases issues like asthma, heart disease, and depression, all of which contribute to premature death.

Thankfully, this transition is already taking place.

In 2022, more than 10 million EVs were sold worldwide, and the clean car industry is expected to keep growing. Additionally, the U.S.s ability to produce clean energy increased by 16% last year.

Meanwhile, the Biden Administration is cracking down on pollution. The federal government has implemented stricter vehicle emissions standards and created stricter pollution limits for manufacturers in the energy field, which aims to create a carbon pollution-free power sector by 2035.

Today were proposing new technology standards that will significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuel power plants, protecting health and protecting our planet, said EPA Administrator Michael Regan, according to Reuters.

And weve already seen measurable results. One study found that areas with high numbers of EVs have lower levels of air pollution and fewer emergency room visits due to asthma.

There are very clear benefits of zero-emission technologies, William Barrett, the author of the report, told CNN.

Its not just switching to electric vehicles but providing the extra electricity needed for those electric vehicles. So that would be renewables, wind and solar or possibly nuclear, Dr. Jason West, a professor of environmental science, told CNN.

Join our free newsletter for cool news and cool tips that make it easy to help yourself while helping the planet.
National security adviser Jake Sullivan on Sunday dismissed the notion that the United States has lost its moral authority by providing Ukraine with cluster munitions.

Our moral authority has not derived from being a signatory to the Convention Against Cluster Munitions. We are not, we have not been, at any point since that convention came into effect. Neither has Ukraine, Sullivan said in an interview with NBCs Chuck Todd on Meet the Press, referring to a treaty agreed to by more than 100 countries that prohibits the use of, production, transfer and stockpiling of cluster munitions.

Our moral authority and Ukraines moral authority in this conflict comes from the fact that we are supporting a country under brutal, vicious attack by its neighbor, with missiles and bombs raining down on its cities, killing its civilians, destroying its schools, its churches, its hospitals, Sullivan continued. And the idea that providing Ukraine with a weapon in order for them to be able to defend their homeland, protect their civilians, is somehow a challenge to our moral authority, I find questionable.

The move to supply Ukraine with cluster munitions has brought increased criticism of President Biden and his administration from some within his own party. Biden has described the decision as difficult but said he viewed it as necessary to win the war.

The Pentagon confirmed Thursday that U.S. cluster bombs had been delivered to Ukraine.

Cluster bombs are highly controversial because they can pose a risk to civilians. They are bombs that release sores of smaller bomblets in the air, making them effective at targeting a large area of enemy troops. They also can pose a risk to civilians, however, especially if the smaller bomblets do not explode right away. Ukraine has pledged only to use the bombs away from civilians.

I would say that we are stepping up to give Ukraine what it needs in order to not be defenseless in the face of a Russian onslaught, Sullivan said. We are simply not going to leave Ukraine defenseless. The President was determined on that point. And we remain committed to that.

In the interview, Sullivan also said the United Statess current plan is not to restock its stockpile of cluster munitions. Instead, Sullivan said, it would focus on restocking its unitary munitions.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
National security adviser Jake Sullivan said Sunday that the Chinese hackers who breached email accounts of multiple U.S. government agencies did not get any classified federal information.

The intrusion here was actually into Microsofts cloud system. And they got into that system and then through that, into the unclassified email accounts of U.S. government officials. And I stress these were unclassified e-mail accounts, so they did not get any classified information, Sullivan told CNNs Jake Tapper on State of the Union.

U.S. officials said state-backed Chinese hackers broke into the accounts of individuals at an unspecified number of U.S. agencies, including the State Department, ahead of Secretary of State Anthony Blinkens trip to Beijing last month.

It was actually the U.S. government that discovered the hack, and we did because we have increased our cyber defenses over the course of the past couple of years, Sullivan said. We discovered it, we quickly shut it down and now we have taken the steps to make sure this is not an ongoing vulnerability.

The discovery was made in mid-June, according to U.S. officials. While officials did not specify exactly who was hacked, The Washington Post, citing unidentified U.S. officials, reported Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo was the only known Cabinet-level official to have their account compromised in the breach.

Sullivan emphasized on Sunday these incidents have occurred for a long time, throughout multiple administrations.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Siesta Beach was jammed with sun lovers during spring break 2022. Beaches all over the state are a major tourist attraction. Over 137 million tourists visited Florida last year, up 12.9% from 2021 and 5% from 2019, before the pandemic, according to Visit Florida.

Florida politics turn off vacationers

My family has vacationed from the Great Lakes State to the Sunshine State regularly for the past 20 years. Like so many vacationers, we look forward to the beaches and warm climate.

We have visited family and friends and have vacationed more in Florida than in any other state. We have used multiple ports for cruises, and have spent our Michigan money in Floridas hotels, restaurants and theme parks.

This summer, however, instead of shopping on Pier 60, visiting South Beachs eateries or riding the Hogwarts Express, 12 members of our extended family vacationed in New York City and cruised out of New Jersey.

More: How to send a letter to the editor

We have been disappointed by the regressive political and social views pushed on Floridians by Gov. Ron DeSantis and the extremists in the Florida Legislature.

From his mishandling of COVID-19 and efforts to suppress the vote, to the further marginalization of already marginalized communities and attacking Floridians freedom of speech, DeSantis and the Republican-led Legislature have left us no choice but to spend our money elsewhere.

Brett Meteyer, Haslett, Michigan

Defend freedoms guaranteed in Constitution

I have had issues for some time with the political climate in this, my native state. As we have celebrated Memorial Day and Independence Day this year, Ive listened to and thought about the references to the sacrifices that have been made to preserve the freedoms we, supposedly, enjoy in this country.

From World War II through the Gulf wars, my own family has served and sacrificed, and some gave all. So, though a Democrat, I am a patriot.

It distresses me that the very freedoms imbedded in our Constitution are under attack in Florida in the name of freedom.

Conventions are being canceled, and jobs and business investment have been lost. And while it's true that hundreds of thousands move to Florida each year, increasing the total population, many thousands are also moving away for a more economical, safer and saner haven.

I wish that DeSantis and his legislative toadies would have as much respect for the First and 14th Amendments to the Constitution as they do for the Second Amendment.

If it wasnt for the grandkids, wed join the exodus out of here!

Ken Smith, Venice

Open yourself to new ideas, opportunities

While working at a large distribution company in Cincinnati, Ohio, I was offered several seminars and classes through our human resources department. One of them was diversity training.

Although I was skeptical at first, I found the presentation informative and eye-opening.

I recognized some preconceived notions I had formed over my lifetime and began to understand how some of my prejudices had been formed. I have since looked back at that training and other experiences that helped me to see the world as others sometimes see it.

Bill signing: DeSantis bans funding for college diversity programs

And I can see that some people have different opportunities based solely on their race, sex and/or life situations. I try every day to be more open to new ideas and attitudes. Intolerance and antipathy will not help our society grow and flourish.

I believe that knowledge is power, and that we need more opportunities to learn and grow as fellow Americans. What could be wrong with that?

Linda Dirk, Lakewood Ranch

Government has free speech rights

A recent court decision prevents the U.S. government from engaging with social media platforms about the proliferation of disinformation.

Several Republican attorneys general argue that conservatives are being censored. They claim this is a violation of the First Amendment.

Lets look at the facts and the law.

First, this amendment prevents Congress from making a law  abridging the freedom of speech or the press ... This amendment does not prevent private citizens or corporations from censoring content: They are not Congress.

So far social media platforms have not been successfully sued for removing or preventing certain online posts.

Second, the government has the right of free speech. Numerous Supreme Court decisions have made it clear that the government can assert its own ideas and messages without fear of violating the First Amendment.

In the recent case, the government was attempting to promote publication of accurate information. It was not invoking a law or regulation requiring removal of postings or setting policies.

Conspiracy theorists can publish what they want, true or not, but the government has its own right to protest.

Thomas Morgan, Sarasota

Liberals don't have open minds

I chuckled when I read the July 11 letter, Web designer wins right to discriminate. The writer was complaining about the Supreme Court siding with the Christian web designer.

What the letter writer is really saying is that you cant have an opinion or belief unless you agree with my opinions and beliefs. Thats the way most liberals think.

Jean Richards, University Park

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Because of DeSantis, visitors from Michigan give Florida a pass
President Biden's decision to use his executive order authority to forgive $10,000 of student loan debt for borrowers with a six figure income was an insult to every former student who acted responsibly and paid back his or her loan. It was also one more nail in the coffin of the principle of individual responsibility. Thankfully, the Supreme Courts decision striking down the presidents action as unconstitutional has struck a blow for maintaining individual responsibility as a bedrock of American values.

Kevin Igoe

The courts s 6-3 decision was previewed by bipartisan votes in both the Senate and the House as they each approved a resolution rolling back the presidents executive order. In the Senate, Democratic Senators Manchin and Tester, along with Independent Senator Kyrsten Sinema, voted against the president. To the chagrin of supporters of the presidents action, Chief Justice Roberts, writing for the majority, wisely directed attention to former House Speaker Nancy Pelosis 2021 statement. The then speaker left no doubt that the president did not have authority to forgive student debt, saying, People think that the president of the United States has the power for debt forgiveness. He does not. He can postpone. He can delay. But he does not have that power. That has to be an act of Congress. What the courts decision does not do, however, is change the basic fact that the presidents action reeked of unfairness from the very beginning and further portrayed the president and his party as playing favorites to benefit the elites. A majority of Americans have not attended college. Far fewer have outstanding student loans. College educated young professionals have significant upward mobility, both professionally and financially. For that they can thank the college degree the student loan helped them attain.As the saying goes, there is no free lunch. If the person who took out the loan and is benefitting from it does not pay back the money, others in society will pay for it one way or another. The HVAC repair guy, the Walmart cashier, the Amazon driver  These hard working Americans should not be forced to shoulder the costs while those who benefit shirk their responsibility. Thankfully, the Supreme Court has agreed.To understand how far out of the mainstream this student loan forgiveness movement is consider this: The editorial boards of both the New York Times and the Washington Post have come out strongly against it. The Times said canceling student loan debt would set a bad precedent and do nothing to change the fact that future students will graduate with yet more debt  along with the blind hope of another, future amnesty." The Times went on to call the idea legally dubious, economically unsound, politically fraught and educationally problematic.The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget calculates that the presidents executive order combined with his other proposed regulatory changes to the student loan program would have cost taxpayers at least $500 billion over ten years.A major driver of student loan debt is the outrageous costs of higher education. Reducing the cost of obtaining a college degree would be a good start on reducing student loan debt. The Boston Herald has reported that the president of Boston University is paid $2.1 million annually. Additionally, five faculty members are paid in excess of $1 million annually.Those outrageous salary levels are paid in significant part by 19-year-olds going into debt over their heads. It is long past time for the academic elites to come down to earth with their evaluation of self worth.While we all wait with baited breath for that unlikely occurrence, consider this. Student loan debt is not a complicated issue. The person who borrowed the money is the person who should repay the money. And that, my friends, is what you call individual responsibility. Three cheers for the Supreme Court.Kevin Igoe is the former chief of staff of the Maryland Department of Budget and Management and former deputy chief of staff of the Republican National Committee. He served on the Washington staff of former Representative Connie Mack III of Southwest Florida and was a Reagan White House appointee.

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Supreme Court: Individual responsibility still matters
Advocates who for years saw the Supreme Court offer landmark decisions enshrining LGBTQ rights and legal protections into law are expressing deep concerns as a court reshaped by former President Donald Trump moves in a sharply more conservative direction.

The most recent warning sign for these advocates was the courts decision last month to side with a Christian web designer who refused to make same-sex wedding websites, a significant blow to the LGBTQ community.

The courts ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization that struck down longstanding federal abortion protections also indirectly weakened LGBTQ rights.

A federal appeals court this month cited the Dobbs decision nine times in an order overturning the ruling of a lower court that blocked the enforcement of a new Tennessee law preventing transgender minors from accessing gender-affirming health care. The three-judge panel wrote in their order that access to transgender health care is not deeply rooted in this nations history and tradition.

Two of the Supreme Courts conservatives appear eager to wade into cases implicating transgender protections as the new legal battles could soon be headed to the justices.

You cant look at the kind of extreme and radical decisions that the court has been issuing the last couple of years and not be at least concerned about what its going to mean for LGBTQ rights, said Chris Stoll, a senior staff attorney at the National Center for Lesbian Rights.

The recent decisions are even more of a blow given how the Supreme Court delivered significant victories for LBGTQ rights amid changing public attitudes over the last two decades toward same-sex couples.

In 2003, the court struck down a Texas law that criminalized same-sex intimacy. A decade later, the court struck down the federal Defense of Marriage Acts provision that defined marriage as a union between one man and one woman. In 2015, the court legalized same-sex marriage nationwide.

In all three of those cases, Justice Anthony Kennedy, a Reagan appointee who was the long-time swing vote on the court, joined four liberals to form a 5-4 majority. Kennedy authored each of the majority opinions.

But the court has since swung to the right as former Trumps nominees joined the court, including when Trump was able to replace Kennedy with Justice Brett Kavanaugh.

Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnells (Ky.) refusal to give even a hearing to former President Obamas last nominee to the Supreme Court was another defining moment in shaping the court. McConnell and a GOP Senate then quickly confirmed conservative Justice Amy Coney Barrett to the court weeks before the 2020 election. She replaced liberal icon Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

New appointees to the Supreme Court have an unfavorable view of LGBTQ rights and civil rights in general, said Camilla Taylor, director of constitutional litigation for Lambda Legal, an LGBTQ rights group. We have seen a retraction of civil rights from an extremist Supreme Court determined to roll back liberties that generations of Americans have enjoyed. Its attack on LGBTQ rights is part and parcel of that.

Never a linear path

Regardless of the composition of the court, however, the pathway to equality has never been a linear one, said Sarah Warbelow, legal director for the Human Rights Campaign.

Theres just not a singular trajectory for LGBTQ people with the court, said Warbelow. There have been losses and wins mixed in with one another over the years.

Even near the end of Trumps presidency, the Supreme Court in 2020 still delivered a major win for the LGBTQ community. With a 6-3 majority, the court ruled in Bostock v. Clayton County that the Civil Rights Act of 1964 protects employees from being fired because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

The majority opinion was authored by Justice Neil Gorsuch, Trumps first appointee who is a stout textualist and defended the decision as interpreting the literal meaning of the landmark law.

This term, in a 6-3 decision narrowing LGBTQ protections, Gorsuch wrote the majority opinion ruling in favor of the Christian web designer. The vote fell along ideological lines.

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The Supreme Court has been in favor of marriage equality, with Bostock as well, and all of these different court cases. To see this shift is really just an unprecedented power grab, said Josie Caballero, director of the U.S. transgender survey and special projects at the National Center for Transgender Equality.

The center is one of roughly 90 organizations that recently formed a new coalition, United for Democracy, to push back against the court. The coalition also boasts several other LGBTQ groups as members and dozens of other left-leaning organizations.

Liberal Justice Sonia Sotomayor read portions of dissent in the website case aloud from the bench for roughly 20 minutes, longer than Gorsuchs majority opinion.

Her dissent recounted the history of the LGBTQ community, referencing the Stonewall riots and a gay student who was murdered. As Sotomayor concluded by telling the story of a cemetery that refused to include the words beloved life partner on the headstone of a womans grave, in reference to her same-sex partner, Sotomayor added a remark not included in the written opinion:

What justice is that? Sotomayor asked from the bench.

New battles erupt

Already, new legal battles are erupting around LGBTQ rights that could soon end up at the Supreme Court.

Republican-led states attempts to ban gender-affirming care and drag shows have been proceeding in the lower courts. The Supreme Court so far has declined to intervene, turning away two appeals in recent months regarding transgender rights, although the issues could return to the court.

We need to send a clear message, because if we do not act now and check the power of the Supreme Court, who knows how far its gonna go, said Caballero. So because we see no signs of slowing, its forcing all of us to work more diligently and more aggressively to rein in this extreme decision-making that the Supreme Courts doing from the bench.

When the court in April declined to step in to enforce West Virginias transgender athlete ban, two of the courts leading conservatives, Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas, publicly dissented.

Alito wrote it concerned an important issue that this Court is likely to be required to address in the near future.

Two hours after handing down the website designer decision, the court turned away an appeal implicating transgender protections. Alito, joined by Thomas, again publicly dissented, writing there is no good reason for delay before taking up the case.

This decision will raise a host of important and sensitive questions regarding such matters as participation in womens and girls sports, access to single-sex restrooms and housing, the use of traditional pronouns, and the administration of sex reassignment therapy (both the performance of surgery and the administration of hormones) by physicians and at hospitals that object to such treatment on religious or moral grounds, Alito wrote.

The court in 2021 also declined to weigh in on a dispute over whether transgender students should be allowed to use school restrooms that are consistent with their gender identity. Alito and Thomas said they would have heard the case.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Four swimmers have been injured in dolphin attacks on a beach in central Japan, officials say.

One man, in his 60s, suffered broken ribs and bites to his hands after a dolphin rammed him a few metres off Suishohama beach in the town of Mihama, Fukui prefecture, early on Sunday.

Another man, in his 40s, sustained arm bites in a separate incident on the popular beach the same morning.

Two more people were injured by the mammals later in the day.

Fukui has now recorded six such attacks this year, local police say.

Signs have been put up telling swimmers to avoid approaching or touching the mammals.

While dolphins are not usually aggressive to humans, hostility towards swimmers is not unheard of.

Scientists have suggested that wild bottlenose dolphins find swimming alongside humans "incredibly stressful," finding evidence that it disrupts their behavioural routines.

In the Republic of Ireland, two women were injured in the space of ten days in 2013 by the same dolphin, including one who suffered from a broken rib.

A year later five swimmers had to be rescued off the Irish coast when a dolphin encircled them aggressively.

As well as hostility towards humans - dolphins are known at times to behave extremely violently towards their fellow sea creatures.

In Cornwall, south-west England, a bottlenose dolphin was seen flipping a porpoise into the air as part of an aggressive attack.

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A teenage tourist is under investigation after she was filmed defacing Rome's Colosseum by a tour guide who said her parents told him: 'She's just a little girl'

The Colosseum, a historic World Heritage monument that has been vandalized by tourists. Andrea Ronchini/NurPhoto via Getty Images

A Swiss teenager is under investigation for defacing the Colosseum, Italian media outlets report.

The 17-year-old was filmed carving the letter "N" into the ancient structure by a local tour guide.

The guide, David Battaglino, told local media that her parents told him: "She's just a little girl."

Less than a month after a tourist sparked outrage for defacing the Colosseum by carving his and his girlfriend's initials into the ancient building, a teenage visitor is under investigation for a similar act of vandalism.

The young tourist from Switzerland found herself at the center of a probe launched by the Italian police after she was caught on camera carving the letter "N" into a wall on the nearly 2,000-year-old Roman structure, according to Swiss Info. The news was first reported by the Italian media outlet ADN Kronos.

The tourist has not been identified by name, but a clip of the incident was shared on Twitter by the Italian news agency ANSA.

The video appeared to show a blonde teenager, whose face was blurred, using an object to carve the letter "N" into the historic structure's brick-faced concrete before turning away when people started clapping.

Twitter's translation of ANSA's tweet read: "New disfigurement at the Colosseum, a Swiss tourist engraves her initials: she risks prison and a maximum fine. She was filmed by a guide and reported."

David Battaglino, the local tour guide who filmed the teenager carrying out the act, told the Italian newspaper La Republica that he was showing a group around the Colosseum when someone directed his attention to the teenager.

He told the outlet that he kept talking to his tour group while simultaneously filming the teenager defacing the Colosseum with his phone.

"After a few seconds, my group applauded me. To her, in English, I said, 'Do you want applause?' The young girl understood that she had ended up in the crosshairs of those who protect art and turned away to go toward her family," he said.

Carvings on the Colosseum in Rome. FILIPPO MONTEFORTE/AFP/Getty Images

Battaglino told the teenager's parents that what she had done was illegal, reported them to a supervisor, and recalled her parents telling him: "She's just a little girl, she wasn't doing anything wrong," according to La Republica.

The teen and her parents were subsequently taken to police headquarters in Rome's Piazza Venezia, the outlet reported. The Polizia di Stato and Italy's Ministry of Culture did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Battaglino said that it was the first time he had caught an act of vandalism at the Colosseum on camera but added that he had also seen similar acts before and was once "spat at" in a previous incident involving a boy.

The outcome of this latest investigation is still unclear, but it bears similarities with the viral story of the 27-year-old British fitness instructor who was seen using a key to carve "Ivan+Haley 23" into the nearly 2,000-year-old Roman structure in a video originally shared to YouTube.

At the time, ANSA reported that the British tourist could face up to $16,000 in fines and five years in prison.

He later wrote an apology letter to Rome's mayor, Roberto Gualtieri, and the prosecutor's office, which was shared in Rome's Il Messaggero newspaper on July 5. He said in the letter that he wasn't aware of the ancient monument's age or the "seriousness of the deed committed."

Read the original article on Insider
Tesla celebrated the arrival of its first electric pickup truck, Cybertruck, after it rolled off the assembly line Saturday, years after the first prototype was revealed in 2019.

The EV company originally said production would begin in late 2021, but encountered delays. Now, nearly two-years later, the first Cybertruck has officially been built.

The company celebrated the milestone on Twitter with a photo of workers in hats and yellow vests surrounding the truck at its facility, Gigafactory Texas, near Austin.

First Cybertruck built at Giga Texas!  pic.twitter.com/ODRhHVsd0t  Tesla (@Tesla) July 15, 2023

Tesla owner Elon Musk retweeted the photo, saying Congrats Tesla Team!

The trucks journey did not get off to a great start, after a window, that was billed as unbreakable, cracked after being hit by a big metal ball during its initial unveiling in 2019.

Tesla was largely silent about its plans for the vehicle after that, but in late 2021, said that an updated version was coming. In January 2022, Tesla announced a delay in production until 2023 and then in November of that year, Musk said production would begin in the middle of 2023 on a call with financial analysts, according to Reuters.

The truck, which has a wedge shape and stainless steel body, allows Musks company to compete in the electric pickup market.

The Ford F-150 Lightning and Rivian Automotives R1T are two of Teslas competitors, but Ford and Rivians versions look more like traditional pickups.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
A pair of bills passed by the Texas Legislature during a second special session could spell significant property tax relief for homeowners across the state.

The Texas Senate passed SB 2 and SB 3, both coauthored by state Sen. Cesar Blanco, that are expected to provide $18 billion in property tax relief to Texas homeowners and small businesses.

Across El Paso and Far West Texas, working families and small businesses are struggling with skyrocketing local property taxes," Blanco, D-El Paso, said in a news release following the Senate's July 12 vote. "Coming into session this year, delivering economic relief to families and small businesses was my number one priority."

The House approved its property tax bills on July 13. The tax relief package is now headed to Gov. Greg Abbott's desk for his signature.

More: Gov. Abbott signs bill to keep 'sexually explicit material' out of Texas school libraries

A first special session, called shortly after the end of the regular session, ended with lawmakers unable to reach an agreement on how best to address skyrocketing property taxes across the state, prompting Abbott to immediately call lawmakers back to Austin for a second round of negotiations.

What's in the property tax relief package?

Property taxes have been on the rise across Texas for the past few years, with a recent review from the Texas Comptroller's Office showing that property tax revenue grew by more than $20 billion between 2018 and 2021.

The legislature's action last week marks the largest cut in history to Texas property taxes, Blanco said.

State Sen. Cesar Blanco, D-El Paso, was among the co-authors on a pair of bills passed by the Texas Senate this week to provide $18 billion in property tax relief across the state.

"With this legislation, homeowners will save on average $1,373 every year, while over 60,000 homeowners in El Paso and West Texas could pay zero dollars in local school district property taxes," Blanco said in the release. "Moreover, SB 3 will also effectively eliminate the states franchise tax for over 67,000 small businesses in our communities by doubling the state franchise tax exemption."

The property tax relief package includes the following provisions:

Over $12 billion will be spent on reducing the school property tax rate for all homeowners and business properties;

Every homeowner who homesteads their home (approximately 5.7 million homeowners) will get a $100,000 homestead exemption;

Nonhomesteaded properties, valued at $5 million and under, including residential and commercial properties, will receive a 20% cap on appraised values as a three-year pilot project;

Legislation also will include savings on the franchise tax for small businesses and create newly elected positions on local appraisal boards.

In Blanco's Senate District 29, which covers El Paso to the Big Bend and Permian Basin regions, the senator said as many as 60,000 homeowners "could pay zero dollars in school property taxes" thanks to the increased homestead exemption.

With our record surplus, it is only right we put money back in the pockets of working families and businesses. This is a big win for Texas families!

Some lawmakers worry about impact to school districts

The bills, which represent a compromise between the House and Senate, have wide support among state leaders, including Abbott, who praised the legislation in a statement on July 14.

"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," Abbott wrote in the statement. "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."

More: Texas House approves bill to increase Borderland vehicle registration fees by up to $10

Others, however, such as state Rep. Eddie Morales, D-El Paso, remain skeptical.

In a tweet on July 13, Morales said he has heard "significant concern" from school superintendents, specifically Michelle Rinehart of the Alpine Independent School District, that HB 2  the House version of the Senate-approved legislation  prohibits school districts from using the Local Option Homestead Exemption.

"For example, Alpine ISD provides over $630,000 in exemptions that could instead be invested in their students," Morales tweeted. "I believe, for the sustainability of many of our small and rural school districts, the state should not be compelling districts to maintain exemptions they cannot afford. At the least, the state should be reimbursing these payments to ensure students receive the quality education they deserve, and so that districts have the means to fund their classrooms."

Blanco, however, is confident schools will continue to receive their fair share.

"Im not worried that our schools will be negatively impacted," Blanco said in an emailed response to questions. "While the homeowners contribution to school property taxes will decrease, the state will fill in those gaps and increase its share. All school districts will be held harmless and will not lose any revenue. This is also a step in the right direction of the state increasing its share of public-school funding."

And while state Rep. Lina Ortega recognizes the need for property tax relief, she still has concerns about the bills approved last week.

"Property tax relief is necessary in Texas," Ortega, D-El Paso, said in an emailed response to questions. "We are burdened with one of the highest property taxes across the states. While the bills being proposed (are) one avenue for tax relief, there are concerns about how sustainable it will be."

State Rep. Lina Ortega speaks April 22 at San Jacinto Plaza after members of the Texas Democratic Caucus, local elected officials and community leaders marched against efforts to turn back progress on diversity, equity and inclusion across Texas.

She noted that part of the package requires the state to fill any gaps left by the drop in property tax revenues for schools, but that does nothing to solve the problem of chronically underfunded public schools in the state nor the ongoing teacher shortage.

"The issue here is that schools as a whole need more funding from the state," Ortega wrote. "The proposed legislation does not allocate funding for teachers, which was initially included in the Senate bills."

"This funding is necessary to assist Texas families and children," she continued. "In general, I support the legislation as a means to reduce property tax, but the state still needs to provide more funding to our schools to unburden taxpayers."

It is unclear how widespread these concerns are among other House members. The remainder of El Paso's House delegation did not respond to requests for comment.

This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Texas property tax relief bill 2023: Here's how it affects El Paso
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 16)  The state weather bureau on Sunday warned of flooding and landslides as the enhanced southwest monsoon, or habagat, continues to bring rains over Luzon and Western Visayas.

According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), Zambales, Bataan, Occidental Mindoro, and the northern portion of Palawan may experience heavy and continuous rains.

Occasional rains are forecast over Metro Manila, Western Visayas, La Union, Pangasinan, Benguet, Tarlac, Pampanga, Bulacan, Cavite, Batangas, and the rest of Mimaropa.

The rest of Luzon may see cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms.

"May kakapalan ang mga kaulapan dito sa Luzon at western section ng Visayas kaya nananatiling mataas ang tiyansa ng mga flash flood at landslide sa mga nabanggit na lugar," PAGASA weather specialist Daniel Villamil said during a 5 a.m. briefing.

[Translation: There are thick clouds over Luzon and the western section of Visayas that's why flashfloods and landslides may occur in these areas.]

Meanwhile, Mindanao and the rest of Visayas may expect partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms due to the habagat and localized thunderstorms.

Villamil said rains will continue over Luzon, especially over the northern and the central areas of the island, until Tuesday. By Wednesday, the cities of Metro Manila, Baguio, and Legazpi may experience generally fair weather conditions with rains caused by localized thunderstorms.

The central and eastern sections of Visayas and Mindanao may experience gloomy weather until Wednesday as PAGASA is monitoring a cloud cluster over the east of Mindanao but still outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR), Villamil said.

"Hindi tinatanggal ang posibilidad na ang mga kumpol ng kaulapan na ito ay mamuo bilang isang low pressure area sa mga susunod na araw," he added.

[Translation: We are not eliminating the possibility of the cloud cluster developing into a low pressure area in the coming days.]

Dodong, which peaked at tropical storm category before exiting the PAR on Saturday afternoon, has no direct impact on any part of the country, but it has enhanced the habagat, PAGASA said.

The storm is expected to intensify into a typhoon while moving towards southern China, the agency added.

PAGASA also raised a gale warning over the western seaboards of Luzon and Visayas, advising against vessels sailing as the height of waves ranges from 2.8 to 4.5 meters.
(Bloomberg) -- Pita Limjaroenrat, whose political party won the most seats in Thailands general election, should get more chances to secure enough votes from lawmakers and become prime minister, according to an opinion poll.

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He was backed by more than 60% of the 1,310 participants nationwide in the July 11-12 survey by the National Institute of Development Administration to be given additional opportunities. About 43.2% in the NIDA poll said coalition parties should continue to nominate Pita until he gets the top job, while 20.7% said he should be proposed as the top candidate one or two more times.

Pita is the sole candidate put forth by the elections coalition winners to become prime minister. Yet, the 42-year-old leader of Move Forward Party had been thwarted by conservative parties and the military-appointed Senate in his first attempt July 13 to assume the position.

He posted a video message on Saturday, showing his willingness to step aside and let his coalition partner Pheu Thai Party form the next government, should he fail in attempts to secure the top political office. Parliament will meet again on July 19 to elect a new leader.

According to the poll, Pheu Thais Paetongtarn Shinawatra has the highest chance to become the next prime minister if Pita fails again to secure enough support. Paetongtarn, the youngest daughter of former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, had the nod from 38.6% of survey participants. Srettha Thavisin, another of Pheu Thais premier candidates, was second with 35%.

Thursdays vote undermined the popular choice of the people, who handed an overwhelming victory to pro-democracy parties in the May election. While Pitas Move Forward and seven of its allies held 312 seats in the 500-member House of Representatives, they were outnumbered in the joint parliament sitting that included members of the Senate.

READ: Thai Conservatives Stop Pro-Democracy Candidate From Becoming PM

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Third-party No Labels will not be a 'spoiler' in 2024 election, chair says

Former U.S. Senator Joe Lieberman speaks at an event in Ashraf-3 camp, which is a base for the People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (MEK) in Manza

By David Morgan

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The third-party No Labels group will stay out of the 2024 U.S. presidential race if polling shows its candidate would play a "spoiler" role by helping to elect either the Democratic or Republican nominee, co-chairman Joe Lieberman said on Sunday.

The group will on Monday release what it calls a "common sense" agenda of policies meant to help unite the country behind a cooperative moderate alternative to the partisanship that characterizes contemporary U.S. politics.

Lieberman, a former U.S. senator and unsuccessful vice presidential candidate, said No Labels hopes to offer a legitimate "third choice" candidate.

"We're not in this to be spoilers," Lieberman told ABC's "This Week" program. He spoke a day before the group was due to release its agenda in New Hampshire, an early primary state.

"If the polling next year shows, after the two parties have chosen their nominees, that in fact we will help elect one or another candidate, we're not going to get involved," he said.

Others involved in No Labels include businessman John Hope Bryant, civil rights leader Benjamin Chavis Jr., Republican former Maryland Governor Larry Hogan, and Republican former North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory.

Democratic Senator Joe Manchin was due to speak at Monday's No Labels event in New Hampshire, feeding speculation that he could be weighing a third-party candidacy.

Opinion polls suggest the November 2024 election will again pit Democratic President Joe Biden against Republican former President Donald Trump. Both have disapproval ratings above the 50% mark.

No Labels has raised concerns that it could wind up playing a spoiler role in 2024, as political analysts say Ross Perot did for Republicans in 1992 when Bill Clinton won and Ralph Nader for Democrats in 2000 when George W. Bush won.

Former Democratic Senator Doug Jones said a third-party No Labels candidate could not secure the 270 Electoral College votes needed to win. But he said a No Labels candidate could help Trump regain the White House he lost to Biden in 2020.

"It looks like they will be a spoiler in favor of Donald Trump and that will be the biggest threat to democracy that we have seen since Jan. 6," Jones told the ABC program, referring to a 2021 assault by Trump supporters on the U.S. Capitol.

Republican presidential candidate Chris Christie rejected the group's approach outright on Sunday.

"I think it's a fool's errand," the former New Jersey governor told ABC, predicting that the 2024 election can be won only by a major party nominee.

Lieberman insisted that the group offered a much needed alternative. Lieberman, then-Democratic presidential nominee Al Gore's running mate in 2000, later quit the party to win a final term in the Senate as an independent,

"The problem is not the third choice that No Labels is offering the American people. The problem is the American people are not buying what the two parties are selling anymore," Lieberman said.

(Reporting by David Morgan; Editing by Howard Goller)
Thousands facing delays, cancellations at Charlotte-Douglas Airport on Saturday

Thousands of flyers are experiencing delayed flights at Charlotte-Douglas Airport.

As of 8 p.m. on Saturday night, there are more than 500 delays and 47 total cancellations.

ALSO READ: Thousands of dollars seized from luggage at Charlotte Douglas Airport

At 10:45 p.m., delays reached more than 600 with 48 cancellations.

Channel 9 reached out to Charlotte-Douglas Airport to see if any of the cancellations or delays are related to the weather.

Details are limited at this time.

This is a developing story; check back at wsoctv.com for updates.

(WATCH BELOW: NTSB: Broken mechanism forced emergency nose landing at Charlotte Douglas airport)




Threads app. Chesnot / Getty Images

The smartest insight and analysis, from all perspectives, rounded up from around the web:

Twitter's constant crises have now put it "at imminent risk of losing its status as the watercooler of the internet," said Dave Lee in Bloomberg. Meta last week took direct aim at Twitter with its Threads app, gaining 100 million users within days of launch. The eye-opening debut was a "master class" in launching a new app. Anyone on Instagram could easily migrate their information onto Threads, which instantly "populated feeds with accounts users already knew, and others they would perhaps like to," leapfrogging the "cold start" problem that has tripped up other clones that have tried to find an opening in the chaos that has engulfed Twitter since Elon Musk bought it seven months ago. And Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg seems to be "relishing the sense" that he's "rescuing Twitter users from the Musk regime." Musk, meanwhile, is having a meltdown, said Erik Uebelacker in The Daily Beast. He filed a lawsuit "accusing Meta of poaching ex-Twitter employees to create the 'copycat' app." And making sure to add insult to litigation, he also called Zuckerberg a "cuck," a derogatory term embraced by the Right fringe, in a tweet.

Zuckerberg saw his opportunity here because of how bad Musk is at running a social media site, said Charlie Warzel in The Atlantic. Just last week, Musk decided to limit how many tweets people can view. Musk suggested that he wanted to prevent third parties from scraping user data from the site. But it was a "baffling" decision for a platform that depends on engaging viewers. Unfortunately, it's nothing new for Musk, who has "degraded the reliability of Twitter's service, filled the platform with bigots and spam, and alienated many of its power users."

The new app "functions almost exactly like Twitter," said Sara Fischer in Axios. It's not the first time Meta has "cloned and conquered" a successful product  like its TikTok copycat Reels and its Snapchat copycat Stories  and regulators have noticed. The Federal Trade Commission is already pursuing a case against Meta for "buying and cloning rivals to box them out." Zuckerberg is pitching Threads as a "friendlier" alternative to Twitter, but it raises many of the same concerns about moderation, said Katie Paul in Reuters. "Within hours of launch, Threads accounts were posting about the Illuminati and 'billionaire satanists,' while other users compared each other to Nazis and battled over everything from gender identity to violence in the West Bank."

I wish Threads were a throwback to old Twitter, but it isn't, said Kyle Chayka in The New Yorker. What once made Twitter great was its commitment to real-time information. But its "usefulness for breaking news has decayed under Musk," who has driven away news gatherers and news makers in favor of trolls and fabricators. For Threads or any social media app "to have a chance to kill Twitter," said Molly Roberts in The Washington Post, "people must let go of Twitter; for people to let go of Twitter, Twitter truly has to die." The good news for Meta is that "Musk seems to be well on his way" to killing his own company.

This article was first published in the latest issue of The Week magazine. If you want to read more like it, you can try six risk-free issues of the magazine here.

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Tiny house full of sophistication is for sale in Tennessee. Check out the chic digs

This house is luxurious. Its chic. Its filled with modern features.

Exterior

And its only 408 square feet.

Exterior

A Tracy City tiny home  which is listed for $519,900  is turning heads in Tennessee thanks to its high-end style and sophistication for such a small space. The home was designed by architect Jeffrey Dungan, and it was originally for developer Chip Hayes, Realtor.com noted.

Deck area

Our company, The Retreat by Oakstone, started developing tiny-home communities in 2019, and the demand has been staggering, Hayes told Realtor. This property is a concept I came up with years ago, based on some of my best childhood vacations.

Property

With one bedroom and one bathroom, the property has a massive amount of potential in addition to some high-end features including:

Living room

Ply Gem aluminum clad wood windows

Summit Appliance appliances

Quartz countertops

Living room

Its being sold fully furnished, according to the listing.

Kitchen

Along with its interior that flows with grace, its also in a quiet, beautiful area.

Bedroom

The lake does not allow for any gas boats, making it very peaceful and scenic, Hayes told Realtor.

Loft area

Tracy City is about 100 miles southeast of Nashville.

Bathroom

Affordable private island lists in Vermont  several everyday essentials not included
In my past discussions about electric vehicle growth and adoption in Michigan, I emphasized the need to understand how Michigans electric utilities and public power providers contribute to electrification and their essential roles to enable and deliver the fuel that is electricity needed to power EVs of all types. Throughout the state, Michigans electric utilities and public power providers are working hard to help consumers connect to resources and have access to important information needed to successfully access EV charging and use it on a daily basis.

New electric vehicle stations are at the east end of the Riverfront Parking Lot in Monroe, nearest South Monroe Street, and are accessible via the West Front Street entrances.

One key role of Michigans electric utilities and public power providers is to provide a strong and reliable electrical power grid able to handle the rising demands of EV use as it continues to grow in Michigan. Another key role is to help electricity consumers and the communities in which they live by working with their customers and local community leaders/coalitions to help develop charging infrastructure  residential, commercial and public.

Consumers Energy  which serves 6.8 million of Michigans 10 million residents in all 68 Lower Peninsula counties  has been a proactive Michigan utility in both its electrical power grid strategic planning and ability to provide access to EV charging infrastructure development-based resources and information. According to Brian Wheeler, Consumers media relations manager, the utility is well on its way in developing a strong, stable electrical power grid for the next 20 years.

By 2040, the company will reach goals for grid modernization and large-scale electricity storage via battery technology. At the same time, Consumers plans to make significant clean energy gains  using wind, solar, hydroelectric and pumped storage (turbine regeneration)  while retaining access to baseline power plants (nuclear and natural gas-powered) to provide uninterrupted 24/7 electricity access.

Consumers upgraded nearly 100 substations, trimmed nearly 7,100 miles of trees/forest area, and added 32 automatic transfer reclosures  a high-tech circuit breaker which reduces electricity and loss when outages develop  to its electrical grid network. Consumers is also testing conversion of power lines to underground to help generate greater efficiency in key areas.

Similarly, DTE has been proactive in an aggressive tree-trimming campaign and updating existing power grid infrastructure, according to DTE spokesperson Angela Meredith. DTE is also rebuilding from the ground up major portions of the power grid and transitioning to smart grid technology that, like Consumers, provides uninterrupted 24/7 electricity access even when an outage does take place.

Nearly one-third of DTEs energy mix comes from carbon-free renewables, nuclear and energy storage, with the balance of its generation mix coming from natural gas (19%) and coal (45%). DTE submitted its CleanVision Integrated Resource Plan (IRP), a 20-year proposal that achieves 85% CO2 emission reductions in 2035, to the Michigan Public Utilities Commission for approval in 2022. It plans to accelerate coal plant retirements  including retiring its Monroe Power Plant in 2032, three years earlier than previously announced  and develop enough Michigan-made wind and solar energy to power approximately 4 million homes.

In the public power arena, Holland, Michigan  home to the Harbor Lighthouse and Lake Macatawa  has been the gold standard for EV support and charging infrastructure at the municipal level. Barry Rutherford, who has served as energy efficiencies engineer for the Holland Board of Public Works, began sharing with me information of their proactive approach to developing charging infrastructure for residents, businesses and visitors several years ago. The Holland board encourages private EV charging companies to work with them to set up and run EV charging stations  establishing a free, market-based partnership to provide public EV charging throughout Holland.

Again, Michigans utilities are working hard to promote transportation electrification for all. They are involved with the National Electric Highway Coalition, a group of U.S. utilities working with businesses and communities to minimize range anxiety and promote long-range EV travel.

Tom Adamich is president of Visiting Librarian Service, a firm he has operated since 1993. He also is project archivist for the Greening Nursery Co. and Family Archives and the electric vehicle awareness coordinator at Monroe County Community College.

This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Tom Adamich: Utilities working to meet electric vehicle demands
Flash flood warning issued for parts of Mass. and N.H. as severe weather rolls through

A flash flood warning has been issued for parts of Massachusetts and New Hampshire as severe weather rolls through.

Essex, Middlesex, Norfolk, Plymouth; Suffolk and Worcester counties are under a flash flood warning until 5:30 p.m. Bristol County is under a flash flood warning until 4:45 p.m.

In New Hampshire, Cheshire; Hillsborough, Merrimack, and Rockingham counties are under a flood warning until 6:00 p.m. Carroll county is under a flood warning until 6:00 p.m.

Belknap and Merrimack counties are under a flood warning until Tuesday morning.

According to the NWS, a cluster of rain traveling northeast through southern New England could potentially flood roadways, especially in urban areas.

240 PM: Another round of downpours over Long Island may bring additional flooding to parts of #RI and nearby SE #MA later this afternoon, especially in urban areas.



Remember - avoid flooded roadways, even if the water appears to be shallow!#mawx #riwx pic.twitter.com/qRan80Exiy  NWS Boston (@NWSBoston) July 16, 2023

======================================================

A tornado watch has been issued for parts of Massachusetts and New Hampshire as severe weather rolls through.

Essex, Middlesex and Worcester counties are on a tornado watch until 3 p.m.

Belknap, Carroll, Hillsborough, Merrimack, Rockingham, and Strafford, counties are also on a tornado watch until 3 p.m.

A tornado warning was issued in Southwestern Rockingham County and Southeastern Hillsborough County in Southern New Hampshire but has expired.

Middlesex County in Massachusetts was under a Tornado Warning until 9:15 a.m., according to the National Weather Service.

Central Middlesex County; Eastern Essex; Eastern Hampden; Eastern Hampshire; Eastern Norfolk; Northern Bristol; Northwest Middlesex County; Southeast Middlesex; Southern Bristol; Southern Worcester; Suffolk; Western Essex; Western Hampden; Western Hampshire and Western Norfolk counties are all under flood watches.

Boston 25 Meteorologists recommend getting off the roads and staying inside away from windows.

A tornado watch is also in effect in Berkshire, Essex, Franklin, Hampden, Hampshire, Middlesex, and Worcester counties.

RELATED: Tornado, severe thunderstorm tips: Watch vs. Warning, 10 other things to know to stay safe  Boston 25 News

To track the storms on interactive radar, click here.

A Tornado Warning is in effect for parts of our area until 7/16 9:30AM. Seek shelter immediately and stay with Boston 25 for the latest weather information. pic.twitter.com/GueiLjPh9E  Vicki Graf (@VickiGrafWX) July 16, 2023

A Tornado Warning is in effect for parts of our area until 7/16 8:45AM. Seek shelter immediately and stay with Boston 25 for the latest weather information. pic.twitter.com/uXg7i7SYJ1  Vicki Graf (@VickiGrafWX) July 16, 2023

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.

Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
The following is a transcript of an interview with Mesa, Arizona Mayor John Giles that aired on "Face the Nation" on July 16, 2023.



MARGARET BRENNAN: We turn now to John Giles. He's the Republican Mayor of Mesa, Arizona, a city about 20 miles east of Phoenix at the epicenter of this heatwave. Mayor Giles Good morning to you. I imagine it's always challenging to manage a city in the middle of a desert. But with this record streak of heat, what, what is the impact on people's health and the community?

MESA, ARIZONA MAYOR JOHN GILES: Well, good- good morning, Margaret. We absolutely are, you start high temperatures in the Phoenix area and in Mesa, but-but this is unusual. Due to some of the, I guess, global conditions that you just talked about earlier, we aren't experiencing the normal rainstorms that we usually see this time of July in Arizona. So we're used to several days over 110, even-even days in the high teens. But this is unusual, because of the, you know, weeks long duration of it.

MARGARET BRENNAN: And so what is the short term or future impact that you are planning for you mentioned rain? What does that mean for your water supply?

GILES: Well, water is actually always an issue in the desert, obviously. And then so we- Arizona Believe it or not, is really leads the nation when it comes to water conservation. This is the only place in the country where you have to prove that you have a 100 year guaranteed water supply before you can build anything. So that is always on our minds. And we are continuing to see challenges with the Colorado River. Thankfully, we've got other water sources that we rely on. So we feel good about our water future, although that's something that we're very, still working very hard on. Temperatures, we do have a long term plan for that as well. We have short term plans, we have a lot of cooling stations. Every year, we do a big hydration donation campaign in Mesa where we collect about, you know, several 100,000 of these so that we're prepared for helping those who are outside don't have the resources to be inside during the hot temperatures. And then long term, we- of course have climate action plans, but any climate action plan in a place like Mesa has got to take into account heat mitigation to be something that is taken seriously. So it, for example, in Mesa we have launched a campaign earlier this year to plant a million new trees in our community to create more shade, and also we're investing in transportation infrastructure.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Are you going to have to slow development I mean, do you know at this point in terms of more construction because of the strain on infrastructure and resources and how is the electrical grid faring?

GILES: Electricity is good. We have two major electric companies in the Phoenix area, Salt River, Project Arizona Public Service Tucson power down in Tucson, and we- so far we have not seen any brownouts or any event that- that the grid is going is going to be an issue or the wholesale electricity production is a problem. And believe it or not, and the irony here is that the Phoenix area is really in a- in a- in an economic boom right now. Places like Mesa we've got Apple, Google, Facebook, Meta all coming in making multibillion dollar investments are bringing a lot of great jobs. So the heat and the- the weather, frankly, is the reason these companies are coming to Mesa and Phoenix, hurricanes, blizzards, tornadoes, mudslides, we just don't do that here. So you do have to tap out, you know, some-some some high temperatures in the middle of July. But other than that the weather is actually a bonus for us.

MARGARET BRENNAN: You know, when you were here in Washington with us last on FACE THE NATION, we talked a bit about your concerns related to migration. And you said at the time that-that the city does get overwhelmed, you're not right on the border, but you deal with the impact. I know border patrol says there has been- that the number of apprehensions has gone down in the past few months. Are you seeing that? And how is the extreme heat impacting people's movement?

GILES: While the heat absolutely is an issue for people who are attempting to cross the border, particularly those that are migrating from Central America, so that is something we're very concerned about. And the Border Patrol and humanitarian groups along the border are constantly everyday rescuing people that are in life threatening situations. So- so that's very concerning. The last time I talked with you, we were very nervous about the impacts of Title 42. And what would happen with that transition. In the past we've-we've been- every time there's a surge at the border communities like Mesa are heavily impacted because our resources are called upon when the federal government's resources are not enough. We have been so far so good, though when it comes to the Title 42 situation. But again, we remain very concerned and are looking for a long term solution there.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Well, Mr. Mayor, good luck to you faring in this heat. Thanks for sharing your insights. FACE THE NATION will be back in a minute so stay with us.

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The Tree of Life shooting horrified the nation: Is that a good reason for the death penalty?

Tree of Life Synagogue Justin Merriman/For The Washington Post via Getty Images

This coming week, the jury in the trial of Robert Bowers will begin hearing evidence about whether he should receive a death sentence for killing 11 worshippers and wounding six others at Pittsburgh's Tree of Life synagogue in 2018. Bowers was found guilty last month of a variety of federal crimes, including "obstruction of the exercise of religious belief resulting in death."

As horrible as his crimes were, mass killing in houses of worship sadly are not uncommon events in the United States. Those sacred places have gone from being sanctuaries for the poor, the political dissident and even the heretic to killing fields for mass murderers who see them as soft targets for their rage and hatred.

The loss of lives among parishioners in churches, synagogues and mosques is grotesque and shocking. Is there nothing holy? What kind of depravity would lead anyone to do such a thing?

Given these understandable feelings and questions, it is not surprising that they would provoke anger and disgust at the perpetrators of church killings.

But the fact that they occur where people of faith gather should neither fuel the desire for vengeance nor become the grounds for putting those who carry them out to death.

A Voice of America report notes that, like other mass murderers, the people who commit murders in houses of worship are "overwhelmingly white and male." Most, it continues, "had criminal records, a violent history, and almost all of them had experienced serious childhood trauma."

The report notes: "The first mass shooting at a house of worship in the modern era occurred in 1980 during Sunday services at First Baptist Church in Daingerfield, Texas. Five people were killed and 10 others were injured. The shooting was prompted by revenge involving a criminal domestic issue."

Since then, Americans have become all too familiar with reports of killings in houses of worship.

For example, in May of 2006, 25-year-old Anthony Bell made headlines when he went to the Ministry of Jesus Christ Church in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where he shot and killed four people as the service was nearing its end. He also abducted his wife and three of his children, including an infant, who had all been at the church. He killed his wife later, at a different location. The children were found unharmed.

Bell was arrested within hours of the church shooting at a nearby apartment complex.

Louisiana charged him with five counts of first-degree murder and argued that he was death-eligible because two of the people murdered were over 65 years old, because he killed one of his victims in the course of a second-degree kidnapping and another because she was a witness to the other shootings, and because Bell had specific intent to kill multiple persons.

Throughout Bell's trial and the sentencing hearing, the prosecutor referred repeatedly to the fact that the killings occurred in a church. He did so in the hope of arousing the jury's revulsion and horror about the crime.

Bell was convicted and subsequently sentenced to death on Sept. 12, 2008.

In 2015, nine years after Bell carried out his mass killing, Dylann Roof murdered nine Black people and injured a tenth person during a Bible study group at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charlestown, South Carolina. He was 21 at the time.

Roof was a white supremacist and neo-Nazi. He hoped his crime would precipitate a race war in this country.

Roof was prosecuted by the federal government and convicted of crimes resulting in death and obstruction of exercise of religion resulting in death.

He was sentenced to death on Jan. 10, 2017, the first time a death penalty verdict was rendered in a federal hate crimes case.

During Roof's trial the prosecution made sure to remind the jury that he had defiled a famous church. As then-U.S. Attorney Beth Drake of South Carolina put it, "Motivated by racist hatred, Dylann Roof murdered and attempted to murder innocent African-American parishioners as they worshiped in the historic Mother Emanuel church. Instead of agitating racial tensions as he had hoped, Roof's deadly attack inside Mother Emanuel became an attack on all of us."

Attorney General Loretta Lynch also emphasized the fact that Roof had murdered people in a church in a statement made after the death sentence was passed: "Roof sought out and opened fire on African-American parishioners engaged in worship. ... He did so because of their race. And he did so to interfere with their peaceful exercise of religion."

Want a daily wrap-up of all the news and commentary Salon has to offer? Subscribe to our morning newsletter, Crash Course.

On Nov. 5, 2017, less than six months after Roof was sentenced, a 26-year-old man named Devin Kelley, "clad in all black, with a ballistic vest strapped to his chest and a military-style rifle in his hands," opened fire at First Baptist Church in the small town of Sutherland Springs, Texas. Kelley killed 26 people, including an unborn child, and wounded 22 others.

At the time, the Sutherland Springs church shooting was the deadliest mass murder ever to occur in Texas, and was deadlier than any previous mass shooting in an American house of worship.

Like many of the other people who commit murder in houses of worship, Kelley killed himself at the scene of his crime. So there was no trial and no need for anyone to decide whether the fact that he had slaughtered people in a church justified a death sentence.

The worst such killing in Texas before Sutherland Springs had been in September of 1999, when Larry Gene Ashbrook murdered seven people and wounded eight others at Wedgwood Baptist Church in Fort Worth. Ashbrook chose the day of a "See You at the Pole" rally at the church, an annual event for Christian youth who gather to pray together. The popular Christian rock group Forty Days was scheduled to perform at Wedgwood that day.

The Wedgwood congregation did not have to endure a death penalty trial because Ashbrook, like Kelley, committed suicide at the scene.

In 2019, 20 years after the Wedgwood Baptist Church murders, the minister who was pastor there at the time said, "We, to this day, don't know why he was led to this church."

As in the Bell and Roof cases, the prosecution team in the trial of Tree of Life shooter Robert Bowers chose to focus on the fact that he committed these brutal murders at a house of worship. They talked at length about the congregants who died as they arrived at the synagogue and offered evidence about the many antisemitic comments that Bowers had made online before he showed up at a synagogue and began killing Jews.

As the jury begins to consider what punishment Bowers deserves, it should remember that while hatred may explain why people like Bowers kill in houses of worship, the congregations who assemble in such places are often told about the dangers of responding to hate with more hate. Perhaps the jurors should consider this verse from the Book of Ezekiel: "Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? declares the Sovereign Lord. Rather, am I not pleased when they turn from their ways and live?"

Read more

from Austin Sarat on capital punishment
Jennie Whitepigeon Rickert Wicker with Levi Rickert (Photo: Nancy Krogmann)

Opinion. My family buried our mother, Jennie Whitepigeon Rickert Wicker, on Friday. She walked on last Sunday morning, three days short of her 92nd birthday. On Wednesday, we honored her spirit with a cake and sang Happy Birthday.

Typically for my opinion pieces, Im searching throughout the week for inspiration to write about a topic that I believe matters to Native Americans and improving our lives. As a general rule, I do not write about my family because I respect their privacy. This week, I will make an exception because when it comes to inspiring me, my mother was at an entirely different level for as long as I remember. She was my model and my inspiration in so many ways.

Mother was blessed with a long life and we enjoyed our time with her right up to her last moments. Still, her passing is a transition into a sorrowful time for our family. As we navigated the last week, thousands of memories flooded my mind and the minds of my siblings. We cried a lot and laughed a lot as we recalled so many precious memories of  and lessons learned from  our dear mother.

Born in Grand Rapids, Michigan during the midst of the Great Depression to Potawatomi parents  my namesake Levi Whitepigeon and his wife, Ellen  Mother grew up far away from an Indian reservation. She was one of 10 children born of my grandparents union. One sister, Delores, lived for only three years during the 1930s. Otherwise, my siblings and I had the privilege of knowing all of Mothers loving and studious siblings, our aunties and uncles. Now, only three aunties are still living.

Throughout her life, Mother recalled the challenges of growing up during the Great Depression. She often recalled slaughtering chickens and collecting dandelion greens for dinner, pumping well water, and having to use kerosene lamps before her parents home was wired for electricity.

Her grandfather, James Whitepigeon, was a Methodist minister. When she was still a young child, her parents became Apostolic Pentecostals. Mother was a strong woman of faith and still a member of the same church at the time of her passing.

When I was only five years old, Mother had malignant cancer. I was sent with my baby sister to a small town near Mt. Pleasant, Michigan, to live with my stepfathers family for about two weeks. Even now, I count that time as two of the longest weeks of my life, because of the pang of not being with my mother. I remember when Grandpa Whitepigeon came to get me to bring me back to Grand Rapids. He told me my mother would be okay as he gave me a hug.

I have cited this painful time of personal loneliness when I have lectured about Indian boarding schools. I never attended a boarding school and I have told audiences that I was fortunate. My stepfather's family was nice to me. I can only imagine how painful it was for those who were removed from their parents lives for such prolonged periods of time with people who beat them for crying because of their loneliness.

Mother always thanked God for healing her of the cancer so she could raise her children. In total, she had seven children. She was an excellent homemaker and dedicated mother. While raising her own children, her nieces and nephews were frequent overnight guests.

As with so many other Native American kwe (women), Mother was a woman of great determination, never shying away from correcting a perceived wrong.

When I was in the ninth grade, Mother taught me the difference one persons voice can make. One wintery Saturday morning when I was 15, my mother and I attended an Indian meeting at the old Westside Complex near downtown Grand Rapids. There were perhaps eight American Indians present, including my mother and me, to discuss American Indian affairs with state Senator Milton Zaagman.

The state senator was reaching out to the American Indian constituency that morning. My mother raised her hand and told the senator that it was ridiculous that the Michigan Commission on Indian Affairs consisted of more people who were not Indian than those who were. He listened intently, and I remember he took out a white index card from his suit jacket and wrote down my mothers comments.

She asked him how people who were not Indian could even know what Indian concerns were. She did not yell. She did not call him names. My mother simply voiced her opinion. The senator told her he would look into the matter.

A few months later, my mother showed me a small article in The Grand Rapids Press that, as I recall, consisted of only two or three short paragraphs. It reported that Senator Zaagman had created legislation calling for the Michigan Commission on Indian Affairs to be made up of primarily American Indians.

There is no doubt, my mothers determination contributed to the tenacity I brought to my work as a journalist. I learned from her how to make a difference in Indian Country. I learned from her how to give voice to critical issues.

When Mother became a grandmother, she doted over her grandchildren. With great pride, she attended their sporting events, concerts, school plays, spelling bees, and art shows. She and my late step-father helped care for my niece Caitlyn, a granddaughter with special needs, to give my sister Deb some relief.

I know most people think they had the best mother ever. That is how it should be. Everyone should cherish their mother.

Mother was my rock. She was my inspiration. This past week I asked myself: What am I going to do now that Mother is gone? With God's grace, I will do everything she taught me to do: stay strong and keep fighting against injustices.

Thayek gde nwendemen - We are all related.

About the Author: "Levi \"Calm Before the Storm\" Rickert (Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation) is the founder, publisher and editor of Native News Online. Rickert was awarded Best Column 2021 Native Media Award for the print\/online category by the Native American Journalists Association. He serves on the advisory board of the Multicultural Media Correspondents Association. He can be reached at levi@nativenewsonline.net."

Contact: levi@nativenewsonline.net
Former President Trump in a new interview praised Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as a very smart person as the Democratic presidential candidate has courted controversy with comments about vaccines and the war in Ukraine.

Hes a very smart person. I know a lot of the members of that family, and hes a very smart guy. And hes hit a little bit of a nerve. And a lot of Democrats I know want to vote for him, Trump said in an interview on Sunday Morning Futures broadcast on Fox News.

Kennedy, who announced his campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination earlier this year, has garnered significant media attention as he polled in double digits in several surveys after launching his 2024 bid.

But the son of the late Robert F. Kennedy has been at the center of controversy in recent days, particularly over his comments about the COVID-19 vaccine, which he claimed was ethnically targeted to attack certain races disproportionately.

COVID-19 attacks certain races disproportionately, Kennedy said in a video obtained by the New York Post. COVID-19 is targeted to attack Caucasians and Black people. The people who are most immune are Ashkenazi Jews and Chinese.

Several lawmakers and Jewish groups slammed the long shot Democratic candidate over the remarks Saturday.

Trump, who has indicated he wont participate in the Republican primary debate next month, also noted on Fox News that Kennedy Jr. likely wont have a chance to debate President Biden.

Number one, Biden cant debate him because hes not capable, Trump said. And number two, why would he debate him for that reason, but why would he debate him if hes probably got [the nomination] locked up.

Biden has opened up a wide lead on Kennedy Jr. in early voting states and in national surveys in recent weeks.

Democratic strategists have largely chalked up Kennedys early polling successes to name recognition, but noted that his views on vaccines, guns, the war in Ukraine and other issues are out of step with Democratic voters. Democrats have also argued that Kennedys campaign is being boosted by conservatives.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Trump explains how he wants to force Zelenskyy and Putin to conclude a peace agreement

Donald Trump, the US presidential candidate from the Republican Party and former president of the country, explained how he wants to force the presidents of Ukraine and Russia to conclude a peace agreement if he wins the election.

Source: Trump in an interview with Fox News

Quote: "I know Zelenskyy very well, and I know Putin very well, even better. And I had a good relationship, very good with both of them.

I would tell Zelenskyy, no more. You got to make a deal.

I would tell Putin, if you don't make a deal, we're going to give him a lot. We're going to [give Ukraine] more than they ever got if we have to. I will have the deal done in one day. One day."

Background:

On 26 March 2023, former US president and likely Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump promised his voters to end the war in Ukraine within 24 hours of being elected to a second term. Later, he also repeated this thesis.

On 13 May, Zelenskyy recalled that Trump, who repeatedly promised to end Russia's war against Ukraine in 24 hours, had not done so before the full-scale invasion.

On 3 June, Zelenskyy noted that he "did not understand" the words of former US President Donald Trump that he would have ended the full-scale war in one day, putting Kyiv and Moscow at the negotiating table.

On 9 July, Zelenskyy said that US President Joe Biden could end the war in Ukraine in five minutes if it were a question of surrendering Ukrainian territories, but the country would not agree to this.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!






Trump knows he lost 2020 election but ego wont let him admit it, Chris Christie says

Donald Trump knew he was losing the 2020 presidential election while asserting a baseless narrative that the results were rigged against him, according to former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie.

Mr Christie, who is running against Mr Trump for the Republican nomination for president in 2024, told ABC News host George Stephanopouls on 16 July that Mr Trump told him directly that he had lost in 2020.

His comments follow reports that federal prosecutors investigating the former presidents attempts to upend the results of a democratic election have questioned several witnesses in recent weeks to determine whether he privately acknowledge losing the election he continues to publicly insist otherwise.

He doesnt believe hes won. He was concerned before the election he was losing. And I know that because he said it to me directly, Mr Christie said on ABCs This Week.

He knows he didnt win, but his ego, George, wont permit him to believe that hes the only person in America outside the state of Delaware to ever have lost to Joe Biden. So his ego is running that, he added.

Federal prosecutors have reportedly questioned Mr Trumps son-in-law and former adviser Jared Kushner as well as former White House communications directors Alyssa Farah Griffin and Hope Hicks.

Their questioning has sought to pierce whether Mr Trump was knowingly pressing to reject election results despite knowing the truth that he had lost, evidence that could significantly bolster a case against him.

An investigation from US Department of Justice special counsel Jack Smith is separate from a criminal probe in Fulton County, Georgia, where district attorney Fani Willis is presenting a recently impaneled grand jury to weigh evidence surrounding Mr Trumps attempts to overturn election results in that state.

The now-dissolved House select committee investigating the events surrounding and during the attack on the US Capitol on 6 January, 2021  a violent event fuelled by a baseless narrative of election fraud and manipulation  also uncovered substantial evidence and witness testimony about Mr Trumps alleged admissions that he lost.

The panels vast reporting depicted an in-depth portrait of Mr Trump, with assistance from GOP allies, to refuse to cede power at the White House regardless of the elections outcome while privately acknowledging that he lost.
Trump mocks DeSantis on his home turf, dismissing the Florida governor's standing in the GOP presidential primary: 'It was never that close'

Former President Donald Trump speaks at the Turning Point Action Conference in West Palm Beach, Fla., on July 15, 2023. AP Photo/Lynne Sladky

Trump needled DeSantis over his continued 2024 polling dominance at the Turning Point Conference.

DeSantis was absent from the event in his home state, and Trump used the opportunity to attack him.

Trump said DeSantis' candidacy was divisive and poked at him over insurers dropping plans in Florida.

Former President Donald Trump on Saturday lit into Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida at a high-profile conservative conference, needling his top Republican presidential primary rival over his absence at the Sunshine State event while also asserting his dominance in the GOP race for the White House.

While speaking at the Turning Point Action Conference in West Palm Beach, Trump boasted of his substantial leads in most national and state polls and suggested that DeSantis' candidacy was preventing the GOP from unifying around him as the party looks to unseat President Joe Biden next year.

"We are totally dominating DeSanctus right here in the state of Florida," Trump said, mispronouncing the governor's last name. "DeSanctimonious and his establishment handlers are wasting such precious time and resources to divide our party. They're dividing the party, although he's dropping so quickly he's probably not going to be in second place much longer."

Trump then criticized DeSantis over the decision of some major insurers to stop offering some policies in Florida over the increased risk of natural disasters, telling the governor to return to the state and tackle the issue.

"We want him to get home and take care of insurance because you have the highest insurance in the nation," the former president said.

Trump then pivoted back to touting his poll numbers.

"All the money that he's using now is stopped because all of the people that were supporting him ... they're saying, hey, wait a minute, you're down by 57 points," Trump said. "You know, they may like him or they may not, but they don't want somebody that's down 57 points. They're not stupid people."

"In fact, all of a sudden, I'm getting calls from people. They say, 'You know, sir, I just called to say hello.' I said 'I thought you were a DeSantis follower,'" Trump remarked, before declaring that the GOP primary so far has not been competitive.

"It was never that close, by the way," the former president said.

"I don't know why he's not here. He should be here representing himself," he added.

DeSantis campaign press secretary Bryan Griffin in a Saturday statement brushed aside Trump's comments.

"Governor DeSantis spent the day with Iowans and spoke to a packed house at the Tennessee G.O.P. Statesman Dinner later that night," he said. "This was a day after he delivered the strongest interview at the Family Leadership Summit, which Donald Trump notably skipped. Ron DeSantis is campaigning to win."

In the FiveThirtyEight average of national Republican presidential polls, Trump sits at 49.7%, well ahead of the second- and third-place contenders  DeSantis (averaging 21% support) and former Vice President Mike Pence (averaging 7.4% of GOP primary support).

Other GOP contenders are averaging support below 5%: entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy (4.6%), former Gov. Nikki Haley of South Carolina (4.2%), Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina (3.2%), former Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey (2.9%), and former Gov. Asa Hutchinson of Arkansas (1%).

Read the original article on Business Insider
Trump praises judge overseeing his classified documents case, saying she loves our country

Former President Trump praised the judge overseeing his classified documents case as his legal team seeks a postponement of his trial in Florida.

Trumps motion for a continuance of the trial, filed last Monday, awaits a decision by Judge Aileen Cannon, an appointee of the former president who presided over his initial challenge to the FBI search of his Florida home.

Asked on Sunday Morning Futures on Fox News whether he believes the judge will grant the motion, Trump said he did not know.

I know its a very highly respected judge. A very smart judge, and a very strong judge, Trump said.

When host Maria Bartiromo noted that Trump appointed the judge in the case, Trump said, I did, and Im very proud to have appointed her.

But shes very smart and very strong, and loves our country, Trump said. We need judges that love our country so they do the right thing.

Cannon was confirmed as a district judge in the Southern District of Florida with a bipartisan vote in November 2020.

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Rulings from Cannon substantially slowed the Department of Justices (DOJ) investigation into Trump over his handling of classified documents upon leaving the White House, in one instance barring prosecutors from using the classified documents they seized from Trumps Mar-a-Lago estate.

Cannon was twice overturned by a higher court, the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals, which greenlit the DOJs use of the documents and disbanded the special master process.

Trump pleaded not guilty last month to charges on 37 counts following a DOJ indictment alleging he violated the Espionage Act and obstructed justice in taking classified records from his presidency and refusing to return them.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Trump says 2024 running mate could be one of his primary opponents

Former President Trump in a new interview said he would consider some of his 2024 GOP primary rivals as potential running mates or Cabinet members if he wins back the White House.

Trump on Fox Newss Sunday Morning Futures singled out entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy and Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) for praise, though he did not specify whom he would consider as a running mate.

I think Vivek has done a very good job, frankly. I think some others have done a good job, Trump said.

Asked by host Maria Bartiromo if his running mate could be among those in the 2024 field, Trump replied, Possibly.

You have some good people on the stage actually. I think you have some very talented people, Trump said. Ive been impressed by some of them. Some of them Im very friendly with, actually.

I think you have good potential Cabinet members, too, Trump added.

Bartiromo also asked if Scott was among those Trump would consider.

I think hes a very good guy. We did opportunity zones together  Tim is very good, Trump said. I mean, I could see Tim doing something with the administration, but hes right now campaigning, and Im sure Tim and everybody else would say Im only interested in one, but Tim is a very talented guy and you have other very talented people.

Trump has consistently held a wide lead in national GOP primary polls with the Iowa caucuses roughly six months away.

A Morning Consult poll released last week showed Trump polling at 56 percent, 39 points ahead of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R), who was at 17 percent. Ramaswamy polled at 8 percent, followed by former Vice President Mike Pence at 7 percent.

Conservative commentator Glenn Beck during a panel on the sidelines of an Iowa evangelical event Friday predicted Trump would pick Ramaswamy as a running mate.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Former President Trump is seeking unprecedented delays as he faces prosecution for mishandling classified documents, arguing his status as a candidate and other factors require punting the case indefinitely.

The strategy, if successful, would postpone Trumps trial into a window that could be more favorable for him. If Trump were reelected, his administrations Justice Department could withdraw the charges, or another newly elected Republican president could pardon him.

Its hardly uncommon for a criminal defendant to seek delays in their trial.

But Jeff Robbins, a former federal prosecutor, said the extent to which Trump has done so is unique and just the first of many junctures where Trumps team could seek extensions.

Its normal for criminal defendants, as part of their defense strategy, to seek delay of cases. The delay that this criminal defendant seeks, however, is off the charts unprecedented, he said.

Robbins was incredulous in spelling out Trumps arguments.

Really? he asked.

Youre seeking an extra  what  year and a half on the grounds that if the trial is held before the election, you cant get a fair trial? he added. Or B) In a case which actually is not particularly complicated at all, its so complicated that your lawyers need millennia and change before they can adequately prepare for trial.

Or C) Im going to be so busy dealing with these other issues that I dont have time for your little trial, judge, he concluded.

Robbins said the arguments would be laughed out of court in 99 out of 100 courtrooms.

Trumps motion for a continuance of the trial, filed Monday, awaits a decision by Judge Aileen Cannon, an appointee of the former president who presided over his initial challenge to the FBI search of his Florida home.

Trumps team offered numerous reasons for the delay, ranging from his need to campaign to the struggle for attorneys to go through evidence in the case  though the bulk of the case will rest on 31 classified documents and not the thousands of pages of government records Trump took with him.

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, Trumps attorneys wrote in the filing, arguing the case presents a serious challenge to both the fact and perception of our American democracy.

The Justice Department roundly rejected those arguments, noting many criminal defendants with demanding schedules must comply with court proceedings, and some members of the legal team waited until the last minute to apply for provisional security clearances needed to review the classified evidence.

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There is no basis in law or fact for proceeding in such an indeterminate and open-ended fashion, and the defendants provide none, the Justice Department wrote in the Thursday brief.

One former Trump campaign adviser speculated the former presidents launch of his 2024 bid in November 2022 was a move designed in part to insulate himself from his legal problems, and the push for delays was further evidence of how Trump is hoping to use the political calendar to shield himself from legal scrutiny.

Trump himself has denied his presidential campaign played into concerns about looming indictments.

Beyond this first battle, the case will present numerous opportunities for Trumps team to challenge different decision points, with each potentially setting back the ultimate trial date.

Cannon set an initial trial date in August  a time frame that complies with the right to a trial within 70 days of being arraigned that largely served as a placeholder. The Justice Department suggested holding the trial in December.

A December date would represent a relatively expedited schedule, but initial dates are often delayed in the lead up to the trial as parties make new motions. DOJ argued any rescheduling should be done as issues arise, rather than well in advance of considering any other specific motion from Trumps team.

DOJ, however, has little ability to challenge the timelines Cannon sets in the case.

Judges have a tremendous amount of discretion in setting trials and scheduling the proceedings leading up to a trial session, Robbins said.

That is to say that theres an inherent difficulty in overturning a decision reached by this judge on scheduling which impedes the prosecution and helps Trump.  This is exactly the kind of area where appellate courts dont really provide a huge guardrail for a federal judge.

There also arent any laws outlining how trials should be scheduled in regard to major elections.

The DOJ has its own internal policy, however, advising against taking any actions that could influence the perception of a candidate within 60 days of an election. Significant delays into the end of 2024 could even push the Justice Department to request a delay until after the election.

In addition to the Mar-a-Lago charges, the Justice Department is also probing Trumps effort to stay in office after losing the 2020 election that culminated in the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol.

Trump tries for a delay strategy even when hes faced with less existential threats than the two cases that have been brought and the two that are looming, said Norm Eisen, a former Obama White House ethics lawyer who served as counsel in Trumps first impeachment.

He is undoubtedly going to try to do the same here, Eisen said, referencing potential charges over Trumps conduct around the 2020 election.

The delays sought by Trumps team have renewed questions over whether a reelected Trump would try to pardon himself of the charges.

The end of Trumps first term in office was already marked by questions over whether he would try to preemptively pardon himself or any family members, particularly in the wake of the riots at the Capitol.

Madison wrote in the Federalist papers that the essential principle of our judicial system is that no man shall be a judge and his own cause by which he meant case, nobody should be a judge In his or her own case. So that would obviously defeat that basic principle of justice, said Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), who is a constitutional law expert.

Youre going to have an argument on the one side that its stated in a categorical and unlimited way. There would be an argument on the other side, that it is an absolute affront to the basic concept of the rule of law. But as with everything else, Donald Trump puts our most basic maxims and principles to the test.

That constitutional question wouldnt necessarily arise if the Justice Department, whether directed by Trump or on its own, could withdraw the charges.

There are also charges and convictions that lie beyond the grasp of any president  state-level charges that cannot be pardoned.

Trump is facing such charges in New York and could face prosecution in Georgia, where the district attorney for Fulton County is mulling charges related to Trumps efforts to overturn the election there.

And while the Florida case represented the first federal charges against Trump, they may not be the last.

Legal experts have also noted the DOJ could explore other venues for bringing additional charges relating to the Mar-a-Lago case, like New Jersey, given Trumps residence in Bedminster, or in Washington, D.C. Any charges related to the Jan. 6 probe would also likely be brought in Washington.

Those cases would appear before judges other than Cannon, who is based in the Southern District of Florida.

In the special counsels back pocket is the possibility to say, OK, you have granted them this absurd request in the Southern District of Florida. Were going to indict in one or both of these locations. Robbins said.

And he is not going to get the special dont schedule a trial until you know, the Age of Aquarius treatment.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Recently-fired former Fox News host and current Twitter talk show anchor Tucker Carlson shared what he believes it means to be an American: pure unadulterated hate.

If youre an American, you have a right to decide who you hate, Carlson told the audience at the annual Turning Point Action conference on Saturday evening. You have a fundamental right If youre an adult, you get to decide, and you get to decide on the basis of whatever you want.

Carlson was practically giddy at the reception he received from the audience at the far-right conservative youth conference led by far-right figure Charlie Kirks Turning Point USA.

A minute compilation of Tucker laughing during his speech today pic.twitter.com/scCfhOgb8B  Acyn (@Acyn) July 15, 2023

I dont think most unemployed people get a reception like that, Carlson said from the podium, remarking on the enthusiastic applause he received.

Surveying the audience, Carlson observed, Roger Stone, ladies and gentleman! All the cool people are here. Its unbelievable!

Carlson then launched into a lecture on how liberals on the left have set the terms of the national debate. And hes not happy about it. Almost everybody  not everybody  but almost everybody in elected office in the Republican Party has internalized the other sides rules for debate, Carlson said, adding, Theres really no more self-defeating way to go into politics or life than to accept the terms that your enemies offer before the conversations even begun. Because theres really no winning.

He then began an anti-vax tirade worthy of RFK Jr., essentially calling the majority of Americans sheep who do whatever theyre told. During Covid we knew what the rules were, and every organization in American life from the government to the media, to the church, were telling you the rules: If you are a good person, you will follow these rules. Youll mask. Youll separate. Youll stay at home. Youll take our shot. Even though we have no idea whats in it. We dont know its long term effects, but shut up. This is a moral test. He went on to compare those who didnt comply to outlaws.

The ingredients in the Covid vaccines, however, are easily found online. But thats not as tantalizing as claiming some nefarious pharmaceutical manufacturer snuck a 5G receptor or something else in there.

Nobody pushed back on the fundamental terms, Carlson complained. Wait a second. Is there evidence for this? Do you know this to be true? Dont Americans have an inherent right to decide what they put in their body?  And of course the media never presented that as an option.

Evidence for the efficacy of vaccines in preventing hospitalization and death are also easily discoverable with a simple Google search.

Carlson, a regular Putin sycophant, naturally turned the conversation to Russia, saying it was OK to like Russia because they havent killed any Americans.

Lets just do the body count, Carlson said. Whats the total number of Americans murdered by Russia in the last three years. Im thinking. Im not that great at math. I think its somewhere around zero. I dont know any!

So far, six Americans have been killed fighting Russian forces in Ukraine. Russia also detained WNBA player Brittany Griner until December of last year, and two other Americans  Paul Whelan and Marc Fogel  are still wrongfully detained there.

With the question of Russia, Carlson continued, If you begin the conversation with, This is an evil country that has hurt America and we have to go to war with them, then there is kinda no debate about it, is there? No one would defend Nazi Germany. They killed tens of thousands of Americans In the case of modern Russia, youre not allowed to think that, and once youre prevented from thinking something, you are completely controlled by the person who made you think that.

Just the day before, Carlson defended Russia with a similar line during an interview with former vice president Mike Pence. He also called Ukraine the United States client state and accused Ukraines president of persecuting Christians.

In my life, I try to stay unaffected by the propaganda. Thats the main goal in my life, Carlson added.

If you dont think Russia should have invaded, I agree with that, Carlson said. But it almost doesnt matter where you are on this question. If you cant have an adult conversation about it, which begins with the very obvious question: Why should I be mad at Russia? Like why?

Carlson then screamed, SHUT UP! before continuing. If the answer is, Shut up, or if the answer is to accuse you, an American citizen who loves this country of disloyalty to your country by people who dont care at all about the United States? Its too much!

The right-wing firebrand then discussed Jan. 6, describing the Trump supporters who stormed the Capitol as a bunch of angry people who thought the election was stolen from them who appropriately went to confront the people who stole it.

Carlson continued, comparing the Jan. 6 insurrectionists to the Black Lives Matters protesters in 2020. So like, George Floyd gets killed and all of a sudden they raid Foot Locker. What did Foot Locker haver to do with it? he said. I will say, in Republican primary voters defense, they were mad at the Congress, they went to the Congress. They didnt loot any liquor stores, they just went right to the source. Thats true. It wasnt like, Oh they stole the election from us, lets loot Macys.

The racism, Russia propaganda, and purposeful lack of understanding from Carlson is not a surprise, especially considering the event where he was speaking. A whos who of far-right conspiracy theorists preceded Carlsons speech  including Kirk saying that Dr. Anthony Fauci should be put in Gitmo; Megyn Kelly spouting rampant transphobia and repeatedly misgendering Dylan Mulvaney; Matt Gaetz promising to bring prayer into schools; and Republican presidential hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy spewing QAnon ideas, Hunter Biden falsehoods, and the unproven Covid lab leak theory. Carlsons speech came immediately before the keynote speech from none other than Donald Trump.

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Click here to read the full article.
By Tarek Amara

TUNIS (Reuters) -Tunisia and the European Union signed on Sunday a "strategic partnership" deal that includes combatting human traffickers and tightening borders during a sharp increase in boats leaving the North African nation for Europe.

The deal follow weeks of talks and Europe's pledge of major aid to Tunisia amounting to 1 billion euros ($1.12 billion) to help its battered economy, rescue state finances and deal with a migration crisis. Most funds are contingent on economic reforms.

"It contains agreements on disrupting the business model of people smugglers and human traffickers, strengthening border control and improving registration and return. All essential measures for bolstering efforts to stop irregular migration," Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said on Twitter.

The European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyens said the bloc will allocate 100 million euros to Tunisia to help it combat illegal migration. The deal promotes macro-economic stability, trade and investment, green energy transition and legal immigration.

Thousands of undocumented African migrants have flocked to the city of Sfax in recent months seeking to head for Europe in traffickers' boats, amounting to an unprecedented migration crisis for Tunisia.

"We are very pleased, it is a further important step towards creation of a true partnership between Tunisia and the EU, which can address in an integrated fashion the migration crisis," Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Miloni said.

Meloni, whose country has suffered a sharp increase in immigration boats, said that there would be an international conference on migration in Rome next Sunday with a number of heads of state, including Tunisian President Kais Saied.

Some 75,065 boat migrants had reached Italy by July 14 against 31,920 in the same period last year, official data showed. More than half left from Tunisia, overtaking Libya, which has traditionally been the main launchpad.

Saied said this month his country would not become a border guard for Europe.

($1 = 0.8907 euros)

(Reporting by Tarek Amara, Additional reporting by Crispian Balmer in Rome and Anthony Deutsch in Amesterdam, Writing by Tarek Amara and Hatem MaherEditing by Andrew Cawthorne)
A Northern California woman who was kidnapped in Mexico last year while walking her dog has been found safe and is on her way back to the U.S. after being released by her captors, the FBI announced Saturday.

Monica De Leon Barba, 40, was released from captivity on Friday, the FBI said in a news release.

She had been held captive since she was kidnapped on Nov. 29 of last year while walking her dog home from work in Tepatitlan, Jalisco in western Mexico, federal authorities reported.

The FBI said that De Leon Barba, who is from San Mateo, California, is now on her way home. No arrests have been made, and the FBI is working with Mexican authorities to try and identify suspects. No further details were provided, and there was no word on a motive in her kidnapping.

"Our relief and joy at the safe return of Monica is profound," Robert Tripp, special agent in charge of the FBI's San Francisco Field Office said in a statement. "The FBI investigation is far from over, but we can now work this case knowing an innocent victim is reunited with her family."

Mexico has one of the highest kidnapping rates in the world, in part due to the organization and opportunism of Mexican criminal enterprises, according to research from Global Guardian, a security risk intelligence firm.

Earlier this month, three Mexican current and former journalists were abducted in the western Mexican state of Nayarit. One of the three was later found murdered, the second was later released, but the third journalist remains missing.

On Tuesday, three police officers were killed and 10 other people were wounded in an explosives attack in the Jalisco city of Guadalajara, local officials said.

One of Mexico's most notorious cartels, the Jalisco New Generation cartel, is based in Jalisco. In 2019, the Justice Department called it "one of the five most dangerous transnational criminal organizations in the world, responsible for trafficking many tons of cocaine, methamphetamine, and fentanyl-laced heroin into the Unites States, as well as for violence and significant loss of life in Mexico."

 Cara Tabachnick contributed to this report.

Jake Sullivan says U.S. willing to talk to North Korea "without preconditions" about nuclear program

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Jerusalem (CNN)  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is in hospital for medical evaluation but is in a good condition, his office said.

Netanyahu was admitted Saturday to the Sheba Medical Center in Ramat Gan, a suburb of Tel Aviv, according to his office.

No details have been released about the nature of his condition, but Israel is in the middle of a heatwave.

Israel currently does not have an acting or deputy prime minister, meaning that if Benjamin Netanyahu is incapacitated, the cabinet would have to meet to elect an acting prime minister.

There is no indication at the moment that Netanyahu is incapacitated.

Netanyahu, 73, is the leader of Israels right-wing Likud Party and has been the dominant figure in Israeli politics for nearly three decades.

In June 2021, he lost office for the first time in 12 years after rival Naftali Bennett won a parliamentary vote to form a government.

Eighteen months later, he was once again sworn in as prime minister in a dramatic return, cobbling together a coalition.

During Yom Kippur in October 2022, Netanyahu took ill while visiting a synagogue.

He was admitted to hospital where he stayed overnight before being released.

This story was first published on CNN.com. "Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu admitted to hospital but is in good condition"
UK Business and Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch said the CTPP deal was a great opportunity (Oli SCARFF)

The UK government on Sunday hailed what it said was its biggest trade deal since Brexit, as it formally signed a treaty to join a major Indo-Pacific bloc.

Business and Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch signed the accession protocol for the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) in New Zealand.

It makes the United Kingdom the first new member and first European nation to join the bloc since it was created in 2018.

The CPTPP comprises the UK's fellow G7 members Canada and Japan, plus long-standing allies Australia and New Zealand, alongside Brunei, Chile, Malaysia, Mexico, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam.

It has been seen as a bulwark against Chinese dominance in the region, although Beijing has applied to join.

Badenoch said in an interview with Sky News that the deal showed the UK "looking outwards towards the world".

"We have a seat at the table in the fastest-growing region, countries are queuing up (to join)," she added.

"I'm really excited that we've brought home the biggest trade deal since we left the European Union."

London has been pushing a "Global Britain" strategy since formally severing nearly 50 years of ties with its nearest neighbours in the European Union three years ago.

Sunday's signing at a CPTPP meeting in Auckland was the formal confirmation of the agreement for UK membership after nearly two years of talks.

The government said it will cut tariffs for UK exports to CPTPP countries, which with UK membership will have a combined GDP of 12 trillion ($15.7 trillion), and account for 15 percent of global GDP.

It will give British businesses trade access to a market of more than 500 million people and access to the wider region, it added.

The agreement is expected to come into force in the second half of next year, after parliamentary scrutiny and legislation.

- Mixed reception -

UK accession to the CPTPP -- the successor to a previous trans-Pacific trade pact that the United States withdrew from in 2017 under president Donald Trump -- has, however, been met with a mixed reception.

For Brexit supporters, it has been seen as a chance for the UK to join other trading blocs with faster-growing economies than those closer to home -- and boost the country's international geopolitical and economic clout.

But critics say it will struggle to compensate for the economic damage sustained by leaving the 27-member EU -- the world's largest trading bloc and collective economy.

The UK already has trade deals with 10 of the 11 other CPTPP members, and analysts estimate the eventual economic boost to the country is 1.8 billion ($2.2 billion) -- a 0.08 percent annual GDP increase.

The government's spending watchdog, the Office for Budget Responsibility, in April forecast that London's Brexit deal with Brussels will reduce long-term productivity by 4.0 percent compared to when the UK was a member.

A key UK government pledge to sign a prized free-trade deal with the United States remains elusive, and Badenoch assessed the chances of securing one currently were "very low".

"It all depends on the administration... Lots of countries have been looking to have a free trade agreement with the US, including us, but for now, they've said that's not something that they want to do," she added.

In the absence of a deal, the UK has signed trade agreements with US states North Carolina, South Carolina and Indiana.

It is also seeking closer trading partnerships with US powerhouses California and Texas, and is in discussions with Utah and Oklahoma.

phz/lcm
(Bloomberg) -- The UK signed a treaty to join a Pacific trade deal on Sunday, becoming the first new member since the framework came into force and shifting attention to a list of other applicants led by China.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Business and Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch defended the deal as meaningful for the UK even though it already had trade agreements with most of the countries involved, and internal projections show a minimal economic impact.

It will make a significant amount of difference, she said on Sky News from Auckland. We have a seat at the table in the fastest growing region.

Badenoch also said that the chances the UK can ink a trade deal with the US are very low. The ability to ink such agreements, particularly with the worlds largest economy, was a major part of the UKs Brexit campaign.

The US is not carrying out any free trade agreements with any country, Badenoch said on Sky. Lots of countries have been looking to have free trade agreements with the US, including us, but for now they said thats not something they want to do, and we need to respect that.

Badenoch signed the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership in New Zealand, the government said in a statement. New Zealand is chairing a meeting attended by 11 trade ministers and delegations from CPTPP economies.

Formerly known as the TPP, the agreement at one time included the US and was seen as a way of containing Chinas growing influence in the Asia Pacific. Former President Donald Trump pulled the US out of the pact in 2017 and China made its application to join in 2021.

CPTPP-owned businesses employ 1% of UK workers, and membership is expected to turbocharge investment further, according to the UK government. British whiskey and cars are among 99% of current UK goods exports to CPTPP thats set to be eligible for zero tariffs, it added.

The UKs formal accession to CPTPP marks a significant milestone for UK trade, enabling ambitious British businesses to connect with the worlds most exciting growth markets for start-ups, innovation and technology, Ian Stuart, chief executive officer at HSBC UK, said in the statement.

China Next

Beijing is next in sequential order to enter negotiations as the CPTPP seeks to expand, followed by Taiwan, Ecuador, Costa Rica, Uruguay and Ukraine. But Chinas accession would be divisive given tensions with existing members including Japan, Australia and next years chair, Canada.

There was no specific discussion on any of the individual aspirants, New Zealand Trade and Export Growth Minister Damien OConnor said in Auckland at a press conference on Sunday.

The 12 CPTPP members are Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, the UK and Vietnam. The bloc, which is home to 500 million people, would account for 15% of global GDP with the inclusion of the UK joins, according to the International Monetary Fund.

Critics Slam Lobbying by Tech Giants in Indo-Pacific Talks

While the US last year established a rival pact known as the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity, it doesnt include provisions for market access. China is not among the 14 members negotiating that agreement.

--With assistance from Chris Kay.

(Updates with Badenoch comments from second paragraph.)

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2023 Bloomberg L.P.
Russian troops continue to make attempts to advance in Ukraines east

The situation on the frontlines in Eastern Ukraine has escalated as Russian troops continue to make attempts to advance for two consecutive days in the direction of Kupyansk, Kharkiv Oblast, Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar said on Telegram on July 16.

According to her, fierce battles are ongoing in the oblast, with multiple dynamic changes occurring throughout the day.

Read also: Ukrainian offensive puts pressure on Russian forces near Bakhmut, says military officer

Ukrainian troops are gradually making progress in the Bakhmut direction, particularly on the southern flank around the town of Bakhmut, Donetsk Oblast, Maliar said.

However, Russian invaders are launching attacks on the towns northern flank, but the Armed Forces of Ukraine are striving to hold their positions.

Read also: Group of Russian troops destroyed near Bilohorivka  video

In Bakhmut itself, we are shelling the enemy, and the enemy is shelling us, she said.

Additionally, Maliar says that the enemy continues to advance on the Avdiyivka and Maryinka directions in Donetsk Oblast, and intense battles persist without any change in positions.

The Ukrainian Defense Forces are effectively holding back the occupation forces in those areas, she said.

On July 15, Serhiy Cherevatyi, spokesperson for the Eastern Group of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, reported that the Ukrainian Armed Forces maintain the initiative in the Bakhmut direction, exerting pressure on the Russians on both the southern and northern flanks.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
National security adviser Jake Sullivan doubled down on what NATO agreed to during its summit last week, saying it will be ready to admit Ukraine to the alliance once the country meets certain conditions.

We said at NATO very simply, Ukraine's future is in NATO. We meant it. That's not up for negotiation, Sullivan said Sunday during an interview on CBS Face the Nation. That's something that now all 31 allies have committed to.

NATO leaders on Tuesday announced that they would be willing to invite Ukraine to join the alliance once conditions are met and allies agree  a move that was first met with disappointment in Kyiv.

Following the announcement, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy tweeted that he had come to the summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, hoping NATO would be an organization that does not hesitate, does not waste time and does not look back at any aggressor  is that too much to expect?

On Wednesday, the Ukrainian leader walked back his criticism, saying: I think by the end of summit, we have great unity from our leaders and the security guarantees  that is a success for this summit, I think so.

On Sunday, Sullivan acknowledged that while the the alliance fully supports Ukraine, there are conditions the country will need to meet before it can officially become a NATO member, including an end to its war with Russia.

Admitting Ukraine while the war is ongoing would require NATO to join in its defense, Sullivan said.

Having Ukraine come into NATO while the war is going on would mean that NATO was at war with Russia, it would mean the United States was at war with Russia. And neither NATO nor the United States were prepared to do that, Sullivan said on ABCs This Week.

Sullivan also noted that every country who enters into the alliance has to make certain democratic reforms.

Ukraine has made a lot of progress on that pathway. It has more reforms to make, he said.

And at the end of the day, President Biden and President Zelenskyy stood together before the world, and President Zelenskyy said that while he didnt get everything he wanted, he was very satisfied with the results of the NATO summit and very satisfied with the support that hes getting from his Western partners, Sullivan added.
Ukraine may begin using US cluster munitions 'in the coming hours,' Biden advisor Jake Sullivan says

Ukraine may begin using US cluster munitions 'in the coming hours,' Biden advisor Jake Sullivan says

Ukrainian artillery batteries fire on the frontline as clashes continue near villages recaptured by the Ukrainian army in Donetsk, Ukraine on June 21, 2023. Ercin Erturk/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

Ukraine has already received cluster munitions from the US, Jake Sullivan told CNN.

Sullivan, a national security advisor for Biden, said the bombs could be used within "hours."

He said Ukraine needs the controversial munitions because of a shortage in artillery ammunition.

Ukraine has received a shipment of US cluster munitions and is likely to begin using them this week, US national security advisor Jake Sullivan said Sunday.

"The cluster bombs have arrived in country," Sullivan told CNN's Jake Tapper. "I don't have a report for you today as to whether they have actually been deployed at this point, but if they have not, they will be in the coming hours or days."

The Biden administration earlier this month announced it was providing Ukraine with the controversial munitions to aid its ongoing counteroffensive. The munitions break apart into small bombs when fired, enabling them to inflict wider damage on entrenched Russian forces. But they are also widely banned due to their potential for civilian harm, with unexploded bombs effectively becoming landmines.

Supporters of the decision argue that cluster munitions have already been widely used in Ukraine, primarily by Russia. Ukrainian forces have pledged to track their use for post-war cleanup operations.

Speaking on Sunday, Sullivan argued that the shipment was necessitated by a lack of 155mm artillery shells, a problem that he argued existed under the previous administration. In January, the US military said it aimed to increase production of the NATO-standard round from 14,000 a month to 90,000 by 2025. But that's far from enough to keep up with demand: Ukrainian forces have been using up to 240,000 every 30 days, Defense One reported.

"President Biden ordered his Pentagon to work rapidly to scale up the ability of the United States to produce all the ammunition we could ever need for any conflict at any time in the future. We are in the middle of doing that," Sullivan said.

But "there is a need for a bridge between today and the day when we have hit the mark," he added, and "providing cluster munitions fills a gap for Ukraine."

Read the original article on Business Insider
(Bloomberg) -- President Vladimir Putin discussed the US provision of cluster munitions to Kyiv in a TV interview, saying Russia would retaliate if the weapons  which have already arrived in Ukraine  are used on its forces. The Russian leader discounted Ukraines counteroffensive, saying all attempts to break through Russias defenses had failed. Ukraines armed forces have claimed tangible if slow progress in the bid to push back Russian occupying forces in the countrys south and east.

Most Read from Bloomberg

The Black Sea grain deal thats allowed Ukraine to export some 33 million tons of grain in the past year expires on Monday. US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said Russia would incur an enormous diplomatic cost, including among Global South countries if it failed to agree to an extension. Putin sounded a downbeat note on the deal when speaking Saturday with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, saying Russias demands havent been met. Vessels loading Ukrainian grain from Odesa on the Black Sea have dwindled to just one, the UN said.

Moscow-appointed officials said air defense systems repelled multiple air and sea drones fired by Ukraine overnight at Sevastopol, the largest city on the Crimean peninsula annexed by Russia in 2014. Drones were also shot down near Belgorod in southern Russia. Kremlin forces, meanwhile, attacked Kharkiv, about 50 miles south of Belgorod, with S-300 missiles, regional governor Oleh Synyehubov said on Telegram.

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Grain Prices Rise on Ukraine Uncertainty

Wheat and corn prices rose for a second session on Friday as uncertainty looms over the future of the Ukraine grain export deal.

Moscow has said that more of Ukraines grain should be sent to developing countries, including in Africa - although its availability on the world market makes supplies more plentiful, and cheaper, in general. Russia is currently the dominant world wheat exporter.

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FILE PHOTO: Ukrainian service members fire a mortar at a front line near the city of Bakhmut

KYIV (Reuters) -Fighting in eastern Ukraine has "somewhat intensified" as Ukrainian and Russian forces clash in at least three areas on the eastern front, a senior Ukrainian defence official said on Sunday.

Separately, the Ukrainian military indicated it had taken control of part of a southeastern village in Donetsk region, near a string of small settlements Ukraine recaptured in June.

"The enemy made an unsuccessful attempt to regain lost positions in the northern part of Staromayorske," the general staff of Ukraine's armed forces said in a regular update.

It was the first official acknowledgment of progress at the village since Ukraine launched a counteroffensive in June, aiming to retake occupied territory and seize the initiative in Russia's full-scale invasion, now in its 17th month.

Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Maliar said on Telegram that Russian forces have been attacking in the direction of Kupyansk in the Kharkiv region for two successive days.

"We are on the defensive," Maliar wrote. "There are fierce battles. The positions of both sides change dynamically several times a day."

Maliar also said the two armies were pummelling one another around the ruined city of Bakhmut but that Ukrainian forces were "gradually moving forward" along its southern flank.

She added that Kyiv's troops were also fending off Russian attacks near Avdiivka and Maryinka.

A spokesman for the military's southern command said in a separate statement on Sunday that Ukrainian forces had advanced more than a kilometre (0.6 miles) in one part of the southern front.

Kyiv has made incremental gains in parts of the east and south since launching its long-awaited counteroffensive.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said in an interview with state television, part of which was released on Sunday, that the operation was "not succeeding" and that attempts to break through Russian defences had failed.

(Reporting by Dan Peleschuk, Nick Starkov and Elaine Monaghan; Editing by David Holmes, Alexandra Hudson and Sandra Maler)
2 Russian tanks were destroyed: T-80 and T-90M Proryv

The Ukrainian Armed Forces have successfully eliminated two Russian tanks using FPV kamikaze drones, Commander of the Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrskyi reported on Telegram on July 14.

Read also: General Syrskyi praises Ukrainian snipers sharp-shooting in Bakhmut  video

The eliminated tanks have been identified as a T-80 and a T-90M Proryv.

The FPV kamikaze drones are operated by the Asgard group, a unit of the Oka, 120th separate reconnaissance battalion of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Syrskyi said.

He further clarified that destruction of the T-80 and T-90M Proryv tanks were the result of the joint efforts of the 3rd Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade and the Asgard group.

Read also:

Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron!

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Defenders of Ukraine destroy Russian equipment

Ukraines SBU security service released a video on July 1 showcasing the successful operations of military counterintelligence in targeting Russian invaders equipment and infantry.

Read also: Ukrainian Army welcomes transfer of US cluster bombs to Ukraine - senior officer

The footage demonstrates the effective elimination of a camouflaged T-90M tank. The SBU reported that the skilled soldiers destroyed the following:

Three Russian tanks, including the T-90M and T-90 models;

Four combat infantry vehicles;

Three armored personnel carriers;

A multi-purpose armored transporter (MTLB);

An anti-aircraft installation;

The Murom observation complex;

An anti-tank gun;

Seventeen vehicles and two ammunition depots;

Two units of engineering equipment;

Two unmanned aerial vehicles, an FPV drone team, and more.

Read also: Ukrainian military partially succeeds in Bakhmuts south, says General Syrskyi

According to the SBU, their military counterintelligence operations in 2023 have successfully destroyed or neutralized a total of 76 units of enemy heavy equipment, including 28 tanks.

As per the Ukrainian militarys General Staff, since the onset of the full-scale invasion, Russia has suffered significant losses, including 236,590 occupants, 4,097 tanks, 8,008 combat armored vehicles, and 7,019 units of automotive equipment and fuel trucks.

Read also: UK to provide Ukraine with new $65 million military aid package

Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron!

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Editors Note: This is issue 97 of Ukrainian State-Owned Enterprises Weekly, covering events from July 7-14, 2023. The Kyiv Independent is reposting it with permission.

Ukrainian SOE Weekly is an independent weekly digest based on a compilation of the most important news related to state-owned enterprises (SOEs) and state-owned banks in Ukraine. This publication was produced with the financial support of the European Union within the project Supporting Ukraine in rebuilding and recovery implemented by the KSE Institute. The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of the editorial team of the Ukrainian SOE Weekly and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.

Corporate governance of SOEs

IMF updates Ukraines conditions to reform SOE corporate governance; another structural benchmark set for the GTSOU. On July 7, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) published an updated Memorandum after its first review of the extended arrangement under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) for Ukraine, evaluating corporate governance reform at SOEs among other things.

Ukraine must complete the corporate governance reform of the GTSOU by the end of October 2023. According to the document, Ukrainian authorities committed to transfer the shareholding of the Gas Transmission System Operator of Ukraine (GTSOU) from the Main Gas Pipelines of Ukraine (MGU) to the Ministry of Energy and adopt a new GTSOU charter, developed and agreed with the NEURC in consultation with the Energy Community Secretariat by the end of July 2023 (a structural benchmark, carried over from the original Memorandum, which we discussed in Issue 82).

As we wrote in Issue 92, the Verkhovna Rada plans to adopt a draft law on the merger of the GTSOU and MGU. In the meantime, the draft law was approved in the first reading in the Radas session on July 13. It still needs to be adopted in the second reading, and then signed by the President to become effective.

After the law becomes effective, the GTSOUs charter must be amended to pave the way for a competitive, transparent, and merit-based nomination procedure for the new supervisory board that should be appointed by the end of October 2023 (a new structural benchmark, added after the first review of the IMF programme), IMF said.

As we reported in Issue 92, the GTSOU announced a Prozorro tender to procure the services of an executive search company to find candidates for independent supervisory board members for the GTSOU, with an expected value of Hr 2 million (around 50,000 euros), excluding VAT. According to Prozorro, the bidding took place on June 30, and the final decision is pending.

The NBU must publish the resilience assessment of banks in wartime by the end of March 2024. According to the IMF, the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) began the assessment in April 2023 and is preparing for a subsequent independent asset quality review. It will cover the 20 largest banks (including the four state-owned banks) that account for more than 90 percent of the banking systems assets.

The results of the assessment must be published in March 2024. As we wrote in Issue 82, the previous version of the Memorandum stated that the NBU must complete an asset valuation and solvency assessment of banks by the end of December 2023.

Note that the four state-owned banks  PrivatBank, Oschadbank, Ukreximbank, and Ukrgasbank  are responsible for some 51% of the banking systems assets. In that respect, this measure mostly covered state-owned banks.

The strategy for state-owned banks must be updated. The 2020 general strategy for state banks will be reviewed and updated to consider wartime needs and preserve financial stability in cases where additional banks come under state control. (The latter refers to the likely nationalization of Sense Bank; see our Issues 91 and 94 for detail.)

Additionally, the amendments will seek to safeguard bank value, ringfence potential losses, institute sound operational management, assess viability, and identify the future of newly nationalized banks. The roadmap for the privatization of each state bank will be updated.

See our Issue 82 for a discussion of other IMF conditionalities, which have been carried over to the updated IMF Memorandum after the first review. These include the authorities commitment to restore regular reporting by SOEs and adopting a draft law bringing the SOE corporate governance framework in line with the OECD Guidelines on Corporate Governance of SOEs (Draft Law No. 5593-d).

Ukraine, allies must do more to hit Russias economy, says Moral Rating Agency head As Yevgeny Prigozhins mutiny exposed Russias political weakness, theres an opportunity to follow up with an economic punch by targeting foreign companies that stayed in the country. This is the belief of Mark Dixon, the director of the Moral Rating Agency, which scrutinizes foreign companies tha The Kyiv IndependentIgor Kossov

Ukrnafta replaces the CEO of Ukrnaftoburinnya. According to state registries, on July 11, Ukrnafta appointed Oleg Malchyk to replace Mykhailo Bakunenko as the new CEO (chair of the executive board) of Ukrnaftoburinnya.

Malchyk was formerly the head of Ukrnaftas production and services department. According to the media, Bohdan Kukura now took this post. For the past seven years, Kukura held managerial positions in the three largest private oil production companies in Ukraine: DTEK Naftogaz, Ukrnaftoburinnya , and Smart Energy, where he worked until his appointment at Ukrnafta.

According to Liga.net, on July 10, three other companies involved in oil and gas production in the Sakhalin hydrocarbon field, also saw CEO replacements.

Hennadiy Chekhovich became the CEO of East Europe Petroleum LLC (replacing Vitaliy Lupeto); Ihor Ruban replaced Valentyna Khachaturova at Sakhalinske LLC; and Oleg Neziamov replaced Anton Lisnychiy at Sirius-1 LLC. These companies assets were seized in a recent criminal case brought against Ukrnaftoburinnya.

In SOE Weekly (Issue 96), we reported that the Anti-Monopoly Committee of Ukraine (AMCU) allowed Ukrnafta to manage the corporate rights of four companies: PrJSC Ukrnaftoburinnya, East Europe Petroleum LLC, Sakhalinske LLC, and Sirius-1 LLC.

According to the registry, Ukrnaftoburinnyas ownership was split between Ares Systems Ltd (22.49%), Deripon Commercial Ltd (22.49%), JKX Ukraine B.V. (10%), and Ariana Business Limited (22.49%). The media reported that the company is associated with businessmen Ihor Kolomoisky, Pavlo Fuks, and Vitaliy Khomutynnik.

Ukrnaftoburinnya is one of the largest private gas producers in Ukraine, extracting 725.4 million cubic metres in 2021. According to Ekonomichna Pravda (EP), its 2021 net profit was Hr 5.65 billion ($154 million). In 2022, this fell to Hr 3.77 billion ($103 million).

See more on Ukrnaftoburinnyas case in our Issues 84, 86, 90, 92, and 96.

Banks

Half of all bank branches belong to state-owned banks; Oschadbank has the largest network. According to the most recent data of the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU), state-owned banks had a total of 2,581 branches as of July 1, which makes up 50% of the total number of bank branches in Ukraine. Oschadbank had the largest number of branches among all Ukrainian banks: 1,183.

Below is an overview of the number of state banks branches, their share in the total number of bank branches in Ukraine, and their decline since the beginning of Russias full-scale invasion.

Bank Number of branches as of 1 July 2023 Percentage of all bank branches in Ukraine Number of branches as of Jan.1, 2022 Change in number of branches since Jan. 1, 2022 Oschadbank 1,183 23% 1,602 -26% PrivatBank 1,131 22% 1,497 -24% Ukrgasbank 219 4% 268 -18% Ukreximbank 48 1% 53 -9% TOTAL 2,581 50% 3,420 -25% (weighted average across state-owned banks) -13% of the total number of bank branches in Ukraine

As of Jan. 1, 2022, the most recent data available before the Russian invasion, Ukrainian banks had a total of 6,685 branches. As of July 1, 2023, there are 5,153 bank branches (a decline of 23%). Since the beginning of 2023, Ukrainian banks have closed a total of 183 branches.

In all four state-owned banks, the number of branches has declined since the full-scale war when it was 3,420.

The percentage of state-owned banks in the total number of bank branches in Ukraine has remained roughly the same as before the full-scale war when it was 51%, suggesting that the decline in the number of branches across other Ukrainian banks was roughly the same.

Ukraine war latest: US close to making decision on ATACMS, Kyiv says Key developments on July 14: * Yermak: US very close to making a decision on ATACMS missiles for Ukraine * Erdogan says he and Putin of the same mind on grain deal extension, Moscow denies * Ukrainian military report advancing in directions of Melitopol, Bakhmut * Ukraine returns bodies of The Kyiv IndependentDaria Shulzhenko

Defense

Rheinmetall to set up armoured vehicle production in Ukraine within the next 12 weeks. Armin Papperger, the CEO of the German company Rheinmetall, one of the world leaders in the defense industry, made the announcement in an interview to CNN.

Papperger said that the factory would be based in Western Ukraine and protected from Russian attacks. There are a lot of factories at the moment which are producing military goods [in Ukraine]. It is just another one  and we can protect that also, he said.

Rheinmetall will also train Ukrainians to maintain the tanks and other armoured vehicles made in the factory, Papperger said in the interview.

Rheinmetall will operate the plant in partnership with Ukroboronprom, which will also own the facility, Papperger explained.

In Issue 88, we reported that Rheinmetall signed an agreement with Ukroboronprom in May 2023 to set up a joint venture to repair tanks in Ukraine.

According to the agreement, the German side will hold 51% of the shares and have management rights. The cooperation will focus on the maintenance and repair of armoured vehicles in Ukraine, while preparations will be made for the construction of tanks. See more in Issue 88.

Rheinmetall AG, headquartered in Dusseldorf, is one of the largest manufacturers of military equipment, weapons, and vehicle components in Europe.

The group consists of five divisions: Vehicle Systems; Weapons and Ammunition; Electronic Solutions; Sensors and Actuators; and Materials and Trade. With some 28,000 employees working in 132 locations worldwide, Rheinmetalls sales were 6.4 billion euros in 2022.

The groups sales are distributed geographically as follows: Germany (34.1%), the rest of Europe (30.8%), Asia (18.4%), the Americas (8.2%), and other regions (8.5%).

Rheinmetall has a large institutional investors base (280 institutional owners and shareholders). As of Dec. 31, 69% of its shares were owned by institutional investors and 21% by private shareholders. The largest shareholders were Harris Associates LP (11.6%), Wellington Management Co. LLP (5.08%), Capital Research & Management Co. (4.99%), and BlackRock Fund Advisors (2.35%).

Investigation: EU inability to ramp up production behind acute ammunition shortages in Ukraine Editors note: This investigation is a collaboration between the Kyiv Independent and partners, including The Investigative Desk, Lighthouse Reports, and Follow the Money (Netherlands), El Diario (Spain), Delfi (Estonia), and Liberation (France). Key findings: * Over a year into Russias full-sca The Kyiv IndependentAnna Myroniuk

Infrastructure

Ukrzaliznytsia registers a rail cargo company in Poland  the carrier will operate in Europe. According to the Polish company registry, on June 30, Ukrzaliznytsia established Ukrainian Railways Cargo Poland, a transportation firm, in the country.

The company is owned by Ukrzaliznytsia, and its registered address is in Warsaw.

Ukrzaliznytsias press release states that the company will operate 1,435- and 1,520-millimetre rolling stock, co-ordinating its work with European operators, cargo owners, and border crossings.

Earlier, in June 2023, Valerii Tkachov, deputy director of Ukrzaliznytsias commercial operations department, said that the company would register a freight forwarding company by the end of the year to enter EU markets. Poland would be the new subsidiarys first market. The company is also considering launching similar services in Slovakia and Hungary, Tkachov added.

As we wrote in SOE Weekly (Issue 76), in February 2023, Oleksandr Kamyshin, Ukrzaliznytsias CEO at the time, reported that the rail operator could establish a company to transport cargo in Europe by the end of 2023.

The need for such a company outside Ukraine has been driven by Ukrainian cargo carriers difficulties in working with European carriers, Kamyshin said.

In Issue 10, we reported that the then Director of Ukrzaliznytsias Cargo Business Unit Irakli Ezugbaia said in December 2020 that the rail operator would establish a separate entity for its cargo business called UZ Cargo during the companys reform. Ezugbaia said back then that cargo transportation remained the only profitable segment for Ukrzaliznytsia. The immediate task was to ensure a transparent and efficient structure for UZ Cargo.

Based on publicly available information, the plans to unbundle the cargo business in a new entity have never been implemented. In establishing a separate cargo transportation entity outside Ukraine, it may be useful to get back to the idea of unbundling all Ukrzaliznytsias cargo operations in a separate entity.

EU publishes a strategy for Ukraines rail system transition to the European track. On July 11, the European Commission published the Strategy for the EU integration of the Ukrainian rail system. According to the document, the main challenge is the need to build a new 1,435-millimeter gauge mainline network in Ukraine, which will operate in parallel with the current 1,520-millimeter gauge network.

The 1,435-millimeter Euro gauge will be used for high-speed transport. These include international passenger trains, Intercity rail, and the transport of goods in containers and on platforms.

The existing 1,520-millimeter gauge will serve slower traffic. These include local and regional passenger trains and heavy cargo.

The 1,435-millimeter mainline network will be developed in three stages from west to east:

The network will first be built out from Mostytska to Lviv and from Chisinau (Moldova) to Ukraines border with Romania.

A line will then link Lviv to Kyiv, while a second corridor in northern Ukraine will link Kyiv with Dorohusk (Poland) and Lviv with Chop.

The network will then be extended from Kyiv to Kharkiv and Dnipro and expanded in the south. Euro gauge lines will run from Rava-Ruska to Lviv, from Lviv to the border with Romania (via Ivano-Frankivsk and Chernivtsi), and from Odesa to Chisinau.

In the future, the 1,435-millimeter railway network may be extended to cities such as Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, Mykolaiv, Mariupol, Donetsk, Luhansk, and Sevastopol.

The total cost of the three phases is projected at around 11.5 billion euros (700 million euros for the first, 5.9 billion euros for the second, and 4.9 billion euros for the third phase).

This Week in Ukraine Ep. 16  Why is Ukraine still not in NATO? Episode #16 of our weekly video podcast This Week in Ukraine is dedicated to Ukrainian culture, the important role it plays in war, and why it has been a target of Russian dictators for decades. Host Anastasiia Lapatina is joined by the Kyiv Independents culture reporter Oleksiy Sorokin. Listen The Kyiv IndependentAnastasiia Lapatina

Privatization

SPFU to begin privatizing property seized from Russian oligarchs; first auction to be held in August. On July 11, the State Property Fund of Ukraine (SPFU) announced the start of the privatization of assets seized from Russian oligarchs.

On Aug. 10, the SPFU plans to hold a Prozorro auction for the sale of the agricultural company Investagro, which previously belonged to sanctioned Russian oligarch and shareholder of the VSMPO-Avisma titanium corporation Mikhail Shelkov.

The starting price is Hr 55 million ($1.5 million), and the deposit fee to participate in the auction is Hr 11 million, or $301,000 (20% of the starting price, as required by law).

According to the SPFU, Investagro made a net profit of Hr 3.7 million ($101,000) in 2022. In the first half of 2023, it posted a loss of Hr 7 million ($191,000). Investagros current accounts payable are Hr 17.2 million ($470,000).

The company owns 25 real estate properties and 12 vehicles, and it leases 204 land plots with a total area of almost 1,326 hectares, the SPFU added.

In SOE Weekly (Issue 74), we reported that on Feb. 3, the High Anti-Corruption Court (HACC) satisfied an appeal by the Ministry of Justice and confiscated the Demurinsky Mining and Processing Plant formerly owned by Shelkov.

In Issue 75, we reported that on Feb. 15, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) exposed attempts by sanctioned Russian oligarchs Sergei Chemezov and Mikhail Shelkov to prevent nationalization of assets that both men formerly owned in Ukraine.

In Issue 77, we reported that the Cabinet of Ministers transferred the assets of Shelkov to the SPFU, including Investagro and Demurinsky Mining and Processing Plant.

The SPFU raises 9 million euros from the lease of state property in the first half of 2023. On July 7, the SPFU reported that it signed 760 new asset lease agreements in the first half of 2023.

Together with the earlier lease contracts, the SPFU now operates over 14,000 lease agreements. They generated a total of Hr 381 million ($10 million) in the first six months of 2023.

A total of 776 bidders took part in the lease auctions in the first half of 2023. The sum of the winning prices for all auctions was more than three times the sum of the starting prices, the SPFU said.

The sum of starting prices, the sum of winning prices, and the value of the signed agreements were not reported.

The most active lease auctions were held in Lviv, Zakarpattia, and Volyn oblasts, with 119 auctions held in these regions since the beginning of the year, the SPFU added.

In SOE Weekly (Issue 96), we reported that the SPFU raised Hr 1.82 billion ($50 million) from privatization auctions in the first half of 2023.

The revenue from privatization to the state budget is projected to be Hr 6 billion ($164 million) in 2023.

Confiscation of the aggressor states assets, nationalization, and asset seizure

The Ministry of Justice wants to seize the assets of Russian oligarch Molchanov. On July 7, the Ministry of Justice reported that it filed a lawsuit in the High Anti-Corruption Court (HACC) to seize the assets of sanctioned Russian oligarch Andrei Molchanov. These assets include the Russian company LSR Group.

The case also involves AEROC Investment Deutschland GmbH, Ukrainian firm AEROC LLC, and Molchanov himself.

According to the Ministry, LSR Group contributes to Russias war effort by paying significant taxes and fees to the state budget of the Russian Federation; actively participates in mortgage programmes to provide housing for Russian war veterans; and invests in the construction of housing for the Russian military.

LSR Group owns two aerated concrete plants in Ukraine and is one of the leaders in this market, Inna Bohatykh, the Head of the Ministrys Sanctions Policy Department, said.

The court returns the Ukrainian part of the Samara-Western Direction oil pipeline to state ownership. On July 11, the SPFU reported that the Commercial Court of Zhytomyr Oblast granted the SPFUs claim, recognizing the state ownership of the Ukrainian part of the Samara-Western Direction oil pipeline, the so-called Medvedchuk pipe.

Viktor Medvedchuk is a former Ukrainian politician and member of parliament who aggressively advanced pro-Russian narratives in Ukraine. He was arrested by a Ukrainian court shortly after Russias full-scale invasion and handed over to Russia in a prisoner exchange later.

According to the SPFU, the court upheld the claim on June 26.

In SOE Weekly (Issue 16), we reported that Ukrtransnafta, a Naftogaz subsidiary, had to protect and maintain the Samara-Western Direction pipeline by the decision of the Higher Anti-Corruption Court (HACC) made in early 2021.

In Issue 24, we reported that the Asset Recovery and Management Agency (ARMA) selected Ukrtransnafta to manage the pipeline in April 2021.

In Issue 31, we reported that in June 2021, the Commercial Court of Zhytomyr Oblast opened a lawsuit filed by the SPFU to return the Samara-Western Direction oil pipeline  a seized asset of the Medvedchuk-affiliated Prykarpatzakhidtrans  to state ownership.
(CNN)  Italian authorities have issued an extreme health risk for 16 cities including Rome and Florence this weekend as a heat wave that is baking Europe threatens to bring record temperatures.

Climate scientists at the European Space Agency (ESA) say temperatures could reach 48 degrees Celsius (118.4 degrees Fahrenheit) on the islands of Sicily and Sardinia, potentially the hottest temperatures ever recorded in Europe.

Rome could get as hot as 44 degrees Celsius (111 degrees Fahrenheit).

Italian authorities have issued the second-highest heat warning to nine other cities. The countrys health ministry is advising the public to stay hydrated, eat lighter meals and avoid direct sunlight between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m.

The ESA warned that Europes heat wave has only just begun with Spain, France, Germany and Poland expected to see extreme weather, just as the continent welcomes what is expected to be a record-breaking number of tourists coming for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic.

Greece shut the Acropolis of Athens for a second straight day Saturday amid fierce temperatures. Local police helped a tourist who got into difficulty on Friday.

There is particular concern over those working outdoors after a 44-year-old construction worker in Italy died after collapsing on a roadside earlier in the week.

Authorities in Spain warned the heat wave is not just hitting the usual frying pan areas in the south, but also affecting the countrys typically cooler north.

In the south, temperatures in the cities of Seville, Cordoba and Granada have reached 40 degrees Celsius, or 104 degrees Fahrenheit.

Spains national weather service says its also sizzling on Spains resort island of Mallorca in the Mediterranean Sea with highs of 36 degrees Celsius, or 97 degrees Fahrenheit.

Meanwhile, even the normally mild region of Navarra in the north is seeing up to 40 degrees Celsius.

A wildfire that broke out on La Palma Island in Spains Canary Islands burned several homes and forced the evacuation of 500 people, the Canary Islands regional government tweeted Saturday morning.

Heat is one of the deadliest natural hazards  more than 61,000 people died in Europes searing summer heat wave last year.

The current heat wave  named Cerberus by the Italian Meteorological Society after the three-headed monster that features in Dantes Inferno  has prompted further fears for peoples health, especially as it coincides with one of the busiest periods of Europes summer tourist season.

Europe is not the only place facing extreme temperatures. A dangerous weekslong heat wave in parts of the western United States is set to worsen this weekend, with more than 90 million people under heat alerts.

The extreme weather is even taking affect as far afield as Australia, with Sydney experiencing unseasonably warm weather for its winter months, according to the countrys Bureau of Meteorology.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "Italy issues extreme health warning for 16 cities as heat wave grips Europe"
Ukrainian units are leaving behind their Western tanks and advancing slowly on foot after coming up against dense Russian minefields, report says

Ukrainian soldiers work on the gun of a Leopard 1 A5 tank at a Bundeswehr site in Klietz, Germany on May 5, 2023. Klaus-Dietmar Gabbert/picture alliance via Getty Images

Ukrainian forces have faced dense minefields while carrying out counteroffensive operations.

It has forced Ukrainian units to move slowly on foot rather than using tanks or other vehicles.

Ukrainian officials are now calling for F-16 jets and more mine-clearance equipment.

Ukraine has been forced to change its counteroffensive strategy after repeatedly coming up against dense Russian minefields, a report says.

Ukrainian units are leaving behind the battle tanks and infantry fighting vehicles donated by Western allies and advancing slowly on foot, The Washington Post reported.

"You can no longer do anything with just a tank with some armor because the minefield is too deep, and sooner or later, it will stop, and then it will be destroyed by concentrated fire," Ukraine's commander-in-chief General Valery Zaluzhny told The Post.

The minefields have exposed the limitations of Western-provided armor, which Ukraine had long been requesting to help in its fight to take back territory occupied by Russia.

Although the vehicles are sturdy, soldiers inside typically suffer only minor injuries; they have failed to overcome Russia's defenses alone, according to the report.

Nearly a third of the Bradley armored vehicles sent to Ukraine by the US have already been put out of action, according to open-source data.

Zaluzhny said that Ukraine now needs modern fighter jets like the US-made F-16 to improve its ground capabilities.

Ukrainian officials have also been requesting more mine-clearance equipment from its Western allies, as they say, they have received less than 15% of the demining and engineering equipment that they had asked for before the counteroffensive.

Ukraine uses the US-provided M58 Mine Clearing Line Charge (MICLIC) systems, which Zaluzhny said "are also being destroyed," per The Post.

"There's nothing wrong with that. It takes a lot of them," he added.

US officials said Washington is looking to provide more of the system and the charges it uses, per The Post.

Ukrainian soldiers walk to the frontline in Bakhmut, Ukraine on December 16, 2022. Diego Herrera Carcedo/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

Ukrainian forces are trying to save their few mine-clearing systems by manually clearing mines instead, often using small teams of soldiers that crawl on the ground and try to spot mines themselves, per The Post.

Russian forces also continue to drop more mines from the air onto areas that Ukrainians have cleared, further complicating Ukraine's clearance efforts.

Ukrainian soldiers told The Post that the long buildup to the counteroffensive gave Russians time to fortify their defenses, allowing them to densely mine areas three and 10 miles deep in front of its key strongholds.

The minefields are posing major problems along the southern Zaporizhzhia front line. Russia had expected Ukraine to attack the area and attempt to cut off a stretch of land that links to Crimea, a region Russia illegally annexed in 2014.

Brig. Gen. Mark Kimmitt, a retired US general, noted that attempting to break through Russia's defenses, which include rows of trenches, anti-tank traps, minefields, and barbed wire, was like trying to get through "20 kilometers of hell," Insider previously reported.

So far, Ukraine has made incremental gains in the counteroffensive, but Ukrainian President Zelenskyy has admitted that progress is so far "slower than desired."

Read the original article on Business Insider
A United Airlines plane takes off from Amsterdam en route to Houston, Texas. Nicolas Economou / NurPhoto via Getty Images

United Airlines and its pilots union agreed Saturday to a preliminary deal that would increase pilot salaries by up to 40% over the next four years. The agreement will end months of picketing at airports by United pilots seeking higher wages in the post-pandemic travel boom.

The new deal would increase pilot cumulative pay from 34.5% to 40.2% over the course of the contract, per the agreement's guidelines, and will be based on the types of aircraft the pilot flies. The deal now awaits ratification by United's 16,000 pilots  if this occurs, pilots will get an immediate pay raise from 13.8% to 18.7%.

The deal will also provide a number of other benefits to pilots, according to the agreement. This includes "quality of work-life, compensation, job security, work rules, retirement, benefits, and more."

The Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), the union representing the United pilots, reported that the deal will create approximately $10 billion in total value. "The tireless dedication demonstrated by United pilots over the past several years ensured our solidarity which was instrumental in achieving this historic agreement," Capt. Garth Thompson, chair of the ALPA's United wing, said in a statement.

Scott Kirby, the CEO of United Airlines, wrote on LinkedIn that he was "pleased to have reached an agreement with ALPA. The four-year agreement, once ratified, will deliver a meaningful pay raise and quality of life improvements for our pilots."

The deal is the latest in a string of post-pandemic pay hikes for U.S. airline pilots. This past March, Delta Airlines ratified a 34% salary increase for its pilots over three years. This was followed by American Airlines reaching a deal for 40% raises over four years, though that agreement has yet to be ratified by American's pilots.

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United Airlines strikes $10 billion deal with pilots for pay rises of up to 40%

United Airlines has reached a deal with its pilots. Thierry Monasse/Getty Images

United Airlines and its pilots' union have reached an agreement on pay and conditions.

The deal is worth about $10 billion over its four years, the Air Line Pilots Association said.

United has been under pressure over flight disruptions and cancellations in recent weeks.

United Airlines has reached a deal with its pilots that could give them total pay rises of up to 40%.

The deal was announced by the Air Line Pilots Association on Saturday, and is estimated to be worth about $10 billion in value over the four years covered by the agreement, the ALPA said in a news release.

Pilots will receive pay raises ranging from 13.8% to 18.7% when signing the contract with a cumulative increase of just over 40%, Bloomberg reported.

Improved quality of work-life, job security, work rules, retirement, benefits, and more are also being written into the landmark agreement. According to the union, 16,000 United pilots will be affected by the changes.

Garth Thompson, of United's ALPA division, said the solidarity displayed by the airline's pilots over the four years of negotiations was "instrumental in achieving this historic agreement."

Representatives for United confirmed the four-year agreement to Insider and said it would deliver a "meaningful pay raise and quality of life improvements for our pilots."

In June United said it planned to hire more than 7,000 aircraft mechanics to combat a looming shortage in a "highly competitive job market." The carrier also launched a 36-month apprenticeship scheme.

United came under scrutiny last month after a storm caused chaotic flight disruptions that left passengers stranded at Newark airport. About 750 flights were canceled while CEO Scott Kirby flew on a private jet from New Jersey on the same day.

The pilot shortage in the US has been ongoing since post-pandemic travel picked back up. As of September 2022, the industry was reportedly short about 8,000 pilots, and the number could swell to 30,000 by 2025.

Airlines have resorted to hiring from abroad, paying their pilots more, and reexamining training requirements to try to keep more planes in the skies.

Read the original article on Business Insider
US envoy John Kerry is scheduled to travel to China to restart stalled climate talks (HENRY NICHOLLS)

US climate envoy John Kerry will head to China on Sunday to meet with his counterpart Xie Zhenhua and restart stalled talks between the world's two biggest emitters of planet-warming gases.

Kerry's trip to China -- his third as President Joe Biden's climate emissary -- follows weeks of record-setting summer heat that scientists say is being exacerbated by climate change.

Bilateral climate talks stalled last year after Nancy Pelosi, then speaker of the US House of Representatives, visited self-ruled Taiwan and infuriated Beijing, which considers the island its territory.

But Kerry, a former secretary of state, has enjoyed comparatively cordial and consistent relations with China despite Washington and Beijing locking horns over Taiwan and a number of other thorny issues, including advanced semiconductors.

His trip to Beijing also comes after two other high-profile visits by US officials -- first Secretary of State Antony Blinken, then Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen -- aimed at stabilising US-China ties.

Kerry was scheduled to depart for China on Saturday, according to the US State Department.

The Biden administration has identified climate as an area for potential cooperation with Beijing, despite the tensions elsewhere.

The restart of US-China climate talks will come on the heels of the hottest week on record globally, according to the World Meteorological Organization.

June was already the hottest ever logged, according to US and European agencies.

Kerry will aim to use his time in Beijing to engage with Chinese officials "with respect to increasing implementation and ambition and promoting a successful COP28", the State Department said, referring to the UN climate talks in November.

Nearly 200 nations will gather in the United Arab Emirates for COP28 to thrash out ways to mitigate global warming and its impacts.

- Energy constraints -

As the leading producer of the greenhouse gases driving climate change, China has pledged to peak carbon emissions by 2030 and achieve complete carbon neutrality by 2060.

President Xi Jinping has also said that the country will reduce its use of coal from 2026.

But in April, China approved a major surge in coal power -- a move Greenpeace said prioritised energy supply over the emissions reduction pledge -- fuelling concerns that Beijing will struggle to meet its ambitious targets.

"There are a number of factors that constrain the hands of energy planners in Beijing at the moment," Byford Tsang, a senior policy adviser at the climate-focused think tank E3G, told AFP.

They include economic fallout from Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which has led to major disruptions in the global gas market, and reduced hydropower capacity in China due to severe droughts in recent years, Tsang said.

Last summer, millions of people in southwest China faced rolling power cuts after crushing heatwaves led to an electricity supply crunch that forced factories to halt work, heightening domestic concerns over energy security.

"I think it would be politically challenging for China to take a step forward on coal policy at this stage," added Tsang.

During his visit, Kerry is also expected to bring up international climate finance efforts, following calls by Yellen during her Beijing trip for China to play a larger role.

Kerry's trip will be closely watched in Washington after Republican lawmakers characterised it as him flying a carbon-spewing private jet halfway across the world to discuss climate with a political adversary.

pfc/je/qan/smw
US reports ammunition shortages in own arsenals

The US is running out of ammunition in its own arsenals amid the provision of military aid to Ukraine.

Source: Jake Sullivan, US President's National Security Advisor, in an interview with CNN, as European Pravda reports

Details: According to him, the Biden administration, after taking office, discovered that the stocks of 155-mm munitions, which is standard for NATO, "was relatively low".

Sullivan said the administration also realised that it would take years, not months, to replenish supplies to an acceptable level.

In addition, as Biden's advisor noted, resupply is a difficult task for a country that provides assistance to Ukraine.

Quote: "President Biden ordered his Pentagon to work rapidly to scale up the ability of the United States to produce all the ammunition we could ever need for any conflict at any time. Month on month, we are increasing our capacity to supply ammunition," Sullivan said.

Background:

On 7 July, the US announced a new US$800 million military aid package to Ukraine, which includes dual-purpose improved conventional munitions (DPICM), or cluster munitions.

On 13 July, Brigadier General Oleksandr Tarnavskyi, Commander of the Tavriia Operational and Strategic Group of Forces, confirmed that Ukraine received cluster munitions from the USA.

The Pentagon later confirmed that the United States had delivered cluster munitions to Ukraine.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!






John Kirby, coordinator for strategic communications at the National Security Council, said the Biden administration is working with the defense industry to increase the production of munitions as concerns grow that the nations weapons supply is dwindling.

"We're working very closely with the defense industry to try to ramp up production, particularly for artillery shells," Kirby told Fox News Shannon Bream on "Fox News Sunday."

"You saw that we gave some cluster munitions to Ukraine as a bridging solution here while we ramp up production. We're having very, very strong conversations with the defense industry and we believe that we'll be able to get there."

Kirby was responding to a segment reporting that a Center for Strategic and International Studies report found replacing inventories for ammunitions such as 155 mm shells could take between four and seven years. Replacing Javelins could take up to eight years and Stingers up to as many as 18 years, according to the report.

Kirby said replacing the munitions, as the war in Ukraine continues and tensions rise in Taiwan, is not a matter of funding.

BIDEN LETS AMERICAN MILITARY INFO SLIP DURING LIVE INTERVIEW, SPARKING BACKLASH

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

"The defense industry obviously wants to make sure that if they're going to increase production, that that production rate is going to stay elevated for a period of time. Because that means hiring more workers, it means retooling and adding capacity in their factories and manufacturing capabilities. So we understand that and that's sort of the central thesis here of the discussions that we're having with them, is to get them to increase production and let them know that we're serious about doing that for some period of time," Kirby said.

RFK JR BLASTS BIDEN FOR SENDING CLUSTER BOMBS TO UKRAINE A YEAR AFTER PSAKI SAID IT COULD BE A WAR CRIME

President Biden said on TV that the United States is low on 155 mm artillery rounds.

Kirbys comments come after President Biden said on TV that the United States is low on 155 mm artillery rounds.

US AMMUNITION RUNNING 'PERILOUSLY LOW' FROM BIDEN'S EFFORTS TO ARM UKRAINE, MILITARY STRATEGIST WARNS

"This is a war relating to munitions. And theyre running out of that ammunition, and were low on it," Biden told CNN's Fareed Zakaria last Sunday. "And so, what I finally did, I took the recommendation of the Defense Department to  not permanently  but to allow for this transition period while we get more 155 weapons, these shells, for the Ukrainians."

Biden made the remarks while defending his administrations move this summer to send cluster munitions to Ukraine as a "transition period" until more munitions are produced.

Conservatives slammed Biden on social media following the comment, while others facetiously said they "love when the president of America goes on CNN to tell everyone were low on ammo."

Fox News Digital's Matteo Cina contributed to this report.
Joe Biden during a meeting with Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the NATO summit in Vilnius, July 12, 2023

Ukraines immediate accession to NATO would result in a direct conflict with Russia,leading to enormous escalation, something that the United States and NATO countries do not want, Andrea Kalan, the Russian-language spokesperson of the Office of International Media Engagement at the US Department of State said in an interview with Radio NV published on July 13.

But we all intend for Ukraine to become a NATO member. That is clear. President Biden mentioned yesterday (July 12), after his meeting with President (Volodymyr) Zelenskyy, that as soon as the war ends, we will begin this process, she added.

She also emphasized the need for Ukraine to undergo necessary reforms and mentioned that NATO and the G7 would provide assistance to Ukraine not only for successful counteroffensives in the near future but also for long-term self-defense.

In response to a request for clarification on the vague wording in the final declaration of the NATO summit, which did not specify Ukraines ability to join the Alliance after the active phase of the war ends, Kalan said: I can simply confirm what was discussed, and perhaps your audience, your listeners, saw the press conference that took place (on July 12) between the presidents.

Read also: NATOs commitments show Putin wont outlast Ukraine  Blinken

President Biden stated that when the war ends, Ukraine will become a member of NATO. I dont know how one can be more explicit on this matter, said Kalan.

The official also noted that joining NATO requires undergoing various procedures and achieving consensus among all Alliance members.

When asked whether the United States would consider the war between Russia and Ukraine to be over if the Ukrainian Armed Forces were to reach the borders of 1991, but Russia continued launching missiles to shell Ukrainian territory, Kalan responded: It is not for the United States to decide how the end of the war should look like but rather for Ukraine itself. And we will support Ukraine in this. So, this is probably not a question for us but most likely for the administration in Ukraine.

On July 12, Biden told Zelenskyy that the question of Ukraines desire to be in NATO was no longer relevant. He stated that, in his opinion, it would be a matter of months  presumably referring to Kyivs invitation to the Alliance.

The White House chief also expressed admiration for the resilience of the Ukrainian nation and emphasized that Ukraine serves as an example to the world. According to him, the United States is doing everything possible to promptly provide Ukraine with the necessary means to defend itself against Russian aggression.

Read also:

Biden also told Zelenskyy that he was looking forward to the day when they together would celebrate Ukraines accession to NATO.

Moreover, Biden said at a briefing on July 13 that applicant countries could not join NATO amid an ongoing war; however, Ukraine would become a member of the Alliance.

Biden also added that Russian dictator Vladimir Putin has no chance of winning the war unleashed against Ukraine, and according to the US President, the dictator has already lost.

I dont think the war (in Ukraine) can go on for years for two reasons. Number one, I dont think that they  that Russia could  could maintain the war forever  number one  in terms of their resources and capacity, he said at a joint press conference with President of Finland Sauli Niinisto in Helsinki on July 13.

Number two, I think that there is going to be a circumstance where, eventually, President Putin is going to decide its not in the interest of Russia  economically, politically, or otherwise  to continue this war. But I cant predict exactly how that happens.

My hope is and my expectation is youll see that Ukraine makes significant progress on their offensive and that it generates a negotiated settlement somewhere along the line, he added.

Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron!

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Students interested in cloud computing can enroll in a new concentration at Valencia College.

The concentration will start in the Fall 2023 semester under the Bachelor of Applied Science.

Lisa Macon is the program chair for the computing technology and software development program. She said this concentration will broaden students horizons in the information technology field.

Read: Valencia College, UCF provides more transfer student financial aid with 1.3M grant

The cloud concentration contains courses and learning objectives that will prepare students to work in the fastest growing field in the technology industry, Macon said. The cloud concentration also provides the background necessary for a student to manage cloud systems, which are used by every single company worldwide.

Course materials will be free for students, and classes will be offered online.

Read: Brightline partners with Valencia College to secure jobs for skilled workers

Some of the coursework will use Amazon Web Services.

According to the college, the bachelors program started in 2019 and has seen an increase in enrollment from 39 students to over 500 students a year.

Macron said the program plans to have a concentration in cybersecurity in the future.

Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
FILE PHOTO: Pilgrims from Vietnam hold a statue of Our Lady during a Marian vigil prayer led by Pope Francis in Saint Peter's square at the Vatican

By Philip Pullella and Francesco Guarascio

VATICAN CITY/HANOI (Reuters) - The Vatican and Vietnam are due to take a major step towards improving their long strained relations by finalising a deal in which Hanoi will allow the Holy See to have a resident representative in the communist-run country, sources say.

The deal will likely be announced during a visit to the Vatican later this month by Vietnamese President President Vo Van Thuong, according to a senior Vatican official and a Hanoi-based diplomat familiar with the matter.

"We are hoping that this will mark a turning point," the senior Vatican official told Reuters. The Vatican has been asking Hanoi to allow a resident papal representative for more than 10 years. An agreement in principle was reached last year.

Both sources said they expected the president to be received by Pope Francis. It would be the first meeting between the pope and a Vietnamese president since Tran ai Quang visited in 2016.

There are nearly 7 million Catholics in Vietnam, about 6.6% of the population of 95 million.

Vietnam broke relations with the Vatican after the communists took over the reunited country at the end of the Vietnam War in 1975. At the time, the authorities viewed the Catholic Church in Vietnam as having been too close historically to the former colonial power, France.

The current papal representative to Vietnam, Archbishop Marek Zalewski, is based in Singapore, where he is the Vatican nuncio (ambassador). He is allowed to make occasional working visits to Vietnam with government approval.

According to UCA, an independent Catholic news agency that specialises in Asia, the government places certain restrictions on Catholic activities, such as the number of parishes.

Vietnam's constitution allows for freedom of religion and government media have rejected criticisms from groups such as the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, a congressional watchdog which has placed Vietnam on its list of "countries of particular concern".

The establishment of a resident pontifical representative in Vietnam could lead to full diplomatic relations. But that step could take many years, given that the joint working group that hammered out the latest agreement began its work in 2009.

The Vatican, a sovereign city-state surrounded by Rome, has diplomatic relations with about 180 countries.

(Reporting by Philip Pullella in Rome and Francesco Guarascio in Hanoi, editing by Alexandra Hudson)
Editors Note: A National Guard statement provided to Military Times was added to this AP story.

FARGO, N.D.  A veteran and two National Guard members were among the police officers who responded to a traffic crash in North Dakota on Friday, according to a statement from the North Dakota National Guard adjutant general.

A gunman opened fire on police and firefighters for no known reason as they responded to the crash, killing one officer and wounding two others before another officer killed him, Fargos police Chief David Zibolski said Saturday.

A 25-year-old woman was also injured in the shooting Friday afternoon, but authorities did not say who shot her. The gunman did not hit any firefighters, Zibolski said, but a fire truck was struck by gunfire.

Zibolski said officer Jake Wallin, a military veteran, was killed, and officers Andrew Dotas and Tyler Hawes were wounded. Officer Zach Robinson shot and killed the suspect, Zibolski said.

Official portraits of Fargo, N.D., police officers involved in a shooting a day earlier are displayed during a news conference, Saturday, July 15, 2023, at Fargo City Hall. Officer Jake Wallin, far left, was fatally shot. Officers Andrew Dotas and Tyler Hawes were both critically injured. Officer Zachary Robinson, who killed the suspect and is on paid administrative leave, is also pictured. (Ann Arbor Miller/AP)

At the time of the shooting, Wallin, 23, of St. Michael, Minnesota, was in the field as an officer in training, having become a Fargo police officer less than three months earlier. Wallin previously served in the Minnesota Army National Guard and was deployed to Afghanistan, Zibolski said.

He served his country, came back here and wanted nothing more but to serve in a position with purpose and meaning  his exact words  and he did that, Zibolski said.

Dotas and Robinson are both master sergeants with the North Dakota Air National Guards Fargo-based 119th Wing, according to the National Guard. Dotas is being treated for his injuries at Sanford Hospital in Fargo and is in critical, but stable condition. Robinson was not injured.

In both their military and civilian roles, Andrew and Zach dedicate their lives to their community, state and nation with incredible selflessness and courage, said Maj. Gen. Al Dohrmann, North Dakota adjutant general in a statement provided to Military Times.

The North Dakota National Guard stands behind our states law enforcement community. We share in the mourning of Officer Jake Wallin, a military veteran who served with the Minnesota Army National Guard, and we extend Officer Tyler Hawes and his family our sincere wishes for recovery, Dohrmann said.

In video played at a Saturday news conference showing Wallin training with fellow recruits, he spoke of his desire to pursue a career in law enforcement.

Throughout my entire life, Ive always wanted to work in some sort of position that had purpose behind my job and police officer is always what kind of came to me, Wallin said. I dont want to be sitting in an office wondering why Im here every day. I want to be out, I want to be doing something that I can tell myself at the end of the day I made a difference somehow.

Zibolski identified the shooter as Mohamad Barakat, 37, of Fargo, but provided few details about him or the shooting, citing officials desire to protect the investigation. He said he was confident authorities would eventually determine the motive.

The first thing we always want to know in a situation like this is, Why? he said. Why would somebody do this? What happened?

Authorities were investigating what Zibolski called a routine traffic accident on a busy Fargo street when Barakat opened fire. He did not appear to have been involved in the crash police were working, Zibolski said.

Among the drivers who witnessed what happened was Chenoa Peterson. She told The Associated Press on Saturday that the shooter appeared to have ambushed the officers. The gunman was at the rear of a car in a bank parking lot near the traffic crash when he fired on an officer not more than 20 feet (6 meters) away, she said.

He was holding up the trunk of the car with his arm, and then I see the gun come up, and he set it on his shoulder and just pointed it directly at an officer in front of him, Peterson said. It was like 10 shots right away.

The police werent looking in the direction of the gunman when he began shooting, she said.

Peterson, who said she has a bachelors degree in nursing, said her first instinct was to get out of her car and help. But her 22-year-old daughter, who was in the passenger seat, yelled that they had to take cover, so she drove around to the back of the bank. She said the suspect exchanged simultaneous gunfire with police.

I saw them firing at each other both at once, Katriel Peterson said. But soon as the shooter took a break the cop came walking towards him letting off round after round. There was already an officer down. And a family hiding just on the other side of the vehicle next to the shooter.

Asked if the shooting was a planned ambush of police, Zibolski told reporters: The investigation into that is still ongoing. He said he believed police had previously had some sort of contact with Barakat but not anything significant. He did not know what type of gun Barakat used.

He said the state Bureau of Criminal Investigation and the FBI were investigating.

For nine hours after the shooting, police had called it only a critical incident. Early details emerged from people who said they witnessed the shooting or heard gunshots. Shortly after the shooting, officers converged on a residential area about 2 miles (3.2 kilometers) away and evacuated residents of an apartment building while gathering what they said was related evidence.

On Saturday, investigators were still at the apartment building, going back and forth from the third floor, where police tape hung across a hallway. Few residents were around and an FBI truck was out front.

Associated Press writers Margery A. Beck in Omaha, Nebraska, and Ed Komenda in Seattle, Washington, and Military Times staff contributed to this report.
Wagner Group forces have moved into Belarus, following the Russian mercenaries short-lived rebellion against the Kremlin last month, according to Ukrainian and Polish officials.

Andriy Demchenko, a spokesman for the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine, said in a Telegram post Saturday that the Wagner forces had been observed moving from Russia into Belarus.

Polands deputy minister coordinator of special services, Stanislaw Zaryn, also said Saturday that their latest intelligence suggested that the Russian mercenaries had arrived in Belarus.

The extent of involvement of the Wagner Group on Belarusian soil remains unclear, Zaryn said in a video posted to Twitter. But one things for sure  the Wagner Group is being deployed to Belarus to accomplish a mission of some kind.

The Belarusian Defense Ministry shared a video Friday showing Wagner forces training Belarusian troops.

Wagner leader Yevgeny Prigozhin launched the rebellion against Moscow late last month, calling for Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigus ouster following months of criticism over how Russias military leadership was conducting the war in Ukraine.

He and his forces ultimately halted their advance on Moscow, after Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko negotiated a deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Prigozhin and the troops who participated in the rebellion did not face charges and were allowed to leave Russia for neighboring Belarus.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Wagnirets currently deployed in Belarus pose no threat to Ukraine  State Border Guard

The Wagner Group mercenaries who have arrived in Belarus currently do not pose any threat to Ukraine, according to Andrii Demchenko, the State Border Guard Service spokesman.

Source: Demchenko on air of the 24/7 national newscast

Quote from Demchenko: "There are some groups of mercenaries on the territory of Belarus, but we are not talking about any massive or large-scale deployment of PMC representatives.

We are talking about a few hundred [Wagnerites] ...

This number does not pose any threat to Ukraine to create a strike group. However, of course, Belarus can use them for more serious things.

For example, to destabilise the situation on the border with Ukraine or other countries."

Details: He clarified that the Wagnerites are now at least 100 kilometers away from Ukraine, and their movement is being tracked.

Background: On the morning of 15 July, Belaruski Hajun reported that a large convoy of cars and trucks with the licence plates of the so-called "DPR/LPR" (Donetsk and Luhansk "people's republics") and the Wagner PMC fighters inside arrived in Belarus.

The State Border Guard Service of Ukraine confirms the arrival of some groups of Wagner PMCs in Belarus, and Ukrainian law enforcement will monitor their movements.

On 14 July, the Ministry of Defence of Belarus reported that the Wagner Group had begun training the territorial defence forces as instructors in Belarus.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
In the wake of Dobbs v. Jackson, there has been a 100% increase in calls to the National Domestic Violence Hotline about reproductive coercion

The National Domestic Violence Hotline reported a 100% increase in calls about reproductive coercion Eric Thayer/Reuters

The National Domestic Violence Hotline has reported a 100% increase in reproductive coercion reports.

Reproductive coercion includes abusive behavior like hiding birth control or sabotaging contraception.

The hotline has also reported its highest volume of daily calls since its founding in 1996.

When the Supreme Court issued its decision on Dobbs v. Jackson last year, it put an end to federally legalized abortion. Experts across the nation warned the decision would put the physical and mental health of millions of people in jeopardy.

Now, the consequences are becoming more clear.

Since the Supreme Court decision, the National Domestic Violence Hotline has seen a 100% increase in calls about reproductive coercion, a form of domestic violence in which an abuser attempts to control their partner's body and reproductive agency, according to PBS News Hour.

Reproductive coercion includes things like hiding a partner's birth control or sabotaging their contraception, PBS reported.

Alongside the increase in these reports, PBS also noted that the hotline is now receiving upwards of 3,000 calls per day, the highest volume they've seen since its founding in 1996.

In 2022 alone  only the last six months of which were impacted by the Dobbs decision  the hotline received 27,350 reports of sexual abuse, which includes refusal to use contraception. That's an increase from 2021 when the hotline received 21,093 reports of sexual abuse.

To contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline, call 1-800-799-7233, text "START" to 88788, or visit their website.

Read the original article on Business Insider
A local organization and Walt Disney World celebrated the grand opening of a new innovative space last week.

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida and Disney World officially welcomed young students to the Rock Star Robotics Center.

It was funded through a $500,000 Disney grant and named by students.

The center is located at the Walt Disney World Clubhouse in partnership with Boys & Girls Clubs.

Leaders attended the ribbon cutting with students to honor the milestone.

Read: Menus revealed for this years International Food and Wine Festival

A local organization and Walt Disney World celebrated the grand opening of a new innovative space this week.

Read: Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida breaks ground on new robotics room

Boys & Girls Clubs has worked with Disney World for 30 years and continues to inspire the next generation of storytellers and talented dreamers.

Rena Langley, the senior vice president of communications and Public Affairs at Walt Disney World, said collaborating with the organization on building the space has been exciting.

We always love seeing local students in our community dream big and grow their skills, Langley said.

A local organization and Walt Disney World celebrated the grand opening of a new innovative space this week.

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Five now dead, two children missing, in Delaware River flooding in Bucks County

The death toll in this weekend's flash flooding along the Delaware River now stands at five. Two children whose mother died in the flooding remain missing.

Skies opened around dinnertime Saturday evening along an 11-mile corridor stretching from Newtown to New Hope in Bucks County.

For two hours rain fell like a waterfall, turning a normally peaceful, barely noticed creek into a deadly raging rapid that swept away nearly a dozen cars and dozens of people in what officials described as a "new benchmark" for flash flooding in Upper Makefield.

Upper Makefield resident Peter Apuzzo lives about a mile from the command center and witnessed the storm.

"We had nothing short of a monsoon for an hour," he said. "It was the heaviest rain storm I have seen in a very, very long time."

Rescue crews search along the Delaware canal path running parallel to Taylorsville Road in Upper Makefield on Sunday July 16, 2023

Waterways remain swollen sunday July 16, 2023 after torrential rains dumped up to six inches of water in parts of Bucks County including Upper Makefield on Saturday July 15, 2023.

What we know so far: Three dead, four missing in Bucks County. Here's what we know about the Delaware River flooding

Sgt. Charles Golder, of the Bucks County Sheriffs Department, mans a roadblock on Washington Crossing Road at the intersection of Wrightstown Road in Upper Makefield on Sunday, July 16, 2023.

Search and rescue efforts are now focused on the missing 9-month-old boy and his 2-year-old sister, whose mother is among the now five confirmed dead, Bucks County officials said Sunday evening.

"We are all grieving, however, our commitment to find the two children is unwavering as we do all we can to bring them home to their loved ones," Bucks County Fire Chief Tim Brewer said at a news update Sunday evening. "Our hearts do go out to the families. We are not going to give up regardless."

Brewer also announced Sunday afternoon that a second woman was found dead Sunday about 100 yards from the first found on Sunday morning one mile south of Taylorsville Road in Houghs Creek.

The mother and her two missing children live in Charlestown, South Carolina, but they were in the area visiting family and friends. They were on their way to a family cookout when they encountered the floodwaters along Route 532, which includes Taylorsville and Washington Crossing roads.

The woman's husband and her 4-year-old son were able to safely escape, but the mother grabbed the 9-month-old and her mother, the children's grandmother, grabbed the 2-year-old as they were swept into the creek, Brewer said.

The grandmother is alive, but she lost her grip on her granddaughter while trying to help her daughter, Bucks County Coroner Meredith Buck confirmed.

At the request of the family, Brewer said authorities will not be releasing the names of the victims and missing children. He added the family is "overwhelmed" with support from the community at this time.

Flood waters as seen in the yard of a home on Oakdale Avenue in Upper Makefield on Sunday July 16, 2023.

Flash floods damaged, even washed away, roads in Upper Makefield during heavy downpours on July 15, 2023. At least three people were confirmed dead in the floodings and dozens were forced to abandoned their vehicles.

A section of Houghs Creek near Aqueduct Road in Upper Makefield is swollen with rainwater Sunday, July 16, 2023.

Upper Makefield police Chief Mark Schmidt (left) and fire Chief Tim Brewer at press conference in the township building to say a fourth victim was found in Houghs Creek raising the death toll from Saturdays flooding to four.

Bucks County Major Incident Response Team vehicles are parked along Taylorsville Road in Upper Makefield on Sunday July 16, 2023, as crews continue to comb the area hit by flooding

Police were able to contact family of the missing by tracking them down through license plates of cars that were swept away, Brewer said at a media update Sunday morning at the Upper Makefield Township Building.

Two dozen PEMA rescuers participated Sunday in a search zone that spanned about 2-1/2 miles from the Delaware River back up to Houghs Creek.

At least two of the confirmed dead were swept away after they got out of their vehicles, Brewer said. Another victim was in the vehicle. Brewer believes that the drivers were caught by surprise.

"We do not think anybody drove into it," he said. "Within minutes the road went from passiable to having four to five feet of raging water."

Fire crews responding to a utility pole that was struck by lightning happened to be in the area as the heavy rains started and were able to start rescuing trapped vehicles, three of which firefighters saw swept away in the fast moving water, Brewer said.

Eleven vehicles were trapped in the creek, he added.

Flash floods damaged, even washed away, roads in Upper Makefield during heavy downpours on July 15, 2023. At least three people were confirmed dead in the floodings and dozens were forced to abandoned their vehicles.

Flash floods damaged, even washed away, roads in Upper Makefield during heavy downpours on July 15, 2023. At least three people were confirmed dead in the floodings and dozens were forced to abandoned their vehicles.

"As a witness to that, in my 44 years, I've never seen anything like it. When the water came up, it came up pretty quickly," Brewer said. "We want the families of those who are lost to know they are in our hearts and we will work tirelessly until we locate the loved ones. We cannot imagine how difficult it has been at this time."

More than 150 rescuers searched for people from the Delaware River to the flood site along Washington Crossing Road Saturday night. Eight people were rescued from cars and two from Houghs Creek, Brewer said. Sunday 100 rescuers were in the field, Brewer said.

Dozens of first responders from Bucks County and surrounding counties descended on Upper Makefield July 15, 2023 to assist in search and rescue missions after flash floods devastated the area

Dozens of first responders from Bucks County and surrounding counties descended on Upper Makefield July 15, 2023 to assist in search and rescue missions after flash floods devastated the area

Crews from Upper Makefield Fire Department, along with public works employees certified in water rescue, were seen searching the area surrounding a section of Houghs Creek near Gilbert Street and River Road.

Search and rescue are physically walking the creek banks where accessible, Brewer said. This is a very inaccessible area to the township. There are steep cliffs on both sides and in some areas there is no direct access to the creek  so we are physically walking. We are treating this as a rescue, but we are fairly certain we are in a recovery mode at this time, he said.

Also hampering recovery efforts is the location of Houghs Creek, which runs along the 1000 block of Washington Crossing Road (Route 532) between Stonebridge Crossing and Wrightstown Roads, a short distance from Washington Crossing United Methodist Church, where the county emergency command station was set up.

More: Family 'severely impacted.' Who are the victims in the Delaware River flooding?

This creek is in a very awkward area, its a very remote, hard to access area, Brewer said, adding that it made difficult removing the deceased and injured, he said. Two people rescued from the creek had to be hauled out with rope systems.

The vehicles of the three confirmed dead were located in the creek, Brewer said. One victim's vehicle was found approximately one-and-half miles from where it went into the creek.

The swollen creek swallowed vehicles along that stretch of Route 532 after about six inches of rain dropped within less than an hour, Brewer said. As the recovery phase continues, crews have been dedicated to monitoring rainfall and water level.

Some of the search teams are going to be in a very peculiar area where theyre going to be trapped if theyre not careful, Brewer said. It is dangerous down there. There is debris we have to catalogue. But at this point, we have to wait and see what the rescue teams can find.

More heavy rain and flash flooding in the Philadelphia region is possible Sunday, according to the National Weather Service in Mount Holly, New Jersey. Flooding had already been reported early Sunday in northern New Jersey and Northampton County, meteorologist Eric Hoeflich said Sunday morning.

Roads throughout Upper Makefield remain unpassable and closed with Bucks County park rangers and Bucks County sheriff deputies standing guard to keep drivers away.

Roads closed in Upper Makefield, Lower Makefield and Solebury due to storm

As of Sunday morning, Taylorsville Road from Route 532 to Route 295 is closed, River Road by Franciscos restaurant was closed, and River Road between Route 532 and Mt. Eyre Road is closed.

"If you are driving in and around the township, please be careful as there is a lot of debris on the roadways," Newtown Township Police said.

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation announced these roads remain closed as a result of storm damage as of Sunday evening:

Route 32 (River Road) Woodside Road to Route 532 (General Washington Memorial Boulevard) in Upper Makefield and Lower Makefield;

Route 532 (Washington Crossing Road) between Dolington Road and Taylorsville Road in Upper Makefield; and

Taylorsville Road between Woodside Road and Route 532 (Washington Crossing Road) in Lower Makefield and Upper Makefield.

The road closures will remain in place until PennDOT and its contractor can repair and safely reopen the roads, the agency said in a press release.

More: Are roads closed because of the Delaware River flooding in Bucks County? Here's the latest

An incident command center remains in operation at Washington Crossing United Methodist Church on Wrightstown Road, near the site the worst flooding. The American Red Cross has set up an assistance station at the Yardley-Makefield Fire Co. for flooding victims.

One of the roadways washed out as a result of flash floods in Upper Makefield on July 15, 2023.

Flash floods damaged, even washed away, roads in Upper Makefield during heavy downpours on July 15, 2023. At least three people were confirmed dead in the floodings and dozens were forced to abandoned their vehicles.

Summer storm slams Washington Crossing, Bucks County

A heavy burst of rain slammed into Bucks County around 5 p.m. Saturday, flooding roads and swelling river banks along the Delaware River and small creeks.

Meteorologist Joe DeSilva of the National Weather Service said upward of six inches of rain fell over about two hours Saturday evening. He called the event "training"  when an area gets repeated rain over a short time.

Saturday's torrential downpours focused tightly on the corridor between Newtown and New Hope and as far west as Jamison and continued into Mercer County, New Jersey, Hoeflich said. The ground, already saturated from recent rains, could not take the deluge leading to overrunning of normally small creeks, Hoeflich said.

Dozens of first responders from Bucks County and surrounding counties descended on Upper Makefield July 15, 2023 to assist in search and rescue missions after flash floods devastated the area

As the rain fell, creeks and inlets flooded onto nearby roads, pushing cars off the roadway.

Yardley resident Nick Primola said he was in the area just prior to the storm.

"I think a lot of people were just going about their day. No one was expecting the little creeks to be so violent.

He said along Taylorsville Road both sides of the road collapsed where the creek runs.

Usually its a nice little serene creek, and now it is a violent waterway coming down.He said he saw a car flipped upside down and five or six cars just strewn across the road.

"It turned into an absolute muddy river"

The water reached about 3 to 4 inches high on the roads in front of his home on Taylorsville Road just off Washington Crossing Road on Saturday night, Tim King said on Sunday. His house backups to the Delaware Canal.

It turned into an absolute muddy river, King said. It just kept rising and rising. It was really frightening."

Barry Bogarde, a highway foreman for Bucks County, said he was taking pictures Sunday for Harrisburg to assess road damage in order to decide on needed repairs and corrections.

Bogarde said the damage was the worst along Taylorsville Road and Washington Crossing Road, which experienced structural damage along with stone and mudslides impacting the roadway.

More: Bucks County flooding: What to expect as storms continue to batter region

The rain came down at such a heavy rate that itll just sweep anything thats in the way out of the way, Bogarde said. The power of this stuffs just amazing.

Bucks County Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick said his office was in contact with the rescue teams and urged anyone seeking assistance to contact his office at 215-579-8102.

We pray for those weve lost, and we remain in vigorous search mode for those who are missing, Fitzpatrick added.

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro attended the Sunday evening press conference in Upper Makefield and he pledged his administration's support.

"On behalf of 13 million Pennsylvanians, I want Bucks County to know that we are here with you. We are praying with you, and we will do everything within our power to lift you up," Shapiro said.

At Washington Crossing United Methodist Church volunteers were caring for victims and providing shelter.

Family pastor Shari Bonet described a scene Saturday night that she called heartbreaking, where people sat waiting for word on their missing family members  missing wives, missing children.

This one guy I was praying with had been on the phone with his wife when her car got stuck, and she said the water was getting too high and she needed to get out. That was the last he heard from her. They found her phone with the car, but she was still missing, Bonet said.

Others, she said, were flood survivors seeking refuge after abandoning their cars and wading through the high waters to safety.

They came in and were soaked. We gave them coffee, dry clothes and blankets, Bonet said.

This is a developing story and will be updated.

More: Fatal floods: Who does water rescues in Bucks County?

This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Water rescues continue in Bucks County as officials confirm fatalities
By its decision rendered on June 13, 2023, the Missouri Supreme Court ruled that the state Conservation Commission could release previously approved funds in the amount of $1 million to acquire 510 acres of land to expand the approximately 2,000-acre Linscomb Wildlife Area in St. Clair County, southeast of Kansas City.

The Linscomb Wildlife Area was established by the gift of the Irven E. and NeVada P. Linscomb Foundation to provide an area for all state residents to explore and enjoy the natural beauty of rural Missouri and its abundance of wildlife. The creation of the area was facilitated through the efforts of Anita Gorman, longtime Northland civic leader, former chairwoman of the Conservation Commission, and a director of the Linscomb Foundation. The land involved was the former Winding River Ranch owned by the Linscombs, who had acquired the land over a 40-year period of time by as a retreat from city life.

The Linscombs were longtime residents of Clay County, and together had operated manufacturing businesses and been involved in industrial real estate development in Kansas Citys Northland. At the time of their death, the foundation was created to support charities benefiting the underprivileged youth of the Northland and to preserve the natural beauty of their extensive land holdings in St. Clair County for the enjoyment of all Missourians.

Since its founding in 2000, the Linscomb Foundation has supported numerous charities in Clay and Platte counties, and in particular it founded and managed the Miles of Smiles portable dental program serving children in need in both counties. To date, the program has provided free comprehensive dental care to more than 20,000 children, in more than 75,000 individual chair appointments. Recently, Miles of Smiles was renamed LevelUp Kids and added vision screening and provision of glasses to qualifying children. To date, more than 18,000 children have been screened, and more than 3,000 have been provided corrective glasses.

The Linscomb Foundation has provided in excess of $20,000,000 of financial support to a broad range of Northland charities.

Bill Zimmer is an property developer who partnered with Irven Linscomb to develop and own industrial warehouse buildings in the Kansas City area. He became president of the Linscomb Foundation following the death of NeVada P. Linscomb in 1997.
If youre running for a seat on the Port of Olympia commission  and this year each district race has a primary  the big question goes something like this: Do you support marine terminal operations or do you support making a change?

The marine terminal is the area of the port on Budd Inlet where ships tie up to the dock and load and unload cargo. The port does not handle containers like the Port of Tacoma does, only what is known as breakbulk cargo, the type of item that might be shipped in a large bag, for example, instead of a rectangular metal box.

The question about the marine terminal is being asked after the existing port commission  Joe Downing, Amy Evans Harding and Bob Iyall  received an update on terminal operations at their July 10 meeting. The news wasnt good.

Thats because after 35 ships called on the port in 2022, making it one of the best years at the marine terminal in more than a decade, the marine terminal in 2023 finds itself with much less business  at least so far, said marine terminal senior manager Afsin Yilmaz.

He described it as a big reversal of fortune for many ports on the West Coast, including the Port of Olympia. Year-to-date, 10 ships have called on the port, of which eight were log export ships, he said.

Marine terminal revenue has fallen as a result. The terminal generated more than $8 million in revenue in 2022, but has so far produced about $2 million for 2023, a Port of Olympia chart details.

A change in the shipping business has so far meant less marine terminal revenue for the Port of Olympia in 2023.

Yilmaz identified a number of factors that have contributed to the slowdown. One of the key points he made is that container rates have fallen and shippers have taken their business elsewhere after shipping cargo through the Port of Olympia made financial sense in 2022.

Immediately after the pandemic, the demand for goods soared and so did container rates, rising to $18,000 to move a 40-foot container, Yilmaz said. Rather than pay that price, shippers moved rice and sugar, normally a containerized product, in break-bulk fashion through the Port of Olympia.

But in 2023, container rates have stabilized, falling dramatically to around $1,800 to $2,000 per container on the West Coast, he said. Yilmaz said shippers now are demanding more warehouse capacity than what is available at the Port of Olympia.

Boom and bust cycles are nothing new for the ports marine terminal. The Olympian asked the commission candidates if they support business as usual at the marine terminal or want to see something different happen there.

There are contested races in three Port of Olympia districts for the Aug. 1 primary election. The port is expanding its commission from three members to five members, so Districts 4 and 5 are new positions.

The Olympian was able to reach all but two primary candidates for this story: District 1 candidate Jasmine Vasavada and District 4 candidate Bill Moomau. District 5 candidate Nick Adams said he has suspended his campaign.

District 1

Skye Campbell-Ragsdale, 35, who works in invasive species removal, said she does generally favor change at the marine terminal, particularly if it is not a consistent source of revenue and continues to impact the environment.

However, scrapping or altering the marine terminal is not something that is going to happen overnight, she said. Instead, if elected, she would start the discussion about what the options and alternatives might look like.

I would start the conversation because there can never be change if we dont start the conversation, she said.

Bill McGregor, 75, who is retired, previously served on the commission for 15 years and is a longtime supporter of marine terminal operations. So, how does the terminal move beyond boom and bust cycles?

McGregor thinks the ports marketing needs to improve. I think we need a broader presence than we have had in the past, he said, adding that the port needs to work closely with stevedores and shipping companies.

He also supports the idea of an expanded or second marine terminal warehouse, so long as there is careful analysis of it, and permanent shore power for a layberth opportunity. I think its viable, but it has to be paid for through an actual layberth opportunity, he said.

District 4

Rose Chiu Gundersen, 60, vice president of operations and retail services at the Washington Retail Association, said whether its the marine terminal or another line of business at the port, the port has a legislative mandate to support economic development. Yes, there are going to be ups and downs at the marine terminal, she said, but she believes there is still a lot of potential there, which is important because the port does levy a property tax on residents.

We need to show them a return on investment, she said.

Joanna Manson, who declined to share her age, has a community planning background and works for the U.S. Department of Transportation. Manson said that if there is just one major user (just ships, for example) at the marine terminal, it is going to be susceptible to booms and busts. A diversity of uses can act as a buffer, such as ferry service or mixed-use development  housing with a commercial component.

Manson said shes not advocating for any particular outcome, but as a planner, she would be prepared to look at the alternatives, using vetted criteria and input from the community.

We should be looking at viable alternatives to transition to a more sustainable use of the lands they manage, she said.

Maggie Sanders, 51, said she is working full-time on her campaign. I would like to see something different at the marine terminal, said Sanders, adding that over time the port should move away from that business. Its a long-term goal, but I would work toward that, she said.

As a result, she supports the idea of a green, sustainable workforce. Its critical to look at other economic opportunities, she said. She supports using the waterfront as a destination and extending the buffer shoreline to protect the environment.

District 5

Sarah Tonge, 33, an IT professional, said she does not believe in business as usual at the marine terminal, preferring that the port seek out higher value industries that do less damage to the environment. I have lived here all my life and I am not about business as usual, she said.

On that note, she referred to the Biden-Harris Administration CHIPS and Science Act, which seeks to revitalize the U.S. semiconductor industry with manufacturing incentives. Ultimately, we have that accountability to the taxpayers, Tonge said.

Martin McElliott, 53, works for the state Department of Natural Resources as as properties and acquisitions specialist. He said he supports the basic marine terminal business and would like to see more ships, and if there are more ships, then perhaps the port wouldnt have to rely on its tax levy, he said.

But that doesnt mean he supports business as usual at the marine terminal. Im not one to do business as usual; however, I would have to see what the data shows before I would make a snap judgment.

Troy Kirby, 47, small business owner who started The Cider Barrel in downtown Olympia, acknowledged that the question of the marine terminal is a complex one, but he said he supports living-wage union jobs. I will always fight for those jobs, said Kirby, saying those jobs provide workers with important safety standards for dangerous work.

He also supports the idea of an expanded warehouse or second warehouse on the marine terminal, although it likely would face some challenges under the state Environmental Policy Act.

He doesnt believe in closing the marine terminal outright. I dont think that eliminating someones job is a Thurston County value, he said.
Florida governor Ron DeSantis sees himself as a warrior in the fight against "cultural Marxism" (SUZANNE CORDEIRO)

Long viewed as the most formidable challenger to Donald Trump in the Republican US presidential nominating contest, Ron DeSantis boasts a record of ultra-conservative legislative wins and a pile of campaign cash.

Yet the self-styled tip of the spear in what he says is the struggle against the creeping imposition of "cultural Marxism" hasn't been looking all that sharp of late.

So where has Florida's pugilistic governor gone wrong?

- The Twitter fiasco -

DeSantis's long-awaited entry into the 2024 presidential campaign in late May descended into a fiasco as the launch event, carried live on Twitter with the platform's billionaire owner Elon Musk, was derailed by glitches.

The conversation repeatedly crashed, and many of the 400,000-plus users who were hoping to listen in missed the 44-year-old conservative throwing down the gauntlet to Trump.

DeSantis finally began speaking after almost half an hour of confusion and chaos that thoroughly overshadowed what should have been an exultant launch.

The governor had been targeting a younger, white male "tech bro" demographic that has aligned itself with Trump.

But analysts questioned the judgment of a man willing to trade a more traditional prime-time TV launch that could have netted millions of viewers for cachet at the conservative end of Silicon Valley.

- The charisma gap -

DeSantis has been barnstorming the crucial early-nominating states of Iowa and New Hampshire to boost his flagging challenge and fix his reputation as an awkward customer.

His missteps on the campaign trail are almost too frequent to enumerate but they have combined to give the impression that, in public at least, he is not a charming man.

He often appears rigid and awkward when making small talk, and has lost his cool with journalists more than once, or evaded media scrutiny altogether.

There have been complaints that DeSantis looks bored at events and never says "thank you," and footage of him laughing maniacally during a stop in Iowa triggered widespread mockery.

"DeSantis has come out of the gates stumbling. He's not connecting with voters. He blames this on the media, but it's really his own fault," said Todd Belt, a politics professor at George Washington University.

"He's not giving voters much to vote for, rather than things to vote against, such as his focus on culture war issues. He's tried to create some policy statements, such as on immigration, but they've mostly fallen flat."

- Waning popularity -

DeSantis is trailing Trump in the endorsement derby, with only a handful of the more than 100 sitting Republicans he once served with in the House backing his campaign.

Florida's Republican lawmakers are overwhelmingly in Trump's camp, despite DeSantis being their state's chief executive, and he is a whopping 32 points behind the frontrunner in the RealClearPolitics average of recent major opinion polls.

He has managed to close the gap by just two percentage points since his launch day, seeing none of the polling bounce that major campaigns usually enjoy in the weeks after announcing.

"The more people get to know him, the lower go his polls," Trump quipped recently.

- Comeback kid? -

Those who have seen DeSantis up close say it would be foolish to count him out, however.

Trump started slowly in 2015, they caution, before wiping the floor with the competition -- and DeSantis still has six months to make his case before the first primary ballot is cast in Iowa.

There is also no doubt that the DeSantis agenda has defined the contours of the 2024 presidential primary, forcing Trump to focus on "culture war" issues when he could be touting his tax cuts for the rich or his appointment of three ultra-conservative Supreme Court justices.

DeSantis's big opportunity for a reboot comes with the first Republican primary debate in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on August 23.

Trump, who sees little advantage in sharing the national spotlight with primary rivals who are trailing him by double digits, has hinted that he might not show up, for the first debate at least.

Without the frontrunner sucking all the oxygen out of the room, there will be a chance for someone else to emerge as a viable, serious and likeable alternative.

DeSantis will be hoping that, despite the evidence so far and the overwhelming odds, it can be him.

cjc-ft/bbk
Jake Sullivan, National Security Adviser to the US President, has said that failure to extend the Grain Initiative, which expires on 17 July, will cost Russia huge diplomatic expenses.

Source: Sullivan in an interview with CBS, European Pravda reports

Details: Asked whether there are signs that Russian President Vladimir Putin is ready to continue this initiative, he said he could not predict the Kremlin's actions.

Sullivan noted that in recent months, Putin has repeatedly changed his mind about the grain agreement.

Quote: "If in fact, they pull out of it, the rest of the world will take a look at that and say that Russia has turned its back on ensuring that the countries of the global south and Africa and Latin America and Asia can get the food they need at affordable prices. And I think that will come at an enormous diplomatic cost to Russia going forward."

More details: Sullivan added that Putin will have to make a choice, and the US is ready for any scenario and is working closely with Ukraine on this issue.

Background:

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated on Friday that he and Russian President Vladimir Putin share the same opinion on extending the grain initiative.

The Kremlin denied Erdogans statement.

According to the media, the EU considered making concessions to the Russian bank for the sake of the Grain Initiative. In particular, they proposed to create a subsidiary company of the sanctioned Rosselkhozbank in order to restore its connection with SWIFT. Also, according to the media outlets, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres offered Putin to extend the Grain Initiative in exchange for connecting a subsidiary of Rosselkhozbank to the SWIFT international payment system.

On 13 July, Putin announced the conditions for extending the grain agreement.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!






Its hard to miss the headlines about a third-party or independent candidate possibly derailing President Joe Bidens bid for a second term:

Democrats third-party worries grow

Democratic jitters grow over Cornel Wests third-party bid

Democrats Fear Third-Party Run As Joe Manchin Heads To New Hampshire

And on and on.

This would normally be the part of the story where Id tell you that a third-party candidate has little chance of winning next year  and I am telling you that. Its also true, however, that 2024 is shaping up to be the kind of election Biden could lose primarily because of a third-party candidacy.

Lets start off with the basic fact that the very early 2024 general election polling is tight. Depending on how you average the polling, Biden is either up or down a point or two against former President Donald Trump (the most likely GOP nominee at this point).

This is important because if the polls were pointing to a blowout, it would take a very popular third-party candidate to change the outcome of the general election.

Instead, all it may take to affect that outcome is for a sliver of the electorate to back a third-party candidate instead of either Biden or Trump in a hypothetical matchup.

In fact, the only election I can point to in the past 50 years in which a third-party nominee probably cost one candidate the election was 2000, when Democrat Al Gore lost Florida  and the presidential election  by 537 votes. The polls showed that more of Green Party nominee Ralph Naders voters would have cast ballots for Gore and not Republican George W. Bush had Nader not been an option.

This year its pretty clear that such a portion of third-party voters probably already exists for a simple reason: Biden and Trump are historically unpopular. As I wrote a few weeks ago, about 20% of voters have an unfavorable view of both Biden and Trump.

The headlines and the fears Democrats have about a third-party candidate are, at least partially, a tacit acknowledgement that Biden is unpopular. Worries about a third-party bid at a similar early point in the 2020 cycle did not exist at anywhere near the same level as they do today.

This speaks to one of the fundamental differences between this cycle and 2020: Biden is far more unpopular now than then. Unless something changes dramatically, the president will have to win over a substantial portion of voters who dont like him in order to be reelected. In 2020, he merely needed the votes of people who already liked him.

Of course, the same holds true for Trump. The former president has mostly never had a higher favorable than unfavorable rating. He emerged victorious in 2016 because a plurality of the nearly 20% of voters who had an unfavorable view of both him and Democrat Hillary Clinton decided to go with Trump.

So why arent we hearing Republicans worry about a third-party candidate? Part of that has to do with the fact that few people normally associated with the right or with the Republican Party are making waves about running as an independent or third-party candidate.

The other big reason is that it seems voters who dont have a favorable view of either Biden or Trump are more likely to go with Biden. In an average of the past three Quinnipiac University polls, Biden leads Trump by 7 points among those who dont have a favorable view of either man. This is a reversal from 2016 when voters in the same camp supported Trump.

The national polls Ive seen over the past few months that have included a third-party or independent candidate have shown Biden losing ground to Trump relative to when only the two of them are matched up.

Its not a substantial difference (1 to 3 points), as detailed by FiveThirtyEights Geoffrey Skelley. But all it may take is a shift of 1 to 3 points to change the electoral outcome if the race remains so close.

Of course, all this talk about third-party candidates may be just that  talk. Were still well over a year from the election. Independent and third-party candidates almost always fade the closer we get to Election Day  see 2016, when Libertarian nominee Gary Johnson got about 3% nationally when early polling had shown him closer to 10%.

Biden and the Democrats better hope that a similar trend occurs, if he remains this unpopular.

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Why Black churches in the SBC are questioning the future with new women pastor standards

Shifting standards for church affiliation with the Southern Baptist Convention are causing Black churches to wonder about their future with the nations largest Protestant denomination.

The president of the National African American Fellowship  an association representing about 4,000 predominantly Black churches within the Nashville, Tennessee-based SBC  recently expressed concern about the conventions expectations for churches in which women hold the title of pastor. The NAAF letter said the new expectations could lead to fewer Black churches, where the practice is more common.

The July 3 letter from NAAF President Gregory Perkins, a California pastor, is part of the immediate aftermath of several policy decisions at the 2023 SBC annual meeting in June. Weeks ago, Elevation Church, a North Carolina megachurch, left the SBC seemingly over similar reasons.

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, Perkins said in his letter. It has created division within the SBC and may disproportionally impact NAAF affiliated congregations.

Religion News Service first reported the news of Perkins letter.

Following years of debate over how the SBC enforces part of its doctrinal statement, the convention made three major decisions at its annual meeting in New Orleans last month.

Delegates voting at the Southern Baptist Convention at the New Orleans Ernest N Morial Convention Center. Tuesday, June 13, 2023.

First, SBC voting delegates, called messengers, approved an amendment to the SBC doctrinal statement to expand church leadership titles that women are unable to hold. The doctrinal statement, called the Baptist Faith & Message 2000, now says, the office of pastor/elder/overseer is limited to men as qualified by Scripture.

Also, at this years SBC annual meeting, messengers overwhelmingly voted to uphold earlier decisions to disfellowship Saddleback Church in Southern California and Fern Creek Baptist Church in Louisville, Kentucky, for having women pastors. Third, the messengers approved a constitutional amendment that would enshrine a ban on women pastors.

The constitutional amendment requires secondary approval at next years SBC annual meeting. However, the sustained decision to disfellowship Saddleback and Fern Creek is expected to set a precedent for the SBC to disfellowship more churches with similar practices.

Perkins letter to SBC President Bart Barber and other SBC leaders said many NAAF affiliated congregations use the title of pastor for women, even though a male leader has authority over that woman.

Previously: Southern Baptists uphold ouster of Saddleback, Fern Creek churches over women pastors

It is in our best interest to allow a diversity of voices and perspectives be heard, Perkins said. Lets seek to better understand the full ramifications of this policy shift and engage in a vigorous, yet constructive dialogue.

Perkins letter is partly proactive ahead of next years SBC annual meeting when messengers vote on the constitutional amendment a second time. In the meantime, Barber will appoint a task force to study what it means for a church to be in friendly cooperation with the SBC.

Barber said he intends to honor Perkins' request. "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," said the SBC president in a statement.

Barber said he will meet with NAAF leaders next week in North Carolina, "where I trust that we will make a healthy start in both prayer and fruitful conversation."

For subscribers: More young adults are not religious, but Christianity still dominant religion in US

Liam Adams covers religion for The Tennessean. Reach him at ladams@tennessean.com or on Twitter @liamsadams.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY NETWORK: Southern Baptists: Black churches raise issues after women pastor vote
Woburn 17-year-old and Raynham man, 20, killed in dirt bike crash in Wareham, DA says

A Woburn teen and a 20-year-old man from Raynham were both killed in a crash involving a dirt bike and an SUV in Wareham on Saturday night, Plymouth County District Attorney Tim Cruz said Sunday.

At approximately 10:52 p.m. Saturday, Wareham Police received two 911 calls reporting a crash between a dirt bike and SUV in the area of 121 Marion Road, Cruz said.

When emergency crews arrived, they found two male victims unresponsive in the roadway with serious injuries. Both victims were sent by ambulance to Tobey Hospital in Wareham where they were pronounced dead, Cruz said.

The victims were identified as Robert Stalker, 17, of Woburn, and Brady Petrucci, 20, of Raynham.

A preliminary investigation found that Stalker and Petrucci were riding on a Kawasaki dirt bike and were not wearing helmets when it crashed into a 2017 Buick Envision that was turning left onto Gibbs Road from Marion Road, Cruz said. There were no front or rear lights on the dirt bike.

The driver of the Buick stopped immediately, Cruz said.

Robert was a student at Northeast Metro Tech in Wakefield, school officials said in a statement on Sunday.

We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Robert, a beloved student at Northeast Metro Tech, said Northeast Metro Tech Superintendent David DiBarri. We express our most sincere condolences to his family during this difficult time.

Northeast Metro Tech will have grief assistance and counseling resources available at the school throughout the week for those who have been affected, school officials said.

Woburn Public Schools is also arranging counseling services to begin at 8 a.m. on Monday at Woburn Memorial High School, as some of Roberts family members attend the school, school officials said.

This tragedy has affected all of us in Woburn and the surrounding communities, said Woburn Public Schools Superintendent Matthew Crowley. Our hearts are with the victims families, and all those impacted by this tragic event.

An investigation into the fatal crash is ongoing by Massachusetts State Police assigned to Cruzs office and Wareham Police.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.

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Woman found dead in her home is a homicide victim, SC coroner says

A homicide investigation is underway days after a womans body was discovered in her South Carolina home, the Sumter County Coroners Office said.

On the night of July 9, family members found 61-year-old Mariam Hardee inside her home in the 2800 block of Ithica Drive, the coroners office said in a news release that was sent at about midnight Saturday night. Thats in Sumter, in the area between U.S. 15 and Manchester State Forest.

Because of the unknown circumstances surrounding Hardees death, an autopsy was performed at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, according to the release. Strangulation was determined to be her cause of death, and Hardee is considered a homicide victim, the coroners office said.

Information about who killed Hardee was not available, and no arrests have been reported by the Sumter County Sheriffs Office, which is investigating the death along with the coroners office.

There was no word on a motive for the killing.

Investigators will continue to pursue this to find the victim and the family the necessary justice, the coroners office said.

Anyone with information about Hardees death is asked to call CrimeStoppers at 888-CRIME-SC or submit an online tip.
Samantha drive-thru police officer order TikTok

A woman on TikTok named Samantha posted a video online talking about a strange encounter she had as she was buying her own meal in a McDonalds drive-thru.

Like most people, she was minding her business  she took her order and went up to the pay window to pay for her meal. The woman standing at the register, however, asked her a question that she thought was strange.

The drive-thru worker asked her if she wanted to 'pay it forward' to the police officer behind her.

Guys I just had the weirdest encounter in the McDonalds drive-thru, Samantha said in the 37-second clip she posted July 7th, 2023. So I pull up to pay, and then, as the lady is still holding my card, she goes just letting you know that theres a cop behind you.

Confused as to why that mightve been any concern to her, Samantha simply said, Oh, okay? before the drive-thru worker continued their encounter by asking Do you want to pay it forward?

RELATED: Job Applicant Demands 'Accommodations' Because She Has Trouble Being On Time  'I Have Time Blindness'

Likely causing even more confusion, Samantha wondered why the police officers meal was any of her concern. She came to McDonalds to buy herself some food, not the police officer. She goes their total is $17.42, do you wanna pay it forward? Samantha continued telling the story.

Paying it forward is a phenomenon that occurs at drive-thru windows all the time at any store, where customers will pay for the order of the person behind them. It could be McDonalds, Dunkin, Starbucks, a Chick-Fil-A  really anywhere.

The general idea is that, out of some random act of kindness, youll pay for that persons order and everyone will have a good day knowing that they participated in a kind deed. The person paying did something nice for someone else, the worker gets to tell someone the good news that their order is free, and the person receiving their free order is happy with the outcome.

However, many workers have come out against the pay it forward trend and called it a hassle to deal with. Sometimes it becomes a lot to handle and introduces too many factors that may mess up someones order. Not only that, but the people paying it forward may end up spending way more than they bargained for as its impossible to predict what the person behind you is ordering.

RELATED: DoorDash Driver Criticized After Confronting Customer About Tipping Him $5 On A $20 Order  '$5 Is Enough'

The McDonalds worker was disgusted that the woman didnt pay it forward for the police officer.

I was like no, no, she explained, expressing with her face that she was completely uninterested in paying for the police officers meal. As she posted in the caption, My total was $2.19 like brooo. But the worker didnt seem to take too kindly to her reaction.

She goes oh, and she looked really disgusted, and shes like [its just that] a lot of people do that around here for cops, Samantha explained, adding that she responded by saying, Honey, in this car, the blood type is ACAB+. The worker looked even more disgusted.

Apparently, the worker wasnt lying and many people in the comments revealed that police officers never had to pay for their meals.

RELATED: Waitress Reveals The Difference Between How 'Boomers' And 'Gen Zs' Leave Their Tables After Eating At Restaurants

In a second video, Samantha said the same thing, adding that McDonalds themselves actually comped a lot of their meals. So why was boot-licking Becky so concerned that I didnt want to pay? she asked, mocking the worker at the drive-thru.

If McDonalds would end up comping the meal anyway, why was Samantha being asked to take care of the bill? Its a good thing she stood up for herself  no one should have to pay nearly nine times their bill just to make someone else happy.

RELATED: Nail Technician Follows Woman Out Of Salon After She Refuses To Pay For Her Nails Because 'They Look Terrible'

Isaac Serna-Diez is an Assistant Editor for YourTango who focuses on entertainment and news, social justice, and politics.

This article originally appeared on YourTango
WWII veteran's remains sent to Texas for burial 80 years after his death

WWII veteran's remains sent to Texas for burial 80 years after his death

A Texas-born World War II pilot's remains have been returned to the Lone Star State for burial, according to FOX 4 Dallas.

Second Lt. David Murrell Lewis served as a pilot in the U.S. Army Air Forces. The 20-year-old died in action when his aircraft crashed on Aug. 1, 1943.

Lewis' aircraft crashed in Romania during Operation Tidal Wave, which sought to impede the Axis powers' access to oil-based fuel by bombing refineries.

Lewis died days away from his 21st birthday. He first volunteered for service on Jan. 8, 1942.

WWII REMAINS POSITIVELY IDENTIFIED AS OHIO ARMY SOLDIER

Second Lt. David Murrell Lewis died in action when his aircraft crashed on Aug. 1, 1943.

Lewis' burial was scheduled to take place in Saltillo, Texas, on Sunday. Family and supporters were present during a procession when his remains arrived at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport Friday.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

Vivian Dennis-Monzingo, Lewis' closest living relative, said she received a notice from the Army in 2014 stating they were looking for the serviceman's remains. He was finally identified on May 11, 2022, through the work of the Army's Mortuary Affairs service.

"Its hard to describe the emotions. Welcome home, and then I wish all the families could say that because we still have ones missing," Dennis-Monzingo explained to FOX 4. "At family gatherings, it would come up in the conversations, and of course it was always the doubt, what happened? Where? It was a mystery. All they knew is he was killed in action."

POLAND TO SEEK $1.3 TRILLION IN WWII REPARATIONS FROM GERMANY: REPORT

Lt. Lewis' remains were finally identified in 2022 through the work of the Army's Mortuary Affairs service.

"Were so glad we can do this in honor of his mom and dad," she added.

A funeral for Lewis will take place in Sulphur Springs, FOX 4 reported.
(Bloomberg) -- Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said the US should look for ways to further de-escalate tensions with China, though it would be premature to eliminate the tariffs imposed on it by the Trump administration.

Most Read from Bloomberg

It would be useful to look for ways to de-escalate over time, Yellen told reporters Sunday in Gandhinagar, India, where shell meet with counterparts from around the world this week.

The Treasury chief said the US is nearing completion of a four-year review of the tariffs imposed on China, and that she had discussed the issue during her recent trip to Beijing. Any move to lift the measures would stoke a political reaction at home, with Republican presidential candidates seeking even to step up the pressure on China.

The tariffs were put in place because we had concern with unfair trade practices on Chinas side  and our concerns with those practices remains, she said. So perhaps over time this is an area where we could make progress, but I would say its premature to use this as an area for de-escalation, at least at this time.

Chinas Finance Ministry, in a statement following Yellens visit to Beijing, called on the US to take concrete actions to improve ties, including canceling the additional tariffs and refraining from suppression measures against Chinese companies.

Chinas Growth

Yellen was speaking ahead of a gathering this week of finance ministers and central bank governors from G-20 countries. The Group of Seven will also hold a session in Gandhinagar, with bilateral meetings expected in addition.

Asked about evidence of a slowdown in Chinas economic rebound, Yellen noted that it was a topic that also came up during her Beijing visit.

China is a very substantial importer from many countries around the world, so when Chinese growth slows, it has a impact on many countries  and we are seeing that, she said.

She said she discussed with officials in Beijing how they plan to address weakness in their economy.

I think they certainly are anxious, at a minimum, to communicate that the business environment in China is open and friendly, she said.

Yellen also repeated her view that US actions to impose export controls and investment restrictions on China were driven by national security considerations, and not aimed at severing ties with the worlds second-largest economy.

There are many areas in which we have trade and investment that are completely uncontroversial and beneficial to both sides, she said.

She raised the Biden administrations policy of friend-shoring, an effort to reshape global supply chains to reduce over-reliance on China. She called India an indispensable partner on that front. When she departs India on Tuesday, shell travel to Vietnam, another friend-shoring target for the US.

Chinas premier, Li Qiang, has blasted the US and its allies for risking a fragmentation of the global economy with moves to diversify away from China.

The invisible barriers put up by some people in recent years are becoming widespread and pushing the world into fragmentation and even confrontation, Li said at a forum in Tianjin, China, last month. We should oppose the politicization of economic issues and work together to keep global industrial and supply chains stable, smooth and secure.

--With assistance from Ruchi Bhatia and Erica Yokoyama.

(Updates with additional Yellen comments and context, starting in third paragraph.)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
GANDHINAGAR, India  On the heels of a trip to Beijing, U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen is back in India for the third time in nine months, this time to meet finance ministers from the Group of 20 nations about global economic challenges like the increased threat of debt defaults facing low-income countries.

Yellen told reporters in Gandhinagar, the capital of the western Indian state of Gujarat, on Sunday that she was trying to foster warming relations between the U.S. and India. She also plans a stop in Hanoi, Vietnam, to address supply chain reliability, clean energy transition and other matters of economic resilience.

Yellen said her goals for her time in India were to press for debt restructuring in developing countries in economic distress, push to modernize global development banks to make them more climate-focused and deepen the ever-growing U.S.-India relationship.

Yellens frequent stops in the country signal the importance of that relationship at a time of tension with China.

Indias longstanding relationship with Russia has also loomed as the Kremlins invasion of Ukraine continues despite U.S. and allied countries efforts to sanction and economically bludgeon Russias economy. India has not taken part in the efforts to punish Russia and maintains energy trade with that country despite a Group of Seven agreed-upon price cap on Russian oil, which has seen some success in slowing Russias economy.

Yellen said ending the war in Ukraine is first and foremost a moral imperative. But its also the single best thing we can do for the global economy.

She added the U.S. would continue to cut off Russias access to the military equipment and technologies that it needs to wage war against Ukraine.

One of our core goals this year is to combat Russias efforts to evade our sanctions. Our coalition is building on the actions weve taken in recent months to crack down on these efforts, Yellen said.

The U.S. increasingly relies on India and has courted its leaders.

She said the U.S. sees India as an indispensable partner in its friend-shoring strategy for increasing the resilience of supply chains.

She added private U.S. firms sees India as an excellent place for producing goods and exporting to the United States.

She also noted that slowing growth in China has impacted growth in many other countries.

It is something I discussed with my Chinese counterparts. I think the Chinese are anxious to communicate that their business environment is open. There is a desire certainly to see foreign investment, Yellen said.



President Joe Biden hosted a White House state visit honoring Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in June, designed to highlight and foster ties. The two leaders pronounced the U.S.-India relationship never stronger and rolled out new business deals between the nations.

Raymond Vickery Jr., a policy expert on U.S.-India relations at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said Yellens coming to India shortly after visiting China is meaningful in that Indian officials are going to want to know in great detail what happened in the meetings with her Chinese counterparts and see where it fits with their perspective on economic relations with China.

Theyre going to want to know whether or not the United States is serious about moving some of its sourcing activity from China to India.

A senior Treasury official, speaking on condition of anonymity to preview Yellens trip, said there was hope that debt treatments for Ghana and Sri Lanka will be discussed and completed quickly at the meetings.

Sri Lanka and Ghana defaulted on their international debts last year, roughly two years after Zambia defaulted. And more than half of all low-income countries face debt distress, which hurts their long-term ability to function and develop.

Last month, Zambia and its government creditors, including China, reached a deal to restructure $6.3 billion in loans, on the sidelines of a global finance summit in Paris.

The agreement covers loans from countries such as France, the U.K., South Africa, Israel and India as well as China  Zambias biggest creditor at $4.1 billion of the total. The deal may provide a roadmap for how China will handle restructuring deals with other nations in debt distress.

Yellens trip comes shortly after she spent a week in China, meeting the nations finance ministry and discussing mutual trade restrictions and national security concerns.


YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, Wyo.  The Yellowstone National Park volcano is closely monitored by dozens of instruments in and around the park. Recently, engineers began testing SpaceX Starlink internet to help gather volcanic and seismic data.

A magmatic eruption from the Yellowstone volcano hasn't occurred in more than 70,000 years, but it's the current site of one of the world's largest hydrothermal systems and largest geyser. Yellowstone National Park experiences between 1,500 and 2,500 small earthquakes a year, according to the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory (YVO).

To monitor this geologically fascinating region, many of the GPS, seismometers, tiltmeters and temperature sensors used in and around the park are located in remote areas to minimize the impact on the environment and visitors, which means maintaining a strong connection can be challenging, according to a blog post by Natalea Cohen, a graduate student at Michigan Technology University and EarthScope Consortium intern. The EarthScope Consortium is part of the YVO.

"Frequent visits to manually download data are just not possible  especially in the winter," Cohen writes.

STARLINK SATELLITES 'UNINTENDED' ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION COULD IMPACT RADIO ASTRONOMY OBSERVATIONS

Some visits to maintain monitoring stations happen by horseback to reduce the impact on sensitive areas, according to the YVO. For example, the Hayden Valley GPS station is five miles from a road and within a wilderness area.

Radio and cellular communication options for monitoring stations both have downsides. Cell service can be slow during peak tourist seasons with visitor cellphone use. However, satellite-based communication is only dependent on access to the open sky.

Currently, SpaceX Starlink internet is being tested in Yellowstone to help decrease the use of cellular networks. The Starlink satellite constellation consists of more than 4,000 satellites orbiting Earth, beaming the internet anywhere with access to the sky and where a Starlink "dishy" is set up.

STARLINK INTERNET 'DISHY' FACES OFF AGAINST SNOW, WILDFIRES IN REMOTE CANADA

There are six borehole stations within Yellowstone National Park with instruments to monitor seismic and volcanic activity.

In May, EarthScope Consortium engineers added a Starlink internet "dishy" to one of the borehole stations between Mammoth Hot Springs and Norris Geyser Basin. Initial tests show the connection is performing well. If that continues, engineers will add Starlink to more stations before the winter.

During the winter months, these stations will be hard to reach because of snow. Starlink internet has been shown to work in remote areas through extreme weather conditions, including Antarctica.
Climate activists staged a sit-out outside Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer's constituency office in London this week

Going into the next general election, Labour's plan to pour billions of pounds into clean energy will be one of the clear dividing lines between it and the Conservatives.

A pledge to invest 28bn a year in green industries is one of Labour's five national missions, and a key plank of the "greener, fairer future" it has promised.

It gave climate activists reasons to be excited by Labour.

But last month, Labour announced it was delaying its spending commitment until the second half of its first term in government, blaming the UK's bleak economic outlook.

Many climate activists were furious, and during a recent speech in Gillingham, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer felt their wrath.

Several minutes into his speech, two activists from Green New Deal Rising unfurled a banner behind him. "No more U-turns. Green New Deal," it read.

Sir Keir assured the activists he would meet them to discuss their demands, as they were hastily ushered off stage.

More than a week on, the meeting still has not happened and now activists from the group are lining up fresh attempts to grab his attention.

On Friday, activists staged sit-outs outside the constituency offices of Sir Keir, shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves and deputy leader Angela Rayner. They plan to continue these protests until Labour's annual party conference in October, and are not ruling out further disruption - including interrupting speeches - if Sir Keir fails to meet their demands.

"We're escalating our campaign against Labour now, because we want to influence their manifesto," says Hannah Martin, co-director of Green New Deal Rising.

"We want what they offer to voters to be something bold."

Meeting stand-off

Labour says it is already offering voters something bold - a plan to turn Britain into a "clean energy superpower".

The plan involves creating a publicly owned energy company, insulating millions of homes, and using a national wealth fund to build green industries.

"Labour is the only party with a long-term mission to make Britain a clean energy superpower to cut bills, create jobs, provide energy security, and tackle the climate emergency," a Labour spokesperson said.

The BBC has been told Green New Deal Rising has been offered a meeting with party officials, but has shown no interest.

Instead, the group appears to have its sights set on Sir Keir and those at the top of the party. With no time for a chat in Gillingham, the wait for a meeting goes on.

"We were removed from the building," says Sophia Coningham, one of the activists involved in the Gillingham stunt.

She says they gatecrashed the speech to remind Sir Keir that, "to really stand up for young people, they need to commit to a green new deal".

"There's a feeling that Labour is backsliding," says Ms Coningham, an 18-year-old who has just finished her A-levels.

So what is a green new deal?

Campaigners say it's a set of policy proposals to address the root causes of climate change while promoting a more sustainable model of economic growth. It harks back to the New Deal economic programme of 1930s US president Franklin D Roosevelt, and more recently, it's an idea that's been revived and modernised by Democratic politicians in the United States.

It's been fiercely opposed by Republicans there. Donald Trump cast the Green New Deal as a socialist "takeover" when he was in the White House.

The idea of a green new deal has gained traction among some Democratic politicians in the US

Back in the UK, the idea has been floating around for more than a decade, with campaign groups and left-wing MPs - including Labour's shadow climate change secretary Ed Miliband - calling for different flavours of a green new deal.

For the Conservatives, what they see as the economic dangers of funding such green policies through borrowing have been deployed as a political attack line against Labour.

By the time Green New Deal Rising emerged in 2021, the notion of an economic approach centred on clean energy had entered the political mainstream.

Even so, since its launch, the group of about 500 organisers and young climate activists has been lobbying Labour and claims its campaigning has influenced the party's energy policies.

Now it is trying to push Labour to go even further.

"Part of why we took action last week was that we want to see a future government that's committed to the green new deal," says Ms Martin. "We're not going to be silent."

Disruptive tactics

In a campaign targeted at Labour, Green New Deal Rising has put five demands to the party. One Labour source argues that two of the five demands - "expand public ownership" and "tax wealth now" - are not related to green policies.

The other three demands include creating more green jobs, setting up a national nature service, and making polluting companies pay.

"What they're asking for isn't radical," says Labour MP Clive Lewis. "If you look at the science, and what that's showing us on climate change, then their asks are quite mild."

He describes recent briefings against activists as "attempts by some close to the [Labour] leadership to put some distance between them and the climate movement".

With Prime Minister Rishi Sunak accusing Sir Keir of being in the pocket of "eco-zealots", some senior Labour figures have begun lashing out at climate protesters, with the Labour leader himself branding Just Stop Oil "arrogant".

Mr Lewis says he hopes activists from Green New Deal Rising have "done everything to engage with Labour MPs" before resorting to disruptive tactics.

"If they feel they have no option but to do this, then that's their prerogative," he says. "The danger is that this pushes politicians into a corner where they might react in a negative way. Politicians are human."

If disruptive tactics became more commonplace, it's possible a more antagonistic relationship could develop between Labour and climate activists.

That could risk alienating some younger voters, as Ms Coningham explains.

"I think Labour has to earn my vote and that means signing up to our demands," she says. "Labour need to stop taking young people's votes for granted."

Voters from younger generations who care about the climate are a big constituency and one that Labour will want to win over. As things stands, a more radical Labour plan on energy and climate seems unlikely, given the financial discipline the party has been signalling.

But with the Labour manifesto yet to be completed, there is still time for minds to be changed - and a meeting or two perhaps.
Turning Point, a conservative organization known for organizing young voters, came to South Florida this weekend for a political convention featuring Republican presidential candidates and some of the countrys leading right-wing pundits.

The Miami Herald spoke with young attendees about who they are  and arent  supporting in the upcoming presidential election. Heres a glimpse into what they had to say:

Cristen Lameira, at left, and Melissa Villalobos, at right, walk the halls as they attend Turning Point Action Conference at the Palm Beach County Convention Center in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Saturday, July 15, 2023.

Cristen Lameira, 22, said she plans on solidifying her support for a candidate after the primary debates, but as of now she wants to support President Trump.

I just love that he triggers the establishment, said the Florida International University student. I believe in the founding fathers and the motto that government is a necessary evil and I think Trump is the one that scares off the establishment. Hes the one that scares international powers. I think hes the one thats most equipped to defend us domestically and internationally.

Former President Donald Trump speaks during the Turning Point Action Conference at the Palm Beach County Convention Center in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Saturday, July 15, 2023.

Colton Langs, 21, said hes voting for Trump as well. The University of Florida student said that while other candidates interest him, he believes Trump has the best chance of winning the Presidential election out of all the Republican candidates.

I will be supporting Trump because while I like candidates like DeSantis and [Vivek] Ramaswamy, Trump is able to turn out his base more effectively than DeSantis, said Langs.

Isabella Bertolozzi, 21, looks over the comments posted on headshots of presidential candidates, including Miami Mayor Francis Suarez, seen at right, during the Turning Point Action Conference at the Palm Beach County Convention Center in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Saturday, July 15, 2023.

Melissa Villalobos, 18, said shes thinking of voting for Trump based on the work he did as a former President. However, she said she still needs to do more research on the other candidates. The San Francisco native said shes interested in learning more about DeSantis.

[Trump] really loves our country, loves the people and so, Im thinking about leaning towards Trump, she said. However, I will do more research on DeSantis and if I do like DeSantis more than Trump I will change my voting stance, but Im leaning towards Trump right now.

Jayden Gallagly, Zachary Workinger, and Ethan Greene walk the halls during the Turning Point Action Conference at the Palm Beach County Convention Center in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Saturday, July 15, 2023.

Ethan Greene, 19, said that although he is still researching both political parties, he said if he had to pick a candidate now it would be Trump. His friends, Zachary Workinger, 18, and Jayden Gallagly, 16, said they were Trump supporters.

While many of the students who spoke to the Herald were interested in Trump, some students were excited about a newer candidate: Ramaswamy.

Vivek Ramaswamy speaks during the Turning Point Action Conference at the Palm Beach County Convention Center in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Saturday, July 15, 2023.

David Ibragimov, 20, said hes unofficially rooting for Ramaswamy  who spoke Saturday at the conference  and has been following him closely.

He has been really showing that, even though his gains and polling is very small, he is very palatable to the American people and the American people are starting to pay attention to other candidates that are not Trump or DeSantis, said Ibragimov.

Bharat Nair, 21, attends the Turning Point Action Conference at the Palm Beach County Convention Center in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Saturday, July 15, 2023.

Bharat Nair, a University of Texas student who recently became a United States citizen, said he is looking forward to getting to vote in his first presidential election. He also plans on supporting Ramaswamy in the upcoming election.

[Ramaswamy] knows the immigrant story, said Nair, 21. He understands what the true American dream is and I think the American dream should be about coming here, seeing the opportunities and seizing them. I think he did that great as a second-generation Indian American.

Tucker Carlson speaks during the Turning Point Action Conference at the Palm Beach County Convention Center in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Saturday, July 15, 2023.

Some of the young voters also shared why they would not be supporting specific candidates, many of which spoke of their lack of faith in DeSantis as a future president.

Conference attendees heckle CNN reporter Elle Reeve in the exhibition area during the Turning Point Action Conference at the Palm Beach County Convention Center in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Saturday, July 15, 2023.

DeSantis is too busy talking about cultural wars, cultural wars, culture wars, said Langs. The main thing that people are going to be focusing on is economics, food on the table and high housing prices.

I think hes a great governor, he handled COVID really well, his policies in Florida were amazing, said Nair. However, I think him on a foreign policy stage is something Im hesitant on.

Donald Trump arrives on stage at the Turning Point Action Conference at the Palm Beach County Convention Center in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Saturday, July 15, 2023.

Gracie Cooper, 21, said that while shes still undecided on who she wants to vote for, her hesitancy towards DeSantis also has to do with how hed handle being on the international stage.

I think hes a great governor but Im not sure how he would do as a president, said Cooper. Im kind of scared that he would lean more towards going towards war against other countries and so thats not something that Im super interested in. Id like to keep the peace if we can.
The News

LUSAKA, Zambia  When Netflix launches Supa Team 4, its first-ever original African animated series, it will be a significant milestone for young Zambian animators who have turned the southern African country into an unheralded animation hub.

Supa Team 4 was created by Lusaka-based Malenga Mulendema who has spent the last few years working with her co-producers and Netflix to bring the show to life. The show, to me, is like a multi-layered cake. I want the audience to dig in and discover the flavors for themselves, Mulendema told Semafor Africa.

Mulendema is not a one-off, Lusaka is home to a quietly bubbling scene of mostly self-taught animators who are trying their hands at bringing shows to life independently. A few months back Tabitha Mwale, 22, launched The Super at local cinemas to much acclaim here. She described it as Zambias first-ever anime series, as a dedicated fan of the Japanese animation style. It was a love letter to the art form from a Zambian, said Akende Muyumbana, the 25-year old director of The Super. It was meant to show people that Zambians can make something that has international appeal.

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The eight-part Netflix series will finally debut on July 20 and is co-produced by South African animation studio Triggerfish, and London-based kids specialist Cake Studios. Set in a futuristic Lusaka, the series follows four school-age teenagers recruited to become superheroes by a retired secret agent.

It features African voice actors including South Africas John Kani, who played TChaka in the Hollywood blockbuster Black Panther, and Nancy Sekhokoane (Woman King), with a theme song by Zambian rapper/singer Sampa the Great.

Zanjis view

The excitement building up ahead of Supa Team 4s release shows the importance of diverse creative storytelling, representation, and highlighting the immense well of talent that exists within the African animation community. Zambians will be keen to claim the spotlight and firmly establish their creators as a rising force in the global animation arena.

Supa Team 4s breakthrough not only elevates Malenga Mulendema as a trailblazer within the Zambian animation scene but also paves the way for aspiring animators and other creators across the continent.

This rise of Zambian animation represents not only opportunities for individual animators but also contributes to the cultural representation and diversity within the animation industry as a whole, say long-time animation fans and experts. And the success of getting Supa Team 4 on to Netflix is expected to encourage other local animators.

The number of people trying to get to the top in animation has increased, said Caleb Mutale, 32, a Lusaka-based animator. But he worried that since many Zambian animators are self-taught the local scene would need both better technical infrastructure and education to become a globally regarded hub. The challenge is that there are some artists that dont look at animation as a full-time career and have held themselves back from fulfilling their full potential.

Muko Tsubusa, 27, who taught himself animation by obsessively watching YouTube instruction videos, said hes seen a rise in local interest in professional animation around Lusaka but feels more international production companies should take a chance on the local talent and dip their feet in the water.

Screen grab from The Super pilot

But even without the guarantee of the kind of funding, compensation, and glamor a Netflix-produced show might promise, most of the animators here were keen to keep developing their craft. The Supers Mwale said her motivation sprang from a deep desire to bring her stories to life and showcase the rich cultural heritage of Zambia. She said its an inspiring period for Zambian animators who often had to give up on their dreams. A lot of people were waiting for this change in the animation industry and fortunately it has started.

The View From Cape Town

African animation continues to face significant obstacles that hinder its growth and competitiveness, said Stuart Forrest, CEO of Cape Town-based Triggerfish Animation, which also runs a non-profit academy dedicated to stimulating the growth of animation on the continent. This is a huge barrier to a first-time producer who has to prove that they can be trusted with a large budget, when they havent done it before, and in a country that may have currency volatility risk, he said.

The absence of extensive government support and tax incentives, as enjoyed by companies in developed nations, puts African animation companies at a disadvantage when it comes to competing on price.

Netflix

Room for Disagreement

Some argue Zambia should prioritize supporting white collar professions that have more direct societal and economic impact, like engineering and medical sciences. Fred Bwalya, a biology teacher at a Lusaka high school, said young people ought to focus on what would sustain them financially in the long run. Animation is good, dont get me wrong, but our country should focus on investing in careers for young people that can sustain them and give them a stable income. A career in animation wouldnt do that, he said.

Notable
Zelenskyy: When Ukraine's air defence becomes strong enough, we will protect the whole Europe

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that when Ukraine's air defence is strong enough, Ukraine will ensure that the whole of Europe is protected from Russian terror.

Source: President's evening address

Quote: "We have shown that there are no Russian missiles that Ukrainians could not shoot down. And when the Ukrainian air shield becomes strong enough, and that will happen, Ukraine will provide real freedom and protection of the whole of Europe from Russian terror. The security of our continent begins here, with the sovereignty and strength of Ukraine."

Details: The president recalled that on 16 July, Ukraine celebrated the 33rd anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of State Sovereignty.

Quote: "Our state will never give up its sovereignty. And this is already obvious to everyone in the world. Despite the Russian terror, we know that Ukrainian freedom will remain anyway, and will win anyway.

Each year, Ukraine will only become stronger and help other free nations to preserve sovereignty and build common security. Ukraine can do it."

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!






Opposition leader Nelson Chamisa gestures while addressing a rally of his Movement for Democratic Change party in Harare

By Nyasha Chingono

GWERU, Zimbabwe (Reuters) - Zimbabwe's main opposition leader Nelson Chamisa promised economic prosperity and an end to corruption as he launched his party's campaign on Sunday for national elections set for Aug. 23.

Chamisa, who leads the opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), is running against 80-year-old President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who has led the ruling Zanu-PF since a coup ousted Robert Mugabe in 2017.

The 45-year-old politician, lawyer and pastor launched his "For Everyone" campaign in the city of Gweru, about 300km east of the capital Harare, vowing to fix the country's unrelenting economic crises.

Chamisa lamented the lack of development in the country, saying there was little to show after 43 years of democracy.

"All we see is poverty, unemployment and millions going to the diaspora," Chamisa told thousands of supporters gathered at a stadium in the city.

Supporters clad in the party's yellow regalia braved chilly weather to attend the rally following sustained efforts by the police and judiciary to ban opposition party rallies.

"They have been banning our campaigns, but no one will ban us from people's hearts," Chamisa said to thunderous applause.

Chamisa promised to deal with endemic corruption and misuse of the country's resources by the ruling elite, adding that the mineral-rich country should benefit all.

This is Chamisa's second bid for the presidency and first under the banner of the CCC, which launched early last year.

In 2018, he became Zimbabwe's youngest-ever presidential candidate, narrowly losing to incumbent Mnangagwa in the disputed poll.

Chamisa said his party would remain vigilant against electoral malpractice. "We will not accept a rigged election this time," he said, promising other reforms including improved salaries for the civil service.

The upcoming general election is expected to be close, with both Mnangagwa and Chamisa enjoying support across the country.

Chamisa plans to take his campaign to the countryside in an effort to win over historically Zanu-PF voters.

(Reporting by Nyasha Chingono; Editing by Kopano Gumbi and David Holmes)
The Nelson County Board of Supervisors made good on a promise to seek changes for the families of private officers killed in the line of duty, unanimously passing a resolution July 11 to recognize slain Wintergreen Police Officer Mark Christopher Chris Wagner II and request amendments.

Wagner was killed June 16 while responding to a call about an assault within the Wintergreen community. Per Virginia code, Wagners service to a private police department does not qualify his family for the one-time $100,000 payment awarded to the surviving spouse and dependents of a public officer killed in the line of duty.

A fundraiser organized by the Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police and Wintergreen Police Chief Dennis Russell has raised $120,030 for Wagners family as of July 13.

The resolution supervisors approved during the meeting honors Wagner and requests an amendment to the Line of Duty Act, which entitles state officers beneficiaries to the payment in gratitude for and in recognition of his [the officers] sacrifice on behalf of the people of the Commonwealth, but excludes private police officers.

Supervisors resolution calls upon the General Assembly to amend the Code of Virginia to afford private police officers the benefits available under the Line of Duty Act, and will be delivered to Nelsons representatives in the General Assembly.

We recently lost one of our own in Nelson County in the line of duty, Mr. Chris Wagner. He was serving up in Wintergreen and of course in the line of duty he lost his life. As a result, we, as a board, want to honor him and his service to this community. It is also important that we as a locality look to see how we can improve situations that arise ... Board Chair Jesse Rutherford said.

I have spoken to Sen. Mark Peake as well as Del. Ellen Campbell and theyre working together with their respective majority heads  to accomplish the proper legislation to see that this is changed, he added, calling the resolution a no-brainer.

... Officer Wagner joined the Wintergreen Police Department in August of 2020 and diligently served the Wintergreen Community with honor and commitment  Supervisor Ernie Reed read.

The resolution acknowledges private police officers responsibility for the prevention and detection of crime and the enforcement of penal laws, and their exposure to the same risks of injury or death as other officers employed by Virginia police departments and sheriffs offices.

Now therefore, be it resolved, the Nelson County Board of Supervisors hereby honors Officer Mark Christopher Wagner II of Wintergreen Police Department for his heroism and honorable service to the citizens of Wintergreen and the County, for whom he made the ultimate sacrifice  Reed read.
An Amherst man was arrested after an elderly woman was found dead Friday, according to an Amherst County Sheriffs Department news release.

The Amherst County Sheriffs Department has identified Kenneth Wayne Barbour, 51 of Amherst, as the person arrested, according to Amherst County Sheriffs Captain Eric Elliot. Barbour is charged with one count of malicious wounding and additional charges are expected as the homicide investigation progresses, the sheriff's office said.

Amherst County Sheriffs Office Deputies and Amherst County Rescue units responded to a call Friday of a badly wounded, unconscious elderly woman identified as Phyllis L. Auman, of Amherst, who had suffered multiple injuries at a residence on Boxwood Farm Road, according to the release. There, they found Auman dead.

Deputies assigned to the investigations division were notified and responded, launching a homicide investigation.

Authorities believed it was an isolated incident, according to a release from the sheriffs office.

The sheriffs office is asking for anyone with information about this incident to come forward and contact Investigator C. Tomlin at the Amherst County Sheriffs Office at (434)-946-9373, option 1; or by calling Central Virginia Crime Stoppers at (888)-798-5900.

An anonymous tip can be made online using http://p3tips.com or by downloading the P3 mobile app.
People in northeastern Japan are dealing with a record amount of rainfall. Weather officials are urging them to stay on the alert for flooding and landslides.

Japan Meteorological Agency officials say Akita Prefecture and other parts of the Tohoku region along the Sea of Japan coast are being deluged with rain on Saturday.

Oga City and the town of Happo were hit with about 190 millimeters of precipitation in a 12-hour period. That is more than the average for the entire month of July.

Landslide alerts have been issued for parts of Akita, Aomori and Iwate prefectures. Extensive damage has been reported and traffic has been disrupted in some areas.

Akita officials say several rivers including the Taihei have breached their banks. Evacuation orders have been issued for some areas.

East Japan Railway says the Akita Shinkansen train service connecting Tokyo, Iwate and Akita prefectures has been suspended. Local rail services have also been stopped in parts of the Tohoku region.

Weather officials warn that rain clouds will remain over Tohoku through Sunday, and could bring more downpours. Authorities are calling on people to stay in a safe place as the dangers could intensify.
Despite mounting pressure from international organisations and governments worldwide to reduce carbon emissions, a large quantity of oil and gas companies continue to carry out routine gas flaring practices. While some have curbed flaring through shifting practices to more environmentally friendly alternatives, others are failing to seek a different solution. And without strict regulations to curb the practice, the situation is unlikely to change.

Gas flaring is when natural gas is burned in oil production operations. This activity has long been practised for a number of reasons. For example, it is cheaper to flare waste gas than to recycle it. Companies looking to stop the practice would have to capture, transport, process, and sell the gas, which is not viewed as financially viable. While gas flaring is wasteful, it is relatively safe, making it the preferred choice for many oil companies. The practice mainly continues due to a lack of specific regulations to curb it. On average, around 140 billion cubic meters (bcm) of gas is flared every year.

The World Banks 2022 Global Gas Flaring Tracker Report showed that flaring fell by 3 percent between 2021 and 2022, from 144 bcm to 139 bcm. This equates to approximately 315 million tonnes of carbon dioxide and 42 million tonnes of methane emitted. The high level of flaring in 2021 was largely associated with resumed oil operations following a year of pandemic, which drove oil output up significantly. The report showed that Nigeria, Mexico, and the United States contributed the highest level of gas flaring in 2022, these were followed by Russia, Iraq, Iran, Algeria, Venezuela, and Libya. These countries accounted for almost three-quarters of flare volumes but just half of global oil production. Meanwhile, Kazakhstan and Colombia significantly reduced their flaring activities.

The World Bank pointed out that the gas flared in 2022 was equivalent to the amount of electricity Sub-Saharan Africa produces each year. In its report, the organisation highlighted the potential to recycle rather than waste the gas, to boost access to energy in some of the worlds poorest countries. It also noted the scarcity of natural gas last year in the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and subsequent sanctions on Russian energy.

In 2015, the Global Gas Flaring Reduction Partnership launched the Zero Routine Flaring by 2030 (XRF) initiative, calling on governments and companies to end routine flaring by the end of the decade. Those that voluntarily commit to the scheme are expected to report their flaring activities and progress to curbing the practice. However, most governments have yet to officially regulate flaring, making participation in the scheme limited.

While the focus internationally is mainly on decarbonisation, energy organisations, such as the International Energy Agency (IEA), have repeatedly stated the harmful nature of methane. It also warms the planet, at a rate of around 80 times more than CO2, and it can harm public health. At the COP26 climate summit in 2021, the U.K. government supported the establishment of a global methane pledge, aiming to reduce emissions by 30 percent by 2030. While the U.K.s North Sea Transition Authority has made progress in reducing flaring activities, the country continues to flare around five times more methane than Norway, which produces twice as much oil. There are now fears that the U.K. will fail to meet its climate pledges unless it puts an end to gas flaring and captures gas more from leaking pipes by around 2025. The IEA believes that making these changes could reduce the methane emissions from the U.K. oil and gas sector by around 80 percent.

And its not just the U.K. that could benefit from stopping gas flaring. earlier this year, an investigation by the BBC measured pollution levels near oil fields in Iraq to better understand the impact of gas flaring. The documentary suggested that some of the worlds biggest oil companies are not fully reporting their flaring emissions, meaning that the progress being made on climate pledges is often highly overstated. The filmmakers measured benzene in the air in communities around four of Iraqs oil fields, including Rumaila, the biggest in the country. The investigation also analysed urine samples from children, which revealed the presence of toxins that are linked to gas flaring exposure. Benzene, which comes from gas flaring, has been linked to cancer, particularly childhood leukaemia. This was the first time that public data was collected on pollution levels in these communities, suggesting the health impact of gas flaring could be much worse than was thought.

Oil and gas companies continue to flare gas as the practice is long-established, easy, and low-cost. Further, a lack of appropriate government regulation on flaring activities allows them to do so. The negative impact of the practice on the environment and public health has been largely understated in many parts of the world, and recent data suggests that many companies may be underreporting their flaring activities. To achieve the climate pledges set out in the Paris Agreement and annual COP summits, companies must commit to stopping flaring, which could be better enforced through legally binding regulations and national flaring-cutting schemes.

By Felicity Bradstock for Oilprice.com

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Europes natural gas stockpiles are at elevated levels and on track to be full sooner than planned. This gives governments and industries confidence that last years energy crisis will not be repeated.

The benchmark natural gas prices are one-tenth of the records seen last summer when Russia slashed pipeline supply to Europe.

Volatility, however, will continue as prices and demand ahead of and during the coming winter will depend on two factors that are out of EU controlthe weather and the contribution of renewable energy sources to the mix depending on the weather.

Thanks to milder winter weather, reduced EU consumption, and demand destruction in industry due to the high energy costs, Europe made it through the 2022/2023 winter without gas shortages or gas rationing.

Ahead of the 2023/2024 winter, Europe can only hope for another winter of milder temperatures without prolonged periods of freezes that would boost demand for heating and for gas-fired power generation.

In case of another mild winter  which is possible but far from certain  Europes gas prices could plunge from current levels and halve to $16.85 (15 euros) per megawatt-hour (MWh), according to Morgan Stanley.

If weather is persistently warm and renewables perform strongly, the benchmark gas prices could crumble to the levels from the end of 2020, Morgan Stanley analysts wrote in a research note this week, as carried by Bloomberg.

The front-month futures at the TTF hub, the benchmark for Europes gas trading, settled at $30.60 (27.24 euros) per MWh on Thursday, while futures prices for December through February are around $56 (50 euros) per MWh.

Morgan Stanleys 15-euro call is just one of the banks scenarios for Europes natural gas prices after October when the winter heating season is expected to begin.

At the other end of the scenarios, prices could spike to $112 (100 euros) per MWh if the 2023/2024 winter is colder than normal and renewables cannot generate too much electricity.

After October, using a weighted average, Morgan Stanley sees prices more likely to trade around $50 (45 euros) per MWh.

This week, Europes prices slumped from June levels as demand  despite a major prolonged heatwave  continues to be generally weak amid an industrial slowdown.

Prices had jumped in June as maintenance on several large Norwegian gas fields and export routes reduced supply to Europe via pipelines from Norway, which is now Europes single largest gas supplier.

With the giant Troll gas field returning from maintenance, Norwegian supply increased. Combined with tepid demand, this sent European gas prices to the lowest in a month.

Stockpiles are also elevated, giving further confidence to governments ahead of the winter. As of July 12, gas storage sites across the EU were 80.3% full, according to data by Gas Infrastructure Europe.

The EU has set a target to reach 90% full gas storage by November 1, 2023. Not only will it hit that target ahead of schedule, but it could also fill its storage tanks to 100% by early September, according to Morgan Stanley.

Rystad Energy also believes Europe will reach the target earlier than planned.

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Considering historical demand, and assuming different supply scenarios, storage facilities could even be full ahead of winter this year, resulting in gas flows having to be diverted elsewhere, senior analyst Lu Ming Pang said earlier this month.

Full gas storage sites will be good news for European consumers and governments this winter. Additional LNG import terminals that Europe has managed to install since last autumn and steady inflows of LNG cargoes are also providing some comfort that things cant be as bad as feared ahead of the 2022/2023 winter.

But uncertainties are high about winter weather and the ability of renewables to provide more electricity. Since the energy crisis began, Europe hasnt seen a really cold winter yet, which makes price predictions as tricky as predicting in July the temperatures for December.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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Regardless of what MbS relayed to Blinken, it appears that Washington will continue to pressure its allies to reach normalization agreements with Israel.

While Washington wants a comprehensive agreement for normalization and peace quickly, MbS is merely slowing the process down.

By Hasan Illaik via The Cradle

In his interview with CNN on July 9th, US President Joe Biden announced that "we are still far away" from reaching agreements to normalize Saudi-Israeli relations, establish a Saudi civilian nuclear program, and a Washington guarantee for Saudi security.

What Biden revealed was based primarily on his feedback from a June 7th after-midnight meeting held in Jeddah between Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MbS) and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

During their tete-a-tete, the two men spent an hour and forty minutes discussing various issues of mutual interest. But the first goal of the meeting was to improve US-Saudi relations, which have not yet reverted to pre-2018 levels when the US accused MbS of masterminding the assassination of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

New US rules on engaging with Saudis

US Ambassador to Riyadh Michael Ratney is the policy architect leading the charge to improve bilateral relations. Sources familiar with the contents of Saudi diplomatic reports tell The Cradle that Ratney has previously sent the US State Department a set of rules which he believes will help improve relations between his country and Saudi Arabia.

The first of these rules is to stop targeting MbS personally. There is a longstanding Saudi tradition of zero tolerance for disparagement of the countrys ruler, whoever he may be, by any external state. Ratney noted that while MbS can live with US criticism of Saudi politics, he will not tolerate criticism of him personally because he sees it as an attempt to undermine his rule and destroy his image. The US ambassador made clear that continued attacks on bin Salman will hinder the improvement of relations between Washington and Riyadh.

Ratneys second rule is to change the way US officials communicate with the crown prince. American envoys have typically been very reserved when holding talks with the Saudi rulers (king or crown prince), not delving into the details of vital issues, which they reserve for discussions with ministers and advisers. Ratney advised that discussions with MbS should be detailed and that US proposals should be clear. Related: OPEC Raises 2023 Oil Demand Forecast



Blinken came to Saudi Arabia having adopted his ambassador's recommendations. In his meeting with MbS, he outlined the issues clearly. The Cradle reviewed part of the content of their discussions pertaining to two US policies: the project to normalize Israeli-Saudi relations, and Washingtons desire to thwart improved ties between Riyadh and Damascus.

The American demands were direct: We want a normalization agreement between you and Israel; your rapprochement with the Syrian regime is useless at this stage.

No to normalization with Tel Aviv

According to The Cradles Arab and western diplomatic sources, Blinken asked his host: Why don't you do with Israel what you did with Iran?

MbS' response was equally direct. On the issue of a peace agreement with Israel, he replied with three points, which Blinken later reported were unclear in terms of their order of importance:

First, the Saudi crown prince clarified that King Salman bin Abdulaziz still opposes an agreement with Tel Aviv. Second, MbS reported that fruitful communication continues between Saudi and Israeli authorities - such as allowing the passage of civilian aircraft into Saudi airspace and lifting the ban on Israeli players in international sporting events - with the following caveat:

But these contacts will not soon lead to a peace agreement and normalization. We remain committed to the Arab Peace Initiative (the 2001 Beirut Summit Initiative), which is to grant the Palestinians an independent State in exchange for a comprehensive peace. Israel has treated the Abraham Accords as an incentive to ignore the Palestinians and undermine the foundations of the peace process with the Palestinians, rather than seeing them as an opportunity to enhance the chances of reaching a lasting peace. The Israeli government is approving more settlement projects, compounding the obstacles to any future solution."

Therefore, from MbS perspective, Saudi Arabia has yet to see a reason to abandon its own Arab peace initiative. Third, the sources say, the Saudi crown prince asked his American guest:

"Why should we give you an agreement with Israel? For what? You refuse our having a peaceful nuclear project. Since your administration came to power, you have revoked the Houthi designation as a terrorist organization. You are demanding a reduction in the price of oil to the detriment of our interests. So why do you expect us to give you a peace agreement with Israel? We are ready to go even beyond normalization with Israel, and achieve regional integration for Tel Aviv, but only if it serves the interests of our country."

MbS: We will invest in Syria

On Syria, MbS stressed two things in his discussion with Blinken. The first was Saudi Arabias direct security interest. He said that the illicit flow of drugs to the kingdom is a threat to the security of its people:

"This is one of our priorities. We know as well as you that the number one source of Captagon is Syrian territory. You have issued a special law to combat the export of Captagon from Syria, and you have considered that the smuggling of this drug harms the interests of the United States. We believe that a solution to this crisis is not possible without communication and coordination with the Syrian government. In this sense, we see it as in our interest to improve our relationship with the Syrian government."

MbS second point addressed future Saudi investments in Syria, which Washington seeks to prevent in order to uphold and deepen its economic siege on the country. The Cradles diplomatic sources say Blinken was told point blank:

"The war that was aimed at toppling Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is over. You know our orientation to ensure stability throughout the region. We are ready to invest in Syria to prove to the Syrian people who secure their interests and the prosperity of their country. This is beneficial to regional stability, as it will weaken non-Arab forces in Syria,"  a possible reference to Iran, Turkiye, and Russia.

Sources familiar with the content of US-Saudi meetings say that Saudi officials no longer use anti-Iranian rhetoric in their meetings since the signing of the Beijing-brokered Iran-Saudi rapprochement agreement on 10 March, 2023.

US-Saudi differences magnified

On both issues - normalization with Israel and reconciliation with Syria - Blinken had clear points of disagreement with MbS. The US secretary of state reiterated that his country still believes in a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine, rejects plans to expand settlements in the West Bank, and continues to seek a solution to the conflict while upholding Israel's security needs.

Blinken pointed out that the Biden administration is pressuring the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, citing the US presidents refusal to receive him in the White House since his return to power. And he has praised the Saudi advances with Israel, pointing out that these must be strengthened in order to reach a peace agreement ultimately.

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Regarding Syria, Blinken stressed that any openness to Assad means granting him a pass on all the crimes that he has committed, and strengthens Iran's position in Syria. Opening up to Damascus without a political solution, he argued, makes the Syrian government, and behind it, Iran and Russia, more intransigent in the face of its opponents.

US pressure will continue

But Blinken did not hesitate to put his own spin on his private discussion with MbS two days after the meeting, again pushing the issue of Saudi-Israeli normalization, this time in public: We will continue to work for it to push it in the coming days, weeks and months." In saying so, he eliminates any deadlines for when this could happen, just as Biden did in his CNN interview.

Regardless of what MbS relayed to Blinken, it appears that Washington will continue to pressure its allies to reach normalization agreements with Israel, a policy crafted to isolate Palestinians and their demands for a just, negotiated solution.

The US will also continue to seek to tighten its devastating economic blockade of Syria in order to prevent the government in Damascus from extending its authority over all of its territory, to obstruct the post-war reconstruction of the country, or to force Syria to change its strategic direction. Despite the wars end, Washington still hopes to extract concessions from Syria that it could not force through military means.

It appears, however, that these US policies do not line up with MbS's current ambitions and vision of Saudi interests, particularly given the monumental geopolitical shifts taking place both in West Asia and the rest of the world.

But do not mistake this for a Saudi rebellion against US decisions. While Washington wants a comprehensive agreement for normalization and peace quickly, MbS is merely slowing the process down, demanding high prices for any concessions. At the same time, he has granted Israel liberties in various fields, free of charge, in a way that guarantees him protection from US pressure on the one hand, and on the other hand, continued Israeli support for him in US decision-making circles.

Via Zerohedge.com

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OCEANIC RESOURCES

The International Seabed Authority  the United Nations body that regulates the world's ocean floor  is resuming negotiations that could open the international seabed for mining, including for materials critical for the green energy transition.

Years of negotiations are reaching a critical point where the authority will soon need to begin accepting mining permit applications, adding to worries over the potential impacts on sparsely researched marine ecosystems and habitats of the deep sea.

Here's a look at what deep sea mining is, why some companies and countries are applying for permits to carry it out and why environmental activists are raising concerns.

What is deep sea mining?

Deep sea mining involves removing mineral deposits and metals from the ocean's seabed. There are three types of such mining: taking deposit-rich polymetallic nodules off the ocean floor, mining massive seafloor sulphide deposits and stripping cobalt crusts from rock.

These nodules, deposits and crusts contain materials, such as nickel, rare earths, cobalt and more, that are needed for batteries and other materials used in tapping renewable energy and also for everyday technology like cellphones and computers.

Engineering and technology used for deep sea mining are still evolving. Some companies are looking to vacuum materials from seafloor using massive pumps. Others are developing artificial intelligence-based technology that would teach deep sea robots how to pluck nodules from the floor. Some are looking to use advanced machines that could mine materials off side of huge underwater mountains and volcanoes.Companies and governments view these as strategically important resources that will be needed as onshore reserves are depleted and demand continues to rise.

How is deep sea mining regulated now?

Countries manage their own maritime territory and exclusive economic zones, while the high seas and the international ocean floor are governed by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Seas. It is considered to apply to states regardless of whether or not they have signed or ratified it. Under the treaty, the seabed and its mineral resources are considered the "common heritage of mankind" that must be managed in a way that protects the interests of humanity through the sharing of economic benefits, support for marine scientific research, and protecting marine environments.

Mining companies interested in deep sea exploitation are partnering with countries to help them get exploration licenses.

More than 30 exploration licenses have been issued so far, with activity mostly focused in an area called the Clarion-Clipperton Fracture Zone, which spans 1.7 million square miles between Hawaii and Mexico.

Why is there pressure to establish regulations?

A clause of the U.N. treaty requires the ISA to complete regulations governing deep sea exploitation by July 2023.

Countries and private companies can start applying for provisional licenses if the U.N. body fails to approve a set of rules and regulations. Experts say it's unlikely it will since the process will likely take several years.

What are the environmental concerns?

Only a small part of the deep seabed has been explored and conservationists worry that ecosystems will be damaged by mining, especially without any environmental protocols.

Damage from mining can include noise, vibration and light pollution, as well as possible leaks and spills of fuels and other chemicals used in the mining process.

Sediment plumes from some mining processes are a major concern, because they can harm filter-feeding species like corals and sponges.

The full extent of implications for deep sea ecosystems is unclear, but scientists have warned that biodiversity loss is inevitable and potentially irreversible.

"We're constantly finding new stuff and it's a little bit premature to start mining the deep sea when we don't really understand the biology, the environments, the ecosystems or anything else," said Christopher Kelley, a biologist with research expertise in deep sea ecology.

What's next?

The ISA's Legal and Technical Commission, which oversees the development of deep sea mining regulations, will meet this month to discuss the mining code draft.

The earliest that mining under ISA regulations could begin is in late 2024 or 2025. Applications for mining must be considered and environmental impact assessments need to be carried out.

In the meantime, some companies  such as Google, Samsung BMW and others  have backed the World Wildlife Fund's call to pledge to avoid using minerals that have been mined from the planet's oceans. More than a dozen countries  including France, Germany and several Pacific Island nations  have officially called for a ban, pause or moratorium on deep sea mining at least until environmental safeguards are in place. Other countries, such as Norway, are proposing opening their waters to mining.
New Zealand is English-speaking, not overpopulated, a net food exporter, and enjoys a remote location. My brother and I tried to emigrate there during the early Cold War as a better place to ride out a nuclear war than next door to SAC. But Catch-22: A New Zealand business wouldn't hire you without a work-permit visa, and you couldn't be issued a visa unless you had a job lined up. (I did make it there eventually while back-packing around the world.)

In place of nuclear war, the threat now is climate. In "Our Final Warning: Six Degrees of Climate Emergency" Mark Lynas examines what happens at one degree of warming, then two, then three. At four degrees New York will suffer fifty days of extreme heat; in Jakarta, 365. A "belt of uninhabitability" will run from the Middle East to China. At five degrees? Total collapse, when, as the author says, "the living will truly envy the dead."

New Zealand's South Island, not far from Antarctica, could escape the heat for a longer time. With foresight, billionaires Larry Page and Peter Thiel have had a refuge ready in New Zealand since 2011. Other moguls are counting on super-yachts.

Ironically, those with the largest carbon footprint, whose fortunes were based on energy from fossil fuels, those most responsible, may get to escape the consequences of their actions.

Heavily fortified refuges, a kind of new feudalism, will also appear in northern Siberia and Alaska, Antarctica, Patagonia and Tasmania. Outside the walls of their manors a new and savage Dark Ages will be raging. Toward the equator will be the inferno, a killing zone with billions unable to escape the heat and droughts. Escape to where? Mars?

Jim Bechtel, Omaha
Kelli Lepler, who faces 43 theft charges involving her Grand Island monument business, was arrested Thursday in Wentzville, Missouri.

A warrant for Lepler's arrest was issued July 3 in Hall County. Wentzville Police Officer Brandi Doyle arrested Thursday afternoon.

As Doyle was on patrol, she received notification on her Flock license-plate reading device that the driver of the vehicle was wanted.

Lepler Flock is the name of the company that produces the camera system. "There will be an out-of-state extradition process that will take place prior to her return for arraignment," a press release from the Grand Island Police Department said.

The Grand Island police thanked the Hall County Sheriff's Office, the Wentzville Police Department "and other agencies that have assisted in serving this arrest warrant, as well as those victims and members of the public who chose to exhibit patience in this matter."

The theft charges relate to Lepler's business, Monument Advisors. Lepler, 45, is accused of not delivering on paid monument orders.

Of the 43 theft charges, 36 are felonies and seven are misdemeanors. In court documents, Lepler's earliest charge dates from Sept. 21, 2020 (theft by deception, more than $5,000). The most recent charge is from Feb. 9, 2023, also theft by deception, more than $5,000.

After an investigation, the Grand Island police turned the case over to the Hall County Attorney's Office in early June.

Earlier this week, Grand Island police said they were not worried about apprehending Lepler. It was, they said, only a matter of time.
NICOSIA, Cyprus  New discoveries including gold ornaments and fine pottery at an ancient port city in Cyprus dating back more than 3,000 years indicate that the settlement was one of the Mediterranean's most important trading posts in the late Bronze Age, an archeologist says.

Professor Peter M. Fischer from the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, said the city now known as Hala Sultan Tekke because of its proximity to a famous mosque flourished in 1,630-1,150 B.C. because of its trade in the "most sought after product at that time"  plentiful copper mined from the Troodos mountain range. Some theorize that Cyprus got its name from copper because of its ancient trade in the metal.

Fischer said this week that along with Mycenaean pottery, the Cypriot variety was "the most popular on the 'intercultural' market" of the time, reaching as far as modern-day Spain, Iraq, Turkey and Sudan.

Fischer, who concluded excavations at the site this year, said evidence now suggests "the great importance" of the ancient city, rivaling the majesty of Enkomi, considered the most important Bronze Age Cypriot city because of its unique layout.

He suggested that more fascinating discoveries could be in store at the Hala Sultan Tekke site because "maybe only 10%" has been exposed, with recent georadar and magnetometer surveys showing large building complexes 3-7 feet below the surface.

"The numerous finds of gold, most likely imported from Egypt but showing mainly Minoan motifs, demonstrate that the Egyptians received copper in exchange and that the contact with the Minoan-Mycenaean cultures was intense," Fischer said in an email.

Maria Iakovou, a professor of archaeology at the University of Cyprus who was not involved in the research, said the new excavations bolster Fischer's assessment of the significance of the Hala Sultan Tekke site.

"I can confirm that the interpretations provided by Peter F. based on the richness of the material data from the excavations at HST are valid and well known to all of us working on the late Bronze Age of Cyprus and the Mediterranean," Iakovou told The Associated Press.

Cyprus' Antiquities Department said other discovered objects include sophisticated jewelry, daggers, knives, spearheads and a mirror of bronze. It said several items of ivory and tin-glazed pottery had been imported from Egypt during the 18th dynasty, the time of Pharaohs Thutmose III and Eknaton and his wife Nefertiti.

Another find was Nuragic pottery from Sardinia which showed it had also traded with Cypriots for copper.

Family tombs containing everyday objects that the deceased could use in the afterlife as well as items of luxury to show their wealth were also discovered. Fischer said preliminary results of DNA testing of the bones confirmed the "multiculturality" of the city's inhabitants.

Other discoveries included semiprecious stones such as amber from the Baltics and lapis lazuli and carnelian from Mesopotamia and the northern Levant, according to Fischer.

Fischer said the discoveries confirm that the late Bronze Age was the first "international" period in the Mediterranean.

It's unclear why the city was abandoned by 1,150 B.C., but Fischer said the rise of nomadic sea peoples may have contributed to the city's downfall, in combination with a worsening climate and possibly epidemic diseases. The nearby port city of Kition, founded around 1,300 B.C., picked up the mantle from Hala Sultan Tekke.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomed fresh pledges of weapons to fight Russia's invasion along with longer-term security commitments from the West on Wednesday even as he expressed disappointment over the lack of a clear path for his country to join NATO as the alliance wrapped up its annual summit.

"The Ukrainian delegation is bringing home a significant security victory for the Ukraine, for our country, for our people, for our children," he said while flanked by U.S. President Joe Biden and other leaders from the Group of Seven most powerful democratic nations.

SWEDEN: Sweden's membership in NATO took a big step forward on Monday after Turkey agreed to remove one of the last major roadblocks in return for help in reviving Turkey's own chances of joining the European Union. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Wednesday he expected parliament to ratify the measure in October.

CHINA TALKS: U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen struck a positive but pragmatic tone last Sunday after completing a four day trip to China. She said her meetings brought U.S.-China ties closer to a "surer footing."

SOCIAL MEDIA: The Biden administration asked a federal appeals court Monday to temporarily block a lower court's 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 order on hold.
The 69-year-old Colorado man who died when his single-engine plane crashed near Kearney had encountered ice and heavy rain before the crash June 2, investigators said in a preliminary report.

John G. Reading of Broomfield was two hours into his flight from Denver to Red Oak, Iowa, that morning when he asked air traffic controllers whether he could lower his altitude from 15,000 feet after he encountered ice, National Transportation Safety Board investigators said in the report.

Controllers gave Reading clearance to descend to 11,000 feet, but soon after he began his descent, air traffic controllers warned of "extreme precipitation" in the area and permitted an even lower altitude, the report said.

Reading never responded to the controllers' warning, NTSB Investigator Laura Abraham said in the report, filed last month.

Dashboard camera footage from a car driving east on Interstate 80 shortly after 9 a.m. June 2 captured Reading's plane  an amateur-built Van's RV7 in a nosedive before it crashed in a field 260 feet south of Interstate 80, about 12 miles east of Kearney, according to the report.

The impact killed Reading and destroyed the plane.

The dashboard camera footage also revealed that it was "raining heavily" at the time of the crash, Abraham said in the report.

Buffalo County sheriff's deputies were called to the crash scene at 9:12 a.m. that day.

First responders found the downed aircraft in a field near the east end of Bassway Strip State Wildlife Management Area, a state park that runs along the Platte River just south of I-80, the Sheriff's Office said in a press release.

Reading had been a certified single-engine airplane pilot since June 2019, according to Federal Aviation Administration airmen records.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said he offered the Wagner private military company the option of continuing to serve as a single unit under its same commander after its short-lived rebellion, while some of the mercenaries were shown Friday in Belarus, possibly heralding the group's relocation there.

Putin's comments appeared to reflect his efforts to secure the loyalty of Wagner mercenaries, some of the most capable Russian forces in Ukraine, after the group's brief revolt last month.

The fate of Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin remains unclear since the June 23-24 armed rebellion.

In remarks published Friday in the business daily Kommersant, Putin described for the first time a Kremlin event attended by 35 Wagner commanders, including Prigozhin, on June 29. He said he praised their efforts in Ukraine, deplored their involvement in the mutiny  which he previously denounced as an act of treason  and offered them alternatives for future service.

Putin told Kommersant that one option would see Wagner keep the same commander who goes by the call sign "Gray Hair" and has led the private army in Ukraine for 16 months.

The commander, Andrei Troshev, is a retired military officer who has played a leading role in Wagner since its creation in 2014 and faced European Union sanctions over his role in Syria as the group's executive director.
Dr. Bill Shiffermiller was glad to get back to his full regimen of chemotherapy a little more than a week ago.

He had missed two monthly doses of one of the drugs he has been receiving to keep his recurrent cancer from growing because the drug, called carboplatin, wasnt available.

A monthslong nationwide shortage of carboplatin, and another drug called cisplatin, has required doctors and pharmacists across the country to tightly manage supplies in order to ensure they can provide them to patients who need them most. While more than a dozen cancer drugs are listed in shortage in the United States, those two have been of particular concern because there are few alternative treatments. Theyre important in treating patients with ovarian, testicular, lung, breast and some head and neck cancers.

The shortage of the two drugs has eased in recent weeks, allowing patients like Shiffermiller to continue getting them. The Food and Drug Administration in late May allowed imports from China to help ease the crunch. The U.S. subsidiary of a plant in India that

sparked the shortage when it shut down late last year also has begun releasing some supply, the Wall Street Journal reported.

Locally, doctors, hospitals and pharmacists say they are accustomed to dealing with drug shortages and have been doing their utmost to obtain the therapies and make sure patients can get them. Some in Lincoln have been sharing if one is short; others have sent patients to treatment centers where theyre available if necessary.

But the shortage has prompted difficult conversations  not to mention stress for patients  with doctors having to tell some they would have to temporarily delay doses or start them on alternatives they believed would be effective. Others, working from clinical trial data, have had to decide whether they can safely extend the recommended timing of doses for some patients or give a lower dose within the listed range.

Shiffermiller, a retired internal medicine physician and Methodist Health System executive, said his situation wasnt as disconcerting to him as it might be to other patients. Now 73, he was first diagnosed with head and neck cancer nearly 14 years ago. It recurred more than two years ago.

Im more concerned about the underlying problems in the system that allowed this to happen, he said, adding that hes also distressed for younger patients with curable disease who have been caught up in the shortage.

Dr. Mary Wells, a medical oncologist with Nebraska Cancer Specialists in Omaha, said such sentiments have been a common refrain among her patients.

What patient after patient tells me is, I cant believe this is happening in the United States, Wells said. It feels like we, as a country, should be better than this.

Wells and several colleagues said the current shortage calls for broader solutions to the nations drug pipeline problems, which in recent years have affected products ranging from amoxicillin to Adderall. During last winters surge in respiratory illnesses, parents struggled to find childrens Tylenol.

Said Dr. Robert Langdon, president of Nebraska Cancer Specialists, There is a systemic problem that needs to be addressed.

The American Society of Clinical Oncology, one of the nations top cancer care groups, has worked with other organizations to develop recommendations for policymakers to mitigate further drug supply chain and shortage issues. Langdon is a past member of the groups board of directors.

The recommended steps include improving the FDAs visibility into drug supply chains, improving communications with health systems and providers so they can better plan for shortages and incentivizing production of critical medications in the United States. The group also is encouraging members and patients to contact their lawmakers, which Wells has done.

In a late May interview posted on the organizations website, Dr. Julie Gralow, ASCOs chief medical officer, said the organization needs to use the political will that I think is coming from these ... situations and work with lawmakers, regulators and manufacturers to find more permanent solutions.

Once the acute shortage is over, we cant forget about this, she said. She estimated that the shortage of the two drugs alone could affect as many as a half-million Americans in some way. She testified before Congress about the shortage in mid-June.

The shortages of the two drugs were reported earlier this year after the factory in India shut down production. An FDA inspection had raised quality concerns.

Cisplatin appeared on the agencys shortage list first. Doctors shifted to carboplatin as an alternative, and then it, too, was added to the list, where both remain.

A survey by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network published in June, based on May data, indicated that 93% of the 27 academic treatment centers that responded were experiencing a shortage of carboplatin and 70% faced shortages of cisplatin, a related drug that can cause more side effects. While all said they could still treat patients who needed cisplatin, only 64% said they could keep all patients who needed carboplatin on the recommended regimen.

Meantime, national medical societies  ASCO and the Society of Gynecologic Oncology  drafted guidelines for physicians in caring for patients during the shortage. Among other steps, they advised doctors with low stocks of the drugs to prioritize patients considered curable and increase the interval for treatments when clinically acceptable.

But local doctors note that the current shortage is different than past ones because the two medications are central to many regimens.

This is a shortage that truly has affected how we practice patient care, said Dr. Eric Avery, a medical oncologist with Nebraska Hematology Oncology in Lincoln.

Said Shiffermiller, This is almost unprecedented. A shortage (of a) critical medication for malignancy hasnt really happened before.

Locally, availability of the drugs appears to have varied somewhat among health systems and clinics during the height of the shortage. Scott Persson, pharmacy clinical manager with Lincolns Bryan Health, said wholesalers typically base allocations during shortages on an organizations usual monthly order. Larger purchasers would thus get larger amounts.

In Lincoln, his staff and members of the citys two private practice oncology groups formed a committee that has met weekly to assess patients needs for the following week. If the local practices couldnt obtain enough, he said, the health system has tapped its sources to augment the clinics supplies. As a larger center, Bryan has access to additional wholesalers.

Theres a lot of effort by the clinics and medical centers on really making sure the patients are in the forefront and we can treat them to the best of our ability all the time, Persson said.

He said the Chinese imports have helped, but it will take time to catch up.

Its like a drought, Persson said. You really need this moisture, and as soon as you get a little rain, it gets sucked right up.

A Nebraska Medicine spokesman said in an email that the health system in general has been able to substitute other drugs for those in shortage and that patient care was not affected, with a couple of exceptions. The health system had accepted one patient who transferred from another practice because of the shortage.

CHI Health officials said in a statement that its doctors have been able to treat patients and maintain an adequate supply of the drugs. CHIs parent organization, CommonSpirit Health, has been able to provide additional supply when and where its needed.

Methodist Health System officials said in a statement that they have been working with all known vendors and emergency supply avenues to obtain as much drug as we can to continue to provide treatment to our patients.

At the end of June, officials with Nebraska Cancer Specialists said they were not receiving a steady supply of cisplatin and carboplatin, meaning it was possible the practice might not have enough of either medication to treat patients per the nationally established guidelines for cancer care.

Wells, a member of the practice, said more recently that the situation had improved with the release of the new supplies and patients now able to get them again, as Shiffermiller has done.

But some other doctors say what wont be known for some time is whether changes in treatment for some patients during the shortage will affect long-term outcomes. Avery said he is very hopeful that they have not.

Shiffermiller cautioned that they likely wont know in individual cases. Because patients get multiple drugs, you dont know which is responsible for regression, he said.

Elise Kelley of Fremont is among those hoping. A patient of Wells, she restarted carboplatin about a week ago after being off it for seven weeks and receiving another drug. She said a recent CT scan showed that during that time, there had been no shrinkage of the metastatic breast cancer in her liver and two new lesions had started growing for the first time.

Kelley, 48, said shes now hoping and praying that her cancer hasnt developed resistance to carboplatin in the meantime and that the drug still works.

Meanwhile, she said, shes angered, confused and saddened that there could be cancer drug shortages in the United States.

Wells said the two drugs, developed in the 80s and 90s and now generic, cost less per dose than a nice lunch. She acknowledged that they are challenging to manufacture and require makers to meet complex regulations.

Persson said there is not a lot of money in generic drugs, so pharmaceutical manufacturers make a lot of them offshore. If that manufacturing is concentrated, the closure of one plant can mean everyones in trouble, he said.

But Wells noted that there dont seem to be the same type of shortages for costlier brand-name medications.

You hear about the Cancer Moonshot and this goal to cure more cancers, she said. And it feels disingenuous to then allow for a policy climate that creates this situation.

Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of July 2023
The 55th Medical Group welcomed a new commander following a change of command ceremony at Offutt Air Force Base on July 7.

Col. Tracy Bozung accepted the guidon from Col. Christopher Backus during the ceremony at the Warhawk Community Center.

Bozung comes to the Ehrling Bergquist Clinic from 16th Air Force, where she served as the command surgeon since July 2022.

It is truly my honor to be your commander, she said. Command is my passion, and I feel genuine joy to be here today and at having the opportunity to shape the environment where we will accomplish the mission and where each of you grows both personally and professionally.

The 55th MDG consists of four squadrons and more than 600 Airmen, including active duty, civilians and contractors. They manage a health care delivery system to more than 51,000 Department of Defense beneficiaries.

I recognize that were in a time of great change, Bozung said, highlighting the global power competition as well as a long list of changes within the Air Force medical community. But the only way to grow is to change, so I ask you all to keep that in mind as they keep coming.

But let me tell you what is not going to change and that is our sacred obligation to provide top quality medical care for the men and women who are the best on the planet and their families, she added. We will harness our relationships with each other and our civilian partners to optimize patient care and the readiness of the 55th Wing as a whole.

The new commander is a 2000 graduate of the U.S Air Force Academy and received her medical degree from the University of Michigan Medical School and her Master of Public Health from Wright State University.

Were very glad to have you on our team, said Col. Mark Howard, 55th Wing commander and presiding official. As she likes to say, command is her jam, so I am looking forward to jamming with you. Its going to be great.

Backus leaves the Ehrling Bergquist Clinic for Hurlburt Field, Florida, where he will serve as the command surgeon for Air Force Special Operations Command.

Mighty Medics, this nation is stronger for your work, Backus said. For each of us, our health is the most important thing, and you do your best to improve, sustain and support our health and by doing this you build our readiness.

The outgoing commander also led the Fightin Fifty-Fifth and Team Offutt through the end of the COVID-19 pandemic and transitioned the group to the new Defense Health Agency as well as MHS Genesis.

Despite the changes, transitions and global pandemic, Col. Backus ensured the quality and care of tens of thousands of people, Howard said. We are beyond grateful for all youve done. Thank you for caring for our Warhawks; its been nothing short of amazing.
The rusted hulk of the old open-topped boat isnt what youd call lovely.

But to Jerry Meyer, historian of the Nebraska National Guard Museum in Seward, its a rare gem.

The museums new prize is a World War II Higgins boat, the troop carrier invented by a Nebraskan, Andrew Jackson Higgins, that carried tens of thousands of U.S. troops into battle in beach assaults from Normandy to Iwo Jima.

It is without a doubt the most significant historical artifact we have, Meyer said.

No less an authority than President Dwight D. Eisenhower called Higgins the man who won the war for us.

The boat, PA31-17, arrived late Sunday, July 2, by truck from northern California, where it was discovered in 2021 half-submerged in drought-stricken Shasta Lake.

The museum unveiled it the next day and dedicated it at a public ceremony during Sewards Fourth of July celebration. The next day the boat traveled to Columbus  Higgins hometown  for an appearance at the Andrew Jackson Higgins Memorial, which Meyer helped to build.

After that, it will remain on display at the museum, in its lower-level restoration bay, until a new display area can be built.

Shes rough. Shes seen battle seven times, Meyer said. Were going to maintain that battle-scarred look.

Andrew Jackson Higgins, who served in the Nebraska National Guards Millard Rifles unit from 1902 to 1906, left Columbus for the Deep South to enter the lumber business at age 20.

In 1922, Higgins started a lumber-exporting business in New Orleans and invented shallow-draft boats to haul logs out of the Louisiana bayous. They became popular with Southern oil drillers and trappers, as well as the Coast Guard. By the late 1930s, his boat-building business eclipsed his lumber sales.

With the onset of World War II, Higgins developed a number of small landing craft for the military. Perhaps the most famous was the LCVP (landing craft, vehicle, personnel), a flat-bottomed 10-by-36-foot boat with a retractable front ramp that could hold up to 30 soldiers, or a dozen soldiers and a vehicle.

Military contracts allowed Higgins to grow his company from 75 employees in 1938 to as many as 30,000 during the war. More than 23,000 Higgins boats were built, about half of them LCVPs. Fewer than 20 are known to exist today.

The numbers still visible on the hull of Sewards Higgins boat allowed historians to track its wartime history. It rolled off Higgins New Orleans assembly line in 1942 or 43, Meyer said, and was assigned to the USS Monrovia  Gen. George Pattons flagship for the JulyAugust 1943 invasion of Sicily.

That was the first of PA31-17s seven battle stars. The boat also saw action in the Pacific, at Tarawa (where it was sunk in the shallow harbor and then salvaged), the Marshall Islands, Saipan, Guam, the Philippines and Okinawa.

These were not cakewalks, Meyer said.

How it got to the bottom of Shasta Lake remains a mystery. Meyer said Higgins boats were sold as surplus after the war for $300-$400, and many were purchased by private citizens for use on lakes up and down the Pacific Coast, to haul lumber, livestock or cargo. Some were used by the U.S. Forest Service. He speculated that one may have blown away from a dock during a storm.

What is known is that PA31-17 partially emerged on an island in 2021 when the lakes water level receded 200 feet because of a historic drought.

James Dunsdon, who lives in the area, was working in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest as a volunteer firefighter that year when he heard rumors about the ghost boat that had emerged in the lake, according to a November 2022 article on the Atlas Obscura website.

He wondered whether it might be a World War II landing craft. He had been interested in Higgins boats ever since his childhood in England, where the D-Day invasion is part of local history.

Dunsdon searched videos on YouTube and found one that appeared to show the boat in the background, according to Atlas Obscura. He analyzed it and identified a spot on Shasta Lakes 365-mile shoreline where he thought it might be.

In October 2021, he hiked several miles to the spot, detouring around a burning forest fire. There it was, on the shore of a small island.

It looked like it had just made a beach landing, he told Atlas Obscura.

Dunsdon knew he had to hurry if he wanted to salvage the boat, because the lake would likely reclaim it once winter arrived. He had no experience in salvage, but he came up with a plan to use divers and airbags to refloat it and bring it to a shore where a truck and trailer could reach it.

Dunsdon initially contacted the National World War II Museum in New Orleans  which, not coincidentally, is near the site of Higgins former factory.

The World War II Museum already had a Higgins boat. But curators there connected Dunsdon with Meyer, who had an avid interest in Higgins and some money donated by the family of the late John Cattle.

Cattle had been the president and CEO of Sewards Cattle Bank & Trust, and during World War II he was an infantry officer who made landings in Higgins boats in North Africa, Sicily and Normandy.

They said, Dad rode in one of these. We have to have it, Meyer said.

So the Cattle bank and Cattles relatives  Becky and Van Vahle, his daughter and son-in-law, and his widow, Virginia  paid for the just-in-time salvage effort, and for the cross-country shipment from California.

With the lake rising and heavy snow on the way, Dunsdons team retrieved the boat on Dec. 21, 2021.

Eric and Viviana Hollenbeck spent months cleaning up PA31-17, which is made largely of mahogany plywood, at their Blue Ox Millworks and Historic Village in Eureka, California. Eric Hollenbeck is a specialist in historic wood preservation and the star of Craftsman, a television program on the Magnolia network.

The Hollenbecks and Dunsdon all traveled to Seward with the boat and will complete the filming of a documentary about the salvage of PA31-17. The boat was to take part in the citys Fourth of July parade.

Virginia Cattle was scheduled to be the grand marshal of the parade, Meyer said, and was enthusiastic about bringing the Higgins boat to Seward. But she died June 3 at the age of 102.

He said the museum doesnt plan to restore the boat, which he estimated could cost $1 million.

Weve decided were going to maintain a ghost look, Meyer said. For it to last this long in a lake, its a miracle.

He is still searching for historical photographs of the boat. He has found photos of virtually every LCVP assigned to the USS Monrovia  but none of PA31-17. He is hoping something will turn up in the handed-down scrapbook of a World War II veteran who served on the ship. Or that someone, somewhere, will shed light on how the boat landed in the depths of Shasta Lake.

Until then, the ghost boat will hold onto its mystery.
E & A Consulting Group, Inc.

E & A Consulting Group, Inc. (E&A) is excited to kick off its 2023 Summer Internship Program, welcoming 11 students from four universities and one high school student through a partnership with Intern Omaha. These students will spend the summer gaining valuable real-world experience in the engineering industry while contributing fresh ideas and perspectives to the company.

"Our goal is to jumpstart these young professional's careers by more formally exposing them to the civil engineering field and develop them to become better professionals within our industry." E&A President Tom Nussrallah, PE, said.

E&A's formal summer internship program was revamped in 2016 to provide the interns with a more well-rounded experience. The program provides the interns hands-on exposure to the daytoday workings of each department they support and the roles these groups play in the engineering industry. In addition to their hands-on experience, there are several activities to enhance their experiences, such as map reading & Civil 3D software education, leadership interviews, career exploration presentations, networking events, service projects, and professional development training. The program culminates with the interns presenting and highlighting their time at E&A.

E&A's investment in this program has led to many post-graduate opportunities for past interns. "Since 2016, the program has seen 13 interns transition into full-time employees, with many others establishing successful careers within our community," stated Nicolette Villwok, SPHR, SHRM-SCP, E&A's Director of Human Resources. "It has been rewarding to see the interns grow each year. We have been very pleased with our past interns and look forward to another successful summer."

E&A welcomes First-year Interns: Brayden Jensen, Land Surveying University of Nebraska -Lincoln; Brennan Ferguson, Land Surveying University of Nebraska-Lincoln; Brian Sanchez, Civil Engineering Ralston High School and Will Hurtado, Land Surveying Iowa State University.

Second-year Interns: Alison Fricke, Municipal Services University of Nebraska Omaha; James Chamberlain, Construction Administration University of Nebraska Omaha; Justin Diep, Marketing and Business Development University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Will Grixby, Civil Engineering Doane University.

Third-year Interns: Zane Boudreau, Civil Engineering Doane University.

Fourth-year Interns: Andrew Hukill, Construction Administration University of Nebraska Omaha and Jordan Jurgens, Civil Engineering University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

About E&A:

E&A is an Omaha based planning, engineering, environmental, and field services company with over 140 employees and offices in Omaha and Lincoln. E&A takes pride in having a responsibility to create and support the infrastructure and landscapes that families, friends, and neighbors enjoy. E&A's role as a trusted and experienced partner is often behind the scene and serves clients in matters of compliance, making informed decisions, and building communities. E&A is truly invested in the betterment of its communities. For more about E&A, visit eacg.com.
Omaha police are investigating the citys latest-known homicide after a man was shot Saturday night just west of Carter Lake.

Police were called to the area of 14th Avenue and Pinkney Street about 9:30 p.m. Officers located a man suffering from a gunshot wound, and he was taken to the Nebraska Medical Center by ambulance, where he died, a police spokesman said Sunday.

The name of the victim is being withheld pending notification of family.

The homicide is the citys ninth of 2023. That compares with 11 homicides at this time in 2022 and 19 in 2021.

Anyone with information is urged to contact the OPD Homicide Unit at 402-444-5656 or anonymously contact Omaha Crime Stoppers at 402-444-STOP, at www.omahacrimestoppers.org.

or on the P3 Tips mobile app.

Tipsters are eligible for a $25,000 cash reward for information leading to a homicide arrest.
The Collings Foundations Wings of Freedom Tour stopped in Omaha 13 years ago today.

Rare bomber and fighter aircraft, including the B-17 Flying Fortress, Nine O Nine WWII Heavy Bomber, Consolidated B-24 Liberator Witchcraft, WWII Heavy Bomber and P-51 Mustang Betty Jane were open for exploration at TAC Air, 3737 Orville Plaza, on the east side of Eppley Airfield.

The exhibit paid tribute to those involved in WWII. The tour, which was in its 21st year in 2010, visited more than 100 cities each year. All proceeds generated from the tours went toward maintaining the planes. The foundation relied primarily on volunteers to fly the planes and staff the events.

For no small sum, people had the unique opportunity to ride for a half-hour in either of the bombers. For more than most workers earned in a month, people could learn to fly the fighter. The high cost to ride in the planes was because of their maintenance and overhead costs.

The B-24 and B-17 were heavy bombers in WWII, used mainly for strategic bombing of heavy targets.

More than 18,000 B-24s were built during WWII, but the Witchcraft was the only one still flying in 2010. After the war, most of the planes were used for scrap metal.

During the flight, passengers were allowed to move freely around the plane. No area was off-limits. There was just one cautionary note: When walking from the front to the back of the plane, dont step on the bomb bay doors. They open.

Passengers took turns in the ball turret  the spot underneath the back end of the plane where a gunner would sit to protect his crew mates from the enemy.

Flight engineer Jayson Owen of Kodiak, Alaska, who volunteered with the Wings of Freedom tour, said he did it for the veterans  many of whom he keeps in contact with after meeting them on flights.

Theyve become the best friends Ive ever known. Theyre all of my heroes, Owen said. That was the Greatest Generation, and we owe them plenty.

Photos: Wings of Freedom Tour through the years
Omaha Public Library wants to help readers find new books  or at least books new to them. Every month, our employees will recommend reading based on different writing genres, themes or styles. This month, staff have suggested some of their favorite books with a birthday theme. Find these books and more at your local branch or omahalibrary.org.

Whens My Birthday? by Julie Fogliano and illustrated by Christian Robinson. Celebrate the joys of anticipating special occasions in this cheerful picture book. The high-spirited story and bold artwork illustrate the hopes and dreams of children as they count the days until their birthdays. Theres no limit to imagining what this exciting day may hold.  Erin Ayad, library specialist at Downtown Branch

Magic Days: Your Journey Through Astrology, Numerology, and Tarot of Every Day of the Year by Nadine Jane. This book provides descriptions and mantras for each day of the year with a message about your journey based on astrology, tarot and numerology, along with special information for the day you were born. It also includes lists of famous people born on each day of the year. This book provides a super fun way to think a little deeper about setting daily intentions and to learn more about astrology.  Bethany Barelman, manager at Sorensen Branch

This Is a Birthday Cake by Andrew Cangelose. A birthday party just isnt complete without a birthday cake. Forest friends Shelly the Baker (a turtle) and Bucky the baker-in-training (a rabbit) must bake a cake. Bucky thinks Shelly takes too long to get her cake done, and wonders if he can make it just as perfect, only faster. This book is sure to make children laugh aloud and gives parents an opportunity to teach about patience. And while theyre at it, maybe try their hand at making a birthday cake!  Angelene Bauer, youth services specialist at Downtown Branch

All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr. This is a highly recommended, very popular historical fiction novel set during WWII. Besides being an amazing story, the birthday gift to one of the main characters from her father is an integral part of the mystery that must be solved when her father disappears suspiciously during the war.  Sheila Bolmeier, library specialist at Bess Johnson Elkhorn Branch

Rat Rule 79 by Rivka Galchen. Similar to Alice in Wonderland in more ways than one, Rat Rule 79 is actually a book about not having birthdays. In fact, having birthdays is against the law in the peculiar place Fred, our 12 364/365-year-old protagonist, finds herself in. Featuring characters like Downer the melancholic elephant and Gogo the do-it-all mongoose mother, this book is a wonderfully strange coming-of-age adventure that all ages can enjoy. Author Rivka Galchens clever language play and illustrations by Elena Megalos are icing on the birthday cake.  Victoria Hoyt, youth services librarian at Sorensen Branch

The Dilemma by B. A. Paris. As Liv prepares to have a memorable 40th birthday party, she secretly struggles with an upsetting situation she has just discovered about her daughter. As the story unfolds, it becomes clear that what truly matters most is being honest with those you love. The complex plot and unpredictable conclusion make this a memorable book.  Sarah Lewald, pop culture librarian at Sorensen Branch

The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan. After arriving at a camp for Greek demigods following his 12th birthday, Percy Jacksons life of ADHD and dyslexia suddenly makes sense. It turns out that all the Greek gods and myths never died, but have modernized themselves in America and are making trouble for Percy to deal with.  Sarah Myers, library specialist at Downtown Branch

Happy Birthday, Moon by Frank Asch. This is a sweet story of a bear who exchanges birthday gifts with the moon or do they? This book is recommended for ages 2-8.  Nancy Novotny, youth & family services manager at Omaha Public Library

The Dark Is Rising by Susan Cooper. On his 11th birthday, Will Stanton is given a strange sigil and the rather surprising news that he is the last in a line of immortal guardians sworn to an ancient struggle between good and evil. Technically, this is the second installment in a five-volume fantasy sequence for young readers, but the most common entry point for new readers (think The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe). Its chock-full of Arthurian legend and Celtic mythology. Dont be fooled by updated covers  this is a book from 1973, and reads like it, but its an absolute classic of the genre.  Mark Sorensen, reference services librarian at Abrahams Branch
State health officials Friday alerted health care providers to a continued rapid increase in syphilis cases in Nebraska and the nation.

While national data for 2022 is still being compiled, the country likely will exceed the most recent peak in infection rates, which occurred in 1990, said Dr. Matthew Donahue, Nebraskas state epidemiologist.

That year, the nation tallied 20 cases per 100,000 residents, the highest tally since 1949, according to the health alert. Over the past 20 years, cases have increased from 2 per 100,000 residents in 2000 to 16 per 100,000 residents in 2021.

Syphilis is a disease thats completely treatable, which the U.S. was on the verge of eliminating 20 years ago, Donahue said.

The upward trend, he said, is absolutely hitting Nebraska, too.

Over the past five years, cases in Nebraska have increased 373%. While the actual count for 2022 was not immediately available, the state tallied 255 cases in 2021, up from 156 in 2020 and 187 in 2019.

Donahue said that there are numerous potential reasons for the increase both here and at the national level and that they need to be addressed. The health alert outlines screening criteria and treatment protocols.

This needs to be a focus in public health, he said.

South Dakota has been seeing syphilis rates higher than anywhere else in the U.S., Donahue said. But that state is not alone.

And while most new infections in Nebraska are occurring among men who have sex with men, according to the alert, the state also is seeing increasing heterosexual transmission as well as congenital transmission, or transmission from mothers to babies. Nebraska law requires syphilis screening during pregnancy.

Both the nation and the state also are seeing disparities among people of different races and ethnicities. In Nebraska, Donahue said, Native American and Black residents are being infected at rates five to six times higher than White residents.

Details about how syphilis cases break down across Nebraska also were not immediately available.

Locally, Douglas County has had high rates of sexually transmitted infections for a number of years. The countys syphilis rates rose from 9.2 cases per 100,000 residents in 2020 to 16.9 cases per 100,000 residents in 2021.

Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of July 2023
Engineers at the Nebraska Department of Transportation are gearing up to replace a bridge on U.S. Highway 275/L Street at South 72nd Street.

In a few years, that is.

The interchange there is an awkward one that involves east-west L Street frontage roads on either side of U.S. 275s four lanes. Ramps connecting the crossing roads sit in the shadow of the U.S. 275 bridge as it shoots over 72nd Street.

NDOT has scheduled a public information meeting from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday at Buena Vista High School in South Omaha to lay out its plans for the new interchange.

The idea of replacing the bridge has been out there for quite a while. Back in 2015, NDOT planners met with nearby property owners seeking ideas about what to do with the interchange.

Eight years later, the bridge has deteriorated, engineers have concluded. Crash rates have risen and are higher than comparable interchanges around the Omaha metro area.

NDOT is considering two alternatives:

Replace the existing bridge  This option would be most similar to the existing interchange. On U.S. 275/L Street, two lanes in each direction with raised islands would be reconstructed to separate traffic on the approach to the new bridge. The signalized intersection on 72nd Street would include dual left- and right-turn lanes on the exit ramps off U.S. 275/L Street, as well as offset turn lanes from 72nd Street to the U.S. 275/L Street on-ramps. The intersection under the bridge on 72nd Street would be reconstructed to provide the offset left-turn lanes. Ramp terminals would be rebuilt.

 This option would be most similar to the existing interchange. On U.S. 275/L Street, two lanes in each direction with raised islands would be reconstructed to separate traffic on the approach to the new bridge. The signalized intersection on 72nd Street would include dual left- and right-turn lanes on the exit ramps off U.S. 275/L Street, as well as offset turn lanes from 72nd Street to the U.S. 275/L Street on-ramps. The intersection under the bridge on 72nd Street would be reconstructed to provide the offset left-turn lanes. Ramp terminals would be rebuilt. Tear down the bridge and build an at-grade intersection  The signalized intersection would include dual left- and right-turn lanes in each direction. On U.S. 275/L Street, two lanes in each direction with raised medians would be constructed to separate traffic. On the west side, access to the north frontage road would be reconstructed to connect to U.S. 275/L Street. On the east side, the previous ramp connections to the frontage roads would be removed. Improvements on 72nd Street would include reconstruction to allow for the dual left-turn lanes onto U.S. 275/L Street.

Whichever option is selected, the interchange  which is about 1 miles south of Interstate 80  is going to need to absorb a lot more traffic.

Currently about 68,000 vehicles pass through the intersection on 72nd Street and 46,000 on U.S. 275/L Street. In 2050, NDOT projects those numbers will rise to 112,000 and 83,000.

The reconstruction wont happen for a while, though. Environmental reviews are expected to continue until late 2025, with construction planned for 2027 and 2028.

Information on the project is available on the NDOT website at ndot.info/22469. Feedback and comments on the project can be submitted on the NDOT website through Aug. 7, or by emailing Sierra Luhn at Sierra.Luhn@nebraska.gov.

Whats New

Blondo Street between North 117th Street and Papillion Parkway will have various lane restrictions for bridge repair until November 10.

Eastbound traffic on Honeysuckle Drive at North 203rd Street will be shifted to the center lane for street repair until Tuesday.

Millard Avenue between South 144th Street and Industrial Road will have various lane restrictions for ADA-conforming curb construction until Aug. 1.

California Street between Commercial Federal Plaza and North 132nd Street will be restricted to one lane eastbound for fiber-optic installation in the outside curb lane until July 23.

Fort Street between North 118th Street and North 120th Street will be restricted to one lane westbound for street panel replacement in the outside curb lane until Thursday.

Fort Street between North Oaks Boulevard and North 94th Street will be restricted to one lane eastbound for street panel replacement in the inside lane until Friday.

North 108th Street between Grand Avenue and Fowler Avenue will be restricted to one lane in each direction for street panel replacement in the southbound lanes until Friday.

Eastbound traffic will be shifted to the center lane on Cass Street between West Dodge Road and North 84th Street for utility work until Tuesday.

North 31st Avenue at Ames Avenue will be restricted northbound in the right turn lane for street repair until Friday.

North 30th Street between State and Reynolds Streets will have varying lane restrictions for street paving until Friday.

Cuming Street between North 24th and North 23rd Streets will be restricted to one lane eastbound for utility work in the inside lane until Thursday.

Cuming between North 16th and North 17th Streets will have westbound traffic shifted to the center lane for utility work/water main repair until July 31.

Traffic in the southbound curb lane on North 16th Street and the northbound curb lane on North 17th Street will be shifted to the center lane between Cuming Street and Mike Fahey Street due to construction until Sept. 9. Southbound traffic will also be shifted to the center lane on North 16th Street between Mike Fahey Street and California Street until Tuesday.

and the northbound curb lane on will be shifted to the center lane due to construction until Sept. 9. Southbound traffic will also be shifted to the center lane on until Tuesday. Q Street between South 120th and South 84th Streets will have various lane restrictions for street grinding until Aug. 10.

Westbound traffic on Q Street between South 84th and South 87th Streets will be shifted to the center lane for water main replacement through Aug. 1. South 84th Street between Park Drive and Q Street will be restricted to one lane northbound as part of the same project.

will be shifted to the center lane for water main replacement through Aug. 1. will be restricted to one lane northbound as part of the same project. South 50th Street between Frances and Martha Streets will be restricted southbound until Tuesday while workers repair a water main break.

will be restricted southbound until Tuesday while workers repair a water main break. Lane restrictions are planned on Q Street between South 28th and South 27th Streets until July 25 because of utility work.

until July 25 because of utility work. A portion of 234th Street north of Schram Road just west of Gretna is closed for replacement of a 550-foot area of culvert until December.

The intersection of North 16th and Wirt Streets will have various lane restrictions for street repairs from Wednesday through Aug. 2.

400th Street south of Iowa Highway 92 in Carson, Iowa, in eastern Pottawattamie County, will be closed until Sept. 8 for replacement of a concrete culvert.

Around Omaha

Northwest (north of West Dodge Road and west of I-680)

The 228th Street Bridge over Nebraska Link 28B (the western extension of the West Dodge Expressway) is reduced to one lane for bridge preservation and repairs through fall. A temporary traffic signal on either end of the bridge will control traffic.

The 228th Street ramp onto the westbound West Dodge Expressway will be closed for bridge preservation and repair work until July 25.

The right lane of northbound 180th Street from Emmet Street to just north of Evans Street is closed until further notice to allow for construction of a right-turn lane into the new Costco warehouse store.

is closed until further notice to allow for construction of a right-turn lane into the new Costco warehouse store. Expect lane restrictions on 156th Street south of Bennington Road near Kempten Creek Drive through mid-August. Lanes will be narrowed, and flaggers may be used at times.

through mid-August. Lanes will be narrowed, and flaggers may be used at times. State Street is closed from 156th to 147th Streets due to grading and paving of the three-lane roadway until fall.

is closed from due to grading and paving of the three-lane roadway until fall. Military Road from 168th to just west of 171st Streets will be closed until early August to widen the road and add a right-turn lane at 171st Street .

will be closed until early August to widen the road and add a right-turn lane at 171st Street Fort Street is closed from 183rd to 195th Streets due to grading and paving of the three-lane roadway until fall.

is closed from due to grading and paving of the three-lane roadway until fall. North 108th Street between Burt Circle and Decatur Street will be closed with local access only for street widening until November.

Northeast (north of Dodge Street and east of I-680)

The Parker Street bridge over U.S. Highway 75 (North Freeway) will be closed for road improvements and to repair and paint several bridge structures through September.

The right southbound lane of U.S. Highway 75/North Freeway at Weber Street is closed for road construction until Aug. 28.

is closed for road construction until Aug. 28. Westbound Dodge Street between North 38th Avenue and North 41st Street will be restricted for building construction in the outside curb lane until Nov 7.

Dodge Street between North 72nd Street and North 76th Street/Rose Blumkin Drive will have varying lane restrictions for street improvements connected to the Crossroads redevelopment through December.

will have varying lane restrictions for street improvements connected to the Crossroads redevelopment through December. North 65th Avenue between Lake and Miami Streets will be closed until Aug. 30 for installation of storm sewers under Omaha's "Clean Solutions for Omaha" program.

will be closed until Aug. 30 for installation of storm sewers under Omaha's "Clean Solutions for Omaha" program. S addle Creek Road between Leavenworth and Emile Streets will be restricted to one lane in each direction due to utility work in the southbound lanes through July 17.

will be restricted to one lane in each direction due to utility work in the southbound lanes through July 17. North 24th Street between Burt and Cass Streets will be restricted southbound for utility work until July 26.

will be restricted southbound for utility work until July 26. North 16th Street will be closed at various points between Pinkney and Clark Streets for CSO sewer separation improvements through August 2024. Truck detour routes will be posted.

will be closed at various points between for CSO sewer separation improvements through August 2024. Truck detour routes will be posted. Because of construction at the Kiewit corporate campus, North 15th Street between Cass and Mike Fahey Streets will be restricted to northbound traffic only until March 15, 2024. In addition, North 15th Street between Mike Fahey Street and California Street will be restricted southbound, and Mike Fahey Street between North 16th and North 15th Streets will have eastbound traffic shifted to the center lane.

will be restricted to northbound traffic only until March 15, 2024. In addition, will be restricted southbound, and will have eastbound traffic shifted to the center lane. Grace Street between North 16th and North 18th Streets is closed for CSO storm sewer upgrades until Sept. 26.

is closed for CSO storm sewer upgrades until Sept. 26. Burt Street between North 25th Street and North 27th Plaza is closed until Aug. 31 for bridge construction.

Southwest (south of West Dodge Road and west of I-680/80)

South 156th Street between Pacific Street and Wycliffe Drive/Nottingham Drive will have closures for street widening until November.

will have closures for street widening until November. Pacific Street between South 155th and South 157th Streets will have lane restrictions for street widening until November.

will have lane restrictions for street widening until November. South 168th Street between Q Street and West Center Road will have lane restrictions for street widening until December 2024.

will have lane restrictions for street widening until December 2024. Discovery Drive between South 138th and South 136th Streets will have various lane closures for street repair until Thursday.

Southeast (south of Dodge Street and east of I-680/80)

Shoulder closures on the inside lane and occasional nighttime lane closures (9 p.m. to 6 a.m.) will occur on I-480 from 20th Street to I-80, I-80 from the Missouri River to Nebraska Highway 370, and I-680 from I-80 to Fort Street until the end of August while workers power-wash and seal concrete median barriers.

until the end of August while workers power-wash and seal concrete median barriers. Nighttime lane closures from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. are planned on the Kennedy Freeway (U.S. Highway 75) from the Interstate 480 interchange to Chandler Road, including entrance and exit ramps, to allow for milling and resurfacing of the roadway, through Oct. 31.

including entrance and exit ramps, to allow for milling and resurfacing of the roadway, through Oct. 31. South 60th Street between Q Street and Fay Boulevard will have various lane restrictions for street repair until July 27.

will have various lane restrictions for street repair until July 27. South 48th Street between Howard and Leavenworth Streets will be closed for utility work until Sept. 5.

will be closed for utility work until Sept. 5. South 42nd Street between Pacific and Leavenworth Streets is closed until further notice for repair work because of a water-main break.

is closed until further notice for repair work because of a water-main break. South 42nd Street between the I-80 eastbound exit ramp and D Street will be closed for bridge reconstruction until December.

will be closed for bridge reconstruction until December. South 42nd Street will be restricted to one lane northbound at Grover Street for street panel replacement in the outside curb lane until July 26.

will be restricted to one lane for street panel replacement in the outside curb lane until July 26. West Center Road between South 102nd and South 108th Streets will be restricted to one lane in each direction due to utility work/water main break until Aug. 14.

will be restricted to one lane in each direction due to utility work/water main break until Aug. 14. 14th Street will be closed between Farnam and Douglas Streets, and curbside lanes will be closed on Farnam, Douglas and 15th Street until early 2026 because of construction of the new Mutual of Omaha tower.

will be closed and curbside lanes will be closed on until early 2026 because of construction of the new Mutual of Omaha tower. The eastbound curb lane on Douglas Street will be closed between 44th and Saddle Creek Road for construction until December.

will be closed between for construction until December. Q Street between South 61st and South 72nd Streets will be closed for street improvements until late August.

will be closed for street improvements until late August. Q Street between South 52nd Street and South 51st Avenue will be restricted eastbound for utility work until Wednesday.

will be restricted eastbound for utility work until Wednesday. Mercy Road between South 68th Street and Aksarben Drive will have various lane restrictions for bridge repair until early August.

will have various lane restrictions for bridge repair until early August. I Street between South 108th and South 102nd Streets will be closed to through traffic for street widening until November.

will be closed to through traffic for street widening until November. Grover Street between South 70th Street and South 69th Plaza will have eastbound traffic shifted to the center lane for street repair until Thursday.

will have eastbound traffic shifted to the center lane for street repair until Thursday. Grover Street between South 56th Street and South 59th Avenue will be closed for street reconstruction through December.

will be closed for street reconstruction through December. Mason Street between South 43rd Avenue and South 45th Street will be closed for sewer utility work until Thursday.

Sarpy/Cass County

204th Street between Capehart and Westridge Roads near Gretna will close for construction through August as part of the Gretna Crossing Park project. Capehart Road east of 204th Street also is closed until early August as part of the same project.

near Gretna will close for construction through August as part of the Gretna Crossing Park project. also is closed until early August as part of the same project. 192nd Street from Lincoln Road to the railroad bridge is closed through the fall for paving and bridge replacement as part of the CONNECTSarpy project.

is closed through the fall for paving and bridge replacement as part of the CONNECTSarpy project. Giles Road from 188th to 192nd Streets will be closed until mid-August, also for paving.

will be closed until mid-August, also for paving. Lane closures are planned on 132nd Street between Highway 370 and Capehart Road in Sarpy County due to road construction until early August.

in Sarpy County due to road construction until early August. Lane restrictions can be expected on U.S. 34/75 from Plattsmouth to the Bellevue bridges through September to allow for bridge deck repairs, and from Nebraska Highway 1 to Oak Hill Road in Plattsmouth through November 2024 to allow for road construction.

through September to allow for bridge deck repairs, and from through November 2024 to allow for road construction. U.S. 34 will have a lane closed in each direction over U.S. 75 and over the Union Pacific Railroad/BNSF Railway and South Fifth Street .

will have a lane closed in each direction and over the Union Pacific Railroad/BNSF Railway . The right lane is closed in both directions on Nebraska Highway 370/Cornhusker Road from 192nd to 180th Streets east of Gretna due to road construction.

Around Nebraska

Intermittent overnight lane closures can be expected on Interstate 80 from Exit 426 (Ashland) to Exit 442 (Giles Road) .

. Lane restrictions are planned on I-80 between Phillips and Giltner (reference posts 318.58 to 324.55) for road resurfacing, bridge repair and replacement of culverts and guardrails. Work will be performed from 7 p.m. to 10 a.m., through November.

(reference posts 318.58 to 324.55) for road resurfacing, bridge repair and replacement of culverts and guardrails. Work will be performed from 7 p.m. to 10 a.m., through November. Lane closures also are planned on I-80 between the Utica and Pleasant Dale exits (reference posts 365.14 to 387.27) while contractors install guardrails in the median. Work will be performed from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., Sunday through Friday. Completion is expected in November.

(reference posts 365.14 to 387.27) while contractors install guardrails in the median. Work will be performed from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., Sunday through Friday. Completion is expected in November. Alternating lane closures are planned overnight on I-80 between Exit 382 (Milford) and Exit 395 (Northwest 48th Street) west of Lincoln because of bridge reconstruction and guardrail repair.

west of Lincoln because of bridge reconstruction and guardrail repair. Lane closures are planned on U.S. 275 from Nebraska Highway 36 to U.S. 30/East 23rd Street in Fremont while workers repair pavement and bridges. Completion is expected in fall.

while workers repair pavement and bridges. Completion is expected in fall. Nebraska Highway 79 is closed in Dodge County at North Bend from U.S. 30 to County Road R , with detours in place through the fall.

is closed in Dodge County at , with detours in place through the fall. Intermittent lane closures are expected on U.S. 281 in Grand Island from Interstate 80 north to West Schimmer Drive , near the Stuhr Museum for bridge repair and asphalt resurfacing through December.

, near the Stuhr Museum for bridge repair and asphalt resurfacing through December. The new lanes on the Columbus-to-Fremont Expressway, U.S. Highway 30 , are now open between North Bend and Fremont . Traffic will run in a head-to-head, two-way configuration while the new eastbound lanes are under construction. The project is scheduled to wrap up in late summer 2024.

, are now open . Traffic will run in a head-to-head, two-way configuration while the new eastbound lanes are under construction. The project is scheduled to wrap up in late summer 2024. A lane will be closed intermittently and a 12-foot lane restriction is in place on U.S. Highway 6 between County Road 4 and Silver Street in Ashland for road maintenance work until Sept. 30.

for road maintenance work until Sept. 30. The left lane is closed in both directions on U.S. Highway 30 between Highway 275 and Highway 25 on the north side of Fremont for bridge repairs.

In Iowa

Interstate 29 is closed northbound between Nebraska Avenue and Avenue G (Exit 54A) in Council Bluffs , and southbound from North 25th Street (Exit 55) to Nebraska Avenue until November, due to road construction. Detours are in operation.

is closed , and until November, due to road construction. Detours are in operation. The I-29 Exit 53B ramp to I-480 West and the Eighth Avenue West/B Road N entrance ramp in Council Bluffs are closed until November.

and the are closed until November. The South Expressway from I-80 to 19th Avenue in Council Bluffs will be rebuilt until November, with lane closures expected while one-lane traffic is maintained in each direction.

Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of July 2023
All India Loading & Unloading Workers Federation

(AITUC)

Date: 16.07.2023

PRESS RELEASE

A national-level meeting of the All India Loading & Unloading Workers Federation (AITUC) was held on 16th July 2023 at AITUC Bhawan, Delhi. The meeting was presided over by Mr. S. Balaraju from Telangana who is also a national president of the All India Loading & Unloading Workers Federation. Com. Sukumar Damle, National Secretary (AITUC) and General Secretary of the Federation was also present.

The President Mr. S. Balaraju insisted upon strengthening the work of federation amongst loading & unloading workers, working in various sectors in all the states. The demand of constituting Mathadi (Headload Workers) Welfare Board in all states like Maharashtra and Kerala model should be demanded in all states.

The central governments policy of weakening the Public Distribution System (PDS) in the country affects not only those dependent on PDS but also the loading & unloading workers. And so it was decided to circulate a detailed note regarding the policy of phasing out the public distribution system and its effects on workers & public at large.

All India Loading & Unloading Workers Federation gave a call to all state bodies to participate in the Mahapadav Andolan, jointly organised by all central trade unions dated 9 August 2023.

Besides there will be state-wise demonstrations for the following demands:

1. Formation of Head Load Workers Welfare Board on the lines of Kerala or Maharashtra.

2. Strengthening of Public Distribution System.

3. Pension of all head-load Workers.

Leaders from Kerala, Mr. P. S. Naidu, S. Vyankat (Andhra Pradesh), Com Shekhar (Telangana), Leena Chaterjee (West Bengal), Com Madhuri Kshirsagar (Maharashtra) & Com Satpal Sarawa (Haryana) & Gurmit Singh and Ranjit Singh (Punjab) participated in the meeting.

Sukumar Damle

National Secretary - AITUC
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.  Republican Rep. David Schweikert used to win his wealthy, suburban Phoenix congressional district by nearly 30 points. Then Donald Trump was elected president, and his victories started shrinking.

Schweikert, who won his last election by just 3,200 votes, is now among the top 2024 targets for Democrats, who sense better-than-expected odds of retaking the House majority they lost last year.

After an anemic showing in the midterms, Republicans have virtually no cushion in their quest to retain control of the House, which was made all the more complicated by a surprise U.S. Supreme Court decision last month that will likely bring two new safely Democratic districts. Democrats need to pick up just five seats to control the House.

Republicans are counting on a strong showing from incumbents like Schweikert, one of 18 GOP lawmakers representing districts that supported Democrat Joe Biden for president in 2020. Many are in upscale suburbs like Scottsdale that lean conservative but have rejected Trump and the party he now dominates.

In contrast, only five Democrats represent districts that Trump won.

Ive been Republican since JFK, said Roy Ross, a 74-year-old retired oil company manager who registered as an independent when he moved to Schweikert's district from Tennessee two years ago. But the last two elections, I just said, I cant do that.

Still, he said, I cant say that Im hearing a lot from Democrats, either.

Schweikerts fate in Arizona, and that of the GOPs House majority, will come down to the decisions of voters like Ross.

Other factors make for a volatile 2024 House landscape and point to terrain much more favorable to Democrats than what they faced in last years midterms.

Trump is the early front-runner for the GOP presidential nomination, which could drive up turnout among his critics and force vulnerable Republicans to take uncomfortable positions. And abortion, which helped power Democratic victories in the midterms, remains salient a year after the conservative majority on the Supreme Court eliminated the constitutional right to terminate a pregnancy.

Democrats are already targeting key Republicans over abortion and looking to tie them to GOP figures like Trump who are unpopular with swing voters.

Between overturning state-level protections for reproductive freedoms to prioritizing tax breaks for the wealthiest few and big corporations, vulnerable Republicans are signing their own pink slips ahead of next Novembers election," said Courtney Rice, a spokesperson for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, the House Democrats campaign arm.

Republicans see plenty of reasons for optimism. Looking to expand the playing field beyond the 18 districts that voted for Biden, Republicans are targeting 37 other districts where they believe a Democratic incumbent is vulnerable.

Two Democrats from swing districts  Reps. Elissa Slotkin in Michigan and Katie Porter in California  are leaving their House seats to run for the Senate, improving the odds for Republicans who wont have to run against an incumbent. Bidens lackluster popularity could be a drain on his party, and prices for gas, food and housing remain high.

Democrats are reminding voters why they took away the Democrats gavels in the first place  extreme, unreasonable, and out of touch, said Rep. Richard Hudson, chair of the National Republican Congressional Committee, the GOPs House race arm. Republicans are on offense, recruiting dynamic candidates and outraising the Democrats, putting us in position to grow our majority.

Schweikert eked out a victory of less than 1 percentage point last year against a relatively unknown rival who got minimal support from national Democrats. Neither party will be ignoring the district this time around. Democrats have already started attacking Schweikert over abortion.

The race has attracted interest from a crowded field of Democrats, with no obvious front-runner.

Schweikert has walked a fine line, managing to avoid associating too closely with Trump without jeopardizing his path to the GOP nomination. On abortion, he says he opposes it but believes it should be left to the states.

The parties have changed, Schweikert said, describing the districts shifting voting patterns between conversations with doctors, entrepreneurs and a physicist at a neighborhood parade in Arcadia, one of Phoenixs most prestigious enclaves. These people want me to fixate on their prosperity and not the eccentricities of the virus, the last election, those sorts of things.

The U.S. Supreme Court found last month that Alabamas congressional map violated the Voting Rights Act, a ruling that will require the state to create a second majority-Black district that strategists in both parties believe will be safely Democratic. Thanks to the ruling, a similar process is likely to play out in Louisiana, giving Democrats another safe seat.

In New York, Democrats are hopeful an ongoing lawsuit will allow them to draw new boundaries that tilt in their favor.

But Republicans have the advantage in North Carolina, where conservatives recently took the majority of the state Supreme Court and are expected to draw new maps that favor the GOP. The U.S. Supreme Court just reaffirmed the court's power to get involved.

Control of the House will largely come down to staunchly red or blue states that wont get much attention from presidential campaigns.

Election advantages due to district mapping
LINCOLN  Nebraska lawmakers thought they were delivering a sizable dose of property tax relief this year by eliminating most community college tax levies.

But at least in the short term, the new law could result in higher property taxes for residents of the Southeast Community College area.

SCC officials have proposed boosting the colleges general fund property tax levy nearly 26% for the 2023-24 school year. When coupled with valuation increases in the area, the result would be a nearly 40% increase in total property tax revenues.

Individual property tax bills could grow by 50% or more.

College President Paul Illich said the levy increase is needed to maximize state funding for the following year and ensure adequate future funding under the new law. He said the rate was based on a detailed study of SCCs current and future needs.

The strategy was to make sure we set this baseline appropriately, he said. We want to make sure the college is viable. This is really all about expanding our capacity to produce a skilled workforce.

Illich said the new law will protect area residents from increased tax bills. The law expanded a refundable income tax credit program to cover 100% of the amount paid for community college property taxes in 2024, up from the 30% covered in 2022.

But Laura Strimple, Gov. Jim Pillens spokeswoman, harshly criticized the strategy for raising taxes to address future needs, not current ones, and for relying on the state to pay the increase.

Governor Pillen is strongly opposed to what is a clear money grab based on what ifs and speculative future expenditures, she said. The governor is exploring all avenues to ensure that SCC property taxpayers are not burdened with a ... tax increase.

Several state lawmakers also have raised objections to the colleges plan. Twenty-three signed on to a June 30 letter asking the SCC Board of Governors to reconsider the proposed levy increase.

This proposal runs counter to the intention of the Legislature in lowering the tax burden on the people of Nebraska, it said. Raising your levy to the maximum allowed under state law does not send a good message to Nebraskans.

State Sen. Rob Dover of Norfolk, who drafted the letter, said he was in disbelief when he learned of the SCC plan. The colleges elected board gave preliminary approval to the levy increase on June 20 as part of its budget-setting process.

I dont know how you justify that, Dover said. There has to be some responsibility to the taxpayers.

The letter warned that lawmakers will consider addressing this issue next year if the board does not change course. But neither Dover nor Sen. Tom Briese of Albion, who sponsored this years property tax relief package, said what action the Legislature might take.

Briese predicted lawmakers would remember SCCs strategy when deciding state aid levels. Dover said they could rethink the law passed this year.

Legislative Bill 243, this years property tax package, includes provisions that will end community colleges ability to levy property taxes, except for building needs, starting in 2024.

The measure replaces those tax revenues with a new pool of state aid that is to increase by 3.5% annually, with additional money available based on enrollment growth. Community colleges could levy property taxes to fill the gap if the state does not meet its funding obligations.

Critically, according to SCC officials, the first year of state funding will be based on the larger of a colleges general fund property tax revenues in 2023-24 or the revenues that the college could have collected by levying 7.5 cents per $100 of valuation.

Illich said that formula will provide a spike in funding for community colleges with the lowest tax levies, while doing little for those like SCC that have levies at or near 7.5 cents.

By raising its levy in 2023-24, he said, SCC would start off with more state funding and be in a better position to cope with rising costs in future years.

The SCC proposal would boost the general fund levy from 7.37 cents up to the state-prescribed limit of 9.25 cents for next year. A separate 2-cent levy for capital needs would be unchanged. The proposal would add $37.60 to the property tax bill on a $200,000 home, assuming no change in property valuation.

The plan provides for a 7% increase in ongoing operations next year and sets aside $17 million from the levy increase for building maintenance needs. In future years, larger and larger shares of that $17 million would go toward ongoing operations costs.

Without that cushion, Illich said the college, which serves a 15-county area, would have to cut programs or raise tuition in future years.

He said the 3.5% increases in state dollars would be smaller than the college has been getting through valuation increases. Property values have grown by more than 3.5% in eight of the last 12 years, allowing SCC to collect more revenues even when levies have not changed.

Budgeting a lesser amount would require an increase in tuition, possibly significant, and a decrease in a variety of educational programs, said Neal Stenberg, the SCC board chairman. We have one chance to get this right.

SCC officials plan to hold a series of information sessions for the public to explain their strategy and the new state law, with an emphasis on the 100% tax credits, leading up to final action on the budget and levy in September.

But Briese said relying on the credits to ease steep tax increases is not respectful of taxpayers. The credits reimburse people for taxes that have already been paid and dont help when the tax bills actually come due.

Dover objected that the strategy requires taxpayers across the state to pay for a property tax increase in one community college area. Nor do all taxpayers claim the credits. Only about 60% took advantage of similar income tax credits for K-12 school property taxes in past years.

Nebraskas other five community colleges are at various stages in their budget- and levy-setting process, but none has said it will follow SCCs path.

Randy Schmailzl, Metropolitan Community College president, said he expects that college will stick with the 7.5-cent general fund levy it has had since 2010. The college will be able to cover cost increases through enrollment growth and rising valuations in the four-county area.

Central Community College is looking at raising its levy from 6.6 cents to 7.3 cents, largely to cover rising personnel costs, said President Matt Gotschall. More money also is needed so the college can stop dipping into its cash reserve, as it has done since the 2019 floods to help out taxpayers. But he said the college is not looking to collect more than needed for the 2023-34 year.

Our board specifically talked about not wanting to go to the maximum because we dont have a specified need, he said.

Mid-Plains President Ryan Purdy said the colleges levy has been the lowest in the state and he expects it will stay that way. The levy has been less than 6 cents, meaning the college will see a substantial bump in revenues for the 2024-25 year. Under the new formula, it will get state funding equal to what a 7.5-cent levy would have provided.

In a statement, Western Nebraska Community College said its board is currently exploring all options to balance the budget amidst increased costs and mandates. The statement said taxpayers are central to the discussion and the college is pleased about the expanded tax credit.

Leah Barrett, president of Northeast Community College, said that college also is working to ensure the final decisions on the tax levy rate strikes the appropriate balance between the use of taxpayer money and the high quality of education we provide to our students.

Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of July 2023
Senator Magnus Abe, who represented Rivers South East in the eighth National Assembly has raised an alarm over the rise in the number of out-of-school children in Nigeria.

He also thanked the people for their support and encouragement throughout his stay in the Red Chambers.

A statement by his spokesman, Parry Saroh Benson, said Abe spoke in Port Harcourt during an end-of-term support for doctoral students and outstanding journalists from his senatorial district.

The statement reads: More than 80 per cent of our public schools are only a place of gathering for children and parents who are thirsty for education. The truth is that nothing is happening in most of our public schools. Over 18 million children are out of school. That is more than the population of Sweden and Hungary.

Abe lamented that two councils in Rivers South-East were educationally disadvantaged, and encouraged the people to continue to work hard and improve on their educational attainments.

During my time in the Senate, I found out that two councils  Tai and Oyigbo  are weak in education. We must encourage them to be more competitive. We are doing whatever we can to make the point that education is the future. When I was growing up, Rivers State had leaders who valued education.

Read Also: Four die in accident on Four die in accident on Lagos Abeokuta expressway

Today, we must realise that anyone without a working knowledge of the computer and access to the internet in this 21st century will be a functional illiterate. We need to give the children of today the opportunity to excel as we were given that opportunity in our days.

The senator said the End-of-Term support was to appreciate the support he received from his constituents.

You are here because you believe in what we are doing. I am doing this to thank the people of Rivers South-East for voting me to the Senate for two terms. I believe that what we are doing here today has significance beyond you, and that there is no other way of growing our country than enthroning merit
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By SULE TAHIR, Dutse

Jigawa State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps NSCDC says it has arrested two men, Danladi Umar a 25 year old, a resident of Tashar Musawa, in Zaria local government area of Kaduna State and Abdurrahman Khalid 35 years of Abuja Quarters, Gumel local government area of Jigawa State on count charges of dollar counterfeiting and criminal conspiracy contrary to sections 369 and 96 and punishable under section 329 and 97 of the penal code law of Jigawa state.

The Public Relations Officer of the Command CSC Adamu Shehu disclosed this to Newsmen in Dutse, the state capital.

According to him, the suspects were arrested when Danladi Umar lodged a complaint at NSCDC Divisional office in Sule Tankarkar LGA that one Abdurrahman Khalid deceived and defrauded him by linking him up with one Malam Haruna who collected the sum of N147,500 from him with a promise to provide him with a local charm sagau.

He said, the local charm temporarily paralyses the hand of whosoever has the intent of causing harm.

He further explained that, Abdurrahman from the onset consented to the allegation, but later changed his statement when he realised he will be the one to refund the money and that Danladi might go free.

The PRO said, Abdurrahman stated that Danladi met him with fake foreign currency and asked him on how to spend it without any hitch, which he told him that he knew one Malam Haruna who lives in Nguru, Yobe State that will helped him turn the fake foreign currency into genuine cash.

And they contacted the Malam through his mobile number who requested for the earlier stated amount (N147,500) to enable him purchase some items to be used in changing the fake currency. And thereafter, the Malam couldnt be reached for days via his phone, so Danladi suspected foul play.

Danladi later confessed that he bought the fake currency from one Zakari who is now at large in Marabar Jos, Kaduna State, and purchased the three fake bundles of $10,000 at the rate of N75,000 (N25,000 per bundle).

CSC Adamu Shehu pointed out that, at the time of their arrest, they were in possession of $30,900 US Dollars which is about 24 Million Naira at the Investors and Exporters Foreign Exchange (I&E FX) window.

He added that, the suspects will be charged to court for prosecution after all investigations were concluded.

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Vice-President, Kashim Shettima, and former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar met at a wedding ceremony in Abuja on Saturday.

This is one of the rare meetings between the duo since legal disputes began over the 2023 General Elections.

Atiku, who was the Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the election, is currently challenging the victory of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) under which Shettima ran on a joint ticket with President Bola Tinubu.

But at the wedding between Mohammed (Ameer) Bunu and Ikramullah Jamal Arabi. both men set aside political differences and exchanged pleasantries.

Among those who attended the wedding which took place at the Al-Nur Mosque in the nations capital were Maj General Babagana Monguno (rtd), former National Security Adviser, Prof Ali Isa Pantami, immediate Past Minister of Communication and Digital Economy; and other prominent personalities.
Abayomi, who was entrusted with the sensitive data for the smooth operations of the company, engaged the services of his cohorts, disrupting the smooth operations of the platform and stealing hard-earned investors money running into several billions.

The International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) in Nigeria has arrested a popular Lagos big boy, Abayomi Segun Oluwasesan, for allegedly hacking his companys blockchain and stealing billions.

According to INTERPOL, Abayomi was employed by the company, Afriq Arbitrage System, a global crypto space, on June 15, 2022, to work as a web developer but he hacked the platform at a time when his boss, Jesam Micheal went for a liver transplant and entrusted the codes to him.

Abayomi, who was entrusted with the sensitive data for the smooth operations of the company, engaged the services of his cohorts, disrupting the smooth operations of the platform and stealing hard-earned investors money running into several billions.

According to reports, he withdrew at least $87 million which he spent flamboyantly.

He opened a car dealership known as Fidoray Autos and imported over 30 exotic wonders on wheels. He also bought a house and acquired a residence permit in the U.K., same as Tanzania and Dubai, UAE.

One of the plazas he acquired in Lagos was to the tune of N450 million, landed properties around Dangote refineries to the tune of N1 billion, and splashed a billion naira on the interior decoration of his hotel in Mainland, Lagos State.

He was travelling across the globe with investors money on first-class tickets.

His dubious activities literally crashed the lucrative platform on May 15, 2023.


Popular Nigerian actress, Angela Okorie has taken a swipe at her colleague, Uche Elendu, accusing her of falsifying her age.

Recall that Uche Elendu marked her 40th birthday on Friday, July 14h sharing a stunning photo of herself donning an elegant flowery white lace gown.

Reacting to the birthday by her colleague, in a deleted comment, Angela Okorie went as far as raining curses on Uche Elendu.

Okorie in the post prayed that all the evil the celebrant has committed befalls her.

She wrote, Na God go punish am, make she no dey lie, she is 50 years. this thief, May all the evil she has done continue to follow her for the rest of her life Amen. Nonsense human being.


Two suspected fraudsters have been arrested by the Kano State Police Command for allegedly extorting unsuspecting members of the public by using the name of the state governors wife.

Spokesman of the command, SP. Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, confirmed the arrest in a statement issued to newsmen on Friday.

He said Umar Adamu and Hussaini Musa were arrested for sponsoring a public announcement fraudulently credited to the wife of the Governor.

According to the aired audio in radio stations, I greet you the good people of Kano State. A known world empowerment organization, in collaboration with the wife of the Kano State Governor, will sponsor the training of two thousand people in catering like pizza, shawarma, burger, eggroll, and samosa.

He said the announcement urged interested persons to pay the sum of N3,000 for the form and identity card.

He said the suspects had extorted over 50 persons.

Kiyawa said the investigation is in progress to arrest the conspirators and their sponsors.

The Commissioner of Police, CP Mohammed Usaini Gumel, cautioned residents to be wary of fraudsters that use the media for extortion.

He also advised media houses to always scrutinize the authenticity of adverts before airing.
Benjamin Kalu, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, has revealed that according to statistical data, the southeast lost N4 trillion in two years due to the sit-at-home order by the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB.

Kalu did not reveal which body released the data or how it was arrived at, during a meeting with Ndigboamaka Progressive Markets Association in Lagos.

He noted that the Monday sit-at-home order has crippled businesses and also stifled the economic growth of the five eastern states and should not be allowed to continue.

The Deputy Speaker said;

The existential threat to Igbo entrepreneurship and businesses now is the insecurity and sit-at-home problem in the south-east. The mutation of this problem is largely unfathomable. It is becoming a cankerworm that is eating deep into our collective fortune as a people.

If I do not tell you the truths as your son, then it will be difficult for anyone in governance from Ala-Igbo to tell you. I am pained by what our dear land has become. We have to be honest and sincere with ourselves. I make a heartfelt plea to every one of you.

We cannot afford to retreat from our business endeavours. The stay-at-home order on Mondays has resulted in staggering losses of N4 trillion in the last two years in the south-east alone according to statistical data.


(Photo : GAVRIIL GRIGOROV/Sputnik/AFP via Getty Images)

Russian President Vladimir Putin claims he promised to allow Wagner Group mercenaries to continue fighting in Ukraine, but only if a senior commander commanded them.

Three weeks after a brief insurrection by the Wagner mercenary group in Russia, President Vladimir V. Putin stated that the group's troops could continue fighting, albeit without their controversial commander.

In contrast, the Belarus government stated that Wagner fighters were training its forces. Wagner and its personnel, who have played a significant role in Putin's conflict against Ukraine, face an uncertain future due to the dissension and turmoil in the Russian military hierarchy that has become public since the rebellion.

Putin Gives Wagner Mercenaries Another Chance

However, the Russian leader intended to marginalize the uprising's commander, Wagner boss Yevgeny V. Prigozhin. In an interview published late on Thursday, Putin described a three-hour encounter with Prigozhin and his senior commanders at the Kremlin just days after the uprising.

Putin, who has worked hard since the mutiny to demonstrate his unchallengeable control over state affairs, presented himself in the interview as a cool-headed arbitrator towering above the turmoil and portrayed the mutiny as a trifling internal dispute he had resolved.

According to Kommersant, a Russian business daily that, along with a correspondent from state television, conducted the interview, he stated that he had commended Wagner fighters for their military prowess and suggested that a different Wagner leader succeed Prigozhin.

He claimed that he informed the Wagner troops that he "regretted that they appeared to have been drawn" into the mutiny, seemingly placing Prigozhin at fault. According to Tatiana Stanovaya, a nonresident scholar at the Carnegie Endowment for International

According to Putin, however, Prigozhin quickly rejected the proposition, informing him during their June 29 meeting following the uprising that "the boys won't concur with such a decision."

In a recent interview with Russia's leading business newspaper Kommersant, Putin inexplicably claimed that the Wagner Group, which led the 10-month brutal battle to seize the key city of Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine, "does not exist."

Putin's comments marked the first time he explained what transpired after the Wagner Group's brief rebellion, which intended to overthrow Russia's military leaders for their management of the Ukraine conflict.

Five days after Prigozin agreed to step down as part of a hastily negotiated peace agreement with the Russian government, the mercenary leader and 34 Wagner commanders were summoned to the Kremlin for a meeting with the president, who had just days earlier referred to their mutiny as an act of treason.

Putin told Kommersant's senior Kremlin correspondent Andrei Kolesnikov that he lauded the Wagner fighters' actions in Ukraine, denounced their participation in the uprising, and promised them opportunities for future service - with the condition that Prigozhin would not be involved.

One option is for the mercenaries to retain the senior commander known as "Sedoi" or "Gray Hair," who has been the de facto chief of the private army in Ukraine for the past 16 months.

Per NY Post, Putin reported that many Wagner personnel in attendance approved his proposal. Still, Prigozhin, seated in the front row and not seeing their enthusiastic response, swiftly vetoed the idea, stating, "The lads won't consent to such a decision."

Putin did not specify which proposal, if any, the mercenaries ultimately approved. On Monday, however, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov reported that the Wagner soldiers pledged their fealty to the president during the three-hour meeting and "stated that they are prepared to continue fighting for their homeland."

After the failed uprising, Prigozhin's fate remains shrouded in mystery. Under the ceasefire terms mediated by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, he and his forces were exiled to Belarus.

Read Also: Kindergarten Teacher in China Executed for Poisoning 25 of Her Toddler Students

Prigozhin's Return to Russia

Recently, however, Lukashenko stated that Prigozhin had returned to Russia. On Friday, Belarusian state television broadcast video footage of Wagner instructors instructing Belarusian territorial defense forces at a firing range near Asipovichy, where Wagner has been offered a camp.

A Belarusian messaging app reported that Prigozhin spent the night at the camp this week and posted a photo of him inside a tent. The Belarusian Ministry of Defense did not disclose the number of Wagner personnel stationed in Belarus.

Prigozhin, 62, was previously reported to be in St. Petersburg, where he was allegedly observed arriving at the FSB office at the beginning of the month to retrieve his previously confiscated arsenal of firearms.

President Joe Biden stated on Thursday that the United States did not know where Prigozhin was but quipped that the mercenary leader may have been poisoned.

Related Article: Iran, Russia Coordinate To Push Away US Troops in Syria, Pentagon Officials Claim

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By Joshua Chibuzo Andrew, Owerri

A lawmaker in Imo State has raised alarm on the outbreak of Diphtheria disease, which is said to have killed over 89 young Nigerians since its invasion in the country on the 3rd of March, 2023.

The said disease, according to the lawmaker representing Ezinihitte-Mbaise state constituency in Imo House of Assembly, Hon. Dr. Henry Agbasonu, who presented the motion during Tuesday plenary, had affected 21 out of the 36 state on Nigeria, with a record cases of about 733 affected persons.

The lawmaker stated that the deadly disease is more prevalent on children between the ages of 5 and 18 years, and kills within 7 days of contact.

Hear him; Whereas there is an outbreak of Diphtheria in the country and the spread is alarming having affected 21 out of the 36 states of the country including the Federal Capital Territory, (FCT) Abuja.

Also aware that Diphtheria is a highly contagious and vaccine-preventable bacterium infection that can harm and damage essential organs in the body leading to severe consequences of death. Diphtheria primarily affect nose, throat and airways causing difficulty in breathing and high fever, among other complications.

Noting that as at 3rd of March, 2023, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) had recorded a total number of 733 reported cases of diphtheria across the federation and about 89 deaths with children between the ages of 5 and 18 years being the most affected.

Realising that the current outbreak of Diphtheria has been labeled as the most severe in Nigeria in recent times and adequate measures needs to be put in place to ensure that the state avoid a crisis situation in the event of a breakout.

Be it resolved by this honourable House to urge the Governor of Imo state, Senator Hope Uzodinma, to direct the Commissioner in charge of the State Ministry of Health and the Primary Healthcare Agency, to embark on a holistic massive sensitisation and enlightenment exercise across the 27 LGAs of Imo state in order to create awareness about the outbreak in Nigeria especially for those living on the rural areas so as to prevent and eradicate the scourge of Diphtheria in the state, he said.

The lawmaker further charged the state Ministry of Health to put measures in place for its containment including measure for prevention such as vaccination, early detection and immediate treatment in the state to avoid and reduce fatalities.

The motion received accelerated hearing as most members spoke to its quick adoption.

When the Speaker, Chike Olemgbe, put it to vote, the Is had it.

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A 19-year-old student, Benjamin Nnamani Daberechi has been arrested by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, NAIA Abuja.

Nnamani was nabbed while attempting to export 7.2 kilograms of methamphetamine concealed in crayfish to Europe where he was going for undergraduate studies.

The Agency in a statement said the teenage suspect was intercepted on Wednesday 12th July, during an outward clearance of passengers on Turkish Airlines flight TK 0624.



While being interviewed by operatives, Daberechi claimed he was a student on his way to Cyprus for studies, but upon a thorough search of his luggage, he was found in possession of 7.2kg of whitish substance neatly concealed inside a sack of crayfish.

A field test of the substance however proved positive to Methamphetamine.

In the same vein, operatives of the Tincan Port Command of the Agency on Tuesday 11th July intercepted 116.5kg consignment of Colorado, a strong strain of cannabis concealed in bags hidden in a heap of used vehicles parts on the floor of a container marked FCIU 8459700, bearing three units of used vehicles imported from Toronto, Canada.

Based on intelligence, the Agency had requested for a 100 percent examination of the container which arrived the TICT terminal of the port on 14th June.

A joint examination with the Nigeria Customs, DSS and other stakeholders on Tuesday 11th July however led to the discovery of 233 parcels of the illicit substance stashed inside travelling bags on the floor of the container, covered with used vehicles spare parts.

Also attempts to export various quantities of illicit substances through courier companies were equally thwarted by NDLEA operatives of the Directorate of Operation and General Investigations, DOGI in Lagos.

While 336 grams of skunk stuffed inside computer hard drives going to Dubai, UAE, were seized at a courier firm, a suspect, Ibrahim Analu, 28, was arrested at Iddo motor park, Lagos while attempting to send 151,700 pills of opioids to Kaduna.

A total of 4.830kg skunk was also discovered at another courier firm in a shipment from Douala, Cameroon passing through Nigeria to Oman. The drug was concealed in 10 of 12 cans of palm fruits paste, locally called Banga, packed in a carton.

Meanwhile, a Lekki Lagos based female lawyer, Ebikpolade Helen, who specialises in production and distribution of skuchies, a mixture of cannabis, opioids and black currant has been arrested in a follow up operation in Awka, Anambra state following an earlier seizure of 5kg cannabis and 12 bottles of prepared skuchies in her apartment at Lekki.

Abubakar Shuaibu was arrested on Thursday 13th July at Cappa, Mushin/Oshodi road with 86 bottles of codeine-based cough syrup weighing 8.6 litres in his Toyota bus marked FFA 241YB, two other suspects: Razak Ogunbo and Adeola Idowu were nabbed Tuesday 11th July at Ikorodu with 51 litres of skuchies.

This is even as 372kg cannabis sativa and 48 bottles of skuchies measuring 48 litres were recovered from the home of a fleeing drug dealer at Akala, Mushin Lagos on Wednesday 12th July.

In Ondo state, operatives stormed a building at Ehin-Ala, Akure South LGA where they arrested one Abubakar Zayanu Gyambar, 28, with 162 jumbo bags of skunk weighing 1,944 kilograms, while another suspect, Henry Wilson, 50, was nabbed at Ogume town, Ndokwa West LGA, Delta State with same substance weighing 216.5kg.

A total of 45.41kg cannabis was recovered from Adam Hassan, 27, along Inga wa-Mani  Mashi road, Katsina enroute Niger Republic, while 70kg of same substance was seized from Mamman Nur Shettima on Saturday 15th July along Kano  Nguru road, Yobe state.

In Kano, a suspect, Abdulhamid Lawan Bayaro, 48, was on Friday 14th July nabbed at Dan Agundi area, Kano with 114 blocks of cannabis, weighing 71.7kg, just as operatives recovered 50,000 pills of Tamol, a brand of Tramadol at Kofar Waika area of the state.

While a total of 912,600 pills of pharmaceutical opioids including tramadol were recovered from two commercial vehicles; one coming from Lagos to Kano, the other was intercepted along Abuja-Jere-Kaduna expressway, with a suspect, Sahabi Lawal, 25, arrested.

In Borno state, 32-year-old Umar Tijjani Mustapha was arrested at Gangamari, MMC, with 55.25kg skunk on Thursday 13th July.

Chairman/Chief Executive, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) commended the tenacity of the officers and men of NAIA, Tincan, Lagos, Ondo, Katsina, Yobe, Delta, Kano, Kaduna and Borno Commands as well as those of DOGI.

He charged them and their compatriots across the country to remain vigilant.
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With politics since over, time now is for governance. Not just governance, but good governance. And of course, a government delivers good governance only if it is deliberately committed to accountability, leadership, integrity, stewardship and transparency, or simply, if it is evidently citizens-oriented.

Then again, of the three arms of government, the legislature is the one central to good governance. Its core functions begin and end with good governance. And even by configuration, it is the closest to the people, connecting them to the government. So, the legislature is indeed the peoples shield and advocate.

Hence, as Nigerians are already in a hurry to see the ultimate manifestations of the promises of the 2023 general elections all eyes are now on the legislature.

Most families can no longer feed adequately, basic health care and education, including transportation, are increasingly becoming unaffordable and also, insecurity is growing geometrically. These and many more are gaps yearning for good governance.

But the question is: how prepared and well-equipped is the 10th national assembly relative to this task of dispensing good governance?

By the constitution, the 10th national assembly is ill-equipped. The laws are beset with several limitations that greatly weaken the positions of the parliament, particularly in the exercise of checks and balances on the executive. The weak constitution renders the legislature powerless and protects the presidency all-round. It equally offers the governing political parties undue latitudes to influence the legislature.

So except with a president who is deliberate in cooperating with the legislature, the 10th national assembly is already undermined sequel to the imbalance in strengths among the arms. It is such that even if the legislature insists on its ideal roles and responsibilities, there will only be a state of anarchy as both arms will justifiably fight always to preserve their powers and authority. There are no clear-cut mechanisms in the constitution to check executive breaches and abuses.

Thus, the extent to which the legislature is in cooperation or hostility with the executive determines the quality of governance dispensed.

But if the well-being of the people is the ultimate goal of governance, then collaboration is a valid option, provided that the relative independence of the arms is recognized and respected. Besides, the mark of a responsive government is the willingness and ability to make sacrifices and or do whatever is necessary, within the ambit of the laws, to offer a quality life to the people.

And in this regard verifiably, the 10th national assembly has demonstrated immense determination borne out of a deliberate commitment to the public interest.

Going by the legislative activities so far, notably the resolutions, the 10th national assembly is in tune with the mood of the moment. It truly understands that Nigerians today yearn for only actions that bear assurances that the government cares about them. Both chambers are remarkably mobilized and upbeat as regards the peoples expectations.

And then by way of impetus to this public-oriented disposition, there is this rare blend of executive and legislative leadership antecedents that characterizes the dramatis personae in both the presidency and the national assembly including also the ruling APC, which portends a viable opportunity for good governance.

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The president and vice as well as the secretary to the government of the federation, who incidentally is the head of the cabinet ministers, are former state governors and senators of the federal republic. More interestingly, the presidential home-keeper, the first lady, and the two gate-keepers, the chief of staff and deputy, are alumni of the national assembly.

Similarly, the national chairman of APC, also a former governor, alongside the deputy, and the secretary, who equally is an ex-deputy governor, had all served as senators.

Then again, the head of the federal legislature, wearing two hats as the president of the senate and the chairman of the national assembly, was at different times before now, governor, senator and minister.

And instructively as well, it is likely that the federal executive council would feature some past legislators.

So predictably, these would culminate in a home-grown hybrid governance model defined by among others, shared vision, consensus-building, sustainable collaboration, mutual respect for boundaries, empathy, and commitment to institutional and legislative strengthening as well as unity of purpose.

Clearly these basic catalyses for good governance are to the advantage of the legislature. At least, the highly-influential presidency and the governing party, apart from being pleased with the choice of the parliamentary presiding officers, would objectively, on all issues of governance, deploy their priviledged knowledge of the constitutional limitations undermining the legislature. And in the end, the masses are the ultimate beneficiaries.

Thus, with the formation of the federal cabinet in a few weeks, the stage would have been fully set for the delivery of this much-anticipated good governance.

Once again, the 10th national assembly is not just fully abreast of the citizens expectations but is self-motivated and well-prepared.

While the president of the senate, Godswill Akpabio, declared that it is time now to go forward with the task set before us as a collective body  the promulgation of laws and enactments for the well-being and security of the country and as a check on the executive arm, the speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas, announced that we shall work closely and inter-dependently with the Executive and Judiciary to give Nigerians the good governance they deserve. We will champion legislation that will uplift the lives of our fellow citizens, promote social justice, and drive sustainable development.

ALSO READ: Why the National Assembly race matters

Buoyed by the truism that security is consequential to the overall well-being of the country, Abbas added that we will focus on strengthening our security apparatus, collaborating with relevant stakeholders to combat insurgency, terrorism, and all forms of criminalities. We aim to help create a safe and secure environment that fosters economic growth and social stability.

On the economy, they both have enough up their sleeves.

Mr Speaker elaborated further that through legislation, the 10th House will promote entrepreneurship and support small and medium-scale enterprises. We shall diversify our economy and provide sustainable employment opportunities for our youth. We are aware of the challenges in our education, healthcare, and infrastructure sectors amongst others.

Meanwhile, Senator Akpabio had hinted that we will, as a forward-looking Senate, pass laws that emphasise economic viability, social acceptability and environmental sustainability, to encourage alternate and green technologies without prejudicing our developmental needs.

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Then towards mitigating the lapses in the constitution that largely restrict the legislature, the honourable speaker was unambiguous that we will work in harmony with the executive arm, while upholding principles of checks and balances. Our collaboration will be anchored on the principles of transparency, accountability, and respect for the rule of law.

Similarly, the senate president observed that because president Bola Tinubu has within this very short period in office proven his commitment to a strong economy, national security, inclusion and the rule of law..We should, therefore, anticipate an executive that is proactive, progressive and practical.

He was also unequivocal that our laws must, therefore, align with the vision of Mr President to protect and provide for our people at the innermost core of their essence while our actions must also guarantee the best and most efficient use of our national commonwealth.

Continuing, Senator Akpabio stressed that conscious and sustained attention must be accorded to gender matters, with specific affirmative provisions to guarantee womens inclusivity as well as issues relating to persons with special needs and equality.

He was equally enthusiastic about engaging, empowering and rewarding our resourceful and innovative youths in terms of protection of intellectual innovations and property, and improved access to finance for technological start-ups adding that we must recognise and prepare for a mid-21st century global economy that places a premium on intellectual content and knowledge, and our young men and women must be supported to engage competitively.

Furthermore, Akpabio listed as a priority area, expansion of the revenue streams available to the country, especially from our huge but largely unregulated natural and solid mineral resources base, while insisting that these additional sources of revenue will build the nations resilience to shocks and stresses resulting from the fluctuation of oil prices in the international market;

And then, in conclusion, both leaders have words of covenant for the country.

While the president of the senate vowed to Nigerians that your dreams, your aspirations, and your well-being will be at the heart of everything we will do in this Senate, Rt. Hon. Abbas pledged that we hold our respective offices in trust for the Nigerian people. We MUST, therefore, justify the confidence reposed in us by our constituents to represent their interests and work committedly for our dear nation.

Although it has become a ritual to hear appealing speeches at every turn of the inauguration of presiding officers, what is significant in this case is the exceptional courage to frontally speak to the issues and show pragmatic resolve to tackle them. Nothing can be more reassuring. A problem identified they say, is a problem half-solved. Above all, and given the deliberate adoption of bipartisanship as well as the promotion of national interest consciousness in legislative business, as seen majorly on the motions so far, the 10th national assembly is not ready to incur the citizens ill will. The leadership is mindful that their public profile and reputation depend on the offices they occupy today. The legislators are aware that they would run into landmines if they fail their constituents especially now that every quality of leadership is a direct challenge to the democratic will of the people.

Therefore, well-meaning Nigerians should rise beyond ethnicity, partisanship and religion to embrace this assembly with all the support and cooperation necessary for excellence. If you expect the right things always from the government, then do the right things always for the government. Even in the face of the porous constitution, the legislature can still deliver, if only the people are in firm partnership with it basically through timely and useful information as well as relevant questions. For it is only by constantly reminding these elected representatives of their words that our mandate can fetch us the desired dividends.

So to you public-spirited Nigerians desirous of a new order: now the ball is in your court! And then to the 10th national assembly: the days, weeks and months ahead shall offer you the ultimate test. But in the meantime, the clock is already ticking and you cannot afford to disappoint.

Egbo is a parliamentary affairs analyst
July 16, (THEWILL)  At least four persons have been confirmed dead and 11 others injured, in a lone accident involving a Foton bus, at the Aiyetoro axis, on the LagosIbadan expressway on Sunday.

Spokesperson of the Ogun Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps (TRACE), Babatunde Akinbiyi, confirmed the incident.

According to Akinbiyi, the accident caused by tyre burst, involved 15 people comprising three men and 12 women; adding that 11 women were injured, while the three men and one woman died.

According to eyewitness account, the bus marked AGL 989 YA was coming from Ibadan inbound Lagos, when it had a tyre burst on the drivers side at Ayetoro axis on the expressway, which led the bus to summersault into a ditch, he said.

Akinbiyi said bodies of the dead victims were deposited at Idera morgue, Sagamu, while the injured were rushed to Famobis hospital, Mowe.

He appealed to drivers to avoid excessive speed, fairly-used tyres and adhere to traffic rules and regulations.
Four persons have lost their lives while 11 others sustained varying degrees of injuries in a lone accident involving a Foton bus at the Aiyetoro axis on the LagosIbadan expressway.

The Public Relations Officer for Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps, Babatunde Akinbiyi confirmed the incident to newsmen in Abeokuta on Sunday.

Akinbiyi said the accident which occurred at 9:59 am on Sunday, involved 15 people that comprised three men and 12 women.

Akinbiyi said 11 women were injured while three men and one woman died in the accident.

Related News

Akinbiyi said the ill-fated commercial bus somersaulted into a ditch after its tyre burst while in motion.

He said, According to an eyewitness account, the bus marked AGL 989 YA was coming from Ibadan inbound Lagos when it had a tyre burst on the drivers side at Ayetoro axis on the expressway which led the bus to somersault into a ditch.

Akinbiyi noted that the deceased were deposited at the Idera morgue, Sagamu while the injured victims were taken to Famobis Hospital, Mowe.

He, however, called on drivers to avoid excessive speed, tokunbo tyres and uphold simple traffic rules and regulations.
NDLEA operatives have arrested a teenager with 7.2 kilograms of methamphetamine at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja

The Europe-bound teenager, Benjamin Nnamani Daberechi was intercepted on Wednesday, July 12

Daberechi concealed 7.2 kilograms of methamphetamine in crayfish packages on his way to school in Cyprus

FCT, Abuja  A 19-year-old student, Benjamin Nnamani Daberechi, has been arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) with 7.2 kilograms of methamphetamine concealed in crayfish at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

NDLEA spokesman, Femi Babafemi, who disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, July 16, explained that the Europe-bound teenager was intercepted on Wednesday, July 12, during an outward clearance of passengers on Turkish Airlines flight TK 0624, Channels TV reported.

NDLEA arrests 19-year-old, Benjamin Nnamani Daberechi with meth concealed in crayfish packages at Abuja Airport. Photo Credits: Adeniyi Ademakinwa Taiwo/ Ikechukwu Kelvin Okorie

Source: Facebook

Daberechi was attempting to export methamphetamine to Europe where he was going for undergraduate studies.

According to SaharaReporters, Babafemi explained that during interrogation, Daberechi claimed he was a student on his way to Cyprus for studies, but upon a thorough search of his luggage, he was found in possession of 7.2kg of whitish substance neatly concealed inside a sack of crayfish.

PAY ATTENTION: heck out news that is picked exactly for YOU  find the Recommended for you block on the home page and enjoy!

He added that a field test of the substance however proved positive to Methamphetamine.

The statement reads in part:

The teenage suspect was intercepted on Wednesday 12th July, during an outward clearance of passengers on Turkish Airlines flight TK 0624.

While being interviewed by operatives, Daberechi claimed he was a student on his way to Cyprus for studies, but upon a thorough search of his luggage, he was found in possession of 7.2kg of whitish substance neatly concealed inside a sack of crayfish. A field test of the substance however proved positive to Methamphetamine.

NDLEA arrests 2 Qatar-based drug lords, seize mkpulummiri

Meanwhile, Legit.ng had reported that emerging reports indicate that Qatar-based alleged drug kingpins, Eyah Celestine Nnamdi, alias Murphy, and Ugwuoke Peter Oluchukwu, have been arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

Their capture follows the interception of their methamphetamine (mkpulummiri) consignment at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja.

NDLEA arrests 3 for attempting to smuggle meth worth N.5bn hidden in custard containers to UK

Legit.ng reported that NDLEA personnel arrested three suspects for attempting to smuggle 30.10 kilograms of methamphetamine concealed in containers of powdered custard to London, United Kingdom (UK).

The NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, who disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, said the banned substance was intercepted at the Lagos airport on May 16 and had a street value of N567 million.

Source: Legit.ng
A 19-year-old student, Benjamin Nnamani Daberechi, has been apprehended with 7.2kg of mathamphetamine by officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

NDLEA Director, Media and Advocacy Femi Babafemi disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, July 16.

The consignment was concealed in a bag of crayfish with the intention to export the products to Europe, where Daberechi was headed for his undergraduate studies.

The teenage suspect was intercepted on Wednesday 12th July, during an outward clearance of passengers on Turkish Airlines flight TK 0624.

While being interviewed by operatives, Daberechi claimed he was a student on his way to Cyprus for studies, but upon a thorough search of his luggage, he was found in possession of 7.2kg of whitish substance neatly concealed inside a sack of crayfish. A field test of the substance however proved positive to Methamphetamine, Babafemi noted.

He also said a female lawyer based in the Lekki area of Lagos state Ebikpolade Helen was arrested in Anambra State for the production and distribution of skuchies a local drink manufactured using cannabis, opioids and blackcurrant.

Twelve bottles of the prepared drink and 5kg of cannabis were recovered from her Lekki-residence by the NDLEA.

Other operations carried out across the country led to the arrest of a Lagos resident Abubakar Shuaibu caught with 86 bottles of codeine-based cough syrup, an Ondo resident Abubakar Zayanu Gyambar found with 262 jumbo bags of skunk, among others.

According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Nigeria is a transit point for heroin and cocaine intended for European, East Asian, and North American markets.

Traffickers smuggle large amounts of illicit drugs through the country which is having adverse effects on migration conditions for Nigerians.

On Saturday July 15, The ICIR reported that The Republic of Seychelles confirmed a ban on Nigerian tourists due to criminal activities traced to some Nigerian tourists, including drug trafficking and fraud.

We have seen a clear link between this with certain people from Nigeria. In the past two weeks, for example, 13 people coming from Nigeria have been arrested when entering Seychelles because they were carrying drugs into the country, the countrys Vice President Ahmed Afif said.




Maseko

A South African, Mandla Maseko who won the chance to be the first black African in space has died in a motorbike accident.

Maseko, 30, was killed on Saturday, a family statement says.

In 2013, the South African Air Force member beat one million entrants to win one of 23 places at a space academy in the US.

Nicknamed Afronaut and Spaceboy, Maseko described himself as a typical township boy from Pretoria.

He had spent a week at the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida doing tests in preparation for an hour-long sub-orbital flight, originally scheduled for 2015.

Maseko said he wanted to do something that would motivate and inspire young people in Africa and prove that they could achieve anything whatever their background.

He told the BBC he planned to call them from space. I hope I have one line that will be used in years to come  like Neil Armstrong did, he said.

The US astronaut, who died in 2012 aged 82, was the first man ever to walk on the Moon in 1969.

-NAN
A 40-year-old teacher, Emmanuel David, was on Tuesday brought before an Ikeja Magistrates Court, charged with sending nude pictures and videos to his 14-year-old student.

David, whose residential address is unknown, however, pleaded not guilty to the one-count charge of sexual harassment.

According to the Prosecutor, ASP Ezekiel Ayorinde, the mathematics teacher committed the offence between Aug. 5 and Aug. 10 at Agege, Lagos.

Ayorinde said that the defendant sexually harassed his student by sending her love messages, pornographic pictures and videos and requesting for her nude pictures and videos through WhatsApp application.

The defendant, a mathematics teacher, was making advances to his teenage student.

He asked for her phone number and the girl, who does not have a phone, gave him her mothers number, unknown to the defendant.

READ ALSO: Man docked over threat to publish ex-girlfriends nude pictures

The defendant started sending love messages and nude pictures, thinking he was chatting with the girl but her mother was reading all his messages.

When he asked for the girls naked pictures and videos, the mother reported the case, and the defendant was arrested, the prosecutor said.

The alleged offence contravened Section 264 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

The section provides for three years imprisonment for sexual harassment.

Magistrate B.O. Osunsanmi granted the defendant bail the sum of N200, 000 with two sureties.

Osunsanmi said that the sureties should be gainfully employed and show evidence of two years tax payment to the Lagos State Government.

She adjourned the case until Oct. 16 for mention.

(NAN)
PDPs operative Timi Frank is being deserted gradually as a media house, which first published his allegation of N90bn against the FIRS and V.P Yemi Osinbajo, cops out, and discredits Frank.

The Vanguard, in response to Osinbajos legal threat, apologized and promised to pull the story.

We have since discovered that the story lacks factual substance and we hereby retract it in its entirety, the newspaper stated in its public apology, adding it regrets any inconvenience the story might have caused the V.P. and the FIRS.

We hold Professor Osinbajo, SAN in the highest esteem.

Frank, a frustrated former deputy publicity of the ruling party, hopped into the PDP last year. He has since started a barrage of allegations many consider wild and unfounded to play his opposition politics.

Osinbajo has vowed to waiver his immunity in order for a thorough adjudication of Franks allegation he got N90bn from FIRS to fund party campaign in the last election. The FIRS also gave Frank 24 hours on Tuesday to retract or face legal action

The Bayelsa politician has dared the vice president to go ahead and sue him.

The PDP has yet to take position on the matter, leaving its activist who likes to issue press statement more than the party itself, to carry his cross for now.

To prove his point, Osinbajo has also fired off a letter to Google, demanding the removal of a You Tube video by Root TV or face legal action.

Another armchair analyst Katch Ononunu claimed the vice president is using federal governments agencies under him to stack funds for his succession campaign in 2023.

Ononunu is included in the legal threat by the vice president.

PV: 0
On Saturday, July 15, Elon Musk confirmed that Twitter has a negative cash flow.

Via its official Twitter account, the billionaire explained why the social media giant's revenue is declining.

Elon Musk Confirms Twitter's Negative Cash Flow

According to ABC News' latest report, Twitter has a negative cash flow because of a heavy debt load.

Another reason behind the platform's revenue decline is the decreasing advertising revenue.

"We're still negative cash flow, due to ~50% drop in advertising revenue plus heavy debt load," said Elon via his Twitter account.

Were still negative cash flow, due to ~50% drop in advertising revenue plus heavy debt load. Need to reach positive cash flow before we have the luxury of anything else.  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 15, 2023

He explained that Twitter's cash flow needs to become positive before they can start doing "luxurious" changes on the platform.

Advertising companies started to leave Twitter after Elon Musk acquired it for $44 billion.

One of their major concerns is the ability of Twitter to maintain the social media platform after terminating around 75% of its workforce.

Aside from this, ad companies are also concerned about the harmful content on Twitter since Elon Musk is trying to make the platform completely free-speech.

Of course, controversies linked to Elon Musk are also among the major concerns of advertising businesses.

Read Also: Google's Plan to Exploit Uruguay's Water Supply Met With Intense Opposition

Should Twitter Worry About Threads?

Since Twitter's cash flow is still negative, the arrival of Threads could pressure the platform when it comes to attracting advertisers.

CNBC reported that while Twitter's business worsens, many advertisers are hoping that Threads will become a great social media platform they can rely on for advertising.

Tinuiti Vice President Natasha Blumenkron said that Meta's new Threads app is one of the hot topics of their paid social for marketing firm's clients.

Aside from Blumenkron, MikMak's CEO Rachel Tipograph also said that their marketing technology firm's clients are considering advertising on Threads.

Their statements show that Meta's rising social media platform is now getting the attention of many ad companies.

But, it is still too early to conclude that Threads will be the new advertising hub. You can visit this link to learn more about what advertising firms think about the new Twitter competitor.

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.
Professor Ishaq Akintola

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has said that the arrest of suspected suicide bomber, Nathaniel Samuel, a Christian, after a failed attempt on Bishop David Oyedepos church in Kaduna state on Sunday February 2nd, has shown that there is a Christian version of Boko Haram.

In a statement released last night, MURIC president, Professor Ishaq Akintola, said the arrestof Nathaniel Samuel after attempting to bomb the Sabon Tasha branch of Living Faith church aka Winners chapel, made mockery of the rally organized by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) on the same day.

According to Akintola, the rally was called to protest against the rising insecurity in the country but God works in wonderful ways as he exposed another plot by a fellow Christian to bomb a church on the same day that CAN called for the rally. 

Read the statement below

This arrest is the outcome of our prayers for Allah to expose all those who are behind the bombing of churches. We are not surprised that the suspect happens to be a Christian. We have said it on several occasions that there is a Christian version of Boko Haram. Christians bomb churches and the whole world blame Nigerian Muslims for the atrocity.

The arrest of Nathaniel Samuel for attempting to bomb this church is not a new development. Victor Moses was arrested on 1st March, 2016 for spying for Boko Haram bombers. He confessed that he carried out surveillance before the bombing of Madalla church in Abuja on 25th December, 2011. It must be noted that for every single arrest there must have been several successful crimes committed. There is no doubt that there are many other Christians warming up somewhere to bomb churches and lay the blame on Muslims.

We give kudos to the Kaduna Police Command for this feat. People blame the security agencies for no just cause sometimes. This arrest must have been the outcome of careful planning and prolonged surveillance. Those who handled the operation deserve promotion.

But the arrest of a Christian attempting to bomb a church makes mockery of the rally organized by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN). The rally was called ostensibly to protest against alleged rising insecurity in the country. But God works in wonderful ways. He exposed another plot by a fellow Christian to bomb a church on the same day that CAN called for the rally. The coincidence is equally divine and it gives the impression that the rally itself was nothing but a hocus pocus.

CAN would have exploded immediately in its usual self-righteousness if Nathaniel Samuel had succeeded in bombing the church yesterday. A world press conference would have been held this morning to blame the killing on Muslims. Also, there would have been screaming headlines in newspapers across the country : Boko Haram Bombs Church Again: Hundreds Killed! White House would have called Aso Rock: Why are you killing Christians? This scenario is becoming too ridiculous. It is turning our country into a bundle of contradictions. We say enough is enough. This hypocrisy in articulated religiousity must stop.

CAN nurses a false dogma of permanent insecurity, incompetence and persecution. But in reality, Nigeria today is much better than Nigeria in 2015 when the Buhari administration took over. Boko Haram that was controlling 17 local governments at that time has been reduced to a pack of hoodlums hitting and running.

Nigerian soldiers who were running and hiding from the insurgents before are now putting the latter on the run. The fact that Boko Haram tactics have diminished to guerrilla warfare cements our hypothesis of a debilitated insurgency. Ditto for kidnappings and armed robbery. There is a gross reduction in the spate of crime but groups like CAN feed fat on misinformation.

In a nutshell, MURIC calls on patriotic Nigerians to continue to pray for peace, political stability and economic prosperity. But above all, we call on the security agencies to step up their safety measures. Life is sacred and this country can only make progress in an atmosphere of security. Therefore, the security agencies must be alert to their responsibilities. We charge Nigerians to be extra-vigilant. Our enemies are in our midst.




Nigerias Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire has said drugs from China meant to combat the coronavirus would be cleared by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC)

He made the disclosure during the briefing by the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 in Abuja on Friday.

He also said the team has been under quarantine since they came into the country. He clarified that the purpose of the medical team from China coming into the country is to provide technical support.

The team from China is under quarantine.

We asked where they intend to observe the quarantine and they said they have a compound. So, we sent the NCDC to go and inspect the compound before they came.

We also told them that every day the NCDC will have access whenever they like to come and inspect. So, that is what they have agreed to.

Whatever it is that they brought will have to be certified by NAFDAC, also whatever medicines they brought. The medicines will be certified by NAFDAC before Nigerians will take those medicine. Osagie said.

He added: Whether they are treating Nigerians or not, I doubt. Because if you are in quarantine and they understand that they are in quarantine, it is not the strangers that you will immediately start using to treat your people.

Our main interest in these people is to see from a scientific point of view what actually the processes were that they used in their country. What are the tactics that they applied? This is because if you want to know something, you ask somebody who has suffered it before.

I have told them that even though they are in quarantine, they can join us by video conference. This way, we can begin to ask questions so that they dont waste the period. So, as from next week, we will join by video conference so that we start asking them questions.

Director-General of the NCDC, Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, also warned that wearing masks was not enough and urged Nigerians to take social distancing seriously.

Even when we announce our decision on the mask, the masks are not going to solve the problem. So, there have been some messages around the country seeming to imply that wearing a mask makes all the other measures no longer necessary. This is simply not the case.

If we do offer an advisory around masks, it will be in addition to everything else; it will not be in place of it. So, we have to understand the reasons for these measures.

The Google mobility report for Nigeria tells the level of intensity of contact between individuals in different locations in Nigeria. The last one from the 29th of March shows that mobility trends in leisure centres  supermarkets, transport hubs, and places of employment in Nigeria have reduced by about 27 percent.

That is very good, but its not enough and we have to push that proportion even further down. So, Im hoping that as data becomes available for the next few days, we will see a further reduction because our future really depends on this he said.

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MACKINAW  A 9-year-old boy has died after a collision with a vehicle on Friday night in Mackinaw.

The Mackinaw Police Department was notified around 9:02 p.m. Friday of a crash involving a vehicle and a pedestrian in the 100 block of Main Street, the department stated in a news release Saturday evening. Police responded to the scene, along with the Mackinaw Fire Department and Emergency Medical Services.

The pedestrian, identified as Adrian Taylor-Zehr, 9, of Mackinaw, was transported to OSF Healthcare Saint Francis Medical Center. Peoria County Coroner Jamie Harwood said the boy was unresponsive, not breathing and had no pulse and, despite aggressive resuscitative efforts and care, he was pronounced deceased at 10:06 p.m.

Harwood said Taylor-Zehr suffered multiple blunt-force trauma injuries.

The incident remains under investigation by the Illinois State Police Traffic Crash Reconstruction Unit. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Mackinaw Police Department at 309-359-8914.

The crash occurred in the midst of the communitys Mack-A-Fest festival and carnival. All remaining Mack-A-Fest activities were canceled, according to a post made Saturday morning on the events Facebook page.

As an event intended to build community, our hearts are broken with the loss to our community. We ask for prayers for the family and our community, the post read.

The Deer Creek-Mackinaw School District, while not naming Taylor-Zehr, did say on its Facebook page that the boy who died Friday night in a car related accident was an elementary student in the district.

We are committed to doing everything we can to help our students, staff, and community with the grieving and healing process, Superintendent Damon Hackett said in the post.

He continued, This loss will affect so many in our Dee-Mack family. Students may have a difficult time dealing with the loss, and we encourage you to talk with your child.

Dee-Mack partnered with New Castle Bible Church at 1 p.m. Sunday to offer counseling, support and a gathering place for students and community members to gather at the church.

New Castle said on its Facebook page that it would proceed with its planned Church in the Park service Sunday morning, with a special offering being taken for the boys family. A prayer team was also available during the church.As we gather on Sunday, let us hold one another close, allowing our love and compassion to embrace those who are grieving, the church stated. May the light of Gods love shine upon our community, guiding us towards strength, unity, and the comfort that comes from knowing we are not alone.

New Castle shared that another local congregation, Hope Baptist Church, would host a bake sale Sunday morning in the IGA parking lot, with all proceeds to be given to the grieving family.

Mackinaw Christian Church also held prayer service Saturday night.

A GoFundMe page set up by Taylor-Zehrs Dee-Mack football program had raised nearly $24,000 by Sunday afternoon to help the family with medical and memorial expenses.

Close The Mackinaw River State Fish & Wildlife Area is located 18 miles west of Bloomington-Normal and 3 miles northeast of Mackinaw. Eric and Shannon Schroers of rural Minier hike at the Mackinaw River State Fish & Wildlife Area. A sign points the way to the Gold Mine Trail at the Mackinaw River State Fish & Wildlife Area. Despite temperatures in the 50s, remnants of snow from a previous storm cling to the trail and forest floor at Mackinaw River State Fish and Wildlife Area, near Mackinaw, on Feb. 27. Pantagraph reporter Lenore Sobota explores the Gold Mine Trail at the Mackinaw River Fish & Wildlife Area on Feb. 27. Dried up sunflowers droop their heads in a wildlife plot at the Mackinaw River State Fish and Wildlife Area, near Mackinaw, on Feb. 27, 2021. Melting snow flows through a gully along the Gold Mine Trail at the Mackinaw River Fish & Wildlife Area near Mackinaw on Feb. 27, 2021. A dried Queen Anne's lace wildflower reaches for the blue sky in a meadow along a trail at the Mackinaw River State Fish & Wildlife Area on Feb. 27, 2021. A large tree stands as a sentinel above a meadow at the Mackinaw River State Fish and Wildlife Area on Feb. 27,2021. Woods, meadows welcome hikers at site near Mackinaw The 1,400-plus acre Mackinaw River State Fish & Wildlife Area has trails through woods and along meadows, encompassing part of the Bloomington Moraine left by the Wisconsin Glacier 8,000 years ago. The Mackinaw River State Fish & Wildlife Area is located 18 miles west of Bloomington-Normal and 3 miles northeast of Mackinaw. Eric and Shannon Schroers of rural Minier hike at the Mackinaw River State Fish & Wildlife Area. A sign points the way to the Gold Mine Trail at the Mackinaw River State Fish & Wildlife Area. Despite temperatures in the 50s, remnants of snow from a previous storm cling to the trail and forest floor at Mackinaw River State Fish and Wildlife Area, near Mackinaw, on Feb. 27. Pantagraph reporter Lenore Sobota explores the Gold Mine Trail at the Mackinaw River Fish & Wildlife Area on Feb. 27. Dried up sunflowers droop their heads in a wildlife plot at the Mackinaw River State Fish and Wildlife Area, near Mackinaw, on Feb. 27, 2021. Melting snow flows through a gully along the Gold Mine Trail at the Mackinaw River Fish & Wildlife Area near Mackinaw on Feb. 27, 2021. A dried Queen Anne's lace wildflower reaches for the blue sky in a meadow along a trail at the Mackinaw River State Fish & Wildlife Area on Feb. 27, 2021. A large tree stands as a sentinel above a meadow at the Mackinaw River State Fish and Wildlife Area on Feb. 27,2021.

Contact Robyn Skaggs at robyn.skaggs@lee.net or 309-820-3244.
BLOOMINGTON  Tractor Supply Co. and the Farmer Veteran Coalition awarded veteran Brad Dearing of Bloomington $5,000 for his business, Dearing Country Farms.

Dearing's business produces a variety of vegetables, fruits, berries and herbs, and also raises beef cattle, goats, and sheep for meat. He served in the Army for two years before joining the Illinois Army National Guard.

The award is part of a nationwide campaign with Tractor Supply donating $100,000 to the FVC, including grants providing direct assistance to veterans in their early years of farming or ranching, either through grants of equipment or awards ranging from $1,000 to $5,000. Tractor Supply's contribution will benefit 60 farmer veterans.

Winners were selected by a team of agriculture industry professionals. Applications were evaluated based on farm training, experience and/or transferable skills, level of personal investment in their farm business, and the ability to show how an award would help grow their business. Applicants were asked to share their vision of how their business would support their communities.

Tractor Supply was one of seven major donors providing awards to a total of 133 farmer veterans. Fifty winners were awarded $1,000 Tractor Supply gift cards while an additional $50,000 grant from the company's foundation will benefit farmer veterans in the form of grants and through FVC programming.

Tractor Supply has partnered with FVC to assist farmer veterans from all branches of service as part of its ongoing commitment to veteran causes. The company has donated more than $450,000 in gift cards and funding to FVC, assisting more than 300 farmer veterans.

Visit tractorsupply.com/military for more information.

2023 Herald & Review 100 at Macon Speedway
BLOOMINGTON  A Bloomington man has been arrested on child porn charges, police said.

On Sunday, Bloomington Police Department Sgt. Ty Carlson told The Pantagraph that Wesley Noonan was in federal custody. It was unclear exactly when he was arrested.

The police department announced Friday that Noonan was indicted on several pornography charges following an investigation by BPD. Noonan is charged 59 times with child pornography possession, a Class 2 felony.

The investigation began after Illinois State Police Drug Task Force 6 and the Drug Enforcement Investigation executed a search warrant, confiscated Noonans phone and found child porn on it, police said.

The Pantagraph reported Saturday that a nationwide warrant for Noonans arrest had been issued, with a bond amount of $1 million.

BPD is continuing to investigate the case. Anyone with information should contact Det. Paul Swanlund at 309-434-2373 or pswanlund@cityblm.org, or call BPD at 309-820-8888.
NORMAL  Hundreds of families spread out on Grove Elementary School's lawn on Saturday for the 10th annual Kite Fest fundraiser benefiting For A Better Tomorrow.

Kite Fest, as its name suggests, invited families to the wide open field, skies peppered here and there with clouds, to set kites upon the gentle breeze.

"Fly a kite, lift a life," is the event's slogan, after all.

But it was more than just kite-flying, said Hariharan Senthilnathan, media relations at For a Better Tomorrow.

"Even though the name is Kite Fest, it is not just kites. We have so many other activities for kids," he said.

Senthilnathan said they had a talent show with a couple dozen participants, a DJ, sack races, lemon-and-spoon races and a 1K run. All of this, he said, was to raise funds for their philanthropic work.

Mandava Rao, chair for Kite Fest, said, "We started this organization to serve the needy where it is required."

Rao migrated to the United States from India in 2001. He has been in Bloomington-Normal ever since, even working as a human relations commissioner for the Town of Normal and currently sitting as a trustee on the Connect Transit Board of Directors.

Rao said there were already several nonprofit organizations in McLean County when they started For A Better Tomorrow in 2014, "but we wanted to take it uniquely for less fortunate people in the world, those who cannot work, the physically handicapped, those who don't have parents, kids who don't have parents, that's where we wanted to specialize. And feed the hungry."

Senthilnathan said For a Better Tomorrow has three legs: Kite Fest, the marketing and fundraising leg; Youth Global Citizen, a program for youngsters to learn about nonprofit life; and Why I See You (YICU), in which they honor and celebrate young people in the community.

YGC is a a three-week program that will have middle- and high-schoolers complete the course by partnering with McLean County nonprofits.

"They will go work for those nonprofit organizations by raising funds for them," Senthilnathan said. "So they learn about different fundraising behaviors, different methods."

Rao said YICU is "where we recognize the talent (of those) who serve the community; we recognize the young people."

Together, the three parts serve a single purpose, Rao said: "We are developing the youth, to move their mindset, to direct them to a giving nature for the community."

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Senthilnathan said they were averaging about 2,000 to 3,000 participants in Kite Fest.

Since the global hiccup, they have been moving slowly back up in numbers, Rao said. They expected about 2,500 participants on Saturday to raise upward of $19,000.

Just after noon, Senthilnathan said they were closing in on that goal.

Rao said the kites have particular meaning: "It is symbolic for freedom."

Senthilnathan said, "Kites are where you feel free. You are free to do whatever you want and have fun."

Rao said, in India, "kite flying is one of the passions at some of the festive events in the months of January and February." But they chose summer for Kite Fest because "here, January and February is freezing," Rao added, laughing.

He said the kites also serve to get the youth outdoors during the summer, like he did when he was young, instead of being stuck inside with technology.

"We had to make the kites on our own with the sticks and the newspapers," Rao recalled of his childhood. These days, though, mass-produced plastic kites are more common.

Still, Kite Fest appears to have a long-lasting effect on youth, as they keep coming back.

Senthilnathan said about 20 youth came out on Friday evening to help set up, "and they are still manning the booths."

He said these are some of the same children who came to Kite Fest when it first started.

"During the first Kite Fest, they were all babies. And now they are grown up," Senthilnathan said.

That aspect of returning volunteers and repeat givers is For A Better Tomorrow's mission, Senthilnathan said, to "help the community."

That started with Rao when he helped start Kite Fest a decade ago.

"My passion is community service," Rao said, his smile wide and beaming, "more than my professional career."

Photos: 27th annual Glorious Garden Festival takes root in Bloomington-Normal Tending succulents Tropical Flowers Cactus Succulent Shed Climbing Onion 2023 Dan Anderson 1 GLORIOUS GARDENS 071523-blm-loc-gardenfest4 Video: Children's librarian Alex Bell talks about StoryWalk
DALLAS  The Rev. Frederick D. Haynes III, a Dallas megachurch leader and champion of social change, has been named as the successor to the Rev. Jesse Jackson as the leader of the Chicago-based Rainbow PUSH Coalition.

Jackson, 81, founded the initial organization, known as Operation PUSH, in 1971. The civil rights group later rebranded and merged with the National Rainbow Coalition in 1996.

On July 8, Jackson, who has battled health issues in recent years, announced his plans to step down from his role. He gave a resignation speech during the groups annual convention Saturday.

All eyes are now on Haynes, 62, whom the group called a longtime student of Rev. Jackson and supporter in a statement. Haynes is best known as the senior pastor of Friendship-West Baptist Church in southern Dallas, which has a congregation of around 13,000 people.

But Haynes is more than just a faith leader. His career as a leader for social justice in Dallas has spanned decades, and includes stints in academia and advocacy.

Here are five things to know about Haynes:

 He lived in California as a child

Haynes was born in Dallas, but his father moved his family to San Francisco after they experienced racism living in the Jim Crow South. His father served as a pastor at the historic Third Baptist Church there, and led a congregation that advocated for social change.

Frederick D. Haynes Sr. passed away when Haynes was 14 and about to start at Abraham Lincoln High School in San Francisco, where he graduated as valedictorian.

 He oversaw the growth of Friendship-West

In 1983, Haynes accepted the invitation to become senior pastor of Friendship-West Baptist Church, when it had less than 100 members. He has now served in the position for 40 years and helped the church grow its congregation to thousands of members.

Friendship-West Baptist moved three times under Haynes leadership, and has been at its present site on Wheatland Road in 2006.

When the church moved to Kiest Boulevard in Oak Cliff, Haynes helped decrease the level of crime and violence in the community. According to his churchs biography, Haynes helped transform the area by working with local law enforcement and neighborhood groups.

 He has worked with national and state leaders

Haynes has worked with the Center for Responsible Lenders to fight against predatory lending practices across the nation and in Texas.

During the Obama administration, Haynes attended events at the White House several times to discuss issues related to the economy and voting rights.

Additionally, in 2003, Haynes founded the Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference, a national organization of faith leaders and activists who are committed to fighting local and global injustice.

 He is an advocate for education

Haynes serves as a board member of Paul Quinn College, a historically Black university in Dallas, where he used to be an adjunct professor.

He has led his church to donate more than a million dollars to historically Black colleges. Friendship-West has donated more than $2 million in scholarship money to students in Dallas.

Haynes also helped form the THR!VE Intern and Leadership Program at Friendship-West, which is a service leadership program for Black teenagers ages 16 to 19. It provides students with mentoring and professional development opportunities.

 He has been recognized for his work

Haynes has been lauded for his ministry and for his efforts as an advocate for social justice and civil rights.

In 2016, he was inducted into the International Civil Rights Walk of Fame, and last year President Joe Biden gave him the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Leadership Award in Community Service.

Photos: Chicago Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson Election 2023 Chicago Mayor Election 2023 Chicago Mayor Election 2023 Chicago Mayor Election 2023 Chicago Mayor Election 2023 Chicago Mayor Election 2023 Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson - 2022 Brandon Johnson - 2023 Brandon Johnson - 2023 Brandon Johnson - File Brandon Johnson - 2022 Brandon Johnson - 2022 Brandon Johnson - 2022 Brandon Johnson - 2022 Brandon Johnson - 2022 Brandon Johnson - 2022
CHICAGO  Chicago is seeing its lowest COVID-19 hospital admission rates for the entire pandemic. But its not all good news about the illness that once shut down the world.

Even as the citys top doctor shared optimism about the state of the pandemic, Northwestern Medicine clinicians warned the public to be wary of the diseases lingering effects.

The directors of the hospital systems Comprehensive COVID-19 Center released a study Thursday on long COVID symptoms. It showed thousands of patients have suffered from a wide array of serious medical issues that highlight the illnesss lasting harm and the importance of a treating long COVID with a multidisciplinary approach, they said.

Tuesday marked two months since the federal and state governments pandemic public health emergency was declared over, Chicago Department of Public Health director Dr. Allison Arwady noted in a livestream earlier in the week.

And we continue to do very well, she said.

The city is seeing just over three COVID-19 patients admitted to hospitals each day, Arwady said.

So, not over, she said. But that is down. It continues, really week after week. We are breaking records for the lowest number of hospitalizations.

Both Illinois and Chicago are below the similarly declining national average in hospital admissions, Arwady said. The percentages of Chicago hospital beds and emergency room visits being used to treat COVID-19 patients are also at or near their lowest levels, she added.

The city is now seeing below one death per day, another pandemic low, she said. Over 8,000 Chicagoans have died from COVID-19, city data shows.

We are at the lowest levels of COVID that we have seen here in Chicago. So your risk is the lowest that it has been, Arwady said. But  its not zero.

However, even as hospital admissions go down, the leaders of Northwestern Medicines Comprehensive COVID-19 Center said their practice is expanding.

We are actually ramping up, because nowadays, even if its not filling up hospitals with sick patients with pneumonia, COVID-19 is still affecting thousands of people, said Dr. Igor Koralnik, the centers co-director.

The study the center released analyzing the long COVID treatment of over 1,800 patients across eight years reported a mix of medical issues, including lasting brain fog, shortness of breath and chest pain.

Over half the patients the Northwestern center treated showed cognitive impairment. Nearly half had altered lung function. An elevated heart rate was detected in 12% of patients, while 83% had abnormal chest scans and 85% reported a decreased quality of life, the study showed.

Long COVID affects approximately one-third of people who survive COVID-19, according to Northwestern Medicine.

Center co-director Dr. Marc Sala said he doesnt think the public and policymakers are paying enough attention to long COVID. Interest in the diseases lingering effects has faded amid the declared end of the pandemic, he said.

You will have many patients come to us still in good numbers to fill up our clinics, Sala said, with symptoms that are enough to be disabling to their lives as previously known.

People might only develop long COVID on their third or fourth time contracting the virus, he said. They might even not need to go to the hospital when they initially contract the disease, but develop the troubling lingering issues later, he noted.

The long COVID patients the center sees had diverse experiences with COVID-19 when they were initially ill, Sala said. Some were hospitalized and intubated, while others never even tested positive, he said. Now, they exhibit a broad mix of unique symptoms, he added.

There is not a one-size-fits-all long COVID, Sala said.

The unique challenges the patients face means medical systems need to respond to long COVID with clinics where multiple clinicians from different specialties are working together to quickly evaluate and care for patients, Sala said. The Northwestern clinic offers 13 different specialties, he added.

One Northwestern patient, Giancarlo Jusino Sanchez, contacted COVID-19 for the first time in June 2022 after being careful to avoid the illness for years.

It was incredibly mild. The mildest COVID you could imagine, Jusino Sanchez told the Tribune.

The 30-year-old was back to normal life two weeks later. But when he tried a high-intensity workout, he noticed his quads were killing him. Later, he could barely walk up the stairs. Things got progressively worse.

As he worked, the Northwestern doctoral student, whos studying particle physics, noticed it was very difficult to concentrate.

I would have to spend like 20 minutes to an hour trying to get into the space to be able to write, to be able to solve problems, Jusino Sanchez said.

People started to notice. A manager encouraged him to rest. He couldnt tackle tourist activities when his mom visited Chicago. Moving around was difficult. He felt feverish in sudden bursts and had headaches and muscle soreness all the time. For months, he couldnt sleep through the night, and his anxiety exploded, he said.

A lot of malaise, on a day-to-day basis, Jusino Sanchez said.

Six months after first becoming ill, he took medical leave from his graduate program and began to visit the Northwestern Medicine Comprehensive COVID-19 Center. There, testing showed basic exercises were making his blood oxygen levels drop to concerning levels. His cardiovascular condition had deteriorated too, stress tests showed.

Jusino Sanchez began to recover on leave with increasingly intense physical therapy and careful attention to rest and energy-consuming tasks. He returned to school and successfully defended his thesis in May to receive his doctoral degree. He feels more normal and can do many basic activities, like shopping for groceries, he said. Doctors told him that he recovered fast for a long COVID patient.

And even then, I can still do the things that I need to do on a daily basis, but it sucks. Its very hard, he said.

As Jusino Sanchez struggled through long COVID, he often wondered if he was just being a baby. But he knows what he experienced and is experiencing is real.

He knows, too, that there are millions of people like him suffering from the lingering effects of COVID, he said. The possibility of long COVID is something that sticks out to him even as the pandemic is declared over.

You might end up having a version of it, he said. So I think its very important as a society that we start thinking more about how we accommodate people with long COVID and how we try to stop it from happening in the first place.

Northwestern patient Imani-Alima Ibrahim, 33, lost her taste and smell when she contracted COVID in March 2020. Three years later, and now with three apparent COVID-19 infections under her belt, she hasnt gotten back those senses. Shes never fully smelled the boyfriend she began dating after her illness, she said.

Extreme fatigue, memory issues and bad migraines began to set in six months after her first infection, Ibrahim told the Tribune. It became hard to find the right word at times  a cumbersome issue for her at work in her private therapy practice, she said.

Ibrahim, who also works as a school social worker, had accepted and adapted to what seemed like her new life. But with the support of family and friends, she reached out to the Northwestern clinic last year.

She began comprehensive testing in April and is starting speech and occupational therapy next month. Shes also on new medication to combat fatigue and is doing smell training at home, she added.

Im really hopeful that there will be continued progress, Ibrahim said.

Life likely wont return to what it looked like before she got sick, she said. But a healthier new normal is possible, she added. Shes feeling more energy, and even gained a bit of scent and taste back, she said.

Ibrahim said even she is still surprised when she meets people struggling with long-term issues from COVID. Many people feel like they are out of the pandemic, she said, but there are people like her who arent done with the diseases lingering effects.

Talking about that invisible illness is the first step to getting help, she said.

Photos: Pritzker sworn in for second term
One of the key suspects in the Ablekuma bullion van robbery, believed to be a Togolese has been arrested at his hideout in Togo while trying to flee the country after the incident.



The Ghana Police Service in collaboration with Interpol in Togo arrested Blessing Njoma on Saturday, July 15, 2023, in the Togolese town of Asigame following a tip-off.



Blessing Njoma is accused of being key in the robbery of a bullion van in Ablekuma in the Greater Accra Region which resulted in the killing of a police officer, Callistus Amoah who was buried this weekend.



Confirming the arrest of the suspect, a police situational report read in part On 15/07/23 about 0700 hours, Aflao District Police Command gathered intelligence that one of the suspects in Ablekuma bullion van robbery case has been spotted in Asigame market in Lome Togo.



"Based on the information the District Crime Officer DSP Eric Vondee in charge D/Insprs Gabriel Damadzi, Martin Afari Koranteng and Cpl Issah Ayamba proceeded to Asigame market Lome Togo and with the assistance of Togo Interpol, arrested suspect Blessing Njoma a Nigerian. The suspect was searched on the spot, but nothing incriminating was found on him. The suspect was taken to Togo Interpol Headquarters and when his body was searched old bullet scars were found on the right shoulder.



"According to him, he was shot in Nigeria in 2014 in a fight. Efforts are being made to search his place of abode before extraditing him to Ghana.



Earlier this month, two other suspects, Benjamin Ojogbe and Rashid Abdul were arrested for their alleged involvement in the robbery and killing of the police officer which happened on June 22, 2023.



Their accomplices are being prosecuted in Court.

Source: mynewsgh.com









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The management of 12 Ghana Education Service (GES) offices in six regions are to face prosecution over procurement breaches amounting to GH1,028,700.91.



They comprise district and municipal offices in Tema, Ledzokuku, and Ga Central in Greater Accra; Abuakwa North in Eastern; Tumu in Upper West; Hohoe in Volta; Sefwi Juaboso, Aowin and Sefwi Akontobra in Western North, and Asikuma Odoben Brakwa, Twifo Praso and Hemang in the Central Region.



The Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament, Dr James Klutse Avedzi, referred them to the Attorney Generals Office yesterday in Accra at the committees sitting.



The Committee is seeking answers to infractions in the Report of the Auditor-General on the Public Accounts of Ghana  Ministries, Departments and other Agencies for the year ended December 31, 2021.



The report said the 12 offices violated Section 20 of the Public Procurement (Amendment) Act, 2016 (Act 914) which requires procurement entities to request quotations from as many suppliers or contractors as practicable, but from at least three different sources.



These sources should not be related in terms of ownership, shareholding or directorship and the principles of conflict of interest shall apply between the procurement entities and their members and the different price quotation sources.



In line with the committees approach to non-competitive procurement, Dr Avedzi asked the management of the affected institutions to explain themselves to the Attorney-Generals office or the judge that would preside over their respective cases.



Whatever excuses you have, package them nicely and give it to the judge, he might set you free, he said.



Earlier, the committee upheld a recommendation in the AG report that a retired Eastern Regional Manager of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice, Stephen Okpoti Mensah, should pay for an official vehicle which went missing under his care.



Per the report, the official vehicle with registration number GC 7923- 12 which was parked at the retired Regional Directors official residence (SSNIT Flat Estate) was stolen in March 2019 while he was outside the country.



It said although the matter had since been reported to the police, it was a violation of Section 52 of the Public Financial Management Act, 2016 (Act 921) which required him to ensure a proper control system existed for custody and management of the assets.



The committee rejected the excuse that the theft case was being investigated by the police because after five years if no headway had been made, the retiree should take responsibility for the negligence that led to the theft of the vehicle.



The committee was of the view that he should have left the vehicle at the office, where there was security, before travelling, and that if every official is not held accountable for what happened to state property in their care, they would be mismanaged.

Source: Ghanaiantimes.com.gh









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(Photo : Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

A New York architect has been identified as the man arrested on suspicion of being the Long Island serial killer.

An architect from New York has been accused of murdering three women on Long Island more than a decade ago.

Rex Heuermann, 56, was charged on Friday with three counts of first-degree murder and three counts of second-degree murder in the deaths of 24-year-old Melissa Barthelemy, 22-year-old Megan Waterman, and 27-year-old Amber Costello.

New York Serial Killer Arrested

They are three of the 'Gilgo Four,' whose remains were discovered on Ocean Parkway in Gilgo Beach, Suffolk County, in December 2010. The remains of eleven individuals, the majority of whom were young female sex workers, were discovered in the area by the end of 2011.

Heuermann was detained on Thursday evening after a reopened investigation connected him to a pickup truck a witness reported seeing in 2010 when one of the victims vanished. According to a bail application filed in Suffolk County Court, detectives later matched the DNA from a pizza crust he discarded in Manhattan to a male hair found with the corpses bound and concealed along a remote coastal highway.

Investigators could also connect Heuermann to the burner phones used to organize encounters with the murdered women and the taunting calls made to one of Barthelemy's relatives using her cellphone after she vanished in 2009.

Although Heuermann was not charged with any offenses concerning the disappearance and homicide of Maureen Brainard-Barnes, 25, the document stated that he is the "primary suspect in her death" and that the investigation is ongoing. Per Telegraph via MSN, Heuermann's attorney entered a not-guilty plea on his behalf during his arraignment on Friday in Riverhead State court. Judge Richard Ambro denied him parole, citing the "severe depravity" of his alleged behavior.

Heuermann, dressed in khaki pants and a grey blouse with a collar, did not speak in court. Michael Brown, his attorney, said he met his client on Friday morning. He told reporters outside the courthouse that Heuermann, a licensed architect with a Manhattan firm, was in tears and said, "I didn't do this."

The US Sun was the first news source to identify Heuerman on Friday morning, following a raid in Massapequa Park, Long Island, directly north of where four women's corpses were discovered near Gilgo Beach in 2010.

Heuermann is the proprietor and principal of RH Consultants & Associates, LLC, registered to his Massapequa Park residence and has a New York City office. According to his online profile, he has over 30 years of experience and has worked with significant clients such as American Airlines.

Read Also: Buffalo Shooting Families Sue Socmed Platforms, Gun Store Owner, and Suspect's Parents

Alec Baldwin's Sibling Attended The Same School With Serial Killer

According to police, Heuermann is on the grand jury and scheduled to appear in Riverhead Criminal Court later on Friday, where an indictment will be unsealed. Heuermann's old photograph was released in advance of his court appearance.

A source told The US Sun that police had known him for "some time" before his detention. An eyewitness said officers had spent "the entire night" at the residence. On Friday morning, a police drone was observed hovering over the residence. According to reports, he was arrested outside his Midtown Manhattan office around 8:30 p.m. on Thursday while leaving work.

Since the 1980s, Heuermann has resided in a modest home just north of Gilgo Beach. Billy Baldwin, the sibling of Alec Baldwin, disclosed that he attended high school with Heuermann.

Billy Baldwin, the second-youngest of the four Baldwin brothers and a native of Massapequa, stated that the community was "shocked." The 60-year-old explained that he graduated with Heuermann from Berner High School in 1981 and described him as married with two children.

Heuermann has purportedly been on law enforcement's radar since last year when investigators traced calls made from burner phones to the mobile phones of some of the victims. There was a match between the location of the phone calls and Heuermann's home and office addresses.

Since 2010, when the body of 24-year-old Melissa Barthelemy was discovered near Gilgo Beach, a half-hour drive from the residence, police have been searching for the suspect. On December 11, 2010, a Suffolk County Police Officer and a scent dog discovered her skeletal remains in the underbrush near Ocean Parkway, the primary thoroughfare on Jones Beach Island.

Related Article: Kindergarten Teacher in China Executed for Poisoning 25 of Her Toddler Students

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The Ministry of Gender and Social Protection has cautioned Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) working in the Human trafficking sector, to desist from functioning as government institutions or agencies.



It said the attempts by some of them to replicate government institutions thereby assuming positions of authority to resolve human trafficking issues is illegal and must be stopped, adding NGOs must be conscious of their role and rather support the government to achieve national targets.



Deputy sector minister, Francisca Oteng Mensah, said this at the launch of this years commemoration of World against Human Trafficking, also known as the Blue day, in Accra.



She said Ghana is still confronted with a situation where young girls who migrate to Gulf countries for greener pastures get trafficked, molested and exploited.



Let me again re-emphasize the fact that, NGOs working in the field of human trafficking should desist from attempting to create replicate government institutions making it seem like they have the powers to do so. You should understand your role as non-profit making organization by following the standard operating processes laid down for you to support government agencies achieving set targets and goals.



She said to prevent, protect and punish offenders of human trafficking, Ghana has signed international treaties including passage of the Human Trafficking Prohibition Regulations including the development of the Human Trafficking National Plan of Action, which covers 2022 to 2026.



As a form of highlight to prevent, protect and punish offenders of human trafficking, Ghana signed the Palermo Protocol in 2000 and ratified in 2012. It is evidenced that, several legislations have been enacted which mainly are the Human Trafficking Act of 2005, Act 694 and its amendments as well as passage of the Human Trafficking Prohibition Regulations in 2015.



The ministry has developed the Human Trafficking National Plan of Action, NPA, 2022-2026, which is a comprehensive document to support the effective implementation of the HT Act of 2005, Act 694. The Plan of Action covers all the thematic areas, prevention, protection, prosecution and partnership.



Madam Oteng Mensah commended stakeholders in the tourism industry for their enormous support and contribution towards eliminating human trafficking and all forms of exploitation.



In a speech read on his behalf, Country Director of EU delegation in Ghana, Serge Akpalou, stated commemoration of the day presents an opportunity for especially international partners to reaffirm new commitment in the fight against human trafficking.



He pledged commitment of the EU to support Ghana in its quest to end the human trafficking menace.



In commemorating the UN day, against human trafficking, we join the ministry of Gender Children and Social Protection, and all donors to reaffirm the new commitment in the fight against human trafficking. We reiterate the importance of our collaboration with the ministry.



Mr. Akpalou, challenged countries to enact laws that punish persons who knowingly use services provided by victims of trafficking



Countries must also make sure that a person knowingly using services provided by victims of Trafficking can face sanctions. This will present an important step in the fight against human trafficking. Sexual exploitation.



The Vice President of the Ghana Journalists Association, Linda Asante Agyei, encouraged media houses and practitioners to develop interest in human trafficking to educate the masses.



By writing an article or broadcasting an item focusing on Human trafficking, the media is not only educating the public but also shining light on an issue typically shrouded in darkness. However, some journalists and media outlets are not really aware of the trafficking phenomenon or do not have sufficient understanding of the dimensions of the problem as a result some media coverages confuse the issues with others such as migration or such as migrant smuggling.



Globally July 30th is commemorated as World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, to raise awareness on human trafficking. Ghana commemorates this years event under the theme, Ending Human Trafficking: A collective responsibility.





Source: GBC









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The Head of the Ghana Hajj Board, Ben Abdallah Banda has visited remaining Ghanaian Hajj pilgrims who are to return home at their various apartments in Mecca, Saudi Arabia.



So far, about 50% of Ghanaian pilgrims from the northern part of the country have returned home and the rest are scheduled to arrive in Accra on Monday July 16, 2023.



On Sunday evening, the Chairman of the Hajj Board together with some Board members visited the various Ghanaian camps in Mecca to interact with the pilgrims.



During his interactions, he briefed the pilgrims on arrangements made for their airlifting back home and also delved into Hajj operations this year.



He said, as a human institution, the Hajj Board could not have got everything right to the satisfaction of the pilgrims but assured them of the necessary changes to address their challenges and improve Hajj service.



"Ghana Hajj Board is a human institution, and surely, we could not have had everything right," he said.



"I want to take this opportunity to apologise to you all, on behalf of the board, for any inconvenience our actions or inactions may have caused you throughout this process."



He further promised the best Hajj experience for Ghanaians saying "whatever it is, the status quo is not going to remain. In shaa Allah, things will change and we will have a marked improvement in our operations".



The first flight carrying pilgrims to Accra is scheduled to take off on Monday followed by four other daily flights.



About two thousand northern sector Ghanaian pilgrims have already returned home through Tamale.



This years Hajj marked the first time Saudi authorities allowed full Hajj without restrictions following the outbreak of covid-19.



The Board Chairman was accompanied by many members including Abdul Aziz Haruna Futa, Chief Saddique Jimala, Alhaji Yunusah Osman, Sheikh Amin Bonsu, Dr. Zakaria Seidu and Ahmed Abdulai Abu.

Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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The Ministry of Trade and Industry in partnership with the Rural Enterprises Programme yesterday inaugurated a rice processing factory at Nkrankwanta in the Dormaa West District of Bono Region.



The facility would serve farmers in the area and ensure that the problem of post-harvest losses are reduced or eliminated completely.



On the day, the team also inaugurated a regional technology transfer centre at Dormaa Ahenkro. The facility is expected to produce all kinds of machinery t to support governments desire to create small-scale enterprises in the country.



The Nkrankwanta rice processing factory under the 1D1F common user facility and built at the cost of GH7.243 million has the state-of-the-art rice processing equipment with the capacity to produce 1.5 to 2.8 tonnes of processed rice per hour.



The processing plant installed at the factory includes milling and packaging machines, with a standby generator and a mechanised borehole to supply the factory with water.





The Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Michael Okyere Baafi, at the inauguration said the 1D1F programme was a phenomenal policy by the government to boost the industrialisation agenda, to address the unemployment issues in the country.



According to him, a total of 296 factories had been created under the one district one factory policy which were at various stages of completion.



The deputy minister said the Nkrankwanta rice processing factory which would create 150 direct jobs and several indirect jobs, would have farmers in the area owning the facility with 70 per cent shares, adding that traditional authorities, assembly and



the Ministry of Trade would have 10 per cent shares respectively.



He charged a nine-member board which he inaugurated yesterday to ensure proper maintenance of the facility.



The Director of the Rural Enterprises Programme (REP), Akwasi Atta-Antwi, said the programme had played a vital role in the establishment of a decentralised institutional framework to support the development of micro and small enterprises in rural areas of Ghana.



According to him a key achievement of rural enterprises and its predecessor, Rural Enterprises project phase 1 and 2 had been the establishment of rural technology facilities through a collaboration with District Assemblies and the GRATIS foundation.



The facilities, he noted had served as magnets for industrial activity, promoting technology dissemination and transfer to the informal sector.



Mr Atta-Antwi said the 1D1F user facility was an agro-industrial factory set up by the Rural Enterprises under the Ministry of Trade and Industry, to enhance the value addition of primary agricultural commodities.



The Dormaa Ahenkro Technology Solution Centre is a technical workshop equipped with metal working machines for the development and promotion of appropriate technology to micro, small and medium-scale enterprises, spare parts production and technical training.

Source: Ghanaiantimes.com.gh









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A 23-year-old Senior High School (SHS) Form Two student, Seth Nayo, has been handed seven years imprisonment in hard labour for defiling a 13-year-old Class Six pupil.



Nayo pleaded guilty to the charge when he appeared before the Jasikan Circuit Court presided over by Alfred Kwabena Asiedu and was subsequently convicted.



Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Seth Vincent Kpodo, Prosecutor, said the complainant was the victims guardian while the victim was in Class 6.



He said the victim was fast asleep in her room alone when suddenly she felt someone covering her mouth, holding her neck, and having sexual intercourse with her on July 10, 2023, at about 1200 hours.



He said the convict then stood up from the victim and escaped leaving the victim to her fate.



ASP Kpodo said the victim went and informed a co-tenant, who was a witness in the case about the incident.



He said the witness also immediately informed the complainant about how the victim had earlier informed her about the incident.



ASP Kpodo said the complainant reported the case to the Jasikan Police, while a medical form was issued for the complainant to send the victim to the hospital for examination.



He said the report on the victim corroborated her story.



Asiedu, in sentencing the accused, said the student was a first-time offender and therefore attracted the minimum punishment in terms of defilement and to serve as a deterrent to other young people, who would want to engage in such acts.





Source: GNA









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It is a somber day in the Ashanti Region as the bodies of two male adults were recovered from an illegal mining pit in Odumase near Konongo, according to information available to DGN Online.



Initial reports had suggested that three illegal miners were trapped in the pit, but fortunately, one managed to make it out safely while the other two lost their lives in the incident.



The National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) officials in the Municipality have confirmed that the pit caved in while the illegal miners were inside, searching for gold deposits.



This unfortunate event highlights the dangers and hazards associated with illegal mining activities.



To retrieve the bodies, NADMO officers had to call on an experienced excavator operator and local community members.



With their combined efforts and expertise, the bodies were recovered from the mining pit.



The operation was challenging due to the unstable conditions of the pit and the need for caution to avoid further incidents.



Jones Osei Asamoah, the Asante Akim Central Municipal NADMO Director, expressed his condolences to the families of the deceased and assured them that necessary actions would be taken.



He stated that the bodies have been transferred to the morgue for further examination and identification.



Illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey, has been a persistent issue in Ghana, causing environmental degradation and posing risks to the lives of individuals involved.



The government has been making efforts to combat this menace and enforce regulations to protect both the environment and the people.



Authorities are urging community members to refrain from engaging in illegal mining activities and to report any suspicious mining operations to the appropriate authorities. They are also calling for greater public awareness regarding the dangers and consequences of illegal mining.



As investigations unfold, it is hoped that this tragedy will serve as a reminder of the perils associated with illegal mining, prompting stricter enforcement of regulations and increased efforts to curb such activities in the region.

Source: dailyguidenetwork.com









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Charles Owusu has taken a jab at the former Special Prosecutor and Attorney General, Martin Amidu over his utterances against President Nana Akufo-Addo and his government.



Martin Amidu has become very critical of the Akufo-Addo administration.



It could be recalled that Mr. Amidu, after exiting the office of the Special Prosecutor, called the President many names including describing him as a "mother serpent".



In recent times, the former SP has also taken active interest in the politics of the country and his latest comment is on the leaked audio recording where a supposed Police Commissioner and an NPP executive are heard plotting for the removal of the Inspector General of Police, Dr. George Akuffo Dampare.



To him, the leaked tape is not fake but a diversionary tactic by the governing New Patriotic Party.



"The recording and leaking of the tape concerning discussions to persuade the President to terminate the appointment of the Inspector General of Police on grounds of disloyalty to the incumbent Government and the NPP was a deliberate ploy to divert the attention of the opposition political parties, particularly the National Democratic Congress (NDC), to render it embarrassing for them to complain should the Ghana Police Service fail to supervise the security aspect of the 2024 elections fairly and impartially," he said in a statement copied to Peacefmonline.



According to him, he knows for a fact that "Dr. George Akuffo Dampare was handpicked for the position of IGP on grounds of proven loyalty to this Government".



He further shared that "the discussion for the replacement of his predecessor started long before his predecessor left office. The three kingpins in this discussion who held positions on the Police Council were my friends. When Dr. Dampares predecessor was to leave office the discussions and maneuvers intensified and the Presidents support and concurrence sought and obtained.



"I know as a matter of fact that Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia who chairs the Police Council and chaired the Council meeting which formally recommended Dr. Dampares appointment to the President was a staunch supporter of Dr. Dampare, long before the office of IGP became vacant".



Responding to Martin Amidu in a panel discussion on Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" show Friday morning, Charles Owusu labeled Mr. Amidu as a traitor.



"Martin Amidu has betrayed Ghana because of politics," he exclaimed.



Listen to his full submissions:





Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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Member of Parliament for Oda, Akwasi Acquah has slammed the Minority in Parliament for threatening to boycott the House on Gyakye Quayson's trial.



The Assin North MP, James Gyakye Quayson is facing a criminal charge filed by the Attorney General, Godfred Dame.



The Minority have served notice to the House that they will join Hon. Gyakye Quayson to court in solidarity.



Speaking on Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" morning show, Hon. Akwasi Acquah said what the Minority wants to do is in variance with the laws of the country.



According to him, they want to pump fear into the country but reminded them of their core duty to their constituents which is to represent them in Parliament, hence boycotting parliamentary business for Gyakye Quayson's sake doesn't speak well of them.



"They are doing that to terrorize the nation. They want to chain the hands of the nation. They are tying the hands of the law", he told host Nana Yaw Kesseh.





Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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Film Producer cum broadcaster, Ola Michaels has taken with a pinch of salt actor Adjetey Anang's alibi to his defence that he's never had sexual intercourse with any woman apart from his wife although admitting in his memoir titled Adjetey Annan: A Story of Faith, Imperfection, and Resilience that he has cheated on his wife.



In the book authored by Adjetey Anang, who is most admired and thought to be innocent in character, shocked his fans and a lot of people when he opened up on his life experiences and shared the bit where he cheated on his wife in various forms.



He wrote I have been in very compromising situations with ladies and revealed that yes, I have cheated on my wife before in the various forms that cheating could be defined as, both emotionally and physically.



The actor went ahead to apologize to his wife and the other women he has been involved with, telling them he is deeply sorry and that he is committed to rebuilding his marriage.



Following the launch of the book, Anang appeared in a Television interview and a question popped up on the bit about him cheating on his wife but the actor swiftly explained it had nothing to do with sex, rather the cheating he referred to was about his lust of the eyes and he hugging a woman.



But Ola Michael isn't buying Adjetey Anang's elucidation on the subject matter.



Joining Saturday's panel on UTV's "United Showbiz" with MzGee, he asked the actor to stop playing with the minds of Ghanaians, saying "we are not fools".



Ola wondered how the actor expects any person to believe that hugging a woman could pass for physical cheating as he claimed in his book and that he never for once indulged in sex outside his marriage.



"There are two forms of it, either emotional or physical. The physical most likely involves some sort of intimacy which could lead to the last part of being sex. So, if you write in your book that you have cheated on your wife both emotionally and physically and you say it didn't involve sex, what do you really want to tell us?", he hollered.







Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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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:

Microplastics are defined as particles less than 5 mm in size. Credit: University of Queensland

A world-first study has found concentrations of plastics in some lakes are higher than in the most contaminated parts of oceans, demonstrating the extent to which plastics have invaded Earth's ecosystems.

In a study released today, researchers sampled 38 lakes and reservoirs around the world, including in Australia, the United States, United Kingdom and Europe. Plastics and microplastics were found at every site, including very remote locations.

Lakes are sentinels for human activity. Many lakes are already suffering from issues such as algal blooms, deoxygenation, over-extraction and drying. Plastic contamination adds yet another threat to these highly stressed ecosystems.

The plastics problem

After plastics enter the environment, they generally break up and become smaller and smaller. Eventually they become microplasticsdefined as particles less than 5 mm in size.

Plastic takes decades to disappear. It can harm ocean and aquatic life and contaminate water used by humans.

Plastics can be washed into lakes from the adjacent land areas. Lake water can sit for a long time without being flushed out, allowing plastics to accumulate. We don't yet know much about whether microplastics are absorbed by filter feeding organisms such as clams, mussels and zooplankton, and how plastics affect the food chain.

Plastic debris is widespread in freshwater ecosystems. But much of the focus has been on marine ecosystems, and knowledge of the scope of the problem in lakes and reservoirs has been hampered by a lack of appropriate data. Our research set out to close this gap.

What we did

A global team of scientists, of which we were part, examined the abundance and type of plastic debris in freshwater ecosystems. Surface waters were sampled in 38 lakes and reservoirs across 23 countries (mostly in the Northern Hemisphere) and six continents.

Importantly, we used a standardized collection and analysis method, including very fine plankton nets to sample the plastic debris. These steps allowed for comparisons between lakes.

Broadly, we found plastic debris in all lakes studied. Most plastics were in the microplastic size range. However, concentrations varied widely.

Some 21 lakes had low concentrationsbelow one particle per cubic meter (m). Of the remainder, 14 lakes had concentrations between one and five particles per m and three lakes had concentrations higher than five particles per m.

Forest Lake in Brisbane was the Australian study site. It's a popular urban lake used by many people for recreation. This lake had three plastics particles per cubic meter, ranking it sixth worst among the 38 lakes sampled.

The three most polluted lakes were, in order, Lake Lugano (Switzerland, Italy), Lake Maggiore (Italy) and Lake Tahoe (US).

In each of these lakes, plastic concentrations reached or exceeded those in "floating garbage patches"marine areas collecting large amounts of debris, such as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. These ocean areas were previously thought to be the worst cases of plastic pollution in water environments.

These three polluted lakesas well as the heavily contaminated Lough Neagh in Northern Irelandare also important sources of drinking water for local communities.

Where is the plastic coming from?

The second part of our study sought to identify the landscape factors affecting the abundance and type of plastic debris.

More than 90% of the plastic particles belonged to two shape categories: fibers and fragments. We even found textile fibers in lakes and reservoirs in remote areas with limited human presence, such as Avery Lake in the US state of Michigan.

Our analysis indicated two types of lake are particularly vulnerable to plastic contamination: those in highly urbanized and populated areas, and those with a large surface area.

The most common color of plastic particle was black (30%), followed by transparent (24%), blue (18%) and white (13%). The low concentrations of particles in bright colors, such as red, suggests these more visible plastics may have been mistaken by aquatic organisms for food, and ingested.

So what next?

Marine environments are generally considered the final resting place for plastic debris. But our research confirms plastic concentrations in freshwater ecosystems can be higher than those in oceans.

Our results indicate that lakes play a major role in the global plastic cycle. This points to an urgent need to develop management policies to reduce plastic pollution in freshwater lakes. This, in turn, will help prevent plastics from entering waterways and ending up in marine systems.

We don't know how much plastic debris ends up in water supplies. We suggest this gap be addressed as soon as possible, and the ecological harm caused by microplastics should become a global management and research priority.

Our study also underscores the urgent need for coordinated, systematic monitoring of plastic pollution.

Sadly, it seems no lake can be considered truly "pristine" with respect to plastic pollution. Our research serves as yet another unfortunate reminder of humanity's indelible signature on nature.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
The viral TikTok old age filter reveals something serious about Americans.

Experts said that this trending app filter shows how U.S. residents fear aging, as well as their obsession with youth.

What Viral TikTok Old Age Filter Reveals About Americans

If you're a TikTok user, then you might (or have) come across content about the old age filter.

You might see other TikTokers using the old age filter to show what they look like or that their future old selves look like their beloved grandparents.

Aside from helping users create wholesome content, the old-age filter also reveals something about Americans.

According to The Washington Post's latest report, Americans show their youth obsession and fears of aging each time they use the TikTok filter.

Numerous experts claimed that among the people across the globe who are afraid of aging, Americans fear it the most.

"Our core values are rooted in progressive concepts like constantly moving forward, looking ahead to the future, and the unlimited possibilities of the future," explained Larry Samuels, a cultural historian.

The author added that in today's society, aging is seen by some individuals as a failure.

He added that since Americans, as well as other people around the globe, are afraid of aging, age-related filters always do well on TikTok and other social media platforms.

Read Also: TikTok Influencer, Tutor Brooke Lim Posts Apology Video for Blog Essay Plagiarism Issue

Being Afraid of Aging is Not a Bad Thing

When others are told that they fear something, they tend to take it in a negative way. However, being afraid of aging is not really a bad thing. In fact, Brandeis University Prof. Sarah Lamb said that when people fear something, they become more drawn to it.

She added that this fear will push people to prepare for their future old selves.

If they know that they will not like their appearance in the coming years, they will make efforts to take care of their bodies.

What To Do If You Lose Confidence

HuffPost reported that seeing your old self could make you lose your confidence and you're not alone. If ever this happens to you after using the TikTok aging filter, do these:

Try monitoring your "negative self-talk."

Find something you like about your old self.

Instead of following Kim Kardashian or other younger influencers, try following older online celebrities.

Remember, not everyone will be lucky enough to get older and see the world longer. So, try considering aging as a gift.

Related Article: Viral: TikTok User Catches Mechanic 'Test Driving' His Car To McDonald's

@ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
ATLANTIC CITY  Abdul Kader and his wife, Kamrun Nahar, opened Madina Grocery and Produce on Atlantic Avenue in 2021.

On Friday, the family-owned Bangladeshi market celebrated being in business for two years.

Kader was pleased to have reached that milestone and to keep serving the Chelsea neighborhood.

Its a nice area, and all my customers are very nice, said Kader, who has lived in Atlantic City since 2004 and previously co-owned a market on Florida Avenue.

The Chelsea Economic Development Corp. is highlighting food markets in the Chelsea neighborhood, including Madina through a social media video series called Chelsea Global Pantry.

Through the project, the neighborhood nonprofit wants to promote economic growth in the area by encouraging people to support local businesses.

The goal is to be able to highlight local markets and show cultural appreciation, said Tiffany Giang, marketing and content strategist for the EDC. We want to be able to show residents that they can shop local.

Atlantic City is considered a food desert. There are no full-service grocery stores in the city, which forces residents to travel to other towns or shop at small neighborhood markets.

Atlantic City closes two fire stations due to lead dust The Atlantic City Fire Department has discovered lead dust at two of its fire stations and closed them indefinitely.

Four companies recently submitted proposals to the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority to bring a full-service grocery store to Atlantic City near the Convention Center. Plans for a ShopRite operated by Village Super Market fell through last year after a groundbreaking ceremony was held in late 2021.

Despite the lack of a big supermarket, residents can still find some options in the Chelsea neighborhood. Chelsea features 23 markets, according to EDC President Elizabeth Terenik.

Madina Grocery sells halal meat and poultry, fish and a variety of cultural foods.

Kader said most of his customers live nearby, but many people come to the market because its difficult to find places that sell Indian, Pakistani and other Asian foods in Atlantic City and surrounding towns.

Most are regular customers. Some even come in four or five times a day, Kader said.

He said his best-selling items are meat, fish and fresh produce, which are hard products to come by in Atlantic City.

In Bangladesh, the main foods are rice and fish, Kader said, explaining the importance of having fresh products accessible to customers of different cultural backgrounds.

Kader said in the summer, people also love to buy kulfi, a traditional Indian ice cream.

Terenik said she shops almost exclusively at local markets for her groceries.

There are challenges, and sometimes you cant find everything, but there are options, she said.

Terenik said the EDC is educating residents about what is available in their communities and wants to break down some of the cultural barriers between residents and business owners.

Chelsea EDC gives free food vouchers to volunteers who participate in their weekly cleanups. The vouchers can be used at Madina Grocery and are meant to get people to support local businesses.

The EDC will also soon launch a program to give storefront makeovers to 10 local businesses.
CAPE MAY  For the first time in two decades, the city plans to consolidate the design standards that guide what can and cannot be done on historic properties, and officials say the new standards are beautiful.

City Council expects a public hearing and final vote on the historic design standards at its next meeting, set for 3 p.m. Tuesday at City Hall.

At a recent meeting, Warren Coupland, chairman of the Historic Preservation Commission, and member Philippa Campbell presented the proposal, joined by commission attorney Robert Fineberg.

Coupland described the update as a huge project that was more than a year in the making, collecting the standards into a single book.

The last time that was done was in 2002.

I think I want to mention up front what this is not, because I think that some people may have a concern. What this is not is an increase in the authority of the HPC, he said.

Everything included in the book has already been approved as land use law by council after review by the Planning Board, Coupland said. This brings that information together in a single place, making it easier for homeowners and potential investors to plan projects.

Its not a reach. What it really is, is a consolidation, Coupland said.

Naval Air Station Wildwood Aviation Museum to host WWII veteran LOWER TOWNSHIP  The Naval Air Station Wildwood Aviation Museum will host a Q&A session 

Campbell and council members described the finished product as beautiful and praised the effort that went into it. Coupland said the existing standards were already good, but the new book will be easier to use and provide more detail, including illustrations and specific examples.

Cape May has one of the strictest historic districts in the area, and many in the city see the large number of Victorian-era homes and older structures as a vital part of the communitys charm, right up there with the beach and fine dining options.

Council introduced an ordinance creating the new document in a unanimous vote. If approved in a final vote, that will cement the books position as a zoning document homeowners can look to when planning projects.

Coupland said the effort was to improve the design standards for the historic district  not an easy task, he said, because Cape Mays design standards were already award-winning.

A state grant helped fund the project, Coupland said at the meeting. A resolution approved in 2022 indicates the state put $44,700 toward updating the design standards. Late last year, the city approved a contract with Steven Smolyn of Architectural Heritage Consultants LLC to work on the update.

The new book is only one step in the process, Coupland told council members. The commission also plans public outreach to inform residents and homeowners about the book, and to update the citys website with the new, consolidated information.

He also brought a copy of the standards published in the 1970s, saying the city has come a long way.

The book from 2002 remains available on the city website in a PDF format. In the future, the city will be able to update information about the design standards on the site as they are amended.

$37.7M Stone Harbor beach project nears completion As the summer of 2023 warms up, a beach replenishment project in Stone Harbor and Avalon is winding down, the latest in a decades-long effort to keep sand on the beaches of New Jersey.

At a separate meeting July 3, council also introduced an ordinance adopting a survey of historic sites in Cape May. That ordinance is set for a public hearing and final vote Aug. 1.

The survey includes 186 properties and indicates whether each is contributing to the historic district or non-contributing.

Council amended the list to remove a property on St. John Street that was demolished in 2021.

That building is no longer there. This just tells you how long it takes to navigate this process, said city attorney Christopher Gillin-Schwartz.
PLEASE BE ADVISED: Soon we will no longer integrate with Facebook for story comments. The commenting option is not going away, however, readers will need to register for a FREE site account to continue sharing their thoughts and feedback on stories. If you already have an account (i.e. current subscribers, posting in obituary guestbooks, for submitting community events), you may use that login, otherwise, you will be prompted to create a new account.
ATLANTIC CITY  Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind is proposing to use 1.7 acres of beach between South Texas and Iowa avenues, a portion of Bader Field and a portion of a city park for the installation of underground transmission lines, according to legal notices published recently by the company.

A public hearing for its proposal will be held later this month.

According to the legal notices, the company plans to use about a half-acre on Albany Avenue at Bader Field and about 0.32 acres on Fairmount and Sovereign avenues at the Pete Pallitto recreation fields.

The project is also expected to temporarily impact about 11 acres of parkland at Bader Field.

The properties are owned by the city and subject to the state Department of Environmental Protection's Green Acres restrictions, and will require an application for a major diversion that must be approved by the DEP's commissioner and by the State House Commission.

A public scoping meeting is required before Atlantic Shores can submit a formal application for the diversion of parkland.

The public meeting will be held at 6 p.m. July 27 in City Council Chambers at City Hall, 1301 Bacharach Blvd.

The Atlantic Shores wind project area is located 10 to 20 miles off the coast between Atlantic City and Barnegat Light. The project is expected to produce 1,510 megawatts of electricity, enough to power more than 700,000 homes, according to the company.

Atlantic Shores aims to begin construction in 2024 and begin powering homes in 2027.

Another wind farm, rsted's Ocean Wind 1, will be located 13 to 15 miles off Atlantic City and Ocean City and aims to begin offshore construction in 2024. The project is expected to provide enough electricity to power 500,000 homes, according to the company.
MIAMI  The Biden administration has quietly ditched a key gauge used for decades to measure success in the war on drugs, suspending satellite monitoring of coca crops in Colombia amid a surge of cocaine production in South America.

A State Department spokesperson said the move was temporary" but gave no timeframe for data collection to resume or explain why it was suspended in the first place. It was also unclear whether satellite surveys would continue in Peru and Bolivia, which together account for about half of coca production in the Andean region.

The move, first reported by Colombias El Tiempo newspaper, has drawn outrage from Republicans in Congress from Florida, who have been calling for the president to decertify Colombias government for failing to cooperate in U.S. anti-narcotics efforts. But it tracks with leftist Colombian President Gustavo Petro's efforts to refocus law enforcement efforts away from the rural backwaters where coca is grown to instead chase large-scale smugglers and money launderers who reap the bulk of the drug trade's profits.

We are constantly assessing the effectiveness of various counternarcotics efforts and make changes to our efforts as needed, the State Department spokesperson said in an emailed statement. We continue to work with the Government of Colombia on the monitoring of illicit coca crops."

Since at least 1987, the U.S. government has published annual estimates of coca cultivation in Colombia. The numbers soared to an all-time high in 2020, when the U.S. Office of National Drug Control Policy estimated that 245,00 hectares of land  an area three times the size of New York City  was planted with the illicit crop used to make cocaine. Last year's report showed production was almost unchanged in 2021 from the same high level.

In the first five months of 2023, Petro's government has manually eradicated just 4,511 hectares of coca  down almost 90% from the 33,454 hectares yanked during the same period a year ago, when the law and order conservative Ivan Duque was still in power.

While the U.S. hasn't commented on what prompted the policy shift, Republicans have seized on it to attack Petro, a former leftist guerrilla, as he seeks better ties with Venezuela's socialist government and tries to cut a deal with the nation's last remaining rebel group.

This is a gift to the Petro Administration, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, the vice chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence and a senior member of the Committee on Foreign Relations, said in a statement. "Its another example of the Biden Administration giving concessions to far-left governments in the region.

Petro has pushed back, arguing that the U.S. would be wise to refocus its attention on the fentanyl crisis, which is blamed for tens of thousands of overdose deaths.

Things change, he wrote in a Tweet this week in response to attacks from Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar, a Miami Republican who chairs a subcommittee of the House Foreign Affairs Committee dealing with Latin America. Without directly addressing questions about the future of the U.S. coca monitoring effort he said the structure of drug consumption is changing for the worse, reducing demand for cocaine, which is starting to flow to other parts of the planet."

Adam Isacson, the director for defense oversight at the Washington Office on Latin America, said that satellite monitoring of coca crops offers valuable insights into Colombia's ability to assert state control in remote, economically depressed areas that have long been dominated by illegal armed groups.

But as a tool for estimating cocaine flows it's less reliable than other measures that have remained mostly stable in recent years, like data on cocaine purity, street prices and overdose deaths. Additionally, the United Nations in conjunction with Colombian authorities annually conducts its own survey of coca cultivation that combines satellite data with on-the-ground verification.

Still, he suspects politics also may have played a role in the U.S. decision to pull the plug.

If you put a lot of weight on hectares you're on a collision course with the Petro government, which doesn't want to make eradication the center of its narcotics strategy, he said. The U.S. may be calculating it doesn't need a major irritant with its closest military ally in the hemisphere.
Since its inception, the Wagholi Housing Societies Association (WHSA) has been engaged in various development works in the area.

The association was formed with the idea of bringing accountability and responsiveness to the administration and political leadership as far as an inclusive and holistic development of the area was concerned.

WHSA has tried to remain organised so that it can help members and residents to plan out and give time to attend key meetings and lend a helping in its various drives. Although at times people have to squeeze out time on working days, it has not been a challenge to the forum as they work in a group.

The main issues that WHSA has highlighted so far have been the merger of Wagholi village in the PMC and the inclusion of Lonikand police station from Rural to City police. Other issues included the provisioning of drinking water, better road infrastructure including approach roads and street lights, public safety and policing, waste management, voter registration, and electricity issues, to name a few.

Speaking to Mirror, Sanjeevkumar Patil, a member of WHSA, said, There is a strong feeling that Wagholikars voices are now being heard with people supporting the idea of WHSA. There is also a strong sense of belief and purpose in Wagholi that we, as a group, can drive and bring the change together and will no longer be neglected. We also conduct society sessions on the awareness of co-operative bye-laws.

Another member of the association added: People with vested interest and some external forces sometimes create blockades to our endeavour; however, teamwork and collaboration is always the key to running any forum. WHSA has always stood by this principle to take everyone along irrespective of their contrasting opinions with the single motto of Wagholi's development.

Talking about various initiatives, Nitin Kumar Jain, WHSA member, explained: We have held many protests for roads and garbage dumping, and made our voices heard. We conducted numerous voter ID camps along with the deputy election officer of Pune district and increased the voter count of Wagholi by 20,000+ in two years. We also arranged many voter awareness campaigns with the election commission.

Reminiscing the work done by the forum during the Covid-19 pandemic, member Sanjeev Kumar Patil said, We had helped stranded citizens during the pandemic and arranged a bus to send students to their states. We also managed to provide food, clothes, and water to thousands of citizens in their journey from Pune during the entire lockdown collaborating wi the police as Special Police Officers (SPO).

But forum member Hacharanjeet Butalia said that the biggest win for WHSA so far has been when the decade-long demand for a merger with PMC and inclusion in Pune City Police jurisdiction were met. The interaction with media has been exceptional and impartial and they have always stood with Wagholikars in bringing their issues upfront so that they come to the notice of the authorities concerned.

Another member added that their journey has been exceptionally successful and it is a testament to the immense contribution of each and every Wagholikar and their belief in WHSA. We had a very tough time 6-7 years ago when we were not treated equally in the village and we always felt ignored. But unity made a difference, and now our issues are patiently heard and resolved in time.

What is WHSA?

WHSA was officially formed on February 4, 2019, as a no profit company under Section-8 of Indian Companies Act, 2013. The forum has been present since 2015-16 through various initiatives for Wagholi's development. Over 80 co-operative housing societies and associations are registered as members of WHSA and many others are connected through their volunteers and ad hoc committees. Members are from diverse sectors; however, a majority are professional employees.
A Scott County jury on Thursday convicted a Davenport man of vehicular homicide and drunken driving in connection with the death of a motorcyclist last year.

Octavius Zenus Sallis, 40, is facing a prison sentence of 25 years for the Class B felony charge of homicide by vehicle-operating under the influence, and a five-year prison sentence for the Class D felony charge of operating under the influence-third offense.

Sallis is scheduled to be sentenced Sept. 22.

The jury found Sallis guilty after a trial in Scott County District Court that began Monday, July 10.

According to the arrest affidavits and search warrants filed by Davenport Police Officer Luke Figie, at 8:23 p.m. Wednesday, May 19, 2022, Davenport police were sent to the intersection of West Kimberly Road and Fairmount Street to investigate a crash between a Harley-Davidson motorcycle and a Dodge Journey.

The driver of the Journey, Sallis, was westbound on West Kimberly Road when he attempted to make a left turn onto Fairmount Street.

Sallis failed to yield for an eastbound Harley-Davidson motorcycle driven by 56-year-old motorcyclist Michael Vickers of Davenport.

The two vehicles collided head-on, killing Vickers.

During a standard field sobriety test, Sallis showed multiple signs that he was impaired.

Sallis agreed to a preliminary breath test which showed the alcohol content in his blood was more than .08, the legal limit in Iowa.

Police applied for a search warrant to draw blood and obtain a urine sample from Sallis.

During a search of the Journey officers seized 5.75 grams of marijuana along with a digital scale with marijuana residue. Officers also found two tramadol pills for which Sallis did not have a prescription. Tramadol is an opioid used for pain relief.

Investigators at the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation Crime Lab determined that Salliss blood alcohol content was 0.142.

There also was the presence of amphetamines, cocaine metabolite and marijuana metabolites in Salliss urine.

Based on the crime lab results and what was located in the Journey, Sallis also was charged with possession of marijuana-third offense, an aggravated misdemeanor that carries a prison sentence of two years, and unlawful possession of a prescription drug, a serious misdemeanor that carries a jail sentence of up to one year.

Sallis pleaded guilty to those charges on July 7, according to Scott County District Court electronic records.

He also did not have insurance on the Journey.

Sallis has two prior drunken driving convictions, one in 2019 and one in 2020.

Assistant Scott County Attorney Steven Berger is seeking enhanced sentencing for Sallis who has felony convictions out of Van Buren County, Michigan, in 2010 and 2012, according to District Court electronic records.

Sallis was being held Saturday night in the Scott County Jail on a cash-only bond of $15,000.
Family members, friends, and activists gathered Saturday in Davenport to advocate for accountability and policy changes after the downtown Davenport building partially collapsed at 324 Main St., killing three men and displacing dozens.

Change is coming, due to this tragedy, said Mike Collier, whose cousin, Branden Colvin Sr., died in the collapse. He referenced other buildings around the world that also are being more closely evaluated, prompted by The Davenports collapse.

He spoke to a few dozen people gathered at Davenport City Hall whod marched from the riverfront, carrying signs with pictures of Colvin, Ryan Hitchcock, and Daniel Prien, and messages, such as #QC Strong and Blood on their Hands.

Collier was critical of the citys response, when officials told the public the day after the May 28 collapse it planned to begin emergency demolition the next day, just hours before a woman was rescued from a fourth-floor window. Collier said officials conduct shows the city initially tried to sweep it under the rug. City officials said at the time they were relying on analyses from structural engineers about the safety and structural integrity of the partially collapsed building.

Colvins family also contends in lawsuit filings that Colvin Sr. remained alive under the rubble, potentially for days.

We cant trust them, and if we cant trust them, we have to get them out of office, Collier said.

He encouraged people to run for office who are going to work in our best interest.

Two Davenport city council members were there  Judith Lee, Ward 8, and Tim Kelly, Ward 5.

And at least two others there said they plan to run for a seat on the city council, including LaCanna Dixon, whos been a frequent presence at Davenport City Council meetings during public comment since the building failure. She gathered signatures at the march to file for candidacy.

Organizers and aldermen encouraged people to register to vote and mark election dates on their calendars. Candidates for office must collect signatures and file their paperwork by Aug. 31 for city elections with a primary. The city primary, if more than two candidates file, is set for Oct. 10. The city election, then, will be Nov. 7.

The organizer of the march, Katie Stuart, of Davenport, told the crowd: Life matters more to me than a building or money.
Tim Scott is not an angry dude.

An optimistic message was what the U.S. Senator from South Carolina pitched to a group of close to 100 people at a Holiday Inn and Suites in Davenport on Friday.

Hes courting Iowa Republicans ahead of the GOP nomination for president and is among those with a more positive message in an increasingly crowded field. Scott, 57, spoke of his grandfather, who firsthand experienced the racist laws of the Jim Crow South, to his own experiences rising from poverty in South Carolina to become a U.S. Senator. Scott is the lone Black GOP U.S. Senator and is the only Black person to serve in both chambers of Congress.

I have watched with my very eyes. Ive heard with my own ears, the story of Americas evolution, Scott said. How far we come and so little time. But no one wants us to celebrate progress in America. The forces of the radical left want us to apologize for being Americans. I say we should all stand up. Stand tall and shout from the mountaintops how proud we are to be in the freest, fairest land.

He said his grandfather told him, You can be bitter. Or you can do better.

Among the questions posed to Scott at the Scott County event: What differentiates you from the other candidates?

His answer: The power of persuasion.

The ability to get things done, even in a divided nation, he said. Ive been able to champion common sense conservatism and get my legislative priorities accomplished. The thing that I believe that we sometimes forget on our side of the aisle so to speak is that to win, not only elections, but to win the value proposition is that we as conservatives got to come together.

The audience applauded.

The road to socialism runs right through a divided Republican Party, Scott continued. The good news is that I have the most conservative voting record of anyone running for president on our side. Period. Number two: I also have the ability to persuade independents to join our team.

A GovTrack analysis of Scotts voting record in the Senate puts him in the upper-middle of the pack for a conservative voting record. However, Scott is so far the only U.S. Senator to throw his hat in the ring.

The power of persuasion is a differentiator in our primary, he said.

Mike Paar, from Davenport, asked the question. Although he knew it was a tough query for Scott, considering the sheer size of the field, Paar thought his answer was thoughtful and agreed with what he had to say.

Paar said he liked Scotts talk of unifying the Republican Party and attracting independents. Paar supported Marco Rubios campaign in the 2016 caucuses and is looking for someone who can avoid namecalling and behavior that could sour independents, such as former President Donald Trump.

Without independents, theyre not going to win the election, Paar said. No way.

Hes also interested in Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, but Scott is the first candidate of the cycle hes surveyed so far.

Other questions included:

How he would ensure paying essential federal employees during shutdowns. He said he would avoid shutdowns in the first place.

His opinion on the Afghanistan withdrawal. He called the loss of 13 lives a dereliction of duty on Joe Bidens part.

Whether the 2020 election was rigged. I do not believe the election was stolen, he said, but added that thinks there was some mail-in ballot cheating and irregularities that happen in most elections.

The nations immigration policies. He supports finishing a wall at the border and increased surveillance as well as basing fluxes of legal immigration on workforce needs of the country.

And the U.S. Department of Education. Scott said, if hes president, he will fire the Biden-appointee of the U.S. Department of Education as well as the U.S. Attorney General, Merrick Garland.

Scott often kept the mood lighthearted, sprinkling in some jokes that prompted laughs from the audience.

Gail Dover, of Bettendorf, said she appreciated what she called Scotts common sense. She said she remains undecided ahead of the 2024 caucuses but is looking for someone with strong presence and the ability to condense complex topics into easy-to-understand answers and solutions.
Russia claims that the Ukrainian military launched multiple drones in Crimea. This was confirmed by a Moscow official on Sunday, July 16.

Russia Claims Ukraine Launches Drone Attacks Over Crimea

According to The Guardian's latest report, the Russian air defense forces and fleet shot down Ukrainian drones over the Crimean port of Sevastopol.

Russia said that a total of nine UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) were repelled on July 16, as reported by France 24.

Two of these drones were taken down while flying over the sea. Meanwhile, the other five drones were intercepted by the Russian military using electronic warfare forces.

The remaining two drones were repelled on the outer shore. Because of Ukraine's alleged drone attacks, the Russian military decided to suspend Maritime transport, as well as some passenger ferries. Operations were halted for a few hours early in the morning.

Mikhail Razvozhayev, the Moscow-installed governor of Sevaspotol, confirmed that there were no casualties or damages.

"No objects, either in the city or in the water area were damaged," the Russian official said.

As of writing, the Ukrainian government hasn't confirmed if they really did send the nine drones destroyed by Russia.

Read Also: US, Japan, South Korea Condemn North Korea's Recent Missile Launch, Say Pyongyang Performs 'Grave Threat'

Ukraine Took Down 20 Russian Drones

Previously, Ukraine also took down 20 Russian drones after UAVs attacked Kyiv. These Russian drones, which were made by Iran, were shot down on Thursday, July 13.

Unfortunately, these UAVs injured four people; two of them were hurt by shrapnel while the remaining two suffered from smoke inhalation during fires.

The Russian drones also killed an elderly woman. However, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said that the main reason for the lady's death is still undetermined as she died in a fire overnight.

Ruslan Kravchenko, the governor of the Kyiv region, criticized the Russian drone attacks, saying that the Russian terrorists resorted to a mass attack again.

If you want to learn more details about the recent Russian drone attacks in Ukraine, you can click this link.

Related Article: Putin Could Let Wagner Mercenaries Keep Fighting in Ukraine in 1 Condition

@ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Kathmandu, Nepal, July 16, 2023: Foreign Minister NP Saud is leaving for Bangkok, the capital of Thailand, today to participate in the 'retreat' of foreign ministers of BIMSTEC nations.





He is going to leave for Bangkok at one o'clock in the afternoon on a Thai Smile Airways plane to participate in the 'retreat' that is going to start from Monday.





While participating in the 'retreat' in Bangkok, Foreign Minister Saud is said to meet with Indian Foreign Minister Jaishankar and other BIMSTEC foreign ministers.








Kathmandu, Nepal, July 16, 2023: Keshav Tuladhar, who was arrested earlier in the fake Bhutanese refugee case and was released on bail of 1.5 million rupees by the order of the Kathmandu District Court on July 12, has been arrested on charges of participating in the Lalitaniwas land scam case.





Tuladhar has been arrested by the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of the police on Sunday on charges that he was also involved in the embezzlement of 143 ropani government land of Lalitaniwas in Baluwatar. Single bench of Kathmandu District Court Judge Madhav Prasad Ghimire ordered him to be released on bail on July 12.





The 59-year-old Tuladhar, who was originally from Asan in Kathmandu and currently lives in New Bazar, was arrested by the team of the Kathmandu Valley Crime Investigation Office from Sano Rhabyang area in Kathmandu.





The police have started an investigation on the charge that two plots of government land of Lalita residence have been passed in his name. According to the police, it has been seeming that the land of Baluwatar was transferred to his name through some other persons including Meen Bahadur Gurung, who is currently in police custody on the same charge.
NICOSIA, Cyprus  New discoveries including gold ornaments and fine pottery at an ancient port city in Cyprus dating back more than 3,000 years indicate that the settlement was one of the Mediterranean's most important trading posts in the late Bronze Age, an archeologist says.

Professor Peter M. Fischer from the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, said the city now known as Hala Sultan Tekke because of its proximity to a famous mosque flourished in 1,630-1,150 B.C. because of its trade in the "most sought after product at that time"  plentiful copper mined from the Troodos mountain range. Some theorize that Cyprus got its name from copper because of its ancient trade in the metal.

Fischer said Tuesday that along with Mycenaean pottery, the Cypriot variety was "the most popular on the 'intercultural' market" of the time, reaching as far as modern-day Spain, Iraq, Turkey and Sudan.

Fischer, who concluded excavations at the site this year, said evidence now suggests "the great importance" of the ancient city, rivaling the majesty of Enkomi, considered the most important Bronze Age Cypriot city because of its unique layout.

He suggested that more fascinating discoveries could be in store at the Hala Sultan Tekke site because "maybe only 10%" has been exposed, with recent georadar and magnetometer surveys showing large building complexes 3-7 feet below the surface.

"The numerous finds of gold, most likely imported from Egypt but showing mainly Minoan motifs, demonstrate that the Egyptians received copper in exchange and that the contact with the Minoan-Mycenaean cultures was intense," Fischer said in an email.
BAERENT, Dr. Robert Horst Paul, 82, passed away peacefully at his residence with his family by his side. Robert is survived by his wife of 54 years, Kathryn; daughter, Stephanie Baerent A'Hearn; and son-in-law, Scott A'Hearn; and granddaughter, Lily Kathryn A'Hearn. He is also survived by his sister-in-laws; brother-in-law; nieces and nephew; grand-nieces and nephews; as well as several cousins in Germany and many colleagues and friends. He will also be dearly missed by his dog, Daisy.

Robert was born in Kalisz, Poland to the late Sigrid Lillian Kroeger and Gottfried Eduard Baerent on September 22, 1940. He was a World War II refugee and fled on foot with his mother and grandmother to Western Germany, eventually settling in Sindelfingen. In 1957, Robert immigrated to the U.S. with his mother and his late stepfather, Otto Tint.

Robert graduated from the University of Maryland with degrees in history and German. He continued his love of learning and German language, culture, and literature by earning a Master's degree from University of Kentucky and a doctoral degree from the University of Connecticut in these subjects. It was during his studies that he met his wife, Kathryn.

Robert taught German, history and geography for over 35 years at Randolph-Macon College in Ashland, Va. He also particularly enjoyed teaching a popular class about fairy tales. He was a well-loved professor and colleague, forming many long-lasting friendships. He was awarded Emeritus status in 2014. He enjoyed many hobbies and interests outside of teaching. He was an avid reader and watcher of German news and enjoyed listening to opera and classical music. He loved all things related to cars (particularly Mercedes), model trains, computers, technology, and he was an avid photographer.

He loved spending time with his family, together with Kathryn and Stephanie he enjoyed many family vacations to various U.S. states and trips back to Germany. He and Kathryn lived abroad and he taught at a German high school. While there, he and Kathryn travelled to Austria, Switzerland, E. Germany, Italy, The Netherlands, France, England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland. Later in life, they also spent their time traveling to places including Norway, Denmark, Latvia, and Egypt. Robert also visited Israel, Syria, and Jordan.

Robert cherished being an Opa to his granddaughter, Lily. He was always up for baby-sitting, playing a game, going on a walk, organizing a scavenger hunt and attending Lily's recitals or events. Robert will be remembered for his humor and laughter, kindness and friendship, and storytelling. The family wishes to thank the doctors, nurses and staff who cared for him during his illness.
If your K-12 school concerns revolve around "indoctrination," "grooming" and what you see as the pernicious influence of Marxism and Black Lives Matter, equity in education is either a low priority or the root of all evil.

If two-thirds of your county votes Republican, and your governor says Diversity, Equity and Inclusion have gone off the rails, a board focused on equity policy in education would face stiff headwinds from the get-go.

The Community Equity Advisory Board in Hanover County, which initially reported to Superintendent Michael Gill, began as an effort to address such issues as disproportionate disciplining of Black students and the lack of racial diversity in the school workforce. But its days became numbered when it came under the purview of a Hanover School Board that has spent the past couple of years waging culture wars.

On Tuesday, the School Board abolished the equity advisory board.

"Once the School Board decided to take it over, it seemed like they were intent on dismantling it through neglect," said Alicia Neumann, chair of the Community Equity Advisory Board. Even though supervisors Bob May and Steve Ikenberry joined the 25-member panel, "It was mostly just them wanting to kill it and not be good-faith partners at all."

Last summer, the School Board paused the equity board's work, refusing to approve its bylaws, even as equity board members rolled off as their terms expired, Neumann said. The advisory body withered before the School Board delivered the kill shot.

The tactic was similar to the one the School Board displayed in slow-walking the approval of a transgender student policy until a Virginia governor who shared their skepticism was elected.

On this issue, Gov. Glenn Youngkin unilaterally changed the title of the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion to the Office of Diversity, Opportunity and Inclusion. That office's chief, Martin Brown, declared DEI "dead" at a speech at Virginia Military Institute.

Jack Dyer, representing the Hanover County Republican Committee, told the School Board on Tuesday that about 21 of the Hanover equity board's members were "non-conservative" and "embrace a certain equity ideologue." Over 70% of Hanover's electorate "votes conservative values and principles and defines equity, in their real-life terms, as being a product of seizing opportunity and working hard to build the skills and meet the challenges to achieve it, and does not condone and rejects teaching and indoctrination of socialism into our schools or into our lives," Dyer said.

"I believe in equality, but not equity," another speaker said. "No one should be held back for the sake of others that do not have the same intellectual prowess. Equity lowers the standards of education."

Fairness, justice, egalitarianism and balance are synonyms of equity. So is open-mindedness, according to Oxford Languages. Opportunity was not listed as synonymous with equity.

"The willful misunderstanding of the word, saying that it promises equal outcomes, is wrong," Peggy Lavinder, a member of the equity advisory board, said at Tuesday's meeting.

The board's pending abolition of the advisory panel was more evidence that the School Board doesn't care about the education of all students, "only the ones who are white and Christian and wealthy," she said.

A third or more of the members of the Community Equity Advisory Board were women of color  a rare place where Black and brown Hanover parents could be heard, Neumann said.

The panel was much more diverse than Hanover, whose Black population is 10%. The board, in an anonymous application process, focused on getting members from underrepresented districts such as Beaverdam and South Anna, Neumann said. But as Lavinder said, "That is a problem when you don't believe in equity and want to serve on an equity board."

That nonbelief is problematic.

Equity envelopes special education, free lunches, Head Start and preschool programs, school bus transportation, and the response to the pandemic. It defines whether the various constituencies that make up the Hanover school district are having their needs met.

It's at the heart of what makes public education public.

"Most of you may not need it, but they are our kids; there are students in our schools who need equity, who need to be given a hand up to achieve the same thing that the rich kids already have," Pat Hunter-Jordan of the Hanover NAACP told the board Tuesday.

Naysayers need to view equity beyond the lens of race, gender or some other "other" they're loath to accommodate.

Virginia K-12 education funding is fraught with inequity, based on a recently released report by the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission.

Virginia school divisions receive less funding per student than the national and regional state averages. And inequities are baked into the funding formula.

"The formula does not adequately account for higher needs students. State funding for at-risk students, special education students, and English learner students is less than the level of funding determined necessary to educate them in cost studies performed in other states," the report states. It adds that the funding formula disadvantages small school divisions by failing to fully account for their higher per-student costs.

We are in a political landscape that sees starkly different realities. When public policy is stripped not only of established definitions, but seeks to erase the lived experience of people and communities, the result is an exclusion that is the antithesis of learning.

The denial of equity as a goal is a dereliction of duty. Hanover is charged with educating all of its children, not merely those of the political majority.
Lily Fasil's sister, Aida, dressed in flowy white garb, presides over the ceremonial preparation of the coffee on Sunday mornings. She sits behind her pulpit in the light-filled studio at Buna Kurs, Fasil's Ethiopian breakfast cafe in Jackson Ward, as those in attendance form an attentive circle around her.

Viridescent beans are methodically roasted on a cast-iron pan, crushed into a powder, and steeped in a slenderclay vessel called a "jebena." The enchanting aromas meld with incense burning in the backdrop. Conversations between complete strangers are exchanged. And a communal bowl of popcorn is passed around the room. The sacred buna ceremony has a meditative, soul-affirming quality to it, but not in the religious sense. "It's just an Ethiopian thing," says Fasil, a first-generation immigrant from Addis. For her and other children of the motherland, coffee is a birthright they are proud to uphold. "The togetherness is what coffee is for us."

The ceremony, traditionally an hourlong affair convened by Ethiopian families at the end of every communal gathering, progresses in three rounds. The first is known in Amharic as "abol." Two more follow, during which the brew gradually wanes in strength and boldness.

It's customary, though, to save the fullest-bodied batch for honored guests, for whom this entire show of hospitality has been orchestrated. At Fasil's cafe, that coveted first sip goes to any person lucky enough to snag a front-row seat to the caffeine-fueled action.

Buna Kurs takes its name from the assortment of light noshes served during the ceremony. Independently, however, the words "buna" and "kurs" also mean "coffee" and "breakfast," two hallmarks of Ethiopian cuisine that the cafe specializes in.

As much of a hub for Ethiopian culinary traditions as the place has become, this wasn't Fasil's initial plan. Like her dad, a renowned painter in Washington, D.C., she's always loved art, especially photography. The Virginia Commonwealth University grad had spent years, after moving back to Richmond in 2016, working a boring desk job, waiting tables, doing retail and driving for Uber. And she was desperate for a creative outlet.

Buna Kurs

Address: 402 N. Second St., Suite A

Phone: (804) 277-9411

Open: 7 a.m.-6 p.m. daily; coffee ceremony at noon Sunday, free and open to the public

Vibe: A bright, contemporary cafe

Ideal for: Ethiopian breakfast and coffee

Service: Excellent; owner Lily Fasil's warm, genial personality could fill an entire room

Best seat in the house: Window tables

Noise level: Quiet to moderately loud, depending on how busy the place is

Vegetarian: Yes

Parking: No

Wheelchair accessible: Yes

Reservations: No

Outdoor seating: Yes

The plan, which Fasil, a first-time business owner, finally hatched during the pandemic, was to open a multipurpose studio space for independent artists like herself. To help the business stand out, Aida persuaded her to incorporate elements of their culture, through the addition of a small cafe.

Equipped with a back studio, the former Saadia's Juicebox location felt like the perfect fit. Yet, since Buna Kurs opened in October 2022, the gravitational pull has all but shifted toward the front of the house, thanks to the popularity of the cafe. What began as a side project has become the main attraction.

The Buna Kurs menu is, as Fasil likes to call it, "unapologetically Ethiopian," featuring breakfast fare that one would ordinarily have to trek all the way to the D.C. area to find. In addition to coffee beans flown in from Yirgacheffe, the cafe sources many key ingredients  spices, flours, breads  from Ethiopia.

Fasil, having never worked in a kitchen or owned a restaurant before, tries to downplay her food as little more than common dishes that any Ethiopian household would know how to cook. However true that might be, the dishes are uncommonly good  and, at least for the rest of us, a revelation.

What is markedly different about the Ethiopian breakfast canon is the spectrum of flavors, set at a frequency with which the basic Western palate has never been attuned. A rush of sensations, unlike any you've probably experienced before, accompanies Fasil's cooking.

Most of it is brought to life by the mother of all spice blends, berbere. It's a mix of dried red peppers, ginger and vivid spices that mimics the reddish look of paprika but has a far smokier, spicier profile.

Swirled with olive oil, a sultry infusion of berbere is brushed onto the cratered surface of a spongy, two-layered crepe cake made from sourdough teff batter ($6.50). This creates a yin-yang effect with a dark orange tint on top and a pristine base of griddled, ivory-colored crepe on bottom.

Uneven pieces of injera are stained in berbere-rich ragu, which elevates the tanginess of the fermented grain bread with boldness and a bit of heat  and which, given its use of tomatoes, onions, garlic, and spices, is not wildly dissimilar to Indian bhuna masala. Fasil serves the saucy bread alongside garlicky, heavily-seasoned eggs and a fluffy mound of bulgur wheat, cajoled with sauteed onions and cardamom-scented butter  a quintessential combination at her family's breakfast table ($15.50).

"Those three (dishes) come together," the Buna Kurs owner says. "When an Ethiopian walks in here, they know."

Even the chechebsa ($9.50), the closest thing here to flapjacks, gets a dose of berbere. Just enough of it to wake you out of whatever nostalgic trance one might slip into while partaking in this plate of broken pancake pieces, lavished in a sweet, sticky mess of honey and clarified butter.

Mitmita, a fruity mix of chiles that packs even more of a punch than berbere, is employed for a light, vinegary dressing that steadily ignites a cool tomato salad ($5.50). The heat level crescendos, slicing through the freshness of the diced tomatoes and red onions without searing anyone's tongue off. Fresh, fiery and flavorful, the dish would fit right into a lineup of Korean-style banchan.

Another essential heating agent? Fresh jalapenos. Like the ones that Fasil minces up with garlic and tomatoes, scatters among squiggly injera strips and tosses around in olive oil and, of course, a twinge of berbere, yielding a bright, bready salad in proximity to a panzanella or fattoush ($6).

As the star of the Buna Kurs menu, breakfast is served all day. But those who plan to linger, particularly now that Fasil has extended the closing time from 3 to 6 p.m., can also sample the cafe's less-publicized lunch offerings.

Swaddled in a big injera blanket is a top-notch shiro ($16.50), a thick, creamy, luscious chickpea flour stew, the color and consistency of smooth peanut butter. Its flavors waver between charmingly nutty and, at times, slyly spicy.

Also blanketed by injera, the Ethiopian half-sibling of beef goulash, known as "awaze tibs" ($19.50), is made by cooking down the whole gamut of aromatics  onions, tomatoes, garlic, jalapeno and berbere  into a profoundly rich simmer sauce. Though the salt could be scaled back, it's an otherwise refined plate of food.

The success of the cafe, one of the best spots to open in this town in the past year, has taken Fasil by surprise. The Buna Kurs owner never expected that food, not fine art, would be the focus of her new business venture.

Even so, in bringing the influences of her native country to her newfound home in Richmond and introducing folks to traditions like the coffee ceremony, she still finds herself fulfilling her inner artistic desire to share different forms of culture with the world.

"Our father always wanted us to complete at least high school in Ethiopia so we knew our culture," says Fasil, who came to the United States after turning 21. "That culture was instilled in us."

And now, at 34, she gets to instill it in others. "In a way, that's art, too," she says, reflectively.
SWEDEN | PROTEST

STOCKHOLM  The man who said he would burn the Torah and the Bible outside the Israeli Embassy in Stockholm gave up his plan and instead held a one-person demonstration on Saturday against the burning of holy books, the media reported.

At the scene, he said he was a Muslim and threw a lighter he held in his hand to the ground, saying he never intended to burn holy books.

The man, who is in his 30s and received a permit for the protest from Stockholm police, said such an action would be against the Quran, the Muslim holy book, and that he "will not burn," according to the Swedish news agency TT.

The man, who resides in western Sweden, also said "no one should do that," the report said.

The previous day, Israeli officials called on the Swedish government to stop the protest and the burning of the holy books on Saturday afternoon outside the diplomatic mission. Israeli President Isaac Herzog and the World Jewish Congress condemned the action in advance, as did Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen and Israel's Chief Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef.

The Times of Israel reported that the man arrived outside the Israeli diplomatic mission on Saturday afternoon holding a copy of the Quran and saying that it was never his intention to burn Jewish or Christian holy books, only to protest the recent burning of the Quran.

Swedish public broadcaster SVT said the man threw the lighter to the ground and said he didn't need it.

"I'm a Muslim, we don't burn (books). I want to show that we have to respect each other," the man said, according to SVT, adding that he had no intention to realize his original plan.

Sweden recently faced strong criticism from Muslim countries for allowing protesters to burn the Quran at small anti-Islam demonstrations.

The man who filed the request for Saturday's protest said he wanted to burn the Torah and the Bible outside the Israeli Embassy in response to an Iraqi immigrant burning the Quran outside a Stockholm mosque last month.

The right to hold public demonstrations is strong in Sweden and protected by the constitution. Blasphemy laws were abandoned in the 1970s. Police give permission for events based on whether they believe a public gathering can be held without major disruptions or public safety risks.

On Wednesday, the top U.N. human rights body overwhelmingly approved a measure calling on countries to do more to prevent religious hatred in the wake of the Quran burnings. It was approved despite objections of Western countries that fear tougher steps by governments could trample freedom of expression. Last month, an Iraqi Christian immigrant burned a copy of the Quran outside a Stockholm mosque during the major Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha, triggering widespread condemnation in the Islamic world.

A similar protest by a far-right activist was held outside Turkey's Embassy earlier this year, complicating Sweden's efforts to convince Turkey to let it join NATO.

Turkey on Monday withdrew its objections to Sweden joining the alliance, a step toward the unity that Western leaders are eager to demonstrate in the face of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's was a significant move toward Sweden's membership and came after days of intensive meetings.
ANNAPOLIS, Md.  The General Services Administration announced changes in criteria for choosing a location for a new FBI headquarters on Friday, boosting two potential places in Maryland, which has been competing with Virginia for the bureaus new home.

The new criteria give more weight to cost and social equity concerns than proximity to the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia.

Maryland officials, including Gov. Wes Moore, were encouraged that the announcement corrects the flawed approach released in September that ignored taxpayer costs and the Biden-Harris Administrations commitment to equity, they said in a statement.

Maryland officials, including Rep. Steny Hoyer and six other members of the states congressional delegation, remain confident that two locations in Maryland, either Greenbelt or Landover in the suburbs of the nations capital, provide the best operational and cost-effective options for the new, consolidated FBI Headquarters, they said.

Virginia Sens. Tim Kaine and Mark Warner expressed concern about the changes in a joint statement of their own.

The GSA didnt pluck its initial criteria out of thin air  it spent years talking to experts and carefully deliberating on what is best for the mission of the FBI, the senators said. While we are concerned that these changes to the criteria will further delay what has already been a drawn-out, decade-long process to select a new site to replace the dilapidated headquarters downtown, we remain confident that Virginia continues to be a home run in every category, and encourage the GSA to draw this process to a close sooner rather than later.

The General Services Administration announced it had reduced the significance of the new headquarters being near other FBI facilities to 25% from 35%. It also increased cost and social equity to 20% each.

The General Services Administration said the three sites under review  Greenbelt and Landover in Maryland, and Springfield, Virginia  were selected in 2014 by the administration because they all met the baseline requirements of the FBI, including being able to accommodate the size of a new headquarters facility and meet the federal governments unique security requirements.

The administration anticipates making a site selection in the coming months, it said in a statement.

Roughly 7,500 jobs are tied to the new facility, budget documents estimate.

From the Archives: 160 photos of Shockoe Bottom through the years
At a time when states are restricting how our nations racial history can be taught, we stand as living proof that only through truth telling can our country move toward reconciliation.

The two of us are linked by history  Ann as a descendant of a Virginia plantation owner and enslaver; Robin as a descendant of a family enslaved on that plantation. We are also, remarkably, friends.

We met a year ago when Ann was researching her familys history as enslavers. That work led her to the Mines family, and she connected with Robin, who was already involved in racial reconciliation work. Together with five cousins  two white Morrises and three black Mines  we forged a tight-knit group that met regularly in person and on Zoom for six months.

Our meetings culminated in June with an in-person gathering of more than 180 descendants from both families. We gathered on a steamy Saturday under a huge white tent on the former plantation in Caroline County to explore the truth of our shared history. It was here that our ancestors once lived  the Morris family in a grand, two-story house and the Mines, along with other enslaved families, in small, rustic dwellings.

Throughout the afternoon, we shared stories and a meal, pored over family trees and toured the only remaining slave cabin on the property. We prayed. We sang. But mostly, we talked, saying things to each other most of us never imagined could be voiced.

What do you say to a person whose ancestors enslaved your ancestors? Or to a person whose ancestors were enslaved by your ancestors? It turns out, curiosity and open-heartedness go a long way.

Each member of our planning group took a turn to speak. Ann, who grew up in Roanoke, spoke about the myths and lies she was taught about her family, and about slavery  that her ancestors were good slave owners; that they didnt sell enslaved people at auction (public records tell a different story); and that her great-great-grandfather, who graduated from medical school in the North, didnt believe in slavery. (He enslaved 28 people.) She also talked about what she was taught in Virginia public schools in the 1960s, that most slaves were happy.

Robin, who grew up in Richmond, spoke about moving into a white neighborhood in the 1960s and attending a newly desegregated school. The Ku Klux Klan burned a cross on her familys yard, their new home was shot up, and she was subject to racial taunts and attacks at school. Through it all, she said, her faith sustained her, and she has dedicated her life to promoting unity, justice and racial healing. Invoking her ancestors, who labored on the former plantation where we gathered, Robin called for love to replace hatred and reminded us that racial reconciliation requires accountability and forgiveness.

Many more important truths came to light that day:

* That some of the black descendants had been mistrustful of the event, wondering what the white people wanted when they received invitations to this unusual gathering; there had to be a catch. Some white family members worried theyd be confronted and blamed for their ancestors actions. Neither concern proved true.

* That the truths of history can be lost. One white descendant from New Mexico had lived her entire life never knowing her ancestors had enslaved people. A Black descendant who grew up in the area told of playing in the woods and seeing the old slave cabin, never knowing what it was or that his enslaved ancestors had lived there.

* That slaverys legacy was palpable, even on our name tags. White Morrises met Black Morrises, and white Hunters met Black Hunters. The shared names highlighted a painful truth: Most enslaved people were not dignified with last names and, upon emancipation, some assumed the name of their most recent enslaver.

We have no illusion that our gathering and its ripple effects will undo racism or address systemic disparities that have their roots in slavery. But we do know that where there was mistrust, there is now a bridge to better understanding. Where there were strangers, there are now friends. Where there was silence, there is meaningful conversation.

We hope to hold another gathering in a year or two. In the meanwhile, our planning team  the seven of us linked by history, place and a commitment to truth telling  will discern next steps. There is the slave cabin that should be preserved and an unmarked slave cemetery that should be memorialized; there are oral histories to gather, and there is a dream of a college scholarship fund for Black descendants.

Whatever we do, we will keep exploring difficult truths, no matter where those discussions lead us. Thats what our country needs to do as well. The impulse to limit how our nations difficult racial history is taught because some people might be offended can only take us backward.

Close 06-21-1969 (cutline): Summer's arrival at 9:55 a.m. today found Elmore Tucker and Arthur Hermann at the 17th Street Market, displaying produce from Hermann's farm at Quinton, New Kent County. 08-11-1987 (cutline): Luceal Allen arranges produce in her stand at the Farmer's Market Festival. 08-16-1980 (cutline): Leonard and Kathy Wheeler (center) sell her handcrafted work on table set up for Farmer's Market festival. 06-26-1953 (cutline): Wilbur Smith puts a polish on the First Market marker. 06-25-1986 (cutline): One of two antique terra cotta bulls' heads is prepared for mounting by Ron Kingery yesterday at the 17th Street Market. The heads, originally in place at a public market at Sixth and Marshall streets, were discovered in the Richmond Surplus Property warehouse. They have been restored by the virginia Commonwealth University art history professor Laurence Pace and a student, Linda Blackwell. 08-01-1986 (cutline): The hoedown celebrating the reopening of the Farmers' Market at 17th and Main streets gets under way at noon Saturday with arts, crafts, music by six bands--and farmers, of course. 07-09-1981 (cutline): Country delicacies of all sorts, from cantaloupes to green beans, are on sale at the 17th Street Market in Richmond. 12-28-1975 (cutline): Local vegetables are beginning to come in a serious way. The 17th Street market stalls are filling up. From the Archives: 17th Street Market The 17th Street Market on the corner on Main and 17th Streets has a long history in Richmond. The site had been a public gathering place since the 1700s and due to its closeness to the James River and Main Street, which was the connection between Richmond and Williamsburg; it was an ideal place for commerce. In 1779, the Virginia General Assembly officially declared the site as a public market. Decades later, in the 1850s, a larger market building was constructed. The First Market House was constructed during the Civil War in 1856 and originally served as a gathering place for soldiers on both sides of the warfirst Confederates, and later Union troops. Further renovations came in the mid twentieth century. The First Market building was razed in 1961, and the market was reconstructed as an open air space for vendors, as many of us know it today. 06-21-1969 (cutline): Summer's arrival at 9:55 a.m. today found Elmore Tucker and Arthur Hermann at the 17th Street Market, displaying produce from Hermann's farm at Quinton, New Kent County. 08-11-1987 (cutline): Luceal Allen arranges produce in her stand at the Farmer's Market Festival. 08-16-1980 (cutline): Leonard and Kathy Wheeler (center) sell her handcrafted work on table set up for Farmer's Market festival. 06-26-1953 (cutline): Wilbur Smith puts a polish on the First Market marker. 06-25-1986 (cutline): One of two antique terra cotta bulls' heads is prepared for mounting by Ron Kingery yesterday at the 17th Street Market. The heads, originally in place at a public market at Sixth and Marshall streets, were discovered in the Richmond Surplus Property warehouse. They have been restored by the virginia Commonwealth University art history professor Laurence Pace and a student, Linda Blackwell. 08-01-1986 (cutline): The hoedown celebrating the reopening of the Farmers' Market at 17th and Main streets gets under way at noon Saturday with arts, crafts, music by six bands--and farmers, of course. 07-09-1981 (cutline): Country delicacies of all sorts, from cantaloupes to green beans, are on sale at the 17th Street Market in Richmond. 12-28-1975 (cutline): Local vegetables are beginning to come in a serious way. The 17th Street market stalls are filling up.
HEAT WAVES

PHOENIX  A dangerous heat wave threatened a wide swath of the Southwest with potentially deadly temperatures in the triple digits Saturday as some cooling centers planned to extend their hours and emergency rooms prepared to treat more people will heat-related illnesses.

"Near record temperatures are expected this weekend!" the National Weather Service in Phoenix warned in a tweet, advising people to follow its heat safety tips such as drinking plenty of water and checking on family members and neighbors.

About 200 hydration stations distributing bottles of water and cooling centers where thousands of people can rest in air conditioned spaces opened Saturday morning in public spaces like libraries, churches and businesses around the Phoenix metro area.

"I've been here for four summers now and it's the worst so far," said Charles Sanders, a former welder originally from Denver. He spent Friday afternoon with his Chihuahua mix Baby girl at the air-conditioned Just a Center, which offers daytime services to older homeless people in downtown Phoenix. It's also serving as a hydration station, distributing free bottles of water to the public.

In Las Vegas, casinos offered respite from the heat for many. Air-conditioned libraries, police station lobbies and other places from Texas to California planned to be open to the public to offer relief at least for part of the day.

In New Mexico's largest city, Albuquerque, splash pads will be open for extended hours and many public pools offered free admission. In Boise, Idaho, churches and other nonprofit groups offered water, sunscreen and shelter.

Emergency room doctors in Las Vegas were treating more people for heat illness as the heat wave threatened to break the city's all time record high of 117 degrees Fahrenheit this weekend.

About 110 million people, or about a third of Americans, were under extreme heat advisories, watches and warnings Saturday as the blistering heat wave was forecast to get worse this weekend for Nevada, Arizona and California. Temperatures in some desert areas were predicted to soar past 120 degrees Fahrenheit during the day, and remain in the 90s F overnight.

The hot, dry conditions sparked blazes in Southern California, where firefighters on Saturday battled three separate brush fires that started Friday afternoon amid the hottest weather of the year so far. The fires are in mostly rural areas of Riverside County, southeast of Los Angeles.

Phoenix on Saturday saw the city's 16th consecutive day of 110 degrees Fahrenheit or higher temperatures, hitting that mark before noon and putting it on track to beat the longest measured stretch of such heat. The record was 18 days, set in 1974.

The heat was expected to continue into this week.

On the other side of the Atlantic, scorching temperatures across Europe forced the closure of the Acropolis in Athens for a second day as officials warned of even hotter weather ahead, when the mercury is forecast to top 104 degrees Fahrenheit in several popular Mediterranean tourist destinations.
Australia could be China's next target if it continues supporting the U.S. military. Defense experts even believe that Australia could be at risk of war, which could lead to a nuclear catastrophe.

Australia Could Be China's Next Target if It Supports US Military

Lowy Institute's International Security Program Director Sam Roggeveen provided a strong warning to Australia on Monday, July 17.

The former Australian intelligence analyst said that the country decided to bring its U.S. military strategy and combat forces to its shores to fight China.

"We have also chosen to build military capabilities of our own that are designed expressly to contribute to American operations to defeat China," added Roggeveen via The Guardian.

The military expert added that the defense decisions of Australia are putting it at risk of war. He further stated that the war, which is not central to Australia's security interests, could lead to a nuclear catastrophe.

Read Also: US, Japan, South Korea Condemn North Korea's Recent Missile Launch, Say Pyongyang Performs 'Grave Threat'

Australia's Defense Deal With the U.S.

Recently, Australia, together with the United Kingdom, unveiled a new defense deal with the United States called AUKUS.

BBC explained that under the AUKUS pact, the three countries will create a new fleet of nuclear-powered submarines.

These sea defense vessels will be designed to counter China's military efforts in the Indo-Pacific region. China accused the AUKUS pact, saying that the three countries are going on the path of "error and danger."

However, U.S. President Joe Biden defended the defense deal. The American leader explained that it aims to bolster peace in the region.

Biden clarified that the submarines will be nuclear-powered and not nuclear-armed.

Roggeveen said that Australia is supporting the U.S. because the country believes that it is safer within the alliance.

However, Sam explained that if China's capabilities to attack Australia increase, then the Australian government needs to re-evaluate its decisions to support the U.S. alliance.

Related Article: North Korea ICBM Launch Concerns Russia Leading to Missile Probe

@ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
A large convoy carrying fighters from the Wagner private army was spotted entering Belarus from Russia early Saturday, a monitoring group reported after the country's Defense Ministry said it planned for the mercenaries and Minsk's own armed forces to conduct joint military drills.

The independent monitoring group Belaruski Hajun, which tracks the movements of armed forces in Belarus, said at least 60 trucks, buses and other large vehicles crossed into the Eastern European country accompanied by Belarusian police.

The group didn't immediately provide photos or videos of the vehicles but said they had license plates from Russian-occupied areas of eastern Ukraine, where Wagner mercenaries fought alongside Russian troops until a short-lived mutiny last month.

The convoy headed toward a military base outside Osipovichi, a town 142 miles north of the Ukrainian border, Belaruski Hajun said. Satellite images analyzed by The Associated Press this month showed rows of tent-like structures that appeared to have been built at the base between June 15 and June 30.

The authoritarian president of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, said at the time that he offered the fighters an "abandoned military unit" to set up camp. A leader of an anti-Lukashenko guerrilla group told the AP that construction of a site for the mercenaries was underway near Osipovichi.

Ukraine's Center for National Resistance, an arm of the Ukrainian defense ministry that assists guerrilla groups in Russia-occupied territory, said later Saturday that about 240 Wagner fighters, 40 trucks and "a large amount of weapons" arrived in the Osipovichi area.
Correction July 18, 2023, 12:15 p.m.: Michael Hamlar recently completed his tenure as president of the Virginia Morticians' Association and remains owner, president and CEO of Hamlar-Curtis Funeral Home in Roanoke. The originally published version of this article incorrectly reported his status and has been updated.

FINANCIALS

tetson Franklin, a commercial relationship manager with American National Bank and Trust Co., has been promoted to vice president.

MEDICAL

Jessie Woods has been appointed chief compliance officer of HopeTree Family Services.

OTHER

Verge President Erin Burcham was recently named one of Virginia Business top 37 Wonder Women of 2023.

Michael L. Hamlar, owner and president of Hamlar-Curtis Funeral Home & Crematory, was honored at the Virginia Morticians Association 95th Annual Convention at the Hotel Roanoke Conference Center on June 30. He recently completed his tenure as president of the Virginia Morticians' Association.

Tyler Hughes has been named the new executive director of Virginias Heritage Music Trail: The Crooked Road.

The Library of Virginia recently announced that Nikki Giovanni will be among those honored with the librarys honorary Patron of Letters degree during the 26th Annual Virginia Literary Awards Celebration in October.

Gov. Glenn Youngkin recently announced additional key administration and board appointments: Debbie Kilgore of Gate City, retired family and consumer science teacher and FCCLA advisor at Gate City High School, Board of Education; Nadia Rogers of Blacksburg, professor of practice and director of the Master of Accounting and Information Systems Program at Virginia Tech, Board Of Accountancy; The Honorable Kyle Kilgore of Gate City, Scott County Commonwealths Attorney, Board Of Conservation and Recreation; and Kimberly Beamer of Roanoke, attorney with Beamer Law PLLC, State Air Pollution Control Board.

Please submit business names and changes to names@roanoke.com. Color photographs only.
Restaurants opening across the region invite dinners to slurp, sip, savor. Read to the end of todays column for reactions from a sportsbar owner whose business fire officials said was set on fire last week.

Noodles & Company opened June 30 at Marketplace Shopping Center in Christiansburg, a spokeswoman said.

The company out of Broomfield, Colo., calls itself a leader in the fast casual lunch and dinner restaurant sector. Patrons choose from a menu of about 20 items the company describes as globally inspired and customizable and spend, on average, $12.50 a visit.

Highlights from the online menu, for $7 apiece, are Wisconsin Mac & Cheese, Japanese Pan Noodles, Pesto Cavatappi, The Med Salad, Pasta Fresca, Spaghetti with Marina and Buttered Noodles.

The chain is doing more business at its restaurants, which totaled 460 at the end of 2022, but losing money; one cause is said to be higher costs for such items as chicken, utilities and employees, according to a recent securities filing.

Juice store opensFruits & Roots has opened on Campbell Avenue in Roanoke selling juices, smoothies, bowls and snacks made to be highly nutritious.

Owner Christy Dilcher said she and her husband Jimmy vended bottled juice at the Roanoke City Farmers Market for the past 14 months and moved into the new store June 13.

The shop specializes in raw, organic, vegan, gluten-free, plant-based products to eat in the dining room, which seats about 16 people, or take out.

Its all about your health. You can heal your body with what you put in it, Dilcher said.

Previously, the business made its products at a rented commercial kitchen in Vinton. Now it has a kitchen of its own.

Downtown Salem

eatery openingBrood Restaurant & Bar was scheduled to open this past week in downtown Salem.

The restaurant seats 42 people in its dining room and nine at its bar for casual fine dining from a menu of southern-inspired food. Were not talking about fried chicken and roast beef, according to Crenshaw Reed, but dishes such as braised short ribs. We have Belgium-style mussels and frites as an appetizer, he said.

Reed said he and Ted and Lindsay Polfelt  all three co-owners  have been in the restaurant business about 20 years together, working for different establishments, and finally had an opportunity to do something on our own.

Blacksburg breakfast spot coming

Eggs Up Grill plans to open in Blacksburg this fall, according to a release from publicist Cecily Sorensen.

The business is being put together at 1349 S. Main St. by Darren and Samantha Gilreath and will be associated with a corporation by the same name based in Spartanburg, S.C., the release said.

The Gilreaths moved to the area after lengthy careers in the railroad industry in Kentucky. Samantha is currently a local school teacher and Darren is the third generation to run the Christmas tree farm his family founded in 1962. Samantha says they also had a lifelong dream to own a restaurant and discovered Eggs Up Grill when visiting a cousin who owns a franchise in North Carolina, the release said.

Sports bar experiences fire

The owner of a fire-damaged restaurant in Roanoke County was unsure last week when she would be able to reopen.

Everything is still under investigation as far as who set the fire, said Kay Phelps, owner of Xtr3me Sportsbar & Grill, on Tuesday. Phelps said she was working with her insurer and authorities to manage the situation.

Firefighters spent 25 minutes controlling a fire early Monday at Brookside Shopping Center. Investigators said later that the fire began in Xtr3me Sportsbar & Grill, had been set and caused $250,000 damage. Three other businesses were impacted.

Phelps said the restaurant was seven years old. The fire affected me and my team a great deal. Can I reopen? As far as I can and will, the time frame is to be determined, she said.

Watch Facebook for updates, she said.

Iconic Lexington restuarant closes

The Southern Inn, a reliable presence on Lexingtons Main Street for generations of diners, announced on Wednesday that it has closed.

Challenging economic times while also managing a growing catering business has brought us to this hard decision, owners George and Sue Ann Huger said in a website post.

The Hugers, who have operated the restaurant since 1998, will continue to offer the Southern Inn for special events and private parties and said they will run the Lexington Catering Company.

The inn suffered a damaging fire in 2010 but renovated and rekindled its familiar neon sign a year later. It had been serving the college town and its residents since 1932.
The sale proceeds of the property that housed the now defunct Shawsville Volunteer Rescue Squad are going to the Elliston Volunteer Fire Department and an organization that will provide scholarships to Eastern Montgomery High School graduates interested in pursuing first-responder careers.

A board that deals with operations also decided to allocate what was left of the rescue squads operating budget to the Izaak Walton League of America and the Waldron Foundation, each of which will equally split the funds.

These decisions, made last month, mark the latest  and likely final  chapters of the rescue squad. The Montgomery County Board of Supervisors formally dissolved the agency in May.

The rescue squad appeared to have ceased operations earlier this year when its two buildings, the station facility itself and a garage/warehouse structure, were listed for sale. The listing sparked questions among eastern Montgomery County residents, particularly about where the organizations remaining funds and equipment would go.

While the rescue squad is no more and the questions over the funds have been resolved, some questions about the agency remain.

Chris Tuck, an attorney and former member of the countys board of supervisors, said he was approached in his law office in May by a member of the two boards involved with the rescue squad.

Tuck said he learned from the person, John Akers, that he had previously been appointed  without his knowledge  to the rescue squad board that deals with real estate. The attorney said Akers had appointed him.

Tuck said Akers also asked him to sign a document, the nature of which the former supervisor said he remains unclear about. Tuck said Akers had a portion of the document peeled back to only show the signature page.

I felt very uncomfortable signing that, said Tuck.

Tuck said he prepared to resign his board seat but was later asked by others close to the rescue squad to remain involved in some capacity.

I realized I could be a conduit to help with transparency, he said.

Tuck declined to further comment on Akers, but local and federal court records obtained by The Roanoke Times show the board member has a history that includes a felony conviction of grand larceny in 1988 and a guilty plea to mail fraud in 2001.

The grand larceny case took place in Roanoke County Circuit Court, but court staff this week were unable to provide further information on the case due to its age.

The mail fraud case occurred in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia. Immediately available documents on the case show Akers served approximately one year of prison and was ordered to pay restitution of $73,773 to M.W. Manufacturers Inc. and $23,011 to the Precision Steel Manufacturing Corp.

The Roanoke Times reached out to Akers by both phone and email correspondence. He answered a phone call but told a reporter he was at work and would address the matter via email.

The Shawsville Volunteer Rescue Squad dissolved due to a lack of volunteers, as many volunteer agencies have experienced in recent years, Akers wrote in an email. The dissolution was not due to any financial impropriety or other wrongdoing. The department had safeguards in place and independent reviews to protect from such improprieties.

Akers also addressed his criminal past.

Akers said he considered applying for the rescue squad in 2003 and stopped by the station one afternoon where he spoke with a member about his interest in serving the community.

As is relevant to your inquiry, he informed me that there would be a background check, and I shared that I had a criminal history. He encouraged me to apply, and I did. All prospective members must undergo a criminal history check, he wrote. When the report returned, Ray Chandler, the rescue squad captain at the time, approached me and asked me to explain the circumstances. I explained and subsequently was voted in as a squad member.

Akers said hes thankful to the rescue squad for giving him a second chance and not jumping to conclusions, which he added The Roanoke Times seems to have done based upon the implications in your email.

I have given  my time to the eastern Montgomery County community through SVRS, he wrote. I mourn the loss of this volunteer organization, and the great family and comradery that existed within it. Perhaps an article focusing on the loss of these volunteer community agencies would be more appropriate than trying to find nefarious actions in the dissolution of this agency.

Akers didnt address a question from The Roanoke Times specifically asking him about the 1988 case and didnt respond to a follow-up email from a reporter. The follow-up email included a question about the rescue squads budget before its dissolution.

The rescue squad had total revenue of $166,051, which all came from contributions and grants, according to the latest available tax form on www.guidestar.org, a site that provides publicly available financial figures on nonprofits. That latest tax form, a 990EZ, is from 2021, but was unavailable during a search performed earlier this year.

The 2021 form showed total expenses of $144,064, leaving the squad with a balance of just under $22,000. The expenses were from items such as advertising, insurance, auto repair, fuel and computer and internet.

The 2020 tax form, however, shows revenue of $237,994 and expenses of $261,610, leaving a deficit of $23,616.

The rescue squads property board approved the sale of the buildings to Primo-Con Inc., according to a June 17 document signed by each member. The buildings have separate addresses of 6620 and 6604 Roanoke Road.

The document specifies exactly how much of the proceeds were awarded to each recipient.

The bulk of the proceeds, $249,955, was awarded to the Eastmont Community Foundation, and the rest, $62,488, was awarded to the Elliston Volunteer Fire Department.

Primo-Con Inc. is requesting a special use permit from the county to allow a contractors service establishment at the Roanoke Road structures.

Were pleased that the funds are staying in the eastern Montgomery County community, said Lauren Tate, president of Eastmont Community Foundation. They will be used solely for the purpose of scholarship funds.

The foundation is in the process of establishing endowed funds that will be provided to Eastern Montgomery High graduates for first-responder education, she said.

Montgomery County Supervisor Steve Fijalkowski, whose district covers the Shawsville area, briefly commented on the sale of the property during a meeting this week. He said the funds will help the Elliston Volunteer Fire Department buy some new equipment.

The Izaak Walton League of America has long provided outdoor activities. The Waldron Foundation has over the years provided a great deal of money to the Shawsville first-responder groups.

Several other rescue squad board members could not be reached for comment for this story.

Tuck said hes glad to know that not a single nickel of the sale proceeds and remaining budget are going to members of the two boards. He said the rescue squad is required to allocate that money to charitable organizations.

This is going to allow somebody to get EMS training, and it recognizes all the time and effort those volunteers have given and it [the money] stays in the community, Tuck said.
MONETA  Pirates young and old packed into Crazy Horse Marina on Saturday for the annual water yo-ho-ho.

This years Smith Mountain Lake Pirate Days includes a massive jump in crowd size over previous years. Chris Bechtler, the marina manager, estimated visitors in the thousands. That did not include the countless boats within the marina involved in water battles throughout the day.

I love it, Bechtler said of the large crowds.

This year the marina expanded Pirate Days to include more than 100 vendors lining an open field. Along the shoreline were live mermaid demonstrations, pirate costume contests for kids and a group of pirate reenactors entertaining the crowd.

Todd Willis, better known by his pirate name of Mr. Willis, led a demonstration that involved shooting miniature cannons in front of a crowd of spectators lining the shoreline. Willis is part of a group of reenactors known as the Loose Cannon Company that has attended Pirate Days the past few years.

The Loose Cannon Company attends as many as 25 events each year. Willis said SML Pirate Days is one of his favorites due to the friendly atmosphere as well as the ability to work right on the water.

This is like a vacation for us, Willis said. We get to shoot cannons and dress like pirates.

Roanoke resident Steve Bernard attended Saturdays Pirate Days with his wife, Tara, and friends. He said the event continues to grow each year with Saturday being the biggest so far in its decade of history.

This is the largest it has ever been, Bernard said.

Tara Bernard said she and her husband, like many people, come to see the water fights and the people dressed as pirates wandering the marina. You just dont know what you are going to see, she said.

Amanda Jordan-Eubank of Goodview has taken her daughter Kendall, 11, to Pirate Days for the past eight years. Its an annual tradition, she said.

Jordan-Eubank sported a pirate outfit enjoying the day from her boat docked at the marina. They started out the day attending the Pancakes and Pirates event at Bridgewater Plaza in Moneta at 8 a.m. and planned to stay at the marina for much of the afternoon.

P.J. Nagel, organizer Pirate Days, was glad to see the large crowds and everything running smoothly on Saturday. He said crowds have continued to grow each year since he took over the event. The only minor drop in attendance was during 2020 and 2021 due to COVID-19 restrictions.

With planning over for this years Pirate Days, Nagel said he is already looking toward next year. He is hoping that crowds will be even bigger next year and possibly compete with other massive pirate festivals held across the country.

Im not done yet, Nagel said.
If everybody owns it, nobody owns it. Therein lies the essence of The Tragedy of the Commons, famously articulated in the journal Science in 1968 by University of California professor Garrett Hardin.

Hardins paradigm has had enormous influence on environmental education and natural resources policy to this day. Yet, it is a seriously flawed view, whose solution engenders class conflict, racism and eugenics.

Hardin asserted that open grazing and hunting rights inevitably lead to exploitation of common property and extinction of species, i.e., if I dont shoot the last rhino, that other poacher will. Therefore, privatization is the path to sustainability.

Unfortunately, there is indeed some valid logic to Hardins premise, relevant today in one major respect: many/most people are prone to taking better care of their private property than public property, e.g., where do you see the most graffiti and litter? As to why many people take better care of private than public property, the phenomenon baffles me economically, philosophically and spiritually. Perhaps it is a genetically hard-wired trait aimed at survival?

The power of self-interest has both positive and negative consequences. Managing private property via the profit motive fosters creative entrepreneurship and technological innovation. During Westward Expansion, when the bison herds plummeted from 14 million to only 150 in just two decades due to the arrival of railroads, rifles and white men, privatization of the lands saved the species.

Conversely, short-term planning horizons can exploit natural resources at unsustainable rates of depletion for immediate profits. When a dairy cows milk production begins to decline after 10 consecutive years of pregnancy, her days are numbered. Hence, the challenge of capitalism is the reality that acting out of our own individual self-interest (a good thing) can gravitate into our darker side of selfishness (a bad thing).

Hardins mindset regarding natural resources  first come, first served, dont be last  underlies his xenophobic world view. In his advocacy of lifeboat ethics, Hardin argues that finite global resources pose a zero-sum game, therefore the strong should throw the weak overboard. Allowing immigration shrinks everyones slice of the finite national pie. Explicitly rejecting the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Hardin boldly asserted that less economically productive humans should not be allowed to reproduce.

Privatization guarantees neither sustainability nor equity. Driven by profits, the fossil fuel industry has generated unprecedented income disparity, devastating wars, accelerating climate change, species extinction, agricultural uncertainty and massive dislocation of people, including environmental injustices on marginalized communities.

In his holistic and visionary encyclical Laudato Si  On Care for Our Common Home, Pope Francis challenges humanity to face reality:

A true ecological debt exists, particularly between the global north and south, connected to commercial imbalances with effects on the environment, and the disproportionate use of natural resources by certain countries over long periods of time.

We fail to see that some are mired in desperate and degrading poverty, with no way out, while others have not the faintest idea of what to do with their possessions, vainly showing off their supposed superiority and leaving behind so much waste which, if it were the case everywhere, would destroy the planet. In practice, we continue to tolerate that some consider themselves more human than others, as if they had been born with greater rights.

Is there good news? Yes, on two fronts: privatization is not the absolute key to sustainability, nor is life a zero-sum game.

Directly rebutting Hardins analysis, scholar Matto Mildenberger, agricultural economist Dan Bromley, environmental ethicist Gary Comstock and Nobel Laureate economist Elinor Ostrom demonstrate that voluntary cooperation, regional culture, and international treaties can control access to natural resources just as effectively, or perhaps more effectively, than privatization. Private property carries a social mortgage obligating its use to serve the common good. Some commercial enterprises already realize that going green is a profitable strategy. Wall Street has designed a Sustainability Index to guide investors.

The real tragedy of the tragedy of the commons is its assumption that we gain wealth at others expense. History proves otherwise. Technological advancement and economic efficiency expand the available pool and distribution of natural resources.

For example: who is the richest person to have ever lived to date? Perhaps Marcus Licinius Crassus (115-53 BC). The cunning Roman emperor ruled much of the Mediterranean world, amassed enormous wealth by quickly purchasing property set on fire during Romes inferno, later re-selling it at inflated prices. His personal estate of 200 million sestertii equaled the entire annual budget of the Roman Republic at the time  32 times as wealthy in comparable terms than Bill Gatess $62 billion today.

Or, one might argue Genghis Kahn (1162-1227 AD) who conquered and ruled the largest contiguous empire in history. Ten percent of Asias population today are Kahns direct descendants.

Yet, neither Crassus nor Kahn ever wore Hokas, flew cross-country, filled a tooth cavity, took an aspirin or antibiotic, received heat or light from electricity, slept under an air conditioner, traveled on a smooth road in a quiet vehicle, saw a movie, listened to recorded music, read a book, made a phone call, or visited Starbucks. Today, billions of people enjoy higher quality lives than our wealthiest ancestors. Rejecting false paradigms and properly defining wealth, our challenge today is to eliminate greed. Then a rising tide lifts all boats.
FLORENCE, S.C.  Saturday was an uplifting day at McLeod Health and Fitness Center  a very uplifting day as the facility played host to the Palmetto Classic USA Powerlifting Regional Qualifier.

Competitors each did a bench press, squat and dead lift.

The event was full in more ways than one  84 lifters and 84 slots for them plus 150 chairs filled and spectators standing upstairs and downstairs to watch the action.

We have quite a few lifters in it and theyre going extremely well, said Tory Zwansiger of McLeod lifters in the competition. Theyre excited about it. The idea around this was to get local lifters a place for them to lift and compete and get more people involved in the sport and lifting in general.

The regional meet included lifters from both Carolinas and Georgia, he said.

This is the second year running that the center has played host to a lifting competition.

Last year was the Five Bar and this year we were able to get the Palmetto Classic here, which is an already established event and bigger event and since the venue worked out so well last year we were able to get the event here this year which is a much larger meet and its going to give us much more exposure, Zanswiger said.

This is the biggest such meet he can remember coming to Florence, Zanswiger said.

For as long as Ive lived here, and Ive been here since 1996, there hasnt been anything remotely close to anything like this. Its usually just a small local meet, he said.

The fitness center, he said, is set up with all the amenities needed to play host to such meets from wi-fi to seats to standing room.

Each athlete gets three attempts to put up their highest score in each one of the disciplines, said Heather Faas, meet director and owner of Titus Strength and Fitness in Summerville. At the end of the day whoever has the highest total in that weight class will win. After all of that is said and done well put everybody in classes, male and female together, to see who is the best power lifter per pound.

Saturdays event also included five Special Olympics lifters.

A couple of them can, yes, Faas said of competing with other lifters. The biggest thing we deal with is the listening aspect and coordination and sometimes putting all of that together on the platform with all the weight on them but they rally. Theyre really, really strong and they love to come train with me every week and its something theyre very passionate about.

This is going great, Faas said of the meet after several of her lifters competed. We love this facility. Theyre pull out all the stops for us and being so helpful.

Winners in Saturdays competition will advance to the nationals, she said.
BEIJING (Reuters) - China's top diplomat Wang Yi told the Indian foreign minister that bilateral ties need to be stabilised, as the two Asian neighbours searched for ways to ease simmering military tensions along their vast border.

On the sidelines of ASEAN meetings in the Indonesian capital of Jakarta, Wang told Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar that mutual support between the two nations is needed instead of suspicion, according to a readout from the Chinese foreign ministry.

India and China share a 3,800-km (2,360-mile) frontier, much of it poorly marked, and fought a brief but bloody war over it in 1962.

Since the 1990s, ties have improved after a series of border agreements, and China is now India's second-largest trading partner.

A setback in 2020, however, when 20 Indian soldiers and four Chinese soldiers were killed in hand-to-hand fighting during a border clash, spurred both militaries to fortify positions and deploy large numbers of troops and equipment.

Several rounds of military and diplomatic talks have helped to ease tensions between the two armies, but New Delhi has described the situation on the border as fragile and dangerous.

China and India need to work in the same direction to find a solution to border issues acceptable to both sides, Wang told Jaishankar during their meeting on Friday.

"The two sides should support each other and accomplish things together, rather than wear each other down or suspect each other," Wang said.

India and China should not let specific issues define their overall relationship, he said.

The two sides agreed to hold the next round of military commander-level talks on border issues at an early date, the Chinese foreign ministry said.

Since 2020, New Delhi has also ramped up scrutiny of Chinese businesses, banning more than 300 Chinese apps, including TikTok. It has also intensified scrutiny of investments by Chinese firms.

On India's recent restrictions against Chinese companies, Wang urged a fair, transparent and non-discriminatory business environment for Chinese companies.

(Reporting by Ryan Woo; Editing by Edmund Klamann)
TORONTO  Decades after many other rich countries stopped forcibly sterilizing Indigenous women, numerous activists, doctors, politicians and lawsuits allege the practice has not ended in Canada.

A Senate report last year concluded "this horrific practice is not confined to the past, but clearly is continuing today." Medical authorities in Canada's Northwest Territories sanctioned a doctor in May for forcibly sterilizing an Indigenous woman in 2019.

There are no solid estimates on how many women are being sterilized against their will, but Indigenous experts say they regularly hear complaints about it. Sen. Yvonne Boyer, whose office is collecting data, says at least 12,000 women were affected since the 1970s.

"Whenever I speak to an Indigenous community, I am swamped with women telling me that forced sterilization happened to them," Boyer, who has Indigenous Metis heritage, said.

Dr. Andrew Kotaska performed the 2019 operation to relieve an Indigenous woman's abdominal pain. He had her written consent to remove her right fallopian tube but not her left one, which would leave her sterile. Despite objections from other medical staff during the surgery, Kotaska took out both.

The investigation concluded there was no medical justification and Kotaska's "severe error in surgical judgment" was unethical, cost the patient the chance to have more children and could undermine trust in the medical system. Investigators suspended Kotaska's medical license for five months and ordered him to take an ethics course.

The woman is suing Kotaska and hospital authorities for 6 million Canadian dollars.

The Geneva Conventions describe forced sterilization as a type of genocide and crime against humanity, and the Canadian government condemned forced sterilization elsewhere, including of Uyghur women in China.

In 2018, the United Nations Committee Against Torture told Canada it was concerned about persistent reports of forced sterilization, saying all allegations should be investigated.

In 2019, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau acknowledged the murders and disappearances of Indigenous women across Canada amounted to "genocide," but activists say little was done to address ingrained prejudices, allowing forced sterilizations to continue.

The Canadian government said it was aware of the allegations and the matter is before the courts. "Sterilization of women without their informed consent constitutes an assault and is a criminal offense," it said. It acknowledged bias in the health system "continues to have catastrophic effects" on Indigenous people.

Indigenous people comprise about 5% of Canada's nearly 40 million people. The more than 600 Indigenous communities across Canada, known as First Nations, face significant health challenges compared to other Canadians.

Until the 1990s, Indigenous people were mostly treated in segregated hospitals, where there were reports of rampant abuse.

It's difficult to say how common sterilization  with or without consent  happens, as Canada's national health agency doesn't routinely collect sterilization data, including the ethnicity of patients.

In 2019, Sylvia Tuckanow told the Senate committee investigating forced sterilizations about how she gave birth in a Saskatoon hospital in July 2001. She described being disoriented from medication and being tied to a bed as she cried.

"I could smell something burning," she said. "When the (doctor) was finished, he said, 'There: tied, cut and burnt. Nothing will get through that,'" Tuckanow said, referring to her fallopian tubes. She said she hadn't consented.

In November, a report documented nearly two dozen forced sterilizations in Quebec from 1980 to 2019, including one woman who said her doctor told her after bladder surgery that he removed her uterus  without her consent.

The report concluded doctors and nurses "insistently questioning whether a First Nations or Inuit mother wants to (be sterilized) after the birth of her first child seems to be an existing practice in Quebec."

There are at least five class-action lawsuits against health, provincial and federal authorities involving forced sterilizations in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Quebec, British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario and elsewhere.

May Sarah Cardinal, the representative plaintiff in the Alberta case, said she was pressured into having her tubes tied after having her second child in 1977, but the doctor never explained the procedure was irreversible.

The doctor told me: There are hard times ahead and how are you going to look after a bunch of kids? What if your husband leaves? she said. I didnt feel like I had a say.

Some women were not even aware they were sterilized.

Morningstar Mercredi, an Indigenous author, was sterilized as a 14-year-old, but didn't find out until decades later when she sought help after being unable to conceive.

"I went into a catatonic stage and had a nervous breakdown," she wrote in her 2021 book, "Sacred Bundles Unborn."

The Senate report on forced sterilization made 13 recommendations, including compensating victims, measures to address systemic racism in health care and a formal apology.

The Canadian government said it invested more than 87 million Canadian dollars to improve access to culturally safe health services and last year it allocated $6.2 million to help survivors of forced sterilization.

Dr. Ewan Affleck, who made a 2021 film, " The Unforgotten," about racism against Canada's Indigenous people, noted an ongoing "power imbalance" in health care.

Mercredi said she continues to suffer. "No amount of therapy or healing can reconcile the fact that my human right to have children was taken from me."

Photos: Pope begs forgiveness of Indigenous for Canada school abuses
Jungkook of K-pop boy group BTS / Courtesy of Big Hit Music



By Dong Sun-hwa



Jungkook of K-pop behemoth BTS is taking the global music charts by storm with his solo release, "Seven."



"Seven," an addictive summer anthem sprinkled with the 1990s U.K. garage rhythms, debuted at No. 1 on the Daily Song Top Global chart of Spotify, July 14. According to the world's largest streaming platform, "Seven" reached 15,995,378 streams  the highest-ever number for any new song to enter the aforementioned chart.



The three versions of the tune  the clean, explicit and instrumental  all secured the top spots on Japan's Oricon chart upon their releases as well, taking first, second and fourth place, respectively. The clean version garnered 17,142 downloads.



"Seven," featuring American rapper Latto, also reigned atop iTunes Top Song chart in 106 countries including the U.S., Canada and Germany. It ranked first on Melon, a major music streaming platform in Korea, only 11 hours after its release, leading Jungkook to set a new record as a male solo artist.



"As soon as I heard 'Seven,' I felt that I must take it," Jungkook said through his management company, Big Hit Music. "'Seven' is of a genre that I have never taken on before, so I could learn a lot of different things as I prepared for its release."



Jungkook premiered "Seven" at the Good Morning America (GMA) Summer Concert Series, July 14. He is the sixth BTS member to make an official solo debut, following j-hope, Jin, RM, Jimin and Suga.


It looks like Donald Trump could soon be indicted again (yes, it would be his third time this year). Atlanta-area District Attorney Fani Willis has said she expects to make a decision about whether to indict him before September.

Willis has been building a case against Trump and his allies for more than two years now, and it all started on that fateful day (Jan. 2, 2021) when Trump held a phone call with Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger. He demanded Raffensperger find 11,780 votes so Trump could overturn Joe Bidens victory in Georgia. Two days later, Willis stared working as the Fulton County DA, and within weeks had formally opened a criminal investigation into Trumps attempts to influence the administration of the 2020 Georgia general election.

Since then, Willis investigation seems to have been moving steadily toward an indictment. Just last week a grand jury was sworn in; dozens of witnesses have already testified; and Willis has publicly flirted with the idea of leaning on a wide-ranging Georgia racketeering law to drastically increase the scope of her impending indictment.

Heres everything we know so far about Willis investigation into Trump:

Theres a lot of evidence

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Trumps phone call to Raffensperger was just the tip of the iceberg. After the 2020 election, he went on to contact several high-ranking Georgia officials to try to convince them to make him the rightful winner. That includes Gov. Brian KempTrump asked him to pressure the state Legislature and order an audit of absentee ballot signaturesand Attorney General Chris Carr, whom Trump called to get support for a lawsuit that sought to delay the certification of presidential electors in Georgia, along with three other states.

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Then theres the fake electors scheme. It started with Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani paying a visit to Georgia lawmakers in December 2020. Giuliani addressed the states Senate Judiciary Subcommittee to convince them that Georgias election was marred by voter fraud and that the Legislature should respond by appointing its own slate of electors for Trump. This ploy worked, somewhat; 16 Republicans electors met and signed a fake certificate falsely awarding Trump victory in Georgia.

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And then, theres the complicated saga of breached voting equipment from rural Coffee County, Georgia. Trumps team of allies concocted a scheme to access voting machines in order to copy sensitive election information. The effort was launched by former Trump lawyer Sidney Powell, who hired and paid a Georgia-based forensics firm to drive to Coffee Countys elections office. They allegedly spent days copying data from Dominion voting machines. Though Coffee County is outside of Willis jurisdiction, shes using the incident to potentially help build a racketeering case. That requires pulling in a series of actions by Trump and his allies that demonstrates unlawful election interference.

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Top Republicans were called to testify

The DAs office has already heard testimony from Georgias top leadershipincluding Raffensperger, Kemp, and Carr, each of whom fielded phone calls from Trump as he tried to make the case that there was rampant voter fraud in Georgia.

Giuliani was also called to testify and spent six hours before the grand jury. Giuliani is considered a target of Willis investigation and could face an indictment himself. Trumps former chief of staff Mark Meadows was also asked to testify as a material witness, given he traveled to Georgia and sat in on Trumps many phone calls to state officials. Meadows also sent multiple emails to the Department of Justice alleging voter fraud in Georgia and requesting investigations.

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Willis also sought testimony from Powell, citing her close connection to Trump and a previous deposition she gave before the House Jan. 6 committee. In that testimony, Powell confirmed that Trump had asked her to serve as special counsel and identify states that experienced election issues, while also collecting evidence.

South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham has also testified because he spoke with Georgia officials about mail-in ballots at the same time Trump was actively contesting election results around the country (and in Georgia). Graham put up quite the fight to avoid testifying, challenging Willis subpoena and taking it all the way to the Supreme Courtbut the court concluded he must comply.

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Immunity deals were accepted

Out of the 16 fake electors who signed a certificate falsely awarding Trump victory in Georgia, at least eight agreed to sit for interviews with prosecutors in exchange for immunity in Willis investigation. Specific details on that havent been made public.

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In addition to those fake electors, a jury foreperson told NBC News that a dozen witnesses have secured some level of immunity, including one person who took the stand and refused to respond to questions until an immunity deal was offered.

A grand jury has been sworn in

A special grand jury was first sworn in last year and, over the course of about six months, heard testimony from 75 witnesses. It didnt have the authority to issue an indictment but did produce a report of its findings. Five pages of that report were released to the public earlier this year and included the conclusion that perjury may have been committed by one or more witnesses.

In July, two new grand juries were sworn in and both will hear ordinary criminal cases, but only one will be tasked with approving potential charges against Trump and his allies. Both panels will meet every week, twice a week, for a two-month court term.

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A decision is expected no later than Sept. 1

Willis wrote a letter to the Fulton County sheriff that said possible criminal indictments could be announced between July 11 and Sept. 1, and requested that law enforcement be ready to protect the public. She noted that violence may ensue, and that as leaders it is incumbent upon us to prepare.

Willis also announced her staff would work remotely during the first three weeks of August, requesting judges not to schedule trials during a portion of that time.

Willis could go beyond Georgia

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Willis could potentially make use of Georgias Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act, which is traditionally used to target organized crime. In order to convict under RICO, a prosecutor has to prove a group of people is committing a pattern of two or more crimes, like theft, murder, or drug trafficking. It can result in anywhere from five to 20 years in prison, a fine, or both.

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Related From Slate Shirin Ali What Ever Happened to That Other Jack Smith Investigation of Trump? Read More

Willis could make the case for RICO by pointing to how Trumps fake electors scheme not only impacted Georgia, but fueled similar efforts to overturn election results in Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsinall states Trump lost to Biden.

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Another ominous sign for Trump: Willis team hired John Floyd, an attorney and RICO expert, to assist with the investigation. Floyd previously worked with Willis when she used RICO to prosecute 11 teachers for cheating on students competency tests in order to inflate test scores.

Meanwhile, Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes seems to be setting the stage for her own criminal investigation into Trumps alleged attempts to overturn her states 2020 election results. Anonymous sources told the Washington Post that an Atlanta-area prosecutor was contacted about evidence collected for Georgias investigation into Trumps fake electors scheme.
At the end of June, I started teaching a course that was designed by ChatGPT, uses ChatGPT, and is even assessed by ChatGPT. The course itself is also about ChatGPT.

The idea for it came to me earlier this year when I saw news about job opportunities for prompt engineers, who could purportedly make more than $300,000 per year. As a professor who teaches about advanced technology transitions, my academic ears pricked up. Was there a skillset here we should be teaching our students? And if so, how should we go about it?

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To answer those questions, I did what any self-respecting tech-savvy professor would doI fired up ChatGPT. Within a couple of hours, the large language model and its trusty chatbot sidekick had helped me outline a course on prompt engineering, complete with learning objectives, assignments, and lecture notes. And it was goodbetter than anything I could have produced on my own in the same amount of time.

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I was pretty shockedand my respect for the power of ChatGPT only grew as I built out the course. Importantly, there were still tens of hours of work between that initial outline and the final course, and much of what makes the course innovative came from my expertise as an instructor and a tech expert. I consulted colleagues with expertise in generative A.I., and I added learning objectives that ChatGPT had left outfor example, addressing the societal implications of large language models and A.I. chatbots. Still, the vast majority of the course Im now teaching is designed, written, and executed by ChatGPT. And even though I would be more reticent to use ChatGPT to teach a course about, say, history or science, in this case the tool felt groundbreaking not because it could do my job for me, but because it could do my job with me: I was able to craft exercises and assignments that utilized the platform to transform learning in ways that would have been otherwise impossible.

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This first run of the course (were already planning to teach it again in the fall) has a modest enrollment of around 70 students, including curious professionals, eager undergrads, and forward-thinking educators. The goal of the six-week online course is to help students from different backgrounds use ChatGPT and other A.I. chatbots more effectivelyespecially in professional settings. At their own pace, students work through six modules, each with a series of exercises that use ChatGPT to tutor students, expand their understanding, and even assess them. Many of these exercises were developed in collaboration with ChatGPTin at least one case, we use a ChatGPT-designed exercise with no modifications.

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Out of the initial five learning objectives proposed by ChatGPT, I ran with four of them: understanding large language models and their limitations; prompt formulation and refinement; developing and using prompt templates; and prompt and response evaluation. The two human-derived additions include addressing emerging trends and exploring responsible innovation and use.

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Within each of these learning objectives, the course has specific skills and areas of understanding that were developed through working with ChatGPT. For instance, when addressing prompt formulation and refinementessentially, how to ask chatbots questions in a way that will give you useful answersthe course uses a framework of ambiguity reduction, constraint-based prompting, and comparative prompt engineering, which was suggested by the chatbot. And when exploring prompt templates, the course follows ChatGPTs lead by teaching students how to develop reusable prompt formats.

I found ChatGPT to be especially impressive when I started to create content for the module on prompt and response evaluation, which sets out to teach students ways of assessing how effective their prompts are, how accurate and useful the responses are, and how to tweak the former to improve the latter. When I asked ChatGPT to help develop a specific approach students could employ to test the usefulness of prompts and the responses they elicit, it came up with what I believe is a new framework: the RACCCA framework.

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RACCCA, according to ChatGPT, stands for relevance, accuracy, completeness, clarity, coherence, and appropriateness. (I was doubly impressed that ChatGPT could imitate a professor well enough to come up with a slightly clunky acronym.) The RACCCA approach helps assess prompts and responses, and can be used to improve the quality of ChatGPT outputs through iteration. The idea is that students can use the framework to see what a response is missing, and then adjust the prompt to improve the response.

Related From Slate Nikki Usher Sure, A.I. Essays Are Annoying. But Professors Are Grappling With Something Even More Challenging. Read More

At first glance, ChatGPTs apparent skill in developing the RACCCA framework might seem like a clear harbinger of the sort of A.I. education apocalypse thats preoccupied the education sector for the past several months. But if developing this course has taught me anything, its that the real power of all this lies in human-ChatGPT collaborations. My prompt engineering course wouldnt be possible without me as the human in the loop, curating and crafting ideas suggested by ChatGPT and helping students understand the pitfalls as well as the promise of the technology (one of our first exercises is demonstrating when and how ChatGPT can get things convincingly wrong, and how to navigate this). But it also wouldnt work without ChatGPTs ability to vastly augment and scale learning in ways that empower and extend my reach as a mere human instructor.

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This becomes clear in the course sections where learning and assessment are led by ChatGPT using exercises that we co-created. For instance, in the last modulewhich covers the broader societal implications of LLMswe co-devised an exercise that turns ChatGPT into a highly effective personal instructor. Here are the instructions the students receive:

In a new session, provide ChatGPT (using GPT4) with the following prompt: Hi ChatGPT. My name is [include full name] and I would like you to act as my personal tutor and teach me about responsible innovation in the context of using ChatGPT. I would like you to cover the field broadly. Please start by asking me a question that helps you gauge my level of understanding. Based on my response, ask me a follow-up question that is designed to increase my understanding. Continue to do this until I show a broad understanding of responsible innovation in the context of using ChatGPT.

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There are obvious dangers with exercises like this, particularly because ChatGPT can (and does) occasionally provide incorrect informationwhich, again, is something we cover in some depth in the course. But even given these limitations, learning prompts like this can be incredibly powerful; in this case, ChatGPT is a remarkably good tutor when it comes to responsible innovation.

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The course also uses ChatGPT to assess student understanding. For example, this exercise from module one is a simple test of understanding of large language models:

Start a new chat with ChatGPT (making sure you are using GPT4) and cut and paste the following prompt: Hi ChatGPT. My name is [add your full name] and I am in a class where we are learning about the uses and limitations of LLMs. Please ask me three simple questions about the uses and limitations of LLMs to test my understanding. After each question, please wait for my answer before asking the next one. When you have all three of my answers, please provide an assessment of how good they are, and give me a grade from A to C.

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Each time a student runs the prompt, the questions ChatGPT generates are different, and students can repeat it as many times as they like to get the grade they are looking for. Of course, the point isnt the letter grade but the process of question, response, feedback, and iteration, which leads to self-directed discovery and knowledge reinforcement.

Over the next few weeks, Ill watch this process closely as I read more than 2,000 conversations between students and ChatGPT as part of the course. Its a unique opportunity to see firsthand how students interact with the platform, and how this might spark their curiosity and enhance their learning. Already, Im beginning to think differently about the power of ChatGPT to transform learning and unlock students nascent interests and abilities. Its almost as if ChatGPT is fine-tuning my brain to be a better instructor by enabling me to see in intimate detail how students interact with it, and how new approaches to learning can leverage this in ways that lie far beyond conventional approaches to education.

And while ChatGPT has made me a better professor, it hasnt made me fear for the future of my professionat least not yet. Thinking of ChatGPT as a co-instructor rather than a competitor has helped me create a personalized learning environment and recalibrate how I think about education. That process will look different across subjects and professorsbut as ChatGPTs uses and capabilities grow, I, for one, would rather we be on the same side of the metaphorical lectern.

Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society.
A Slovak palaeontologist part of the team behind this discovery.

The species Cordylus imkeae lives only in Africa today. Its distant relative was found recently in India. (Source: Comenius University)

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An international team of scientists, including Slovak palaeontologist Andrej Cernansky, has unearthed fossils of an unknown lizard that lived at the end of the dinosaur era. The team was working in western India, where the fossil represents a very rare and unique find.

One surprising aspect of the discovery is that modern-day lizards closely related to the fossilised specimen remain endemic to a part of the world that is now very distant from India: sub-Saharan Africa.

"It most likely is related to the African group of Cordyliformes. It thus fills a very important gap in our knowledge of prehistory," Andrej Cernansky, who is based at the Faculty of Natural Sciences of Comenius University in Bratislava, told the Slovak Spectator.

"It sheds rare light on one group of reptiles that lived in India 66 million years ago, but it also tells us a lot about the palaeogeography of India itself." We currently know little about either. The research was published in the journal Cretaceous Research.

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Related article Slovak paleontologist names reptiles after important historical figures Read more

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At the end of the dinosaur era

The team found isolated jaws and osteodermal shields, which are bony deposits found on the skin of many reptiles to this day.

"The most important was the lower jaw  a dental bone with teeth, which was relatively well preserved," says Cernansky, adding that the fossils came from sedimentary deposits that were deposited between layers of igneous rocks known as the Deccan Traps in what is now western India. Hence the name of the lizard  Deccansaurus palaeoindicus.

The area represents one of the largest volcanic features on Earth. It began forming 66 million years ago at the end of the dinosaur era, also known as the Mesozoic Era.
Larry James Kulick, a bishop from Pennsylvania, expressed his admiration for Slovak Americans and their resilience.

Proud of his Slovak heritage bishop came to the Church of St. John the Baptist in Nova Bystrica (Source: My Kysuce/Pavol Stolarik)

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Bishop Larry James Kulick, who hails from the Diocese of Greensburg in Pennsylvania, USA, visited Slovakia at the start of July and celebrated mass in honour of his Slovak ancestors at the Church of St John the Baptist in Nova Bystrica and the Church of St Michael the Archangel in Stara Bystrica.

His grandparents came from the two adjacent villages, which are in the Kysuce region of northern Slovakia.

Reflecting his roots, Bishop Kulick incorporated symbols representing Slovak heritage into his episcopal coat of arms, including sheaves of wheat borrowed from the coat of arms of Nova Bystrica, local news outlet MY Kysuce reported. He highlighted the significance of these symbols, representing both earthly and spiritual nourishment, which emphasise the importance of nurturing a fruitful harvest through careful attention.

video //www.youtube.com/embed/MHeS99KbY1Y

Resilience and faith of Slovak Americans

During his homily, Bishop Kulick expressed his admiration for Slovak Americans who, despite facing hardships and leaving their homeland in search of better opportunities, held onto their faith and persevered.

He shared stories of their resilience, such as the community's united effort to prevent the closure of a mortgaged church by offering their possessions and convincing creditors to allow them to reopen it. Reflecting on their sacrifices, Bishop Kulick pondered the enduring strength of their faith and questioned whether people today would be willing to make similar sacrifices to preserve the churches that offer eternal gifts.

Slovak immigrants

Co-celebrating mass with Bishop Kulick was Bishop Tomas Galis of the Zilina Diocese, who emphasised the importance of maintaining traditions and passing on the message of faith to future generations. He highlighted the values of solidarity, empathy and selflessness demonstrated by Slovak immigrants in America, which brought them hope and joy despite their challenging circumstances.
https://sputnikglobe.com/20230715/air-raid-sirens-sound-in-parts-of-ukraine---authorities-1111900602.html

Air Raid Sirens Sound in Parts of Ukraine

Air Raid Sirens Sound in Parts of Ukraine

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Air raid warnings were issued in several regions of Ukraine on Saturday evening, according to air raid data from the countrys Ministry of... 15.07.2023, Sputnik International

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Air raid sirens went off in the Ukrainian regions of Nikolayev, Sumy, Poltava, Kharkov, Dnepropetrovsk, Kirovograd and Odessa at around 18:51 GMT on Saturday, the ministrys online map showed. Ukrainian broadcaster Suspilne reported later on Saturday that explosions were heard in Sumy. Several blasts also occurred in Kharkov, according to Ukrainian media reports.At around midnight local time, air raid warnings were in effect in the regions of Sumy, Poltava, Kharkov, Dnepropetrovsk, Kirovograd. Precision strikes against Ukrainian infrastructure have been carried out by Russia since October 10 (two days after the terrorist attack on the Crimean Bridge). In February, the head of Ukrainian power grid operator Ukrenergo said that direct damage to Ukraine's energy infrastructure caused by Russian strikes may amount to hundreds of millions of dollars, with economic losses ranging in billions.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230715/rfk-jr-reams-establishment-for-manipulating-ukraine-into-conflict-fears-america-is-next-1111894771.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230716/check-out-the-black-sea-grain-deals-key-details--1111903412.html

Check Out the Black Sea Grain Deal's Key Details

Check Out the Black Sea Grain Deal's Key Details

Moscow had previously agreed to several extensions to the Black Sea Grain Initiative, signed on July 22, 2022, that provided a humanitarian maritime corridor... 16.07.2023, Sputnik International

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The clock is ticking on the Black Sea Grain Initiative, signed between Russia and Ukraine with the mediation of Turkiye and the United Nations last year. The deal, set to expire on July 17, facilitated a safe corridor for Ukrainian grain through maritime areas controlled by the Russian Navy amid the military operation launched by Moscow in Ukraine in 2022.The package deal also provided for the unblocking of Russian food and fertilizer exports amid the Wests sanctions crusade, and a number of other measures. According to Moscow, this part of the package agreement has not yet been implemented.Check out Sputniks infographic to see the various stages of the deals extension, destinations, and overall volume of grain and food exported.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230716/enemy-has-no-success-putin-positive-about-special-op-in-ukraine-1111917667.html

'Enemy Has No Success': Putin Positive About Special Op in Ukraine

'Enemy Has No Success': Putin Positive About Special Op in Ukraine

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday positively assessed the course of the special military operation in Ukraine, noting that the... 16.07.2023, Sputnik International

2023-07-16T10:40+0000

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"...Our troops are behaving heroically. Unexpectedly for the enemy in some areas and go on the offensive themselves, taking the most favorable positions, heights, etc," Putin told Rossiya 1 journalist Pavel Zarubin. When asked what Russia's next steps were, Putin promised to answer without cameras. "I'll tell you that separately when the cameras are off," Putin said.Ukraine launched its long-advertised counteroffensive in early June after multiple postponements. According to the Russian Defense Ministry, Ukrainian troops continue to try but are failing to advance along three directions: South Donetsk, Artemovsk (Bakhmut) and Zaporozhye, the latter being their primary focus.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230715/up-to-20-of-kievs-weapons-destroyed-or-damaged-in-first-2-weeks-of-offensive-1111898445.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230716/for-nato-to-disband-would-be-best-scenario-for-people-of-ukraine-1111903688.html

'Disbanding' NATO Would Be 'Best' Scenario for People of Ukraine

'Disbanding' NATO Would Be 'Best' Scenario for People of Ukraine

The dissolution of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) would be the best scenario for Ukraine, according to American politician Geoffrey M. Young.

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The dissolution of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) would be the best scenario for Ukraine, according to American politician Geoffrey M. Young.The politician who has been vocal about his support for Russias ongoing special military operation in Ukraine accompanied his post with a reference to recent remarks made by John Kirby. The official, who serves as the coordinator for strategic communications at the National Security Council in the White House, said an additional 3,000 US reserve troops have been authorized for deployment to Europe, and will predominantly focus on administrative and logistics tasks to support and sustain a large troop presence for a long time. John Kirby reiterated there are over 80,000 American troops in Europe, due to the realization that the security environment in Europe is changed. The aim is to ensure that the United States has the proper force posture to be able to support an additional eastern flank presence for the long haul, the White House official had added.Kirby just inadvertently admitted that Ukraines Army is gone, was the reaction of some people to the post on social media.Some lamented that all signs were that the US was, "headed back to war once again" instead of focusing on its own problems.Others commented that the US appeared to be pulling up the reserves to fill spots, while still others slammed Kirby for smugly announcing WWIII.Many commented concurred that,once they're are zero American troops overseas, the world will heal.The remarks by the White House official had come hot on the heels of the NATO summit in Vilnius, where Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky was promised continuing Western support as his forces are locked in the middle of a stuttering counteroffensive.However, Zelensky was also reminded of his country's "servile status" to the Western alliance. Washington and its NATO allies continue to funnel military assistance worth billions to the Kiev regime, fueling the proxy war they are fighting there against Russia.As for the meeting of the 31-member NATO bloc in the Lithuanian capital on July 11-12, it refused to commit to any fixed timetable for Kiev to join the Atlantic alliance. Ukraine had applied for fast-track NATO membership in September 2022 following the start of the Russian military operation in February of that year. On this occasion NATO leaders agreed on a package of three elements to bring Ukraine closer to the alliance, including an assistance program for Ukraine that will make transition to bloc standards possible. There is also to be a NATO-Ukraine Council set up, while the cancellation of the membership action plan for Ukraine is to ostensibly shorten Kiev's accession process. However, no official invitation was extended by the bloc to Kiev. US President Joe Biden reiterated that Ukraine would not get membership as long as its conflict with Russia continued.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230712/nato-spent-years-preparing-for-proxy-war-with-russia-in-ukraine-1111838638.html

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KB Financial Group Chairman Yoon Jong-gyu speaks during a group-wide meeting on business strategy for the second half of the year at Grand Walkerhill Seoul hotel in Seoul, Friday. Courtesy of KB Financial Group



By Yi Whan-woo



KB Financial Group discussed a group-wide business strategy for the second half of this year under its broader vision of coping with a rapidly-changing banking environment, the lender said Sunday.



It said Chairman Yoon Jong-gyu and 270 executives from the group's affiliates joined the one-day meeting under the theme of "Toward the Future," Friday.



The meeting was held as the financial group pushes to maintain its years-long lead in the banking industry, after temporarily conceding the top position to Shinhan Financial Group in terms of earnings last year.



"The meeting focused on how we can succeed in business transformation and also take our customer-oriented management to a higher level," KB Financial Group said.



The meeting consisted of a Q&A session with Yoon, presentations from the CEOs of group affiliates and lectures from an invited digital expert.



Among the issues addressed during the Q&A were the future of KB Financial Group, growth strategies, personnel management, corporate culture and leadership.



The chairman cited the need to keep up with the digital revolution "through innovation of KB Finanical Group's competence and creation of new values."



"We must work hard for customer satisfaction in the near future and I urge every one of us to make efforts to turn KB Financial Group into a purpose-driven firm and remain as a trustworthy financial partner for involved parties," Yoon said.



During the presentation, the CEOs shared their thoughts on bolstering the competence of their respective affiliate, nurturing growth engines, enhancing corporate responsibility and contributing to building a future infrastructure.



The lectures centered on how artificial intelligence (AI) and other emerging digital technologies can change the banking industry, plus how financial services should be developed by observing environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) principles.


https://sputnikglobe.com/20230716/foreign-shares-of-danone-russia-moved-under-russias-temporary-management-1111924140.html

Foreign Shares of Danone Russia Moved Under Russia's Temporary Management

Foreign Shares of Danone Russia Moved Under Russia's Temporary Management

Putin signs a decree to transfer foreign shares of Danone Russia to temporary management of the Russian Federal Agency for State Property Management.

2023-07-16T15:48+0000

2023-07-16T15:48+0000

2023-07-16T15:51+0000

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According to the decree, the agency will now take control of foreign assets of the Russian subsidiary of France's food producer Danone. All shares of Russian-based Baltika Breweries, which is 100% owned by foreign companies, will be also transferred to the temporary control of the agency. In late April, Putin signed a decree allowing the authorities to transfer foreign assets to the temporary management of the state property management agency if Russian assets abroad are seized. In October 2022, Danone announced that it had planned to transfer the effective control of its "Essential Dairy and Planted-based" business in Russia and deconsolidate its business in the country. Last month, the Carlsberg Group, which owns Baltika Breweries, said that it had signed an agreement to sell its business in Russia, with the agreement going through a regulatory approval process.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20221130/moscow-will-retaliate-if-eu-confiscates-russian-assets-foreign-ministry-says-1104899894.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230716/gilgo-beach-serial-killer-suspect-identified---reports-1111900942.html

Gilgo Beach Serial Killer Suspect Arrested

Gilgo Beach Serial Killer Suspect Arrested

Rex Heuermann, a 59-year-old architect and father of two, has been arrested as the prime suspect in some of the notorious Gilgo Beach murders that took place on Long Island, reported US media.

2023-07-16T00:31+0000

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Rex Heuermann, a 59-year-old architect and father of two, has been arrested as the prime suspect of the notorious Gilgo Beach murders that took place on Long Island, US media reported. The shocking revelation stunned the community, including actor Billy Baldwin, who was surprised to learn that Heuermann was his former high school classmate.Heuermann filed a not guilty plea through his court appointed attorney Michael Brown, but was remanded without bail. His next court date is scheduled for August 1.According to an American daily newspaper report, Heuermann was raised in a home on 1st Avenue, located directly across the bay from where the remains of 11 bodies were discovered between 2010 and 2011. He is the owner and founder of the Manhattan-based architectural firm, RH Consultants and Associates.The suspect's wife, Asa Ellerup, is of Icelandic origin, according to reports. Heuermann's first wife, Elizabeth Ryan, whom he married at a young age, was described as a business administration graduate. Heuermann's 26-year-old daughter, Victoria, was listed as a member of his architectural team on the company's website. Neighbors spoke positively of Heuermann's son, who is partially disabled. Some sources suggested he may have been his stepson. The community described the boy as polite and kind.Heuermann's arrest came after investigators matched his DNA, obtained from a discarded pizza crust, to hair found on victim Megan Waterman, as stated by US media. He was taken into custody, after both his home in Massapequa Park and his office in Manhattan were surveilled.He was charged with three counts of first-degree murder and other related charges. Additional information provided during his bail application revealed disturbing details about his alleged crimes, including the use of burner phones, menacing phone calls, and explicit online searches, as revealed in US media publications.John Ray, an attorney representing the family of one of the victims, expressed relief that an arrest had been made after years of frustration. The community and authorities are now hoping for justice to be served in these long-standing unsolved cases.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230716/has-notorious-serial-killer-jack-the-ripper-been-finally-unmasked-1111915954.html

Has Notorious Serial Killer Jack the Ripper Been Finally Unmasked?

Has Notorious Serial Killer Jack the Ripper Been Finally Unmasked?

A woman claims to have uncovered the true identity of Britain's 19th century serial killer, Jack The Ripper.

2023-07-16T10:51+0000

2023-07-16T10:51+0000

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A woman claims to have dug up compelling evidence allowing to uncover the true identity behind the daddy of all serial killers - Jack The Ripper.The mystery of the face behind the brutal 19th century London serial murderer has long fired the imagination of police and criminology enthusiasts. Now, ex-police volunteer Sarah Bax Horton, whose great-great-grandfather, Harry Garrett, was an officer involved in the original investigation, claims her lengthy detective work helped her zero in on a certain Hyam Hyams, a cigar-maker, UK media reported.The cigar-maker lived in an area in the East End of London in the 19th century that had been terrorized by the brutal murderer. According to the womans research, Hyams, who was 35 in 1888, had been an alcoholic, who suffered from bouts of epilepsy. In and out of mental asylums, the man reportedly was left unable to work after an injury to his arm. Furthermore, records showed that the paranoid Hyam Hyams repeatedly assaulted his wife, claiming that she was cheating on him. At one point, after attacking both the woman and his own mother with a chopper the fellow was arrested.It was after Bax Horton dug deeper, getting access to his medical records, that the important clues revealed themselves. Hyams' condition, according to notes from various infirmaries and asylums, began to rapidly deteriorate between February 1888 (when he broke his arm), and when he was finally permanently committed to Colney Hatch Lunatic Asylum in September 1889. This appears to fit the time frame when Jack the Ripper wreaked havoc.This is how witnesses described the man who stalked London's streets in 1888 and bore the moniker Jack the Ripper :The brutal murders linked with Jack the Ripper suddenly came to an end in late 1888, approximately when Hyams was discovered by London police as a wandering lunatic.No one was ever charged with any of the deaths, let alone convicted. The exact number of victims also remains a debated issue. At least six women Martha Tabram, Polly Nichols, Annie Chapman, Elisabeth Stride, Kate Eddowes and Mary Jane Kelly  were killed in or near Whitechapel between August and November 1888. Since then the identity of the serial murderer has remained a mystery, although police, as well as enthusiasts have pointed at possible suspects. A recent study even attemped to use up-to-date DNA testing to put the debates to rest.As for Sarah Bax Horton, she will be laying bare her discoveries in a forthcoming book, titled One-Armed Jack: Uncovering the Real Jack the Ripper, set to be published by Michael OMara Books in August.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20221229/possible-face-of-jack-the-ripper-revealed-reports-say-1105877526.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20170808/jack-the-ripper-identity-revealed-1056302418.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20211007/unsolved-as-team-name-zodiac-killer-how-many-other-serial-killers-remain-unidentified-1089744814.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230716/russian-army-repulses-18-attacks-near-donetsk-krasny-liman-1111918800.html

Russian Army Repulses 18 Attacks Near Donetsk, Krasny Liman

Russian Army Repulses 18 Attacks Near Donetsk, Krasny Liman

Over the past day, the Russian armed forces have repelled 18 attacks by the Ukrainian army in the Donetsk and Krasny Liman directions, with enemy losses amounting to some 370 servicemen, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Sunday.

2023-07-16T11:30+0000

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russia's special operation in ukraine

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In the Donetsk direction, the Yug group of the Russian armed forces has successfully repulsed 15 enemy attacks near several settlements, the ministry said. Two ammunition depots of the 54th mechanized brigade of the Ukrainian army and the 4th operational brigade of the Ukrainian National Guard were destroyed in Rozdolevka and Ivano-Daryevka in the course of the fighting, the ministry added. In the Krasny Liman direction, the Tsentr group of forces repelled three enemy attacks near Novovodyanoye and Makeyevka settlements in the Lugansk People's Republic, as well as the Serebryanskyy forestry area. "Up to 100 Ukrainian servicemen, two armored combat vehicles, three cars, as well as MSTA-B and D-30 howitzers were destroyed during the day," the ministry said.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230715/up-to-20-of-kievs-weapons-destroyed-or-damaged-in-first-2-weeks-of-offensive-1111898445.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230716/russian-aviation-makes-over-40-sorties-to-strike-at-ukrainian-targets-1111901308.html

Russian Aviation Makes Over 40 Sorties to Strike at Ukrainian Targets

Russian Aviation Makes Over 40 Sorties to Strike at Ukrainian Targets

The Russian Defense Ministry said that the "Tsentr" group made more than 40 sorties to hit Ukrainian targets.

2023-07-16T02:27+0000

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"The aviation of the group carried out more than 40 sorties, during which strikes were made on temporary deployment points, an ammunition depot, as well as eight areas of concentration of manpower and firepower of Ukrainian troops," the spokesperson said. In the Serebryanskiy forest area, Ukrainian troops made four attempts to attack Russian positions, but suffered significant losses, the spokesperson said. In the Krasnolimanskaya direction, Russian forces inflicted fire damage on seven Ukrainian targets using "Solntsepek" (Blazing Sun) thermobaric rocket launchers, the spokesperson specified.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230716/russian-military-says-us-led-coalition-breached-deconfliction-protocols-12-times-in-syria-1111927819.html

Russian Military Says US-Led Coalition Breached Deconfliction Protocols 12 Times in Syria

Russian Military Says US-Led Coalition Breached Deconfliction Protocols 12 Times in Syria

Russian Rear Admiral Oleg Gurinov says that the US led coalition violated deconfliction protocols 12 times in Syria in the past 24 hours.

2023-07-16T19:32+0000

2023-07-16T19:32+0000

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"During the day, 12 cases of violations of the deconfliction protocols of December 9, 2019 were recorded, related to flights of unmanned aerial vehicles not coordinated with the Russian side by the so-called international anti-terrorist coalition led by the United States," Gurinov told a briefing. He added that two F-16 fighter jets and a MC-12W reconnaissance jet had violated the airspace in the Al-Tanf area, through which international air routes pass. Two shelling attacks were recorded in Syria's Idlib de-escalation zone in the past 24 hours, including one in the Idlib province and one in the Latakia province, leaving a Syrian soldier injured.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230716/us-ramps-up-systematic-looting-of-syrian-oil-ships-35-tankers-out-of-country-1111927580.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230716/trump-angling-for-indefinate-delays-in-classified-docs-prosecution-battle-1111919819.html

Trump Angling For 'Indefinate' Delays in Classified Docs Prosecution Battle

Trump Angling For 'Indefinate' Delays in Classified Docs Prosecution Battle

Former President Trump is reportedly hoping to indefinitely delay the case against him over mishandling of classified documents.

2023-07-16T13:02+0000

2023-07-16T13:02+0000

2023-07-16T13:02+0000

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Former President Trump is hoping to indefinitely delay the case against him over mishandling of classified documents, according to US media reports.The 2024 presidential race hopeful has been arguing his status as a candidate, along with a batch of other factors, as part of an alleged strategy that could postpone the trial until a more favorable window opened up.If the Republican ex-president were to be reelected for another WH stint, he could have the charges thrown out by his own administrations Justice Department, media reports speculated. Or if Trump were to lose the nomination, another newly elected Republican president could purportedly pardon him.The delay that Trump seeks was qualified as off the charts unprecedented by Jeff Robbins, a former federal prosecutor cited by media. Judge Aileen Cannon is expected to decide on the motion for a continuance of the trial, filed by Trumps legal team on July 10.According to the indictment, the classified documents Trump stored in boxes at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida included information about defense and weapons capabilities of both the US and foreign countries, US nuclear programs, potential vulnerabilities of the US and its allies to military attack, and plans for possible retaliation in response to a foreign attack. However, Trump has blasted the charges as being part of a political scheme to prevent his reelection bid.US Special Counsel Jack Smith said back in June that he would be seeking to have a trial begin on December 11. However, Former US President Donald Trump's legal team asked the court to delay his trial.Beginning a trial of such magnitude "within six months of indictment" was decried as "unreasonable" by the lawyers, who warned of the possibilty of a "miscarriage of justice. The Government appears to favor an expedited (and therefore cursory) approach to this case, they added, saying that it presents a serious challenge to both the fact and perception of our American democracy.According to the lawyers representing the 45th POTUS, there are a plethora of reasons for seeking a delay to the trial, ranging from Trumps need to devote a great deal of time to his campaign, to the bulk of evidence in the case that lawyers have to sort through.The Justice Department has pushed back against the demand for a postponement.The first hearing before Aileen Cannon in the classified docs federal criminal case against Donald Trump had been set for July 18, with the US District Judge expected to decide on the motion for a continuance of the trial.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230711/trump-asks-to-delay-classified-docs-trial-until-after-2024-election-1111814043.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230616/report-lawyers-urged-trump-to-seek-deal-in-classified-docs-case-but-he-refused-1111199381.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230716/tunisia-eu-sign-deal-on-strategic-comprehensive-cooperation-to-tackle-migration-1111928410.html

Tunisia, EU Sign Deal on Strategic Comprehensive Cooperation to Tackle Migration

Tunisia, EU Sign Deal on Strategic Comprehensive Cooperation to Tackle Migration

Tunisia and the European Union have signed a memorandum of understanding for a strategic and comprehensive cooperation, including on migration.

2023-07-16T21:41+0000

2023-07-16T21:41+0000

2023-07-16T21:41+0000

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The signing ceremony was attended by Tunisian President Kais Saied, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, the statement read. As part of the cooperation, the two sides will work together to address a number of issues as regards migration, with the EU ready to provide financial assistance for that purpose, von der Leyen said at a joint press conference, following the signing ceremony. Giorgia Meloni said after the signing of the memorandum that an international conference on migration will take place on July 23 in Rome. The Tunisian president and leaders of Mediterranean countries are expected to take part. The agreement came amid mounting concerns in the EU regarding the complex social and economic situation in Tunisia. In March, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said that the EU feared that a social or economic collapse in Tunisia would lead to a new influx of migrants to Europe. In June, von der Leyen, Rutte and Meloni also traveled to Tunisia to discuss cooperation between the EU and the North African nation. During that visit, von der Leyen said that the EU was ready to provide a substantial assistance package exceeding 1 billion euros to support the Tunisian economy and combat illegal migration.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230409/tunisia-considering-joining-brics---july-25-movement-spokesman-1109282700.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230716/uk-joins-major-indo-pacific-trade-partnership-1111913466.html

UK Joins Major Indo-Pacific Trade Partnership

UK Joins Major Indo-Pacific Trade Partnership

The United Kingdom has officially joined the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) to boost trade with its members and create new opportunities for domestic businesses, the UK Trade Ministry said on Sunday.

2023-07-16T07:34+0000

2023-07-16T07:34+0000

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"Business and Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch formally signed the treaty confirming the UKs accession to CPTPP  the Indo-Pacific trade bloc now worth 12 trillion [$15.7 trillion] in GDP  in New Zealand today," the ministry said in a statement. Thanks to membership in CPTPP, 99% of the current UK exports to countries of the partnership will enjoy zero tariffs, according to the statement. In particular, UK farmers, who exported $31.4 million worth of dairy products to Canada, Chile, Japan and Mexico in 2022, will be able to gain benefits from lowered trade barriers, the ministry said. In 2019, companies headquartered in CPTPP member states employed over 400,000 people in the UK, the trade ministry said. The UK government also noted that this deal would have been impossible had the country stayed in the European Union. The negotiations regarding the UK membership lasted two years. Sky News reported, citing officials, that the agreement will go into effect in the second half of 2024, after which the UK will become a voting member of the bloc. The UK has become the first European nation to join this regional trading partnership, founded in 2018. To date, it includes Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230716/ukraines-possible-accession-to-nato-to-take-decades-depends-on-certain-conditions-1111889766.html

Ukraine's Possible Accession to NATO to Take Decades, Depends on Certain Conditions

Ukraine's Possible Accession to NATO to Take Decades, Depends on Certain Conditions

Ukraine's possible accession to NATO is likely to take decades and will depend on meeting certain conditions by Kiev, such as the implementation of anti-corruption reforms and the settlement of the conflict with Russia, as well as the political situation in the United States, experts told Sputnik.

2023-07-16T04:27+0000

2023-07-16T04:27+0000

2023-07-16T04:44+0000

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As a result of the NATO summit in Vilnius this week, NATO leaders agreed on a package of three elements to bring Ukraine closer to the alliance. The first element includes creating an assistance program for Ukraine that will make transition to NATO standards possible. The second element is the establishment of the NATO-Ukraine Council, and the third one involves the cancellation of the membership action plan for Ukraine, which will shorten Kiev's accession process. However, no official invitation was extended by the bloc to Kiev. Meanwhile, James Sperling, a professor emeritus of political science at the University of Akron, underscored that one of the requirements for joining the alliance is settling all outstanding territorial disputes, which means that Kiev has to either force Moscow to recognize Ukraine's pre-2014 borders and withdraw its troops or reach a territorial settlement with the Kremlin that would serve as a basis for a future relationship between the countries. Some kind of agreement with Russia that would guarantee safe shipping in the Sea of Azov would also be in order, the expert told Sputnik. "The actual prospect of Ukrainian accession to NATO is a different matter entirely owing to the several issues, the most important of which is the neo-isolationist and Russophile bent of MAGA Republicans. Were [former US President] Donald Trump, for example, re-elected, Ukrainian membership in NATO would be taken off the table for the duration of his administration, and NATO itself would be lucky to survive until the end of it," Sperling stressed. He went on to suggest that another hurdle that Kiev will have to overcome is a potential veto from the current NATO members, citing the example of Sweden, whose accession was stalled by Turkiye and Hungary.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230713/scott-ritter-nato-summit-serves-up-cringe-nothing-burger--1111854432.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230714/summit-of-death-thousands-of-activists-protest-against-nato-weapon-supplies-to-ukraine-1111879128.html

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Finance minister leaves for India on Sunday to take part in a Group of 20 (G20) meeting of finance ministers and central bank chiefs at the Incheon International Airport, June 16. Yonhap



Korea's finance minister left for India on Sunday to take part in a Group of 20 (G20) meeting of finance ministers and central bank chiefs this week, his office said.



Finance Minister Choo Kyung-ho will attend the two-day G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meeting scheduled to kick off in Gandhinagar, western India, on Monday, according to the Ministry of Economy and Finance.



The event is aimed at preparing for the upcoming G20 summit scheduled to be held in India in September.



During his trip, Choo plans to emphasize the importance of price stability and the recovery of the supply chain amid the global economic uncertainties, the finance ministry said.



He will also discuss strategies for reforming multilateral development banks and tackling the debt issues faced by developing nations with other participants.



On the margins of the event, Choo plans to hold a bilateral meeting with World Bank President Ajay Banga and Odile Renaud-Basso, who heads the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, to exchange opinions on global challenges. (Yonhap)


https://sputnikglobe.com/20230716/us-japan-south-korea-hold-missile-defense-exercise-in-sea-of-japan-1111912104.html

US, Japan, South Korea Hold Missile Defense Exercise in Sea of Japan

US, Japan, South Korea Hold Missile Defense Exercise in Sea of Japan

The United States, South Korea and Japan have held trilateral missile defense drills in international waters of the Sea of Japan, a South Korean news agency reported on Sunday citing Seoul's Navy.

2023-07-16T06:16+0000

2023-07-16T06:16+0000

2023-07-16T06:16+0000

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The United States, South Korea and Japan have held trilateral missile defense drills in international waters of the Sea of Japan, a South Korean news agency reported on Sunday citing Seoul's Navy. The last time that the US, Japan and South Korea held a trilateral missile defense exercise was in April. On Wednesday, Pyongyang test-fired the new-type Hwasong-18 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). It is believed to have flown over 1,000 kilometers (621 miles) at a maximum altitude of over 6,000 kilometers on a lofted trajectory. South Korea imposed new sanctions on four North Korean individuals and three entities after Pyongyang's latest launch . The US and South Korea held combined air drills on Thursday in response to North Koreas ICBM launch.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230713/watch-north-koreas-newest-hwasong-18-icbm-in-action-1111847929.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230716/us-not-planning-to-restore-its-stockpile-of-cluster-munitions-sent-to-ukraine-1111922178.html

US Not Planning to Restore Its Stockpile of Cluster Munitions Sent to Ukraine

US Not Planning to Restore Its Stockpile of Cluster Munitions Sent to Ukraine

The United States does not plan to restore its own stockpile of cluster munitions to replace those handed over to Ukraine, White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said.

2023-07-16T14:42+0000

2023-07-16T14:42+0000

2023-07-16T14:43+0000

military

us

cluster munitions

ukraine

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"Our current plan is not to replenish that stockpile, it is rather to build up the capacity to produce the unitary round, the 155, the non-cluster munition round of the ammunition. We began that process months ago, because we anticipated the need for continuing supply to Ukraine, but it takes time," Sullivan told a US broadcaster on Sunday. On Thursday, Pentagons Joint Staff Director for Operations Lt. Gen. Douglas Sims II told a briefing that Ukraine had received cluster munitions from the United States, as well as other countries. On July 7, the US unveiled a new military assistance package for Ukraine, which included cluster munitions. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu warned on July 11 that the Russian military would be forced to use similar weapons, which it has plenty of in stocks, against the Ukrainian armed forces if the US supplies cluster munitions to Kiev. Cluster munitions are banned by the Convention on Cluster Munitions, which has been ratified by 123 countries. The US, Ukraine, Russia, China, India, Pakistan, Israel and South Korea have not signed the convention. Western countries have been supplying Ukraine with military aid since the start of Russia's special military operation in Ukraine in February 2022. The support evolved from light artillery munitions and training in 2022 to heavier weapons, including tanks, later that year and in 2023. In recent months, Ukraine has been pushing to be supplied with F-16 fighter jets. The Kremlin has repeatedly warned against further arms deliveries to Kiev, saying that it will just prolong the hostilities.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230715/musk-comments-on-us-sending-cluster-munitions-to-ukraine-says-fate-hates-hypocrisy-1111899346.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230716/watch-russian-ka-52-alligator-chopper-target-ukrainian-armor-in-donbass-1111916280.html

Watch Russian Ka-52 Alligator Chopper Target Ukrainian Armor in Donbass

Watch Russian Ka-52 Alligator Chopper Target Ukrainian Armor in Donbass

The Ka-52 Alligator, NATO reporting name Hokum B, serves as the backbone of Russias frontline helicopter aviation, and been used to target everything from armored vehicles to enemy strongholds. In recent weeks, the Ka-52 has helped to play an instrumental role in blunting Ukraines NATO-backed offensive in the Donbass, Zaporozhye and Kherson.

2023-07-16T09:46+0000

2023-07-16T09:46+0000

2023-07-16T09:46+0000

russia's special operation in ukraine

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ukraine

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Russias defense ministry has published footage of a Ka-52 targeting a Ukrainian armored vehicle in the South Donetsk direction.The video clip shows the attack helicopter firing a single missile, which descends onto the vehicles hull as it stands motionless in a field. A second later, the vehicle bursts into flames.The Ka-52 is known to be armed with up to a dozen Vikhr laser-guided missiles, designed specifically to target armored vehicles, including those with reactive armor, at ranges of up to 8 km. The missiles are fitted with a high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) fragmentation warhead with contact and proximity fuses. In addition to attack helicopters, the Russian military is known to attach Vikhrs to aircraft like the Su-25 ground attack jet and some warships.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230716/russian-aviation-makes-over-40-sorties-to-strike-at-ukrainian-targets-1111901308.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230716/white-house-focused-on-release-of-detained-us-citizens-rather-than-iran-nuclear-deal-1111927931.html

White House Focused on Release of Detained US Citizens, Rather Than Iran Nuclear Deal

White House Focused on Release of Detained US Citizens, Rather Than Iran Nuclear Deal

Several US officials indicated that they are focused on the release of detained US citizens in Iran and not a nuclear deal.

2023-07-16T19:57+0000

2023-07-16T19:57+0000

2023-07-16T19:57+0000

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"We are having discussions obviously with Iranian officials about trying to get wrongfully detained Americans home, that's true ... and the return to the Iran deal is not a major focus on the agenda right now. We've got to make sure that we are dealing with their destabilizing behavior and we are," Kirby told US media, answering on the question about possible informal talks between the US and Iran on a nuclear deal. Earlier in the day, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan told another outlet that Washington is "not close to any kind of a deal" with respect to Iran's nuclear program, also saying that Washington's main focus in relations with Tehran is to seek the release of US citizens detained in Iran. On Tuesday, US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller called reports about Washington indirectly negotiating some sort of a deal with Iran "either wrong or completely misleading." In June, several US media outlets reported that the United States and Iran held indirect talks in Oman in May to discuss Tehrans nuclear program and lifting of sanctions amid a freeze in negotiations on the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), also known as the Iran nuclear deal. In 2015, Iran and China, France, Russia, the UK, the US plus Germany and the EU signed the JCPOA, which envisaged lifting sanctions against Tehran in exchange for restricting the Iranian nuclear program. Under former US President Donald Trump, the US withdrew from the deal, reimposing sanctions against Iran. The country reacted by reducing its obligations under the deal, including those concerning nuclear research, centrifuges and uranium enrichment levels. In December 2021, talks on the resumption of the JCPOA were resumed, but a year later the progress on the deal became largely frozen.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230716/white-house-to-allow-european-allies-to-train-ukrainian-pilots-on-f-16s-1111926649.html

White House to Allow European Allies to Train Ukrainian Pilots on F-16s

White House to Allow European Allies to Train Ukrainian Pilots on F-16s

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The United States will permit its European partners to begin training Ukrainian pilots to fly F-16 fighter jets and will provide necessary... 16.07.2023, Sputnik International

2023-07-16T18:00+0000

2023-07-16T18:00+0000

2023-07-16T18:01+0000

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Earlier in the week, a US media outlet reported that European countries were still waiting for an approval from the US to begin training Ukrainians on American F-16s. "The [US] president [Joe Biden] has a given green light, and we will allow, permit, support, facilitate and in fact provide the necessary tools for Ukrainians to begin being trained on F-16s as soon as Europeans are prepared," Sullivan said. Washington will meet "whatever timeline our European partners need" to help the pilot training program get underway, Sullivan added. A coalition of 11 European countries, including Denmark and the Netherlands, formally agreed at the NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, to train Ukrainian pilots to fly F-16 fighter aircraft. According to media reports, the training program was expected to be launched in Denmark and Romania. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said in June that the alliance was planning to begin the training this summer. The Pentagons Joint Staff Director for Operations Lt. Gen. Douglas Sims II said on Thursday that the conditions on the battlefield in Ukraine were not "ideal" for using F-16 fighter jets given that Russia continues to possess air defense capabilities.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230713/lavrov-plans-to-deliver-f-16-fighters-to-kiev-sets-dangerous-development-of-events-1111845006.html

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Tim Tetrick needed only a few words to sum up Confederates win in Saturdays (July 15) $668,000 Meadowlands Pace.

That was a ride there, Tetrick said after Confederate, the 1-2 favourite, covered the final quarter-mile in :25.4 to capture The Meadowlands signature race for three-year-old pacers by 3-1/2 lengths over longshot Hungry Angel Boy in 1:47. Christchurch finished third.

The winning time was just one-fifth of a second off the stakes record set in 2014 by Hes Watching, and the margin of victory was the largest since Well Said won the Pace by six lengths in 2009.

Confederates win extended trainer Brett Pellings record for Meadowlands Pace trophies to five and pushed Tetricks total to six, just one behind John Campbells record for drivers.

I really felt he would be on his game tonight, and he was, said Pelling, who celebrates his 65th birthday on Monday. Hes just an awesome horse.

Confederate settled into fourth place early in the race as Christchurch took the field to the opening quarter in :26.2 and half in :54.3. Tetrick put Confederate in motion just as the leader hit the midpoint, coming first-over and drawing even with Christchurch at three-quarters in 1:21.1.

From there, it was all Confederate.

It kind of went the way I thought I was going to have to do it, said Tetrick. I was afraid I was going to have to be first up, and thats the way it went, but I got to sit quite a way, and I was happy with that.

That was a ride there. He dragged me around there. It was awesome.

Confederate is owned by Diamond Creek Racing. The son of Sweet Lou-Geothermal was bred by Diamond Creek Farm.

I think we were hoping for a performance like that, said Diamond Creeks Adam Bowden. Timmy delivered, Brett delivered, it was great.

For his career, Confederate has won nine of 12 races and earned nearly $1.1 million. This year, he has four victories in five starts, with his lone setback a second-place finish by a head in last months Pepsi North America Cup at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

Confederate paid $3 to win.

Wagering on the 14-race program was vigorous from start to finish, and when all the monies were tallied, a total of $5,672,535 was pushed through the windows, the biggest number on Pace Night in 17 years, when wagering was just over $6 million in 2006.

Since 2009, only twice has betting busted the $5-million Pace Night barrier, the other being 2020, when $5,051,261 was put in play.

The $5.6 million wagered on Saturday night, an industry 2023 best, represents a 20 per cent increase over a year ago, when $4,733,390 in action was taken.

Adding a third 50-cent Pick 4 to the betting menu proved to be a smart move, as the three Pick 4s took in action of just over $450,000, with the All-Stakes Pick 4, featuring The Meadowlands Pace as the payoff leg, had $180,638 put in play.

Tetrick led the driver colony with five winners on the card. Dexter Dunn was next best with three victories.

Racing resumes Friday at 6:20 p.m.

A replay of the 2023 Meadowlands Pace card is available below:

(with files from USTA / The Meadowlands)
The Saturday (July 15) card of harness racing at Hanover Raceway featured the opening leg of the Ontario Prospect Series for two-year-old pacers while also hosting Harness the Hope.

In Prospect Series action, Lyons Zephr was the fastest colt in the two divisions. Jonathan Drury got the Threelyonsracing homebred a pocket ride behind pacesetter Bettin Again (J. R. Plante) in his $8,500 split, and popped pocket in the stretch to get up by a nose for his first lifetime win in 2:00.4. Anthony Beaton trains the son of Artspeak-Lyons Magic, who paid $10.90 to win.

Bettors Rush came from well off the pace for driver Travis Henry  parked three from three-quarters all the away around the far turn  to reel in Snow Walker (Steve Byron) in the second division, contested for a purse of $8,600. Sent off as the 4-5 choice, Bettors Rush (Bettors Delight-Sister Pippa) picked up his first lifetime victory for trainer and co-owner Blake MacIntosh, Pat Woods and Hutt Racing Stable. He paid $3.80 to win.

The fastest of the two divisions for fillies was won by Determination homebred Greatest Pleasure, a wire-to-wire maiden-breaking winner in 2:03.2 for driver J.R. Plante and trainer Luc Blais. The daughter of Bettors Delight-Twin B Imabeach paid $2.40 to win in her $8,700 split.

Speak Of Joy debuted a winner to prevail in her $8,800 Prospect division. Travis Henry found a seam along the rail heading into the far turn, allowing him to scoot inside stalled cover and find an open lane in the stretch to hold off Czech With Vivian (Peter Core) by a neck for the 2:03.4 decision. Vicki Gregg trains the daughter of Artspeak-Marvalous Joy, a $9.30 winner, for Ross Family Farms.

The first three races on the card featured female drivers in a special driving challenge in concert with Harness The Hope. Julie Walker doubled up with a pair of victories, guiding E L Lonely Charlie (2:00.3, $23.30) to win in the first race and favoured Derby Dylan (1:59.2, $3.80) to victory in the third. Debi O'Brien Moran was the winning driver in the second, clicking with Flaming Terror (2:01.1., $30.90).

For full results from the Saturday card of harness racing at Hanover Raceway, click the following link: Saturday Results - Hanover Raceway.
As the winners of the top class at Northside Downs for the past four weeks, it wasn't much of a surprise that Thunder Alley and Q Ts Charlie were the front pair turning for home in the Winners Over Pace on Saturday (July 15).

More surprising, however, was that Q Ts Charlie was went off as the third choice where the odds between third and last weren't much different.

Thunder Alley and Gerard Kennedy tried to make every call a winning one in the $1,600 Winners Over Pace, crossing over from the outermost post to wrestle the lead away from Runaway Mystery and carve out fractions of :28.3, :59.3 and 1:29.1. The first-over Dellas Playboy (Ardon Mofford) started to lose steam at this point, prompting Shawn Lynk to send Q Ts Charlie three-wide around that rival at the third station.

As the pacesetting Thunder Alley hit the head of the lane, Q Ts Charlie had his number and collared that rival in deep stretch. Runaway Mystery found a seam up the inside to make it close but Q Ts Charlie hit the wire a quarter length the best with the mile timed in 1:58.1. A Better Man (Adam Lynk) picked off Thunder Ally late to complete the triactor ticket.

Jeremy Baker trains Q Ts Charlie for John Murphy of Port Hawkesbury, N.S. The seven-year-old son of Proven Lover - Neverquits picked up lifetime win no. 20 and pushed his career earnings to $23,453 in the process. He paid $16.20 to win.

In the afternoon's second race, Keigan Madden notched his first career driving win aboard veteran pacer Howmac Napolean. Madden, from Scotchtown, N.S., picked up his first win in his 12th drive. He settled Howmac Napolean into second behind a revved-up Pats Pride (Larry Snow) then looped to the lead by the three-eighths mark. Madden and Howmac Napolean set sensible fractions through a 1:00 half and 1:30.4 third quarter before pacing home in :29.2 to trip the timer more than three lengths to the good in 2:00.1.

For the full results from Saturday's card of harness racing in Cape Breton, click the following link: Saturday Results - Northside Downs.
Oh Well, driven by Tim Tetrick, took immediate control over the field and made his foes chase him the entire mile to win the first of two $138,500 divisions of the Stanley Dancer Memorial on Saturday night (July 15) at The Meadowlands by two lengths.

The Marcus Melander-trained son of Hambletonian champ Muscle Hill left quickly along with Gaines Hanover, Kierkegaard K and favourite Air Power, but Tetrick made it to the top with Oh Well leading the field to a :27.3 first quarter.

In firm command, Oh Well trotted easily to a :56.3 half as Gaines Hanover galloped off to the side and left the scene. The remaining trotters rolled on behind Oh Well as he clocked three-quarters in 1:24.1, where Kierkegaard K left the catbird seat to set up a duel with the leader while favourite Air Power took cover second over.

Off the final turn and into the stretch, Oh Well kept Kierkegaard K from threatening. Then, Air Power galloped while attempting a closing charge. Kierkegaard K held on for second while French Wine was clear to take third and Father Stosh rambled home fourth.

The time for the mile was 1:51.2, a personal best for Oh Well.

SRF Stable owns the winning trotter. Oh Well, now with a bankroll of $1,024,872. He paid $9.20 to win.

"I was super happy, said Tetrick, he was getting beat every time at the wire and he raced good enough to win every time. We've been playing with the open bridle all year to get him in shape. We put the blind bridle on tonight and he really responded. He's a great, big, lazy colt that doesnt pay attention all the time, but when he gets his mind on business he knows what's going on.

Trainer Marcus Melander said he kept an open bridle on so far this year, and today was the time to put a closed one on like every start he had last year. It's a long season and we don't want to pull all the plugs right away. We've been managing him to have him on top Hambo day. So far, he looks good."

Winners Bet (pictured above) paid off in a three-colt finish of the second $138,500 division of the Stanley Dancer Memorial to win with driver Dexter Dunn in 1:51, a career best.

Winners Bet settled in line early as favourite Tactical Approach charged to the front followed by Kilmister. The first quarter went in :27.3 with Winners Bet third and Excalibur Bi fourth. Tactical Approach rolled through a :56.2 half, and the top trio kept their positions routing to three-quarters in 1:24.1.

Scott Zeron kept Tactical Approach strongly trotting on the lead into the stretch until Kilmister dug in to close quickly on him. As those two looked to meet the wire together, Winners Bet went charging on the far outside making up the most ground. Dexter Dunns charge had plenty left to pass the two and win in 1:51 by a half-length. Kilmister held for second and Tactical Approach was third.

"He's come back really well, said Dunn. Domenico [Cecere] and the team have done a great job bringing him back. He's super relaxed this year; he's trotting great and he's filled out. He had a good draw tonight and we got a good trip. I was really impressed with his turn of foot."

Domenico Cecere trains the Walner colt for owners Lindy Farms Of Connecticut and Robert Rudolph. Winners Bet increased his bankroll to $518,425 with the victory. He paid $13.40 to win.

(The Meadowlands)
Two weeks after being indicted on 16 federal bribery charges, Culpeper County Scott Jenkins pleaded not guilty Friday in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia in Charlottesville, according to court documents.

He appeared with his attorney, Nicholas DePalma, with Venable in Tysons, for the four-minute arraignment.

According to the indictment, Jenkins, 51, participated in an alleged scheme in which he accepted cash bribes in exchange for handing out auxiliary deputy badges, guns and credentials to various people over a several-year period ending this year.

The three-term sheriff was indicted June 28 on federal charges of conspiracy, four counts of honest-services mail and wire fraud, and 11 counts of federal programs bribery, according to court records.

According to the indictment unsealed June 29, starting in 2019, Jenkins accepted cash bribes totaling at least $72,500 from Rick Tariq Rahim, 55, of Great Falls, Fredric Gumbinner, 64, of Fairfax, James Metcalf, 60, of Manassas, and at least five others, including two FBI undercover agents.

In return, Jenkins appointed them as auxiliary deputy sheriffs, a sworn law-enforcement position, and issued them Culpeper County Sheriffs Office badges and identification cards, according to the indictment.

The Northern Virginia businessmen were also charged in the indictment and have pleaded not guilty.

Jenkins swore in 32 auxiliary deputies in the last two years, according to a Culpeper County FOIA officer. Auxiliary deputies are sworn in through the circuit court clerks office in the courthouse at the behest of the sheriff, the FOIA officer said.

The auxiliary deputy program of volunteer officers was created by ordinance adopted by the Culpeper County Board of Supervisors in 2005.

According to the ordinance, The Sheriff shall have the authority to appoint as auxiliary deputies as many persons of good character as he deems necessary, not to exceed 15 percent of the paid force.

The Culpeper County Sheriffs Office currently has 107 full-time employees with 118 total full-time positions approved for FY23, according to the county FOIA officer.

Auxiliary deputies were required by the code to meet training requirements established by the Virginia Deputy of Criminal Justice Services.

But according to the indictment, the sheriff failed to ensure individuals appointed as auxiliary deputies met the training requirements prescribed in his own general order for the program.

In 2019, Jenkins came out strongly in support of Second Amendment rights, vowing to deputize thousands of local citizens through the auxiliary program to push back on proposed gun control in a Democratic-led state government at the time. He made the claim during a meeting packed with 2A supporters at which the board of supervisors adopted a resolution declaring the county a second amendment constitutional county.

If the legislature decides to restrict certain weapons I feel harms our community, I will swear in thousands of auxiliary deputies in Culpeper, Jenkins said. Theres no limit to the number of people I can swear in.

The auxiliary deputy ordinance adopted by the board in 2005 specifies the county provide insurance for auxiliary deputies while on duty. The county pays for that policy through VACorp which costs $240 annually, and another through The Hartford which costs $6,080 annually, according to the FOIA officer.

A jury trial has been set for Sept. 7 in the sheriffs case.

Jenkins is running for a fourth term in the November election and faces two opponents.

The sheriff and co-defendants in the federal case have until 14 days before trial to execute a plea agreement or to plead guilty without an agreement, according to a standard notice order filed July 11 in the case by Senior Judge Norman Moon.

The men remain free on bond pending trial.
The Saudi Exchange has welcomed Riyad Capital, a leading Saudi investment company, as a market maker on the Saudi Exchange for two companies, Alrajhi Bank and Americana Restaurants International PLC Company.

The market making ceremony was attended by Mohammed Al Rumaih, CEO of the Saudi Exchange and Dr Abdullah Alshwer, CEO of Riyad Capital.

As a market maker, Riyad Capital will simultaneously provide bid and ask quotes for Alrajhi Bank and Americana Restaurants International PLC Company equities to ensure the availability of liquidity in line with market maker obligations of the Saudi Exchange.

Market maker

Riyad Capitals appointment underscores their commitment to supporting the growth and development of the Saudi capital market. We introduced market making for the equity and derivatives markets in December 2022, and since then, have been working to add more market makers to the Saudi Exchange. By serving as a market maker, Riyad Capital will play a key role in facilitating trading activity, generating more investor interest, and supporting our mission to develop a sophisticated capital market that aligns with the goals of Vision 2030, said Al Rumaih.

"We are pleased to be appointed as one of the first market makers on the Saudi Exchange for these two companies," said Dr Alshwer. "As a leading investment company in Saudi Arabia, we are committed to providing liquidity and enhancing market efficiency for our clients. Our appointment as a market maker for these companies is a testament to our strong reputation and track record in the Saudi capital market.

Riyad Capital is an investment company based in Saudi Arabia, offering a wide range of investment solutions to its clients. Established in 2004, the companys offerings include asset management, investment banking, brokerage, and research services.-- TradeArabia News Service
The headquarters of the Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) in Yeouido, Seoul / Newsis



By Anna J. Park



The Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) and banks have jointly launched a taskforce team to cooperate in setting up guidelines for the banking industry's best practices in corporate governance.



The FSS announced Sunday that the kickoff meeting of the taskforce team took place late last week, drawing participants from eight financial holdings companies as well as the Korea Federation of Banks (KFB).



"Despite recent advancements in the corporate governance of banks in Korea, it is still regarded as insufficient, when compared to global standards. For instance, the boards of banks are not properly functioning at all, with regards to their essential role of overseeing and checking the banks' management," Lee Joon-soo, Senior Deputy Governor at the FSS, highlighted.



"Some point out that banks' process for CEO appointment, as well as management succession procedures, remain perfunctory, lacking fairness and transparency," Lee stressed, adding that the board members of a bank not only lack diversity but also fall short of expertise necessary for speedy changes facing the banking industry.



During the next three to four months, the taskforce team plans to draw up best practice guidelines on issues ranging from the appointment of CEOs and management succession procedures, overhaul of the evaluation and supporting system for independent directors, to the enhancement of internal control systems. The final results of the team will be confirmed and announced during the second half of this year.



Since President Yoon Suk Yeol spoke of the necessity of improving the corporate governance of banks in January this year, financial authorities have been putting greater emphasis on coming up with measures to bring changes to local banks' management systems.



In particular, the FSS has designated the issue of banks' corporate governance as the central theme of its supervisory activities for this year and next year. The state-run watchdog agency has also pledged to strengthen communications with boards of banks on a regular basis, while increasing frequencies of inspections on banks.



During the first half of this year, the FSS held meetings with the boards of three financial holding companies  KB Financial Group, NongHyup Financial Group and Shinhan Financial Group  as well as six banks, including NongHyup Bank, Kbank, Standard Chartered Bank of Korea, KB Kookmin Bank, Industrial Bank of Korea (IBK) and Shinhan Bank.



Lee Joon-soo, the senior deputy governor of the FSS, also met the chairmen of the boards of 16 banks nationwide late last week to listen to what they had to say regarding potential risk factors of the banking sector, measures to increase banks' capacities to absorb losses, and ways to strengthen internal controls.




While North Atlantic Treaty Organization leaders met last week for the 2023 Vilnius summit in Lithuania, U.S. Senators Tim Kaine, D-Virginia and Florida Republican Marco Rubio reintroduced a bill to prohibit any President of the United States from withdrawing from NATO without Senate approval or an Act of Congress.

Putins brutal war in Ukraine and Finlands accession and Swedens pending accession into NATO all underscore the same thing: NATO is stronger than ever, said Kaine, a co-member with Rubio of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, in a statement. Im proud to introduce this bipartisan bill to reaffirm the United States commitment to NATO and ensure any U.S. President cant unilaterally decide to leave the alliance without congressional approval.

NATO serves as an essential military alliance that protects shared national interests and enhances Americas international presence. Any decision to leave the alliance should be rigorously debated and considered by the U.S. Congress with the input of the American people, said Rubio.

Specifically, the bill requires the U.S. President to seek the advice and consent of the Senate before suspending, terminating, or withdrawing U.S. membership in NATO, according to a release from Kaines office. If a U.S. President attempts to leave NATO without Senate approval or an Act of Congress, the bill prohibits any funding from being used to do so and also authorizes Congressional Legal Counsel to challenge the Administration in court.

As longtime advocates of the alliance, Kaine and Rubio voted to ratify protocols for Finland and Sweden to join NATO in August 2022, the release stated.

Bill co-sponsors are Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Angus King (I-ME), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), and Dick Durbin (D-IL).
A Virginia-founded cloud computing and cybersecurity advisory company will invest $125,000 to establish its headquarters in Loudoun County, creating 53 new jobs.

Fortreum was established in 2021 in a co-working space in the county and has cut the ribbon on a new office in Lansdowne.

The firms cyber expertise is tailored to meet specific needs of businesses operating in targeted industries across the public and private sector, according to a release last week from the office of Gov. Glenn Youngkin.

Fortreums decision to establish its headquarters in Loudoun County demonstrates the competitive advantage that Virginia offers tech companies advancing this sector in the 21st century, said Youngkin. The Commonwealth is a national leader in cybersecurity, and Fortreums role in securing and protecting data contributes to the industrys continued growth.

Having been long-time Virginia residents, Loudoun County was their first choice, said Fortreum CEO James Leach in a statement mentioning the areas strong technology ecosystem, diverse cybersecurity workforce in the Northern Virginia tech hub and having collaborative relationship with the state, county and area universities.

As we look to expand significantly, we determined this area provided the best opportunity for exponential business growth, he said.

Fortreum is a valued and respected leader in the Loudoun cybersecurity community, said Buddy Rizer, executive director of the Loudoun County Department of Economic Development.

We are excited to see the continued growth that results from this jobs investment incentive and look forward to working with Fortreums stellar team to further build their #LoudounPossible success story, he said.

Fortreum is an International Organization for Standardization, Accredited FedRAMP Third Party Assessment Organization, StateRAMP 3PAO and its affiliate is an American Institute of Certified Public Accountants System and Organization Controls firm with a rapidly expanding portfolio to support the needs of its enterprise customers, according to the governors office release.

The Virginia Economic Development Partnership worked with Loudoun County to secure the project for Virginia and will support Fortreums job creation through the Virginia Jobs Investment Program. The initiative provides consultative services and funding to companies creating new jobs, to support employee recruitment and training activities.
From my first campaign speech, I ran as a Second Amendment candidate. It is no secret that winning the fight on Constitutional Carry by passing LB 77 was a major legislative goal of mine for my time as a Nebraska senator. LB 77 also accomplished another major objective: state preemption of local gun ordinances. That is something that Senator Laura Ebke worked hard for in 2015, and that Attorney General Mike Hilgers pursued when we were both freshman senators in 2017. Now our side has prevailed and these hard fights are behind us.

That leaves us to think about what else is on our radar relating to the right to keep and bear arms and the right to defend ourselves and others. I have heard from a lot of folks about Castle Doctrine. Nebraska is what some call a partial Castle Doctrine state. There is no duty to retreat before defending yourself when you are at home. However, unlike some other states with stronger pro-defense laws, there is also no special process for disposing of likely defense cases.

I also hear a lot of constituents asking about Stand Your Ground. The idea behind Stand Your Ground laws is that you should not have to retreat before defending yourself any place where you are lawfully present. Critics of such reforms say that this encourages more violence. I disagree. Defenders are never authorized to use deadly force unless it is necessary to prevent death, serious injury, rape, or kidnapping. A Stand Your Ground law would not change that.

Arguing about a duty to retreat just confuses jurors and means that more defenders end up taking a plea deal to avoid the uncertainty of going to trial. I think enhancing our Castle Doctrine law and taking another look at eliminating the public duty to retreat are ways we could promote the rights of victims and their defenders in Nebraska.

Finally, an issue that weighs heavily on all our hearts is the issue of violence at schools. As state lawmakers, we order parents to get their kids to school. We owe it to our students and to their families to provide realistic options for protecting them from harm. I think that means that we need to look at letting public and private schools decide at the local level whether to use off-duty police officers, private security guards, or even key specially trained staff and faculty as armed responders in case of a deadly threat. Right now, it is a felony crime in Nebraska for anyone other than on-duty law enforcement to carry a gun at a school.

That is why I introduced an interim study resolution, LR 220, to look at school security issues. This study has been referenced to the Education Committee. I have asked the Committee Chair, Senator Dave Murman, to hold a hearing on this study. I plan to invite administrators, teachers, law enforcement, and others to provide perspectives on how we can protect children while they learn. Of all the issues in this area we can work on, I believe this one should be the highest priority.

Please contact my office with any comments, questions or concerns. Email me at; tbrewer@leg.ne.gov. Mail a letter to; Sen. Tom Brewer, Room #1423, P.O. Box 94604, Lincoln, NE 68509 or call us at (402) 471-2628.
Luna al-Shibl, the media adviser to the President of the Syrian regime, played a decisive role in the Minister of Information's decision, according to Syria TV.

The Ministry of Information has dismissed the directors of the official channels al-Ikhbariya and al-Souriya following two significant incidents. One occurred during the broadcast of the program The Captain, which was abruptly halted, and the other involved the channel al-Ikhbariya hosting Youssef Zeidan, an Egyptian intellectual accused of normalization with Israel.

Confidential sources from the General Authority for Radio and Television have confirmed to Syria TV that Luna al-Shibl, the media adviser to the President of the Syrian regime, played a decisive role in the Minister of Informations decision. She imposed the dismissal and appointed new directors for both channels, al-Ikhbariya and al-Souriya.

Muhammad Ali Abdul Razzaq Zahra has replaced Shibl as the director of al-Souriya, while Muhammad Ali Massa has been appointed as the director of al-Ikhbariya. Massa previously held the position of director at al-Ikhbariya from February 2018 to January 2019 when he was dismissed due to a scandal related to job interviews.

The process of appointing and dismissing directors of the regimes television channels has often lacked professional evaluations, according to many individuals who have worked in Syrian state media organizations. These decisions have typically been influenced by a context of security patronage that permeates journalistic work.

Based on a partially substantiated hypothesis, some individuals doubt that the mistakes that occurred on the Syrian news screens, including the official Syrian satellite channel and the Syria Drama channel, are the primary reasons behind the recent changes. Instead, they believe that the current developments are driven by the same underlying factors that led to the appointment of the previous directors. These positions are often associated with security services, and when someone garners their support, they gain access to influential positions. Consequently, when a power struggle ensues between different agencies for control and influence, the losers tend to bring their groups with them into state institutions.

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.
A clash unfolded between members of the Lions of the East militia and the military security personnel of the regime forces, according to Baladi News.

Several members of the regime forces were wounded on Saturday, following a violent altercation involving firearms in the city of Deir-ez-Zor, located in eastern Syria.

According to reliable sources, a clash unfolded between members of the Lions of the East militia and the military security personnel of the regime forces. Machine guns were employed during the altercation, resulting in the injury of three military security members, including a non-commissioned officer of assistant rank, as well as one member from the Lions of the East faction.

The sources indicate that the quarrel initially erupted between a military security member and a member of the Lions of the East. This led to physical assault by the Eastern group on the military security member, accompanied by verbal abuse, ultimately escalating the conflict into a violent confrontation between the two factions.

It is reported that the fighting ceased after the intervention of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards and the National Defense, who set up barriers between the warring parties. Additionally, the two individuals responsible for initiating the brawl were apprehended for further investigation into the incident.

Prior to this incident, clashes involving machine guns had occurred between members of the National Defense Militia and groups associated with the Palestinian al-Quds Brigade militia in the heart of Deir-ez-Zor governorate. These clashes were triggered by the alleged harassment of girls. Furthermore, conflicts had also emerged earlier between militias affiliated with the Iranian Revolutionary Guards and the Fourth Division, primarily concerning royalties.

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. military presence in the northern countryside of the Deir-ez-Zor governorate continues to strengthen, according to al-Watan.

The U.S. military presence in the northern countryside of the Deir-ez-Zor governorate continues to strengthen as they have alerted the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and their affiliated militias to be prepared for potential attacks in the area. Additionally, they have urged the militias near the illegal al-Tanf base to remain vigilant against any possible threats. Concurrently, there has been a notable movement of people from the city of al-Mayadeen in the eastern countryside towards the capital, Damascus, due to concerns over a potential military clash between the Syrian Arab Army and the forces of the International Coalition, led by Washington, which claims to be combating ISIS in Syria.

According to reports from sources cited on the al-Mayadeen Net website, the U.S. occupation forces have introduced military reinforcements to the northern countryside of Deir-ez-Zor, which include the al-Sanadid and Rebel Army militias stationed at the Conoco gas and oil fields bases.

The sources stated, The United States of America has deployed defensive military reinforcements near the Conoco and al-Omar bases in Deir-ez-Zors countryside. Furthermore, Washington has instructed the SDF militias associated with them to be prepared for potential attacks originating from the western bank of the Euphrates River. The Free Syrian Army militias stationed in the al-Tanf area, which is currently occupied by U.S. forces and referred to as the 55 km area at the Syrian-Jordanian-Iraqi border triangle in southeastern Syria, have also been urged to remain cautious against any potential attacks in the region.

At the start of last week, reports emerged of a troop rotation within the Syrian Arab Army forces stationed in the eastern countryside of Deir-ez-Zor, specifically along the contact lines separating the areas controlled by the SDF and the U.S. occupation in the governorate. These developments occurred amid escalating tensions between Russian forces and the U.S. occupation in eastern Syria.

Al-Mayadeen Net also reported an increased state of alertness among SDF militias along the contact lines that link their controlled territories with the army-controlled areas along the banks of the Euphrates River in the northern and eastern countryside of Deir-ez-Zor.

According to the sources, this alertness followed the withdrawal of all checkpoints of the so-called Deir-ez-Zor Military Council by the SDF militias in the region. They were subsequently replaced by barriers manned by the Asayish forces, the security arm of the SDF.

On the previous Monday, as mobilizations continued on the contact lines in the eastern countryside of Deir-ez-Zor by both the army and its allies on one side, and the U.S. occupation and SDF militias on the other, a prominent tribal source in Deir-ez-Zor stated in an interview with Al-Watan that the objective of the occupation and the SDF was to regain control and influence in the area. This move was prompted by their diminished authority in the region, which has led to internal discord between them and the so-called Deir-ez-Zor Military Council militias.

Meanwhile, the displacement of people from the city of al-Mayadeen in the eastern countryside of Deir-ez-Zor towards the capital, Damascus, continued unabated due to fears of a potential military clash between the friendly and allied forces of the Syrian Arab Army and the international coalition in the region. Opposition media sources reported these concerns on Saturday. The situation was exacerbated by circulating information about the international coalitions intention to launch a military operation in the areas controlled by the friendly and allied forces of the Syrian army in Deir-ez-Zor and its countryside. These reports have instilled grave apprehension among the local population, prompting them to flee to other areas within Syria, as per the sources.

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.
Both President al-Assad and the Iraqi Prime Minister emphasized the significance of the strong bond between Iraq and Syria, according to al-Watan.

President Bashar al-Assad and Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al Sudani held a joint press conference in Damascus following their bilateral talks. Assad welcomed al Sudanis visit and expressed gratitude for Iraqs support during the terrorist war in Syria. Both leaders emphasized the importance of strengthening bilateral relations and cooperation, particularly in the face of common challenges such as terrorism. Economic relations and easing the blockade on Syria were also discussed.

Al Sudani reaffirmed Iraqs supportive stance towards Syrias unity and sovereignty, emphasizing that Iraqs security is closely tied to Syrias security. He highlighted Iraqs commitment to working with other stability-supporting nations for Syrias economic recovery. The two leaders emphasized the need for ongoing coordination to address common challenges, including terrorism and water shortage. Sudani called for the lifting of Western coercive measures imposed on Syria and condemned Israels repeated aggressions on Syrian land.

President al-Assad and the Iraqi Prime Minister discussed various topics during their talks, including trade exchange, transportation, industry, and joint efforts in the fight against terrorism. They expressed their commitment to further developing official and popular relations between the two countries. This visit was seen as an opportunity to strengthen the institutional relationship and achieve significant progress in bilateral cooperation.

The Iraqi Prime Ministers delegation included Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein, Trade Minister Atheer Salman, and Commander of Joint Operations Lieutenant General Qais Rahima. The visit was marked by an official ceremony at the Peoples Palace in Damascus. Both leaders emphasized the historical and fraternal ties between Iraq and Syria, acknowledging the steadfastness of the Syrian people during the terrorist war.

The Prime Minister is leading a delegation comprising of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein, Trade Minister Atheer Salman, and Lieutenant General Qais Rahima, who is the Commander of Joint Operations.

During their meeting, President al-Assad and the Iraqi Prime Minister discussed the bilateral relations between Syria and Iraq. They emphasized the importance of enhancing cooperation in multiple fields, such as trade, transportation, and industry. They also highlighted the ongoing coordination on various political matters. The leaders also addressed their joint efforts in combating terrorism.

Both President al-Assad and the Iraqi Prime Minister emphasized the significance of the strong bond between Iraq and Syria, as it is reflected in their mutual support in different circumstances. They stressed the need to continue developing these relations at both the official and popular levels.

This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
Your daily brief of the English-speaking press on Syria.

Syrians who fled President Bashar al-Assads rule fear he may soon be able to choke off badly needed aid as Damascus acts to establish sway over U.N. assistance into the rebel-held northwest, the last major bastion of the Syrian opposition, according to Reuters. Meanwhile, temperatures are reaching record-high levels in crisis-hit Syria. At the same time, a newly formed opposition group killed a senior member of the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham.

A tussle at the U.N. Security Council over the aid operation has played to Assads advantage, with his ally Russia vetoing an extension of its mandate this week and paving the way for Damascus to approve one itself  but on its terms.

Aid workers said the outlook for one of the worlds biggest humanitarian operations had been thrown into doubt, with Syrias demands for full cooperation and coordination raising fears of big complications ahead for their work.

Ever since we heard about the decision, all the families in the camp have been lost, confused, scared, Abu Ahmad Obeid, a father of seven who has lived in a camp in the northwest since fleeing his home in government-controlled territory in 2018, told Reuters by telephone from the region.

We rely on that aid for everything  medical support, food, everything, he said.

The northwest is home to 4.5 million people, 2.9 million of whom were displaced during a shattering conflict that has killed hundreds of thousands of people since it spiralled out of anti-government protests that were met by deadly force.

NGOs and individual states have long organized unilateral aid convoys into the northwest. But U.N. agencies will not cross the border without government or Security Council approval, which lapsed on Monday as members struggled to convince Russia to extend the operation for more than six months.

Damascus then gave the nod for the operation to continue via the Bab al-Hawa border crossing from Turkey for six months. Damascus has long rejected the operation as a violation of sovereignty, saying aid should be delivered from within Syria.

For Assad, it marks the latest in a series of developments that have gone his way on the international stage, after fellow Arab states brought him back in from the cold.

The move is seen to offer him a potential source of leverage over Western states that largely finance aid operations, and gives him a way to put pressure on a rebellious region which is held by armed groups that have fought to topple him.

Living in an oven: Heatwave grips displacement camps in Syria

Under a scorching sun, Hamida Dandoush sprinkles water on her tent in an attempt to cool it down, hoping to alleviate the high temperatures for herself and her family, Al-Jazeera reported.

The 62-year-old woman from the town of Maardabsah is residing in the Saharah camp near the Syrian-Turkish border, where approximately 80 displaced families are enduring harsh living conditions amid the intense heatwave striking the region.

We live as if we are inside an oven, struggling to breathe due to the heat inside the tent. If it werent for the water we sprinkle on the tent, we would have died from the intense heat, Dandoush told Al Jazeera on Saturday.

Dandoush, who lives in a tent with her daughter and grandchild, said that every day she makes seemingly futile attempts to cool things down, including placing her grandchild in a plastic container and pouring cold water over him.

If elderly people like us cannot bear this weather, how can young children? said Dandoush. Yesterday, my grandson started trembling and had difficulty breathing, so we took him to the hospital, and they told us it happened due to the heat inside the tent.

Warm weather affecting displaced people living in camps in northwest Syria is expected to escalate in the coming days, further exacerbating the suffering of those living in tents, which lack cooling mechanisms and are made of nylon fabric that intensifies the reflected heat.

The Syrian Civil Defence, also known as the White Helmets, has warned people not to expose themselves to the sun for prolonged periods in the coming days as temperatures rise above 42 degrees Celsius (108 degrees Fahrenheit). They also advised increasing water and fluid intake to avoid dehydration and cautioned against placing gas cylinders in the sun to prevent fires.

The heatwave coincided with an increase in the number of fires in the current month. Our teams have extinguished more than 200 fires since the beginning of this month, including 93 fires in agricultural lands, 21 fires in forests, 36 fires in civilian homes and 10 fires in displacement camps, said Ahmad Yazji, a board member of the Syrian Civil Defence.

More than 811 camps in northwest Syria suffer from a lack of necessary water, while other camps cope with reduced water allocations due to a decrease in water support from donor organizations and increased water consumption caused by rising temperatures, according to Syria Response Coordination Group, a local humanitarian organization.

Russia, Iran quietly coordinating in Syria to pressure US, official says

Russia and Iran are collaborating in Syria to exert pressure on the United States, with Russia aiming to control Syrian airspace and the IRGC supplying weapons to attack US bases, Al-Monitor has reported.

The coordination involves mid-level Quds Force leadership and Russian forces in Syria, with collaborative planning, intelligence sharing, and a convergence of interests. The official cites incidents of Russian pilots harassing US drones and warns against conceding territory or airspace to Russia and Iran. While conflicts with Iran-backed groups have temporarily subsided, the flow of weapons to these groups continues.

The US maintains dominance in the skies with the deployment of F-22 fighter jets and is cautious about potential escalations. The official suggests that Russia may attempt to shoot down American drones. US-Russian communication via a deconfliction line remains active.

The official also highlights Russian surveillance over US bases and the sharing of intelligence between Russian and Iranian forces. The US is concerned about the ongoing flow of weapons and rockets to Iran-backed groups.

A senior US military official stated that there has been no change in US behaviour in Syria since the fall of ISIS. Despite occasional heated exchanges, a deconfliction line remains open between the US and Russian sides. While Russian and Iranian commanders in Syria are not currently seeking a major firefight with the US, Russia may attempt to shoot down American drones. The Russian military announced counter-drone and air defence exercises, but the US official doubts their occurrence. Russian surveillance, including a recent overflight, continues over US bases in Syria, raising concerns about their intelligence gathering. While conflicts with Iran-backed groups have temporarily quieted, the flow of weapons to these groups persists. The US Air Force maintains dominance in the Syrian skies, and the deployment of F-22 fighter jets has influenced Russian behaviour. Further potential US deployments remain undisclosed, but the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter is considered useful for defensive measures. US F-16s will begin patrolling the Persian Gulf in response to recent tanker seizures by Iran.

UN says the Damascus-proposed conditions for aid delivery to northwest Syria are unacceptable

The United Nations agency responsible for overseeing humanitarian aid has described conditions placed by the Syrian government on aid deliveries from Turkey to northwest Syria as unacceptable, AP reported.

The future delivery of aid across Syrias northern border was thrown into question Tuesday after the U.N. Security Council was unable to agree on either of two competing proposals to extend the mandate for bringing aid from Turkey by way of the Bab al Hawa border crossing.

Two days later, Syrias ambassador to the U.N. said Damascus would give voluntary permission for the U.N. to use the crossing for six months, on condition that aid delivery would be done in full cooperation and coordination with the government, that the U.N. would not communicate with terrorist organizations and their affiliates, and that the International Committee of the Red Cross and the Syrian Arab Red Crescent would run aid operations.

In a letter sent to the Security Council on Friday, a copy of which was obtained by The Associated Press on Saturday, the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, or OCHA, said the Syrian proposal called two of those conditions unacceptable for carrying out principled humanitarian operations.

The prohibition on communicating with groups considered terrorist by the Syrian government would prevent the U.N. and partner organizations distributing aid from engaging with relevant state and non-state parties as operationally necessary to carry out safe and unimpeded humanitarian operations, the letter said.

Stipulating that aid deliveries must be overseen by the Red Cross or Red Crescent is neither consistent with the independence of the United Nations nor practical, since those organizations are not present in north-west Syria, it said.

The letter also noted that the Syrian governments request that aid deliveries should be carried out in full cooperation and coordination with Damascus requires review and that the mechanism for aid delivery should not infringe on the impartiality.., neutrality, and independence of the United Nations humanitarian operations.

Aid delivery to the rebel-held enclave in the northwest has been a perennial point of contention during Syrias 12-year-old uprising-turned-civil war.

The Syrian government of Bashar Assad and its ally, Russia, which is a member of the Security Council, want all aid deliveries to be run through Damascus. Opponents of Assad and humanitarian organizations say this could lead to aid being diverted from the vulnerable population in the northwest.

Newly formed Syria militant group kills HTS commander in Idleb

A senior member of the hardline Syrian Islamist militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) was killed on Friday by a newly emergent group that set up its own checkpoint in the Idlib countryside, according to The New Arab.

The group, which calls itself the Revolutionary Shield Brigade, said it assassinated HTS commander Ibrahim Muhammad al-Ali  also known as Abu Suhaib Sarmad  in a video posted to social media earlier this week.

The militants posted pictures of the slain commander during his detention and after his killing.

In June, a video was released showing masked militants announcing the formation of the Revolutionary Shield Brigade.

The group demanded that HTS release detainees and threatened to target its members if their demands were not met. In another video released at the end of June, the group said it had shelled an HTS military base in Harza near the Syria-Turkey border.

The attacks on HTS come as the hardline group, which dominates rebel-held areas of Syria, faces protests against its rule in Idleb and Aleppo provinces, amid a series of raids and arrests conducted by HTS aimed at quashing dissent.

Camps for displaced civilians deliberately bombed in Syria, investigation reveals

A shocking new report has revealed a disturbing pattern of deliberate and deadly bombings targeting internally displaced people (IDP) camps within war-torn Syria, Al-Arabiya Network reported.

The study, led by the Syria Justice and Accountability Center, titled Desperate for Safety, Targeted for Destruction: Intentional Attacks on IDP Camps in Syria, uncovered evidence that Syrian and Russian armed forces repeatedly struck camps housing civilians despite their clear identification as non-combatant areas.

For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.

The Syrian conflict has displaced over 13 million Syrians since 2011, with approximately seven million forcibly displaced within Syria itself.

IDPs are among the most vulnerable populations in conflict-affected regions, subject to routine rights violations and limited access to safety and security.

The report highlights the Syrian government and its allies, including Russia, as the perpetrators of these deliberate attacks on IDP camps between 2014 and 2022.

While some previous attacks had garnered media condemnation, this report provides evidence that these were not accidental or limited to military targets in proximity.

Rather, the deliberate targeting of IDP camps was a calculated strategy employed by the government and its allies, the report found.

The investigators meticulously reviewed over two million videos documenting the Syrian conflict stored in their database known as Bayanat. By cross-referencing this material with social media, media channels, and satellite imagery, the researchers verified the authenticity of the evidence and established a clear pattern of deliberate targeting.

The report identified 17 incidents where IDP camps were targeted, with the Syrian government or its allies implicated in all but one of these attacks. Witnesses have reported that the targeted camps were subject to reconnaissance flights prior to the bombings, indicating the intentional nature of these attacks. Some camps, such as al-Naqir, were repeatedly attacked on multiple occasions.

The report focused on specific incidents between 2014 and 2022 in areas including camps near the villages of al-Naqir and Abdeen, and camps near the outskirts of the village of Qah, in Kafr Jalis. In these cases, the report confirmed the prior knowledge of the Syrian forces and their allies regarding the civilian nature of these camps. The Syrian government and its allies disregarded this knowledge and proceeded with the strikes, causing immense harm and suffering to innocent civilians.
Today is AI Appreciation Day. The occasion celebrates the advancements and impact of artificial intelligence across human endavour throughout the world. However, many influential figures are saying that AI poses too big a risk to humanity and that all work on it should be stopped. The latest to warn about the risks is Oppenheimer actor Cilian Murphy. He has joined the likes of Elon Musk, and Geoffrey Hinton in warning against rampant use of AI.

Actor Murphy, known for his iconic roles in various movies, believes that we should be cautious when it comes to using AI and other technologies. He considers the film called "Oppenheimer" as a cautionary tale about the excessive use of AI. Murphy thinks that the way people talk about AI nowadays, comparing it to the splitting of the atom, is concerning. He hopes that the world can use AI for good purposes, but he also believes that the film reflects our relationship with technology today and raises important questions and that caution should be observed.

Filmmaker Christopher Nolan, who is the director of Oppenheimer film, shares Murphy's sentiment. He recognizes the downsides of technology in the modern world and scientific research. Nolan mentions that AI is often referred to as the "Oppenheimer moment," relating it to a historical event involving technology - J. Robert Oppenheimer and his team researched and developed the design of the atomic bomb. Nolan believes that Oppenheimer's story doesn't provide easy answers, but it does bring up troubling questions that should grab our attention.

Musk's call for AI regulation

Elon Musk, a well-known critic of AI, has been advocating international regulation and control of AI development. Musk argues that global cooperation is necessary to avoid potential threats to civilization and prevent a future reminiscent of the "Terminator" movies. He has discussed the need for AI oversight and regulation with world leaders, including those from China. Musk believes that governments are taking action and are genuinely concerned about the risks associated with AI.

Geoffrey Hinton's warning and inequality concerns

Geoffrey Hinton is a prominent figure in artificial intelligence. He also emphasizes the importance of government intervention in preventing machines from taking over society. Hinton, often referred to as one of the "godfathers" of AI, recently left his position at Google to speak openly about the dangers of AI. He wants people to understand that the risks of AI are real and not just science fiction or fear-mongering. Hinton believes we must address these risks in advance and develop strategies to deal with them. He also raises concerns about AI deepening inequality, where the benefits of AI deployment primarily go to the wealthy, rather than benefiting workers and society as a whole.

As AI continues to advance, it is important to heed these perspectives. The cautious approach advocated by Murphy, Musk, and Hinton emphasize the need for responsible development, regulation, and ensuring that AI benefits society as a whole.
The Financial Services Commission (FSC) at the government complex in central Seoul / Courtesy of FSC



By Anna J. Park



External auditors will now be required to notify a company's internal audit department whenever they discover a case of accounting fraud amounting to 5 billion won ($3.9 million) or more. Companies will also be notified of accounting fraud committed by their staff members along with such violations by management, according to revised guidelines set by financial authorities on investigating accounting irregularities.



The Financial Services Commission (FSC), the country's top financial regulator, as well as the Financial Supervisory Service (FSS), announced the revisions on Sunday, aiming to enhance the transparency of the local accounting system.



The guideline was first drawn up in late 2019, following the government's introduction of the system of accounting irregularity investigations in 2018. The investigation refers to a process in which external auditors report any accounting fraud they discover during the audit process to a company's internal audit department. The internal audit department, then, appoints external experts at the company's expense to further investigate the findings and submit the case to the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) as well as the firm's auditors.



While the number of accounting irregularities spotted through the investigative system has been on a steady increase to 15 cases last year, from five in 2019, there have been voices calling for guaranteeing the complete independence of external auditors, as well as clarifying some ambiguous parts of the system by revising the guideline.



Reflecting such opinions, Sunday's announcement came after the financial authorities closely consulted with related agencies and organizations in the field, including the Korean Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Korea Listed Companies' Association.



The revised rule stipulated that external auditors are obligated to report any case of accounting fraud involving 5 billion won ($3.9 million) or over to the internal audit department of a company. So far, there has not been a clear monetary standard, making the reporting obligation influenced by arbitrary judgments by auditors. The revised guideline also guarantees the full independence of external experts, who will take on the role of further investigating reported accounting fraud, by excluding the appointment of experts who share economic or special interests with the management of a company.



"The FSC will strictly exercise close supervision so that the accounting irregularity investigation system is fairly and squarely operated in order to raise transparency and credibility of the accounting system," an official from the FSC said.


ST PETERSBURG  Next Friday, American Stage in downtown St. Pete will open La Gringa , a bilingual play that delves into themes of identity, culture, and belonging. The groundbreaking production has been lauded for its authentic portrayal of language diversity and the vibrant Puerto Rican experience.





La Gringa tells the story of Maria, a young woman of Puerto Rican descent who embarks on a journey of self-discovery when she visits her family's homeland for the first time. Born and raised in the United States, Maria grapples with her own cultural identity while navigating the complexities of a complex world. The play, written by Carmen Rivera, explores the intersection of language, heritage, and personal growth.





You don't have to be bilingual to appreciate the experience, however, as "the true essence of the multicultural experience" is part of the point.





"The work I do is mainly in bilingual plays," said director Tatayna- Marie Carlo. "I am originally from Miami, Florida so that means that everything around me has always been in two languages. Having a room that is filled with both languages means that I don't have to translate. It means if there is something more intentional in Spanish I can say it that way, or if it is more specific in English I can do it that way and I don't have to sacrifice language for communication."





Characters speak in English and Spanish based on their backgrounds and the emotional nuances of each scene. This unique approach aims to provide a genuine representation of the bilingual reality many individuals navigate every day.





The production will run through August 13 at the Raymond James Theatre in downtown St. Petersburg. Click here for ticket information.




The 1920s were an era of big development in Florida. Luxurious hotels began popping up along the coast, offering season residents an lavish experience in the midst of the Florida wilds. While the Great Depression certainly played a large part in bursting this boom, it was a natural disaster that really sealed the deal.

While development was steady in southwestern Florida from the mid-1800s into the twentieth century, the 1920s was a particularly faced paced and fundamental era for expansion, particularly in Sarasota. In October of 1922, Chicago capitalist Andrew McAnsh constructed the Mira Mar Hotel and Apartments on South Palm Avenue in Sarasota, creating a grand standard for construction that transformed Sarasota from an agricultural village to a coveted, world-famous resort destination.

Thousands of developers, promoters and real estate investors poured into the Sunshine State to capitalize on the land grab. The frenzy was comparable to the Gold Rush in California, or land rush in Oklahoma. In 1925, a reported 400,000 people migrated south into Florida increasing the permanent population to nearly 1.3 million, twice the size it was 15 years prior, according to historian Jeff LeHurd in his book, Sarasota Roaring Through the 20s.

Hundreds of these visionaries shared their rags to riches success stories. Walter V. Colman, for instance, was said to have left his hometown of Detroit with $80 in his pocket and an overpowering ambition. During the 1920s he became a millionaire after opening the Belle Haven Hotel on what is now Tamiami Trail in northern Sarasota. (The hotel is now part of the Ringling School of Art).

Another early investor, Andrew McAnsh opened the Mira Mar Hotel in 1924, cementing Sarasota emergence as a destination for wealthy winter visitors. The hotel, and subsequent sand Mira Mar Casino, were considered the gems of the West Coast, LaHurd wrote, equipped with many extravagant amenities and acting as a home away from home for swanky residents.

However, the Miami Hurricane of 1926 shattered the confidence of investors who had been flocking to Florida during the land boom. The catastrophic event highlighted the vulnerability of the area to natural disasters and raised doubts about the sustainability and resilience of the booming real estate market. Prospective buyers and investors became wary, causing a decline in demand for properties and leading to a subsequent decrease in prices.

The hurricane struck Miami on September 18, 1926, causing widespread devastation. The powerful winds and storm surge ravaged buildings, infrastructure, and communities in the area. Many homes, businesses, and incomplete construction projects were destroyed or severely damaged. The extent of the damage, approximately $105 million (the modern equivalent of $165 billion), undermined investor confidence and led to substantial financial losses, according to the National Weather Service.

The hurricane also resulted in the tragic loss of lives. The official death toll was estimated to be around 400, although some reports suggest the actual number may have been much higher. The loss of human lives and the subsequent impact on families and communities further shook the region's stability and had a psychological impact on potential investors.

The destruction caused by the hurricane had profound economic consequences. Insurance companies faced significant payouts for damages, leading to financial strain. The cost of rebuilding was high, and the overall economic activity in the region slowed down.

The hurricane's impact on infrastructure further hindered the growth and development of the region. Roads, utilities, and other essential services were disrupted or destroyed, resulting in delays in rebuilding efforts and hampering the flow of investment and economic activity.

Then, in the fall of 1929, the stock market crashed, triggering a severe economic downturn across the U.S. It had a profound and devastating impact on the Florida land boom, exacerbating the existing economic challenges and ultimately leading to its collapse.

As the nation plunged into a period of widespread unemployment, bank failures, and economic instability, consumer confidence plummeted. People faced financial hardships, limiting their ability to invest in real estate and causing a sharp decline in demand for properties in Florida.

The economic crisis halted many infrastructure projects and construction initiatives that were vital to the Florida land boom. With limited funds and a lack of investor interest, major development projects were delayed or abandoned, resulting in a stagnation of growth and a loss of momentum.

In combination, these factors created an atmosphere of uncertainty and financial hardship, causing the Florida land boom to end abruptly. The Miami Hurricane of 1926 and stock market crash of 1929 both served as a pivotal events that exposed the risks associated with speculative investments and marked a turning point in the region's economic trajectory.
Stunning 5 bedroom 3.5 bath home in the historical district of College Station. This 3,062 sq. ft. home was completely remodeled by Crowley Custom homes and will take your breath away with its rustic charm. Gorgeous hardwood floors, large living room, gourmet kitchen & beautifully updated bathrooms perfectly blend historic charm with every modern convenience. Chefs dream kitchen includes a breakfast area, large island, granite countertops & wet bar. Exquisite master suite features a pedestal bathtub, granite countertops, separate shower & walk-in closet. Other features include a 260 sq. ft. Casita not included in the square footage, enormous covered patio & amazing outdoor kitchen/living area wonderful for entertaining. Pictures were taken before current tenants moved in. Do not miss out on the opportunity to be close to Texas A&M, shopping, restaurants, and so much more!

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A hallway of Pusan National University Hospital is empty, as about 80 percent of unionized medical workers continue their walkout at the hospital in Busan, Sunday. Yonhap



Despite the end of a two-day general strike, some unionized medical workers continued a walkout across the country Sunday, causing patient inconvenience and disruptions at hospitals.



On Friday, around 45,000 nurses, caregivers, and other members of the Korean Health and Medical Workers' Union (KHMU) from 140 medical institutions nationwide ended their two-day general strike meant to demand better working conditions and greater state support for public medical institutions.



But some of them have yet to reach an agreement with their respective management side on details and have been on a strike, according to the union.



The collective actions continued at Ajou University Medical Center and Hallym University Medical Center, both located in Gyeonggi Province, as well as several other hospitals in the southwestern city of Gwangju and the eastern province of Gangwon.



At Pusan National University Hospital, in particular, some 80 percent of about 3,500 unionized workers have joined the walkout. It is the largest medical institution in the southern port city of Busan.



Striking medical workers have called for an expansion of the integration of nursing and caregiving services, and the institutionalization of a nurse-to-patient ratio of 1 to 5.



"If the union of each hospital fails to reach a deal with the management, workers will not return to work. We will continue talks with the health ministry to improve working conditions for medical workers and to expand public medical services," a KHMU official said.



The ministry and the union have held three rounds of meetings since Friday and discussed measures to overcome difficulties that medical workers are facing. (Yonhap)


NEW YORK  A former White House aide to President Donald Trump who became a prominent congressional witness against him and his allies in the wake of the Jan. 6 siege of the U.S. Capitol has a book deal. Cassidy Hutchinson's Enough will be released Sept. 26 by Simon & Schuster.

With Enough,' she provides a riveting account of her extraordinary experiences as an idealistic young woman thrust into the middle of a national crisis, according to the publisher's announcement.

She risked everything to tell the truth about some of the most powerful people in Washington and some of the most consequential events in recent American history.

In testimony last year to the House Jan. 6 committee, Hutchinson recalled the Secret Service resisting Trump's demands that he join the mob of supporters trying to disrupt congressional certification of Democrat Joe Biden's electoral victory.

She alleged that members of Trump's inner circle dangled job opportunities and financial assistance while she was cooperating with the committee. She also testified that her own lawyer  a former ethics counsel in the Trump White House  told her the less you remember, the better.

It feels ridiculous, because in my heart I knew where my loyalties lied, and my loyalties lied with the truth," she told the committee. And I never wanted to diverge from that.

Hutchinson, a native of Pennington, New Jersey, previously worked in the White House Office of Legislative Affairs and as an intern for such Republicans as Rep. Steve Scalise of Louisiana and Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas.

Financial terms for her memoir were not disclosed.

Hutchinson was represented by Robert Barnett, the Washington attorney whose clients have included former President Barack Obama and former President George W. Bush.
Brookfield Business Partners L.P. (NYSE:BBU  Get Free Report) was the target of a significant decrease in short interest in June. As of June 30th, there was short interest totalling 12,000 shares, a decrease of 69.7% from the June 15th total of 39,600 shares. Currently, 0.0% of the companys stock are short sold. Based on an average trading volume of 9,900 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 1.2 days.

Brookfield Business Partners Stock Performance

BBU traded down $0.07 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $18.53. The companys stock had a trading volume of 7,722 shares, compared to its average volume of 9,765. Brookfield Business Partners has a 52 week low of $15.29 and a 52 week high of $26.50. The companys 50-day moving average is $18.53 and its 200-day moving average is $18.31. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.53, a quick ratio of 0.85 and a current ratio of 1.17. The firm has a market cap of $1.38 billion, a PE ratio of 20.82 and a beta of 1.29.

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Brookfield Business Partners (NYSE:BBU  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Friday, May 5th. The business services provider reported $0.34 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.27 by ($0.93). Brookfield Business Partners had a net margin of 0.93% and a return on equity of 3.39%. The business had revenue of $13.76 billion during the quarter. On average, equities analysts forecast that Brookfield Business Partners will post 4.53 EPS for the current year.

Brookfield Business Partners Cuts Dividend

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, June 30th. Investors of record on Wednesday, May 31st were paid a $0.0625 dividend. This represents a $0.25 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.35%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, May 30th. Brookfield Business Partnerss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 28.09%.

Separately, National Bankshares dropped their target price on Brookfield Business Partners from $36.00 to $35.00 in a report on Tuesday, May 2nd.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Brookfield Business Partners

A number of large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. UBS Group AG grew its holdings in Brookfield Business Partners by 113.8% in the 4th quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 7,880 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $134,000 after buying an additional 4,195 shares in the last quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC grew its holdings in Brookfield Business Partners by 293.7% in the 1st quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 11,611 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $216,000 after buying an additional 8,662 shares in the last quarter. Bank of America Corp DE grew its holdings in Brookfield Business Partners by 365.7% in the 1st quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 8,163 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $250,000 after buying an additional 6,410 shares in the last quarter. Guardian Capital Advisors LP grew its holdings in Brookfield Business Partners by 61.2% in the 4th quarter. Guardian Capital Advisors LP now owns 16,404 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $300,000 after buying an additional 6,225 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Principal Financial Group Inc. grew its holdings in Brookfield Business Partners by 28.5% in the 4th quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 24,026 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $407,000 after buying an additional 5,332 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 77.59% of the companys stock.

Brookfield Business Partners Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Brookfield Business Partners L.P. is a private equity firm specializes in acquisition. The firm typically invests in business services, construction, energy, and industrials sector. It prefers to take majority stake in companies. The firm seeks returns of at least 15% on its investments. Brookfield Business Partners L.P.

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AIA Group Ltd grew its position in shares of The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (NYSE:GS  Free Report) by 153.1% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 3,019 shares of the investment management companys stock after buying an additional 1,826 shares during the quarter. AIA Group Ltds holdings in The Goldman Sachs Group were worth $988,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Morgan Stanley lifted its holdings in shares of The Goldman Sachs Group by 40.0% during the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 5,936,351 shares of the investment management companys stock valued at $2,038,425,000 after buying an additional 1,696,350 shares during the period. Fisher Asset Management LLC increased its position in shares of The Goldman Sachs Group by 3.3% during the 4th quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC now owns 4,900,431 shares of the investment management companys stock valued at $1,682,710,000 after purchasing an additional 156,803 shares during the last quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp increased its position in shares of The Goldman Sachs Group by 1.1% during the 3rd quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 4,764,509 shares of the investment management companys stock valued at $1,396,236,000 after purchasing an additional 52,016 shares during the last quarter. Putnam Investments LLC increased its position in shares of The Goldman Sachs Group by 4.2% during the 4th quarter. Putnam Investments LLC now owns 2,245,996 shares of the investment management companys stock valued at $771,230,000 after purchasing an additional 89,985 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Greenhaven Associates Inc. increased its position in shares of The Goldman Sachs Group by 2.0% during the 1st quarter. Greenhaven Associates Inc. now owns 2,224,798 shares of the investment management companys stock valued at $727,754,000 after purchasing an additional 43,922 shares during the last quarter. 76.90% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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The Goldman Sachs Group Price Performance

Shares of The Goldman Sachs Group stock opened at $326.19 on Friday. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $325.64 and a 200 day moving average of $337.70. The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. has a 12 month low of $285.15 and a 12 month high of $389.58. The firm has a market cap of $108.44 billion, a PE ratio of 11.61, a PEG ratio of 1.41 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 Announces Dividend

The Goldman Sachs Group ( NYSE:GS Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, April 18th. The investment management company reported $8.79 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $8.14 by $0.65. The company had revenue of $12.22 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $12.66 billion. The Goldman Sachs Group had a return on equity of 9.84% and a net margin of 13.23%. The firms revenue was down 5.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $10.76 earnings per share. On average, research analysts expect that The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. will post 25.74 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, June 29th. Investors of record on Thursday, June 1st were paid a dividend of $2.50 per share. This represents a $10.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.07%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, May 31st. The Goldman Sachs Groups payout ratio is 35.60%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of brokerages have recently issued reports on GS. Evercore ISI boosted their price objective on shares of The Goldman Sachs Group from $360.00 to $370.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 19th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods raised their target price on shares of The Goldman Sachs Group from $390.00 to $400.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 19th. Royal Bank of Canada upped their price target on shares of 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. Oppenheimer decreased their price objective on shares of The Goldman Sachs Group from $440.00 to $437.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, April 19th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company dropped their target price on shares of The Goldman Sachs Group from $420.00 to $390.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a report on Monday, April 3rd. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have given a hold rating and eleven have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $387.73.

Insider Activity at The Goldman Sachs Group

In other The Goldman Sachs Group news, 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 sale, 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 available at this hyperlink. In other The Goldman Sachs Group news, Treasurer Philip R. Berlinski sold 3,750 shares of The Goldman Sachs Group stock in a transaction 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 completion of the transaction, the treasurer now directly owns 21,366 shares of the companys stock, valued at $7,223,844.60. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, major shareholder Goldman Sachs Group Inc sold 1,145,486 shares of The Goldman Sachs Group stock in a transaction 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 transaction, the insider now directly owns 50,099,392 shares of the companys stock, valued at $587,665,868.16. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 34,978,986 shares of company stock valued at $660,057,057 over the last 90 days. 0.54% of the stock is owned by corporate 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.

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StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of Argo Group International (NYSE:ARGO  Free Report) in a report published on Wednesday morning. The firm issued a hold rating on the stock.

Separately, TheStreet raised Argo Group International from a d+ rating to a c- rating in a report on Friday, May 26th.

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Argo Group International Stock Performance

Shares of Argo Group International stock opened at $29.70 on Wednesday. The firm has a market cap of $1.04 billion, a P/E ratio of -4.76 and a beta of 1.01. The company has a current ratio of 0.63, a quick ratio of 0.63 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.37. Argo Group International has a 12 month low of $19.00 and a 12 month high of $33.94. The stocks fifty day moving average price is $29.58 and its 200-day moving average price is $29.45.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Argo Group International

Argo Group International ( NYSE:ARGO Get Free Report ) last posted its earnings results on Monday, May 8th. The company reported ($0.31) earnings per share (EPS) 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. On average, equities research analysts expect that Argo Group International will post 2.85 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Several institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC lifted its holdings in shares of Argo Group International by 334.7% during the first quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 926 shares of the companys stock worth $27,000 after purchasing an additional 713 shares during the period. Spire Wealth Management lifted its holdings in Argo Group International by 50.0% in the first quarter. Spire Wealth Management now owns 1,680 shares of the companys stock valued at $49,000 after acquiring an additional 560 shares during the period. Nisa Investment Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in Argo Group International by 148.0% in the first quarter. Nisa Investment Advisors LLC now owns 1,793 shares of the companys stock valued at $53,000 after acquiring an additional 1,070 shares during the period. Ensign Peak Advisors Inc acquired a new position in Argo Group International in the third quarter valued at approximately $59,000. Finally, Citigroup Inc. lifted its holdings in Argo Group International by 34.5% in the first quarter. Citigroup Inc. now owns 3,976 shares of the companys stock valued at $116,000 after acquiring an additional 1,019 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 89.92% of the companys stock.

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.

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Morgan Stanley upgraded shares of Buzzi (OTCMKTS:BZZUY  Free Report) from an underweight rating to an equal weight rating in a report issued on Wednesday, MarketBeat reports.

Buzzi Price Performance

Shares of Buzzi stock opened at $12.18 on Wednesday. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $12.25 and a 200 day moving average of $11.63. Buzzi has a 12 month low of $6.74 and a 12 month high of $13.10.

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Buzzi Cuts Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, May 23rd. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 26th were paid a $0.1594 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, May 23rd. Buzzis payout ratio is -25.78%.

About Buzzi

Buzzi S.p.A., together with its subsidiaries, manufactures, distributes, and sells cement, ready-mix concrete, and aggregates. It has operations primarily in Italy, the United States, Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Ukraine, Mexico, and Brazil. The company was formerly known as Buzzi Unicem S.p.A.

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Canadian Natural Resources Limited (TSE:CNQ  Get Free Report) (NYSE:CNQ) has been assigned an average rating of Moderate Buy from the nine brokerages that are currently covering the firm, Marketbeat Ratings reports. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the company. The average 1-year price objective among brokerages that have covered the stock in the last year is C$89.25.

Several equities research analysts recently weighed in on the stock. ATB Capital dropped their price objective on shares of Canadian Natural Resources from C$94.00 to C$90.00 in a research note on Monday, April 17th. UBS Group set a C$90.00 price target on shares of Canadian Natural Resources and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday. Stifel Nicolaus dropped their price target on shares of Canadian Natural Resources from C$97.00 to C$95.00 in a research note on Friday, May 5th. National Bank Financial dropped their price target on shares of Canadian Natural Resources from C$105.00 to C$93.00 in a research note on Thursday, June 29th. Finally, Morgan Stanley lowered their price objective on shares of Canadian Natural Resources from C$90.00 to C$87.00 in a research note on Monday, March 27th.

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Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, Director Stephen W. Laut sold 60,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, May 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of C$75.46, for a total value of C$4,527,600.00. Company insiders own 2.22% of the companys stock.

Canadian Natural Resources Price Performance

CNQ opened at C$74.87 on Tuesday. The firm has a market cap of C$81.61 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.80, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.53 and a beta of 2.04. Canadian Natural Resources has a fifty-two week low of C$61.23 and a fifty-two week high of C$84.25. The companys 50-day moving average price is C$74.51 and its 200 day moving average price is C$76.41. The company has a quick ratio of 0.54, a current ratio of 0.83 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 35.14.

Canadian Natural Resources (TSE:CNQ  Get Free Report) (NYSE:CNQ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, May 4th. The company reported C$1.69 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of C$1.62 by C$0.07. The firm had revenue of C$8.63 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of C$8.48 billion. Canadian Natural Resources had a net margin of 23.94% and a return on equity of 25.00%. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that Canadian Natural Resources will post 7.2129094 earnings per share for the current year.

Canadian Natural Resources Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, July 5th. Investors of record on Friday, June 16th were paid a $0.90 dividend. This represents a $3.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.81%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, June 15th. Canadian Natural Resourcess dividend payout ratio is 42.30%.

Canadian Natural Resources Company Profile

(Get Free Report

Canadian Natural Resources Limited acquires, explores for, develops, produces, markets, and sells crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids (NGLs). The company offers light and medium crude oil, primary heavy crude oil, Pelican Lake heavy crude oil, bitumen (thermal oil), and synthetic crude oil (SCO).

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Canadian Natural Resources (TSE:CNQ  Free Report) (NYSE:CNQ) had its price target cut by Royal Bank of Canada from C$85.00 to C$82.00 in a report released on Wednesday, BayStreet.CA reports.

Other equities research analysts have also issued reports about the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price objective on shares of Canadian Natural Resources from C$92.00 to C$94.00 in a research report on Tuesday, March 14th. National Bankshares reduced their target price on shares of Canadian Natural Resources from C$105.00 to C$93.00 in a report on Thursday, June 29th. Scotiabank upped their target price on shares of Canadian Natural Resources from C$86.00 to C$87.00 in a report on Thursday, April 13th. National Bank Financial reduced their target price on shares of Canadian Natural Resources from C$105.00 to C$93.00 in a report on Thursday, June 29th. Finally, ATB Capital reduced their target price on shares of Canadian Natural Resources from C$94.00 to C$90.00 in a report on Monday, April 17th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Canadian Natural Resources presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of C$89.25.

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Canadian Natural Resources Stock Performance

TSE:CNQ opened at C$74.87 on Wednesday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.54, a current ratio of 0.83 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 35.14. Canadian Natural Resources has a fifty-two week low of C$61.23 and a fifty-two week high of C$84.25. The stock has a market cap of C$81.61 billion, a PE ratio of 8.80, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.53 and a beta of 2.04. The firms fifty day simple moving average is C$74.51 and its 200-day simple moving average is C$76.41.

Canadian Natural Resources Dividend Announcement

Canadian Natural Resources ( TSE:CNQ Get Free Report ) (NYSE:CNQ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, May 4th. The company reported C$1.69 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of C$1.62 by C$0.07. Canadian Natural Resources had a net margin of 23.94% and a return on equity of 25.00%. The business had revenue of C$8.63 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of C$8.48 billion. Analysts expect that Canadian Natural Resources will post 7.2129094 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, July 5th. Investors of record on Friday, June 16th were given a dividend of $0.90 per share. This represents a $3.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.81%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, June 15th. Canadian Natural Resourcess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 42.30%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, Director Stephen W. Laut sold 60,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, May 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of C$75.46, for a total transaction of C$4,527,600.00. Corporate insiders own 2.22% of the companys stock.

Canadian Natural Resources Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Canadian Natural Resources Limited acquires, explores for, develops, produces, markets, and sells crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids (NGLs). The company offers light and medium crude oil, primary heavy crude oil, Pelican Lake heavy crude oil, bitumen (thermal oil), and synthetic crude oil (SCO).

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Chemtrade Logistics Income Fund (OTCMKTS:CGIFF  Get Free Report) was the recipient of a large growth in short interest during the month of June. As of June 30th, there was short interest totalling 429,100 shares, a growth of 79.1% from the June 15th total of 239,600 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 7,900 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 54.3 days.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of brokerages have commented on CGIFF. Desjardins raised their price objective on Chemtrade Logistics Income Fund from C$12.50 to C$13.00 in a research report on Friday, May 12th. Raymond James upgraded Chemtrade Logistics Income Fund from a market perform rating to an outperform rating in a research report on Friday, May 12th. Finally, National Bank Financial raised their price objective on Chemtrade Logistics Income Fund to C$12.50 in a research report on Monday, May 15th.

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Chemtrade Logistics Income Fund Stock Performance

Shares of OTCMKTS CGIFF remained flat at $6.75 during midday trading on Friday. The stock had a trading volume of 4,413 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,495. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $6.17 and a 200-day simple moving average of $6.39. Chemtrade Logistics Income Fund has a one year low of $4.93 and a one year high of $7.64.

About Chemtrade Logistics Income Fund

Chemtrade Logistics Income Fund offers industrial chemicals and services in Canada, the United States, and South America. It operates through two segments, Sulphur and Water Chemicals (SWC) and Electrochemicals (EC). The SWC segment markets, removes and/or produces merchant, regenerated and ultra pure sulphuric acid, sodium hydrosulphite, elemental sulphur, liquid sulphur dioxide, hydrogen sulphide, sodium bisulphite, and sulphides.

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DTE Energy (NYSE:DTE  Free Report) had its price objective raised by JPMorgan Chase & Co. from $120.00 to $121.00 in a research report sent to investors on Wednesday morning, FlyOnTheWall reports.

A number of other equities research analysts have also weighed in on the company. Mizuho lowered their price objective on DTE Energy from $120.00 to $119.00 in a research note on Thursday, June 29th. BMO Capital Markets decreased their target price on DTE Energy from $127.00 to $121.00 in a research report on Wednesday, June 14th. Guggenheim decreased their target price on DTE Energy from $127.00 to $120.00 in a research report on Friday, July 7th. Morgan Stanley lifted their target price on DTE Energy from $120.00 to $126.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Thursday, April 20th. Finally, UBS Group upgraded DTE Energy from a neutral rating to a buy rating and decreased their target price for the stock from $129.00 to $124.00 in a research report on Tuesday, June 6th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, DTE Energy has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $82.01.

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DTE Energy Price Performance

Shares of NYSE DTE opened at $112.95 on Wednesday. DTE Energy has a fifty-two week low of $100.64 and a fifty-two week high of $136.77. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $98.07 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $77.83. The company has a quick ratio of 0.68, a current ratio of 0.88 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.66. The firm has a market cap of $23.28 billion, a PE ratio of 19.99, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.05 and a beta of 0.60.

DTE Energy Cuts Dividend

DTE Energy ( NYSE:DTE Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 27th. The utilities provider reported $1.33 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.38 by ($0.05). DTE Energy had a net margin of 6.15% and a return on equity of 10.59%. The business had revenue of $3.78 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.79 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $2.31 EPS. Sell-side analysts expect that DTE Energy will post 6.2 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Sunday, October 15th. Shareholders of record on Monday, September 18th will be paid a dividend of $0.952 per share. This represents a $3.81 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.37%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, September 15th. DTE Energys payout ratio is currently 67.43%.

Insider Buying and Selling at DTE Energy

In other DTE Energy news, SVP Joann Chavez sold 4,000 shares of DTE Energy stock in a transaction on Friday, May 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $113.09, for a total transaction of $452,360.00. Following the sale, the senior vice president now owns 14,607 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,651,905.63. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In other news, VP Lisa A. Muschong sold 700 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Wednesday, June 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $110.41, for a total value of $77,287.00. Following the sale, the vice president now owns 5,455 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $602,286.55. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, SVP Joann Chavez sold 4,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Friday, May 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $113.09, for a total value of $452,360.00. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 14,607 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,651,905.63. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.61% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Institutional Trading of DTE Energy

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Retirement Income Solutions Inc grew its holdings in shares of DTE Energy by 6.8% in the 1st quarter. Retirement Income Solutions Inc now owns 2,498 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $330,000 after acquiring an additional 158 shares during the last quarter. Prudential PLC acquired a new position in shares of DTE Energy in the 1st quarter worth $1,710,000. Cetera Investment Advisers grew its holdings in shares of DTE Energy by 4.3% in the 1st quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 7,094 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $938,000 after acquiring an additional 290 shares during the last quarter. Moors & Cabot Inc. acquired a new position in shares of DTE Energy in the 1st quarter worth $280,000. Finally, Vanguard Group Inc. grew its holdings in shares of DTE Energy by 6.6% in the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 23,028,699 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $3,044,624,000 after acquiring an additional 1,420,586 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 74.33% of the companys stock.

About DTE Energy

(Get Free Report)

DTE Energy Company engages in the utility operations. The company's Electric segment generates, purchases, distributes, and sells electricity to approximately 2.3 million residential, commercial, and industrial customers in southeastern Michigan. It generates electricity through fossil-fuel, hydroelectric pumped storage, and nuclear plants, as well as wind and solar assets.

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Fort Washington Investment Advisors Inc. OH decreased its stake in shares of Onto Innovation Inc. (NYSE:ONTO  Free Report) by 2.5% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 276,365 shares of the semiconductor companys stock after selling 7,127 shares during the quarter. Fort Washington Investment Advisors Inc. OH owned about 0.57% of Onto Innovation worth $24,287,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Ellevest Inc. grew its position in Onto Innovation by 232.0% in the 4th quarter. Ellevest Inc. now owns 415 shares of the semiconductor companys stock valued at $28,000 after purchasing an additional 290 shares during the period. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio grew its position in 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. Point72 Hong Kong Ltd acquired a new stake in Onto Innovation in the 2nd quarter valued at $52,000. CoreCap Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in Onto Innovation in the 4th quarter valued at $68,000. Finally, Covestor Ltd grew its position in Onto Innovation by 1,909.5% in the 1st quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 1,266 shares of the semiconductor companys stock valued at $110,000 after purchasing an additional 1,203 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 95.44% of the companys stock.

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Insider Buying and Selling at Onto Innovation

In other Onto Innovation news, Director David Brian Miller sold 5,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, May 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $99.69, for a total transaction of $498,450.00. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 11,808 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,177,139.52. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. In other Onto Innovation news, SVP Robert Fiordalice sold 669 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Monday, May 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $93.15, for a total transaction of $62,317.35. Following the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 15,920 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,482,948. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, Director David Brian Miller sold 5,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, May 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $99.69, for a total value of $498,450.00. Following the sale, the director now owns 11,808 shares in the company, valued at $1,177,139.52. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 11,746 shares of company stock valued at $1,200,485 over the last three months. 0.81% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Onto Innovation Stock Performance

ONTO has been the topic of a number of analyst reports. Stifel Nicolaus lifted their price objective on shares of Onto Innovation from $97.00 to $124.00 in a report on Tuesday, May 30th. Benchmark lifted their price objective on shares of Onto Innovation from $97.00 to $118.00 in a report on Friday, June 2nd. Jefferies Financial Group lifted their price objective on shares of Onto Innovation from $100.00 to $123.00 in a report on Monday, June 5th. Needham & Company LLC downgraded shares of Onto Innovation from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Wednesday, June 14th. Finally, StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Onto Innovation in a report on Thursday, May 18th. They set a hold rating on the stock. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $109.50.

Shares of NYSE:ONTO opened at $111.78 on Friday. The companys 50-day moving average is $105.36 and its 200 day moving average is $89.34. The company has a market capitalization of $5.47 billion, a P/E ratio of 27.88 and a beta of 1.39. Onto Innovation Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $56.02 and a fifty-two week high of $117.99.

Onto Innovation (NYSE:ONTO  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, May 4th. The semiconductor company reported $0.92 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.88 by $0.04. The company had revenue of $199.17 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $200.00 million. Onto Innovation had a net margin of 20.67% and a return on equity of 16.09%. The firms quarterly revenue was down 17.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $1.31 EPS. As a group, research analysts predict that Onto Innovation Inc. will post 3.64 earnings per share for the current year.

About Onto Innovation

(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.

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South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol enters the 2023 NATO Summit at the Lithuanian Exhibition and Convention Center in Vilnius, July 12 (local time). Joint Press Corps



Domestic downpour overshadows president's trip to Lithuania, Poland, Ukraine



By Nam Hyun-woo



WARSAW, Poland  President Yoon Suk Yeol wrapped up his trip to three central European nations, Sunday (local time), during which he signaled Seoul's stronger bonds with NATO and Ukraine.



While Yoon was attending the 2023 NATO Summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, North Korea launched an intercontinental ballistic missile on Tuesday in yet another act of defiance.



Following the summit and attending engagements in Poland, Yoon paid a surprise visit to Ukraine to discuss cooperation in reconstructing the war-torn nation.



Yoon attended the summit session between NATO members and their Indo-Pacific partner countries, Tuesday, stressing that the security of the Indo-Pacific and Atlantic regions is inseparable, and claiming that North Korea's nuclear and missile ambitions are also a threat for European nations.



The campaign gained momentum in the wake of the North's latest missile launch with Yoon noting that the missile could strike even Vilnius, calling on participating countries to raise their voice against the provocation. NATO also adopted its own communique expressing a strong condemnation of the North for the launch.



On the sidelines of the NATO Summit, Korea signed renewed partnership programs with NATO and announced its plan to join NATO's intelligence-sharing framework, known as Battlefield Information Collection Exploitation System (BICES).



Yoon had bilateral meetings with leaders from 13 countries, including Japan. During the summit with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, Yoon requested Japan to let South Korean experts participate in the process of Tokyo's planned release of treated wastewater from the damaged Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant.



Yoon then made an official visit to Poland, Wednesday, where he focused on expanding South Korea's partnerships with Poland in the fields of defense, nuclear energy and cooperation for Ukraine's post-war reconstruction projects.



During his summit with Polish counterpart Andrzej Duda, Thursday, the two countries signed an MOU on their partnership in supporting Ukraine's reconstruction projects. The leaders both attended business forums to encourage exchanges between companies of the two countries.



The highlight of the trip, however, came after Yoon finished his preannounced six-day schedule, as he redirected his itinerary to Ukraine.



Yoon was invited to visit Ukraine during Ukrainian first lady Olena Zelenska's visit to Seoul in May, and the presidential office had been reviewing this while preparing for the NATO summit. Yoon made the decision during his trip and reportedly asked for Poland's help for his visit to Ukraine during the summit with Polish President Duda, who offered a safe route via train to Ukraine.









Only a limited number of presidential staff knew about this as it was kept secret even to most staffers until just hours before his departure to Ukraine.



During his summit with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Yoon expressed Korea's empathic support of Kyiv and promised expanded military, humanitarian and educational aid to the country. Zelenskyy responded by asking for South Korea's participation in the country's restoration projects.



The summit became a diplomatic gesture to showcase to the world that South Korea is part of the international community supporting Ukraine and condemning Russia, which Yoon has reiterated in his diplomatic addresses in recent months. Also, it was seen as a proactive move to show Seoul's strong interest in Kyiv's post-war reconstruction projects, which are anticipated to incur huge capital injections.





South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, left, shakes hands with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy after their summit at Mariinskyi Palace in Kyiv, Saturday (local time). Courtesy of Korea's presidential office



Uncomfortable way back home



Despite the achievements, however, Yoon left Europe with domestic issues ahead of him, due to the torrential rain that has killed at least 37 people so far and caused thousands to evacuate their homes across South Korea.



The Korea Railroad Corp. suspended all regular trains and some KTX high-speed trains that run through the country's central inland region due to heavy rains before resuming KTX train services in some sectors later Saturday.



In response, Yoon held a videoconference with Prime Minister Han Duck-soo directly after his summit with Zelenskyy in Kyiv and asked to "mobilize all assets of the military, police and the government to minimize damage."





President Yoon Suk Yeol speaks to his aides during a meeting on Korea's heavy downpour on a train from Ukraine to Poland, Saturday (local time). Courtesy of presidential office
Franklin Resources (NYSE:BEN  Free Report) had its price target upped by Wells Fargo & Company from $25.50 to $26.00 in a research report released on Thursday, FlyOnTheWall reports.

BEN has been the subject of several other research reports. Bank of America dropped their price target on Franklin Resources from $28.00 to $24.00 and set an underperform rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, April 5th. Evercore ISI dropped their price target on Franklin Resources from $27.00 to $24.00 and set an underperform rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, April 13th. StockNews.com began coverage on Franklin Resources in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. They set a hold rating for the company. Finally, BMO Capital Markets lifted their price target on Franklin Resources from $19.00 to $20.00 in a research note on Tuesday, May 2nd. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and six have assigned a hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Franklin Resources presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $24.55.

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Franklin Resources Price Performance

NYSE:BEN opened at $28.44 on Thursday. The firm has a market capitalization of $14.24 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.13 and a beta of 1.28. Franklin Resources has a 52-week low of $20.24 and a 52-week high of $34.37. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $25.84 and a 200 day moving average of $27.50. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.85, a quick ratio of 2.09 and a current ratio of 2.09.

Franklin Resources Dividend Announcement

Franklin Resources ( NYSE:BEN Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Monday, May 1st. The closed-end fund reported $0.61 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.57 by $0.04. The company had revenue of $1.93 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.80 billion. Franklin Resources had a return on equity of 11.21% and a net margin of 10.79%. The firms quarterly revenue was down 7.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $0.96 earnings per share. On average, research analysts expect that Franklin Resources will post 2.35 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, July 14th. Investors of record on Friday, June 30th were issued a dividend of $0.30 per share. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, June 29th. This represents a $1.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.22%. Franklin Resourcess dividend payout ratio is presently 72.29%.

Insider Activity at Franklin Resources

In other Franklin Resources news, insider Franklin Resources Inc purchased 2,465,483 shares of Franklin Resources stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, April 28th. The shares were bought at an average price of $10.14 per share, for a total transaction of $24,999,997.62. Following the acquisition, the insider now directly owns 4,955,483 shares in the company, valued at $50,248,597.62. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. 23.40% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the business. State of Alaska Department of Revenue grew its holdings in shares of Franklin Resources by 0.9% during the 4th quarter. State of Alaska Department of Revenue now owns 39,762 shares of the closed-end funds stock worth $1,048,000 after acquiring an additional 355 shares during the period. ETF Managers Group LLC grew its holdings in shares of Franklin Resources by 1.5% during the 1st quarter. ETF Managers Group LLC now owns 26,299 shares of the closed-end funds stock worth $708,000 after acquiring an additional 392 shares during the period. My Legacy Advisors LLC grew its holdings in shares of Franklin Resources by 3.8% during the 2nd quarter. My Legacy Advisors LLC now owns 10,774 shares of the closed-end funds stock worth $315,000 after acquiring an additional 395 shares during the period. Northwest Investment Counselors LLC grew its holdings in shares of Franklin Resources by 22.6% during the 2nd quarter. Northwest Investment Counselors LLC now owns 2,170 shares of the closed-end funds stock worth $58,000 after acquiring an additional 400 shares during the period. Finally, Harvest Fund Management Co. Ltd grew its holdings in shares of Franklin Resources by 20.0% during the 4th quarter. Harvest Fund Management Co. Ltd now owns 2,729 shares of the closed-end funds stock worth $72,000 after acquiring an additional 455 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 46.70% of the companys stock.

Franklin Resources Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Franklin Resources, Inc is a publicly owned asset management holding company. Through its subsidiaries, the firm provides its services to individuals, institutions, pension plans, trusts, and partnerships. It launches equity, fixed income, balanced, and multi-asset mutual funds through its subsidiaries.

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Garrison Asset Management LLC trimmed its position in shares of Laboratory Co. of America Holdings (NYSE:LH  Free Report) by 0.7% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 13,590 shares of the medical research companys stock after selling 97 shares during the quarter. Laboratory Co. of America makes up approximately 1.9% of Garrison Asset Management LLCs investment portfolio, making the stock its 20th largest position. Garrison Asset Management LLCs holdings in Laboratory Co. of America were worth $3,118,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Eagle Bay Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in Laboratory Co. of America in the 2nd quarter valued at $29,000. Zions Bancorporation N.A. grew its holdings in Laboratory Co. of America by 45.6% in the 4th quarter. Zions Bancorporation N.A. now owns 131 shares of the medical research companys stock valued at $31,000 after buying an additional 41 shares in the last quarter. WFA of San Diego LLC purchased a new stake in Laboratory Co. of America in the 4th quarter valued at $33,000. Compagnie Lombard Odier SCmA purchased a new stake in Laboratory Co. of America in the 4th quarter valued at $33,000. Finally, Quent Capital LLC grew its holdings in Laboratory Co. of America by 186.3% in the 4th quarter. Quent Capital LLC now owns 146 shares of the medical research companys stock valued at $34,000 after buying an additional 95 shares in the last quarter. 87.75% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Insider Buying and Selling at Laboratory Co. of America

In other Laboratory Co. of America news, CEO Paul R. Kirchgraber sold 4,300 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, May 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $216.91, for a total value of $932,713.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 12,946 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,808,116.86. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. In other news, CEO Paul R. Kirchgraber sold 4,300 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, May 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $216.91, for a total value of $932,713.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 12,946 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,808,116.86. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, EVP Der Vaart Sandra D. Van sold 212 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, June 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $240.00, for a total value of $50,880.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 7,605 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,825,200. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 6,012 shares of company stock valued at $1,308,748 in the last quarter. Corporate insiders own 0.65% of the companys stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Laboratory Co. of America Price Performance

Several analysts have issued reports on LH shares. Citigroup dropped their target price on Laboratory Co. of America from $260.00 to $235.00 in a report on Wednesday, April 26th. Truist Financial decreased their price target on Laboratory Co. of America from $285.00 to $275.00 in a research note on Monday, May 1st. StockNews.com assumed coverage on Laboratory Co. of America in a research note on Saturday, July 8th. They issued a buy rating on the stock. Mizuho decreased their price target on Laboratory Co. of America from $277.00 to $257.00 in a research note on Tuesday, May 16th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft decreased their price target on Laboratory Co. of America from $265.00 to $240.00 in a research note on Wednesday, April 26th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $273.50.

LH opened at $212.77 on Friday. The stocks 50-day moving average price is $221.19 and its 200 day moving average price is $231.35. Laboratory Co. of America Holdings has a 12-month low of $200.32 and a 12-month high of $263.13. The company has a current ratio of 1.63, a quick ratio of 1.46 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.50. The firm has a market cap of $18.85 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.31 and a beta of 1.06.

Laboratory Co. of America (NYSE:LH  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, April 25th. The medical research company reported $3.82 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $3.99 by ($0.17). The company had revenue of $3.78 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.70 billion. Laboratory Co. of America had a net margin of 6.78% and a return on equity of 15.56%. Laboratory Co. of Americas revenue for the quarter was down 3.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $6.11 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that Laboratory Co. of America Holdings will post 16.83 earnings per share for the current year.

Laboratory Co. of America Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, September 8th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, August 8th will be given a $0.72 dividend. This represents a $2.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.35%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, August 7th. Laboratory Co. of Americas dividend payout ratio is currently 26.13%.

Laboratory Co. of America Company Profile

(Free Report)

Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings operates as a life sciences company that provides vital information to help doctors, hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, researchers, and patients make clear and confident decisions. It operates in two segments, Labcorp Diagnostics and Labcorp Drug Development.

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Goelzer Investment Management Inc. boosted its position in Bank of America Co. (NYSE:BAC  Free Report) by 6.0% during the first quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 95,029 shares of the financial services providers stock after buying an additional 5,386 shares during the quarter. Goelzer Investment Management Inc.s holdings in Bank of America were worth $2,718,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. Hartford Funds Management Co LLC grew its holdings in shares of Bank of America by 15.9% during the 1st quarter. Hartford Funds Management Co LLC now owns 23,875 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $683,000 after purchasing an additional 3,275 shares in the last quarter. Bank of Stockton bought a new stake in shares of Bank of America during the first quarter worth $616,000. Capital Insight Partners LLC grew its holdings in Bank of America by 1.4% during the 1st quarter. Capital Insight Partners LLC now owns 126,393 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $3,615,000 after acquiring an additional 1,755 shares during the last quarter. Sterling Investment Management LLC grew its holdings in Bank of America by 1.3% during the 1st quarter. Sterling Investment Management LLC now owns 41,445 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $1,185,000 after acquiring an additional 514 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Boyar Asset Management Inc. grew its holdings in Bank of America by 6.7% during the 1st quarter. Boyar Asset Management Inc. now owns 170,380 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $4,873,000 after acquiring an additional 10,724 shares during the last quarter. 67.34% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research analysts have recently issued reports on BAC shares. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods raised their target price on shares of Bank of America from $28.00 to $29.00 and gave the company an underperform rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 19th. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their target price on shares of Bank of America from $45.00 to $40.00 in a report on Thursday, July 6th. Morgan Stanley raised their target price on shares of Bank of America from $32.00 to $33.00 in a report on Friday, July 7th. Royal Bank of Canada reiterated an outperform rating and issued a $35.00 price objective on shares of Bank of America in a report on Friday, June 30th. Finally, StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Bank of America in a report on Thursday, May 18th. They set a hold rating on the stock. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating and nine have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $36.72.

Bank of America Price Performance

BAC stock opened at $29.11 on Friday. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $28.52 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $30.73. Bank of America Co. has a one year low of $26.32 and a one year high of $38.60. The stock has a market cap of $231.98 billion, a PE ratio of 8.74, a P/E/G ratio of 1.25 and a beta of 1.35. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.13, a current ratio of 0.82 and a quick ratio of 0.82.

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 for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.83 by $0.11. Bank of America had a net margin of 21.85% and a return on equity of 11.72%. The company had revenue of $26.26 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $25.28 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $0.80 earnings per share. Bank of Americas revenue for the quarter was up 13.0% on a year-over-year basis. On average, analysts predict that Bank of America Co. will post 3.38 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Bank of America Announces Dividend

The firm 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. This represents a $0.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.02%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, June 1st. Bank of Americas dividend payout ratio is 26.43%.

About Bank of America

(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.

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Exchange Bank (Santa Rosa, CA) (OTCMKTS:EXSR  Get Free Report) is one of 278 publicly-traded companies in the BanksRegional industry, but how does it weigh in compared to its competitors? We will compare Exchange Bank (Santa Rosa, CA) to similar businesses based on the strength of its institutional ownership, valuation, analyst recommendations, risk, profitability, earnings and dividends.

Valuation and Earnings

This table compares Exchange Bank (Santa Rosa, CA) and its competitors revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

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Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio Exchange Bank (Santa Rosa, CA) N/A N/A 11.07 Exchange Bank (Santa Rosa, CA) Competitors $2.87 billion $720.14 million 267.70

Exchange Bank (Santa Rosa, CA)s competitors have higher revenue and earnings than Exchange Bank (Santa Rosa, CA). Exchange Bank (Santa Rosa, CA) 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.

Institutional and Insider Ownership

Profitability

0.3% of Exchange Bank (Santa Rosa, CA) shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 32.0% of shares of all BanksRegional companies are owned by institutional investors. 15.3% of shares of all BanksRegional 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.

This table compares Exchange Bank (Santa Rosa, CA) and its competitors net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Exchange Bank (Santa Rosa, CA) N/A N/A N/A Exchange Bank (Santa Rosa, CA) Competitors 34.16% 10.58% 0.93%

Analyst Recommendations

This is a summary of recent ratings and target prices for Exchange Bank (Santa Rosa, CA) and its competitors, as provided by MarketBeat.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Exchange Bank (Santa Rosa, CA) 0 0 0 0 N/A Exchange Bank (Santa Rosa, CA) Competitors 1146 3209 3045 13 2.26

As a group, BanksRegional companies have a potential upside of 315.61%. Given Exchange Bank (Santa Rosa, CA)s competitors higher probable upside, analysts plainly believe Exchange Bank (Santa Rosa, CA) has less favorable growth aspects than its competitors.

Summary

Exchange Bank (Santa Rosa, CA) competitors beat Exchange Bank (Santa Rosa, CA) on 8 of the 8 factors compared.

Exchange Bank (Santa Rosa, CA) Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Exchange Bank (Santa Rosa, CA), together with its subsidiaries, provides commercial and retail banking products and services to individuals and businesses in California. The company offers personal banking products and services, including checking and savings accounts; home loans, personal lines of credit, unsecured personal loans, and auto loans; overdraft line of credit accounts; and community rebuild loan programs. It also provides business banking products and services, such as business checking and savings accounts; merchant services; business equipment leasing; commercial real estate and construction loans; and business term loans, business line of credit, and small business administration (SBA) loans, as well as vineyard, winery, and agricultural loans. In addition, it offers debit and credit cards; online and mobile banking services; and trust administration, investment management, and estate settlement services, as well as retirement accounts and plans. The company was founded in 1890 and is headquartered in Santa Rosa, California. Exchange Bank (Santa Rosa, CA) operates as a subsidiary of Frank P. Doyle Trust, Article IX.

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Abercrombie & Fitch Co. (NYSE:ANF  Get Free Report) CFO Scott D. Lipesky sold 7,500 shares of Abercrombie & Fitch stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, July 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $36.00, for a total value of $270,000.00. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 139,418 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,019,048. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink.

Abercrombie & Fitch Price Performance

Shares of NYSE ANF opened at $34.91 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.42, a quick ratio of 0.86 and a current ratio of 1.44. Abercrombie & Fitch Co. has a fifty-two week low of $14.02 and a fifty-two week high of $38.21. The stock has a market cap of $1.75 billion, a PE ratio of 49.87 and a beta of 1.49. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $31.93 and a 200-day moving average of $28.57.

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Abercrombie & Fitch (NYSE:ANF  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, May 24th. The apparel retailer reported $0.39 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of ($0.02) by $0.41. Abercrombie & Fitch had a return on equity of 6.82% and a net margin of 0.96%. The firm had revenue of $836.00 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $814.93 million. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted ($0.27) earnings per share. The companys revenue was up 2.9% on a year-over-year basis. Equities research analysts anticipate that Abercrombie & Fitch Co. will post 2.08 earnings per share for the current year.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Abercrombie & Fitch

ANF has been the topic of several analyst reports. Citigroup lifted their target price on Abercrombie & Fitch from $24.00 to $33.00 in a research report on Thursday, May 25th. Jefferies Financial Group lowered their target price on Abercrombie & Fitch from $35.00 to $30.00 in a research note on Tuesday, May 9th. UBS Group lifted their price objective on shares of Abercrombie & Fitch from $28.00 to $32.00 in a research report on Thursday, May 25th. Argus upgraded Abercrombie & Fitch from a hold rating to a buy rating and set a $41.00 price objective on the stock in a research note on Monday, June 12th. Finally, StockNews.com raised Abercrombie & Fitch from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Thursday. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $30.50.

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Counterpoint Mutual Funds LLC bought a new position in Abercrombie & Fitch in the 2nd quarter worth about $225,000. Ameriprise Financial Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Abercrombie & Fitch by 50.1% during the first quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. now owns 288,981 shares of the apparel retailers stock worth $8,019,000 after purchasing an additional 96,486 shares in the last quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised its stake in Abercrombie & Fitch by 38.8% in the first quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 377,431 shares of the apparel retailers stock valued at $10,473,000 after purchasing an additional 105,479 shares in the last quarter. Advisory Services Network LLC lifted its position in Abercrombie & Fitch by 985.0% during the first quarter. Advisory Services Network LLC now owns 1,085 shares of the apparel retailers stock valued at $30,000 after purchasing an additional 985 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Kiwi Wealth Investments Limited Partnership purchased a new position in Abercrombie & Fitch in the 1st quarter worth approximately $1,583,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 99.03% of the companys stock.

About Abercrombie & Fitch

(Get Free Report)

Abercrombie & Fitch Co, through its subsidiaries, operates as a specialty retailer in the United States, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, the Asia-Pacific, Canada, and internationally. The company operates through two segments, Hollister and Abercrombie. It offers an assortment of apparel, personal care products, and accessories for men, women, and kids under the Hollister, Gilly Hicks, Social Tourist, Abercrombie & Fitch, and abercrombie kids brands.

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Fort Washington Investment Advisors Inc. OH reduced its stake in iShares Russell 1000 ETF (NYSEARCA:IWB  Free Report) by 37.7% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 122,927 shares of the companys stock after selling 74,382 shares during the period. Fort Washington Investment Advisors Inc. OH owned approximately 0.10% of iShares Russell 1000 ETF worth $27,687,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of IWB. Prudential Financial Inc. raised its stake in iShares Russell 1000 ETF by 9.4% in the first quarter. Prudential Financial Inc. now owns 32,609 shares of the companys stock valued at $8,155,000 after buying an additional 2,805 shares in the last quarter. AJ Wealth Strategies LLC raised its stake in iShares Russell 1000 ETF by 161.7% in the first quarter. AJ Wealth Strategies LLC now owns 15,778 shares of the companys stock valued at $3,946,000 after buying an additional 9,750 shares in the last quarter. International Assets Investment Management LLC acquired a new stake in iShares Russell 1000 ETF in the first quarter valued at $238,000. Rosenblum Silverman Sutton S F Inc CA raised its stake in iShares Russell 1000 ETF by 13.5% in the first quarter. Rosenblum Silverman Sutton S F Inc CA now owns 10,013 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,504,000 after buying an additional 1,190 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Ancora Advisors LLC raised its stake in iShares Russell 1000 ETF by 26.3% in the first quarter. Ancora Advisors LLC now owns 2,510 shares of the companys stock valued at $562,000 after buying an additional 523 shares in the last quarter.

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iShares Russell 1000 ETF Price Performance

iShares Russell 1000 ETF stock opened at $247.31 on Friday. The stocks fifty day moving average is $235.59 and its two-hundred day moving average is $226.19. The stock has a market cap of $31.20 billion, a PE ratio of 17.92 and a beta of 1.01. iShares Russell 1000 ETF has a 1-year low of $192.01 and a 1-year high of $248.60.

About iShares Russell 1000 ETF

iShares Russell 1000 ETF (the Fund), formerly iShares Russell 1000 Index Fund, is an exchange-traded fund (ETF). The Fund seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the Russell 1000 Index (the Index). The Index is a float-adjusted capitalization weighted index that measures the performance of the large-capitalization sector of the United States equity market and includes securities issued by the approximately 1,000 largest issuers in the Russell 3000 Index.

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Klingenstein Fields & Co. LP decreased its holdings in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY  Free Report) by 2.3% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 22,193 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock after selling 513 shares during the quarter. Klingenstein Fields & Co. LPs holdings in Bristol-Myers Squibb were worth $1,538,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the stock. Strategic Blueprint LLC raised its position in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb by 13.1% during the 1st quarter. Strategic Blueprint LLC now owns 4,851 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $336,000 after buying an additional 563 shares in the last quarter. HGK Asset Management Inc. increased its stake in Bristol-Myers Squibb by 20.7% in the first quarter. HGK Asset Management Inc. now owns 88,262 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $6,117,000 after acquiring an additional 15,120 shares during the last quarter. Goelzer Investment Management Inc. increased its stake in Bristol-Myers Squibb by 13.1% in the first quarter. Goelzer Investment Management Inc. now owns 145,451 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $10,081,000 after acquiring an additional 16,896 shares during the last quarter. Hartford Funds Management Co LLC lifted its position in Bristol-Myers Squibb by 26.1% in the 1st quarter. Hartford Funds Management Co LLC now owns 4,407 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $305,000 after buying an additional 911 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Canoe Financial LP purchased a new position in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb during the first quarter worth approximately $75,343,000. 74.57% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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Bristol-Myers Squibb Stock Performance

Shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb stock opened at $61.94 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $130.13 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.06, a P/E/G ratio of 1.28 and a beta of 0.43. The company has a current ratio of 1.42, a quick ratio of 1.28 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.10. Bristol-Myers Squibb has a 12 month low of $61.57 and a 12 month high of $81.43. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $65.12 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $68.49.

Bristol-Myers Squibb Announces Dividend

Bristol-Myers Squibb ( NYSE:BMY Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings data 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. Bristol-Myers Squibb had a return on equity of 51.75% and a net margin of 15.95%. The business had revenue of $11.34 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $11.50 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $1.96 earnings per share. The firms quarterly revenue was down 2.7% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities analysts forecast that Bristol-Myers Squibb will post 8.05 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

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 given a dividend of $0.57 per share. This represents a $2.28 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.68%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, July 6th. Bristol-Myers Squibbs dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 66.47%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

BMY has been the topic of several recent research reports. Credit Suisse Group reduced their target price on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb from $72.00 to $66.00 in a report on Wednesday. SVB Leerink reissued a market perform rating on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb in a research note on Monday, July 10th. Barclays decreased their price target on Bristol-Myers Squibb from $65.00 to $64.00 in a research note on Tuesday, July 11th. Daiwa Capital Markets started coverage on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb in a report on Wednesday, June 28th. They issued an outperform rating and a $70.00 target price on the stock. Finally, StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb in a report on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a strong-buy rating on the stock. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have given a hold rating, seven have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, Bristol-Myers Squibb currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $75.44.

Insider Transactions at Bristol-Myers Squibb

In related news, EVP Rupert Vessey sold 50,385 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, May 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $67.06, for a total value of $3,378,818.10. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 47,751 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,202,182.06. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Insiders own 0.09% of the companys stock.

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.

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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).

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The Goldman Sachs Group began coverage on shares of Koninklijke Philips (NYSE:PHG  Free Report) in a research report report published on Wednesday, Marketbeat Ratings reports. The brokerage issued a buy rating on the technology companys stock.

Other analysts also recently issued reports about the company. Societe Generale upgraded Koninklijke Philips from a sell rating to a hold rating in a report on Tuesday, April 25th. Citigroup increased their price target on Koninklijke Philips to 19.00 ($20.88) in a report on Friday, July 7th. Finally, StockNews.com assumed coverage on Koninklijke Philips in a report on Thursday, May 18th. They set a hold rating for the company. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have given a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $17.06.

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Koninklijke Philips Stock Down 0.2 %

Shares of NYSE:PHG opened at $22.73 on Wednesday. The firm has a market cap of $21.11 billion, a P/E ratio of -9.28 and a beta of 0.94. The company has a quick ratio of 0.78, a current ratio of 1.29 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.55. Koninklijke Philips has a 12-month low of $11.75 and a 12-month high of $22.98. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $20.49 and a 200 day simple moving average of $18.51.

Koninklijke Philips Cuts Dividend

Koninklijke Philips ( NYSE:PHG Get Free Report ) last announced its earnings results on Monday, April 24th. The technology company reported $0.24 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.19 by $0.05. The business had revenue of $4.17 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.99 billion. Koninklijke Philips had a positive return on equity of 6.29% and a negative net margin of 11.63%. Koninklijke Philipss revenue for the quarter was up 6.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the company earned $0.32 EPS. Analysts predict that Koninklijke Philips will post 1.04 earnings per share for the current year.

The company also recently announced an annual dividend, which was paid on Thursday, May 18th. Shareholders of record on Friday, May 12th were given a dividend of $0.9387 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, May 11th. This represents a dividend yield of 3.7%. Koninklijke Philipss dividend payout ratio is currently -37.96%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Koninklijke Philips

Several hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the company. Bonness Enterprises Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Koninklijke Philips by 4.5% in the 2nd quarter. Bonness Enterprises Inc. now owns 101,565 shares of the technology companys stock worth $2,203,000 after purchasing an additional 4,336 shares during the period. Park Avenue Securities LLC raised its holdings in shares of Koninklijke Philips by 3.1% in the 2nd quarter. Park Avenue Securities LLC now owns 16,197 shares of the technology companys stock worth $351,000 after purchasing an additional 486 shares during the period. First Trust Direct Indexing L.P. raised its holdings in shares of Koninklijke Philips by 8.0% in the 2nd quarter. First Trust Direct Indexing L.P. now owns 63,396 shares of the technology companys stock worth $1,375,000 after purchasing an additional 4,710 shares during the period. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Koninklijke Philips by 72.9% in the 2nd quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. now owns 21,920 shares of the technology companys stock worth $475,000 after purchasing an additional 9,243 shares during the period. Finally, Capricorn Fund Managers Ltd raised its holdings in shares of Koninklijke Philips by 73.1% in the 2nd quarter. Capricorn Fund Managers Ltd now owns 31,176 shares of the technology companys stock worth $676,000 after purchasing an additional 13,170 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 6.58% of the companys stock.

About Koninklijke Philips

(Get Free Report)

Koninklijke Philips N.V. operates as a health technology company in North America, the Greater China, and internationally. It operates through Diagnosis & Treatment Businesses, Connected Care Businesses, and Personal Health Businesses segments. The company provides diagnostic imaging solutions, includes magnetic resonance imaging, X-ray systems, and computed tomography (CT) systems and software comprising detector-based spectral CT solutions, as well as molecular and hybrid imaging solutions for nuclear medicine; echography solutions focused on diagnosis, treatment planning and guidance for cardiology, general imaging, obstetrics/gynecology, and point-of-care applications; integrated interventional systems, and interventional diagnostic and therapeutic devices to treat coronary artery and peripheral vascular disease; proprietary software to enable diagnostics and intervention; and enterprise diagnostic informatics products and services.

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CIBC upgraded shares of Laurentian Bank of Canada (TSE:LB  Free Report) from a neutral rating to an outperform rating in a research note published on Thursday, BayStreet.CA reports. The brokerage currently has C$60.00 price objective on the stock, up from their prior price objective of C$37.00.

A number of other equities research analysts have also recently issued reports on the stock. Raymond James set a C$36.00 target price on shares of Laurentian Bank of Canada and gave the stock a market perform rating in a research report on Thursday. CSFB lowered shares of Laurentian Bank of Canada from an outperform rating to a neutral rating and increased their price objective for the stock from C$33.00 to C$44.00 in a report on Thursday. Veritas Investment Research reaffirmed a buy rating on shares of Laurentian Bank of Canada in a research note on Wednesday. Barclays reduced their price objective on shares of Laurentian Bank of Canada from C$36.00 to C$34.00 in a research note on Tuesday, May 9th. Finally, National Bankshares lifted their price objective on shares of Laurentian Bank of Canada from C$39.00 to C$51.00 in a research note on Wednesday. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have issued a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Laurentian Bank of Canada currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of C$43.17.

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Laurentian Bank of Canada Trading Up 1.6 %

TSE LB opened at C$43.10 on Thursday. The company has a market cap of C$1.87 billion, a P/E ratio of 9.33, a P/E/G ratio of 0.76 and a beta of 1.17. Laurentian Bank of Canada has a 1 year low of C$28.23 and a 1 year high of C$48.23. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of C$32.75 and a 200 day simple moving average of C$33.14.

Laurentian Bank of Canada Increases Dividend

Laurentian Bank of Canada ( TSE:LB Get Free Report ) last released its earnings results on Thursday, June 1st. The company reported C$1.16 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of C$1.14 by C$0.02. The firm had revenue of C$257.17 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of C$261.70 million. Laurentian Bank of Canada had a net margin of 21.97% and a return on equity of 7.69%. Equities research analysts forecast that Laurentian Bank of Canada will post 5.0972389 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, August 1st. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, August 1st will be issued a $0.47 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, June 30th. This is an increase from Laurentian Bank of Canadas previous quarterly dividend of $0.46. This represents a $1.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.36%. Laurentian Bank of Canadas dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 40.69%.

Laurentian Bank of Canada Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Laurentian Bank of Canada, together with its subsidiaries, provides various financial services to personal, business, and institutional customers in Canada and the United States. It operates through three segments: Personal Banking, Commercial Banking, and Capital Markets. The Personal Banking segment offers financial services, such as financial advisory services to financial intermediaries; and operates digital direct-to-customer platform to retail clients.

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LendingClub (NYSE:LC  Get Free Report) and Funding Circle (OTCMKTS:FDCHF  Get Free Report) are both finance companies, but which is the better investment? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their earnings, risk, dividends, valuation, institutional ownership, profitability and analyst recommendations.

Insider and Institutional Ownership

77.5% of LendingClub shares are held by institutional investors. 2.8% of LendingClub shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, large money managers and endowments believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

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Analyst Ratings

This is a summary of current ratings and target prices for LendingClub and Funding Circle, as provided by MarketBeat.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score LendingClub 0 3 3 0 2.50 Funding Circle 0 0 0 0 N/A

Valuation and Earnings

LendingClub currently has a consensus price target of $13.50, suggesting a potential upside of 36.64%. Funding Circle has a consensus price target of $70.00, suggesting a potential upside of 8,663.14%. Given Funding Circles higher probable upside, analysts plainly believe Funding Circle is more favorable than LendingClub.

This table compares LendingClub and Funding Circles gross revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio LendingClub $1.19 billion 0.89 $289.68 million $2.49 3.97 Funding Circle N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

LendingClub has higher revenue and earnings than Funding Circle.

Profitability

This table compares LendingClub and Funding Circles net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets LendingClub 22.96% 10.45% 1.60% Funding Circle N/A N/A N/A

Summary

LendingClub beats Funding Circle on 7 of the 8 factors compared between the two stocks.

About LendingClub

(Get Free Report)

LendingClub Corporation, operates as a bank holding company for LendingClub Bank, National Association that provides range of financial products and services in the United States. It offers deposit products, including savings accounts, checking accounts, and certificates of deposit. The company also provides loan products, such as consumer loans comprising unsecured personal loans, secured auto refinance loans, and patient and education finance loans; and commercial loans, including small business loans. In addition, it operates an online lending marketplace platform. The company was incorporated in 2006 and is headquartered in San Francisco, California.

About Funding Circle

(Get Free Report)

Funding Circle Holdings plc, together with its subsidiaries, provides online lending platforms in the United Kingdom, the United States, and internationally. The company offers small business loans, recovery loan schemes, and business finance solutions to small and medium enterprises. It also provides flexipay and flexipay card solutions. The company acts as a special purpose bankruptcy remote entity that issues loan payment dependent debt securities to accredited investors. The company was incorporated in 2010 and is based in London, the United Kingdom.

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Turkish Ambassador to Seoul Murat Tamer, first row third from right, attends a ceremony commemorating Democracy and Turkey's National Unity Day at the Turkish Embassy in central Seoul, Saturday. The day marked the seventh anniversary of the Turkish people's victory against the coup attempt by the Fetullahist Terrorist Organization (FETO) in 2016. Courtesy of Embassy of Turkey in Korea
Moelis & Company (NYSE:MC  Free Report)  Analysts at Seaport Res Ptn reduced their Q4 2023 earnings estimates for Moelis & Company in a research note issued to investors on Wednesday, July 12th. Seaport Res Ptn analyst J. Mitchell now forecasts that the asset manager will post earnings of $0.27 per share for the quarter, down from their previous estimate of $0.28. The consensus estimate for Moelis & Companys current full-year earnings is $0.46 per share. Seaport Res Ptn also issued estimates for Moelis & Companys Q4 2024 earnings at $0.81 EPS.

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Moelis & Company (NYSE:MC  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, April 26th. The asset manager reported $0.05 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.11 by ($0.06). The business had revenue of $187.20 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $186.60 million. Moelis & Company had a return on equity of 22.47% and a net margin of 10.14%. The businesss quarterly revenue was down 38.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the firm earned $0.95 EPS.

Moelis & Company Trading Up 0.1 %

A number of other equities analysts also recently commented on MC. Morgan Stanley reduced their target price on shares of Moelis & Company from $30.00 to $29.00 and set an underweight rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, April 12th. TheStreet lowered shares of Moelis & Company from a b- rating to a c rating in a research note on Tuesday, May 30th. Finally, StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Moelis & Company in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a hold rating for the company. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and two have given a hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Reduce and a consensus target price of $35.60.

MC opened at $48.54 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $3.45 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 38.52 and a beta of 1.47. Moelis & Company has a 12 month low of $33.12 and a 12 month high of $50.23. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $41.53 and a 200-day moving average price of $41.72.

Moelis & Company Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, June 23rd. Shareholders of record on Monday, May 8th were given a dividend of $0.60 per share. This represents a $2.40 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.94%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, May 5th. Moelis & Companys dividend payout ratio is presently 190.48%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Moelis & Company

Several hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Captrust Financial Advisors lifted its position in Moelis & Company by 3.0% during the 1st quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 8,723 shares of the asset managers stock worth $410,000 after acquiring an additional 254 shares during the period. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. increased its holdings in Moelis & Company by 1.1% in the 4th quarter. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. now owns 27,328 shares of the asset managers stock worth $1,049,000 after buying an additional 294 shares during the period. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. raised its position in Moelis & Company by 4.4% during the 4th quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. now owns 7,323 shares of the asset managers stock worth $281,000 after buying an additional 311 shares during the last quarter. Prudential Financial Inc. lifted its stake in Moelis & Company by 5.7% during the 1st quarter. Prudential Financial Inc. now owns 6,199 shares of the asset managers stock valued at $238,000 after acquiring an additional 332 shares during the period. Finally, Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio boosted its holdings in shares of Moelis & Company by 0.4% in the 3rd quarter. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio now owns 91,368 shares of the asset managers stock valued at $3,089,000 after acquiring an additional 349 shares during the last quarter. 91.58% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About Moelis & Company

(Get Free Report)

Moelis & Company operates as an investment banking advisory firm. It offers advisory services in the areas of mergers and acquisitions, recapitalizations and restructurings, capital markets transactions, and other corporate finance matters. The company offers its services to public multinational corporations, middle market private companies, financial sponsors, entrepreneurs, governments, and sovereign wealth funds.

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StockNews.com upgraded shares of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (NYSE:BUD  Free Report) from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note released on Wednesday morning.

Other equities analysts also recently issued research reports about the stock. HSBC downgraded shares of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Wednesday, May 10th. Evercore ISI cut their target price on Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV from $80.00 to $70.00 in a research note on Thursday, June 8th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upgraded shares of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Thursday, June 22nd. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $65.00.

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Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV Trading Up 0.1 %

NYSE:BUD opened at $58.19 on Wednesday. The stock has a market capitalization of $101.09 billion, a PE ratio of 15.64, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.68 and a beta of 1.25. Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV has a 12 month low of $44.51 and a 12 month high of $67.09. The company has a current ratio of 0.67, a quick ratio of 0.48 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.94. The firms 50 day moving average is $57.34 and its 200 day moving average is $60.19.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV

Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV ( NYSE:BUD Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, May 4th. The consumer goods maker reported $0.65 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.64 by $0.01. Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV had a return on equity of 15.38% and a net margin of 12.78%. The business had revenue of $14.21 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $14.05 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $0.67 earnings per share. The firms quarterly revenue was up 7.4% compared to the same quarter last year. Sell-side analysts expect that Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV will post 3.14 earnings per share for the current year.

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Bank of New York Mellon Corp grew its stake in shares of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV by 8.7% in the first quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 98,375 shares of the consumer goods makers stock worth $5,909,000 after purchasing an additional 7,887 shares in the last quarter. American Century Companies Inc. boosted its stake in Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV by 8.2% during the first quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 26,865 shares of the consumer goods makers stock valued at $1,614,000 after buying an additional 2,028 shares in the last quarter. Citigroup Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV by 13.2% during the first quarter. Citigroup Inc. now owns 57,729 shares of the consumer goods makers stock valued at $3,468,000 after purchasing an additional 6,742 shares during the last quarter. Bank of Montreal Can lifted its holdings in shares of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV by 14.1% during the first quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 35,077 shares of the consumer goods makers stock valued at $2,154,000 after purchasing an additional 4,342 shares during the last quarter. Finally, BlackRock Inc. lifted its stake in Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV by 11.8% in the 1st quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 356,048 shares of the consumer goods makers stock worth $21,384,000 after acquiring an additional 37,476 shares in the last quarter. 5.53% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV produces, distributes, markets, and sells beer and beverages. It offers a portfolio of approximately 500 beer brands, which primarily include Budweiser, Corona, and Stella Artois; Beck's, Hoegaarden, Leffe, and Michelob Ultra; and Aguila, Antarctica, Bud Light, Brahma, Cass, Castle, Castle Lite, Cristal, Harbin, Jupiler, Modelo Especial, Quilmes, Victoria, Sedrin, and Skol brands.

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Tingyi (Cayman Islands) Holding Corp. (OTCMKTS:TCYMF  Get Free Report) was the target of a significant growth in short interest during the month of June. As of June 30th, there was short interest totalling 3,115,100 shares, a growth of 61.4% from the June 15th total of 1,930,100 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 0 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently  days.

Tingyi (Cayman Islands) Stock Performance

TCYMF stock opened at $1.57 on Friday. Tingyi has a 12 month low of $1.57 and a 12 month high of $1.75. The companys 50 day simple moving average is $1.59 and its 200-day simple moving average is $1.68.

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Tingyi (Cayman Islands) Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

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Tingyi (Cayman Islands) Holding Corp., an investment holding company, manufactures and sells instant noodles, beverages, and instant food products in the People's Republic of China. The company operates through Instant Noodles, Beverages, and Others segments. It offers ready-to-drink teas, juices, bottled water, and carbonated soft drinks, as well as coffee drinks/functional drinks/probiotics.

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StockNews.com began coverage on shares of WidePoint (NYSEAMERICAN:WYY  Free Report) in a report issued on Thursday. The firm issued a sell rating on the technology companys stock.

WidePoint Price Performance

Shares of NYSEAMERICAN WYY opened at $2.04 on Thursday. WidePoint has a 1-year low of $1.70 and a 1-year high of $3.06. The business has a 50-day moving average of $1.84 and a 200-day moving average of $1.93. The company has a market capitalization of $17.82 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -1.17 and a beta of 1.04.

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WidePoint (NYSEAMERICAN:WYY  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Monday, May 15th. The technology company reported ($0.11) earnings per share for the quarter. WidePoint had a positive return on equity of 2.98% and a negative net margin of 16.03%. The company had revenue of $25.27 million during the quarter.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

WidePoint Company Profile

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the business. UBS Group AG purchased a new position in WidePoint in the first quarter valued at about $29,000. Citadel Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in WidePoint by 121.1% in the third quarter. Citadel Advisors LLC now owns 13,577 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $29,000 after purchasing an additional 7,437 shares during the last quarter. Susquehanna International Group LLP purchased a new position in WidePoint in the first quarter valued at about $25,000. Renaissance Technologies LLC purchased a new position in WidePoint in the second quarter valued at about $37,000. Finally, Channel Wealth LLC purchased a new position in WidePoint in the first quarter valued at about $40,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 11.85% of the companys stock.

(Get Free Report)

WidePoint Corporation provides technology management as a service (TMaaS) to the government and business enterprises in North America and Europe. The company offers TMaaS solutions through a secure federal government certified proprietary portal and secure enterprise portal that provides ability to manage, analyze, and protect communications assets, as well as deploy identity management solutions that provide secured virtual and physical access to restricted environments.

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Danang city looks to attract more FDI from Japan

By Nguyen Tri, Tri Duc Sun, July 16, 2023 | 6:30 pm GTM+7

Vietnams central city of Danang is aiming to attract more direct investment from Japan, while many Japanese firms are looking to expand their operations in the country's central region.

V-Stainless Steel Co., Ltd. has proposed the construction of a logistics facility in Danang. CEO Tanaka Kuninao said the firm now operates factories and warehouses in the southern province of Dong Nai and the northern province of Hung Yen, and it takes three-four days to deliver goods between the two facilities.

"A facility in Danang would help boost transportation and serve customers in the central region," he told a conference on Danang-Japan cooperation on Friday.

Kangaroo, a local home appliance firm, said Danang, with its economic potential and tourism sector, could develop into the best destination in central Vietnam for Japanese investors.

Danang not only provides a dynamic investment environment but also offers opportunities for Japanese firms to approach the lucrative Vietnamese market," a company representative said at the event.

Japanese firms have invested in 222 projects in Danang, with total registered capital of over $1 billion, accounting for 23.5% of foreign-invested projects in the city and 26% of the capital, official data shows.

The projects focus on manufacturing of components and equipment, information technology, education, healthcare, services, and tourism, according to Danang's Vice Chairman Ho Ky Minh.

Participants at the Danang-Japan cooperation conference in Danang city, central Vietnam on July 14, 2023. Photo by The Investor/Nguyen Tri.

Japanese consul general to Danang Yakabe Yoshinori said: "Vietnam is a top destination for investment from Japanese firms. The country's central region, particularly Danang, is a hotspot thanks to the citys competitive leasing prices at industrial parks, good investment environment, and strong workforce."

The FDI sector disbursed VND1.69 trillion ($71.5 million) in Danang in the first six months of this year, down 40.2% year-on-year, according to the municipal statistics office.

In the period, the city attracted $26.21 million of registered FDI, including $9.5 million in 62 newly-registered projects, $2.77 million of capital contribution for stake acquisitions, and $13.94 million of additional capital for ongoing projects.
Fewer wood pellet exporters as Japan, South Korea cut imports

By Tri Duc Sun, July 16, 2023 | 10:40 am GTM+7

The number of wood pellet exporters in Vietnam fell from 152 in 2022 to 119 in May 2023 as exports to major markets Japan and South Korea reduced significantly.

In its January-June report, the Vietnam Timber and Forest Product Association (Viforest) noted that South Korea and Japan were the two largest export markets for Vietnams wood pellets, accounting for 95% of export revenue.

In the first five months of this year, export volume reached 1.57 million tons for revenues of $256.5 million.

During the same period, the country earned $96.11 million from exporting 652,273 tons of wood pellets to South Korea, down 45% and 41% year-on-year, respectively.

Corresponding figures for Japan were $151.06 million and 871,356 tons, down 19.7% and 5.7%.

The report said that prices rose sharply from $140 per ton in early 2022 to $180-190 per ton in late 2022 and early 2023, amid the Ukraine-Russia conflict. They cooled down to $110 per ton in June for exports to South Korea and $145-165 per ton for exports to Japan.

For the rest of this year, Vietnams export volume to the South Korean market is likely to reach 1-1.5 million tons. Vietnam is currently the main supplier of wood pellets to South Korea, meeting 80% of the total demand. However, South Korea has begun diversifying its supply, particularly from Russia. Before the conflict with Ukraine broke out, Russia was delivering three million tons of wood pellets annually.

The Japanese market is considered much more stable than the South Korean market with long-term orders of 10-15 years and exporting prices of $145-165 per ton. The demand for pellets in Japan is expected to grow strongly soon, from eight million tons at the moment to 20 million tons in 2030.

A wood pellet factory in Quang Tri province, central Vietnam. Photo courtesy of Environment & Life magazine.

In June, Itochu Corporation, a Japanese multi-sector business, expressed its intention to plant a timber plantation and build a wood pellet factory in the central province of Binh Dinh, aiming to export one million units a year.

Kenji Tanaka, Itochu CEO for Asia and Oceania, said the project, in cooperation with Binh Dinh-based Phu Tai Bio-Energy Corporation, aimed to serve Japans growing demand for wood pellets, which is estimated to double in three years.
UK joins CPTPP trade pact as new data shows major economic benefits

By Nguyen Thuy Sun, July 16, 2023 | 7:02 am GTM+7

Business and Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch signed documents in New Zealand Sunday for the UK to become the 12th signatory to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).

The signing kickstarts the UKs membership of what has been called a modern and ambitious trade deal. It is also the first European country to be part of the pact that has 11 other members in the Asia-Pacific region, including Vietnam.

The signing took place in Auckland in the presence of New Zealand Trade Minister Damien OConnor, Vietnamese Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien, Canadian Trade Minister Mary Ng, Japanese Minister for Economic Revitalization Goto Shigeyuki and Australian Deputy Trade Minister Tim Ayres.

The signature is the formal confirmation of agreement for the UK to join the group, following the substantial conclusion of negotiations earlier this year.

The British government will now seek to ratify the agreement, after parliamentary scrutiny. Other CPTPP members have completed their own legislative processes.

Iain Frew, British Ambassador to Vietnam, talks about the significance of Britain joining the CPTPP in a video clip released by the British Embassy in Hanoi. Screenshot photo by The Investor/Tuong Thuy.

Total trade between the UK and Vietnam has recently reached 6.9 billion (over $9 billion), an increase of 29% on last year and I'm confident that the UK's accession to CPTPP will strengthen this even further, Iain Frew, British Ambassador to Vietnam, says in an embassy press release.

This shows the UKs strategic commitment to the Indo-Pacific region... I look forward to working closely with the Government of Vietnam, other partners and businesses to make the most of this new partnership.

A new British government report says that one in every 100 UK workers was employed by a business headquartered in a CPTPP member in 2019, equal to more than 400,000 jobs in the country.

Membership of the trade group is expected to spark further investment in the UK by CPTPP countries, already worth 182 billion ($238.26 billion) in 2021, by guaranteeing protections for investors, according to the British Embassy release.

Badenoch said in Auckland that joining the exciting, growing, forward-looking trade bloc will help grow the UK economy and build on the hundreds of thousands of jobs CPTPP-owned businesses already support up and down the country.

The British government report says CPTPP investment accounted for over 240 billion (around $314.2 billion) in turnover in London, 35 billion ($45.82 billion) in the South East and 18 billion ($23.56 billion) in the East of England.

It also says that CPTPP companies punch above their weight economically. While they account for 0.3% of all businesses in the UK, they generate 6.1% of the UKs total turnover, 20 times higher than the proportion of businesses they represent.

The UK will be the first European member and first new member since CPTPP was established in 2018. Its 11 existing members are Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, and Vietnam.

Being part of CPTPP will mean that more than 99% of current UK goods exports to CPTPP countries will be eligible for zero tariffs. Dairy farmers, for example, will benefit from reduced tariffs on cheese and butter exports to Canada, Chile, Japan and Mexico. This builds on the 23.9 million (nearly $31.3 million) worth of dairy products we exported to these countries in 2022, the embassy press release says.

It quotes Warrick Cleine, chairman of the British Corporate Advisory Council in Vietnam, also chairman and CEO of KPMG Viet Nam, as saying: CPTPP is a trade agreement like no other. While the participants are diverse and span many of the worlds fastest-growing geographies, CPTPP members share a common commitment to a rules-based trading system that goes beyond trade in goods, and facilitates the digital economy and trade in services.

Vitally, the CPTPP should be viewed in the C-suite as another essential part of trade infrastructure - the negotiators and politicians did their part  business leaders now need to lean into the opportunity.

The release also quotes chairman of the British Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam, Chris Jeffery, as saying: Our belief is that trade between Vietnam and the UK will continue its rapid growth, marking the start of our next 50 years of partnership and growing links between the two countries. The opportunity is now there for UK companies to fully benefit from the UKs focus on developing ties and links with Asia.
VN-Index experiences week of gains, liquidity soars

By Huong Dung Sun, July 16, 2023 | 7:00 am GTM+7

Vietnams benchmark VN-Index experienced a very positive trading week (July 10-14) with five consecutive gaining sessions and a strong increase in liquidity.

The index, representing the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange (HoSE), opened the week with most stock groups in the green, breaking out of the old peak around 1,140. The uptrend continued in the following sessions thanks to strong demand for large-cap stocks. However, strong profit-taking pressure in the last session of the week narrowed the indexs gains.

The major index closed the week at 1,168.4 points, up 2.57% from the previous week. On the Hanoi Stock Exchange (HNX), the HNX-Index increased by 1.94% week-on-week to 230.19 points.

The VN-Index closed the July 10-14, 2023 week at 1,168.4 points. Photo by The Investor/Trong Hieu.

FPT of FPT Corp., HPG of steel giant Hoa Phat and VJC of low-cost carrier Vietjet Air were the most positive index influencers with FPT alone contributing nearly 1 point.

STB of Sacombank, BID of BIDV bank and PLX of Petrolimex had the most negative impacts.

Trading value on the HoSE reached nearly VND91.6 trillion ($3.87 billion) in July 10-14, up 18% from the previous week, corresponding to a 17.1% increase in trading volume.

Liquidity at HNX rose 13% week-on-week to over VND9.1 trillion ($384.9 million).

Real estate stocks were among the performers, with many stocks rallying with high liquidity like HDC of Ba Ria-Vung Tau House Development JSC (17.43%), NLG of Nam Long Group (15.49%), PDR of Phat Dat Real Estate Development Corp. (9.25) %), NDN of Danang Housing Investment Development JSC (8.51%), CII of Ho Chi Minh City Infrastructure Investment JSC (8.26%), and DIG of DIG Corp. (7.69%).

Financial service-securities stocks also made strong gains. VIX of VIX Securities went up 10.13%, SSI of Saigon Securities, 7.75%, SHS of Saigon-Hanoi Securities, 6.57%, FTS of FPT Securities 6.09%, and VCI of Viet Capital Securities 4.78%.

Meanwhile, tickers of companies in public investment projects, construction, building materials and steel saw a divergence.

Foreign investors were net sellers for the fourth consecutive week on the HoSE to the tune of more than VND1 trillion ($42.3 million). In the past four weeks (from June 19 to July 14), their net sales amounted to VND4.13 trillion ($174.7 million).

New uptrend

Broker Saigon-Hanoi Securities (SHS) forecasts that the VN-Index could form a new uptrend after surpassing 1,150 points. However, it says the index will be strongly shaky in the short term before making its next positive movements.

In the medium term, with accumulated internal strength and good upward momentum, the market is likely to set a new uptrend but this would depend on more positive macro changes, SHS says.

The broker recommends that short-term investors be cautious in the next trading week and monitor market movements at the support zone during corrections. It says that with the current momentum, a further uptrend is highly likely in the medium term.

Investors can take advantage of the corrections to increase their proportion, and they should choose leading tickers with good fundamentals and stable growth potential that are moving in the current accumulation state.

According to Vietcombank Securities (VCBS), if the VN-Index continues to diverge, accumulate and surpass the level of 1,170, it can move to the territory of 1,200-1,210 points. However, it advises caution, saying investors should maintain the proportion of stocks at below 50% of their portfolios, and give priority to holding securities, petroleum and retail stocks that perform well.
I'll probably be doing a little print sale of "Mennonite Boys Watching Dirt-Track Racing," since it's my most popular Sigma fp shot on Flickr so far (21,747 views and 521 Favorites as of now).

I'd like to know what size potential buyers would prefer. If I polled you as to whether you'd consider purchasing it, the leading answer by far would be "no," so the following question is just for those of you who like it well enough to consider buying it. If you're not interested, please don't answer!

This is the first time I've used this polling method. To simplify things, comments will be closed on this post.

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Thanks for your help!

Mike
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The "We.Seoul'd.U" heads of former U.S. President Donald Trump and his North Korean counterpart Kim Jong-un wheatpasted on the wall of U.S. Army Garrison Yongsan in central Seoul's Haebangchon neighborhood show signs of wear, Nov. 20, 2021. Korea Times photo by Jon Dunbar





By Jon Dunbar



Former U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un met for the first time on June 12, 2018, in Singapore. The next morning, grotesque versions of their faces appeared on a cinder block wall in central Seoul's Haebangchon (HBC) neighborhood, at the southern end of Sinheung-ro over the iconic kimchi pots that mark the alley. Above the two faces was stenciled "We.Seoul'd.U," a parody of Seoul Metropolitan City's divisive former slogan.



The work of art has remained in place for over five years, left alone for most of this time but still observed by all those who enter the neighborhood on this side. The heads, which are made of paper affixed to the wall by wheatpaste, have been peeling a little in recent years, and more recently someone appears to have attempted to paint over them with white paint.





Now that they've been there for so long, artist James Beckwith , who also goes by JaMez, decided it was finally time to admit he was the one who created them  as well as three other similar heads nearby.



Various heads are wheatpasted on the wall of U.S. Army Garrison Yongsan in central Seoul's Haebangchon neighborhood. / Courtesy of James Beckwith



"Everyone was, I don't want to say getting excited but making a big deal about Trump and Kim Jong-un meeting, when in my mind I felt that it was all a charade and would never amount to anything, and that's why the top says 'We Seoul'd U,'" he said. "It's all for me just sleight of hand and just a joke, and that was my idea. 'Hey look at us, we're pretending to do something, you're all thinking something's gonna happen and we're selling you a lot of crap.'"



Beckwith is a well-respected and established entrepreneur and artist in the city, serving as the foreign president of the Yongsan Fine Arts Association , and has lived in Korea for over 22 years. But he's also done a fair amount of street art, some commissioned and some clandestine.



For those who know him and are connected on social media, his authorship wasn't a very well-kept secret.



"It's all on my Instagram anyways," he told The Korea Times. "If someone really wanted to find it they could."



Part of what made the Trump-Kim heads stand out was their prominent location, right on the wall of U.S. Army Garrison Yongsan. But Beckwith said he didn't choose that location for any political reason related to the U.S. or its military presence in the neighborhood.



"I thought that I wanted to put something here because I have a lot of friends in HBC and I know they make their morning walk to Noksapyeong Station on the way to work and it's kind of boring, and I thought it might be fun, every once in a while to put a new piece of artwork for people to notice. It's a massive intersection as well," he said. "The thing about street art, location is everything, and that's a pretty good location, so that was also the fun of it. As risky as it is, it feels that much more rewarding when you get away with it."



He said most of the heads were pasted up at around 3 a.m. or 4 a.m., planned for when the fewest people would be around.



"That's the thing about HBC  at 3 a.m. or 4 a.m. it's still going pretty hard sometimes, especially on the weekends," he said. "The first one I did there, I was super paranoid. But after doing it a couple of times, people don't even care, they don't even look at you. Like I'm just doing my thing and they're walking by. Some people might glance."



In order to throw up his art fast, he resorted to wheatpasting, a form of street art that has some advantages over spraypaint. It is easier to remove glued paper than spraypaint, as it can be scraped or powerwashed off most surfaces. It's also quick to deploy, as most of the creative work is completed on paper in advance, and all one has to do at the site is paste it up.



"That intersection is so busy, there's no way I could put up a proper piece on that wall without getting caught," he said. "This lets me put up a full piece, also it's kind of like if I did get caught, it's just paper, I'll scrape it off. I always thought maybe it might be a safety net but mostly it's because I could put a whole piece up in just a matter of minutes."



Each head took him only a couple of minutes to paste up.



After completing the first heads, they were left untouched for years, with neither anybody attempting to remove them nor other street artists or taggers marking the same wall. This seems to show a nearly universal respect for the piece.





This head, wheatpasted on the wall of U.S. Army Garrison Yongsan in central Seoul's Haebangchon neighborhood, is a tribute to the Black Lives Matter movement. Korea Times photo by Jon Dunbar



The only one who felt empowered to put up more art on the same wall, then, was Beckwith. The next one he put up, to the right of all the skulls, was a tribute to the Black Lives Matter movement, containing the names of people killed by police in the U.S.



He added that the heads are only parts of larger canvases that show a bigger picture, and all of them can be viewed on Instagram.



For instance, the head wearing the gas mask, clearly inspired by the pandemic, comes from a full-body art piece .





This skull wearing a crown and gasmask, wheatpasted on the wall of U.S. Army Garrison Yongsan in central Seoul's Haebangchon neighborhood, is part of a later piece depicting the body of Jesus, made during the pandemic. Korea Times photo by Jon Dunbar



"The full canvas of that is the body of Jesus with this corona skull," he said. "The reason I thought of that is because when corona started, the superspreaders were all coming from churches. They thought 'Let's go to church because Jesus will save us,' except going to church was spreading the virus the most, especially here in Korea."



The fifth one best embodies his art style, drawing from elements of Korea and Mexico. "I've been painting Day of the Dead-type skulls for a long time, and I always thought it would be cool to create a fusion Korean one because I've been living here for 22 years, so I feel just as Korean as I do American and Latin American and so I just thought it might be an interesting thing."





This head, wheatpasted on the wall of U.S. Army Garrison Yongsan in central Seoul's Haebangchon neighborhood, mixes imagery from Korean and Mexican culture, representing artist James Beckwith's background. Korea Times photo by Jon Dunbar
An Orangeburg-based family wellness program that has worked for more than 20 years to address infant and maternal health is looking to expand doula services and other resources following alarming trends seen in South Carolinas 2023 Infant Mortality Report.

The S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Controls 2023 Infant Mortality Report is released annually by the agencys Bureau of Maternal and Child Health.

The report released earlier this year showed that the overall state infant mortality rate rose 12% from 6.5% in 2020 to 7.3% in 2021, when the most recent data is available, and has grown by almost 40% overall since 2017 for infants born to non-Hispanic Black mothers.

Black infants continued to suffer disproportionately, dying at a rate of nearly 2.5 times that of white infants.

Family Solutions Director Lamikka Samuel said she is not surprised.

Its extremely alarming. Im not surprised that the disparity still remains, but I am surprised at the drastic increase in numbers. Coming from the world of home visiting, what this says to me is there still needs to be more education provided. It needs to be education that comes from more just one group of people, Samuel said.

She said education must not come just from the obstetrical community or perinatal home visitors, but I think that we need to start looking at how we can equip others with this same sort of education that they can provide to the community, including churches and school districts.

Outside of education, the other thing that comes to mind is that there needs to be more focused attention on the population at risk. ... The non-Hispanic Black population is being affected the most. So whenever we start looking at strategies, we cant just use that one-size-fits-all approach because that obviously does not work, Samuel said.

She said cultural sensitivity must be coupled with cultural competence when it comes to providing care for women of color.

That would include not just knowing and being aware that differences are present among cultures, but its also the behaviors and actually changing how you interact with different cultures as a result of your awareness of what their needs may be, Samuel said.

She said Family Solutions has doulas to help provide some of that care. A doula is a trained professional who provides continuous physical, emotional and information support to their client before, during and shortly after childbirth to help them achieve the healthiest experience possible.

Doulas are not clinical professionals. Doulas are there to provide that holistic, continual support starting at five months gestation. ... Its not any competition for any clinical professionals. Its just an added layer of support and education, Samuel said.

We are making sure that our staff is culturally competent, that we are aware that those differences are present and adapt our behaviors, education and conversations and tailor them to the needs of the diverse cultures that we may be encountering, she said.

Samuel said Family Solutions, which serves clients in Orangeburg, Bamberg, Allendale, Hampton and Barnwell counties, has four doulas on staff who were trained by a certified doula to be a community-based doula.

They were able to go through the community-based doula training because they are already certified as community health workers. Then we have one who is completing her certification now through the Childbirth and Postpartum Professional Association. We offer those services to all of the women who are in our program free of charge, she said.

Samuel said Family Solutions focus will be on the promotion of their doula services.

Were going to ensure that all of the women who enroll in our program know about them and connect them with a doula during the initial enrollment. So we see expanding our doula support services. We are also looking at other opportunities to expand our resources in our community and making utilization of those resources a lot easier, she said.

Samuel continued, With whats called a Family Resource Center model, the goal is to co-locate some commonly-used community resources so that people arent having to bounce around from one office to the next to get some of the things they need.

While the states infant mortality rate rose by 12% from 2020 to 2021, it rose more than 120% during that time in Orangeburg County from a rate of 9.4% in 2020 to a rate of 20.8% in 2021.

There was either no or miniscule change between those years in Bamberg County, which had less than five infant deaths reported in both 2020 and 2021. Calhoun County had zero deaths reported in 2020 and less than five reported in 2021.

Samuel said the sharp increase in Orangeburg Countys rate could be caused by a combination of things.

That includes those maternal complications, some of the things that mom may have already been experiencing prior to becoming pregnant, or becoming pregnant and getting sick and not necessarily being treated for what that illness is while being pregnant, Samuel said.

She continued, The stress of the pandemic caused a lot of people to deliver early. ... What a lot of people dont understand is that stress can impact your health because that can affect your blood pressure and how a lot of the systems within our body function.

When youre pregnant, that can lead to a short gestational period, that preterm delivery of those low birthweight infants who may be born much too soon to have a chance of survival.

Causes related to maternal complications of pregnancy were one of three leading causes of infant death in the state in 2021, along with congenital malformations, or birth defects, and disorders related to short gestation and low birthweight.

In terms of local disparities seen in the tri-county area in 2021, Orangeburg saw the greatest disparity between Black and white mothers with Black babies dying at a rate of 29.1% compared to less than five white babies dying.

The disparity was not as great in Bamberg and Calhoun counties, which both had zero white baby deaths compared to less than five deaths of Black babies in 2021.

Its not OK for any baby to die, its not OK for any mother to die, but when you have where youre seeing just astronomical numbers among one population, then its time to really focus your efforts on addressing the needs within that population, Samuel said.

She said maternity deserts have also contributed to racial disparities in the infant mortality rate.

Were here in Orangeburg County, and weve gone from having several practicing OB/GYNs in our area to now our community is limited to where they can go for care, Samuel said.

She continued, Then not just Orangeburg County residents are coming to see those OB providers. So weve got to look at the need for more family practitioners in the area who also provide prenatal care, and who are also able to diagnose some of those health concerns the pregnant women have. We dont see a lot of that. I think that could help, as well.

Family Solutions, a program of the South Carolina Office of Rural Health, is the name for an umbrella of services that includes Healthy Start, an infant and maternal wellness program; Opportunity Knocks, a male-involvement program; and Nurse-Family Partnership, a home visitation program for first-time mothers.

For more information on the program, call 803-531-8008.
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South Korea, the United States and Japan hold a joint naval drill in international waters between South Korea and Japan, Sunday. Courtesy of South Korean Navy



By Lee Hyo-jin



South Korea, the United States and Japan held a joint naval drill, the South Korean Navy said Sunday, in a show of strengthened trilateral military cooperation against North Korea's escalating nuclear threats.



The three allies staged a missile defense exercise in international waters between South Korea and Japan, Sunday, mobilizing three Aegis-equipped destroyers  ROKS Yulgok Yi I, USS John Finn and JS Maya  to enhance readiness against North Korea's missile provocations.



The previous joint drill was held on April 17 and the latest one was the fourth combined exercise to take place during the Yoon Suk Yeol administration.



Sunday's exercise focused on heightening the preparedness of the three naval forces using a simulated ballistic missile target assuming a North Korean ballistic missile provocation, the navy said in a statement.



"Through this exercise, we were able to enhance our military's ballistic missile response capabilities and strengthen security cooperation among South Korea, the U.S. and Japan. Moving forward, we will effectively respond to North Korea's nuclear and missile threats based on our robust response system and trilateral coordination," said Captain Kim Ki-young of the Yulgok Yi I destroyer.



The drill came just four days after North Korea fired what it claimed to be a solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) toward its eastern waters, which the regime said was the second test of its newest ICBM, the Hwasong-18.



North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, who was present at the launch, warned of more military provocations "until the U.S. imperialists and the South Korean puppet traitors admit the shameful defeat of their failed hostile policy," according to the North's official Korean Central News Agency.



The ICBM launch, which theoretically puts the entire U.S. mainland in its range, drew strong condemnation from Washington and Tokyo.



South Korea and the U.S. have been continuing to strengthen cooperation with their allies against Pyongyang's increasing belligerence.



On Thursday, a U.S. nuclear-capable B-52H strategic bomber participated in a joint exercise with South Korea's F-15K fighter jets, according to Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), which demonstrated the U.S.' resolve to carry out its extended deterrence capabilities.



The allies are planning to hold an inaugural meeting of the new Nuclear Consultative Group (NCG) in Seoul on Tuesday, co-chaired by South Korea's Principal Deputy National Security Adviser Kim Tae-hyo and U.S. National Security Council Coordinator for Indo-Pacific Affairs Kurt Campbell.


He was changed by a radical love that did good in the world.

Orphaned by the death of his parents, raised by cruel relatives, the young teenager found himself drawn to the winsome and kind teachers of a Bible class. He had enrolled in the class determined to learn English and ended up walking away with a life altering set of teachings by Jesus.

Disowned by his surviving Japanese family, he found his place in the world by attending a Presbyterian College in Tokyo (later he would also attend Princeton) where he learned of Jesus, the son of a carpenter.

What he learned from Jesus, and felt deep in his bones, was a radical love for the poor. He read the following passage of Jesus teaching and was altered by his vision of who would be recipients of Gods great mercy.

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

 Matthew 5:3-10 NIV

Inspired by Jesus way of moving through the world and convinced that he was called to help the poor, Toyohiko Kagawa, moved into the slums of Kobe, one of Japans largest cities. He strongly believed that in order to understand the poor, and their needs, he was obliged to live with them in their unique and exhausting poverty. For 12 of his 14 years in the slums he lived in a shed that was six feet square and surrounded by squalor.

Some of Kagawas passions for the the marginalized poor in Kobe/Tokyo involved unionizing shipyard workers, working for universal male suffrage (giving all men, not just landowners the right to vote), the establishment of credit unions, hospitals, churches and schools. He also gave the revenue from his popular books to the relief work for the poor.

Kagawa is known for his work of reconciliation; he was even imprisoned for a time because he apologized to China for Japans invasion of their country. Prior to Japans involvement in the WWII he visited the United States encouraging a broad understanding of pacifism and anti-imperialism,

Some even dubbed him the Gandhi of Japan. But, as is typical with anyone who attempts to live his convictions, even Kagawa came under scrutiny for some of his work in Japan during the war. Great leaders are often criticized for their dynamic beliefs that grow, change, and evolve.

Kagawas way of living stirs me and convicts me today. He once said, I read in a book that a man called Christ went about doing good. It is very disconcerting to me that I am so easily satisfied with just going about.

It bothers me that I am so often satisfied with simply going about. Kagawas practical vision was one I want to embrace more passionately: our beliefs in God, and his mandate to love, must translate into action.

So, lets not just go about our day; lets go about our day doing good.
THE prospect of opportunities and growth were the two recurring themes of participants of the Trade and Investment Convention at the Centre of Excellence in Macoya, yesterday.

Over 200 participants from a wide range of industries took to their respective booths on what would have been the first day of the convention.

Some told the Express they hoped to form partnerships while others simply came intending to generate sales of their products and services.

Anil Ramsaran of SAP Electrical Services Limited said the company does domestic and commercial wiring.

The company also imports light-emitting diode (LED) lights, solar lights and solar fans, he said.

For those who may own a hybrid vehicle, he said, the company also sells and installs electric vehicle chargers.

Kemby Ross-Jones of Rent My Tutor at the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Academy said it offers online classes at the primary, secondary and tertiary levels. She stressed, What makes us different is that we offer personalised services to students. She said, We have had 100 per cent success at the Secondary Entrance Assessment (SEA) examinations level.

She said the academy was started at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 because students were falling behind in their academics due to the switch from the physical classroom to the virtual classroom.

Representing Nestles Natures Heart brand was Michelle Stanisclaus, who said the brand offered products such as almond milk and juices. She said even though the brand was an international one all the products offered locally were produced locally.

Stanisclaus said the newest product in the almond milk line of products was the almond-coffee flavour with was launched last month.

Promoting compressed natural gas (CNG) upgrades to vehicles was Dumore Enterprises Ltd.

One of the booths representatives Rajiv Ramessar said the company offered conversions on both gasoline and diesel vehicles. He added that his company hoped through their booth to promote CNG as the cheapest, cleanest fuel in the country. He said the company also hoped to make business-to-business connections and to encourage companies to convert their fleet of vehicles to CNG so that they could save on their transportation costs. He noted that he had attended the convention for the past five years and that this year generated the greatest number of people on the first day.

Attendee Nalini Akal a dancer, actress, artist and filmmaker said she attended in hopes of networking and soliciting sponsorship for her art form.

She said she believed it was important for those involved in the arts to go to events such as the convention because of the sponsorship potential and other service suppliers that could be interested in promoting their products at events.

People bypass the arts as something they put into events but really and truly the art really encompasses the culture of Trinidad and Tobago.

The thing is we are not even using an iota of our potential for the arts, she said.

Akal said she hoped by networking she could find opportunities for the exportation of the arts.
When it came time to say goodbye, Doolarie Badree just could not do it.

The ailing mother cried, begged, wailed and bought time until, in the end, she let go of the daughter she could no longer care for.

So that afternoon, her child, Renuca Badree, was taken from the home she had never left in all her 47 years of life.
THE Public Procurement and Public Disposal of Property (Amendment and Validation) Bill was passed in the Senate at 2.37 a.m. yesterday with a vote of 19 for/eight against and three abstentions.

Among the nine Independent senators, four voted in favour of the BillSenators Anthony Vieira, Amrita Deonarine, Charrise Seepersad and Dr Maria Dillon-Remy; two Independent senators voted against the Bill Deoroop Teemal and Hazel Thompson-Ahye (along with the six Opposition senators); while Paul Richards, Dr Varma Deyalsingh and Evans Welch abstained.
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.
We can divide the discussions into two. The internal, whats happening inside the body of West Indies cricket, its circuitry; and the external, the factors contributing to its current state.

Its really an analogy for the state of our region. Everything applies to whats happening in our societies. We have to stop referring to our athletes and delinquents, not just our cricketers, as a group existing in some kind of exclusive planetary bubble, impervious to the conditions of our time.
North Koreans hold cards to make an image depicting North Korean children during a mass game performance of "The Land of the People" at the May Day Stadium in Pyongyang, North Korea, in this June 25, 2019 photo. Human rights activists in South Korea have called on policymakers to better protect North Korean defectors' children who were born in third countries before coming here. AP-Yonhap



Human rights activists call for better protection of those born in third countries



By Jung Min-ho



North Korean women escaping oppression in their country cross the border to China in search of freedom and a better life. What awaits them there, in many cases, is the opposite  even less freedom and a life of constant fear of deportation.



Without a legal identity, such women are not allowed to work, which makes them vulnerable to human trafficking, sexual violence and other crimes. As a means of protecting themselves, many end up marrying a Chinese citizen, while others are coerced into such relationships by marriage brokers.



Lee Su-min (not her real name), 41, was one of those women. Before arriving in South Korea in 2019, she had spent six years in China.



"If you want to survive, you must marry a Chinese man," her broker told her. So she did, and lived there until the window of opportunity finally opened for her to leave for her ultimate destination  South Korea  with her daughter, Su-young, now five years old.



But unlike her peers who were born in North Korea before escaping to the South, Su-young is not eligible for any of the benefits for North Koreans, including special college admissions and vocational training, because she, legally speaking, is South Korean.



"My child is one of the lucky ones," Lee told The Korea Times on Friday. "Third-country-born children, who arrived here after spending their early years in China or other countries, have more difficulty adjusting because of the language issue."



According to government data, the number of third-country-born children of North Korean defectors enrolled in South Korean schools outnumbered young North Korean defectors for the first time in 2015. Today, they represent nearly 70 percent of the total.



Such children face unique challenges in South Korea, because they exist in a grey area as government policies fail to support their social inclusion and empowerment, according to Kim Duck-soo, deputy director of Citizens' Alliance for North Korean Human Rights, a rights advocacy group in Seoul.



One of their biggest issues is getting a university degree, a critical factor for networking and success in South Korea. Unlike legally recognized North Korean escapees, who can enter reputable schools without having to ace the college entrance exam, such children have to compete with other students who grew up here without receiving special treatment.



Another major issue is the mandatory military service. The Military Service Act states that "a person who has immigrated from north of the Military Demarcation Line" is not obliged to serve in the military. But the law does not apply to their children born in third countries.





A North Korean defector attends a nail art class at Hanawon, a government-run settlement support center for North Koreans, in Anseong, Gyeonggi Province, July 10. AP-Yonhap
Sometimes people bug me. Today Im going to share some recent email exchanges I had with two people who bothered me. They both were spouting the same get the government off my back and the government is out to squeeze every last nickel out of us rhetoric, but neither of them realized how hypocritical their complaints were.

Im going to call the first guy Ungrateful Greedy Geezer. Our email exchange went something like this. (Before I share the dialogue, I must point out that we were talking about the Medicare Part B program. There are two main parts to Medicare. Part A is hospital coverage. Its paid for out of a payroll tax  currently 1.45%  so it is free once you reach age 65. Part B covers doctors visits, lab tests, etc., and is paid for by monthly premiums usually deducted from a Social Security recipients monthly benefits.)

UGG: I am 75 years old. I had a good year financially last year as some investments paid off in seven figures. So, imagine my shock when I learned that because I invested wisely, I will be paying much higher Medicare premiums this year. It just really ticks me off that the government has an unquenchable desire for more and more money. What can I do about this?

ME: Ill answer your question in a minute, but first let me make this point. If the government has an unquenchable desire for more and more money, its because the American public has an unquenchable desire for more and more government programs and services that they are not willing to pay for (thus the annual federal budget deficit).

UGG: I agree. And as soon as we get rid of foreign aid and food stamps and all the welfare queens, we can get the country back on track.

ME: I wasnt thinking about welfare queens; I was thinking about people like you.

UGG: (I cant share what he wrote next, but its something you normally wouldnt say in polite company!)

ME: Well, let me explain. For 10 years now, youve been riding for next to nothing on the government Medicare Part B gravy train. The premium was about a hundred bucks a month 10 years ago and is $164.90 in 2023. (And by the way, thats about five bucks less than the 2022 premium.)

OK, so $164.90 per month is not really next to nothing, but when you hear the rest of my explanation, youll see that it was and still is a pretty good deal. Most senior citizens dont realize this, but that monthly Part B premium only covers 25% of the costs of the program. The taxpayers pick up the other 75%. So, for 10 years now, you and other current seniors on Medicare have gotten quite a huge subsidy from the American taxpayer. (Actually, that subsidy has been in place the entire 58-year history of the program.)

And for a long time, it had been argued that senior citizens should pick up more of the tab for their Medicare Part B coverage. So, back in the mid-2000s, President George W. Bush and Congress ironed out a deal. They decided that most seniors would still only pay the 25% premium rate but that wealthy seniors should pay a higher percentage. Im not going to get into the nitty-gritty of the premium rates for wealthy people, but Im pretty sure someone with your seven-figure income will pay about $400 per month for Part B coverage.

UGG: Well, I still think its too much, and the government is ripping me off. And by the way, I dont like your references to me and the gravy train. Thats quite a stretch coming from a guy who is a retired federal employee with free health care coverage.

ME: It will surprise you to learn that the supposedly free health care coverage I get as a retired fed costs me about $525 per month. Anyway, if youre bound and determined to fight this Part B premium increase, you can file an appeal. Just do a Google search for the pamphlet called, What you can do if you think your Medicare income-related premium is incorrect.

And then there was this email exchange with another ungrateful greedy geezer. Although in this guys case, Im going to give him the benefit of the doubt and assume he is uninformed rather than ungrateful. He was asking questions about benefits for his wife, so Ill call him the Uninformed Greedy Husband, or UGH.

UGH: I am 68 and get Social Security retirement benefits. My wife is 66 and spent most of her career as a teacher in Texas, which means she never paid into Social Security. So, she gets a teachers retirement pension in lieu of Social Security. I was shocked to recently learn that if I die first (which is likely), my wife will not be eligible for any widows benefits on my record whereas all other women in this country can get their husbands Social Security after his death. Its called the Government Pension Offset. I know there are bills in Congress to repeal this unfair law, but my guess is Congress will just keep handing out unwarranted benefits to deadbeats on disability and illegal immigrants and do nothing for hard-working people like me and my wife.

ME: People living in the country illegally cannot get Social Security benefits. And almost everyone getting a Social Security disability benefit has a severe mental or physical condition that keeps him or her from working. Also, all other women do not necessarily get widows benefits. So, it may surprise you to learn that you are the one clamoring for unwarranted Social Security benefits.

The GPO law says that an amount equal to two-thirds of your wifes teachers pension must be deducted from any widows benefits she might be due. Lets say you get $3,000 from Social Security. And to keep things simple, Ill say your wife is getting $3,000 per month in a teachers pension. If you die, two-thirds of $3,000, or $2,000, must be deducted from her widows benefits. So, she will get $1,000 in Social Security widows benefits as well as her $3,000 teachers pension.

Now compare that to another couple where both husband and wife paid into Social Security. For comparison purposes, lets say they are each getting $3,000 in Social Security retirement benefits. If that husband dies, his wife wont get a nickel in widows benefits because her entire Social Security retirement benefit is used to offset any widows benefits.

As a teacher, your wife already has a great deal because she only has a two-thirds offset, whereas Social Security recipients have a 100% offset. And you want Congress to repeal the GPO law so that your wife would get both a $3,000 teachers pension AND a $3,000 widows pension  something no other woman in this country can get. I hope you see what I mean when I say you are the one trying to get unwarranted benefits.
Tucsons Jan. 8 memorial was a stop Sunday for a bus carrying family affected by mass shooting violence.

Patricia and Manuel Oliver founded the Change the Ref tour to honor their son who was killed in the 2018 mass shooting at MSD High School in Parkland, Florida.

The tour is stopping at various cities that, like Tucson, have been the site of a mass shooting. During the stops, the couple and others advocate for stronger laws amid what they call an epidemic of gun violence.

They are celebrating his life and also bringing to all of our attention the terrible condition we find ourselves in where day after day, week after week, mass shootings occur. And our lawmakers dont do anything about it, said former congressman Ron Barber, who hosted the event.

Barber was one of 19 people wounded in the Jan. 8, 2011 mass shooting in Tucson. Six people were killed during an event hosted by then-Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, who was among those wounded outside a northwest side grocery store.

Joaquin Oliver, affectionately known as Guac, would have turned 23 on Aug. 4 this year.

Starting in Parkland, the Olivers and others whose lives have been touched by gun violence are riding in a retrofitted school bus on a 23-city tour across the country.

The Tucson stop kicked off at 10 a.m. at the downtown memorial.

It featured local speakers, like Barber and Pima County Attorney Laura Conover.

Conover acknowledged a rise in gun violence and homicide cases her office has handled over the last two years. She asked attendees to be aware of gun violence and how political candidates speak about the issue.

We are working this summer to try to bring back the red-flag legislation that did pass through the Arizona Senate and then stalled in the House, Conover said. Its one of the most sensible of all of the suggested reforms, because due process is really packed in.

The bus tour was set to continue on to Columbine and Sandy Hook before the end of the summer. It had already stopped at Uvalde and El Paso, Texas.
A motorcyclist was killed Saturday night when Tucson police say he was going too fast to negotiate a curve on the city's east side and slammed into a light pole.

Nathaniel Petrush, 25, was riding a 2021 Royal Enfield 650 west on East 22nd Street near South Wilmot Road about 10:45 p.m. when he lost control, drove onto the sidewalk then crashed into a light pole, Tucson police said Sunday in a news release.

Traffic detectives say Petrush was driving at a speed "greater than reasonable or prudent," when he crashed.

Petrush was declared dead at the crash scene. He was wearing a helmet, the release said.

The wreck remains under investigation.
A group of business, philanthropic and political leaders has given up on the idea of trying to get Arizonans to adopt a system of ranked-choice voting.

Political consultant Chuck Coughlin said polling for the group, Save Arizona Democracy, found insufficient interest in the sometimes controversial and confusing plan to have a single election of all candidates for a particular office and have voters rank their choices of first, second and beyond.

But Coughlin said the same polling shows there is a dissatisfaction with the current system of partisan primaries and the resultant election of candidates who cater more to the fringes of their own political parties than to the center.

So the group members are putting the finishing touches on their plan to convince Arizona voters to scrap the current method of nominating candidates by selling them on the idea of how much better the system could be.

Their plan, being prepared for the 2024 ballot, is a constitutional amendment to outlaw having the state run, and taxpayers pay for, partisan primaries.

Instead, there would be a wide-open primary where anyone who got the requisite number of signatures could be on the ballot, and all Arizonans, regardless of party affiliation, or lack thereof, could vote. Then the top vote-getters would face off in the general election, also regardless of their party registrations.

So there could be two Republicans competing for governor or a legislative seat in the general election. Or two Democrats. Or any combination, which also could include independents.

GOP lawmakers competing plan

Such a plan is likely to draw resistance from the parties that benefit from the current system.

For instance, state Rep. Alexander Kolodin, a Scottsdale Republican, isnt convinced voters are willing to trade in a system and process they know and understand  even if they dont like it  for something radically different.

Republican lawmakers have already proposed a constitutional amendment, HCR2033, that, if approved by voters in 2024, would preempt any effort to end partisan primary elections.

Coughlins mission is to ensure that the Save Arizona Democracy plan outpolls the GOP plan. Thats because if both plans are approved, the one with the larger number of votes gets enacted.

Support for equal ballot access

The way Save Arizona Democracy will explain its plan to voters starts with what the polling has shown to be basic beliefs, Coughlin said.

Everybody wants to see all voters and all candidates treated equally, he said.

That means equal access to the ballot.

The current system is set up to benefit partisan candidates. Their signature requirement to get on the primary ballot is based on the number of people registered in that party.

Then the winner of each partys primary gets a guaranteed slot on the general election ballot.

Political independents have no primary.

That requires them to seek direct access to the general election ballot. More to the point, that means they could have to get up to six times more signatures than partisan candidates to get their name before voters.

The result has been a dearth of independent candidates for office even though registered political independents outnumber Republicans and Democrats in Arizona. No independents have ever been elected to the Legislature.

That partisan advantage would disappear with a single open primary.

Broader appeal by candidates

The argument is that having all the names on a single ballot  and having all registered voters able to make choices  could force candidates to broaden their appeal.

By comparison, one party or the other now has a registration edge in about 25 of the states 30 legislative districts.

So in a district dominated by Republicans, candidates need to appeal only to GOP registrants  and specifically those who tend to turn out in partisan primaries. Then, with that registration edge, the winners of those primaries become all but unbeatable in the general election.

The same is true in Democrat-dominated districts.

Only thing is, Coughlin conceded, as much as people may not like the current partisan primaries, they at least are familiar with them. That leaves the question of whether the voters who go to the polls in 2024 will make the leap of faith that what is being proposed is better than what they know and understand.

That has been one of the critical discussion points within our committee, Coughlin said. But he said the polling continues to create a simple message he believes will find a responsive chord among voters.

What were doing is creating equality for all voters and all candidates in Arizona, which is enormously popular, he said. It would ensure that the top picks of all voters in all races advance to the general election, regardless of party.

The illusion of choice

Kolodin, however, said Arizonans like political parties, which represent a shorthand about what a candidate believes.

The point of the political parties is to be like, Heres the person who we think is the best exemplar of the conservative or liberal point of view to present to general election voters,  he said.

Kolodin does agree with Coughlin on one point.

He said eliminating partisan primaries and having everyone run against each other could lead to the election of more moderates. But he disagrees with Coughlin that would be a good thing.

Politics, in that case, doesnt present a real choice at all, Kolodin said.

If you have a system thats set up so that only moderates ever win ... the establishment wing of both parties ... whats the point? he said, mirroring a view held by some that there is little difference between the mainstream elements of the Republicans and Democrats. So, its the illusion of choice.

While the opposition to open primaries in Arizona is coming from Republicans, it would be wrong to see this as a strictly partisan fight, Kolodin said.

In states where Democrats have a strong majority, they oppose this like the devil opposes holy water, he said. But here, in Arizona, they think its to their advantage.

Save Arizona Democracy isnt getting into deep details, during the campaign, of what the new system would look like. That raises the question: Would voters be willing to scrap the current system and support an initiative that wont spell out in detail exactly how nonpartisan primaries would work?

What we are not doing is dictating the outcome, Coughlin said. We can explain that. We can say its up to the governor and the Legislature to decide that.

Campaign funding

Even what Coughlin calls a simplified plan wont be an easy sell.

He figures it will take about $5 million to get the signatures to put the issue on the 2024 ballot. That doesnt count an equal amount of spending he said will be necessary to convince voters to approve it.

The group has not yet filed any campaign finance reports and wont have to until it starts the signature-gathering campaign. But Coughlin said a large chunk of the funds is coming from two of the groups board members: Sarah Smallhouse and Don Budinger.

Smallhouse, a Tucson native, is president of the Thomas R. Brown Foundation, named after her father, who was a founder of the now-defunct Burr-Brown Corp. The foundation provides grants for research, education, workforce development and civic leadership.

Budinger is chairman and founding director of the Rodel Foundation, which also awards grants.
If we had a buck for every time a public official has espoused transparency and then decided its way easier to conduct the sausage-making part of government in private, we would not need to worry about newspapers cash flow issues.

Its easy, on the stump, to come down on the side of transparency and open, accountable government. Its much harder in practice.

Comes now the Arizona Assured Water Supply Committee. It had scheduled a committee meeting, by statute open to the public, for last Thursday to discuss proposals for changing state water policy.

The meeting certainly occurred  but in a neat piece of bureaucratic legerdemain, it became a subcommittee meeting instead of a committee meeting. Net result: It took place behind closed doors.

Depending on which of these proposals is adopted, the result will become the basis for the first revision of laws governing water and development in many years. Gov. Katie Hobbs wants the proposals to be vetted and decided upon by the committee by the end of this year before going to the Department of Water Resources and/or the Legislature for full consideration.

Apparently the governors deadline is more important than the governors previous promises to govern openly.

Having private subcommittee meetings will allow members to immediately begin working through policy proposals to meet the Councils December deadline, said ADWR spokesperson Doug MacEachern.

The governors spokesman, Christian Slater, said the subcommittee is a working group and that everything will be aired in public once it gets to the full committee. The subcommittee will make recommendations to the full committee.

While thats partially reassuring, it misses a larger point. The public deserves to be involved at every level of the process, not just after a working group determines an overall direction and policy is tied up with a bow.

There is an arrogance to the argument that government is so much easier if we leave the messy technical details to the experts, and simply roll out a finished product for the public to view. Its kind of a high-priest mentality  we get to hammer out the details, and you dont need to worry your heads about them.

We are accusing no one of impropriety here. But the streamlining of the process to remove public debate calls into question the impact of special interests in policymaking. Its easier to put the thumb on the scale if nobodys watching.

Two of the committee members, state Sen. Priya Sundareshan of Tucson and former Arizona water director Kathleen Ferris of Phoenix, are raising concerns about the closed meeting. They say the public should be in on discussions of these issues from start to finish.

Making policy is certainly more difficult when the public is involved. People will always have pesky questions. But that doesnt make it wrong. It simply makes it democratic.

Democracy is messy, and its hard. Its never easy, Robert F. Kennedy said. But a messy democracy is a much preferable to a sanitary autocracy.

Making policy is the toughest part of government. One could say that everything else government does is public relations.

And throughout this process, the public deserves a voice  an informed voice.

The decision to shift the conversation to private subcommittee meetings is inconsistent with the governors January pledge to tackle our water issues openly, Ferris said. We need an inclusive, public process.

We couldnt agree more. In this state, water is everybodys business.
Emergency personnel retrieve a body from the flooded tunnel in the town of Osong, Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province, Sunday. Yonhap



At least 9 dead in flooded tunnel, with death toll expected to rise



By Lee Hyo-jin



Local authorities in Osong, Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province, are facing widespread criticism over a lack of execution of safety measures in response to a flooded tunnel in the area which has left at least nine people dead as of Sunday afternoon.



Critics view that the accident, which occurred amid the days-long torrential rain, could have been prevented had the local municipalities taken preemptive measures such as closing the tunnel and establishing other traffic controls.



According to the Korea Fire Agency, Gungpyeong 2 Underpass in Osong was submerged around 8:45 a.m., Saturday, after the banks of the nearing Miho River collapsed due to heavy rainfall in the region.



The four-lane, 430-meter-long underground passage was flooded by some six tons of water in just three minutes, leaving 15 vehicles  including a public bus and two trucks  trapped inside. It is unclear exactly how many individuals were trapped, but the police said at least 11 individuals were reported to be missing in the tunnel, excluding nine survivors who were rescued soon after the flooding as of Saturday.



By Sunday afternoon, rescuers retrieved the bodies of nine flood victims from the scene, among whom seven were found to be passengers of the public bus.



Residents and families of the victims called it a "man-made disaster," pointing out the city government's ill-preparedness for the torrential rain despite repeated warnings from the weather agency.











Rescuers search for missing people in a bus that was trapped in a flooded tunnel in Osong, Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province, Sunday. Yonhap



"When I was at the site an hour before the accident occurred, I saw an excavator making a temporary levee with sand," Jang Chan-gyo, a 68-year-old resident in the region was quoted as saying by Yonhap News Agency.



"They have been warning us to be prepared for the monsoon season from a week ago, but it doesn't make sense why the authorities did not preemptively build a strong levee that could have prevented the disaster."



Criticisms also arose as to why the provincial government did not close down the low-lying tunnel, which is located just 600 meters away from the Miho River, despite a flood warning issued across the river some four hours before the accident.



In response, the North Chungcheong Provincial Government said that its emergency response manual does not require the immediate closing of a tunnel in such conditions.



"It is not always mandatory to implement entry restrictions in the event of a flood warning. We review the overall road situation and make decisions based on close monitoring. There didn't seem to be particular issues until the breach of the embankment  and due to the rapid influx of water, we did not have enough time to stop the cars from entering," Kang Jong-geun, a provincial official told reporters on Saturday.



However, Moon Hyun-cheol, a professor of disaster management at Soongsil University, argued that by law, the local government should have issued a traffic restriction.



"It is hard to understand why the protection system, which is stipulated in the Disaster and Safety Management Basic Act did not function properly. There should be close examination as to why the system has failed," he said.



The disaster in Osong is feared to turn into a blame game between the local municipalities.



While the tunnel itself is under the supervision of the North Chungcheong Provincial Government, the embankment facility of the Miho River was constructed by the National Agency for Administrative City Construction, a state-run organization responsible for operating various infrastructure items in nearby Sejong City.





An emergency worker and a rescue dog comb through the debris of a landslide that destroyed five houses in Yecheon County, North Gyeongsang Province, Sunday. As of Sunday afternoon, heavy rainfall has claimed nine lives and left eight individuals missing in Yecheon. Yonhap
Was Saint Paul too woke?

Re: the June 12 letter Upending society over transgenders.

I want to assure the writer that she has nothing to fear from transgender folks.

Sure, maybe theyre different from how we expect people to be. But life is forever sending us little surprises that upset our preconceptions of reality.

Well get over this one as surely as we got over the Beatles and their long hair.

I believe we show reverence to God by cultivating an attitude of trust in the Creation. Remember, these are real people were talking about.

The Tao-Te Ching councils us that the desire to be right must give way to openness and receptivity to what is.

Closer to Americas spiritual home: Saint Paul said that in Jesus, there is no longer ... male or female, though he may have been too woke for our current society.

Greg Lewis

Midtown

Stupid Motorist laws

We have a Stupid Motorist Law Why dont we have a Stupid Hiker Law? When its over 100 degrees outside and you decide to go for a hike and carry a cupful of water and get dehydrated to a point that you need to be rescued, you should be required to pay for your rescue. Dont be a stupid hiker.

Joseph Paradiso

Willcox

Your rights are protected

Re: the July 9 letter Intolerance.

The author states that I believe in my God-given rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. God gave me those rights, not the government or the bureaucracy in Washington, D.C.

The Declaration of Independence proclaims that those rights are self-evident and that to secure these rights Governments are instituted among Men. The Constitution does not mention God but states that We the people ... to secure the Blessings of Liberty ... establish this Constitution. Without a just government, you wont have those rights. Many Christian religious countries have had governments that severely restricted those rights in the last century (Germany, Italy and Spain to name a few). Many current religious societies now severely restrict personal freedom.

God and religious belief do not guarantee those liberties, but a good democratic government created by men does.

If we dont protect our democratic institutions, we might all lose those precious rights.

Michael Hamant, MD

East side

Bobcat slaughter

Re: the July 9 article Man gets probation for bobcat shooting.

The news about the killing of an innocent bobcat mom really disgusts and saddens me! When will people understand that these animals were here LONG before we were? In my neighborhood, we are visited by wild cats, coyotes, javelinas, Gila monsters, and rattlesnakes, but we do NOT get our weapons out to SHOOT at them!

My precious old chihuahua lived to be 16 years old and became blind. We now have two rescue dogs. We do not let them even go out on our walled porch unless we supervise them. Whatever happened to rattling coffee cans with rocks to scare them away or calling in a nuisance report to the proper authorities? Did it make you feel more macho?

To the supposedly retired gent, I strongly suggest that you GET A LIFE! Get a dart board, and practice with that, NOT our precious wildlife. I am sorry you only received a small fine and 18 months probation! You deserve much more!

Janice Campos

Foothills

Freedom Caucus misnamed

The Freedom Caucus should be renamed. This American Taliban believes in taking away a womans right to make decisions about her health care, would tell doctors how to care for their patients. They would disenfranchise as many voters as possible, particularly young and minority voters. Tried to prevent a peaceful transfer of government, they want to choose what you can read. Children have to worry about mass shootings due to unwillingness to have sensible gun laws. They would like a return to a fictional America of the 1950s, a Leave it to Beaver world.

Craig Miller

Northwest side

Homeless in Tucson

Re: the July 2 article Solutions evasive as Tucson grapples with homeless camps.

Kudos to Nicole Ludden for her thorough job reporting on the current homeless situation here in Tucson. She did particularly well describing how the Encampment Reporting Tool and new protocol to better deliver assistance. Its a hopeful development.

One thing, however, struck me. Why is it we have enough resources for immigrants but not enough for our own citizens? This is particularly disturbing given the number of veterans involved. Maybe this is something that your paper could and should be asking Mayor Regina Romero or, better yet, Congressman Raul Grijalva. He always makes certain theres enough money for immigrants.

Tom Szudajski

West

We the People: A Reply

Re: the July 11 letter We the people.

Certainly, our recent behavior makes it difficult for the world to see us as that country that seemed most likely to bring fairness and justice to a free people, recognized as individuals, equal under the law. I certainly agree with the author we can do better.

However, the amoral behavior of this narcistic, despotic-to-be-person who was our previous president, and the acquiescence and brazen willingness to lie along with him by the Republican Party, continue to be ugly and obvious. The effort and accomplishments by our current president as he continues to work to govern the country for all of us seem to remain strangely unnoted but are just as real.

Starting over with some kind of a wonderful clean slate simply doesnt apply ... recognizing ... by ALL of us ... who we are and what needs to be fixed is absolutely required so that we can continue on to what we can be. We need to work hard on this ... intelligently and empathetically ... within our current system!

Frank Parsons

Northeast side

Another new development

The Pima County Board of Supervisors approved a development removing a working floodplain from Pima Wash when common sense and science call for its retention in a time of catastrophic weather events. Another housing development is to be built, one which has been lauded as providing appropriate infill, reducing the housing deficit, and helping to provide affordable housing to the community.

Present? We, the neighbors who protested the density and design vis safety and flood risks; and the politically connected developer/business community who decided it was a great idea in the name of profit. Absent? The median-wage earners unable to afford this projects housing.

Decision makers? Experts deciding the risk of building in a floodplain for the Catalinas was worth the livelihoods of hundreds of people; that berms and gabion walls would protect against flood waters. Once the floodplain is raised out of existence, Quail Canyon as it existed cannot be restored.

One person listened and rose above the crowd. Thank you, Supervisor Raul Grijalva.

Lee Marvin

Foothills

Russia uses cluster bombs on civilians

Re: the July 12 article Its not the right time to admit Ukraine to NATO.

After careful thought, I agree with the premise of the article. However, the idea of providing cluster bombs being controversial puzzles me. As stated, the weapons are LESS dangerous to civilians, and Ukraine will not use them in civilian areas (a no-brainer, since the conflict is in Ukraine, and they are certainly not going to attack their own cities). What was glaringly omitted was the fact that Russia has been indiscriminately using cluster bombs, on civilians, ever since the beginning of its shameful invasion of a sovereign nation. I have seen only one reference to this fact and none on major media  also shameful.

So which scenario seems more appropriate here  the invaders continuing their status quo atrocities or allowing the defenders to actually defend themselves?

Klara Cserny
WASHINGTON (AP)  The top state election official in New Mexico has spoken with federal prosecutors as part of the special counsels probe into the 2020 election, the official's spokesman said Friday.

The meeting with New Mexico Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver occurred sometime in the past few months, according to spokesman Alex Curtas, who declined further comment.

The Justice Department has spent months examining pressure campaigns by Trump associates aimed at getting battleground states won by Democrat Joe Biden to undo the results of their elections. Special counsel Jack Smith and his team have issued subpoenas to election officials in states that Trump disputed, seeking correspondence from Trump associates and campaign aides, and have also lined up interviews in recent months with state officials.

The communications with state officials are one prong of a much bigger probe by Smith and his team into efforts to block the transfer of power from Trump to Biden. It is not clear when Smiths investigation into the run-up to the Jan. 6, 2021 riot might end or whether anyone might be charged.

A spokesman for Smith declined to comment on Friday.

CNN first reported the interview with the New Mexico secretary of state.

Its unknown what questions were asked of Toulouse Oliver, a Democrat in her second term, about the 2020 election in New Mexico.

After Biden won the state by nearly 11 percentage points, Trumps campaign briefly challenged the results in court before dropping the lawsuit. Republicans in the state submitted false Electoral College certificates declaring Trump the winner  though the fake electors added a caveat saying the certificates were submitted in case they were later recognized as duly elected, qualified electors.

Although Democrats control every statewide elected office in New Mexico, with majorities in the Statehouse, false claims of fraud and manipulation of voting machines in 2020 have resonated in some politically conservative communities, including Otero County, where commissioners in June 2022 initially refused to certify election results.

Former Otero County commissioner and Cowboys for Trump cofounder Couy Griffin was barred last year from holding public office for engaging in insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger and Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson have also spoken with officials from Smiths office in recent months, according to their staffs.

Kathy Boockvar, the chief state election official in Pennsylvania during the 2020 election, said Friday she has not been asked for an interview.

It was not currently clear whether state officials overseeing elections in 2020 in Arizona, Nevada and Wisconsin  other states disputed by Trump -- have been interviewed. Claire Woodall-Vogg, the head of Milwaukees election commission, said in an email that she met virtually with investigators a month or two ago.

Im not sure what if any details I can divulge, so not much more to say, she said.

Efforts by Trump and his allies to overturn his loss in Georgia are also the subject of a separate investigation in Atlanta's Fulton County with local prosecutors saying they expect a decision later this summer on next steps. It was in a Jan. 2, 2021, phone call that Trump suggested Raffensperger could help find the votes necessary to reverse Bidens win.

Cassidy reported from Atlanta. Associated Press writer Morgan Lee in Santa Fe, New Mexico, contributed to this report.
Jennifer Brumley left the theater with moist eyes.

I teared up multiple times, she said. I think everybody did.

Brumley attended a pre-release screening of the Martin Scorsese film Killers of the Flower Moon last weekend.

Based on David Granns book by the same name about the serial murders of the oil-wealthy Osage, Killers of the Flower Moon was shot in Oklahoma and will arrive in theaters in October.

The film, which stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Lily Gladstone and Robert De Niro, premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in May, and it was announced afterward that a special screening would be arranged for the Osage Nation. The Osage screening took place in Tulsa.

Scorsese, accompanied by members of the cast, attended the screening at AMC Southroads 20 (multiple theaters at the venue were used) and a reception at the Osage Casino Hotel.

Brumley was among those who saw the film for the first time.

In days leading up to it, I was pretty emotional about it, she said. After seeing the trailer that Apple released a few days before, I realized that it was real. I spent 20 years-plus researching and hearing stories of that time period, and seeing it on the big screen was very surreal. It was hard to see how our relatives were treated. We were nothing more than a paycheck.

Brumley reiterated that she and a lot of friends were nervous before watching the film.

But we went to that theater and, when the lights dimmed, I looked around and I just saw Osages side by side, about to experience it together, and I realized the magnitude of the moment and how this will really change our future, I think, for the better. I am a little apprehensive of the whole world knowing our story, but I am glad that its out there.

Brumley said Scorsese (we call him Uncle Marty) did right by us  and so did all the actors and actresses.

They became a part of our community, she said. At the reception afterwards at the Tulsa Osage Casino, it felt like a reunion. It wasnt a media event. These people have been integrated with us for years now. It just felt like they should be there. I didnt even know they were going to be there, so I was very impressed.

Scorsese spoke to each crowd at the screening and, flanked by cast members, thanked the Osage Nation and the community.

Then they all sat down in front and took a picture with the crowd behind them, which I think was pretty symbolic, which is how Uncle Marty likes to do things, because we had been behind them the whole time, Brumley said.

We first met them in 2019 at a dinner,  and we gifted them with all kinds of things. I think they were so overwhelmed by the generosity and the gratitude. He could have just made this in Hollywood, but he came here and, like I said, they just integrated. They became part of us. It was very personal.

When Brumley was a child, she never understood why her grandmother never trusted banks with her headright money. Now that Brumley is older and has more context, she gets why there were trust issues and why some people lived with the fear of Am I next?

Or, Is someone really with me? Or are they trying to use me? Brumley said. Thats a lot, for a person to go through life wondering that.

Brumley was asked how she thinks the film will change the future for the Osage.

I think the history of it has been very quiet and hush-hush, she said.

My grandmother was born in 1922 and, by the time she was 10, she had lost her mother, her uncle, her grandpa. Her mother and uncle both died before age 30, so she was sent to live with relatives  I think more to keep her safe.

I have continued research on that with guardian files. All of these things have been brought up.

So I know we are going to get more visitors and people coming to see things. I like to go to Gray Horse Cemetery and visit with my relatives, and I check other graves, especially after a storm. I just hope there is still that respect and that we can have those private moments. I kind of feel like our souls are about to be bared to the world.

For better and for worse?

I have already seen some things where there are websites selling T-shirts with some of the images Apple has released prior to the trailers coming out, Brumley said. And I just sit back and have to realize that one of the quotes in that movie, and its in the trailer, is Can you see the wolves in this picture? And I have to think that we, as a tribe, are going to have to be able to accept that there will still be people trying to take advantage of that and make money.

Thats human nature, just like it was back in the 20s. Its almost like its happening 100 years later, just in a different form. So I dont know how its going to go.

Brumley said her family and father still live on original Osage allotment land and run a ranch there. It means so much to me knowing were on the same lands as our relatives, walking in their footsteps.



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September 2021 photos: Final days of filming for 'Killers of the Flower Moon' crew in Oklahoma Flower Moon Flower Moon Flower Moon Flower Moon Flower Moon Flower Moon Flower Moon Flower Moon Flower Moon Flower Moon Flower Moon Flower Moon 091721-tul-nws-flowermoon-p1 091721-tul-nws-flowermoon-p2 091721-tul-nws-flowermoon-p3 091721-tul-nws-flowermoon-p4 Flower Moon Flower Moon Flower Moon Flower Moon Flower Moon Flower Moon Flower Moon Flower Moon Flower Moon Flower Moon Flower Moon Flower Moon Flower Moon Flower Moon Flower Moon Check out our latest digital-only offer and subscribe now HIDE VERTICAL GALLERY ASSET TITLES
Powerful.

Thats a word Katie Free used to describe the film.

It was kind of surreal to see what our grandparents have always told us being re-enacted in a movie, she said.

The shot-in-Oklahoma film Killers of the Flower Moon wont arrive in theaters until October, but Martin Scorsese and members of the cast  including stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Lily Gladstone and Jessie Plemons  visited Tulsa last weekend for a special Osage Nation screening of the film.

You know, you hear stories from your grandparents, Free said. My grandparents and her friends, they used to sit around a table and talk about stuff. And, your parents, that filters down. It passes generation to generation. Im sure within each generation you lose some of those details, but I think the movie really tried to be as authentic as it could be.

Killers of the Flower Moon was based on David Granns book about the serial murder of the oil-wealthy Osage in 1920s Oklahoma. Grann also attended the screening and reception following.

There are aspects of the story that are heartbreaking, but Free complimented Scorsese for doing a phenomenal job.

There were little details you can catch that, if you are Osage, you go, Oh, OK. It kind of makes you smile within such a dark movie.

In her opinion, Free said the movie was not too painful to watch.

There were parts that caught me off guard, she said. I just had my second child, so seeing some of the scenes that involved children kind of caught me off guard and I had a couple of tears in my eyes. But as far as overall, it wasnt gut-wrenching. They softened the blow with a little bit of mild humor every once in a while throughout the movie.

Free, asked if she would recommend the film, said everyone in Oklahoma  make that everyone in the nation  should see it.

People dont know that something like that happened in such a rural part of America, she said, mentioning there have been other civil rights issues or historical issues from the nations past that needed to be brought to light. I am very surprised our story was brought to light. My grandma didnt speak too much on it. My great grandpa, he was poisoned. She never really spoke too much on it.

So I think if you are Osage, it is going to hit a little harder, especially if you have family ties. My great grandfather being poisoned, that hits a little closer to home. I think, just the general public going, its going to be a wow factor. You are going to know something about rural Oklahoma that you never knew and how deep it went.

Free said she works for the Bureau of Indian Affairs at the local Osage agency. She deals in land transactions and said its near and dear to her to safeguard tribal lands.

Other Oklahomans who attended the special screening also shared their reactions:

Billy Keene, an Osage congressman, said he was pretty emotional because a lot of our families  their direct descendants were the people on the big screen being portrayed as murder victims.

Keene said it seemed like it was even emotional for Scorsese, who forged a relationship with the Osage prior to filming.

Obviously, he makes great movies. Like, he cant miss, Keene said. But I think this one kind of meant a little more, even for him.

Difficult to watch the movie?

I wouldnt go that far, Keene said. The visuals are truly stunning. There are a lot of grand landscapes on the prairie up near Pawhuska and Fairfax.

Keene also complimented the film for using blankets and costumes authentic to the tribe and the era.

There were so many local Osages that helped with everything, he said. There was so much tribal expertise where Marty was willing to listen to us.

Among things that jumped off the screen was how evil De Niros character (William Hale) was in the film.

He was almost like a mob boss, where his influence touched all places of power, from like governor and county commissioner and even doctors, Keene said. He was always lingering around. It was one of the best movie villain roles I have ever seen.

Keene said he would be shocked if Lily Gladstone, who plays Mollie Burkhart, is not nominated for awards. The way she portrays Mollie, theres like a sadness about her. Its just truly incredible.

The running time for Killers of the Flower Moon is 3 hours, 26 minutes. Keene said Scorseses 2019 film The Irishman had a similar running time and its similar to that. There are a few long cuts, but the pacing is really good. It doesnt seem like its too long.

Keene said he had high hopes for the film and it exceeded his expectations.

An attorney, Keene said most people know the general basis of the story, but a lot of these headrights that got taken, they have never been returned to the rightful Osage owners. So I think its important to address how we are still in this fight. We are going through the courts. Our reservation status is still being litigated. Its like a neverending battle, basically. ... It still hasnt fully been corrected.

Owen Hutcheson, born and raised in Fairfax, took photographs for the Fairfax Chief during the filming of Killers of the Flower Moon. He said this after watching the film: It was awesome to see these big stars like Leo and Robert speaking fluent Osage and seeing Osage family and friends speaking Osage and playing Osage people.

Hutcheson said the film will be difficult to watch for all people but it definitely affected our people.

Its a tragic story, but I believe the majority of Osages understand that it needs to be shared with the world, he said. When people who do not know this history see the movie, I hope they know we are still here and we still live here where this tragedy happened. The characters in the movie still have family here and some elders still live with the memory of their family members in the movie. We welcome visitors and their questions, but ask that they be respectful as the family of these people in the movie are still living here today.

Bravery Nowlin fell asleep when watching the film. You cant fault the little guy. Hes 4 years old.

Bravery was 2 when he was among young men (of varying ages) cast to play James Cowboy Burkhart, the son of Ernest and Mollie Burkhart. He attended the special screening with his mother, Annette, but nodded off before he could see himself on the big screen.

Mom said this about the movie: They did such a good job. I had read the book three times. It was a really good book and I was wondering how are they going to portray it and be sensitive to it as a real story? There are real people and there are actually family members of these people that are still living. And so how where they going to tell the story? They way they chose to do it was just perfect. They did such a good job.

Nowlin complimented the films stars, saying DiCaprio really got in touch with his character and adding that Gladstones performance was amazing and heart-wrenching.

To know the real story and to be sitting there with all the Osage who know the family members or are related, it was heartbreaking, Nowlin said. It was just a senseless tragedy.

Mary Kris Revard Kollmann was an extra in the film and had the privilege of attending the screening.

I will start out by saying my heart goes out to all who have been affected by the Osage murders, she said. I have been very fortunate to grow up with a family that is passionate about our family history. They have taught me more than I can put into words. I have always been proud to call myself Osage.

Continued Kollmann: Martin Scorsese did an excellent job telling the story through his filmmaking. The story was told very eloquently, and I am very impressed. The cast was absolutely amazing. Lily Gladstone and Cara Jade Myers were incredible in the movie. I cannot wait for people to see how spectacular they are. Im calling it now. They will win big awards. Leonardo DiCaprio did an excellent job as well. He is so talented. Every detail in the movie was portrayed in a very positive manner  everything from costumes, scenery, vehicles, etc. You can tell how much the movie cast respects our history as Osage men and women. This is a movie I will watch multiple times. I am very excited for it to be released to the public. It is the type of movie that we will see winning several awards.

Blue Starr, who is Osage and Cherokee, worked extensively with the props department during the making of Killers of the Flower Moon.

Seeing the film blew my mind, Starr said. Im still trying to take it all in. It was extremely emotional to watch. My family and my wifes family were directly impacted by the reign of terror. Its a story that needs to be told. A lot of people, even here in Oklahoma have no idea what even happened. I just want the general public to realize that this happened to a lot of Osages  not just one or two families, but hundreds. This movie is exquisite, it brought back memories from my childhood growing up in and around traditional Osage families.

Craig Deerinwaters tribal affiliation is Muscogee, but he was cast to play an Osage in Killers of the Flower Moon.

Like a lot of people, this is the first time I learned of the reign of terror, he said. I believe any Native has a familiar story in their lineage  my family would be the Trail of Tears.

Deerinwater said everyone showed respect to the Osage and the families represented.

We put in long hours, days and months and, to finally see the finally product, I know everyone can feel proud of their contributions.

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Hay una profesora de espanol en la casa?

Ou que diriez-vous dun professeur de francais?

Oder ein Deutschlehrer?

In other words: Are there any world language teachers around?

According to a 2022 report compiled by the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education, the number of students completing traditional teacher preparation program for world language education dropped by 44% nationwide between 2008 and 2019.

By comparison, the number of students completing a degree for special education dipped by 4%, and the number of students completing a degree in science education or math education dropped by 27%.

These degree programs are a direct line to employment, Mike Chanslor said. I know some students are worried about that. I understand that we are talking teacher pay, but if they have interest, there are jobs to be had. A lot of our students, ... they forget about programs like language.

Chanslor is the dean of Northeastern State Universitys College of Liberal Arts, which houses the schools two world language education programs.

Those two programs  Cherokee education and Spanish education  had a combined three graduates in 2022. By comparison, NSU awarded 61 undergraduate degrees in elementary education, 36 for early childhood education, 19 for science education and 10 each for special education and math education that same year.

The world language education degree programs at the states two research universities had similar numbers. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, the world language education programs at the University of Oklahoma had two graduates in 2022.

As per data provided by the university, Oklahoma State University has awarded three degrees in foreign language education since fall 2020.

Despite the dearth of teachers, state statute requires students to take at least two years of either a world language or computer technology coursework to graduate from high school.

Acknowledging the ongoing need in Oklahoma and beyond for teachers in those disciplines, NSU has been actively promoting its two language education programs as part of its outreach and recruitment efforts despite the small enrollment numbers, Chanslor said.

Were extending resources for classes that are smaller than we would normally keep, he said. However, we want to do that. Were committed to offering Spanish education and Cherokee education. Cherokee in particular is so integral to our identity that we are going to continue to support that program.

Its not for everybody

Among the handful of students in NSUs Cherokee education program is Kynze Ross. A senior from Salina, Ross transferred to NSUs Tahlequah campus from Haskell Indian Nations University in Lawrence, Kansas, specifically for the language education program.

Ross said she knew early on that she wanted to be a teacher. However, she readily admitted that it has been challenging to learn not only how to be a teacher, but also how to teach while simultaneously building fluency in her second language and developing confidence in her ability to switch back and forth between English and Cherokee.

Its not easy, Ross said. Its not for everybody.

Although she said she is grateful for the support and camaraderie that has developed among the small number of students in her degree program, Ross said she is worried about finding experienced language teachers to turn to for professional guidance once she steps in front of a classroom of students.

Of the 4,410 emergency teaching certifications issued by the Oklahoma State Department of Education between July 1, 2022, and June 30, 103 were for a world language. Along with 86 just for Spanish, emergency teaching credentials were also issued for French, German, Chinese, Latin, Cherokee and sign language.

That figure does not include the 108 emergency certificates issued to English as a Second Language teachers.

Theres maybe three or four of us on campus, so were our own little support system, Ross said. But we want to be able to talk to more educators who have that background ... so we have a better idea of their struggles and experiences in this field.

Along with providing new certified teachers an additional $6,000 sign-on bonus for the coming school year, TPS is among the area districts that have brought in emergency certified teachers in an effort to bolster language departments. The district is also offering classes through a web-based course-sharing platform at three high schools for graduate credit and one for elective credit.

For potential emergency-certified language teachers whose academic credentials are in another discipline and their first language is something other than the one they are applying to teach, TPS interview process includes having a conversation in the language they are seeking to teach. The length of that screening conversation varies on a site by site basis, though, said Laura Grisso, head of the districts Language and Cultural Services Department.

Casting a wider net

Although all the secondary world language openings for the coming school year were filled before the end of June, TPS still had a handful of teaching vacancies among its elementary dual-language programs, she said.

TPS offers dual language instruction for Spanish and English at eight elementary schools and one middle school, plus Spanish immersion at Eisenhower and Zarrow and French immersion at Eisenhower.

Teacher recruitment efforts have even gone abroad, with TPS set to bring in 13 Spanish language teachers from Spain in 2023-24 through a memorandum of understanding between the state and the Spanish embassy to facilitate visas for visiting teachers.

A similar agreement for French teachers has also been in place for several years, but unlike the states memoranda of understanding with the embassies in Spain and Taiwan that covered those entire countries, it has only covered educators from one specific region in France.

That made it difficult because if there were interested candidates in another region in France or in another French-speaking country, we had no way to help them come over because they needed visa sponsorship, Grisso said, noting that the district was notified by the Oklahoma State Department of Education that a new agreement was reached this spring to facilitate expanded international teacher recruitment efforts.

Meanwhile, Ross is preparing for her senior year at NSU. She does not know yet where she will do her required classroom internship, but said she has already heard from a handful of school districts interested in offering her a teaching position, including some from out of state.

However, in order to better maintain her language skills through regular conversations with Cherokee speakers and access to an adult immersion program, she wants to stay in northeastern Oklahoma.

Home is home, she said. And right now, home is where Im needed the most.

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Presenting a truly remarkable find in highly desirable Midtown Tulsa, Oklahoma. This charming and spacious English cottage has undergone a significant transformation, thoughtfully reimagined in 2016 by renowned designer Chris Murphy. The meticulous renovation includes the addition of the upstairs, a luxurious primary suite and bathroom, garage spaces, an upgraded kitchen, and enhanced outdoor living spaces. With over $1,100,000 invested by the current owners, no expense was spared in the recent seller updates, ensuring a seamless blend of modern conveniences and timeless charm. From updated electrical wiring and plumbing to flooring, walls/sheetrock, lighting, fixtures, cabinetry, and much more, every detail has been carefully considered to provide an exceptional living experience. Beyond the stunning interior, this cottage's location is a true highlight. Situated in the heart of Midtown, residents will enjoy the proximity to Tulsa's best shopping, dining and entertainment districts, including the Gathering Place, renowned Utica Square, vibrant Brookside, and the trendy Cherry Street. Countless boutiques, restaurants, and local amenities are just a stone's throw away, promising a lifestyle of convenience and excitement. Step outside and discover the enchanting outdoor living spaces, meticulously designed for relaxation and entertainment. The spacious backyard offers unparalleled privacy coupled with a gracious sense of peace, quiet and serenity that belies the home's location in the heart of Midtown Tulsa - a true personal oasis. Whether it's unwinding on the charming patio, hosting gatherings in the spacious yard, or simply enjoying the privacy of the backyard and fresh air, this cottage offers the perfect backdrop for creating cherished memories. With its thoughtful redesign and recent updates, this large Midtown English cottage is a rare find that combines historic elegance with modern luxury. Don't miss the opportunity to call this stunning property home.

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Editor's note This is another in a series of weekly stories that will focus on the Improve Our Tulsa 3 capital improvements package scheduled to go to voters Aug. 8.

Blake Ewing will tell you that theres nothing sexy about the $5 million in Zink Lake infrastructure included in the proposed $814 million Improve Our Tulsa 3 capital improvements package.

The proposal goes to voters Aug. 8

We are talking about things like parking, bathrooms, bringing utilities to things like concessions, said Mayor G.T. Bynums chief of staff.

Not sexy, but essential. Officials are betting that the new Zink Dam  and the lake that will back up to it for miles  will become a major recreational area. Not to mention the new pedestrian bridge, Williams Crossing, that will span the Arkansas River.

And then there is the whitewater flume on the east side of the river near where the bridge connects to Gathering Place.

People will need places to park, rent a kayak or grab a bite to eat.

We know we are going to have a need for a place to load in a kayak, and we know we are going to have additional parking needs and bathrooms, and things like that, Ewing said. So we just wanted to make sure that once the lake is open and people want to go down there and utilize it recreationally, we have the funds to support the infrastructure needs.

The city has already allocated funds for one potential new parking area  land just off of 23rd Street on the west side of the river  that for the past several years has been a staging area for construction crews working on the dam and the bridge.

Ewing said the city is also looking to add parking on the east bank of the river, a task that has proven more challenging.

We just dont know where, he said. We know we need more parking around where the Sandbar (restaurant) is. That parking lot fills up, and it has been hard for restaurants to be successful in that site because River Parks users park in that space.

The flume will be south of Williams Crossing and Gathering Places long-awaited bumpout to the north of the bridge, creating a need for utilities, bathrooms and other amenities.

We want to be sure that weve got utility hookups so that you can have food trucks down there by the flume, Ewing said.

Working groups made up of city officials, representatives of River Parks Authority and other stakeholders have been working for months to plan for the operations and programming in and around the dam and lake.

River Parks Authority Executive Director Jeff Edwards, who is a working group member, visited with officials in Oklahoma City last week to learn more about how they operate their facilities along the Oklahoma River.

They clearly emphasized the need that you really want a good solid team, a dedicated team, and you are on call 24 hours a day, Edwards said.

Ewing said that when it comes to things like renting kayaks and selling snow cones, the city plans to hire a third-party vendor.

So some of it will be just basic infrastructure to support those kinds of things in the park, Ewing said.

City officials are planning to open the new Zink Dam and Williams Crossing around Labor Day 2024.

Funding for the IOT 3 package would come from $384.9 million in bond sales backed by property taxes and a roughly four-year extension of a ninety-five one-hundredths of 1% sales tax.

The proposed package would not increase the tax rate because the previous Improve Our Tulsa package will be expiring.

Proposed Improve Our Tulsa 3 project list Tulsans will go to the polls Aug. 8 to vote on the proposed $814 million Improve Our Tulsa 3 capital improvements package. Here is a complete list of the proposed projects. Streets and transportation  $295.8 million $93.8 million  Inflation adjustment for previous street projects $68 million  Street rehabilitation $46 million  Street widening $24 million  Bridge replacement and rehab $21.6 million  Matching funds $19.32 million  Traffic engineering $10 million  ADA improvements $4.88 million  Sidewalks $4 million  Construction completion incentives $3 million  Engineering, inspection and testing $1.2 million  Alleys City facilities  $270.4 million $4.4 million  Safety Training Center driving track overlay $6.4 million  BOK Center $18.8 million  Convention Center $79.7 million  Tulsa Performing Arts Center $5 million  River Parks Maintenance Building $31.9 million  Parks (improvements would include approximately $8 million for Page Belcher and Mohawk golf courses; trail improvements; and facility improvements such as new roofs for community centers) $47.5 million  New public safety center (Funding would be used to purchase a building to relocate Police and Fire headquarters, the Tulsa Emergency Management Agency, and other public safety services onto one campus) $16 million  Consolidated Police/Fire maintenance facility $25.7 million  Tulsa Zoo (childrens zoo, roof replacements, rehabilitation of the Rainforest, and perimeter risk mitigation) $10 million  Gilcrease Museum matching funds $5 million  Zink Lake infrastructure $20 million  Citywide facility maintenance Capital equipment  $152.8 million $58.5 million  Tulsa Fire Department fleet $94.3 million  Other vehicles/equipment Housing and neighborhoods  $95 million $75 million  Would be combined with other city housing funds to create a total investment in housing of $104.2 million $15 million  Neighborhood revitalization $5 million  Kirkpatrick Heights-Greenwood Master Plan Implementation Source: City of Tulsa

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Related Content Trooper denies causing double-fatal crash while video of pursuit shows otherwise

The Tulsa Worlds ongoing investigation of the Oklahoma Highway Patrols deadly pursuits and shootings has uncovered reckless trooper actions and false or misleading statements, shoddy record-keeping, failure to address alarming concerns expressed by commanders, and unwillingness to formally review several fatal chases despite red flags.

Stolen property or traffic infractions prompted all but one of the 17 OHP vehicular pursuits that killed 21 people in a six-year span despite policy requiring troopers to promote the safety of all persons and to discontinue a chase once its hazards to the public, troopers or suspects outweigh the value of apprehension based on known offenses.

At least 10 individuals killed werent the eluding drivers. Five were uninvolved motorists, at least four were passengers in fleeing vehicles, and one was a Highway Patrol lieutenant on foot struck by another troopers cruiser at high speed.

No troopers have been disciplined in any of the fatal pursuits for which OHP has provided varying levels of documentation to the Tulsa World in response to open records requests during the tenures of four different Department of Public Safety commissioners.

Death: Alexander Daniel Larmon, 44, the eluding driver

Pursuit prompt: Speeding 91 mph in a 70 mph zone, suspected DUI after stopping to interact with trooper

When: 12:13 to 12:20 a.m. May 8, 2016

Fatality location: Interstate 40 in Seminole County

What happened: A troopers tactical vehicle intervention (TVI)  nudging a pickup trucks right rear to make it spin out  caused the 1990 GMC 1500 to roll over and eject the driver.

Trooper Jonathan Earls, after stopping Larmon for speeding, said he smelled alcohol and saw an open beer can. A scuffle over the keys ensued before Larmon took off with Earls in pursuit. After two minutes, Earls said over OHP radio, As soon as I get a chance Im gonna TVI, and he did a couple of minutes later.

Earls can be heard on dash cam video afterward saying: He was swerving all over the road, and he was coming up on a car. I mean there wasnt nothing I could do. He was going to kill someone. He was drunk.

Death: Etoyce Johnson, 64, an uninvolved motorist

Pursuit prompt: Reported stolen vehicle

When: 9:42 to 9:47 a.m. June 26, 2016

Fatality location: 76th Street North and Mingo Road in Owasso

What happened: Johnson was killed on her way to church when a pickup truck pursued by troopers T-boned her 2012 Chevrolet Cruze at an intersection.

Trooper Mark Tschetter confirmed through a license plate check that a 2004 Dodge Ram 1500 was stolen as he followed the truck while patrolling Interstate 44 in Tulsa County.

Tschetter reported that during the high-speed pursuit the truck traveled left of center and passed in no-passing zones. Tschetter evaluated the danger of the pursuit but decided to continue due to the extremely light traffic on a Sunday morning on an industrial business road with plants that he reasoned wouldnt be open on a weekend.

He attempted to TVI the truck but each time the driver would apply the brakes and swerve into Tschetters car. The trucks driver, 32-year-old Blake Lee Ferguson  who later pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter after an original charge of felony first-degree murder  admitted to using methamphetamine that morning.

Deaths: A 16-year-old male and a 17-year-old male in a fleeing car

Pursuit prompt: Expired license tag

When: 11:58 p.m. Oct. 13 to 12:03 a.m. Oct. 14, 2016

Fatality location: On U.S. 169 near 11th Street exit in Tulsa

What happened: The driver of a car fleeing troopers lost control and barrel rolled, killing two and injuring three of the five juveniles that had been inside it.

Trooper Jon Cotner tried to initiate a traffic stop after spotting a 2001 Toyota Camry with an expired tag at 31st Street and Garnett Road. The cars driver reportedly sped off and minutes later was going more than 100 mph and lost control in the northbound lanes of U.S. 169.

The names of the cars five occupants  three of whom were ejected  werent released. One of the juveniles reportedly told troopers all five had smoked marijuana shortly beforehand. The car later was confirmed to be stolen.

OHP wont say whether it knew if either of the teenagers who were killed was the driver.

Death: Eric L. Poore, 40, the eluding driver

Pursuit prompt: Speeding 81 mph in a 65 mph zone

When: 10:50 to 11:02 p.m. April 8, 2017

Fatality location: On 31st Street North at 53rd West Avenue in Tulsa

What happened: A fleeing driver failed to negotiate the curve and struck an embankment and base of a tree.

Trooper Jonathan Lipe had clocked Poore as speeding in a 2015 Mitsubishi Outlander on U.S. 169 near 11th Street in Tulsa. Lipe reported that Poore was driving erratic and unsafely changing lanes, going through closed construction areas and running stop signs.

Poores daughter later told investigators that her father hadnt been himself as he struggled to cope with his wifes serious illness that hospitalized her.

Death: William Luis Bruckman, 23, an uninvolved motorist

Pursuit prompt: Stolen vehicle

When: 6:01 a.m. to 6:28 a.m. May 24, 2017

Fatality location: On U.S. 75 near Lewis Avenue in Tulsa

What happened: A stolen utility truck driven by Jerry Lee Newman, then 24, plowed head-on into a 2007 Ford Focus driven by Bruckman, who was commuting to work.

Sapulpa police had responded to a report of a vehicle theft in progress and tried to stop Newman from driving off with the utility truck. OHP took the lead in the pursuit as it wound through the grounds of the Tulsa International Airport.

And hes going the wrong way on 75. Just make sure were not following the wrong way on 75, a voice said on OHP radio as Troopers Eddie Weilert and Jeremiah Hoyt, followed by two Sapulpa police officers, chased Newman in the wrong highway lanes for about 1 minute and 40 seconds. The fatal crash occurred moments after the troopers and officers began exiting the highway.

A jury convicted Newman of first-degree felony murder  when a death occurs during the commission of a felony  and a judge handed him a life sentence with the possibility of parole.

Death: Paul Christopher Kimble, 29, the eluding driver

Pursuit prompt: Speeding 89 mph in a 60 mph zone

When: 1:43 a.m. June 18, 2017

Fatality location: NE 36th Street and Sooner Road in Oklahoma City

What happened: Kimble fleeing in a 2016 Dodge Charger from the Highway Patrol struck a center island curb, departed the roadway and hit a tree before rolling over.

The final collision report doesnt name the pursuing trooper  Roy Smith  nor identify the reason for the chase (speeding); a spokesperson provided that information.

The report notes that the intersection wasnt illuminated.

Death: Heath Meyer, 43, a Highway Patrol lieutenant

Pursuit prompt: Following another vehicle too closely, failure to have a drivers license

When: 10 p.m. to 10:31 p.m. July 14, 2017

Fatality location: Interstate 35 in Moore

What happened: Meyer hopped over a concrete divider to remove spike strips and was hit at a high speed by a pursuing OHP cruiser, which had ricocheted off of another OHP car that had been nearly stopped because of the agencys road block.

Trooper Rodney Rideaux said he pulled over Dangelo Burgess for following too closely. After telling Rideaux he had no drivers license, Burgess sped off, weaving in and out of heavy traffic at 100 mph before cleanly making it through an OHP blockade.

Trooper Clint Painter  traveling 89 mph three seconds before impact  tried to use the inside shoulder to get through, but he side-swiped Rideauxs car at 59 mph before careening into the Highway Patrol lieutenant. Meyer died 10 days later.

Burgess stopped at a gate to a nearby private property and was taken into custody shortly after the crash. He was convicted of first-degree felony murder and sentenced to life with the possibility of parole.

Death: Mark Anson Schoggins, 35, the eluding driver

Pursuit prompt: Stolen liquor bottle

When: 6:52 p.m. to 6:59 p.m. July 17, 2019

Fatality location: Near East South Avenue and South 3rd Street in McAlester

What happened: A shoplifting suspect was fatally shot by two troopers after he fled local police in a chase that was taken over by the Highway Patrol and reportedly reached 100-plus mph.

McAlester Police had been called to a liquor store on a report of the theft of a half-gallon of vodka. Officer Chuck Sutterfield was able to confirm the suspect vehicle via its license plate before the driver fled an attempted traffic stop. Sutterfield radioed early on that it looks like hes drinking and soon positively identified the driver as Schoggins before OHP troopers took over the chase.

Trooper James McKee tried to spin out the 2011 Ford Expedition in the middle of a five-lane highway as an oncoming motorcycle approached. McKee was unsuccessful and he lost control, nearly hitting the motorcyclist. The pursuit ended in a residential area where the driver crashed twice in a yard and driveway.

Trooper Garrett Gray shot Schoggins through the windshield, and then McKee sprayed gunfire behind the SUV that hit Schoggins, pierced the window of an occupied home and struck a parked vehicle.

Death: Arron Turner Starks, 35, the eluding driver

Pursuit prompt: Reported stolen vehicle

When: 1:14 p.m. to 1:20 p.m. Nov. 11, 2019

Fatality location: Interstate 44 (Turner Turnpike) near Chandler in Lincoln County

What happened: Trooper Ronnie Sites pulled spike strips in front of an eluding driver on a busy interstate, causing Starks to swerve and violently barrel roll as precipitation fell amid freezing temperatures.

The 2010 Dodge Avengers lienholder  a Tulsa used car dealership  had been tracking the stolen car via GPS, allowing Troopers Matthew White and Charles Criddle to find and follow it as Starks exited into a travel plaza.

Starks momentarily stopped before driving off. White and Criddle decided to pursue despite the wintry conditions and a GPS signal that could be used instead of a chase.

The pursuit passed more than two dozen vehicles in its five minutes on I-44, which OHP acknowledged might have had black ice.

Death: Adam Ray Hernandez, 34, the eluding driver

Pursuit prompt: Reported stolen vehicle driving recklessly

When: 11:50 a.m. to 11:59 a.m. Jan. 22, 2020

Fatality location: Near Shields Boulevard and Northwest 27th Street in Oklahoma City

What happened: A driver fleeing OHP plowed through a light pole and brush before coming to a stop, eventually stepping out to face three troopers before he lunged forward in an aggressive manner with his right arm extended.

Purcell Police had reported a black Chevrolet Tahoe stolen from a gas station, and Trooper John Anderson reportedly spotted it being driven recklessly on Interstate 35 in Cleveland County.

Anderson and Trooper Craig Ellis each appeared multiple times to set up to try to spin out the SUV amid highway motorists in rainy and wet conditions but were unable to do so. Hernandez veered off the roadway and crashed after maneuvering to avoid an attempt from Ellis.

Three troopers surrounded the drivers side of the SUV, and Hernandez didnt comply with commands to exit. They opened the Tahoes doors, and Hernandez eventually stepped out.

Anderson and Trooper Joseph Kimmons fatally shot Hernandez when he pulled his hands either from inside his front pockets or behind his back. He was unarmed.

Deaths: Joshua Kyle Priest, 33, the eluding driver, and Nicole Ann Stephens, 30, his passenger

Pursuit prompt: Speeding 88 mph in a 75 mph zone

When: 3:11 p.m. to 3:26 p.m. April 29, 2020

Fatality location: West 201st Street South near Oklahoma 16 in Creek County

What happened: A trooper spun out a fleeing driver and his passenger into a concrete bridge railing at a fast speed, flinging the car down into a creek, where it burst into flames.

Trooper Darren Potter had attempted a traffic stop for speeding on Interstate 44. He said he was suspicious because the Chevrolet Cruzes paper tag might not have been filled out completely and the driver took longer than normal to pull over before speeding off.

Potter  who knew there was another occupant in the car  performed a TVI that put the car in a ditch. At that point a Creek County sheriffs deputy reportedly could see the passengers look of fear and drivers smile and laughter.

Potter said he didnt see the bridge until after he spun out the car a second time. Potter lost control and spun out himself as he swerved to avoid crashing into the bridge.

Death: Casey Don Bailey, 58, the eluding driver

Pursuit prompt: Traffic stop first, then a report the vehicle was stolen

When: 9:02 p.m. July 15, 2020

Fatality location: U.S. 412 near West Siloam Springs

What happened: Trooper Steve Meridith hit the rear of a stolen car at 109 mph and spun it out toward an approaching pair of headlights on a dark highway west of Siloam Springs.

A different motorist had to swerve to avoid Bailey after he was ejected and landed on U.S. 412. The next car in the flow of traffic struck and dragged his body.

Meridiths superiors are heard on dash-camera footage telling him to try not to talk about it and you cant tell anybody else.

He chose to pursue despite identifying the driver as Bailey  still holding Baileys drivers license in his own pocket afterward  during a traffic stop for a toll violation in which Meridith learned the 2020 Toyota Corolla was reported stolen.

Death: Cory Coffey, 38, an uninvolved motorist

Pursuit prompt: Speeding at 92 mph on interstate

When: 11:19 p.m. to 11:21 p.m. Oct. 22, 2020

Fatality location: NE 10th Street and Sunnylane Road in Del City

What happened: An uninvolved motorist died after an Oklahoma Highway Patrol pursuit in which troopers couldnt tell dispatch they were chasing a speeder because a simultaneous OHP pursuit in the area monopolized the radio airwaves.

Two state troopers  Tyrie Haught, a fresh academy graduate driving with his field training officer, Nick Vinson, seated next to him  chased a Kia Soul for allegedly going 92 mph on Interstate 40 in the Oklahoma City metro.

Vinson told Haught, I dont know how to handle this, after about 1 minutes of pursuit, deciding to use a hand-held radio to call the chase on a Turner Turnpike communications channel.

The eluding driver, James Cawthorne, at 84.5 mph slammed into the rear of a 2009 GMC Sierra that was stopped on a roadway, with Coffey behind the trucks wheel. Cawthorne, then 20, later received a life sentence  suspended for all but 21 years in prison  from a district court judge after pleading guilty to first-degree felony murder.

Death: Vincel Vinnie Hamlet, 17, the eluding driver

Pursuit prompt: Reported stolen license plate

When: 3:50 a.m. to 4 a.m. Jan. 13, 2021

Fatality location: SW 119th Street about 1.5 miles east of Interstate 44 in Oklahoma City

What happened: A trooper at more than 100 mph spun out a driver fleeing in an SUV with a stolen license plate, killing the 17-year-old driver and hospitalizing two other young occupants after a violent rollover.

Hamlet had been joyriding in his grandmothers 2004 Lincoln Navigator as his brother, Chris Hamlet  who suffered injuries likely to last his life  says he tried to convince him to return the vehicle. Vinnie Hamlet had swapped the license plate in case their grandma reported the SUV stolen.

Before Trooper Tanner Eads in-car recording system malfunctioned, the rookie cocked his rifle in his lap and kept it there while driving. OHP declined to answer whether Eads fired at the SUV amid the chase after the recording cuts off.

Eads suspicion first was aroused when Vinnie Hamlet froze behind the wheel and failed to turn at an intersection at the sight of a Highway Patrol cruiser.

Deaths: Lanise Sheail Dade, 31, an uninvolved motorist, and her 13-year-old daughter

Pursuit prompt: Possible stolen vehicle

When: 12:33 to 12:46 p.m. Feb. 25, 2021

Fatality location: 21st Street and 109th East Avenue in Tulsa

What happened: Dade and her young daughter, Camyea, were killed instantly when a driver fleeing in a pickup truck T-boned their SUV. Dades nephew, then 8, was pinned in the Chevrolet Tahoes backseat but survived.

Lt. Mark Warren chased the possible stolen vehicle up to 125 mph into Tulsa from Coweta on the Broken Arrow Expressway based only on the word of a motorist at a stoplight who had followed the 2016 Chevrolet Silverado.

Warren said he kept pursuing despite extreme hazards because he was unsure what the circumstances were and he thought he had help. He acknowledged that he struggled to keep up in his Ford Explorer to try to spin out the truck, saying he thought the driver might make a mistake to end the chase, which ultimately played out with the fatal crash.

The chase netted the arrest of an unarmed 14-year-old boy who had taken someone elses truck from a car wash. The boy, Elias Gabriel Gonzales, had his case turned over to federal prosecutors, and there isnt public information available on the cases outcome.

Deaths: Collin Dane Carpenter, 24, the eluding driver

Pursuit prompt: Owasso Police report of speeding motorcyclist

When: 12:10 to 12:17 a.m. May 1, 2022

Fatality location: Haikey Creek Park on South Garnett Road near East 121st Street South in Broken Arrow

What happened: Carpenter died when his motorcycle slammed into a tree at a high speed as Trooper Henry Perryman chased him after Carpenter failed to yield for a traffic stop.

Originally, an Owasso Police officer performing radar clocked a motorcyclist at 41 mph in a 25 mph construction zone in the city. Owasso Police ultimately called off the ensuing pursuit because risk of great bodily harm was present after speeds reached 115 mph and the motorcyclist weaved through southbound U.S. 169 traffic.

OHP requested help from the Tulsa Police Department helicopter  which was tied up on another assignment  after Perryman began pursuing Carpenter. TPD patrol officers declined to get directly involved after a Highway Patrol dispatcher told them the reason for the pursuit was speeds were at 90.

The Highway Patrols initial and final collision reports make no mention that a trooper was in a hot pursuit with Carpenter when the fatal crash happened.

Deaths: Mercedes Martinez, 26, and Ethan Mestas, 22, both passengers in a fleeing vehicle

Pursuit prompt: Equipment failure (high-mount brake light) and failure to signal turn

When: 8:56 to 9:05 p.m. Aug. 15, 2022

Fatality location: Interstate 35 in Norman

What happened: Video shows a state trooper appearing to spin out a fleeing pickup truck driver into a violent roll  ultimately killing the eluders two passengers  but the trooper instead told investigators the eluder caused the contact despite film evidence to the contrary.

Martinez died 17 days later from critical injuries suffered that night, while Mestas died on scene.

Dash camera video shows the truck driving on the inside shoulder and Trooper Nicholas Mills cruiser on the trucks right in the far left lane. Mills cruiser then moved left onto the shoulder and hit the rear quarter panel of the truck, causing the truck to spin out and rollover several times.

Troopers described the dangers of Alex Carpenters fleeing leading up to the spinout  weaving in and out of traffic, passing vehicles on shoulders and cutting off motorists  but video shows Mills shadowing most moves Carpenter made. Small items occasionally were thrown toward the lead pursuer from the driver- and passenger-side windows.

A judge sentenced Carpenter, 30, to life imprisonment after he pleaded guilty in January to two counts of first-degree felony murder for the deaths of his passengers.

SOURCES: Law enforcement records, video and media release

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CLAREMORE  The state auditor and inspector told a group of fellow Republicans that she received unexpected pushback after her efforts to spotlight what she called Oklahoma's largest abuse of taxpayer funds.

On Thursday night at the annual Rogers County Republican Party Patriots Dinner, state Auditor and Inspector Cindy Byrd spoke about the 2020 audit of Epic Charter Schools, as well as spending of pandemic education funds.

Byrd said she was shocked to see so many Republicans in the state want to dismiss or push down the Epic Charter School audit. While she said she is also a supporter of school choice and school tax credits, misuse of tax dollars must be exposed.

I believe everyone would want to know about fraud, waste and abuse and work together to get it fixed, but thats not always the case, Byrd said. For two years, conservatives dismissed those audit findings, and an additional $80 million was given to bad actors.

It was never about or against charter schools, virtual education or more choice options. It was about how a company took over the schools' checkbook to the tune of tens of millions of dollars for excessive administrative costs in schools. ... When we take action on bad news, even if it is a case were passionate about, we get it fixed and we come back better.

On June 27, Byrd released an audit of how the state handled federal pandemic relief money, specifically expenditures made during fiscal year 2021. The audit found several millions of dollars worth of federal COVID-19 relief funds mismanaged and determined about $29 million out of $14 billion in expenditures was questionable.

Many Republicans do not want to talk about the mismanagement of these funds, especially as some of the funding was to go toward support school choice endeavors, Byrd said.

In her speech, Byrd explained her office has to be formally asked before an audit can happen, and that request has to be specific. She said that's why the state department of education hasnt had an audit of its administrative costs, less than 0.03% of its budget, but an audit of that spending is underway and will be released in the fall.

We're only auditing a small portion of those funds, and those are heavily legislated, Byrd said. The audit will be very good educational tool for anybody who wants to know about how education dollars operate.
OKLAHOMA CITY  About 50 members of the Oklahoma National Guard will deploy to the U.S.-Mexico border by Aug. 1 after being mobilized by Gov. Kevin Stitt.

As Texas tries to beef up immigration and drug-trafficking enforcement at the nations southern border, the Oklahoma National Guard will send a contingent of soldiers and airmen to help.

In June, Stitt authorized the Oklahoma National Guard to send up to 100 troops to the border after Texas Gov. Greg Abbott asked fellow governors for aid in deterring illegal border crossings.

A spokeswoman for Stitt did not respond to a question about how much the deployment will cost Oklahoma taxpayers.

Oklahoma National Guard members are expected to be deployed to the El Paso area, said Maj. Kristin Tschetter, a spokeswoman for the Guard.

The initial deployment is for 30 days, but the Oklahoma National Guard could extend the mission and deploy more troops after coordinating with the Texas Military Department, she said.

The primary mission for guard members will be to support security checkpoints and alert local law enforcement of any illegal immigration or drug-trafficking activities, Tschetter said.

Local law enforcement agencies will be responsible for investigating and, if warranted, detaining people engaged in illegal activities, she said.

When Stitt announced he was mobilizing the National Guard, he took a swipe at President Joe Bidens border policies. Stitt said it was in the best interest of the state and the nation for Oklahoma to take decisive action in response to the federal governments failure at the nations southern border.

With a Democrat in the White House, Republican elected officials across the nation have increasingly criticized the presidents border and immigration policies.

Republican governors continue to step up to the plate when President Biden refuses to lead; and by deploying our brave National Guard troops, we are sending a strong message that we remain dedicated to defending our borders and upholding law and order in our nation, Stitt said in a statement.

Stitt isnt the only governor sending National Guard troops to the border in response to Abbotts call for help after the expiration of COVID-era health restrictions that allowed U.S. officials to turn away migrants at the border. Those restrictions were commonly referred to as Title 42.

More than a dozen GOP governors, including presidential candidate and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, have committed to sending members of the National Guard and other personnel to the border. Combined, the governors have committed at least 1,305 National Guard troops and 231 law enforcement officers, according to a news release from Stitts office.

Abbott has already deployed thousands of National Guard troops to the border.

House Minority Leader Cyndi Munson, D-Oklahoma City, called Stitts decision to send National Guard troops to the border a political stunt.

It is irresponsible of the governor to pull members of the Oklahoma National Guard away from their families and jobs for no other reason than to pander to partisan politics and to propel himself to the national spotlight, Munson said in a statement.

Political stunts like these are a waste of Oklahoma taxpayer dollars. Instead, he should focus on the needs of Oklahomans rather than taking orders from the governor of Texas.

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Rescue and search operations continue to search for missing people at the site of a flooded tunnel in Osong, Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province, Sunday. Yonhap





Rescue workers have recovered eight bodies from a flooded underground tunnel in the central town of Osong on Sunday, bringing the total death toll from the incident to nine, officials said, as they battled to reach submerged cars due to flash floods caused by heavy rainfall.







The 685-meter-long underground roadway was flooded in Osong, North Chungcheong Province, Saturday, when a nearby river overflowed after a river embankment was brought down by rising water levels due to heavy rain.







One person was immediately found dead Saturday, while nine others were rescued.







Officials have confirmed through surveillance footage that there were some 15 vehicles inside the underpass at the time of the flooding, including a bus.







Rescuers pulled five bodies from the submerged bus early Sunday morning in a search operation that resumed in the morning, and three more bodies had been retrieved later in the day.







Prime Minister Han Duck-soo is briefed by rescue officials at the site of a flooded tunnel in Osong, Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province, Sunday. Yonhap





Authorities said the death toll could rise further as 12 people had been initially reported missing from the flooding.







The government mobilized some 458 service members, police officers and relevant officials, as well as some 30 divers and dozens of equipment for search and drainage operations.







"We are striving to wrap up search operations today as more rain is to come tomorrow," a government official said.







The weather agency has said the Chungcheong region is forecast to have up to 300 millimeters of additional rain through Tuesday.







As of 6 p.m., four of the 15 vehicles had been retrieved, according to the authorities. (Yonhap)






Foreign investors, mainly from South Korea, Singapore, Japan, Taiwan, Malaysia, and Thailand, showed an increasing interest in property projects in Vietnam in the first half of this year, according to a newly-released report by the Vietnam Association of Realtors (VARS).

The VARS report on the Vietnamese property market showed that merger and acquisition (M&A) transactions were busy in the market in the first half of this year.

Foreign investors are quietly acquiring many large land lots as well as apartment, industrial real estate, and office projects across Vietnam.

They preferred projects with completed legal procedures.

Prominent foreign firms in M&A deals included Keppel Land, Frasers, WHA, and Central Retail.

They have been seeking M&A opportunities in commercial, housing, and industrial property projects.

Over the past few months, local enterprises have planned to transfer part of or their entire projects to foreign partners due to their obstacles in accessing capital and investment procedures.

The solution has helped enterprises earn money to pay debts and execute other projects, while avoiding bankruptcy, according to VARS.

VARS informed that most foreign enterprises had conducted the initial stage of M&A transactionsseeking and surveying projectsas of the end of last quarter.

They have yet to negotiate and enter into transactions.

Foreign investors are interested in housing projects with completed legal procedures in Vietnam. Photo: B.Ngoc / Tuoi Tre

Nguyen Van Dinh, vice-chairman of the Vietnam National Real Estate Association, told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper that M&A activities would remain busy in the local real estate sector this quarter.

Investors which completed surveying projects last quarter will conduct negotiations this quarter.

The market is expected to see several successful M&A deals in the last quarter of the year.

However, the number of successful deals will be modest and these deals involve small projects with completed legal procedures.

Negotiations on medium and large projects will go on until the last quarter of this year or even the second quarter of next year, Dinh noted.

Amid the current M&A wave in the property market, if domestic firms do not take advantage of opportunities, foreign investors will take over good projects, said VARS vice-chairman Nguyen Chi Thanh.

VARS proposed management agencies work out policies to support M&A activities while controlling foreign investors acquisitions.

The association also urged localities to study plans to acquire projects slowed by obstacles, remove the obstacles, and put them up for auction to recover capital.

In addition to M&A transactions, foreign investors have purchased shares from local real estate giants, such as Novaland and Hung Thinh Land.

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Vietnam will co-chair the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF)'s activities to combat terrorism and transnational crimes, as well as chemical, biological, nuclear, and radiological terrorism, heard attendees at the 30th ARF held in Jakarta, Indonesia on Friday.

The participating countries underlined the importance of the ARF, saying that it is an indispensable part in the regional architecture with ASEAN being at the center.

Given the global and regional uncertainties, foreign ministers agreed to facilitate the forums operations by joining hands to maintain cooperation in maritime security, disaster relief, cybersecurity, the fight against terrorism and transnational crimes, non-proliferation of nuclear weapons and disarmament, national defense, and peacekeeping.

The participants also passed a list of activities for the 2023-24 period.

According to the list, Vietnam will co-chair the ARFs implementation of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), in addition to the activities to fight against terrorism, transnational crimes, and chemical, biological, nuclear, and radiological terrorism mentioned above.

Vietnamese Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son attends the 30th ASEAN Regional Forum held in Indonesia, July 14, 2023. Photo: Vietnams Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Addressing the event, Vietnamese Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son announced that Vietnam will co-chair the ARF Inter-Sessional Meeting on Disaster Relief for the 2024-26 term with Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

Aside from pledging to fully and effectively implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Vietnam Sea, ASEAN and China are jointly working toward an effective and legally binding Code of Conduct (COC) for the East Vietnam Sea in line with international law, including the 1982 UNCLOS, Minister Son said.

The ARF was established in 1994 to foster constructive dialogue and consultation on political and security issues of common interest and concern, and to make contributions to efforts toward confidence-building and preventive diplomacy in the Asia - Pacific region.

The ARF includes 10 ASEAN member states, 10 ASEAN dialogue partners (Australia, Canada, China, the EU, India, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Russia, the U.S.), and seven other Asian nations.

The meeting was part of the 56th ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting (AMM-56), which took place between Monday and Friday in Indonesia.

An overview of the 13th East Asia Summit (EAS) Foreign Ministers Meeting held in Indonesia, July 14, 2023. Photo: Vietnams Ministry of Foreign Affairs

In related news, ASEAN foreign ministers and their dialogue partners on Friday attended the 13th East Asia Summit (EAS) Foreign Ministers Meeting and the ASEAN - U.S. Post Ministerial Conference, which were also part of the AMM-56.

The EAS has 18 members, including 10 ASEAN member states and Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Russia, and the U.S.

The participating countries at the EAS Foreign Ministers Meeting were committed to further enhancing the EAS role, including adopting sincere dialogue, reliable consultation, and practical cooperation as the main tool in exchange.

The EAS Action Plan for the 2024-28 period was also passed at the event, incorporating 16 areas of cooperation, such as sustainable development, maritime ties, trade promotion, connectivity, education, food security, and women empowerment.

In addition, ASEAN and the U.S. at the ASEAN - U.S. Post Ministerial Conference agreed to beef up their cooperation in energy transition, science and technology, innovation, sustainable infrastructure development, environmental protection, and climate change response.

ASEAN lauded the U.S. proposal to take part in the implementation of the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific.

Speaking at the meeting, Minister Son suggested the partners continue to support and make responsible contributions to ASEAN-led efforts to ensure peace, security, and stability in the East Vietnam Sea, and develop an effective COC on a par with international law.

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Recent statistics from Vietnamese cybersecurity corporation Bkav indicate that nearly four million computers in Vietnam are susceptible to virus attacks due to the absence of necessary patches for a security vulnerability.

On Friday, Bkav issued a cautionary statement highlighting the severity of the security vulnerability, identified as CVE-2023-21716, found in the Microsoft Office suite.

The vulnerability, rated near maximum severity with a score of 9.8 out of 10, has the potential to enable remote code execution on targeted devices.

Exploiting this security vulnerability, hackers will have the ability to launch extensive virus infection campaigns.

By doing so, they can remotely gain control over the compromised devices, collect and encrypt data, as well as download and execute additional malicious software.

Cybercriminals trick users into downloading a Word file embedded with a malicious Rich Text Format (RTF).

This allows them to exploit the vulnerability effectively, so that even when users do not open Word documents but simply view them in preview mode, they can still fall victim to these attacks.

Despite the availability of patches for the security vulnerability since February 2023, Bkavs statistics reveal that approximately four million computers that have not been patched in Vietnam remain vulnerable to virus attacks.

According to Nguyen Tien Dat, general director of Bkavs malware research center, vulnerabilities like this one are highly appealing to hackers due to their presence in widely used text file formats.

He further mentioned that updating the patch for devices lacking automatic updates is not a straightforward process, and not everyone possesses the necessary knowledge or capability to do so.

To mitigate the risk of being targeted, security experts advise users to promptly update their systems with the latest patch provided by Microsoft.

Additionally, caution is advised when handling suspicious emails.

Users should carefully examine the senders email address and exercise care when clicking on links or opening attachments.

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Police in Vietnam have detained three of the six suspects on their special wanted list for committing the deadly terrorist attacks on two local administration offices in the Central Highlands province of Dak Lak last month.

The three suspects, Y Ju Nie, Nay Tam, and Nay Yen, aged 49-55, were detained on Saturday afternoon while they were hiding in a commune bordering Laos in Dak Laks Ea Sup District, the provincial police reported the same day.

These men, all local residents, are among the six suspects on the most wanted list for their involvement in the terrorist raids by two armed groups on the headquarters of the Peoples Committees of Ea Tieu and Ea Ktur Communes in Cu Kuin District on June 11.

The attackers, armed with guns and other weapons, killed nine people, including four police officers, two commune officials, and three civilians.

Nay Yen, 53, one of the three wanted suspects arrested on July 15, 2023 for committing fatal terrorist raids on two administration offices in Dak Lak Province, located in Vietnams Central Highlands region, a month earlier. Photo: V. Nghia / Tuoi Tre

They also injured two people, took three residents hostage, and destroyed many facilities at the two administration offices.

Police are hunting for the three remaining wanted suspects, namely Y Khing Lieng, Nay Duong, Y Hoal Eban, also locals.

Police have so far detained and prosecuted more than 90 suspects in the case on charges of terrorism aimed at opposing the peoples administration under Article 113 of the Vietnamese Penal Code, according to police sources.

The Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokeswoman Pham Thu Hang on July 7 rejected claims that these deadly attacks were driven by ethnic discrimination.

Hang made the rejection at a press conference in Hanoi when she was asked by Hong Kongs Phoenix Radio about the ministrys reaction to such claims on social media.

Nay Tam, 49, one of the three wanted suspects arrested on July 15, 2023 for committing fatal terrorist raids on two administration offices in Dak Lak Province, located in Vietnams Central Highlands region, a month earlier. Photo: V. Nghia / Tuoi Tre

We absolutely reject such erroneous claims, the spokesperson stressed and affirmed that these lethal raids were organized crimes that would be strictly handled in accordance with the law.

She also cited Major General Pham Ngoc Viet, director of the Department of Homeland Security under the Ministry of Public Security, as saying at an anti-terrorism conference recently held by the United Nations that the deadly attacks in Dak Lak were an organized terrorist activity aimed at state entities, officials, and civilians.

Viet also stated that one of the arrested subjects is a member of a U.S.-based organization who had received instructions to infiltrate Vietnam and perform the raids.

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Authorities in Ha Giang Province, northern Vietnam have ordered a suspension of swimming activities at the Du Gia Waterfall in the namesake commune after a tourist drowned there this week.

Hoang Minh Truong, chairman of the Peoples Committee of Du Gia Commune in Yen Minh District, told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper on Saturday that the commune administration had decided to issue a temporary ban on bathing at the Du Gia Waterfall, also known as the Ba Tien Fall, in Tham Luong Village, effective from 3:00 pm on Friday.

Swimming activities at the cascade will be suspended until further notice, Truong said, adding that the Du Gia administration dispatched task forces to guard the waterfall during the suspension period.

The Yen Minh Peoples Committee told authorities in Du Gia to publicize the ban, and ask catering and accommodation service providers and tourists to strictly comply with the regulation.

Tour guides and owners of lodging facilities will be punished if their guests take a bath at the Du Gia Waterfall.

According to preliminary investigation results, a group of six tourists were swimming at the Du Gia Waterfall at 3:30 pm on Wednesday.

After jumping into the water, T.X.H., 24, who resided in Phu Tho Province, northern Vietnam, drowned.

His friends and locals quickly rushed him to the nearest healthcare center for emergency treatment, but he was pronounced dead at 6:00 pm on the same day.

After being notified of the deadly incident, the Yen Minh administration asked Du Gia Commune to halt bathing activities at the cascade.

The Du Gia Waterfall has yet to be certified as a tourist site, but it has drawn the sheer number of local and international visitors, according to the Ha Giang Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism.

Tourists have traveled to the cascade to enjoy such majestic mountainous landscapes, and take a bath at the fall.

However, the site has no safety infrastructure, while no agencies have been authorized to manage the place and conduct rescue and search operations.

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The United States and China will look to revive efforts to combat global warming this week, in bilateral meetings that observers hope will raise the bar on ambitions ahead of UN-sponsored climate talks in late 2023.

The talks follow two other high-level U.S. visits to China this year, as the world's largest greenhouse gas emitters work to stabilize a relationship strained by trade disputes, military tensions and accusations of spying.

John Kerry, the U.S. special envoy on climate change, will join bilateral talks with his Chinese counterpart Xie Zhenhua in Beijing from July 16-19 that will focus on issues including reducing methane emissions, limiting coal use, curbing deforestation and helping poor countries address climate change.

The pair, who have cultivated a warm relationship over more than two decades of diplomacy, will also likely discuss Chinas objections to U.S. tariffs and other restrictions on imports of Chinese solar panel and battery components, observers say.

Washington is seeking to protect U.S. manufacturers from low-cost competitors in China, including those it suspects of using forced labor, which Beijing denies.

"I wouldn't look for breakthroughs in these meetings but my hope is that they restore normal alignment and diplomacy," said David Sandalow, director of the US-China program at the Center on Global Energy Policy.

(Reuters)



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PRISTINA (Reuters) - Kosovo has bought a batch of Turkish-made Bayraktar drones, its leader said on Sunday, at a time when it faces unrest in the north where ethnic Serbs refuse to recognise Pristina authorities.

In a Facebook post showing him in front of a drone with his defence minister, Prime Minister Albin Kurti said latest security spending was making the country safer.

He did not give the number or cost of the drones, Kosovo's first, nor say what they would be used for. Bayraktar drones have gained popularity globally after being used by Ukraine's military against Russian forces.

"Kosovo is now even safer and always proud," Kurti said, adding that his government had in the last two years raised troop numbers by 80% and the defence budget by more than 100%.

The 15-old republic is building an army intended eventually to have 5,000 regular soldiers and 3,000 reservists. The NATO military alliance also has more than 4,500 peacekeepers in the country of 1.8 million people.

In past months, Kosovo has faced its worst ethnic violence in the north which is home to some 50,000 ethnic Serbs, who are backed by Belgrade.

Trouble erupted in May after ethnic Albanian mayors took office following a local election boycotted by Serbs demanding implementation of a decade-old deal for more autonomy.

Kosovo aims to join NATO but four of the alliance's members still do not recognise its 2008 independence from Serbia.

After the violence in May, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic placed his army on combat alert and moved units closer to the border with Kosovo.

(Reporting by Fatos Bytyci; Editing by Andrew Cawthorne)
The Kremlin said Friday that it is considering granting legal status to some of the more than two dozen private military companies active in Russia. Legally, these shadow paramilitary groups do not exist  which allows them to operate parallel to Russia's armed forces, at times doing high-risk "dirty" jobs for the army while giving Moscow a measure of deniability.

The Kremlin has announced it may give legal status to some of the many private military companies (PMCs) active within Russia, notably the Wagner Group but also lesser-known militias like Convoy, Patriot, the Moran Security Group and Shchit (Shield).

Legally, the Wagner private military group does not exist and has never existed, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters, noting that the status of companies such as Wagner remains rather complicated.

The declaration came a day after a similar statement made by Russian President Vladimir Putin to the Kommersant business daily. The (Wagner) group is here, but it does not exist legally, he said. Putin said its eventual legalisation was a question to be discussed in the Duma (the lower house) and within the government.



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 Press Service of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan via Reuters

 Press Service of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan via Reuters

Azerbaijan accused Russia on Sunday of failing to fulfil its obligations under a 2020 Moscow-brokered ceasefire agreement to end fighting with Armenia for control of the Nagorno-Karabakh region.

"The Russian side did not ensure full implementation of the agreement within the framework of its obligations," Baku's foreign ministry said, adding that Moscow "did nothing to prevent" Armenia's military supplies from reaching separatist forces in the restive enclave.

In autumn 2020, Russia sponsored a ceasefire agreement that ended six weeks of fighting over the mountainous breakaway region.

The deal saw Armenia cede swathes of territory, while Russia deployed peacekeepers to the five-kilometre-wide Lachin Corridor, the sole land link between the enclave and Armenia.

Baku recently closed the corridor, sparking protests and fears of a humanitarian crisis.

On Saturday, Russia's foreign ministry urged Azerbaijan to reopen the passageway.

It also said Armenia's recent recognition of Karabakh as part of Azerbaijan "has radically changed the standing of the Russian peacekeeping contingent".

"Under such conditions, the responsibility for the destiny of Karabakh's Armenian population should not be shifted onto third countries," it said, a possible reference to the Armenian separatists' calls for Moscow to ensure the reopening of the land link.

(AFP)



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